Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?
posted at 9:00 am on October 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Which Obamateurism this week will celebrate its victory? Probably not with a trip to Copenhagen, that’s for sure. Maybe they’d prefer to go to India, which would at least take them a little closer to Gen. Stanley McChrystal than Barack Obama usually gets. Of course, one assumes that they’d pick the right direction first …
Previous “winners”:
- Taxes, definitions, auto insurance, and Merriam-Webster dictionaries
- Throwing Poland under the bus on missile defense on 70th anniversary of Soviet invasion
- Obama warns of “partisan scare tactics,” warns “people will die” if ObamaCare stalls
- Obama doesn’t check to see if schools in session for his national speech
- Getting all wee-wee’d up
- The “public option” is just like the Post Office!
- We’re going to listen to other people’s ideas, except that people who disagree should shut up
- Snitch Central for ObamaCare dissenters
- Rushing legislation bad in 2004, essential in 2009
- Obama opines on Gates arrest without “having all the facts”
- Obama salutes the Ghana flag
- Obama jokes about Alaska sale with Russians
- Obama uses union and DNC plants at health-care town hall
- Obama plants a question on Iran with HuffPo
- Change in Iran coming because “Obviously, after the speech I made in Cairo…”
- Flashing his soles to the camera while talking to Netanyahu
- “If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
- “We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits do not matter and waste is not our problem.”
- Siccing Tim Geithner and Charlie Rangel on tax cheats
- Phony Churchill quote on torture throws Grandpa under the bus
- Torture probe flip-flop
- Obama covers up IHS while quoting Jesus
- Austrian is a language?
- Obama bows to the Saudi king
- 1908 Model T got better gas mileage than today’s SUVs
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!
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John Edwards would not only have won the Olympics, he would have made Rio De Janeiro pay for it.
mesquito on October 4, 2009 at 9:03 AM
“I’m not interested in victory.” And then off he goes to Copenhagen to try to win.
Another leader said ‘I’m not interested in Victory’ – Olmert, in Israel. This was several years before he started off the war in Lebanon which he had no intention of winning.
Phoenician on October 4, 2009 at 9:04 AM
This was no the Olympic committee I thought I knew.
B Man on October 4, 2009 at 9:05 AM
no=not
B Man on October 4, 2009 at 9:07 AM
For my money, it’s gotta be NObama babbling about how they must give the Olympics to Chicago so he can have the ease and convenience of strolling to the games from his “family home.”
Jenfidel on October 4, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Ed, don’t make me choose.
F) all of the above
JoeAvg on October 4, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Let’s not forget that he said that he wanted Chicago to get the Olympics because it would expose Chicagoans to other cultures…Chicago is one of the world’s most cultural diverse cities.
jerryofva on October 4, 2009 at 9:11 AM
I feel the same way- every week.
Monica on October 4, 2009 at 9:16 AM
I swear, you just can’t make this stuff up. When Ed first started this series, I honestly thought there couldn’t possibly be enough screw-ups, even by The One, to keep it going.
If anything, there’s just too much!
Meh, gotta go with the Olympics debacle, only because it’s the one thing the POTUS shouldn’t be doing in the first place…it’s driving the Left crazy saying GOPers are happy…and “the world” finally gave Obama the snub he’s deserved for a while now, bring his arrogant self back down to Earth.
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 9:17 AM
I know there is a chain of command and that Mr. Obama surely speaks to Sec. Gates on a regular basis but the ratio between the man in charge of American military lives and a union bigwig is too much for me.
Cindy Munford on October 4, 2009 at 9:18 AM
The whole week ’cause he is an amateur.
tim c on October 4, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Everyone go watch the video of SNL’s opening last night. Didn’t get a ton of laughs, but it trashed Obama for his record of non-accomplishment so far.
rockmom on October 4, 2009 at 9:22 AM
I’m with JoeAvg voting F) all of the above and F for fail.
hulagain on October 4, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Ed, we already knew he was empty (or at least his suit was). Perhaps you meant empty-handed.
Kafir on October 4, 2009 at 9:24 AM
I picked the NO-lympics. Poor Meechelle. Her “sacrifice” was just not enough.
/gag
Key West Reader on October 4, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Has to be the Olympics. The failure to keep in communication with McChrystal is the more egregious screw-up long-term, but Obama and all his supporters went into the IOC meetings in Copenhagen with the same self assurance that Chicgo had the 2016 Games won as the New England Patriot fans who already had their 19-0 caps and T-shirts bought before Super Bowl XLII was even played.
Since nobody had a camera trained on the president or his advisers on Air Force One when the verdict came down, the looks on the faces of the crowd in Chicago will have to substitute for the stunned realization that Barack Obama is President, and The World Still Doesn’t Love Us.
jon1979 on October 4, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Olympics folly, by a mile. Classic Obamateurism, his arrogance and narcissm on parade.
Afterwards, The Drudge headline said it best…
The Ego has Landed.
… But somehow I doubt it.
TXUS on October 4, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Afghanistan is more important than the Olympics. The 38% who voted for it are right.
Basilsbest on October 4, 2009 at 9:28 AM
I had to go with the fact that the Commander And Chief has only spoken to McChrystal once in 70 days. While talking to the SEIU head weekly.
That speaks volumes about who ZER-O sees as the true enemy.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM
An embarrassment of riches to choose from.
meep on October 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Obama’s amateur mistakes aren’t funny anymore. Iran will have the bomb. Russia is rising. China owns everything. The federal deficit is out of control. Unemployment, if one counts those who have given up or taken part time work, is over 15%. The disasters are piling up, and their repercussions will be felt for years, decades.
Rational Thought on October 4, 2009 at 9:30 AM
hmmmmm, NO Brainer!
Gang-of-One on October 4, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Every week I am really torn between two or three, this week it’s between. Not interested in victory, the epic fail at Copenhagen and McChrystal vs. SEIU weekly visits. I wish i could split my vote, it’s getting me all wee weed up
kathleen on October 4, 2009 at 9:38 AM
For those who would say that ZER-O talks to Gates and follows the “chain of command” I point to a quote from a NYT piece in 2007.
Of course they try to slam Bush but the point is that he talked personally with his top General at least once per week. Verses once in 2 and a half months for the one.
I guess if you are all seeing and omnipotent you already know it all anyway.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM
This week had a months worth for sure. If I hadn’t lived thru the Jimmah Carter administration I’d never believe a US President could be this bad. But yes… it can be so. And Barry is proving it on a monumental scale each and every day.
Most administrations would have caught on by now that the advisors doing the advising are morons and would have kicked at least a few out the door. But not this one. No, these particular morons are going to entertain us until the bitter end. And it will be a bitter end! The Secret Service will have to kick these fools out the back door kicking and screaming all the way.
Griz on October 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Chicago is NOT a world class city. The only ones shocked that it lost the bid were BO, MO, the BO media outlets, and a the the crazy BO supporters. Everyone else were not surprised at all…
jbh45 on October 4, 2009 at 9:42 AM
The Olympics is classic Obama. But not meeting with a wartime general when we are losing more and more soldiers – lives are LOST – has to be the most childish set of priorities since Nero.
Somebody needs to get Obama a fiddle.
Carolina Kat on October 4, 2009 at 9:43 AM
The President Itsalla Boutme is slowly finding out that the world is not in love with him and arrogance and the lifted chin is wearing pretty thin with the rest of us.
yoda on October 4, 2009 at 9:45 AM
“I am not interested in victory.” Obama refuses to read the report he ordered from McChrystal, that he ordered Gates to sit on, and orders McChrystal to Air Force One in London for a 20-minute lecture brow beating the General for making The One look bad on the international scene. Then Obama demands an @ss kissing from the IOC whom he insults and bores with a pseudo morality lesson otherwise called a losing bid. Meanwhile, our troops in Afghanistan are suffering from Obama’s abuse.
maverick muse on October 4, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Has anyone started the Get Obama a Clue PAC? That’s going to take alot of coin!
HoustonRight on October 4, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Some Haikus:
Just let me be clear
Thaaaat Chicago failed; not me
I am still The One
It was Oprah’s fault
She is to flabby to win
Respect of the world
How did this happen?
I’ve never heard “No” before
I. O. C. racists
kooly on October 4, 2009 at 9:50 AM
He’s primping for a sucker punch from Iran AT OUR EXPENSE!
maverick muse on October 4, 2009 at 9:50 AM
You know, I find myself getting madder and madder every day. This jokers primary function is to be the C&C of our military, but he is too consumed with his socialist agenda and his own omnipotence to spend even a little shred of his time on the war. Meanwhile our boys are dying by the bushel basket full. (8 more last night) but ZER-O can’t be bothered to look at the recommendations of his top general and make a decision about what to do.
His behavior is criminally negligent at best and treasonous more than likely. I am ready to see him suffer for his crimes someday.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Whoa: even SNL’s started zinging Obama! http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/obama-address/1163263/ Ouch!
Yossarian on October 4, 2009 at 9:53 AM
mcchrystal
blatantblue on October 4, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Yeah, no doubt Loren Michel’s fielded an angry phone call from the White House last night.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Hopenchange has jumped the shark.
Philly on October 4, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Everyday people make sacrifices all the time and succeed or suffer from the results. The Won and Michelle not so much. I wouldn’t mind about either one of them, except it affects the county and my family.
Kissmygrits on October 4, 2009 at 9:58 AM
It was between the Olympics and Afghanistan, so I decided to go with the one Obama actually tried to win.
Ronnie on October 4, 2009 at 9:59 AM
It’s one of those Sundays when each choice deserves to be Obamateurism of the week. I voted for the Olympic fail although I’d also like to vote for speaking to the general once in 70 days while the SEIU presidents gets a weekly visit.
Can I vote twice? :D
mz.josephine on October 4, 2009 at 10:02 AM
You need an
“All of the Above” choice.
5u93rm4n on October 4, 2009 at 10:02 AM
January: We won.
October: Not so much.
quax1 on October 4, 2009 at 10:03 AM
It’s been a special week.
exception on October 4, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Haiku time in Chicago:
Me have ego big
Wing off to save Chicago
GOOD TIMES not so much
by Barack Hussein Obama, mmm mmm mmm
Yoop on October 4, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I thought the option B answer would win in a landslide BUT no landslide yet!
Seriously, how can the American voter see Obama and the Democrats as viable, ethical, knowledgeable, political leaders when there is so much that they are doing that destroys essential American joy, optimism, productivity, and advancement?
Goodbye and good riddance and SOON!
ExpressoBold on October 4, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Yet again, I wish I could vote more than once.
Chicago-style, naturally.
commenter on October 4, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Not meeting with McChrystal is dereliction of duty but the Olympics debacle was the definition of amateurism and wins my vote for Obamateurism of the Year. He put the prestige of the American presidency on the line in an extremely ill-considered effort and failed spectacularly in front of the whole world.
PatMac on October 4, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Limitless ineptitude.
Any one of the above is enough for an entire year in a competent administration.
One is left to wonder, with great trepidation, what awaits us this coming week.
turfmann on October 4, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Agreed! My Liberal friends would come back from their trips abroad and would rub the fact that the people they met would say how much they disliked President Bush. Now the shoe’s on the foot and people abroad are laughing at President Obama.
yoda on October 4, 2009 at 10:14 AM
The hits just keep a comin’, don’t they?
I voted for Olympics as the Obamateurism, but I honestly think there was something more to it. Normally, any politician worth his salt wouldn’t go pimp for anything but a done deal. I think Daley said “Barry, get your ass to Copenhagen and get those games”.
mr.blacksheep on October 4, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Roubh week for President Barack Hussein Nowaboutme….
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on October 4, 2009 at 10:19 AM
It’s a tie. These two things go together. Individually, they’re just two more random screw-ups. But when taken together they show precisely where Obama’s priorities lie.
logis on October 4, 2009 at 10:21 AM
“Two things Obama has accomplished in the last nine months …….. Jack and Squat.”
fogw on October 4, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Now the shoe’s on the other foot and people abroad are laughing at President Obama.
yoda on October 4, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Lesson learned for a few hours or days…read before you submit comment.
yoda on October 4, 2009 at 10:28 AM
The sad thing is that obviously the funniest gaff of the week was the wrong podium, but we aren’t even talking gaffs anymore, we are talking complete failures of competence. Ugh.
uknowmorethanme on October 4, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I know the McChrystal/SEIU situation is more significant, but I can’t help it, the Olympics was such a pie in the face I can’t resist voting for it.
Scary list, btw. Very hard to choose.
ace tomato on October 4, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Obama’s Wedding Anniversary present to each other: LOSERS.
maverick muse on October 4, 2009 at 10:31 AM
The “Preview” button is your friend!
uknowmorethanme on October 4, 2009 at 10:32 AM
It is sooooo hard picking only one when there are so many.
Mangy Scot on October 4, 2009 at 10:33 AM
The winner for Obamateurism of the Week is not listed above. The picture worth 1000 words is on Drudge. It shows The Won trailing like a whipped puppy behind Linebacker Michelle, both looking like they have just had a huge fight, going out for the Saturday “Date Night” to celebrate their 17th anniversary. They, their motorcade and their minions went to the Blue Duck Tavern in D. C. where the motto is:
“Taste cannot be controlled by law,” — Thomas Jefferson.
The headline and adjacent pictures on Drudge: 10 American soldiers die in Afghanistan.
This should be Obamateurism of The Year — so far.
winfield on October 4, 2009 at 10:36 AM
“Bill Buckner Moved to Tears as Obama Relieves Him of ‘Biggest Sports Fail’ Title”: http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/bill-buckner-moved-to-tears-as-obama.html
Mervis Winter on October 4, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Fixed, at least as far as I’m concerned.
I hope Osama Obama’s foul links to SEIU are brought out at his impeachment trial. Right after his felonious and traitorous mishandling of the military — a clear violation of the oath of office he took — and his scandalous relationship with ACORN.
It amazes me that even his most ardent worshipers aren’t catching on to how dangerous and destructive the Chicago Jesus is for our country.
MrScribbler on October 4, 2009 at 10:46 AM
( :
yoda on October 4, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Saturday Night Live poking fun at Obama’s total lack of accomplishments in office?
Oh dear, Barry, that can’t bode well for your future. Better start bundling up your journal entries for delivery to Billy Ayers; you’re going to need to have him get started on your next memoir much sooner than you expected.
AZCoyote on October 4, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I thought it was obvious that Ed wrote this exactly as he meant it! But he did go over empty so there really was not change in the status quo.
InTheBellyoftheBeast on October 4, 2009 at 10:51 AM
That crack was directed at all those southside Pollocks, Micks, Lithuanians, and Ukrainians he has to sit near when he goes to White Sox games at Cominskey (sic) Park.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I’m not going to allow myself to be distracted by O’s Olympian stupidity.
My vote went for him going McChrystal-Light.
misslizzi on October 4, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Can anybody note an accomplishment by Obama? I was channel surfing and caught a “Democrat Stratagist” the other day, and the only accomplishment they could note was passing of the stimulus (political payoff) package.
bbordwell on October 4, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I agree entirely. And I’m wondering out loud whether Ed and Allah need to create a new “of the week” theme. The Olympic fiasco seems to fall squarely without the Obamateurism of the Week category, while the McChrystal matter falls under a different category, say, “the Outrage [Obamarage?] of the Week.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2009 at 11:04 AM
The funny thing is, he did not have to go to Copenhagen. He could have sent the Illinois Governor, Daley and/or some bureaucrats. His lust for the spotlight will be his undoing.
kingsjester on October 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Copenhagen was trivial.
Not talking with his general running the Afghanistan war “of Necessity” for over 2 months is outrageous incompetence.
Amateur is too weak a word for Barry the Youngster’s failure in this realm.
Malfeasance in office is more accurate.
profitsbeard on October 4, 2009 at 11:08 AM
[Phoenician on October 4, 2009 at 9:04 AM]
Agreed. This theme is on Amateurism and Copenhagen is on the Incompetence ladder.
Dusty on October 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM
He was just following her through the hole she has helped make in the line of America.
She was blocking, but he didn’t score that night. ;-)
Yoop on October 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I’m still amazed at the number of idiotic things he does…ON A WEEKLY BASIS!!!
katy on October 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM
O-lympics, simply because it is a metaphor for all the Obamateurisms past and to come.
rbj on October 4, 2009 at 11:16 AM
..and he would have put the video of it on You Tube.
VoyskaPVO on October 4, 2009 at 11:19 AM
As much as I want to say the Olympics because it was so spectacularly public, I have to say not meeting with McChrystal is a much bigger deal.
CookeyD on October 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I would have to add ignoring the tsunami disaster in American Samoa for the trip to Copenhagen
It’s obvious Obama hates Pacific Islanders.
Mutnodjmet on October 4, 2009 at 11:30 AM
In the beginning, there were Greek columns…
Now; last place in his ‘Olympics’ event.
Translation: Greek Tragedy in the form of Greek Karma.
How sweet it is…
anuts on October 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Thanks for the snl link. Great day starter. Oh my, even libtards are starting to get it about Obambi.
I know that the olympic choice was the “obvious” one but if you think about the long term negative effects saying “I’m not interested in victory” as CINC is a true abomination. Our men and women are dying or coming home missing limbs so that Obambi can utter über nuanced phrases like that. We can win Afghanistan but it will be a generational war. That place is Jurassic Park in terms of civilization so they need a new religion, a new social order, and a new ideology. You don’t get that in 2 years.
Is it worth it? We either play the muslim terrorist game at home, or away. Either way we play.
Mojave Mark on October 4, 2009 at 11:37 AM
It was a tough call, and in terms of national security import, I agree. However, I went with the the “Agony of Defeat” because:
Obama = O-Drama
Mutnodjmet on October 4, 2009 at 11:39 AM
The poll is kind of close this week. The Olympics failure was highly visible, while the McChrystal behavior is more un-presidential.
HotWeaver on October 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM
The lifted chin is to better show off the pearl necklace he received from Putin….
1921 C DRUM on October 4, 2009 at 11:49 AM
FINALLY! SNL spoofs the Chicago Jesus
mizflame98 on October 4, 2009 at 12:00 PM
More and more evidence of why we have not seen any records from Obumbler.
jukin on October 4, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The whole Olympics thing was a screw up, from start to finish, but not talking to McChrystal was a complete and utter derelection of duty. He should be impeached.
Star20 on October 4, 2009 at 12:03 PM
As usual, a target rich environment.
But, I went with the IOC.
Such a grand stage and a failure to match.
Ten flavors of awesome right there.
:D
RedNewEnglander on October 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM
All of the above
bluegrass on October 4, 2009 at 12:19 PM
This needs its own thread here on Hot Air.
RedNewEnglander on October 4, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Great blog mut, and yes Samoa is his Katrina and then some. It, like many other things will be ignored.
Keep up the good work!
katy on October 4, 2009 at 12:29 PM
I don’t really care about the whole olympics thing, other than that I believe it was an attempt at a political payoff for zero’s cronies in Chicago. It would have sunk the city deep into debt, brought them a terrorist attack, and made more liberals richer.
I think more attention should be focused on his SEIU and Acorn ties, meeting with them regularly while ignoring the general in charge of the Afghan theater….the theater of the “necessary” war that zero is now wishing would just.go.away.
What I REALLY think needs attention is giving the American people a way to have recall votes for congressmen, senators, and the president. It’d put a handle on our toilet so we can flush instead of having to endure the stench of this shit.
Spiritk9 on October 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Hard to choose this week…..2 and 3 of course but everything he does gets a vote!Has it only been 10 months since this guy got in?????Seems like 3 years,every day there is something new to fight.
ohiobabe on October 4, 2009 at 12:38 PM
I had to vote for Olympics because it was so Obama. He failed in getting the payback to Chicago machine. Wonder what he is going to try next to get that land sold for his cronies.
conservativegrandma on October 4, 2009 at 12:41 PM
At what point will this change from “Abamateurism” to the more accurate “Traitorism”? To imply an amateur quality to most of these actions is just wrong. It is not an amateur who refuses to speak with his commander and then pretends as if he’s now going to get around to considering the situation, as if he hadn’t already decided on serving Americans up to the Taliban until he can pull the troops out and declare total defeat? It wasn’t an amateur who further restricted the ROE while dithering on tactical support. This is a traitor at work.
Most of these selections fall into this same category. While The Precedent always provides a number of actions and statements that derive from his intense stupidity and lack of intellect, most of his worst actions (which are always numerous) are pure manifestations of his hate of America and desire to destroy our nation.
I understand the cuteness of the ‘Obamateurism’ label, but it has gone well beyond the point where cuteness should be chosen over accuracy, as the fate of our nation hangs in the balance.
progressoverpeace on October 4, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Ding ding ding…Its a good day in the neighborhood. We get to use the new name JACKSQUAT. Let’s see if Nancy likes it.
Top choice was McChrystal and JACKSQUAT. I feel for the soldiers, their families and friends. These are lives we are talking about, not “ba ba ba big butt” and her tale of sacrifice!
Coastal Paradise on October 4, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I understand the cuteness of the ‘Obamateurism’ label, but it has gone well beyond the point
////
That’s how I felt today,this has gone past the point of pointing out his little quirks to out right hating everything our constitution stsnds for.
ohiobabe on October 4, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Except the guy who is playing Obama has sort of lost the imitation. He’s being way too open and friendly with the audience. Needs that “cool”, arrogant, stoic look that Obama is so good at!
Now when Tina Fea slammed Palin, all the commenters said, when you start to become a joke of comedians, it’s all over. So I guess it’s all over for the O’s.
Christian Conservative on October 4, 2009 at 12:49 PM
While Copenhagen was just was just sweet, delicious and unadulterated schadenfreude;
is a DISGRACE!
Branch Rickey on October 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
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