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Sean Hannity (Yet Again) Makes Sense [Update]

By SusanUnPC on March 13, 2009 at 10:50 AM in Current Affairs

Susan here with an update: A friend edited this for me, but didn’t realize that I do not look down on Hannity, i.e., that’s not what I was trying to say. After the election, I was weary of it all, and changed my programming around for a bit. But I’m back watching Hannity again. I was only tired of him, but now — like last night’s show? — WOW!!!! I was blown away by its quality. There is more to post from that great show, including about the execrable Bill Ayers.

Color me surprised, but not really — since he’s done it on occasion before. Sean Hannity’s segment last night moved me so much because he probed the depths of history, the words of FDR and followed all of this with cogent analysis.

This says it all. Oh for a president like FDR to inspire us, move us, fill us with hope instead of dread.

And Hannity …

For a while, I quit watching his show. But I’m so, so glad I rescheduled it on my DVR. This segment alone was worth all the segments I’m not especially keen on.

KEEP ‘EM COMING. INSPIRE US with history. Because, god knows, the current history is not inspiring but fear-making.

Peggy Sue

My husband and I both watched this segment last night, Susan. And my husband turned to me and said, “I can’t believe we’re watching Sean Hannity.”

So, you can color us as surprised as you. The truth is I’ve stopped watching CNN [and MSNBC I can no longer stomach]. I don’t take everything the Fox people say as truth, but at least they’re willing to cover stories and opinion pieces that the other news outlets refuse to mention. And this particular piece was a really interesting perspective. Hearing FDR, his words and voice, makes Obama and his crew look and sound like foolish, petulant children.

obamastolemyboyfriend

I switched over to FOX last May and never went back to the loser fluff stations. IMO FOX is the only real news channel. Don’t get me wrong, they are not without their own bias, but they are far superior than the others.

Might I suggest Glenn Beck, too? He is not perfect and I do not agree with all he says either, but he has some guts to question our leaders on both sides and keep a watchful, critical eye on them. If you’ve never watched, give him a try.

Hannity is a favortie for me. He was the gutsiest last year and he will be attacked for it, but we need great Americans like him or we are surely screwed!

Peggy Sue

Actually, I’ve watched Beck several times since he switched to Fox. He makes me a bit nervous when he breaks into “quivering mouth and teary-eyed” mode. But I agree that right now Fox is the the closest thing we have to a news outlet.

Which surprises the hell out of me! And is also very sad because the other outlets have sold their souls, turning into nothing but shills while pretending to be objective. At least Fox admits its right of center.

The world is upside down!

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Okay, I’ll try Beck. I am a Hillary Democrat, after all!!!

That’s what was also mind-boggling about this segment. Both men ADMIRING a historic Democratic president!!! WOAHHHH!!!

Thank you for your lovely comments, and for not mistaking my true intentions. My dear friend did a lovely job cleaning up my wordiness — because I’m still very emotional from a devastating trip to the doctor — but he couldn’t read my mind (gee whiz, why can’t friend do that?!?!?!?!!?). I’m joking. Friend did a superb job of cleaning this up because I was rattling on — and it needed editing badly.

Peggy Sue

You did a fine job, Susan. And I hope you’re feeling a bit better.
Seattle Moss

Hello Susan,

Obama acts like he got a raw deal becoming president during the greatest economic crisis in 76 years.
Obama states that he inherited the problem and that this was not what he signed up for when he took on this duty.
Too bad Obama!
You wanted the job..Now do the job!

Susan….I hope you are comfortable today!

chris from Chicago

I completely agree with you…Fox was the only place we could get anything that resembled news in the spring of 08, and I have never looked back.
And except for Lou Dobbs from time to time, Fox works for me. Sometimes friends come in and find Fox turned on and they cannot believe their eyes and ears..I am not apologetic in any way.
I cast an informed vote, and as things are panning out, I was 1000% right in the opinions I held. I, and all others like me, still have to suffer the consequences of the bad judgment of others, but at least I know I was not a participant in the most idiotic election cycle this country has ever had.
I will continue to watch FOX, because like good wine they are improving with age!
http://firefox AnnieCollier

I call him “Sean Hannity, Unrepentant Patriot”. He doesn’t, as O’Reilly does, do people pleasing…just speaks the truth as he sees it.

Nancy

I’ve had the same experience. I was as shocked as anyone to find myself watching Fox. I just accepted as fact that what everyone was saying was true. I believed all of the nasty sound bites. Turns out Fox isn’t as bad as I thought. Although I don’t agree with everything, I have found that Fox actually is more balanced than the others, especially MSNBC. They really do cover both sides and even better, the daytime news, is actual news and not political gossip. I’ve grown very fond of Megyn, Bill Hemmer, Martha, Shep, and Neil. Shep has a wicked sense of humor. Beck is nuts and has pissed me off but I respect his point of view just the same. Hannity does make sense sometimes. Love Greta. The biggest shock— Bill O’Reilly really isn’t that bad- obnoxious yes. I’ve been reading his latest book and I really identify with it.

I’m sick to death of all of this hypersensitivity. People need to stop freaking out everytime they hear an opinion they don’t agree with. People don’t have to issue death threats and personal attacks on others who say something they don’t like. We are all supposed to be adults and there is no reason why we can’t hear an opposing point of view, think about it for a moment and decide if we want to move on or learn something from it.
http://noquarter foxyladi14

cause that’s what they are..

http://noquarterusa No-nonsense-Nancy

I don’t think Obama wants us to get out of the financial mess. That’s part of the plan. Make the middle class down and out and dependant on the government.

Docelder

middle class down and out

Yes, in the socialistic models the “middle class” is the bourgeoisie and is despised. I think we can call this what it is. Right about now, a reverend in Chicago is smiling to himself… somewhere else a bearded man dressed in a gunnysack is laughing his ass off.

Linda C.

This is more tripe from Hannity who all of the sudden becomes a champion of FDR. Folks like to say that FDR programs and government spending didn’t end the Depression..WWII did. Well who bought all of the equipment being produced for the military? The government. When government ratcheted up spending on finished demand for goods, then the economy turned around. So in the above video Obama is being criticized for expanding government in every direction unlike FDR who “focused in on the crisis”. However, previously Hannity accused FDR of expanding the government every which way expanding the crisis. So Hannity which revision revisionist are you going to take next week.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,498587,00.html
HANNITY: He even admires FDR’s folksy fire side chats. But the new deal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Now FDR used the Great Depression as a pretext to expand government in every direction. Many of the programs spawned by FDR’s efforts to cure the economy did lasting damage.
lark

Obama is greater than FDR because Obama’s words work magic and require virtually no efforts. The worse it is and the worse the news the more powerful will Obama’s magic be to turn around everything that is wrong. Obama the great magician – with just words. What a man? The market now knows that the worse the news the more they should buy stocks. Sell only on good news so Obama will be compelled to do say his magic words.

candymarl

The David Copperfield of Presidents? The Lance Burton of Presidents? The Amazing Kreskin of Presidents?

Well heck, he’s no Houdini. Houdini managed to actually perform as he said he would.

snark/satire

susan h

Ever since the insane love affair with Obama by Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman, and their sexist, over the top bias for Obama and trashing of Hillary during the primaries, I started watching Sean Hannity and found out I could get some actual news coverage on that show. What a relevation! Of course Fox News has its own biases, but they were less biased and more
“fair and balanced” than CNN and MSNBC, and I learned a lot while watching them. They were not afraid to tell us the truth about Obama and his radical associates and did not cover up for him 24/7. On occasion I still turn to Fox News and Sean Hannity and like him a lot better than I ever did during the Bush years. I still cannot stomach Matthews and Olbermann and do not respect their coverage of any issues anymore. 2008 really turned things around for me. I have also caught Mike Huckabee on occasion and like him personally. He covers a wide range of issues on his show and even though he is very conservative, is a good person and does not trash people he does not agree with but likes a debate on issues. I am sorry I missed that FDR segment. It will be interesting if Fox comes to appreciate Hillary Clinton and showcases her in a segment (I guess that might be too much to hope for…)

Nancy

I can’t listen to Olbermann and Matthews anymore either. I used to love these guys. Now they make me sick. So weird how things change.

I do still watch Joe Scarborough though. Mika bugs me though- seems like such a snob. Joe’s hillarious.

Sassy

Susan, I certainly don’t wish to violate your privacy, so I will just say that I’m keeping you in my thoughts, and wishing you well!

I no longer watch T.V. except for movies, but I have had Margaret Thatcher running through my mind for weeks. She could inspire me, no matter the crisis.
Much like Hillary!
mountainaires

KEEP ‘EM COMING. INSPIRE US with history. Because, god knows, the current history is not inspiring but fear-making.

Amen, Susan.

This is what our founders feared:

http://www.infowars.com/police-trained-nationwide-that-informed-americans-are-domestic-terrorists/
LindaA1

I only watch Hannity right now. Namely because I still can’t stomach any news coverage of Obama as the president, Michelle as the reinvented Jackie O, and Pelosi as…well, there are no civil words.

I can always depend on Hannity to NOT give me the kool-aid tripe. And he actually does have the correct take on the economy and the socialistic break-down occurring in our country.

That said, I’m not the less bit forgiving of Hannity’s positions on the environment, women’s rights, abortion, Hillary, etc. The guy is still the same right wing conservative jerk he has always been.

Nonetheless, at this moment in time, mine and Hannity’s positions on the major issues facing the country are in a freaky harmonic convergence. Strange bedmates – what can I say but “be vigilent” and “be careful” of hanging with the right wing “entertainment news” team.

Linda C.

Entertainment is right be it right wing entertainment or left wing entertainment. None of it is actual news.

Hannity doesn’t have a position, just wants to get viewers. No different than the rest of them. There was no cogent analysis in the tape or from the fool he interviewed.

http://www.hillaryorbust.com Hillary or Bust

If you couldn’t find any “cogent analysis” in this video clip it’s either because a) you don’t have the brain capacity to understand what they were saying or b) you are a mindless partisan so close-minded you can’t ever give credit to someone who is not on your side of the political spectrum.

Hannity was saying the same thing Cramer said, which was that Obama needs to stop using this crisis to push all these pet programs and start dealing with getting our financial system back on track.

Linda C.

Hannity also said that is what FDR did; use the Depression to push through all of those programs that prolonged the Depression and destroyed the economy.

It has nothing to do with being a “blind partisan”. It is people who are rather not only ignorant of history but what the man said last week is the problem.

I also don’t agree with Cramer. The only way to get the financial institutions back on track is to nationalize the big banks, strengthen the banks that actually are responsible with other people’s money, and put back the regulations. Obama et al are too concerned about the big bankers and fear offending the shareholders, who already lost their money. So actually I don’t agree with Obama, Cramer or the drivel that Hannity is passing off “as news”.

If you actually listened to the “cogent” analysis, it actually supported continuing pouring money into the financial institutions to keep them afloat without a whiff of suggestion about regulations. FDR spoke of confidence because he passed banking regulations to stop speculation. Hannity and that fool never mentioned that is what created confidence but only implied that FDR gave a speech about “confidence”.

http://www.hillaryorbust.com Hillary or Bust

“Hannity also said that is what FDR did; use the Depression to push through all of those programs that prolonged the Depression and destroyed the economy.”

What they specifically said in THIS clip (did you actually watch it?) was that FDR waited to pass his programs until he’d first tackled the banks.

Linda C.

In the quote of the previous link I posted about it. I will recopy and paste for you again. I will even put that quote in bold type
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,498587,00.html
HANNITY: He even admires FDR’s folksy fire side chats. But the new deal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Now FDR used the Great Depression as a pretext to expand government in every direction. Many of the programs spawned by FDR’s efforts to cure the economy did lasting damage.

Linda C.

In other words Hannity is a jerk

cynic

Is Obama the first politician you’ve noticed who has used the economic circumstances the nation finds itself in to promote a particular political philosophy and agenda? Name one who hasn’t. This doesn’t appear as exploitive if you happen to agree with the general outline of the philosophy and see the underlying logic of the agenda. It looks more like sound strategy.

The “pet programs” aren’t seen as random, unrelated elements; they’re seen as integrated parts of a plan that directly addresses the important economic challenges of the coming decades. A major national infrastructure upgrade, a large scale shift to renewable, environmentally neutral energy sources, modernized transport, a dramatic increase in educationional standards, and the general availability of high quality proactive health care are all essential to our future growth and prosperity. Setting those national goals and efficiently implementating them is the proper business of the federal government.

One of the government’s basic functions is to maintain an environment where the free market economy and capitalism can expand and florish. There are no natural laws of economics that would automatically optimise a national economy for the highest good and the provide the greatest personal opportunity for achievement and happiness, if only government would get out of the way. The premise that such natural laws do exist is too often accepted without question.

Linda C.

The only problem is that it is not enough money going into these programs to generate enough economic stimulus. When the government was forced to spend “big” beyond the social programs of FDR into buying military equipment then the economy turned around.

That “total military spending of WWII” concept needs to be committed to developing industrial production in a similar way to produce new products to serve our society. That includes infrastructure and renewable energy. The kicker of all of this is we wasted a large amount of money the past 8 years and have nothing much to show except red ink. We have to depend on China even more and now they are becoming reluctant to buy our debt..of course unless they get certain guarantees that probably won’t be in our interest or our liking. We are “screwn” and that I will blame on Bush, neocons and free marketeers who don’t believe that we actually needed to pay for things like wars and providing welfare for the rich via tax cuts.

cynic

My theory is that the Obama planners are actually very mindful of the long-term problems built into deficit spending, and will likely address this difficult problem early on as the economic recovery slowly gains momentum. Ironically they’ll probably come under criticism when they begin to do that. Some economists will likely suggest we need to wait to rein in new spending until the economy has strengthened further, at the risk of slowing or stalling that recovery. It will be interesting to see what new tack political opponents who have focused on the dangers of deficit spending will then take.

I believe the public money designated for alternative energy, infrastructure, etc–which is substantial–is intended not to fully fund those endeavors, but to initiate them, and to create a level of seriousness and focus that will draw in private investment. The enormous profit potential that public money makes possible is what will ultimately get the job done.

I’m thinking we’re already in the initial stages of recovery. We probably saw the market bottom and turn early this week, though the early indicators will be fully recognized only in retrospect. That’s only a intuition, since I’m hardly knowledgeable about this stuff. I just noted a subtle shift in the prevailing psychology.

Linda C.

Cynic
The money is only substantial from our perspective but not in a perspective of our total economic capacity.

As for recovery..I am not so sure. The boogey men are still out there and essentially nothing has changed. The only thing I can figure out we did was to buy the to guarantee the credit swap derivatives payments that are out there with our tax money so they can continue to sell more. Banks will still be able to sell them and continue their high rates of leverage. So I am not sure we fixed what is broken, just applied a leaky patch with our money. Europeans want to re-regulate the financial markets, Obama, listening to his economic team from hell wants to throw more money.

MrMike

Hopefully you will post on William Ayers soon. He is coming to Lancaster County PA to lecture at a local college.
SensibleWomanNOTforBO

We need bumper stickers, signs, etc. RIGHT NOW that quote FDR’s statement that was on the bottom of the screen on the video! SPREAD THAT ASAP! Put it EVERYWHERE!

It was, “FDR – Must have faith; you must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses.”

Plant that seed, tend it, water it and watch it grow to OVERCOME.
cathnealon

Hannity was the only TV personality to vet BO’s background last year when he was running. He relentlessly pursued his associations with Ayers and Wright–two of the most anti-American(except for their obvious love of money, Ayers being a millionaire’s son and Wright living in a million dollar mansion)radicals ever acquainted with a presidential candidate. This alone convinced me that Hannity may be “imperfect” but he is not out to destroy our country or the Constitution. Right now BO”s people are using this economic crisis brought on by many factors to destroy what those brave people fought for in the beginning. Hannity needs to keep vetting this so called president. Last year when HRC was running I was a lifelong Democrat now I’m just a citizen praying that we as a country survive this horror of a man in the WH.

Docelder

economic crisis brought on by many factors

The “conditions” for crisis had many factors… they were not triggered until last September. I still maintain as I did then, this needed to and needs to be looked upon as a form of economic terrorism against the economy. Someday the truth about this may well come out. It may be that truth which sets us free. Yet, we have just as much to fear from the far right as we do the far left. Not to beat a dead horse… but, only a third party can stabilize this long term.

andrew191

Henry Waxman is conducting an investigation right now in an attempt to determine who is responsible for the crisis……..NOT. Waxman is actually very busy sweeping away the tracks left behind by the main culprits, B. Franks, C. Dodd, Franklin Raines, B. Obama, and many others with a big “D” following their names. I’m not saying that there weren’t Republicans involved, just that if there were major Republican players involved, you can damn well bet that Waxman and the MSM would have them doing highly visible perp walks.

Waxman’s investigation is actually a cover-up, and if you’ve watched any of it as I have, you might understand why I feel that it’s one of the most frustrating events I’ve ever witnessed.
Ferd Berfle

Yet, we have just as much to fear from the far right as we do the far left.

You have that right. Extremism, irrespective of its position relative to the center does not put country first but themselves. We do need a center party.

AOK

Hannity, like you PUMAs, failed to prove their case. The president has been vetted and those associations, while unsettling to some, proved fruitless. No wrong-doing was found on the president’s part because of these associations, so Hannity, like you PUMAs, have been proven wrong at every turn. But I invite you to keep trying. It been highly entertaining so far.

mountainaires

Hannity is right about this too:

The money will move outside the country if it is taxed too onerously here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSL312427120090312?feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssEnergyNews&rpc=22
Mary Miller

I want to concur with the writer who said they no longer watch mainstream news. I cannot either. They elected this dishonest racially bigoted man and now we all have to pay. Look at Chicago and you need look any further. Look at his district. Look at his relationships with Reverend Wright and how RW is so carefully quieted to his 1.6 million dollar house financed through Obama’s own earmarks for ‘church’ to play a role in neighborhood revitalization. Unfortunately for all of us..once that money is awarded..Wright need not report its uses..
These are dishonest and dangerous men with an agenda and the first step was returning welfare to its glory in this bill he just signed. The states get a stipend from the Feds for signing up individuals. Again, unfortunately, they forgot to mention the states have to pay for these people and their welfare benefits after the stipend. So, as before we will face weakened states and larger Federal Government..Jimmy Carter? Turn off the lights in DC?
There is nothing coming from the White House now that makes me feel better..
What is coming is the social signal that it is OK for hoodlums to beat up their girlfriends and walk. Obama says OK to disrepect everyone..who cares about women? He calls these hoodlums his friends and lets them sing about beating women, shooting their foes and taking drugs on welfare and calls it his music.
Who is going to stop them?
andrew191

My mother was recently digging around in some old boxes and dicovered some old newspapers from Minnisota. Two of them (“Duluth Herald”, and the “Duluth News Tribune”) were dated March 10, 1933, two days before the Fireside Chat above. This is history before revision, it’s fascinating. the first thing that I got a kick out of was their prices, the DH was one cent, and the NT was three cents. Wow, one paper costs three times the other, I wonder if the quality matched.

Some of the headlines are remarkable, the largest being “ROOSEVELT SPEEDS MESSAGE ON GOVERNMENTAL ECONOMY-Seeks Cuts in Veteran Costs, Federal Wages”. Contrast that with Obama’s approach. Roosevelt at least knew enough to CUT Government spending during economic hardship.

Here are some others: “ZANGARA WILL DIE IN ELECTRIC CHAIR”, “HITLER CABINET CHIEFS PROMISE SAFETY FOR JEWS” (creepy huh), “CHIANG HURLS FRESH TROOPS INTO BATTLE” (that’s Chiang Kai-Shek at the time that Japanese were kicking Chinese ass, and taking the country), and this one I love, “Duce Cites Fascist Movements Abroad”: “Rome, March 10.-(AP)- Premier Musselini issued a statement today citing what he called Fascist movements in other countries which derived strength, directly or indirectly, from the Italian example.
His newspaper in Milan, Popolo D’Italia, has referred not only to Hitler’s rise to power in Germany, but to President Roosevelt’s assumption of extraordinary powers as evidence that dictatorial methods are superceding democratic governments.
The occasion for the premier’s statement was the eve of the fourteenth anniversary of the Young Fascists of Combat.”

Docelder

That would be a great show for somebody like Hannity to do… get real newspapers from the time of FDR take those written quotes and compare them to those of Obama. It is hard to “spin” or claim spin when you can just read it in the newspaper… because in the day of FDR you could put faith that what was in the news was mostly correct. Post-Obama… not so much.

I’m a Linda too

Spot on. And we won’t even discuss the fact that his horrible Stimulating bill was no new programs to supposedly achieve what he CLAIMED he wanted, but instead was kickback for all his supporters and contributors.

This president is such a loser.
http://www.hillaryorbust.com Hillary or Bust

Here’s a must-read…soooo funny!

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/could-obama-be-just-too-awesome/

obamastolemyboyfriend

Love it!!!
beebop

Perhaps the “coolness” of 0bama will stop the global warming at the same time the seas cease to rise? How could I have failed to grasp the larger issues of him? How could my unworthiness have been so deep and profound?

Judy L. NC

SUSAN! the execrable Bill Ayers.

ROFLMBBO! What a way with words!
Ellen D

Just came back from my doctor so all my thoughts are with you Susan. Sending positive vibes your way.
Chris

So much BS from Sean Hannity. The FDR speech was nice. Good stuff. No doubt, but I am not sure what it has to do with Obama?

Lets take every single point that Hannity and Goldberg make:

1) Hannity’s one big point that he repeats 2 or 3 times is that Obama is doing all these other things instead of dealing with the economic crisis? What are all these other things? and why not deal with them, some of them will help the economy? Can the government not do more than one thing at once. Are the other departments related to healthcare and education just suppose to stop functioning? Maybe fixing the healthcare system is now more important than ever, given that many more people will not have healthcare coverage because of the recession.

I have heard this argument many times that the government is doing too much at once from the right, but no one ever explains why exactly that is a bad thing? It is really just the right-wingers using this as an excuse to try and stop some of the reforms that they do not want.

2) Hannity says that Obama “talks a lot about the crisis.” but has no sense of urgency about crisis. This is also a bunch of BS. Almost all Obama has been dealing with since November is the financial crisis. He was there contributing and helping to push TARP I with Paulson in the fall. We has signed into law the largest every mortgage program. He has pushed through the largest stimulus package ever. He has outlined the broad brush strokes of a large bank bail-out plan. He has pushed through help for Detroit. etc. etc. all this in just a couple of months. Very big programs and unprecedented programs that have all come in a very short period of time. There has been a great sense of urgency. In fact, bloggers on this site and on the right have complained that he has gone too fast. No sense of urgency? A complete line of BS.

3) Hannity says Obama is pushing his agenda first then the crisis? Another line of BS. All he has been deal with is the financial crisis, as I mention above. Nothing wrong with also pushing through what he promised during the election. Tax cut for the middle class, new spending on the environment and energy, etc. etc. etc.

4) Hannity says Obama should be focusing on putting the “banks on firmer ground and money back in the system.” Where the hell has Hannity been for the last four months? The stimulus is about to inject almost $800 billion into the system. The Fed has been doing all kinds of things in terms of guarantees and TARP money to put liquidity back into the system. The mortgage plan is to help shore up the mortgage defaults and foreclosures. I hate to think where the banks, the financial system and the economy would be if these actions were not taken. Hannity obviously does not have a clue as to what he is talking about.

5) Obama is somehow mimicking Hoover… that is a joke… Hannity says as his proof that somehow Obama is promoting protectionism like Hoover did when Hoover was “signing on to protectionism”. Hannity sights as his big Obama protectionism examples S.Korean and Colombia and that he is somehow “closing up the walls of international trade.” That is complete BS. There is absolutely no proof of this what so ever.

6) Finally Hannity says the “current economy worst economy since jimmy carter:” Another complete line of BS. There is a huge difference between this recession and other previous recessions. The entire global banking and financial system is screwed up with trillions of dollars of losses and asset value destruction that was never experienced during the Reagan and Carter years.

Hannity once again shows that he does not know what he is talking about and is purposely distorting the facts in order to push his failed right-wing agenda.

AOK

Chris, I couldn’t have said it any better. Hannity, like the rest of the right-wing frauds, are simply pushing an agenda to their liking. They love Reaganomics and will try to discredit and denounce any economic system that doesn’t match their ideology. These PUMAs simply latched on as Hannity hates on the president just like they do.

FLDemFem

Didn’t Obummer say he admired Reagan and that Reagan had the right ideas about economics? So if someone is comparing Obummer to Reagan, it’s only because Obummer has expressed, on several public occasions, admiration for Ronald Reagan. Obummer needs to decide which party he belongs to, if any. So far he is a strange mix of whatever is convenient at the moment.