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| The Spilling Fields | ||||
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People are furious at politicians and the federal government. It’s easy to see why.
Pres. Barack Obama says he’s “furious” about the BP oil spill. Watching him say it should come with a laugh track. It may be so, but there’s no evidence of it. Does that matter? It’s ultimately up to you. For me what matters is the sheer political incompetence, but more importantly that there obviously aren’t enough bodies on the ground to do the job in the Gulf. The President could change that, but hasn’t yet.
Next we’ve got Rep. Mark Kirk who has lied repeatedly about his military service. Now he’s apologized.
Mr. Blumenthal lied about his military service. He also apologized.
State Rep. Nikki Haley has really been going through it. Her politics are not mine, but this is yet another example why women think twice before jumping into the political arena. Infidelity charges against Mrs. Haley have rocked the race in South Carolina. Now she’s been smeared by one of her own, with Republicans scrambling to demand an apology from a white male bigot who has no business in public office.
“The South Carolina Republican Party strongly condemns any use of racial or religious slurs. Senator Knotts should apologize for his inappropriate comments, so that we can put this unfortunate incident behind us and focus on issues important to moving our state forward,” said Republican Party Chair Karen Floyd in a statement.
Unfortunately for the Republicans in South Carolina, as well as Sarah Palin, who will reportedly endorse Nikki Haley, both the Tea Party activists and Republican voters have said everything imaginable about Pres. Barack Obama. An apology is hardly enough.
We have Republicans across the country vilifying Obama as a socialist, Glenn Beck going the full Nazi, with no point of decency ever invoked. Rand Paul hemmed and hawed about the Civil Rights Act, also taking issue with other groundbreaking legislation that makes this country more equal.
I don’t care about Haley’s politics or with whom she’s slept. But until people call for the resignation of Neanderthal bigots who hold office we’ll never purge our politics from these racists.
“We already got one raghead in the White House, we don’t need a raghead in the governor’s mansion.” – Sen. Jake Knotts
Now that Obama has canceled his diplomatic trip to Indonesia and Australia because of the BP blowout, the countdown begins on where he will travel. The Carteresque worry about his presidency starting to creep in, as he’s being held hostage because the White House got behind on the politics of catastrophe. Helpless to change what BP has done. Trying to catch up politically because the White House political shop didn’t understand the job of the presidency: People want to see their president in action in a crisis; behind the scenes machinations don’t count, especially when an environmental and economic debacle is claiming a way of life for Southerners.
Nothing in politics today is particularly inspiring.
The national pastime, baseball, stepped in to provide it. A blown call in a perfect game, with Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers showing some class after Jim Joyce blew the call. But then the boss, Bud Selig, stepped in to say, tough, he wouldn’t reverse the call.
It takes leadership to make things right and some people just aren’t up to it.
Beyond Gov. Bobby Jindal’s ridiculous call to end the moratorium on drilling off LA coast, he’s stepped in to express the people’s pain, but also make up for his first appearance in the State of the Union response debacle.
But it was Charlie Crist who said, where’s the Navy and the Coast Guard? We need more help down here, so why not deploy everyone we’ve got?
That should have been Obama’s call. I guess he was too busy celebrating at the White House or getting another jersey. President Obama’s performance remains below the curve. Perception in politics is reality and politicians live or die by the public’s judgment of it.
This post has been updated.
It’s too bad that Obama has given in to the bedwetters and crybabies—the “Do you feel my pain” crowd—and cancelled his trip to Indonesia and Australia for the second time. That decision shows a lack of leadership. By giving in to these amatuer political pundits and fools Obama has allowed himself to be trapped in the White House. Being trapped for whatever reason generally ends up badly no matter who the ‘trapee’ is. Peace
Nothing is more important than the way of life that is dying along the Gulf Coast region. Nothing. That you don’t understand that is not surprising.
An American president’s job is what’s going on in his own back yard first. Nobody in Indonesia or Australia elected Barack Obama to lead and take care of this nation. Besides, the spill nowhere near contained yet, with more damage on its way. Any other decision would have been felony stupid.
Amen, Taylor,
I am with you on this one. We need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.
Then what say we pull those 200,000 US troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq immediately so that they can work on cleaning up that oil washing ashore? Peace
I actually agree with you on that one, Imhotep. Amazing, isn’t it?
If any of that is true, and I suspect its intent, why don’t we build a shack on the beach in each of the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas so Obama can spend one day a week in each shack peering out over the ocean? Perhaps he could visit a different seafood resturant each day and drop a few bucks on a fish platter? On Saturdays Obama could don a cleansuit and wash oily birds off. Then on Sundays he could rage against the lack of progress in cleaning up the mess by those lazy BP beach and marsh workers? The “do you feel my pain” crowd is hellbent on turning this president into a cartoon character. The sad part is that he’s allowing it to happen. Peace
Nothing Obama does will put the oil back in the well.
The best hope right now is that the cap will work until a relief well is drilled in August. That’s always been the case. If Obama is to be faulted here, then it is for realizing that and addressing more issues he can change as the world deteriorates.
While he gets credit for not taking ownership of this unsolvable problem, I do concede that a major element of society wants the bullhorn on the pile of rubble empty gestures, and that it was equally bad politics as it was good to appear too detatched.
But it was Charlie Crist who said, where’s the Navy and the Coast Guard? We need more help down here, so why not deploy everyone we’ve got?
Because neither the Navy or the coast guard has any contingencies for dealing with an oil spill 1 mile down. It might make you and Charlie Crist FEEL better but it probably wouldn’t do any good.
the White House got behind on the politics of catastrophe.
Personally I prefer calm, rational to cheerleading or feeling someones pain, but to each his own..
The “do you feel my pain” crowd, which includes lots of Hillary supporters, wants to turn Obama and his presidency into a caricature. Until they do that they won’t be satisfied. Peace
His presidency is already a caricature. Even more than that, it’s a caricature of a caricature. And, that’s all his doing and the doing of his political team who have been total unmitigated FAILbots. They are now the gang who not only couldn’t shoot “straight” they’ve lost the ability to even hold the gun.
As much as I didn’t want this man to be Prez, I love my country and myself, family, loved ones and my compatriots enough to want him to succeed because that means we all do to extents possible. But, he’s flailing badly and he’s taking the country and rest of us down with him. And, unless he gets some “religion” in terms of being able to represent those of us who are not doing as well as we once did and who are on the verge of losing all of what we have worked so hard to get (those wretched, put upon people in the Gulf), it will only get worse and it’s very bad now.
He wasn’t qualified to be Prez when he was running for the office and whatever he’s learned on the job as Prez in training wheels, is not enough to be a leader let alone a good one. And, we’re in desperate need of someone who can not only lead but someone who makes us feel safe, secure and who inspires us to do in JFK’s words “The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.”
Obama doesn’t inspire us to do much of anything let alone as JFK inspired us to do: for example, finding a way to send people to the moon and he inspired people to do that within the same decade he spoke those not empty words.
Obama is his own worst enemy and his personality is just not suited to the job, the most difficult job in the world. He’s remote, he isolates himself, doesn’t like confrontation, doesn’t like getting dirty with the salt of the earth, loves compromise at all times just not when it will get the most out of what his principles have carved into public policy for the greater good, is not a fighter for us regular folks, is not a leader and certainly not one who inspires us to “build at all, let alone greatly”.
And, he’s not a saint like you continually pimp on this board whether relatively speaking or otherwise.
I hope today, when he once again visits the Gulf he interacts with the people who have suffered greatly over the preventable destruction that BP and those in the Govt who stood by and benefited from not doing anything to enforce any regulations while BP (and other Oil Cos)did what the hell they wanted for years.
As much as I didn’t want this man to be Prez,
You could have stopped there
I’ve never lowered myself to being an apologist for this man or anyone like you and your buddy have done.
People like you have never cared for opinions other than you own and those who march to them.
I totally agree with you. This is not about cosmetics. Obama is an incompetent. I was for Hillary and remember when Taylor was passionate about someone who had the experience to get things done. She witnessed the cheating of the Democratic Party, so intent were they to nominate this useless elite with not one whiff of leadership experience, skill or ability. Then she became an apologist for him….But when one loses the passion, no one follows. I will vote Republican in the next election…something I have never done. I am outraged at this wimp. Taylor was correct about the Carter comparisons…only people are more angry because he promised so much. He lied aobut everything. Why couldn’t he have immediately called all the oil companies for their expertise? BP isn’t the only comnpany with resources. This is a national emergency. Of course, then there was the North Korean aggression…the takeover of Lebanon by Hizbollah…the turning of Turkey into an enemy who undermines our interests….and Obama keeps compromising for nothing….He gets nothing back except more aggression…because now everyone knows what a weakling he is. They see his handling of the gulf and know this man is not a leader. My intensity against Obama was at its height during the primary. I never thought I could dislike him more. But I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I could never have imagined he would be this dangerous for America’s interests. He is a disaster. And on foreign policy, he is an embarrassment. But then the Europeans gave him a Nobel Prize…what morons…they deserve their financial disaster. Unfortunately, Obama is more of a loser than one could possibly have imagined. He’s not that smart and he certainly has no management skills. And those so called progressives, especially the male so called progressive bloggers, deserve to go down in flames. All of those elites forced him down our throat. No more loyalty to Democrats for me. It’s over.
Whatever… from a so-called progressive.
You’ve never had any intention of “giving him the benefit of the doubt” which is why whatever you might think about his performance is pointless to consider.
I couldn’t have said it better. I haven’t commented in a long time, but I read *everything* Taylor writes and most of the comments, except for a few that I have learned to scroll on by.
I am so fed up with politicians!!
Unless Independents get a fair deal in this country and take on both parties, were screwed !!
There is no way Mr. Cool go down the “feel you pain” road.
I’d settle for competence, which was jettisoned long ago when Obama and his administration let BP hold point without the task forces put in place that would mobilize this nation’s resources, all of them.
I agree, Taylor. He’s just not that into us.
I’m not looking any more for Obama to express empathy for others even if he truly feels empathy he just can’t seem to bring himself to make US feel he feels for us and what many of us are going through.
I too will settle for competence and I want to continue this sentence with but but there are will be too many buts in there without sounding like I hate this guy and I don’t hate him. I’m just extremely frustrated with his leadership. Being highly intelligent which I believe Obama is doesn’t necessarily translate into being qualified to being the leader of the “free” world. Nor does it guarantee him being a great politician who can get the best he can from the legislature in shaping his principles (although I’m still not certain what those are) into policies that effect all of us to live a better life. That is the main objective of domestic policy after all. And, he didn’t fight until the very end for the little he got for all of us with Health care, Financial Regulation, etc. And, he is the first Dem Prez to actually make abortion less available to American Women. It mystifies me how Ms. Magazine could ever have made him one of their covers with the line “This is what a feminist looks like”. I’ve lost respect for these so-called women’s advocacy groups as well including the ones you’ve cited, Taylor, Planned Parenthood and the once-respectable NARAL.
Now, I’m more in tune with his foreign policy but not entirely although I’m one who does support our mission in Afghanistan. I have no appetite for those Drone missions in Pakistan and his predilection to being more in sync with Bush’s policies when dealing with AK and similar hate/death groups in terms of how we deal with them when in custody. I’m from New York and wanted the trials to take place downtown in our courts (and not by a military tribunal) where they belonged and we have taken a lot of hits (not only with terrorism) over the years, we can withstand these trials. For me and others I know, it would be cathartic. And, we have the best security protection in the nation, imo, so, I have no real worries about attacks when the trials are taking place. We’ve have prosecuted these people before with success while keeping the citizens safe.
But, we’ve accomplished some good stuff with our change in foreign policy from what Bush and Cheney forced on us and the world for 8 years which was a major disaster to say the least.
I like it that most of the world now looks to us once again with respect although we do need to tread carefully here in terms of the Middle East and the Korea’s.
Strangely enough, I think we have an easier road to hoe regarding Iran as even Russia is getting sick and tired of their immature and bipolar response to the rest of the world and their place in it. I truly believe we will have success in our mission with Iran.
And, even with North Korea to an extent because of Teh Dear Leader’s mega ego and how it can be stroked to get him to back off. For example, asking to meet with Bill Clinton before he would consider freeing the two Americans caught in the middle of his own brand of immaturity. But, I do think he can be reached. That is why I hope he lives a long life or long enough that we can find a way out of the quagmire and keep it out before someone who is not a known quantity and even crazier takes power.
It’s the ME that seems intractable especially as long as we have to deal with Netanyahu et al. BTW, as most of us know there is no love lost between the Clintons and Netanyahu. What mainly exasperated the Clinton administration once Mr Netanyahu became Prime Minister was his foot-dragging over the Oslo accords – which he had vigorously rejected, personalizing much of his opposition around the then-prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, assassinated in 1995.
I’ve agreed with all that you have posted re/Israel, Taylor. Everything. And, it was great to see or hear about Clinton’s smack down of him when he pulled that crap on Biden (although I’m disgusted by him over his comments on Charlie Rose and his stalwart advocacy of Israel once again after their egregious behavior on Sunday). Much more encouraged by Clinton’s and Obama’s comments, however. Could be a bad cop/good cop scenario going on here but I’m not unhappy that we are being more vocal than ever (I loved the British PM’s comments about Israel. I just wish we could tread in those waters as well)in our disagreement with Israel when their actions are neither excusable nor moral. Is our being more outspoken the best we can do with Israel? No, but it’s a start.
As Bill Clinton once said about Netanyahu “he thinks he is the superpower and we are here to do whatever he requires.”
You started out with a slam. But once you got started talking, you realized it wasn’t so bad. I think that’s kind of funny.
And you’re leaving out the domestic accomplishments.
Nothing’s ever perfect the first time around. As a New Deal Democrat, you realize that FDR was routinely skewered from the left during his Presidency, especially for his “sell-out” on social security.
As I said yesterday, it’s foolish emotion to suggest the government should have taken more charge of the disaster. Once the well broke, there is nothing that could be done beyond what BP is already doing.
Skocpol responds to the inane Reich receivership meme:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/06/skocpol_responds_to_reich.php#more?ref=fpblg
There are always bitter losers.
Most people move on in life. Some people don’t.
But with the Internet, everyone gets a voice, including them.
I think we’re seeing an overlap of the bitter who have an axe to grind with this man and those people, who are neither right nor wrong but who they are, who need a bullhorn on a pile of rubble moment from a leader.
GABuck, the military can do clean up, help environmental experts, be support staff, move booms, you name it. It’s not rocket science. In same places people need BODIES to clean up.
It should be ALL HANDS ON DECK.
Taylor, I have been right here with you *every* day. I love what you’ve been covering – no one else reports it as it really is like you do!!
I, too, am sick when I see those poor birds in the gulf covered in oil. As ranchers, we know how we are stewards of the land and we work very hard to make improvements every year. To see pheasants, all kinds of birds, deer, and other wildlife on our land is so rewarding. Why is it so hard for some people to understand that the oil slick mess will change everything for years, not just a few weeks?
How about BP hiring thousands of the unemployed to get to work? And don’t get me started on Obama!! Incompetent wimp.
Heya Velvet, always good to see you in the comments. Thanks so much.
The whole BP blowout is just never ending and wrenching.
I also agree about Bobby Jindal. I had written him off after his television debut…and I certainly disagree with him on social issues. But he’s been there working his butt off and coming up with ideas. Those stupid White House idiots couldn’t even get him the approval to build those barrier islands. This is not about Obama emoting. This is about true incompetence and lack of leadership. But Jindall was a real surprise in this.
By the way, Glen Beck certainly mixes in propaganda with truth, quite effectively and uniquely for his audience…but to call him a Nazi is outrageous…After what was done to Hillary…the lies, etc by so called progressives and the MSM….there is no moral high ground to claim. In fact, I can’t stand Olbermann anymore….Beck is at least interesting in the stories he spins. So think twice before bandying such an inappropriate slur. The Iranian mullahs are evil….the North Koreans imprison their people and starve them….There is real evil in the world and it is not Glen Beck.
Whoa there, klassicheart. If I get your comment, you completely misread the part in my essay on Beck. I’m not calling Beck a Nazi. It was Glenn Beck invoking Hitler & Nazism re Obama, which was my point.
I do NOT ever use these types of comparisons. That’s Beck’s style.
I’ve added a link in my post so no one else will be confused.
Well Ms. marsh, folks who think ” Glen Beck certainly mixes in propaganda with truth, quite effectively and uniquely for his audience” aren’t exactly the sharpest tacks in the box if you get my drift, so it stands to reason a Blech fan would read your words and have a 180 degree misunderstanding of them.
Beck never tells the truth. Ever. Peace
Your buddy Bobby Jindal believes the solution to this problem is to allow more offshore drilling.
Also, the Nazis mixed propoganda with truth, quite effectively and uniquely.
Can’t stand Olbermann?
Loving the Glenn Beck and Bobby Jindal?
You’re the part of America that deserves this disaster, not the rest of us.
I just saw the director James Cameron on Hardball. I highly recommend people view the clip. This is what a leader…a doer looks like. He had already assembled a team and had ideas about different approaches to the spill. He was very knowledgeable about submersibles and had an international team of experts already working on solutions. After you watch this, you’ll be furious…wondering why Obama didn’t do this a month ago (not that I hold out hope he’ll actually pay attention or bother.) Where are all the booms and the people to do cleanup? And why isn’t the Federal government paying for whatever is necessary and then billing BP? Unfortunately, the answer is that either Obama is not really a creative thinker, not as smart as people imagine and/or not engaged. In fact, he has no history being a leader. And his behavior is more like a mid level bureaucrat. He looks like a deer caught in the headlights. We need action not more words that sound good. But it is not to be. Obama is a lightweight who is way out of his depth. And that is dangerous for the country. And unfortunately, we face of cascade of problems that call for a real leader (not that I know who that would be–except I believe Hillary would have been much better.) Look at the new employment numbers…that should scare everyone. Of course with people like GaBuck, whose ears are too sensitive to hear any negativity…we should understand how we ended up in this situation. As for foreign policy, the above commenter is ill informed. The world isn’t safer because of Obama. He is perceived as a lightweight and weak on the world stage. Even our allies think that. I notice Iran has enough uranium for 2 nuclear weapons now (and of course I remember that North Korea went nuclear under Bush) and funds terrorism throughout the mid east and latin america, destabilizing many regions….Lebanon has been taken over by Syria, Iran and Hizbollah and China does nothing to rein in North Korea as it furnishes Iran and Syria with nuclear technology. I hardly would call that a new and improved world. In fact, Obama’s foreign policy is in shambles if you know anything about it. And Russia is not our friend. Ukraine just elected a pro Russian, anti democratic strong man where before they had a President who was pro Western. These are not good developments. The world is extremely unstable right now because the U.S. is not exerting leadership. The consequences will be quite dire.
As for Israel….the comments are idiotic. How anyone could support a group like Hamas, whom the Palestinians in Gaza eleccted, is beyond me. These radical Islamists have created an apartheid society where woman are chattel, to be burned, killed or raped (and then executed). And Egypt has equally blockaded Gaza….but no one talks about that. Why? There is no humanitarian crisis in the sense that people are not starving. But people are starving in North Korea. Where is the outrage? The hypocrisy is numbing. I really don’t know what people think should be done. Israel is surrounded by hostile forces who want her destruction. Offering peace is not the objective of these parties. Iran kills and tortures its own citizens who peacefully protest…but not a similar outrage. Of course Obama didn’t do much there either. And all our outreach with Iran has produced nothing but more aggression. Human nature doesn’t change because we wish it to. Scores of people are murdered in Pakistan every day by suicide bombers. Why aren’t people protesting that?
And what about the Kurds? They suffer under Turkish rule terribly…but we don’t hear about it. Turkey took part of Cyprus from Greece. I could go on and on. What about their homeland? Is it less worthy?
This is a problem of group think….it brought us Obama’s great marketing campaign despite the evidence that he was not leader material. And it brought us Bush as well. Critical thinking skills need to be employed sooner rather than later. Not that leadership is evident among too many politicians.