Cousin Dick Cheney: Obama Honeymoon Is Over!

What happened to the 100-day honeymoon traditionally allotted to all new U.S. Presidents? It seems that the approximate 45+ days remaining in the Obama honeymoon has been nixed. Yes, the love fest between the American people and President Barack Obama has come to a screeching halt.

The media shills, who just a few months ago were loudly exclaiming 'hosanna to Obama', are now beginning to yell 'crucify' him, as many are openly criticizing the 44th President's every move. It is unfathomable that media pundits and talking heads, such as David Gergen, Chris Matthews and David S. Broder are currently leading the chorus to declare the Obama presidency annulled.

Online news source, The Examiner, noted that in a recent Washington Post op-ed:

"[David S.] Broder points out that the main challenge is now coming from the mainstream media as well as the conservative wing. He thinks that some thoughtful congressional Democrats worry that Obama has bitten off more than he can chew. All of this may signal that the honeymoon is over long before the first 100 days have past." www.examiner.com

Other notables, such as Townhall's Mark Hillman, in this recent piece all but called President Obama a 'cry-baby'...admonishing him to quit blaming Bush and 'suck-it-up':

"Bush didn't spend the next few months claiming that he "inherited" a national security mess, nor did he complain about the economy which faltered in two of the final three quarters under President Clinton before contracting again in Bush's first year.

Likewise, President Reagan didn't whine about the soaring unemployment and burgeoning inflation that awaited him after President Carter's tenure.

These men understood that they campaigned for the opportunity to serve as President and to lead by making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions.

That's why President Obama's transformation from a candidate of hope and change to a president of gloom, blame and opportunism is so disappointing - even for those who didn't buy what he was selling as a candidate. His ability to truly inspire 53% of the voters seemed, at least, refreshing.

Now, the Obama team takes every opportunity to complain that they "inherited" a deficit, an "economic crisis," and "a big mess."

No hope, just bellyaching".

www.townhall.com/Columnists/MarkHillman/2009/03/16/big_boy_britches_for_obama

And what about the massive tea-party-protests being played out across the nation? Voters appear to be experiencing buyers remorse and taking to the streets to complain about the stimulus package and the increased taxes that the new President and Congress have proposed. Whoever heard of protesting a president half-way through his first 100-days?

But the coup de grâce, which truly signaled that Obama is out of good graces and the divorce is all but a done-deal... was the appearance on a recent Sunday morning news show of the 'father of the bride', former Vice President Dick Cheney, where he unequivocally accused President Obama of "making the nation less safe".

What? Did Dick Cheney really say that Obama cannot protect his new wife: the United States of America? Unheard of!

Now... these actions by the media are indeed unprecedented. But for Obama's own cousin, Vice President Dick Cheney, to come out during the 100-day honeymoon period to tell the nation and the world that Obama is making the country less safe... that is the remarkable! The marriage is officially on the rocks...

Majority Leader Declares: "I Don't Work For Barack Obama"

Has Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) officially declared his independence, as he noted for the record that he does not "work" for President-elect Barack Obama.

“I don't believe in the executive power trumping everything... I believe in our Constitution, three separate but equal branches of government.”

“If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him. I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him,” Reid said in a recent interview with The Hill.

Now exactly what kind of signal is Senator Reid sending to the American voters, other Congressional representatives and to leaders around the globe?

While it is true that Barack Obama, in accepting the position as President of the United States, officially works for, and is "an-employee-of" the American people... the Senate Majority Leader's statements somewhat lessens the authority of the office, and reduces the authority of the office holder. And while his statements are an "unspoken reality" on Capitol Hill and among lawmakers in general... would he have ever made such comments about Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Clinton or even George W.?

Reid may have set a new precedence here, as these words telegraph to a wavering populace that his Majority Senate position is 'par' to that of Barack Obama's. Even if Senator Reid's position is that he-is-as powerful and is equal or on the same level as soon-to-be President Obama, to publicly declare it on the national and international stage is a first in American politics.

Expectations For President-elect Obama May Be Unrealistic

President-elect Barack Obama addressed the nation by holding his first news conference. And by no means was he shy in conveying the bleak economic situation the United States finds herself in. According to the recently elected, but not-yet-certified 44th U.S. President:

"The country is facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime and we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it. We need a rescue plan for the middle class that invests in immediate efforts to create jobs and provides relief to families that are watching their paychecks shrink and their life savings disappear."

By all indications, Obama and his democratically controlled Congress, will have a very narrow window of opportunity available to them to fix this global financial crisis. Probably more than any other president-elect in history, the expectations are extremely, and possibly unrealistically high for him to do something.

Expressing the urgency of the situation, Mr. William Galston, a former White House domestic policy assistant in President Clinton's first term said:

"We're in a race against time to prevent a global financial meltdown, and I think everybody knows it."

Well... maybe everybody in the Washington, DC beltway knows it... but is that message really coming across clearly to the "I-want-my-money... and-I-want-it-now" populace? And, in spite of Obama telegraphing during his acceptance speech, and again during the press conference that he is not yet the president, and when he becomes president, the process to get out-of-this-mess will be slow and painful... the hurting masses who voted for him, aren't hearing him, and many are looking to him to turn the economy around, pronto!

Look for him to name his Treasury Secretary post-haste. That may give him a little breathing room... but not much.

Bill Clinton, Joe Biden Frame the Argument For Obama's Readiness

President Bill Clinton pushed all the right buttons, hit all the politically correct talking points, as he spoon-fed Republican 'red meat' to the Democratic faithful in Denver. Going way beyond the ten minutes alloted him, it was Clinton who finally set a theme for this Convention. In addition, he forcefully made a case for presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama as being ready to be the Commander-in-Chief.

It was apparent––from the half-hearted claps that echoed through the Convention Hall as Clinton cheerled for Obama––that the division within the Democratic party was not elimanated during this week of rallying-round-the-flag-pole. His biggest applause came with his comment:

He [Obama] will work for an America with more partners and fewer adversaries. He will rebuild our frayed alliances and revitalize the international institutions which help to share the costs of the world’s problems and to leverage our power and influence. He will put us back in the forefront of the world’s fight to reduce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and to stop global warming", said the 42nd President of the United States.

Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden came to the podium and used his oratory skills to humanize the Convention, often bringing tears to the eyes of many attendees as he gave recognition to this mom, wife, two sons, daughter, and his humble upbringing. Biden, a consummate speaker, only made one gaffe during his speech when he almost inserted the name of George [Bush] where he meant to say McCain.

Calling presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, his friend and emphasizing him as a 'hero' who made a great sacrifice for this nation... Biden went on to attack his buddy–– encouraing the crowd to echo the McCain-bashing slogan of the evening: "Not change... more of the same". His case against McCain's judgment rang a bit hollow, in that Biden too voted for the war in Iraq, to fund the troops and many of the other national security measures that his pal McCain voted for as well.

The 65-year old Delaware Senator, capped off his acceptance speech by saying the world will trust America again if Barack Obama is elected President, and was later joined on stage by the Democratic nominee, to the hoopla of the crowd.

Is An Obama/Clinton Head-Fake In the Making?

The long, drawn-out process to select the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America will finally conclude next week in Denver. This 4-day gathering brings together all of the party faithful, Super Delegates, and many national, state, and local level Democratic elected officials under one big tent. At the conclusion of this 2008 Covention, presumptive nominee, Senator Barack Obama, is expected to walk away as the big kahuna. (Note the keyword "expected". Because as long as there is breath in Hillary Clinton's body, she still has a possibility to snatch this nomination right from under him, or be on the ticket as V.P.)

In this political year, where nothing seems to be what it is––Up is now down; Black is white; the best candidate is painted as the worst and vice versa–– conspiracy theories abound. And claims that there is a dead rat somewhere in the mix, are rampantly circulating.

Take for instance the unusual and unexplained 'ceremonial' roll call vote Obama is granting Hillary Cinton on the night he is to accept his party's nomination. Unless she is the selected V.P. on this year's ticket... ceding that much ground to her and Bill is not justified.

Then, supposedly after this non-binding first round vote call is complete, Clinton in turn is expected to play nice, and keep her word and cast any and all her delegates from this play-acting vote, back to Obama? Everybody leaves unified, happy and ready to rumble! That is either the biggest hoax or... to quote Bill Clinton, a big "fairy tale."

Coming off a disastrous non-debate at Saddleback Church against Republican nominee John McCain, lackluster performances at recent town hall/campaign rallies, and a continual drop in his poll numbers since mid-March–– where McCain is up by 5 points today... Obama must choose that someone who can bring back excitement to his campaign. And, none of the current Veeps leaked to the media as being on Obama's short list: Kaine, Biden, Bayh or Sebelius, have the necessary 'juice' to aid in a victory for the Democratic team in November. Obama, who didn't get where he is by being naive or stupid, has probably known from day one that Hillary goes on the ticket, or he loses in the Fall.

Was that the game plan all along? Presidential contender Ralph Nader, who has long been dubbed a political spoiler, may have been telegraphing the "planned" Democratic ruse in the following news release:

"Obama may dislike Hillary, but will conclude he has no choice but to get over it if he hopes to leave next week’s convention in Denver with a unified party and a decent shot against John McCain in the fall: The polls show 25 percent of her supporters have not gotten on board.”

Chiming in to echo Nader's claim, is longtime Clinton loyalist and choice supporter, Lynn Forester/Lady de Rothschild, who was quoted in an international newspaper as saying:

"My loyalty is to the Democrats winning. Barack Obama is going to have a serious problem getting elected, for good reason. The party needs to face the fact that without Hillary Clinton on the ticket, the Democrats will probably lose.”

So, if the Obama/Clinton strategy from the onset was to play out this enemy/adversary or "good cop, bad cop" drama all the way to the end... only to come together, display a huge show of unity at the convention, and leave Denver as a cohesive team... that would be a brilliant, well-executed strategy. Then, the Denver speaking line-up would begin to actually make sense: spotlight on Michelle Obama on Monday, Hillary on Tuesday, Bill Clinton on Wednesday, and Obama on Thursday. Talk about the 2008 Presidential/Vice Presidential team on display right before our very eyes each night! All that's left is to drop the Red, White and Blue balloons.

If this has been the strategy for the Democrats to win back the White House, it would be the biggest bamboozlement, in-your-face to the Republican party in modern history–– and would catch the GOP totally off-guard. Or, as Dan Gerstein, a Democratic consultant from New York so aptly phrased it:

“If he [Obama] determines that Hillary after all is the best choice to help him to win and to govern, they are capable of pulling off what would be the greatest head fake in American political history.”

Bill Clinton Is Still a Slick-'un!

As they say here in the South... "watch that Bill Clinton... he is a slick-'un"! How best was this phrase demonstrated than during his recent interview on ABC news... where his comments continue to generate incessant rumors at the grass root level, regarding Senator Obama's constitutional qualifications for the office of President. Clinton, the masterful dean and inventor of message innuendo said, when asked by ABC correspondent Snow about Obama being completely qualified to be President:

"The Constitution sets qualifications for the president, and then the people decide who they think would be the better president".

Why didn't #42 just state a resounding "Yes, he is" ... or a conclusive "No, he's not", when asked that question? Surely Bill Clinton understands that this statement would further fuel the constant, nagging drag on Obama––and subsequent tanking poll numbers of Obama––because of the junior Senator from Illinois' refusal to produce his original, signed, certified birth certificate. Was President Clinton signaling a hidden meaning in his "... Constitution sets qualifications for the president..." remark that he has also bought into the wide-spread notion that Obama is hiding something by not being transparent and revealing his birth records?

While it's true the former president is busy championing his cause in Africa... but is he, or his aides, aware that he fed right into "web chatter"? Did he not know that bloggersville is abuzz with these 'daily' and 'hourly' conspiratorial posts:

Was Obama born in the US... Does he have dual citizenship in Indonesia and US... Was he legally adopted by his Indonesian step-father whereby his legal name on his birth certificate is Barry Soerto... Was his mama legally married to his daddy at birth... Or was he born illegitimate (as Michelle O hinted a few weeks back)... Is he part Arab by nationality... Was he listed as Muslim by religion...?

Clinton had to know that these are "real time" questions that dominate cyberspace–– and cyberspace is where this year's electorates are getting their information and forming their opinions for the General Election. It also should be noted that presumptive GOP nominee, John McCain, whose qualifications for the presidency were also questioned early-on in the contest, presented his original birth certificate to the media, and received an official ruling that his birth in the Panama Canal does not disqualify his run for the highest office in the land.

For sure... the shrewdness of Clinton's now-famous 'Constitution/qualification' remark did not help an already-wary-public put to rest these Obama birth certificate rumors. As a matter of fact, by virtue of his authority... he gave futher credence to them. Well, if this birth-certificate-'Constitution/qualification' issue is not sorted out before the Democratic Convention in two weeks, Obama can believe that the Republicans (who won't let the birth certificate issue go uncontested... nor let it hang like an overcast cloud) will mop the 50-State map up with him every day until he produces it, then, move on to the main blood bath through November 4th.

Take A Chill Pill and Lay Off Hill!

The recent misrepresentation by the national media of Hillary Clinton's RFK assassination misspeak has given a new meaning to the term "media distortion fed by anti-Hillary forces". After having re-read and replayed Senator Clinton's comments to the South Dakota editorial board, I have to agree with Hillary on this point: it doesn't matter what she says or does. It appears that those in the media–––who are gunning for her... and who are trying to get her out of the race–– are going to misconstrue, spin to the negative... or to be more direct–– blow her words out of proportion.

Careful examination of what Hillary said really boils down to this––as I paraphrase: "Long election cycles are no big deal. If people remember, Bill Clinton was still in the thick of it... as his bid for the nomination didn't end until the middle of June. And, Bobby Kennedy was campaigning for the Democratic primary spot in June, as the world remembers how he was killed during that time."

Now granted, Hillary Clinton has the reputation of being ruthless. And... by her own account she is a whiskey drinking, gun shooting (as a wee girl), brawler. But, how anyone could take the comments in question out of context (to mean Clinton was saying she remains in the race because she hoped somehow that Obama would be assassinated) is outrageous!

I think everybody needs to step back and take a breath for a minute. Assassination talk is too serious for to be used for political purposes. Let's just take Clinton at her word: that she was merely constructing a timeline reference to justify her argument for remaining in the race through June.

As news consumers, it is our responsibility to hold the main line media pundits to a higher standard. When the media fans nonsensical stories such as this, we the public must boycott their stations, send e-mails and faxes, and remind them that their job is to REPORT the news, not give opinions and insert innuendo into the public discourse.

My advice: Why don't we all just take a chill pill and lay off Hill!