Is Obama Actually a Wildly Successful President?

After the mid-term elections there has been a lot of talk about how the results proved that Obama is a failed President.   The economy has been stagnant, American foreign policy is in tatters, our immigration policy and control of our borders are incoherent; the administration has been wracked with scandals, the most egregious of which have arisen from aspects of the federal government that have become nearly tyrannical (the IRS and the NSA).   We want a robust American economy and a strong and dominant American military respected throughout the world.  We want our borders protected and the rule of law on immigration and citizenship followed.   We don't want our federal government intimidating or spying on American citizens.  

But what if Obama doesn't want the same things we want?

Consider all of the same developments from the perspective of someone who doesn't actually like America, someone who wants America to get a comeuppance, someone whose allegiances are to the Third World, someone who believes Western Civilization has been a collection of evils -- racism, imperialism, capitalism.   Wouldn't all the same things that we think are bad developments instead be celebrated?

Look, I'm not really saying that Obama is some kind of Manchurian Candidate who wanted all along to bring down America.   I think he's a malignant narcissist who cares only about his own place in history as a quasi-Messiah.   I also very much think he wants to cash in big on book deals and speaking engagements after he leaves office.   How can he best do so?   My theory is that he can best do so by solidifying his legacy as a Hero of the Left.

• Socialized medicine?   Check.
• Gay marriage?   Check.
• Draconian environmental regulations?   Check.
• Tax the rich?  Check.
• Shrink the military?   Check.
• Reduce American prestige and power overseas?   Check.
• Accelerate the transformation of the federal government into a left-wing Fifth Column, even during Republican administrations?   Check.  

If you look at it that way, Obama looks wildly successful as President.

And... just wait for the hagiography to start when he's out of office.   The first black President will, within 25 years, become a secular saint, in the same way that Nelson Mandela did.   He'll command $50 million for a three-book deal the day he leaves office.   He'll get $500,000 a speech and give 50-100 of them a year.   By the time he's out of office 10 years (when he'll still only be 65), he'll likely be a billionaire.  

That's why he's laughing.... all the way to the bank.