 |
| One media member (a bored cameraman with nothing to film), and one local resident out walking her dog and curious why the street was blocked off. Grand total: two. And this was about half an hour before the event was set to begin, so the area should have been at its most crowded. |
◼ ...even with the small turnout, there was a theme amongst Obama’s protesters/supporters (supportesters?): They didn’t want him to change his political agenda — instead, they demanded that he assume dictatorial powers so that he could finally implement the radical plans with which they already agree. - Zombie/PJMedia
The message of the day was: Stop dilly-dallying around, Mr. President: Ignore the Constitution and just make The Revolution happen, as you promised!
That message would be disturbing enough all on its own, but it becomes much more disturbing when you suspect (as I do) that many of these pro-totalitarian protesters were astroturfed. In other words: Is the White House scripting/encouraging/guiding protesters on the left to beg him to become a dictator? So that later, he can explain, “I had no choice — the people demanded it!”
...Innocent Theory #1 is that Obama is essentially announcing to his base via these symbolic heckling exchanges that he no longer has the political will to issue as many power-grabbing executive orders as he’s done up til now, and that The Revolution has been put back on hold. “Ram through the progressive wish list with brazen executive orders? Why, I couldn’t do that (any more, at least) — it’d be unconstitutional!” Theory #1, if true, would certainly be in response to plummeting poll numbers and the sobering reality that the Republicans are now almost certain to maintain control of the House of Representatives in 2014, meaning Obama is conceding that he has been effectively stymied, and is thus warning his supporters not to get their hopes up.
Sinister Theory #2 is that Obama is staging these repeated calls for him to assume dictatorial powers as a way to later justify his actions when he amps up and redoubles his unconstitutional executive orders. “I wanted to be a passive and humble president, I really did — but the public demanded that I seize power, so I had to obey the people!” Theory #2, if true, would be based on the fact that Obama is a lame duck president and thus immune from any need to remain “electable”: He could basically do whatever he wanted for the next three years, however extreme, and “get away with it” since he never has to run for office again and Congress obviously will never impeach him at this stage of the game.
To conservatives prone to fearing the worst from Obama I ask: Do you think Theory #1 is correct, or Theory #2?
To progressives calling on Obama to rule via executive order I ask: What’s more important — preserving our system of government, or winning political victories at any cost?
That’s the real dividing line in American politics today.
◼ Politifact Fact Checks Obama Heckler’s ‘Mostly False’ Rant - Noah Rothman/Mediaite
On Monday, President Barack Obama’s speech before a crowd of supporters in San Francisco was interrupted when a heckler erupted with demands that the president halt deportations of illegal immigrants via executive order. Politifact took on the heckler’s claims on Tuesday with a thorough audit of his statements.
◼ UPDATE: Networks Hype 'Interesting' Moment With Liberal 'Heckler'; Obama Handled It 'Well' - SCOTT WHITLOCK/NEWSBUSTERS
It was only on the previous evening's Nightly News that Brian Williams revealed, "The White House confirmed [the hecklers] were invited guests, part of an advocacy group at the event."
