Quote of the day
posted at 10:00 pm on December 22, 2008 by Allahpundit
When voters look at your Administration two years from now, in the off-year election, how will they know whether you’re succeeding?
I think there are a couple of benchmarks we’ve set for ourselves during the course of this campaign. On [domestic] policy, have we helped this economy recover from what is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Have we instituted financial regulations and rules of the road that assure this kind of crisis doesn’t occur again? Have we created jobs that pay well and allow families to support themselves? Have we made significant progress on reducing the cost of health care and expanding coverage? Have we begun what will probably be a decade-long project to shift America to a new energy economy? Have we begun what may be an even longer project of revitalizing our public-school systems so we can compete in the 21st century? That’s on the domestic front.
On foreign policy, have we closed down Guantánamo in a responsible way, put a clear end to torture and restored a balance between the demands of our security and our Constitution? Have we rebuilt alliances around the world effectively? Have I drawn down U.S. troops out of Iraq, and have we strengthened our approach in Afghanistan — not just militarily but also diplomatically and in terms of development? And have we been able to reinvigorate international institutions to deal with transnational threats, like climate change, that we can’t solve on our own?
Blowback
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……………….. the truth.
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2008 at 10:02 PM
well for not being able to “solve global warming” on our own….
he sure does like people who want to unilaterally hamstring our standard of living….
sven10077 on December 22, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Domestic socialism all over – plus, this is not “the worst” bla, bla, bla. It’s made up so you look good, or better for reelection, or compared to Bush, or whatever.
Foreign – one world government, no less.
Nothing new here, except for the fools who fell for it.
p.s. I bolded the “I” – “have I drawn down U.S. troops out of Iraq” – meh – they would have been “drawn down anyway” and the “I” is truly Messianic in nature. Meh, again.
Entelechy on December 22, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Have we passed FOCA?
Have we passed the Employee Free Choice Act?
Have we successfully blamed George W. Bush for the continued slide of the economy?
Have we pardoned Blagojevich?
Have we finished convincing people that declining global temperatures over the past ten years is an obvious sign of global warming?
Have we taxed ourselves into the toilet?
Man, I could go on all night.
Snowed In on December 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
10- “have we” and 1- “have I” pretty odd to say the least.
Why was the troop withdrawl so critical that he had to make that one and “I”?
Rules and regs that will ensure that capitialism doesn’t occur again.
Not create wealth… just enough to support themselves. Don’t want the “workers” too powerful now do we.
katy on December 22, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Addendum: the main thing that is missing is about 50 uhs, ums, and ers.
Snowed In on December 22, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Sounds like Jimmy Carter redux to me.
PattyJ on December 22, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Have the American people seen my truly messiah-like pecs?
JoeAvg on December 22, 2008 at 10:15 PM
A far cry for a call for some kind of nationalized healthcare. This sounds more like tinkering with what we already have. I didn’t read every word of the original article by any means, but wordfind didn’t come up with “gay,” “marriage,” or “abortion,” so I’m guessing we’re leaving out expansions in those areas as well. That’s all I can come up with so far. Ooohh, if Melissa Etheridge finds out about this, she might re-sic the dogs on the One.
smellthecoffee on December 22, 2008 at 10:16 PM
“Have we found something meaningful for Bill Ayres and Rev Wright to do in my administration?”/
.
But really… Is America safe? Borders, crime, terror, old cold war muscle flexing… as well as economic security? All easy things for a true Messiah to fix.
RalphyBoy on December 22, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Hey, I just ate!
Snowed In on December 22, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Have we completely managed to make everyone forget about the sewer of corruption that I sprang from in Chicago???
Has America accepted the fact that I’m not really running the show here, some toad looking Hungarian Commie Prick bought me off long ago??
Have we all come to accept the fact that everything I said during my campaign was a complete crock of **it??
Have we found the bodies of Blaggo, Emanuel and Rezko yet???
Does my wife still hate this country???
The list had no end….
BigWyo on December 22, 2008 at 10:17 PM
The first 5 posts all said the same thing all being written at the same time. How is it that we can see this nonsense immediately and the left and the press thinks it’s brilliant stuff spoken by the next Abe Lincoln?
katy on December 22, 2008 at 10:18 PM
katy on December 22, 2008 at 10:18 PM
The MSM has hypnoptized themselves into believing all the messianic garbage they wrote about this cipher. Most folks in flyover country have a built-in B.S. Detector and this guy sets if off when he opens his mouth.
In Dixie we have a saying that describes this type of dude -
kingsjester on December 22, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Jeez this guy is so arrogant. I am truly worried for this nation for the first time in my life.
roux on December 22, 2008 at 10:24 PM
If I didn’t live in the United States, I’d say the people deserve the arrogant, unqualified fool they elected.
But some of us still believe in stupid, outdated things like the Constitution, the rule of law, and putting our nation first.
I hope there is a United States four years from now. I’m not convinced there will be with Osama Obama at the helm….
MrScribbler on December 22, 2008 at 10:24 PM
I guess Hussein wants osama to just go free,. while giving amnesty to the illegal immigrants.
Whats his plan for Homeland security?
What the hell am I talking about, Barry is without a plan, with out legal documentation and without the truth if it slapped him on the arse!
christene on December 22, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Have we succeeded in making enough Americans so dependent on the government that not even God or Ronald Regan can reverse it???
Have we got all the guns???
Have we made the EU and United Nations happy??
BigWyo on December 22, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Obama does whatever he wants to do and dares anyone to challenge him.
Example being the one Michelle Malkin wrote about concerning the .Gov domain.
He simply disregards the rule of law. He is the law and will continue to make it up or change it as he goes along as if there is no Constitution. He is in the process of rewriting/redefining America.
katy on December 22, 2008 at 10:29 PM
He just has to save capitalism for a good start.
getalife on December 22, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I’m not sure what you are thinking of Allahpundit. Are thinking about Iran and North Korea?
terryannonline on December 22, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Missing? Lapel flag pin! Election’s over.
wepeople on December 22, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Defeating Islamic extremists/jihhadists/terrorists.
SteveMG on December 22, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Bingo
katy on December 22, 2008 at 10:37 PM
you missed the unspoken, “we must defeat the underlying causes” passage….
sven10077 on December 22, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Have I been able to enjoy my $2500-3500 a night family vacations in Hawaii, like the one I’m on now, without anybody getting mad or considering it unseemly?
Alana on December 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Although I guess specifically it would be going after AQ in Pakistan as he promised during the campaign.
SteveMG on December 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Hmm, transnational threats didn’t include the Islamists.
Could have been just an oversight; but that still tells us a great deal.
Laundry list of problems to address but nothing about the danger from the jihhadists.
Okay, I’ll stop now.
SteveMG on December 22, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Invading against Jackie the Paki’s will if need be….
well it ranks up there with “will you be able to say the Obame$$iah came but not in you hair?” vibe I’m getting….
sven10077 on December 22, 2008 at 10:43 PM
“Have I successfully destroyed America and remade it as a Socialist/Masrxist society?”
johnsteele on December 22, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Have I got away with the BC thingy/
OldEnglish on December 22, 2008 at 10:44 PM
What’s missing?
Dealing with terrorists, dealing with illegals and the millions of jobs they are stealing from legitimate Americans.
I guess if I was a liberal I’d be wondering “where is gay marriage” or “where is amnesty” or “how about less black people in prison since racism is the reason so many blacks are in prison?” or “how about less guns in the hands of white people who shoot home invaders?”.
Buddahpundit on December 22, 2008 at 10:44 PM
“Oh, and have I successfully made myself President-for-Life?”
johnsteele on December 22, 2008 at 10:45 PM
So much to say and so little time….
If Obama takes a dump and hits the toilet, if the MSM has anything to say about it, the administration was a success.
Hog Wild on December 22, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Leftists always have good intentions. They never marched carrying banners of “Join Us for Gulags and Bread Lines.” It was always under banners of “Peace and Brotherhood.”
I remember being a naive young thing when Clinton gave his first state of the union address and promised all sorts of wonderful things — “a thousand flowers will bloom” and all that. I wasn’t set yet in my conservative philosophy, and so I thought, “gosh, maybe he’ll really do all of these wonderful things.”
I learned the truth. And so will many of these impressionable young Obama supporters.
ramrocks on December 22, 2008 at 10:50 PM
What’s missing?
IIRC, wasn’t there mention of a middle-class tax cut during the campaign?
Something for 95% of all Americans?
billy on December 22, 2008 at 10:54 PM
you now know what “hope” means….
sven10077 on December 22, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Dunno, maybe AP was being sarcastic.
Whew, that’s some agenda there President Humble, er, Obama.
SteveMG on December 22, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Yes, I was thinking where’s the part about no terrorist attacks on American soil.
INC on December 22, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I think that someone already fixed Global Warming. Boy, did they ever.
MB4 on December 22, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Are you kidding me with this bullsh!t!!
Is that what the leader of the People’s temple of Obama promised throughout his campaign.
for just a “draw down” of troops in Iraq.
Am I going to have to whip out the butt load of quotes that this failed community organizer has made in regarding “Start bringing the troops home in Jan. 07″,”ending the war in Iraq”,”all troops out within 16 months”,or is the press going to do it’s job and call him out on this.
Just admit it Mr. voted for NSA wiretapping,keep the Bush tax cuts,withdrawal troops based on conditions on the ground,no profit gains tax,keeping Gates,Keeping the CIA interrogation methods,……..BUSH WAS RIGHT.
Baxter Greene on December 22, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Well, he must be the Messiah. He hasn’t even become President yet and he has already fixed Global Warming. A little too well if you ask me.
MB4 on December 22, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Answers:
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
And to the question, “Have we instituted financial regulations and rules of the road that assure this kind of crisis doesn’t occur again?” Uh, you Dems caused it with your requirements for loans to unqualified borrowers!
IrishEyes on December 22, 2008 at 11:04 PM
What I want to know is – can he make the
trainsplanes run on time.MB4 on December 22, 2008 at 11:04 PM
I thought it was supposed to be “Free” health care.
Baxter Greene on December 22, 2008 at 11:06 PM
That’s not fair,he doesn’t have his SA/SS thugs to make everybody think and say this……….yet.
Baxter Greene on December 22, 2008 at 11:08 PM
We are fu**ed.
Metro on December 22, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Could it be:
“Have I,the wonderful lightworker and bringer of Hope,talked
to Ahmadinejad personally and convinced him not to build a nuclear bomb.”
Baxter Greene on December 22, 2008 at 11:13 PM
What’s missing? Me caring about anything that douche says.
SouthernGent on December 22, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Death to America….just practing to save my sorry ass!
dmann on December 22, 2008 at 11:17 PM
More like…”Have I managed to keep it to only 2 packs a day”…
Gohawgs on December 22, 2008 at 11:24 PM
practicing…..oh well, spelling was never my strong suit.
dmann on December 22, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Folks elect a bunch of clowns, then get surprised when a circus breaks out.
Sekhmet on December 22, 2008 at 11:27 PM
P>O>S>
Kaptain Amerika on December 22, 2008 at 11:29 PM
What’s missing?
Paying for my gas and my mortgage?
Saving Darfur?
Agreeing to pay international taxes to the UN?
Making Rev. Wright his press secretary?
Having Ayers oversee the ATF?
Freeing Charles Manson so that he can move
in with Ayers/Dohren?
Cleaning up political corruption?
Finding someone other than
Charlie Rangel to take care
of his tax returns?
Getting his money back from “freezer” Jefferson?
Keeping Bill Clinton away from his wife?
Pardoning Rezko so he can buy another house?
Getting Elliot Spitzer to “hooker” him up?
Getting his money back from Blago?
Am I even close?
Baxter Greene on December 22, 2008 at 11:35 PM
And then a laundry list of things, few of which (if any) will be reality. (Obama and Co. apparently did a bang-up job in “revitalizing” public education in Chicago.) But it won’t matter.
ddrintn on December 22, 2008 at 11:38 PM
ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!
Fallen Sparrow on December 22, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Tonight our local liberal TV station was showing Barney Frank going on and on about how tough things were in the economy and what the Dems would have to do to take action, and then they cut to a clip of Obama playing golf in Hawaii. I had to laugh and wonder who slipped that into that sequence.
INC on December 22, 2008 at 11:49 PM
It really is a wonderful life!
Kini on December 22, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Obama did promise a middle tax cut, and if exit polls are to be believed, a majority of his voters took him at his word.
From this laundry list, those voters are soon to be disappointed.
Conservatives have got to jump on this and jump hard.
billy on December 22, 2008 at 11:52 PM
OMG! These people are going to RUIN this country!
MCPO Airdale on December 22, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Well, either way, a majority of our fellow Americans voted for this. Time to enjoy the show.
ddrintn on December 22, 2008 at 11:58 PM
“Have I kept the country safe from the threats to its very existence?”
Nah, he just talks about Iraq and Afghanistan as if they are just THERE, without cause, meaning, or resolution other than themselves.
JeffWeimer on December 22, 2008 at 11:58 PM
What’s missing, you ask. Where do I start?
Class, decency, honesty, a clue, a dime to buy that clue with….
Sekhmet on December 23, 2008 at 12:02 AM
It was twenty below in MT this weekend. Thus, I would surmise that global warming/climate change/ whatever the h*ll they call it now is fixed…..
Next problem to fix for The One:
Why does no one shovel my sidewalk for me?
mjk on December 23, 2008 at 12:03 AM
The Dept of Public Snow-Shoveling doesn’t have its $10 billion budget yet.
ddrintn on December 23, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Right on. He knows this. That’s what the “I” was for. I bet he doesn’t know he gave that away, though.
*Points and laughs @ BO
Elektra on December 23, 2008 at 12:13 AM
INC…..
Barney “butt buddy” Frank wants to gut our military, cut the budget by > 25% to pay for his vision of America. …The land of the entitled, home to the gay. By the end of Obama’s 1st term we will be a tier 2 power; fearing China, Russia and the entire Muslim archipelago. Military hardware is not exactly “green” and will become the template for agenda driven capitulation resulting in the effective elimination of technically superior weapons systems in order to “lead” the effort to save humanity.
Say goodbye to everything we’ve bleed for in the past 10 years, healing that will cost you your life, all Hail!
dmann on December 23, 2008 at 12:23 AM
In about mid-February, I’m expecting a replay of the infamous Clinton 16 day, “I’ve worked harder than I’ve ever worked and can’t find a way to give you a tax cut” speech. Only this one will be with a bunch of “ahs” and “umms”:
“In the ummm past uhh 16 days, I’ve worked harder ahhh than ummm I’ve ever uhhh worked in my ummm life. Conditions are ummm much worse than we ah eh thought, therefore, uhhh I just don’t see ummm anyway to provide an ummm tax cut to ummm those who are ahhh paying taxes. We will, uhhh however, be issueing a ummm tax credit to those umm on the ahh bottom of the uhh income uh scale to ummm be able to start, umm that rebuilding from umm the bottom of the ahh economy as we said”
AZfederalist on December 23, 2008 at 12:33 AM
What’s missing is an objective way to measure anything he mentioned.
Ronnie on December 23, 2008 at 12:34 AM
So, these are his “benchmarks” for voters to look at in 2yrs for the midterm elections. Straight from his own lips. Let us refer back to these “benchmarks” next year when the campaign for congress shifts into 4th gear.
Dollayo on December 23, 2008 at 12:39 AM
What happened to lowering the oceans?
VolMagic on December 23, 2008 at 12:43 AM
A way to pay for all this bull$hit. Every time I hear him speak, my wallet gets a little lighter.
How can people fall for this crap?
Mallard T. Drake on December 23, 2008 at 12:44 AM
When President Franken takes office, all y’all are going to be pining for the days of Osama Obama!
MrScribbler on December 23, 2008 at 12:45 AM
Listen folks, this guy, unlike Clinton, is a true “believer.” He really does want to shape this nation in the image of a socialist european model. He’s not playing, he means it, and he intends to use the power of the presidency and a far left congress to do it.
The only question is; will he be able to do it?
You know he will have the full support of the MSM, the unions, the academicians, and European Union, and every Marxist/Leninist in this country. Who will stop him? The Republicans? Do they have the political will to risk the full wrath of our leftist media elites? Do the National Reviews, and the Human Events, and the Hot Airs of the conservative movement have the power to ring the alarm and force the congress to put a stop to him?
I’ll be honest with you, for the first time in my 59 years of living through 12 presidents, I don’t know.
Joe Pyne on December 23, 2008 at 12:49 AM
What’s missing? Regan!
N4646W on December 23, 2008 at 1:01 AM
AP, please do a few stories on articles like these before President Bush leaves office. God knows there’s been a sufficient number of ones that detracted from his presidency. He is worthy of praise.
Mother writes President Bush at Christmas.
hawkdriver on December 23, 2008 at 1:04 AM
+7%
Seven Percent Solution on December 23, 2008 at 1:17 AM
“they” or he won’t be able to do all of that, so it’s a good rubric for failure.
Bob's Kid on December 23, 2008 at 1:19 AM
So you also started with FDR. I agree with you, and it is going to take more than just expending HOT AIR. Guess we just relaxed our guard during the Regan admin.
N4646W on December 23, 2008 at 1:19 AM
Jesus, his #1 foreign policy priority is shutting down Guantanamo? May God have mercy on us all.
Realist on December 23, 2008 at 1:21 AM
My response…..
“Good luck with that…..”
Starlink on December 23, 2008 at 1:25 AM
We are turning into a nation of failures. A man called into a local talk show, “Sound Off” on WFNC here in Fayetteville and said he was so proud of the way Obama was handling things so far. He didn’t care that he might be mixed up in an out and out selloff of his Senate seat because “all politicians lie”. But the thing that got me was him saying that the government should bail out every private citizen who is currently behind in debt. Every citizen.
It makes no difference that you’ve lived within your means and worked hard for the thing that you decided you could afford. It doesn’t mean anything that you saved for your future and was even charitable to others along the way. The other idiot is still going to finish ahead of you because we’re a society that thinks everyone deserves to be bailed out. It’s not just the “downtrodden” of America we have to sacrifice for. It’s every irresponsible boob that can’t understand why their 42 inch plasma screen TV with cable and cell phone service they’re behind in payments in keeps them from buying food for their kids. They want more and they want it from you.
I don’t know which analogy is more fitting, the ant and grasshopper or the crabs in a bucket.
hawkdriver on December 23, 2008 at 1:25 AM
I can see it in 2010………….
……. some RINO will tell the Conservative Base,
Seven Percent Solution on December 23, 2008 at 1:37 AM
I would like to see stories like this get more attention also:
Myths & Facts About the Real Bush Record
By Ed Gillespie
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/12/myths_and_facts_about_the_real.html
Only if they can fit it in between the super important spinning of why the fairy princess Caroline deserves her senate seat for any other reason than her last name.
If only Palin could have accomplished as much as little miss trust fund.
Baxter Greene on December 23, 2008 at 1:46 AM
If we could get the MSM to break away from the incredible coverage of Obama walking down the beach,maybe they could spend a little time informing America about it’s “real heroes”:
10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle
By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 12, 2008; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121104080_pf.html
12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target — an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.
Thank God for the American Soldier!!
Baxter Greene on December 23, 2008 at 1:51 AM
If only he’d take credit for it and leave it, and us, alone.
Entelechy on December 23, 2008 at 1:54 AM
What’s missing? First thing that comes to mind is that he seems ignorant of the Mumbai attack and the riots in Sweden. Second thing is that Time seems unaware that interviews of politicians weren’t meant to be done with the reporter on his knees.
snaggletoothie on December 23, 2008 at 2:26 AM
So are the poor oppressed Musselmen from Gitmo going to live at Arianna’s estate, or Moulitsas’ apartment? Maybe at the Sarandon/Robbins residence?
Jim62sch on December 23, 2008 at 3:17 AM
Come 2010 and 2012, I’m going to be cramming “tax cut for 95% of Americans” up Obama’s butt in every forum I can think of. That and his “I’ll take a scalpel to the federal budget”. Frakking liar.
Jim62sch on December 23, 2008 at 3:21 AM
The funny thing is that I bet I am one of he few that actually read every ummmm and uhhh you wrote.
WoosterOh on December 23, 2008 at 3:53 AM
catch Bin Laden, prevent Iran from getting atomics, pass or rescind trade deals, install missile defense.
rob verdi on December 23, 2008 at 6:09 AM
Agreed, however the Founding fathers serving as an example, you should purchase as much ammunition as you can, since it would appear that it will come to good use in the coming years.
Viper1 on December 23, 2008 at 6:50 AM
Obama on an evaluation of his first two years:
This BIG LIE is the phrase that slips by, the one that really bothers me. Obama’s embrace of man-made climate change is based on disputed science, not facts. New information comes to the fore every day that questions the folly and hubris of forging policy that will have no consequence on the climate but will, in fact, destroy economies and cede national autonomy to international despotism.
Obama is neither a scientist nor an economist. His naivete and ignorance are utterly breathtaking.
onlineanalyst on December 23, 2008 at 7:06 AM
Obama’s not even in office yet and I’m already sick of him. It’s going to be a long four years.
abcurtis on December 23, 2008 at 7:37 AM
I’m not an economist nor do I play one on TV. But I dont understand how you can cut the cost of health care while increasing/expanding coverage. I mean, if I want a Mercedes quality car I cant expect to pay Chevrolet prices for one. Although that would be nice.
abcurtis on December 23, 2008 at 7:43 AM
I’m with you. America wanted a pimp-daddy for president, she elected one, and now she’s got one.
I have to admit though, I’m quite amused at all the snake-bit “progressives.”
abcurtis on December 23, 2008 at 7:48 AM
1. Yes
2. For a while yet
3. We’re almost there.
abcurtis on December 23, 2008 at 7:54 AM
Alright, is it just me, or does that pic not scream “moobs” to anyone else? If that was Bush’s body and that pic came out, you can be sure people wouldn’t be swooning over pecs. NYT would have a front page “MOOBS!” headline.
All kidding aside, I didn’t see Iran mentioned (preventing their acquisition of a nuke), or ‘terrorism’ in general (as though Iraq/Afghanistan is the only concern on that front) – no recognition of terrorism as an on-going problem worldwide.
Midas on December 23, 2008 at 8:03 AM
It’s magic. A special kind of magic that the oogedy-boogedy types could never comprehend. And just to blow your mind, after he performs this magic with health care, the idiot messiah is going to kill our carbon output (“bankrupt the coal industry” … to start) while not adversely impacting either prices, employment or economic growth, and, even deeper into the mystical powers, creating millions of brand new, free jobs in the process! He will have moved from magic to miracle. But … that’s what idiot messiahs are supposed to do.
progressoverpeace on December 23, 2008 at 8:07 AM
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