He ends, as did Woodward and as any indictment of White House boorishness evidently must as a matter of professional obligation, by noting that St. Barack would surely frown upon such treatment

Just more proof that leftists are as dumb as a bag of hammers.

turfmann on February 28, 2013 at 3:48 PM
OhEssYouCowboys on February 28, 2013 at 3:55 PM
OhEssYouCowboys on February 28, 2013 at 4:00 PM
LegendHasIt on February 28, 2013 at 4:38 PM

Back in 2008-2009, HotAir commenter “TheBigOldDog” kept a running list and kept adding to it as new similarities came to light…

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — Santayana

* Speeches in stadiums filled with mesmerized, adoring audiences – Check
* An uninspiring background before meteoric rise – Check
* Creates his own new symbols of power – Check
* Associates with racists, hatemongers and violent radicals – Check
* A propaganda machine willing to show him only in the best possible light – Check
* Uses, “glorious leader” style Agitprop posters common in totalitarian nations – Check (see German campaign poster for example)
* Wants Secret Police force – Check
* Somebody powerful people think they can control – Check
* Often dismissed as a light-weight by his opponents – Check
* Seeks to replace God with the State – Check
* People adopting his name as their own – Check
* Inspires adoration art – Check
* Appropriates symbols of past German glory – Check
* Never plans on giving up power – Check (Obama to be president for the next “eight to 10 years”)
* A narcissistic megalomaniac – Check
* Brazenly Takes credit for other people’s accomplishments – Check
* Wants to build “youth” movement through Universal National State service – Check
* Acts as if in power before he is – Check
* Some followers believe him to be divine – Check
* Worshiped and aided greatly by the media – Check
* Has his own salute – Check
* Has thuggish supporters intimdating political opponents – Check
* Using the power of the State to silence critics – Check

TheBigOldDog on September 27, 2008 at 7:20 PM

That was all BEFORE Obama was elected.

Less than three months into Obama’s first term, the list had grown to also include:

* Songs written to glorify him performed by children – Check
* Takes control of large comapnies and the economy as a whole – Check
* Attacks the very business leaders who supported his rise once in power – Check

TheBigOldDog on April 1, 2009 at 7:43 PM

And about a year ago, on the post:

Finally: The Obama Spangled Banner
posted at 2:30 pm on March 14, 2012 by Ed Morrissey

I added suggested that TheBigOldDog’s list should be ammended to now include:

Followers fly a flag with his image – Check

Pay attention to history, and see these flags.

If anyone thinks that couldn’t happen here… Think again.

How surprising is it then to see his minions acting like bullies? That’s all these people are! They acquire and use POWER in absolutely everything they do. I would not be at all surprised to hear stories of an Obamaton bullying his own family. That is how deeply the culture of power is embedded in Obama and, after years of emulating The One, his entire team. Look for more stories like this one.

Nice knee-caps you have there!

NBC’s now calling Woodward a “temporary spokesman” for one of the two major parties with not a hint of irony.

Woodward has always been a Republican operative. Didn’t you know that comrade? /Orwell

farsighted on February 28, 2013 at 6:34 PM

Don’t forget his book about the Evil CIA Director…can you say, “Deathbed”?

More than a few of today’s Democrat Media were inspired to get into the field by Woodward, especially after he was played by Leftist God Robert Redford in the movie.

If this were a lesser “reporter”, they wouldn’t be squealing like stuck pigs about this. But this dude has something like a dozen Pulitzer Prizes with his byline co-attached, has won every other major “journalism” award under the moon, and yet is now suddenly being castigated by his disciples when he dares to be Honest.

-Nietzsche

We (back in the day LOL) used to have at least a few investigative journalists
giving colonoscopies to politicians on both sides of the aisle.
There were always informants who led the reporters to stories.
They had to dig, but the stories were there. Especially when it
came to suspected corruption.

And then there were none.

My personal opinion is that Woodward and others should quit
whining about the White House threatening them and do their jobs.
Was Woodward worried about Nixon threatening him?

Marcus Traianus on February 28, 2013 at 4:08 PM

I liked this line from Ace.

“Apparently there was no threat, and yet the threat has been executed nevertheless.”

Spot on. Woodward claimed he was threatened. The reaction from the WH and its media mongrels was to personally attack Woodward, thereby validating Woodward’s claim that he was being threatened and would regret what he says.

“Inside the West Wing, Woodward is viewed, one top Democrat said, as a “self-righteous kook,” while an administration official said he “has been going nuts for no good reason.”

It’s called character assassination. Woodward is being personally attacked for complaining that one of Comrade O’s lackeys tried to bully him.

Note he didn’t even say Dear Leader was behind it or knew about it. On the contrary, he asserted Comrade O did not know about it. Yet for daring to publicly expose it and complain, he is now being personally attacked by the MSM propaganda machine and by WH operatives.

And we’re supposed to believe Woodward misread it all and is over reacting. Apparently not.

“This can’t be what Obama Uncle Joe Stalin wants.”

Fixed it for ya…

You need someone like Woodward or Fournier who’s well established and particularly pissed off to gain any insight.

I doubt this was the first time someone in Comrade O’s inner circle tried to bully and strong arm Woodward, or someone Woodward knows well. I doubt it was the first time someone from the admin yelled at Woodward, or someone Woodward knows well, over the phone for an extended period of time.

NBC’s now calling Woodward a “temporary spokesman” for one of the two major parties with not a hint of irony.

Woodward has always been a Republican operative. Didn’t you know that comrade? /Orwell

A column assuredly ghost-written for Michelle O appears in the WSJ today.

She is interviewed by Robin Whatshername (cancer survivor) to discuss the “success” of Michelle’s anti-obesity dietary intrusion on American lives, and the “wonderfulness” of the Obama’s (because they care!) is reinforced. Stephanopoulos fairly creams himself in the introduction to that segment and the wrap up. Then (black) woman to (black) woman, the two celebrities superficially discuss nutrition. The interview could have been just between two women , but the optics of having a cancer survivor field the interview is icing on the cake. The racial angle optics is the cherry on top.

PolAgnostic on February 28, 2013 at 5:35 PM

What he’s going to say next is “I’m sorry I said that. Now can’t I please be invited to the parties again?”

He just had a brain-fart followed by a hissy-fit, and the “youngsters” in his profession can’t wait to move him (and his peers) out so that they can move up.

They’re not whores. You have to pay whores. These guys do it for free.

Missy on February 28, 2013 at 5:00 PM

Ah…sluts then.

Matt YglesiasVerified account‏@mattyglesias

Woodward’s managed to make me suspect Nixon got a raw deal.

Schadenfreude on February 28, 2013 at 3:28 PM

I’ve never doubted that. Nixon, for his personal faults, was an excellent representative of American interests abroad.

Little known fact: Nixon never increased troop levels in SE Asia. In fact, he began drawing down almost immediately after taking office. But somehow, he gets blamed for “expanding the war”.

And that is seared into my memory.

Lourdes on February 28, 2013 at 4:08 PM

Lourdes, part of O’s “charm” offensive is to put his arm or hand on the person that he is talking to in order to feign empathy. The techique is transparent as all get out.

budfox on February 28, 2013 at 4:06 PM

What you say makes sense. This administration is full of distractions and deflections away from the real issues.

Woodward wrote about Obysmal’s role in the CR issue and its obvious politicization prior to the election. He exposes O’s role in orchestrating the sequester via Lew’s advice, little thinking that his behaviors would have demonstrable consequences.

The irony is that Woodward telephoned the WH with his intentions to write the original article.

The younger media members are easily intimidated. As rockmom wrote, they were part of the crew that eased O into the presidency and thus see their role as continued supporters. They are nothing more than transcriptionists of WH propaganda and agitation tricks. These youngsters do not understand the purpose of the First Amendment and the role of the press (media) in making our elected personnel accountable. Their skills in research are wanting; they are accustomed to churning out boilerplate with WH-approved talking points and word choices.

Even the much older Chris Matthews has trumpeted that he sees his role as making sure that the O administration succeeds. (Succeeds in what is the larger question.) Now he announces that he will do the same for Hillary C. should she plan to run.

I am not so sure he will regret it…he knew what he was doing when he started talking..if he did not want to piss people off, he would have just shut up.

Terrye on February 28, 2013 at 5:08 PM

.
Think it through a little further …

… Woodward is no starry eyed idealist – he knew what he was doing when he made the “madness like I have not seen in a very long time” reference.

He knew pointing out the SCOAMF’s lie regarding sequestration and calling him out on “moving the goalposts” would bring him an angry call (during which the REAL threats were made) and a follow up “mea culpa” email with the “soft” threat.

And he knows putting the last part out in the public arena would set off the Kneepad Media in an all out attempt to discredit him.

Bob Woodward knows everyone who is anyone in Washington. He has been privy to their secrets for the last 40 years.

If he has decided to take on the White House, while giving the SCOAMF the opportunity to throw others under the bus …

… isn’t it more likely than not he has his plan for how he will move on from this point? Including what he may say next?

Update: Via Josh Kraushaar, no threats, just a little reputational tear-down:

“Inside the West Wing, Woodward is viewed, one top Democrat said, as a “self-righteous kook,” while an administration official said he “has been going nuts for no good reason.”

And this is how they regard Bob Woodward. Imagine how willing they are to destroy a less respectable journalist.

Doughboy on February 28, 2013 at 3:46 PM

Should anyone who has not been in a coma and even remotely sentient be surprised by any of this?

The media are all invested. Anyone who does not worship The Precious will be run over by the bus.

We have seen this over and over again. The only slight surprise is that Woodward was silly enough not to have realized that his wandering off the plantation would get him a very quick push under the bus. Perhaps he thought he was immune. Why would he be – an ambassador certainly wasn’t.

No one is immune. The most important thing is to protect The Precious.

SukieTawdry on February 28, 2013 at 5:13 PM

Well said. Even when they do take issue occasionally with Obama’s actions or policies, they stamp it back down into what passes for their consciences “for the greater good.”