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By Bill Rife

“This guy is a disaster” proclaimed a disillusioned Obama supporter Tuesday evening at James Hoban’s Irish Pub. That assertion came not from a Neanderthal racist who had crawled out of a primordial tar pit …nor even a moderate Republican. Those were the words of a life–long lefty who, two years ago, had campaigned with missionary zeal for Barack Obama. Only one faint voice at the bar took uninspired exception.

Hoban’s is at Washington D.C.’s Dupont Circle, drawing clientele from nearby left-leaning think tanks and bloggers, liberal law firms and educational associations, radical labor unions and political agenda organizations. New York’s supercilious upper West Side is politically wearisome by comparison. Two years ago the outspoken yuppie would have been mercilessly pilloried for his remark. But times have changed.

Polls tell us that circa 10 percent (and steadily growing) of those who voted for Obama now disapprove of his performance and the massive turnout of black and young voters two years ago will not be repeated. A recent Washington Post/ABC News Poll states “Nearly six voters in ten say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country,” and two-thirds “say they are disillusioned with or angry about the way the federal government is working.” The poll showed that 58 percent of Americans say they do not have confidence in the president’s decision making, with only 42 percent saying they do.

The president’s aloof demeanor (intellectual arrogance?) on display during the gulf oil slick crisis, became a joke even among the hardest core true believers. The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd suggested he was observing events “from a balcony” and asked “Has ‘yes we can’ become ‘Will we ever?’” Louisiana native and Democrat politico James Carville thundered “We-eh dyin’ down heh,” adding “It seems the president is madder at his critics than BP.” Obama acolyte film maker Spike Lee joined the chorus acknowledging the First Dude to be cool, “But, one time go off! If there’s any one time to go off, this is it, because this is a disaster.”

The president is out of touch with ordinary Americans. First lady Michelle’s $500,000 plus trip to Spain with an entourage which exceeded critical mass, is incomprehensible in a time of economic hardship. Byron York writing in The Examiner  August 13 opines “In the coming campaign, Mrs. Obama's expensive tastes invite the charge that the Obama White House, with its fondness for Wagyu beef, glitzy parties, and celebrity hobnobbing, is out of touch with regular people. “

But there’s more to Obama’s decline than a phony elitist image or disregard for the people’s will. His economic policies are drowning the United States in debt which The Congressional Budget Office projects to grow to 185 % by 2035. Repeal of his monstrous $940 billion socialized Health care boondoggle is now supported by 55 percent of likely US voters. Stimulus spending and bailouts aren’t working, US foreign policy is an embarrassing shambles wherein Obama is overmatched and out of his depth. He effectively favors amnesty for illegals and national security is muddled and confused. He is consistent on one point: he doesn’t believe in American exceptionalism.

Why should anyone be surprised? He had a voting record to the left of self-proclaimed socialist Barry Sanders during his cup of coffee as a US Senator. “By his friends shall you know him.” His boyhood mentor in Hawaii was America-hating flame thrower Frank Marshall Davis, his preacher of 20 years was crazed foghorn Rev Jeremiah Wright, and his good buddy was weatherman anarchist bomber Bill Ayers. The recurring lifetime theme, from a thesis at Columbia through his encounter with Joe the Plumber to bulldozing a radical left-wing agenda through Congress, has been “redistribute the wealth.” So what if most of us don't want it? The American public be damned…and Obama doesn’t give a damn.

On Tuesday evening Hoban’s TVs featured a rugby match, a soccer match, and a Washington Nationals baseball game.

No one cared to catch Obama’s speech.