The American Spectator : The Book on Obama

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The Book on Obama

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 10.6.11 @ 6:08AM

No reporter has better captured the smallness of this man’s modest gifts than Ron Suskind.

WASHINGTON — Supposedly this White House has just made a furious attempt to sink a book, Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President, by Ron Suskind, which came out September 20. Jay Carney, the White House spinmeister, spoke ill of it. Numerous former White House staffers spoke ill of it. Carney said, “one passage seems to be lifted almost entirely from Wikipedia.” Why would a respected writer want to do that? I suspect that the White House is going to be as effective in sinking Suskind as it has been in keeping President Barack Obama’s polling numbers lofty.

The book tells us what we Obama critics have all been saying since early on. This President is the most incompetent and ideologically rigid president in American history. For my part I began the refrain in July of 2009 with a comparison to Andrew Johnson, who at least had the excuse that he was drunk most of the time that he was in the White House. I continued it in August of 2010 when I complimented Jimmy Carter by saying he is no longer the worst president of modern times (a compliment that has as yet gone unacknowledged, I might add). And I have continued with monotonous regularity, hazarding the prospect of becoming a bore. Yet I suppose one is never a bore when one calls a Liberal hansdoodle a hansdoodle even when he sits in the White House and has been called all manner of genius by our Liberal elites. Remember when the “historian” Michael Beschloss said Obama’s “IQ is off the charts”? There will come a day when Michael explains that he was saying Obama registered “off the charts” at the opposite end of genius.

How are all the Liberal sages going to get out of their absurd exaggerations of Obama’s modest gifts? Increasingly they admit that Obama has chosen the wrong policies, but he speaks so beautifully — using a teleprompter for the most measly address. Ah, but he is so forceful. So is his former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, when he dons his tutu. But he is curious, adventurous, a sponge for new ideas. Actually he has been a hopeless socialist, lost in Fabian abstractions.

Most of this becomes clear as you lug yourself through Suskind. Skip the first 150 pages. The author needs an editor. Settle with Suskind’s discussion of the fights between the boys and the girls on the White House staff, and Obama’s utterly insensitive meeting with the aggrieved ladies at a dinner he held to placate them. One, a notably dumpy economist with all the sex appeal of Paul Krugman, complains that “I felt like a piece of meat.” She has the catchphrase wrong, of course, unless she was wearing a bikini. Yet it tells you how confused the Democratic feminists have become, even the economists.

Move on to Suskind’s first quote from economist Larry Summers complaining to economist Peter Orszag that “We’re home alone. There’s no adult in charge.” Settle on page 365 where the speculations of us Obama critics are pretty much vindicated. There is Obama’s inability to make a decision, his “drift,” his “loss of interest,” and Summers once again. Orszag is quoted as telling Suskind, “Larry would say [to Obama], ‘I’ll make my argument first; you can go after me.’” Orszag then recalls to Suskind something Suskind was to hear from countless others, “I’m thinking, ‘I can’t believe he’s talking to the president that way.’ I just don’t know why Obama didn’t say, ‘I made that decision a week ago. Just do what I say.’” Well, Obama probably did not make that decision a week ago. In another meeting, after “a dozen arguments,” Suskind writes, “Obama, in a voice that was softly dispirited, said, ‘Well, if you guys can’t agree, I mean, we don’t have to do it.’” As I say, this is from one page. The book continues, and makes very painful reading even for me in all my vindication.

Suskind contains his narrative to Obama’s economic policy and, to a lesser degree, healthcare. There is nothing in the book about foreign policy or the way this President has conducted two foreign wars and a worldwide effort against terrorism. My agents tell me Obama’s conduct of foreign affairs and of the war on terror are even more appalling.

Somewhere in the deadly proceedings Suskind calls in one of the President’s still happy servitors, David Axelrod, who still can sing of Obama’s “broad intellectual curiosity. He just fluidly moves from one thing to another.” Ah, note those fluid moves, and Axelrod assures us that “Obama will be one of history’s seminal presidents.” I suppose that is true if our history is to include national decline. I, however, see a better future.

About the Author

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (168) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Brian Mc| 10.6.11 @ 6:45AM

With a year left, what next? How many more can we afford? Since this 'genius' is at the helm, whom else could be held accountable? Can impeachment be out of the question with so many questions as to accountability left unanswered?

Jack in Wi.| 10.6.11 @ 3:51PM

Obama is just one in long line of losers who have occupied the White House. Old man Bush was far worse then Reagan. Clinton was much worse then Bush. GW. Bush was far worse then Clinton. GW. was a judas goat leading us over a cliff. Because of GW. and his incompetence we got Obama and all he has done. Now the elites want to stick us with one of the 3 stooges, Romney, Perry, or Cain. No thank you, enough is enough.

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 4:13PM

Jack:
I might disagree about W. being worse than Clinton, but the end result, as you note, is similar to replacing Obama with Romney. Just doesn't accomplish the goal does it?

Delta Zelda| 10.6.11 @ 4:51PM

So who are you going to vote for?

The Clintidote| 10.7.11 @ 8:51PM

If I had to decide today, I'd write in Thaddeus McCotter.

mzk1| 10.6.11 @ 5:58PM

Worse than Reagan? Are you being inexact, or are you implying Reagan was bad?

Bush was much beter than Clinton, but conservatives have battered-wife syndrome when it comes to the MSM. We'll throw our own under the bus if he isn't perfect to make the MSM happy. I have to give it to Palin for not doing this to McCain.

The Bishop| 10.6.11 @ 6:51AM

Who would have thought that almost 20 years ago that the magical act of turning $1000 into $100,000 over cattle futures would suggest "the good old days"?

mzk1| 10.6.11 @ 6:01PM

What this shows me how hard it is to be president and how talented all of Obama's predecessors (even Clinton the sociopath) were. They tut-tutted bacause Reagan did "ladies first" with the queen. Obama speaks over the British anthem. Perhaps his incompetence will be our salvation.

Ken (Old Texican)| 10.6.11 @ 6:55AM

Well,
One thing about it. Mr. Obama has made very clear to us just how stupid American communism truly is.

We have a clear choice to make in 2012.

Mike D.| 10.6.11 @ 7:44AM

And how many stupids Americans there are around that buy into the Utopianism that is Communism and freely want it.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 7:57AM

The self-identified 20% ?

Teaghan| 10.6.11 @ 7:59AM

A big thank you to our government run schools for that.

Mike D.| 10.6.11 @ 8:18AM

Dumbed down and propagandized schools are a big key to where we are now. Conditioning of the population by the lure of Government $$$ handouts is the other. Both long term, but both now bearing fruit for the Communists.

Mike D.| 10.6.11 @ 8:11AM

And how many stupid Americans there are that want Communism and don't even know what Communism even is or how to recognize it.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:12AM

Same 20%.

old white guy| 10.7.11 @ 6:14AM

i'm guessing it is much higher than 20%.

Deborah D | 10.6.11 @ 8:49AM

Look at those out in the streets of NYC - those college educated imbeciles! They want something for nothing and will demand it, all the while losing freedom for the rest of us. The inmates are in charge!

BeeCee | 10.6.11 @ 3:57PM

Those "imbeciles" are not "college educated." Most are just subsidized long-term college attendees. Well, on the other hand, given the state of education within our colleges and universities, perhaps they are "college educated."

mzk1| 10.6.11 @ 6:03PM

Unfortunately, "college educated" is a contradiction in terms. Paul Johnson pointed out a while ago that intellectuals are not well-educated. Or see Michael Ledeen on what it once took to get a PhD. is European history.

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 4:17PM

Deborah:
Check out the Occupy Wall Street.org website and read their list of thirteen demands. You won't believe it but sadly they do.

mzk1| 10.6.11 @ 6:05PM

If it's what I think it is, it's probably like the "housing protest" demands here in Israel. Which is all over and done, possibly because the result was to split the opposition and strengthen Netanyahu instead of toppling him. God grant the same happen in the U.S., that thses nuts will just hurt the base.

The Bruce| 10.7.11 @ 12:09AM

The total irony that washes over me regarding their website is the fact they these anti-corporate "revolutionaries" are busily banging away on their Droids and iPhones on Facebook and Twitter, things that wouldn't exist without innovative venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.

Chris Mallory| 10.6.11 @ 12:23PM

What clear choice? Romney who is just Obamalite. Obama is just Bush v3. Perry who wants to keep wasting blood and money defending Israel and is open to letting the 3rd world invasion of America continue?

Tim W| 10.6.11 @ 4:28PM

This comment is delusional. Romney has a proven track record in the private sector creating one of the most sucessful private equity firms on the planet in Bain Capial. Obama has no such record and hates the private sector. The choice in this election could not be more clear. On one side is a belief that the private sector drives the economy on the other side is the marxest belief that the government drives the economy. One side believes in the individual while the other beleives in the collective. One side believes in equality of opportunity while the other belives in equality of outcome. Romney may not be perfect but to call him Obamalite is crazy. The two men could not be more different in their governing principals and character. Not to metion that Romney does not appear to suffer from mental illness like Obama.

mzk1| 10.6.11 @ 6:06PM

So I should vote for Perry? Thanks.

But I think I'll go for Cain.

What I don't undestand is why you like Sarah Palin, since she's more pro-Israel than Perry.

The Bruce| 10.7.11 @ 12:27AM

Chris, let's say for the sake of argument I believe your comment. I'll take an Obama-lite over the Real McCoy any day. I'll crawl through raw sewage and broken glass to vote for ANYONE BUT OBAMA!!!

If tenaciously clinging to idealogical purity in November 2012 prevents you from voting for the guy or gal with the "R" in front of his or her name, you're helping to reelect Obama.

And if you support one of the current Republican candidates splitting off and an going Independent, you are basically GUARANTEEING another four years of the Marxist in Chief.

Back in '08, I refused to hold my nose on election day and vote for the one-in-six-year conservative, and ever since January 20th 2009 I've regretted my decision.

I DON'T want Obama reelected. Do you?

Jack von Bauer| 10.6.11 @ 6:57AM

SpongerObama SquareHead

PAUL| 10.6.11 @ 7:03AM

Why is anyone surprised by this? You have a guy that has gone through life being advanced by guilt racked slobbering liberals telling the black guy how brilliant he is so they can feel good about themselves. I will tell you how brilliant he is, he is brilliant enough not to release his college grades, unlike the "stupid George Bush." Speaking of his past, where are the college friends attesting to his brilliance? And more strangely, why not one ex-girlfriend? Anyway, what we have is the product of affirmative action, being given preference over ten billion Asian and Jewish kids to get into Harvard, that never worked a day in his life. A career made up of "community organizing, " college professor, token black at some law firm, and politician of no accomplishments.

This is the end game of affirmative action; we now have a President that is not qualified to manage a Burger King.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:00AM

No one IS surprised...just chuckling to ourselves with every affirmation of what we knew since we heard of this guy.

He wouldn't have been hired at Burger King.

RC| 10.6.11 @ 10:53AM

Herman Cain wouldn't hire him to flip burgers!

Mike Hawk| 10.6.11 @ 1:23PM

People don't 'flip burgers'. Nobody is standing around with a spatula turning patties over. They put them on a conveyer that goes through an oven and then slide out the other side. Quit using the term 'burger flipper'.

30moves| 10.6.11 @ 1:27PM

Actually McDonald's employees flip burgers, Burger King uses the conveyor belt.

Steve A| 10.6.11 @ 1:52PM

Mike, burger flipper, burger flipper, burger flipper. There. What you gonna do about it.....?

maximumrandb| 10.6.11 @ 2:23PM

I used to flip burgers at McDonald's

Oregon Mom| 10.6.11 @ 10:17PM

What?!? Have you never been to Five Guys? That's an insult to burger flippers everywhere!

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 7:56AM

Mike Hawk indeed....

Mike Rogers | 10.6.11 @ 8:09AM

The let us replace him with a CEO who has turned around a whole region of Burger Kings, an entire pizza company, and accomplished much, much more along the way!

Joe Gause| 10.6.11 @ 4:37PM

A real Whopper!

John| 10.6.11 @ 7:49PM

YOU, have said it all.

AbsolutelyRight| 10.9.11 @ 4:14AM

Well said Paul...he is the embodiment of affirmative action, as you point out as to how he qualified, but it is also why so many non-lefties voted for him in the first place - this false racial collective guilt. We can only hope enough of the electorate realize the absudity of the situtation..but quite frankly I don't have much hope.

Jack von Bauer| 10.6.11 @ 7:25AM

"Speaking of his past, where are the college friends attesting to his brilliance? And more strangely, why not one ex-girlfriend?"

Yes, that is quite bizarre. Especially as he spent over 8 years as a perpetual student at multiple colleges.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:04AM

Heh heh heh. All these great questions!

Betting he didn't have any college *friends* .
Wonder if the 20% has learned that professional students do not make good presidents.

MM| 10.6.11 @ 11:16AM

Not much is left un-scrubbed in this guy's background. Not one person who ever claims to have known him.

Journalist have tried and failed to get information. Look what happened to Trump. The WH didn't release that sham birth certificate because of the Donald, it was the imminent publication of a book written by a journalist who had gleaned all of the information that was left behind.

Tina B| 10.6.11 @ 9:25PM

A good book, too. Jerome Corsi does his somework.

Tim W| 10.6.11 @ 4:38PM

The reason he has no college friends of note is because he is such an arrogant lying dick that no one with any character wanted anything to do with him.
One can only imagine the coursework that young Barry took. I am sure that it had a heavy dose of greivence studies and other PC nonsense. He sure as hell did not study economics.

Alice Moore| 10.6.11 @ 9:07AM

Yes, where are the childhood friends? He did go to a tony prep school in Hawaii. Someone must have been acquainted with him.

What about high school? Is there a year book that attests to his attendance?

Ed| 10.6.11 @ 11:42AM

The lack of comments by Obama's college "friends" is probably due to the fact that if any of them told the truth, they would get a midnight visit by one of his current cronies, complete with the Godfather's horsehead in the bed sheets treatment.

Claypoole| 10.6.11 @ 4:34PM

Remember when the MSM found and interviewed one of George W. Bush's elementary school teachers? I think they were trying to elicit a statement on the order of yes, even back then little George was a--take your pick--bigot, war monger, imbecile, etc. Where are these intrepid journalists now?

Tina B| 10.6.11 @ 9:32PM

If you Google Obama and Netanyahu in their early 20s, as I did, at least you get an idea, and then, compared to Bibi in all his military splendor, a telling comment on our fearful leader:

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo.....3512/posts

Occam's Tool| 10.6.11 @ 9:56PM

Bibi was an elite military man. His brother was a legend, the hero of Entebbe.

Bibi also received a rigorous education, unlike Obama. Bibi is the de facto leader of the free world, which is a role uncomfortable for him, because that role should belong to the POTUS.

KennesawJack| 10.6.11 @ 10:36PM

True, Occam. It SHOULD be POTUS but, given his abdication of the role, it couldn't fall to a better man.

mister Z| 10.6.11 @ 3:56PM

I have read several accounts by folks who knew Obama at Columbia and Harvard...their comments and interviews are buried in obscure blogs on obscure websites. I think the reasons we hear virtually nothing in the MSM from former acquantances are at least three-fold: 1.) The complicit MSM is so insanely spin-happy that they will simply not expose this charlatan by publicizing such interviews; 2.) I suspect that Obama has spent at least as much money to silence such stories as he's spent in obscuring his paper trail, and 3.) if I were one with a story to tell, I'd be afraid for the safety of my family were I to go public...we are only beginning to find out to what lengths Fauxbama will go.

Old Joe| 10.6.11 @ 4:39PM

Actually several men have come forward claiming to be his ex-boyfriend.

Clancy Cronin| 10.6.11 @ 8:47PM

Maybe we should be looking for boyfriends?

Timothy L. Pennell| 10.6.11 @ 7:25AM

The great thing about the Beschloss thing, was when Don Imus ASKED Beschloss what Obama's I.Q, actually WAS? Beschloss responded that he had "No idea what it was", but he was "Sure that it was off the charts".
I don't know about the rest of you, but, I'm looking forward to all of the Television Interviews with Mr. Suskind. You know, when these guys make the rounds, pumping their books.
60 Minutes. Meet The Press. Face The Nation. That Arab broad on ABC. The VIEW. All the Morning Shows during the week.
You know. Like when he wrote his last book. The one on George W. Bush.
Don't hold your breath.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:05AM

Yeah, it would be nice if he had a lot of anecdotes to share that were not in the book.

Elaborate!

Dan Hirsch| 10.6.11 @ 3:04PM

TLP;

Remember "off the charts" can mean really high or really low....

He didn't specify.

DTOM

Warrior | 10.6.11 @ 4:33PM

What is left off here is that Mr. Suskind was a liberal hero just a few years ago for writing I believe two such revealing books about the George W. Bush White House. The media loved his "fact" based writings then. Now, not so much.

Appleby| 10.6.11 @ 7:33AM

Where are all the Woodwards and Bernsteins who ought to be finding the college transcripts, the IQ tests, and the SAT/ACT scores, etc.? Surely there is someone who met this character before he popped up in Chicago politics.

Teaghan| 10.6.11 @ 8:02AM

They've been told to stay away. Those items are off limits and locked in a vault somewhere in an underground bunker. Or perhaps they were incinerated.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:08AM

Not where are the Woodwards and Bernsteins!

Where are the hackers who can hack into those grades and records.

Where is "Anonymous" when the President asks for an internet kill switch?

This job won't ever fall to those in media of any kind. It will be a hackers job, and shouldn't be a hard one.

Joe Gause| 10.6.11 @ 5:39PM

Any motivated, competent and conservative hackers out there?

Robyn| 10.6.11 @ 11:51AM

All the records were sealed by legal injunction. Obama paid good money to have his records sealed. No one has access to them.

Mike Rogers | 10.6.11 @ 8:13AM

Insiders at Harvard IT say that BarryO's records are in the deepest basement along with the radioactive waste, with a sign on the door saying "beware of the leopard". Also that no-one, no-one, has the authority to unlock them.

Alice Moore| 10.6.11 @ 9:10AM

It may be a hacker's job. As USS Alabama says; it shouldn't be too difficult.

Today's American media make the writer of Pravda look like tenacious muckrakers.

carnot| 10.6.11 @ 9:28AM

someone should anonymously sponsor a contest with a big reward!

MM| 10.6.11 @ 11:11AM

Anyone here on a gamer forum?

Dan Hirsch| 10.6.11 @ 3:06PM

Actually, I heard that Helen Waite has that key. If you want in you have to go to Helen Waite...

DTOM

Claypoole| 10.6.11 @ 4:39PM

Why do you think Elena Kagan, former dean of Harvard Law, is now on the Supreme Court?

AbsolutelyRight| 10.9.11 @ 4:23AM

You'd think if Assange's treasonous organization could hack hundreds of US Military secrets and suffer no assasination by the CIA, or even a supeona or a fix it ticket, some hacker could get Obama's SAT/LSAT Scores and his college transcripts and not fear retribution...

W| 10.6.11 @ 7:58AM

Woodward's book "The Obama Wars" shows the same Obama as this book. The most telling incident is Obam spending only 30 minutes being briefed onIraq/AfghanistanAirForceOne, distracted because he was attending fund raisers in La and doing the Leno show. He spend most of his time preparing for Leno and fundraisers.

An objective examination of him in 2008 would have shown an attorney who never practiced law, a legislator who usually voted present, no jobs except a community organizer-whatever that is, a regular 20 year attendance at a racist, antisemitic, anti american church, friendship with radicals like Ayers/Dohrn, and the only redeeming fact that is a good speaker. But no accomplishments.

He was like an empty vessel that all the liberals and independents filled with their hopes and wishes.

PaulyD| 10.6.11 @ 10:51AM

You are exactly correct. The most interesting thing about him is the historical series of events that brought him to power. Therein hangs a tale that has not been fully explored.

But one of the advantages he had during the campaign was his enigmatic personality and background. Enigmatic leaders enjoy this advantage in that people naturally project their hopes and dreams onto them. They see what they want to see. But once that leader becomes a known quantity, the fantasy bubble bursts. That of course, is what has now happened to Obama

TrueBlue| 10.6.11 @ 1:50PM

Kind of like the Twilight novels actually...

axbucxdu| 10.12.11 @ 12:57PM

...The most interesting thing about him is the historical series of events that brought him to power. Therein hangs a tale that has not been fully explored.

Quite right. A more profitable search would identify and vigorously expose every one of these puppeteers. Obama is only the effect, I want the cause.

Mertsj| 10.6.11 @ 10:43PM

An empty suit with the gift of gab.

Solo| 10.6.11 @ 8:03AM

There's a reason why Obama "Sealed" his records (one of his very first acts as President) and it strains credibility to suggest that his motive was to hide his "off the charts" SAT, ACT and IQ scores.

What we do know, based on his record of accomplishment, is that he is without question the least qualified man to have ever held the Presidency in the 'modern' era. With this irrefutable fact as our backdrop, his less than stellar performance as President was as predictable as it is unfortunate.

Moreover....and truth be told....the only person in the running who was even less qualified to be President would have been Hillary Clinton.
Seriously....what qualification did she hold other than her insatiable thirst for power?

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:11AM

Well the libs feel that her other qualification was that she was married to a president and has spent time in the White House.

Where are the hackers!?

Mike Rogers | 10.6.11 @ 8:17AM

Not so sure that Hillary was less qualified. Right about now, she doesn't look so bad, although we are only talking about degrees of communism, not an actual conservative.

cuban pete| 10.6.11 @ 9:09AM

Hey ! She passed the DC bar exam on the second try.

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 1:41PM

Why are we talking about an alternative from the same party? It should be clear by now that the DEM party is morally and intellectually bankrupt. The GOP is too busy trying to be moderate (ala Romney) to present a true alternative tiself. Only the Conservative Movement within the GOP (not the libertarians) have the ideas and concepts the country needs to salvage Liberty from this tyranny. Whether they have the person remains to be seen and if not, what then?

W| 10.6.11 @ 2:46PM

Al,
I think you are the most qualified candidate.

Where do I send my contribution? I will put up signs, and campaign.

And though a Pa resident and will vote in Pa, I can also vote in Chicago since I once spent a week there and that qualifies me as a resident, similar to Mayor Rahm.

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 4:20PM

But W, you are still a living breathing voter. What good does that do in Chicago? Thanks for the compliment.

Occam's Tool| 10.6.11 @ 9:59PM

Dear Al, I'd vote for you too.

I appreciate your "non-fandom" of Israel a helluva lot better than "fans" like Obama. I think you would keep my babies safe.

Of course, I don't recall a disagreement we've ever had.

tsd| 10.6.11 @ 8:09AM

The liberals and progressives wanted to believe this guy so bad they eat and believed the BS they were swallowing was caviar... now we all know it was just BS!! Just like they believe in socialism is the true way, to bad you can't have the good without the bad. Why can't you have all the money you want without earning it... to bad about the work to earn, reality sucks for the true believers!

WRTolkas| 10.6.11 @ 8:11AM

I met a group of college kids (no, not smart enough to be addressed as young adults) at the O'Hare International Airport that were gushing over a very recent speech made by the messiah. I asked them one, and just one, simple question: "What the content of his talk?" I was answered by the blank stare a deer gives when confronted with an oncoming vehicle's headlights. I hope they then understood that the idiot in the White-House talked for fifteen minutes and communicated absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, I doubt it.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 8:15AM

Must be the same group 'occupying' Wall Street.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.6.11 @ 8:38AM

It truly is.. lol.. Problem is, those idiots don't realize none of the firms they are protesting have offices on Wall St anymore.. Truly hilarious.. lol

Alice Moore| 10.6.11 @ 9:14AM

Many of these firms they're protesting against probably support Obama.

Drunken Sailor| 10.6.11 @ 10:11AM

Hell Phil, they are protesting the Wall street bailouts while walking alongside the Unions that were bailed out and don't even see the irony. They don't really care (some don't even know) what they are marching for. It's just a chance to "Make a differnce" and feel good about themsleves. In the Navy we called them "Blivet"

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 1:29PM

DS:
Check out Occupy Wall Street.Org for the thirteen point manifesto of demands from this bunch. Absolutely terrifying that anyone in this coutry could believe it.

Liz| 10.6.11 @ 2:54PM

Thanks for the link. Gad, it's even worse than I thought!

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 4:34PM

Liz:
Glad you followed up Scary isn't it?

Tim W| 10.6.11 @ 4:53PM

Their manifesto is pure Marxism. I am a little dissapointed that they did not ask for a higher minimum wage. If your going to demand $20 per hour, why not just make it a cool $100.

Teaghan| 10.6.11 @ 10:49AM

They need to be at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. holding these protests.

Dan Hirsch| 10.6.11 @ 3:09PM

ASTROTURF!!! They are ASTROTURF; when will that come out?

Sheesh.

Al Adab| 10.6.11 @ 4:40PM

Oh Dan no. These are our children. Remember Walter Cronkite at the '68 convention in Chicago, "The kids, oh the poor kids."

Occam's Tool| 10.6.11 @ 10:00PM

Those kids in 1968 should have been clubbed even harder.

Chalkdust| 10.6.11 @ 8:19AM

Shortly after January 20th, of the year this country was given a giant suppository, by the biggest collection of ignoramus and "independent" thinkers ever, I started a list of Obama lies. On June 21st of 2009, my list had grown to 25 outright lies and/or campaign promises broken. It became clear to me that keeping track of presidential lies was a futile gesture. One lie by a leader of any country was one lie too many.

Mimi| 10.6.11 @ 8:21AM

As the TRUTH eeeks out....more honest souls will feel more courageous and spill the beans to overflowing! A fantastic, beautiful nation is at stake.....Please God let them come forward....There has got to be MORE to this story!!!

russel| 10.6.11 @ 10:05AM

Mimi , I'm only counting on a real journalist to do that . The Lame Streams who control the air seem to be determined to stick with their boob to the dismal end . Heck , look at the bombshell Fast & Furious . Rush reports they haven't mentioned it in 92 days . Nope , it is great an author authors this and we highly appreciate it , but the socialist media will simply ignore and bury .

Kishego| 10.6.11 @ 10:24AM

The one reporter from the msm, Sharyl Attkison of CBS, that has dared to look into it was screamed and yelled at by the White House. And now CBS won't let her speak to any other news outlets or do any interviews. I just love it when the libtards are victims of their own system. Although ultimately, the truth and freedom are the real victims of this modern day scourge known as liberalism.

Mike D.| 10.6.11 @ 10:54AM

Its an indication of whats in store for us if they attain permanent power and a one party rule. Soviet Stalinism.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 10:35AM

If you're waiting around on a journalist you'll die before you get results.

Like I said, it is a hacker's job. There is not a journalist alive today willing to do it because of what it entails and the consequences that parallel.

Journalists don't have the skill to access the info, the balls to expose themselves to ridicule, or the funding to do the footwork.

Hackers will do it to see if they can and to prove they can --- look how quickly they unraveled the aids virus. Scientists did not accomplish in years what they did in weeks.

MM| 10.6.11 @ 11:01AM

"In just three weeks, online gamers deciphered the structure of a retrovirus protein that has stumped scientists for over a decade, and a study out Sunday says their breakthrough opens doors for a new AIDS drug design."

Wonder how long it would take them to get those college records? 3 Days?

davelnaf| 10.6.11 @ 8:31AM

Victor Davis Hanson recently explored the problem of having too many academics in government, particularly with regard to the ones that have gone through the revolving door of the Obama WH. The average academic's exaggerated self-esteem, based mainly on past academic achievements (no laughs please), and I would add networking skills par excellence, tends to leave them unprepared for dealing with the real world.

The problem for Obama—besides Himself—is that with all the high academic over-achievers around him he has been overshadowed in their minds as well as his—not to mention the delicate fact that they have all been failures. So, now that his liberal ‘brain trust’ has, almost to a man and woman, scampered back to academia, we are stuck with a person even less capable than they in the WH. We should all consider ourselves lucky if we get out of this with just an empty bank account.

Michael| 10.6.11 @ 10:52AM

It's not as bad as all that. Certainly 4 years of indescribable incompetence is damaging, but the "teaching moment" is of inestimable value. Americans of progressive persuasion, but not indoctrination, have been treated to a front row seat of that ideology in practice. Many will forever turn away. It should be enough to give constitutional conservatism a mandate through a governing plurality.

Liz| 10.6.11 @ 1:14PM

Michael,

Perfect! I've been thinking the same thing. The infatuation with Barry has, indeed, been a fast-forwarded lesson in the evils of a socialistic narcissist w/o feet-on-the-ground working experience "playing" President in D.C. And it's taken such a short time, considering the generally slow pace of historic about-faces. But it continues to blow my mind how many so-called intellectuals voted for him. All I can think is that it was about guilt over racist feelings, i.e. "I must be a racist since I am white and middle-class. What those poor people went through; I'll just check the box next to that guy, Barry, and I'll feel better. Then I'll buy a Prius and drive it on the highway at 35 mph. So there!" Now I feel much better.

Liz

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.6.11 @ 8:37AM

Couldn't help snickering as I read thru this one.

Red Phillips | 10.6.11 @ 8:48AM

Much of the early "genius" buzz that surrounded Obama was based on the quality of his memoir WHICH HE DIDN'T WRITE! You can't adequately address the failure of Obama to live up to expectations without addressing the ghostwriting allegation.

Occam's Tool| 10.6.11 @ 10:02PM

Bill Ayers, on the other hand, is a very capable writer.

My wife and I used to amuse ourselves looking for semantic value in anything Obama said. Other than shoutouts, boilerplate, and insults, there was, and is, nothing.

Lazy Jack | 10.6.11 @ 8:56AM

I plan to read Suskind's book, but I wonder in advance if he notes the one elephant in the room no one seems to mention directly.

Not one original idea has been offered by this administration. I think if you compared most of the speeches, the screeds, the hapless attempts at legislation, and faux budgets, you would find that they were practically mimeographed from 1935.

I take that back. The geniuses in this administration obviously think ATMs are causing unemployment today. That is original. If memory serves me, ATMs have only been around for thirty years, and are just now getting around to eating jobs like raptors eating field mice. I blew milk through my nose I laughed so hard.

Really, though, how many times can we put new tread on the same policy tires used endlessly since 1932 before the electorate figures out that solutions rooted in ever increasing government almost always have the opposite of the claimed effect over time. I am not holding my breath.

Lazy Jack

www.thanksforthelaughs.wordpress.com

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 10:41AM

Anyone thinking that this admin and President actually think those policies will work is fooled by the diversion.

They are taking the money we have paid as taxpayers and "losing" it in 'bad "investments" in order to divert it. That was called money laundering when the mob did it.

Stop looking at the strawman. That's what you're supposed to do.

MM| 10.6.11 @ 11:08AM

Their plans (taking US tax dollars) is working so well in fact that they don't mind looking shame-faced to the taxpayers and the rest of the world who are doltishly continuing to focus on the strawman.

carnot| 10.6.11 @ 9:35AM

well...I am by no means an Obama supporter....but the admin has done some good things. I can pass that efforts to address IT security in the Federal government, however inchoate/disorganized at times, has moved the ball forward from where the Bush admin began escalating visibility of the whole area.

MikeBee| 10.6.11 @ 9:37AM

What this book displays to me, more than exposing Obama's lack of genius, is the genius of creating the United States' governmental system. Rather than investing power in one person to rule over all U.S. citizens (in which case we'd be scrXwXd, with Obama in power), the U.S. constitution LIMITS the power of the government, placing all elected officials only as representatives of those who REALLY hold the power: We the People. Note that, even with this idiot in the White House, the country still moves on, although severely hindered by Obama's interventions. This is evidence of where the real power in the U.S. resides. Obama is doing his best to thwart/usurp our power; but, the power of the U.S. citizens is so great that he cannot completely diminish it.

Clancy Cronin| 10.6.11 @ 9:02PM

Great Point! Obama's 'legacy' will be an example of the wisdom of our founding fathers. And even with the executive and legislative branches 'controled' by one party, there were enough divisions and incompetinece to keep much of what was wanted from being implemented ie cap and trade or card check.

Bill| 10.6.11 @ 9:37AM

That women felt like a piece of meat when attending an Obama function because, in a government of the type overseen by the likes of the Obamas of our world, she IS a piece of meat. In Obama World, to be an individual is to be ONLY a piece of the collective, i.e., a piece of meat in the meat loaf.

lightnin| 10.6.11 @ 10:21PM

Wrong! To a narcissist like Obama or Edwards, only one person matters at all! The rest are cannon fodder.

Hook| 10.6.11 @ 9:38AM

I live in a sea of liberals in the suburbs of a major American city, and as a libertarian (not of the Ron Paul type) I have seen enthusiasm and worship turn to indifference. All the rationalizations of the MSM, the disinformation of MSNBC and the fawning of media from cnnnbcabccbsnprnytimes will not keep this totally incompetent young man from losing. Even the more sincere beliefs of the slightly off their rocker writers at Salon won't help.

The media did him a great disservice as what they kept braying turned into background noise.

He is finished barring the most amazing recovery in history.

I think his botching of the MidEast may have unimaginable consequences. It really helped to diss Israel and reach out to Iran. The Arab spring is really going well.

Occam's Tool| 10.6.11 @ 10:04PM

Well, most of the Liberals I know are embarrassed.

Jabber3| 10.6.11 @ 9:54AM

America has come to realize that we are being led (from behind) by the most self congratulatory, obnoxiously self promoting and sanctimonious president ever and a vice president who is the “seeing eye dog” for all moronic buffoons with the smarts and couth of a “cumquat”. This administration is rife with incompetence, polluted with socialist ideologues and infested with bigots who resent the financially successful. If you want to remain with or join this “wagon train” you should be thinking “Donner Party”.

russel| 10.6.11 @ 10:12AM

LOL , three gold stars . Right on . What is said about brevity rings again .

Teaghan| 10.6.11 @ 10:53AM

...bigots who resent the financially successful.

Except for themselves.

David T| 10.6.11 @ 10:25AM

Ok, Mr. Tyrrell, my search for "hansdoodle" led me to an obscure anthology of the writings of one George Jean Nathan, an essayist and drama critic from...Indiana! Just a short sample of his work yielded such treasures "tzigane" and "ducatoon." The man's IQ must have been off the charts.

USSAlabama| 10.6.11 @ 10:44AM

I like "ducatoon" !

al bundhii| 10.6.11 @ 10:13PM

Mr. Nathan was very Smart; he was a partner with one H.L Mencken writing a magazine called The Smart Set, and still has a reputation as being one of the seminal theatre critics of the 20th century.

Michael| 10.6.11 @ 10:34AM

It's a 4 year teachable moment for the American people. Obama's term will shake all those with any open mindedness from their moorings to failed progressivism, and solidify the resolve of all the rest. In a way his arrival at the helm at this moment is the best thing that could have happened to American constitutional conservatism.

howard lohmuller| 10.6.11 @ 10:49AM

Someone, I don't remember who, has already said Barrack Obama is the first Affirmative Action President. Let's choose a President this time who has had proven experience successfully running a large organization and who is convincingly Conservative.

Who Knows?| 10.6.11 @ 10:52AM

Isn’t it funny how words come and go?

Consider “sap”. Fifty years ago, in my youth, it was used a lot more frequently than lately, and so here comes the “brilliant” David Brooks to reinsert it into public discourse, and all because he felt pressured to apologize for his naïveté about, and support of, Obama.

We all know a fool when we see one, but never when we are one.

Can’t this truism be about the simplest way to understand the reason so many people bought the Obama con?

Foolishness is as foolishness does.

It feels so good to feel so bad! So went the American electorate in 2008 when they chose The One, BHO.

BHO? That’s BO of a Hussein smell. The American president as stink bomb.

Perusing the Internet, the other day I was shocked by a claim that half of American adults can’t read at an eighth grade level. Even if that’s only half true, it reminded me that despite so many smart people out there, never forget that the mass of humans are at best AVERAGE.

We all loved to get off on the low IQ Forrest Gump character’s ability to rise above his mental “disability, but as a proven “smart ass”, myself, having earned an MA in math, it always helps keep things in perspective to know that BY DEFINITION half of the population has an IQ in only double digits.

Yes, since 100 is the middle score, there are as many people with IQ of 90 as 110, of 80 as at 120, etc! Think of THAT when wondering at the rise of a “genius” fool like Obama.

Dumbkopfs of the world, unite!

Stammon| 10.6.11 @ 11:56AM

My children are all A+ students. Not B-, not A-, but A+. When my son came home from high school with a A- we gave him 3 weeks to get it to A+. He did. My first two are in all scholarship private colleges as Chemistry and Physics Majors.... So why all the bragging; I have seen my children's friends, they come to our farm for a taste of Eden, for God, for family. They walk around and see the things we have here. The 5,000+ books, the women's lib Chambers stoves from the 1920s, the Czechoslovakian Wood Boiler that heats this house from our forest, the truly green lifestyle and 2 acre garden, the Sundays at church, the true acceptance of alternative ideas and lives. And I see the glow in their eyes as they ask to come back. We as Americans have lost what we were, we must fight to get it back. But let me tell you, we never will. The fight is enough. Live and teach for the young, they are are only hope. that and 6 inches of topsoil.

WickedDickie--Virginia| 10.6.11 @ 11:22AM

This reinforces my belief that Leon Panetta made the decision to get Osama while Obama-ayers dithered on the golf course. If the SEALS had failed, our Leader from Behind would have had his scapegoat. Instead, we now have a hero for the BM (big media) to deify and God help us, get reelected.

Pat Hickey | 10.6.11 @ 11:37AM

Bob, Outstanding and understated! The superlatives have been exhausted to a synonym for mediocrity - at best - President Obama.

Buck Ofama| 10.6.11 @ 2:30PM

I will throw a party the day this c0cksucker is put out of OUR misery.

William| 10.6.11 @ 2:44PM

I agree that Obama's presidency has been a failure. But I don't understand why commentators on the right feel the need to deny his intelligence. He obviously is intelligent and claiming otherwise just undermines the credibility of the person making the accusation.

I find this particularly ironic as Obama embodies what the liberals believe is the perfect president: someone very intelligent and liberal. Obama is both of these things and he is a failure. I have always believed that, while a certain level of intelligence is necessary, it does not follow that the "more" intelligent you are, the better president you will make. Other personal characteristics, including common sense, good judgment and, above all, strength of character, are also important, sometimes more so. Obama's presidency demonstrates why this is so.

So, I believe those who are critical of Obama should stop making their arguments hinge on his being "dumb."

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:10AM

Stupid is as stupid does, I always say....

More seriously, while my brother was at Harvard Law School, Obama gained attention with his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. While some of the faculty were proud to have one of their students in the limelight, others indicated privately to my brother that Obama was unremarkable at best as a student, and basically got the Editor post at HLR as PC/Affirmative Action (he was the first black Editor, also the first not to write a single review). The cherry on top was his Magna -- awarded for ... being Editor.

I'd love to see his LSAT score. Do you think for one nanosecond it wouldn't be released if it were high?

Perhaps he thought the word "corpsman" was something from the "Austrian" language?

Finally, as an economist I can only say the man HAS NO CLUE regarding the subject. A classic example is his support of Cap'n Trade -- the pirate plan to make electricity prices "necessarily skyrocket" by pricing fossil fuels' carbon as if the science is anything close to settled on AGW.

What's striking about this, and the bans on drilling in the United States which have given us $4 gas in California, is the FUNDAMENTAL IGNORANCE of the CONSEQUENCES. Obama might as well advocate taking $100 a month out of everyone's paychecks and BURN IT.

Then sit DUMBFOUNDED about the "lack of demand" in the economy, while proposing to borrow or tax additional funds -- take money from the private pile and put it in the government pile -- and spend it.

No, sir ... Ockham's Razor tells us the truth: Barack Hussein Obama is dumb. Eloquent when off the 'prompter, but underneath? Dumb.

Anthony| 10.6.11 @ 2:47PM

The Muslim Marxist is truly small. Dangerous, but small. His brain dead minions are picketing Wall St., with the community-organizer- in -chief leading the charge.
Don't tell me we're not headed for civil war by 2012, Obozo and the D party are already starting the confrontations!!!

abdullah shabazz| 10.6.11 @ 3:04PM

Larry Summers.
Perfect sour grapes guy for a kiss and tell book.

He's sore becuase Obama fired him. He resigned? yeah right.

From top guru for the most powerrful man in America at the White House to..... the Has Been Former Something, Emeritus, in Cambridge Mass.

NoMoBO| 10.6.11 @ 3:14PM

The "book" should be thrown at Obama.

MyGirlFriday| 10.6.11 @ 4:09PM

Mr. Suskind's book sheds but a faint light on Obama and his administration. It is what we will learn after he is gone that will be quite valuable. These facts will be very important in understanding where all the destructive seeds of this mans plans to transform America have been planted. Right now we have democrats in congress who are trying to pass legislation that will keep Obama's presidential records secret. This is being led by Congressman Edolphus Towns of Brooklyn. They wish to amend the "Presidential Records Act." Basically it will create an official process that will allow the commander-in-chief to keep presidential records secret after he leaves office. You can read more on this travesty on www.judicialwatch.org/blog under the Corruption Chronicles." For what reason would the democrats be writing this legislation? And why are they attempting to do it now before the 2012 election?

shipley130| 10.6.11 @ 4:14PM

Great, we have Iran beating the drums, Syria and Turkey losing their minds and we have Dumbocrat in the White House. I'm not so optimistic.

Rick| 10.6.11 @ 5:41PM

Obama is a genus. Your a bigget and a rasist!

Wonder Warthog| 10.6.11 @ 5:49PM

If Obama is such a "seminal" President, may I assume that the best part of him ran down his mother's leg?

Occam's Tool| 10.6.11 @ 10:06PM

Was it a lemon squeezin'?

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:15AM

Great reference.

Clancy Cronin| 10.6.11 @ 9:11PM

I think you are an optimist. Great comment!

Chance| 10.6.11 @ 9:51PM

Ron Steigler: Mr. Gardner, uh, my editors and I have been wondering if you would consider writing a book for us, something about your um, political philosophy, what do you say?
Chance the Gardener: I can't write.
Ron Steigler: Heh, heh, of course not, who can nowadays? Listen, I have trouble writing a postcard to my children. Look uhh, we can give you a six figure advance, I'll provide you with the very best ghost-writer, proof-readers...
Chance the Gardener: I can't read.
Ron Steigler: Of course you can't! No one has the time! We, we glance at things, we watch television...
Chance the Gardener: I like to watch TV.
Ron Steigler: Oh, oh, oh sure you do. No one reads!

Nite| 10.6.11 @ 10:03PM

Not interested in a big about Obama. The main thing that I want to know about Obama is that he is GONE!

lightnin| 10.6.11 @ 10:14PM

So is that what we're calling prostitutes now, "servitors"?

lightnin| 10.6.11 @ 10:31PM

Who is more to blame, Obama, for hawking his self-serving BS, or the Dung-Beetles who ravenously feasted upon it, and voted him in? I say they are equally responsible for the predictably terrible consequences that have befallen our poor country since!

POST American| 10.6.11 @ 11:58PM

---David Rockefellow go-fers---
---Bush Sr. ---Clinton
---Bush Jr ----and now OBAMA

It's the Globalist RED China sellout and TREASON and EUGENICS OP dummies!

-----------HUAC meets NUREMBERG 2012---------

It'll be BIGGER than World War II!

-----------------WE GUARANTEE IT!-----------------

dohmatt| 10.7.11 @ 12:14AM

A deeply depressing echo-chamber, hysterical and wrong on many counts. I have respect for the American political system for engaging so many people but the level of debate here shows the converse of that system's advantages.
And Tyrell your piece is absurd and disgraceful. You don't even need to be a feminist to be offended by the 'notably dumpy' woman remark, it's just indicative of your level of analysis.

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:16AM

Beat it, punk.

mike| 10.7.11 @ 4:33AM

The most divisive president in history? Really? What party first proposed the individual mandate? What party first proposed cap and trade? What party advocates tax cut ) about two thirds of the stimulus was tax cuts and tax relief). If he is diviseve, its only because the republicans are too petty to work with himn. This author needs a history lesson.

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:17AM

The party that is being purged by the Tea Party, that's who.

mike| 10.7.11 @ 4:34AM

Mimi| 10.7.11 @ 10:30AM

Mike....The GOP changes as events change. You got it wrong "O" is the stubborn one here, he had the Majority and squandered it on the agenda instead of what was the danger,.....The Jobs and the Economy. He's viewed as incompetant because he knows little of setting PRIORITIES! He is only interested in HIS stuff, not whats best for the NATION....He's late for dinner on JOBS!

AVCurmudgeon| 10.7.11 @ 11:31AM

I always remember people (such as Matt Damon) telling us in reverent, moderately hushed tones what a "deep thinker" Obama is.

I'm a poker player, and he has proven himself to be what we in our world call a "level one thinker". That is, someone who can assess the obvious, and then gets stuck.

The latest "jobs plan" and the "surtax" are great examples. Obama is stuck on getting reelected; he has just come away from a bruising (if ineffective) battle on the debt ceiling. Level One: I have to make myself look better. So he comes back from the Vineyard and launches a "love me" campaign. He does not even consult with his own party; he just throws his plan out there and makes it about himself, apparently not even conscious that there is an entire country out there -- including his allies in the CBC -- who are not all that interested in showing their love at this particular point in time.

I guess part of it can be explained by his straitened ideology; I think another major part of it can best be explained by his narcissism. He has spent his entire life getting what he wanted handed to him on a platter, including the Presidency. Now that he has an actual job to do, his limitations are made manifest.

Juan Jose Morales-Castillo | 10.7.11 @ 5:45PM

Remember when he told Boehner not to call his bluff? What kind of poker player would ever commit the blunder of admitting that he is bluffing???

DaveS| 10.7.11 @ 10:24PM

Broad intellectual curiosity: hmmm, sounds like something unverifiable.

The talk of his supposed genius is all talk. I have a genius IQ and I recognize nothing in the man that smacks of genius.

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:18AM

Ditto.

Jonathan| 10.8.11 @ 12:21AM

"This President is the most incompetent and ideologically rigid president in American history."

Wow....I was supposed to keep reading and take this piece seriously after that?

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:18AM

Yes.

Questionman| 10.8.11 @ 2:57AM

Anthony is a racist, bigoted idiot!
is that a joke? you consider pres. obama a marxist? do you believe he is trying to kill free-market enterprise and deminish the role of capitalism? a guy who basically rose through benefits of capitalism now is a marxist....?

in theory and by definition -- 'Capitalism, according to Marxist theory, can no longer sustain the living standards of the population due to its need to compensate for falling rates of profit by driving down wages, cutting social benefits and pursuing military aggression.'

these arent things that happen over night. though it should worry you to a point considering marx died over a century ago.

Thomas Paine| 10.8.11 @ 10:20AM

Corporatist/Socialist then ... aka FASCIST?

You do have a point.

Rick| 10.9.11 @ 4:14PM

Susskind is a rasist and your a bigget. His book is ALL lice!

nohussein| 10.9.11 @ 5:53PM

Affirmative action fallout.

nohussein| 10.9.11 @ 5:55PM

The hussein is a hate filled commie, nothing more.

No One Important| 10.11.11 @ 8:57AM

Funny how others may believe that Obama is smart, when there has never been anything to substantiate this opinion.

His offer of experience? He claims his campaign.

Only to them find out months later that it was an absolute mess. . .lack of respect, lack of scheduling, problems prioritizing. . .

And now we suffer with this horrendous learning curve of Obama's while he refuses to admit his policies are failures and his agenda is destroying us.

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