Remember how outraged the left became when Michael Moore's movie, Fahrenheit 9/11, showed President George W. Bush not issuing a public statement on the Twin Tower attacks for several minutes until after the school children finished reading the Pet Goat story? Well, it is now almost two days since the Nigerian terrorist working at the behest of Al Qaeda attempted to blow up a passenger jet and still no public response from the current president, Barack Obama.
According to the associate editor of The Atlantic, Marc Ambinder, the reason for Obama's lack of response is that it is part of some sort of brilliant strategy:
There is a reason why Obama hasn't given a public statement. It's strategy.
Here is Ambinder elaborating on this "strategy":
In his Fahrenheit 9/11, filmmaker Michael Moore juxtaposes images and words of a terrorist attack in Israel with President Bush's first words about the incident, spoken to a press pool on a golf course, with him leaning casually against a tree. Today, as the nation's law enforcement agencies respond to an attempted terrorist attack on U.S. soil, as the cable news channels and news websites pull in reinforcements to cover the incident from all angles, President Obama has been silent.
In fact, he's been golfing. He received a counterterrorism briefing early this morning, Hawaii time, and moments later, left for the gym. The president's vacation activities might have become the subject of a fierce partisan fight -- but really, the only carping is coming from the usual suspects on the right.
There is a reason why Obama hasn't given a public statement. It's strategy.
Here's the theory: a two-bit mook is sent by Al Qaeda to do a dastardly deed. He winds up neutering himself. Literally.Authorities respond appropriately; the President (as this president is want to to) presides over the federal response. His senior aides speak for him, letting reporters know that he's videoconferencing regularly, that he's ordering a review of terrorist watch lists, that he's discoursing with his Secretary of Homeland Security.
But an in-person Obama statement isn't needed; Indeed, a message expressing command, control, outrage and anger might elevate the importance of the deed, would generate panic (because Obama usually DOESN'T talk about the specifics of cases like this, and so him deciding to do so would cue the American people to respond in a way that exacerbates the situation.
Obama of course will say something at some point. Had the terrorist blown up the plane, it;s safe to assume that Obama would no longer be in Hawaii. In either case, the public will need presidential fortification at some point. But Obama is willing to risk the accusation that he is "soft" on terrorism or is hovering above it all, or is just not to be bothered (his "head's in the sand, "golfing comes first," )in order to advance what he believes is the proper collective response to a failed act of terrorism.Let the authorities do their work. Don't presume; don't panic the country; don't chest-thump, prejudge, interfere, politicize (in an international sense), don't give Al Qaeda (or whomever) a symbolic victory; resist the urge to open the old playbook and run a familiar play.
In a sense, he is projecting his calm on the American people, just as his advisers are convinced that the Bush Administration projected their panic and anger on the self-same public eight years ago.
—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.
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No, I imagine President
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:11 ET by BDNo, I imagine President Obamas political team has been beside themselves attempting to come to grips with this one.
Rombo: "Okay team, what went wrong? WHy are they still trying to kills us? Don't they know "The ONE" is in charge?" Didn't we apologize enough? Okay, perhaps we can have the president apologize somewhere new, like the Maldives..."
Liberal Lackey 1: "Well, maybe if we totally disarmed the US military they would love us more?"
Liberal Lackey 2" "Well, whatever we do, it has to be treated as a crime, not an act of war. We must also dismiss the attempt as the work of a madman rather than an AQ terrorirst."
Rombo: "Well, DAMMIT, there has to be a way to blame this on a Bush somehow!
It will take him at least 90 days
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:26 ET by Blonde....while he "calmly" considers what he is going to say, a la Afghanistan troop decision.
Obama & entourage are in so far over their heads they don't even know where to start, hence the silence. This administration has failed in every single aspect of the GWOT (particularly blotting the word "terrorism" out of their vocabulary). It was pure, dumb luck (with kudos to the passengers and flight crew) that this plane didn't explode over Detroit on Christmas Day.
The only possible correct course is to admit a total failure and to immediately correct course, which of course, he won't do. Our joke of a Homeland Security Secretary is claiming that the screeners in Amsterdam "did their job". If this is her idea of success, I'd hate to see what their idea of failure is.
I hope he fails, too.
Regarding the screeners,
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:55 ET by BDRegarding the screeners, you are correct. It is a sad reality for some that profiling works and would have been best employed in this case. OUr enemies will continuously test our security for gaps and holes and will try new techniques to get past the screeners, but it is nearly impossible to get past the techniques employed by El Al when they check personnel.
THe liberals will scream about rights, but no one has a right to fly, only a privelege and some will be more likely to have that privelege revoked than others.
THe liberals will also claim that the enemy will begin using people who do not fit the profile, but the sad fact is those people are a rarity for our enemy to find and employ.
And once again, Janet Napolitano will be more worried about me because I am a conservative retired military person than Mohammad Abu Skatot.
It's infuriating
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:05 ET by BlondePolitical Correctness will kill us all. I've said it for a while, but it's going to take a dirty bomb going off in one of our cities to wake people back up. Of course, Obama may sleep through that as well...or go to the gym or play golf or whatever it is that he does.
I'm all for El Al screening techniques.
The media is culpable, too....treating this as some sort of "criminal" act, reminding us that it is an "alleged" act, innocent until proven guilty (see BKeyser's Politico link), blah, blah, blah. What they ought to be doing, is a NASA style animation of would have happened had this jihadist been successful....and show people what damage would have been wrought...on Christmas! But we get more PC and covering for the stupidity that is liberalism.
I hope he fails, too.
It will be interesting to
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:19 ET by BDIt will be interesting to see if Justice will allow the "Alleged" bomber to be interrogated or if the allow him to lawyer up and avoid interrogation.
I am betting Holder will not only allow him to avoid interrogation, but will be happy to cut any deal with him as long as it keeps the story quiet. Something like an insanity plea to minimize punishment as long as it keeps the story from unwinding.
As I was taught long ago, the first reports are usually wrong, and I expect we will hear much more in the coming days from overseas press about this guy and his connections to AQ than we will get from the US press who will be happy to minimize the story.
I'm not taking that bet
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:35 ET by BlondeBecause I agree with you 100%.
There is only one word for Obama's Homeland Security "efforts".....incompetent.
I hope he fails, too.
Actually J, I disagree..
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 14:53 ET by RukusIncompetent would be a step up for these morons. Sheesh! I don't know if we'll survice 3 more years of this stuff. God help us all!
BTW (off topic) How was that standing rib roast? ; )
Gary
Did you ever realize that the "stronger sex" is really the "weaker sex" because of the weakness of the stronger sex for the weaker sex?
You have a point, Ruk
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:11 ET by Blonde...about incompetent being a step up.
The roast was scrumcious.....and I see our friendly newstogod troll has reappeared.....so perhaps we could discuss food under his comments.
I hope he fails, too.
There is only one word for
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:14 ET by motherbeltThere is only one word for Obama's Homeland Security "efforts".....incompetent.
Maybe "nonexistent" would be better. After all, we don't need no security because the world loves us again, now that Bush is gone, and Obama is holding out his hand and bowing to everyone, and making overtures to The Islamic Republic of Iran.....
Whats the mad muslim from mumbasa going to say?
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 12:08 ET by Patriot IIYou think he is going to badmouth another brother muslime?
I went to a family Christmas on the 26th
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:22 ET by RukusWe had smoked AND fried turkey, it was awsome!! Hope you had a great CHRISTmas and have wonderful New Years too! Black Eyed Peas for New Years, for good luck doncha know. ; ) Bet the ribs were yummy. Where newstogod? I'll be all on it, lol! : )
Gary
Did you ever realize that the "stronger sex" is really the "weaker sex" because of the weakness of the stronger sex for the weaker sex?
Projecting his calm?
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:11 ET by TexndocHere's "calm" : another islamic potential bomber and the "calm response" is 1) one piece of carry-on only 2) no leaving your seat an hour prior to landing 3) no opening the overhead bin an hour before landing and 4) nothing in your hands or lap an hour before landing.
Brilliant "strategy". Let Abdullah bin Medullah board and slap that Barbara Cartland paperback out of that old blue-haired lady's hands. She might blow up the plane!
So true...
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 14:11 ET by unkeeafMore proof of how liberalism and political correctness is killing this country. These people are truly idiots - and they run our country!
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Bad Blanket!
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 14:37 ET by miss911ninjaThe new "nothing in your lap rule" includes those sinister items known as blankets, so old ladies will be chilly and bored while they endure the last hour of the flight with their fragile hands folded in their laps. Because it was the BLANKET that made the attack possible, don't you see?
OK
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 18:11 ET by Secret ConservativeSo this means that if you're going to blow up a plane with the bomb ingredients you've sewn into your clothes or strapped to your body under your clothes you have to do it MORE than one hour before landing. How stupid are these people???
If the ingredients were small enough to sew into his clothes, then they might possibly fit into a small carry-on bag. And you can store that bag under your seat. And you can bring it out LONG before you're about to land.
But GOD FORBID we should give close scrutiny to Middle Eastern people or people with Muslim names. ESPECIALLY when his own father warned the police about him.
But if Napolitano says the system worked, then I think we need a new system. Instead, I know that when I leave for my next airplane trip next week, I will probably be strip-searched. Everyone knows that middle-aged, white, Dutch people are high terrorist risks...
That's brave of you
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 19:12 ET by jon_torlinDid I see somewhere that the guy arrested and released today was on the plane yesterday that the attacker was on? I was trying to find a reference for it with no luck, maybe I mis-read that.
Either way, clearly this case got bungled big time and as the article appropriately says, no airport security or security measures played any role in stopping the would-be bomber. I understand that the TSA plays a difficult role sometimes, but the facts remain that this administration blew it big time when his own FATHER put out a warning, 6 months prior!
So as my subject line says, that's brave of you (and anyone who flies now) to take the risk of flying. My dad and step-mom cancelled their trip to Italy next year. They were going to take Northwest. The travel agent that they called today(guess they work every day of the week) said that they had some other overseas cancellations here and there because of it. Has anyone heard of the same thing?
-Jon
He's on vaca, man
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:16 ET by Worriedand that's much more important.
A Muslim attempting to blow up a plane, thwarted by a brave man who jumped over seats to stop him, is just one more obstacle for Obamarx.
Sign reads: DO NOT INTERRUPT THE ONE WHILE HE'S VACATIONING - AGAIN.
Oh GIVE ME A BREAK!
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:33 ET by jon_torlinI just saw that the federal officials are treating it like a crime. The "conviction" on the charge could bring the guy up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine. Say what??? That's it??? I say "conviction" in quotes because I don't see any conviction in trying to protect America now. Sumbitch needs to be executed!
This is definitely going back to pre-9/11 mentality, especially where the intelligence(lack of) agencies aren't talking to each other.
This will make it real easy for something big to happen down the road.
-Jon
Yep, no doubt they are
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:10 ET by celatorYep, no doubt they are following Holder's dictum: "There are no terrorists here. Only poor, misunderstood jihadists who sorta, kinda might have made a little mistake."
So now we find ourselves in the swamp of criminal law, i.e., Miranda Rights, etc.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
I feel safer.....
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:38 ET by sbourg.....now that the day after the Jihadist tried to blow up the plane, new regulations were issued (yesterday) that said no one can get out of their seat in the last hour of the flight.
I feel much safer now. Oh...wait......Abdullah tried to set off his bomb while seated. WTF !!!!!
Timing
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 14:40 ET by miss911ninjaNote to terrorists: Plan your attack for no later than 55 minutes before the end of the flight!
And if, in that hour, a
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:13 ET by celatorAnd if, in that hour, a passenger moves an arm to scratch an itchy nose he will be slapped side of the head with a 2X4, arrested, imprisoned and his/her family will be interrogated for the next 20 years by Holder's FBI.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Perhaps Barry has studies
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 11:49 ET by Jcon96Perhaps Barry has studies at the Lloyd Fredenhall school of leadership.
Following Operation Torch landings.
"During the advance into Tunisia, Fredendall used an entire engineer company of the 19th Engineer Regiment to build him a large, dug-in Corps headquarters bunker 70 miles behind the front in a place called Speedy Valley (nine miles southeast of Tebessa).
Blasted and drilled out of solid rock, the bunker (actually two
U-shaped complexes running 160 feet into the hillside) took three weeks
to construct. An entire anti-aircraft battalion was emplaced to protect the headquarters. Fredendall also ordered a bulletproof Cadillac similar to Eisenhower’s, and regularly phoned Oran to find out why it wasn’t being delivered faster. General Omar Bradley
called the headquarters "an embarrassment to every American soldier,"
and General Eisenhower, after viewing the elaborate structure, reminded
his senior commanders that even generals must assume personal risk in
combat.
Fredendall rarely visited the front lines, and had a habit of
disregarding advice from commanders who had been farther forward and
had actually reconnoitered the terrain. He split up units and scattered them widely,
and at critical defense points had positioned (against advice) U.S.
Army forces too far apart for mutual support or effective employment of artillery, the strongest American arm."
Excerpts from Wikipedia (crossed checked to more stable resources for authenticity)
According to Obama, we're all probably just...
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:11 ET by shannon76getting all wee wee'd up.
Ambinder is getting excoriated in his comments page. I liked this one: ""It's a strategy." -- Because, you know, Obama personally called Ambinder from the 7th hole and filled him in on the whole, big, complicated, strategery."
This is what happens when human beings in the media are personally invested in their dear heroes...'er leaders.
Yeah, and how much do you
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:14 ET by MazziYeah, and how much do you want to bet that if the NWA hero jumped over the seats to disarm the terrorist tomorrow, HE would have charges brought against him, for leaving his seat?
Liberals are really mind-numbingly short-sighted.
"I would rather be historically accurate than politically correct" ~ My husband's T-Shirt
This hero should fear for his life.
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:34 ET by TailgunnerHe wouldn't be the first Netherlander to be murdered by Islamic jihadists out of revenge. This guy needs some security.
I vote we give this guy and his family a freakin' visa. (After all, we've been pretty free with the visas lately.)
CANDIDATE Obama: 'Yes, we CAN'.
PRESIDENT Obama: 'BECAUSE we CAN'.
Of course nothing is being
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:46 ET by wolfemanicOf course nothing is being said. Its the bass ackwards liberal thinking.
Just look at Iraq.... decade after decade when Saddam was torturing and
filling mass graves with tens of thousands of his slaved people for just
breathing... the libs were happy...no complaints. We go in and as soon as the Iraqi's started
fighting and dying for their freedoms.. the libs went frigging
nuts...they wanted that shit stopped immediately.
Libturds are only good at taking freedoms.... its beyond their mental disorder to fight, defend or even kill for them.
Calm and relaxed
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:44 ET by SATerpObama is so cool, calm and relaxed about things like this, that he could be mistaken for comatose.
Has anyone checked him for brain wave activity lately?
perspective
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:46 ET by nadadhimmiLook, this was just a terrible misunderstanding, ok? The WHOLE WORLD loves us now that "The One" is President. This I know because Barack told me so! umm, umm, umm. Why should Barack have to immediately jump to comment on this piddling little stuff? Let's keep this in perspective here, Barack has important crap to do man, like bodysurf Sandy Beach. And renew his old "blow" connection in Honolulu. So just cut the RACIST stuff,ok? (sarc)
The passing of lefty propaganda organs such as 'Atlantic'....
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:53 ET by wnaegele...will be greeted by most thinking people with the same relief as the passing of gas...
I told my husband a few
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:55 ET by AlanaI told my husband a few months ago that it had at last occurred to me and I had come to accept the fact that we don't have a president.
He said, "Yes, we do, you just don't like him."
No, I said. For all practical purposes, we just don't have one.
This is just one more example of that.
Weird...
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 13:00 ET by StarAZI sort of feel the same way--I expect nothing from this person...it didn't even occur to me what he would say about the Nigerian thing. I didn't care. "I want to be very clear about this, there is evil in the world, we have more work to do (have a long way to go, pick one).. .blah blah." But I do remember wanting to hear from our president after 9/11. I guess I have come a long way.
It's like Janet "Reno II" Napolitano said, the GWOT is over
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 13:08 ET by R D HelmIt's just that somebody forgot to tell the terrorists.
And Obama is not projecting calm, but indifference.
He simply does not care. If he did, he wouldn't put the grossly incompetent Napolitano in charge of cleaning the White House restrooms, much less the security of the American people.
When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered. -Dorothy Thompson
-Dave
BHO Lacks Wisdom
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 17:42 ET by miss911ninjaI was thinking back to 9/11 when President Bush received news of the attacks. As it was whispered in his ear, you could see the alarm on his face. But instead of tossing aside the book he was reading to children and bolting from the room, he remained calm so he wouldn't upset them. This was the behavior of a man wise enough to know that a few extra minutes spent finishing the story would not significantly delay him from speaking to the country, and would be best for his very young audience.
BHO on the other hand, is a man without wisdom. He believed it was necessary to appear on national television during the height of the H1N1 flu hype in order to instruct citizens on proper sneezing and hand washing techniques, with no apparent worry about whether it would "panic the country." So his silence gives the impression that he's less concerned about the threat of terror than he was about the flu. He's not even wise enough to understand that he should give them at least equal attention, so he comes off appearing, as RD said, "indifferent."
911ninja
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 18:15 ET by MrShyAaahhh, so THAT'S what BHO lacks... could never put my finger on what it was... he seems like such a complete package.
/sarc
And yeah, if Bush DID bolt up from the children's reading, imagine the ridicule he would have received... that he was hardly a leader and a scared Daddy Bush's boy, and a fear/panic mongerer, which they tagged him as anyway. It was always a no-win for him whatever he did.
ALSO.... there was probably nothing to do until he received more info, as far as where to go, what secure area, etc..
Non-issue made into one, like millions of others, to tarnish the man. Unreal.
Remaining Seated
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 23:42 ET by miss911ninjaExactly, Mr. S. Until he received more information, and more specifically "instructions" from the Secret Service, there was no better place for President Bush to be than in that seat, and he understood that.
AND, I might add, after the war on man-made events began, he quit playing golf. He wasn't perfect, but in so many ways, he "GOT" it!
I miss having a presidential President!
Remaining Seated
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 23:54 ET by miss911ninjaExactly, Mr. S. Until he received more information, and more specifically "instructions" from the Secret Service, there was no better place for President Bush to be than in that seat, and he understood that.
AND, I might add, after the war on man-made events began, he quit playing golf. He wasn't perfect, but in so many ways, he "GOT" it!
I miss having a presidential President!
Ooooops
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:02 ET by miss911ninjaSorry, didn't mean to double post. I could use some some lessons!
Just click once and wait ninja! :-)
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:12 ET by MightyMouth"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Yep...key words are 'wait'
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:17 ET by bigtimerYep...key words are 'wait' and 'patience' at times.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
BT
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:08 ET by MightyMouthI always watch the progress bar at the bottom of the browser. If it is still working: don't click again. Works most times.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Same here, being that it
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:24 ET by bigtimerSame here, being that it takes learning as I have gone on the internet, it takes time, patience and plenty of mistakes...especially when you didn't even know much more than how to turn the computer on, plus had no idea what google meant.
Nothing like others helping you learn if you ask...I'll always be grateful.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
miss911ninja
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:10 ET by MightyMouthSwitch men on 9/11. Obama is the President. His first thought is: "How is this going to look in the polls? My Presidency is at stake". And because the man has a Meglomaniac complex and is Narcissistic beyond belief, He will make a decision that is all about him and not about the country. This is evident in every decission he makes. If Obama would have been president on 9/11 he would have been impeached within months!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Mighty One... Exactly
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:23 ET by bigtimerMighty One...
Exactly right, he would have been disgraced and long gone... if he were a republican. ...media would've ensured that.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
BT yes, so much the worse had he been an "R"
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:37 ET by MightyMouthBut 9/11 transended R&D. I saw unification in those weeks following the attack. Both my sons said the same thing when I first saw them after: "I'm signing up!" Neither did. 9/11 was shock and awe for the bad guys. There is only one thing that will top it: a nuke. Still possible I guess. At least GWB followed through and then some... Obama's answer is to prove how superior we are to the world. Well guess what I don't think the "world" cares to be put down like that! We now have idiots in charge!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Mighty... We now have the
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 00:56 ET by bigtimerMighty...
We now have the 'Enemy Within' in charge... idiots they are, but very dangerous ones.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
'Enemy Within"
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:04 ET by MightyMouthNo truer words where ever spoken bt.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Nonsense...
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:28 ET by JerThis administration is continuing an agressive policy of eradicating Al Qaeda. Scores--including high echelon members--have been liquidated in the past couple of weeks alone.
Jer
Leave it to you to retort
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:40 ET by bigtimerLeave it to you to retort with 'nonsense'.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Well, bt...I considered 'balderdash'
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 02:04 ET by JerWell, bt...I considered 'balderdash' but thought it sounded a tad too British.
Jer
While we're giving constitutional rights and public fora...
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:45 ET by Tailgunner...to the murderers of thousands of Americans.
This administration is paying people to accept terrorists because Obama's so desperate to 'close Gitmo' that he's given up all pretense of justice.
Obama's Attorney General went above and beyond the call of duty to pardon FALN terrorists for Bill Clinton. Many of his new Justice Department appointees represented Gitmo detainees against the country for which they now practice law.
Yeah, we might be offing a couple of AQ in Pakistan, for which Obama deserves credit.
But the ones who are making it into the US seem to be getting a free ride on the PC Express.
And after two recent, proven terrorist attacks inside the US almost back-to-back, the Obama Administration don't seem to be interested in changing that.
CANDIDATE Obama: 'Yes, we CAN'.
PRESIDENT Obama: 'BECAUSE we CAN'.
We're surrounded
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 01:30 ET by jon_torlinWe're surrounded by enemies of all kinds. The O-ministration, the jihadists that are in this country lying patiently in wait, and the people who still love DuhOne. Oh yeah, and the Dems in congress too.
That's just in this country.
-Jon
"two-bit mook"? What's that
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 13:35 ET by BKeyser"two-bit mook"? What's that code for Harbinger (or whatever your name is)? Stupid African lackey? I guess it could be a mob reference, but this Nigerian doesn't seem to fit that description.
Seems the two-bit mook was a rich, well-educated, mechanical-engineering student. Not sure that fits the whole "Barry's not worried, it was a failed attempt" thought process.
And trying to suggest that we're in good hands doesn't really hold water. We've had how many MUSLIM-based attacks -successful or failed- since Abovethefray has been in office? Seems like Panetta is a complete debacle. Of course, much of this may be an unwillingness by rank and file CIA agents to operate in any way that might be considered aggressive by some pacifist college professor, or ACLU thug, or Attorney General. You watching Holder?
Thwarted
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 13:37 ET by Anneke9One more potential man-caused disaster thwarted.
Camouflage conservative in Baghdad-by-the-Bay
Alternatively, Obama as "Chance the Gardener"
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 13:53 ET by gmonsenI don't know if everyone remembers the Peter Sellers movie "Being There", where he plays Chance the Gardener. He is an absolute idiot who has done nothing but garden and watch TV, but his simplistic comments that solely relate to gardening are seen as allegorically presented insights and he is seen as being a brilliant guy giving sage advice to people.
That's Ambinder reading Obama's mind. The guy does nothing and its brilliant. Hello? There's no one home. Obama is not brilliant. He's a run-of-the-mill ideologue who is fairly good to excellent at playing politics.
The truth here is that he's on vacation and doesn't respond much while having some good family time at the beach in Hawaii. No brilliance here, nothing to see, just move along...
G
Great analogy, gmonsen.
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:08 ET by GalvanicI was thinking exactly the same thing when I read:
". . . But Obama is willing to risk the accusation that he is "soft" on terrorism or is hovering above it all, or is just not to be bothered (his "head's in the sand, "golfing comes first," ) in order to advance what he believes is the proper collective response to a failed act of terrorism. Let the authorities do their work. Don't presume; don't panic the country; don't chest-thump, prejudge, interfere, politicize (in an international sense), don't give Al Qaeda (or whomever) a symbolic victory; resist the urge to open the old playbook and run a familiar play. "
This isn't tied to anything Obama has said or done in the past. In fact, after admitting that he didn't have all the facts, he was quick to label the arrest of his Harvard acquaintence as 'profiling' and claim the local police force had acting 'stupidly.' He's outspoken about almost everything regardless of how informed he is.
No, in order to explain Obama's behavior, the author is projecting what he thinks is a logical explanation for Obama's silence. It's just like the explanations of Chauncey's "brilliant" statements in Being There. Obama-lovers want to find something strong and brilliant into Obama's behavior, when in fact, the simplest explanation is the likely answer (Occam's Razor):
Obama just doesn't know what to do. Failing (or refusing) to accurately define the threat, he's at a loss as to how to deal effectively with it.
Cult of Personality Always Breeds Derangement.
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 14:15 ET by TenebrousThe very first question that the Atlantic writer should have asked is this -- what indication do you have that Obama's inaction has EVER revealed some grande anti-terrorism strategy? The man has no history of such; he does, however, have a history of delay (see Afghanistan), altogether inappropriate responses (remember the Fort Hood shoutouts and the Manhattan flyover), and lack of concern (apology tours).
Maybe it's the golf-playing that transforms Obama from stumbling and disdainful boob into anti-terror genius. Even that would be believable had not Obama expunged the word "terrorism" from his language.
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www.Random-jumbled-thoughts.blogspot.com
Exactly right, Tenebrous
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:17 ET by GalvanicOn the Chris Matthews Show today, one of his guests noted that Obama was acting too much like a politician and called for a return to the "old Obama" we elected.
But how does he know that what we're seeing isn't the "old Obama?" Obama has never run anything before; he's inexperienced. The old Obama was never more than platitudes and catch phrases, and that's what we're seeing now -- he was and is a politician, not a leader.
Face it, Lefties: this is the Obama we elected.
Difference
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 14:27 ET by Rusty ShacklefordAccording to what we were told, Bush was just a dumb cowboy so I guess they think it should take much time to whip out some ignorant statement.
Obama, on the other hand, has a mind so brilliant that no mere mortal can fatham. Obama is so thoughtful and wise that his brain will actually cause lights in a room to dim since it acts like a vacuum on both electrical and spiritial energy. Let me be clear: he needs time to craft an articulate message in "common folk" speak since is brain isn't wired for our rudimentary level of communication. I believe the smallest word in Obama's native tongue has 17 syllables! But fear not: in a day or two Obama will read from his teleprompter a speech so amazing that you will have shivers running down your legs for weeks.
Well...he has some short ones...
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:06 ET by StarAZI believe the smallest word in Obama's native tongue has 17 syllables!
Except for "Look," at the beginning of every sentence. And "clear," as in "let me be very." But then he gets into the multisyllabic weeds with his modifiers and qualifiers and nuancers and ten-buckers. Psst--not always the best writing for, you know...the "folks"...another phoney-baloney he has affected.
Don't forget his other favorite word . . .
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:21 ET by GalvanicUnprecedented.
Ironically, he can't apply it to the recent spate of attacks and incidents, including Hasan at Ft. Hood and now the airliner bound for Detroit. In each case, the Federal government had actionable information but failed to act. It's a pattern.
SIX Syllable Favorite!
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:26 ET by miss911ninjaHis absolute favorite word is "extraordinary." He uses it all the time. Everything is extraordinary, have you noticed?
Let me be clear: I have
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 16:27 ET by Rusty ShacklefordLet me be clear: I have never noticed its overuse of the word "extraordinary" but it says the word a lot. Maybe the word fits perfectly across its screen.
Translation
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 22:51 ET by Rusty Shackleford"Look"
"Clear"
"Let me be very"
"Folks"
Yea, those are small words, but those are what results when Obama's massive brain is connected to the most sophisticated and advanced, and did I say sophisticated computer ever created! This computer runs on pure latte energy - and as we all know latte is fuel for the brain. These computers burn hot and convert Obama's gargantuan thoughts into something small enough that the average human brain can handle. This is why every speech Obama reads takes at least 50 minutes.
And did I mention the size of Obama's big brain? It pulses and the delta waves it emits can be transmitted by televisions and give those receptive to intellectual thought shivers in their legs. He's an Ivy League graduate you know. Smart man. Smart, smart, smart...
Try As He Might . . .
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:02 ET by DoktorFranken. . . . to appease the Muslim killers he just does not know what to do when it comes down to taking ANY kind of action - even verbal action. He has fullfilled all of OUR expectations, that's for sure.
Sarah Palin: The Most Dangerous Conservative In America
Immediately after being
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 15:44 ET by buddycImmediately after being told of the attack BHO promptly went to his gym workout appointment and promptly thereafter played his scheduled round of golf. He was TOOOOO busy to get briefed and respond.
What a loser!
Obama will always side
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 16:30 ET by George S PattonObama will always side with the black muslim before the American citizen, get used to it, it's a fact!
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Sun, 12/27/2009 - 17:32 ET by dahliatravers"There is a reason why Obama hasn't given a public statement. It's strategy."
... um, yeah. But if the president had been a Republican, friend, you'd have said "It's stupidity".
This weekend a terrorist nearly succeeded
Sun, 12/27/2009 - 22:02 ET by nkviking75While there certainly was some disorganization in the first minutes of the 9/11 crisis, the Bush Administration was hardly panicked. As for anger, any anger from the Administration was justified. But don't forget, a panicky president could have easily launched holy hell on places like Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan. Bush did none of these things. He sought to give a strong yet measured response to the attacks.
This weekend a would be terrorist came frighteningly close to blowing up a plane over a major metropolitan area on the most widely observed Christian holiday this country observes. It's nothing to brush aside or treat as minor. We have a right to ask how this extremist got so close to his goal, and we have a right to know that we have a president who takes these episodes seriously.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
The coward in the white house
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 16:07 ET by AcoustechObama is taking his time being methodical and forthright in his upcoming
speech concerning the T word and the unfortunate mishap that happened on
Christmas.
After all...he's a Harvard graduate....one has to find the correct verbiage
in order to convey without misinterpretation....the chosen one's words of
surrender to all muslim terrorists.
I swear the more the liberal
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 21:42 ET by COI swear the more the liberal talk the worse it gets. I'm convinced it must be a mental disorder. Do they not realize we see through this crap?