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Title: Strassel: The President Has a List
Source:
Wall Street Journal
URL Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100 ... 4723304577368280604524916.html
Published: Apr 28, 2012
Author: KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL
Post Date: 2012-04-28 07:53:15 by A K A Stone
Keywords: None
Views: 2245
Comments: 16
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.
Enlarge Image pw0427 pw0427 Associated Press/The News & Observer
Barack Obama at the University of North Carolina, April 24
"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.
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#1. To: A K A Stone (#0)
$5 bucks says he had his fingers crossed behind his back when he took the Oath of Office.....
"If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you're not a racist, you'll need to vote for someone else in 2012 to prove you're not an idiot."
So when you use the "N" word are you using it to describe his skin color or are you using it to describe the actions he has taken his entire life????? If you are using it to describe his actions then that's allowable, if you're using it to describe his skin color then that's politically incorrect and you immediately need to wash out your mouth and computer keyboard with Pearl beer!!!! (But then again if you have black skin yourself please feel free to use the "N" word in any context you so desire)!!!
"If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you're not a racist, you'll need to vote for someone else in 2012 to prove you're not an idiot."
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. I hate these leftist bastards more than anything. It's a sad state of affairs that Americans personally like Obama. He's a corrupt, leftist son of a bitch. He needs to be removed from public life.
How? Vote for Romney?
Look at history. Elections are only one of many the ways to get rid of an evil politician.
Sure but with the existing poopulace feeding out of the government trough at some 15Tr in debt, how are they going to change?
Hell no! I'm contacting my attorney to see if I can get some of the money in his personal bank account.
Not much will change until the country goes belly up and everyone is wiped out either through hyperinflation, war, or both. Jefferson said that every generation needs their own revolution. We've had too many generations in America without one. The government's ability to print money to keep things afloat is coming to an end. We will either devolve into dictatorship or renew the American spirit. Over the last 30 years I've been very pessimistic. Over the last few years I've seen a few reasons to become cautiously optimistic. Time will tell...
Sometimes, you make tip-toe within your own comments as though you know what the score really *IS*. It is called massive and decisive REVOLUTION. When Stone gets a call from the UBERland cops, he can turn me in for saying that.
I'm just hoping to avoid the French Revolution, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Cultural Revolution in China, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia... I'm pretty sure that we can, but I'm not entirely confident. The GOOD THING is that the evil leftists have really begun to expose themselves in the Obama administration for all to see. Look at the Obama appointed dope in the EPA who was recently caught on camera advocating war against the energy that we need to keep modern civilization afloat. These people are nuts. Unfortunately, people have very short memories. So every 30 or 40 years we need to take a hit, and allow the leftist nuts to take power, just to demonstrate how rotten they are. It's a scary thing, but it's essential to keep everyone guarded against these lunatics.
Nope. It ain't going to happen. Each and everyone of those REVOLUTIONS you cited were when the People had unemployment numbers far America is up-side-down and there is no way to right the place.
So, are you predicting the end of America? How? Maybe Vermont secedes, Texas secedes, Cascadia (Washington, Oregon, British Colombia) tells D.C. and Ottawa to take a hike, etc..... If there isn't any way to right place, secession is an alternative. As the Civil War demonstrated, secession is not an easy path, but it can be done. The other alternative is an ugly dictatorship. What do you see in our future??? I'm curious about your opinion.
Has Japan recovered yet? How about the gulf?
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
You are a fairely smart and intelligent poster. So, without describing the events of America leading up to this day, let me remind you that you can't push a string or rope into a straight or linear method of orientation unless it is by luck. It is physically impossible unless there is some sort of coincidental outside force that explains that phenomena. It is possible to "pull" a string or rope into a straight line however; and it is done with ease time after time after time. Do you understand? The dissatisfaction with America is because it was "pushed" for years into submission. It wasn't "pulled" and as a result the recoil is going to be TREMENDOUS in terms of magnitude and order.
Just what are you suggesting here?
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'! I'm not suggesting anything. I'm making a factual statement about the many ways that people have rid themselves of tyrants throughout history. We've seen one of those ways -- revolution -- over the last year in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. There are other ways as well.
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.
#2. To: A K A Stone (#0)
Get rid of this NIGGER!!!
#3. To: A K A Stone (#0)
(Edited)
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.
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#4. To: jwpegler (#3)
He needs to be removed from public life.
#5. To: buckeroo (#4)
How?
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#6. To: jwpegler (#5)
#7. To: A K A Stone (#0)
Are you worried?
#8. To: buckeroo (#6)
(Edited)
Sure but with the existing poopulace feeding out of the government trough at some 15Tr in debt, how are they going to change?
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#9. To: jwpegler (#8)
The government's ability to print money to keep things afloat is coming to an end.
#10. To: buckeroo (#9)
(Edited)
It is called massive and decisive REVOLUTION.
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#11. To: jwpegler (#10)
(Edited)
I'm just hoping to avoid the French Revolution, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Cultural Revolution in China, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia...
more LESS than in contemporary America. Meanwhile the rising technocratic, fascist aristocracy in America often make over 1000x of the common man while they pay no taxes at all.
#12. To: buckeroo (#11)
(Edited)
America is up-side-down and there is no way to right the place.
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#13. To: jwpegler (#10)
#14. To: jwpegler (#12)
I'm curious about your opinion.
#15. To: jwpegler (#3)
He needs to be removed from public life.
#16. To: Brian S (#15)
Just what are you suggesting here?
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
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