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Obama Gives Up the Fake "Hope and Change" Act ... And Adopts the Neocon FEAR Playbook
I voted for Obama, hoping that he would change things away from the Neocon fear-based politics to something better.
But as I warned right after the election in 2008:
I - like most Americans - am relieved that the trickle-down emotion du jour has shifted from fear to hope. It feels nicer.
But it is no more real than switching from watching the tv from the horror channel to the feel-good-movie channel.
They are both fiction. Neither the Neocons or Neolibs deliver on their promises.
The Neocons drummed up fear of terrorists, but actually made America less secure, and stomped on our liberties in the process.
The Neolibs promised hope, but gave none ...
Hope is just an emotion. Admittedly, real hope for fundamental and lasting change is important.
But false hope ... is less than worthless . . . it is dangerous, for it lulls people to sleep so they won't demand real change.
After the Honeymoon is Over
When
the honeymoon between the voters and Obama is over, people will judge
him on who he picks to lead his cabinet and what he actually does.
After the honeymoon is over, the only questions will be whether Obama:
- Protected our liberty and restored the Constitution and the rule of law
- Restored the balance of power
- Ensured justice
- Kept us out of imperial wars
- Stopped the looting of our treasury and pockets ...
Whether or not Obama does these things - and not whether he administers the hope drug - is the question.
Unless
the fundamental tyranny, injustice, imperialism and economic
foolishness are addressed, then America will have one heck of a hangover
when the drug wears off.
Well, it is now clear that Obama did none of
those things, and our country does have a hangover. The bailouts and
hand-holding of Wall Street has continued, without any help for Main
Street. None of the biggest financial fatcats who committed criminal
fraud have been brought to justice. We've gotten in yet another
senseless war in Libya. The TSA, Homeland Security and other government
agencies are becoming more repressive than ever.
As I noted last year:
Virtually all of our politicians are corrupt. See this, this and this.
The giant banks are running the show.
The healthcare bill being rammed through Congress "is just another bailout of the financial system", and law school professors say that it is unconstitutional.
America is on a permanent war footing, when the people (and soldiers) are sick of war.
Our civil rights have been eroded, and yet we are not being made any safer.
***
Obama has sold us out.
Indeed, the American people understand that we're in trouble. As CNN Money pointed out last week:
Just
22% believe the country is on the right track, Rasmussen tells us.
According to a new Gallup poll, more than half of us say the economy is
in recession or depression, despite the fact that output has been
expanding since the summer of 2009. In fact, more of us (29%) say the
country is in a depression than say the economy is growing (27%).
From Hope to Fear
Many have accused Obama of being Bush's third term. Even McClatchy asks whether Obama is morphing into Bush.
Obama can't sell hope anymore. So he's switched to the Neocon fear card.
For those who think that the heightened fear of terror is solely due to Osama being taken out, remember, as I noted in February, long before the Osama raid story broke:
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security - Janet Napolitano - just told congress that the U.S. might be facing the greatest threat of terrorist attacks since 9/11:
And in some ways, the threat today may be at its most heightened state since the attacks nearly 10 years ago.
This is what the front page of the Drudge Report currently looks like:
(click for larger image. Granted, Drudge calls himself a conservative, but all of the media is beating the terrorism drum).
Do
you remember when Japan's nuclear accident was in the news? How about
the war in Libya, or the Federal Reserve document release showing that a
lot of the money went to foreign banks (including Libya), the wives of
Wall Street titans, and other elites? These stories have been pushed off
the radar by the terrorism hype.
Remember, the father of the
Neoconservative movement (Leo Strauss), who tutored many leaders of
the current administration, believed that a stable political order
required an external threat and that if an external threat did not exist, one should be manufactured. Specifically, Strauss thought that:
A
political order can be stable only if it is united by an external
threat . . . . Following Machiavelli, he maintained that if no external
threat exists then one has to be manufactured"
And see this for background.
FBI agents and CIA intelligence officials, constitutional law expert
professor Jonathan Turley, Time Magazine, Keith Olbermann and the
Washington Post have all said
that U.S. government officials "were trying to create an atmosphere
of fear in which the American people would give them more power".
Indeed, the former Secretary of Homeland Security - Tom Ridge - admits that he was pressured to raise terror alerts to help Bush win reelection.
Indeed, scientists have demonstrated that fear of terrorism makes people stupid and compliant. So if governments can scare people with exaggerated, shadowy threats, it can do whatever it wants.
Are
we going go back from koolaid drinkers of false hope to mindless
terrorized sheep? Or are we going to stand up as brave, independent, thinking people
and demand real change?
Postscript: If you believe that Obama is less brutal than Bush, read this.
»
- advertisements -
"the metal detector has gone off again. the authorities AGAIN want to know 'what's in your pants.'"
As a single congressman, not much. However; the bully pulpit of the Presidency can make a significant difference in the direction of this country.
which is if it is really close between obama and a republican, I will vote to defeat the republican. Otherwise I won't vote for obama again. To those who were snickering at GW and Banzi's 'naive vote', conciously voting for mccain verges on treason.
Hate the money changers who put these sock puppets up for our 'choice'.
i voted for obama and i am changing my registration to republican tomorrow (form printed and signed) to vote for ron paul in the republican primary. i will not vote for obama again if he's running against palin or the devil.
the only questions will be whether Obama:
•Protected our liberty and restored the Constitution and the rule of law
•Restored the balance of power
•Ensured justice
•Kept us out of imperial wars
•Stopped the looting of our treasury and pockets ...
Don't think any of these items actually ended up in the playbook.
"the only questions will be whether Obama:
•Protected our liberty and restored the Constitution and the rule of law
•Restored the balance of power
•Ensured justice
•Kept us out of imperial wars
•Stopped the looting of our treasury and pockets ..."
Biggest laugh I've had all month......
Canadian Bacon
U.S. President: The American people, Mr. Smiley, would never ever buy this.
Smiley: Mr. President, the American people will buy whatever we tell them to.
...
Secretary of State: We were thinking, what could be a bigger threat than aliens invading from space?
General Panzer: Ooh boy! Scare the shit out of everyone. Even me, sir!
U.S. President: Jesus, is this the best you could come up with? What about, ya know, international terrorism?
General Panzer: Well, sir, we're not going to re-open missile factories just to fight some creeps running around in exploding rental cars, are we, sir?
The Formula
Arthur Clements: [proposing that Titan Oil can raise their gasoline prices] The people will accept the 12 cents now because we can blame it on the Arabs!
Adam Steiffel, Chairman Titan Oil: Ah, Arthur, you're missing the point: We *are* the Arabs.
...
Barney Caine: [Barney Caine to Adam Stieffel, Chairman, Titan Oil] What do you know about this nation? Don't you ever give a second thought to American citizens? You're the reason their money's worthless. You're the reason old people are eating out of garbage cans, and kids get killed in bullshit wars. You're not in the oil business; you're in the oil SHORTAGE business! You're an ivory-tower hoodlum-a common street killer. I wish to Christ there was some way I could nail ya'.
Rambo 3
Masoud, Afghan Mujahedeen Leader: Now you see how it is here. Somewhere in the war there's supposed to be honor. Where's the honor here? Where? Now, we're taking the survivors to the border. Are you coming?
Rambo: I'm going to the fort.
Masoud, Afghan Mujahedeen Leader: Have you not seen enough death? Go! Go while you can! This isn't your war.
Rambo: It is now.
Masoud, Afghan Mujahedeen Leader: So be it. You're a good friend.
...
Mousa: This is Afghanistan... Alexander the Great try to conquer this country... then Genghis Khan, then the British. Now Russia. But Afghan people fight hard, they never be defeated. Ancient enemy make prayer about these people... you wish to hear?
Rambo: Um-hum.
Mousa: Very good. It says, 'May God deliver us from the venom of the Cobra, teeth of the tiger, and the vengeance of the Afghan.' Understand what this means?
Rambo: That you guys don't take any shit?
Mousa: Yes... something like this.
Rollerball
Moonpie: What do you want books for? Look Johnny, if you wanna learn somethin', just get a Corporate Teacher to come and teach it to ya'. Use yer Privilege Card.
...
Ella: But comfort is freedom. The entire history of civilization is a struggle against poverty and need.
Jonathan E.: No, that's not it. That's never been it. I mean, them privileges just buy us off.
...
Bartholomew: Corporate society takes care of everything. And all it asks of anyone, all it's ever asked of anyone ever, is not to interfere with management decisions.
...
Jonathan E.: I've been thinking, Ella. Thinking a lot... and watching. It's like people had a choice a long time ago between having all them nice things or freedom. Of course, they chose comfort.
Ella: But comfort is freedom. It always has been. The whole history of civilization is a struggle against poverty and need.
Jonathan E.: No! No... that's not it. That's never been it! Them privileges just buy us off.
[deep sigh]
Jonathan E.: Look, they want me to quit, Ella.
Ella: Then quit.
Jonathan E.: Just like that, huh?
Ella: But you've got to do it now. You've got to before it's too late, whether you want to or not. Look, Johnny... the next game there won't be any substitutions allowed... and no time limit. You'll die, Johnny. Everybody will die.
Jonathan E.: No time limit. They tell you that?
Ella: Yes.
Jonathan E.: They tell you to convince me to quit?
Ella: Yes, but that isn't why I came here. You have to get out for your own sake. Oh, please Johnny, please.
Jonathan E.: They tell you to stay if... ah... I did quit?
[Ella is silent with a plea in her eyes]
Jonathan E.: You my big reward?
[Jonathan walks away from her as melodramatic violin music starts to play]
Death Race 2000
Harold: As the cars roar into Pennsylvania, the cradle of liberty, it seems apparent that our citizens are staying off the streets, which may make scoring particularly difficult, even with this year's rule changes. To recap those revisions: women are still worth 10 points more than men in all age brackets, but teenagers now rack up 40 points, and toddlers under 12 now rate a big 70 points. The big score: anyone, any sex, over 75 years old has been upped to 100 points.
I'm a fan of Dr. Strangelove myself:
General Buck Turgeson: "Mr President, what we have here is a MINE SHAFT GAP!"
Right up there with Colonel Jack Ripper saying, "it's all about flouridation in our water. You understand that don't you?"
FYI
http://www.idrink.com/v.html?id=47146
Although after Fukushima, that may need to be tweaked
You want Frankenstein...I'll give you Frankenstein!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1DeU17cEtE
This weekend everybody who wanted to go to à very large swimming area was forced by THE police to ID themselves. None refused.
All for safety.
We are entering à new west police State
I thought all you Europeans swam in those man-bikini things. Where do you put your ID's?
You can have it tattooed on your dick.
ROTFL!...first laugh of the day SD.
Hang on a second officer, I got right here, Achtung!
This weekend everybody who wanted to go to à very large swimming area was forced by THE police to ID themselves. None refused.
All for safety.
We are entering à new west police State
Maybe all them people "was forced" because it was a 21 and up swimming area?
Duh, switching from hope to fear is always a good play for an incumbent, as there is no primary battle where you have to appeal to the base. Plus, as an "outsider" he sold all of the Hopium during the last election. So the inner focus of an outsider shifts to an outer focus by an insider. (So, did you notice, both times the focus is away from the candidate?)
Meanwhile, the weapons known as "voters" continue to destroy the world by empowering one lying psychopath after another.
Here's a clue, GW. You are free to choose any leader you want. What you cannot do though, is to choose mine. As soon as you try, you are no different than any other criminal with a gun. Well, except you gave yours to your "representative" to use on your behalf. Hard to imagine why that isn't working out for you.
www.RegenerationX.org
Okay, fine. Let's demand real change. Now who is going to deliver? Ron Paul, Donald Trump, Huckabee? Come on, the moral hazard has been unleashed for 30+ years. It will be up to communities to fend for themselves because America will become a third-world shell of a superpower before any real change occurs (just like Russia did in the 90's). Know your neighbor, and hedge accordingly, all "sovereign" nations are heading to the same end point, we are all just taking different paths.
Who?
TINA says NOTA.
especially as it all unquiet on the financial front...holy jeze...
How much of this is a Straussian strategy versus the need to clamp down before TSHTF?
The "hope" that was offered was merely a message. Few if any hopeful actions were taken. Obama is an obvious fraud, but look at his ratings. Fear works.
Yep, people voted for hope but then they did not hold themselves or everyone else in their lives accountable. Fraud remains the status quo.
The TYT army and the silver liberation army SLA should join forces.
They are brothers in arms by nature.
We have the president that we deserve.
I never cease to be amazed by the number of so-called sophisticated people that voted for this nobody from nowhere piker POTUS on hope & change. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing. We will be cleaning up this mess for decades.........
There are doznes of PiecesOS who post on ZH who voted for him. Unfortunately, you will never have the America you had before him. I bet GW voted for him and there are a bunch more here who voted for him and would do it again. They are scum.
trying to get the bird into the air, and, we're really overcrowded (thanx crew chief, but we'll try) and the heat/altitude sux and --
that is rather in the moment.
and I fear you are right--we'll be eventuating this mess for quite a while. Bad? No control over that. "Gift of time?" Ya, spread the word.
- Ned
go play, but recognize
Help me out here. You are not the only one with the soubriquet- Ned.
Can you enlighten, before it drives me batty? Is it an acronym or a salute or what?
Amazing to me that there are still those who point to Obama as tho he's the first, not one in a string of global puppets.
In other better news:
Texas Senate OKs lawmakers packing heatMaybe they're a ittle worried.
In Virginia, anyone with a permit can carry a pistol in the General Assembly building and office complex. The pig iron express lines through security also move infinitely faster than the sheeple lines, and eliminate the need for the TSA impersonations by state troopers, although I hear they are far more respectful and professional than the TSA.
dup
It should have been 'Hope for Change in one hand' and 'Shit in the other hand' and see what happens first.
Alex... I'll take shit for $1,000,000,000,000.
Shit +1,000,000,000,000,000,000
If we vote for a candidate from either of the big party's - shit is all we will get - ALL THE TIME!!! The overwhelming majority in the USA is not going to wake up to this.
There is Only One Big Party
i'm not sure big is 100% right, but, like damon runyon said of "the race is not always to the swift nor struggle to the strong": that's the way to bet it.
Poorly placed barackobama.com side bar advertisement.
I'm still giggling over the fact that this idiot admits that he VOTED for Obama...LOL! Holy shit, this site is a riot!
Dumb key word advert placement. Amazing for software in 2011.
Et tu Brute? ;-)
isn't that a Champagne? "How 'bout a little Colonel Clink with that bottle?"
thats good…almost as the islamodating site ad next to tyler's eulogy of UBL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60549624@N04/5697627323/
http://projectcamelot.net/richard_hoagland_interview_transcript_3.html
Having an online site means you sign up for advertising in one form or the other unless you are uber-rich. Contextual - based on the content of the article. Behavioural - where have you been and what have you done. Local - offers local services on some basis (not sure how but am interested). Like all sites - ZH, Facebook or even Google are not free services. They monetize via advertising (with outdated metrics but that is just my opinion). Do you have any idea how much it costs to run a site like this - thought not.
The cost-benefit ratio of anyone's WWW. Internet Cyberspace experience can be immensely improved with AdBlock Plus....and its FREE! Try it, you'll thank me later!!
@ Arkadabadoo
try this site. no paid ads. none. zero. and its a top site
http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites
have fun getting x - whoops - there - and keeping your credit card private.