Ten Inane Remarks of Pres. Obama

With due apologies to practically no one, I am able to resolve my password issues and have resume control of my blog site. Alot of ideas have been percolating in the brain-box, so I will have fun in draining it dry.  Here goes IMHO number one.

I must credit President Obama for his articulate style in presenting his agenda for America.  While I do not agree with many of his positions, he is the duly elected head-of-state and has every right to advance his plans.  The only point is the glibness of his expression, sometimes reduced to memorable zingers which merit further thought -- and rejection on principle.  The curse of the one who coins the phrase must own up to the counterfeit product such snapshots of thought tend to trivialize (yes, I know I am mixing a metaphor terribly -- a demonstration of this very premise).  We tend to confuse brilliance of expression for brilliance of thought.

No possible connection, period.

This is my list of the ten most ridiculous sayings of our honored president which may or may not need commentary.  My ramblimgs will follow Mr. Obama's.

1.  A teachable moment.  The episode of the white policeman and the black college professor which resulted in the beers at the White House peace treaty.  This would be the first of many issues of racist propaganda pieces risen over a policeman's honest visit to investigate disturbances in the neighborhood.  It is one more example of killing the messenger.

2. Treyvon Martin was like a son to me.  In an effort to bring some sense to an unfortunate incident, the first in a series of unfortunate incidents the President didn't need or deserve,  It was in support of the individual whose trial of his killer was a failed ploy for justice.  While the self-defense defense was valid, the President came down on the side of one, beginning a polarizing of the country which Mr. Obama didn't need or deserve.

3.  "JV squad"  The inflammatory insult of the Islamic radical element did what we hoped would never happen:  the JV squad proved they transcended varsity capabilty.  Obviously professional grade.  This brings us to ...

4.  It's not my pay grade.  The ultimate expression of "I can't do that," or "I'm not responsible for it."

5.  You can keep your doctor // your plan.  The worst lie (or, to be gracious, miscalculation) that was uttered in support of the Affordable Care Plan, which in the end was neither care or affordable.  Enforced insurance was just an act.

6.  Grow the economy from the middle.  I never understood why this line from the 2012 debates was not examined.  In a capitalist tradition, how is this done?  It was a denial of the "trickle down economics" criticized by the left during the Reagan administration.  Which worked, leading to an economic recovery that was faster than the Obama version.  Even now such a recovery is weak if jobs and labor issues are not resolved.

7.  Lead from behind.  Worst foreign policy philosophy ever.  The Arab Spring initiative has been a colossal flop due to lack of American leadership at the front.  Connected to this point is the related maxim Boots on the Ground.  It is a cover for much of the cowardly tactics of diplomacy.

8.  Hope and Change.  In one sense, Obama has effected the greatest ideological change in the country's history.  But it was an unequal yoke.  We hope for change for the better, but have no voice in determining the contents of the change.  This has led to the general dissatisfaction in the American Spirit. This also leads to that bizarre political slogan ...

9.  "D" is for drive.  "R" is for reverse.  A pundit for the progressive ideal, it is entirely illogical.  A car is made to move forward and backward in specific situations, like to drive up to the scenic overlook and then to withdraw from it.  The happen-chance that the names of the two political parties, Obama's own "D"emocratic Party and the reviled "R"epublican is an exercise in creative thinking, but is not at all substantial.

10.  I have a pen and a phone.  The president's response to the 2014 elections in which the Democratic Party lost a terrific amount of congressional seats and influence.  In a moment were the president could see as a review and rebuke of his policies, his pledge of pushing through his agenda via executive mandate was the highpoint of imperial audacity.  A wiser and a humbler man would have reached other conclusions.

Honorable Mention:  The science is settled.  In support of climate change, the president made claims on science that are not scientific.  Science, in its strictest sense, is never "settled."  All scientific findings are open to examination, evaluation, review, critique, and above all, skepticism.  Only an idolized version of science (we call it "scientism") could make such a blatant claim as "settled."  But that is not science.

This has been a relief to resume control of my blog site.   Now, barring governmental backlash (please, this remains America, where dissent can still be loyal), I hope to have the next post up soon.