Cynical Optimist

Language is a beautiful thing. Take the word “presumption.”

Dictionary.com defines it as:

1. assumption of something as true.
2. belief on reasonable grounds or probable evidence.
3. something that is presumed; an assumption.
4. a ground or reason for presuming or believing.
5. an assumption, often not fully established, that is taken for granted in some piece of reasoning.

Based on that definition, it’s high time we start referring to him as President Elect Obama. Nevermind the election is still just under 100 days away. Nevermind the American people don’t know much about his positions or beliefs. Nevermind his 20 year association with the likes of Reverend Wright. Nevermind his Orwellian attempts to control the image and message. Nevermind his lack of judgment on Iraq.

Obama and his campaign have made it clear those are just minor details on the road to Inauguration Day, and can be dispensed with.

His activities and demeanor clearly indicate he is the most powerful man in the world. This allows him to travel in Presidential style motorcades, issue Presidential style communiques (”I had a productive and wide-ranging discussion. . . . I look forward to working with the democratically elected government of Pakistan.”), giving advice to the chief executive of Great Briton, Prime Minister Gordon Brown (”If what you’re trying to do is micromanage and solve everything, then you end up being a dilettante.”) This from a man with no executive experience at all. It also allows him to order up a meeting with Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and a teleconference with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

There’s another definition for presumption: unwarrantable, unbecoming, or impertinent boldness. There are also synonyms: audacity, effrontery, arrogance, gall.

There’s that word again.

One thing is clear. President Elect Barack Obama has shown an unerring knack for deflecting criticism of him and I expect the same will happen here. In the weeks and months ahead, the media will no doubt be filled with stories that clearly show how humble he is.

Even if he isn’t.

“Fake it till you make it” and “Spin it till you win it.”

Read about Narcissism

Tags: Politics by Cynical Optimist
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Not that is a really big deal, but have you noticed Obama’s pronunciation of Pakistan?

Most Americans pronounce it Pack-istan. Even Pakistan’s Prime Minister pronounces it that way.

But Obama says Pock-istan.

Is this pretensiousness? Elitism? Reflective of his Muslim sensitivity?
Maybe this is what he means by “change.”

Maybe it’s all of the above. Who the heck really knows.

Tags: Politics by Cynical Optimist
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Here’s what John McCain needs to do to win this election.

McCain needs to hammer Obama on judgment. Not only on the surge, but on his conscious decision to stay in that church for 20 years. That story was allowed a fast, painless death, and Obama should have to pay a political price for his bad judgment. The only time Obama got really flustered during the primary was with the Rev. Wright situation.

Americans don’t care too much about experience, except in how it relates to judgment. McCain needs to keep it there.

Read about John McCain

Additionally, he needs to come up with some new ideas in other areas. Energy for instance. Drilling more is good, but there has to be a plan that does more than just drill. Maybe he should co-opt T. Boone Pickens plan and the less crackpot parts of Gore’s. Present a “comprehensive” plan to tackle the energy issue that utilizes all the good ideas out there.

The Economy. He needs to get out front on this. The economy is much bigger than just proposing to continue the Bush tax cuts. If he gets out front with something that makes sense, he wins.

He needs to take a look at his advisors. I’m not sure they are being very effective. They are being reactive instead of proactive, and that’s not good. John McCain shouldn’t have to be the one to get out and talk about Obama day after day. His surrogates should be doing this. McCain needs to stay positive and look Presidential.

Tags: Politics by Cynical Optimist
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I’m dumbfounded at just how muddled Barack Obama’s thinking is. It’s truly astonishing

In an interview with Newsweek on his way to Paris, there was this snippet:

Newsweek: “You’ve been talking about those limited missions for a long time. Having gone there and talked to both diplomatic and military folks, do you have a clearer idea of how big a force you’d need to leave behind to fulfill all those functions?”

Obama: “I do think that’s entirely conditions-based. It’s hard to anticipate where we may be six months from now, or a year from now, or a year and a half from now.”

He was talking about the residual force remaining after he withdraws the combat troops.

Now, there isn’t anything illogical about his answer. It’s a perfectly reasonable, sober judgment.

What isn’t logical or reasonable, is his refusal to use the same logic when it comes to his arbitrary withdrawal timetable. Unless, of course, you recognize that his timetable is nothing more than an cynical effort to capitalize politically on our natural aversion to war, and our collective disgust with this particular war.

Wars end when one side says “I quit.” That’s when the other side says “we won.”

Obama, Reid, Murtha, Pelosi and most of the Democrats said “I quit” a long time ago. Some Republicans too.

I don’t know what I’m more disgusted with. Obama’s willingness to throw away the hard won sacrifices of our military, or his blatant attempt to take political advantage of them.

Tags: Politics, War by Cynical Optimist
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