Althouse: Said the President to the 1,500 troops in camouflage uniform: "You guys make a pretty good photo op,"

November 21, 2009

Said the President to the 1,500 troops in camouflage uniform: "You guys make a pretty good photo op,"

I'm thinking he said it with knowing — perhaps even self-deprecating — humor, but still, extracted and quoted on Drudge, it looks awful.

Also at the first link: "President Obama will not announce his decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the Thanksgiving holiday, senior aides said Thursday." The news is no news. It would be funny — in a Generalissimo Franco is still dead kind of way — if it weren't so not funny.

55 comments:

Anonymous said...: I read that he is waiting until after he accepts the Nobel. Sending in reinforcements to a stubborn war would really harsh that mellow, I guess.; 11/21/09, 11:21 AM
campy said...: I'm sorry, there's no hint of self-deprecation in that "humor."

Or humor.; 11/21/09, 11:22 AM
miller said...: So maybe the MC President is starting to become aware that he is a major failure?

That's good. Humility is always better than hubris.; 11/21/09, 11:24 AM
former law student said...: The masterstroke would be to enlist the support of the ex-soviet states. A joint Russian-American task force to shepherd Afghanistan into a functioning state.; 11/21/09, 11:26 AM
kent said...: It would be funny — in a Generalissimo Franco is still dead kind of way — if it weren't so not funny.

You've just described the Obama/Biden administration, in toto.; 11/21/09, 11:27 AM
Adele Mundy said...: What's the problem?

The miltary has always only been a "photo op" for the Chosen One. He doesn't look at them as people.

It's nice to hear tell the truth for once.; 11/21/09, 11:28 AM
bearbee said...: Saw this elsewhere.

One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America; 11/21/09, 11:29 AM
Flight-ER-Doc said...: The live troops are a good photo op for the zero....but the dead ones seem to be even a better one for that shmuck.; 11/21/09, 11:34 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I remember the Iraq Study Group issued its recommendations around Nov of 2006 and Bush said he would give his decision in January [ he went with the surge which has been successful].

The MSM beat Bush over the head for his delay.; 11/21/09, 11:37 AM
traditionalguy said...: He is reminding them that the Hero is the Commander in Chief who can use them for anything he sees fit, including slow losing of a war that we are not allowed to win. And in Barack's case George Washington's style of a Commander is totally missing, having been replaced with his Kenyan King's style.; 11/21/09, 11:39 AM
Moose said...: I work with some guys who really, really hate Obama. Now I don't like him all that much, but I don't ascribe the title of "anti-christ" to him either.

Things like this (and the bowing in Saudi Arabia and Japan, etc) confirm my deepest fears. This guy is at best completely tone deaf as to how his actions appear, and at worst an idiotic narcissist (I hate agreeing with Rush, ugh).

The man apparently lacks the common sense to see things from other peoples eye, other people from outside his background. He seems to really beleive that he is everything he is made out to be and more.

God help us...; 11/21/09, 12:06 PM
Shanna said...: Smartest President Ever!; 11/21/09, 12:06 PM
miller said...: What's wicked funny is how the lefty trolls have stopped trying to defend him and instead are bringing up Bush (irrelevant, out of office) or Palin (irrelevant, out of office).

As they say, this is YOUR mess, baby, and you own it.

It could be worse. MC President could arbitrarily decide to suspend habeas corpus.

Oh wait, he's already pre-emptively done that with KSM.

WV: lardsom, as in "that Peruvian homeless guy is so lardsom."; 11/21/09, 12:12 PM
Unknown said...: Vacuous twit.

Derek; 11/21/09, 12:25 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Obama the comedian, having fun taunting his political opponents. How adult! I can't wait for the Muslim jokes to come pouring out of his mouth.; 11/21/09, 12:28 PM
mariner said...: I despise Obama, but I don't think he's the anti-christ.

I figure him for either the Mahdi or the Ad-Dajjal.

The title quotation was from one of those times when Obambi inadvertantly tells us what he really believes.; 11/21/09, 12:34 PM
AllenS said...: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy and a comedian. I mean, that's a storybook, man."; 11/21/09, 12:36 PM
Joe M. said...: Ouch. Humorous or not, that's just dumb.; 11/21/09, 12:37 PM
Firehand said...: Son's unit is supposed to deploy to Iraq; they've known it for quite a while, but have had no set date, when that's supposed to be set months in advance so the troops can make arrangements.

Now it's down to 'sometime in the next few days'.

You think this bullshit from Obama isn't part of the problem?; 11/21/09, 12:39 PM
miller said...: Don't mean to go all Oprah-y, but how does it feel to send your child into harm's way led by MC President who is dithering about a decision?

Make a decision. And for goodness sake, try to remember you're an American defending American interests.; 11/21/09, 12:47 PM
Unknown said...: I wonder what the penalty for mutiny is these days?

I can just see him giving his, "I will not rush my decision..." speech and an airborne (or whatever) battalion shouts en masse, "You lie!".

Now that's a photo op.

Seriously, this is nonfeasance and possibly malfeasance in office. Criminally so, since men are dying because he wants to look good for Mr. DeMille's close-up.; 11/21/09, 1:01 PM
Jeremy said...: Yes, Matt Drudge, another of the Queen's favs.

Duh.; 11/21/09, 1:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Not a great joke, but a harmless one. What's the big deal?; 11/21/09, 1:30 PM
ricpic said...: I dislike the guy but this seems like the first moment he's acted halfway human. He was uneasy, the troops were uneasy, so he made a joke to relieve the tension. Who here hasn't done something similar?

Doesn't make him a good person. Just not 100% despicable.; 11/21/09, 1:34 PM
miller said...: This is how he sounds without a teleprompter doing his thinking for him.; 11/21/09, 1:36 PM
TMink said...: I agree, this was humour. I actually appreciate it.

Trey; 11/21/09, 1:41 PM
hombre said...: The difficulty in seeing the humor is that we all -- left and right -- know that he was just turning on the loudspeaker.; 11/21/09, 1:53 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: Once the President makes a decision, he can be held to it. See Gitmo. It's going to stay open.

If he doesn't make one, at least his supporters see his careful deliberation as a good thing.

Once the decision is made, there's something for everyone to hate. And he can be blamed for any consequences. Why not draw it out?

The reality is that no decision is a decision (the band Rush had a good lyric about this), but for some reason this is much harder for people to understand.

Of course, the six month run up to the invasion of Iraq was described as a "rush to war," so I guess Obama is still rushing. Maybe he needs a year.

It's obvious that the war is not a priority for the President or his party. Michelle Goldberg in the diavlog was pretty ignorant of what was happening, which I think is a good indicator of elite liberal opinion about Afghanistan. It just doesn't matter. Obama's decision style is more important than the result.; 11/21/09, 1:55 PM
miller said...: The thing is, it's not even really funny. It's callous.

The President of the United States needs to be a LEADER, but this one - the MC President - cannot seem to decide between an IPA and a Stout at a beer summit.

Dither-in-Chief.; 11/21/09, 1:58 PM
Snark said...: I'm a liberal Canadian, which makes me almost incomprehensibly left by American standards. Other than not being American, black, a Harvard graduate, a politician or particularly calm, *I* could be Barack Obama.

Those things that he's good at - writing, public speaking, sincere if sometimes calculated affability, straddling issues from the thinker's position and general earnestness - well I'm good at those things too. They probably define my character to a great extent. The difference is that I know that however effective those things help me be in my life, alone they would be absurd qualifications for high office and actually counterproductive in many decision making situations.

Even in my small and ordinary life I have learned the limitations of those qualities. I know when my default interface to the world or my instinctive tone or tenor for a given situation is wrong or inadequate. I have never seen Obama demonstrate this self knowledge, beginning with running for president at all. It's not cute anymore.; 11/21/09, 1:59 PM
miller said...: Yeah - we elected Phyllis Dither.; 11/21/09, 2:05 PM
Michael Haz said...: I think your treatment of Obama is grossly unfair.

The whole "dithering" about committing additional troops to the war in Afghanistan has been nothing more than a smokescreen while the real war - clearing Chicago of Oprah Winfry - has been fought and won below the radar.

Genius.; 11/21/09, 2:11 PM
miller said...: Now THAT was funny.

I even chortled.; 11/21/09, 2:14 PM
Alex said...: The easiest test for our liberals is - "what if Dubya said it"? Yeah we know what they would do to him.; 11/21/09, 2:57 PM
Anonymous said...: I think it's really interesting that he often stands outside the persona of president and comments on the process. Like here, the important thing is not that these guys are going off to war and that he is responsible for them, the important thing is he's acting like he's a president.
He is present, not accountable.

Someone called him the first post-American president; I would call him the first post-presidential president.; 11/21/09, 2:58 PM
Joe said...: Apparently, it doesn't matter whether they are dead or alive for it to be a good photo-op.; 11/21/09, 4:29 PM
Anonymous said...: Joe wins the thread--the comment is sad but true.; 11/21/09, 4:44 PM
knox said...: "Self-deprecating" ... yes, of course. But again, even with the troops, with Obama It's All About Me. If nothing else, I wish he'd learn how to be marginally presidential. Or funnier. You can get away with that sort of thing if it's actually funny.; 11/21/09, 4:48 PM
Rialby said...: Althouse, you need to create a "If Bush Said It" or "If Sarah Said It" tag.

I believe they call that a Kinsley Gaffe - when a politician accidentally says something he believes. Obama has no use for the military except to make him look more serious about national defense.; 11/21/09, 5:00 PM
Rialby said...: Maybe this is his "Message: I care" moment.; 11/21/09, 5:01 PM
Firehand said...: Miller, he's grown, and knew the risks when he joined up. It still pisses me off immeasurably to have troops fighting, some dying, while this clown makes snotty comments and issues releases that "I'm just about to make a decision, maybe a couple of weeks more now."; 11/21/09, 5:54 PM
Cedarford said...: campy said...
I'm sorry, there's no hint of self-deprecation in that "humor."

The military, like cops - are fully aware that they are used as photo ops by every politician seeking to exploit their glory into reflected glory and elevated poll numbers for the politician. My nephew said he never saw a pol in Ramadi, but when he went back on temp reassignment for treatment of ear damage from a car bombing in 2006, politicians were boiling out of VIP helos - their handlers anxiously seeking out Fobbits to gather up and stand behind each politician for yet another speech on what heroes the prop Fobbits were.

Politicians BEG to be allowed into dead in the line of duty cops mourning entourages. Just as they BEG for the photo op of Empathizing with highly publicized Victims in a highly publicized tragedy.

Obama was playing insider and letting the guys know he was as aware it was a photo op as they were. And it's how the game is played.

TMink said...
I agree, this was humour. I actually appreciate it.
Trey

Me too.
And I expect the troops appreciate a little cynical honesty from the CiC. (And the same troops, if not their commanders, likely hope for yet more honesty - on if Afghanistan is a winnable war or not - and if not, why pay in lives and maimings to keep the endless war there going on another 8 years?); 11/21/09, 6:04 PM
Cedarford said...: Firehand - It still pisses me off immeasurably to have troops fighting, some dying, while this clown makes snotty comments and issues releases that "I'm just about to make a decision, maybe a couple of weeks more now."

If that pisses you off, imagine the "Heroes" stuck there for another 8 years of death, maimings and 100 billion a year the US can't afford - on a likely unwinnable war.

It took LBJ, acting boldly and decisively, all of 1 week to give Everything His Ground Commanders Asked For! Namely, 200,000 more troops thrown into a meatgrinder.

It took Nixon almost a year to begin to take 1st steps to resolve the mess. And Obama sure isn't a Richard Nixon.

Obama's difficulties are compounded because, unlike Nixon, he ran on how great and wonderful the "Good morass" of Afghanistan was, and Iraq but a "distraction" from fighting the wonderful Afghan war.; 11/21/09, 6:16 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Son's unit is supposed to deploy to Iraq; they've known it for quite a while, but have had no set date, when that's supposed to be set months in advance so the troops can make arrangements.

I think a lot of us here will be hoping and praying for his safe return, and thank him for the job he is doing for us and our country.

That said, I think that he may be lucky to be going to Iraq instead of Afghanistan right now. Afghanistan is heating up, while Iraq is much, much less intense than before and during the Surge there. Plus, there is evidence that they don't yet have the right mix of units and equipment there yet - for example, there appears to be a significant shortage of helicopters, in a country in which vehicles are often not practical.

As the saying goes, President Obama needs to either piss or get off the pot. Dithering just costs American lives, to no benefit to our country.

OH, and using the troops as a photo-op while he endangers their lives by dithering doesn't win him any votes with those in uniform - rather, it is probably costing him.; 11/21/09, 6:38 PM
Ralph L said...: their handlers anxiously seeking out Fobbits to gather up
They go for fobbits because the infantry is all male and overwhelmingly white (and grimy).; 11/21/09, 6:55 PM
Ralph L said...: It took Nixon almost a year to begin to take 1st steps to resolve the mess
IIRC, Gentile General Abrams started the major change in strategy in late 68.
My dad brought a battalion of Marines back home in his LSD in mid 69 (the ship was decommissioned that November), so the drawdown was already underway. Which doesn't mean Nixon had a real war plan in the 68 campaign.; 11/21/09, 7:20 PM
vbspurs said...: Another Special Olympics moment? I think he should call Nancy Reagan's astrologer. Or Weezy from Sanford and Son. Possibly he is too busy touring the 57 States to do so. You can't put lipstick on that pig.

Cheers,
Victoria; 11/21/09, 9:51 PM
Unknown said...: "Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cellphones to snap pictures. 'You guys make a pretty good photo op' the president said."

This is a quote from the article that was linked in the above post. Obama was basically saying "you guys are the ones who deserve to get your picture taken". I know its fun to cheer every "mistake" your enemy makes, but why do you pretend that he was being a jerk? Save your scorn for when Obama legitimately screws up, that way it actually means something.; 11/21/09, 9:51 PM
miller said...: N

While I don't think MC President is the Anti-christ, I think your interpretation is just spin.

He was obviously unprepared with what to say, and blurted out something extremely insensitive and stupid.

As I said earlier, he didn't have his teleprompter around to do his thinking for him.; 11/21/09, 10:50 PM
kent said...: Save your scorn for when Obama legitimately screws up

I'm already employed full-time; married, with one child. A second 24/7 career, on top of all of that, simply isn't practical for me, at this juncture.; 11/21/09, 10:56 PM
Unknown said...: I don't agree that saying that something/someone is "a good photo-op" is extremely insensitive and/or stupid. These soldiers are from the best military in the world, with the best training, best equipment, best support.... why wouldn't they make a great photo-op? They're the human face of America's military power, why isn't that something to be proud of?

http://www.freedomslighthouse.com/2009/11/obama-in-south-korea-tells-us-troops.html; 11/22/09, 12:35 AM
Deborah M. said...: He got a huge cheer when he told them he was increasing military pay. "That's what you call an applause line," he said, before boarding his jet and taking off at 4:11 p.m.

This, in addition to the "photo op" statement just sounds silly, if not cynical, to me. I think he said both because he didn't know what else to say. It's that kind of hip, cynical humor you hear from his type.; 11/22/09, 6:23 AM
AllenS said...: Obama with teleprompter: "You guys make a pretty good photo op."

Obama without teleprompter: "You guys make a pretty good cannon fodder."; 11/22/09, 7:22 AM
kent said...: "... and the virgins, fellahs! Have I told you anything yet about the seventy-two VIRGINS -- ?!? ;); 11/22/09, 7:25 AM
Firehand said...: Cedarford, I think it is winnable; but the President has to WANT to win, and take the heat for doing what is necessary to do so.

And we've got a President who 'isn't comfortable with the word 'victory' ', and doesn't actually want to win. And doesn't have the balls or integrity to say "We're pulling out" and deal with the heat for that. And, for that matter, I truly do not believe he gives a rats ass about the lives of the troops.

Oh, and I like the way you put "Heroes"; screw you. They're doing the job to the best of their ability, and the best that they're allowed to do; if that doesn't give them that status, what does?

To Bruce and others, the well-wishes are appreciated, I assure you.; 11/22/09, 12:43 PM