As frequently noted in this space, and on the Teri O’Brien Show, our country’s White House is currently occupied by a blatantly lawless regime, led by a man determined to conduct business using naked coercion or even bare-knuckle force to do whatever he wants, statutes, U.S. Constitution, the rule of law or even common decency be damned. (For specific examples, read this post.) To make this governing style work, it’s essential that you “reward your friends and punish your enemies,” as Barack Obama famously said. That’s the Chicago Way, and it is being practiced unabashedly by the One’s administration, be it in the crony capitalist scams like Solyndra, or in the employers humbly beseeching the crown for temporary waivers from its health care system destroying scheme, to cite only two examples among many. The reeking stench of these things is very familiar to denizens of Chicagoland. I suspect that even some of the well-intentioned people who in 2008 allowed their emotions to blind them to the obvious are starting to detect the odor, and asking themselves how they could have believed that the spawn of the slough of corruption known as Cook County by way of ACORN would be a non-partisan, centrist, uniting reformer.

Of course, if you’re going to punish your enemies, you have to have an enemies list. As Kimberly Strassel notes in this piece, fortunately Obama has one, and all you have to do to earn a spot on it is contribute to Obama’s opponent.

Try this thought experiment: You decide to donate money to Mitt Romney. You want change in the Oval Office, so you engage in your democratic right to send a check.

Several days later, President Barack Obama, the most powerful man on the planet, singles you out by name. His campaign brands you a Romney donor, shames you for “betting against America,” and accuses you of having a “less-than-reputable” record. The message from the man who controls the Justice Department (which can indict you), the SEC (which can fine you), and the IRS (which can audit you), is clear: You made a mistake donating that money.

Are you worried?

Richard Nixon’s “enemies list” appalled the country for the simple reason that presidents hold a unique trust. Unlike senators or congressmen, presidents alone represent all Americans. Their powers—to jail, to fine, to bankrupt—are also so vast as to require restraint. Any president who targets a private citizen for his politics is de facto engaged in government intimidation and threats. This is why presidents since Nixon have carefully avoided the practice.

Save Mr. Obama, who acknowledges no rules. This past week, one of his campaign websites posted an item entitled “Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney’s donors.” In the post, the Obama campaign named and shamed eight private citizens who had donated to his opponent. Describing the givers as all having “less-than-reputable records,” the post went on to make the extraordinary accusations that “quite a few” have also been “on the wrong side of the law” and profiting at “the expense of so many Americans.”

Not that His Highness is opposed to the idea of fundraising. Au contraire. From ABC News:

Obama has headlined 132 re-election fundraisers for his campaign and the Democratic Party since early last year, according to tracking by ABC News and U.S. Naval Academy political scientist Brendan Doherty.

President George W. Bush attended 86 fundraisers for his re-election campaign, the Republican Party or both groups during his first term.  Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush appeared at a total of 70 and 24, respectively.

And as Obama travels the country – or across the street, as was the case last night – taxpayers foot most of the bill, experts say.

In a little less than six months, we will have the opportunity to put a stop to the attempt by this narcissistic, deceitful empty suit to “remake” America into Cook Country writ large. If we don’t do it, we’ll deserve what we get.