Friedman should have just expressed the salient points of what he thinks the president should say, rather than write out the speech himself. One thing Obama doesn't need help doing is writing speeches.

That said, Friedman has an excellent suggestion. Accepting the reward on behalf of the armed services would deflect from the inappropriateness of bestowing the award on Obama. Even his critics would likely be impressed.

Why do Americans fret when our President wins the Nobel Peace Prize? Why do Americans cheer when we lose the Olympics to Brazil? Can someone explain this to me.

Roger, let me try to explain this to you.

When someone gets an award that he/she clearly doesn't deserve, it is embarrassing. In the case of the POTUS, when the prize is awarded on the international stage and all the world is watching in astonishment, it makes the US look like idiots by default, because our leader is out there getting a significant accolade based on....nada. We're embarrassed by and because of our leader because to the world, unfortunately, Obama is America.

Let me use an oversimplified example. It's as if you are in the same school as your big brother who has an enormous ego, who happens to be the teacher's pet. He gets a prize for something he hasn't earned, and all the other kids resent him, and you happen to have the same last name and they know he's your brother...you don't think you're going to resent the backlash against you?

As far as the lost Olympic bid, this was a President, a sitting President of the United States of America, shamelessly using his "star power" to actively lobby for the Olympics to come, not just to America, but to Chicago--his adopted hometown, a city that overwhelmingly was against it, in order to help line the pockets of a few powerful people in the city (aka his cronies) and be able to take credit for "bringing the Olympics home" and basking in the resultant glory. Just another example of him playing "celebrity" instead of being the damn leader of the most powerful country in the world.

Roger, don't fret, no one gives much of a shit about the Nobel after this one. so much like we don't care who the Buffalo Rotary Club gave its Man of the Year award to, so it will go with the Nobel if this keeps up.

"One thing Obama doesn't need help doing is writing speeches."

Seriously? Then the bar for speeches has been lowered. I think Obama's speeches overlong, filled with embarassingly hammy lines, and without much worth listening to. In short, he talks to much and says very little while doing so.

Go back and listen to Churchill. Read Lincoln. Heck, even Reagan had better stuff that the much-lauded but underserving President Obama. Those men could give a speech. Obama is mediocre at best. But he is pretty on TV, so people mistake that for excellent speaking.

Beth writes: When someone gets an award that he/she clearly doesn't deserve, it is embarrassing.

Considering Obama did not nominate himself, and he had absolutely nothing to do with their decision, hardly. And no, the U.S. does not look like idiots. The Nobel Committee does.

You would give someone enormous power by suggesting that you can do absolutely nothing, and all someone has to do is come along and give you an award you don't deserve and suddenly, you're an international embarassment? Sorry, it doesn't work that way. There is merely a convenient excuse for the Republicans to wring their hands in manufactured outrage and claim "The President has embarrassed us again." Bullshit.

Mike Luckovich said it best. Or should I say, drew it best.

As for the gloating about losing the Olympic bid, Chicago was nominated for this distinction when Bush was president. And if anyone has cause to celebrate the loss of the Olympics coming to this country, together with the benefits, jobs, increased tourism, world-wide estimation, etc., then it's because their hatred of the President surpasses any loyalty to the country, in which case, they are not deserving of the name American.

And if anyone has cause to celebrate the loss of the Olympics coming to this country, together with the benefits, jobs, increased tourism, world-wide estimation, etc., then it's because their hatred of the President surpasses any loyalty to the country, in which case, they are not deserving of the name American.

Nonsense. People who oppose corruption also celebrate the "loss" of the Olympics. So do people who want Chicago to be better off financially.

Spartee writes: Seriously? Then the bar for speeches has been lowered.

Perhaps my meaning would have been clearer if I had said, "One thing Obama would not accept is help writing speeches."

Regardless of the standards, I agree Obama loves to talk. And talk. And talk. But in any case, he could not be more guilty or even as guilty of mangling the language as the terminal-foot-in-mouth he mercifully replaced.

It's an embarrassment to the Nobel Committee as well. But the president should have graciously declined. I would have respected him for that.

Patrick writes: "And if anyone has cause to celebrate the loss of the Olympics coming to this country, together with the benefits, jobs, increased tourism, world-wide estimation, etc., then it's because their hatred of the President surpasses any loyalty to the country, in which case, they are not deserving of the name American."

Um, right, that's why the overwhelming majority of CHICAGO residents were flat out against the Olympic bid.

And, so I'm clear, you're saying that those of us who enjoyed a little "schadenfreude" over the president's lost Olympic bid are not deserving of the name American? What an arrogant, overreaching thing to say....

And getting back to the original article, it was very well-written in my opinion. I just couldn't see Obama saying that. Humility, deference, and true appreciation for the sacrifices made by the military simply aren't in him.

I don't know, Patrick. Embarrassment aside, if somebody gives me an award that I clearly haven't earned, there is an obvious expectation of a quid pro quo. If I accept the reward without conditions, then in the eyes of the audience, I'm pwned. The trend in the Nobel Peace Prize for the past three decades has been distinctly anti-Western; the award has been given, year after year, to those who either oppose Western ideals, or to those who are pacifist in the face of threats against those ideals. I think Friedman has the right idea: throw it back in the committee's face that they have ignored the real peacekeepers of the past century, while at the same time being gracious about the award itself.

It's got nothing to do with what Americans may think about Obama personally; it's that the United States cannot afford to have its President, no matter who that person is, appear to be in thrall to a foreign power. People complained about Bush's associations with the Saudis after 9/11, and rightly so. Fortunately, he saw the light on that himself eventually, and withdrew from those connections. Will Obama show the same wisdom?

Roger, Obams was Pesident for 6 buisness days at the time of his nomination - thats is why it is embarassing

Roger and Patrick - the people of CHicago didnt want the olympics due to the corruption that comes with it that the fact that most sumer olympics are never cost benifical when all is said and done.

Patrick - are you seriouly claiming the the people of Chicago hate Obama more then they love america? Are you really that fucking stupid? Didnt he carry that county at like 90 somthing percent?

What benefits of the Olympics? They ALL lose money. It was a good thing that Chicago did not get the Olympics, and that has nothing to do with Obama.

No South American country has ever hosted the Olympics, so I don't see Brazil's win as our loss.

On the Nobel topic, if nominations closed on Feb 15, then how can you justify giving the award to Obama? I'd be insulted to be awarded a prize for something I didn't actually earn. Worst case, it's a bribe to influence future actions, which is why my company will not let us accept anything from suppliers, customers, or business partners. Evidently our country has lower standards.

Mark -

You nailed it. This "award" was intended to force Obama's hand on Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and North Korea.

After all, how can he engage in any military actions now that he's won the "Peace Prize"?

The world, and especially Europe, do not want to do anything about Iran and North Korea. Iran is only really a threat to Israel, you see. And North Korea is only really a threat to China, and China can take care of herself, no? We just want to sit back and watch and eat our bon-bons.

And they recognize that Obama is Just Like Them.

And so by giving him this award, they can influence him to be more "European" in his foreign policy.

Which virtually guarantees another world war by the end of his first term.

At least it'll pull us out of our economic slump.

lujlp snarls: Patrick - are you seriouly claiming the the people of Chicago hate Obama more then they love america? Are you really that fucking stupid? Didnt he carry that county at like 90 somthing percent?

Oh, of course, dear. You're just sooooooo right. All those people who were gloating over Obama's loss of the Olympic bid were merely doing so out of the most tender, loving solicitude for the people of Chicago. It was all just a little schadenfreude over all that merciful compassion for Chicago.

Why, there isn't a single person in the country who would seize upon anything that even remotely resembles a failure to gloat over when it comes to Obama!

Are you really that fucking stupid? (You may consider that rhetorical. I already know the answer.)

Oh, and by the way. Since we're just having a little guilty pleasure over the Obama Olympic bid, and we're all primarily motivated by sheer relief for the sake of the people of Chicago, you might be interested in knowing who the people of Chicago really hold responsible for this loss.

I mean, after all, we were all just sooooo concerned for the people of Chicago, so I'm sure you'd be very interested in their opinions on who really cost them the Olympics.

You know what, Patrick? Fuck Chicago.

I'm happy they lost the Olympics. Not because it makes Obama look like the fool that he is, but because "Fuck Chicago."

Obi-Wan was talking about Chicago when he said "A more wretched hive of scum and villainy you'll never find."

Obama's a fool. Anyone with real executive experience knows you don't send your CEO to a meeting where the outcome isn't already known. You just don't. When they announced that Obama was going to "lobby for Chicago's bid" I thought they were downplaying the trip because why would he go if it wasn't a slam dunk.

And they threw it back in his face.

This wasn't about George Bush. It was about "Fuck America". The Europeans didn't hate Bush, they hate America. They still do, even with the jug-eared imbecile in charge.

Obama committed an unforced error. I don't think he can recover from it.

>>Obama committed an unforced error. I don't think he can recover from it.

Brian,
Every time Obama clears his throat, you tell us that this time it's absolutely the last straw that has broken the camel's back of America's delusion!

Too much crying wolf.

Patrick, It's not a matter of sincerity for concern for the people of Chicago, or the lack thereof. The fact that the majority of the residents WERE against it, and that only a few would financially gain from it, is only one factor that made Obama's bid a foolish one.

...and the fact that a few Chicago residents blame Bush? Gee, that's so original. I'm sure he's to blame for their childhood obesity and crime rates, too....

Patrick, I live in Chicago and I can assure you that the people of Chicago do not hold Bush responsible for us losing the Olympics. Your link did not say the people of Chicago think that it said Chicago politicans do. And I just do not have the time to explain Chicago politicans to anyone right now.

And I am glad we didn't get the Olympics because the Olympics DO NOT make money for the host city. And Chicago is already bankrupt as is Cook County as is Illinois. We could never have afforded the Olympics.

Brian, Every time Obama clears his throat, you tell us that this time it's absolutely the last straw that has broken the camel's back of America's delusion!
Too much crying wolf.

I've done no such thing. The fact that both moderate and progressive Democrats are starting to abandon him ought to tell you something.

Obama's always been destined for failure. It's just a matter of how long and how hard.

He's blown his domestic wad on healthcare and he's not going to get anything to satisfy his base there. He's blown his foreign policy cred with repeated snubs, and the Olympics were simply the most trivial, and coincidentally the one he chose to stake his personal appearance on.

Don't think that leaders of other countries aren't paying attention.

Hey, Brian.

Nice to hear from you again. I don't really care one way or another about the Olympics. We'll survive, with or without it. What I object to is those who are looking at anything they can lay their hands, regardless of how inconsequential, and jump up and down and squeal, "Yippee-skippee! Obama has another failure! Oh, joy! Rapture!"

I simply don't understand what the fuss is about over Obama's failure.

And I stand by what I said. Those whose visceral hatred of Obama causes them to celebrate his (perceived, or anything that can be construed as) failures, then they're just not Americans. Which isn't to imply anything about you, Brian.

That said, I don't like Obama. I voted as I did for the specific reason of keeping this unrepentant racist and inexperienced novice out of the office. But now that he's there, he's there. And I have no choice but to work with what we have.

> Too much crying wolf.

That's true, only it's not wolf, it's something weirder. People talk about presidencies as a sports game that can be lost in early innings, but it almost never works out that way. We've had one guy out of 44 bungle it so badly that he couldn't go on. Nonetheless, people (especially TV people) love to say "If the President doesn't this-or-that by next week, then this administration is finished!" They said that about the Dubya Bush administration... The FIRST one... And he stayed in office and left feeling proud.

So what's the source of this rhetoric? I think it's about reducing all these hugely detailed and empirical assessments down to an impulsive personal judgment like a 7th grader might make. The fact that the conclusion is inane ("He can't recover!") is unimportant. The fulfilling part is telling someone else what their distant fate will be.

Crid -

Given Obama's proclivities, he was destined to be the next Carter at best.

I wasn't expecting him to flame out as quickly as he has, but he's already starting to lose the ability to influence his caucus in Congress. It took Bush 43 almost a full term to do that.

The ONLY reason that Bush won re-election in 2004 was the fundamental weakness of John Kerry. Lieberman would have crushed Bush in 2004 if the Democrats weren't too busy excommunicating him for not being anti-Bush enough.

Patrick thank you for proving my point so well, the resi\dents of Chicago were the biggest celebrants of Chicago losing the olympics and you call them Obama haters.

I point out that they voted overwhelmingly for Obama.

So for the sake of your idocy I will pose the question to you again in a simpler format.

Do
you
really
think
that
one
of
Obama's
biggest
support
bases
became
his
biggest
set
of
cheerleaders
for
his
failures
in
less
than
a
year?

Are
you
really
that
stupid?

do you grasp the question I am asking or is it still
too
hard?

More elephant farts from the Republican Party.
If the worst you can say about Obama is that he does not deserve the Peace Prize, fine with me. Maybe he doesn't. Who cares?
I poop down on all your insignificant snivelings.

Why is President Obama loathed by so many? BTW – To those reverting to name calling, your intelligence is showing.

Kinda off topic.

Rio won the summer games. Isn't it winter in Rio during the months of June - August? Any one been to Rio in June? If it is winter in June, will all the games be played inside?

Rio is the same distance south of the Equator as Havana is north of it. So it will be a blessing for the athletes to be there in winter - not quite as much tropical heat for them to deal with.

Rio's only at 22 degrees south latitude, so it's not going to be much like Cancun, which is warm year round.

Why is President Obama loathed by so many?

Because he's an adolescent fool, and he has neither the knowledge, the intellect, nor the temperament for the job of President.

:1s/it's not going/it's going/
:wq

PIMF.

@ Patrick: "And I stand by what I said. Those whose visceral hatred of Obama causes them to celebrate his (perceived, or anything that can be construed as) failures, then they're just not Americans."

I'm curious whether you'd make the same broad statement about the people who expressed their "visceral hatred" of the former president?

"Why is President Obama loathed by so many?"

I don't loathe the man personally, but I do loathe what he is doing to this country. His politics are abhorrent to me; what has infuriated so many (conservative) Americans is that he is literally trying to re-make this country into something that we won't recognize in another few decades. But that's just me. He has also pissed off plenty of independents and central leaning Democrats because he is showing himself to be far more radical than he presented during the campaign...

And, he's pissed off some liberals too, who, believe it or not, are disappointed that he's not acting liberal ENOUGH! Breaking promises to some of his constituents, etc.

Beth, pray tell, do you think any differently? If a person is gloating over failures of the president, even when it comes at the expense of the nation, then yes, their hatred of an individual surpasses their loyalty to the nation, hence not deserving of the name American.

How could anyone think any differently?

Patrick -

Then by your lights hating Obama is the most American thing one can do, as his agenda is the most profoundly anti-American ever attempted by an administration.

Obama's failure is America's success.

I hope he fails.

Brian writes: Then by your lights hating Obama is the most American thing one can do, as his agenda is the most profoundly anti-American ever attempted by an administration.

If that's what you believe, have at it.

What else could you possibly call an agenda that aims to completely re-write the relationship between citizen and government into something totally foreign to what the founders envisioned?

He ran on this, and his supporters were either enthusiastically behind him (progressives) or assumed he was lying (centrists and libertarians).

The first group are now upset that he hasn't gone far enough fast enough, and the second group are upset that they aren't getting the Obama they thought they were voting for.

I'd love to know how anyone thought Obama was running as a "moderate". Compared with whom?

Patrick:

Yes, actually, I do think quite differently than the "foaming at the mouth" Bush haters. Thanks for asking. I've never hung Obama in effigy, called him vicious, ugly names, compared him to Hitler, do I need to go on? Like I said in another post, I don't hate/loathe/despise the guy personally. I hate his politics and what he is doing to this country.

For you to make the absurd claim that getting a chuckle over the puffed up president going over to "bring back the Olympics" for his adopted hometown of Chicago--a job which was not his place to BEGIN WITH--is somehow umAmerican? Not sure that I can follow that "logic."

I assure you that I am an American, born and raised, law-abiding, have always paid all my taxes, oh, and I'm an active duty Marine for over 10 years now. I believe that I have the right to claim the title of American as much as anyone.

Beth, well, that's because you and lujlp have the same...idiosyncrasy, shall we call it?

You both love to take words out of context and squeal with glee over pummeling a straw man.

If you are going to giggle like grade school girls over Obama's failures, even at the expense and detriment of this nation, then, yes, I don't believe you're an American. I wasn't talking specifically about the Olympics (which I specifically said that I don't care about one way or another, and consider their loss to be trivial at best) when I answered your question, now was I? Oh, but never fear! That will never stop you from inferring I did!

I would say that if you're gloating over failures of the president, say, failing to stop a terrorist attack, because it would make the President look bad, you're quite beyond sick and evil. Screw the thousands of lives lost. The President now looks incompetent! Next election's a shoe-in!

Fuck honesty, right? Fuck telling the truth about what people say! Let's not try to understand one another. Let's just pull things out of context, distort -- hell, let's just lie our asses right off! After all, putting others down to cultivate our sense of moral, ethical and intellectual superiority is so much more vastly important, right?

Patrick:

I would say that if you're gloating over failures of the president, say, failing to stop a terrorist attack, because it would make the President look bad, you're quite beyond sick and evil. Screw the thousands of lives lost. The President now looks incompetent! Next election's a shoe-in!

Well, then you're describing the Democratic party again, because they set themselves up to benefit politically from a terrorist attack after 9/11.

Not saying they were hoping for one, or that they wanted one. But they sure as shit positioned themselves with all their overheated rhetoric about how Bush had made us "less safe" such that the next attack against US territory could be blamed on Bush.

Fuck honesty, right? Fuck telling the truth about what people say!

Yeah, who cares if Limbaugh never said any of those racist things on Wikiquote. Denial is proof of guilt!

Those whose visceral hatred of Obama causes them to celebrate his (perceived, or anything that can be construed as) failures, then they're just not Americans.

You seem to be confusing America with North Korea, or some other country where the identity of the executive is fused with that of the nation.

By your definition, the only people who are Americans are those who will 'love' any president that might be elected, regardless of their policies or actions.

Patrick, first of all, please calm down. You're going to pop a blood vessel.

The reason I inferred you were speaking to the failed Olympic bid is because you said this, and I quote:

"And if anyone has cause to celebrate the loss of the Olympics coming to this country, together with the benefits, jobs, increased tourism, world-wide estimation, etc., then it's because their hatred of the President surpasses any loyalty to the country, in which case, they are not deserving of the name American."

I'm sorry, but there's really no other way to interpret this.

"If you are going to giggle like grade school girls over Obama's failures, even at the expense and detriment of this nation, then, yes, I don't believe you're an American."

I hardly think losing the Olympic bid is detrimental to our nation. Obama's pride was wounded, yes. Our nation isn't damanged in the least except that Chicago didn't get the raw deal that hosting the Olympics generally turns out to be. Yes, the international community got a laugh at "our" expense, but who cares? Because I also find humor in the situation, all of a sudden I'm not worthy to be called American?

Give me a break. There's someone here who's acting like a grade school girl and it isn't me.

I got into this with Welch once, too, when he was entering his O'reilly-pundit phase. (It didn't last.)

> destined to be the next
> Carter at best.

Lemme think about that. He doesn't have the ego for Carter's priggish, detached moralizing. (Not yet; forces are conspiring to give it to him.)

> he's already starting to lose
> the ability to influence his
> caucus in Congress

Okeyfine (if it's true), but then that's what you ought to say. The authority you describe will always drift somewhat but never leave him. (Republicans ran Ford in '76, though many many of them didn't wanna.) But this guy spent ten trillion without even trying... Even as a president with blunted tools of persuasion, he can have tremendous influence on events. (Take comfort in the certainty that he's more leftoid-zombie than aggressively socialist. He's not aggressively anything, 'cept young & pretty.)

> The ONLY reason that Bush won
> re-election in 2004 was the
> fundamental weakness of
> John Kerry.

The "ONLY" and "fundamental" don't make that more meaningful than it is. More-appealing candidates defeat less-appealing ones.
________

> I poop down on all your
> insignificant snivelings.

This guy is troubled.
_________

And here's another, speaking for the Tantrum-American community:

> Those whose visceral hatred of
> Obama causes them to celebrate
> his (perceived, or anything that
> can be construed as) failures,
> then they're just not Americans.

Let's all shoot our noses into the air –like Hollywood starlets having a snit in the trailer– and think about whether the (common, unremarkable) beliefs of others describe them as "just not Americans". (And be sure to check your own 'viscera', everybody!)

When someone's "just not American", do we get to put them in camps? Burn their books? Deny them the vote? What will we do with our exquisite insights?

Also, is my neck always going to be sore from sniffing the Heavens like this?

Dont mind Patrick Beth, he's a self confessed rat who runs to the nearest CO every time he sees someones feeling get hurt

Well, if that's the way you feel about it, Beth, then why are you even directing your posts to me?

Fuckin' kids in fuckin' balloons. Hate that shit.

Is anyone watching this shit? Weirdest aircraft news story since Payne Stewart.

Oh, wait a minute.....

The "ONLY" and "fundamental" don't make that more meaningful than it is. More-appealing candidates defeat less-appealing ones.

Point taken.

Eight thousand feet.

How does an ultralight enthusiast explain to his wife what's happened to their 6-year-old?

"Listen, Honey...."
____

It's moments like this that I wish Amy was hosting a Google wave. Collaborative information exchange in real time would really hit this spot.

Google wave.

Patrick...Just responding to your posts to me, m'dear. You implied that anyone who dared laugh at the president's bumblings was un-American; I took issue with that and replied. And, seriously, I can assure you that I will NOT be laughing if/when this country falls under attack again due to our president's failings in the national security arena...that is not something I wish on this country regardless of any political fallout that it would bring Obama.

Crid, how's your neck doin'?

It's an annoying ache, nowhere near worth the trouble. I won't try that again....

Shit...watching it on the news right now...

Oh, my God! That's terrible! That poor child.

The balloon has landed! And it's empty...?

It's not certain, but pictures #1 & #3 might be the boy, the latter with a new friend. It's easy to imagine how such a child might assume inflatable objects can bring more pleasure than they actually do.

Meanwhile, the text on this site regarding the father is remarkable: "He is an amazingly creative human (now turned mad scientist) who insists on repeatedly proving that there is a very fine line between genius and insanity."
_________

Reality TV might not be the scourge I once thought it was. Maybe it will be a worthwhile database of dangerous people.

RE: the balloon kid. The family was on the program WifeSwap...

http://abc.go.com/shows/wife-swap/episode-guide/heenemartel/132697

By accepting the Nobel, why ain't Bama meeting with the Lama? He wants to meet with Hugo, Ahmed and Fidel, but not the Nobel Peace winner Lama? How awkward is dat?

Why Bama won:

http://www.slowpokecomics.com/strips/terminatrix.gif

lujlp, you're a liar. Plain and simple. I never confessed to any such thing.

Furthermore "self-confessed" is redundant, you moron. Who else could confess? If you do it someone else, it's exposing them, not confessing them.

And now that you've been exposed as a liar, I think I have nothing further to say to you, now or ever.

That's our Hollywood starlet complaining about her hack director... She throws the glass ashtray, and it explodes against the wall as she exclaims that she "simply cannot work with that man!"

The political insights of such people are rightly suspect.... But don't worry, Luj.

You know, Crid, for someone who feels the need to remind me, ad nauseum, that you don't care about my feelings, you don't care what I think, etc., you do spend a great deal of your posting time concerning yourself with precisely what (you think) I think.

Not that I need to arrive at any conclusions, since I pretty much arrived at them years ago. But you keep on telling yourself (and everyone else) how much you don't care what I think and how much you don't care about my feelings. Who knows? You might actually convince yourself of that.

By the way, I'm very, very flattered that you think about me as your Hollywood starlet...just keep your homoerotic fantasies about me to yourself, and make sure they remain only fantasies, thanks.

But I would take issue with the comparison of luj to a "hack director." In terms of this blog, she's more like the extra whose one scene ended up on the cutting room floor.

Patrick -

I fail to see how even in the case of the most extreme hatred for Barack Obama in which it is wished that ALL of his proposals fail, that he is embarrassed by his own ineptitude, that his party rejects him, etc., can be considered by you to be un-American.

This is a rejection of the man and his policies, not of our nation. In this country we are free to criticize our government and our elected officials.

Don't like it? Move to North Korea, Cuba, China, Iran, or any number of nations that suppress criticism.

Patrick, you spend way too much time bickering on and on, make your point and move along. If Obama accepts that award, it just proves he is an egotistical madman (which I fully believe). And no, I do not hate the man, but I hate the fact that he has been a hollow suit since day one and yet people still voted for him. He obviously doesn't want to really take a stand on any issue that may come back to haunt him (IE troop increases, health care bill, etc...). Health care is "broken" and we need a bill passed "right away", but never any details. This country is indeed in serious trouble. Oh ya, now he wants to throw 250 bucks at social security recipients because they will not get a cost of living increase because inflation is non existent. You can't see this for the fucking joke that it is?

Patrick, you've said you were through. Did you mean it?

I think that Patrick is right about Obama haters not really being Americans.

Because it turns out that they're Norwegians!

Majority of Nobel jury 'objected to Obama prize'.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.9264422c2946d8bf1cb62cde139e996e.741&show_article=1

But Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, who represented the right-wing populist Progress Party on the committee, led the way in objecting to the choice of Obama because she questioned his ability to keep his promises, the newspaper said.

It also said the representative of the Conservative Party, Kaci Kullmann Five, and Aagot Valle, the representative of the Socialist Left, had objections.

I can understand that the right wing 'Haters' would oppose the award, but the Socialists?!? They must be National Socialists!

Crid writes:Patrick, you've said you were through. Did you mean it?

I meant it about much as you meant it when you said that you didn't care what I thought, you didn't care about my feelings, you don't like me, you didn't care what I thought, you didn't care about my feelings, you didn't like me, you didn't care what I thought, you didn't care about my feelings, you don't like me, you didn't care what...

I was disappointed that Friedman's Oct. 11 column didn't mention the soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam. Now, I think American involvement in Vietnam was a very tragic mistake, but nevertheless, the soldiers who died and fought there deserve to be honored and recognized, too.

and if I did, I would make sure that it was reported through the proper channels.

Posted by: Patrick at October 11, 2009 2:20 PM

and I would have reported it if I had.

Posted by: Patrick at October 11, 2009 2:25 PM

There you go patrick, your own words saying you'd run like a little bitch to the nearest CO.

"Brian,
Every time Obama clears his throat, you tell us that this time it's absolutely the last straw that has broken the camel's back of America's delusion!

Too much crying wolf."

I see it more as too much optimism in the intelligence of the average American. He SHOULD be done by now, but some people just keep believin' in that hope and change.

It seems to me that every time the country votes for "hope and change" the first year is a dissapointment. It's a huge ship to turn around. Especially when one is left a train-wreck.

My jury on Obama is still out, though I am becoming very frustrated. It's like he doesn't realize he's THE president yet, with the Senate and House behind him. But those are the guys (how would you like to be a general with Nancy and Harry as your Colonels?) that sometimes sucker you into making a mistake. It takes a while to learn how to become President.

And the Chicago Olympics is meaningless. Anyone who has accomplished anything has experienced failure. I suspect this was decided months before the decision was announced. Seriously, does anyone really think that the stadiums, security, hotel occupancy, telecommunications, blah blah blah was riding on the last minute?

If Obama didn't go, he would have been derided for "throwing Chicago under the train", much like his he was for his Grandma. Reports of Obama's death are greatly exagerated.

PS- Good night!

lyin' lujlp writes: There you go patrick, your own words saying you'd run like a little bitch to the nearest CO.

Which plainly state that I would have reported any genuine instances of hazing, not just because someone had their feelings hurt.

And the fact that you plucked them as sentence fragments, willfully omitting what I plainly said I would report, indicates to me that not only were you lying, you knew you were lying.

Nice job, ethical cesspool.

> It's like he doesn't realize
> he's THE president yet

They used to say that about Carter, too... His candidacy continued well into that first year.

> And the Chicago Olympics is
> meaningless.

Agreed. And who knows what was going on behind the scenes?

They used to say that about Carter, too... His candidacy continued well into that first year.

And up until now, Carter was widely considered the worst President ever.

Agreed. And who knows what was going on behind the scenes?

Irrelevant. You don't waste the political capital of the President on something trivial like that if it isn't a sure thing.

It's like he doesn't realize he's THE president yet.

Having never been chief, or even senior, executive in any capacity (corporate, government, etc.), Obama does not realize what it takes to hit the ground running in a senior level job.

He's still behaving like a junior senator, using the cues of the senior senators around him (Nancy, Harry, Rahm, etc.) to guide his actions. As the chief executive, he's supposed to be giving them their cues.

To make things worse, his speeches give the impression that he still thinks it's all about him (as if the campaign is still going on).

Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush all had their faults. But each of them realized that their job as president was to set the tone and drive policy (not organize the community around someone else's policy). The difference between them and Obama is each of them had been a chief executive at one point or another (so had Carter, but every rule is allowed an exception).

I remember a boss I had a few years back. He had been promoted to a Director job, but was still behaving as if he was in his old job (running his own financial models, producing reports, etc.). His fellow directors noticed this and took advantage of him in subtle and non-subtle ways. Finally, I sat him down and explained that he had a staff to do analyst and manager things and that he needed to step up to his new level of responsibility (along with the difficult adjustment in thinking and behavior that change entails). He made the adjustment (many don't) and was later promoted to VP. Obama needs someone to sit him down and explain the facts of being the chief. And then Obama needs to make the necessary adjustments. Until then, it's going to be "like he doesn't realize he's THE president yet."

PArtrick, its not my responsibilty to post youre entire fucking rant, you said what you said so deal with it

> up until now, Carter was widely
> considered the worst President
> ever.

"Widely"? The decade began with Nixon, fer cryin' out loud.

> Irrelevant.

Quit trying to be snippy.

> You don't waste the political capital
> of the President on something trivial
> like that if it isn't a sure thing.

You speak as if you'd once been President. The rate at which he dispenses his political capital is his own business: It's his presidency, he was elected to make those judgments, and he knows he'll be judged for them. I'd think you'd recognize that, as a person who somewhat opposes him (if I understand you correctly).

This isn't a video game where there's only one way to get to Level 7 of the Castle of Flaming SexDeath. ("Grab the glass key from the treasure chest (not the tin one from the Deacon's crypt), ride the grey mare through the valley of Bearded War Zombies, cross the south drawbridge over the moat...."). Seriously, did you grow up with a hypercompetitive twin brother or something? Brian, not everything in life is pyramid where the best of the best is a pointy pinnacle with only room for one to perch.

Even if Chicago was a bungle, and I'm nowhere near convinced, to express such smug disain for the missteps of your opponents is a waste of time. Whoever it is you admire (not that you've ever mentioned anyone) will make plenty of errors to mock as well.

Coach Wooden turned 99 this week. He used to say don't be over-the-top in your celebrations of victory, any more than you want to be artificially morbid in your defeats.

Disdain. Sorry

Crid -

How he dispenses his political capital in international affairs affects everyone in the world.

At least that's what we were told repeatedly while there was a Republican in the White House.

And I'm not saying there's only one right way to do things, but you'd think that if this guy is even half as smart as we're told he is, he'd avoid the obvious mistakes.

These are not subtle little faux pas here. We're talking king-size fuckups in front of the whole school.

He thinks he's class president, and everyone else thinks he's class clown.

Oh, and Carter was worse than Nixon, and that's quite the accomplishment as it is. Obama's shaping up to be worse than Carter.

And I don't merely "somewhat oppose" Obama. If he said the sun rises in the east, I'd question my compass.

> How he dispenses his political
> capital in international affairs
> affects everyone in the world.

That's grandiose... Whatever truth there is to it doesn't authorize you to instruct him on whether to wipe forwards or backwards.

> We're talking king-size fuckups in
> front of the whole school.

A contradiction in metaphor; Kings don't go to school, and even when they do, they don't worry about how the sophomores feel about their errors... They're Kings. Besides, when Presidents really fuck up, people die.

If you had to write one blog comment without paranoia, exaggeration, sarcasm, or condescension, what would you say?

> Obama needs someone to sit him down
> and explain the facts of being the
> chief.

Yes; Chief of a wealth-creating enterprise. Obama has never, ever seen money being made.

For his whole life, when he's needed more money put into a venture, he's made a phone call to ask someone to send some over.

If you had to write one blog comment without paranoia, exaggeration, sarcasm, or condescension, what would you say?

I've written plenty of them. Just never on the subject of this twit.

...up until now, Carter was widely considered the worst President ever.

"Ever" might be a bit strong. After all, he's competing for that honor with James Buchannan, Millard Fillmore, Warren Harding, John Tyler, and Franklin Pierce.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worst_presidents

Still, Carter did suck.

And we've had time to feel the full effects of and render impartial judgement on Buchannan, Fillmore, Harding, Tyler, and Pierce.

Carter is still alive, as are his supporters and detractors, who are still arguing the point.

And the full ramifications of Carter's incompetence are still working their way through history.

> I've written plenty of them.

That wasn't one.

> Still, Carter did suck.

Can't argue.

Sorry, dropping the ball on the slavery issue hardly compares to dropping the ball on the rise of the Islamist movement.

Carter's still the worst. The "experts" won't rank him that way because he's a modern-era Democrat.

Hey, dipshit! Didn't say it was your "responsibility" to post my "entire fucking rant." (And I'm sure I've never in my life ranted about fucking.) You said I was someone "who runs to the nearest CO every time he sees someones feeling get hurt."

Those quotes of mine you posted conveniently omitted the fact that I said I would report hazing to the proper channels. Not when someone's feelings get hurt, but when someone is being hazed.

And since it would have been a matter of very few words included in those quotes to prove that, I conclude you deliberately excised them from your snippets from my posts. Ergo, you are a liar.

Only two things come out of a horse's ass: pungent methane and horseshit, neither one of which I have any use for. Ergo, I have no use for you. So, you may press your puckered lips firmly between my spread buttocks, you lying dipshit.

...dropping the ball on the slavery issue hardly compares to dropping the ball on the rise of the Islamist movement.

The slaves might disagree.

Conan - Certainly had the ball not been dropped slavery could have ended sooner. But I think just as many people would have died. The War Between the States was inevitable.

However, by waffling in the middle east, Carter allowed for things to be set in motion that led directly to every jihad attack since.