I also liked:
I have to stay focused on my job. Because for many Americans this is still a time of deep uncertainty. For example, I have one friend just a few weeks ago, she was making millions of dollars a year and she’s now living out of a van in Iowa.He takes a shot at Hillary that minimizes her current "Clinton Cash" catastrophe and relaxes us into laughing by opening up a channel to that dark place in our souls where we harbor disgust for the poor.
SEE: "Lessons Learned From A Year Living In A Van":
Prepare to be judged: By your friends, your family, co-workers. Both past and present. And pretty much everyone you'll meet along the way....
Posts
82 comments:
Self Deprecating? I don't see it.
@ Maybee
"Self Deprecating? I don't see it."
Consider "in a fresh enough, edgy enough way" a clue.
Just wait until this guy cashes in post presidency. He's carried a lot of water for special interests.
I've known people who lived in a van because they had nowhere to go.
I've known people who lived in a van because they had nowhere to go.
Catchy. Has the makings of a song...
Down by the river?
I've known people who lived in a van because they had nowhere to go.
Nice, both earnest and ironic at the same time.
He's not funny. He's never funny. He's an asshole. 'Twas ever thus, and ever will be.
I must wonder if his "joke" of praying five-times-each-day was his curious way of revealing truth.
The self-deprecating difference with Obama is that he actualy is an asshole.
Some people say I'm a piece of shit. They're being audited.
His "rhymes with bucket list" line was pretty good, and true. He has always said that he would "have more flexibility after the election." So we get two years of a dictator who has visions of a better world if only we weren't on it.
There is living in a van and there is Living the Van Life..
I am Laslo.
"Some people are so dumb" is "fresh enough, edgy enough"
Riight.
De gustibus etc.
Barry is as fresh and edgy as he is pragmatic.
Ann Althouse said...
Consider 'in a fresh enough, edgy enough way' a clue.
Raw arrogance without self-deprecation.
NOT FUNNY!
"Some people say I'm a piece of shit. They're being audited."
I could see him actually making that joke.
Obama's "self-deprecation" has tight limits--both his ego and his natural desire to protect his image keep him from being truly self-deprecating.
It would have been nice to see him actually unload on Hillary--it's nice he got in something about the millions she made and how phony her van is, but this may be his last chance to sound off at such a venue where it's sort of welcomed (next year, with the election afoot, he'd never take a shot at a probable nominee). Which is a shame, because it would be a win-win to get a dig in at her.
There were some funny jokes in that transcript written for him.
Consider "in a fresh enough, edgy enough way" a clue.
I agree that the line was funny, but I don't think it's self-deprecating in a "fresh enough, edgy enough way" at all. Can you ever understand that he's just reading something from a teleprompter, ma'am? I'm quite sure he actually believed that line when he said it.
mikeski said...
He's not funny. He's never funny. He's an asshole. 'Twas ever thus, and ever will be.
Some assholes are funny, but he's not one of them.
Consider "in a fresh enough, edgy enough way" a clue.
So it's "self-deprecating" in the fresh, edgy, "opponent-deprecating" way. Got it.
He really has the narcissistic disorder level of pathology, Presidents are almost never "real people." I think it was Allan Greenspan who said Jerry Ford was the only "normal person" he met as president.
Obama is an order of magnitude behind that and he is into sociopath territory. I don't think we've ever had a president like this.
Lyndon Johnson was the closest I can think of.
Consider "in a fresh enough, edgy enough way" a clue.
In the same way that Hillary was once described as "likable enough" by our protagonist, right?
"It turns out Jeb Bush identified himself as Hispanic back in 2009, which, you know what, I — look, I understand. It’s an innocent mistake. It reminds me of when I identified myself as American back in 1961. [laughter] [applause]"
Ziiiing.
Consider "in a fresh enough, edgy enough way" a clue.
Nope. Don't get it.
Unless you mean by "fresh enough, edgy enough" to mean "not".
There were also "jokes" that let the bitterness show through. Garage has just reminded us one of them.
Punishing down by a President is never funny or entertaining
Edgy? No
Grating, Yes
You know what? None is this is funny.
Not in the least. Especially not from that guy.
I bet Hitler told the occasional joke, too.
Yup, I went there. Screw Godwin's Law.
Wow garage, you are getting increasingly bitter.
Meanwhile, just 35 miles away up in Baltimore.
"Meanwhile, just 35 miles away up in Baltimore."
I nearly attended that game! Fortunately the Red Socks games tend to sell out early.
In the same way that Hillary was once described as "likable enough" by our protagonist, right?
But I've always heard that Hillary is actually very likable.
So perhaps that's the new meaning of "self-deprecating". It now means "deprecating".
We have to give him to destroy... I mean to be funny... yes destroy, kill, with drones.
The one over-riding message I got was "You guys aren't good enough to deserve me".
Wow garage, you are getting increasingly bitter.
Huh? I thought it was funny.
I've seen bowling balls that have more of an edge.
And it's no deep secret that both you and Obama despise the poor.
kzookitty
Self deprecating? In what way is a shot at other people self-deprecating?
If you think it was funny, fine. It was (marginally). But it most certainly was NOT self-deprecating.
I've known people who lived in a van because they had nowhere to go.
A much better dig at Hillary!! Too bad he didn't use it.
I gave up watching or listening to him a while ago. He is distressingly predictable. I had partners at a law firm in Chicago like him. The kindest way to put it was that you had to admire their self-confidence. They were always the smartest and most ethical people in each and every situation all the time. It got very old after a while, just as it has with Barry. I could never figure out which I liked least, the smugness, the arrogance, or the lack of self-knowledge.
Friends, we are all flawed and no one has cornered the market in intelligence or moralty. Barry has worn out his welcome with me.
room
What's funny about it is Obama finally gets to say out loud and in public what he really thinks.
He should have just hauled out the "I'm going to kick your boy's ass" for Marco Rubio.
Obama is a better writer of comedy than his comedy writers.
Obama has a friend who's going to be in her van until she closes on the house she's trying to buy.
Baltimore was burning as he spoke to his sycophants. Welcome to Obama-Holder America, folks.
I don't agree with most of Obama's policies, but he's a likeable guy, just like W., most of whose policies sucked as well. You can see how they were both elected twice.
No one runs for president unless they are more arrogant and narcissistic than the average person.
The problem for people like Hillary and Cruz is they are not likeable so their arrogance and narcissism grates.
Obama and W. are bad presidents, so we tend to focus on their narcissism and arrogance as well.
Clinton did a good job and is likeable so we overlook his narcissism and arrogance. Hillary's problem is that she is not likeable and not competent. And in addition to her own bad qualities, people are going to transfer their dislike of Bill's bad qualities onto her.
Jeb faces some of the same problems.
And, when Iran puts a mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv in 14 months, will they still scream "BUSH!"?
Humor? Self-deprecating?
All he is doing is jabbing at other people.
Barrel meet bottom.
Redux.....
"Six years into my presidency some people still say I’m arrogant, aloof, condescending. Some people are so right" (as in rightwing)
or
"Six years into my presidency some people still say I’m modest, compassionate, humble. Some people are so dumb" (as in present company)
Huh? I thought it was funny.
@garage, that's what we meant.
No it wasn't self "deprecating enough."
It was funny. And it was a good dig at himself and his critics.
Let's not lose our judgment.
Let's not lose our judgment.
Yes. Let's not.
I don't agree with most of Obama's policies, but he's a likeable guy
What you mean is: You like him.
It was funny. And it was a good dig at himself and his critics.
I know it kills a joke to explain it, but I just don't see the humor. It is just another insult thrown at his critics. If you think that is funny on those grounds, fine. Sort of like the Pollock jokes in Flashdance were funny to bigots. But if there is some other layer of humor, aside from that, that I am missing, kindly elucidate further.
Here is how I read it. "A bunch of people don't like me, those people are stupid." Is there a wink somewhere I am missing?
"Here is how I read it. "A bunch of people don't like me, those people are stupid." Is there a wink somewhere I am missing?"
I read it as "I'm being called arrogant, so now I will respond by being particularly arrogant". In other words, the joke is that he is indeed arrogant and his critics are right (though by making a joke about his arrogance, maybe he's not so arrogant after all). Not that it was a great joke, but it was more self-deprecatory than his other material.
Judging from the lack of relationships Obama has with other world leaders, Congressional leaders, Democrats who have run for office during his tenure, and his Cabinet members, I'd say no, Obama is not a likable guy.
Further, judging from the words of someone who likes him very much- Valerie Jarrett- I'd say no, Obama is not a likable guy.
Obviously, there are people who like him and even adore him. But the evidence of "likability" isn't there.
Is it self-deprecating to call yourself arrogant if you believe you have every right to be arrogant?
I'm guessing that the use of still is the key to his humorous self-deprecation as in he is arrogant, etc., and no need to still say it after all this time as it is well known.
Yawn I guess you had to be there....
"Is it self-deprecating to call yourself arrogant if you believe you have every right to be arrogant?"
I think if you believe you have a right to be arrogant, you wouldn't really think of yourself as arrogant (sort of like if you are humble, you'd never call yourself "humble"). You'd probably just call yourself "confident and self-aware of my own greatness".
In this case though remember the jokes are all written by other people, and vetted by advisors.
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...
I bet Hitler told the occasional joke, too.
Here's his best one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in7yLZJ7A6Y
(only 19 seconds)
It's certainly self-deprecating to ascribe negative characterics to yourself and then to add something that is an example of you displaying those characteristcs.
People say I act like I'm king. Peasants!
They say I don't listen to what anyone else wants. As if I care.
Etc. etc.
You could make a thousand jokes like that.
You can dispense them from the joke box.
gerry said...
Baltimore was burning as he spoke to his sycophants. Welcome to Obama-Holder America, folks.
4/27/15, 9:53 AM
The thing is Baltimore is burning because Obama sent his agitators in to get it burning. He doesn't see anything wrong because that is what he wants.
garage mahal said...
Wow garage, you are getting increasingly bitter.
Huh? I thought it was funny.
4/27/15, 9:21 AM
Kinda like retards are funny. You feel a little bad about laughing at them afterwards...
The fresh twist is that the negative quality is self-aggrandizement, so it's not making him smaller, like most sel-deprecation, but larger. That's funny. It's challenging. Is he building himself up or tearing himself down?
There's a family resemblance to the humblebrag.
Maybee,
What I means is the man comes across as likeable. Just like W. Some politicians have this skill or ability. Others don't.
I can agree with someone and not like them or disagree with someone and like them.
I think Barry Bonds is an arrogant asshole. His teammates hated him. But he was the best baseball player since Willie Mays even before the steroids.
Someone can be likeable and a bad president, as W and Obama have shown. Just like someone can be a jerk and a good president.
I think if you believe you have a right to be arrogant, you wouldn't really think of yourself as arrogant (sort of like if you are humble, you'd never call yourself "humble"). You'd probably just call yourself "confident and self-aware of my own greatness".
Yeah, or you see other people as "so dumb".
Baltimore is burning because it is a shithole. It has been a shithole a long time and will be a shithole a long time, like New Orleans, Detroit, and St. Louis. They all have a high violent crime rate.
The fresh twist is that the negative quality is self-aggrandizement, so it's not making him smaller, like most sel-deprecation, but larger.
Your fresh twist takes the "deprecation" out of "self-deprication".
Let's call this cousin of the humblebrag a bolsteringbrag.
I think if you believe you have a right to be arrogant, you wouldn't really think of yourself as arrogant
I doubt that he is terribly self-aware and doubt that he views himself as arrogant.
At times I’ve had others attribute to me some particular attitude only to think No I’m not!
It's not always easy to see yourself as others see you.
Some of the very best times of my life were lived in a '59 Kombi in Europe, where we traveled from the Black Sea, through Munich, and on to Barcelona and Lisbon.
Likewise in the '82 Kombi in which during a year I got to know Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.
We weren't ever judged by anyone we met, and in Romania and Brazil, in particular, we were regularly flagged down by folks along the road looking for their usual Kombi pick-up. We never charged anyone a cent.
All the people we met were generous. A town mayor on the southern coast of Spain even came over to our campsite, bringing a dozen precious eggs as a present.
The town of Santa Cruz do Sul in Rio Grande do Sul let me stay for free for two months in the municipal campground; I even had a regular gardener, caretaker, and shower and bathroom facilities! And the best part is that that German tobacco city sponsors 2 Oktoberfests per year!
"Self Deprecating? I don't see it."
I see arrogance.
It's not always easy to see yourself as others see you.
Right.
Think of Obama's closest advisor- Valerie Jarrett. How does she see him and describe him? As an incredible genius.
How have we heard he sees and describes himself? A better speech writer than his own speechwriters.
Perhaps he doesn't see himself as arrogant. Perhaps he's too big a man to be arrogant, where a smaller man would be.
I mean, it's not like Obama and his people have been silent about his self-opinion.
Ann Althouse said...
"You can dispense them from the joke box."
You haven't seen MY joke box.
Or its dispenser.
I am Laslo.
The only thing worse than arrogance is fake humility.
Ali was the Greatest.
Just as you wouldn't say:
"That's not what your mom said when she left my bed this morning"
is self deprecating humor, even though it implies the speaker stooped to having sex with someone's mom.
garage mahal said...
Wow garage, you are getting increasingly bitter.
Huh? I thought it was funny.
There ya go. Workin without tools again.
Self-Aggrandizing:
I have to tell you: it is hard being the first black President. Sometimes I feel like Jackie Robinson, if Jackie Robinson had to deal with the possibility of nuclear war in the Middle East.
Self-Deprecating:
I have to tell you: it is hard being the first black President. Sometimes I feel like Jackie Robinson, if Jackie Robinson had thrown a baseball like a girl...
I am Laslo.
Gus Petzel’s 1925 Coast-To-Coast Run In A Baby Car
...
"The Ford Times March 1952 issue told of a 75-year old Gus Petzel, who lived in his 1930 Model “A” Ford Tudor Sedan in Palm Springs, California. He was described as an ex-foundry worker from Ohio that traveled to the sunny and warm climate for health reasons. He converted the interior of the Ford into his own full time one room mobile home. It was completely enclosed with an bed, cooking area, and a gasoline stove all located inside."
Better "Baby Car" picture here.
The guy in Van is interesting although his advice was kinda dumb. Yes, Keep your butt hole clean. I hope everyone is doing that 24/7 - even people who don't live in their vans.
The toughest part of living in a van would be finding a place to park for the night that is safe, or where you won't be hassled by the Police. Showering should be easy if you have a nation wide Gym membership.
I know evolution is a fraud. Look at our latest Presidents:
Reagan, then Bush then Clinton, then Bush II, then Obama.
Each one dumber and more incompetent that the last.
Survival of the dumbest.
@Althouse, FWIW Ezra Klein insists that Obama was not joking.
(That's what the headline says. I can't quite bring myself to read what that schmuck writes.)
tim: "Sort of like the Pollock jokes in Flashdance were funny to bigots."
Actually, from my experience as a polack we are one of the biggest audiences for polack jokes. They're funny! Then again we can be dumb that way.
For the record, that qualifies as self-deprecating. The featured joke here sounds too much like he really means it qualify.
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