The Obama Watch
The Strange Case of the ‘Missing Narrative’
Why are people rebelling against Barack Obama? Frank Rich and the flat-earther Tom Friedman have an interesting theory.
Like a Santa Claus or Easter Bunny on steroids, Barack Obama has been spending our hard-earned money faster than any president in the history of the Republic. So where’s the sense of gratitude on our part? Why don’t we welcome this wastrel into our minds and hearts? Why do we rebel against the gifts he insists we have?
In pondering these questions, two of the mightiest minds at the New York Times have come a startling conclusion. According to Frank Rich and Tom Friedman, it has nothing to do with the fact that most people strongly reject Obamacare…and the further fact that many of us are worried sick that that the president and his cohorts in Congress seem to be intent on propelling the country into bankruptcy. Rather, the president has yet to discover “a compelling narrative.”
Imagine that! The most loquacious president of all time just can’t seem to grasp that story-telling thingy! The trillion-dollar puddings that he is serving up — whether it is Obamacare, the next stimulus or cap and trade — don’t seem to have any real theme (unless it is socialism, and even the progressives have noticed that the American people despise the idea of socialism).
It wasn’t long ago that the same two pundits and others of their ilk were lauding our 44th president as the greatest orator since Abraham Lincoln. And he has never ceased to orate. In just one year, Barack Obama may have given more speeches and interviews than all the other presidents, combined.
Nevertheless, Messrs. Rich and Friedman would have us believe that Mr. Obama has somehow lost the precious gift that served him so well throughout his campaign for the presidency: knowing how to tell a compelling story that commands attention and gives substance and form to his leadership. What a turnabout! Why and how did it happen? And what does the president need to do to get his Mojo back?
Rich, the former drama critic, used to accuse of George W. Bush and John McCain of “truthiness” — a typically arch and feeble attempt at humor on his part (the late Richard Neuhaus called Rich “an attack poodle”). In 2008 Rich wrote that McCain’s campaign strategy was “to envelop the entire presidential race in a thick fog of truthiness…. McCain, Sarah Palin and their surrogates keep repeating the same lies over and over not just to smear their opponents and not just to mask their own record. Their larger aim is to construct a bogus reality so relentless it can overwhelm any haphazard journalistic stabs at puncturing it.”
Not much more than a year later, Rich has been reduced to making “haphazard journalistic stabs at puncturing” the growing fog around the Obama presidency. Surprise, surprise, he tells us that Mr. Obama is being too pragmatic, delving too deeply into the weeds of policy issues. What he really needs is “an overarching narrative.” Rousing himself to heights of clarity and passion not normally seen outside of high school yearbooks, Mr. Rich writes: “To galvanize the nation, Obama needs to articulate a substantive belief system that’s built from his bedrock convictions.”
No intellectual laggard either, the college-educated Friedman, who developed his celebrated theory that the earth is flat while spending spent a lot of time in hot, dusty, out-of-the-way places like Yemen and Zimbabwe, agrees with his esteemed colleague that the president must find an answer to the “‘narrative’ problem.” It is really a PR problem, in Mr. Friedman’s considered opinion: “He has not tied all his programs into a single narrative that shows the links between his health care, banking, economic, climate, energy, education and foreign policies. Such a narrative would enable each issue and each constituency to reinforce the other and evoke the kind of popular excitement that got him elected.”
Fortunately for the president, Friedman happens to have the answer in his hip pocket: “What is the narrative? Quite simply it is nation-building at home. It is nation-building in America.”
Like Lincoln Steffens, the journalist who pronounced “I have seen the future and it works” upon his return from a trip to the Soviet Union in 1921, Mr. Friedman has seen how “nation-building” works in Communist China and he is mightily impressed. He has also seen how nation-building works in some of the most violent and undeveloped countries in the world. So why shouldn’t it work right here at home?
One possible answer to that question might be that the United States already is a viable nation. It has been so for more than 200 years. We have a constitution that actually works pretty well, or at least it did until quite recently.
Who knows, though — maybe Friedman is onto something. Maybe we are witnessing the birth of a new “narrative” for Mr. Obama and America — one that says to hell with persuasion and to hell with conformity to the law and democratic process. Has the time come for the United States to adopt the Chinese method of nation-building through government dictate? From their brazen attempt to circumvent the Constitution in order to move the hugely expensive and wildly unpopular health care legislation through Congress, it appears that Mr. Obama and leading Democrats have come to that conclusion.
It is a pity that Mr. Obama has been energized into a new state of belligerency and contempt for all those who do not blindly and subserviently follow his lead. To engage in something of a fantasy, it would be nice to think he would go back and study the Santa Claus story with an eye to understanding the narrative elements that account for its huge and enduring popularity. He could definitely learn from them.
The real Santa in children’s minds actually listens and asks them what they want. Santa and his elves may be “watching” but they don’t interfere to keep children from being bad. There’s the real drama in the story. To earn a just reward children learn from an early age that they must begin to take responsibility for their own actions. And finally, Santa, the gift-giver, comes only once a year. He’s not expected to be an every-day presence in our lives.
If Mr. Obama were to adopt these elements in his approach to government, he would pull the plug on Obamacare and admit it was all a big mistake. He would see that the best way to provide a huge stimulus to the economy would be through downsizing government and reducing the tax burden on individuals and businesses. Unfortunately, none of that is about to happen. This is a Santa or Easter Bunny on steroids — a true bully who rejects the old “narrative,” stated by Lincoln, which was “government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
About the Author
Andrew B. Wilson, a frequent contributor to The American Spectator, writes from St. Louis.
Robbins Mitchell| 3.19.10 @ 6:34AM
Well,one thing seems to have escaped the erudite Mr Rich....that it is going to be next to impossible for Barokeydoke to begin governing with a 'narrative' of 'nation building' at this point when he has spent the last 14 months going hell bent for leather to wreck and tear down virtually all the best things this nation stands for and made us great in the first place.
Ran / Si Vis Pacem | 3.19.10 @ 6:47AM
Mr Wilson, thank-you, but...
If I may risk sounding rude... Do either of the New York Times' remaining subscribers give a flying leap what Rich or Friedman say?
Their latest pet theory is no more than a reprise of the excuse for the John Kerry failure - "Why, we didn't get our message out!" Is there any question why the Old Gray Lady is passing?
Tom| 3.19.10 @ 8:20AM
Ran,
Maybe the TTimes should not count but it does. Its editorial page influences countless smaller papers. While there is a definite decline in the influence of newspapers in general and the Times in particular it would be silly to totally discount them.
Tom
saleboter| 3.19.10 @ 8:55AM
"Do either of the New York Times' remaining subscribers give a flying leap what Rich or Friedman say?"
No one cares about these gas bags. Great line!
HeyTrud| 3.20.10 @ 8:41PM
Who cares what those liberal progressives think? He doesn't hold a real poistion. Just a contributor of sorts. Not a real job. Any press, whether good or bad seems to leak out and become a subject. Barry Obama will take any press, just to keep his face out there, which is rather ashy and discolored of sorts. He can call himself Air-force Ears with his. He coloring is way off and his eyes show deep circles with lack of sleep for having a dirty conscious.
Kenny| 3.19.10 @ 6:50AM
This is progress. At least the boys from the New York Times aren't still calling us racists. I guess they saw that gambit didn't work so now they're on to something new.
wbheff| 3.19.10 @ 7:13AM
"In just one year, Barack Obama may have given more speeches and interviews than all the other presidents, combined."
Remember the novel 1984? There was a television set in every home, apartment, etc., and not only did the people have to watch it, they were being watched by it as well. And, Big Brother was blathering at them almost constantly. That sounds to me much like what we have to endure from our president simulacrum these days.
martin j smith| 3.19.10 @ 7:56AM
As a former reader of the NYT I have to say that I agree with Ran/si vis pacem: These two farts that have been with the NYT for decades will nver change. except in one instance: Their doctor tells them find someone when they are urgent need of medical care--Like you give me Obama Care--I quit !! So when they have to find some one else and have trouble doing so--perhaps if their lives are literally on the line maybe they will "cry uncle" and even then they will find some convoluted explanation. That is their mind. They cannot help it.
Patrick| 3.19.10 @ 4:37PM
Life means little in comparison to that which they have based the whole of their realities - ego.
They would pull the plugs on themselves if it meant that their political ambitions were inched forward. This mentality is shared by nearly all the journalists of the "Hell's Bible".
Ret. Marine| 3.19.10 @ 8:22AM
Try this for a narrative, I am God thy only God, I am a vengeful God, thou shall not have any other god before me, honor thy mother and father, thou shall not covet thy neighbors wife, his ass, his slaves, etc.
Of course, being the faithful muslim he is, this will never happen.
How that for a narrative?
Tim| 3.19.10 @ 10:08AM
"his ass"? Is that a comment on Gay pride...
Tom| 3.19.10 @ 8:25AM
Mr. Wilson,
Can you provide a citation for your claim that Mr. Obama has "given more speeches and interviews than all the other presidents, combined." Because, frankly it seems impossible to me. Not saying you are wrong but I doubt A) there are good statistics to actually know how many speeches the pre-modern media presidents gave and B) that those presidents average less than (to pull a number out of my nose) 6 speeches an year. Which would total more than 1200 speeches. And even Obama does not talk that much.
saleboter| 3.19.10 @ 8:57AM
It just SEEMS like he has.
Tom| 3.19.10 @ 9:15AM
Yes, saleboter, it does. But 10 minutes of him speaking is like 17 and 1/2 hours of anyone else. Even mushy mouthed Bush
tonypal| 3.19.10 @ 10:59AM
Tom, the man never stops talking. He's on every day, all the time. At least "mushy mouthed" Bush could do a speech without a teleprompter. Obama is such an intellectual lightweight, contrary to what his fawning apostles in the press would have us believe, he can't even do a Q & A session with the press. The man is a blithering fool who won't shut up.
Tom| 3.19.10 @ 11:15AM
I think Bush's intellect is vastly underrated. But he was typically awful at giving a speech. There are exceptions to this but for the most part he was horrid.
On the other hand I think Obama's intellect is vastly overrated by many. He is superficially intelligent but has no depth. And it helps having a media that overlooks some very glaring errors.
debateright| 3.19.10 @ 10:51PM
I teach speech and debate, and I have never been impressed by Obama's oratory. While it is true that he used to be able to sound inspiring with a script in front of him, his speeches have always been vague and hollow.
JoshInHB| 3.20.10 @ 11:38PM
That;s the true genius of Obama.
Saying nothing vaguely enough that everyone "hears" what they want to and agrees.
Andrew| 3.20.10 @ 3:37PM
I think this is an entirely legitimate question from "Tom". Mostly, because I would love it if this factoid were demonstrably true. If it's just rhetoric, however, I'll pass--I expect to win converts to my side by truth, not by exaggeration. Unlike the Dems, I'm not willing to lie and slink to accomplish me goals.
Jim| 3.21.10 @ 3:51PM
Andrew - ever wonder why Obama has suppressed all his school records? The "swill stream" press plastered G.W Bush's academic records all over. Obama can't hold his own with Bret Baier and I suspect he couldn't hold his own with you or just about anyone else one-on-one.
Tenn Slim| 3.19.10 @ 8:39AM
Opine
Obviously, the author has 2 points. One, OBNA is tired of the USA Electorate not Getting the Point, and following along like lab dogs. Two, the OBNA NEEDS Desparetly to engage these same idiots that voted for him.
Opine 2
Leftist History is replete with splits on How to Do it to the USA. In fact, the Left would have made thier goals long ago if they were ever to truly unite. Americans Get IT. Far too much for the Leftist Comfort. Socialism Communism, etal are anathema to the very genes of our souls. We know full well that road to doom. WE WILL NOT be dragged along it. The Lefties know this.
SO. OBNA now opens the Left faucet of rhetoric. You can expect less speechs, and more direct action. Leftist rule number NNN when in doubt, run the ball. Aerials, Speeches, fall on deaf ears. Now it is time to grind it out. Evidence, NO TRIPS abroad. Hillary is manning the FP Walls entirely alone. Keep VP at home. Send the True Believers out to the hinderlands of the USA. Obama is in the Oval office and that is where he will stay. His day in the ego speech sun is done.
end
We Will Prevail
Semper Fi
end
Shamus| 3.19.10 @ 8:52AM
The people who destroyed liberal arts have a very peculiar idea about narratives. They tell us there is no such thing as objective truth but only personal narrative. So when they refer to a narrative they are really talking about a lie.
Substituting lie for narrative makes us able to understand what Rich and Friedman are really trying to say, which is that Obama is not a very compelling liar.
In fact, Obama is not an exceptionally good liar. He typically prefaces his fabrications by saying he wants to be clear. What this really means is that he's trying gather his thoughts so that he can be persuasive in his prevarications, but it also serves to alert the audience to his fraudulent statements.
John Roberts| 3.19.10 @ 10:15AM
From now on, when you hear Mr. Obama speak, try replacing "let me be clear" with "let me lie to you," and see if it makes more sense.
Don't expect the Mohammedan in Chief to do anything in the interest of the U.S.A. He's shown, repeatedly, that he does not believe in the American system. He considers the laws of the United States and the Constitution to be an obstacle to his "world view" of how things should be. Therefore, he is is not bound by their constraints.
Andrew| 3.20.10 @ 3:52PM
"From now on, when you hear Mr. Obama speak, try replacing "let me be clear" with "let me lie to you," and see if it makes more sense."
You have absolutely nailed it.
Grant Johnson| 3.19.10 @ 8:55AM
There is already "a single narrative that shows the links between his health care, banking, economic, climate, energy, education and foreign policies". It's called Marxism.
mimi| 3.19.10 @ 10:07AM
Grant, ....... You nailed it! Take over banks, car companies, housing, healthcare,utilities(heat &lights;). Our non-tax income goes to the bank, from that we pay, houses car's. gas &electric; bills etc. Along with all these take overs are rules & you must's, FREEDOM&LIBERTY; gone. Pretty soon the place you can get a break the DOLLAR store will become , the "TEN BUCK" store. Check the "new" taxes in the health care bill. If you ever save any money their gonna get their cut! Yes, we have to turn this around.....We patriots each need to find 5-10 like-minded people help get them registered and to the polls and OVERWHELM them in November.
Alert1201| 3.19.10 @ 9:01AM
I remember they said something like this with Clinton. When he was spinning his wheels after the crash and burn of HillaryCare they press kept wondering when he would "find his voice".
Obama never had a Mojo or narrative to lose. He is still spewing same noxious leftest trash that he was during the election. People are just getting tired of it and seeing through the phony label of centrism that the media encased him in.
Mattled| 3.19.10 @ 9:06AM
My Liberal sister called Obama "Obambi" the other day after listening to a story on NPR.
Hope and Change!!
BA Cyclone| 3.19.10 @ 10:43AM
Now THAT is hope and change we can believe in!
Melvin| 3.19.10 @ 9:14AM
For the military retiree: Fellas this needs to go viral.
TRICARE FOR LIFE'S FUTURE.... TRICARE for Life was instituted to correct the broken promises that U.S. Military retirees would receive free healthcare coverage for life and it covers the Medicare co-pay. TriCare for Life is an "Earned Benefit" that's been granted by a previous Congress. The current "health care reform bill" If approved by Congress will drastically change retired Military TriCare benefits.
The one item of most interest to retired Military is on page 189 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. The first assault wave would hit in 2011 and would hit hard. It would initiate cost sharing to require retirees to pay the first $525 of medical cost and 50% of the next $4,725 for a first year cost of $2,888 per person. It would be indexed to increase with inflation. A reason given for this action (for PR effect) is "overuse" by retirees. Those covered by TriCare for Life would lose the Medicare for life benefit and would have to pay. They would lose TriCare as a total care package. They will not be allowed to keep TriCare so when President Obama says “…if you like the health plan you have you can keep it,” he is lying.
The CBO has already drafted proposed legislation that would basically reduce TriCare benefits to a system whereby we pay deductibles and co-pays up to $6,301 the first year for each of us and our spouses, with future years being indexed to increase with inflation. In any case, again on page 189 of the CBO report, there is a strong recommendation to eventually eliminate the program as it is too expensive. Just another move to slight those of us who dedicated much of our adult lives to the defense of our country.
carnot| 3.19.10 @ 9:26PM
I suspected this might happen. As anyone who served a full career in the military will confess in a moment of honesty: when you hit the 10 year mark and make the big decision to stay in or get out.....pension and TRICARE are generally the determining factors for most.
This really, really POs me. The government basically had a contract with me and now it is changing the terms of the contract after I have my opportunity to do anything about it. at what point does one start - as a vet - to advise those serving now: "Follow lawful orders. Serve honorably. Always be loyal to the unit and your comrades. Get the hell out at the first chance obligated service ends"?
Joe Hamilton| 3.20.10 @ 5:50PM
The Muslim in Chief isn't very bright if he thinks Tricare paying doctors $10 a visit will not make it almost impossible to find a doctor who will accept Tricare. The demo Rats plan a 25% cut on the already low fees paid to doctors by Medicare and Tricare. Our Jihadist president is also cutting funding for active duty service members. The care provided to the service members would make every malpractice attorney zillionaires, if service members were allowed to sue for the incredible malpractice rampant in military health care facilities. He probably would eliminate the military entirely ,if he could get away with it. It would fit with his plan to assist Global Jihad.
ttyler5| 3.19.10 @ 9:17AM
I wonder, has anyone traveled to Illinois
--- to see what just sort of Community Building at Home our resident President and highly-trained community activist did before he was nominated for Nation Builder At Home?
My guess is Obama and his fellow Community Builders left behind a burned-out third world hulk where it is unsafe to travel without carrying an Uzi.
Anthony| 3.19.10 @ 9:55AM
Frank Rich is indeed an attack poodle and just a plain ole nasty bitch to boot. Tom flat earth Friedman is homely dandy who married quite well.
Both are hapless leftist dreamers who have been breathlessly awaiting for their "One" to bring them to the shores of the long awaited worker's paradise.
Well, they finally got their wish, and their narrative from The Obama. I hope they're not too disappointed working in the rice paddies along side us untouchables.
P.S. Hey Frank, rice paddies are hell on those well manicured finger nails of yours.
JmsA| 3.19.10 @ 9:57AM
Tom, regarding your comments, particularly this:
"And even Obama does not talk that much."
Give him some time; after all, his "presidency" is only in its second year, and as everyone knows demagogues love the sound of their own voice.
Doctor Right| 3.19.10 @ 10:02AM
Oh, please...Not this nonsense again.
Throughout the entire 8 years of the dismal Clinton Administration, we were constantly subjected to left-wing pundits pondering whether Billy-Boy had "...Finally found HIS VOICE"...
It was a load of crap then, and it was a load of crap now.
Billy-Boy found "his voice" in college: Chicks, booze, chicks, power, chicks, prestige, chicks, Air Force One, chicks, chicks, chicks...And please, keep "that woman" (Hillary as far away from me as possible so I can chase chicks."
In a similar vein, Obama's "narrative" (a fancy way of saying "his voice") is as clear as a bell to anyone with a brain:
"Socialism, power, America sucks, power -stupid crackers, I'll teach you - power, socialism, racial spoils, power, get some, whitey!, marxism, power, redistribution, worship me!, and more power."
Rich and Friedman are among the lefts' incurables. They are intelligent people who CANNOT see past their own ideology. They're fools.
megapotamus | 3.19.10 @ 10:09AM
Grant and others have it above. The "narrative" problem is that there IS a coherent and well-known foundation for the actions, rhetoric and policies of the Obies and it is at best socialist, it is in fact Marxist and at its worst, which seems to be more and more often, it is Alinskyite. Even the rank and file Dems now know the name and fame of Alinsky, patron demon to Hillary, Ayers, O and numberless others all of whom apparently, find welcome and fellowship at the White House. The most important didactic event for the nation is occuring now, that is the education of street-level Dems, many of them unionists, that their fellows in the party are overwhelmingly pernicious Marxists. They have been told this for decades and if you ever tried to help a garden variety Dem to this simple fact you know the reaction: flat denial. It is simply a playground taunt; a barnyard epithet without foundation. But now, like Howard Stern lately, they see the realities not least because there are no Republicans in a position to obscure their view. John McCain, I am lookin' at you!
pfwag| 3.19.10 @ 10:51AM
Maybe with all those impromptu speeches and appearances, people are seeing Obama off the teleprompter where he makes Bush look smart, or at least articulate.
Oldefarte| 3.19.10 @ 11:49AM
To answer Andrew's [or Rich's/Freidman's]question "....What he really needs is "an overarching narrative...."; the single defining thread in Obama's spendingpolicies is WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION [as he honestly admitted to Joe the Plumber]. The healthcare bill deleats for THOSE THAT HAVE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE and provides to THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE. Similarly, his stimulus bill deleats from taxpayers-workers to fund jobs for those that do not have jobs. His cap & trade is a tax upon taxpayers to fund government programs for his indigent non-taxpayers. His tax increases are upon the so called 'rich' [translation, those with a job] to further fund government welfare. That is Obama's underlying theme!!!!!
Drew | 3.19.10 @ 11:58AM
Quote: No intellectual laggard either, the college-educated Friedman, who developed his celebrated theory that the earth is flat while ...
When you read statements like that in American Spectator one is left with some troubling questions about the sort of people they have writing articles here.
Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat - an international best seller - uses it's title as a metaphor for the level playing field nations face in international commerce. This "flattening" Friedman describes as being the result not only of Government actions (free trade initiatives, WTO, etc.) - but also the growth of multinational companies, and transformative technologies such as the Internet and fiber-optic communications systems.
For a former Business Week writer such as Mr Wilson to so grossly mischaracterize Thomas Friedman's book leaves one with the questions: Is Mr Wilson that stupid that he doesn't understand metaphor? Did Mr Wilson actually read Friedman's book? Or does Mr Wilson simply want to mislead the dim-witted denizens of right-wing misinformation sites?
Maybe Mr Wilson intended to use the phrase "flat earther" in an ironic or humorous manner. But if so, then he ought to have used the actual (metaphor) title of Friedman's book. But he doesn't.
Words matter. As does good writing. And maybe that is why Thomas Friedman is a 3-times Putlizer Prize winning author, writing regular columns for the most respected newspaper in America. And Mr Wilson is not.
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.19.10 @ 1:05PM
Hey Drew, smartypants
I've got the book right here on my personal bookshelf.
Having run 2 very large multinational companies, I was asked for a pre-release review by his Agent.
My review stated that he had a "cute title", but that his premises were waaaaaay too wonky, murky, and very intellectualoid.
Heh, I still have the review stuck in the book.
"It is very obvious this Freidman jerk has never earned a dollar in international trade."
Uh...
My review never made the back cover of the book. (smile)
Drew| 3.19.10 @ 1:38PM
One may certainly agree - or disagree - with many of the conclusions or theories advanced in Friedman's book. But to identify him as a "flat earther" (ie. one who believes that the earth is shaped as a flat disc) is clearly misleading.
As I've remarked on this site before, Wilson obviously doesn't understand how metaphor works: For example, he starts out by comparing President Obama with Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny by spending our hard-earned money faster than any president in the history of the Republic.
Whatever the truthfulness of the assertion about the President's fiscal policies - from a metaphorical standpoint it just doesn't work: Neither Santa Claus nor the Easter Bunny are known as big spenders.
So having created a metaphor that is fatally flawed from the outset (ie. that Obama is like some mythical children's character) - he then spends considerable time complaining that Obama fails to live up to the myth. eg:
finally, Santa, the gift-giver, comes only once a year. He's not expected to be an every-day presence in our lives.
There is a name for this sort of logical fallacy: The Straw Man argument.
Good writers steer clear of making it.
megapotamus | 3.19.10 @ 7:33PM
Whoa, congratulations Drew! You must have just passed Philosophy 101. If the notion of Obama as Santa or the Easter Bunny is a straw man, he was packed with straw by the Obots. Do you not recall the woman who thought Obama was dishing greenbacks from "his stash"? Of course you do. This magical quality was not invented by Sean Hannity or Tom Coburn, it was developed intentionally by Team O. Did you catch the fever? Yeah, I thought so. But it is hilarious that you declare the metaphor strained regarding Friedman yet are blind to such subtleties yourself. Do you really think the author is asserting that Friedman believes the earth rests on a turtle's back and it is turtles all the way down? Sorry Charlie, even you are not that stupid but are just manufacturing a misunderstanding to support your peevish outrage, like Biden and Clinton on Israel. Pathetic. Back to Start for you.
carnot| 3.19.10 @ 9:43PM
bingo!
not only that...the real comedy? Drew the nitwit doesn't get the point!
1) Santa rewards those who earn it based upon behavior...not entitlement.
2) Santa listens to his "constituents". He doesn't gift them with presents they don't want. Perhaps it was too subtle for Drew to pick up on the theme that the Prez serves the people...not the other way around...and the implicit "the people do not want most of his agenda".
Nothing worse than a pretend intellectual...Drew....who botches criticism 101.
EmbraceSocialism| 3.19.10 @ 12:26PM
Come on everyone, is Socialism so bad? At least we get to be told what to do, as opposed to having freedom of choice.
David Jack Smith | 3.20.10 @ 8:38AM
Socialism (and it's basard cousins, Marxism, Communism, Lennisism, Maoism, et al) appeals to two groups, at least in the beginning.
1. Those who like telling others what to do.
2. Those who like being told what to do.
Unfortunately these groups do comprise a large part of any population, although the United States has one of the smaller group 2ers than any other country.
Hence the socialist Deemocrats determination to import as many poor, ill-educated, welfare supplicant group 2ers as possible.
bob alou| 3.19.10 @ 1:38PM
I thoroughly enjoyed Friedman's From Beirut to Jerusalem. I thought "The World Is Flat" an interesting and insightful book. However, like the late Senator Daniel Moynihan ,just because Friedman is sometimes right, does not make him always so. On the other hand, Frank Rich is always comes off as a frustrated jackass. Obama is the most loquacious President of my six decades. That he has not been able to articulate a vision is simply untrue. He has, rather, not been able to sell his flawed vision. The only way he can advance his ideas is by obfuscation. The more he explains, the clearer he becomes, the less the American people like what they hear from him. In college I was encouraged by my Professors, and did, read the NYT cover to cover every day as well as the Washington Post, the WSJ and the Christian Science Monitor. But at this point anyone who thinks they are getting even a close approximation of unbiased truth from the NYT in their reporting, much less the screeching leftism evinced in their editorials, is delusional. Once great, arguably. Currently great, no way.
D. Matthews| 3.20.10 @ 5:38PM
Mr. Alou,
Correct..."the less the American people like what they hear from him." I have noticed the more he 's on TV and talks in public, the more the gap widens between "strongly disapprove and strongly approve" on the Rasmussen Poll, Presidential Trends. It's now at -21, rising since the round of speechifying last weekend.
Pingback| 3.19.10 @ 1:45PM
The American Spectator : The Strange Case of the 'Missing Narrative' Staff links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Josephine | 3.19.10 @ 2:56PM
Drew’s critique of the metaphor only proves how accurate it is. By asking us to believe that he can create a new $1 trillion entitlement that would supposedly not add one dime to the deficit, Obama is certainly asking us to believe that he is like Santa Claus.
Allen Churchill| 3.19.10 @ 3:12PM
The big O has no narstive because he is factually and intelectualy dishonest. He has to deceive and dissemble because he knows socialism won't fly in the US if honestly presented. Rich and Friedman, while clueless, are backing into the truth.
Pingback| 3.19.10 @ 3:58PM
Case Studies in Food Engineering: Learning from Experience | Food Engineering Addict links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
George F| 3.19.10 @ 4:05PM
The socialist-communist members of our society have worked very hard for the last one hundred years or so to change our educational system in order to brainwash our children. The grownups we have now are the result of their efforts; brainwashed adults who actually prefer socialist-communist lies over truth and freedom.
WAKE UP| 3.19.10 @ 4:09PM
""In just one year, Barack Obama may have given more speeches and interviews than all the other presidents, combined."
That's because he ain't a President, he's STILL merely a candidate - and always will be. Get rid of him. Move on.
WAKE UP| 3.19.10 @ 4:15PM
"I think Bush's intellect is vastly underrated. But he was typically awful at giving a speech".
America, this is your problem. Bush was a President, and a Man - but he wasn't a "celebrity". McCain was a diffident, awkward candidate who could have been a fine President. Obama was a "personality" candidate adept at speaking, and that's all he'll ever be - but you elected him. And now you have a person who is profoundly, abberrantly UN-American pretending to be your President. It really is time you stopped falling for style over substance.
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Pat| 3.19.10 @ 5:30PM
These two ladies, Rich and Friedman, are at least honestly consistent, unlike other members of the 4th estate. Before and immediately after Obama's coronation, the nations' journalists joined many voters in feeling good about themselves - they elected Obama, they paid the Party of Bush back for his many shortcomings, they initiated a bright future for all Americans, even those cretins who criticized Obama as a candidate. The outpouring of self-congratulation was so syrupy and self-righteous even the Europeans questioned the objectivity of America's scribblers and talking heads.
The honeymoon was long and sensual but then the everyday drudgery of married life settled in. The "I won" declaration summed up Obama's mandate and the legislation of hope and change flowed like lava from a new volcano. Some journalists dropped off the bandwagon, those others prostrate at his feet eventually quit slobbering over Obama's toes, but others remained steadfast in his defense - like moms who nag their sons over messy rooms and not wearing fresh underwear but who won't tolerate the tiniest criticism of her boys from those old biddies at the Garden Club's weekly meetings.
So let's recognize consistent loyalty for the minor virtue it is - there actually is a small market niche out there for Obama loyalists, Rich and Freidman are the high priests who serve it and, remember, not everybody prefers to buy their double shot, light, no whip lattes from Starbucks.
Yosemeti Sam| 3.20.10 @ 12:00AM
" ... college-educated Friedman ... agrees
with his esteemed colleague (Rich) that the
president must find an answer to the
"'narrative' problem."...."
Perhaps BHO can better communicate through rap music.
Wright - on!
LOL.
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Christopher Holland| 3.20.10 @ 1:59AM
Obama has a lot to say, but nothing worth listening to you. If he talked about things that the public supported and wanted, he would be listened too. He does not, he is arrogant, incompetent narcissist who loves the sound of his own voice. He thinks he knows everything when he knows Jack. Friedman and Rich don't understand that, they have the same problem as the man they admire.
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David Jack Smith | 3.20.10 @ 8:30AM
Obama is glib. Unfortunately we live in a time where "glib" is mistaken for "articulate" and "intellectual" by an undistinguished press gallery. Maybe we always have.
This is how Obama learned his effortlessly condescending trade as a "community organizer":
He would be put in front of a group of poorly educated supplicants from the local community.
These products of a welfare addled populus and a lousy education system would be easy meat for a glib, black, Harvard marxist, no matter what his grades were.
He would deploy the usual agit-prop techniques to whip up hatred of the "man."
He would ask loaded questions about the failures in these citizens' lives. He would give them the correct answers about the system being against them. It's a shill game as old as communication.
But on the big stage, now as President and not candidate, Obama would need to be a communicator in the Hitler, Lenin or Musillini league to pull this off without trickery.
That is why his so-called "oratorical" skills fall so far short as President.
Limited as he was as President, George Bush was at least as good a communicator as Obama. One reason being that he didn't think he was so great. Obama thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. That's why whenever he goes off teleprompter he is so massively gaff prone.
Far more than is ever reported by -- and we come full circle, his press gallery.
Such as yesterday when Obama continued to make an ass of himself speaking in public.
ABC radio news played a clip of the doofus, in full, fake urban black voice GOING OFF TELEPROMPTER again.
Umming and arrring and ranting about himself in the third person and...
Then refering to himself as THE COMEBACK KID.
He got the kid part right.
D. Matthews| 3.20.10 @ 2:59PM
Lacks a narrative? The unspoken narrative is best left silent lest we find out for sure what is in store for us. Hints of what's to come have been succinctly stated already by Ms Pelosi. But, Mr Obama himself cannot reveal the future because it could not stand the bight sunlight and would fail on an argument on the merits. It must be accomplished incrementally, by stealth, by creating a "bogus reality" of widespread hunger, foreclosures, illiteracy, economically-deprived, underrepresented, disadvantaged, under-employed or jobless, high school dropouts and falling academic achievement. In effect, a nation approacing ruin. This reality thus qualifies suspension of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, a pesky, onerous leftover from the 18th century, one dominated by wig-wearing old white guys in funny pants.
Trouble is, all the above have been used at various times to enact the progressive agenda of social and economic justice. Worse, the mechanisms to correct the injustices, some in place for more than 40 years, have been failures, yet have become an untouchable axiom of mainstream life, correctable only by throwing more money at the fixes. Just try to get rid of the free government breakfast program in your local school, or the free government daily ride to school.
Yes, he does have a narrative but one that can only be hinted at. He rightly fears a straight up approach for his dream of a progressive nation. Mr. Rich and Mr. Friedman know this, but they want him to declare it. That is the source of their criticism.
Andrew| 3.20.10 @ 4:09PM
This "consensus" that Obama is a great oratory just astounds me. I basically make my living by speaking, and I'd grade myself at a "B" at best. (I've had the fortune to hear some really world-class speakers in action--including Reagan--and I couldn't hold a candle to any of them.)
But Obama is a clear "F", unless you're already a fully bonded fanatic. He does fine, sometimes, in completely uncontested arenas, but at the slightest suggestion of confrontation he becomes almost illiterate, flummoxed, completely out of sorts. Logical trains of thought seem to escape him, in favor of memorized talking points--something any 13-year-old trying out for the junior high debate team could manage.
There is simply absolutely NO sense that he is attempting to engage in a genuine dialogue with the citizenry--for the simple reason that he's NOT attempting to do so. He's got his agenda, he's going to push it until that donkey dies in the road trying.
It's egomaniacal. It's clinically psychotic. It's certainly not the signs of a person who claimed he intended to lead the nation, and the world, by consensus.
But we all knew that from the start, didn't we? Where would a "community activist"--whose entire mandate is to advocate his "clients" views--learn about consensus? And a lawyer besides (full disclosure, I'm one myself--and if I'm advocating a client, I'm not seeking "consensus", because that's not my job in that circumstance).
Oofah, I could go on forever. This is a disaster for the country. Maybe a big one, maybe a small one. Depends, really, on how far he's able to go in seizing more o the economy and further destroying US relations abroad.
WAKE UP| 3.21.10 @ 3:46PM
"This is a disaster for the country. Maybe a big one, maybe a small one. Depends, really.... "
Andrew, trust me, from out here it's the biggest mistake I've seen America make in my lifetime. We need you guys to fix it, big time.
Andrew| 3.20.10 @ 4:18PM
My apologies, David Jack Smith stated the case far more eloquently than I managed. I must have been typing my post while he was submitting his.
Mr. Smith, thank you.
David Jack Smith | 3.21.10 @ 7:00AM
Andrew.. you are way, way, too kind.
You certainly nailed the lie of Obama's undeserved reputation as an orator and a communicator.
Imagine what's going to happen to Obama's ego if he ever gets a bad press?
Do you think Hillary Clinton wakes up screaming every night thinking "I lost to this?"
WAKE UP| 3.21.10 @ 3:43PM
"Do you think Hillary Clinton wakes up screaming every night thinking "I lost to this?"
Hillary has gone very quiet indeed, since she allowed herself to be suckered into the tent.
Clinton Lovell| 3.20.10 @ 6:50PM
I think the reality is that Mr. Friedman never met a "bad" socialist; just socialist countries that were still undertaking the "nation-building" process. The fact that socialism is constrained from ever being as successful as capitalism due to the confluence of the laws of mathematics and the dictates of Rational Choice Theory are completely lost on people like Mr. Friedman. They truly believe that centrally-planned economies failures occur because these economies didn't have the "right leaders" and not because the fundamental premise applying to the underlying economics contained lethal flaws that always conspire to create the failure outcome. There will always be explanations and additional subjective considerations because objective criteria would require the introduction of accountability and accountability is the central "demonology" of socialism and the cause of today's modern liberal-progressive movement. To be "liberal" is to believe that if there is always a stooge/scapegoat "entity" maintained by the liberal to take the blame when the policies (inevitably) fail, then the liberal adherent can be "liberated" (insulated) from the consequences of their actions and decisions.
If Mr. Obama's problem was that he was somehow missing eloquence in making his point that government-managed health care was a good thing, we could fix that, but the reality is that, in the Information Age, liberals can no longer make broad statements of fact that can go unchallenged due to a lack of information access. Information - not passion - has become the death rattle of the modern progressive movement and I suspect Mr. Friedman's attempts to sustain it will continue to produce smaller and smaller returns. After all, P.T. Barnum was (and remains) correct on bamboozling the masses with showmanship, daring and plain ol' fashioned horse manure. You can only fool some of the people some of the time. Despite all attempts at public education to indoctrinate the masses, the truth continues to out and that's the worst possible outcome. Liberalism only works in a vacuum where facts are not considered, only emotions and vague conceptual platitudes. Lenin was right; it only works here where there are useful fools. I wonder how much of a fool Mr. Friedman allows himself to admit when he is alone. You have to feel for him, without his supporting network of suckers who sustain The New York Times, he would be in really bad shape. For his personal sake, let us hope The New York Times succeeds in getting a bailout. All nine of their readers would agree it needs one.
lida | 3.21.10 @ 1:01AM
A community-type, as a class-concept, is inescapably an abstraction.
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Michele San Pietro| 3.21.10 @ 10:55AM
Even in this case, it is quite clear why honest people rebel against Obama. There's no need to waste one's time looking for explanations!
birther1957| 3.21.10 @ 12:24PM
I don't know why is erks me when people don't spell words correctly. The word (thier) is spelled (their) not thier. And Amerika is spelled AMERICA, why can't people spell correctly?
albert constantine, jr| 3.22.10 @ 5:21PM
Grammar , typographical and spelling errors often result in the speed to make a post, particularly with a heavy reliance on spell check and its grammar counterparts on most computers these days. Also, I'm guessing that "is erks me" is the device you are using to draw attention to your complaint, instead of "it irks me".
C.K. Amos| 3.21.10 @ 8:48PM
People rebel against this poseur because he has no narrative that is of America or about America.
As for Obama's eloquence? That amounts to urban legend, given how we've seen him when the teleprompters are not functioning or not present.
Or if he encounters a reporter such as Brett Baier who refuses to allow Obama to filibuster with his disingenuous and pompous nonsensical bloviations.
Obama is a manufactured tool of the left. Thing is, they left out his heart and common sense.
LJC| 3.21.10 @ 11:35PM
Re gabby presidents; I seem to remember that in his Popular period(64-65) LBJ had a habit of getting on TV and radio any time of the day to read us his high polls and promote the Great Society. He would break into Guiding Light or TicTacDow or or whatever was on, to let us know how great he was doing. And then one day he pulled his dog's ears, and then no one loved him any more.
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Grammar , typographical and spelling errors often result in the speed to make a post, particularly with a heavy reliance on spell check and its grammar counterparts on most computers these days. Also, I'm guessing that "is erks me" is the device you are using to draw attention to your complaint, instead of "it irks me".