Obama: Bush Continued

Artus Register

The concept that John McCain would behave exactly like George W. Bush was terrifying for many Americans, and thus an effective campaign tool for the Obama crowd.  There were even popular bumper stickers that admonished the thought of a McCain Administration, warning us: McCain: Bush’s Third Term.

It is safe to assume that exactly zero Obama voters ever considered the possibility of their man playing the same role.  They probably don’t see it now, either.

The mainstream media’s excitement over the new Administration’s “reversals” of Bush policy is the stuff of headlines, comedy show monologues, and supporter’s bloviations. But despite the droning on about such decisions, the Obama Administration has–in most major areas–parroted the arrogant and unlawful policies of its predecessor.

In the foreign policy arena, Obama and company have promised to copy the Iraq surge in Afghanistan, spending countless billions more in cash and untold quantities of American blood for increasingly vague objectives.  The Afghan theater spilling into Pakistan is almost a foregone conclusion.  And despite sincere-sounding rhetoric, we aren’t exactly rushing out of the abortion the U.S. has made of Iraq.

Obamanomics needs no explanation, and can enjoy no justification.  But for every right-winger shouting “Marxist!” there are three stubborn examples of Bush 43’s abject socialism, indulgent squandering, and exponential government growth.

So-called conservatives (whatever that word means in the post-Bush era) are vocally, and legitimately, if hypocritically, concerned about Obama’s plans to tax and spend, expand government, and gut the Constitution.   But it seems such misdeeds don’t count when political and economic tyranny is perpetuated by a Republican the media’s broken compass has signaled as “a staunch conservative” and “strict constructionist.”  To the alleged Right, it is the letter that decides the morality of positions, rather than actions: a (D) apparently means “Damn communist!” while an (R) indicaties, “Right on, man!”

The sad reality is that anyone remotely concerned with a healthy economy, the continued survival of a partially-free market, or the rule of law, should be too hoarse from calling for Bush’s head for the past eight years to say much of anything.  Those who didn’t certainly have no room to admonish Obama for sins he has not yet committed.

Fortunately as one who recognized the Bush fraud very early, and who experienced daily blood pressure spikes from continued subjugation to W’s endless stream of lies and shattered promises, I am exercising my reserved right to verbally accost this administration and predict the worst kind of governance–a lot of it.  Unlike the denizens of  hypocrisy that compose the rank-and-file Republicans, I do not spell tyranny f-r-e-e-d-o-m when a Republican dons the jack boots.

Despite the little Easter eggs of difference that will be played up by the media’s abysmal huger for sensationalism and division, this administration will likely do a great service to the cause of freedom by slaying once and for all the perpetual myth that any true and substantive differences exist between the two major political parties.

1 comment March 22nd, 2009

Obama: cause for optimism, maybe

Artus Register

Among the many concerns stemming from the inauguration of Barack Obama there is some good news, and some hope.

First, an incoming President means an outgoing one.  And while many of his tyrannical ideas may remain, George W. Bush is gone.  After eight years of Constitution-shredding, dictatorial proclamations, empire expanding, unimaginable spending, reputation destroying, government expanding, etc. Mr. Bush’s departure is a welcome reprieve from the advancing shadow of hyper-national, jingoistic, neo-fascism.

President Obama has promised to immediately close Guantanamo Bay, an infamous symbol of the U.S.. government’s abject lack of ethics, complete dishonesty, unapologetic cruelty, and gleeful disobedience of its own Constitution.

The incoming Administration has stated its intention to end the abysmal mistake that was and is the war in Iraq.  Caution is urged with on this note as Obama has stated that he wants more troops in Afghanistan. So this may be a case of simply doing the right thing here, and the wrong thing there.  In Afghanistan, there is at least the illusion that American troops are hunting down Al Qaeda rather than spraying opium crops, nation building, and training a foreign army.

Though our friends at NORML say the news so far isn’t good, there is a much better chance that an Obama administration will not stomp on medical marijuana rights as the Bush’s team did–despite W’s campaign promises in 2000 that he would not interfere with state marijuana laws.

Though they are unapologetic hypocrites, the Democrats would look awfully foolish after making so much noise about warrantless wiretaps and other privacy intrusions if they didn’t address the those issues, and undo some of the pro-government, anti-individual laws that gut privacy protection.

A lot changes are required to make any real difference in government, be it its approaching every problem with more money and power, its vast scope, or its self-replicating nature.  And the incoming administration has a long way to go before it proves itself a friend to liberty–economic of otherwise.  Most likely, if will be a shell game, and we the people will receive some relief on the one hand, and a heavier jackboot on the other.   There is little reason to believe that whatever “change” Mr. Obama brings to the political landscape, it will be significant enough to elevate liberty and shrink government.  But there may be some cause for a occasional smile, and with the cracks in the dam this administration may implement, fans of freedom might be able to–with a lot of work and serious commitment–scratch, chisel and claw actual holes.

For significant change to occur, the masses must begin to see government as the failure that it is; as a predatory gang of parasitic thieves eager to help you with your own money, and relieve from you the burden of responsibility.  Perhaps a President–seen as many as the opposite of the previous one–will serve as the ultimate illustration that government simply can’t.  This isn’t what his slogans of “Hope” and “Change” meant, but they might turn out to be more prophetic than Mr. Obama realizes.

Add comment January 21st, 2009