Wednesday, June 15, 2011

An Inaugural Fail


By Alan Caruba

We are all now so accustomed to Barack Obama’s delivery of a speech and have heard so many Tele-Prompter recitations that his habit of raising his chin, of gazing off into some future only he perceives, and his now-annoying way of breaking a sentence into small chunks that render it a monotony is taken for granted.

After all the campaign speeches he delivered in 2008, the carefully-staged events, by January 20, 2009 the nation was ready to hear what the then-new President, the 44th, had to say. With the exception of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech and one or both of Lincoln’s, few such speeches are long remembered.

President Obama’s was no exception and, as he begins his campaign to be reelected, it seemed to me a good time to revisit it.

Believe it or not, he began by saying “I stand here today humbled by the task before us…” and I daresay there are few who would apply the word ‘humble’ to Barack Hussein Obama, then or now.

Here was a man who had already written two memoirs about a life without any of the touchstones of achievement we normally look for. He had never run a business or met a payroll. As a legislator, he was either absent or voted for liberal programs without fail.

He had leaped swiftly from being an obscure Illinois state legislator to being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. By February 10, 2007 he announced he was a candidate for President.

By November 2008 he was elected. It is a cliché to note that virtually the whole of the nation’s mainstream media did everything in its power to secure that outcome.

As he continued with his inaugural speech, Obama acknowledged that “Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred”, but we would learn in the months that followed that Obama would never put a name to it, never identify it as an Islamic terrorism network and, following the Fort Hood shooting, it would take weeks before the words “Islamic extremism” were even applied to it.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the inaugural speech was its rather mundane enumeration of the huge economic problems that faced the nation at the time. “We will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.”

Based on his words, that speech was a huge fail. Based on the actions taken or not taken by his administration, jobs by the millions disappeared. The housing market is one of foreclosures from coast to coast. Consumer spending and consumer confidence remains stagnant.

We were, said Obama, to ask “not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works…where the answer is no, programs will end.” Instead, his administration embarked on huge spending programs dubbed “stimulus” that vastly increased the national debt and, by common agreement, achieved little or nothing to get the economy moving.

As this is written, the Obama administration adamantly refuses to agree to any spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. The waste continues as various elements of the government pour millions into obscenely stupid programs and grants. The government continues to grow larger.

Rather than concentrate on the economic problems of the nation by cutting taxes and eliminating regulations, the Obama administration literally forced a 2,000-page piece of legislation dubbed Obamacare on Americans who largely opposed it. It is currently wending its way through the courts as 26 states have joined in rejecting it.

Obama’s inaugural outreach now seems infantile and naïve. “To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” Both were and are scarce, but Obama has ensured that the U.S. remains dependent on imported Middle East oil by thwarting every effort to explore and extract our domestic reserves.

His Libyan military adventure just adds to his list of failures, save one. Based on his predecessor’s groundwork, Osama bin Laden was delivered to justice.

Guantanamo remains open for business and 9/11’s terrorists will not be granted the protection of constitutional rights that belong solely to Americans.

In sum, present and future historians will conclude that Obama’s inaugural speech on January 20, 2009 was just so much blather and significantly devoid of any substance. That’s a pretty good description of the 44th President of the United States.

It is also a very good reason to ensure that Barack Hussein Obama does not get to deliver another inaugural speech in 2013.

© Alan Caruba, 2011

11 comments:

TexasFred said...

Barack Hussein Obama: Stealth Muslim, America hating asshat, the most destructive POS to ever infest the Oval Office.

That is the only legacy BHO will leave IF we can remove that arrogant SOB at one term or less, but if allowed to assume a 2nd term, he will finish this nation off or start the most violent insurrection this nation has ever seen once he tries to take command and rule via executive orders...

Just my opinion...

Alan Caruba said...

@TexasFred: Sometimes I think I just cannot write enough about what a moron he is. Been saying it now for years.

With 14 million out of work and the price of everyting rising, I cannot see how he can get reelected.

If Rick Perry gets in the race, it's over for BHO.

James Enfield said...

I agree 100%, sir! Barack Hussein Obama, whose only experience with government was as a rabble-rouser in Chicago alongside Bill Ayers, has eclipsed Jimmy Carter's infamy as the most useless president this great nation has ever seen. God willing, the nation will wake up and vote this Marxist shill out of office once and for all.
Also, @TexasFred: if Obama does try to establish a dictatorship through his executive orders, I'll be right there on the barricades with you.

THE ANTI LIBERAL ZONE said...

Alan,

Great post and I could not agree more. I was researching and blogging on this unqualified asshat, even digging up his Democrat Socialist of America's endorsements in Chicago, and posting them prior to the election. Sadly, few were listening.

joetote said...

Hi Allen,

Spot on! The man is indeed a moron at the least. My main problem with this Muslim loving Soviet Style Socialist however are the blatant lies that he spews effortlessly and the utter disdain the MSM and Dems in general have for anyone who points this out.

Propaganda is bad enough (and practiced by all I might add). But the open dishonesty and in turn disdain for our basic principles (as well as the electorate in general). is not only beyond my comprehension, but in fact extremely bewildering!

I saw something yesterday as to the fact that only 12% of high school seniors actually have a good working knowledge of history. As we now have a mind numbed younger generation combined with the radical leftists led by this Clown in Chief, one must really worry about our future!

Ronbo said...

@Alan:

After re-reading my blog articles from 2008, I can say without fear of contradiction that I was 100% correct about Obama: a low I.Q. Racist Marxist promoted well above his level of achievement by Leftist mentors who wanted just such a stooge as president in order that their pockets be lined with gold and the United States of America destroyed.

Unfortunately, I would add.

Alan Caruba said...

Thank you, all.

All the trend lines point to a big GOP win in 2012...unless they nominate a very weak candidate.

Anonymous said...

Alan, I've been viewing your blog for the the last 9 months or so and agree with most, if not all, of the opinions expressed in what you've written. That being said, it seems that you have little if any confidence in Ron Paul being a seriously qualified Republican Presidential candidate and unless your comment about bho being done in 2012 if Rick Perry were running for POTUS was said tongue in cheek, you feel Gov. Perry would be more qualified. Am I reading your position on R. Paul correctly and if so would u mind sharing why you feel this way?

Rich Kozlovich said...

Dear All,

Perhaps you are not seeing the big picture.

He has no doubt lowered his golf score; that should be notable. And he and his family have seen large portions of the world. And we know how traveling to other cultures expands a child's perception of reality. Also, I have no doubt that the Queen of England and her lackeys have many jokes they can regale everyone with over his conduct in his last visit there. Take a look at the foreign press to see how so many world leaders chuckle at him.

Some see this as a failing, but rather than considering that laughter a failing, perhaps we should view this as he is spreading cheer everywhere he goes, and on a daily basis.

As for his broken speech patterns; that is deliberate in order for the rest of humanity to catch up to the gigantic leaps in intellect he utters. See; he is considerate of the less intellectual fortunate.

Furthermore he has taught the media not to criticize him for all of this stuff. Bush, in his eight years was totally incapable of getting the media to stop mentioning every time he went golfing, or even went to his home in Texas, and as for this verbal blunders…they had to be shown daily…at least for a week, and I hate to think what would have happened if he said that he had visited 57 states and wasn’t finished visiting them all yet.

See…even early on he has taught them to stop nitpicking and he has taught them to stop blaming everything on the President. That must be worth something!

Also, I have a torn meniscus. It must Bush's fault.

Alan Caruba said...

@Wiley: I am glad you enjoy this blog. As to Ron Paul, I have never felt he had any chance to be or to win as a Republican candidate. He would so less well if he ran as a Libertarian, which he is. With the stakes as high as they are in 2012, I like many others am lookingfor someone who can WIN. Gov. Perry is the proverbial "dark horse" at this point, but I think he could win if he got in. He has a good record of success in Texas and less baggage than the other candidates.

TexasFred said...

@ Wiley Plutark

A one eyed homosexual Russian ballet dancer would be better than Dr. Moonbat...

Ron Paul as the GOP candidate guarantees Obama another term and spells disaster for ALL Americans...