THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume XIII, Issue # 46, February 16, 2011
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
ATTACHING REALITY TO OBAMA'S "SPUTNIK MOMENT"
By Christopher G. Adamo
PROPERLY ASSESSING THE TRUE NATURE OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN LEFTWING LIBERALISM: THE POLITICAL
LEFT POUNCING ON THE MORAL "HIGH GROUND," & LAUDING ITS OWN VIRTUES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSERVATIVE
OPPOSITION -- LIBERAL PONTIFICATING RARELY BASED IN FACT -- REGULAR GAME CHANGES NECESSARY TO CONTINUE
THE LIBERAL FACADE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ANNOYANCES OF REALITY -- THE POLITICAL PROPAGANDA DISSEMINATED
BY THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY & THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- A STARK REFLECTION OF THE MANNER IN WHICH LIBERALS
BELIEVE THEY CAN DUPE, MANIPULATE, & CONTROL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- SEEKING TO CONVINCE THE PEOPLE OF THE
RESOUNDING BENEFICENCE OF OBAMA'S ENCROACHING STATISM
FULL STORY:
Perhaps, the best manner in which to properly assess the true nature of Liberalism is to revisit the issues and
commentaries of a few weeks past, and compare them to the events of the current day. As any given situation unfolds,
the political Left can be expected to pounce on the moral “high ground,” and laud its own virtues at the expense of the
Conservative opposition. However, since Liberal pontificating is rarely based in fact, the game changes regularly, in
order to continue the facade, irrespective of the annoyances of reality.
Only a few weeks back, those on the Left were sanctimoniously condemning Heartland America for its “incivility,”
enthusiastically repeating allegations that everyone who supported the U.S. Constitution and the traditions of America
was ultimately culpable for the mass murder and mayhem in Tucson, Arizona. However, the flagrant double standards
of Liberal commentators, and more significantly the shamelessness and transparency of their attempts to exploit a
tragedy in service to their “politically correct” agenda, simply could not withstand the test of time.
So, after a few more derisive denunciations of the harsh rhetoric coming from everyone on the political Right, they
completely dropped the subject and returned to their standard excoriations of anyone who might differ in the slightest
degree with the ultimate wisdom of everything Liberal. Accusations of vile motives among Conservatives and their
callous indifference to “the needy,” along with derisive and fabricated personal attacks against such notables as Sarah
Palin, are once again standard Liberal operating procedure, now that the sting of the Tucson episode is fading and no
more political hay can be extracted from it.
Eventually, the truth (or, more accurately, the total lack thereof) in Liberal calls for “civility” can be properly weighed
against the malignant personal attacks they regularly launch against those on the Right. Thus, their real intentions
become apparent. Apart from the transparent efforts to thwart meaningful discussion of the issues of the day (such
activity poses a mortal threat to the Liberal agenda), they are no more interested in “civility” than they are in any
freedom of speech or thought that might conflict with their goals.
More recently, much of the specific methods and motives of the current Leftist offensive can be gleaned by revisiting
Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech, given on January 25, 2011. Were he sincerely endeavoring to fulfill the
constitutional requirement to “give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their
consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient,” the particular items mentioned could later be
referenced for determining the proper direction of the country during the ensuing months and years. But, as is ever
more painfully apparent, that simply is not the case.
After the severe refutation that his party and its political philosophy received at the polls last November, Barack
Obama realized that it is not too soon to begin the Herculean task of restoring his pretense as an inspiring visionary on
which he built his 2008 campaign. But, since that time, he has proven on innumerable occasions that nothing of
worthwhile substance is to be found behind that veneer. Far from being the stirring leader and healing agent of a
fractured country, he has proven to be among the most petty and divisive high officeholders in the nation’s history.
Thus, it was deemed necessary to use the opportunity of the State of the Union to elevate the country to soaring
heights through an allusion to a pivotal milestone from its past. And this is where Barack Obama’s attempt to, once
again, demagogue the plight of the people, and recast it in a light that would convince them of the resounding
beneficence of his encroaching statism, fell completely flat.
His reference to a new “Sputnik Moment” came across as empty and condescending in January, the moment he spoke
it. Now, barely a month later, it redounds almost comically, except that it starkly reflects the manner in which the
Obama administration believes it can still dupe, manipulate, and control the people.
In the first place, the real “Sputnik Moment” represented the starting bells of the space race, in which capitalistic
America went head-to-head against the obsessive militarism and tyranny of the collectivist Soviet Union. It bears
mentioning that, during the dozen years between the 1957 launch of Sputnik, a primitive 183 pound metal ball, and Neil
Armstrong’s monumental “Giant leap for mankind” on the lunar soil of the Sea of Tranquility, the Left, Obama’s
political camp, remained fixedly invested in America’s failure.
Of equal significance is the fact that when President John F. Kennedy made his legendary 1961 speech committing
America to the quest of manned lunar travel before the end of the decade, he established a timetable for his goal which
he expected to fall within the term of his Presidency. At the time of the speech, he well anticipated remaining in the
White House until January of 1969. And while historical upheavals in Dallas in 1963 and at Cape Canaveral in the
Apollo fire of 1967 changed all that, Kennedy had clearly intended to see the program through to a quantifiable
success.
Not so with Obama’s new “Sputnik Moment.” In pathetic contrast, he claims to envision an infrastructure of
government-mandated milestones, ostensibly enacted in service to the environment. Yet, these reach out to 2035, at
which time he assures us that the country will generate eighty percent of its energy from “clean energy sources,” while
we will be enjoying our travels on high speed rail. Meanwhile, he continues his needless and ultimately dangerous
moratorium on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Needless to say, he will be long gone from the White House by then, leaving America with more massive and needless
debt, its resources mindlessly squandered on a quest to address a bogus climate-change “crisis” that is daily proving
to be completely without merit. Of course, none of his oratory is meant to be considered from the standpoint of
America’s circumstances. Its purpose was solely to rouse the crowds on speech night. And with that event in the past,
he should be pardoned from any promises that transpired there.
Ultimately, the entire discourse bore no more connection to reality than his former (and future) promises to lower the
sea level, reduce debt, end the rancor, and build the economy. In a time of deep crisis for this nation’s finances and
international standing, and with future prospects on those fronts in grave doubt, something of far greater substance
and consequence is needed. But for the next two years at least, we can expect more of the same.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics, Political Competition, & the Control of
Public Policy: Elections, Political Parties, Political Factions,
Ideologies, & Special Interest Groups
American Government & the U.S. Presidency:
Presidential Politics & National Leadership
The American Political System:
Politics & Government in the U.S.A.
The American Political & Cultural Left:
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, Marxists, & Other Leftists:
The Democratic Party, Academia, & the Mainstream Media
Liberalism Versus Conservatism in American Politics
-------------------------
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY & POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES:
COMPETING SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL THOUGHT
Conservatism
Traditional Conservatism: Questions & Answers
Conservatism: Attitudes, Types, & Present Status
Constitutional Conservatism: American & British
Liberalism
Classical Liberalism: Intellectual Foundations
Classical Liberalism: Conservative Liberalism
Manchester Liberalism & Social Darwinism
Modern Social "Liberalism": Statist "Liberalism"
Radical & Totalitarian Ideologies
Radicalism, Utopianism, & Totalitarianism
Christopher G. Adamo is a resident of southeastern Wyoming. He has been involved in politics at the local and state
level for many years. His contact information and article archives can be found at www.chrisadamo.com
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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