Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Chump Change

Barack Obama's famous campaign slogan was "change". At the same time, the most important issue to his supporters and cultish followers was the Iraqi War. Today, President-elect Obama announced the re-appointment of Robert Gates, President Bush's Defense Secretary. Secretary Gates has overseen recent Iraqi War policy, including the surge. Thus, his reappointment is a refreshing surprise, because it suggests a victory of practicality over ideology. But the reappointment does not represent change. It represents continuity.

President-elect Obama has played his cards smartly. But his followers and supporters are chumps. They are suckers. Marks. The suckers include both his hordes of brown shirt-like young followers and the propagandists formerly known as the mainstream media.

I have suggested over many months that Obama's young supporters have been chumps. This younger cohort is a generation that does not read books and that considers Bill Maher to be an information source. Their teachers have not read John Locke. They have never heard of him.

One of my students, a gay activist, became upset with me a few weeks ago when I mentioned during a social occasion (I occasionally have a drink with my MBA students after class) that I thought that George Bush and Barack Obama represented the same interests. His anger was palpable. When I questioned this student, a product of elite universities, whether he had read anything about the Iraqi War; the dispute between Shias and Sunnis; or anything else about the Iraqi War, his answer was "no". When I suggested a couple of books to read, he was not interested. However, he became enraged when I suggested that there would be little difference.

America's failed democracy naturally flows from its failed educational system. Like the ignorant hordes that have supported socialism, fascism and communism, Obama's supporters emphasized slogan over substance, and viewed asking questions as to Obama's vital information and true intentions with venomous hostility. One of his supporters, who calls himself "Diogenes", has seen it so important to suppress any questions that he has come onto this blog repeatedly, hurling curse words and insipid invective such as "tin foil hat" any time that I have raised questions about Mr. Obama. He recently used several insults and curse words when I suggested that Americans need to read John Locke.

In early September I argued that Barack Obama would be a George W. Bush clone and in June, I had suggested that:

"Mr. Obama claims to favor change, yet he is allied with specific economic interests, specifically Wall Street. In 2008, Goldman Sachs so far has given $2.7 million to Democrats and less than $1 million to Republicans. Goldman Sachs's contributions to Democrats has exceeded those to Republicans every year since 1990. To assuage public concern about excessive Wall Street influence on Obama, America's off-the-charts-insipid media provide testimonies from 'principled' Wall Street tycoons like George Soros and Warren Buffett that Obama is for 'change'. Of course, Messrs. Soros and Buffett do not discuss how Obama's 'change' will influence their own economic interests."

It remains to be seen how far Mr. Obama's blithe, sociopathic lying goes and whether he carries it into realms that are potentially harmful to the United States. However, for now he seems to have made clear that change with respect to the Iraqi War is not a top priority for him. In this, he has played his millions of young supporters, including the MBA student, for chumps.

8 comments:

Ted said...

“Dirty Pool” at the Supreme Court apparently on behalf of Obama currently usurping YOUR Constitution: Leo Donofrio’s companion case, brought by Cort Wrotnowski, with fuller/better briefing showing Obama is not an Article II “natural born citizen” reportedly has been sidetracked to the anthrax lab to deprive the full Court from seeing those filings in connection with Donofrio’s case this Friday, Dec 5, 2008. DO SOMETHING AMERICA!!!

TruthHurts said...

I agree that some of the comments that he's said recently clearly point to a more centrist leadership style, but this should have the die hard republicans elated. If he does not rush to raise taxes or move troops out of Iraq, than what is the argument against him. You could call him a liar, but maintaining Bush tax cuts is what the republicans wanted. No?

I think a lot of Obama critics have forgotten that Obama is not president yet. Rush Limbaugh has been blaming him for the economic crisis for months yet he will not hold any executive power until late January. His new talking point is "where is Obama and why isn't he fixing this..? Should we change the constitution to elect him sooner so he can have some executive power? I find his criticism even more disingenuous because Rush cannot bring himself to criticize the current president for anything.

Will Obama keep his campaign promises? I hope, but I won't start evaluating his job performance until day 1.

And let's be fair; I have read more than my share of tirades from McCain supporters that you could easily classify as "palpable anger". The link below is from a posting on your site and the anger was so over the top that it left me scratching my head:

http://mitchell-langbert.blogspot.com/2008/11/nancy-razik-lets-fox-news-have-it.html

And obviously, I don't agree with the majority of what you post, but I think it is very important for people to take in all information before passing judgment. And on an unrelated topic, I also had the occasional drink with a few of my MBA professors. Enjoy your day.

Anonymous said...

You hit the nail on the head with the sociopath remark. People continously talk about what a magnificent orator Obama is. Yet we see Youtube videos when his teleprompter goes down and all we hear is uh, huh, uhm. Then he laughs when he tries yo gather himself but he never does. He makes gaffe after gaffe. When you listen to his speeches you hear a lot of umm's, because it is not his words. Obama has no clue what to say until someone tells him. The words are not in his heart. He can't even memorize them because he does not believe in the words he speaks. This supposedly brilliant man could continue a speech without prompting if it were his ideology.

How does he seem to smooth? He is a sociopath. That is the only answer as to why he can put his two beautiful daughters in harms way like he has. The end justifies the means. For Obama he feels he has so much power behind him he can get out of anything now.

Take for instance the birth certificate and selective service registration that Obama refuses to even speak out on. 20 lawsuits I think now. He knows or his campaign team told him if he speaks out and then gets caught he will be known for his fraud. So he has his team do it for him and Hamas Cair attorneys fight them in court. Nary a word from Obama. Obama just sails through talking to reporters and speeches on TV like nothing is going on that could take the election from him. Why? Sociopaths know exactly how to manipulate and in their mind they have done nothing wrong. Like Obama has said repeatedly, it is others who lie about him, it is smear merchants, it was someone else, he never knew. In Obama's mind he feels that way. There is no guilt or remorse. He never once gives a thought to his daughters who will go through life known as having a father who was a habitual liar. Or worse a fraud.
And I wonder all the time if this is the reason Obama was picked as the chosen one by people like George Soros. They know he can pull off anything they tell him and the best part for them, they will control him because they know.

Obama is the classic sociopath.

Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Promiscuous Sexual

Behavior/Infidelity

Lack of Realistic Life

Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle

Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility

Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

Other Related Qualities:

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them

Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them

Authoritarian

Secretive

Paranoid

Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired

Conventional appearance

Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)

Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)

Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim

Incapable of real human attachment to another

Unable to feel remorse or guilt

Extreme narcissism and grandiose

May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

Psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare

Anonymous said...

Excellent commentary. I learned about John Locke just briefly in college during a philosophy class, but it was my father, a Cuban immigrant who knew more about John Locke than any American I have known.

Those young people you refer to have unfortunately been duped not just by their college professors, but the pissant media and Hollywood. When will they learn?

Anonymous said...

You should feel sorry for diogenes. That person has been duped by Obama and his team. With the media on Obama's side many of Obama's lemmings cannot be at fault for being conned. I am willing to bet Diogenes is set up with the action wires and is told what to post but never told why or given any facts to back them up. It is happening all over the web. You know them when they show up because they never look at the comments, they just repeat over and over what they are told to post.

Take a look below at a memo leaked at how Obama and his team has lead their followers into the phantasmic world of the created Obama.

Pajamas Prints Damning Memo from “The One’s” Campaign

In what will surely be the most damaging leak of this political season, Pajamas Media has just published a memo from David Axelrod, of the Obama Campaign. The memo is written in response to the media learning that tickets for “The One’s” acceptance speech in Denver next month carried, in addition to the price tag, a coercive requirement of “volunteer” labor on behalf of the “One,” presumptive nominee, Barack Obama.



Read the entire thing. It is quite disgusting to discern the cynical views of these “professional” pols in their own words, and quite amusing to note that Mr. Axelrod also indulges in the messianic nomenclature regarding “The One.”



VOLUNTEER FOR OBAMA, OR ELSE!



The following memo was leaked to PJM anonymously from a server tracked to a hotel in downtown Denver.

August 14, 2008 - by Stephen Green

Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers

BEGIN DOCUMENT

MEMORANDUM

DATE: August 13, 2008

TO: The Inner Circle, The Disciples

SUBJECT: That hateful partisan story in today’s Rocky Mountain News

From the Desk of David Axelrod

Chief Media Consultant

Obama for America 2008

Hey guys,

We’ve got trouble.

Somehow media hack Kevin Vaughn found out about The One’s requirement that those who wish to hear Him give His acceptance speech must put in six hours of “volunteer” work. Here’s what one of our devotees was quoted saying.

“My whole reason why I’m so mad about it is because Democrats need to act like Democrats,” said Heather Kreider, a working mother from Centennial.

“Democrats work for a living, and they have to work and take care of their families. And they say these are open to those in the community, so they shouldn’t ask people to drop everything in their lives for this,” Kreider said Tuesday.

“It’s not fair. It’s elitist. And they need to practice what they’re preaching,” she added.

You can see the whole story but it’s just more of the same. We look bad, and The One doesn’t look good either.

Worse, Vaughn claims that “Arbeit macht tickets” won’t even guarantee a ticket, just a shot at getting one. Is that right? This was Hildrebrand’s idea wasn’t it? Brilliant! (Way better than that stupid “viral” hand gesture thing Patti came up with. Like a giant vagina is going to help us with the white male vote. Send her back to the Clintons, ASAP.) How many extra workers will we get for those tix? Two for each? Three? But it sure doesn’t make us look good now that it’s gotten out. We’ve got to get things cleared up, pronto. If that means losing some “volunteers,” then so be it. Also, this is going to require a BIG press offensive, and I want nothing but facts out there this time, OK?

I’ve come up with three points. Don’t deviate.

DETAIL: It is NOT true that devotees who want a picture of The One must rake his lawn. That’s only if they want it autographed. But don’t mention that last part. Also don’t mention that thing with the yard signs we had printed up in China. Who knew how flammable those were going to be? Anyway, stick to the denial, and don’t elaborate under any condition. The Boss has gotten into trouble doing just that (remember His promise to meet all those dictators?); we don’t need to make more trouble for Him.

DENY: Not every DNC attendee will have to detail His car. Just the ones who insist on wearing stupid hats and anything in excess of three (tastefully sized; see my 4/20/08 memo) lapel pins. It’s also not true Clinton delegates will be forced to park their cars right next to the Designated Protest Pen. The Clintons caught wind of that idea when Plouffe first floated it - find that mole! - and so now we’ve got to let BOTH of them speak during His convention. The Democratic Party doesn’t belong to the Clintons anymore, and we can’t give them any chances to make people forget that it’s ours.

DISTRACT: Those gun-toting religious nuts at Focus on the Family down in Colorado Springs stepped in it, too. They had an announcement on their website asking all their people to “pray for rain” on the night of The One’s big speech. Remind the cattle, gently, that Mile High isn’t a dome, and do they really want to get their nice hair and suits wet? The fuss got so bad at Focus that they took down the page. Tell the cattle - er, press - to “focus” on THAT. (ABC News is already carrying water for us on this one. If you thought The Note was in the bag for Lurch in ‘04, wait’ll you see what Rick Klein has hinted he’ll do for US in the next 90 days.

Remember, it’s vital we keep a lid on this. I don’t want to see this all over the web tomorrow. The Clintons are paying dearly for their own leaked memos at The Atlantic, and that’s not the kind of trouble we need this close to His ascension.

Stick to the script!

-DA

David Axelrod

Mitchell Langbert said...

TruthHurts--I'm happy enough about the Gates appointment. It's Obama's followers, who were emotionally committed to "change" (especially with respect to defense issues) who strike me as doofuses.

Diogenes said...

I cursed? You lie, yet again, Prof.


How can I "suppress" anything on your blog, Prof? Seems to me you do all the suppressing. And you make false claims about posts I never made and posts you deleted. So please, spare us.

I will admit to pricking your immense ego with the monicker "Lieutenant Tinfoil" and reminding you that you must be a tinfoil-hat-wearing loon when you spout some of your more outrageous rhetoric, such as your "enlightened" suggestion that you and your cultural elites should seced from the nation. ){ersonally, I think it might be worth it, just to be rid of you and your craziness.)

Mitchell Langbert said...

Diogenes, I thought you changed your name to Meletus. Are you trying to confuse us?