Our Most Machiavellian President Ever?

Famous posthumous portrait of Niccolò Machiave...

Image via Wikipedia

When I read how former Bill Clinton advisor Dick Morris theorized that President Obama and his crafty political operatives had devised a strategy to manufacture the issue of birth-control and paint Republicans as being against something that virtually everyone in America, even Catholics, are in favor of I was skeptical. I know Obama built his entire career with the Chicago style of politics, and merely took out his opponents as a primary strategy. But this scheme seemed too Machiavellian even for him. This morning…I’m convinced. Obama has made the whole country fight each other over birth control where previously no argument existed.

Remember when ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked Mitt Romney what seemed like a bizarre question about banning contraception during the New Hampshire Presidential debate?

Romney was so taken aback by the question he literally didn’t know how to answer it. And yet…Stephanopoulos persisted demanding that Romney take a stand on whether states can ban contraception. As one who has watched all the debates since August I can tell you it was one of the most diligent pursuits of an answer I’ve seen a moderator perform. And only now we can realize why. The former Clinton aide was doing the work of the Obama Administration and trying to get Romney to step into the trap. Fortunately, Romney avoided the trap skillfully.

Some weeks later Obama announces his directive to require all churches and church run organizations to include free contraception and the abortion pill in all health care coverage they are now required to provide all their employees. It was such a blatant violation of the Constitution’s First Amendment it seemed like Obama had really stepped in it. The fact that Obama’s announced accommodation one week later removed the requirement that churches pay for the contraception didn’t remove the fact that Catholic churches, in particular, were still required to provide insurance covering for their employees what the church considers a grave sin.

Of course in a choreographed defense of the Obama strategy Democrats of many stripes jumped in to turn the matter away from the only subject for which anyone was objecting, religious rights, and turned it into a defense of contraceptive rights. The left-wing media has fallen into line and began chasing down old quotes from Catholic Rick Santorum, taken them out of context, and painted the GOP Presidential candidate as anti-contraception.

The left and the mindless who fell in love with Obama in 2008 either ignored or were ignorant of his background. Obama got elected to the Illinois State Senate by underhandedly finding some technical loophole to have his opponent in the race declared ineligible. He did nearly the same thing in the race that got him elected to the U.S. Senate. There his underlings found unflattering details about his GOP opponent in his opponents long-ago divorce papers. Obama leaked the stories to the press and his Christian family values Republican opponent was suddenly looked upon as a sexual degenerate and a hypocrite. Obama slid into office.

The straw the tipped me into the broken camel’s back category came this morning during my morning workout. While on my exercise bike and watching MSNBC (my gym doesn’t provide FOX News) Luke Russert asked his visiting journalist panel for their “shameless plugs”. A woman, a journalist supposedly, said she was going to go out and join the “contraception rights” rally taking place in New York. And she pumped her fist as she said this. As if there really is some fight going on.

Attention Democrats!! Attention! You’ve been bamboozled again! You’ve been deceived. Not surprisingly you all seem to be falling for it. Now hear this…Now hear this…THERE IS NO FIGHT OVER CONTRACEPTION! NO ONE, NOT REPUBLICANS, NOT ANYONE IS TRYING TO TAKE THE PILL FROM YOUR FERTILE LITTLE HANDS. This fight is manufactured by a President who can’t stand on his record and needs to create controversy and division among Americans where no controversy or division exists.

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February 17, 2012
Categories: National Politics . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on Our Most Machiavellian President Ever?

Where will it Stop? Obama has crossed the line.

“The growth of government occurs in direct opposite proportion to the decrease of individual liberty.” ~ Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America

Barack ObamaIt’s a simple concept Democrats never seem to grasp, and this week the line drawn in the sand representing “TOO DAMNED FAR” has been moved once again. It is becoming standard practice for this line to be moved every few years.

In a letter to churches around the country the Obama Administration informed them that not only does the new Obama care health care law require them to provide medical insurance coverage for all their employees in every church, and archdiocese around the country but that coverage MUST include contraception coverage. Not going far enough the dictum from our new overseer says that such contraception coverage must be free, with no co-pay charge to the recipient, and it must include the so-called “morning-after” pill, RU486, which abort any fetus up to five days after unprotected sex leads to conception.

English: a catholic cross Français : une croix...

It’s bad enough that our government led by Nanny-in-chief Barrack Obama feels we MUST buy healthcare coverage from private industry vendors and the only qualification for such a requirement is that you are breathing. Now his continued attack on Christians, and Catholics in particular, is abusive and nasty and seemingly hateful. Catholicism is the religion practiced by more Americans than any other religion. And it’s teachings are that contraception is wrong and that abortion is murder. And before all you Pro-Choice advocates get your panties in a bundle settle down. I’m not advocating for Pro-Life, contraception, Pro-Choice, or any other life decision. I’m telling Obama to get out of my face and more specifically my religion.

English: cross catholic Pontevedra Français : ...

The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads as follows:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
             The anti-religious zealots have had a remarkable time reveling in the very first phrase in the most important of all amendments. But they continuously overlook the second phrase which I have put in bold. In establishing Obamacare and in interpreting the law to require Catholics to provide contraception to their employees President Obama and his team of “I know better than you” is telling the Catholic Church, “we don’t care about your free exercise of your religion. We’re telling you what we believe and YOU will follow.” It’s clearly unConstitutional.
              Those many of you who blindly defend all things Obama realize this, if Obama can require Pro-Life, or Catholic employers to require that health insurance provide contraception, including RU486, what’s to stop a future Conservative Pro-Life President from prohibiting contraception from being offered? 
President Bush signing the Federal Funding Acc...

Bush signed Patriot Act, Obama renewed it.

Just like the Patriot Act violates our right to privacy and our right against illegal search this step by the Obama Administration goes way to far into violating our liberties and our right to self-determination. The Patriot Act was enacted by President George W. Bush as an over-reach following the horrible terrorist attacks of 9-11. But as I feared at the time it’s now become standard and practiced law in this country. Obama renewed the Patriot Act, leaving it increasingly likely it may become permanent.

               To all Democrats I beg you. Stand up to your chosen leader and lets help roll back these government intrusions into our liberties, our rights, our beliefs, and our ability to pursue happiness. For if you turn a blind eye towards another man or woman’s injustice, the next injustice, the next infringement might be against you. Move the damned line back!
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February 2, 2012
Categories: National Politics . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 3 Comments

What would Martin Luther King say and do?

President Lyndon B. Johnson and Rev. Dr. Marti...

Martin Luther King at White House meet with President Lydon Johnson

On this day when we commemorate the life of the great Martin Luther King Jr. I wonder what he would think of the actions of today’s leaders and of society as a whole. I am conflicted about how I would answer that.

I think its odd how two people can listen to the same thing and hear two different things. There is no question MLK wanted economic equality for all and for aid and assistance being provided for all of the most disadvantaged. “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

In my case the life and speeches of Doctor King left me with one resonating theme, self-reliance and self-determination. Sure he wanted whites to quit oppressing black people, and beating and murdering them as well, by the way. But he mostly wanted to get them out of the way. He wanted black people to have the same economic opportunities of white people and to strive and struggle for their own level of success. “Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” – MLK

So what would Dr. King think of the Tea Party movement and it’s message of responsible government spending, and individual liberty? Would he embrace the Occupy movement and steer their seemingly rudderless ship? What would he think of Barrack Obama, our nations first black President?

What I’m certain of is that he would be heard and he would not be happy about much of what happens today. I’m sure that the intractable positions taken by Democrats and Republicans in Congress would disgust him and he would urge mutual compromise. I am absolutely certain he would reject Obama’s constant, unrelenting class warfare. And while supporting the Occupy movement I’m sure he would sharpen their message so that they didn’t sound and look like the dirty, ungrateful, whiny sons and daughters of privilege that so many of them appear to be.

What do you think. What would King say and do today. Tell me and let’s make this a discussion in which Martin would be proud.

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January 16, 2012
Categories: National Politics, Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 5 Comments

Racism and Obama. For better or worse?

“My prayer is that Obama’s soaring rhetorical skills truly inspire Americans toward the better angels in our nature. And that the symbolism of a black man in the highest office in the land ends forever what little racism still exists, or the claims that racism is the cause of victimization of the African-American community in this country.”

November 5, 2008

ME

Official photographic portrait of US President...

Our President: Barrack Obama.

I wrote those words three years ago in a blog called “The New President” in which I made what I thought was an obvious statement that our nation could no longer be looked upon by its toughest inner critics as a racist nation. In the article I wrote that no predominantly white nation in world history had ever elected a person of color as their head, their president, their leader. In writing that blog the day after Barrack Obama‘s election to the most powerful office in the world I was complimentary and optimistic. Pointing out, perhaps naively, that Obama would be judged as were the 43 white men who preceded him in the office; by his accomplishments and not by the color of his skin.

It seems I may have been wrong. I’m beginning to think it’s entirely possible that Obama could be the ignition to a worsening of race relations in this country. How bad could it get? Let me put it this way: I’m fearful. I am fearful that Obama’s defeat in 11 months will be blamed on racism rather than on his failed leadership, and policies.

Yesterday a friend with whom I have profound political disagreements posted an article onto Facebook that she referred to as “the truth”. The article was called “Racism and President Obama”. In the first sentence the author, who calls themselves Jueseppi B., alleges that the United States became the model for a racist nation the day Obama was sworn in.

Though I provide a link to the article in this blog I don’t recommend reading it. It’s nothing but an idiotic racist rant. By someone in love with government hand outs and jobs all around, apparently for all his African-American friends. Unfortunately his view is increasingly common. It’s a common tactic by the political black community to scream racism every time something goes wrong for one of their own. It’s silly and lacks imagination and intelligence to presume that a nation is a model of racism when it’s population is made up of 12.6% blacks and that same nation has a black leader.

Racism still does exist in this country and its repugnant. Sadly these imbeciles who harbor such hateful views far too often reside on the right or conservative side of the political spectrum. And far too often Americans with better hearts and minds fail to loudly condemn the bigotry that is quite often directed at our President. And the problem with these facts is that you give aid and comfort to the black racists who paint all white people with the same broad brush.

This used to be a racist country. And in fairness to those who still look for it, institutional, government sanctioned racism existed during the lifetimes of most African-Americans or their parents. Thank God, and some very strong people, it does not any more.

But speaking as a white person with no racism or love of Obama I am fed up with racism being thrown out as a reason for opposing our President, or for opposing the type of governmentprograms that create an entitlement mentality and diminish personal fortitude and commitment. It’s and old song that needs to change. What is sad is that, like the boy who cried wolf, every time racism is falsely cited as the cause for a black persons failure white Americans are hardened against such claims in the future including the legitimate ones. And that’s wrong.

English: This is the long form birth certifica...

Oabama's long form birth certificate

ALL Americans should have soundly condemned the “Birther” movement against Obama and the subtle racism that was not-so-hidden in the claims that the President wasn’t born here. ALL Americans should condemn the Photoshop images of Obama made to look like some tribal medicine man. Avoid posting them on social media or waving them at demonstrations. If you can’t see the racism in such images YOU really are a bigot or an insensitive jerk.

Lastly accept that jerks like I just described DO exist and probably always will. Just like the racist Pastor Jeremiah Wright, there are always extremes on every side of an issue. But quit calling our nation and by implication all Conservative white people racist. It doesn’t help your cause.

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December 19, 2011
Categories: National Politics . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 6 Comments

Did they die for more government or more Liberty?

English: U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosev...

Franklin Roosevelt address a joint session of Congress, December 8, 1941.

“A date which will live in infamy.” That’s what President Franklin Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 as he addressed Congress asking for a Declaration of War against the imperial nation of Japan. He made this call for war following the “surprise” attack on the

The U.S. Navy battleship USS California (BB-44...

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 70 years ago today.

U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii that left over 2300 dead; nearly half of which were entombed on the battleship U.S.S. Arizona.

It’s worth noting that today’s 70th Anniversary of that infamous day follows by one day President Barrack Obama‘s biggest, latest speech in Osawatomie (pronounced oh-suh-WAHT-ah-mee) Kansas. The symbolism of Obama’s speech is supposed to be found in the location in which he chose to make it and how it was nearly 100 years from when former

English: Orotone of Theodore Roosevelt as Pres...

T.R.

President Theodore Roosevelt made his famous “New Nationalism” speech. The speech was in August 1910, more than 101 years ago; and it was nearly 50 miles away in Kansas City, Kansas. Nonetheless the current day White House nearly pulled a hamstring stretching to connect the two speeches.

In his speech Obama again made the call for more government and more regulation of business. He referred to the need to level the playing field for the great middle class of Americans. And he tried to make the connection with TR and the turn of the 20th century when he said: “At the turn of the last century, when a nation of farmers was transitioning to become the world’s industrial giant, we had to decide: Would we settle for a country where most of the new railroads and factories were being controlled by a few giant monopolies that kept prices high and wages low?” The statement is patently false. The tycoon industrialists of the late 1800s and early 1900s made their money by providing products at low prices, thus serving the masses instead of catering to the rich. Same as today.

John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller founded the University of ...

Image via Wikipedia

became at one time the richest man on earth by building Standard oil into not only an oil production business, but into an oil refining and distribution business. As written in the Wikipedia biography of Rockefeller Standard Oil replaced the old distribution system with its own vertical system. It supplied kerosene by tank cars that brought the fuel to local markets and tank wagons then delivered to retail customers, thus bypassing the existing network of wholesale jobbers. He made the price of gasoline low so that more people could buy it. And in so doing he saved the whales. Prior to Rockefeller’s success whale oil was the primary means by which people burned oil. The whaling industry couldn’t compete and very quickly died.

Henry Ford

Portrait of Henry Ford (ca. 1919)

Henry Ford paid his workers sufficient wages to be able to buy his product.

didn’t become fabulously wealthy by making the most expensive car on the market. Just the opposite. He created the assembly line; a much faster and more financially efficient way to build an automobile. Thus we had the Model T a car that was affordable to the average worker. And Ford famously said his success was predicated on building a product that his employees could afford to buy.

Andrew Carnegie, American businessman and phil...

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and others all had riches and power. But those riches and power were bestowed upon them by the American people buying their products because they made there products affordably.

How is that different from today’s tycoons? Bill Gates built computer software that was easy and compatible with multiple hardware manufacturers thus bringing the personal computer to a size and affordability of most Americans and business. Steve Jobs also built computers; but his greatest success began with his company’s invention of the Ipod; an easier and more affordable way to buy and listen to music. In doing so he turned the music industry upside down and changed it forever.

Image representing Mark Zuckerberg as depicted...

Image via CrunchBase

Mark Zuckerberg is the CEO of Facebook. Did he achieve his billionaire status by “keeping prices high”? Absolutely not. He took the idea of a social “facebook” (small f), distributed it more widely and made it  FREE to everyone.

Obama said yesterday about Republicans: “And their philosophy is simple: We are better off when everybody is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules.” If only it were true. The fact is GOP politicians are nearly as guilty as Democrats in forcing government intrusion onto the lives of increasingly more Americans. The President went on to say we’re all better off when “we’re together than when we’re on our own”. On this we agree. But who made him Community Organizer in chief for my life? Who says government needs to force us together in order to benefit the most people. Rockefeller, Ford, Jobs, Gates, Zuckerberg and countless others have repeatedly demonstrated that the philosophy of 18th economist Adam Smith was right.

Smith is the author of the seminal economic book “The Wealth of Nations” which correctly pointed out that the less government interferes with a free-market system the more people will prosper. Smith pointed out that when left on their own people had a selfish interest in serving people, community, the masses. Failing to do so meant a failure of a business. Doesn’t that make sense?

Official photographic portrait of US President...

President Barrack Obama

Obama’s repeated stated resistance to leave us to our own devices demonstrates a clear lack of faith in the Capitalist system and in the moral fiber of Americans. As we remember the brave souls who lost their lives 70 years ago today its incumbent upon us to ask ourselves why they died and why so many other Americans have fought and died in the name of our country through the past 2 1/4 centuries. Did they die in defense of a bigger Government controlling more and more of our lives; helping us along as Obama would want me to say. Or…did they die for our own individual liberty? Isn’t it obvious? And to properly honor their memory don’t we owe it to them and our own ancestors to struggle and succeed. For one always precedes the other.

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December 7, 2011
Categories: National Politics, Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 1 Comment

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