Video: The obligatory “Obama gets quake news while on the golf course” clip
posted at 8:05 pm on August 23, 2011 by Allahpundit
Via Mediaite, no one was hurt and almost no damage was done so no one’s going to care tomorrow what O was up to when it happened. Like everyone else in America with a Twitter account, I myself spent the aftermath goofing on overreactions various and sundry, especially from the media. (As I write this, the front page of the Daily Mail’s website makes the quake sound like some sort of new 9/11.) But the jokes only really started flying after everyone felt sure this was officially No Big Deal. Which is why I’m surprised by the Journal’s timeline of how things went down at the Vineyard:
Shortly before 3 p.m. Mr. Obama paused from his round at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs, Mass., to convene a conference call on the earthquake with top advisers, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. The president was briefed on the scope of the earthquake and its impact on infrastructure in the affected areas up and down the East Coast.
“The president was told that there are no initial reports of major infrastructure damage, including at airports and nuclear facilities and that there were currently no requests for assistance,” Mr. Earnest said in a statement…
Mr. Obama, who has been vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard with his family since last Thursday, had arrived at Farm Neck Golf Club just after 1:30 p.m., about 20 minutes before the 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit. It is unclear if he, like many on Martha’s Vineyard, felt the earthquake at the time.
The president was seen talking on a cell phone after teeing off on the first hole.
He was on the course for an hour after the quake struck without comprehensive information about how bad it was? Bush spent seven minutes reading “My Pet Goat” after the planes went in and he’ll hear about it until the day he dies; imagine if the quake had knocked a few bridges down and it turned out later that Obama had spent the following hour teeing off. I’m amazed he didn’t run from the course as soon as he heard the news (presumably via that phone call after the first hole), just to be on the safe side. A lot of people were lucky today that things weren’t worse. He’s one of them.
Ah well. The media’s not letting him slide on this, but as I say, most people won’t care. No harm, no foul. Exit quotation from the one and only Michael J. Nelson, who’s keeping the quake fun rolling on Twitter: “Obama golfing when earthquake hit. Ball on edge of cup rolled in, beating Judge Smails. Biden danced to ‘I’m All Right’ as credits rolled.”
Blowback
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Great! Now he has something to blame his crappy golf game on. Bush is in the clear on this one.
29Victor on August 23, 2011 at 8:07 PM
Pet Goat moment?!?.. :)
Dire Straits on August 23, 2011 at 8:08 PM
Wearing a My Pet Goat cap?
carbon_footprint on August 23, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Obama’s rabid rabbit moment.
csdeven on August 23, 2011 at 8:10 PM
It’s just been established by the Dep’t of the Interior that the D.C. earthquake occurred on a rare and obscure faultline, apparently known as “Bush’s Fault”.
Knucklehead on August 23, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Dana Perrino says the earthquake is being too hard on Obama.
/?
SouthernGent on August 23, 2011 at 8:11 PM
He is so used to moving heaven and earth, he didn’t notice…
d1carter on August 23, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Well, yes, Presidents have a lot to do when earthquakes hit. Just look at California. Why every time, the president has gone out to California to rally rescue workers, inspect building foundations, co-ordinate relief supplies, help extricate trapped people. The list just goes on and on. That’s why we have FEMA.
Skandia Recluse on August 23, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Obama inherited this earthquake.
TugboatPhil on August 23, 2011 at 8:12 PM
..hey lightweights, it was only five-something. Get back to us out here in California when you have a roller in the sevens.
*jeeeesh!*
The War Planner on August 23, 2011 at 8:15 PM
I am thankful for several things today. In particular, that no one was apparently hurt by the VA quake.
But, I am ever so grateful that earthquakes don’t come with big black clouds. Or we’d have to endure several days of “Mother Nature is a racist” drivel from the media.
Of course, a hurricane is forming so we’re not out of the woods just yet.
IndieDogg on August 23, 2011 at 8:16 PM
OT
Just read on HuffPo that Al Sharpton has passed his “trial” phase for MSNBC and now has been granted a long-term contract as a full-fledged NBC News star. Hilarious.
Marcus on August 23, 2011 at 8:17 PM
…same as always, and may he continue to do so, consistently.
Most elegant, classy and beutiful first lady, evah.
Schadenfreude on August 23, 2011 at 8:20 PM
. . . and after Hurricane Irene passes through the northeast this weekend, he will tell us he inherited the wind.
honsy on August 23, 2011 at 8:20 PM
The CNN chick is ….laughing…at the end.
Not good for Bamster.
ex Dem from Miami on August 23, 2011 at 8:21 PM
If they “inked” a deal with Big Al, he’s there for life. That’s an affirmative action hire they’ll never be able to undo.
Suckers.
Tim Zank on August 23, 2011 at 8:21 PM
Ok that was a good one. I will overlook the fact that you are a Roemer plant and give you some credit for a good joke. :)
Geochelone on August 23, 2011 at 8:22 PM
He’ll blame the quake in his Sept jobs outline.
The focus on the Vineyard is ‘great’.
Schadenfreude on August 23, 2011 at 8:22 PM
Has Obama apologized to the quake yet?
Left Coast Right Mind on August 23, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Winner!
BierManVA on August 23, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Obama golfing when earthquake hit. Ball on edge of cup rolled in, beating Judge Smails. Biden danced to ‘I’m All Right’ as credits rolled.”
Hey Moose, hey Rocco! Help Obama find his office!
50sGuy on August 23, 2011 at 8:27 PM
For a certain segment of the voting populace, he could stand on the capital steps reading the communist manifesto in a tutu, backed by a burning American flag, and they’d still adore and vote for him.
BacaDog on August 23, 2011 at 8:27 PM
So will this earthquake join the list of “headwinds” that Barry has had to face?
GarandFan on August 23, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Comparing a 5.8 earthquake with no major damage or injuries to a terrorist attack where planes crashed into the World Trade Center is utterly ridiculous.
But, since you’re drawing the comparison, let’s go there.
Obama was phoned and told there was an earthquake. At first, they probably didn’t know the extent of the damage, but obviously none was initially apparent and it soon became clear there wasn’t major damage or injury. If there had been, I’m sure Obama would have been notified and reacted accordingly.
Now, Bush had the words “the nation is under attack” uttered into his ear then spent the next 7 minutes reading a children’s book.
What could he have done in that time? Well, for one, give to OK to shoot down any hijacked planes heading toward civilian, military or government targets. Remember, hijacked planes were still in the air when Bush was told of the second plane hitting the WTC.
To compare what happened today to what happened on 9/11 is an absolute farce.
Tom_Shipley on August 23, 2011 at 8:32 PM
Hey lightweight, let our brothers in Alaska know when you start getting some in the 8.x range!
BierManVA on August 23, 2011 at 8:32 PM
optics schmoptics…all hail dear leader…he can do NO wrong…
cmsinaz on August 23, 2011 at 8:33 PM
From Drudge:
‘All DC leaves work at same time, US experiences brief economic recovery’…
Blake on August 23, 2011 at 8:34 PM
Yikes! Michelle adjusted her “tiny purple shorts”. Please, Mam, don’t do it again.
Mason on August 23, 2011 at 8:38 PM
I haven’t seen an update anywhere…are we to assume TOTUS survived the quake unharmed?
Kevin71 on August 23, 2011 at 8:38 PM
President Obama has more than just a golf handicap.
ajacksonian on August 23, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Not the setup I would have used, but that’s just me.
SlaveDog on August 23, 2011 at 8:41 PM
Dire Straits on August 23, 2011 at 8:08 PM
Oops. I spoke too soon. Didn’t catch the Pet Goat reference by AP. Sorry. I missed seeing that cause of panning on the phone.
Geochelone on August 23, 2011 at 8:43 PM
But, but did the oceans begin to fall?
Dhuka on August 23, 2011 at 8:43 PM
Ah, if Knucklehead is this person then we have a “winner”, otherwise…….there’s some credit not due.
Rovin on August 23, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Who’s ear do we whisper in to say that Oblahblah is attacking America?
darwin-t on August 23, 2011 at 8:46 PM
“Who caused this earthquake that made me muff my putt? I want them investigated!”
-PBHO
Bishop on August 23, 2011 at 8:49 PM
You’re quite right Tom…..Joe Biden’s the farce and so is the “golfer-in-chief” who’s already taken this country to 9/11 levels financially. Another year of this economy and we’ll have a similar death toll.
Rovin on August 23, 2011 at 8:52 PM
If you keep whining, you’ll trigger aftershocks.
Left Coast Right Mind on August 23, 2011 at 8:57 PM
I went to the New Zealand Herald and their headline was something like “100 Year Quake Strikes United States”.
I just found it so odd they were playing it up to be so much worse than what it really was.
ButterflyDragon on August 23, 2011 at 9:02 PM
I think what angers me more about this, is not the earth quake, or O’s reaction to it. But on Sunday, Obama’s deputy press secretary spouted that it was ok for Obama to take a vacation, because…it was the last they’d get, before his daughters started back to school. That’s a good enough reason, but when is he spending time with them, if all he’s doing is golfing?
Seems to me, that even in his family it’s ALL about him!
capejasmine on August 23, 2011 at 9:12 PM
You’re absolutely right. Just like it’s a farce to compare Obama to a messiah! Right? Right????
capejasmine on August 23, 2011 at 9:14 PM
I’m looking forward to Bobo and Brain Guy’s tweets.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on August 23, 2011 at 9:14 PM
“…her enviably toned thighs”??
Oh, PUKE!!
mrt721 on August 23, 2011 at 9:15 PM
It’s just been established by the Dep’t of the Interior that the D.C. earthquake occurred on a rare and obscure faultline, apparently known as “Bush’s Fault”.
Knucklehead on August 23, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Rare and obscure? Surely, you jest? Bush’s Fault is the bedrock that Washington, under Obama’s leadership, rests on.
ardenenoch on August 23, 2011 at 9:15 PM
..zap! You know I got a similar response from Mrs War Planner. (Who is Japanese.)
The War Planner on August 23, 2011 at 9:16 PM
Heh – add one more to the chorus of “well dones.”
inviolet on August 23, 2011 at 9:16 PM
I was hoping it was the Michael J. Nelson and not some pundit that shared a name with my hero. I won’t go into my thoughts about Mike vs. Joel.
rihar on August 23, 2011 at 9:18 PM
LOL – at this moment (because of reading his name in this post) am checking out a Hulu Rifftrax while surfing. IMO Mike and Joel’s MST3Ks both are good but for different reasons. Sounds like you like Mike better.
inviolet on August 23, 2011 at 9:21 PM
It IS the same Michael J. Nelson of MST3K and Rifftrax fame.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on August 23, 2011 at 9:23 PM
ROFLMAO!!!
I’ve seen those thighs before. On a platter for Christmas. LOL
capejasmine on August 23, 2011 at 9:23 PM
They will use this to say they actually have been critical of Obama and of course the easily led ie the mushy middle will agree.
aikidoka on August 23, 2011 at 9:24 PM
No, I like them both just fine. I was hoping to spark a nerdtastic Kirk/Picard style flame war. Oh well, I supposed I could have tried harder.
Yes, I just phrased my statement poorly. Sorry.
rihar on August 23, 2011 at 9:28 PM
Headline from the link:
One thing those shorts have never been is tiny…
Yeah, so rare Øbama 2012 (Perish the thought) has set up a campaign office there.
2ipa on August 23, 2011 at 9:46 PM
That’s right Tom…Obama had to be reached on a golf course where he has a “laser like focus on jobs” to be told that there was an Earth Quake and we did not know the extent of the damage…..to which he replied “play on”…..
….because his secret service told him to wait until it was clear for him to leave.Remember genius….the country was under attack….it is not the time for the President to jump up and run away.
God you are an imbecile….
there were over 22 thousand planes in the air at the time Tom…..nobody knew what was going on…..why would the President issue orders as serious as this within minutes of him finding out we are being attacked and nobody knowing exactly what was going on.
Besides…according to many democrats…Bush orchestrated 9/11…why would he want to stop it ….right genius.
Baxter Greene on August 23, 2011 at 10:09 PM
5.9 is still a pretty hefty earthquake. I was in the 1971 6.4 Sylmar (San Fernando Valley) quake. We had a number of aftershocks in the 4.0+ range and they were nothing to sneeze at.
zonataman on August 23, 2011 at 10:17 PM
That’s one bicycle seat that will have to be taken out of service.
slickwillie2001 on August 23, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Tom Shipley? Wow talk about a blast from the troll past. And as moronic as ever.
angryed on August 23, 2011 at 10:44 PM
The hurricane is going to hit, and hit Martha’s Vineyard, so I would say that Obama is coming “home”…
right2bright on August 23, 2011 at 11:14 PM
Zero probably wants to know why he can’t get a real crisis to deal with, something on the order of a Katrina. Oh, well, there’s still a hurricane coming.
Kissmygrits on August 23, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Na na na na na na….
ChuckTX on August 24, 2011 at 12:02 AM
Mark Levin made the same point on his radio show today… He mocked the LSM too…
CCRWM on August 24, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Forget that, who’s the news babe?
Ortzinator on August 24, 2011 at 1:14 AM
Our Class Warrior-in-Chief rails against ‘millionaires & billionaires’ on his Midwestern downgrade bus tour, then ironically heads straight to Martha’s Vineyard.
HellCat on August 24, 2011 at 2:00 AM
I’ve never seen happier people on vacation. Except maybe the Griswolds.
ButterflyDragon on August 24, 2011 at 2:18 AM
Who let that fellow back in?
SgtSVJones on August 24, 2011 at 3:33 AM
NOT “Present”!!!
landlines on August 24, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Meh.
First time I’ve seen CNN in a while, I see they are back to using “The President” instead of “Mr.” (Bush).
reaganaut on August 24, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Ah, I see….they also whispered into his ear that there were other hijacked planes in the air, is that what you’re saying?
Perhaps they were even telling him exactly which planes those were?
Or perhaps they didn’t know about any other hijacked planes and should have just suggested to Bush that any planes still heading for “civilian, military or government targets”, which would include EVERY SINGLE PLANE IN THE AIR AT THAT TIME should be shot down?
God you leftists are stupid.
runawayyyy on August 24, 2011 at 4:07 PM