Sunday, January 19, 2014

“It is very hard to take President Obama seriously”

"The architect of “the most transparent administration in history”; a man who repeatedly promised the public that “if you like your health care plan, you can keep it, period”; the fellow who put it about that the slaughter of four Americans in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, was caused by an internet video; the guy who has twice raised his right hand and sworn to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” to the best of his ability while also (just last week, for example) announcing out of the other side of the orifice his intention to proceed with his agenda “with or without Congress” — how can you take this man seriously, where by “seriously” I mean, how can you trust him?"
 
"The brief answer is, “You can’t.” You can’t trust him.  He has willfully and repeatedly lied to the American people about all manner of things touching their vital interests."

Via Instapundit: BECAUSE OF RACISM: Why doesn’t criticism of Obama get any traction.

83 comments:

Shouting Thomas said...

He believes himself to be immune from impeachment because of his black skin, and he's probably right.

So, there is no check on the lawless, arrogant putz.

rhhardin said...

The media love their narrative because people watch it.

Who are these people?

40% of women.

Advertisers are money.

The soap opera has legs because Obama is black but it's not racism, just the story line.

Guy on the bottom winds up on top.

How does that have to finish to be soap opera?

He does well, gets even, and so forth.

So that's the narrative.

His enemies have to be defeated.

Constant battle, constant anxiety.

All in search of the advertising dollar.

Unknown said...

We have a political party who pushed an unpopular law through in the dead of night on party line vote. Then the leader of that parade says "Sign here. But don't read it first."

The leader of a band of lawless liars says "Sign here. but don't read it first."
Even the dumbest most unscrupulous lawyer would advise against signing a legal document before it has been read.


We have it all on video, and the media wont touch it.

chickelit said...

None of us meet or encounter POTUS here or in real life that I know of. But we do meet his defenders here and elsewhere on a daily basis. I find it harder and harder to take them seriously. Hold them to higher standards of reason.

virgil xenophon said...

@AprilApple/

Silly girl....he's "The Magic Negro," our new black messiah, dontcha know (Just ask Barbara Wa-WA) What? Criticize the BLACK MESSIAH?

Silly girl..

Aridog said...

The scary thing for me is that I am beginning to think that rhhardin @ 8:47AM here has it right. A narrative, however false (did not start from any bottom, etc.)drives this administration. It is surreal.

I don't think Obama is stupid, but I'm not convinced he isn't crazy due to arrogant imaginary delusions. I don't dislike him per se...you want a persona I detest one millimeter less than pure hate, think of John Kerry.

If both Obama and Kerry were struck by a car in front of me and knocked down, I'd immediately assist Obama to his feet, rending any aid he needed. Kerry, however, I'd just look to see if another car might not finish the job. See the difference?

Unknown said...

8 of the top big insurance companies got into bed with ObamaCare. I'd say that they not only got a seat at the table, they paid for those seats.

But Obama has that covered with his constant bogus vilification of "insurance companies".
Hell, every ad we see on the TV for an ambulance chasing lawyer insists that all corporations and insurance companies are evil.
Nice little propaganda machine you got there, leftists.

ricpic said...

He's a regular laugh riot, that Obama.

edutcher said...

Choom may be the worst thing to happen to the Left.

He's giving them everything they wanted - you know how that works out.

Shouting Thomas said...

He believes himself to be immune from impeachment because of his black skin, and he's probably right.

It's early yet.

virgil xenophon said...

@Aridog/

With the left it's ALWAYS about "teh narrative," mere facts (i.e., objective reality) are simply obstacles to be vaulted on the way to accomplishing ideological nirvana..

sakredkow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

chickenlittle said...
I find it harder and harder to take them seriously. Hold them to higher standards of reason.


As opposed to those who still defend a Republican president who oversaw the largest attack on US soil since WWII, the most devastating collapse of the financial system since the Great Depression and initiated the most boneheaded war since WWI?

chickelit said...

Et tu quoque all the time, Reasonable Man. Even if I lied and agreed with everything you said it wouldn't change one thing about that partying fool in the White House. He was elected on promises, not a promise of continued adulation. Why don't you help him instead of making things worse?

ricpic said...

Bush "oversaw" 9/11? Cute phrasing ARM.

Shouting Thomas said...

@ARM,

I'll concede you all the charges against the Bush admin.

So, what's that got to do with Obama and the present?

Why assume that observing the reality of the corruption of the Obama admin equals support for the Bush admin?

Fundamental error.

Unknown said...

The financial collapse had a lot to do with the corruption behind things like Fannie and Freddie.

sakredkow said...

I agree with ARM but why are letting yourselves be pulled off topic?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Shouting Thomas said...
I'll concede you all the charges against the Bush admin.

So, what's that got to do with Obama and the present?


I think we should be realistic about what is and isn't possible during a presidency. Not all the bad things that occur during a presidency can be fairly laid at the feet of the president. Of the three that I mention I think the Bush administration has to take some responsibility for the terrorist attack because there were some quite specific warnings, considerable responsibility for the severity of the financial collapse because there were endless warnings about the runaway financial system and the housing bubble and complete responsibility for the Iraq war.

Of the things that seem to excite the right Obama has to take full responsibility for Obamacare but this is primarily a conflict over policy. Most people on the left would have liked Obamacare to go much further in implementing a universal health care system. There is no way to resolve these fundamental policy differences. I don't like the policies of the right regarding concealed carry and open carry gun laws but as far as most people on the right are concerned I can suck it. This is how a pluralistic democracy works. Win elections, that is the only way to get your favored policies implemented.

Unknown said...

Maybe you disagreed with the war in Iraq but the dems voted for it.

Unknown said...

Clinton had numerous opportunities to take out Bin Laden, and yet he failed to do so.

Do we hear the eternal Bush-blamers discuss this fact? Nope.

Unknown said...

It's been 5 years and the poor are poorer, black unemployment is at record levels, youth unemployment is at record levels, the labor force has shrunk. Obamacare is a proven disaster, and a bad set-up for the authoritarian leftwing
tax payer funded/government controlled universal health care system. Benghazi is an embarrassment and a tragedy but it was all excused away with a lie.
And yet the blind faithful are all A-OK with it.
Blame Bush.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

April Apple said...
Maybe you disagreed with the war in Iraq but the dems voted for it.


A majority of Dems in the House did not vote for the Iraq war. One of their finer hours given the war hysteria at the time. If the Republicans in the house had voted in similar proportions to the Democrats there would not have been an Iraq war.

There is a good article on the backlash against the neocons within the Repub party here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/18/liz-cheney_n_4583250.html

Shouting Thomas said...

@ARM

You're just playing distraction games.

Your basic assumption is bullshit.

Opposing the corruption of the Obama admin and his use of the IRS to attack his enemies has nothing to do with Bush.

You're being a jackass with you assumption that you're dealing with Bush supporters here.

In other words, you have nothing to say. So, why don't you just shut up?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Speaking of changing the subject, there is a wonderful article on education here. I am not a teacher by choice. The fucking students and parents would drive me crazy - lazy, undisciplined and anti-intellectual. There is a reason that US student performance is so dismal, it is an accurate reflection of the attitudes of US citizens to learning, nothing more and nothing less. It is painful to listen to the local idiots complaining about attempts to impose more rigorous academic standards on their little darlings.

Unknown said...

Still waiting for arm to comment on the enormous broken promise: transparency.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

April Apple said...
Still waiting for arm to comment on the enormous broken promise: transparency.


Thanks to Edward Snowden the US is arguably the most transparent country in recorded history. Technology is a bitch.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Shouting Thomas said...
You're just playing distraction games.


Distraction from what exactly? Another unfocused whine about a Democrat president. I get it, you would prefer a Republican.

Shouting Thomas said...

@ARM

I don't give a shit who's president.

So, no, you don't get it.

Trooper York said...

I have to agree with chickie.

To simply reply to any questions about Barack Obama by saying "Blame Bush" is just foolish and lame.

Obamacare is the biggest disaster to hit us since Prohibition. So many people have lost their insurance with many millions more to come. So many people have had the premiums raised to the point that they can not keep their insurance.

Obama flat out lied when he said "if you want to keep your insurance you can keep your insurance." He knew that was a lie.

Unfortunately Shouting Thomas is correct.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Trooper York said...
Obamacare is the biggest disaster to hit us since Prohibition.


Obamacare is not a disaster from my perspective. It is a disagreement over policy. Already some Republicans are beginning to acknowledge that it is here to stay and are beginning to discuss reforming it rather than repealing. The terms of the debate have shifted.

The removal of constraints on the insurance of people with prior conditions and an expansion of insurance for the poor is worth some disruption of a system that is operating too far from the level of efficiency seen in our national competitors.

With respect to Bush, you can't simply shut down debate on Bush's legacy by calling it lame. Any presidency is judged in part by the performance of its predecessors and successors because these limn the possibilities of a presidency at those particular times. Obama will be judged with respect to his peers, other presidents. By these very modest standards he currently is not the failure that some here believe him to be.

Trooper York said...

Please tell me what you are smoking.

Tell the millions upon millions who lost their insurance or who cannot afford the new polices mandated by Obamacare that this is just a "Slight disruption." It is an unmitigated disaster. People will die because of it.

To coin a phrase. Obama lied and people died.

Trooper York said...

Listen other Presidents make mistakes and are guilty of many bad things. But just because James Buchanan did nothing to stop the Civil War does not mean we can not judge Obama on his many, many failures.

However I will concede that history will judge him. I have no doubt that he will considered one of the five worst Presidents in American History.

Lydia said...

Robert Gates's writing that Obama was simply playing kabuki politics with his Afghanistan moves -- that they were "all about getting out” -- is going to resonate for a very long time. That's a personal tarnish on any president that has nothing to with whatever his predecessors handed him.

Trooper York said...

Try and defend Obama on the merits without mentioning George Bush. I know you can do it.

Seriously.

Trooper York said...

One of Obama's biggest problems is his lack of personal loyalty to his subordinates. Robert Gates is just the first of the many "cover your ass" autobiographies that will come streaming out of this huge pile of caca that is the Obama administration. When the facts of what went on come out it will be astounding.

They are going to make Nixon's boys look like the Spartans at Thermopylae.

Shouting Thomas said...

I really don't give a fuck who's president, because there isn't anything I want from government.

I can take care of myself.

When a president starts abusing his power in a way that threatens our basic freedoms, as Obama is doing, I get interested.

You're a time waster, ARM. You don't have anything to say. You're a bullshitter.

Trooper York said...

Notice how Obama thinks he can ignore the Congress and just issue executive orders to effect the policies he can not get through the Congress. Notice how he used the IRS to attack his political opponents. Notice how he blamed a video for the murder of an ambassador when he knew all along it was terrorists. Notice how he destabilized so many governments in the middle east so as to favor the Muslim Brotherhood. Notice how he lied to pass Obama care on a strictly party line vote because he couldn't get even one vote from the Rhinos because he is congenitally incapable of working with others because he is such an arrogant prick.

Or just blame Bush. Whatever.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Lydia said...
Robert Gates's writing that Obama was simply playing kabuki politics with his Afghanistan moves -- that they were "all about getting out” -- is going to resonate for a very long time. That's a personal tarnish on any president that has nothing to with whatever his predecessors handed him.


There is a more even handed description of Gate's views here.

Quote:

What about the lead item in most press summaries of the book: Gates’ critique of Obama? First, it’s not so clear-cut. For the most part, he comes to praise Obama, not to bury him. He calls him “quite pragmatic on national security” (the highest praise from a realpolitik man like Gates) and “the most deliberative president I worked for” (he’s worked for eight), likening his problem-solving methods to Lincoln’s. Of the raid on Bin Laden’s lair (which Gates initially opposed), he writes, “I was so proud to work for a president who had made one of the most courageous decisions I had ever witnessed at the White House.”

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

You missed the point, ARM.

Transparency as it pertains to bills, laws, lobbyists, and cronyism. (among only a few items)

Watch the link I posted above if you need a reminder of Obama's own words.

JAL said...

because there were endless warnings about the runaway financial system and the housing bubble

IIRC George W Bush tried to put a stop on the out of control F&F nonsense and the Democratically controlled Congress screwed him. And us.

Just the facts, not the narrative.

Thanks.

Shouting Thomas said...

Obama's use of the IRS to attack his political enemies, ARM, is a game changer.

Nothing else matters right now.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

"Gates writes at one point that Obama entered the White House with the worst cards that any president in modern times had been dealt."

Obama's presidency hasn't been one for the ages but he has been in crisis management mode for most of his presidency. The country was at war, in debt, the economy was collapsing and the nation was more divided than at any time since the civil war. He attempted one change in social policy, a modest expansion of health care insurance and the opposition to this has taken up much of his presidency. To quote The Onion: Black man given nation's worst job.

Amongst Democrats his presidency will be compared unfavorably to Johnson and favorably to Carter and Clinton.

Shouting Thomas said...

I don't give a shit about your affection for Obama, or about what conditions were when he entered office.

He's using the power of the presidency and the IRS to attempt to destroy his opposition.

If he were white, he'd already have been impeached and removed from office.

His black skin is all that is saving him.

Unknown said...

@JAL
IIRC George W Bush tried to put a stop on the out of control F&F nonsense and the Democratically controlled Congress screwed him. And us.

Just the facts, not the narrative. Thanks.


You remember correctly.

Trooper York said...

"Gates writes at one point that Obama entered the White House with the worst cards that any president in modern times had been dealt."

The war that Richard Nixon inherited was much worse than the one Obama did. The economy was just as bad if not worse. The division in the country was much, much worse with violence in the streets and political assassinations.

Nixon made many mistakes and violated the Constitution. Obama has repeated all most all of those mistakes and made even more. Nixon was impeached and forced to resign.

Obama walked.

Why do you think that is?

Trooper York said...

Could it be that the Democrats do not have the integrity of the Republicans of the Watergate era?

Nixon abandoned our allies to the forces of the enemy when we had beaten them. Saigon. Fallujah.

Nixon used the IRS against his enemies. Obama did the same.

Nixon tried to spy on his enemies. Obama spies on all of us.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Trooper York said...
Could it be that the Democrats do not have the integrity of the Republicans of the Watergate era?
Nixon abandoned our allies to the forces of the enemy when we had beaten them. Saigon. Fallujah.
Nixon used the IRS against his enemies. Obama did the same.
Nixon tried to spy on his enemies. Obama spies on all of us.


I do think much of the animus towards Obama as well as the unhinged Clinton impeachment ultimately relates back to Nixon. There is a Watergate-envy that turns every minor problem into an impeachment level offense. I didn't pay much attention to politics in Nixon's time and do not feel the passion of those times quite so intensely.

Chip Ahoy said...

This thread gave me an idea. The portrait for Obama to hang among portraits of presidents in the Hall of Presidential Portraits that I just now made up in my mind will be composed of 50% Bush Jr. "Shrub" as he is known. So Shrub will have two portraits. One of his own and another filling half of Obama's. It must be so because according to supporters of the second, it's mostly all about the first. In the portrait Bush overshadows Obama. It is not possible for Obama to shine on his own. Or stand on his own. He is a community project. So the portrait must be the whole community, academia, media all in there behind him, overshadowed by Bush who is blocking the sun and always mentioned in every thread about Obama and always will be throughout history. See?

Unknown said...

Expecting democrats to NOT LIE is considered unhinged by the blind faith left.

Got it.

Shouting Thomas said...

You're a fucking idiot, ARM.

Clinton lied to a Federal grand jury.

He should have been removed from office. And, it was damned close.

A president who defies the law is a very, very dangerous person.

Again, you have nothing to say that isn't utter fucking idiocy. You'd do better to shut up.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Chip Ahoy said...
This thread gave me an idea.


Ideas are always good, even bad ones.

Republicans have tried, at least since the sixties to project an image of competence, the only adults in the room. But Republican presidencies have been inept, often to farcical levels. Understandably this disconnect gets under the skin of Democrats. Democrat presidents have in reality a better record on the economy as judged by GDP growth. When someone like Bush comes along who is impossible to defend on any level other than as a decent human being you are going to hear about it. I would get used to it. We had to hear about Carter for a long time. I happen to think Carter is probably also a decent human being. He is a woodworker and anyone with the patience and humility to build things with their own hands from wood is generally a decent person.

Unknown said...

Not once have you addressed Obama's broken promises, ARM.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

So this is a record of Obama's promises. Most of the broken promises are due to Republican intransigence. I would have liked him to keep a greater fraction of these promises but I am not sure you would have.

Unknown said...

Self-anointed political fact checkers have themselves proven to be bogus.

Trooper York said...

Republican intransigence? Seriously.

Obama has never been able to work with the opposite side of the aisle. It has always been his way or the highway. He rammed through the disaster of Obama Care without one Republican. Not even the total Rhinos who are basically Democrats.

Explain that my friend.

Unknown said...

Once Upon a time "Politifact" labeled Obama's promise
"If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. Period" as TRUE. Oops. They take it all back now and have taken steps to erase their initial "Politi-fact". It's now a big "False". Problem is, Politifact lost all credibility.


Somehow, even though not a single R voted for Obamacare, that too is the fault of the R-party. Amazing.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Trooper York said...
He rammed through the disaster of Obama Care without one Republican. Not even the total Rhinos who are basically Democrats.

Explain that my friend.


Well, that was one of the promises that was kept.

Trooper York said...

Yes not to work with his fellow Americans. Not to take reasonable objections about the destruction that was readily apparent and pointed out at the time. To pass a bill before anyone read it. To bald face lied to get his way.

Yes he kept that promise. I bet he made it to himself.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

People voted for Obama who promised to expand health care insurance. It is hard to argue that he didn't act to ensure the will of the people. Maybe the people were wrong and/or regret that decision but they have a perfectly satisfactory recourse, they simply vote for a Republican president and senate next time.

Third Coast said...

I'm still trying to figure out what kind of person can stand next to the coffin of an American ambassador killed by terrorists and whisper into the ear of the ambassador's parents that they'll get the guy responsible, a nobody film maker. Think about that, an actual conspiracy of lies all to protect political reputations and an upcoming election.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Third Coast said...
I'm still trying to figure out what kind of person can stand next to the coffin of an American ambassador killed by terrorists and whisper into the ear of the ambassador's parents that they'll get the guy responsible, a nobody film maker.


Can you provide a reliable reference for this?

chickelit said...

It appears that there will never be action taken against the pervy perps in Libya because they are not on an approved target list. The NYT could probably sit across the table, interview and photograph the chief architect of the attack. In fact, if they made a video of it and circulated on YouTube, they could probably incite a few American riots.

Obama would laugh.

chickelit said...

On Benghazi, the Administration found a patsy and granted the real criminals immunity. They've never explained otherwise. The Ingas and the Cedarfords will defend that position until hell freezes over because something bigger is at stake for them. If ARM wishes to join that company, don't stop him.

Third Coast said...

Can you provide a reliable reference for this?

http://freebeacon.com/benghazi-victims-mother-obama-clinton-and-biden-lied-to-me/

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Third Coast said...
http://freebeacon.com/benghazi-victims-mother-obama-clinton-and-biden-lied-to-me/


Patricia Smith is not unlike Cindy Sheehan. Her anger is understandable but she may not be the most reliable witness. It is unlikely that Obama, Biden, Clinton and Panetta all said exactly the same thing when they met her.

She has also said regarding Clinton, "I blame her,[T]hat's her department. She is supposed to be on top of it. Yet she claims she knows nothing. It wasn't told to her. Well, who is running the place?" Presumably if she blames Clinton then she feels that it was not Obama's fault.

Trooper York said...

Seriously Dude. You know it was Bush's fault.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Trooper York said...
Seriously Dude. You know it was Bush's fault.


No, I would leave Bush out of this one. He has enough on his conscience already.

Trooper York said...

That's mighty white of you buddy.

Thanks.

Trooper York said...

If the Crack Emcee wasn't at the chiropractor he would say that was racist.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

I like Crack. He has an artist's soul and you guys are too mean to him. How many black conservatives are there? He should be cultivated like a rare orchid.

chickelit said...

I like crack too, but have you read him lately?

Beyond the pale.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

chickenlittle said...
I like crack too, but have you read him lately?


It is unfortunate that ST has become his primary commenter. It's a bit like having Daniel Pipes as a judge on Egyptian Idol.

deborah said...

I like Crack, but I don't like him suddenly dropping us and mounting a new hobby horse.

He won't interact long enough to discuss a solution for how we can get along again.

Unknown said...

Democrats will pay for their support. Even if it's fake. Fakers will happily take the money.

ricpic said...

I like Crack...How many black conservatives are there?

I wonder how much of his crap, not Crack's crap, ARM's crap, ARM believes? I'm guessing Mr. Reliable is 100% full of it, knows he's full of it and gets the typical leftist's kick out of lying to the "hillbillies" 100% of the time. Oh yes, in that respect ARM is 100% reliable.

Aridog said...

On the general subject of this thread, I agree Obama is hard to take seriously...that said, I am a man who has disparaged every administration since Reagan. This one is just the least substantial...the worst if you will.



Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

ricpic said...
I wonder how much of his crap, not Crack's crap, ARM's crap, ARM believes?


Hard to know what your point is. You think that Dems secretly despise Obama and are defending him in bad faith? Or you think I don't like Crack? I have defended Crack on occasion and strongly disagreed with him on others, particularly the issue of women and the reliability thereof.

There is an unfortunate tendency on both sides of the debate to assume that the other side is arguing in bad faith. Trust me I can also find it very difficult to believe some of the things I read are actual beliefs.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

ST you complain constantly about lefties yet you choose to live in fucking WOODSTOCK. It would be hard to find a town with a higher proportion of lefties. So, either your schtick is complete BS or ...?

I suspect you are really a trust fund baby with Mummy issues.

Shouting Thomas said...

You really are a fucking idiot, ARM.

I'm a professional musician. Woodstock, in addition to be a habitat of the far left, is a music biz town.

I was born in a shotgun shack in the cornfields in Illinois.

I own a beautiful home in the mountains at the end of a dirt road in the forest.

You're a complete moron laboring under the delusion that you're clever.

You didn't answer my question, moron. What is it that convince an idiot like you that you're clever?

Shouting Thomas said...

So, your contention, ARM, is that we should segregate ourselves by political ideology?

I can never figure out what fucking idiots like you are talking about when you pull that shit.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Shouting Thomas said...
I'm a professional musician.


You are not a professional musician. No one could make a living playing Chuck Berry covers. Chuck Berry probably can't make a living at it any more.

Shouting Thomas said...

You don't have a clue what I do, jackass.

The ego attacks don't work on me.

I've been standing up in front of audiences several times a week for 50 years.

When you do that, moron, you are subject to constant criticism and attacks.

You'll have to try a different tactic. I've got the hide of an elephant.