Finally: Leader of free world takes position on … NCAA finals
posted at 2:15 pm on March 16, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Unlike many on the Right, I don’t consider this a nadir for the American presidency. It’s bad optics, to be sure, since the White House is doing its best to avoid taking specific positions on less pressing issues like the federal budget, no-fly zones in Libya, and whatever else is considered “the fray” these days. On the other hand, it’s big business that crosses state lines and has tremendous popularity with Americans, so presidential attention here is no more silly than Congressional hearings on the BCS, and a whole lot more benign. It would be less disturbing if it wasn’t so apparent that the President has put more thought into this than, say, his claims on car mileage, but that’s an OOTD for a different day.
Greg Hengler has the video:
President Obama starts off with a reminder for people to contribute money for the relief efforts in Japan, with charities listed at US Aid’s website. If you’re anxious to get those expert picks from the Oval Office, don’t get too impatient, as his pitch only lasts about 20 seconds.
I have about as much expertise in basketball as Obama does in bowling, so I have no idea whether the Prez Picks make sense or not. However, picking all the top seeds certainly qualifies as hedging one’s bets.
Update: One commenter rightly notes that “BCS Championship Series” comes from the Department of Redundancy Department. I’ve shortened it to BCS.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
The Picture of Flippancy.
blatantblue on March 16, 2011 at 2:17 PM
I’m not the only one who’d enjoy watching a game of hoops played between Palin and Obama.
maverick muse on March 16, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Present!
Akzed on March 16, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Tightening the bracket on Qaddafi!
Christien on March 16, 2011 at 2:19 PM
This man is truly pathetic and certainly no leader.
Winebabe on March 16, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Picking all the top seeds = voting “present”
brak on March 16, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Go duke!
cmsinaz on March 16, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Finally, an issue that is important to the American peo-
Hey, what’s Charlie Sheen up to?
fossten on March 16, 2011 at 2:19 PM
A proud moment in American History.
surrounded on March 16, 2011 at 2:20 PM
It’ not only the lameness of picking all No. 1 seeds, but now for three weeks we have to have hourly reports from ESPN on how his picks are doing. If he had the slightest pair he’d show some courage and pick a sleeper team. Instead he goes chalk.
He’s a joke.
JammieWearingFool on March 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM
If Obama’s voters had any capacity for embarrassment, they’d be so ashamed of having voted for this clown.
Can you imagine what we who voted for McCain would be doing if, instead of leading on the budget, Libya, Afghanistan, unemployment, the Japanese horror, etc., McCain spent all his time golfing, going on vacation, shooting baskets, and filling out his brackets? We’d be demanding McCain’s resignation and that he turn the reins over to Vice President Palin.
But for Barry, filling out his brackets is just part of appealing to his base. Embarrassments all, Barry and his voters.
ChrisB on March 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM
US AidUSAIDFixed
Christien on March 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Dear leader showing his multitasking feats…..
cmsinaz on March 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Atta Boy Nero.
Tim Zank on March 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Benign? I was thinking more like a$$inine
brdchris1 on March 16, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Obama is still clinging to his
guns and religionbasketball.Emperor Norton on March 16, 2011 at 2:22 PM
BCS = Bowl Championship Series
therefore:
BCS Championship Series = Bowl Championship Series Championship Series.
Just sayin’.
DaveO on March 16, 2011 at 2:22 PM
How did he ever find the time? You know he’s been busy packing for his trip to Rio. Oh, and Michelle the girls and granny are going to do some more vacationing too. Spring break don’t you know. What’s a couple million?Everyone needs a vacation right? After all the vacation in Hawaii was all the way back in December.
sandee on March 16, 2011 at 2:22 PM
He’s not not even slightly embarrassed over how utterly stupid this is. Absolutely no shame whatsoever.
Grayson on March 16, 2011 at 2:23 PM
So glad O-Dumbo has made his NCAA picks. I’ll certainly rest better tonight.
GrannyDee on March 16, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Now,my Basketball advice,is git on the court,
git in their face,and elbow somebody in the
face,and get bloody!
-Hopey/Changey (sarc).
canopfor on March 16, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Win.
If only ESPN had the stones to punk him with that chart.
“Now here in the middle-east bracket, you appear to have accidentally left some spaces blank…”
TexasDan on March 16, 2011 at 2:25 PM
As his default position on just about everything is to dithering until the issue resolves itself, I’d say it’s a positive development that he has pushed himself to come to a decision at all. Yes, I’d have preferred if it was on something slightly more important, such as the Libyan revolt, or the deficit, or terrorism, or drilling in the Gulf or trials for terrorist, but hay, you’ve got to start somewhere.
Fred 2 on March 16, 2011 at 2:25 PM
As others stated in the headlines thread, picking the number one seeds to make it to the Final Four is like voting, “Present”. But personally I think he is feeling a bit snake bit about his previous sport prognostications. He is trying to find out if he is really jinxed by performing a highly complex and statistically intense experiment.
There has been only one year in which all 4 number one made it to the Final Four and only 2 years in which 3 did since the tournament expanded to 64 teams. But on the flip side of that there has been only 1 year in which no number one seeds made it to the final four.
So Bambi is trying to determine if he is really jinxed with these picks. If at least 1 number one makes it he’ll decide he isn’t. But if no number ones makes it to the Final Four; well, I’m picking no number ones to make the Final Four since he picked them all to make it.
NotCoach on March 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM
I really hope this event does not interfere with accepting that “Government Transparency & Openness” award this afternoon…or planning his golf round in Rio this weekend…..that would be a real shame.
PatriotRider on March 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Wherein arises the new term: assibenign.
TexasDan on March 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Is he really going to Rio on Sunday…?
d1carter on March 16, 2011 at 2:27 PM
I really hope this event does not interfere with accepting that “Government Transparency & Openness” award this afternoon…or planning his golf round in Rio this weekend…..that would be a real shame.
PatriotRider on March 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Is that award for real? I thought that was a joke!
sandee on March 16, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Are you saying that it could get worse?
At lest he’s not currently trying to diminish our free-speech rights or disarm the people…..
Ohh wait.
Chip on March 16, 2011 at 2:28 PM
That’s how PBHO feels about this.
Bad optics? The man is a soulless wretch.
Bishop on March 16, 2011 at 2:29 PM
are you referring to his hardy-har-har unfunny reference to the Special Olympics?
ted c on March 16, 2011 at 2:29 PM
BasketBall Jones …. what a song – what a guy…
wheels on March 16, 2011 at 2:30 PM
American Idle.
ted c on March 16, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Some of the games Thursday and Friday are in Washington.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Barry doesn’t show up to watch a couple of the games in person, maybe make the ceremonial toss-up.
ChrisB on March 16, 2011 at 2:30 PM
John Wooden’sBarack Obama’s Pyramid of SuccessNow that would be a funny political cartoon!
Christien on March 16, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Are you speaking of the award or Obama’s “Leadership” in general?
Chip on March 16, 2011 at 2:31 PM
2:55PM EDT It’s the only thing on his schedule today that is not “closed press”…what a narcsassist…
PatriotRider on March 16, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Are you speaking of the award or Obama’s “Leadership” in general?
Chip on March 16, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Both.
sandee on March 16, 2011 at 2:32 PM
Outdoing Berlusconi.
maverick muse on March 16, 2011 at 2:35 PM
Oh man, does this mean he’s going to regulate it?
tomg51 on March 16, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Big whoop.
Japan is on the verge of a nuclear meltdown, Libyan rebels are being slaughtered, food prices are spiking, house building is tumbling, and we don’t have a budget.
But Obama’s complete lack of attention, his concentration on college sports, is okay because it’s big business? No.
amerpundit on March 16, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Portugese water dog stool sample
darwin-t on March 16, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Ah, Commerce Clause; I get it now. It’s all suddenly perfectly clear.
slickwillie2001 on March 16, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Wrong choice of words.
There’s nothing benign regarding Obama’s prioritization.
maverick muse on March 16, 2011 at 2:38 PM
Well you wouldn’t expect the Most Transparent Administration Evah to accept an award for transparency in a meeting that was closed to the press, would you?
For This administration, however, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
Lily on March 16, 2011 at 2:41 PM
With the Japan situation and the Libyan rebels getting crushed, I think this makes him look like an ass. Let him show off his picks.
WannabeAnglican on March 16, 2011 at 2:44 PM
Now if that isn’t a “now watch this drive” moment I don’t know what is.
His golf/NCAA/bullying/vacation/parties don’t really bother me by themselves. It’s him doing those while conspicuously absent when it comes to being a leader on other issues. If we also saw him working hard I could appreciate his playing hard. But in the absence of actual work it looks like he’s just fiddling.
He should at least make an effort to make it seem like he’s doing something. I know he couldn’t go cool the fuel rods and rescue kids in Japan. But he could make an effort to look like he’s engaged.
Remember when we were told his total lack of executive leadership experience wasn’t a negative because he more than made up for it by being an inspirational leader? Just by a speech he could make us faint, and when we woke up we’d be motivated to go out ad change the world.
He was mainly sold as an inspirational leader, and now that he’s totally failing in even that department we’re told “c’mon. Stop being so petty” when we point it out. I know it’s probably mostly optics, but when his optics were great (ie Cairo Speech)we were told optics were his major selling point. Take away his optics and what do you have?
Ampersand on March 16, 2011 at 2:44 PM
…. huh… if Memphis wins, then my employer will give me $100 for… drawing their name out of a box.
So, hummmmurrah… go Memphis?
Jeddite on March 16, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Obama flaunts openness award
*****************************
3/16/2011 8:22:11 AM
President Obama’s only event at the White House that isn’t closed to the press on Wednesday is a ceremony in which he’ll accept an award for being open to the press. (Snip)
The White House didn’t specify what Obama will say, if anything, when he accepts the award. But he probably won’t mention that his administration acted on fewer requests for information last year even as it was asked for more, a tally documented by the AP.
http://www.lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=602803
canopfor on March 16, 2011 at 2:46 PM
File this under “What if Bush had done this?” The action of the sycophantocracy that is the lame-stream media has truly outdone itself. Each March we have been fed the noxious pablum of Barry’s Final 4 picks. And ESPN slithers back for more each year. Yummy!
cyclown on March 16, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Oregon State.
Christien on March 16, 2011 at 2:47 PM
What, no Lexhamfox? Must be slackin’.
Lanceman on March 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Not nearly as bad as ATM machine.
RadClown on March 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Or saying “whether or not.”
Christien on March 16, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Le Crap,forgot original Post and Linky!
==========================================
Oh so transparent
Obama flaunts openness award
Updated: 03/16/11 1:37 PM
**************************
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0311/oh_so_transparent_bac12f28-96cb-4fb0-bf56-d325856ff3df.html
canopfor on March 16, 2011 at 2:51 PM
IIRC, Bush got hammered for yukking it up about the World Series a couple of times, after Iraq turned south.
But Obama is just showing how cool he is, because everyone has a NCAA bracket, or something.
rockmom on March 16, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Obama cares
faraway on March 16, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Christie or Palin, take your pick, would wipe the floor with this guy in fair fight (debate), any day, any time.
Bruno Strozek on March 16, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Didn’t Obama come out against the skimpy uniforms the cheerleaders wear at these basketball games and declare a “No Thigh Zone”????
;-)
albill on March 16, 2011 at 2:53 PM
sorry, bishop, you beat me to it.
faraway on March 16, 2011 at 2:53 PM
Can we please fire this a$$hole now? Basketball is more important than anything else that may be happening this week? Seriously…send him packing.
milwife88 on March 16, 2011 at 2:54 PM
Didn’t Obama come out against the skimpy uniforms the cheerleaders wear at these basketball games and declare a “No Thigh Zone”????
;-)
albill on March 16, 2011 at 2:53 PM
I don’t think he notices the girls if you know what I mean…wink,wink
sandee on March 16, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Finally, the President’s found something he’s qualified to do!
Rovin on March 16, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Clearly not a Boise State fan.
JohnGalt23 on March 16, 2011 at 2:56 PM
Congress is right to have hearings about the BCS – there’s a potential antitrust violation going on there, although the focus on the bowl games misses what I believe is the actual violaton (the revenue sharing among conferences). You’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue at stake here, and the revenue allocation system essentially guarantees that the favored conferences will stay favored while the disfavored conferences are unable to be rewarded, regardless of the quality of teams.
Maybe it’s not the most important thing in the world, and Orrin Hatch was only investigating because U of Utah got screwed out of the Nat’l Champs game (which is NOT an antitrust violation in itself), but it’s still a massive operation which could be illegal.
Remember antitrust violations are essentially just an elaborate form of stealing. The fact that it’s complicated and hard to understand doesn’t make it OK.
Proud Rino on March 16, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Remember what happened when he actually tried to get in the middle and try to lead in the political arena?
You got him calling Republicans “hostage takers”.
Notice he hasn’t done anything since? He’s out of his depth, and he and his team knows it. They’re probably telling him to not get involved, it’s safer that way.
JeffWeimer on March 16, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Wanna bet?
Lanceman on March 16, 2011 at 3:00 PM
If he picks the wrong final four, will he blame it on George Bush and then apologize on behalf of the US for the error in judgement?
sdd on March 16, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Under these current world conditions, the media would be calling for his impeachment for dereliction of duties and demand a complete mental exam.
Rovin on March 16, 2011 at 3:01 PM
Liberals would be doing the same stupid crap. But you know, “Liberals would have done it too” is not a very good excuse for doing stupid crap. First of all, it’s completely unprovable, and second, it doesn’t actually make the offense any better, just more common.
Proud Rino on March 16, 2011 at 3:04 PM
Bush also got hammered for playing less golf in 8 years than O’bama has played in 2 years.
As for Chimpy’s NCAA bracket, the Haters tried to make a laughingstock out of him, as this video proves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9x3MAqqG5U
Del Dolemonte on March 16, 2011 at 3:05 PM
When it comes to leadership, Barry has his
ThreeFlee-Goggles on.Christien on March 16, 2011 at 3:05 PM
See my post directly below yours.
Del Dolemonte on March 16, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Hmmm
Ohio is a swing state, so I gotta pick them. Wisconsin and their anti union thugs? No way they will advance.
I am sure that is how he made all his picks. If GM or GE had been in the bracket, he would have picked them to meet in the finals.
notanobot on March 16, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Most Japanese are overcome with joy knowing that Duke is the preferred team for The One.
“It’s okay that Obama took time away from our natural and atomic disasters to provide cultural and artistic relief. I thought the board he was writing on was correctly sized and the colors were okay. For an hour or two, I forgot my country was in middle of dealing with the worst tsunami and earthquake in recorded history, and about to become a radioactive wasteland. I envy Americans.”
BobMbx on March 16, 2011 at 3:14 PM
If any of these teams do not make the final four it because the BCS is Racist!!!!
Would ESPN have asked him to do this if he was President of China??
AverageJoe on March 16, 2011 at 3:15 PM
At the risk of being flamed, I’m going to point out the silver lining in Obama’s dereliction of duty. It forces the rest of the world to rethink their dependence on the USofA.
Many countries expect us to take care of their problems when they are fully capable, or there are other nations just as capable, of pulling the load. Just like we talk here about people needing to get over their dependence on good ‘ol Uncle Sam.
I’m not isolationist, just concerned that our role as the world’s policeman is overrated.
Libya is a perfect example. Whether Ka-daffy stays or goes has very little impact on us. For France and Italy, the opposite is true. Those two nations are more than capable of putting together their own version of a no-fly zone without our help. (For that matter, why does France CARE what Russia thinks about it?
France already recognized the rebellion as the new legitimate government of Libya. Why don’t they help? Why does it always have to be us getting in harms way to save the interests of some other country?
Don’t get me wrong. Obama is totally out of his depth here. However, there may be some good that comes out of his incompetence after all.
Ace ODale on March 16, 2011 at 3:17 PM
Like….reminding everyone on the planet how much liberals really do suck?
BobMbx on March 16, 2011 at 3:20 PM
Perfect!..Excellent post!..:)
Dire Straits on March 16, 2011 at 3:20 PM
The Silence of the Bam
faraway on March 16, 2011 at 3:22 PM
The problem is opportunity cost. What could a President be doing with his time that was more beneficial to the people of his country and the world? Lots. Obama is a waste of space.
petunia on March 16, 2011 at 3:23 PM
You fail to understand the point of the comparison. It is not an attempt to draw moral equivalency. It is an attempt to point out that the liberal media fails to blast Obama for his stupid actions and to point out the fact that they would be all over Bush for something like this. And rightly so.
NotCoach on March 16, 2011 at 3:24 PM
This idiot of a POTUS is now THE official textbook example of leadership at its absolute worst!
He has reduced himself to becoming the punchline of an international joke!
pilamaye on March 16, 2011 at 3:25 PM
If I were those teams I’d be worried…considering The One’s track record on picking winners. LOL
Deanna on March 16, 2011 at 3:27 PM
On the other hand, this year’s selections have shown Obama has learned how to spell “Syracuse”. So don’t think he’s just been sitting idly by twiddling his thumbs over the past year.
jon1979 on March 16, 2011 at 3:35 PM
He ruins everything I love.
Bee on March 16, 2011 at 3:37 PM
You honestly didn’t cringe at all when Obama took to the links the day 3 reactors were exploding in Japan- and his aides gushed about how Obama’s been itching for Spring so he could golf again? It’s just tremendously bad form.
Chuck Schick on March 16, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Japan is heading for 10,000 dead -
Possible drift to US of toxic clouds –
Our currency is exploding-
Libya is going in for the final kill of its own people -
Iraq is a mess –
Afghanistan is going nowhere -
No budget and no hope of getting one -
Largest deficits in world history -
ADD 25 more major world and USA issues:
AND THIS POS SITS AND BRACKETS; Does this not finally get to even his so called friends – even his pals must see the UnAmerican and incompetent and simply disgusting ways this scum is acting. I just can’t take it anymore… Come on 2012
highninside on March 16, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Who is giving the Award ??? A Sleeper Cell Media Group ??? The Silence of the Lamb Award Goes To — Envelope please …
wheels on March 16, 2011 at 3:50 PM
So, we can add “head up Obama’s ass” to the list of ESPN’s many, many sins.
tsj017 on March 16, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Oh, I forgot, he is headed for Rio on Monday with the Mrs.
highninside on March 16, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Well yeah! After all his job here is done, he’s picked his favorite. And put Biden in charge of the budget. What’s left?
jeanie on March 16, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Benign? Nothing benign about that tumor. It’s an aggressive malignancy that must be excised and the surrounding area treated with chemo and radiation.
SKYFOX on March 16, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Am I the only one being blinded by Duh One’s laser-like focus on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS?
smfic on March 16, 2011 at 4:04 PM
Run Forest Run……………
justonevictory on March 16, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Click on picking all top seeds linkand you tell me,
Dude is stoned?
Again Urkel outsources!
Even some stupid basketball picks this tool cannot pick he just goes with the one seeds. Pathetic and in the case of Ohio State I hate to say it but I hope they all lose all jinxed by the clown ever in search of a parade!
Cuda 12
dhunter on March 16, 2011 at 4:29 PM
As usual, he and Mooshelle are a dollar short and a day late. Carnival in Rio was last week.
Del Dolemonte on March 16, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Maybe it’s just as well that he does nothing. When he does act, it usually makes things worse.
I miss Bush. Heck, I miss Nixon.
KillerKane on March 16, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »