Video: Obama acknowledges Defense Secretary “William” Gates
posted at 11:49 am on May 21, 2009 by Allahpundit
I’m pretty sure this is Bush’s fault; everything else in his speech was. I’ll have a separate post soon on The One’s declaration that we shouldn’t relitigate the past eight years even though that’s what he spent the morning doing, but enjoy this tidbit for now. When you’re distracted by the business of governing 57 states, gaffes are bound to happen.
Blowback
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He can’t blame senility, menopause…there’s only one explanation, he’s a cipher.
Schadenfreude on May 21, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Phooey. I missed it.
ladyingray on May 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Can anyone imagine if Palin had called him “Robby” Gates?
The outrage!
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Or needs glasses, except for taking the Urkel comparisons way too far.
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 1:10 PM
The endless “what if Bush had done it” comments make my eyes roll also. I skip over them.
We are focusing on those (at least I am). Just not here. You don’t put your plans out in public for your adversary to read.
How exactly does it hurt us?
I’m certain that you know the difference between what you just described and making fun of this guy–as is happening here. And don’t worry. Most people here can make fun of Obama here and have many other things in the works at the same time.
baldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 1:11 PM
It would be worth it.
I am personally an equal opportunity despiser of torture, extreme executive power, star chambers and secret cabals.
I think if GW was going to torture in my name I should have at least to got vote on it.
Bring it!
TRUTH COMMISSION FTW!
strangelet on May 21, 2009 at 1:11 PM
According to a new CNN poll, Cheney’s approval has gone UP over the past 7 days. Something like 5 points?
Del Dolemonte on May 21, 2009 at 1:11 PM
TOTUS is apparently nothing more than a pork project… Time to get rid of TOTUS, Mr Precedent and just rely on your own convoluted words.
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:12 PM
BREAKING: Secretary of Defense Bill Gates Launches Hostile Takeover of Al-Qaeda
Jim Treacher on May 21, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Well, crap. We’ve been saying that for over a year.
baldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 1:12 PM
I still like what Rush said about Cheney being the one person in the GOP getting things done.
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Getting the name of the SecDef wrong wasn’t the worst part of that speech, by far.
hawksruleva on May 21, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Have Teleprompter Will Travel reads the card of the man.
A cipher without a thought of his own in what he’s turning into a bankrupt land.
His ah, oh, umm, loose mouth heeds the calling of a Soros wind.
A man without a clue of his own is the cipher called Obamadin.
Obamadin, Obamadin, Where do you roam?
Obamadin, Obamadin, Just be sure to never leave your teleprompter at home.
He travels on to campaign whenever he feels he must
His yearning for power is his guiding lust
These are legends that themselves do spin
Of the Ventriloquist’s dummy
Of the cipher called Obamadin
Obamadin, Obamadin, Where do you roam?
Obamadin, Obamadin, Just be sure to never leave your teleprompter at home.
MB4 on May 21, 2009 at 1:13 PM
So you admit Bush was right to take out Saddam Hussein?
Del Dolemonte on May 21, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Interesting, thanks for the info. Auto da fe being a Spanish phrase, one would think they would have started it.
Vashta.Nerada on May 21, 2009 at 1:14 PM
If he keeps speaking out and the approval rate keeps going up I am going to kick the crap out of the Bush administration for not defending themselves on defense policy for the last 4 years.
myrenovations on May 21, 2009 at 1:14 PM
the all time winner.
strangelet on May 21,2009 at 1:06PM.
strangelet:
Is that compared to the infamous bending over bowing
of Obama!
And,President Bush Sr. was expressing himself of World
War 2,of Bush’s remembrance of Japan!!
Now that was a proud moment that I throughly enjoyed,now
if Obama could upchuck on ImWearingaDinnderJacketCrazyGuy
it might be just as close!!
Don’t you agree!!!
canopfor on May 21, 2009 at 1:14 PM
+1
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Sure wasn’t.
baldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Quick question. Why should we worry about housing GITMO detainees indefinitely? The whole point is to keep them from blowing stuff up. So far nobody has blown anything up while inside GITMO have they? As long as that answer is no, then it’s successful.
hawksruleva on May 21, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Prepare to start kicking. It’s pretty clear that Bush kept the muzzle on Cheney out of some misguided attempt to heal political divisions.
But truth is the best healing agent around, and Cheney’s giving us a healthy dose of it these days.
hawksruleva on May 21, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Obama can’t get The SOD’s name right, but he sure knows Rush Limbaugh’s name…
I wonder who he’s more familiar with
Miley Cyrus or Billy Gates
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Would it really have mattered? The only reason Cheney is looking good is because the “Genius Lightworker” is doing everything Cheney is advocating. The Dims are great at whining about problems under Republican Presidents and getting the media to go along with them. But when they are in power, they end up doing whatever the Republican did.
Speedwagon82 on May 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Meanwhile,as Team Obama is in
over-time distractions,
Team Jihady are planning!
No different to the lead up
of 9/11,with all the distractions
that came from Team Clinton!!
canopfor on May 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM
I hit mute when he said that water-boarding made it more likely that our enemies would mistreat us badly should they capture one of us. Can a person have his/her head sawed off twice?
baldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Just read the new CNN poll-Chene’s approval has gone up 8 points since he left office. And Bush’s has gone up 6 points, despite Bush not having made any speeches since leaving office.
Del Dolemonte on May 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Obama’s 10 illegitimate half-brothers?
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM
er,
mistreat us
badlybaldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM
You know who’s really hurt and betrayed by this? Steve Jobs — all those stories earlier this year about how this White House not only was tech-savvy, but miffed that the Bush people used PCs instead of Macs, and now Obama goes and does this.
I’ll bet iTunes is blocked for the entire DNS address for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for at least a week over this one.
jon1979 on May 21, 2009 at 1:23 PM
What we have here is much more than some simple gaff or mis-speak. This is an example of something much more disturbing. This was Obama presenting his case for keeping our country safe, his primary responsibility above all else and he didn’t even catch the mistake of a name for not all a member of his own cabinet but the one responsible of taking the fight to our enemy. How many people has Obama put between himself and Sec Gates that he would not readily recognize that his name is Bob as in Robert, not Bill as in William?
Texas Gal on May 21, 2009 at 1:23 PM
What Obama fails to admit (I’m sure he must understand this), is that being American is more likely to “cause” captured soldiers to be mistreated… Maybe we should all embrace exactly what these savages want us to and then we’ll all be safe.
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Breaking….
House votes to block GOP investigations about Pelosi lies.
Knucklehead on May 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Hah +1
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Do me a little favor.
You probably have a significant other, right? A wife? Husband? A dog? Maybe it’s just your mirror. I don’t know. Don’t care.
But do me a little favor, would you?
All you gotta do is walk up to that significant other of yours, look them right in the eye, and say, “I believe so strongly in my convictions that, were your life in danger, I’d rather see you dead than pour water up someones nose to save you.”
Go ahead. Take a break and go do it now. Then come back here and tells us all how it went.
And if you honestly do it? Well then, we can all say there goes a person now with no significant other who is true to their convictions. We will all respect you greatly and be in awe.
And we will say, “Yes! We have seen the error of our ways! We too would rather see our friends, our family, and even our pets die in agony from the awful effects of radiation poisoning or drown in their own puss and blood from anthrax than make someone uncomfortable by pouring water up their nose.”
Rod on May 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Just remember, Al Capone was finally sent to prison for tax evasion. Bill Clinton was impeached and disgraced, not for his real crimes of selling our nuclear secrets to the Chinese and punting on Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein (not to mention conducting an arguably illegal war in the Balkans), but because he lied about an extramarital affair during a grand jury investigation of a sexual harrassment case.
A great deal of media and political fawning over, and fear of, Barack Obama comes from the perception that he is an intellectual powerhouse, especially compared to his predecessor. Millions voted for him because he seemed to be so smart, well-spoken, and cool under pressure. Every chink in that armor helps us take him down.
rockmom on May 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
*applause*
Texas Gal on May 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Maybe he meant to say “Defense Secretary Robin Williams” and the “Nanu Nanu” interrogation policy.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
I don’t think imaginary people can die…
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Clearly Obama was testing us to see if we were paying attention!
Upstater85 on May 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
“William” Gates at DOD –> BSOD. Yikes!
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on May 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
(Today’s tongue-tripper is not in that number.)
baldilocks on May 21,2009 at 1:02PM.
baldilocks:
I see a Paul Shanklin ditty here!
To the tune of Day Tripper,from the Beatles,
Tongue Tripper!!hehe:):):)
canopfor on May 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Relax folks.
The adults are in charge.
The adults who don’t know their subordinates names.
Can’t release college transcripts.
Can’t take responsibility that they actually WON THE FRICKIN” ELECTION!
Time to govern, Token.
omnipotent on May 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Absolutely. I also want one covering that “financial meltdown” last September. And one delving into Obama’s donor lists.
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
…..Hostile Takeover of Al-Qaeda
Jim Treacher on May 21,2009 at 1:12PM.
Jim Treacher: I wonder if Team Obama will honour
the Jihady warranty’s!!ahem:)
canopfor on May 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Come on everybody, this is so obvious!
The One pretty much renames/redefines all of the national security and defense issues that he keeps in place from the Bush/Cheney years. The Sec Def is another holdover, he was due for a name change, so… bye bye Robert, hello William.
little italy on May 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
If SuperBO circles the earth enough times, he can reverse time and correct his mistake. However, he risks the chance of circling it the wrong direction and maybe multiplying his mistakes instead of erasing them.
miron on May 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
sadly….fewer people all the time.
;)
Juliette…..its not too late….join meh on the dark side.
strangelet on May 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Bush not only knew the names of his cabinet members, he even had nicknames for them.
MB4 on May 21, 2009 at 1:47 PM
This gaffe just triggered one of my favorite Ace moments:
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/284665.php
Laura in Maryland on May 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
The poll you used has 2 data points; 2009 and… 2001. How has the GOP done since President Obama was elected? Just pulled even with the Democrats and outraised them in multiple months. Not bad for a party ‘playing to itself.’
BadgerHawk on May 21, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Do we even need to ask that?
bluelightbrigade on May 21, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Just so you know, I don’t click your links.
baldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 1:55 PM
When Mitch Daniels worked for Bush in the OMB, his nickname was “The Blade”.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 21, 2009 at 1:55 PM
The USSR has come and gone; the Soviet rule of East Berlin has come and gone; anyone with the stomach to do so can poke through the rubble of post-Communist Russia and Germany, read released segments of KGB and STASI archives, talk to people who lived in that world and hear what their wretched lives were like: see their 3-room walkup apartments and look at their 2-cylinder cars and their plastic shoes and clothing, and learn about their medical and dental care and their diet and the grim, grey, grimy world they inhabited.
For a half-century of Cold War, we in the U.S. taxed ourselves trillions of dollars for defense, and accepted tens of thousands of our people killed and injured, in a war that eventually freed the Berliners, among others, from Communism.
But a few weeks ago, with the entire bloody history of the 20th century as background, today’s Commies rioted, as usual, on May Day in Red Berlin.
But BY GOD I’d love to see the Lefties’ beloved Communism re-instituted! I’d love to see it shoved up the Lefties ALL the way to the hilt — and broken off. I’d love to see every Leftie who swoons at the glories of Socialism compelled to LIVE under it for two centuries, since most of one century evidently wasn’t long enough to give them a clue.
Stick it in slowly and covertly, Obama-Socialist fashion, if necessary. Or stick it in openly and briskly, euro-Socialist style, if possible. Whatever the tactics, I say GIVE people the Socialism they so deeply crave. I’ll leave the world a smiling, happy man if I can see that justice done.
HalJordan on May 21, 2009 at 1:58 PM
By the eighth year of his Presidency,
Obama had given to me
Eight American states ceded to Mexico,
Seven million more babies aborted,
Six of my favorite blogs banned,
Five Al Gore global warming edicts,
Four Army divisions disbanded,
Three mouth to lap dances for the Saudi King,
Two tyrannical liberal supreme court appointees,
And a big tax increase on my salary.
Tav on May 21, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Obama’s 10 illegitimate half-brothers?
Upstater85 on May 21,2009 at 1:22PM.
Upstater85: And Ma Marker,Obama’s aunt is running the
operation!hehe:)
canopfor on May 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’
I’m sitting here just contemplatin’
He can twist the truth, his conscience knows no regulation
Trillions of dollars for his socialist legislation
And tea rallies alone can’t bring sane fiscalatin’
When the American dollar is disintegratin’
This whole crazy Obama world is just too frustratin’
And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.
MB4 on May 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Well said Rockmom. All very good points. I’d just hate to see our legitimate gripes get belittled because of a refusal to take the high road on petty, substance free attacks. Sort of the “crying wolf” senario at work. This President is providing us with enough ammo to last a lifetime and sometimes I think the smart strategy would be to think perspective. I would hope to see a direct relationship between the seriousness of Obama’s bad policy positions and the amount of time we spend attacking him for them. Seriously, we spend more time hammering away on very human, innocent “Obamaturisms” then we do informing people about the weakness projected by Obama’s foreign policy actions.
Zetterson on May 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM
The funny thing is, Bill Gates and Barack Obama are two of a kind. They’re both megalomaniacs and control freaks. They’re both so thin-skinned that they freak out if you say anything against them or deny them anything. They both assassinate the character of their critics in order to get what they want… There are actually too many similarities to list.
I know Bill Gates tends to be a hero for conservatives, but he doesn’t deserve that status. Of the two, Steve Ballmer is far more human and more of a capitalist.
Daggett on May 21, 2009 at 2:13 PM
In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies
Everything you think, do, or say
Is in the gooberment pill you took today
In the year 4545
Ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a Obamacare doctor who knows a thing to do
Nobody’s gonna look at you
In the year 5555
Your arms are hanging limp at your sides
Your legs got nothing to do
Some plutocrat’s machine is doing that for you
In the year 6565
Ain’t gonna need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long black tube
In the year 7510
If God’s a-comin’ he ought to make it by then
Maybe he’ll look around himself and say
Guess theses idiots have gone completely socialist and it’s time for the Judgment day
In the year 8510
God’s gonna shake his mighty head
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down and start again
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wondering if man’s gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
Now it’s been 10,000 years
Man has payed trillions in taxes and cried a billion tears
For what he never knew
Now free man’s reign is through
But through the eternal night
The twinkling of starlight
So very far away
Maybe it’s only yesterday
In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies
Everything you think, do or say
Is in the gooberment pill you took today …
- Zager And Evans
MB4 on May 21, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Best picture of TOTUS ever.
Abby Adams on May 21, 2009 at 2:22 PM
strangelet on May 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Looks like you missed my earlier request of a favor. I can understand. There’s a lot to pick and choose from. And it was kinda long and may have been hard to read.
Let’s make this easy for you.
Simple question. Yes or no answer. That’s it.
Here’s the question:
“Would you rather see your family dead than water-board someone to save them?”
No hems, not haws, no if’s, no but’s – just “yes” or “no”.
Now, I hope you don’t ignore or miss this question because some people might think you’re a coward. Of course not me, but, you know, others here – those brain-dead troglodytes you despise so much can be so … so caveman-like when it come “family values” and all that silly stuff.
So, just take a second to answer “yes” or “no”.
Here, I’ll even start:
– - :Rod answers “no”.
See how easy? Now you try:
– -: strangelet answers: ” ”
Thanks in advance!
Rod on May 21, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Never, ever forget that the Left will belittle all of its adversary’s gripes, large and small.
As I recall the story of The Boy Who Cried “Wolf,” there was no wolf until the last cry. In our “story” there is always one. Sometimes it’s a toothless one–or so it seems–but it can still give birth to no-so-toothless wolves.
And now that I’ve beaten your metaphor to death, I’ve gotta go “serve Somebody.” Have a nice Day!
baldilocks on May 21, 2009 at 2:25 PM
What creates more Islamic terror, strength or weakness? I prefer the opinion of Osama bin Laden to the opinion of the child of Stanley Ann Dunham.
Basilsbest on May 21, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I notice you are afraid to respond to my question to you in my 1:13 PM post. You claimed to be an equal opportunity despiser of torture, and I responded by asking you if Bush did the right thing by taking out Saddam Hussein, who tortured and killed his own citizens.
Cat got your tongue?
Del Dolemonte on May 21, 2009 at 2:48 PM
It’s when you don’t have much regard for someone, or what they represent, that you forget or butcher their name. That’s the basis for racial slurs, like n*gger, spic, chink. Bush had special names for people, but he did it on purpose. It was a kind of teasing, representing affection, not disrespect. So I’d say, it’s possible Obama doesn’t have much regard for the military.
Paul-Cincy on May 21, 2009 at 2:52 PM
When liberals think of a little water being poured on the face of mass murderer KSM, they are driven to tears. When they think of a child being torn limb from limb in her mother’s womb, they are enraptured by the progressive beauty of this practice.
Basilsbest on May 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
In todays speech, Obama made 2 points. The waterboarding did not work. The waterboarding cause terroritsst to want to attack us.
That means if they knew we didn’t waterboard, they would have no reason to terrorize us. He is not rational folks.
seven on May 21, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Seriously, you didn’t notice how Obama governs just like he playing “The Sims”
DSchoen on May 21, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Hey, you guys, quit making fun of the Messiah. It’s not hisfault–he’s distracted by all of those Biden gaffes!!
Special K on May 21, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Think of all the no-bid contracts for MSNBC.
Christien on May 21, 2009 at 4:41 PM
I feel so safe knowing that our CiC doesn’t know the Secy of Defense’s name.
Y-not on May 21, 2009 at 5:47 PM
I usually don’t but I decided to check out the link from strangerthanever’s post about the history of the illegality of waterboarding. Since strangerthanfiction thinks anyone who did something illegal should be prosecuted, maybe we should start with Bill Clinton. From the link…
Hmmm….
Deanna on May 21, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Totally TOTUS. That smacked ass is nothing more than a jug-eared buffoon.
CatchAll on May 21, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Retard of the week. Talk about a lightweight!
mr.blacksheep on May 21, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Maybe now they can get free updates for their computers.
oakpack on May 21, 2009 at 10:34 PM
amateur
narcissist
and the media will toss it as a no story or turn it on Cheney.
I love my Country.
seesalrun on May 22, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Gaffs such as this give insight into the man:
He’s addicted to the teleprompter and cannot speak his mind without it; therefore his mind must be empty.
Forgetting a person that is on your immediate staff says-you are on my staff BUT I don’t like you enough to really know your name.
Or, as the standard train of thought, you are a Bush holdover, BUT not for much longer – as soon as I find a liberal that wants to run an organization that is counter to their ideology. They really don’t have to care about the military just want to run it further into the ground.
MSGTAS on May 22, 2009 at 10:34 AM
At least he didn’t say “will.i.am” gates. LOL
romanianhacker on May 22, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Is Carter 2.0 a Microsoft software? Because if it is, everything makes so much sense now.
Michelle Dubois on May 22, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Remember, as a famous comedian once said about cue cards, “I don’t write ‘em, I just read ‘em.”
Mr. Grump on May 23, 2009 at 9:21 AM
That was a funny gaffe.
AnninCA on May 23, 2009 at 11:11 AM
ddrintn on May 21, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Theres nothing wrong with Jaleel White is there?
FontanaConservative on May 24, 2009 at 12:42 AM
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