Feh.
Now he tells us.
Who can forget Josh Marshall during the primaries where Hillary was concerned? Remember this? His “Obama blog” became notorious for singing every song for Barack Obama. Hey, everyone can have a favorite; I sure did. You just don’t expect someone to show such rank malpractice and loose-lipped blathering at a point of high drama for their chosen one.
On Wednesday, in a post entitled “Heckuva Time To Be Out”, Josh Marshall stated flatly that he wasn’t sure if Obama had it in him to fire Gen. McChrystal. No, I’m not kidding:
I was out for most of the last three hours. So I only caught the breaking news today in pings on my iPhone. My initial sense is, honestly, I wasn’t sure he had it in him. And the, I think, inspired decision (politically clever and on policy and operational grounds too) to replace McChrystal with Petraeus hadn’t occurred to me at all. More soon.
Although I disagree with Pres. Obama’s handling of many things, including health care, but especially his management of the aftermath of the BP blowout. If I didn’t think Obama had it in him to uphold the Constitution and perform serious commander in chief duties, I never in a million years would have voted for him, let alone written that he and Biden were worthy of your vote.
This important point escaped Marshall this past week.
Going further, I never at any time leading up to McChrystal’s sacking ever intimated that I believed Obama didn’t have it in him, quite the contrary. In fact, when it happened I believed it was the finest moment in his presidency so far.
Well, Marshall’s “I wasn’t sure he had it in him” post must have thrown his readers for a loop, because later the same day he started scrambling:
Earlier today I said in a couple posts that I wasn’t sure if President Obama had it in him to fire Gen. McChrystal. And then I wrote at the end of my afternoon post …
And yet, as I said a few moments ago, I’m not sure I thought he had it in him. But he did. I’ve learned something.
A number of you have written in to ask what the hell I was saying or what I meant. So I thought I’d expand briefly on what I said. …
The post continues (emphasis Marshall’s):
“First, and maybe this goes without saying, but I’m not sure I meant anything.”
Huh?
He continues…
So when I woke up this morning I still couldn’t quite see how President Obama could not fire McChrystal. But I also couldn’t quite imagine him doing it.
The rest of his backtracking, non-analytic stumbling is even worse. But at least he’s responsive to what his readers expect.
I can only imagine what would have happened had I given “I wasn’t sure if President Obama had it in him to fire Gen. McChrystal” analysis after Pres. Obama sacked him and appointed Petraeus. Let alone “I still couldn’t quite see how President Obama could not fire McChrystal. But I also couldn’t quite imagine him doing it.” The squeals would have shattered computer screens, and dozens of possible entries to my hate mail page would have slammed my email inbox. That’s not to mention all the caterwauling I’d have heard from the Obama “you’re still holding a grudge” ensemble.
Choir, know your conductor.
I’ve accepted the political fact that the best I can hope for, for the rest of my life, is to be able to say of elected Dems “well…at least they’re not repugnantklaners.”
Not exactly high praise but considering the performance turned in by, I’m sure, the last Dem. President with a Dem. Senate and a Dem. House it’s just the best I can do.
I sympathize with you Ms. Marsh(I luvz ya, ya KNOWZ I duz)for the Obamabot hatemail you’re going to get. It is just further proof of just how far down the rat hole we have fallen.
Heya Sech. I actually could care less about the email screeds. I’ve been getting hate mail sine the ’90s.
Just noting the double standard clearly evident, which required mentioning given the unending fawning, now to be told that Obama’s biggest advocate thought he didn’t have it in him” to do his dang job.
Some are given unending passes for ridiculous analysis that wouldn’t pass the grade on a local level. It’s nothing new, obviously.
Taylor – You have much thicker skin than I do…
Ever considered running for POTUS?
HA! …don’t know how I missed this one yesterday, whitepaw.
I don’t think people look to John Marshall for his analysis any more than they look to Matt Drudge for his.
At least I hope they don’t.
I always viewed TPM as nothing more than an extremely useful tool in the narrative against the GOP.
Very astute, NSF. Your last paragraph, nailed it.
“I don’t think people look to John Marshall for his analysis any more than they look to Matt Drudge for his.”
Just what planet do you live on? I suppose you’re gonna say next NOBODY looks to limpwithnoballs, handjobity, bleck or OLielly huh?!
There are all different types of soldiers in this war.
I thought you were clear all along that you thought Obama should, and would,remove McChrystal.
Regarding Marshall’s comment: “I still couldn’t quite see how President Obama could not fire McChrystal. But I also couldn’t quite imagine him doing it.” — given the level of / kind of leadership Obama has shown thus far, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d found another “incremental” decision making process. At this point, I just hope the multitude of kudos he’s received for his handling of the whole McChrystal incident will encourage him to show more such leadership in other areas. It will be a happy surprise if he does that.
I’ve noticed Obama has a different “look in his eye” .. especially post the McChrystal firing. Almost like he’s “getting it”.. and the overwhelming importance of what he needs to do.
I think he’s learned quite a few lessons of late.
I’ve been reading a lot about Lincoln and FDR.
All past Presidents great and poor alike have been slapped in the face with their own mistakes. The great ones learn from them. The poor ones don’t.
What did Obama do this week? He put McChrystal’s hide up on his wall. He made Petraeus step down a rung or two by putting him in charge of making his (Petraeus’) counter-insurgency plan work as Petraeus claimed it would with McChrystal in charge. He focused attention on the diplomatic mess that is Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nobody disputes the fact that the Pentagon is running the diplomatic mission in Afghanistan and not the State Department. And nobody disputes the fact that only 8% of the Pakistani population supports the US role in either Afghanistan or Pakistan. That’s called diplomatic failure in anyones book. Perhaps Mr. Marshall felt that Obama could not, or would not, break with Hillary and cease using her pathetic foreign policy advise? Obama fooled both Mr. Marshall and the State Department. A good week’s work for Mr. Obama. Peace
Pssshaw!
How informative of you. That’s not an intelligent response, that’s the sound of a cat having its tail slammed in a door. Instead of expelling noxious gas from your body in the form of a nonsense sound how about explaining to me the error of my ways? Or is that too far above your pay grade? Peace
Actually, it is a word my grandpa used when something struck him as foolish and beyond discussion.
Do you think this is a game? There are 100,000 soldiers in Afghanistan getting blown to bits each month. 62 so far in June. And the *diplomatic* part of this exercise is “dysfunctional.” That is a crime of the first magnatide. Peace
P—shawwwww is a great word! Use it all the time. Just don’t know how to spell it.
YEAH! Do you think this is a GAME?! You should be serious and post endless and monotone screeds against the Clintons and Zionists. THAT would be serious!!
LL, I think you hit a nerve.
Imhotep, you have no one to blame but yourself for the response you’re getting.
Spelling: “pshaw”
Ha Ha Ha Taylor! Good one! I think Mr.Marshall had what is known in DC parlence as a gaffe.
Another ridiculous response. Peace
Pick on someone who cares what you think. Peace
Why don’t you take a boat ride and talk to your animal friends? Perhaps they can understand you? Peace
Great idea! I think I will. Peace.
Would that be a ride to the land of one trick jackasses to saddle up imhopless?