Althouse: "Ah, look, an old man in the clouds."

July 23, 2008

"Ah, look, an old man in the clouds."

"... he's going to gaze serenely into the distance as he summons a few graceful fighter jets."

73 comments:

Anonymous said...: This piece of art is a perfect metaphor for the election. Not great -- not at all -- but it is more palatable than the socialism on offer from the other side.; 7/23/08, 9:59 PM
The Drill SGT said...: Ann,

OT: am posting here, because you are more likely to see it here..

sorry

Tom McGuire has a great find for your piece. He calls it Klein vs Klein

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2008/07/klein-v-klein.html

I won't spoil it, but its great; 7/23/08, 10:12 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: So, when Obama is an old man...maybe as old as McCain, do you think his scrap book of memories will include all the propoganda posters? Possibly some buttons and flyers all with the socialistic theme that he has goind. "Look, my grandchildren, this is me when I almost got elected President... freaking honky racists!!!"

McCain is already pretty old, I suggest he start scrap booking pretty quickly.; 7/23/08, 10:21 PM
1775OGG said...: Has anyone else noticed that the photos of BHO that appear in the media all show BHO as a the
"Strong man," the "thoughtful man," the "merciful man," etc... Also, some of those photos show a bright edge near or around his head.

Is this a result of the images appearing to the pix takers or or a natural result of his Lightmaking abilities?

However, I could be cynical since such wonderful care is not taken with BHO's opponents, whom-so-ever those might be?

Ps: Benito Mussolini's photographer might still be around and working these days for AP, Reuters, McClatchiness, and others. Or his students took good notes.; 7/23/08, 10:28 PM
somefeller said...: You kids better get off my lawn, or I'll have your asses bombed into the Stone Age!; 7/23/08, 10:36 PM
ricpic said...: The problem isn't the image. The problem is that fewer and fewer Americans respond to McCain's brand of unabashed patriotism.

Anything lacking in irony or archness embarrasses the withit people. The withits are suckers. But not in the old fashioned square way. They're suckers for hipness: an element fatally lacking in McCain.; 7/23/08, 10:36 PM
Anonymous said...: To hell with the old man in the clouds. When did Pamela Anderson get that third arm?; 7/23/08, 10:39 PM
Anonymous said...: I for one have really been enjoying the soft-core porn ads on Althouse.; 7/23/08, 10:41 PM
The Drill SGT said...: I'm waiting for a Berlin Torch lit Parade.

a "Party Rally"

Leni is gone, but there are others who could do your film work.; 7/23/08, 10:49 PM
Anonymous said...: The graphic portrayal of Obama lately has been disturbingly fascist. That combined with the social-realist way that Obama's very own handlers insist on promoting him is really odd and scary, not in an I'm worried for the fate of the Republic kind of way, but in a what do Obama's supporters enablers think about fascism and socialism? kind of way.; 7/23/08, 10:57 PM
Beth said...: "... he's going to gaze serenely into the distance as he summons a few graceful fighter jets."

And directs them to the Iraq-Pakistan border.; 7/23/08, 11:09 PM
The Drill SGT said...: I think of a LOTR reference. Obama as Saruman.

- Party Rally at Orthanc.

- Glib and able to captivate with the spoken word

- Gatherers and Sharers redistributing wealth from the top 50% of earners (who pay 97.5 percent of income taxes) to the folks who consume without paying much income tax; 7/23/08, 11:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Funny you should mention that border, Beth, for it was Obama who foolishly suggested that the United States plop American soldiers into Pakistan without Pakistani permission. Many countries would call this "war," but when you are as cool as the other side of the pillow (as Fonzie and so many other Harvard Law Review editors have been), it's just called policy.

Moreover, was it wise in retrospect for George W. Bush to suggest, as he did initially, that it would be a fool's errand to attempt nation-building in Afghanistan? The war in Iraq is won. Everybody says. How do you envision the war in Afghanistan being won? Tangible and specific benchmarks please. Also, Beth, bonus points if you can name three cities in Afghanistan or, in fact, know anything at all about the place.

Pontificate on.; 7/23/08, 11:16 PM
Anonymous said...: I add here, just in case it's needed, that I am fully aware that there is no such border.; 7/23/08, 11:17 PM
The Drill SGT said...: Well McCain, unlike Obama hasn't talked of invading Pakistan.

WaPo Aug 2007: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama issued a pointed warning yesterday to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, saying that as president he would be prepared to order U.S. troops into that country unilaterally if it failed to act on its own against Islamic extremists.; 7/23/08, 11:18 PM
Beth said...: There's no border, there, Seven. Once again, you lack a sense of jest.

The poster reads "Peace is born of Wisdom." That's worth a little wise-ass tweak.; 7/23/08, 11:20 PM
Beth said...: I add here, just in case it's needed, that I am fully aware that there is no such border.

An awareness that hit you about 1/2 second after you hit "post" on that huffy little screed.; 7/23/08, 11:21 PM
The Drill SGT said...: 7M,
for the record, as I said on an earlier post, ultimately any war in Afghanistan is unwinnable, by anybody. The best you can do is teach them lessons, buy friends and play one group off against another. Its a place for SF Groups and Predators.; 7/23/08, 11:21 PM
Beth said...: Seven, let me take that back. Huffy, yes. Screed was too much. Sorry - that was too quick on the draw and unfair.; 7/23/08, 11:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Beth -- I was pointing out to you that I got your jest this time, lest you take my allusion to your post too literally. My charge stands: you know very little about the region, the country, or the war.; 7/23/08, 11:27 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Drill Sgt, remember when the SF guys were told to shave?; 7/23/08, 11:28 PM
Zachary Sire said...: Too funny.

Whenever I think "peace", I think fighter jets.; 7/23/08, 11:30 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Seven, it was GWB who said that Osama could run but not hide. I must have missed the part where if he ran into Pakistan, he could hide.; 7/23/08, 11:30 PM
Anonymous said...: It was obvious from the context that what McCain meant was the Afghan-Pakistan border:

McCain appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” a few hours ago, and Diane Sawyer asked if he believed “the situation in Afghanistan is precarious and urgent.” McCain, carefully avoiding Sawyer’s adjectives, responded, “It’s a serious situation, but there’s a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do and I’m afraid that it’s a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border.”

Pretending McCain meant otherwise is dishonest.; 7/23/08, 11:32 PM
Beth said...: My charge stands: you know very little about the region, the country, or the war.

I'm not running for president. I'm not even applying for a position in National Security. You have no idea what I do or don't know, and I'm not taking a quiz for you. But I will continue to mock McCain when he's open to mocking.; 7/23/08, 11:32 PM
Peter Hoh said...: By the way, I think it's an effective poster for McCain, but I would have used a different border. Looks too much like one of those cheap motivational poster templates.; 7/23/08, 11:33 PM
Anonymous said...: I must have missed the part where if he ran into Pakistan, he could hide.

Well, Peter, the Bush Administration screwed it up back then, didn't they? But that was then and this is now and the political realities in Pakistan are entirely different now than they were then, aren't they? I think you'll agree that it doesn't do any good to pretend they are what they were, or that they are what we wish them to be rather than what they are.; 7/23/08, 11:35 PM
Beth said...: randy, it's always obvious, but politicians are stuck with their remarks. Gore didn't mean that he invented the internet, and it was a dishonest campaign meme that conservatives and the MSM joyfully picked up.

There are a million examples, and it's part of running for office. The more any supporter of any candidate squeals "That's not what he MEANT!" the funnier it is for everyone on the other side.; 7/23/08, 11:36 PM
Anonymous said...: 1. Wise people do think fighter jets when they think peace. "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

2. Peter -- I personally believe that Osama bin Laden is dead. However, it is true that he fled safely to Pakistan, at least for awhile, maybe until now.

Your lame and pitiful effort to score debate points begs the question: would you, like Obama (according to Obama) send American troops into a nuclear-armed country against that state's will? Because that's called war.

It would be nice, certainly, to get more cooperation from Pakistan. I highly doubt that the way to do is to send in the military.

When did you become such a hawkish military type, Peter? Or is it just whatever flows from Obama's mouth must be truth and light?; 7/23/08, 11:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Beth -- Thank you for your admission of gross and pitiful ignorance. I will refer to it in the future.; 7/23/08, 11:38 PM
Unknown said...: At least the ad has the planes in the air. It's a good contrast to the candidate who tended to crash them into the ground.; 7/23/08, 11:40 PM
Beth said...: You're welcome. I'll keep in mind your utter inability to take a joke about your candidate, and your lame attempt to change the subject by demanding I come up with a winning strategy in Afghanistan.; 7/23/08, 11:43 PM
Beth said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/23/08, 11:43 PM
vbspurs said...: "... he's going to gaze serenely into the distance as he summons a few graceful fighter jets."

Kindly. Avuncular. And experienced.

I like Ike.

Cheers,
Victoria; 7/23/08, 11:46 PM
Trooper York said...: Hey let's play nice boys and girls. My site just went live with a shopping cart and everything.

We will all better if we do a little shopping. I know I will.; 7/23/08, 11:47 PM
vbspurs said...: Whenever I think "peace", I think fighter jets.

Let me guess -- RuPaul in fishnets?; 7/23/08, 11:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Although I've never been a McCain supporter, nor will I ever vote for him, your claim that you are being humorous rings false.; 7/23/08, 11:54 PM
Beth said...: It would in a tin ear. Are you going to track me around from thread to thread, saying "that's not funny!"?

Because that IS funny. You win.; 7/23/08, 11:55 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Seven, when did I say that Obama was right when he said what he said about Pakistan? I am merely noting that he said pretty much the same thing that the President said.

Right after that Pakistan flap started, I proposed that Obama continue to say things that GWB had already said, just to see the reactions on both the left and the right.

As for hawkishness, I'm not sure if it counts, but I was frustrated by this administration's response to the insurgency. I thought the surge should have started a few years earlier. Instead, they wasted a lot of time arguing that the insurgency was on its last legs, and that additional troops were not needed. Thank God something finally made the President replace Rumsfeld.

I would not be surprised to learn that we were/are conducting some special forces operations in the tribal regions of Pakistan. We were pretty close to pulling one off in '05.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/washington/08intel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin; 7/24/08, 12:01 AM
Anonymous said...: No, not a tin ear. And No, I have no interest in tracking you. I've run across two things you wrote and responded to them as well as comments by others elsewhere. It didn't occur to me that THAT means I am following you around here. It is not all about YOU, OK? Wow.; 7/24/08, 12:02 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Trooper, where's the link to your store?; 7/24/08, 12:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Then, Peter, we agree far more than I suspected. I even was going to mention those motivational posters early on, but I couldn't think of the word "motivation."; 7/24/08, 12:08 AM
Beth said...: It is not all about YOU, OK? Wow.

Well, that's a relief. I hope that means I won't be held responsible for submitting a "winning" plan for Afghanistan, either.; 7/24/08, 12:10 AM
Beth said...: Yes, please, Trooper. I have your blog bookmarked, but no store site.; 7/24/08, 12:11 AM
1775OGG said...: When Obama's holding his acceptance, or coronation, speech in that Denver stadium, since it'll at night, the stadium will be lit up by 10,000 torches held by the audience.

Leni will be filming the event with at least 76-cameras strategically placed around the stadium in throughout the crowd. She wouldn't use video, she's too old-fashioned for that.

You'll recognize Leni, she'll be the one with ear-phones standing in the pit in front of Obama. She'll be wearing thigh-high black leather boots with a 6-inch heel.

There'll be a black and white border around Leni's official portrait of Obama.; 7/24/08, 12:14 AM
Anonymous said...: No, you need submit a winning plan only if you are writing an op-ed for the New York Times. There have a long list of prerequisites for your opinion piece, the primary one being that it strictly conform to theirs.; 7/24/08, 12:15 AM
Anonymous said...: Beth, my point still stands: you know nothing about Afghanistan, far less than McCain. It will probably be this way until that sad but inevitable day when you leave this vale of tears.

Don't let it stop you, though. Only fools let ignorance keep them from their punditry. Pontificate on.; 7/24/08, 12:17 AM
Trooper York said...: It's now up at leeleesvalise.com

We are still working on it feverishly to get it up by 8AM tomorrow when it will most definitely crash. The photos that we shot today won't go up until two or three this morning. Yipeee.

You can see the wife’s podcasts so you can learn how to buy a bra and other good stuff like that.

Let me know what you think.; 7/24/08, 12:19 AM
Palladian said...: "We are still working on it feverishly to get it up by 8AM tomorrow when it will most definitely crash. "

This sounds disturbingly like John & Cindy McCain's pillow talk.; 7/24/08, 12:24 AM
Anonymous said...: Looks good, Trooper. The long intro to that podcast about packing light was surprisingly political.; 7/24/08, 12:26 AM
Trooper York said...: Yeah, we have nothing to do with the intro, just the fashion tips. Plus there is usually stuff about Paris Hilton and what not in the begining. Just zip through that till you get to the underwear.

Wait isn't that what Cindy McCain said?

Nevermind.; 7/24/08, 12:29 AM
Beth said...: Okay, seven. Your magic seeing eye discerns that I know nuthin' 'bout 'nuthin. How can anyone argue with that? You're the knower. You know it all. You know McCain. You know Afghanistan. You know me and all I know and don't know. You know it all.; 7/24/08, 12:37 AM
Beth said...: Trooper, so you're saying you want the South Dakota women to pack light, but not that light?; 7/24/08, 12:40 AM
Trooper York said...: Hey forget that one, watch the bra one just below it. Now that's entertainment.; 7/24/08, 12:44 AM
Beth said...: I'll check it out -- gettin' sleepy so I'll try to be part of the big server crash tomorrow. Something to look forward to!; 7/24/08, 1:03 AM
Trooper York said...: Sleep tight, and let visions of Jeremy Shmucky dance in your head.

Cause he won't be dancing in the freakin' end zone that's for sure.; 7/24/08, 1:05 AM
Beth said...: I took a minute before retiring and learned about bras:

"If you take care of the girls, they'll take care of you" -- Trooper, I have lived my life by that motto, in every way it can apply. Now that's wisdom.; 7/24/08, 1:11 AM
Trooper York said...: Amen.; 7/24/08, 1:17 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Seven Machos are you drinking or what? Give it a rest already. You sound like a drunk. I'd match Ruth's knowledge against yours any day of the week. You're being pathetic.

I just finished an Obama poster in Gimp.; 7/24/08, 1:19 AM
Anonymous said...: I see everybody's been up half the night arguing about this late post. I don't want to argue this one. But I do want to congratulate Chip on an excellent job using GIMP. Can there be any doubt now that Obama is indeed a Bohdisattva who will help liberate us from many desires, including the widespread one of wishing to not pay much of our income in taxes?

I do argue with GIMP a lot these days, however, much to my detriment. I still struggle with those three windows, etc., but coming ever closer to the meaning of "not Photoshop." I think use of GIMP requires you to first meditate on a little Koan: "The Photoshop which is Photoshop is not Phototshop." Only after clearing your mind of the desire to produce the digital image you have imagined do you have a chance of producing any digital image with GIMP. There are many surprises along the Path, not the least of which are results you get with GIMP.

The properly attuned student may derive spiritual benefit from a multitude of sources.; 7/24/08, 5:32 AM
Roger J. said...: I have to side with Beth in this contretemps--this isnt about policy, this is about funny--and our beloved political system as produced the three stooges minus Moe.

Recall Harry Truman's comment about Eisenhower. With respect to policy, the first thing any President is going to find when he or she takes office is they don't have a lot of power. They mostly have the power to persuade--an area where George Bush as been woefully inadequate.; 7/24/08, 7:47 AM
reader_iam said...: Trooper: Why not have Lee Lee's Valise buy an ad at Althouse?

Seriously.; 7/24/08, 8:02 AM
Too many jims said...: This may be a cheap shot but when I saw this poster it immediately reminded me of this. This is about artistic tone. The profile view. The serious expression. The shading. When I saw the McCain poster, my mind immediately called up this image and I was struck by how similar they are in feel the color choice differences aside. Unnerving really.; 7/24/08, 8:04 AM
MadisonMan said...: I personally believe that Osama bin Laden is dead.

I agree most of the time. Other times I think he's being impersonated by a lookalike -- because those video tapes keep getting leaked. I think he is mostly irrelevant as far as AQ is concerned, except as a propaganda point -- as in, the US tried to kill me, but didn't.; 7/24/08, 8:57 AM
Trooper York said...: The Today show blurb went off without a hitch and we got 10,000 hits in the first hour. Good stuff.; 7/24/08, 10:50 AM
MadisonMan said...: How many hits become sales?

I guess even if it's 1%, that's a lot sales. Guess you'll be workin' in shipping for a while! Or can people order online and come in person to get their stylin' new clothes?; 7/24/08, 11:15 AM
vbspurs said...: This may be a cheap shot but when I saw this poster it immediately reminded me of this.

It's funny how Ann linked to a poster the day after which came to the exact opposite connotation.

Cheers,
Victoria; 7/24/08, 12:03 PM
Trooper York said...: I quess we are going to find out how many become sales. I do know that there is a large return rate. Also, we did not get everything up yet, although a lot of stuff will go on-line every day. We want to build toward the fall.

Either way I will be licking a lot of stamps.; 7/24/08, 12:59 PM
Trooper York said...: We are up to 30,000 hits since
8am.; 7/24/08, 1:00 PM
Trooper York said...: The only other person who beat that record is Dennis Potvin.; 7/24/08, 1:01 PM
Dewave said...: This poster would be perfect if only it said instead:

"PEACE comes through SUPERIOR FIREPOWER"

then the fighter jets make sense :); 7/24/08, 1:51 PM
blake said...: For some reason, I thought of this.

I want you to make love
Not war
I know
You've heard it before; 7/24/08, 8:27 PM
Anonymous said...: We are up to 30,000 hits since
8am.

Congrats!!! Hope it translates into lots of sales.; 7/24/08, 11:32 PM