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The Obama Watch
Is This America’s ‘Ricky Bobby’ Moment?
How long before we hear a collective scream about what he’s done?
One of my all time favorite few seconds of cinema, ranking up there with Charles Foster Kane’s deathbed revelation and Bogie’s send off of Ilsa Laszlo, is from Talladega Nights (2006) and best tagged as “Don’t Put that Evil on Me, Ricky Bobby.” By the way, I’m not alone; typing only “don’t put th” into a search window will direct you to the clip. What makes the scene memorable is the ludicrous amount of time between when the “paralyzed” protagonist stabs himself in the leg and then — tick, tick, tick — he finally unleashes his scream.
Right now, I wonder if the country’s political consciousness is hovering in a similar moment of suspended time. Recent events have been no less subtle than a knife in the thigh, yet we too wait to see if and when our political nerve system will be transmitting a scream. Until then, the zeitgeist is quiet, the general public carries on, while the opinion shapers remain detached and willfully ignorant of the probable Great Obama Implosion of 2012.
It could happen at any moment. The president is credibly linked in a new bestseller to use of campaign funds for hush money payoffs… he’s been found to have lied — either then or now — about his place of birth… he needlessly mocks the country by presenting his biographical bona fides with the candor befitting a three card monte hustler. He objectifies and sexualizes his wife’s do-good fitness crusade. And that’s just the lurid stuff. He’s a serial security breacher, squandering access to the blabbing bad guys that has already been prepaid in American blood and treasure… he’s cravenly politicized Afghanistan and Iraq while cutting the military out of the decision process… then there’s the mendacity of the health care legislation, the worst economy since the Depression, and the reckless acceleration towards January 2013 Taxmadgeddon that makes Thelma and Louise look like defensive drivers. A good investigator will always notice the single “dog that didn’t bark.” Here we have a mush of huskies that aren’t howling. Who’s noticing?
The Obama un-masking will be similar to other historic slow-cooking political disruptions. Teapot Dome, Hiss, Watergate, Iran Contra, Whitewater, Flowers/Jones/Lewinsky all took time to percolate. The public needs that time to process and respond to those abstract reports and allegations. A change in public sentiment requires a consensus understanding of the problem strong enough to overwrite the existing cognitive framework of the miscreant person or institution. Significantly, the two traumas that were ultimately the most convulsive — Watergate and Lewinsky — became radioactive not because of the damning fact set but rather because the public couldn’t forgive a President for “lying.” Still, in every case, there was that Ricky Bobby pause.
Until it happens, we won’t know if this current nightmare is going to end with an implosion or a whimper. George Orwell understood and dramatized how the natural state of the human condition is a-historical, and how the context of national events is provided — only as needed — by the powerful to secure their own domination. “The truth” is never sufficient.
Are we now in that excruciating interlude between political action and public reaction? Or will this turn out to be just another ho-hum political sequence, one of those bells that now and then rings, where few care and fewer understand — and no one looks back?
Or, will we soon reach a moment of inflection where the 2008 data points reverse their polarity? Where we once saw youth and energy, will we see inexperience? Will athleticism become fecklessness, and exotic background become problematic if not disqualifying? Will author become liar, as self-confidence becomes reality impairment? Will the “good war” he said he’d fight become the “lost war”?
This moment — so full of questions — can’t go on much longer. For now, all we can do is nervously monitor the silence.
America, you’re not really paralyzed. And those of us who love you… we’re waiting for that scream.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (47) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 6.8.12 @ 6:39AM
Oh darn, I was hoping this was going to be an article about Kurt Busch.
TLP| 6.8.12 @ 9:37AM
The Smartest man to ever "Occupy" the Oval Office, without a Fat Intern giving him her last name, appears to have Outsmarted himself.
His attempt at Cloward and Piven, whereby, one "Overwhelms the System" to further one's goals, has had the Opposite Effect. (Anone surprised, that a Master Plan from members of the Pantheon of the GODS of Marxist Dogma, fcked it up?)
As Romney has said: "Americans are tired."
Indeed.
Everything they do, they do under the assumption that EVERYBODY wants to be the Next Black Community. The Next Public Housing Denizen. The Next Warsaw Ghetto.
We have seen the Enemy, and it is Him, his Wife, and his entire Political Party.
We believe in God, and Family. We believe in Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Smith.
His blind devotion to Marx and Engells, Lenin and Mao, are anathema to our sensibilities, and to our Dreams of a better life, for our Children, and our Children's children.
Him, and his Administration are the things that Armed Revolutions are made for.
But, a Revolution at the Voting Booth should work, just as well.
SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS!
Cobalt| 6.8.12 @ 11:00AM
In 1993, both Cloward and Piven attended the signing of the Motor Voter Law (National Voter Registration Act) at the White House, as guests of President Clinton.
TLP| 6.8.12 @ 8:17PM
Surprised?
Bill Adams| 6.8.12 @ 7:04AM
Well, you learn something new every day. I was under the impression that Clinton's impeachment fizzled out and he got away with all his lies, because the Senate decided there wasn't enough negative "public sentiment" to remove him.
EastTexasRancher| 6.8.12 @ 7:25AM
Some of us have depleted the air supply in collective screams since 2008. I rather think the idea of the nation reaching critical mass is rather amusing. We military parents who have sent children to war, some many times, have been near apoplectic, seeing how this man has caused a near loss (we are still awaiting to see how Iraq falls), of two wars, as well as diminishing our national reputation abroad.
We are at the point where no nation can trust America, for fear of info leaked, being thrown under the Obama bus, or their own worst national secrets exposed.
Forget about a scream. I will settle to sweep him into a dustbin in November and send him packing. I just worry about all the national secrets he will take with him or sell before the election to Russia or other nations.
Pecos Pete| 6.8.12 @ 8:25AM
ETR: You are correct to worry about King O's actions post election. I keep asking, where will he and the Queen reside after they no longer live in the White House? As a young ex-president, what will he promote and how will he promote it? He is a socialist/marxist and will not go quietly into the night.
Just as he is a danger to the United States as president, he will be at least as dangerous once evicted from the office.
c. j. acworth| 6.8.12 @ 10:22AM
Um, at the risk of inviting a visit from some big guys in suits with wires trailing out of their ears, could we possibly dedicate a drone to keep an eye on him? Armed with Hellfire missiles.
Purp| 6.8.12 @ 3:11PM
Nasty bunch, ain't ya? Do you do this to convince yourselves it's okay to be aholes? Some Momma you had.
solidground| 6.8.12 @ 7:21PM
Dumb as rocks, aren't you? Take your troll credentials back to the Daily Kos, or whatever cesspool you crawled out of.
Purp| 6.9.12 @ 8:47AM
Thanks for confirming what an ahole you are.
Von Mises Jr| 6.9.12 @ 11:31AM
Hey watch the language, Jefferson.
Mimi Mayes | 6.9.12 @ 6:00PM
It never fails. I return to TAS to read some thoughtful essays and comments, and once again the ubiquitous Purp reminds me why I went away for so long.
Purp| 6.9.12 @ 7:20PM
Awww, poor baby, all you want is someone to tell you your ideas are sane. Well - they are not. You and your corporate masters are destroying America. Selling her to the highest bidding Billionaire Old Fart. Truth hurts, and that's too bad you can't take it.
Rich D| 6.9.12 @ 11:34PM
Have you been certified insane yet, or is the ink still wet on your papers? It seems like the only weapons in your arsenal are non sequiturs and ad hominems. You are not even good at projection and truth is a stranger to your hypocritical lips.
Truth to Power| 6.10.12 @ 10:41AM
Mimi, Purp is here to improve your morale. An article appears in the NYT saying that progressives just figured out that their big O could lose and we get to see the clearly unstable and unnerved Purp give illustration. He needs to mocked for being such a sucker but in the end only deserves our pity.
R Martin| 6.8.12 @ 7:42AM
Here’s what I’m hoping people will conclude after reflecting during the interlude—affirmative action can now and should now be officially ended.
By his ascension to the presidency Obama proves racial preferences are not needed, and by his ascension to the presidency Obama proves racial preferences produce woefully inadequate incumbents and even outright frauds.
numbatdog| 6.8.12 @ 7:42AM
Presidential lewdness peaked with Clinton.
Presidential weakness peaked with Carter.
Presidential lying is peaking with Obama.
Cobalt| 6.8.12 @ 8:05AM
"Obama's Third-Party History"
By Stanley Kurtz / NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE
http://www.nationalreview.com/.....nley-kurtz
Von Mises Jr| 6.8.12 @ 8:11AM
Most Americans are good, moral citizens. They know how to behave and be respectful.
Because we are not calling to "punish our enemies," or "taking a gun to a knife fight," or making lewd references about the First Lady as the President did is not an indication that we do not want to scream. Conservatives understand the need to see this morbid death of liberalism to its conclusion. We just know how to do it with a little class.
JimH| 6.8.12 @ 8:12AM
In Washington no one can hear you scream.
Petronius| 6.8.12 @ 8:47AM
This one will not turn from the masses waking up but from the like minded plutocracy that foisted this mountebank upon the nation. Of all the chattering white wine sipping intellectual snots, only the media whores remain in the Obama camp. All the rest are gazing at the feces he has served up to them and closing their checkbooks. Instead of cocktails in the East Room the first course was ingratitude and slight regard. The supplicants in the streets who matter on that day every four years will leave the screaming to the Occupiers and continue to whimper and wet themselves. We should take note of the A-listers who walk away in disgust.
jaytrain| 6.8.12 @ 9:28AM
And yet , YET , when one looks at the map of the Electrical College , Romney is in an uphill fight . This nightmare has been nonstop for over four years and could go on for another four. It is very cold comfort , or better said it is Job's Comforter but never more true : H L Mencken " Democracy is the notion the people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard "
Cobalt| 6.8.12 @ 10:47AM
Never underestimate the Democratic Party when it comes to voter fraud.
TLP| 6.8.12 @ 9:35AM
The Smartest man to ever "Occupy" the Oval Office, without a Fat Intern giving him her last name, appears to have Outsmarted himself.
His attempt at Cloward and Piven, whereby, one "Overwhelms the System" to further one's goals, has had the Opposite Effect. (Anone surprised, that a Master Plan from members of the Pantheon of the GODS of Marxist Dogma, fcked it up?)
As Romney has said: "Americans are tired."
Indeed.
Everything they do, they do under the assumption that EVERYBODY wants to be the Next Black Community. The Next Public Housing Denizen. The Next Warsaw Ghetto.
We have seen the Enemy, and it is Him, his Wife, and his entire Political Party.
We believe in God, and Family. We believe in Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Smith.
His blind devotion to Marx and Engells, Lenin and Mao, are anathema to our sensibilities, and to our Dreams of a better life, for our Children, and our Children's children.
Him, and his Administration are the things that Armed Revolutions are made for.
But, a Revolution at the Voting Booth should work, just as well.
SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS!
wareagle| 6.8.12 @ 11:05AM
some people were screaming in '08 because what followed was totally expected. Others feign surprise, as though this man's Hopium really was this magical potion that would cause America to transcend itself. Please.
King Obie I is, at heart, a political huckster. He is a man whose only demonstrable ability is to talk or campaign. He has never actually done anything, ever.
--an ongoing military mission tracked Bin Laden, giving him a shot at false glory
--a couple of ME nations teetering on the brink ousted long-time dictators, lending him a chance to appear credible on foreign policy matters
--SCOTUS is poised to strike down a health care plan even most Dems no longer support, killing his effort to be legislatively effective
And on and on and on.
Purp| 6.9.12 @ 8:55AM
Nice America hater you are. You want failure, so d* the rest of America. Nice, real nice.
Truth to Power| 6.10.12 @ 10:43AM
Purp, you confuse your own stupidity with what is good for America. More Ponzi schemes are not what is called for.
fmm| 6.8.12 @ 12:47PM
Harlan Ellison wrote a scienc fiction story entitled "I Have No Mouth but I Must Scream". Seems an appropriate metaphor for these political times. I, for one, have been screaming for some time.
Who Knows?| 6.8.12 @ 2:08PM
Two similar events come to mind---
A pressure cooker filled with rotten food, with the heat being turned up, and up, and up, until the lid blasts off.
Or, a volcano, about to burst.
I just wonder how much longer the MSM can continue to provide the counter-pressure to the internal pressure that continues to grow.
In the first picture, I see the MSM adding screws and tightening them, to keep the lid on, at least until after the election.
In the second one, it’s like they are adding to a sort of containment structure---remember Chernobyl---pouring massive amounts of concrete on top of itself.
Don’t worry, be happy, truth lovers!
The longer the effort to keep the lid on, the greater the explosion will be, when it must blow off.
Abu Nudnik| 6.8.12 @ 2:09PM
Sadly, in both cases the president was re-elected. I'd hate to think that the public must first show its love before showing its hate (love betrayed). But it might be true. I hope not. I hope Romney can present himself and his running mate (Jindal, I hope) as responsible men America can trust to start digging out of the mess.
Obadiah Plainman| 6.8.12 @ 3:14PM
We don't need to scream.
Screaming implies a temporary outburst of emotion. We're past that.
The silent majority and grassroots conservatism is now doing heavy liftin--grunting, sweating, and working--not screaming.
And we saw what the payoff is when we stop screaming and just kick ass. Look at Wisconsin this week. :)
Occam's Tool| 6.8.12 @ 3:21PM
He will be removed in November and there will be no need to scream.
Appleby| 6.8.12 @ 3:30PM
But the question is, what will he take along with him?
cicero| 6.8.12 @ 4:09PM
What you are seeing is "the silence of the lambs" Does anyone but me notice that all of those who voted for O last time are very quiet this time around? The "give me something for free" crowd, and the African american population are the only ones left who admit that they will support the present administration in Novermber. The young who voted for him last time looked ashamed, and plead that "they don't remember him saying anything like that" before. Despite what the MSM keep saying, and predicting a close race, November will be a blood bath for the left. There is no middle. Anyone who works for a living, or has worked for a living all their lives, see what has happened, and will not let it happen again.
Purp| 6.8.12 @ 6:42PM
You are wrong - but keep convincing yourself. You have lost the youth vote, the women's vote, the African American vote, the Gay vote, the Seniors vote and the Hispanic vote. You only have white anglo-saxon men. Not a majority Chuckles.
solidground| 6.8.12 @ 7:09PM
And what planet, exactly, are you from? Even the gays are smart enough to figure out that Obama is merely playing them. I guess you figure Wisconsin was just a fluke. Well, the fluke, and Fluke, too, is on you.
Truth to Power| 6.8.12 @ 8:44PM
It is time to admit that Obama appears to have captured the gay troll vote. This was previously seen as ten votes but now looks more like three. It is kind of like a Democratic exit poll.
Purp| 6.9.12 @ 8:52AM
Wisconsin? Ha. Walker had months to prepare - Barrett had from May 5 to June 5, 1 Month. Disappointing, but not surprising that he was able to buy the election.
As far as gays being smart - yeah, they are, except for those poor lost "Log Cabin" types that are still trying to please Republicant Daddy. Rush Limpboy really did you in with the ladies.... let's hope his bigotry continues - I want him to fail. At least THAT won't hurt America, like you all are dreaming to destroy. Destroy America, or should I say Amercia (ala Romney) and win an election. Nice people you America haters.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 6.9.12 @ 9:20AM
Purp, you are running around quite a bit on this thread yesterday and today posting the functional equivalent of "I know you are, but what am I". Aren't the talking points from the White House making it to the Media Matters office now?
John Navratil| 6.9.12 @ 9:53AM
Albert Constantine Jr.
He's the Energizer bunny. But he still has only that one drum to beat.
Purp| 6.9.12 @ 7:22PM
Rude, snide comments is all you can muster? Guess you agree with me then. Thanks !
Truth to Power| 6.10.12 @ 10:45AM
The court jester has spoken. Purp will need to find a new job in November.
Cobalt| 6.8.12 @ 5:35PM
These ignorant Obama sycophants are having to face the bitter truth, that the Candy Man can't.
solidground| 6.8.12 @ 7:02PM
Don't be so optimisitic. Do NOT underestimate the ability and power of the scum sucking MSM to bury every issue right under the noses of the mostly dense American electorate. What, interrupt the Kardashians or Jersey Shore to ponder Obama's latest faux pas? I think not.
LiveFreeOrDie| 6.8.12 @ 8:25PM
I can't believe the Spectator finally mentioned Obama's "document" problems. Baby steps...
Buck Ofama| 6.9.12 @ 7:18PM
The author failed to mention the one thing that Ovomit does with great practiced expertise: bowing and sucking.