The Snarky Files. Snarky means several things. I prefer the definition of "sharply critical." Here's my take on some news stories this past week. No real news here, just snark.
Today's Snarky Files takes a look at the rookie dealings of the current administration. There's nothing that instills confidence in government more than a president and his staff who play in the sandbox while the bullies take control of the playground. Obama is the Pinnocchio President, thinking that, "some day, I'll grow up to be a Real President!" Be wary that he doesn't march off with Fox and Cat in search of the city of Catchfools and the Field of Miracles where money grows on trees.
Oh wait. He and Congress have already done that.
Rookie Border Patrol
Did Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano really say that the 9/11 terrorists came across the Canadian border? When asked about her statement, she responded:
"I can't talk to that. I can talk about the future. And here's the future. The future is we have borders." (National Post)What?
Keep in mind that this person is in charge of homeland security. Later on Napolitano clarified her statement: "I know that the September 11th hijackers did not come through Canada to the United States." Well that's good to know, since for the last several years she's denied that illegal Mexicans have come across the Mexican border. (As she was quoted saying, "Of course I'm qualified. I can see Mexico from my house!")
All I can say for this rookie is that I'm glad she's not my governor anymore.
Rookie Press Conference
Conservative bloggers created buzz about the document released by the Department of Homeland Security which informed police departments to beware of conservative radicals, like returned US vets. While agreeing to an MSNBC interview, Napolitano decided that they would be limited to just one question about the document. Just one and no more.
"Apparently, when the Democrats promise an open administration, they really only mean open as long as you ask the questions they want asked and no follow-ups on controversial topics that everyone is reporting on," staffer Joe Pounder wrote. (Politico)The rookie Napolitano apparently doesn't understand the idea of a free press. The press doesn't exist for the convenience of politicians. If you doubt that, Janet, just ask George W. Bush.
Rookie Liberal
Senior White House adviser David Axelrod suggested this past week that the tea party protests were "unhealthy." As an adviser to a rookie president, Axelrod should know better than to insult average, middle-class conservatives who make up about 50% of the total voters in the US. I guess Axelrod figured, like his boss before him, that since Obama won, he doesn't have to pay attention to "those" people.
Rookie Relations
President Obama has a few things to learn about foreign relations. For example, presidents of the United States don't bow to foreign kings, especially authoritarian Saudi kings. And, as president of the United States, you don't get all jiggy with Communist dictators like Venezuela's Hugo Chavez or Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega or Cuba's Raul Castro. Extending a hand of friendship to such authoritarians just might get your hand bit off. All Obama accomplished with such gestures was to make the US look weak and conciliatory.
Or as President Obama puts it while speaking from his playground sandbox:
"I have a lot to learn and I very much look forward to listening and figuring out how we can work together more effectively."A lot to learn indeed, Mr. President, if you keep bowing to all the dictators in the world.
The leader of the free world has been a timid advocate of freedom at best. And bold action to blunt the advances of tyrants has been wholly lacking. We are still very early in the Obama years — the president will have ample opportunity to defend America and freedom, and to deter nuclear brinkmanship. I am hoping for change. (National Review)Rookie Appeasement
On the home front, President Obama decided to appease conservative sensibilities and "shave" some of the wasteful spending from the White House budget. What he asked government agencies to do was the equivalent of asking a household that makes $60,000 a year to find ways to save $6. What this tells Americans is that Obama isn't concerned with shaving wasteful spending as much as he is concerned with fleecing the American people.
Rookie Message
President Obama sent extraordinarily mixed messages about US policies when he released details about coercive CIA interrogation techniques. On the one hand, Obama's saying that the US will no longer participate in what he considers as torture. On the other hand he's leaked secret CIA techniques that terrorists will certainly use against the US and he tacitly admits that such techniques were indeed effective in keeping terrorists from attacking the US.
Seems like a rookie mistake to me. We can only "hope" Obama will come out of the sandbox before the bullies take over the whole playground.
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