August 20, 2024

"A campaign has been constructed around a mood, rather than the other way around. The mood is Obamacore..."

"... the outburst of brightness and positivity that took over pop culture upon the election of our first Black president in 2008, and that continued until the wheels fell off eight years later. This was the age of Glee, Taylor Swift’s 1989, and Hamilton, seemingly disparate art born out of the same impulse: the feeling of a new dawn, a generational shift, a national redemption.... ... Obamacore positioned itself as sensitive, non-threatening, and relatable. It was Aziz Ansari writing a book on modern dating alongside a Berkeley-trained sociologist, porn star James Deen talking about bacon, Louis C.K. playing a cop on Parks and Recreation.... The fandom that had sprung up around Obama’s presidential campaign expanded to embrace New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and later, Hillary Clinton. For a moment, bodies as hidebound as the Supreme Court and the papacy looked as if they might be rehabbed into vehicles for social justice.... This summer’s sudden reappearance of hope and positivity has spurred split reactions. Do you embrace your inner cringe, or try to tamp it down?... The optimistic case is that, against all odds, we seem to have heeded the lessons of Obamacore. Generation Z is willingly climbing the coconut tree."

Writes Nate Jones, in "That Feeling You Recognize? Obamacore. The 2008 election sparked a surge of positivity across pop culture. Now hindsight (and cringe) is setting in" (NY Magazine).


114 comments:

Peachy said...

Feelings. You need big Mommy Government.

Interested Bystander said...

Ugh. I was just having my lunch when I started reading this. I nearly threw up. Next time give me a warning. Every example made my skin crawl as I read them. I heard a snippet of Hillary's speech to the DNC last night and reminded of how horrible her speaking style is.

Dave Begley said...

Completely ridiculous. Superficial doesn't began to describe this analysis.

Dave Begley said...

Has Nate Jones ever even contemplated the consequences to the US if the dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency? Does he even know what the reserve currency is?

JRoberts said...

Ah, yes Obamacore. An era and administration that wanted to be so hip and shallow. A mythical Washington, DC where you thought you could run into Jed Bartlett, CJ Cregg or Josh Lyman at almost any Metro station.

Come on, Julia, surrender to Hope and Change and let us run your life for you.

Paddy O said...

That feeling you recognize? Apparently accused sexual predators.

tim maguire said...

Louis CK on Parks and Rec happened because of Obama!?

All good things in the world are the result of Barack Obama. All bad things in the world are the result of Bad Orange Man.

Paul From Minneapolis said...

I'd be more enthusiastic about a new age of joy or whatever if its proponents weren't so vicious and dishonest.

rhhardin said...

There's a nice turn of translated phrase from Russian media hosts discussing what to do about Kursk reporting, "Ostentatious optimism." They suspect they can't maintain it. Like Kamala enthusiasm!

"what can we do in this situation? The next couple of weeks will be tough, I don't envy editors who pick topics for our episodes because when you see what's happening and the situation still being unstable, it's very difficult to maintain this ostentatious optimism. Where do you see ostentatious optimism? Our media! Look at - Our media is not my responsibility. I work on the show "Meeting Place". Bad things happen in war, you know? Ramzan Kadyrov said something about three days. Well, let's not mentions Kadyrov - Why? to not touch this topic at all, especially now. Let's simply not discuss Akhmat and Kadyrov out of harm's way. So. What about us, how can we calm down? Well, try to be cynical, even though it's extremely hard, less emotions. Look at the map, map of Russia, preferably, and compare the whole huge Russia to this lost territories. Yes, the whole borderline needs to be evaluated. All of it. Need to prepare for the worst. Prepare for the fact that all of that territory God will, without people, including elderly, will have to be sacrificed. Yes, because - What do you mean, sacrificed? Sacrificed for a certain period of time. Ukrainians might be there for half a year."

Inside Russia

RideSpaceMountain said...

So there's a link between Obama and modern American Pop-culture horseshit? Get right out of town.

Dixcus said...

Thank God for Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Without her selfish bitter clinging, we never would have seen Roe v. Wade ... arguably the centerpiece of her horrid career ... torn asunder.

Sebastian said...

"that feeling you recognize" . . . yes, that feeling of constant manipulation and fabrication, of a joy as authentic and true as Barry's autobiography.

Dixcus said...

Tim McGuire asked: "Louis CK on Parks and Rec happened because of Obama!?"

The guy didn't even remember that Joe Biden was ALSO a regular (one appearance, but many mentions) on Parks & Recreation, solely due to Obama. The entire point of his appearance is that the complete whacko series lead (Amy Poehler) was Biden's biggest fan. Remember that P&R is a "mockumentary." If you're on there, they are mocking you. And Biden couldn't tease out that they were making a joke out of him.

Politics truly is Hollywood for ugly people.

Leland said...

Kamala won’t take responsibility for the things she was made responsible. Obama takes credit for everything that happened in the world whether he was responsible or not.

Elder White said...

This is the juice box/participation trophy philosophy. Competency is not required

narciso said...

The smell of fresh larks vomit

Aggie said...

It's politics, without political substance but with lots of Feel Good gratification. Joy ! Happiness ! Hope ! Forward, Comrades !

No questions will be aired about how a highly unpopular Vice President, unable to compete in the last election cycle, has suddenly been vaulted into the Presidential Candidates' position without a single vote being cast in a single Primary, but nevertheless has secured delegates via a closed-door meeting.

No, it's all about Dr. Feelgood, and no mention of the issues, except the ones that generate emotional, no-thoughts-required reactions - like abortion, like election fraud, like DEI, etc etc. Hard to believe that there's a substantial cohort that will avoid the pain of critical thought on important social issues, whatever the cost.

It's the age of Post-Politics politics - where votes are incidental, and voter sentiment is swept away in a grand party atmosphere - and they don't appear to mind.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

It was Aziz Ansari writing a book on modern dating alongside a Berkeley-trained sociologist, porn star James Deen talking about bacon, Louis C.K. playing a cop on Parks and Recreation....

3 guys who all got canceled by $MeToo.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

Sorry, that should have been #MeToo.

Peachy said...

Lena would make a great Soviet Apparatchik

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

It feels like Althouse has been pulling news from another planet the last couple days. But then the DNC, from the glimpses I saw of Chicago, seems like it is from another planet.

Peachy said...

Lena is just another lying liar who lies. "Xenophobic, race hate, homophobic" BS accusations are stale.

Readering said...

Have to admire Dunham's commitment to comedy.

Peachy said...

Remember when everyone loved Trump? That horrid Witch Severed head Kathy - she was on Trump's TV show. All sorts of major celebrities used to like Trump. How dare he run against the coronation Hillary! Off with his head!

Peachy said...

Readering... is there comedy going on? I didn't see or hear any.

Peachy said...

The Modern Democrat Party is... mood-lighting. Gas-lighting. you know the thing.

Leland said...

The guy that just wanted to eat his pancakes is responsible for Ginsberg and Swift. There is patriarchy for you.

Christopher B said...

Now THAT is a Freudian Slip

MadisonMan said...

Obama is talking tonight. The theme: A Bold Vision for America's Future. So of course they bring in someone from 15-20 years ago.

Kate said...

They invited their own destruction when they let Hillary into the club. And Obama knew it, too. He resisted a long time.

loudogblog said...

There was an Australian film called, The Castle. It's about a common man and the government wants to take his property to expand an airport under eminent domain. He goes to court to fight this but he hires the local lawyer in town who is in way above his head. The lawyer tells the Judge, "It's about the vibe." and the judge tells him, "You're not off to a good start." It's a really good legal comedy and I highly recommend it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118826/



Michael said...

Gag me with a spoon.

Skeptical Voter said...

Oh frabjous day! The fourth term of the New Light Worker is upon us. And this clown writes about the young uns climbing the coconut tree. You know what animal climbs the coconut tree? Monkey--that's what. And if those young uns swallow this load of junk, they are dumber than the average monkey.

Michael K said...

They have already forgotten the disastrous roll out of Obamacare. It was a mess.

Inga said...

Milwaukee Harris/Walz rally today. So much energy, a convention AND still doing rallies.

narciso said...

Not this carp again

Inga said...

Wow, the lines just keep going, Milwaukee

n.n said...

Black Obamacore... whore h/t NAACPesque

Paddy O said...

loudogblog That's a wonderful movie! An Australian friend recommended it to me as a country favorite back in 2007 and it's been one of my favorites since then. Not just a legal comedy, a really fun movie, with great quirky characters (a little Napoleon Dynamite, but much more endearing). I want to quote it so much but so few know it. It's so relevant in talking about real life vs legal oppressing, and understanding the heart of the law, not just the letter of it.

How's the serenity?

Mason G said...

"A campaign has been constructed around a mood, rather than the other way around. The mood is Obamacore..."

The left deliberately lied about Obamacare in order to get it implemented but I'm sure that Obamacore is an honest, from the heart outburst of brightness and positivity. Probably.

Kai Akker said...

They take this drivel seriously. I won't read it, whatever that makes me -- a time saver, IMO. What happens when they realize the dream is over? They have to wake up someday. A cold day and a lonely.

Eva Marie said...

Saw the video. So that’s why Trump won.

narciso said...

Soul less nazguls

Old and slow said...

This is fucking moronic.

Jamie said...

No questions will be aired about how a highly unpopular Vice President, unable to compete in the last election cycle, has suddenly been vaulted into the Presidential Candidates' position without a single vote being cast in a single Primary, but nevertheless has secured delegates via a closed-door meeting.

... and we're all supposed to pretend that she was never unpopular, that she was always a super strong candidate, that she's never been an embarrassment in public, that her cringeworthy appearance with Drew Barrymore (I hope, for Harris's sake, that while she fixed a smile on her face as Baby Drew begged a hug from Momala, she was thinking, "What in THE hell are you trying to do to my reputation, you silly child?!) et al. didn't reveal her to be the lightweight she is, that it's perfectly normal to rebrand nervous laughter as "joy" and, despite the dour looks on the faces of friend and foe alike, claim that the "joy" is both authentic and a sufficient foundation for a presidential campaign in a time of high inflation, gig jobs, an unknown number in the millions of "migrants" disappearing into the country under false asylum claims, the ingredients of a world war stewing merrily away in both Europe and the Middle East, China colonizing Africa with nary a raised eyebrow from the anti colonialist crowd...

[deep breath] I hope I grammar'ed that sentence correctly. This format, man...

Lucien said...

Narciso: Lark’s vomit!? Constable Clitoris et one of those.

Aggie said...

That's not really a very long line, Inga dear, but.... what don't you vote for them anyway?

Jupiter said...

Fleud never slips.

Rosalyn C. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rosalyn C. said...

By chance I was just reading something about the attack on Americans in Benghazi, September 11, 2012. Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State and had characterized the attack as a peaceful demonstration that had gotten out of hand, despite the presense of heavy machine guns, mortars and RPG's.

Later Obama's spokeswoman, Susan Rice, IIRC, explained that the demonstration was a reaction to a Youtube video which was insulting to Islam. (see: https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/aug/07/look-back-susan-rice-benghazi-and-unmasking/)

The deputy director of the CIA at that time, Mike Morell, stepped forward to take the blame for the false intel and assessment by Hillary Clinton. He had thought he would be rewarded when Clinton was elected, but she wasn't.

He has however gone on to many different roles at DC think tanks, CBS, teaching at universities, etc., but was passed on by Biden's administration for the Director of CIA because of Morell's work as a torture apologist under GW Bush.

More recently, Morell was part of the group who signed the hoax letter about Hunter Biden's laptop being Russian disinformation.

A small snapshot of the world of intersectionality of politics and national security. Good times and a sneak peak of things to come if Harris wins. But James Taylor sang at the DNC.

Peachy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Earnest Prole said...

Lena Dunham has a capacity for self-mockery that the Shrilldebeast does not.

Peachy said...

Rep Joyce Beatty(D): "JD Vance likes to talk about how he's from Ohio but as soon as he could, he ran away to Yale."

Greg Price response: "Democrats really hate how @JDVance overcame poverty to became successful."

Peachy said...

Lena is brave for taking off her clothes. a stunt that assuredly got clicks and views. Kind of desperate & whorish - really.

Peachy said...

Lena D has yet to make me laugh. I'm a Seinfeld girl.

rhhardin said...

It's the voice of mood

Paddy O said...

I thought it was another Biden victory? Sheesh, the guy guest stars and is the idol of Leslie Knope, and people can't give him the recognition.

mccullough said...

Cringe Article. Sucks to make a living off clickbait.

Leland said...

Also the big lie about keeping your doctor that Obama told to get Obamacare passed. It feels like the shortage of doctors and nurses is only grown since then, which is similar to what is happening in Canada and the UK, although not as bad in the US, since we didn’t go full universal healthcare.

Paddy O said...

Is an obamacore something like a manticore?

mikee said...

My prediction: Biden steps down from the presidency in another month, leaving Kamala Harris "too busy being president" for the last month or so of the election season to campaign or take questions from reporters or let anyone see her do anything other than act presidential for a few weeks. The feels will be immense, her mail in ballots will be harvested to about 85 million votes, and she'll be our next president.

Kevin said...

I was told we would not be going back.

Big Mike said...

I nearly threw up myself when I read it.

Kevin said...

In her own remarks, [Michelle Obama] will lay out how Harris “is ready to lead our country forward and turn the page on fear and division.”

Obama's bus tour keeps driving back and forth over Biden's Presidency.

narciso said...

Lena was an eldritch horror of pity

MadTownGuy said...

"Dave Begley said...
Has Nate Jones ever even contemplated the consequences to the US if the dollar is no longer the world's reserve currency? Does he even know what the reserve currency is?
"

Meanwhile, in Argentina, which under Milei is still stuck (for now) with price controls, one grocery chain has stepped up to make it easier for people who have had to hoard US Dollars as a hedge against inflation, to purchase products at a favorable exchange rate. They can do so even if the bills are of the older variety or are damaged, which used to be forbidden there and in Chile.

Argentina wholesaler launches its own dollar exchange rate

Rocco said...

Boy the way Flo Rida played,
Songs that made the hit parade,
Ppl like us we had it made,
Those were the days,
And you know who you were then,
Girls were girls and men were men,
Mister we could use a man like Barack Obama again,
Needed mo' welfare state
Everybody was gaining weight,
Gee our old Civic ran great,
Those were the days

Rocco said...

"Parks and Recreation...."

I miss Ron Swanson.

Rocco said...

Dave Begley
"Does he even know what the reserve currency is?"

Sure, that's the money held in RESERVE at the Federal RESERVE for the government to whip out and spend as needed. Preferably under a Democratical president. Supposedly they have a $1 trillion coin in there somewhere.

Michael K said...

One of the DNC highlights: Andy Beshear wishing Vance's wife or daughter be impregnated by rape. Here's a link, unlike Inga's links.

Michael K said...

He went to Ohio State first, on GI Bill. Graduated in 3 years.

Jamie said...

Welp, the odds have flipped again - Trump's at even, and Harris is at +108. That was a short honeymoon...

Mikey NTH said...

I don't recall 8 years of glee. What I recall is 8 years of lecturing.

rehajm said...

The Krugman celebrity is embarrassing even though I realize real Nobels are now awarded for outstanding leftie politics…

narciso said...

Like the alien coin in hitchhikers guide

I dubbed him zaphod for his own self regard

rehajm said...

If the propaganda works you keep going until the treasury runs out I suppose…

Mason G said...

"I don't recall 8 years of glee. What I recall is 8 years of lecturing."

If you're talking about leftards, words don't really have meanings- at least, not ones that you can count on being consistent from day to day. It's kind of like their attitude towards their gender- what they feel today is today, yesterday doesn't matter and tomorrow might be different.

rehajm said...

Parcour! parcour! parcour…Obamacore? Not so much…

narciso said...

After four years of supply chain shortages oil price spikes humiliation in kabul

William said...

"The fandom....expanded to embrace Paul Krugman." I missed that phenomenon. Who were these groupies who rushed to embrace Paul Krugman? Most people I know can keep their enthusiasm for Paul Krugman in check.

Iman said...

F**k their feelings… a competent person with policies that benefit ALL Americans is what we need. Someone who knows America’s place in the world… it’s really not too much to ask. No race-baiters wanted.

Kakistocracy said...

The convention is for partisan viewers and Media allies and is an extended advert (and completely irrelevant given the virtual vote a few weeks back).

Any substantive arguments within the party will be hashed-out behind closed doors by a few of the senior pols and their billionaire backers/activists, not in front of masses of delegates from the great unwashed and a TV audience.

Iman said...

The Democrats say they’re for law and order, they’re going to tame inflation, they want to seal the border… despite all evidence to the contrary. They’ve either created or exacerbated most of the horrible problems Americans are having to deal with. Spin that, DNC asswipes!

Iman said...

Oh, if only Dunham’s “commitment to comedy” were as strong as her commitment to food and gluttony!

robother said...

Now Democrats have an empty pantsuit. As with Obama, it is easier to project your hopes on the dreamlike ephemera, unencumbered by any political or moral principles.

Rick67 said...

Yep. Harris is not about a list of specific policies or a concrete track record as Senator then Vice-President. It's a feeling. I saw an article on my Google news feed by a young woman who said she was voting for Harris-Walz because of their "vibe".

Butkus51 said...

a Google warrior. A Russian owned company. But you be you.

Iman said...

Dunham is the “Voice of Moo”…

Mason G said...

The "crazed weasel" vibe? That, and voter fraud is all the dems have.

Iman said...

Nice one, Rocco 👍

lonejustice said...

Just imagine. If our Republican nominee for President was anyone other than Trump, he/she would be 10 or more points ahead in all of the polls. Trump is the only Republican candidate who could possibly lose to Biden or Harris. Sad but true.

Jim at said...

Just imagine. If our Republican nominee for President was anyone other than Trump, he/she would be 10 or more points ahead in all of the polls.

You have quite the imagination if you actually believe that.

Mason G said...

That doesn't even make sense. Where were all those "Anybody but Trump" voters in the primaries? You know, the ones where Trump got 76% of the votes?

Peachy said...

The lying D - didn't mention that. But again- Dems are lying liars who lie.

Peachy said...


Taibbi:
The DNC's Sinister Rebrand of "Freedom"

"Get ready for the new “Freedom Frame,” an argument for massive expansion of federal authority, disguised as a celebration of rights."

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

I remember Obama Girl.

Mutaman said...

Jamie
"Welp, the odds have flipped again - Trump's at even, and Harris is at +108. That was a short honeymoon..."

I cashed nicely with Paddy Power when I put down a bet on the color of makeup Trump would be wearing at the RNC. Hit "Burnt Orange" at 12/1.

Kakistocracy said...

Sorry, but I have to agree with Trump. Crime is out of control. Just look at New York. There is a Felon who was convicted of 34 felonies there, and he's still walking the streets.

Peachy said...

Yeah - he's a dangerous criminal.
Lock him up. expired misdemeanors and a crooked leftist judge.
Welcome to Venezuela.

Maynard said...

What was the crime, Richie?

Clyde said...

That reminded me of Germans in the former East being nostalgic for the "good old days" of Erich Honecker.

wendybar said...


Chaya Raichik
@ChayaRaichik10
·

You guys have an abortion bus outside your convention

Rep. Casey Weinstein 🇺🇸
@RepWeinstein
DEMOCRATS are the PRO. LIFE. PARTY. 🇺🇸
10:52 AM · Aug 20, 2024


Rabbi Mike
@StepakoffM

Replying to @ChayaRaichik10
It’s like a weird pagan cult, they gather en masse to slaughter babies and gloat about it. You have to wonder is this meant as some kind of an offering to their “god.” Strange how much “joy” they get from it all.
11:18 AM · Aug 20, 2024

wendybar said...

The Modern Heretic
@ModernHeretic9
·

Back when America was anti-communist we would say kill a commie for mommy. Now Democrats say kill a baby for commies.

End Wokeness
@EndWokeness
At least 25 babies have been kiIIed so far in this abortion truck by the DNC:

Derve Swanson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Derve Swanson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

And you support it day after day, because why exactly?

wendybar said...

None. There wouldn't be a war if Trump were still President.

wendybar said...

But all Progressives do. It's their sacrifice to their religion....

Mr. Forward said...

How about we compromise? Gun control, abortion, green energy and socialism for Democrats. The rest of us will just have to go with what works.

Lazarus said...

Decades envy. In the 20th century, every set of 10 years seemed to have their own personality. Now everything is mushed together, but younger people still need their '20s or '60s or '80s, so why not manufacture one in retrospect and trip it out with all the enthusiasm about JFK 60 years ago.

I'm not watching the convention, but from what I've been able to hear and see it's hasn't been all "joy" and light. There's a lot of darkness and a lot of meanness in what I've seen and heard.

Lazarus said...

Last I heard, he was a White Dude for Kamala: "Proud to be a Kamala man who has quit the GOP." Or at least the actor who plays him is. Dude's in Hollywood. He's got to eat. Got to keep his love life alive.

wendybar said...

Little Dervie got upset that his lies were called out, and deleted all of his comments??

Rusty said...

Aand this is your idea of "Democracy"? I see your problem, lady!

Rusty said...

The Democrat convention reminds of that scene in that movie 'Apocalypto' when the captives are all waiting in line and they're being painted blue and they all look worried. The D convention is the same but the captives are smiling and joking in line.