Althouse: "I’m here to say that we must reject such despair... I’m here to insist that we are not so divided as we seem."

July 12, 2016

"I’m here to say that we must reject such despair... I’m here to insist that we are not so divided as we seem."

"I say that because I know America. I know how far we’ve come against impossible odds. I know we’ll make it because of what I’ve experienced in my own life.”

Said Barack Obama, speaking at the memorial service for the 5 police officers shot to death in Dallas.

155 comments:

Jon Ericson said...: So which "Unkown" are you?; 7/12/16, 8:16 PM
rehajm said...: memememememememememememe; 7/12/16, 8:18 PM
David Begley said...: Report that he mentioned himself 45 times in the speech that he wrote himself.

It is always about Barack.; 7/12/16, 8:19 PM
Jon Ericson said...: So start singing!; 7/12/16, 8:22 PM
pm317 said...: Forever the lecturer!

But I liked what Chief Brown said (maybe not at this memorial) that protesters should get a job and Dallas PD were hiring. Of course, when you get paid to hold a placard and cause chaos, why work hard?

What did their 'wise' guy say that they are the ones they are waiting for; be the change you want to see...; 7/12/16, 8:24 PM
CStanley said...: Haven't heard or read the rest of his remarks, but that excerpt os good. Credit where due.

Disagree with David Begley's criticism here. On this topic, it is appropriate for Obama to speak of his own experience and what that represents.; 7/12/16, 8:25 PM
Michael K said...: Obama, the community organizer in chief.; 7/12/16, 8:29 PM
holdfast said...: " . . . and in the interests of unity, love and respect, I need you to give up all your guns you bitter, white, racist crackers!"; 7/12/16, 8:29 PM
Big Mike said...: I stopped listening to Barack Obama a long time ago -- too often his words are at odds with his actions.; 7/12/16, 8:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Excellent speech, he spoke to the police, he spoke to the black community, he referenced the dead, the 5 policemen and the two black men shot by police. He spoke from the heart to the heart, but no doubt some won't hear a word of it because it comes from a black man who had the audacity to win two Presidential elections. He recognizes that racism still sickens this country.; 7/12/16, 8:32 PM
Mark B said...: Barry, the bride at every wedding; the corpse at every wake.; 7/12/16, 8:33 PM
Humperdink said...: Gee Barack, why do we "seem" so divided? What was your first clue?; 7/12/16, 8:34 PM
Anonymous said...: I couldn't imagine Trump speaking so eloquently at an event such as this.; 7/12/16, 8:37 PM
Mark B said...: He referenced (strange word choice, referenced) the dead at their funeral. For that we should all praise him? Sickness.; 7/12/16, 8:37 PM
Mark B said...: Let's make this sickness about Trump.; 7/12/16, 8:39 PM
Anonymous said...: His first clue should've been when within days of winning the election white supremacy groups went ape shit and Republican members of Congress met to plan to "make him a one term President". They failed. He succeeded and history books will tell the tale.; 7/12/16, 8:41 PM
Mark B said...: Barry's acolytes are the sickness. Trump is the vomit.; 7/12/16, 8:42 PM
Anonymous said...: Trump is the ego of the right. He's the monster they created. He's yours.; 7/12/16, 8:47 PM
Achilles said...: Obama is a disgusting human being. The police in this country save more black lives than anyone else. Baltimore is the perfect example of Obama and his policies at work. The police force is being gutted. Murder rates are spiking. Black lives only matter if they can be used to secure a voting block.

Blacks suffer spiking poverty and crime rates under Obama by design. Obama and his supporters are soulless.; 7/12/16, 8:53 PM
Mark B said...: Trump is actually a Democrat; certainly not a conservative. He is a reaction to the manifest failures of the fusion party.
But this thread is all about Barry, who turned the funeral into a - hate America - hate the cops - hate these crackers who asked for it - deranged diatribe (after briefly saying some nice things with which we would all agree). Very nasty and inappropriate. Trump wasn't there.; 7/12/16, 8:59 PM
Achilles said...: Unknown said...

"He succeeded and history books will tell the tale."

Syria. Iraq. Libya. Tunisia. Yemen. So many refugees are fleeing these countries into Europe it is destabilizing the EU. Because Obama caused a refugee crisis. An ambassador was killed in Libya because Obama turned it into a shithole.

Social Security Disability enrollment under Obama has grown faster than jobs created.

Over 90% of jobs created during the Obama administration are part time.

Real wages for the bottom 90% have fallen during the Obama administration while earning for the top 10% have spiked.

Obamacare is in a death spiral.

We have race riots going on in multiple cities after 7 and a half years of his presidency.

History will remember indeed.; 7/12/16, 8:59 PM
mesquito said...: Our president is kind of a dick, huh?; 7/12/16, 9:01 PM
Sebastian said...: I, I, I, I.

And who has done most to make us "seem" divided?; 7/12/16, 9:02 PM
Hagar said...: But with a Glock a kid can perhaps also get a computer and a book.; 7/12/16, 9:03 PM
traditionalguy said...: Hussain Obama takes on his Shia Muslim soul at times like this. To these guys losing is to be expected in life. They like being in hopeless situations. Called upon to emote, that is what comes out. They expect people to suffer and die, and then try to make the enemies of Ali die in the same fight.

There is not an American bone in Muslim Obama's body.; 7/12/16, 9:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Stay classy, Barry.; 7/12/16, 9:04 PM
Hagar said...: This guy just has a talent for saying and doing the wrong things, or the right things in the wrong way.; 7/12/16, 9:04 PM
Anonymous said...: President Bush also gave a truly excellent speech. It's too bad that Trump has been so terribly disrespectful to him.; 7/12/16, 9:06 PM
Jupiter said...: You have to wonder why the President thought it appropriate to discuss race at this funeral. What possible connection might there be?; 7/12/16, 9:07 PM
Anonymous said...: Maybe the right has a talent for hearing what the President has to say in the wrong way.; 7/12/16, 9:08 PM
Gk1 said...: Oy, typical obama. The corpse at every funeral the bride at every wedding. Its too bad during tragedies like this we don't have a president that represents the whole country, not just 45% of the country that is democrats. He speaks and acts for democrats at all times, so when he has to act bigger and tries to put aside his partisan cloak for a moment he still looks tiny. At least he spared us hollow pieties about gun control and the advantages of australia's gun buy back program.; 7/12/16, 9:08 PM
Mark B said...: I love W, flawed as he is. But I cherish disrespect to authority figures. Especially Barry.; 7/12/16, 9:09 PM
Jupiter said...: At least he didn't drag Al Sharpton up there and let him run his mouth. Must have had another, more lucrative engagement. I didn't see any pictures of the crowd. How many turned their backs on the filthy son of a bitch while he lectured them on their racism?; 7/12/16, 9:10 PM
JackWayne said...: Prez said - "I know we’ll make it because of what I’ve experienced in my own life.” I have to laugh when I see this jackhole talking like that. Let's see: raised in a white privilege home, funded by Soros at an early age, groomed for the Presidency without having a shred of competency, given the Nobel Peace Prize on no accomplishments and etc. So to all the poor folks in America believe in the Future because of the life that Obama has led. Laughable.; 7/12/16, 9:11 PM
rcocean said...: So 5 policeman are murdered by a BLM assassin and our President uses the occasion to talk about how we shouldn't blame the "protesters" for what happened.

He's truly the President of 51% of the country.

He does the same thing with Muslims. His first reaction is always "Hey you rednecks, don't blame Islam" followed by "Oh yeah, and sorry a few of you 'muricans got killed".; 7/12/16, 9:11 PM
rcocean said...: He's auditioning for his new role - The Official Spokesman of Black America.

Coming to your local theater in January 2017.

Don't miss it!; 7/12/16, 9:13 PM
Francisco D said...: Does anyone, excepting true believers, listen to Obama anymore? He is just a simple bullshit artist.

My apologies to artists, because he is not original. If not for the MSM, he would be a small time hack congressman.; 7/12/16, 9:13 PM
Anonymous said...: “Can we do this? Can we find the character, as Americans, to open our hearts to each other?” —@POTUS in Dallas; 7/12/16, 9:15 PM
Anonymous said...: “I see what’s possible when we recognize that we are one American family, all deserving of equal treatment”; 7/12/16, 9:16 PM
Jon Ericson said...: Oh, Smoochie smooch.; 7/12/16, 9:16 PM
Anonymous said...: "We do have control over how we respond to the world. We do have control over how we treat one another." -- Obama; 7/12/16, 9:17 PM
Mark B said...: “Can we do this? Can we find the character, as Americans, to open our hearts to each other?"

Barry set us back 50 years. He's a divider, not a healer. what a horrible disappointment he's been to people of good will.; 7/12/16, 9:18 PM
Anonymous said...: “America does not ask us to be perfect. … America gives us the capacity to change.; 7/12/16, 9:19 PM
Anonymous said...: .@POTUS: "With an open heart, we can worry less about which side has been wrong & worry more about joining sides..; 7/12/16, 9:20 PM
Anonymous said...: "Can we see in each other a common humanity, a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us?"; 7/12/16, 9:22 PM
Spiros Pappas said...: It's odd that the White House refused a request to use blue landscaping lights to honor Dallas police officers. They eulogized Prince with purple lights, celebrated gay marriage with rainbow colors but nothing for the Dallas police? Sad.; 7/12/16, 9:22 PM
Jon Ericson said...: Good one R&B!; 7/12/16, 9:23 PM
rhhardin said...: People who are against dividing are the dividers.; 7/12/16, 9:23 PM
Mark B said...: "Can we see in each other a common humanity, a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us?"

Too late, Barry. You have a record now. Plain for all to see.; 7/12/16, 9:23 PM
Michael K said...: It's kind of sad and amusing to see "Unknown" trying to make this sound like something a real president would do.; 7/12/16, 9:24 PM
Anonymous said...: Head of police chiefs' association on Obama in Dallas: 'This is the most open, honest and raw I've ever seen him.'; 7/12/16, 9:26 PM
rhhardin said...: "While we're talking Obama is on his way to Dallas to pour oil on the troubled flames of that city" - Klavan podcast; 7/12/16, 9:26 PM
Lewis Wetzel said...: The quote is contradicted by other things he has said and done. These are sound bites from the man whose justice department, apparently on its own volition, and not popular demand, decided to implement the failed equal rights amendment of the 1970s and 1980s through executive branch fiat. Obama is truly a despicable human being, and a failure as a national leader. He was over promoted when he was senator from Illinois.; 7/12/16, 9:27 PM
Mark B said...: Head of police chiefs' association on Obama in Dallas: 'This is the most open, honest and raw I've ever seen him.'

A low bar. Barry is more open, honest, and raw(??!! WTF) than Barry was before. I am moved to tears. What bullshit.; 7/12/16, 9:30 PM
rhhardin said...: I always notice what a piece of shit Obama is, when I hear him talk, but that's since 2008. This is no exception.

Women apparently eat it up. It's fodder for an estrogen festival.; 7/12/16, 9:31 PM
Unknown said...: a lot of people have strong opinions about this speech without ever having heard or read a word of it.

politics in 2016.; 7/12/16, 9:31 PM
rhhardin said...: If we don't stand together, we will all stand separately.; 7/12/16, 9:33 PM
rhhardin said...: He who fling mud lose ground.; 7/12/16, 9:35 PM
mockturtle said...: Barry, the bride at every wedding; the corpse at every wake.

If memory serves, that's what Alice Roosevelt [Longworth] said about her father, Theodore.; 7/12/16, 9:35 PM
M Jordan said...: I suppose it's just my severe Obama a derangement Syndrome, but I really can't stand to watch this man strut around a stage "emoting," sticking his chin up in the air, looking this way and that way. It seriously turns me off. They tell me Trump is a blowhard but I guess it's a matter of style ... Trump's I can take because we all know it's schtick. Obama's blowhardiness -- and the adoration he inspires in his sycophants -- is more than I can take.; 7/12/16, 9:36 PM
Mark B said...: A lot of people (people I don't know, but who I have strong opinions about) have strong opinions about this speech after having heard and read every word of it.

I'm sure of it. Because I know a lot of people.

More bullshit. It's all over the fucking place.; 7/12/16, 9:36 PM
rhhardin said...: China doesn't get the South China Sea, the court apparently saying tiny islands don't produce an economic zone even if you claim them.

My suggested rule was the offshore distance you can claim ought to be the square root of the island area, or 200 miles, whichever is less. A speck of an island gives you a speck of economic zone, not worth the bother.; 7/12/16, 9:40 PM
Jaq said...: Why listen to a known liar?

Punish your enemies, reward your friends!

That's a uniter for you!; 7/12/16, 9:41 PM
rhhardin said...: Conscious racism has pretty much disappeared. Now there's unconscious racism.

That divides into Id racism and Superego racism.

The latter comprises geneticists and statisticians.; 7/12/16, 9:46 PM
Jaq said...: You would not think that the President should consider large swaths of America as enemies, yet he does.; 7/12/16, 9:46 PM
narciso said...: five officers were slain by a wannabe guerilla, (targeted law enforcement not civilians,) so he's not technically a terrorist, who listened rather intently as the narrative was cast in ferguson and baltimore and north charleston, and reacted accordingly,; 7/12/16, 9:47 PM
rhhardin said...: The real point of the speech is to say that he's not taking over the Dallas police department.

Obama is a peacemaker, and doesn't see the opportunity.; 7/12/16, 9:48 PM
narciso said...: right, it's going to be interesting to see who will enforce that decision, snorfle,; 7/12/16, 9:48 PM
rhhardin said...: If unconscious racism is Jungian, there are archetypes instead of stereotypes.; 7/12/16, 9:50 PM
narciso said...: actually the converse is true, but they will use the civil right division, and the community resource service to implement this plan,; 7/12/16, 9:50 PM
Jaq said...: At least Obama is finally admitting that Obamacare is a steaming pile of shit after telling lie after lie to get it passed.; 7/12/16, 9:50 PM
rhhardin said...: Radio Japan warns old people about heat. This means it's summer.; 7/12/16, 9:51 PM
Thuglawlibrarian said...: Barry will be going away in January and it can't come soon enough.; 7/12/16, 9:53 PM
Sebastian said...: "we can worry less about which side has been wrong & worry more about joining" Sure, because he has already made so amply clear which side is wrong, there's no need to worry about it; and true, there are still some cranky holdouts who refuse to join his side who need to worry about joining -- or else.; 7/12/16, 9:54 PM
narciso said...: is he, I thought he was saying it's so wonderful we have to go to single payer now, because "I work here is done', never mind another state dropped out of the exchanges,

this is what he lectured on, taking the cue from derrick bell, the intellectual father of 'somelives matter' who put the p in paranoia,

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/us/politics/30law.html?_r=0; 7/12/16, 9:55 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: "Women apparently eat it up. It's fodder for an estrogen festival."

No, not all of us are as stupid and gullible as Unknown/Inga/Miranda. An Inga by any other name is still an elderly fangirl with her lips glued to Obama's ass. It's amusing that she thinks nobody will recognize her after a name change as if her vapidity is not easily spotted. She reminds me of a toddler who thinks you can't see her if she covers her eyes.

As far as the speech went, if Barry had shut up after 15 minutes, it would have been fine. However, Shit Midas had to keep running his mouth, turning a memorial for 5 men who were brutally murdered into a lecture and a campaign speech. I,I,I, I, me, me, me, me. What an insult to the families of those men.

Dubya did things I disagreed with but he has something Shit Midas and Mooch and 99% of Dems will never have and can't even conceive of - class.; 7/12/16, 9:56 PM
Sebastian said...: "Barry will be going away in January" If only. But no, he'll stick around, as spokesman for progressive America, unleashed from the constraints of office. Who knows, maybe he'll be grooming Michelle for her run. There's precedent, it seems. Gotta get the shakedown foundation set up first, though.; 7/12/16, 9:57 PM
rhhardin said...: In a poll of eighty people engaged in a running gun battle with police in the streets of Baton Rouge, 42% said black lives matter, 37% said black lives were worth ten points each, and 1% said the question was one of metaphysical ontology that couldn't be settled by object reason.

- Klavan podcast; 7/12/16, 9:59 PM
rcocean said...: People who are against dividing are the dividers.

And they're using dividers with binders. Binders full of women - and blacks.

We need to unite America. Preferably with staples and not paperclips.; 7/12/16, 10:01 PM
cacimbo said...: As a former police officer I was sickened watching Obama hijack a memorial service for slain police to push his political agenda. Obama equated the justified shooting of Sterling in Baton Rouge with these officers deaths. What an incredible insult to the families of these officers. The cops were killed by a black racist for doing their job. Sterling was a career criminal who was carrying an illegal firearm that he was menacing people with. He fought the police and they shot him when he tried to get his illegal gun out of his pocket. There is no equivalency.; 7/12/16, 10:03 PM
MayBee said...: Remember the "Together we Thrive" t shirts at the Gabby Giffords thing? That was back when we were supposed to learn a lesson about how divisive language is harmful. Not so much now.; 7/12/16, 10:03 PM
rhhardin said...: No, not all of us are as stupid and gullible as Unknown/Inga/Miranda.

Actually it's a minority of women, but a big one. 40%, if you want to draw a hard line.

That's enough to swing elections, and that's enough to support the MSM news business that caters to them.

The smarter 60% ought to see the advantage of women giving up the vote. They vote like men anyway, so just let the men vote and get rid of that 40%.

There's also a softer line that includes more women but that's less batshit crazy.; 7/12/16, 10:03 PM
BN said...: He "insists"...

"that we are not so divided as it seems."

Bullets anyone?; 7/12/16, 10:05 PM
BN said...: Bullets for sale.; 7/12/16, 10:07 PM
rhhardin said...: Women's classic mistake is thinking that "he means well." Foolishness is the feminine failing, corresponding to skepticism in men.; 7/12/16, 10:08 PM
rhhardin said...: Memorial services need tee shirt cannons.; 7/12/16, 10:09 PM
Michael Fitzgerald said...: rhhardin said...
Memorial services need tee shirt cannons.
7/12/16, 10:09 PM

And strippers!

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/04/23/chinese-government-says-please-stop-hiring-funeral-strippers/; 7/12/16, 10:12 PM
BN said...: Also tee shirt cannons for sale.

Google "Prophet of Doom".; 7/12/16, 10:13 PM
rhhardin said...: It would be Mnemorial services if there were any classical sense in English.; 7/12/16, 10:15 PM
pm317 said...: 'We are not divided, it is not a hate crime, don't blame me.' same shit like sending his minion on TV to say it was the video that killed the ambassador and his people in Benghazi.; 7/12/16, 10:17 PM
rhhardin said...: Hassenpfeffer, hate and pepper stew.; 7/12/16, 10:20 PM
BN said...: "...don't blame me."

I don't.

It is US.

Repent!; 7/12/16, 10:23 PM
n.n said...: It sounds good. It's just unfortunate that Obama is Pro-choice.; 7/12/16, 10:23 PM
BN said...: Repent and get ready.

Baby boomers last gasp for The Revolution. Self destruction all the way down.

Bullets for sale.; 7/12/16, 10:28 PM
BN said...: "hate and pepper stew."

You get hate-and-pepper stew?!?!

Lucky stiff!

All they got here is robot stew. Yuk.; 7/12/16, 10:54 PM
LilyBart said...: He spent the 2nd half of his time working his 'community organizer' speech. Not cool.

And why does Michelle always show up to these things in a cocktail dress? It shouldn't be a 'fashion' moment. People have no decorum anymore; 7/12/16, 11:03 PM
LilyBart said...: Dallas police chief David Brown reported "The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."

But in a news conference on Saturday in Warsaw, President Obama ignored that, claiming it was "very hard to untangle the motives of the shooter."; 7/12/16, 11:07 PM
BN said...: "People have no decorum anymore."

Free decorum lessons here with purchase of 5 cases bullets.

No cash, credit cards, or any other shit accepted.

Trade for liquor only.; 7/12/16, 11:12 PM
SteveR said...: Other than his dad's origin, no very much about him is like the majority of blacks who grew up in CONUS. Until he started reaping the benefits once he went to college and we see what happened. Choom was probably fun out on the island but he's not honest or authentic.; 7/12/16, 11:13 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: He doesn't know America.; 7/12/16, 11:17 PM
BN said...: Who all watched the speech?

Perfesser, dare ya ta take a survey.

Divided? Hell, I stopped listening to his lecturing agitator bullshit at hello back in 2008. I already read Soul On Ice back in the day. If it weren't for the snippet quoted here, I wouldn't even know he spoke today.

But, I'm still open minded enough to discuss caliber and trigger options, and of course, bulk discounts.

And gay rights. Did he talk about the nuns killing gays and all that? I'm against nuns killing gays.; 7/12/16, 11:34 PM
Anonymous said...: It's a memorial service for police officers slain in the line of duty. The only words out of any speaker's mouth today should have been prayers for the dead, praise for the service of the police, and a plea for an end to violence against the police.

There are some good lines in there and again it was an opportunity for him to be a uniter. He just couldn't do it, he just couldn't keep himself from bringing up race and gun control. There is a time and a place for those comments, but it's not here. The only political message to deliver today, aside from the "unity" euphemisms, is the one he really needed to say - violence against police needs to stop now.; 7/12/16, 11:39 PM
BN said...: "And why does Michelle always show up to these things in a cocktail dress?"

There's a book thesis here involving Dems' (and Baby Boomers in general) hagiographic worship of the Kennedys, neutrally cruel manipulation of the fashion aspiring vulgariat, and the sheer fact that the girl shakes real nicely when she walks (and even when she just smiles).

I'm working on it.

See my website for donations to fund this valiant effort.; 7/13/16, 12:02 AM
Quaestor said...: Obama damage control.; 7/13/16, 12:02 AM
Quaestor said...: Unknown wrote: I couldn't imagine Trump speaking so eloquently at an event such as this.

Neither could I.

Imagining you imagining anything, that is.; 7/13/16, 12:07 AM
virgil xenophon said...: rehardin@10:03pm/

Kate at smalldeadanimals.com is on record as saying: "I'd give up my vote if I knew I could take all the rest with me."
LOLLOL!!; 7/13/16, 12:12 AM
Bill said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/13/16, 12:16 AM
virgil xenophon said...: mesquito@9:01pm/

HI!! Been waaaayyyy too long since I've seen you around ANYWHERE. Where ya been, on an exploratory trek of the inner reaches of the deepest Amazon? Don't be a stranger! If you circle back around and see this drop me a note here and tell me all your tall tales and latest adventures...or has life been more "normal normal" prosaic?; 7/13/16, 12:20 AM
Bill said...: The other day I read a conservative writer characterize Obama as "our first anti-American president." I would have balked at such language a few years ago, regarding it as hyperbole; I voted for him in 2008, after all. But I'm not balking now.; 7/13/16, 12:21 AM
narciso said...: a proper rejoinder to such foolishness,

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/752969673835241473; 7/13/16, 12:21 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: The guy who believes that whites, especially white cops, travel in hunter killer packs, looking for innocent young Black men to murder -- in cold blood, in front of witnesses -- says that we are not as divided as we seem.
Anybody else tired of this Hawaiian-born, Hawaii and Indonesia raised, half-Kenyan product of private schools and Harvard lecturing people on what are American values? I know I am.; 7/13/16, 12:30 AM
Jon Ericson said...: mockturtle said...
He apparently lives somewhere in the pancreas.

7/13/16, 12:35 AM
Jon Ericson said...
G+ is the actual Jon Ericson
"Blogger" Jon Ericson is Unknown being a pain in the ass.
Got it?
No?
Too Bad.

I like it here in the pancreas,
Much better than the rectum.; 7/13/16, 1:30 AM
Jon Ericson said...: Also Plus, R&B seems to have lost its wi-fi connection.
That can't be all bad.

Carry on, until it finds its way back.
We'll deal with it at that time.

I think R&B asking me for a date was a line too far for even Althouse, though.; 7/13/16, 1:45 AM
Jon Ericson said...: Hey, I made it go away didn't I?
(thanks bigly to Meadhousefor the assist /s)
Hooray for Pancreas Boy!; 7/13/16, 2:22 AM
Paul said...: Obama is going to be a very lonely man when he leaves office.

Who will he talk to? Michelle?; 7/13/16, 2:24 AM
Jon Ericson said...: He wants to be a VC. that means he will pull Solyndras.
Too bad for the VC community.; 7/13/16, 2:27 AM
Jon Ericson said...: Unless...
Naw, too painful to contemplate.; 7/13/16, 2:31 AM
Saint Croix said...: Nice of W to show up. Important, I think.; 7/13/16, 2:40 AM
Jon Ericson said...: Yup, Class act.
Clown, not so much.; 7/13/16, 3:01 AM
Jon Ericson said...: I think I'd like to be placed into an induced coma until this is all over.
And if it goes all wonky, just pull the plug.
It is just that bad.; 7/13/16, 3:08 AM
Jon Ericson said...: Barring that, Me and Wifey have lines of fire all set up.; 7/13/16, 3:14 AM
Jon Ericson said...: Molon Labe; 7/13/16, 3:18 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Unknown said...
His first clue should've been when within days of winning the election white supremacy groups went ape shit and Republican members of Congress met to plan to "make him a one term President". They failed. He succeeded and history books will tell the tale.
7/12/16, 8:41 PM

The pity, or perhaps the Saving Grace, is that you don't believe one word of what you're saying. You're just stringing words together for effect, a pernicious one. I'm a fundamentally honest person and it's hard for me to understand how you just fabricate these lies so smoothly and copiously. It's not a skill I envy, but it does amaze me.

-the grave next to Arch Stanton; 7/13/16, 5:50 AM
Rick said...: rcocean said...
So 5 policeman are murdered by a BLM assassin and our President uses the occasion to talk about how we shouldn't blame the "protesters" for what happened.

Compare to Bill Clinton explicitly blaming the right for the OKC bombing even though the facts then were far less supportive of the link than in this case. As usual anyone sentient can see the left applies different standards based on political constituency.; 7/13/16, 5:58 AM
damikesc said...: Maybe the right has a talent for hearing what the President has to say in the wrong way.

The group that took Romney's statement that he requested qualified women applicants for jobs as sexism is bemoaning others hearing things "the wrong way". Amusing.; 7/13/16, 6:26 AM
Unknown said...: At a memorial event for five murdered policemen, Obama manages to speak almost entirely in first person. I don't know which is better at that, Obama or B Clinton.; 7/13/16, 7:03 AM
Saint Croix said...: Obama manages to speak almost entirely in first person.

It's a very good speech. And if you pay attention, he's blaming himself and admitting he has failed. That is hard for a proud man to do. This speech is a step in the right direction, a very good step.; 7/13/16, 7:08 AM
Saint Croix said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/13/16, 7:11 AM
Clyde said...: I, I, I, I, I, I, I. Me, me, me, me, me, me, me. The Narcissist-In-Chief was true to form.; 7/13/16, 7:20 AM
LilyBart said...: Saint Croix said...

It's a very good speech. And if you pay attention, he's blaming himself and admitting he has failed

Oh, man, you're good. You almost had me believing you were serious. Ha, ha.; 7/13/16, 7:34 AM
Rick said...: Saint Croix said...
It's a very good speech. And if you pay attention, he's blaming himself and admitting he has failed. That is hard for a proud man to do. This speech is a step in the right direction, a very good step.

He failed because he demonstrated his idea of bringing people together is "give up your priorities and embrace mine (you @%^*T^%&^ racists)". Whining about how everyone should come together when they understand his meaning is both juvenile and hopeless.; 7/13/16, 7:35 AM
Saint Croix said...: Interesting to substitute the words "Black Lives Matter" for "pro-lifers" and vice-versa.

Do your attitudes change?

Should they shut up? Do they have a point?

Also interesting to think about how presidents fail to attend any funerals when it involves the abortion controversy. Dr. Tiller is shot? "I think I'll skip it." Ronald Reagan could have attended the funeral for the 17,000 aborted babies. "I think I'll skip it."

You won't hear any Supreme Court Justices admitting they have failed, or even hinting they have failed. The closest was Anthony Kennedy, who was so mad at Souter and O'Connor he talked about dead babies, dead babies, and more dead babies. He has, to this day, failed to blame himself.; 7/13/16, 7:37 AM
Rusty said...: CStanley said...
Haven't heard or read the rest of his remarks, but that excerpt os good. Credit where due.

Disagree with David Begley's criticism here. On this topic, it is appropriate for Obama to speak of his own experience and what that represents.

You mean like Lincolns Gettysburg Address?
Oh. Wait. ....no.

Here's a tip. Whether you're making a eulogy or a toast. It isn't your day so keep yourself out of it.
An immodest man with much to be modest about.; 7/13/16, 7:38 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: Unknown said...
His first clue should've been when within days of winning the election white supremacy groups went ape shit and Republican members of Congress met to plan to "make him a one term President".
Uh . . . they're called 'white supremacists' for a reason? They went ape shit when GW Bush was elected, too, because Bush like Mexicans and kissed Oprah on TV. Jesus you are knob, 'unknown'.; 7/13/16, 7:55 AM
Darcy said...: No mention of how Obama himself may have contributed to the deaths of those innocent police officers? Huh. I wish, wish, WISH this man would learn to lead with his own sin. That would be inspiring.

When you lead with others' sin you are declaring your superiority. Something George W. Bush gets that Obama does not. It's why people who disagree with Bush are still drawn to him.

So sick of Obama's lectures. They leave me empty.; 7/13/16, 8:14 AM
Saint Croix said...: It's easy to see the wrongs of other people. It can be almost impossible to see your own wrongs. And to admit to them in public? Very, very hard.

We have at least one abortion doctor on these threads. He's a very open, very honest man. I tip my hat to him.

Many abortion doctors have crossed over to the other side and become pro-lifers. I don't know if I could do it! Such a hard journey.

One of the more famous is Dr. Bernard Nathanson. You can read his story here.; 7/13/16, 8:27 AM
LilyBart said...: Bush gave the better speech:

“At times, it seems like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together. Argument turns too easily into animosity…. Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions.”; 7/13/16, 8:31 AM
LilyBart said...: Saint Croix said...
Interesting to substitute the words "Black Lives Matter" for "pro-lifers" and vice-versa.

Do your attitudes change? Should they shut up? Do they have a point?

Oh, sure, because pro-lifers chant "Abortion Doctors in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon!"; 7/13/16, 8:39 AM
Fernandinande said...: But Mr. Obama also spoke hard truths to both sides.

No he didn't.

Addressing a crowd of 2,000 at a concert hall, the president chided the police for not understanding what he called the legitimate grievances of African-Americans, who he said were victims of systemic racial bias.

"Systemic racial bias" is Newspeak for "commit a lot of crimes".

‘Everyone was helping each other,’ one witness said.

VIDEO: ‘Drunk’ Protesters Loot Convenience Store, ‘Taunt’ Officers After Dallas Police Massacre; 7/13/16, 8:40 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: If he had wanted to learn how to make this sort of speech, he could probably do no better than watch what his predecessor, George W Bush, did yesterday. Bush's eulogy was powerful and moving, and a big part of that was because he kept it where he should have, extolling the lives of the fallen. Just another example how Obama was never a big enough man for the office, while Bush was.; 7/13/16, 8:48 AM
Dude1394 said...: Barack Obama...as usual culpable for the devastation and the death, but with the support of the democrat media, pointing the blame everywhere but himself. What a disgusting human, any and everything for political power.; 7/13/16, 8:56 AM
n.n said...: Shot is incidental. They were aborted. Their life/evolution ended on that fateful day by a [class] diversity monger.; 7/13/16, 8:58 AM
Jupiter said...: Maybe I have been too hard on Obama. All he is saying is that if White Americans are tired of the way Black Americans fuck up every last thing they touch and then whine about how fucked up everything is, it is White America that must change. It won't do any good to try to "educate" people like Trayvon and Mike Brown, or "offer them assistance", or "reach out" to them. Because they are not in the fixing business, they are in the breaking business. The only way to change how they behave is to change how we respond.

Maybe I have been too hard on Obama.; 7/13/16, 9:42 AM
Brando said...: What are the stats on black people shot/killed by the police in recent years vs. say twenty to forty years ago when violent crime rates were much higher? If today's numbers are much lower, as I suspect, then clearly the best way to reduce black gun deaths at the hands of police is to reduce the violent crime rate further, in which case aggressive policing is making these deaths less, not more likely.

As for other ways to address the black gun deaths at the hands of police, here are some other options:

1) Police tactics--is there any way to change police procedure in detaining civilians that is more likely to prevent escalation to the point where someone has to get killed, while not sacrificing the officer's or another civilian's safety? If so, what are those tactics?

2) Civilian behavior--obviously if you're confronting the police in any capacity your first goal is to make sure the police cannot reasonably see you as a threat. (And of course "being black" is not a threat, but "disobeying the cop" or "sudden movements" are) Is it so wrong to instill that into every child, but particularly children in high crime areas? Sure, that means "black people have to be taught this more than white people do" but if black people are disproportionately likely to be the ones shot by police, then it's all the more necessary. We can argue life's unfairness later.

3) I don't have anything besides 1) and 2).; 7/13/16, 9:55 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: @Brando - two things to keep in mind. First, the Black Death rate at the hands of the cops is lower, proportionally, than their rate of commission of violent crimes. And, second, most of the blacks killed by cops were violent criminals, often felons, who were resisting arrest or assaulting the cops.

Poster child Big Mike Brown is a good example of this. He started out by shoving a store clerk as he stole some cigarillos, turning it into a strong armed robbery. When Officer Wilson discovered that the two guys walking down the middle of the street matched the description of the two perps, he rolled down his window and tried to engage them in conversation. Brown responded by reaching into the police vehicle, and started whaling on Wilson. He then tried to seize Wilson's gun. The two struggled for it, and it went off wounding Brown, who took off. Wilson, having personally witnessed the commission of several violent Class 2 felonies by Brown (on himself), exited the vehicle to keep Brown in sight until backup arrived. Seeing this, the 300 lb Brown turned around and started charging Wilson. Wilson shot Brown in the arm and hand. Brown stopped, shook it off, started charging again. Wilson, continuing to backpedal, shot him again, this time in the torso. Wilson again stopped, shook it off, and all 300 lbs of him started to charge Wilson again, who managed to finally stop Brown with two shots to his head. That was the origin of the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" motto of the BLM movement. As someone pointed out the other day, for every cop shooting a quasi innocent Black, there are probably another thousand people shot by other Blacks, most of whom are also Black.; 7/13/16, 10:21 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: It really is pretty simple, and most males learn the rules pretty young. If the cops try to pull you over, stop as soon as you safely can. Roll down your window, put your hands on the steering wheel, and wait for them to tell you what they want. Even better to have your ID, proof of insurance, and registration ready for them. Maybe, if it doesn't look too suspicious. Otherwise just do what they tell you to do, telling them what you plan to do. If you are young or black and legally armed, you may wish to tell them that, and where your gun is. At my age, if I am not legally required to do so, I don't bother. But I still have my hands on the wheel when they walk up.

If you run, or try to escape, expect to be chased, and potentially hassled. By trying to run away, you have officially crossed the line be into the reasonable suspicion category. Which means that the cops can legally detain you, pat you down, and interview you, in what is known as a Terry Stop. This is what happened to Freddie Gray in Baltimore (he saw the cops, tried to run away from them, they had bicycles, and he did not), except that he was carrying the illegal knife openly, so no pat down was required to find it.; 7/13/16, 10:49 AM
jr565 said...: I didnt think we were so divided, since we've lived in an integrated society for my entire life. Maybe then, someone or some party has done its damndest to divide us? I wonder who that could be.; 7/13/16, 10:51 AM
jr565 said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/13/16, 10:57 AM
Brando said...: "First, the Black Death rate at the hands of the cops is lower, proportionally, than their rate of commission of violent crimes. And, second, most of the blacks killed by cops were violent criminals, often felons, who were resisting arrest or assaulting the cops."

Right, which is why I think a lowering of violent crime rates in general reduces the black death-by-cop rate. Cops go where the crime is, and blacks disproportionately live in high-crime areas, so even if you're not a criminal, if you're black you're more likely to have a run-in with the cops.

I think blacks are more likely than whites to be apprehensive around police, not trusting the system and thinking they're going to get railroaded, which makes them more likely to do things that escalate the situation, which makes it more likely they're going to have a hard time (from getting treated roughly up to actually getting killed), and continuing the cycle of being more apprehensive around police. While the police may be able to do some things differently (though not at the cost of failing to do their jobs, or putting cops at risk) the black community is best situated to work to break the cycle with fixes in their own community. The BLM antics don't address this.; 7/13/16, 12:26 PM
Brando said...: "If the cops try to pull you over, stop as soon as you safely can. Roll down your window, put your hands on the steering wheel, and wait for them to tell you what they want. Even better to have your ID, proof of insurance, and registration ready for them. Maybe, if it doesn't look too suspicious. Otherwise just do what they tell you to do, telling them what you plan to do. If you are young or black and legally armed, you may wish to tell them that, and where your gun is. At my age, if I am not legally required to do so, I don't bother. But I still have my hands on the wheel when they walk up."

I'd add keep your car uncluttered, and an interior light on (if it's dark out), do everything slowly and tell the cop what you're doing before you do it. It's not enough to know you're not really a threat, but to recognize that the cop (who probably stops hundreds of people a year) has no way of knowing if you're not the one nut who tries to attack him. Making it easier for him to determine you're not a threat is your best insurance.

Brown was an egregious example, as he was apparently attacking the cop, but there are cases where a misunderstanding causes the cop to react accordingly, and while it usually only results in yelling or even a rough arrest, it can cause a shooting.; 7/13/16, 12:30 PM
Unknown said...: unknown at 7/12/16, 9:19 pm, 9:20 p.m., 9:22 pm -- you do realize this is a funeral, don't you?; 7/13/16, 1:04 PM
Unknown said...: Unknown at 7/12/16, 8:32 PM, are you dyslexic? Obama encourages racism,; 7/13/16, 1:06 PM
Jim at said...: "And if you pay attention, he's blaming himself and admitting he has failed."

Bullshit. He didn't admit to anything.

He was simply pointing out how stupid the rest of us are for not recognizing how gloriously wonderful he is, and how we've so, soooo disappointed him.; 7/13/16, 2:38 PM
JAORE said...: "If the cops try to pull you over, stop as soon as you safely can. Roll down your window, put your hands on the steering wheel, and wait for them to tell you what they want. Even better to have your ID, proof of insurance, and registration ready for them. Maybe, if it doesn't look too suspicious. Otherwise just do what they tell you to do, telling them what you plan to do."

Almost word for word what I told our youngest son.

And out POTUS gave that easier to buy a Glock than a book crappola again. Geez can't we have an honest enough press that something THIS far up the BS meter is called out?; 7/13/16, 7:52 PM
Brando said...: "And out POTUS gave that easier to buy a Glock than a book crappola again. Geez can't we have an honest enough press that something THIS far up the BS meter is called out?"

My question is where the hell is this guy buying books?; 7/14/16, 6:20 AM