To Comfort The Afflicted
And Afflict The Comfortable

To Comfort The Afflicted And Afflict The Comfortable

Friday, December 20, 2024

Observercast

LBJ-Style Woodshedding

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BY RICHARD L. FRICKER

What was most interesting about last night’s speech was the faces of the various Republican Congressmen. I don’t think it ever occurred to them the president would come out swinging and woodshed them on global television.

The GOP – especially the birthers, anti-health reformers etc. – have been able to run amok in the press and across the nation for months. Just why is a matter for another discussion since much, if not most, of what they say is just not true.

The speech reminded me of Lyndon Johnson and the way he would woodshed people – only he did it in private. But he was never subjected to what this president has had to endure.

I think Obama made his points. He also put the unbridled right on notice that the fun was over while establishing himself as PRESIDENT.

In addition to outlining his health plan, he let it be known: enough is enough.

Richard L. Fricker lives in Tulsa, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer

1 COMMENT

  1. I generally agree with your perception that Pres. Obama acts in a way reminiscent of LBJ’s woodshedding telephone calls. It is time-imho he has been letting the opposition set the agenda for too long.
    But I reply in respect to history and what LBJ had to endure. Remember his March 31 speech (Missing being an April Fool by one day) stating that he would not seek the nomination of his party. The American people had spoken and he listened!
    We must never argue against the right of the idiots to run amok with their free speech, but rather show with our free speech how they are amok. Some future President may be open to the debate and actually listen to it as did our great President Johnson who was unfortunately wrong about a vital issue.

Arnold Hamilton
Arnold Hamilton
Arnold Hamilton became editor of The Observer in September 2006. Previously, he served nearly two decades as the Dallas Morning News’ Oklahoma Bureau chief. He also covered government and politics for the San Jose Mercury News, the Dallas Times Herald, the Tulsa Tribune and the Oklahoma Journal.