Has an American president ever expressed such implicit hostility toward his own nation's pre-eminence in world affairs? Or so relished in recalling its failings, or so readily elevated himself and his own virtues over those of his country?...
"For those who question the character and cause of my nation," Obama said, "I ask you to look at the concrete actions we have taken in just nine months." In other words, he's the redeemer of a nation....Ugh. Sigh. And I thought Gaddafy was the clown. But that was yesterday, as I watched TV with the sound off, under the influence of post-toe-op drugs.
I'm torn. I was just thinking that Obama would have been so much better if he had made foreign policy the centerpiece of his presidency instead of perversely investing his reputation in complicated health care puzzles. Now, I'm thinking perhaps we're better off that he's gotten hopelessly distracted by insoluable insurance problems.
***
You know, Lowry's description made me think of Mr. Van Driessen on "Beavis and Butt-Head." I was going to embed some apt video clip of the hippie teacher — maybe something with him lecturing the boys about world peace — but all I could find was this and my inner Nancy Pelosi scolded me about this balance between freedom and safety.
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226 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 226 of 226Too bad, could have been a good thread. Obama's sophomores think the object here is to write the longest essay, rather than learn something.
Grade D- for narcissism.
Shorter Bagoh20:
What I say, you will accept as the simple, honest-to-goodness truth! Otherwise I will label you a pontificating narcissist!
The only point worth discussing on this thread is the question of why so many people assume that Obama's speech was supposed to be directed toward the fringe of the American right wing, rather than toward a global audience who generally tends to see a lot of things differently than y'all do?
And you talk about narcissism? Check your own sense of entitlement first, dude.
The American president's job is not to tell foreign audiences: You will think as I do and provide adulation for my country based on a simple, formulaic credo. Otherwise, your thoughts are meaningless. I will not engage you based on where your own perspective originates. You will pretend that you have always been an American, and that you appreciate my country for the exact same reasons that I do.
How idiotic.
Shorter Bagoh is longer than original Bagoh in Montana Land.
Too funny.
I'd like to know who's writing and staffing O's speeches. Someone in the process should be reining in the "I"s and grandiosity.
27 is less than 21 in Machos Land.
Too funny.
Is there no piddly little point that even your small mind is too good to nitpick on?
Sorry. Trick question.
Tell me he didn't count the words.
Tell me that Machos understands that numbers are used to measure things.
You're getting closer to being mounted, Machos.
Holy shit, MUL is coming unglued.
I absolutely agree Montana wins; he's the biggest dick on the thread.
"We have signed the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We have fully embraced the Millennium Development Goals."
Ozymandias trembles!
@AL 3:07
Lowery's wank pales in comparison to Chrissie Matthews leg tingles and metaphoric BJ's.
They're both an embarrassment to their professions.
"...why so many people assume that Obama's speech was supposed to be directed toward the fringe of the American right wing, rather than toward a global audience who generally tends to see a lot of things differently than y'all do?"
First, some people find the idea that changing what one says for the audience is the sign of a stinker without principles. In fact this pretty much defines integrity -- does what you believe change according to your audience? Being polite, expected. Changing the subject matter, expected. Saying to one group that America rocks and to another that America sucks, if that's the actual implication of what Obama said, bothers people. Excusing it because he's talking to people who like to hear it only makes that worse.
I thought you made a good point about what exceptionalism means and that a person can't just decide what they think it means. I'd never think of the term American Exceptionalism as "the rules apply to everyone else and not us" as Phos seemed to insist was the absolutely well known, undisputed meaning of the term.
I could explain my objections to the notion of international law as a concept, but those objections would apply to every other nation as well and in no way intersect my understanding of the (I assumed) generally accepted definition of American Exceptionalism.
The idea that THIS country has something truly special going on has nothing at all to do with international law. And it doesn't have anything, either, to do with whatever ways we've failed to live up to our ideals, in the past or in the present. And one of the things that our President ought to be doing is promoting what is good and exceptional and ideal about our Nation.
Promoting it at home, so that people strive to conform to that ideal, and promoting it abroad.
I just don't get this idea that it's... emotionally healthy to be down on yourself. Not personally, and not as a nation.
And something for everyone...
@Pat - I read that as "Millennium Development Goats"
Unfortunately, that made more sense.
American Exceptionalism is not, as Obama expressed, some love of country thing - that's patriotism, and yes all nations' people have it.
American Exceptionalism is just that; those things about this nation and it's foreign policy that are entirely exceptional in the world, and even the history of the world. There are a lot of facets, but for example: after WWII, we were the undisputed superpower of the world and virtually untouched by the damage everywhere else. Throughout history nations in that position (never before to this level) take over territory and peoples by force and subjugate them. The U.S. embarked on the largest demilitarization in history. We destroyed our own aircraft and ships by the thousands, brought our armies home and began to rebuilt our devastated enemies as well as allies to an extent and at and expense unparalleled (again) in history. That is exceptional and has nothing to do with opinion or relativism. That's just one example, there are many others.
That exceptionalism is why our former enemies who declared war on us, and killed our soldiers by the thousands often brutally and illegally, were never punished after surrender and are now a few decades later under our protection, two of the largest, freest, and most open economies in the world, and two of the most peaceful and safe nations. Exceptional.
seems to me that the subject under discussion should be the the proper role of "american exceptionalism." now I happen to believe that it's a good thing--others may not. I further believe that no speech by any world leader at the UN will change any perceptions or policies of member states who will continue to act in their national interest.
I happen to think that UN is a totally inappropriate forum to deal with foreign policy. But if thats the approach of the current administration, then that's their prerogative.
Actually the best speech, IMO was Khaddafi's who made the point that the UN has failed to control some 65 wars since its inception. Obama's speech was atmospherics--nothing more--and if he doesnt believe in american exceptionalism, that is his value judgment--I don't happen to agree with it, and will take that under consideration in the next election cycle.
what more is worth saying? Except of course the silly exchange of insuslts
But, since you asked. . . his speech is part of a broader dismantling of American exceptionalism, which is a damn good thing.
Well that speaks volumes about you. I for one like living in a nation that is exceptional and really have no desire to see it dismantled. I think the millions of people trying to get in this nation do so because of its exceptionalism.
So if you truly believe that is what Obama should be doing, the next time someone accuses you or President Shortpants of being anti-American, remember what you posted here.
I know this is late for the thread, but I just had the image of Sally Fields accepting her Oscar: "You like me! You really like me!"
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT - AND I MEAN DUE:
YOU VOTED FOR THIS TURKEY.
HOW SMART DOES THAT MAKE YOU?
THOUGH I AM WIDELY REGARDED AS AN IGNORANT RIGHTWINGNUTJOB WHO SCREAMS, (BECASUE I USE CAPS LOCK AND DESPITE HAVING TWO DEGREES FROM MAJOR UNIVERSITIES), I SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIGGER THAT ONE OUT LAST YEAR - WHEN IT COUNTED.
PLEASE SAY YOU'RE SORRY.
The problem is that we are invited to credit the assertion that Obama made a fool of himself in public, made by a man who actually did make a fool of himself in public.
Actually, that's not really such a problem unless you pretend it is.
Obama made a fool of himself (and the country) in public.
Lowry made a fool of himself (and to an extent his political persuasion) in public.
These are by no means mutually exclusive.
Didn't you learn this in college? When the stoned guy looks at you, chortles, points at your head and says, "Dude! Your hair is on fire!" you might think he's acting like a fool, but you still go and extinguish your burning hair.
I wonder if Rich is still a-tingle.
Rich a-tingle over Palin is less repulsive than Chris a-tingle over Obama.
I must take exception to AlphaLiberal's comment:
said...
Rich Lowry:
Poverty in America is primarily a cultural phenomenon, driven by a shattered work ethic and sexual irresponsibility. Child poverty would be nearly obliterated if every household had one adult working full time and married parents.
Hat tip to the esteemable Sadly No! Way to nail the pretty-haired Lowry.
----
Mr. Lowry was not nailed. A study was done in the 70s which found the way to stay out of poverty was this:
1. Get a HS diploma
2. Don't get married until after the age of 20
3. Don't have children until after one is married.
Someone decided to take a look at that study I believe last year.
Still true 30 years later.
former law student said...
If by American exceptionalism is meant high ideals, a shining city on a hill, a light unto the nations, uncompromising standards, such as freedom to follow your dreams, accepting immigrants, etc., I hope we are restoring American exceptionalism.
If by American exceptionalism is meant the rules apply to everyone but us, then I hope we are dismantling American exceptionalism.
9/24/09 5:29 PM
Really? If by "exeptionalism", you mean apoplogizing to every Islamic/socialist despot on the planet to improve our "image", opening our borders to illegal immigrants to appease La Raza, and asking the world for a permission slip to protect our national security, I hope we never achieve that kind of "exceptionalism".
Phosphorious and Montana Urban Legend Designated for Assignment
Madison, WI (AP): Veteran Montana Urban Legend and recent call-up Phosphorious were designated for assignment today by Althouse blog management. The two commenters were cut following extremely shaky performances over the last several threads, including their most recent outings in which Montana Urban Legend grounded weakly into double plays in six consecutive comments, while Phosphorious set a major league record for strikeouts in a three-thread series.
Both commenters are expected to clear waivers, and Charles Johnson is rumored to be interested in signing them to minor-league deals.
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