Althouse: "Are you punch-drunk?"

March 23, 2009

"Are you punch-drunk?"

Asks Steve Kroft as Obama keeps giggling.

(And what's wrong with Kroft? He sounds drunk.)

90 comments:

Fen said...: "No. I'm jsut overwhelmed by the course load. I only got this spot because of my skin color"; 3/23/09, 10:00 AM
EnigmatiCore said...: Just being around the One is intoxicating-- to both reporters and to Obama himself.

It is akin to a nitrous oxide buzz, from what I understand.; 3/23/09, 10:04 AM
The Dude said...: "No, but I have been huffing drain cleaner and smokin' crack. Now where are my Kools?"; 3/23/09, 10:04 AM
Franco said...: He is not punch-drunk he is giddy that he is president and can do whatever he wants. And let me be the first to ask; Gallows humor? Harvard isn't what it used to be, Get the Obamaprompter back on the job!; 3/23/09, 10:05 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: The last time I watched 60 Minutes, Mike Wallace was not quite old enough to sign up for Medicare.; 3/23/09, 10:11 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Btw Althouse, was starting this blog just a scheme to get you and your future hubby a whole bunch of wedding presents?; 3/23/09, 10:12 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: He is not punch drunk. He is power drunk. Dictators have a tendency to giggle. Look at old films of Hitler, Mao, or Stain.; 3/23/09, 10:18 AM
Anonymous said...: I hadn't watched this before, and you are right—Croft does sound drunk. Not as drunk as Diane Sawyer, but bad enough. They need to start giving these guys breathalyzer tests before they go on air.; 3/23/09, 10:25 AM
David said...: Kroft always sounds drunk. Maybe it's just the way he sounds. Maybe not.

Obama just isn't good away from the canned speech. I went to hear him in South Carolina during the primaries. (Good luck getting him back here now.) Good speech, lousy Q&A. I thought my reaction was perhaps just me. Or he was having an off day (the schedule was hectic and it was late in the day.) But no, it's a pattern.

Everyone seems to think that Obama is really, really smart. What if he isn't? What if he's just a dim bulb that looks bright in a very dark tunnel? If that's the case, we are in some very deep do-do.; 3/23/09, 10:28 AM
David said...: Bella: "Dictators have a tendency to giggle."

Seems to me the problem is just the opposite. Obama is hardly proving to be a dictator. He can't even get the members of his own party to follow him.

They don't fear him. They don't think they need him. They are used to being the opposition, which means propose anything that gets publicity, no matter the consequence.

Obmaba's idea of leadership seems to be to give better speeches that Bush did. I don't think that's what it's all about.; 3/23/09, 10:33 AM
DaLawGiver said...: "Yeah," he chuckled, "Just a little gallows humor. Hey, did you hear the one about the special Olympics synchronized swimming team? No? Ummm, maybe I'll save that one for another day. But seriously folks I've got everything under control. Don't worry about all this AIG jazz. I'll take care of everything. As the junior senator from Illinois I've had lots of experience with handling problems like this. Lighten up will you?"; 3/23/09, 10:41 AM
Anonymous said...: Punch drunk? Who's ever punched him? Certainly not Steve Croft or any of the other water-carriers at CBS.

The heaviest blows that ever landed on Obama was (OMG) Sarah Palin's address at the GOP convention.

And how prescient her comments are starting to look now, even if Palin is not likely to ever recover from the beating she got.; 3/23/09, 10:41 AM
TWM said...: "Obmaba's idea of leadership seems to be to give better speeches that Bush did. I don't think that's what it's all about."

His teleprompter gives better speeches than Bush. Barry can't talk for shit.; 3/23/09, 10:48 AM
Fen said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/23/09, 10:50 AM
Fen said...: So, when NYC is turned into a valley of glass, Obama will serve up his gallows humor? Priceless.

...FEMA estimates 2 million incinerated by the intial blast

Obama: [chuckle]

...another 3 million deaths from the blast wave...

Obama: [har har]

...and an estimate of 20 million throughout the state from radiation exposure...

Obama: [guffaw! snicker]; 3/23/09, 10:52 AM
Charity said...: Gallows humor? Here I thought it was just the nervous laughter of a man who bull-shit his way through a job interview only to learn after he got the job that he is in way over his head, has no idea how to do the job, and can't find a way out.; 3/23/09, 10:56 AM
Anonymous said...: Well, here we are in the midst of the second major "man-caused disaster" in a decade - and Obama is laughing.

In my wildest dreams I didn't think he'd be this bad.; 3/23/09, 10:56 AM
BJM said...: As BHO's election facade cracks under pressure; it is becoming apparent that the country elected David Alexrod.; 3/23/09, 11:01 AM
Fen said...: "Asks Steve Kroft as Obama keeps fiddling"

/fixed; 3/23/09, 11:04 AM
Fen said...: /oops, prescient much? via wiki:

In 64, Rome burned.[71] Nero enacted a public relief effort[71] as well as significant reconstruction.[72] A number of other major construction projects occurred in Nero's late reign. Nero had the marshes of Ostia filled with rubble from the fire. He erected the large Domus Aurea.[73] In 67, Nero attempted to have a canal dug at the Isthmus of Corinth.[74] Ancient historians state that these projects and others exacerbated the drain on the State's budget.[75]

The economic policy of Nero is a point of debate among scholars. According to ancient historians, Nero's construction projects were overly extravagant and the large number of expenditures under Nero left Italy "thoroughly exhausted by contributions of money" with "the provinces ruined."[76][77] Modern historians, though, note that the period was riddled with deflation and that it is likely that Nero's spending came in the form of public works projects and charity intended to ease economic troubles.[78]; 3/23/09, 11:12 AM
Chennaul said...: O/T

On a personal note.

It has come to my attention that I was namejacked here-most likely by the usual suspect.

That person Michael/LuckyOldson used my handle to cast dispersions on Host with the Most and Joe.

That's just the two that I know of-

For some reason it bothers me-and I would like to apologize to those two commenters-

Host with the Most and Joe because there isn't a damn thing I have ever disagreed with when they comment.

They are bang on-commenters and there is no way in hell I'd start ad hominem with either of them.

Or really anyone else for that matter so if there are other commenters who feel that I have done that to them please consider that it was that poor soul Michael/Luckyoldson.

Thanks in advance.; 3/23/09, 11:23 AM
LonewackoDotCom said...: Is there any way we could move beyond the Idiocracy of a politician having to be embarrassed over stupid questions like the one from Croft? I'd like BHO to be discredited, but over things that actually matter such as his policies or his lies. For instance, I'm pretty sure that Croft didn't ask BHO about the fact that illegal aliens will be able to take stimulus jobs from U.S. citizens. That's far more important than "punch drunk".; 3/23/09, 11:30 AM
Paul said...: "In my wildest dreams I didn't think he'd be this bad."

Then you weren't paying attention.; 3/23/09, 11:32 AM
Anonymous said...: Being punch drunk implies that you have sustained blows. The press coddles him; events don't touch him.

He won, and he is changing America. Exactly what he promised.

He's giggling because he has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.; 3/23/09, 11:42 AM
Bender said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/23/09, 11:50 AM
Bender said...: Fen --

We also must not forget that nearly everyone -- both the Romans of the time and historians today -- know that it was Nero himself who is responsible for the fire, that is, he himself caused the fire to be set.

And why would Nero purposely destroy a great portion of the city? Because that is where he wanted to place his building projects, and those old structures were in the way. How convenient, then, that a fire should come along and burn those structures down.

Of course, the fire got out of hand, as purposeful destruction tends to do, and when the whispers started about Nero setting it himself (starting it through minions, that is), then it became necessary to find a scapegoat. It became necessary to shift blame and demonize some segment of society. The target? Those people who had joined some strange and bizarre new cult and who called themselves "Christians." And so, Nero started a widespread persecution against these "enemies of the state," imprisoning and killing thousands, including a couple of guys from the Middle East named Peter and Paul.

Fiddling around, nervously laughing because you don't have a clue as to what the hell you are doing, having purposely caused the crisis yourself as part of some plan to build some new worldly paradise, and using the situation to attack and demonize others in order to deflect attention from yourself, all while promoting a cult of personality -- all of these things Nero did.

Sound familiar? Of course it does. Our Special Olympian President is following the same playbook.; 3/23/09, 11:52 AM
Rose said...: Kroft? Drunk? No, furious, is what it looks like to me. He is asking the questions through clenched teeth and looks like he could spit nails. He know EXACTLY what a weasel he is interviewing. It's what he wants to say but doesn't because he is trying to rein it in that causes him to stumble in his questioning.

It is interesting to watch as Obama realizes that the man sitting across from him does not seem to like him very much, and to see the tightening of his eyes as he bullshits his way through the - really pretty tough - questions.

Fascinating. Obama's answers, lots of "what we have to do is..." - the same empty sound-good answers he always gives. And when he is in trouble he always reverts to "We." "We have alot on our plate."

And "We" don't have a clue what we are doing.; 3/23/09, 12:11 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: A story you won't see on Althouse:

Bill O'Reilly stalks 5'-0" 100 pound female critic for crime of criticizing Bill O'Reilly.

5'-0" 100 pound woman is not silenced.; 3/23/09, 12:33 PM
John Stodder said...: Sounds like I missed a really depressing episode of 60 Minutes.

The media liked him. I keep telling myself the media liked him. They're smart, right? They're insiders. And they liked him. Liked him better than Hillary. Liked him better than McCain -- two people the media also liked, in the past. They liked him. Obama can't really be this bad, can he? No. Anyone could have a couple of bad months...; 3/23/09, 12:34 PM
Curtiss said...: KROFT: You're sitting here. And you're-- you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, "I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money--” How do you deal with-- I mean, wh-- explain -.

OBAMA: What do you mean?

KROFT: It's funny, you know. You're a funny guy.

OBAMA: You mean the way I talk? What?

KROFT: It's just, you know. You're just funny. You know, the way you tell the story.

OBAMA: Funny how? What's funny about it?

KROFT: You got it all wrong.

OBAMA: You’re a big boy. You know what you said. Funny, how?

KROFT: Just, you know. You're funny.

OBAMA: Let me understand this. Maybe I'm a little fucked up. But I'm funny how? Funny like a clown? I amuse you? I'm here to fucking amuse you?

OBAMA: What do you mean, funny? How am I funny?

KROFT: You know, how you tell a story.

OBAMA: I don't know. You said it. You said I'm funny. How am I funny? What the fuck is so funny about me? Tell me what's funny.

KROFT: Get the fuck out of here, President Obama.

OBAMA: Motherfucker! I almost had him. You stuttering prick, you.; 3/23/09, 12:36 PM
SteveR said...: AL: Just curious, if the 5'0" and 100lbs made that wrong, would 5'8" 145lbs have been ok? How about a 5'7" 150 lb man"?; 3/23/09, 12:45 PM
The Dude said...: Nothing better than a Goodfellas quote to brighten the day.

But Obama is no Joe Pesci. His character, Tommy DeVito was tough. Obama is a pussy.; 3/23/09, 12:46 PM
dualdiagnosis said...: Kroft-“Are you punch-drunk?”

Obama- "LOL!, No, but I do bowl like a retard"; 3/23/09, 12:50 PM
AllenS said...: AlphaLiberal said...
"A story you won't see on Althouse:
Bill O'Reilly stalks 5'-0" 100 pound female critic for crime of criticizing Bill O'Reilly."

From the article:

"This weekend, while on vacation, I was ambushed by O’Reilly’s top hit man, producer Jesse Watters

Emphasis added by me.; 3/23/09, 12:52 PM
John Stodder said...: "A story you won't see on Althouse

How meta.

I did see it on Althouse. In a comment. From Alphaliberal. Who says I didn't see it on Althouse.

Paging M.C. Escher!; 3/23/09, 1:02 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Guess I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Conservatives demand dead seriousness. Unless a Republican President who started a war that killed thousands of people is joking about "where are those WMDs?" That's fine.; 3/23/09, 1:05 PM
Alex said...: Alpha - WMDs? Is that all you can continue harping on?; 3/23/09, 1:25 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Bill O'Reilly stalks 5'-0" 100 pound female critic for crime of criticizing Bill O'Reilly.

I read your link. Anyone who would call that stalking has never been stalked. That woman should stop fulfilling the stereotype of women being hysterical. Even the original story that, oh my goodness!, O'Reilly said that being drunk makes a person more likely to be victimized (true) reeks of hysterics.; 3/23/09, 1:28 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Alpha - WMDs? Is that all you can continue harping on?

Oh when it gets into a lather it will harp on the ten or twenty milion Iraqis who were killed or the millions of Iraqi chidren who were killed, or the billions of Iraqis who fled and are refugees someplace. or, or, or...; 3/23/09, 1:34 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Yes, Stodder. I have the powers to distort reality. Be warned.; 3/23/09, 1:40 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: I Was Followed, Harassed, And Ambushed By Bill O'Reilly's Producer

The actual head line from Alpha’s link.

One thing you will not see on Althouse is Alpha being accurate or Alpha actually ever telling the truth.; 3/23/09, 1:42 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Alpha - WMDs? Is that all you can continue harping on?

No, there is much more I can harp about. And, I used to drink Harp but that was before the microbrew explosion and is a whole other topic.

In case you're too dense to understand the connection, it is about outrage over Presidential humor. Bush laughed at WMDs he took us to war over, no problem for the con's and some mod's (don't recall AA on this).

Obama laughs at DC shenanigans. It's an outrage of historic proportions, hide the childr.... zzzzzzzzzz.........

Hope that helps.; 3/23/09, 1:42 PM
BJM said...: AL, no please do not hide the children, we need to farm the rug rats out to work as soon as possible cuz Obama's government spent another trillion last week.; 3/23/09, 1:45 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Freeman kneejerkedly defends Bill O'Lielly:

I read your link. Anyone who would call that stalking has never been stalked. That woman should stop fulfilling the stereotype of women being hysterical. Even the original story that, oh my goodness!, O'Reilly said that being drunk makes a person more likely to be victimized (true) reeks of hysterics.

Hunh. So you have no problem with TV personalities responding to criticism by send out vans to stake out people and follow them and then harass them on the street. All without even calling to first ask for an interview

That's all fine by you.

And women getting raped and killed? Well, they must first come under suspicion. Young women looking sexy are inviting trouble.

Rii-i-i-ight. And if a liberal said this you'd have the same answer? No.; 3/23/09, 1:46 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Peter Bella is keeping current on his crazy pills:
One thing you will not see on Althouse is Alpha being accurate or Alpha actually ever telling the truth.

Peter - I'm not saying I was "Followed, Harassed, And Ambushed By Bill O'Reilly's Producer." That was the author of that piece with that title.

You see when a title is in the first person, it is meant coming as a statement from the person writing it, not from some person linking to it.; 3/23/09, 1:49 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Guess I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Me either, since I change the channel, press the mute button or turn off the television whenever Obama is on it...which is all the time anymore.

Doesn't the man have some work to do? These daily photo ops are tiresome. We know he is spending time playing basketball, puzzling over March Madness picks and practicing his bowling (so he doesn't look retarded) while attending and throwing all sorts of really cool parties and warning people not to put lampshades on their heads.

It is soooo inconvenient to have to squeeze in some of those boring Presidential duties. It takes away from his fun being pen pals with world leaders who hate our country.

"Dear Jac,
So nice to be able to write to you instead of that big meanie Sarcozy. He just doesn't understand me the way you do.

I' am soooo looking forward to the time you are back in charge and we can get together with our other best friends forever, in Iran and really get some things done to change the world. You know, good ole, Akamadinajacket...oh heck, I can never spell his name, but you know who I mean. Boy is that guy a card and so much fun at parties. Well, except for the ranting about the seventh Imam and some stupid well or something.

Those overnight bowling parties are so much fun, especially now that I OWN the bowling ally and we can get all the midnight snacks I want. Ha ha. Too cool to be the PREZ.

Well, later.
Love and kisses
Barack"

So hard to figure who goes under the bus next. My bet.....Geitner and Dodd within 3 weeks. My wish. Barney Frank should be a speed bump too.

I already knew that he is a socialist and dedicated to destroying....ooops I meant changing the country. Leveling the playing field by destroying capitalism and free enterprise....ooops I meant spreading the wealth. Class warfare and special interests instead of the welfare of the Country as an entire whole.

The fact that he thinks this is all funny and he has no compunction about showing it, is just more evidence of his character. A good conman will at least PRETEND to care.

At first I wanted to believe he is incompetent and and ideologue. Now I believe that he is truly evil and an ideologue.

No response needed from AL. I can tune you out just as much as I can Obama.; 3/23/09, 1:50 PM
Minzo said...: While I agree that it was ill-advised, Im amazed at the over-reaction on this thread. Ive just been over at Little green footballs blog and its the same thing- 'dictator..wants to destroy America..pleased about the crisis...hates disabled children..'. There's plenty of things one can criticize Obama for, but these are non-stories when set against the bigger picture.; 3/23/09, 1:55 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Alpha,

Nevermind. If you're male as I suppose, you just blew the women hysterical stereotype because you took the hysterics to eleven. Go feminism!

First of all, I'm not even a fan of populist O'Reilly.

Second, it's rude, but confronting people on the street seems to be fairly commonplace in journalism. Nothing special about this particular encounter.

Third, you're misrepresenting what was said about being at greater risk for victimization. Yes, being drunk and scantily clad will increase your risk. That doesn't mean that you're "asking for it" or "under suspicion." If I tell a man, "Hey, you should put your wallet in the front pocket instead of the back around here," I'm not saying, "If you don't, you DESERVE to be robbed!" I'm just noting a way that he can lower his risk level. Knowing how to lower risk levels is a good thing.; 3/23/09, 1:58 PM
Palladian said...: "A story you won't see on Althouse."

No, because it's uninteresting tabloid-level material.

Is Bill O'Reilly perceived as some sort of icon of conservatism among the sites where you mine the feeble ore containing your spamming points, Alpha? Because I've never met a conservative who likes or watches him.

But aside from that, what the flying fuck does Bill O'Reilly have to do with the subject of this post? Is this your clumsy way of running interference for your chuckling hero who titters away on television shows while the economy continues to spiral the drain? Because it's not working. No one cares about Bill O'Reilly. And they're smart enough to see what a disaster your candidate is turning out to be.; 3/23/09, 2:01 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: A story you won't see on Althouse:

Here's another story you won't see on Althouse.

Alphaliberal is a tiresome troll. Film at 11.

You know why she won't do a post on that? Because you without fail make the case well enough on your own. Why O'Reilly has anything to do with the thread probably only makes sense in the fuzz of white noise that is your brain.; 3/23/09, 2:03 PM
Minzo said...: Im perfectly willing to admit that Obama might turn out to be a bad president-im withholding judgement for now- but why is appearing on TV shows seen as such a bad thing? If he was staying in the white house and not doing this, surely he would be slammed for not trying to engage with Americans, be accountable, explain himself..etc? And wouldnt that be more fodder for those who sneer at him for coming across as aloof and arrogant-'Oh look, he wont even appear on TV. Who does he think he is?'; 3/23/09, 2:06 PM
Palladian said...: "Second, it's rude, but confronting people on the street seems to be fairly commonplace in journalism. Nothing special about this particular encounter."

Yes, it's not like there's a O'Reilly-level-idiot 5'11" 400 pound leftist thug who goes around rudely confronting people or anything...; 3/23/09, 2:07 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Anyone else sort of, well, horrified by this Obama Presidency? Screw-ups everywhere and all the time from the most minor things (DVDs, Special Olympics, plastic Overcharge button, etc.) to the most major things (trillions and trillions of dollars being thrown around, looking weak to Russia, Iran, and North Korea.) And all within a couple months!

Like being trapped on a high speed train that you know is going to crash. Really, it's sort of terrifying.; 3/23/09, 2:09 PM
Minzo said...: Freeman hunt- thats fair enough, but surely the question should be- is this the way the administration is going to be all the way through or will they learn from their mistakes and get their act together? It might be an error to assume that because they've made several cock-ups already (although some like the DVD thing are barely worth mentioning) its a guarantee that they will continue to do so. Its a bad sign granted, but I still think he'll make a competent president and I will be willing to aknowledge my error if Im wrong...; 3/23/09, 2:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Anyone else sort of, well, horrified by this Obama Presidency?

Yes!; 3/23/09, 2:21 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Freeman hunt- thats fair enough, but surely the question should be- is this the way the administration is going to be all the way through or will they learn from their mistakes and get their act together?

Until I see some shred of evidence that they are learning from their mistakes, I guess I have to assume that they'll keep screwing up. Instead, I open Drudge and see things like "regulate salaries" and "another 1 trillion dollar plan." Yikes! It's just worse and worse and worse.; 3/23/09, 2:23 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Im perfectly willing to admit that Obama might turn out to be a bad president-im withholding judgement for now- but why is appearing on TV shows seen as such a bad thing? If he was staying in the white house and not doing this, surely he would be slammed for not trying to engage with Americans, be accountable, explain himself..etc?

Of course, no one wants the President of the United States crouched under his desk sucking his thumb and crying "mommy mommy".

But there is a fine line between being Presidential, serious, comforting in time of crisis, being the man with the plan, and being on a late night comedy show making fun of the disabled, yucking it up, being on television 24/7. Too much exposure. Spending too much time in the limelight instead of appearing to buckle down to WORK.

At some point the man needs to quit being in campaign mode, I'm a superstar mode and get down to being a President, a diplomat and keep maybe one or two of his campaign promises. Earmarks anyone?

Here's a refresher How about actually READING the bills that he signs. Congress doesn't seem to be so inclined. The buck stops at his desk, how about some of that vaunted "reponsibility" that he is always harping on? Hmmmmm????

"we also have to shed the spending we don't need."

In a pigs ass he will. The excess spending by Obama is obscene, unneeded and is going to bankrupt the country.; 3/23/09, 2:26 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Like being trapped on a high speed train that you know is going to crash. Really, it's sort of terrifying.

Freeeman, It is actualy more like this

"What we are witnessing now is the biggest most expensive side show in history. However Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and yes, Obama himself, will provide us the comic relief. Not unlike when one of the occupants cuts a stinky one in the clown car. If we weren‘t in the car, it would be a lot more funny."

Trapped in the clown car and the windows won't roll down.; 3/23/09, 2:29 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Anyone else sort of, well, horrified by this Obama Presidency?

To quote my favorite character from Babylon 5:

I'm long past caring and fast approaching apathy.; 3/23/09, 2:30 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: DBQ, face facts. You're just taking every chance to knock on Obama you can find.

So Obama went on a talk show and discussed the issues of the day. It was a substantive conversation and conveyed facts about the seriousness of the position we find ourselves in.

Of course, the wingers get their tongues clucking about this latest (faux) outrage.

If Obama was a Republican you'd be praising him for taking his case directly to the people.

What a crock.; 3/23/09, 2:38 PM
Rich B said...: Alpha-

Maybe you should change your nom de post to The Ship Be Sinking.; 3/23/09, 2:41 PM
jayne_cobb said...: Alpha-

And you'd be accusing him of war crimes while claiming he was a retard.; 3/23/09, 2:51 PM
Palladian said...: "DBQ, face facts. You're just taking every chance to knock on Obama you can find."

LOL. Yeah, DBQ! That's Alpha's job, to knock on the President every chance he can find! Well, if the President is anything other than a Democrat, that is. Poor Alpha, jobless with the advent of The Obama. Oh sure, he can coast for a few months by tossing out some retro "Bush is a war criminal" and "Bush is stupid" material, maybe a shopworn "Bill O'Reilly is an asshole" or two once he's hit the bottom of the barrel. But eventually the well will go dry and there will be no more anti-Republican/anti-conservative material to toss around because there won't be any more Republicans or conservatives worth talking about. And then Alpha will realize that he thrives on negativity, that he is only happy playing Cassandra to the "wingnuts" and that he is incapable of being positive about anything. Then he'll start campaigning for any Republican office-seeker he can find, in hopes that he'll once again have something to bitch about after the next election.; 3/23/09, 3:21 PM
Ernesto Ariel Suárez said...: Hahahahaha, Palladian, ♥!; 3/23/09, 3:27 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Pallidian waxes inane:
...because there won't be any more Republicans or conservatives worth talking about.

Oh, that would be a great day.

And, I criticized Clinton plenty in the day and criticize Obama when I disagree with him these days.

But you need your fictional portrayals to prop up your fantasy world. So go nuts. (Oh, my bad.You been there and done that).; 3/23/09, 3:31 PM
Anonymous said...: It is pretty hilarious that Alpha is reduced to picking on Bill O'Reilly, the Maury Povich of Fox News - in a thread about Obama on CBS. Truly hilarious.

Anyway, about the state of the country: I want to hear the one from Alpha about how Democrats are going to hold the House and the Senate. When a Democratic governor is down nine in New Jersey, you got trouble. I would think that even the loons know in their darkest hearts that this has been an epic disaster.; 3/23/09, 3:53 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: It is pretty hilarious that Alpha is reduced to picking on Bill O'Reilly, the Maury Povich of Fox News - in a thread about Obama on CBS. Truly hilarious.

Gee, you think his parents better ask for a refund for all the tuition they spent? Does day care give refunds?; 3/23/09, 4:27 PM
X said...: Jon Stewart gonna be en fuego tonite! Doesn't Obama know the economy is "fucking serious"? Can't wait for the funny faces!; 3/23/09, 5:21 PM
dick said...: ALm

When was the last time you criticized Obama? if ever?; 3/23/09, 5:22 PM
Fen said...: but why is appearing on TV shows seen as such a bad thing?

Because he's supposed to be a leader, not a celebrity.; 3/23/09, 5:26 PM
Fen said...: although some like the DVD thing are barely worth mentioning

Not exactly. Remember, Obama's is supposed to be the "smart" diplomacy. These "minor" mistakes can have consequences on that front - the Brits did something similar to Stalin [subtle insults like sending their ambassador to him on a leisurely train ride] that led to him signing a pact with Germany instead.

Poland fell as a result.; 3/23/09, 5:30 PM
Fen said...: So its a given that Obama will screw up more complex diplomatic challenges - like with Pakistan and their nuclear arsenal.; 3/23/09, 5:36 PM
Revenant said...: If he was staying in the white house and not doing this, surely he would be slammed for not trying to engage with Americans, be accountable, explain himself..etc?

Can you give an example of a President EVER being slammed for not appearing on "The Tonight Show"? For pity's sake, the preceding and following shows featured Seth Rogen and Reese Witherspoon plugging "Monsters vs. Aliens". Is it too much to ask that the Presidency be treated like a serious job?

Then again, the world is probably better off for every hour Obama spends not doing the job he was elected to do. So nevermind.; 3/23/09, 6:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Great presidents proclaim good ideas that resonate with the electorate. The medium isn't particularly important.

Obama has no good ideas, and no idea how to implement any ideas.; 3/23/09, 6:18 PM
BJM said...: Seven, I absolutely agree but the liberal establishment will find a way to prop Obama up at least until mid-terms, if the Dems fare badly in 2010, then it gets interesting.

What will Obama do when he's no longer the cool dude, but a lame duck?; 3/23/09, 7:48 PM
Palladian said...: "And, I criticized Clinton plenty in the day and criticize Obama when I disagree with him these days."

Yeah! Like.. uh... like that... oh... uh... oh, yeah, like that one tie he wore a couple of weeks ago! Totally gross color! Come on, Obama! Epic Fail! See? And then there was... uh, I don't exactly agree with... uh... that flag pin! T-a-c-k-y! And uh...

Can I get back to you?; 3/23/09, 8:01 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Is Steve Kroft related to Lara Kroft? If so, can he introduce me?; 3/23/09, 8:14 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Alpha you are living proof that there should be post natal abortions.; 3/23/09, 8:52 PM
jmack said...: So I end up reading the frenzied commenters who showed up at Ezra Klein rail on and on to leeeave Annnn aloooone when it comes to a couple of anti-semitic comments and how those comments don't represent Althouse or the people who read her blog. And then I come here and read multiple comments that many would call racist. Fen and fcai make racially tinged comments and Peter V. Bella compares Obama to Hitler, Mao, and Stalin.

Aside from that, making such a big goddamned deal about Obama laughing ironically about the difficulties he faces ranks right up there with some of the other faux controversies that Althouse has dealt with here.

And to have the number of people here criticize Obama's speaking without a teleprompter is laughable. Perhaps you all have forgotten the living verbal cuisinart that is our previous president.

Keep up the good work here. It gives people something to laugh at after a hard day thinking.; 3/24/09, 5:04 AM
Fen said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/24/09, 6:23 AM
Fen said...: jmack: Fen makes racially tinged comments

Affirmative action IS racist.

I'm pointing out that Obama is no different than a student admitted due to affirmative action - "overwhlemed" [his words] by the course load, better served at a lower tier university.

ie. Obama is out of his league. Better that he had gained executive experience at the state level first. We don't have the luxury of waiting on him to finish remedial Algebra.

And I think people like you only voted for Obama because of his skin color. Which makes YOU the racist, jmack.

And to have the number of people here criticize Obama's speaking without a teleprompter is laughable.

No, because when his teleprompter dies Obama comes off sounding just as dumb as Bush. Thats why its laughable. Your Messiah is just another little man behind the curtain. He's been feeding you with a shovel, and you gleefully swallowed it all up.

Perhaps you all have forgotten the living verbal cuisinart that is our previous president.

Right. Bush is a horrible communicator. You think that means he's stupid, which says more about your intelligence than his.

Obama is the reverse - great communicator [when his teleprompter is working] with no depth. He'll dazzle you with bullshit while the walls crumble around you.

You might as well have voted for Martin Sheen or any other actor.; 3/24/09, 6:37 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/24/09, 7:00 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: Hey Fen,
Give it up. According to the new Bible, any criticism of Obama is racist. History must be made. A legacy must be formed. He must not fail, no matter the cost. The country and its people be damned. People like jmack can call anyone a racist who does not agree Obama. Actually, they can call anyone a racist just because.; 3/24/09, 7:05 AM
former law student said...: Asks Steve Kroft as Obama keeps giggling.

The man is chuckling, not giggling. Girlishness is not one of O's faults.

Doesn't the man have some work to do? These daily photo ops are tiresome.

Very little brush to cut back on the Hyde Park ranch. He could mow it in half an hour. So he meets with Americans in his spare time, instead.

There's plenty of things one can criticize Obama for, but these are non-stories when set against the bigger picture.

The Republicans have very few plays left in their playbook, unfortunately. You can sneak a peek thanks to Tom Tomorrow's wonderful 3/10/09 cartoon, found online at salon.com :

http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2009/03/10/tomo/; 3/24/09, 10:58 AM
former law student said...: I'm pointing out that Obama is no different than a student admitted due to affirmative action - "overwhlemed" [his words] by the course load, better served at a lower tier university.

ie. Obama is out of his league.

W. left Obama the Augean stables to clean up -- shows the danger of letting a frat rat C-student legacy admit run your country. Hard to imagine even a true affirmative action candidate could do worse.; 3/24/09, 11:06 AM
Fen said...: W. left Obama the Augean stables to clean up

Bullocks. We're here because Democrats [and then Clinton] forced banks to make risky loans to inner city folk with bad credit. They were threatened with chrages of racism and gov scrutiny if they refused.

At least when the subject of Reparations comes up, I can say that I've already emptied my 401k to pony up.

If anything, Clinton was the one soiled the Augean, he even bragged about all the ticking time bombs he left behind for Bush to stumble over.; 3/24/09, 11:25 AM
Fen said...: jmack: And to have the number of people here criticize Obama's speaking without a teleprompter is laughable. Perhaps you all have forgotten the living verbal cuisinart that is our previous president.

Almost forgot - I find it interesting that the only way you can prop up Obama is to compare him to the Chimp.; 3/24/09, 11:26 AM
former law student said...: Bullocks. We're here because Democrats [and then Clinton] forced banks to make risky loans to inner city folk with bad credit. They were threatened with chrages of racism and gov scrutiny if they refused.

Good example of GOP Success Strategies 1, 3, and 8.; 3/24/09, 11:34 AM
An Edjamikated Redneck said...: A couple of points:

One is the Obama birth certificate snafu. Thee are still folks complaining that the original has not been produced.

Second is Obama flying all other the county for photo ops, having cocktail parties every week and spend alot of time in the bowling alley; maybe its because Axlerod won't let him in the oval office?

And, good ole Barry has not spent more than a couple of years anywhere before he quits adn moves on.

How are these things connected?

Axlerod 'leaks' the original Kenyan Birth record in a couple of years, Obama resigns (with a sigh of relif, and Axlerod gets Biden as the puppet president, who starts to appear to scale back some of the worst socialist programs, just in time for the 2012 election, as a sop to a possible re-election.

Remember, you heard it here first.; 3/24/09, 11:49 AM
jmack said...: No, no, no...you folks are right. Making reference to getting the job because he's black, referring to smoking crack and Kools have nothing to do with race.

I will now go back to praying at my Obama shrine, because mindless adoration for Obama is the only explanation for noting the hyprocrisy here.; 3/26/09, 4:35 AM