As we begin the long, ten hour wait until some returns begin coming in it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on yet another of the many “historic” elements of the Obama presidency which is thankfully drawing to a close. Yes, it was historic for the nation to elect the first black candidate to the nation’s highest office and that speaks well of our ability to shake off the sins of the distant past. But Obama’s tenure has been historic in other ways. In particular, his use of executive power and regulatory muscle to twist the path the nation walks was not unprecedented, but it certainly raised the bar for all who follow. That’s not the point I’m pondering today, however. What we’ve seen since August is the most aggressive and inappropriate use of the Oval Office to sway an election in living memory.

I was reminded of this while reading the Associated Press coverage of Obama’s speech in Pennsylvania last night. (Look at the 9:07 update in the linked article.)

President Barack Obama says voters don’t have to settle for just voting against Donald Trump. He says they “have somebody extraordinary to vote for” in Hillary Clinton.

Obama is delivering his closing pitch for Clinton during a star-studded rally in Philadelphia. He’s trying to combat the notion that voters have to settle for Clinton because they’re so turned off by Trump.

I see. So the President actually believes that Clinton is somebody extraordinary? I’d have to agree, but obviously not for the same reasons. It’s extraordinary that someone with multiple FBI investigations in the books (with some still ongoing) could actually make it out of a primary race, to say nothing of into the White House. It’s extraordinary that such an obviously shallow person who changes her positions with every shift in the polls and who will say absolutely anything to anyone to gain a few more votes was ever taken seriously. Her extraordinary lack of any notable accomplishments over decades in politics is also one for the books.

Obama says he’s had to “bite my tongue” throughout the “nonsense” of the campaign. He’s decrying “vicious, crazy” attacks against Clinton and says she’s been held to double-standards.

There’s something “crazy” going on here, but it’s not the “attacks” on Clinton. How can this man stand in front of an audience with a straight face and imply that he’s been biting his tongue? Barack Obama has spent more time campaigning and directly helping Hillary Clinton (using taxpayer funded resources) than he has conducting White House business since she became the nominee. It’s not just notable.. it’s virtually unprecedented.

Back in July, even NPR commented on the “historic” nature of a President using the bully pulpit so forcefully for their chosen successor.

No president has campaigned strongly for his chosen successor in at least 100 years.

Tuesday’s event, with President Obama campaigning for Hillary Clinton, his former secretary of state and onetime rival, in North Carolina is remarkable for that reason. It kicks off what is likely to be a season of vigorous campaigning by the president.

In the same month, Jake Novak at CNBC commented on the shocking availability of Air Force One to the Democratic candidate.

Yes, Hillary Clinton’s ride on Air Force One with President Obama as they headed to a campaign event in North Carolina Tuesday was a big deal. It was a really big deal. In fact, nothing remotely like it has ever happened in a U.S. presidential election.

Use of Air Force One on the campaign trail isn’t anything new. Every incumbent president since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 has used the impressive and persuasive symbol of the executive jumbo jet to boost his image with the voters. But now, an outgoing president is having his preferred successor join him on Air Force One to travel together. That’s a first, because the potential negatives from such a visible and symbolic collusion have always outweighed the positives.

This is all a reminder of the 2008 presidential race, when Obama faced no such obstacle from the White House. George W. Bush was virtually silent in that race, preferring to allow the people to make their own choice rather than using the power of the presidential bully pulpit to push his party over the finish line. It’s true that he later wrote in his memoirs that he had “a complicated relationship” with John McCain, but in no way did Bush want Obama to win. Still, he kept his distance as most presidents before him did, aside from general statements of support for the party’s platform. And it’s not as if Obama didn’t have a “complicated” relationship with Hillary Clinton up until now. Their primary fight eight years ago was far from pretty or subtle, and it’s not far fetched to suggest that the only reason she became Secretary of State was to appease her segment of the base who were still smarting from the primary loss. (Remember the PUMAs?)

Obama hasn’t bitten his tongue at all. He’s been knee deep in this campaign for months and has put his thumb on the scale as hard as possible. If this sets the precedent for the future, the idea of a permanently divided America is one we should all get used to. Politics has never stopped at the door to the Oval Office, but now it takes wing with the president’s every move.