The Nation asks various representatives of the sorts of people who might read The Nation what they think of Obama after a year. It’s like going to Baskin-Robbins, if instead of 31 flavors of ice cream they sold 31 flavors of meh. What kind of meh are you? I could make an internet quiz, and you could find out if you’re a James Carr, or a Chris Bowers or just a worthless panty-waste failure like Coach always said you would be. I could make a quiz like that, I have the technology, but I’m busy sobbing on an autographed picture of Craig T. Nelson for reasons which do not concern you. So no quiz.
I don’t blame/praise Obama for shit that is, Constitutionally speaking, the Congress’ job. The health care bill(s), the stimulus, etc. – I don’t know how much of his weight he’s thrown behind any of these, and neither do you, and I don’t have a Quantum Universe Simulator to calculate how much better everything would be if only he’d done x more than the unknown amount he’s done already on these things, and neither do you. You don’t even have an iPad. And the President can’t make recessions go away by wishing extra-hard, and he can’t be in every airport around the world looking out for losers who light their pants on fire. Maybe this is a bit simplistic. Maybe you’d be happier reading Einstein and Spinoza and Socrates’ super awesome an insightful group blog The Super Insightful Brainiac Foundation Report, but you can’t because they’re dead, likely due to my foolishness. But I’m alive, so you can have my opinion instead.
1. Domestic Presidenting – D+/C-.
F for civil liberties. F. Eff. Ephffpf. I realize that doing more would be very hard, but if you didn’t want to do hard things you should have run for Regional Assistant Interim President In Training or something. So this is sort of a case where you either get an A or an F, and you didn’t get an A. How about an F+? Is that better? That’s not even a real grade, but you can have it. Because you earned it!
B for other stuff. The EPA lets states regulate CO2, and may do something nationally. So that’s something. Also, no one in the Obama administration has been indicted for gross treason yet, and Joe Biden hasn’t shot some old guy in the face while drunk hunting and then made the guy apologize on TV for it yet, so that’s just awesome. I’m grading on a curve because I have to.
2. Furren Affairs – C+
Obama has not unshit the bed in Iraq, or Afghanistan, because you can’t. I like that we have timetables, but I don’t like that I don’t believe they’re really real. OTOH, he’s a darn good spokesmodel for America, and that does actually matter. So, again, there is somewhat of a curve here, but that’s the standard that has been set.
Overall – C
The very definition of meh. Pam Atlas’s disturbing vlogs are on one side, Airwolf is on the other, and Obama is right in the middle. Which reminds me: you can now stream Airwolf on Netflix. Or, to put it another way: every second of your life up to now has been a second you could have been streaming Airwolf on Netflix, but didn’t, and is a second of your life you have, therefore, wasted. And if Obama wants to get out of the meh, his SOTU better go a little something like this:
January 27, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Immoderately awesome, if you ask this Gander.
January 27, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Sadly, it did not. Oh well, there’s always next year.
January 27, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Just because we usually restrain our meh puns to Pitchfork bashing doesn’t mean the field is open.
Oh, I can’t be mad, I do loves the Eds.
January 27, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Simply the best, moderately, not like the rest… I sense a youtube imbedding about to happen. Ah. the miracle of digital birth…
But seriously, The Editors, thanks for posting again for the masses. Blogs and blame, the people want blogs and blame.
January 27, 2010 at 11:24 pm
He needs to do something really uppity bold. Like launch surprise nukes at Iran. That might get him an R vote or two.
January 28, 2010 at 12:46 am
F for civil liberties. F. Eff. Ephffpf. I realize that doing more would be very hard, but if you didn’t want to do hard things you should have run for Regional Assistant Interim President In Training or something. So this is sort of a case where you either get an A or an F, and you didn’t get an A. How about an F+? Is that better? That’s not even a real grade, but you can have it. Because you earned it!
Does the Regional Assistant Interim President In Training have to fetch coffee and wash the car for the Senior Regional Assistant Interim President? Or is he on copier duty? I can never get the flowchart straight. I do think there’s something about being removed for misconduct by a 2/3 vote of the Student Senate Executive Board, but I might have this mixed up.
Awesome post.
January 28, 2010 at 12:57 am
Horseshit. It’s all relative to other Administrations in the current era, of which we have Clinton, W, and Obama, if you’d like to include Reagan and Bush, go ahead. He’s passed 68% of his legislative agenda, meaning legislation he has endorsed, a higher rate then LBJ and the highest Presidential legislative success ration since FDR.
I know we are all boo hoo because he didn’t get HCR passed like we want it with a full public option or single payer, and fanfare and shit, plus we’re using some crazy back angle approach where the House passes the shitty Senate bill and then 52 Senators pinky swear to pass the House provisions, whatever, I think this is going down because of all the capital expenditure for the last 2-years, so it’s happening, but are we going to have to Jerry Rig some crap together and keep adding to it as we go?
Of course just like Medicare or Social Security it will constantly be amended, and when it’s popular, and trust me in 5-15 years the GOP will defend it just like they do Medicare and SS, the people will remember who did it. I say, go harder and make it a poputastic as possible because that’s all that matters, if the people like the results or neigh. I know that W. used reconciliation 5 times and it’s been used 22 times since 1980. Just because Obama is blacks shouldn’t mean he can’t use reconciliation, and yes he is running the show. Also, now that we don’t have 60 votes, kick Lieberman the fuck out and The Nelson Twins too if they start getting all fucky like Joe is. We don’t need you Joe.
http://thepragmaticprogressive.blogspot.com/2009/03/major-accomplishments-of-obama.html
Quantify this sucka!
PS The Colts are going to work the Saints by like 17 points.
January 28, 2010 at 2:21 am
Side note, the President is also to the potential of the alternative. President McCain would be diametrically opposed to our policy choices and a continuation of the W Administration at rate of about 98%. I don’t know if people realize that the GOP has put holds on 175 Obama appointees and relative to the Democrats 75 one year into W’s administration. Maybe he could do a better job if he didn’t have so many holes in the execution of the law. I know the GOP’s idea of government is do nothing and that’s easy, but when you believe that we the people have role via the instruments of our democratic republic/Kleptocratic Handjobery Occidental Oligarcy, then it’s kind of important to have your guys on the field.
January 29, 2010 at 10:04 am
So pie-in-the-sky snakeoil and booga-booga fearmongering is all you Obots have left? Pathetic.
January 29, 2010 at 11:41 am
SMOTHERED TRIPE
2 lb honeycomb tripe
1 medium onion
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp seasoning salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
dash of cayenne pepper
1-2 bay leaves (optional)
4 green onions (chopped)
Make sure that tripe is thoroughly cleaned before cooking. Cut tripe into 2 inch pieces. Put tripe into large sauce pan and fill pot with water to about 1 inch below rim of pot.
Cut onion and garlic and place into pot. add remaining ingredients except green onion.
Turn heat to medium and let pot cook for 2 hours. After water has cooked down to about 2 cups remaining in pot, add green onion and turn heat to low.
Cover pot and cook for 30 more minutes on low. Continue to check on pot to ensure it is not cooking too fast so that it will not burn.
Can be served with remaining sauce in pan over rice.
January 29, 2010 at 1:20 pm
It all depends. If the refs call every little slight bump that Manning gets after he throws as roughing the passer, yeah maybe. But if they let the men play ball, it could get ugly for the Massabama bomma. Just sayin’.
Not that my family may be related on the Danish side to Drew Brees or anything.
Besides, between Indianapolis and New Orleans qua places to live and/or visit … please.
January 28, 2010 at 2:38 am
…relative to the potential of the GOP alternative in our duopoly. That we have two choice and/or sometimes a third that just strengthens your opponent because you don’t have fourth to truly express the nuance of where the voters are at. There should be a Democratic Party, a Progressive Party, A Republican Party, and a Bat Shit Crazy…I mean Reactionary Regressive Party that they would call Conservative but would be a place for the hopefully now more Moderate David Brooks driven GOP to quarantine their “special helpers”. Then hopefully the Congress would have a healthy combination of the four, with the different segments joining under common cause. Hell, six parties would be better. But, until there is systemic changes, these won’t evolve. It’s more likely that the GOP runs a third party candidate if the GOP dare nominee a Social moderate…which they won’t. There is history of the second place candidate, in this case Huckabee becoming the nominee, but the sharps want Romney or McDonald because they are boring and rhorshacian. The more seemingly ignorant and plain the candidate the better. The bar is so low for any GOP candidate when you consider that if only Whites voted in 2008 McCain would have won the election by 8 points. We lose elections when don’t excite the base like in Virginia, NJ, and now Mass. You have to give them something to vote for, and that mean Obama needs to stop trying to placate the GOP, they’ll just delay and vote against you no matter what.
Now Obama must “seem” bi-partisan and produce progressive legislation, and it’s about a lot of intangible he can’t control like booty bombs and the policy of the last twenty years, the fact what’s good for workers, (jobs), isn’t always good for their 401Ks as the Corporations will do anything to show increased profits if given the excuse. I would tap Elizabeth Warren to be more visible, and I would finally point out that voters like the features of the Obama legislative agenda when pointed out, but they don’t like the bill in their imagination in the Congress of their mind when they ask them do you like the “…. Reform”, and the GOP is still the most unpopular group in the Country, that doesn’t mean they can’t spring some machination out that isn’t able to speak like 9th Grader, because that’s about all they have to do to make any race against a Dem interesting.
January 28, 2010 at 7:08 am
If McCain had won the election and then had a massive stroke last summer, things would be so awesome right now.
January 28, 2010 at 7:37 am
Sure we’re hard on Obama. Deprived children grown into wrinkly adults cannot be trusted to properly care for a pony. But… who wants to argue to the dean of whatever that Obama’s F in civil liberties is unearned?
Let’s assume there is an Invisible Hand of Populist Will that influences Congress even in gthe face of massive lobbyist dough (bribery). Let’s imagine Obama’s Justice dept. hadn’t rubber boot heel-stamped virtually all its predecessor’s abuses of civil liberties.
I believe that the likes of us would be like flaming jihadis in support of Obama instead of embarrassed owners of a shy pony we can scarcely bring ourselves to feed twice a week.
Sure we’re grateful for what we’ve got, but when we feel a need to define this by what might be (Palin taking over after McCain chokes on his jowls in his sleep), we’re not exactly expressing pony pride, are we?
Imagine the 1st time you hear Obama say, ‘We’re working hard.’
January 28, 2010 at 7:39 am
‘flaming jihadis!’ Imagine Little Orphan Annie saying that. Red dress, white panties, shiny black shoes… I’m a sick man.
January 28, 2010 at 11:47 am
The title’s perfect and the post just gets better from there.
May I just say, on behalf of everyone who likes to write, fuck you.
January 28, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I like that we have timetables, but I don’t like that I don’t believe they’re really real.
Yup, that’s kind of where I am too.
January 28, 2010 at 12:43 pm
J. D. Salinger <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/books/29salinger.html?hp" dead at 91.
January 28, 2010 at 12:44 pm
D’oh!
J. D. Salinger dead at 91.
January 28, 2010 at 6:38 pm
You sorry bastard. You and I both read the Nation. Lot of good that did/does us.
Meh.
January 28, 2010 at 6:44 pm
January 28, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Meet the Voters
“XXXX – January 28 at 9:41pm
Check this SHIT out. This person is FOR REAL. This was taken from their FB page. (An Obama FB page troll). It reads like an SNL character.
To the right of Rush and to the left of GodReligious Views:I don’t have a religion, I have a relationship with God thru my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Personal Information
Activities:Hiking with my wife and dog in the great north Cascade Mountains, known as the Swiss Alps of North America. Going to the gun range as much as possible. Enjoying a fine premium cigar and adult beverage together(preferably bourbon) in great moderation of course. Annoying whenever possible the dope smoking, tree hugging, vegan eating, flag burning, God hating, limp wristed, maggot infested, worthless pieces of human debris, commie liberal vermin who want to destroy my country and spit on our Judeo-Christian heritage and Constitution. It brings a smile to my face. Hosting dinners for our church’s small group leaders’ meetings at our home.Interests:Guns, big guns, lots of guns. One can never have enough firepower. Military history and politics. Talk radio; specifically Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage.Favorite Music:Classic rock, Country, Bluessoul.Favorite TV Shows:Glenn Beck, The O’reilly Factor, Hannity’s America, War Stories with Oliver North, NCIS, Combat 360, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice, Weaponology, Future Weapons.Favorite Movies:Any John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Jimmy Stewart movies. The Longest Day, A Bridge To Far, Patton, Kelly’s Heroes, The Great Escape, Band of Brothers HBO series, Saving Private Ryan. Mel Gibson movies Braveheart, We Were Soldiers, The Patriot, Signs, and, of course, the movie about our Savior he directed, The Passion of the Christ. Just to name a few.Favorite Books:The Bible, anything by Ann Coulter, Joel Rosenberg, Peter Marshall Jr., Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, David Mccullough, Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, C.S. Lewis, and other great thinkers and patriots. Tom Clancy and other techno-geopolitical thrillers. Liberal Fascism, The 5000 Year Leap, The Real Thomas Jefferson, The Real Benjamin Franklin, The Real George Washington, just to name a few.Favorite Quotations:Liberation Theology is heresy. It is a vehicle by which godless Marxists can advance and disguise their agenda in the name of Christ. – Me
Pride is an unrealistic attitude of one’s self and his relationship with God and man; whereas, self-respect is the acknowledgement of one’s accountability to God and equality of all men made in the God’s image. – Me
The difference between being meek and weak is this: Meekness is the humility of Christ; Weakness is a lack of moral conviction and fortitude to stand against evil. – Me
A “liberal Christian” is an oxymoron-more like just a plain moron.- Me
The only hope this country has to survive for future generations is for patriots and Christians to make a vow as our Founding Fathers did-a willingness to sacrifice their lives, fortunes and sacred honor if necessary to preserve and protect the republic. – Me
I will gladly defend to the death if necessary my God and Faith; my family, friends and neighbor; those who are weak and helpless against oppression; and my country and the U.S. Constitution. These are principles which I believe honor God, and that He calls all those who proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior to do.
It is antithetical to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior and not support the Jewish state of Israel’s right to exist. – Me
I’m not worried about people liking me or not; but they had damned well better respect me. – Me
The older I get the more I realize the less I know. – Me
Happiness is an emotion. It can change as seasons do. Whereas, joy is an attitude rooted in your relationship with God. – Me
The more people I meet the more I like my dog. – Me
Get the U.N. out of the U.S. and the U.S. out of the U.N. – Me
Global warming is caused by Al Gore’s hot air. – Me
Those who worship mother earth will one day bow before Father God. – Me
A tree hugger is as usefull as a opossum in the road-they’re good to aim at.” – Me
I’m not a bigot-I hate everyone equally.- Me (I am sorry for those of you who do not understand nor appreciate my satire.)
(While at a stop light and the person in the car next to me is on their cell phone): “Excuse me, how can you see driving when your head is up your butt?!!!”- Me
(While throwing the ball at the park for my dog): Someone yells, “Put your dog on a leash! How do I know he’s been vaccinated?!”. My response is, “Put your mouth on a leash and get yourself vaccinated!”.
Do unto others before they do unto you (if you know someone is going to bomb your house you bomb his mother’s house first). – Me
New Testament “Grace” does not nullify Old Testament “Justice”. In other words, there is a time to turn the other cheek and there is a time to punch someone in the nose. – Me
The only good communist or terrorist is a dead one.- Me
Some people are alive simply because it is illegal to kill them.- Me
God does not change;
God is not liberal;
God is not a pacifist;
There is only one God and you are not Him. – MeAbout Me:What you see is what you get. I am a Bible thumping, gun toting, cigar smoking, tobacco chewing, bourbon drinking (the last three in moderation), red-white-and blue patriot who believes this country was founded on the ideas of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” as described in the Declaration of Independence.
I make no apologies when believing that “God, Guns and Gold” were the founding principles in making this country great with the help of the Almighty’s hand. The Declaration of Independence was not just a statement of self-determination and freedom from the King of England’s rule; this document was written as a statement of Faith and purpose for the newly formed country.
I believe God is both the Author of “Life” and the Author of the rights “endowed” to us, His children, by Him-not any man or government. Guns were the means by which our “Life” and “Liberty” were secured and continues to be maintained-which takes vigilance. Gold is the natural human desire to live “Life” to the fullest, with the promise of “Liberty” to encourage and promote the individuals’ “Pursuit of Happiness”-to use the talents and gifts God has granted each of us, for building our own prosperity, to benefit our community and nation.
John Adams, our second President of the Untited States once stated: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”. Security without liberty is tyranny. Liberty without virtue and the rule of law is anarchy.”
That’s just fucking awesome.
January 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm
And the three responses:
I look like Jessica Simpson.
And th
Built in cup holder ya’ll.
I woulda washed more than just Jesus feet.
January 30, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Cheetos is a very powerful drug
January 30, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Because might makes right:
Hulk MAD!
January 28, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Poor Magma fans…
http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&q=christian+vander&start=50&sa=N
January 29, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Phew… I need a cigarette after watching that video. And I don’t even smoke unless I’m on fire, which happens all to frequently unfortunately… Don’t ask.
January 29, 2010 at 6:30 pm
I challenge AlanSmithee to hackie-sack throwdown!
January 29, 2010 at 8:06 pm
January 29, 2010 at 8:40 pm
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/ID/218836&start=1184&end=5202
Full on GOP beat-down.
January 29, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Or uppity negro, depending upon one’s point of view, of course.
January 30, 2010 at 12:00 am
That’s Magical Uppity Negro to you boys…
February 1, 2010 at 5:46 pm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902516.html
“Norm Ornstein argues that despite poor approval rates “this Democratic Congress is on a path to become one of the most productive since the Great Society 89th Congress in 1965-66, and Obama already has the most legislative success of any modern president — and that includes Ronald Reagan and Lyndon Johnson. The deep dysfunction of our politics may have produced public disdain, but it has also delivered record accomplishment.”