This week’s Weekly White House Report Card finds our grader Jed Babbin predicting that President Obama will replace Jimmy Carter as the top pestering former chief executive ready to mock President-elect Trump at the drop of a hat.
Jed Babbin
President Obama didn’t say, do or write much this week. Just enough to keep his hyperliberal agenda on track.
Last week, the Obama administration announced a five-year oil drilling plan for the Arctic that effectively barred new oil drilling for that time. This week, it did the same for the Atlantic seaboard, where oil resources are almost as enormous. These plans would ensure American dependence on Middle Eastern oil, but incoming president Donald Trump could cancel them.
Obama handed out his last round of presidential Freedom medals to Hollywood pals of his such as Ellen Degeneres. (Surprisingly, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews weren’t among the awardees.)
We have to remember that Mr. Obama and his wife won’t — like Harry and Bess Truman – just drive themselves out of town with their few belongings. To the contrary, the Obamas are staying in Washington and plan to remain in the center of political attention. As the president said on Sunday, he’s not content with being on the political sidelines so he’ll jump in to criticize Trump whenever he thinks it’s necessary. Given Obama’s predilection for daily statements, his commentary will occur so often it will seem continuous. That means Obama will usurp Jimmy Carter’s role of butting into everything that’s important, which Carter has taken since 1981. Obama may quickly replace Jimmy Carter as our worst former president.
Grade D
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him @jedbabbin
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
