DOH! The Stupidity of Obama/Biden

Dumb Diplomacy

2009-03-23T10:51:00.006-04:00

Who is the President of France? If you said Nicolas Sarkozy, you may know more than our President appears to. According to Gateway Pundit (via Glenn Reynolds), Obama wrote a lovely letter telling Jacques Chirac how much he was looking forward to the two working together over the next four years. The problem, of course, is that Chirac hasn't been the French President for almost two years.

Frankly, I was skeptical when I saw this story. It sounds a bit too much like something from The Onion. So I did some digging, and the story is true — Obama did write such a letter to Chiraz — but thankfully he does know that Chirac is no longer in charge. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Obama's letter was in response to one in which Chirac was speaking for his foundation and not the French government.

No big deal, right?

Not so fast. The French daily Le Figaro published this bit which last week reported, as translated by Google:

The U.S. President has just sent a letter "very sympathetic" to Jacques Chirac, in the words of the latter. "I am confident that we can over the next four years working together in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world," writes the successor to George W. Bush's predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy [sic]. In mentioning the word "peace," Obama makes implicit tribute to the action of the former French president who opposed the war in Iraq. A U.S. intervention against which the future U.S. president had opposed as a senator, in a vote in Congress.

For those inclined to say this is much ado about nothing, consider the indignant reactions from Obama's disciples if Sarkozy were to tell Bush how much he looked forward to working with Bush to address their common global concerns. One might think that was bad diplomacy.

It would have been far more appropriate for Obama to reply to Chirac by wishing him well in his foundation's endeavors, stating the United States' continued friendship with France, and leaving it at that. But that kind of sensible and diplomatic response shouldn't be expected from the amateurs who currently inhabit the White House.

Stupid Is as Stupid Does

2009-03-20T11:34:00.000-04:00

This is what happens when you let President Obama speak without a teleprompter.

Leno asked the president whether the White House bowling alley had been "burned and closed down" in light of Obama's gutter ball embarrassment on the campaign trail last year.
Obama replied, "No, no. I have been practicing . . . I bowled a 129."
The audience roared with laughter, and the late-night talk show host assured Obama "that's very good, Mr. President." To which Obama interjected, "It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something."
The audience laughed. But the White House didn't let the comment linger without clarification.
"The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters flying aboard Air Force One after the taping of the show, according to a transcript released by the White House. "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world."

Gee, I can't imagine why anyone would think Obama was disparaging Special Olympics.

Maybe the Prez has been getting off-the-cuff speaking tips from Vice President Joe "Gaffe Attack" Biden.

Fabricating Make-Believe Moderate Extremists

2009-03-10T11:51:00.003-04:00

I'm a couple days behind on this one, but really, does this kind of idiocy ever get old?

President Barack Obama says he hopes U.S. troops can identify moderate elements of the Taliban and move them toward reconciliation.
[ . . . ]
There may be opportunities to reach out to moderates in the Taliban, but the situation in Afghanistan is more complicated than the challenges the American military faced in Iraq, Obama said.
U.S. troops were able to persuade Sunni Muslim insurgents in Iraq to cooperate in some instances because they had been alienated by the tactics of al-Qaida terrorists.

What is needed here is a remedial lesson. Let's call it, "Taliban for Dummies."

The Taliban are, by definition, extremists, unlike Sunni Muslims, some (not all) of whom joined an insurgency not of their own making and then realized they had aligned themselves with something they didn't want to be a part of. So the analogy between Taliban and Sunni insurgents is flawed. A better analogy would be between the Taliban and the Nazis. Can you imagine Franklin Roosevelt talking about teaming up with "moderate Nazis?" Of course not, because there was no such thing.

It's almost as if Obama has fabricated a fantasy situation that he can handle, because he hasn't the faintest idea how to handle the situation that actually exists.

This guy needs help, and fast.

Not Only Can He Give Campaign Speeches, He's Really Good at Pointing Fingers Too

2009-02-20T21:44:00.006-05:00

There's not other way to put it: Not only is our President a clueless amateur, but he's rude too.

If you’d dialed up the "Additional Issues" portion of the [WhiteHouse.gov] Web site’s "Agenda" section earlier this week, the entry on Hurricane Katrina would have left you with zero doubt about who was to blame for the governmental failure to respond to the storm: the Bush administration. "President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast," the section read...

The irony is that Obama seems intent on breaking as many campaign promises as he can in his first 100 days. Hey, even before the inauguration, he tossed aside the pledge to accept public campaing funds, and it turns out that was a mere taste of what was to come.

But the best part is this:

The economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama will spread billions of dollars across the country to spruce up aging roads and bridges. But there's not a dime specifically dedicated to fixing leftover damage from Hurricane Katrina.

Barack Obama: Do as he says, not as he does.

Seeing the World through Rose-Colored Glasses (or These People Wouldn't Say "Shit" If They Had a Mouthful)

2009-02-06T22:32:00.007-05:00

With the country at war abroad and on the brink of passing a domestic spending bill that big majorities of the public oppose, the Obama Administration is spending its time on a truly important matter: what to rename the war on terror. The main reason to do so in the first place is that George W. Bush coined the phrase, and if Bush said the sky was blue, Obama would avoid using that particular description too. The excuse, though, is that "war on terror" isn't accurate enough.

When asked about the "war on terror" phrase by CNN's Anderson Cooper, Obama said, "Well you know, I think it is very important for us to recognize that we have a battle or a war against some terrorist organizations … Words matter in this situation because one of the ways we're going to win this struggle is through the battle of hearts and minds."

This isn't just semantics; it's a shift in the essence of the fight. Obama thinks we're fighting against "some terrorist organizations," which misses the point that terrorists don't have to be very organized to be a threat to our security. But even ignoring that fact, it seems that Obama wants to set the tone for a kinder, gentler war.

"We're trying to come up with a phrase that better articulates a hopeful message," said one administration official involved in the discussions about terror terminology.

Because, you know, if we hope terrorists will stop wanting to kill us, they will.

I seem to recall that the last President who thought that using warmer, fuzzier words would help matters was Jimmy Carter. And for his naivete, he was rewarded with the Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.

In the wise words of Santayana, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The same fate waits those who remember but choose to ignore.

Do Any of These People Pay Their Taxes?*

2009-02-03T13:33:00.006-05:00

It must be considered a form of stupidity for a chief executive to habitually nominate lawbreakers as cabinet officials or other high-level appointees, wouldn't you think?

First there was the curious case of Timothy Geithner, our newly confirmed Treasury Secretary, initially refused to pay self-employment taxes for which he was reimbursed while working for the International Monetary Fund. Only when audited by the Internal Revenue Service did he pay overdue taxes (but no interest or penalties) for 2003 and 2004. He ignored the 2001 and 2002 debt altogether until forced by appearances to pay up (again, sans interest or penalties) after Obama nominated him. (One Politico reader points out that because Geithner didn't pay those years until after the statute of limitations ran out, he may actually get the money back.)

Earlier this afternoon, Nancy Killefer pulled her nomination to be the nation's first "Chief Performance Officer" because of an apparent failure to pay some or all of the required payroll and/or unemployment taxes on her household staff.

Now we have the latest and greatest scandal, that of former Senator Tom Daschle, who was approximately the gazillionth Obama nominee/appointee to have been exposed as a tax cheat for failing to pay taxes on perks provided to him in a prior job. Daschle withdrew his nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

You have to hand it to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, nominated to head the Department of Commerce. At least his downfall wasn't precipitated by tax evasion, just a grand jury investigation into his alleged role in a pay-to-play scandal.

But it does add to the questions about whether Obama keeps company with any ethical people at all. Perhaps being from Chicago, he doesn't think ethics are all that necessary.

*Tip of the hat to Glenn Reynolds, who asks this question on almost a daily basis.

Pot Calls Kettle Black

2009-01-22T19:22:00.002-05:00

Brand new Vice President Joe Biden, a.k.a. The Gaffe Factory, yesterday poked some probably well-intentioned fun at Chief Justice John Roberts, whose now-famous flub of the Presidential oath of office threw President Barack Obama off stride at Tuesday's inauguration.

Today, after Mr. Obama praised his staffers as "an extraordinary collection of talent" who "inspire great confidence in me," the president asked his Number 2 if he wanted to administer the oath. "Am I doing this again?" Vice President Biden asked. A few minutes before, he had sworn in seven individuals who had been confirmed by the Senate to Cabinet and Cabinet-level posts.

"For the senior staff," Mr. Obama said.

"For the senior staff?" Biden repeated. "Alright."

Biden tried to get a copy of the oath to read to the senior staffers.

"My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts," Biden explained, prompting some laughter and groans from the audience.

The joke might have gone over better if Biden hadn't spent the better part of his political career trying to make verbal screw-ups an art form.

Biden Must Love the Taste of His Foot, Since He Sticks It into His Mouth So Often

2008-12-22T10:25:00.003-05:00

From Fox News (via NationalReview.com and Instapundit), we learn that Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden can't seem to stop displaying his pompous foolishness.

In a blunt, unapologetic interview on "FOX News Sunday," [Vice President Richard] Cheney fired back at Biden for declaring in October that "Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history."

[ . . . ]

"Joe's been chairman of the Judiciary Committee, a member of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate for 36 years, teaches constitutional law back in Delaware, and can't keep straight which article of the Constitution provides for the legislature and which provides for the executive. So I think I'd write that off as campaign rhetoric. I don't take it seriously."

[ . . . ]

Biden bit back, however, in a dueling Sunday morning interview that aired on ABC's "This Week" in which he said he stood by his statements.

"His notion of a unitary executive, meaning that, in time of war, essentially all power, you know, goes to the executive, I think is dead wrong. I think it was mistaken. I think it caused this administration, in adopting that notion, to overstep its constitutional bounds, but, at a minimum, to weaken our standing in the world and weaken our security. I stand by that -- that judgment," Biden said.

Biden has a way of sounding intelligent, right up until the time you start to think about what he actually says. So it is in this case, notes NRO's Shannen Coffin.

Well, once again, Mr. Biden, that's no one's notion of the unitary executive except confused Democrats. The unitary executive is simply a recognition, from the first sentence of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, that the "executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America." For the umpteenth time, it is not a theory that the president's power is somehow enhanced, at the expense of Congress, during wartime. It is merely a recognition that there is only one (i.e., uni-tary) executive and that any efforts by Congress to give executive authority to someone other than the President is unconstitutional. It is not a theory about the balance of power between the branches, but a statement about the authority of the president within the Executive Branch. The "notion" that a "unitary executive" means that "in time of war, essentially all power, goes to the executive," is indeed dead wrong. But it's Biden's misconception of that theory that is wrong, not Cheney's.

Over at Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds gets the award for most accurate and succinct summary of the exchange.

ALSO, SUN RISES IN EAST: Joe Biden makes fool of himself on Constitution again.

Coming Soon: Obama on Velvet!

2008-12-17T15:50:00.008-05:00

Call this one "The Stupidity of Obama Disciples."

As if the schmaltzy pseudo-art isn't laughable enough, check out the press release from the alleged artist, who is only slightly less self-aggrandizing than the preening subject of his alleged art.

Christopher Shannon Art today announced the release of the limited edition of his latest work "Change in America". This limited edition drawing takes the theme and slogan of the most significant event in American political history and presents it in a most literal sense.

Oh brother. I can think of a dozen political events that were more significant, and that's before considering anything after the turn of the 19th century. Constitution, anyone?

President Elect Obama is centered in the middle of The United States of America that unanimously elected him as their 44th President.

Main Entry: unan·i·mous
Pronunciation:
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin unanimus, from unus one + animus mind — more at ONE, ANIMATE
Date: 1624
1 : being of one mind : AGREEING
2 : formed with or indicating unanimity : having the agreement and consent of all
— unan·i·mous·ly adverb

Obama: 66,882,230 votes, 365 electoral votes, 28 states
McCain: 58,343,671 votes, 173 electoral votes, 22 states

And where, oh where, are Alaska and Hawaii on this "limited edition work?" Obama has been known to add extra states from time to time, but that's no excuse for taking away two of them now.

"Obama's eyes literally look as if they will blink at you at any moment," says Jason Scott, DC area resident and private art collector.

A Reason commenter said it best: "Yes, I can see the mind-bending significance of a picture of someone not currently blinking implying that, at some future moment, a blink will occur. Unlike the rest of us mortals, whose eyes get drier and drier ..."

"There are lots of depictions of Obama out there; my goal is to not just present the man; but the message in a way that provokes thought and reflection on what this really means."

What provokes thought and reflection for me is the depiction of Obama's profile on the penny. Let's see... Obama = change... change = money... the penny is changed... Maybe what this really means is that the only change this president will bring is the counterfeit kind.

(Note: Yes, I realize there is much, much more to laugh at in the rest of the press release. I have only so much time.)

Chicago Politics? I Don't Know What You Mean

2008-12-16T21:17:00.004-05:00

This guy uses more words to say less than possibly any other active politician today.

Someone please introduce him to the words "yes" and "no."

Me Speaks Inglish Good

2008-12-16T14:44:00.012-05:00

Technically, this isn't the stupidity of Obama/Biden, but it was Obama who selected the grammatically-challenged Arne Duncan as his Secretary of Education. (Hat tip: Andrew Breitbart.)

Transcript:

I want to thank our mutual friend John Rogers, who has been a mentor and friend to me since I was ten years gold. He gave my sister and I the opportunity to start a great school on the south side of Chicago, and that has become a model for success in urban education.

Maybe Obama should have picked the teacher who misspelled "potato" on Dan Quayle's spelling bee cue card (or the superintendent who applauded the child for adding "e" to the end).

To Shave or Not to Shave? That Is the Question

2008-12-03T16:15:00.004-05:00

This is precisely the sort of serious issue Barack Obama was elected to tackle. The economy? Energy independence? National security? Hell no, we're talking about facial hair.

Gov. Bill Richardson showed up to his press conference with President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday morning without the beard he has been sporting since dropping out of the presidential race in January, sparking his new boss to tell reporters he is "deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard."

No doubt Americans from sea to shining sea are relieved to see the future commander-in-chief concerning himself with such pressing matters.

Being Able to Count Is Highly Overrated

2008-11-12T10:31:00.004-05:00

Here's an oldie but a goodie, from a Joe Biden campaign appearance in Athens, Ohio, on October 16.

Transcript:

Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack say, a three-letter word — Jobs. J-O-B-S. Jobs.

I'm not sure what's more pathetic: that Biden said it, or that the clueless lemmings behind him applauded.

All Hail Obama!

2008-11-11T10:07:00.008-05:00

Yesterday, I wrote:

What's next, the inaugural crown?

Apparently, I wasn't the first person to think of it. Time magazine's Nancy Gibbs (a.k.a. Mother Goose) thought of it first:

Some princes are born in palaces. Some are born in mangers. But a few are born in the imagination, out of scraps of history and hope. [...] We are the ones we've been waiting for, [Obama] liked to say, but people were waiting for him, waiting for someone to finish what a King began.

Indeed, just like a prince or a king (as opposed to King, who must be turning in his grave right now over such pomposity), Obama is ready to rule. Not govern, not lead, but — according to Valerie Jarrett, co-chair of the Obama-Biden transition team, speaking to NBC's Tom Brokaw — rule.

Here's a transcript of the clip (emphasis mine):

Brokaw: What's the working model? Are you going to try to be a shadow government, or just a very interested spectator off to the side?

Jarrett: Well, it's a good question. There is one president at a time. President Bush is still the president. He has graciously invited President-elect Obama to the White House tomorrow to begin their conversations of the transition. So we respect that. He will be the President until January 20. However, given really the daunting challenges that we face, it's important that President-elect Obama is prepared to really take power and begin to rule day one. So we will be working closely with [this/his] administration. We're reviewing the agencies now. He will be making key personnel decisions. He gets national security briefings every day now as well. But he will not be the President until January 20.

Just think, four years of this hilarity. Does the fun never end?

If It Isn't There, Make It Up

2008-11-10T12:08:00.008-05:00

First it was the official Presidential-Wanna-Be seal, featuring the eagle who ate the really big doughnut thinking it was a 'possum.

Now we have the official web site of the official (though non-existent) Office of the President-Elect.

What's next, the inaugural crown?

What We're Doing Isn't Working -- We Have to Do More of It

2008-11-08T18:20:00.005-05:00

Saith the President-elect, or perhaps we should call him the President-in-dress-up:

“Some of the choices that we make are going to be difficult,” Mr. Obama said. “And I have said before, and I will repeat again: It is not going to be quick, and it is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in, but America is a strong and resilient country.”

He makes the waters recede, he heals the nation, and now he digs us out of a hole. Is there nothing this man cannot do?

Inaugural Post (no pun intended)

2008-11-08T16:51:00.000-05:00

Throughout his presidential campaign (the one that started two years ago, though it feels like 20), Barack Obama -- and more recently, his running-mate Joe Biden -- have said and done some things that have provoked chuckles among those who were paying attention. Since "those who were paying attention" doesn't include most of the establishment media, most of you probably didn't hear about them. That's why I, a patriotic American, am devoting myself for the next four years to performing the important public service of documenting, for history and posterity, the amazingly lame words and actions of our soon-to-be President and Vice President. After all, someone has to keep the egos of these two guys in check.