Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

“I never thought they’d lock HIM up,” sobbed a distraught member of the Lock Her Up Party.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

Republicans can’t even be trusted with their own money.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

In my day, never was longer.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Not all heroes wear capes.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

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Reader Interactions

242Comments

  1. 1.

    Max

    Obama could come out and read the phonebook and I’d still feel more comfortable with him at the helm over any other Dem or GOP.

    Thank god, after the debacle of 2000 and 2004, this country got it right this time.

  2. 2.

    CaseyL

    Lousy sound at C-Span for some reason – switching over to msnbc.

    Nice intro.

    Hah! “Even as we clear away the wreckage of this recession…”

  3. 3.

    CaseyL

    Repeat of some lines from earlier today, about how he’s pleased but not satisfied (not direct quote; I can’t type that fast) but they’re good lines and deserve to be repeated.

    Looking forward to seeing the details of those financial reforms he’s talking about.

  6. 6.

    asiangrrlMN

    @dmsilev: Don’t harsh my high, dude.

    Sigh. I love me some President Obama.

    Cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hand!

    mk, oh, we’re not doing the talent portion?

  9. 9.

    CaseyL

    I approve of the way he’s emphasizing basic hygiene and being cautionary but non-hysterical about H1N1. Too many people are already running around in circles yelling about how we’re all going to die.

    Not that visions from apocalyptic fiction aren’t skittering through my head, but so far the virus doesn’t merit panic, or anything anywhere near panic. (Mind you, I live in Seattle. If I lived on the border with Mexico, I might be a bit more excitable.)

  10. 10.

    rob

    Thought experiment: Imagine Sarah Palin standing at that podium.

    I would be slitting my wrists.

  11. 11.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    approve of the way he’s emphasizing basic hygiene and being cautionary but non-hysterical about H1N1.

    As an added bonus, Republicans will begin mocking him by handing out handkerchiefs and flu vaccines.

  12. 12.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Tapper just asked a tough but fair question about torture. I’m shocked.

    Let me see if I get the wording right: “You once said waterboarding was torture. The Bush administration authorized torture. Do you think the previous administration authorized torture?”

    Obama sighed really heavily, then started a long answer. He really does not want to use that word, does he?

    Still, good for Tapper. It was one of the right things to ask.

    Now some douche carrying Cheney’s water about the “enhanced interrogation techniques save lives” memos. Feh.

    (Fine. Tapper, not Tepper. I must have been thinking of SF writers.)

  13. 13.

    Dave C

    As much as I was prepared to mock Taffer for being such a tool, I’ve got to admit that his question was a decent one. He’s still a tool, though.

  14. 14.

    geg6

    Gawd. Tapper. I hate that guy. And I hate when he brings up torture because he thinks it’s a gotcha, not because he gives a damn.

  16. 16.

    Dave C

    @Dave C:

    Taffer, Tapper, whatever. :)

    I think Obama threaded the needle of the “gotcha” portion of Tapper’s question, too.

  18. 18.

    Dennis-SGMM

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    As an added bonus, Republicans will begin mocking him by handing out handkerchiefs and flu vaccines.

    The flu is good news for Republicans. If the outbreak is contained then they’ll accuse Obama of fear mongering. If it turns pandemic then they’ll say that he didn’t do enough.

  20. 20.

    geg6

    Mark Knoller just asked a better question than Tapper if you ask me. Of course, no one has.

  22. 22.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    God, we’re so fucked when an Islamic Indonesian from Africa has to explain American values to us.

  23. 23.

    Joe Max

    I just can’t get over having a President with a brain, a President who doesn’t make me want to heave bricks at the television.

  24. 24.

    valdivia

    is it my imagination or has the Village raised its game so far? Todd asked a good question too no?

  25. 25.

    CaseyL

    Really? I thought asking if Obama would ever use torture if he “thought it would protect America” was pretty tool-ish.

    Ah. Important Q about Pakistan – and from our boy Chuck, too! – I really don’t want securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to be our job. I think we’re already about as (militarily) busy as we can get.

  26. 26.

    DarrenG

    @valdivia: As much as it pains me, I agree.

    I have faith someone else will ask something painfully trivial and stupid soon enough, though.

  27. 27.

    John Cole

    Do any of you watch Tapper’s work on the ABC nightly news? I have been making an effort to watch them when I can find them on the ABC News site, and they are usually pretty decent. I don’t know what happens to him on the Note, though.

  28. 28.

    demkat620

    Nice brushoff of Chucky T. “Not gonna engage in a hypothetical. Boy he has really got this whole presidentin’ thing on lockdown.

  29. 29.

    geg6

    I want to explain why I liked Knoller’s question. He asked if Obama had read the docs that Cheney keeps going on about that prove torture worked. And I thought right away that Obama would end up saying what he said, which was basically yes and Cheney’s full of shit. Oh, and nice smackdown on Todd.

  32. 32.

    valdivia

    @DarrenG:

    yeah it pains me too. I am sort of shocked. There is still time though!

    And there goes Chip giving the republican talking points.

  35. 35.

    Brian J

    is it my imagination or has the Village raised its game so far? Todd asked a good question too no?

    None of them have been incredibly stupid, as far as I can tell, but the problem with some of them is that the president really can’t say what he thinks and/or what really is true. Todd’s question was good if for no other reason than it brought up a good topic, but on the chance that there isn’t hope that we can secure the nuclear weapons, does Todd really expect Obama to say that?

  37. 37.

    demkat620

    Prepare for some yummy goodness. Thanks Chip Reid. Watch how he lowers expectations and smacks the wingnuts all in one.

  39. 39.

    Dennis-SGMM

    Is Ed Henry there? I was hoping that he was so that he could ask some more provocative questions.

  41. 41.

    r€nato

    This guy just oozes presidency from his pores. I keep expecting somebody to wake me up and tell me it was all a dream.

  46. 46.

    asiangrrlMN

    Tapper? That was Tapper? Yuck. He made me grit my teeth immediately.

    President Obama did give a tightly-nuanced response to torture, and I was heartened to hear him call waterboarding torture.

    Todd’s first question was good, but his follow-up question (“worse case scenario”) negated the first question.

    By the way, am I the only one who gets a mini-orgasm every time Obama speaks? He is just THAT GOOD.

    Gah! Who is the idiot asking the abortion question?

  49. 49.

    TR

    Is Ed Henry there? I was hoping that he was so that he could ask some more provocative questions.

    I think he’s in the men’s room, shirtless, flexing his tiny muscles and trying to psych himself up in the mirror. “You’re a big man. You ask the tough questions! You’re DANGEROUS!”

    Nope, there he is, asking tough questions about Notre Dame.

  53. 53.

    dmsilev

    @Dennis-SGMM:

    Is Ed Henry there? I was hoping that he was so that he could ask some more provocative questions.

    You win. He just asked about abortion.

    -dms

  54. 54.

    valdivia

    that was a great answer to the Chip question.

    Here goes Henry asking another idiot ‘gotcha’ question.

  55. 55.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    @asiangrrlMN: What do you mean “mini”?

    (OK, not really. But I was watching Chris Matthews tonight as he went on and on about the first 100 days of photos and I just wanted to tell him to wipe his chin.)

  56. 56.

    r€nato

    Obama is a rhetorical master. If you listen to him speak on various issues, you’ll notice he does a lot of “on one hand, on the other hand” stating of issues. Particularly when he’s talking about his position versus someone else’s position (whether that somebody else is the GOP or Ahmadinejad), he states the other guy’s position in a slightly strawman way and then gently refutes it, making the other guy’s position sound unreasonable and his position sound eminently reasonable and the embodiment of ‘let’s meet each other halfway’.

    Been said before but I’ll say it again… Obama vs the GOP is 3 dimensional chess vs. tic-tac-toe.

    @John Cole: Yeah I think we are talking about the exact same idea…

  57. 57.

    asiangrrlMN

    @JK: That is my favorite painting. Thanks for ruining it for me by linking it to Palin. No, really, thanks.

    I love how thoughtful Obama is, even when I don’t agree with him.

    Man, he’s funny, too. I love his ‘let me write this down’ response to the idiotic question.

  58. 58.

    Dennis-SGMM

    …teen pregnancies, which are beginning to spike up again.

    Sarah Palin just got a migraine.

  60. 60.

    CaseyL

    I don’t think he’s called on a non-traditional media outlet yet.

    But the back and forth with NYTimes Guy is v. funny. “Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered!”

  62. 62.

    Mr. Stuck

    When Obama was asked if he would close the border. Obama answers, it would be like closing the barn door after the horses get out.

    Wingnut skull receivers begin beeping loudly. Then they shriek that Obama didn’t act fast enough and now we’re all gonna die, and our horses too.

  64. 64.

    valdivia

    I love our Pres. I did not know Jeff Zeleny was such a dork. My god.

    Excellent answer from Obama on the political posturing.

  68. 68.

    CaseyL

    Oh, GOD: “I’m surprised by [how quickly and completely the country turned to shit while I was campaigning for this job]”

    No foolin’.

    Oh, here comes the smackdown, and it is a beaut.

  69. 69.

    trizzlor

    Yeah, the “surprised, enchanted …” question first seemed like a People Magazine softball, but is actually quite interesting in that it took Obama off script.

  70. 70.

    dmsilev

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    But I was watching Chris Matthews tonight as he went on and on about the first 100 days of photos and I just wanted to tell him to wipe his chin

    That’s normal for Matthews. He’s the one who reacted to an Obama campaign speech by saying that it “gave him a thrill up his leg”. That was one of the stranger moments of a very strange year in politics.

    -dms

  71. 71.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @John Cole:

    BTW, since Laura W. is accusing me of being hostile to being +2 or +3 or +eleventythree in the case of Harlana today, here is a really good Sauv Blanc by Starborough.

    I think her larger point was yer no fun anymore.

  72. 72.

    John Cole

    I missed the question that made everyone laugh and had him writing something down. What happened.

    @Just Some Fuckhead: I’m loads of fun. I bet visiting this website is the most fun you have all day with your clothes on.

  73. 73.

    JK

    “Enchanted”?

    This bumps Zeleney into the lead as the biggest douchebag questioner so far

  75. 75.

    Dennis-SGMM

    Then they shriek that Obama didn’t act fast enough and now we’re all gonna die, and our horses too.

    It’s obvious that Obama is not a patriot. His cavalier dismissal of horses, coupled with the fact that he did not buy a pony for his daughters is proof positive that he hates horses and therefore he hates cowboys. Impeachment is too good for him.
    /wingnut

  77. 77.

    geg6

    Can we just keep this guy around for pressers even after he’s term limited? I can listen to a guy like this forever. He takes all the questions seriously and really thinks about his answers. Such a rare thing in the public life of America.

  79. 79.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @John Cole:

    I’m loads of fun. I bet visiting this website is the most fun you have all day with your clothes on.

    Meh.

  80. 80.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    @John Cole: I swear to God, you will shortly have someone claiming they always visit this place naked. Eww. (Where’s the Purelle?)

    Zeleney asked an SAT question: 4 adjectives that Obama had to write down and fit answers around: surprised, troubled, enchanted and … humbled (thanks, Chuck!).

  81. 81.

    asiangrrlMN

    @John Cole: The journo asked him what touched him the most in the first hundred days, what surprised him the most, what troubled him the most, and what enchanted him the most. It was funny.

    P.S. I would have this man’s baby if he asked–and that’s saying a whole lot.

    P.P.S. Wait, I have to be wearing clothes to visit this site? (Sorry, Comrade Mary, I had to say it).

  82. 82.

    CaseyL

    Where is Matthews doing his humpy-dog act?

    I’m watching on what I thought was his channel (MSMBC), and there’s no off-screen commentary, just the presser (for which, thank Gawd).

  83. 83.

    JL

    So far this is the best press conference. Except for Todd’s follow up on Pakistan most of the questions have been outstanding. As a nation, we are so lucky that McCain is not standing up there.

  84. 84.

    Woodrow "asim" Jarvis Hill

    @John Cole: Pretty much what was in my comment — some reporter asked him what “surprised, humbled, enchanted, and “. Halfway through the question, Obama paused him with a “let me write this down…” and then proceeded to actually write down the questions, and just finished answering all 4 of them.
    It was awesome.

  85. 85.

    Laura W Darling

    @John Cole: Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc? That’s like one step up from ginger, coconut, sesame ice cream in terms of palate pleasing perfection.
    I’m going to have to re-evaluate my assessment of your hostility quotient tonight.
    Damn it.
    mmmmmmmm…..Sauvignon Blanc!

    Edit: Enchanted, Stevie Nicks, of course:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRpRxgSNopg

  87. 87.

    Max

    @dmsilev:

    I think Chris Matthews is letting his freak flag fly when it comes to Obama, and its liberating him. There’s nothing better to watch than when Tweety goes after Cheney (going so far as to mispronouncing his name).

    Chris M. also appears to be in luv with Michelle.

  89. 89.

    Betsy

    Jesus, that question from the NYT guy was like something from the “interview” portion of a beauty pageant. “What has enchanted you about your 100 days?!” Seriously, this from the “paper of record” is a little embarrassing.

  91. 91.

    r€nato

    @geg6:

    agreed. I can’t imagine a greater contrast between Obama and 8 years of the biggest idiot imaginable in the White House.

  93. 93.

    JL

    @Betsy: The question allowed Obama to frame thoughtful answers. It’s nice to have a President that thinks. Can you imagine Bush’s answers to that question.

  94. 94.

    ChrisB

    @geg6:

    Can we just keep this guy around for pressers even after he’s term limited? I can listen to a guy like this forever. He takes all the questions seriously and really thinks about his answers. Such a rare thing in the public life of America.

    Absolutely. His answer to Zeleny’s question was a thing of beauty

    @demkat620:

    Always alot of fun to watch him think.

    Amen.

  96. 96.

    r€nato

    @JL:

    As a nation, we are so lucky that McCain is not standing up there.

    We are even luckier that Palin is not standing up there.

  100. 100.

    valdivia

    I just loved to see Zeleny on TV because there is so much spleen to what he writes about Obama in the NYT, now I know why.

  101. 101.

    Jason

    @r€nato: is correct; rhetoricians are already building projects on this guy. Of particular interest in the Comp community is the potential use of Obama’s popularity and broad appeal to teach communication. Not to mention the counter-narrative he provides to the “culture of distraction” zealots.

    The last two questions (questions “of color,” I suppose) were interesting, and I also appreciated the Detroit representative’s question. They should do one out of every three pressers with smaller markets only. Here’s Scherer…

  102. 102.

    DecidedFenceSitter

    Oooo….I like the states’ secrets question and beginning of his answer. This man knows how to dance with words.

  103. 103.

    r€nato

    Every time Bush gave a presser, I groaned, screamed, cradled my face in my hands and wondered how the fuck we were going to get through the remainder of his term with this idiot and his gang of dangerous criminals in charge.

    Every time Obama gives a presser, I watch the re-runs twice or more on CSPAN. I just can’t get over how fortunate we are to have such an intelligent, thoughtful, articulate, credible guy in the White House.

  104. 104.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Not a star fucker here but I totally dig the way Obama answers a direct question with a direct answer. That alone was worth my vote.

  107. 107.

    Mr. Stuck

    We are even luckier that Palin is not standing up there.

    If Palin were up there, it would likely be snowing on the Equator and we would be listening via short wave in our Personal Bunkers.

  108. 108.

    TR

    Did Michael Scherer’s mother have to drive him to the press conference? Did she pack him a juice box?

  109. 109.

    geg6

    Here’s a question I wanna hear an answer to stat. And of course, he sounds reasonable. But I’m still suspicious of the state secrets shenanigans.

  110. 110.

    TenguPhule

    Imagine Sarah Palin standing at that podium

    And answering every question by dropping her top.

  111. 111.

    Betsy

    @JL: I think he answered those questions as well as anyone could (and I certainly agree it would have been a trainwreck for Bush), but it was still not a question that led to particularly informative answer. In light of everything that’s going on right now, that just seemed totally empty to me.

  112. 112.

    asiangrrlMN

    WSJ guy sounds like a prick even before he gets his whole question out. The question itself isn’t so bad, but his tone irritated me.

    I liked the ‘of color’ questions as well. Yay, smaller presses!

  115. 115.

    demkat620

    Better questions tonight, much better questions. Is our press learning? Yes, maybe they are.

  116. 116.

    WestVirginiaRebel

    Quite frankly I think the NY Times was to be expected…even so, can you imagine Bush handling the questions? “Four? I gotta answer four?”

    I think they’re still surprised by the level of competence Obama shows, the poor things : )

    Obama gave the best answer on abortion: “Women are…better judges than members of Congress or the President.”

  117. 117.

    Dennis-SGMM

    Historical note: During his first term in office, which included 9/11 and the anthrax attacks, George W. Bush held three prime-time press conferences.

  118. 118.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Betsy: Right back at you.

    @Just Some Fuckhead: In general, I am not, either. I will make an exception for President Obama.

    @r€nato: I refused to listen to W. Childish of me, I know, but I just couldn’t bear it.
    @

    geg6: Unfortunately, I agree with you on this one.

    Did he just say ‘doggone it’?

    Waiiiit! Don’t go!

  119. 119.

    TenguPhule

    “Women are…better judges than members of Congress or the President.”

    Women are better judges then most of the men on the Supreme Court.

  120. 120.

    Ash

    What he really wants to say is: “All you shitheads calling me a socialist need to sit your fucking asses down!”

  121. 121.

    JL

    Let’s remember Sarah during the debate deciding not to answer certain questions.
    Wow, I am so impressed with Obama’s answers.

  123. 123.

    r€nato

    OK you guys, go to CNN.com and grade Obama. It’s at the very top of the page (not one of those polls down on the right side).

  124. 124.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Dennis-SGMM:

    Historical note: During his first term in office, which included 9/11 and the anthrax attacks, George W. Bush held three prime-time press conferences.

    To be fair, Danger Monkey was pretty busy destroying the world.

  127. 127.

    Laura W Darling

    @TR: So now I’m catching up with the thread and that was really funny. You seem to excel on the presser and non-State of the Union threads, IIRC?

  128. 128.

    r€nato

    The pundits on CNN are gaga over Obama… by implication, saying Bush was a complete fucking idiot.

  130. 130.

    Corner Stone

    Man, fuck Olbermann and Maddow. I’m just thrilled Obama used the word “torture”.
    Stop being pedantic little bitches and take what he’s giving up here. He’s giving us everything he can.

  131. 131.

    JK

    CNN is flashing letter grades from pundits and senators.

    What is this, the goddamn Olympic gymnastics or figure skating finals?

  138. 138.

    valdivia

    @r€nato:

    not to berrate you but you owe me 5 minutes of my life. ;-)
    I went to CNN and had to hear some republican idiot tell me that Obama was dismissive of Cheney’s request and then another (Rollins?) that Obama is boring.

  139. 139.

    Comrade Kevin

    @Corner Stone: You’ll take what you get, and like it, bitches, eh?

    Without people like them pushing, chances are Obama wouldn’t even have done has much as he has.

  140. 140.

    r€nato

    @valdivia:

    you missed the good stuff. Sorry. I’m only watching CNN out of remote control inertia, otherwise I never watch ’em.

  142. 142.

    Chuck Butcher

    Rachel was not to careful, Olberman more so in regards to torture, but both want something done about it beyond – ooops.

    I don’t think it is the job of the President to make statements about crimes when he has a DOJ whose job that actually is. Doing something else is playing politics with the DOJ – either side of the argument.

  146. 146.

    Ash

    @r€nato: Life just isn’t exciting for Republicans unless the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Which it is, but it could be WAY worse. So, yawn.

  147. 147.

    Max

    As part of an unfortunately flip to Hannity last night, that had some sort of panel with Mark Furman on it, I heard Hannity literally say that the real president is the person who types the words on the teleprompter.

  148. 148.

    r€nato

    I went to CNN and had to hear some republican idiot tell me that Obama was dismissive of Cheney’s request

    Yeah, that was Stephen Hayes, one of those right-wing think tank hacks riding the wingnut welfare train.

    Speaking of which, what with the ongoing collapse of the GOP I’m hoping that the Goldberg’s, Coulter’s and Hayes’ of the world end up looking for honest work as their funding dries up.

  149. 149.

    os

    Ed Rollins sez Obama got boring about a half hour in. Jesus. Words fail me.

    yes because press conferences are always exciting. i mean bush press conferences you were looking for epic failure and got it.

  152. 152.

    JK

    @4tehlulz: I think Obama should file a complaint with the International Olympic Committee for the low scores he received from Stephen Hayes and Ed Rollins

    @r€nato:
    I’d prefer Obama acquire the reputation as Bore-in-Chief rather than of Liar-in-Chief

  154. 154.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @os:

    Ed Rollins sez Obama got boring about a half hour in.

    Obama was a little boring if ya stand him up against some of our Great Fascists of History.

  155. 155.

    John Cole

    @r€nato: Every time you hear Stephen Hayes open his yap, remember he wrote an entire book detailing the fallacious links between Hussein and Al Qaeda. It will help you keep perspective on what an idiot he is.

  156. 156.

    Zzyzx

    So I switched over to Fox, and they had so little to complain about that they were annoyed that no one asked him about the fly by of NYC. Now there’s a crucial issue…

  157. 157.

    r€nato

    I guess Ed Rollins misses that clown Bush.

    These are serious fuckin’ times, I don’t want to be entertained by my president!

  160. 160.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I can’t believe no one asked about the fucking puppy. Where do I have to go to get real news?

  162. 162.

    Louise

    I just listened that entire press conference while working on something and it was soothing, for pete’s sake. He’s amazing; talking about Taliban and flu and economic meltdown and partisan idiots and it’s like some white noise waterfall compared to the last eight years of auditory and linguistic torture.

    Oh, and can I get a “hallelujah” for the nuance? I think that alone has the press corps stymied.

    P.S. I think the commenters over at Swampland may finally be getting through to Scherer. He asked a decent question and even followed up. Way to be kind of a journalist, Michael.

  163. 163.

    r€nato

    @John Cole:

    Now that you remind me, I’ve heard of that book.

    My impression of Hayes comes primarily from his appearances on Bill Maher, where he dons a glib smirk – like those idiots Bill Kristol and Georgia congressman Jack Kingston – while spouting the most inflammatory and idiotic neo-con/wingnut crap.

  164. 164.

    Corner Stone

    @Comrade Kevin: No, no, no. I’m on record as a less than Obama starfucker. But! I think the use of the word “torture”, the acknowledgement that waterboarding is “torture” is fucking valuable here.
    I’m not the kind to lie back and think of England my friend, I want balls out investigations. I’m not downplaying anything, or giving him room to breathe on this most important of issues (to me anyway).
    BUT, for Olbermann and Maddow to sit there and blithely say that Obama was playing silly word games just seemed fucking silly. Obama came right out and said “torture”.
    Fuck Olbermann and fuck Maddow.
    It just sounded really fucking stupid to me, at this point in time, when Obama doesn’t have the final say about investigations or any matter of law regarding this issue.
    I’ll go back and read the transcript of the MSNBC show when it’s available but they just sounded tone deaf and childish to me. And as I said – I want Obama and Rahm to STFU about “not looking back”. Let the law work and prove that equal justice under the law, no one above the law still means something.

  165. 165.

    Mr. Stuck

    Life just isn’t exciting for Republicans unless the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Which it is, but it could be WAY worse. So, yawn.

    I was trying to think of a headline for this presser. The best I could come up with is “Obama Delivers Verbal Qualudes to a Nervous Nation” . I was really young when Kennedy used to do this, but I can remember the adults crowding around the Teevee, and I could see them relax as he spoke. Of course, in those days. the numero uno fear was being incinerated any day by Soviet Nukes.

  166. 166.

    Betsy

    os:

    Ed Rollins sez Obama got boring about a half hour in.

    Where did these people get the idea that responsible discussions about national and world policy were supposed to be primarily about entertaining them? My god, I’m incredibly grateful to have a “boring” president; it means he understands that policy shouldn’t be based on bumper sticker slogans.

  167. 167.

    r€nato

    Stephen “F for Fuckstick” Hayes gave Obama a B-, which I think is his way of saying, “he didn’t make a single mistake but I still hate his guts so I’m going to give him the worst possible ‘good’ grade.”

  168. 168.

    John Cole

    @r€nato: Let’s not slip into the with us or agaist mode of Republicans.

    Ed Rollins has consistently had high praise for Obama, sometimes bordering on gushing, and routinely this week has given him an A on foreign policy. He disagrees with him profoundly on domestic issues, but still is very impressed with Obama’s skills.

    Ed was speaking from the standpoint of a media manager- he was concerned about the presser appearing boring and he focuses on aesthetics. That is what he does for a living.

  169. 169.

    JL

    @r€nato: The new talking point seems to be, that Obama is on TV to much. Rollins has been pushing the meme all day. In actuality Obama’s ratings go up after TV appearances.

  170. 170.

    MikeJ

    from waaay upthread:

    That was one sharp Teleprompter.

    In BBC America’s review of the first 100 days, they pointed out Obama had given 150 speeches, 48 of them with a teleprompter.

  171. 171.

    Martin

    Historical note: During his first term in office, which included 9/11 and the anthrax attacks, George W. Bush held three prime-time press conferences.

    And yet he didn’t catch Bin Laden and we have no idea who got ahold of US military anthrax and mailed it to the librul media and Democrats.

    Press conferences + FAIL still = FAIL

  172. 172.

    r€nato

    …like Josh Marshall just noted, I’m bummed that we don’t get to see Bobby Jindal deliver the GOP response.

  175. 175.

    os

    The new talking point seems to be, that Obama is on TV to much. Rollins has been pushing the meme all day. In actuality Obama’s ratings go up after TV appearances.

    lol right because with 2 wars, economy, education, health care, green technology, a pandemic flu, torture, you definitely dont want to see the leader of your nation tell you whats going on

  176. 176.

    r€nato

    Well John I guess I am an Obama fanboy and a policy wonk so I’m not your average ‘Merkin. I wasn’t anything remotely close to being bored for the entire hour. I’ll be watching the re-run on CSPAN later this evening.

    I still don’t see where Ed gets off with ‘boring’. And I don’t dislike him because he’s a Republican. He’s one of the few honest Republicans out there in the media who will say what he really thinks more or less without feeling the need to toe the party line 100% of the time. Thank goodness they didn’t have that tool Frank Luntz up there.

  178. 178.

    geg6

    I’d like to say that I turned KO and Rachel off about two minutes in. Talk about your buzzkills. I know they feel it’s their jobs to hold his feet to the fire, but he is doing his incremental one step at a time thing. Every time, he moves the ball forward and eventually he’ll take the whole country across the goal line with him, not just us DFHs. Plus, I would miss Lost and that would be a shame.

  179. 179.

    Martin

    I’d rather see Michele Bachmann deliver the Republican response.

    That would be awesome…

  180. 180.

    Laura W Darling

    @Betsy:

    My god, I’m incredibly grateful to have a “boring” president; it means he understands that policy shouldn’t be based on bumper sticker slogans.

    Christ. What a fucking relief, huh?

  181. 181.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    Ed was speaking from the standpoint of a media manager- he was concerned about the presser appearing boring and he focuses on aesthetics.

    So that begs that question “boring to who?” The people who thought that Bush’s pressers were da bomb?

  182. 182.

    r€nato

    If you are a dedicated Republican, of course Obama is on TV too much for your taste. People love him. He inspires confidence and we need that in times like this. We need to know that however tough things are, there is a steady hand on the rudder.

    These people saying Obama is on TV too much are also having a hard time adjusting themselves to a post-Bush world, a return to ‘normalcy’. Presidents SHOULD give press conferences more often than once every year or two.

    Prior to Bush, presidents did pressers a lot more often and what’s more, they could appear in public without carefully screened 100% sycophantic audiences who signed loyalty oaths as a condition of entering the premises. Fuck, with the exception perhaps of St. Ronnie they could answer questions at a press conference without falling back on a rote recitation of talking points.

  185. 185.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I had the rare big bowl of ice cream tonight. Gonna have to run an extra mile in the morning.

  186. 186.

    John Cole

    @ChrisB: You know you are old when you don’t even realize that young people might not get the reference.

    The Olympics simply is not as dramatic without the cold war.

  187. 187.

    JK

    The Fuzzy Logic of Chris Matthews

    I try to look for Republicans to vote for. I do. I‘ve always voted for local Republican candidates for Congress. I voted for Michael Steele once. I voted for Arlen Specter when he ran for mayor as a reformer, back in the old days. I look for good Republicans to balance the act out. I think the south keeps us a little conservative. The north keeps the south a little secular. The marriage works. It‘s like, you know, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 4/28/09

  189. 189.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    I’d like to say that I turned KO and Rachel off about two minutes in

    I suggest you adopt a one week on, two weeks off viewing schedule with these two. Maybe three weeks off with Rachel. Nonstop concern trolling can be hazardous to your health.

  190. 190.

    JL

    Rollins like the rest of the repubs are grasping at straws.
    Was their a Republican response?

  191. 191.

    ChrisB

    @John Cole:

    You know you are old when you don’t even realize that young people might not get the reference.

    Tell me about it. (It’s been 20 years since East Germany was in the Olympics.)

  192. 192.

    TR

    I’d rather see Michele Bachmann deliver the Republican response.

    That would just be distilled insanity.

    Would she give us a history lesson about how Eugene McCarthy led the triumphant communist witch hunt against the Bergenroses back when Ike Ikenberry was president? Or would she spend time looking to the future, when the Red Chinese have us enslaved with their Wal-Mart crippling lead-paint covered global currency?

    So much crazy, so little time.

  193. 193.

    Corner Stone

    God. How sad is it that I’m agreeing with Richard-frackin-Wolffe on Olbermann’s show?
    STFU OLBERMANN. Obama has no say in what happens next with torture and can only bungle up any possible investigation! If Obama says Bush tortured people then he colors any future jury pool or trial! God help me but I think my head may essplode if this idiot keeps non-acknowldeging this fact!
    FMSUTA!

  195. 195.

    Davis X. Machina

    I don’t care if it’s Paul Pierce, Pal Benko, or a plumber — it’s always worth watching someone who knows what they’re doing do what they know how to do. It’s why playing out old master games from chess books, even though you know who wins from the game header, is so interesting, and so educational.

    Obama’s pressers fall into that category.

  196. 196.

    Corner Stone

    @Davis X. Machina: Dood, stop slobbin’ the knob.
    But I will agree with you on the other point. I don’t care what your job is, or profession or specialty, if you want to talk about the thing in the world you know better than 99.9% of the population – I’m ready and eager to listen.
    I can’t tell you how many hours I spent listening to Operators in refineries talk about their tasks and duties. And even though it has nothing to do with my job or life – I learned something useful every time.

  198. 198.

    Max

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    You are not missing a thing… They are trying to be so hip and interactive, with the polls, instant voting, twitter, facebook, the wall and the repetitive statements and “the best political team on television” bullshit.

    It’s just totally “love me daddy”.

  199. 199.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    I look for good Republicans to balance the act out. I think the south keeps us a little conservative. The north keeps the south a little secular. The marriage works.

    That “balancing act” that Tweety supports is why our international counterparts have universal healthcare, high speed rail, strong public school systems and affordable college education and we don’t. What a tool.

  203. 203.

    JL

    The liberal AP has an article about Michelle Obama’s work today the a food bank with other congressional spouses.

    Mrs. Obama dressed down in sneakers and capri pants for the event. She hugged and joked with food bank volunteers and spouses from both parties as she walked around the center and filled bags of food.

    I work at a Food Pantry/Clothes Closet and I thought that Michelle was dressed appropriately for that job.

  206. 206.

    Library Grape

    what struck me about the whole presser was how completely lost the illiterate, stuttering black guy was without his teleprompter. it makes me yearn for the day when a retarded guy “from Texas” routinely gave us inspired word-vomit and offered up sexy massage to foreign leaders when he got nervous. IMPEACH!

    [/snark]

  207. 207.

    asiangrrlMN

    I don’t have cable. I watch Keith and Rachel the day after, which probably helps mitigate the buzzkill. I love them, and I want them to keep pushing. Full disclosure, I have a huge crush on Rachel.

    I don’t watch any after-presser deconstruction because the pundits drive me out of my mind. To me, Obama isn’t boring at all, but it’s mostly because I’m happy to see evidence that he can think.

    I don’t want to be entertained by my president–though he is hot. In fact, I don’t want to be entertained by my politics at all. I want to be informed. I want to be treated like an adult. I want to hear my president pronounce nuclear (and Pakistan) correctly. I get that all from Obama, and I am by far not a Kool-aid drinker. I know Obama is to the right of me on many issues, and I can deal with that.

    As for Bachmann, I never want to hear her ugly voice again.

  208. 208.

    Davis X. Machina

    It’s not knob-slobbery, Cornerstone. I said the same thing back in the day, when Mark Hatfield spoke in the Senate on C-SPAN, and he was an R. Ditto Bob-Dole-the-Senator. (Not Bob-Dole-the-Candidate).

    Expertise is its own attraction.

  209. 209.

    JK

    Larry J. Sabato: “The Specter commentary from Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele, and other top Republicans has convinced me that the out-of-power party is not just living on another planet; they have actually changed solar systems.”

  212. 212.

    JK

    @asiangrrlMN:
    As repulsive and stupid as Bachman and Palin are, they have star power among the wingnuts and the MSM loves covering them.

    @Davis X. Machina:
    Mark Hatfield. Wow, that’s a real blast from the past. I wish he were still in the Senate along with Lowell Weicker.
    I’d also gladly trade Michele Bachmann for Millicent Fenwick.

  213. 213.

    The Cat Who Would Be Tunch

    @Library Grape:

    Atanarjuat, is that where you’ve ended up?

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Full disclosure, I have a huge crush on Rachel.

    Do you prefer her with or without glasses?

    I want to hear my president pronounce nuclear (and Pakistan) correctly.

    And “Iraq” and “Iran.” I can’t tell you how much it grates my nerves when people say ” I—raaaan”.

  214. 214.

    kid bitzer

    hatfield and packwood were my senators, once.

    a very different republican party. as far from the party of jindal and bachmann as nixon was from lincoln.

  216. 216.

    Corner Stone

    @asiangrrlMN:

    so I can’t imagine why men find Palin and Bachmann attractive

    Ummm, because we’re clueless frackin hump machine males? Although, Bachmann – not so much.
    We buy things because they advertise them with large top shelfs in tiny bikinis. This has been proven time and again. We’re not bright but we are consistent.

  218. 218.

    SGEW

    Just read th’ transcript. Gotta love this prez, eh? Very first impression follows.

    Here, for you, is a concise summation of his stock answer – a “Shorter Obama, if you will:

    ——-
    QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. With [X] worsening, can you talk about whether you think it’s time to [do Y], and whether — under what conditions you might consider [Z], when that might be appropriate.

    MR. OBAMA: Well, first of all, as I said, I think that we have to make sure that we recognize that how we respond [to X] — intelligently, systematically, based on science and what [relevant] officials have to say — will determine in large part what happens.

    So what we want to do is to show that we are competent in getting results around [X], even on the structures that we already have in place, the laws that we already have in place, so that we’re building confidence, among the American people, that we can actually follow through on whatever legislative approach emerges.

    Okay?

    ————

    As far as stock answers go, this one’s the gold fucking standard: an avoidance of the question that is actually pretty satisfying.

    [edited for formatting]

  219. 219.

    Ash Can

    @Zzyzx: Wait a second. I thought those putzes weren’t going to broadcast the presser. Something about their prime-time entertainment lineup being more worthwhile viewing. Were they just feeling too left-out at the last minute or something?

    @John Cole:

    I was stationed in germany when the wall fell. Reunification day was a four day drunken haze.

    Too cool. I walked along two miles of that bad boy (on the west side, of course) in October 1980. I still can’t get over the fact that it’s down.

  220. 220.

    mannemalon

    @Corner Stone:

    How sad is it that I’m agreeing with Richard-frackin-Wolffe on Olbermann’s show?

    What’s so bad about that? Wolffe is one of the few sharp political analysts you’ll find on TV.

  221. 221.

    SGEW

    Now, I haven’t seen/heard MSNBC’s coverage, nor their alleged concern trolling, but as far as I’m concerned I’m pretty satisfied (as much as I can be – I mean, it’s a presser, not a speech) with Obama’s answer on waterboarding.

    He said the magic words. He avoided their ramifications, but it all flows from there – Cheney admitted he authorized waterboarding; Obama says waterboarding is categorically torture; torture is a crime. Obama’s fulfilled his role for now, and we have to wait for the next step.

    So, yeah, on torture and prosecutions: satisfied for now. But still, having some strident voices on th’ teevee pushing for prosecutions, no matter what th’ prez sez? Can’t hurt, methinks.

    [The State secrets answer was . . . um . . . disingenuous at worst (“disingenuous” meaning “not ingenuous; lacking in frankness, openness, or candor”: Greenwald should have a good take on it (i.e., the DOJ could have requested a stay instead of filing for dismissal if they really needed more time to come to a decision, but I’ll leave it to th’ Glenzilla)), and promising at best.]

  222. 222.

    Corner Stone

    @mannemalon: Because Wolffe has several times made excuses for the Village press. He’s a punk bitch even though he has really shocked me lately on his stances espoused on MSNBC.
    I’ll admit I’m wrong if Wolffe isn’t the little DC minion I believe him to be.

  223. 223.

    mannemalon

    @Corner Stone: I guess I’d just say ‘relatively’ then. Based on what we get on cable news, I’ve found Wolffe to be far better than pretty much all of the rest. I don’t doubt he has his miniony tendencies.

  224. 224.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Corner Stone: I think he’s realized how wrong he has been, and is slowly waking up to the fact. Plus, he’s British and cute, so I forgive him. This is directed to your comments on Richard Wolffe.

    @Corner Stone: Yeah, I get that. I’m wondering if it’s biological, though, because I love breasts, but I am not swayed by them. I have done much swaying with my own breasts (free drinks, anyone?), but no matter how much I love a particular pair of breasts, I’m not going to buy what the boobs are selling unless it makes sense to me.

    So, are guys just hardwired that way?

  227. 227.

    Corner Stone

    @asiangrrlMN:

    So, are guys just hardwired that way?

    Ummm, my respect for SGEW aside – the answer is yes. I can guarantee you I will buy you drinks/dinner/Coach purse, even with the fore knowledge that I have no chance at further understanding between us.
    There is some part of the brain that allows me to rationalize it by saying – hey, we’re going home alone but that was a hell of a good time with a beautiful woman.
    Only true pigs expect more.
    Also, bewbs.

  228. 228.

    Mike in NC

    That “balancing act” that Tweety supports is why our international counterparts have universal healthcare, high speed rail, strong public school systems and affordable college education and we don’t. What a tool.

    That’s what a $5M gig a year will get you. Worthless turd.

  229. 229.

    Chuck Butcher

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Ummm, my wiring is appreciative of many female attributes, nothing is particularly conclusive. I’ll not go into any real details about what can floor me beyond stating that eyes alone can stop me in my tracks. At my best I look somewhat “mussed” and oddly the women in my life have been quite nice looking – though somebody did mention a preference for “mussed” here.

  230. 230.

    TenguPhule

    Ummm, because we’re clueless frackin hump machine males?

    Fortunately some of us are wired to find other types of women more attractive then Saggin Palin and Bloodeyed Bannen.

  231. 231.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Corner Stone: Where do you live? Anywhere in the Midwest? I could use more books. And sushi.

    @Chuck Butcher: I just find it fascinating because I can find the form (male or female) beautiful and still not take leave of my senses. Like I said, I’m not above using my cleavage to get better service at restaurants, but it amuses me.

    @TenguPhule: Whew! I’m glad. I find it disheartening that even many Democratic males find the two of them comely.

  232. 232.

    gwangung

    @asiangrrlMN:

    I’m afraid there are many of us around here who’ll amuse you…

    (And while males in general may not be wired that way, I’m afraid that I am.

  233. 233.

    asiangrrlMN

    @gwangung: Cool. I like being amused. Do you live anywhere in the Midwest? I’m just trying to see what I can get out of these babies.

  234. 234.

    Common Sense

    @John Cole:

    I bet visiting this website is the most fun you have all day with your clothes on.

    Who the hell said I’m wearing clothes?

    (Yes I know I’m not the first but Jesus John you tee them up so easily).

  235. 235.

    Chuck Butcher

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Oh hell, I’m a construction contractor in NE OR not a waiter in MN. Politics aside, la Palin leaves me cold but I’ve never bothered to try to explain to anyone what does get to me and I doubt there’s any point in trying because it would miss the mark. I could point and say ‘wow’ but if that was taken as an archetype it would be wrong because I don’t have one.

    Hells bells, now I’ve confused myself…

  236. 236.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Chuck Butcher: Ha! You make me laugh. Where in Oregon? I used to date a guy who lived in Eugene. His bro lived in Portland. Nice state. Best used bookstore in the country–well, one of them.

  237. 237.

    Chuck Butcher

    Baker City, OR on I-84 150 mi from Boise ID and 350 mi from Portland, to be more geographically correct 50 air miles from ID border (Hells Canyon) & 100 mi S of WA border. NE OR, semi arid valley at 3500 ft at the foot of 10K ft mountains both E & W. East of Bumfuck Egypt middle of nowhere and near no place. It’s 45 miles and a mountain range to another town the same size both N&S – 10K pop. and nothing E or W of any size for quite a ways. Salem or Eugene are 300 miles and 4 mountain ranges away west.

  238. 238.

    Original Lee

    @ChrisB: East Germany has been out of the Olympics for 20 years, but there are still East German judges. (Insert Monty Python reference here.)

    I watched a lot of the Olympics on the Internet this last time, because I wanted more than just the highlights. Especially in gymnastics, there were a number of times when the scores came up that I was reminded of East German judges. I think the sportscasters even made a comment or two to that effect.

  239. 239.

    Original Lee

    @Ash Can: I was in East Berlin the day the Russians announced Leonid Brezhnev was dead. That was a totally weird experience, I can tell you. However, my aunt was doing doctoral research in West Berlin when the Wall went up and happened to be in West Berlin when the Wall went down, and listening to her talking about both times is fascinating.

    Also totally weird: I recently had to explain to a German man in his 30s why I was in East Berlin on that day. (It came up in the context of the stuff I want to see now that the Wall has been down for a while.)

  240. 240.

    Corner Stone

    @asiangrrlMN: Unfortunately for both of us I live in the Greater Houston Metro Area, TX. Which is a shame as I love sushi. In addition to the other pre-discussed good things in life.

  241. 241.

    gwangung

    @asiangrrlMN: Alas and alack…I live in Seattle (otherwise you’d probably be getting whatever you wanted….).

    Was just in Minneapolis this past summer and know a few people slightly, mainly in the theatre community…

  242. 242.

    canuckistani

    @asiangrrlMN: I have to say that the Naughty Librarian thing really turns my crank, but it only works if she can say smart things among the smutty. If there was another soul in Sarah Palin’s body, it might do it for me, but those evil, empty eyes…. brrrrr.

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