27 मई 2025

We were talking about Trump not being "polished or smooth" and about a place called "Creatable World."

The first post of the day, here, quoted a NYT writer who said: Trump "wasn’t polished or smooth. His appearance was shoddy, strange, lacking all polish." Trump has tarted up the Oval Office with gold, but he's still rough, lumbering, and orange.

And here's the post this morning about Mattel's line of "gender-neutral" dolls called "Creatable World." But somehow the kids did not flow into the world that Big Toy had envisioned for them.

So this NBC headline caught my eye: "Obama world loses its shine in a changing, hurting Democratic Party."

You see the resonance.

There was once a place called "Obama World" and it was shiny.

Don't let it be forgot that once there was a spot/For one brief shining moment that was known as... Obama World!

A brief shiny glimpse at the NBC News article:
After Kamala Harris entered the presidential race last year, she reached out to Barack Obama campaign alum Jim Messina to help lead her White House bid. But when Messina shared news of the vice president’s offer with a friend, he received a stern warning. “I said ‘Jim, if you get involved in this, it’ll be political suicide,’” Democratic megadonor John Morgan, a longtime Harris critic, recalled of his conversation with Messina, who had served in Obama’s White House and managed his successful 2012 re-election campaign. “You’re going to be a loser. And your whole shine is you’re undefeated.”...

And Messina didn't help her. He kept his "shine." David Plouffe helped Kamala and...

“The shine’s off Plouffe now. He was the golden boy,” Morgan said. “Now he’s just an old broken-down boy, who lost. Big.”... 

More Democrats are openly criticizing Obama strategists and consultants, who were long treated as the high priests of their party’s politics....

But even the former president’s luster was showing signs of fading last fall....

Your created shiny world was always ephemeral.

Ask every person if he's heard the story
And tell it strong and clear 'til it's unfurled
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Obama World!

68 टिप्‍पणियां:

Leland ने कहा…

Democrats calling referring to men as “boy” in 2025. Some things never change.

Original Mike ने कहा…

"[Plouffe's] just an old broken-down boy, who lost. Big.”...

I'll reserve judgement on that until I know how much money he made off with.

Lem Vibe Bandit ने कहा…

I’m old enough to remember when the words shining and Obama in the same sentence could get one labeled the r word.

Joe Bar ने कहा…

Well, this really sends a thrill up my leg.

Paul Zrimsek ने कहा…

Obama World: shiniest planet in the whole gorram 'Verse.

Jaq ने कहा…

Renember when that law was passed a distant moon ago, that "July and August cannot be too hot!"

Lem Vibe Bandit ने कहा…

If you squint at Richard Harris mugshot you can see meathead from All in the Family.

Achilles ने कहा…

The Democrat Party is a loose collection of people who are interested in getting paid for doing whatever they want to do.

This is usually nothing. But sometimes they want to get paid to teach kids how to change their sex or to put their political opponents in jail or censor them.

Most of the federal government could be eliminated and most of it would go completely unnoticed and in a few cases the lives of Americans would just be better.

Most of the University system fits this paradigm to a T. HR departments. DEI programs. The war against poverty.

It is all just a jobs program for people that can’t do anything productive for society.

Dave Begley ने कहा…

Not even Don Draper could have won it for Kamala.

Wilbur ने कहा…

@ Lem Vibe
LOL

Rabel ने कहा…

"Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do,
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose.
He came to me asking help and advice,
And from here no one knows where he goes."

- Jim Messina

DINKY DAU 45 ने कहा…

The ancient Relic of the GOP Chuck Grassley says Trump should spend as much effort on the war in Russia and Ukraine as he does on Harvard. They send a diplomat who has no freakin experience except as a rich man who knows trump and the guy is useless. Its 5 months now(not 24 hours) and Putin is more and more in charge saying trump is having emotional setbacks. SNAP! No sanctions on Russia but plenty to do with Harvard, pardoning a criminal sheriff who was doing 10 years for criminal charges by a jury and doing his on /off tariff debacle. DO SOMETHING..at least get the market back to starting point that DARK BRANDON left. It ain't going any where .and when it does its down.. c'mon man, when Chuck Grassley calling you out it does make the fool look more foolish. Got to pick it up , your getting a lot of chances but fukkin it up. Lets GO!!

Breezy ने कहा…

“You’re going to be a loser. And your whole shine is you’re undefeated.”

They all knew she was going to lose from the get-go, yet they persisted with that nominee. It seems they decided the election would be a loss early on, and just accepted it. Hence, no challenges on the results. They didn't want her either.

Achilles ने कहा…

Trump is someone who builds things other people want built.

It is hard to do anything that results in an actual product someone else will pay for.

People who spend their time in politics are people who like talking about how many angels can dance on the tip of a needle. There are no consequences or standards. Only bullshit, volume and deception.

People like Obama couldn’t run a latte stand. Any entrepreneur who had a business that lasted for a few years would have been a better President than Barrack Obama.

Jaq ने कहा…

First Democrat to show up gives us a rabid pro-war post. I wonder why the base is not on board with these guys?

DINKY DAU 45 ने कहा…

wtf 90 DEALS IN 90 DAYS? Its already been about 40 days and is that signed deal number still ZERO ? Why does anyone believe what these people say and swallow it hook line and sinker or make some fake excuse why it ain't happening. My goodness Madge.. :(

Achilles ने कहा…

Dinky brings up a good point.

What Trump is finding out is that Europe really wants a war with Russia. This is because the regimes in Europe are universally corrupt and they are losing ground to populist opposition all over the continent.

Also Ukraine is run by a dictator who will lose any election held in Ukraine and so he suspended elections. Meanwhile Germany is locking up opposition to the regime just like Zelensky has already done.

It hasn’t even been 100 years since the last time Germany and Ukraine have allied to attack Russia while under fascist regimes.

There was a reason the US allied with Russia to stop them then and the current situation is little different except we already occupy Germany.

FormerLawClerk ने कहा…

Shorter Democrats: "Hey Plouffe ... go getchur shine box."

Achilles ने कहा…

Jaq said...
First Democrat to show up gives us a rabid pro-war post. I wonder why the base is not on board with these guys?

Also remember that progressives were singing the praises of the National Socialist Workers Party in the 30’s just like they are baying for war against Russia today.

The sides have not really changed much since then.

john mosby ने कहा…

Achilles: "The Democrat Party is a loose collection of people who are interested in getting paid for doing whatever they want to do."

That is pure genius. Encapsulates their entire worldview in one sentence.

You need to copyright that and rent it out to the Rs.

RLTW

JSM

john mosby ने कहा…

Or charge the D's for not renting it out!

JSM

tcrosse ने कहा…

Speaking of the Camlot vibe, King Charles III just read the speech - that the new Canadian PM had written for him - to the Canadian parliament. That lets them know whose country it really is.

Wince ने कहा…

Shiney unhappy people?

FormerLawClerk ने कहा…

Rahm Emmanuel has some choice words for Obama's Democrat Party: Calls it "weak and woke."

“The American dream since Obama has become unaffordable. It’s inaccessible."

Of course, he wasn't saying that when Obama was forcing you - by law - to purchase expensive insurance that didn't allow you to keep your doctor if you like your doctor.

Jimmy ने कहा…

Someone should tell the DNC that Althouse commenters have better ideas than all those expensive consultants.
Achilles has a great catch phrase, and I'm sure we could do a survey of say 250 focus groups.
the whole thing for under a million, plus travel and food expeensives, so 2.5 million tops.

Rocco ने कहा…

Wince said...
Shiney unhappy people?

You say “shiny” and I go to the REM song, not Camelot.

One of the rumors about the song is that it has a darker meaning inspired by a Chinese Communist poster after Tiananman Square. Fitting image for the Obama era.

Beaver7216 ने कहा…

Perhaps, the shine of Obama should have ended when the Ukrainian flags went up throughout X. Obama wanted a reset with Russia, saw Ukraine as being in Russia's orbit and nothing the US could do to assist. He laughed at Romney for thinking Russia was the greatest threat. He did nothing when Crimea was taken. In short, he was Trumpian on Ukraine and Russia.

Joe Bar ने कहा…

Camelot?
"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony."

RCOCEAN II ने कहा…

Camelot?
No.
Kamaloser.

RCOCEAN II ने कहा…

BTW, I give Harris points for being the better singer. But Burton was Royalty.

Jaq ने कहा…
इस टिप्पणी को लेखक द्वारा हटा दिया गया है.
Jaq ने कहा…

What Obama actually said was that Ukraine was an existential issue for Russia, and not for the United States, so Russia would always escalate further than we would. And he was right, and so maybe it's better to let people on the other side of the globe settle their own arguments without us getting involved. Crimea already voted to join Russia. It's over. What is Ukraine going to do if they gain control of it again? Ethnic cleansing? What about all of those people in Donbas that Ukraine sees as traitors?

Ukraine was offered multiple deals that would have kept the country intact, and they either signed them then ignored them, or rejected them. It's not the problem of the United States.

Biff ने कहा…

Rough, lumbering, and orange? There's an "articulate and bright and clean" joke in there, somewhere.

Biff ने कहा…

DINKY DAU 45 said..."SNAP! No sanctions on Russia"

That's strange. Someone told me that Russia has been accumulating "severe" sanctions for more than a decade. How much more can there be? Which new ones will finally bring Russia to its knees? Inquiring minds would love to know.

MadisonMan ने कहा…

he’s just an old broken-down boy, who lost. Big. Bigly!

WK ने कहा…

Obama World. “Sorry folks, park’s closed. Donkey out front shoulda told ya.”

Disparity of Cult ने कहा…

More bad vibes in Obama world...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14754731/Obama-female-secret-service-agents-fight-DC.html

Bob Boyd ने कहा…

According to my sources, David Brooks recently saw Obama's trouser crease and said, "meh."

Mason G ने कहा…

"Obama world loses its shine in a changing, hurting Democratic Party."

How can that be? Obama is black. Isn't that enough anymore?

Ann Althouse ने कहा…

“ I'll reserve judgement on that until I know how much money he made off with.”

Yes, that was my thought too. I looked it up when I was writing the post. How much money did Plouffe make? I couldn’t find the answer though. I assume he made a lot because Kamala had a lot of money to spend and she spent it.

RMc ने कहा…

Crimea already voted to join Russia

It's amazing how easy it is to win an election when you've got guns pointed at the voters' backs.

n.n ने कहा…

'Can I get a supervisor down to Delta two immediately before I whoop this girl's ass,' the agent in the audio said. 

Feral feminine gender differences.

Jaq ने कहा…

"It's amazing how easy it is to win an election when you've got guns pointed at the voters' backs."

Yet Russia took over Crimea without firing a shot. Crimea had been part of Russia for centuries, it was part of Ukraine for 19 years. It's a Russian speaking region. Do you really think that they would vote to be part of Ukraine when Ukraine had passed laws banning the use of Russian in official business. So basically, the cops are not going to speak Russian, the laws are not going to be written in Russian, the judges are not going to speak Russian, etc, etc.

Why would people who had been living as part of Russia for centuries vote to ban their own language from official use, and from schools? It is not hard to understand why, after getting annexed by Crimea when they chose independence in the first plebiscite, which Ukraine refused to recognize, and instead being annexed by Ukraine in 1995, they wouldn't vote to at least be part of a country that speaks the same language and can make it stick?

Would you vote to belong to a country that had an official policy to ban English and root out English language culture, the way Kiev does with Russian and Russian culture?

Jaq ने कहा…

After the Goths took over the Western Roman Empire, in the fifth century, IIRC, they appointed Goth judges who took over Roman courts and judged using Roman forms and Roman laws. But oddly, whenever at Goth went up against a Roman in a legal dispute, the Goth won.

Right now the Ukrainians are claiming that most of the Russians in Ukraine are recently planted there by Russia, and have stolen land from Ukrainians. This is a region that was part of Russia for centuries. What do you think that the outcomes of legal proceedings presided over by Ukrainian judges is going to be? It's pretext propaganda for ethnic cleansing, and the residents of Crimea know it.

Aggie ने कहा…

A new 'creatable world' from the CBC, where competition is something that can be dealt with - creatively !

Things really looking great with the new PM ! Kind of reminds me of CNN and that meme-maker that created the Trump wrestling meme.

Spiros ने कहा…

I think an accent wall with glimmering gold paint can be nice.

John ने कहा…

Damnit, Dave Begley -- Now I can't get "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony" out of my head.

Mary Beth ने कहा…

MadisonMan said...

he’s just an old broken-down boy, who lost. Big. Bigly!
5/27/25, 3:32 PM


That's what I came here to say!

What is Ukraine going to do if they gain control of it again? Ethnic cleansing? What about all of those people in Donbas that Ukraine sees as traitors?

Same thing they did in 2014, only more so.

Howard ने कहा…

The Democrats claimed Trump was and is an existential threat to the US. Yet, their top men refused to help Kamala to protect their careers.

Mason G ने कहा…

"His appearance was shoddy, strange, lacking all polish."

As opposed to President Roomba, reading everything on the teleprompter and then wandering around at random, I guess.

Or even candidate Hildebeast, getting tossed into a van like a sack of potatoes. Now, *that's* polished.

Dr Weevil ने कहा…

We already know how Ukraine treats residents of recaptured areas. They recaptured large areas in several directions when the Russians pulled back a few weeks after the second (2022) invasion, recaptured eastern Kharkiv oblast, including the towns of Izium and Kupyansk, in an offensive in September 2022, and recaptured all of Kherson oblast north of the Dnipro in another offensive in November 2022, including the city of Kherson. No ethnic cleansing followed, despite the discovery of mass graves, torture chambers, and other horrors that might naturally have led to retaliation.

The fact is that ethnic cleansing is what the Russians have done and are still doing to the Ukrainians in the areas they still occupy: rape, torture, mutilation, looting of washing machines and other valuables, banishment to Siberia, beating of anyone heard speaking Ukrainian, destruction of all Ukrainian books. They also kill all religious leaders except the Russian orthodox ones, who are employees of the former KGB.

Worrying about hypothetical future Ukrainian ethnic cleansing when actual Russian ethnic cleansing is going on right now on a massive scale shows that you are either a dupe of Russian propaganda or a shameless liar.

Peachy ने कहा…

Democrats have ruined the State of Colorado. One party rule.
Media in bed with Democrats and their lies and incompetence.
We have High crime - Soros DA's letting criminals off, No cops on the streets. CO Dems were all in w/ defund the police.
Denver Intl Airport is ripped up and a total mess. All started under Polis.
Now the media and Democrats are all blaming Trump.
Democrat's have passed all sorts of legislation making it difficult for business to thrive and profit. Restaurants have closed. Again - now they just blame Trump. Local media in bed with Democrats. It's really a sickening display of lies.

I returned from a quick trip to a red state. A red state that is thriving. Amazing airport - vibrant economy. Not perfect- but leaps and bounds better than Democratic Authoritarian Colorado.

Interested Bystander ने कहा…

When I first saw Richard Harris I thought you comment on his singing. He was no singer. Certainly unpolished. Rough. They could have hired Robert Goulet with his amazingly beautiful baritone and his tall good looks. Instead they hired a guy that sounded less than ordinary but had a way of connecting with an audience and making them believe.

OldSarg ने कहा…

Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afganistan, Somalia, Panama, Grenada, Vietnam, how many never came home for what we started.

Until you know war you don't know war. Peace, let him try

Achilles ने कहा…

RMc said...
Crimea already voted to join Russia

It's amazing how easy it is to win an election when you've got guns pointed at the voters' backs.

This is just stupid.

Crimea voted over 80% for Yanukovich in 2014. Western Ukraine with the help of the US threw him out of power and installed Zelenksy and his puppet regime.

Since 2014 Western Ukraine has been sending in irregulars like the Azov battalion to point guns at the backs of voters as you would say.

Zelensky is a fascist dictator who has suspended elections and is leading the same coalition that allied with Germany in WWII to attack Russia and Eastern Ukraine and just happens to be allied with Germany to attack Russia and Eastern Ukraine again.

This as Germany is once again arresting and beating opponents of their government.

Achilles ने कहा…

Dr Weevil said...

Worrying about hypothetical future Ukrainian ethnic cleansing when actual Russian ethnic cleansing is going on right now on a massive scale shows that you are either a dupe of Russian propaganda or a shameless liar.

Who funded the Azov Battalion? What was the Azov Battalion doing in Eastern Ukraine?

What happened to Ukraine's elections?

The Nazis are fighting the Soviets. This is not a new conflict.

You are dead set on involving us in that war. How about you get your happy ass over there and fight without us.

Dr Weevil ने कहा…

Anyone who thinks that Zelenskyy replaced Yanukovych, as Achilles implies, knows less than nothing about Ukraine. After Yanukovych fled the country when he realized that everyone, east and west, hated him for being a massive thief and Putin puppet, and for slaughtering over a hundred peaceful demonstrators, elections were held, and won by Poroshenko. (One of Yanukovych's sidekicks ran and got 3.5%.) Poroshenko turned out to be another corrupt oligarch, though not a murderer or traitor, and the Ukrainian people voted him out in the next election in favor of Zelenskyy. I've noted before that Zelenskyy is in fact the Ukrainian Trump: a non-politician (and entertainer, like Trump) voted in when all the professional politicians turned out worthless. As for what the Azov Battalion were doing, they were fighting Russian regulars sent by Putin, who were pretending to be disgruntled locals. Of course, voting for Yanukovych was not voting for secession. Crimea in fact voted to join Ukraine in 1991, when the actual binding vote was held.

Dr Weevil ने कहा…

It's odd that all the people who call Zelenskyy a dictator never mention that Russia, like the US, has a constitutional two-term limit on presidents, but Putin is somehow in his sixth term.

wildswan ने कहा…

I thought the Crimean Tatars were the original people of Crimea; that they had lived in Crimea since the Bronze Age and were a majority but began to be replaced by Russians around 1780. But they were still a large group till Stalin deported the entire nation to Siberia during World War II. Some have been allowed back but the Russians classify them as a minority group rather than as the indigenous people of the region.

Dr Weevil ने कहा…
इस टिप्पणी को लेखक द्वारा हटा दिया गया है.
Dr Weevil ने कहा…

Two more things re "How about you get your happy ass over there and fight without us."

1. If you're going to ask a question, put a question mark on it or look like a subliterate geek. Your choice.

2. How about reading what other people write? I've told you and others here dozens of times that Ukraine does not need or want US troops. They need weapons, especially F-16s, M-1 tanks, and Bradley fighting vehicles, all of which we have massive surpluses of, and which cost less to ship to Ukraine than it will cost to recycle them. It would actually save money, and help balance the budget, to send them. They also very much need Patriot missiles to shoot down the Russian missiles that slaughter civilians every night of the week.

Big Mike ने कहा…
इस टिप्पणी को लेखक द्वारा हटा दिया गया है.
Bunkypotatohead ने कहा…

"go home and get your f***in’ shinebox"

mikee ने कहा…

"Camelot? Let's not go there. It is a silly place."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail has an apt quote for almost every situation.

PM ने कहा…

"Growing-Up Skipper" also didn't work out so well for Mattel. Girls could spin her arm and she'd grow breasts - then spin it again and they'd disappear into preteendom.

Achilles ने कहा…

Dr Weevil said...
It's odd that all the people who call Zelenskyy a dictator never mention that Russia, like the US, has a constitutional two-term limit on presidents, but Putin is somehow in his sixth term.

I said this war is the Nazis against the soviets. Putin is obviously a dictator. I a merely pointing out that so is Zelensky.

You know what I said. You are either illiterate or a douchebag.

Achilles ने कहा…

Dr Weevil said...
Two more things re "How about you get your happy ass over there and fight without us."

1. If you're going to ask a question, put a question mark on it or look like a subliterate geek. Your choice.

2. How about reading what other people write? I've told you and others here dozens of times that Ukraine does not need or want US troops. They need weapons, especially F-16s, M-1 tanks, and Bradley fighting vehicles, all of which we have massive surpluses of, and which cost less to ship to Ukraine than it will cost to recycle them. It would actually save money, and help balance the budget, to send them. They also very much need Patriot missiles to shoot down the Russian missiles that slaughter civilians every night of the week.


So you are a coward that want other people to fight your wars.

Zelensky ran on signing the Minsk agreement. He reneged, cancelled elections and has press gangs forcing Ukrainian people to fight.

The Ukrainian people do not want to fight your war. You are scum.

Dr Weevil ने कहा…

More lies from the Thersites who calls himself Achilles, and shows himself guilty of everything he accuses me of: illiteracy, douchebaggery, cowardice, and scumminess. If he wants peace so much, why doesn't he go to Ukraine and stand between the lines holding up a giant peace sign? Is he a coward?

The Ukrainian people do in fact want to fight for independence from Russia. Zelenskyy is more popular than ever, by the way, and even the ethnic Russians in Ukraine hate Putin for what he's done to them.

As for the allegation that "Zelensky ran on signing the Minsk agreement", the word Minsk does not occur in the Wikipedia article on Zelenskyy or the one on the 2019 election. Odd! And the article on the Minsk agreements only mentions Zelenskyy once, and shows that Russia grossly violated the agreements from the moment they were signed. They were not worth the paper they were printed on. Only morons and Putinite propagandists - but I repeat myself - bring them up.

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