Posts Tagged ‘Oval office’

President Obama and Abe Lincoln

March 29th, 2011 by John Feehery

It is Abraham Lincoln who has most inspired the Obama Administration.

Mr. Obama announced his initial Presidential run in the exact same spot that Mr. Lincoln did. His post-election train ride was inspired by Lincoln’s train ride. His cabinet, a team of rivals, was inspired by Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book that described the Lincoln cabinet.

I wonder why Mr. Obama hasn’t yet grown a Lincoln-type beard?

And I also wonder how Obama would react if he were faced with the same kind of crisis that confronted honest Abe? What would happen, for example, if Rick Perry decided that Texas was leaving the Union?

How would Obama react if the Texas Rangers formed up and decided that armed resistance was the only way to stop Obama-care? My guess is he would do what Lincoln did–and what Gaddaffi is doing. He would put down the rebellion. And while at first, he might try to spare civilian lives, he would do what he had to do to preserve the Union.

I am in no way comparing the virtues of Lincoln with the vices of Gaddaffi, but a civil war is a civil war. And while we might not love the crazy colonel, there is no evidence that the rebels are any better, and plenty of evidence that they may be worse.

Turn the Page

August 31st, 2010 by John Feehery

Photo via the NY Times

The President said he wanted to turn the page on Iraq.

I wonder how that makes the Iraqis feel.  My guess is that they are saying, “wait, this chapter isn’t done yet!”  About the only Iraqi who wants us out is that Sadr character, who is just looking for a way to grab power for himself.

It was nice that Mr. Obama called former President Bush today, and that he mentioned that conversation in his speech tonight.  I wonder if the current President acknowledged that the former President was right when it came to the surge.  I doubt it.

Mr. Obama has been pretty consistent that he didn’t like the Iraq War and that he wanted to spend the money that we spent in Iraq on bigger government to “help the middle class.”  The irony is that most middle class voters are clamoring for smaller government, lower taxes, and less meddling from the Feds, not for more help from Mr. Obama.