We are almost in the last year of president Obama's term. For the last seven years, the most important thing as far as Obama is concerned is what he had to say. ISIS might be running amok in the Middle East, but Obama said that America's objective was to degrade, contain and destroy ISIS. For Obama, that was enough. The economy might be stagnant with slow growth and even a decline in household incomes, but Obama told the country that we were in the midst of a recovery and that was enough. Iran might be moving towards building nuclear weapons. Obama then agreed to some words on paper that give Iran $150 billion dollars and a path to completing those nukes, but he said that it would keep Iran from going nuclear and that was enough. Obamacare could cause ten million people to lose their healthplans and doctors and drive premiums through the roof, but Obama told us we could keep our plans and doctors and save $2500 per family and that was enough.
The reality, however, is that words usually don't matter. What's important is what actually happens. ISIS overruns half of Syria and Iraq; that matters. The American economy limps along for year after year with the middle class getting more and more squeezed; that matters. Iran moves on towards nuclear weapons; that matters. You get the picture.
Now we are engaged in a great campaign, testing whether this nation or any nation can long endure if it puts faith in words rather than actions. (I like Lincoln's words.) We watch Hillary Clinton attempt to change the past by telling us that it did not happen. Anyone who lived through the 1990's watched Hillary attack woman after woman who came forward to claim she was sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton. Today, however, Hillary tells us that she is a great defender of the poor women who are victims of sexual assaults. When Donald Trump points out the hypocrisy of Hillary's words, she calls it "baseless personal attacks" and proclaims that she won't let Trump strip away all the progress that women have made. It's just more words. Anyone who paid attention knows well that Hillary is not now and never has been a strong advocate for women's rights. She is, instead, someone who gives lip service to that cause. She talks a good game until it is to her advantage to do the opposite thing.
So when do words actually matter? Here are some that do:
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
It's just one sentence, but with that sentence, a person is elevated to the office of the president. It's an oath, something that the founding fathers as God fearing men took seriously. It's too bad that our current president doesn't. Obama has violated his oath of office repeatedly by taking actions that go well beyond his powers under the Constitution. In other words, Obama acts in ways that undermine the Constitution rather than protecting and defending it. Just look at his executive action on immigration. Obama knows that he does not have power to do what he has attempted. He told the nation repeatedly that he did not have the power to act as he ultimately did. Nevertheless, in that area Obama tried to act (and has fortunately been blocked so far by the courts.)
Words also ought to matter when politicians tell the American people about what is happening or what will do to deal with problems. No one expects politicians to keep all promises, but it certainly is reasonable to expect at least some effort by our leaders to be honest and to actually do what they say they are going to do. After 7 years when that has not been the case, there are too many Americans who no longer even expect honesty or even reality from Obama and the Obamacrats. It eats at the core of our nation. Everyone needs to wake up to this problem and to do all that he or she can to end it.
The reality, however, is that words usually don't matter. What's important is what actually happens. ISIS overruns half of Syria and Iraq; that matters. The American economy limps along for year after year with the middle class getting more and more squeezed; that matters. Iran moves on towards nuclear weapons; that matters. You get the picture.
Now we are engaged in a great campaign, testing whether this nation or any nation can long endure if it puts faith in words rather than actions. (I like Lincoln's words.) We watch Hillary Clinton attempt to change the past by telling us that it did not happen. Anyone who lived through the 1990's watched Hillary attack woman after woman who came forward to claim she was sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton. Today, however, Hillary tells us that she is a great defender of the poor women who are victims of sexual assaults. When Donald Trump points out the hypocrisy of Hillary's words, she calls it "baseless personal attacks" and proclaims that she won't let Trump strip away all the progress that women have made. It's just more words. Anyone who paid attention knows well that Hillary is not now and never has been a strong advocate for women's rights. She is, instead, someone who gives lip service to that cause. She talks a good game until it is to her advantage to do the opposite thing.
So when do words actually matter? Here are some that do:
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
It's just one sentence, but with that sentence, a person is elevated to the office of the president. It's an oath, something that the founding fathers as God fearing men took seriously. It's too bad that our current president doesn't. Obama has violated his oath of office repeatedly by taking actions that go well beyond his powers under the Constitution. In other words, Obama acts in ways that undermine the Constitution rather than protecting and defending it. Just look at his executive action on immigration. Obama knows that he does not have power to do what he has attempted. He told the nation repeatedly that he did not have the power to act as he ultimately did. Nevertheless, in that area Obama tried to act (and has fortunately been blocked so far by the courts.)
Words also ought to matter when politicians tell the American people about what is happening or what will do to deal with problems. No one expects politicians to keep all promises, but it certainly is reasonable to expect at least some effort by our leaders to be honest and to actually do what they say they are going to do. After 7 years when that has not been the case, there are too many Americans who no longer even expect honesty or even reality from Obama and the Obamacrats. It eats at the core of our nation. Everyone needs to wake up to this problem and to do all that he or she can to end it.
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