Reuters is only the latest wire service to go way over the top in taking pity on President Obama for having to deal with nasty things that intervene to disturb Dear Leader's apparent solitude.
At the same time, Reuters seems to be characterizing the situations in Iran and North Korea as "distractions" that are equivalent to that being posed by the Somali pirates.
I don't know how else you can interpret the way this Reuters article by Steve Holland currently appears:
This is far from the first time a wire service has sympathized with the poor man being "distracted." In an early January post (at NewsBusters; at BizzyBlog), I cited four examples within the previous 30 days of events framed as "distractions" by the establishment media. Two of them related to developments in the Rod Blagojevich scandal that ultimately led to the Illinois governor's removal from office; one had to do with Bill Richardson's withdrawal as Secretary of Commerce nominee; and the fourth related to the ongoing controversies over the US Senate seats in Illinois and Minnesota.
According to this Google News search, The words "Obama" and "distraction" have both appeared in 2,425 articles in just the past 30 days; excluding duplicates, it's about 450. Of course, all of them don't necessarily tie in to the administration's current activities, but a quick cruise through the results shows that at least the following items are potentially or actually distracting President 'Prompter and/or his administration:
- Any debate over the trade embargo with Cuba.
- The bid to renew the Clinton Era's assault weapons ban.
- The Korean rocket incident.
- The war in Afghanistan (as seen through the eyes of Europeans).
- The AIG bonuses (according to Rahm Emanuel).
By contrast, this final page of a Google News archive search from January 20, 2005 through November 1, 2008 shows that "Bush" and "distraction" appeared together in 809 articles in almost four years. Comparability between the two metrics isn't perfect, but I sympathize with anyone who finds that the press's obsession with the supposed distractions the White House's current occupant faces is driving them to, well, distraction.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Distraction
April 9, 2009 - 22:59 ET by TuariI'd say it was a distraction. I mean how long has it been since he had a party at the White House or had some entertainer over to entertain.
Well, he's remedying that
April 10, 2009 - 07:16 ET by motherbeltWell, he's remedying that today. A guy from St. Louis is flying in to make pizzas in the WH kitchen for the Obama family and staff.
h/t Michelle Malkin
Read the whole thing to see the hypocrisy of an "environmentally friendly" pizza restaurateur making a 1600 mile flight to make pizza.
I wonder what the carbon footprint of those pizzas is?
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Obama's "annoying distractions..."
April 9, 2009 - 23:03 ET by PrairieSkyOh, the poor baby...Pity poor Obama, having to put up with all these "annoying distractions"...What to do, what to do...
Someone may want to tell him and the MSM this...It's part of the job, you morons! S#!t happens when you're president, and you have to deal with it...Just ask President Bush (43) about distractions...They don't come much bigger than 9/11. If Obama were ever to be faced with something on that level, he'd probably curl up into the fetal position and wet himself...
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Ah heck Sky... He'd have
April 9, 2009 - 23:09 ET by bigtimerAh heck Sky...
He'd have Gibby take care of it for him.
We'd all feel so unified....
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Howdy bt...Yep...
April 9, 2009 - 23:22 ET by PrairieSkyGibby'd fix everything all right...Obama could go to bed with his blanky and his hot water bottle, secure in the knowledge that everything was all right...
Geez, I loathe that little toad...One of my friends has a saying (that still cracks me up) about people like Gibbs..."He just makes my teeth itch..." I find myself tuning in to catch his press briefings just so I can see how irritating and snotty he's going to be that day...( I know...I'm a masochist!)
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Good evening Prairie
April 9, 2009 - 23:35 ET by cocodrieWhen you're feeling down eat a live frog in the morning and nothing worse can happen to you all day.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Evenin' coco! Interesting idea...
April 9, 2009 - 23:47 ET by PrairieSkymy friend, but as tempting as that suggestion sounds, I think I'll pass! LOL!
Seriously, I am in a bit of a funk this evening...This has just been such a tough week, news-wise...All these mass shootings happening around the country, the economic situation, and to top it all off, Obama's "Let them all adore me" overseas trip, which just sent me into orbit. But, tomorrow begins Easter weekend, and with that, a renewal is upon us...So, I am going to smile, go to church, and focus on that...Thanks for your words, though...Message received!
Happy Easter!
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Prairie
April 9, 2009 - 23:53 ET by cocodrieGod bless you and yours also. It is a new beginning.
Keep a sharp lookout for the Easter beagle.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
coco...Easter beagle?
April 10, 2009 - 00:07 ET by PrairieSkyPardon my ignorance, but is that like "the great pumpkin"?
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Exactly Prairie
April 10, 2009 - 00:14 ET by cocodrieIt was Snoopy and Lucy. My wife used to tell me I'm strange. Some things strike me really funny and stick in my memory.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
coco...I thought so...
April 10, 2009 - 00:21 ET by PrairieSkyAnd I don't think you're that strange...I have a quirky sense of humor myself!
Thanks for the smile this evening, God bless, and again, Happy Easter! :)
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Actually, the original is
April 10, 2009 - 01:43 ET by GrannyGrump42Actually, the original is "If you eat a live frog in the morning, nothing worse will happen to either of you for the rest of the day."
The frog gets the benefit as well!
Who will rid me of this trouble
April 9, 2009 - 23:07 ET by RousseObama: "Who will rid me of this trouble-some pirate?"
Poor Obama. This is really screwing up his agenda or raping and pillaging the nation.
The Vet is back!
April 9, 2009 - 23:14 ET by JWFThe Vet had his own distraction to take care of. But now he is back with new friends and a new profile.
Here is The Vet's take of Obama's distractions.
Pshaw! Yea it is distracting him. Distracting him from shoving his socialist agenda down our throats. That is what it is distacting him from.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
an Eternal Champion after many exhausting trials and tribulations in the endless war between Law and Chaos
Covering for the leader
April 9, 2009 - 23:20 ET by KC MulvilleWhat did they think Obama was going to do in this job?
Don't you remember? He's
April 10, 2009 - 01:44 ET by GrannyGrump42Don't you remember? He's supposed to be Healing the Planet. But now that darned ice shelf is breaking off Antarctica be because The One hasn't been able to address the sea level since he's been in office.
Stratfor/BOR
April 10, 2009 - 00:00 ET by slickwillie2001BOR imported an article from the highly respected Stratfor, (normally subscription only) which is a rundown of Obammy's European victory tour. A good read, far better than anything you are going to get from the liberal old media: Obama's Strategy and the Summits: http://billoreilly.com
It begs the question:
April 10, 2009 - 00:16 ET by Scout FinchDistractions from what? Usurping control of the markets, banks, auto companies, and soon medical care? Granting amnesty for illegal aliens? Surrenduring our sovereignity? Parties at the WH with filet mignon and caviar?
Do explain "distractions", members of the media and administration!
You sound like PJ O'Rourke.
April 10, 2009 - 01:45 ET by GrannyGrump42You sound like PJ O'Rourke. To paraphrase, "Distracting Obama from pursuing his goals is like distracting a bear from eating your baby."
What about?
April 10, 2009 - 00:25 ET by chaosmongerWhat about all the distractions those in Washington they are throwing our way in their little shell games. Throw a ton of stuff at the public and that way we can't stay on topic before the next curve ball comes.
Those aren't "distractions"
April 10, 2009 - 01:41 ET by GrannyGrump42Those aren't "distractions" -- it's his freaking JOB to deal with those things!
You might just as well whine on behalf of a nurse that she faces so many "distractions" on the job because her patients are sick.
Doncha love how the entire
April 10, 2009 - 01:53 ET by GrannyGrump42Doncha love how the entire significance of the way the pirates attacked an American ship and took the captain hostage is how much of a "distraction" it is for poor Dear Leader? Not "Brave crew fights pirates". Not "Captain offers self as hostage to save ship, crew". Not "Pirate scourge threatens relief efforts". No -- it's all about Obama.
It's like the Weird Al song, "Why Does This Always Happen to Me?"
I was watching my TV one night when they broke in with a special report / About some devistating earthquake in Peru / There were thirty thousand crushed to death, even more were buried alive / On the Richter scale it measured 8.2 / And I said, "God, please answer me one question?" / "Why'd they have to interrupt 'The Simpsons' just for this?" / What a drag, 'cause I was taping it and everything .... Why does this always happen to me?
....
I was driving down the highway when all the traffic slowed to a crawl / There was a twelve-car pile-up, everybody dead / And I saw brains and guts and vital organs splattered everywhere / As well as my friend Robert's disembodied head / And I thought - Poor Rob, I just had lunch with him / Hey, wait a minute, he still owes me money - what a jerk .... Why does this always happen to me?
Why does this always happen?
(Why) Why does this always happen to me?
can't i just eat my waffle?
April 10, 2009 - 03:06 ET by i was just thinkingThinking back... near the end of the campaign...
John McCain put his campaign on hold to "deal" (yeah, right) with the financial crisis.
The Obamessiah sanctimoniously told us that the president should be able to multi-task, and his campaign told us how splendiferous The One is at multi-tasking.
I'd like to see a better quality of multi-tasking, please.
Yes, the presidency is distraction for the Whiner-in-Chief.
April 10, 2009 - 05:58 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . . the Lecturer-in-Chief, he who has NO management and/or real-life experience.
It keeps him from constantly campaigning to hear the huzzahs of the crowds.
It keeps him from doing more to kill the unborn and attempt to force those who object to it, to fall in line with his ghoulish amorality.
It taxes his ignorance of everything that's important in managing.
It causes him to face constantly the fact that he's so far in over his head that he'll surface only when he's removed from office.
It's so different that being a college professor and community organizer that, I'm guessing, that he lacks the mental horsepower to grasp how different.
Part time job
April 10, 2009 - 06:49 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsDidn't his wife say (need a link here) that Obama 'would be a President who wouldn't work nights and weekends'? I heard that but can't remember where.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
It wouldn't be a distraction if the "CIC" allowed the Navy...
April 10, 2009 - 09:31 ET by R D Helm...to do what it was trained to do.
Obama has failed his first "test." This thing should have been over days ago.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
So what's this a distraction from?
April 10, 2009 - 09:44 ET by slickwillie2001If these are distractions, then what do they think the Bamster's core responsibility is? Working on his jump shot maybe? Pushing through a socialist revolution in our country? Rubber stamping anything Princess Nan and Dingy Harry throw over the transom?
Easily Distracted
April 10, 2009 - 11:32 ET by aakaakaakInterestingly enough, the Pirate situation was damned near a distraction on NB too. That is, until an opportunity to slam Obama came by.
http://www.americanw...
And your point would be?
April 10, 2009 - 17:22 ET by BlondePlease, enumerate.
I hope he fails, too.
Obama will kiss muslim ass
April 10, 2009 - 17:25 ET by nadadhimmiObama will kiss muslim ass as usual, perhaps even bowing again to their leaders. hey, aakaakaak, do you think he's doing a good job on this? Freedom of the seas doesn't seem to mean much to you. How about terrorism?, piracy? kidnapping? murder? Progressives can't be bothered with such common matters now can they.
Is this aakaakaak guy a liar?
April 11, 2009 - 06:40 ET by JWFIs this aakaakaak guy a liar?
This guys' website has this quote right under his blog name.
Cynical, opinionated and Biased. Everything you want in a blogger and more.
--Glenn Reynolds--
Now why is it we cannot find that quote on Mr. Reynolds website? Or the mention of his blog or a link to his blog site?
And why is it we cannot find any of aakaakaak's posts actually mentioning that the Instapundit had linked to him?
Is it because he MADE IT UP?
WHY I BELIEVE HE DID! HE IS A..... now what is it when you attribute quotes from someone else that they never actually said?....Plagiarism?...Why I believe that is it....false attribution?
What do we call it when somebody did not say something about you and yet you claim they did?
Obama is a lost little boy
April 10, 2009 - 17:20 ET by nadadhimmiObama is a lost little boy that has absolutly no Goddamn idea what to do about these pirates. He doesn't want to play and the media will not even ask him a question they know he doesn't want to take. Imagine this situation with Bush as president. Can you imagine how the msm would pillory him for refusing to answer questions? The navy should hole their little boat, let it sink and fish the drowned rats from the sea. If they harm Capt Phillips, machine gun the bastards in the water. Then sail up to Eyl, where the pirate leaders have huge mansions on the shore. Use the 5"/64 gun on the Bainbridge to level everything in site. That's what a man would do. Obama, the usurper pussy, will apologize to the pirates for this delay in ransom payments. Progressives in action don't ya know.
Muslim Pirates
April 10, 2009 - 19:57 ET by Sergeant ROCKWhat would you have him do? The Neal Boortz commentary highlighted an instance of a meeting between a 'Muslim ambassador' and someone in the Obama administration where this ambassador stated that the pirates are just doing what the Koran commands them to do.
I don't see Obama Bin Biden doing much of anything..
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
I agree with SR
April 11, 2009 - 07:43 ET by RD KingI dont think chairman maobamster will do anything. I think he clings to the clinton policy of I gotta poll this to see whats popular and I don't want to do anything to defend or protect America, I might offend someone or they might dislike me. The totus just hasn't told him what to do yet and he just can't get motivated without his prompter.
He hates America and besides these are his people, muslims and community agitators how can he stand against them? He'll have them over here working with acorn before you can blink.
War on Terror over
April 11, 2009 - 07:49 ET by Sergeant ROCKThat said.. can we conclude then that Obama Bin Biden will not use military force against the pirates because that would constitute a 'war on Islam'?
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Obama needs to sit down,
April 11, 2009 - 08:10 ET by BDObama needs to sit down, shut up, and let the adults at the DOD run this.
The only problem is..
April 11, 2009 - 08:14 ET by Sergeant ROCK.. they don't have any of those. In the administration, I mean. And I don't see them giving much leeway to the military leaders either.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Yes, SR. I know the
April 11, 2009 - 08:29 ET by BDYes, SR. I know the feeling.
What is sad is that this whole piracy fiasco could be solved extremely cheaply in the cost of innocent lives and money.
Step one. Announce that unless the hostage captain is released, no survivors will be allowed on the US ship. THen begin shooting the lifeboat with a 25mm chain gun from the US ship. Start at the end in which no persons are standing. When the lifeboat begins to sink swiftly move in with fast boats. Odds are good that the somali's will desire to save their lives more than hurt the captain. And if they hurt the captain - I guess there are no survivors....
THen begin hammering each sea -ide villa on the coast of Somalia with PGM. Reports in the press indicate that they are being built with the profits of the Piracy so make the process VERY unprofitable. Turn each into craters and sink EVERY maritime vessel beached in Somalia for a period of seven days.
THen drop leaflets announcing that the pirates can do what they wish to other nations ships, but that US flagged vessels are off limits and will trigger an even larger repriasal next time.
I guarantee US ships will sail unmolested worldwide after that.
But Obama has no testosterone for what is needed.
Failed UN Policies
April 11, 2009 - 08:34 ET by Sergeant ROCKI thought the U.N. had everything fixed in Somalia? You know, since the cowboy American oppressors left.
It's a U.N. failure. That said, initiate your plan and send the U.N. the bill.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason