The Era of Obama – The Closing!

 

With a high degree of confidence we can say that Barak Obama is, relatively speaking, quite intelligent (remember GB!). He is a polished orator and an accomplished speech deliverer – as long as the teleprompter is doing it’s job. It is certainly a pleasant Change.

But, whatever the change may have been, the nagging question that still begs the answer is:

Why?   Why Barak Obama?

The answer may require a bit of probing into the “first coming” of Obama.

Barak Obama’s meteoric rise to the national political stage can only be described as a miracle. Prior to Obama Era, such miracle could only occur in the fairy tales. It is such a historic event – rather a history making event – that has changed the world forever. Humanity may very well start a new historic point of reference; BO that will refer to Before Obama and AO will refer to After Obama .

You see! Obama is not only a name, It is an Event – A Historic Event.

What is Obama?

In academic terms, this question qualifies for the typical response. Actually, the question is not “who is Obama“, but, rather, “What is Obama“. And, that makes this simple question rather tricky and complicated to answer in a concise manner. The answer to this seemingly innocent question is not readily available on the web – it is well hidden behind the layers of firewalls and passwords guarding the secrets of the multi-level global politico-financial game. To get an understanding of The Obama, we have to look back into the rear view mirror.

Barak Obama’s 2008 election campaign was the only election in the history of the US that was run and won on the strength of only two words:   Change and Hope. That was it. All the other words and phrases were just the ‘wrappers‘ around these two words – Amazing. Is not it? Obama was the grandest promotional project ever undertaken in the modern human history.

Obama on the Launch Pad

It was during the 2004 Senatorial election that I happened to spot The ‘presidential persona, in Barak Obama. After observing his campaign for a few week I had declared him our next President in the presence of my family – my wife and son laughed at me(!) stating that the US was not ready yet to accept a black Senator from Illinois as the President. Like millions others, they were of the opinion that the time had not yet come for a black president!

Little they knew that the time never comes; it is ushered in by the application of energy. And, the magnitude of the energy that was at work to usher in the era of change was enormous. It was difficult not to notice it – if one were looking for the right signatures.

Obama made an imposing presence on the screen. A Harvard production – Promoted as the most charming and articulated son-of-Illinois – Endorsed by the big names of the state and the Chicago machine. He had been provided with all the credentials and assets to represent the state – A track record of Community involvement – A Professor (!) at the most prestigious university in the Midwest – A very ‘vocal‘ state senator – And, to top it off, the most efficient campaign apparatus at his disposal. It needed some heavy artillery to stop Obama – and, none was pointing in his direction.

On April 15, 2003 Republican incumbent Sen. Peter Fitzgerald had suddenly announced that he would not seek re-election and his predecessor, Democrat Carol Mosely Braun declined to run for the election. The ground was ready for the ‘coming‘ of Obama.

The 2004 Illinois Democratic Senate primary election was the most expensive in the US history – over $46 million were spent on the campaign. Seven candidates were on the ballot. Support for Obama skyrocketed with the heavy TV advertising in the last three weeks of the campaign, and he won the Democratic Primary in an unexpected landslide – with a margin of 29% over his closest Democratic rival.

Jack Rayan, who had won the Republican nomination in the Primary, announced his withdrawal from the race – after the Chicago Tribune succeeded in persuading a California court to release previously-sealed child custody records containing embarrassing allegations by Ryan’s ex-wife.
 
Chicago Bears’ coaching legend Mike Ditka also declined to run against Obama.
 
The Illinois Republican State Central Committee then assembled to choose a replacement candidate to oppose Obama.

And, what they found:   Alan Keyes, an underdog from the state of Maryland!!!!!

Alan Keyes had moved into an apartment in Illinois – less than 3 months before the general election, to run against the highly visible, endorsed and promoted son-of-Illinois, Barak Obama. Any wonder Barak Obama defeated Republican candidate Alan Keyes by 70% to 27%!

Barak Obama was invited to deliver the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2004. Obama had been propelled to the national level. It was the arrival of The Obama: The President of The United States of America.

Presidential Obama

On February 10, 2007, in Springfield, the capital of Illinois, following on the footsteps of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln – invoking the patriotic instincts of fellow Americans, Obama announced his candidacy for the President of the Unites States of America:

And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America.

The Era of The Obama had been officially launched. The media was treating Obama as the living embodiment of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy combined – with sufficient linkage pointing to Thomas Jefferson – A symbol of courage and wisdom, with the energy of youth. Obama was irresistible.

The pathway to his victory at the Democratic Primary was paved with the stepping down of John Edwards. Hillary Clinton was acting stubborn, but she too saw it prudent to bow out towards the end. Obama won the primary and was the Democratic Presidential candidate for 2008.

With two disastrous terms of Bush-Cheney wrecking havoc on the nerves of Americans, the chances of a McCain victory were as remote as Bush’s chances of winning a Nobel Prize for developing the cure for Schizophrenia.
 
To further dynamite the poor-little man’s chances, he was paired with Sarah Palin!?
Holy Ghost! What was that!

Any way, my respect to the professionals who were responsible to present Sarah Palin for the role assigned to her. A job well done!

Obama won the presidential election. As McCain promptly conceded, Obama delivered the Election Night Victory Speech at the Grant Park, Illinois on November 4, 2008:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

President Barak Obama

Like Obama himself, the situation was very unique. Bush was a sitting duck and Obama was already filling in to assert his coming role. He was, as usual, very articulate, but there was no doubt as to who was in charge from there onward. He fully participated in getting the $700 billion bailout package passed in the congress at a rush. Within weeks after the election, Obama had nominated all the major players in his team. Obama certainly was the most ready-in-the-waiting President of the US.

Obama’s inauguration speech was a marvel of gracious delivery of utterly empty words – It was all about Hope and a commitment to Change:

My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

It was the dawn of a New Era – The Era of Obama.

And, The Era of Change

Things have been changing fast. Riding on the wings of change we are moving faster and faster into an unfamiliar territory – a territory with a new game and new rules. One thing is for sure, there is energy and there is a lot of action – most of it hidden from the public eyes. No one would ever accuse the Obama Era with dullness and lethargy – hardly a week has passed by with out a new twist. What we have yet to figure out is whether there has been any coherence and direction or just the frenzy of confusion.

Obama projects the image of an easygoing and comfortable president. But, hidden behind this mask of comfort and ease, there are forces of change intent upon uprooting the status quo. Obama is at the forefront of the tidal waves that have been changing the terrain of our political and financial world. There is fury of demolition, and struggle of resistance, as the stalwarts of centuries old power houses are trying to retain control. We have been witnessing this ongoing struggle for a long time now.

There have been gestures and postures – suicides and deaths – liquidations and takeovers – resignations and eliminations – wars and occupations – alignments and realignments. It is a classic Machiavellian struggle and war of wits – there are elements of deception and confusion – distractions and diversions – treachery and betrayal. It is quite a game!

Obama is the purveyor of Change. Even though the recipient of the Noble Peace Award, he is no Angel of Peace – only he is not for the dumb wars. He stands for doing the things smart ways.

In October 2002, Barack Obama spoke against the dumb Iraq war on Illinois State senate floor:

I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest in history, and yet it was only through the crucible of the sword, the sacrifice of multitudes, that we could begin to perfect this union and drive the scourge of slavery from our soil.

I don’t oppose all wars. My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton’s army. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil.

I don’t oppose all wars.

I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.

Probably, it was the speech that caught the attention of the Nobel Peace Prize committee!

The Dawn of  The Change!

The Obama Era has been the era of conflicting signals and confusion. As the dumb wars were winding down, the smart wars are getting ready to erupt elsewhere.

While millions of manufacturing and skilled jobs have been lost, the industrial base has been eradicated, and the real estate keeps on its downward journey, Obama assures us the light at the end of tunnel – only the tunnel seems to have no end.
While hundreds of billions of dollars keep on pouring into the coffers of the chosen entities, millions of American keep on falling into the abyss of foreclosures and destitution.

There is no sign of any serious effort to provide any relief to the people. Foreclosures are still continuing at full swing. Money swindlers’ greed has no regard for the millions of American families and children who are ending up on the street. The real unemployment rate is well above 20%. Underemployment is pushing masses into a state of destitution. Industrial and manufacturing base is getting destroyed. High tech and alternate energy industries are getting suffocated due to the lack of funding while banks are sitting on billions of newly minted dollars. Cost of education is already beyond the means of average American families and the student loans are getting costlier and difficult to get.  It is The Era of Dismantling, Eradication and Chaos.

As the presidential gala parties and photo-ops are costing the taxpayers millions of dollar a pop, cash strapped Americans are being lectured to consume less and produce more and be ready for the tough times ahead. While President Obama declared, “Paying for what you spend is basic common sense”, he had no qualm in keep on ramming billions upon billions in handouts to the chosen entities. The nation has piled up more debt in three years than in the previous 200 years combined.

On the global front, The War Machine is in full swing – More wars are getting ready to erupt. Regions of stability have been destabilized and are burning in the fire of wars. European economies are under attack. The illusion of Western Democracy and Freedom has been systematically shattered.

Things are certainly changing, and The Change is getting momentum. And, there is no way to stop this Change. As the history confirms, once set in motion The Change takes its own course. As for the masses, there never has been much for the people in the Wars of The Titans beside the loss of lives of their dear ones, and more misery for their families – Changes do come and lead to further more changes –  just to make the life worse for the people of the working class.

Surely, it is a New Era – ‘The Era of Change’. ‘The Obama’, obviously, has a purpose and an important role to play in the Grand Global Game that is being played now. Even though we are not privy to the rules, or the moves of the players, the indicators are already pointing to the outcome of this grand game. And, Barak Obama, with all the known and unknown factors associated with him, was the only one suitable for this Grand Global Game.

That is scary!