The days of knuckledraggers running America seem a lifetime ago.
It’s things like presenting the Queen with an iPod loaded with his own speeches that puts the “staggering incompetence” side a few more points up on the “sinister plot” faction.
Sinister, manipulative plotters excel at presenting exquisitely personalized and appropriate gifts. Your cousin from Carrot River who likes jumping ditch-to-ditch on his Arctic Cat – not so much.
I live in Vegas, and I see people by the side of the road with cardboard signs who seem like they might have tried that spending their way out of debt thing. Or maybe they tried the all too intuitive “crack will make me feel healthy again” thing. I don’t know.
Meanwhile, the MoveOn.org wing of the administration is targeting budget-wary members of their own party in ads.
That’s the sort of thing that always ends well.
Second link needs an “h” to work. Great writing by the ex-carny though.
Merci!
It would seem that “team Obama” is panicking by attacking their critics anywhere/whereever.
The democratic critcs are indicative that despite a nominal control of congress—-that grip is slipping fast…..perhaps things won’t wait until 2010……..
Hey, a fire-eating buffoon’s always my go-to guy for sage political analysis.
I wish “staggering incompetence” and “sinister (plotting)” were mutually exclusive, but in fact they tend to go hand in hand. Il Duce, for example, wasn’t exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, but once he was in a position of power, his dumbness was sinister, and the thousands of plots he executed against his opponents were really effective, until his necktie got a little too tight.
Suppose, hypothetically for the sake of argument,that a particular person in a position of immense power take actions that don’t appear to make sense, and which risk crippling the longstanding system of government he’s been elected to oversee. At first glance he’s incompetent, but if damaging that system was his goal, his grinning fecklessness might just be evidence that he is accomplishing that which he wishes to do, rather than evidence of his unfitness.
I think there’s reason to consider the possibility that there is a strategy, if not a plot, in Obama’s plan to stress the system with massive spending. Robert Chandler, a former White House strategist, who worked for the the Departments of Justice, State and Defense, wrote in the Washington Times, last October:
“The 2008 financial crisis has all of the earmarks of a Cloward-Piven strategy assault against the capitalist system. Stanley Kurtz of the Ethics and Public Policy Center recently explained that ‘community organizers’ (1) ‘intimidate banks into making high risk loans to customers with poor credit,’ (2) ‘occupy private offices, chant inside bank lobbies, and confront executives at their homes,’ and, through these thuggish tactics, (3) compel ‘financial institutions to direct hundreds of millions dollars in mortgages to low-credit customers.’ ‘In other words,’ Mr. Kurtz explained during a presentation at the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, ‘community organizers help to undermine America’s economy by pushing the banking system into a sink-hole of bad loans.'”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/15/the-cloward-piven-strategy/
If Obama’s “incompetence” damages and changes the American system in a way he specifically wanted, how incompetent is he, really?
It would be paranoid to accuse a leader, without evidence, of undertaking to undermine the financial system. But if that leader is heavily influenced by those who strategized to do just that…
In my opinion there are far too many truly odd connections between Obama and people whose stated goal, and clearly enunciated strategy, involved — to put it in brief — overloading the government spending, and the American financial system, until it collapses, at which point government becomes all-powerful.
All quite hypothetical, really, and yet… For those interested — and this is just kind of looking at things, factual things — this piece from American Thinker is tough slogging, but well worth a read:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/barack_obama_and_the_strategy.html
Well written EBD – the ‘intellectuals’/msm (of the Liebral ilk) like to identify with seemingly ‘harmless’ leaders because they LOVE to prosecute real achievers without appearing to be the under-miners of the working people (who pay the bills – who work for achievers)) or the people on welfare (who vote for the largest ‘handout’ group). A seemingly not to bright a leader appeals to people who wish to be more important than they know they are, hence the lazy and underachievers will see easy hope for themselves in a seemingly dozy leader.
Regan had the appeal of ‘a fellow well met’ and the American people loved him for his easy manner and his fabulous sense of humour (of course the prima donnas of the intellectual – Liebral – ilk could not stop sneering and whining about everything he did). Regan was a genuinely intelligent man and he brought the America (and Canada)from it’s knees into prosperity because President Regan loved people and he loved his country and he had the brains and know how to fix the problem in government to enable the American people to prosper.
The new President has appeal but he has the appeal that people who really love themselves have (Paris Hilton type appeal). He is, perhaps, the front man for the people who hate the success of United States/Regan. He seems to be ‘free ad easy’ like he has not a care in the world, when in public. He has a perfect template to follow (President Regan) if he had any compassion for the people of America but he is not compassionate. If the focus falls from himself, he is empty. Enemies of America hated President Regan and President Bush, with just reasons: they were in office to serve the people of America. Enemies of America do not fear or hate the new president because he appears to be in Office to admire himself.
ET had an interesting analysis of Mr. Owe under one one of Kate’s past posts – I agree with her analysis – and I share your apprehensions for the motivations behind the actions of the new president, EBD.
An iPod!?! The Grinch would be better at this stuff. What’s next, a pair of socks for the Dalai Lama? A pack of smokes for the President of Israel?
Doesn’t he even have a secretary?
And why can’t all the aggressive, proselytizing atheists be like Penn Jillette?
Oh, and nobody would make himself President of the United States just to wreck the place, along with the world economy, would he?
My last sentence wasn’t rhetorical. I’m just baffled.
mamba: read ebd’s post above.
The iPod gift sounds like an aprilfools gag but it like the DVD gift to brown is not. This seemsto be like nouveau riche crassness / narcissism on the part of the white house being applied to the diplomatic functions. GWB was Dean Acheson by comparison.
Fresh prince of the G20
Giving the Queen an ipod… I guess the Americans know how Canadians felt when ever Jean Crouton went on the world stage. Embarrassed to say the least.
An ipod for Chr*st sakes, didn’t he know her majesty really wanted a skateboard and a ball cap that doesn’t fit properly?
Fresh prince of the G20
Even though you were thoughtful enough to post it twice Gord, each time I read it, I see “Fresh Prince of the Goo”
Posted by: bleet at April 2, 2009 1:41 AM
“Hey, a fire-eating buffoon’s always my go-to guy for sage political analysis.”
Just an excellent example that a so-called “fire-eating buffoon” has more political and economic sense than the typical liberal.
You cannot spend you way out of debt to avoid the skidding economic crash. Pretty basic. So one can only conclude that THE ONE is either catastrophically stupid or malevolently evil.
I don’t think the i-pod is an error. After the fallout from the DVD’s if it was not intentional he would have made sure they didn’t screw up again. To my way of thinking he is either showing contempt or wants to be underestimated. The underestimation would give him some slack. Sort of what can you expect from your dumb cousin. The advances to Iran and subsequent rebuffs tells me the boy thinks he is the most important person in the world and can do without the old alliances. I fear that as people fall off the O wagon he will become more unpredictable. The good thing is I don’t think the military will follow him.
Y’all realize what this means don’t you, the crappy gifts that they are giving to dignitaries???
The Obamas are re-gifters!!
The IPod struck me as odd but apparently the gift was worked out with the palace, as long as that is true there is no story here.
There is so much else that needs to be focussed on with this administration that gettign distracted by boneheaded gifts, if it were true, is really not where one should focus their energy.
The balancing act harper has to run at this summit is far more interesting. He isnt eager to spend more money, nor is his friend the iron chancellor merkel….but Harper doesnt have the domestic constituency to flat out reject, nor can he be seen to be peeing publically on Obama.
The gross amounts of dollars being spent that don’t solve the problem are where we should be focussed. This spectre of economic collapse will not leave till the bad assets are laid bare and plan to wrtie them off is being transparently executed. Anything else is a palliative moriphine hit.
Maybe the Queen should give Obama a summary of her 50 plus years of experience, including her speeches. I doubt that he would think that he could learn anything from her – because he is after all the Obama – but it might be worth a try. However I think the Queen has way too much class to need to do something like that.
I remember when people complained that intelligence tests were culturally biased, because one of the “which of these things goes with the other questions” was “teacup and saucer”, and hey, poor/black people supposedly didn’t know what cups and saucers were…
That came to mind today when I heard that Michelle Obama touched the Queen.
Doesn’t the Federal Govt apparatus include a Protocol Office?
More importantly:
Doesn’t everybody just automatically KNOW you’re not supposed to touch the Queen?
Isn’t that just the sort of information you simply acquire, like mental lint, as you travel through life?
Not the life the Obama’s have led, apparently.
Stephen is correct: “nor can he [PM Harper] be seen to be peeing publically on Obama.”
Goldstein is “peeing publically on Obama.”
We can do the same.
O’s fascist-corporate State is a disaster.
…-
“Obama’s disaster in the making
By LORRIE GOLDSTEIN
Few things are as frightening as governments that don’t want to be confused by the facts because their minds are made up.
So it is with U.S. President Barack Obama and most Democrats, who, determined to create a domestic carbon cap-and-trade market, which Canada will inevitably be forced to join, are rushing into this useless and discredited “tool” for addressing man-made climate change, like lemmings going over a cliff.
It’s not as if we don’t know what’s going to happen.
Based on the experience of the world’s largest carbon trading market — Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), created in January, 2005 — we know exactly.
First, electricity prices paid by already hard-hit North American consumers are going to rise even higher and faster than they are now.
Second, giant energy utilities, hedge fund managers and speculators are going to make a fortune on the backs of ordinary taxpayers, from the moment the government puts a price on emitting carbon dioxide.
Third, emissions by major industries — which cap-and-trade is supposed to reduce — will continue to rise under normal economic conditions, as they did in the ETS from 2005 to 2007.”
urlm.in/calb
Apparently, Obama’s ipod gift to the Queen contained photos of her 2007 visit to the US (as if she sits and goes over the pictures of the thousands of visits she does per year)..oh…and several videos of guess what. Think…what would a pathological narcissist want someone else to focus on? Hmmm. Himself?
The ipod also contains several videos of Obama! And his speeches! Gosh – can you imagine. Just what the Queen wanted.
What is interesting is that Obama, as a narcissist, fails to realize that he is Head of State. Oh, he realizes this in the sense that he feels Empowered. He’s ‘Da Boss’. But he doesn’t realize it in the historical sense.
He has no, and I mean no, sense of his embedded nature in the American nation. He has no sense that he represents America. He feels no connection to America. I think this is important. He doesn’t feel himself a part of America. He feels..only Himself. That’s his narcissism. It’s also something else – that alienation from America. Certainly, Michelle Obama is alienated from America; certainly the Rev. Wright is alienated. And so is Obama.
His gifts ought to represent, not him, but America. They ought to represent the history of America. Instead – he gives her pictures of herself..and videos of himself and his speeches.
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at April 2, 2009 9:15 AM
“Doesn’t everybody just automatically KNOW you’re not supposed to touch the Queen?
Isn’t that just the sort of information you simply acquire, like mental lint, as you travel through life?
Not the life the Obama’s have led, apparently.”
I firmly believe that Barry and wife actually believe that they are so transcendent that historical protocol does not apply to them.
To embrace protocol would be beneath their elevated stature.
What you are seeing is not ignorance, nor is it a lack of the existence of available protocol advice. It is pure, purposeful arrogance.
Kathy,
I think there are more important things to focus on and protocol says if the Queen offers or touches you first then you may touch the Queen.
The video shows the Queen putting her arm around MO first.
I don’t think this or Ipod gate is where the criticism shoudl be focussed. More importantly, if this is all there is to criticize about what Obama is up to, it isn’t, then he must be doing a good job from a conservative point of view.
Nothing bad happened and this is a petty distraction. I would be more concerned with his budget than where his wife puts her hands.
“if this is all there is to criticize about what Obama is up to” That’s right. Up to now, we had nothing.
Regarding Penn’s column. You constantly see people claim that we spent our way out of the depression by fighting a war.
Well.
– At the end of the war, all the new government employees had to go home and get real jobs.
– We were the only advanced industrial nation in the world left standing, so there was plenty of work for the former military contractors.
– The government set about paying its new debts immediately.
At the end of Obama’s proposed spending, we will have a similar mountain of debt.
– Millions of new government employees that will never go back to work in the private sector, and the attendent
– A climate change program that basically amounts to a clamp on economic growth. All of those “green jobs” will be filled by people who otherwise would be increasing the GDP and the general wealth. It is the same as if we just abandoned our perfectly good house and set about building a new one to live in so we would “have jobs.”
We are screwed.
Don’t worry about Social Security though, it will fix itself when the new fascism, err, I mean progressive corporatism kicks in.
Tim in Vermont, we were screwed when Rove tried to ram that Amnesty Travesty down our throats.
Apparently, the European leaders see Obama as ‘style without substance’ and are ignoring Obama’s requests for ‘more stimulus spending’.
That’s a key identitifcation of Obama – style without substance. He himself is interested only in controlling others; if he can’t control them, he will either attempt to destroy them (CEOs) or, he’ll utterly ignore them.
Substance? I maintain that Obama is a puppet, ideologically, of backroom Democratic agendas for socialism. Obama himself is not involved in analysis of infrastructure, long term national formation..any of that. His focus is on himself and his control of how others interact with him. He’s a socialist only because socialism is all about controlling others.
The G-20 group seem to be ignoring him and his suggestions. I feel that without his teleprompter, Obama on his own has no understanding of economic or foreign policy and therefore, can make only the most superficial comments.
Islam = submission, obedience to Mohammed/Allah.
O commits treason.
…-
“Obama bows down to Saudi King
Clarice Feldman
I am quite certain that this is not the protocol, and is most unbecoming a President of the United States.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2220709/posts
The Obomination is so hidebound by ideology, he probably wouldn’t notice things going off the rails even if he cared to look. Look at AGW. All four metrics of global temperature are dropping, now for over a decade, but the true believers don’t see it. The warming is “in the pipe”, they say, despite the fact that the oceans are cooling as well. Faith based religions are immune to actual evidence.
So it is with the Obamidiot, salvation is around the corner, so long as we reamin faithful to our dogma. This fool and his gang of infantile, ivory tower lefties are probably some of the only ones left who think “pure socialism” hasn’t been tried and will work. The great part for we Canadians is that so long as we can maintain some sanity, previously unaffordable chunks of what used to be the US will be on sale for a fraction of their current price.
Not to mention; here’s another Liberal Poll gone horribly wrong out on MSNBC.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29493093
,
ET,
You have it dead on.
Yoop said,
“THE ONE is either catastrophically stupid or malevolently evil.”
Both Yoop, he is both.
Obongo’s time in office will be taught in the future as America’s most embarrassing and destructive period.
I used to think that the civil war to free the black slaves was a good thing. I used to think that over the last fifty years as blacks in
America achieved civil rights and equality with white society, that was a good thing.
When I look at Obongo and his personal army, Acorn and his rabid supporters in Universities, Mainstream media, and the evil side of the Blogosphere …I don’t think that anymore. I think given enough time black people will turn America into something that more closely resembles Africa. Perhaps that is the nature of the Negro.
The impoverishment phase has already begun and the thuggery is growing. All that’s left to complete the circle is the suspension of elections in order to deal the many emergencies facing The Great Obongo.
Ok, so its now Apr 02 209.
But the ipod thingy is still here, so it not a joke?
Is it really true that Pres Obama gave her an ipod with his speeches on it?
He has the social grace to give an ipod of his ‘nobody/footnote of history’ speeches to THE Queen, a woman that has met probably every leader/head of State in the world for the last 60 years?
Like people of real importance and accomplishment.
What frigging arrogance!
I resolved to call him by his proper title of President but some of his doings are making it incredibly hard to keep it up.
I don’t know whether to laugh, feel embarrassment for Obama, the Queen or what else. But the last time we had a man as VAIN as that in the White House, he had the same initials as Jesus Christ.
Labour lost the British empire in one term in the 40’s I’m sure Obama can do similar damage to the south.
Maybe he can take some economic advisement from Robert Mugabe…..
ET: “I maintain that Obama is a puppet, ideologically, of backroom Democratic agendas for socialism.”
You may be right that he’s not an ideologue himself. I’ve wavered about this, and I’m still not sure. His past is murky, so it’s hard to discern a pattern.
More important, though, is your assumption that others are pulling the strings for him. Who are these people? I don’t see his various appointments as obviously left-wing radical, which is the kind of agenda we’re talking about here. Summers, Geithner, Holder, Clinton, Gates, Sibelius, Emmanuel etc? Plenty of negative things can be said of many of these people and others, but I don’t think “left-wing-radical” is one of them. And even if that characterization isn’t what you have in mind, I’m not sure that these people are particularly ideological either (thuggish, vain, ambitious, vindictive, overreaching, incompetent etc. maybe).
So who exactly is pulling the strings of the Obama puppet? I’d like to be able to hear some names so that I can say “yes, that fits” — or otherwise.
The whole story on the iPod is here and your post is not fair and accurate… I’m no fan of the left, as you can see from my post just above but… really, you gave the impression that His Majesty’s speeches were the only thing on the iPod.
And when the Queen visits the white house she can expect to receive either a Shamwow or Slapchop.
From Kate’s last link above:
“Alinsky’s 1971 book, “Rules for Radicals,” is a favorite of the Obamas. Michele Obama quoted it at the Democratic Convention.”
Never heard of it before, so googled it. It adds a little depth to “community organizer”.
From Vancouver:
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/citizens-handbook/rules.html
Oh yes, Shaidle
The Harvard-educated Obama has travelled in such lowly circles…
Not like you with your Hamilton-white-trash-failed-“poet”-reborn-as-a-racism-barfing-Coulter-wanna-be resume.
But your bigoted musings, along with MacMillian’s, are to no avail – no-one has problems with the Obama’s conduct except right-wing loons trying to make an issue where there’s no issue – yet again.
Back to the drawing board kids! Look for another ‘issue’ where you can mumble racist epithets as you impotently shake your fists at the dust in Obama’s wake!
Token-in-Chief
Oh yea, thanks for reminding us that if we disagree with a half black half white president we must be rascist.
If I disagree with his policies/philosophies and only vote for him because he is half black, what does that make me? Just wondering bleet.
Momar: “I used to think that the civil war to free the black slaves was a good thing. I used to think that over the last fifty years as blacks in
America achieved civil rights and equality with white society, that was a good thing. …I don’t think that anymore.”
So, Momar, let me get this straight: you think that the end of slavery in the US was a bad thing?
Bleet,
You know the saying “a racist is a conservative who is winning an argument with a liberal”?
That’s you, buddy. Kathy is making a very valid point against your Messiah and the only thing you have to say is “racist!”.
My my my…you are a perfect poster child for liberals with a limited intellect. But, of course, that is an oxymoron. Sorry, you may want to look up that word…it does have more than 4 letters…slightly above your pay-grade.
On a ‘late night talk show’ from the U.S. last night, a lot of the callers were angry that Obama had bowed to the Queen.
Liberal spouse loving the coverage from original home town London-my home town also.
I shall be so glad when the whole bloomin’ thing is over.
One never hears any discussion of these things down at Hortons in the morning.
The weather the first priority. When the heck is summer going to get here?
Laughs.
Andre, go blow it out your ass
McMillian’s title to her post, the ‘Affirmative action president’ and Shaidle’s reference to poor/black’ etc., are expessions of racism towards Obama – andthey are intended to be.
If there is legitimate criticism of the president, that’s one thing. But to bring race into a conversation where it has no place, as a manner of diminishing him, is the definition of racism.
Your attempt to deny self-evident realities makes you look ridiculous.
“If there is legitimate criticism of the president, that’s one thing. But to bring race into a conversation where it has no place, as a manner of diminishing him, is the definition of racism.”
Sorry bleet,
Obama’s race was used as a marketing tool by him and his supporters throughout his campaign and the election. Race has always been in the conversation.
Following ET’s analysis and conviction that Obama only stands for himself and lives only to be worshiped, it is important to state this which reinforces ET’s rational:
Answering questions with Brown to the media yesterday Obama exclaimed he was anxious to meet the Queen. In the context of the importance of the G20 submit for the world, I again find it odd that Obama put so much emphasis on spending precious and limited time visiting a royal symbol. The Queen has no political power but certainly has lots of adulation.
Remember how Obama fell for Michael Jean and even invited her to the white house. Again, Jean has no power, her position solely exists to represent a tradition of the past: Royalty.
The only other thanhimself Obama is going to pay credence to is other famous personality. Regular politicians don’t count because they are more criticized in general than worshipped. Celibrities are mostly worshipped. They are also mostly ignored instead of being criticized or simply unknown. That fits Obama’s psyche perfectly. In other words O should be royalty, a famous actor, artist or sport champion and not a politician.
The iPod with Obama’s speeches reinforces the whole theory that Obama is truly an extreme dare I say, deranged narcissist.
Anybody seen the movie “300”?…The muslim king reminds me of Obama to the tee.
“Go down on your knees and worship me”.
If Narcissus should not be a politician what will he turn into when the honeymoon is over?
I am very worried for the USA and the world.
RHTT: “Anybody seen the movie “300”?…The muslim king reminds me of Obama to the tee.”
Muslim king? In “300”?
bleet – you are using fallacious arguments.
First, to say that Obama is ‘Harvard educated’ is irrelevant because you cannot claim that IF one goes to Harvard, THEN, you are wise. So, don’t try to make such an invalid assertion.
Second, Obama has provided no indication of any analytic capabilities, any capacities for analysis of political, economic and societal structures. In his entire career, we have no evidence of any articles, any legal work, any Senate motions. He has done nothing other than to ‘oversee’ the Harvard Law Review, while others did the actual work; act as ‘community organizer’ to merely motivate people to feel victimized, and vote ‘present’ in the Senate. Nothing else.
Therefore, what do you base your esteem on? There is no factual evidence to warrant such esteem. Obama has no record of executive experience, no record of fiscal experience, no record of government experience, no record of analytic capacities. None.
Therefore, it is entirely valid to wonder how Obama was able to be elected, because it could not be based on his record!
As noted by Chairman Kaga, Obama himself – and not only his supporters but Obama himself – brought up the race issue numerous times in his campaign; the agenda was obviously to heighten and use ‘white guilt’ (my grandmother was afraid of big black men) and to attract black victimization emotions.
Now, we see clear evidence that Obama, himself, hasn’t any understanding of long term infrastructure – in economics, in foreign policy, in industrial infrastructure. None. He cannot answer any ad hoc questions on any topic other than about himself. That’s why he goes to Leno and 60 Minutes rather than a valid press conference. His press meetings are all carefully scripted, with pre-selected audience and pre-selected questions..and the answers are on the teleprompter.
As for his policies, the majority of experienced people consider them disastrous. In Europe, he’s blasted as incompetent. In the US, people are up in arms about him.
Who supports him? The Democrat Party – for one reason only. They want Power; since he’s won, then, they plan to get through their socialist agenda asap, before the country realizes what has hit them. They are using him as the Poster Boy, carefully scripted and managed, while they do the Backroom Deals to socialism.
Obama is empty-headed..and a pathological narcissist.