Whatever you want to call this game — bait and switch, play action fake, sleight of hand — Obama has the rules down pat.  He and his Omies (his staff, other Dems, and the media) play it very well.  And the only thing not in his control is something he can still count on — his loyal voters don’t pay attention.

Right now, the media seem consumed with the Limbaugh / Steele confrontation, which came out of the “Limbaugh is your leader” Democratic talking point.  Even Hot Air has managed to pen 17 articles since Limbaugh’s “first national address” at CPAC.  Many of them are merely feeding the Dems’ goal – is Steele ready?  I think that’s the real point of the whole distraction. 

Don’t get me wrong — we need to question Steele’s abilities in his new role, and we need to point out his shortcomings, even if just to let HIM know that we are watching.  But, the attacks on Steele have been non stop since this flareup, and it’s doing just what Operation Rushbo wanted — putting Limbaugh, a man loved by many and hated by just as many, as the new face of the Republican party (since W. isn’t there to kick around anymore) instead of Steele, a guy who has the potential to connect to many Obama independents and really sell the GOP as the “big tent” party we are.  Putting Steele in the position of either agreeing with Rush’s “inflammatory” remarks or denouncing him was job the media tacitly, and eagerly, agreed to do. 

No question, Obama is taking advantage of his current popularity  — he’s ramming through all of these new programs before his faithful begin to question his motives (although one of his most ardent supporters might be getting tired of shilling for him).  But he is also relying on their inattention.  At his address to the joint session of Congress, Obama railed against earmarks while he pointed out the lack of them in Porkulus and his upcoming budget.  However, there was nary a mention of the 9,000 earmarks in the omnibus spending bill hanging out there.  And the only thing discussed by the MSM after the speech was how eloquent and uplifting he was. 

His ardent faithful only listen to him — they hear him: attack earmarks while he silently condones them; scold CEOs for junkets on the taxpayer dime while he heads to a spa in Virginia courtesy of us; promise the mortgage bailout plan will only help those in need while his party members admit that people who were irresponsible will benefit; and the day after the Senate passed his no-bid-contract-earmark-laden omnibus spending bill, pledges to end “wasteful spending” and open up the contract process.  And his faithful still don’t want to question him!!!  It drives me insane every time I hear one of these new Hopenchange promises.  I’m trying to give up cursing for lent, and it isn’t working.

But what do we do about it?  No matter how many times his hypocrisy is pointed out and no matter how far the Dow falls, his poll numbers remain in the 60s.  They’ve got conservatives arguing amongst themselves, and they’ve all but discredited our promising RNC leader (well, he did help that along quite a bit).  We protest, we plan more protests, but the GOP is still seen as just the party of NO.  WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO?!?!

I’m just hoping for change — and soon.  Meanwhile, I might just need to slap my troubles away to put me in a better mood.