The American Spectator

Tim| 1.29.10 @ 2:28PM

[edit] EtymologyFrom Latin arrogantia.

[edit] NounSingular
arrogance
Plural
usually uncountable; plural arrogances

arrogance (usually uncountable; plural arrogances)

The act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption. Closely related to the act of arrogating.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/arrogance

Alan Brooks| 1.29.10 @ 8:54PM

Coolidge was the only non-arrogant POTUS that comes to mind. And he died two generations ago.

We are scr*wed, aren't we?

Stephen| 1.30.10 @ 6:30AM

It sure feels like it sometimes Alan. But who would have thought that the Mass. election would come out as it did?
The problem is that those who worship govt. have an astonishing and ferocious intensity that seems never to stop, and that when blocked merely turns to strike elsewhere. The rest of us must remember Jefferson...eternal vigilance. Never a day, or hour, off.

Joseph Stewart| 1.30.10 @ 8:08AM

Arrogant .....NO intelligent Yes.! It is just that simple...

Sherry Hunter| 1.29.10 @ 2:58PM

Yep, he is arrogant

ncatty| 1.29.10 @ 3:01PM

Let me help you Quin. If you call a black person arrogant they think you are calling them "uppity."

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 3:11PM

The strangest thing is that Olbermann doesn't need glasses, he just needs a brain.

Smirking Weasel| 1.29.10 @ 3:12PM

Why would anyone care what that cowardly self-loathing loser Obermonkey thinks on anything?

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 3:13PM

Wait a minute - I'm confused.

Since I am white, and it is my firm belief no one on this earth is more arrogant than Keith Olbermann, does that make me a racist against my own race?

But I'm a conservative - and self loathing is the province of the dunces on the left. Keith, take a bow, boy.

JP| 1.29.10 @ 3:29PM

To take it a step further: if you are self consciously self-loathing you can develope an arrogance (or pride) by virtue of this faux humility. In other words, you use your self loathing as a hammer to pound away at the self-confident. Writers and other intellectuals have used this pose to great effect for decades.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 4:15PM

I agree - I've often pondered what's at the root of the liberal mind. My very bright sister thinks it's self loathing. I've always maintained it was a sense of superority.

I've come to think these are two sides of the same coin. Arrogant punks like Olberman and Obama and our good friend Bob I think all share a deep-rooted sense of inadequacy that they want so badly to overcome. In some folks this manifests itself as self-loathing (women who cut themselves, for example). In others, like the aforementioned three amigos, I believe it manifests itself, literally, in the arrogation of power - the power of a superior intellect, or ostentatious wealth, or sexual prowess (Bill Clinton, are your ears red?) or political power.

Whether the affect (as in "affectation") takes the form of superiority or inferiority, it shows a fundamental inability to deal with the self and an emotional need to prop oneself up with externalities.

Patriot| 1.31.10 @ 6:24PM

I think liberalism is a mental illness--and narcissism.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 3:27PM

When will the laughable Olbermann be kicked to the curb? Uh...never. He's what passes for a "ratings getter" over at the disgusting network.

I thought Obama was supposed to end all of this racial divisiveness...but then, you know, what would liberals do without the particular slur of "racist." My goodness, they wouldn't know what to say.

Guess what, arrogance doesn't have a color, Keith. Obama lectures, hectors, berates, and thinks he's the greatest get to the world -- in other words, arrogant. Go look it up.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 3:28PM

oops.. greatest "gift" to the world...duh.

Quin| 1.29.10 @ 3:30PM

By the way, as Yogi said, "you could look it up" that I have called white people "arrogant," because I repeatedly wrote that GW Bush was in many ways "arrogant." Of course, what I thought was arrogance in Bush pales in comparison with the arrogance of Obama. Obama is more arrogant than Bush - but maybe it is his white blood that is arrogant -- who knows? What I do know is that is was no conservative, but Bill Clinton, who told Ted Kennedy that Obama was not far removed from a position where he "would be serving coffee" to Clinton and Kennedy. I wait for Olbermann to decide that Bill Clinton is racist.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 4:35PM

I think Obama has brought a whole new meaning to the term "arrogant." We've never had a president (at least in my memory) who has lectured the American people (and his political opponents) this way.

Americans don't like being lectured to. He really needs to stop it. We're not children, and we don't like being treated as such. Hey, Obama advisors, you might want to take note of that.

Tim| 1.29.10 @ 3:39PM

Ilooked around at the arrogant comments in NRO, at least the ones I found with a cursory search, and, as I expect from NRO they are unfailingly polite. NRO never takes the gloves off, just their style I suppose, thus it is all the more remarkable to me that Uberman targeted them.

PS. AMSPEC never puts the gloves on. Two very complimentary sites.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 4:39PM

Two of my favorites, Tim. Good observation.

Franklin| 1.29.10 @ 3:42PM

Arrogant, domineering, overbearing, exaggerated opinion of your importance, oppressive, dictatorial, despotic, snob, self-satisfied superiority - I could go on, but I now have to grovel for forgiveness for being 'racist'.

Liberal REader| 1.29.10 @ 4:00PM

You're saying it is impossible for a white person to be as arrogant as Obama?

Tim| 1.29.10 @ 4:04PM

Anyone who reads these comment sections knows that's not true.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 4:38PM

Where the hell do you get that, Liberal Reader?

Are you saying that blacks are incapable of being arrogant?

Nothing gets you liberals' panties moist faster than gearing up to charge somebody with racism. Meanwhile it is your side that never, ever fails to view people through that prism. It is YOU who have elevated an incompetent, doctrinaire, adolescent, angry fool to the highest office in the land thanks to affirmative action.

I love how all of the "colorblind" libs voted for Obama for one reason: He was black.

Please. ANYBODY can be arrogant.

Is everything you say utterly predictable, Liberal Fool?

Liberal Reader| 1.29.10 @ 5:20PM

Apparently you guys didn't read all of Mr. Hillyer's piece. The last line reads (and I quote):

"Oh, and in case it wasn't clear, I think white people, too, can be arrogant. Just not as arrogant as Barack Obama."

This clearly states that while a white man CAN be arrogant it is impossible for him to be AS arrogant as Obama. Or, to put it another way, no white man can be as arrogant as Obama.

Patriot| 1.31.10 @ 6:28PM

Plenty of white liberals are arrogant, Lib Reader: Obama is just no different. You're the only one here who fixates on race--Identity Politics is all you leftists have.

Your ideas stink.

Franklin| 2.1.10 @ 2:08AM

No.

Liberal Reader| 1.29.10 @ 4:02PM

Hillyer --

I think what you mean is that it is impossible for a white man to presume to be above his rightful place as much as Obama has, being a black man who ran for and won the presidency.

Tim| 1.29.10 @ 4:07PM

I think he's judging him by the content of his character. If everybody who disagrees with, indeed dislikes Obama, is prima facie a racist, then why bother talking anymore?

Tim| 1.29.10 @ 4:10PM

Keith Olbermann is arrogant. Does saying that mean I hate white people? Why is the Left so fucking race obsessed?

Patriot| 1.31.10 @ 6:31PM

Identity Politics is all leftists have--their ideas stink. They use race as a weapon to control and shut down debate--like all good little Marxists do.

That's why.

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 4:03PM

OK, this is old news but this is funny as hell!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/wa.....me-calling

Bill from WV| 1.29.10 @ 6:01PM

All that ass clown has to do is look in the mirror to see an arrogant white man. Or, to his racist pal Chris Matthews who almost forgot Obama was black for an hour! What the hell kind of racist remark is that ? And he is as pasty white as they come!

Liberal Reader| 1.29.10 @ 6:16PM

Honestly I can't understand how the "arrogant" charge came up.

I've been watching this exchange on CSPAN and I think a) many of the Republicans -- particularly the younger ones -- are presenting their ideas impressively and persuasively (reminding us conservatives don't all sound like Glenn Beck) and b) Obama is -- while at times perhaps a little haughty -- responding fairly respectfully.

Let's not forget he's up on a stage ALONE in a room full of people many of whom have spent the last year complaining that he's a fascist, a Muslim, an illegal alien, a communist, and so on.

Obama even pointed this out: Republicans CLAIM they want to work with him, then they go home and tell their constituents he's a communistic terrorist, leaving themselves no room whatsoever to do anything BUT obstruct.

Which is fine, but they don't THEN get to contend that they don't obstruct and are just trying to help.

I don't know. I'm watching this, and I don't see arrogance. I think the people who do would see any black man as "uppity" (read, arrogant) who presumed any authority whatsoever in a room full of white men.

Luz| 1.29.10 @ 8:27PM

why is people arguing, about Obama, being an arrogant. watching him talking and saying yes I can change this country and telling the congress that you better do your job, or else or even if I veto it . the reason those liberal do not see it of being arrogant of Obama! they are either ignore it or He is there sweetheart.

Stephen| 1.30.10 @ 6:31AM

To compound the problem, most people who are arrogant have something to commend them...

Ned| 1.30.10 @ 8:52AM

Here is a preamble the President plans to use before all of his following speeches:

Before I began this speech I need to explain why I do some of the things…..I do…when giving….a speech. A lot of people have… said….I keep my face turned up and I'm looking down my nose….at my listeners. This couldn’t be farther…from the truth. What I am doing is allowing everyone in the seats beneath me…to do…is seeing that I have no….nose hair. I am very careful to…cut out…every bit of it right after I get a haircut. Republicans should not be distracted or counting…nose hairs… when listening to their…President.
Second….when I look side to side and move my head like a …pendulum…I do not make this movement to lull the crowd or to read my…Teleprompters…while pretending to look at both sides of the audience…beneath me. I do it so the people…beneath me… can see and admire my…magnificent ears… When I was a small child I had what some thought was…big ears… School yard bullies would make fun of me and call me…Dumbo. After I ran to the teacher and reported…them…they would be my friends again. I have learned to love my…so called…big ears…and I know you do to. So I turn…my head…not to pretend I am looking at all of you. I do it so you can admire…your President’s wonderful ears.
Make no mistake about it…my ears…also, like my African Elephant animal brothers and….sisters…help to keep me cool…ha ha…not just under the lights but all…the time.
And no Republican will ever say, “President Obama doesn’t know how many states we have, but I counted fifty-seven hairs in his nose during his latest speech.”

martin j smith| 1.30.10 @ 10:29AM

If Obama was an ordinary guy on campus and acted the way he does, I would laugh him off and avoid him like the plague ( which means he is not funny ). But, since he is POTUS that is a far more serious matter. He is dangerous, and his arrogance is merely one element of what scares me about him. But, not to make his supporters feel too badly, I think the MSM are at least as dangerous as Obama--maybe more so.

Liberal Reader| 1.30.10 @ 11:22AM

You say he is "dangerous" but you give no specifics or evidence.

Mike| 1.30.10 @ 10:42AM

If Olbermann wants to call me a racist to my face, and take off his ugly glasses, that slur on me will be taken as "fighting words."

This sounds more like the rant of an 8th grade boy than the commentary of a reasonable, conservative adult. Olbermann should not be accusing people of being racist, but responding to such with a challenge to a fist fight makes you look even more silly than Olbermann

Oldefarte| 1.30.10 @ 3:41PM

Golly, shazam, Liberal Moron's use of their [liberals'] standard word-weapons of RACISM, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, DISCRIMINATION, GENTRIFICATION,etc is just another example of these imbiciles' TINGLE DOWN THE LEG/DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS BLACK idiocy! Barry's arrogance is related only to his taxpayer-funded/paid for extensive education at private/ivy league schools; not from his being half black, liberal-dummie!!!!!

Oldefarte| 1.30.10 @ 3:44PM

Oh, and also, Olbermann's momma-boy, hair-pieced, cow-colleged arrogance is due to his STUPIDITY!!!!!!!!!