KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE

So there is a big huge deal about the clown that wore the Obama mask in a rodeo. I can sort of understand how this would be disrespectful to the president but I think taking into race waters can be a stretch. This is what I think with respect to that, let's keep it in perspective. Not everyone in America is a democrat and not everyone voted for Obama. Obama's presidency has not been that effective, just like Bush's presidency nearly bankrupted the US.

The best chance that democrats had to pass comprehensive reform was with the senatorial super majority and that was wasted. The election was very narrow and it demonstrated that Romney and Obama were weighed as two necessary ills with one being the lesser of two evils. I understand that the whole " Who wants to see a bull run Obama down?" question was over the top but still, that's the way it goes.

The very normal voting majority is never very happy about how the country is run. Now unemployment is very high, housing values are down, and medical reform is questionable and never fully enforced. I am a democrat but I see this as the perspective of a very unhappy group of people. I don't see this as racism and neither should anyone else. Let' not take politics to black vs white in situations that don't call for it.

IF HE HAD DONE IT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE TURMOIL

It's safe to say that the greatest hinderance to LBJ's presidential career and more than likely to his health both mental and physical was Vietnam. The most intense periods of conflict spanned the majority of LBJ's presidency starting in late 1965. LBJ was incredibly confident that he would be able to take care of this situation but unfortunately for him it was not to be. There is something absolutely hilarious about hindsight and life in general. LBJ announced in 1968 that he would not seek nor accept the democratic nomination for the presidency. With Johnson's announcement came Hubert Humphrey's nomination and subsequent run against Nixon.

Hubert Humphrey won the nomination because RFK was shot in June of that year and subsequently Humphrey was the go to guy since Ted Kennedy did not come out to take his brother's place. It was recently revealed that LBJ had a plan to come back into the race in 1968 during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. LBJ's plan was to arrive on board Marine One and declare his intentions while simultaneously undermining Humphrey and striking a major blow to Nixon's not so dominant lead.

The underlying subject of Vietnam was going to be Johnson's big blow to Nixon as he had proof that Nixon was the reason for the extension of the Paris Peace Talks since he was basically serving a stop to the progress by saying that he could provide Vietnam a better result than Johnson should he win the election. LBJ accused Nixon of treason and while Nixon used cunning and deception to extend the war  Johnson was using it to extend his legacy. If Johnson would have gone back in the chances are that the turmoil experienced by the country would have been just as great in some different level. Johnson was growing weaker physically and his presidency was riddled with opposition from the anti war movement  and young angry voters deceived with the fact that Camelot came to a quick and bitter end yielding the way for a Texas war monger.

I think Johnson would have faced more challenges than Nixon with Vietnam and likely would have probably died in office. More than likely Johnson's exit would have yielded the way for either a McGovern presidency or an unlikely Nixon comeback on the basis of Johnson's inability to effectively craft a strong war policy to deal with Vietnam. Nixon would have probably served until 1981 and more than likely would have had a far better legacy being that his presidency would have dealt with inflation, the Panama Canal, and little to no overseas conflict. Perhaps a 20 year republican lead would have been beneficial seeing as how Nixon, Reagan, and Bush were almost liberal by today's republican standards.

The fact is that nothing like that happened but it's interesting to wonder if it had, maybe this blog would have been talking about a whole different set of possibilities.

A FISCAL CLIFF CONVERSATION

Okay so there was an article about the impending Fiscal Cliff and it was titled "Night Talks: Obama, Boehner Meet on "Fiscal Cliff." I find that particular title disturbing as it makes me think. I wonder what a conversation between the two would sound like late during the night.

OBAMA: Hello John!

BOEHNER: Hello Mr. President.

OBAMA: How are you this evening?

BOEHNER: I am in my pajamas resting, drinking a hot tea with some bread nutella spread all over it.

OBAMA: Sounds lovely John, now we must talk about this fiscal cliff coming up.

BOEHNER: What are you wearing Mr. President?

OBAMA: Black suit, white shirt, red tie. John it is imperative we discuss this cliff.

BOEHNER: That sounds lovely and very handsome on you.

OBAMA: John the top 2% of earners can afford to pay extra taxes.

BOEHNER: Your voice is so beautiful.

OBAMA: What?

BOEHNER: What? I mean you are right they can pay but they should not because future trust fund children will not be able to finance elections as well as now.

OBAMA: John we are killing the middle class.

BOEHNER: Nutella is so sexy, like you.

OBAMA: I am, what?

BOEHNER: I mean that we should re-examine the Reagan economic model.

OBAMA: John have you been smoking Cannabis?

BOEHNER: Want to come over and listen to Gangnam style?

The conversation would go on for several more minutes and nothing would be accomplished leading to another deadlock on the fiscal cliff. In the end this one was caused by Nutella, Gangnam Style, and possibly Cannabis.