Monday, November 28, 2011

Above The Calls of Duty



When Hillary Clinton was running for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008, she ran a television ad saying that when the world was in crisis and "the phone rang at 3 in the morning," she'd be ready to take the call. She already knew the world leaders and America's military capabilities. She made a good argument...but not as good (in the minds of liberals) as whatever the hell "we are the ones we've been waiting for" means.

And that scary phone which rings in the middle of the night? It's going unanswered by Barack Obama.


At least, that's how it looks to
Hope n' Change as we've examined the grim news headlines this weekend. The economic crisis in Europe appears to be coming to a head, Iran has announced that they've got 150,000 missiles pointing at Israel, and Pakistan has angrily closed a U.S. airbase used for drones as well as cutting off our military supply lines to Afghanistan.

But try as we might, we couldn't find any news stories talking about what the president was doing to
respond to any of these crises...at 3 in the morning, or any other time of day.

Instead, weekend news reports said that Mr. Obama went golfing for the umpteenth time, played some hoops, attended a basketball game, and took his daughters shopping at a bookstore to show his support of "Small Business Saturday" (although we think it's likely that small businesses would feel
more supported if the president would stop threatening to raise their taxes).

All of which makes us wonder why, in an administration that has sworn enmity towards bankers, the president insists on keeping banker's hours and taking weekends off?

Of course, it could be a lot worse.

He might actually answer that ringing phone and try to
do something.
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Sleep well, America - your president is on the job.
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23 comments:

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

I think people just imagine that Shrillery could do a better job that Turdboy because he's made such a mess of things, who could do worse? I no more want her in the Oval Office than I want him. Frankly, they are cut from the same ultra-left, corrupt, progressive cloth. Remember Hillarycare? Remember cattlegate? Remember 1000 FBI files? Remember Whitewater?...etc., etc. But this mere discussion of her in his stead is encouraging news as it underscores the nation's weariness at the current regime and longing for something else...anything else. The danger is that, rather than demand competent leadership with real ideas, we may yet again settle for "change" for the sake of change and end up right back where we are now. God help us.

Anonymous said...

It's always left me shaking my head how much Barak Obama is a 9-to-5 President. Some jobs (cops, doctors, fire fighters...) you're on duty 24 hours a day. The President of the United States is one of those jobs. Not for Obama, when it's quittin' time he knocks off for the day.

I still say Hillary is going for a primary challenge on Barak. At this point the Republican candidates seem a little lack luster and Hillary is making herself look heroic. That's not good.

John the Econ said...

It's called "Leading from Behind".

@Angry Hoosier Dad, you must admit that she'd be much better at managing the economy. After all, she was able to turn a 10,000% profit on her cattle future trades...

John the Econ said...

Meanwhile, Barney Frank, possibly one of the most economically destructive members of Congress and certainly one of the architects of the financial meltdown is going to retire. And the market is up over 3% this morning. Coincidence?

Good riddance. Perhaps now we can work to repeal most everything he's ever been behind and get some real economic progress.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Angry Hoosier Dad- Believe me, today's cartoon is no love letter to Hillary. I will say, though, that I think she has more substance than Obama...and doesn't flat out hate America.

@Anonymous (two above)- At least George W. Bush stopped golfing as President because he thought that it sent a bad message to people. And like you, I wonder if Hillary is going to end up as the Democratic candidate. I can't picture her mounting a primary challenge (which would force her to run against Obama's positions). But maybe there could be some mischief in the works where Barry steps down...voluntarily or not.

@John the Econ- touche!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@John the Econ- When you refer to "everything Barney Frank has been behind," my mind goes places where I'd really rather it didn't go.

Mike Porter said...

Mr. Jarlsberg, you took the words right out of my keyboard - I'll go one better and submit that if there were any justice in all of this, he would learn that the term 'leading from behind' relates to the dominate partner in a prison waltz. But then, here we have a colostomy bag made from human skin and filled with the combined feces of Barbara Walters and Michael Moore that serves a single public service to young, sexually confused heterosexual males who are scared straight by just the thought of this vile, steaming pile (but here I am repeating myself). So this would probably only be punishment for his cell mate. Perhaps death by solar powered electric chair would be more in line with the nature of his crimes, if only in retribution for the suffering of those in Congress who were duty bound to listen to his incessant blather. It is, however, quite difficult for me to feel any compassion for most of these bottom feeders in high places, so it follows that my argument would necessarily spiral into the cesspool realm of entertainment. Certainly a step above the current mainstream lot.

JustaJeepGuy said...

I still say that we were stuck with Barack Hussein because the lamestream news media were tired of covering for Slick Willie, which they KNEW they would have to do for a minimum of another 4 years if Hillary were to be elected. Now I guess they are realizing that their choice is to cover for the most useless "president" ever or Slick. Nice of the "news" folks to paint themselves into THAT corner, huh?

My Dog Brewski said...

John the Econ:
As happy as I am to be rid of Bawney Fwank, I do believe this is retirement in lieu of prosecution.
As for Hillary's 10,000% profit in cattle futures...I'd love to see the paper trail on that.
We all know it was a corrupt payoff, but we also know that Republicans would rather piss their pants on national TV than investigate a Clinton.

DragonAgnstEvil said...

Yep... I've been silent lately. Anyway, not all news has been bad lately. There's some good/funny stuff out there. Newt challenged Obama to a debate and permitted the use of teleprompters. I didn't hear screams of "RACIST!", but that could be because I was laughing too hard and too long.

Admittedly, it's sad when that's the best news in a long time. Barney Frank stepping down is merely condolence at this point. I'm sure the demoncrats have lined up somebody just as bad. Hopefully, the Tea Party lines up somebody equally good to run against that one. It was a close race last time, closer than anybody could have guessed. Maybe the fat cat saw the writing on the wall? Nah, doubt he's that intelligent. Probably thinks somebody he trained and recommends has an impossibly good chance of winning.

*sigh*

However, this week is about work ethic and Obama's lack of it. I work longer, harder hours than Obama, and I work lowly retail. Especially with Christmas coming up fast, I get to see a spike in traffic. I'm expected to work longer hours, tougher shifts, and still maintain an appearance of cheerfulness. That includes the 4:30am - 6:30pm shift I worked Black Friday.

What do we see Obama do? He works on his terms and his hours. He golfs, plays basketball, golfs, watches professional basketball, golfs, takes his kids out on the US dime, golfs, talks down to the American people, golfs, sleeps, golfs, talks down to Congress, golfs, insults the Tea Party, golfs, encourages the Obamavillagers, golfs, destroys the economy, golfs, and just generally does what he considers 'fun' in his own mind. He just thinks those mean Republicans in the House of Representatives are so mean for making it less 'fun' to be President.

As for Hillary Clinton, he...she might be more of a man than Obama. I dun wanna check, but I'm sure it's true.

As for the current line up of GOP contenders, I have to disagree that they are weak. The Gingrich/Cain or Cain/Gingrich ticket looks mighty powerful, and would make Obama/Biden look like the man-children they are. Also, putting those two on the same ticket covers for the other's weaknesses. If they pick a strong, conservative Cabinet, all the better.

@JustaJeepGuy

The "mainstream" media are regarded less and less each passing day as a legitimate news source or even a source for facts. It used to be that you could watch some "news" networks, like MSNBC, and glean some facts even if they were skewed into lies. An intelligent person could take the facts gleaned from the major networks and cobble them together into truths.

Now, the "mainstream" media is, as you said, painted into such a corner that they have diarrhea of the mouth and spit out lies with no real basis in facts. They speak their mind and try to make incoherent lies into spoken truths. Because they've run out of ability to spin tall tales, they have lost even more ground lately. If anybody intelligent watches them now, it's for the comedy value.

... Like Stephen Kruiser or Steven Green.

... I'm really just addicted to PJTV. :p

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Mike Porter- You express yourself clearly, colorfully, and accurately!

@JustaJeepGuy- I agree that the media considered Obama "clean and articulate" and a tabula rasa which would allow them to fill in the blanks without covering for ol' Blue Dress Bill. But the cracks are definitely showing as they tire of trying to prop up this useless president.

@MyDogBrewski- Any time a politician hits the investment lottery, you can bet there was either insider trading or it was a flat out payoff. But you're right...the GOP wouldn't want to prosecute a Clinton again.

@DragonAgainstEvil- Newt's line about allowing Obama to use a teleprompter when debating is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. I'd pay good money to hear those two go at it one-on-one (largely because I'm highly confident that Barry would get his ass handed to him. Repeatedly.)

And I'm with you about Obama's "barely there" working hours. For the rest of us, there's an absolute correlation between how hard we work (and how much we get accomplished) and what rewards we'll enjoy. Not so for the ever-golfing Campaigner-in-Chief.

Regarding "mainstream news," which is an oxymoron if I ever heard one, I recently saw a study which said that MSNBC's viewers were the ones most likely to believe that the "Occupy" protesters are Republicans. Oh yeah... they're doing a heckuva job of getting the facts out.

pryorguy said...

"He might actually answer that ringing phone and try to do something." HEAVEN FORBID!!! KEEP EATIN THEM HOT DOGS, MAN!!!

John the Econ said...

@My Dog Brewski, there is absolutely no question that had Frank & Dodd been corporate CEO's committing the same behavior (insider dealings, inappropriate affairs with heads of agencies you regulate, etc) they'd be doing time with Madoff.

Colby said...

DragonAgnstEvil,
I think you left out about 150 "golfs," but we get the idea.

And as far as Hillary having more huevos than BO? One of BO's nuts is the size of a mustard seed.... and the other one is just a little bitty thing (insert rim-shot).

I get almost giddy at the thought of BO having to debate just about anybody on the Republican side (other than Perry who would be made to look like the village idiot). But, Newt would be the dragon slayer. He looks like and old geezer, but look out mama! And what good would a teleprompter do the nutless one? People would know damn well he was being fed answers. I don't think even the LSM could defend that.

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

Colby:
I think Newt's years away from elected office and the mindset that creates was a time of growth for him. I'm doubting he's the same old big government statist he used to be. I see him more as a chess master now, patient and deliberate and thinking several moves ahead.
Frankly, I'm not sure if Obama would agree to debate him, TOTUS or not. Turdboy's herculean ego would tell him that he'd wipe the floor with Newt. He would need mighty confident handlers to convince him he'd be little more than stale rabbit pellets on the same stage with Newt.

John the Econ said...

"I think Newt's years away from elected office and the mindset that creates was a time of growth for him."

Yeah, mainly financial growth. Over a million from Fannie/Freddie for "History Lessons"? Gimme a break!

Pete(Detroit) said...

Yeah, might have been nice if they'd taken the advice they paid for...

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Pryorguy- Obama is a good example of the "less is more" theory. The less he governs, the more I like it.

@John the Econ- When it comes to sheer brazen criminality, the private sector just can't touch those scamps in the government.

@Colby- I think you've got the debate equation about right; Obama would do to Perry what Newt would do to Obama. Which is why that latter matchup is the one I'm yearning to see.

@Angry Hoosier Dad- I'd like to believe that Newt's matured a bit in his time out of office and grown closer to basic conserative ideals. That being said, I still think he has brass to spare and a willingness to address really big issues which is critical just now.

@John the Econ- The Fannie/Freddie paychecks are troubling, but it's better than if the money went to Paul Krugman. (If Paul Krugman did get a similar payout, please don't tell me)

@Pete(Detroit)- They were going to start taking Newt's advice right after they finished implementing John Corzine's.

John the Econ said...

@Stilton, Krugman once collected paychecks from Enron. So you could say that his advice wasn't any better than Newt's.

I love what the Wall Street Journal had to say about Barney Frank's impending retirement:

"Democracy can be unfair, and for his sins [mainly being the architect for the housing bubble and subsequent financial meltdown] Mr. Frank was rewarded with the chairmanship of the Financial Services Committee in 2009 and an opening to remake the U.S. financial industry. It was like asking Charlie Sheen to teach an anger management class."

Only in government can such levels of failure and corruption result in a promotion, more power, and the ability to inflict even more collateral damage.

DragonAgnstEvil said...

From what I understand of the advice Newt gave Fannie/Freddie, they paid him for his advice. Cool, that's capitalism. I'm down with that. They did the opposite and suffered big time. I don't see how giving advice and being paid for services rendered is a pox on Newt's character. I'd say it speaks more to Fannie/Freddie for ignoring it.

=/

I'm willing to be corrected if wrong, mind.

John the Econ said...

@DragonAgnstEvil: There is little honest "capitalism" here. If Fannie/Freddie were an ordinary corporation instead of a government created and sponsored entity, and if Newt was an ordinary citizen instead of a former House speaker and DC political player, you could argue that this was simple "capitalism". However, neither is true. This is how favors are exchanged, payoffs are made, and influence peddled. I honestly cannot criticize the likes of Barney Frank (who in any other situation would be regarded as a criminal) and then turn a blind eye to Newt, and not be partaking in the hypocrisy that I regularly accuse most liberals in doing.

What Newt participated in is what is standard operating procedure in Washington these days, and the type of crony capitalism that Newt would have rallied against in '94.

Pete(Detroit) said...

Newt still feels squishy on Illegal Immigration and the whole AGW / Climate Change / Cap'n Trade issue, BUT - he does have a tax reform plan, and I think he has a clear view of the spending bomb - both of which put him miles ahead of any Dem

John - "Charlie Sheen / Anger managment" too rich, thanx for the share!

Reaganite Independent said...

You just know she hates him with the white-hot intensity of a trillion Suns lol

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