Althouse: "The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against..."

March 16, 2009

"The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against..."

Concerned!

Everyone is concerned now. It's the word of the day. Why does that word bother me so much? It's what you say when you aren't bothering to think of anything specific to say and "interesting" just isn't enough.

31 comments:

MadisonMan said...: It's what you say when you aren't bothering to think of anything specific to say and "interesting" just isn't enough.

Exactly. It's the pablum you spread when you want to connote gravity but don't want to do any real thinking or work.

btw -- I am concerned that you are not in Madison today to take pictures of men in shorts. It's supposed to be 60 today so there's a Paste White Leg warning.; 3/16/09, 7:48 AM
Kirk Parker said...: "Concerned! . . .Why does that word bother me so much?"

Because it reminds you of Tom Daschle? That would concern me, too.; 3/16/09, 7:55 AM
LutherM said...: If the word "CONCERNED" bothers you so much, Professor, why did you use it in the preceeding posting, "I'm concerned about Paul Krugman" ?
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.; 3/16/09, 7:55 AM
MadisonMan said...: So I did a google search in google news on the word concern. There's a lot of it going around these days.; 3/16/09, 7:56 AM
MadisonMan said...: Luther, read Krugman's article.; 3/16/09, 7:56 AM
Anonymous said...: Are they as concerned as the Union of Concerned Scientists whose bumper stickers I see at the Whole Foods store?; 3/16/09, 8:02 AM
DaLawGiver said...: Even as Mr. Summers was denouncing A.I.G. for the bonuses, he suggested that there was little if anything the government could do to stop them, seconding the conclusion of Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner.

Democrat controlled congress passes bills signed by both Bush and Obama which leads to bonuses for AIG executives. Current administration says, "Don't get mad at us there's nothing we can really do about it and you'll just make it harder for us to pass more stimulus bills."

“I do think there’s a potential for a ‘damn everybody in power’ kind of sentiment,” Mr. Kazin said.

Duh.; 3/16/09, 8:06 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I thought it was remarkable that Obama announced the other day that the fundamentals of the US economy were strong.

Yet the same words spoken by McCain when the economy was in better shape then now were used to show how clueless he was about the economy.; 3/16/09, 8:14 AM
traditionalguy said...: Their concern is that some one in the crowd begins to notice that "The king's new clothes are not there", and that the media will start to say something about facts instead of continuing their "President Obama is so beautiful" con job.; 3/16/09, 8:17 AM
pdug said...: I take the use of the word concerned very seriously.; 3/16/09, 8:30 AM
Robert Cook said...: Obama's delusional or lying, just as Mccain or Bush or anyone else saying the fundamentals of our economy are "strong" or "sound" is delusional or lying. Ben Bernanke on 60 MINUTES last night said he thinks the "recession" (I think we're in a depression) will be over by the end of the year; I think he knows better but is lying to quell panic.; 3/16/09, 8:32 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: Government bureaucrats should always be "concerned" about a backlash. It's about time. I hope it keeps them awake at night.; 3/16/09, 8:35 AM
Titushadaveryniceweekend said...: I am concerned that a day will come that no one will want to have sex with me.

I am concerned that day is coming soon.; 3/16/09, 8:40 AM
traditionalguy said...: Titus...Just take charge of your own sexuality. I don't know what that means, but it does sound lonely.; 3/16/09, 8:45 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: (I think we're in a depression)

We're not in a depression.; 3/16/09, 8:51 AM
Titushadaveryniceweekend said...: It's easy to think about things that are constantly concerning to you.

It is difficult not to think about things that are concerning.

I try and think about the positive as much as possible but the negative creeps in every once in awhile.

I just pinched a loaf which I think of as positive.; 3/16/09, 9:18 AM
yashu said...: Haha yes. But consider the alternatives. "Worried" connotes fear, weakness, lack of control over the situation-- you're threatened. "Troubled" has some of that too: it's like, the troubling thing has managed to infect, disrupt the calm & control of, the troubled. It's now the troubled person's *problem*-- & so can be seen as a sign of weakness. "To be troubled by/about..." also has a shade that suggests blaming or faulting or condemning the source of trouble... Obama can't do that: blame the people??!! But the People and the Won are One! (Pernicious elements to the body politic like Limbaugh don't count.)

After all, remember the careful contortions Obama went through-- after Palin's withering comment-- to explain the "bitter clingers" remark (I paraphrase): of course this wasn't said with contempt or snobbery ((and I resent that malevolent woman's insinuation!)); in no way did he mean to imply they're bad or stupid people; after all they're the salt of the earth; of course their feelings & values are valid & understandable... they're just... slightly misguided? Misled. All they need is to be educated to recognize that Obama/ the Democrats are concerned above all to address their issues & protect their interests. Can't blame the victim!

So yeah... I don't see a good alternative expression here for the politician. (Obviously "interested" doesn't work-- with its neutral to positive affect.) "Concerned" is the only one that maintains the distance needed to convey that one is still cool & in control, unthreatened, there's no need to panic, the issue hasn't yet weakened one's position or spoiled any of one's plans. And more: it connotes "concern for...", thus "*care* for": this administration's concern signifies above all its care & caring for the people. And after all, that's what the stimulus is all about!; 3/16/09, 9:19 AM
JAL said...: [Writes Adam Nagournay who has not impressed me in any positive ways over the years. Not that *that* matters.]WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against banks and Wall Street, worried that anger at financial institutions could also end up being directed at Congress and the White House and could complicate President Obama’s agenda.

Translation: They are reading the tea leaves and trying to pretend after he and the Dems have frothed at the mouth over "greedy Wall Street" that people are noticing the whipppers up of the froth are not too much different -- and in fact are a big part of the problem. These people (ugly "populists") are *concerned* over the greedy congress and the Grand POTUS's grand plans to strip wealth from every one. That concerns POTUS and Congress. There. Chai latte anyone?

Since >50% of my husbands IRA (which was managed through a good company on Wall Street) disappeared because of poor enforcement of existing regulations, poor personal and political ethics, and the fearmongering of Congress and the hopeless change promoted by the Grand POTUS, we are not looking too kindly at our "leaders" in Wahington. We are concerned.

Can't wait until 2010.; 3/16/09, 9:26 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: Is populist a dirty, obscene, profane, and vulgar word? How about the popular backlash against programs that people with a smidgen of common sense and ability know will not work? Obama and his acolytes are typical politicians- blame someone else for problems or failure.

BTW, I was talking to a mortgage broker over the weekend. Guess what? Part of the so called stimulus program still allows for subprime mortgages- 3% down at 6-7% APR. The same kinds of mortgages that caused most of this.; 3/16/09, 9:36 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I am concerned that every time I see a comment by Yashu, I respond "God Bless You".; 3/16/09, 9:42 AM
Host with the Most said...: Obama Admin concerned?

The times is afraid to say what so many experts are saying: They are beginning to wonder if Obama knows anything about what he's doing

It's the "I" word: Incompetence

I much prefer the following two articles:

Daily News: Worries grow that Barack Obama & Co. have a competence problem

Washington Post: End of the Honeymoon

And, Obama's policy polls are dropping:

WSJ:Obama's Poll Numbers Are Falling to Earth

Now, here's a reminder of the Obama supporter program:

Use experts when they like us - Warren Buffet for example.

Then, when they fall off the reservation - demonize them as idiots.

Works most everytime!

But not too much longer.; 3/16/09, 9:51 AM
Smilin' Jack said...: Hey, those AIG execs deserve their bonuses. With their company on the brink of bankruptcy and the CDS market collapsing under them, did they just give up? No, they got Congress to give them $175B! If you don't think that's pretty smooth, see how much you can get Congress to give you.

Obama's "concern" is that of the country bumpkin just starting to realize that somehow he's been taken by the city slicker. And AIG execs have set a new standard for corporate America on how to roll Washington.; 3/16/09, 10:01 AM
amba said...: The word "concerned" immediately makes me see a strategically wrinkled forehead, signaling that the brain behind it has its panties in a responsible twist.

The rage, "populist" or otherwise, is entirely deserved. I watched Summers on "This Week;" he sounded so bogus, just like all the rest of the "experts." None of them know what the fuck they are talking about, and they are continuing to try to spin and harrumph and sound authoritative. If only we could all just ignore them; if only they weren't running things -- deeper into the ground.; 3/16/09, 10:13 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: worried that anger at financial institutions could also end up being directed at Congress and the White House and could complicate President Obama’s agenda.

DUH!!!

I'm concerned that the Obama administration is so dense and clueless.; 3/16/09, 10:51 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I am concerned the incredibly brilliant "Team of Rivals" seems to have lost their way.; 3/16/09, 10:54 AM
MadisonMan said...: I am concerned that Anoop will have trouble with Grand Old Opry week on AI.; 3/16/09, 11:00 AM
The Dude said...: MM - are you saying that an Indian might not be able to sing Cowboy songs? I thought we were past all of that.; 3/16/09, 12:41 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Hey everybody, I'm concerned more than you.

* furrows brow, assumes a grave expression *

There.

Ha ha ha. Psyche!; 3/16/09, 1:00 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: A few mothns back, the FDA was crowing about the "deserved" bonuses it paid to its employees. Since when do government employees desrved bonuses? WHy does the taxpayer have to provide bonus money to government employees for just doing their jobs? Where was the political or populist outrage over this egregious fiscal mismanagement on the part of the FDA?; 3/16/09, 3:57 PM
catexas said...: CONCERN:

Just the mention of the word..puts you on alert!!!!!

Like I said from the beginning, Just give the money to the tax payers. At, this point tell me could we have done any worst?

Low to Middle income, (if there such a thing as Middle, they would spend the money WHAT to pay bills, keep their homes, or cars, DUH!!!!It would help the economy. The Rich will keep theirs as always, but tax them if they don't spend it.; 3/16/09, 5:05 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Hey, those AIG execs deserve their bonuses. With their company on the brink of bankruptcy and the CDS market collapsing under them, did they just give up? No, they got Congress to give them $175B! If you don't think that's pretty smooth, see how much you can get Congress to give you.

Except that the bonuses were approximately 0.1% of the entire amount of their bailout. That is, for every $1 of bonus, AIG got $1,000 of bailout money. So, in the end, this is pretty silly to dwell on such a minuscule portion of the money. Far better to ask how much of it has gone to foreign banks and to banks and investment houses (notably Bears Stearns) that did not go under or get bailouts, but are still paying bonuses.; 3/16/09, 9:59 PM