President Obama's Debate Performance Mirrors His Presidency - Dennis Byrne Explains

Obama's presidency was based purely on hope, change and hot air. Never did he demonstrate executive ability or leadership. He was called brilliant and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize purely on expectation. The debate showed how he has failed to grow into the office.Obama's presidency was based purely on hope, change and hot air. Never did he demonstrate executive ability or leadership. He was called brilliant and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize purely on expectation. The debate showed how he has failed to grow into the office. Dennis Byrne, Chicago Tribune

Barack Obama spent his entire adult life being told that he was the bees-knees for so long that he has become Capt. Yossarian who explains with Biblical certainty at every waking moment  “I am miracle ingredient Z-247. I'm immense. I'm a real, slam-bang, honest-to-goodness, three-fisted humdinger. I'm a bona fide supraman.” ( Catch 22, Heller) 

Barack Obama has become what flattery made of him.

He did not wish to govern Illinois; wanted to govern America.

The debate last week made the vanity of human wishes pretty obvious to all but those who flattered the man to this permanent  human condition.

In today's Chicago Tribune column, Dennis Byrne presents the Barack Obama as the man in the debate in full.

Samuel Johnson remarked on what we saw in Barack Obama a two centuries and change before the match-up in Denver 2012:

Remark each anxious Toil, each eager Strife,And watch the busy scenes of crouded Life;Then say how Hope and Fear, Desire and Hate,O'erspread with Snares the clouded Maze of Fate,Where Wav'ring Man, betray'd by vent'rous Pride,To tread the dreary Paths without a Guide;As treach'rous Phantoms in the Mist delude,Shuns fancied Ills, or chases airy Good. (Vanity of Human Wishes line 3-10)