Effective Is As Effective Does

Politico reports on a somewhat astonishing claim made by Barack Obama in his interview with 60 Minutes - in his first two years he accomplished more than any Presidents other than Johnson, FDR, and Lincoln.  Let's roll the transcript, from the very end of the interview:

KROFT: Tell me, what do you consider your major accomplishments? If this is your last speech. What have you accomplished?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, we're not done yet. I've got five more years of stuff to do. But not only saving this country from a great depression. Not only saving the auto industry. But putting in place a system in which we're gonna start lowering health care costs and you're never gonna go bankrupt because you get sick or somebody in your family gets sick. Making sure that we have reformed the financial system, so we never again have taxpayer-funded bailouts, and the system is more stable and secure. Making sure that we've got millions of kids out here who are able to go to college because we've expanded student loans and made college more affordable. Ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Decimating al Qaeda, including Bin Laden being taken off the field. Restoring America's respect around the world.

The issue here is not gonna be a list of accomplishments. As you said yourself, Steve, you know, I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president -- with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln -- just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history. But, you know, but when it comes to the economy, we've got a lot more work to do. And we're gonna keep on at it.

Just off-hand, I would immediately nominate George Bush as having had a strong break from the gate - on the domestic side Bush 43 got his 2001 tax cut and No Child Left behind; in foreign policy he led a seemingly successful war against Afghanistan and rallied the United NAtions against Iraq and its imagined WMDs (obviously, the war commenced shortly after Bush's two-year mark).  Most tellingly, Bush's party picked up House and Senate seats in the mid-term elections, something Obama forgot to achive while working wonders in his own imagination.

Now clearly, Democrats view these as triumphs of the Anti-Christ.  My point is that Bush did what he set out to do and maintained public support for his agenda, at least for a while. 

HARDLY A MINOR POINT:  This from Obama is either deluded wishful thinking or an annoying talking point:

But putting in place a system in which we're gonna start lowering health care costs and you're never gonna go bankrupt because you get sick or somebody in your family gets sick.

First of all, subsidizing the number of health care consumers without changing the number and/or circumstances of health care providers does not lower costs; it simply shifts those costs to others.  And the increased demand probably results in higher prices.

Secondly, we all understand that Elizabeth Warren liked to pretend that medical bills were driving people into bankruptcy.  But is Obama really dumb enough to believe his side's talking points?  The loss of income associated with a serious illness is generally the proximate cause of the bankruptcy; since Obama did not mandate new and expanded disability insurance, most "medical" bankruptices that would have occurred pre-ObamaCare will still occur.

Comments

[Extraneus]

Making sure that we've got millions of kids out here who are able to go to college because we've expanded student loans and made college more affordable.

Really? That's great!

[Ignatz]

The answer is an emphatic 'yes'.

[peter]

His ratings have gone up recently with this sort of pabulum.

[Danube of Thought]

I hate the man.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

He sounds like the late unlamented Kim Jong Dead. But for the most part, even Kim had the sense to let his sycophants trumpet his virtues and list his "accomplishments".

[Gmax]

Not only did he lose House and Senate seats in the midterm, but he is going to lose that comfy chair he sits in come November. Seems like the voters dont see it the way Obankrupt does, shocking as that might seem.

[lyle]

I hate the man.

Ditto

[Jane]

Kim Jong Dead

I'm stealing that for the radio Jim.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

To be fair, Jane, I stole it fair and square from Rush.

[Extraneus]

I want to see YouTube videos of his weeping and wailing followers next November, kneeling on the ground and pounding the Earth in inconsolable sorrow.

[Jack is Back! (narciso Translations on Demand)]

For your Holiday cheer: Just in case you wonder what a President Paul would be about, here is his draft Inaguaral Address.

[Sandy Daze]

How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.

I hate thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I hate thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I hate thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I hate thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I hate with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I hate thee with a hate I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,

-- I hate thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!

-- and, if God choose, I shall but hate thee better after death.

With great apology to EBB.

ABO~OMG !
Sandy

[lyle]

You couldn't fill a thimble with this cat's humility.

I didn't watch the interview. I imagine Croft's knees and lower back were pretty sore after it was over. To say nothing of his maxillofacial muscles. Or was he fully supine?

I do indeed detest the fraud occupying the WH. Exceeded only by the media who fellate him.

[Threadkiller]

He will be kicking Lincoln's intercontinental ass upon completion of California's interstellar railroad.

[narciso]

Some good albeit delayed justice;

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/smear_that_prospered_far_too_long_TRpBphwm8VFHIiel7BXqcM

[matt]

Wait! He created the Auto Czar, the African American Outreach Czar, the Bank Czar, the National Endowment for the Obamas, The Drone Czar, The Environmental Obstruction & Obfuscation Agency, the Eat Your Peas Czar, and the Department of Fast & Furious.

The Office of Michelle's Travel took a huge leap forward, and the White House Protocol Office has done an outstanding job of dressing and creating photo ops for Princess Shopping Cart.

His signature legislation, the Health Care fiasco, has been challenged by a majority of the states and his co-religionists in the Church of Relative Values & Morals are abandoning him for perfidy, incompetence, and his generally supine policies.

So all in all, considering Carter as the Sterling standard, Obama gets a D+.

[Sue]

I hate the man.

Ditto

Ditto your ditto.

[Chubby]

Obama is the best black president the U.S. of A. has ever had.

[narciso]

Speaking of the Drone Czar, the Post has a typically confused piece, about the casualty
count on the drones, including the death of Jaman Zadran, who they mention in passing, leaving out the significance of this to the Haquanni Network.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet]

The article Narc just linked is one that really makes me sad and angry even though the Lieutenant finally got some semblance of justice. I trust he got an honorable discharge. If not, he should get favorable action by the Board of Correction of Naval Records.

[MarkO]

Despise, loathe, detest, execrate.

Oh, come let us abhor him.

Preening, condescending, unctuous, counterfeit.

Obama. He’s the one.

[Chubby]

Ext.

I made the Portuguese egg dish .. from now on it is going to be a regular production in my household. I liked it better than a regular omelet because my omelots always turn out a bit untidy.

I inadvertantly charred the veggie mix and I'm going to deliberatly char it in future because it tasted so good that way. I used parmesan for the cheese and that worked well, but bought cheddar today for the next time I make it.

[narciso]

This is the piece, of course it's full of unattributed quotes except for one;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/secrecy-defines-obamas-drone-war/2011/10/28/gIQAPKNR5O_story.html

[lyle]

Just to be clear: I only detest his white half.

[Extraneus]

I made the Portuguese egg dish

This one?

[Chubby]

Yes, Ext. that is the excellent recipe. Thank you for posting the link in an earlier thread, and here too.

(The link says it is a breakfast food, but I didn't make it for breakfast.)

[bgates]

is Obama really dumb enough to believe his side's talking points?

Emphatically yes, but that doesn't mean that he necessarily does believe them; he probably repeats them without giving a moment's thought to whether they are true or not, because besides being rather stupid, he's a nearly pathological liar.

[Extraneus]

I haven't tried it, but it does look good. (Take that, anti-recipe snobs.)

[bgates]

Obama is the best black president the U.S. of A. has ever had.

I'd put him no better than fifth, behind Bubba, Warren Harding, David Palmer from '24', and Morgan Freeman from that asteroid movie.

Wait - sixth. Forgot David Palmer's brother got elected in a later season.

[rse]

"Legend in his own mind" does seem to be the apt phrase.

[hit and run]

Did typepad really just frack that last comment?

Really?

Fine. I'll just post the pic without the life-changing commentary. Jackson Hole Airport from Sunday:

[Cecil Turner]

Seventh. Don't forget James Earl Jones.

[narciso]

I thought of that one, but I thought it might be too obscure,

[Jim Miller]

You can find more commentary in my own earlier post on the same subject. I show that that Obama's claim is both bigger -- and smaller -- than it looks at first glance.

[narciso]

Ace just get around to this,

http://minx.cc/?post=324908

[Danube of Thought]

"I thought it might be too obscure,"

It was from back in the day when Alec Baldwin was willing to play a patriotic character. We're talking ancient here.

[narciso]

Yet another sympathetic victim for Paul;

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/us-yemen-qaeda-awlaki-idUSTRE7BJ1W620111220?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

[matt]

Kim Jong Un...the Un-dictator!

From his Dictatorbook Profile:

Kim as he likes to be called, likes watching basketball, speaking German, long walks in on the beach, and invading South Korea.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Finally. The photographic evidence that Obama pals around with terrorists.

http://www.oliverwillis.com/2011/12/19/my-christmas-with-the-obamas/

[narciso]

That was back when Alec Baldwin was in grade school.

[Ignatz]

The indispensable Alan Reynolds on the gift the Republicans are trying to give Barry for Christmas:
cutting unemployment benefits to 59 weeks from 99, which should knock around a point off of the unemployment rate by election time and allows Barry to say his economic policies are the reason, not shortening unemployment and Barry also get's to demagogue the heartless Republicans for hurting the unemployed.
Why do they call it the stupid party again?

[rse]

Kim-

This is for you from an official NAS publication. Our tax dollars at work. We all just need to be reeducated until we see the EPA in its proper saviour role.

"The global scientific and policy community now unequivocally accepts that human activities cause global climate change. Although information on climate change is readily available, the nation still seems unprepared or unwilling to respond effectively to climate change, due partly to a general lack of public understanding of climate change issues and opportunities for effective responses. The reality of global climate change lends increasing urgency to the need for effective education on earth system science, as well as on the human and behavioral dimensions of climate change, from broad societal action to smart energy choices at the household level.

The public's limited understanding of climate change is partly the result of four critical challenges that have slowed development and delivery of effective climate change education. As one response to these challenges, Congress, in its 2009 and 2010 appropriation process, requested that the National Science Foundation (NSF) create a program in climate change education to provide funding to external grantees to improve climate change education in the United States. To support and strengthen these education initiatives, the Board on Science Education of the National Research Council (NRC) created the Climate Change Education Roundtable. The Roundtable convened two workshops. Climate Change Education Goals, Audiences, and Strategies is a summary of the discussions and presentations from the first workshop, held October 21 and 22, 2010. This report focuses on two primary topics: public understanding and decision maker support. It should be viewed as an initial step in examining the research on climate change and applying it in specific policy circumstances."

It may require an adult beverage to read the pdf tonight.

[Melinda Romanoff]

narciso-

I went deeper than the first four comments at that Ace link, for the first time.

There are some pros over there.

And boy's howdy am I glad I wasn't drinking anything hot.I would have scorched the inside of my nose for sure.

[narciso]

There is no other real response to this, except possibly Mogatu's 'am I the only one not on crazy pills' I'm sure if one of those Yemeni 'shepherds' that Covington and Burling
represented committed some act, on this country, Holder would say much the same thing.

[Danube of Thought]

My bad. I was thinking of The Hunt for Red October, where Jones didn't even play the president--he was VAdm. Greer.

[NK]

TM asks "But is Obama really dumb enough to believe his side's talking points? " YES HE IS THAT DUMB!! Barry suffers from accute narcissism. So extreme it may even be clinical; he IS deluded. And he's POTUS for 13 more months; if he doesn't cause racial strife or a war with Canada during that time, we're ahead of the game.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"if he doesn't cause racial strife or a war with Canada during that time"

It's so scary...Is there any more egg nog?

[Danube of Thought]

Prediction: unemployment rate for December will be down, Barry will be on a roll and we are doomed.

[Rocco]

Riehl World View suggests that a comment in the Spectator by a former Paul aide named Eric Dondero claims Lew Rockwell wrote those racist comments with Paul's knowledge and consent in those old newsletters.

I tend to believe it after the outrageous thing's this buffoon has recently claimed.

[Ignatz]

Tom Sowell on Gingrich.

[Threadkiller]

"In all this debate, I fear both parties have missed a critical point.

Both versions of this bill impose a permanent new tax on every mortgage backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

To pay for an additional two months of tax relief under the Senate version or 12 months under the House version, more than $3,000 of new taxes will be imposed on every $150,000 mortgage backed by Fannie or Freddie.

A family taking out a $250,000 mortgage will pay $5,000 more in taxes – directly and solely because of this bill – hidden in their future mortgage payments.

This is atrocious public policy. It shifts the burden for this bill to future homebuyers, kicks the housing market when it’s already down, makes it that much more expensive for home buyers to re-enter that market, and adds to the pressures that have chronically depressed everyone’s home values.

That’s the reason that both the Senate and the House versions need to go back for major revision."

House Chamber remarks by Congressman Tom McClintock,Washington,D.C. December 20, 2011.

[narciso]

'The Canadian menace' is both ruthless and subtle, specially when directed by the closest
thing to a Texan from these part, 'you laugh'
as my Canadian classmate used to say, he was
from Ontario, which is also relatively sensible.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"This is atrocious public policy'

Please pass the sweet potatoes....

[NK]

Dana-- don't you have exams to grade? or does everyone at your fine institution earn a Gentlemen's A-?

[Threadkiller]

From Iggy's link:

" Romney is a smooth talker, but what did he actually accomplish as governor of Massachusetts, compared to what Gingrich accomplished as Speaker of the House? When you don't accomplish much, you don't ruffle many feathers. But is that what we want?

Can you name one important positive thing that Romney accomplished as governor of Massachusetts? Can anyone? Does a candidate who represents the bland leading the bland increase the chances of victory in November 2012? A lot of candidates like that have lost, from Thomas E. Dewey to John McCain.

Those who want to concentrate on the baggage in Newt Gingrich's past, rather than on the nation's future, should remember what Winston Churchill said: "If the past sits in judgment on the present, the future will be lost." If that means a second term for Barack Obama, then it means lost big time."

When Coulter is done humping her Romney masked Christie doll, I am sure she will have a comprehensive answer.

[narciso]

Riehl is taking undue joy at Chait baiting Rubin's bizarre contortions, re Mittens

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2011/12/jennifer-rubin-finally-feels-romneys-pain.html

[Benjamin Franklin]

"Ron Paul and the racist newsletter

http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/blog/2011/12/18/ron-paul-and-the-racist-newsletter/

by E.D. KAIN on DECEMBER 18, 2011
Mistermix asks:

I really think you must rally behind Ron Paul.

"Both ED Kain and he-who-shall-not-be-named have endorsed Paul for President as a protest vote. Since I’m not a serious thinker, I’m free of the weighty obligation to endorse someone in the GOP primary. But for those serious folks, I have a simple question: how could you endorse a guy who published and profited from a newsletter that included AIDS conspiracy theories and called Martin Luther King Day “Hate Whitey Day”?

I’m sort of past exhaustion on this question at this point. Having been immediately smeared myself as a bigot after my endorsement of Paul, I’m having a hard time taking liberals seriously on this issue (especially since virtually every time I see these things they invariably link back to neoconservative reports on the dreaded Ron Paul.) As far as I know neoconservatives and their liberal allies have been responsible for far more death than Paul’s newsletters ever caused."

[Danube of Thought]

Eagle Feather, him heap confused.

[Danube of Thought]

I Googled around a bit about The Spotlight and American Free Press, and concluded quickly that this guy Paul is a far nuttier, far nastier piece of work than I had known. This guy should be shunned, and his supporters need to wake up.

[Janet]

All the news is just terrible. :(
I could use a squaredance post for some Christmas cheer.

[Captain Hate]

Welcome to the party, DoT

[Rocco]

Romney achievements

Didn't raise taxes

Balanced the budget every year of his administration

Closed a 3 $billion deficit in his first year.

Achieved a $1 billion surplus

Lowered unemployment rate 1% by adding
37,000 jobs

Surrounded by Marxists!

[Comanche Voter]

Obama says he's no worse than the fourth bestest President evah!

I'll use an English term to describe The Bamster. He's a F@CK-Wit.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"Eagle Feather, him heap confused."

Chief Wild Eagle speaks. Let's help his spirit animal destroy JOM.

Agarn concurs....

[Captain Hate]

I went deeper than the first four comments at that Ace link, for the first time.

There are some pros over there.

And boy's howdy am I glad I wasn't drinking anything hot.I would have scorched the inside of my nose for sure.

narc sometimes joins the moron horde under one of his pseudonyms.

[Rocco]

CH

Thank God he's on OUR side!

[narciso]

How goes the project, Captain;

[Benjamin Franklin]

"As far as I know neoconservatives and their liberal allies have been responsible for far more death than Paul’s newsletters ever caused."

That's beside the point...

More cranberry sauce....?

[Rocco]

Spirit Fingers

[Ignatz]

This should keep the conversation going for awhile: In Serach of the Republican Establishment.

[narciso]

Clinton and O'Reilly together, that just 'crosses the streams' of ego and mendacity.

[Rocco]

Talk about the blonde leading the blonde!

[narciso]

It takes aggressive action, Ignatz to miss what is right in from of one's eyes like Mr. Weinstein, but that's why he gets the big bucks.

[Captain Hate]

narc, it's going pretty well, thanks for asking.

[maryrose]

Seeing Obama in that interview on Bret Baier's special report tonight I was struck by the sheer arrogance and blind belief that Hussein has about his greatness. Narcisicm to the the 10th power. It was shocking to hear him compare himself as being better than Washington, Adams, Monroe, Quincy Adams, Madison, Jackson,Reagan et al.
I agree with GMAX on Barack. I think he is history next November because pure hubris will take over and drown him.

[Rocco]

Unless Trump or Paul run as third party.

[narciso]

Gerald Baker has proven himself insightful in many ways, including football:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204791104577108782771826106.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[Cecil Turner]

Romney raised hundreds of millions in "user fees" and "closed loopholes," which most of us would call "raising taxes." His $3 billion shortfall was projected, not actual, the bulk of the "cuts" he made were support to local governments (resulting in raised property taxes), and his job creation rate was one of the lowest in the nation. Other than that . . .

[Danube of Thought]

How could anyone possibly compare T. Jefferson's first three years (Louisiana Purchase, establishing of West Point, Lewis & Clark Expedition) with Obamacare, Cash for Clunkers, the taxpayer bailout of the UAW and the Failed Stimulus?

The nerve of such people.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"The nerve of such people."

sometimes it takes a century or more to see the smart play.

Reverse engineering,,,,monday morning quarterbacking (even the Chargers)

[maryrose]

Romney's legislature was 85% democratic. It's a miracle he could get anything done in such an overly partisan state like Massachusetts.
I'm more interested in his business experience. We are not going to get out of this recession until we change all of Obama'a loser policies.
Newt is too bombastic for my taste.
The Iowa Caucus will be interesting to watch.
My prediction ;this is the last year Iowa gets to go first. I really think regional primaries and a shorter campaign season are going to be the wave of the future.
It's a sin to spend 1 billion dollars on a campaign. Just think what you could do with that money.

[maryrose]

Repubs taking long view on payroll tax plan

[Cecil Turner]

Romney's legislature was 85% democratic.

And they overrode some of his better plans (e.g., not raising the minimum wage). But pretending he didn't raise taxes and grow the state government is nonsense. He did.

[narciso]

The problem with regional primaries is it takes even more deep pocketed candidates to survive the campaign, I've been watching these horse races since 1988, and they haven't gotten any better.

[Threadkiller]

Bombastic

[narciso]

So 'My Friends' is at it again, choosing not to inform himself about the payroll tax plan

[Threadkiller]

He has been busy building the damn fence.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"Bombastic"

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pastry-cake/winter-pudding-bombe

[narciso]

The Yale alumni are so proud,

http://www.therightscoop.com/sheila-jackson-lee-d-pride-of-texas-rambles-incoherently-on-payroll-tax-cut-extension/

[narciso]

Mark Thiessen points out in the Post, how Kim Il Sung's disgraceful end, cast a pall over the worthy endeavors of Vaclav Havel, whatever
his shortcomings, (including appointing Frank Zappa as Culture Minister.)

[Benjamin Franklin]

"The Yale alumni"

"Apparently the only thing separating working Americans from this cruel fate is an extra $20 per paycheck,"

Because that's so UNimportant to the 1%

Frank Zappa would rip your weasel flesh......

[Rocco]

Romney raised hundreds of millions in "user fees" and "closed loopholes," which most of us would call "raising taxes.

That's debatable, Fees vs Taxes

His $3 billion shortfall was projected, not actual

Fair enough. But Romney vowed to veto tax hikes that the new Senate Pres Travaglini proposed. Shouldn't he be credited with saving the commonwealth a 2 1/2 billion dollar shortfall?

http://cltg.org/cltg/clt2003/03-01-30.htm#Globe01

the bulk of the "cuts" he made were support to local governments (resulting in raised property taxes)

Some called him the Ax Man

[narciso]

It really is perverse as he drains the social security fund, while pretending to be it's savior. Then again, it's no less macabre then
his own rationale for the death panels, the deliberation over whether to replace his grandmother's hip.

[centralcal]

I, as usual, will go completely way off topic. But, bear with me there is a question in here somewhere.

Local talk radio has been flooded with calls, stories and anecdotes these past 2-3 days of the "Layaway Angels" phenomenon. However, the tales coming in from retailers,be they big box stores with lay-away programs, or restaurants, or just folks telling of generosity and caring, are something rather uncommon, something other than the usual "spirit of Christmas" giving (which more often than not goes to a charity, church, or local food bank, etc.).

It appears to be quite strong and spontaneous here in California's heartland Central Valley. My questions are: are you other JOMers seeing/hearing of it in your areas? Do you think, as I do, that it is an outgrowth of the Tea Party movement and what we stand for and the values we fear we are losing and hoping to reinforce and retain?

Just curious.

[(Another) Barbara]

How could anyone possibly compare T. Jefferson's first three years (Louisiana Purchase, establishing of West Point, Lewis & Clark Expedition) with Obamacare, Cash for Clunkers, the taxpayer bailout of the UAW and the Failed Stimulus?

Easy. He's changed America as much or more than any of the others he mentioned -- assuming that Obamacare stands. He's absolutely correct in his assertion. Of course the changes he has initiated are all destructive of what we believe constitutes the soul of America but, to those who think as Obama does, he has been a phenomenal success.

[Benjamin Franklin]

" Do you think, as I do, that it is an outgrowth of the Tea Party movement and what we stand for and the values we fear we are losing and hoping to reinforce and retain?"

Absolutely...The christmas spirit begins, and ends with the Tea party.

mmmmmpppffffffff......the generosity flows like a waterfall....bwaaaaaaaaa/

[Threadkiller]

The Bens.

[Mark O]

“We all understand that Elizabeth Warren liked to pretend that medical bills were driving people into bankruptcy. But is Obama really dumb enough to believe his side’s talking points?”

Remember from earlier in Obama's term when he stupidly believed his sides talking points about the Palestinians and was stunned to learn that it just an Arab talking point too?

[Benjamin Franklin]

Teh irony......

[hit and run]

For Ignatz.