Like an onion being peeled, each week seems to reveal new layers of odious conduct by the Obama Administration that increasingly offends the senses. Only five months into the second term of the hope and change presidency, few are hopeful of any positive change.
The scandals that have dominated the headlines should concern all Americans, regardless of political persuasion. So much baggage so early in a second term presages only more scandal and acrimony. And there’s reason to be suspicious that we’re in for more of the same.
At first we were told that the Benghazi attack was carried out by spontaneous protestors. We now know the only spontaneous act of the whole affair was the administration’s decision to cover up the truth and blame a wannabe filmmaker instead of Islamic terrorists.
At first we were told that the illegal IRS targeting of conservative applicants for non-profit status was an isolated incident emanating from the apolitical bowels of the IRS. We now know that the targeting was overseen by a career manager and a high ranking political appointee.
At first we were told that Attorney General Eric Holder knew nothing about the Justice Department’s illegal investigation into Fox News reporter James Rosen. We now know that Mr. Holder personally approved the search warrant for Mr. Rosen’s emails.
The scandals make clear that in Barack Obama’s Washington, loyalty to the Obama political agenda matters more than the rule of law. Despite Fast & Furious, Mr. Holder was given a second term. Despite using the IRS to target conservative applicants for tax exempt status, Sarah Hall Ingram was promoted to head the IRS office implementing Obamacare.
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Despite falsifying administration talking points on Benghazi, former State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland was nominated to be assistant Secretary of State for Europe. No doubt next in line for a promotion is HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, whose agency has engaged in illegal private sector fundraising for Obamacare (see Iran Contra, below).
Thankfully, the public is belatedly taking notice of this corruption. Quinnipiac reports that 76 percent of Americans believe a Special Prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the IRS’ targeting of conservatives. 57 percent of independents disapprove of the president’s performance, and overall only 48 percent approve of the president’s performance.
On full display is an administration adrift, without an agenda or a coherent defense. No one should be surprised. A re-election campaign devoid of a message, an agenda or a rationale for its own existence has given way to a second term administration devoid of a message, an agenda, or a rationale for its own existence. Not even implementation of Obamacare is offered as a goal, which is perhaps wise given its continued unpopularity.
In light of all this, it’s evident the Obama second term will not be a term of progress, conciliation, bipartisanship, or even partisan gridlock. Instead, if the first five months of the second term are any indication, the nation appears destined for three more years of scandal, Congressional investigations, and executive truth-dodging that make Iran-Contra and the Valerie Plame affair look like child’s play. In neither scenario did the federal government take action against Americans on the basis of their political speech.
As the layers of deceit are pulled back revealing more scandal across the government, the stench of failed progressivism invites another midcourse correction. Another 2010 may be in the offing.
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