Patterico's Pontifications

There is no bias in the news media.

Evil Pundit (42e904) — 6/5/2009 @ 6:48 pm

No, no bias at all. This is just normal political idolatry.

DRJ (180b67) — 6/5/2009 @ 6:54 pm

In a future period of severe domestic upheaval (.od forbid that such a thing occurs) I would not want to hold Life Insurance policies on media people – it would be a loosing hand; and they seem totally oblivious to the animosity within the general public that they are creating for themselves.

AD - RtR/OS! (b0c533) — 6/5/2009 @ 6:56 pm

This is nauseating.

SPQR (26be8b) — 6/5/2009 @ 6:56 pm

One can only roll their eyes in disgust. Or parody them.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:06 pm

Then God said, Let us make the media in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the sheeple.

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:12 pm

Among the most ardent supporters of NSDAP, and of Big Brother (acording to Orwell), were journalists.

Official Internet Data Office (0c6853) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:12 pm

“He’s going to bring all different sides together…Obama is trying to sort of tamper everything down. He doesn’t even use the word terror. He uses extremism. He’s all about let us reason together…He’s the teacher. He is going to say, ‘now, children, stop fighting and quarreling with each other.’ And he has a kind of a moral authority that he – he can – he can do that.”

Painfully embarrassing. This is the best Newsweek can do? I can think of several tyrants, oppressors and dictators who are laughing at us, not with us.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:15 pm

I liked the speech, but Evan Thomas’s remark seems just crazy. Perhaps he was trying to say that Obama aimed to speak from a point of view transcending Middle East disputes, but if that’s what Thomas meant, he made himself look silly with what he actually said.

Tim McGarry (9fe080) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:16 pm

Lickspittle.

nk (c788b4) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:17 pm

“he’s sort of God.”

If that doesn’t drive a man to atheism, nothing will.

Dave Surls (8fc1ad) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:18 pm

Perhaps he was trying to say

Why an effort to suggest what he may have meant? Why not give him the benefit of the doubt that he says what he means, and means what he says?

It’s now fashionable to re-state, re-define, re-shape statements that cast one in a doubtful light, or to look foolish, (even claim, surely other words would have been chosen if there were do-overs allowed…), rather than just accepting at face value what a person says. Something good is lost in this transaction.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:35 pm

BARF!!!!!

daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:40 pm

The Apotheosis of Obama.

I’m speechless.

Jim C. (b33a68) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:42 pm

barack obama loves me this I know cause of NPR tells me so I think

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:43 pm

Good to see Newsweek is not in the bag for Obama…God I need a drink.

Joe (17aeff) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:47 pm

Maybe “god” can conjure up some real jobs when he gets back from admiring himself in the mirror.

Ray (9c6b5f) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:51 pm

Well no wonder Brian Williams bowed. Or was he just bending over to pick something up.

And that would certainly explain Reverend Wright’s foreshadowing exclamation “God DAMN America” because he’s (Obama-messiah)doing his best to do just that.

Marty Farty (73baad) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:57 pm

This is one of my most basic religious principles:

I don’t worship any God who is younger than I am.

Dave Surls (8fc1ad) — 6/5/2009 @ 7:58 pm

I don’t worship any God who is younger than I am.

Comment by Dave Surls — 6/5/2009 @ 7:58 pm

But you should give it its due. Rum, sugar and blood when you want to attract its attention.

nk (c788b4) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:14 pm

Eventually, everyone gets tired of the K-Y and constant moaning.

HeavenSent (1e97ff) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:15 pm

he’s not a human
he’s a dove
he’s your conscious
he is Love
and all he really needs is 2 know that
U believe

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:18 pm

oh. stupid chinese lyrics site. *conscience* is what that’s opposed to be.

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:19 pm

According to the DSM, 5 or more of following traits must be present before a diagnosis of narcissism can be reached. Vaknin reminds us that individuals can and do express these traits through group membership:

Here’s the list. It’s an almost perfect blow-by-blow description of modern progressivism, including much of the media.

1. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – feel grandiose and self-important (e.g., they exaggerate the group’s achievements and talents to the point of lying, demand to be recognized as superior – simply for belonging to the group and without commensurate achievement).

2. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – are obsessed with group fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance, bodily beauty or performance, or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering ideals or political theories.

3. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – are firmly convinced that the group is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special or unique, or high-status groups (or institutions).

4. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – require excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation – or, failing that, wish to be feared and to be notorious (narcissistic supply).

5. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – feel entitled. They expect unreasonable or special and favourable priority treatment. They demand automatic and full compliance with expectations. They rarely accept responsibility for their actions (“alloplastic defences”). This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

6. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – are “interpersonally exploitative”, i.e., use others to achieve their own ends. This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

7. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – are devoid of empathy. They are unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of other groups. This often leads to anti- social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

8. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – are constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about them. This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

9. The group as a whole, or members of the group – acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group – are arrogant and sport haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, punished, limited, or confronted. This often leads to anti-social behavior, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

My apologies for the length of this comment.

ras (20bd5b) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:23 pm

What we have here. Is failure. To communicate.

Ed from SFV (a53c07) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:24 pm

Monotheism is so…last millennium.

poon (093c46) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:30 pm

Comment by Tim McGarry — 6/5/2009 @ 7:16 pm

Comment by Dana — 6/5/2009 @ 7:35 pm

It’s the double standard of this whole thing for the last year. He’s not a Muslim… maybe he is. Not a socialist. Well, maybe he is. Imus? He’s racist. Censor him, fire him. Rev. Wright “must be understood in context.” And now, a judge whose racist speil includes partisan bilge as her yardstick for meting out justice. But the idiot from the village is considered God-like. And liberals think there’s a perception problem?? Holy sh-t.

Vermont Neighbor (efb5a9) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:36 pm

Ras, it all fits. (8:23 pm)

Vermont Neighbor (efb5a9) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:39 pm

Imagine how many times Newsweek might have put him on the cover if Thomas was in charge.

What? Thomas is in charge?

Oh. That explains it.

WLS Shipwrecked (53653f) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:42 pm

I am watching Conan Obrian. He can’t even joke about Obama. The crowd got all quiet, then only laughed when the brought the joke back around to Bush.

Mr. Pink (b0e177) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:44 pm

Well, the secular God anyway.

It’s amazing the number of folks that deny any spiritual power and then turn around and assert the government can solve everyone’s problems.

Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:52 pm

Mr. Pink, is it that they don’t want to laugh about Obama, or know they aren’t allowed to?

Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:53 pm

Wikipedia:

A cult of personality arises when a country’s leader uses mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are often found in dictatorships.

Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:59 pm

Hell if I know. He started talking about Obama and the crowd got dead silent. He told a deadpan joke then he said a Bush joke and they all laughed like the tension in the room had been deflated.

Mr. Pink (b0e177) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:59 pm

Dana – Spot on. It seems as though that the smarterest most intelligent President EVAH, Gibbs seems to spend an inordinate amount of time saying “well, I think what Teh One really meant was …”. So, Tim is just taking cues from the administration, the ones that made the oceans stop rising, the one that we were waiting for.

Tim – Why the need to “re-intepret” something that has a self-evident meaning?

JD (8918e5) — 6/5/2009 @ 8:59 pm

History is made every day. So, it’s sometimes difficult to say that this event or that event has historical connotations.

Some events are evident in their importance, others are not until years later.

I believe we are currently experiencing, right now, events of cataclysmic importance.

And, everyone is whistling past the graveyard.

Ag80 (425b0a) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:00 pm

The irony is rich in that the Leftist always claimed there was some kind of cultish devotion to Bush, yet they actually demonstrate cultish devotion with things like global warming and Teh One.

JD (8918e5) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:02 pm

This picture shows what the jihadist sand Nazis think of President Obama.

Michael Ejercito (833607) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:04 pm

“Cults of personality are often found in dictatorships.”

Also in democracies. Jack Kennedy and Obama spring to mind.

Too bad the cultlike adoration is pretty much never merited.

Dave Surls (8be03d) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:18 pm

When the media is complicit in the adoration, almost all is lost.

I await the “Internet Czar” to stop the conversation.

Ag80 (425b0a) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:28 pm

The word “buffoon” does not begin to describe this bozo.

Mike Myers (674050) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:35 pm

I liked the speech, but Evan Thomas’s remark seems just crazy. Perhaps he was trying to say that Obama aimed to speak from a point of view transcending Middle East disputes, but if that’s what Thomas meant, he made himself look silly with what he actually said.

Comment by Tim McGarry — 6/5/2009 @ 7:16 pm

The belief that the tenents of Islam and its 1400 year history of wanton destruction – which has left 270 million dead in its wake – can be transcended by clueless narcissism is naive in the extreme.

Terry Gain (6b2a64) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:46 pm

I am not whistling past the graveyard I don’t even know what that means. It’s like Kitty Genovese all over again except Barack Obama is raping and killing America not Kitty and it makes me feel very very sad.

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:51 pm

** tenets of Islam **

Terry Gain (6b2a64) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:51 pm

Obama is a god alright. A god damn idiot that is going to ruin this country..

KNUCKLES (b2907a) — 6/5/2009 @ 9:56 pm

Is there a word to describe what happens when a god loses his deity status? Undeification, perhaps?
That seems to be happening with The Messiah, as his poll numbers keep sinking.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 34% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-four percent (34%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of 0. That’s the highest level of strong disapproval and the lowest overall rating yet recorded (see trends).

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0005ac) — 6/5/2009 @ 10:17 pm

O- Ba Ma haha, O-Ba Ma haha, Dear Leader, I love you, you shine like the Sun!

O- Ba Ma haha, O-Ba Ma haha, Shining Poet of Truth, May I be worthy of your grace!

O- Ba Ma haha, O-Ba Ma haha, Tell me, Dear Leader, who makes you frown?

O- Ba Ma haha, O-Ba Ma haha, Say the non-believer’s names and we will re-educate them to glory!

Oh! O-Bam -Aha! Oh! O-Bam-Aha uber Allies! The Volk, Le Gente, La Raza and all are united behind you – uplifting you like a rising tide – Take off your shoes, show us that your feet are not clay.

Californio (6657ce) — 6/6/2009 @ 12:01 am

12, 35

I don’t read Newsweek and don’t know anything about Evan Thomas. It isn’t my intent to defend his statement at all. It’s just that when I hear something that crazy, I can’t help wondering, if only for a moment, whether the speaker meant what came out of his or her mouth. I’ve speculated a little that Thomas might have intended to say something saner, but it’s only speculation and I don’t pretend otherwise.

Tim McGarry (9fe080) — 6/6/2009 @ 12:06 am

Tim McGarry wrote:

I don’t read Newsweek and don’t know anything about Evan Thomas. It isn’t my intent to defend his statement at all. It’s just that when I hear something that crazy, I can’t help wondering, if only for a moment, whether the speaker meant what came out of his or her mouth. I’ve speculated a little that Thomas might have intended to say something saner, but it’s only speculation and I don’t pretend otherwise.

Go to NewsBusters and watch the actual clip, and note that when Thomas gets to the part where he says “He’s sort of God,” Chris “Thrill Up My Leg” Matthews breaks in to say, “Yeah.”

There are many things I could say, but I’ll leave it at this: Regardless of whether either Matthews or Thomas believe in God, neither is a Bible reader. If they were, they would have been creeped out by the similarity of their conversations to the account of Herod at Acts 12:21-23.

L.N. Smithee (64b10f) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:19 am

This is just normal political idolatry.

A blogger calling him “The Obamessiah” is seldom tagged an idolater.

It was the same Evan Thomas who disparaged Obama’s “creepy cult of personality” and how it makes him “a little uneasy that he’s so singular. He’s clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He’s a — I think, a deeply manipulative guy…”

steve (b4bafc) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:26 am

I think both Evan and that dirty socialist president guy are both deeply, deeply manipulative people of remarkably low integrity.

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:33 am

You’re a kind man, Mr. McGarry.

Kinder than Evan Thomas deserves, though.

Mars vs Hollywood (f062b9) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:42 am

Evan Thomas is a smart man (stay with me) whose career and profession is using words.

He knows what he meant.

Yeah, it’s that bad.

Even worse (still with me?), former Newsweek reporter Richard Wolfe (if you want Olbermann, he’s one of Olbermann’s lapdogs) who covered the campaign, left the magazine in part because of his (Wolfe’s) view that Thomas and other editors were too harsh on Obama.

Too harsh.

Newsweek.

On Obama.

SteveMG (819a67) — 6/6/2009 @ 6:58 am

Barack Obama is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life. — the media

steve miller (ec51d8) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:09 am

SteveMG – Wolfe makes up for it on Olbergasm’s comedy hour, where Wolfe fellates Teh One, in public.

Steve – Therefore we should just ignore Thomas calling him a God, or be scared at how quickly he got caught up in the cult of personality?

JD (646114) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:16 am

All I’m saying is that when Mr. Evans and Mr. Matthews finally are introduced to the real God, they will finally understand. A bit late, but they will get it.

You have to wonder if these guys don’t have pictures of Obama taped to their ceilings and cry out his name during sex. That’s not admiration, that’s adoration.

Also, it’s euwy.

Vivian Louise (c0f830) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:18 am

I’m not sure which “Steve” you are directing comments to.

steve miller (ec51d8) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:19 am

Does “he’s sort of God” outrank Dear Leader or Great Leader?

The inquisitive Dana (474dfc) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:23 am

Evan Thomas thinks Obama is God
To Barack he gives the nod
He is so great
He’s just first rate
Evan even likes ‘bama’s hot bod

The Limerick Avenger (474dfc) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:26 am

Wait a second! I thought that our friends on the left didn’t believe in God. Is Mr Thomas saying that President Obama doesn’t exist?

The snotty Dana (474dfc) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:29 am

57.I’m not sure which “Steve” you are directing comments to.

Me (SteveMG).

As to Thomas’s comment: No, don’t ignore it; but don’t dismiss it as poorly chosen words.

The chattering class has a history for falling for the “strong man” types.

Plus, they view Obama as “one of them” – he comes from the type of background they have and uses the language that they admire. He flatters them, intentionally or not, by using their language and view of the world, i.e, a sort of cynical view that is beneath them.

Just a hunch.

It is interesting to note that there are elements of the European press, certainly the British media, that are cooling to Obama.

SteveMG (819a67) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:31 am

Steve @ 57 – I was referring to the steve @ 50, who is far less intelligent than yourself 😉

JD (646114) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:50 am

heh. I wouldn’t know – I can’t be that smart if I didn’t vote for Bambi, now can I?

steve miller (ec51d8) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:52 am

About kitty/America…turns out people did call about the crime in progress. But she got killed anyway.

SarahW (fdd722) — 6/6/2009 @ 8:18 am

Apparently God is a Socialist.

David Ehrenstein (b88f1c) — 6/6/2009 @ 8:28 am

“He’s going to bring all different sides together…Obama is trying to sort of tamper everything down. He doesn’t even use the word terror. He uses extremism. He’s all about let us reason together…He’s the teacher. He is going to say, ‘now, children, stop fighting and quarreling with each other.’ And he has a kind of a moral authority that he – he can – he can do that.”

God is a Hall Monitor.

David Ehrenstein (b88f1c) — 6/6/2009 @ 8:29 am

Geez, I thought only communist or dictatorial news agencies practice blind adoration. Turns out, American’s is too. How I wish these foolish worshipers get a taste of Marxist life. Can we ship them to Middle East, China, N. Korea to live and practice their journalism there?

vnohara (355d01) — 6/6/2009 @ 8:37 am

I would suggest someone photoshoping this image with the One’s face.

Although this is very good

Universal healthcare! Peace in the middle east! So let it be written, so let it be done

Joe (17aeff) — 6/6/2009 @ 8:56 am

Tim McGarry – That does not really answer my question. Why did you feel compelled to reinterpret Thomas’ words, whose meaning was really not very ambiguous. The MSM and Teh One like to hold themselves out to be intellectuals, thinkers, blah blah blah, and all they seem to be doing is walking back dumb statements, and trying to pretend that their original words did not mean what they clearly meant, or will just push it down the memory hole. If they are so freaking smart why should we not assume that they meant what they said? This is exemplified quite nicely by your reinterpretation of Thomas’ tongue bath, or how the Left is trying to walk back from the statements Sotomayor has been making since as far back as ’94.

JD (034f78) — 6/6/2009 @ 9:11 am

JD, actually I have answered your question.

Tim McGarry (9fe080) — 6/6/2009 @ 9:20 am

Newsweek editor Evan Thomas brought adulation over President Obama’s Cairo speech to a whole new level on Friday, declaring on MSNBC: “I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God.”

I just whipped through a copy of the that speech and have to say it’s innocuous or philosophically cautious enough to not have aroused the strongest passions of most people on either side, of various sociopolitical divisions. That may be one reason it’s more interesting and pathetically hilarious analyzing the reactions of Obama-brown-nosers in the MSM, including Evan Thomas, towards what was said in Cairo.

However, I know the core of Obama’s intentions is riddled with naivete and an innate desire to foster various moral and political equivalencies (eg, yes, Iran, you do have a reason for wanting atomic power. And, yes, Palestinians, you do have a reason for being ticked at and resentful of the Israelis).

One major thing that stood out to me is the guy now in the Oval Office certainly is no less ambitious about spending big money on do-gooder programs in foreign countries as he is about doing the same thing right here at home. That and his silly ACLU-ized desire for giving Muslim women the right to wear whatever they please (ie, the chador) in the US.

Mark (411533) — 6/6/2009 @ 9:34 am

I was just reminded, from “I Claudius”, when Caligula fell ill. A kiss-ass Senator went around saying that he had petitioned the gods to take his life in place of Caligula’s. Well, Caligula recovered and he heard the story. So he brought the Senator before him and asked him if it were true. The Senator said it was. Caligula said, “Then it is time that you kept your bargain with the gods” and ordered him killed.

nk (c788b4) — 6/6/2009 @ 9:46 am

That is a great scene, nk. I also like the one where Caligula asked Macro if he, Caligula, was mad.Remember Macro’s answer.

Funny how those long ago Romans have much in common with today.

Eric Blair (c0224a) — 6/6/2009 @ 9:53 am

Steve – Therefore we should just ignore Thomas calling him a God, or be scared at how quickly he got caught up in the cult of personality?

Ignore? No.

Perhaps approved, coded blogspeak (e.g., “The Obamessiah”) was in order.

The Evan Thomas who finds Obama’s cult of personality “creepy” and says he’s “uneasy” with the spectacle attending “a deeply manipulative guy” is unlikely now to be headlong into hagiography.

steve (b4bafc) — 6/6/2009 @ 10:13 am

steve,
The Evan Thomas who finds Obama’s cult of personality “creepy” and says he’s “uneasy” with the spectacle attending “a deeply manipulative guy” is unlikely now to be headlong into hagiography.

A fuller reading of the quote is more ambiguous as to what Thomas really means:
THOMAS: It just makes me a little uneasy that he’s so singular. He’s clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He’s a – I think, a deeply manipulative guy – you know, this could be a useful thing in a leader .

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407) — 6/6/2009 @ 10:25 am

I don’t know if Obama is standing above the world. His cult sees him as God-like (still, which is truly remarkable). He’s clearly soaring above Congress… how many ‘czars’ now, working directly for him and outside the limits of oversight?

When will we see moves toward impeachment?

Vermont Neighbor (efb5a9) — 6/6/2009 @ 10:31 am

Thomas says it all makes him “a little uneasy.” You can disapprove of something you consider cultish and “creepy” and still acknowledge a political upside.

steve (b4bafc) — 6/6/2009 @ 10:38 am

I don’t read Newsweek and don’t know anything about Evan Thomas. It isn’t my intent to defend his statement at all. It’s just that when I hear something that crazy, I can’t help wondering, if only for a moment, whether the speaker meant what came out of his or her mouth. I’ve speculated a little that Thomas might have intended to say something saner, but it’s only speculation and I don’t pretend otherwise.

I can certainly understand the double-take when reading such an absurd statement, however, we are now living in a political theater of the absurd and statements like these are increasingly becoming the norm. Doesn’t it seem that more people accept this form of idol worship as reasonable or understandable and less are shaking their heads in utter amazement at such foolishness?

I recently attended the retirement party of a very intelligent woman with several advanced degrees and over 25 years experience in academia and did one of these ‘double-takes’ when during her speech she started reciting one of Obama’s speeches, and with tears, proceed to talk about how long she had waited for One like him to come to us.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/6/2009 @ 10:40 am

she started reciting one of Obama’s speeches, and with tears, proceed to talk about how long she had waited for One like him to come to us.

People don’t see the greed and sheer naked corruption. It’s worse than simply idol worship. Junk flying out the guy’s mouth, every time he twists some new plan with deceptive words that convey exactly the opposite. I’ve never used the word sheeple in a post before.

Vermont Neighbor (efb5a9) — 6/6/2009 @ 10:49 am

Dana, in times like these I always remember that pride goeth before a fall – and there’s going to be quite a lot of folks winding up with eggs on their faces shortly. This entire administration has been cartoonish from the start, and their court jesters in the media are only delaying the inevitable backlash.

Dmac (f7884d) — 6/6/2009 @ 11:04 am

very intelligent woman with several advanced degrees and over 25 years experience in academia

Intelligence and a person’s innate socio-political biases do not go hand-in-hand. “Progressivism” has a way of making any person foolish and naive, and all the gray matter in the world won’t necessarily help offset or change that.

Mark (411533) — 6/6/2009 @ 11:05 am

Dana, it’s always amusing to ask people EXACTLY what policies of the President they have been waiting for? They can’t usually answer coherently.

Other than: he isn’t GWB.

Eric Blair (b2da6e) — 6/6/2009 @ 11:06 am

Dana,
Doesn’t it seem that more people accept this form of idol worship as reasonable or understandable and less are shaking their heads in utter amazement at such foolishness?

Yes. Not so long ago, I got a lot of ribbing from my peers for calling Obama The Messiah. Now he’s non-ironically being compared to God.

Thankfully, you and I are immune to such nonsense, although for somewhat different reasons. 🙂

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407) — 6/6/2009 @ 11:09 am

Junk flying out the guy’s mouth

But that junk makes them feel sooo good.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/6/2009 @ 11:12 am

Dana, I love seeing people get all insulting about Carrie Prejean’s views on gay marriage. They’ll say really offensive stuff. Especially the so-called feminists.

Then I point out that Prejean’s position on that subject is pretty much identical to the President’s…

Guess what they say (other than insulting me)?

Eric Blair (b2da6e) — 6/6/2009 @ 11:23 am

But, that’s different !!!

Tim McGarry – You kind of sort of but not really answered some question from someone, but most certainly not the one I posed to you.

JD (4fcc05) — 6/6/2009 @ 12:02 pm

The extended quote suggests Evan Thomas realizes Obama is a manipulator so it’s posible he’s trying to point out to his colleagues how ridiculous it is to deify a con man. But it doesn’t sound like it and, given his track record, my guess is Thomas will put his own interests first. In other words, he may talk about media bias but he won’t defect from the media love machine.

DRJ (180b67) — 6/6/2009 @ 12:21 pm

Thankfully, you and I are immune to such nonsense, although for somewhat different reasons. 🙂

I’m sorry for your loss, Bradley.

(what’s a little snark between friends?) 🙂

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/6/2009 @ 12:37 pm

Hey Dana,
Friend-snark is always welcome! 🙂

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407) — 6/6/2009 @ 12:55 pm

David Frum makes some sense. Frum hated the Obama speech.

And Andrew Sullivan almost apologized yesterday for emphasizing Tiller’s murder of that of Pvt. Long in Arkansas. Sully blamed it on the Obama speech distracting him.

Are dogs and cats living together now?

Joe (17aeff) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:09 pm

So, referring to 2004 campaign media bias showcases an attitude of deep respect, tinged with awe?

steve (994d38) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:26 pm

John Hinderaker,

Yes, that’s Obama all right—”standing above the world.” Good Lord. Reporters are often compared to teen-age girls with crushes on Obama, but, as the father of three present, former or about-to-be teen-age girls, I object to the analogy. I personally have never seen a teen-age girl make a fool of herself over a boy the way many—most—mainstream reporters have over Barack Obama.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:33 pm

Evan Thomas…Well, being descended from Norman Thomas might explain some of his weird thought processes?
But, maybe not.

AD - RtR/OS! (85c5e4) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:45 pm

JD,
I am no fan of Evan Thomas and I am disgusted with the unwarranted worship of and sucking up to Obama, but I don’t believe Evan Thomas thinks Obama is God or a god, and like Tim McGarry, I think he chose his words poorly. I will not try to propose what he meant but I don’t think Tim was out of line to suggest it and his follow up to you certainly answered your question in my opinion. Had it been a couple of other commenters here I would not bother to say this but I find you have more integrity and objectivity than some others and wish you would step back from your animosity towards Tim McGarry and take a fresh look at him. I have read his writings off of this sight and I have not found him to be the lefty troll you seem to have decided he is. I regard him as a valuable and needed addition to this site and I think you might find his ideas worth looking at, even if you disagree with him.

Sorry if I give offense, Sir. As I said, my comment is a sign of my respect for you.

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:52 pm

I will not so presume again.

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:54 pm

What’s really scary is they believe it.

What’s even scarier is that Obama believes it, proclaiming the sick would be healed, etc., etc.

MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 6/6/2009 @ 1:56 pm

Machinist,
Let’s stipulate that Evan Thomas chose his words poorly. For a top-level journalist, that’s still a pretty embarrassing lapse.

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407) — 6/6/2009 @ 2:01 pm

Brother Bradley,
I agree completely. I am not defending Evan Thomas but I am trying to be realistic in my criticism. Making a slip into a major revelation just diminishes our credibility. There is plenty of legitimate material to go after. The other is their tactic.

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 2:09 pm

I recently attended the retirement party of a very intelligent woman with several advanced degrees and over 25 years experience in academia and did one of these ‘double-takes’ when during her speech she started reciting one of Obama’s speeches, and with tears, proceed to talk about how long she had waited for One like him to come to us.

Comment by Dana — 6/6/2009 @ 10:40 am

There are few moments as distressing as when someone you love and respect says something that at first seems like a hilarious put-on … and then it’s apparent they are dead serious. You have no choice but to think, “This person isn’t as smart as I thought they were.”

A macro version of that happened to me years ago. I met a lovely young lady who was as talkative as I am (quite a feat). She was an Ivy League graduate, speaks several languages, had a interesting career and personal life story, and despite all that, still seemed to be very attracted to me. I felt like I hit the jackpot.

Through an almost undetectable tangent in the conversation, she revealed that, alas, she is a 9/11 “truther.” The voice in my head screamed “NOOOOOOOO!” so loudly, I thought other people might be able to hear it.

L.N. Smithee (64b10f) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:06 pm

Machinist,

In your judgment, how do you define the difference between “a slip” and statements that evidence what someone believes? I’m interested in your general rule and not an analysis of statements made by Tim McGarry, Evan Thomas, me, you, or anyone else.

DRJ (180b67) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:11 pm

~~macro~~ “micro.”

L.N. Smithee (64b10f) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:15 pm

I just don’t think you mistakenly say some one is god. You can say, perhaps, that your Mom is a goddess because of her macaroni and cheese, or say, Cal Ripken Jr. is the god of the short stop. That’s ironic, and just a little sarcastic, even if you adore your mother’s mac & cheese and Cal Ripken Jr. (ME!!!) However, this context isn’t one of irony, sarcasm, humor or mockery. The guy was serious, it was said in the midst of a serious conversation. I don’t think anyone would declare someone to be god, not even A god, unless there was some heartfelt feeling behind it.

Vivian Louise (c0f830) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:25 pm

DRJ,
As a general rule a slip as I used it would be to use a word that did not convey the intended meaning accurately. I make that qualification because accidentally revealing the truth could also be called a “slip” or “slip of the tongue”.

I meant to close a word that conveyed a different meaning then the writer had in mind. I don’t know a general rule for determining that except to look at what the writer normally says or to see if the word makes sense in the context it is found. It is hard for me to explain without illustrations or examples which you don’t seem to want. Does that answer your question, Ma’am?

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:31 pm

I am not defending Evan Thomas but I am trying to be realistic in my criticism. Making a slip into a major revelation just diminishes our credibility. There is plenty of legitimate material to go after. The other is their tactic.

Comment by Machinist — 6/6/2009 @ 2:09 pm

Let’s climb into Doc Brown’s DeLorean and head back to November 7, 2008 (painful as that may be).

love2008 wrote:

Hey LN, how did you feel to see your brother make history for your kids? Were you proud?

I don’t participate in ethnic pride. I have siblings, but Barack Obama is not “my brother.” If I were to be proud of Obama because he’s black and was elected President, that would be counterbalanced by the misdeeds and atrocities committed by African-American criminals and charlatans on a regular basis.

Was it an emotional moment for you?

Yeah, it was an emotional moment for me, because for the first time in my life, after watching the election of six Presidents, I felt like I was living in a nation in which a significant portion of the population worships a national leader like a god.

I have heard first-person accounts of life in countries like that. I have read histories of what happens when people are given that kind of adulation. It makes me sad to think it could possibly happen here.

Comment by L.N. Smithee — 11/7/2008 @ 3:55 pm

There are many things that people can say that I can excuse as a “slip,” but referring to a man — any man — as being “sort of God” is NOT one of them. That’s NOT a “slip” that someone who takes God seriously could make, IMHO, and reveals the “slipper” to be someone who might be vulnerable to issuing (knowingly or not) messianic status on the object of admiration.

L.N. Smithee (64b10f) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:36 pm

Vivian Louise,
If someone were portraying the way another person was presenting themselves and meant to say they were acting Godlike or assuming a Godlike pose, couldn’t you see them using the word improperly? “God” instead of “Godlike”? Would that not change the connotation? Again, I am not saying that Evean did this but I find it hard to believe a professional journalist like him came out and said he thought Obama was God. It does not ring true. Even if I thought he believed it I don’t think he would say it that way.

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:38 pm

L.N.Smithee,
I am not religious but I am also offended and concerned at the worship accorded some political leaders. I do not and will not worship any man, no matter how much I may admire and respect him. The people who seek and accept that type of worship are usually the last to deserve it. I know that there are in fact people who attribute special spiritual status to Obama. I don’t know how Evan Thomas feels about the matter but I seriously doubt he would say that he thought Obama was God in that setting, before a national audience. I believe he used an awkward expression and the other speaker jumped in before he could clarify it. I can not make a case for this and certainly will not defend the speaker or the view, but this seems more likely to me. If others think he really meant to say this and they think they can sell this as discrediting Evan Thomas, I think they are being foolish. They will only find it harder to be taken seriously when they have a more legitimate point to make. I would not dream of stopping them.

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:52 pm

I just don’t think you mistakenly say some one is god … However, this context isn’t one of irony, sarcasm, humor or mockery. The guy was serious, it was said in the midst of a serious conversation. I don’t think anyone would declare someone to be god, not even A god, unless there was some heartfelt feeling behind it.

Comment by Vivian Louise — 6/6/2009 @ 3:25 pm

Not even Bill Murray’s “Phil” in Groundhog Day thought he was “THE God.”

L.N. Smithee (64b10f) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:53 pm

Well, how else is he supposed to heal the planet and cause the seas to receed? I mean, the title of The One Lightworker can only go so far before he starts campaigning for a higher office.

Techie (482700) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:55 pm

DRJ, #99: the answer to your question is simple: does the person believe the same way, or have sympathy toward, the “slipper”?

There has been an awful lot of overinflated media praise for President Obama. Some media pundits are beginning to joke about it.

Minimizing it, calling such comments “slips,” or trying to re-interpret comments supposedly made by journalists perpetuate the issue.

I haven’t gone chasing down Evan Thomas’ history of Obama-related comments. Thus, is this the first time he got a bit moony eyed over the new President? Or is he like Olbermann or that oddball on Hardball?

Regardless, journalists are in the profession of making themselves clear. We should not have to interpret what they “really” meant. That strategy seldom ends well, and rewards…well, the environment that we current perceive.

Finally, does anything actually think that the press would have given GWB the kinds of breaks that this President receives, when it comes to odd statements or lack of clarity? Seriously?

The press is not doing its job. Their current infatuation is no “slip.” It is a feature, not a bug.

Eric Blair (2708f4) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:57 pm

DRJ, #99: the answer to your question is simple: does the person believe the same way, or have sympathy toward, the “slipper”?

There has been an awful lot of overinflated media praise for President Obama. Some media pundits are beginning to joke about it.

Minimizing it, calling such comments “slips,” or trying to re-interpret comments supposedly made by journalists perpetuate the issue.

I haven’t gone chasing down Evan Thomas’ history of Obama-related comments. Thus, is this the first time he got a bit moony eyed over the new President? Or is he like Olbermann or that oddball on Hardball?

Regardless, journalists are in the profession of making themselves clear. We should not have to interpret what they “really” meant. That strategy seldom ends well, and rewards…well, the environment that we current perceive.

Finally, does anything actually think that the press would have given GWB the kinds of breaks that this President receives, when it comes to odd statements or lack of clarity? Seriously?

The press is not doing its job. Their current infatuation is no “slip.” It is a feature, not a bug.

Eric Blair (2708f4) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:57 pm

Wow—sorry for the posting stutter. New machine. DRJ, please feel free to delete my repeats, and I apologize to all.

Eric Blair (2708f4) — 6/6/2009 @ 3:59 pm

Don’t worry about it, Eric. The website is sluggish today and that makes it easier to double-post.

DRJ (180b67) — 6/6/2009 @ 4:01 pm

Well, how else is he supposed to heal the planet and cause the seas to receed? I mean, the title of The One Lightworker can only go so far before he starts campaigning for a higher office.

Comment by Techie — 6/6/2009 @ 3:55 pm

I’m glad you brought up the “Lightworker” business, because that was started by the obnoxious, disgusting, Christian-bashing San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford, who said out loud what a lot of people have let “slip.” (Italics in original text)

Many spiritually advanced people I know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual) identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul.

The unusual thing is, true Lightworkers almost never appear on such a brutal, spiritually demeaning stage as national politics. This is why Obama is so rare. And this why he is so often compared to Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., to those leaders in our culture whose stirring vibrations still resonate throughout our short history.

There are hypocrites and charlatans in every walk of life: Evangelical Christian leader buys meth from his favorite gay hustler (Ted Haggard). Anti-global warming evangelist is on the board of directors of a company that invested in new oil-drilling technologies (Al Gore). The composer of a gay rights anthem falls in love with a woman, gets married, and has a kid (Tom Robinson).

Machinist, I am wondering why you think Evan Thomas is somehow immune to Morfordesque thinking even though he is not guilty of that type of writing.

L.N. Smithee (64b10f) — 6/6/2009 @ 4:18 pm

112. Stirring vibrations?

Oh. My. Lanta.

Feet of clay. The man has feet of clay.

Vivian Louise (c0f830) — 6/6/2009 @ 4:42 pm

L.N.Smithee,
I believe I said I did not know how he felt or believed. I just don’t think he would deliberately say that in front of a national audience. I know of some people who believe that garbage. I know even more people who cynically push it for their own purpose. It is dangerous and disgusting.

Machinist (9664a8) — 6/6/2009 @ 4:59 pm

Machinist,

If you haven’t already, please watch the video and see if you think Evan Thomas meant what he said.

DRJ (180b67) — 6/6/2009 @ 5:18 pm

I don’t think anyone would declare someone to be god, not even A god, unless there was some heartfelt feeling behind it.

Evan Thomas is not a teenage girl in the throes of adolescent fever and seriously crushing on Mick Jagger (whom I never, ever once equated with being god or even godlike), but he is a middle aged man with a broad knowledge and experience in journalism and the political world. I’m confused as to why it’s so difficult to accept that he said precisely what he meant? To half o the country, he probably sounds reasonable. If anything, it just confirms to me the immense polarization and gulf of perception regarding our president.

Dana (aedf1d) — 6/6/2009 @ 5:44 pm

Machinist – My default position is to assume that a person meant what they said, and that a professional worsmith like Thomas, even more so. The only “slip” I see is that his mask slipped for a moment. So, I could not disagree with you more about Thomas. As for Tim, I do not think he is a troll, I just do not buy the above-the-fray attitude, given who he has praised and how he has characterized our host previously. I keep looking for a reason to change my views.

JD (aff952) — 6/6/2009 @ 6:10 pm

If you haven’t already, please watch the video and see if you think Evan Thomas meant what he said.

You detect a swoon?

Watch the rest of the video.

Elsewhere in the same clip, Thomas says of Obama: “His shtick is he is the teacher. And he is going to say, ‘Now children, stop fighting and quarreling with each other.’ And he has a kind of moral authority, but it’s going to be hard to pull off.”

Gods don’t do shtick.

steve (b4bafc) — 6/6/2009 @ 6:17 pm

So, when he called him a sort-of God, that was just an accident.

JD (aff952) — 6/6/2009 @ 6:29 pm

steve,

I don’t think Evan Thomas was swooning but I do think he’s impressed with Obama’s ability to manipulate people while maintaining his elevation or distance. That sounds “sort of god-like” to me, and I think that’s what Thomas meant.

DRJ (180b67) — 6/6/2009 @ 6:38 pm

Gods don’t do shtick.

But pundits do. And that may be the big problem here. I’m willing to give Thomas a ‘break’, for a couple of reasons.

1. Televised statements, especially in our dumbed down cable news environment are rarely thought out, and usually err on the side of pitching to the known audience. I would be much harsher on Thomas if he had written this instead of simply barking it out on air. I also believe that his ‘message’ would have been different on a different network or even with a different host (emphasis on the ‘ho’). These people are all vying for exposure, especially since paper and magazine readership is down.

2. TV news rarely produces intelligent discourse. It’s all ratings and hype, and the contest has long been about delivering entertainment and not information. This point is illustrated nicely with the link at 1:09pm to the David Frum CNN statement. What’s interesting to me about that link isn’t Frum, who does actually make some sense, but Candy Crowley following him, who says Obama’s speech was a kind of “Rorschach test”. That would imply that Obama’s speeches are essentially hackneyed platitudes that contain no meaning unto themselves.

I agree with that sentiment, but I don’t think that is what Crowley meant to imply.

You have groups of people appearing on television, most hawking books and/or attempting to increase their appearance and speaking requests.

Like Obama, these people are just blabbing on about nothing, saying nothing, and changing nothing. Therefore, I take away nothing from what Evan Thomas says about Obama, because Evan Thomas and his opinions are essentially meaningless. His ‘god’ statement is nonsensical, contradictory, and useless to anyone looking for information on world events.

Apogee (e2dc9b) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:07 pm

“So, when he called him a sort-of God, that was just an accident.”

JD – He was obviously taken out-of-context. Heh!

daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 6/6/2009 @ 7:32 pm

Y’all see this as evidence Evan Thomas underwent an epiphany. And no longer regards Obama “a deeply manipulative guy” with a “creepy” personality cult that makes him “a little uneasy.”

“He’s clearly managing his own spectacle.” – 11/08

“His shtick is he is the teacher.” – Last Friday

A technique to be “singular,” as he called it.

All of this could be said of Oprah. Who remains the ONE actual God.

steve (b4bafc) — 6/7/2009 @ 10:36 am

‘…he’s sort of God.”

Actually, he’s sort of a clueless, lefty nitwit, who could blow up half the world if he pushes the wrong button.

And, that’s a bad thing.

Dave Surls (2600fa) — 6/7/2009 @ 2:37 pm

Evan Thomas is an irrelevant poofter. The Colbert stunt is pitiful and I don’t think his dirty socialist pansy-assed Newsweek will last two more years.

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/7/2009 @ 2:41 pm

If I went to see a movie with Evan Thomas and he wanted some of my jujubes I would say get away from my jujubes you irrelevant poofter.

happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/7/2009 @ 2:43 pm

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