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Divider in Chief

  • As this writer points out, no President has done more, since Nixon, to intimidate private citizens, and I submit, to any company or group who oppose his views or his socialist agenda. He's discredited the office of the POTUS through his actions, and has proven himself to be nothing more than a pandering, divisive, hypocrite. Is this really the kind of person we want leading this great nation? Seriously? Where is the unification, where is the leadership, and where is the willingness to accept blame for the outcomes of any of his policy actions? 40 months in he'd still rather blame the results of his presidency on others. Oh, and please save your Rupert Murdoch references about the WSJ. We've heard them all before. Can't wait for his memoirs book tour next year.

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304723304577368280604524916.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

    Strassel: The President Has a List
    Barack Obama attempts to intimidate contributors to Mitt Romney's campaign.
    By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL

    Try this thought experiment: You decide to donate money to Mitt Romney. You want change in the Oval Office, so you engage in your democratic right to send a check.

    Several days later, President Barack Obama, the most powerful man on the planet, singles you out by name. His campaign brands you a Romney donor, shames you for "betting against America," and accuses you of having a "less-than-reputable" record. The message from the man who controls the Justice Department (which can indict you), the SEC (which can fine you), and the IRS (which can audit you), is clear: You made a mistake donating that money.

    Are you worried?

    Richard Nixon's "enemies list" appalled the country for the simple reason that presidents hold a unique trust. Unlike senators or congressmen, presidents alone represent all Americans. Their powers—to jail, to fine, to bankrupt—are also so vast as to require restraint. Any president who targets a private citizen for his politics is de facto engaged in government intimidation and threats. This is why presidents since Nixon have carefully avoided the practice.

    Save Mr. Obama, who acknowledges no rules. This past week, one of his campaign websites posted an item entitled "Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney's donors." In the post, the Obama campaign named and shamed eight private citizens who had donated to his opponent. Describing the givers as all having "less-than-reputable records," the post went on to make the extraordinary accusations that "quite a few" have also been "on the wrong side of the law" and profiting at "the expense of so many Americans."

    These are people like Paul Schorr and Sam and Jeffrey Fox, investors who the site outed for the crime of having "outsourced" jobs. T. Martin Fiorentino is scored for his work for a firm that forecloses on homes. Louis Bacon (a hedge-fund manager), Kent Burton (a "lobbyist") and Thomas O'Malley (an energy CEO) stand accused of profiting from oil. Frank VanderSloot, the CEO of a home-products firm, is slimed as a "bitter foe of the gay rights movement."

    These are wealthy individuals, to be sure, but private citizens nonetheless. Not one holds elected office. Not one is a criminal. Not one has the barest fraction of the position or the power of the U.S. leader who is publicly assaulting them.

    "We don't tolerate presidents or people of high power to do these things," says Theodore Olson, the former U.S. solicitor general. "When you have the power of the presidency—the power of the IRS, the INS, the Justice Department, the DEA, the SEC—what you have effectively done is put these guys' names up on 'Wanted' posters in government offices." Mr. Olson knows these tactics, having demanded that the 44th president cease publicly targeting Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries, which he represents. He's been ignored.

    The real crime of the men, as the website tacitly acknowledges, is that they have given money to Mr. Romney. This fundraiser of a president has shown an acute appreciation for the power of money to win elections, and a cutthroat approach to intimidating those who might give to his opponents.

    He's targeted insurers, oil firms and Wall Street—letting it be known that those who oppose his policies might face political or legislative retribution. He lectured the Supreme Court for giving companies more free speech and (falsely) accused the Chamber of Commerce of using foreign money to bankroll U.S. elections. The White House even ginned up an executive order (yet to be released) to require companies to list political donations as a condition of bidding for government contracts. Companies could bid but lose out for donating to Republicans. Or they could quit donating to the GOP—Mr. Obama's real aim.

    The White House has couched its attacks in the language of "disclosure" and the argument that corporations should not have the same speech rights as individuals. But now, says Rory Cooper of the Heritage Foundation, "he's doing the same at the individual level, for anyone who opposes his policies." Any giver, at any level, risks reprisal from the president of the United States.

    It's getting worse because the money game is not going as Team Obama wants. Super PACs are helping the GOP to level the playing field against Democratic super-spenders. Prominent financial players are backing Mr. Romney. The White House's new strategy is thus to delegitimize Mr. Romney (by attacking his donors) as it seeks to frighten others out of giving.

    The Obama campaign has justified any action on the grounds that it has a right to "hold the eventual Republican nominee accountable," but this is a dodge. Politics is rough, but a president has obligations that transcend those of a candidate. He swore an oath to protect and defend a Constitution that gives every American the right to partake in democracy, free of fear of government intimidation or disfavored treatment. If Mr. Obama isn't going to act like a president, he bolsters the argument that he doesn't deserve to be one.

    "You're only young once, but you can always be immature."

    excabuckeye

  • I love this post, but hate what it means. Our president is completely out of control. Government is too big... they collect way too much of our money, yet have not idea how to spend it properly. Waste, intimidation and social benefit is the name of his game. Don't let this man ruin our country. We need to vote him out.

    leolauterbach

  • I felt the same way under Bush and his cronies but ultimately supported him because he was OUR President...quit living in a delusional world

    This post was edited by DSBUX on 4/28/2012 at 10:59 AM

    signature image signature image signature image

    DSBUX

  • excabuckeye said...

    As this writer points out, no President has done more, since Nixon, to intimidate private citizens, and I submit, to any company or group who oppose his views or his socialist agenda. He's discredited the office of the POTUS through his actions, and has proven himself to be nothing more than a pandering, divisive, hypocrite. Is this really the kind of person we want leading this great nation? Seriously? Where is the unification, where is the leadership, and where is the willingness to accept blame for the outcomes of any of his policy actions? 40 months in he'd still rather blame the results of his presidency on others. Oh, and please save your Rupert Murdoch references about the WSJ. We've heard them all before. Can't wait for his memoirs book tour next year.

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304723304577368280604524916.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

    Strassel: The President Has a List
    Barack Obama attempts to intimidate contributors to Mitt Romney's campaign.
    By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL

    Try this thought experiment: You decide to donate money to Mitt Romney. You want change in the Oval Office, so you engage in your democratic right to send a check.

    Several days later, President Barack Obama, the most powerful man on the planet, singles you out by name. His campaign brands you a Romney donor, shames you for 'betting against America,' and accuses you of having a 'less-than-reputable' record. The message from the man who controls the Justice Department (which can indict you), the SEC (which can fine you), and the IRS (which can audit you), is clear: You made a mistake donating that money.

    Are you worried?

    Richard Nixon's 'enemies list' appalled the country for the simple reason that presidents hold a unique trust. Unlike senators or congressmen, presidents alone represent all Americans. Their powers—to jail, to fine, to bankrupt—are also so vast as to require restraint. Any president who targets a private citizen for his politics is de facto engaged in government intimidation and threats. This is why presidents since Nixon have carefully avoided the practice.

    Save Mr. Obama, who acknowledges no rules. This past week, one of his campaign websites posted an item entitled 'Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney's donors.' In the post, the Obama campaign named and shamed eight private citizens who had donated to his opponent. Describing the givers as all having 'less-than-reputable records,' the post went on to make the extraordinary accusations that 'quite a few' have also been 'on the wrong side of the law' and profiting at 'the expense of so many Americans.'

    These are people like Paul Schorr and Sam and Jeffrey Fox, investors who the site outed for the crime of having 'outsourced' jobs. T. Martin Fiorentino is scored for his work for a firm that forecloses on homes. Louis Bacon (a hedge-fund manager), Kent Burton (a 'lobbyist') and Thomas O'Malley (an energy CEO) stand accused of profiting from oil. Frank VanderSloot, the CEO of a home-products firm, is slimed as a 'bitter foe of the gay rights movement.'

    These are wealthy individuals, to be sure, but private citizens nonetheless. Not one holds elected office. Not one is a criminal. Not one has the barest fraction of the position or the power of the U.S. leader who is publicly assaulting them.

    'We don't tolerate presidents or people of high power to do these things,' says Theodore Olson, the former U.S. solicitor general. 'When you have the power of the presidency—the power of the IRS, the INS, the Justice Department, the DEA, the SEC—what you have effectively done is put these guys' names up on 'Wanted' posters in government offices.' Mr. Olson knows these tactics, having demanded that the 44th president cease publicly targeting Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries, which he represents. He's been ignored.

    The real crime of the men, as the website tacitly acknowledges, is that they have given money to Mr. Romney. This fundraiser of a president has shown an acute appreciation for the power of money to win elections, and a cutthroat approach to intimidating those who might give to his opponents.

    He's targeted insurers, oil firms and Wall Street—letting it be known that those who oppose his policies might face political or legislative retribution. He lectured the Supreme Court for giving companies more free speech and (falsely) accused the Chamber of Commerce of using foreign money to bankroll U.S. elections. The White House even ginned up an executive order (yet to be released) to require companies to list political donations as a condition of bidding for government contracts. Companies could bid but lose out for donating to Republicans. Or they could quit donating to the GOP—Mr. Obama's real aim.

    The White House has couched its attacks in the language of 'disclosure' and the argument that corporations should not have the same speech rights as individuals. But now, says Rory Cooper of the Heritage Foundation, 'he's doing the same at the individual level, for anyone who opposes his policies.' Any giver, at any level, risks reprisal from the president of the United States.

    It's getting worse because the money game is not going as Team Obama wants. Super PACs are helping the GOP to level the playing field against Democratic super-spenders. Prominent financial players are backing Mr. Romney. The White House's new strategy is thus to delegitimize Mr. Romney (by attacking his donors) as it seeks to frighten others out of giving.

    The Obama campaign has justified any action on the grounds that it has a right to 'hold the eventual Republican nominee accountable,' but this is a dodge. Politics is rough, but a president has obligations that transcend those of a candidate. He swore an oath to protect and defend a Constitution that gives every American the right to partake in democracy, free of fear of government intimidation or disfavored treatment. If Mr. Obama isn't going to act like a president, he bolsters the argument that he doesn't deserve to be one.

    Just more spin and talking points from the Righty Mitt-wits.

    dave1954 ●

  • One needs only to look toward the Republican House and Senate to see where the division has come from. You can spin it all you want, but a secret meeting took place on Obama's inauguration day in which all the top Republicans made a pact to do nothing for Obama, and to make sure he does not get re-elected. In my opinion, this Republican congress has completely destroyed any semblance of democracy in this country by defying (in lock-step) everything Obama has even suggested. From 100% participation in the Grover Norquist pledge, to allowing (embracing) unlimited money into politics, to saying NO to everything, to outright lies about almost everything, to taking money from every facet of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Insurance, to not even offering one solution save giving more tax cuts to the wealthy - their masters. We will survive the economic crisis caused by Bush, but if this country goes down we can all point to a Republican Congress abandoning all good, common sense in order to defeat a president who from the start reached out his hand in a gesture of bringing the country together. He was one of the few who believed Republicans have a decent bone in their bodies and would play fair. I hope he comes back in his next term less naive and trusting when it comes to Republicans, and serves up to them what they deserve. I feel he finally gets it and is pissed. This is not Jimmy Carter you're messing with. You should have accepted the old Obama, you could have played him.

    JMHO

    McCague

  • This is a OSU FOOTBALL forum yet people still think we want to talk about politics? Stop making threads about this crap!

    Who's Zead..Zeads dead baby.

    Born2baBuck0212

  • President Obama did all he could considering the Republicans were planning for him to lose before he even took office. A book just come out how they planned at a meeting on how to defeat him which meant making sure the economy did not get better. Very un american.

    hdworship

  • I have beewn a registered Republican for over 40 years, and anyone nieve enough enough to believe this divvell is too stupid to worry about. The REAL facts are that EVERY administration for at least 100 years has wanted the same thing out of it's first term. A second term. The other reality of politics is that for as many people that are Republican, there are an equal number of Democrats. Ask you local union worker the last time he voted Republican. The REAL reality of today's politics is that about 10-15% of the electorate actually elect the president. People clamour for smaller government only until something happens that they can blame the government for. Then it's "why didn't government protect us from that"!!! I am by no means a Tea Partier or a right wing evangelical. As long as that is seen as the power base for the Republican Party, it will never elect another president.

    rwkosu72

  • Born-2ba-Buck02 said...

    This is a OSU FOOTBALL forum yet people still think we want to talk about politics? Stop making threads about this crap!

    Would you please go back to The Hotspot topics and see if you can find a topic that deals with football or any other sport. Then read the description of the forum.

    Yet another lost soul who can't find The Front Row, Around the 'Shoe, and Best Damn Recruiting Board. Pay attention to where you're driving. There's one or two of you idiots on here every day. You should all be rounded up and given your own forum.
    lurkfingergunhuhblanklolloconohammernonoheadslapconfusedbangheadrant

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by McCague on 4/28/2012 at 2:52 PM

    McCague

  • DSBUX said...

    I felt the same way under Bush and his cronies but ultimately supported him because he was OUR President...quit living in a delusional world

    Agreed. It is more than slightly ironic that W was the president who didn't win the popular vote on his way into the White House, and yet Obama is the one catching flak for not being 'their' president.

    Badger Alumni, Lifelong Buckeye.

    Frozen Buckeye ●

  • hdworship said...

    President Obama did all he could considering the Republicans were planning for him to lose before he even took office. A book just come out how they planned at a meeting on how to defeat him which meant making sure the economy did not get better. Very un american.

    You could make the argument that the Republican party in the last 5-8 years has effectively killed the idea of partisan compromise to advance agendas that aren't necessarily in the interests of their constituencies. Oh wait, someone already has. Harvard Law Review and Columbia Law Review.

    Badger Alumni, Lifelong Buckeye.

    Frozen Buckeye ●

  • McCague said...

    One needs only to look toward the Republican House and Senate to see where the division has come from. You can spin it all you want, but a secret meeting took place on Obama's inauguration day in which all the top Republicans made a pact to do nothing for Obama, and to make sure he does not get re-elected. In my opinion, this Republican congress has completely destroyed any semblance of democracy in this country by defying (in lock-step) everything Obama has even suggested. From 100% participation in the Grover Norquist pledge, to allowing (embracing) unlimited money into politics, to saying NO to everything, to outright lies about almost everything, to taking money from every facet of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Insurance, to not even offering one solution save giving more tax cuts to the wealthy - their masters. We will survive the economic crisis caused by Bush, but if this country goes down we can all point to a Republican Congress abandoning all good, common sense in order to defeat a president who from the start reached out his hand in a gesture of bringing the country together. He was one of the few who believed Republicans have a decent bone in their bodies and would play fair. I hope he comes back in his next term less naive and trusting when it comes to Republicans, and serves up to them what they deserve. I feel he finally gets it and is pissed. This is not Jimmy Carter you're messing with. You should have accepted the old Obama, you could have played him.

    JMHO

    A "secret meeting" took place? You really are indoctrinated to believe that.

    signature image

    www.miamiproject.miami.edu/

    Buckeye Warrior ●

  • Buckeye Warrior said...

    A "secret meeting" took place? You really are indoctrinated to believe that.

    Given the sophomoric way many congressman & senators have acted, is it really that far fetched?

    I'm no conspiracy theorist, and I don't believe the 'meeting' happened, but, it's not beyond the realm of possibilities.

    This post was edited by Frozen Buckeye on 4/28/2012 at 4:13 PM

    Badger Alumni, Lifelong Buckeye.

    Frozen Buckeye ●

  • McCague said...

    One needs only to look toward the Republican House and Senate to see where the division has come from. You can spin it all you want, but a secret meeting took place on Obama's inauguration day in which all the top Republicans made a pact to do nothing for Obama, and to make sure he does not get re-elected. In my opinion, this Republican congress has completely destroyed any semblance of democracy in this country by defying (in lock-step) everything Obama has even suggested. From 100% participation in the Grover Norquist pledge, to allowing (embracing) unlimited money into politics, to saying NO to everything, to outright lies about almost everything, to taking money from every facet of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Insurance, to not even offering one solution save giving more tax cuts to the wealthy - their masters. We will survive the economic crisis caused by Bush, but if this country goes down we can all point to a Republican Congress abandoning all good, common sense in order to defeat a president who from the start reached out his hand in a gesture of bringing the country together. He was one of the few who believed Republicans have a decent bone in their bodies and would play fair. I hope he comes back in his next term less naive and trusting when it comes to Republicans, and serves up to them what they deserve. I feel he finally gets it and is pissed. This is not Jimmy Carter you're messing with. You should have accepted the old Obama, you could have played him.

    JMHO

    You're right about one thing, he's about 10x worse than Jimmy Carter. Oh, for selective amnesia! What about Obama's first two years in office where Democrats controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress? So much for your conspiracy theory.

    This post was edited by excabuckeye on 4/28/2012 at 3:42 PM

    "You're only young once, but you can always be immature."

    excabuckeye

  • Buckeye Warrior said...

    A "secret meeting" took place? You really are indoctrinated to believe that.

    Yes, just wait.....

    McCague

  • excabuckeye said...

    You're right about one thing, he's about 10x worse than Jimmy Carter. Oh, for selective amnesia! What about Obama's first two years in office where Democrats controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress? So much for your conspiracy theory.

    During Obama's first two years Republicans filibustered more than any other Senate in history. Kind of hard to go around that if you do not have 60 votes. Of course, you knew that, didn't you?

    McCague

  • So this is what he's reduced the office of the President to - appearances on shows like "The View" and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon?" I respect the office, but not the man, his views or his actions.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAFQIciWsF4&feature=related

    "You're only young once, but you can always be immature."

    excabuckeye

  • awww excabuckeye need a juicy juice?
    What is funny is that you have nothing to stand up to? Republicans? tell me about your great accomplishments. I belong to no party but please tell me how amazing your party has been in the last 70 years?

    signature image signature image signature image

    DSBUX

  • Something else of note... this week, a vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act came up in the Senate, and was passed 68 to 31. Every single one of the 31? Republican men. In an election year, they're sure not doing any favors to Romney by being knuckleheads in what they are voting against.

    Badger Alumni, Lifelong Buckeye.

    Frozen Buckeye ●

  • excabuckeye said...

    So this is what he's reduced the office of the President to - appearances on shows like "The View" and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon?" I respect the office, but not the man, his views or his actions.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAFQIciWsF4&feature=related

    So you want Obama to sit in the White House and take the garbage coming his way from Fox News and the Right without doing anything. I didn't think he looked particularly presidential either. If he loses votes because of it you win. Where's the downside? At least he didn't fly in on a helicopter to help bury bin Laden at sea with a banner in the background. You people are now crying that his first campaign stop is at OSU (to get the college vote) when Romney was just at Otterbein doing that very thing. Romney is just as free to campaign at OSU or go on television and make a fool of himself. .........Oh, he has?

    Whiny-assed bitches....

    McCague

  • McCague said...

    During Obama's first two years Republicans filibustered more than any other Senate in history. Kind of hard to go around that if you do not have 60 votes. Of course, you knew that, didn't you?

    I suppose that was W's fault, too - certainly didn't stop them from ramming through that Obamination of a healthcare bill that they first had to pass before anyone could find out what was in it.

    "You're only young once, but you can always be immature."

    excabuckeye

  • I agree. Obama has been disappointing on a few fronts. After the hype of the campaign and the smoldering wreck he inherited--how could he not be disappointing. However, Bush is down there with Grant and Buchanan. I thought Carter was the worst President in my voting lifetime, but Bush makes him look like Lincoln.

    rsd180

  • Buckeye Warrior said...

    A "secret meeting" took place? You really are indoctrinated to believe that.

    We're never going to convince them otherwise. Using logic on an illogical person, is a losing battle.

    codexp2

  • McCague said...

    So you want Obama to sit in the White House and take the garbage coming his way from Fox News and the Right without doing anything. I didn't think he looked particularly presidential either. If he loses votes because of it you win. Where's the downside? At least he didn't fly in on a helicopter to help bury bin Laden at sea with a banner in the background. You people are now crying that his first campaign stop is at OSU (to get the college vote) when Romney was just at Otterbein doing that very thing. Romney is just as free to campaign at OSU or go on television and make a fool of himself. .........Oh, he has?

    Whiny-assed bitches....

    Methinks you be the whiner

    "You're only young once, but you can always be immature."

    excabuckeye

  • McCague said...

    One needs only to look toward the Republican House and Senate to see where the division has come from. You can spin it all you want, but a secret meeting took place on Obama's inauguration day in which all the top Republicans made a pact to do nothing for Obama, and to make sure he does not get re-elected. In my opinion, this Republican congress has completely destroyed any semblance of democracy in this country by defying (in lock-step) everything Obama has even suggested. From 100% participation in the Grover Norquist pledge, to allowing (embracing) unlimited money into politics, to saying NO to everything, to outright lies about almost everything, to taking money from every facet of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Insurance, to not even offering one solution save giving more tax cuts to the wealthy - their masters. We will survive the economic crisis caused by Bush, but if this country goes down we can all point to a Republican Congress abandoning all good, common sense in order to defeat a president who from the start reached out his hand in a gesture of bringing the country together. He was one of the few who believed Republicans have a decent bone in their bodies and would play fair. I hope he comes back in his next term less naive and trusting when it comes to Republicans, and serves up to them what they deserve. I feel he finally gets it and is pissed. This is not Jimmy Carter you're messing with. You should have accepted the old Obama, you could have played him.

    JMHO

    Very well put.

    The President has been willing to compromise so much so that he has angered his own base. Meanwhile, his congressional foes refuse to compromise on anything at all; it's their way or the highway. He's in quite the unenviable position.

    Congressional Republicans have approached legislation as a zero-sum political game and will stop at nothing to prevent Obama from gaining an ounce of credibility. Anything positive for the country is a positive for the President and therefore a negative for Republicans. They did claim upon his election their number one priority was to make him a one term President. The only way to do this is to ensure that nothing gets done in Washington and then blame the President, calling HIM the divider when it's THEY who stand there with their eyes closed and ears covered saying NO to anything and everything outside of their far right political/economic dogmas.

    Compromise is no longer an option for these people. They've been playing this game for over 3 years and nobody in the media has called them on it. Obama needs to channel LBJ and grow some proverbial balls to deal with this unrelenting Republican opposition to anything getting accomplished. I don't know what to expect from either candidate during campaign season, but it is going to be a long six months. May the richest campaign win...Go Bucks?

    This post was edited by thrillerbuck on 4/28/2012 at 4:11 PM

    thrillerbuck

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