President Obama's Birthday

Obambi's 49 today. We should be nice, right? Perhaps. Although some folks want August 4th to be a national holiday. I can do without that. Maybe I'll take a holiday from posting Photoshops, although that photo with Rangel below is the real thing. And I'm no fan of Alex Jones (9/11 trutherism is not cool), but you gotta give the guy props at the clip for the creepy Obama overtones to the global conspiracy he's concocted.

Meanwhile, more on the conspiracy thing, from Keith Koffler at Politico, "Don't Celebrate President Obama's Birthday":

Today is President Barack Obama’s 49th birthday, which the president seems to think is an unhappy day. He has taken to lamenting his fading youth and graying hair, showing all the signs of a midlife crisis — minus the red Corvette. But unfortunately for the rest of us, his supporters are busy making Aug. 4 a sad day for the country by trying to turn the occasion into a kind of national celebration.

In an effort to drum up enthusiasm — and increase membership — the political operatives who run Organizing for America, an activist group devoted to the president, are set to stage hundreds of birthday parties around the country, giving Obama’s day of birth the feel of a holiday.

OFA members are being urged to bake birthday cakes, photograph them and send the image to OFA’s website for its blog. A letter from first lady Michelle Obama, posted on the Democratic National Committee website, directs people to the OFA site, where they can sign a “birthday card” for the president.

We don’t, as a country, generally celebrate our politicians’ birthdays. Except for those chosen few — like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.

Other nations, founded on nationalism, religion or rigid ideologies, reaffirm their existence by glorifying rulers they believe embody these notions. They have constructed palaces to celebrate them during their lifetimes and embalm them in mausoleums to maintain their presence after death

But the United States is built on enduring democratic principles and ideas. Our leaders don’t represent us as the greatest nationalist or the exemplar of an ideology. Our Constitution limits the power of presidents and lawmakers. They are not symbols of the nation but temporary custodians of our freedoms. Power ultimately resides with the people.

The birthday parties are just the latest manifestation of a kind of worshipfulness that surrounds this president. His image and slogans are everywhere, emblazoned on shirts, hats, posters, walls, bumper stickers and even — uniquely for a sitting present — a few street signs.

More at the link.

The Washington Post is spreading the word, dontcha know? "Obama's birthday bash seen as a way to reengage his base."