Personalities vary. Bill Clinton’s a policy wonk. He has the ability to cite facts and figures about any topic until your eyes glaze over but can charm the listener through strength of personality. George W. Bush, not so much; he often speaks more from principle and emotion than charts and statistics. He sometimes trips over the words, but the principles are always there, underlying.

Do you remember a Mr. Saul Alinsky? He’s known as the father of community organizing (the occupation that’s the biggest bullet on Mr. Obama’s thin resume), through his Rules for Radicals. Hillary Clinton was a fan. Our current President’s more than a fan, he’s an acolyte, an evangelist if you will, a teacher of the principles (see photo).

Our friend Jim Geraghty @ NRO points out the President’s nasty habit of using his high office to invite opponents to events, only to trash them to their face when they show up.

It shouldn’t be surprising as it’s straight from the Alinsky Gospel:

Rule #5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. “well, tough luck -– you’re on your own.” and “These are the Americans we’d be telling to fend for themselves.” ” And I don’t think there’s anything courageous about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it and don’t have any clout on Capitol Hill.”*

Rule #10 (ethical power tactics): You do what you can with what you have and clothe it in moral garments. “The America I know is generous and compassionate. It’s a land of opportunity and optimism. Yes, we take responsibility for ourselves, but we also take responsibility for each other; for the country we want and the future that we share.”

And of course, Rule #13: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Invite Paul Ryan to sit in the front row, and poke him in the eye with a sharp stick. “It’s a vision that says if our roads crumble and our bridges collapse, we can’t afford to fix them.” “That’s not right. And it’s not going to happen as long as I’m President. (Applause.)”

It seems that gone are the days when we have a leader who uses clear thinking, honest words and artful, gracious speeches to persuade folks to his side. We now have President Alinsky who specializes in mocking opponents he’s positioned where defense and rebuttal are impossible because of the respect they have for his office and the situation he’s placed them in. If you pull a Joe Wilson, you disrespect the office. If you pull a Justice Sam Alito, you get spanked. Meanwhile, Cambridge cops act stupidly, Caterpillar WILL rehire laid-off employees if you pass my super-dreamy stimulus plan, and John McCain’s a poopie-head, but do not speak ill of teh One. I guess when Candidate Big Ears Mr. Obama** babbled about bringing a gun to a knife fight, he meant only if the opposition gets security-screened first.

*all quotes from Remarks by the President
**see, even I’m doing it, respecting the office.