BloggeRhythms

As horrendous problems fester here at home and around the globe, it’s truly amazing that regardless of the situations themselves, the incumbent’s first, and sometimes only, consideration is pandering to his political base.

 

Speaking in Estonia today while visiting Europe, he took a hard line at first, condemning the execution of a U.S. reporter as "horrific" and "barbaric," vowing "justice will be served." Stating that his ultimate goal in the fight against ISIS is to "degrade and destroy" the terror group. Then, moments later, he claimed that he wants to make it a "manageable problem."

 

The conflicting goals caused Republican Representative, Adam Kinzinger, of Illinois to ask: “Are we going to contain ISIS or are we going to crush ISIS? And the president has not answered that," according to Fox News.com.

 

And that’s the nub of the problem in every area of government under this administration. Because, had real thought been given to what would happen after U.S. troops were pulled out of Iraq in the first place, chances are ISIS would not have become the significant entity it is is today. Yet, political pandering nonetheless overrode sound foreign policy for which the U.S. and its allies are now paying the price.

 

Then, in the meantime, under the radar, Fox News also reports that, “President Obama announced Tuesday he is sending approximately 350 additional military personnel to Iraq to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and workers in Baghdad. Defense officials told Fox News that once the latest forces arrive, the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq will be 1,213.” Therefore, the troop buildup is quietly starting again.

 

On another matter regarding governmental incompetence of the highest magnitude, in this case the grossly mismanaged health care tax, it seems the incumbent inadvertently took the blame for the technology failures.

 

Speaking in Estonia yesterday he made a joke about the failed launch of his health insurance program saying that the residents of his host country were so good with technology that he “should have called the Estonians when I was setting up our health care website.”

 

Unfortunately for Republicans, however, it’s too late to use the admission that should have been made in 2012, before the last presidential election.

 

And then there’s another item, this one from The Wall Street Journal’s Bret Stephens, who reports that President Obama is “enraged” at the Israeli government, “both for its actions and for its treatment of his chief diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. ”

 

The Jerusalem Post says that, based on the testimony of Martin Indyk, until recently a special Middle East envoy for the president, that the war in Gaza has had “a very negative impact” on Jerusalem’s relations with Washington.

 

Mr. Stephens believes that “enraged” is a significant definition and suggests one should, “Think about this. Enraged. Not “alarmed” or “concerned” or “irritated” or even “angered.” Anger is a feeling. Rage is a frenzy. Anger passes. Rage feeds on itself. Anger is specific. Rage is obsessional, neurotic.” 

 

Especially so whereas, “Mr. Obama—No Drama Obama, the president who prides himself on his cool, a man whose emotional detachment is said to explain his intellectual strength—is enraged.”

 

Then, Mr. Stephens lays out the background, questioning being "enraged" with Israel. "Which has just been hit by several thousand unguided rockets and 30-odd terror tunnels, a 50-day war, the forced closure of its one major airport, accusations of “genocide” by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, anti-Semitic protests throughout Europe, general condemnation across the world. This is the country that is the object of the president’s rage.”

 

Leading to Mr. Stephens following conclusion: “I’m wondering if, given that Hamas was dropping bombs on his peoples’ heads, whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had much time for golf and lobster this August. Our president did, even though the same types of people will soon be dropping bombs on our heads too.”

 

And that brings us right back to today’s opening premise. That the individual situations here and abroad consistently take second place, or perhaps lower. Because politics, theory, ideology and personal goals always trump reality whenever and wherever this incumbent and his administration are involved.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios