Whom Will Barack Blame for His Olympic-Sized Failure?
Although not a trained dancer, I could not help but experiment with a few steps of the samba upon hearing the news that Rio de Janeiro won its bid for the Olympic Games of 2016. I rejoiced as if I were in the stands seconds after a goal was scored during Euro 2008. Of course, I am pleased that South America finally got a chance to host an Olympics of its own, but of paramount importance to me was that my own city, Chicago, lost.
When I first heard the news I gave fist bumps to Democratic associates, in the hopes that they would channel some bonhomie towards those “citizens of the world” they imagine to be their friends. Luckily, Friday produced little suspense. The city of big shoulders got flattened in the first round, buzz-killed by dark horses Tokyo and Madrid. The second round found the Japanese capital eliminated and the final ballot left Rio alone atop the winner’s bracket.
Hurrah! Denizens of the Windy City have been saved from seven continuous years of moronic hype, hiked taxes, and massively increased congestion. If that isn’t cause enough to give thanks, I don’t know what is. Never did irrelevance feel so good.
Political ramifications yielded added benefit. The IOC bloodletting made Barack Obama — who soon may be regarded as the worst president in American history — look like the dissociative bumbler many of us know him to be.
The president put his prodigious ego on the line only to have it flailed like an intelligent student in a women’s studies class. At Copenhagen, Barack came, saw, emoted, and got duly slaughtered.
Even his omnipotent teleprompter couldn’t have put a positive spin on the happenings. The tallies from the early elimination round read as follows: Madrid 28, Tokyo 22, Rio 21, and Chicago 18.
On paper, though, it’s hard to know where my former senator erred. Obama and the first lady did everything by the book (of Axelrod).
They flew at great taxpayer expense to visit their fellow bureaucratic elites, dressed well, ascended the speaker’s podium gracefully, and Oprahcized in their heralded confessional style.
They even brought the genuine article, Oprah Winfrey, to lobby committee members on their behalf. As if that were not enough, Michelle Obama even played the guilt card by making sure that the delegates knew how big of “a sacrifice” it was for her to attend and have to stay in some crummy five-star hotel.
Put yourself in her $540 shoes. You’d whine too. In light of Princeton disappointing her, imagine the degradation inherent to slumming around B-list Denmark.
To place an exclamation point on their bid, the administration brought in the ultimate closer — America’s Marquess of Quisenberry — to “seal the deal” and, more importantly, to enhance the esteem of the inhabitants of our latter-day Tammany Hall.
His speech was standard. No detail was spared as Obama spoke of Obama. He expounded upon his love for his wife, the city they share, our area’s diversity, the Hog Butcher of the World’s unity via parade, and the convenience of the games being held so close to Hyde Park (thereby ensuring that The One attends).
He alluded to his greatness as a surefire means of bonding with foreigners. He reminisced that last year “people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch” him beat an ossified RINO in the election.
With references like that it’s a wonder they didn’t make him president of the European Union as an afterthought. The committee’s rejection still puzzles. Obama United even made it clear that their combined “sales pitch” was all about them.
He’ll double and triple his efforts to pass Obamacare, and sneaks in the Public Option, leading eventually to tax-payer-financed rationed care. He may be the Clown-in-Chief, but the comatose Congressional GOP will still lose to him.
Nice sentiments. It’s interesting and instructive to see conservatives gloat over a well intentioned attempt.
Incindentally,
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the White House?
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the House?
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the Senate?
Who is it that you blame for your wide ranging loss of Governerships?
Who is it that you blame for a very entertaining decade of adultery, gay Republican legistlators, and raging lunatics on the airwaves that are soiling your brand and making you look live fruitcakes? (Ensign, Craig, Newt, Beck, Limbaugh… the list is literally endless!)
Who are you going to blame when the democratic supermajority gets stronger in two years when these essential reforms get passed and your marginalized asses are in an Olympic sized hole you’ll never escape?
This is an illuminating article, and a good example of why you are in the political wilderness for a while.
Obama won last November for the first time, not the last. Deal.
#2 fauxscot
I don’t think the conservatives are gloating. It is just that in actions such as this, the real Obama, as opposed to the larger-than life campaign Obama, is brought out. Conservatives want Americans to see the real Obama, because they believe that it is doubtful that America would have elected him in the first place if they really knew who he was.
It’s all the tea partier’s fault! Wait, wait . . it’s Sarah Palin’s fault! No, umm . . . I got it, it’s all Bush’s fault!! Yeah, that’s the ticket!
#2 faux, that’s some terrific satire! Bravo! You should write for Letterman . . .
all of the above
May I suggest a correction to the title?
“Who isn’t Obama (and the left) blaming for his failures?”
I can think of a few:
- Himself (goes without saying).
- His 30+ czars and numerous other aids and handlers.
- Lobbyists.
- MSM acolytes.
- Dictators and Despots.
- His teleprompter (not yet).
- The drones who voted the clown/megalomaniac to the highest office in the land.
Everyone else with exception of corrupt associates and enablers, is up for blame. The country as a whole, you and I, Bush, Conservative radio, the Jooooos, Fox, the CIA, the Military, Wall street, Mums & Dads and their suv’s, insurers and the free-market, on and on. Cowards never admit to their mistakes, they just make them. Being called a racist and hater is also the biggest cop-out ever. Obama, congresspeople and flaming liberals alike use it solely to censor open and honest debate and primarily to deflect all accountability. It’s a downright dirty and foolish tactic, and one that won’t get them very far. Obama and his team better start taking their responsibilities seriously, because at this rate failure will be all they’ll ever know and do well.
TomF – Well, we’re seeing the real obama now. And he’s an incredible buffoon.
I really think old #2 Fauxscot (doesn’t faux mean fake?) needs to crawl up out of his mother’s basement, get a job and strt to help pay for all of “these essential reforms” to which he think he’s entitled.
And since Fuax brought up the “soiling” of a brand, how about we take a closer look at:
1. Barney “operated a male prositiution ring from my home” “very nearly personally responsible for the mortgage meltdown” Frank, or
2. William “Cold Cash” Jefferson, or
3. Charlie “I’m a sleazy tax cheat” Rangel.
As Faux said, “the list is nearly endless.”
What do you mean when you say , who are they going to blame. They are already blaming George W. Bush for their lose of the Olympics.
#2 fauxscot asks….
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the White House?
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the House?
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the Senate?
Who is it that you blame for your wide ranging loss of Governerships?
Answer:
The blame goes directly to jackasses who don’t have brains but unfortunately do have the right to vote. I’m sure this list would include you faux…
#9 savage24
For the next three years, all of President Obama’s international blunders and mistakes will be blamed by all democrats as:
“Obama’s failures just prove that we really underestimated exactly HOW BAD Bush was.”
They will have no other explanation for the rest of the world continuing to resent and hate the U.S., even after we have elected this “citizen of the world” to lead us.
‘..gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch him beat an ossified RINO in the election.’
That is GOLD!
I’ll tip my hat to fauxscot’s #2 comment in one regard. The ‘R’ ticket really needs a worthwhile opponent. McCain is a RINO to the ..nth degree.
“With references like that it’s a wonder they didn’t make him president of the European Union as an afterthought.”
Don’t you dare to give the European Union politicians any more stupid ideas than they can already come up with for themselves… like for example, having Tony Bliar as EUmperor.
Obama would definitely be a contender for that particular throne once he is forced to retire… afaik, there is no law against it, the EU bozos can choose whoever they want as their dictator, Bliar, Obama or Caligula’s horse… anything goes.
“Hurrah! Denizens of the Windy City have been saved from seven continuous years of moronic hype, hiked taxes, and massively increased congestion. If that isn’t cause enough to give thanks, I don’t know what is. Never did irrelevance feel so good.”
Oh, so now you were looking out for the people of Chicago.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/get-ready-for-a-real-chicago-way-olympics/
You folks have to get your whining straight. You pooched it by cheering against America. You know it,. Know you’re trying to repair it. But remember these words . . . “Never forget.” It’s something us “REAL” patriots say.
My, how the Right is rejoicing over the US not getting the Olympic games. To quote a great journalist (Jon Steward), I guess it just shows that the Right hates Obama more than it loves America.
2. fauxscot:
Nice sentiments. It’s interesting and instructive to see conservatives gloat over a well intentioned attempt.
Incindentally,
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the White House?
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the House?
Who is it that you blame for your loss of the Senate?
Who is it that you blame for your wide ranging loss of Governerships?
Who is it that you blame for a very entertaining decade of adultery, gay Republican legistlators, and raging lunatics on the airwaves that are soiling your brand and making you look live fruitcakes? (Ensign, Craig, Newt, Beck, Limbaugh… the list is literally endless!)
Who are you going to blame when the democratic supermajority gets stronger in two years when these essential reforms get passed and your marginalized asses are in an Olympic sized hole you’ll never escape?
This is an illuminating article, and a good example of why you are in the political wilderness for a while.
Obama won last November for the first time, not the last. Deal.
I’m not gloating, I’m wincing. He burned his and the country’s prestige for an embarrassing loss. It may have been well-intentioned, but it was poorly executed, seemingly based upon limited and faulty (and self-serving) information from Chicago and the USOC.
For losing all those elected positions, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
for the rest there, why do you turn the disapproving eye to us when you ignore the same (and worse) issues on your side? Adultery – Bill Clinton set the gold standard for that, yout you dismiss it. Gay legislators? For shame! Barney Frank can’t be held to account for his boyfriend’s brothel at his home.
You bring all this up while neglecting to mentoin the yeoman’s work Nacny Pelosi is doing protecting the members of her caucus – John Murtha and his (and his family’s) shady dealings with military contractors. Charlie Rangel, cahirman of ways and means blatantly ignoring tax laws he wrote. Not to mention her defense of William Jefferson when that corruption came to light. In all the instances you cite, and many more (Trent Lott and his “racist” birthday comments, Cunningham’ graft), the Republicans took the lead and removed them from their positions of authority as sooin as possible even if they couldn’t convince them to resign their office. So in comparison, the Republicans, despite their faults, are less corrupt than Democrats – they don’t continue to protect them when their misbehavior is clear.
It’s obvious you don’t listen to talk radio or watch FNC.
I’m guessing you don’t watch much MSNBC, either. The hosts there exhibit their ignorance and extremism on a daily basis. But then again, you neven calim them as part of your “brand”, yet insist the right-talkers are part of ours.
We may be in the political wilderness, for now, but keep on denying the direction the polls have taken in recent months. Go on, keep living in a Nov 2008 world and find out just how fast you get passed by. There is an intense amount of skepticism for these policies that are NOT “essential” and combined with the lack of transparency and ethics, they risk using up any and all goodwill you may have thought your side earned, but were merely granted the opportuinity to prove.
We do not know the outcome (or even the political conditions) of the presidential election three years from now, or the congressional elections one year from now, so it is foolish wishful thinking on your part to predict Obama’s reelection. All I can say is, if he keeps on pushing his radical agenda – and it is indeed radical, he will face a much tougher minded elctorate (if not a tougher opponent) that now has a basis of accomplishments (rather than rhetoric) with which to judge him.
It’s about time he start taking responsibility for some of his admin’s actions…I’m not holding my breath though.
Sign up at http://www.handsoffamerica.net to join others already fed up with this admin
My, how the Right is rejoicing over the US not getting the Olympic games. To quote a great journalist (Jon Steward), I guess it just shows that the Right hates Obama more than it loves America.
Getting the Olympics in Chicago has little to do with patriotism. In fact a real “patriot” would have opposed this fiasco to start with on the grounds that it would be harmful to the financial well being of Americans.
1) Increased tax burdens on the people of Chicago, Illinois, and ultimately Americans as a whole on a time when we are struggling economically and are drowning in unprecedented debt.
2) Cites that have hosted the games in the past have not benefited from hosting the games and have been left with a large amount of debt because they never recoup the cost of hosting the games.
So ultimately opposing the games in Chicago IS patriotic because it the best thing for Americans because it is fiscally responsible. Then again Leftists don’t care much for being responsible or considering the real consequences of their policies. Like Charlie Rangel, Barney Frank, and Tim Geithner they tend to ignore the rules meant for “lesser men” or exempt themselves entirely.
The Obamas’ speeches in Copenhagen perfectly reflected each of their limitations of thought and their naiveté.
And were reflective of an entire cadre of individuals in this nation who “rose to the top” not through academic performance, hard work & achievement, but through sundry affirmative action initiatives, preferences, a fawning, compliant, ideologically swooning media and the like.
A guy preaching to Americans about learning a foreign language who doesn’t himself speak one (let alone Austrian
) is one microscopic example of this deep phenomenon.
From your D’Souza link:
“Michelle Obama is part of the affirmative action generation of above-average but far-from-stellar performers who were granted preferential admission to America’s most elite institutions.
Michelle graduated with honors in her major from Princeton, a university she didn’t have the test scores to get into in the first place.
Here is a sentence from her Sr. thesis:
“By actually working with the Black lower class or within their communities as a result of their ideologies, a separationist may better understand the desparation of their situation and feel more hopeless about a resolution as opposed to an integrationist who is ignorant to their plight.”
We are being ruled by prétendeurs.
Gee d’ya think that Rio made a better presentation than Chicago and that’s why Rio won? To blame Obama for Chicago’s failed bid is just a continuation of the right’s attempt to delegitimize and neuter the President. Not exactly a productive way to run a country, but what can you expect from the neuronically disadvantaged.
“My, how the Right is rejoicing over the US not getting the Olympic games.”
I am “rejoicing” because the financially challenged city of Chicago cannot afford this extravagance. It is also very corrupt and an enormous amount of money would inevitably be wasted. At the end of the day, the rest of the country would pick up the tab.
@ Biblio44
Actually, the right dislikes President Obama BECAUSE we love America. Only in the mind of leftists does sycophantic worship of a politician equate to love of country. And had he not made this about himself, we still would have opposed it because a) its a stupid waste of tax payer money in the current economic environment and b) it would be an infomercial for some of the most corrupt and incompetent politicians and graft-artists this country has ever seen.
Reportedly, the administration has responded to the unseemly pictures of one Chicago youth swinging at the head of another Chicago youth (apparently, a genuine good guy and academic achiever) with a railroad tie…
By coughing up half a million or so for after school “youth” activities.
To go with the millions upon millions spent under Barack and Billy’s Annenberg Challenge and sundry other financial boondoggles in the windy city that have resulted in zip, zilch nada.
Obama did what he was told to do by the Cook County White House Staff. What is disturbing is that Rahm, Axelrod, and Jarrett failed to have an accurate count of the votes. (By the way according to other sources the vote was Madrid 28, Rio 26, Tokyo 22, and Chicago 18 which adds up to the 94 votes cast in round one). To get past round one Chicago only needed 25 votes. Without 25 committed votes Copenhagen was a like drawing to an inside straight, a practice completely foreign both to the wise and traditional Cook County politicians. The question is not whom to blame, but instead, did anybody in the white House learn a lesson.
I don’t see them blaming anybody.
Notice how there is no talk about it anywhere, this is the first mention I’ve heard of it since the weekend.
Its all going away. As if it never happened. In another week people will say, `what Olympic bid?’
Like people in a picture with Stalin.
I think that it is very unfair to blame President Obama. He is trying his beest to help us ordinary Americans. He understands that we need his support and understanding during these difficult times. I think that Chicago is better off without the Olympics because it costs to much money. Right now, all of that money needs to be given to the people who helped get him elected, and not to the owneres of hotels and restaurants and jewelry stores and such. President Obama is facing many, many crises that were left over from the previous President who was an evil man. Change cannot come overnight. Our problems are very deep anad it will take time to fix them. But he really should start getting the money to his loyal supporters who need it the most.A lot of my friends have I phones or Blackberries. I have a crappy old cell phone. I don’t think that that is fair. I hope the President reads this and is generous. Thank you.
Chicago hosting the Olympics is like a guy who finds out that he will be laid off in a week running out and buying an expensive house and a new Cadillac! The Windy City (and the whole damned state of Illinios) is broke, this would have all come out of US taxpayer pockets in the end.
And exactly who can afford tickets to watch the Olympics anyways……..I can watch them (if I bother to look at whiny, overpaid, professional, steroid-taking losers – heck, I have MLB all summer) it will be on TV.
This was all just a pay-back to the ward bosses in Chicago.
20. Lorenzo:
Gee d’ya think that Rio made a better presentation than Chicago and that’s why Rio won? To blame Obama for Chicago’s failed bid is just a continuation of the right’s attempt to delegitimize and neuter the President. Not exactly a productive way to run a country, but what can you expect from the neuronically disadvantaged.
I’m absolutely sure they did, but Obama and his handlers only got their information from flawed and self-interested parties – the USOC and Chicago. they were led to believe it would only take a small gesture by the President to swing the vote decisively in their favor. They were all wrong and burned political capital on an embarrassment that could have been easily avoided just by not showing up.
You say we’re trying to deligitimize and neuter the President. I think this shows he’s perfectly capable of that all by himself. And till you make the lame attempt to do deligitimize Bush for this. You just can’t help it. Before you say anything, how does our lack of selection now have anything to do with Bush when Chicago was selected as a finalist when he was still in office?
@20. Lorenzo:
“neuronically disadvantaged”
Really, no worhtwhile argument so you resort to imaginary disabilities as an insult. This is an insult to rational argument and the “neuronically disadvantaged” at the same time.
Chicago is unlikely to get an Olympic bid until the IOC have added events named “Big League Graft”, “Deceased Voter Registration”, “Head Bashing with a Railroad Tie”, or “Selling a Senator”. You cannot suggest that Chicago’s reputation is a selling point.
faux scott:
Yessiree. And your list isn’t even comprehensvie. Did you know that Bush bought up thousands of acres of desert options in Iraq before launching that was. The plan, hatched by him, Cheney and the Neocons was an attempt to corner the market on desert sand to be sold to hotel owners in Miami at exhorbitant prices in an effort to stave off beach erosion. Oil had nothing to do with it. And he almost got away with it, but was blindsided by Katrina (which he had scheduled to occur at a later date). but of course, Bush was a mere puppet, controlled by the evil antichrist Cheney. And, as we all know, Cheney was in the secret thrall of the Mossad. We shold thank our lucky stars that we now have a sensible Democrat supermajority. Or do we? And yes, we have some extremists and wackos on the right. But you, my friend, have Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink, Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon, Whoopy Goldberg, and a star studded cst of Hollywood narcissists and sexual deviates that we cannot come close to matching. I just love seeing Cindy marching up and down in front of the White House. And Woody defending Polanski. And Michael Moore expanding. And Whoopy blathering inanities. You guys have a winning team.
Anton,
Other events for Chicago are “Governors’ Perp Walk”, “Business Run for the State Line”, “Racial Hatred Relays”, “Drive By Marksmanship”, and “ACORN Husking”.
I wonder who we can blame for why a lot of conservatives continuously act like total jerks? I know it’s not the liberals, they didn’t kick in that wounded inner child.
This is the third thread I’ve seen about Obama and the Olympics on here.
The guy bucked for the 3rd largest AMERICAN city to host the Olympics. Unfortunately it lost the bid, and the bid probably wasn’t due to Chicago crime or corruption because Rio’s makes Chicago look like Mayberry. They tried, they lost, but good try regardless.
I really have to wonder how far a lot of you would be willing bet against the nation just so you can enjoy some schadenfreude on Obama.
Obama has taken a lot of hits as of late, but don’t think that means your Party of No, No, No is going to rack up the votes by default next election. So far it seems the party line if bitterness and resentment and when you add in a mental midget like Palin, it’s going to be deja vu of a bad Bush hangover too great to support.
The Infant Terrible will never take the blame for any of his failures; it will always be someone else’s fault. Roland Burris blamed President Bush, although he has been out of office since January 20th! The narcissistic pig will only be seeking his own reflection & exaltations from the mindless masses.
Yap. I’ve written something like this nearly a week ago…
http://hyphenatedamericans.blogspot.com/2009/10/nice-tale-in-quotes-and-comments.html
BTW, the right is rejoicing that American people won’t have to pay more in taxes for the corruption-ridden Chicago Olympic Games. I wonder why liberals don’t join the republicans – is it because the liberals hate America?
middleman:
Schadenfreude, what a grat word. Better then expialadoshis……………….Oh well. Funny, Chicago hasn’t clawed its way out of debt from its last foray into international spectacle. Funy, that @ 50% of Chicagoans didn’t want the Olympic extravaganza. Funny, the locals thought that drive-bys and bludgening were legitimate Olympic events, possibly alarming the Eurotrash of the IOC. Possibly Obamas and Michelles performances were regarded as ludicrous. I dunno. I just don’t like it when the representatives of my country, who have been pissing on int non-stop for quite some time, turn in such an embarassing performance on the world stage. Go figure.
Middleman you are evil just like Bush. You wanted those greedy hotel and restaurant owners to get rich, while poor Tiffany needs an iPhone. Shameful.
#2. fauxscot:
Chapin tells you in P 13 why The One won: “He reminisced that last year “people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch” him beat an ossified RINO in the election.”
I, personally, wonder what kind of political party would go after Clinton with Dole, and Obama with McCain. I could be gracious and say that perhaps they thought they’d be going after Hillary, but McCain isn’t a good match in either scenario. Buchanan (spit!) would have done just as well! Bringing Palin on board was inspired. Cutting her off at the knees with lame interviews and the dress thing was insipid. Almost as though they decided to pack it in because they thought they just might win.
Sometimes, late at night, after the kids are in bed, I think about a United States where the presidency is a Big Game. The Democrat power brokers say, “OK, you guys had it for 8, now it’s our turn”.
Charlie
Political wilderness? Not hardly. With all the glitter and gold, the Dem Congress has passed very little, well, except for giving themselves more money and raising the minimum wage, Oh and the 787 stimulus bill (snort) which hasn’t stimulated anything. With all the majority they have there isn’t much that they have done. Of course the hours to work have been shortened (from sundown Tuesday to sundown Thursday) Obama is surrounded by Clinton’s possee, dumbest bunch of advisors ever. We need balance in government, and people will see that pretty damned soon.
Oh and one more thing, I’m glad Chicago lost. As a taxpayer, I don’t want to help pay for their newly planned transit system.
Rio has a worse crime problem than Chicago.
That must have been SOME sales pitch.
32. Middleman asked:
I wonder who we can blame for why a lot of conservatives continuously act like total jerks?
Peter replies: Just immitating the Libtards during the 8 years of the Bush presidency, but with more restraint.
32. Middleman:
Frankly this takes me back, because there was nothing your people wouldn’t do to bet against the nation vis a vis Iraq and President Bush. Just for a little Schadenfreude, and political gain.
The fact still remains he could have saved us and him an unnecessary embarrassment by merely doing nothing.
And you guys kick the wounded inner child on a regular basis, it’s what you do.
As for the party of NO; sure, that’s all we have right now, since Pelosi, Reid, and crew won’t allow any R input at all, all we can do is oppose with any effect instead of offer legislation (or even amendments!) that might go somewhere. I also seem to remember your side considering that a principled stand not so long ago, so spare me the sanctimony.
35. mingus,
Bush was so embarassing on the world stage, he even makes Obama’s flubs almost look good.
Tht’s the real problem, MIDDLEMAN…Obama goes around acting like he’s on the world stage. Big performance. At least Bush ALWAYS put the interests of this country ahead of being liked, espeicially by the assorted Eurotrash that Obama is so enamored with. And, miracle of miracle, just look, Obama now has a Nobel Prize for?…………….smiling and crapping on his own country. Isn’t that special? This is the Jimmy Carter Nobel, given for Extraordinary Anti-Americanism, and awarded to those individuals possessed of a steady grin, a talent for unlimited meaningless oration, and an abiding disdain for the country of their birth (at least that used to be a requirement). What a guy.
Well, now that the president has his Arafat Prize, he can use it as another red herring — if you oppose anything he proposes, you are against world peace.
That prize meant something once. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mother Teresa. Lech Walesa. Now it’s a joke.
43. Muddleman,
Funny, but I seem to recall Bush being respected, if not feared, overseas. Except in Africa, where they actually threw huge parties and parades on his behalf.
Unlike The Won, whom allies are grumbling about and dictators and despots are laughing at.
Peter,
Bush was by no means respected. You go overseas and talk to people and see. I’ll give you Africa because he did good work there and I’ll give credit where credit is due. So he has Africa and very little else. Count Putin played him like a fiddle.
Bush was neither feared as well. We had the coalition of the willing, which was a Bad News Bears coalition of Eastern Bloc states. One of them, Georgia, sends troops, and when it’s attacked by Russia, what do we do? Nothing, but sit and watch.
Feared? That’s cute.
Carla,
Just how is Obama ‘crapping’ on our country? If anything he is playing good cop to Bushes bad cop. I see nothing wrong with that. Tell me, where have you been in this world carla?
middleman
‘how is Obama crapping on this country?’….please contact me when you regain consciousness,
38. Lynn B:
With all the glitter and gold, the Dem Congress has passed very little, well, except for giving themselves more money and raising the minimum wage, Oh and the 787 stimulus bill (snort) which hasn’t stimulated anything.
You’re terribly wrong here, the $787 billion Stimulus Bill has stimulated the road sign making business. I can’t tell you how many brand spanking new large road signs with “Brought to you by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” I’ve seen near some construction cones with absolutely no work going on at all.
I think we could have saved a few million on these dumb ass signs and done some good like maybe keep some teachers from getting laid off.
38. Lynn B:
With all the glitter and gold, the Dem Congress has passed very little, well, except for giving themselves more money and raising the minimum wage, Oh and the 787 stimulus bill (snort) which hasn’t stimulated anything.
You’re terribly wrong here, the $787 billion Stimulus Bill has stimulated the road sign making business. I can’t tell you how many brand spanking new large road signs with “Brought to you by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” I’ve seen near some construction cones with absolutely no work going on at all.
I think we could have saved a few million on these dumb ass signs and done some good like maybe keep some teachers from getting laid off.
This whole issue hearkens back to the campaign debate of meeting with petty dictators. To meet with them and walk away with nothing is good for them and lese majeste for the Prez.
Lese majeste is an important concept. When you are a mighty power like the U.S., it enables you to do some otherwise impossible things, but you must choose your battles carefully, because if you ever lose, you’ve sabotaged that power. The big cajuna only gets involved when the deal is done, in order to avoid getting egg on one’s majestic face. he’s always involved behind the scenes providing strategic direction and oversight, but the public persona MUST be preserved.
Think of it as political capital. If you invest it successfully, you get it back… with interest. If you invest it foolishly in every little scheme, you have squandered it and are poorer thereby.
Obama has done this again and again. Totally committing himself to HealthCare Reform, but leaving it to the fools in Congress to drive it. He should have stepped back and told the public that he has asked the Congress to proffer some legislation ideas to get a sense of the solutions to be found. He then operates behind the scenes. If it is successful, or he has a chance to take decisive action and clear the critical roadblock, then he wins, and he has capital for the next battle. If it tanks, he’s clean, and Congress takes the hit. He may be even more powerful as they’ll need him more.
His campaigning for Afghanistan has left him painted into a corner like LBJ. It’s no-win for him now.
Crap-and-Trade is a non-starter, but there he is, weighing in.
He should just keep his mouth shut. He need not opine on every damned subject. He just can’t help himself, however. He lives for the moment when his rhetoric advances the agenda. That moment never comes, because he is out front, instead of behind the scenes. He needs to learn about “quiet power”.
The effect is his personal poll numbers are falling and falling. He got a temporary boost after the Olympic Snub (gold medal event, that), as people rallied around their Prez. However, they quickly realized it was a well-deserved snub and his numbers rapidly receded to pre-snub levels.
When a Prez falls below 50%, as Obama has, he loses all ability to herd the cats in Congress. He can no longer cover their political asses, so they scramble to do so themselves. Now he is powerless to affect the legislation. Feckless.
He had a truly great opportunity to score big, today. When he was awarded the Nobel Prize, he should have turned it down with a show of humility. His approval would have shot sharply up a few points overnight. Even the Pubs would have had to applaud such Statesmanship. No one could have denied such a self-effacing gesture. No one. He might’ve gained 5% in his ratings. It would’ve reassured the shaky Independents, regaining their support. What a tremendous coup it would’ve been… but his ego would not have let him turn it down. He had to seize it with both hands.
Imagine if he had turned it down, then won it in a later year. No one could then denigrate his receiving it, especially if he were “uncertain as to whether he has yet really earned it”.
Pride goeth before a fall. Hubris. False Pride. His accepting the award exposes his shallow persona. Watch his numbers drop yet further as a result of his acceptance of the award.
This President is a train wreck in progress, which I cheer, because the sooner he is neutered, the better.