July 9, 2011

At the lefty blog Firedoglake: "No, I’m not ready to crown Barack Obama the Worst President Ever just yet..."

But...
So which is worse?  The president who serves his base and sets the country on fire, or the president who stiffs his base and fights fire with gasoline?
President A is Bush, in case you couldn't figure it out. Shouldn't you suspect — oh, Firedoglake blogger "Eli" — that if your nominees for "Worst President Ever" are the 2 most recent Presidents, that you've got a perspective problem?

People who are immersed in politics ought to take a good look at their own minds. Maybe what just happened near you is not actually the most dramatic thing that ever happened. Your feelings are one thing. Reality is something else. Make an effort to discern the difference.

I have no interest in these hysterical little men who obsess about whether their "base" is getting served or stiffed.

45 comments:

Paddy O said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TosaGuy said...

Politics is only healthy when you make it funny. If you live your life on what politicians do or don't do you are going to end up an angry drunk yelling at people in restaurants on your birthday.

Crimso said...

Probably never heard of Buchanan. Has it been long enough that we can put Carter in perspective? Thta word "perspective" reminds of a quote from "This Is Spinal Tap."

Shouting Thomas said...

Yes, George W. Bush wrecked our economy, destroyed New Orleans...

Yes, that's the opening to this article!

Oddly, I remember New Orleans being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

So, President Bush was God, literally capable of commanding the weather.

As usual, South Park has it covered.

Would any candidate to the right of Vladimir Illyich Lenin satisfy firedoglake?

edutcher said...

There are other possibilities, to be sure, including FDR (he gets vindication by allowing George Marshall to (mostly) run things in WWII), but, yes, it's a very bad sign when your own fanatics start dissing you.

And, yes, as Insta says, Carter redux is looking like the good outcome.

Paddy O said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paddy O said...

It's the worst!

(from the show The Middle)

WV: amsican. sure but we Ams just won't anymore.

-deleted then reposted as I figure out how to link to a specific moment in Youtube.

Phil 314 said...

OK can we get over the meme that says:

Because he's getting flak from his liberal flank, Pres. Obama is a true moderate

Professor, I try not to be paranoid but this post and the one yesterday re: Plouffe leave me a little suspicious that you are once again

coolly observing all this emotionalism, soberly examining the party candidates, and planning to make another rational choice for THE ONE.

Ann Althouse said...

"Professor, I try not to be paranoid but this post and the one yesterday re: Plouffe leave me a little suspicious that you are once again..."

It's the old cruel neutrality, baby. Back with a vengeance. This time it's personal.

Shouting Thomas said...

So which is worse? The president who serves his base and sets the country on fire, or the president who stiffs his base and fights fire with gasoline?

For somebody who prides herself on close reading, Althouse, you surprise me by not responding to the actual content of this statement.

The writers states his preference for set[ting] the country on fire!

Revolution? Riots? Racial strife?

What is meant by this?

ndspinelli said...

A goldfish lives in 30 second intervals. Their memories only last 30 seconds and that is their reality. The next 30 seconds is their new reality. So, this guy is a human goldfish..and it's time to flush!

SteveR said...

When "Eli" was in high school, his idol was Ezra Klein.

Mary Beth said...

Personal neutrality. Good.

Is serving today's theme? Serving the base, serving expensive wine....

Anonymous said...

One day...yes...one day...social justice will reign...absolute equality will be achieved...the world will fit in a bauble and be perfect.

Kensington said...

"It's the old cruel neutrality, baby. Back with a vengeance. This time it's personal."

Maintaining neutrality in the face of clear evidence of Obama's disastrous presidency doesn't seem, well, rational.

Carol_Herman said...

Like Nixon, Obama's lost the rush the crowd felt that elected him to office.

I'm not surprised.

We're inside a ZOMBIE ECONOMY. The stimulus just went out to european bankers. A few here. Wall Street still can't stand up.

No one is making money on commission.

Houses are more likely to be underwater, than "free."

And, we are all in Hoover-ville, now. Carter wasn't much better ... And, maybe, it pays not to put "accomplishment lines" in the gutter, anyway?

But what are they thinking INSIDE?

The war in libya ain't working. We know the ATF distributed guns to the mexicans. What about a war on our southern border?

What about riots?

The problem I get with riots, however, is that no matter how the blacks play their race card these days ... the south is more interested in the evangelical's anti-abortion stance.

And, as Mohammed Ali said when he returned from a visit to Africa ... "Gee, I'm so glad my grand-pappy got on that ship!"

Even in our ghettos blacks are better off here than anyplace else in this world. And, I'm throwing all of africa into this mix.

Obama EXPECTED to be a hit!

Everybody's got a point where they measure his first misstep. I picked it up at "acted stupidly." Followed by the Beer Summit. And, always followed by Biden sticking his foot in his mouth.

Exactly how does this improve, ahead? Jews will give money? blacks will go to the polls to vote?

Stinky choices since FDR died. Though when Stevenson ran against Eisenhower, no one could say that the left was daft.

ricpic said...

Vladimir Illyich betrayed revolution when he instituted New Economic Policy in 1921! He went over to class enemies!! Ask Cookie. Is true.

Michael K said...

Just remember, it's firedoglake. Why you expect to find sense there is a mystery. It is interesting to see the lefty mob start to turn on the wounded leader. That's why it is dangerous to be a shark in a feeding frenzy.

MayBee said...

I love the idea that Bush pleased "his base".
First of all, I'm getting a little sick of the idea of a "base". It seems to have morphed into a description of the most extreme.

Even so, Bush did not play to his "base". He spent too much. He wanted comprehensive (another word that has taken on new meaning) immigration reform. He didn't get rid of the DoEducation. He created the DHS.

bagoh20 said...

Cruel Neutrality - like Switzerland or the Vatican.

Anonymous said...

"So which is worse? The president who serves his base and sets the country on fire, or the president who stiffs his base and fights fire with gasoline? "

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the literal translation of Al Qaeda , 'the base'?

pm317 said...

I have no interest in these hysterical little men who obsess about whether their "base" is getting served or stiffed.

'hysterical little men' -- ROFL. Love the way you stick it to these nincompoops. They had a choice and they bet on the wrong horse and now they are forever lamenting. The horse they rode in on thinks they are permanently stuck -- where will they go, right?

bagoh20 said...

During World War I, Switzerland was home to Vladimir Illych Ulyanov (Lenin) and he remained there until 1917.

Kensington said...

Yeah, Bush really played to his base when he came up with the prescription drug entitlement, tax cuts with automatic sunset provisions and Ted Kennedy-written education "reforms."

Signing clearly unconstitutional legislation like McCain-Feingold also made his base go all swoony.

That Bush -- he was just like Hitler or something!

No. Bush was an okay moderate who the base bitterly clung to just to make sure that lunatics and fools like Gore and Kerry didn't get in the White House. That's all.

virgil xenophon said...

I said this on the previous thread, but it's even more timely here. Ann, you'd better shoot on over to Kate@smalldeadanimals who links about you ("Take Me, Obama") this am to the guy at Legal Insurrection who simply takes you apart for your recent comment about your rationale for voting for Obama ("A Question for Ann Althouse"
And he H/ts Crack, too, lol!!) Better get over there and defend yourself, AA! LOL.

Carol_Herman said...

Poor obama. Blaming bush doesn't work anymore.

What will he do?

I'm sure he's vacillating like a metronome right now.

virgil xenophon said...

PS: Sorry, ANN, temp Brain freeze--I meant "The Virginian"--had just left legal insurrection so became temp "confused."

somefeller said...

People who are immersed in politics ought to take a good look at their own minds. Maybe what just happened near you is not actually the most dramatic thing that ever happened. Your feelings are one thing. Reality is something else. Make an effort to discern the difference.

Yup. And most people who really are immersed in politics (professionals or part-time operatives) don't get as overwrought as this person is about political matters (win some, lose some), unless the matter in question is very up close and personal.

I have no interest in these hysterical little men who obsess about whether their "base" is getting served or stiffed.

Also, this person assumes he is part of the group that Obama thinks is his base. It may well be that Obama's perception of who should be satisfied to keep him politically viable ("the base") isn't the same group of people that this guy is a part of.

Erik Robert Nelson said...

Wow, historical myopia among lefty bloggers! I've never noticed that before!

Seriously, though, anyone who can suggest that Bush was somehow slavishly dedicated to the Republican base is completely ignorant. Bush irritated the base to no end, and not just on spending, but on a variety of issues. There's so little real perspective in the political blogging world. The left in particular seems joyful in their display of stunning ignorance of their political opponents' arguments. I honestly have no idea how they can be so plugged in and so tuned out at the same time.

Roger J. said...

these people are fucking idiots--
but the internet being what it is gives them a bit of visibility.

not even worth trying to respond except for the initial statement: fucking idiots

virgil xenophon said...

"I have no idea how they can be so plugged in and so tuned out at the same time."

Easy Erik--it's those polarized ideological lenses they wear--filters out anything--ALL facts-- not congruent with lefty-think. It's ALL about "the narrative" of their utopian (dystopian) dreams. Screw reality..

Alex said...

Guys I think it's a no-brainer that if the GOP is sane an nominates Romney, Althouse will vote GOP in 2012. They just better not nominate a whack-job like Bachmann.

roesch-voltaire said...

I think all the presidents from Carter on have served their real base rather well: the financial and military industrial folks. There maybe little various of personal mis-steps, or changes to the tax code that favor one group over another, but on the whole it makes little difference in the economic picture.(Don't tell me that the last ten years of tax breaks have improved the economic life for the middle class) The only differences seem to happen in who is nominated for the Supreme Court, and whether there is funding to regulate drugs, and ensure that we have clean water, which I why I voted for Obama. I think Frank Rich, in his recent article, summed up the reasons Obama has come up short of expectations for many progressives,-- his admiration for the Ivy Elite and Rubin which in turn has left the crooks get out of jail and keep their big bonuses.

John Thacker said...

Did Bush really "serve his base?" I thought that Bush also betrayed his base all the time. Wasn't that the objection to the Tea Party folks when they started protesting in 2009 and 2010-- why weren't you protesting when GWB was increasing spending, doing Medicare Part D, etc.?

It will, of course, be the same complaint thrown back at Democrats when they protest war and civil liberties violations by a Republican.

Ralph L said...

Don't forget Bush signed the 2007 Energy bill, which will make our pickups and ponycars slower and more expensive and will ruin light bulbs.

Deborah M. said...

The problem I get with riots, however, is that no matter how the blacks play their race card these days ... the south is more interested in the evangelical's anti-abortion stance.

I'm sorry...what?!

Carol_Herman said...

Gutter journalists get no market indicator, because once you're in the gutter, at eye level ... why would you need to see different height indicators?

Believe it or not, Obama's in trouble.

He probably began down this road when he came out and said Office Crowley acted stupidly. Why, my gosh. He arrested a harvahd professor!

I wasn't outraged over that arrest.

And, I just laughed when following obama's big announcement ... he held a peace conference, of sorts.

Officer Crowley stopped and helped the old professor down the steps to the path. And, all the press was pushed back behind some invisible line. Where they couldn't hear a thing.

I laughed and laughed.

Then, I just watched other dominoes fall.

It could have been worse. The stupid party could'a seen the putz, McCain, "winning."

Well, McCain didn't even come close.

Up ahead?

We're in worse economic shape.

We've gained no ground at any of our wars.

And, the drug cartels got their hands of some spiffy well made ordnance. If I had to guess? This pisses off Putin. Who would have preferred selling russian guns. Which would have paid him a handsome commission.

Just because we can vote, doesn't mean we see talent. For the most part in politics, not only do we see nepotism at work. We're not getting any breaks, here.

Is there someone without family connections from whom we can choose? Anyone?

Henry said...

Given that Bush with a Democratic-majority Congress and Obama with a Republican-majority Congress are essentially the same president, I think the parallelism works, even if the rating is silly.

Our national politics has entered a kind of first republic phase in which dramatic switches in the people in power makes no difference at all in the direction of government.

The progressives can stare into the mirror all day long, but the only potent exception to that state of affairs is the tea party.

mariner said...

Henry,
Our national politics has entered a kind of first republic phase in which dramatic switches in the people in power makes no difference at all in the direction of government.

But it made a dramatic difference in the speed at which we're heading over the cliff.

Our last chance at this point is the Tea Party movement.

Alex said...

Our last chance at this point is the Tea Party movement.

You mean the same teabaggers who don't want their Medicare taken away?

Unknown said...

The president who fights fire with gasoline is the stupidest.

MissMo said...

who cares?

David R. Graham said...

"I have no interest in these hysterical little men who obsess about whether their "base" is getting served or stiffed."

Then why are you posting about them and "it"?

"who cares?"

Who indeed!

Unknown said...

ROUNDS COOKING OFF

The Democrats have this "enemies list" --- denominated in epithets aimed at the people whose wallets they wish to hijack and take up residence inside. You can be a “Racist!” and you can “wear a tinfoil hat” and you can be a “Homophobe!” and you can be a “T-bxgger!” --- a homosexual man taking his partner’s scrotum into his mouth. You can be “Selfish!” and you can be a “Wacko!” and you can be a “Hick!” and you can be a “Rube!” and you can be “Uneducated” and you can be an “Extremist!” You can be a “Right-wing-nut!” and you can be “Mentally Ill” and you can be “Deranged!” and you can be a “Flake!” and a “Warmonger!” and you can be "Unenlightened!" and you can be a “FatCat!” and you can be a “Nazi!” and you can be a “Fascist!” --- although no one more closely approaches the precise description of “Nazi!” or “Fascist!” than the usual Democrat propagandist --- either official, or self-appointed.

Lies, after all, are the heart and soul and the sword and shield of the Democrat party.


So all you have to do to occupy multiple epithets on the Democrats’ enemies list is to insist that they take their hands off yourself, off your wallet, off your property, off your kids, off your diet, off your healthcare, off your household appliances, off your car, off your bank account, off your weapons of self-defense, off your liberty, and off your freedom of speech. Insist on all these good things - and that qualifies you to be spat upon by nasty, mean-spirited scXm --- by The Friends of All Mankind --- by a gang of lying, thieving, dope-smoking, pill-popping, coke-snorting, sticky-fingered, bloodsxcking, tax-eating, gun-stealing, predatory humanitarian thugs --- by the Democrat party, in other words. No political party in the history of America more profoundly deserves absolute and outright destruction.

Unknown said...

THE AGE OF OHBUMMER

OhBummer is a b00b and a fool for attacking the American Tea Partiers. Heck, he thought that he had all of us hoodwinked, hornswoggled, and bamboozled. He’s annoyed that the Tea Partiers are not grateful to him for hijacking the American healthcare system --- the greatest act of vandalism perpetrated upon the American people since a gang of jihadi frootloops and loonytoons hijacked some planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center towers --- and the Pentagon, and made a failed attempt to crash into the White House --- and instead drilled a hole in a Pennsylvania farm thanks to some very courageous American passengers.

And --- now widely seen for what he is --- the president presents a problem for the Democrat-captured media. They pump out his propaganda for him --- and, like the opinion monitors in Ayn Rand’s novel, “Atlas Shrugged” --- they are dodging brickbats and rotten vegetables.

He’s pompous, pampered, and pretentious --- a pseudo-intellectual fop. He’s a glorified, smooth-lyin’ dandy, and slicker than Sick Willie Clinton. He’s a dictator-on-the-make, a bloodsxcking, predatory humanitarian thug, and a low-down skunk.

He’s a fraud and a swindler. He lies when he inhales and he lies when he exhales; his oxygen is the falsification of reality. He lies, placidly and laconically, as if deception were a soporific drug.

He’s a friend of the poor and the downtrodden --- indeed, you can hear the milk of human kindness sloshing around inside of him when he walks.

He declares himself the post-racial leader --- “Let me be clear!” he intones --- and he hides behind his race, daring his critics to put their reputation for fairness at risk.

He pauses to ponder the portent of his propaganda --- and it is fakery; he smiles and his mendacity comes shining through. Shake hands with Barak Hushpuppy OhBummer --- “The Mistake of ‘08” --- the illegal alien squatter in the White House until his “papers” have been lab-tested for age and chemicals, etc --- the King of The Republic of Lies --- and America’s first and last Arab president. Now count your fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28