Achieve Ye This Goal ... Mark Steyn

NRO ^ | 15 Feb 2013 | Mark Steyn

[Rummyfan]

‘I’m also issuing a new goal for America,” declared President Obama at his State of the Union on Tuesday. We’ll come to the particular “goal” he “issued” momentarily, but before we do, consider that formulation: Did you know the president of the United States is now in the business of “issuing goals” for his subjects to live up to?

Strange how the monarchical urge persists even in a republic two-and-a-third centuries old. Many commentators have pointed out that the modern State of the Union is in fairly obvious mimicry of the Speech from the Throne that precedes a new legislative session in British Commonwealth countries and continental monarchies, but this is to miss the key difference. When the Queen or her viceroy reads a Throne Speech in Westminster, Ottawa, or Canberra, it’s usually the work of a government with a Parliamentary majority: In other words, the stuff she’s announcing is actually going to happen. That’s why, lest any enthusiasm for this or that legislative proposal be detected, the apolitical monarch overcompensates by reading everything in as flat and unexpressive a monotone as possible. Underneath the ancient rituals — the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod getting the door of the House of Commons slammed in his face three times — it’s actually a very workmanlike affair.

[Rummyfan]

[Yardstick]

Steyn in right on target as usual.

[Yardstick]

in = is

[Iron Munro]

Obama thinks he is an African Tribal Chief - when he sets a new goal for the tribe the tribe must act in acordance with his decree.

The problem is that far too many Americans agree with him.

[Corey Ohlis]

Yes, Steyn is right, but even he’s having a harder time making it acceptable to read about this clown.