David Brooks Feels for Obama on PBS: 'You Have to Feel Sorry for Him'
On Friday's PBS NewsHour, both "conservative" David Brooks and liberal Mark Shields thought this was a tough, tight election for Barack Obama. Shields said "it becomes a race about disqualifying, a campaign about disqualifying your opponent. And that's not attractive or appealing. It's not hope and change. It's blood and guts."
But Brooks really felt Obama's pain: "So the president is obviously going to try. He is going to have. And to some extent, you have to feel sorry for him. This is in large degree not his fault. Things are happening way beyond his control. I don't believe a president has control over a quarterly economy in any case." He added:
But the European situation is certainly not his fault. The Chinese slowdown is not his fault. And the Europe thing cannot be underestimated. There was a study by some economists this week that, say, Greece leaves the euro peacefully. Well, that reduces growth to our 1.7. Say it brings Spain and Italy, and it as much messier. Then it is even worse. Obama has really very little control and he's sort of a victim of this myth that presidents control the economy quarter to quarter.
At least Brooks didn't see the point of further "stimulus" spending: "listen, we are borrowing a trillion dollars a year, we're borrowing 40 cents on the dollar. Do we really think if we borrow a $1.1 trillion a year, somehow, that is going to magically transform the economy? I'm a little dubious." So why not place some of the blame on Obama?
Brooks did surprise for not hitting the idiot button too hard on Donald Trump over his appearance in Las Vegas with Romney:
I do think there is a positive side to the blessing. The negative side is obvious. He's a bit of a buffoon. But the positive side is there are a lot of people, a lot of entrepreneurs, a lot of immigrants who go to Trump University, who buy Trump books, who like the idea of Trump Tower. He is a symbol for a lot of Americans of social mobility, of starting a business and making it. And so I do think he brings an audience, an important audience around.
Brooks didn't think Bill Clinton as a former president should be campaigning, and likes that George W. Bush has not. Mark Shields offered his liberal swagger on how much better Slick Willie is than the Donald:
Donald Trump is a disaster, an unmitigated disaster. The same national survey that asked favorable/unfavorable of the two men, Bill Clinton was 67/29 favorable, Donald Trump was 29 to 67 unfavorable. And that is the assessment of him.
He talks about the birther thing, Judy. And one out of four -- that is the most I have ever seen -- believe that the president wasn't born in the United States. These are people -- this is an expressed belief. Nobody really believes it. It's because they loathe Barack Obama, they believe it.
It is the same way that when somebody is against the science of global warming, it's like they don't like it because they don't like the remedies of global warming, so they reject it. That is what this is. He is not appealing to anybody. He is raising an issue that does Mitt Romney disservice.
The problem is, this is a campaign where all holds are barred for money. And you will go anywhere to get money, Donald Trump, Donald Trump in Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson, $2 million. That's the price he paid with a day of stories about birther.
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Comments
I feel sorry for America
Submitted by mattm on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 3:57pm.
I feel sorry for America having to suffer under the inept and misguided rule of an unqualified, probably ineligible, America-hating, commie thug.
Touche
Submitted by sergeant stogie on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:20pm.
Nicely done, mattm, but you forgot narcissistic pathological liar.
wait a second...
Submitted by superllama on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:04pm.
How can they claim on the one hand, that the President doesn't have control of the economy while on the other hand blaming everything on Bush's economy?
Well, you see...
Submitted by Anon150 on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:52am.
...There's a subtlety, a, ah, um, a NUANCE, if you will. Yeah! That's it!
Nuance!
And, erm, ah, well there is this difference betwee...
Racist!
(This measured response brought to you by the Progressive Committee of "Because-We-Said-So")
:D
Aww gee, guys...
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:05pm.
You cant blame Ear Leader for all this mess hes gotten us into-nah, its not fair! In fact, its PREJUDICED! Thats right-anyone who puts all the crap hes done to us as his fault is a RACIST!
Just like it wasnt Bush's fault-wait, didnt they say it was? These people wont stop at anything to exalt President FORE-ty FORE!
Hey, Maxie Shields!! It was
Submitted by killa37 on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:09pm.
Hey, Maxie Shields!! It was dopes like YOU who DID think it was about 'hope and chains'..............the rest of us 'folks' KNEW it was about 'hype and chains'.
And Babbling Brooks - shaddup, stooooooooopid!!! You're sounding like your Boy Baraka with all of your lame excuses.
OK, let's say we can't expect
Submitted by ant on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:33pm.
OK, let's say we can't expect the President to have control over the economy...but we can expect him to get the hell out of the way of it!!
I "feel sorry" for the people
Submitted by rbosque on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:54pm.
I "feel sorry" for the people who are unemployed and whose lives have been ruined no thanks to Obama's Socialistic incompetence.
Obama's Baliwick
Submitted by stratman on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:54pm.
Disqualifying opponents is Obama's campaign method of choice. He's been doing it every election since his first when he took out his friend and mentor Alice Palmer. Obama hasn't stopped backstabbing and tarring his opponents since.
David Brooks is a schmuck too enamored of his false god to know he's the Left's two cigarette pass around bitch.
sorry....
Submitted by driguana on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:59pm.
Feel sorry for Obama???? You've got to be kidding!!!
I feel sorry for this country and the fools who fell for his lack of experience, lack of credentials, poor speaking habits and a litany of other things. He is a callow politician who has led this country onto a path of oblivion. It is time for Americans of all political persuasions to open thier eyes, their ears...and their souls....It is time for a leader to emerge...not a politician. It is time to abandon Obama.
In contrast, of course,
Submitted by bkeyser on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:10pm.
to the CRA, which was GW's fault.
Really...?
Submitted by ontheright on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:17am.
Either you left off the /sarc tag purposely, or you've got minimal internet(s) skills. Either way, you can't be that foollish and/or ignorant of history, can you? I don't usually use wikipedia to support my arguments, but in this case, the information is mostly solid.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_Act
Maybe I misunderstood your comment...if so, my sincere apologies.
Got Bing?
...it does the body good.
You're talkin' to a guy who
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 12:34pm.
You're talkin' to a guy who is pretty handy with a computer.
Speaking of minimal internet skills...
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 1:18pm.
Speaking of minimal internet skills, you seem unable to do your own research. You rely upon Wiki, which is someone else's research. What makes you think that the information contained there is "mostly solid?"
One would think that someone who is so obvious internet savvy as yourself would do their own research and publish their own results on their own website. But, no, I guess not. You'd rather Bing it than wing it.
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.
Interesting style. Insult, but embed an apology "just in case."
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 1:27pm.
If only Chris Hayes had thought of that.
RINO Rhetoric?
Submitted by fstaff on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:15pm.
Brooks is a “conservative” like I am a Hawaiian Tropic Swimsuit Model. Why does Mr. Trouser Crease Gazer not just take a position at MSNBC and be done with it?
Trying to minimize YOUR role aren't you Brooksie
Submitted by Texndoc on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:16pm.
I know I know. History will record you fell for and promoted the biggest scam artist to ever hold the office. It's not his fault. (pats Brooksies hand)
Feel Sorry for Soetoro....
Submitted by Aubrey on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:17pm.
Uhh....no.
Feeling sorry
Submitted by grammajane on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:21pm.
for obama and blaming Pres. Bush?? Pres.Bush didn't inherit a bed of roses. The people to feel sorry for, are the people who voted him in, in 2008 No jobs, homes loosing half the value, spending, and gas prices all of which does not affect their poor hero but affects most of Americans on a daily basis
Quick, somebody break out the
Submitted by LinTaylor on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:44pm.
Quick, somebody break out the World's Smallest Violin.
What's painful for Obama is
Submitted by celator on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 6:12pm.
What's painful for Obama is that he can't credibly defend his presidency without being laughed out of the room by both D's and R's.
The President has no control over the economy, therefore it's
Submitted by DaMav on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 6:34pm.
President Bush's fault.
A self refuting allegation.
Dear Mr. Brooks....
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 6:43pm.
No I don't.
"I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; -Barack Obama, 2008
I'll be kind and not even mention the oceans and the planet.
➚ Come on, motherbelt
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 7:08pm.
That's the best part, where he openly dreams of standing in the Temple proclaiming himself God.
feel sorry for the American people
Submitted by ohio granny on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 8:00pm.
I feel sorry for the people who did not vote for Obama, contempt for the ones who did. Obama is to be rediculed for how he has governed (if it can even be called that). Why would anyone who has a brain feel sorry for Obama?
NO Mr. Brooks I don't feel sorry for Obama, I feel utter contempt. I feel contempt for you and everyone who makes excuses for Obama or who still supports him.
Buncha suckers
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:26am.
I feel contempt for those who voted for this poser as well, but there are a few that I know that had genuine hopes and desires for a better future and were sucked in by this fraud and they have contempt for him now as well. While that won't be much to redeem themselves in my eyes(to which I still get to say "SEE I TOLD YOU SO!!!" to them), at least they have true buyer's remorse about voting for him.
I just get angry about how it was all laid out there in history for all to see that this guy was a fraud and many of us on here KNEW things were going to happen the way they have for the last 3.5 years, and we predicted it pretty accurately a year before he even usurped the office. History was our guide. But many chose to ignore it in favor of the flowers.
-Jon
Doesn't this sould like the North Korean propaganda?
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 8:26pm.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the president’s former chief of staff, introduced Obama to about 350 people at is weekend's fundraiser, with tickets costing at least $2,500 per person. Emanuel said that, through “sheer force of will,” Obama has helped create jobs, including by leading a rescue of the U.S. auto industry.
Shear force of will??!@# OMG. Pretty soon, we'll be hearing about Dear Leader's 8 holes in one in a single round of golf. (For reference, Korea's Kim Jong-Il first picked up a golf club in 1994, at North Korea's only golf course, and shot a 38-under par round that included no fewer than 11 holes in one. Satisfied with his performance, he reportedly immediately declared his retirement from the sport. It's the truth! Just like o'bama's “ sheer force of will " is the truth!) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8965694/50-fascinating-facts-Kim-Jong-il-and-North-Korea.html
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
So if the economy recovers,
Submitted by CM on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 8:15pm.
So if the economy recovers, will the media downplay Obama's role? Somehow I doubt it.
Watch for it
Submitted by needle on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:57am.
Praise will be heaped on Obama by the DNC media four years from now no matter what Romney and his administration manages to do expunge the curse Obama has placed on our country.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Watch for it
Submitted by needle on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:01am.
Praise will be heaped on Obama by the DNC media four years from now no matter what Romney and his administration manages to do to expunge the curse Obama has placed on our country.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
It IS his fault.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 8:33pm.
Brooks enabling Zero's malignant narcissism is one thing, but laying a foundation for him to escape blame for his gross incompetence and negligence about his presidency's responsibility for the economy simply is delusional. He had a filibuster-proof Senate and a strong House majority that did nothing but sit on its hands instead of passing a budget and living up to their other obligations. Either he failed as a leader to properly motivate the leaders of both houses to get his agenda enacted or he failed as a leader to get other members of congress to push them to action. Either situation is unforgivable. The excuse that he had so much work to do that he could not accomplish all of it is unacceptable and indicative that Brooks is just another useful idiot for Team Oblivious.
When one of my children whined "this isn't fair!", they were disciplined appropriately. Earbama needs to put on the big boy pants if he wants to go down in history as anything but the whining, spoiled brat blaming everyone else for his miscreant behavior.
big boy pants
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:22am.
Gee, I dunno, doc, but how ridiculous would they look compared to the mom jeans he wore when he threw that pathetic attempt of a baseball pitch?
And it's not to disparage those men who are of slender slight build, I know a few guys like that but have far more character in their little finger than this poser ever will in his whole body.....assuming he ever had any and to date, he has none...no character, no class, nada. These guys I know would have been better and more effective leaders and they don't whine about anything either.
It's all about how you carry yourself.
-Jon
So, Jon-E-Boy, you're sayin'
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 12:33pm.
So, Jon-E-Boy, you're sayin' (Obamaspeak) that you're not buyin' Boy Baraka's phony 'swagga'????
The guy is a walkin', talkin' definition of a queebie-assed tilley!!!! With less class than a closed elementary school.
Actually.....
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 1:30pm.
I never buy ANYONE'S swagga, even if it were my friends who do it.
I always look at the actions of anyone, not just the words, anything that tells about the character of that person.
There's putting on a show, like a performance, and then there's puttin' on a sho' trying to fool people. Let the buyer beware and be aware of the difference.
-Jon
If he can't accomplish
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 12:04am.
If he can't accomplish anything, has no control over anything and can't be blamed for anything, what is the point of having him? If this is true then he is nothing more than a token negro whose only function is to assuage white guilt.
David Brooks feels for Obama
Submitted by cewest246 on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 6:31am.
I agree with the fellow who said "Why doesn't he just go over to MSNBC and forget about it?".
It would be a very good idea to give the devil his due: Barak Obama has known and chosen every, single, act of his AINO career as President from the moment he put his big toe on private property to remove the CEO and replace him with the first of his ownership of the minions of Open-society-ANIO's at Chrysler Corp.
He is immensely successful at destroying the Founding Documents...and since his Yale records are not available, it is pretty safe to say he studied the Constitution to destroy it....never to support it. He is Islamic -- his words on You Tube video which is still available in interview with Stephanopoulos. That, as an AINO, he would utilize the assets of the Nation, which serves his interests would be a big mistake. His interests, since bowing at the hips to Saudi Arabia are, with his Clinton Secretary of State the greatest among the Mis-takes of his regime, are in radical jihad over Israel
He has had help, though! Congress Members, both parties, love to sit on their hands because "We are a nation of law." --- except the Supreme Law of the Land. Law means anything the Obama Regime wants as law: Patient Protection and Affordable Act requires constant name changes especially because protection - affordable are gross misnomers and PeePeeAA goes so well with this Act against the Individual Rights of Person. -- The commerce clause over-rules Natural Rights protected by We the People's "Consent to governed" -- because as a nation of law, Congress Shall cave-into and elitist, homo sapiens with cognitive attributes, centrists including the "Social" variety, believe: -- only courts can decide an unconstitutional act is unconstitutional.
The words of both Declaration, which isn't spoken of in the same breath as the, Constitution. We the people cannot possibly understand or be able to declare a law unconstitutional....only a court can ...Never mind the same homo sapiens with cognitive attributes which write and pass the unconstitutional laws - forcing court cases in courts which are stacked - to some extent - against Declaration -forbidden it refers to God, and Constitution - old and worn-down by so many precedents you cannot find the simplicity of the document...unless you read it as the "Person" with sovereignty it is written to protect. The beautiful legal logic connecting Both Documents has been lost...though not completely; and any connection of the Republican form of government with origins in law from the Scriptures..is also forbidden.
So we have from 1/20/2009 to this date - though the President is now locked away as being only able to invoke Executive Orders to get his interests in his "open-society" laws passed. Obama now must use E.O.'s to establish and create the "anti-law" of the UN in every city, county, State area of life and liberty..via EPA/EIR, Dp. of Labor, of Aggi, of food, drug, cosmetic, health and human services, and the now 100% ownership of executive branch dp. of edu kindergarten through doctorate - trade schools and free-taxpayer money named grants(bet you don't know that is why tuition has more than tripled) and college loans.
This has strayed a long way away from Mr. Brook's so called 'conservatism' - but that is the point...he cannot see, hear, and has become so stiffnecked that he actually supports the elitist centrists who consider Founding Documents Not For We the People --- only We the Courts. Thus both elitist and Mr. Brooks continue their 'holier-than-thou attitude toward America and Americans, and Anti-Law is a daily occurrance - plastic bags in CA and not 32 oz plastic cups in NY!!!!!!.
It was like that when I got here . . .
Submitted by S. Plissken on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:10am.
Actually, he did inherit a mess, but since 2009 just about everything he's done has only exacerbated the problem, and those "initiatives" are all on him. The current "mess" in Europe isn't of his making, or under much of his control, but if he had been prudent in guiding our own economy towards better health, if by doing nothing more than doing nothing, instead of letting his Cabinet and czars pile on regulations and threats, we'd have been in better shape to weather what misery we may face with a meltdown in Europe. The bottom line is, he doesn't know what he's doing, and delegates to those whose interests lie in far left policy. I don't know why he doesn't just stay over at the golf course and let Valerie Jarrett openly run the show. She can dress up Michelle and send her off to "The View" to be swooned over, then get down to the bidness of fundamentally transforming this country.
The PBS version of fair and balanced:
Submitted by needle on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:53am.
A lily livered RINO more liberal than any blue dog Dem discussing junk with a thorough going leftist, who would be constantly humiliated if he had to defend his zany notions with a proper conservative.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Obviously it's time for a different President.
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:58am.
Ok, Brooks, I hear ya, Obama has very little control. Isn't it time we elect a President who will have control? Obama can't seem to handle it.
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.
The MSM loves to trot out faux conservatives like Brooks, Gergen
Submitted by cbeyer on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 2:59pm.
The MSM, of course, has a liberal bias and agenda. To give the appearance of some level of objectivity, they use these RINO's as a foil to go along with known liberal newsies. It makes outlets such as CNN and NBC feel better about themselves.
Poor Obama
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 3:30pm.
"And to some extent, you have to feel sorry for him."
I can't believes that it's come down to this amongst the MSM: Obama needs to garner sympathy votes! HA HA!
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.
Who was that guy?
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 4:41pm.
Who was that guy who wanted to be re-elected and practically BEGGED his constituents to keep his job? I can't remember his name, Rush made fun of him(and rightly so) a couple of times.
That's what this reminds me of.
-Jon