Obama the blame(less) duck
Today two columnists try to dish out the tasteless old pap claiming that, although Obama and the Democratic Party are tanking, it’s not the President’s fault.
The dauntless Obama apologist E.J. Dionne claims that it’s the Senate’s fault, as well as the fact that the Republicans somehow grabbed hold of the bully pulpit and got their message across while the Democrats (despite the help of most of the MSM) unaccountably failed to explain things properly. Now, where have we heard that before?
And then there’s this by Steve Chapman, who says that Obama has lost ground because of “things he can’t control.” I’ve read the piece twice, and I still can’t figure out exactly what those things might have been. Chapman cites presidential predecessors who had low popularity at a similar point in their terms, but he fails to mention that all of them showed far more flexibility at course correction than Obama, and that none of them had the advantage of the excessively fawning press that Obama has enjoyed till quite recently (some of them had the disadvantage of the exact opposite).
Both articles are similar to many others that have appeared ever since the January day one month ago when Scott Brown was elected. At the time everyone who was paying objective attention realized that a seismic shift had occurred in the Democrats’ fortunes, and that the only way Democrats could possibly reverse this trend would be to face reality. But neither of these columnists (nor the Democratic leaders, nor Obama) seems interested in taking such an approach.
But I wonder what they think will be accomplished by maintaining this high a level of denial. Do they really believe that staying the ultra-liberal course they’re on, and just “communicating the message” better, or trusting to chance, will turn things around? If so, they are delusional.
Or do they just believe that we’ll believe whatever they tell us, if they just phrase it better and more forcefully? If so, they are contemptuous of the voters. Why do they not realize that the common sense of the American people tells them otherwise, and that people don’t respect or trust those who continually lie to them?
Or are they just trying to keep their own base from panicking? If so, it is hard to know why this would be of that much help, or whether it’s even effective. I’ve spent enough time on liberal and left blogs to see that some pundits and commenters there definitely parrot the same message as these columns. But surely this cannot represent a sizable enough group to matter in the election of 2010.
You can fool some of the people some of the time….
It’s obvious. Obama talks too fast and too softly. And, he uses big words (more than 6 letters). If he would only slow the teleprompter down, use 6 letter words or less and shout what he has to say I’m sure we might get the message. If this does not work, he should try slowing the teleprompter down even more, using 4 letter words and shouting even louder. In time he will reach the right speed, reach all the way to 2 letter words (like “ta”) and volume.
Or do they just believe that we’ll believe whatever they tell us, if they just phrase it better and more forcefully?
This reminds me of monolingual Americans in a foreign country without a translator, who assume that if they speak louder and more slowly, that they will be understood.
IOW, the Obamanauts do not speak the language of mainstream Americans. Where have we heard this before? Clinging bitterly to guns and religion….
Yes. They believe that their worldview is so obviously correct that anyone who disagrees must not understand the message. And so they respond by repeating the message in a louder voice, and using words of fewer syllables, like Ugly Americans speaking English to foreigners. The idea that we actually understand their message perfectly and reject it is inconceivable to them.
Today’s incredible ducking of responsibility is Obama’s call for a bipartisan Deficit Commission!
Hello Mr. President, if spending is out of control take action to cut spending instead of talking about it!
Clueless is more accurate than blameless.
Oh boy, it’s starting to get nasty. No surprise there. If only we had a president with some executive experience, but we don’t, we have basically a glorified graduate student who seems like he’s on a Fulbright. Sigh.
Gringo,
A true story.
Many years ago I passed a Japanese restaurant around the corner from my office that advertised sushi and sashimi in the window. Not having tried either before that occasion and being of brave heart I entered the restaurant and sat at a table. A Japanese waitress came up to the table and asked what I wanted. I asked her what’s the difference between sushi and sashimi. She looked at me in disbelief and stated, Sushi, sushi. Sashimi, sashimi.” Still not understanding I asked again, what’s the difference between them. So, she responded, “SUSHI, SUSHI, SASHIMI, SASHIMI.”
Now that she shouted her response to me I could not let on that I still did not know the difference, so I confidentially ordered the sushi special.
When it arrived there was this little spot of green stuff on the plate. It looked more appetizing than the sushi so I ate it all in one bite (and within seconds thought I was going to die). I quickly stuffed all of the sushi in my mouth without tasting any of it and still thought I was going to be violently ill. I almost tackled the waitress to get me something to drink and as she rattled off soda, water, tea all I could do was shake my head “YES. YES. YES”.
Surprisingly, I went back and got to like the stuff. But, I still do not know the difference between sushi and sashimi (and no longer care to learn).
They’ve fallen into their own trap they laid by defining normal Americans as “far right wing” and what they’re doing is obviously more right and just. According to recent elections results we may see 70% of Americans in 2010 get defined as far right wingnuts by these liberals.
Reminds me of the mother watching her son marching out of step in the marching band and declaring “Thats my son! And look, hes the only one in step!”
According to Bill Maher we, the American people, are just not bright enough to know or care about what’s going on. We just want a strong leader because, like animals, we can sense strength 🙂
SAB,
If Maher is right, I must be a plant because I detect no strength whatsoever in The Won.
You can fool some of the people some of the time….
…but apparently you can fool all of the fools all of the time.
So how did we get to be so stupid between November 2008 and now, anyway?
The claim that Obama is not getting his message out is laughable. The guy has the most supportive media of any president in history, and he is on TV non stop. What may be happening is his message IS getting out, and people don’t like it.
The Dems see themselves as being on the two yard line of all their liberal dreams. They have the house, the senate, and the presidency. They just want to punch the ball into the end zone before time expires.
“If Maher is right, I must be a plant because I detect no strength whatsoever in The Won.”
You will note that often as not this means that Obama is failing, not that he is strong.
Yea, he was pre-election – after all he was The Real Deal. But now Harold Ford Jr (from NY no less – the land of the Brilliant) is so. Never mind that he couldn’t be elected in Tennessee (he is from NY after all, that Tennessee connection is simply a bogus characterization brought up by right wing hacks) due mainly to corruption, but now he knows all, sees all, and is all.
So you are being consistent with that idea. They were simply looking at how strong he was from an intellectual point (being intellectuals and all – they never understand the common man) and never realized they have to look from a no brain idiot point of view such as yours. As such people like Harold Ford Jr will sweep that nation as he can do both. Obama doesn’t know how to relate to any one but other Brainiacs who know everything – is it any wonder the so called “average” (hah hah, yea average) person can’t fathom him?
Pfft, that you didn’t see this only reinforces their idea of you as having an inability to think for yourself – go join the group and think exactly as they do!!!
“Do they really believe that staying the ultra-liberal course they’re on, and just “communicating the message” better…will turn things around?”
Yes, since they’ve talked nonsense and it didn’t work, they’re going to move right on to “talking in tongues”. Or is it close enough as is?
Ohhh, I hope, I ^hope^ they (the Obamanauts) really believe their own story, and keep on doing exactly what they’ve been doing! I ^hope^ . . .
M J R
.
If they believe that they can convince Iran mullahs to quit with nukes, why not to believe that they can convince ordinary americans quit with their freedoms? The simple fact that different people can hold all-important to them, but different beliefs, never occured to chatter class.
Neo,
They are ALWAYS in denial. Anyone who thinks that “What’s the Matter with Kansas” is a good explanation of how Republicans get votes is in denial. Or insane.
Neo, I think you give the Democrats too much credit when you posit that they must be either delusional or contemptuous. And indeed, if they were rational and healthy souls, they would have to be one or the other. But since they’re not rational and don’t have healthy souls, it is quite possible for them to be delusional and contemptuous at the same time.
Contradictory beliefs can be, and often are, held closely by those whose grasp on reality is not perhaps as tight.
Like many others, I have wondered how the sensitive, grateful and enlightened souls who Hosannah’d Obama into the Messiah Seat could have devolved, in only a year, into thuggish Neanderthals snapping at the divine hands seeking to feed and protect them.
It’s a puzzle.
It’s a puzzle.
Askmom: I was not attempting to indicate that those two things were mutually exclusive at all. Perhaps instead of the word “or” I might have used the phrase “and/or,” but I certainly believe both things are possible at the same time.