CBS's Bob Schieffer devoted about half of his Face the Nation interview, with President Barack Obama, to Pakistan and Afghanistan, but on Iraq he failed to point out Obama's opposition to the surge as he hoped: “Are things going well enough there now that you may consider speeding up the withdrawal of troops from Iraq?”
On violence in Mexico, Schieffer pushed a blame America first line, suggesting more regulations on guns: “It's my understanding that 90 percent of the guns that they're getting down in Mexico are coming from the United States....Do you need any kind of legislative help on that front? Have you, for example, thought about asking Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons?”
Schieffer concluded by wondering if, like Thomas Jefferson, Obama is finding the presidency to be a “splendid misery” and quoting Jefferson, who once said “the presidency had brought him nothing but increasing drudgery and a daily loss of friends,” commiserated: “Have you lost any friends yet?” Certainly not in the news media.
Three of Schieffer's uestions in the interview recorded Friday in the Oval Office:
- You said the other day in the 60 Minutes interview that you would not have thought at this point in your presidency that Iraq would be the least of your worries, something to that effect. Are things going well enough there now that you may consider speeding up the withdrawal of troops from Iraq?
- Let me ask you about something closer to home and that is Mexico. You talked about sending more aid to the Mexican government. But things down there are really serious, as you well know. It's my understanding that 90 percent of the guns that they're getting down in Mexico are coming from the United States. We don't seem to be doing a very good job of cutting off the gun flow. Do you need any kind of legislative help on that front? Have you, for example, thought about asking Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons?
- One more question, Mr. President. This week I went down to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, where they have this wonderful new visitor center. And one of the historians down there reminded me that Thomas Jefferson once said the presidency is a “splendid misery.” But at the end of his term, he also said, quote, that “the presidency had brought him nothing but increasing drudgery and a daily loss of friends.” I just wonder, have you lost any friends yet?
CBSNews.com transcript of the interview as aired on the March 29 Face the Nation.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Did he ever have any friends to lose?
March 29, 2009 - 13:52 ET by CKA in Red State USAMaybe I missed it, but I do not recall anyone during the past two years coming forward, after identifying himself or herself as Obama's friend, who said anything positive or even negative about the current White House occupant.
In fact, I don't remember anyone ever identifying themself as his friend.
He has handlers not friends
March 29, 2009 - 13:52 ET by StarAZYou're right on that friend thing. Plus I am not boohooing for this incredibly snooty, arrogant guy who blames everything on someone else. He signed up for this--now do it.
Agree. But its his inherent pansiness, and that of . . .
March 29, 2009 - 13:56 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . . of advocacy/adversary media that now begins to play.
That plus the victimhood card they play as frequently as they do the class-warfare and race cards.
Am I correct in remembering that he wanted this job?
March 29, 2009 - 13:50 ET by StarAZI can't watch this unless I lay in a new supply of hankies...and who can afford those?
Clearly having access to
March 29, 2009 - 14:03 ET by BKeyserClearly having access to the highest level intelligence reports has convinced Bambi that even asking nicely won't get convince those who hate us to sing a different tune- which ultimately displays the naivety and immaturity that has shaped his ideology.
As for guns- maybe we should ban the illegals coming into the country who are stealing the guns. Once again, the media likes to blame the inanimate object that, without control of a human being, would create zero threat to anyone.
And as for friends- well, that remains to be seen. He'll have all the friends he wants so long as he goes along with their agenda. He can make republican friends if he eliminates the $634B for a healthcare debacle from his budget and decides to have a serious dicussion with ALL parties to find a truly workable solution. He can make media friends by going on ABC, NBC, and CBS. He can make UN friends by signing on to whatever idiotic climate change agenda they're selling AND consenting to fund the majority of it. But he will lose friends if he continues to haphazzardly approach every issue, and try to enact every democratic party platform line item while sacrificing a number of democrat lawmakers in the 2010 election.
If he can continue to lose friends and not destroy the country in the meantime- the GOP will emerge in 2010 with a narrow majority in the House and Bambi will be dead in the water for the remainder of his single term. At least that's my 'hope' for 'change'.
"Commiserate" indeed...
March 29, 2009 - 14:32 ET by MotherThe rats will jump ship soon enough when they find out the horrible truth about the Hollow Man in office.
Friends? Who needs friends when you are 'KING'? Pawns and peons are much more loyal. Eh? ;)
I can count the friends I
March 29, 2009 - 14:41 ET by bigtimerI can count the friends I have on one hand...they are hard at work as we speak.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Same here, Bigtimer...
March 29, 2009 - 14:43 ET by MotherTrue friends are hard to find but when you are blessed with one you hold on tight and never let go.
Hey Mother...you have that
March 29, 2009 - 14:47 ET by bigtimerHey Mother...you have that right!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
It's the Narcissism
March 29, 2009 - 14:50 ET by slickwillie2001If the Bamster ever feels unloved, or feels a need to stoke his pathological narcissism, he can simply put together one of his fake townhall meetings, or perhaps go back on a campaign tour in front of carefully selected adoring fans.
So true, SlickW
March 29, 2009 - 15:02 ET by MotherWe have a mental case as president who is OBSESSED with feeding his own EGO constantly. He's going off the rails and his 'handlers' are wringing their hands trying to figure out a way to reign in their 'golden boy'.
Scary.
Good evening Mother
March 29, 2009 - 15:35 ET by cocodrieWe have Present Hussein lonesome Rhodes from A Face in The Crowd
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Evening back, Cocodrie
March 29, 2009 - 16:06 ET by MotherGood analogy. *shiver*
It's hard not to be afraid...VERY afraid.
Wow, coco
March 29, 2009 - 23:26 ET by Scout FinchToo close for the truth. Lemme chew on that for a while.
Good evening Scout
March 29, 2009 - 23:43 ET by cocodrieI know I go back aways with my movies but he has the same look in his eyes and is possessed of the same spirit.
There is real trouble on the way.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
You mean like he did recently? That's OK with me . ..
March 29, 2009 - 15:22 ET by CKA in Red State USA...but I do resent that taxpayers foot the bill for his megalomaniacal dalliances.
Truly, this guy's frightening, a crybaby's crybaby.
Guess all that community organizing and work at that law firm and those years he slept through the Illinois and U.S. legislatures proved to be as worthless as we all said?
2010 cannot come soon enough.
BTW: Wonder how soon it'll be before his deep-pocket puppeteers decide they've seen enough and jerk a figurative or literal knot in his head?
The guy's truly dangerous.
"megalomaniacal dalliances"
March 29, 2009 - 16:10 ET by MotherExcellent verbiage, CKA.
Dangerous [!] indeed. The blatant Leftist/Socialist power grabs are getting hard to 'hide' behind the cutesy, flauntingly self-love 'speak easy' shows via our celebutard wannabe prezzy-pimp.
Nero Fiddled - Obama Giggled
March 29, 2009 - 15:33 ET by Retired GeekNero fiddled while Rome burned - Barack Obama giggled and laughs on 60 minutes until Kroft asked Obama if he was "Punch Drunk".
Barack Obama has been tutored, mentored and trained, his entire life, for the time when he could destroy America.
Many good Americans were deceived into voting for Obama, just like many good Germans were deceived into voting for Hitler.
Once evil is in power, whether it is personal or National - evil is very difficult to overcome.
America will be scarred for life, just like a man or woman who became personally overcome by evil.
politicians don't have friends
March 29, 2009 - 15:39 ET by katainkentyou have enemies and allies. They hop the fence as needs dictate.
_____________________________________________________
Obama does not perform as advertised. I'd like a refund.
Taxed Enough Already.
Want a divorce?
March 29, 2009 - 15:46 ET by KC MulvilleSuppose your family was in economic trouble. Then, one day, your spouse told you that he or she had a way of fixing the problem. She got a credit card and bought a house, a car, a yacht, several furs, and a cash advance ... which she gave to her brothers and sisters. Every last dime for the next fifteen years has already been spent. Did you want to go golfing three years from now? Forget it, your spouse already spent the money.
Never asked you ahead of time. There was no debate. There was no chance to formulate an alternative. Your spouse just spent it because, well, he or she "won." They've always wanted to spend that money, and they had the chance, so they just did it.
That's what Obama did. Forget the loss of friends. I want a divorce!
KC,
March 29, 2009 - 17:16 ET by UpNorthnice way to put it. Even a democrat could understand it, put that way.
And here we go again, with Schieffer trying to get the O'ster to go along with a gun ban. But, I'm sure the CBS security people will still have their "assault weapons". That's ok , you stick to kneeling in front of the O'ster, we'll stick to taking care of ourselves.
bob schieffer is a shameless panderer.
March 29, 2009 - 18:11 ET by clinging to my guns and my religion"We don't seem to be doing a very good job of cutting off the gun flow. Do you need any kind of legislative help on that front? Have you, for example, thought about asking Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons?"
legislation only works with people who obey the laws. it will not make one iota of difference to mexican drug lords whether or not law-abiding americans have access to assault weapons and schieffer knows that. shame on him for even lobbing that "question" to the opportunist-in-chief.
p.s. i don't think either one of them has now or ever has had any real friends!
"i believe he will not stop until we are all jobless, homeless, hungry, and cold!"
The Messiah needs no
March 29, 2009 - 19:09 ET by RR GOPThe Messiah needs no friends.
Only those who do his bidding and are willing to be martyred under the wheels of the Obama bus.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Guns?
March 29, 2009 - 20:03 ET by Joe Camel“It's my understanding that 90 percent of the guns that they're getting down in Mexico are coming from the United States..
That is an interesting thought there Mr. Coke Head..let's see. To use that number, one would have to infer that you have collected 90% of the guns there, run the serial numbers against the NCIS, run the 4473's down, and shown that this is in fact, the case. Since I have not seen the news where you have collected all the guns mentioned, this of course becomes more numbers thrown ad hoc out there, so it will stick with the media. Being an expert in firearms, I have serious doubts that the drug lords are using semi auto firearms, when they can get the real things much easier and with less issues than full autos from say south of them. Also, if this is happening, why have we not seen the major bust(s) of the gun runners, as that is a LOT of weapons if I read your garbage correctly.
Let me put it this way. I say, that you, your wife and personnel snort 10000 grams of coke and crack a day. Heck, let's say 10000000 grams a day, since we are just going to pick out numbers. If I could get the press to print this, well, the whole world would believe it..not that I don't..sure you are a coke head..just not likely to read about it.
Good point, Joe Camel
March 30, 2009 - 07:57 ET by GalvanicInteresting how the border violence becomes a US gun control issue rather than a Mexican issue, or a border fence issue, or a drug cartel issue, etc.
Our government has been and is criminally negligent in enforcing our own border security laws, and now the culprits point to anything but proper and effective border security as the solution.
Re good point...
March 30, 2009 - 10:12 ET by slickwillie2001Agreed poster. The liberals simply will not entertain the notion that a properly guarded border and fence will also prevent contraband from flowing South.
I don't believe the American guns in Mexico nonsense anyway. Drug smugglers are getting rocket launchers, fully automatic military weapons, and hand grenades somewhere. You'd think that if the US source of handguns and long guns dried up, they could maybe pick those up in the same place they got the military weapons.