"Barack Will Never Allow You to Go Back to Your Lives as Usual." - February 20, 2008

National Review ^ | February 20, 2008 | Jim Geraghty

[greyfoxx39]

Obama Approves New Team to Question Terror Suspects (CIA cut out: WH to supervise)

"President Obama has approved the creation of an elite team of interrogators to question key terrorism suspects, part of a broader effort to revamp U.S. policy on detention and interrogation, senior administration officials said Sunday."

FR thread HERE

 

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

BARACK OBAMA

"Barack Will Never Allow You to Go Back to Your Lives as Usual."

Last night I appeared on Hugh's show, and his producer Duane mentioned a Michelle Obama speech at UCLA. Captain Ed talked about this a bit, but I hadn't seen anyone transcribe the part of the speech where it gets a little... unnerving. It starts at about 8:41 in the audio.

Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.

I'm sorry, nowhere in the Constitution does it authorize the President of the United States to demand anyone shed their cynicism. And I'm all for people pushing themselves to be better, but I don't think the President demanding it is the way to go about it.

And what if we kind of like our lives as usual? What about Americans' freedom to be uninvolved and uninformed?

Darleen at Protein Wisdom transcribed what follows:

"You have to stay at the seat at the table of democracy with a man like Barack Obama not just on Tuesday but in a year from now, in four years from now, in eights years from now, you will have to be engaged."

Ah. Apparently apathy will be criminalized, then?

Does anybody on the left side of the aisle find this rhetoric a little creepy? Isn't this describing an authoritarian presidency way beyond anything George W. Bush has done or proposed?

Do the powers of the presidency really encompass everything Michelle says Obama wants and plans to do? Based on this rhetoric, isn't he actually running for messiah?

UPDATE: A great line from reader Mike: "That tingle going up Chris Matthews' leg is a shiver going down my spine."

ANOTHER UPDATE: For a contrasting view, Dan Riehl thinks it's not creepy, just high-minded political rhetoric. "I don't think Lincoln was thinking term limits when he invoked the better angels of our nature."

I don't know. I know presidents don't like cynicism. I know they often urge us not to be cynical. But I don't know if I like talk of a president "demanding" citizens "shed their cynicism." Liberty isn't just about the good stuff; we ought to be free to be cynical. Our leaders demand enough as is in income taxes.

And while presidential candidates are always going on about building bridges to coming centuries and building a better tomorrow, etc., I think pledging to end "life as usual" ought to be sending up red flags. Barring us from going back to our "lives as usual" is not in the job description, and shouldn't be.

02/20 02:26 PMShare

[greyfoxx39]

From the FR thread:

"Holy Crap. An INTERROGATION UNIT, reporting DIRECTLY TO THE WHITE HOUSE, with NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

The Gestapo is taking form.

This guy really DOES intend to become the American Hitler. "

Lazamataz

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[Candor7]

60 million rifle bolts just went “snickety-snick.”

[TLI]

Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual,

Interestingly, I do not recall asking his damn permission.

[PIF]

or the NKVD and an American Lenin/Mao Tse-Tung...

We’ll know the truth of the matter - if he realses a religious tract for all to follow then a Hitler, or a rule book based on platiudes and slogan, then a Mao Tse-Tung.

[Lazamataz]

Barack Obama is a geniune Hitler wannabee.

Folks, get ready for the REAL DEAL. Hope y'all can handle some time in the field.

I know I can.

[muawiyah]

Obama wants in on the fun part of being President ~ cutting people with razors perhaps?

[gunnyg]

related...

http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/the-names-obama-barack-obama-obama-long-ime-cia-asset/

[HIDEK6]

I remember hearing her saying that and thinking, "WTF?"

The president doesn't have that power.

I was curious as to why no one has mentioned it until now.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Remember these idiots?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqcPA1ysSbw&feature=related

[miliantnutcase]

Chavez must be giving him pointers on starting a proper communist regime.

[albie]

Where did I miss the “Interrogation Unit” stuff?

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

if he realses a religious tract for all to follow then a Hitler, or a rule book based on platiudes and slogan, then a Mao Tse-Tung.

I'm going with platitudes and slogans. "Quotations From Obama's Teleprompter" or something.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

He’s been around commies and studying Communism his whole life.

[Anima Mundi]

I have often noticed him saying that he would ALLOW us to do whatever because I cring every time a politician uses the word ALLOW, or says what THEY will GIVE. Sort of “trigger” words for me.

[Mr Inviso]

Well, in a way, he has done that.. people are definitely getting involved, becoming more engaged....,but it’s against him, not with him.

Be careful what you spout off about, there. It sometimes comes back and bites.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Obama wants in on the fun part of being President ~ cutting people with razors perhaps?"

Don't give them any more ideas...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322916/posts

[Oldpuppymax]

In 2010 we will witness voter fraud and intimidation on a breathtaking scale. Thugs will surround polling places like bacterium and the MSM will say nothing about it. Of course, should some actual Americans protest the intimidation of voters, they will be portrayed as trouble makers—paid by the radical RIGHT. I’m afraid WE AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET when it comes to the gangland fascism of Hussein and his thug associates and underlings. However, these would-be dictators are working to enslave an ARMED people. The 2nd amendment is our only salvation, as a nation and as a people. The founders wisely provided Americans with the means to overthrow tyrants. The question is—are there enough patriots left to get it done??!!

[mowowie]

I made it to the 2:00 mark.
ouch

[muawiyah]

I’m sure he learned quite enough at Trinity UCC.