Keeping Obama In Perspective

Maureen Dowd with an interesting perspective on Barack Obama:

The master of his own narrative in print let the Republicans define the narrative in politics. And Obama likes to come in late, after the other players have staked out positions. It’s a strangely risk-averse tact, given the fact that he took two of the boldest risks in history — jumping into the presidential race in the first place and giving the kill order on Bin Laden on sketchy intelligence.

The "boldest risks in history" include Obama's entry into the 2008 nomination race?  What?!?  Just for starters, if a decision is risky it is because there is a dramatic downside.  Had Obama lost to Hillary in 2008, would his political career have been over?  His life?  No more book deals? Would it really have been unthinkable that he would rise from the ashes in 2012 or 2016, at the advanced age of 55?

I am having a hard time ranking that on the same scale with Caesar crossing the Rubicon or Eisenhower tracking the weather reports and ordering the D-Day invasion or Kennedy arm-wrestling with Kruschev over the Cuban missiles but then, I am not MoDo.

As to ordering the hit on bin Laden, I would be more impressed with the risk involved if any of the alternatives (bombing, continued surveillance) had strong support from top advisors.

Oh, what is my point - that MoDo has the judgment and detachment of a schoolgirl watching Elvis?  No kidding.

Comments

[Rob Crawford]

In MoDo's world, ordering something straight off the menu is an act of bravery.

[Clarice]

No kidding, indeed. I think it's time to start an anti-feminizing of our culture movement and this notion of what constitutes high risk (from our most prominent newspaper) is a perfect example.

[Cecil Turner]

I wonder if she (or her editors) knows the difference between "tack" and "tact"?

[jimmyk]

And Obama likes to come in late, after the other players have staked out positions.

Primarily because he is clueless, like a deer caught in headlights, when any unanticipated question arises.

[daddy]

Here's some unexpected positive news for today:

Rowan Williams ‘planning to quit as Archbishop’ to return to academia.

A real pleasure to read the comments. Out of 115 comments the only one I saw that was sorry about him bailing out 10 years early, was from somebody sad that he' hadn't completely destroyed the Church of England yet.

[Threadkiller]

I was pretty impressed the day he answered "like eight" questions.

[Ignatz]

Fire the bitch.

[Clarice]

Thanks, Cecil, I thought for a moment I had mixed up the two words.

[Danube of Thought]

Nelson at Aboukir Bay? The Doolittle raid? Pickett's charge? Torpedo 8 at Midway? Gene McCarthy vs. LBJ?

[Army of Davids]

"Reckless Endangerment"

[bgates]

She's channeling Hedley Lamarr - "Now you men will only be risking your lives, whilst I will be risking an almost certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor."

[bgates]

Those aren't even the boldest risks of the Obama presidency, never mind the history of the world (and she doesn't). I'd rate Obamacare and the stimulus as bolder risks, given what he has lost through their failures.

[Chubby]

((And Obama likes to come in late, after the other players have staked out positions. It’s a strangely risk-averse tact ... etc. etc. etc.))

sure Modo.

Obama and Chance the gardener.

[Clarice]

HEH, bgates..You nailed it.

[Threadkiller]

I think the “risk” she is referring is relative to skill, like a four year old trying to drive a car.

For Obama, being the least skilled in the room, everything is a major risk.

[Ignatz]

--I wonder if she (or her editors) knows the difference between "tack" and "tact"?--

Maybe she meant to add an "ic" on the end, which I know I always do when I read something she wrote.

[Clarice]

Heh, iggie!

[Danube of Thought]

"like a four year old trying to drive a car"

Or a dog walking on its hind legs.

[Jack is Back!]

Just posted this on other thread.

An LAX to JFK flight had to be escorted by NORAD scrambled fighters. 3 persons locked themselves in toilet of plane and would not come out. Terror? Who knows. LUN

[Porchlight]

Fantastic news about Rowan Williams. I only worry they'll come up with someone worse to replace him.

Obama, risk-averse? What a strange notion. Is it possible MoDo is stupider than we'd all imagined?

Nah.

[Jack is Back!]

I bet MoDo requires a blood test from any male she decides to date.

[daddy]

Trying to keep them honest part 12 million: AP Removes Story on Perry Campaigning During Wildfires.

" The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about Texas residents questioning why Gov. Rick Perry has not spent more time in areas affected by wildfires. The single person who asked about Perry’s involvement was not an area resident."

[Porchlight]

Why is this man smiling?

GETTY IMAGES 3 HOURS AGO US President Barack Obama smiles as he greets attendees on September 11, 2011 after laying a wreath at the Wall of Names (background) at the newly dedicated Flight 93 memorial on the site where United flight 93 crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

[Porchlight]

Sorry for the big pic. I'm too angry to resize etc.

[MaryD]

It's even worse, Porch. Moochelle has taken off her jacket and is in full cocktail party mode in the plunging v-backed dress, and they're both grinning and glad-handing like it's a campaign event.

[centralcal]

If we are posting pictures of the Disgusting Wons and their demeanor today, I like this one (stolen from Althouse):

Pious Man and Pompous Ass.

[Captain Hate]

Fantastic news about Rowan Williams. I only worry they'll come up with someone worse to replace him.

It would just be another boneheaded move by the CoE that has driven the flock like me away. This is probably their last opportunity to get it right because there have already been a slough of split-offs from the church already. The sad thing is that there's been growth in the flock in Africa and Asia, where it's going toe to toe with Islam and is very conservative; and the likes of Williams have dismissed them all as a bunch of illiterate savages in their usual treatment of people of color.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

I wonder if she (or her editors) knows the difference between "tack" and "tact"?

Jesus, the Times' copy editing has gone completely to tell. The Krugman defecation was full of typos.

[Captain Hate]

Sexy Rexy!!!

[Jack is Back!]

CC,

The only time he bows his head is for the King of Saudi Arabia, didn't ya know?

[narciso]

It's turtles all the way down, Captain, they would be lucky if they got Rowan Atkinson, but I don't give them that much credit.

[Jack is Back!]

CH,

They still have 5:04 to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory.

I am still convinced that Snyder uses only top men from Duke and Duke in his organization.

[Captain Hate]

You have history on your side JiB, but I remain optimistic that people smart enough to earn lots of money in one field can learn from their mistakes in another. Except Rowan Williams, who will fit in well in wacademia.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

I don't think you need worry, JIB. The NYG are getting the same treatment my Falcons got in Chicago and Pittsburgh got in Baltimore -- A waxing.

[Jack is Back!]

Why would you want Rowan Williams to pollute the young minds in academia like he did the faithful of CoE?

2 minute warning. Even Snyder's gremlins can't put a Kabosh on this one.

[centralcal]

Fab-o. Obummer will speak in the Rose Garden tomorrow surrounded by teachers, small businessmen and sycophants to announce he is sending his Fake Jobs Plan to Congress. I question the timing.

[Jack is Back!]

Hail to the Redskins,
Hail victory.

Braves on the warpath,
Fight for Old DC.

[Ignatz]

--It's turtles all the way down, Captain, they would be lucky if they got Rowan Atkinson, but I don't give them that much credit.--

LOL, narc.

[Wall Street Richy]

Bush was the impetus of the bank and GM/Chrysler bailouts.

Obama got Osama.

Nuff said.

[Jack is Back!]

Ted Ginn, Jr. just drove a justly deserved stake in the heart of that world class cheater Pete Carroll.

[Ignatz]

cc,
Good pic of the guy I have come to think of as The Sun King, minus the competence, sincerity, responsibility, brains and hair.
He's sure got that divine right of kings and absolute monarchy schtick down though.

[Jack is Back!]

Ted Ginn, Jr. for President. I have never seen what he did in football, ever. The offense never saw the field and this guy scored two consecutive TD's. One on a kick off and the other on a punt return. Amazing.

[sbw]

Poor presentation. Fish are unlikely to bite on the domedy relief trolling the thread.

[sbw]

Poor presentation. Fish are unlikely to bite on the comedy relief trolling the thread.

[Ignatz]

--Nuff said.--

Would that it were so.

[Walter]

Is there a greater joy than warning Pete Carrol being humiliated?

[peter]

My take on today's Mo Dowd column (which is pretty weak) is that she is attempting to walk back her last column in which she criticized Obama. The left realizes it is stuck with Icarus, melted wing wax and all.

[Captain Hate]

I'd forgotten the Pete Carroll angle; must've felt good for Harbaugh's first NFL game.

Ted Ginn Jr is a Cleveland product of his father's football machine at Glenville. He was on the Sweater Vest's team that lost to Florida during Urban Meyer's first championship (Tebow only saw spot duty as a freshman); in fact he ran the opening kickoff back all the way in that one. I was in New Delhi for Hatette #1's wedding but followed it on the interwebtubez. Ginn was a first round draft choice of the Fins where he didn't work out so well.

[Ignatz]

You gotta figure the stupidity is genetic in a family that never got around to changing this surname.
Dan Balz with a novel idea; misread the Tea Party.

[Clarice]

Oh, oh, tk, E Verify says we can't hire Obama cause his name and ss No. don't match US data base.
http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2011/09/e-verify-says-obama-not-eligible-for.html

[sbw]

Dan Balz, feeling around in the basement, eyes closed, light off.

[Wall Street Richy]

Stuttering We Todds.

[Jack is Back!]

You only have to read the commenters at Balz to know that you should be buying kool-aid futures.

[narciso]

a whole new crop of marks, I mean marketing opportunities for SCAM.

[macphisto]

i'm sorry to go off-topic, but i have to say that i'm not going to be a vibrant presence for a little while. my gf/long term partner has left me after twelve years. whether there's any hope of a reconciliation is doubtful, and some way off in any case. inevitably i'm utterly heartbroken, and as such haven't got a lot of attention for anything outide of trying to survive my current situation. if anyone would like to contact me, which i'd deeply appreciate, my e-mail is under my LUN. i apologize for the OT/all me interruption, but on the one hand i don't want to just disappear, and on the other i really need support right now. thanks for listening.

[Clarice]

Best wishes, macphisto.

[sbw]

macphisto ... your assignment is to keep your balance, take walks, realize what a wonderful world we live in, and make it through the day. You have support.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you can project the future.

[DrJ]

Macphisto,

So very sorry to hear of you change in situation.

If you want to come up the the Sierra foothills to get away from things for a bit, please do let me know. info at sonatabio dot com. Maybe we can get Ignatz to visit too?

[hit and run]

Sorry to hear that macphisto.

[rse]

Porch-

Here's an explanation. There's not much substance inside BO and MO beyond resentment so he is determined to show off that dental work he spent so much on. She keeps wanting to show what she has been told is an amazing physique.

The material. It's who they are in more ways than one.

[Rick Ballard]

c-c,

The Jug Eared Fellow always tilts his head back (check President Shuck in the first photo). If he didn't, we'd call him JEP, (Pinhead), rather than JEF. The same applies to First Lady Jive's shoulder slump and stoop. It's hard to be a fashion icon when you're sporting a middle linebacker's build.

Clarice,

Thank you for today's Pieces.

[Clarice]

Why, Rick, how kind
I think he tilts his head back so much because his giant brains force him to do that..if he assumed a humble prayer position, for example (as Bush did) they might just start falling out. I can't imagine why others haven't figured this out.

[Captain Hate]

You're a good poster, macphisto, and I'm sure that means you're a good person as well. Having a broken heart is pretty miserable but I've never been in a situation that I haven't emerged from in better shape. Nothing is guaranteed but that's a pretty good trend.

[Bill in AZ sez it's time for Zero to resign]

George W Bush did the coin toss for the Jets Cowboys game. Looked relieved to not have the stupid jugeared commie near him after this morning.

[Jane]

Macphisto,

Hang tough! And the lun is a you tube video.

[narciso]

It seems that failure is just another road to advance, and success is just a sign of dissapointment, I say this in light of the fact, that Soufan is back as well as this story.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2035949/9-11-anniversary-Haig-Melkessetian-real-life-James-Bond-stopped-terror-attacks.html

[centralcal]

Machpisto - so very sorry. Broken hearts hurt like hell. But, trite but true, they DO heal. It just takes time.

[Rick Ballard]

Macphisto,

I'll be praying for a string of brighter days for you.

Clarice,

C'mon - you know we're talking BB in a boxcar brains here. I could go with a terror of sneezing. Maybe that Secret Service guy behind him is detailed to toss a sack on his head between Ah and Choo.

[Rick Ballard]

Macphisto,

I'll be praying for a sting of brighter days for you.

Clarice,

C'mon - you know we're talking BB in a boxcar brains here. I could go with a terror of sneezing. Maybe that Secret Service guy behind him is detailed to toss a sack on his head between Ah and Choo.

[GF New Boyfriend]

macphisto,

man up, p*ssy!

[Ignatz]

Differently named troll with changing avatars. Ben behaving himself or not?

[Ignatz]

Macphisto,
In case Jane's comment wasn't clear there is no email addy under your LUN. It's a youtube video of Cassius Clay.

[DrJ]

There is an email address buried into the video, if it is not a typo.

[Porchlight]

Take care, macphisto. I'm so sorry to hear it. We are all pulling for you.

[bgates]

I'm sorry to hear that, macphisto.

[Frau Taubenfreund]

macphisto, don't stay away too long. You are part of what brings us together.

[glasater]

Let us know how you're doing, macphisto.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Macphisto, Shakespeare knew everything. In this case:

"Men have died..., and worms have eaten them.

But not for love."

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

Hang in there Macphisto. Miss Scarlett had it right. Tomorrow is another day.

[PD]

Greetings from Vail, CO.

Thanks all for your comments on 9/11 in the earlier threads, just got around to reading them.

Yesterday, started at 6:30AM in Ennis, MT, and made it to Rock Springs, WY at 10PM, so it was a long day on the road. Almost hit a deer on the road to Yellowstone, which would not have been good, particularly for the deer.

The day was so long because I seriously misjudged how much time we would spend going through Yellowstone. Two reasons: 1) I decided to take a slightly longer route than originally; 2) More significantly, Mrs. PD had with her A Camera, and as you probably know, A Camera slows things down quite a bit.

Went to see the hot springs (Norris and Mammoth), also (per recommendation here at JOM) part of the Yellowstone Canyon -- the lower falls brink and overlook. Spectacular. Made some wildlife sightings, including several large herds of bison -- and, AND my first ever seen in real life camel cricket! That may not seem like much to most of you, but it was a big sucker, and I've never seen one. I recognized it immediately because of the Herbert S. Zim "Insects" book that I (and I'll bet some of you) read a million times as a kid.

The plaque for Bunsen Peak discussed the stands of lodgepole pines -- that tree name stuck out to me thanks to Ignatz' comments on them the other day.

Leaving the park we saw another large herd of bison (hundreds of 'em). By then it's 6PM and we still have almost 4 hours to Rock Springs. Gotta find McD's to get some coffee. But stopped first at the gas station, where while washing the bugs off the windshield some guy's kids are playing in some sandy soil nearby. I hear an excited voice: "We have a POUND of dirt, now we can throw it on people!" I bet you can guess whether that was one of the guy's sons, or one of his daughters.

On the way down to Rock Springs, saw lots and lots of antelope, plus a bald eagle. That was nice.

We got up early, went to the local E-Free for service and headed east, then south to Vail. Beautiful jagged rock crags east of R.S. More antelope on the southward leg.

Noticed lots of flags in towns like Baggs, WY and Craig, CO. By "lots," I mean "on every telephone pole on main street." In places like Steamboat Springs and Vail, home of the trendy and upscale, not so much. Mainly a few individual businesses. Kudos to the Ford dealer in Steamboat Springs: A flag on the antenna of every single car on the lot. Thank you, whoever you are.

The scenery here in Vail is beautiful. My sweetie loves the mountains here, which why we come. As for the town itself ... well, we took a walk around this evening, and I had the usual fish out of water feeling, or maybe outside looking in feeling, or something. Definitely don't fit in very well. That's okay, I have a lot of books, and there are new coffee shops to scout out. :-)

Confession time! I have not in my entire life until just a couple days ago wondered why Yellowstone is called "yellow stone." Here is what I found:

"Contrary to popular belief, Yellowstone was not named for the abundant yellow-colored rhyolite lavas in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone that have been chemically altered by reactions with steam and hot water to create vivid yellow and pink colors. Instead, the name was attributed as early as 1805 to Native Americans who were referring to yellow sandstones along the banks of the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana, several hundred miles downstream and northeast of the Park."

[mockmook]

imo Obama did not personally chose the verse for his speech. Some staff member was asked to have something befitting the moment and the man.

Posted by: Frau Ernst | September 11, 2011 at 03:57 PM

I'm too lazy to re-find the proper thread for this.

Anyway, I assume he called up Rev. Wright for his verse.

[Comanche Voter]

Moron and Moochelle go to a memorial service. What could possibly go wrong?

[Jim Ryan]

Bachmann sides with Romney on ss: mend it, don't end it. She mentioned not offending seniors in Florida.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

PD, if you're in Vail already it may be too late to tell you this, but you'll probably be more comfortable in Glenwood Springs, plus they have a great hot spring pool and steam cave.

Depending on time, you could drive south through Leadville to Buena Vista -- keep going south through Salida and Poncha Springs to Saguache ("Suh-watch") and the Great Sand Dunes are on the left; or take the left onto 285 just south of Buena Vista and come back through South Park (yes, that South Park). I think South Park is one of the prettiest high mountain valleys you can find, and from the looks of the trees down here in Erie I'd bet the aspeen trees are getting some color already.

BTW, a guide to Colorado pronunciation:

Buena = "byoo-nah"
Salida = "Sah-LIE-da"

[macphisto]

sorry...i thought the e-mail in the post showed up somehow when one clicked. i'm at holidayinrisk -at- mindspring -dot- com. thank you for your kind thoughts.

[mockmook]

Bachmann sides with Romney on ss: mend it, don't end it. She mentioned not offending seniors in Florida.

Posted by: Jim Ryan | September 12, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Yeah, 'cause Perry is going to wave his magic wand and end SS ... I hope our seniors are smarter than to be sucked in by propaganda like this.

[mockmook]

Tonight (9/11) TCM played Casablanca; they gave the movie selection to a NY firefighter.

Short interview with him to introduce the movie; very cool TCM.

Anyway, every time I watch Casablanca, it's like I'm watching a different movie. I'm always paying attention to some different aspect.

And, such a great way to spend an evening not grinding my teeth over Krugman, BF, et al.

[daddy]

"The only time he bows his head is for the King of Saudi Arabia, didn't ya know?"

About that word "Bow":

Commenters on other sites have mentioned that in Obama's Reading of Psalm 46 today he mispronounces "Bow." President Obama pronounced it "Bow" as in the bow of a ship, whereas the word refers to a "Bow" as in a Bow and Arrow.

For instance: (King James) 46-9

"He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire."

Here is a good link listing 46-9 in 15 different BibleTranslations. Also included are 12 different cross references to the same or similar phrasing in other Psalms and books of the Old Testament. Also included are various commentaries on the meaning of 46-9 explaining the meaning of 46-9.

I am not a decent Biblical Scholar, but am simply pointing out that if President Obama (or anyone else) wanted to know what the word "bow" referred to in Psalm 46, it would have taken about a minute on Google to get the correct definition and therefore the correct pronunciation.

So all I can figure is that Jeremiah Wright had a different interpretation and pronunciation, or else President Obama just didn't give enough of a damn to take the time to make himself familiar with Psalm 46 so that he wouldn't mispronounce it in front of millions and millions and millions of people on this day of Sacred remembrance at Grand Zero.

Althouse has the video.

[matt]

I bow to your superior knowledge, daddy.

[DebinNC]

I think he was reading The New King James version:
............................................
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire
............................................
Obama's "bow" rhymed with "sow", as in "when the bough breaks, the baby will fall"...which doesn't make any sense in that verse. The video daddy linked of Obama's halting, head-bobbing, bizarrely inflected "reading" is incredible. It's as if he arrived with no idea what he'd be reading and saw the text for the first time when he arrived at the podium. Just brutal.

[Pops]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpIdRkfVtA8&ob=av2e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYHT-TF4KO4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ne3cz9eUsQ&feature=related

IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

[JM Hanes]

Until I finally found the HotAir video of Obama reading Psalm 46 at the memorial service, I actually wondered how he could possibly have read the whole thing! In what I would, of course, call an ironic footnote, you can see why he chose to use the New King James version, instead of the original which reads:

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Heathen rage and exaltation struck me as a decidedly unlikely choice in this President's case, but I found they've been subsumed under "nations" in the modern King James revisions. If the Prez were a conservative, though, the NYTimes secret decoder rings would probably be flashing like klieg lights. On the flip side, I'm sure Obama wants the credit for picking Psalm 46 because the specific imagery of the river, mountains moved, earth melting, etc. is so eerily apt for New York, and I'm afraid I must admit, that if someone other than Obama had done the reading, I would have found that stirring rather than unsettling.

[Chubby]

I guess he has neither time nor inclination for rehearsals so that his oral gaffes could be pointed out to him. "Bow", (rhymes with low), as in archery, is a much used word in the Bible, so the mispronuciation reveals a greater ignorance of the book in general. Which is fine, but as daddy pointed out, he could have at least made it his business to understand the Psalm he would be reading at that important event. Here we see another instance of the veneer of the stage set furniture wearing away to reveal the underlying particle board.

[Jane]

My goodness Chubby, he could barely read it, nevermind understand it.

[Jack is Back!]

Different take on Obama reading scripture: he is unfamiliar with what he reads and has to guess at pronounciation (i.e. corps, bow, etc.).

He is a phony of the highest order. No other explanation is plausible or needed. We really needto stop intellectualizing his words, actions and deeds.

[Jane]

Just be grateful he didn't use his ghetto voice.

[peter]

He wasn't using a teleprompter, but he was clearly reading it from the podium. I doubt he chose the reading himself, but I'll give him a pass on the bow mispronunciation. For Obama, like Clinton during the peak of the Lewinsky scandal, is in it deep, and the Bible is a much needed prop.

[Janet]

This is good. O'Reilly highlighting that Chuck Todd worked for Dems. & that his wife makes a living working for the Dem party.

Like Dana Priest & her husband William Goodfellow...these connections need to be made public.

[Janet]

He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

Does this put Obama in the God speaks through nature camp? Maybe at the Presidential debates some "reporter" could grill Obama about it.

[Comanche Voter]

Jack is Back nailed it. Obama is simply a phony of the highest order. Doesn't matter whether he's reading from the Bible, the Koran or the Constitution--he just doesn't get it.