Robbie, a recently retired professor of Criminology at Ga. State (Google his resume), is speaking at The Landing's Plantation Club at 5PM on July 12, under the auspices of The SIRC.
In addition to being a nationally recognized authority on criminology, Robbie also is an authority on counter terrorism and his topic will be "Israel and What Now/Where Do We Go From Here.".
I urge you attend this presentation and please RSVP to: kasjac@bellsouth.net
The charge for members of The SIRC is $5 and non-members $10.
---
Lasky reviews "The Amateur." (See 1 below.)
As I suggested in several previous memos: "The Amateur" should be a must read for those who oppose and even worship Obama.
---
While I am away this is a movie you need to watch. I referred to this when I reviewed D'Souza's book many memos ago.
An extremely important movie is coming this summer - - It is called simply "2016". The speaker here is Dinesh D'Souza, college president in New York and author of many New York Times best sellers. The movie is from Gerald R. Molen, producer of Academy Award winning Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, and Brave Heart. It explains in plain language who Barack Obama really is, what he stands for, and the dangers of him being reelected to another four years. The preview has already been seen by over 1.2 million people. Within a very short time it will have been seen by tens of millions! After you see the preview, listen to what Dinesh has to say about Obama. Democrats should be especially concerned.
Click here:http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6QOscKvUjU?version=3&feature=player_detailpage
Click here:http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6QOscKvUjU?version=3&feature=player_detailpage
---
You have to love this irreverent Brit:1 Attached file
Off on extensive back to back trips so please do not e mail me because I will be unable to answer and do not wish to be drowned in e mails upon my return. Have a great June - August.
------
Dick
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1)The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House
By Ed Lasky
The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House, is a
withering portrayal of a radical adrift, in over his head, drowning in his
withering portrayal of a radical adrift, in over his head, drowning in his
own incompetency -- while being weighed down by a small circle of "advisers"
who are compounding the problem of the Amateur in the White House.
Klein's book begins with a talisman-like quote uttered by Barack Obama when
his recently appointed Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner tried to boost
Obama's ego by telling him, "Your legacy is going to be preventing the
second Great Depression." To which Barack Obama responded, "That's not
enough for me."
who are compounding the problem of the Amateur in the White House.
Klein's book begins with a talisman-like quote uttered by Barack Obama when
his recently appointed Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner tried to boost
Obama's ego by telling him, "Your legacy is going to be preventing the
second Great Depression." To which Barack Obama responded, "That's not
enough for me."
As all of America knows by now, Obama has aggressively sought to
"fundamentally transform" America -- one of the few promises he has kept
from the days of 2008. Five trillion dollars of borrowing, ObamaCare passed
over the objections of the majority of Americans through legislative
legerdemain and special deals made with resistant politicians, failed
stimulus, green programs failing left and right as taxpayers are left
holding the bag, a recovery that is the most anemic on record, an America
that has been sundered by the man who promises to unite us, America weaker
abroad and at home -- yes, America has been fundamentally transformed.
Mission Accomplished.
"fundamentally transform" America -- one of the few promises he has kept
from the days of 2008. Five trillion dollars of borrowing, ObamaCare passed
over the objections of the majority of Americans through legislative
legerdemain and special deals made with resistant politicians, failed
stimulus, green programs failing left and right as taxpayers are left
holding the bag, a recovery that is the most anemic on record, an America
that has been sundered by the man who promises to unite us, America weaker
abroad and at home -- yes, America has been fundamentally transformed.
Mission Accomplished.
But how and why did Obama succeed in such a catastrophic way? That is the
question that Klein successfully answers in his extremely readable and
enjoyable book, with enough spicy details to satisfy the craving of anyone
interested in how President Obama and those closest to him have driven us to
the condition we find ourselves in as we approach November.
question that Klein successfully answers in his extremely readable and
enjoyable book, with enough spicy details to satisfy the craving of anyone
interested in how President Obama and those closest to him have driven us to
the condition we find ourselves in as we approach November.
One of the motifs that runs throughout the book is Barack Obama's sheer
level of incompetency. He has the fatal conceit of many politicians: an
overweening ego. That may be a prerequisite for politicians and leaders, but
when it is unleavened by a willingness to consider the views of others, it
becomes a fatal conceit. And Obama has that trait in abundance.
level of incompetency. He has the fatal conceit of many politicians: an
overweening ego. That may be a prerequisite for politicians and leaders, but
when it is unleavened by a willingness to consider the views of others, it
becomes a fatal conceit. And Obama has that trait in abundance.
Stories tumble out that reveal a man who believes he is all but omniscient
-- unwilling to give any credence to the views of others (especially but not
limited to those across the aisle). Experts in management are interviewed
who point out that he lacks essential qualities of leadership. Indeed, the
book gets its title from an outburst from Bill Clinton, who was trying to
encourage Hillary to take on Obama in the Democratic primary of 2012:
Obama doesn't know how to be president. He doesn't know how the world works.
He's incompetent. He's...he's...Barack Obama's an amateur.
-- unwilling to give any credence to the views of others (especially but not
limited to those across the aisle). Experts in management are interviewed
who point out that he lacks essential qualities of leadership. Indeed, the
book gets its title from an outburst from Bill Clinton, who was trying to
encourage Hillary to take on Obama in the Democratic primary of 2012:
Obama doesn't know how to be president. He doesn't know how the world works.
He's incompetent. He's...he's...Barack Obama's an amateur.
But Klein does not rest there. He delves into associates from Obama's career
in Cook County politics, his stint as a state senator, and his rise to the
United States Senate. There is a common pattern: Obama likes to campaign,
but once he is elected and actually starts working, his interest flags, and
he starts looking for the next "big thing" -- electorally speaking. He had
few if any accomplishments or professional standing in any of his previous
positions. Even when he served as a lecturer at the University of Chicago
Law School, he avoided any encounters with other faculty who enjoyed
discussing the law. His reluctance to engage them is revealing in and of
itself, suggesting he had a reason for his lack of confidence.
in Cook County politics, his stint as a state senator, and his rise to the
United States Senate. There is a common pattern: Obama likes to campaign,
but once he is elected and actually starts working, his interest flags, and
he starts looking for the next "big thing" -- electorally speaking. He had
few if any accomplishments or professional standing in any of his previous
positions. Even when he served as a lecturer at the University of Chicago
Law School, he avoided any encounters with other faculty who enjoyed
discussing the law. His reluctance to engage them is revealing in and of
itself, suggesting he had a reason for his lack of confidence.
His disdain toward working with others is manifest. He has gained a
reputation over the last few years as being cold and distant, refusing to
engage, as have other presidents, in the give-and-take of politics, in the
social niceties that help grease the wheels in Washington. Liberal
reputation over the last few years as being cold and distant, refusing to
engage, as have other presidents, in the give-and-take of politics, in the
social niceties that help grease the wheels in Washington. Liberal
Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen
<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/05/08/obama_should_learn_fro
m_lbj_114073.html> recently advised him to read Robert Caro's newest volume
on the life of Lyndon Johnson as a primer on how to be president. Johnson,
of course, was a master at pulling levers of power, but he also knew how to
persuade individual politicians on both sides of the aisle to work with him
on legislation. But, of course, LBJ also had the common touch and, having
risen from humble beginnings, never considered it beneath him to work with
those underneath him. Not so Barack Obama. He complained to foreign leaders
that he had to waste time talking with "congressmen from Palookaville." At
another time, he switched locales and said he was tired of dealing with
people from "Podunk."
<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/05/08/obama_should_learn_fro
m_lbj_114073.html> recently advised him to read Robert Caro's newest volume
on the life of Lyndon Johnson as a primer on how to be president. Johnson,
of course, was a master at pulling levers of power, but he also knew how to
persuade individual politicians on both sides of the aisle to work with him
on legislation. But, of course, LBJ also had the common touch and, having
risen from humble beginnings, never considered it beneath him to work with
those underneath him. Not so Barack Obama. He complained to foreign leaders
that he had to waste time talking with "congressmen from Palookaville." At
another time, he switched locales and said he was tired of dealing with
people from "Podunk."
His campaign trail comments regarding small-town America as being populated
by "bitter" people who cling to guns and Bibles was not a one-off. They are
reflective of his views.
by "bitter" people who cling to guns and Bibles was not a one-off. They are
reflective of his views.
But the high and the mighty also come in for the Obama treatment. Klein
reveals dismay among former Obama supporters who feel they have been
mistreated, maligned, and thrown under the bus. Obama's most generous early
donors have been all but ignored; early mentors in the black business
community have been sidelined if not completely ditched; people don't hear
from him or his staff unless a fundraiser is coming up. But there is more:
Caroline Kennedy is angry at the way she and her family were used for
campaign purposes in 2008 and then summarily dismissed and stored away like
so many movie props have been (the latter is my description).
reveals dismay among former Obama supporters who feel they have been
mistreated, maligned, and thrown under the bus. Obama's most generous early
donors have been all but ignored; early mentors in the black business
community have been sidelined if not completely ditched; people don't hear
from him or his staff unless a fundraiser is coming up. But there is more:
Caroline Kennedy is angry at the way she and her family were used for
campaign purposes in 2008 and then summarily dismissed and stored away like
so many movie props have been (the latter is my description).
Even Oprah Winfrey has been stiff-armed by the Obamas. According to the
book, Oprah took a big risk in supporting Obama in 2008 and campaigning for
Obama in Iowa, being a big boost in his campaign. The ratings for her show
weakened significantly (and her new network has been a huge disappointment).
But when she has tried to visit the White House, she has been all but
treated as persona non grata. Apparently, Michelle Obama is a possessive
person who fears the influence Oprah may have over Barack Obama (more on
this below). Oprah blames it on Michelle's anti-obesity campaign. She is
quoted as saying, "Michelle hates fat people and doesn't want me waddling
around the White House." Klein digs up a quotation of Michelle Obama's from
a White House source that seems to confirm Oprah's suspicion:
book, Oprah took a big risk in supporting Obama in 2008 and campaigning for
Obama in Iowa, being a big boost in his campaign. The ratings for her show
weakened significantly (and her new network has been a huge disappointment).
But when she has tried to visit the White House, she has been all but
treated as persona non grata. Apparently, Michelle Obama is a possessive
person who fears the influence Oprah may have over Barack Obama (more on
this below). Oprah blames it on Michelle's anti-obesity campaign. She is
quoted as saying, "Michelle hates fat people and doesn't want me waddling
around the White House." Klein digs up a quotation of Michelle Obama's from
a White House source that seems to confirm Oprah's suspicion:
Oprah only wants to cash in using the White House as a backdrop for her show
to perk up ratings. Oprah with her yo-yo dieting and huge girth, is a
terrible role model. Kids will look at Oprah, who's rich and famous and
huge, and figure it's okay to be fat.
to perk up ratings. Oprah with her yo-yo dieting and huge girth, is a
terrible role model. Kids will look at Oprah, who's rich and famous and
huge, and figure it's okay to be fat.
Oprah, Caroline Kennedy, Pastor Jeremiah Wright (who merits a chapter), and
Obama's former long-time doctor
<http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=51433> (who feels Obama is
distant and lacks feeling, passion, and humanity) all join a long list of
people whom the Obamas have used, abused, and then cast aside once they
moved into the White House.
Obama's former long-time doctor
<http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=51433> (who feels Obama is
distant and lacks feeling, passion, and humanity) all join a long list of
people whom the Obamas have used, abused, and then cast aside once they
moved into the White House.
A few have survived the winnowing process, of course. There is Michelle, who
might be described as the living and real-life descendant of Lady Macbeth.
The book provides some history of the early days between Barack and
Michelle: marked by some tempests, yet also marked by Michelle's
overwhelming push for Barack to win power and wealth. Insiders are reluctant
to tangle with the First Lady, and with good reason. Michelle, like her
husband, has a proclivity to blame others for her husband's failures. Former
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs felt her sting when it was revealed that
Michelle had complained about life in the White House to the then-first lady
of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Gibbs acted to control the damage by
arranging for the Élysée Palace to issue a denial.
might be described as the living and real-life descendant of Lady Macbeth.
The book provides some history of the early days between Barack and
Michelle: marked by some tempests, yet also marked by Michelle's
overwhelming push for Barack to win power and wealth. Insiders are reluctant
to tangle with the First Lady, and with good reason. Michelle, like her
husband, has a proclivity to blame others for her husband's failures. Former
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs felt her sting when it was revealed that
Michelle had complained about life in the White House to the then-first lady
of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Gibbs acted to control the damage by
arranging for the Élysée Palace to issue a denial.
But the response did not come quickly enough for Michelle, and she arranged
for Valerie Jarrett -- close to the Obamas for years, and who has an
omnipresence in the White House that makes the unelected and unconfirmed
czar issue seem trivial -- to deliver a stern rebuke to Gibbs, who
counter-attacked. Anyone heard from Robert Gibbs lately?
for Valerie Jarrett -- close to the Obamas for years, and who has an
omnipresence in the White House that makes the unelected and unconfirmed
czar issue seem trivial -- to deliver a stern rebuke to Gibbs, who
counter-attacked. Anyone heard from Robert Gibbs lately?
The role of Valerie Jarrett has prompted much speculation. As Edward Klein
notes, she has a mouthful of a title -- senior adviser and assistant to the
president for intergovernmental affairs and public engagement -- that
"doesn't begin to do justice to her unrivaled status in the White House."
Valerie Jarrett apparently has a role in most major decisions: she often
appears in meetings the president has with major political leaders from
Capitol Hill and with foreign leaders as well. She often stays behind to
have private discussions with the president. Obama admitted that he ran
every decision by her.
notes, she has a mouthful of a title -- senior adviser and assistant to the
president for intergovernmental affairs and public engagement -- that
"doesn't begin to do justice to her unrivaled status in the White House."
Valerie Jarrett apparently has a role in most major decisions: she often
appears in meetings the president has with major political leaders from
Capitol Hill and with foreign leaders as well. She often stays behind to
have private discussions with the president. Obama admitted that he ran
every decision by her.
That is worrying since, as Klein notes, Jarrett's own career is not one that
would prepare her to assume such a prominent role. Hers is no rags-to-riches
story that would give her the "chops" to have such a Svengali-like influence
over the president of the United States. She was blessed with a wonderful
set of advantages -- descended from a highly regarded political family in
Chicago. Jarrett was a force to be reckoned with in the Daley administration
and then capitalized on her political connections to land a job heading up a
real estate company in Chicago where she oversaw, among other developments,
properties that under her company's management degenerated into slums.
Business leaders are aghast that she has such a powerful role in the White
House. A donor is quoted as saying that not only is Valerie Jarrett a
liability, but others in the White House concur with his views. Jarrett has
butted heads with Rahm Emanuel, who felt that it was wrong to focus on
passing ObamaCare when the economy and jobs should have been higher
priorities.
would prepare her to assume such a prominent role. Hers is no rags-to-riches
story that would give her the "chops" to have such a Svengali-like influence
over the president of the United States. She was blessed with a wonderful
set of advantages -- descended from a highly regarded political family in
Chicago. Jarrett was a force to be reckoned with in the Daley administration
and then capitalized on her political connections to land a job heading up a
real estate company in Chicago where she oversaw, among other developments,
properties that under her company's management degenerated into slums.
Business leaders are aghast that she has such a powerful role in the White
House. A donor is quoted as saying that not only is Valerie Jarrett a
liability, but others in the White House concur with his views. Jarrett has
butted heads with Rahm Emanuel, who felt that it was wrong to focus on
passing ObamaCare when the economy and jobs should have been higher
priorities.
Who won that match? Rahm returned to Chicago and became mayor in 2009.
The roles of Michelle Obama and Valerie Jarrett cannot be overstated. They
are symptomatic of a larger problem in the White House decision-making
process (one that I noted in "How Obama Makes Decisions
<http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/how_obama_makes_decisions.html> ").
The roles of Michelle Obama and Valerie Jarrett cannot be overstated. They
are symptomatic of a larger problem in the White House decision-making
process (one that I noted in "How Obama Makes Decisions
<http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/how_obama_makes_decisions.html> ").
Barack Obama, to a greater extent than any modern president, refuses to
listen to the views of others or consult with experts and advisers outside
his own tight and constricted circle from Cook County. There are many
revelations of his faulty decision making uncovered by Klein. Indeed, one of
Jarrett's roles is to shield Obama from dealing with people who don't agree
with him or who may say something that deflates his ego.
listen to the views of others or consult with experts and advisers outside
his own tight and constricted circle from Cook County. There are many
revelations of his faulty decision making uncovered by Klein. Indeed, one of
Jarrett's roles is to shield Obama from dealing with people who don't agree
with him or who may say something that deflates his ego.
When Bill Daley (the chief of staff) realized that the contraception and
abortifacient mandates of ObamaCare might offend Catholics, he arranged a
meeting without Jarrett's knowledge between Obama and New York
then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan to deal with an issue that would offend many
as violating the principle of religious freedom (as well as Catholic
beliefs). Jarrett went to the president and vented her anger.
Anyone seen Bill Daley lately?
abortifacient mandates of ObamaCare might offend Catholics, he arranged a
meeting without Jarrett's knowledge between Obama and New York
then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan to deal with an issue that would offend many
as violating the principle of religious freedom (as well as Catholic
beliefs). Jarrett went to the president and vented her anger.
Anyone seen Bill Daley lately?
On issue after issue, President Obama remains his insular self, refusing to
seek counsel or input from others with more experience.
Critics believe he has made a mess of foreign policy precisely because not
only does he have a dearth of experience in this area, but because, under
our system, foreign policy is one of the few areas where a president enjoys
almost unlimited power. Thus, he is free to formulate his own agenda
regardless of the views of others and the damage these policies cause.
When pro-Israel Americans met with Obama to discuss his actions toward
Israel (that many, including myself, view as being counterproductive) he
dismissed the ideas of Abe Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League, with
the statement "you are absolutely wrong." The president, who has no
compunction telling people that they are not only wrong, but "absolutely
wrong" in public, needs to start feeling some of the empathy he accuses
Republicans of lacking. According to veteran journalist Richard Chesnoff,
quoted in the book, "Obama's problem in dealing with the Arab-Israeli
conundrum" comes "from his one-man style and his inflated view of his own
leadership talents[.] ... [P]erhaps, even more egregiously, he seems to have
an exaggerated sense of his own depth of understanding of the Middle East,
which is simply not borne out by his background or experience." There may be
more to it than that to explain the pressure he has put on our one true ally
in the Middle East, Israel. American Thinker published numerous articles in
2008 covering not only Pastor Jeremiah Wright, Junior's views of Israel as
an apartheid state, but Obama's associations with anti-Israel Palestinians
in Chicago, his own suspect language regarding Israel, and his close
relationship with Samantha Power
<http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/03/samantha_power_unplugged.html>
(now playing a key role on his National Security Council), who not only has
a long anti-Israel history but also made an anti-Semitic remark that was
smothered by the media in 2008. There were good reasons for the Los Angeles
Times <http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/10/nation/na-obamamideast10.>
to run a column during the campaign that "Allies of Palestinians see a
friend in Obama."
seek counsel or input from others with more experience.
Critics believe he has made a mess of foreign policy precisely because not
only does he have a dearth of experience in this area, but because, under
our system, foreign policy is one of the few areas where a president enjoys
almost unlimited power. Thus, he is free to formulate his own agenda
regardless of the views of others and the damage these policies cause.
When pro-Israel Americans met with Obama to discuss his actions toward
Israel (that many, including myself, view as being counterproductive) he
dismissed the ideas of Abe Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League, with
the statement "you are absolutely wrong." The president, who has no
compunction telling people that they are not only wrong, but "absolutely
wrong" in public, needs to start feeling some of the empathy he accuses
Republicans of lacking. According to veteran journalist Richard Chesnoff,
quoted in the book, "Obama's problem in dealing with the Arab-Israeli
conundrum" comes "from his one-man style and his inflated view of his own
leadership talents[.] ... [P]erhaps, even more egregiously, he seems to have
an exaggerated sense of his own depth of understanding of the Middle East,
which is simply not borne out by his background or experience." There may be
more to it than that to explain the pressure he has put on our one true ally
in the Middle East, Israel. American Thinker published numerous articles in
2008 covering not only Pastor Jeremiah Wright, Junior's views of Israel as
an apartheid state, but Obama's associations with anti-Israel Palestinians
in Chicago, his own suspect language regarding Israel, and his close
relationship with Samantha Power
<http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/03/samantha_power_unplugged.html>
(now playing a key role on his National Security Council), who not only has
a long anti-Israel history but also made an anti-Semitic remark that was
smothered by the media in 2008. There were good reasons for the Los Angeles
Times <http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/10/nation/na-obamamideast10.>
to run a column during the campaign that "Allies of Palestinians see a
friend in Obama."
Readers will thoroughly enjoy Klein's book on Obama. There are substantive
issues raised about Obama's leadership abilities that are enhanced with
interesting digressions regarding life inside ObamaWorld and how those
dynamics effect decisions made from the Oval Office.
issues raised about Obama's leadership abilities that are enhanced with
interesting digressions regarding life inside ObamaWorld and how those
dynamics effect decisions made from the Oval Office.
Klein concludes the book with doubt that Obama could ever change his
approach toward governing and suspicion that his agenda is to impose a vast
redistribution scheme upon America that has worked so well in the decaying
and disintegrating European Union. He wonders if Republicans are up to the
task of pointing out to the public the truth about Obama's agenda, given the
overwhelming media bias in favor of Barack Obama.
Klein's book could serve as a roadmap for Republicans.
approach toward governing and suspicion that his agenda is to impose a vast
redistribution scheme upon America that has worked so well in the decaying
and disintegrating European Union. He wonders if Republicans are up to the
task of pointing out to the public the truth about Obama's agenda, given the
overwhelming media bias in favor of Barack Obama.
Klein's book could serve as a roadmap for Republicans.
Ed Lasky is news editor of American Thinker.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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