Althouse: "This is about whether we're going to get big things done. I wasn't sent here to do school uniforms."

May 14, 2010

"This is about whether we're going to get big things done. I wasn't sent here to do school uniforms."

"My name is Barack Hussein Obama and I'm sitting here. So yeah, I'm feeling pretty lucky."

Things Obama said last summer when Rahm Emanuel was begging him not to go for extensive health care reform.

55 comments:

GMay said...: If the comments over at the original link aren't enough to make you taste bile, I'm not sure what is.

"Democratic renaissance"? WTF?; 5/14/10, 6:07 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: See, that's the sort of thing that pisses me off. It's not a choice between school uniforms or completely socializing medicine. There are incremental steps that could have been taken to "fix" the so-called "broken" system. It's demonstrative of this government's refusal to listen to the governed, and for that they will pay.; 5/14/10, 6:09 PM
Anonymous said...: Arrogant bastard.; 5/14/10, 6:11 PM
rhhardin said...: He means sent here by god.; 5/14/10, 6:22 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Well, if he had gone with the school uniforms, I might think he was doing an okay job.; 5/14/10, 6:22 PM
Dustin said...: Dead Julius, I thought regime change in Iraq was Bill Clinton and Tom Daschle and Al Gore's idea.

Bush was simply more effective than they were, and that's why he got reelected.

We'll see how lucky Obama feels when we have a chance to thank him this November for thinking big.; 5/14/10, 6:22 PM
Unknown said...: Awesome !

He wasnt sent there just to do school uniforms. HCR was a big thrust of the dem primary campaigns, and he talked about it a lot also in the general.

Obama's confidence is fantastic. And its superb that he recognizes the element of luck involved in getting past Hillary in the primaries (where luck = her dreadful and flat-footed campaign, and the national mood that embraced him, even with the middle name Hussein ); 5/14/10, 6:57 PM
Titus said...: I would do a three way with Rahm and Obama.

Just saying.; 5/14/10, 6:57 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I feel lucky..

When the house just keeps giving you new chips for you to gamble with.. sure..

Who wouldn't?; 5/14/10, 7:01 PM
Unknown said...: What do you want to bet Adolf said the same thing to Bormann when he said, "Let's go to Moscow".

rhhardin said...

He means sent here by god.

Close. Karl, and Mao, and Ho.; 5/14/10, 7:06 PM
GMay said...: Funny thing is, incrementalism has been so infuratingly effective for the left and The Smartest Most Bestest Precedent EVAR is doing more harm to his cherished leftism than any opponent ever could.

I think Rahm's a hypocritical douche, who made a killing as one of those eeeevil fatcat investment bankers, but he's got a far better grasp on the big picture that His Messiahness.; 5/14/10, 7:18 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/14/10, 7:23 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: "My name is Barack Hussein Obama and I'm sitting here. So yeah, I'm feeling pretty lucky."

Obama attributes the unlikelihood of his election to "luck".

What does that say about the people that voted for him?..

Does Obama believe that voters played dice with the presidency?; 5/14/10, 7:34 PM
Kirby Olson said...: I think he should have stuck with school uniforms, and just marched around in a tight circle with Pelosi and Reid and co. hitting a drum and playing a tuba all the way to Cuba.; 5/14/10, 7:38 PM
Methadras said...: Let's see how this douche feels come Novemeber.; 5/14/10, 7:42 PM
Curtiss said...: It's annoying that only now, after the legislation has been signed, is anyone willing to report on Emanuel's serious effort to persuade Obama to scale back his HCR plan.

It seems like the good stuff, particularly good stuff unfavorable to the Democrats, is only available in someone's book. And much later.; 5/14/10, 7:49 PM
Big Mike said...: He would have screwed up the school uniforms, too.; 5/14/10, 7:53 PM
Anonymous said...: I wasn't sent here to do school uniforms.

I think he's gonna find out soon enough that he wasn't sent there to do what he's trying to do.; 5/14/10, 7:53 PM
Curtiss said...: Obama attributes the unlikelihood of his election to "luck".

What does that say about the people that voted for him?..

Heh. Suckers!; 5/14/10, 7:56 PM
campy said...: Better to be lucky than good, I always say. And O sure ain't good.; 5/14/10, 8:02 PM
Unknown said...: the lucky part was the timing -- an inept front runner, him understanding first that it was a change election. a really poor campaign by the republican nominee ... the timing of the financial crisis.

for all elections there is an element of luck.

if Romney had not allowed the conversation to turn to nat'l security and had stuck to the economy, he would have had a better chance against Obama that McCain did. Or if the financial crisis had hit earlier to that McCain needed someone strong on the economy, Romney may have also gotten taped to be the VP ....; 5/14/10, 8:03 PM
Unknown said...: and for the record, Obama still had to run a stellar campaign (which he did) to take advantage of all his opponents slip ups.; 5/14/10, 8:04 PM
YoungHegelian said...: I really have mixed feelings about Rahm Emmanuel. On the one hand, he's clearly one nasty, not to say, pathological bastard (e.g. the episode in the Clinton admin where he repeatedly called out the names of Clinton's putative foes, screamed "Dead!" and stabbed the table with a knife in a public DC restaurant).

On the other hand, he seems to be the major voice for political centrism in an admin. that doesn't seem to do centrism well.

He's also clearly backstabbing son-of-bitch, but the people in the admin who he backstabbed I was happy to see get the heave-ho.

If I was a true blue-progressive, I think he'd be at the top of my
most loathed list.; 5/14/10, 8:17 PM
Unknown said...: Being able to hide from criticism because he's part black also helped.; 5/14/10, 8:17 PM
Titus said...: Rahms hot. I bet he fucks hard and good.

I would like him to call me fucking names while raping me.; 5/14/10, 8:24 PM
pm317 said...: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Sure, he feels lucky. Why not? He didn't think he had it in him (neither did his wife) and had to be literally carried over the finish line by many, including by the lapdog foot licking media (especially in the primary).; 5/14/10, 8:28 PM
dbp said...: He wasn't "sent" anywhere. He ran for President.; 5/14/10, 8:31 PM
JAL said...: danielle doesn't know narcissistic personality disorder when she sees it,

that's clear.

this, plus listening to Barack Hussein Obama act like a petulant middle schooler instead of an adult in his recent news conference reinforces my next to zero confidence in this man.

wv magmand
what this guy thinks he is; 5/14/10, 8:34 PM
JAL said...: and about his campaign -- the consensus "primaries" which he exploited a la ACORN and SEIU style were really pretty crooked, dirty chicago stuff, danielle.

that and the MSM could not find one.single.bad.thing. to say about the demigod.

they should have had to declare their "news" coverage as donations in kind (or whatever it is called) to his campaign. i am sure it exceeded the maximum amount allowed. even by corporations, now that that has been settled by SCOTUS.; 5/14/10, 8:41 PM
JAL said...: Many a truth ....

What did Farrakhan, Wright, and Pflegler send you here for, Barack Hussein Obama?; 5/14/10, 8:43 PM
JAL said...: Farrakhan here.; 5/14/10, 8:46 PM
Unknown said...: gosh, JAL, been having a rough time since Nov 2008, eh ? That level of paranoia is going to send you further and further into a tizzy ....

maybe you should get some help.; 5/14/10, 8:48 PM
David said...: Obama still thinks passing the health care bill was a victory.

For a while, the Japanese thought Pearl Harbor was a victory.; 5/14/10, 8:48 PM
Blue@9 said...: Heh, if Bush was "Smirk" then Obama is "Snark"; 5/14/10, 8:52 PM
GMay said...: Glad to see some folks brought up the media assist on Obama's ascension. And by assist I mean 'run his campaign'.; 5/14/10, 9:06 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: "Been having a rough time since Nov 2008, eh ? That level of paranoia is going to send you further and further into a tizzy .... "

And I'm surprised, with those blinders you're wearing, you even know Obama is black. Please, tell me, with all those specifically anti-white race-mongers standing so firmly behind him, why did you support Barack?; 5/14/10, 9:23 PM
Calypso Facto said...: You're right about one thing Dani, Obama did talk a lot about health care in the campaign.

Like when he said there'd be no individual mandate. Oops.

Or when he said there'd be complete transparency: "That's what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors, but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are" About which, DEMOCRAT Jay Rockefeller reported: "We spent virtually an entire year with most of the Finance Committee being excluded." Much less, Republicans.

Or how about: "We'll negotiate with the drug companies for the cheapest available price on drugs"
Not.

Maybe: "[We'll] Allow consumers to import safe drugs from other countries" because "some companies are exploiting Americans by dramatically overcharging U.S. consumers." Nope.

Then certainly he carried through on the most important item, controlling costs right? "And we estimate we can cut the average family's premium by about $2,500 per year." No, cost control was the first casualty of the spend-a-thon.

But I'm glad you you still think he's "Awesome!" You're either a real easy grader or in on the gravy train.; 5/14/10, 10:21 PM
JAL said...: she also doesn't know what paranoia is.; 5/14/10, 10:36 PM
Methadras said...: Titus said...

Rahms hot. I bet he fucks hard and good.

I would like him to call me fucking names while raping me.

HAHAHA!!! That made me laugh Titus only because you are really some fat chick in Hoboken living a hoarders cavern projecting what you could really be like. Your name is probably Lisa and you weigh about 350 - 400 pounds wondering why even black men don't find you attractive.; 5/14/10, 10:55 PM
Unknown said...: Crack -- I supported Barack because I wanted a President that would do his best to get us out of Iraq, who was somewhat aggressive on fighting terrorism while maintaining American values, who would work to repair the image of America abroad (I lived abroad during some of the Bush years), who was pro choice, who was serious about educational investment, pro healthcare reform, and not a Clinton seeking the Clinton 3rd and 4th presidential terms.

By the time I got to vote in the primaries, it was only a 2 person race.

And in the general, McCain was unserious, and made it impossible to even consider voting for him given his VP pick. If it had been the McCain of 2000 race, depending on who he choose as his running mate, it could have been a different story ...; 5/14/10, 11:43 PM
AllenS said...: Iron my school uniform, Hillary.; 5/15/10, 6:03 AM
GMay said...: So danielle, how do you feel about Obama's failures in nearly all those areas you named?; 5/15/10, 7:41 AM
Michael McNeil said...: I supported Barack because I wanted a President that would do his best to get us out of Iraq

In fact it was GWB who got us out of Iraq — and by doing it the right way: by winning the war, which it was for all intents and purposes by the time that Obama took office.; 5/15/10, 9:33 AM
Phil 314 said...: Obama still had to run a stellar campaign

You write in the past tense...is the campaign over yet?; 5/15/10, 9:47 AM
MayBee said...: And in the general, McCain was unserious, and made it impossible to even consider voting for him given his VP pick.

This is truly one of my favorite criticisms of McCain.

Very often, when someone mentions the "unseriousness" of McCain, they refer to the way he suspended his campaign to get back to Washington to negotiate what was to become TARP.
Barack Obama wanted to issue a joint statement and stay in Florida and practice for his debate.

Yet even this past week, Obama tried to paint the REPUBLICANS as wanting to sit on the sidelines as the economy crashed.

It is absurd, that the Senator who wanted to do his job when the economy crashed was the unserious one. But hey, the media bought it and Obama still tries to run with it.

He is so dishonest it hurts.; 5/15/10, 11:20 AM
Unknown said...: really, MayBee, ?

And what in particular did John McCain seek to achieve and have the capacity to achieve when he suspended his campaign ? And, what did he contribute in that meeting that he demanded Bush organize?; 5/15/10, 11:54 AM
Ralph L said...: Leadership, danielle. He gave Repub politicians cover to criticize, modify and then to vote for the bailout which many Republican voters did not like at all.

If he'd sat on the sidelines like BHO, TARP likely would have failed to pass, which might have been a financial disaster (but we'll never know).; 5/15/10, 12:46 PM
Unknown said...: LOL !

wow -- what exquisite revisionist history you have penned to fit into a laughably false narrative you try to promote.

what administration authored TARP ? What essential changes in the bill happened after McCain swooped in to 'give republicans cover' ? who was the leader of the republican party in 2008 ? did people then, or do they now care 1 bit about John McCain ?; 5/15/10, 1:41 PM
MayBee said...: And what in particular did John McCain seek to achieve and have the capacity to achieve when he suspended his campaign ?

He was going back to doing his job in the Senate (craft legislation) and understand what decisions were being made in case he became the next executive.

Barack Obama, no sideline sitter he, wanted to stay and practice for his *debate*. Which nobody can argue was important.; 5/15/10, 1:53 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: Very often, when someone mentions the "unseriousness" of McCain, they refer to the way he suspended his campaign to get back to Washington to negotiate what was to become TARP.

Talk about a narcissist. Or in McCain's case, a drama queen.

I loved all the quotes from GOP senators about how unnecessary, even obstructionist, McCain was at that time.

Riding into Washington in shining armor on a white horse to save the nation's economy. Yep. That's McCain. A drama queen like all the rest of y'all.; 5/15/10, 2:43 PM
Ritmo Re-Animated said...: "Bush is no diplomat," said a Democratic staffer, "but he's Cardinal freaking Richelieu compared to McCain. McCain couldn't negotiate an agreement on dinner among a family of four without making a big drama with himself at the heroic center of it. And then they'd all just leave to make themselves a sandwich."; 5/15/10, 2:47 PM
Unknown said...: MayBee, c'mon. you cant really seriously believe what you are saying ...

TARP passed 74-25, and you think McCain had something to do with that ? Its passage was never really in question when the notion of a '2nd great depression' was fully recognized by the President and congress.

And you think it was less important for the presidential candidates -- who would be the next guy choosing the Treasury secretary and council of economic advisors and deciding how to try to steer the country through the financial crisis -- you think that a debate was less and not MORE important.

And now you fault the President for getting involved in the details ?

ok. sure. even McCain mocked suspending his campaign as a political move ... oh, and how can we forget that McCain suddenly then decided that he would go back to campaigning a day later, and in time for the debate that everyone mocked him for ducking.

i'm sure some of the other people who post here see how ridiculous your statements are. maybe you'd believe them if they told you.; 5/15/10, 3:02 PM
Ralph L said...: TARP failed in the House the first time. Who's misremembering history here?

So you think it was better that Senator Obama wasn't there at the table for the discussions about the financial panic and TARP? Campaigning was more important than learning about possible financial collapse and proposed solutions? If so, you're dumber than I thought.; 5/15/10, 5:29 PM
MayBee said...: who would be the next guy choosing the Treasury secretary and council of economic advisors and deciding how to try to steer the country through the financial crisis -- you think that a debate was less and not MORE important.

And now you fault the President for getting involved in the details ?

I most certainly am not faulting the President (which one?) for getting involved in the details.

Yes, I see actually crafting legislation to save the economy to be monumentally more important than practicing for a debate (one of several) that could have been delayed, canceled, or held without practice (!).

Remember, Obama's charge was that Republicans wanted to sit on the sidelines.
I don't know how you can argue that staying in Florida to practice(!) for a debate is less of a sideline-sit than actually going to do the job these Senators were getting paid to do.; 5/16/10, 10:40 AM
Anonymous said...: Didn't vote for him last time and won't vote for him next time, but got to give him props for sticking to his guns. That IS how major changes are made in our nation.

Bush was stubborn as hell on the war but I wish he'd had some of the same gumption on domestic issues. If nothing else, he should have vetoed about twenty times as many bills as he did.; 5/16/10, 10:55 PM