Ok. . . This is terrifying.

[Gaspar]

If Gibbs ever quits, I will make sure your adroitness at defending President Obama at every turn gets the attention of someone in the White House and you can be the new press secretary.

[Conan71]

President Obama does a very poor job of staying in front of the message.  He has to change this, and define the message or the message will continue to define him.

You are in good company.  David Gergen, whom I think used to have the same leg tingling experiences as Chris Matthews is perplexed:

"David Gergen: I found the speech "perplexing"

"I frequently praise Barack Obama and his speeches. I think they have been clear, understandable and very, very well written. I found this one perplexing. I didn't quite understand what the point was, it wasn't clear what the mission is either in Iraq or in Afghanistan going forward, it seems to be much more we are getting this monkey off our back. We gave it our best shot, over to you, Iraqis. Over to you next year, Afghans."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/31/reaction-to-president-obamas-iraq-address/

[Gaspar]

You are in good company.  David Gergen, whom I think used to have the same leg tingling experiences as Chris Matthews is perplexed:

"David Gergen: I found the speech "perplexing"

"I frequently praise Barack Obama and his speeches. I think they have been clear, understandable and very, very well written. I found this one perplexing. I didn't quite understand what the point was, it wasn't clear what the mission is either in Iraq or in Afghanistan going forward, it seems to be much more we are getting this monkey off our back. We gave it our best shot, over to you, Iraqis. Over to you next year, Afghans."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/31/reaction-to-president-obamas-iraq-address/

This was another opportunity to present a clear plan, even if it was only rudimentary, but again he wants to hang back and observe.  This is what a subordinate does to make sure he doesn't make a decision that goes against the will of his superiors. 

As my dad said last night after the speech. "This job is just not right for him."

[Conan71]

This was another opportunity to present a clear plan, even if it was only rudimentary, but again he wants to hang back and observe.  This is what a subordinate does to make sure he doesn't make a decision that goes against the will of his superiors. 

As my dad said last night after the speech. "This job is just not right for him."

Unfortunate he Peter Principaled into the most important job in the free world.

[Gaspar]

Unfortunate he Peter Principaled into the most important job in the free world.

I would accept that of Bush, but President Obama shot to the job before even getting an opportunity to prove himself as a Senator.  I remember his name first came up during the 2004 Bush/Kerry election.  He had just won his senate seat and commentators were already talking about a possible presidential run. 

[nathanm]

If Gibbs ever quits, I will make sure your adroitness at defending President Obama at every turn gets the attention of someone in the White House and you can be the new press secretary.

I think one of us has a reading comprehension problem.

[Conan71]

I would accept that of Bush, but President Obama shot to the job before even getting an opportunity to prove himself as a Senator.  I remember his name first came up during the 2004 Bush/Kerry election.  He had just won his senate seat and commentators were already talking about a possible presidential run. 

Oh, you could see the commentators passing the Astro Glide back and forth under the desk when they were talking about newly-minted Senator Obama.  Must have been the voice.  They got hopenotized at the DNC convention.  Much like when Bubba's star was launched at the '88 DNC.  For as much smile as people talk on President Clinton history will show he was actually a pretty good leader.  I think President Obama will be remembered about as fondly as Carter, but he will still kick around for another 30 to 40 years sniping at subsequent administrations.

[Gaspar]

Oh, you could see the commentators passing the Astro Glide back and forth under the desk when they were talking about newly-minted Senator Obama.  Must have been the voice.  They got hopenotized at the DNC convention.  Much like when Bubba's star was launched at the '88 DNC.  For as much smile as people talk on President Clinton history will show he was actually a pretty good leader.  I think President Obama will be remembered about as fondly as Carter, but he will still kick around for another 30 to 40 years sniping at subsequent administrations.

If he continues this path for the next couple of years he may very well tank the US economy and win another Nobel Prize for uh. . .??. . .whatever.

[guido911]

If Gibbs ever quits, I will make sure your adroitness at defending President Obama at every turn gets the attention of someone in the White House and you can be the new press secretary.

Good grief Conan, there are about five in this forum that could be Gibbs' replacement.

[Gaspar]

He actually has a couple more weeks to make a decision on weather he will raise taxes or lower them. 


This will determine our fate.

[Conan71]

If he continues this path for the next couple of years he may very well tank the US economy and win another Nobel Prize for uh. . .??. . .whatever.

Nobel prize for economics for globalizing the U.S. economy by single-handedly racking up the most debt in human history and causing the dollar to topple.  

And for once, Al Gore will not try and take credit for something himself, though he will slit his wrists out of insane jealousy that President Obama is getting all the attention and has one more Nobel than he does.

[nathanm]

Good grief Conan, there are about five in this forum that could be Gibbs' replacement.

Aren't you carrying the spirit of Tony Snow?

[we vs us]

Where's that hair splitter graphic when I need it?  So anyone who disagrees with your "facts" is dense?  To people who gauge it only by his works and actions, it's not a "fact" that he's Christian when it's suspected by many he went to Wright's church to be a more effective community organizer, he was raised as a Muslim for part of his childhood, and he does not publicly worship at a Christian church these days.

That's the crux of the whole thing.  Facts are actually facts.  It is a fact that Obama is a christian.  Regardless of how he was raised, regardless of how he used to or currently worships. 

People who believe or "suspect" that Obama is a muslim are wrong.  I'm confident in saying that because the facts absolutely back it up.  This is the most disturbing part of this conversation.  It is fact based, and yet many people -- many of them from a certain political bent -- don't believe in these facts.  They believe in other "facts" -- conveniently supplied to them by sympathetic media -- that back up some of their preconceived opinions. 

The conflict between facts and "facts" has been an ongoing and deepening tragedy for our country over the last decade.  The Iraq War is a case study in the triumph of "facts" over facts, but there have been plenty of other examples.  The idea that Obama is Muslim is another.

[Conan71]

Facts are usually backed up by evidence. Unless you have genuflected to the cross shoulder-to-shoulder with President Obama, where is your evidence? Are you in his inner circle? How do you know, unequivocally he doesn't get the prayer rug out every day and pray toward Mecca?  You have no more facts available to you than those who think he's a Muslim, a Kenyan, or a Kennedy love child.

[RecycleMichael]

You have lost it Conan.

How about the fact that he attended a Christian Church for twenty years? How about the fact that he had a Christian wedding? How about the fact that his kids were baptized in the Christian Church?

Yes. No one really knows anything. But there are facts to use. If a person says they are a Christian, then acts like a Christian, why would you and others speculate otherwise? (Hint...nasty politics).