Personal narrative embroidery.
Idea: next time it comes up, maybe we can, like, vet the guy running for President before he’s elected and gets to work fucking every goddamn thing up.
Just spitballing here, of course.
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Recent Comments
- In The Mailbox: 02.28.23 (Afternoon Edition) : The Other McCain on Hey, longtime pw readers…
- In The Mailbox: 12.23.22 : The Other McCain on Patrick J. Carroll truly IS a sad, embittered psychopath
- Danger on Patrick J. Carroll might be a psychopath
- Danger on Patrick J. Carroll might be a psychopath
- In The Mailbox: 07.18.22 : The Other McCain on Patrick J. Carroll might be a psychopath
Where’s the fun in that? I mean, c’mon. It’s like a more expensive version of the mail-order bride. I go through one of those ever eighteen months. Except for the occasional stab wounds, it’s really exciting.
So one more piece of evidence that supports the argument that Obama will lie regarding just about anything to craft his personal narrative in the most palatable way possible. Not that others have never engaged in it, but normally they don’t get away with it on such a high level…
But the MSM might have found out more if they hadn’t spent so much time swooning over Obama and the “post-racial” possibilities his Presidency would usher in, and spend more time actually looking into his proclaimed past; especially in lieu of the dearth of actual reciords the campaign made available…
But, you know, it was more important to have ten times the number of reporters in Wasilla, to uncover the rube, hicktard, chillbilly’s Hypocrisy!, which the usual suspects just knew had to exist a priori, simply because she was affiliated with the right side fo the political spectrum…
Just as when the country turned to Carter, with the blessing of the Democrat-Media complex, to somehow absolve the nation from the Machiavellian machinations of Nixon&Co, so too did they turn to Obama, once again with the media’s blessing, to absolve the nation of the sins of Boooooosh! and of their “unconscious” and “inherent” racism…
But Obama is way worse than Carter. Carter was simply a foreign policy naif and a do-gooding scold. Obama, on the other hand, is consciously playing foreign policy against the larger interest of the nation to retain a constituency that has become disenchanted with his willingness to sell out what they felt were agreed upon “core principles”…
But what they didn’t realize was that Obama’s only core principle, and his guiding paradigm, was to do what would best benefit Obama at that moment…
The MSM is just the media arm of the Democratic Party. They have been for a while, it’s just that they quit pretending that they weren’t.
We used to do that. In fact, it’s just this last time we didn’t even try. And by “we”, I mean them.
Dare we hope that something so damaging comes up that he’s forced to resign? I’m thinking that’s pretty much impossible. In the meantime, Iran’s getting closer and closer to giving Israel a fatal love-tap, Russia’s edging closer to swallowing Eastern Europe whole, China’s literally drooling over Taiwan, and Central America’s reverting to the swamp-rat infested hellhole your mother warned you about.
And domestically? Fuck that shit. The Third World ain’t got nothin’ on the hurt we’re bringing on ourselves.
All because we (“we” as in all the fuckwits who actually voted for this moron) decided that the ultimate PC cornholing we could inflict upon ourselves was electing Joe Biden as VP and then regretting he’s not at the top of the ticket!! Really. Right now, Joe Biden looks positively reactionary compared to Obama.
How fucked is that.
By the way–welcome back, Jeff. Good to see your cheerful self opining again.
Every day I become more and more convinced that the reason we don’t know Obama’s GPA is that it’s embarrassingly low. While past Presidential handlers have been in charge of things like reminding the President of schedules and appointments and such, Obama’s handlers pretty much direct him through every aspect of his day. They have to, because God knows who he’ll curtsey to next. No way that man wrote a book.
here’s something to chew on
AND later in this same article
That’s not some “winger”, but Richard Cohen of WaPo
That’s not embroidery! It’s needlepoint.
Boring.
And, the guy is President.
This is a rehash of 2000, with even more of teh boring.
Jesus!
The country is sliding down the tubes and you’re concentrating on sentences from books, years old?
You deserve what you get: validation, on the way to the slaughter house.
You fools.
I have lost interest. My brother is redy to accept my gold.
So, wait, Jeff, are you, like, back-back or just back? Because, and I mean no disrespect to Darleen, et al., if he’s back-back, well, shit, that’s awesome.
hey, Will, I second the awesome.
Muse, let history eternally show that to the desperately willing
Spam HeapsWhite Progressives who voted for Obama, the “embroidery” was merely the K-Y jelly which facilitated their own desire to be sodomized by a Black man, more particularly by one who merely spoke neither in rhyme nor ebonics.Haha, Ed Lasky linked to a a Newsweek article that’s over a year old and forgets to read the update that contradicts what he wrote.
Jeff, that’s just crazy talk. You’re scaring the dogs.
Obama was elected in large part by guilt-ridden white suburbanites who thought their votes would finally prove that they were not RACISTS!(gasp). He was the safe, articulate, Black Man they all want to believe in. It was all a con job
Obama’s nothing but a flim flam man, a grifter the likes of which actually puts cons like Bill and Hillary to shame.
The Milli Vanilli president with NPD. Great. We’ll get it right next time, though, won’t we?
he country is sliding down the tubes and you’re concentrating on sentences from books, years old?
You deserve what you get: validation, on the way to the slaughter house.
You fools.
Erm, personally I’d like to know whom to blame for this shit storm. Right now, top of my list is “The media that didn’t do their fucking job.”
Followed by “Voters who were contend to swallow whatever tripe was thrown at them.”
Not to worry – We will see the vast intellect at work! He is going to spend plenty of time studying that GEN McChrystal thingie that is on his desk…somewhere. Stand by for AWESOMENESS.
Carin,
If you want to blame anyone, blame Republicans, specifically, Congress and GW Bush.
They had their hands deep in the cookie jar of taxpayer money and kept spending, even though it was pissing off the electorate.
Then, the Republicans ran a dismal candidate who was quite obviously more of the same.
Contrast that with a smooth talking, slick looking suit of a candidate. Obama was the shiny new penny candidate.
It’s easy to blame President Obama for our current mess. However, in large part, the opposition party holds most of the blame.
Yes, Blake. None of this is Obama’s fault. Or Nancy Pelosi. Or the herds of democrats. Thanks for helping me focus.
DAMN THAT BUSH!!11!!
Umm, you’re welcome?
’cause, you know, the media had NOTHING to do with McCain’s nomination. There months (and years) of slobbering coverage (despite what EVERY conservative I personally knew thought of the man) – had absolutely NO Effect on his eventual nomination.
It’s just totally coincidental.
A fluke.
there-their
That’s really an awesome analysis Blake.
The ultimate Blame Bush meme.
Yeah, Ombama is an empty suit who’s completely fucking up the country, IT’S BUSH’S FAULT!
You’re plumb eat up wit the dumbass, as they say.
Hmm, I was looking for that ‘m’ just the other day.
Found it.
They never caught the excitement of Thompson or Mittens.
Because the “Job” of vetting a possible POTUS isn’t about excitement. It’s about digging into the resume. Asking the tough questions, not reporting on the tinge up your leg.
Last election we did the “American Idol” approach to electing a president. What we’re doing NOW (Spam Heap) is EVALUATING how well that worked. Finding fault with the hopes we don’t do it again. *This* is vastly different than recounting hanging chads.
I guess you can call it “learning from your mistakes”.
Even though we had Jimmy Carter to look back on.
So jobless Obama never did any real Senateering and lied about himself as a matter of course. This raises two questions, one of which is most interesting: What goes through a fraud’s mind while he runs the United States, dependent on that fraud going undetected by a majority? (The other pertains to the defrauded and why they choose to remain defrauded within the context of comments 2 and 5…and yes, 23).
Given the success of the fraud perpetuated and the simply extraordinary consequences thereof, what kind of condition afflicts the man?
I think that for Obama, his voters either weren’t around during Carter or are of the minority that still cherish the memory of his Presidency for some stupid f***ing reason.
Voter vapidity had been noted, meya. But thanks!
From the update:
Positively Presidential.
Meya,
The subject of this thread is the media’s lack of vetting of Obama during the last election, and how “revelations” coming out now should have been common knowledge long ago had he not been given the golden ticket by his adoring fanbase in the media, and related commentary…
Not another demonstration of your self-percieved droll witticisms or uncanny ability to find elements of racism in whatever comment you choose…
Obama made a speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004! And he didn’t write a splendid book (or two?)! Why should he feel any shame at being bereft of significant political accomplishment?
Just because he hasn’t done anything substantial by way of governing prior to ascending to the office of President doesn’t mean he ought to apologize for doing nothing — outside of destroying the nation’s credibility with friends and allies by reneging on solemn promises; diminishing the security posture of the US military by canceling long planned defensive missile installations or cutting weapons systems like the F-22 that he deems excessive, whether they be so or no; dithering on crucial strategic decisions, undermining the trust of fighting men and women in the field in the bargain, merely for domestic political considerations; insulting longtime strategic allies by equivocating that they are no better than the avowed enemies of the United States; chopping the legs from under democratic movements across the globe as in Iran and Honduras; suspending the visas of decent men from Honduras while approving visas for tyrannical Generals from Burma or theocratic monsters from Iran; pretending to be unwilling to prosecute CIA interrogators while standing aside as his AG appoints a prosecutor to begin the process to do just that; campaigning endlessly throughout the summer for a systemic overhaul of the health care industry the majority of the people of country have made plain they do not want; making speeches at the UN that proclaim that no nation’s interest and certainly not the US’s is any better than any other nation’s interest but that all nations must band together to end the doubtful scourge of Global Warming; — while in the office.
Oh wait. He might come back from Copenhagen with an Olympics for Chicago. Or a deep knowledge of cross-stitch technique.
alphie missed that Newsweek forgot to add restaurant reviewer. Barack Olberman once reviewed a restaurant. On video.
Carrin (I am adding an r to make you feel better):
I still have a Fred Thompson bumbersticker on the car. I like Fred. But what can you do when Fred really never tried to win it? Mitt Romney? Mitt is okay, and I think he would have gotten the economic meltdown better than any of them, but he would have lost to Obama worse than McCain. Huckabee? I never really has any Huck-a-Huck-a-Burning-Love for Huckabee. McCain became the nominee because he was the last man standing.
We need better candidates.
Carrin, the press failed us in not vetting Obama. They were quite happy to vet Republicans, even Hillary when she was up against Obama, but Obama got a pass. It was like the fix was in, because many in the press wanted Obama to win and had no desire to work against him (truth be damned).
Let’s have a thought experiment:
Based on what we know today, if the election were held again would Obama get more votes or fewer votes? Assume all ACORN offices are still open and operating at their November budgetary levels, and assume we’re still stuck with McCain.
IOW, less than one year later, are Americans empowered with the vote pleased with their choice?
JHo,
What runs through his mind constantly are self-centered and self adoring thoughts. Everything in the world revolves around Obama, and that’s the context through which he sees everything. Even the liberals in the media are beginning to notice the extraordinary amount of personal pronouns that his speeches contain. As to your point of him being dependant on the continuation of the narrative of the character Obama, well that’s why he refuses to release any of the actual records of his past, and is one of the motivations of ridiculing the “birthers” so. By making it seems ridiculous to demand he produce something as banal as a birth certificate, they conflate anyone who demand that he bring his personal history up to date with others who have already been deemed as unreasonable h8ters or less than sane…
Actually it’s a pretty clever way to keep his tracks covered-so to speak-but one that requires the participation and consent of the legacy media to continue.
As Dicentra often points out, he dislays all of the psychological “tells” of a classical narcissist. I would suggest that these thought processes dominate his thinking along with more self serving ones; evidenced by his sudden trip to Copenhagen to soak up some quick European adoration as well as possibly some kudos back home if successful too. On the whole, a much more self-satisfying exercise than, you know, actually making a decision about reinforcements for Afghanistan…
better to leave that messy stuff to mental giants like Biden of Arabia, or the unnamed experts that Hillary contended were as knowledgable of McChrystal of the situation on the ground…
Has anyone seen an explanation of why it’s Obama’s job to flog Chicago as an Olympics venue? I mean, we all know the REAL reason (he owes a lot of favors to the Chicago machine), but what’s the public reason?
I don’t recall any President getting involved in the Olympics selection process before (could’ve happened, but it’s not coming to mind).
Maybe he’s just looking for something to do? Two wars and an economic crisis just not enough to fill his busy, busy day?
sdferr: If Clinton had made the “sacrifice” of visiting Copenhagen, he’d have come back with a couple more notches on the bedpost. However, I’m starting to get the feeling that Obama isn’t interested in the ladies all that much, if you know what I mean. Certainly not ones who might remind him of his white, racist grandmother who took him in and raised him after his mother abandoned him to “find herself”.
IOW, less than one year later, are Americans empowered with the vote pleased with their choice?
Nope.
sdferr,
excellent synopsis…
Darth Rove,
That’s a hard wuestion. In the thought experiment do voters know the actual truth about Obama, or are they still responding to the character in the meta-narrative?
Without additional information, which we have asked for but which, so far, has not been provided by the campaign, we haven’t been able to independently verify this information.
So this is what has been claimed, but not verified. Odd, given that such is the premise of the thread.
We want better candidates. You can’t always get what you want, but we just got what we deserved.
SBP, you’ve picked up on an allusion that escapes me. Was it “cross-stitch technique“?
I loved København, except for all the hippies.
Many fine looking wimmins over by there.
sdferr
“We Need All of Our Children to be Exposed to the Olympic Ideals”
Exactly. And when the facade cracks, as it’s already threatening to do? That’s where this goes. BO hasn’t the simple persistence of a Clinton or even a Carter.
Clinton was an apparent character disorder. The left has promoted dysfunctional screwballs from at least Johnson, if not earlier. But this one is different.
Just thinking of some of the stories about Obama’s misogyny, sdferr, especially towards white women.
#53: So “all of our children” live in Chicago in Michelle’s mind?
Just thinking of some of the stories about Obama’s misogyny, sdferr, especially towards white women.
SBP, okay I am listening. Other than throwing grandma under the bus.
Bob@47, the question is based on “what we know today”, which I intended to mean including news reports, actions Obama’s taken or not taken, things he’s said, things McCain has done and said, etc. Basically, all of reality up to today.
No further expansions of the hypothetical, please. This isn’t Pat Frey’s site.
“We Need All of Our Children to be Exposed to the Olympic Ideals”
What, ancient Greek sky fairies buggering anyone they fancy on a whim? I don’t think we want children exposed to that. The people all a-twitter over Polanski, though…
“the Olympic Ideals”
Used to go to the pretense of amateurism, did they not? And now-a-days have been abandoned as the joke they had long been?
Well then Darth Rove,
As SBP pointed out by posting the Rasmussen poll, it’s probably safe to say that McMav would be elected today instead of Obama…And the entire country, instead of merely a small percentage, would be racist!
But our foreign policy would be in a heck of a lot better shape, that’s for sure; domestic policy? I shudder to think about it…
JHo,
Obama’s astounding narcissism is what drives some peoples fear that he’ll try and pull a Zelaya and, in the vein of his buddy oooo-go, try to become President for life…
I would hope that if he did, that the same fate would befall him as that nut-ball Zelaya…
I tend to agree, Bob.
Truth be told, if McCain had won in November I think we’d still have a ton of buyer’s remorse and a convincing majority would have wished for a do-over. However, we would have known we were getting a dud rather than the “winners” now who thought they were getting the Second Coming and Christmas Every Day combined.
No further expansions of the hypothetical, please. This isn’t Pat Frey’s site.
I just shot coffee through my nose. Thanks.
No doubt had McCain won we would be complaining. But for McCain’s many faults, he has been rock solid on votes controlling spending (in fact since the election I think his voting record is the best in the Senate along with Coburn and DeMint on such issues). I doubt there would have been a massive stimulus beyond the TARP. I am pretty sure McCain would have but a greater emphasis on winning in Afghanistan as opposed to getting the Olympics.
And this would be Andrew Sullivan with Sarah Palin as veep.
Unfortunately we are not trusted by the Progessives. This is what they think of us.
I am pretty sure McCain would have but a greater emphasis on winning in Afghanistan as opposed to getting the Olympics.
He also would likely not have nationalized the auto industry, nor pissed away three quarters of a trillion dollars on a pig roast, nor cobbled together a Trojan Horse for nationalized health care, nor said the words “I don’t know the facts, but the cop acted stupidly.” He would not now be the subject of creepy hymns from American tots.
And we would likely be bitching about him.
Wow, Roland, nice name calling. Evidently, you’ve got no substantive rebuttal, so, you resort to a classic liberal tactic. Yet, I gather you’re not liberal. Interesting.
Anyway, Carin, I see where my original argument went off the rails. I mentioned Obama when I should have said we can’t completely blame MSM. Yeah, MSM didn’t do their job. Republicans didn’t necessarily help matters, either.
Oh, and Roland, there were these little bills passed under Bush that spent a lot of money: Transportation, Farm bill (can you say “ethanol subsidies?”) Medicare part D, etc., etc.
Roland, I didn’t say Bush is completely to blame, because he had some help with a Republican congress. Nor did I say President Bush was wrong in everything he did.
So, piss off, Roland, my argument stands and you have no serious rebuttal.
I blame Republicans for Barky being a dirty little whiny lackadasical socialist.
Positively Presidential.
Nope, just American.
That Obama’s common work history disturbs the Royalists here makes his victory just a little bit sweeter.
Here’s a few more college jobs the American Stinker’s “researchers” missed:
We know of his summer job between his second and third years of law school at Sidley Austin in Chicago, where he met Michelle, who was already at the firm.
The summer before, Obama worked at Hopkins & Sutter, a law firm in Chicago.
As a college student at Occidental in Southern California, Obama returned home to Hawaii the summer after freshman year to sell island trinkets in a gift shop.
Obama also had a summertime job at a deli counter in Hawaii — making sandwiches.
Once in New York to attend Columbia, one summer Obama worked for a private company holding a contract to process health records of police officer and firefighters.
Remember when you Righties accused Kos & Co. of always choosing narrative over the truth?
Look in the mirror.
· During one school year at Columbia, Obama was a telemarketer in midtown Manhattan selling New York Times subscriptions over the phone, wearing a headset. He did not like the job because “he worried that some of the people he called couldn’t really afford the subscription.”
Finally, Roland, my argument was not about what President Obama is currently doing. Yes, President Obama is a lousy empty suit of a socialist wannnabe president. That is beyond dispute.
The argument is about how we got to this point.
Big difference.
Here’s a link to a heartwarming video where Obama talks about being an average American who had to work during college:
http://letustalk.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/obama-summer-jobs-used-to-work-at-baskin-robbins/
If you’ll notice, Blake, the rebuttal is everywhere. Your argument, far from standing, is rhetorical slush.
Obviously dissatisfaction with the ruling party leads to opposition victory. Congratulations on grasping Civics 101. But to pretend that Obama’s fatuousness is now not the issue, as your “look, BUNNIES!” routine does, is simply sophomoric.
Snowcone, “working your way through college” implies job paid for college.
Are you seriously making the argument that Obama made enough money at the jobs you list to pay his own way through an Ive League school?
We have evidence for any of those jobs beyond Obama’s word, Snowcone?
I’m just asking. I don’t have a dog in this hunt.
Hell, if it’s all about the amateurism, then who better to advocate?
Okay, Andrew, congratulations on identifying dissatisfaction with the ruling party as being the reason we wound up with Obama.
You’re a master of the obvious.
So, now, tell me, what is the basis for dissatisfaction with the ruling party?
I claim it was due to big spending, more than anything.
What is your counter claim/argument? Or, are you more into cheap rhetorical flourishes rather than proposing your own ideas?
I think the concern is more immediate, and as alluded, when the facade crumbles, there could be a dangerous period between then and resignation. These types don’t go easily, witness The Impeached Democrat Adolescent President, a man arguably BO’s intellectual and strategic better. Certainly he had vastly more experience than BO, and he managed to hang on at all cost.
It’s increasingly doubtful that in this world, BO has what it takes to so much as last 4 years in that office, regardless of what he does there. That concerns me.
We being the Royalists who bitched a state governor out of office on the grounds that our dumpster pickings disqualified her. I see.
Working your way through college implies you are working DURING the school year.
Those who don’t, at least, get a job during the summer are either 1) Lazy or 2) privileged.
Ivy League…egads…
Btw, Andrew, keep it up, I appreciate the chance to argue and perhaps learn something.
That and she’s just so damned common. Ewww. If only she’d spent a month or so doing something so marvelous as scooping ice cream…
I claim it was due to big spending, more than anything.
How about the press banging on about Gitmo, waterboarding, coffins arriving at Dover, WallStreet WallStreet WallStreet, taxcuts for the rich, Where’s Osama, yada yada yada, for the last 6 years?
Granted, the ‘pubs did fuckall to help themselves, but please, this guy is Billy Mays grade late night “Call in the next 10 minutes” crap that no one bothered to take a hard look at. We know more about Palin’s daughter’s sex life than we do about The Won’s academic record.
Wow, Obama sure worked hard jobs…in the summer. Subscription calling! Makes me ashamed I was only a Scout Observer in the CSC 2/130 INF year round.
Look, Bush’s obvious domestic and fiscal incompetence — call it a broken veto pen and a misled spirit of bipartisanship if you like — is a far cry from what could be credibly charged about the Bush family, which is that there’s not a classical liberal in there. Are we saying the right didn’t note that when the GOP ran McCain?
Dubya’s accomplishments in foreign policy in this increasingly dangerous and destabilized world do not endorse Family Bush’s evident globalism and government expansionism. BushCo was no friend of personal liberty under the most recent in a string of Democrap congresses, and was little friend of a healthy measure of both national sovereignty and disengagement.
During and following this era, the 4th estate blew secprogg myth up to Macy’s parade proportions and ushered in the BO roadshow w/o the slightest real vetting. The point stands that while BO relied on the idiocy of the American people wrt unicorns and free shit, they did so following one of the worst administrations in the last few, which says something. Dubya will be saddled with the economic meltdown because it so nicely follows his agreement to profligate spending and complete DC irresponsibility.
“Comment by LTC John on 10/1 @ 9:11 am #”
Yeah, but can you scoop ice cream?
She probably did but it was at that wholly gauche church social with the bears on the edge of the parking lot. Barky Olberman did it in touch with The Voters who, in a final throwing off of the chains that bound them…ACORN paid to install him or something about like that.
There’s a difference and the press are neomoralists, so…
SNOWBILLY!
He did not like the job because “he worried that some of the people he called couldn’t really afford the subscription.”
So, with this impressive reality-based resume’, he decided to become a Community Organizing President and make everything “free”, mmm..mmm..mmm.
Roland, I will never deny that MSM is complicit. That MSM did everything in their power to destroy President Bush. MSM was corrupt enough to run a fake a story about President Bush in order to discredit him.
However, from my point of view, Republicans, at their own peril, ignore their own shortcomings. It is not a winning argument for Republicans to blame MSM for everything that went wrong.
Okay, Andrew, congratulations on identifying dissatisfaction with the ruling party as being the reason we wound up with Obama.
You’re a master of the obvious.
Didn’t I just accuse you of this? If you’re going to accuse me of cheap rhetorical flourishes, oh Plato, could you at least not recycle them?
So, now, tell me, what is the basis for dissatisfaction with the ruling party?
I claim it was due to big spending, more than anything.
In all likelihood, yes. And if you want to use this as a springboard for saying, “what the GOP/Right/Wingnuttia OUGHT to be proposing is ___________” then I have no beef with you.
But you seem to be using it as a springboard for “Thou shalt not criticize OBAMA.” So it’s less the point, and more the timing, or kairos, as the old Greeks called it.
Snowcone, “working your way through college” implies job paid for college.
I worked my way through college.
I also took out some loans.
It’s curious that this is the second article from American Stinker in a day that is essentially the Right lying to itself.
Does this mean you guys have given up on national politics?
However, in large part, the opposition party holds most of the blame.
je’cuse!
Umm, Andrew, I called Obama the “shiny new penny” president and an empty suit. And those are some of the kinder things I’ve said about him.
How you pulled “Thou shalt not criticize Obama” from that I’m not sure.
And, you accused me of saying “look bunnies” when you, in fact are engaging in same form.
My basic argument has long been what I listed. Now, you’re saying I need to also argue the GOP should propose X, then you’d have no beef.
Seems to me, though, if I have a beef with spending, it would logically lead one to conclude I think the GOP should stop spending money and get back to their fiscally conservative roots.
Okay, since I need to spell it out for you, I think the GOP should go back to their limited government fiscally conservative constitutional roots.
And, Andrew, perhaps we’re talking past one another.
In one sense, I can see where you could get the idea I’m against criticizing Obama. There is some truth to that argument, because of the old “log in your own eye before looking at the mote someone else’s eye.”
So, adding to my “blaming MSM for Republican failures is not a winning argument” leads also to “blaming Obama for Republican failures” is not a winning argument either.
Your initial post was in opposition of Carin’s blaming the media for not vetting Obama. It takes very little imagination to assume that your intent is that we should delay criticism of the other sides’s perfidy and lies until we have our own house in order. It’s a variation on the “look, BUNNIES” theme, and rather a pointless one.
This is not a house of cheerleading for Bush the Younger’s spending. It never has been. It never will be. You are preaching to the choir. We do not need to be told this.
So again, the criticism is not of your argument, but your intent in using it. Since now you have made plain your motives, I don’t see that we have anything further to argue about.
It would be nice if we had a world where criticisms of spending logically led one to think spending should be decreased. However, I think it obvious that we don’t have that world.
A couple of things. “Working your way through college” implies that you worked while (at the same time as) you took classes not that you did a summer job. It also implies that the money from your job was a major portion of how you paid for college. The total gross pay from the jobs listed wouldn’t amount to 10% of what it cost to attend Columbia and Harvard. They wouldn’t even have paid for the books, though they may have been enough to cover the various “student fees”, maybe.
Blaming Obama only goes so far, it is certainly true. After which, one must govern. And at that point, all your criticism will be most needed.
This is not a house of cheerleading for Bush the Younger’s spending.
The only question is: Did you vote for W. or not?
Whether you whined about him is meaningless.
If you voted for him…his spending is your fault.
Andrew,
You make a good point about criticism of spending. Because liberals only care about where money is spent, not how much of it is spent.
Also, to backtrack, after I posted and Carin responded, I realized I’d put in Obama when I should have said MSM.
I understand about the lack of cheerleading for the big spending of President Bush on this blog.
I’ve also seen, though, too many people who are too quick to point at MSM and blame them, rather than look a little closer to home for culpability.
And, even more disconcerting, I’ve yet to hear any sort of mea culpa from GOP leadership. From what I can tell, the GOP thinks they can win by using the argument “well, we’re not Democrats.”
Snowcone, that’s stupid.
A voter is not held responsible for everything a politician does. It’s ludicrous to argue otherwise. Do you really want to be held responsible for everything Obama does, whether you disagree or no?
If Obama decides to double-down on Afghanistan, in violation of your express wishes on the subject, is that your fault?
Snow needs to look at that US Consitution thingie – I am pretty sure it says something about where expenditures come from. [Hint it starts with House and ends with of Representatives]
Taking W to task about not vetoing such spending is another thing altogether. See archives of this site for plenty of examples.
Blake,
Your criticisms are all perfectly valid, and I never intended to suggest otherwise.
Timing has value.
If Obama decides to double-down on Afghanistan, in violation of your express wishes on the subject, is that your fault?
I’ll take responsibility, but as long as we’re cutting and running from Iraq I don’t really care what we’re doing in Afghanistan.
That’s how lost causes are.
Shorter snowcone Look at this giant grolly I yanked out of my nose!
But I support the troops!
Did you vote for Obama? If so, are his trillions in deficit your fault as well?
But, well, LtC John is correct. The President proposes; Congress disposes.
Alphie/Snowcone’s knowledge of both The Constitution and the actual workings of government could fit on the head of a pin … with room to spare.
The pin would be held by a microscopic little sewing lady.
But feel sympathy for Alphie/Snowcone, royalist wingers. LTC John came back unharmed from Iraq, much to poor Alphie’s disappointment.
Bammy probably sold dime bags to pay for college.
The margin on P or Q-P to dime/nickels is righteous and can settle a lot of bills, even give one a little stash on the side for free – y’know for pulling the chicks upstairs during the friday night kegger.
Oops, did I just say that out loud?
alphie is the most effective anti-progg intellectual* machinery ever devised. Let’s run it as VP on the next GOP ticket. Win!
*you know what I mean.
Andrew,
You properly took me to task on a few assumptions, forced me to sharpen my arguments and explain myself.
All in all, it was a productive exchange.
Bush’s spending is really not all that gaspworthy or shocking. After the 9/11 recession was made all better, he presided over three years of substantially declining deficits. He tried to meaningly reform Social Security, which the dirty socialists said was in super great shape. Now it’s paying out more than it’s taking in. The Medicare benefit for seniors was inevitable cause our selfish AARP codgers whore themselves out for a 10% discount at a Holiday Inn Express. AARP codgers, meet your new friend swine flu I think. Hah. But anyway, how Bush enacted it was way more better than how the dirty socialists would have done it. Bush took good care of our little country. Obama is raping the shit out of it. Big difference.
This is not a house of cheerleading for Bush the Younger’s spending.
The only question is: Did you vote for W. or not?
Whether you whined about him is meaningless.
If you voted for him…his spending is your fault.
That is idiotic. Truly. Bravo.
“as we’re cutting and running from Iraq”
I guess he missed that whole surge and victory thing in 07-08. It was kind of hard to miss…well, at least for me being there with MNSTC-I and all. I presume there were press reports of some sort of activity? They may have mentioned some fella named David…last name started with a “P”.
I guess he missed that whole surge and victory thing in 07-08
If you want to declare victory in Iraq and pull out, you’ll get no argument from me.
Agreement!
Though I always hear from the Right that the GWOT is one big war, not separate ones.
Foolish consistency and all that?
There is personal narrative embroidery done by the addition of falsifiable factual claim as seen here both in the Obama book story and in the proposition that Obama was a legislator of note.
There is also a narrative stitchery achieved by the removal of certain key threads from the piece. For instance, look to this AP story for any mention of the name “Richard Armitage”.
I remember on VE day that Japan breathed a sigh of relief that the whole WWII was now over and they won.
I’ll take responsibility, but as long as we’re cutting and running from Iraq I don’t really care what we’re doing in Afghanistan.
That’s how lost causes are.
I would take you to task for your inconsistency here, but that seems beside the point.
I am curious as to WHY you feel its necessary to take the blame yourself for something you did not do.
I mean, I understand the argument that the ultimate political action (all things being equal) is at the ballot box, but it just seems simplistic to me to say “I voted Obama, hence I am responsible for all he does.” You’re not and can’t be. Every four years, we are presented with a binary choice. A mass of hedging and hope goes with either way.
Meanwhile, reporting from the End of the Republican’s Depression:
DJIA stumbles by over a point and a half. Half a million new jobless claims.
I’m always astonished how many otherwise perceptive folk think that Scooter Libby leaked Plame’s identity.
Armitage being one of the original PNAC claque seems to make him an attention magnet, but it seems the opposite has occurred. I’m thinking that it’s because ignoring him helps keep Cheney and Rove on the suspects list.
…which, obviously, is more indicative of more wishful thinking than of a desire for something like justice, and righting of some purported national security wrong.
And all the while the AP is willing to insinuate “Plame’s identity was leaked to news organizations after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush administration’s prewar intelligence on Iraq in 2003.” Slart, as if Armitage was actually out to get her rather than mock the stupidity of her sending her husband!
Slarti,
New narrative. Afghanistan is the Republicans war, credit contagion is the Republicans crisis. Dow Jones is a conservative construct (if its going down, otherwise green shoots baby). Either way, Plastic Jebus is not responsible or accountable.
Those half million new jobless gonna be thrilled when Barry brings home all those Olumpic economic multipliers. Crazy olumpic jobs creation in the concession stand and hot dog cart vendor industries.
I remember on VE day that Japan breathed a sigh of relief that the whole WWII was now over and they won.
Iraq is calm now because most of the bad guys went to Afghanistan to fight.
They can easily go back to Iraq.
, but it just seems simplistic to me to say “I voted Obama, hence I am responsible for all he does
Not as simplistic than saying, “I’m not a Republican, but I vote straight-ticket Republican every single election.”
Evidence?
I smell poo.
I don’t think anyone has said that, here, Snowcone.
This is probably just one more example of your wishful thinking speaking louder than the words of others.
I don’t think anyone has said that, here, Snowcone.
Raise your hand if you’ve said, “I’m not a Republican, I’m a Conservative!”
Or the more laughable, “I’m not a Republican, I’m a classical liberal!”
Snowcow, what point do you THINK you are making?
He’s just monkeypooflinging. He has absolutely no idea that he’s not addressing his cartoon version of Jeff’s readership, he’s addressing actual people of differing political POVs.
I’m guessing this isn’t going to set things right, though, so I’m not sure why I’m bothering.
Hey, Slart, ever listen to Porcupine Tree?
Alphie’s responsible for all them brown people being vaporized by JDAMs now, I guess. Bad alphie.
Snowcow, what point do you THINK you are making?
If you’re a voter, you’re either a Republican or a Democrat.
The little mind games we play to distance ourselves from the excesses of the party we vote for are meaningless.
Alphie’s projecting, while flinging that poo, too.
Blake said it best in #92: “…limited government fiscally conservative constitutional roots.”
I don’t know if that genie can be stuffed back into the bottle or not.
If you’re a voter, you’re either a Republican or a Democrat
um. no.
Teh Stoopid is strong in this one.
The little mind games we play to distance ourselves from the excesses of the party we vote for are meaningless.
I think most of, here, have advanced beyond these little mind games. I don’t think I can say the same for the other side of the isle.
Remember how Rush never EVER criticized Bush over the course of 8 years? Yea, me neither.
Ever pick up a National Review?
Most Republicans had to hold their nose to vote for McCain, which they only did because they knew Obama would be worse.
Just a little, but I like what I’ve heard.
I’m digging ’em.
Not that I ready to give up on Tool or anything, but … you know, new (to me) stuff.
I’m a registered Republican, at present, because I wanted to vote against Ric Keller in the primaries.
I completely failed to anticipate that Grayson would win the D primaries.
Most of my voting is nose-holding, one way or another. My wife held her nose and voted Grayson, just to get Keller out of office.
Most Republicans had to hold their nose to vote for McCain, which they only did because they knew Obama would be worse.
The cry of misunderstood populaces down through history.
Best two songs (so far):
Blackest Eyes and Shallow.
Snowcow- I have no interest in revisiting the 08 elections. Most of us WERE HERE, and I know how most of them felt. You can read the archives, other than that, this is BORING. You can also read that we haven’t been the Bush Cheerleaders you claim.
Registered independent, though I may have to register Republican for the CA primaries. It looks like the RNC is going to throw CA Republicans to the wolves by running Carly Fiorina.
I refuse to vote for Fiorina.
Snowcone hardly ever lets evidence sway his opinions. They spring fully formed from his brow, like some idiot version of Athena from the head of some idiot version of Zeus.
Obama had to work summer jobs while he was in college…How else would he afford bags of weed and cigarettes..?
“Not as simplistic than saying, ‘I’m not a Republican, but I vote straight-ticket Republican every single election.’”
Well, speaking of the last few national level elections, what choice have we had? I mean, c’mon, Gore, Kerry, Obama? That’s a rogue’s gallery of statists, elitists, and would be domestic petty-tyrants, all while being wimps abroad, right there…
Here’s a clue, Booooosh! wasn’t extrememly popular mostly due to his profligate spending under the guise of compassionate conservatism-really a form of Democrat lite at best, but more likely bribes to keep them on board and avoid them undercutting the national security agenda, since Democrats haven’t been tough or effective on defense since FDR…
But given those choices? I’d vote for him again! Or more accurately, vite against those other pusillanimous poseurs…
What purity, what sage technique! to not allow stubborn facts and inconvenoent truths to cloud your preconcieved notions…
oh, just completely ignore Nader and McKinney. you racist.
I guess snohole isn’t going to answer my #123. Shocka!
Ignoring a crazy person like McKinney isn’t racist. It’s discrimination.
Pablo,
Have an adult show you how to use Google, okay?
Jihadis shift attention to war in Afghanistan
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0819/p01s02-wome.html
Did you read that article, Snowcow? ‘Cause, in light of the information it contained, what would be your assessment of Baracky’s plan (assumed at this point) to abandon Afghanistan?
what would be your assessment of Baracky’s plan (assumed at this point) to abandon Afghanistan?
I’m all for it…the sooner the better.
I voted for Mike Rowe and Joe Paterno. Y’all ain’t pinning any o’ this on me!
Blake@143: I refuse to vote for Fiorina.
Sexist. I denounce you.
I just had a great idea for a charter airline service.
Even Sarkozy thinks your an ass.
you’re, too!
As an evil big business Republican, Fiorina can no longer claim to be a woman or a victim, according to liberals.
See: Palin, Sarah.
I can only be denounced if I’m against wymen of the left.
It is like yellowsnow/alphie is on a mission to prove that it can be an ass every time it clicks on Say It.
…vet the guy running for President before he’s elected…
What a concept!
OT: by way of Powerline we learn of the establishment of the Leo Strauss Center at the University of Chicago. This is great news for any classical liberal and for those who would like to place the thought of classical liberals in the more sweeping context of western thought as a whole. Scott Hinderaker linked as well the audio of a Strauss lecture on the Platonic dialog Meno.
I almost thought he was prepared to be honest with me. To exchange ideas and perceptions. Instead he took it up to 11, again.
The little mind games we play to distance ourselves from the excesses of the party we vote for are meaningless.
This sounds like Truth, but is in fact preposterous. To agree to it is to say that you are no different from the most extreme member of the party you belong to. The crowd is as weak as its strongest voice.
You are precisely what the head of your party says you are. You have no identity. You are either a Confederate or a Communist. No alternative remains.
This simplisme is the credo of serfs, of slaves. It is, if I may confirm my status in Snowcone’s gallery of demons, un-American.
To agree to it is to say that you are no different from the most extreme member of the party you belong to.
Like there were good Nazis?
(I am aware of all internet traditions)
We aren’t talking about Nazis, Snowcone. We’re talking about Republicans and Democrats.
You can see the distinctions, right?
“(I am aware of all internet traditions)”
The non-employable frequently are.
You can see the distinctions, right?
Are you saying that when a political party does something really, really bad, then everyone who voted for them is guilty.
But otherwise voters share no responsibility for what the party they vote for does?
I think my fellow childhood treat is deeply confused by the notion of voting against a party as opposed to for one. Prolly on account of the snowcone brainfreeze. It isn’t like there’s any kind of philosophy or real understanding of the issues behind our our shaved ice with flavored syrup friends idiotic musings.
Just because you see yourself as a “Jet” doesn’t mean everyone who is not a “Jet” is a “Shark”.
Democrats the Party of Jr. High. No wonder they love Polanski so.
I think a majority of Americans still vote for a candidate rather than against them Blow.
You lost me at “I think,” you summertime novelty treat.
I think snowcone’s political philosophy is isomorphic to that of team sports. I’m gonna root for my team:party and boo your team:party. Because my dad rooted for them.
I think a majority of Americans still vote against a candidate rather than for them Blow.
Whee! this is fun!
I also think thoughts when I’m in the mood.
I think a majority of Americans still vote against a candidate rather than for them Blow.
That doesn’t sound very satisfying, maggie.
No party truly represents you, so you just vote against the Dems every election?
Why argue with Snowcome when he can just argue with the voices in his head?
I’d vote for Zell Miller over Olympia Snowe.
It would be a vote for Miller and against Snowe.
I’ll stand back while your head tries to wrap itself around that thought, snowcone.
Snocone, read what you link to:
C/P from the CSM article you linked to
General Blanchette added that the ISAF “has no evidence to suggest there is increased movement of insurgents from Iraq to Afghanistan as of now.”
#
Comment by Snowcone on 10/1 @ 12:33 pm #
Pablo,
Have an adult show you how to use Google, okay?
Jihadis shift attention to war in Afghanistan
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0819/p01s02-wome.html
Snowy…maybe you could get an adult to read it to you, or teach you how to get past the headline ;-))
Are you saying that when a political party does something really, really bad, then everyone who voted for them is guilty.
But otherwise voters share no responsibility for what the party they vote for does?
Always the all-or-nothing with you, eh?
First of all, the entire idea of “voter responsibility” is a bit spurious. It’s not as though you can be sued or arrested for your vote. So the only way the concept applies is in the sense of moral responsibility, i.e. “I gave assent to this.” But if you vote for candidate A because you like his idea for Position X, but not because of his idea for Position Y, are you “morally responsible” if A does Y and it turns out badly?
Or if, when candidate A is considering Y, you make clear that you’re against it?
Does none of this matter at all?
And really, what’s the point of the exercise except to gather ammunition for pointless bombast? If Obama doesn’t end up “cutting and running”, to use your phrase, from Iraq or Afghanistan, do I get to blame you for that, even though your staunchly against that, just because you voted for him? And what good would it do either of us?
How about I agree to point the finger at you for all the things Obama does that you favor, and say “you gave assent to this”? Doesn’t that seem more reasonable?
Why does anyone address the TTP? There is no debate or discussion. He/she/it is a mule; no, a rock. Mules respond if you hit it between the eyes with a stick.
Can you read this, Pablo?
“In May, an Al Qaeda-linked website announced the death of two of its fighters in Afghanistan, including one who had played a prominent role in AQI: Abu Suleiman al-Oteibi.”
? If Obama doesn’t end up “cutting and running”, to use your phrase, from Iraq or Afghanistan, do I get to blame you for that, even though your staunchly against that…
Yes, but, in 1968, Nixon ran as the guy who was going to get America out of Vietnam as fast as possible.
It took him 5 years, but he finally did it.
So, you’ve got One. Fucking. Guy. corndog? And that’s your evidence of this?
Your village ought to be damned proud of you, freezepop. You’re the best idiot this side of Chicago.
“There are unsubstantiated rumors and reflections that perhaps some foreign fighters originally intended for Iraq may have gone to the FATA,” he said, referring to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, where militants have a secure staging ground for movements into neighboring Afghanistan.
Petraeus said that until now, al-Qaeda communications have made clear that Iraq is its highest priority for battle. “That could be under review.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-07-19-petraeus-fighters_N.htm
“Iraq is calm now because …” cribbed from Pablo’s comment.
Certainly not because al Qaeda people who were fighting in Iraq simply up and went to Afghanistan, though some of them may have, but because the al Qaeda people who were in Iraq and many thousands of their Iraqi affiliates there had their asses handed to them by American servicemen, American allies and Iraqi fighters: they lost the war and the Iraqis and Americans won. Not too complicated a story, actually.
They’re dead, Jim.
Sure there were, milkdud. Oskar Schindler was a Nazi.
They’re dead, Jim.
That’s certainly good news.
Time to start the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
So much for the “O”s campaign promise to win in Afghanistan and find Osama benLaden.
Hey, Blake, before you blame Bush, maybe you can explain this chart, which shows that even with a recession, a Clinton allowed terrorist attack, and the resulting war (which Democrats were calling for for years), the deficits were steadily dropping UNTIL the Copperheads got control of the Congress (you know, where budgets actually get written) in FY2007.
I already invited snowblower to explain it, and he ran like a girl. Can you do any different?
AQI and the JAM are dead. Iraq survived their attempt to take over. Now the Iraqis get to decide what they want their government to be – not the Persians or the Syrians or anyone else.
Next, we do the same to the Talib, HIG and Haqqani. Or so the President said he wanted to do so. But now it looks hard and his left wing base is unhappy with him fumbling health care nationalization – so he may just choose to throw the Afghans to the wolves. Shameful if it happens.
So, you concede that you pulled your “fact” directly from your ass, jellybean?
SDN,
Sure, deficits were going down, but it was illusory because of the real estate bubble. Once that bubble popped, it started us down the road to a much more serious problem.
The current president is engaged in throwing gasoline on an already raging fire.
Question: So why did they stop going down when Democrats took over the fiscal machinery? Before the bubble popped.
I answered the first question.
My only theme is the problem does not start and end with Democrats taking over Congress.
I’m tired of that talking point, because it is not based in reality.
WAY late, but Blake? you’re so stuck on your own argument that you’re not listening to others.
They’re on the same ssid mu friend, just looking at it from differing angles.
Shouldn’t we be addressing national issues here at home – like all of the people in New Orleans that are still homeless? THE WAR ONLY BENEFITED HALIBURTON……… ok. We all get that…… Lets be part of the solution. Dialogue. Figure out ways to get out of the mess we were left with……. especially here at home. There are still people living in tents from Katrina…..how about focusing all this anger — and hatred – in a direction where it can do some good? I don’t know – maybe use a nail gun to build a wall on a new house……help some people…… I mean isn’t that what all of you say you’re gonna do when you go to church on Sunday? Well, the Christians anyways. Be charitable? Help others? Those in need? Why argue about people and places that we, as individuals, have no control over? We just don’t. Let fix the things we DO have control over? Just curious.