Indignant Norah O'Donnell Defends Obama's Lack Of Leadership On Libya
If Time-magaziner-turned-WH-press-sec Jay Carney ever tires of defending Pres. Obama, Norah O'Donnell clearly seems ready to step in...
When on today's Morning Joe Donny Deutsch described PBO as having a passive leadership style as evidenced by his approach to Libya, health care and other issues, an indignant O'Donnell piped up, defending the president's passivity.
View video after the jump.
Norah's point was that PBO couldn't risk a more aggressive approach, given that Americans remain at risk in Libya. Maybe so. But the passion in Norah's voice made clear the she was not just defending the policy, but the man himself. Wouldn't we all like to have someone willing to go to bat for us like that!
Watch Norah stand by her man. After clip rolls of Pres. Obama wringing his hands over Libya . . .
DONNY DEUTSCH: I think the President, I think we're seeing his kind of leadership, uh, strategy, whether it goes back to Egypt, whether it goes back to even health care, is that he kind of stays on the sideline as long as possible and lets events play out. I think this is just one more example of what I'd call benign aggressiveness where we kind of know what's coming --
Joe Scarborough decided to have some fun at Obama-fan Deutsch's expense.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Donny, how does that inspire you? I mean, hope, change? Staying on the sideline as long as possible.
DEUTSCH: You and I talked about that last time as far as leadership. Leadership to me ends up in results. And we go back once again, just let me drift, in terms of health care, he wasn't taking the bull by the horns, but I'll compare like last time, Clinton, who jumped in, versus Obama who stayed on the sidelines, let it play out, the same thing he did with the tax increase --
Norah could contain herself no more. The palpably peeved O'Donnell interjected.
NORAH O'DONNELL: Donny, Donny! You think the President is going to come out and denounce Gaddafi when [voice rising] we've got more than 500 Americans in Libya and risk a hostage situation?
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Comments
How can anyone have
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:04am.
How can anyone have confidence in a guy who "recites" this statement in his teleprompter-persona, with his left-to-right and sing-song delivery?
Look into the camera, Mr. Obama, and try to act like you are making a statement out of conviction, not reciting poetry.
Thank you, motherbelt...
Submitted by Unsilent_Minority on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:50am.
...I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one who thinks Obama is a TERRIBLE speaker! He can't look at the camera/audience for more than one second, instead resorting to swiveling his head back-and-forth between teleprompters while looking in between down at his podium, perhaps to make sure that someone hasn't removed the seal from it in the interim. His speech pattern is pitched as you described, but delivered as dispassionately as it would be were he reading a grocery list. When he does speak off-teleprompter, he stammers and searches for words like a nervous third-grader in front of the school assembly, and finds more ways to fit his foot in his mouth than a Bulgarian gymnast could. He's a public speaking disgrace, and I hate to hear his "oratory excellence" grossly inflated.
It also seems to be a
Submitted by WarEagle66 on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:39am.
It also seems to be a different speech pattern depending on the audience. He frequently resorts to "preacher mode" if he is with a black audience.
You are correct, without the teleprompter he is a terrible, stammering speaker.
Norah still has a crush on The Jump Shooter in Chief.
I just can't stand to listen
Submitted by amyshulk on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 12:10pm.
I just can't stand to listen to him so I fast forward when they show him speaking - it seems rythmic, like it's a practiced behavior or he has a touch of OCD!
Ronald Reagan
Obama....
Submitted by adamsmith on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:03am.
Voting "PRESENT" since 1998.............
Norah stand by her man...
Submitted by CarlosS on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:07am.
Mark, you should'a had a coffee spew alert on that one!
Maybe Obumbler can try his signature "bowing diplomacy" on Khadafy to get the permission for the fairy-boat to land in Tripoli to pick up the Americans stranded there.
The wimp we call presiDent (or was it present?)
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:03am.
Carlos, it seems so appropriate that the WOTUS sends a "fairy" boat to do the job of bring out the "hostages."
Yes, that's what they are until MoMo gives Yobambi permission to get them out.
He should have sent in the entire Med fleet! Ask yourself what Reagan would have done.
As a famous general once said on an Efficiency Report of a junior officer, "Why anyone would follow this officer, except out of sheer curiosity, is beyond me." That's kind of the way I feel about this numb nut CinC we now have in charge.
I'm glad that I swore allegiance to the United States and the Constitution, and not to the President. (I hear He wants to change the oath to include the President)
ROTFL
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:51am.
...at your "follow him out of curiosity" comment.
I don't trust Barry further than I can throw him.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
You must have....
Submitted by Unsilent_Minority on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 3:06pm.
....a terrible throwing arm.
But J has one Hell of a troll boot
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:51pm.
:-)
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Norah is on TV to show cleavage.
Submitted by johnsonl on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:06am.
The picture says it all. No substance, just fluff.
Well ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:04am.
... they are kind of cute, don't you think?
Norah is angry enough to go out...
Submitted by redright88 on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:19am.
...and hammer another 13 year old Tea Party girl with an interview.
Norah...doing her part to keep America safe from conservatism
Donny Deutch
Submitted by Texndoc on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:26am.
Donny: I mean look at this man. He scares me. He is so thuggish. I'm serious, he's a frightening guy.
Joe: Governor Walker scares you? Are you terrified of Deputy Dawg?
just as well I guess
Submitted by dmacleo on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:31am.
do we really want him involved in the formation of a new gov there?
500 = Hostage?
Submitted by Caringwhiteguy on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:34am.
How many Americans were in Egypt when Obama denounced Mubarak? Was it more than the 500 for whom O'Donnell expressed grave concern?
NORAH AND DONNY....THE DYNAMIC DUO!
Submitted by Herbster on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:53am.
Why waste valuable space replaying what these two twits said on a morning show that is watched, on a good day, by seven people? With a cast that includes Mika the moron, norah nitwit, Donny douche, Barnicle the plagarizer, Hoe the jerk, the guy who never speaks, the pimp from Time magazine, etc. These wind up dolls are a waste of time.
I saw this exchange and just
Submitted by marpel on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:00am.
I saw this exchange and just knew you'd be writing about it this a.m., Mark! As always, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Nora O'Donnell is like a crazed weasel when her Messiah is criticized...it's like poking a stick at her.
"Deep within my heart lies a memory. A song of ol' San Antone..."
Glad you enjoyed it, MM, but
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:02am.
Glad you enjoyed it, MM, but maybe I'm getting too predictable!
re: what Norah O'Donnell is really saying --
Submitted by shannon76 on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:09am.
"and they call it...Puppy looovee...."
Nothing destroys peace and
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:14am.
Nothing destroys peace and tranquility quite as fast as a fool in the US White House.
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
Leadership is the issue
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:26am.
I don't have a problem with what she said. The bigger issue is President Obama's leadership concerning the situation in the middle-east. As a critic of President obama, I ask where is the Aircraft carrier task force deployment we are accustom to seeing in just this kind of situation by past Presidents.
We have citizens that need to be evacuated from many of these countries in the middle-east and we can't seem to get them too safety quickly due to weather or a need for a ferry for the transit to malta. What better ferry then the U.S.S. Ronald Reagen task force and a contingent of marines I ask!
President Obama has got to get out in front of the situation in the middle-east. He has got to deploy forces forward, ready for any situation that might arise in the area. Mainly, for gods sake, he has got to show leadership for a country nourished on freedom and a world hungry for bold leadership from this great country.
Voting present is not on option for President obama in this situation. He cannot hide in the shadows while people yearning for something called freedom, something they know nothing about, but are right now being killed. their blood watering the young sapling of freedom that must be allowed to survive in the vast wasteland known as the middle-east. Their deaths must not be in vain.
President Obama, we are tired of being miserable. We are tired of the ship of state rudderless at great peril to the world. Dithering is no longer acceptable.
Mr. president, it is your time to lead. take up the mantle of leadership or get out of the way.
Mike ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:48am.
... I think that He has to wait until George Soros calls him and tells Him what to do.
"Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of the way."
Newsbubba
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 1:51pm.
Goerge Soros must not be the defacto leader of the United States. The destroyer of countries and currencies is no leader for freedom for this country and the world.
Goerge Soros has proven to be the salt on the field of freedom and the mindset that propels him must be defeated in the arena of ideas
You're right, Mike ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 2:28pm.
... but old George has to let these countries rip themselves to shreds so he and his boys can step in and take control. That way they can "save" these poor people from all the chaos that they caused.
Obama's mouth moves when Soros pulls his strings.
To women like Norah, flaccidity is a virtue
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:24am.
.
It is absolutely amazing
Submitted by c5then on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:29am.
in a sad sort of way, to watch the administration be completely dumbfounded by how to react to these crises that they obviously have never prepared for.
An ally of 30 years who has been a moderately bad dictator was "thrown under the bus" on day 10 of the Egyptian protests. An enemy and likely director of the Pan Am 103 terrorist attacks is allowed to slaughter his own people and prevent the US from evacuating it's citizens with basically a stern readi of a speach that said nothing and a metaphorical wagging of the finger.
I have concluded from the events of the past few months that Obama has no core values with which to fall back on and use when presented with a completely new and unforseen event. It seems that everything he says (because he hasn't DONE anything yet) is based on a political calculation and the fear of being "on the losing side".
To use an old 2008 campaign metaphore...when the phone rings at 3am, Obama lets it go right to the answering machine and then waits to deal with it until he can see what is likely to happen.
The whole world now knows unequivocally that the USA has no leader and everyone is free to do whatever it is they want. Our ship of State is not only rudderless but the engines have been turned off and we are foundering, dead in the water.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Norah O'Dunce
Submitted by BBallleaper on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:41am.
Nuff said!
The same bunch of people who
Submitted by Van Halen on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 11:46am.
The same bunch of people who went crazy because Palin couldn't define the Bush Doctrine (which most others can't either) now fall all over themselves to defend Obama while he's wrecked our economy, ruined our foreign policy, cost his own Democrat Party over 700 seats and now is ignoring the Middle East crisis in order to lead his union troops against the American taxpayer.
Sitting on the Bench
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 12:27pm.
is now a policy...woo hooo...I ride the Bench
At least the waterboy does SOMETHING
Bwahahahahahahaha
roflmao
I used to think Nora was pretty, a stunner.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 1:46pm.
Not anymore.
That's NOt the reason, Norah!
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 2:09pm.
"You think the President is going to come out and denounce Gaddafi when [voice rising] we've got more than 500 Americans in Libya and risk a hostage situation?"
That's NOT the reason Obama has adopted a do-nothing attitude with Libya. Obama is afraid of offending his PARTNER, the Libyan government. As Hillary Clinton stated on September 1, 2010: "We look forward to strengthening the partnership between our governments even as we work through difficult issues, and we seek always to strengthen the friendship between our peoples." Source
Obama blew it when he reestablished formal trade relations between the US and Libya. He just doesn't want the "little people" (you know, the citizens) to know what kind of mistake he really made. Those Americans wouldn't even BE THERE if it wasn't for Obama's foolish policies!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Cobraman
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 2:43pm.
I agree with the premise you have posited, but that is just one of many reasons including timidity and being a neophyte on the world stage.
I will be so bold as to surmise the lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, was released to Libya after President Obama was informed and gave tacit approvel to the Scottish Goverment before the event took place.
Now the news comes out Muammar Gaddafi did indeed ordered the downing of pan Am flight 103 according to the Libyan Ambassador to India Ali al- Essawi.
This along with your premise, might incline one to pause and ponder the notion.
Timidty is right!
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 3:02pm.
Timidity is right! Obama can't even allow his administration to declare US sanctions against Libya, because, apparently, he's afraid of what may happen to the Americas who are there right now. No, he won't do anything himself, he want's the UN to impose "international" sanctions instead, so he doesn't have to take the blame if something does happen to those Americans.
Obama, YOU need place sanctions against Libya NOW, don't wait for someone else to do it for you. Use the threat of military force to ensure the safe removal of Americans in Libya while imposing sanctions against their government. NOW is the best time to do it, when the Libyan government is in turmoil and their military is fractionated. You need to appear strong and not weak, forceful and not timid. Your weakness is actually what will endanger those Americans.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Cobraman
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 3:20pm.
President Obama might not want to ruffle the feathers of one, who might know more, then one is comfortable with all to know.
Just a pensive moment on my part.
Mike...
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 4:18pm.
Your style of commenting is so consistently and refreshingly cordial that I must confess to a twinge of guilt inflicted by the rare and regrettable occasion of substantive disagreement with the content of your posts. But disagree I must...you imbecilic twit. [Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Kindly disregard. :-) ]
My point is this: As tempting as it may be to find fault with Obama on the basis of the long-standing political maxim "If you don't care for the guy in the Oval Office, whenever something 'bad' happens, no matter what--always blame the President", the fact of the matter is that there is simply no credible evidence thus far of Obama influencing or approving (tacitly or otherwise) the release of the Lockerbie terrorist/bomber to Libya. In fact, the available information--including that adduced via Congressional inquiry--suggests quite the opposite. And the negative reaction of the administration was prompt, intense and unequivocal.
A degree of uncertainty still remains with respect to this awful deed and plenty of fingers have been pointed and the pointing is not yet done. Scotland and Great Britain and Qatar and BP have been implicated--if not convicted--but it appears the hands of Uncle Sam were clean.
Jer
I hope for our {the US's]
Submitted by amyshulk on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 4:46pm.
I hope for our {the US's] sake what you say is true.
Unfortunately, I don't think this reaction is just ideological - if you pay attention to Pres. Obama's actions, this is rather easy to believe. I know to respect the office, but experience has taught me it's impossible to respect the man in the office if he doesn't respect me.
Ronald Reagan
Jer
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 8:33pm.
Thank-you for the kind words regarding my writing style and I wont take offense to your gentle ribbing. I know you don't think of me as a "mental retarded tease".
Now to your point concerning my post. The main thrust of my piece was about leadership or more accurately the lack of leadership from President Obama on the crises in the middle-east. I did not blame President Obama for blames sake. President Obama has been behind the curve on the events we see before our eye's in the middle-east. I think an honest man, like yourself, would agree.
I am sorry you misunderstood my point, I endeavored to critique President Obama, not to place blame, but to highlight the United States traditional role as a leader for freedom in the world and in my humble opinion, President Obama has yet to garner the mantle of leadership past Presidents have taken-up for poeple yearning to be free around the world.
Now furthermore I used the word "surmise" in regards to the lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. Now i know you know surmise means "to think or infer without certain or strong evidence, conjecture, guess" so in the context I used it, I believe I was correct.
In conclusion I used the word "tacit" which you know means "to think or infer without certain or strong evidence, conjecture, guess". There is a line of thought that Abdelbaset al-Megrahi could not have been released without some communication before hand.
With that said, I stand by my post and with great respect, thank-you for the chance to clarify my thoughts for you.
Mike...
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 8:57pm.
I only have a minute, but if I can find it again--I'm not sure I bookmarked it--there was a rather exhaustive article I ran across which focused on the culpability of Scotland and/or Great Britain, but also very briefly alluded to advance communications to the US from our Libyan ambassador which included an admonition that preemptive condemnation might be injurious to our interests. As such, I suppose a case can be made that our deliberate silence beforehand constituted, well, tacit approval. At the very least, it confers a degree of authenticity upon your speculative assertions.
Gotta run....
Jer.
wrong number
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:42pm.
?
Folks, Jer's going all Elizabethan again
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:28pm.
I've been tracking it, and it's definitely a monthly thing.
Hormone imbalance?
Gee whiz, SoL...
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:34pm.
Mike F's rhetoric isn't exactly Appalachian foothill. Smack him around a bit, too, will ya?
Compton Q Packingham III
Sorry, Compton, you win hands down on this one
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:39pm.
Compton stops for gas: "Sir, I would like to purchase precisely ten gallons of petrol and I would appreciate it if you would kindly place said petrol in my vehicle's fuel port."
→ Jer
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:38pm.
Perhaps there aspects of your expository style, up with which one need not put.
Well put, Keith
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:41pm.
.
I see, Cool...and
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:46pm.
Perhaps there are aspects of your anatomy up which one's foot should be put.
Jer
→ Sorry Jer
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 9:51pm.
What you and Rex Ryan do in the privacy of your own room is no business of mine.
The beginning of the show,
Submitted by amyshulk on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 2:50pm.
The beginning of the show, where they play the "prank" phone call, made me laugh out loud - I KNEW Mika would be off today!!!
Ronald Reagan
amyshulk
Submitted by Mike F on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 3:12pm.
I would like to take the opportunity of your post to make the observation MSNBC's morning offering is more palatable without the self-appointed scold's presents on the set.
Well, I guess Joe plays her
Submitted by amyshulk on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 4:02pm.
Well, I guess Joe plays her when she's gone - Pat Buchannan said what Joe should have said.
I do tend to do less mocking when she's gone though, lol!
And when Joe is out and it's Mika doing the interviews? TOTAL snooze fest!
Ronald Reagan
Donny Dunce
Submitted by cobokat on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 3:24pm.
This morning Donny Dunce was really "scared" of Scott Walker-it was incredible how he ranted on and on about how he thought that Scott Walker had the look of evil. I guess he didn't see Boston Rep Capuano say it's time to get a little bloody. Even Joe could only take so much from Donny-this guy is pathetic!
I LOVE to people watch. I had
Submitted by amyshulk on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 4:04pm.
I LOVE to people watch. I had this guy's number from day one - he is projection man. He gets mocked by me - when I can stand to listen to him - he's also an idiot.
Ronald Reagan
I'm at the Time interview on
Submitted by amyshulk on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 4:11pm.
I'm at the Time interview on pain. As a chronic pain sufferer, this is an article I'd like to read. I was struck once again by Barnicle's empathy earlier for the poor teachers, and here he acts as if me an millions of others are just wussies. And he thinks he speaks for people???
Ronald Reagan