He shouldn't have done it.

 

I’m not sure which irritates me more – hearing that the White House appears to have declared war against Fox News or to hear that Rush Limbaugh shouldn’t be allowed to buy into a football team. 

In my opinion, President Barack Obama is first and foremost a citizen of the United States of America.  He has the same right as any other citizen to scream “FIRE!!!” at the top of his lungs anytime or anywhere he chooses. 

Here is the text from Wikipedia:

"Shouting fire in a crowded theater" is a frequent misquoting of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.'s opinion in the United States Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States in 1919. The misquote fails to mention falsely shouting fire to highlight that speech which is merely dangerous and false which can be distinguished from truthful but also dangerous. The quote is used as an example of speech which serves no conceivable useful purpose and is extremely and imminently dangerous so that resort to the courts or administrative procedures is not practical and expresses the permissible limitations on free speech consistent with the terms of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The President is a citizen of our country and has the same rights as I or any other citizen.  I believe he is unwise to bring the prestige of his Office to bear upon matters which, while they are the business of a private citizen, are not within the purview of the President of the United States. 

Two examples are whether or not a police officer should expect respect for his badge, and whether or not a network is working for a political party rather than actually reporting the news.

I think the “Gates” situation shouldn’t have occurred in the first place.  Neither the police officer nor Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was entirely without fault.  I don’t watch Fox News, not because of what they do (or do not do), but because I prefer other networks and commentators (such as Charles Gibson). 

For that matter, I worked and voted for Senator John McCain. 

President Obama’s color and race mean nothing to me – I would have gladly worked and voted for General and Secretary of State Colin Powell had he run.  While I can respect General Powell’s decision not to run based upon the wishes of his spouse (my wife and I have been married for more than 40 years), I am still somewhat annoyed with him.  Perhaps, if asked to run in 2012, he may change that decision.

I voted for Senator McCain simply because I did not believe then Senator Obama had the experience necessary to fill that office.  In my opinion, Senator McCain did.

Speaking of experience, and I’m not comparing the two in any way other than this: President Abraham Lincoln had less experience in high office than President Obama upon his inauguration.  President Obama served in the Senate – President Lincoln did not.

In the meantime, he is our President.  To many in foreign lands, Barack Obama IS the United States.  He may be the single, most powerful individual in the world – but he should not become involved (as President) in matters such as those I have mentioned above.

I look forward to 2012 when, I believe, many who voted for our current President will have learned the “error of their decision,” and vote him out of office.  Unless he really impresses me between now and then, I do not expect to change my opinion.  So far, he has done several things to support that opinion but nothing to cause me to even consider changing it. 

Irish Blessings upon President Obama and his family.  May his enemies and those who fail to give him the respect his office and his accomplishments deserve be afflicted with itching without the benefit of scratching.

Regarding Mr. Limbaugh, I neither watch nor read his work because I prefer others.  I believe he has an unwarranted opinion of his own importance and too often appears to be granted that importance by others.  I also believe he has the right, the same as I, to become involved with anything with which he might wish and is capable of becoming involved. 

What happens should he be successful in his efforts to purchase at least part ownership in the St. Louis Rams is a matter for future historians and sports writers to decide.  I will say that I like Coop’s Corner on the CBS News Blogs and plan to read it often.

I appreciate your patience and your reading me today.  Should you wish to see more of my work, please check my other HUBs.  I also write for the Examiner.