Kennedy, Roosevelt, Lincoln OH MY
OK folks please. Let’s stop with the “He’s gonna be the best president ever.” talk. He’s never done anything notable except get elected and it is way too soon to start talk like that. Let’s look at some comparisons that make more sense.
Yes, Kennedy was the last senator to get elected, he was young, and he won because he had an impressive political machine behind him. He also came into office and immediately reversed part of a military decision of his predecessor while allowing the rest to proceed. It was a decision that cost many lives and arguably led to a foreign policy relationship in this hemisphere that has yet to be resolved. His legacy in foreign policy was not great, good, or even by many standards positive.
Kennedy was in a position to resolve Viet Nam but was waiting, for political reasons, till after he was re-elected. The end result is all too well known. His successor botched it horribly. Obama has a big chance to fail as a war time president. I’ll be watching to see what he does, but he has done nothing yet to suggest he is the man of destiny in these conflicts.
Roosevelt served the nation well and gave his health and in the end his life for her. Economically he changed our perception of ourselves but little else. America emerged as a world economic power after WW II mainly because it was the only major industrialized nation with an intact infrastructure. It’s easy to become a world leader when you don’t have any competition. But what has Obama done to draw a comparison with Roosevelt? Again, the only similarity is the circumstances of his election. He is coming into office when the nation is in an economic conundrum. There is nothing in Obama’s history that even slightly resembles Roosevelt.
The most far fetched comparison is Lincoln. Certainly you can say they both had ties to Illinois. They are both obscure politicians from an east coast perspective. Their physical build is similar. What Lincoln was able to do in his time in office was remarkable, but we have to see that in Obama and we haven’t seen any signs of it yet. If he is to keep the country together he had better start working on that now. I do see a resemblance of the division in ideology that Lincoln faced when he come into office, but that was not of his doing it was for him to recognize and overcome.
The only thing these three examples have in common was that they did not finish the term they were serving. Let’s hope that is not the similarity to this presidency. It is however strange that with all of the presidential examples these are the three that people latch onto. Perhaps they hope for the greatness others have demonstrated. Perhaps they have convinced themselves that there is more substance than is warranted. Whatever the cause they will in the end find that the one Obama is most likely to replicate is George W. Bush. Like Bush, it is likely that Obama will serve his nation in the way he feels is best, create great controversy, and be judged by history long after all of the voices we hear today are dust in the wind.
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12 Responses
Well-said. If I hear one more news show suggest that the Obama presidency will be the next Camelot, I may have to puke.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 3:01 am
There are some parallels to Nixon 1972. Obama was on his way to winning by a couple of touchdowns but they continued to cheat. I was serving the GOP as an attorney at my county courthouse. The Obama for America attorney tried on several occasions to circumvent the process for screening voters who sought court orders allowing them to vote. This was consistent with what we observed about ACORN nationwide. Blind ambition. Ethically challenged. Nixon. Obama.
See you next time around Barack!
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 5:54 am
We look fondly upon Kennedy because he was assassinated, not because of his policies. When looking back upon his policies, we see him as a failure.
Roosevelt is beloved because he inspired a nation and lifted us up. He was the architect of the social welfare program.
Lincoln was NOT unknown to the East Coast. He was a shrewd politician and it is only the Mythology behind Lincoln that makes him out to be different.
Obama is an empty suit spouting socialism as the cure to all of our problems. He won’t be considered great and will be remembered as the First Black President. Nothing else.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Hey, why not compare him to Lincoln et al. After all, he, pretend Christian that he is — or Protestant Christian in name only, if you will — DID NOT ONE THING to dissaude the so-called news media to stop comparing him, mortal that he is, to the real Messiah, the one in whom Obama claims to be a devout follower thereof.
So, really, being compared to Lincoln and the others is a step down, IMO.
BTW: What a true joke, comparing him to man with the wisdom of Lincoln who, for as long as there are people to remember him, will be known as Honest Abe.
Certainly, we could begin to give Obama his well-deserved nickname of “Dishonest Barack.”
But, then, the linguistic fascists have probably already put the word “dishonest” on their racial-code list, at least when used in reference to Barack Hussein Obama.
As for the Kennedy comparison, well, let’s not forget that his inexperience almost precipiated not just a real shooting war, but one in which missles flew.
I remember the Cuban Missle Crisis. And I remember that weekend, when war almost erupted, being one very long one. We all went home from school that Friday, not knowing if we would be returning. Other than the long week or so of Jack Kennedy’s assassination, I remember that CMC weekend as being the only other time In my life I can remember my late dad and still-living mom being so concerned.
I think we’re going to see young, empty-suited, inexperienced, full-of-himself, clueless Obama being tested much sooner than any of us, Biden included, would like.
I believe we have the military command structure in place to show we are not weaklings.
But the civilain command structure and wisdom? If it’s after Inauguration Day, I’ve no confidence at all.
And FDR? Not only did he engineer great social programs, but his economic policies actually increased unemployment after he took office. World War II rescued the American economy.
So, perhaps, the fawners and devotees of Obama, in academia and the advocacy media can create the new Obama class of president: A step above we mortals and just a step or two down from the Creator.
Why not? They’ve been so ridiculous already.
BTW:Thanks for the piece.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 8:12 am
CKA-I have no doubt that the media and the left will continue to blame GWB for anything that goes wrong, long after he leaves office. They will do whatever they can to give Obama cover.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 8:21 am
The comparisons to past Presidents are sickening. Obama has done nothing and was left largely unvetted by the Pathetic pawns in the MSM. Obama may yet become the third President to be impeached and the second to resign. There is too much behind the scenes shenanigans going on.
The last week before the election they were comparing Obama to Reagan. Reagan brought a movement, Obama brings a cult. If Obama stays with the status quo we may get through this. However, my greatest fear is that his arrogance will push him to bring his radical beliefs to reality. Great Post!
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Obama’s first act was to compromise national security being leaking to the NY Times. Drudge Report headline
“NYT MONDAY: SECRET ORDER LETS U.S. RAID AL-QAIDA IN MANY COUNTRIES… Dozen previously undisclosed attacks against al-Qaida and other militants in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere…Developing… ”
Now let’s think. Obama gets briefed on confidential security issues and lo and behold..
Obama’s second act is to promote baby killing overseas by lifting Bush’s executive order.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Biden warned us, didn’t he….Gird Your Loins! He wasn’t kidding. Did you see this little nugget?
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3496c848-ae91-11dd-b621-000077b07658.html
Was it Obama that leaked the classified info to the Times?
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 10:13 am
When did goverment spending become “Investments”??????????????????????????
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
And his promised tax cuts! Yeah right….oh look! A cow just jumped over the moon! Hang onto your wallet.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Nobility of intent does not absolve incompetance of execution.
Posted on November 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Washington — Budget shortfalls are looming larger in several U.S. states as the year draws to a close and revenues drop with the economic slowdown, officials said.
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
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