Historic Parallels

Okay, its taken us several weeks, but we are ready to move on. Which is more than we can say for some people. Today, Doonesbury was still whacking away at Sarah Palin.
Obama wasn't our pick, but he won the day and we are now ready to subscribe to the "give him a chance" school of thought. Besides, if it turns out badly, we can revert to the I-told-you- so stance.

And while we wish Mr. Obama well, it strikes us that much of the gratuitous adulation from his campaign is carrying over to the transition period. For instance, he is repeatedly being called the next JFK. Okay, both were young senators when elected. Obama has an attractive wife and a cute young family, just like JFK did. Beyond that, the comparison gets very thin. What we seem to need is someone to invoke the Lloyd Benson comparison, along the lines of: We knew Jack Kennedy. He was our president, from Massachusetts, when we were young and the future looked endlessly golden and inviting. Senator Obama, you are no Jack Kennedy.

And then, there's the Abe Lincoln comparison. As illustrated by the Ron English portrait nearby, some folks have given this a lot of thought. And maybe there is a twisted parallel if someone could connect the dots between Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and Obama's election. Good luck to that. More recently, we have been reminded of Lincoln's courage in appointing a "Team of Rivals" to his cabinet rather than a gang of sycophants. Before you point to Hillary Clinton as an example of Obama acting Lincolnesque, I would have you recall last summer when Hillary dragged her feet in terminating her campaign amid rumors of her taking the fight to the convention. Then, magically, the Clintons agreed to fold their tent and support Obama, and everyone wondered what kind of deal was cut. Well, now we know. Maybe concern about the conflicts raised by Bill's money-raising schemes will block Hillary's confirmation as Secretary of State, but don't bet on it. In the meantime, is this an example of hope we can believe in?

But don't despair, the channelling of ex-presidents continues as we hear that Obama may well be the new FDR as he comes riding in to save us from the financial crisis that has recently melted down half of every one's 401 (k). There seems to be an expectation that he will unfold a New New Deal that will solve our financial ills the same way FDR's New Deal fought the effects of the Depression. Not to rain on this parade, but by the time Obama is sworn in, there may not be much left in the old Treasury after the bail out for the banks, insurance companies and the auto industry. Obama is calling for a significant stimulus package to stave off the looming recession. Since he has also refused to postpone any of the new spending programs he has promised, I have a feeling that 95% of U.S. Taxpayers may not be seeing that tax cut for a while.

Okay, okay, I did say we have to give the guy a chance. But at the same time, we have to wonder just what achievements in his background point to his being an effective president? If the past is prologue, then perhaps hope is the answer after all, as in, "We sure hope this guy can do the job".