"Obama is emotionally maimed"

[impik]

The new meme from your Liberal media.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/opinion/19blow.html?hp

[OKNancy]

1. overall a positive opinion piece

"America has to grow up and calm down. Expectations must be better managed. On balance, this president is doing a good job — not perfect, but good — particularly in light of the incredible mess he inherited."

I sure agree with these three sentences.

[impik]

9. You think it's positive? I wish i could see it like you do

It's one more pundit who thought that campaigning is like governing. He actually complaints that Obama promised that change will be hard and difficult days are ahead.


Oh why, why did Obama wake us from our dreams that he'll just snap his fingers and all will be good???

[babylonsister]

2. That's quite a title to wake up to, and I think you

are not characterizing that column well by pulling that particular sentence out of it. Sure, it's critical, but critical of Obama and the overly high expectations placed on him. I prefer this:

America has to grow up and calm down. Expectations must be better managed. On balance, this president is doing a good job — not perfect, but good — particularly in light of the incredible mess he inherited. The Web site PolitiFact.com is tracking more than 500 promises Obama made on the campaign trail. Of the 168 promises where action has been completed, they judge Obama to have broken only 19. That’s not bad, and it must be acknowledged. We have to stop waiting for him to be great and allow him to be good.

[impik]

8. "It must be acknowledged", not because that's

what matters, but only because it "must". It's nothing compared to the overall theme which is: "He's a good president, he's just not entertaining enough".

[IOKIYAL]

35. It's Odd That So Many People Ignore PolitiFact And That They Are Tracking His Promises

guess it doesn't fit the meme.

[Cha]

38. Oh, thank you, babylonsistah..

Lots of Americans realize he's not perfect because they know that's the human condition..and they look at the whole picture which a lot of us do in our own lives.

So glad he's the President for our time, right now.

[elleng]

43. THANK YOU, b'sis!

We have to stop waiting for him to be great and allow him to be good.

[leftofcool]

3. No, he isn't. The OP makes some good points

others not so good. Obama is not GOD, will never be GOD and thus will never be perfect. But I will take Obama over GOD anyday as not even GOD can fix the shit we are in right now. I don't now and will not always agree with everything Obama says or does but he is still the best damn thing that has ever happened to this country and for now, that is enough.

[watrwefitinfor]

7. It is not just enough.

This administration is the only thing standing between us and something even worse than the last administration - That will be fascism, pure and simple.

I am standing here in awe of "The Left" at this crucial moment in time, tearing Obama (and itself) to shreds while he tries to halt the insanity with the tools he is allowed to use, to the best of his ability.

DO WE NOT REALIZE THEY WILL JUST KILL HIM IF THEY DEEM IT NECESSARY? If he doesn't keep factions of the right wing somewhat on his side (read Gates, etc.), we are finished. We may be, anyway.

Where the fuck is the united front that a crisis like this demands? (and I don't mean just the gulf crisis - but our whole political and economic situation.)

Wat

(On edit: This is not meant as any kind of criticism of leftofcool, with whom I am agreeing! :hi: But adding this note to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding.)

[impik]

10. I could not agree more. The whining "Liberal media" is going

to kick itself very hard when some wingnut wins in 2012.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. So you claim Obama has to retain the votes of moderates

because if he does not all of those moderate centrists will automatically vote for a wingnut who is not at all moderate? That is the thinking? They are moderate, but would vote for a wingnut? You believe that? Do you really believe that there are people who would vote for Obama on one occasion, then Hucakbee or Palin on another? Because they are moderate?
The 'logic' is beyond strained. Please the moderates, or they will vote for radical righties. Because they are moderate, they will snap to the extremes at any hint of liberal policy? How are potential Palin voters moderate? How far to the right would you swing to win them over? All the way? I mean, if centrists are just wingnut voters looking for a reason to vote wingnut, serving them might be dangerous, don't you think?
Some details about your unusual conclusions, please. The article you cite is pretty fair to the President. You, on the other hand, are not.

[impik]

25. I'm saying that the Liberal media makes this president looks like a failure

even when - like in this article - they "must acknowledge" that he's actually a good president. No, that article is not fair to the president, because the bottom line is that he's failing. Not that he's a good president. And that's the notion that sink into the public. Yea, he's a good president who really didn't break many campaign promises and inherited a shitstorm - Yet, he's a failure. Why? Because we're not having fun. That's all.

[watrwefitinfor]

31. It ain't about voting. Anyone is a potential Palin voter,

if the PTB so decide.

Doubt it? Been under a rock for the past ten years? Been watching BBV experiments in South Carolina? There is a message here, and it isn't for us "voters" in SC. Demented and Company set that up to show Obama and others that they could, in case there was ever any doubt.

Obama is not after the votes. Nor is the right. Votes are no longer necessary. They are after the big donations, the court decisions, and the positive (or at least neutral) media as Impik said.

That's a big part of it - the media and their ability to turn (or appear to turn) sections of the public into a howling mob. (Or to make a howling mob disappear, as in the case of the anti-Iraq War demonstrations.)

Obama has never been about getting votes from the public, nor from the Republicans in the Senate and House. That show is for media consumption and swaying popular opinion. And it's a great big old statement to the big guys: Hey, look at me, I can do it for you and keep the populace happy at the same time.

When he can no longer deliver, they will take this play-purty away from him. After that comes whatever they program the BBV to give us.

Wat

[IOKIYAL]

36. Like Heck They Are

I am not a potential Palin voter, no matter what Obama does wrong or the Dems do wrong,I will never ever vote for Palin or the Republicans. Never. Americans have their moments, but we are not all blathering idiots.

[watrwefitinfor]

44. You might want to go back and read the post, not

just the subject line. Your vow not to personally vote for Palin is reasurring. However, that is not what the post was saying.

DU is often full of nuance, sarcasm, and esoteric phrasing. It pays to read posts carefully some times, not just go off on a subject line.

Welcome to our little playpen. :hi:

Wat

[jonnyblitz]

20. no kidding. gawd forbid if we get some wingnut who escalates

the wars, dismantles public education, and prosecutes whistleblowers. *cough*

[watrwefitinfor]

32. The left in Germany sometimes couldn't see the difference,

so they got Hitler. Just another wing-nut.

Same as Obama, right?

Wat

[pundaint]

49. So let me get this straight, you agree that a united front is necessary and the

you immediately dis part of those you agree must join with you? Why the fuck would someone with different priorities want to join you so you can have it your way? Maybe if you demanded an end to war or single payer healthcare, or election reform, or restoration of the constraints removed from corporations allowing them to take over the country - any one of them as a condition for your vote too, you might be able to build a united front. But some of us just don't like the Republican platform regardless of who delivers it - we will still be fighting the same fight we are currently fighting until we achieve our objectives. Aside from the letter after the president's name, do you have any definable objectives?

[MadMaddie]

34. watrwefitinfor I agree with your statements

The Democratic strength is the diversity of thought but it is our weakest strength too.

[Beacool]

28. Superlative much?

I prefer God to any president and Obama is not the best thing that ever happened to this country. There were greater presidents in the history of this nation.

:D

[CLANG]

54. We just had a president who though he was doing God's will, and look what we got.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. I basically agree with the overall assessment of the piece

especially this part:

"The president should instead re-evaluate the composition of his inner circle (which could use a shake-up) ..."

Get rid of Rahm Emanuel, get rid of Salazar, get a new Treasury Secretary, for starters, that's where I would begin. Don't bend over backwards to sing "Kumbayah" with the Republicans-- it doesn't work with them. They'll just probe for weakness and try to take advantage of it. And try not to alienate people in your base, like teachers, labor, environmentalists.

And call together not just a commission, but a meeting of the minds, to deal with this Gulf crisis. A meeting of the minds from around the world, if need be.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. If he just gets rid of everybody...

:think:

[Art_from_Ark]

56. He doesn't seem to have surrounded himself

with "the best and the brightest", that's for sure. A major housecleaning is definitely in order.

[Go2Peace]

6. I don't get why people complain about this kind of thing and then spread it?

by posting it here? :shrug:
If we don't like the meme than why spread it and enforce it further? It seems counter-intuitive?

[impik]

11. Because people should see what this president is up against, from his own "base"

[flyarm]

12. ahhh yes..we should all collectively put our heads in the sand..ohhh but their is oil in that sand..

and we should fold our arms and never demand the excellence This president could have..should have ..if we demand it ...so far he is an epic fail and is losing his base each and every day that he contiues all that was Bush!

I want this president to succeed..but he is failing miserably. He is getting terrible advice from those around him. And for that we will all pay a dear price in Nov!

And the worries about Facism?? Well we in the Gulf states are living that already!

[JohnnyLib2]

13. If I were a direct advisor, I'd get this piece on his desk.

And that is spoken as a supporter. I doubt that he would be much bothered by the erroneous "emotionally maimed" comment. More importantly, the article puts his leadership in context of current realities both sharply and well.

IMHO, of course.

[IOKIYAL]

37. If Anyone Knows What's being said about him, its Obama

[JohnnyLib2]

41. Agreed.

[Thrill]

14. We should have elected Harrison Ford President

People clearly want an Actor not a President

[Bluenorthwest]

22. People want excellence and courage

Not mediocrity and fear. Not sure what a person's profession prior to politics has to do with that. Or maybe it does, and what you see are people sick and tired of seeing the way Lawyers who turn to politics spend all their time splitting hairs and playing word games rather than taking action and being clear and direct.
Maybe it is the profession, and the fact is, most of them are lawyer and govern in that style and another fact is, people tend to not like lawyers, and to trust them less, because of that style.
And of course, no politician needs to communicate or connect with people, no, that is not part of the job, the job is all about compromise, being kind to high criminals, turning the page on Cheney energy policy, even still, and that sort of thing. Only a lawyer could ask us to look away from a crime scene and let the guilty go free.
I think the people are sick of Lawyer Presidents. Nixon was one, and look at the criminality he brought to the office. Clinton is a lawyer, depending on what 'is' means of course. Both Clintons, lawyers. John 'Defense of Marriage' Edwards, lawyer, very honest, ethical, all of that. Most of the Senate, lawyers. Compromising, self serving, hair splitting lawyers. The most hated profession of all, going back hundreds of years.
No more lawyers in office! No way, no how, no more. Look at what they do, what they have done.

[miscsoc]

50. A certain lawyerliness is necessary to win

I don't admire lawyerliness, but an honest man up against a lawyerly sophist will always lose, in a democracy.

[miscsoc]

48. Precisely, Thrill

[PassingFair]

15. "Liberal media"? Where have I heard THAT before.

You must have forgotten this:

:sarcasm:

[NJmaverick]

16. He was partially right

Even among his most ardent supporters, there now exists a certain frustration and disillusionment —

He could see our frustration but failed to realize it comes form the unjustified and unfair and constant attacks on the President, rather than from the President who is doing an outstanding job. If only he would look within.

[impik]

17. Never saw anything like that

"He is a good president, but we're not having fun".

[Jennicut]

18. Half this piece is utter psychological BS.

"He’s the emotionally maimed type who lights up when he’s stroked and adored but shuts down in the face of acrimony. Other people’s anxieties are dismissed as irrational and unworthy of engagement or empathy. He seems quite comfortable with this aspect of his personality, even if few others are, and shows little desire to change it. It’s the height of irony: the presumed transformative president is stymied by his own unwillingness to be transformed. He would rather sacrifice the relationship than be altered by it."

And the guy knows this how?

[impik]

26. And they tell me that this is "fair":

"Other people’s anxieties are dismissed as irrational and unworthy of engagement or empathy". Really?

[HipChick]

21. The author is a frequent guest on Morning Joe - he does nothing but criticize the president

he hardly represents all of liberal media

[jenmito]

40. You're right. I have seen him do nothing but criticize Obama. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

23. Hey OP. You asked for discussion, why won't you discuss?

You come and slander liberals, meaning I guess you are a conservative, and like your people in general, when asked a direct, clear question, you refuse to so much as acknowledge it. The advocacy group here fails their work, by running away and seeming to be so fully unable to respond to specifics about their positions. Which means they do not really believe what they post, they just post it to post it.
Your take on that piece is paranoid and touchy. Not that there is anything new it that.

[VMI Dem]

24. Tissue?

:cry:

[impik]

27. Oh, that's funny. Hilarious.

[Beacool]

29. An overall fair piece.

Obama needs to be less thin skinned, get rid of some of the political hacks he has in his inner circle and the American public needs to grow up.

This was evident in the campaign, I don't know why some just woke up to it:

"On the other side stands Obama — solid and sober, rooted in the belief that his way is the right way and in no need of alteration. He’s the emotionally maimed type who lights up when he’s stroked and adored but shuts down in the face of acrimony. Other people’s anxieties are dismissed as irrational and unworthy of engagement or empathy. He seems quite comfortable with this aspect of his personality, even if few others are, and shows little desire to change it. It’s the height of irony: the presumed transformative president is stymied by his own unwillingness to be transformed. He would rather sacrifice the relationship than be altered by it."

But this is also true:

"America has to grow up and calm down. Expectations must be better managed. On balance, this president is doing a good job — not perfect, but good — particularly in light of the incredible mess he inherited. The Web site PolitiFact.com is tracking more than 500 promises Obama made on the campaign trail. Of the 168 promises where action has been completed, they judge Obama to have broken only 19. That’s not bad, and it must be acknowledged. We have to stop waiting for him to be great and allow him to be good."

:shrug:

[MBS]

58. I agree

the phrase "emotionally maimed" was over the top, and I didn't necessarily agree with every single word , but, overall, it did strike a chord with me. And I've continued to think about the piece ever since I first read it yesterday.

[Beacool]

59. Blow could have phrased it better, but I agree with the overall sentiment.

I come from a family of diplomats and politicians. I also have a brother who is an economist for France and Spain. He regularly travels to Brussels to the CEE Council headquarters. Therefore, between them and people we know (one guy is very high in the Pentagon and meets once a month with Gates & Hillary and every three months with Obama), I got a good feel about the current players in the national scene. The consensus has been that Obama is quite arrogant. I hesitate to use the term because people start with the racial crap for arrogant being a code word for "uppity". No, if he were white with a blonde mop on top of his head they would think the same thing. The stories are many and I heard them from all sides, but I'll give you one example. My brother, who BTW is as left wing as they come, told me that Sarkozy said to one of his aides that he thought that Obama was arrogant and inexperienced, and too arrogant to realize how inexperienced he was. That about sums it up. Our Pentagon buddy concurs. He also said that Gates is respected by the military because he has their back and Hillary is well liked by the people at State.

;-)

[AlinPA]

30. RE: "emotionally maimed " - the stupid media wants theatrics and Americans are so dumbed down now

they want the same; the teevee does that to people.

[MadMaddie]

33. "The Thrill Is Gone" is the actual article name

First of all I think that you should have used the actual title of the article that would have put it in perspective.


I don't agree with this particular statement, once again the Democratic side has to change who they are and what they are to please others that don't agree with our principles. This is what makes us appear weak....The Republicans didn't change a damn thing to please us why the hell should we?

<snip>
On the other side stands Obama — solid and sober, rooted in the belief that his way is the right way and in no need of alteration. He’s the emotionally maimed type who lights up when he’s stroked and adored but shuts down in the face of acrimony. Other people’s anxieties are dismissed as irrational and unworthy of engagement or empathy. He seems quite comfortable with this aspect of his personality, even if few others are, and shows little desire to change it.
<snip>

One of the most important things the author says is the following:
<snip>
America has to grow up and calm down. Expectations must be better managed. On balance, this president is doing a good job — not perfect, but good — particularly in light of the incredible mess he inherited.
<snip>

[Aramchek]

39. Charles blows himself. pay that smug bastard no mind.

[jenmito]

42. The author is totally wrong on his assessment that:

"He’s the emotionally maimed type who lights up when he’s stroked and adored but shuts down in the face of acrimony. Other people’s anxieties are dismissed as irrational and unworthy of engagement or empathy. He seems quite comfortable with this aspect of his personality, even if few others are, and shows little desire to change it. It’s the height of irony: the presumed transformative president is stymied by his own unwillingness to be transformed. He would rather sacrifice the relationship than be altered by it."

Obama seems to LOVE acrimony judging by the way he addresses it. He faces his critics head on-has meetings with them and makes his point, often proving them wrong with facts and a sharp wit.

He ALSO shows very much willingness to "transform" if presented with a strong case to do so...maybe even too much willingness in some people's opinions. Charles Blow is WAY off.

[GoCubsGo]

45. Wow. The crap that gets printed in the paper these days...

If Mr. Blow wants to see "emotionally maimed", he ought to speak with those of us who have had our lives destroyed by the actions of the previous administration. Go fuck yourself, Charles.

[emulatorloo]

46. Rec n/t

[ProgressOnTheMove]

47. I would more say keep that steady hand and allow others to do emotional connection, now more than...

ever we need logic over knee jerk response.

[Bette Noir]

51. I think the columnist is wrong. Mr. President shows an almost unnatural

degree of emotional control, it's true, but that doesn't have to mean he's not well-intentioned or empathetic. I thought it might be a hormone imbalance or something; I've never met the man who can get the abuse he's gotten, and not at least raise his voice.

My guess it that he vents very, very privately (in which case the nation owes Mrs. Obama daily roses), or he's a living saint. Not that he's a perfect president, but if I were in his place, I'd punch the next Tea Partier I saw, right in the nose.

[flamingdem]

53. roses for Michelle! She is beautiful, and so is Barack, we are lucky nt

[Number23]

52. Easily the most bafflingly inane thing I've read in a while

Article is neither criticism or praise. Neither fact-based or fiction. Just seems to be what Mr. Blow came up with after thinking about "thangs" for fifteen minutes.

Damn, NYT. Are things that bad at the office??

[Beartracks]

55. That's weird: this part sounds like Bush!

"He would rather sacrifice the relationship than be altered by it."

--------------------

[mmonk]

57. Obama is just the by product. It is the public, the media,

and Congress that is emotionally maimed. Obama ends up being its reflection.