A few quick thoughts on Obama’s state of Obama speech.
The whole time I am listening to it, I know he is lying and I suspect that he does too. Back in the Clinton days when I listened to Bill delivering this type of speech, I knew he was lying also. Somehow, though, I always got the impression that Bill had managed to convince himself of the lie. In his belief in his own virtue, he seemed convinced and convincing even when he was as far from the truth as could be, even to the point of the wagging of the finger. Watch that denial again sometime, that man really believes he is the victim. Somehow, for me, it made it easier to get past such things with Clinton because underneath you could always see the weakness that allowed him to really believe his own lies.
For all that, it occurred to me that Barack Obama is far scarier. He lies, he knows he is lying, and he doesn’t care. “I don’t believe in bigger gov’t” – “Tax cuts for 95%” – “No earmarks” Lies all. His lies seem to be pre-meditated fabrications to give him what he wants, more power. With Clinton, the truth always seemed distorted. Cloudy. With Obama, truth is simply irrelevant.
When I read the story about the bank exec who gave the money to all the employees, I was impressed. Seeing him in the gallery being used by Obama as a prop meant to bash all the greedy CEO’s who have only managed to keep hundreds of thousands employed for years, I was not impressed.
When Obama relayed the story of the girl and finished with “We are not quitters!” I cringed. This is one time he might actually be telling the truth. So much the worse for us.
Michelle Obama continues to look …
Bobby Jindal. Said all the right things and absolutely no one will remember tomorrow. Oh, by the way, it may not be PC, but for the next four years, does every Republican who offers a response to Obama have to follow McCain’s lead by recognizing the historic nature of Obama? Please, please give it a rest.
When he got the nomination “I would like to recognize the historic nature of the first black nominee of a major party”. When he won, “I would like to recognize the historic nature of the first black president-elect” and tonight “I would like to recognize the historic nature of the first black president to have a pretend Sate of the Union” How about recognizing the historic nature of the first president – period – to spend a gazillion dollars in his first four weeks in office. Enough with the “historic nature” crap. He won, its over, no one cares.
And if you think that anyone who thinks that Republicans are all racists will suddenly say to themselves, “Oh look Weezie, they recognized the historic nature of the first black president to spend our great great-great-great grandkids money, maybe the Republicans aren’t so bad,” you have another thing coming. Repeat after me. No One Cares! So stop it already.
Anyway, that’s all for tonight. But if I can leave you with one thought. One thought only, it is this. Remember, nobody messes with Joe. Well, except Joe of course.
February 25, 2009 at 7:44 am
It’s a tax CREDIT — not a tax CUT — and most of those benefiting from it would have no tax liability anyway. (As you say, I suspect Obama already knows this).
February 25, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I was more disappointed in the things he didn’t say. Among his favorite words in his speech last night were increase, expand, extend. What I didn’t hear at any point was “and this is how we are going to pay for it.” But I guess it was implied that the top earning 5% will. Ahh, nothing like forced philanthropy!
February 25, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Increase, extend, expand. Sounds like an ad for erectile dysfunction.
February 25, 2009 at 2:03 pm
The part that got me was his fluff over Gitmo and torture. Guess he didn’t know about this. (Thanks, BBC!) So yeah…I agree with you. He’s lying and he knows it.
God Bless,
Ryan
February 25, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Oh, and regarding the political beating-stick Gitmo, I wonder why he didn’t bring up the results of the Pentagon Investigation he ordered…
God Bless,
Ryan
February 25, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Anon,
You mean electile dysfunction
February 25, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Dysfunction or dyspepsia?
Anon2
February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm
To be honest, I didn’t watch the speech as I simply am not vested anymore. But I DID watch Jindal’s follow-up response. I thought he did an EXCELLENT job (the analogy of the boats and bureaucrats at the begining of it really resonated). I sincerely hope the GOP is smart enough to run him for President in the next election.
Jindal SHOULD be the next president, IMHO. As far as a Veep, I’m hoping someone else besides Palin. I think her days in the sun are over, and I really wasn’t that impressed with her. I know it’s too much to ask for another Catholic to run with Jindal.
February 25, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Jindal seems a little…geeky…to run for President. I love the guy and his policies but I think he’s got to work on the alpha male thing. Maybe hang out with Haley Barbour or something.
February 25, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I think Jindal’s pro-life policies and voting record are perfectly catholic, as far as I can tell, and that’s what matters. If he ran for president next term he would certainly get my vote over Obama. (Although I do think he sounds like Kenneth from 30 Rock and it weirds me out…)
I have to object to the tone of this article though. It IS a big deal that Barack Obama is elected. I may not have voted for him, I may vehemently disagree with his policies, but it IS historic, and I am glad that people DO care. He is the first black man to become president in a nation where most african americans historically have not been allowed to “play the game”. Now millions of african american boys have an educated, proud black man in power, who is yelling at them to stay in school as a duty to their country. I think that is a wonderful thing!
February 25, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I’m fan of any Catholic politician that actually practices the faith that they profess to hold in their voting records!
I think every prominent politician has to tacitly pay homage to the historical nature of Obama’s election in their first widely publicized post-election addresses in order to avoid knee-jerk accusations that they’re racist… but it better disappear soon because racial awareness to me distracts from our society truly transcending race and focusing on the issues that are truly important.
Objectively, if he were to compete against Obama in a presidential election… he REALLY needs to polish his public speaking skills. Sarah is so right about him sounding eerily like 30 Rock’s Kenneth 🙂 He does the basics right, but needs to achieve charisma that will match or excede that of Obamessiah, without the arrogance or condescending tone. Perhaps less inflection and more resolution?
February 25, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Anon,
I think that’s one of Patrick’s points. Every time we disagree with him we can’t spend the first 30 seconds talking about the historic nature of his Presidency.
Let’s talk about his ideas – which are almost all horrible.
February 25, 2009 at 4:24 pm
You are a better person than I, because the moment I saw Obama, Pelosi and Biden on the screen I became violently ill and had to turn it off. I knew what he was going to say anyway – he’s going to take my money and pour it down a rathole.
February 25, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Renee,
First he’s going to pay someone with your money to dig a rathole.
February 25, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Everytime I hear of taxing the rich theres a little voice in my head saying, “class warfare”.
Guess I better go see a shrink about that. We all know B.O. and the Dems would never, ever stoop so low.
Right.
February 25, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I found this about Jindal:
“Jindal opposes the exceptions but said if a procedure to save the life of the woman is performed that results in an abortion, that’s OK. Gambit newspaper in New Orleans also said Jindal told it he supports the use of emergency-room contraception for rape victims who request it.”
Source
February 25, 2009 at 8:16 pm
The beauty with Jindal is he’s a shade darker than Obama, so there would be no “race card” to be played in the next election, and everyone could once again jump on the “momentous point in history” bandwagon, being that he would be the first Asian-american/Indian American/former-Hindu American president. Can’t argue with that PR.
As far as the alpha-male thing, Bush was hardly an Alpha Male (definitely a daddy’s boy, as opposed to Jeb, who is definitely an Alpha male). But hey, Clinton and Obama are perfect examples of Alpha males, and look what a great job they’ve done so far…
(in other words, let’s have more mature criteria, shall we?)
February 25, 2009 at 8:25 pm
As someone who’s run political campaigns I can tell you, elections are all about the alpha thing.
And W. was a hell of a lot more Alpha than Gore and Kerry.
February 25, 2009 at 9:41 pm
I would definitely concur with the Bush vs Gore and Kerry thing.
And it looks like Jindal has been slammed all over the blogosphere and the liberal press is salivating over it. Sure would be nice if we could support our own here…
February 25, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Everything that Jindal said I agree with. I would support him. I’m just worried that he might not be the right messenger.
The GOP is in desperate need of a leader to take on this charismatic socialistic death monger in the White House.
And part of leadership in politics in presentation. Palin’s got presentation but makes some bad choices (like letting Bristol given an interview”
Jindal is great on substance but lacking in delivery. (He could improve)
Haley Barbour might have both but the question is “Is he too Southern?”
While I realize that this is lowest common-denominator-speak that is what politics are about.