A Democrat looks forward to a conservative Obama's second term

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A Democrat looks forward to a conservative Obama’s second term

Bookworm on Jun 21 2011 at 8:15 am | Filed under: Barack Obama

I asked Mr. Bookworm if he wished that there could be a Democratic primary, so that he could have the choice of a Democratic presidential candidate other than Obama. After all, I reminded him, back in 1980, a lot of Democrats wished that they could have voted for someone other than Carter.

Mr. Bookworm came back with an emphatic “No.” He explained to me that Obama’s been a great president and a very conservative one. “I told you that after campaigning to the margins he’d govern to the center.”

I wonder what center Mr. Bookworm is thinking of. At home, ObamaCare is poised to destroy private sector medicine, the government has expanded, the stimulus money has disappeared into the government maw, our borders are hemorrhaging, the housing market has collapsed, unemployment seems intractable, welfare rolls are growing, etc. This isn’t centrism, it’s bottomism. Obama is taking American down, down, down.

Abroad, many see Obama’s continuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a sign of conservativism. That’s wrong. Obama’s decision to stay in the field is mere self-preservation, because Obama doesn’t want his name on the inevitable blood bath that will follow abrupt American withdrawals. What’s more interesting is his Libya engagement. Obama has approached Libya as an imperial presidency. Although he was unable to articulate how America’s involvement in Libya would benefit America, he went ahead and threw “his” troops into the task. Now, he is in direct violation of the War Powers Act, a situation he has made worse by lawyer shopping. This isn’t the act of a conservative, it’s the act of a tyrant.

As for Obama’s other overseas policies, please explain to me what’s conservative about turning on Israel; ignoring a democratic movement in Iran; demanding that Mubarak, a long-time American ally, decamp; insulting England left, right and center; turning his back on Poland and the Czech Republic; cozying up to Russia, Syria, Nicaragua, and a host of other totalitarian countries; and becoming the Palestinians’ new best friend. These are all solidly Leftist political positions, although insulting England seems to be Obama’s personal spin on a solid socialist foreign policy plan.

If Obama is Mr. Bookworm’s idea of a conservative, no wonder Mr. Bookworm is horrified by the thought of a Republican president. For him, a Republican president comes branded with 666 on his forehead.

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53 Responses to “A Democrat looks forward to a conservative Obama’s second term”

on 21 Jun 2011 at 8:38 am 1Charles Martel

Years ago some pundit remarked that if it could undeniably proven that Richard Nixon ordered the assassination of John Kennedy. an irreducible 25 percent of the population would still maintain that he didn’t do it.

Mr. Book is in that 25 percent of people who will never see the truth no matter how much proof for it there is. What we are dealing with is a bunch of contortionist proctologists—people who live with their heads embedded up their. . .well, you know what I mean.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 8:52 am 2Ymarsakar

If you thought my execution scaffold idea was scary when it was just enemies of humanity, bureaucrats, and Leftists on death row, watch this vid.

http://noisyroom.net/blog/2011/06/20/huge-marine-drill-confirms-ground-invasion-of-libya/

Which do you think is scarier?
on 21 Jun 2011 at 8:54 am 3Ymarsakar

Obama has approached Libya as an imperial presidency. Although he was unable to articulate how America’s involvement in Libya would benefit America, he went ahead and threw “his” troops into the task.

And people wonder why the world hates American arrogance and interference. It’s the Freaking Democrats you idjits. That’s why they hate us.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 8:56 am 4SADIE

“I told you that after campaigning to the margins he’d govern to the center.”

take away the keys to his car. if he drives as he perceives – he’s a ditch magnet.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 9:00 am 5Ymarsakar

Mr. B thinks conservatives are tyrants and racists. So he’s just basically implying, but without hitting cognitive dissonance, that OBAMA IS EVIL. Book. You’re winning!
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:12 am 6Zachriel

Bookworm: At home, ObamaCare is poised to destroy private sector medicine, the government has expanded, the stimulus money has disappeared into the government maw, our borders are hemorrhaging, the housing market has collapsed, unemployment seems intractable, welfare rolls are growing, etc.

Obamacare doesn’t destroy private sector medicine, but implements reforms through insurance companies and existing providers. Other than the stimulus, which is temporary, the government has not expanded significantly. The stimulus money is accounted for. The border situation hasn’t changed. The housing market began its collapse under the last administration. Yes, the job market is poor. Yes, welfare rolls tend to increase in the aftermath of financial panics, such as occurred in 2008.

By most measures, Obama is a left-leaning centrist. He certainly hasn’t conformed to more liberal positions, which would include single-payer health care, much more vigorous jobs programs, a more relaxed immigration policy consistent with national security, and withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:22 am 7Charles Martel

Zach, care to explain the “centrist’s” anti-Semitism and bowing to tyrants?
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:26 am 8Zachriel

Charles Martel: care to explain the “centrist’s” anti-Semitism and bowing to tyrants?

There is no evidence that Obama is anti-Semitic, or that he is subjugating America’s interests to that of tyrants.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:44 am 9Danny Lemieux

Zach, you all really must be German. You are so obedient: when Obama talks, you believe.

Here is a report that addresses how McKinsey & Co and Price Waterhouse project the economic impact of ObamaCare:

http://blogs.reuters.com/james-pethokoukis/2011/06/20/its-not-just-mckinsey-suggesting-obamacare-is-a-mess/

So much for models!
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:45 am 10Charles Martel

Zacy, Zachy: Did you not see the video of his lunge toward the crotch of the King of Saudi Arabia? Surely the smartest mahn in the room can explain it?
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:46 am 11Charles Martel

Zacy = Zachy

mahn = man
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:47 am 12BrianE

Obamacare doesn’t destroy private sector medicine, but implements reforms through insurance companies and existing providers.- Zachriel

What are those reforms exactly? Will ACA be sustainable if employers pay the penalty and force employees to move to the government exchange?
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:24 am 13Zachriel

Danny Lemieux: Here is a report that addresses how McKinsey & Co and Price Waterhouse project the economic impact of ObamaCare:

Heh. McKinsey only recently released their methodology under pressure. They have admitted they weren’t providing “a predictive economic analysis,” and the responses were provided only after they “educated respondents.”

BrianE: Will ACA be sustainable if employers pay the penalty and force employees to move to the government exchange?

Other studies (Rand, Urban, Mercer) indicate that most employers will not opt out.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:30 am 14Charles Martel

Zach, not going to address the videos of Obama’s numerous bows to dictators, eh?

I don’t blame you: It looks bad when a “centrist” you are defending tooth and nail turns out to have such contempt for the country he leads. As a European or Canadian, that might make sense to you, but here in America we like our leaders to have a little backbone.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:35 am 15JKB

Oh, Z, really you need some new material. In any case, blaming it on Bush is, so, 2009. In leadership, you are forgiven the problems of your predecessor for awhile then, you are judged on your efforts to improve the situation. Obama, sadly, can be mostly seen as having made it worse. We had no jobs, so Obama pushed the stimulus, now we have no jobs and a massively increased debt overhang.

As for Obamacare, well, this cartoon shows the issues graphically

RN-T.com – MIKE LESTER S CARTOON 06 17 11
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:36 am 16colorless.blue.ideas

Danny Lemieux, please don’t insult Germans like that.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:42 am 17Zachriel

Charles Martel: not going to address the videos of Obama’s numerous bows to dictators, eh?

You’re referring to physical bows? Really? Heh. We’ll let you worry that.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4839983552_13461db57f_b.jpg
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:48 am 18Zachriel

JKB: In any case, blaming it on Bush is, so, 2009.

History is history.

JKB: then, you are judged on your efforts to improve the situation.

That’s as it should be.

JKB: Obama, sadly, can be mostly seen as having made it worse.

The data indicates that the stimulus did help the economy, and that Obamacare will provide universal coverage while reducing costs.

JKB: We had no jobs, so Obama pushed the stimulus, now we have no jobs and a massively increased debt overhang.

Actually, the U.S. is producing new jobs, just not fast enough to make up ground lost in the recession.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/5793516389_2ea0f5d0e3.jpg

As for debt, the stimulus is a one-time expenditure. The recession is the primary cause of the change in the U.S. fiscal position.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:50 am 19Charles Martel

Zach, nice try. I was thinking more along these lines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WlqW6UCeaY
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:50 am 20Zachriel

This is a better jobs graph, as it only includes private-sector jobs.
http://maureenholland.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/jobs-april-2011.jpg
on 21 Jun 2011 at 11:51 am 21Charles Martel

Or maybe this one, Zachy:

http://drlillianglassbodylanguageblog.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/does-obama%E2%80%99s-body-language-bow-to-chinese-leader-hu-jintao-weaken-his-image-among-americans-and-worldwide/
on 21 Jun 2011 at 12:48 pm 22Danny Lemieux

colorless.blue.ideas
Danny Lemieux, please don’t insult Germans like that.

Heh! I’m both French and German, so I do reserve the right to self-criticism. While I can appreciate the strong points of each background, I also recognize their weaknesses.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 12:50 pm 23Danny Lemieux

A very misleading jobs graph, Zach, as it only shows net changes from the base without showing what the base is.

It would have been more honest to show unemployment month-by-month under both administrations.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 12:51 pm 24Ymarsakar

There is no evidence of Obama’s tyrant lazyness, or so Z says. Z has also said that there’s no evidence AGW is wrong or corrupt. That’s what he says, you know. There’s no evidence ObamaCare is destroying healthcare, or so he says.

History is history.

Z has made his argument, or so he says. Everyone Bow out and get the H out of here. Complete sentences, remember? See if you can find any.

Martel, Z’s blind. He doesn’t actually see what’s in your videos, you know. All you’re doing is making us bleed from the eyes like stigmata from Christ reborn. That’s just wrong man.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 12:55 pm 25Ymarsakar

Hold on, I’m not done yet. Hold on, I can’t hear myself think here. Right……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Martel, that is reprehensible. Extremely reprehensible. Awesomely reprehensible. And what’s that other word… hold, I can’t hear myself think.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:35 pm 26SADIE

so…i came home from my first day at OT (evaluation) to find 20 emails and wondered to myself what prompted so many responses.

i should have known a certain someone was craving attention. in the old days, fellas would just streak across the ball field before being tackled and taken away. the current attention grabber is ‘verbal streaking’ (trolls in blog parlance). on the bright side, at least i spared the visuals.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:41 pm 27Charles Martel

SADIE, just be thankful that this isn’t San Francisco where Zach would be showing up nekkid.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:45 pm 28Ymarsakar

So long as Martel from California doesn’t join the crowd.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:46 pm 29Ymarsakar

RSS feeders are your friend here. It’s a very convenient way to get comment and blog posts from your favorites, streamed into a little compact little window box program thingie that you can close, leaving your email for things like spam and what not.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:51 pm 30Ymarsakar

Here’s a real look at George Carlin.

http://ymarsakar.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/how-i-would-counter-attack-george-carlins-propaganda-and-nihilism/

Don’t get fooled by con artists again.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:54 pm 31Charles Martel

Ymar, not to worry. The restraining order forbidding me from showing up anywhere in the birthday suit applies statewide. All 58 counties applied for it.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:57 pm 32Zachriel

JKB: We had no jobs, so Obama pushed the stimulus, now we have no jobs and a massively increased debt overhang.

Zachriel: Actually, the U.S. is producing new jobs, just not fast enough to make up ground lost in the recession.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/5793516389_2ea0f5d0e3.jpg

Danny Lemieux: A very misleading jobs graph, Zach, as it only shows net changes from the base without showing what the base is.

It’s a graph of a standard statistic announced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics every month, and supports the claim that the U.S. is producing new jobs.

Danny Lemieux: … show unemployment month-by-month under both administrations.

http://peakwatch.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452403c69e201538e8f624f970b-800wi
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:57 pm 33Zachriel

JKB: We had no jobs, so Obama pushed the stimulus, now we have no jobs and a massively increased debt overhang.
Zachriel: Actually, the U.S. is producing new jobs, just not fast enough to make up ground lost in the recession.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/5793516389_2ea0f5d0e3.jpg

Danny Lemieux: A very misleading jobs graph, Zach, as it only shows net changes from the base without showing what the base is.

It’s a graph of a standard statistic announced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics every month, and supports the claim that the U.S. is producing new jobs.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 1:58 pm 34Zachriel

Danny Lemieux: … show unemployment month-by-month under both administrations.
http://peakwatch.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452403c69e201538e8f624f970b-800wi
on 21 Jun 2011 at 2:00 pm 35Zachriel

Sorry, that was total employment. Here’s the unemployment rate. Notice that it peaked in Oct 2009.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/06/04/unemployment_rate/
on 21 Jun 2011 at 2:07 pm 36SADIE

i see your chart and raise you two charts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2733629/posts

http://www.torycapital.com/2011/04/03/economics/unemployment-data-by-year-2001-through-2011/
on 21 Jun 2011 at 2:30 pm 37Danny Lemieux

Zach, the chart that you showed in #34 hardly inspires enthusiasm. There is also the issue of the discouraged workers and other labor-force drop outs, which boost the numbers closer to 20% unemployment, if I am not mistaken.

In any case, let’s see what the coming months bring, especially with the end of QE2 and new U.S. debt offerings. I hope that it isn’t a double-dip.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 4:18 pm 38Zachriel

Danny Lemieux: the chart that you showed in #34 hardly inspires enthusiasm.

Of course not. The Americans broke their economy. It’s going to take time and money to repair it.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 6:18 pm 39JKB

@Z – “The data indicates that the stimulus did help the economy, and that Obamacare will provide universal coverage while reducing costs. ”

Really, Obamacare will provide universal coverage while reducing costs? You should tell the people who are going through the disaster that is Obama’s signature legislation.

Like this: How did Obamacare get so screwed up? – Right Turn – The Washington Post

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s communications director e-mailed me in response to this report, “Nearly every week we find a new reason to say ‘repeal and replace.’ ”
on 21 Jun 2011 at 6:29 pm 40ConnectTheDots

Book,
How can you remain married to such a clueless man?
Is this the same reason women continue to watch Lifetime Movies, where the dumb main character always falls for the charming (with six-pack) serial killer, but is saved at the last minute by the persistent detective?
(shaking head) When will you learn?
on 21 Jun 2011 at 7:35 pm 41Bookworm

Wait a minute, ConnectTheDots! Are you saying I was supposed to get the visual treat of six-pack abs as part of the package? Well, darn….
on 21 Jun 2011 at 8:39 pm 42Ymarsakar

We support you, Book, you don’t have to worry on our account. If life hands you lemons, you make a nuclear lemonade out of it and kill off the third demon invasion with it, right?
on 21 Jun 2011 at 8:43 pm 43Ymarsakar

In this world of ours we have the “ideal” which we can call justice and then we have the “reality” which we can call life.

So how many times did Z vote for Obama? What about Vitters vote?

Sadie, you might need to raise him a resurrection before he finally gets it.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 9:28 pm 44Indigo Red

The farther left a Leftist is, the more centrist the Left sees them. Anything to the right of that center is fascist. The Left is funny that way.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 9:54 pm 45bizcor

I have two thoughts. actually they are the same thought simply expressed in two different ways.

“Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience”

“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.”
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:07 pm 46Charles Martel

bizcor, I don’t think anybody here is arguing anymore with our resident idiots. At this point, we’re just having fun watching them get wide-eyed and run off for fresh URLs or plagiarized material whenever somebody punches a hole in their latest boilerplate.
on 21 Jun 2011 at 10:28 pm 47Charles Martel

Zach, still waiting for your comment on Obama’s videotaped lunge toward the nether region of the Saudi king. How do you explain it? Is it connected somehow to Keynesian economics or the stimulus?
on 22 Jun 2011 at 5:05 am 48Zachriel

JKB: Really, Obamacare will provide universal coverage while reducing costs?

According to the CBO, it will save about $1 trillion over the next two decades.

JKB: Like this: How did Obamacare get so screwed up? – Right Turn – The Washington Post Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s communications director e-mailed me in response to this report, “Nearly every week we find a new reason to say ‘repeal and replace.’ ”

The simplest solution would be to fix the particular problem while moving forward with other reforms, including universal coverage.
on 22 Jun 2011 at 6:56 am 49bizcor

This in from the Associated Press and Yahoo News
AP Exclusive: Medicaid for the middle class?
on 22 Jun 2011 at 7:29 am 50Zachriel

bizcor: This in from the Associated Press and Yahoo News

Are you referring to the video of the man who robbed a bank of $1 so that he could get treatment for his painful condition?
on 22 Jun 2011 at 8:27 am 51Danny Lemieux

Zach observes, “The Americans broke their economy. It’s going to take time and money to repair it.”

On that point, Zach and I can agree.
on 22 Jun 2011 at 8:41 am 52Ymarsakar

Marty, according to unnamed sources, Obama was taking a Vitters from down south and under.

Danny, except Z wants the same Americans that broke the economy, to fix it, so that Z can live in luxury in some other place of the world as he watches the US collapse.
on 22 Jun 2011 at 8:47 am 53Danny Lemieux

Zach:
“Are you referring to the video of the man who robbed a bank of $1 so that he could get treatment for his painful condition?”

Zach, I know that it doesn’t fit your meme, but here’s a more cogent analysis of that event:

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/576074/201106211840/A-Phony-Tale-Of-Woe.htm