(Melchizedek Communique, MC122209) "Try to say something nice about Obama." That is this morning's Zen Challenge.

This was a tough one! But at last arrived a "Melchizedek communique." Okay, so everyone really can't stand the American mainstream "news" media. So if the mainstream "news" media is obviously shilling for President Barack Obama, and everyone is down on the mainstream "news" outfits, then people equate the mainstream "news" with Obama. The two appear to be joined at the hip, and so since we can't stand the mainstream "news" this unfairly gets translated to Obama.

And think about it: Is it really Obama you dislike, or is it the mainstream "news" windbags?

In the Millard Fillmore times, there was a spirit of compromise. Feelings were intense between the opposing political camps, but the talent of Fillmore helped keep communications open. Then, not long after Fillmore left the White House in 1853, his manner of conducting politics was gone. "Debate and compromise were replaced by renewed sectional hostility, then Civil War and unconditional surrender." [1]

(The Friends Of Millard Fillmore (FOMF) know the deeper truths of Millard Fillmore. More information may be released to the general public when and if the time is deemed appropriate.)

And so today, "talks have broken down." An omnibus health care law has, in the Senate, not a single Republican Party supporter. Perhaps, like this editor, you yourself have been too poor for years to afford health insurance. Perhaps, like this editor, you feel, "My health insurance couldn't be worse than it already is, so what do I care if the health care law is passed?" The only thing to say in response is, After the health care law is passed you still won't have health insurance. The law does not take effect, apparently, for years.

The "talks have broken down" also at the recent Jutland Jamboree (a.k.a. Copenhagen Climate Summit). It was thought that Barack Obama would, like Mighty Mouse, fly in and "save the day." But various reports now floating up from the gloom of Denmark indicate failure. And so, Barack Obama is human after all, and not Mighty Mouse.

What will the new year bring? Seasonal Christmas hiring has temporarily assuaged the high unemployment numbers. In January, most of those people will be laid off. "The failure of last week's climate change talks in Copenhagen has sent the price of carbon allowances to a six-month low, further hitting the credibility of the troubled trading system." [2] "America's Social Security Trust Fund will go bankrupt; both gold and the Japanese yen will crash; and China's currency will devalue as bad loans catch up with the over-stretched banking system – all in the course of 2010." [3] "A seemingly unstoppable epidemic of joblessness has swept across America over the past 24 months... A $787bn economic stimulus package intended to kick-start job creation has had only limited impact." [4]

But don't blame Obama so much as the American mainstream "news", which has kept him inside an artificial reality. Beware, sire, of flattering courtiers.

------- Notes -------
[1] Crawford, John E. Introduction and Acknowledgements section of, Millard Fillmore: a bibliography
[2] "Carbon falls on weak Copenhagen deal", by Rowena Mason. Telegraph (U.K.), Dec. 21, 2009
[3] "US pensions go bust, gold crashes, China flops, Bunds soar, predicts Saxo", by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard. Telegraph (U.K.), Dec. 17, 2009
[4] "US jobseekers face bleak Christmas as unemployment rises", by Andrew Clark. Guardian (U.K.), Dec. 20, 2009