Because He Wouldn't Recognize A Shovel Ready Job If It Appeared On Stage...

Who is in charge of the optics here?

It was a rather odd sight: as an array of museum officials, including former first lady Laura Bush, took up shovels at the groundbreaking for the first national museum dedicated exclusively to African-American history and culture, the nation's first black president sat watching, no shovel in hand.

There is an explanation:

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St.Thomas issued a statement saying shoveling was "intended for members of the Smithsonian family — senior staff and members of the museum’s council. Former first lady Laura Bush joined the groundbreaking as she is a member of the museum’s advisory council."

So why did Barack and Michelle agree to this?

Comments

[Danube of Thought]

First.

[Sandy Daze]

The masta doesn't do the work on the plantation, he just enjoys the fruits of others' labors.

OMG~ABO,
Sandy

[Sue]

Really? What would the optics have been had Obama been shoveling while the whites looked on? Sheesh. I'm so sick of people looking for issues when there aren't any.

[NK]

This is small beer compared to Obama's national bankruptcy and not preventing the Mullahs from deploying The Bomb.

[Danube of Thought]

Sue, you're a treasure.

[Sandy Daze]

Everything about the cretin is an issue as far as I am concerned, Sue. You can have him.

OMG~ABO,
Sandy

[daddy]

Same stuff, different day:

9 Environmental, Native groups challenge Shell Arctic air permit.

9 "Environmental and Alaska Native groups will try to keep Shell Oil out of Arctic waters this summer by appealing an air quality permit that was granted by the Environmental Protection Agency."

"Shell spent $2.1 billion in Chukchi Sea leases at the federal government's lease sale in 2008."

"The federal government estimates there are 26.6 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 130 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Arctic Ocean's outer continental shelf reserves."

[Sue]

Sandy,

I love receiving gifts but this one I'll have to turn down.

[Gmax]

Instapundit runs this joke from Playboy Mag, which he points out is quite leftwing :

In the tough economy, an educated woman was forced to apply for a job in a lemon grove. After the foreman had reviewed her résumé, he frowned and said, “I must ask, do you have any actual experience in picking lemons?”

“As a matter of fact I have,” she answered. “I’ve been divorced three times and I voted for Obama.”

When the comedians on late night tv turn on Democrats, its over.

[Extraneus]

At least the British are informed about this.

HALF of Americans don't pay income tax despite crippling government debt

[Sue]

ABC News Radio just informed me that Obama has sent a letter of apology to Karzai.

"The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible.

Hmmm...it was inadvertent but we'll punish them anyway, just so you guys know how sincere our apology is. Or something.

[Threadkiller]

The NLRB had not approved the non-union earthwork. The Obama's did not want to be seen as scabs.

[Clarice]

Still no mention that the korans had been desecrated by the jihadis themselves.

[Janet]

When the Bibles were burned we were told that was just how the military got rid of all extra "stuff". The military isn't in the business of taking care of religious material. No need to apologize. If anyone approaches the base looking all crazed over some lousy korans...shoot 'em.

[Captain Hate]

Preznit Pantsload is pulling another "I don't have all the facts but the cops acted stupidly". Those books were purportedly being used to pass info from one imprisoned terrorist to another so he could've framed it in those terms. Instead he impugns the entire military instead of taking the heat himself.

[Gus]

Why would the Jug eared dimwit even get involved in the burning of a couple of Q'rans??

I mean it's not as if he's Muzzlim? He's a Christian...wright????

[Ignatz]

So what headline writer is going to get fired for using "spade" in a lead on this story?

[MarkO]

"So what headline writer is going to get fired for using "spade" in a lead on this story?:

That only applies to the ESPN kids making money off the NBA.

[Danube of Thought]

Michael Walsh reviews Act of Valor. I sure hope it is well received. We saw it at a special screening last week, and had drinks with some of the guys who were in it a couple of nights later. It was a great experience. I'd be interested to know the thoughts of JOMers who see it.

[A.Men]

Sharecropper Moochelle only shovels in the White House garden for photos.

President-In-Name-Only only reads shovel on the teleprompter. Doesn't know what it is!

[matt]

the man be shovelin more BS than perhaps any politician in history and they can't find him a shovel? Really?

[Ben Franklin]

What? No pics Laura's ass?

[NK]

OT-- yesterday a commenter had a question about te cycle of oil/gasoline price spikes and recessions. ZeroHedge reprinted a chart (link below) that DOE put together that shows the dramatic effect of regular gas exceeding $3.00/gallon on US household budgets. The soon to be $4.00 gas is a family budget killer; and oil spikes preceeded 5 of the last 6 recessions. Goodbye Barry, thanks for playing. http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2012/01/Oil%20Primer.jpg

[bgates]

the film is a bracing reminder of the war films Tinseltown used to make — and, if it scores, will be making again.

Sorry, no. "The Passion of the Christ" made over $600 million in theaters on an estimated $45M budget (production and marketing), source material for dozens more scripts appealing to the same audience is in the public domain, and in the eight years since "Passion" made Mel Gibson richer than his film's protagonist's father there have been another zero movies like it. At some point, you've made enough money, and for Hollywood that point is when (you've already made hundreds of millions of dollars and) the only way to make more is to film things people in red states will enjoy.

[Sue]

What? No pics Laura's ass?

No. But there is a nice shot of MO flashing us as she crosses her legs.

[centralcal]

Well, somebody who is currently FLOTUS wasn't dressed to do no shovelin'

Of, course, she wasn't dressed for sittin' either.

[43]

Laura Bush looked great...Miss me now.

[Cecil Turner]

Haven't seen it yet (and I'm sure I will, and will undoubtedly like it), but this is the sort of thing that gives me pause:

At a time when special-operations units like the SEALs and Delta Force aren’t only the tip of the spear but, in many ways, the spear itself, the country needs to understand that their mission and their tough tactics are morally legitimate. [emphasis added]

In the larger sense, SEAL tactics are about the most surgical use of force possible, necessarily limited and with absolutely minimal collateral damage. And it's for precisely that reason that the faint-hearted (e.g., Obama) are most likely to approve their missions . . . and no others.

And if this is the extent of the moral authority we can use to defend our nation, then we're in trouble. Because wars aren't won by Praetorian Guards, but by the legions.

That said, there are many missions where they're indispensable, and they've been getting some good play lately. And it's nice to see some cheerleading out of Hollywood, even if on this relatively safe ground.

[Danube of Thought]

will be making again

I doubt there will ever be a film of this kind again, for myriad reasons. The SEAL Captain who helped put the thing together over the course of four years had to navigate an extraordinary bureaucratic and political minefield to get it done, and the other services (and other elements within the Navy) are bound to howl about "using taxpayers' money to make some Hollywood guys rich." In fact, they meticulously avoided spending a single dollar that wouldn't have been spent anyway (or so the story goes). But I expect some sparks will fly.

[centralcal]

Now this should strike terror in all of our hearts! In an Univision interview when asked about immigration:

Bret Baier @BretBaier
In intv today-Pres Obama on immigrn rfrm- "My presidency is not over. I’ve got another 5 years coming up. We’re going to get this done."

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Instead he impugns the entire military instead of taking the heat himself.

My goodness, there's a surprise.

[Strawman Cometh]

Quite unlike the current FLOTUS, Laura is always the epitome of grace and courtesy and never, to use a favorite Southernism, "shows her ass" in public.

[Ignatz]

--What? No pics Laura's ass?--

In a not totally cursory attempt to give the people what they want it does not appear any are readily available.

[pagar]

"Instead he impugns the entire military instead of taking the heat himself."

IMO, he does this repeatedly. I'd say always, but sure as carp, some leftist would claim that he had once said something nice about Americans instead of taking the side of those who oppose us.

[Rick Ballard]

"Now this should strike terror in all of our hearts!"

Nope. The Rambler will have no problem beating the Trabant. The dog strapped to the roof doesn't affect the aerodynamics at all at the top speed of 32mph and the Trabant can't even hold 26 downhill.

[pagar]

O/T-- Anyone have any thoughts on the current price of SHLD? My guess is that this morning's market action has created several shovel ready former humans.

[Ben Franklin]

"No. But there is a nice shot of MO flashing us as she crosses her legs."

Melanin aside, quite a contrast from the virginal librarian.

[Cecil Turner]

Okay, not quite, but . . .

[Melinda Romanoff]

Eddie Lampert always has shareholder value as his first interest.

Thief.

[Frau Nachbarin]

I hate the smell of carped on feathers in the morning.

[NK]

RickB-- excellent communist era automotive metaphor.

[Jane]

"Instead he impugns the entire military instead of taking the heat himself."

He really inspires hate. I think Karzai should demand that he come calm down the protesters personally, with no secret service.

[matt]

DoT;

The branches of the military all have Hollywood offices to help facilitate a positive image of the military. Their job is to help find ways to assure accuracy and access when requested. This film seems different. Not sure why.

Did anyone see Red Tails? One of the rumors was that the Statue of Liberty flyby of AF-1 was for that film.

[Jane]

Okay that was a little harsh. I wish the president no harm, I just wish he would back our military who protect us so well.

[Ignatz]

Heh. Almost posted that one Cecil.

[Neo]

Regarding that Romney-Paul "tag team" ...

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday left the door wide open to consider accepting a nomination for vice president on a Mitt Romney ticket

[RichatUF]

Neo-

I hope not. Ever wonder why dad gets mush mouthed when the topic of his "newsletter" comes up?

[Ignatz]

Interesting juxtaposition of asymmetrical political warfare in the headlines at Hotair;

Iranian Court Affirms Death Sentence For Christian Pastor Who Converted From Islam

right below it;

Obama sends letter to Karzai apologizing for Koran-burning

[Danube of Thought]

Skin, don't fail me now.

Jon Huntsman called for the rise of a third party on Thursday as he argued the remaining GOP presidential candidates lack big ideas. The comments from the former Utah governor, who dropped out of the race in January after a disappointing showing in New Hampshire’s primary, were striking given his support for Mitt Romney, one of the four remaining GOP candidates for president. "Gone are the days when the Republican Party used to put forward big, bold, visionary stuff," Huntsman said during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

[Danube of Thought]

This film seems different.

The SEALs in the movie are all active-duty SEALs in real life. Some of the scenes are live-fire exercises.

[Melinda Romanoff]

DoT-

I see he's still on the iBama payroll.

[Ben Franklin]

"Iranian Court Affirms Death Sentence For Christian Pastor Who Converted From Islam

right below it;

Obama sends letter to Karzai apologizing for Koran-burning"

Karzai is Persian?

[Jane]

Jon Huntsman called for the rise of a third party on Thursday as he argued the remaining GOP presidential candidates lack big ideas.

john Huntsman is under consideration to be the candidate for that party that plans to nominate a republican and a democrat (I forget the name).

And frankly I hope he gets it since liberals love him and it will take votes from the left. NOw who should his running mate? Evan Bayh?

[Porchlight]

Jon Huntsman seems to be trying his damndest to be the John Anderson of 2012.

[Ignatz]

--Karzai is Persian?--

My comment, which you omitted, would have precluded your non sequitur.

[Sandy Daze]

DoT - Am looking forward to seeing Act of Valor. A lot of enthusiasm here for the movie, but VaBch is a company town, as is Coronado. Have not had the opportunity to attend a special screening. I understand Admiral McRaven received a bit of grief at the recent NDIA SOLIC conference for allowing SEAL TTP to be displayed in Act of Valor. But, the deed is done. It will be great to see a movie celebrating the Honor, Courage & Committment of our great Nation's most capable warriors, rather than the pusillanimous carp that passes for pro-military movies. nb, I found Restrepo riveting, and well worth anyone's time to watch, although it might better be considered a documentary.

BTW - The Navy SEAL Foundation is a great resource for those who want to know more about the community, or who would like to donate in behalf of fallen frogs.

OMG~ABO
Sandy

[Ben Franklin]

" NOw who should his running mate? Evan Bayh?"

I'm thinking Joe Lieberman, for a more conservative drift. Republicans, unlike Dems, like givng fail, a second chance.

[Sandy Daze]

DoT -

Am looking forward to seeing Act of Valor. A lot of enthusiasm here for the movie, but VaBch is a company town, as is Coronado. Have not had the opportunity to attend a special screening. I understand Admiral McRaven received a bit of grief at the recent NDIA SOLIC conference for allowing SEAL TTP to be displayed in Act of Valor. But, the deed is done. It will be great to see a movie celebrating the Honor, Courage & Committment of our great Nation's most capable warriors, rather than the pusillanimous carp that passes for pro-military movies. nb, I found Restrepo riveting, and well worth anyone's time to watch, although it might better be considered a documentary.

BTW - The Navy SEAL Foundation is a great resource for those who want to know more about the community, or who would like to donate in behalf of fallen frogs.

OMG~ABO
Sandy

[Porchlight]

When the Koran story broke last week I was listening to radio news and heard the clip of General Allen apologizing (to Muslims worldwide or something). He was definitely truckling, and he almost sounded afraid. It was so depressing to hear an American general talk like that. I had to turn it off.

[Ben Franklin]

"My comment, which you omitted,"

Considering the def of juxtaposition, it appeared as though you were conflating the two.

[AliceH]

whoa.

Juxtaposition pretty much is the opposite of conflation. This explains a lot.

[Danube of Thought]

Waddaya know? Gallup:

[matt]

The SEAL's have probably changed their training exercises 2-3 times anyway. They move fast and mix things up regularly.

Heading up to the Reagan Library for the first time tomorrow to listen to 4 MoH recipients speak.Can't wait.

[Porchlight]

Those numbers should make Dems very, very nervous, DoT.

[centralcal]

Sarah Palin @SarahPalinUSA
Obama apologizes for inadvertent Koran burning; now the US trained & protected Afghan Army can apologize for killing our soldiers yesterday.

[GMAX]

PJ Media Poll just released. They also assumed a brokered convention and polled some new names. Guess the two Republicans who bested Obama?

http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2012/02/23/santorum-rice-excel-in-pj-media-presidential-poll/2/

Cant guess, OK, its Santorum and Condi Rice. Mitch Daniels scored abysmally, btw.

Tomorrow they will release full crosstabs but they tease us the Zero is scoring horribly with Indys. Shocking if you read my posts, I know.

[Ignatz]

I was juxtaposing Islam's intolerant response to a threat posed not by terrorism, murder or an act of war but by the voluntary conversion of a muslim to Christianity with the tepid and submissive response by us to the inadvertent burning of a couple of Korans.
Meanwhile our own army burns bibles.

[NK]

DoT-- thanks for the Gallup.

Things are settling in to conform to my 14 month old 53%-46% prediction. Summer gas prices will really rile up Indies to go out and vote ABO.

Wild Card: the Mullahs starting a hot war. They want Barry as POTUS, and a hot war may help keep him in.

[Ben Franklin]

Saddam is Dead. Long live Saddam...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/23/us-iraq-violence-idUSTRE81M0CJ20120223

[Ann Proud Ditto Head]

GMAX:

Let me add my thanks for your positive attitude here at JOM.

To all you RUSH listeners:

Were you standing and cheering his answer to that dim witted girl around 1:45. RIGHT ON! RIGHT ON!

[centralcal]

I missed his response, Ann. I had heard about 2/3rds of the gal's phone call, when I got a long-winded client call. Luckily, I am a Rush member, so I will listen to the replay when it posts on his site this afternoon.

[Chubby]

I was ann

two days ago Levin slammed Obama for being too busy with jazz parties to so much make a public statement condemning the death sentence in Iran. what is his job as leader of the free world anyways?

[Ann Proud Ditto Head]

CC:
Thanks for finding that MessNBC clip the other day. If you find the RUSH audio, would you post it here too. I will also try. xxxooo

Oh, and I think I was the first to post a moving picture. Ignatz was prettier! Hi back at ya Ig.

...Some professor featherass wanted a picture of one.

[Ben Franklin]

And worse, it's a BLACK ass, Ann. No bones in there. But there's plenty of pig fat for you to roll with.

[Jane]

I was in and out of the bank Ann but loved the part of the rant I heard.

Mitch Daniels scored abysmally, btw.

My guess is few of the participants know who he is.

[qrstuv]

BF: I'll remind you that Democrats enacted Jim Crow laws, the KKK lynched blacks for voting for Republicans, and that the Civil Rights Act was passed when Republicans stood up to a filibuster held by the Democrats of the South.

Own your racism, pal. Don't project it on us.

[Ben Franklin]

Bush apologizes for bullet holes in Koran

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7410367.stm

[jimmyk]

Summer gas prices will really rile up Indies to go out and vote ABO.

Yep, and I think the only way gas prices fall much is if the economy tanks, and that won't be a winner for Barry.

[Captain Hate]

the Civil Rights Act was passed when Republicans stood up to a filibuster held by the Democrats of the South.

Voted against by Manbearpig's father.

[NK]

JimmyK-- gasoline prices won't fall for any reason by this summer: 1. US demand has been crushed already -- the price escalation is NOT demand driven; 2. pre-summer price increases are being driven by continued dollar debasement, risk premium because of Iran and stupid state and federal envirnomental laws that cause a price hike because of higher costs for switching over to enviro-- mandated summer blends. NONE of those things will change by summer. Nope, $4-5 gas is all the result of wild Obama deficits and Fed QE debasing the Dollar and restricting US production, which allows OPEC to continue to dictate supply. Don't believe me-- the link has quotes from from 'Bam today, he's given up and admits nothing can be done to reduce prices. He's a goner-- http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-no-silver-bullet-high-gas-prices/391501

[Tom Maguire]

Really? What would the optics have been had Obama been shoveling while the whites looked on?

In the picture I am looking at at Politico I am pretty sure I see some black men; one might think the Smithsonian avoided having an all-white group on the committee steering this museum.

So the picture could have been Barack, Michelle,Laura Bush, and a mix of black and white people breaking ground.

This is small beer compared to Obama's national bankruptcy and not preventing the Mullahs from deploying The Bomb.

Really? We like beer in all sizes here.

[NK]

TomM-- how about if the beer is served in an O'BAMA FOUR LEAF clover glass? riddle me that o'mighty blogger!

[Sue]

I didn't notice any black men or women with a shovel. Maybe I should look again. Since I didn't notice the color of their skin, does that mean I have made it to the top of the mountain?

[NK]

Apologies to 'Bam an update from the Examiner, 'Bam has offered a solution to high gas prices -- Algae Baby, Algae!!!
http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-use-algae-substitute-oil/391536

[Ignatz]

--Oh, and I think I was the first to post a moving picture. Hi back at ya Ig.--

Never even occurred to I might have been the first to post a video.
We all bow to your skills Ann, even if in the service of an image as disturbing as that 2:15.

--Ignatz was prettier!--

Indeed. Me and Muhammad Ali.

[Janet]

It was so depressing to hear an American general talk like that. I had to turn it off.

Yes, yes...I know that exact feeling.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

And worse, it's a BLACK ass, Ann. No bones in there. But there's plenty of pig fat for you to roll with.

Oh, fuck you. What's your problem with black people?

[RichatUF]

NK-

Closing 2 refineries and not building any for the last 30 years might be catching up. Also, I should apologize. I downloaded the dollar index, ffr, and retail gas price numbers and was surprised to discover that correlation between retail gas prices and the dollar index is -.8669 but less surprised that the correlation between the ffr and the dollar index is .4153. I thought that the dollar index and retail gas would be mildly negative but the magnitude suprised.

Was a shame that I missed all that dirty oil talk from a few threads back. However, I think the criticism of the Fed regarding the dollar is a bit misplaced and a better place to look would be the Treasury Department (they put in place the economic agenda and they are responsible for dollar policy) and Congress (they are the ones spending us into bankruptcy). In addition, the Obama Administration's unwritten policy is an export led development model, which needs a weak dollar to succeed (this explains Obama's burping about "doubling American exports" and putting forward a new tax plan that has a whole new set of carveouts and exemptions for exporters and "paid for" with his dream taxes on energy producers).

[Annoying Old Guy]

I wonder who the general was afraid of -- the caliphascists or his civilian bosses?

- Obama Ex Oficio

[NK]

RichardUF-- agree with everything you say, but, the Fed? of course the Fed in part is debasing the Dollar to reduce the cost of repaying the insane debt Obama has built up. But you know what-- Bernanke is printing the money, he's either aiding or abetting Obama policies, or papering over Obama's deficits. let him come out and say in plain english what he's doing. Until then, we are all within our rights to blame THE FED.

[caro]

Love ya',Ann!

[jimmyk]

I think the criticism of the Fed regarding the dollar is a bit misplaced and a better place to look would be the Treasury Department

Yes, but the Fed is their enabler, by monetizing the debt (and of course promising to demonetize in the nick of time, which we know they can do based on their stellar track record and whiz bang surefire models.

the Obama Administration's unwritten policy is an export led development model

How 1960s of him. Typical central planning mentality. He has no clue.

[caro]

I wonder what the proscribed method of Koran destruction might be. We burn our flags out of respect.

[Ben Franklin]

"Oh, fuck you."

How's it hangin', Chaco?

[Chubby]

((Bush apologizes for bullet holes in Koran))

didn't 0bama campaign as the anti-Bush?

[(Another) Barbara]

I wondered about that too, Caro. According to the info I could find, there is disagreement about it because Mohammad forget to tell anyone. Scholars dispute the accepted method, but seems the most used is to wrap it in linen and store it forever in a safe and holy site -- another warehousing nightmare for our military, sounds like. Perhaps we can use any leftover linen to make burkhas for our daughters and granddaughters. Seems like they're going to need them.

[narciso]

Of course the esteemed academic would miss the events of the Assyrian massacre of 1932,
or the Golden Square movements in 1936 and 1941, none of which constitute an argument for Saddam, but that would involve logic.

When Shaj Shuja, I mean Karzai ultimately hangs, and I don't mean if, I will suppress
a tear, the cynicism of both him and Obama
is breathtaking, McClatchy fishwrap obviously
ignored the underlying facts

[RichatUF]

NK-

Bernanke (and others) have. Here is his 97 paper on oil shocks and the monetary policy response to same. I'm still studying it and looking for criticisms of it, but I think that it best explains the ZIRP and his attempts at more transparency (his press conferences and the policy statement that rates will be low for years). I think the corollary to this is that the Federal Reserve believes that oil prices will continue to rise for the foreseeable future and the Federal Reserve doesn't have the tool kit to fix it (and they don't-but Exxon does, but can't and Shell does, but can't...&c&c).

[RichatUF]

jimmyk-

Yes, but the Fed is their enabler, by monetizing the debt (and of course promising to demonetize in the nick of time, which we know they can do based on their stellar track record and whiz bang surefire models.

I must be the only one here defending the Fed! Someone a while back linked an article (that I have been unable to find again) that posited that one of the problems of the housing bubble is that the Federal Reserve lost control of the money supply. And the more I thought about it the more the idea makes sense-and if they lost control of the money supply the only way to get it back was to get bigger, hence buying up everything they could.

He has no clue.

He should get GE to build him an empty, modern city complete with windmills and high speed trains. Obamaville 2012: The City of the Future!

[Jack is Back!]

ChaCo,

What's his problem with people, period?

My wife has an expression for BF - anti-social twit.