Is the Obama campaign really incompetent?

First, Team Obama's problems on these issues are not necessarily a sign of the campaign's incompetence, but are perhaps an inevitable product of having to manage the Democratic Party's voting coalition. … Joe Biden's allegedly premature comments supporting same sex marriage gave the media the opportunity to grill the White House about the gap between Obama's stated position and the position the media believed to be his true position. … The Democrat apparat is well aware of how much financial support they received from Wall Street, hedge funds and private equity firms in the pre-Obama era, but young Occupiers, Big Labor dinosaurs and assorted class warriors would like to plead ignorance…

Obamateurism of the Day

At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents. … It comes literally from Obama's first moments in office, when he displayed a lack of historical knowledge about the office he now holds … I didn't get started with the OotD feature until a little over a week ago, but had I been thinking about it from the beginning of the Barack Obama presidency, this would have started us off…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

Suddenly jobs saved or created "never expected to be the public accounting of Obama's goal to save or create 3. … The other entries might start griping about vilification, start reading other polls, or ... start vilifying other entries. … Happy Mother's Day to all our readers, and what better way to celebrate than picking the mother of all OOTDs this week?…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." … He could always lay the blame for these onto the voters who selected an unprepared amateur for the Oval Office, but that would be -- well, irresponsible. … It's time again for Hot Air readers to toast their favorite for Obamateurism of the Week, and it's been a boom week for selections, even if Obama was a bust with two different Prime Ministers this week…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

It's getting harder, of course, to ditch the notion that the chief executive is an amateur -- at least at research and logic. … After all, one of the most important pieces of political writing is the weekly poll, which has the power to, er, get people to vote in it. … It's time to choose the first Obamateurism of the Week in 2010, and we don't want to take it too nonchalantly…

Poll: Obamateurism of the Week

I'll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. … I'll announce the winner on tomorrow's Ed Morrissey Show with Kevin McCullough at 3 pm ET! … On Sundays, rather than publish a new Obamateurism of the Day, we'll take polls to discover which Obamateurism Hot Air readers liked best, or in this case, maybe found most embarrassing…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the week?

Suddenly jobs saved or created "never expected to be the public accounting of Obama's goal to save or create 3. … People are unhappy with Obama's performance because he didn't get enough public face time to explain himself … Once again, it's time to bow to the Obamateurism of the Week, and once again, we have a lot of easy answers for you, but a tough decision…

Choose the Obamateurism of the Year: flight 3

Now we have two finalists: the bow to Saudi King Abdullah, and Obama's warning on deficits in the middle of the biggest spending spree by any administration outside of FDR. … Over the next few days, I'll offer polls in different brackets (or "flights") of previous Obamateurism of the Week winners, and you'll pick the winners between five or six selections in a new poll each day, except Christmas. … We've been highlighting the amateurish stumbles of our new President since March, and now it's time for Hot Air readers to pick the Obamateurism of the Year!…

Choose the Obamateurism of the Year: flight 4

That last winner turned out to be easier than I figured -- it won almost half of the votes in yesterday's semifinal. … Over the next few days, I'll offer polls in different brackets (or "flights") of previous Obamateurism of the Week winners, and you'll pick the winners between five or six selections in a new poll each day, except Christmas. … We've been highlighting the amateurish stumbles of our new President since March, and now it's time for Hot Air readers to pick the Obamateurism of the Year!…

Choose the Obamateurism of the Year: flight 5

But don't get all wee-wee'd up if you can't define which Obamateurism should proceed to the Embarrassing Eight finals, because it's not like people are GOING TO DIE if your pick doesn't win, or that schools will be out of session while we're deciding, or something... … Over the next few days, I'll offer polls in different brackets (or "flights") of previous Obamateurism of the Week winners, and you'll pick the winners between five or six selections in a new poll each day, except Christmas. … We've been highlighting the amateurish stumbles of our new President since March, and now it's time for Hot Air readers to pick the Obamateurism of the Year!…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … And for goodness' sake, if you're going to crib off of someone else's work, don't make it obvious. … The word is given -- it's time to get your figures straight and choose the Obamateurism of the Week!…

Choose the Obamateurism of the Year!

And now we have the final poll ready for Hot Air readers on the last day of the year -- the Embarrassing Eight! … Over the next few days, I'll offer polls in different brackets (or "flights") of previous Obamateurism of the Week winners, and you'll pick the winners between five or six selections in a new poll each day, except Christmas. … We've been highlighting the amateurish stumbles of our new President since March, and now it's time for Hot Air readers to pick the Obamateurism of the Year!…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Obama leaves Clinton at press conference podium on tax deal to attend Christmas party (2010) … This may be the Bain, er, bane of the White House, all things being equal, but for the rest of us, an endless source of amusement…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Unlike some "emergency" appointments, you've seen everything on this list already, even if you'd rather have not seen them at all. … This may sound familiar, but there's just no hiding from this week's Obamateurism of the Week poll!…

Obamateurism of the Day

If you're going to wave the bloody shirt like Marc Antony, especially if it has your own name on the T-shirt, it's a good idea to remember to at least say the name Julius Caesar. … He doesn't get an Obamateurism for making the story about himself; politicians do that all the time. … No, Barack Obama didn't make an Obamateurism by telling the story of the woman who asked to be buried in her Obama T-shirt after dying from breast cancer…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the week?

I'll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. … I'll announce the winner on tomorrow's Ed Morrissey Show with Kevin McCullough at 3 pm ET! … On Sundays, rather than publish a new Obamateurism of the Day, we'll take polls to discover which Obamateurism Hot Air readers liked best, or in this case, maybe found most embarrassing…

Poll: Obamateurism of the Year, Semi-Final Flight 1

Tomorrow comes the second semifinal flight, followed by the final poll that selects the Obamateurism of the Year! … Today's poll has the first five winners of the OOTY polls, and the top two votegetters will advance to the final poll. … Now we come down to the final eleven choices split between two semi-final flights for the Obamateurism of the Year…

Choose the Obamateurism of the Year!

I also hand-selected a few second-place winners in a second-chance bracket, which will run next week. … Over the next few days, I'll offer polls in different brackets (or "flights") of previous Obamateurism of the Week winners, and you'll pick the winners between five or six selections in a new poll each day, except Christmas. … We've been highlighting the amateurish stumbles of our new President since March, and now it's time for Hot Air readers to pick the Obamateurism of the Year!…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I really want to figure out a way where I can spend more time outside of Washington listening and learning and engaging the American people." … After telling Boehner and McConnell that "there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012," announces March start to re-election bid … At least a vote today won't require an explanation of why that same vote would be totally irresponsible tomorrow…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Remember that one can easily blame the press, but in the end, when you can't get much right except the rates, the joke ends up being on you. … Don't even think about passing the buck -- it's time to fulfill your dreams and pick the Obamateurism of the Week!…

Choose the Obamateurism of the Year: Flight 2

Yesterday we chose the first finalist, and no one could be particularly shocked to see that the bow to Saudi King Abdullah won the first slot in the year-end poll. … Over the next few days, I'll offer polls in different brackets (or "flights") of previous Obamateurism of the Week winners, and you'll pick the winners between five or six selections in a new poll each day, except Christmas. … We've been highlighting the amateurish stumbles of our new President since March, and now it's time for Hot Air readers to pick the Obamateurism of the Year!…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Our purpose is to make the right choice, which sometimes means seeing where the sharks are circling most -- and sometimes to where President Obama keeps signaling to them, too. … Time once more to pick the Obamateurism of the Week -- and this will be a tough sale, even if the choices are on clearance markdown…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

Last week, we picked the OOTY for 2010, which was Obama bailing on his own press conference to attend a party and leaving Bill Clinton in charge. … "I really want to figure out a way where I can spend more time outside of Washington listening and learning and engaging the American people." … Even though there will be time for the OOTY in 2012, it's time now to vote on the Obamateurism of the Week!…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

Suddenly jobs saved or created "never expected to be the public accounting of Obama's goal to save or create 3. … It also helps to remember where you're at, and if you have to rely on silly crutches, don't publish the pictures. … It's time once again to choose the Obamateurism of the Week, and once again, we have so many good choices that one might get a sense of enthusiasm -- perhaps even infectious enthusiasm…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I really want to figure out a way where I can spend more time outside of Washington listening and learning and engaging the American people." … After telling Boehner and McConnell that "there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012,"announces March start to re-election bid … Just remember that one of the prerequisites of being a great voter or chief of anything is to make sure you get the names straight…

Obamateurism of the Day

Which is true of just about everything one sees through a telescope, of course, and of everything in the sky except fog. … Barack Obama peers through a telescope at an astronomy demonstration and transforms into Captain Obvious … This one's rather minor, as Obamateurisms go, but we can file it under "How many times would CNN have played this if it was a Republican President?…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Year?

In order to keep you all in suspense, the poll won't display the results after voting, so the only way to find out which of these won will be to check out the results tomorrow! … "I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln." … In 2010, readers selected Barack Obama's decision to abandon the Briefing Room podium to Bill Clinton at a press conference as the Obamateurism of the Year; in 2009, the winner was the two minutes of shout-outs from the podium from Obama before he got to the reason for the presser -- which was the massacre of 14 people at Fort Hood in a lone-wolf, home-grown terrorist attack…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Finds claim of unemployment "interesting" because he is getting "the word" that woman's husband should have no trouble finding work … "Well, it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change that I would like sometimes."…

Poll: Obamateurism of the Week?

And if for some reason hackers decide to black out this poll, at least they won't continue that long string of major metropolitan blackouts that has pushed Obama to demand a cybersecurity czar. … Some would say that we shouldn't have flashy polls during an economic crisis, but I'd ask those people to demonstrate the same tolerance the Muslims showed when they ran Cordoba during the Inquisition. … Once again, it's time for me to "hoist" the weekly Obamateurism poll onto Hot Air readers, and let me tell you, this week has some tough choices…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." … Don't forget to take a magnetic compass when you do, though -- otherwise, you may wind up on a tarmac in Bermuda before anyone realizes you've arrived! … Perhaps later you can stroll down a local river, assuming that you too can walk on water, but right now we need you to cast your vote, and you can even print it regardless of whether you're in Cairo or not…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Finds claim of unemployment "interesting" because he is getting "the word" that woman's husband should have no trouble finding work … "Well, it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change that I would like sometimes."…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

Last week, we picked the OOTY for 2010, which was Obama bailing on his own press conference to attend a party and leaving Bill Clinton in charge. … Just remember that our President expects you to, er, buckle down and get to work, even if Obama thinks his problems come from spending too much time at the office when he spent half of the first two years on the road. … Fasten your seatbelts, folks, or at least button up, because it's time to pick the Obamateurism of the Week, the first one of 2011…

Obamateurism of the Day

How many will this one get, in which Barack Obama proudly proclaims that he signed his new bestest buddy Dmitri Medvedev to an account with "Twitters"? … The media and the Left have giggled over Bush's declaration in a presidential debate about hearing "rumors on the Internets" … We often speculate as to how the media would treat an Obamateurism if George W. Bush had committed it…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … Finds claim of unemployment "interesting" because he is getting "the word" that woman's husband should have no trouble finding work … Jesus once said the last shall be first, by which He meant that you need to pick Obama's worst moment this week as the best OOTW candidate, or something…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … "Well, it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change that I would like sometimes." … Time once again to look backwards like Rutherford B. Hayes (never) did and choose the Obama gaffe that punches above its weight for the Obamateurism of the Week!…

Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?

"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln. … "Well, it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change that I would like sometimes." … Just remember that we have your back on whatever you choose, even if you're one of those eeeeeevil corporate jet owners that's to blame for the deficit, thanks to tax breaks that Obama's tax guru lobbies to extend…

Poll: Obamateurism of the Year, Flight 2

Also, I'll still be looking for fresh OOTD candidates, even though I'll likely hold off publishing them until after the first of the year. … In Flight 1 yesterday, voters chose Barack Obama's scolding of the Supreme Court over a decision he mischaracterized during the State of the Union speech. … It's time for Flight 2 of the year's Obamateurisms of the Week, and your opportunity to choose the biggest gaffe, blunder, or misstep as the Obamateurism of the Year!…