Quote of the day
posted at 10:00 pm on October 18, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Many have spoken about the need for a rebranding of America. Rebrand, restart, reboot. In my view these 36 words, alongside the administration’s approach to fighting nuclear proliferation and climate change, improving relations in the Middle East and, by the way, creating jobs and providing health care at home, are rebranding in action…
In dangerous, clangorous times, the idea of America rings like a bell (see King, M. L., Jr., and Dylan, Bob). It hits a high note and sustains it without wearing on your nerves. (If only we all could.) This was the melody line of the Marshall Plan and it’s resonating again. Why? Because the world sees that America might just hold the keys to solving the three greatest threats we face on this planet: extreme poverty, extreme ideology and extreme climate change. The world senses that America, with renewed global support, might be better placed to defeat this axis of extremism with a new model of foreign policy…
[A]n America that’s tired of being the world’s policeman, and is too pinched to be the world’s philanthropist, could still be the world’s partner. And you can’t do that without being, well, loved. Here come the letters to the editor, but let me just say it: Americans are like singers — we just a little bit, kind of like to be loved. The British want to be admired; the Russians, feared; the French, envied. (The Irish, we just want to be listened to.) But the idea of America, from the very start, was supposed to be contagious enough to sweep up and enthrall the world.
And it is. The world wants to believe in America again because the world needs to believe in America again.”
Blowback
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W.T.F?
George Washington 2009.
Speakup on October 18, 2009 at 11:07 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Kh7nLplWo
Buford Gooch on October 18, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Bono has no clue. America won’t be America after Obama gets through Marxisizing it. It will simply be a biggie-sized Euro-socialist nation and about as far as one can get from being the hoped-for shining city upon a hill.
PoodleSkirt on October 18, 2009 at 11:09 PM
canopfor on October 18, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Same here!
Liam on October 18, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Liam:)
canopfor on October 18, 2009 at 11:09 PM
America is more of a partner to the world than any other country on Earth!
CP on October 18, 2009 at 11:10 PM
so he believes in Obama even through isn’t Obama cutting back on sending money to fight aids in africa?
By the way Bono Obama hasn’t done a damn thing for jobs and lost 2 million along the way. When you come to america and can’t sell out becuase no one has any money please tell me how it working out for you?
Gracelynn on October 18, 2009 at 11:12 PM
If Obama had his way, nonprofits would be getting taxed out of existence. How would that help the world’s poor?
CP on October 18, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Bono has a terminal case of the Insufferable Left Liberal Syndrome (ILLS for short)- unfortunately, just like the common cold this is a condition that can never be completely cured inspite of all the advances in medicine.
And just like the cold, ILLS mutates itself into so many forms that it is very difficult to deal with this disease year after year, decade after decade, century after century.
Bono -Stuck in Liberal BS forever..
Achtung Baby.
nagee76 on October 18, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
Bono would impress me more if he had a brain and a clue. Bono sucks.
MB4 on October 18, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Just one more fool in the pantheon of rich sissy-ass rock gods.
I want to spit every time I hear someone float this needy weenie stuff.
Like someone said earlier in the post: Bono, f!ck off and die!
Gang-of-One on October 18, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Reason #467 why I no longer listen to U2.
(This from a guy who tried to get The Edge nominated as his high school’s class president.)
CurtZHP on October 18, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Bono is learning less and less about more and more and will ultimately know nothing about everything.
Tav on October 18, 2009 at 11:20 PM
This is what “Rock and Roll” has turned into.
Out: sex, drugs, raging against the establishment, fighting “the man”
In: writing love letters to the President and using your “celebrity” to be a cheerleader for Obama.
Ampersand on October 18, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Has anyone ever seen a picture of Bono without those ridiculous sunglasses? I have. He looks like the kind of man you’d want to ban from coming within a certain distance of a school.
Sharke on October 18, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Can’t wait for Bono and U2 to sing about this…
Oh, wait!
Seven Percent Solution on October 18, 2009 at 11:23 PM
He’s a fool, but I always did give Boner some credit for putting his own money and time into his charity projects, rather than merely lecturing us peons about it.
LegendHasIt on October 18, 2009 at 11:28 PM
This doucebag ISN’T EVEN AMERICAN!
Of course when he wanted to make millions, where did he go to do make that money? And now he takes a nice, steeming shit on the very country that gave him the opportunities that allow for him to even be a guest OP/ED writer for the NYT.
ramrants on October 18, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Cain’t talk bout po peoples like dat
Sounds wacist….
Kini on October 18, 2009 at 11:29 PM
So will NYT be running A Ted Nugent op-ed next week?
Mark1971 on October 18, 2009 at 10:09 PM
No. he’s actually an American
ramrants on October 18, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Somebody once said, “Shut up and sing.”
trapeze on October 18, 2009 at 11:30 PM
If, as Osama Obama says, you can judge a person by the company they keep, Bono’s association with the Chicago Jesus makes him a mindless fool.
Go back to your tax haven, tool, and take the Traitor-in-Chief with you.
America is far better than both of you.
MrScribbler on October 18, 2009 at 11:31 PM
I wonder when Bono will take up this cause…
Oh, wait…. again!
Seven Percent Solution on October 18, 2009 at 11:31 PM
This has got to be someone’s vacuous dream. Nobody likes the rich guy — they all think he got rich on their backs and needs to be brought low. Certainly the middle eastern countries think this; even their governmental thinking is far closer to Al Qaeda than this tool realizes.
unclesmrgol on October 18, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Just go away, I think that’s a song…. right?
Kini on October 18, 2009 at 11:32 PM
We don’t want to bring impoverished nations into the 20th century…. that would destroy false causes and that uppity better than thou thinking liberals like to espouse.
Kini on October 18, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Gag moi.
Connie on October 18, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Bob Dylan sustains a high note without wearing on his nerves?
No wonder Bono’s singing sucks so much.
James on October 18, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Must be a real dearth of quotable quotes out there.
OhioCoastie on October 18, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Yet another has-been, trying to convince people that he has a mind. The only thing missing in that drivel was mention of unicorns!
OldEnglish on October 18, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Its entirely unfair to post this without warning that these are Bono’s (Number Two’s) words.
BKeyser on October 18, 2009 at 11:40 PM
AP you are too easily blinded by celebrities.
Jdripper on October 18, 2009 at 11:41 PM
There is a new rocker in town. And he is…conservative. And he rocks… Check out MR. NOBEL
deedtrader on October 18, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Nail meet Hammer….
The United States of America has the technology and the resources to provide inexpensive and clean energy to all corners of the world…
… but the Left, Democrats, Environmental Fascists, and people like Bono and Obama would rather see people live in poverty all for a ‘pie in the sky’ ideology.
They take jets and travel with an army as an entourage, feasting on lobster and Kobe beef, drinking the finest wines, while attending global summits to address the evils of America and ‘Global Warming’…
Sell inexpensive propane/natural gas stoves to impoverished countries that still burn wood to cook with…….?
How dare you! Time to write a song about your hate…
Seven Percent Solution on October 18, 2009 at 11:43 PM
No. If he did he might get an eye put out when Obama scratches his butt.
Aviator on October 18, 2009 at 11:46 PM
An insufferable ass is an insufferable ass, of course, of course,
And no one can talk sense to an insufferable ass, of course
And especially, of course, if the insufferable ass is the self-important Bono Bono.
Go right to the source and ask the insufferable ass.
He’ll give you the answer that the empty headed will endorse.
He’s always on a vacuous course.
Talk to Bono Bono.
Bono Bono just yakkity yaks a streak and wastes your time of day
Does any sane person even believe he knows a thing about anything that he does say?
An insufferable ass is an insufferable ass, of course, of course,
And this one’ll talk in empty platitudes til his voice is hoarse.
You never heard of a talking insufferable ass?
Well listen to this.
He is Bono Bono.
Cheshire Cat on October 18, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Look, I don’t care how cool Bono and his fans think he is, the guy’s sporting a mullet in 2009.
That isn’t cool.
Kensington on October 18, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Just popped in to say. What a bunch of crap.
kahall on October 18, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Shut up and sing, Bono. You’re not an American, so you don’t get to say what America needs to be. America IS already all those things except that we need to make sure the rest of the world respects America’s power. That’s what’s missing in Obama, and it’s becoming increasingly apparent.
D2Boston on October 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM
The picture on the front is hilarious. It looks like Obama is tickling Bono with a feather.
Guardian on October 19, 2009 at 12:02 AM
HA has crashed my computer three times today. Not sure if anyone else is having the same problem.
txag92 on October 19, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Then I grew up
Kini on October 19, 2009 at 12:15 AM
There are certain ads, or something, on some of the pages that grab over a gig of memory. I’ve complained about them, before. They only show up every now and then. Best to just kill the process when you run into them, since they’ll hold the browser.
progressoverpeace on October 19, 2009 at 12:16 AM
This is why pop singers shouldn’t do politics.
WisCon on October 19, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Nope, just liberal rage so great that it resembles insanity
Kini on October 19, 2009 at 12:19 AM
Kini on October 19, 2009 at 12:20 AM
That picture with the feather bothers me. I wonder what the two of them do when the cameras are not on them?
HornetSting on October 19, 2009 at 12:21 AM
How many courics does Bono weigh again??
Laura in Maryland on October 19, 2009 at 12:24 AM
I wonder about the hamsters.
Kini on October 19, 2009 at 12:26 AM
When he got the record from the European Fecal Standards and Measurements Office in Zurich, he topped out at 80 Courics (200 pounds).
He’s probably just mad that he didn’t get the Nobel Prize and now he’s #2.
CPL 310 on October 19, 2009 at 12:27 AM
They go to the Richard Gere Supply House. I wonder if it is a green company?
HornetSting on October 19, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Sure he is. That’s why he moved his money from a high tax country to a low tax country. He wants Americans to pay more taxes to fund his pet projects while he does everything he can to pay less taxes.
xblade on October 19, 2009 at 12:30 AM
I think we are dealing with the wrong musical group here. The Obama administration and hangers-on and sycophants) should now be referred to as the ICP: Insane Clown Posse.
Buford Gooch on October 19, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Someone please tell me why Bono is significant? He needs to go back to his roots and sing songs about his country being mistreated by another country or something.
SuperManGreenLantern on October 19, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Hard to take a man in leather pants and orange glasses seriously, especially if he thinks that the best of America is Bob Dylan.
Dork.
Jaibones on October 19, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Ancient Chinese secret and very red.
Kini on October 19, 2009 at 12:41 AM
What are you 12?
Hobbes on October 19, 2009 at 12:44 AM
The America Bono wants would have never gotten involved in WWI and WWII, leaving a very good chance that he would have been writing this in German instead of English.
Baxter Greene on October 19, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Yeah, that’s exactly what the framers had in mind, “enthralling the world.”
And what’s with “climate change, blah blah blah, extreme climate change, blah blah blah climate change…”
chewydog on October 19, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Very good. The post of the thread.
Mallard T. Drake on October 19, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Bono, we are not going to tell you again. “Put down the kool aid.”
Branch Rickey on October 19, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Oh Bono,
I have so many mixed feelings about Bono as a humanitarian (as a musician, there’s no doubt U2 is great; in fact they’re my favorite band.)
I agree with Bono’s goals and love that he actually puts his convictions and faith into action, but then he goes on about the government doing this and the government doing that.
Americans are the most generous people on the planet (I believe it’s why we’re so blessed) I wonder if Bono knew that if he put more effort into appealing to directly to the American people than to the American government he’d get alot of $$ for ONE and Product (Red) and he also might get some boots on the ground.
joshleguern on October 19, 2009 at 1:24 AM
Bono:
There is no “Global Warming”. Oh, yeah, it’s now “Climate Change” so that you can declare that it’s going to harm us or kill us no matter on which cycle of the natural oscillation of weather the climate is currently. The Earth warms for a few decades, then it cools off for a few decades. This is as natural as the days lengthening and shortening at different times of the year. Mankind has nothing to do with it. If you check the data, that models were all wrong.
Also, in order to end “Extreme Poverty”, simply import traditional American values into your country and you will defeat it. I’m talking about less government, staying with one’s spouse, not having children outside of wedlock and the basic Ten Commandments.
“When one removes God from the equation, then the government becomes God.”
Finally, what in the world is “Extreme Ideology”? If one commits violence in the name of one’s ideology, then you should be condemning the violence. However, you should never be fighting a man for his thoughts. There are, and never should be, thought police. Condemn the violence. That would work much better.
Theophile on October 19, 2009 at 1:26 AM
I don’t think Bono understands America. We need to be loved like a singer? That sounds like projection to me.
Americans don’t need to be loved by the world, well maybe the left does… but real heartland America is puzzled why the left seems to think it more important what the Germans think of us than what is true and right.
What real Americans want is to live our lives the way we want and to keep the rest of the world at arms length… we hope they take care of all those interesting places to live and hope we can sell them stuff… but I couldn’t care less if they love us.
Bono doesn’t know any real Americans only the needy warped people in politics and show business.
petunia on October 19, 2009 at 1:36 AM
I meant interesting places to visit… such as castles and pyramids… I mean that is the world’s job after all to entertain us when we go on vacations to their sad little countries.
In return we give them movies…
Yep I’m too tired to make sense.
petunia on October 19, 2009 at 1:39 AM
Babs Streisand, “Urinal Cake” Fonda, Jeannine Garofaololupus, Boner Bono, Loose lips Letterman:
What a rich culture we now have.
Dhuka on October 19, 2009 at 1:54 AM
Bono, just sing, sing a song.
Kralizec on October 19, 2009 at 2:03 AM
“An army of lovers can be beaten.”
Kenosha Kid on October 19, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Some people are impressed by famous people.
Some people are impressed by good-looking people.
Some people are impressed by rich people.
I’ve smoked cigarettes with Peter Jennings, shared a limo ride with David Horowitz and once watched Andrew Breitbart update the Drudge Report for a couple of hours. I’ve hung out with Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin and Hannah Giles. I once waited for a train on the Metro platform with Barney Frank. Chelsea Clinton met my kids and told me they were “cute.” I’ve given Bob Barr a ride to the airport and helped Maureen Dowd get into an overbooked CPAC speech. I’ve shaken hands with Ted Turner and T. Boone Pickens.
Being impressed by fame, beauty and wealth is easy. Getting past the superficial prestige? Very hard, and something most people never even try to do.
I once worked with a young woman whose child-like fandom for Bono seemed nearly to dominate her life. She was a reporter.
That’s freaking scary, isn’t it?
The Other McCain on October 19, 2009 at 2:13 AM
The world needs to believe in God (again if it ever believed before)
America is a great idea about liberty and justice for all
Christianity is about responsibility for your fellow man
Check out the Constitution. It didn’t imply universal health care, food stamps or Habitat for Humanity. it implied free speech and the right to pray out loud ‘in the name of Jesus’ even if you are a Chaplain in the U.S. Military
It was the Judeao-Christian connection that inspired the free-to-decide-his-own-needs American to help others
The non believers do not wish to see this fact. I believe they do this because the idea of a deity is distasteful.
An ungodly America is no one’s saviour. An ungodly leader is no one’s Messiah
entagor on October 19, 2009 at 2:58 AM
Bono is clueless.
Go to China and beg them for your AIDS money.
We just completed a year with a 1.4 trillion dollar deficit you dumbsh*t in case you have not been paying attention….like most of the time.
Sapwolf on October 19, 2009 at 3:05 AM
Equal time but Ted would actually make sense.
Sapwolf on October 19, 2009 at 3:16 AM
Poguemahone,
as my dear ol’ Irish Grandpa, the Sgt Major,
used to say — ‘n pull it down o’er yer ears boyo!
My take on the Blarney Brothers blatering is that, B&Bs type of yearning to bed-down and snuggle-up with socialism is what led to the ascendancy of Chinese and Soviet communism – Tanks, but NO THANKs brothers!
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on October 19, 2009 at 3:17 AM
Somebody got gang-raped by a train of unicorns …and loved it.
Sapwolf on October 19, 2009 at 3:20 AM
To quote one of the White House’s favorite political philosophers, “All power comes from the barrel of a gun.”
Bono’s a clueless, lovable fool.
rcl on October 19, 2009 at 4:35 AM
Neither America nor her President are here to play Step’n Fetchit for the world!
It is not the President’s job to cure the world’s problems, using American tax dollars to do it.
I don’t care whether the rest of the world “loves” us, a concept I’ve always found inane when applied to countries.
I’ve travelled around the world and trust me, they love us, no matter who’s President.
BTW, Bono & U2 just played Dallas and from what I hear, you’d never know there was a recession on–the new Cowboys Stadium was full and the tickets were expen$ive.
I don’t think Bono was sending any ticket proceeds to the 3rd world either.
Jenfidel on October 19, 2009 at 5:12 AM
Does this guy throw on a dress ans wig and become one of the Dixie Chicks?
Jeff from WI on October 19, 2009 at 5:45 AM
The World loves us now,
But they will stalk us later…
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Haiku Guy on October 19, 2009 at 6:07 AM
Better…
The World loves us now,
But It will stalk us later…
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Haiku Guy on October 19, 2009 at 6:08 AM
the only president who truly gave a damn about Africa was Bush.
rob verdi on October 19, 2009 at 6:16 AM
Wake up, Bono. Wake up.
balkanmom2 on October 19, 2009 at 6:16 AM
Like I’ll be taking advise from a washed up 80′s alleged singer who isn’t even an American citizen? Yeah, like that’s going to happen!
flytier on October 19, 2009 at 6:22 AM
Interesting…Van Jones. You know what they say, birds of a feather stick together.
yoda on October 19, 2009 at 6:49 AM
Does the NY Times really think their readers will want to hear what Bono has to say about anything?
Do they have a meeting and say “You know who we should get for a guest editorial soon is Bono – that famous Irish rocker guy”?
What the hell?????????
JaqobJackson on October 19, 2009 at 6:59 AM
George Bush did more for the poor people of Africa than Obama will ever do. And Bono did give him some credit for that, but in spite of that the left still has this sanctimonious need to impress upon the rest of us how much they care.
Terrye on October 19, 2009 at 7:00 AM
The song and video rock!
yoda on October 19, 2009 at 7:02 AM
Someone else once said (paraphrasing), anyone who gets their political points of view from a rock star is crazy. I believe it was Alice Cooper.
UltimateBob on October 19, 2009 at 7:05 AM
Evidently they do. The fossil media still labors under the delusion that the rest of us give a shit what celebrities have to say about politics and philosophy.
UltimateBob on October 19, 2009 at 7:07 AM
No, Bono, America doesn’t need to be loved, we need to be followed. Up until a few months ago, America was leading the world toward freedom, prosperity, and democracy. Now, we are content to sit in the bleachers with the rest of the world and watch as thugs seize power and abuse their people. Oh sure, we’ll chatter with the rest of the world about how awful that sort of thing is and we’ll pass resolutions and diplomatic statements condemning it, but will we actually do anything about it? No.
Also, how can we be moving away from extremist politics when we elected one of the most extremist people from his side of the aisle? If we really wanted an ineffectual, middle-of-the-road, status-quo type, we should have elected John McCain. He fits that bill.
Kafir on October 19, 2009 at 7:11 AM
I can’t believe you non-rock stars have the gall to question the super smart rockers among us. You should listen when they talk. Especially the ones as conscientious as Bono.
“According to an environmental group, (U2′s) 44 concert dates this year have the equivalent carbon footprint of a return flight to Mars. And U2 have the same number of shows planned for 2010.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/10/u2-world-tour-carbon-footprint
rogerb on October 19, 2009 at 7:15 AM
When did the NYT get readers? :-0
Seriously, this is the same ideology that garnered the filthy lying coward a peace prize for doing nothing (on the same day he was exploring troop increases in Afghanistan and bombing the moon). The rat bastard traitor in the White House wants to be liked by Eurotrash and the world’s despots. No apology is too much. No humliation is too great in order for idiots like Bono to admire the Kenyan socialist ruining this nation.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Sorry, still trying to comprehend Paris Hilton’s treatise on nuclear proliferation.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 7:30 AM
I wonder how much money U2 would have made if the US was one of his preferred socialist dead end enterprises? If the US weren’t the world’s policemen Bono would be singing in German (or his family would have been dead before he was born). He’s an idiot.
eaglewingz08 on October 19, 2009 at 7:33 AM
Take a look around you UberRobert. More people know all the details of Jon & Kate Gosselin’s nasty divorce and Balloon Boy than they do the details of the various health care bills wending their way through the legislative process. I was saddened to see how many people on the impeachment thread actually thought that Nancy Pelosi becomes VP if Biden becomes President! Celebrity is winning out over concern about serious issues.
As an aside, I happened across the term “dinosaur media” the other day. Chomping on the usual fodder completely oblivious to the meteor screaming down to end their existence. In some ways this seems to be more accurate than the term fossil media.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 7:36 AM
Another stupid Irishman pretending he actually accomplished something besides getting drunk.
Jeff from WI on October 19, 2009 at 7:47 AM
Would somebody please tell me why I should give a rat’s rear about what an Irish Socialist’s advice on running America into the ground is? Bono, shut up and sit down.
kingsjester on October 19, 2009 at 7:51 AM
Love U2, Love Bono, but he really shouldn’t give his opinion as he isn’t even American. Enough said.
deidre on October 19, 2009 at 8:03 AM
Agreed he should STFU but why you should give a rodent’s rump is simple. The filthy lying coward in the White House listens to people like this and allows them to influence his actions far more than the serious people who have American interests at heart.
highhopes on October 19, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Bono will say whatever he must to get the cash.
SlimyBill on October 19, 2009 at 8:10 AM
It’s a strange day when Paris Hilton has more street cred for simply not leaning out of the window of her SLR to tell the peons how they should be living.
More importantly, how do other 80′s rock stars feel about crucial issues? Where do the B-52s stand on the reunification of Korea? Do the Pet Shop Boys support a value added tax to fund health care reform? Does Frankie Goes to Hollywood believe in mandatory DNA testing upon incarceration of criminals?
rogerb on October 19, 2009 at 8:10 AM
WTF? This is quote of the day because…?
Jay Mac on October 19, 2009 at 8:15 AM
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