Too Much...?

The Barbed Wire offers this little bit of election year advice for election year speeches for President Obama, from one of our most under appreciated democratic presidents...

BARBED WIRE ANALYSIS/COMMENTARY

LBJ was a far greater president for a multitude of reasons.  If it was good for him, its definitely good for the current president.  For the following reasons (regardless of ideological agreement):

-LBJ was actively involved in the shaping of landmark legislation (he also has one of the highest passage rates of legislation sent to Congress of any president).  He did wait until it was passed to read  and know what was in it, or allow unwieldy long (and confusing) legislation to be passed simply to be the one who got it passed.

-LBJ understood the high calling of president, and though at one point of his presidency was hugely popular, realized that he in his person had become a (if not the) divisive force in the country, and a hindrance to his own goals and desires for the country and world.

-LBJ was a petty, arrogant, self-centered individual who was not above using unscrupulous means to win.  He just was actually good at his job.

-LBJ's legacy, regardless of the current ideological battle line one stands on (The Barbed Wire takes a moment to point out that liberalism in the 60's is not at all what liberalism is now), tore down legitimate walls of discrimination, poverty, and division.  (particularly in regards to poverty, which is statistically verifiable.)  The current president piggy backs on the noble work and ideals that defined the Johnson administration to pander to certain parts of the electorate (The Barbed Wire plays it fair...W did the same thing with the Pro-Life movement.  He was much more vocal about Pro-Life issues during election years, other than that he didn't really put a whole lot of effort into it).

-President Johnson understood that if it was really important, change could only happen through the legitimate legislative process, and had faith in the constitutional separation of powers.  Only then would it be established law of the land beyond question.  Manipulation through executive order was not good enough.

-LBJ spent more time with regular people, less with famous people.

-Obama does have skinny dipping parties with his male advisers to discuss policy and legislative matters in the White House pool.  Wait....point Obama on that one.  Two points if in fact that does go on, because even the very heterosexual Barbed Wire is secure to say...dude, have you seen LBJ?

-The granddaddy of them all.  LBJ was TEXAN!