Flim-Flam Man

We said repeatedly during the campaign that Barak Obama was an empty suit. He had a sparse resume, questionable associations and couldn’t speak without a teleprompter. He was well packaged, well managed and willing to promise the great unwashed an unending bacchanal of bread and circuses. There was little questioning of exactly how that could be accomplished within any reasonable fiscal constraint. The voters simply wanted “change.”

Along the way the candidate very successfully painted John McCain as “Bush III,” a continuation of the “failed Bush policies” of the last eight years. Anyone who has watched John McCain over his many years in Washington and particularly during the eight years of the Bush administration would know that was a ludicrous connection. Sen. McCain had bucked Bush on tax cuts without matching spending reductions. He had argued extensively and correctly for a revised Iraq policy. He had virtually leaped across party lines for a comprehensive immigration reform policy that was arguably a “bridge too far.” He had even offended his own party hard core with his quixotic quest for campaign finance reform. John McCain was many things, but he certainly wasn’t a clone of George W. Bush. Regardless, the Morlocks of the electorate sucked up the pabulum and accepted the unfounded assertion.

Now, he awaits coronation. He builds an administration. He names people for responsible positions in the Obamanation. He undeniably has neither the experience nor the connections among respected statesmen to choose from his own cadre. He simply hasn’t been there long enough. So, we’ve got Rahm Emmanuel and John Podesta as the first names released. Now we’re hearing strong rumors of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. The fact that we are getting Clinton III and this isn’t change from the old, business-as-usual Washington in-crowd seems to be escaping the media and the masses. Bill must be laughing himself silly in the Playboy Mansion Long Island branch.

If Obama lacked qualification to be president, then how does Sen. Clinton have any credentials to be SecState? Does she have diplomatic experience? Has she studied international relations and foreign policy? Has she been in the United Nations delegation? An ambassador? She is a civil law attorney with a background of questionable dealings. She is a former first lady who has hosted a lot of White House social activities. She is a one-term senator. She is arguably famous now, but she isn’t qualified by any objective measurement.

It was clear when she “graciously” withdrew after recognizing that victory was impossible and her debts were becoming insurmountable that there had been a meeting and an agreement. The godfather had made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. I honestly thought it was a Supreme Court seat, but in retrospect recognize that she and Bill aren’t into delayed gratification. There’s no telling how long it would take the Clintonistas to engineer a death on the court. So, SecState is about as good as it gets, especially for someone who “abhors the military.”

Which brings up SecDef. The buzz is that the Messiah will be asking Bob Gates to stay on at Defense. You know the old dictum about not changing horses in mid-stream. We do have some wars on and consistency is good, at least until the dismantling can begin. But how long will it take for the public to notice that what is being delivered is “continuation of the failed Bush policies” on Iraq?

We are seeing the practice of telling the voters whatever it takes to get elected and then governing without reference to the promises made taken to a new level. This will set campaigns for the future a low-level target that it may be impossible to undercut.