It’s quite clear to many concerned Americans that a Democratic President who – finally – accomplishes “the mission” is promoting a crass, obscene and grotesque political stunt if he goes to the Ground Zero to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks and their families.
As Obama continues to politicize and mine the takedown of Osama Bin Laden and the outrageous “Islamic burial” that followed, new details emerge of his reluctance and refusal to sign off on the mission. It is the height of hypocrisy and crass opportunism to draw out the release of the death photos so as to prolong the news cycle on the story, and to neglect the tornado-ravaged parts of the country — instead, Obama campaigns at Ground Zero on Thursday for an “O-victory lap,” while it appears that in fact Obama had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the OBL operation. [Atlas Shrugs, 5/3/11]
Republican Presidents who dress up in flight suits and parade around on an US Aircraft Carrier under a banner labeled Mission Accomplished (though they hadn’t accomplished anything except send US into a needless war and occupation of a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks) are manly men who perform historic actions that the pundits swoon over.
To sum up, this is permissible if you are a Republican President anywhere, anytime:
This, on the other hand, shows a clueless, lying President and is a clear violation of all that is right and proper for how a a President should behave:
[From the comments]
MN Jim says:
May 4, 2011 at 10:30 pmI have lost track of how many times the story has changed.
But I really like the body language of the people in the situation room photo, where obama is scrunched in the corner, clueless and insignificant, while Hillary, Gates and Panetta are running the show. […]
MADgirl91 says:
May 4, 2011 at 10:37 pmWhy is Obama sitting in the little boy chair in the corner? He doesn’t look in control, he looks scared shitless. How did the WH release such an unflattering picture? […]
xavier says:
May 4, 2011 at 10:41 pmIf the administration was competent and acting for the good of America, they’d simply say “bin Laden was killed by special forces and the details have been sealed to protect these brave soldiers.” End of story. It’s what ’43 would have done.
As is this:
His speech made no mention of any sort of proud accomplishment and it certainly made no mention of how exciting this moment was for our country. I know President Obama understands that getting Bin Laden doesn’t mean an end to the war on terrorism but how about a smile? How about showing a little joy? How about a word or two saying something about how this is no doubt a happy or joyous occasion for Americans?
We got nothing like that at all. Instead, we got Mr. Monotone. Mr. Bars and Tone. Mr. Non-Emotion. President Obama missed an opportunity to connect with Americans last night.
So why did he announce the big news like he was reading the dictionary? You know the answer. It’s because his speech wasn’t so much aimed at Americans. He was being careful of how the “Arab Street” would interpret his remarks. Any hint of gloating or happiness might be rubbing it in the face of some of the crazies in the Arab World and heaven forbid we get them upset! How dare we Americans look like we’re celebrating his death! The travesty of it all!
Give me a break. Isn’t it time to stop catering to thugs?
Is it any wonder that cowardly weasel Obama’s trip to New York today is being lambasted out the wazoo as unseemly by all Real Americans? He’s a Democrat, and a black man, and further, he had the temerity to get elected President thus preventing Sarah Palin from sitting at the right hand of John McCain. Too bad Obama can’t show some “restraint” like his predecessor, George Bush, but then again, you know what those “people” are like. Not a bone of dignity in their bodies.*
* Just for the record, yes, that is snark.
There is nothing President Obama can do that will appease the Right. Period.
If he single-handedly developed a cure for cancer, the headlines would read: “Obama Puts Millions of Doctors and Researchers Out of Work”.
What I do these days is celebrate the victories and try to ignore the “white noise” from the Right. They are cartoon characters now; predictable and embarrassing. The Teaparty types who did manage to get elected are struggling now against angry voters who see the charade for what it is, an attempt to bankrupt the lower and middle class to benefit the rich.
President Obama knows this, and while he probably despairs over the prevailing tone in our country, I think he will keep a calm, steady hand going forward.
Geller is producing some really sophisticated agitprop.
LOL!!! you gotta laugh booman. you gotta laugh. The envy, jealousy and bitterness is just oozing from their pores. They must have been enraged when they heard Obama got Osama.
They’ve been taught & coached well so now the only way they can feel the warmth of their peers is to toss stupid balls back and forth.
If only they could show as much interest in the real world as they do in the coccoon of that site.
The show must go on, Steven.
Once we had a president that I despised. I believed that he led us into a war because of a personal vendetta. The enemy of that president was put on trial and hung for crimes against humanity. If there were photos, I somehow avoided them.
Now we have a leader who seems like a pretty cool guy. His proudest achievement so far seems to be that he ordered a home invasion in a foreign country and had a man shot in the face in front of his wife and daughter.
I’m looking forward to photos of that “respectful” burial at sea convincing me of our national loving kindness because that’s who we are.
Wonderland was a lot more fun than this, at least we were all a little nuts.