Mumbai - Reality We Can Believe In

The terrorist attack on Mumbai over Thanksgiving weekend should remind us that the United States has gone without a similar assault for over seven years. Defending against terror is difficult in a free society when vigilance and action must be balanced against rights and privileges. Only the most deranged Bush haters can ignore or debase the fact that his administration has provided us with security that works. And that brings us to January 2009, the Obama administration, and the campaign theme of "change we can believe in." I suspect the lefties will be very unhappy.

Later today, BHO is expected to announce that party rival Hillary Clinton - the better candidate, I think - will become his Secretary of State. This follows on the announcement that current Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will remain for at least a year, and retired General James Jones will become the senior national security advisor. All of this news comes after a host of old politicos and former Clinton administration types have signed on with the new boss. Even Karl Rove likes the selections. My friends, if this is "change," then I suspect things will remain about the same. If anything has changed, it has been BHO.

He ran his primary campaign as a new revolutionary, wrapping the unhinged, Commie retreads in rhetoric and posture that would have impressed any minister of propaganda. This left Hillary Clinton, the true centrist, with little appeal to the "coalition of the oppressed." By shifting into Clinton's centrist mold for the campaign against McCain, BHO silenced much of the opposition's thunder. And our national popular culture pitted the energetic, articulate, landmark candidate and media darling against a gentleman soldier in the sunset of his career. As January 20 approaches, the fantasy created by BHO as a master illusionist must come to an end. In preparation, the practical, pragmatic manager has emerged, and he is a centrist in a game of political and economic reality. It's funny how things change.

As I see it, the big elephant in the room staring at President Obama next month will be the mass of ecstatic special interests expecting immediate gratification. These affiliates do not function on reason. I think it is safe to assume that collective unrealized expectations will turn to anger and resentment when they realize they've been had. It will be an interesting age if the fawning media cannot suppress reality for these unfortunates.

And so, my friends, it looks like the center will hold. Yes, there will be change, but it will be tempered and come far slower than most of us expected. If BHO is as good at reality as he is at fantasy, he could be bound for greatness. Only time and experience will tell, but at this point, it appears the security and vigilance we have come to know will continue.