Is this any way to run a White House? The Obama Administration, I've noticed, seems to issue an awful lot of threats to get what they want, much like the schoolyard bully ... or the Chicago machine pol. Well, the whole Al Capone history can be a teaching point from one perspective or another. Yesterday Arizona was threatened with denial of "stimulus" funds after Senator John Kyl publicly questioned the results of said "stimulus." (Easy enough to question - with Innocent Bystanders' now-famous graph.)
Via Ed Morrissey at HotAir.com, with the meat coming from Jake Tapper at ABC.
Kyl said that “It’s unfortunate that President Obama and his administration seem unwilling to debate the merits of the stimulus bill and acknowledge its shortcomings. Instead, they have resorted to coordinated political attacks with the Democratic National Committee and the politicization of departments of government by using cabinet secretaries to issue thinly veiled threats to the governor and the people of Arizona."
Added the governor's spokesman, "the governor is hopeful that these federal Cabinet officials are not threatening to deny Arizona citizens the portion of federal stimulus funds to which they are entitled. She believes that would be a tremendous mistake by the administration. And the governor is grateful for the strong leadership and representation that Arizonans enjoy in the United States Senate."
So what else is or has been "threatened." Well ...
- TV stations that thought about running a campaign ad during the election run-up.
- TV stations that thought about running another campaign ad during the election run-up.
- The Tennessee GOP over a campaign ad.
- California, in an effort to protect California's unions, again using denial of "stimulus" funds
- Bankers, offering "protection" from the "pitchforks" of angry consumers. (great photoshop by Slublog at the link)
- Israel's ability to defend herself and deter attacks.
- His own congressional Democrats
- The job of CEO at GM for Rick Wagoner.
- Chrysler's creditors, before transferring 55% ownership to the UAW.
- Honduras, to restore Zelaya, but not Iran, to clean up a rigged election.
- Unilateral action in sovereign Pakistan.
- Remember, "I won."
- And with direct reference to the Chicago way, Pres. Obama threatened to "bring a gun."
But he's only practicing what he's learned. After all, Democrats as a group threaten all the time.
- AIG, over bonuses that one of their own added to the bill at the behest of Pres. Obama
- ABC's broadcast license over their 9/11 two part docudrama, The Path to 9/11, which still hasn't been released on DVD.
- Dick Cheney
- Columbia, over trade, for the benefit of unions
- The tax-exempt status of a group for the temerity to allow a vice-Presidential candidate to speak.
- Former Pres. Bush, over signing statements
- Saudi Arabia's arms contracts, for more oil.
- The GOP over earmarks
- Lobbyists who might look to work with both sides of the aisle.
among others.
Dissent in the era of La Cosa Obama is not only no longer patriotic, it's punishable. I guess the only other question is, who's Doug, and who's Dinsdale.
(editors note: henceforth the word "stimulus," when it's used to reference the $787B of government borrowing that was allegedly going to keep unemployment under 8% will always appear on this blog in scare quotes.)
