Obama: “The buck stops with me”
posted at 5:44 pm on January 7, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
John Ziegler says in an e-mail that Barack Obama sounded a lot more like Dick Cheney than himself in this crisp and broad statement. This was an all-business, no-nonsense rundown that gave a solid impression of action, as opposed to the low-key approach to the terrorist attack attempt over the last two weeks. Obama dispenses with the “system worked” excuse to emphasize the obvious, which is that having to have airline passengers dive onto Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to keep him from detonating a bomb on the plane is a failure. And that failure, Obama said, is one for which the man in charge has to accept responsibility. This is longish, but the statement begins at about the 1:40 mark:
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“I am less interested in passing out blame than I am in learning from and correcting these mistakes to make us safer. For ultimately, the buck stops with me. … When the system fails, it is my responsibility.”
Exactly. Most people don’t care about Rs and Ds when it comes to making the nation safe. They just want the job done competently. When things go wrong, they want to see action and a sense of responsibility for the breakdown. On that score, Obama did well by stating the obvious very firmly, although it would have been better to hear that kind of approach on December 25th, not January 7th.
The part where Ziegler thinks Obama channeled Cheney comes immediately afterward, where Obama states explicitly that we are a nation at war, not a nation facing a crime wave. Perhaps now he will approach terrorists as unlawful combatants rather than criminals captured on the streets.
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BLAME BUSH!
Gob on January 7, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Doubt it.
joe_doufu on January 7, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Trillions of them do.
jgapinoy on January 7, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Good for him.
Now when does Ogabe own the rampant unemployment?
Bishop on January 7, 2010 at 5:47 PM
“unless I am able to blame Bush.”
jcrue on January 7, 2010 at 5:47 PM
The buck stops with me, and I already spent it.
Randy
williars on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Aaaahh. That wasn’t so hard now was it. Welcome to adulthood.
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
To help you correct the mistakes I offer the following.
A KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Program for Airport Security
Combine the Names of people who are on the No Fly List, the Visa Viper list and the TIDE (Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment) list. This new list should contain names ONLY and for this proposal the new list will be called the CRAP list. The CRAP list is updated daily with any new additions. If there is any doubt about a new name being added, the name should be put ON the list.
When a passenger checks in the following information should be entered into a check-in form.
1. Is this a one way ticket?
2. Was luggage NOT checked-in by the passenger?
3. Was the ticket purchased with cash?
The passengers name is run against the CRAP data base and if the name is on the list or if any of the questions are answered YES, security is called and the appropriate action is taken.
Any programmer worth a grain of salt could write this program in less than a week. It should not take more than a couple of weeks to get the CRAP data base together. The update procedure for the CRAP data base may take a little longer.
Now, I know this does not cover everything, but, it is a good start. Other questions can be added.
Later other countries list (British, etc.) could be added to the CRAP data base. Tickets purchased online or from Travel Agents or in a foreign country would require a different procedure. Profiling should also be added.
I for one am tired of being told it was a systemic failure or that it is to complex. Let’s look for solutions not excuses.
I am sure that all of us on Hotair can come up with more solutions then those who are in charge as this should have been done years ago.
derft on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Obama has said alot of things. I’ll believe it when I see it.
vcferlita on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
ABOUT. DAMNED. TIME.
OmahaConservative on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
This is Baracks attempt at humor; He doesn’t really know what he’s saying.
Cybergeezer on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Oh, c’mon, Ed! We must be optimistic! :-/
newton on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
jgapinoy on January 7, 2010 at 5:47 PM
OH SNAP! LOL!
Gob on January 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM
This crap about “the buck stops with me” is going to get real old as we’ve seen it means nothing more than a way to stop all the attacks.
See, Obama can admit he’s made mistakes! What a real leader!
But ultimately he will do nothing concrete to to back it up.
This is what he does. Diversion tactics. And he knows the press will now back off.
and nothing changes…. sigh
katy on January 7, 2010 at 5:50 PM
War…?
What war?
Seven Percent Solution on January 7, 2010 at 5:50 PM
And we should believe him, why?
Gothguy on January 7, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Wow! He said it so he must believe it! How awesome! Things are really gonna change now! I’m so excited all six of my nipples are tingling.
29Victor on January 7, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Excuse me for the skepticism, but I’ll have to see consistency for a long, long time from Obama to beging to believe that he believes this–he is the liar-in-chief.
He must have realized that the only way to spin what happened is to sound like an adult. Rahm & Axelrod must have told him that the public will give him another chance if he does.
INC on January 7, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Something tells me the administration did not think the “We are at war with Al Queda” through. I am sure some reporter will ask the question of why civilian courts for people we are war with.
WashJeff on January 7, 2010 at 5:51 PM
The war to get Democrats reelected.
29Victor on January 7, 2010 at 5:51 PM
The hype was that there would be startling revelations…instead we got another mushy speech, no real taking of responsibility aside from the words, no one fired, no accountability and no changes to provide real security be abolishing PC in our actions.
JIMV on January 7, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Now we know Obama reads Palin’s Facebook posts.
darwin on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
That’s why KSM is getting a trial in NYC.
lorien1973 on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Sorry, but I heard another empty battery of promises and “future” doings, rather than pointing out the failures and specifically what is going to be done.
Platitudes of “war on terror” – which you should expect post terrorist attack, yet has done nothing to change the core laws (or leave them well enough alone), akin to the scumbag Dems signing God Bless America on Sept 12, 2001…
Show trial in NYC.
Dropped wiretapping.
Embarrassed CIA/FBI.
Moving GITMO detainees to Il.
Refusing to profile.
Odie1941 on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
He’s back from vacation? Oh good. I feel safer already.
TheBigOldDog on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
why can’t he look at us directly when he says this?
love ya totus
cmsinaz on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Thread winner!
INC on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
yer crackin’ me up Ed!
JusDreamin on January 7, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Actually, the whole Obama quote is:
Something like that.
Scott P on January 7, 2010 at 5:53 PM
“The buck stops with me” statement expiring in…
theTarCzar on January 7, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Hmmm, just what Sarah said, huh?
publiuspen on January 7, 2010 at 5:53 PM
What a sec. If we’re at war, that would mean that the Terrorists are…wait for it…enemy combatants. That would mean that justice would be handed out in a Military Tribunal, not a American Civilian Courtroom with a Government-provided Lawyer. You can’t have it both ways, O Magnificent One.
kingsjester on January 7, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Oh, yeah…?
Seven Percent Solution on January 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Sure he will. Did the part where he announced that he’s ordering the pantybomber into military custody come after this clip ended?
ProfessorMiao on January 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM
No way TOTUS meant a word he read
macncheez on January 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Obama: “I acted stupidly.”
ThePrez on January 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM
I have a hard time believing anything he says….anything.
deidre on January 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM
spot on TC…
cmsinaz on January 7, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Allow me to point out the obvious by saying, “I’m responsible” is meaningless without the consequences of being responsible and failing.
TheBigOldDog on January 7, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Well when you consider his transparency pledge … I don’t see much new here, just another lie.
tarpon on January 7, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Has anybody checked the expiration date?
Awilson on January 7, 2010 at 5:55 PM
+1
d1carter on January 7, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Yeah, Obama is channeling Sarah!!!
It’s War, not a Crime Spree
:-)
INC on January 7, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Nice Public Relations spin writers you have there…be a shame anything happen to ‘em!
.
.
Barack Hussein Obama is waging jihad on America!
DougDavis on January 7, 2010 at 5:56 PM
“Trust, but verify.”
When it comes to the words from Obama’s lips (and TOTUS’ screens), always remember that advice.
Trust his seriousness, when we see it in action. Until then, ask CSPAN how good his promises are.
red winger on January 7, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Obama had to wait almost two weeks before he spoke because the text had to be approved by so many different focus groups.
ACORN, SEIU, CAIR, etc to name but a few.
meci on January 7, 2010 at 5:57 PM
With Obama it must be Verify Before Trust.
INC on January 7, 2010 at 5:57 PM
The “buck stops here” an idiom.
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 5:57 PM
A broken clock is right twice a day.
rockmom on January 7, 2010 at 5:57 PM
“The buck however, is full of errors and missteps created by the previous administration that we now have to clean up and will do so with the most transparent administration evah”-Obama
rihar on January 7, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Unless he can blame someone else, especially George Bush.
That’s because he can’t find anyone else to blame. It’s not as if he didn’t try.
RadClown on January 7, 2010 at 5:58 PM
So does this mean that panties boy will be tried as an enemy combatant and not afforded the privileges of an American criminal trial?
Narniaman on January 7, 2010 at 5:58 PM
This means nothing. Obama learns nothing. He’s not capable of learning.
He’s simply stopping the political bleed out. Words…just words…
Don’t fall for it folks. It’s all POLITICS. 4 decades of twisted ideology do not suddenly change course with this man.
NOTHING WILL CHANGE! NOTHING!
katy on January 7, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Exactly what I was thinking.
KickandSwimMom on January 7, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Words.
pugwriter on January 7, 2010 at 5:58 PM
My thoughts exactly. So, when Obama says, “The buck stops here,” I agree–to which I ask, are you going to step down, or should we just start impeachment proceedings? After all, it’s your administration and your policies that made this happen–you admitted to that. You admit that you’re at fault. You’re noticing just how out of touch you really are with the public. So let’s fix this. Let’s get someone competent at the reigns.
Or are you just blowing yet more hot air, thinking that we’re as gullible as you think we are? Your support base might be that stupid, but the rest of us–the whopping majority–are not.
CatsGodot on January 7, 2010 at 5:58 PM
All good points.
Amazing how hundreds of companies bombard you with unwanted offerings, based on capturing your email 5 years ago – but we cant get a master No Fly terror list…
Perhpas Bambi should hire Google Analytics or Omniture…
or a 15 year old SQL programmer.
Odie1941 on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
I’m getting tired of the tennis head.
LOOK INTO THE CAMERA.
Enoxo on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
This is why he focused on National Health Care for a year instead of the war on jihadists….
d1carter on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
I don’t trust anything about him except that he believes wholeheartedly in his own awesomeness.
rockmom on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Bet his fingers were crossed behind his back.
yoda on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Don’t hold your breath, they’re only words.
FloatingRock on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Thank you, SARAH PALIN!
Sarah called him out on this, and I give her ALL the credit. Obama is in a permanent CYA mode with Sarah burning his butt at every turn.
Fishoutofwater on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Well, at least we’re finally getting a speech with a little backbone … a cartilaginous backbone, but a backbone none the less.
darwin on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
One could conflate this “buck stopping” stuff with some economic metaphoricals regarding taxing, wealth redistribution and “just getting the wealth back to the folks that created it..” but will refrain from doing that at least right now.
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 5:59 PM
By “me” I mean Boooooosh!
Caper29 on January 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM
“The buck stops with me”
Now if he could only realize that Pelosi is committing financial terrorism on every American citizen. When does that buck stop, Mr. President?
Rovin on January 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM
John Ziegler should get his ear’s checked.
Knucklehead on January 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM
We are a nation at war???? Against who???
And it only took him 350 days to arrive at this conclusion.
PappaMac on January 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM
So Ogabe is admitting that his actions have caused terrorists to attack us ala everything Bush said or did.
President Ogabe: Warmonger.
Bishop on January 7, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Nice Speech Pinnochio!
The buck stops with him until we’re hit again then it’s Booosches fault!
Words just words, speeches just speeches, the suit is empty, someone else pulls Pinnochios’ strings!
dhunter on January 7, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Obama is one cliche’ after another.
The Obama administration is imploding and some are impressed with the “buck stops here” cliche’.
That means he doesn`t hold anyone accountable, no one will lose their job…business as usual. Just more face time with Obama saying the buck stops here.
But then he always slips back to the “blame Bush” mode…
albill on January 7, 2010 at 6:01 PM
All I saw was a swivel head mouthing somebody else’s words.
Special Forces Grunt on January 7, 2010 at 6:01 PM
If you make less than 250k, you will not see your taxes go up not one dime!
kringeesmom on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
A robotic bobble head POTUS…mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmm
d1carter on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Correct the mistakes by removing yourself from office, you arrogant a-hole. Before you leave though, have Napolitano (sp?) tossed out and basically every other pick you made.
Narutoboy on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
“For ultimately, the
buckbus stops with me. … When the system fails, it is my responsibility”to run over everyone else.donh525 on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
There is no Teleprompter above the camera. Silly Enoxo.
PappaMac on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
did he read Ed’s post on terrorist recidivism today? He had to… there’s no other way he could’ve learned this lesson today…
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
This speech disappointed me
I was expecting something on the lines of
Americasss chickensss….
macncheez on January 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Who cares what he says. It is what he does. If this is Really a war, as he says, then treat the captured terrorist as an enemy cabatant. Take away his lawyer and interrogate him. Now that is an action of a country at war.
RedSoxNation on January 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Yep. The Buck stops with him. That’s why he had his subordinate Directors answer the tough questions. Words. Just words.
kingsjester on January 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Nice speech by the President. A little late but it’s welcome.
Can we please now do away with the “Obama supports the terrorists” line? It’s nonsense – there is no basis in fact – and this speech and his actions should put it to rest forever.
SteveMG on January 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM
he was right on that one. It ain’t one dime, it’s like fifty bajillion million dimes, and that’s sure “not one”
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM
And he will accept responsibility for this by throwing Michael Leiter under the bus.
The buck doesn’t stop with him. It never has. It STARTS with him.
JohnTant on January 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Where have I heard that before?
Juno77 on January 7, 2010 at 6:04 PM
March 18th, 2009…”As we work toward getting ourselves out of the recession, I hope that Wall Street and the marketplace doesn’t think that we can return to business as usual,” he said.
“The buck stops with me,” Obama told reporters.
January 7th, 2010…The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, then led by Timothy Geithner, told American International Group Inc. to withhold details from the public about the bailed-out insurer’s payments to banks during the depths of the financial crisis, e-mails between the company and its regulator show.
January 7th,2010…“I am less interested in passing out blame than I am in learning from and correcting these mistakes to make us safer. For ultimately, the buck stops with me. … When the system fails, it is my responsibility.”
That dollar doesn’t really go very far does it Chairman Barry?
Robbya on January 7, 2010 at 6:04 PM
I heard the word terrorist one time from the pres and once from Mr. Brennan. Then the word adversary, not enemy, adversary. You face an adversary when you debate or play football, you face an enemy when you are at war.
kringeesmom on January 7, 2010 at 6:04 PM
To paraphrase that Seinfeld episode: “And you wanna be my health care provider…”
ncborn on January 7, 2010 at 6:05 PM
I take full responsibility… in blaming Bush.
Fake8 on January 7, 2010 at 6:05 PM
oh the $buck$ traveling metaphors are soo swimming in mah head right now….all this starting, stopping, moving, up down and sideways…..
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 6:05 PM
If not for Cheney and Palin, we would have never seen this type of statement. Too little too late…
davek70 on January 7, 2010 at 6:05 PM
The White House is trying desperately to get ahead of this story…
mjbrooks3 on January 7, 2010 at 6:05 PM
They seem to have completely dropped the “man-caused disaster” term from their vocabulary. WIN!
JavelinaBomb on January 7, 2010 at 6:05 PM
See, Ogabe is just like Harry Truman and Truman worked with FDR, therefore Ogabe is just like FDR which means he is a true wartime President and should be allowed to serve four terms.
We need to build an aircraft carrier quick so it can be named after Ogabe.
Bishop on January 7, 2010 at 6:06 PM
He had to give this Milquetoast speech…
… the C-SPAN stuff is gaining traction.
Seven Percent Solution on January 7, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Prove you mean it now!
behiker on January 7, 2010 at 6:06 PM
delayed responsibility from a politician is like delayed obedience from a child…. parents, you know…
ted c on January 7, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Words. Just Words. I haven’t seen any actions yet. You let me know when that happens aight.
PappaMac on January 7, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Obama will now find it very hard to execute his statements when he and his party made sure that the rights of our enemy are too important to ignore. It will be difficult to win a war with a foreign enemy when they have access to our courts and lawyers. We have reached a new age where a war has to be started and finished within the deadlines of habeus corpus.
I would like to know what the timetable is for Obama’s War on Terror.
Electrongod on January 7, 2010 at 6:07 PM
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