Not that I favour Obama in any way, but as a European (German) I have to ask: what’s wrong with the bicycle (apart from the fact that it’s too small for him)? On these shores, lots of conservative people (myself included) like going by bike, especially in the city, where going by car takes for ever and parking lots are inexistent. Nothing ideological about it. The pope, when he was younger, also went by bike (I don’t think he has a driver’s licence). In fact, the story is often told that when he taught at Tübingen, he would arrive on his humble bike, while Fr. Küng drove a Porsche.
Every election cycle we get to laugh at candidates doing things (to attract votes) that they never do in their normal life. The most common example of this is a presidential candidate dressing up like a hunter. I think the photo is funny, because his attire and posture (a bit like Mary Poppins) leads me to believe that he’s not an avid biker.
I’ve seen this picture several times. I’ve always lived in a rural area and frankly riding a bike to work is just not practical. 30 miles is a long way to ride a bike. On the otherhand, riding a motorcycle in winter isn’t very practical either for various reasons. Most people here ride their bikes for exercise, including hauling their kiddos behind, like Barack is doing. With the cost of groceries and gas around here though, many more people are riding their bikes and walking to work. In America, at least, bikes and motorcycles are just recreational vehicles—which one you have just depends on your personality, IMO.
Maybe Obama voters don’t read. After all, they’d meet his opinion of them.
As far as Palin not being dressed to ride…she’s not riding, she’s leaning. Thus, she doesn’t need to be dressed to ride…she needs to be dressed to lean. And she’s doing that just fine. OSHA wouldn’t have a problem with that, nor would the NHTSA.
Obama, on the other hand…riding with a deflated tire, noticing he’s riding on the sidewalk, which is illegal in many places, noticing that he’s endagering his children by biking in traffic….he’s an unfit parent and endangers any children who might be walking to school on the sidewalk he’s about to mount.
NOTE TO EVERYONE: The sidewalk ramps are for those in wheelchairs…not bikers.
I will say this…at least he’s biking WITH traffic. The bikers around here ignore that law and then wonder why they go home in a bucket when a car hits them because they can’t be seen because they’re interfering with the flow of traffic.
September 10, 2008 at 4:28 am
Trouble is, only one of them is running…
September 10, 2008 at 4:38 am
Trouble is, the one that is running…is running…
September 10, 2008 at 9:22 am
Not that I favour Obama in any way, but as a European (German) I have to ask: what’s wrong with the bicycle (apart from the fact that it’s too small for him)? On these shores, lots of conservative people (myself included) like going by bike, especially in the city, where going by car takes for ever and parking lots are inexistent. Nothing ideological about it. The pope, when he was younger, also went by bike (I don’t think he has a driver’s licence). In fact, the story is often told that when he taught at Tübingen, he would arrive on his humble bike, while Fr. Küng drove a Porsche.
September 10, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Her outfit is completely inappropriate for riding. She has no helmet. Motorcycle burns fossil fuels.
vs.
Properly attired. Wearing proper safety equipment. Getting exercise and helping to save the environment.
I expected you to be pro-Palin. ^_^
September 10, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I could give you a better answer if I knew whether that motorcycle was a Harley.
September 10, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Obama’s rear tire is underinflated. Doesn’t he have a pressure gauge?
September 10, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I expected you to be pro-Palin
Give Obama’s and Palin’s respective abortion stances, I would certainly hope that any faithful Catholic would be pro-Palin.
Many men can look strong an masculine on a bike. Obama is not one of them…
September 10, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Underinflated? He doesn’t care if HIS tires are underinflated. Only yours.
September 10, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Every election cycle we get to laugh at candidates doing things (to attract votes) that they never do in their normal life. The most common example of this is a presidential candidate dressing up like a hunter. I think the photo is funny, because his attire and posture (a bit like Mary Poppins) leads me to believe that he’s not an avid biker.
September 10, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Has anyone noticed that his bike has a trailer? I wonder if there’s a camera man in it…
September 10, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I’ve seen this picture several times. I’ve always lived in a rural area and frankly riding a bike to work is just not practical. 30 miles is a long way to ride a bike. On the otherhand, riding a motorcycle in winter isn’t very practical either for various reasons. Most people here ride their bikes for exercise, including hauling their kiddos behind, like Barack is doing. With the cost of groceries and gas around here though, many more people are riding their bikes and walking to work. In America, at least, bikes and motorcycles are just recreational vehicles—which one you have just depends on your personality, IMO.
September 10, 2008 at 5:40 pm
He still looks geeky on it.
September 10, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Bicyles, like short pants, are wonderful things…….for 12-year olds.
September 10, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I can’t believe you’re dissing bikes.
Don’t let Lance Armstrong hear you say that.
(I may not be voting for Obama, but I feel that petty attacks like this reflect really poorly on my fellow conservatives and Christians.)
September 11, 2008 at 2:41 am
Moose hunting on a motorcycle sounds fun.
September 11, 2008 at 4:18 am
The biker looks cooler that that woman on the hog.
I can not stand noise pollution, will vote Obama after seeing these pictures.
September 11, 2008 at 4:50 am
Wow. You must be a really informed voter if this made up your mind.
September 11, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Thanks for the chuckle.
September 14, 2008 at 12:25 am
LOL.
False dichotomy.
And you found someone who fell for it.
Maybe Obama voters don’t read. After all, they’d meet his opinion of them.
As far as Palin not being dressed to ride…she’s not riding, she’s leaning. Thus, she doesn’t need to be dressed to ride…she needs to be dressed to lean. And she’s doing that just fine. OSHA wouldn’t have a problem with that, nor would the NHTSA.
Obama, on the other hand…riding with a deflated tire, noticing he’s riding on the sidewalk, which is illegal in many places, noticing that he’s endagering his children by biking in traffic….he’s an unfit parent and endangers any children who might be walking to school on the sidewalk he’s about to mount.
NOTE TO EVERYONE: The sidewalk ramps are for those in wheelchairs…not bikers.
I will say this…at least he’s biking WITH traffic. The bikers around here ignore that law and then wonder why they go home in a bucket when a car hits them because they can’t be seen because they’re interfering with the flow of traffic.