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You are here: Home / Politics / Politicans / Best President Ever / Obama Respite Open Thread

Obama Respite Open Thread

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 The man whom Chancellor Angela Merkel calls “dear Barack” was back in Berlin on Saturday, his lanky figure and easy smile a reminder for Germans of a different era that ended not so long ago.

But former President Barack Obama had not come to speak about the past. He came to speak to the future: some 300 young leaders from across Europe, who had gathered for a town hall-style meeting in the German capital.

It did not take long for Mr. Obama to touch on one of his main concerns — and the reason he had come to what he called “the heart of Europe.”

Europe, Mr. Obama suggested, is one of the main battlefields between liberal democracy and far-right populism.

“Nationalism, particularly on the far right, is re-emerging,” he told a packed auditorium. “We know where that leads. Europe knows better than anyone where that leads.”

“It leads to conflict, bloodshed and catastrophe,” he said.

This past week was the tenth anniversary of Obama’s speech in Prague on nuclear disarmament. Here’s the transcript and also a video.

Open thread.

Reader Interactions

78Comments

  1. 1.

    trollhattan

    I like this guy, but is his “likeability” enough to get elected?

    He and Merkel at least are keenly aware of what’s occurring in Europe–how many others are? And where the hell is Bannon right now?

  2. 2.

    WaterGirl

    One of my favorite things about 2007/2008 was being in a rally with Barack Obama, having someone yell we love you Barack, and him saying “I love you back!”. And then flashing his wonderful smile. Still love you, Barack.

    When I got the email about this yesterday (or earlier today) i almost posted it in one of the threads. So glad to see this front paged!

  3. 3.

    lahke

    @trollhattan: Probably sliming up Israel in advance of their election, unfortunately. But always good to hear from Obama again.
    Also too, it’s warm and sunny in Massachusetts and my brand new solar panels are getting their first workout. Hurrah!

  4. 4.

    PsiFighter37

    And yet I see trolls on social media basically yell and scream about Obama being a neoliberal sellout. Hard to tell if it’s bots or what, but it is disheartening to say the least. We really did not deserve him.

    That said, his 2012 campaign manager (Jim Messina) managed David Cameron’s successful election in 2015, and look where that got the UK.

  5. 5.

    The Dangerman

    I’m not sure about best President ever; easily best president of my lifetime, however.

    I, however, AM sure about who is the worst President ever and it isn’t even close.

    Sigh, I called Virginia to win the whole thing; kiss of death, kinda like my bracket picks. Sorry, Virginia fans. Auburn’s stats aren’t up to a Champions but that’s why they play the games (plus, these big domes really dick with shooting).

  11. 11.

    Keith P.

    I’m spending my Saturday evening going various chores and running errands in preparation for another busy Infrastructure Week. I hope this week’s challenge coin is cool.

  12. 12.

    lamh36

    Work weekend for me…so I missed most of the happens today.

    Been watching 80s movies on one of my cable channels since I made it home.

    First up… Beverly Hills Cop 2.

    Been watching Splash for the past hour and a half.

    God I loved this movie back in the day…movie when I first fell in love with Tom Hanks.

    Who can forget John Candy…one of my favorite John Candy roles! The racquetball scene was just one of the reasons https://youtu.be/ub57WG5P89E via @YouTube

    OMG…John Candy…the cigarette, the beer, the discussion about immigration…??

    “What are you looking at? You never saw a guy who slept with a fish before”

    Ah…John Candy..LOL

  14. 14.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    I don’t know where to put this, so how about here:

    New research shows Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski, father of the American cavalry, was a woman. Or possibly intersex.

    As kids 50 years ago in New England, we studied/were indoctrinated with endless Revolutionary War glorification mixed with a bit of actual history, and learned about Pulaski along with the other foreign nobles who came flocking to our shining banner of freedom, yadda yadda. He’s the namesake of a number of towns and counties, as well as a local holiday in Chicago, a parade in New York, and a great song by Sufjan Stevens that always makes me think of my late sister. He sounds like a hothead who was shite at taking orders but astonishingly courageous physically. And he may not have been “he” at all.

    As Charlie Pierce says, history is so cool.

  23. 23.

    lamh36

    @trollhattan: No…I think Splash may have been my first time seeing John Candy? But then again, I was born in 1976…so Splash was 84? Unless Uncle Buck was before that…but my two first memories of movies with him are those two.

    Course I’ve seen his films after…but those two are part of my childhood memories, so I remember them vividly.

  26. 26.

    trollhattan

    @lamh36:
    SCTV videos aren’t as well archived and accessible as SNL but absolutely worth the waste of investment of time. :-)

    You may be surprised at some of the folks you encounter.

  27. 27.

    Catherine D.

    @rikyrah: I heard about this album on a BBC podcast a day or so ago. They said it wasn’t released because it was “too political” Well, now more than ever! Must listen …

  28. 28.

    Patricia Kayden

    Dear Barack, how we miss you! It’s hard to fathom how far we’ve been dragged down by the bigot currently occupying the White House. Hopefully Americans will do the right thing next November.

  30. 30.

    Brachiator

    Wow, I forget how much the rest of the world loves Obama. And in that sad alternate universe fed by Fox News and right wing media, Obama is despised and the world was waiting for Trump to restore America’s honor and greatness. Talk about fake news.

    I don’t know if it has been well documented in journalism papers, but I know that Clear Channel radio stations and other media must have had a policy to cover Obama’s international travels, but to never discuss how leaders and the public responded to him. This covered news and the comments by their radio talk show hosts. So if a host said that Obama was not respected, listeners might take this as accurate unless they read more comprehensive stories. Fox News only reinforced this madness.

    Sadly, we also know that Trump will do everything he can to undo Obama’s legacy. It is good to know that many people know better.

    ETA. Wait, this is an NYT story. Aren’t we supposed to hate the NYT? Oh, well.

  34. 34.

    debbie

    @lamh36:

    Just when you think it can’t get worse…

    I think Trump also said something to the effect he had been the best president for Israel in all history.

  36. 36.

    Brachiator

    @lamh36:

    I love Splash…hmmm maybe why I enjoyed Shape of Water…hmmm

    The creature in The Shape of Water was inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Turns out that the creature was designed by a woman! Millicent Patrick. The Friday episode of the KPCC 89.3 radio programs Air Talk and Film Week had a segment devoted to her. She worked for Universal and also Disney. But at Universal, head of special effects Bud Westmore demanded that she give him credit for the creature (the entire Westmore family worked in special effects at all the major studios).

    Note that the Wikipedia entry for this lady is incorrect and will have to undergo major revision because of the new biography about Millicent.

    I always loved these late Universal horror movies.

  37. 37.

    The Dangerman

    @japa21:

    Can we now say that Virginia is the luckiest team to ever reach the title game?

    Horrid call by the Ref.

    Auburn got robbed.

  38. 38.

    Jay

    @JR:

    It’s way to early to be predicting “hot takes” on whom the nominee is going to be,

    More so to be engaging in shit stirring between factions of the Democratic Party bases.

    This is how memes are propagated and reinforced, and it’s not just Russian Twitter doing it now.

  40. 40.

    lamh36

    @Brachiator: Oh, yeah, I knew that. But I’ve never liked the creature…but I did read stuff from delToro about how much he loved it as a kid.

  41. 41.

    Brachiator

    @rikyrah:

    I think white leftists are going to be very upset with the political choices of Black voters in 2020. My prediction is that the white left will begin saying “the south is conservative and has too much influence on the Dem Primary” or something to that effect.

    Sadly, certain white lefties will lose their shit if black voters in the South don’t line up for Sanders or Mayor Pete.

  43. 43.

    Brachiator

    @lamh36:

    but I did read stuff from delToro about how much he loved it as a kid.

    The Shape of Water was his love letter to that film. It would not exist if not for the Creature.

    As a teenager I also reacted to the clear sexual overtones in creature science fiction, even if I did not formally understand this stuff. I remember movie posters of the Creature carrying an unconscious human female in his arms or a woman shrieking (orgasmically) at the sight of the Creature. Del Toro brought the repressed sexuality out into the open.

  44. 44.

    The Dangerman

    @oldgold:

    It was a foul

    Oh, I agree; it WAS a foul.

    You just can’t call it in that situation; they swallowed the whistle on the double dribble, you swallow the whistle again at the end.

    No autopsy, no foul in that situation.

  45. 45.

    ola azul

    @Brachiator:

    Saw Shape of Water with a woman I met in Fla. at the Enzion Theater in Orlando, one of those joints that runs the best new and great old films with a lotta vantage levels and good viewing from all, plush seating, good food and drink available both before and during film.

    Right civilized, hugely enjoyable experience on every level.

  47. 47.

    Carolina Dave

    @lamh36: @oldgold:
    Exactly right. As a Tar Heel, I have no love for Virginia. But the game has to be called start to finish. A foul in the last second is still a foul. Even Charles Barkley said it was a foul.
    I don’t believe in referees swallowing a whistle in the final plays of the game. “Let the players decide the outcome” means let my team foul with impunity with the game on the line.

  48. 48.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    @debbie:

    I wonder what that will do to the Pulaski Day Parade in NYC?

    Drag queens!

    Oh wait, that would be Opposite Day. Well, we can hope.

  49. 49.

    The Dangerman

    @Carolina Dave:

    “Let the players decide the outcome” means…

    Letting the players decide the game, which is a good thing; for example, I bet there were a score of plays during the game that were similar calls, but the refs let them play (which is why Auburn only had 4 fouls until late in the second half).

    Refs swallow their whistles all the time, especially if that’s the way it’s been called for 39 minutes and 58 and a half seconds..

  50. 50.

    James E Powell

    @trollhattan:

    SCTV ruled and John Candy was one of the biggest reasons. Johnny LaRue, Shmenge Brothers, Billy Sol Hurok, Dr Tongue and I’m probably forgetting a few.

  51. 51.

    James E Powell

    @Brachiator:

    Sadly, certain white lefties will lose their shit if black voters in the South don’t line up for Sanders or Mayor Pete.

    Sadly, certain white lefties are in the quadrennial habit of losing their shit when Democrats fail to fall for their flavor of the year.

  52. 52.

    Dan B

    @lamh36: I’ve got in laws who probably hated the Obamas. They gave us a chia pet Obama for a Christmas present. We were appalled. They do have an ugly mix of patrician and sarcastic humor.

  53. 53.

    Brachiator

    @Comrade Colette Collaboratrice:

    I don’t know where to put this, so how about here:

    New research shows Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski, father of the American cavalry, was a woman. Or possibly intersex.

    Very interesting. I have to see if I am able to watch the Smithsonian documentary.

  54. 54.

    Carolina Dave

    @The Dangerman:
    It.was.a.foul. There was also a double dribble on the previous play, uncalled. I’ve watched Guy of UVa throw his leg out on 3 point shots in order to draw a foul, for years. Not a fan. He used to Rock a man Bun. Not a fan. He was fouled on the game deciding shot.

  55. 55.

    Brachiator

    @James E Powell:

    Sadly, certain white lefties are in the quadrennial habit of losing their shit when Democrats fail to fall for their flavor of the year.

    More specifically, I don’t think the Bernie Bros have learned their lesson, and will blame Democratic Party voters who don’t see Sanders as the Inevitable Candidate.

  56. 56.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Dan B:

    They gave us a chia pet Obama for a Christmas present. We were appalled.

    An appropriate reaction.

    I’ve never been able make sense of the whole “chia pet” thing. Even the non-message, non-political ones (cats, hedgehogs, etc.) are so hideously unattractive that I can’t think why anyone would bother, even ironically.

  57. 57.

    Ramalama

    Michelle Wolf – who hosted the last year’s White House Correspondents’ dinner – is currently trolling Trump.

    Latest retort made me cough up a lung, laughing. Not crazy about her speaking voice (and there’s nothing she can do about that), but I love her work. She’s on fire.

    What’s the joke? It’s about #windmillCancer . O.M.G.

  58. 58.

    mad citizen

    @James E Powell: Our littermate sister cats (now in kitty heaven) took the LaRue name as their surname as a tribue to John Candy. They were Betty Twinkle LaRue and Lulu Nadine LaRue.

    I-65 in NW Indiana is the Casamir Pulaski Highway, per wikipedia: “Upon crossing into Lake County, over the Kankakee River, the highway is known as the Casimir Pulaski Memorial Highway.[2] It is known as this from that point to its northern terminus. The northern terminus of I-65 is only 1⁄8 mile (0.20 km) north of I-90 (Indiana Toll Road).”

  60. 60.

    Suzanne

    @lamh36:

    “I think that having a beautiful, brilliant Black family in the White House for 8 years, absolutely drove a lot of people crazy.”

    That is some TRUFACT right there. Obama didn’t just drive them crazy because he was a black man in the White House. He also drove them crazy because he was better than them in every way, and they knew it. Smarter, cooler, more stylish, more status, with the kind of kids anyone would be proud of. He is an aspirational figure in every way…..and the deplorables are cautionary tales. That shit stings.

    God, I miss Barack and Michelle so bad. So, so bad.

    So due to a weird confluence of events, both of the Spawns are elsewhere this weekend. The Elder is at my ex’s house and doing Pride stuff with friends this weekend, and the Younger is at Girl Scout camp. And SuzMom went to the movies for most of the day. Mr. Suzanne and I can’t remember the last time we were this relaxed and peaceful. No TV, no whining, no bitching about Trump, no pointless conversation to fill air. We went over to the fancy market with the DOGGO and drank tea outdoors, then took pupper to the park for a walk in perfect spring weather. I can’t get over how chill I am.

    Next week I’m gonna go get a prenatal massage. I found a place that has the table with the cutout SO I CAN LIE ON MY STOMACH. I don’t know how to convey my excitement.

  61. 61.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Suzanne: I guess I missed the news about you being with child, so congratulations and best wishes. I was going to suggest you take the evening alone with the Mr to engage in an activity it appears you have already mastered, so never mind on that score.

  63. 63.

    zhena gogolia

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Okay, we just watched “Cold War” again. She says “To [or maybe to-to?] ja rozumiem,” which google tells me means, “I understand it.” It’s first person singular, not plural. So I don’t think “Now we’re talking” is the right translation at all. I’d do something like “Now THAT I understand.” But I don’t really speak Polish! I just don’t think she’s expressing satisfaction.

  64. 64.

    geg6

    Jeff Lynne and ELO are on my local PBS station right now and all I can say is wow. Just did “Turn to Stone” in this concert at Hyde Park and it is almost indistinguishable from the recording. Amazing musicianship.

  65. 65.

    Gin & Tonic

    @zhena gogolia: “Rozumiem” is first-person plural, “rozumiyu” is first person singular. If she says “ja” or “ya”, then she would not say “rozumiem” – but I don’t think there was a pronoun there. It’s funny, because here’s an on-line Polish-English resource that gives “now you’re talking.” In colloquial Polish or Galician-Ukrainian, there is definitely a sub-text of satisfaction in that phrase.

  66. 66.

    zhena gogolia

    @Gin & Tonic:

    When I type in “English to Polish I understand,” I get “rozumiem”; and “we understand” is “rozumiemy.” And that also gibes with my misty memories of Polish class many years ago.

  67. 67.

    zhena gogolia

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Okay, when I go to your link, I see that this is an idiom. Grammatically it means “That I understand,” but apparently it has the emotional sense of “Now we’re talking.” But “rozumiem” is first-person singular, as you can see from the examples below at that site. So the subtitle is correct — I don’t know Polish well enough to know that idiom. But it still seems like a weird thing to say! But then she does a lot of weird things in that movie.

  69. 69.

    plato

    Barely three months into her second turn in charge, Nancy Pelosi has already mapped out a plan to overwhelm Republicans in the 2020 elections."I'm going to have our races won by this November," Pelosi said. https://t.co/2PqfiuwlhS— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 6, 2019

  70. 70.

    plato

    From 2008 class to wtf, wtf 2016 crass.

    This from Trump on Friday is something."It's a wall. It's got 36 doors in it, big doors, very big doors. And they never put the doors on. So it's 38 miles with 36 doors that you can drive a truck through. There's only one problem, they never put the doors on it." pic.twitter.com/joGgpbIpwT— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 6, 2019

  74. 74.

    Ramalama

    @mad citizen: have you seen the actual tweet? I’m thinking it could shut down the internet – it’s so good. This is the one time I miss being around Anglophones. I can’t talk about this in person with anyone near me in my little Quebec mountain town, because I think I’d have to explain so much just to enjoy the punchline.

    But, yeah, I’m still smirking.. alone… in front of my computer. #WindmillCancerSmirk

  76. 76.

    Lulymay

    @WaterGirl: I was in Europe, trucking around , when Barack was campaigning and altho not an American, of course ran into many Americans over there. i particularly remember a young lady who was teaching in France (on an exchange program) and she said every time she has $5 extra she sent it via the internet to Obama’s campaign.

    That was the kind of support this man engendered! I truly hope that you end the reign of the grifter and return to the dignified society that I have always been a neighbour of.

  78. 78.

    Hob

    @rikyrah: I’m a little surprised it took almost a whole day for someone to point out the punchline to Johnson’s joke (I mean, I assume it was a deliberate joke, I doubt he was unaware of this), that being that Bernie Sanders did exactly that in 2016. That was a major turning point for me in terms of losing respect for the Sanders campaign—I never thought I’d hear a national Democratic candidate, especially one who claimed to be the one who could attract voters who had been turned off by Democrats, simply writing off a big chunk of the country as an excuse for having lost there. It was so transparent that he wanted to find some way to avoid literally saying “Black people live there and they all like Clinton.” And yes, I fully expect that kind of argument to appear again in the 2020 campaign, and not necessarily from Bernie.

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