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Inauspicious Beginning
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Orion27
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:27 PM
 
Obama gave his first press conference and it does not auger well. Tense, unsmiling and tentative,
this is clearly a man over his head. The hardest question about tax increases was not answered but elaborated at length on hardball question about pets for his girls. He did mention that American Intelligence has improved since 911 but needs further work. He did not instill much confidence to say the least. He did have a dozen string pullers at his side, mostly prominently from the Carter Administration.
     
Dakar V
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:29 PM
 
Wow, first post in 10 months.
     
goMac
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:29 PM
 
He looked calm, cool, and collected to me.

And he actually knew all the reporters real names.
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subego
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:32 PM
 
I think you mean augur. Considering what you say in the rest of your post, I'd say that in your estimation Obama did indeed auger.
     
ort888
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:36 PM
 
I saw footage of him eating breakfast and the way he was holding his spoon was hardly Presidential. Did we make a mistake?

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The Crook
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:41 PM
 
Originally Posted by Orion27 View Post
Tense, unsmiling and tentative,
this is clearly a man over his head.
"tense, unsmiling, and tentative" = deliberate, serious, and thoughtful.

"a man over his head?" mccain admitted he doesn't know anything about economics. and we all know president bush couldn't hold down a press conference about economics.

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Chongo
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:43 PM
 
BO never said if still had plans to raise income and cap gains taxes.
45/47
     
BlueSky
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:55 PM
 
Very auspicious beginning.

I was drawn in by his serious and thoughtful demeanor. How utterly refreshing, a serious president who thinks, who isn't given to a series of dumbass one-liners and skimming the surface whilst smirking all the way through. I can understand why this kind of behavior (O's) may be jarring to some who have been conditioned to expect otherwise. Substance. You'll get used to it.

The grown-ups are in charge, (almost) woo hoo! deal with it
( Last edited by BlueSky; Nov 7, 2008 at 05:23 PM. )
     
TheWOAT
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Nov 7, 2008, 04:57 PM
 
Two things stuck in my mind.
1) He referred to himself as a mutt
2) That an idiot reporter EVEN tried to ask him about classified breifings...
     
Lint Police
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Nov 7, 2008, 05:39 PM
 
Originally Posted by goMac View Post
And he actually knew all the reporters real names.
They were on the sheet in front of him. Watch him look down each time for their name, then ask it for their question. Seating chart anyone?

cause we're not quite "the fuzz"
     
Helmling
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Nov 7, 2008, 05:59 PM
 
Originally Posted by BlueSky View Post
Very auspicious beginning.

I was drawn in by his serious and thoughtful demeanor. How utterly refreshing, a serious president who thinks, who isn't given to a series of dumbass one-liners and skimming the surface whilst smirking all the way through. I can understand why this kind of behavior (O's) may be jarring to some who have been conditioned to expect otherwise. Substance. You'll get used to it.

The grown-ups are in charge, (almost) woo hoo! deal with it
I'll second that. I just watched it and I am enormously encouraged to have Obama assuming the office next. Obviously, I remain concerned about how well any of these stimulus proposals can work and how we can afford them after nearly a decade of run-away spending under Bush, but there's no one from the field of potentials who sought this office that I think I would rather see stepped up to the helm in January.
     
Big Mac
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:07 PM
 
There was a lot of pausing and stammering in that press conference. He is in over his head, and the danger is that he's so arrogant he won't care. I also think that picking Rahm Emanuel, who has a voting rating that is 96% liberal (about as liberal as you can get) and who says that "Republicans can fsck themselves" isn't exactly setting a new, post-partisan tone in D.C.. But whatever, you guys picked him, and I'm trying to take a break from the PL anyway.

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goMac
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:12 PM
 
Originally Posted by Big Mac View Post
There was a lot of pausing and stammering in that press conference. He is in over his head, and the danger is that he's so arrogant he won't care. I also think that picking Rahm Emanuel, who has a voting rating that is 96% liberal (about as liberal as you can get) and who says that "Republicans can fsck themselves" isn't exactly setting a new, post-partisan tone in D.C.. But whatever, you guys picked him, and I'm trying to take a break from the PL anyway.
That pausing is commonly known as "thinking." It's something Presidents used to do a lot.

Don't worry, if you give it time you won't even notice that the President is thinking,
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olePigeon
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:30 PM
 
Originally Posted by Lint Police View Post
They were on the sheet in front of him. Watch him look down each time for their name, then ask it for their question. Seating chart anyone?
Hey, guess why they call those two reporters "The Andes!"
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Big Mac
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:32 PM
 
Originally Posted by goMac View Post
That pausing is commonly known as "thinking." It's something Presidents used to do a lot.
Ah, thank you for the info. So when President Bush has trouble speaking he's a moron/retard, but when Obama does it he's "thinking." I see.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
Gee-Man
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:38 PM
 
Originally Posted by Big Mac View Post
Ah, thank you for the info. So when President Bush has trouble speaking he's a moron/retard, but when Obama does it he's "thinking." I see.
Bush didn't get his reputation for saying dumb things from pausing or stammering. He got it from the dumb things he actually said.

You may not like Obama's speaking style, but the substance is there (even if you disagree with it). There is no comparison here.

And for the record, I don't think and never thought that Bush is a moron or retard. He's just a really, really bad public speaker, and he doesn't think before he speaks all too often.
     
ironknee
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:39 PM
 
big mac

where have you been the last 8 years?
     
BlueSky
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:43 PM
 
Originally Posted by Big Mac View Post
Ah, thank you for the info. So when President Bush has trouble speaking he's a moron/retard, but when Obama does it he's "thinking." I see.
It's a matter of what comes out the other side after the pause, that's the trick in telling the difference. If something of substance comes out, bet on thinking. If something else comes out that inspires the collective wince of a weary nation, it's most likely the shallow utterances of an empty-suited idiot going through the motions.
     
Big Mac
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Nov 7, 2008, 06:45 PM
 
Originally Posted by ironknee View Post
big mac

where have you been the last 8 years?
MacNN, why?

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
tie
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Nov 7, 2008, 07:22 PM
 
Big Mac clearly prefers a president who doesn't think before answering a question. Why he would prefer such a president is a mystery…

You guys are missing the big story here. Complaining about Obama thinking before answering a question makes it sound like you don't think yourself. The real story is that Obama said before the election that he would hold his first news conference on Wednesday if he won the election. Instead, he had an intelligence briefing on Wednesday and waited until Friday to hold the news conference. This is the first flip-flop of many to come.
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Big Mac
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Nov 7, 2008, 07:28 PM
 
I'm not too sure guys. I'm not the best public speaker in the world, but I can usually multitask so that the words come out fluidly enough. That's a quibble though. I just see it as a humorous that there's such a double standard.

I'm wishing President Elect BHO well. I just don't have high hopes.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
goMac
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Nov 7, 2008, 07:38 PM
 
Originally Posted by Big Mac View Post
I'm not too sure guys. I'm not the best public speaker in the world, but I can usually multitask so that the words come out fluidly enough. That's a quibble though. I just see it as a humorous that there's such a double standard.

I'm wishing President Elect BHO well. I just don't have high hopes.
What kind of multitasking are you referring to?

The kind where he BS's the question for a bit before he gives a real answer?

Or the kind where he bends time and space so he can know the question before the reporter asks it, and then think about an answer while he answers the previous question?
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Big Mac
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Nov 7, 2008, 07:41 PM
 
I'm talking about hearing a question, taking a couple of seconds to formulate an answer, and then spitting out said answer without pausing and stammering a number of times through it. Also, when a reporter asks whether you still plan to raise taxes on upper-income people, you shouldn't try to evade and return to talking points from your campaign. Give a straight answer - it's not like you're trying to win any more votes now.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
sek929
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Nov 7, 2008, 08:03 PM
 
I'm willing to bet your public speaking skills would drop dramatically if you were speaking as the president elect in front of millions of television viewers.
     
Chongo
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Nov 7, 2008, 09:06 PM
 
BO phoned and apologized to Nancy Reagan for the seance crack
45/47
     
RAILhead
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Nov 7, 2008, 09:43 PM
 
All 9 of the reporters he took questions from? Yep, I'm impressed.
     
Gee-Man
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Nov 7, 2008, 09:54 PM
 
BO phoned and apologized to Nancy Reagan for the seance crack
It was a lame joke. I'm glad he apologized.
On the other hand, it's infinitely lamer that Drudge Report had to start hyping this off-hand joke as the MOST IMPORTANT HEADLINE EVAR!!!! In typical Drudge style. Why does anyone still listen to that hack? Sheesh. If this is how it starts, it's gonna be a long 4 years.

All 9 of the reporters he took questions from? Yep, I'm impressed.
Far right, hardcore conservatives aren't impressed by Obama! News at 11.
     
stumblinmike
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Nov 7, 2008, 10:00 PM
 
C'mon guys, cheer up! Turn those frowns upside down! I will buy you all an ice cream, and we'll stay up late and watch cartoons!
     
ironknee
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Nov 7, 2008, 10:18 PM
 
^^^^^
yeah guys and gals!

This is our next president on January 10, 2009.... President of all the United States of America!!!!


GOOOOOO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!USA!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
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Nov 7, 2008, 11:11 PM
 
Guess Obama is going to lose the Presidency to McCain because a few conservative/Republicans were not impressed with Obama.
Bush Tax Cuts == Job Killer
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June 2003: 129,839,000 employed
2.21 million jobs were LOST after 2 years of Bush Tax Cuts.
     
Mrjinglesusa
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Nov 7, 2008, 11:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by RAILhead View Post
All 9 of the reporters he took questions from? Yep, I'm impressed.
I agree. He should have taken questions from at least 10 reporters. WTF was he thinking?
     
ironknee
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Nov 8, 2008, 12:16 AM
 
9 is the symbol for the devil... 3+3+3 or (6+6+6 if you really look at it ::wink::

i know that i know that i know this ...um... really is it!

Jesus is coming back within a year (or by 2012--we know it's not ...um... christian but it's useful!) with a new haircut, wardrobe
     
chris v
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Nov 8, 2008, 01:06 AM
 
Originally Posted by Big Mac View Post
Ah, thank you for the info. So when President Bush has trouble speaking he's a moron/retard, but when Obama does it he's "thinking." I see.
The difference is, when Bush tried to think, nothing happened.

How's the wilderness?

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chris v
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Nov 8, 2008, 01:09 AM
 
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
BO phoned and apologized to Nancy Reagan for the seance crack

Don't you mean b HUSSEIN o?

You guys are going off message.



I thought the bit about the dog was a good stab a dry, self-deprecating humor.

When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
     
SpaceMonkey
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Nov 8, 2008, 01:57 AM
 
Okay, I finally watched it. I did not notice Obama hesitating or stammering an inordinate amount. He did dodge the tax question, but the premise of it was kind of dumb (Obama personally passes tax law?). The "board of shadowy figures" behind him was kind of silly looking.

Everyone needs to chillax. Like Obama said, Bush is (still) the president for the time being.

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besson3c
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Nov 8, 2008, 02:04 AM
 
I wonder how much practice it takes for any candidate to make the adjustment out of campaign mode in his/her speeches/question answering immediately following an election?
     
Orion27  (op)
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Nov 8, 2008, 08:25 AM
 
Originally Posted by BlueSky View Post
It's a matter of what comes out the other side after the pause, that's the trick in telling the difference. If something of substance comes out, bet on thinking. If something else comes out that inspires the collective wince of a weary nation, it's most likely the shallow utterances of an empty-suited idiot going through the motions.
When asked if he had to talked to any other presidents Obama replied he had "..... talked to all the presidents who were living..." Doh! How thoughtful.. Then to cover his ass he went on to make some scurrilous untrue remark about Nancy Reagan. What a thoughtful and gracious man.
     
chris v
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Nov 8, 2008, 10:29 AM
 
Originally Posted by Orion27 View Post
When asked if he had to talked to any other presidents Obama replied he had "..... talked to all the presidents who were living..." Doh! How thoughtful.. Then to cover his ass he went on to make some scurrilous untrue remark about Nancy Reagan. What a thoughtful and gracious man.
Yeah, that was wince-inducing. "Inartful" is the proper euphemism, but it lacked tact, for sure. Despite it being a dumb-ass remark, I'm glad he was able to admit that it was a mistake & apologize. That in itself is a rare quality.

When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
     
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Nov 8, 2008, 10:38 AM
 
Being able to apologize, to admit errors in action or judgement, is a sign of maturity.
     
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Nov 10, 2008, 11:01 PM
 
Originally Posted by Orion27 View Post
this is clearly a man over his head.
Don't fret; he'll be out of office on 1/20/09.
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chris v
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Nov 10, 2008, 11:38 PM
 
Huh. I watched the whole press conference, and I didn't see a man over his head, either. Then again, I can't see Russia from here. Was it Putin doing that rearing thing?

When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
     
   
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