Obama to GOP: “You can’t have the keys back. You don’t know how to drive!”
posted at 5:43 pm on August 3, 2010 by Allahpundit
Thus spaketh the man with a 41 percent approval rating. I like his metaphor, actually, even if he has the particulars wrong: After two years of watching him swerve all over the road and sideswipe the occasional telephone pole, the public’s decided that he’s drunk and it’s time to take his keys away.
If only he’d swerved a bit harder and maybe hit some of those poles head-on, says Robert Reich, the left would be more jazzed to keep Democrats in the driver’s seat:
Reasonable people disagree about whether these initiatives should have been more or less ambitious, but almost everyone falls into one of these camps. And that’s precisely the political problem Democrats now face.
A stimulus too small to significantly reduce unemployment, a TARP that didn’t trickle down to Main Street, financial reform that doesn’t fundamentally restructure Wall Street, and health-care reforms that don’t promise to bring down health-care costs have all created an enthusiasm gap. They’ve fired up the right, demoralized the left, and generated unease among the general population.
This leaves the Democrats in a difficult position. They have to prove a negative proposition—that although these initiatives cost lots of money or require many new regulations, conditions would be or will be a lot worse without them.
That’s basically their argument, especially vis-a-vis the stimulus: “If not for us, the totaled car that is American policy would be … even more totaled.” Slap that slogan on the bumper of a Chevy Volt and you’re ready to roll. Exit question: Given his incredible driving prowess, why is our Jeff-Gordon-in-chief here not being invited for a national victory lap by congressional Democrats? Click the image to watch.
Blowback
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Says the man who’s driving the country off a cliff in a Chevy Volt.
Red Cloud on August 3, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Says the guy who created Cash for Clunkers.
MadisonConservative on August 3, 2010 at 5:45 PM
So we went from the “failed policies of the Bush Administration” to the “vapid polices of the Obama Administration” and a Democratic Congress which have left us in the middle of a slow motion “train wreck” of epic proportions.
Frankly, if Bush was able to do all he is credited with doing (shoot, he supposedly fooled every global economic institution into lose their senses, not to mention the US) the man deserves something better than a Nobel Prize (it’s overrated now).
J_Crater on August 3, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Dear President Obama,
It’s not your decision who gets to be in charge.
Sincerely,
Jessica
JadeNYU on August 3, 2010 at 5:45 PM
It’s funny to watch him go all “street” to try and make a point. Thugshizzle mynizzle. What a tool!
milwife88 on August 3, 2010 at 5:46 PM
To complete the analogy, didn’t he take the keys after the car was in ditch, put $2000 rims on it, a spoiler and a nice paint job, then roll it off a cliff. With his retirement savings. ?
lorien1973 on August 3, 2010 at 5:46 PM
So he’s “the driver” now?
Know how you say “driver” in German? You guessed it: “Führer”
I, for one, hope he runs with this metaphor.
29Victor on August 3, 2010 at 5:48 PM
What do you call it when your approval rating (41%) drops below your Presidential number (44)? Sub par.
txmomof6 on August 3, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Hey, Obama – What do you know about driving? You sit in the backseat with Larry Sinclair. Ba dum-bum. Take my wife, please…
joejm65 on August 3, 2010 at 5:48 PM
What’s with the folksy tone? Does he really think that will work?
sharrukin on August 3, 2010 at 5:49 PM
The Republicans have done nothing to prove they are worthy of anyone’s trust….especially conservatives.
The Democrats have proven they are unworthy.
What a great choice we have.
rickyricardo on August 3, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Dear President,
Please mandate that everyone must buy an apple a day. After all, by keeping the doctor away the cost will, in the long run, be less to tax payers. This just makes sense!
Regards,
-Wiseprince
wiseprince on August 3, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Love that Snark.
Holger on August 3, 2010 at 5:49 PM
I think you nailed it…
Seven Percent Solution on August 3, 2010 at 5:50 PM
This coming from duh One, who cannot even get the engine started.
ICBM on August 3, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Just can’t bring myself to do it. I’m fixing a great dinner, and I don’t want to spoil my appetite.
notropis on August 3, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Am I the first to notice,that in this video,
Obama’s hair was DYED GREY,just like they did
Clintons!!!
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Worst President Ever.
azkenreid on August 3, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Because he`s too modest and doesnt` like exploiting-I`m sorry, I can`t finish it without laughing!
Heh-heh….. Jeff-Gordon-in-chief. :)
ThePrez on August 3, 2010 at 5:51 PM
What the heck is he smoking?!? Oh, it’s Robert Reich — never mind.
KS Rex on August 3, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Is he still using that tired old line
Yea, yea, can’t drive. Come up with something else.
What a Uniter. One country, just like he said in 2004
wiseprince on August 3, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Very presidential.
cpaulus on August 3, 2010 at 5:52 PM
I truly hate this man.
constitutionlady on August 3, 2010 at 5:52 PM
His schtick is getting old. He’s overused this line and he’s over stayed his welcome in the People’s House. The guy needs to step down. He probably will after we wipe the floor with his party’s agenda in November.
Key West Reader on August 3, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Driving prowess ?
What driving prowess ?
He drives with his thighs wide shut….just the way he sits
macncheez on August 3, 2010 at 5:52 PM
He can turn the volume up on the rhetoric all he wants – but no one is listening to him.
The fact is – Americans really aren’t interested in giving the keys back to the Republicans. The only reason they are interested at all in the GOP is because the GOP is the only thing that can stop Obama – or slow down his radical agenda of socialism, which is bankrupting this country.
THAT is what the Democrats don’t get – THAT is what this election is about to Americans – it’s about restoring the checks and balances and overturning one party rule.
Let the Democrats say what they wish – no one will listen. The only hope they have – is to convince Americans that they deserve to be the only party in Washington, DC.
Based on what’s transpired in the last 19 months – I don’t think they can make a case for continued one party rule.
HondaV65 on August 3, 2010 at 5:53 PM
The audacity of talking trash to your betters who tolerate the annoyance because the bravado is so cute.
Skandia Recluse on August 3, 2010 at 5:53 PM
OT: Very sad. Future of health under obamacare
ConservativePartyNow on August 3, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Oh ya,the PERCEPTION/DECEPTION Narrative begins of reshaping
the message before November!!
Its amazing,that he didn’t squeeze in,”THE PARTY OF NO”!!
Sure does have alot of yapping for a Two Year Senator
the Lecturer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Victory Lap? All democrats are in the final stages of the Olympic run. Running as fast away from The Magnificent One as possible.
Run Baby Run.
antisocial on August 3, 2010 at 5:54 PM
You’ve been Magoozled
faraway on August 3, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Why?
Snowed In on August 3, 2010 at 5:54 PM
I believe SouthernGent said yesterday that Barry was not aging gracefully…..
Patrick S on August 3, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Driving prowess ?
What driving prowess ?
He drives with his thighs wide shut….just the way he sits
macncheez on August 3, 2010 at 5:52 PM
macncheez: I think its a Democrat thing.I do recall the
back/Inner thigh rubber Therapist mentioning
that same type of problem with Al Gorical!!:)
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 5:56 PM
We are going to fundamentally transform your classic racing Ferrari into a Yugo, the peoples car.
faraway on August 3, 2010 at 5:57 PM
President Toonces.
redshirt on August 3, 2010 at 5:57 PM
He diminishes the Presidency with every breath.
barrythrowslikeagirl on August 3, 2010 at 5:58 PM
They need to take guns from the people before they can do that. Otherwise, you get a John Doe scenario. And I for one hope such a scenario happens.
Holger on August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Need to put the car in (R)everse before we head over the cliff with dear leader
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM
To paraphrase a bit,
” were not campaigning anymore. The election is over” Mr President! Now own your d@mm policies. The rest of the country knows who to blame by now!
bluemarlin on August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Do you wonder if he ever thinks about how tired people are of hearing him speechify every day and being a constant presence on our television sets?
Drives me nuts.
Key West Reader on August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Setting Democrats back a generation…one stupid comment at a time…
winston on August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM
We may not know how to drive as well as you think you do, but at least we understand how car insurance works!
Kafir on August 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Back to my HairDyeGate,its greyer in the video,then the picture on HuffPuff’s website!!
Again,there pulling out all the stops,for his ObamaVoterBot
base,you know,he hasn’t accomplished any job creation,but
hang in there,he’s work’n real hard for ya!!!!!!!!!
===============================================
Obama Hair Dye: Did The President Darken His Coif? (PHOTOS, POLL)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/16/obama-hair-dye-did-the-pr_n_614936.html
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:01 PM
apparently so
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Excuse me, that would be a John Q Scenario, watch the movie.
Holger on August 3, 2010 at 6:01 PM
future headline on Spiegel.de: “Obama gezogt: Ich bin der Führer!”
dmh0667 on August 3, 2010 at 6:01 PM
will be hearing this same tune til Nov
*sigh*
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:02 PM
you know, if you look at the Obama deficits compared to W, Clinton, Bush I, or Reagan, you can see where the ditch is. Also, it’s amazing how “the mess we’re in” has no connection to democrat boondoggles like Fannie Mae or Acorn or the CRA. It’s all some magical republican thing. The whole Reagan era never happened, I guess.
joeindc44 on August 3, 2010 at 6:02 PM
The Left is really sticking to this driving metaphor huh? Sounds like McCain telling the same jokes over and over during the campaign.
Speedwagon82 on August 3, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Dude forgets the Dems are in their 4th year of power in Congress….hmmmmmm
CWforFreedom on August 3, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Never let a car crash go to waste.
ninjapirate on August 3, 2010 at 6:03 PM
A rather ridiculous thing for Bozo to say when he is driving a clown car powered by hot air that has a steering wheel that only turns left and has no brakes.
Tav on August 3, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Asked a girl what she wanted to be
She said baby, can’t you see
I wanna be famous, a star on the screen
But you can do something in between
Baby you can drive my car
Yes I’m gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I’ll love you
With Love,
Sir Paul
bloviator on August 3, 2010 at 6:05 PM
he forgets that he been a part of that power since then as well…
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:05 PM
Toonces, still at the wheel. Even the Dems don’t want to go driving with this Miss Daisy….
ted c on August 3, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Good grief, didn’t the country learn enough about Dhimmicrats driving when “Splash” Kennedy to Mary Jo out for a moonlight spin?
oldleprechaun on August 3, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Barry is aging like milk
macncheez on August 3, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Perhaps if Cheshia has any $11,000 wedding cake left over he can fuel it on that. Or, if that doesn’t work, have John Kerry pull it with his $7,000,000 yacht.
Tav on August 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Ya know,it reminds me of my early days with the wife,er
girlfriend,at that time period,and we were stuck in the
snow,and I was pushing and she was gear changing,Revese
to Drive(automatic tranny),and just before you crawl out
of the rut,she gun’s it,and you back to square one,with
lots of words and emotion between us,yup,good times!!
Reminds me of Obama,as the idiot(not you women)behind the
wheel,that doesn’t have a clue about the science of rock
ing the car back and forth,R to D,and applying the brake,
just as your about to crawl out of the top of the rut,and
then giving that little bit of push,and viola,your out!!
Jus sayin!!
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM
In other words, we suck just a little bit less than anything else you can imagine…..
Wow, what leadership.
agreed. great snark. It’s Snark Week.
ted c on August 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Back seat driver!
reppac122 on August 3, 2010 at 6:09 PM
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:09 PM
I think the batteries have run down in his mini pink Barbie car. Time for him to back to his Sears Craftsman riding mower. Oh wait, that will still let him do too much damage. He should be afoot!
bopbottle on August 3, 2010 at 6:09 PM
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 5:50 PM
=====================
I believe SouthernGent said yesterday that Barry was not aging gracefully…..
Patrick S on August 3, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Patrick S: Great then,I`m not going crazy!!:)
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Bad metaphor for me today. I just found out my car needs a $1000 brake job that I can’t afford, and got turned down for two more jobs. I can’t even get a job with the government.
I’m ready to let ANYONE else try driving this bus now. At least Republicans know how to put gas in the damn tank!
rockmom on August 3, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Wow, what leadership.
agreed. great snark. It’s Snark Week.
ted c on August 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM
ted c: Snark week,LOL,jumping of!!:)
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Yeah. It is starting to look like they are planting stories about how the defecit is the fault of previous Republican administrations. Anne Applebaum, David Stockman, and David Klinghoffer all come out with similar articles and we should believe its a coincidence?
Journolist 2.0 if you ask me.
sharrukin on August 3, 2010 at 6:11 PM
A preview of his reelection campaign. It’s all the fault of Bush and the GOP. And things would’ve been worse if we hadn’t passed his agenda. Sure sounds like a winning argument to me.
Doughboy on August 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM
When do We The People get a turn at the wheel? I must have missed a day or two in school.
Electrongod on August 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM
We had a bum car that was at least manual transmission so we could get it started if we could get it rolling.
Unfortunately, the car had a tricky clutch and I happen to be a pathetic driver under the best of circumstances in an automatic car.
This meant that my husband (boyfriend at the time) had to be in the car to get it started while I tried to get the car rolling by pushing it. Given that I’m a girl (and a tiny one at that – 5’2″ 110lbs), he was always getting glared at by the guys that would see me struggling to push the car and come over to help. I constantly had to defend him since, if I had any chance at all of popping the clutch correctly, I would have been in the car.
Good times.
We’re car free now and I must say that I’m a much better bike driver than I ever was a car driver.
JadeNYU on August 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Splish splash, he was givin’ Mary Jo a bath
Long about a Saturday night
A rub dub, just relaxing off the bridge
Thinking everything was alright
Well, he stepped out the river, put his feet on the bridge
He wrapped a towel around him
Looked around trying to find his pants, and then
Splish, splash! he realized his chance of becoming president was going to take a bath
Well how was he to know there was a drowning going on
She was a-splishing and a-splashing, reelin’ from his feelin’
Moving and a-grooving, bobbing and a-sinking, yea
Cheshire Cat on August 3, 2010 at 6:15 PM
He’s turning pages as he tells this little story?
He has to keep looking down at instructions to get this little act right?
What a joke. I mean, how low is his intellect? He needed notes to remember a story like this? They had to write this thing down for him? He actually turned pages like 2 or 3 times. This is a serious weakness of this man. Marxist or not. His IQ has got to be in the negative.
JellyToast on August 3, 2010 at 6:15 PM
yepper
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:15 PM
Journolist 2.0 if you ask me.
sharrukin on August 3, 2010 at 6:11 PM
sharrukin: Bingo,heres an idea,how about a daily,or sumpin,
on Hot Air,that cross-refrences authors of said
op-ed articles to the Journolist to keep a runn
ing tally of planted misinformation stories,lik
e they did,during 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:16 PM
Obama’s an a***hole!
There. I said it!!!
(following in The Great One’s footsteps)
GrannyDee on August 3, 2010 at 6:16 PM
now that’s a hilarious fix!!! Ricky Bobby in chief!
or the kid from Weird Science, “gimme the keys Lisa, I can drive, he ain’t even got his license Lisa”…
ted c on August 3, 2010 at 6:16 PM
His folksy B.S. is a well practiced act from his days as a community organizer speaking to “the community” and is really annoying.
Jeff on August 3, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Could Republicans PLEASE start to point out to Obama that when Republicans lost control of congress to Democrats that the economy was GROWING, and CONTINUED to grow for another full year! That the recession didn’t even BEGIN until December 2008, 12 months after Democrats took control of both houses of congress, 12 months after Democrats began promising massive tax increases, and massive new entitlements, and massive new regulations.
And would Republicans PLEASE also point out that the financial crisis didnt hit until TWO YEARS after Democrats took control of congress?
And lastly, could Republicans also please point out that Republican budgets (according to the CBO) were on track to ELIMINATE the deficit by 2010? And that the very first budget Democrats wrote, and which they refused to deliver to the White House until 2009 so that Bush could not veto it and Obama could sign it, tripled the deficit to an all time record breaking high, and their SECOND budge QUADRUPLED that record busting budget.
In other words could Republicans please start pointing out that our economic troubles didn’t even START until well after Democrats (including Obama) took control of congress!!!
American Elephant on August 3, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Hey, Barry!
WE have the keys. We decide who gets them in November, you bastard!
RedNewEnglander on August 3, 2010 at 6:17 PM
heh, good one too :)
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Splish splash, he was givin’ Mary Jo a bath
Cheshire Cat on August 3, 2010 at 6:15 PM
Cheshire Cat: Now thats a hoot,your a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
pu..oops,kitty!!:)
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:18 PM
give me the keys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iRZDcsqSt0
ted c on August 3, 2010 at 6:18 PM
I’m sorry, that should say “the recession didn’t even BEGIN until December 2007, 12 months after Democrats took control of both houses of congress”
American Elephant on August 3, 2010 at 6:18 PM
They will farm out those stories to ‘concerned conservatives’ like Peggy Noonan, David Brooks, and others. The attack angles we saw in Journolist ended up in numerous places, so I wonder if we could keep track of it.
sharrukin on August 3, 2010 at 6:20 PM
“Article III, Sec. 2, clause 2 says:
J_Crater on August 3, 2010 at 6:22 PM
I just wonder if Obama will try using this line after the GOP takes over Congress in January 2011.
Aitch748 on August 3, 2010 at 6:22 PM
LOL
cmsinaz on August 3, 2010 at 6:23 PM
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Good times.
We’re car free now and I must say that I’m a much better bike driver than I ever was a car driver.
JadeNYU on August 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM
JadeNYU: I hear ya,we had a beat up old VW dune buggy at
camp,years ago,that had to be clutch-popped as
you described to start it,haha,fun times!!:)
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:24 PM
My comment won’t go through. What gives?
conservative pilgrim on August 3, 2010 at 6:25 PM
After two years of watching him swerve all over the road and sideswipe the occasional telephone pole, the public’s decided that he’s drunk and it’s time to take his keys away.LMAO….good one Allah
PatriotRider on August 3, 2010 at 6:26 PM
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:16 PM
==========================
They will farm out those stories to ‘concerned conservatives’ like Peggy Noonan, David Brooks, and others. The attack angles we saw in Journolist ended up in numerous places, so I wonder if we could keep track of it.
sharrukin on August 3, 2010 at 6:20 PM
sharrukin: Good point,where there is a will,there is a
way!!:)
canopfor on August 3, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Damn…hit the wrong key!!!
PatriotRider on August 3, 2010 at 6:26 PM
When you start hearing problems under the hood, Mr. President, just turn up the volume on the radio so you can’t hear the bearings going out of the alternator or the power steering belt slipping. That’ll take care of things.
midlander on August 3, 2010 at 6:28 PM
When one is a child, driving a tricycle, and not a Daytonna 500 jock, one should shut the fruck up.
Obamateurism for using the “car” and “driver” analogy, when in so much trouble in Michigan. Just today there was an article on Yahoo on how many Michiganders are still looking for jobs. What a pathetic puerile fool, with malice.
Schadenfreude on August 3, 2010 at 6:28 PM
If this is the best he can bring then I see why the Democrats don’t want him on the campaign trail. :)
Dire Straits on August 3, 2010 at 6:28 PM
A guy who admitted he didn’t know the difference between having auto liability coverage versus collision coverage shouldn’t probably be using car wreck analogies and definitely shouldn’t be making national decisions of ANY kind!
No I won’t click and listen to the Lyin Pinnochio, Dear Reader!
dhunter on August 3, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Wasn’t President Asshat, part of the Congress that started this mess?
He is correct- he shouldn’t be driving or have the keys.
kareyk on August 3, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Ya ain’t got the right set o’ keys..!
jus sayin
ted c on August 3, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Is there a new definition of ‘conservative’ now?
listens2glenn on August 3, 2010 at 6:30 PM
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