The Thrill Is Gone
By Mitch Berg
Is it possible that Obama is losing his most cherished constituency?
The BBC reports of Barack Obama’s speech last night are about as derisive as it would be possible to be about someone you were describing only a few months ago as the incarnation of Hope and Optimism. Yes indeed, the romance is over. The British media have decided that it was all a cruel deception: Obama is just one more ranting populist president who will do anything to divert attention from his own failure to get a grip. And this is not just about BP and the fate of all those pension funds.
And his polls in Muslim countries are collapsing, too.
June 16th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I listened to the overnight World Service too. It seems the Brits have little patience with people who so obviously lack the capacity or gravitas to make executive decisions. In fact they were intimating this morning that Obama seems not the grasp the proper role of an executive. The love affair with leftist media is obviously over.
June 16th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Must -read blog post of the day:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/06/026536.php
It includes this quote from the lawyer Mitchell Stephens in the novel The Sweet Hereafter “I knew at once that it wasn’t an ‘accident’ at all. There are no accidents. I don’t even know what the word means, and I never trust anyone who says he does. I knew that somebody somewhere had made a decision to cut a corner.”
That’s Obama in a nutshell. He belongs in an ad for a personal injury law practice, not the Oval Office.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:20 am
The BBC thought Obama was a populist? Did they not notice who he hangs out with, whose values he embodies, and what he actually proposed? He’s supported TARP, which was an explicit bailout of the “elites”, he’s bailed out civil servants who are not exactly the exploited class in America, he’s crushed small business in America with one of the most monstrous pieces of paperwork and tax generating health legislation we’ve ever seen, and he’s just starting!
June 16th, 2010 at 8:56 am
I know the best way for Obama to regain his popularity in this country:
“Read my lips: NO. NEW. SPENDING.”
Of course the odds that he could keep that promise are worse than the original version.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Of course Obama lacks “the capacity or gravitas to make executive decisions”. He’s never had the training required. Duh, we were screaming it from the rooftops.
The incompetent people he has put in places of power are evidence of this.
Janet Napolitano. Eric Holder. Ken Salazar. A competent executive would have never hired them in the first place.
June 16th, 2010 at 9:13 am
You forget their qualifications, Kermit. A woman. A black. An hispanic.
He is the first affirmative action president, after all. He don’t want to pull up the ladder after he’s climbed the wall.
June 16th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Bucketloads of win in this comment thread, guys. Bravo!
June 16th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Oh yeah, and as for losing his most cherished constituency?
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/15/video-msnbc-hosts-dump-on-obamas-speech/
June 16th, 2010 at 10:13 am
“And his polls in Muslim countries are collapsing, too.”
Gosh, I sure am glad we govern by polls, and I’m sure glad you’re concerned about the opinions of Muslim countries. I sure am glad you were so concerned last administration too. The only thing consistent about conservative viewpoints is their hypocrisy.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:17 am
In 2004, we said that the Democrats need to run on something more then “I am not Bush”. In 2010 they ran on that but this time won. But now that they actually have to govern…..well……it’s a lot easier campaigning on being the anti-Bush then to actually have to lead.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:19 am
For the first time in years, I watched Jon Stewart last night. I was actually impressed. Here is a lefty who gets it. Obama and the Democrats ran largerly on Bush’s national defense policies…attacking various War on Terror policies. As Stewart correctly noted, Obama has kept every one of Bush’s WoT policies, and in some cases enhanced them. For example, trying to assassinate AQ leaders in Pakistan.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Yeah, Obama has brought new meaning to “un-manned drone”.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Pen,
I’m going to make it my mission to either teach you some semblance of logical thinking and writing, or at least “get” the joke wherein you, whom I know to be a thoroughly logical and articulate person, write in such a continuous stream of logical non-sequitur.
Gosh, I sure am glad we govern by polls, and I’m sure glad you’re concerned about the opinions of Muslim countries.
We do govern by polls; every two/four/six years.
And while I’m interested in the opinions of Muslims, it was in fact your side that claimed – constantly – that Obama was going to restore America’s mojo with the whole world. These polls measure the success – heh – of that claim and promise.
Do they not?
I sure am glad you were so concerned last administration too.
George W. Bush didn’t run for office on the premise that he’d make the French love us.
Being the most multiculturally-aware person you know, I am of course interested in what other societies think; unlike the “improve our standing!!!!” crowd, I don’t consider it dispositive to our policy.
The only thing consistent about conservative viewpoints is their hypocrisy.
INIGO MONTOYA: “I don’t think that word means what you think it means”.
You seem to think “hypocrisy” means “disagreeing with Penigma”.
Hypocrisy? What ethical stance am I demanding of others that I don’t hold to myself?
My stance on our relations with foreign societies is clear, unambiguous and consistent. The very opposite of hypocrisy.
Try again sometime!
June 16th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I think Obama just figured out that BP does not stand for “Bush Petroleum.” I watched a tape of Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann gnashing their teeth over Obama’s odd little speech. The tingle, it’s safe to say, is gone.
June 16th, 2010 at 11:17 am
I swear, I just kept waiting for Peebo to look the camera in the eye and say “Live, from New York; it’s Saturday Night!”
June 16th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Oh, BTW. Every time Peebo does, or says something dim-witted, I picture teh Peevee et. al. asshat dancing the day he was elected. And then I laugh.
Last night, I almost laughed myself to the floor.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAhaahahahahahahahaahaaaaa!
June 16th, 2010 at 11:47 am
I’m just thankful for Fox Sports North. I didn’t watch a minute othe 17 minutes of bullshit.
Go Twins!
June 16th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
The Peevish Boy by any other name is still a blathering Liberal Fascist Moonbat. (or maybe a Useful Idiot) (or would it be a command and control stateist)
…
So, Peevee, how well is Obama doing to better the Muslim countries view of the US?
And just what do you call setting up blog rules that you don’t follow? Yep, you are indeed a hypocrite.
Now run along back to your PenisBlog.
*pats him on the head*
June 16th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
“Kermit Says: I’m just thankful for Fox Sports North. I didn’t watch a minute of the 17 minutes of bullshit. Go Twins!”
Matt Lauer: Have you spoken directly with the CEO of BP?
Barack Obama: I have not spoken to him directly and here’s the reason, because my experience is, when you talk to a guy like the BP CEO, he’s going to say all the right things to me. I’m not interested in words. I’m interested in actions…
I shared the same sentiment as PBO. I wasn’t interested in listening to him so I watched the Twins instead.
June 16th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I’m interested in actions…
And can plainly observe the consequences of inaction. But the guy Obama put in charge (Chu) has a Nobel prize! He knows physics and everything! Trust us!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Obama; making the world pine for the competence of Jimmuh Cahtuh and the honesty of Bubba Clinton. (no relation)
June 16th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Mitch, we saw it coming a while ago:
The thrill is gone.
June 16th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Typical Peev. Leave a stinking diaper of a comment, and then scamper from the thread, leaving everyone else to comment on the smell.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
If the dem’s take a shellacking this fall look for Hillary! to make her move.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I doubt it will happen Terry, but it’d be pure pleasure to watch the Dems come apart at the seams if it does. Yippi!!!
June 16th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Come on Mitch, you missed the classic BB King reference that should have been in the post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqAuuIDU2sw