(Editor’s Note: A version of this piece appeared on March 1, 2009 in The Pittsburgh Tribune.)

It is amazing to me that this piece was written in March of last year after Obama had only been in office for two months and what was written still holds true today.

It has become jaw-droppingly clear that Barack Obama seeks to radically shift the alignment of this country — tying its citizens to their government in a dramatic leftward lunge the likes of which America has never seen before.

Obama deceitfully billed himself a pragmatist on the campaign trail. He was marketed as a “moderate.” After his November victory, pundits predicted he’d govern from the center. — They couldn’t have been more mistaken. Barack Obama is an extremist progressive who seeks to molest our fiscal values and pumps up our reliance on fruitless government programs.

Obama certainly will be successful in his mission for unparalleled historic recognition. But don’t expect his face on the dollar bill in the future.

On its face, this appears to confirm that Obama is a tax-and-spend liberal with a heavy socialist marbling. But it’s much more complex than that. Though Obama has proclaimed that “this has never been about me — it’s about you” on the stump, these very actions are all about him and his increasingly apparent obsession with exaltation and a delusional quest for historic grandeur.

The cult of personality created by the leftist trifecta of academia, media and the entertainment industry has overtaken Obama’s own self-image. And he believes the hype. Most politicians possess a swollen sense of self-worship. But Obama believes he is the superhero of fanatical Democratic extremism, the green lantern of progressive precept, the Will Smith of left-wing indoctrination.

Obama certainly will be successful in his mission for unparalleled historic recognition. But don’t expect his face on the dollar bill in the future. His notoriety will leave a legendary imprint for all the wrong reasons.

How are the Navy Seals supposed to do their job? Let’s see. Sign up. Become a highly respected SEAL in one of the most elite professions.  You have to apply, go through numerous screenings and then get accepted into the program.   After that, you must go through months months and years of rigorous training, go into the field, do your job and then get a court martial.  Who wouldn’t want to join knowing that is your fate?

Has this country turned upside down or is it just me? I don’t get it.

Has either one of these clowns been in the service? Has either one of them been put in the dangerous situations that these men and women are and asked?  Have they EVER had to face the tasks that these elite forces have been given?

From the telling signs that appear when you see Obama not saluting the flag…it is shameful and you definitely know which side of the flag he stands on.

How can they not care one ounce about the men and women that serve our country honorably?  They gave a hunted, known terrorist a fat lip? So what? What about the men who were burned and hung from the bridge? A fat lip? I don’t think this pales in comparison to what these innocent Americans had to endure and suffer at the hands of these lawless, unfeeling, uncaring monsters.

Terrorists are NOT American citizens.  They are criminals of WAR!  When is this administration going to understand the difference?

I read with great sadness and pride, the book by Marcus Luttrell entitled, “Lone Survivor.”  This man tells the story of his eyewitness account of Operation Redwing and the lost heroes of Seal Team 10 in Afghanistan.

Here  in black and white for everyone to read and try to understand the loyalty and honor of a United States SEAL is the last two paragraphs of the official philosophy of the U.S. Navy SEAL (pay close attention Obama and Holder):

“We train for war and fight to win.  I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in  order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country.  The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required, yet guided by the very principles I serve to defend.

Brave men have fought ad died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold.  In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed.  I will not fail.” ~ Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell

Something has to be done to stop this insanity of putting our CIA, FBI, law enforcement officers and our Honorable men and women who serve this country and provide the freedoms we so thoroughly enjoy on trial. If Obama and Holder have their way, we will all be living in a state of fear. I personally don’t think the country will allow you to let us live that way.  You and your clueless administration are only awakening a sleeping giant.  So, thank you for that.

Here is yet another example of why you need to watch their left hand instead of the right hand which is waving furiously in front of you. It is the left hand that is being sneaky and under-handed; the one that is kept out of sight. It is being hidden from your view (and not “transparent” as they profess) and what it is hiding could possibly scare you beyond your wildest dreams.

If you think that Obama and his crooked team of left-over Clinton Democrats have your best interest at heart, think again. How so many people in this country can continuously be fooled and taken advantage of is something I just don’t understand. Did you not think that they were going to find a way to tax and re-claim some of your “Stimulus” money?

Read this article about how the “stimulus” money you think you are getting is just waiting to be taxed and taken back. Taxpayers to Get Rude Surprise!

And what does Timothy Geithner, our all-knowing, all-seeing “Treasury Secretary” have to say about what is happening?

Geithner responded that Treasury and IRS understood the concerns and were “exploring ways to mitigate that effect.”

Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the top Republican on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said Geithner has yet to respond to concerns raised by committee members.

“So far we’ve got the, ‘If we don’t address this maybe it will go away’ approach,” Camp said.

Now, he is over in Europe at the G20 Summit trying to convince every European nation to spend out of control just as he has done. The Europeans are grumbling, though. Where he was once a rock star, he is now a faded star.

The French President is threatening to walk out of the summit.  More regulation and commitment to the global financial stimulus packages is not winning support from many of the countries.  France, as well as some other European nations, are demanding much tougher financial regulation, while the U.S. and Britain want nations to boost spending to help spark an economic recovery.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday he will not accept a summit that produces nothing more than what he called “false success.”

Since we have spent ourselves into bankruptcy, I guess misery would love company and so now Obama is trying to push his brilliant spending ideas on the Summit and they are not buying it. Good for them!

Here is a what the Congress and Obama have been doing with all that borrowed money from China:

The G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

Someone please tell me when this madness is going to end….

Come on people that live in his district/state! When are you going to vote him out? When are the citizens of Christopher Dodd, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s states going to vote them out? Give me a break! It is time for these ineffective people to go!

These people and their fearless celebrity leader are messing up our country. I have not seen such downright, blatant breaking the Constitution apart (like these clowns are doing) in a Long, Long time.

The $165M that these AIG executives are receiving is a huge distraction from what is really going on (or in this case~NOT going on) up on the Hill. What is happening with ALL the other money? No one has their eye on the ball~especially Tim Geithner. God help us all!

Capitol Hill and Obama want to keep you in the dark as to what they are really accomplishing~NOTHING!

How could Congress and Obama have given a company $170B with no oversight? That is the equivalent of giving a cocaine addict an abundant supply of cocaine and saying “Ok, I’m giving you this but don’t use it!” Are you kidding me?

Glenn Beck drew a rough sketch of Barney Frank and the AIG debacle. I just put it into a powerpoint document for your visual pleasure! AIG Big Fat Deep Pockets

I am afraid that the MOB mentality is going to take over if there is too much more of these types of shenanigans on Capitol Hill.

Come on people….band together! Let’s stop this now!

U.S. Capitol

With all of the turmoil swirling around the Legislature since January of this year, it seems to me that this country is getting nowhere fast.

There are a lot of distractions going on with AIG, bailouts, etc. But, what has Congress and Obama done for this country other than spend money? I am in total agreement with Glenn Beck on this one: if the soldiers who are in the field must be evaluated upon their return, why not evaluate the politicians?

Taking Glenn’s 6 basic values as they relate to an evaluation for a soldier in the field, I have reworked them as they should apply to our illustrious politicians:

1) Loyalty~someone who bears true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the United States and thier constituents.

2) Respect~a politician who treats people as they should or want to be treated

3) Selfless Service~someone who puts the welfare of the nation and their constituents before their own needs

4) Honor~a politician who lives up to, and actually has some, moral values

5) Integrity~a politician who does what is right legally and morally and not just because it is “re-election” time.

6) Personal Courage~a politician who faces fear or adversity and does the right thing in spite of whether he wins or loses the next election.