Pajamas Media

136 Comments

1. AWOL Civilization:

This article is certainly the most nauseating piece of drivel I have seen on Pajamas Media. I kept reading, hoping that what I saw would turn out to be satire, a parody of the madness that has seized our country. But no, it was serious.

“I did not vote for Barack Obama. But I am proud of him, proud of who and what he represents. He is, in a non-biblical sense, the Word made flesh. That Word — the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence — had gone unfulfilled (and still requires work to make whole) and unredeemed.”

Fulfillment of the the Constitution? How about a mockery of the Constitution? Better, a mockery of every single principle that made America what it is. We are inaugurating the product, the very consummation, of the neo-Marxist narrative that has taken hold of the generation: affirmative action, the victim culture, dumbing down, “God damn America,” atoning for our alleged sins, white guilt, multiculturalism, irrational thought, feminization…did I forget something?

Allow me to present a slightly different view of “Wow-ness” in the face of the catastrophe:

http://awolcivilization.com/?p=409

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:09 am 2. Jonathan L:

Thank you. What a beautiful piece.

It amazes me how much we allow the short-sided moments of politics distract us from the historic moments this nation will continue to witness. While I certainly disagree with our new President’s views, that is a battle to be fought another day. If we are truly citizens of this great experiment in democracy, then let us put down our differences for this one day, and give our new leader what he is due:

Good luck, President Obama. Not for your party, creed, or race; but for your country, and the millions whom you now lead. Today, we stand as a nation.

Tomorrow’s another day.

God Bless America.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:34 am 3. Word to the wise:

Mr. Moran: You need to join the Democrat Party and stop pretending that you are either a conservative or a patriot. This is twice in a week that you have pushed out Democrat talking points. You are going off my RSS reader.

You should be ashamed of yourself. You are either a liar or a coward. Both is more likely.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:41 am 4. cfbleachers:

Rick, I am struck by the stark contrast between your article and your first commenter, AWOL Civ, above.

As I observe the volley across the bow of each ship, I am torn by the underlying meaning behind the sentiments upon which each is sailing along, and apparently passing in the night.

There is something wonderful, something great and powerful, something historic and something shining and bright about what will transpire in my country this fine day. WE, as usual, have chosen to lead by example, as a beacon to the world…showing the pathway that we blaze for liberty, freedom, democracy and justice.

Have we stumbled along the way? What human endeavor has not? But we should not forget that in the achievement of greatness, it was those who picked up the banner and carried for a cause not their own that turned the tide.

Men standing up for women’s rights, whites willing to fight and die…brother against brother in a Civil War, the majority passing laws and adhering to principles that defended and protected everyone…this is what is not only forgotten, but swept under the rug..somehow too vulgar to speak aloud, too crass to admit, too unromantic to the narrative.

To those heirs and offspring of Ireland, of Italy, of Israel…there have been obstacles, hurdles and mountains to climb. There numbers swelled our shores, and yet none of Italy or Israel have lived a day in the White House. Nor has a woman been our leader. Irish Catholics have but one. In terms of sheer percentages, of ratio to the population…would it be as historic a moment? I sincerely doubt it would rate more than a mention.

The racial divide has been steeper and more fraught with the frailties of mankind, no doubt. The mountain was higher to climb. Yet, in which country was it most likely to occur? In which country would the mantle be lifted? In which country would a white majority select a black man to lead them? The very country that saw brother aim a gun at brother and be willing to fire across the field for the cause that was not theirs, but adopted by them because right is right, fair is fair, wrong is wrong.

Your commenter feels however, that the tolerance, pride, adherence to principles shown by the celebration of this event is tainted by the fact that it may have ridden in on a chariot of intolerance, racial and class warfare.

He asks, sub rosa, how can we celebrate tolerance…by trumpeting intolerance? How can we sing hymns of unity, via the chorus of divisiveness? Have we replaced the dogs and fire hoses of oppression against blacks, with the celluloid slanders of Hollywood against faith based southern whites? Have the broad farcical caricatures and stereotypes, been not erased, but replaced?

Is this shining victory for what we can become, merely a Pyrrhic victory because the principles which give us gooseflesh are but a sham?

We have the opportunity to seize the moment here and make this not a Hollywood moment of false promise, phony facade, vacuous homilies and hollow platitudes. We can seize it to cement the principles which made it possible in the first place.

When we all raise the banner of righteousness and carry it, we show the world what humankind is capable of achieving. If all we do is replace the oppression of some by the elevation of others, turn the tables and champion intolerance, slander, greed and power for the “victims”, we accomplish nothing.

If it’s simply God Bless America when I win and God Damn America when I lose, we are not leading by example, we are leading by tantrum. If acceptance and tolerance extends only to leftist ideals and “chosen” groups, we are not leading by example…we are leading by fiat.

If we got here on the back of class and racial warfare, on the slanders against faith based people, on the cruel jokes of an entire region of our country, …then how is it that different from the days of your black and white TV in the backwoods…except the roles are reversed? Are we to take the victims where we find them?

I want to celebrate our advancement, our wisdom, our leadership. The only way I know how to do it, is to celebrate the principles, without hypocrisy or agenda. Right is right, fair is fair, wrong is wrong. Tell the truth without distortion, give me the facts without filter, pick up the banner for the honor of it, even when the issue seems to be favoring you…today.

Classic liberalism should be at war with modern day leftism. THAT would be a day to celebrate. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Here’s to hoping President Obama learns to lead all Americans…and the world…by example.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:58 am 5. Arthur Nankervis:

1. AWOL Civilization:

I must say I enjoyed the more enlightened views of “Wow-ness” at the site suggested. An interesting few months ahead me thinks.

Anyway, good luck to all you blokes, whatever your affiliation.

Expat Aussie
Bangkok

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:26 am 6. vivo:

3. Word to the wise:

“Mr. Moran: You need to join the Democrat Party and stop pretending that you are either a conservative or a patriot.”

There is nothing great about being a conservative or a patriot. I prefer people with common sense, idealism and compassion.

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:58 am 7. GDT:

I apologize for the bad form – but I am going to have to quote myself. My comment in the VDS piece from yesterday is far more appropriate here…

I, like many Americans, looked forward to the day that we would move completely past race and elect our first black President. I looked forward to the day that a black person of great stature and great achievement could render their race irrelevant and be elected to the highest office in the land. To our great national sadness and shame, what we have today is the opposite of such a person. Rather than someone who is elected to the Presidency in spite of their race – we have someone who was elected to the presidency because of their race. BHO’s sole qualification for the presidency is that he was the black candidate. He has no leadership experience whatsoever and the only greatness he has achieved is to have won the popularity contest we call our presidential election.

I looked to the day when the election of a black President would signal the end of racism in America. Sadly, the election of BHO is the single greatest act of collective racism in the history of the Unites States of America.

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:58 am 8. RE:

Indulging your inner drama queen, Mr. Moran? This vapor reads like a failed attempt to out-Noonan Peggy Noonan.

Wake up. Get a grip. Difficult times lie ahead. Choosing to ignore all the warning signs, America now finds it does not know who it is they elected. This politically correct recklessness will cost the world dearly.

Today, the platitudes start meeting up with the reality. It’s not going to be pretty with daydreamers at the helm.

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:07 am 9. freetoken:

Though I too did not vote for Obama, I can still be rejoice that someone from a humble background has risen to the top, especially someone who is from a traditionally discriminated minority.

Many people are justly proud of not only him but also of the US and our political process. Much has changed over half a decade and the breaking of glass ceilings for minorities may well be the most positive.

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:10 am 10. John Galt:

For twelve years you’ve been asking “Who is John Galt?” This is John Galt speaking. I’m the man who’s taken away your victims and thus destroyed your world. You’ve heard it said that this is an age of moral crisis and that Man’s sins are destroying the world. But your chief virtue has been sacrifice, and you’ve demanded more sacrifices at every disaster. You’ve sacrificed justice to mercy and happiness to duty. So why should you be afraid of the world around you?

Your world is only the product of your sacrifices. While you were dragging the men who made your happiness possible to your sacrificial altars, I beat you to it. I reached them first and told them about the game you were playing and where it would take them. I explained the consequences of your ‘brother-love’ morality, which they had been too innocently generous to understand. You won’t find them now, when you need them more than ever.

We’re on strike against your creed of unearned rewards and unrewarded duties. If you want to know how I made them quit, I told them exactly what I’m telling you tonight. I taught them the morality of Reason — that it was right to pursue one’s own happiness as one’s principal goal in life. I don’t consider the pleasure of others my goal in life, nor do I consider my pleasure the goal of anyone else’s life.

I am a trader. I earn what I get in trade for what I produce. I ask for nothing more or nothing less than what I earn. That is justice. I don’t force anyone to trade with me; I only trade for mutual benefit. Force is the great evil that has no place in a rational world. One may never force another human to act against his/her judgment. If you deny a man’s right to Reason, you must also deny your right to your own judgment. Yet you have allowed your world to be run by means of force, by men who claim that fear and joy are equal incentives, but that fear and force are more practical.

You’ve allowed such men to occupy positions of power in your world by preaching that all men are evil from the moment they’re born. When men believe this, they see nothing wrong in acting in any way they please. The name of this absurdity is ‘original sin’. That’s inmpossible. That which is outside the possibility of choice is also outside the province of morality. To call sin that which is outside man’s choice is a mockery of justice. To say that men are born with a free will but with a tendency toward evil is ridiculous. If the tendency is one of choice, it doesn’t come at birth. If it is not a tendency of choice, then man’s will is not free.

And then there’s your ‘brother-love’ morality. Why is it moral to serve others, but not yourself? If enjoyment is a value, why is it moral when experienced by others, but not by you? Why is it immoral to produce something of value and keep it for yourself, when it is moral for others who haven’t earned it to accept it? If it’s virtuous to give, isn’t it then selfish to take?

Your acceptance of the code of selflessness has made you fear the man who has a dollar less than you because it makes you feel that that dollar is rightfully his. You hate the man with a dollar more than you because the dollar he’s keeping is rightfully yours. Your code has made it impossible to know when to give and when to grab.

You know that you can’t give away everything and starve yourself. You’ve forced yourselves to live with undeserved, irrational guilt. Is it ever proper to help another man? No, if he demands it as his right or as a duty that you owe him. Yes, if it’s your own free choice based on your judgment of the value of that person and his struggle. This country wasn’t built by men who sought handouts. In its brilliant youth, this country showed the rest of the world what greatness was possible to Man and what happiness is possible on Earth.

Then it began apologizing for its greatness and began giving away its wealth, feeling guilty for having produced more than ikts neighbors. Twelve years ago, I saw what was wrong with the world and where the battle for Life had to be fought. I saw that the enemy was an inverted morality and that my acceptance of that morality was its only power. I was the first of the men who refused to give up the pursuit of his own happiness in order to serve others.

To those of you who retain some remnant of dignity and the will to live your lives for yourselves, you have the chance to make the same choice. Examine your values and understand that you must choose one side or the other. Any compromise between good and evil only hurts the good and helps the evil.

If you’ve understood what I’ve said, stop supporting your destroyers. Don’t accept their philosophy. Your destroyers hold you by means of your endurance, your generosity, your innocence, and your love. Don’t exhaust yourself to help build the kind of world that you see around you now. In the name of the best within you, don’t sacrifice the world to those who will take away your happiness for it.

The world will change when you are ready to pronounce this oath:
I swear by my Life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man,
nor ask another man to live for the sake of mine.

Text courtesy of Daryl J. Sroufe

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:11 am 11. grampa guy:

I am so glad you like the Emperor’s suit, Mr. Moran. Tell me who is more racist: Bull Connor and his deputies, or Reverend Wright and his congregation? It is the content of the character, remember? If I want leftist talking (make that screaming) points, I’ll head for Arriannaland.Go have tea with Peggy. You are now an official member of the media. Enjoy your bennies.

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:23 am 12. John Galt:

Nanny State 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4YbZ7iXFDA

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:33 am 13. Ann141:

I’m so sick of being lumped in with people who made blacks drink at separate water fountains in the 50’s.

I grew up in Montana on a farm and, silly girl that I was, I never thought being black meant you had to drink different water. But now as the emotional reparations are flooding through society, group identity makes me part of those who apparently were that bigoted.

And as for the other “group identity inclusion” in the article intro, I am NOT “toasting” the first black american in the White House and I don’t wish him success. Haven’t you listened to what he says he intends to do? If you want that to succeed then you should indeed, as another poster suggests, declare yourself democrat and get it over with.

Why does common sense and everyday thoughtfulness have to be suspended just because the man is HALF black? This whole thing STINKS of racism.

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:46 am 14. SaraforAmerica:

I was kind of with you, Rick, until the Word Made Flesh part…I know you are an atheist so perhaps you don’t know how offensive that is to many of us.

Anyway, I might be celebrating if Barack H. Obama had been willing to show us the real person, the true man, instead of a man claiming he was post racial while using it to his every advantage.

Today, we are hiring a Black Man to lead our country. But after today, like any new employee, he’ll have to perform. Once the affirmative action applicant becomes the employee, he is like any other person doing the job. Period.

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:51 am 15. Kevin:

The most improbable thing about this whole thing is Barack Obama IS the first black president with a biological WHITE mother!!! How does that happen? Miracles indeed.

Jan 20, 2009 - 5:36 am 16. WhyamInotsurprised?:

Yes, “We have overcome” because “… we are the ones we have been waiting for?!” God Help Us!!

Jan 20, 2009 - 5:47 am 17. David S:

PM,

It is a great day in the history of America. Sour grapes can’t change that.

Rejoice!

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:08 am 18. Hyman Roth:

“There is nothing great about being a conservative or a patriot. I prefer people with common sense, idealism and compassion.”

I doubt we define those terms the same way. But I am sure that my definitions will be closer to Webster’s.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:10 am 19. party pooper:

I just hope that none of the poor, formerly disfranchised two million Democrat voters freeze to death,
or have their bladders burst because the Republicans didn’t order enough toilets.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:17 am 20. Word to the wise:

Mr. Moran: Have a look at the comment by that moronic, white trash punk Vivo. That is the company you are keeping. Pouting, immoral, foul mannered, effeminate, ignorant and narcissistic little boys that have been indoctrinated to hate their own civilization. That is what you are supporting. That is the filth that you are aligning yourself with. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:17 am 21. pHDependentNeoCon:

Mr. Moran,
Regarding the sentiment in this article that (paraphrasing here) “we are celebrating today the fulfillment of MLK’s dream that we should be judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character”:
1. Obama was elected BECAUSE of his skin color and DESPITE his character (otherwise, in a character competition, I think McCain has him beat by a long-shot, political differences aside)
2. The left promotes skin-color/ethnicity as a deciding factor, rather than diminishing it (this is seen in the acceptance of institutions like the NAACP, BET, the “Black” and “Hispanic” caucuses, etc.).

So, sorry for not sharing in your optimism that the election of Obama demonstrates that we have fulfilled MLK’s dream. I will believe that the day that the aforementioned ethnic institutions are razed, and when the African-American population of this country stops voting for Black politicians to the tune of 99%.

Also, do yourself a favor and read comment #4. by cfbleachers…eloquently put.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:19 am 22. AnninCA:

I wish Obama the best, but I find it curious that people are feeling so proud of his accomplishment. It’s almost as though they are taking credit for it. But then, I never doubted that an AA man could win.

We’ll see how long it is before a woman could do the same.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:59 am 23. Rick Moran:

#21

I read it and associate myself fully with the sentiments expressed.

Jan 20, 2009 - 7:12 am 24. cedarhill:

OK!
We now should have all the white guilt and how bad things were then versus now. This should complete the final obligatory pat-on-the-back-how-almost-non-racist-we-all-whites-are. I am even proud that American can elect a black person to the highest elected office we have.

Now that we all feel better, how about Moving On? We can now measure him by the content of his upcoming disastrous decisions and programs. From his juvenile inaugural address on creating the best American commune simply shows that, after all, all he is really is a community organizer.

Jan 20, 2009 - 7:18 am 25. Anton:

Mr. Moran, you have offered another half-baked history lesson. You left out the irony that those hated filled faces setting dogs and firehoses to women and little children were the faces of Democrats. The irony that, in their reckless desire for power, those same Democrats have now promoted to the most powerful office in the land the most vaporous man ever elected. I dearly hope there is more to President Obama than meets the eye but am not hopeful.

As far as extirpation of guilt I have never felt any. Being of Irish and German extraction none of my family ever owned slaves. Of the eleven of my Irish ancestors that arrive in New York in 1862 seven served in the Union Army and two in the Navy (having been told by Gaelic speaking recruiters that to enlist was a ticket to citizenship), three died during the war. My German ancestors arrived in 1878 and moved to Wisconsin and raised dairy cattle. Every generation has served this country when asked, none have ever taken a hand-out. I owe the “oppressed minorities” nothing except the respect due any person and have always given that.

By buying into The Audacity of Hype and electing a man based on his skin color and not his skills, experience or character the US has taken an enormous step backward.

Yes, I celebrate that ONLY in the US could a minority black man become the nation’s leader (check how many minority leaders there are in the EU). I am not celebrating that THIS man is our president as he stands for everything I abhor.

Jan 20, 2009 - 7:24 am 26. Eric Florack:

(Sigh)
At the risk of stirring pots I’d just as soon not, I’m disturbed enough to write response to this post. Not disturbed enough to be careless with my words, however, so please pardon the formal tone.

Every day… EVERY day… is history, once it has passed. Good or bad, different or indifferent, laughable, or lamentable, it’s all the same. I offer that almost axiomatic point to those pointing to today’s inauguration as some kind of historical milestone. I do so because it seems to me we’ve made it into some kind of hysterical milestone, instead. The whipped up hysteria is almost sickening both of itself and for the negative reaction that will occur once reality sets in.

Many of us seem fixated on the idea that we’ve elected the first black president in history. The question of that person being Barack Obama being a good or bad thing aside, it’s the issue of color I want to focus on for just a second, because I wonder if we’ve not sublimated positions on various issues of the day to the issue of Mr. Obama’s race. The feeling among many seems to be that Obama’s race is of greater import than what he will do with the office, and with it, the trust of the American people. So we apparently may judge by the reaction we see in the gallery, today, alas, Rick’s piece included.

We have just yesterday, celebrated a holiday for Rev Doctor Martin Luther King. We are reminded of his “I have a dream” speech, yesterday, wherein he says, his dream is of a world where people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. He’s talking about a post-racial society. Certainly, this is a dream worth having.

But, while there are those with stars in their eyes, and celebration on their lips, who tell us that the election of Mr. Obama means we have crossed that particular hurdle of post-racialism, I suggest that by virtue of the fact that so much weight is placed on Mr. Obama’s race by his backers, we have in fact not crossed that post-racial hurdle, as yet. After all, if we are in a post racial society, why on earth would Obama’s color even be brought up, much less be meaningful in any substantial way? It seems we have a way to go, yet.

There are those who will answer with the suggestion that the presidency of Mr. Obama is a positive thing, since it will allow blacks to achieve. Yet, they apparently make this judgment based on Mr. Obama’s race alone, and forgetting his political leanings… leanings toward a party and a group of policies that have been demonstrably racist. If there is a single political party that has been responsible for keeping blacks on the plantation, it is the Democrat party. That point has been proven time and time again. (PDF)

Mr. Obama is a Democrat. As such, he has willingly signed himself onto that racist history and more importantly, it’s continuence. How this conflict is accounted for by Mr. Obama’s supporters, seems to be more an inexplicable emotional attachment, more than a facts based assessment. Were it the latter, I suspect the reaction to it would be the traditional one used with all posing carpetbaggers…involving feathers, hot tar, and a rail.

So, a historic day? Certainly. Then again, as I’ve said, they all are, once they have passed. But, a good day? I don’t think so.

This will be unpopular, I’m sure, but I thnk it fair to say that with the election of a Democrat, of whatever skin color, given the both historical and current actions on the part of the members of the Democrat party on race, and particularly the actions Mr. Obama has already stated he’s going to take in the near future, means we have actually moved further away from Dr. King’s dream, not closer. And I regard that as a loss for our country, as should all who dare claim Dr. King’s dream, and legacy.

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:03 am 27. Dale B.:

Today does mark a truly historical event in American history. Today officially marks the end of “white” racism and the official beginning of “black” racism. Before today’s event, whites, by definition were racists and blacks could not be racists, but if the primary definition of racism is making decisions based on skin color, then by the very fact that blacks voted for BHO in such large percentages only speaks to the fact that ’skin color’ was the only thing that mattered. I, for one, am thankful for the election of BHO, only because the “race card” no longer applies when it is played by the race hustlers on the streets and in the media. As far as how Mr. Obama will perform, it remains to be seen that he will fulfill the oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, or he may do exactly as he has said and ignore it or change it. His path so far doesn’t show anything but his economic plan appears to be suspect, in that all of his advisers, that are the smartest people in the world, didn’t see the crash coming and we are supposed to accept that they hold the knowledge to get out. I don’t think so!

BTW Rick, I think your sentiment towards the Office of the President is correct, but the person that occupies the Office doesn’t automatically garner respect. It is just like in the military, you show respect for the uniform even though the person wearing it doesn’t deserve it.

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:08 am 28. Lilith:

Lovely article. My sentiments exactly. It even makes me proud and I’m Canadian!!

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:15 am 29. Jim Baker:

Rick Moran, I am not toasting anything, bub! This is the beginning of the irrevocable destruction of the greatest political experiment in history, government subservient to the individual, the only entity that can ever have liberty.

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:25 am 30. southern boy:

Why do black people love democrats?

Democrats fought to keep black people as slaves.

For 110 years democrats controlled the South after the Civil War and used lynchings and slave tactics to keep black people from voting or drinking out of white water fountains.

Now we have a black democrat president.

But don’t forget he has a white mother from Kansas.

We Democrats would never vote for a full blooded black man to take office.

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:40 am 31. Paul S.:

Right, let’s cheer for the triumph of symbolism. Moran still lives in Peggy Noonan’s dream world of “all Americans under the skin.” The Left destroyed all that years ago. The current reality is ideological war. Anyone who considers himself a centrist is deluded.

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:44 am 32. The Wizard:

I think this country will become more divided….lead by the greatest racist of them all, Obama. I fear the coming days and the lack of respect for our Constitution, our freedoms and liberty. Obama is an empty suit, with no honor, credentials, experience or leadership ability. He is out for himself, period. He won the election based solely on the color of his skin and a well executed marketing program. If you really study what he has said, it is “nothing” only empty rhetoric. His “coronation” belies his hubris and audacious personality. God help us all.

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:05 am 33. retire05:

So Dr. King’s dream has been realized? Really? We are all equal. All that is except those who live on the Oglala Souix Reservation of Pine Ridge. Equal except that of the 28,000 American Indians who live there, there is 80% unemployment, 49% live below the national poverty level, the rez contains the two poorist counties in our nation with the average annual income being below $6,000. Most do not have electricity, running water or sewer systems. The death at birth rate is five time our national average. Life expectancy is 50 for women, 47 for men. Schools can be as far away as 60 miles.

But it is a day to rejoice as we are now beyond racial barriers that set one apart from the other.

Unless you are a Native American.

To equate this day with the culmination of Dr. Kings dream, where the color of a person’s skin is NEVER an issue is absurd. Oh have you forgotten the words [just words] “And did I say he is black?”

What has this election proven? Only that a secretive man with no real experience can be elected BECAUSE his skin tone is dark, not inspite of it. Because he can make an issue of his skin tone, and not be considered racist for doing so. Because he can use his skin tone to dodge any hard questions about his political philosophy. In Dr. King’s world, skin tone would NEVER be mentioned, much less played on like a cheap fiddle. In Dr. King’s world, 28,000 Oglala Souix would not be living in third world poverty.

So yes, I celebrate this historic day but not because Barack Obama was elected. I celebrate this day because, once again, our nation has succeeed in the peaceful transference of power without the use of force. And I long for a day when we truely look at the content of a man’s character, not the color of his skin. But sadly, I think the character of the man is as dark as the color of his skin.

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:05 am 34. J.J. Sefton:

We “overcame” over 40 years ago with the civil rights movement and the legislation it engendered.

Sadly, black Americans by and large continue to be bamboozled by liberals and race hustlers into thinking the opposite; believing in their perpetual victimhood. Too bad more of the community doesn’t follow the example of Clarence Thomas as opposed to Chuck D.

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:17 am 35. Mike:

I was on the fence over watching Obama’s day. I read Peggy N. article and contemmplated putting on the rose colored glasses. Why not? It’s fun letting the old red white and blue flow sentimentaly through the veins.
Then Obama said this: Obama talked of the heavy challenges facing people now, including a staggering economy and global warming.
He said people must recognize that there will be “false starts and setbacks, frustrations and disappointments,” but argued that this is not the time to get discouraged.
Obama said the American Revolution “was — and remains — an ongoing struggle in the hearts and minds of the people to live up to our freedom.”
Preparing to board a train for his ride to the nation’s capital, Obama said that “what’s required is a new declaration of independence — from ideology and small thinking.”

He reminded me that I’m a small narrow thinker. I go back to my original fears and trepidation that he’ll follow Carter’s footsteps.

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:22 am 36. drjohn:

Please let us do away with ALL affirmative action programs today!

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:25 am 37. David S:

@33

But sadly, I think the character of the man is as dark as the color of his skin.

I am sad for you as well. There is much hope in Obama’s victory, and it is a victory for America. I agree that there is much left to be accomplished, but I disagree wholeheartedly with your assessment of the impact of race in this contest. It was not a determining factor.

Peace.

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:33 am 38. southern boy:

“This isn’t Hope and Change.

This is Back to the Future with Biff in charge of the casino.”

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:42 am 39. Roark:

Half of America is applauding this leftist/pragmatist “messiah” all because his skin pigment is dark. Whatever happened to IDEA’S??? Obama is a dangerous man because he has no values, other than statism and opportunism. Obama’s IDEA’S are anathema to liberty, and as such that is the ONLY reason one should judge this man; by his idea’s and character, not by his skin pigments.

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:44 am 40. James Foxx:

“Mr. Moran: You need to join the Democrat Party and stop pretending that you are either a conservative or a patriot. This is twice in a week that you have pushed out Democrat talking points. You are going off my RSS reader.

You should be ashamed of yourself. You are either a liar or a coward. Both is more likely.”

So Republican talking points are the only thing allowed to be pushed on PJMedia? “Alternative to MSM” my ass. You guys have Joe The Idiot Plumber over in Israel because he is a self proclaimed “expert” in media bias, and you have the gall to pretend you are an unbiased source interested in intelligent reporting?

Hey, I just watched some sky diving videos, I guess that makes me an expert in sky diving now!

Jan 20, 2009 - 9:59 am 41. David:

I’ll agree that it’s a good reflection on America that we have finally elected a black president. But it’s a bad reflection that we have elected our first socialist president, and even worse that a majority of voters don’t even realize it.

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:11 am 42. artie:

Rick,please GET HELP! Your Delusional! Kyle Shiver wrote an article the other day thanking G.W. Bush in the article she was brilliant about his character.I commented to her that it reminded me of Rudyard Kiplings poem “IF”,where he describes what a man is.BHO is the antithesis of that poem.
Not to mention he is totally lacking in any MORAL CHARACTER.

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:13 am 43. paul_unalaska:

Ahh, racism is ‘fini’ for America. So, NAACP, ACLU (race related matters at the least), the Black Caucus, affirmative action programs, lowered S.A.T. and A.C.T. standards, La Raza, Hispanic Caucus, Equal Employment Opportunity (i.e. politically correct hiring practices go away and qualified candidates will be hired here on out) are closing their doors? Three cheers for equanimity, solidarity my brothers and sisters!!

It’s interesting, whereas Americans of Asian descent (sorry, “Asian American” falls under the simple minded and weak P.C. moniker, don’t use ‘em) are not usually exploiting, oh, I mean practicing the aforementioned programs for college standards, hiring practices, et al. Fact, Asians surpass their Caucasian counterparts greatly as well. Hmph. That’s strange.

Anywho, here’s to our country’s first bi-racial President, Obama (again, the media keeps mistaking that factoid and calling Pres. Obama ‘Black’ again, that’s odd) Nonetheless, I’m sure Obama will live up to his promises. No problem.

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:21 am 44. Joey:

Wow, this is pretty ridiculous. It’s actually not a good reflection on America, because many people openly admitted to voting based only on race. That, no matter which way you voted, is not MLK’s dream and is most certainly not what we should be about. Differentiating between races, even just to see the first black president, is not judging by the content of character but of the color of skin.

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:23 am 45. Retep:

David S. wrote:
I agree that there is much left to be accomplished, but I disagree wholeheartedly with your assessment of the impact of race in this contest. It was not a determining factor.

What? Race was not a determing factor? Race has everything to do with it. Something like 93% of blacks voted for BO. Why do you deny this?

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:27 am 46. retire05:

#37, David, what is “hope”? Obama is/was a blank screen on which what ever you wanted him to be was projected. “Change” change from what? From the Constitution that he has just sworn to preserve, protect and defend the way it was written, not as the incomplete document that he thinks it is? What is it about the word “preserve” you don’t understand?

I am sick of the left now crying that “we should all just get along” and people like Rick who are willing to “go along to git along” in their efforts to pander to the very base that has rejected them in the past. Where was all that Kumbaya in the last eight years? Where was the left screeching that we should “just give Bush a chance” on January 20, 2001? Perhaps you can remind me how the left was so willing to give President Bush a chance while they were screaming how he was an illegitmate president who stole an election.

So take you “why can’t we just git along” manure and sell it to a landscaper.

And where is the outcry from the left who complained that Bush was going to spend $40 million over a man spending almost $170 million on an inauguration. This is not an inauguration. It is a European crowning.

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:39 am 47. oneblankspace:

Dr King talked about the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners. In which category do we place Obama?

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:49 am 48. SaraforAmerica:

Hi retire05, I have no idea what’s happening with Rick. Maybe it’s the Zoloft thing. But he admits he made the whole granpa moon landing story up in his blog.

A little prank, a lie, to celebrate the big lie in office? Perhaps. Otherwise I have no idea how to assimilate all the accommodation that’s happening around us.
sarainva

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:55 am 49. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Rick Moran
RE: Heh

I don’t give a darn about the color of his skin.

What I DO care about is what he’s going to do while he has this kind of power. The same concern I had when Bill ‘I-did-not-have-sex’ Clinton took the oath in 1993.

Three months later, 84 men, women and children were massacred by a combination of federal ‘law enforcement’ and military personnel.

Time will tell….

Regards,

Chuck(le)

Jan 20, 2009 - 10:59 am 50. AtheistConservative:

Will it ever be possible for people to stop pointing out his color and perhaps notice that he’s a big fraud?

Seriously, how long do we have to drag around the guilt for something that happened generations ago?

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:03 am 51. David S:

@45

Retep,

Folks have run the numbers, and it looks pretty likely that even if Obama were lily-white, he would have beat the pants off of McCain.

I don’t deny that most blacks voted for Obama (95%) – most blacks also voted for Kerry (88%). It’s not about race.

Obama won a large victory with support from all of America. He would have won with any color pigment of your choice.

Peace.

DS

Did Race Win the Election for Obama?

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:03 am 52. BC:

I have to say that was easily the best thing I’ve ever seen appear in Pajamas Media. Kudos to Rick Moran for taking off his Right Wing Blinders (TM) & Conservative Dunce Cap (TM) and describing what happened today for what it was: a magical, historic, and uplifting moment for this country.

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:15 am 53. Rachel Peepers:

Rick, your subhead not only is possible, but it’s true.

But that’s not all we’ve done. We’ve entrusted our country to a brown eyed handsome man who’s terrorist friendly to the core, (Evidence his twenty year relationship with bill ayers, Bernie Dorne, Raskid Khalidi, PLO fanatic).

Barack Obama. Who’s also ethically challenged, (rezko home buying scheme, nominated head of IRS who for years hasn’t paid taxes).

Who despises the U.S. military(”American airmen are air raiding villages”, said during Presidential campaign).

Who pals around with Israel haters. (”Jews need to be exterminated like rodents”,’said by Khalidi during 1999 dinner with Ayers and Obama’. Applauded by Obama.

Who’s about to launch an attack on the freedom of speech. (Barack quote(”The most ardent anti Obama TV stations will get their licenes reviewed if I’m elected”).

Who is passionately opposed to the second amendment. “I will never own a guy and view gun owners as longing for a past that’s dead and gone. (”our chance is coming to shoot enough legislative holes in the second amendment that it resemebles swiss cheese”, Barack private speech to San Francisco’s monied elite, June 24, 2008)

Rick, do you get the point? When all is said and done, Barack Obama not only is friends with unrepentent terrorist, Bill Ayers who has a picture of himself on his mantlepiece stomping on the American flag, but is determined to euthenize the traditions and freedoms that make America not the bad guy, but the single greatest country where, as Lincoln said, “Hope and freedom spring eternal.”

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:17 am 54. AtheistConservative:

“Folks have run the numbers,”

Nonsense. There is no numbers science that could make such a definite prediction.

What stands out to me in all this “my how far we’ve come!” nonsense is the observation that the man himself was born after all these historical injustices that everyone points out. So it seems more than a bit ridiculous. That, and the way everyone keeps clamoring about “all he went through” to become President – all he did was run. The media carried his water the rest of the way, and a gullible society of self-hating morons soaked in liberal guilt pushed him over the threshold.

This is no triumph. It is the most embarrassing day in recent history.

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:24 am 55. Rick Moran:

Sara:

How is it possible that I admitted I made up the story about my grandfather on my blog when all I did was paste a few grafs from the piece above on it?

Get some glasses – or maybe some reading comprehension.

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:43 am 56. David S:

@54

All Obama did was win. It is indeed a triumph. Sorry to hear you are embarrassed. Sounds like a personal problem.

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 11:48 am 57. Chuck Pelto:

TO: David S
RE: Show Me….

All Obama did was win. It is indeed a triumph. — David S

…the birth certificate.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S Now that he ahs the FBI and CIA to command, nothing he produces will be accepted as honest.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:01 pm 58. paul_unalaska:

Hey, Rick Moran replies to only arrows being flung at him, not his piece. Similar to Obama speaking up only when “Reverend” Wright spoke in ill regard of him and not our country. Typical…

Your rebuttal Mr. Moran is sophomoric indeed. I only wish the writers of these pieces would respond to comments 54, 53, 46, 42 etc., Then your readers would get a first hand view of a true discussion/ talking points. Instead, were left with your responses to a comment that had clearly no validity. Sigh.. Collectivist thought, I hope it’s a temporary hangover..

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:06 pm 59. Robert Hurley:

What a great day for America. We have an intelligent, thoughtful, leader who has an agenda to get the country moving again. It is no wonder that his favorable rating are above 80% Of the 20%, most of the wingnuts here are probably less than 1%. There are critics who are credible becaue they think about our problems and propose solutions. Most of the cranks here should not be let out among decent people. But nothing can spoil this day for me. I am delighted he started work among the poor and dispossed because that experience will shape the direction of his policies

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:11 pm 60. Floradora:

“Obama won a large victory with support from all of America. He would have won with any color pigment of your choice.”

I totally disagree. You have not factored in the white guilt vote, nor did you factor in the black Americans that actually got out to vote for Obama simply because he was black. In a related item worth mentioning….I’m sorry, but Obama won a large victory of support from those that supported him, in good part, because the MSM purposefully COVERED UP any and all questionable background material about him…failed to throw him hard ball questions, failed to question WHY it was that he refused to disclose his college thesis or transcripts, his medical records, his financial records or the elusive long form birth certificate. They were too busy 1) asking what his parents would feel, 2) asking what kind of dog he should get, 3) dumpster diving in Alaska looking for receipts for tanning beds. Now THAT’S balance you can believe in.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:12 pm 61. SMS:

Could you hardline types take a break from bitching long enough to admit that this is kind-of-a-big-deal, and for exactly the reasons Rick Moran is offering? I hope you aren’t passing the same toxic cynicism on to your children. There are perfectly good reasons to object to Barack Obama as President of the United States. Maybe you know them, maybe you don’t. His Blackness or non-Blackness, and various responses of voters to those qualities last year, are not among them.

On the supposed primacy of race in the race… This was a Democratic year. In the general election, the Republican candidate didn’t have much of a chance. And certainly McCain-and-Palin was a doomed venture. In the primary campaign, the fact is, many Democrats were looking for someone other than the wife of a former president to lead the country in a post-post-Cold-War era. The person who stepped in to fill that need was Barack Obama. Yes, all of the fascinating aspects of Obama, including his ties to many different parts of the American experience – political, social, economic, cultural, religious, geographic – helped make him The One. But the bottom line is that he wasn’t a Republican and wasn’t a Clinton – and a majority of Americans is grateful for that.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:18 pm 62. paul_unalaska:

Robert Hurley, Obama’s ‘work among the poor’ really panned out well, eh?

Take a look at the homicide numbers for Obama’s district in ‘08.

Better yet, take a look at teacher’s salaries, actual school hours for those same schools in his district.

Robert, check out Jerome Corsi’s, ‘Obama Nation’ or Fredosso’s, ‘The Case Against Barack Obama: The Cult of Personality..’

I took in his 2, uhm, books and 2 opposed. Being ill informed is nothing to boast of.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:21 pm 63. Pee Wee Herman, Community Organizer:

Who cares?

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:22 pm 64. Hyman Roth:

Sounds like someone has a bad case of liberal-talking-points diarrhea. Poor Jamie Foxx, not getting much acting work, I suppose.

Hey Jimbo, tell me: has Joe The Plumber ever authored a fake news story about a non-existent military scandal (Tailwind, by CNN)?

Or, a falsified a news story about pickup trucks that spontaneously explode (NBC)?

How about a concocted story based on blatantly forged documents (Bush National Guard, CBS)?

Has Joe The Plumber ever published fake newspaper stories (Jayson Blair, Stephen Glass in the New York Times)?

Come on, Foxxie Brown, tell us all how honest, accurate and unbiased the big 3 networks and the NYT/WashPo are.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:28 pm 65. J. Rockford:

Like Ann141 said, “I’m so sick of being lumped in with people who made blacks drink at separate water fountains in the 50’s.”

I grew up in California and Northern Virginia in the 60s and 70s. If there was racism, I never saw it. Other than me getting punched in the face a couple of times by blacks in high school. I saw no racism in college, a military career or in the private sector. I did see preferential treatment given to mediocre blacks. I have no problem with a black president. Colin Powell would have been OK, or Mike Steele today. But I do have a problem with an empty suit, smooth talker like B. Hussein Obama. A man with no professional accomplishments other than getting elected, whose wife and minister hate America, who is closely associated with the terrorist Ayers, and who probably isn’t even a native born American.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:32 pm 66. Anton:

@59. Robert Hurley:
“I am delighted he started work among the poor and dispossed because that experience will shape the direction of his policies”
And he GTFO because there was no money to get his hands on working at that level. He has done rather better for himself and his wife since then.

How do you know he is intellegent? Has he released his grades from college? Last I heard they were still sealed, like Kerry’s military record. I will allow that he can do a pretty decent delivery from a teleprompter but when he has speak off the cuff he sounds like a rube.

I read both his books, nothing special there as far as thoughtfulness or insight. As far as his agenda goes it changes moment to moment, I’m not hanging my hat on that for one second.

“Most of the cranks here should not be let out among decent people” Yep, another lefty looking to establish concentration camps. You have let your true colors show Mr. Hurley, please have a seat over there with Mr. Stalin and Chairman Mao.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:33 pm 67. David S:

TO: Chuck Pelto
RE: Show me…

Now that he ahs the FBI and CIA to command, nothing he produces will be accepted as honest.

…the WMD.

Regards,
David S
P.S. Keep up the birth certificate nonsense. Only the wingnuts still believe you have a point.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:35 pm 68. goy:

Rachel P., you’re not allowed to sully today’s solemnity and sense of salvation with those ugly observations of fact. Didn’t you get Rick’s memo?

The pompous silliness of this article – and Rick’s grasp of the significance of today (or, rather, lack thereof) – can be found in another ugly observation: whether or not he could have, Barack Hussein Obama did not ‘overcome’ much at all, at least not in the sense Rick has ostensibly misrepresented it here. Obama is not “the black man rising to the pinnacle of power in a white, formerly racist America” depicted here. Far from it. Anyone who fails to see this hasn’t been paying attention. David S’ excuse for that is obvious. Rick Moran’s, not so much.

And neither is today’s America suddenly, magically, a more tolerant nation simply because Obama was inaugurated. It’s precisely the same America that elected George W. Bush. Twice. Last year America voted for the candidate they were instructed and trained to prefer through outright media fraud and deception. That feat would not likely have been possible if it weren’t for the fact that any serious questions or criticism of Obama the candidate could be so easily deflected with charges of “racism”.

All of Rachel’s observations still hold true. And more. None of them have been erased simply because so few Americans were exposed to the facts.

Oh and one more thing, Rick: documents do not “make promises”; nor do they “fall short on delivery”. People, their cultures and their civilizations do that. People change. So do cultures and civilizations. That your only coherent utterance in response to such change is an incredulous “Wow” speaks volumes about your understanding of America, its promise and its evolution. To say nothing of its People.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:38 pm 69. vivo:

20. Word to the wise:

” moronic, white trash punk”

You described yourself very well. Loser.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:50 pm 70. mohammed:

Delusions, delusions and the really disillusioned.
The name HUSSEIN is giving them nightmares, well guys nothing you can do about it, emigrate to Australia if you cannot stand the next four years, oops I forgot they have also joined the ‘multicultural’ bandwagon. You lot should feel sorry for yourselves, I have read every single pathetic comment with interest and find it hard to believe there people that actually think this way. Cynicism has been given a new meaning here. If the disaster that was George Bush and Dick Cheney has not opened your eyes to your big short comings then nothing will. The neocons have never got a more blank cheque than during bush and after 9/11 and guess what the agenda has failed woefully and big time. Tee Heee.

Jan 20, 2009 - 12:57 pm 71. Robert Hurley:

Anton – I am delighted you stepped forward to give evidence of the imbilcility of the wing nuts. I could not asked for a better example. With you as an exemplar, the right wing will be in the minority for a long time. The Democrats should take you on the road and pay your expenses. I did not know there was a comic book version of Obama’s books available for you

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:02 pm 72. Rachel Peepers:

Bob Hurley,

On a day you should be celebrating with friends and family, either in D.C. or in front of the TV, you’re here dishing with nameless, faceless people you call “cranks who should not be let out among decent people”. Cranks? We’re not breaking any laws. We’re simply exercising our constitutionally based freedom of speech. Why does that qualify us to be penned up someplace and “Not let out among decent people?” Actually, your rhetoric borders on ugly, sounding only a goose step away from gathering us up and putting us in some concentrated area, away from as you put it, “Decent people.”

Aren’t you a little bit uncomfortable the way you demean the rest of us? It sounds to me like you have a little German running through your veins.

You say, “Nothing’s going to spoil the day for me.” Then why hang around here with less than decent people? Why not enjoy Barack’s election and inauguration?

Professing to be happy today, why is your writing filled with meanness and invective?

I’m worried about you. It sounds to me like you have some kind of dark side, a dark secret that has seeped into your very marrow. And the only thing that gives you solice is demeaning people you don’t even know who happen to disagree with you politically.

Who really is the target of your hate? Us? But none of us are out to spoil your big day.

I’m concerned about your mental health. Every day you sound a little angrier. A little more apt to snap. Tell me it’s all just rhetoric on your part. That you write this stuff to tease us a bit. Throw a verbal grenade to two. Have some fun with those who disagree with you. I mean, your writing fundamentals are excellent. It flows nicely. You put words together skillfully. Your’re a really good writer. But some of the things you say give me pause, and make me think you’re wired a little too tightly for your own good. I guess in a roundabout way I want just one thing from you.

Tell me you’re okay.

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:05 pm 73. Anton:

Hey everybody look! mohammed is here, his thorazine must have worn off.

What I like best about your comments Mohman is that they are rarely coherent and usually way off topic. Do you just make a few templates and then play cut-n-paste?

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:09 pm 74. paul_unalaska:

mohammed, your claim of ‘reading every single comment’ yet you don’t address, challenge the poignant ones. You’re a drive-by troll. You make insipid, delusional comments on other PJM articles and never respond when others questioned your babble.

Besides, it’s funny so many trolls come to a Conservative website. I wouldn’t go to the dailykos, airamerica or other left minded thinking sites. What’s interesting, more times than not, the left exudes insults, slander and meanness in their responses. That’s a sign of a weak mind, dude. not to mention, small, to insult another’s views via the computer? hahaha You seem to be a person without a home, err, site to call ‘your very own.’ Good luck with your anger issues, nonetheless.

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:12 pm 75. Benny:

How many more black people came out to vote period than in any other election?

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:33 pm 76. Chuck Pelto:

TO: David S
RE: Stupid Evasions

Keep up the birth certificate nonsense. Only the wingnuts still believe you have a point. — David S

Answer the question instead of trying to evade.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. WMDs?

Try…

Here….

And here….

And here….

And here….

And I have a score more. But I doubt if you’ll even read these. Let alone learn anything from them.

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:37 pm 77. David S:

@68 Goy,

It is not Obama who has overcome – it is America. We the People have overcome.

And neither is today’s America suddenly, magically, a more tolerant nation simply because Obama was inaugurated.
No it is not, but the fact that Obama was elected is at least circumstantial evidence that the USA has shed much of the racism that used to thrive here. You just got the argument backwards. No magic involved.

The fact that you attribute Obama’s victory to “outright media fraud and deception” just goes to show how far off the deep end you are. Keep on blaming the media, in spite of the evidence.

Today’s victory does not belong to Obama – it belongs to all of us.

Peace.

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:38 pm 78. mohammed:

‘74. paul_unalaska:
mohammed, your claim of ‘reading every single comment’ yet you don’t address, challenge the poignant ones. You’re a drive-by troll. You make insipid, delusional comments on other PJM articles and never respond when others questioned your babble.’

I am not a welfare dependent sad ass like you lot to spend my whole day on your site. It just feels good to see what sad sorry lives some deluded humans lead. Most of the points here are not worth even responding to. You lot should have promoted miss rice if your sacred agenda is the ‘right’ one and race is so important to your life.

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:48 pm 79. Lily:

Mohammad said, “Cynicism has been given a new meaning here”

I don’t think poor Mohammad has ever been to a liberal blog site.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:01 pm 80. Chuck Pelto:

TO: David S, et al.
RE: Some ‘Victory’

Today’s victory does not belong to Obama – it belongs to all of us. — David S

For all the evidence, we have got an illegal alien as a president.

Regards,

Chuck(le)

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:01 pm 81. Benny:

I think it is pretty hilarious that no one seems to speak to the fact that we (as a collective group) of Americans have been living well above our means for years now. Credit, credit, credit. Our economy has been based off of smoke and mirrors for a while now, and that is just the way it is and any savvy person would know that this couldn’t go on forever. (that is what is scary about the people in charge, how did they not see this coming, and then put half the same folks back in charge to fix it???) Hopefully people realize that infrastructure and actual goods and services that are needed will get us back to growing again and not shrinking as we are now. We must also realize this is natural, things go up, and they generally come down, and then back up. We also can’t have unions and the like who think it makes sense somehow to be able to pay people who no longer work for a company, more money in retirement!
Bottom-line though, I just don’t see where America is so worse off with a few less electronic stores, and eateries for our fat overweight arses. What a joke and a myth. We aren’t close to bread-lines or anything of that nature. Go to Haiti or Cuba to see real poverty. What a Joke and a lie. Thanks media for showing only the worst parts of a city to make your point. This is America not utopia! Also, comment #25 and 26 should make you think, as also will the incomparable cfbleachers at #4. I am 34 and black btw.
We celebrate today, but only for a moment, the sober realities of the real world and life will come, and as Obama did tell you today, it going to take hard work, did you notice when all of the brothers and sisters were clapping and gave him a standing ovation at that point? Yeah right! Also, you should have to take a questionnaire to vote. It does become a popularity contest. Clinton was the first one to go on MTV and Obama knows what an ipod is, super, but how effective has he led? How will he handle actually leading this nation, not one district, or an organization with a handful of people? I hope well, I wish him well and God Bless him.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:08 pm 82. David S:

TO: Chuck Pelto
RE: Stupid Evasions

Keep up the birth certificate nonsense. Only the wingnuts still believe you have a point. — David S

“Answer the question instead of trying to evade.”

You already stated that you don’t believe the evidence, and consider Obama duplicitous enough to use the CIA and FBI to cover this issue. The Supreme Court has ruled on this issue, and it is settled. I’m not evading – I’m moving on. You’ve been shown the evidence before, but evidence is not what you are interested in.

“P.S. WMDs?”

Yeah, nice propaganda there. If you have evidence other than speculation, let me know. Even Bush has made fun of the WMD issue. Saddam was not a threat and you know it. Even our own government now acknowledges that there was no basis in fact.

In his final word, the CIA’s top weapons inspector in Iraq said Monday that the hunt for weapons of mass destruction has “gone as far as feasible” and has found nothing, closing an investigation into the purported programs of Saddam Hussein that were used to justify the 2003 invasion.

“After more than 18 months, the WMD investigation and debriefing of the WMD-related detainees has been exhausted,” wrote Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq Survey Group, in an addendum to the final report he issued last fall.

“As matters now stand, the WMD investigation has gone as far as feasible.”

You can beat a dead horse, Chuck, but all that does is raise a stink.

Peace.

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:13 pm 83. goy:

David S: - You just got the argument backwards.
Get new glasses. Or try reading the entire comment. Maybe both. Better yet – just give up: you ignore evidence when it’s presented and you claim evidence without ever producing it.

The only thing “we” as Americans have overcome as of today is our solemn duty to use facts and common sense in electing our leaders. The inauguration of a totally inexperienced, unproven candidate – a marxist-socialist whose pastor has asked God to damn America, whose only political experience is getting elected, and who had to be nominated for President before his wife could admit pride in her own country – is a triumph of style over substance in every way that matters.

And Rick Moran knows that. He’s from Chicago too.

BTW, I don’t “blame” the media – they’re just useful idiot tools of the Left. Like you. I blame Americans for being willfully naive enough to buy into eight years of entrenched media lies, while ignoring their fraud, deception, bias and obvious agenda during last year’s campaign.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:17 pm 84. Chuck Pelto:

TO: David S
RE: And….

You can beat a dead horse, Chuck, but all that does is raise a stink. — David S

….a ’stink’ is exactly what US have got here.

I intend to make people aware of it.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The Truth will out....]

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:19 pm 85. Benny:

David S.

What have we overcome? The fact that we elected someone with no governing experience to lead this nation. That our presidential election is one large popularity contest?
I mean, I as a staunch republican/independent who typically abhors the race issue almost had to say “my blackness would not let me not vote for him”, but then I had to step back and say whoa, can this guy even take a punch?
If he didn’t know what Reverend Wright was saying, and this was his personal confidant not to mention that he was in church, doesn’t that sound pretty IGNORANT if he is that stupid. Either he wasn’t paying attention or is a LIAR. That’s the point of Rev Wright Obama koolaiders.
Obama does represent America, he is half white, and half black, ill informed on issues for the most part and lives in his own little world. That’s fine, but not good for us who live in the real world. The problem isn’t failing schools, it’s failing parents.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:27 pm 86. David S:

TO: Chuck Pelto
RE: Bush

….a ’stink’ is exactly what US have got here.

I intend to make people aware of it.

You go right ahead and do that, Chuck. Meanwhile, people who care about the USA will be working to repair eight years of damage to the Republic. You are welcome to assist if you are not too busy pissing on the parade.

Peace.

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:35 pm 87. ThinkingPerson:

The Civil Rights Movement is OFFICIALLY OVER! Someone please wheel Jesse Jackson et al into the Smithsonian and display them accordingly.

Note to “mohammed”…I see you are still using your prophet’s name? Hmmm…no virgins in heaven for you I guess.

Jan 20, 2009 - 2:36 pm 88. BERLET98:

THE INAUGURATION: PART II–Obamanians Rip Our President

Heaps of stories will be forthcoming about this inauguration, its aftermath and its repercussions.

News reports will be filled with hyperbole such as one WABC reporter’s reference to Obama’s inaugural speech as “stirring,” when in fact it was anything but stirring and was punctuated by a frequent pauses as the new president seemed waiting for applause, and none came.

The massive crowd missed its applause lines until the end when screams and howls filled the air but the day is far from over. The applause will continue and swell tonight at the ten inaugural balls being held around the capital as Obama supporters continue their revelry throughout the night.

Presidential inaugurations are somewhat like college commencements when speakers extol the graduates and extend fatuous encouragement for their futures before all head out to commence their careers, filled with infused courage and optimism.

One difference is that the swearing in of a new president and his first address as America’s leader, along with the attendant invocation, prayer, poetry and song, represent an opportunity to fill the American citizenry with hope and confidence as we embark with the president on the next four years.

Inauguration Day 2009 accomplished little of that. The invocation was worthy of the occasion but, following that, the prayer, poetry, song, and Obama’s speech were filled less with hope and good thoughts than they brimmed with insulting rhetoric, uninspiring verse, and failed pretensions to greatness.

Reverend Lowery’s line verbally spanking white people, almost half of whom had voted for a black man was the worst of the lot, although Alexander’s lame effort at an inspiring poem and Obama’s disappointing attempt to be a new Lincoln or JFK weren’t far behind. His speech was devoid of a single memorable phrase and he even fumbled his “oaf” of office, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s word.

Wall Street caught the word about the future by going into a freefall. The Dow lost 332 points, the worst Inaugural Day performance in history.

Behind the public scene, there were health scares with Ted Kennedy’s post-luncheon seizures and Robert Byrd’s premature exit. Earlier, Hillary Clinton and Senator John Cornyn had a heated, gesticulated “discussion” beneath a statue of George Washington, http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0109/Clinton_and_Cornyn_wrangle_in_Rotunda.html.

Not to be outdone in the inappropriate department,…

(Read the rest of this article at http://genelalor.com/.)

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:03 pm 89. bbb:

Sorry I can’t join your celebration. I still find inspiration in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. — “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” H is clearly an affirmative action President. He has lied about his association with unsavory characters, and run a campaign fueled by illegal contributions and based on nothing but slogans. Today’s celebrations — including your tribute — show that it really is about the color of his skin, not the content of his character. It’s not even about his heritage, which is foreign and has nothing to do with slavery. It’s literally about the skin color that he inherited from his Kenyan father.

I have hope that someday my grandchildren will live in a country where their Asian-American heritage will not be used to bar them from a university or a job. But that day seems further away than ever in my lifetime.

But it’s not the end of the world. It merely offends and saddens me.

BBB

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:08 pm 90. Jose:

Does anyone remember that BOH’s mother was white?

Didn’t think so.

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:09 pm 91. Hyman Roth:

Where are Obama’s grades from college?
Where is his Master’s thesis?
Where is his birth certificate?

And why do some people take such offense at asking such basic, reasonable questions of a candidate for the highest office in the land?

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:33 pm 92. Benny:

Does anyone remember the fact Obama lied blatently about Rev Wright, and that’s an easy one to dimiss if you are as savvy as he (Obama) is supposed to be. All he had to say was ‘of course I heard what he said, If you hang around enough black people you will here this type of one-sided rhetoric’. ‘But I vehemetly oppose it, and try to convince him that he is wrong or at the very least overboard and one-sided in his views.’
No Obama tried to say he had no knowledge of this.
That is a blatent lie, that is why it is an issue more than what he (Wright) said.
Half of what Wright says is comical at best if you know the actual history of situations or just listen to his blathering.
But a blatent lie or blatent(supposed)ignorance of this should have at least made you wonder Obama koolaiders about his fitness to do anything beyond reading a teleprompter or being a decent looking mixed dude. Like I said, he really didn’t go to that church if he didn’t know any of that, or he lied about it,is stupid, ignorant, or all of the above. And I don’t think he is the latter two!

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:35 pm 93. Cybergeezer:

Good to see the Democrat and Liberal comments; There could be educational value here! Sorry for being so nasty to Democrat/liberals. A good spanking creates character.

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:48 pm 94. Izerc:

Live from Indianapolis

The Honorables

http://www.izerc.com/?p=284

http://www.izerc.com

Jan 20, 2009 - 3:54 pm 95. David S:

@85

Benny,

David S.

What have we overcome?

We have overcome the GOP fear machine and dented the perception in the world that America is a hateful and backwards country.

Obama does represent America, he is half white, and half black, ill informed on issues for the most part and lives in his own little world.

I was with you until you tried to put Obama in a box of your own design. He lives in the same world that all of us live in. He is more informed than Bush or McCain ever were. Yes, he is of mixed race, but quite honestly, that had zero impact on my vote, and the votes of many others.

Just face it – the best man won, and America is better for having elected him.

Peace.

DS

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:23 pm 96. The Historian:

LESSONS OF THIS INAUGURATION
This one was unique in many ways.

http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-20-2009.html

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:35 pm 97. Meanwhile on wall street...:

…reality pees all over the coronation…

By November 2012, the American public, rudely sobered up by the cold shower of economic depression, collectively asks itself “WTF was I thinking???”, and elects the far brainier Sarah Palin to the presidency.

Barack Obama then starts swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity, and follows in the footsteps of a previous mentor and disaster…

Jan 20, 2009 - 4:48 pm 98. Roark:

REV WRIGHT part II:
Remember that part of the inauguration orgy when Rev. Lowery said in his racist filled benediction ,”We ask you to help us work for that day when…white will embrace what is right.”
—What a racist a**hole.

Jan 20, 2009 - 5:44 pm 99. Pat J:

Just face it – the best man won, and America is better for having elected him.
—————————
Right on. In a word, “wow.”

Jan 20, 2009 - 5:52 pm 100. Pat J:

I only wish Senator Paul Simon was still alive to see this day. God bless you Mr. Obama.

Jan 20, 2009 - 5:54 pm 101. DaveinPhoenix:

“I did not vote for Barack Obama. But I am proud of him, proud of who and what he represents.”

Proud of what he represents ? Look you idiot: The people who gave their lives to create this nation did so with the idea of a relatively small federal government. They gave their lives and bet the lives of their offspring on religious freedom (the next time I hear the words “religious right”, I’ll puke – treating people with spiritual values with contempt). They gave their lives for the wierd concept of freedom of the press (not the “Fairness Doctrine”). They gave their lives actively promoting low taxation, private enterprise, and rugged individuality – thinking that they could take better care of themselves than any government could.. They loved this country enough to die for it…as did many generations of Americans after them. They did not propose endless rules, regulations, and restrictions on weapons. They did not guarantee health care for all. They understood all too well what happens when an over-intrusive federal government gains control. The growth of all levels of government and it’s intrusion into our lives is staggering over the past 100 years through Democratic and Republican legislative and executive control.

So, you see, I’m not blaming only Democrats here: but, I’m also not the one glorifying the man who is now President. This man, from what I’ve heard come from his lips has views which are completely opposite of what this once great nation stood for. He’s not my president in my eyes. Excuse me while I go puke…..

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:01 pm 102. paul_unalaska:

mohammed says – ‘I am not a welfare dependent sad ass..’

Thanks for proving my point, m. You made it to the 8th word in your rebuttal before slinging insults, not points, again to your disagreement.

Were a ’sorry lot’, yet you read every comment. O.k., thanks for ‘clearing up’ who the sad individual(s) are.

BTW, I am not nor have I ever been a welfare recipient. Though, if you do your homework you’ll find most welfare recipients voted for Obama.

Heck, Obama’s illegal alien Auntie whose collected welfare for 7 + years tried to donate to his campaign. Ain’t that sweet? Also, GWB put a hold on INS apprehensions the week of November 4th, in the hopes of not deporting Obama’s Aunt. Putting the country at risk all in the name of P C love.

You know, the Aunt he spoke so well of in his book, yet didn’t know where she lived (in another section 8 housing area in Ohio nowadays) or aware of her legal status. It’s good to know our Commander-in-Chief ‘keeps up’ with such ‘family’ information which may harm his Presidency. for we know how high regard he has for his family. Riiiight..

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:28 pm 103. zanne:

#99 comment:Just face it – the best man won, and America is better for having elected him.
—————————
Right on. In a word, “wow.”….

Even better…ShamWow.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:37 pm 104. Another View:

President Obama has had the most smooth and transparent transition in modern history. Let them enjoy the pageantry.

The President has shown to be centrist in policy. Economic failure is a real possibility. We have no choice but to print money no matter who the President is. What is the alternative? collapse?

As far as electing democrats. Yes democrats were the party of poor Whites. And we all know there were plenty in the south. Eventually that party evolved. Now it includes poor Blacks.

Chuck;

All do respect. I am independent with conservative and liberal values. I gave you tons of info on the 2000 and 2004 elections, which you did as you wished. I sincerely ask you for info on your accusation.

Please. If your argument is he didn’t provide a document to your satisfaction that no other president has had to produce. Don’t bother.

Benny;
Who cares? People know there are angry Blacks. It’s justified. He wasn’t there that day. People like you didn’t vote for him. He was the best man for the job that was on the ticket. We just had the country on auto pilot. We need a pilot. What is your platform? Adults only please.

number 10 your on notice.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:45 pm 105. Another View:

Roark
Racist was U.S policy. Not a poem. The policies withheld people not words.

Jan 20, 2009 - 6:59 pm 106. Anonymous:

Rachel. How is your torts class going? I hope you are not going to be a trial lawyer. You have to think on your feet to do that. I do not expect everyone to agree with me – Life would be too dull! I do expect people to back up their arguments with facts and logic not fantasy like those here who go on about Obama’s citizenship or that he got where he is because of racism or that he a socialist/marxist. Please next they will tell me about the tooth fairy. I don’t expect Obama will please everyone and certainly not me all the time. He has inherited a mess and it going to take brains compromise and luck to pull us out of it.

Jan 20, 2009 - 7:26 pm 107. Anonymous:

Chuck P – Still beating the dead horse of Obama’s citizenship. Maybe you could get Roberts to agree that his oath was invalid because it did not follow word for word. Hey maybe Roberts set him up and he is really on your side! Good to see you are on top of the important issues of the day. Let see war, the economy, housing crisis, stock market in the toilet and Obama’s citizenship

Jan 20, 2009 - 7:30 pm 108. Xanthippe:

A terrific article. Captured many of my feelings as well, although I’m not as astounded that we have an African American president, because I have always expected one in my lifetime. I thought we’d have a female president this term, however.

(I didn’t vote for Obama either.)

I’m a little dismayed at the Obama Derangement Syndrome displayed in the comments. So sick of BDS, can’t people grow up?

Jan 20, 2009 - 8:14 pm 109. Dave:

I will just wait for the juvenile obsession with Obama’s race to go away so we can talk about what is important – his actions and his policies. In the end, that is what is important and when we put identity politics ahead of character and the direction this country is headed, we are in real trouble.

The party is over. Get ready for the hangover.

Jan 21, 2009 - 6:39 am 110. David S:

@97

By November 2012, the American public, rudely sobered up by the cold shower of economic depression, collectively asks itself “WTF was I thinking???”, and elects the far brainier Sarah Palin to the presidency

What is going to happen to Palin during the next four years to make her “far brainier”? Is this some sort of medical experiment you have in mind? Sounds intriguing.

DS

Jan 21, 2009 - 9:31 am 111. Benny:

Not to beat a dead horse but I will. Obama has never made the choices a governor has to make. Obama is lying to you and NO, there is no justification for a man of “god” in the pulpit to spew such hate and backwards thinking. Yes America isn’t always good, but it does no good to rehash things that aren’t even entirely accurate at that.
Obama is the man at the right place and right time. There are far more qualified black people to be president but none worked the Chicago political scene like Obama. There is no way a man with that thin a resume should be even close to being the COMMANDER in Chief. Someone or some group propped him up. He essentially wasn’t even a senator because he was running for president almost the entire time. This is laughable at best, and let’s see what he has when he has to make a legitimate decision. Adults only please? Get off the Kool-Aid my friends and look at reality. I’ll put it to you this way, Obama is a weak character; he does not embody a STRONG BLACK man. If anyone remembers, at first my people thought he “wasn’t black enough”, and then all of a sudden when he got some momentum everyone started drinking the Kool-Aid. I still don’t know why, my grandmother even thinks he looks weak. He is soft and weak. Ole George at least had the Cowboy mentality, this guy is a LAWYER, and what do they do? They talk and lie and skew things to a reasonable doubt, is that what we really need? To me he personifies what this country is becoming, a bunch of weak spined sissy talkers. Let’s give everyone a ribbon! Go to real clear politics or Yahoo and check out the 7 reasons for healthy skepticism article about Obama and get to reality my friends. Also, why isn’t Obama called the first bi-racial president, isn’t THAT how far we’ve come? Haven’t we gone past the point of one drop of black blood makes you black? We forgot that one eh?

Jan 21, 2009 - 10:30 am 112. James Foxx:

@Hymen

Love the personal attacks on my name, typical neo-con.

Has Joe the Plumber done ANYTHING to merit him as a journalist? Other than ask a question? I love how his “media bias” was that people did some investigative journalism and found out that he didn’t have a plumbers license, wouldn’t be taxed more under Obama’s plan, and wasn’t even in the running to buy the business.

Sounds like a great guy to be on Fox News and PJM though. You guys can keep him.

@97 HAHAHAHA “far brainier Sarah Palin”??? Oh man, that made my day, thank you.

Jan 21, 2009 - 10:43 am 113. Benny:

this and my previous comment refer to #104 and #95

Oh yeah, the perception in the entire world is that we are backwards and hateful? That is soooo ignorant I don’t know where to start. Do you ever watch anything besides MSNBC? Do you know who gives the most aid money in the world to foreign countries? What about all of the help we do in Africa for Hiv/Aids? Do you know anything about the European basketball leagues? How many people are still jumping fences and stowing away in boats to get here. I don’t see any of you doing that to get out of here. Perception is not always reality my friends, and if you don’t understand that you are lost. Just because someone perceives you a certain way, doesn’t make it so. With that being said, I do believe Obama makes us look better, but that doesn’t mean his ideas are. Ryan Leaf looked real good too, and look how he turned out. Matt Leinhart…the list goes on…the best looking and best talking isn’t always the best for the Job.

- See Kurt Warner – University of Northern Iowa – undrafted – 2 time league MVP, Superbowl MVP, going to his third Superbowl.

Jan 21, 2009 - 10:43 am 114. James Foxx:

@111
“there is no justification for a man of “god” in the pulpit to spew such hate and backwards thinking.”

You mean like when Christian churches say homosexuals should go to hell, can’t marry, etc, or that abortion clinics deserve to be bombed?

Jan 21, 2009 - 10:44 am 115. Benny:

@95 – one more time David S.

Yes David, If you understood what I was saying, is that most people in America are ill-informed, just like Obama who thinks that you can extend a hand to a clenched fist and not get socked in the face! You just might so you better be prepared to sock ‘em back! You also never speak to the fact that the man has governed nothing, the election is obviously a popularity contest and this is evidenced by the fact that to a man on the street, no-one knows exactly what Obama is all about because it changes with every group he is with. They just say ‘CHANGE’! What do you think will happen when everyone goes to college to get managerial degrees and Law degrees and such? Who will do the actual work? I work in construction and you need actual workers to get the actual work done. Not people talking about it. I am one of the talkers, but we need do-ers, has Obama even headed up a habitat for humanity project? Does he even know what calluses are on your hands? I wonder…I wonder…

Jan 21, 2009 - 10:57 am 116. Benny:

#114

Pretty much.
But abortion, come on, you ARE killing babies (fetuses). Not that I don’t think you should have the choice in the end. But you probably support Hamas with that line.
Also, churches don’t say that gays should go to hell, the bible says they will go to hell, but I don’t really believe that.
The bible says nothing about god damming America though!
Also, you know that Obama has thin experience, and there are far more “qualified” people, whatever that really means…we’ll see what he does though. He still looks weak to me, what’s the ole’ adage, speak softly but carry a BIG stick!

Jan 21, 2009 - 11:05 am 117. Benny:

@114

Also, your comment is typical Lawyer type stuff, pull one line (out of context at that) and disregard the rest. Nice.
I also am not sure which Christian Churches supported or encouraged BOMBINGS of clinics (like some overzealous mosques/Muslim leaders who think this is a jihad) that isn’t in the bible I don’t think, but if one were to equate it to murder, than you can see where they are coming from (kinda like the overzealous Muslims)

Obama, first bi-racial president! That is how far we’ve come!

Come to think of it, if Obama was truly being genuine and progressive, he would make a point that he is actually bi-racial, not just claim black!

Jan 21, 2009 - 11:17 am 118. R. Guest:

If Obama does write a new, post-racial chapter for America, he will have done more for America than any Democratic president in generations. But he also will have cut the knot holding much of the left together. What’s a fella to do?

Jan 21, 2009 - 1:26 pm 119. paul_unalaska:

Benny, IMO, J C Watts would have been a far better choice for President. A black Republican from Oklahoma (1st elected from a Southern state in over 120 years), college football athlete from OU Sooners and later played in the Canadian football league.

After football he was a Baptist youth Minister.

He’s the 1st black Congressman not to join the Congressional Black Caucus.

He’d said these words at the ‘96 RNC, “You see character does count. For too long we have gotten by in a society that says the only thing right is to get by and the only thing wrong is to get caught. Character is doing what’s right when nobody is looking.”

I believe I remember him most for his comment on the Hannity & Colmes program calling out black Democrats and Civil Rights leaders. Some had referred to Watts as an ‘Uncle Tom.’ Watts’ response:

“And I said well, they deserve to have that view. But I have my thoughts. And I think they’re race-hustling poverty pimps.”

He’d written the book, ‘What Color is a Conservative: My Life and My Politics

His company today works with clients on strategies for business development, communications and public affairs.

I do hope he considers 2012 to be an option.

Jan 21, 2009 - 1:48 pm 120. David S:

@115. Benny:

I understand what you are trying to say, but you are mostly wrong. Educated people voted for Obama. Obama has been in government for many years. People were scared of McCain.

There are plenty of people left unemployed by the Bush economy who will be happy to do the actual work you speak of.

Obama is a far more competent and capable person than McCain, and most Americans are on board with his program.

You might want to study the reasons that you ‘wonder’ so much. Perhaps a failure on your part?

Peace.

DS

Jan 21, 2009 - 3:05 pm 121. goy:

- Obama is a far more competent and capable person than McCain, …

I don’t believe I’ve seen a more vacuous, idiotic and reality-challenged assertion ever posted at this site.

Agree or disagree with McCain’s politics, the man has been nothing but exceedingly effective in every facet of his long and very full life. He has a record of competence stretching back long before you were born, Dave.

Looking at the actual record, Obama’s only “competence” so far has been at reading a teleprompter and getting elected to the next-higher political position. In fact, in his one and only executive experience prior to running for President he proved incompetent. As chair of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, he accomplished exactly nothing in the way of improving Chicago education after pissing away tens of millions of dollars – as determined by the CAC’s own Final Report.

You really do need to find a new, more reliable source for your “facts”, Dave.

Or just stopping making them up as you go. That’d be a start.

Jan 22, 2009 - 10:39 am 122. Cybergeezer:

I take back what I said about our new President. He’s not incompetent. He’s juvenile and adolescent. After this mornings news conference, I’m convinced. He’s an absolute joke. We The People are screwed. And this includes you pathetic Obama supporters.

Jan 22, 2009 - 2:01 pm 123. David S:

@121

goy,

McCain has a history of outrageous conduct, he placed near the very bottom of his US Navy Academy class, and was coddled into a career as a pilot because of his father. He is the only known “reverse ace” in the history of the US Air Force, having destroyed five US airplanes (he got shot down in the 6th).

“He had no real ability and was clearly out of his element in an airplane, and way over his head even as a junior naval officer.”

“John McCain,” says another Navy pilot and acquaintance of that era, “was the kind of guy you wanted to room with — not fly with. He was reckless, and that’s critical when you start thinking about who’s going to be the president,” The old pilot laughs, and then continues: “But the Navy accident rate was cut in half the day John McCain was shot down.”

McCain picked Sarah Palin as a running mate, for crying out loud. He doesn’t even know how to use the internet. How could McCain be considered competent and capable as a President in the 21st century?

You do remember the Keating 5, don’t you?

McCain does not understand the modern world. He is a leftover poster boy for Vietnam, and safer in the Senate, where his hotheaded temper can be safely contained by cloture.

I could go on…

By all accounts Obama is an intelligent and capable student and teacher of law, who specifically studied the Constitution. His knowledge and expertise are directly applicable to the task at hand.

Your analysis of the CAC report is also quite one-sided. It appears that there was also some success:

…Breakthrough Schools received special financial and professional support from the Challenge between 1999 and 2001. At the same time, the Challenge began withdrawing funding from the remainder of Annenberg schools.

The findings indicate that Breakthrough Schools began to develop in ways that distinguished them from other Annenberg schools.

But that doesn’t fit your argument very well.

Obama has at least some executive leadership experience that McCain will never have – he has run a winning campaign for President, and serves as the President of the USA. That alone is strong evidence that he is more capable. Both men set the same task ahead of themselves – one achieved his aim, and the other did not.

Peace.

DS

Jan 22, 2009 - 5:28 pm 124. David S:

@123

oops.. US Navy, not Air Force. You know what I meant. In a rush.

Out.

DS

Jan 22, 2009 - 5:30 pm 125. goy:

Dave, cherry-picking from McCain’s decades of service to this country doesn’t make your case, I’m sorry to tell you. And your flat ignorance regarding his use of the Internet is as revealing as your web site’s links to al Jazeera and the radical conspiracy theory site What Really Happened… not to mention your web site’s handy resources on Socialism. All extremely revealing.

McCain’s limited dexterity resulting from the numerous injuries he received during years as a POW make it difficult if not impossible for him to manage a keyboard, which is why he has others typing for him. But of course you prefer to mindlessly parrot the erroneous, liberal sludge you’ve been trained to spew. Very classy of you to make fun of a combat veteran’s injuries. FDR couldn’t walk, did that make him incompetent? Fecking juvenile.

If you had taken a moment to listen to McCain’s speech during the convention, you would know that he recognizes how outdated our current governmental systems are. That’s part of why he’d have been far more competent as a President in the 21st Century than someone who is lame enough to select a Treasury Sec’y who “forgot” *cough* to pay his taxes (and then blamed it on his computer software, LOL!!!). Poor, uninformed you.

Choosing Sarah Palin was just about the only thing McCain did right in his campaign, unfortunately. You disagree, obviously, because you’ve allowed yourself to be suckered into the entrenched media propaganda that was used to attack and demonize her. You didn’t even realize you were being duped. Again – poor you. In terms of governing experience, she’s far more qualified than Obama for a job as President of the United States.

Yeah, I remember the manufactured, media-sensationalized controversy over the Keating Five. How old were you then? Twelve? Fifteen? What do you really remember? Nothing, I’m sure. You’ve just learned to recite the phrase whenever the topic of John McCain comes up.

I remember that the independent counsel in the case saw no reason for McCain or John Glenn to be included in any hearings. They weren’t excused from the hearings for political reasons, however: the remaining three were all Democrats, and it would have turned into a partisan issue, so McCain was kept on the hook for no reason.

I remember that the outcome of the hearings was that McCain was cleared of all charges, like Glenn, which corroborated the independent counsel’s original recommendation.

I remember that McCain testified against Keating.

I also remember that the primary (only?) political culprit in the affair – DeConcini – was later appointed to the Board of (wait for it…) Freddie Mac by… (wait… wait…) none other than Bill Clinton, when he was working on his “legacy” of providing “affordable housing” – that would later help cause the complete collapse of the credit banking sector.

Yeah, I remember the Keating Five. You obviously don’t.

In terms of comparisons, of course we have absolutely no idea where in his class BHO graduated since he is too ashamed of his university record to allow anyone to see it. In fact, for all we know, he was simply handed his diploma through affirmative action without doing any actual work at all.

And again, cherry-picking from the CAC’s report – with irrelevant statements that make NO CLAIM that education was improved – does not help make your case. The CAC’s final report stated quite unequivocally that:

The Challenge’s “bottom line” was improving student achievement and other social and psychological outcomes. Our research indicates that student outcomes in Annenberg schools were much like those in demographically similar non-Annenberg schools and across the Chicago school system as a whole, indicating that among the schools it supported, the Challenge had little impact on student outcomes.

This was after blowing through some $100 Million in funding. Competence? Not.

But this is the best of all:

…he has run a winning campaign for President, and serves as the President of the USA.

Did you sleep through your logic classes when you were studying philosophy? Too stoned to remember? Too many losing head-butt contests with trees while snowboarding? Surely you dimly recall the concept of a circular argument, yes? Spelling it out for you – if you think you can point to One Day’s experience serving as POTUS to justify your statement, you have much, much larger problems than trying to find a paying bassist gig.

Even without taking the flagrant and overwhelming bias of the media into account, and even ignoring the unbelievably “coincidental” timing of the credit crisis during the campaign – both of which virtually handed the election to Obama after Sarah Palin stole his media spotlight and he started trending downward in the polls – the fact that you think “getting elected” qualifies one to act as the Chief Executive of the federal government of the United States is simply beyond the pale.

There is little to be said to that other than God help the USA if a significant number of people believe – as you apparently do – that winning a rigged popularity contest qualifies one to lead a country of over 300 million people.

Jan 22, 2009 - 7:35 pm 126. goy:

p.s. Dave, by the way, that broken link on your site at /archive/socialism.html – “Why you should become a socialist.” – is here. Always happy to help.

Google is your friend, bud.

Politics aside, through – beautiful string bass! Can’t say I’ve ever seen one with a cutout before. Wish I could find a ‘cello like that.

Jan 23, 2009 - 8:10 am 127. WestGuard:

Wow! I’m not sure whether to laugh hysterically, or throw a shoe at my monitor!
After reading this article I had to check the address bar to make sure I wasn’t hijacked over to some lib propaganda site.

To compare the travesty of the racist election of a skinny, half white guy from Hawaii, to the single greatest event in the history of mankind in 1969, is ridiculously absurd, and annoying besides. Wow!

Jan 23, 2009 - 8:25 am 128. David S:

@125

goy,

If you care to share what part of McCain’s service to this country demonstrates his competence or capability, be my guest.

McCain describes himself as “illiterate” when it comes to computers. Blaming his physical handicap for his complete ignorance of computers and the internet is just a cop-out.

I don’t doubt that McCain recognizes that our government is in need of reform – ‘Change’ was the theme of this election long before he jumped on the bandwagon. However, you don’t offer even one example of a reform that he planned to make that would demonstrate his competence. You may believe that Sarah Palin was an asset to McCain’s campaign, but she made it impossible for him to win over many independent voters. The ticket never recovered from the decision to make her VP. Once Sarah was on board, I stopped worrying about the election. Obama could never lose to these two.

Over sixty percent of voters said that she [Palin] was manifestly unqualified — that obviously includes many Republicans. Other polls have shown Palin was the most cited reason for voting against McCain by voters. While she clearly did bring out the hardcore faithful, she also clearly scared off the independents and moderates are that were essential for a win.

Yeah, I remember the manufactured, media-sensationalized controversy over the Keating Five. How old were you then? Twelve? Fifteen? What do you really remember? Nothing, I’m sure.

Your perspective on the Keating 5 is not the only one, and I don’t see the need to go into much depth here. McCain was clearly out of line:

Those who survive will be the sociopaths who can tell a lie with the most sincere, straight face. You [McCain] are especially adept at this.

While many Americans are scrambling trying to line up refinancing mortgage to stay in their homes, John McCain is busy taking campaign donations from the law firm of convicted felon Charles Keating [for the 2008 race]

In terms of comparisons, of course we have absolutely no idea where in his class BHO graduated since he is too ashamed of his university record to allow anyone to see it. In fact, for all we know, he was simply handed his diploma through affirmative action without doing any actual work at all.

Actually, given his selection as editor of Harvard Law Review, we can safely conclude that Obama was not only a top performer, but also had the respect of his peers. You can’t deny that McCain was at the bottom of his class – not really a ringing endorsement of competence or capability.

I’m not going to keep going back and forth on the CAC report – it is only one example of a project Obama was involved with, and you refuse to even acknowledge that the executive summary concluded there were significant improvements in some schools. Intellectual dishonesty on your part does not indicate a failure on mine.

But this is the best of all:

…he has run a winning campaign for President, and serves as the President of the USA.

I have to agree, this is the best of all.

Did you sleep through your logic classes when you were studying philosophy? Too stoned to remember? Too many losing head-butt contests with trees while snowboarding? Surely you dimly recall the concept of a circular argument, yes? Spelling it out for you – if you think you can point to One Day’s experience serving as POTUS to justify your statement, you have much, much larger problems than trying to find a paying bassist gig.

Actually, I added the part about serving as POTUS, because I knew you would not address Obama’s masterfully executed campaign. McCain showed his incompetence by running a campaign of which you yourself said:

“Choosing Sarah Palin was just about the only thing McCain did right in his campaign”

Someone who can’t even run a campaign for the office competently certainly can’t conduct the business of the people with competence.

the fact that you think “getting elected” qualifies one to act as the Chief Executive of the federal government of the United States is simply beyond the pale.

Generally getting elected is a prerequisite. Although that requirement was waived for Bush. The fact is there is no job that can adequately prepare a person to be POTUS except being POTUS.

There is little to be said to that other than God help the USA if a significant number of people believe – as you apparently do – that winning a rigged popularity contest qualifies one to lead a country of over 300 million people.

I’m just extremely happy that we had an election that wasn’t completely rigged, where it was abundantly clear that the correct person won. Serious problems in 2000 and 2004 caused many Americans to doubt the electoral systems of our country. Faith in democracy has been at least partly restored. God has nothing to do with it.

Peace.

DS

Jan 23, 2009 - 10:50 am 129. goy:

Dave, you can mindlessly cherry-pick at McCain’s long record of accomplishments using irrelevant theses all you like. The fact is that he’s been an effective and competent legislator for decades. And I seriously doubt you’d take kindly to being laughed at for not being able to play the bass if you didn’t have the physical dexterity to do so. Your attitude in that regard is transparently juvenile.

You haven’t offered any new revelations in the Keating Five area. The fact remains: McCain was cleared of any wrongdoing in a very contentious and politically-motivated scandal that would have burned him if there had been anything at all to the charges. There wasn’t.

On Sarah Palin, you have your facts completely backward. And you obviously weren’t paying very close attention to the race. BHO’s lead fell off and his numbers trended down from the time Palin’s selection was announced until the credit crisis miraculously saved his “masterful” campaign. McCain’s primary loss was not among independents, but among conservatives who refused to go out and vote for him when he abandoned conservative principles, jumping on the bailout bandwagon following the well-orchestrated financial meltdown. Palin had an unprecedented 91% favorable rating among Republican voters. And of course she was cited by the utterly ignorant electorate as their “reason” for not supporting McCain: the entrenched media spared no expense at demonizing her at every opportunity. So much for your comprehension of the election.

The facts about BHO are also as originally stated:

- BHO has accomplished nothing throughout his short political career other than getting elected to office.

- He has proved incompetent in the one and only leadership position he’s ever held – which you’ve now turned to lying about, i.e., the CAC’s executive summary stated exactly as I quoted. Go read it for yourself. Tens of millions of dollars were spent. No improvement in education was achieved, and the quotes you offered do not claim as much – only that some schools in the program had different outcomes (i.e., ‘distinguished themselves’) from others.

- He can’t be relied upon to form a competent thought without a teleprompter or a ghost writer.

- Given his HLR selection, we can only safely assume he had connections, since there is absolutely NO public record available showing how badly or how well he did in school – or that he actually even ever attended a single class, for that matter.

- He can’t face the press without adequate preparation, as he proved yesterday in spades.

On BHO’s campaign ’skillz’, he openly allowed fraudulent donations – no one knows how many millions, or from what countries. He also openly lied about taking public funding – a lie on which the media gave him a total pass. The millions of dollars he gathered as a result formed the basis of his “magnificent” campaign, which was nothing short of buying the election, with the giddy assistance of the entrenched, leftist media whose propaganda you’ve fallen victim to.

Oh, and nice try at covering up for your circular argument error. Didn’t wash though. Getting elected doesn’t qualify as competence or capability. Especially when one buys the victory instead of earning it. Nice that you deflected to Bush though, who BHO wasn’t running against.

After the numerous recounts and verifications that Bush handily won the 2000 Election – mostly because Gore couldn’t even carry his own home state – your assertion that Bush “wasn’t elected” demonstrates how unbelievably obtuse you are. As I’ve noted elsewhere, you should set about requesting a refund for any tuition you may have paid at university. They didn’t teach you anything.

Jan 23, 2009 - 12:09 pm 130. David S:

@129

goy,

Dave, you can mindlessly cherry-pick at McCain’s long record of accomplishments using irrelevant theses all you like. The fact is that he’s been an effective and competent legislator for decades. And I seriously doubt you’d take kindly to being laughed at for not being able to play the bass if you didn’t have the physical dexterity to do so. Your attitude in that regard is transparently juvenile.

Again, just give one example demonstrating his competence and capability. It can’t be that difficult, can it? And your counter-example is quite poor. Plenty of people with more severe problems than McCain are able to use a computer effectively.

You haven’t offered any new revelations in the Keating Five area. The fact remains: McCain was cleared of any wrongdoing in a very contentious and politically-motivated scandal that would have burned him if there had been anything at all to the charges. There wasn’t.

Just because he didn’t go to jail, doesn’t mean he demonstrated competence and capability. He demonstrated the opposite. He was only cleared of criminal wrongdoing. He was still wrong.

On Sarah Palin, you have your facts completely backward. And you obviously weren’t paying very close attention to the race. BHO’s lead fell off and his numbers trended down from the time Palin’s selection was announced until the credit crisis miraculously saved his “masterful” campaign. McCain’s primary loss was not among independents, but among conservatives who refused to go out and vote for him when he abandoned conservative principles, jumping on the bailout bandwagon following the well-orchestrated financial meltdown. Palin had an unprecedented 91% favorable rating among Republican voters. And of course she was cited by the utterly ignorant electorate as their “reason” for not supporting McCain: the entrenched media spared no expense at demonizing her at every opportunity. So much for your comprehension of the election.

The GOP enjoyed the usual post-convention bounce in the polls, and you fail to refute the citation showing that Palin sunk McCain’s campaign. Her popularity amongst GOP die hards is not in question here.

The facts about BHO are also as originally stated:

- BHO has accomplished nothing throughout his short political career other than getting elected to office.

- He has proved incompetent in the one and only leadership position he’s ever held – which you’ve now turned to lying about, i.e., the CAC’s executive summary stated exactly as I quoted. Go read it for yourself. Tens of millions of dollars were spent. No improvement in education was achieved, and the quotes you offered do not claim as much – only that some schools in the program had different outcomes (i.e., ‘distinguished themselves’) from others.

- He can’t be relied upon to form a competent thought without a teleprompter or a ghost writer.

- Given his HLR selection, we can only safely assume he had connections, since there is absolutely NO public record available showing how badly or how well he did in school – or that he actually even ever attended a single class, for that matter.

- He can’t face the press without adequate preparation, as he proved yesterday in spades.

These are matters of opinion. I think we need to agree to disagree, because we could go back and forth on Obama forever. You will continue to make unfounded statements without citing references, or refuting mine.

On BHO’s campaign ’skillz’, he openly allowed fraudulent donations – no one knows how many millions, or from what countries. He also openly lied about taking public funding – a lie on which the media gave him a total pass. The millions of dollars he gathered as a result formed the basis of his “magnificent” campaign, which was nothing short of buying the election, with the giddy assistance of the entrenched, leftist media whose propaganda you’ve fallen victim to.

Obama won the election fair and square. All your complaints are sour grapes. Go ahead and blame the media, blame the donors, but please, don’t consider that he might have been the best candidate on the ticket.

Oh, and nice try at covering up for your circular argument error. Didn’t wash though. Getting elected doesn’t qualify as competence or capability. Especially when one buys the victory instead of earning it. Nice that you deflected to Bush though, who BHO wasn’t running against.

Sorry if my humor is lost on you. I find it odd that you believe a massive, nationwide victory implies “buying” the election, and says nothing about the competence or capabilities of the winner. Why do you think we have elections? Why do we have primaries?

After the numerous recounts and verifications that Bush handily won the 2000 Election – mostly because Gore couldn’t even carry his own home state – your assertion that Bush “wasn’t elected” demonstrates how unbelievably obtuse you are. As I’ve noted elsewhere, you should set about requesting a refund for any tuition you may have paid at university. They didn’t teach you anything.

If you really believe that Bush won fairly in 2000, I fear we will not be able to reach common ground here.

In the aftermath of the election, the first independent recount was conducted by The Miami Herald and USA Today. The Commission found that if all votes where the intent of the voter was clear were counted, Gore would have won, using any consistent standard for ‘clear intent of the voter.’

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000

Bush was appointed by SCOTUS, who issued an unprecedented opinion which disenfranchised tens of thousands of citizens.

Just face it, goy:

It is a great day in the history of America. Sour grapes can’t change that.

Rejoice!

DS

Jan 23, 2009 - 12:57 pm 131. goy:

Dave, you obviously think you’re debating here. But you fail to recognize that you’re engaging in what’s formally known as a “pissing contest”. I present facts, you ignore them and deflect to other topics. The bottom line is that you are supporting a fraud and a liar who purchased the election and who has not one single accomplishment to his credit that qualifies him to act as Executive of the U.S. federal government. Nothing you have posted – or could post – can change that.

All of the original points hold. And citing Wikipedia was your choice – a fatal one, intellectually. And as I’m sure you’ve noticed in other responses to your drivel, you’re not likely to reach common ground with anyone who can actually think for themselves. Enjoy your fantasies.

Jan 23, 2009 - 1:24 pm 132. David S:

@131

goy,

I have no illusions about what we have been up to here. I know it’s mostly a pissing contest, but there is a thread of debate running here as well. You have misidentified the bottom line, however.

You have finally confirmed the basic fact I was in pursuit of:

Nothing you have posted – or could post – can change that.

Here we have explicit confirmation from you that you are not interested in evidence that contradicts your point of view. That explains why you have ignored the evidence provided, and continued to insist on willfully misrepresenting the truth.

Citing wikipedia was a matter of convenience, not a fatal error. If you are not interested in the evidence, what does it matter anyway? Now I can move on, secure in the knowledge that you have no interest in any evidence that contradicts your myopic worldview.

I do enjoy my fantasies, but I enjoy reality even more.

You may say I’m a dreamer
but I’m not the only one
perhaps someday you will join us?

(apologies to John Lennon)

Peace.

DS

Jan 23, 2009 - 1:59 pm 133. Cybergeezer:

132. David S:
You sorry fool. You do engage a good argument, but Barack was a Lecturer, not a teacher or professor.
(To my secretary: Call the next victim, please.)

Jan 23, 2009 - 3:45 pm 134. David S:

@133

Cybergeezer,

You play the fool much better than I. Barack was a professor, according to the only authority that counts – the school that hired him. The formal titles Lecturer and Senior Lecturer are essentially equivalent to adjunct professor. If you think his status as a Lecturer means he was not teaching, you, my friend, are indeed a sorry fool.

They offered him a full-time tenure track position, but as you may have noticed, he had bigger things in mind.

Peace.

DS

http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html

PS – Next time, please come with your own talking points. Constant regurgitation can cause damage to your esophagus.

Jan 23, 2009 - 4:09 pm 135. Cybergeezer:

134. David S:
Are you building your resume for the New York Times? You are writing history as accurately as the main stream media. Keep yourself convinced, pal.

Jan 24, 2009 - 6:18 am 136. David S:

@135

Cg,

It isn’t my fault that you don’t actually source your assertions or provide factual support. I’m happy to be convinced – but you have to offer evidence.

Peace.

DS

Jan 24, 2009 - 8:34 am

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