George Rebane
Conservative syndicated columnist and radio host Michael Medved writes in the 14feb11 WSJ that ‘Obama Isn’t Trying to ‘Weaken America’’. His somewhat torturous path through the history of well-meaning Presidents concludes that President Obama isn’t trying to weaken America because he too shares the awe and respect for the office with his predecessors. In short, the implication is that Obama’s disastrous policies which have weakened America, and continue to do so, are not the “result of a diabolical master plan for national destruction”, but just the result of incompetence and bungling by a well-meaning President.
Well yes, that is a plausible and tempting assessment of the current administration. However, in my opinion, a more useful one that would equally satisfy Occam is that he simply intends to do what he has said all along. No devious diabolics are needed to explain away the observables. Assume the man is not stupid, and that he sees the world in a transition to a yet to be determined form of global governance. America’s current strength and world hegemony stands squarely in the way of such a unification – it is El Domino Primo. And America must be brought to heel before the other sovereign nation-states will fall in compliance.
So how does an astute collectivist administration accomplish that feat? Simply by doing exactly what it is doing now. On the current path America will be ready in the shortest time to join the community of nations as an equal, sharing its remaining wealth and knowhow to the benefit of all the world’s peoples. To its adherents such a credo and its attendant goal are anything but evil. And the President, along with his known circle of advisors and institutional sponsors, has made this noble end more than perfectly clear. Occam would be equally satisfied by seeing Obama within this framework.
And so viewed, Obama then emerges as the nation’s first post-American President. He is yet young enough to see his vision come to fruition, and hence it is equally plausible for him to consider the American Presidency as a stepping stone to higher office. Therefore, if one wishes to counter his efforts, it is more useful to view him as smart, energetic, and focused on achieving his goals.
[update] The release of the administration’s 2012 budget proposal today confirms that President Obama is smart and cynical in the extreme. And he continues to bet that at least one half of the national electorate is ignorant beyond redemption. It is an astute bet.
[15feb2011 update] As the hours pass since Obama’s budget hit the public eye, more and more comedy (perfidy?) is being wrung out of its assumptions and numbers. Here is a particularly clear example of some of the shenanigans that are in that hernia pack. H/T to RR reader for the link.
rebanesruminations.com 
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