Blaming Obama for the night on Broadway?
posted at 11:00 am on May 31, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Date Night at the Morrissey residence tends towards the modest. When the First Mate and I go out on the town, we usually have a quiet dinner and a movie in the local suburbs. Occasionally, we’ll go into the city to see a show and try a more expensive restaurant as a treat, but when we do, we usually just drive ourselves and don’t take three Gulfstream jets to go there. Our nation’s First Couple have a different style:
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama landed in New York Saturday afternoon, and after taking a helicopter from JFK into Manhattan, drove up the West Side Highway, where the northbound lanes were shut down by police for their visit, past Ground Zero, into the Village for dinner at the Village’s Blue Hill restaurant. From there, they went north to Times Square, where they went to to see a production of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” at the Belasco Theater on West 44 Street.
Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest read a statement from Obama: “I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.”
Asked about the cost of the trip, which Republicans have criticized as indulgent, coming just ahead of the expected announcement of GM’s bankruptcy filing on Monday, Josh Earnest told pool reporter Dave Michaels of the Dallas Morning News, that he “didn’t anticipate being able to provide a cost estimate tonight.” …
The president traveled in a smaller, Gulfstream-type plane rather than the larger planes typically used as Air Force One. Two other planes carried staff and reporters.
Sounds like a great night out on the town, Mr. President. Glad we could pick up the tab for it. I guess the FM and I will have to skip a few Date Nights for ourselves to pay for all of that.
Presidents do go on vacation, of course, to get away from the pressures of the Beltway. They go out for nights on the town, too. Jazz Shaw, calling this Date Night a “dim move,” reminds us that Bush liked to move DC west every August:
If you didn’t complain – and do so loudly and often – about President Bush shattering all previous records for presidential vacation time in the midst of two wars that he began and various other crises, you should know how you look if you complain now. All those trips to Crawford and other destinations were on the public dime, involving Air Force One, staffers, supporting crew, etc. And they cost a fortune. If you take to the streets in manufactured outrage over this evening out, you are hypocrites, and there’s really no other way to put it.
Now, for the rest of our friends, if you were critical of President Bush for his vacationing ways, will you really just shrug your shoulders and say this is “no big deal” since it’s Obama going out on the town? The trip still involved three Gulfstream Jets, a large staff and press corps following, blocking off traffic for hours across several blocks in Manhattan on a Saturday afternoon and evening and a total taxpayer bill which the White House couldn’t even estimate for us. And it took place not only in the midst of two hot wars, but on the eve of GM likely going bankrupt and a rising unemployment rate where millions of Americans are wondering if they’ll be able to afford all their groceries next month. Could the optics of this Broadway fiasco possibly be any worse?
Why use Gulfstream planes at all? Why not just use Air Force One, which would likely have kept at least one of the other planes on the ground, instead? Perhaps the White House wanted to emphasize the non-official nature of the visit; I suspect they didn’t want AF1 to return to New York City’s skies so soon after the Scare Force One fiasco. However, AF1 is built to keep the President in close touch with the government in times of crisis. It exists for precisely that reason, and is meticulously maintained to ensure the safest possible flight.
But the real foolishness was the Gulfstream and helicopters for the media. Are we to believe that the national news media has no reporters in New York City? The BIg Apple isn’t exactly the Badlands of the Dakotas, or the remote peaks of the Rockies, in terms of media saturation. It looks like Obama wanted to make this a media event and didn’t mind using three planeloads of taxpayer money to stage it.
And can anyone calculate the carbon footprint of three Gulfstream jets, three helicopters, and all the stalled traffic in New York City? I’d say that it reaches Goracle-like levels.
As Gail Gitcho of the RNC asked, why not take Michelle out for a night at the Kennedy Center instead, where the President has a reserved seat and only needs to travel across DC? I know he promised her a Broadway play, but I’m pretty sure he’d still have her vote in 2012.
Blowback
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This sort of reminds me of of a couple of quotes from George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm.
Dreadnought223 on May 31, 2009 at 12:24 PM
That’s like me working on my washing machine, asking a helper for a 9/16ths socket and them handing me a spatula.
MarkABinVA on May 31, 2009 at 12:26 PM
The New Camelot needs a photographic and video record people, get with the program.
ThePrez on May 31, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Wait! This is actually good news. It means he realizes the campaign is finally over. Now maybe he can stop making campaign speeches and actually try doing something sorta presidential for a change.
/laughing myself into coughing fit.
DrAllecon on May 31, 2009 at 12:27 PM
CAMPAIGN PROMISE KEPT
LibTired (KO) on May 31, 2009 at 12:29 PM
concerned troll is concerned.
daesleeper on May 31, 2009 at 12:30 PM
So what about the converse? Leftists complained every time Bush went to his ranch, or played golf, or did anything really. Will they be slamming Mr Broadway now for wasting money in a deep recession?
And yes – what about those CO2 emissions? One could almost get the impression environuts don’t really care when one of their own fails to live up to their standards.
Also, is Obama still throwing Wednesday concert nights?
18-1 on May 31, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Where Michelle is concerned, I wouldn’t make that assumption. This is the only campaign promise that he has so far kept. The hard left, which is more or less where she pitches her tent, is starting to get really ticked off at him for all the campaign promises that ain’t gonna happen after all.
ss396 on May 31, 2009 at 12:31 PM
The Acela would have been cheaper.
southsideironworks on May 31, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Actually what we have here is a new phenomenon: a political elite with the moral features of both Marie Antoinette and Maxmillian Robispierre.
rrpjr on May 31, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Well, we know of ONE campaign promise that did not have an expiration date.
Dr.K on May 31, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Ironically, there was a thread recently on FARK where the resident leftists were all crowing about how great the Acela trains are, and how no one should ever fly in the northeastern corridor anymore.
18-1 on May 31, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Well, not exactly, it sounds.
From Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/23122.html
Here are Dave Michaels’ pool reports to the White House press corps:
“We touched down at JFK International Airport about 4:35 p.m. in the first plane of three. We held in helicopter for POTUS AND FLOTUS arrival at 4:43 p.m., which we witnessed through windows. We took off before Marine One and passed over the rooftops of Queens before turning south over the East River. Just after passing over the Brooklyn Bridge we landed at the downtown Manhattan Heliport, which I’m told is also called the Wall Street landing zone.
“The sky is clear and blue here, same weather as in Washington. No traffic on West Street as NYPD had cleared the road. Some observers watched for Marine One from a pier about 100 yards north. I could see ten or more NYPD motor jocks, a bunch of cruisers and a rather large RV-style van, perhaps a mobile command center.
“We headed north on West Street in vans and passed Ground Zero. Southbound traffic on the Westside Highway seemed light, but probably slowed down as the rubber necking began. We turned right on Clarkson Street and headed cross town. Plenty of pedestrians and diners at the trattoria checking us out.
“POTUS waved to enthusiastic watchers as his vehicle headed toward the Blue Hill restaurant on Washington Place.
From an earlier report from Michaels as the presidential party took off from Washington: “Three presidential helicopters descended on Andrews Air Force Base about 3:42 p.m. A group of about 20 people, a few members of the military wearing camouflage and what must have been their families, watched from a distance of 50 to 75 yards.
“Exactly five minutes later, President Obama and Michelle Obama stepped down from Marine One. POTUS was business casual, but very sharp, in a dark blue suit and black shoes. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top — no tie. Mrs. Obama wore a black cocktail dress and black heels. Her hair was up and she held a small blue purse, which I’m informed is called a clutch. They boarded a presidential Gulfstream 500 and we took off shortly before 4 p.m. en route to New York City, where the first couple is to have dinner and watch a play, ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ at the Belasco Theater. The name of the production is courtesy of the New York Daily News.
“The first couple has left the Blue Hill restaurant in the West Village and headed north of the Belasco Theater, arriving at 7:55 p.m..
“NYPD had blocked 6th Avenue for our motorcade to move north from the restaurant toward Midtown. Pedestrians lined both sides of the street, taking photos and waving behind metal barricades, as if we were part of a parade.
“A bit earlier, your pooler asked Josh Earnest, deputy press secretary, how much this trip costs taxpayers. He said other reporters had asked and he ‘didn’t anticipate being able to provide a cost estimate tonight.’”
Feels just like September to me….. Not necessarily his fault, the fawning media is still on the campaign trail. It’s magical after all.
MarkABinVA on May 31, 2009 at 12:33 PM
At least Marie’s picture wasn’t omnipresent as her husband was taxing the peasants into ruin. You can’t walk near a magazine stand anymore without Mrs Obama’s grimacing visage staring down at you.
18-1 on May 31, 2009 at 12:34 PM
The offical White House Scheduler needs to be fired immediately and replaced with the Official White House Calandar Czar. Everyone knows that you are supposed to group errands together in order to save gas and reduce the environmental impact to the planet. It should have been done this way:
10AM leave White House for NYC with date in tow
12PM Buzz Ground Zero for maximum date impact
2PM Hold press conference to discuss date’s dress, date itinerary and the possibility of getting “lucky” after date, thank grandma for watching kids and dog, thank press for being interested. take questions from the crowd.
2:05PM ok press conference is over now.
2:15PM take leisurely drive through NYC in limo (which did not fit into gulf stream so it had to be driven separately for maximum presidential protection) holding up traffic and burning up plenty of fossil fuel.
5PM Arrive at restaurant that serves only green food on service ware made entirely of recycled milk jugs.
7PM Send out take out to traveling press corps as they are probably hungry.
and so on…
see I was able to plan a complete itinerary that accomplishes a lot for the country by working together for change. While I did not go to Harvard or Princeton, I do have a very compelling life story and have used a daytimer before.
kringeesmom on May 31, 2009 at 12:35 PM
No grousing allowed when it’s a Democrat blowing our money. That’s mighty moderate of you.
ddrintn on May 31, 2009 at 12:35 PM
The article says that the Obama’s traveled in one Gulfstream while staff and reporters traveled in two other Gulfstreams. This makes me think that Obama wanted one plane to himself, so he and Michelle could act like bigshots in their very own luxury airplane, while the riff raff is kept to a distance. If they had flown on Airforce One, the reporters and at least some of the staff would have flown with the Obamas on just one plane.
OxyCon on May 31, 2009 at 12:39 PM
That louche tie-less look works well for a falafel salesman on a grimy side street in Istambul or Tehran, but not for the POTUS.
Michelle should have b-slapped the poseur punk for his fashion slacker-ism.
profitsbeard on May 31, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Well, that’s one.
oldleprechaun on May 31, 2009 at 12:45 PM
No, I grouse plenty. There’s a very good story on the editorial sites today about the amount that is allowed by Congressional folks in perks. It should make everyone’s blood pressure raise.
The amounts they are allowed in perks is obscene, particularly given that they are telling private industry what they can and cannot do.
Talk about putting the “new office redo’s” into perspective!
No, I’m a tightwad. But I’m not so much when it comes to the president.
I didn’t begrudge George flying to Texas. I’m not going to begrudge Obama taking Michelle to a play.
Fair is fair, to me.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Y’all have the wrong way of looking at this
Obama promised his wife a Broadway show… if it was me I’d say “honey it would look bad with the economy” but lets say the wife pushed it through anyway. You know Presidents of the United States tend to go to New York for say -Fundraisers- or -UN meetings-. When I take a drive from my home I try to get done as many things as I can. Obama could have given his wife a date night and not created an additional day of security headaches for the city of New York
karasoth on May 31, 2009 at 12:47 PM
I guess Camp David and Washington D.C. aren’t good enough for the ineligible person occupying the White House. He needs to run around our country and flaunt the fact that such an incompetent, ineligible, moronic boob has pulled off a coup and is controlling the levers of power.
This moron needs to be shipped back to Indonesia, stat.
progressoverpeace on May 31, 2009 at 12:48 PM
He never promised his wife a broadway show.
But it sure makes people look at his actions differently, doesn’t it?
He’s good. Good like a snake in the grass.
bridgetown on May 31, 2009 at 12:48 PM
I was thinking “worm”, but “snake” works, too.
progressoverpeace on May 31, 2009 at 12:50 PM
For a guy who went to so much trouble to get into the White House, look back and see how many weekends they are never in the place.
Trips to Chicago , Camp David and day trips to be any where but there.
I saw a post somewhere a while back that claimed at the time of the post they had spent more weekends away from the White House than in it.
CommentGuy on May 31, 2009 at 12:51 PM
progressoverpeace on May 31, 2009 at 12:50 PM
ha…well, I’d rather have worms in my garden than snakes!
Besides, snakes in the grass sneak around to kill prey. Worms..they just eat dirt.
:)
bridgetown on May 31, 2009 at 12:51 PM
I guess if you can’t sneak off to NYC for a show on the taxpayer’s dime, you what…make it a big media event? Great strategy. Turn those WH press lights up bright enough and we’ll all be blinded to your self-indulgence.
Dee2008 on May 31, 2009 at 12:52 PM
The whole sick country has gone mad and nobody appears to care. The rate of demise is astonishing.
rplat on May 31, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Hey, Glorious Historic Leader, you just collapsed the economy and made the world hate us. What are you going to do next?
We’re going to a BROADWAY SHOW!
Whoo!
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Grousing unfairly. GWB did not take extravagant “vacations” nor did he treat citizens in a thoughtless manner or ill-use taxpayer funded traveling. Returning to his home for mental, spiritual and physical renewal all the while staying on top of the highly demanding job does not even remotely compare to this costly and inconsiderate jaunt of the Obamas.
KittyLowrey on May 31, 2009 at 12:56 PM
I don’t like it when my comments don’t appear.
I didn’t curse. What’s the dealy?
bridgetown on May 31, 2009 at 12:56 PM
This type of article brings out personal insults. That’s OK by me, but I wonder why the defensiveness then?
It’s obvious what the motivation is.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 11:44 AM
You hit the nail right on the head…what’s wrong with these peasants complaining about the Obamas blowing tax payer money….no wonder California is broke….with people like you living there….you don’t have a clue
norryrr on May 31, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I blame Bush.
Oh, sorry, just got back from my undercover work at DailyKos.
18-1 on May 31, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Not possible. Robert Gibbs had a previous commitment for his initiation into the Toastmasters club in DC. He couldn’t be there to provide the proper interface/interference between the President and his vengeful press corps.
/sarc
MarkABinVA on May 31, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Yep. Absolutely unreal.
This point in time will live on in future history books as the most pathetic in history. The greatest nation ever to have existed has turned and just committed suicide, for no good reason. This will be seen as the worst case of mass insanity, ever.
I often wonder if those on the left understand how badly they are going to be portrayed in the future? People in the future will hve to purify themselves after reading about the morons of today who have destroyed the greatest works of Man just to satisfy some minor emotional handicaps they suffer from. It is truly pathetic.
progressoverpeace on May 31, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Arrogant, phoney royalty with everyone from the media on their knees in front of him. It makes me sick.
I was reading the Domesbury cartoon in the Stars and Stripes today and Gary Trudeau is perplexed because he can’t think of an icon to represent him like he does for Republicans.
Hints Gary…
1. Ears.
2. Teleprompter.
3. A Koran.
4. A middle finger.
Anyone else?
hawkdriver on May 31, 2009 at 12:58 PM
My thought/question about the press accompanying them was – why? FFS, he’s taking his wife out on the town – it needs no official press at all, much less flying them in.
Midas on May 31, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I worked until May to pay my taxes, and all I got for it was Barack’s and Michelle’s night on the town.
aero on May 31, 2009 at 1:00 PM
You can’t walk near a magazine stand anymore without Mrs Obama’s grimacing visage staring down at you.
18-1 on May 31, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Heh, and she always looks so
stern and pissedhappy.Bishop on May 31, 2009 at 1:01 PM
H. Chavez
daesleeper on May 31, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Finally a photo of Michelle that deals with the reality of her pear shaped figure. I guess the photographer has not gotten the memo. She looks nice though and it is kind of a pleasure to see the ‘real’ Michelle and not the one being painted as a super thin fashion model type. We hippy women have to stand together and fight the negative image—hard as that may be!!(Chuckle)
jeanie on May 31, 2009 at 1:03 PM
5. A floating empty suit.
profitsbeard on May 31, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I think date nights are nice. This is a bit on the phony side, but there’s nothing wrong with it.
It supports even men in power taking care of “business.”
Really, nothing here to be outraged about, which is why I point out that this type of “article” does bring out nasty remarks.
Don’t complain when O’Reilly points the finger.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:04 PM
The Os know they can be as extravagant as they like with no lip from the media.
(the media elites are part of the oligarchy)
clnurnberg on May 31, 2009 at 1:06 PM
jeanie..she’s no beauty, and that’s OK by me, too.
I trust she’ll get to do SOMETHING more than be some fashion diva for AA women in the future.
Poor thing…..she’s really being a good doobie to me about this.
I just know she’s a lot more opinionated than she’s allowing herself to be right now.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Is it fair to criticize Obama for spending $100K of taxpayer money for a date?
My rule of thumb is, would there be criticism if the situation was reversed? For example, would say Sarah Palin be criticized if she spent $100K of taxpayer money for a night out with Todd? Considering that she was criticized for spending taxpayer money to travel to the 48 to deliver a speech, I would think she would certainly be criticized for spending taxpayer money to go see Cats.
DarkKnight3565 on May 31, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Actually, there’s a new narrative emerging in the truthosphere: NYT and others are laying the groundwork for the inevitable terrorist attack under Glorious Historic Leader’s watch will be Bush’s fault.
Even libs know — maybe know is too ambitious a word — let’s say the common lib intellectual has a vague and confused intuition that Glorious Historic Leader has made the USA unsafe. There are lots of excuses to be made for the destruction this man is bringing, so they’re revving up the State Press to get the word out.
Gird your loins!
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 1:07 PM
People are outraged, Anne, as the Obama’s prattle endlessly about sacrifice, not seeking moneyed jobs, and “giving back” while they live like queens and take take take.
clnurnberg on May 31, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Is there even a thread of sanity left in you? “Date night”? What do we have, 15 year olds in the White House?
Oops. You’re right. The current occupant of the White House thinks on the level of a teenager (a fairly stupid one, too) so I guess “date night” is perfectly appropriate for him.
progressoverpeace on May 31, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Here is the item I’d like to see in the NYT or the Washington Post:
“We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits do not matter and waste is not our problem,” said Barack Obama, just days before boarding a Gulfstream jet for the flight to NYC and date night with his wife. The Obamas were accompanied by two additional Gulfstreams full of reporters to assure that the “date” received full press coverage.
Dee2008 on May 31, 2009 at 1:11 PM
I’d also like to now why Queen Michelle lost her law license in 93 to a court ordered inactive status.
clnurnberg on May 31, 2009 at 1:11 PM
You give her too much credit. That reptile is seething underneath. They probably built a chamber for her where she can smash dishes and throw bobo dolls around with violent force! Then, after calming down, she’s writing it all down, and when it comes to open the cage door, it’s going to be godawful.
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 1:11 PM
.
For all those claiming a compaign promise has been kept, prove the promise was ever made in the first place.
News2Use on May 31, 2009 at 1:12 PM
This whole little presidency reeks with excess, waste and lies
clnurnberg on May 31, 2009 at 1:12 PM
*clapping in agreement*
Which is why I’m not about to jump on this bandwagon, either.
The criticism from partisan parties is just too nuts.
Neither side makes sense.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Now I understand why I was getting visitors to my post from last summer called “Barack and Michelle go on a blind date.” It wasn’t about Broadway, though.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on May 31, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. Let’s see, what was the trip’s carbon footprint, how much did it cost the taxpayers that are eating cold pizza and renting old movies to get a little relief from the obama debacle?
BTW, hail, Tiller the Baby Killer is burning in hell right now!
HornetSting on May 31, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Did they bring the vehicles and helicopters to NYC in C-17′s? That’s what usually happens. And three G-5′s have a huge carbon footprint. I went on one of the those carbon calculator sites, and one G-3 puts out more carbon in one cross country trip than my Suburban does in a year. So it’s a huge outlay for one night on the town. If it were a vacation or an official event it’s more understandable.
That said, I’m going to ration my anger and not use it for this, but a Republican doing this would have stirred up a lot of outrage.
juliesa on May 31, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Of course Palin would be criticised and if she had been railing on about economy and the perils of excess she would be appropriately excoriated.
clnurnberg on May 31, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Wow George Tiller “the baby killer” has had an “accident”. Hmmmm, the first of Obama’s minions has gone down.
elduende on May 31, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned. This is an obvious impersonation of the Kennedy era.
Come on. Lib intellectuals are like rats in a maze. You flash a picture of a Kennedy at Chris Matthews or Charlie Rose, their little rat noses nuzzle up to the glass and press the bar for a little food pellet. The New York Times editors with their quivering whiskers are all jazzed up now.
Deep down, you know it’s true.
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 1:16 PM
WOAH tiller the baby killer was just murdered
ousoonerfan15 on May 31, 2009 at 1:16 PM
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:06 PM
There was an article sometime last week or so that suggested that she was interested in the arts. That might be a good place for her–not overwhelmingly controversial and a good use of one’s time. I DO agree with those above who paint her as closet opininated–something that can get her into big trouble as it has in the past–but also agree that she needs to do something constructive and not strongly political. Still not sure how I feel about her, but am trying to open my mind, which, up until lately, has been closed on the issue of Michelle. I hope she is capable of growing gracefully into her role. I shall watch and see.
jeanie on May 31, 2009 at 1:16 PM
You’re entitled to your opinion. But then, so are people who claim Palin is using her children to promote her personal agenda.
I don’t agree with either side.
I think both of these extreme versions are just that….extreme sides.
And you’ve got a lot more in common with the far-left than with me, frankly.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:16 PM
OT: Did you hear–Dr. George Tiller was murdered.
I have little doubt that it was a prolife christian or at least speculate that it was.
deidre on May 31, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Breaking news…..
Tiller the baby killer was shot and killed this morning at his church.
Knucklehead on May 31, 2009 at 1:17 PM
I agree that Obama should have had the night out when he happened to be in NY anyway. I did not have a problem w/other presidents getting away as I realize they are the president and they are important compared to us schleps.
The thing that most chaps my a** is the amazing amount of hypocrisy coming from this particular magnificent one pbuh. This is the same kid who talks about sharing the wealth, sacrifice, climate crisis, dependence on fossil fuels, etc.
So Mr. Ogabe one question: When are you going to drive in little itty bitty clown cars and fly in ethanol,methanol,bio diesel,fart powered jets?
arnold ziffel on May 31, 2009 at 1:17 PM
The world is a better place now that Tiller the Baby Killer is dead and burning in hell.
HornetSting on May 31, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Yeah, the difference between the ‘Western White House’ and Broadway is that Crawford didn’t become a huge imposition on the locals until political opponents made asses of themselves there.
James on May 31, 2009 at 1:18 PM
The liberal mind is a strange and curious thing. You underestimate its power.
The words Hope and Change must be considered as similar to Euclid’s primitive axioms. From those axioms, the whole of Euclidean geometry can be deduced. Similarly, from the words Hope and Change, one can deduce every logical possibility in the Universe.
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 1:18 PM
My take on this was she needed a bit of “heeling” in. She was awfully rough in the primary, anyway.
So I think she learned, and that’s not too bad.
My own expectations?
She’ll be erratic. I think this job truly is beyond her.
She’s not an awful person, by any shakes. But it’s just beyond her.
She’s not going to be a great first lady as a result.
JUST my 2 cents.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Excellent!
progressoverpeace on May 31, 2009 at 1:20 PM
He went to church?
Disturb the Universe on May 31, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Okay for me, but not for thee.
Hope and change smells like horsesh*t.
HornetSting on May 31, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Oh crap.
Kiss the pro-life momentum good-bye.
In the immortal words of Bernie Taupin, it’s funny how one insect can damage so much grain.
This is a terrible day.
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Talk about hypocracy.
At least he KNEW where he was going when that man shot him. Hell is for Tiller.
HornetSting on May 31, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Obama and the Democrat Congress have lost whatever legitimacy they had. When an illegitimate government continues to act with impunity there is a backlash. Not rocket science.
elduende on May 31, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Why was he killed?
Seriously?
The anti-abortionists killed him?
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Hahahahaha LOL I bet she floats!
Just don’t call her Flo…
rockbend on May 31, 2009 at 1:24 PM
The people who were all over Sarah Palin’s $150k donated wardrobe will get back to you on that.
Amendment X on May 31, 2009 at 1:25 PM
We all know that you are pro-choice, so this may be news to you. Tiller the Baby Killer would perform late term abortions, to viable fetuses, delivering the babies and then poking a hole in their heads to kill them.
This would be performed once the five thousand dollars that he charged was plunked down on the desk. He would perform these abortions for something as little as the expectant mother had a headache.
HornetSting on May 31, 2009 at 1:26 PM
No idea, but I wouldn’t be surprised. There are crazy people out there on both sides. Hope the catch the killer.
deidre on May 31, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Ed, I know Jazz is your bestie, but let me ask: if he wasn’t, would you link him even half as much as you do? He rarely has anything interesting or clever to say.
Like comparing Bush’s vacations to Bambi’s date night. I’d be willing to bet that the cost per hour of Bush’s vacations is less than the cost per hour of Bambi’s date night.
Oh, and the purpose and/or accomplishment of each. Bush got rest and relaxation from his vacations. What did Obama get? Yet another photo op, and hopefully some intimate attention from his wife. Only, she’s his wife. He should be automatic with her, and not have to spend millions to get in her (elegant, stylish, Jackie-Kennedyesqe) pants.
So I’m not sure Jazz’s devastating “HYPOCRITES!” analysis was all that devastating.
misterpeasea on May 31, 2009 at 1:26 PM
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:26 PM
HA has been on it’s best behavior this a.m.. Almost 200 posts and no references to Ford’s Theatre.
thomasaur on May 31, 2009 at 1:27 PM
What he did is definately sickening and inexcusable; however, murdering him isn’t the answer. It is unfortunate that he was murdered.
deidre on May 31, 2009 at 1:27 PM
No kidding. Anyone else wonder about this trend?
I just can’t figure out the radicalism, on either side.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Sure. Let me squeeze out a tear.
HornetSting on May 31, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Murdering the docs won’t help the pro life cause IMHO
Hornetsting add me on fb.
blatantblue on May 31, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Heck, I’m so mild as a pro-choice. I just am annoyed that the day-after pill was blocked. *haha
OK, I do believe in abortion as the right of medical decision for any woman, at any stage. That should be between her, her family, her conscience, her doctor.
But seriously, are you suggesting murder is appropriate because you disagree politically?
Man, then we really are a banana republic.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:31 PM
The myth of the Bush vacations should have been put to sleep by conservatives a long time ago. President Bush was still doing the work of President, only at a place where he felt more comfortable and was better adapted for smoozing foreign leaders than the White House. Look up how many briefings were held at the “ranch”, look up how many foreign dignitaries met him there. Vacation indeed.
DeathtotheSwiss on May 31, 2009 at 1:31 PM
I’m sure it was a pro-life person. There are no words for my grief. This is not the way to obtain justice, whether you’re a pro-life advocate, a disgruntled office worker, or a member of a 60s radical group like the Weather Underground or the SLA.
Keep in mind that if CIA interrogators were killed in Church by a deranged Leftist, the humanitarian master of Daily Kos would say — as he has said in analogous situations –: “screw them.”
So at least you’re seeing despair here on HA over the insanity of the murder, whomever did it. I suspect that not a single person here wants the murderer to get due to his “good intentions.” We could consider that a grave injustice.
jeff_from_mpls on May 31, 2009 at 1:32 PM
I’m sure someone has said this already, but: Imagine if George and Laura Bush had done this. Of course, the media would have been all over it as arrogant extravagance with taxpayer money in a time of war and crisis. 9/11! Iraq! Katrina!
Second, the inconvenience to New Yorkers would have been looped endlessly.
Third, if the Bush White House had planned to provide transport for the media, that would have been portrayed as a vile attempt to subvert the independence of the press and sell lies to the public.
Fourth, if the Bush White House either withdrew the transport offer, or had never tendered it, the media would have portrayed that as an attempt at a media blackout: a vain effort to hide Bush’s egregious taxpayer-funded excess from the people.
Fifth, the media would have enlivened their coverage of the event with interviews of 9/11 families and the Manhattan homeless.
Sixth, if even one match had been lit in Baghdad that evening, the theme of the media coverage would have been “Bush Does Broadway While Baghdad Burns.”
So, if all of that would have been the righteous perspective on the Bushes taking in a Broadway show at taxpayer expense — then it’s the righteous perspective on the Obamas doing it.
J.E. Dyer on May 31, 2009 at 1:32 PM
If you sincerely think that murder is OK, and apparently, you do.
You’re the right person to ask.
Why so passionate/nuts about this issue?
I really don’t get it.
I can’t imagine backing myself into a corner where I defend murder against someone who is alive to protect unformed fetuses/cells, etc.
So what drives your opinion?
Simply curious here.
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:33 PM
So, did he make her spit out that pinch of snuff she has behind her lower lip before going to the city?
OH NO!!! What’s O’reilly gonna say?????
oakpack on May 31, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Do you know what happens to a baby during a partial birth abortion?
Disturb the Universe on May 31, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I don’t condone murder…whether it’s the murder of an unborn child, or the murder of the “murderer” of unborn children. But I can at least understand that someone could have persuaded themselves that by eliminating this “doctor” he or she would be saving the lives of many innocent children. Still doesn’t make it right, but it’s not hard to follow the line of thought.
Dee2008 on May 31, 2009 at 1:35 PM
AnninCA on May 31, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Somewhat surprised to hear you say that. As of right now, it seems to me that your ‘erratic’ is a good choice of words. I see her as a kid in a candy store for the first time and faced with too any choices. But, then, I might be the same if her circumstances were thrust on me with no training and experience in dealing with them. Jury shall remain out for the time being, but would like to discuss this with you again in a years time or so–would be interesting. I’ll look for a way to bring it up if we’re both still posting?
jeanie on May 31, 2009 at 1:35 PM
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