So sad that she didn't make it that last step! One immediately thinks of the famous line: "And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you."
Very sad. Please: no conspiracy theories about the timing of the announcement of the death.
November 3, 2008
"Our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died," says Barack Obama.
So sad that she didn't make it that last step! One immediately thinks of the famous line: "And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you."
Very sad. Please: no conspiracy theories about the timing of the announcement of the death.
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190 comments:
Keep it respectful.
I agree Ann, it's very sad that she didn't get to see her grandson become President.
I'm sure Hallmark has an appropriate card for whatever sentiment is required in the Feminine Needs section of the supermarket.
Ann Althouse said...
Keep it respectful.
Your right of center posters are not disrespectful of a little ol'lady.
I have no doubt that if this was a story about McCain's mama, this would turn into a post about how McCain was gonna die.
Sad, even though not unexpected. And a very good thing that he took the time to see her before she died, even at the height of this campaign. I think it is a reflection of just how small those who criticized that trip (or found reasons to see "conspiracy" in it) really are. I suspect this will be a sober reminder to Obama, at the height of his victory tomorrow, of his own limitations. He seems to be a deeply grounded and thoughtful individual, in large part due to the influence of his grandmother. May she rest in peace.
Just the other day Limbaugh was complaining that she hadn't died yet. He seemed to think the whole thing was a campaign stunt and intimated as much.
Antiphone, you started the thread on a sour note. Anticipating disrespect, you were disrespectful.
Really sad, she was probably trying to hold on a couple of more days to see her grandson possibly become President. She and the rest of his family did a lovely job with Barack.
We thank you.
"Keep it respectful."
Why? I don't remember you demanding respect when talking about anyone else's death.
chuck b. said..."Just the other day Limbaugh was complaining that she hadn't died yet. He seemed to think the whole thing was a campaign stunt and intimated as much."
Yes, I know. I was just looking to see if he said something like that today. It's why I anticipated conspiracy theories. Did she really die today or was she already dead, etc.?
"Please: no conspiracy theories about the timing of the announcement of the death."
Yet people were allowed to post conspiracy theories about the parentage of Sarah Palin's Down Syndrome baby... Unbelievable.
antiphone, I don't think I've seen you post any comment that wasn't disrespectful.
Really sad, she was probably trying to hold on a couple of more days to see her grandson possibly become President.
Or, perhaps, confident that Barry would win, she decided it was time to go.
I don't think I've seen you post any comment that wasn't disrespectful.
What have you done to earn respect?
How could there possibly be any questions about the timing of the announcement?
Died Sunday, announced Monday. Pretty simple chain of events.
***
Very sad that she didn't make it to January, assuming that Senator Obama is on his way to victory, but she at least lived to see him become a national phenomenon...
Why? I don't remember you demanding respect when talking about anyone else's death.
Vortex in Aisle 5!
Madelyn Dunham in her younger days with Obama's grandfather and mother. Eerie the resemblance of Obama to his grandfather.
It is sad if (as expected) her grandson is elected President and she missed it. But she must have thought he would win and that is almost as good. Plus, if Obama does manage to lose, that would be a heartbreaking thing to take at the end of her life.
All y'all
I don't give a hoot about whose what is what, but for Pete's sake,
A LITTLE OLD LADY JUST PASSED AWAY
IT WOULDN'T KILL ANY OF YOU TO BE CIVIL AND NOT ACT LIKE A JERK
Yes it's very sad. I cried when I heard the news. Obama has had a chain of life altering events in his life. A new chapter begins.
Mortimer Brezny: "perhaps, confident that Barry would win, she decided it was time to go." - what a beautiful thought.
A vote against Obama is a vote against...love!
But that’s what people do here. It’s the only thing people do here,: That's simply untrue.
Anyway, as I said on another thread earlier, it's so unfortunate, a shame really, as to the timing. For that reason, I hope Mort's right.
The implication is that this photo captured some of BHO's conversations about his grandmother.
This seems unlikely to me, but it's not unreasonable to assume the photo does represent his actual reaction.
BHO has made for some interesting/compelling photos, IMHO.
Wow. I can't believe people would even think of politicizing this woman's death.
As for a conscious decision on her part that she could go knowing that Barack had succeeded, I find that very plausible.
My stepmother said, less than an hour before she died, "It's so hard to let go." We responded in various ways that we knew that and we also knew she had to.
It's easy to imagine a similar scene in this case.
On the other hand, she may have been unconscious. The reports that say she died peacefully lead me to believe this.
Limbaugh's riff was on Obama rushing to Hawaii because his grandmother broke her hip. That didn't seem to him like a rushable event.
Snerdly told him that no she was gravely ill. Limbaugh said if that's the case, then he apologizes.
Apparently two differing reports were around, Rush got one and Snerdly got the other.
Later days had Limbaugh wondering why no rush had yet occurred.
That's all Limbaugh said on the matter, at least in my not very careful listening-while-working mode.
Today, 100,000+ other people died as well, in the world.
I'm glad that he got to see her though.
Obama has said on several occasions that his biggest regret in life was not arriving back in Hawaii in time to see his mother before she died, so it is a good thing that he did take a couple of days off the campaign trail last week so he wouldn't have had that regret magnified.
As for Limbaugh, there is nothing good I could say, so I will say nothing.
I think Palladian fathered Palin's retarded baby and killed Obama's granny. This happened at a bridge game in the Governor's mansion. Palladian was so drunk he confused Gov. Palin for handsome Col. Mustard who he had a crush on. The bloody candlestick was found next to Mrs. Dunham's muumuu-clad body in the kitchen. Palladian's bloody fingerprint was found on the Ace of Spades. They were eating African foo-foos and Hawaiian laulaus and pupus, and Palladian was enraged at the outlandishness of the multi-ethnic fare.
So, to summarize how everything stands, Obama's grandmother's death is for Obama an opportunity, and for everybody else entertainment.
I don't think civil behaviour is in the local skill-set.
That's all Limbaugh said on the matter, at least in my not very careful listening-while-working mode.
Lucky you, my employer blocks most streams.
Antiphone, Palladian most certainly has earned respect here, and if you don't know that, it's because you are new here. You need to make a demonstration that you intend to be a member of the comments community here or you look like a troll. First thing you need to do is not post too often. Second, when you suffer a deletion by me, you need to deal with it and figure out how to do better. I control things here as I see fit. If you don't like it, go blog about it somewhere.
I think we should avoid the practice of liberals such as Andrew Sullivan, doyle, Alphaliberal and downtownlad and respect Senator Obama's family situation.
May God have mercy on her soul and may she find peace in her heavenly reward.
Antiphone is a troll.
I'll give him another chance tomorrow, but I'm deleting everything he writes today.
Antiphone, if you come back after today and write good comments, I won't delete.
I am confident she'll become aware of the results tomorrow, wherever she is.
"Our grandmother."
No, it was your grandmother Obama and your sisters and not anyone else's
Obama tries to make political points with his grandmother's death and you Ann say "Keep it respectful."
What the hell is wrong with you?
Are you so delusional that you can't read?
"Our grandmother."
He is speaking for his family..
I dont see anything there.
She left the world a better place than she found it. She gave us a remarkable man, poised to accomplish remarkable things.
Very sad news. I'm glad he got to see her before she passed.
There is a lot to be said, as others have touched on, for someone who is dying to be able to let go with deeply satisfying, joyful thoughts.
When my Dad was dying, we made sure he knew that my Mom was taken care of (she was sick, too)...all the bills were paid...all of his children got to tell him they loved him. It really did make a visible difference (he wasn't able to talk).
So again, a great thing that he could see her, and a really proud moment in her life to feel before letting go, no doubt.
May God bless them.
palladian-
Eerie the resemblance of Obama to his grandfather.
Agreed. Look at the ears, nose, and chin!
Lets leave his granny alone and respect the privacy of his family in their time of sadness.
May the Lord Jesus have mercy on her soul.
Regarding the resemblance; folks should look at the picture w/ a very young BHO on top of his grandfather in the water.
Sully had that photo up a while back. The grandfather's younger face really matches BHO's face today.
I'm not so lazy, I got the photo I mentioned.
drill sgt.
Why are you assuming that anyone would have said anything inappropriate if McCain's mother (who is 96, by the way) had died?
Paranoia?
The best example of something like that I can think of was Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole, back in Washington opening a new attack on Bill Clinton during the three days he took to go to Arkansas and bury his mother.
"Agreed. Look at the ears, nose, and chin!"
Yes, its the ears I notice most.
Rush mentioned an obituary just b4 the 04 election that purportedly red
I lieu of flowers vote Bush.
It may be unseemly for Obama to use the death, but there may be a respectful way for Obaminions to do it.
No?
No Eli, the Drill Sgt. is basing that on the way people like you attacked Sarah Palin and her retarded child. Liberals led by the likes of Andrew Sullivan and the Kos kids and many others on this blog have forfeited any benefit of the doubt. They are quiet now because they think they are going to win but we have seen how vile they really are in pursuit of their agenda.
I find it deeply sad for him on a personal level, since he is now orphaned twice over - both parents and Grandparents.
But I'm also sad that everyone in his life seems to have been under a gag order throughout this campaign. Here is this strong principled feminist from Kansas who raised her black grandchild, and we never heard her voice. The only time she came up was when he was defending Rev. Wright and mentioned her own racism. Of course he praised and thanked her. But he also exploited her, in order to defend Wright. It bothered me a lot.
I don't consider it "disrespectful" to mention this. We're talking about him because he wants to represent us, and I am uneasy about the way he represents even people he loves.
trooper york:
Find me ONE place where I ever attacked Sarah Palin's kids.
Sarah Palin, yes (and she is running for office and you know what Harry Truman said about the heat.)
Her kids, I dare you to search anyplace on the web and find it, because I never did say anything about her kids.
Eli Blake said...
"drill sgt. Why are you assuming that anyone would have said anything inappropriate if McCain's mother (who is 96, by the way) had died?"
Experience.
I know Eli, no one ever said anything. It was all made up and not true and your hands are clean. I am sure you were the first one to say family was off limits. The first one to protest dragging in someone’s family just as conservative commenter after commenter has done here in reference to Senator Obama's grandmother. Bravo Eli, Bravo.
One thing I've learned: Any time you take your leave of a loved one, it may be for the last time.
I don't want to be like you and your ilk so I apologize for bringing it up in a thread honoring the passing of Senator Obamas grandmother.
May Senator Obama find peace and I will say a prayer for his grandmother.
I am sure you were the first one to say family was off limits
Personally, I'd think that would be a no-brainer, at least as far as children are concerned.
Of course you probably have selective amnesia when it comes to some of the things that conservatives used to say about Chelsea Clinton (including John McCain) when she was a teenager living in the White House and the right was consumed with Clinton hate.
Very sad. She is obviously did a good job filling in as his parent.
She died knowing that she obviously did right by raising him.
When anyone dies it is sad. We have no control over the timing of our own deaths.
One of things in life that we have no control over.
Calling Palin's daughter a "retard" is gross. That is an old word and is not used anymore. Grow up.
I am uneasy about the way he represents even people he loves.
Must not humanize. Must not humanize. Must not humanize.
Wright and Ayers and throw granny under the bus. Wright and Ayers and throw granny under the bus. Wright and Ayers and throw granny under the bus.
Visceral fear of BHO reestablished.
Fear.
His grandmother died, fer Chrissake. Be at peace, ma'am. Let's hope your grandson makes you and all of us proud.
This news makes me sad, right in my heart.
But then, I'm gleeified by seeing Antiphone's comments deleted by our host one after another. Yay for delete! It's almost as good as vanish.
1jpb - no.
Being allowed to "meet" Obama's Grandmother would have been a privilege, and it would have humanized him in a way the campaign chose not to do. There was a decision for Obama to run as a black man, not a bi-racial man. And in light of his Grandmother's passing I think that's too bad.
I'm sorry to hear of her passing. I have wonderful memories of my grandmothers. I hope the same is true of her grandson.
Ann,
Whatever partisan venom may spill on this, Obama’s grandmother was of singular importance to his life. He was reared by her, “grandmothered” as it is sometimes referred to by psychiatrists. He demonstrates many of the exceptional traits that come from such a rearing. While he mentioned her in his campaign, it was really incidental. It is an enormous loss to him, not one deserving of cynicism. Quite likely, she held the place of mother for him.
I am no fan of Obama’s campaign or his politics, but this death is no political issue.
By the way, Ann, since you fully understand the notion of foreseeable consequences, why would you permit comments on this item? Didn’t we read The Greening of America together?
Revenant said this gem on another thread:
How sad that Obama's grandmother died this morning
On the plus side, she's now eligible to vote in Ohio and several other swing states.
My own take is admiration for Team Axelrod somehow getting out there and shutting down any comment from people in Obama's past. That suggests a heck of an organization and serious Crown, Pritzker, Ayers, Klutznik and Soros money employed to keep relatives, schoolmates, his old white girlfriends, NOI associates and so on - away from the media and the 20K+ tabloid interview money. The clever operatives wrapped all the sources about his life up.
There had to be non-disclosure contracts and/or money....maybe his Pakistani friend who is not talking will once he is President, maybe the ex-girlfriends and student friends are just loyal - or know the tabloid price goes up like crazy once the guy is in the Oval Office.
I wonder if Obama thinks she should go to heaven in spite of what she once said having been racist. At any rate, she's still alive, at least as a soul. I didn't know her. I'm not a universalist, but I think whatever she once said should be forgiven.
I hope she forgave him for battering her in the public eye. Did they at least talk about it?
I can't imagine his grandmother being rabidly vicious or anything like Wright. I wonder why he thought they were morally equivalent?
I hope they some how decided it was ok. I sure hope my grandchildren never toss me under the bus, but if they do, at least they should get to be president for it. They'll probably toss me under the bus for a bag of peanuts.
I agree with several of the commenters here: She probably died pretty sure that her grandson would win, because of the polls, and so she probably died very happy and proud.
Had she managed to hang on a few more days, her last days might have been much less happy, should Obama's ACORN gambit in Ohio fall short. It's a shame when anyone dies, but her timing might have been for the best, from her own perspective.
Must not humanize. Must not humanize. Must not humanize.
Um, I'm pretty sure we all knew Obama had parents and grandparents. Although I can't rule out some of his supporters thinking he's the result of immaculate conception, or sprung fully-formed from the brow of Noam Chomsky or something.
Why would his grandmother's death "humanize" him for me? The last we heard from the woman, Obama was condemning her as a racist to save his own ass. Her death just makes me wonder if he feels any guilt that that's all most Americans know about her.
Jen,
Not that I have any hint that the specifics matter. But, she's been extremely ill for a long time. She did appear in one of his ads and even the taping for that was said to be very taxing on her.
And, for the record he didn't throw granny under the bus. He loved her as deeply as he possibly could. And, it is possible to understand his comments w/o assuming he was running a bus over her.
But, none of this matters to you.
Fear.
Eli Blake said...
"Personally, I'd think that would be a no-brainer, at least as far as children are concerned."
That doesn't suggest a high regard on your part for the brains of the people on your side who piled on to the Palin children, does it.
I never accused him of throwing her under a bus. You're not even paying attention, jpb.
It is perfectly obvious that he admired and adored her. The comparison with Wright was "even someone I love, and who loves me has racist ideas". I didn't see him throwing her under a bus, I saw him using her to avoid throwing Wright under the bus, which I thought was too bad. Wright showed zero loyalty to Obama, whereas I suspect Mrs. Dunham would have cut off a limb rather than knowingly hurt him.
The comparison with Wright was "even someone I love, and who loves me has racist ideas". I didn't see him throwing her under a bus, I saw him using her to avoid throwing Wright under the bus, which I thought was too bad.
Jen: Yes.
And I suspect he learned from his own family, including and especially his grandmother, the struggles involved with juggling completing realities, including the rough, jagged edges as well as the more smooth ones.
This comment is NOT a criticism of Mrs. Dunham, nor even of Obama, due to the context.
"competing," not "completing"
Regardless of our opinions about BHO, his Granny appears to have been a decent lady, the vread winner of her family who took in her grandson when his mother was not able to care for him.
If Obama win, it's sad that she didn't live a couple more days. If he loses, it's just as well that she checked out now rather than next week. This way, she left when he was about to be elected, regardless of the outcome.
RIP
In 1828 Andrew Jackson won a bitterly fought election against John Quincy Adams. It was an extremely personal campaign in which, among other slurs, Jackson was called a jackass, which became the symbol of the democratic party. One newspaper reported Jackson's real mom was a black prostitute and that Jackson had procured the services of a 13 year old American girl for the sex mad Czar of Russia. When Jackson's wife died of pleurisy shortly after the election, Old Hickory insisted the cause of her death was the slanderous campaign of 1828.
God bless Mrs Jackson and Obama's grandmother.
1828 was also the last year the Giants won back to back superbowls.
It would have been nice for her to have seen him win, if he wins. I think moms and grandmoms get the most out of seeing their kids succeed, since they often put in the heavy lifting.
It will be nice to go back and find all the people here who were completely convinced that Obama could not win for one reason or another. The amount of misreading of the political situation was astounding.
Very sad. I did shed a tear. His family situation has been a trial.
I didn't notice any of your commenters behaving badly on news of someone's death, either.
a little OT
For people who still want to believe that BHO will be anything but an ultra-left president - here he is in his own words.
Obama said he had no doubt that if the Democrats controlled Congress, it would be possible to move forward on important progressive legislation.
The alternative, until then, is to be opportunistic and look for areas where he can get enough Republican support to actually get a bill passed. That, he said, “means that most of the legislation I’ve proposed will be more modest in its goals than it would be if I were in the majority party.”. . .
“Karl Rove can afford to win with 51 percent of the vote. They’re not trying to reform health care. They are content with an electorate that is cynical about government. Progressives have a harder job. They need a big enough majority to initiate bold proposals.”
http://tinyurl.com/6jnktb
Jen Bradford said...
"...We're talking about him because he wants to represent us, and I am uneasy about the way he represents even people he loves."
Very well put. Compare and contrast Obama's easy use and discarding of the people in his life to the character shown in John McCain's refusing to be released ahead of his fellow POW's - almost impossible to imagine.
RIP. My condolences to the Senator and his sister, Maya.
Cheers,
Victoria
Today, 100,000+ other people died as well, in the world.
When anyone dies it is sad.
100,000 died today and none of them was me.
What's so sad that they all died? With Titus I disagree.
It cleared 100,000 spaces that once were cluttered up.
So if today you're hanging back, c'mon, die, hurry up.
Whew! The Censoress is doing some heavy word-policing on this thread. If anyone dared use the term typical white person, it would probably be deleted in a heartbeat.
Best wishes to the Obama and Dunham families. Thanks to her for her contribution to our country.
As Kurt Vonnegut would say, "so it goes."
God bless them all. I am quite sorry for Senator Obama to face this loss so close to the election. Even if he wins, his heart will be heavy with her death. God bless and keep him and the people who loved her.
Trey
The only disrespect I am aware of ever being shown towards Grandmother Obama, was from her grandson, when he called her a "typical white person".
He did not seem close to his grandmother, and did not react by doing anything differently today.
I will follow his lead.
Whew! The Censoress is doing some heavy word-policing on this thread. If anyone dared use the term typical white person, it would probably be deleted in a heartbeat.
Typical white person.
Typical white person.
Typical white person.
Typical white person.
Typical white person.
Typical white person.
I'd bet not, depending. (Should Althouse delete this one, I'd still question the premise of harwood's comment. So there!)
I removed by response to Antiphone because I (belatedly) read Ann's designation of him/her/it as being a troll.
Lawgiver said...
"In 1828 Andrew Jackson won a bitterly fought election against John Quincy Adams. It was an extremely personal campaign ... One newspaper reported Jackson's real mom was a black prostitute and that Jackson had procured the services of a 13 year old American girl for the sex mad Czar of Russia. When Jackson's wife died of pleurisy shortly after the election, Old Hickory insisted the cause of her death was the slanderous campaign of 1828."
Of course, this year, the press' slurs are directed at the opponents of the Democratic Party. Nevertheless, as I've suggested before, this election does bear a passing resemblance to 1828: once again, the coastal elite sets out to destroy the candidate coming to upend their world, with the media interceding on behalf of the establishment candidate.
General Jackson would never have soiled his hands with today's Democratic party; indeed, he would have duelled with some and horsewhipped the rest.
I say General Jackson because I think that a person should be known by the honorific of the highest and most honored office that they attain. Thus, a Representative who joins the Senate would be "Senator"; a Senator who goes on to be President would be "President"; President Taft, who later joined the bench would be "Chief Justice," a General who goes on to the Presidency is "General"... And a member of Congress who is convicted would be "inmate."
To quite possibly reach the summit and not have one so important to share the joy is so deeply sad.
Sympathies to the Obama and Dunham families and may they find comfort in each other in their time of grief.
meade,
Are you serious? Are you not aware of McCain's personal failings?
Jen,
BHO didn't mistreat his granny, he wasn't "pathetic". If you weren't predisposed to fear-of-BHO you'd be able to listen to BHO's entire Philadelphia speech without worrying that granny was being abused. But, that would have been the campaign that wasn't.
Fear.
I am not remotely frightened by Obama. I have no idea why you have seized on that silly mantra.
It was disrespectful to call his Grandmother a "typical white woman" just as it would be disrespectful to call my neighbor a typical black man. It's a bizarre thing for a supposedly transformative candidate to say, and I wouldn't be surprised if he regrets it.
Just think about all of the people that died during this election and won't see the results.
I am not afraid to die.
I have seen death up close, as I am sure most here have.
It is the unfortunate part of life...death.
The next president of the US and his challenger B.H. Obama will be on at halftime.
Jen, so you want to use the occasion of his Grandma passing to mount another political attack on him.
Classy.
Jen,
Do you know what quotes are for?
Why is your mind full of false facts?
Why are your beliefs strongly, viscerally felt, but not reality based?
Fear.
Would you rather die unexpectedly or die after a long illness knowing that you were going to die?
If you could choose you own death would you?
Antiphone didn't abide by my instruction that he wait until tomorrow to post again, so he is forever banned. Everything he posts will be deleted, unread, forever.
A troll proves himself a troll. What a lame troll!
Thanks Lem - I forgot there was MN Football tonight.
alphaliberal,
actually it was Obama who used his Gran politically. I am reacting to the fact that it was virtually her only "appearance" in the campaign, which (as I've said) I consider unfortunate.
1jpb - you are officially incoherent.
Death is sad, and it is difficult. I don't like when it comes around, but it is a part of life. I am content with my own life and death, and while I hope it does not arrive soon, I am at peace whenever it does arrive.
For Michael's review
Anyone else watch the half-time bit on Monday Night Football?
This election is grueling:
Obama's Nevada campaign director dies of a heart attack at the age of 44.
As an Obama supporter I hope we win tomorrow but this isn't a good way to open election day.
Well if you notice I put the word "appearance" in quotes, because her role in his life was invoked on that occasion, not because she was personally involved in the campaign, or should have been. But to bring her up only as an example of the racism of even the most well-intentioned white folks was a bummer.
Also, Obama made those comments "while she was dying of cancer", since you think that should inhibit others. The difference is that she was disturbed by her own racism, and didn't want the young Obama to know why she was afraid. Meanwhile, Wright isn't remotely ashamed of his racism.
Obama never "threw his grandma under a bus." That's a crock, and, frankly more than a bit disrespectful (but disrespect from the right, so okay by Althouse).
He bore personal witness to the fact that very good people can have difficulty with racism ingrained (for whatever reason). He confessed to it as a factor in all of us for us all to grapple with as in "even my grandmother..."
Again, another reach by the right to smear Obama. You guys just repeat these lines like a bunch of trained parrots.
1pb:
Must not humanize. Must not humanize. Must not humanize.
Well put. Exactly.
Eli, here's an eerily prescient story about Terence Tolbert, the Nevada campaign director for Barack Obama who died, which begins:
Under a sign that reads, "Go Ahead, Make My Pork Chop," Terence D. Tolbert, the Harlem-centric Democrat who is stiffing his own party to help a billionaire Republican mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, seek re-election, is transferring a blue-and-yellow stress ball from hand to hand like a hot potato. It is a feat he performs with utmost agility and no apparent stress.
He seems fully recovered from the mysterious chest pains - he swears they weren't guilt-induced - that sent him to the hospital during his first week on the job as a Bloomberg operative, provoking concern from his new colleagues. One phoned the hospital to ask him if the Bloomberg camp "had a lemon" on its hands.
"Jokingly," notes Mr. Tolbert, a jovial type himself."
The moral of this story, and this election, is: CHILL OUT EVERYONE. No one promises us tomorrow.
Althouse, wasn't "Michael" repeatedly asked to leave? He's far, far more offensive and trollish than antiphone.
I'm saying she fought her own generational/cultural racism in a meaningful way, whereas Wright has not. I'm not saying he threw her under a bus, only that she didn't deserve to be put in the company of someone who betrayed Obama in a big way. At that point remember he had no idea Wright was about to hit the airwaves and vigorously stab him in the back.
It was not white racism that caused Madelyn Dunham to fear young black men. It's a shame Obama still does not seem to understand that. And even more shameful if he does.
Althouse, wasn't "Michael" repeatedly asked to leave? He's far, far more offensive and trollish than antiphone.
Michael:
I think Palladian was poking at Althouse, there. Later, he was poking at you. You're saying poking at Althouse or poking at you is the same thing as poking at Sen. Obama's grandmother?
I'm not seeing where he, himself, was disrespectful to Madelyn Dunham. Where are the disrespectful comments from him about her or her death here? Point to them, please.
My Grandmother (born 1894) wasn't typical anything. She worked as bookkeeper in the family general store, took care of customers and their credit worries through the Depression and raised a family. She had a short commute--about 40 yards across the street in Centerbrook, Connecticut. She was a nice looking woman--a stunning beauty in her youth--who always dressed with a little style. Her education ended with high school, but she was articulate, literate and well read.
She was also relaxed and practical and not given to searching for slights. Her husband was a bit touchy, so she found particular value in not taking offense easily. She was a Christian Scientist. Had I called her a "typical" Christian Scientist, or a typical Christian for that matter (I was at the time rather rabidly non-Christian), she would have taken no offense. She knew that I loved her and valued her greatly.
My grandmother had little extra money and traveled sparingly. She had not seen her sister, who had married and moved to Oklahoma, for over 20 years. My father gave her a gift of a plane ticket to visit her sister, and my Grandmother went.
She arrived at the airport in Oklahoma City to learn that her sister had died unexpectedly early that morning.
Sometimes things happen that are sad and strange. So it is with Madelyn Dunham and Barack Obama.
Bleeper:
I am content with my own life and death, and while I hope it does not arrive soon, I am at peace whenever it does arrive.
A healthy attitude to have and to work for. After all, as they say, "no-one gets out alive."
I'd sure like to live to a ripe old age and see what's going to happen in this crazy world. Like reading a (comic) book series or watching a show but never seeing how the story ends.
Whoa. WHOA!!!!!!
Now, wait a damn minute!
My 9:54 comment [!!!!) ...
Michael:
I think Palladian was poking at Althouse, there. Later, he was poking at you. You're saying poking at Althouse or poking at you is the same thing as poking at Sen. Obama's grandmother?
I'm not seeing where he, himself, was disrespectful to Madelyn Dunham. Where are the disrespectful comments from him about her or her death here? Point to them, please.
9:54 PM
... was in response to MICHAEL's comment, which now is appearing after mine on this thread (that is to say, my comment was in his response to his, posted at 9:43 according to gmail notation).
To be clear.
So sad that she didn't make it that last step!
Or if Obama loses it's best she died before living through such a huge disappointment?
Besides I thought she got run over by a bus and killed months ago.
‘Toot’: Obama grandmother a force that shaped him
Charles Payne [retired assistant director of the U. of Chicago library] says his sister’s response to the reference was “like, ’Oh, well.”’ But his reaction was that Obama shouldn’t have shared that anecdote.
“She was really a very liberal person; liberal in politics and, I think, liberal in thinking,” says the brother, who has worked hard on his great-nephew’s campaign. “Frankly ... that story, when it was in the book, I felt didn’t need to be in there.”
Michael.....the "gift" that keeps giving.
Michael: That question of Palladian's which you highlight is precisely the one I characterized as his poking at Althouse, not Mrs. Dunham.
But then, I believe you already know that.
Michael:
I realize most here consider me as nothing more than a liberal "troll,"
Well put.
Thanks for defending me, reader_iam. I said NOTHING critical, offensive, political, nasty or anything else about Mr Obama's grandmother. My comments, as reader_iam said, were towards Althouse, and neither were those meant to disrespect or cause offense. I tend to have little or nothing to say about people's deaths, either people I know well or otherwise. It's something that, despite our best efforts, eventually happens to all of us. I'm not going to talk about my spiritual or metaphysical beliefs, but for our purposes here on this blog and on this earth, Mrs Dunham is beyond the reach of our commentary or our comfort. The only entities that can benefit from our comforting words are those left behind. Obama's not reading the comments here (well, I assume not, he seems to have bigger things to deal with at the moment) so I really don't have anything to say. But the operation of the blog does interest me, and so I thought that was what I'd comment about.
I don't really owe this explanation to "Michael" since he's proven himself to be a commenter in bad faith again and again. But I thought I'd offer it to the rest of you.
So I raise a glass of Johnnie Walker Blue Label to Mrs Dunham, Mr Obama, Mr McCain, and to America. I had planned to stay drunk on various high-end liquors from midnight 11/3 to midnight 11/4 but I have classes to teach tomorrow. Life goes on for us, the living, election or no election, at least we hope it does. Drinking will resume after class tomorrow.
ripper, thanks for posting that great piece about her. Tough cookie.
Palladian:
Great idea to get drunk tomorrow. Tip one in memory of the onetime bank Vice President Mrs. Dunham.
I realize most here consider me as nothing more than a liberal "troll,"
No, many believe you are a disgusting meatsack unworthy of the label liberal or even troll. Not that I care what you think, Mr the surge isn't working, gas will be $5 a gallon in December, lying asshole.
Simon,
Andrew Jackson had his moments, but I am a true fan of Sam Houston. As one of Old Hickory's proteges, he was pretty much Jackson's campaign manager in 1828 while still Governor of Tennessee. Houston is the only man to be governor of two states, president of a republic and a US senator. He was one awesome dude.
Michael,
I'll be fine with BHO as my President....thanks for asking.
I'm not crying meatsack, just go away. God are you stupid.
Michael,
Now here's a better question. Why do you keep coming here when the sites owner has said repeatedly she doesn't want you around? Good grief man, get a life.
Seeing it used here a few times, I'm not sure I like the widespread invocation of the phrase, "may God have mercy on her soul."
I know it's said with the best of intentions and humility about the human condition.
But shouldn't we reserve it for those a little more deserving of doubt, like condemned prisoners?
I don't think "toot" has much to account for in her life.
Bill Ayers, on the other hand...don't get me started.
Meade: McCain had little problem discarding his wife and family to start up with Cindy and her blond good looks, her beer fortune and upward political mobility for him. Your "pre"-judice about Obama is exceeded only by your delusions about McCain, who has a lifetime of ambiguities about the contrast between his maverick reputation and his narcissistic and politically ruthless nature.
Obama is a remarkable man, belittling him -- as so many here do -- reflects more on the belittlers than the belittled. His grandmother did a great job raising a brilliant and compassionate human being. Which is more than you can say for the parents and grandparents of his critics here.
The moonbats are out in force tonight.
Michael: Perhaps you will be surprised on some fronts.
exceeded only by your delusions about McCain, who has a lifetime of ambiguities about the contrast between his maverick reputation and his narcissistic and politically ruthless nature.
A strange charge to level, for I'd say most of the conservatives who now find themselves supporting McCain long ago found those qualities inextricable.
lem linked to an illuminating article on Obama:
For people who still want to believe that BHO will be an ultra-left president - here he is in his own words:
http://tinyurl.com/6jnktb
“Since the founding, the American political tradition has been reformist, not revolutionary,” he told me during an interview at his office on Capitol Hill this summer. “What that means is that for a political leader to get things done, he or she ideally should be ahead of the curve, but not too far ahead.
Compare and contrast Obama's easy use and discarding of the people in his life to the character shown in John McCain's refusing to be released ahead of his fellow POW's - almost impossible to imagine.
Excuse me? Didn't John McCain use and discard the wife who patiently waited for years for him to come back from the war? The mother of his first child, the once lovely Carol? I note Obama's still married to his first wife.
Matthew 19:8 He saith to them: Because Moses by reason of the hardness of your heart permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
May I point out one thing, please? People keep switching their concept of who raised Sen. Obama, as they have throughout this campaign, and for the most part inevitably the characterization comes down to one person or another: his mother did; his grandmother did; his step-father did; his grandfather did, or--yowza!--his biological father did.
I don't care who's done this, or is doing it, or why, but it's incorrect and even wrong, you know.
This one of the saddest things about this election season, from my perspective, for what that's worth.
And before Simon, or someone else, jumps too far or too quickly, yes: Yet another of the collection of saddest things, again from perspective, was the attack-jumping of Sarah Palin before she even got to the gate.
I don't see how this is throwing anyone under the bus. It is a cleareyed view of race relations in our country:
"I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.
These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love."
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Make it neat.
And, make a second one in honor of Lewis Hamilton (They're paying some of his bills as a sponsor, and he's the new world champion--which is fine by me, Ferrari doesn't need to win every year (just most years)--so they're probably paying out a bonus, they'll need more sales.)
Yet another of the collection of saddest things, again from perspective, was the attack-jumping of Sarah Palin before she even got to the gate.
This confuses me, reader. When people criticized McCain for pulling Palin out of nowhere, her defenders responded that no, indeed, she'd been on the radar for months before he chose her and pointed to relevant discussions here, and in other blogs, going way back in the primaries. And that being the case, then she was hardly jumped on before she could get to the gate. She was warming up on the sidelines for quite awhile, and not just supporters, but detractors, had some time to evaluate her there. It's no surprise that reactions came out as soon as her nomination was announced. And not at all unfair.
I hate it when family members are dragged into political campaigns. And I did not like it when Obama told an essentially false story about her in his race speech.
But I'm sure Obama loved his grandmother. She seemed like a good person who did a good job on the challenge of raising Obama as a grandmother.
I don't know how many people believe in God here, but the thought has occurred to me that if there is a God who affects things like the time of a sick person's death, did God take this good person before she saw her grandson lose the presidential election?
Antiphone,
Clever. And even funny. Even if it does mischaracterize what I said. I said the thought occurred to me. I don't expect an answer, only reaction (even funny ones).
Deranged Andrew Sullivan had the opposite reaction, that she could not wait for the results and now knows the good news.
Eerie the resemblance of Obama to his grandfather. Yep, same shape face -- and the ears!
What's eerie about it? It's his grandfather.
Yes, Michael, Palladian is a creepy man, and not just because he instantly started protesting the notion that people should be respectful towards Madelyn dunham's death. This weirdo, Palladian, posts troll messages at me every single time I post about Obama or Sarah Palin on this blog. Bizarre trolling messages about Palin's private parts.
Very sad to see Palladian is upset at the idea of being respectful towards Madelyn Dunham's death. But I'm not surprised. Oh, well, whatever, apparently that creep has already started drinking the hard liquor to deal with Obama's landslide victory tomorrow.
I don't know how many people believe in God here, but the thought has occurred to me that if there is a God who affects things like the time of a sick person's death, did God take this good person before she saw her grandson lose the presidential election?
That thought occurred to you because you're one wacko motherfucker.
That thought occurred to you because you're one wacko motherfucker.
Pot. Kettle. Black.
Meade said "compare and contrast" ...
Remember this story about McCain?
Somehow, I doubt Loafingoaf is a big fan of God, or conversely, that God is a big fan of his kind and gentle approach toward others.
Antiphone, the grandmother story in Obama's book was that his grandmother was scared to go to the bus stop one day after some black guys had accosted her the day before for money; he turned that into a grandmother who was afraid when she saw blacks coming down the street.
Remember this story about McCain?
Oh no, it can't be a negative story about McCain in the MSM?
Donn: it's a wonderfully positive story about loyalty. Boy, talk about assumping to conclusions!
"What's eerie about it? It's his grandfather."
LOL.
Ann,
I am not sure you did not want people to express their own conspiracy theories or criticize others for expressing them as well. I am assuming the former and not the latter would be considered "disrespectful".
Still, instead of posting the actual theories, I will just point to the usual venom on FreeRepublic where nuts roam free of their shells. Sadly, No! also picked up the thread, although they only copied a couple dozen early comments--it got much worse with Freepers. There is no limit to these heartless bastards.
"What's eerie about it? It's his grandfather."
It's always eerie (or perhaps the word should be "uncanny") to see the faces of the dead in the faces of the living. Maybe it's just me.
amba,
Beautiful story. Thanks.
We disagree in politics but not in life.
FLS:
" “What that means is that for a political leader to get things done, he or she ideally should be ahead of the curve, but not too far ahead."
That sounds like very much like an awkward paraphrase of an FDR quote.
The president elect's statement about her was reassuring and, perhaps, revealing. 'She gave us courage to try new things.' Certainly she seems to have done that herself, to move to Hawaii, a wonderful place. I think in terms of the radical ideas some in the family had that reflected in part a desire for justice, accepting the other as a person. She loved him, apparently worshiped him, perhaps like Freud's mother. He has been accepted by radicals and found a path there. Perhaps now that he has been accepted by America, he can 'try new things' with advisors like Austen Goolsbee and L. Summers and Buffet.
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