Obama and Change: The Unprincipled Transition
[Guest post by DRJ]
Jules Crittenden posts on the unhappy reaction by the left to Obama’s transition decisions that seem more Clintonian than Change. It’s worth reading in full but I want to talk about this section:
“UK Telegraph posits that there is a “fine line Mr Obama must walk between appearing to reach out to former opponents and keeping his grassroot supporters happy.” Sounds like a polite way of saying he’s a gutless wonder, who got scared when he suddenly realized he actually was stuck with a war and had two choices, keep winning or start losing. What would a mandate holder with a Congress in the hands of anti-war Dems need to placate the warmongers for? As for placating his primary opponent, get a room already!
As heartening as it may be to see evidence of common sense, the concern going forward is that Obama has shown himself to be lacking principles as well as a spine. Not good traits in a wartime president, particularly in times of economic turmoil.”
This is what bothers me about Obama. Am I happy that Obama’s early decisions seem more conservative than liberal? Absolutely, and I hope this trend continues. But principles are important for more than partisan reasons. America is facing hard times and principles give us spine during hard times.
A leader knows who he is and where he wants to go. Obama has the skills — he looks good, talks well, and is disciplined — but I’m doubtful he has the conviction that comes from principles that will make him a leader, especially when it comes to foreign affairs.
— DRJ
Very reasoned and sensible, DRJ. I think I’m going to like being your fellow Texan (my company is moving me from Arizona to TX, something that this particular business rarely does).
Icy Truth (aedb2f) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:01 pmHe’s never had responsibility for which he could be held accountable. Unless you want to count his years leading the Annenburg Challenge. Oh yeah, and how did that work out…. he spent over 100 Million Dollars with “no appreciable” change in the success of the public schools he was supposedly helping. We’re screwed. Obama is a limp daisy. And it takes our friends from across the pond to point this out because the US Media is dead, dead and gone.
J. Raymond Wright (0440ef) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:16 pmObama is still an empty suit but maybe he has enough wits about him to choose rational options instead of going down the pipe with his moonbat supporters. I think of him as the federal version of David Dinkins. The financial meltdown will be pretty much decided by the time he takes over. Bush has won the war. Obama seems to be choosing the Bush program and that is slowly eroding what is left of his hard left supporters’ sanity. This may be enough to get him through one term.
Mike K (2cf494) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:19 pm“Obama has shown himself to be lacking principles as well as a spine.”
Obama has never held a position for which he could truly be held accountable. Except that is perhaps, as the head of the Annenburg Challenge. Oh, and how did that work out? Oh yeah, he spent over 100 million dollars in an effort to improve the Chicago Public Schools…and the result? No “appreciable” change! We’re screwed. And it takes some press from across the pond to tell us this because our US Media is dead, dead and gone. Final words: gutless wonder.
J. Raymond Wright (0440ef) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:21 pmWe’ve been saying this fro months, now!! BHO doesn’t have any Convictions, any Central Philosophy (at least that he wants people to know about) and cannot lead. He need sothers to tell him what to do and he has not shown good judgment in his choice of associations in the past. Why are you so surprised?! Half of America knew this from the information we gleaned outside of BigMedia, Hollywood and the EducationEstablishment – there is no question. This man is spineless, he is NOT superintelligent, he has NO experience, and he is an APPEASER at heart.
Suze (9be432) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:27 pmYou have to see this story and look at the poll.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:40 pmHow dare you people suggest that the President-Elect of the United States has no principles?! It’s an outrage! Barack Obama has more principles in his little finger than you have in your whole prehensile tails.
Obama Principle #1: Get elected.
Obama Principle #2: Stay popular.
Obama Principle #3: Get re-elected.
And I can go on from there, just as soon as he gets through with number three. You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
Don (9ca635) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:46 pmThe poll in the article asks people to weight in on this question:
Which former president is Obama the most reminiscent of?
JFK
FDR
Lincoln
Bobby Kennedy
Yes these are the actual choices.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:49 pmHilarious – the dumbing down of the country continues apace.
Dmac (e30284) — 11/23/2008 @ 2:56 pmJack – Lincoln and Kennedy are spinning in their graves at all of the baseless comparisons. Shouldn’t he actually have to take office and fuck something up before Baracky is compared to anyone?
JD (5f0e11) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:02 pmI was at least hoping for one slightly off-beat option like Zack Taylor, Rutherford Hayes, or Warren Harding. They’ll probably fix it, get rid of RFK and replace him with Benjamin Franklin.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:11 pmWelcome home, Icy.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:20 pmTo get experienced staff at that level, where should Obama turn? Either he has Clinton’s or Carter’s admin. to choose from and that’s about it. So be fair about it.
Also, he ran as a moderate rather than a hard-leftist. So don’t knock him for telling the truth.
He’s bringing in conservatives, eh? ‘Must be the influence of that radical Ayers he’s been palling around with.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:24 pmHe ran as a cipher.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:24 pmComment by JD — 11/23/2008 @ 3:02 pm
From Jonah Goldberg last week,
The problem with Barack: You and I read a Lincoln biography and conclude that Lincoln was great. Obama reads the same book and concludes that he is Lincoln.
Dana (79a78b) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:26 pmHussein O adopted the old army type change. When the Captain complained that the troops were stinking and needed to change their underwear the Sgt told the troops, Jones you change with Smith. Brown you change with black. That’s the only type change you’ll get from from a man who knows ‘0’ about running anything. We can proudly say ‘told you so’.
Scrapiron (ce69ff) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:29 pmDRJ, he wasn’t hard to decipher. He said that he wanted to bring the parties together more and even claimed that he’d consider including conservatives in his staff.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:31 pmJack Klompus,
Right now Bobby Kennedy is in second place:
I guess ignorance is bliss, at least for now.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:32 pmPsyberian,
That was very clever and you made me laugh, but those aren’t principles.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:34 pmObama doesn’t have this arrogant principal: my party is always right.
Speaking of Grouch Marx
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:42 pmDRJ – That’s awesome. I’m so glad the residents of my hometown are so well-informed. I really wouldn’t expect otherwise since Philly’s public schools are the absolute bottom of the barrel drizzling shits. There are however many Quaker schools in the Philly area that, for the low cost of about $30,000 a year, educate your children quite well. Obama might want to consider one of these schools for his kids rather than the DC public schools that I’m sure he speaks so highly of.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:43 pmWait, Patterico’s going to take away my gold star for the day unless I correct my spelling:
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:44 pmPricniple and Groucho
One more time: principle
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:46 pmOne more shot Psy, haha. I’ve had days like that, too.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 3:46 pmOT, from the linked Philly Inquier article,
“I see that courage in Barack Obama, the moral authority, the willingness to take on issues,” Max Kennedy said.
Assigning Obama moral authority overrides and perhaps negates the need for principles – he rises above such convention. Its more of the illusion. And for now, it plays very well to those who need to believe.
Dana (79a78b) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:06 pmPsyberian,
The Groucho Marx quote is a good one.
So do you subscribe to the Glenn Greenwald theory about Obama?
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:11 pmNo, I don’t agree with Greenwald on that at all DRJ. I like the fact that Obama is willing to listen to both sides. I don’t believe that makes him unprincipled – it makes him intelligent. Hey, I listen to you guys…
My only worry is a member of the other party being disloyal to him, but maybe I’ve watched too many teevee shows depicting that scenario.
One more observation: Bill Clinton started his presidency with the unpopular “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Yeah, he may have shown principle, but we don’t need displays of partisan principles right now. We need solutions.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:24 pmThe last line from the article I linked is priceless:
“There is that energy again,” said Goyal, 29, who went to Nepal with the Peace Corps. “The Peace Corps has a kind of imagery and romance about it still. I think Obama has revived that in his message of really saying, ‘Are you willing to sacrifice?'”
Yeah there’s energy captured in your statement, Mr. Goyal. The combination of eye-roll worthy schmaltz and creepy-as-all-hell willingness to bow to the State could power an internally moronic combustion engine cross country.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:26 pmWhich former president is Obama the most reminiscent of? Al Gore, of course.
Official Internet Data Office (936b36) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:31 pmW’s presidency: Bush is a warmongering Hitler clone, worst president ever, “Rethuglicans”, assassination fetishes, threats to emigrate (sadly but unsurprisingly not carried through), marches, protests, and parades deriding anyone with an “R” as a tool of corporate interests, “Faux News”, Bush lied People died, 9/11 was an inside job, Code Pink, deriding Bush as a zero IQ retard chimp look-alike, conservatives are “wingers”, “wingnuts”,etc.
Obama’s election: It’s really time to come together and stand with our President and solve our problems. We don’t need partisan division.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:32 pm“I see that courage in Barack Obama, the moral authority, the willingness to take on issues,” Max Kennedy said.
Lord knows I try to see the good side in all people, but why in Heaven’s name does anyone put any stock into what the miserable offspring of Bobby Kennedy — a bunch of drug addicts, babysitter molesters, and intellectual lightweights — have to say?
JVW (89c289) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:39 pmGreenwald, in that article DRJ, alludes to Obama’s pragmatic approach to solving problems. I’m a big fan of the philosophy of pragmatism; it largely started right here in America with the likes of the brilliant William James and others. The epistemology is: the truth is what works. After hundreds of years of failed dogmatism, pragmatism uses common-sense and was a refreshing alternative.
Pragmatism is not actually inconsistent with having principles, but it is a more open-minded philosophy.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:51 pmJack Klompus, you are on fire in your comments on this post. In regards to your 4:26 pm comment, my friend’s son went into the Peace Corps and said that all his group really seemed to care about was getting really good local weed and having frequent couplings among the group.
Concerning your 4:32 pm comment, “bipartisanship” means that conservatives abandon their principles and sign on to leftist goals and means, and never the other way around.
JVW (89c289) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:54 pmPsyberian,
I agree with you that Obama wants to seek out consensus but I don’t see that as a sign of strength, probably because of the way I view government.
My little town’s government works fine when local leaders focus on dialogue and consensus but local government is like a speedboat that can adjust to the twists and turns of changing times. On the other hand, the national government is like an aircraft carrier that is hard to turn or stop once it gets started.
Both models have value. The ability to change quickly can be a nice feature but the power of an unstoppable force is also good. I submit that in the world arena, with so many countries and people who do not wish us well, unstoppable force is good. But we need a leader who is willing to steer the ship even though he knows there will be lots of rough water ahead.
Enough of the metaphor since I hope you get my point. As I said in the original post, an American leader needs to know who he is and where he wants to go. So while I hope every leader is willing to listen and is open to new ideas, a leader can’t wait for a lengthy debate to know where he wants to steer the ship of state when it comes to world affairs. I have no doubt Obama knows where he wants to steer America domestically. I don’t think he has a clue internationally.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:55 pmI’m all for pragmatism, too, but Obama didn’t run on that platform. He ran on idealism, which makes his current actions seem more like bait and switch than good politics.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:59 pmJVW – sounds like the “activist” scene is the same everywhere. Dudes were always out at protests speaking truth to power about whatever cause was written on the banner so they could smoke a nice spliff in the park near the march and maybe score with some hippie chicks.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/23/2008 @ 4:59 pmPsy – that’s nice that Obama has a “pragmatic” approach to problems. Are there any outstanding examples of problems that Obama can take credit for solving?
Psyberian, the reality is that all Presidents — even the dreaded George W. Bush — are pragmatists. Look at the ways in which GWB departed from the philosophy of his party: greater federal involvement in education, a prescription drug entitlement, engagement with troublesome regimes in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, etc. All of this can be described as “open-minded” though the positive effect it has had is debatable, and it sure hasn’t won him any friends from across the aisle.
We poke fun at Dear Leader because, just like all politicians challenging the party in power, he was more than happy to signal to dogmatists in his party that he was one of them. Now he is busy beating a hasty retreat away from their principles, and it is fun to listen to them bray and moan.
JVW (89c289) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:06 pm“Greenwald, in that article DRJ, alludes to Obama’s pragmatic approach to solving problems.”
Psyberian – That’s all well and good, but apart from getting elected, what problems has Obama solved where this approach is demonstrated?
daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:11 pmI agree that there are times, DRJ, when a leader has to make decisions that will be unpopular. At the same time, there’s nothing wrong with giving the people what they want when it is beneficial – that’s what democracy is supposed to be good for. I don’t view giving citizens what they want as a sign of weakness.
But Obama did jerk some chains in his Bill Cosby style speech about fatherhood. You have to give him that. Those are good principles too.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:12 pmIn the spirit of Jack Klompus’s #30, I propose that we all visit a lefty blog occasionally. Grab one of the complaints — “Obama promised X…” — quote it, and append:
And you believed him. Sucker! BUUUUUUUWAHAHAHAHA!
When pleasure is in short supply, it’s best to take it in small bites.
Regards,
Ric Locke (e429b3) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:16 pmRic
daleyrocks, I can’t give you many specific examples – I’m no expert on this topic, but he has mentioned some himself. One is abortion, but not a very good example. He says that he will not put an end to abortion but will strive to prevent the need for abortions, which has the same result and, ideally, makes both sides happier.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:19 pmIn contrast, some talking head somewhere observed that a lot of the problems that Bush created for himself came from relying too heavily on ideology and a failure to look into the facts and consider alternatives. I agree with that assessment.
Psyberian,
I do give Obama credit for his Cosby-style efforts to encourage personal responsibility. I also like his willingness to rethink his tax hikes for the rich:
As JVW noted earlier, all Presidents end up as pragmatists but Obama didn’t run as one, which makes his current actions that much more noticeable.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:29 pmPsyberian is a perfect example of Baracky being exactly what people want to see in him. The canard that Baracky reaches across the aisle, or somehow has a history of bipartisan action is in direct contrast to reality. Plus, the idea that Baracky is a moderate or pragmatist on abortion had to have been a joke.
JD (5f0e11) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:38 pmConsidering that this is a catastrophic economic meltdown, maybe Obama would be wise to put off increasing taxes at least until the market calms down some. But I have no doubt that he will do more for the middle class than McCain would have.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:41 pmAnd of course it’s a moot point.
The man has never managed so much as a lemonade stand. He is now the CEO of the biggest, most complex enterprise on the planet, nominally in charge of a group of people whose aggregate self-esteem exceeds that of the rest of the planet put together. The chance that he will be able to successfully herd those cats is zero or less.
If the ship’s full of loose cannon, it really doesn’t matter what course the captain has set.
Regards,
Ric Locke (e429b3) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:44 pmRic
But Obama did jerk some chains in his Bill Cosby style speech about fatherhood. You have to give him that. Those are good principles too.
I don’t want to pile on but isn’t there irony that this is significant and noteworthy? He was a community organizer and had so much opportunity to speak out about this issue but I’ve been unable to to locate anything.
Perhaps too this speaks to the personal responsibility and self-reliance that the right seems more willing to embrace than the left.
Dana (79a78b) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:45 pmI disagree – Obama did run as a pragmatist. Like I said, he often hinted that he might consider hiring conservatives on his staff. He often stated that he looks for common ground with his opponents too.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:45 pmJD (43), are you aware that you’re contradicting the thrust of this post? DRJ is complaining that Obama is being all conservative – like a good Ayers terrorist.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:52 pmDana, how many speeches by community organizers are recorded and reported? Not many I would say. Now I don’t know whether he preached fatherhood values to them or not – but you don’t either.
Psyberian (37b2ae) — 11/23/2008 @ 5:56 pmI disagree-
“hinting he might consider hiring conservatives…”
So you filled in between the lines on those “hints” and then believed that?
He “looks for common ground with his opponents” and then voted partisan 100% of the times he didn’t punt?
SteveG (a87dae) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:05 pmPersonally, I hope Obama has been a complete and total liar. I hope he approves the Republican stimulus plan.
To top it off, the only timetable for withdrawal I want is the one withdrawing the Federal Government from the financial industry.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:08 pmwhat problems has Obama solved where this approach is demonstrated?
Why, the aforementioned community organizer as alluded to earlier; it’s become the all – encompassing answer du jour to any questions about Obama’s record of accomplishment. End of discussion.
Dmac (e30284) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:11 pmI am relishing the irony of it all. Obama seems to be making conservatives happy with some of his recent choices.
SteveG (a87dae) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:14 pmThe question is whether those choices are principled.
Arguing pragmatist equals principled seems like a pratfall in the making.
Of course the reasons for the sudden pragmatism (if that is indeed the right word for what he is doing- cynicism might also be a valid description… time will tell) in the senator seem suspect…
Obama has always been light on principled action and heavy on ambition. His recent moves show that he will sell out his leftist principles for sufficient political advantage. For example, picking hard Zionist Rahm Emanuel for the White House shows he won’t publicly embrace the Left/Islamist position on Israel. But that was never likely – it would be too expensive politically. So his Left/Islamist buddy Khalidi will be disappointed. Besides, Obama likes Emanuel’s ability and ruthlessness.
Likewise, he’s backed away from the surrender-in-Iraq position in public.
I think everyone in his team was at least privately opposed to the Iraq War and considered it lost (most still do, IMO). Obama doesn’t care about winning it, he just wants to get out quickly without incurring blame. He (and his team) all think that Iraq (like Vietnam) will eventually fall under hostile control, and further U.S. effort will just postpone the inevitable and prolong the violence. But an explicit bug-out would look bad, so there will be some sort of face-saving deal. Look for a lot of publicity about corruption or brutality in the Iraqi government.
However, if he ever does act on principles, it will be the hard-left principles that are all he has ever been exposed to. Watch his second and third tier appointments, and what happens a year or so down the road.
Rich Rostrom (09ec82) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:27 pmPsyberian,
I’m not complaining Obama is acting conservative. I know he isn’t conservative. I’m complaining because he’s acting spineless.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:28 pmComment by Psyberian — 11/23/2008 @ 5:56 pm
Of course you are correct – I don’t know for sure either way, nor did I state that I did. I simply stated I could not locate any.
I think though that the larger point stands – because so rarely does any person of stature on the left ever honestly and publicly address the issue, it immediately becomes noteworthy when one does, especially if that one is Obama.
However, contrast that to conservative principles and its just a given that self-responsibility, self-reliance and less government (dependence/intervention) are embraced and spoke about. Nothing noteworthy there, no matter who’s doing the talking. Business as usual.
Dana (79a78b) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:30 pmoops. Spoke = spoken.
Dana (79a78b) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:32 pm“America is facing hard times and principles give us spine during hard times.”
No. Good principles give you spine in hard times. Bad principles undermine you, or set you worthless or impossible tasks.
I see no indication Barack Obama has a lot of good principles. So I’m happy with what he’s doing.
David Blue (78ed61) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:33 pmVoting for an inkblot test and complaining that you don’t like the test results…makes me chuckle a bit.
“I don’t like the butterfly I saw, because now it looks like a spider”
If you teeter on the left, lefter, leftist side of the spectrum, you may be in Rohraftershach.
Your leg tingling projection morphed into an astral projection, and your out of body experiences leave you wanting more.
However, unfair as life is, the crashing sound you hear, is you… thudding back to earth from your cosmic crush.
Doe eyed and filled with puppy love, your imagined suitor has found a prettier face and a fuller figure and your preteen fantasies and all your fan magazine posters must give way to the cold, hard, harsh reality…that you never, never, ever…had a chance with the prom king.
cfbleachers (fa3a27) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:39 pmPsyberian is a classic leftist. The argument by assertion and deflection is standard fare.
JD (5f0e11) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:44 pmDavid Blue,
Patterico has a similar theory: He’s been saying for a long time that he likes his Republicans principled and his Democrats unprincipled.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/23/2008 @ 6:45 pmFolks, there is a real downside to Obama abandoning the, uh, “progressives” and moving to the center. If he angers them enough, it could pave the way for the return of John Edwards [shudder].
JVW (89c289) — 11/23/2008 @ 7:12 pmDRJ, yes we agree, and he said it first.
David Blue (78ed61) — 11/23/2008 @ 7:14 pmI don’t doubt his abilities in foreign affairs. It is absolutely shocking to me that some people believe the United States has to have a complete and total wad as its leader in order to be a successful diplomat.
truthnjustice (c313be) — 11/23/2008 @ 7:23 pmTnj (#64, 7:23pm), that’s not a very nice thing to say about former President Carter.
JVW (89c289) — 11/23/2008 @ 7:45 pm“The problem with Barack: You and I read a Lincoln biography and conclude that Lincoln was great. Obama reads the same book and concludes that he is Lincoln.”
Obama is closer to Lincoln than you and I.
imdw (86bf3a) — 11/23/2008 @ 9:01 pmPresident Carter is 43 times the man that our current president is or ever will be.
truthnjustice (d99227) — 11/24/2008 @ 3:02 amThe comment on which I want to respond below:
“The problem with Barack: You and I read a Lincoln biography and conclude that Lincoln was great. Obama reads the same book and concludes that he is Lincoln.”
“Obama is closer to Lincoln than you and I.”
My comment: The proper response to a biography of Lincoln is acknowledgement of his greatness and a determination to try to live as life as principled. Thinking that you ARE Lincoln is madness — it’s delusional. I wish I understood what you were trying to get at in your comment.
And why do you assume that everyone has as useless a response to a biography of Lincoln as you do? Many, many people have been inspired by Lincoln’s example. There’s no reason to attribute special status to Obama on this matter.
Anonymous (b965a3) — 11/24/2008 @ 3:04 am“President Carter is 43 times the man that our current president is or ever will be.”
LOL. Yeah after all if Carter hadn’t stood idly by while a radical, expansionist, totalitarian Islamist movement entrenched itself into power in Iran, kidnapped and held American hostages for over a year, and financed proxy terrorist movements throughout the region, the Middle East wouldn’t have been the lovely, stable, easygoing, laid-back, America loving environment for Bush to destroy to satisfy his blood lust for oil and imperial domination.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/24/2008 @ 4:39 amRight, Jack. And if he hadn’t blindly trusted the Russians, maybe they would not have invaded AFghanistan and started the cycle of chaos that led to the Taliban and 9/11. And if he hadn’t supported the right of terrorist groups to run for election in Rhodesia, we might have Mugabe’s Zimbabwe today.
Yeah, great president there.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 11/24/2008 @ 8:51 amTmj is its usual classy self.
JD (5f0e11) — 11/24/2008 @ 9:29 amBut Patricia, that bold, brave stand of boycotting the 1980 Olympics was clearly the opening salvo in the fall of the Soviet Empire.
Jack Klompus (cf3660) — 11/24/2008 @ 9:34 amHome, DRJ? We will see, ma’am; we will see. I get in tomorrow night.
Icy Truth (aedb2f) — 11/24/2008 @ 10:19 amPresident Carter is 43 times the man that our current president is or ever will be.
— The king of the non sequiter strikes again!
If true, couth-is-busted, then we really are fucked this time.
Icy Truth (aedb2f) — 11/24/2008 @ 10:23 amIt is quite reasonable to do nothing but mock anyone that thinks Jimmy Carter was 43 times the President as Bush. tmj just asks for it.
JD (5f0e11) — 11/24/2008 @ 11:03 am67, Trootherinjustice, you are on some really bad drugs, man. Go lay down until you and sort of sound sane and sober.
PCD (7fe637) — 11/24/2008 @ 11:36 amOh, yeah, I forgot how he gloriously wrecked two Olympics and the dreams of many a young athlete.
Even Mugabe despises him.
Patricia (94c68d) — 11/24/2008 @ 12:30 pmOh, wait . . . he wasn’t referring to the president-elect?
Hmmm —
Icy Truth (aedb2f) — 11/24/2008 @ 1:23 pmIcy,
Most Texans are very welcoming and I will be very disappointed if your new neighbors don’t make you feel right at home.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/24/2008 @ 1:29 pmWho’s moving to Texas? I’m in Austin, home of the “every square inch covered by self-important political bumperstickers” Prius colony!
Jack Klompus (cf3660) — 11/24/2008 @ 1:38 pmI think Icy Truth is moving to Texas.
DRJ (a50047) — 11/24/2008 @ 2:30 pm[…] mejor lo ha recopilado es Jules Critteden (a través de Patterico). Primero recoge la visita a blogs liberales que ha hecho el Daily Telegraph del Reino Unido, donde […]
¿Pero esto qué es? ¿Dónde está el Obama al que votaron? « Sarah Palin en Español (1d5921) — 11/24/2008 @ 3:03 pmHa! Hahahahahah!
Pious Agnostic (b2c3ab) — 11/24/2008 @ 3:44 pmI did not know you lived in Austin. I will be down there for work a few times in the next couple months.
JD (5f0e11) — 11/24/2008 @ 4:08 pmYep. Philly native Austin resident. I’m shipping out in January to go to Basic Combat Training at Ft. Benning for the Army Reserve and then to Ft. Bragg for AIT so I’ll be out of the Austin area for about six months.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 11/24/2008 @ 4:25 pmSubsidized universal health care for everyone isn’t free you know. Universal pre-K is kind of expensive too. Obama will have to rob someone if he wants to pay for his welfare programs.
Roy Mustang (ad5f36) — 11/25/2008 @ 6:22 am[…] mejor lo ha recopilado es Jules Critteden (a través de Patterico). Primero recoge la visita a blogs liberales que ha hecho el Daily Telegraph del Reino Unido, donde […]
¿Pero esto qué es? ¿Dónde está el Obama al que votaron? « Sarah Palin en Español (a7f930) — 1/22/2009 @ 10:54 am