What have we got?

There is a story that, after the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, "What have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"
"A Republic", he replied, "if you can keep it."
In this country today we have a president who criticizes one particular news network he does not like for a perceived lack of "positive" stories about him.
We have a news media which has discarded all pretense of being impartial as they fully and openly support and endorse a president and ideology.
We have a president, a party in power and a complicit media who silence opposition.
We have a president who eliminates people who threaten to expose his friends' corrupt or criminal behavior.
People do not yet realize or understand what is taking place under their blissfully ignorant noses. The threats America faces are much subtler and much more subversive than a nuclear U.S.S.R. threatening children cowering under their school desks, fearing an impending shower of missiles raining radioactive death.
America faces the threat of losing itself to insidious forces working from within to destroy it. America faces a crisis of identity.
"A Republic," if we can keep it.
Barack Obama, President of the United States, leader of the free world, in an interview on CNBC Tuesday singled out and accused a TV news network of being "entirely devoted" to attacking his administration. In an unprecedented, egregious abuse of the Office, President Obama indicted Fox News Channel claiming, "You'd be hard-pressed, if you watched the entire day, to find a positive story about me."

Since when have "positive stories" been a prerequisite of responsible journalism? Is it the job of the journalist to please the President or to report the truth? Is favoring an egotistical, narcissistic demagogue the new journalistic ethic?
When President Obama claims all he wants to do is bring "competition" to the health care marketplace with a competitor that by its very nature fights unfairly, is it not the responsibility of the journalist to report his deceit?
There was a time when the news media was considered the fourth branch of government. They were entrusted to act as a watchdog for the people of this country. Their job, once upon a time, was to keep government honest, so to speak. Those days have passed. Like George Orwell's 1984, the news media is a government appendage. Or, more specifically, a tool of the Democrat party. In this "Big Brother" world news is state-run. All Obama, all day long.
On Wednesday, June 24, the ABC network plans to air their nightly news program directly from the Blue Room at the White House. Unfortunately that is not a trendy new nightclub. Rather, in broadcasting directly from the Obama White House, it is a blurry Obama/media cooperation to fundamentally alter society and suppress dissent. ABC will also air an hour-long special from the East Room at the White House entitled "Questions for the President: Prescription for America" to advance the Obama administration's health care "reform" agenda. ABC is literally in bed with Barack Obama. A fine example of unbiased journalism from the All Barack Channel.
And what happens when you displease President Obama? He will either demonize you, as with Fox News, or he will extend his reach into your workplace and eliminate your job. Recall the unceremonious firing of GM CEO Rick Wagoner. Centuries ago monarchs would simply have critics and rivals killed. In these civilized times, political murder is too extreme. But imposing your dictatorial will in a formerly independent private sector is, apparently, perfectly acceptable.
Last Wednesday Barack Obama fired the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service with little notice and for flimsy reasons. Apparently Obama did not have the "fullest confidence" in Gerald Walpin, whose job was to act as a watchdog to ensure taxpayer money used by volunteer organizations such as Americorps is being spent responsibly. He was investigating alleged misuse of grant money by Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, former NBA player and Obama friend and supporter.
The President is required by law to give 30 days notice and proper reasons for firing an inspector general. The White House notified Walpin and gave him one hour to either resign or be fired. He refused to resign, so Obama fired him.
The job of the inspector general is to protect taxpayer money from misuse for political reasons. A lot of money floats around among service organizations, volunteer and other government services. A lot of politicians want to use that money for their own interests. This firing is another dangerous precedent set by the President, circumventing and politicizing the oversight and independence of such organizations.
Eliminate your foes, reward your allies.
Benjamin Franklin understood the potential promise and the imminent danger of the new American government. "A Republic," if we can keep it.
President Obama seems intent on transforming his office into a monarchy, unchecked, unregulated, and unquestioned.
What has happened to our country?