Happy Birthday, Mr. President

And so it goes…

Mr. Barack Obama officially entered the world’s stage exactly one year ago today. His presidential inauguration, in keeping with the coronation theme at his party’s convention the previous summer, had the aura of an historic event. The nation’s first black president (please ignore the pigment of his mother) ushered in a new era of hope and change to a nation on the cusp of its worst economic crisis since the great depression. Things had to be done, and done quickly. And our countrymen ordained Barack Obama as just the man to do it.

Or did they?

Since Euripides, hubris stands as the nearly universal flaw in tragic theater. And the life and times so the forty-fourth President of the United States seems eerily destined to repeat the tragedy of the previous Democrat to occupy the White House. As it was then, so it is today.

Arrogance often strikes down the tallest man. Then, it was an arrogant belief personal character failings could not disrupt a country bought off by a buoyant economy. Now, it is pure unadulterated arrogance of ego. The arrogance to believe the election was about him (surprise, it was about the rejection of the other guy). The arrogance to accept an unearned Nobel Prize (surprise, it was about the rejection of the other guy). And, most tragically, the arrogance to blame all the world’s problems on the other guy (surprise, it’s no longer about the other guy).

And so, with the dethronement of the Imperial Seat of Kennedy in Massachusetts, (and the juicy irony this act may signal the end to a poorly written health care plan passed in memoriam of the late Senator), we are left to wonder: Is this the beginning of the end?

No. The beginning of the end occurred just less than a year ago. As I’ve said before, that’s when Obama jumped the shark. The beginning of the end started with his peak triumph, what will undoubtedly go down as the infamous signature of his tenure as president, the failed “stimulus” bill. Sold to the public as necessary to stave off a Depression and create jobs, we have continued to bleed jobs and, oh, by the way, the cycle of the economy can cure itself, thank-you-very-much.

Rather than the beginning of the end, we’re more likely to experience a long drawn-out final act. No matter what happens this November, Obama remains with us until 2012. He may be a shell of his former self – and may thus be re-elected – but he’ll never attain the height he reached a mere twelve months ago.

Of course, he may never realize this.

Tragedies are like that.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

Welcome to your personal purgatory.

Barack's Head is in the Clouds

Let me get this straight. Obama goes to Copenhagen to collect a Peace prize for a peace he hasn’t achieved. He then gives a speech at the Danish capital calling for action to stop “man-made” global warming that may be neither “man-made” nor “warming.”

We can reach only one conclusion: Barack’s head is in the clouds.

Jim Carville once created a president by simply stating “It’s the economy, stupid.” My guess is Obama’s famous Blackberry does not include Mr. Carville’s number on his speed dial.

With unemployment more than 10% and no clear end to the recession in sight, there’s only one issue in the minds of Americans right now: the economy. Is the administration doing anything to prevent a repeat of 2008 when the mortgage resets come back in 2010 and 2011? Has Obama asked Congress to look at tax code tweaks that might engourage growth (and therefore hiring) in small businesses? Has the president taken actions which might elevate the stature of those visionary capitalists who will ultimately lead us out of this terrible recession?

No, no and no.

Rather than addressing the issue of collateralized mortgage obligations, BO has instead vilified the banks who had to figure out how to appease Congress by issuing these risky loans.

Rather than stimulate small business, BO has allowed Congress to overspend our budget for the sake of public-employee union-friendly “shovel-ready” projects and for bailing out the highly unionized (and dying) auto industry.

Rather than look to investors and wealth creators for innovative solutions, he has handed the check book over to Harry Reid and the whip to Nancy Pelosi in hopes of “solving” our health care “crisis” by punishing those who’ve earned the opportunity to freely choose.

In the meantime, while the economy burns, BO fiddles around with his failed European posse.

Is this the “change” America wanted?

Is this the “hope” America yearned for?

In less than a year, we’ll find out.