Obama: The Presumptuous Nominee?

Washington Post's Dana Milbank: Democrat Has Already Amassed The Trappings Of Being President

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Dana Milbank in his Washington Sketch column.

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Barack Obama has long been his party's presumptive nominee. Now he's becoming its presumptuous nominee.

Fresh from his presidential-style world tour, during which foreign leaders and American generals lined up to show him affection, Obama settled down to some presidential-style business in Washington yesterday. He ordered up a teleconference with the (current president's) Treasury secretary, granted an audience to the Pakistani prime minister and had his staff arrange for the chairman of the Federal Reserve to give him a briefing. Then, he went up to Capitol Hill to be adored by House Democrats in a presidential-style pep rally.

Along the way, he traveled in a bubble more insulating than the actual president's. Traffic was shut down for him as he zoomed about town in a long, presidential-style motorcade, while the public and most of the press were kept in the dark about his activities, which included a fundraiser at the Mayflower where donors paid $10,000 or more to have photos taken with him. His schedule for the day, announced Monday night, would have made Dick Cheney envious:

11:00 a.m.: En route TBA.

12:05 p.m.: En route TBA.

1:45 p.m.: En route TBA.

2:55 p.m.: En route TBA.

5:20 p.m.: En route TBA.

The 5:20 TBA turned out to be his adoration session with lawmakers in the Cannon Caucus Room, where even committee chairmen arrived early, as if for the State of the Union. Capitol Police cleared the halls -- just as they do for the actual president. The Secret Service hustled him in through a side door -- just as they do for the actual president.

Inside, according to a witness, he told the House members, "This is the moment . . . that the world is waiting for," adding: "I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions."

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From The Road: Democrats Say Obama Was Taken Out Of Context

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As he marches toward Inauguration Day (Election Day is but a milestone on that path), Obama's biggest challenger may not be Republican John McCain but rather his own hubris.

Some say the supremely confident Obama -- nearly 100 days from the election, he pronounces that "the odds of us winning are very good" -- has become a president-in-waiting. But in truth, he doesn't need to wait: He has already amassed the trappings of the office, without those pesky decisions.

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder reported last week that Obama has directed his staff to begin planning for his transition to the White House, causing Republicans to howl about premature drape measuring. Obama was even feeling confident enough to give British Prime Minister Gordon Brown some management advice over the weekend. "If what you're trying to do is micromanage and solve everything, then you end up being a dilettante," he advised the prime minister, portraying his relative inexperience much as President Bush did in 2000.

On his presidential-style visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem last week, Obama left a written prayer, intercepted by an Israeli newspaper, asking God to "help me guard against pride and despair." He seems to have the despair part under control, but the pride could be a problem.

One source of the confidence is the polling, which shows him with a big lead over McCain. But polls are fickle allies: A USA Today-Gallup poll released Monday found McCain leading Obama by four percentage points among likely voters. Another reason for Obama's confidence -- the press -- is also an unfaithful partner. The Project for Excellence in Journalism reported yesterday that Obama dominated the news media's attention for a seventh straight week. But there are signs that the Obama campaign's arrogance has begun to anger reporters.

In the latest issue of the New Republic, Gabriel Sherman found reporters complaining that Obama's campaign was "acting like the Prom Queen" and being more secretive than Bush. The magazine quoted the New York Times' Adam Nagourney's reaction to the Obama campaign's memo attacking one of his stories: "I've never had an experience like this, with this campaign or others." Then came Obama's overseas trip and the campaign's selection of which news organizations could come aboard. Among those excluded: the New Yorker magazine, which had just published a satirical cover about Obama that offended the campaign.

Even Bush hasn't tried that. But then again, Obama has been outdoing the president in ruffles and flourishes lately. As Bush held quiet signing ceremonies in the White House yesterday morning, Obama was involved in a more visible display of executive authority a block away, when he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani at the Willard. A full block of F Street was shut down for the prime minister and the would-be president, and some 40 security and motorcade vehicles filled the street.

Later, Obama's aides issued an official-sounding statement, borrowing the language of White House communiques: "I had a productive and wide-ranging discussion. . . . I look forward to working with the democratically elected government of Pakistan."

It had been a long day of acting presidential, but Obama wasn't done. After a few hours huddling with advisers over his vice presidential choice, Obama made his way to the pep rally on the Hill. Moments after he entered the meeting with lawmakers, there was an extended cheer, followed by another, and another.

"I think this can be an incredible election," Obama said later. "I look forward to collaborating with everybody here to win the election."

Win the election? Didn't he do that already?

[labrat9999]

A McCain campaign ad says that gas prices are high right now because %u201Csome in Washington are still saying no to drilling in America.%u201D That%u2019s just plain dishonest: the U.S. government%u2019s own Energy Information Administration says that removing restrictions on offshore drilling wouldn%u2019t lead to any additional domestic oil production until 2017, and that even at its peak the extra production would have an %u201Cinsignificant%u201D impact on oil prices. Back when he was cultivating a maverick image, Mr. McCain portrayed himself as more environmentally aware than the rest of his party. He even co-sponsored a bill calling for a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions (although his remarks on several recent occasions suggest that he doesn%u2019t understand his own proposal). But the lure of a bit of political gain, it turns out, was all it took to transform him back into a standard drill-and-burn Republican

[peterp111]

Where is Obama''s brilliance?

He was taught Marxism by his father, socialism by his mother and liberalism at Harvard.

Rev. Wright finished off his education by tutoring him for 20 years on how to hate white folks.

His election would be the end of the country as we know it.

[dante805]

A few words taken from Barrack Obama%u2019s first resume.

Conceited, self-absorbed, arrogant, self-important, hubristic, ambitious, vain, snobbish, stuck-up, high and mighty, smug, superior, self-righteous, haughty, full-of-yourself, spectacular, elitist, snooty, overconfident, showy, self-aggrandizing, puffed-up, narcissistic, educated, pious, bigheaded, inflated, vainglorious, condescending, incomparable, untouchable, illustrious, outstanding, superior, flaunting, high-class, pretentious, exceptional, advanced, better-quality, pompous, stateliness, august, ostentatious, erudite, portentous, grand, magnificent, flashy, brassy, significant, affected, brilliant, glowing, special, esteemed, extraordinary, unique, distinctive, exclusive, bold, daring, assertive, intrepid, audacious, valiant, brash, forthright, divine, scholarly, nervy, self-assured, better, enhanced, a cut above, first-class, prominent, patronizing, aristocratic, regal, bossy, famous, high and mighty, breath taking, supercilious, majestic, imperial, stately, fancy, noble, overconfident, egotistical, self-centered, proud, pushy, brazen, presumptuous, aggressive, strident, loud, studious, cocky, boastful, swaggering, audacity, resplendent, knowledgeable, blustery, bullying, memorable, privileged, selected, anointed, god-like,

[mydiatribe]

Guess in all those years under the
Rev. Wright''s tuteledge Barack Obama never had an occasion to read PROVERBS~16:18???

[dnsallday]

There Obama goes again, buying the election. Through cash and words at voters to brainwash them or buy them out. Typical politician, can''''t vote for either of them so I will vote for a third party in protest as will many of my friends.

All of us younger voters are not impressed by the words of another professor type or another charismatic leader, they usually let people down with their over enthustic ways.
Posted by concerns47
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Vote for whoever you want, but you should do yourself a favor and educate yourself first.

[concerns47]

There Obama goes again, buying the election. Through cash and words at voters to brainwash them or buy them out. Typical politician, can''t vote for either of them so I will vote for a third party in protest as will many of my friends.

All of us younger voters are not impressed by the words of another professor type or another charismatic leader, they usually let people down with their over enthustic ways.

[riptide213]

Dear Citizens,

Thank you for giving America an optimistic chance. The so called American dream with genuine reach for the stars gumption is auspiciously still alive.

Our nation is great, but faces many challenges.

My candid enthusiasm to lead enabled by your heartfelt hopes and reticent prayers for better government have now joined forces to meet these challenges with a bona fide different approach.

Since you conclusively decided to support me during the recent election campaign, I am very pleased to accept your nomination for President of the United States.

Thank you for this altruistic opportunity to turn words into deeds. Repeatedly citizens have made me aware of their understandable hankering for reform.

Change is what you want; change is what I will deliver.

Country wide trepidations about detached uncaring national government have been understood, loud and clear. Time now for action.

I am eager to bring tangible momentum to Washington and make a positive contribution to our country by working with everyone for a less narcissistic government.

Our nation is yearning for more honorable politics, not yesteryear repeats or continuations of worn out taxation without representation themes.

As promised, my mantra is one of hope and change. Down to business actions deliverable on demand.

I look forward to starting in January 2009.

Again, thank you.

CBS...The quote that Dana Milbank has attributed to Sen. Obama has been discredited as being factually untrue. CBS, why are you still posting the article?

[american1000]

JOHN McCain CALLED HIS "OWN" WIFE A CUN*T!!

JOHN McCAIN CALLED HIS OWN WIFE CINDY McCAIN A CUN*T, AND HE DID IT IN FRONT OF THREE REPORTERS, AS WELL AS HIS OWN CAMPAIGN STAFF MEMBERS!!!!!

[american1000]

JOHN McCAIN FOR TWO DECADES VOTED "AGAINST" DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SUCH AS WIND POWER, SOLAR POWER, RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY, AND BIOFUELS.
JOHN McCAIN VOTED "AGAINST" ALL OF IT!

LET''S JUST GO BACK TO YEAR 2002:

--- In 2002, John McCain voted "AGAINST" legislation called : SECURING AMERICA''S FUTURE ENERGY (SAFE) Act: (This legislation wanted to enhance energy conservation, research and development and to provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people) JOHN McCAIN VOTED "AGAINST" IT!

--- In 2003, John McCain voted "AGAINST" legislation which proposed Research and Development, for security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people.

--- In 2005, John McCain voted "AGAINST" legislation called: ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005: (This legislation wanted to ensure jobs for America''s future with affordable, and reliable energy. The legislation proposed to develop a COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY that addressed domestic production, energy efficiency, alternative resources)

--- In 2006, AND AGAIN in 2007: McCain voted "AGAINST" spending money on Research and Development of Renewable Energy, Including: Wind Power, Solar, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, and biofuels.

--- JOHN McCAIN ALSO VOTED "TO ALLOW" FOR ANY OIL THAT IS DRILLED HERE IN AMERICA TO BE SOLD TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES LIKE INDIA , CHINA, AND JAPAN. INSTEAD OF KEEPING IT FOR AMERICANS ONLY!!!

JOHN McCAIN IS A LIAR, AND A HYPOCRITE!!!