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The Obama Watch
Our Lecturer in Chief
The president, the mosque, and the people.
President Obama just can’t help himself. It’s impulse. Every time he sees the American people, in their infinite and confounding ignorance, pursuing a course they shouldn’t, he intervenes to correct them. Such is the view from the clouds on which he placidly floats above us all.
Most politicians speak of the wisdom of the American people. Some even believe it. But not Obama. Time and time again, he takes to the lectern to scold or educate us.
Last Friday, he needlessly jumped into a percolating political controversy — again — to enlighten the uneducated masses. This time the subject was the Islamic cultural center proposed to be built two blocks from Ground Zero, where Islamist terrorists murdered more than 2,700 Americans.
“The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country,” he said, beginning what was to be yet another lecture on what he sees as our failure as a people to live up to our values. “And the pain and the experience of suffering by those who lost loved ones is just unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. And ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.
“But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.”
No one can pack more conceit, more condescension, into two little paragraphs than Barack Obama can. In the first paragraph, he establishes that opponents of the Islamic center are reacting purely emotionally. “I understand the emotions that this issue engenders.” In the second, he informs us that, as an enlightened being, he sees this issue properly — it’s about freedom of religion. Appealing to our reverence for the Constitution, he states that “our commitment” (all Americans are bound by creed to agree on this) “must be unshakable.”
These are not the words of a president attempting to lead and unite a nation. They are the words of an academic attempting to instruct a class that he considers particularly thick-headed. And they came unprompted. He didn’t have to address the issue at all. He wanted to. He needed to. His conscience compelled him to.
This is how President Obama so often gets himself into trouble. He didn’t have to weigh in on the Henry Louis Gates Jr. arrest. But he couldn’t help himself. He had to use it as a “teachable moment” on race relations.
He didn’t have to explain to Joe the Plumber that he intended to “spread the wealth around.” He didn’t have to tell Democratic donors in San Francisco that rural Pennsylvanians salve their bitterness by clinging to guns and religion. But he just couldn’t help himself.
Last year, in his third press conference as president, he couldn’t resist telling Americans to wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough.
Obama has never transitioned from his former job as a college lecturer. The reason is that he really doesn’t see his new job as that different. It just has more perks, such as the ability to use force when persuasion fails. And the ability to have paid staffers step forward to clarify one’s ill-considered remarks.
The day after asserting that no American should object to an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero — “in lower Manhattan,” as he put it — he contradicted himself, saying, “I was not commenting, and I will not comment, on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That’s what our country is about.”
If he wasn’t giving his approval of a mosque near Ground Zero, then why did he specifically define the location (“lower Manhattan”) where he said we must all be unshakably committed to the right of Muslims to build a mosque?
When the press found his clarification not all that clarifying, the president’s staff rephrased it. White House Spokesman Bill Burton said on Saturday, “What he said last night, and reaffirmed today, is that if a church, a synagogue or a Hindu temple can be built on a site, you simply cannot deny that right to those who want to build a mosque.”
That’s a better way to put it. But it still fails to clarify. Here is why. The question never was one of religious freedom — because the use of government force is not at issue. The question is whether the backers of this Islamic center should build it two blocks from Ground Zero, not whether government should stop them.
About the Author
Andrew Cline is editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader. His Twitter ID is @Drewhampshire.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (479) | Leave a comment
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Robbins Mitchell| 8.20.10 @ 6:15AM
Call me an old fashioned sentimentalist,but somebody needs to take a strap to his ass.
chuck| 8.20.10 @ 8:05AM
Agreed, he certainly is an annoying, condescending little bastard.
Craig| 8.20.10 @ 11:45AM
Amen.
max180| 8.20.10 @ 12:44PM
Makes that two amens.
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 1:49PM
And one Hallelujah.
Redstateboy| 8.20.10 @ 4:36PM
Does the word: "Pontificating" mean anything?
cavan| 8.20.10 @ 6:34PM
If you recall , Jesse Jackson said, "I'd like to cut his balls off. Talking down to us niggers."
scotchieguy| 8.20.10 @ 8:00PM
One word--hubris.
saintpeeter| 8.20.10 @ 9:45PM
No, he is an annoying, condescending skinny bastard.
navguy| 8.22.10 @ 10:43AM
And let's not forget his overweening and snarky arrogance.
James| 8.21.10 @ 1:00AM
Actually, at 6'1", he's above average in height. But it is true, ad hominem attacks don't need to appeal to facts. But this much is true: most Americans are intolerant, uneducated simpletons though that doesn't give President Obama, or any President for that matter, the right to lecture to them. "Lecturer-in-Chief" is not enshrined in the Constitution. So ... as all conservatives uphold the principle that wealth arises from hard work and talent, it probably makes more sense for the Chinese and Arabs (who own a good junk of our public debt) to educate us. Money makes right, right?
John| 8.21.10 @ 2:08AM
You liberals just can't stop ridiculing the American people, can you?
chuck| 8.21.10 @ 7:28AM
Actually, when I used the word "little", it had nothing to do with his physical height, though he is skinny. I was referring to his alleged intelligence, and character. Bill Clinton was a physically large man, and I would still consider him to be "little". But not so much as Obama.
coal carrier| 8.21.10 @ 8:48AM
"most Americans are intolerant, uneducated simpletons"
You are right. Look who is in the White House.
A pen| 8.22.10 @ 11:11AM
We have been looking at who is in the White House. So far there is a family there that vacations and entertains a lot and that is all the documentation we are allowed.
Cheri| 8.23.10 @ 2:58PM
The more vacations he takes, the better. Then, he has less time to destroy our country!
Colossians 3:12| 8.21.10 @ 12:53PM
Education does not necessarily make a person wise. Nor does the lack of education make a person a simpleton. Wisdom cannot be learned in a classroom. Wisdom is something that cannot be taught. Educated people, who believe they are smarter than people who have not been educated, are certain to have more hubris then wisdom. What is the hallmark of intelligence, wisdom or education? Most likely it is being wise enough to be humble and to seek knowledge of that which is necessary to reality rather than that which should be left to the discourse of the classroom.
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult."
" (Proverbs 12:15-16)
Jack Bauer | 8.21.10 @ 1:05PM
But it is true, ad hominem attacks don't need to appeal to facts.
That's rich coming from someone who pitches an argumnento ad hominem post. A perfect example of the fallacious argument wrapped up in an overinflated opinion of yourself.
You string together a bunch of unrelated opinions, non sequiturs, strawmen assertions... and, for good measure, mix liberally with a pile of unadulterated ignorance.
That's not bad going for a 100 word post.
Aticus Finch| 8.22.10 @ 1:40AM
Obama projects his prejudices against Americans in the form of ad hominem arguments.
That is why increasing numbers see Obama as an incompetent person with delusions of competence.
carnot| 8.22.10 @ 9:11AM
another veiled *enis envy post.
WAKE UP| 8.23.10 @ 12:24AM
"most Americans are intolerant, uneducated simpletons "
OPTION 1: James, you are American I presume? In which case you have two choices: you're either also one of the above, or you're a disloyal, condescending, ungrateful ignoramus. NOBODY builds a nation a great as America without being inspired, enthusiastic and intelligent. And I bet you don't want to live anywhere else.
OPTION 2: you're not American...and you have NO IDEA what you're talking about. Which means you're also still a condescending ignoramus.
Eric Cartman| 8.20.10 @ 8:20AM
Subject him to Sharia Law. What's the punishment for being an annoying, petulant blow-hard, know-it-all? I don't know, but ya have to hope it involves camels, feather dusters, midget clowns and sex. Something that fits right in with Islam.
Jeff Lee| 8.20.10 @ 9:03AM
An optometrist, a zebra, and the Queen of England go into a bar. The bartender says, "What is this? Some kind of joke?"
Mojo Risin| 8.20.10 @ 12:16PM
I'm going out on a limb here, but I believe it was Alan that walked into a bar, walked-up to the bar tender, held out his cupped hands that contained a still steaming pile of dog poo and said to the bar-keep, "Look what I almost stepped in."
Robbins Mitchell| 8.20.10 @ 1:45PM
A toothless termite walks into a bar and says,"Where's the bar tender?"
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 1:50PM
A horse walks into the bar and the bartender says "Why the long face?"
Moosegringo| 8.20.10 @ 3:48PM
John Kerry walks into the bar and the bartender says "Why the long face?"
Clif Blaeser| 8.21.10 @ 9:54AM
Haha Love this one!
A pen| 8.22.10 @ 11:16AM
A limping dog enters a bar and says I'm lookin fer the man that shot my paw.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 2:52PM
If the hands are cut off for stealing, do they cut off the tongue for lying?
Colossians 3:12| 8.21.10 @ 12:55PM
I believe that may be a right of men under sharia.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 10:12AM
You are overreacting, Cline: a President is merely a cheerleader, and you are taking Obama too seriously.
Besides, Obama is the first president since January 19th, 1989 to have anything really interesting to say; both Bushes and Clinton were dull speakers. You may not like what Obama says, but you focus in what he says like a laser; you find Obama interesting after the dreariness of the last 20 years of politics.
You appear to think (hard to say with you) that too many in America are attempting to hold Bush culpable-- which is true up to a point. I agree Bush is no longer to blame. However it is not the post- 1/19/'89 GOP presidents that concern so may, it is the post- Obama GOP president that concerns so many Americans. Say Obama is in fact defeated in 2012; the question for us right now would be the identity of that hypothetical Republican POTUS-- will he (or, conceivably, she) be another loser? There is a lack of trust that has built up in the candidates the GOP has run post 1/19/'89, a not entirely undeserved mistrust.The minutiae of politics hasn't interested me much since the '80s ended, I voted for Gore and Kerry merely out of concern that the Bushes wanted excessive power, that the Bush dynasty would be the dead-end that the Kennedy dynasty was (hopefully we have seen the last of both sets).
I did not vote in 2008 because the Rev. Wright revelations worried me; but last week I registered as a Democrat for the first time since 2004-- because the prospect of another post- Reagan GOP nothing-burger in 2013 or 2017 is unpleasant, the harbinger of its definite possibility quite saddening.
The GOP will surely sweep the field this November, but even Gingrich didn't know exactly what to do 1995- '99. If someone as brilliant as he was confused (his conservative futurism is "Marxism for computer geeks") how on earth can you find a better Speaker?
Right now-- and I go by now, not futuristic- speculation-- it does not look good at all.
Sam Vaughn| 8.20.10 @ 10:30AM
Always good to see a comment from you Alan. I may disagree but you take the high road of persuasion. I read this and checked my knee-jerk, yes, conservative-libertarian views while I considered your words. The lens with which you view the world is different than mine. Not to say that we might not believe the same things.
When I tell liberals I'm fairly conservative the radicals jump all over me and denigrate my deeply held views. The thoughtful ones debate and occasionally give me pause for consideration. What I find unshakeable is my belief in honesty, integrity, honor, courage, doing the right thing, the Ten Commandments. I'm no where near perfect but I think it's worth trying to do the right thing everyday. I sleep well at night.
I believe when Americans are properly informed they collectively make decent decisions. However, I do believe that there are those in the Republican Party and the Democrat Party that somehow believe it's their right to tell the rest of us how to live, with force if necessary. The America I love will cease to exist if I and many others just accept that as our fate.
So it starts at the local level. Are we electing leaders that believe in honor, integrity, courage, the things that used to define Character with a capital C that is unmistakeable. I'm involved now where I never used to be. I do believe that the US is the last bastion of freedom.
A liberal neighbor remarked at a gathering recently that perhaps what this country needs is a "benevolent" dictator, perhaps like Castro. He considers my values old-fashioned and out-of-date like Leave it to Beaver. Perhaps, my reply was simple the things I believe in that make me who I am I'm not willing to let go, that is my right.
So they can call me all the names they want I'll still be the Boy Scout I once was.....corny I know but that's who I am.
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 11:11AM
Mr. Vaughn -- A very thoughtful and appreciated response. Bless you, and stay active. Never let the liberals get you down. Boy Scouts and men who were Boy Scouts represent the best of the country's values. That's not corny -- we've only been made to think that by the culture that has been created these past 40 years or so. It was a purposeful thing to degrade and diminish traditional American values. We've been set up by Marxists since the 1930's who came here to find a way to bring Communism to the United States. They knew they couldn't peg it to the economy, so they decided to peg it to the culture. Political correctness and multiculturalism are both part of that. Look up the Frankfort School, and you'll understand. Bless you for being corny.
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 11:38AM
Hey, Mr. Vaughn, check this out. The Truth About Political Correctness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 11:57AM
Regarding Obama :
" Luke says:
August 11, 2010 at 2:06 pm
" I was there, and it was the vast majority of scouts who were booing him. He is the honorary president of the BSA, (as has been every president since Taft) and for him to blow off the 100th anniversary, perhaps the largest gathering of international boy scouts in history, to go on some bullshit talkshow is rediculous. 43,000 Scouts expected his appearance, but he thought the View was more important. Even Bush made it to a Jamboree. Boo "
Paevo| 8.20.10 @ 1:03PM
"The BSA goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance"
Responsible citizenship? Kenyan, perhaps? Who the hell knows...
Character development? O's character has not changed from a dyed in the wool Marxist since his college days...
Self-reliance? For this parasite-in-chief?...
No wonder he didn't show up. The cognitive dissonance would have been all too obvious...
Pamela| 8.20.10 @ 2:53PM
Barack Obama only appears in carefully scripted settings, before sympathetic audiences. The BSA would be anathema to his warped world-view.
I KNEW there was something I loved about the Boy Scouts...
Jonno| 8.20.10 @ 2:09PM
Sam - I hope you asked your liberal neighbor if s/he knew how many political prisoners have been rounded up during Castro's regime. And why so many Cubans don't dare mention Castro's name aloud for fear of silently disappearing. The bleary eyed misconceptions some people have about Castro - especially liberals who have never been to Havana - and his ruthless dictatorship are sobering. Fancy hoping for a 'benevolent dictator' like Castro to rule America. Malevolent more likely.
JmsA| 8.20.10 @ 10:29PM
Jonno,
Hear, hear, Jonno! That 'benevolent' dictator, commonly know as the "Beast from Birán" or "Bola de churre"/dirtball, by most Cubans (though not out loud by those living in the imprisoned island), would have blown up half of the U.S. had it not been for, believe it or not, the Russians' restraint in 1962.
Castro has allied himself with every real and conceivable enemy of the U.S. His spies operate unmolested in this country and all over the world. He harbors terrorists from all over the world, including ETA, Hezbollah, the Macheteros from Puerto Rico, etc. He compromises our western hemisphere military communications, etc., though his listening post in Lourdes, western Cuba, and sells it to the highest bidder. He indoctrinates countless young American exchange students. He has advanced chemical and biological warfare research facilities. He has murdered Americans. He has murdered and imprisoned tens of thousands of Cubans in inhumane conditions, including work camps and prisons--so wretched, one would have to look back to the time of the inquisition and beyond, to find their equal. He has destroyed what once was one of the largest sugar industries in the world. He has destroyed countless natural habitats and native species. He has sacrificed thousands of Cubans fighting proxy wars for the former Soviet Union, including Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Angola, etc. He has caused nearly (per a Harvard University study) 100,000 Cubans to perish at sea. His family has made of the island, which once had the third largest economy in Latin America, with a standard of living higher than that of Japan, Italy, etc., up to 1958--a third world personal plantation with 11 million slaves. He has confiscated billions of private American and Cuban property and assets. He profits greatly from prostitution, including minors, through the sex tourist trade. His jails are filled with political dissidents, or anyone who does not exhibit enough pro-Castro or revolutionary zeal. The Cuban standard of living is so low that when Haitians are picked up at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard, the first words out of their mouth are: We're not Cubans--lest they be taken to Cuba and not Haiti.
Yet, we have countless useless idiots in this country, including many politicians, but also businessmen, so-called artists, etc., who believe and promote the 51-year Castro dictatorship as a great triumph for the people and freedom.
I suspect we probably wouldn't be where we are today, which will be nothing compared to where we're headed if we don't wake up and derail this soon-to-be out of control socialist train--if we had paid heed to not only the warning from the Cubans about socialism, but also th0se behind the iron curtain, and those fortunate enough to have escaped the incipient, yet increasingly rapacious and oppressive socialist dictatorship in Venezuela, etc.
Mimi| 8.21.10 @ 11:14AM
JIM: Wow...what a great post! I learned much.
A note to all DEMS: Can America ever forgive you for giving us this left-leaning, liberal-socialist, commie crew in our Whitehouse and Congress? America will never, ever go this way, the correction is in progress now. Your party needs a good CLEANSING. The time is now for any of you who care about this great nation....To listen to the people and reject BOLDLY the anti-American path your party has chosen to take. Do any of you have that kind of COURAGE? Hear me.....You are going in the wrong direction for AMERICA!
Helen Sutter| 8.21.10 @ 9:51AM
I found your comment so honest and truthful. Lets not worry about all the boring presidents. Let's get one in there that will work to pay off this terrible debt, and will bring back the National Day of Prayer.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 10:34AM
Stand back , Brooks is busy chasing his tail .
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 10:45AM
I guess telepromptr = the new "laser?" God forbid!
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 10:40AM
Alan, stop your bloviating! Geeze. Mabey YOU want to be president. Do you want to be like obama? Talk about tiresome and uninteresting!
Bush may have not been the best speaker, but at least he is a MAN and loves his country. I'll take a real man as opposed to this skinny metro sexual marxist ANY day of the week.
RCV| 8.21.10 @ 2:03AM
We're not choosing your ideal sexual partner, Stephanie, but someone smart enough to lead the country. George has all the time in the world now for you, thank God.
John| 8.21.10 @ 2:11AM
What is it with you liberals and condescension?
carnot| 8.22.10 @ 9:13AM
and a fine job he is doing!...bahahahahahaha
DesertFox| 8.20.10 @ 10:41AM
You are FOS.
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 10:46AM
Well, as Churchill said, you can trust America to do the right thing but only after exhausting every other possibility first.
That's the case with our self-inflicted recession and the mess Democrats are making of the recovery.
Polls show the American people want to quit borrowing and spending even if politicians do not. At least some GOP'ers see this too, Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan. Look at the tea party.
That's why I continue to have faith in America and vote Republican.
Obama's speeches are interesting in the way a carwreck is interesting. You flinch but have to listen anyway. If he wasn't president, no one would bother, soon no one will.
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 11:17AM
Since you did not vote in 2008 you have no moral right to criticize those who did, no matter who they voted for, but that you did anyway demonstrates you have the same "Lecturer In Chief" persona as Obama.
Better is a President who speaks plainly and simply, says what they mean and mean what they say and, moreover, puts "Country First" than a President who does the exact opposite.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 11:52AM
"Since you did not vote in 2008 you have no moral right to criticize those who did, no matter who they voted for, but that you did anyway demonstrates you have the same "Lecturer In Chief" persona as Obama."
I don't care what you think of me-- save that you think I'm gullible. A REALLY gullible person is a homeless person. call me anything you want: faggt vegetarian pinko twinkletoes commie pot smoking draft dodger. But not a chump.
A sucker will not inherit the Earth-- only the savvy will.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 4:32PM
Spoken like an agnostic deconstructionist.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 8:00PM
"Spoken like an agnostic deconstructionist."
Preferable to your insincere religion.
Tim*| 8.21.10 @ 10:39AM
Again , as I pointed out , spoken like an agnostic deconstructionist .
You're an argument against yourself , Old Bitcher .
Scott| 8.24.10 @ 2:13PM
Inscribed upon your tombstone "Here lies an agnostic. All dressed up and no where to go."
WayneH| 8.20.10 @ 9:55PM
Alan, You consider yourself savvy? And thus you stand to inherit the earth? Hmmm. You need help, no wonder the magnificent "one" appeals to you so much.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 5:54PM
" And thus you stand to inherit the earth?"
No, not me-- wrong gene pool. But there are those who will inherit the Earth, but they would not be fools.
Fools Die.
Fredrick Ward| 8.20.10 @ 11:27AM
That has got to be the most impressive Dem comment I have seen thus far. There wasn't any flaming, or jibbing. It was just plain clean discourse. I commend you. If all of us were to handle things with such a cool head, and desire to for real answers, then maybe this country wouldn't be in such disarray.
Warrior | 8.20.10 @ 11:27AM
You are wrong in one key aspect. We do not need to focus on what Obama says because we all know the next day will start with, "What I meant to say...."
InLineFour| 8.20.10 @ 5:24PM
Warrior, don't forget, "and let me be clear.."
Not only does he feel the need to lecture to us proles, he also feels the need to speak from his heart:
He needlessly jumps into the Gates fray, not only because Gates is a friend, but because he's black, and deep in his heart Obama is a racist (read Dreams of My Father).
And he needlessly jumps into the Ground Zero Mosque fray, not only to lecture us about tolerance and Constitutionality, but also because deep in his heart he is a Muslim (lest we forget his Fruedian slip to Stephanopolous: "..my muslim faith..).
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:01PM
"Obama says because we all know the next day will start with, 'What I meant to say....' "
Correct. However though you may know that there is a great relief that Bush is gone, you may not realize the degree to which people are relieved Bush is history. They are also hoping Obama will triangulate after Nov. But if not, then he wont be reelected. IMO he will, because the GOP says 'we wont compromise in '12.
Yet they will-- politics IS compromise. Do what you want, I have no intention of ever voting GOP again (I did in the '80s); but i might vote 3rd party.
Even Libertarian, if they can mature to become a real party.
Tom Parrish| 8.20.10 @ 12:01PM
Wow. Way too many words to say nothing at all. Obama is interesting? Good reason to support a president.
Mitch| 8.20.10 @ 12:06PM
You registered as a democrat??? You, Sir, are a moron!!!
SocialistsNeverProsper| 8.20.10 @ 12:24PM
If Uhhh-bama is as "interesting" a speaker as you say, Mr. Brooks, then why does one have an overwhelming urge to reach for the mute button every time he appears in a clip? The man's haughtiness is as grating as the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard. Doesn't the art of persuasion necessarily involve not turning people off to your point of view before you've even opened your mouth?
Maddox| 8.20.10 @ 1:00PM
Alan, it is impossible to take the blow-hard too seriously. The result of his words and actions are destroying the economy of the U.S. and eventually the world. He is intentionally dividing our country along racial and social lines. His condescending speeches are as insulting as the efforts to build the mosque at ground zero. He wants us to watch him gloat every time he opens his lying mouth.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:02PM
"Alan, it is impossible to take the blow-hard too seriously."
Same is true of the GOP.
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 8.20.10 @ 1:15PM
Michael Smerconish is that you?
Jonno| 8.20.10 @ 1:59PM
You're worried about who the next Republican POTUS may be? How can you be so sure it will be a Republican? I'm not referring to the rumors of Hilary mounting a challenge nor of a third party challenger but reflecting on the serious disenchantment among many Democrats and liberals.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 3:32PM
Jonno,
An alternative to Obama or a Republican could mount a challenge in less than two years (the primaries start a year and a half from now). They would lack the experience.
beeb0p| 8.20.10 @ 11:18PM
"They would lack the experience."
Of what? Soiling their pants? Please. Don't go there ...
Mimi| 8.21.10 @ 1:08PM
Alan: Did you forget ? America always rights itself. There will appear a few DARK HORSES coming out of nowhere....There is a lot of talent out there. GOD-WILLING....A great leader will take the country by storm...and right the ship!!!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:06PM
"America always rights itself."
Not since 1989. Think of it: all those born when the Berlin Wall fell are now going on 21.
Two decades wasted.
Charlie| 8.21.10 @ 9:20PM
Alan, you are a pontificating, little bastard.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 2:54PM
Let me be perfectly clear...you're an idiot.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 3:34PM
I wrote: "they would lack the experience."
However IMO the GOP will win in 2016-- there is always a turnover in politics.
Chairman Nobomba | 8.20.10 @ 3:44PM
Alan, Alan bubbling brooks again! Stop spilling that Cool-aid.
Padoux| 8.20.10 @ 4:12PM
Having been lectured by many "brilliant" professors in college and law school I wouldn't want them to be President where some common sense is required and knowledge of the world other than that garnered in academia or community organizing. The President is not elected to lead a lively debating society but to lead the country in a practical way and at least appear to be one of us instead of a snobby professor given to needless and heedless lecturing, not needed for class credit.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:09PM
"The President is not elected to lead a lively debating society but to lead the country in a practical way"
Then the GOP has to put up or shut up, they can't run mediocre presidential candidates-- as they have for twenty years-- and expect to win.
RicoC| 8.20.10 @ 5:30PM
Let me get this straight, you'd rather have an eloquent liar as President than an honest man who's not as articulate. You are part of the problem!!!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:13PM
"Let me get this straight, you'd rather have an eloquent liar"
I don't "believe" in good politics, there are no trustworthy powerseekers, only some that are less pernicious than the alternative.
I'm only relieved that McCain didn't win.
rightwing pighead| 8.20.10 @ 8:33PM
I suppose you found it interesting when Obama said "At some point, you've made enough (money). Tell me, Mr. Brooks, have you "made enough" yet?
Tex Expatriate| 8.20.10 @ 8:56PM
Alan, your view of Obama and presidents in general as cheerleaders makes me wonder where you attended school, and convinces me that you never fought for freedom anywhere.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:16PM
"Alan, your view of Obama and presidents in general as cheerleaders makes me wonder where you attended school, and convinces me that you never fought for freedom anywhere."
The school I went to was at least better than those you will find in Texas, or anywhere in the South. Freedom? what good is freedom without virtue?
Radegunda| 8.20.10 @ 11:54PM
Thoughtful people don't elect presidents to say "interesting" (but utterly wrongheaded, foolish, dangerous, dishonest, contradictory) things. Thoughtful people elect presidents who have a measure of common sense and knowledge of how the world works, who can keep an even keel in a crisis, and who are reasonably trustworthy and responsible.
I guess Alan Grayson is "interesting," as are Al Franken, Charlie Rangel, Rahm Emanuel, Nasty Pelosi, Barney Frank, Rev. Wright et al.
I'll taking boring, thanks.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:20PM
"Thoughtful people elect presidents who have a measure of common sense and knowledge of how the world works, who can keep an even keel in a crisis, and who are reasonably trustworthy and responsible."
The two Bushes did not fit that bill-- neither did Dole or McCain. You might not remember, but many of those who didn't like Clinton voted for Clinton because they didn't like the untrustworthy "read my lips, no new taxes" Bush, or the "my daughter's wedding is being sabotaged" Perot.
Colossians 3:12| 8.21.10 @ 1:06PM
The thing I dislike most about listening to Obama speak is all the long uhm, uhm ,uhm, pauses he makes. Why not think before one speaks rather than speak while one is thinking? Though, I suppose speaking before a thought has been fully formed is a basic part of pontification. Just a humble observation.
Colossians 3:12 | 8.21.10 @ 1:15PM
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
A pen| 8.22.10 @ 11:28AM
The president is the gatekeeper, face of the nation. This man is the face of the radical left with the cunning of brer rabbit. His face appeals to anyone who buys into the idea that America is not a melting pot where American values are molded into all but a free for all cultual menagerie that magically survives due to the wisdom of great intellectuals governing it, now.
In the real world Obama's act is known as a flash in the pan.
DesertFlower| 8.23.10 @ 4:44PM
>
No, I do not find Obama interesting. What does he have to say? Basically a rehash of Lefty nostrums admixed with the hopey-changey thing; we've heard it all before and delivered without the ping-pong effect as his head nods back & forth between teleprompters. I usually zone out around two minutes into his speeches.
Interesting? No.
Scary? Youbetcha.
Occam's Tool| 8.23.10 @ 9:47PM
"Something interesting to say..." no, he had charisma. His speeches were notable for being devoid of actual content. My wife and I used to dissect his speeches, getting rid of the redundant phrases, the meaningless ones like "we are the generation we've been waiting for," and the shout-outs. Result: null semantic content.
roy | 8.21.10 @ 11:45AM
Whenever I see or hear Obama I think of the old Chinese proverb "When small men cast long shadows the sun is about to set!"
Teamwasted| 8.22.10 @ 9:25PM
If idiots could fly, the White House would be an airport.
Alfred| 8.20.10 @ 6:28AM
What we have in Obama is a narcisist. His only accomplishments in life are winning three elections: IL Legislator, US Congress and POTUS. While in the first two positions he accomplished nothing; while in the second he has succeeded in doing in less than 2 years what the USSR could not do in 50 - bring the US to it knees.
Despite this, Obama somehow feels he is qualified to speak down to the American people as though they are his infant children.
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 11:24AM
Obama is the poster child for Narcissist Personality Disorder.
Obama has indeed accomplished in less than 2 years what the former Soviet Union failed to accomplish after 50 years - destroy the United States of America.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:11PM
...and with his absolute lack of experience, entirely undocumented academic achievement and dubious intellectual capabilities why would anyone listen to Obama's views on anything - what does he know, and how does he know it I am always wondering - who in hell is this arrogant and irritating fellow lecturing us?
Ret. Marine| 8.20.10 @ 6:30AM
"needs to take a strap to his ass", hand cuff him and throw him in with the wolves he is creating. That would be a teachable moment for all who wish in the future to think We the People are as stupid as he acts.
With considerable years his senior, thirty two years of active duty in the Armed Forces, served under 7 Presidents and now retired I cannot think of a President who wishes and signs legislation, to enslave others to the extent so obvious as to claim his desire to "fundamentaly transform" these United States into our worst nightmare. Some one somw where needs to start the Impeachment process and make it very public, this pretender-n-theif has betrayed his duties and Responsibilities of the Presidency in way only imaginable in the Soviet Union. May God, not allah, have mercy upon his soul, for surely MEN like myself will not.
Brian Mc| 8.20.10 @ 8:01AM
Funny; I mentioned cuffs yesterday in a response to the Carter article and was pummeled and told to simmer down and stop dealing with "red herrings", Ret. Marine! Red herring, my eye. This is the source of all other issues and I will state again, what I stated then and at other times here, "I will not be satisfied until the alien is led away in cuffs".
This act alone will lead me to believe that we are finally back on the right track to save the Republic...might be we should run the idea past his 30+ czars, who answer to no legislature-what they think. Waddya think?
Mark| 8.20.10 @ 9:45AM
Here is my complaint about what you wrote yesterday and what the Marine wrote today. Descriptions of your fantasies of handcuffs and spankings not only aid the other side in their rants against us conservatives, but are quite frankly a little weird. We need plans, not slightly sadomasochistic rants.
Paul D| 8.20.10 @ 9:55AM
Who the hell cares what the "other side" thinks of us.
To quote the sage Otter (Animal House): "I've got news for you, they're gonna screw us no matter what we do."
scotchieguy| 8.20.10 @ 8:17PM
"Let me handle this, I'm pre-law."
"I thought you were pre-med!"
"What's the difference?"
chuck| 8.21.10 @ 7:37AM
"BLOWJOB" (cough, cough)
"EAT ME" (cough, cough)
Occam's Tool| 8.23.10 @ 9:51PM
What's the difference? Nothing, at the pre- stage. But when you are about to jump off a building (I have talked people off of a building and a bridge that they were going to jump off) or you have a burst appendix, it would help if you knew the difference.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 9:56AM
Ditto...
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 10:43AM
Ditto you dito WTF Guy! Otter was a wise man :-) I think I need to see that movie again.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 10:57AM
Ditto confusion. My ditto directed @ Marks comments...
...love that movie:
Otter: Point of parliamentary procedure!
Hoover: Don't screw around, they're serious this time!
Otter: Take it easy, I'm pre-law.
Boon: I thought you were pre-med.
Otter: What's the difference?
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 4:10PM
Otter: Flounder, I am appointing you pledge representative to the social committee.
Flounder: Gee Otter, thanks. What do I have to do?
Otter: It means you have to drive us to the Food King.
scotchieguy| 8.20.10 @ 8:23PM
"Kent, I want to introduce you to some of the guys...here is, Jugdish, Sidney, Clayton....and, Mohammed."
"Yeah, we've already met."
"SUPER!!!!! Then you'll have lots to talk about, HUH?????"
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 8:30PM
Hoover: We're in trouble. I just checked with the guys at the Jewish house and they said that every one of our answers on the Psych test was wrong.
Boon: Every one?
[looks at Bluto and D-Day]
Boon: Those assh%%%s must have stolen the wrong fu*^ing exam!
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:01AM
"Krueger... For now on, your Delta Tau name is ...Pinto!
"Why Pinto?
(belch)...WHY NOT!!????
heh heh heh...funniest line in the movie
WTF Guy| 8.21.10 @ 9:54AM
Eric 'Otter' Stratton: Sophomore dies in kiln explosion? Oh My God! I just talked to her last week... She was going to make a pot for me.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 10:43AM
"You guys playin cards?"
WTF Guy| 8.21.10 @ 2:19PM
Dean Wormer: Mr. Kroger: two C's, two D's and an F. That's a 1.2 grade average. Congratulations, Kroger. You're at the top of the Delta pledge class...
and he's the "responsible" one of the bunch :)
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 4:39PM
"Mrs Wormer, I'm so glad to see you.
"Cut the crap! Get me a drink!"
WTF Guy| 8.21.10 @ 5:51PM
Can I have 10,000 marbles please :)
scotchieguy| 8.22.10 @ 1:27PM
"Bleep her!"
"Don't you dare...you will never get to heaven."
"Ah, com'on...you know you want her...you homo!!!"
WTF Guy| 8.22.10 @ 5:12PM
Dean Vernon Wormer: Greg, what is the worst fraternity on this campus?
Greg Marmalard: Well that would be hard to say, sir. They're each outstanding in their own way.
Dean Vernon Wormer: Cut the horseshit, son. I've got their disciplinary files right here. Who dropped a whole truckload of fizzies into the swim meet? Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween, the trees are filled with underwear. Every spring, the toilets explode.
Greg Marmalard: You're talking about Delta, sir.
Dean Vernon Wormer: Of course I'm talking about Delta, you TWERP!
Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? ------ always gets me, he he :)
Ned| 8.20.10 @ 10:40AM
Not only "ditto", but please allow me to remind you of the absolutely orgastic media frenzy that accompanied any and every media-generated rumor of Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, et al, being indicted, arrested and "frog-marched" to jail, including photoshopped pictures of Rove in cuffs, having urinated himself. Let's not be pretending that we go along with their ever present double standards.
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 10:56AM
And wish those -- Sarah Palin springs to mind -- not in step with them on flights that crash.
I guess we simply aren't clever enough ....
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:16PM
Haven't you seen and understood that Tea Party sign which reads "Whatever This Sign Says You'll Say It Is Racist" yet? The Left hates us and everything we stand for (such as the USA) and will distort and misrepresent everything and anything we say, so let's just say whatever we feel is appropriate and not give another thought to what they think or say. We need to ridicule and defeat them, not curry their favor.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 10:11AM
When the country feels the real/true effects of his legislation in the coming years, conservatives have a huge opportunity - without question the biggest opportunity in my lifetime, including the disastrous Carter era - to attract millions of new, lifetime conservatives. If we do this right by properly educating and offering working alternatives to this socialist program, we can win this battle with relative ease. I think it's a little counter productive at this time to talk about impeachment and handcuffs.
Brian Mc| 8.20.10 @ 12:16PM
In the past fifty years, name me one time when conservatives were able to trim back one socialistic, cultural-riddling step the country took.
Sorry, too much water under the bridge. We are in a fight whether you wish to believe it, or not...the fight for the very continuation of this country as the greatest bastion against evil the world will ever see. The more 'we' talk the more they take, (bit by bit) giggling all along the way.
Occam's Tool| 8.23.10 @ 9:53PM
Reagan's tax cuts.
Ned| 8.20.10 @ 12:31PM
August 20, 2010 12:00 A.M.
The Point of No Return
Thomas Sowell
The warnings of Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln have never been more relevant.
How did we get to the point where many people feel that the America they have known is being replaced by a very different kind of country, with not only different kinds of policies but also very different values and ways of governing?
Something of this magnitude does not happen all at once or in just one administration in Washington. What we are seeing is the culmination of many trends in many aspects of American life that go back for years.
Neither the Constitution of the United States nor the institutions set up by the Constitution are enough to ensure the continuance of a free, self-governing nation. When Benjamin Franklin was asked what members of the Constitutional Convention were creating, he replied, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”
In other words, a constitutional government does not depend on the Constitution but on us. To the extent that we allow clever people to circumvent the Constitution while dazzling us with rhetoric, the Constitution becomes just a meaningless piece of paper as our freedoms are stolen from us, much as a pick-pocket might steal our wallet while we were distracted by other things.
It is not just evil people who would dismantle America. Many people who have no desire to destroy our freedoms simply have agendas of their own that are singly or collectively incompatible with the survival of freedom.
Someone once said that a democratic society cannot survive for long after 51 percent of the people decide that they want to live off the other 49 percent. Yet that is the direction in which we are being pushed by those who are promoting envy under its more high-toned alias, “social justice.”
Those who construct moral melodramas — starring themselves on the side of the angels against the forces of evil — are ready to disregard the constitutional rights of those they demonize, and to overstep the limits that the Constitution puts on the powers of the federal government.
The outcries of protest in the media, in academia, and in politics when the Supreme Court ruled this year that people in corporations have the same free-speech rights as other Americans were a painful reminder of how vulnerable even the most basic rights are to the attacks of ideological zealots. Pres. Barack Obama said that the Court’s decision would “open the floodgates for special interests” — as if all you have to do to take away people’s free-speech rights is call them special interests.
It is not just particular segments of the population that are under attack. More fundamentally under attack are the very principles and values of American society as a whole. The history of this country is taught in many schools and colleges as the history of grievances and victimhood, often with the mantra of “race, class, and gender.” Television and the movies often do the same.
When there are not enough current grievances for them, they mine the past for grievances and call it history. Sins and shortcomings common to the human race around the world are spoken of as failures of “our society.” But American achievements get far less attention — and sometimes none at all.
Our “educators,” who cannot educate our children to the level of math or science achieved in most other comparable countries, have time to poison their minds against America.
Why? Partly, if not mostly, it is because that is the vogue. It shows you are “with it” when you reject your own country and exalt other countries.
Abraham Lincoln warned of people whose ambitions can only be fulfilled by dismantling the institutions of this country because no comparable renown is available to them by supporting those institutions. He said this 25 years before the Gettysburg Address, and he was speaking of political leaders with hubris, whom he regarded as a greater danger than enemy nations. But such hubris is far more widespread today than just among political leaders.
Those with such hubris — in the media and in education, as well as in politics — have for years eroded both respect for the country and the social cohesion of its people. This erosion is what has set the stage for today’s dismantling of America, which is now approaching the point of no return.
— Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. © 2010 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Ret. Marine| 8.22.10 @ 6:11AM
I may respect what you have to say, but I disagree with your statement entirely. It is time to start the Impeachment process, if not for one thing , this POS is aiding and abetting the enemies of this NAtion, i.e. funding to a total of 400 million of our hard earned taxes to the HAMAS organization, please tell me what part of treason this does not fall under.
Alfred| 8.20.10 @ 6:40AM
If the right to build religious structures is inviolable in the US I am interested in why there are so many church building permits denied. Try Googling "church building permit denied" sometime.
DonDuke | 8.20.10 @ 7:12AM
As I recall Alfred, there was a Greek church at ground zero that was destroyed by the attacks and they would not allow them to rebuild.
RCV| 8.20.10 @ 1:44PM
Another myth the right likes to perpetuate.
Appleby| 8.20.10 @ 1:58PM
What myth? St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero that was crushed by the collapse of the South Tower? That myth?
RCV| 8.20.10 @ 4:14PM
No, the myth is that they "weren't allowed to rebuild." As the NYC Port Authority said in a statement, "St. Nicholas Orthodox Church has always had and will continue to have the right to rebuild on its original location. The question was whether public money would be spent to build a much larger church at a separate location on the site and ensuring that construction wouldn't delay the World Trade Center further," spokesman Stephen Sigmund said in a written statement. "On that question, we worked for many years to reach an agreement and offered up to 60 million dollars of public money to build that much larger new church. After reaching what we believed was an agreement in 2008, representatives of the church wanted even more public commitments, including unacceptable approvals on the design of the Vehicle Security Center that threatened to further delay the construction on the World Trade Center and the potential for another $20 million of public funds."
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:21PM
Delay (rebuilding) the World Trade Center? Is that even contemplated any longer? It is an outrage that in 2010 no new buildings have been erected on that site - what happened to our sense of national pride? And now we may have a Victory Mosque nearby - we may have PASSED the point of no return already.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.20.10 @ 7:16AM
Someone should ask Obama what is the difference between the mosque and the soon to take effect health care plan.
They both require a religious fervor, one to the religion of big government, the other to a monotheistic religion where you convert or die, which is also the theme behind the health care plan.
jd| 8.20.10 @ 8:40AM
Correction, The Health Care Plan theme is Convert AND Die.
Those non existant Death Panels are already taking a breast cancer treatment off the market.
A.MEN| 8.20.10 @ 7:19AM
Iman Obama is the First Muslim President.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:22PM
...well, you gotta admit, THAT'S historic!
k962| 8.20.10 @ 7:21AM
Why doesn't anybody ever question Obama about his books? With statements like"If the political winds turn ugly, I will side with the Muslims". What in the hell does he mean by that? Press as usual absent on everything!
dennis| 8.20.10 @ 9:31AM
Not that I like Obama at all but I googled that quote, and it's soo taken out of context!! It's missing about 5 sentences in between.
RCV| 8.20.10 @ 1:43PM
Here's the full quote in context:
"Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction. "
TennesseeVolunteer| 8.20.10 @ 7:43AM
But Andrew, he's a Christian...and he prays five times a day!
Bill Burton
White House
martin j smith| 8.20.10 @ 7:47AM
Obama is a great "subject" to analyze for diagnosis. I would give him a mixed Personality Disorder--Narcissistic and anti-social ( or sociopathic ). Now that I got that off my chest, the more important issue is this: gettting rid of him poitically and legally.
He is doing so much damage to this country: just a few examples: neglegence in the gulf oil disaster,negligence on our borders,unconscionable amounts of spending ( you can add whatever you want to add )so I will say thi8s one word; IMPEACH THIS GUY.
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 7:58AM
Is he a practising Muslim? No. Is he a radical
muslim sympathiser. Oh hell yes. His dilema is his religion is marxism, not islam, but both are anti-freedom and anti-American so for the moment they are brothers in arms bent on the destruction of the same thing.
Chalkdust| 8.20.10 @ 8:03AM
For a man who traveled to all 55 states except two without a corpseman in attendants, his "teachable moments" seem more like hang fires than direct hits.
As Obama flies about the countryside on Marine Corpse helicopter-1, he should reflect on what Eric Hoffer, an American sage, cautioned; Former teachers who gravitate to politics are often more dangerous than Russian Czars.
Paevo| 8.20.10 @ 12:31PM
You mean 57 states, as in the Organization of the Islamic Conference...
martin j smith| 8.20.10 @ 8:04AM
Another word: VOTE.
This is what is important: to have so many voters
AGAINST the Democrat Left that there can be no doubt that the mandate is NO to this Socialist Agenda.
Timothy L. Pennell| 8.20.10 @ 8:16AM
I too think that these MURDEROUS SC*M should be able to build their Mosque. Maybe Patterson could offer them a suitable site? Perhaps next to the WASTE TREATMENT PLANT? Or someplace where we BURN GARBAGE? Or store USED CONDOMS?
I wonder how you 'supporters' would feel about a JAMES EARL RAY Church being put up next door to where MLK was shot dead? I could start a Religion where people who think that James Earl Ray was sent by GOD, to do what he did, could come and worship him.
How about a HITLER Religion? Is that all right? We could put up a HITLER Church in Crown Heights. After all...Freedom of Religion.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is THE LEFT. This is your DEMOCRAT PARTY.
If they want to 'BUILD BRIDGES', how about building a Bridge back to whichever backward STINK HOLE they came from? If ISLAM is so Great and Wonderful, why are they HERE? Go back to your Middle East CESSPOOLS, and wallow in your 7th Century FILTH.
Islam is RACIST, MISOGENYSTIC, HOMOPHOBIC, INTOLERANT OF ANYONE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE, and they BUTCHER and KILL what they can't compete with or CONVERT.
You wanna build a Shrine to THAT?
Put it in the SEWER. Where it belongs.
Samuel Park| 8.20.10 @ 2:32PM
AMEN!!!
MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU HAVE SAID IT 'ALL'.
Mac| 8.20.10 @ 11:44PM
How about building a Hooters that only serves pork BBQ opening up across the street from the new center? How would that go over with them and would the City approve it or would it not be PC?
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:06AM
how about a gay bar next to the hooters?
Louis Jenkins| 8.20.10 @ 8:19AM
Part of the problem is with the cameras running, and the newshounds baying, the Pretender n Chief cannot help but teach. What better way to correct the dotards than by speaking clearly and fluently in a know all manner? The only thing missing is the chaulk board. The American people do not need a teacher or an instructor. They need leadership and from what's being seen they don't have it. A custodian with a mop is far better than what we've had so far.
Pete| 8.20.10 @ 10:09AM
And as Harry Reid pointed out, without negro dialect. Now that this idiOt has had the job for 2 years, we can see that Reid's revelation is the only thing Osama has going for him. Smooth if substanceless talk.
scotchieguy| 8.20.10 @ 8:39PM
"Speaking clearly and fluently in a know-all manner." Right. Kind of like a black Eddie Haskell, w/out the BS. Skinny head. Shinny body. Big, Serious Eyes. Dumb ears. Completely full of sh*t.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 8:41AM
Obama At The Chalk Board , " Let's see here , we 'll put The Mosque next to the new Goldman Sachs Building , across from The SEIU Clubhouse , down from Georgie Soros' new Hedge Fund Offices , by ACORN's newly branded New York headquarters , then we'll put ........ " .
uncle curmudgeon| 8.20.10 @ 9:59AM
.... a fleet of Chevy Volts in each parking lot!
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 10:48AM
How UN-AMERICAN of you!
quote; bobby gibbs
hardcard| 8.20.10 @ 8:43AM
FU bo and the camel you rode in on!!!!!!!
The Bishop| 8.20.10 @ 8:45AM
The great imponderable question is: How? How did this immature, narcissistic zero assume the most powerful office in the world? The brain power, though much heralded, is a fabrication and all tangible evidence fails to suggest otherwise. Just think how long of a post-presidency he will have to try to assert himself into national conversations long after Americans will have told him to shut the he'll up and go home. I shudder.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 3:40PM
"How did this immature, narcissistic zero assume the most powerful office in the world?"
Same reason Carter won in '76: a weak GOP opponent. You people aren't confirmed narcissists, you are confirmed masochists.
Nunya| 8.20.10 @ 5:05PM
Actually, I think Carter won more because of the corruption of the Nixon administration, and the fact that Nixon appointed Ford to VP without anyone voting for him. I think the American people just wanted "change" then, as well--which they got, though the person elected then was also an idiot. Luckily enough it changed for the better in the 1980 election.
Unfortunately, I must agree with you on the most recent choice of the GOP candidate, McCain is a RINO and everyone knows it. He believed the hype when the media was fawning over him when he ran against W, and in reality he's the weakest candidate since Dole--who should never have been given the nomination.
Larry| 8.20.10 @ 5:35PM
the corruption in the Nixon administration was not that he appointed ford VP. Nixon had the constitutional authority to do that to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of ("corrupt") Spiro Agnew. If Nixon had not appointed Ford and had he resigned without a VP, I believe the Speaker of the House would have stepped up to the presidency. That would have been the Democrat Carl Albert, not a comforting thought to me.
scotchieguy| 8.20.10 @ 8:42PM
'You mind if we dance w/ yo dates!!??"
"Why, no. Not at all!"
...as he hoists up the table,
"If I was in YO SHOES, why, I'd be...
"LEAVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a good idea!"
Take a hint, Alan.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 9:08PM
You're the one who is being silly. You are surely under 35. Possibly a 20-something.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:09AM
I'm actually in my eighties...just pulling your chain, sonny-boy!
Occam's Tool| 8.23.10 @ 9:56PM
Alan, humor is a MATURE psychological defense. Look it up.
WayneH| 8.20.10 @ 11:10PM
For once I agree with you Alan.
John DuBose| 8.20.10 @ 8:56AM
The teachable moment here is for the president to make a big noise directed at the intolerant muslim nations that will not allow christian or jewish churches to be built in their countries.
There may be some costs to some US interest.
Too bad!! These are our values. We may not need to get in a war, but we can and should speak up. It is the presidents job. He needs to do it.
JoeW| 8.20.10 @ 1:53PM
Most US Presidents have spoken up for the sharing of American values around the world. They have spent time, energy, and political capital hoping to expand freedom to others around the world. Obama doesn't like American values, though, so.....
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 9:00AM
The Dems thought that he was better than Senator Clinton and hijacked their own primaries to deliver the worst one term blunder to the unsuspecting American spectators ....
What we have wanted has not mattered.
The best thing he could do for "his?" party is to do the LBJ and say he isn't running again ... of course we all know his word means .... well ... what the heck does it mean?
Doctor_X| 8.20.10 @ 9:03AM
What do you expect from an atheist President? He claims he is not a Muslim, and he is certainly not a Christian.
It is true that the government cannot stop the Mosque from being built on the grounds that it is a Mosque, however it is a moot point. It looks like there is no funding for it and private companies are not obligated to accept contracts to do the building. I wouldn’t risk the bad press as a sub-contractor to do work on it.
If you are a true Christian than you have nothing to fear from the Mosque. The Bible is very clear that Christ will reign and that Satan’s doom is assured. They can build a Mosque on every street corner and it wouldn’t do them one bit of good.
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 9:41AM
Also, bear in mind that many will suffer and die, both guilty and innocent until evil is defeated. Evil is going to take a lot of lives with it before it is snuffed out hopefully once and for. This abortion of a president is truly evil in intent and has made no bones about aiding and abetting those who would bring us down and destroy us as a nation.
linda| 8.20.10 @ 10:29AM
doc i just don't want to live under dimmitude or pay the j. (tax) either. and i am a christian, but i will not get on the train. "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH"
dm| 8.20.10 @ 9:23AM
Thank you, thank you, thank you for correctly identifying the president's previous position as a "lecturer" - NOT A PROFESSOR. You may be the first one to do so.
Sorry, I work in an academic environment and it takes years to become a "professor"..."lecturer" is basically one step above "student".
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 11:02AM
It's a little odd.
I work in academics too and usually academic libs fall over themselves to promote a promising minority or female. It's a little harder for us white males. All major universities have "diversity czars" of course.
So I did some research. Apparently, BOH was a part-time lecturer; too busy building his political career, hanging out with Acorn & Bill Ayers.
So he couldn't accomplish even the modest amount of scholarship required for promotion.
Even so, Chicago offered him a professorship several times but he declined.
Bigger fish to fry.
Paevo| 8.20.10 @ 12:36PM
"usually academic libs fall over themselves to promote a promising minority or female"
Exactly. Which is why I left academia. Plus, since this guy was not an actual professor, but a mere lecturer, he never actually had to profess his mastery of the subject matter. Consequently, he was never "tested" in any meaningful way, just as he was tested neither at Community college (easy) nor at Columbia or Harvard (Ivy league grade inflation). Indeed, he has never been tested his entire life...
Dustoff| 8.20.10 @ 9:24AM
One thing is for darn sure. O-bummer is dragging himself and the democrat party into the ground.
And doing it quite fast I must admit. (-:
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 11:27AM
Yep.
This reminds of Thatcher' victory in 1979 after the British welfare state collapsed. The British Labor party was buried for 20 years. When they finally regained power in 1997 under Blair they were unrecognizable. The old socialist/communist labor party had disappeared for ever. Thatcher remade British politics.
Same thing will happen here. In this case, the bankrupt ideologies are 20th century progressivism, Keynesian "stimulus", race politics, public sector unions, radical environmentalism, etc. etc. All pillars of the Democratic party. They will have to go away for a bit and reinvent themselves. Their geriatric leadership will have to be completely replaced. Some have realized the game is up and already quit (David Obey).
As Thatcher said, socialism lasts until you run out of other people's money to spend.
I often wonder why unreconstructed progressives survived longer in the US. I think it's because of our divided system of government which enabled Dems to hold congress or the White House.
But now the endgame is here.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 11:45AM
The endgame is America goes the way of the British Empire.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:30PM
America cannot go the way of the British Empire because there will be no equivalent to the USA to defend America, or do you have more confidence in Canada than I?
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:27PM
Well there you go-- we are not the Atlas we were in 1945.
Atlas has shrugged.
Viki W| 8.20.10 @ 9:37AM
He is beyond belief...and I voted for him. You think--who does he think he is? How can he continue to ignore us?
In a similar vein, I find the whole religion controversy going on today amusing. I mean, duh! Why would people think he's Christian when he doesn't seem to celebrate Christmas or Easter (in his eyes an environmental holiday) or go to church, appoints people who want to decimate religious freedom or have written about their hatred for Catholicism or Christianity in general, etc. And he doesn't care what you think about that either! I don't really care if he is Muslim or not, but I used to think this accusation was lunatic. But now it does make some sense to me. I can't believe this man is President and fear for our country.
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 9:56AM
Not being with lack of respect, but why would you have voted for this guy? His whole background told anybody who wanted to research him that he was an Anti-American revolutionary athiest communist to the core. His so called church preached and spewed anti american marxist propaganda and he sit and absorbed it like a sponge. He is no christian, or muslim, he worships the state, marxism, and himself in whatever order you want to put those in. He will support whoever those are that will aid him in his "revolution" whether they believe in a god or not. Religion to this guy is a tool, or its practisers are a collection of useful idiots that he can USE(insert radical muslims here) to achieve his means to an end.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:25AM
The problem is everyone is afraid to admit this. Everyone is so damned scared of being called a racist that they sugar coat it...
...not just in the MSM, but talk radio--Beck, Medved, Preger, they all say the same thing: "I have no evidence he is a muslim...I have to take him for his word he is a christian." Biggest BS ever--look at his "Christian" church the past 20 years. Who is fooling whom?
The problem is, he is getting away w/ murder. And his handlers knew this would happen. Everytime he speaks I hit "mute." I swear someday when he comes to my town, I'm sneaking in a small megaphone and will yell "liar!" everytime he speaks. The best would be one of those obnoxious little whistle/dealios they have at NY Ranger games--that would be so funny. I'd gladly get arrested for messing him up w/ one of those.
We need to start getting creative here. We need to create as much chaos as possible at his speeches--heckle, disrupt, boo, whatever it takes...make his speeches a total joke...what's to lose?
Mimi| 8.21.10 @ 5:49PM
You gotta love this post....some frustration just left me.... "create chaos...what's to lose?" Just visualize us Patriots in jail...happy as clams!
Elbert| 8.20.10 @ 9:39AM
Obummer claims to be a Christian but methinks he is a closet Muslim.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:04PM
I think he is neither. He is a god unto himself. You don't need God with an ego like his.
Joke: Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Obama die and go to heaven. God asks the following question of each one: "What do you believe?"
Al Gore: "I believe I won that election, but it wasn't in your will."
God says: Have a seat, Al.
Bill Clinton : "I believe in forgiveness. I have sinned and have found forgiveness."
God: Have a seat, Bill.
Obama: "I believe you're in my chair,"
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:30PM
"Obummer claims to be a Christian but methinks he is a closet Muslim."
I get along better with Muslims than Christians-- but there is no analog to the Wahhabiists in Christianity. Up with Islam, down with the Wahhabis.
scottie| 8.22.10 @ 9:31PM
Its easy to get along with muslims. Its part of their religion to lie to the infidel to advance their cause. Sounds like Obama doesnt it.
Mark | 8.20.10 @ 9:48AM
It is entirely appropriate for a president to take leadership and help to educate the American people about our nation's bedrock principles. Would you folks rather have an idiot in the White House? Why all the anti-intellectualism in this commentary? Unfortunately, with the state of our schools in this country, our citizens need more, not less, education from our leaders. I am a deeply conservative person. But this column and the associated commentary help to reinforce the perception that conservatives in this country believe the morons should lead. Many here falsely equate conservative principles with anti-elitism. Most often the elites are right, and have something to teach the average citizens.
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 9:56AM
Is "intellectuallism" the sole (not to mention soul) province of the left?
Has what the middle (much less the right) of this diverse nation been represented as "intelligent" by any of the practicing MSM?
I am not certain what you think "smart" is. But if smart is allowing what is "permitted" to over take that which makes sense, we can all prepare for out and out chaos. Have you spent time with the children of the "me" generation? I begin to understand why the elderly lose their hearing.
Viki W| 8.20.10 @ 10:07AM
As someone with two masters and a PhD, I find the idea that "most elites are most often right" hilarious. For most of my life I have lived and worked with the hyper educated. In the academic world, they are often alas utterly conformist and lacking in intellectual courage and range. I dislike the term "morons" not only because of how it dehumanizes, but because it is short sighted and blind. I do understand and decry the anti- intellectualism of our culture and the educational push against meritocracy (provided that meritocracy is based on well-rounded education, not simply adherence to ideology, as is now the case).
And I also think we do have an idiot in the White House.
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 12:35PM
I'm with you, Viki. There's another thread here today about Thomas Sowell, so I thought this quote was appropriate:
"There is usually only a limited amount of damage that can be done by dull or stupid people. For creating a truly monumental disaster, you need people with high IQs." Thomas Sowell
Paevo| 8.20.10 @ 12:38PM
I bought into the "meritocracy" myth in academia and got my two masters and Ivy league PhD. There ain't no meritocracy, there is, alas, only conformism and favoritisim... What a load of shite...
Nunya| 8.20.10 @ 5:12PM
I think I'm in love... ;-)
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:35AM
Wait a minute. You had me for a while, but then you said you hated the term "moron," and then called the prez "idiot." I don't disagree w/ you per se, but where is your credibility?
You seem very intelligent, but overly-educated. What is w/ two Masters and one PhD? What specialty? Maybe less education is more...
red diaper baby 1942| 8.20.10 @ 10:19AM
finally a comment I can agree with! I was getting really depressed by the attitudes expressed in both the article itself and the preceding comments. As a former professor myself (now retired), I'm very happy at having a leader who's not afraid to apply his mind and treat us like thinking, rational human beings, not cattle to be emotionally manipulated for political gain.
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 11:40AM
And then he backtracked twice...."I never meant", " let me be clear" etc.etc.
Being a leader means understanding the mood of the people, not lecturing, having respect, knowing when to shut up.
BOH has none of these qualities.
He does not treat us as rational, thinking human beings. Rather he thinks we "cling to guns and religion".
He railroads through enormous bills against our consent.
How does this show respect for our opinions?
Give me character, common sense and experience any day over an intellectual in an ivory tower.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:07PM
What mind?
He thinks all of us are stupid, and the reason we don't agree is that he hasn't explained it enough.
You better start mooing, because it's quite apparent you've been manipulated.
Radegunda| 8.21.10 @ 12:13AM
You're kidding, right? So all that Hope 'n' Change wasn't about emotional manipulation? Those kids singing "Yes we can, yes we can, Obama's gonna change world" were deep thinkers? The people walking around in T-shirts with pictures of Dear Leader were acting like intelligent adults?
It isn't hard to list jaw-droppingly inane--not to mention dishonest and contradictory--statements made by Obamessiah. But after spending so much time getting your brain pickled in far-left academic postmodernism and deconstructionism, you evidently don't even recognize inanity when you hear it.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 10:19AM
"Most often the elites are right, and have something to teach the average citizens"
YOUR KIDDING ME, RIGHT?
uh, now you lost me!!!!
It's the elites that put us in this mess!!
Elites never have to pay the price for their harebrained plans.
Mark, you might want to hit the reset button!!
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 12:37PM
I think I remember Mark -- a troll, as I recall. If I'm wrong -- I apologize in advance. :)
George S| 8.20.10 @ 10:48AM
What basis do you have for asserting Obama is an intellectual? He's definitely a dues-paying member of their club, but where is the evidence of actual smarts? A simple college transcript can settle the matter. But like everything else, it's appearances that only matter.
Besides, look at the picture of Obama at the chalkboard, drawing lines from utilities to banks to corporations. What gems of knowledge is he imparting? Has he ever worked in any utility, bank or corporation? Has he studied about them? If he did, what were his grades on those subjects? Can we see his reports, homework, thesis, etc., on those subjects? When he met with bankers at the Pitchfork Dinners at the White House, was he able to talk their language? Remember when he didn't know the definition of a P/E ratio?
So I ask again... just exactly what is Obama teaching at that chalkboard and why should I be impressed?
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 10:56AM
"Remember when he didn't know the definition of a P/E ratio?" Or how to pronounce corpsman. What an intellectual genius!
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 11:23AM
It's not a classroom, it's a community center in
Chicago.
This seminar is titled: Relationships Built on Self Interest
Attendees - anyone interested in shaking down landlords, utility companies, local corporations, local media, or local government officials.
Basically, he's molding and mentoring future rabble-rousers.
The Big E| 8.20.10 @ 2:34PM
Mark, this is America. There ARE NO elites, only those who claim that status in a desperate, and usually futile, attempt to deal with their own feelings of inadequacy. The entire concept of there being "elites" who have some intellectual or moral superiority over the rest of us is utterly offensive to everything this Country stands for, for assumes at its core that all men are NOT created equal. It is an "Old World," concept, and the primary reason why many of our forefathers fled the "Old World" to begin with. Every butcher in the history of the world has claimed "elite" status. Every act of genocide, of mass evil and injustice, of ideological tyranny, has been intellectually "justified" by those claiming an "elite" status. "Elites" spent generations defending slavery, they put their "elite" heads together and gave the world Marxism, Nazism, Communism and every other "-ism" which has cited as a justification for mass-murder. History has proven over and over that, contrary to your assertion, the "elites" are utterly clueless more often than not.
Furthermore, I will not be lectured on the Constitution by Barack Obama. He has shredded that document at every opportunity, first with his words before becoming POTUS, and with every action he has taken since assuming that office. Barack Obama defending ANYTHING by citing the Constitution is like an Athiest citing the Bible in defense.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:11PM
He only evokes the Constitution when convenient; otherwise it's a document of negative that doesn't do enough to redistributed the wealth. Apparently, he doesn't need the Constitution to do that, as it seems to be his major priority.
I'm sick that regardless ofwhether he's reelected or not, our tax dollars will support him in style for perpetuity.
JoeW| 8.20.10 @ 2:56PM
Having a working knowledge of the US Constitution is a basic identifying characteristic of conservatives. A historical knowledge of American values and ideals is also the realm of conservatives. One need not be an intellectual to understand American ideals and values or the US Constitution. That is why it is so easy to identify when our President is being condescending and elitist. Rather than lecture the American people, it if far better for the US President to be able to effectively communicate, intellectually or otherwise, with the American people.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:45AM
Mark, you confuse "intellectualism" w/ "elitism." There is nothing wrong w/ being an intellectual. Reagan was an intellectual. An elitist is someone who is haughty, arrogant--John Kerry, Obama, Chris Dodd...you know, someone who believes they are SUPERIOR to everyone else. This is what has people so pissed off on this site--The Prez is vain, narcissistic, haughty, conceited, arrogant...and still has nothing to show for his bleep-ass life. In short, he is an utter fraud.
Beer for My Horses| 8.20.10 @ 9:49AM
So just ignore him. When his harangue ends, he will not have changed a single mind. Fox news reports that seventy percent of Americans oppose the building of the mosque at the location near ground zero. That's all you need to know about the "wisdom" of building the damned thing.
No wait, maybe the 70% are all wrong and the lecturer-in-chief has a point. Nah!
George True| 8.20.10 @ 10:00AM
Based on what we have seen, I don't think BHO is either a Christian or a Muslim. He does not strike me as a man who has any relationship with God. He is certainly an admirer of radical Islam, as we already knew from his past associations. But as for what religion he might be, I would suggest his true religions are Marxism and secular humanism. There is no God, man is supreme.
red diaper baby 1942| 8.20.10 @ 10:25AM
Unintentionally and unwittingly, you're quite right: there is no god. Thank goodness we finally have a president who doesn't exploit religious pretensions to win votes.. "Secular humanism" is a good thing, except that we need to put all life at the center, not just man (Although as a woman, I prefer the term "humanity"). Of course I recognize that the Spectator is quite the wrong place to be posting this; I'm getting very depressed at these comments, and shall go back to ThinkProgress to be among my own.
George True| 8.20.10 @ 10:33AM
And your proof that there is no God is..........?
red diaper baby 1942| 8.20.10 @ 10:37AM
sorry, George, I don't have to prove anything. I'm not claiming that anything 'is'. The presumption is of absence, not presence. You're the one claiming that something exists, therefore the burden of proof is on you. I've never understood why religious adherents don't understand this! (And forgive me for "lecturing" -- it's apparently not a likable trait to be knowledgeable about something.)
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 12:29PM
Is that you "gotcha" moment?
There is no "burden of proof". That's why it's called faith. Which you obviously don't share or understand.
People of faith understand the limits of human knowledge and the defects of human nature.
That's why we believe in something greater than us.
Maybe you're not as "knowledgeable" as you think.
Men have often tried to replace God with Man and the result has always been tragedy
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 12:41PM
Secular humanism -- an invention of Marxists. But, by your handle (red diaper baby 1942) -- you've been raised in that "religion." How does that make you better?
Paevo| 8.20.10 @ 1:07PM
What's this nonsense about "depression?" You ought to have been having non-stop tinkling sensations for the past 20 months according to your opinions...
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 8.20.10 @ 1:58PM
Actually diaper dude, every time an atheistic secular humanist lectures believers in The Almighty GOD that He doesn't exist, they prove his very existence. Atheists live to proclaim to every human being they can that GOD doesn't exist. If in fact He didn't exist what would be the purpose of atheists? Atheists would not exist if GOD did not exist. The fact that you are here gleefully trying to convince people GOD doesn't exist proves He does. Otherwise you wouldn't be wasting your life trying to prove GOD doesn't exist. Thank you for proving GOD's very existence through your own.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 12:56AM
George, you are wrong. You have fallen into her trap. You can't prove a negative. If you want to play the game--there is a god/there isn't a god--you are not going to win by saying something so childish as "prove there is no god." The fact that all the lap-dogs are high fiving you doesn't add anything to your flawed point. You are the one that needs to "prove" their is a god is you want to win your argument w/ her. Since the existence of a god is entirely based on faith, your plea for "proof" is utterly futile.
Viki | 8.20.10 @ 10:41AM
In secular humanism, there is a god--that is man (sorry for the un PC term). It's a creed full of unalterable, rigid and pious dogma. Just try talking about religious faith in such circles--it is the great sin. And secular humanism has helped bring us to our current sorry state.
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 11:01AM
I feel sorry for you, diaper girl. Truely sorry.
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 11:36AM
"we need to put all life at the center" Does that diaper girl, include the millions of aborted babies? Hypocricy at it's finest.
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 11:41AM
What we have is a POTUS who LIES to win votes. Good ridance. Have fun among your own, the ever-declining and therefore increasingly irrelevent minority of Americans.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 11:42AM
"Thank goodness we finally have a president who doesn't exploit religious pretensions to win votes.'
Agreed, however some religion is necessary fiction-- it bonds families together, and with other families in houses of worship and other venues. But as for the religious teachings? you are correct. Much of it is trying to manipulate the the low end of the food chain into being self-sacrificing.
JoeW| 8.20.10 @ 4:26PM
Clearly Obama is exploiting religion.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 8:05PM
"Clearly Obama is exploiting religion."
That's part of the job description.
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 11:58AM
Well you have to believe in something, even secular humanists. You have a God too, you call him "All life". Reading your post, is a man no more important to you than a blade of grass? You sound like radical environmentalists whose God is "Gaia". They would reduce our numbers on this planet or "carbon footprint". Do you support partial birth abortion as Obama does and his supreme court nominee? You ultimately have to make choices, even secular humanists which to me is a cop out. Take God out of the equation and something else has to take His place. In the case of Communism and Fascism, it was something quite horrible. We will never find a replacement for Him.
You like "life".. well the Christian church teaches that God is life. Obama preaches a culture of death.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 12:07PM
"Reading your post, is a man no more important to you than a blade of grass"
Only thing matters is Darwinism. However you will have to learn the hard way that God is a necessary fiction.
And you will. Guaranteed.
Steph| 8.20.10 @ 1:08PM
Darwinism is a theory and you are not a nice person.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 3:47PM
"Darwinism is a theory and you are not a nice person."
"Nice"? what does 'nice' mean? Ted Bundy was "nice".
RCV| 8.22.10 @ 1:57PM
Gravity is a theory too.
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 8.20.10 @ 2:06PM
Mr. Brooks, as I explained to diaper dude above the very existence of people who go out of their way to prove GOD doesn't exist prove GOD's very exitence. If He didn't what would be the point of atheism? Your very existence & attempts to disclaim GOD's existence prove His existence. Thank you for your service. And you will find out GOD is not necessary fiction. Guaranteed. I just hope for your sake you find out before it's too late. Once this life ends there are no do-overs. Please think hard on that. May the GOD you believe to be fiction bless you Mr. Brooks (He will whether you believe He exists or not).
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 1:09AM
'The very existence of people who go out of their way to prove god doesn't exist prove god's very existence." Dude, your logic is seriously flawed. That is like my saying I didn't start that fire, and you retort, the fact that I said I didn't start that fire proves I did start that fire. The problem w/ religious zealots is they just can't keep their faith to themselves. There is no "proof" in religion--it is entirely based on belief--and until you understand that, you just sound like a damn fool. You give the "born-again" freaks a bad name, and I hope you stay the hell out of my neighborhood.
Sam Vaughn| 8.20.10 @ 3:10PM
Alan, your on a tear today. God is fiction, good one. Despair is the currency of the liberal left. Although the rational side of me would have to admit I have never personally encountered any evidence that God exists, at all. I've heard stories of miracles and have witnessed tremendous act of faith I can't claim to have ever been touched by a miracle.
Occasionally I ponder what saved me from the flight I missed by 2 minutes that crashed with everyone in the hills, or the time I was in the fast lane and something told me to pull over to the right lane no more than 30 seconds prior to to a drunk going the other way. I just don't know. I've decided what a mean world it would be not to believe in God. In a way it's become a logical choice. Choose to believe because if you're wrong it won't matter anyway. So in the mean time it may be tempting to ridicule those that believe and consider them ignorant rubes, but for some of us it's just a logical choice to believe in the Good.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 3:53PM
God does exist-- in our minds.
I DID say belief in God is necessary, otherwise there would be no houses of worship to offer succor to families; without belief in God there wouldn't be families to attend those churches.
God is the most necessary fiction of all.
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 8.20.10 @ 5:08PM
Mr. Brooks, the only thing worse than ignorance is willful ignorance. Deep down you know GOD exists. Problem is, when man acknowledges His existence he must also come to grips with the fact he is a sinner & needs to change. As Jesus Christ said, "A man who loves his (sinful) life will lose it, but who hates his (sinful) life for my sake will save it for eternity." Mr. Brooks GOD has offered you the free gift of salvation through the resurrection of His one & only Son. Will you accept His great gift or will you throw it away by continuing to relegate GOD to the category of fiction? For your sake think about it. You never know when your time will be up here in this life.
Nunya| 8.20.10 @ 5:19PM
If I remember correctly, I believe Darwin was a Christian. So was Einstein, and most of our scientists before the last century.
RCV| 8.20.10 @ 11:36PM
Einstein a Christian???????? The ability of TAS readers to simply pull "facts" out of nowhere is breathtaking!
The Big E| 8.20.10 @ 2:44PM
I've never met an Athiest who didn't believe in God, just as I've never met a Christian who didn't believe in Satan. I have met a lot of Athiests who were lying to themselves though. People who truly do not believe in the existence of the intangible do not waste their time trying to convince others. For example, I don't believe in UFO's, so I don't waste my time talking about them. So . . . why are you wasting your time?
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 9:12PM
Good point. There is nothing to discuss on this.
Big D| 8.20.10 @ 11:48PM
Alan, I examined Atheism at one time, but decided I couldn't work up enough faith to commit. That Atheism is the logical conclusion derived from scientific, or Darwinian, analysis is baloney. Just bacause God hasn't revealed himself to you does not mean he does not exist. Atheism is as much an act of faith as any other religion.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 1:22AM
"Just because God hasn't revealed hmself to you does not mean he does not exist." I --and I'm not an atheist--say "Just because God hasn't revealed himself to you does not mean he does exist." We don't KNOW. That's why it is entirely based on faith/belief. What is the big deal? This ain't philosophy. Most of the people on this site want to discuss how to get rid of the libs/Obama, and get our country back on course. Why divide the party any more w/ talk about religion which will never get us anywhere. Like Reagan said: "If you agree w/ me 80%, you agree w/ me." We're going to need each other--despite religious differences--to defeat the libs.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:41PM
" Just bacause God hasn't revealed himself to you does not mean he does not exist. Atheism is as much an act of faith as any other religion."
'He'?? Why can't God be a 'She'? Perhaps God is a blacl lesbian from North Carolina.
Religion is entirely necessary, though-- people will need superstition for many decasdes to come.
Escapism, whether it be through religion, art, entertainment-- anything halfway decent-- is legitimate in a hate-filled world.
Big D| 8.30.10 @ 10:57PM
Alan, trying to trip me up on using a literary "he" is at best sophmoric. My only point is that true Atheists speak with the same certitude about god's lack of existence as True Believers do when they speak about his existence. Both live a life of faith when in fact, to quote scotchieguy, "we don't KNOW." Athiesm is as much an act of faith as any other religion.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:18PM
"Alan, I examined Atheism at one time, but decided I couldn't work up enough faith to commit."
I don't take my cue from anyone at AS.
Big D| 8.30.10 @ 11:07PM
Not asking you to. Never previously been to the site myself. Connected via a link. I am wondering, though, why you troll through the comments and make little incendiary comments throughout? Your condescension is widespread and almost total. Do you have anything positive to say about people, Alan?
Radegunda| 8.21.10 @ 12:22AM
So when he asserted that he's ALWAYS been a Christian--even though it's patently false--he wasn't exploiting anything to get votes?
When he joined a black liberation theology church in Chicago around the time he was beginning to build a political career, he didn't do it to get street cred in the community?
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:37PM
So when he asserted that he's ALWAYS been a Christian--even though it's patently false--he wasn't exploiting anything to get votes?"When he joined a black liberation theology church in Chicago around the time he was beginning to build a political career, he didn't do it to get street cred in the community?"
Obama's creed is less dishonest than 'compassionate conservatism'.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:34PM
...and The One is supremer than the rest!
martin j smith| 8.20.10 @ 10:04AM
beer for my horses: You nailed the need and issues in your last sentence. We need 70% vote AGAINST this guy and his party or as close to it --and perhaps even more. This is what is needed to put cold water on the ego of Obama.
Clinton nee Publius| 8.20.10 @ 10:07AM
Elections have consequences.
You elect the same parties, use the same methods, the same structures and expect it to be different than what we are seeing now.
Elections have consequences.
If you vote for Republicans or Democrats this is just a taste of what is coming.
Elections have consequences.
John Galt| 8.20.10 @ 10:11AM
Is "Lecturer" the step between "Student" and "Teaching Assistant" - the grad student that got a poorly paying job to teach for the first time a classroom of students paying a tenured professor to be in his office writing his bestseller. The One must have been in the back of that class.
He got into college during the time when admissions accepted AA's with a 2.7 GPA while Asians needed a 3.6. He got into Harvard Law in a similar manner.
As a Legislator, he was able to lecture or pontificate from the sidelines. However, he never managed anything. He is particularly bad at picking good managers to work for him. Waste a crisis - his whole administration is a crisis. Jobs are my #1 priority - so I am going to muck up the only sector that has jobs growth! We can't have those Credit Card companies be mean and nasty on default borrowers - they should be mean and nasty with no more freebies to those that pay in full each month.
Can anyone tell me what is Better now than in Aug 08. Besides for "Everything in Canada" there is very little to say.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 10:36AM
You forgot to mention the sham "...first AA president of Harvard Law Review" ...
...like everything else in Barry's life, the rules fortuitously changed a few years before he "earned" this prestigious honor. Prior to the rule change, it was given to the student with the highest grade point average. Period. With the new rule change, Barry "earned" it by being chosen from an all-too-eager, politically correct student body.
Charmed life = Barack Obama
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 12:28PM
Sham(s) indeed.
There's also the sham "...Department of Hawaii Home Lands accepts Hawaii "Certification of Live Birth"...
...like the other shams regarding Barry, sometime between 6/10/09 and 06/18/09 the Department of Hawaii Home Lands ("DHHL") changed what it would accept as prima-facie evidence of Hawaiian birth. Prior to the change, ONLY a Hawaii "Certificate of Live Birth" (original hospital generated long-form birth certificate) was acceptable. Period. After the change, Barry's Hawaii "Certification of Live Birth" (plus other family documentation) was acceptable.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 8:40PM
...sham number (oh hell, I lost count) where Barry stumbles (mysteriously) to a U.S. Senate seat victory in 2004. Several front runners had to exit prematurely leaving the un-winnable Alan Keyes as his republican opponent.
Charmed life = Barack Obama
Citizen Jerry| 8.20.10 @ 10:15AM
Just heard that if this travesty gets approved, the mosque builders plan to break ground on Sept. 11, 2011.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 3:56PM
At a little after 8 AM?
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:36PM
...and Obama will take Air Force One on a second victory lap over ground zero "to celebrate religious tolerance".
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:45PM
Say, that would make a good flick-- like Wag the Dog.
Quick, Bonsage, write a screenplay before someone else does!
Steve | 8.20.10 @ 10:16AM
I would argue that re-education of the population is the heart of Obama's power and the power of the class from which he comes. It isn't a mistake that he choses to engage on these issues. It is a case of holding ground and taking ground. He knows that there will be a battle every time he does this but has learned from others who have gone before him that to advance, one must battle. That is the method of the Left. To re-educate is to rule.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:38PM
Why must Americans be re-educated? After all we've already been 'educated' by our liberal school system, haven't we? Maybe that's the silver lining - liberals do a lousy job teaching!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:40PM
Homeschooling works the best, because then parents can give students the education they would want their own children to have!
prestonsbrooks| 8.20.10 @ 10:28AM
Every thing this poseur has said and will ever say is a lie. He won office through fraud, he is positioning himself as a dictator, and he is one disgusting POS.
Anthony| 8.20.10 @ 10:31AM
Our Ivy League educated Obozo gets an F for his sophomoric tautlology. In fact, he's not even smarter than a 3rd grader with his false premise.
Obozo has no sympathy for the survivors of 9/11 and the families of those who died. Obviously he has even less concern for the rest of America that suffered the worst homeland attack since Pearl Harbor. For Obozo, 9/11 was no bid deal because as his "Christian" pastor assured Obozo, "America's chickens had come home to roost".
Obozo creates this childish straw dog argument about Muslims rights to practice their faith and freedom of religion. WHO'S STOPPING THEM??NYC already has over 20 mosques.
How the insistance of a mosque at ground zero, in an in your face gesture aimed directly at America and those who have suffered, equates to an intolerance of religious freedom, well, only an Ivy League demigod can appreciate.
It's really amazing to witness the hypocrisy of those on the Left who despise Judaic- Christian practices and any manifestation if it outside places of worship. Gee, if placing a mosque at ground zero doesn't disturb the delicate sensitivities of the Left, how is it they have a cow at any mention of religion outside places of worship? And spare me the seperation of church and state crap. Something tells me that if this was a Christian church, as opposed to a mosque, America's chief atheist, Nadow, would be screaming about the insensitivity on MSNBC each night.
No, the answer is simple; Obozo's and the Left's favorite religion is Islam, as their purposes are the same, the destruction of America and Western Culture. And as such, Islam deserves a special status in America.
Bottom line, a mosque at ground zero is a victory for Islam and the American Left. They wish for all of America to witness their victory over America. It's so obvious, even an Ivy League graduate can see it.
The Obozo and the sclerotic MSM ignore the fact that NYC has over 20 mosques. These same
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 1:09PM
Amen to many of your points, but especially this one: "Obozo's and the Left's favorite religion is Islam, as their purposes are the same, the destruction of America and Western Culture." -- Marxists and Islamists definitely share that goal. Great point, sir!
Texas Mom| 8.20.10 @ 4:29PM
My understanding is that New York City already has over 100 Mosques. In addition, this GZ Mosque is not in a residential area rather it is in a commercial zone area. There are no local Muslims because it is NOT a residential area; therefore, there is no reason but 'Victory' to locate the mosque at GZ. Also, the property was worth $18 mil before the 9/11 attack where part of Atta's plane landing gear damaged the top two floors of this bldg reducing its value to $4 mil. Way to take advantage Iman!
red diaper baby 1942| 8.20.10 @ 10:31AM
You people seem to have a real dislike of education! Can anyone tell me why? What's wrong with having a mind and applying it? What's wrong with trying with all one's might to understand the natural world (science), the abstract world (mathematics, philosophy), the social world (social sciences), the life of the heart (literature)? What's wrong with RATIONALITY?
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 10:43AM
"you people"
hmmmmmm
Might want to rethink your opening words. I can't imagine why you would assume he is "smart" merely because he has had the benefits of an education .... how many people would have recognized the genius of so many of those whose inventions made our way of life possible?
Would you have shaken hands with Howard Hughes near the end of his life? "Your people" assume that if you don't agree with them in lock step, you are either a racist or anti intelligence. I don't see how you can possibly look yourself in the mirror without giggling ....
George True| 8.20.10 @ 10:45AM
Being a long-time reader here at TAS, I can assure you that the average level of education among the commenters here is far higher than average, and even a tad higher than most leftists. But what many of the folks here have in addition to a good education is real-world experience. Your average poster here has started and built prosperous businesses, or had careers in the military, or written books, or invented ground-breaking technology, or in some cases all of the above. In short, in addition to being highly educated, most people here have had real careers in the real world. You could do far worse than listening to some of the collective wisdom from the denizens here at TAS.
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 10:49AM
Nothing wrong with education, or scientific persusions, or knowledge, or learning. Its when those who are educated cross over from professional discipline and into jamming it down others throats because their egos and self-importance tell them they are more intelligent than others. Its when education becomes a form of indoctrination by those who have an agenda and science, learning, and education become tools for a means to and end. Utopian social concepts(Marxism) are fertile in universities because nobody has to prove the thesis in real life and it appeals to many because it solves the "fairness" problems in life. Unfortunately, evil and diabolical people in the real world with a thirst for power use those utopian concepts for quite another means to an end.
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 11:10AM
The dirty little secret of those in the Intelligencia who put themselves on their cerebral pedestals over others is that THEY suffer from the same shortcomings of human nature that they profess to be trying to correct. Difference is that those in the real world know that man has shortcomings and defects in personal makeup and try to adjust and somewhat negate it. Those in the higher education santuaries are totally free of these so-called defeects and are are pure as the wind driven snow. Talk about delusional, in the end these academic pinheads thrist for the same power and control they profess to be trying to eradicate. what an irony.
Ned| 8.20.10 @ 11:01AM
Excuse some of the more ill considered remarks as a reflection of the writer's frustration and anger at what they perceive to be a real threat to our way of life - that idiot in the White House. But don’t confuse the fervent opposition to bad policy and Chicago-style thug politics with a “dislike of education”. Although, having posted that, I can also see how some one who accepts the dishonesty and disingenuousness of the left at face-value would presume that those who disagree are ‘anti-intellectual” – they must be, right, or else your own acceptance of falsehoods (e.g. all of Barry’s economic policy) is directly challenged.
If you wish to be taken seriously (two Masters and a PhD? really?) it would be wiser to not start posts with “You people”. Doing so encapsulates the condescension and arrogance of the left into two words.
Viki| 8.20.10 @ 12:02PM
I think you may have my comments conflated w/ that of the original poster. I'm on your side. I do have these degrees, which I worked very hard for and usually don't mention but he was mentioning his membership among the elites. I didn't start my posts with "you people". I was trying to say that while I believe formal education is valuable, I also very much believe real world education is important, as someone else mentioned. And there is enormous pressure to conform in the academic world, which is also unbelievably insular, as we are seeing with Obama.
Ned| 8.20.10 @ 12:37PM
Sorry about that, Vicki. I did just catch myself attaching your credentials to red diaper... my point was to her post, but I failed to look back and confirm what I thought she had said earlier... and did conflate. Guilty as charged.
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 11:10AM
Diaper girl, we like real science, not made up Al Gore science and the rest of your stated subjects, I'm sure all of "we people" here are for and not against. It's the total left slant and propaganda that is taught in public institutions to brainwash our young adults that makes "we people" nauseated. No critical thinking allowed as to question the government. Making a nation of sheeple. And one last thing. We're sick of you people like you with all those stupid letters after your name acting like you are on some cloud looking down on the rest of us who didn't go into debt to be educated.
Texas Mom| 8.20.10 @ 4:33PM
I would love to compare SAT scores with some of these people who think they are so brilliant that they know better than the 'little people'...
Anthony| 8.20.10 @ 11:19AM
You claim to be a retired professor, WHEW, congrats, you're the poster-child for all that ails modern American higher education. You've demonstrated the point that colleges and universities are nothing more than high priced institutions for Leftist agitprop.
I bet you were quite the smug condescending elitist, as you paraded around your classroom. I also bet disent with your Leftist cants met with open discussion, yeah right. Yep, your students all believed you were the one they were waiting for, at $40,000 a year!!
As for your smug claim of our dislike for education, many of us on the Right survived you and your fellow Leftist travelers in your cushy world at Ivory Tower U. You might be suprised to learn we survived you charlatans in our undergraduate AND graduate programs, so spare us your elitist crap.
As for Obozo and his "rationality", I suggest you read my previous post, sans the last sentence. If you ask nice, I'll consider giving you an on line tutorial on logic and dialecticism, and it won't cost you 40 K either!! Class Dismissed.
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 11:32AM
Anthony, you made me laugh!
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 1:10PM
Wow! Great retort! Can I enroll in your class?
Anthony| 8.20.10 @ 5:06PM
Yes Deborah D you most certainly can, and I promise not to saunter around my computer as I give my first lecture.
Oh, homework is not optional it is mandatory and I don't believe in handing out gentlewomen Cs either, afterall, this is a serious program, not like those Ivy fakes.
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 6:29PM
Bravo!
breffnian| 8.20.10 @ 11:42AM
It's great as long as it stays in the lab and the lecture room where it belongs.
Government is the place for what works, not abstract theories.
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 12:56PM
Well, red diaper baby, you and your over-educated ilk seem to have a real distain for people who actually do something productive with their lives...educated or not. What's wrong with having natural abilities and putting them to productive use? What's wrong with having a natural understanding of enough of the natural world (sciences) to enjoy a productive professional career(s), learning whatever (mathmatics, philosophy, et al) as necessary, applying real-life experiences to the social world, and actually living life of the heart rather than simply reading about it? What's wrong with REALITY?
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 1:14PM
Nothing is wrong with education, but there is more to education than "formal education." Those on the left and academia (but I repeat myself) only value one kind. I believe in research, but I don't trust those in the academy because they have been "marched through" by Marxists, therefore, liars and propagandists. That's why many Americans no longer trust Obama -- he lies constantly.
gui| 8.20.10 @ 1:27PM
Do you really want to hear the truth or is this a rhetorical question?
Many of us in the real world see your world as a vapid intellectual fairytale existence. We see people like you who constantly lecture your inferiors yet you are utterly incapable of making a living in the most robust, dynamic and freest economy that has ever existed in the history of Man.
Many of us see your world as a scam whereupon you use the guilt of parents to wring 4 years of tuition from them in exchange for a piece of worthless paper that will open doors for Junior.
And while I'm on the subject of paper I must confess that I personally see many of you as frauds. It seems to me that many of you spend all your time giving each other pieces of paper that say how smart you are. Truly intelligent people do not require a piece of paper that says they are intelligent to actually be intelligent.
The only 'professor' I have respect for is the one who has led a creative and worthwhile life in the real world and turns to teaching as an expression of gratitude for their success. These people use their experience to help the next generation learn from their achievements, and most importantly, from their mistakes.
Oh, and finally, Obama may be regarded as a Constitution scholar, or some other such nonsense, by the intellectuals but if he was half the Constitution scholar he is proclaimed to be he would know that the Constitution was written by the founders specifically to protect the nation from people like him. They had seen his tired act before.
JoeW| 8.20.10 @ 4:35PM
Excellent, reality based response!!
Awesome, Dude!!
Chris| 8.21.10 @ 2:58PM
And why would our designated 'smartest man in the universe, want to study constitutional law anyway? Obamao woudn't even wipe his half black ass with the constitution - might get his butt dirty.
michigander_sandusky| 8.20.10 @ 1:59PM
The world and our universities have an abundance of educated idiots. I learned that in spades when I obtained my PhD. Obama is just a very public example of the educated idiot class. Like many of his ilk he is an arrogant, condescending, ass. The best professors I ever studied under also had experience in the "real world" in addition to their formal education. They had the ability to really connect with students without treating them like blind simpletons. Obama has no such ability because his formal education is not coupled with any substantive "real world" experience.
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 8.20.10 @ 2:16PM
Education & rationality without acknowledgement of The Almighty GOD who created everything is utter foolishness diaper dude. Without GOD The Creator you, me & everyone & everything else do not exist. My proof GOD exists? You. If He didn't why do you concern yourself with a non-existant GOD? Atheism PROVES there is a GOD. Please find GOD & get a real life.
scotchieguy| 8.21.10 @ 1:45AM
Man, you, Alan Brooks and Richard Simmon all need to go up north and take a long camping trip--I imagine the BS around the camp fire at night would be just that.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:18PM
Would that red diaper be Communism? You sound very wrapped in the idealogy of Marxism.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 4:06PM
The problem is your boy is ignorant of all those things you mentioned, not to mention unable to apply those concepts in the real world.
Nice attempt diaper baby :)
Nunya| 8.20.10 @ 5:34PM
Red, I have no dislike of education, I have a Master's Degree myself which I am very proud of. However, in my studies at the university I met people who had no real-world experience, but only read about how things work. In fact, one person in particular would argue that what's written in the textbook was exactly how things were done in real life--unfortunately she had no clue, having never worked outside of the university. Trying to convince her otherwise was impossible.
Fact is, universities are essentially thought and discussion producing locations, that can ignore practical application to real life. Those that are "thinking" or "discussing" ideas about how the world could work too often get caught up in their delusions.
A perfect example is Marxism. In theory it's all fine and good, everyone working together for the common good, everyone sharing equally, blah, blah, blah. Unfortunately, while it sounds good in theory, it doesn't work, and has never worked. Ever. One cannot make it work without bloodshed, because human nature is to look out for oneself and one's loved ones, and not to those to whom we have no relationship. In this case, rationality as you say, is ignored by those seeking power.
Radegunda| 8.21.10 @ 2:21AM
Nobody on this thread is against science or math or literature. We're against the addle-brained nonsense that so often passes for intellectualism (Derrida, anyone?).
We're against the weird and malignant devotion to ideas that have a proven history of ending in failure at best, and often in horrendous suffering. (Pol Pot had a fancy education.)
We're against the intellectualoid habit of defending some of the worst tyrannies in history as long as they're labeled "leftist" or pretend to be promoting egalitarianism.
We're against the smug (and stupid) arrogance of people who think an Ivy League degree qualifies them to run whole industries, including the practice of medicine, when they have no experience running any business at all, and many of them have never even worked for a business.
We just laugh at the folly of people who think they're smarter than us, yet they vastly overrate the intelligence of the callow narcissistic Marxist they put in the White House.
"Rationality" that's divorced from real-world experience, and that fails to understand its own limitations, is actually quite irrational.
Deborah D | 8.21.10 @ 5:53AM
Thanks for this brilliant explanation. You've put it exactly right as far as I'm concerned. The idea that someone with an advanced degree in --- something is automatically "smart" enough to run every aspect of the huge economy of the United States of America is laughable and delusional. The only problem is that there are so many in this administration with that same delusion, and you and I and the rest of the country are paying for it.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:54PM
"You people seem to have a real dislike of education"
Higher education in America is ... 'okay'. But k-12 is deplorable today. When I was in grammar school in the '60s, lower education was still fairly good; now it is just lower.
And it will remain so for a very long time because lower ed can only be inproved marginally by paying the teachers and administrators more-- but such means lower ed is just a business, cranking out students like sausages. Private and charter schools aren't much better.
No easy way out now or in the near future.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 10:43AM
We have a dislike of Liberal Academic Indoctrination .
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 10:53AM
After high school, I packed my bags for a school on the east coast having been successfully convinced that "mid-west" and "brain dead" were interchangable.
When I identified the state of my birth in a heated discussion of the tragedy at Kent State, I was re-christened "Ohio." I wasn't sure whether they were saying "good morning" or using a term for someone they had never encountered before.
The problem with liberals is they like their intellectual ghettos ...
Taylor| 8.20.10 @ 10:50AM
There is only one item on Obama's agenda and that is Obama. He worships at the church of Obama and rules America in the interest of Obama. That is ALL anyone needs to know. He is the narcissist in chief NIC.
gentlewaves| 8.20.10 @ 10:57AM
Well, hey.....Why don't you tell it like it is!!!!
Well done!
Elbert| 8.20.10 @ 10:58AM
I must be careful what I say about Obummer lest someone think I am a racist, so here goes: I would, one thosand times over, prefer that Mr. Thomas Sowell or Mr. Walter Williams be the sitting POTUS in place of the meathead we have.
George True| 8.20.10 @ 11:04AM
Hear, hear! Or Lt. Col. Alan West.
Deborah D | 8.20.10 @ 3:36PM
Three of my favorite conservatives!!
A Real Republican| 8.20.10 @ 10:59AM
Isn't it past time to congratulate those who by their vote gave The US of A, its first Marxist President? God has repeatedly blessed this great Country and its good people. God will do so again when Mr. Obama is rejected for a second term. It will be most amusing and intersting to see his perch knocked from under him by the very people he so openly mocks and sneers at. Well, We The People will get the last sneer, God willing. It's near impossible to think enough idiots will make the same mistake twice and return this lowly abomination to our highest office. But then, they were idiots the first time around.
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 11:17AM
Problem is those idiots are beholden to the comrade chairman for their income by confiscation of money from those who make it and transfer to them. That number grows and is the basis of leftist power. There will always be a locked up 40% or more that will vote for this joke no matter what because he sends them the checks.
Anthony| 8.20.10 @ 5:24PM
Bravo sir, bravo. When Ronald Reagan looked out upon America, he saw a shining city on a hill. When Obozo looks out on America, he sees a 7th century caliphate ripe for the new world order.
WE the people will not only get the last sneer, we will send Iman Obozo and his followers back to their Leftist paradise..... they can have their choice of leftist hellholes to start anew.
Mimi| 8.21.10 @ 9:24PM
Someday this bad dream, living thru these times, will be over. Hope springs eternal! This President and his ilk will be GONE and our freedoms will be restored. The "O" will write his memoirs..... and not sell one book! No one will want to relive the...NIGHTMARE. Keep the faith, do what you can to fight the good fight for our children and country. This too will pass.
RCV| 8.22.10 @ 6:46PM
Please, pray tell, what "freedom" have you lost in the last two years that needs to be restored?
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 11:03AM
But then, they were idiots the first time around.
uh huh.
The biggest tragedy of his residency is those thousands upon thousands who *believed* him ... campaigned for him, worked for him, gave money to him.
They will be out of reach I am afraid for a very long time. Unless that "fool me once" thing is completely out of touch.
Stephanie| 8.20.10 @ 11:16AM
Does that tragedy apply to those from the middle east who sent money on credit cards in small increments but added up to millions?
Isn't is illegal to take campaign funds from out of the country? I guess he learned that from Slick Willy.
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 1:01PM
It is indeed illegal to accept campaign donations from out of the country. That's why Obame reneged on his initial promise to accept FEC funding, otherwise his campaign donations would have been subject to FEC audit like McCain's were.
vitadMD| 8.20.10 @ 11:26AM
In the photo above where Obama is writing on the chalk board in his Saul Alinsky class....
has anyone figured out what is written in the last box?... under "relationships based on self interest"...
Mike D.| 8.20.10 @ 11:48AM
Self interests are in direct conflict with the interests of the state and the interests of the state trump anything as dictated by the rulers of the state... err, the "peoples self appointed representitives" not rulers, sorry, slip up...
Purple Lips| 8.20.10 @ 11:28AM
About a 110 years ago, a wise but foolish man, Friedrich Nietszche thought that with the religious impulse dieing out in Modern Man, the last natural impulse left was the Will to Power. I never gave his thinking on this much consideration until the dangers of Progressivism became manifest. And, the more you observe people and groups, the more you can see that that old Kraut was right. Everyone is in everone else's business. And the most strident of these busy bodies are Liberals. Whether one is an artist, entertainer, or credentialed scientist the impulse to castiagate and boss dominates. People go to great lengths, get advanced degrees for the sole purpose of lecturing and hectoring. How many times have we seen washed up entertainers tell us Bitter Clingers how unenlightened we are, and how we MUST do as THEY say (ie. Cheryl Crow and her toilet paper fetish; Di Caprio and energy consumption)? Our nation not only is filled with people who want thier 15 minutes of fame; but, once they attain thier fame they go on little fascist rants about smoking, over eating, or the use of seat belts.
Obama is only the worst of these offensive nanny-goats. Well, actually The First Lady beats him out. I'm just waiting for her next strident demands -which will of course be broadcasted from her tax subsidized country manse in Tuscany. Coming in third of course is Mayor Bloomberg.
Alan Brooks | 8.20.10 @ 11:30AM
Sam Vaugh,
Good to read a comment at AS from someone who doesn't write "libtard".
If AS called itself 'American Spectator Republicans' then I would never post here. Since AS allows non- Republicans to comment here it seems they want other views.
BTW, libtard-haters here don't realize how flattering it is for me to be called a liberal: a true progressive would be a forward looking person, but I'm not. The future will be ugly, dystopian. Now if some bloggers here want to call me phony-liberal, then perhaps that is on-target-- as long as no one thinks I'm gullible-- a true progressive is a naif, because others will sense the naivite' and act like a shark sensing blood.
As for old-fashioned values, they are based on necessary fiction. We both know not everyone can do what they want. Just as an example (yet a good one), many men cheat on their wives; but if most men cheated ... well, for starters the rate of STD infection would rise , and beyond that the consequences would be incalculable. At any rate, that is merely a medical reference, not an ethical one. So we can both perceive where hypocrisy being the tribute that vice pays to virtue comes in.
Sam, I don't care if 99.9 percent of the bloggers here actively detest me-- as long, again, as they don't think I'm gullible. Even a reprobate has a chance, however slim. On the other hand, a naive person has no chance, such a person is a puppet.
Besides: when people become exercised and go ad hominem, they say what they really think.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 12:04PM
That's OK Brooks , knock yourself out .
Apparently , you crave the negative attention over no attention at all .
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 12:34PM
You are slow, Timmie.
I already wrote that as long as you don't think I'm gullible, you can write about craving negative attention over no attention or anything you want. I just don't want to carry water for you or anyone here. If you come up with a good candidate in '12, then fine. Until then, I plan to vote for the bird that is in the hand-- not have the GOP string me along with.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 1:13PM
Yeah Brooks , so ya admit ya got your Bird In Your Hand.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 4:03PM
You are a young guy, Timmie;
just as you are tired of being asked to drink Democratic kool aid, you'll get tired of GOP kool aid someday.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 4:25PM
I'm A Tea Party Guy Old Fool .
No Party Owns Us .
You're A Plastic Fraud .
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 4:34PM
The Tea Party carries water for the GOP.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 5:00PM
Aaaand , you carry Obama's jock strap , while we're busy purging The Republican Party .
Like I said , you're here lookin' for negative attention.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 9:17PM
"while we're busy purging The Republican Party."
You're dreaming, you're not purging anyone; it's all in your young imagination. Purging?? who are you? a judge in a Kangaroo Kourt?:
"By the power invested in me, Tim, I hereby purge you as RINO, and command you to cease and desist.."
Tim*| 8.21.10 @ 10:12AM
You're irrelevant Old Do Nothin' Bitcher.
Go Feed The Pigeons In The Park .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .
72 Days To November 2nd .
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 6:57PM
Yes, you'll win the battle in November, but you'll lose the war.
JoeW| 8.20.10 @ 4:51PM
I don't think AS is a bastion for Republicans as much as for Conservatives. And by Conservatives, I mean Classical Liberals, the type who celebrate the principles upon which this country was founded. The Republican Party has long been infiltrated by modern liberals too cowardly to face their contituents as Democrats. For example, I stopped voting for my Republican US Representative in the late 90's because he kept voting for spending measures. I got zero response from him despite a multitude of letters insisting he reassess his voting practices. Nonetheless, he kept voting us deeper into debt and is no longer a US Representative. If you love America and Her idelas, the freedom enshrined in Her Constitution, and the values which made Her great, then what's to be detested? Just, please, don't vote for someone who is so purposefully against America.
jonc| 8.20.10 @ 11:39AM
I think it is wonderful that Obama has so profoundly improved American/Arab relations. Imagine where we will be 2 years from now! It's so exciting!
Oldefarte| 8.20.10 @ 11:40AM
I WAS NOT LISTENING TO HIM before 11/4/08, and haven't listened to him since. Sadly [for me], I am in the MINORITY, since Americans ['ACTING STUPIDLY'], elected him PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES [and are now sorry as hades that they did so]!!!!!!!!!
Kurt Fanta | 8.20.10 @ 11:42AM
Boy, you guys just don't get it, President Obama is a a genius! As I was reading the above I went back and checked where the stock market is, and the Dow is dipping below 10,200 and unemployment is somewhere around what 10%? I know that the idea that this is all a diversion sounds nuts, but if you were an incompetent bumbler of an executive and at the same time a talented speaker what would you do?
John Davis| 8.20.10 @ 11:44AM
He also lectured us about properly inflating our tires as if we didn't know how to do it or why.
Nate| 8.20.10 @ 11:53AM
This article is spurious and bigoted nonsense.
Look:
The president has made two statements about this issue, and both were appropriate.
When asked, the president correctly stated that the federal government has no say in this matter.
That much is entirely true. Local authorities -- including the zoning commission -- have give a pass to the Islamic community center to be located two blocks from Ground Zero.
The next day, he added that he was not commenting on the "wisdom" of the decision to build it there.
This, again, was dead on. It simply is NOT a matter for the president to comment on, when commenting on it would violate the spirit if not the letter of the first amendment.
Folks, when that center gets built, you can honk and bray all you want about it.
But the world will see what kind of a country we are. The best terrorist recruitment argument states that America is a nation of fearful bigots who consider themselves to be at war with Islam. That may be true for a few of you out on the fringes, but it is most certainly NOT true of this country.
In this country, love it or leave, people can worship as they choose. The president knows it, the previous president knows it, and every sensible person who understands anything about the Constitution knows it and celebrates it.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 1:26PM
The 20 year Black Liberation Theology Boy of Reverend Jeremiah Wright's Trinity Church says , " I was not commenting, and I will not comment, on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about."
Uh Oh !
Suddenly , The Midterm Election Cat got Obama's tonque , just like Chuckie Schumer .
Oldefarte| 8.20.10 @ 1:45PM
True, and hopefully, Rauf will remain in the 'LEAVE" condition after his State Department/taxpayers' paid middle eastern mosque contribution trip/junket comes to an end ["....In this country, love it or leave, people can worship as they choose...."]
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 4:11PM
"In this country, love it or leave, people can worship as they choose."
Agreed. But liberty cuts both ways:
as long as a combination gay bar and pork processing plant can be built next to the mosque.
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 10:04PM
Nate my friend:
I like the way you write, you have a way with words, and so the fact that you are incredibly thick headed baffles my mind. Your long post was a complete waste of time.
Nothing you wrote applies to what we are talking about here.
Please re-read our posts - preferably in a quiet place - so you can fully understand what we are getting at.
Then you may submit another post. (geesh, you're as bad as Barry)
Nate| 8.20.10 @ 11:58AM
As for accusing the president of "lecturing," you folks are on some pretty thin fucking ice.
You seem to think that if someone speaks in sober, complete sentences that make some kind of point he's "lecturing" you -- by which, I take it, you mean "speaking down" to you.
Why don't you stop for a minute to consider the possibility that he trusts your God-given intelligence to follow along with what he says?
Sarah Palin talks to you like you're IDIOTS. (She is most certainly not stupid, but boy does she thing you are.)
The president has -- admirably -- eschewed the soaring rhetoric of his campaign and adopted a pragmatic, somewhat dry and rationalist manner of speaking entirely appropriate for a president.
JP| 8.20.10 @ 12:45PM
"The president has -- admirably -- eschewed the soaring rhetoric of his campaign and adopted a pragmatic, somewhat dry and rationalist manner of speaking entirely appropriate for a president."
Yeah right. Since he was inaugerated, the only kind words the President has had for foreigners were Muslim nations (and I admit Cuba and Venezuela). He spoke over a dozen times to Muslims, and each time he offered them kind words. In Egypt especially his rhetoric was glowing (in a Muslim nation that kills Coptic Christians or sells them off into slavery). He never once addressed any nation or religion with such adoring language.
Niether his words nor his actions are pragmatic. He accused Arizonans of bigotry (and had the DOJ file an complaint); he accused a policeman of stupidity (ie racism); and he told a friendly Muslim audience that he fully backed thier GZ Mosque. In a well publicized set of remarks in 2008, he openly called conservative and religious people Bitter Clingers (or more accurately he called them, "bitter people who cling to thier guns and religion).
Our President is obviously at odds with 70% of the people he governs (in his mind he rules, not governs). Like Mayor Bloomberg he is most at home telling people what is wrong with them. Obama rarely uses reason; he just issues pronoucements. He obviously expects to be obeyed. In issue and issue he is on the wrong side.
Concerning the GZ Mosque, he could have listened to his advisors and kept mum. But he wouldn't be The Anointed One if he did. He thinks he is like Solomon -his every word is filled with wisdom.
Obama will very soon tire of playing Chief Executive. By this time next year he will be planning his exit strategy. He never knew that the President job would be so difficult. Of course, as the doric columns of his 2008 Convention indicated, he never saw himself as such.
Nate| 8.20.10 @ 2:52PM
I don't think you've got ahold of Obama here, and much of what you've written seems to repeat thoughtlessly what you've heard on talk radio.
However, I'll give you two points.
The remark -- as I bet Obama would admit -- about the Cambridge police was STUPID, as stupid as the "bitter clinger" remarks during the campaign.
Those are Obama's two gaffes, after 6 years of being more or less constantly in the public light.
As for using reason, I don't think you sound like a very authoritative source, frankly. The portrait of Obama's governing style we get from actual journalists to whom people in the White House will talk is very different from what you've derived listening to Glenn Beck.
You should try to read some sources that aren't necessarily "biased" in your direction (as I'm doing now). You might temper and deepen your take on things a little.
WTF Guy| 8.21.10 @ 10:11AM
Governing style? ...uhh...and...uhh...ahem...
...what would that be exactly?
You see Nate my friend,
We are all suffering from Barry's on-the-job-training f-ups. Other than a few rabble rousers from Chicago, he's had ZERO experience leading people. This single deficiency alone is crippling his presidency and is painful to watch as the days ensue.
The Cambridge and "bitter clinger" remarks were mistakes from his perspective because he opened his soul to the American people. An epic failure on his part!
JP| 8.21.10 @ 2:42PM
Obama uttered the "bitter clinger" remarks at a private fundraiser in Palo Alto California to a group of extremely wealthy tres chic Lefties. He didn't know that one of the reporters who was invited to the diner party was "wired". She posted the remarks up on Youtube later that night. It was an "unguarded" moment, in which he thought he could speak freely. And specifically, he answered a question posed by liberal concerning why he did so poorly with rural voters in Pennsylvania. These were voters who voted for such liberals as Murtha Rendell, but who preferred Hillary to Obama. In an unguarded moment he let the people who voted against him know what he really thought of them.
Oldefarte| 8.20.10 @ 1:52PM
You betcha, especially after his all-tuition expense-paid education at the private universities Columbia and Harvard, thanks to the American taxpayers ["....The president has -- admirably -- eschewed the soaring rhetoric of his campaign and adopted a pragmatic, somewhat dry and rationalist manner of speaking entirely appropriate for a president...."]. Oh I forgot, Muchelle-my belle's education was also paid for by taxpayers; and now the thanks we obtain is the destruction of our economy and country!!!!!
Nate| 8.20.10 @ 2:53PM
Fart,
As always, your posting here is foolish and bigoted. You never disappoint!
Liberal Reader| 8.20.10 @ 7:04PM
Nate, stop the hate. Your obsession with race is distorting your life. You are too predictable.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 8:09PM
"Your obsession with race is distorting your life. You are too predictable."
No, Nate's right, if Obama were white his enemies wouldn't dislike him quite as much.
Tim*| 8.21.10 @ 10:29AM
Oh Really !
Like the universally loved and respected Jimmie Carter And Bubba Clinton .
You're up to the " H " in Alzheimers , Old Prune
Liberal Reader| 8.21.10 @ 11:59AM
I guarantee that I would like Obama a lot better than Alan Brooks. Effete men are hard for me to like. I like him better than Carter as well but Carter was more competent. Nate and Obama seem a lot alike, not so smart but arrogant. Frankly it is pretty obvious that Obama has received pretty easy treatment because of his race. Every time he is criticized bozos like Nate and Alan try to turn it into a racial matter. They don't seem to realize that they can't sell that anymore. I think we should compare the One to famous tyrants of history. I believe he is way nicer than Hitler. Hitler was white.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:01PM
"I guarantee that I would like Obama a lot better than Alan Brooks."
I don't want to be liked, when people like you they are insincere-- when they yell at you hatefully, then you know they are saying what they mean.
Machiavelli was correct.
Oldefarte| 8.21.10 @ 12:23PM
No AB, you being Nate-like, fail to see the truth of who/what Obama is; which is a Muslim [now finanly exposed] socialist that is not presidential material but rather a partisaned political hack from Chicago. Everything to him is about political advantage, not about [as it should be] be the leader of this country and administering same for the betterment of all of its peoples!!!!
Pete| 8.24.10 @ 10:31AM
Thank you Nate !
Great and open posts ! Funny that the people who claim they are smart think you are a hater just for beeing smart and able to accept different ways of thinking and looking at things !
Oldefarte| 8.21.10 @ 12:17PM
Nate, they are so ONLY TO THOSE LIKE YOURSELF WHO ARE TOO STUPID TO UNDERSTAND ANYTHING BEYOND THE LIBERAL INDOCTRINATIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED WITH. Yes, as usual to you idiots, it's all about RACISM, DISCRIMINATION, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, GENTRIFICATION and [as applied to yourself] ...............HOMOPHOBISM!!!!
Musashi| 8.20.10 @ 2:04PM
Nate: Perhaps you've not noticed that Mister Obama rarely speaks with logic and substance when he is "winging it" sans teleprompted remarks drafted by a professional wordsmith. Allowed to ad lib, our lecturer in chief all too often engages in feeble commentary punctuated with frequent "ahh"s and "um"s as he grasps for a cogent, effective talking point. Go ahead, map Barack's spontaneous commentary. It's a lot of babble and bluster. Oh, one more thing: Obama will always be the most pompous entity in any room that he deigns to enter. But, YOU like him, so that's a good thing, we guess...
Ranger| 8.20.10 @ 2:09PM
Nate, your favorite lecturer is remarkably "lost" when he needs to think and speak with clarity on his feet. Looking for an example of "affirmative action" outcomes? Look no further than our current POTUS. Why would he cover up his grades? His papers? His Havard Law Review paper trail?
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:25PM
Unless you take away his teleprompter...then he's uh, uh, duh, uh, etc.
What flavor of Kool-Aid do you prefer?
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 4:13PM
The flavor that John McCain doesn't drink.
Oldefarte| 8.22.10 @ 10:56AM
Mc Cain will be remembered for what he is/was [WAR HERO, PATRIOT AND US SENATOR] and for what he was not [A MUSLIM TERRORISM SYMPATHIZER]!!!!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:23PM
McCain killed McAble.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 9:51PM
Obama doesn't seem to be doing a very effective job at getting us Americans to "follow along" does he? I don't need to be instructed on what the Constitution says (I have a J.D.), nor do most Americans, and certainly not by Obama who clearly sees the Constitution as something to be overcome - and I'll bet you Obama can't name all 55 states, nor draw a reasonable map of the USA.
red diaper baby 1942| 8.21.10 @ 2:11AM
exactly. Agree completely.
Nate| 8.20.10 @ 12:00PM
And am I happy that the president COULD, if he wished, give an informative college-level lecture on the Constitution, on the political philosophy of the Enlightenment, and many other topics the understanding of which is crucial to good governance?
You betcha!
Purple Lips| 8.20.10 @ 12:53PM
Nate,
You've bought Obama's mystique hook-line-and sinker. Obama the Intellectual was and is a myth. All of his college transcripts, dissertations, and law review articles remain under lock and key (thanks to Kagan). The reasons are obvious. He was more than likely an affirmative action law student, including whatever academic accolades given him.
The President is a decent actor. He loves to role play.
RacerJim| 8.20.10 @ 1:16PM
And I would be all too happy to have NObama give me a lecture on the U.S. Constitution at any level -- specifically on Article II, Section 1, Clause 5. And then I would be all too HAPPY to give NObama a lecture on at least four legacy SCOTUS cases, the rulings of which were based in part on "...natural born Citizen.." (U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5) as meaning born in the United States to U.S. Citizen parents (plural).
Oldefarte| 8.20.10 @ 1:54PM
YOU BETCHA that both he and you are MORONS!!!!!
Radegunda| 8.21.10 @ 2:33AM
How do you know he could? He was hired on the grounds that he was going to write a book about constitutional law, but he couldn't do it. Instead, he started writing about himself (his favorite topic). But he couldn't do that other, not even after a vacation on a tropical island, until he got Billie Ayers' help.
We know his view of the Constitution is that it puts too many limits on what the government can do to (a.k.a. "for") us. And his latest Supreme Court pick is someone who believes that the Constitution permits the government to dictate what we're supposed to eat.
In other words, he learned just enough about the Constitution to know that he doesn't like it.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 12:02PM
The mosque will go ahead. But if someone wants to start a pork processing plant next door to it
-- or that gay bar--
such is also protected by the Constitution.
Oldefarte| 8.22.10 @ 10:52AM
Will the pork processing plant or gay bar cause/result in the death of 3000 and the total destruction of two skyscrapers??????????????
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:26PM
If the pork is tainted and the gays spread STDs, then yes.
carnot| 8.20.10 @ 12:08PM
you know...when/if the next catastrophic event like 9/11 happens...the big O will call...and no one will respond. he has exhausted whatever moral authority he once held. that is the real cost of all his posturing.
George True| 8.20.10 @ 12:25PM
Alan: I too appreciate your comments. I disagree with them most of the time (but not always). But you are rare. You actually back up what you say with a reasoned argument, and you tend to provoke thought, not reaction.
But this unfortunately is not the desire of most on the left. I remember the 60's and 70's when even some radical anti-war protesters, most of whom were on the left, would say, "Although I may disagree with what you say, I will defend with my life your right to say it". Now that was the very definition of the American ideal.
Unfortunately, that sentiment on the part of the left is long gone. My frustration and unfortunately extreme dislike for leftists in general these days stems from the fact that most of them do not want to have an open and honest debate of ideas, and let the best idea win out. Exhibit A: In the health care debate, NOT ONCE was debate allowed to take place where the nitty gritty details of any aspect of health care or health insurance was allowed to take place. There was nothing but sloganeering, demagoguing, and demonizing of anyone who suggested that a government takeover of the entire health care and health insurance industry might not be necessary or helpful. And so it has been with every issue.
And here at TAS, and at American Thinker, and Politico, and Kos and HuffPo, it is the same. Leftists have their talking points, and are not the slightest bit interested in earnestly examining the pros and cons of any issue to arrive at a mutual understanding through the honest exchange of ideas. Certainly, some on the right are also reactionary rather than insightful. But I submit that this results from a long frustration with an unwillingness on the part of the left to honestly discuss and debate any issue, and to acknowledge that others might have very valid and honorable reasons for disagreeing with them.
So here at TAS, which admittedly is right-leaning, left-leaners come and spout their talking points without ever attempting to actually understand why a lot educated and reasonable people might have a different view. Unfortunately, today's left does not seem to believe in persuasion, only in stifling dissenting viewpoints, by force if necessary.
You are different, Alan, in that you attempt to persuade with reason and logic. But sadly you are not typical of what the left is today. I wish it were not so. I long for the day when I might once again hear the most strident leftists say they will defend with their lives my right to express a different viewpoint from theirs.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:35PM
"The problem with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
Ronald Reagan, 1964
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 4:28PM
"I remember the 60's and 70's when even some radical anti-war protesters, most of whom were on the left, would say, 'Although I may disagree with what you say, I will defend with my life your right to say it'. Now that was the very definition of the American ideal."
A little background: my family was imbedded in the New Left, only it was cultural, not political. I remember 1968 to '74 as clearly as anything since, and it was Watergate that soured politics very badly.
I was told all during the years since '74 that it was Nixon's fault, however it was LBJ's utter botching of Vietnam which hobbled Nixon's administration even before it began. As you know, the Diem assassination in '63 was when things started to go bad, but LBJ exacerbated the situation-- to say the least.
As I recall, 1972 was the last relatively-- and I say relatively-- pleasant year in politics.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 4:50PM
Let's See here Brooks , if memory serves !
Ya say ya didn't vote for Obama and ya didn't vote for McCain , but now you're gonna vote for Obama in 2012 .
Ya mock The South and Southern Men , yet write like an Israel Firster.
Ya sound like a conflicted cross between Chuckie Schumer & Neil Young .
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 9:21PM
You are like a cross between a college kid and a meathead at a pool hall. how old are you? 28? 29?
Tim*| 8.21.10 @ 10:18AM
You're a cross between Helen Thomas & Joe Biden .
You want some negative attention , Old Prune.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:49PM
"You want some negative attention"
Yes, which makes two of us; I'm an old fool (or I wouldn't blog here), and you're a young one.
We are both getting what we deserve.
Oldefarte| 8.22.10 @ 10:59AM
Kennedy and Johnson got this country involved in the Vietnam War, micromanaged its unsuccessfulness, and caused the needless deaths of many many of our GI's; Nixon got us out of the war and brought our troops home!!!!!!!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:51PM
"Nixon got us out of the war and brought our troops home!!!!!!!"
Good point. But JFK didn't send enough troops to SE Asia and wasn't in office long enough for him to be held responsible.
Sarbo| 8.20.10 @ 12:35PM
This Prez is not only thin-skinned but also thick-headed. Does he really think that Imam Rauf is talking about religious dialogue? This Imam will not condemn Hamas (tho most Gazans are sick of them), keeps asking America to accept its own culpability for 9/11.
This is par for the course for Islam. We in India know all about it. Destroy a temple, build a mosque upon the ruins and call it holy muslim territory for the rest of time.
This 15-storey monstrosity in "lower Manhattan" is designed to be a triumphalist monument, the bird of prey settling on its kill and screeching its ownership of conquered land. Alongside the ignominous skeddaling from Afghanistan, after the routing of the Soviet Army, Islam will rejoice at this mosque.
It is beyond belief that Americans do not recognize the viper nest in its midst. I think it is time for the rest of us to consign America to its own pyre and look to ourselves.
dw| 8.20.10 @ 12:44PM
Liberal zombies, created and indoctrinated to follow their marxist leadership over the cliff, as indicated by their postings, are required to be ignored as an essential ingrediant to their ultimate defeat and resulting extinction in this country.
This is necessitated by the obvious historical failure of marxist economic theory and The obamanations current disastorous implementation of it. Social justice can not be achieved by the creation of an all powerful government at the expense of the private citizens ability to generate wealth and then keep it.
Obama needs to go back to the rev. wrights classroom and wallow in the hate that is generated there.
CJohnson| 8.20.10 @ 12:59PM
Anyone know older parents of a single child who is allow to participate in adult conversations? By about age 11 they are 'finished' maturation because all their lives people have said 'how mature they are'. That ought frighten a normal parent!
Ed| 8.20.10 @ 1:11PM
It may take some time to develop, but pathological narcissists usually self destruct. They lie so much, it is hard to tell when they actually speak the truth. If you have ever been around these people, you learn pretty fast to tune them out and shun them.
Angry AmeriKan| 8.20.10 @ 1:42PM
This g0ddamned clown...
Jokebama
Obowma
O'Vomit
and best of all... plummeting earthward on a daily basis...
O'Icarus.
What a c0c\
Jim Chester| 8.20.10 @ 1:59PM
Obama has the elitist college prof attitude towards recently half-educated high schoolers for the entire nation. He is constantly puzzled that we don't and won't be impressed or agree with his presumptous air of superiority on all things political. He (and his media surrogates) can't grasp that, unlike the kids who must bow and scrap at his classroom feet, we have the experience to see the truth and are free to disagree with his financial and illogical demagoging and plain lying to us without fear of his red marks on our term paper.
Witness: His forced "Health Plan" won't cause anyone to lose their present coverage or raise their costs or availability of treatment. That's an insult to the intelligence of high school drop outs!
Oakley| 8.20.10 @ 2:43PM
Obama is the most uninspiring, punitive, boring, arrogant President anyone could imagine. Although I must say many realized it during the campaign.
He really doesn't seem to understand America or her people, thus his rhetoric falls on deaf ears. He seems like an alien among us and, God help us, "leading" us.
Nancy in NC| 8.20.10 @ 3:38PM
Of course, he doesn't understand America. he's never lived a "normal" American existance. He didn't grow up in this country, and when he was here he surrounded himself with "the hate America" crowd.
David C| 8.20.10 @ 3:17PM
First may I say to David I am sorry for the confusion over the use of your handle on this site.
To Alan, you are not a chump but a punk and probably a plant. No one cares about your rant but I am ill seeing your name each day along with your long drivel which is as disingenuous as it is pedestrian. We know what you will say before you have even composed your latest dung-post. Your trying to act like an intellectual is pathetic. Please go away.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 4:43PM
No one cares about your rants either, Dave.
We are both probably wasting our time, yet
you are even more of a chump than I am-- as your time is more valuable than mine.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 5:11PM
Hey Brooks , go feed the pigeons at the park .
They miss ya.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 9:24PM
You have got to be under 30, you are so silly.
And today age 30 is what 25 used to be.
"Go feed the pigeons at the park."
Tim*| 8.21.10 @ 10:22AM
You gotta be four years older than dirt .
Clean off the pigeon poop on your head .
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:57PM
"You gotta be four years older than dirt ."
I admit I'm an old fool, but you wont admit you are young fool, you could be out doing something better with your energy, but you waste your time? Sad. Very sad.
Youth IS wasted on the young.
David| 8.20.10 @ 3:20PM
Diaper girl, it doesn't matter how much education or knoweldge one has if he doesn't have the DISCERNMENT, JUDGMENT, and WISDOM to correctly apply what he knows.
At the heart of education is education of the heart.
Fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom.
It absolutely amazes me that atheists claim to be smart or educated yet they observe this majestic universe, the way earth is perfectly suited for human life, and how the human body so beautifully precisely functions, and claim that it was all a big accident.
Diaper Girl, you didn't answer the question about abortion that were posed AFTER your screech about "all life".
Nate, are you talking about the same great speaker who can't speak in front of an elementary school class without a teleprompter? And the one claimed that he had campaigned in all 57 states with 2 more to go? And the one who spoke about Romanians speaking Romanian? And the one who claimed that the Cambridge Police acted stupidly?
And do you mean the same smooth talker and great communicator who every time he speaks, for days afterwards he and his surrogates have to continue explaining and clarifying what he meant by what he said.
That brilliant, excellent speaker, Nate???!!!
David | 8.20.10 @ 3:23PM
No problem whatsoever, David C.
Jack Davis| 8.20.10 @ 3:29PM
That "Quayle fella" in Arizona, running for Congress, called Obama the worst president ever. True, Quayle has some baggage himself, but it was nice to see him facing a camera and saying what a lot of us are thinking.
David| 8.20.10 @ 3:34PM
For all atheists singing the praises of Obama, you actual do believe in God. After all, you are worshipping a man who said, "the waters will begin to recede and the earth/planet will begin to heal itself when I am elected". That sounds quite a bit like what God would say, to me".
fantum | 8.20.10 @ 3:41PM
Obama Lectures...
How we should respect his faith...
...From a man who mocks Christian faith.
How to create jobs...
...From a man who has never held a real job.
How to honor our American Heritage...
...From a man who is dedicated to Socialism.
How to run our education system...
...From a man who hides his college records.
How to manage our finances...
...From a man who spends money we don't have.
How to run our military...
...From a man who embraces those who attacked America.
How to run our businesses...
...From a man who has never run anything but his mouth.
How great ObamaCare is...
...From a man whose family will not be required to use it..
Islam - Can You Feel the Love?
http://usataxpayer.org/?002583212
Want to Learn More About Islam?
http://usataxpayer.org/htm/vids.asp?File=islam
Marc Jeric| 8.20.10 @ 3:44PM
Well, we can all comment on his pose as Caesar, with the nose in the air while lecturing us on social justice, the Constitution, tolerance, etc. In the meantime Abu Hussein al-Mombassa (or wherever in Kenya that marxist Muslim was born) is building a new United Soviet Socialist States of America. He can print money ad nauseam; he nationalized auto industry, banks, insurance, mortgage, hospitals, and pretty soon oil & gas, electricity, coal, transportation...
His system of local soviets, copied from Lenin, is getting ready to perform voter fraud - ACORN, SEIU, AFL-CIO, NEA, ASCME,...all financed by the $400 billions of his stimulus money still unspent.The future gulag is being organized for all of us conservative troglodytes - with an ideal gulag boss in one of the following: La Pelosi, La Waters...
WTF Guy| 8.20.10 @ 4:19PM
Drudge has a headline:
NO SWIMMING: Martha's Vineyard waters contaminated with fecal bacteria...
I have a Obama...Family...Vacation...Swimming
joke I so want to use but will "rise above" and let the urge pass.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 7:58PM
You're a good Chappaq... er... I mean, chap.
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 5:15PM
"Ya mock The South and Southern Men"
Nothing wrong with the South-- a long as I don't live there or visit there it is just fine-- out of sight out of mind.
If you don't go to Berkeley it wont bother you much, right?
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 8:04PM
I happen to live not in the NE, but in the West, which is BEST. You think everyone not down South lives up North? Are Arizonans yankees?
I'd rather live with the Mormons in Utah than in Dixie.
Tim*| 8.20.10 @ 5:25PM
Then don't crybaby about The South & Southern Men .
Alan Brooks| 8.20.10 @ 8:13PM
If you don't crybaby about Obama:
"that wicked guy from Chi-town will create healthcare death squads eveywhere!"
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 10:03PM
Lefties only response to the "death panel" concern is mockery, not denial, or perhaps they don't understand (and there appears to be little they do understand) "death panel" is colorful and arresting term which appropriate describes what Obamacare will bring to America, or what would they like to call limiting individuals access to or denying healthcare, and won't pain, suffering and ultimately death be the results?
Nate| 8.21.10 @ 10:50AM
re: Mockery not Denial.
Bonsage,
If I accused you of being a child molester, would you "deny" it?
The charge was absurd on its face.
But your claim is actually false. It was denied. It was denied, and denied, and denied by Democrats repeatedly throughout last summer.
You just didn't hear or read about those denials because you don't go to reliable news sources for information. You watch Fox, or listen to right wing radio, and they didn't inform you that the denials you sought actually happened and were actually backed up by hard evidence.
The rest of your comment is sheer nonsense.
Why does the reactionary believe that an expansion of opportunity and rights always leads to a loss of opportunity and rights to those who already possess them?
Liberal Reader| 8.21.10 @ 12:07PM
"Why does the reactionary believe that an expansion of opportunity and rights always leads to a loss of opportunity and rights to those who already possess them?"
The only thing that is expanding is the government. Nate is the useful idiot for Democratic shakedown artists.
Oldefarte| 8.22.10 @ 11:12AM
Instead of reading your 'reliable news' from Lil Katie Pie Face, why don't you use the few brain cells that you might possess and READ THE GD HEALTHCARE BILL DOCUMENTS [now law] that describe the death panels or federal monitorization of insurance that has already begun occurring in limited areas. What a fricking moron you are!!!!!!!!!!!
Tim*| 8.21.10 @ 4:47PM
Ya Mean That Shuck & Jive Trash Talkin' Affirmative Action Loser Boy ,Who's The Poster Boy for The Peter Principle .
Stan Allen | 8.20.10 @ 6:00PM
Hey, where's Purpleguy? He has no defense of Obama on this topic?
The silence is deafening!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 8:08PM
Purpleguy has better blogs to go to. AS is for cynics like me, and Republishills like you.
Susan Grant| 8.20.10 @ 8:02PM
Face it, Folks, we have our first black president in OUR White House who is grossly egotistical, fatuous, a congenital liar, an arrogant interventionist, and is in need of a cranial-rectal inversion, because it is evident he has NO CLUE WHAT HE IS DOING WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. His only talent when he first moved in the WH was he could read a teleprompter, then he graduated to 'executive orders, and now he is adept at 'recess appointments' that bypass Senate approval, each and every time he takes his monthly vacations. If bulls--t were currency Barack Hussein Sotero Obama could personally payoff the national debt tomorrow.
RCV| 8.20.10 @ 11:12PM
And you'd be one wealthy woman!
Kerry Thompson| 8.21.10 @ 3:39AM
Unbelievable that you forget the 8 (that's EIGHT) years of Bush's regime that preceded Obama's presidency....oh that's right ALL of our problems today didn't exist until the minute he took the oath of office. What the F*** does the fact that he's black have to do with anything? I don't recall the fact that GW Bush is white EVER being brought to bear on anything concerning his presidency. Racist much?
WTF Guy| 8.21.10 @ 5:37PM
Kerry, under normal circumstances you might have a point. These were not normal circumstances.
It was SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS by the media, on a daily basis, the he will/would become/is the first black president of the United States.
Had it been presented in it's proper context, comments such as the one above might not have been posted.
Do you understand how offensive it was to many white people when the minister - chosen by Mr. Obama - stood on the steps of the capitol on inauguration day with remarks such as "...when white will embrace what's right..."
That set the tone for the past 18 months.
"the president who transcends race" - my big ole white lily white as# he does!!!!
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 8:11PM
Even if he is the last black president, there will be Mexican and Asian presidents eventually.
Besides, you didn't treat blacks very well.
WTF Guy| 8.22.10 @ 9:03PM
I suppose you mean us white folk - collectively? ... I just love the group-think mentality.
JmsA| 8.20.10 @ 8:54PM
Ms. Grant,
Very well put, indeed.
Alan Brookss| 8.20.10 @ 9:28PM
At least he wont start a mediocre dynasty, as the Kennedys and Bushes did.
beebop| 8.20.10 @ 11:38PM
What then of the daughters, Shakespeare?
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 8:16PM
No way, they are no fools whatsoever; by all indications Obama's daughters wont waste their time in politics. Reagan's children weren't fools, were they?
John DuBose| 8.20.10 @ 10:05PM
Mr Moderator if you exist, please get rid of Pingback
George True| 8.20.10 @ 10:12PM
I have emailed TAS three different times asking them to do something about it, and I have never received a response. I know of no other website that is afflicted to this degree with this problem. It is very annoying and frustrating. And just what the hell IS a pingback, anyway???
Pingback| 8.22.10 @ 5:18PM
I have a right to post too.
Bonsage| 8.20.10 @ 10:07PM
What a sexist comment! You mean Natasha and Malia aren't warming up in the bullpen with their sleeveless coach, Big Guns Michelle?
PaulD| 8.20.10 @ 10:08PM
Obama is a condescending, sandal-wearing, ice-cream-licking, vacation-taking, skinny-assed POS.
red diaper baby 1942| 8.21.10 @ 2:21AM
Hey, Paul, you forgot "latte-drinking". I've never quite understood why, but for some reason this is something heartland conservatives find very offensive. Perhaps it's just the alliteration: "latter-drinking liberals" has a nice sound to it. (I myself prefer cappucino, which probably makes me an even worse outcast.)
WTF Guy| 8.21.10 @ 5:44PM
The fact that you don't understand speaks volumes.
Jmulcahy| 8.20.10 @ 10:28PM
Mr. Cline,
You write, "No one can pack more conceit, more condescension, into two little paragraphs than Barack Obama can."
To me Al Gore has this guy beat, probably why he got elected and Big Al did not. But the President is a close second.
Happy Clinger| 8.21.10 @ 9:25AM
Keep talking, Bamster!
Brikmanis| 8.21.10 @ 10:56AM
It isn't even a mosque. It is a community center. Right now, it is an abandoned Burlington Coat Factory. There is a sex shop and a McDonalds the same distance from Ground Zero--to be American is to defend your neighbor's right to their beliefs as strongly as you would defend your own beliefs. What happened to us?
Purple Lips| 8.21.10 @ 2:29PM
Keep that spin going! But you need to update your talking points. The main fundraiser for this project Faisal Abdul Rauf has repeatedly referred to the site as the Ground Zero Mosque (his words, not mine). And in his fundraising visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain he refers to the proposed building as a mosque (not a "community center"). Rauf is simply using the same techniques used by old Lefties when trolling for dollars in Upper Manhatten. They would give the "public speech" (usually provided by professional PR types), and reserve their real intentions to private audiences.
And if you really believe that if this mosque gets built at this location that the sex shop and any other offensive businesses will survive, then you are about as ignorant as the other "usefull idiots". Try visiting Europe and see how the Muslims work. Specifically go to Amsterdam, where Muslims now make up a majority on the city council. The famous gay establishments and other "sin businesses" are quietly but steadily being "cleaned up". A once famous gay hostel there has no been rebranded as the Mohammed Hotel - I seriously doubt that gays are welcome there.
And currently, AIG is seriously attempting revamp its business practices to comply with usery prohibitions which Sharia Law dictates. In Sharia, there are the Dhiminis. And in this nation, the Left joyfully submits itself to Islamic Dhiminitude.
RCV| 8.21.10 @ 4:20PM
As usual, the right simply makes up lies out of thin air. If you want to see the Amsterdam City Council membership, go to http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/l.....tion-2010. You can see their pictures and read their resumes. There are 7 city councilmen; one is a muslim immigrant. The other 6 are native Dutch protestants. But why let facts stand in the way of fear.
JP| 8.22.10 @ 10:22AM
Actually, Sharia Law prevails inside of the many neighborhoods which ring the Greater Amsterdam city borders. Sharia Councils dictate everything from dress in public to divorece, marriage and commerce. These Islamic enclaves are informally known as No Go Zones; EU bureaucrats label them "Sensitive Urban Areas (SAUs). Inside these areas, the local civic goverment has no say; the police no longer patrol; and in most cases the Islamic religious police enforce Sharia Law. It makes no difference what the city council says. Amsterdam doesn't publish an official list of neighborhoods which non-Muslims are prohibited from entering. But the 2007 Ramadan riots in the Sloterveert neighborhood showed how little control the civic government has on things. The unofficial number of no-go zones in Amsterdam is 27 (Interpol no longer publishes accuate numbers). Amsterdam is just one of several cities to have this problem. In France alone there are over 750 no go zones (unofficial number). There are no-go zones in Memlo, Brussels, Berlin, London, Brimingham. Marsailles, Antwerp, Utrecht, and Paris to name a few.
RCV| 8.22.10 @ 1:52PM
Jerusalem has the same phenomenon in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, where secular Israeli women are stoned and chased out if they wear sleeveless blouses, or if people drive through the neighborhood on the Sabbath. Religious fundamentalism is a universal phenomenon.
Liberal Reader| 8.22.10 @ 5:25PM
RCV is so predictable. First he denies that there are such places in European cities and then he says it is no big deal because they are everywhere. You are not the one I have been waiting for. If Israel has a problem in Jerusalem who would advocate copying it here in America? Who would think that is an argument?
RCV| 8.22.10 @ 6:58PM
The only thing I denied was the outright lie that Muslims "now make up a majority on the Amsterdam City Council", which was a demonstrable falsehood. Nor did I say that the problem of religious fundamentalists trying to impose their doctrines on everyone else "is no big deal". It's a deplorable problem whether it's Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem, Wahabbi Muslims in Europe or Fundamentalist anti-gay Christians in the US. Thank Madison we have a F first amendment here.
Liberal Reader| 8.22.10 @ 9:36PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new.....rimes.html
The First Amendment can't save wimps.
RCV| 8.23.10 @ 12:04AM
And only God can make a tree.
Conservative Sage| 8.21.10 @ 2:32PM
Obama is a progressive!
Obama is a marxist!
Obama is a communist!
Obama is a socialist!
Obama is a fascist!
Obama is an elitist!
Obama is an impostor!
Obama is an illegal alien!
Obama is a Muslim!
Obama is a con man!
Obama is an idiot!
Obama is an incompetent!
Obama is destroying America as we know it!
Obama is shredding the Constitution!
Obama is a liar!
Obama is evil!
Obama is devious!
Obama is scheming!
Obama is nefarious!
Obama is mendacious!
Obama is untrustworthy!
Obama is a tyrant!
Obama is the Shadow!
Obama is of the seed of Ishmael!
Obama is an Interloper!
Obama is a Satanist!
Rowdy Boots| 8.22.10 @ 1:47PM
I agree, but you are giving him too much credit for intelligence...he is the stupidest man I have ever seen in a public office.
Whoever believes he is intelligent is a fool.
Rowdy Boots
Long Ben| 8.21.10 @ 4:24PM
Despite our Presidents' melifluous baritone and his uncanny ability to read a teleprompter , 1600 Pennsylvania is no place for an affirmative action hire.
Groucho| 8.21.10 @ 6:36PM
That's right.
If a black man gets 65 million votes to be president, after attending the best schools in the country and writing two best selling books, it means he definitely has no talent and only got where he is because of affirmative action.
If you want real intelligence and knowledge of the world, your best bet is to go with Sarah Palin. That's what an intellectual powerhouse looks like.
RCV| 8.21.10 @ 10:04PM
You betcha!
Rowdy Boots| 8.22.10 @ 1:50PM
What you do not understand is that Obama charmed his way into every thing he has...he talked a good game, told people what they wanted to hear and made it big...
He is no intellectual powerhouse...he is a little triple A battery that has run out of juice.
Rowdy
Emma| 8.21.10 @ 9:58PM
I despise obama. Absolutely despise him.
Big Elk| 8.22.10 @ 12:29AM
Obama is just another Chicago pimp lecturing to his ho (all you MF'ers who voted for him) on how to bend over and take it upper the end.
I hear lies| 8.22.10 @ 8:59AM
“And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.”
A classic Saul Alinsky-ism. Use the enemy’s (those of us who value American freedom) high moral standards against them when you have none of your own.
You see, if he were being truthful, he would have said “YOUR commitment to religious freedom” because HE is a Kenyan born Muslim who has hated American his whole life and his one objective is to see it destroyed.
The proposal for this mosque is a lose – lose situation for America. We can’t oppose it without trashing our freedom (you can’t curtail their rights without doing the same to your own) and allowing it to be built is to endanger our very way of life which is wholly incompatible with of Islam.
Kevin | 8.22.10 @ 10:31AM
You folks on the right just need something to complain about. If he said 2+2 is four u guys wud find something wrong about that.
Not eveybody is conservative, many people totally agree with what he said about the mosque issue on constitutional grounds. Your anger shold be at Mr. Bloomberg.....not Obama.
FYI....The police did act studpidly in Cambridge!!!
Rowdy Boots| 8.22.10 @ 1:54PM
Even if the police did act stupid, which I disagree with, it is Obama who acted MOST STUPIDLY. He had no right or authority to get involved...his involvement just underscores how ignorant he really is...even after learning how to charm his left-wing nutball fans.
Since he is so smart how come the economy is still in a nosedive? How come Iran is going nuclear? How come the jobless are still suffering? Exactly how smart is this Crass, Petty, Self-aggrandizing little snot who never went hungry in his life?
Not that smart, fool.
Rowdy Boots
Liberal Reader| 8.22.10 @ 4:19PM
You got it wrong in the way you guys typically project. If President Obama said 2 + 2 = 5, as he frequently does, you and your troll friends would be trying to sell that on the American Spectator site. You have no buyers here and the con will be exposed in November. You have done enough damage and won't be forgotten.
Tim*| 8.22.10 @ 11:14AM
Wrong ObamaBoy Kevin.
"It may come as a shock to some people, but there is no absolute right to shout insults at police officers and create public disturbances. The officer was lawfully engaged in investigating a report of a possible burglary. The report sets out events and conduct that clearly falls within the definition of “tumultuous conduct” which is one form of Disorderly Conduct under the law in Massachusetts. The report includes the statements of two officers who serve with different agencies. A number of presumably independent witnesses were present, and the initial report came from a citizen. These factors bolster the credibility of the report."
Groucho| 8.22.10 @ 2:00PM
Do you Tea Bagger types ever stop to ask yourself any probing questions about your existence?
Questions like:
Am I a bigoted, stupid douche bag? Am I a dumb cocksucker?
I wonder what your answers would be if you did.
dw| 8.22.10 @ 3:31PM
So this is an example of what our educational system is teaching . You are a credit to the communist robots you represent. Very intelligent troll.
Liberal Reader| 8.22.10 @ 4:25PM
Obama supporters always reference creepy gay sexual practices. Either their trolls are heavily homosexual or their straight men think an awful lot about gay sex. Yikes.
Die Pingbacks Die| 8.22.10 @ 9:27PM
There are questions about Barry himself. Notwithstanding the sport-guy image he and the stater run media try to portray, his mannerisms are - cough, ahem - a little on the effete side. Not that there's anything wrong with it?
RCV| 8.23.10 @ 1:42PM
You're the one, LR, who seems obsessed about gay sex. Why is that? And, for your information, the overwhelming amount of c**ksucking is not done by gays. Just sayin.
Liberal Reader| 8.23.10 @ 7:09PM
Just to remind RCV:
RCV| 7.11.10 @ 3:56PM
"Yes, just as Sarah can see Russia from hers. The only poll that counts is the voting booth on election day. And what the tea baggers have managed to accomplish so far is to turn three expected GOP landslides -- Florida, Kentucky and Nevada -- into horse races. We Democrats appreciate your help."
RCV also uses references to creepy gay sexual practices (tea baggers). There are more examples if he wants. Is he a homosexual or just terribly interested in what they do? I didn't even know what that was until he and his dysfunctional friends started using this expression all the time. Get help RCV. You are one sick puppy one way or the other.
RCV| 8.23.10 @ 7:29PM
Sorry, LR, but I'm a 63 year old happily married (for 40 years) heterosexual. I have no interest - none - in anyone else's sex life.
"Teabaggers" is a sexual practice? Sorry, news to me.
grandma| 8.22.10 @ 2:55PM
Groomed by radicals
Educated by racial diversity, not educational qualifications
Narcissistic sociopath
Michele San Pietro| 8.22.10 @ 5:31PM
He won't get anything by trying to "lecture" us conservatives, that's for sure.
Michele San Pietro| 8.22.10 @ 5:31PM
He won't get anything by trying to "lecture" us conservatives, that's for sure.
Alan Brooks| 8.22.10 @ 8:22PM
Anything is better than the utter disingenuousness of 'compassionate conservatism'.
What a crock! and look what it got the GOP.
What is eating them up inside: Guilt.
WTF Guy| 8.22.10 @ 9:17PM
agreed, it was a disastrous idea to use that term...conservatism sells itself!
Occam's Tool| 8.23.10 @ 9:59PM
Mr. Brooks:
might I suggest you don't know many devout Christians, unlike this Horned Frog (non-Christian).
gail| 8.22.10 @ 9:16PM
Obama does believe most American's are uneducated simpletons that need to be lectured. However, its those simpletons and uneducated people who elected him into office. Perhaps he should stop offending people and take another vacation until 2012
WTF Guy| 8.22.10 @ 9:21PM
Maybe ten days of soaking in fecal bacteria-infested waters will set his mind right. It's worth a shot!
Nate| 8.22.10 @ 9:41PM
Many Americans ARE uneducated simpletons.
The numbers of people who do not graduate high school is staggering, and only about 20% of Americans complete a four year college degree.
The world has gotten extremely complicated; there is an enormous overload of texts, information, and media. It is very difficult to think rationally and make sound decisions without some kind of education.
Now many simply shrug at these numbers and blame "liberals," as though they were a monolithic group. But America's education problem runs deeper -- and wider -- than that, and until we address it properly, we're going to get dumber.
The numbers of Republicans who believe Obama is an illegal alien baffles the mind. It's a perfect example of people incapable of assessing the reliability of information sources -- something schools should be teaching. And yes, so-called "truthers" are a similar phenomenon. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
However, the idea that the "uneducated" elected Obama to office is nonsense. Obama massively won the "educated" vote -- i.e. the votes of those who attended a four-year college and completed degrees.
WTF Guy| 8.23.10 @ 10:42AM
"...cannot make sound decisions without some kind of education." - hmm, and what type of education would be to your liking?
The birthers and ones unsure of his religion are simply filling the vacuum created by Barry, state-run-media, and the democratic party when legitimate questions regarding his background weren't fully answered during the 2008 election.
Barry has no one but himself to blame!
My Girl Friday| 8.23.10 @ 12:33PM
Mr. Brooks, perhaps the reason you like President Obama's rhetoric so much is the same reason you like to hear your own rhetoric. Me thinks you and the President talk too much....you know the rest of the lyrics.
Michele San Pietro| 8.23.10 @ 5:36PM
It's not true at all that many Americans are "uneducated simpletons". Otherwise, it would be hard to explain why the United States have the best schools in the world, attended by quite a lot of foreigners.
pete| 8.24.10 @ 10:21AM
It is called globalization.
I would not say that the US have some of the best schools in the world. But you said "have the best schools". The difference in your and my statement is exactly the difference between European and American way of thinking.
Pretty much all school over the world are attended by foreigners ! I still dont know why you can feel so attacked by Obama's statements ! Have you ever lived in other nations or cultures and looked at the way they react or behave and openly reflected on it without thinking the american way is always the best way ?
Michele San Pietro| 8.26.10 @ 5:48PM
Yes, I'm an Italian living in Italy and can assure you there's a gulf between American and Italian schools, if only because quite a few Italians attend American schools and very few Americans attend Italian schools. I look at facts, not small talk. Anyway, what I wanted to point out is that it's false and outrageous to say that "Many Americans are uneducated simpletons".
Charles Stevens| 8.24.10 @ 1:02AM
Here's another thought about our sanctimonious, disengenous Idealogue-In-Chief...
Since progressives would have us believe that there is a distinction between a real moderate Islam versus a supposedly illegitimate radical version of Islam, then here’s what Conservatives should likewise do…
As compared against the moderate main-stream Christianity of 99% of the world’s Christians, Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s church espouses black liberation theology which is a hate-filled racist distortion of Christianity. Therefore Wright’s beliefs are not really Christianity, and therefore Obama who faithfully attended such an aberration for 20 years is NOT a Christian.
…it works for me, how about you?
Azmodeus| 8.24.10 @ 7:26AM
If this were a 'teachable moment' then by all means Obama should learn and not teach. So far, Obama is earning a failing grade with no sight of going back.
Pete| 8.24.10 @ 10:12AM
How can you feel attacked by something Abama says if it is not true ? If he is wrong what is the reason for your anger. Maybe the better reaction would be to reflect on his statements and if you do not feel adressed after reflection just ignore it. Everybody in todays world can improve on the way of thinking. If it is not you in Obama's concerns, maybe it is somebody else. So just drop your wrong pride and start do be more open !