"Got a better idea?"

Obama only has one idea---grow the government. Yes, of course, that's the answer to all of the problems of the world...

Obama lamented that millions "are now forced to take their children to food banks."

I would certainly use that in a campaign ad as an indictment of his policies.

Democrats have two ideas - socialism and distraction. Socialism is their program, or call it big government. To avoid talking about the massive failure of their baby, they use distraction. Class warfare is the current flavor. In 2004 and 2006 it was relentless attacks on Republicans, with no platform of their own to offer. It 2008 it was a platform of pure air - Hope and Change. Where is H&C now? Republicans should mock Obama with H&C.

Our problem is government (federal, state, local) spending which is 40% of GDP, and regulations which consume another 20% of GDP, for a total government cost of 60% of GDP. The tail is wagging the dog, stagnating growth and freezing jobs.

That huge government cannot drain enough in taxes to pay for itself, so it borrows the difference. We now have the new time bomb of a $15 trillion federal debt, growing at $1.3 trillion per year, equal to 100% of GDP. If interest rates go to 7%, that debt will require $1 trillion in annual interest payments.

We are broke. Every Republican speech should start with that sentence. We ought to cut government in half. Start by cutting it 20%, back to the size in 2007. Then cut another 20%, back to the size in 2000. Then just keep clipping away.

Seems odd that failure is now success. Gee, that sounds a lot like 1984. That may well be Obama's blueprint for "progress". He needs to be stopped while there is ehough remaining of this country to define real progress.

I read a quote the other day, but forgot who to attribute it to.

"Christmas is about presents under the tree for children that the parents paid for. Deficit spending is when there are presents for the adults that thechildren and grandchildren pay for."

That is all that Democrats offer and is the worst form of child abuse.

I wish that the American electorate and journalists could disavow themselves of the notion that the President/Congress are responsible for "job creation". Nothing could be further from the truth and the more those two entities attempt to create jobs the worse things get. They are not responsible for growing the economy, but they can certainly destroy it.

Haven´t seen much ink on this but let´s consider: once the college-educated young adults see what is happening and realize that they will be paying for this their entire lives, how many of them will simply say "Screw it" and move to another country? That will just place the U.S. in an eever-steeper downward graveyard spin.

Some people, including me, see you as an honest intellectual, and you have become an influential TV personality and political analyst as a result. I was heartened as I read your somewhat critical article, but by the end I was reminded that you have yet to perceive the reality of Barack Obama, and until you do your thoughts and opinions fall into the category of “meaningless”.

I wish you would explain to me why you cannot seem to understand Obama and his political actions. His stated sole purpose is to transform the American Republic and its constitutional foundation into a progressive [socialist] ideal of some as yet undefined Utopia. The means he has chosen obviously seek that end. He may have an Ivy League education, but his poor mind was not conditioned to yield an American Patriot. The factual segments of his life about which something is known and documented clearly indicate that his psychological conditioning results from a dysfunctional upbringing and associations with and support of people of extreme and radical political views. Your comparison of Obama to Hugo Chavez showed but a fleeting moment of enlightenment.

Far removed from being a Patriot who loves the concept of America, Obama is the great pretender, utilizing his oratory “gift” to constantly reinforce falsehoods of his collectivist political philosophy and to convey untruths that he loves America and the 99% of “poor and middle class” Americans. His actions, his appointment of socialist czars to bolster the federal regulatory environment, his unconstitutional use of executive orders and signings, and his apologetic approach to foreign policy all scream SUBVERSION. He is a traitor to America.

The Office of President of the United States is worthy of respect, however, popular election to this important position does not lead to the conclusion that the person elected is worthy of similar esteem. Until you [and other political pundits] can demonstrate an understanding of this notion and employ it as basis for legitimate critique, your commentary will remain shallow and supportive of the liberal progressive agenda and the destructiveness of political correctness.

Your comparison of Obama to Horatius is a perfect example of your deficiency of understanding. As the legend goes, the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud, mistreated the people to the extent that he was banished from the city. Tarquin approached the Etruscans for help, and they provided him an army with which he subsequently led a surprise attack across the Tiber River Bridge against Rome. Horatius, a brave soldier, became a hero by single handedly stopping the Etruscans from crossing the bridge. The Etruscans believed his courage to be an omen from the gods, and they never returned to attack Rome again.

Obama is a contemporary Tarquin the Proud, acting like a king as he mistreats Americans. A modern Horatius has yet to come forward to defend America and defeat him. Horatius, Obama ain't.

Consider how ridiculous Obama's arguments are, however. We have 25 million unemployed and greedy corporations have $2.12 trillion in cash languishing unused. That's one-sixth of the workforce and cash that is equivalent to one-seventh of annual GDP sitting idle. Ask yourself why. Greed? Are taxes too low? Those explanations are preposterous! http://bit.ly/tNMKuO

Mr Holmes Simon I agree with your assessment of Obama completely.

Holmes Simons - Oh how true.

Obamao is a traitor who has caused more harm to our Country than any enemy we've had. He swore to uphold the Constitution and has done nothing of the sort.

I believe that his class warfare campaign will ultimately fail and people will wise up to his real agenda.

Holmes Simons--you got the Horatius story wrong. There was no surprise attack on Rome; the Etruscan army under Lars Porsena (not Tarquin) was known to be coming for a long time, and they ravaged the plain all around Rome before advancing on the city.

Horatius, the captain of the one remaining bridge across the Tiber, chose two other Roman soldiers (volunteers) to stand with him, and the three of them held off the Etruscans at one end of the bridge while other Romans cut it down at the other end, behind them. The bridge went down, which prevented the Etruscans from entering Rome.

Porsena then laid siege to the city. During the siege, a young Roman nobleman slipped out of the city and tried to assassinate Porsena, but mistakenly stabbed his finance clerk instead. Siezed, the young man then held his right hand over a flame and did not flinch while it was burned to a crisp, to show Porsena how brave and determined Romans were to kill him. "There are 300 of us sworn to assassinate you," he lied. "I am only the first." (I don't remember this lad's name, but ever after that he was called "Lefty.")

At that, Porsena called off the siege and left for home.

For a great read, look up Thomas Babington Macaulay's epic poem "Horatius at the Bridge." My father could recite it by heart. For that matter, so can I.

Sometimes the details matter.

@Tubby: There are numerous historical accounts of Horatius Cocles and the attempted invasion of Rome by the Etruscans that have spawned poems, legends, and fairy tales. It all happened around 500 B.C., so it is likely that any or all of the more modern fables are historically inaccurate. Some historians acknowledge Tarquin as the last king of Rome; perhaps Macaulay does not in his “poem”.

Details do matter, and I rarely respond to commentary without researching the subject matter of my argument thoroughly. I was providing a synopsis of the story to make a point, not a dissertation, and I relied on my interpretation of world history, not a poem, to do so.

In any event, from my perspective, Dr. Krauthammer's identification of Obama being comparable to Horatius is inaccurate by 180 degrees. Dr. Krauthammer seems to think Obama “stands with the American masses”, and I disagree. My opinion is that Obama is very much a “plutocrat” like Tarquin the Proud. I dare say anyone but an Obot would reach the same conclusion.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your suggestions.

HS

Obama and his minions are, without a doubt, working to secure the destruction of the American Republic, those who refuse to see or acknowledge that reality will live to regret it. I have no problem with opposing viewpoints, until they use lies, distortions and inflammatory rhetoric to confuse the issue. The Office of the President does deserve respect, however, the current resident does not.

I think this analogy is right on. The only things I could add are statements about this failed President that you wouldn't allow to be printed.

@ ReasonableViews wrote: "We have 25 million unemployed and greedy corporations have $2.12 trillion in cash languishing unused."

Obviously you don't work in a business environment, nor one that requires logic. There is zero context or explanation on your post, and the facile use of "greedy" and "languishing" suggests you have a socialist ax to grind. Money is not some magical fairy that, once invested, finds ways to become useful to investors. Seriously, this is the best you can offer?

The next president is going to have to make very painful, hated decisions, if the Republic is to survive. Obama surely can’t. His every impulse is to drive us towards the cliff. I doubt that Romney can and have questions about Gingrich. I’ll take a brokered convention and a new candidate, maybe Mitch Daniels. 2012 may be our last chance. We are very close to fiscal collapse, followed by political and social collapse, entitlement riots and blood in the streets. I loved the Horatius reference and responses. Dr. Krauthammer is not saying that Obama is Heratius, only that he sees himself that way. Indeed, we few, we band of brothers, we 1% if you will, are now Heratius, the only thing between the entitlement hordes intent on eating the last seed cord of prosperity and freedom and the “ashes of our fathers and the temples of our gods.” I will link to this from my Old Jarhead blog.

Robert A. Hall

Author: The Coming Collapse of the American Republic

(All royalties go to a charity to help wounded veterans)

For a free PDF of my book, write tartanmarine(at)gmail.com

I've asked this before, but why is "growing inequality" "a problem throughout the Western world"?

If the majority of those on the lower end of the spectrum have the necessary wherewithal to obtain the necessities of life (and that includes virtually all of the "Western world"), then what does it matter how much those on the upper end make?

The average "poor" person in the Western world is able to live a lifestyle that the *real* poor in the Third World can only dream of (and most people only 100 years ago would have found unimaginable).

The problem is not "income inequality", but *envy* exacerbated by *laziness*.

OD

"Why? Because, you see, he bears no responsibility for the current economic distress. It's the rich. And, like Horatius at the bridge, Obama stands with the American masses against the soulless plutocrats."

Those of you criticizing Krauthammer for the Horatius comment have missed the point. It's clear that Krauthammer was putting forth that OBAMA is CLAIMING to be like Horatius - not that he actually IS "standing with the masses ... "

@Jane: My criticism has nothing to do with "Horatius" but with Mr. Krauthammer's continuing inaccurate perception of Obama, who has never had any intention of doing anything positive for America or its people. Obama is and always has been a consummate pathological liar and fraud.

Yeah, Charles, whose namesake Obama most resembles, (the 1st), that's it: class warfare is his only card.

Generally Mr. Krauthammer's piece is very good. However, I take issue with one thing he said, "You have to admire the audacity" [of President Obama's pretentious refusal to accept the blame for the economy]. I disagree: the audacity of immorality is never admirable!

As for food for the "poor", not only are the "poor" supplied with food stamps, free food in government supplied "banks," in public schools, free housing, medicine, and income with which to care for their children, all of which they are "free" to use, trade, and sell, in any way they please. Then they can additionally drain private charity food pantries. They have been told by the liberal, socialist establishment that they are "entitled" and "deserve" whatever they want, which somehow (mysteriously) working people have "taken from them."

They have been systematically, pathetically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, crippled by immoral politicians engaged in immoral politics. There is nothing to see that is admirable in any part of it. At one point, several decades back, it might have been said of the status quo that, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Today it is obvious that good intentions never had anything to do with it.

Yes, they've been "taken," taken and created, by the system itself, which additionally provides extremely good incomes, benefits, perks, to government workers at the expense of everyone else, and then is now telling ever increasing numbers who cannot, (and never will be able to get good jobs, or any job security, in a socialist busted economy), to say "Government be praised! All ye, Praise the Almighty Government, as ye join the "poor" in your deserved, entitlement food and various and sundry handouts by the grace of your benevolent, socialist government's good will."

Some may admire such a government's audacity, but I say - in keeping with the season - "Bah Humbug!"