Soliciting Your Predictions on What Obama Will Do
Let’s accept, for the sake of argument, the assertions of various critics (including commenters to this site) as to the character of Barack Obama. I would like your predictions as to how this will manifest itself, specifically.
For purposes of this post, we’ll take it as a given that Barack Obama is “a[n] evil person” and “scum.” That he is “gutter trash” and a “liar and a thief.” We’ll accept as a sensible concern the possibility that Obama “may create a security force akin to the Gestapo to impose a Marxist dictatorship.”
If all these things are true, surely Obama cannot keep this under wraps. His evil, scummy, gutter trash character will have to emerge in some way.
So what, specifically, will he do?
I’ve already given my prediction: “I think he will damage this country with bad policies.” He’ll raise taxes and appoint rotten judges. He will weaken our fight against terror. At times, he will use shady political tactics to achieve all sorts of wrongheaded, far-left goals. Pretty much what any Democrat would do as President.
Somehow, I think most of you have something more dire in mind. I’d like to know what it is.
I would like specific predictions for Obama’s first three months, first year, and first four years.
How will Obama’s fundamental badness manifest itself in action?
Get on record now! We’ll come back and revisit this post after each relevant time period has passed, to see which dire predictions have come true. Nostradamuses can gloat through their tears.
I’m feeling pretty good about my predictions. Leave yours in the comments.
He’ll sign FOCA….he’s <a href=”" target=”_blank”>said he’ll do it. The abortion lobby is practically foaming at the mouth in anticipation.
He will also take taxpayer money to fund both abortions and cloning embryos for research purposes (the so-called “anti-cloning” bill).
Comment by Rich Bordner — 11/14/2008 @ 7:34 am
I am pretty confident in one thing he’s not going to do. Even though there is a bowling alley in the White House, Baracky ain’t gonna make it the national sport. He got no game.
Comment by daleyrocks — 11/14/2008 @ 7:38 am
Rich,
I agree. That is one of the bad policies that I have always believed Obama would implement.
But surely he’ll do worse than that? That’s standard Democrat fare, and far below the level of evil many here know he is capable of.
I WANT DIRE!
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 7:41 am
It will be worse than Carter or Clinton for several reasons.
First, he has a more liberal Congress than either of them had.
Secondly, unlike Carter, he has no moderate inclinations (while it is understandably easy to bash Carter now, he had some conservative instincts, especially on spending money) and unlike Clinton shows no willingness to moderate as a political device.
Finally, on matters like judges and foreign policy (where mistakes can echo into eternity), he likely will be both immoderate and wrong, time and again.
Maybe we should hope that the liberals have actually been right about things all along. Because if they aren’t, the next four years will be hell.
Comment by NCC — 11/14/2008 @ 7:45 am
I think Obama is a terrible leader and an empty suit when it comes to relevant experience to be CIC and President, however, if he is truly evil, will it show itself easily? If he is truly evil won’t he be able to hide it well?
Having said that, my prediction is that he will institute a different kind of fairness doctrine and that we are very likely to see some form of reprise of the sedition acts. So, see you guys in jail cause I ain’t shutting up!!!
Comment by GM Roper — 11/14/2008 @ 7:45 am
He will claim credit for victory in Iraq, and that his policies led to said victory, of that there is no doubt.
He will raise taxes.
He will appoint Judges that make Ginsberg look like Scalia.
I also think that he will use the Executive Orders to do what he could never do via the Legislature.
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 7:46 am
It’s Nov. 14, 2008. Where have you been?
Comment by Jim Treacher — 11/14/2008 @ 7:47 am
After a couple years of being completely inept and exhibiting no leadership, i predict we will be attacked by terrorists again…
Here is the prediction….Obama will go ahead and create his civil defense force in order to control Americans….this will cause freedom loving citizens to react and eventually lead to a complete ban on gun ownership and eventually a situation in which these civilian defense forces have to patrol the streets…
I predict that certain places in America will see Obama’s thug mafia standing on corners of suburban America holding military style weapons in order to “protect” citizens…..
So scary, but anyone who thinks this cant happen is naive….its in too many history books…
Comment by alecj — 11/14/2008 @ 7:48 am
He’ll do everything he promised in the primary.
I can’t list them, it would be considered racist.
Comment by Al — 11/14/2008 @ 7:50 am
Allow me to don my tin foil hat.
My predictions:
Card Check will be enacted along with ending “Right to work” states. Mandatory unionism will soon follow.
Massive tax increases.
Virtual nationalization of the healthcare system.
Mandatory unpaid national service for all americans.
Ending of tax exempt status for a number of mainline churches on the excuse of human rights violations. (example: refusal to perform gay marriages)
Nationalization of the 401K and IRA accounts, putting them under the Social Security system.
(Looted by congress almost instantly)
Nationalization of the energy sector.
Reintroduction and expansion of the Fairness Doctrine. It will be pushed into the internt under the theory that some of the data is transmitted by radio.
(Say goodbye to conservative radio/blogs)
The gutting of the defense department.
The gutting of any intelligence system put in place to stop terrorist attacks.
Once Pres. Obama gets his people on the supreme court:
Repeal of the Heller decision followed by seizure of private firearms.
(To be done after the outlawing of ammunition sale & Posession)
Hate speech laws enacted and upheld.
The virtual end of any private property rights.
Creation of a national police force.
Paranoid enough for ya?
Comment by Evilned — 11/14/2008 @ 7:56 am
Have Faith
Are you worried about your future? Or the future of your children and grandchildren? Consider the following:
The plight of our new nation was precarious for years after it was founded. The outlook for the future after the harshest war in the history of mankind was bleak for decades. We have experienced many depressions which seemed unendurable and we have been involved in unconscionable wars, most of which were not of our making. We have had leaders who failed dismally and we have endured untold hardships. We have had individuals like Mr. Soros, who tried and failed to destroy the English government, interfere in our domestic affairs; and we have had politicians who do not value the principles the preponderance of our citizens consider important. We have remained the most successful nation in the world.
A typical United States citizen is a Christian who expects to attain success through hard work and frugal life style. He appreciates the efforts of our founding fathers, who were Christians, and fashioned our government in like manner. They codified their beliefs in a Constitution which we revere. He realizes that the success of our Nation depended and will depend on these tenets. He does not share the views of the few that Socialism or Communism are appropriate for us, but he does not attempt to dictate what other nations desire for their governance. Most will acknowledge that he is glad to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than he.
Inept governance and greedy financiers have resulted in what will likely be a depression like that of the 1930s, which few of us can appreciate. Incompetent leaders are the most likely causes of such a catastrophe and the concomitant results will injure the public. But, that is probably what it takes to remove those leaders and get the economy on a solid footing. Though we may suffer some hardships, we will survive. God is in His Heaven, all’s right with the world.
Tony
Comment by Tony — 11/14/2008 @ 7:58 am
alecj,
I’m trying to get specific time frames here. By what date will we have a total ban on gun ownership?
I want to have a specific date so I can know when to come back and apologize for being so naive.
Jim Treacher,
I’m talking about having the evilness manifest itself in his actions as President.
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 8:00 am
One thing Obama has already done is to fundamentally reform how Presidential campaigns are funded. 2008 killed the McCain-Feingold public financing system that Obama once supported, replacing it with one based on Distributed Campaign Finance Fraud (also here).
No serious Presidential candidate will be able to compete without deploying online fundraising mechanisms that enable the collection of large sums in illegal donations. Scruples will lead to being so outspent as to jeopardize the prospect of electoral victory.
My prediction is that Obama will use his appointments at the Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission to ensure that no meaningful inquiry into the abuses of the 2008 campaign is conducted. A corollary is that the Watchdogs of the Fourth Estate will oblige their champion. No stories on this subject will see Page One, below the fold or above it.
Comment by AMac — 11/14/2008 @ 8:01 am
Nobdoy is following the rules of the post. TIME FRAMES!
Seizure of private firearms by what date?
TIME FRAMES!
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 8:02 am
AMac,
I think that prediction is almost a done deal, but I’m not seeing Stalin there. I like the gun seizure predictions more but nobody will tell me when that’s going to happen.
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 8:06 am
TIME FRAMES!
Eh, sorry. For #13, no serious investigations into alleged Campaign ‘08 illegalities in 2009, or 2010, or 2011, or 2012. No pit-bull appointments to Justice or FEC that would presage such investigations in any of those years, either. Eight predictions!
Comment by AMac — 11/14/2008 @ 8:08 am
And I’m talking about the expectation that somehow being elected President of the United States of America will make him change his ways.
Comment by Jim Treacher — 11/14/2008 @ 8:09 am
Do you think The Leader (sounds better in the original German) will require his Civilian Corps to be armed (at minimum with billy clubs or mace) and dressed in brown shirts?
Comment by Horatio — 11/14/2008 @ 8:10 am
He will definitely take credit for the growing stability of Iraq and claim that his policies were the reason.
He will be vulnerable to appeals to “do something” about global situations that do not warrant a military response but given the typical need of Democratic leadership to show their “toughness” may ala Clinton in Somalia put boots on the ground in places where it is not in our interest to do so.
He will go on television at the very beginning of his term and announce how shocked he was at just how disastrous the Bush economy was that was left for him to fix and thus cannot offer tax cuts but will instead raise taxes across the board.
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 8:11 am
Patterico, I missed your #15, sorry. How about this, then:
OBAMA NOMINATES PUTIN TO HEAD THE DEPT. OF JUSTICE IN 2009!
Comment by AMac — 11/14/2008 @ 8:12 am
Pat, how can anyone give you a time frame if we’re still unsure the makeup of the Senate, i.e., whether the Democrats will have a filibuster proof majority?
Comment by Mossberg500 — 11/14/2008 @ 8:16 am
Patt I see where you are going with this and I would probably do the same if I was you. The original post where alot of people were saying he was “evil scum” came after you called him a “good man”. That is where my disagreement with you was. To be honest his policy decisions will have no effect on whether I consider him personally a “good” man. That ship has already sailed.
This is totally IMHO here but I can’t give you a prediction of what he will do and I do not think that is necessary. Hell he can get in today and lower taxes and become a clone of Ronald Reagan. His policy positions or actions have no bearing on whether or not he is a “good” man. I hope this does not sound like a total dodge but I think what you are trying to solicit here is the arguments of psychos who think the sky will start falling the minute he is inaugurated. I am sure you will be obliged.
Comment by Mr. Pink — 11/14/2008 @ 8:16 am
I pretty much agree with you about what the results of his presidency will be. I think we are kind of fortunate to be getting him at this time when the economy seems to be getting quite bad. This will magnify typical liberal hare-brained notions about what is important to economic growth. They usually have it backwards. It’s going to kill them to have to do things against their nature. In the non-economy areas he seems like a conventional, robotic leftist and will proceed as expected.
Comment by Milan — 11/14/2008 @ 8:16 am
First three months:
He will impose mandatory health coverage, through private insurance for those who can pay and through expansion of Medicaid for those who cannot. He will have, overwhelmingly, the support of the insurance industry and the medical establishment who will be guaranteed a stable baseline income and will, in fact, become part of the government. The medical establishment will maintain its rate of return by limiting the number of personnel* and quality of service. *Clinton did something like this in 1997 when he cut out 2,000 residency positions and replaced the doctors-in-training with part-time, older physicians.
He will put an end to the missile defense shield.
He will raise taxes on any family making more than $30,000.00 a year. By how much, I cannot say.
He will sign every gun control law Congress passes but I don’t care. If you need the government’s permission to be armed, you don’t deserve to be armed in the first place. (I’m not sure I should give away my “bitter-clinging” like this but who knows whether I’ll be allowed to do it next year.)
Comment by nk — 11/14/2008 @ 8:19 am
I’m not going to comment on whether Obama is bad or not. I think he is wrong. I disagree with him. And It’s not Obama, it’s Obama plus Congress plus whatever other power exists behind the scenes.
My dates are from Obama’s inauguration. I’m leaving out obvious things such as obvious rescinded executive orders and circuit courts filled.
First week –
Votes needed for cloture in senate reduced
Fairness Doctrine reintroduced
Don’t ask/don’t tell policy dropped
Military spending cut at least 10%
Anonymous union ballots eliminated
First three months -
We will be overwhelmed with changes that come so fast we will not be able to keep track of them
Bailout given to MSM, others friendly to Democrats
Amnesty, meaning citizenship for most illegal aliens, passed
DC Statehood introduced
Bill to increase number of Supreme Court Justices to 11 passed
9th Circuit Court split into three - passed
Hate crime bill passed making statements that could induce violence against specific groups a primary offense
Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act passed
Freedom of Choice Act passed rolling back all state restrictions on abortion
Federal Defense of Marriage Act repealed
The economic crisis will get worse
The public will be distracted by hearings on trumped up charges against Bush Administration officials
First year –
Census bill passed allowing adjustments to the 2010 census results to account for hypothetical missed counts
DC Statehood passed, two new Democratic Senators sworn in
Prosecution for hate crimes begins for most outrageous Conservative talk radio and internet commentators
Legislation introduced to create a domestic security force, or the nationalization of the police
WalMart will be unionized
The Government will hold a large chunk of mortgages, and have control over a large number of banks and credit agencies
International crises will occur and be met with a retreat into isolationism
Comment by Amphipolis — 11/14/2008 @ 8:20 am
“And Im talking about the expectation that somehow being elected President of the United States of America will make him change his ways.”
That’s not at issue in this thread. We’re taking it for granted that he *won’t* change his ways.
What I want to know is: how will this translate to action? I made my prediction. (My prediction is good for all time periods, btw.) If someone thinks we’re going to have something worse than I have predicted, I want a time frame so we can come back and check the accuracy of the predictions.
Something like: “By January 20, 2010, there will be no more private ownership of firearms.”
Then we come back on that date, and if the prediction is true, I apologize for my naivete.
Without time frames, you guys can always claim that he just hasn’t gotten around to it yet. That’s weaselly.
So if you believe in Obama’s evil nature, put your money where your mouth is. Tell us what that will mean in practical terms, and give us time frames, so we can come back and check if you were right.
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 8:24 am
Ayers did confirm that Hussein O is a bold faced liar. Why would any world leader believe a word he says?
Comment by Scrapiron — 11/14/2008 @ 8:26 am
Patt I will use comment 25 to bolster my opinion that you posted this so you could paint the people that disagreed with you calling him a “good” man as psycho’s and dismiss them. I mean his comment just takes the cake. If I thought everyone that disagreed with me thought like that I would have my nose so far in the air I would smell clouds. Hell what is that guy going to type for an encore, maybe O! will start nuking Israel.
Comment by Mr. Pink — 11/14/2008 @ 8:27 am
From: Obama blueprint for change audacity.
An Agenda of Hope
Obama and Biden will increase U.S. foreign assistance and support a $2 billion Global Education fund to provide alternatives to radical madrasas. They will coordinate a program of public diplomacy to restore America’s standing, and build ‘America Houses’ and deploy an ‘America’s Voice Corps’ to build new ties across the Islamic world.
So we can just pay Islamic terrorist to not be Islamic terrorist anymore, how easy is that, amazing that stupid Bush didn’t think of that. Trust Obama these Islamic terrorist will not use that money for weapons or anything else that could help them destroy America.
Obama falls for the terrorist are terrorist because they are “stupid”, which is just liberal hogwash, fact is most of the terrorist are not stupid but highly educated at least with regard to the Qur’an and hadeths.
Lets call this what it really is.
Dhimmicrats paying the jizyah to their Islamic masters.
Comment by ML — 11/14/2008 @ 8:29 am
2012 is the end of the Mayan calender, it is also the end of Obama’s first term. Coincidence?????? I think not!!!!111!!!!
Comment by Mr. Pink — 11/14/2008 @ 8:29 am
How about some sins of omission? He has already encouraged a cult of personality and then sat back while his backers used the power of the state to harass a private citizen. He’s allowed his campaign to collaborate with ACORN, who would undermine all trust in the electoral process. He’s allowed his supporters to demonize his opponents in the worst terms imaginable. When called out, he accuses his opponents of racism.
Is he going to actively sacrifice babies to his dark master? No, he’ll just let them expire like fish in a bucket on a pile of dirty linens.
And I guarantee that no matter what time frame it is, he will blame his failures on his opponents. Is that evil? It sure as heck isn’t good.
Comment by pmm — 11/14/2008 @ 8:30 am
Mr. Pink,
I’m not interested in re-arguing old issues in this thread.
I’m accepting at face value every argument about his character, for the sake of discussion, and asking “So what?”
If his evilness doesn’t translate into action, beyond what any Democrat would do as President, then he can be as evil as you like and we’re no worse off than we would be with any other Democrat.
If his evilness *will* translate into action, then what will it be? And let’s make the predictions verifiable.
That’s what we’re doing here.
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 8:31 am
You could be right. I just think you are going to get some psychos out on this thread who will make me look bad by comparison. Hahahahha.
Comment by Mr. Pink — 11/14/2008 @ 8:35 am
DIRE? TIME FRAMES?
Obama appoints Emanuel to run the civil defense forces.
Obama appoints Reverend Jeremiah Wright as Minister General of the Federal Church, and at 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific, etc. time each Sunday, everyone, except members of the civil defense forces on active duty, must check in at the local Federal Church building to hear that week’s sermon by Wright or one of his appointed preachers.
Obama appoints Chris Matthews to replace Fred Olbermann as Journalist General.
And, all this occurs between March and June 2019.
Comment by Ira — 11/14/2008 @ 8:35 am
Here’s another sin of omission: he will allow Iraqis and possibly Afghans and Israelis to suffer and die lest he risk validating the Bush administration’s foreign policy. After all, what’s an extra judicial killing or two thousand if it means that the Kos kids get their anti-war arguments vindicated?
Comment by pmm — 11/14/2008 @ 8:37 am
He will obey the opinion polls (see Pres. Clinton).
Comment by dave — 11/14/2008 @ 8:40 am
I keep thinking about the Workplace Ergonomic laws the Democrats tried to pass in the early days of the Bush WH. It’s their inability to say no to nice-sounding, helpful ideas that worries me, and I’ve seen no indication that Obama doesn’t have the same instincts.
I think he will have trouble overseeing the bailout(s), because he can’t stand seeing any of the working people suffer. That’s pretty general though, isn’t it.
He’ll immediately call for a plan to start withdrawing from Iraq, but he will actually only implement it as conditions on the ground permit.
He will immediately go to Europe and beg them to send some troops to Afghanistan. They will comply because they love him, but when their first troops are killed they will balk again.
He will put Hillary Clinton in as Secretary of State, because he’s learned during the campaign season that he really can’t meet with the leaders of Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Venezuela without preconditions. Hillary will protect him from having to do that.
His first big thing will be healthcare. He will mandate what he has said he will mandate, but he won’t provide any real cost cutting measures and it will absolutely spiral out of control. He will make the case that we should cover illegal aliens.
Comment by MayBee — 11/14/2008 @ 8:40 am
An oppressive government wouldn’t want your guns. They would have lots of guns. They would want you.
All they would need is a nice list of gun owners.
Comment by Amphipolis — 11/14/2008 @ 8:47 am
He would write the opinion polls.
Comment by Amphipolis — 11/14/2008 @ 8:48 am
In general, we will see standard Leftist pablum, to a greater degree than normal.
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 8:50 am
I think your predictions are correct. My only hope is when those acts do not work, he is pragmatic enough to change course. But that is a hope, not a prediction, and it will almost certainly take a GOP controlled congress to turn Barack Obama into Bill Clinton.
George Bush got corrupted by power. What makes you think Barack Obama will not.
Comment by Joe — 11/14/2008 @ 8:51 am
Predictions AND timelines. Tall order. Some depends upon Minnesota making itself the butt of an unfunny joke via an unfunny comedian. It appears that state has lost its grasp on how humiliatingly low they can go.
However, assume for the sake of sanity that Coleman wins.
1)First 100 days. Rollback on “consitutional issues” related to captured terrorists, interrogation, the Patriot Act, detention and combatants.
Attempt to legislate national health care and insurance.
Moratorium on foreclosures for 90 days.
Open dialogue with Hamas.
2)First 365 days. Create a jobs/work program, aimed primarily at big cities.
Legislate tax increases across the board for top 25% of taxpayers, but call them “returning” to old rates.
Begin the drawdown in Iraq, regardless of the consequences.
Institute capital gains tax increases.
Nationalize the auto industry with “perks” for “green” cars.
Open up stem cell research without restriction.
Nationalize energy development and consumption, but not drill for more oil. Coal and oil will be backshelved and the softer, gentler, energy sources will be promoted.
Meet with virtually every rogue nation or government via top Cabinet members or in person and open dialogue, regardless of their stances or acts.
Begin to chip away at NAFTA.
Find new tax revenue streams previously not mentioned. Luxury taxes on every high end item, anyplace to find money that comes mostly from the suburbs.
Chilling relationship with Israel, warming relationship with Israel’s sworn enemies.
3)First full term
Education “reform” based upon “community” awareness and “participation”.
Appointment of judges who pass litmus test on every hot button issue.
Nationalization of the insurance industry.
Partial amnesty for undocumented immigrants.
Build a civilian force, reduce the CIA activities and pare down the military significantly.
Comment by cfbleachers — 11/14/2008 @ 8:52 am
I stand by my call for a Constitutional Convention for the purposes of giving Minnesota to the Canucks should Alfucking Franken steal a US Senate seat.
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 8:56 am
So Obama is only evil if we can predict exactly what evil deeds he will perform. I think I get the picture.
Comment by Jim Treacher — 11/14/2008 @ 8:56 am
To the pragmatic wishful thinkers -
What do you think the Democrats’ objective is? Peace and prosperity are not on the path to power and control. Keep in mind that Obama’s only accomplishment is power.
Note - I hope and pray that I am wrong.
Comment by Amphipolis — 11/14/2008 @ 8:57 am
I suspect that we may be fooling ourselves badly again (some more?) in thinking that we can predict specifics at the action level.
What I think will happen is that all of the people and cults that we know about an a bigger number that we don’t will continue to call in chits (many of them contradicting others and he will be whipsawed into a frenzy whose products I don’t think anybody will be able to predict accurately.
Our best shot is that the Congress will continue to be as ineffective as it has been the past two years. (As a percentage, how many Congressional actions got stopped by veto or filibuster?)
Comment by Larry Sheldon — 11/14/2008 @ 8:57 am
I’m going to say that for 3 months
Card Check,
Massive expansion of welfare related spending (eg. S-chip extended unemployment, tax rebates.
Weak international negotiating position.
4 years
Relaxation of any abortion restrictions,
Funneling money to democrat projects especially ACORNesque groups.
Complete blind eye to Dem corruption
Iran to get the bomb
Strongly liberal judges
Extended recession due to poor tax policy.
Increased taxes across the board (mostly through non-income tax increases)
Sharply more progressive tax rates.
I don’t think he’s evil, I do think he’s unprincipled and lacks judgment. (But that’s a whole lot of politicians)
Comment by Dr T — 11/14/2008 @ 8:57 am
I’ll predict establishment of a paramilitary force within two years. It will be advertised as a “youth volunteer program” and will have all the aims and objectives of ACORN with the addition of some sort of “make neighborhoods safe” adjunct that will allow the use of non-lethal force.
I hope they wear uniforms. It will cut down on the number of innocent lives taken.
PS - Fools will still be babbling about “but that’s not his intent” based upon the lying thief’s words when they get their heads cracked.
The first batch of executive orders are being prepared right this minute. There are some people who consider government funding of abortion to rank rather high on the evil scale. Those people will see the President as the embodiment of evil the moment that he signs the order. Others, of the vacuous “tolerance is the greatest good” mindless set will argue otherwise. Just as there are those in LA County who are desperately concerned about the brown horde engulfing them while never acknowledging the sanctuary policy which allows and encourages its occurrence.
Sort of pathetic, isn’t it? Now there’s some room for alliterative effort there.
Patterico,
A challenge to “Show me where I’m wrong” deserves either rebuttal or acknowledgment when you’re shown to be wrong. The fact that you can’t recognize a Fenton/Pew operation on immigration as equivalent to their efforts on campaign finance reform does not speak well of your political acumen.
Do I get style points for not using abusive terminology?
Comment by Rick Ballard — 11/14/2008 @ 8:57 am
Obama will have his surrogates do most of his dirty work.
They will bring back the draft because most of the current force didn’t sign up to serve an anti American commie terrorist lover.
They will use the credit crisis as a template for creating new bailouts for the inner cities, universities, hollywood, newspapers and other leftist propagandists.
They will work towards creating the “one wage” or “going rate” by creating downward pressure on workers wages by importing more and more poverty laborers while increasing the minimum wage until we are all getting the same wage.
There will be massive immigration from Islamic Africa but they will try to keep it under the radar. The will begin banning pork…the food, not the spending.
Comment by j curtis — 11/14/2008 @ 8:59 am
In addition to your prediction, Patterico, I believe the following:
1) Within 18 months he will have thrown Israel under the bus, with respect to Iran and her proxies in Syria and Lebanon; because thay are an aprtheid state with repect to the palestinians, and favor outsized responses to attacks from the proxy states. He’ll cast it in the same light as he did the whole Russia-Georgia thing, calling for both parties to stand down…
When the Isrealis refuse, he’ll have his pretext, and under the bus they’ll go…
As a result, before 2012, there will be a nuclear exchange in the middle east…
2) By 2012 He will also de-rail missle defense much like Clinton did with the Superconducting Supercollider. He’ll lie and say that it is too far from perfection, and state that we need the money to rebuild our armed forces ( a white lie-I denounce myself in advance). Faced with budgetary pressure, he’ll follow Barney Frank’s suggestion and cut the defense budget by at least 25% in order to fund more important entitlements-because of the fairness…
As a result, the Russians will resume their intimidation tactics on the EU-after rolling into the Ukraine and former Baltic states. Of course, Obama’s response will again be to mutter vapid platitudes that will sound like the geopolitical version of Rodney King’s, “Can’t we all just get along?”. As an added bonus to the military and economic intimidation by the Russians, the EU will also face threats from Iranian missles; because without our assistance and bunker busting nuclear warheads the Israelis won’t be able to completely destroy the Iranians dug in nuclear program…
Voila, cold war II with an Iranian twist, brought to you by O!…
Unfortunately, that’s change you can believe in!
And the mere presemce of Rahm Emanual will not change O!s response in either case…
Finally, I believe that before 2012 there will be another major terrorist attack here at home. And this scares the bejeebers out of me because I live in NYC! It will be some kind of NBC weapon and it will occur as a result of some Clinton retreads taking charge at DOJ Homeland security…
God help us all, I hope that my tinfoil hat has been too tight while writing these. But you asked, and I provided…
Good luck to all
Comment by Bob — 11/14/2008 @ 9:00 am
Patt, I thought you weren’t going to revisit this good vs. evil meme. I understand how tired you can get of the sniping, but this probably won’t solve anything.
You’ve set up a straw man here because, frankly, I can’t see how Obama’s actions as a hyper-liberal Democrat would differ in any way from what I’d expect of an evil man. And you can parse that anyway you want to. Whether he’s good or evil might change the motivations behind his actions. If he has a good heart, then he’s just as dumb and deluded as a lot of liberals I know (there’s a reason some folks here use the term “libtards”). If he’s really evil and conniving, then he’ll pursue the same destructive policies as the libs always have, but with more glee perhaps.
As to a date certain when all the firearms will be collected? What makes you imagine that an evil president would also be stupid? Incrementalism has always been the name of the game. I expect Obama, good or evil, to get whatever he can. Period.
Comment by Don — 11/14/2008 @ 9:00 am
BTW, I think Amphipolis in #25 has it about right - although O will probably move the FOCA up to the first week.
Comment by Don — 11/14/2008 @ 9:04 am
Relaxation of abortion restrictions?
No - abandonment of all abortion restrictions imposed on the Federal level.
This is guaranteed by the election. There is NO question here. And you can quote me.
Comment by Amphipolis — 11/14/2008 @ 9:05 am
An push for, at the bare minimum, amnesty, if not a push towards open borders.
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 9:06 am
Obama will put millions of prisoners back on the street with pardons. He might pardon all the drug related criminals within his first few months in office.
Comment by j curtis — 11/14/2008 @ 9:09 am
They campaigned for change. They won the election, and they won big. I see no reason to assume they will not proceed immediately to adopt all of the things they have tried to do since 1994. There are the same people that really wanted to pull out of Iraq during the height of the surge. That’s how Obama beat Hillary. A catastrophe is not an impediment to them, it is an opportunity.
But that’s not enough. They have to ensure that there will be no more 1994. Ever. Permanent power and control are the overriding objective. That’s the kicker. That’s what most Americans will find out too late.
Comment by Amphipolis — 11/14/2008 @ 9:13 am
1. Obama will place onerous restrictions on firearms ownership. Reinstatement of the Brady Assault Weapons ban, a steep excise tax on ammo (after all, they’re not BANNING it, they’re just making it seven times more expensive to buy ammo for it), federal restrictions on concealed carry, an attempt to promote “safer guns” which is a costly boondoggle for gun owners, and federal support for liberal mayors who wish to sue gun manufacturers & dealers.
2. Obama will support reinstatement of the “Fairness Doctrine”. Unfortunately, the “fairness” won’t extend beyond democratic moderates to conservatives, but who really expected that to happen?
3. Obama’s detractors will be “mau-maued” by his followers, both through official and unofficial channels. Think the IRS audits the Clintons unleashed on their critics were improper? That will look like beanbag compared to what Obama is going to loose on his critics.
4. Obama’s foreign policy positions will strengthen terrorists and rogue states. This will create a climate where more Americans will die, both civilians and military. I don’t think he’ll mean for them to die, but when you’re president, “incompetence” is just as bad as “evil intent”. Our allies? Unless we bribe the shit out of them with federal money, they won’t lift a finger to help us, at least not any more than they already help us.
5. Obama’s tax policies will hurt the economy, and his redistributionist policies will help reinforce the culture of “where’s my government check?” in the communitites where self-reliance is needed most.
Comment by Russ from Winterset — 11/14/2008 @ 9:15 am
Sorry about not giving timelines on my five points. I think he’ll move forward on ALL of them incrementally. After all, the frog won’t jump out of the pan if you turn up the heat slowly.
At 3 months, baby steps. At one year, the next step. At two to three years, look for them to try to stifle dissent and make bigger steps.
Comment by Russ from Winterset — 11/14/2008 @ 9:18 am
Incrementalism is the Alinsky model …
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 9:21 am
“That will look like beanbag compared to what Obama is going to loose on his critics.”
Now why would you think that?
(Yes, it’s “that” Durham. Hometown to the sainted Crystal Mangum.)
Comment by Rick Ballard — 11/14/2008 @ 9:23 am
Where to start?
Deep and long recession
Attempt to socialize healthcare
Attempt to shut down voices critical of him vis a vis the “Fairness Doctrine”
Out enemies will hold us in contempt, and they will get frisky
Bankruptcy (with the help of President Bush)
Comment by GregInSeattle — 11/14/2008 @ 9:23 am
Timeframes, huh?
First 100 days: FOCA, Fairness and Card Check. Say hello to AG Jaime Gorelick. Counterterror defense seriously compromised.
First 365 Days: 2 Supreme Court vacancies confirmed via Democrat Nuclear Option. Kills Missile Defense, thus emboldening Russia, and provoking Venezuelan Missile Crisis
2010: Revolution Redux
2012: Palin/Jindal in a landslide
Comment by JB — 11/14/2008 @ 9:27 am
1. This won’t be Obama’s doing per se, but teacher’s unions will require that his picture be placed in every classroom in the nation.
2. Assault weapon ban and a high tax placed on ammunition, even basic hunting ammunition.
3. “Summits” with Putin Medvedev which will lead to selling out our friends in Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia - basically a second Yalta Conference.
4. An increased emphasis on utilizing the United Nations to solve the world’s ills, and an increased willingness to abide to even the most insane edicts issued from Turtle Bay.
5. Obama appointees will ensure judicial diktat in at least 30 states mandates gay marriage be recognized.
6. Stevens and Ginsburg will retire in short order, and will be replaced by judges even more willing to make **** up as they go.
7. The economy continues to tank while government revenues nosedive in a manner never seen before as Obama’s tax increases stifle growth as more and more Americans seek tax havens, which will simply cause him to try and eliminate these tax havens.
8. Deficit spending will be back in vogue, and there will be a guaranteed bogus excuse from ReidPelosi on why it’s OK for them but wasn’t OK for the GOP.
Comment by T.R. — 11/14/2008 @ 9:35 am
Being a deeply-indoctrinated leftie in hasty centrist drag (aided by his natural glibidity, and the breathtaking blind faith that urban ‘intellectuals’ have given him), President Obama will proceed as far as Congress will let him in reshaping the United States - in the image of what the transnational progressives would prefer.
Greatly reduce US military power and intelligence capabilities, particularly covert ones;
increase as far as possible the power of unions, and punish by regulations and taxes the powers of entrepreneurial capitalists;
Increase resources devoted to urban mass transportation programs, and increase punishment of individuals who prefer the unsurpassed mobility granted by automobiles;
increase funding and support for urban organizations such as ACORN, in the Chicago style of emplacing a permanent political clique in an undefeatable position - only this one will be nationwide (I think his first concepts of his Civilian Security Force were an early signal of this, since modified as for better disguise);
Strengthen the intolerant left in its control of universities, and increase the efforts of indoctrination in lower schools (he’ll have help from his mentor Ayers on this front);
Strengthen and fund environmental extremists, to yield them far more veto power over the economic activities of businesses and individuals, using as tools the ESA and the conceit that desperate measures must be taken in the US to reduce ‘global warming’ no matter what the economic cost;
Promote legislation labeled to combat ‘hate speech’, thereby increasing government control of free expression - for all the best reasons, mind you, didn’t John McCain think likewise? The cynically labeled ‘fairness doctrine’ comes to mind;
I could go on, but that’s enough before the inauguration.
And I hope to hell I’m wrong.
Comment by Insufficiently Sensitive — 11/14/2008 @ 9:41 am
He will take a “nuanced” position, probably emphasizing intervention through the U.N., and ultimately do nothing when Israel is decisively attacked.
Comment by SCal — 11/14/2008 @ 9:43 am
Nationalizing the Financial Sector, quickly followed by Nationalizing the Health Care and Energy Sectors.
Just after re-election in 2012, he will call for and get a new Constitutional congress and re-write the founding documents, declaring himself el Presadente for life.
Comment by Sinner — 11/14/2008 @ 9:44 am
Gun control. IF the Dems end up with a supermajority in the Senate, they will enact some new gun control scheme, and The Good Man will happily sign on.
Comment by CTD — 11/14/2008 @ 9:46 am
It’s a fool’s game to try to predict what Obama will do. Even he probably has no idea.
That’s why his voters were so dangerously stupid–they placed a carefully packaged empty suit in the most powerful job in the world during a time of crisis.
Comment by tim maguire — 11/14/2008 @ 9:47 am
First 100 days: Overturn Bush executive orders, thus allowing federal funds for embryonic stem cell research and to aid abortion-rights groups working in other countries to change their abortion laws.
First year: Fairness doctrine, Card check, FOCA (thus eliminating ALL restrictions on abortion), tax increases, federal ban on handguns.
Years 2-4: Mandatory “community service” for youth, laws against “hate speech” including criticism of gays and muslims (some of whom ironically would KILL gays if given the chance).
Comment by Bigfoot — 11/14/2008 @ 9:50 am
First year:
Encoded ammunition law.
Ban on all semi-auto weapons.
‘Community Service’ vouchers required to avoid tax penalties.
Comment by Limerick — 11/14/2008 @ 9:50 am
I believe we will have a major terrorist attack very soon after inauguration day. It will be a coordinated effort between China, Russia, Venezuela and Iran (some combination of those countries). It will be an attack so large it will make 9/11 look like a traffic accident; possibly dirty bombs in large cities or a coordinated slew of suicide bombs across the country.
Obama won’t know what to do. He won’t have a clue. He won’t be able to make a single executive decision without consulting his entire enclave of 300 advisors. He will have to conduct public opinion polls to strategize the most PC way to handle the situation. World terrorists will scoff at him and be emboldened to continue. All this time he will be in hiding with schmuck Biden and their families and various pets.
Actually, this video pretty much shows how I imagine Obama and his weenie leftie commie dimrat senators handling such a situation.
Comment by ErinF — 11/14/2008 @ 9:56 am
After bending over backwards to appease the Left, they’ll impeach him for refusing them on something.
Comment by Bugler — 11/14/2008 @ 10:01 am
how fast obama moves depends a lot on 3 factors: filibuster-proof senate, 9/11 type crisis and reaction by the public.
senate is still on the table, but looking shaky. were i in a position of leadership in RNC, would try to move some demos such as leiberman out of that party. there are probably some who could be gotten to vote or change affiliation.
as to #2 biden guaranteed this, but no one noticed much he said ‘manufactured crisis’ or something of that nature. any severe crisis on the national security front would empower the big O to institute emergency powers of one sort or another, with little probable opposition from his party.
#3 if repubs continue ‘going along to get along’ and do not pardon my F***nch, get their s**t together, and start communicating and organizing their base to opposed vocally the coming “changes” then we will see accelerated moves to do the following:
3 months. will have on the table ban or severe taxes on gun and ammo purchases, possible bans of gun shows. total freeze on concealed carry permits and gun dealer licenses. no seizure of guns as yet, but recheck of all registered owners for possible violations of laws after purchasing firearms. registration dependant on passing more severe checks than now. possible firearms bans in designated areas with higher homicide rates.
FOCA act, stem cells, cloning promoted.
1 year
FOMA act (freedom of marriage)
selective service registration for all teens, no h.s. diploma or fed student aid for college without service in re-education camps, sorry americorps.
local election officials largely replaced by acorn ‘voluteers’ as condition of federal bailout on struggling state/local governments.
expansion of all federal public service agencies (peace corps, etc.) to combat rampant unemployment
4th year preelection-due to controversies over 2010 election ‘mis-counts’ of ‘undocumented workers’ all election districts re-drawn to better reflect the diversity of our new republic.
Yes, one of the most important censi in the history of America will take place during the era of the big O. have you forgotten the underhanded tactics during the ‘00 census, largely handled under the Clinton regime?
Comment by alan — 11/14/2008 @ 10:04 am
I love this post. Talk about future ammunition by which to further lampoon the Right.
As Obama’s successes pile up and the ridiculous prognostications here turn out to be vindictive far right wet dreams, I will be here at each and every “time frame” LMAO.
Oh what fun awaits…
Comment by Peter — 11/14/2008 @ 10:08 am
Okay, Peter. What successes do you see coming in what time frame?
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 10:10 am
The hell with “nuance.” The pimps that Obama works for want to quickly destroy the American middle class.
There will be another muslim terrorist attack by the end of April, 2009, then some international dithering with high profile lefties flying around to talk to other high profile lefties and, then, before the end of June (but, maybe, on July 4th), a second muslim terrorist attack.
These two attacks and a very compliant Congress will allow our Dear Leader (PBUH) to impose whatever Ayers and the other pimps want. Weapons will be confiscated, truth speaker will be sequestered, hate crime/speech laws will allow unions to organize where they will and make any “fairness” laws unnecessary.
The US military will also have to be gutted. As CinC, Obama can “reassign” fleets and divisions, delete weapons programs, sidestep Congress and assign US troops to UN peacekeeping projects all over the world, placing US Marines, for example, under a wealthy, very wealthy, general from Botswana or Nigeria,
Comment by TexEd — 11/14/2008 @ 10:11 am
I think he’s going to renew the culture war against gun owners that Clinton waged, pushing for the enactment of all kinds of obnoxious laws like a permanent Evil Black Rifle ban, bullet microstamping, bans on lead ammunition in the name of environmentalism, dramatically increased exise taxes on ammunition, and possibly even a national ban on concealed carry. But hey, he supports the Second Amendment rights of sportsmen.
I think he’s going to try to socialize healthcare.
I think he’s going to preside over increases in federal spending that make Bush look like a piker. I think he’s going to turn a blind eye to earmarking now that his party no longer has to bother feigning fiscal responsibility in order to beat up spendthrift Republicans.
I think he’s going to guzzle the anthropogenic global warming Kool-Aid with all that that implies. I think that, as a result, by the end of his first term the domestic auto fleet is going to be comprised of lots more featherweight econoboxes, the inevitable consequence of which is that lots more Americans will die in freeway accidents.
I think he’s going to push for amnesty for illegal immigrants currently in the country, and I don’t think he’s going to even pay lip service to improving border security to fix the problem.
I think he’s going to push card-check legislation enabling organized labor to bully workers into unions.
I think he’s going to return to foreign policy “realism”, with its focus on refraining from anything that might upset the international applecart. I think our enemies will naturally and accurately perceive this as utter fecklessness and proceed to play him for the gullible fool that he is. I think he will act surprised by this every time it happens.
I think he’s going to neglect the military, just like Clinton did. I think he’s going to preside over massive cuts to weapons development and troop readiness while getting us militarily involved in places with absolutely no national security significance, like Darfur.
I think he’s going to appoint unprincipled “living constitutionalist” douches like Cass Sunstein and Erwin Chemerinsky to the federal bench, including to the Supreme Court.
I think he’s going to continually decry “the politics of personal destruction”, complain about “distractions”, and blather about “changing the tone in Washington” every time one of his political opponents has the temerity to fight back against the vicious character assassination deployed by his surrogates and the media (to the extremely limited extent the two groups are distinguishable).
I think his maybe-mandatory-maybe-not civilian community service corps is going to end up looking a lot like the AmeriCorps boondoggle, and I think he’s going to pour a lot more federal money down that rathole.
I think he’s going to aggressively expand Democratic class warfare. I think he’ll make the tax code wildly more progressive (in the sense of soaking the rich, not in the sense of any kind of actual progress), with the goal of expanding the class of citizens with no financial interest adverse to increased government spending from 40% to at least 51%.
I could go on, but this is probably sufficient.
Comment by BC — 11/14/2008 @ 10:12 am
I predict that we will lose a city or a great part of a city or more than one city. Along with more than just 3,000 people that were murdered by the “peaceful religion” of islam it will be tens of thousands of people murdered by the “peaceful religion” of islam. It is going to be a 1932-1945 rerun all over again. Get ready America and hold onto your hats for the next 16 years it is going to be a bumpy ride .
Comment by Heltau — 11/14/2008 @ 10:17 am
Biden gave the hint. Obama will not answer the next terrorist attack(s) on America by using our military might. He will bring our military actions in the GWOT to a halt, which means the hot war will be fought by the other side, while Obama attempts to negotiate with our enemies.
Comment by Steve-o — 11/14/2008 @ 10:18 am
I think the worse that could happen would be a nuclear war between Israel and Iraq, as predicted by Steven Den Beste.
http://chizumatic.mee.nu/not_the_end_of_the_world
I am hoping though that Israel will soon be able to pre-emptively take out Irans capablilities, without the introduction of nukes.
Obviously, if Israel is not ready to move before the Democrats swamp office, Israel will most likely not get the same degree of support a Republican POTUS would have afforded.
Comment by Art — 11/14/2008 @ 10:19 am
I think he’s likely to eat his first baby on January 21st, 2009.
About lunchtime.
Comment by Pious Agnostic — 11/14/2008 @ 10:19 am
Correction make that Iran.
Comment by Art — 11/14/2008 @ 10:20 am
Oh wait I have a prediction:
That puppy for the little girls, Sasha and Malia?
It will be a MArxist puppy. They will name it Karl and force it to share it’s food bowl with the other doggies.
It will be horrible, sick and horrible I tell you.
God, save us all.
Comment by Peter — 11/14/2008 @ 10:21 am
I think the worse that could happen would be a nuclear war between Israel and Iraq, as predicted by Steven Den Beste.
Steven Den Beste, who I know from Metafilter has been so wrong and so off the mark, that this is beyond risible.
Isreal, will never in a billion years, let Iran get anywhere near an atomic weapon. And neither will the U.S.
Comment by Peter — 11/14/2008 @ 10:23 am
The Chicago Machine corruption will continue.
That, by itself, is plenty reason to say that Barack Obama is not a good man. He is a corrupt man from a corrupt machine.
Comment by Daryl Herbert — 11/14/2008 @ 10:24 am
Gun Control by Executive Order….
1- The ATF will deny importation requests for all arms and ammo in compliance with U.N. Small-Arms Protocals.
This will shut down a large segment of the ammo market, & shut down firearms firms such as Taurus-USA (Brazil), Springfield-Armory (pistols from Croatia and Brazil), Charles Daly-KBI (pistols from the P.I., longarms from Turkey), etc.
Ammo that is in “military calibres” (ie, 9mm, 45acp, .223/5.56NATO, .308/7.62NATO, .30-’06, etc.) will be banned for civilian use/possession (five-year felony conviction).
All Firearms Dealers will be required to send copies of their 4473’s to ATF for compilation into a National Firearms Owners Database.
Those that don’t respond will be subjected to a SWAT-style raid, where all of the records and inventory will be confiscated, and they will be arrested (without bail) and prosecuted for “obstruction of justice”, and whatever else they can find.
No new FFL’s will be issued.
No FFL’s will be renewed.
This will shut down the firearms industry by the fourth-year of the Obama Administration (FFL’s are issued for three years).
These E-O’s will be issued in the first 90-days!
Comment by Another Drew — 11/14/2008 @ 10:26 am
“As Obama’s successes pile up and the ridiculous prognostications here turn out to be vindictive far right wet dreams…”
You’d be a complete idiot if you weren’t just so damn funny.
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 10:31 am
I WANT DIRE!
Comment by Patterico — 11/14/2008 @ 7:41 am
Er, that’s not dire enough for you? How about cap-and-trade, universal health care, and following Paul Krugman’s policy recommendations on the economy, even more consistently than FDR?
If that isn’t dire enough for you, then I’m stumped. There are sensible people out here who don’t think that Obama will actually establish a Gestapo. But Hitler Youth movements weren’t created to engage in lawless force. They were corps for indoctrination. Isn’t that dire enough? Even if, as is most likely, it never gets off the ground, consider that the soon-to-be-leader of the Executive Branch and his Chief of Staff want to create Youth Movement-like organizations. Do you think that has no future consequences?
Ok, let’s make it even more dire. How about appointing judges even further to the left than Stevens, Ginsburg, and Breyer? Sorry, it doesn’t get any more dire than that for America’s future.
You should be a lot less calm and a lot more outraged. No need to lose your objectivity, and it’s fine to suggest to readers that they maintain it. But moral outrage and deep concern is perfectly appropriate.
Comment by Jeff Perren — 11/14/2008 @ 10:33 am
reimplementation of drilling bans on oil, natural gas, plus implementation of “carbon dioxide is polution” policy causes fuel prices to skyrocket. Carbon fines prevent building any new electricity generating plants of any kind. Global economic depression ensues. Only multi-millionaires who went liquid early enough will survive. The rest of us lose our homes to tax leins and unpaid utility costs. My daughters and I freeze in the dark when our Soylent Green runs out–and we are processed.
OR, the Chinese and Russian Nukes warm us to 10 million degrees in a 100th of a second after they get fed up with the depression and decide they want our stuff.
Dire Enough????
Comment by cbullitt — 11/14/2008 @ 10:39 am
Since you value a good prediction well ahead of time, I’ll plagiarize bits from one eight years ago of almost word-for-word exactly what is being done right now in 2008/2009 and Obama’s role will be obvious. No civilian security force is necessary at this time.
Enjoy the ride, world citizens.
Comment by Jeff Sandborn — 11/14/2008 @ 10:41 am
First year: Leonardo DiCaprio will be cast to play him in the Oliver Stone movie.
Comment by nk — 11/14/2008 @ 10:41 am
The right to work legislation is already being discussed
The Total ban on firearms will be phased in from handguns - all automatics (which I’m okay with it) will be banned in 2009. However shotguns magazine capacities of hunting rifles are going to be examined - not good for America
Fairness doctrine will take time but before 2010 election cycle
Redistricting rules and rules FOR THE CENSUS THE CENSUS - will become the driving issue for permanent power shift that they all seek
Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/14/2008 @ 10:42 am
1) FOCA (Christian hospitals will shut down)
Ban drilling
2) Card check
3) Repeal bush tax cuts
4) Reinstate the death tax
5) Capital gains to 25% (not 20%).
6) Govt health insurance ( govt can guarantee health insurance just not care)
7) Cap and trade (bankrupt coal)
9) Billions into “Mandatory Service”
10) Billions into ethanol/solar/wind
11) Raise minimum wage to 9.50 and tie it to inflation.
12) Raising taxes on corporations.
13) Some sort of hate speech act + fairness doctrine.
This is what he has promised so far. This of course will have horrible effects on our economy. So how will he handle a sluggish economy? Well, lets see.
12) Bailouts to failing institutions
13) Stimulus checks in the mail
Remember, they are all worried about deflationary forces. So what will be the effects of all this? Hyper-inflation and 10%+ unemployment.
Now remember he is going to have at this point a national security force, and we will likely have experienced a horrible terrorist attack. We are already seeing liberals mobilize against churches.
Something some conservative pundit or religious leader will resort in violence and conservative speech will become regarded as hate speech. Conservative radio will also be silenced.
There goes the media.
So now the media is silence, the economy is in shambles, conservatives are being accused of hate speech, the cultural divide is growing and Obama has an army of thugs (security youth force helping to prevent “civil” unrest).
It’s time for reelection, things are looking bad. Every thing will be blamed on the legacy of Bush and conservatives, expect Obama to demand that republicans in congress get out of his way so he can access the power necessary to fix the problems (new deal 2.0). Govt housing, govt medical care, govt to own auto industry and other industries, govt to run the banks to keep credit flowing.
Now it’s term two. Time to expand the base. Open borders, amnesty for all. Gerrymandering to end republican power in senate.
Welcome to 2014, the year America dies.
At this point inflation will likey still be 10%, the median income will be 50% what it was in 2008. Health care will be in shambles. Oil prices should be very high. People are finding it difficult to afford basic energy needs. Oil and natural gas companies are making record profits. US loses triple A rating.
Govt to sieze oil and gas companies to nationalize energy companies (to keep them from taking advantage of the people), US forced to repay debt. Forgien banks drop dollar, dollar loses 40% of its value between 2014 and 2016. Govt forced to sieze assets to repay past debts and achieve solvency.
Obama extends presidency to third term to “fix” problems. National security force silences opposition, declaring them to be terrorists.
US becomes a communist country.
Do I win yet? I guess we all lose huh.
Comment by justin — 11/14/2008 @ 10:45 am
Hitler and Stalin had stooges. Obama is a stooge. It will be a fight between would-be stooge handlers. We don’t really know what Obama will do because we don’t know who his leash-holders will be.
Comment by nk — 11/14/2008 @ 10:45 am
He’ll soon bail out Detroit.
Comment by sierra — 11/14/2008 @ 10:45 am
I don’t think it’s so much what, single-handedly, Obama will do. I think that Obama is a near-perfect crystalization of the “bad” that’s been happening in, and to, the United States for decades. I live in blue, very blue, Northern Virginia. I’ve lived here nearly all my 60+ years. One of the benefits of living here is the proximity, and easy access, to the homes of many of the founding fathers. Most of these homes, Washington’s Mt. Vernon, Jefferson’s Montecello, Madison’s Montpelier and George Mason’s Gunston Hall, all have wonderful presentations that convey those men’s ideas that formed this country. The United States is indeed something very special, and precious. But that specialness, that preciousness, has been eroded by left-wing politics and corruption to the point of near extinction. This is where Obama comes in. In him I see a man eager to do anything he can to drive the final nail into the coffin of what was the United States of America.
Comment by David L. B. — 11/14/2008 @ 10:47 am
91. nk - Who gets to play Michelle? Madonna? Sheryl Crowe? Katie Holmes?
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 10:47 am
In a long line of disastrous Democrat Administrations that go back to but does not include Harry Truman’s Obama’s Presidency is going to be the worst by far.
Comment by JohnTBissell — 11/14/2008 @ 10:48 am
On day one he will pardon Rezko.
Comment by robtron12 — 11/14/2008 @ 10:51 am
#97 JK
Whoopi Goldberg gets to play michelle! (LOL)
Comment by ErinF — 11/14/2008 @ 10:52 am
I predict during the first year in office:
Abortions for some, American flags for others.
Kang/Kodos 2012
Comment by Dmac — 11/14/2008 @ 10:54 am
I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords.
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 10:56 am
Oh I forgot to add in post 93.
By 2010, right wing extremist groups will pop up in a couple of places. There will be another Oklahoma city bombing or unibomber.
Another waco.
Constant coverage of “right wing fear” regarding Obama and constant coverage of right wing “terrorist ” groups along with a citizenry increasingly intollerant of capitalism and conservatism. Conserivatism will be something people only admit to behind closed doors.
Govt forced to bail out newspapers like NYT. Later wallstreet journal falls as well. Govt makes it clear that “advisorial pieces” will result in revoking of funding.
Anyway, things will be bad very bad.
Comment by justin — 11/14/2008 @ 11:01 am
It will have to be a lady with a well-rounded … ahem … “personality”. Jennifer Lopez.
Comment by nk — 11/14/2008 @ 11:03 am
How about Patti Labelle? That hair alone would be priceless.
Comment by Dmac — 11/14/2008 @ 11:06 am
America is like a spoiled teenage girl who just slashed her wrists. Electing Obama is a cry for help.
Comment by Roy Mustang — 11/14/2008 @ 11:06 am
Within a month of inauguration, he’ll either fire Patrick Fitzgerald or move him into a position where he won’t be able to pursue corruption in Chicago.
Within six months, he’ll move on the Fairness Doctrine because he’ll grow weary of having the peasantry criticizing him.
He won’t move on card check because he really doesn’t owe the unions anything — remember, AFSCME was totally in the tank for HRC.
On October 27, 2009, he’ll shoot a man in Reno just to watch him die. And Keith Olbermann will name the man he shot The Worst Person In The World.
Comment by Mr. D — 11/14/2008 @ 11:09 am
I hope John David Stutts is still in custody.
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 11:11 am
He will cut a deal with Chavez and Castro and be photo’d at Fidel’s bedside, smiling and shaking hands.
He could fly to N. Korea in an historic moment and the two Dear Leaders will embrace.
Comment by John425 — 11/14/2008 @ 11:11 am
You and others have already listed many of the things that he will do, or at a minimum, attempt to do. Some additional predictions:
1. Through his massive grass roots network, as well as his surrogates (this includes the media), he will demonize anyone who opposes his agenda. Conservative voices could become the equivalent of Jews in 1930s Europe, and we see this happening already. Obama did not start this trend, but he will fuel it to cement his power base.
2. The Obama DOJ will drag its feet when it comes to investigating ACORN voter fraud, and the mysterious materializing ballots in closely contested races. This will help give him an edge for the 2012 election, and cement the entire Democrat power structure for decades.
3. ICE enforcement will drop to virtually nil, and he will sign an amnesty bill that will make the last one look like a great deal. Once we have another 20 million illegal immigrant democrat voters on the voting rolls, democrats will stay in power.
4. Obama will cut taxes for just enough people to push the percentage of non tax payers up to about 50%. Once you have that, we will have a permanent democratic majority.
The point I’m trying to make is that Obama and the democrats are gaming the system. Even if people wanted to change the course the country will find itself on, they will be unable to do so. It will be like 99% of Iraqis “voting” for Saddam Hussein in the old days.
Comment by Kelly — 11/14/2008 @ 11:12 am
Excellent question, and well set up. Here’s my conjecture:
- He’ll run an aggressive campaign to the radical left in the primary, looking to unseat a superior candidate who is positioned to move to the middle.
- If he can win the nomination, he’ll issue a series of statements and positions in the general election - call them “lies” - which are in direct contrast to everything he has ever said, and every vote he has ever made in his political career, in an attempt to convince stupid voters that he is not the radical leftist that he claimed he was last week.
- He’ll enlist the active support of a leftist press, directing them on what stories he wishes to have ignored, and what events he wishes to have them publicize for him. They will comply beyond his wildest dreams, refusing to report on, much less investigate, any of his past unethical behavior, or votes that he is currently lying about (i.e., Born Alive Infant Protection Act).
- He’ll campain on a promise to use public financing in the general election, then go back on this commitment and opt for private fundraising.
- He’ll emphasize an internet fundraising, with donations below the minimum amount requiring name disclosure, and remove all security features from his credit card donation system, so that small donations are unverifiable.
- He’ll hide all records from his shadowy background, family, college, and post-college, leaving voters to guess as to who he is. Coupled with his failure to publish any written work in college, in his legal career, or - remarkably - in his teaching career, he will campaign as an invisible man.
- He’ll stonewall all inquiries into his unethical and outrageous associations, again counting on a compliant leftist press to smother all inquiry and attack his critics.
If it all works, he might get elected President!
Comment by Jaibones — 11/14/2008 @ 11:13 am
The broad concern is Obama will abandon any move toward the center he may have implied during the cmapaign and heed the will of the far left by moving there.
The sad future that would bring forth suggests too many legislative, policy and executive decisions to detail here. But you can certainly guess what they are.
But the worst of course would be a complete leftist failure toward protecting and defending this country which makes all other problems moot if it comes to pass.
Comment by Stanford Matthews — 11/14/2008 @ 11:15 am
As an addendum - I find it puzzling that you and a few other bloggers ridicule the concern among many conservatives and libertarians that Obama will establish a civilian security force. HE said he would. Why shouldn’t we be concerned, especially given this man’s voting record and Marxist associations? This is not something the right pulled out of a hat - both Obama and Rahm Emanuel have brought it up. It is THEIR obligation to clarify the record instead of ridiculing those who question them about a stated policy objective.
Comment by Kelly — 11/14/2008 @ 11:17 am
Haven’t you figured it out? Obama is a Trojan Horse. He has no real clear purpose or position. He is a vehicle for all these “great friends” he seems to have powered by the delusion of the masses.
This Hope & Change business was exactly like what any fortune teller does; mutter some meaningful non-specifics and let the mark make his own positive interpretations. I used to enjoy the irony that there was a TV psychic named John Edwards (now selling psychic jewelry on QVC) that would get confused with the baby-daddy John.
Obama’s agenda will be that of Wright, Ayers, and Acorn.
Comment by TakeFive — 11/14/2008 @ 11:19 am
And after he’s done ALL of the above, he’ll pull a Bloomberg and vote himself a third or fourth term!
Comment by Brooke — 11/14/2008 @ 11:20 am
First he will get himself elected to the Senate as representative of the small planet Naboo…
Comment by Titans 9-0 — 11/14/2008 @ 11:21 am
Oh, wait. You meant ‘what will he do now’, didnt’ you?!
- Continue to test radical changes in government policy, backsliding whenever those initiatives test negative. Clean web sites without comment; attack his critics as ODS sufferers, with the unwitting aid of bloggers.
- Pass the Freedom of Choice bill, forcing all Americans to fund abortion on demand for even the most radical procedures.
- Ban all semi-automatic handguns and rifles, and many types of legal ammunition, effectively gutting the second amendment, and setting up a dangerous battle of law abiding citizens and law enforcement.
- Return to the Clinton-era policy of sending U.S. troops into dangerous peacekeeping missions, poorly safeguarded, and grant UN prosecution authority under “international law” against military personnel.
- Create the first Trillion-dollar deficit, with dramatic increases in domestic spending.
Comment by Jaibones — 11/14/2008 @ 11:21 am
I believe that his schedule will include the following:
WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS:
1. Domestically
(a) Sign FOCA and remove all restrictions on stem cell research.
(b) Make it a requirement for all Presidential elections that anyone with a driver’s licence may vote.
(c) Declare the Chicago Blackhawks an endangered species and order federal funds be allocated for their protection
2. Internationally
(a) Acknowledge that Ukraine, Belorussia and the entire Caucasus region, including Georgia are within Russia’s legitimate sphere of influence
(b) Recognise Tibet as a part of China andacknowledge that Taiwan falls within China’s sphere of influence
(c) State that Russia’s involvement in Venezuela and Cuba is none of the US’ business
(d) “Colombia…you’re on your own.”
(e) Effectively withdraw from Iraq and redeploy to Afghanistan
WITHIN FIRST YEAR
1. Domestically
(a) Comprehensive immigration reform
(b) Introduce a project to congress for the comprehensive amendment of the US Constitution, including a new ERA, definition of environmental rights, limitation of property rights, a reallocation of residual powers to the Federal government and a definition of the role of the US Supreme Court in Constitutional interpretation
(c) Sign “card check” into law
2. Internationally
(a) Declare the war in Afghanistan won and withdraw most troops to the US
(b) Oppose the entry of Georgia and Ukraine into NATO
(c) Agree with Russia to not deploy a missile shield in Europe or in Asia…or anywhere else for that matter
(d) Recognize the government of Cuba and open an Embassy in Havana
(e) Re-open the US Embassy in Teheran following secret negotiations with the Iranian government
(f) “Israel…you’re on your own.”
(g) Withdraw from NAFTA
IN THE FIRST FOUR YEARS
1. Domestically
(a) Comprehensive medicare reform paid for, in part, by higher taxes, mandates on employers and re-directing a portion of what’s left of the Social Security Trust Fund
(b) Recognition of ACORN as a Federal agency responsible for the delivery of federal assistance programmes to defined urban areas and for enumeration and registration of voters
(c) Pass a federal Standard Medical Procedures Act which will include as a definition of “medical care” the administration of euthansia to defined groups (including abortion survivors). It will be called the Kevorkian Pelosi Medical Improvement Act
2. Internationally
(a) Agree to the inclusion as Permanant UN Security Council members representatives of the Islamic Conference, the Indian subcontinent, Africa, South America and Asia
(b) Deplore the actions of the Canadian government in imposing export taxes on oil (something impossible under NAFTA)
(c) Recognize the annexation by Russia of the Republic of Georgia, eastern Ukraine and Moldova
(d) Recognize the occupation and annexation of Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China stating that “It is our hope that China will respect human rights in Taiwan”
(e) Deplore the ongoing massacres of Jews in the former State of Israel by Iranian backed Hamas and Hezbollah militia saying “The United States urges Syria to use its influence in the region to ensure that innocent human life is protected”
Comment by Blaise MacLean — 11/14/2008 @ 11:24 am
Cerebral bleeding… Oh, wait… check that one off
Comment by First M Last — 11/14/2008 @ 11:27 am
He’ll rape all the white women, and when they get pregnant, he’ll rip the babies out of their wombs and eat them alive before the mothers’ horrified eyes.
This will be in the first four hours of his presidency. It will all go downhill from there.
Beware the black bogeyman, wankers.
Comment by jasperjava — 11/14/2008 @ 11:31 am
Easy. It’ll begin with quickly re-implementing of the “Fairness” Doctrine and slowly evolve into forced marches to re-education camps for non-believers.
Comment by Natch — 11/14/2008 @ 11:31 am
Hate to say it, but I agree with David L.B, in #96. My greatest fear–and my prediction—is that the Democrats will use their unfettered power to ensure that they never, ever lose it again. No one reading this blog today will see a Republican congress again in their lifetimes. Probably not a Republican president, either.
With a complicit MSM, why should they not institutionalize ACORN-style voter fraud, or the sort of stuff we’re seeing right now in Minnesota, with the Al Franken abomination? Why would they want to inhibit Obama-style illegal unknown campaign contributors? Or as Justin points out in # 103, what the hell is to stop them from using their Trillion-dollar slush fund to bail out the NYT and the LAT? Hey, they’re American institutions too, right?
We are witnessing a silent putsch, and our own Republican civility will keep us in denial, until it becomes, finally, overwhelmingly obvious even to the David Brooks/Christopher Buckley/Peggy Noonan wing of the party. We are well and truly screwed, and there will be no “pendulum swing” back to normalcy through the usual political process.
Comment by driver — 11/14/2008 @ 11:32 am
The leftist Legacy.. first, I think there will be a major crisis as Joe Biden warned. Probably something to do with Israel taking out Iran’s nuclear capabilities… Obama will side with the UN and condemn Israel.. maybe even “punish” her. Russia will resume it’s aggression towards it’s former satellite countries and Obama will not intervene, only try to set “talks” via the UN. The UN will again be ineffective . Troops will be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan. Iraq will become very unstable and “rebellion” attacks will increase.Iran will gain control of Iraq and it’s oil fields. Obama will go to the UN. It condemns Israel for angering Iran. Obama agrees. Obama finds cause to “retire” Betraeus, Afghanistan becomes “Vietnam”. Obama pulls out. Russia pulls in.
The Global Poverty Act will be embraced and we will be required to give the UN .05% of GDP annually.
The patriot act will be repealed. All current and future detainees will receive trials, most will be found “not guilty” and most will be returned to country of origin or, some will be able to remain in the States.
Terroist attacks will occur on our bases/embassies abroad and Obama will defer to the UN.
Domestically, there will be another “crisis” ( maybe even created) that will “justify” stronger gun control if not weapons bans. Energy prices will rise again due to unreasonable regulations on current energy producers, such as coal and oil refineries. Monies for “energy independence” will be thrown towards ethanol, solar, and other less viable sources. There will be no drilling on or offshore, no nuclear plants or new refineries. We will offset our carbon emissions with massive amounts of “carbon credits”. Gas prices will hit an all time high and Obama will justify it for conservation purposes.
New “hate speech”(cloaked in a flowery name like The Freedom for Speech) laws will be enforced. Of course, hate speech will include any criticism of any person on the left or leftist policies, guidelines to be determined by by a special “love” committee appointed and comprised of leftist democrats. Criticism of Christians and conservatives will go unchallenged.
In the interest of gaining sympathy for the down-trodden, “service” corps will be developed. Persons of all ages will be required to serve. Businesses will be required provide paid leave to employees during their required service. College students will serve in return for “tuition credits”. Elderly, retired will serve for health care “lottery tickets” which will improve their chances of actually getting treatment or will put them closer to the top of the waiting list for appointments or care. The service guidelines and certified organizations will be overseen by another leftist appointed committee.
Health care will completely socialized. At first, as promised, people will be able to keep the policy they have, but after realizing that “rich” people are getting better care than those on the Gov’t plan, all health care will revert to the gov’t. it will be supplemented by employers.. who will be required to pay the gov’t for healthcare. Diagnostic machines will become scarce, those who need care will be submitted to a review council that will have the power to accept or deny care, those who are terminal or elderly will be denied. Undocumented workers ( who will become documented very fast) will receive care.
The food police will be welcomed wit open arms to help “prevent”illnesses that overclog our health care system. On the federal level, all trans fats will be banned. Sugar foods will be taxed. Snack foods will be taxed. Meat will be taxed with proceeds going towards the Global carbon Credit program.
Election laws will change.. federal and state. Federal will gain control of the state laws by offering certain “incentives” to state governments or , more likely , send federal “assistance” to monitor voter registrations, etc. in order to “ensure fair elections” (ala Jimmy Carter) for everyone (anti- disenfranchisement laws) These changes will make it difficult, if not impossible, for any republican or conservative to win an election at the state or federal level.
Taxes will increase for anyone making $50,000 or more. Benefits, ie welfare will increase for those making $18,000 or less (per family figures). Capital gains taxes will increase more than expected, businesses will require more “bailouts” and Obama”s plan of demolishing capitalism and federalizing business will be realized. Estate taxes will also increase much more than anticipated, and the beneficiaries that are unable to pay the taxes will be forced to sign all their property and property rights over to the federal Gov’t.
A new “Luxury” property tax will be imposed on any dwelling over 1800 square feet or over .25 of an acre of land.
The construction of the fence will stop. All undocumenteds will receive amnesty, citizenship rights and voting rights.
All of these things (except the gun issue.. a little more complicated) will be “sold” to the public in the interest of “fairness”. “Equality” and “equitable” will be the buzzwords. The media will be complicit at the least.
Comment by cakes — 11/14/2008 @ 11:34 am
jasperjava already has his Obama goosestep cadence down perfect. Yes You Can, sycophant!
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 11:39 am
My main thoughts are about to concept of throwing the big reset button, this is very serious stuff, so my thoughts aren’t about policy disagreement. It’s about signs that the game is going to be changed and the old rules no longer apply. These are actions that I perceive raise the stakes of government so much that Republican can’t be allowed in to power after they happen. I really only see two interesting timeframes, for this analysis; before two years, between two years and four. Within the first four year period it would seem to be most important to lock Republicans out of gaining any more power, this would be done by changing the election rules, and restricting free speech., and setting up the conditions, for the second four years.
With in two years, I imagine the following would have to happen.
1) Shuts down ACORN and other investigation, on democratic party electioneering, while continuing investigation into republican campaign.
2) Bring back the FCC Fairness requirements in such a way that does kill off conservative talk radio, and doesn’t change public radio and the MSM.
3) Any regulation of free speech on the internet, most plausible suggestions, I have seen on this suggest a concerted action, by digital brownshirts, outside of official governmental action. This unfortunately has no clear, crossed the line indicator.
4) Formation of the Civilian Security Force, as a do good light weight group.
5) AWB is assumed in this time period, but I don’t consider it indicative of anything.
Two to four years out.
1) Federal changes in voter requirements, that give Illegal’s the outright or de facto right to vote, possibly by making them not illegal.
2) Any regulation of free speech on the internet, most plausible suggestions, I have seen on this suggest a concerted action, by digital brownshirts, outside of official governmental action. This unfortunately has no clear, cross the line indicator. However any attempts to outlaw “hate” speech, that gets serious traction would be a big flag.
3) National Concealed carry ban. Any sort of ammo ban, it might happen as a EPA lead issue. Gun confiscating is not something that I think will happen. Gun registration is required first, we have the makings of a fairly decent registration system already. Policy changes that made it into a real database would be a big warning sign.
4) Civilian Security Force, becomes larger does more things that require it to be active in the “community”, If I or people like me (suburban, employed) have an interaction with them that goes much beyond, “No Thanks” that would be significant.
Four years out.
Oddly at this point, I think it would be the democrats that would be in trouble. The republicans will have been locked out by election rules change, and unable to get a message out in the media. Sharp knives will be needed inside the party, I would expect a lot of statically, unlikely events to cluster around Obama opponents.
The battle between republicans and democrats has rules, and can be gamed. The battle within the democratic party has no rules, and I would expect the methods to keep power to be a lot more ruthless. The problems at this point would oblivious to all that care to look, but at this point it will be difficult for people to coordinate actions to do anything about it.
So as I see it, there are two main axis of attack for an evil Obama, election rules, and free speech. Election rules may seem to fall with the notion of what is fair, and will certainly be pitched that way. I would consider any attacks on free speech to be a serious issue. However It appears that many people are fine with outlawing “hate” speech, Canada and Europe already do it. I am sure that people will tell us it is what we need to do, to have the rest of the world like us.
Comment by Joe — 11/14/2008 @ 11:40 am
I am not sure what part of his policies he will implement in the first three months or first year
but today I know he skipped his typical white grandmothers funeral / memorial service.
Comment by ML — 11/14/2008 @ 11:40 am
And you wonder why people call republicans hatemongers.
Comment by JEFF GORDON — 11/14/2008 @ 11:40 am
O.K.
Day#1 - Fire all federal judges.
Day#2 - Hire back the “good judges”
Day#3 - Take a day off and laugh himself silly.
Day#3 - See post #90
Day#4 - See post #122
Comment by Chrism — 11/14/2008 @ 11:42 am
I predict he will be middle of the road and his administration will actually accomplish very little except to facilitate the next Libertarian leaning Republican Leader. His general lack of leadership ability and his appearing to agree with both sides will create huge rifts in those around him which will cause great in-fighting and petty bickering. His press secretary will spend a lot of time back peddling from one or more comments by his staff. In the end his impact on history will be a foot note as the first minority president and will always be though of as a product of affirmative action and not qualified for the job.
Comment by Uncle Dako — 11/14/2008 @ 11:43 am
Bravo, JEFF! Thanks for driving by as per orders of your new Leader. Yes, yes we all know that Bush is Hitler and that criticizing the One is “hate mongering” but unfortunately some people are able to resist living inside of such a one-dimensional simple-minded worldview such as yours. Must drive you nuts.
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 11:46 am
He won’t allow any off shore drilling to be explored so when the the demand for oil comes back
you’ll be stuck again paying $4.00+ a gallon for gas.
Comment by Jacko — 11/14/2008 @ 11:51 am
Indythinker’s Predictions for President Obama
1. Obama and the Democrats will increase federal spending by a substantial degree. The federal deficit and national debt will balloon. The US dollar will lose much of its value as the vast surplus in money supply cannot be mopped up. Our import-dependent economy will suffer a very high level of inflation. This will require the Fed to raise interest rates to a monstrously high level, which will crush the economy down into Great Depression II.
2. Strict gun control laws and confiscatory sales taxes on guns and ammunition will be enacted. Nevertheless, violent crime will spike during the Obama Administration.
3. Strict anti-smoking laws will be enacted at the federal level.
4. The quality of US medicine will stop increasing. We will see a decrease in life expectancy in the US.
5. Open borders legislation will be enacted.
6. Various members of the Bush Administration will be sentenced to prison for various “crimes” related to the War on Terrorism.
7. Draconian federal campaign finance reform will be enacted which will limit the Republican Party’s ability to get votes outside of the South. The Republican Party will become more of a regional party, soon dwindling to third party status. The Libertarian Party will become the #2 political party in the US.
8. Gay marriage will be established nationally. Gay civil rights will be protected, and gay affirmative action pushed.
9. The US stock market will decline or improve very little until late 2012 or perhaps only later.
10. Dictatorships, oligarchies, and military juntas will be on the march globally. Taiwan, Israel, Columbia, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan will all cease to become democratic.
11. Obama will initially cut US defense spending, and by the end of his term, increase it due to his foreign policy blunders.
12. Americans will soon realize that Obama is a congenital liar and an utterly incompetent leader. As the economy and foreign policy sours, white and Hispanic Americans will grow less supportive of civil rights and more distrustful of black Americans, irrationally taking out their frustrations with Obama out on black people.
13. There will be no middle class tax cut. There will be substantial tax increases on anyone making more than $100,000 per year, on capital gains, and on anyone making a profit from gold.
14. New taxes will significantly hurt 401ks, and IRAs.
15. Oil and gas companies will face significantly higher taxes.
16. Unemployment will increase, perhaps up to 15%.
17. Obama will not run for re-election in 2012 due to his low approval rating.
18. In the first three months of the Obama Administration, the US will be hit by a mass-casualty Islamic terrorist attack. Secretary of Homeland Security McCain will be blamed. The United States will be hit with a nuclear weapon during the Obama administration, losing a city. Obama will unleash a wave of repression against the Republican Party for “causing” the terrorist attacks with their policies.
19. America will end up much more racist at the end of Obama’s four years than at the beginning, unfortunately, due to the fear, ethnic scapegoating, and waves of irrational hatred and brutality.
20. President Obama will lash out angrily at his supporters after they start leaving him, and then more angrily still at the Republicans he blames for everything that is wrong in the world. After his lashing out fails to change anything, he will sulk and enter into a two-month period in which President Obama is not seen in public very much. During this time he will suffer a serious identity crisis, and a nervous breakdown. He will emerge from this period heavily medicated and completely unpredictable.
21. The United States will invade Pakistan at some point. Pakistan will defeat the US invasion, which will result in many completely avoidable US casualties in the worst military disaster in American history.
22. There are a few other negative items, but I won’t list them here because they are too controversial to talk about in public. Just make sure you personally own a gun, and keep mace on hand.
Comment by Indythinker — 11/14/2008 @ 11:52 am
As long as he doesn’t let the fringe (CodePink, etc.) bully him, I think the damage that WILL be done may not be as bad as it could be.
Comment by John — 11/14/2008 @ 11:54 am
Here’s some dire for you.
Months and years down the road, Obama will try and accomplish what he said he would do.
Card check. Reduce military funding 25%. Dismantle our nuclear defense. Give our enemies the benefit of doubt. Disengage from the war on terror and give Constitutional rights to foreign terrorists. Raise taxes on productivity. Institute national health care. Put extremely liberal judges in the supreme court. Grant amnesty to all illegal aliens. Build a new, large, well funded , civil service corps. Strict gun control laws. Direct national energy policy towards unfeasible goals while undercutting oil independence.
There are more, I’m sure, the point being, that is what he wants to do, and how much he damages the country is directly proportional to how successful he is in bypassing GOP resistance and Constitutional limits, not on his own conscience.
Comment by lee — 11/14/2008 @ 11:59 am
Dire?
You want dire?
Secretary of the Treasury - Paul Krugman
Comment by daleyrocks — 11/14/2008 @ 12:02 pm
If President-elect Obama truly is an evil person, scum, gutter trash, a liar and a thief who will create a security force akin to the Gestapo to impose a Marxist dictatorship; then we’d all better be cautious about answering that late-night knock on the door whi
Comment by mj — 11/14/2008 @ 12:02 pm
This is what we have come to expect from the trolls.
Racists.
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 12:04 pm
Making predictions is TEH HATE !!!!!!!
Comment by JD — 11/14/2008 @ 12:07 pm
Throughout the presidency -Raise more money for himself & the DNC to retain power. Money is the root of… well you know the rest.
Within the first year: Joe Biden will have to step down due to his progressive senile dementia that the media has been mistaking as adorable “gaffes”. Biden’s replacement will be Nancy Pelosi. How’s that for dire?
But you asked - What will he do?…
Mostly have others do for him so he can continue to be a pole turtle. It’s worked so far, why try something new.
Oh you want really dire - he will enact into law that the NL has to use the DH rule like the AL - all in “fairness”. (pardon a bit of levity in a serious thread)
Comment by batterup — 11/14/2008 @ 12:10 pm
Within one year, conservative bloggers and other dissenters will be under scrutiny from the government and some will face incrimination.
Comment by Al-Ozarka — 11/14/2008 @ 12:11 pm
Isn’t JEFF GORDON a NASCAR driver? A participant in the ultimate recreational activity of hate and intolerance?
Comment by Jack Klompus — 11/14/2008 @ 12:14 pm
Barack Obama ate my baby!
Comment by Fritz — 11/14/2008 @ 12:15 pm
He will ask for the resignation of the Attorney for every US District Court, as did Clinton. He will accept a medium-sized bunch, to diswguise the fact that Fitzgerald’s is the only one he really wanted.
Comment by Jim O'Sullivan — 11/14/2008 @ 12:19 pm
Barack Obama will actually do to the Constitution and our freedoms the things the left has imagined were done by George Bush.
Comment by John V. — 11/14/2008 @ 12:20 pm