Resemblances

E.J. Dionne, Jr.: Obama 2008 = Reagan 1980

E.J. Dionne is so predictably a muddled minded toad that it no longer makes sense to cite him.  I only do so here as a segue into what I was thinking.  First the media idiot. “ Barack Obama's critics bear a remarkable resemblance to the liberals who labored mightily to dismiss Ronald Reagan in 1980. Reagan's foes wrote him off as a right-wing former actor who amiably spouted conservative bromides and must have been engaged in some sort of Hollywood flimflam. Like Reagan's enemies, Obama's opponents concede that this Democrat gives a great speech. Indeed, both Obama and Reagan came to wide attention because of a single oration that offered hope in the midst of a losing campaign--Obama's 2004 keynote to the Democratic National Convention and Reagan's 1964 "A Time for Choosing" address delivered on behalf of Barry Goldwater. But surely speeches aren't enough, are they? Yes, Obama gets his crowds swooning. So did Reagan. It's laughable to hear conservatives talk darkly about a "cult of personality" around Obama. The Reaganites, after all, have lobbied to name every airport, school, library, road, bridge, government building and lamppost after the Gipper. When it comes to personality cults, the right wing knows what it's talking about. ” Dionne is typical of today's drive-by media; hopelessly lost when it comes to recognizing Ronald Reagan's greatness, let alone understanding it.  Sort of Lenin trying to come to grips with Adam Smith.  His ilk still labor under the belief that Renaldo Maximus was a dunce who told a good joke. He similarly seems not to recognize that having all those places named for him is testament to how universally respected RR was.  I mean, Berkeley may build a Jimmy Carter Elementary school, and Olympia name a side street for Bill Clinton, but that's about the best either can hope for.  No, I see a different resemblance to Obama Rama.  JFK. We were enthralled by his youth, vibrancy, good looks, oratorical skill, and babe of a wife.  He is revered today only  because he was assassinated.  There were few positive achievements from his short tenure.  His  legacy is Lyndon Johnson.  Without LBJ's vote stealing ability in Texas, JFK is never elected in the first place.  Without Kennedy, no President Johnson.  What's our history without them?  Who knows, but Vietnam's story would certainly be different.  Fidel Castro would likely be in his 47th year of a dirt nap.  I thought of this after reconsidering Doris Lessing's prediction of an Obama assassination.  I can hear Minister Farrakhan now. There are 17 letters in Barak Hussein Obama, and 21 in John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  Twenty-one minus seventeen is four, the same number of years Obama was elected to serve.  Barak's wife, first name Michelle, has the same number of letters as JFK's wife, first name  Jackalin - eight!  Eight plus Four .... ." Blah -blah -blah.  The question  is, who plays LBJ in the reprise?  And will we bomb the next Woodstock?