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The Obama Watch
Obama’s Bullseye
In his address on the Tucson shootings, President Obama chose statesmanship over partisanship.
Last night, for his first time in office, Barack Obama sounded like the president of all Americans.
Obama famously burst onto the national scene in 2004 with an address to the Democratic Convention in which he declared, “there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America.” During his own run for the presidency four years later, he would echo this post-partisan theme.
But the first two years of Obama’s presidency have been contentions ones. While he may not have introduced polarization to American politics, he certainly didn’t help matters. Just days after being sworn in, he admonished Congressional Republicans with whom he was negotiating an economic package, boasting: “I won.”
When he encountered political resistance as he set about remaking America, he either directly or through surrogates portrayed political opposition as not just wrong, but illegitimate. Americans expressing their views in town hall meetings became “angry mobs” and “Astroturf.”
As political defeat loomed in last fall’s midterm elections, Obama urged Hispanic Americans to vote for Democrats as a way to “punish our enemies.” Just last month, in announcing a tax deal he had struck with GOP leaders, he blasted Republicans as “hostage takers” and said he was “itching for a fight” with them.
On Saturday, the nation was shaken when news broke of an assassination attempt against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords which killed six and injured a dozen others. Unfortunately, our noxious political atmosphere was on full display as liberals immediately seized on the tragedy and attempted to blame Sarah Palin, tea parties, and the right-wing media for the attack even before anything was known about the assailant.
Subsequent evidence has produced no known links with the alleged gunman, Jared Loughner, who appears to be a mentally disturbed individual without any discernible political ideology or partisan leanings.
“They need to deftly pin this on the tea partiers,” one Democrat had anonymously advised the White House via the Politico. “Just like the Clinton White House deftly pinned the Oklahoma City bombing on the militia and anti-government people.”
In what was billed as a defining moment in his presidency, Obama took the stage at the University of Arizona last night with a clear choice. Was he going to use this occasion to score political points, or was he going to finally live up to the promise of his candidacy and attempt to bring the country together?
Fortunately for the victims of this tragedy, and for America, he chose the latter route.
While the campaign rally feel of the event (complete with cheering and whistling from college students in the audience) seemed jarring at first for a memorial service, Obama struck just the right tone in his remarks. He paid moving tribute to the victims and emphatically stated several times that harsh political rhetoric was not the cause of this attack.
“(A)t a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized — at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do — it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds,” Obama said. “Bad things happen, and we must guard against simple explanations in the aftermath.”
He continued, “For the truth is that none of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack. None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped those shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man’s mind.”
Obama went on to say that those who lost their lives should inspire Americans to be better. “And if, as has been discussed in recent days, their deaths help usher in more civility in our public discourse,” he said, “let’s remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy — it did not —but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that would make them proud.”
The phrase “it did not” was not in Obama’s prepared remarks, and it’s to his credit that he felt the need to inject those words to make it abundantly clear that political rhetoric was not a factor in the shooting.
About the Author
Philip Klein is The American Spectator’s Washington correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Philipaklein
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Booger | 1.13.11 @ 6:13AM
Transcript of Countdown with Keith Olbermann from January 12:
Keith Olbermann: Tonight it is my honor to bring to you Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik live from Tucson, Arizona. Good evening, sheriff, how are you doing tonight and how is your investigation going?
Sheriff Dupnik: Good evening, Keith. I'm doing great and I'm pleased to announce that we have one of the conspirators in custody, and my department has a working theory of the case which we hope will soon lead to additional arrests.
K.O. Additional arrests? So the early rumors that the shooter didn't act alone are actually true?
S.D. That's right, Keith. We have identified at least two conspirators who were directly involved in the assassination attempt. Even as we speak, my officers are coordinating with the FBI and President Obama's justice department to build the case against these additional conspirators. I am confident we will be able to make additional arrests before this week is over.
K.O. What can you tell me about these additional arrests? Can you tell me who these additional conspirators are, and how they were involved?
S.D. Actually, that's exactly why I wanted to come on your show tonight. The general public needs to be made aware of this conspiracy and its perpetrators so that they can be on guard against it, and if necessary help bring the conspirators to justice. The first conspirator I will be asking for an indictment against is Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and current leader of the Tea-bagger terrorist organization.
K.O. Well, no surprise there. That b**** has been my worst person in the world so many times we might as well name the award after her. So tell us, how was Palin involved in the conspiracy, how deep was her involvement, and what charges will you be bringing against her?
S.D. Well, Keith, as you know that deranged maniac Palin had put out a map which actually had a cross-hairs target over this Congressional district in the last election. I believe we can safely assume that map was the catalyst that led to the shooting. Furthermore, I believe we can make an airtight case that Palin knew the map would lead to the Congresswoman being targeted for assassination, and published it for that explicit purpose. We also have evidence that Palin used technology she stole from the Air Force while she was governor of Alaska to beam the idea to shoot the Congresswoman directly into the assassin's brain.
K.O. Seriously? She did that?
S.D. That's the picture were getting as we interrogate the suspect. He insists that someone beamed the idea directly into his head, and I have no reason to doubt him on that. And if someone did, who is a better suspect than the maniacal terrorist Palin?
K.O. Who indeed? After all, there is an Air Force base in Alaska. It's all starting to make perfect sense now. But I believe you said there were other conspirators?
S.D. That's right. Right now we're also filing an indictment against the voice of hate in America, Rush Libmaugh. We have reason to believe that he is directly responsible for this attack as well.
K.O. That's fantastic! Palin and Limbaugh both going down on a murder rap! I'm getting tingles up my leg that even Chris Matthews would envy! What's the evidence against Limbaugh?
S.D. Well, we know that Limbaugh has been broadcasting hate over the airwaves across this nation. We also know that his listeners are a bunch of mind-numbed robots incapable of independent thought or action. That fits the profile of our trigger-man to a tee. This kid was completely incapable of any independent thought or action, so Limbaugh must have put the idea in his head. We believe he used the mind control device Palin stole from the Air Force to beam the wave directly into the shooter's head via the radio waves from his EIB network.
K.O. Incredible, but perfectly believable. Sheriff, the way you have connected the dots in this case is a marvel of police work! Sherlock Holmes must be rolling over in his grave with envy at your deductive skills. Tell me, do you think you'll have any problem making this case in court?
S.D. None at all, Keith. My office has already spoken with the shooter's attorney. His attorney assures us he'll be willing to confirm our theory and testify to it in court once we get him a grant of immunity. In light of the great damage that Palin and Limbaugh are doing to this nation, and their ability to inspire more violence, I believe it's in the best interest of the people of this country to grant the shooter immunity in exchange for his testimony. I know a lot of people out there will be upset to see this guy walk free, but if we can get Palin and Limbaugh out of circulation in exchange, it's a trade I would make any day.
K.O. Agreed on that, Sheriff! Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
http://beautifulletters-bls.bl.....upnik.html
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.13.11 @ 7:39AM
Right on the point. The TAS should reverse your article and Mr. Klein's.
Eric Cartman| 1.13.11 @ 9:18AM
Obama gave a wonderful speech and ignored the boorish Democrats like Robert Altman call to use the speech as a political hammer. But the opening Indian prayer was nonsensical and the screams of joy from the crowd was unabashed Democrat politicking. These are the people that make up the Socialist Democrat party - just remember that.
rusino| 1.13.11 @ 12:57PM
Regarding the Indian prayer:
It was jarring. Rep. Giffords is a Conservative Jew not a Native American, the Judge a Roman Catholic. I would venture that none of the dead or wounded were Native American.
Where was the Rabbi, Priest or Minister. Has the God of Jews and Christians become politically unaccceptable?
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 1:33PM
Excellent point, Rusino.
Me think memorial organizers have 'em heap too much firewater!
kluffy13| 1.13.11 @ 1:34PM
This exactly what I wa swondering and whar a joke except about the eastern door which also relates to the eastern gate.
sane person| 1.13.11 @ 1:36PM
Actually she is a "reformed" Jew.
Eric Cartman| 1.13.11 @ 1:57PM
Well, that makes all the difference in the world! My former fiance' (and still love of my life) was a reform Jew and I remember the many Hanukkah dinners that were preceded by Indian chanting, drum circles and dances. Why, I remember one year we all went out and killed a dear, skinned it and said the Indian Great Animal Spirit prayer followed by a brisk game of dradle and a snack of potato kugel. It was inspiring!
carnot| 1.13.11 @ 2:43PM
touche!
sane person| 1.13.11 @ 3:35PM
Cartman, my only point was that "rusino" stated that she was a conservative Jew which is not correct. Unless you are a Jew (BTW, I am) you may not know that we are very open minded (i.e., tolerant) about other religions.
Eric Cartman| 1.13.11 @ 4:08PM
I understand your point - I just don't think it makes a difference . And I'm pretty sure conservative Jews are tolerant of other religions. I'm pretty sure, too, that conservative Jews wouldn't get up and storm out of the memorial because of the Chief's remarks. They would sit there like everybody else. Listen. Clap. Shuffle out to the car at the end. Get in the car. Look at each other and say "So . . . Who prays to fish and trees?"
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 9:16PM
Cartman, Too funny!! You're the Jack Benny of TAS. "So Ethel... Who prays to fish and trees? Huh, Who knew?"
P.S. Your fiance's loss.
Eric Cartman| 1.14.11 @ 1:15AM
Thanks ;-) And I can't blame her. How can a beach bum (at the time) support a family? She still brings a smile to my face, though.
da monk| 1.13.11 @ 5:39PM
This "dear" you killed, was she a blond or a brunette?
Eric Cartman| 1.14.11 @ 1:08AM
Whoops! Well, she was dear to me.
Stefanie| 1.13.11 @ 1:59PM
Aren't there many Native Americans who live in Arizona and were probably in the audience? He also used Bible verses. I don't see how this was a bad thing.
Eric Cartman| 1.13.11 @ 2:06PM
It was just sort of weird. Out of place. He went on about him being Mexican and Yaqui Indian and escaping genocide in Mexico in the 1800s and fish and tree bark and leaf blowers and, well, stuff! Just didn't get it. How does it relate to the shooting. It may be some of the victims were Indian. I don't know. I plead ignorance on this one. Just sort of weird.
Donna| 1.13.11 @ 3:38PM
Yep,he used bible verses-yep,he talked about putting one's right hand over his heart while saying the pledge of allegiance-he spoke like a PRESIDENT,but i still remember a time when he didn't do either! He hasn't sold me yet!
BILOXIPAT| 1.14.11 @ 8:52AM
What was weird to me was his attempt to take credit for Representative Giffords opening one eye. First it happened "after" he left the hospital, then "soon after," then the news media left off the "after" entirely and made it appear she opened it for our supreme and mighty Healer.
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 2:18PM
The minute that guy started invoking demons, I would've bolted for the nearest exit.
Honest Injun!
Pelligrino| 1.14.11 @ 4:52AM
Did I hear correctly from the president of the university that the man with the interesting/different prayer (was that a prayer or a talk?) is a faculty member?
Is he faculty? Teaching what?
Oh my.
Mark in Idaho| 1.13.11 @ 2:33PM
I don't know about the rest of you, but I just fast forwarded through the so-called "Indian prayer". I don' t need any voodoo garbage coming into my mind - "is it because there is no God in Israel that you seek other gods?" Putting that garbage in there was a deliberate offense. I wonder who is responsible.
On the other hand, I was astonished and listened twice to Napolitano and Holder. They read Scripture! It is the first time I have ever agreed with either of them.
I have to say, Obama's speech was without offense. It is also the first time I have seen him actually appear Presidential.
Let's see if there is a change in the wind, or if this was a ruse to gain support. Actions will speak louder than words, and certainly I will watch for actions.
Howard| 1.13.11 @ 10:17PM
Rusino--Im afraid you're correct. Anything associated with Eurocentric males is a source of evil
Barry De Leede| 1.13.11 @ 10:11AM
Booger:
It may be insensitive to say at such a PC rich moment in time but I just can't stop myself.
You Kill ME!
Of course the shooter gets immunity. I laughed so hard my morning beverage came out my nose.
Drew| 1.13.11 @ 10:43AM
I certainly hope that everyone who reads the above piece understands it is a PARODY. Keith Olbermann NEVER HAD the discussion with Sheriff Dupnik, nor did the Sheriff Dupnik nor Olbermann make any statements or assertions even vaguely similar to those made in this piece.
(For those of you who are interested, the January broadcast of "Countdown" was given over in its entirety, to the Tucson Memorial.)
The "interview transcript" is totally a work of fiction, appearing first in a blog, entitled "Beautiful Letters." Indeed.
I'm not at all sure how, in any way, reposting anonymous, false, and clearly inflammatory stuff like this - without identifying it in any way as parody - is helpful to either our discussion of the issues before us, or in fostering an environment for productive engagement.
Ned the Red| 1.13.11 @ 11:05AM
Thanks for the "heads up" Drew. I was really getting worked up. I was gonna write my Congressman.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.13.11 @ 11:27AM
Anyone who was too stupid too realize that was a parody should not have a driver's license or be allowed to visit the local tavern.
Rich Fisher| 1.13.11 @ 12:42PM
Actually, this IS NOT a parody. By definition, a parody is a feeble or ridiculous imitation (Merriam Webster). In other words, it has to be beyond belief. This, then, by definition is not a parody. I can see Oberman and Sheriff Dipstick sitting around over a brewski and having this exact conversation. This would be closer to satire.
kluffy13| 1.13.11 @ 1:37PM
too close to truth for comfort
Pelligrino| 1.14.11 @ 4:57AM
Mr. Rich Fisher, thanks for the comment and better definition of the word in question.
Thank you also for correcting the spelling of the sheriff's last name.
Regards!
DaPicayune| 1.13.11 @ 5:10PM
...and definitely not allowed to Vote! But then, most of the Dems would never win election again, right? Naay, the Dems just give'em immunity for voter fraud, or caught voting while illegal, stupid, or uninformed, especially in Pima Cty, AZ, right Dup'emnik!
Booger | 1.13.11 @ 11:59AM
Dear Drew,
Thank you for your concern, which I could never doubt is entirely sincere. Yes, I did post this letter on my blog as well. Thanks for the shout out for my blog, if you click on my screen name you will be directed there. I also posted my blog address at the bottom of the letter. Additionally, I might add that on my blog I advise you, my fabulous reading public, that I have been possessed by the spirit of Aqua Buddha and compelled to write satirical letters. I do hope you enjoy them. By the way, if you do, please visit my blog for many more of the same, and be sure to click on one of the ads from Aqua Buddha's sponsors to keep the great (satirical) letters coming. Once again, thanks for the shout out Drew. You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming.
Cordially,
Booger
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 12:37PM
Booger,
I think, maybe, Drew was trying to inform his fellow Useful Idiots out there in cyberspace.
As he is one of them, he has first hand knowledge of just how stupid they truly are.
Drew didn't want to get slammed with e-mails from his friends saying, "Have you heard? That sheriff is going after Palin and Limbaugh!"
Bruce| 1.13.11 @ 12:12PM
Seriously ... are you really that stupid that you thought Boogers post was in fact a serious one?
Eric Cartman| 1.13.11 @ 12:18PM
Really? Wow! I am so glad you, Drew, pointed that out for me. I thought this guy, Booger, was serious. With a name like that, you know it's serious. You have cleared my mind. I can now get back to the "environment for productive engagement" that people like Paul Krugman and Johnathan Alter have let flourish in the media in general. Thanks and keep up the great work. Putz.
mzk1| 1.13.11 @ 6:03PM
He generally put these letters at the start of the comments (how does he do that?), so he assumes we know what it's about. Personally, I think AmSpec should pay him to do the back page. (But since he's doing this for free, why should they? Kind of like the booklists in the current issue.)
Chris Hammond| 1.13.11 @ 12:40PM
Instead of hijacking yet another article to post your prearranged comments, you might consider commenting on Mr. Klein’s position in a thoughtful way.
Bill Hussein O'Stalinn| 1.13.11 @ 1:12PM
There was more thought in the responses here then Mr. Klein's article.
Proof? There are news releases claiming that Obama will be talking about civility at the State of the Union. Don't kid yourselves. This is just the first tactic in attempting to close off free speech.
Booger | 1.13.11 @ 1:28PM
Dear Mr. Hammond,
Hijack? How? I don't even own a box-cutter. I believe I should also point out that "hijack" is a term loaded with all sorts of violent imagery, and as such must never be used in our new, neutered language. Why, if you were to continue to use the term "hijack" you might even inspire some poor, ill-informed, young Muslim to attempt to take over an airliner. And when that happens, it will be ALL YOUR FAULT for having used the term "hijack".
Cordially,
Booger
mzk| 1.13.11 @ 3:14PM
Isn't this supposed to be satire? This is closer to fiction than fantasy.
Bob K.| 1.13.11 @ 6:58PM
Good satire is very rare. The same goes for political speeches.
amccoy| 1.14.11 @ 12:01AM
You miss the point almost as much as most of the democratic partisans.
Drawing weapons sights over the candidates was STUPID and unprofessional. Using violent rhetoric is stupid and unprofessional.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE RHETORIC CAUSED THIS INCIDENT OR NOT-the rhetoric is wrong either way. Luckily the dems jumped in with both feet before investigating and will be the ones who end up with egg on their faces, but it could have been the other way.
Stop the Bull puckey and focus on what matters-intellectual property protection in China, fair trade practices, and GOOD investments in education.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.13.11 @ 6:29AM
It was a clever speech but you'll have to forgive the skeptical, which would include me.
Frankly, what else could he have stated? That we should turn on each other? And if you believe his statement that we should not be polarized then that leads us to a question of who had polarized the nation over the last year?
Who referred to the public that was against illegal immigration as the "enemy?" Who referred to the troops as traitors and killers? Who stated she saw "swastikas" at a health care protest?
It was the leadership of the Democratic Party and now after one speech from a tragedy we are all supposed to believe that somehow the wounds are healed and everything is forgiven.
Mr. Klein you don't understand the Democrats. They will practicing Alinsky tactics long after you and I are gone.
Rahm Emmanuel stated that you can't let a tragedy go to waste and that's precisely what's happening here.
The media set the right up as patsies and it also allows Obama to appear magnanimous.
Here's my prediction. Before two weeks goes by you'll see the Democrat and their allies in the state run media back up to their old tricks.
The media will continue to pound Sarah Palin, Rush Limabaugh, Glen Beck and Sean Hannity while the President stands by and continues his plan to shut them down.
What you heard last night was a direct assault on Free Speech by the President.
If you think it was anything else you're a fool.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 9:57AM
When Fox cut away to the "panel" after the pep rally, I predicted that Chris Wallace - a Democrat - would be the most clear-eyed; the increasingly cowed Brit Hume would praise Obama stolidly and of course Krauthammer would try to cut ahead of Peggy Noonan in the line to kiss Obama's ass.
And so it was.
This pep rally was a predictable political spectacle from beginning to end. The only difference between this and the Wellstone Memorial is that Democrats learned their lesson and played conservatives like a fiddle; they got exactly what they wanted, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with the events of last Saturday.
Did anyone else think that opening with Fanfare for the Common Man" was a bizarre choice? There's a deliberate flavor of a royal flourish to that piece, which is a paean to Joe Six Pack that, IMHO, eloquently makes the point that nations derive their greatness not from the aristocracy, but from the hoi polloi, the salt of the earth from whose toil and values and simple, inherent goodness great nations rise.
All well and good, but what does that have to do with this event? Who is the common man they were celebrating? And SHOULD we be celebrating ourselves in a bizarre, self-congratulatory near-orgy at this time?
And what was with the opening invocation that celebrated some bizarre, arcane, native American, distinctly non-Judeo-Christian spirituality? Forgive me my sceptical thought that this was far less about "inclusion" than it was about devaluing the traditions - and the people - that built this country. I'm surprised the guy didn't burn goat entrails right there on the dais. That would have sent liberals into rapturous orgasms.
You see, the native Americans are AUTHENTIC, and we (well, those of us who are Caucasians) are this country's usurping pretenders; Arizona, of course, is ground zero for that usurpation.
That's why everybody was whooping it up for that guy; those children in the audience were rejoicing the fact that, finally, the tables are turning on Joe Six Pack and our whole rotten, white, male, oil-addicted way of life; and now, finally, we will soon regress to a pristine world where Christianity is expunged and capitalism is outlawed and industry is shut down and peace-loving, pure, endlessly good native Americans can once again roam the pristine land, and we can all spend our days doing native American dances praising mother earth and excoriating white America.
Well, as long as the "New Americans" - which look suspiciously like old communists - can keep their iphones. And their ipads. And their Escalades. And their big screen TVs. And their yearly vacations. And their townhouses. And their laptops. And their wine cellars. And their internet connections. And their cable TV. And their sexualized lifestyles. And their wardrobes. And their unprecedented ability to fly around the country thanks to cheap airline tickets and the industrial/capitalist legacy they are so eager to urinate all over.
Yippee. Fanfare for the common man indeed.
The 20-year old kid was ok, but everybody had to talk not about the kid whose cool head might have saved Gifford's life, but about the HISPANIC kid whose cool head might have saved Gifford's life. Even conservative pundits line up to pay obeisance to the racial balkanization that is draining this country of its cohesion. If you are Hispanic or black, you are a "noble savage" and inherently GOOD; if you are of white European heritage, you are inherently EVIL.
And forgive me if, when Obama was brought up, I was convinced that we had been transported back in time to the last Beatles concert at Shea Stadium in 1965. The adolescent adoration that showered him was a wall of hormone-enhanced sound; the applause a staircase to the stars that Obama ascended effortlessly, without ever having to lower his Mussolini chin to gaze upon the little people with anything approaching humility.
The libs are all very fond right now of talking about "grown-up" conversations. Where were the grown-ups in the room last night? Not the college kids; not the Party Apparatchiks oohing and aahing at Obama's dandy new set of non-partisan clothes. Not the first lady, who looked like she'd been involved in some kind of explosion involving purple jell-o. Not the lineup of political hacks all jockeying to bask in the warm media glow of "let's all jerk ourselves off now." Not the media in attendance, who were vying to get close to The One.
Gee, I'm glad Krauthammer was impressed with Obama's great healing powers. What the hell did he think Obama was going to do? Hell, his thugs have already beaten the crap out of Palin and the Tea Party and conservative for five consecutive news cycles. It took no genius, no Gandhi, no Christ, to walk across the corpse-strewn battlefield in pristine white long after the battle was over.
And of course Obama draped himself in holy oils and the sack cloth of religious language; think for a minute the reaction among the media if Obama had been a white Republican - like, oh, say George Bush and injected so much biblical talk into his speech. He'd be excoriated from coast to coast for shoving his provincial religion down the throats of secular and new-age saturated Americans held hostage to his bully pulpit.
But we all know the double standard when it comes to Democrats - and black democrats in particular - doing that old time religion. Sure, our popular culture loathes All Things Christian, but, hey, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned revival meeting to distract the punditry from the self-worshiping atheists who were a-clappin their hands and a-stompin' their feet just as zealously as if they really believed there was something of value beyond their own sybaritic desires and resentments.
I literally couldn't watch this cynical theater at some points. The whole phonied up, bizarre party was out of place and inappropriate - not the least of which was Krauthammer's favorite moment, when The Great God Obama assured us all (in case there were any doubters left!) that Jesus has nothing on our president; Christ raised Lazarus, but Obama got Gabby to open her eyes.
Praise be to Obama! Krauthammer loved that Obama repeated "Gabby opened her eyes for the first time." I thought this narcissistic clown was wringing every last bit of tawdry messianism he could out of the moment - knowing that pundits from the right - like Krauthammer - would fall for it hook, line and sinker - as they do every single time. And so it came to pass.
Maybe the media will release a brand new poster of Obama from this pep rally in preparation for his re-election campaign. If so, I know what I'm getting Krauthammer for his birthday.
George True| 1.13.11 @ 10:16AM
Griz, this whole farce of a "memorial" service disturbed me to the core, but I could not articulate exactly why. You just did. Kudos, sir.
Anne White| 1.13.11 @ 12:14PM
Am glad to see someone express with feeling what so many of us have concluded. Keep saying it.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 1:14PM
Anne, on balance I agree with you - however, I must say, I believe that Obama is not the real problem; he is a symptom of how low we've fallen as a country.
Think about it - an entire nation (or at least something like 52 million people), and the media keepers of the cultural flame - news organizations, entertainment venues, the punditry, the talk show hosts, our youth - decided en masse to ignore the truth about Obama.
The fact that his entire history was shrouded in opacity bothered nobody at NY Times, Newsweek, Time, NPR, CBS, NBC, ABC, etc. No, Obama was declared a demigod, and, literally, millions cheered.
Why? Because Obama is black.
That's why this non-entity was able to transfer from Occidental college to Columbia, that's why he matriculated at Harvard, that's why he became president of the Law Review, that's why he became a "Constitutional Law" professor, that's why he became a state senator, a US senator and president of the US. If we could elect him GOD, I'm sure it would be unanimous.
Why? He's black. Racism has been exploited in this country by the left for so long that it has become our Achilles Heel. We have agreed to hate ourselves because of something that human beings engaged in from the beginning of time.
And so we sought absolution for our sins. Voila. Enter a foolish, self-important, somewhat articularte Marxist. Who is BLACK. The messiah.
Obama's ideological fatuousness is a problem, but the bigger threat is his role as a blank slate onto which we can write our racial salvation. His rise to the presidency allows us to expunge white guilt from ourselves; the more we genuflect before him, the better we feel about ourselves. The more we can pat ourselves on the back and bask in the glow of our new-found own moral superiority.
And, of course, along with this affirmative-action, inverted racism, we have allowed the left to infect most of the institutions of American Exceptionalism in this country: Not just the news media and the entertainment media, but the academic sphere - from kindergarten through phd level; our science, our public institutions, and even our corporations, who have learned to manipulate this collective false consciousness such that they've created an environment of crony capitalism. They profit enormously even as they wring their hands, don their hair shirts and pretend to flog themselves for believing in free makets that have long been rigged in their favor.
Yes, there are some of us whose brains haven't been scrambled, but we are anachronisms that will either be "re-educated" in gulags or liquidated by the self-declared "good."
Our culture is STILL moving inexorably leftward. maybe it's like a battleship - it takes time to turn the vessel around even after you've cut the wheel. But I wouldn't count on it. I fear the tea parties aren't the beginning of a new day - I fear they are the last gasp of light before the darkness marxism finally envelopes the country.
I think what Christianity teaches (and I don't pretend to be an expert) is that man, left to his own devices, is such an imperfect creature that his flaws will eventually suffocate his beauty if he doesn't discipline his appetites and look upward to something greater than himself.
Well, we've sold ourselves this utterly false bill of goods that as long as we pay lip service to the symbols of goodness - platitudes about caring, diversity, social justice, environmental rectitude, etc. we can be as utterly libertine, licentious, libidinous and larcenous as we want; all that matters is that we all agree to pretend to believe in Utopias even as we plunder our society, rape our values and confiscate the property of our fellow man.
If we don't weed the garden, and keep the parasites at bay, the garden reverts back to chaotic nature, at the mercy of its viscissitudes - and just telling ourselves that weeds are every bit as valuable as grain seeds, that aphids are every bit as salubrious as honey bees, that haphazard values are every bit as praiseworthy as organized morality, we are doomed.
You know we hav reached that point when a grotesque specatacle like that "memorial service" could even be contemplated - let alone executed. And then praised by so-called conservatives.
I guess I'm not nearly as optimistic as you are.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 1:15PM
Oops - looks like I replied to the wrong "Anne." Sorry!
Frisbee| 1.13.11 @ 1:55PM
Grzmlyk: Dude - you're going to bust my truth-o-meter.
May I offer that at the heart of culture and the continuance of man is the propagation of the species, marriage, and sexuality. The contraceptive culture - separating sex from procreation - is the deepest wound we could possibly inflict on ourselves. We are now even forgetting what marriage is, and why two men can't do it.
John Jay| 1.13.11 @ 2:31PM
Exactly! America needs more TRUTH and less repitition via the media which directly influences what is then mistakenly believed to be truth,simply by virtue of people not thinking for themselves.
I still have faith in America and a Third Party.
da monk| 1.13.11 @ 5:44PM
Grzmlyk: You forgot to mention "Some of my best friends are black"
Shenequa James-Williams| 1.13.11 @ 8:04PM
Yea.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 9:55PM
Some of my best friends are liberals. Just kidding, that would just be silly.
buckeyeman| 1.13.11 @ 10:28AM
There is one word which aptly describes this event and you have keyed on it several times: BIZARRE.
A college campus political rally complete with a "native american blessing" (his people escaped the "genocide" in Mexico, don't ya know? *applause, cheering*). I struggled to find any relevance in the old testament reading by Napolitano. The strange "intern" credited with "saving the life" of Congresswoman Giffords (utter drivel, in my medical opinion - how did cradling her head in his arms save her life???). The pep rally performance of the University of Arizona president.
By the time "O" got to the stage I was so sickened I had to switch to the History Channel coverage of the 1811 earthquake.
This nauseating event was bizarre in every respect. Oh, and Fox "news" is all but lost. What has happened to those people?
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 10:38AM
You are right - the only reason I cut the intern slack is because I literally turned off the TV in disgust afor about three minutes and missed most of his comments - but I knew my desire to comprehend how far this country has fallen outweighed my nausea. But I knew he was just a prop in this piece of theater - and a young one at that - so I let that be.
The reason cradling her head made him a hero is becasuse he was HISPANIC.
This whole thing disgusted me on a visceral level, beginning to end - and the fact that Krauthammer and Hume were seduced into la-la land really really disapppointed me.
Thank god for Chris Wallace - I could practically HEAR him rolling his eyes. I mean, what the hell has happened to conservatism in this country, when we acquiesce to so many of the memes of liberalism - and then wonder why we're not gaining traction?
Oh, excuse me - we TELL ourselves we're gaining traction. We tell ourselves the NY Times and the network news is dead, and therefore, apparently, that means liberalism is dying.
Meanwhile, the real barometer of this country's political center of gravity is our pop culture, which moves ever further left, sweeping everything into its arms or trampling the doubters - and last night was a pop culture event, and it did NOT speak to a healthy zeitgeist.
Quite the opposite.
Anne White| 1.13.11 @ 12:20PM
As long as the "pop culture" retains their perception of O'Bama as "messiah", there will continue to be unhealthy zeitgeist. It seems as if the segment of the population who are in bondage to visual so-called truth and facts are in power.
Not so!!! There are still enough of us who have brains that have not been fossilized by fantasia that we still can think and decide between right and wrong, morally and by faith in God. Where there is life there is Hope.
Frisbee| 1.13.11 @ 1:59PM
By the way, is it true that the 9 year old girl was actually born 9-11?
Also, have you heard of the monks who donated a casket for her?
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/.....-shooting/
da monk| 1.13.11 @ 5:48PM
Grzmylk:
I imagine you have Hispanic friends also and invite them to your White Citizen Council meetings
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 7:07PM
What a zinger!
boy, ya got me!
Naturally, you can't argue with my premise; you can't refute the message, so you go after the messenger.
Here's the deal: I don't think people should be singled out or given special treatment - positive or negative - because of their race.
Is that clear enough for you? Maybe you can write it down and pin it to your bib for the next time you drool all over yourself about what a tolerant chap you are because you slavishly bend over backwards to show us all how good you are.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 7:12PM
Because if Obama had been white, he'd never have gone to Harvard, never been made president of the Law Review, never made professor with virtually no teaching experience, never been elected a state senator, never been elected U.S. senator, and never been elected president.
He didn't do any of that on his merits; he did it because people like you want absolution from white guilt. He did it because we have institutionalized affirmative action in this country.
Incidentally, in case you give a shit about reality, that isn't good for blacks either.
No matter - now we have "Hispanics" - a racialist word invented by white people to describe several different nationalities, by the way - as the new victim group. So forget the black "community." Now it's all about making good little dependent life-long democrats out of this new demographic by balkanizing them, controlling them and keeping them on your plantations.
Who's the racist again? Ask not for whom the bell tolls, moron: It's t0lling for you.
Alan McIver| 1.13.11 @ 12:13PM
Change channel, whenever our community organizer speaks, knowing who has mentored him and parented him and associated with him, all his life. He will speak what he thinks we want to hear, and do what he believes is right. He is wrong, and a liar.
And few are cognizant that the Native Americans were in bloody conflict, tribe against tribe, as all humans have been. This was no Eden before white men overran the place. Just another lie.
Caroline| 1.13.11 @ 12:19PM
I agree with the word, BIZARRE! We must remember that "the one" is the most insincere, the biggest deceiver and liar that we have ever had for a president. He does or says anything that he has to in order to get reelected.
IMO, we are entering, perhaps, the most treacherous time of his presidency. Frankly, I was NOT impressed with his rhetoric. What about the t-shirts being distributed? All of it was turned into one grand political rally. Shameful!!
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.13.11 @ 10:29AM
Excellent! Once again, the TAS should reverse your comment and the original.
Indian George| 1.13.11 @ 12:21PM
Grzmlyk, you mirror my thoughts! Excellent observations! This fooled only the fools!
SpiralArchitect| 1.13.11 @ 8:11PM
No. This apealed to the masses.
This empowered the liberal agenda.
This Cried Out for Kumbya and We Are The World.
The One Thing This Did Not Do
was fool anybody.
The Undocumented Worker in Chief need but brandish his piccolo and the masses are at his mercy. And greatful to have their path gilded.
__________
Unfortunately, that golden path is dawned from a silver, forked tongue - nothing greater than a golden shower in reality.
max beeman| 1.13.11 @ 12:26PM
Great answer to quell the uprising of obama adulation that will spring into action once again because of the" great ones" ability to capitalize on what was just some deranged idiot committing a very bad crime. Where was the "great one " after the Ft Hood killings?
Jay| 1.13.11 @ 1:59PM
That would have drawn attention to the fact that a muslim terrorist committed yet another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
Frisbee| 1.13.11 @ 2:01PM
Very good point.
idalily| 1.13.11 @ 5:24PM
Yeah, but adulation won't change the unemployment rate. If that doesn't change, anything Obama says is, well..."just words, just speeches."
Sue| 1.13.11 @ 1:05PM
I wondered who would have the courage to give truth to this whole sorry episode. I felt for the survivors having to endure this spectacle. I envisioned the survivors future responses to the question: How did your grandfather die? "At the hands of a madman because of the State failure to institutionalize him. But the politicos gave my grandfather a great sendoff!"
One more example of what the State should be doing, protecting the public from insane people, and the results of the State not doing it.
Another sad day for America. Think 9/11/01 - a much larger example of the failure of the State to protect the public at large. They would rather buy votes with the taxpayer's money, than protect the taxpayers by using their money to protect the taxpayers. Remember Robert Krentz!
RAMIII| 1.13.11 @ 1:13PM
My 18 year old son said to me when I came home last night:
"They cheered at a Memorial Service!" *eye roll* "It was creepy!"
These people will politically grand stand, even while they are claiming to be without agenda and sincere. Remember the infamous tears *wipes eyes* by Bill Clinton at Ron Brown's funeral when he realizes the camera is on him and he goes from animated conversation/laughter to bowed head, etc.
These people have no shame and I feel frustrated that somehow on the RIGHT we always have someone who just has to be conciliatory and write some kind of puff piece. How about just not saying anything. Just let it stand for what it was. I mean think about it -- we're congratulating the PRESIDENT of the USA for being presidential. What a farce.
Jay| 1.13.11 @ 2:04PM
Kudos to your son for recognizing the implementation of "let no tragedy go unexploited" philosophy of this administration.
timmah| 1.13.11 @ 1:28PM
I turned it off after someone shouted "We love you" at Obama. Silly me, i thought it was going to be about the victims and their families.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 1:40PM
Brilliant analysis as usual, exactly how I felt about the whole charade. Sometimes I really like Krauthammer and other times like this I just want to slap some sense into him. I suspect it is part of being in the DC clique and how he has managed to keep his privileged position much like George Will.
KyMouse| 1.13.11 @ 5:00PM
"If you are Hispanic or black, you are a "noble savage" and inherently GOOD; if you are of white European heritage, you are inherently EVIL."
I've often wondered why Hispanics aren't reamed for what their ancestors did. After all, the conquistadors from Spain weren't exactly sweet to native populations in the New World.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 7:28PM
Because in the great Caucasian Vanity Sweepstakes, the only evil in this world has come at the hands of White American Males.
"Native Americans" overall experienced pretty much the same panoply of good and evil all humanity experiences. But that hasn't stopped our popular culture from fetishizing them as pristine symbols of unsullied man before his fall from grace.
Pete| 1.13.11 @ 5:10PM
If you can see no good in a service to memorialize six of your fellow citizens, I feel sorry for you. Hate is not the answer to our problems.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 7:32PM
Gee, is THAT what that was? a memorial? Seems to me the victims were the least important factor in this self-congratulatory orgy.
Please - you respond to a cogent argument with a pathetic, tawdry platitude?
No doubt you really elevate yourself by fantasizing that conservatives all have a giant poster in their bedrooms that reads, "HATE IS THE ANSWER!"
By your utterly inane and intellectually vapid comment, you are proving how bankrupt liberalism really is.
Pete| 1.13.11 @ 8:31PM
You flatter yourself to call a series of unsubstantiated assertions as a cogent argument. You're entitled to your opinions but just listing them does not constitute an argument.
FYI, I am not a liberal. Just somebody who doesn't think anger is a good foundation for progress (you're not going to deny you're angry, are you?)
DaPicayune| 1.13.11 @ 5:38PM
Poster is good! (brilliant post), but why wait for his birthday? Why not send him his "Together We Thrive" commemorative T-Shirt from last night's Obamapalozza in the desert. It comes in an almost SEIU blue that Kraut will surly treasure, as he recalls images of slain children "jumping in water puddles" up in heav, er, that is...the Land of Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod!
Better send one to Wallace as well, wouldn't want to spread even more envy, ya know. Surly, the WH has a massive stash of shirts at the ready for the deserving throngs! (Just a thought)
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 7:24PM
Right on the money, DaPicayune!
I can't understand why Krauthammer views so many consequential depradations to this country with the same vaguely entertained, above-the-fray, smirk.
It's all just like watching the Giants against the Bills for him. Sure, he roots for the Bills - but he secretly covets the glamour of the big-market Giants. I think that's how he approaches conservatism vs. liberalism.
But this isn't sports. It's the future of this country.
I wonder if he'd would lose that superior, self-satisified insouciance if Kathleen Sebilius annouced that part of Obamacare was to downsize America's supply of paralyzed former psychiatrists who are now nominally conservative pundits.
DaveS| 1.13.11 @ 7:07PM
I had the broadcast on for all of 10 seconds. Later, I found out about the t-shirts. I remember Clinton/Brown and the phony tears, Wellstone and the scripted rally, and now this with the platitudes a t-shirts (and, don't forget. the setting at the U of A.)
Never, Rahm said, let a crisis (or tragedy) go to waste.
Cheap, hijacked, phony, predictable.
Alamom| 1.13.11 @ 10:28PM
Mark my words: "Together We Thrive" , which was printed on all the gimme T-shirts, will be Obama's campaign slogan for 2012. Catchy, short sound-byte, full of empty meaning, that can be shouted at rallies and printed on campaign posters. Pretty obvious to me, anyhow. This was nothing more than an opportunity to lay for groundwork for the 2012 campaign. Wait and see.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 10:20AM
I agree with Bill, it was a clever speech, one that could have been delivered from the Oval Office, but that would have ment an opportunity lost for the visuals.
Apparently, Obama and his handlers were able to practice the art of restraint, for once. To have done otherwise would have been to drop the ball on this golden opportunity.
Now the MSM will do the rest.
If there is any doubt as to the subtle politics of this event, why was a memorial service for mostly elderly victims held at a university? Please spare me that they needed a large auditorium. Why? Wasn't this supposed to be for the victims families rather than prime seating for political hacks, including Dupnick, the hapless investigator?
The audience almost made this a Paul Wellstone memorial, but were apparently admonished not to make that mistake again. But they really couldn't help themselves.
Anyway, to quote Michelle Malkin, actions speak louder than words, let's see the moderation from Obama and the Ds on their rejected politics starting today.
Let's see if Obama retracts his marching orders to his minions to "get into the faces" of political opponents. Let's see if Obama tells the Rs, ok, you won, we lost.
Let's just see.
Kerry Marvin| 1.13.11 @ 12:12PM
Congress Ponders When
They'll Get Back to Work
POWER PLAY: Nearly a week after Tucson shooting tragedy, many lawmakers are ready to get back on the partisan attack, but the question of just how to get back to business in D.C. remains a difficult one.
http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....ma-soar...
Now It, seems to me I remember in the Left Behind series,
The Healing of a Head wound, and the Rising of the Anti-Christ, The Whole World Watching, Then Came the Two Witnesses...........Two of her closest friends from Congress, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz?
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011.....pens-e...#
What is really going on? This Sham-Wow Service to the POTUS is Sickening!
I Do Not wish to Disregard the Loss of Life nor the Congresswoman, However,
With The Media Frenzy and absolute Pandering to the Left, and Blame for this Mayhem on the Conservatives.
This is the same old Story. Time after Time to Reduce and Marginalize the Conservatives While MSNBC blathering ON and On and On about Total Gun Control as Cris Mathspews, Said, Why? “This Love Affair with Guns?” Why?
What if He gave a Rally and NO ONE from the Political Right Showed Up? Now they are Hissing and Throwing a fit That,
The Speaker Did Not Fly on the Plane with the POTUS? :
OK We Get It!
When will they?
After the House gets back to work.
Call, Write and Keep The Speakers Feet to the Fire for OUR Message,
REPEAL, Repeat again until Every Scrap of Paper from the 111th Congress is thrown out on the Garbage Heap of History,
Along with this Administrations Agenda's!!!
BG| 1.13.11 @ 12:29PM
I agree with Bill and others here... if you think anybody was at all fooled by this folly, I will star you in my own circus as a clown!!
Obama offered nothing like the Olive branch that many seem to think. He was a little to little to late. He lost the game before he even started.
Bottom line: He could have stopped the political crap around the shootings far sooner than he did. Instead, and as typical of him, he removed himself and let his thugs and bullies try to blame, label and slander the Right..., and the Left did without remorse. Unconscionable and reprehensible!
Than as Obama does, he slips in at the last moment, after determining which way the wind is blowing.... to be the great savior.....
Sorry! Nobody believes his crap anymore. He let others get hurt when he could have stopped it cold. He wants his enemies to get hurt, so he let the conservatives get ripped until his sadistic idiocy was fully satisfied, taking revenge on the right which was pure theatre.
And then as other reviewers herein comment... the "conservative" media all got in line to breathlessly kiss Obama's ass... No matter the rapes that occurred earlier. No matter the doublespeak, the harm and foul air that he exudes continuously.... Just forget about them. Nothing to see here.... move on, move on.
BullSh*t!!
Karl Lucifer Marx| 1.13.11 @ 2:34PM
BG: I agree with everything you articulated but I see no reason to insult clowns.
Karl Lucifer Marx| 1.13.11 @ 2:34PM
BG: I agree with everything you articulated but I see no reason to insult clowns.
DaveS| 1.13.11 @ 7:11PM
Bingo. In four numbers, no less. Best thing to do now, Mr. Boehner? Pass your agenda and let the opposition howl. Otherwise, you risk small but high profile events ditching your gains. Play politics as well as the Dems and you'll win handily.
alan| 1.13.11 @ 6:33AM
Of course Obama sounded statesman-like; his style is to read platitudes from the teleprompter and let his minions go out and do the dirty work of tearing people down. And his strategy now is to sound centrist but govern hard-left.
It would require real actions to prove he is not a phony: tell the FCC, the FEC and some Democrats to quit pushing to criminalize and regulate free speech. Publicly and specifically spank his minions who use the political violence of trying to bully political opponents into silence.
And most of all, admit that the left's revoltionary "words have no meaning, God is dead, will to power, let's smash the system" philosophy being pushed in academia found an apt pupil in Arizona.
Patrick| 1.15.11 @ 2:23PM
"Of course Obama sounded statesman-like; his style is to read platitudes from the teleprompter and let his minions go out and do the dirty work of tearing people down. And his strategy now is to sound centrist but govern hard-left."
YOU NAILED IT. Much is 'off' about the event and the reaction. A fine speech that is dissonant with the pep rally, the boo'ing of a Republican (shades of Wellstone rally behavior), a a week of smears against Palin, Beck and Tea Parties - unoored by facts and full of bile. And if you didn't notice the artifice of the event, consider that "United We Thrive" t-shirts did NOT have the colors or the Unviersity, but the color that were shades of ... Obama Campaign.
Let us remember to be civil, do the right thing, but let us first remember - actions speak louder than words.
Patriotism is the highest form of dissent.
stephanie| 1.13.11 @ 6:36AM
Thank you BHO.. I was thinking the exact same thing when I hear those 3 on FOX this morning gushing over his speech. I couldn't watch it because I saw it for what it was. An underhanded attempt at using this horrible tragedy to get him reelected next year. And Moochelle down there with the tears was more than I could bear.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.13.11 @ 7:41AM
Thanks for your comment but it's more then that. If they shut down your free speech Obama and the corporate class will be feeding you recycled trash and telling you it's good for your health.
The Big E| 1.13.11 @ 11:30AM
Soylent Green anyone?
Jay| 1.13.11 @ 2:10PM
Heston: Soylent Green is people.
Streisand: People, people eating people. Are the luckiest people, in the world.
Now THAT'S bipartisanship!
canuckistani| 1.13.11 @ 10:44AM
Stephanie, I feel for you that you have lost all empathy for anything but your cynical view of the world.
BHO was invited to the memorial, gave a note-perfect speech and made contact with the families and left.
The congresswoman's leader, the speaker, was nowhere to be found, and chose to remember the fallen with a cocktail at a fundraiser. If that's not a cynical action, what is?
Almost half of the job of a leader is to actually convey leadership, and times like this needed BHO and other leaders to step up.
The quitter-in-chief Palin astounded us by actually making her memorial address all about her. It was revealing and disappointing at the same time.
Choose the "targets" of your cynicism more carefully, and BHO's efforts on this issue are not amongst them.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 11:04AM
Gee, maybe Palin was addressing the unanimous calls from the left for her to be lynched as the true guilty party in the Safeway Massacre.
The partisan duplicitousness behind your mendacious invocation of "empathy" is patently obvious. I mean, really - do you think you're fooling anyone?
Where's your empathy for the persecution of Palin? And calling her the "quitter in chief." Sounds like hate speech to me.
You ain't fooling anyone - lies are the basis for you liberals. You either make them up, promulgate them or choose to believe them, depending whether you're a fool, a crook or a pawn.
I love how you guys now want to expunge any metaphors that have a martial connotation.
So YOU'VE never used the word "target," right? You've never wanted to "blast" someone, or "shoot them down" in their arguments. No, you've NEVER used such language in your life, because it's a bellacose call to violence.
I have to hand it to you blood suckers: You have no sense of shame and simply cannot be embarrased by the egregiousness and enormity of your lies.
Boomerbabe| 1.14.11 @ 1:28AM
Grzmlyk-you are speaking for a lot of us today. I am especially glad to see someone remark on the President's off-prompter revealing that "Gabby opened her eyes" -- right after his visit! What a miracle! It won't matter to the left if she had opened her eyes yesterday, or tomorrow - the One visited her, and healed her. I really think he believes it himself. Appalling.
Stephanie| 1.13.11 @ 11:28AM
Perhaps Canuck, the Speaker chose not to use this tragedy and last night that was supposed to be a Memorial Service as a political jump up. And you bet I'm cynical because I don't believe a word that comes out of that obama's mouth. EVERYTHING they do is scripted and planned. And you bought into it.
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 12:56PM
Canuckistani,
Mrs. Giffords is still alive. Memorial services are for those who have died.
So, Speaker Boehner, "the congresswoman's leader," really, had no obligation to participate in this campaign rally, or, Wellstone II on meth," if you will.
Thanks for informing me that Speaker Boehner didn't attend. He just went up in stature in my opinion.
Willy| 1.13.11 @ 1:53PM
Perhaps you would like some more Kool-Aid?
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 1:59PM
Not going to get away with your bs here today commiestani, you are no match in substance or style to Grzmlyk. Go ahead and continue to post your garbage though because I enjoy seeing your sophist line of reasoning get torn to shreds.
Carol| 1.13.11 @ 6:40AM
I thought Obama did okay however I thought it was a sickening display of the people in the audience.
Those kids were rude clapping whenever he said anything - it wasn't a rock concert. The POTUS should have quelled those idiots in the audience who don't know what a memorial service is. Obviously he doesn't either.
He mentioned the Federal judge murdered but on Drudge I see the Marxist-In-Chief will make sure that A FEDERAL CHARGE WILL NOT BE BROUGHT ABOUT THE NUT WHO KILLED HIM BECAUSE OF COURSE HE WAS A REPUBLICAN.
And how rude of the people in the audience barely applauding a man chosen by George H.W. Bush to be a Federal judge.
HE WAS MURDERED, TOO - NOT JUST DEMOCRATS.
When Obama got around to the "political discourse" part I believe he was calling out some of the slime on his side - Krugman, Olberman, Tingles, you name it.
However, knowing Obama as I do through his actions and his words, we haven't heard the end of this "political discourse" argument and look for the Marxists to keep marching on in their attempt to silence all conservative Americans - on TV, on the radio, in the citizenry.
JPM| 1.13.11 @ 6:51AM
Most commentators, even on the right are misconstruing Obama's speech. He never condemned the disgusting rush to blame conservatives for the Tucson shootings. He took issue with it mildly in the context of a silly argument that the shootings should remind us all to be nice to each other. He was placing the left's blood libel on a par with the conservative critique of his administration and arguing that both sides should do better. That is beyond offensive. It is also beyond stupid. Suppose Reagan had used the occasion of the Challenger disaster to hold a raucus rally where he said that we should all honor the dead by toning down our political arguments. Would leftists have been grateful for his evenhandedness? The question answers itself and we shouldn't be grateful either. Obama's speech was just part of the leftist attempt to use the Tuscon attrocity to political advantage by strong arming conservatives into neuter their already bland rhetoric. The only difference between him and Ed Schultz is that Schultz used the dead as a club and Obama is trying to use them as a shield. Either way, it's grotesque exploitation. Obama should be ashamed and so should everyone showering him with attaboys.
dano| 1.13.11 @ 7:53AM
I agree wholeheartedly. Had he seriously intended to limit "toxic partisan rhetoric" he would have specifically identified those who advanced the "conservative talk radio rhetoric equals lochner" argument (Krugman, Klein, et al). By cleverly calling out both sides, he's going back to that false equivalence thing that liberals so love. both sides are NOT equally culpable in this issue. the liberal media have pounded this home relentlessly and the conservative media have tried to defe3nd themselves. Obama: if you really want to bring the nation together (ha ha, like I believe that about you!) you need to sonvince people on both sides that you are an honest broker.
Otherwise, I thought the speech was repugnant both in delivery (how I hate that whistled sssssss!) and in content. Not a single word that a high school valedictorian couldn't have put to paper. Lincoln? has this moron ever even read a lincoln speech?
JPM| 1.13.11 @ 8:59AM
It is astonishing that anyone with better than room temperature IQ is falling for the old false moral equivalence thing. The left has been doing this since 1791 and it never seems to go out of style. Leftists peddles a blood libel and conservatives call it a blood libel -- we both need to do better. Communists deliberately starved the Ukranians and sent millions to the gulag and there is hunger and injustice in America too -- we both need to do better. How do reasonably intelligent people (Klein, Hillyer, Rich Lowry at NRO et al) swallow this tripe? Does anyone seriously believe that the national conversation has been unreasonbly harsh to Democrats? Our rhetoric needs to be much harder hitting, not less so.
Tom of the Missouri| 1.13.11 @ 1:56PM
Mr. Klein and his ilk any anyone else interested would also do well to check out Mark Levin's radio show of yesterday (available free on his website) . Before the speech even occured, Mark described it perfectly along the lines of these criticisms. He even predicited the praise the praise his speech would receive from the usual predictible "Conservatives" as they attempt to reinforce their image and mainstream media acceptability with their "thoughtful" and "fair" analysis.
Tom of the Missouri| 1.13.11 @ 1:46PM
I whole heartedly agree with this comment and similar ones. Instead of praising Obama for one decent speech, people should ask why he and his minions have been demonizing everyone and everything since they began running for office including politica opponets, businesses of every stripe, Bush and his administration, long term allies and even America itself. On this issue he waited days to say anything to the deranged left until this memorial service. It will take a lot more than one speech to make me praise Obama. A also agree that his moral equivocating in this speech makes me sick.
Vern Crisler| 1.13.11 @ 8:48AM
Thanks JPM. That's what I was thinking too. I just don't understand why conservative commentators always gush over liberal presidents. I guess the standard is so low, even the slightest sign of dignity or truth coming from liberals seems overwhelmingly statesman-like.
When will they ever learn?
stmichrick| 1.13.11 @ 9:15AM
JPM and Vern
I think the point is that He didn't make things worse. Klein and the others are not absolving liberals. It would have been suicidal nationally for Obama to plunge in any further, regardless of the fawning crowd in that arena
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 11:24AM
Vern, I agree. I scratch my head in wonderment. I remember when Brit Hume had cajones. Sure, he still occasionally disparages the vague "left." But he was a good little enabler last night. And Krauthammer simply loves Obama. There's no other way I can explain his enormous blind spot.
These supposedly great minds seem absolutely immune to the idea that Obama was playing them; that he is NOT a sincere person in any way. That he's still the puerile ideologue today that he was before he made the speech.
Krauthammer waxed rhapsodic last night about how this speech was a turning point for Obama in his bid for re-election; he's bouncing back from his nadir in the polls and this was truly statesman like, a leader of the whole nation acting as consoler in chief.
Is Charles that impressed with contrived theater? I thought people like him were supposed to be providing reality checks for such bogus theatrics - not lending credibility to them.
This country is so screwed.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 11:53AM
Unfortunately, like professional pols, these talking heads on the right want to remain viable and important. They want to keep their cushy jobs.
There are visible lines that they will not cross. The left has them flumoxed and neutered. Call it cowardice, or the desire to be perceived as judicious and enlightened, or just plain pandering to keep from being "Palinized" by their collegues on the left . Like dogs on a leash, they are allowed certain areas to do their thing. Problem is, their zones are getting smaller and smaller.
Even Rush and Levin have to keep a tight lid on their comments, they know one false move means the end of their careers.
This is why I admire Sarah Palin so much. She has taken ungodly crap from the left yet remains resolute and walking tall, while many other conservatives head for the tall grass or remain discrete. Scoring points with the left ain't this girls thing, and so far, she's undefeated.
Perhaps this is why elites like Krauthammer and Parker dislike Palin so much, she is so much more "man" then they are.
I'll take Sarah in a foxhole anytime over any other conservative. (don't even go there you pervs)
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 2:16PM
I agree with what you said but lets not put Krauthammer in the same group as Parker. He is very much like George Will in substance and style and keeping their position in DC but still mostly conservative. Yes he went overboard in his praise of Obama's speech but he was a fierce critic against the likes of Krugman. Parker is a total phony conservative like David Brooks, they exist to attack Republicans using the pretense of being on the right.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 7:48PM
Anthony, you are right on the money.
As for Todd S's comment, you know, half the time I think Krauthammer is fantastic - when he's talking policy, he's a usually a reliable conservative.
But when it comes to politics, I think he secretly roots for the administration.
And when it comes to Obama himself, I think Krauthammer has a blind spot, and I think it has to do with the fact that Obama's black. Krauthammer ought to dust off his old psychiatry text books - he would do well to re-read the sections on sociopathy. It's color blind.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 8:08PM
I'm with you Grzmlyk, I confess to having mixed feelings about Krauthammer, mostly good. The man can be spot on.
However, you've nailed it; this guy has a blind spot for Obama, but more than that, he is an insufferable elitist. Perhaps having an M.D. after his name gives him his license to be so condescending to Palin, yet so delicate with Obama. Maybe they're both Harvard men.
Sadly, I think Krauthammer's head tells him Obama is bad news but he must find something good to say about him.
Hmmm, if only we were professional shrinks, like Charles, eh Grzmlyk.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 9:26PM
P.S Hey Grzmlyk, scrolling down all the posts, you win, hands down. You were on fire today dude, especially your replys to da monk.
It ain't fair, even with half your brain tied behind your back.
Keep up the good work!!
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 10:46PM
Thank you, Anthony!
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 10:51PM
I agree that it's an elitism thing. I don't think, though, that he feels compelled to be nice to Obama - I think he can't help it. I think he admires Obama; there has long been an affiinity among elite, urban, professional Jews for black people. I cannot explain it because it is definitely unrequited.
But I had a great friend in NYC who was a quintessential Brooklyn Jew - and he used to bend over backwards to justify the thuggery we always saw around us. It was almost a pathology.
We went into a McDonald's once, and the grill guy was black - well, he was staring out at the customers, LICKING HIS FINGERS, defying us to complain. And virtually nobody did. A few walked out in disgust, but some - my friend being one of them - made excuses for the guy when I suggested we leave and went ahead and ordered. The guy had no recourse, you see, because he was a victim of white racism.
So the thuggery was forgiven.
Krauthammer reminds me of my friend.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 9:08PM
I agree with most of what you say though I am not sure about him secretly rooting for the administration. I think he genuinely wants to believe that there is a middle ground to be found or at least feels the need to act like it for the peer group he is in. Perspective is hard to keep when you are in the belly of the beast.
I am sure you were tempted to take the middle ground approach to get along with your peers but you knew it wouldn't be true to what you know in your heart. Actually it sounds like you keep your mouth closed most the time around your Marxist peers but I am sure you never mouth those platitudes about the important thing is to find a middle ground and to get things done. Most people will take the easy road, especially if it is for their professional benefit. I am sure there is a psychological component to avoid being called racist or bigoted by those he associates with so he goes out of his way to praise Obama when there is any plausible reason for doing so.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 11:03PM
You may be right - you are certainly right about me. I keep my mouth shut among my coworkers and peers.
which is something I'm not comfortable with. I have wandered into political territory at times, when conversation veers in that dirction - in those instances, I've been honest (and paid the price) - but I don't fire with both barrels as I do here. Believe it or not, I wish I weren't so passioinate about my values; I wish our way of life weren't threatened. But it is, and therefore, I am.
So aside from my own hypothesis explaining Krauthammer's affinity for Obama, I really don't get it. You may be right - Krauthammer may be seeking the middle road for the reasons you say - but it is the fact that conservatives have to shut up for fear of being called racist or bigoted that shows how far we've slid toward a false consciousness in this country. Now, even conservatives, even when talking about the book Huck Finn, dare not use "the N word." They refer to it as "the N word." It's a terrible word when used as an epithet, but we have a lot of epithets in our language; that's the ONLY one that can never be uttered by a white person.
The truth is, the issue isn't Obama's speech itself; frankly, I found it pretty predictable and filled with platitudes. It was anodyne enough, but I never thought he'd be otherwise; a couple of sublte digs at conservatives, but mostly he'd try to appear to rise above the mudslinging.
I mean, his speechwriters aren't total morons - they had to know they've already had their surrogates draw blood; no need for Obama to get down in the mud. So while I don't object to the speech per se, I thought it was utterly predictable; and in any case, the speech was only one part of an unseemly campaign event that was, on balance, self-congratulatory, childish and far too infused with phony new-ageism and feel-goodism.
GW| 1.13.11 @ 4:31PM
As one "on the right" who agreed with many commentators, we must look back at Obama's speech. Most of it wasn't about "toning down rhetoric" (however some of it was) but about the tragedy of innocent lives lost.
This is why I feel the speech was overall acceptable. Sure, I didn't agree with everything he said, but most of it was apolitical and unobjectionable. Those who feel it was purely a "political stunt" or "insincere" truly are partisan hacks who have trouble differentiating political differences with human decency. Obama showed decency and for that he should get credit.
winterhawk| 1.13.11 @ 6:57AM
I saw it as the opening of the 2012 re election campaign. No memorial I have ever attended opened with screaming, whistling, and T shirts bearing a campaign slogan. According to the crowd I heard, it was about him, not the victims. And the "miracle" that happened on his exit from her room was amazing. Disgusting.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 7:54AM
Just think, if only he had been there when little Christina had been shot. Surprised he didnt make that acknowledgement in his so called "statesman" speech. After all, Mary and friends asked Jesus why he wasn't there when Lazrus died.
chichilouise| 1.13.11 @ 11:13AM
Yes, those t-shirts. Amazing. the shooting was a mere five days before the service, yet already in the bowels of somwhere, D.C., the t-shirt factory sprang to life to church out the new slogan for all to wear....????
Dustoff| 1.13.11 @ 1:02PM
No memorial I have ever attended opened with screaming, whistling, and T shirts bearing a campaign slogan.
_________________________
I SO AGREE. As a fire fighter/medic and now a flight Nurse. I've been to a few memorials ansdnever have I seen people cheer as if it was a football game.
This was sick.
John - TMF| 1.13.11 @ 7:04AM
So, the schlemiel gets to call a truce just as the schelmozzle wises up?
We all know The One and his minions never let a crisis go to waste, why not kick of the 2012 Presidential campaign by suckering the conservative punditry into cleaning up the freshly sprayed macaca?
Phil, they use our instincts to be honorable and decent against us.
This will appear again, we will see it in the downstream campaign propaganda when the going gets tough, and the rhetoric heats in the spring and summer of 2012. It is in the emotional memory stream, false as it is, the Big Lie will come back to haunt us.
We defeat ourselves.
r/The Mighty Fahvaag
chichilouise| 1.13.11 @ 11:09AM
Yiddish is indeed the most colorful language is the world, but I thought that 'schlimozzle' was a verb, and that a schlemiel such as Obama might just schlimozzle on down to Arizona to take over the occasion of other's public grief for his own agenda...just wondering.
Appleby| 1.13.11 @ 7:05AM
You are acting as if Obama was speaking his own words from his heart; in fact, he was reading someone elses words from a teleprompter.
And the idiocy of the brats who cheered every time they heard anything they recognized makes me ill.
I did not watch his speech because I am frankly sick of listening to his voice repeating the words of other people who crafted those words to keep him from making it clear that he has no idea of what those words mean.
GW| 1.13.11 @ 4:36PM
Hardly. He worked on the speech himself. Sure, he had speech writers (like every politician), but to say he didn't mean his words of support and concern for the families affected by the tragedy is unfair. Like you, I stand against most everything the man is for politically. However, as a man with two daughters, it is obvious Obama feels for those who lost their own daughter in the tragedy.
The pep rally feel, on the other hand, was horrible. The U of A (where the event was held) cannot be proud about how their institution looked to the nation last night. But blame the school, not Obama's administration.
Appleby| 1.14.11 @ 7:26AM
No, it was not *obvious* that Obama felt anything. You are assuming that as a father of two daughters (who once said that if one of thos daughters got inconveniently pregnant, he would not want her *punished with a baby*), he OUGHT to feel for those who lost a daughter in the massacre. What I heard in the discussion of little Christina was his use of her as a political football; how did HE know what her political expectations of the United States Government might be? She was a devout Catholic, from what I understand; perhaps at the age of 9 she might understand the true meaning of *punished with a baby*.
In my opinion, having once been a 9 year old girl, the President has not Clue One about what that girl might have -- when she was old enough to understand the governance of a Constitutional Republic -- expected America to be? At the age of 9 I wanted to be an astronaut -- and was told firmly that Girls could only be teachers, nurses, mommies -- or if they were too stupid to go to college, secretaries. If I had been shot at that age, would JFK have told the world I (from a Republican, religious family) expected from America the implementation of HIS political agenda?
stephanie| 1.13.11 @ 7:17AM
I forgot to mention in my earlier post, I did hear from the other room, Holder and Napolitano reading scripture. Now, that was rich!
Appleby, you said it well. obama was just reading somebody elses words and acting like he gave a hoot. I was turned off as well with the cheering and hooting like it was just another campaign stop for the One. Our culture has become so low rent.
Will| 1.13.11 @ 7:20AM
Seeing him shaking hands on the rope line outside of the "event" was more than enough. I can't seem to remember, was the Memorial for the victims of the Ft. Hood massacre held in a concert venue with cheering, whistling participants? Can't recall also if the event was preceded by nearly a week of in-depth news coverage and commentary "looking for answers". Watch what they do, not what they say.
cyberdog| 1.13.11 @ 7:21AM
Too much cheering from the koolaid drinkers made this event less of a memorial than another campaign for BHO. I'll give the Flamethrower and Chief 2 points for acting human for a change. It must of been hard for him NOT to make this all about himself.
David| 1.13.11 @ 7:24AM
I was only able to watch the first 15 minutes of this memorial as I was at work, but I was disgusted by the crowd cheering first when Obama walked out then for the professor. It was supposed to be about the victims, something the college crowd seemed to forget before the event even started.
I am not sure what the Native American Professor was supposed to do, but he rambled on and made no sense at all which didn't stop the crowd from cheering him.
I am at least glad to hear the Obama didn't politicize it too much, but geeze someone should have taught these kids some manners.
Vern Crisler| 1.13.11 @ 8:51AM
Remember, this was a college crowd. College students -- until they get out into the real world -- tend to be mostly liberal and mostly stupid.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 10:39PM
And then they become right- wing and completely stupid.
George True| 1.13.11 @ 7:41AM
This president and his advisors are nothing if not cunning. They are aware that their naked attempts at slander of all opposition no longer plays that well in Peoria. As deaf as they are to the cri de coeur of the American people, even they now realize that with the internet and talk radio, their slanderous lies are now fully exposed within hours of utterance. They knew they had to play it cool just this once.
They also used the opportunity to have Obama sound presidential for a change, and try to get his mojo back. As another poster observed, this was his opening campaign speech for 2012.
Donna| 1.13.11 @ 7:53AM
I was completely sickened by this “memorial” speech and the behavior of the audience. It was a campaign speech and nothing more. Clearly the body language of Gifford’s Husband and that of her aide was uncomfortable to be placed (obligated) in the presence of this Obama spectacle. I was uncomfortable watching this inappropriate gathering and was truly sorry for the lovely people who lost their lives being “honored” in this way. It think the low rent comment is right on the mark.
hardcard| 1.13.11 @ 8:01AM
A Noble Prize and now he's up for an Oscar !!
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 8:11AM
Apparently the right wing media has been told to "chill" and get on with it. Krauthammer as well praised the "one". TAS now as well have their "marching" orders.
martin j smith| 1.13.11 @ 8:12AM
Let me first say for the sake of disclosure I did not vote for nore do I like Obama. Now the, Ok he sounded Presidential. I say this, if he could not muster the stuff to do that he would show to all that he should not be in the office now not waite for an election in 2o12 so for his own sake he had to because he knew that the "nation was watching". But here are my questions for Obama:
Why wait till now ? He could have said something
days ago. Then there is own personal contribution to the rhetoric of hate. " Class Warfare" and a host of quotes by him that are well known and have been reviewd review to illustrate
Obama's own vitriol. Yes he has to look at himself.
Beyond that lets see how "civil" discourse gets. there is a big difference between "shut up" ( meaning let not hear any opposition ) versus being not using four letter words,death threats,allusions to death wishes,assasination scenarious, and and stuff related to class warfare and race cards and related issues.
The reason why I believe this is all phoney is because to some degree ( not the way it is currently being played ) hostility will come out but the question is how and will there be self control. And, all of this is in addition to actual policy and philosophical differences.
What ttroubles me most about this latest bombastic Left output is the seemingly coordinated full throttle nature of it all. As if was planned and coordinated--which I suspect it could have been. The MSM and the LEFT are ONE.
Another issues is the longstanding desire to shut up the RIGHT and this seemingly coordinated attack fits well into that motive.
Finally the desire of some writers in AmSpec to in my mind appease the LEFT is misguided. You know the expression"give them a finger and they will take the hand etc" This the LEFT. Thge are opportunistic and go by the rule " the end justifies the means". They are activist Socialists and alweys remeber Saul Alinsky --and his "rules"
What now: prpeare to foucs on the agenda of cutting spending taxes and encourage economic growth--and lets not ignore the issues in foregin affairs--Lebenon will be a hot spot now or very soon.
But finally, stand up for ourselves,have a spine--be a vertebrate-have a backbone . Say when you disagree_You are full of ----but do soy very nicely.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 8:58AM
Sorry Mr. Smith. A spade is a spade. These people know how to behave at Ted Kennedy's funeral.
CopyKatnj| 1.13.11 @ 11:58AM
Saul Alinsky Rule #6:
"A good tactic is one your people enjoy. They 'll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They're doing their thing, and even suggest better ones."
da monk| 1.13.11 @ 8:16AM
To all you critics: What speech were you watching?
Didn't you get the message that it's ok to disagree but lets be civil with each other. You all make a bad name for your Conservative cause by your intrangenence to what was a plea for civility
Vern Crisler| 1.13.11 @ 8:55AM
Civility is demanded by liberals when they are in power. And yet where was their civility when George Bush was in office. Liberal cries for civility only have a short half-life. Witness the blood libel against Sarah and other conservatives. That's really what liberals, when they are honest, think about civility.
loulou| 1.13.11 @ 9:14AM
Vern, you nailed it.
Civility from thee but not from me.
JPM| 1.13.11 @ 10:02AM
It's actually worse than "civility for me but not for thee." For Obama and his supporters, conservatives can only be civil by passively suffering whatever attacks they choose to make and by agreeing with the progressive premise that every misfortune demands a government solution. The President's admonishment to avoid language that wounds refers to any conservative criticism of leftist policies or political tactics. He posed as above the fray at the same time he added his voice to the leftoid chorus singing about how awful it is that those conservatives insist on adding their two cents to the American political conversation. That's revolting enough, but the stampede of conservative commentators eager to praise him for it is truly nauseating.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 10:48PM
Da Monk - the comments on this post show how utterly out of touch most of the TAS crowd are, even with mainstream conservatives, let alone average people. The President gave a moving, comforting speech to a community thaws hug. It was admired ad appreciated by the victims' families, the people in Tucson, and most of the country, including leading conservatives. Nothing our President does will ever please them, and the abuse they heap on even this admirable event is why their approach to politics will soon sour with the American people.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 10:50PM
Again, apologies for the Ipad spelling snafus. "thaws hug" was meant to be "that was hurting."
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:22AM
because he has a track record........moron
JJStryder| 1.13.11 @ 9:57AM
Speech didn't kill or hurt these people a nut did. It is a shot across the bow to those who use heated rhetoric to express their views. The presidents comments are meant to chill this. That is the speech we were watching. Also, didn't it seem an odd scene.....for a memorial?
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 11:20AM
da monk, To quote an earlier Obamaism," Words, just words". Let's see the left & Obama put those lovely words into actual practice.
Let's see how Obama & the left take up the new call for civility.
Let's just see.
Boomerbabe| 1.14.11 @ 1:46AM
Yes, we heard it. However, coming from the man who for the last 2 years used "The Party of No"; "bitter clingers who clean to their guns and their religion"; "Fat Cats on Wall Street"; "typical white person"; etc, don't blame us for being less than convinced.
jd| 1.13.11 @ 8:17AM
After listening to both Palin and Obama yesterday, it sickens me to say that Obama just won re-election. As a Christian conservative, I like the substance of what Palin says, but she missed a golden opportunity to be come across Presidential. I hate RINOS but if we have any hope for 2012, we need to find somebody else for the Republican ticket in 2012.
Vern Crisler| 1.13.11 @ 8:57AM
Oh, go away with your Sarah bashing. Didn't the Pres just say to be civil?
Mike W| 1.13.11 @ 9:15AM
Palin wasn't going to be the nominee anyway. Even though she gave a good response yesterday, she doesn't have the intellectual firepower to overcome the negatives around her.
Les Nesman| 1.13.11 @ 10:33AM
She is through.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 1:39PM
Dear Les and Mike, if you both are right, congrats, you've helped rid the left of their biggest fear and nightmare.
Useful Idiots are not just limited to those on the left.
Les Nesman| 1.13.11 @ 6:49PM
You guys keep saying that, that she is the left's biggest fear. I don't buy it. She should your biggest fear. If she can by some miracle escape this and gets nominated it's the end of your party. This lady is the dream GOP nominee for the Dems.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 8:05PM
She may be the dream nomineee for dems, but only because she has successfully been demonized beyond the bounds of human comprehension; as was the case with Bush, even the right has gone along with this demonization.
I frankly don't know if Palin has everything it takes to be president. I do think she has courage in spades, which is great part of it.
But I am always amazed when people think Palin falls short in terms of smarts. Compared to what? The last several Democrat nominees for president were:
Jimmy Carter: mediocre mind, messianic complex, serial liar.
Michael Dukakis: An obscure, feckless technocrat who always looked like a deer in the headlights.
Walter Mondale: Walter Mondale!
Bill Clinton: Facile - not stupid, but his intelligence is vastly overrated - aside from impressing pundits and being able to bullshit off the cuff, what proves he's so smart? he's an opportunistic, amoral narcissist.
Al Gore - the nicest thing you can say for Gore is he's a blowhard. His intellect is as inconsequential as his waistline isn't.
John Kerry: A guy who all his life wanted to be nothing more than a blueblood. Good thing for him it worked out and he never had to work an honest day in his life - because he couldn't spell "cat" if you spotted him the "c" and the "t."
Barack Hussein Obama: Another facile narcissist and a sociopath whose intellect may shimmer, but it's an inch deep.
Why is it the Democrats specialize in these people? Obama's another one that never had to solve a single problem in his life, and nobody can remember a thing he said or did as a student, a teacher, a professor, a state senator or a US senator. The man is all sizzle, no steak.
Now: Against the backdrop, in my opinion, Palin starts to look positively presidential.
JJStryder| 1.13.11 @ 9:23PM
They have been trying to make that happen for the last 3 years. She keeps on trucking because we conservatives like real people. We need more people like her and less Nesman.
gobnait| 1.13.11 @ 10:57AM
Palin was defending herself against baseless and outrageously harsh accusations. Obama FINALLY did his job when he called for civility. A real leader would have done it days ago, not waited until his useful idiots had ample opportunity to spew their hate-filled rhetoric and thus ratchet up the unrest and rage on both sides. He is always a politican first, a leader last.
RAMIII| 1.13.11 @ 1:41PM
"As a Christian conservative, I like the substance of what Palin says, BUT . . . . ."
jd,
methinks that the truth and you don't get along too well.
jd| 1.13.11 @ 6:24PM
Truth and I get along very well, that's why I am a conservative. All I'm saying is I think Palin's speech, while good on some points, failed because the tone was about how the left was attacking HER. While she was justified to feel angry about how the left and the media were trying to pin blame on the Tea Party and conservaties, I think she could have come across more Presidential if she didn't further engage in the back and forth grittiness. She had a lot of ground to cover in trying to convince skeptics that she is indeed President material, and sadly, I think she failed last night. No, I do not dislike what she says, but if I -- a conservative who idolized Reagan -- has my doubts about her, how the hell do you think she can attract independents or moderates and possibly win in 2012?
As for the comment that someone said that she didn't have to appear presidential because she's not running for President -- do you honestly believe that she does not want to?
When I said Obama just won re-election last night, I say that not because I was swayed by his rhetoric last night. I just think enough naive people bought into what he said last night and will remember that come 2012.
RAMIII| 1.14.11 @ 9:20AM
jd,
thanks for your reply. Can't disagree with your reasons, I appreciate the clarifications and I misunderstood/misinterpreted your early post. Please accept my apology for impugning your integrity.
richard ryan| 1.13.11 @ 8:25AM
This was not Obama's speech. Prepared remarks with a teleprompter are the work of his team of writers. At this moment, that team of writers is focused on getting him re-elected. His advisors from the first half of this term screwed up royally by allowing him to express too many of his core beliefs. Now it's all about becoming Bill Clinton. It's about sneaking to the center to get a second term and a second chance to end our way of life. People like BHO will do almost anything to maintain their power, IMHO.
martin j smith| 1.13.11 @ 8:37AM
Du monk and jd ? Da . And jd--Palin is not President and she is not supposed to give
that type of speech. There is no comparison because they are two different situations, However, what would have been really nice was for Obama to apologize to Palin for the atrocious remarks made about her. Now that would have been Presidential and classy. Obama did nothingto change the climate of discourse and in shor order will resort to his old "class warfare vitriole". As for Palin not being "presidential" well--she is NOT THE PRESIDENT YET" I think Palin isthe "Attack Grizzly" or "Pit Bull" of the RIGHT- a lightening rod if you will. In that she is far more in thick of political debate then Obama allows himself to be. Thus, she has more courage for she has to deal with a lot more direct personal garbage.
JP| 1.13.11 @ 8:41AM
Events may be conspiring against the President. The current housing numbers are simply frightful (WSJ reminds us that they are now worse than the period 1929-1932); our debt is reaching critical mass; and Moody's will probably downgrade our credit rating, which will force the Fed to raise interest rates. If that occurs, unemployment could very well go above 10%, again.
JT | 1.13.11 @ 9:21AM
Ever think that Palin does not have and never did have aspirations for the high office? I think there is a genius there as she puts herself out there to foil the Libs and make money doing it at the same time. She is smoking them out, and as they fall all over themselves to neutralize her can we get a real candidate to stand up!?!
I know its not quite time for the campaign yet but that certainly never stopped Obama, in campaign mode for '012 before '08
JP| 1.13.11 @ 10:13AM
President Clinton began the "eternal campaign". And like Clinton, Obama relishes campaigning far more than he does governing.
I think there is a bit of overstating the importance of this memorial service/pep rally. As I stated above, the President has real problems to contend with. And as these problems (esp the Housing Marktet)continue to mount, the electorate at large will grow progressively more unnerved- especially independents.
JP| 1.13.11 @ 8:37AM
I agreed with the content of the speech. But, at times it was difficult to realize that this was a memorial service and not a pep rally. And I get the strong impression this "rally" was the tip-off of the Re-elect Obama campaign.
manny sabisch| 1.13.11 @ 8:41AM
What do you mean he wasn't political? Perhaps not in his oration but certainly in his strategy - sounding centrist and inclusive while in reality being the secular progressive that he is.
GW| 1.13.11 @ 4:47PM
So the only reason he went to Arizona was to get reelected? Is that what you think?
tatosian| 1.13.11 @ 8:50AM
After the beer summit, the shovel ready bailouts, the panthers, the casting off of Britian, obamacare and two solid years of the most divisive rhetoric since the Clintons, you've convinced yourself that Obama is now attempting to bring the country together because of a speech? Really?
The guy views conservative principles as an obstacle and considers anyone who disagrees with him as an enemy (and says so) but all that is rendered inconsequential because of a speech?
You got the memory of a chicken on amphetamines boyo.
No wonder conservatives have been getting their ass beat for 40 years. It's all about the words with these guys.
loulou| 1.13.11 @ 9:11AM
Am I the only one who finds this extravaganza offensive? Bullseye? Tell that to the families of the dead.
I find this over-produced Wellstone style show in poor taste. To say nothing of its Obama campaign value.
apnep| 1.13.11 @ 9:11AM
I've never heard so much cheering and clapping at a memorial service. While his speech was nice, he seemed detached to me and like he was trying really hard to muster up a couple of tears. I thought the whole idea of him even being there was weird, because it took away from the time these families had to be with their loved ones and truly mourn over their loss. To me it was just another speech and he must prove me wrong that he's actually going to act on it.
gobnait| 1.13.11 @ 11:09AM
Apparently unlike most who rave about Obama's 'soaring rhetoric', I have always found his tone to be flat and mechanical and his imperious affect cold. The only time he seems even mildly animated is when he deliberately assumes his 'common man' persona, drops his 'g's and adopts his staccato vocal pacing.
Stan Redmond| 1.13.11 @ 9:16AM
I can't wait to get one of those dreamy new campaign shirts on ebay. What better place to kick off the 2012 election then a memorial service for some nobodies and a democrat martyr.
Liberals are ghouls.
KyMouse| 1.13.11 @ 9:58AM
Nobodies? What do you mean by that? Who or what did they need to be in order for you to accept that they were somebodies?
gobnait | 1.13.11 @ 11:13AM
I believe Stan Redmond was characterizing the political mindset of Obama with his eye on re-election and never intended to demean the victims of this terrible tragedy.
Stan Redmond| 1.13.11 @ 11:36AM
Should've put the sarcasm tag on
VBMax| 1.13.11 @ 9:22AM
Glad to see that most of the posters on this site are not going soft on this guy. All you need to do is remind yourself of the almost daily assaults on our sensibilities and our freedoms by this admininstration. He is what he is and remember he only was able to get elected in the first place because of his facility with a teleprompter. I, for one, do not take anything he says without questioning motive. The sooner we get rid of him(gotta be specific now, via the ballot box) the better off we will be.
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.13.11 @ 9:25AM
I simply cannot bear to hear the man speak.
I neither watched...or listened.
chuck| 1.13.11 @ 9:37AM
Ditto, I'd rather have my balls cut off than to suffer through one of Onumbnuts speeches.
George True| 1.13.11 @ 9:41AM
I had sometimes wondered if I were the only one who cannot stand even the sound of his voice, not even for 30 seconds. I think I find his voice so repellent because I know that no matter what he says, he will govern as a Marxist leftist. Logically then, I already know that whatever he actually says with his teleprompter voice, it is all lies, and my psyche cannot abide such a naked liar. Ergo, his very voice repels me.
chichilouise| 1.13.11 @ 10:56AM
George, there are multitudes of us out here who cannot stand the sound of his voice, nor the sight of him as he lifts his nose from one side to the other. Many of our spouses have been said to complain of the loud sounds of cursing that emit from us when the Obama performance commences. Many of us were shamed by this uncharacteristic reaction until we learned we were not alone. We hate liars, and the sound of a liar's speech does indeed grate like giant fingers on some blackboard in our core being. Thank you for confessing your part in this and I now, in gratitude, confess mine.
VBMax| 1.13.11 @ 11:04AM
I am also guilty
gobnai| 1.13.11 @ 11:18AM
ChichilouiseP: Have you been talking to my husband?! I'm surprised he and my TV are still speaking to me after all the outbursts when I have to hear his voice or see his face yet again. I believe the Latin phrase 'ad nauseum' was invented for just such moments.
Redstateboy| 1.13.11 @ 11:01AM
Thank you.... I can't tell you how many people I know agree with you (and I).
and when I heard - that there was screaming and cheering.. AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE...!!??! It only confirmed to me that Not watching was a good idea - for the sake of my television and my blood pressure. Have these People No decency?!? No sense of propriety?!!? No sense of perspective? How awful!
gobnait| 1.13.11 @ 11:15AM
Double ditto. Notice how his numbers have rebounded since he's remained largely silent on all subjects since Christmas? Coincidence? I think not.
Ned the Red| 1.13.11 @ 11:20AM
Same here, Ken. The next couple of days are important. Let’s see what happens. Will the dogs back off or will they continue to snarl and bite?
One thing I have enjoyed doing is fast forwarding President Obama's speeches on my DVR. His head going back and forth at warp speed is hilarious.
rdman| 1.13.11 @ 12:10PM
I turned on the TV and there he was looking down his nose and speaking over (whipping up) the "rehearsed" useful idiots screeching... reminded me of a SEIU union meeting.
DISGUSTING!! Switched to the movie channel and watched a 1950's western B movie.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 5:05PM
Good choice!!
I too find watching old westerns soothing to the soul.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 4:51PM
I can only tolerate watching small clips of him. Usually I just read the transcript if it's an important speech like the State of The Union, but on MY OWN DAMN SCHEDULE.
I've got a question. How many people still watch or read mainstream media?
The way they handled the '08 presidential campaign, the are dead to me (figuratively speaking); it was the last straw. I go so far as to boycott the networks themselves with the exception of football and golf in which my interest is dwindling as well.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:25AM
there was a time I visited Left leaning media just to see where the argument was headed.
now?
there is no conversation to be had. that's pretty civil...don't you think? we'll just agree not to talk to one another!
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 9:36AM
I take 3 things from this:
#1: The speech will do absolutely nothing to prevent the next mass shooting.
#2: The speech helps Obama politically.
#3: You must give him credit for bluntly stating that right wing speech had no effect on the killers motive.
What was lacking was a call to cease & desist for those on the left who are out of line. If he was smart, he would have done that. He would pull in independents & the base of fruitcake wackos would forgive him.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 10:56AM
The problem is Steve that the demon seed was planted by his surrogates (Main Stream Media and political allies) a mere hours after the tragedy. This allowed their white knight to swoop down on Tuscan to play Healer in Chief, with a fresh new slogan.
Sadly, a vast number of our citizens will fall for it
Hook..............Line................Sinker.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 11:42AM
Bob, Agree. He gets to sit back & appear to be above the fray. I suppose if he did call out the left (not really being sincere) they may actually comply & this was his fear.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:27AM
disagree. problem is we have seen the pattern before.
too much has already been set in motion by the last two years. he can't walk that back.
The Big E| 1.13.11 @ 11:42AM
As to #3, baloney. Reflect back, if you will, the OKC bombing in 1995. President Clinton gave a thoughtful and moving speech at the "memorial," and then two days later started blaming the bombing on talk radio when he was speaking to partisan crowds. Obama may not do the same in public, but do you really think he does not intend to the fan those flames as much as he can? If only to rev up his idiot base? I don't.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 11:53AM
Big E, You may ultimately be correct. To me, the difference is that Obama went out of his way to at least aknowledge that politics played no part. Further, you are assigning blame for an act yet to occur (although likely, I admit.) We shall see.
The Big E| 1.13.11 @ 9:35PM
I'm relying on the maxim that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. I don't give a rat's tail end about Obama's words, he's long since demonstrated that anything he says is utterly devoid of any connection to the things he does. His past behavior has consistently shown that he views any opposition as illegitimate and beneath contempt. I see now future in assuming this tragedy will change the patterns of his lifetime.
Yikes!| 1.13.11 @ 9:38AM
Obama's so-called great speech was written by others. All he did was read it. It's like me taking credit for the sentiments expressed on Hallmark cards if I read them aloud to others.
A. C. Santore| 1.13.11 @ 9:40AM
Forgive me for not creeping aboard the lovewagon.
I know two things about the proto-dictator, and learned them from hard experience watching and listening to him (and his surrogates).
First, we have not heard the last of this from him, and what's coming will be more in character.
Second, for heaven's sake, please learn that it is never his words that tell his true meaning - and character. It's his actions.
How long do you think it will take for him to add to his continually growing vocabulary of discord?
Red Bubba| 1.13.11 @ 9:40AM
Of course turning it into a campaign rally seemed "jarring" "at first". It was disgusting and inappropriate.
Stormzeye| 1.13.11 @ 9:41AM
Bill Clinton gave a beautiful speech after the Oklahoma City bombing then a few days later in Mikwaukee lambasted Rush Limbaugh and Conservatives in general for contributing to the hate that resulted in the act of terror. There is no depth to which the liberal/progressives will sink to gain or maintain control over us "proletarians". Don't be surprised if this poor excuse for a leader soon comes out with the same kind of partisan rhetoric that he abhorred at the "memorial service". He will continue to prove his duplicity and vulgar transparency time and time again.
Mike| 1.13.11 @ 9:50AM
Silly me - I thought this was to be a memorial.
Instead it turned into a political rally (at a college no less .. again).
Quiet Warrior 6| 1.13.11 @ 10:02AM
Agree with any skepticism this was an actual growth step into now actually performing the duty of a President. Stripes on skunks and spots on leopards, anyone? Can the Chicago "organizers" put it into the sustained actions after logical and informed decisions that are so needed for our country? I am not hopeful.
Can the interrogation techies get busy on the speech soon, please. There were times he emanated the creepy parts of Clinton's speech ... When and where was he speaking against his true feelings and known instincts?
jon | 1.13.11 @ 10:10AM
When did we all become so thin-skinned (around the 60s, I would guess, when it was easy to throw bombs, but harder to catch them). People find all ways to make points. We can choose to address them or not, but we don't have to be offended.
In fact, I'm going to use this forum to ask that you check out the book Gut Feeling. It's about who conservatives are and why they think and believe what they do. I think you'll never read another book like it.
If you want to see excerpts, you can check out gutfeelingbook [dot] com for free. Hopefully, you'll like what this private citizen has to say (it's self-published, but hopefully not for long).
People say what they want to say, and when they do, the conversation is usually advanced - even if it's to reject the statement. I don't think we need to change society because of one lunatic.
Doctor Simplicity| 1.13.11 @ 10:14AM
The speech was phony political expediency from start to finish. What else could he have said give the circumstances. Look for his true feelings, which are based on marxism and hatred for America, to surface in the days ahead.
If he were truly presidential the minute the rabidly partisan crowd started their appalling hooting, cheering, and chanting he would have strode up to the microphone and admonished the crowd to knock it off and remind them that this was a memorial service to honor the victims of this tragedy (it is not a national crisis). That would have been real proof of presidential behaviour.
What is unfortunate is when conservative publications and pundits start praising this scam artist for acting presidential (does any rational person with a real sense of right and wrong believe he really meant what he read off the teleprompter?), because they are helping Obama and the marxist democrats to perpetuate this fraud.
The Big E| 1.13.11 @ 11:45AM
AMEN!
Bob Miller| 1.13.11 @ 10:21AM
What a guy our President is! He can simulate or dissimulate with the best of them, helped of course by his ghostwriters.
Had it with the GOP, yet?| 1.13.11 @ 10:22AM
Mr. Klein, like many Republicans, heaps praise on Obama because he declined, for the moment, to join his henchmen in calling them murderers. Oh thank you, Lord Obama, thank you thank you thank you.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 10:23AM
I didn't watch the rally - I simply can't watch him live - but based on the descriptions here and on various news sites, this appears to be a clever version of the Wellstone memorial. Which is discusting and cynical.
* Groups wearing "special t-shirts" sporting a brand new slogan ---------- disgusting (this is something a banana dictatorship would devise)
* Obama hinting at his "healing" powers through his descriptions of Gabby opening her eyes for the first time ------------- sickening
* Obama using religious rhetoric for his own political purposes, nevermind the fact that whatever his religious beliefs are, he's ashamed to publicly reveal and live by them; if he has any religious beliefs at all ------------- sickening
Is this how our leader will act after such tragedies moving forward, by putting on some sort of quasi religious revival?
Give me Sarah Palin's somber address anytime!!!
jcp| 1.13.11 @ 10:23AM
I guess it was the purpose-designed logo at the funeral (complete with giveaway Tshirts) supplied by the White House that took some of bloom off the rose for me.
The coordination with Pelosi as described on her web page was a nice touch though.
“Tonight the University of Arizona community joins with Tucson, the state of Arizona, and indeed the entire nation to acknowledge together Saturday’s tragedy. Appropriately, this remembrance is called ‘Together we thrive: Tucson and America.’ ‘Together we thrive: Tucson and America’ will be an opportunity to grieve, and it will be a demonstration of our strength, a strength in community—a strength in community that was demonstrated last Saturday, a strength in community there that is ongoing."
http://pelosi.house.gov/news/p.....y-to.shtml
vtwin| 1.13.11 @ 10:30AM
What can I say; Obama proved once again that the American people made the right choice?
George True| 1.13.11 @ 11:05AM
You are truly living in Bizarro World.
Redstateboy| 1.13.11 @ 11:05AM
about 60% of Americans disagree with you.
George True| 1.13.11 @ 12:43PM
You have it exactly backwards.
George True| 1.13.11 @ 12:44PM
Above addressed to Vtwin.
idalily| 1.13.11 @ 5:41PM
Really? Bush gave a great speech with a bullhorn post 9/11. Did America make the right choice back in 2000? Seriously, you are being ridiculous. Obama is the worst POTUS ever. When he starts DOING something instead of just talking about it, I'll reconsider that opinion. Personally, I'm still waiting for that "hard pivot to jobs" he promised about a year ago. What's unemployment again?
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 6:40PM
vtwin, Did you and your San Fran biker boy buddies ride around town with your pink streamers on your handlebars after the speech?
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up last month when I was in San Fran on business. Just as well, I didn't bring my leather pants and forgot to buy pink bicycle streamers to adorn my tricycle.
Oh well, maybe next year.
ncatty| 1.13.11 @ 10:37AM
Now that we are all healed let's get back to shrinking the federal government.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 10:39AM
Expect more of the words "communities", "tolerance", "together". Obama thinks they will win him the 012 election. "Together We Thrive" on sorrow because that's the crisis we need!
chichilouise| 1.13.11 @ 10:47AM
This event was political theater at its best, and was so effective that even some conservatives fell for it. That is why I say 'at its best.' It makes me want to vomit, from the campaign t-shirts with the new Obama slogan, to the slickly constructed speech on the teleprompter. It is worse to me that anyone fell for it. That is more horrifying. The fact that this is all about the Obama agenda, and the leftist agenda, would be one thing. The fact that this oddly damaged man without a heart is being lauded for his scripted words, is the most disheartening of all to me. When even the sighted become blind in response to clever rhetoric even though it completely departs from all previous behavior, that is sad. Just sad.
da monk| 1.13.11 @ 10:48AM
All you commenters starting Vern @ 8:55 am to Doctor Simplicity @ 10:14 am regarding my comment about Obama's plea for civility obviously haven't any idea what civility means. When debating it's a good idea to give your rationale merit you treat the other side opinions with respect. I hate to inform you folks but you never will advance your conservative political ideas if continue to demean the other sides opinons. As the song goes "It Takes Two to Tango"
Doctor Simplicity| 1.13.11 @ 11:37AM
Truth remains hidden from those who willfully embrace deceit.
Yes we can| 1.13.11 @ 10:51AM
I, like several of you mentioned, cannot stand to listen to the man speak, let alone watch his Mussolini mug on TV, but I did watch last night. When it first came on I was appauled that it was being held at a football stadium. I thought, WTF? Is this a memorial service or a policital rally? The cheers and claps and whistles were disturbing. Did he really need 30K people there to show their admiration, wait, never mind.....I was not taken in by his speech, you always have to watch what he does, not what he says. However, the speech was actually okay, the right things were in there, he presented it well ( and the Oscar goes to....) so I can see how the weak willed could be fooled by it. But don't be fooled, he didn't mean a word of it. How sad is it that the President of the United States gives a speech at such a solem occassion, and you can't help but to think - wow, how hard was that for him to pretend like that. What a tough job he has, not the president thingy, the pretending to care thingy....
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 10:51AM
I will say this. If I had lost my 9 yo & went to attend this "service" & found a t-shirt in my seat, I would have been called to fists with whoever put it there.
Mark Jeffery Koch| 1.13.11 @ 10:54AM
There are times when a person feels like they are bursting with pride about being an American and such a time was last night when I watched and listened to President Obama address the survivors of the heinous attack in Tucson, their loved ones and the loved ones of those who did not survive, the people of Arizona, and the American people. If there is such a thing as a healer-in-chief the President eloquently performed that role last night.
I am so very happy that I had the chance to cast my vote for Barack Obama in November of 2008. Despite the discordant notes echoed every day from the right wing who would prefer to accentuate the things that bring us apart rather than Obama who prefers to accentuate the many more things we have in common that bring us together for a common purpose, to truly form a more perfect union, what rang true last night was that the majority of the American people are tired of the finger pointing, the blame, the angry words, and the mistruths that are doing more to harm our nation than to help it.
There are those on the Progressive, or Liberal side, who believe Obama has not moved fast enough or done enough to promote their agenda, and of course there are those on the Right who believe he has done far too much, but then again, to the Right wing anything that smacks of equal opportunity, hope, and a better future for all Americans conflicts with their belief that government should be by the rich and powerful for the rich and powerful.
Have we forgotten that Obama has been in office for only two years and in that time (which seems like eons shown by the grey hair and lines on his face) he has saved our country from an economic depression, reduced our forces in Iraq by 75%, instituted financial reform, the end of the discriminatory don't ask don't tell policy where those risking their life and limbs to defend our country were treated like the enemy, a health care reform act, although far from perfect and needing more stringent efforts at cost containment and controls will still reduce the rolls of the uninsured by more than thirty million people, and he has helped enact legislation that will enforce workplace safety, equal pay for equal work, and a host of other laws to protect the American people.
In two years Obama has accomplished more than any other President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and I have no doubt under his leadership immigration reform will be adopted and we will stop treating those who come to our country seeking a better life for their families as our parents and grandparents did, and who are willing to do the most menial labor tending to the fields on our farms, the sick and infirmed at our hospitals, and willing to clean bathrooms and kitchens, as our enemy. It is through his leadership that one day we will see the people who come here and are willing to do whatever they can to succeed as part of the American dream and no different than our ancestors who came here with the same hopes and dreams.
As an American Jew and supporter of Israel I also truly believe that the best hope for a lasting true peace in the Middle East between a Palestinian State living side by side with the State of Israel lies with the leadership of Barack Obama who is not afraid to say the things that must be said even though there are some, including supporters of Israel, who would prefer not hearing them.
When I watched the speech last night, a few hours after viewing Sarah Palin's absurd "blood libel" speech the thing that amazed me was not that current opinion polls showing Obama leading Palin 75% to 25% in the latest 2012 Presidential Election poll, but that 25% of the electorate would ever consider someone so inept, so totally unqualified, and so shamefully self aggrandizing to be our leader as Sarah Palin is.
If the speech showed the American people anything last night it should be that we without any doubt have elected the best person to be our President a little more than two years ago. I am proud to be an American and proud of our President. He has achieved much and will achieve much more, and at the end of his Presidency his dream of helping America become a more perfect union will be fulfilled.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 11:09AM
Mark, You are clearly delusional. Your comments on "the Right" & your suggestion that Obama is some sort of unifier indicate an underlying denial of reality.
VBMax| 1.13.11 @ 11:18AM
Mark, I kept waiting for the punch-line to your joke.............
George True| 1.13.11 @ 11:55AM
The reason we are all so disgusted by last night's supposed memorial service was because we accurately perceived it as little more than thinly disguised leftist political theater. And the over the top political rally aspect of it was manifestly inappropriate and disrespectful of the victims it was allegedly intended to honor.
As for the rest of your comments, I can only shake my head in disbelief and wonder what parallel universe you are living in.
Obama disgusts us for the very reason that he claims by high minded platitude to be the uniter, but by his actions he has revealed himself in every instance to be the polar opposite of that. We judge him by his actions, not by his lofty rhetoric. You might try it sometime.
Obama did not "save" us from the economic recession. Quite the contrary, through his sad devotion to the thoroughly discredited Keynesian theories and Big Government interference, he has made the crisis far worse than it otherwise would have been. He and his syncophants in government have turned a recession into a full-blown depression.
What Obama means by immigration "reform" is amnesty and open borders. The vast majority of the American people do not want this. Just because you think this would be a good thing, does not mean that most rational Americans think so. And Obama does not have the right to cram such a thing down the nation's throat against their will.
What you refer to as Obama's "accomplishments" we see as things that did not need to be and should not have been "accomplished". These "accomplishments" are now things that the nation will need to un-accomplish if we are to survive as a constitutional republic. The so-called "accomplishments" of Obama that you so glowingly refer to now represent an existential threat to our economy and our way of life as we know it.
Regarding Israel and the displaced Jordanians (aka - Palestinians), you have not a clue what you are talking about. It is and always has been the Arabs who will not make peace. It is and always has been the Arabs who have been the agressor. If the so-called Palestinians really wanted peace they could have it tomorrow simply for the asking. All they would have to do is agree not to make war on Israel anymore. This, of course, they will not do, because they do not want and have never wanted peace with Israel. And you want these war-mongers their own sovereign nation with which to wage further war? That is just plain insane.
Sarah Palin has more true class in her pinky finger than Obama could ever dream of having. And by the way, the definition of a blood libel is to wrongly and purposely accuse someone who is innocent of somehow having the blood of someone else's victims on their hands. So this was, indeed, a blood libel against her on the part of the leftist mainstream media and the Democrat party they shill for. Obama is complicit in this, regardless of his flowery "can't we all just get along" speech.
Opinion polls almost three years out from an election mean absolutely nothing. After all, how was Obama polling in presidential polls in 2005? But here's an interesting poll that is meaningful. By an overwhelming two to one margin, the American public isn't buying into the outlandish notion that somehow Sarah Palin, or the Tea Party, or Rush Limbaugh, or conservatives in general bear any responsibility for the events in Tucson. By a two to one margin, the public believes that the media and the left are trying to use this tragic event for political gain.
God willing, we can stop Obama from "accomplishing" anything more. It will already take a monumental amount of time, effort, and hardship to undue the horrendous damage that his "accomplishments" have already caused.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 12:13PM
Right on George!
Mark Jeffery Koch| 1.13.11 @ 1:53PM
If your heroes are people like Anne Coulter, Sarah Palin (who is a bimbo and brainless), Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and the other millionaires who earn their millions doling out lies to the fools who drink their Kool Aid then I have nothing but pity on you. These are the same liars and misantropes who tried to portray Obama as a Muslim, deny that he was born in America, and that tried to portray Michelle Obama as some black America hating terrorist.
It was Bush who bankrupted our country, starting a war with a country that had nothing to do with 911 and was not a threat to any of their neighbors or America, and cost the lives of 5,000 soldiers and 30,000 badly wounded. It is Obama who is trying to defeat the Taliban because Bush decided after 911 to let Bin Ladin escape while Bush went after Saddam Hussein. It was Bush who wanted millionaires to have tax cuts while cutting money from senior citizens, the poor, and the disabled, and it was under Bush that our veterans were treated so shabbily. You Republicans like to talk but as they say in Texas you are all hat and no cattle.
I hope you have Sarah Palin as your standard bearer in 2012. I will enjoy seeing the biggest landslide in American history when Obama trounces her. The American people are sick of the right wing who want to do everything they can to rape this country as Wall Street almost got away with doing under Bush.
The Republicans stand for things the overwhelming majority of Americans have rejected: tax cuts for the rich, cutting services for the elderly, disabled, and children, wiping out decades of environmental and workplace regulations, cutting food safety regulations, talking big while cutting services for our veterans, and denying equality under the law for every American.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 2:15PM
Hey Mark, Newsflash! You may want to take a look at the election returns for November 2010.
George True| 1.13.11 @ 2:21PM
Aha! You reveal yourself. Like all leftists, you engage in SIN. S = Shift the topic, I = Ignore the evidence, N = name call. Once I exposed your manifesto for the misguided ignorance that it was, you reverted to form.
Go peddle your leftist fantasies elsewhere, troll. You have come to the wrong place to try to sell your koolaid. We are immune to it here, just as you are immune to the truth.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 11:04PM
And, George, like the other regular posters on TAS, you for some reason need to speak like a junior high school kid and call people "troll" and engage in silly wordplay ("SIN", really?). You might try discussing issues like an adult, and people just might take you seriously.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:36AM
and you...of course...are the exemplar for discussing issues like an adult!!!!
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 8:14PM
What bankrupted us wasn't the wars, which were relatively cheap. What started the ball rolling for reall was the Fannie/Freddie fiasco. Obama has increased the debt by $2.5 trillion in just two years.
Ah, truth and a liberal: Destined to be strangers forever.
I admire you, Mark, old boy: You can drink Kool Aid and spout leftist propaganda at the same time.
Lisa| 1.13.11 @ 11:56AM
Mr. Koch -- Put down the tin foil hat, and step away from the Kool Aid!
Amanda| 1.13.11 @ 12:13PM
Since 2008, the dumbing down of America is
becoming obvious. Welcome to the list!/sarc.
Redstateboy| 1.13.11 @ 12:20PM
Mark? Did you get a tingly feeling going down your leg?
Sam Vaughn| 1.13.11 @ 1:00PM
Obama is a "tool". Mark if I had to guess you're the guy at work with a "giant" brown nose........
skullman| 1.13.11 @ 2:53PM
Mark, I cannot believe you wrote this drivel, much less actually believe it. Needless to say, the very thing you and your liberal stooges on the left accuse us on the right of doing, you did yourself. To suggest The One is really The One, who can unify the country, is a denial of reality. He has done nothing but split the country down the middle on racial and economic lines. This so-called memorial service was pure theater, designed for one thing: His re-election. To believe he really cares about anyone but himself is pure bulls&%t fantasy. His speech and the sophomoric response of the college audience suggests these morons know nothing, have done nothing, and never learned their manners. T-shirts for God's sake! This is an abomination. What liberals have is sympathy, not empathy, what liberals do is use juvenile emotions and apply them to adult situations. This was a circus. No wonder you lost in November and will again in 2012.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 10:57PM
Mark. Thanks so much for the articulate and persuasive post. You express my feelings exactly. And it's why our President will indeed be reelected in 2012. I, and the millions who worked tirelessly to elect him in 2008 will gladly work twice as hard for his 2012 campaign.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:40AM
terrific! and I and millions others who are working tirelessly to throw out Obama officials at every level of government will redouble our efforts to undercut his agenda!
btw...at the end of the day...you may not like it...but there has been an intentional effort to dissemble the Obama's backgrounds and real relationships.
so drink the kool aide....it's all falling apart around you. a power grab from the Left or the Right is something a large enough cross section of America does not tolerate that - as we are seeing now - the pretenders to power cannot govern.
CopyKatnj| 1.13.11 @ 10:55AM
Sorry, but I only read a few lines of this article and stopped reading. Nor did watch the theatrics last night from Tucson. I have read some other accounts. To me this was simply political theater disguised as a memorial and some of the comments here confirmed my suspicion. Perhaps this administration thought this might be a good place to use the pillars left over from his coronation. The new T-Shirts looked snappy and will be the new political slogan for the left as demonstrated by their main stream cohorts when reporting of the tragedy.
Why did Obama insert himself into this anyway?
I am very skeptical of the president's motives in this affair. I distrust him. Even Yesser Arafat seemed a kindly grandfatherly like man while at the same time he planned bombing of Jewish schools and school buses.
DRed| 1.13.11 @ 11:06AM
So you didn't read the speach, didn't listen to the speach, read some comments that confirmed your prejudice, and then compared the President of the United States to a murderous terrorist. Nice work sticking your head in the sand.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 11:25AM
Because sadly, Red, after two years of watching him in action, there is a dissonance between his words and actions.
This is clear to all but the most feeble minded.
We all should have known what was in store for this country when his little preacher stated on innaguration day "...when right will embrace what is right..." just minutes before Obama gave his "come together speech".
Two completely different messages within an hour.
Yes, sir, people have every right to compare him to what they appear most apprpriate!!
DRed| 1.13.11 @ 11:32AM
Did you listen to or read what our president said? Considering the occasion, I thought it was a fine speech and exactly what we'd hope for from the president. Is it so hard to give him credit for that and then move on?
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 11:37AM
This is styrofoam columns at Invesco Field part deaux.
Pardon me for my rightfully held scepticism.
DRed| 1.13.11 @ 11:53AM
It's okay, Bob. I forgive you.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:42AM
exactly!
it's very...errr....Hollywoodish...no?
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 11:47AM
A true President, representing all citizens, if he had any balls, would call out his own party for falsely politicizing the tragedy for political gain. Oh, and I think just maybe, if I was the Prez I would have put the nix on the campaign rally complimentary Tucson Tragedy T-Shirt.
The Big E| 1.13.11 @ 11:51AM
"Is it so hard to give him credit for that and then move on?"
Credit for what? Starting his re-election campaign?
CopyKatnj| 1.13.11 @ 11:47AM
Three weeks ago I has a "hostage holder", before than I was considered an "enemy", on a "terrorist watch list", a gang member with a knife and on and on .....
"Trust but verify" doesn't seem appropriate at this time.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 12:06PM
Yep,
You know the old saying: "sc##w me once, shame on you, sc##w me twice, shame on me"
DRed| 1.13.11 @ 12:18PM
There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — You can't get fooled again.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 3:50PM
:^) Thanks for the memory, DRed!
Lisa| 1.13.11 @ 11:54AM
Obama is an arrogant, inept coward who doesn't have the chops to lead his daughter's Girl Scout troop, much less, the country! That's all I need to know!
mames| 1.13.11 @ 11:17AM
Who gives a damn what he says - his lips were moving and that's all we need to know. He knows his Alinsky. By the way there is indeed a socialist group of Americans and a constitutional group of Americans and a bunch wondering whats going on.
Kingofthenet| 1.13.11 @ 11:19AM
The president came to uplift, to take away some of the pain on his broad shoulders, to make people live again. THIS was an American President at his Finest.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 11:30AM
I'm waiting for the punchline.
Stephanie| 1.13.11 @ 11:47AM
Oh, excuse me while I throw up.
Have you seen the photo King, of the Tshirts on each of the chairs in that arena, placed there before the One arrived for the memorial pep rally? Hmmmm? Looked like campaign Tshirts to me. Go the Drudge Report and see them for yourself.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 1:05PM
The university distributed the tshirts
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 1:34PM
Yeah, I'm sure the President & his entourage had absolutely no clue what was going to happen at this event. I bet they were completely blindsided by the actions of the University.......I bet the University could just have printed whatever they wanted on those shirts & handed them out at will in direct defiance of the President Of The United States wishes. That's how it always works at these events.....
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 3:15PM
"Together we Thrive Tucson America" probably wouldn't have been his first choice. Just guessin.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 4:01PM
Why do I have the suspicion that it was arranged by the Democrat Obama cheering student body? Whoever was behind it needs to be found out and publicly shamed for bringing stupid slogan t-shirts to a Memorial. I am sure it was the t-shirt wearers that were most complicit for yelling and whooping it up like it was a sporting event. Guess they don't have much to cheer about in the arena since their bball program has gone down the drain. It should have been held in a Church and kept the slogan wearers away and the proper respect given to those who perished. Also a proper Minister instead of that Native American pc bs, just another example of how our University's are trying to brainwash students in all kinds of pc nonsense.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:45AM
so you're implying that...once again...this WH staff was woefully inept at setting the stage and anticipating hat needed to be done?
it was a University campus!
what a group of clowns we have presently in charge.
Terry Ott| 1.13.11 @ 12:20PM
You say, "The president came .... to make people live again."
Just have a technical question about that, so I can more fully appreciate the point. Is he using reincarnation these days, or resurrection, or is it just modern medical technology?
skullman| 1.13.11 @ 4:00PM
You have to be kidding me. At the FINEST? Hardly. this is a joke and once again the American public bought it. Shame of us for being so stupid.
Anneke9| 1.13.11 @ 11:29AM
There was something really creepy about hearing cheers and hollers from the crowd when Jan Brewer mentioned Christina Green. Was this a memorial or a roast? I expected to see Dean Martin, Don Rickles and Joan Rivers take the stage next. Jared Loughner is not the only one whose behavior is dissonant from the norm.
Derek Leaberry| 1.13.11 @ 11:29AM
Jared Loughner's murder spree was not a political event yet President Obama used the memorial yesterday to make it a political event with himself as beneficiary. President Obama tried to accomplish two things yesterday. First, he used the event to maneuver to the political center in preparation for re-election. Second, he used the event to disarm and cower his critics. He definitely has succeeded with Philip Klein and Quin Hilyer.
JimP| 1.13.11 @ 11:32AM
I appreciate Mr. Kelin's perspective in his analysis of this event, but I respectfully disagree. IMO he is looking at last night's event out of context. The time for Obama to make the legitimate points he made last night was last Saturday, not 4 days later after his political allies have been doing all the dirty work in effect on his behalf. Last night's event was crass, exploitative and ultimately insincere, IMO. The political pep rally aspects by far overshadowed the memorial service aspects. In total the event struck me as Stalinist agitprop. A Potempkin memorial, as it were.
Lisa| 1.13.11 @ 11:49AM
Bingo!
Lisa| 1.13.11 @ 11:48AM
"Last night, for his first time in office, Barack Obama sounded like the president of all Americans."
Barry the Self-Righteous Bully proved two things last night: he never lets a crisis go to waste; and he's not above exploiting the murder of a child to push his wacko agenda! Yeah, Mr. Klein that speech was real presidential, all right -- NOT!
You wouldn't be related to Joe "Barry's A$$kisser" Klein by any chance?
SpiderMike | 1.13.11 @ 1:40PM
Good on you, Lisa. Just wait for the poll that I'm sure was run last night. This was straight up politics and nothing but politics. In fairness, I only watched excerpts of Obama's talk because his voice and manner is like fingernails on a blackboard to me. As tragic as six innocents deaths are, I don't get it. This was not a terrorist attack. How does this rise to the level of 9/11 or even Ft. Hood? If this was the defining moment of Obama's presidency, we have really set the bar low.
Erich| 1.13.11 @ 11:59AM
so the most notorious Obama comments you can cite are "itching for a fight" and "astroturf"
Jullou| 1.13.11 @ 12:01PM
Obama read his prepared speech well.
The crowd should have remembered that it was a memorial for the deceased, and not a campaign rally.
Derek Leaberry| 1.13.11 @ 12:05PM
Perhaps if President Obama truly cared about indiscriminate violence like that which occurred in Tuscon on Saturday he could visit black-majority Prince George's County, Maryland, just five miles from the White House, the site of 13 non-political murders in the first 13 days of this new year. Black-on-black violence is a much more serious national problem than the rare murder sprees of the mentally ill. However, black-on-black crime does not fit President Obama's political agenda. Shutting up conservatives and making political feints to the political center do serve President Obama's interests. And that is what yesterday's event was all about.
John DuBose| 1.13.11 @ 12:07PM
I think we will soon find out for sure that shooter was truely mentally ill. Thus his deed must be seen as a random tradegy. From the sidelines, we get to see all sorts of people using it to grind their own axes. Lets move on.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 12:07PM
Hey Erich, glad you asked.
"spread the wealth"
"typical white person"
" police acted stupidly"
"bitter clingers"
"hand to hand combat"
My personal genius indicator favorite:
"campaign in all 57 states"
Want some more gems from your Idol??
Harrison | 1.13.11 @ 12:07PM
His point about not blaming harsh words for the shooting was a good one but he should have said this the day of the shooting not 4 days later and, for all of his talk on "being better" he certainly became rather partisan himself. I don't think his new found spirit of compromise will last, though I hope it does.
Janice Fortin | 1.13.11 @ 12:11PM
It wasn't the bull's EYE. You could cut it with a knife, but better use a shovel..... a really BIG shovel. Between that speech and that disgusting
spewing to an ARAB audience by his secretary of state, GOOD LORD, wot next?! For this entire administration, including sec'y of state, and that other gem called homeland security, and all who would destroy the youth of America rather than keep drug cartel out at the border, here's some essential recommended reading: MARIJUANA AND MADNESS. Perfect case example: TheTucson Shooter.
Rufus Choate| 1.13.11 @ 12:22PM
Obama set just right tone at a political rally designed to humiliate and paint with a broad brush of guilt innocent people who had no involve with this Crime. We here in Connecticut awaited anxiously for Obama to come and eulogize the 8 White People murdered only because they were White last August by a Black Racist Thief whose mind was corrupted by the welfare entitlement mentality of the left. He didn't show but we did here the Left explain that you could understand Omar Thorton's rage against racism.
But I guess it isn't who is killed by the political benefit Obama can accrue from involvement.
Kingofthenet| 1.13.11 @ 12:33PM
You contest the President's Speech with Sarah Palin's... She isn't worthy to wash his Jock Strap.
Clint| 1.13.11 @ 1:19PM
Obama doesn't wear Jock Straps. He just sniffs them in The Boys Locker Room.
uber_infidel| 1.13.11 @ 1:28PM
ha ha .... jock strap ? barry the muslim/marxist black liberation theology indoctrinated mongrel community organizing misleader undoubtably wears a thong !
Lisa| 1.13.11 @ 3:06PM
It's Mrs. Obama who wears the jock strap -- and spanks her p-whipped hubby with it every chance she gets!
Don Norman| 1.13.11 @ 12:40PM
The screaming of the crowd made my skin crawl. What a senseless reaction to such a horible occasion.
CopyKatnj| 1.13.11 @ 12:44PM
This whole affair reminds me of a scene from Milton's "Paradise Lost' and the building of Pandemonium.
NoMoreKoolaid| 1.13.11 @ 12:50PM
Speech is the difference between Rahmbo and Daley as COS more than anything.
Cheering demslobs at a memorial service are just that, too partisan to know better.
Regardless, other than Obama giving an out to federal charges of murder for the Judge's death by ignoring the fact that the Judge wanted to speak to her about the illegal's growing dockets clogging up the courts, I was pleased that he did as well as he did. It is a first for this President. Unfortunately, just because he has donned sheep's clothing doesn't mean he's lost his wolf's temperment or teeth. Remember, this was a (seasoned Clintonista) Daley's doing. Don't get too excited.
Jack Bauer| 1.13.11 @ 12:51PM
CopyKatnj| 1.13.11 @ 12:44PM
Nice allusion to Milton. Which is apt because it is so true that leftists think it better to reign in HELL rather than serve in HEAVEN.
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.13.11 @ 12:53PM
I hope this link works. If it does not, go to "big government" today and watch it.
The fascinating thing to me was that her eyes NEVER wavered from ours...
No teleprompter...no notes...simply speaking to each one of us.
God bless you, Sarah.
http://vimeo.com/18698532
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.13.11 @ 12:57PM
OKOK
The link did NOT work, but copy pasting will work.
http://vimeo.com/18698532
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 1:03PM
The teleprompter reflected in her eyes throughout the whole speech.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 1:13PM
No RCV, that was the flicker of demonic possession.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 1:48PM
Steve - LOL
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.13.11 @ 1:24PM
RCV,
you poor soul. Her eyes were not tracking words on your imaginary teleprompter, and she was speaking directly to us.
Everyone go watch it yourself and make the call.
If there were key phrases posted in front of her...good. Tracking words? Watch her eyes folks.
JimP| 1.13.11 @ 1:40PM
But who cares? I noticed what you did. It does appear to be a teleprompter, but pols have been using them since at least Pres. Reagan. Therefore, so what?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 1:47PM
Absolutely nothing wrong with using a teleprompter. The only point in mentioning it was that those who like to criticize our President for everything he does, including Ms. Palin, often go after him for using a teleprompter, which every President and major political figure does. Ms. Palin's teleprompter is reflected in her eyeglasses throughout the speech -- which, as I have said before, was extremely well-done.
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 2:11PM
RCV, Agree with all of above. Well said.
stevor| 1.13.11 @ 1:05PM
Yes, turning what ought to have been a somber memorial into a Raucous Political Rally does DEFINE Obummer!
Maybe it's time to delve back into the bible and read that part about a "mortal head wound" and the anti-Christ!
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 1:06PM
Hey, President Dither!
Here is my contribution to "a more civil and honest public discourse" and to talk to "each other in a way that heals."
"Do not wait for orders from headquarters, mount up everybody and ride to the sound of the guns!"
Lock and load, conservatives.
Politics is war by other means, to reverse von Clausewitz's famous dictum.
Jack Bauer| 1.13.11 @ 1:09PM
Is Obama back to clinging to his religion again?
Wanna bet he's at CHURCH next Sunday. (Thus making about what, five times since inauguration?)
TV Network lickspittles in tow?
Well he is in FULL CAMPAIGN MODE.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 1:14PM
Let's see if fearless leader takes his own advise. Let's see if he can put his words into action.What are the chances he'll replace the fallen federal judge appointed by Bush and who was a conservative, with another conservative nominee, as opposed to getting another lefty judge on the federal bench?
On the other hand, if this congresswoman is unable to serve, the Ds will insist that her seat reamain hers, with no calls for a special election. And if indeed there is a special election, the Ds will insist that the Rs not run a candidate, out of respect for the "wishes of her district".
Let's see the actions of the Democrats and not dwell on their empty words.
Sam Vaughn| 1.13.11 @ 1:15PM
Philip, you remind me of an ESPN apologist for Donovan McNabb. Kindly remove you're rose colored glasses......
Richard Cummings | 1.13.11 @ 1:17PM
I love The American Spectator and fully agree with Philip Klein's article. The comments that follow so far indicate that Americans don't know what it means to be a conservative. Calling Obama a Marxist is infantile rightism. This is the same childish reaction that undermines the credibility of conservatism in America.
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 1:43PM
What is it about Obama's associations with Ayers, Klonsky, Dohrn, Radke and Wright that does not point to Marxism? What is it about "spreading the wealth around" that does not point to Marxism?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 2:17PM
Richard, this site is the far-right side of conservatism, although there are a number of intelligent and rational regular posters. But you are absolutely right about those who have no real understanding of what a Marxist is, and how centrist a Democrat our President actually is.
Jack Bauer| 1.13.11 @ 3:16PM
Judging by your post you have no real understanding what you are talking baout.
I take it you never attended college? Or if you did you did not spend anytime observing the rampant Marxism on display and antics of the leftists on campus.
They weren't really that clever in disguising it their Marxism, though they did try to fool the lumpens. But clever enough for you, it seems.
Sure, just because Obama deosn't get up and spout from the Communist Manifesto clearly proves he's no Marxist. Yawn.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 3:36PM
Yes, Jack, I did attend college, and law school at Stanford University. And, yes, there were Marxists on campus, even Maoists.
Barrack Obama isn't one, even by a long stretch.
Whether you agree with me on this or anything else is of no concern to me whatsoever.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 4:18PM
A Marxist believes that redistributing the wealth is good for everyone and that they should determine exactly how that is done. If I take Obama at his word to Joe the plumber, that is exactly what he believes. Obama also went to a Marxist "Church" for 20 years and named a book after said speech from Black Theology (Marxist Racist) Rev Wright. And of course there is his favorite former terrorist (who wished he had done more) who wrote Dreams of my Father (or at least made it readable) Bill Ayers. Nothing to see there though because he is such an obvious "centrist". You crack me up RCV. Care to tell me that Paul Krugman is a "reasonable centrist" as well and that it is silly to refer to his Marxist beliefs?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 4:29PM
No, Paul Krugman is not a centrist. But he's no Marxist either. The world isn't divided up into Marxists and Conservatives, Todd.
And if you believe the silliest little myths of the right -- like Bill Ayers wrote "Dreams of My Father" -- there's not much of rational dialogue we can have, because you "crack me up" as well!
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 4:42PM
http://www.americanthinker.com.....the_1.html
Just like John Kennedy wrote his book right RCV? They kept that secret hidden for many years until it became known Sorensen wrote the book. It is an known that it is a much better written book than Audacity of Hope and that the styles differ too much to have been the same person. They definitely knew each other back then and lived very close to each other, that is a fact. Not that you would accept the truth but that is why you are a liberal. Krugman preaches Marxist economics RCV as much as you deny it, that is why the Nobel Committee like him so much. Name me one free market principle Krugman believes in?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 5:03PM
Well, since they "knew each other" and "lived close to each other", that certainly proves Ayers wrote the book!
The two books, both of which I've read several times, are entirely different in focus. "Dreams From My Father" is autobiographical and personal. And Obama is in fact a terrific writer. I know professors at Occidental who had him in class and attest to that fact. If either book were ghost-written, and there's no reason to believe they were, "Audacity of Hope" would be a more likely candidate.
Jack Kennedy is another matter. Aside from "Why England Slept", Sorenson wrote most everything JFK uttered or published. And he was smart to have utilized his talents - Ted was a terrific pensman.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 5:11PM
If he is such a terrific writer, why haven't we seen anything he wrote as President of the Harvard Law Review? Why keep the records sealed so we can't see more of his brilliance? Like you saying you know some professor saying what a wonderful writer he was proves anything, lets see the evidence if that was the case? And what was he writing so eloquently about when he wasn't in a drug induced stupor? Something about how the wealth needs to be redistributed from the rich like a good Marxist I am willing to bet. Well he did write a few poems we know about at Occidental like this one called "Underground"
Under water grottos, caverns
Filled with apes
That eat figs.
Stepping on the figs
That the apes
Eat, they crunch.
The apes howl, bare
Their fangs, dance . . .
Is that what impressed the professor so much? Guessing he wrote that when he was in his drug induced stupor, no one sober would think that makes any sense.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 5:22PM
End of rational discussion.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 5:26PM
Don't blame me for the nonsense he wrote but I if you have any of his "brilliant" writing at Occidental, I would like to see it. And you know from reading his own book how much he was into the drugs at Occidental and hanging out with the freaks and radicals.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 5:37PM
A bit sloppy with the grammar today sorry
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 5:52PM
keep going... I'm waiting for the punchline.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 6:15PM
Apparently RCV is one of the lucky few to know anything about Obama's "brilliance" in college. Just makes me wonder why they don't want to release his records and prove it to all the doubters? All we have is some drug-induced bad poetry so far though.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 7:44PM
One of two reasons:
(a) we would know the true heart of obama
(b) he wasn't quite the boy-genius college student as advertised
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 8:08PM
(c) both of the above
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 2:49PM
I feel that Obama loves the concept of America, but rejects it's foundation & history as unjust, discriminatory & lacking in moral clarity.
His vision is to transform America into a framework of government driven moral & economic equality, to the benefit of all. The problem is that the methods used to achieve this goal have historically proven to fail & result in the exact opposite of prosperity for those it seeks to elevate.
Obama does not have a secret desire to destroy the country. I sense his frustration that his "economic policy" has failed to produce the intended result he was promised by the utopian advisors & mentors of his youth & present. This was entirely predictable. His ego will prevent him from recognizing the error of his method & the country will continue to suffer as a result.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 3:13PM
...and Steve A is one of those intelligent and rational posters, with whom I often disagree but respect.
Jack Bauer| 1.13.11 @ 3:18PM
Say something I agree with and I'll respect you. See how this works?
And as an aside, wow, you have an incredibly high opiniopn of yourself. I suppose there's always one.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 6:34PM
If I said something you agreed with, I wouldn't respect myself.
tatosian| 1.13.11 @ 3:28PM
So it's the childish reactions of posters on this site that undermines conservatism in America?
Not the fawning obeisance of the Humes, Krauthammers and Kleins who, when their political and cultural enemies wipe their asses with conservative heads can only mumble "Thank you sir may I have another?"
Not the inability of the conservatives to even slow down the progressive juggernaut that has changed this nation so profoundly over the past 30 or so years?
Your brand of conservatism has essentially lost us our country sir. You day is done.
You had your chance and you melted in the heat. You folded.
Don't presume to lecture anyone now.
335blues| 1.13.11 @ 1:19PM
obama hijacked the funeral memorial last night to stage a pagan campaign rally. Complete with rock concert-like teeshirts, campaign supporters to provide clapping on cue, and a holy moment wherein the godlike obama revealed his miracle to the world- 'Gabby opened her eyes within minutes of my merely walking into the room (and her basking in his omnipotence)'. He repeated the description of his miracle four times lest anyone alive did not comprehend the wonder. It was a disgusting spectacle that robbed the victims of their moment of rememberence to focus the spotlight on him. The clapping after Gov. Brewer mentioned the name of the 9 year old girl who died was particularly revolting.
martin j smith| 1.13.11 @ 1:24PM
Mr Klien is it not up to Obama as President to set an example and admit his own failure of civility to those of us who disagree with him? Is it not as President up to Mr Obama to set an example to the nation. And is it not up to President Obama to tell his Media friends to"shut up" and of course will they listen ? None of these answers or events happened in President Obama's speech. And, the media continue to smear Palin. NOR SIR, NO CREDIT YET.
Oscar| 1.13.11 @ 1:26PM
This entire production seemed nothing more than a thinly veiled campaign rally repleate with t-shirts and attending political language. What's the over under on the victims and their families being decorations at the State of the Union speech?
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 1:32PM
I couldn't disagree with the author more. If Obama choose statesmanship as the author says, then why didn't he scold the crowd for booing Brewer and being disrespectful to the victims and their families? Why did Obama feel the need to lie about seeing Gifford's "open her eyes for the first time." Why did Obama not apologize for the hateful rhetoric he has used as president?
If he had done these three things differently, then I would agree with the author. Now I am trying to figure out why he was so easily fooled.
DawnBrooks| 1.13.11 @ 1:39PM
i'm a little boggled actually -
i am - well, you all would consider me, a liberal. i consider myself more libertarian with some left leanings.
that said, while most of the speech was exactly what it should have been; even i am dismayed at the rally atmosphere and in particular shirts and other "memorabilia" being handed out. and it pains me to say that because i feel those on the right - in particular this site - never own mistakes /atrocities by their own but . . .
his job was to express sorrow, empathize with everyone's need to find a reason but dismantle the blame that goes along with that (not that i don't think palin is a complete horror show and wish every day that she would just stop talking) -- - but all of that needed to be done while embracing and acknowledging that, at the end of the day, this wasn't an atrocity committed on the country - these were individuals with individual families. i know it's a hard balance to walk but well, hey, you're the president - it's in the job description.
yeah, it's pretty abnormal for me to agree with anything i read on here but i never expected to be disagreeing with something like this. is it april? is it opposite day? wth is going on??
Steve A| 1.13.11 @ 1:59PM
Dawn, You sound like a well meaning, rational, left leaning American. Welcome to the conversation. I, personally, look forward to hearing opinion from those who think like you do. I consider myself to be squarely conservative but am always willing to be influenced by those who attempt to recognize the truth for what it is. Regards, Steve
DawnBrooks| 1.14.11 @ 8:11PM
thanks for the welcome steve.
i feel similarly. a reasoned argument always has my attention regardless of the source; we could all benefit from it. it's a shame measured dialogue is such a rarity these days.
thanks again - dawn
Derek Leaberry| 1.13.11 @ 3:40PM
If the murders were not politically motivated, then why would President Obama bring up politics in his speech yesterday at the memorial?
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 5:00PM
Explain yourself further please
DawnBrooks| 1.14.11 @ 8:14PM
really? putting aside any other possible reason - was he supposed to ignore that political motivation or lack thereof has been the nation's conversation since it's happened?
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 6:49PM
Well, we may or may not consider you a liberal. It all depends on your definition of Libertarian.
You say you are Libertarian with left leanings which, I'm guessing, that means you are liberal on social issues.
Now having said that, you should still be outraged at what obama and the democrats have done to this county the past years. That is, if you consider yourself a Libertarian.
I find people who call themselves Libertarian with left-leaning tendencies are ones who haven't thought things through.
Remember. To this day Bill Maher considers himself a Libertarian.
DawnBrooks| 1.14.11 @ 8:08PM
um . . . mkay
Farb| 1.13.11 @ 1:47PM
Booger's comment beats the pants off of Klein's and what is it with all of the lefty Kleins all over the place and what was it that this one was watching last night? The President didn't even consider a wrod, much less say one, that would tell his people and by extension, himself, to stop accusing people who have not, would not, can not, will not, never have and never will attack anyone physically let alone shoot them, unless they are engaged in self defense. Bull's Eye My Butt!
Clint| 1.13.11 @ 1:50PM
Where's Our "Together We Thrive" Tee Shirts ?
Aaaand ! Where's Our "I Died For Obama" Tee Shirts ?
Delores Smith| 1.13.11 @ 2:12PM
PHILIP KLEIN, as a citizen of Arizona, I have a different viewpoint. I've watched C-Span for two years with nothing but attacks on Republicans. His talk, in my opinion, was political. He placed a Latino man next to him, while the two men and one woman who took down the shooter, were in a crowd out of view. Obama used this tragedy in Tucson to benefit himself. When he gave a talk from the WH, he didn't even mention Federal Judge Roll who was killed. Judge Roll had an illegal immigration case. As a result, Federal Judge Roll received 200 death threats in one day. He was guarded by marshalls for one month.
I believe that the Indian Blessing from a man who wanted to point out that he is from Mexico,
Daniel Hernandez, shouting out, "We are all Americans now, etc.") supports my opinion. Obama's tone was blaming others for their discourse, I have a video of him criticizing people who read the Bible. It is impossible to forget all that Obama has said and done, and what I feel is his forthcoming agenda. I will try to say this is a civil manner. I believe he is a fake.
Delores Smith
Delores109@cox.net
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 5:52PM
And Philip Klein fell for it.
I get a kick also about the praise for William Daley. Are you kidding me, the son of Richard Daley, a product like Rahm and Obama of the Chicago Political Machine, and he is a centrist and adult?
The DC elite can not connect the dots. That is why they miss the connections to Ayers and Soros. They believe what the Democrats tell them and don't see the politics in EVERYTHING they do.
Jay| 1.13.11 @ 2:20PM
What Klein should have said: http://patriotpost.us/alexande.....st-comment
solidground| 1.13.11 @ 2:24PM
After perusing the comments here, I'm quite pleased that I avoided the gross spectacle that was Obama in Tucson. Especially just after dinner, it's good to avoid intense feelings of extreme disgust, repulsion and disdain, and subsequently nausea. However, I did not remain
entirely unscathed. While surfing for something suitable for anyone to watch who might have an IQ above 100, I stumbled through one of the local channels (Tucson) at the exact moment the camera cut to a frame-filling shot of that horse's ass, Sheriff Dipstick Stupnik. Spoiled the rest of my evening, even though the moment lasted only a mere fraction of a second.
Ga Boy| 1.13.11 @ 2:30PM
The President is a smart man who speaks well.
It's not hard to see why 'Blood Libel' Palin is not going to risk her easy money career to go after his job
Louis Jenkins| 1.13.11 @ 2:34PM
I did not watch last night's Presidential campaign presentation. Inspite of what some of you say, Obama is still the Pretender n Thief, what he says we still must obey. If he says come, we must come, if he says go, we must go. If he says we must pay, then we must reach into our back pockets and pay.
Gifford was (is) the same. While we may not approve of the way she was treated by a guilty gun carrying magot, she is cut from the same cloth as Obama. She voted for the same programs that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid presented. There was nothing new in what she brought to the table. She was (is) part of that great left wing conspiracy that now boldly walks in the light of day.
I wish her the best, but cannot get all blubbery and teary eyed like Boehnor. Nor can I get wrought with concern when tee-shirts are distributed prior to a memorial service. It sickens me to see such commericalism.
This is the great circus of American politics, at its best, and at its worst.
Norm | 1.13.11 @ 2:36PM
What a crock! Who was it, Eric Holder who said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste." Seemed liked a political rally for 2012 and what's with all the T-shirts...sure didn't take much time to get those printed up or did Obama just happen to have a ready supply. Oh, and reading the scriptures from the Bible no less...naah nobody got together to make sure they were all on the same page. Then there was that moment we all became Americans...Oh? Who were they referring to? The illegals in the audience? ...yeah, I too was sickened by the constant applause...sounded like a football rally...they must have made sure all the cheerleaders were on hand. And whatever happened to a memorial serivice where everyone would reamin in silence while the speakers spoke? This was no memorial service...it was the kick-off to the 2012 elections! Without a doubt!
Shoey| 1.13.11 @ 2:37PM
"Last night, for his first time in office, Barack Obama sounded like the president of all Americans."
what have you been smoking?
does the author think that the Left feels admonished by Obama's speech?
the fact that roughly half (the "intellectual" half, of course) of the conservative movement bought this dog and pony show, does not impress me with our future prospects.
wake up you blue-blooded idiots!
Lucy ALWAYS snatches the ball away at the last instant, ALWAYS!
why can't you get that thur your thick skulls?
Old Niko| 1.13.11 @ 2:48PM
I tuned into FoxNews to watch a memorial service. What I got instead was "The One's" first re-election pep rally. Immediately followed by more progressive talking-head namby-pamby garbage than I could stand to watch.
Thanks a heap Fox... I think I'll go watch MSNBC where I know for a fact that what they show and tell is a work of of pure fiction.
You report, we decide my butt...
Maybe one day they (all?) will wake up to find that we are NOT a nation of sheeple, incapable of independent thought.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 5:22PM
Niko....I agree. Fox was given their "marching orders". Tonight you'll see elitist Bill O'Reilly add to the fruit salad oohing and aahing over his buddy's propaganda. He "has" to. He got the pre-superbowl fat cat spot, you know where he will be "interviewing" the ONE. Beck said, you can judge by whom a man surrounds himself with. Obama could have stopped the stupidity at the "event", but chose not to. Look who he surrounded himself with, the food chain of a malignant narcissist.
thomas| 1.13.11 @ 2:49PM
Mr. Klein, please look up "sucker" in your Webster's and you might find your picture in the margin.
Jullou| 1.13.11 @ 2:53PM
The leftists are practicing Alinsky Rule #13 with regard to Sarah Palin and other conservative leaders:
13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In conflict tactics there are certain rules that [should be regarded] as universalities. One is that the opposition must be singled out as the target and 'frozen.'...
"...any target can always say, 'Why do you center on me when there are others to blame as well?' When your 'freeze the target,' you disregard these [rational but distracting] arguments.... Then, as you zero in and freeze your target and carry out your attack, all the 'others' come out of the woodwork very soon. They become visible by their support of the target...'
"One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angels are on one side and all the devils on the other." (pps.127-134)
disenchanted| 1.13.11 @ 2:59PM
sorry but this man used this shooting as an opportunity to jump start his campaign . there was hooting and howling, free t-shirts and campaign slogans bantered about. This man only has one agenda and it is his. He could care less about the United States or the people who reside within her borders - regardless their color. This was just another photo-op for a man who has done nothing but lie and take us down the slippery slope to socialism. A leopard does not change its spots.
It is amazing how many people's attention can be changed by a simple shiny object
Flee| 1.13.11 @ 3:11PM
Little is said of the congresswoman's throw away comment of disdain to the shooter at that long ago corner meeting. If she really called him crazy at that point, that should be deemed the ultimate reason for his response. She is a victim of a shooting by a likely mentally disturbed man that held a grudge of enormous proportions against her because of her arrogant response. This is the truly teachable moment for anyone that deals with the public or employees. We all need to be thoughtful how we address others because we don't know the state of their mind. I ref basketball and believe me there is many an occasion when I want to tell a coach or fan to just sit down and shut up. Clearly it would make me feel better and powerful in the situation but it comes back to bite you when the fan or the coach finds a way to make life even more difficult later through reports or threats. The congresswoman had what was likely a momentary lapse in her concentration and skill in dealing with the public of all stripes and it eventually came back to bite her. As far as Nobama's speech; I can barely stand hearing his voice. Tshirts and chair banners? Is 2012 starting already? That was embarrassing.
Charles| 1.13.11 @ 3:17PM
Shoey,
Right on,this President is nothing but BS.He can get up there and act anyway he pleases and a lot of Americans will buy into it.We know what he is, and I think most Americans know too.He is nothing but a left wing Marxist.If the Progressives had won the Nov election you would have seen the old left winger, winging it instead of playing up to the Indepedents ,as of which I`m one .I could not watch him up their knowing what he really stands for.I know America wants to believe in him or something that will make everything better.This is the man that wants to transform America and spread the wealth ..America! don`t let this man fool you.
WAKE UP| 1.13.11 @ 3:41PM
"Last night, for his first time in office, Barack Obama sounded like the president of all Americans.'
--------------------
WHAT!?
Sarah Palin uses the phrase “blood libel” and all hell breaks loose in the mainstream media, but since day one, the Teflon-coated President Obama has been getting away with referring to his political opposition as “enemies”, using rhetoric like “If they bring a knife to the fight we bring a gun”, and allowing his Attorney-General Eric Holder to say “America is a nation of cowards”, without criticism. Now he says, disingenuously, “Out of this tragedy, we can come together”.
Far from being a unifier, Obama is the most calculatingly divisive President America has ever elected. As they say, a fish rots from the head down.
James| 1.13.11 @ 4:21PM
Anyone who believes anything this President says gets what they deserve. This is the same guy that calls people at Town Hall meeting who disagree with his agenda "un-American", Police who arrest black people "stupid" States that try to protect thier laws and citizens "racists" People who support themselves and families without government handouts "Evil Capitalists"
The King of polarization does a pretty speech and now even the Conservative media are tripping over themselves to get at the Kool Aid.
Disgusting !
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 4:26PM
The President gave a terrific, moving address last night, and even Glenn Beck, Charles Krautheimer, and TAS have acknowledged that. The fact that many of the posters above can't recognize it is a testament to their closed minds.
CopyKatnj| 1.13.11 @ 4:47PM
I guess all those that accuse conservatives of sheep following their masters Beck, Limbaugh and Krautheimer aren't being truthful, are they.
shoey| 1.13.11 @ 5:07PM
right on, we don't follow those guys, they follow us, or the go to the dust bin of broadcast history.
John II| 1.13.11 @ 6:54PM
Yo Roberto. Long time no rant. But I had a distractingly nice Christmas and New Year's, which kept me, well, distracted. I hope yours was as nice.
I can't answer for the posters above, but I found the Professor's speech no less calculating and disingenuous than his speech to the troops in Afghanistan some weeks ago. Nor is it clear to me why I'm supposed to acknowledge what "even" Glenn Beck, "even" Charles Krauthammer, and "even" TAS have acknowledged. All three have acknowledged things now and then in the past which I judged unacknowledgeable.
After all, even a troglodyte like myself has his own mind, heart, and experience to acknowledge. And now back to "Patterns" (1956), a fascinating period piece written by an early Rod Serling when he was anticipating the angry-young-man pose of the next decade by attacking the evil corporate world, in pending fondness for a even more evil mega-state. Boy, those were the good old days, when liberals were still patriots. Or perhaps I should say "even" liberals and drop the "still."
Liberal Reader| 1.13.11 @ 7:43PM
What do you know about patriotism, you twit?
I know plenty of people in the service now who are Democrats and by almost any measure "liberals."
When you've done something in service to your country -- or even your town or neighborhood, or just someone other than yourself, you let me know. But don't let it get in the way of your time in front of the television. Fucking jerk.
John II| 1.13.11 @ 8:12PM
Res ipsa loquitur, so to speak. I take it as a kindness that your primitive mode of expression relieves me of the duty to respond with my superior wit.
But I am outraged by your presumption. I was addressing my pal Roberto, not you, LR. You must learn some manners before you attempt any discourse with your betters.
And now back to "The Thing from Another World" (1951), in which our brave and conservative men in uniform vanquish a vicious humanoid carrot from space, played by an very young James Arness, another conservative. Much superior to the 1982 remake by John Carpenter, which was written and directed and cast by angry liberals--and therefore merely bombastic and horrifying, and not at all interesting or suspenseful.
Alas, form truly followeth substance.
Todd S| 1.13.11 @ 8:18PM
Look what you did, you made LR so mad he had to use the F bomb. LR is as patriotic as Harry Reid (the war is lost) or any good limp wristed San Francisco liberal he will have you know.
Grzmlyk| 1.13.11 @ 9:13PM
HATE SPEECH ALERT!!!! HATE SPEECH ALERT!!!! LIBERAL READER IS A HATER!
Geel, Liberal Reader I thought you were above crass expressions of anger.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Need any help re-nailing that halo to your head?
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 7:58PM
Well stated, John II, as usual.
Marxist Reader, what would you know about serving your country? What was your Military Occupational Strategy, again?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 11:23PM
JohnIi: a pleasure as always to hear from you. My holiday was truly wonderful, thanks for asking. My son was back from Ann Arbor for Christmas break, and my daughter stayed with us as well, so it was the deep pleasure of family that made the days so enjoyable.
No of course I wouldn't expect an independent mind like yours to care what Beck, et al think. But I do believe the near universality of praise for the speech is a good indication of it's general approval nationwide.
In any event, be well. And remember that, on this day in 1950, ambassador Jacob Malik of the USSR announced that his country would henceforth boycott Security Council meetings to protest the refusal of the Council to expel the Nationalist Chinese rep -- a move that didn't seem so smart a few months later when the Council, with Malik absent, authorized force to expel the North Korean invasion of the South.
John II| 1.14.11 @ 11:33PM
Hi Roberto. In response to your three paragraphs:
1. On the other hand, there's also that hollow feeling that comes when the Christmas season draws to a close. The kids are now either back to their jobs and families or back to college, and we're back in the empty nest, after 30-plus years of child-rearing and noise. I really miss the noise. The grandkids, of course, are gone too: When my wife and I were leaving from the family's week-long gathering at a rented house three hundred miles from here, our own house no longer being large enough to accommodate the extended and extending family, one of our grandsons, age 4, asked rather gravely, "Why are you leaving?" We answered that we had to get back to work, but that we'd come back as soon as we could. To which he responded, again rather gravely: "I want you to stay here, forever." To which we had no answer.
2. I am not an independent mind. I am a Roman Catholic Christian in full assent to the Church's teaching magisterium. I'm also a teacher who's spent all his adult life in the company of great (dead) thinkers and great literature. I have never, ever had an independent thought--which, if it ever happened, I am confident would be trivial. My line of work forces me to bask in a wisdom not mine.
3. Yes--I remember. And we're still living with the consequences.
Back now to "Pork Chop Hill" (1959), the definitive cinematic retrospective on the Korean War--with Gregory Peck mugging to great effect. It was nonetheless anticipated by "The Steel Helmet" in 1951 (a bumper year for great flicks of all sorts)--and perhaps the greatest war flick ever made. The Korean War: yes, there's a bit of unfinished business.
RCV| 1.15.11 @ 11:23AM
Thanks, especially for point no. 1, which made my day. Be well.
Joe D.| 1.13.11 @ 4:29PM
Phillip I like you. But you are being way to nice to this idolog and Alinsky desciple. What he did was nice. However, it was all calculated for the up coming fights with conservatives. He, again, wants to appear to be above the fighting. When he is as much if not more responsible for it then anyone (his administration). He knows nothing about civility from his friends (Rev. Wright, Alinsky, Frank Marshal, Bill Aires, ACORN, etc.). So this is all political.
Finally, he knows his side will not listen to this message and he does not care. But he thinks it may work on the wimpy Republicans. Well it won't work on us. WE ARE TIRED OF THAT GAME. We are now going to play there game a little better since we have the facts, truth and history on our side.
BobbyL| 1.13.11 @ 4:32PM
I was shocked, horrified and disgusted by the absurd political theater put on in Tucson last night. The rally atmosphere notwithstanding, I knew this was a political event when, despite protestations that the Safeway massacre had nothing to do with national security, the line up included the Secretary of Homeland Security and the US Attorney General. Such political tricks are transparent to even a 9-year old.
In his opening remarks the UA President introduced the players and clearly indicated that Minority Leader Pelosi was among the ruling class that lined up in front of the stage. I watched carefully but did not see her nor was she included on the agenda. If she was there: why? I can thin of no legitimate purpose for her to have been there or to have wasted our taxes in making the trip. If her presence was in support of her downed plebe then she should have been at the hospital when BSO opened the congresswoman's eyes and she should have done it on her own dime.
I have heard a great deal about the cleverness of Obama's speech and his skillful delivery. I disagree, I thought the message was pat and slick, mere stucco to smooth over the ravages of the previous week's savage rhetoric. As to delivery, Obama was generally smug and supercilious, at times barely able to keep himself from bursting into laughter at his mastery in pulling the wool over the collective eyes of the masses once again.
I thought I had been insulted enough until I made the mistake of watching Fox's post-rally, er, memorial analytic panel. What an incredible bunch of self-serving drivel. Krauthammer who, at one time, was called Obama's Critic in Chief by National Review magazine, was fully puckered to kiss a bunch of Presidential behind. What happened to that guy? He used to proved reasoned, insightful commentary. Now, just so much palaver.
Lastly, the First Lady should fire her fashion "consultant" immediately.
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 5:58PM
I am with you. I don't get it either. Krauthammer does this all the time. I obviously am not seeing what he sees. Here is my assessment. They are using these moments to get rid of the real enemy in their minds - Sarah Palin. They want to present Obama as Presidential, then they will figure out any way they can to dump on Palin.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 8:11PM
So, Wayne, RSV implies I'm a conspiracy theorist, where do you get yours from?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 11:45PM
Well, did you not posit a conspiracy?
Wayne | 1.14.11 @ 12:59PM
I can point to two active conspiracies: The Democratic Party and The Republican Party.
RCV| 1.15.11 @ 12:15PM
All political parties and movements are "conspiracies" to obtain political power or secure some public policy goal.
Diane| 1.13.11 @ 5:05PM
I think Obama's speech can be taken as an acknowledgement that he and his supporters need to tone down their rhetoric.
I think in future he will think twice about making divisive remarks to Republicans like, "I won", and will stop talking about "vanquishing enemies". I think he will also rein in prominent and influential liberals in the media like the anonymous Politico poster.
And he probably reviewed Michelle Malkin's list of liberals who have contributed to the poisonous political atmosphere. While most are also anonymous or little known, I think we can take the president's speech as a reprimand of prominent liberal, Madonna, who may have influenced millions with her violent statement that she would like to kick Palin in the ass.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 5:12PM
Just watched the opening of the Glenn Beck show. No more. Apparently, the conservatives were given orders to praise Obama so the news media could move on. Started with Krauthammer, then American Spectator, then Erick Erickson, now Glenn Beck. All in agreement with Klein. They (the conservatives) said it so it is so. WE, THE PEOPLE are to agree and move on. How condenscending!
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 5:18PM
So, please enlighten us: Who gave these orders, and why did "the conservatives" suddenly agree to follow them?
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 5:24PM
RCV, could we follow the money here? Who signs their paychecks?
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 5:52PM
Please, enlighten us. You're the person apparently in the know.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 5:57PM
RCV, not in the know like you, just plain old common sense which you seem to lack.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 6:32PM
It's not "common sense" to conclude that strong conservative voices such as Glenn Beck, Charles Krauthammer, Emmett Tyrell and others, are "following orders" from anyone because they say something positive about the President's speech. They just might actually believe what they're saying, even if you disagree with them. Did that possibility not occur to you? Or must everything be the result of some vast conspiracy?
John II| 1.13.11 @ 7:00PM
That reminds me. I need to order "Seven Days in May" from Netflix--haven't seen a good conspiracy flick in ages.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 11:28PM
Nothing of the genre can top the original Manchurian Candidate.
Nick| 1.14.11 @ 12:45PM
RCV,
I beg to differ.
Dr. Strangelove is still the crème de la crème of the Hollywood left's paranoia of a right-wing coup in America.
It is not a coincidence that both Dr. Strangelove and Fail Safe came out in 1964, the latter opening a month before the election.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 2:43PM
I was just commenting on good conspiracy film-making. The '62 Manchurian Candidate is simply a great piece of film-making. Dr. Strangelove is a mighty fine comical satire.
John II| 1.15.11 @ 3:29PM
In particular, Angela Lansbury is far more chillingly sinister in the 1962 version than is Meryl Streep in the clunky 2004 version--and Streep is the better, more versatile actress: proof that actors are, well, actors, hugely dependent on the material supplied them by their betters behind the scenes.
JimP| 1.13.11 @ 6:10PM
PTL brings up an interesting point. So far, the leftwing media has been more critical of last night's "memorial" service and Obama's performance that rightwing pundits. Something odd is going on. I don't know and will not speculate as to what, but this is quite an unusual situation.
shoey| 1.13.11 @ 6:23PM
very, very odd, so odd it makes me wonder if this was all setup before hand, not the incident itself, but the aftermath.
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 8:08PM
Something odd is going on. Yes, it is. Read this by one of the most liberal ranters in love with Obama for the past 2 years.......... http://www.thedailybeast.com/b.....portunity/
Shoey| 1.13.11 @ 8:51PM
Kristen Powers goes rogue?
the universe has indeed flipped upside down.
JimP| 1.13.11 @ 9:48PM
Laura Ingraham tonight on O'Reilly outed FNC. She revealed that Obama is due to be interviewed by the Bloviator and she insinuated that everyone on Fox is taking it easy on Barry so he won't stiff them on the interview. Of course O'Reilly denied it, but it would certainly seem to be true circumstantially. So that would explain FNC's going into the tank for Obama. As for so many other conservative pundits, I am still at a loss for why.
RCV| 1.13.11 @ 11:47PM
She didn't "reveal" any such thing. It was announced publicly a while ago.
JimP| 1.14.11 @ 9:33AM
LOL OK, RCV, point taken on "reveal". It was a revelation to me, and probably many others. Mea maxima culpa. Meanwhile, the POINT was Fox appears to have a motive to go easy on their analysis of The Bamster, which is what she insinuated. But, you knew that already and this was just a misdirection post on your part.
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 2:41PM
Motive doesn't equal causation. Furthermore, its unlikely that such strong independent personalities such as Glenn Beck or Charles Krauthammer would skewer their remarks just so Bill O'Reilly can go forward with an interview with the President. It may just be that they believed what they said, as amazing as that may be to you. Why didn't Laura Ingraham "skewer" her remarks? She has a lot more reason to please O'Reilly than Beck or Krauthammer.
Son of The Soil| 1.13.11 @ 5:22PM
You're honest.
I've been back and forth, will I vote for him this second time around or not? If he keeps this up, I probably will.
It seems to me he can't keep it up if he refuses to see the good Conservatives can bring to the Country and ultimately to his Presidency.
He is the duly elected President. Elected by 53% of my Countrymen. He's our First Black President, and that means so very much.
This was the best speech he's given, and if he keeps the vibe he can only get better.
He's my President and at this moment, I'm proud of that.
See you in the Fall of '12.
Daniels or someone like him. Without that edge you can't win.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 5:48PM
Oh brother where do I begin...
...let me ask you this, what would prevent you from voting for him in '12?
BackToBasics| 1.13.11 @ 10:12PM
Yes, one opportunistic speech where he doesn't attack the Right and the left kisses the ground he walks on.
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 5:54PM
He is not black else explain his white mother. He is your president, but he does not seem the to recognize the 47% who did not vote for him.
BackToBasics| 1.13.11 @ 10:16PM
Those 47% must live in the extra 7 states of the 57 states he claimed were in America. Yes, I think that explains it.
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 6:20PM
Well Son, Let me take a try at this along with Bob Grant, whom I respect, but we disagree on Sister Sarah.
Let's pretend this was George Bush who gave this speech. Let's also pretend we are Chris Matthews. (God forbid)
What he and the MSM would be saying all day today is this : "O.K.. Bush gave a good speech, that's fine, but putting that aside, we have an unemployment/underemployment rate of over 20%, Depression numbers. We have gas at $3.50 a gal and a barrel of oil is headed to $100. We have no energy policy to speak of.
We still have a divided nation and although it's 2011, we're still in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We're up to our eyeballs in debt to China, and China and India are kicking our butts".
So Son, if you still plan on voting for Obama in 2012 based opon a teleprompter speech, carefully written and coordinated to produce the effect it did, rather than what I have just outlined, shame on you.
You've been duped by a group of slick promoters, which by now, you should have seen for yourself.
The good news is, you still have time to wake up and see what's happening to this country by the left.
Son of the Soil| 1.13.11 @ 6:44PM
I don't think either of you understand.
But let me try to help you, and I don't mean that condescendingly, and I apologize in advance for the length of this.
Earlier today, Conrad Black wrote a very good piece over at NRO:
“There was nothing deft about Krugman’s effort, and he dug under the Tea Party to detonate his explosives under the party of Lincoln, TR, Ike, and Reagan.”
This is superb! It was a wonderful to read, even though I'm too lazy to link. You can easily find it.
Here's what I wrote to him:
Here’s the thing, Mr. Black. We’re nothing to them but a mass to be moved around and about their ideological blotters and re-election prospects. By we, I don't mean the Tea Party, I mean the whole of the American people.
If I could have married anyone in the world I would have married George Orwell. Why? Because he’s an honest man. To Italians, those they know (loved or hated) never die. They remain more than a memory, they remain alive.
And I’m exactly who and what George Orwell hoped his brotherhood of man could produce. I’m a literate, competent, patriotic, working-class person. I hold fast to the Judeo-Christian ethic though I’m a praying agnostic. I respect and proclaim the sanity of bourgeois values but I have no desire to migrate to that class. My ambition is to live by my own hand and know when and how to die.
The unfortunate part (for the splendid Orwell) is that it was an ordered and moral capitalism that gave me the chance to feed, clothe and educate myself. To journey from rooming house to home would not have been possible under Socialism because the rooming house would have been run by apparatchiks and not a decent, middle-middle class family. And the apparatchiks satisfied with the base pay of Uniform “be like me or die!” always as unreachable as free-soil.
Each noble lie asks every man to ignore the suffering deemed irremediable by the ruling class. And what the socialists, crunchy-cons, the perfumed and protected and aesthetes can never admit is that the share-cropper of exhausted land doesn't walk to the factory floor, he runs. It's held against him.
But the key to all of this is that moral capitalism. Without it, society and the world will always move left, as anyone not born with future secured can’t help but understand and accept.
Let me close by telling you about my interview with a socialist/not-for-profit house. It started out promising enough. I was a bit under-experienced but my cover letter secured the interview. An ex-nun greets me, and she’s all a nun should be, ex or not. We exchanged painful memories and then the priestess arrived. She was a large and serious woman and her pant suit made her seem a stuffed sausage. Her final question to me was: If you could choose between a lion, an eagle or an ant, which one would you be? I knew the right answer was ant, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I remember coaxing myself into comfort with the thought of slinging hash. I willfully did not say it, and the dialogue that occurred during and concluded that interview would make a great short story.
We have no leaders, Mr. Black. Not one who can masterfully relay that justice without continence is impossible. That in order to avoid becoming a charge, one has to pay for things, but in order to pay for things one has to actually be able to do that.
None.
[End of note]
President Obama is continuing on a path that the Nation embarked upon, a long time ago. A path created by some of those Mr. Black mentions and for whom I have affection. Government is woven into our daily lives. If we are to help unravel this, we have to do it honestly and with consideration for unintended consequences.
President Obama is merely introducing more socialism than we already have. The Nation could collapse because of that, but that's not a certainty.
More is expected of the Roman Catholic Church because it proclaims to be the one, true Church founded by Jesus Christ. Those higher expectations are appropriate. Same is true for Conservatism, as it proclaims itself to be faithful to the Constitution over and against Liberalism.
You need candidates who can advance this truth, if it is the truth, with a power far greater than you currently possess.
My Country right or wrong, Left or Right.
What can I say? I took the Oath.
Mary Louise
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 7:13PM
Terrific. I like a good story as much as the next schlub here but could you break it down in layman's terms.
Sounds you prefer the Adam Smith "invisible hand" approach but since that's impossible - what with individuals/countries not playing by the rules - socialism is the next-best thing. mmmmkaay.
You were ambiguous about voting for obama in '012. Tell us, specifically, what you he's doing right, and doing wrong.
Readers Digest version pls.
tatosian| 1.13.11 @ 9:09PM
The fact that the republicans don't really have anyone to run against il duce nera has been mentioned a few times and I'd like to ask a question; should the lack of republican party contenders be the concern of this coalition of tea partiers, conservatives, constitutionalists or whatever one wants to call the, uh, implacable opposition to the progressive frontal assault?
The cycle is gearing up and we will once again be told that a vote for the republicans is the only chance we have at maintaining what's left of our republic.
While this scam has worked like a charm for the republican party, we have very little to show for our misguided support.
The progressive victories continue to mount.
The republicans have already been forced, by the tea party, to pretend they're listening to us.
Wouldn't it be far more efficacious for us if we informed the republican party that we were interested in running our own candidates outside their party? Wouldn't we perhaps garner more for ourselves if we could tell them we're tired of the betrayals and, in fact, we have enough votes to ensure the loss of their candidates unless we get what we want?
I mean, they need us far more than we need another republican leeching off the taxpayers dollars, right?
I guess what I'm asking here is are we once again going to hold our nose against the toxic stank and vote for a republican party that reaps the benefit of that progressive assault that they swear they'll stop?
Help me out here.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 10:50PM
Regarding Palin, I suspected this would happen.
There is a massive swath of conservatives ranging from elected officials, writers, pundits, etc. who see major flaws in Sarah the person, not necessarily her politics, and believe she has absolutely no chance of winning.
To date they have hedged their bets and kept their mouths shut because of her apparent
upsurge in popularity, but also knew it was just a matter of time before an incident such as this - contrasting Sarah the potential president to Obama the sitting president - would show Sarah in a less-than-favorable light, which is exactly what happened. Now that she's in a weakened state, they feel safe to expose themselves and be critical.
The list is getting bigger by the day and at some point it's time to be realistic.
If she really want's to run, she's going to have to make wholesale changes but that doesn't seem to be in her DNA. It seems far too often her attitude is her way or the highway.
In answer to your question, I really have no idea. It seems to be we should have given this more thought a year ago.
tatosian| 1.13.11 @ 11:31PM
True enough. Last year would have been better.
tatosian| 1.13.11 @ 11:55PM
Sorry
Last year was good but now isn't too late.
tatosian| 1.13.11 @ 7:30PM
which oath was that?
Anthony| 1.13.11 @ 8:49PM
Well Son, Bob Grant is smarter than me, cause for the likes of me, I can't figure out what you are trying to say, save for the fact that you appreciate Italians, which is a good thing.
I don't think I'd like to marry Orwell, besides being a guy, he'd try to tell me that cheating on me was an act of reaffirmation of our love. Hmmm, I ain't that stupid bub. Men!!!
Anyway, perhaps I should address you as daughter, as you have signed your post Mary Louise. Obama is not a benign pol who is continuing on a path this nation embarked on long ago. Quite the contrary, which is why we face this existential struggle for the very soul of America.
Merely introducing more socialism, as you put it, is not some benign academic postulate, and at the end of the lecture we all go back to the dorm to ponder its ramifications, this is real life, with real consequences to the very essence of what America is.
May I cut to the chase? What exactly is it that you don't get about Obama and his plans for the future of America?
P.S. As Bob & tatosian asked, what oath have you taken? I need to know, as it appears to have an enormous influence on your political thinking.
Bob Grant| 1.13.11 @ 7:34PM
Agreed!
A completely different take had GWB given the speech under similar circumstances.
The " YES, BUT'S" would have been out in full force.
YES he gave a surprisingly good speech BUT:
*we still have troops dying in Iraq and Afghanistan
*we still have high unemployment
* he still hasn't addressed the mortgage crisis
* etc
With one speech obama has put to rest the hostile discourse in this country!
post*tenebras*lux| 1.13.11 @ 7:44PM
and might I ask, where did you get your conspiracy theory? wink. wink.
Shoey| 1.13.11 @ 5:56PM
Glenn too...
these fools have no idea, they are clamping the valve on the pressure cooker shut which ensures that it will eventually blow.
(maybe they know exactly what they are doing?)
Shoey| 1.13.11 @ 6:08PM
this balant and transparent ploy to silence all opposition is just another step down our fall into tyranny.
the far left can spew extreme rhetoric, the center left and the center right get to say whatever they want, but conservatives are not allowed to speak, or rather they can speak, but only amoung themselves their message will no longer be allowed at the national level.
Bilwick| 1.13.11 @ 6:09PM
Really? Mr. Klein may be forgetting that Obama is literally a child of the Left, from his Red Diaper Baby roots, his membership in the New Party, etc., etc. I heard him call for "civility," and I know what that means on the Left: "Say 'please' and 'thank you--may I have another?' when we bugger you, peasants."
If the Left really wants a return to "civility," they might want to cut back on the coercion. Ain't nothing civil about the Mailed Fist.
* * *
"Remember, Barry," said Uncle Frank, visiting his favorite nephew after flying in from the big CPUSA meeting, "always counsel the bourgeoisie to be 'civil.' That mean getting them to mute their criticism of the struggles of the working class."
"Gollee, Uncle Frank!" the impressionable Kenyan lad exclaimed. "Misuing language sounds like lots of fun! I can't wait 'til Igrow up and become community organizer so I can fool the bourgeoisie, too!"
Bilwick| 1.13.11 @ 6:09PM
Really? Mr. Klein may be forgetting that Obama is literally a child of the Left, from his Red Diaper Baby roots, his membership in the New Party, etc., etc. I heard him call for "civility," and I know what that means on the Left: "Say 'please' and 'thank you--may I have another?' when we bugger you, peasants."
If the Left really wants a return to "civility," they might want to cut back on the coercion. Ain't nothing civil about the Mailed Fist.
* * *
"Remember, Barry," said Uncle Frank, visiting his favorite nephew after flying in from the big CPUSA meeting, "always counsel the bourgeoisie to be 'civil.' That mean getting them to mute their criticism of the struggles of the working class."
"Gollee, Uncle Frank!" the impressionable Kenyan lad exclaimed. "Misuing language sounds like lots of fun! I can't wait 'til Igrow up and become community organizer so I can fool the bourgeoisie, too!"
Apen| 1.13.11 @ 6:42PM
Well, if words coming from Obama's mouth mean anything they mean he has vocalized a means to an end and that is all. Trust is not earned in a moment and for good reason. In short order we will see his action betray his words as he encourages gun control, internet control and media control. "Pravda" won't argue with his apparent reprimand. They will simply ignore it knowing it is a means to an end, our pacification.
Bob| 1.13.11 @ 7:24PM
The President gave a brilliant speech leaving GOP wannabees in the dust or in Christie's case a pig sty with the other pigs. Palin has gone into hibernation in her igloo, Daniels is a runt with a cheating wife, pardon me Huckelbee? I don't think so, whose left? Why of course the Leader of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who lives in seven states. I hope so, please nominate Romney Republicans and go ahead make my day.
Dan| 1.13.11 @ 7:39PM
Unfortunately it was a Democratic pep rally and campaign stop for Obama. His speech writers did a good job and Obama gave good teleprompter.
den| 1.13.11 @ 8:45PM
BULLSEYE! Your quite correct, but the target once again was the american people.
In one statement he say “let’s remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy -- it did not --but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that would make them proud.”
AND
then he goes on to lecture us on civility.
It took four days of blood liable from his supporters before he said something and when he does speak he lecture the country on civility.
Please give me a break, once again the president has shown that it's all about him and not the nation! If it was about the nation he would have stopped the the audience applauding as soon as it had started, he did not. For christ sake it was a memorial service not a political rally. Did he tell his people Stop!, STop!, STOp!, STOP the lies. No! One day after the service and the lies continue! Once, again the president has shown how he can blame others for his slow in appropriate handling of a major event. Please someone tell him to stop voting present.
Shoey| 1.13.11 @ 9:24PM
you're right, he said nothing that has stopped the left from implicating SP or the TEA Parties, all he did was lecture us all about civility as if we caused this.
their meme persists, yet we are expected to accept that talking about the Constitution and smaller, less powerful government is "hate" speech.
it's a progressive dream, but sadly it seems to be the new reality (or trying to be)
BackToBasics| 1.13.11 @ 10:01PM
He said it only because he HAD TO. The charges by many on the left were so very ridiculous that he couldn't continue that line.
But if he could have gotten away with it and if he thought it would have scored political points to continue bashing the Right because of nutjob Laughner's murders, he would most certainly have done so.
So many, even on the right are so quick to give Obam a break. He gives none to the conservatives.
isabella| 1.13.11 @ 10:02PM
I was not impressed with the speech; infact, thought the venue was wrong. Where were the religious leaders ? I was not impressed with the Indian
Steve in Pittsburgh| 1.13.11 @ 10:32PM
He used this tragedy to score political points, That is the only way conservatives should be looking at it.
"Look at me! I'm the president! I care about these dead people and I'm reminding you that I care! I'm such a wonderful person."
Steve in Pittsburgh| 1.13.11 @ 10:32PM
He used this tragedy to score political points, That is the only way conservatives should be looking at it.
"Look at me! I'm the president! I care about these dead people and I'm reminding you that I care! I'm such a wonderful person."
Pelligrino| 1.14.11 @ 5:51AM
"And....I'm outta here on AirForceONE faster than you can say enchillada!"
"Say, what's for dinner on board? Can I sneak a Five Guys To-Go Family Pack on without you-know-who finding out?"
"Oh?! She's already ordered one for herself?"
"And, hey, who was the dude in the white doc's coat? Have I seen him somewhere before?"
John II| 1.13.11 @ 10:42PM
The vote is in. The consensus on this thread is that the "-seye" should be deleted from the title "Obama's Bullseye."
And now back to replays of the old radio series "The Shadow." Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of the Obamanation?
Nathan Bickel | 1.13.11 @ 11:10PM
Yes. The best (if not the only) non-partisan speech so far by President Obama.
However, I had to quickly remind myself who was speaking and conclude that no one speech does a president make nor [a] fawning media, a genuine, leader.
In order not to be mesmerized by the network media following the President's Speech, I promptly wrote up the [following] short commentary:
"Reminding myself, after Obama's Tucson Memorial Speech:"
http://freedomtorch.com/blogs/.....er-obama-s
commonsense247| 1.13.11 @ 11:26PM
Just like his DNC keynote speech in 2004, the unifying rhetoric he used is laudable. It's a mistake not to recognize and comment, however, on his failure to live up to that sentiment himself throughout his campaign and current presidency.
chuck jim fox| 1.14.11 @ 12:04AM
Paraphrasing an old saying about ants, and Frank Sinatra, It's now little Christina's world; we just live in it. I know how mean that sounds, but I have a feeling that the little girl is going to become an icon for whatever the liberals want to push through. " We have to do This for Christina!" A sweet little girl who was murdered is going to end up either being worshipped or loathed by 2012.
hugh BNYN| 1.14.11 @ 3:21AM
WHAT can anyone say ----
YET MEANWHILE, south of the border, the globalist engineered 'choas magic' swells to Viet
nam levels of violence
-and George Soros, still at large, announces "(RED)
China MUST OWN the New World Order"
-and as RED China 'amazingly' comes out with 'its own' stealth fighters
-as they take quiet, undiscussed, uncriticized
possession of not just the Panama Canal BUT
bases on BOTH our coasts
-as, genocidal legacy aside, they're on the
point to become 'Policeman of the World'
within the decade (UN agenda)
-as UN heavy Maurice Strong visits his 'fave'
aunt in Beijing where she's buried ---right beside
Mao Tse Tung (FACT)
-as the Luciferian capstone 'charitable' foundations giggle us into their version of 'eugenics realism' (compulsory extermination of the unborn, 'tainted' compulsory vaccines, elimination of all traditionalculture, sterilizing
'gender consciousness regimes')
-as it's ON record those HD screens everywhere ARE about flicker rates, standarization of reality and opinion and 'control' a la the RED Chinese
'Singapore Model' ----a la Brave New World
-----------------------------------as Angelina
Jolie is preparing to 'emotive sequence program'
us into mainstreaming 'suicide culture' via her
upcoming. soft porn Cleopatra retread...
"These people, forever crying in public,
have they no land of tears within..?"
-Japanese Proverb
Probably NOT.
sonny| 1.14.11 @ 4:21AM
It's funny how all of a sudden Obama wants to be the consoling and healing President of the United Sates now, after more than 2 years now, from the time of his swearing in, to the Phone call, to that Moronic leftwing liberal idiot sheriff Dupnik of Pima County, Az., which Obama, by the very nature of his patting him on the back, for all of his vile and vitriolic hate filled rhetoric, that he has said, and caused the nation to endure, but with a vengeance, and a vendetta, has made Az. and the State's Immigration Law, and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, target destruction #1 on his hit list, for a year now.
Obama has always been the man behind the curtain, controlling and stoking the flames and fires of vitriolic hatred, of and to, his enemies, which happens to be his motus operandi, divide and conquer, class division warfare, ideological division warfare, etc., but it's the American Conservative People, on the right, who do not believe in his Anti-American Liberal Progressive Socialist Marxist Agenda, of transforming America, from an Independent Democratic Constitutional Republic, to a Socialist Marxist Regime, that is his #1 target, and that's the problem, along with his massively incompetent, inept, and immature Economic and Political Policies, that were, and still are, destroying this great Nation. And no amount of inspirational speech making, will fix that problem of his, as he is the problem.!!!
WeMustResist| 1.14.11 @ 5:38AM
OK - the first sentence of the article is fair: "Last night, for his first time in office, Barack Obama sounded like the president of all Americans." and the second last sentence is fair "...he did what a president should do at a moment like this -- rise above the politics of the moment and lead the nation as a whole." But can we put the speech in context? After all, if the taxpayers can fund a speechwriter and a teleprompter then the sounds should be presidential. When we remember the agenda of Obama, as exposed in AS http://spectator.org/archives/.....ical-in-ch
and in Frontpagemag
http://spectator.org/archives/.....ical-in-ch
then the sounds are not important except as camouflage.
He looks modern, he sounds presidential, and that helps us forget his real agenda and the purpose of his presidency - to advance socialism as much as he can.
WeMustResist| 1.14.11 @ 5:40AM
Correction. Second hyperlink should be
http://frontpagemag.com/2011/0.....n-chief-3/
Pelligrino| 1.14.11 @ 5:42AM
Since when does a great nation or people become unglued at the shooting of six people?
Why all the fuss and hoopla?
Why does a president, FLOTUS, AG, Secretary of Homeland Security (sure hasn't secured much in 6 years of existence), former Speaker of the House, and umpty ump wannabe VIPS go trekking out to Tuscon?
Why the big show?
(Bet they didn't spend any time talking to ranchers and farmers living near the border.)
This was disrespectful. And obviously shameful.
The very odd Mexican-American-Indian (not sure what he is) professor at the university? made an embarrasment out of himself and whatever tribal roots he might have. Not to mention embarassing his son (let's pray the boy and his fellow troops stay safe). That was just weird.
But the rest was worse. Far worse.
I don't for a second believe that Neapolitano and AG Holder give a rip about the OT, NT, or entire Bible. No way.
The president's constantly moving hands and body at podium the tell me he's a farce. And he's supposed to be a great speech giver?
(This speech was crafted by the spin masters and plotters at the White House starting at what hour Saturday night EST in D.C.?)
They did not need to write a speech. Because POTUS did not need to attend. (nor the others above)
And where's La Rasa calling out the president on not even uttering one word in Espanol in the entire 35 minute delivery? (I mean, this is the land of the Hispanics in AZ)
Doesn't everyone remember "Los Suns?"
What exactly is my country's leadership going to do when we have the next tragic incident that involves far more lives, carnage, and damage? And it is not the deviant work of a 22-year old deranged madman but rather a real, premediated violent incident with an organized force behind it?
The last 100 hours was all over-reaction. For political ends.
Using the dead and injured to secure political gains.
Thankfully there are others here who recognize the same.
Please: Someone needs to call out the president on exploiting all of this. Particulaly the death of the 9 year old girl. He dwelt much too much on her.
He exploited her for tear-jerker results.
He talked about the future she would have had....
Exactly what future are you creating for all 9 year old kids in the USA, Mr. President?
Delores Smith| 1.15.11 @ 10:18PM
PELLIGRINO,
I will call out the President for you. "Obama, you are a fake. Don't do any more memorials."
Civilly yours,
Delores Smith Delores109@cox.net
roo7 | 1.14.11 @ 6:01AM
Jolie is preparing to 'emotive sequence program'
us into mainstreaming 'suicide culture' via her
upcoming. soft porn Cleopatra retread...
"These people, forever crying in public,
have they no land of tears within..?"
-Japanese
Paul in Colorado| 1.14.11 @ 10:32AM
The American people, and President Obama, understand that Mr. Loughner was not shooting Democrats or Republicans. He was shooting our neighbors. But the contemptible reaction of our political extremes has given us pause, and all but the most hard-bitten among us are wondering what is to be done with these hounds from Hell that we have unleashed in our society.
I commend our President for his handling of this event. Despite the boorish behavior of the students and the obligatory dose of political correctness, it was genuinely moving.
Shoey| 1.14.11 @ 1:55PM
so you accept that you are responsible for the AZ shootings, because Obama blames you, blames us "all".
see how that works? something bad happens, they call our side "murders" and when we say "No way are you pinning this on us, you assholes!"
they claim the "Let's all get along" meme, they are the "healers" we the "haters" and are told that it is we who have to be quiet, while their theme goes on unabated.
Pelligrino| 1.14.11 @ 3:05PM
Paul in Colorado (a great state! so many good memories!),
If by "hounds from Hell" you mean our day-to-day media barrage of garbage from coast to coast, I am in full agreement. And the politicians at state and national level are also the hounds -- yes, that's my sincere belief.
Or do you mean some other "Hounds?"
Neither Arizona nor our nation should not get so worked up over what one crazy man did. (We should be wondering why his parents -- seemingly? -- did nothing.)
Despite all good efforts, this will occur again.
Evil is here in a nation with 320 million people. (yes, my count -- I count the illegals, too)
Sober minded people understand this.
As they should understand -- and you too -- that the president's speech was wrong. He should not be there at all.
This was an affair solely for Tuscon (a very big city) and Arizona.
A real leader does not use the tragedy of others for his own gain.
Berl Goetz| 1.14.11 @ 10:36AM
Obama as Priest, Healer, Messiah all over again. Sure he's eloquent and crafty, but is he a wise leader for us? Why doesn't he just go back to Chicago or Hawaii?
RCV| 1.14.11 @ 2:36PM
Because we, the American people, elected him to be our President.
John II| 1.14.11 @ 11:42PM
Actually, 53 percent of the American people. More than a third of whom (i.e., of that 53 percent) now claim to regret their choice. The Professor is now, officially and mathematically, a marginal crank.
RCV| 1.15.11 @ 11:20AM
A decisive margin, it was, in the only poll that counts in America. We shall see how things go in 2012. But given the GOP lineup, I'm betting that it will be "four more years".
And on this day in 1972, "American Pie" hit the top of the charts.
John II| 1.15.11 @ 3:36PM
That's right--I forgot. In fact, at the time I scarcely noticed: I was too busy being dazzled by the first "Godfather" flick, which I must have seen four times that year.
"Come here, Michael--learn something."
bigskeptic| 1.14.11 @ 11:39AM
That whole "memorial service" spectacle gave me the creeps. And, for the first time, the Democrats are really starting to worry me.
It might be interesting to point out that today happens to be the 81st anniversary of an assassin shooting Horst Wessel in the head. Wessel finally died six weeks later. In the meantime, and for a long while afterward, the attack on Wessel was exploited to the hilt. And the rest, as they say, is history.
In case you're not familiar with the significance of that:
http://www.suite101.com/conten.....el-a114704
America is better than this. But the politicians need to back off. Now.
lucas| 1.14.11 @ 3:10PM
fox. krauthammer et al may have been overly gushing in their reaction to the speech.however prominent voices on the left screwed up badly this week in a rush to judgment.the right has nothing to gain from sounding churlish in return.2012 is still a long way off.
Jullou | 1.14.11 @ 3:50PM
Thirty years of hyper-partisan Democrat-led law enforcement have resulted in the highest crime rates in Arizona. The citizen who lives in Pima County, compared to media-reviled Joe Arpaio's territory just next door, will have almost three times the chance of being murdered; is more than seven times as likely to be raped; is more than six times as likely to be assaulted; and more than seven times as likely to have experienced a property crime such as burglary, arson or car theft.
>
>
> The Arizona Republic tells us that Dupnik is not just a law enforcement officer but "the Democratic (emphasis added) sheriff of Pima County" who is "recklessly antagonistic" and has shown "his agenda as partisan." The FBI crime reports tell us that three decades of progressive, politicized Democratic law enforcement by media hero Dupnik have given Arizona a new first...Detroit-on-the-Desert.
>
http://www.americanthinker.com.....oiton.html
Dan| 1.14.11 @ 11:33PM
A well written commentary on how the President's speach hit the mark for most of the nation, looking for a leadership, non-partisan.
I am glad all the commentators here could accept that for what it was, honest and heartfelt.
Apparently Political Correctness exists on both ends of the American political spectrum.
carnot| 1.15.11 @ 9:49AM
it was teleprompter magic!!!!
John II| 1.15.11 @ 3:56PM
If I may venture to attach a capstone to this unusually lengthy thread, I'd like to say a few words on behalf of Mr. Kline and several other conservative chinwaggers regarding their uncharacteristic dazzlement by the Professor's speech.
Most conservatives of my acquaintance are extraordinarily nice people living real lives, with their politics a distant second or third among their preoccupations, which are with family and friends. They really do love their country, and they honor the office of the Presidency. When that office is occupied by a self-regarding jackass, they grieve for the office.
And so, when the occupant temporarily exhibits any qualities even resembling maturity and dignity, they breathe sighs of relief and express hopeful thoughts. Inadvertently, those thoughts do honor to the conservatives more than to the apparent object of the thoughts--for conservatives, unlike Lefties (who love "humanity" but despise individual human beings) by and large feel hatred only towards the countless degradations of the Left, not to the Lefties themselves.
The proof is in the recent spate of near-delirious acclamations directed to the Professor by the Right.
This too will pass.
John II| 1.15.11 @ 6:37PM
Correction. Klein, not Kline. I had been repairing a screen door, and doubtless had the term "spline" coursing through my noggin.
And now back to "Ball of Fire" (1941), a light comedy in which Gary Cooper plays a somewhat befuddled professor compiling an encyclopedia --and, apparently, the only movie in film history in which the word "pleonasm" occurs.
Verpe | 1.16.11 @ 1:14AM
I like you much to cheer Obama as president.
henry bolingbroke| 1.16.11 @ 1:47AM
On the morning of the Safeway massacre before the news broke, the cablenews crews were mentioning that the headless bodies of 14 people were found buried in Acapulco. A probably hohum event down there these days, but the Tuscon terror pushed it completely off the news. So far Palin has not been blamed for this, but I have wondered why the Yaqui professor did not include the souls of the 14 in his prayer for all living things and the four winds.
DEIN| 1.16.11 @ 12:51PM
Obama is a political animal;he, Holder,Jnap will say anything,even quote a Book he[they] doesn't believe in or practice.Do not trust a man who daily lies and subverts the Constitution he has sworn to uphold,no matter how well he reads his poll driven script at a setup political event. I don't believe that the service was originally set up to be like the way it turned out,but Obama and his stage handlers could not let this opportunity[crisis]to boost his sagging poll numbers go to waste.
Not Perfect | 1.16.11 @ 3:34PM
Wolves in Sheep's clothing! Beware!
Nick| 1.16.11 @ 4:20PM
Even a lefty American terrorist like Mark Rudd, one of the founders of the Weather Underground, knows that political rhetoric had NOTHING to do with the atrocity in Tucson.
Why can't all you bleeding heart liberals be as reasonable as a repentant former terrorist?
(hat tip to HotAir)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....id=topnews
Nick| 1.16.11 @ 4:34PM
Here is a great blog post about the similarity between President Lincoln and Sarah Palin. Again, thanks to HotAir.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/01/028136.php
general summerall| 1.16.11 @ 8:57PM
I read Mark Rudd's essay in the WaPo and am not sure whether he still has much guilt over planning to kill a bunch of sergeants at Ft. Dix,but he is sad over his 'brilliant" friends blowing themselves up making the bombs. Maybe if he apologized to whoever he could find who was an NCO at Dix at the time and tell the guy "I planned to kill you and a lot of other soldiers at a dance to make a political statement and now regret it" I might feel a little less sour about Mr. Rudd's "confession."
Emma| 1.16.11 @ 11:41PM
All zippy did was read, halfway decently, a speech written by a 30 year old staff member. And gave away a bunch of t-shirts. And demonstrated (yet again) that he does not know how to behave.
John Carnal| 1.17.11 @ 12:16AM
Mr. Klein before you fall under Obama's spell please ask him to show you his papers. You know, those papers that reveal his past. Virtually none of them are available thanks to efforts on the part of his lawyers. I'll just bet you were really taken in by his big, big, big "Race speech" during the campaign in 2008. So were a lot of us. I am sure you remember "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." Have him show us his papers. Once he does he won't fool anyone twice. Not even you.
Adidas | 8.11.11 @ 5:39AM
is good
العاب | 4.10.12 @ 12:49PM
Mark, I kept waiting for the punch-line to your joke