Obama Wraps Up The Bush Status Quo In Pompous Clichés

by Robert Tracinski - July 20th, 2008 - Real Clear Politics

Here's a tip. When Obama begins a sentence with "As I have said many times," this means that he is about to announce a totally new position that contradicts everything he has said before. For a little reminder of what Obama has actually said about the surge "many times," check out this video clip helpfully posted to YouTube by the Republican National Committee.

The rest of [his comment] shows a total, willful ignorance about what the surge actually consisted of and what it has done. He says that we "talked directly to Sunni tribes that used to be hostile to America." Well, we did a little more than talk. We backed up the Sunni "Awakening" movement with some serious military action--which is precisely what the extra "surge" troops were needed for.

But the most ridiculous line is that "Shiite militias have generally respected a cease-fire." This Spring saw pitched fighting between Iraqi troops and the Iranian-backed Mahdi Army militia--fighting that ended because the Mahdi Army lost. Does Obama not even watch the news?

Day by day this campaign gets funnier and funnier. Read the New Yorker article and it is clear, Obama's total efforts to date have been vicious hard core partisan politics. Yet Obama poses as "post partisan". His comments and history prove he is most comfortable around racist bigots. Yet Obama poses as a "racial healer". He has surrounded himself with Marxists and extreme leftists. Yet some compare him to Ronald Reagan who was the Marxists avowed opposite. He has done nothing of significance; accomplishing little as a community organizer, tried only 10 meaningless cases as a lawyer, did nothing as a State Senator, and spent less than one year as a U.S. Senator before he sought the highest office in our land . . . and the most powerful position in the world. He flips and flops on his positions with vague rhetoric, consistent with his only talent, public speaking. His supporters ooh and ahh and call him the messiah.

My summation of his record? The only talent he has we can point to is public speaking. This is a great talent for someone who conducts seminars or becomes a preacher. It is not a talent that will lead to success as a President. In every other way he is a second rate charlatan who has accomplished nothing of signficance.