Awesome.

A class act. Michelle, too. I can't imagine, and don't even want to try, waking up every morning with the McCains in the White House. Thank you, fellow Americans, for this wonderful gift.

Probably the most 'real' president of my lifetime.

They're even standing on George Bush's Oval Office rug of optimism and leadership, qualities that were sorely lacking in the prior administration.

Another great photo of Mr. President here

That first link in my comment should go here. (The other one doesn't seem to work on my browser.)

Don't let FOX News see this...they'll report it as the President bowing down before a Muslim boy king.

oh, that just made me cry...

The picture, of course, not the previous comment.

If you believe in this President at all you better stand up, because they are trying to destroy him as we speak.
Rush's latest rant is that President Obama didn't inherit a mess - he inherited America and if he thinks that's a mess...

The conservatives are fully engaged in a narrative that states things were terrific under George Bush, but the minute Obama came in he started huge government spending because he doesn't believe in the Constitution, or freedom. They say this is all because he is a socialist, and their adoring dumb-ass fans are lapping it up. You know: The ones who think Sarah Palin is brilliant.

They have poisoned the American soul with this crap and it's only getting worse. Rupert Murdoch recently pronounced Obama, "dangerous."

In the midst of this, President Obama flies to Cairo and gives the first honest appraisal of the Middle East in decades. So now he's going to get a huge backlash from that.

I wish my parents had lived to hear a US President say the obvious point about Israel: Does the fact that they've been mistreated throughout history give them the right to slaughter the Palestinians into the ground?

Wouldn't you think if there was one group of people who would understand the pain of being tortured and killed in a brutal occupation, it would be the Jews? Why do they want to do it to someone else? It's hurting their souls.

Bullies are like balloons. They look big and impressive until someone pops the balloon. President Obama had the courage to do that and now he will no doubt pay the price.

I always wondered as we waded through this endless swamp of phony, pragmatic politicians like Nancy Pelosi, etc... why someone just didn't say, "I don't care about the political fallout. I'm going to do what I think is right." That was the speech in Cairo, folks.

It was an inspirational move and I hope President Obama lives to grow old.

Bill, I wouldn't worry too much about the new Rush-Lars narrative. These guys were too stupid to wait nine months or a year to crank it up. Here it is less than six months after Bush, and suddenly the whole mess started with Obama. Even the people who listen to them every day aren't stupid enough to buy that. Let them prattle on -- they lose credibility with every word.

I had a very liberal education as a kid. At my elementary school in the mid-70s, they used to sit us down every year and have us watch "Free to Be You and Me." My teachers instilled in me the belief that everyone is equal and that we should be kind to one another. And then I grew up and discovered that the world is not what I learned it was in grade school.

This picture makes be believe that my childhood understanding of the world is still possible.

"... the new Rush-Lars narrative." [Dubbed "Talk Journalism" by them, FYI, which is more oxymoronic than 'military intelligence.' Perhaps it's hopeful that the liars attach themselves to 'Journalism' at the time Journalism falls into the grave.] "Even the people who listen to them every day aren't stupid enough to buy that." Jack, you are so wrong, misoverestimating the stupidity of haters who crave being lied to in order to 'get their adrenaline fix.' Like most normal folks, Jack, you canNOT fathom how deep DeepStupid is.

Did you notice the absolute radio silence, first mute about the talk-radio junkie who murdered Dr. Tiller, and second mute about the talk-radio junkie who murdered the security guard at the Holocaust Museum? Murderers are the hate-talk audience.

O'Reilly and Fox News will have more right-wing vigilantism to explain, Eric Boehlert, June 09, 2009 {Notice: posted the day before the murderer in the Museum}

Excerpt: Why the silence? Because militia-style vigilante rhetoric has become a cornerstone of the conservative media movement in America, and it's now proudly championed by Fox News on a nearly hourly basis.

- -

"... they are trying to destroy [civil government] ... conservatives are fully engaged."

However, Bill, it turns out that all of them right-wingers "fully engaged" totally at the same time, is a piddly self-marginalized splinter group which Obama's example and the normal-folks Majority can safely ignore. 'Ignore' except for knowing that law enforcement is hunting down the hate-talk fringe freaks, in bunkers, insanely dumbed down by radio lamebrains and liars.

Conservative media freak-out: ... (Dept.Homeland Security) targeting conservatives in report on right-wing extremists -- [Video at link]

Bill M: speaking of Obama's speech, Sam Smith relayed this interesting tidbit:

John Caruso, Distant Ocean - I decided to read Obama's speech again, but this time with a mind cleared of all prejudice and preconceptions-and as much as it pains me to say so given how hard I've been on him in the past, I have to admit I was impressed to hear an American politician (finally) say some of these things. Let's look at a few excerpts. First, there was the deference for Muslim culture and traditions:

"We have great respect for the commitment that all Muslims make to faith, family, and education. And Americans of many backgrounds seek to learn more about the rich tradition of Islam. . . I have asked young Americans to study the language and customs of the broader Middle East. And for the first time in our nation's history, we have added a Koran to the White House Library.". . .

The flip side of his respect for Islam was the way he used the secular and inclusive "E Pluribus Unum" to characterize the U.S. rather than the more divisive or religious alternatives favored by some other presidents I could mention:

"Our country's citizens come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, which has enabled us to realize the vision embodied in our first national motto: 'E Pluribus Unum,' meaning 'Out of many, one.'"

These are all just platitudes, you might say (and I wouldn't argue with you) - but consider the importance of this respectful approach, given the audience. And in any case, there were plenty of specifics as well, like his commitment to a state of Palestine and his recognition of the suffering of the Palestinians:

"I'm committed to two democratic states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security. I'm committed to a Palestinian state that has territorial integrity and will live peacefully with the Jewish state of Israel. . .

"Israel also has a large stake in the success of a democratic Palestine. Permanent occupation threatens Israel's identity and democracy. A stable, peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to achieve the security that Israel longs for. So I challenge Israel to take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state. . .

"Israeli settlement activity in occupied territories must stop. And the occupation must end through withdrawal to secure and recognize boundaries consistent with United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338. . . Israel should also show a respect, a respect for and concern about the dignity of the Palestinian people who are and will be their neighbors."

And then there were his thoughtful overtures to the people of Iran and his embrace of multilateralism on a host of global issues. . .

"Let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran. . . "

Yes, it was quite a speech. After reading it a second time I think I can almost begin to understand the ecstatic praise so many liberals offered Obama after they heard it (which I admit I first thought was not only embarrassing but dangerously naive). After all, who could fail to respond to such an intelligent, thoughtful, nuanced, articulate, compassionate attempt to begin a genuine dialogue with the rest of the world? . . .

There's just one problem: none of these quotes were actually taken from Barack Obama's speech. Not a single word. They are quotes from an American president, though. No points for guessing which one at this point, but if you need a hint I can tell you that he was in office from January of 2001 through January of 2009. . .

Bill,

The electorate understood in 2006 that it wasn't just George W Bush who gave us the mess we found ourselves in - it took a lot of others supporting him in Congress. He was merely the drum major at the front of the parade of idiots.

They understood this again in 2008. And if Rush and his ilk continue this disingenious attack, count on 2010 going the same way - along with more defections from moderate Republicans who must be feeling their skin crawl every time Cheney opens his mouth.

"Commitment to family:"

Enslavement of women

Honor killings

Stoning of young girls

GWSeldes,
Yes, W said those things as all the pundits pointed out that day. But as with so many things with W, it was lip service. He took one side in the Middle East - you know that.
This thing will never be settled if we take one side over the other. So it depends: Are you trying to bring about the End Times as some of W's people wanted or are we trying to solve this with genuine peace?
Incidentally, the End Times crowd added a nice twist when they claim trying to get peace in the Middle East could mean you're the anti-Christ. Now that's some weapons-grade spin.

The part of the Obama's speech that I was astounded to hear was the admission that we toppled the democratically elected government of Iran back in the 1950s. That was the beginning of why they started hating us.
That part usually gets the "apology tour" label from the right wing, but I thought it was encouraging. It's harder to argue the typical right wing BS about them hating us for our freedom when we admit they had good reason to hate us. We trained their secret police under the Shah and they were brutal to the people of Iran.
For too long, we've ignored history in favor of feel-good propaganda and it's only led to more heartbreak in the Middle East and for us.

Haven't you ever grown tired of how high-maintenance the place is?
Wouldn't it be fun to have a new problem for a change?

I'll always be involved having grown up there, but I've made a separate peace - to take the title of that John Knowles book. I'm no longer letting it affect me as much, but I can say it was life-changing to read the text of Obama's Middle East speech the other morning. Finally, someone said it. All of it.
To use Jack's word above: I felt a little hope.

Wow, you guys are still all googly eyes for this guy. I don't (never did) see in him what you all see in him; but to each his/her own. However, it does amaze me how much you folks drool over him.

It wasn't that long ago that the federal budget topped $1 trillion of annual spending (during the W years). Obama is now presiding over a $3.5 trillion budget, with a projected deficit that exceeds $1.8 trillion for 2009 and $1.2 trillion for 2010.

That means we are borrowing more money annually than we previously spent in total just a few years ago.

Our Federal Government is too big and it has too much influence over our daily lives. President Obama is proposing that we make it bigger and give it more influence and pay for it with our national credit card. 1970's inflation and the collapse of the U.S. Dollar is the likely result.

Native Oregonian,
When President Obama ran for office, my comment was, "I just want to be disappointed by someone I like this time."
And it's true. I have been disappointed by a bunch of things he's done or more specifically hasn't done.
For example I think it's a threat to justice everywhere when we don't address the crimes of the previous administration.
I think it's wrong and a mistake, especially as they travel the country bragging about their war crimes and undermining events today.
I do remind myself that Obama is just the President. There is a limit to what he can accomplish. We do have a military-industrial complex in charge of an empire here. You can't just go after their existence wholesale.

Lately, when I see the vitriolic attacks spewing from what remains of the Republican Party, I feel like this is a time to show some commitment. This is not like George Bush and his fans, whom I compared many times to teenage girls looking at a dumb, reckless high school loser with puppy love in their hearts.

But this thing with the Middle East - that was the type of move that makes me admire a leader. It is so easy to keep the status quo message - and so politically difficult to address the truth there.

Last night I turned on the radio and heard a comment that backed up my fears. This caller said, "Why should we give rights to detainees? They hate us for our freedom, our system of government, and our way of life, so why should they get the rights we enjoy?"

The guy practically said, "We're nifty. That's why they hate us. We're so nifty."
Then you get the bit about their hatred being driven by religious fanaticism. Heck, there has to be some reason why they'd be so mad, right?

The important thing President Obama did is to describe the history of the Middle East in a way that explained why the people who do hate us, hate us.
It's not because we're so nifty and enjoy a free lifestyle.

It's because we went to their countries and inflicted great harm on them. Most Americans act like the people of the Middle East should be honored that the USA took the time to drop by and inflict huge amounts of pain on them.

They were not. In fact, it infuriated them just as it would infuriate us if people came here and did it to us.

After a mountain of BS about what happened, it was extremely refreshing to hear a US President who gets it and is not afraid to say it.

At that point I realized President Obama - in this area - had done something great and I wish him a long life.

What he did took courage - the kind W wouldn't know about.

The only courage W showed was getting back up after he fell off his bicycle.

The only courage W showed was getting back up after he fell off his bicycle.

And wearing that gold belt buckle with the Presidential Seal all the time. that was pretty courageous, too.

I'm with Bill. Obama is so far beyond the frightening ignorance of Bush that many don't know what to do. Attacks by the purple-faced ragings of a Limbaugh or Fox News sound like a person fading in the rear-view mirror, standing beside the highway shaking their fist, angry that you won't give them a ride.

More simply, Obama holds up an idea that Bush could hardly fathom: a nation can strive towards greatness without having to adopt the fascist mantle of unquestioning patriotism, ideological extremism, and claims of racial/cultural superiority.

And in the face of that idea, Limbaugh sounds like a petulant child who can't get enough of its candy. Obama's speech in Cairo, on the other hand, sounds like an honest, grownup effort at exercising wisdom, an almost anacrhonistic idea these days.

or as Lincoln might have re-said in Cairo, "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"

I never bought into the "hope-ium" high that most of the nation seems to still be on. I'm glad to have a President that isn't a complete tight-ass, but I'm also very concerned with the trajectory that the economic policy is sending us on.

• They are trying to borrow and spend to prop up the economy. This didn't start with Obama (see: TARP) but is accelerating.

• You can't borrow money that people aren't loaning. Russia is talking about buying back bonds; China is making waves; etc.

• The only option left is to fire up the printing press, causing massive Zimbabwe-esque inflation and economic collapse.

Granted, I am no economist, and who the hell knows how many Nobel laureates he has working on this; but you can't strike out on this one.

I have always thought we were in for a much higher class of disappointment from Obama. What I didn't anticipate is how much he would continue the very worst of Bush policies, particularly in the "national security" arena (refusing to enforce the law in particular).

This morning's paper has the WA Post cheering about Obama's failure to deal with mountaintop removal mining.

To give you an idea, this is the same paper that was cheerleading Bush's Iraq adventure. It's amazing how well Obama's being a "rock star" has blinded people to what he's actually doing.

http://is.gd/YVrj

You know, I'm with you on a lot of this. The economy stuff sounds like a giant rip-off. I sure as hell hope someone knows what they're doing.
There are other areas - many - where President Obama is being pragamatic or downright Bush-like. That's exactly why it was so dangerous when Bush was seizing more and more power for the executive.
It's very tough to get the government to give power back.

So don't look to me for a "Our guy is right" mentality. That's another thing I hated about the last 8 years.

But let's not destroy him just because he's not your guy. Just for the political sport of it. Let's not say "Obama seized the car companies because he wants to own everything and socialize it." If the government hadn't stepped in the companies would have folded. Now maybe that would have been better - I don't know. But to say it was a scheme born of Obama's love of socialism is flat out BS, and the right wing has to know it.

I tend to support this President more than others because of the times: If President Obama fails, there's a good chance America is finished.

I'm going to be critical too, but I'm going to support the guy, because in the only area where I really do have some extra knowledge, President Obama got it right...in a speech anyway. It already had an impact in the elections in Lebanon.

Let's see more action. Let's get out of Iraq. We can't afford to have a bigger "defense" budget than the rest of the world COMBINED. Let's take back America from the military industrial complex. Let's audit the Federal Reserve.

It's not morning in America anymore.

"I'm committed to two democratic states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security..

Im sorry, but I just dont see that happening. The Arab countries wont let it happen.

-Bill McDonald-
Let's audit the Federal Reserve.

I like it. How about the IMF and the World Bank while we're at it?

I don't get it. Just because he invites a child (who happens to be the same race as he is) to feel his hair, all of a sudden he is mending all of the wounds of a nation? The President is an amateur basically driven by his liberal/juvenile view of the word and his policies and actions up to this time prove it.

I am sorry to say, "Warm and Fuzzy" does not pay the bills. And from what I can tell neither do the imaginary 3,000,000 "green jobs" that he has failed to produce as promised.

It's amazing how well Obama's being a "rock star" has blinded people to what he's actually doing.

I hear you, especially on the environment where he's average.

But I also don't expect him to solve every problem, here and abroad. And given that the previous President was basically offering the environment on fire sale, there's a long list of environmental disasters that are improved just by Bush being gone.

and I'm not expecting the Federal government to solve the economic crisis, because the tools it has are heavy and blunt--like trying to mow a yard with a 30-pound sledgehammer. what the Feds can (and should) do best is to protect the citizenry from the corporate beasts that attempt to (and usually succeed at) eating our lunch every day.

overall, in other words, Obama's not perfect, but he replaced someone who did damage that will take an entire generation to undo. and in a world of multiple global crises, averting multi-generational war and violence is as good a crisis to pick as any.

meanwhile, I'll hold Obama's feet to the fire on the environment.

One thing I'm sure of: President Obama will learn from the job, and he will become better at it.

Remember the last few years of President Bush where our best hope was that he lost interest?

Dick Gregory made a good comparison. He said President Obama became the pilot of the plane after it had already hit the geese. He's just trying to land it safely in the river now.

To think I used to fret during the Bush years when we'd owe a billion more every night. Oh course, he never counted the costs of the wars in the budget so it was much worse. God, what a loser.

I'm aware of the roles of Clinton and many others including Henry Paulson, but I don't think it's disputable that our present nation-threatening crisis was entirely avoidable if we hadn't had Commander Jumpsuit in charge. God, what an idiot.

Sorry Bill -
Almost every post that I've seen you write on this blog is a big Obama supporter. About the only thing might be that he hasn't pushed through as liberal an agenda as you'd like/thought that he was going to. Give him time, he has what, another 3 1/2 years?

You stated, "When President Obama ran for office, my comment was, "I just want to be disappointed by someone I like this time."

I didn't like him when he campaigned. I wasn't thrilled with McCain, but Obama always came across to me as a fake, and he still does. Everyone puts him in the mold of a rock star; I've figured out that he is different than that, he is a talking head. He 'looks' pretty for the cameras and he can't talk unless he has a teleprompter in front of him. He never misses a photo op and don't get me started on his policies - none of which I like.

Again, to each his/her own, but I never trusted the man prior to the election and so far I have no reason to trust or believe him now. I didn't think Bush was fantastic, but I didn't think he was Hitler either. I am/was just amazed at how 'heads-in-the-clouds' so many people on this blog STILL are over Obama. As my daughter would say, He's not all that and a bag of chips; which he thinks he is.

As my daughter would say, He's not all that and a bag of chips; which he thinks he is.

Interesting, he doesnt strike me that way at all. Actually, to me, he seems to be the least egocentric president of my lifetime.

Native Oregonian,
Let's just look at your one line: "He 'looks' pretty for the cameras and he can't talk unless he has a teleprompter in front of him."

If you think he's "pretty" that's your opinion - you're entitled to your own private feelings. I think he looks handsome and intelligent especially compared to the Dukes of Hazzard-version of a President we just had.

But that teleprompter thing is so desperate. At this moment President Obama is answering questions at a town hall in Green Bay. He's proved many times that he can talk in public at press conferences. His answers sometimes sound like they were off a teleprompter because they're so coherent. Unlike the last guy, he can wing it without putting the comedy industry of America on Condition Red high alert.

This part actually fascinates me: The right wing - after giving us a President who said so many outrageously screwed up things that entire cottage industries flourished just to keep track of them - is now going after President Obama for not being able to talk without a teleprompter.

Good luck with that.

Luke P: Sorry, but if you don't get the significance of that picture, there is no hope for you.

Who the f*** cares whether he is telegenic or can speak in complete sentences. These things have nothing to do with his ability gover.

As far as I am concerned his policies (at least where they matter) are a continuation of the bush legacy. The man has proven himself to be a tool of banksters and oligarchs. (And I am one of the morons who voted for him and donated money to his campaign.)

As far as I am concerned his policies (at least where they matter) are a continuation of the bush legacy.

He's:
(1) Reversed Bush policy on drilling.
(2) Reversed Bush policy on stem cell research.
(3) Reversed Bush policy that blocked auto emissions improvement.
(4) Reversed Bush efforts to nearly nullify the Endangered Species Act.
(5) Reversed Bush policy on aid to organizations providing birth control and abortion access.

And that's a short list, accomplished by a guy in office *four months*. He's sidelined or blocked a long lis at of other Bush policies and last-minute efforts.

so far, attempting to describe him as a Bush clone seems highly inaccurate at best, and surrealy perverse at worst.

I love Obama, think he's making a lot of progress on important issues. Sure, he's neglecting some in order to focus on others, but that's just efficient resource management and prioritization in light of the current political climate.

On the other hand, I can also understand conservatives failing to get on board. Many radical liberals were just as bad in excoriating Bush for things he didn't deserve (though he deserved quite a bit, IMO). And, Obama really does believe in and represent some things that go fundamentally against the conservative agenda of smaller government, and conservatives should definitely play the role of the loyal opposition by vetting any and all programs.

The problem is that the Republicans failed themselves to uphold the conservative fundamentals. There are many legitimate discussions to be had, but the extreme camps of the cons/lib spectrums now dominate our political discourse. This is ironic in that Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama all have been pretty middle of the road politicians within their parties.

Obama had to address the economic crisis first, and he was presented with two options - rip the band-aid off, or take it off slowly. Either way, he gets criticized by somebody. We'll only know later if it worked. If all the spending even minimizes the downturn, then some additional tax revenue will be available to pay back this debt. If Obama really does believe in balanced budgets, ala Bill Clinton, then we'll pay this back and leave the country's credit in stellar shape when it's all said and done. Conservatives had a chance to do just that when they inherited a surplus and failed to do so. Also, conservatives trumpeted the economic sense it made for George to engage in deficit spending in light of the 2001-2002 recession, but they never paid those back, and now it makes no sense to them. Hypocrites. Deficit spending is fine, if you pay it back!

Plus, green jobs and peace dividends really are the only way to have "sustainable" economic success. Conservatives seemt to never care about 7 generations in the future.

George Anonymuncule Seldes, if you're going to post long stuff, you ought to at least try to find the link. Plenty more on the same theme at A Tiny Revolution.

Oh come on Bill -
The man is coherent???? I beg to differ. EVERY time I've heard him answer questions beyond his prepared speech his answers are constantly and liberally peppered with "Ah, um, er, well, um, er ..." I mean I can't really listen to the guy for more than about 3 minutes. I go to places where the text version of his talk and question and answer session are. He is a horrible speaker off the cuff. He appears to be getting better, but he has a LONG ways to go in that area. When he does the long pauses, the uhs, the ahs the aaaaa - it makes it sound (to me) like his grasp of the issues isn't what it should be. I'll admit, I didn't like the man and he has done nothing to change my view. I'll admit that anyone who got the job of President would have had his (or her) hands full; but so far, he just doesn't impress me. Many other are impressed, glad it's a free country.

The man is coherent???? I beg to differ. EVERY time I've heard him answer questions beyond his prepared speech his answers are constantly and liberally peppered with "Ah, um, er, well, um, er

yeah, like this extemporaneous speech. what a bumbler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiTrDkpycm4

There was no way any Republican was going to win the White House in 2008. Bush pretty much sealed the deal but when everyone's 401K's tanked before November that was that.

I see Obama as a well intentioned, caring man, but without administrative experience. The unemployment numbers need to turn around pretty darn quiok or this honeymoon will be over.

Just as Carter was the logical result of the Nixon era Obama is the logical result of the Bush era. And, like Carter, I think he will be a one term president.

When you come up with the next Reagan, let us know. Right now you've got Sarah Palin. LMAO.

Obama is genuinely likable.

If he was my neighbor, I'd probably loan him tools without worrying if they'd be returned.

I'm sure that I'd want to have him over to my Superbowl party.

I completely get that he's an incredibly likeable guy who inspires large segments of our country in these trying times.

Can any of you Obama supporters think back to the months following 9/11 and remember how it made you feel when Pres. Bush hugged that firefighter on the smoldering mound of the WTC?

Doesn't remembering now with your current view of Bush give you a sense of cognitive dissonance?

That's how I feel when I watch Obama. I think he's a good man, with a good heart but I'm just not so sure about the direction we're headed.

I want to believe that the extraordinary measures our government is taking/continuing are short-term fixes to dire problems, and that we'll abandon them when the problems subside.

Then I remember how often short term government solutions just become the new way of "doing business".

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/25/news/telephonetax_refund/index.htm

It wasn't that long ago that the federal budget topped $1 trillion of annual spending (during the W years). Obama is now presiding over a $3.5 trillion budget, with a projected deficit that exceeds $1.8 trillion for 2009 and $1.2 trillion for 2010

The first $1 trillion budget was 1987: Reagan was President. My mistake.

Bush 43 actually submitted the first $2 trillion budget (in 2002). I regret the error. Either way, we are spending too much money as a percent of GDP and the confluence of rising interest payments (to service the debt) and entitlement spending (which is rising as a result of demographics and new benefits) will destroy the dollar.

I think he's a good man, with a good heart but I'm just not so sure about the direction we're headed.

given that he's been in office all of about four months, your uncertainty is understandable.

I've found it interesting how tempted folks are to proclaim him a failure or "business as usual" guy, despite astounding evidence already piled up to the contrary.

and "much less bad" isn't something to dismiss with a wave of the hand--in his brief tenure, he's already undone dozens of ridiculous, blatant, last-minute efforts by Bush to repay his corporate bedfellows.

given that, and the swaths of scorched earth that Bush left us here and abroad, how conclusive--and how harsh--can judgement of Obama be at this point?

Conservatives in this country have been buoyed by incessant "Obama is a fascist/socialist" doomsday cries from Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly...

...But how come they conveniently omit that socialists in this country think Obama is Republican-lite? Because they've got Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich (?) and a pocketful of lint. In other words, when it comes to countering what America feels intuitively about Obama, the GOP has got very little.

But hey, they do have 'fear' going for them in spades.

Perhaps the editor of Newsweek, Evan Thomas, spoke for many of my fellow Americans recently with such statements as:

"I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God."

and

"We're understanding what Obama is. He is the great teacher. He is this guy that stands above everybody....But, he stands above everybody and says, 'Now, listen. You people have to stop blaming each other unreasonably. You have to get along here and I am going to show you the way.'"

Now, the mindless, fawning followers of Bush scared the hell out of me, but that is the Editor of Newsweek speaking, folks.

The press will have a lot to answer for when Camelot Lite implodes in hyperinflation & corruption. It's already starting to fray at the edges - Dirty Eric Holder, enabler of the Clinton pardons, has just dropped default judgments against three "New Black Panthers" who intimidated poll watchers and voters in Philly while Obama operatives stood by & did nothing (an affidavit was given by old line Dem Liberal Bartle Bull, saying it was the worst case of intimidation he'd seen). And with the sterling characters of ACORN having an official hand in the 2010 Census, we can look forward to lots of fun. Obama isn't the Antichrist, just another Chicago pol with a past that won't stand a close look, a lot of dubious groups to pay back and the gift of gab. As Mencken said, democracy is the theory that the people know what they want & deserve to get it good and hard. This tingly-legged adulation will look very funny someday. I'll sit back & await the chorus of "Yeah, but Bush/Cheney/name-your-villain were worse", but these things are happening now & could be stopped if the press would stop the fawning. You ain't seen nothing yet.

The press will have a lot to answer for when Camelot Lite implodes in hyperinflation & corruption.

Pretty far out there, aren't you? Holding the *press* responsible for the performance of the Obama administration? Are you serious?

I'll sit back & await the chorus of "Yeah, but Bush/Cheney/name-your-villain were worse

I have a different suggestion: why not instead sit forward and try and do *your* part to make a difference in the world? Are you out there, trying to influence policy and 3,000-year-old geopolitics on a daily basis?

no?

And with the sterling characters of ACORN having an official hand in the 2010 Census

ah. now I understand. you just cut and paste this stuff as it's regurgitated to you.

nevermind.

Obama is one incredibly gifted guy. The Natural. Four more years!

I've found it interesting how tempted folks are to proclaim him a failure or "business as usual" guy, despite astounding evidence already piled up to the contrary.

But, then, you're so easily astounded...

...no surprise there.

I've found it interesting how blithely "folks" proclaim him to be a success or a fulfillment of their fevered dreams of a saviour when what's "piled up" so far is that, leaving aside his Bushian economic policies, he's Jimmy Carter redux.

The fact that others have pointed that out is no refutation of the assertion.

The thought of cleaning up his yet undiscovered piles is not a pleasant one.

Indulging another lightweight would seem to be bad form after Bush.

First Master Billy notwithstanding.

Don't hang around the sacristy after Mass, Bill...

... no good can come of it.

Poor Ecohuman, mesmerized by a belt buckle, missed the civics class where the role of the press as a check on abuse of political power was discussed - the press never tires of reminding us of it, even as they now abdicate it in a festival of genuflection. It is, and I am, serious. Are you? And please tell me, since you claim to know, where I found 'this stuff' to cut and paste in regurgitated form. Or is it no longer permitted to question the activities of The Leader's former client, on pain of accusation of plagiarism or parrotting? I do my best to influence policy, but you would have to explain your '3000-year old geopolitics' - it's well beyond my powers. (Must be the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite etc., but who knows?)
Obama's combination of eloquence, albedo and 'correct' politics have given us press toadying like we've never had before.

I've found it interesting how blithely "folks" proclaim him to be a success or a fulfillment of their fevered dreams of a saviour

Me too. But I've done neither. neither has Bill M.; neither has Jack, for that matter.

you see, conflating everything to try and construct that conclusion doesn't fly with thinking people, cc. you can try, but it's unconvincing.

Poor Ecohuman, mesmerized by a belt buckle, missed the civics class where the role of the press as a check on abuse of political power was discussed

nice try. I forgot to look at my diagram of federal government where "Press" is listed. and besides, oh taker of names from Wikipedia, just because somebody calls themselves "the press" doesn't make it so.

Obama's combination of eloquence, albedo and 'correct' politics have given us press toadying like we've never had before.

if you think the press is "worshipping" him is unprecedented, then you weren't reading a newspaper in the week after 9/11.

And please tell me, since you claim to know, where I found 'this stuff' to cut and paste in regurgitated form. Or is it no longer permitted to question the activities of The Leader's former client, on pain of accusation of plagiarism or parrotting?

casually rattling off a string of insinuations doesn't make you the press either, my friend. but tell you what--post an explanation--with the facts you've found yourself--of why the entire Acorn organization is corrupt and out to both sabotage the last election and the upcoming Census, and I'll listen attentively.

I'm gonna throw up! And Cabbie, take a break from Matthews with a dose of Fox.

"Mathews" IS "FOX" -- all pay TV is fascism foaming on the boil, when you consider it ... although beheld otherwise in the blindfolded eyes of those already so overdosed and hate-drugged that they have no ration to consider with ... oh, nevermind ....

... fringe players now see their deepest [hallucinatory] fears legitimized by so-called mainstream outlets.

- -
So many Topic:Obama Comments surprised me to see how much there is pent up -- both expectations unfulfilled by and excrements unflung on the Presiding Officer in Government.

Perhaps here is an example, of an instance, no one has heard of; no massmind media has indoctrinated spin to -- 'mainstream' 'rightwing' 'liberal' or otherwise; and no comparisons can be made of Obama handling it different from any other president ... so each of us in witness is out here on our own to figure up some way to think it makes sense, (i.e., try to understand it as fact), unrehearsed and uncoached, using only our natural brain's skillful deductive grasp and perceptive inductive inference:

2 Japanese carrying $134 bil worth of U.S. bonds detained in Italy, Japan Today (News and Discussion), Thursday 11th June, 06:18 AM JST

So, whaddup wit dat? Whatcha think?

Should Obama even do anything or take notice?

Should the Obama-fawning/Obama-freaking 'mainstream media' report to you this news or give the slightest notice?

Whatcha think when you're on your own to think at the time the information reaches you -- can your worldview explain for you understanding what's going on in the specifics of this instance? ... or is 134 billion dollars worth of loose T-bills not on your worldview radar screen?

Ecohuman - As to "press", put down your 'diagram of the federal government" & pick up the Constitution - it's mentioned there, in Amendment No. 1. Do you honestly think the role of the press in a democracy is not to keep an eye on the government? Or only when the enemy is in the White House? As to the rest, I don't take assignments from morons, nor do I pretend to be the press. Acorn's crimes are amply documented for anyone with unbiased curiosity. And I "took" the name from a real book I read about 20 years ago - I suspect you resorted to Wikipedia for a quick check, in lieu of consulting anything not on the Gore reading list. Write a 5 page essay on why you are an "Ecohuman" & I'll listen attentively. Failing that, this has become a waste of time. Have a nice day.

"... think the role of the press in a democracy ...."

Yeah, I'm thinking that. Only there is no one, party or institution, acting in the role.

'The Press' is (brain)dead. Those whose info diet succors there are malnourished now and shriveled.

Long live The Internet. It's 2-way interactive, see? Those who got nothing to bring are cut off.

... House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) pinned the blame for his party’s current failures ... :

“We’re digging ourselves out of a deep hole,” [Republicans, rightwingers, that is]

“We took it in the shorts with Bush-Cheney, the Iraq War, and by sacrificing fiscal responsibility to hold power.”

... but that's just me, in an aside to LALAweTHICK-a ... LALAweNoThink-a ... LALAweCan'tHearU

- -

What I was going to say about Obama, on topic, is this other thing on Think Progress .ORG (scrolling down), 'below the fold' in today's issue of Think Fast:

... finally: At yesterday’s town hall meeting in Wisconsin, John Corpus stood to ask President Obama a question about health care. However, he also informed Obama that his daughter, Kennedy, was skipping school to be at the event and hopefully wouldn’t get in trouble. “Do you need me to write a note?” Obama said. His note read: “To Kennedy’s teacher: Please excuse Kennedy’s absence. She’s with me. Barack Obama.” Kennedy said that it “was like the best thing ever.”

Obama not only reads good teleprompter, he as well writes it good.

Ecohuman - As to "press", put down your 'diagram of the federal government" & pick up the Constitution - it's mentioned there, in Amendment No. 1. Do you honestly think the role of the press in a democracy is not to keep an eye on the government?

Make up your mind. First, you said "The press will have a lot to answer for when Camelot Lite implodes in hyperinflation & corruption", but now you're saying the role of the press is to "keep any eye on the government".

of *course* the press is important. of *course* a free press is important. but I don't hold "Newsweek" or "Rush Limbaugh" or "Fox News" responsible for the actions of my government. I hold my *government* responsible for its actions.

As to the rest, I don't take assignments from morons, nor do I pretend to be the press. Acorn's crimes are amply documented for anyone with unbiased curiosity.

thanks for that. do you take information from morons, though? as for the "ample documentation"--do you mean by the press? document by whom? I'm not finding those "crimes" that conclude Acorn is "corrupt" and responsible for sabotaging the previous election and the upcoming Census.

you get this, right? you're lambasting the press for "worshipping" Obama, but cherry-picking whatever "sources" support the Acorn corruption conclusion?

And I "took" the name from a real book I read about 20 years ago - I suspect you resorted to Wikipedia for a quick check, in lieu of consulting anything not on the Gore reading list.

that's an interesting coincidence, since "Lalawethika" is an early name given to "Tenskwatawa".

I said Matthews, not Mathews. What drivel!

Egohuman - Brownie point for the Lala -Tensky connection (from the evil Wikipedia, I'll guess), which is no coincidence. Dig deeper. Beyond that, reply is not worth the time. Enjoy your bizarre version of logic.

Oops, not that one, I meant this Newsweek, which (except for the biased political tilt and selective censorship of truth from reports), you can easily tell is totally different from rightwing liars propaganda, like, totally.

A Newsweek Story Gets 'Better' for Scarborough--With a Little Help From a Friend, 06/11/2009 by Jim Naureckas .

June 5, Newsweek's website put up an interview with Joe Scarborough ... pointed out that Scarborough had once been the defense attorney for an anti-abortion terrorist who murdered a doctor, and noted that the host had been criticized for giving insufficient attention to the murder of Dr. George Tiller, which occurred less than a week before the interview appeared.

By Friday night... completely rewritten. Gone was any reference in the lead to abortion shootings, replaced instead by rather bland observations about "the rise of partisan media outlets" and "how conservatives lost their way." What happened? Jon Meacham happened, that's what. The Newsweek editor, a frequent guest on Morning Joe, told Gawker he was contacted about the interview by "a member of Scarborough's team" ....

... leave out the truth, it makes rightwing sociopath MassMind media celebrities look bad.

I meant this Joe ScareBOO!oh

Scarborough revisionism: claims he didn't fault DHS for "targeting right-wingers," Media Matters .ORG June 12.

During the June 12 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough mischaracterized his own previous criticism of a Department of Homeland Security report alerting law enforcement about the threat posed by "rightwing extremists." Responding to Paul Krugman's June 12 New York Times column, in which Krugman wrote that "[c]onservatives were outraged" over "an internal report by the Department of Homeland Security warning that current conditions resemble those in the early 1990s -- a time marked by an upsurge of right-wing extremism that culminated in the Oklahoma City bombing," Scarborough claimed that "Krugman misses ... the fact that what upset most of us -- that we're talking about that report around this table -- was the fact NOT that they were targeting right-wingers, it's that they were targeting veterans." IN FACT, when the DHS report was made public, Scarborough not only criticized it for what he said was its "targeting veterans," but also stated on April 15 that "they're going after conservatives first." He added: "I suspect an invasion of Salt Lake City is not far behind." Scarborough further said: "It appears that they are targeting people that they think might be political opponents. I've never heard of anything like this before in my life," and asked, "What if Dick Cheney decided that he was going to target liberals?"

Of course, who watching pay TV on June 12 recognizes ScareBOO! is a LIAR about what he said on April 15? Nobody, RickN, ... but I repeat myself.

Golly gee whiz! Is this the same "ecohuman" posting the last comment on this thread?

https://bojack.org/2009/06/ethical_question_of_the_week.html#comments

Holy semantics, Batman!

We all have our opinions and are entitled to them, if nothing more.

Golly gee whiz! Is this the same "ecohuman" posting the last comment on this thread?

it is! and there's nothing dissonant there. or are you back to tell everybody to lighten up? either way, it's an honor to have you following my posts.

next?

take a break from Matthews with a dose of Fox.

What on Earth are you attempting to talk about ?

Faux News is for dumbed-down, easily manipulated followers of the false left-right paradigm. So, for that matter, is Air America or the Daily Kos.

Or Newspeak.

Yunno, I have to admit that the Satanist in me chortles endlessly at the notion of the editor of a major propaganda rag attempting to Deitize a sleazy, ultra-charismatic face artist who chose the most corrupt city in America in which to pursue a political career.

The libertarian Atheist, on the other hand, cringes in horror at those absolutely insane quotes.

You got that right, Cabbie. Or, at least I think it's right because I agree with you, in it.

And a record is being compiled of documentations of it, here.

Thanks, eco.

The feeling's mutual.

We don't need a "rock star," we need a president. I would have voted for Bono if I wanted someone who wouldn't get things done (like all the other politicians). You got a friendly Congress, you got high public support, take care of business!