Posted on 12/30/2009 5:58:42 AM PST by chickadee
"I think that Mr. Obama is not just inexperienced; he is also hampered by a distinct inner emptiness—not an emptiness that comes from stupidity or a lack of ability but an emptiness that has been actually nurtured and developed as an adaptation to the political world.
The nature of this emptiness becomes clear in the contrast between him and Ronald Reagan. Reagan reached the White House through a great deal of what is called "individuating"—that is he took principled positions throughout his long career that jeopardized his popularity, and in so doing he came to know who he was as a man and what he truly believed.
He became Ronald Reagan through dissent, not conformity. And when he was finally elected president, it was because America at last wanted the vision that he had evolved over a lifetime of challenging conventional wisdom. By the time Reagan became president, he had fought his way to a remarkable certainty about who he was, what he believed, and where he wanted to lead the nation."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I don’t like to say that “Sarah Palin is Ronald Reagan” because I think the whole point is that Sarah Palin in Sarah Palin. But it really bears saying that making individual choices, and being willing to take any lumps that follow, but standing by your principles and doing what you believe is right — that’s how a great politician is made. I believe that many, many people will be hungry for an honest person with principles — what those principles are may hardly matter — but people will be looking for Integrity, and there are very few people on the national scene who have that.
Two of my favorites!
Obozo has no idea what “integrity” is; a foreign concept to him.
Your point is well stated and I agree.
George W. Bush was not really my cup of tea because his use of the term “compassionate” to describe his conservatism was a sop to those who wish to demonize conservative principles. (But, I must admit, GWB looks real, real, real good now.)
Very well put!
I do, however, think Obama has an agenda and is not just a hollow shell that has floated way out of its depth, borne on the waves of white guilt. That he might be a little inept at getting it through is only a temporary problem, and I think we'll see his fangs beginning to grow more visible in the coming year.
I’ll take Sowell, but never Steele....
I kind of agree with some of what you said, but Obama seems to have fragmented the responsibilities of the Presidency to various “thinkers”. He has no center, which is why his responses to serious events often appear bewildering. The series of clanks he has delivered in the face of Fort Hood, the uprisings in Iran, the ousting of the Honduran President, the Panty Bomber, the troop level in Afghanistan and even the arrest of Henry Louis Gates betray a lack of center . . . and a snot.
It’s sad. I’ve known of many politically correct appointees to high positions in administration and management whose only job was to sit there and be black. Obama’s one, for sure.
If it is ok to ask, why don’t you like Shelby Steele?
Yes. And his vision for America was formed in the coffeehouses of the Bohemian culture that embraced Communism. His Admin must think the American public is really stupid when they tell us ‘there are a lot of people named Bill Ayers’ after we learn that a Bill Ayers is on the White House visitor list 23 times. He is not an empty shell. He is the true Manchurian President.
That is a very powerful article
But the people who should be awakened by it- won’t be
Haven’t seen the word “individuating” since reading Jung.
Great observation on the manchild versus Reagan.
Another problem that applies to the Left is that they all believe they are white knights riding to the rescue. They have no clue about their dark side, what Jung called the Shadow.
LOL! That's certainly true! But scratch any "progressive" and you'll find a snot. They're arrogant elitists who believe they know best.
CCg, I don’t think that could be said better. And how interesting that the political class from both sides viciously attacked her. The last thing that bunch wants, be it dem or pubbie or other, is a person who knows themselves, is principled and has integrity...and loves America.
That is what they hate about Sarah Palin.
I agree. If he were merely an empty suit, that would be bad enough. I believe that he has hidden his true agenda behind a “benign” facade, in his campaign, and I believe, like you, that the fangs will soon be bared. He won’t be able to help doing so as he pushes harder to enact his agenda.
That’s evident by reading some of the comments in response to the article. Not one of the commentators who takes issue with the article, can factually articulate why they disagree, every single one resorts to accusations of “racism” and “Uncle Tom-ism”. Not one refutes points made in the article or in the comments supporting the article’s conclusions. They don’t even try, and they don’t care, just slinging the accusation is enough “refutation” in their opinion.
Sorry, wrong steel, I thought you were talking about the RNC chair. :-)
I read the article but didn’t look at the author.
My bad...
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