“They tried to be too clever– and that was their undoing.” —Agatha Christie
The problem with hubris is that it defies reality, it’s fatal flaw is that it can’t acknowledge it’s own limits. The arrogant believe that their ingenuity allows them to always find ways to impose their will, to never lose. Humility allows for failure, even reluctantly welcomes it, as what keeps us from becoming unconnected to the rest of humanity. The powerful proud have no desire to be connected to the unwashed masses. They see themselves as above and beyond, the enlightened elite; the rest of humanity a mob to be manipulated, a community to be organized. In attempting to become our masters, they make themselves our enemies.
Not since the days of Richard Nixon have we seen an administration so willing to do almost anything to have it’s way. Yes, Reagan had Iran-Contra, Clinton had Monica, and Bush Jr. had Iraq… but the recent revelations on the Obama administration reveal a pattern of subterfuge, obfuscation, and unethical tactics with questionable legality that seems to be the rule rather than the exception.
New details emerging about Benghazi allude to the State Department trying to take a short-cut to a coup in Libya by providing the insurgency with Stinger missiles. When it turned out that the insurgency were al-Qaeda, the ambassador was sent to buy the missiles back, but apparently the terrorists had other ideas. The idea of the You-Tube video ever being realistically considered as a possible cause of the attack has been almost entirely debunked. The Susan Rice talking points were obviously a ruse intended to buy time. That Hillary, President Obama, and Joe Biden all knowingly extended that ruse to the consolation of the dead heroes’ families goes beyond dirty politics; it’s heartless, possibly soulless. Further details emerging include rumors of General Ham, the man in charge of AFRICOM, had “assets in place” that could have come to the aid of the consulate immediately. He was reportedly instructed by the White House not to send aid, whereupon Ham disobeyed and sent help anyway. The White House then called Ham’s deputy and had him threaten Ham with being relieved of his command if the aid order was not reversed. Ham quietly, and unexpectedly retired in April. Many also believe the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus and the revelation of the details of his adultery all trace back to the Benghazi cover-up. All this is unsubstantiated at this point, but seems more credible than the explanations we’ve been spoon-fed. Time will tell.
To understand the IRS debacle, one needs to go back at least to 2010. In the President’s State of the Union address he excoriated the Supreme Court for the Citizens United decision, showing the administration’s fury and dread over the the rise of the Tea Party, and the associated PAC’s. The 2010 elections that followed confirmed democrat fears. It is not a stretch to believe that the IRS discrimination against conservative groups was viewed as a justifiable response to an unjust court decision in a typically progressive “ends justifies the means” world view. In this perspective the distribution of non-profit organizations is seen as part of the political community, and as such, it needed to be “community organized” or controlled. The dynamo that drives and directs all community organizing is always the money.
Moving on to the administration’s assault on the first amendment with the covert accessing of AP phone records and now the wide ranging examination of almost anyone associated with Fox News reporter James Rosen; we see a picture of an administration without the sense to avoid offending its greatest ally, the press. In attacking the sacred confidentiality of the press, this administration has alienated the very people that could have helped them sweep all these scandals under the rug. Instead, the press appears to have finally been roused to actually do its job.
IMHO: There are many attributes citizens desire from their government. These do not include secrecy, devious tactics, elusiveness, and manipulation. The people never appreciate being lied to, and though we are open to forgiveness for the contrite; this administration seems less likely to proffer a Bill Clinton type confession than a Richard Nixon denial. President Obama seems ever willing to apologize for what he perceives to be the misdeeds of his fellow Americans, but less capable to apologize for his own. Arrogance is self sustaining. Failing some miraculous revelation of Nixonian involvement by the President, Republicans are engaging in outrageous fantasy if they believe that any of these scandals will result in Obama being removed from office. Post Watergate, administrations have always implemented tactics to insulate the President from culpability; the buck doesn’t stop there anymore. What these scandals will do is create a lame-duck presidency for the next three years, effectively tying the President’s hands from any meaningful agenda, and possibly threatening some of his past accomplishments. 2014 could turn out to be a re-play of 2010, and Benghazi may prove to be the fly in the ointment for Hillary’s last hurrah. I can live with that.
