SOTU self-importance
"I campaigned on the promise of change - change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren't sure if they still believe we can change - or that I can deliver it. But remember this - I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I could do it alone." -- Obama State of the Union (SOTU) Address, 2010
From attempting to take credit for the success of the Iraq War to smugly belittling the Supreme Court's campaign finance decision, America was treated to an evening of spectacular arrogance. It was nothing if not an exercise in deception, self-adoration, and blame.
Obama did not attempt to soberly convince or reassure Americans -- he lectured as would any condescending, narcissistic, professorial boor. Last evening, the nation suffered through a 70-minute, I-Me-My whine fest that purposely glossed over the root cause for an abysmal first year: His orchestrated decline of our free market economy, which is the true source of American power, prestige, and the very foundation for the pursuit of happiness.
Rhetorical petulance
Anyone who heard last night's speech -- detractors or supporters -- are this morning stewing in a vat of consternation at just how detached from reality the president is. And there is no better specimen to explain this than Obama's own beliefs as outlined in his SOTU.
While Obama regurgitated a mind-numbing litany of absurd promises to "invest" more taxpayer money in jobs bills, schools, green energy, carbon emission reductions, infrastructure, and punishing the wealthy, he also spent equal time blaming others for his failures -- especially the "previous administration." As Jonah Goldberg so aptly opined:
"There was no 'pivot to the center,' no serious accounting for the Massachusetts miracle or his misfortunes. Instead, there was an innumerate, inaccurate and distinctly un-presidential whine -- blaming George W. Bush for nearly all of his problems (leaving out, among other things, that the Democrats have been controlling Congress and crafting budgets since 2006)."
Obama seemed to be acting as though 2009 never existed. He spoke as if he were still on the campaign trail and not as the person who presided over last year's national meltdown.
Beyond pettiness
Perhaps Obama's most spiteful and telling moment of the evening, however, was his public chastisement of the Supreme Court as they silently sat front and center. This was a gross breach of decorum by a small, petty man, and represents the absolute worst"In essence, we witnessed a man who is in love with himself, a man who finds himself faultless and without a shred of humility." of Washington politics. The ensuing applause by Democrat Congress hacks merely served to highlight the petulance.
Obama insisted that Americans need to muster the courage to agree with him, to sign on to his agenda. He also implored Democrats not to "run for the hills" on the health-reform bill, but insisted that as "temperatures cool," hot-tempered opponents will, of course, realize they were wrong.
In essence, we witnessed a man who is in love with himself, a man who finds himself faultless and without a shred of humility. Perhaps this is why he is confidently ignoring the majority wishes of the American people.
This may explain why Obama did not back away from his commitment to pass health care legislation. The Obamacare he demands is incoherent, wildly expensive, vastly unpopular, and would do enormous damage to our economy. Incredulously, he also remains fixated on carbon Cap-and-Tax legislation, a job and economy killer the need for which is based upon a highly subjective and now-debunked manipulated theory.
Unpresidential
Last evening Americans were given symbolism over substance. Americans were talked down to rather than courteously addressed. Last evening a small man took credit for a war his predecessor won. It is important to remember that then-Senator Obama criticized the Iraq War, called it a dumb war, and said our troops would fail and that the surge would make things worse.
Still, Obama cannot hide from the fact that his first year in office has been, by almost every measure, a failure. To someone with Obama's colossal ego, this is enraging. He must now also feel angered that such a large majority of Americans now perceive his failure.
Last evening exposed a petty, vicious little man enamored with himself and with socialism, and with little regard for the people or constitutional governance.
Resources:
A Self-Reverential State of the Union Address
Latest Obamanations
Obama's answer for America: more of me
Text of Obama's State of the Union address
Hype and Chains.