– Which is really nothing more than the Bush Administration edition, reappointed in the disingenuous garb of Obamanous nuance:
Desperate to reassure the Bush Derangement crowd, Obama is trying to bluff the country into thinking he’s engaged in a major overhaul when it’s really a tweak — and an utterly unnecessary one at that. The media will swoon over how he’s evolving and at what a big guy he is to come to grips with what they, too, suddenly see as difficult national security challenges. But a big guy is capable of admitting when he’s been wrong. This is small, in every way.
This leaves progressives with a tough choice: do they rail against a President who is doing everything he can, on the domestic front, to turn the US into a progressive client state? Or do they rationalize this obvious backpedal as a pragmatic necessity, rewarding Obama with a pass in exchange his work thus far dismantling the capitalist system (which will likely manifest as the story being completely ignored)?
Dunno, honestly: strategically, they should probably pretend this never happened. But given that they are on the whole petulant children who screech when they don’t get their every wish, I’d expect at least a little bit of Obama bashing, if only to keep up the appearance of moral superiority many of these sites affect.
– When they aren’t calling conservatives a “cancer,” or blackfacing liberals who dare step off the plantation, I mean.
Comment by Darleen on 5/16 @ 8:17 pm #
uh, Jeff? Somewhere there’s an unclosed italics tag …
Comment by baldilocks on 5/16 @ 8:27 pm #
Comment by baldilocks on 5/16 @ 8:27 pm #
That didn’t work (tried to close it).
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 8:30 pm #
But Jeff, it is just logic.
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 8:31 pm #
Does doing it all in italics give us all a little more flair?
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 8:36 pm #
Italics are now gone. I miss them.
Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 8:43 pm #
A number of the various lawyer types of the blogosphere are enjoying the compromising position Obama has put a few of his DoJ appointees into with this change. Here those people went to work thinking they were going to contribute to the noble cause, ridding the world of the hated military commissions and now, if they want to keep their jobs they are going to have to find a way to defend the very thing they were condemning a scant six months ago.
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 8:44 pm #
No more fun in Maryland.
Comment by The Monster on 5/16 @ 8:47 pm #
Maybe it’s an <em:gt; tag
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 8:49 pm #
President Obama speaks:
Cricket?
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 8:53 pm #
The Author speaks:
A circle jerk of love.
Comment by geoffb on 5/16 @ 9:03 pm #
The left blogs will bitch, Olby will moan, and the MSM will not mention it and talk only about how much the economy has “improved” (since 1933 or so but we won’t mention where we start the baseline). Or Michelle’s arms, whatever.
You people need distraction, bread, circuses, soma, something better work. Obama
hasn’t, doesn’t, won’t, can’tis better at vacation.Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 9:09 pm #
Not a whiff, not a peep yet at Balkinization, onetime home of a few of Obama’s lawyers, in particular the lawyer who fills the position John Yoo once held at OLC. Plenty of derision on display for Michael Stokes Paulsen who wrote the anti-OPR piece in Weekly Standard though, despite the fact that he is/was(?) a co-blogger at Balkinization.
Comment by geoffb on 5/16 @ 9:41 pm #
From the NRO piece.
Observe and you will see what “rule of law” means to this constitutional law “professor” who is now our President. I’m sure we the peons will be getting his cool improved version for ourselves as soon as can be arranged.
Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 9:44 pm #
Rule of law means senior secured creditors will get a place toward the middle-back of the line and like it.
Comment by bh on 5/16 @ 9:51 pm #
I don’t care what it means. I’m almost done with this enormous paper mache Obama head. And I plan to march, baby. To the streets!
Comment by geoffb on 5/16 @ 9:58 pm #
Better than the cornfield.
Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 10:01 pm #
Is that an Antietam reference geoffb?
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/16 @ 10:02 pm #
insect in a box?
hooligans with cricket bats?
which will protect us?
Comment by B Moe on 5/16 @ 10:11 pm #
How blatantly do these assholes have to play politics with national security before folks start to notice?
Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 10:18 pm #
What, their turning on the war effort wasn’t enough to tic you off B Moe? Since then nothing they’ve done has the capacity to surprise.
Comment by gus on 5/16 @ 10:22 pm #
Sdferr. I grew up just a couple miles from Antietam. I lived near there as a child. I used to walk the battlefield as a little boy and it’s history and it’s utter carnage fascinated me. Sdferr, I’m talking about a 7,8,9 year old Cub Scout. Back in the late 60’s Antietam was not the protected National landmark that it is today.
Fast forward. Last summer, I went to D.C. to visit my brother. State Dept Bureau of Diplomatic Security Fed agent. (my brother spent today Saturday as his last day as Dr.Condoleeza Rice’s security team leader), I borrowed one of my bro’s family vehicles and made the trek from the Dulles area of VA, to Sharpsburg MD, and my hometown of Hagerstown Maryland. I showed my 8 year old son, my Catholic school. (built in 1798), then I took my wife and my boy to Antietam. We spent hours there. We walked the bridge, we walked the fields. We walked through the indigenous cemetary that pre-dated the Civil War. I took my son to the ANTIETAM/SHARPSBURG CIVIL WAR CEMETERY. I bought my son a “musket pen” at the Antietam visitors center. I bought a couple of books on Antietem. The previous day, I had taken my son to Arlington National Cemetery. He got to see and touch the grave of his Grandfather. Who died long long before he was born. My boy got to witness the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and it’s Changing of the Guard. My boy got to see President Bush and Dr.Rice walk across the Whitehouse lawn and fly away on MARINE 1 (to Camp David).
I lost my train of thought…. were we discussing dunking Muslim murderers for 32 seconds???? What is Nancy Pelosi doing to make our country GREAT and safe for our sons and daughters?????
Comment by psycho... on 5/16 @ 10:27 pm #
There was some reflexive — and spreading — The neocons got to him! stuff before official word came down that this, like everything that happens, is more! evidence that His moral genius exceeds all other living souls (none of which was truly living until together we emerged from the darkness that was the Before Him), and if His mighty mind can bear this agonized-to pragmatic [etc], may we all aspire to His example of divine [etc].
Enough will stick with the Jews! shit to keep that powder dry. Everyone in the hive has a job, and theirs is to tend that reserve. Just in case.
They got waved off. Won’t always.
Comment by Joe on 5/16 @ 10:31 pm #
Becareful bh, lest you get mistaken for a piñata.
The kids want their candy.
Comment by geoffb on 5/16 @ 10:34 pm #
Twilight Zone though the Antietam works too.
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/16 @ 10:51 pm #
tis’ funny to light up a strangers eyes u’v
just met/ with some little known factoid about something
about antiem[i don’t know)
but i meet maine people and i talk about joshua chamberlain
and the recognize the thought…
then i get out a twenty dollar bill and ask peeps
who is alexander hamilton?
and the dull eye stare/ the gum snappin dull response from the clerk is…” i dunno”
i hope i get change
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 10:57 pm #
Maybe Jane can just blackface Obama in a photoshop and they can all call it a day?
Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 10:59 pm #
Spooky apt geoff. Perusing the wiki, I see Cloris Leachman plays the kid’s mom … I think … Frau Blücher … who in turn, always spins me away to Hannah Arendt, an actual Frau Blücher since her 2nd husband’s name was Heinrich Blücher, to whom she dedicated The Origins of Totalitarianism, and we’re right back where we started.
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 11:02 pm #
Comment by bh on 5/16 @ 9:51 pm #
I don’t care what it means. I’m almost done with this enormous paper mache Obama head. And I plan to march, baby.
pffff, you got nothin’ till you got a KISS FLOAT, man.
Comment by Sdferr on 5/16 @ 11:03 pm #
Tsk9, check it.
Comment by bh on 5/16 @ 11:13 pm #
The odd thing, sdferr? I actually proposed in an enormous paper mache Obama head with Jew fangs representing that ol’ timey blood libel.
A little less romantic, granted. But, hep cat ironic? Check. Beat that Yglesias.
Best thing my uneducated ear notices with Coltrane, blue like substance? That cool half beat between solos.
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 11:25 pm #
Awe BH, that’s sweet.
Comment by bh on 5/16 @ 11:29 pm #
Thanks, tsk9.
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 11:29 pm #
My man proposed to me while we were picking weeds. To make it even MORE romantic the the purpose of the proposal at that moment (we kinda knew we would) was the fact we were trying to buy a house back in those days when they wouldn’t just beg you to take a loan with no money down and no job! and it was just easier to be married. That was on a Thursday and by Friday we were a married at the ski rental slash marriage chapel!
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 11:31 pm #
actually by Saturday, not Friday.
Comment by bh on 5/16 @ 11:35 pm #
That’s awesome, Tsk9. That’s my next goal. To transition from small wedding to “Hey, what are you doing next weekend?”
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 11:41 pm #
I just read this at Althouse:
Yesterday, we were talking about the way Obama was keeping Bush’s military commissions and lamely trying to make it look different by purporting to add more process.
Didn’t he also keep all the same practices of rendition and secret “prisons” and just renamed them the more PC not media named to “temporary holding facilities”?
ah yes,
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 5/16 @ 11:47 pm #
BH
Both have there pros and cons. Let her enjoy her day, but if it gets too stressful she might like the no-hassle version too. I just can’t get down with the girls that want to plop down big bucks for things like butterfly or doves releases in lieu of rice. That’s like worse than buying a new car!
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/16 @ 11:47 pm #
people call /say beware doll
u thought they were/ kidding u
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/16 @ 11:56 pm #
u used to
laugh about
everybody that was hanging out
now u don’t talk so loud
now u don’t …seem so proud
about having to be scrounging
for ur next meal[tax)
Comment by bh on 5/16 @ 11:57 pm #
Tsk9, I hear you.
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/17 @ 12:01 am #
my comments have nuttin to do with bh/ nuptiuals
i just got a dylan quote/ lyric book
and/
i’m not gonna stop
don’t think twice tho
’s alright
Comment by bh on 5/17 @ 12:04 am #
pd, you’re a legend, don’t worry about it at all. In any way.
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/17 @ 12:12 am #
yes…
yes i will marry you bh
Comment by geoffb on 5/17 @ 12:31 am #
Got married in 2001. Used the $600 we got back from the Bush tax cut to cover both rings, license, and food for the reception at our house. Money was tight at that time.
Congrats bh!
Comment by Dash Rendar on 5/17 @ 12:40 am #
I’m just stuffing you in a locker. Like, all those drama kids will think its really ironic and laugh and you’ll be real cool and we’ll make a video and you’ll get into NYU cuz of it all. For teh double decker irony.
Comment by Dash Rendar on 5/17 @ 12:43 am #
Fucking shitstains. You we’re supposed to have you vas deferens augmented from chlamydia and your mind bordered in between Xanax and Adderall, yet you still have the dexterity to see that I’m not a messiah. O, I guess there might be something inate about this religion thing after all. Versed it is. Fuckers.
Comment by bh on 5/17 @ 1:00 am #
Thanks, Geoff. Raising an glass in your direction. Not figuratively, I actually broke out the Johnny Blue for tonight.
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/17 @ 1:03 am #
stuffed in a locker
with a bottle of the blue
if it’s a rockin’….
Comment by geoffb on 5/17 @ 2:15 am #
Goodnight bh, a good day you have had.
Comment by Salt Lick on 5/17 @ 6:38 am #
FWIW, I’ve got doubts about Obama’s flip-flop lowering his poll numbers. When I pointed out his hypocrisy to my wife, she said it reassures her that he’s “pragmatic” and not the ideologue I keep painting. Wife is a very smart woman, part of the sensible middle –voted McCain — but “gotcha” moments like this don’t hold any revelatory value for her. It’s just politics.
Yeah, it frustrates me, too.
Comment by Nishi_Jenkins on 5/17 @ 7:33 am #
C’mon JeffieG, you’re smarter than that.
Obama is a machiavellian pragmatist and a systems guru.
His program to extricate us from foreign misadventure in Iraq and Af-Pak can best be seen as a graceful degredation of service under expert (mil) advisement.
Comment by Nishi_Jenkins on 5/17 @ 7:36 am #
You guys should give up now.
The three legged stool was a devil’s bargain that has gone wobbly in the 21st century.
The socon agenda is antipathic to individual freedom and liberty. Free market capitalism is survival of the greediest. Belief in the Manifest Destiny of Judeoxian Democracy in the face of history and evo theory of culture requires such a profound disconnect from empiricism and reality that I am astonished the neocons can tie their own shoes in RL.
Now showing in Nishi’s crystal ball……Palin will be the nominee in 2012.
It is goin’ to take at least one more righteous kerbstomping at the polls for the base to able to let go her.
haha
Comment by steveaz on 5/17 @ 7:39 am #
I hear Obama’s working on his next book. This is hearsay, so take it with a dose of salt, but, I hear the title of the book is, “How I became a Republican.”
Obama is writing this book himself! He’s lined up Zell Miller to write the forward to the book, too. And Zell’s got a great line in his opening ‘graph: “Obama became a Republican the hard way…He learned it!”
As soon as Amazon starts hocking the book, I’ll get myself a copy. Till then…the anticipation is killing me.
Comment by Abe Froman on 5/17 @ 7:46 am #
That’s one way of looking at it Salt Lick. The problem is that these were not disagreements in which there were nuanced, constructively offered differences of opinion. The left labored for years to define the Bush administration as evil, corrupt and incompetent for a lot of the positions Obama is adopting. Worse yet they didn’t merely engage in this vile behavior for cheap domestic political purposes but dragged the US through the mud on the world stage as well. Pragmatic isn’t the word I’d use for that.
Pingback by Jules Crittenden » Getting Cheney on 5/17 @ 8:05 am #
[...] Protein Wisdom on the gnashing of teeth, rending of garments in left field re Obama and [...]
Comment by B Moe on 5/17 @ 8:09 am #
That’s not a crystal ball Nishi, that’s the bottom of a bottle of Ouzo.
Comment by Darleen on 5/17 @ 8:12 am #
#36 bh
That’s my next goal. To transition from small wedding to “Hey, what are you doing next weekend?â€
That’s why my daughter and her fiance (now my son-in-law) did last month
Comment by B Moe on 5/17 @ 8:13 am #
And if it were just campaign shouting involved I would tend to agree. But he and his colleagues actively worked and voted against tribunals. That goes beyond “just politics”.
Comment by Darleen on 5/17 @ 8:14 am #
errr…. “that’s what” … (still on first cup of coffee)
Comment by guinsPen on 5/17 @ 8:24 am #
little sir ‘zonO!
Comment by Nishi_Jenkins on 5/17 @ 8:25 am #
The Bush admin WAS evil, corrupt, and incompetant. And deeply, profoundly immoral and stupid.
GW is going in the history books as the Torture President that trashed our economy to fight wars of choice and FAILED to protect the US from 9/11!
hahaha
The mills of justice grind slow, but they grind exceeding small.
Comment by steveaz on 5/17 @ 8:40 am #
I hear President Barak Obama is still wording the subtitle for his new book.
My unnamed sources tell me he is leaning towards an intern’s late proposal, “The tale of one American’s belated discovery of his country, its exceptionalism, and his responsibility to preserving both.”
Not bad. I like what I’m reading so far. If he keeps this up Obama’ll be downright Reaganesque by 2012.
Plans, I hear, are to wrap up the book-cover art and the bind details, then write the book. So, fans, we’re gonna have to wait awhile before we can sate our suspense.
Hang tough!
Comment by McGehee on 5/17 @ 8:51 am #
Anybody know how to clean half-digested eggs and hash browns off a keyboard?
Comment by Slartibartfast on 5/17 @ 9:02 am #
Nishi is a fatuous personality-cultist.
Really? Guru?
Comment by Akatsukami on 5/17 @ 9:22 am #
“Really? Guru?”
Yeah, like Sri Chinmoy.
Comment by Nishi_Jenkins on 5/17 @ 9:22 am #
Here’s the 311 JeffieG.
Palinism is going to destroy the GOP.
The idea that will can replace intellect and skillz.
Comment by JHoward on 5/17 @ 9:27 am #
Of course, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Oh wait. Dubya will indeed go down as you say, at least among fools.
But about any of those subjects — national security, monetary systems, and the history of 9/11 and what preceded it — you are entirely ignorant.
Welcome to mobthink, nuggie. It will serve you well .
Comment by Joe on 5/17 @ 9:28 am #
<a href=”http://hotair.com/archives/2009/05/17/video-remix-wanda-sykes-roasts-obama-the-way-he-deserves/”Bizzaro Wanda Sykes
I like Bizzaro Sykes better.
Comment by Darleen on 5/17 @ 9:31 am #
Nishi Mengele lives in an alternative reality where she believes in Eugenics and killing off all “worthless” people like the disabled and those of “lesser” IQ’s, but President Bush is evil for going after Islamists and keeping America safe for 8 years.
She is an indecent childmonster.
Comment by Joe on 5/17 @ 9:32 am #
Thanks to Allah for brightening our morning.
Comment by J. "Trashman" Peden on 5/17 @ 9:32 am #
the disorientation and darkness of that time, which we only emerged from with the election of President Obama.
It’s amazing how such people’s minds can only function at the totally deranged extremes of BDS disasterizing and Obamamessiahic Utopian delusionalism. Instead of being their ally, reality – including their very existence – is their arch enemy.
Comment by Joe on 5/17 @ 9:33 am #
Bizzaro Wanda Sykes
Comment by JHoward on 5/17 @ 9:34 am #
Actually, being rudderless in the land of the adrift and unproductive is what is going to destroy the GOP. The GOP tried bread and circuses and failed. Thankfully. From this point forward we live the next few steps to tyranny. Watch and learn.
History, nuggie. Perspective. Reality. Trajectory. Honesty. With an insufficient grasp and use of these you’ve formed only the fantastic, unworkable view of times you exhibit.
Comment by Pablo on 5/17 @ 9:44 am #
From someone who’s running on nothing but will, that’s damned funny.
Here’s a clue for you: Outcomes matter. Incumbents can’t run on hopenchange, dearie.
Comment by Joe on 5/17 @ 10:05 am #
Palinism is going to destroy the GOP.
What is exactly Palinism anyway?
I liked Sarah Palin before she was picked as McCain’s Veep. I think the treatment she got at the hands of Andrew Sullivan was a lot worse than what happened to Carrie Prejean at the hands of Perez Hilton. There were two very different standards in how she was treated vs. Plugs Biden. But whether or not Sarah Palin as a future in national politics really depends on Sarah Palin. To suggest her presence will destroy the GOP really overplays her position. That is more of the Andrew Sullivan school of saying the future of the GOP is with Crist and Huntsman.
Hell, Sullivan suggested that the Huntsman Man in China move is because Mormons get the short shrift by the GOP and Obama is using this as a wedge issue (because Mitt will get the cold shoulder from many in the GOP in 2012).
Comment by Joe on 5/17 @ 10:06 am #
My point being folks from the left advising how the GOP might revive itself are not to be particularly trusted.
Comment by poppa india on 5/17 @ 10:10 am #
Nishi, look in at NRO or Instapundit and read Hanson’s “President Palin’s First 100 Days”-clearly shows the horrors of having her as president!
Comment by McGehee on 5/17 @ 10:51 am #
Oh, they can be trusted, all right — to give precisely the advice they would want or the GOP to follow. Sort of like me advising Democrats in 1995 to gather on the rim of the Grand Canyon and walk across air to the other side.
Comment by Rusty on 5/17 @ 10:59 am #
#62
This isn’t your bathroom. Go someplace else to take a dump.
Comment by geoffb on 5/17 @ 11:07 am #
Comedy gold. This should have been used at the White House Correspondents Dinner. It fits right into that evening perfectly. Bravo.
Comment by Great Mencken's Ghost! on 5/17 @ 11:29 am #
Ya know, if Bush had only learned to hold out his hands like a prophet when he spoke, and picked cooler buzzords, he’d still be President today. Oh, wait…
Comment by Techie on 5/17 @ 12:03 pm #
Nishibot also mysteriously disappears every public school holiday.
Comment by ushie on 5/17 @ 1:12 pm #
Nishi is pathetic. She still thinks it was Obama vs. Palin, instead of Obama vs. Ol’-Whatshisname.
Focus, silly child, focus.
Comment by Slartibartfast on 5/17 @ 1:33 pm #
Nishi apologized for being off-topic once, three years ago.
I think she’s given up on the regrets, since.
Comment by Slartibartfast on 5/17 @ 1:58 pm #
Oh, and here’s nishi, a number of years ago:
One day nishi will take responsibility for her own actions, and quit blaming the current meme-generator.
Comment by Slartibartfast on 5/17 @ 1:58 pm #
Here.
Comment by Log Cabin on 5/17 @ 7:34 pm #
It has it’s own blog too, Slart. Kind of a mashup of anime stroke-stories and poorly reasoned, pseudorationalism.
Of course, one can also find lots of Islamic cheerleading and the usual rabid anti-Judaism there.
Truly a disturbed person…
Comment by pdbuttons on 5/17 @ 9:52 pm #
the stadium rocks
for islamic cheerleaders
bullet in head
Comment by Slartibartfast on 5/18 @ 6:50 am #
Oh, I know, LC. Not worth visiting.
I may waffle and fence-sit, from time to time, when I’m not sure of the correct course of action. But I absolutely take full responsibility for my decisions. See, at some age it just becomes ridiculous to be always indulging in variations of “I blame my parents”.
Comment by Pablo on 5/18 @ 7:17 am #
As it turns out, it’s not worth writing either.
Comment by Nishi_Jenkins on 5/18 @ 7:33 am #
Yup Pablow. _I changed my mind._
The epiphanic moment for me was when I saw Bush lie on nat’l tv about stem cell research and the expansion veto.
Then the scales fell from my eyes and I could see he was lying about a lot of things, like torture, Iraq, the economy and illegal immigration.
I admit, I really believed in GW.
What a naive child I was.
I’m horrified to discover Rumsfeld manipulated GW with bible quotes, just like the odious Presidents Council of Bioluddites did.
Here is the Future of the Republican Party.
Deal.
Comment by SBP on 5/18 @ 7:34 am #
What a naive child I was.
Hate to break this to you: you’re still a naive child.
Comment by Pablo on 5/18 @ 7:44 am #
So, you can’t trust your instincts? That may be a breakthrough. The first step in recovery is realizing that you have a problem, such as being mush-headed.
Comment by Carin on 5/18 @ 7:52 am #
Pablo, it’s pointless. Obama is headed for the Worst. President. Ever. category, and nishi’s still talking about Bush.
As we get further and further away from the Bush years, people just aren’t going to care, Nishi. Obama owns what’s going on right now, and it stinks. Everytime he opens his mouth, the markets tank.
He’s screwed over Michigan and the taxpayers for the sake of the UAW. Another plant is closing in Lapeer this week. 54 people out of work. Obama presidency.
Comment by Rob Crawford on 5/18 @ 8:20 am #
Nishi cheers Obama because he’s a fascist, like her.
Nishi jeers at Bush because he not only wasn’t a fascist, he removed a fascist from power.
Nishi hates Palin because Palin is successful and happy without kowtowing to the social markers of Nishi’s class!
(But what can you expect? Nishi is one of those poor deluded morons who believes that the popular myths of her social circle are the signs of intelligence. She’s a follower, a herd animal, a moron.)
Comment by McGehee on 5/18 @ 9:16 am #
Under the circumstances I can understand that.
Also, point and laugh at it. A lot.