Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on September 2, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Who won the Iraq war? If Barack Obama’s weekend address is any indication, he did it almost singlehandedly — even though he opposed the eventually successful strategy that tamped down the violence and gave Iraqis a chance to take control of their country:
As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war. As president, that is what I am doing. We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office. We have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases. In many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security.
What Obama failed to mention was that his predecessor, George W. Bush — who actually implemented the victorious strategy over the objections of a Senator named Barack Obama, who claimed it would never work — actually created the blueprint for that very drawdown. Not once did Obama mention Bush, nor did he mention “victory.” In that, Obama actually echoes the Iraqis, who are already voicing their objections over Obama’s declaration of, well, success:
President Barack Obama’s message this weekend that Iraq would “chart its own course” may have been welcome news for war-weary Americans, but it has fueled anxieties about the future among Iraqis.
“The war is not ending. The war against terrorism continues here,” Nuri al-Moussawi, a 51-year-old Baghdad resident, said. … “The American withdrawal is hasty. The capabilities of our army have not been built yet,” Moussawi said.
In his Oval Office address, Obama backed away from “success” and “victory,” too, mentioning neither. If things fall apart because Obama took us out of Iraq too early rather than work with Baghdad to adjust the timelines based on real-world conditions, guess which name Obama will start mentioning instead of “I” then?
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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This is a true “mission accomplished” moment, unlike the stupid liberal meme about the banner hanging on the battleship whose “mission” was actually “accomplished”. That still makes me angry.
carbon_footprint on September 2, 2010 at 8:09 AM
If things fall apart, the press will give it little attention. And if it isn’t reported, did it really happen?
Patrick S on September 2, 2010 at 8:09 AM
This is not amateurism on Barry’s part….this is out and out treason.
csdeven on September 2, 2010 at 8:10 AM
For all of O’s natural oratory talent, his praise of the troops sounds hollow.
TimBuk3 on September 2, 2010 at 8:12 AM
To be fair, President Bush was mentioned. It was a sort of an “and that other guy… I’m sure he meant well” kind of mention, but he was mentioned. Might be closer to “he might not actually be evil… just stupid”. At any rate, he was mentioned.
God bless President Bush
CLaFarge on September 2, 2010 at 8:13 AM
I just pray that the Iraqi people will be safe… And I can’t stand presidunce taking credit for what Bush, our Troops and Allies did to liberate that Nation.
Just think… if we had not gone into Iraq we’d have Achmedinijad and Saddam competing against eachother with nuke programs. And that’d just be fantabulous, right Obama?
Key West Reader on September 2, 2010 at 8:15 AM
Tim? He has no natural oratory talent. He can read a teleprompter. Even Squishy Maffews at MSNBC is beginning to notice (after 3 years of tingly feelings in his legs).
Key West Reader on September 2, 2010 at 8:17 AM
If things fall apart the media and the public will say it proves what they have always believed: that the mission was ill-advised.
Modern Warfare is in large part propaganda. George Bush was not equipped to fight the Iraq War. Even today the role of al Qaeda in the war has not been explained.
Basilsbest on September 2, 2010 at 8:18 AM
I noticed in his speech that he didn’t even give any credit to our “allies” who helped fight this war. Unless I missed it there was no thanks extended to troops from other countries who aided in taking out SoDamn Insane.
milwife88 on September 2, 2010 at 8:20 AM
And then Obama changed subject and talked about the economy while further “mentioning” Bush. Then Obama told us about the trillion dollar deficit these wars caused while further mentioning Bush.
Yep..he was mentioned.
Electrongod on September 2, 2010 at 8:21 AM
He was given credit for his love of this country and supports for our troops. That credit can be extended to millions of Americans across the country. Therefore it was disingenuous at best.
milwife88 on September 2, 2010 at 8:24 AM
I think he said the word victory, exactly once …
tarpon on September 2, 2010 at 8:29 AM
This point (which I have been making for years) is unassailable. If Bush and the GOP weren’t so utterly incompetent at communications it would now be understood by the majority as a complete justification for the liberation of Iraq.
Basilsbest on September 2, 2010 at 8:30 AM
When and if he ever takes the focus off of himself and gives genuine credit to others, will be the day we ask ourselves “who are you and what did you do with the real Barack?”
sherry on September 2, 2010 at 8:30 AM
He’s just carrying on his tradition of voting present!
flytier on September 2, 2010 at 8:30 AM
“I’m an excellent driver.”
Barack ‘Rainman’ Obama
GnuBreed on September 2, 2010 at 8:31 AM
via Pat Caddell….it says it all
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:32 AM
excellent point…
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:34 AM
Key West Reader on September 2, 2010 at 8:15 AM
My biggest concern also.. I’m old enough to have watched what happened when we left So. Vietnam. I don’t know why any country would trust America ever again if Iraq suffers the same consequences that the people of Vietnam suffered through.
Keemo on September 2, 2010 at 8:35 AM
Typical O–take credit for something positive, yet he won’t take credit for the negative. If his ego gets any bigger, his head will explode and mess up that brand new carpet.
Beaglemom on September 2, 2010 at 8:35 AM
when even some lib pundits realize dear leader should have credit bush with the surge, you know he is going down…
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:35 AM
it will be…”I was just following the SOFA that Bush created before he left office”
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:36 AM
Good point.
forest on September 2, 2010 at 8:37 AM
With narcissists, it’s always all about them.
AZCoyote on September 2, 2010 at 8:37 AM
pat caddell NRO interview
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:38 AM
Giving you the benefit of the doubt, can you explain to us why you would claim that Zero has natural oratory talent. This was a talking point widely spread by way of the lap dogs in the media, but has proven to be one huge lie. Off teleprompter, Zero says Ummmmmm every third word and has repeatedly used words improperly…
Keemo on September 2, 2010 at 8:40 AM
President Punk.
revolution on September 2, 2010 at 8:40 AM
Good point. I would also like to point out that for all of the atrociousities (sp) that the Vietnamese faced I have a very strong feeling that those will be over shadowed by what the Iragi people may face. To them it is a religious war and in their minds, nothing is off limits. It has the potential to be epic in it’s violence.
milwife88 on September 2, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Barry for Mayor.
revolution on September 2, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Have you noticed that the hair doctor’s at the WH can’t hide the gray on Zero’s head any more? This puppet has aged ten years during his short time in office. If fact, so have I…
Keemo on September 2, 2010 at 8:42 AM
+1
We need to stop ascribing the actions of this man to some kind of amateurism, a man who is not up to the job, or a man who is being ill-served by his advisors.
No, these are deliberate acts with full malice aforethought.
Barack Obama is not a stupid man, he is rather a highly intelligent man who is utterly opposed to the founding principles of this country. He is the anti-Madison.
His one and only objective is to fundamentally transform this nation into one that is governed according to his Marxist inspired ideals. He utilizes the tactics and strategies of Alinsky, Cloward and Piven in order to bring this change about.
This is why I do not believe we can wait until 2012 to vote him from office. He is far too dangerous to our Republic even as a “lame duck”. The stench of corruption fills the air around his administration. What we desperately need is for the Democrat leadership to be voted from office and replaced with Congressmen that will take up the messy task of impeaching and convicting Obama.
The founders realized that at some point in the future a ‘Barack Obama’ could well come to power in the United States. It was exactly because of this fear that they wrote Article 2, Section 5 of the Constitution.
Such a task should not be entered into lightly, but we are in a grave crisis where the very future of this Republic is at stake.
turfmann on September 2, 2010 at 8:42 AM
Keemo, tingles is FINALLY noticing it as well…
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:42 AM
milwife88 on September 2, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Indeed….
Keemo on September 2, 2010 at 8:43 AM
I knew TOTUS (aka The Menace) was on our side.
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2010 at 8:46 AM
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:42 AM
LOL :-)
Keemo on September 2, 2010 at 8:46 AM
Why, blame Bush, silly when things fall apart as you know they will.
Kissmygrits on September 2, 2010 at 8:47 AM
I-I-I-I!
ME-ME-ME-ME!
This pretty much sums up Barack Obama, Mr. Narcissist himself!
pilamaye on September 2, 2010 at 8:50 AM
heh
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:50 AM
:)
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Most men are not worthy of hate. Obama is. Hate is a sin and one that I will have to answer for someday, but I can no more deny my hatred for that evil clown than I can deny my own right arm. The best I can do with it is turn it into positive action for real change back to a nation of freedom and real hope for the future. Note to GOP: That doesn’t mean blindly following a bunch of festering, entrenched statists with (R) by their name, got it?
Extrafishy on September 2, 2010 at 8:51 AM
A small & petty man.
rbj on September 2, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Actually he did. Something like, “No one can question Bush’s love for the troops, or that he’s a nice guy” or something.
Akzed on September 2, 2010 at 9:01 AM
So now what? Will Chrissy claim that those “tingles” were actually restless leg syndrome?
He’s made such an embarrassment out of himself that there’s no way out.
Cody1991 on September 2, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Amen to that. I am praying that the Iraq people have tasted enough security and freedom to make it so important that they will try to help keep it and not again become pawns for whatever government is in power. I might be a tad too optimistic.
Cindy Munford on September 2, 2010 at 9:30 AM
Cody1991 on September 2, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Yep, Sissy (I mean Chrissy) is a national embarrassment, as the world views this man as an average American male. I can just imagine sissy while in High School facing off with another male; touch me and my parents will sue your parents until they have nothing left!
Keemo on September 2, 2010 at 9:32 AM
Obama is all politics,all the time.
Every move and decision he makes is a political calculation that’s only purpose is to feed his narcissistic ambition.
There is one clear message that Obama has sent to our enemies….He will not stay in the fight.His poll numbers mean to much to him.
History will judge Obama as a President who promised strength,honesty,and leadership….but instead delivered weakness,corruption,and failure.
Baxter Greene on September 2, 2010 at 9:46 AM
He promised transparency, yet the first document he signed after being sworn in was an executive order stating that all his personal documents/info were sealed. I think it was signed the day after the inauguration.
Cody1991 on September 2, 2010 at 9:52 AM
Dam#…I didn’t realize he backtracked that quick.
Obama has broken so many promises…it’s hard to keep track.
Baxter Greene on September 2, 2010 at 9:54 AM
Miracle man.
iurockhead on September 2, 2010 at 9:58 AM
It was on the WH website. No kidding. The day after the inauguration, the first thing he signed as president.
Cody1991 on September 2, 2010 at 9:58 AM
Obama has so many ‘I’s that you would think he could see the future. Obviously the view from his colon is obstructed.
Yoop on September 2, 2010 at 10:01 AM
yepper…pathetic loser
cmsinaz on September 2, 2010 at 10:13 AM
unpresidential weasel.
NickelAndDime on September 2, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Impertinent, malicious, classless, graceless fool
Schadenfreude on September 2, 2010 at 10:24 AM
*sigh* Of course! I seriously doubt Obama’s taken any personal responsibility for his actions, ever. He’d lay the blame at his own daughters feet, if it meant covering his sorry arse.
capejasmine on September 2, 2010 at 12:44 PM
I can’t even read it.The vilest thing the vilest person ever did.
DDT on September 2, 2010 at 1:11 PM
+1000!!!!
csdeven on September 2, 2010 at 1:25 PM
The only reason there was any mention of Bush at all was the heat Gibs withered under on the question of Obama mentioning Bush. They are slow in the head, and only grasped the most basic of reasoning, but they got it that Obama needed to mention Bush. Otherwise the narcissit giving the speech would have completely followed his natural instinct, which essentially he still did, and take full credit for Bush’s work to promote his own image of compentency and importance. It probably was all he could do to just mention Bush with out blaming him his administrations failures.
Franklyn on September 2, 2010 at 4:35 PM
1. Al Qaeda (AQ) attacked us on 09-11-2001 in New York, Washington DC and, rural Pennsylvania (that attack was aimed at Washington DC but thwarted).
2. AQ members moved out of Afghanistan into Iraq before and during our invasion of Afghanistan with the approval and support of Saddam Hussein (SH). That makes him an ally of AQ.
3. SH bluffs that he has WMDs. A pretty good one as all the world bought it.
(He may have, and sent them to Syria – jury’s still out on that)
4. Bush calls his bluff in 3. above although the actions of 2. warrant invasion as well.
Now, I’m off to the shower!
Bubba Redneck on September 2, 2010 at 6:16 PM