George Will has been arguing for months now that Obama is ubiquitous and that this hurts Obama. I’m not sure that it does hurt him, in a sense it is his style, and he’s well suited to it as he comes across well in such situations unlike our previous president.

I do think that there have been serious missteps in the effort to reform health care. I think that Obama learned the wrong lesson from Hilary-care. It seems that he took to heart the idea that the the White House shouldn’t lead with a well defined proposal, which meant giving the reins to Nancy Pelosi. While Obama is currently seen as polarizing, Pelosi is just plain unpopular. He squandered momentum and his own political capital. This was a mistake. He’s playing catch-up now.

If you want to see how a President should act, watch Obama – he does things right. Yes, he can relate to people on talk shows and such, make jokes and all that, but he always does it in a classy way. I disagree that he demeans the office. In the health car debates, when things got heated at town meetings, he didn’t over react, but simply stated that he wanted a robust discussion. He has a bit of Teflon about him as Reagan did. Reagan also was personable, but also in a classy way.

Thing is about this health care – he sees that something must be done, that the insurance, medical, pharmaceutical, industrial complex has had its day and now some rationalization of the situation must occur, but he believes this to be a democratic process in which all voices should be heard. Yes, he might have forced things through by taking a stronger leadership role in the process, but I think he wants a broader base.

His style is to at least give the impressing that he is taking things under advisement, then he finally seems to weigh the situation, whether it be health care, Iraq or Afghanistan, and provide a course of action. None of the shoot from the hip cowboy stuff seen in the past.

I predict he will turn out to be one of our greatest Presidents, although some rough times are ahead.

I had no idea what you meant by “Obama TV”–I even googled it. Sorry!

RE: Overexposure/saturation
I DO worry about that. Those of us who like Obama probably don’t mind it much (although if we got the idea that ALL he was doing was going from TV show to TV show, maybe we would worry that he is not serious about working). But if I DIDN”T like him, I would probably find it grating. I know because I just hated to hear GWBs’ voice and was pretty happy he took as many vacations as he did.

That said, I think it is pretty clear that Obama is, indeed, working. The US should be gratified that he is doing his job. It is that very fact that has people who don’t agree with him politically worried–they wish he would not be doing quite so much.

The Official appearances that have gotten under people’s skin, the prime time press conferences, the 5 Sunday morning show interviews, etc., have really puzzled me. While these don’t necessarily make great TV, it is the president submitting himself to review. It was the opposite of that–the unwillingness to appear before unvetted audiences or take questions–that really bothered me with GWB.

RE: Dignity
I am a very casual person, so his being on talk shows (occasionally) does not bother me. I think that the idea of an office (a room? a title? a job?) having dignity is a little silly. It is the person doing that job that has dignity or not. While Obama is pretty casual, I also think he is generally acting appropriately. He is one of us, not royalty–why pretend to be hovering up above?

Some good points here – yes, judgment of Obama’s Presidency will have to wait, and when people like Cheney prefer Rush Linbaugh over the Republican Party moving toward a more moderate position (Colin Powell’s idea), and then is widely believed to be the leader of Republican views, it is a sad day.

This mixing of politics and religion is also bothersome – it all has a lot to do with the dissemination of information these days, the misuse of internet and ordinary TV to libel people or distort events. Really dangerous, I should think.

As MCQ says, he’s the president of all Americans, not just the ones who participate in intellectual media, including respectable blogs. He’s the president of the 19yo living in his mom’s basement playing Xbox all day.

In fact, I’d feel better if he appeared in a golf shirt and jorts a little more often.

Yes, he can relate to people on talk shows and such, make jokes and all that, but he always does it in a classy way.

Well, “always” unless you count that “Special Olympics” joke…

annegb:

I can understand how you might get your feathers a bit ruffled at the thought of the President appearing on a late-night comedy show. However, I think Obama was actually pretty successful at conveying his core ideas as it relates to health care during his appearance on Letterman.

Did you watch the Letterman appearance? What did you think?

It’s kind of too bad GWB didn’t play well publicly – from all reports, in small-group, in-person settings, he’s really, really funny, personable, and gets his point across. Giving a speech, not so much.

He was interviewed here in Dallas this week by a local radio host and came off as someone funny and humble.

Well, I do read the NY Times—on the internet.

Funny how #15 and #18 can make roughly the same point, yet one comes off calm, reasonable, believable, and thought-provoking, while the other comes off rabid, fanatical, bitter, and unreliable.

It’s official—I’m senile! I don’t remember posting this. I was actually going to post something about it today! Dang–don’t tell Bill, I’m making him be tested for Alzheimer’s.

ARJ, I don’t like Nancy Pelosi. I don’t really know much about her, but I don’t like her stuck-up looks. She looks (literally) down her nose a lot. Something about her just pisses me off. I don’t associate her that much with the president, though.

Ardis, good point. I really don’t have that strong of an opinion either way. And as far as thousand word reports, uh…pretty much never. Not since I read that Playboy article by Jack Anderson that convinced me to vote for McGovern.

McCoy, I don’t think he’s all that great. I don’t think he’s all that terrible. I think he’s—gasp!—mediocre. And I don’t think Powell is moderate. I think he’s spineless. I base this on a personal experience I had with him.

McQ; The View is just as dignified as Letterman. I don’t think he’s trying to get his message out–to inform—as much as he’s trying to be liked again. If he wanted to reach the most Americans with his information, he should go on American Idol. Pick the one most people watch. Like Mac says, he’s trying to be a pop icon.

Which, on a serious note, I’m not sure he’s trying to be iconic any more than any other president did. He IS an icon, not only because he’s president, but he represents the hopes of all the black children in America. I heard Rush Limbaugh say something I thought was despicable the other day referring to Martha’s Vineyard as a “black enclave” sarcastically. He’s black, and I don’t think we should pretend we don’t notice, nor do I think we should mock him for it.

He can be mediocre, he can make a lot of mistakes. He’s paving the way for the minorities of America and that I celebrate. I long for the day when Pat Schroeder is elected president.

Jettboy, my *point* is that two people can do the same thing — go on late night television, say, or do a walk-about as a man of the people — and still come off as very, very different. It isn’t the activity so much as it is the man that counts in the end.

It isn’t the activity so much as it is the man that counts in the end.

As a thought experiment, I wonder how I would react if:

GWB told me to get a life.
Obama told me to get a life.
Ardis told me to get a life.

Some of the problems with Bush had to do with Cheney.

Now, it seems we are in a crucial point in history, if I read things right, and I’ve been through a lot of history. I’m hoping Obama is the man for the job at this particular juncture. He is very bright, takes advisement well, seemingly, and has a unflappable quality which he well needs right now.

Thinking last night about another president, Gordon Hinckley, bright, witty, just the right person for his time and place. He could be a very funny guy, but it didn’t demean him in the least.

Comparing Obama to Gordon B.? Horrors you might say, but each was leading during a watershed period and doing his damnedest to get it right.

Wow, don’t know where this came from!!!

Interesting though, now that you mention it, what a difference Obama has made in world relations and how other view us. I think Gordon B. had the same effect as to how outsiders view the LDS Church.

But in the latter case, I believe that Hinckley’s bequest will be carried forth and hopefully Obama’s will to.

Actually, Peter, I know you have a deep and pathological crush on me — how else to account for the way you stalk me from blog to blog, responding to me with cutting comments that have absolutely nothing to do with the post? It’s the cyber equivalent of the playground bully pulling the little girl’s pigtails, isn’t it?

I don’t recall ever having told you to get a life. I don’t care whether or not you have a life.

Annegb,

there actually is a historically black enclave on Matha’s Vineyard. Not to defend Rush who I think is terrible.

Actually, Peter, I know you have a deep and pathological crush on me — how else to account for the way you stalk me from blog to blog, responding to me with cutting comments that have absolutely nothing to do with the post? It’s the cyber equivalent of the playground bully pulling the little girl’s pigtails, isn’t it?

Considering that Ardis did the same thing to me for a while, even to the point that I remain banned at blogs which have long since disowned her for bad behavior, I certainly hope her armchair psychoanalysis is wrong. The very thought that such things would motivate her makes me want to throw up.

crickets…

Times and Seasons, Ardis. Aside from one or two reposts there from your personal blog, you’ve been quite noticeably absent there. It smells much nicer, in fact.

But since you’re so big on honesty, Ardis, why not set the example, and simply admit that your nasty rants against me started precisely when I came out of the closet and resigned my LDS membership? Some people would even read something into that (cough).

Hunter, okay this is the deal. My memory’s shaky, but when my son died, a bunch of parents across the country formed a group, an organization, called Until We Have Answers, to lobby for reform in the way the military investigates deaths ruled to be self inflicted. We all wanted more answers, as well, in our childrens’ deaths. You would just die if you saw the level of incompetency and dishonesty in that particular subject–it would just blow your mind, some of the cases. Anyway, some senators and some military people just hated our guts. We did a letter writing campaign and reached out big time to the media. Some of our group was on 60 minutes, 20-20 did a story on it, a reporter on US News championed our cause as well.

I fought with the NCIS (I will not watch that show, ever) and ultimately reached a point of reconciliation with them. Long story. House and Senate hearings were held, laws were passed, investigation after investigation—nothing changed. The only case the government ever admitted fault in was mine, and that was because I was very open from the beginning that I believed my son had committed suicide. They had nothing to lose by admitting their mistakes there.

But, sorry to wax poetic, like I said, many members of the military, high up guys, just hated us. We were a burr in their side—only that, really, like I said, because you just can’t budge the military…very powerful. We got nasty letters from generals, etc., they treated our group abominably and with a considerable lack of dignity (sort of like Nick and Peter have treated Ardis, just not gentlemen). Others, though, were on our side. The lawyer who headed the team that investigated Tailhook was totally on my side and gave me all kinds of advice and took me out to the best Asian food I’ve ever had in my life but was too tired to enjoy.

Colin Powell refused to take a stand. He wrote sympathetic letters which had no opinion whatsoever. I despise him for that. I blistered him and got a sympathy card in response. I felt that was spineless of him and have watched him ever since and that’s how he rolls. IF he ever took a strong stand on anything, I’d have looked twice at him as a presidential candidate. So much to offer. But gutless. I would have respected him so much more if he’s just written me a nasty letter (Boy, did I get a from-the-heart nasty letter from the head of the NCIS!) telling me I was crazy. Frankly, I think his lukewarm response to us stemmed from his agreement, which he was too cautious and spineless to make public. No. I will never vote for Colin Powell. He’d have to do something really, really courageous.

He’s not trying to win, he’s trying not to lose. He’s still scared. Maybe because he’s a black man. But he has no chutzpah.

Annegb, please forgive me, but I need to set the record straight on a couple of Ardis’ comments. I won’t belabor the threadjack.

Yes, Ardis…in a discussion about dancing as an extracurricular activity, I committed the atrocious act of commenting that I participated regularly in a GLBT country-western dance organization, and my comment included a link. Of course, since it was a “gay site,” you imply that I was actually linking to some horrific pornography venue. Really classy, Ardis!

I know I am not banned from any other significant Bloggernacle blog, and know of no minor one which prefers I not comment. The same cannot be said of you, by any means.

To date, Ardis, I have only been banned at two bloggernacle sites. One is Times and Seasons. The other is your personal blog, where it appears you banned me from (or nearly from) the day you created it. I’ve attempted three times to post comments praising your research there, once with a follow-up question. At least Times & Seasons will clear my comments after a moderator reads them.

I’m pleased to hear that annegb says you’ve spoken “highly” of me to her. I still think you’re an amazingly gifted researcher, and I’ve repeatedly attempted to extend the proverbial olive branch in truce. Unfortunately, it’s always come back burnt to a crisp, with my hand well-singed. It seems clear, from your online interaction with me and with others, that once someone gets on your bad side, they will always be a “master liar” and evil reprobate. I hope that changes someday, if only for your own peace of mind and happiness.

clarification

“and I would hope the evangelical slant on things” What I meant to say is the obvious need to move away from these sincere loonies, the evangelicals!

I like both Ardis and Nick — a lot. And I think it’s fine for them to have it out in public.

Nick, I’ve been banned from Times and Seasons more times than I’ve kept track of. They banned John Dehlin, too. The bloggers at T&S tend to view themselves as the Mormon academic blog, and insofar as they have a very strong record silencing voices that disagree with them, they have a lot in common with many Mormon academics. As you know, the only way T&S could take itself more seriously would be to assert authority over the priesthood keys. If you’re very smart, then commenting at T&S is like winning at roulette, as illustrated by this cartoon, which is one of my favorites.

#44. McCoy, that’s how I felt. I wonder if he will ever to that aha! moment when he realized he’d made a huge mistake going to Iraq. Does anybody know if his father ever admitted his mistake in not going to Bagdad?

I really appreciate your thoughtful responses. I’m a moderate mostly, myself, despite my oneriness. I heard an interview Powell did, can’t remember with who but it was the strongest I’ve ever heard him speak. He said something like “the Cheneys and Limbaughs only WISH I’d leave the party” and indicated his desire for reason. I agree there. I’m sick of party bickering.

I think Bill Clinton was mostly sincere. It’s that 2 percent that was pretty evil. I keep hoping Obama is different because I want to like him. I like how he talks. But I totally bought into Bill Clinton’s “I feel your pain” and I don’t want to make that mistake again.

Oh what I meant by Powell being afraid because he’s black: I think to a certain extent (still) black men have to keep a low profile to progress in the military and politics. Al Sharpton aside, I do believe Powell has strong beliefs but he’s nervous about stating them. I would probably love his guts if he lost his temper once in awhile. He let Bush walk all over him and that had to be so hard to keep his mouth shut.

Do you really think they’re all posers? I like Joe Leiberman and I’ve been watching a Republican—Graham? I think his name is. But maybe he’s a Democrat. I like what he has to say and how he says it whatever party he’s in.

DKL: I didn’t know they banned John. I seldom comment on Times and Seasons anymore (aside from the fact that I seldom comment anywhere)because I find their topics most boring and not relevant or thought provoking. Of course I hardly go there either. Heck, I didn’t know Ardis had quit. But good on you to point out that female bloggers aren’t necessarily entitled to special treatment. Because yeah, it’s a contact sport. Can’t take the heat…

But since you’re the God of this blog and I don’t have all that strong opinions about it (except Ardis’ comment to me) Nick and Ardis knock yourselves out.

I met with Kennedy’s aide when lobbying for votes for reform and she was very nice. I met with a lot of aides and some were open, others thought their butts were made out of gold. But you know—chappaquidick. That’s a deal breaker for me.

You’re right, I don’t know what Powell did behind the scenes. I don’t think he would behaved as badly towards the families as some of the generals, admirals did during the hearings but he wasn’t there so we’ll never know.

As far as thousands dying, a lot of them died in retribution when Bush failed to keep his promise to those people. He should have finished the job and gotten out of there. Of course, those people are so blood thirsty thousands on the other side probably would have been killed. Gee Louise.

Again I appreciate your insight. Good food for thought.

Well, I guess thousands died when we pulled out under the elder Bush, but what would have happened if Bush followed through and we went into Baghdad at that time? Would we have just pulled out. Reports were that we were afraid of the vacuum if we got rid of Saddam, and I guess the later war answers that!

And now there is Afghanistan, and the way sabers are a’ rattlin’ soon maybe Iran. Obama has at least tried to make a difference in the diplomacy end of things – a difficult task.

Peace on earth, good will toward man (and woman).

That’s an interesting idea Anne, but of course as you probably know, the country of Afghanistan and it’s people were not primarily responsible for 9/11, so bombing the country and taking it over would not necessarily have accomplished anything toward actualy holding the terrorists responsible, other than turning the entire world against us.

As you may recall, we excoriated the Russians and boycotted the 1980 Olympics for doing precisely what you have just suggested. We also funded the Mujahedin and made sure they had the weapons they needed to finally defeat the Russians and kick them out. It would have been ironic indeed for us to turn around and do the very same thing only a few years later.