Open thread: Obama’s speech in Arizona
posted at 7:43 pm on January 12, 2011 by Allahpundit
The memorial service should be underway at 8 p.m. ET, naturally airing live on all the cable news nets. I hope he does well; the victims deserve a thoughtful tribute. But I can’t say I’m cheered by the overt “branding,” replete with … souvenir t-shirts? It may not be the White House that’s behind it, but then, we no longer need facts to blame politicians for stuff they didn’t do.
Bryan Preston has the program for the service and wonders why Napolitano and Holder are speaking. She’s a former governor of Arizona and he’s technically the lead prosecutor, so I can understand if they’re there simply to express condolences. If they’re there because O decided there should be a “rhetoric” component to the evening and he wanted to stay above the fray by farming it out to underlings, well, let’s just say it’ll be a long night at the ol’ blog homestead later. (Bryan makes a good point about Napolitano, as head of DHS, possibly trying to frame this as an act of terrorism. Was Hinckley a terrorist too?) I’ve noted this before but Philip Klein puts it better than I did: Any possibility of a sincere debate on “rhetoric” became impossible when the left turned this from a national tragedy into a voodoo ritual. And if any of tonight’s speakers bring it up, inevitably that’s precisely how it’ll be seen.
I’ll leave you with this clip of Boehner and Pelosi honoring the victims with today’s House resolution. Giffords’s prognosis continues to be good, albeit obviously uncertain.
Blowback
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I’ll tell ya right now what his staff is thinking …
“Damn, let’s hope this speech is better than Sarah Palins!”
… But it won’t be!
HondaV65 on January 12, 2011 at 7:46 PM
Will there be any fainting?
Electrongod on January 12, 2011 at 7:46 PM
So do we call it the
Murder in Tucson“Together We Thrive Murders” ?J_Crater on January 12, 2011 at 7:47 PM
Well, Sarag sure set the bar for him. Let’s see if he can meet it.
petefrt on January 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Nothing elevates the tone in Washington like free goodies at a memorial service.
stldave on January 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM
*Sarah* !
petefrt on January 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Everyone gets a “Together We Thrive” T-shirt
faraway on January 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM
I’m going to a memorial service Saturday, for a friend who committed suicide last week. I can promise you there will be no souvenir t-shirts.
rbj on January 12, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Look, even if Obama himself didn’t think up the branding idea for this event should not the President OF The United States or some of his staff perhaps[s stepped in and said: “Hey folks this isn’t a rally.”
Yet the truth is, it is a political rally.
Sharr on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
Every funeral should distribute “I was there” T-shirts.
the_nile on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
From KOLD-TV, channel 13:
Emperor Norton on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
Also hearing they are running the concession stands during this. Is this true?
stldave on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
I won’t be watching, but will rely on the good sense of my friends at HA to keep me informed.
GrannyDee on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
I can’t do video. I hope someone will put up a transcript.
Allahpundit is hopeful, I’m fearful of where this clown is going to take us.
Skandia Recluse on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
Shame it took this to get Obumba, Holder and Big Sis to Arizona. Not that the Border will be mentioned.
Dingbat63 on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
To bad we can’t look at Obama tonight and think he really cares about these people. Sorry, but Obama is all about him and his leftist agenda.
magic kingdom on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Ok, kiddies, how’s about an hour of platitudes? Ready for this?
petefrt on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Friday on the Oprah Network
darwin-t on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Money says Organizing for America is behind it, so technically the White House wouldn’t be.
steveegg on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Hmmm, Duke of Hazard reruns on CMT, Pawn Stars on History, or Celts – Kings…
swamp_yankee on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Wasn’t ‘Sarag’ Spock’s girlfriend when he went al ‘Amok’ and everything?
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on January 12, 2011 at 7:50 PM
My deepest sympathy. How very sad.
GrannyDee on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
I do hope Obama keeps it classy. If this thing turns into a Wellstone Memorial, it’ll be a nightmare.
For the Nation, Please Barry, be classy.
portlandon on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
It’s a campaign rally for Barry. They’ll be handing out t-shirts, and they have a…logo. Seriously. Just let that sink in a bit. The Obama White House has created a logo and had t-shirts printed up to commemorate a mass murder.
Tacky doesn’t even to begin to describe…
Rational Thought on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
T-Shirts? Concessions?
Yeah, and conservatives are supposedly coarsening the culture!
massrighty on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Would they let McDonald’s do it?
the_nile on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
I hope he does well, but I’m a bit put off by the size of the “stadium” and pre-made bumper stickers, signs and tee shirts.
Who is being honored here? Signs? Bumper stickers? Tee shirts? Really?
Am I off base here?
Key West Reader on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
LOL.
al=all
Now, I’m doing it.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Hi, registered Democrat here. Any chance you guys can evaluate this speech on its own terms, rather than through your partisan prism? Any at all? Because I’d really like to see what intellectually honest conservative reactions are to what the president says.
cjw79 on January 12, 2011 at 7:51 PM
What, Comedy Central has Chapelle Show rerun!
swamp_yankee on January 12, 2011 at 7:52 PM
This will be about like what he did for the Fort Hood survivors.
Oh, wait…
petefrt on January 12, 2011 at 7:52 PM
Are ya fired up? Ready to mourn? FIRED UP? READY TO MOURN?
tetriskid on January 12, 2011 at 7:52 PM
Pelosi called this atrocity an ‘accident’. Unbelievable.
and the tshirts are de rigeur for the Obama crowd, it is ALL about the branding. That is how he became POTUS, he marketed himself to MSM and they in turn sold him to America like Pepsi.
The reason they dumped Deidre whoseywhats, the protocol lady who let the Salahis wander around the WH, was that in an in depth interview she discussed ‘the Obama Brand’ at length.
Apparently, we are supposed to be unaware of the branding theya re doing. Uh, good luck with that. Fool U.S. voters once, yada yada.
ginaswo on January 12, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Good grief, he’s going to make political. These people have no shame.
Knucklehead on January 12, 2011 at 7:53 PM
direct me to a printed transcript
Skandia Recluse on January 12, 2011 at 7:53 PM
If that turns out to be true, then it is absolutely abhorrent. Egregiously reprehensible.
Key West Reader on January 12, 2011 at 7:53 PM
I’ll have to read the transcript tomorrow, I can’t stand listening to him speak.
Common Sense on January 12, 2011 at 7:53 PM
We’ve got 4 days of hate speech from you guys , thank you very much.
the_nile on January 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Any chance the president could go to Tucson and deliver a few words of compassion without the campaign slogans, signs, T-shirts and concession stands?
Nope. Didn’t think so.
GrannyDee on January 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
:o(
Key West Reader on January 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Will it be streaming. Cable out here.
katy the mean old lady on January 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Yes, you can tell he’s sincere, as he left his Styrofoam columns in the White House warehouse.
petefrt on January 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Voodoo ritual=Raaaacist!!!
RedRedRice on January 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Can Obama act presidential? hmmm… he shoulda called up Dubya for some pointers.
MeatHeadinCA on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Will there be shout-outs?
Fallen Sparrow on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
He’s a lying douchebag, how’s that?
darwin-t on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Does it matter? I suspect he wont start his speech by giving shout outs to his Indian buddies… since he already showed no remorse for the Fort Hood shooting, there is little he can do here to redeem himself. Even if it is a good speech, he’ll just look like a hypocrite.
swamp_yankee on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
We can if you can, but you can’t………..so buzz off.
Knucklehead on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
I wonder if Barry will close his remarks with: “Hey, everyone. They’ve still got lots of hotdogs left over at concessions, so get a bite to eat before y’all head home.”
Rational Thought on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
My heart goes out to you.
Electrongod on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Yeah, sure you do, pal.
After all, if there’s anything Democrats are about, it is not viewing things through political prisms.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on January 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Watching it on FOX, already saw that loser sheriff.
RedRedRice on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
I won’t be watching, but will rely on the good sense of my friends at HA to keep me informed.
GrannyDee on January 12, 2011 at 7:49 PM
//
Same here then see what elrushbo says tomorrow.
ohiobabe on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
“What’s Obama?”
“Red Hot!”
“What’s Obama?”
“Red Hot!”
“Spell the First Word…R…E…D…”
“Now the Second Word…H…O…T…”
“Put it together now…R..E..D…H..O..T..”
“Red Hot,Red Hot, Red Hot!!!”
portlandon on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
I can see the T-shirts ending up on e-bay too. Whoever thought of this is an idiot.
Brat4life on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
They are clapping at a memorial.
faraway on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
The crowd is already cheering…
tetriskid on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
You got tenuous connections being made by Keith Olbermann. Leading Democrats, definitely not. But should I take that as a no?
Should I take that as a no too?
cjw79 on January 12, 2011 at 7:56 PM
The are clapping & cheering at a memorial service… WTF.
tetriskid on January 12, 2011 at 7:57 PM
Thanks, it is very sad.
I will, but so far souvenir t-shirts look bad. You want a “lets all work together” rally, that’s fine, for another time. This is a memorial, it’s to focus on the dead & wounded.
rbj on January 12, 2011 at 7:57 PM
This looks like a football game. Not a service to honor the fallen and those who cling to life.
/Wow. Bad, bad optics here
Key West Reader on January 12, 2011 at 7:57 PM
Obaka is going to live up to his name…’stupid fool’…
ladyingray on January 12, 2011 at 7:57 PM
Will they have one of those t-shirt cannons so they can fire into the upper decks???? On second thought… THAT would be in bad taste….
mo_gunslinger on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
I’ve been disappointed with this president for the past 18 months. Sorry, faulty assumption on your part.
cjw79 on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
I think you are, Palin made a video and said blood libel…….. Don`t forget the map, too!
/s
ThePrez on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
GrannyDee on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
Oh, there’s Grijalva. Raza!
RedRedRice on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
Cheering? Wellstone Part Deux?
Knucklehead on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
I don’t see a preacher’s name on the speaker list.
This can’t be a memorial. What is it?
faraway on January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
TCM has been running a Hal Roach film day today, showing films of Laurel and Hardy.
What a choice.
Watch Laurel and Hardy or watch Obama.
Both are staged and scripted. One is quite entertaining, the other not so much. One is honest in its presentation, the other quite the opposite.
As much as I am not a fan of Ted Turner, if the guys from Nielsen are checking, I’ll be watching TCM.
coldwarrior on January 12, 2011 at 7:59 PM
Any chance you can refrain from trolling? I’ll take your presence as a no.
Christien on January 12, 2011 at 7:59 PM
My loved one was shot dead and all I got was a lousy T-Shirt.
jjshaka on January 12, 2011 at 7:59 PM
People are going to watch it for the politics, like watching NASCAR for the wrecks. And that is sad. It makes me question the whole exercise. He didn’t have to go there, bringing his entourage with him. It’s not the right time.
Paul-Cincy on January 12, 2011 at 7:59 PM
To most members of congress you and I and the majority of Americans are not worth even 3/5 of one of them. Probably not even 3/5,000 as much as one of them. People illegally in the U.S., primarily those from Mexico illegally in the U.S., kill thousand of Americans a year. In all likelihood dozens of Americans just since one member of congress was wounded. One is a national crisis and the other is ho-hum.
As for Hussein Louie, well he basically declared war on the State of Arizona some months ago.
Luka on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
I kid you not, if you’re looking for something else to watch, Fox’s regular prime-time line-up has an hour-long show beginning at 8:00 EST. It’s title Human Target. Ouch.
Seriously, though, what do Holder and JNap have to do with anything?
BuckeyeSam on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Will say a prayer instead. Then do some chores.
publiuspen on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
But not with your fellow liberals and the slime they’ve smeared in the past 4 days? New York Times? Paul Krugman?
Knucklehead on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Obama is going to appear from a cable above the audience riding a Chevy Volt
/
faraway on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Drinking Contest: Number of times Obama mentions God.
Tonight, we’ll all go to bed completely sober.
TXUS on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Krauthammer has stepped in it again. On Fox News earlier he jumped on Sarah for interjecting herself into the situation with her speech, that she was too late, etc. And now he thinks this will be a wonderful thing for Obama. I’m sure he does, and he can go to he!! as far as I’m concerned.
silvernana on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
This isn’t trolling at all. I’m announcing my affiliation with the Democratic party and I’m looking to engage in constructive dialogue. This is the exact opposite of trolling.
cjw79 on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Get your t-shirts, get your t-shirts here!
Shiny_Tiara on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
If the last four days haven’t made you an EX-registered democrat, then I’m gonna have to say it’s YOU who is incapable of intellectual honesty. “Partisan prism”? Puh-leeze. If you’re still a member of that hideous group after their grotesque political hijacking of this terrible crime, your prism has got to be permanently affixed to your face.
Rational Thought on January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM
A memorial service, the crowd cheers.
Bizarro world.
“I” count……..over 25…….
RealMc on January 12, 2011 at 8:01 PM
Hasn’t gone full pedal to the metal Stalin yet, eh?
Don’t worry-that’s just around the corner.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on January 12, 2011 at 8:01 PM
You know what other memorial service that turned into a rally complete with slogan and t-shirts? Paul Wellstone. And you know how well that went over.
Enoxo on January 12, 2011 at 8:01 PM
This oughta be good…Holder and Napolitano are going to read from the Bible?????
ladyingray on January 12, 2011 at 8:01 PM
I can’t make the rally. Can someone get me a tee shirt?
james23 on January 12, 2011 at 8:01 PM
This looks like a political event
Aquateen Hungerforce on January 12, 2011 at 8:01 PM
Nope: T’Pring.
massrighty on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
If anyone suggests we try to all get along … I’m going to curse the TV.
Paul-Cincy on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
I’ll wait to purchase the Doctor’s Coat that says, “I Survived the Blood Libel Leftwing Media Massacre of 2011″ or something like “I Came to Pay My Respects, and All I got was an ObamaCare Tea-Shirt”
Rovin on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
Well they are not.
Luka on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
Oh f**k.
the_nile on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
WTF?
Aquateen Hungerforce on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
The questions the Democrats and the media are asking are perfectly legitimate. The conclusions some people are drawing are not.
cjw79 on January 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM
oh. my. God.
Key West Reader on January 12, 2011 at 8:03 PM
Sorry, you don’t pass the sniff test. Have fun trying to derail the thread, champ.
Christien on January 12, 2011 at 8:03 PM
How solemn.
/
BuckeyeSam on January 12, 2011 at 8:03 PM
Awww, man, this is looking like so much cynical theatre I can hardly believe my eyes and ears. Quoting scripture and such? Hey, where’s Jeremiah Wright? The man plays us for fools. He has no shame.
petefrt on January 12, 2011 at 8:03 PM
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