“Unfortunately, you’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that’s at the root of all our problems. They’ll warn that tyranny is just around the corner. You should reject these voices.”
Speaking to the 2013 graduating class of The Ohio State University, President Obama joked about those who warned that tyranny was just around the corner. (msnbc.com)
Those were the words of President Obama, speaking to the 2013 graduation class of The Ohio State University on May 5, 2013.
I was incredulous when I first heard the president give this speech. First, because it wasn’t the uplifting message to leave with graduates, but more so because he used the venue as an opportunity to answer his critics who have challenged his go-it-alone presidency.
In my long career in public affairs, I have learned that every word in a speech given by a president is carefully woven into the message the administration wants to impart on the public. This speech was devoid of the lofty plans and hopes facing students as he sought to reject those who dislike his policies.
On other occasions, the president has felt it necessary to respond to opposition challenges saying,” I’m not the emperor of the United States,” and “I am a president. I am not a king.”
Tyranny is a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition, etc.), according to Thesaurus. Other research sources generally agree that tyranny is the arbitrary, unreasonable or despotic behavior or use of authority.
Now, with the tyranny we have already experienced with this president, who regularly flouts rule of law while arrogantly refusing to level with voters on Fast & Furious, Benghazi, freedom of the press violations, ObamaCare and the use of the IRS to target the opposition, the tyranny continues.
This president, who claims to be a Constitutional scholar, believes he is entitled to ignore the separation of powers when Congress fails to enact legislation. And, tonight announced plans to sign a series of unilateral immigration orders in Las Vegas tomorrow.
If you hadn’t noticed, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest today related that the president wears the title of “Emperor” as a badge of honor.
What will Republicans do? That’s a good question. I think the president is banking on the GOP being between a rock and a hard place, not wanting to make a political misstep at this point. Still the minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, has said there will be no government shutdown.
Courtesy ironicsurrealism.com)
Personally, I am afraid Republicans will again sacrifice principle and do nothing. This is disappointing, because clearly the voters (those who went to the polls in the mid-terms) said, “Enough!” I don’t suppose anyone on the inside is telling the GOP that if they don’t stop the tyranny in its tracks on immigration, in 2016 those same voters might just say, you had your chance to stop him and failed.
It’s now apparent that tyranny is no longer “just around the corner.” We are experiencing it as the president continues his transformation of America.
