Beware the Obama Endorsements!

This is the time that voters need to rise above the daily drumbeat of media minutes, pundit platitudes, and polls, polls, polls. Voters need to concern themselves less with getting Obama or McCain into the White House and become more concerned about what the White House will look like after the election.  It's time to take a long view. 

     What does the White House look like when and if the newly elected President has little or no Washington experience? We, as voters, can learn much from the long view. Govenor George W. turned to Big Daddy George for advice on staffing his cabinet as well as various key administrative posts.  The result:   President George W. got pulled around by the nose by those who were more in the knows than he.  All too late it became clear that Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld were master ventriliquists. Governor Bill of Arkansas brought his own personal cadre of hill boys to lead the charge up Capitol Hill. In spite of his very Democratic appeal, the Republican Congress had no use for "outsiders."   The result: President Bill was brought down by "insiders."  Mrs. President Bill was placed in charge of health care reform without paying dues to the "insiders" Club.  As a result, health care reform continues to be a political football.  Apparently President / Governor Bill learned nothing from another failed Southern President / Governor who promised reform without being "in" the Club. President Jimmy Carter surrounded himself with good ole' Southern boys both as advisors and cabinet members.  The Washington establishment was at best unimpressed and perhaps even a little resentful since the ultimate insider, Uncle Teddy, was rejected by the electorate.  The result:  President Jimmy's  "rantings" about developing alternative energy sources now seem to have been prophetic.  At least Brazil was listening 30 years ago.  Governor Ronny "Bonzo" Reagan quickly garnered the attention of the Republican revivalists with his fervor and brilliant oratory.  He became the preacher for the faithful who governed from behind the scenes while he acted his way through the Presidency. For example, William Casey secretly negotiated with the Iranians who agreed to release the hostages so that their release would coincide with the ignauration of President Bonzo. And so it went.  President Bonzo was much too ethereal and much too busy pontificating all over the world to mind the store. The result: President Bonzo never heard of the Contras.  CIA Director Big Daddy George was designated as the heir apparent to the Reagan legacy albiet lacking the brilliant oratory.  Somewhat of an "insider," he was able to work through the Club if not with them.  The result:  Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld!

     Let's take a long view and predict what will an Obama Presidency might look like.  What will the White House look like when and if the newly elected Senator Obama, having little or no Washington experience, assumes the Presidency? The past will be prologue.  O'Bamama will turn to his most ardent endorsers for support and counsel.  The result:  Endorsers who form the insiders LOSERS CLUB will assume positions of long-awaited power and authority. 

     Federal Reserve Chairman Christopher Dodd will surely expand his efforts to bail out failed mortgage holders. His greatest accomplishment will be the government take over of Freddie and Fannie. Post Iraq War funding can then be channeled into "NO Interest" loans to the average American.  Taxpayers paying taxes to subsidize mortgages for taxpayers!  Brilliant!

     General Wesley Clark, Secretary of Defense will prove an invaluble counsel to President O'Bamama.  Afterall, it's far better to have someone in that Office who has actually ordered the bombs to be dropped rather than to have someone who just piloted a plane. Secretary Clark will certainly work closely with Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary John Kerry. 

     As his first official act, Secretary Kerry will create a new and novel use for Guantanamo.  The Naval Base will become a holding pen for Marines, soldiers, and Blackwater Contractors awaiting trial as war criminals for crimes against innocent Iraqis, detainee prisoner abuse, and asundry collateral damages.  He may even dropped a few more medals as souveniers along the way to show his unwavering support and loyalty to our veterans. He is, afterall, one of them. 

     Secretary of the Interior Tom Daschel, who is as green as green can be, will create a new national park in Colorado atop fields of oil shale. He is also very vocal in his support of a bill to designate the entire coast of California as a National Marine Life Sanctuary. 

     Secretary of Homeland Security Bill Richardson will mandate that the newly built Mexican border fence include "free zone" ladders located every 200 feet along the way.  ICE will become the International Come in & Earn patrol which grants seniority to evey officer who meets the monthly quota of "Welcome Packets" distributed.  Having brought it the Latino vote, he could hardly be ignored by President O'Bamama.

     After a lenghthy haitus from the Washington scene, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development John Edwards sold his endorsement for a back door entry back onto the Washinton scene  His program of Habitats for Impoverished, Poor, and the Employment-challenged (i.e., HIPE) will provide jobs to millions of college-educated graduates unable to find substantive employment in the private sector.  The new chic among the highly educated will be blue collar construction and trade jobs. Unfortunately, the budget for his program is likely to quadruple the national debt.

     Attorney General Dennis Kucinich will,  at long last, achieve a platform for legitamizing his persecution of former Bush administration staffers.  The United States vs. Richard Cheney et. al. will be heard by the Supreme Court during their opening session.

     The cabinet post of Secretary for the Department of Labor will remain unfilled awaiting the return of Senator Teddy Kennedy.   Likewise positions for Secretary of Education, Commerce, and Treasury are being held open just in case any of these other posts are more to his liking.

     Secretary of State, Joe Biden, may not been seen around the Washingotn scene much after assuming his position.  He will be too busy revitalizing "shuttle diplomacy." His first official overseas junket will take him to the Afghan / Pakistan border where he has vowed to lead the search for Bin Laden.  Rumors abound that he fully intends to collect the bounty on Bib Laden's head in order to pay off his campaign debts accrued during his own failed attempt at the Presidency.  Joe earned the job as well as the right to claim to the Bin Laden bounty because O'Bamama forgot to offer to pay off his campaign debts. 

     Not to be undone by her rival Nancy Pelosi, Vice President Claire McCaskill is bound to take her role as President Pro Tem exceedingly seriously.  She will regularly and personally preside over the Democratically controlled Senate. The only criticism of her performance will be her pension for slapping her own veto on bills that she doesn't like. 

     And what of Hillary?  She will be assigned the post of Secretary of Health and Human Services, a fitting reward for her 40 years of dedication to the cause universal health.  Unfortunatley, questions may be raised about the billions of dollars funnelled into Billy Boy's Foundation to Eradicate AIDS in Arkansas.

   Lest you think this particular long view of an Obama Presidency a mere work of fiction, consider the Senator's past performance.  Obama was able to become that famed community organizer in Chicago because he received the endorsement of the Reverend Jeremiah O'SoRight. Never mind that the Reverend tried to damn America. Obama was selected to serve on prestigious directing boards because he just so happened to moved into the same neighborhood as a certain ex-social radical 60's Weatherman.  Never mind that the Obama's regularly invited this guy over for cocktails.  Obama did purchased a multi-million dollar home at a cut-rate price because he sought to rub elbows with Tony Resko now under indictment for fraud.  Never mind that Mrs. Tony Resko was their realtor.  Like any other good Chicago politician, Obama knows how to get the endorsements he needs to get what he wants and he knows that pay-offs are a part of any deal.  So much for a new kind of politics!

  How about a maverick for a change?