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If the Shoe Fits … [UPDATED]

By SusanUnPC on February 15, 2008 at 11:12 PM in Barack Obama

Barack Obama today:

“I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she’s feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal,” he said. “But I think this kind of gamesmanship is not what the American people are looking for.”

UPDATE: The video is from Taylor Marsh, who also adds this quote in her excellent article, “Barack Obama’s Thinking is So Last Century,” I hadn’t seen before which is so sexist (a la cat fights) that I have no question he’s a misogynist:

“You challenge the status quo and suddenly the claws come out.” – Senator Barack Obama

Taylor also has the exchange with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Norah O’Donnell, who get it about Obama’s remark today (re the text at the top and in the video):

Nora O’Donnell: “He said, ‘I understand when she’s down (emphasis hers), that she makes these kinds of attacks. It’s getting a little personal.”

Andrea Mitchell: “It’s getting a little personal and, very frankly, you know how deeply we interpreted every comment to look for some sort of racial motivation before South Carolina. A lot of people said it was there. But, you know, when you start describing a female (emphasis hers) candidate as being “down” and “striking back.” I don’t know, that’s a little edgy, don’t you think?”

Nora O’Donnell: “Yeah. And I think there’s gonna be a lot more comments about that.”

I hope so, Norah. I do. But since most of the TV MSM is male, probably not. Thank you to you and Andrea Mitchell for getting it. Don’t always agree with your reporting, but I must acknowledge, as another woman, that I recognize that god only knows what you two have had to put up with professional and privately in your lives. It never gets easy for a woman, especially in a male-dominated profession.

IF THE SHOE FITS: Petty. Digging. Snarky. Not the qualities of a “frontrunner.” (“… periodically when she’s feeling down …” Might I also add that some people find this sexist? It is a comment that men often make about women’s ups and downs, pertaining to their hormones and bodily functions. I can’t say that for sure, but thought I’d mention how it’s striking some people, and let YOU decide for yourselves.) For more on the rampant sexism in this campaign, see “For All the SUPER Women.” And Lambert at CorrenteWire also noticed, in “Stay Classy“:

’Cause you know how women are….

Driven by feelings…. Worried about their [sex] appeal… Prone to tears… The whole phases of the moon thing…

And did you catch the dogwhistle in “periodically”?

NOTE Apparently, Andrea Mitchell and Norah O’Donnell noticed as well. …

IF THE SHOE FITS: Yes, it’s the WaPo columnist Charles Krauthammer, a Neo-con — and I have a lot of trepidation about quoting him — but his column today, “The Audacity of Selling Hope,” was so funny and spot on. He also BACKS UP his observations with direct quotes from Vanity Fair‘s James Wolcott, ABC News’s Jake Tapper, the L.A. Times‘s Joel Stein, Time‘s Joe Klein, and the NYT‘s Paul Krugman — and a hilarious send-up of Chris Matthews. Here’s some of the first part:

[A] silver-tongued freshman senator has found a way to sell hope. To get it, you need only give him your vote. Barack Obama is getting millions. …

This kind of sale is hardly new. Organized religion has been offering a similar commodity — salvation — for millennia. Which is why the Obama campaign has the feel of a religious revival with, as writer James Wolcott observed, a “salvational fervor” and “idealistic zeal divorced from any particular policy or cause and chariot-driven by pure euphoria.”

“We are the hope of the future,” sayeth Obama. We can “remake this world as it should be.” Believe in me and I shall redeem not just you but your country — nay, we can become “a hymn that will heal this nation, repair this world, and make this time different than all the rest.” …

Here’s the proof that Krauthammer is not alone in his concerns:

ABC’s Jake Tapper notes the "Helter-Skelter cult-ish qualities" of "Obama worshipers," what Joel Stein of the Los Angeles Times calls "the Cult of Obama." Obama’s Super Tuesday victory speech was a classic of the genre. Its effect was electric, eliciting a rhythmic fervor in the audience — to such rhetorical nonsense as "We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. (Cheers, applause.) We are the change that we seek."

That was too much for Time’s Joe Klein. "There was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messianism," he wrote. "The message is becoming dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about how wonderful the Obama campaign is."

And this Chris Matthews inanity is perfectly captured by Krauthammer:

You might dismiss as hyperbole the complaint by the New York Times‘s Paul Krugman that "the Obama campaign seems dangerously close to becoming a cult of personality." Until you hear Chris Matthews, who no longer has the excuse of youth, react to Obama’s Potomac primary victory speech with "My, I felt this thrill going up my leg." When his MSNBC co-hosts tried to bail him out, he refused to recant. Not surprising for an acolyte who said that Obama "comes along, and he seems to have the answers. This is the New Testament.&quot

Krauthammer also observes:

Obama has an astonishingly empty paper trail. He’s going around issuing promissory notes on the future that he can’t possibly redeem. … READ ALL.

Neo-con or not, he’s nailed it. (And just wait: Please consider that Krauthammer is just getting warmed up. If Obama is the nominee, all of this will be fodder for the Republicans, and they’ll exploit it to beat the band.)

The Wall Street Journal, and KIRO radio host Dori Munson, bring up an unusual, but regular, phenomenon at Obama rallies: Women fainting.

Writes Munson:

A Wall Street Journal writer, James Taranto, has uncovered a hilarious and puzzling coincidence at 5 different Sen. Obama campaign speeches over the last few months, including the recent speech in Seattle.

Dori and listeners have found one other Sen. Obama incident posted on YouTube where a person near the stage faints. Sen. Obama responds to each incident with the same routine and phrases.

Is it phoney, orchestrated, manufactured campaign theatrics or is it merely physiological coincidence? You be the judge.

MAJOR CAVEAT: I’ve listened to Dori Munson’s Seattle talk show many times and, while I find him to be bright and observant, I dislike his Liberatarian politics and his appetite for somewhat cheesy topics. (Shoephone can also tell you about Munson’s obnoxious show, and that thankfully KIRO has the moderate Dave Ross on in the mornings.) Still, it is a weird phenomenon, and I thought you’d find it — at the least — amusing.

Munson provides six video examples like the one above. (He also tells you at which point in the video the fainting occurs, when Obama calls out for help for the fainting woman.) In one video, Obama says that that’s the effect that seeing Oprah has on people. Uh, okay….

IF THE SHOE FITS: I must also say that I don’t find him particularly empathetic, but more interested in making a show out of getting each woman some help. And that is why, for me, this may not be silly protest at all — it is a “tell” about the huckster showman in the man.

Taranto adds:

What exactly are we to make of this? A cynic might wonder if the whole thing isn’t staged, given how often it happens and how well-honed and self-serving Obama’s standard response seems to be.

But if it’s spontaneous, that’s in a way even more unsettling. At the New Hampshire rally, Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame quipped, “Sinatra had the same effect on people.” Sinatra made girls swoon by singing romantic songs. But America isn’t electing a crooner in chief.

Obama has a talent for eliciting intense emotion–an ability that can be dangerous in a politician. What more does he have to offer? …

Taranto calls it a “creepy element of the Obama campaign.” I sense a grasping for the power that he hungers for so voraciously, and that he ENJOYS the power he has over vulnerable people.

But, you decide.

I’m just reporting.

Cee

IF THE SHOE FITS: Yes, it’s the WaPo columnist Charles Krauthammer, a Neo-con

Let’s quote him on Hillary.

“She certainly ran a more centrist campaign when she thought it was going to be a coronation,” said conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer who, unlike Brooks, never credited Clinton with any principles. “She was more circumspect about withdrawal..Then Obama rises — she’s really under threat — she has to go back to the base because he’s taking it away from her.

“When she had to tack back left, obviously the right was less sympathetic to her,” he said in an interview.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8549.html

simon

I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she’s feeling down, launches attacks

Oh, funny, barry, so does Hezbollah.

Let’s ask rezko, and auchi, ok?

You’re such a shithead, barry.

mimi

Well sure… who in their right mind can stand that Krauthammer person? But I file this under: “even a broken clock is right twice a day.”

And so it begins… Ya think maybe the MSM is starting to realize they may have gone a bit too far in laying off this guy? So now that they’ve seriously damaged Hillary’s campaign, they’re ready to start the inevitable on Obama?

One can only hope.

Cee

Mimi,

The Clinton campaign damaged themselves.

Welcome to this blog. People here have been helping them damage Obama.

Bad strategy.

simon

Welcome to this blog. People here have been helping them damage Obama.

Obama may be a terrorist enabler, through Auchi, and Rezko.

Why do you ignore this, Hezbollah won’t attack YOU?

Revolting.

And do you think this issue will go away?

As long as men like Auchi deal dirty, he’s tracked, and therefore, Obama, too.

You choose not to see it, Obama already gave away ALL his power, I look at him, I see a puppy being trained.

Obama as Jesus, Obama thinks he’s Jesus.

Didnt you ever ask your self why?

vee

The problem the people who are members of the Democratic party have is that most are not conscious of the Obama “movement.” I have well educated Democratic friends who are too busy to look in detail at what is going on. All they know is that Obama is this gifted speaker and Senator Clinton is losing primaries. All this information about Rezko, the overt racism of the Obama campaign, the highly active recruiting on colleges of pseudorevolutionaries, and Obama’s Illinois record, such as it is, are not in the public consciousness. The media is only interested in one story line. The Obama messiah myth. The only chance is if the Clinton campaign can bring up the discrepancies of what he is saying and what he is doing. They seem to be having a hard time doing that. It may end up as the chore of the Republican party, which is a job the Republicans look forward too. The Democrtaic party is splintering under the weight of the divisive campaign the Obama camp has been willing to wage. Mission Accomplished Democrats. We have messed up again.

Mike Howell

vee –

Barack Hussein Obama’s most outspoken Senators/Governors have either been promised something or given been major money.

Thus far, Barack Hussein Obama has bought nearly a million dollars worth of superdelegates.

simon

Thus far, Barack Hussein Obama has bought nearly a million dollars worth of superdelegates.

I wish someone would audit Obama’s money, someone who understands the players in the Middle East money laundering market.

OK, publically, I would think the FBI has already tracked that smack.

Pieter B

I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she’s feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal

And we were worried that he’s not enough of a dirty fighter to take on McCain? Translated, the above reads “Don’t elect a woman Commander-in-Chief, she’ll push the button the first time she goes on the rag.”

Percy

He is a dirty fighter alright….remember after NH, he said, he is ready for Chicago type of politics…and we are getting that from him (and we did even before NH)

s. hall

The man who talks hope is the candidate from Hell. Lets see its Friday who hasn’t Obama turned off yet. But oh he’s a gifted speaker that if you like potty mouths. I am sicker of Obama in 7 months then I was of Bush in 7 years and boy was I sick of him.
Nellie

Oh – he was dirty in NH, believe me.

Other than the unfairness of the Media, NH voters were starting to wise up to this Charlatan, when he made illegal Robo Calls and then tried to blame Clinton. Here are the laws that were broken:

1. The Obama campaign delivered this robocall to people on the do-not-call list. It is illegal under NH state law to send prerecorded political messages to those on the do-not-call list. In 2006, the GOP made these kinds of calls against Rep. Paul Hodes. In response the New Hampshire Democratic Party said that it would be “prepared and ready to pursue any legal course of action necessary to protect the people of New Hampshire from illegal activities.”

2. The call does not identify its sponsor — the Obama campaign — for 38 seconds. State law requires the sponsor to be named within 30 seconds. The robocall implies that it is sponsored by Planned Parenthood Northern New England. [RSA 664:14 ]

Please note that even Time picked up the FALSE meme that is was the Clinton Campaigns fault:
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/01/obamas_high_crimes_and_misdeme.html

Well, the fact is some former NH Reps were on the Do Not Call List and THEY are the ones who raised a stink, not the Clinton Campaign:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132×3973063

We were livid when he started handing out cash to young people. In this Neck of the woods it’s called vote buying or bribery. And the justification of IF they were students on Winter break does even rise to the level of The Dog ate my homework.

First of all, name the college in the United States that WAS NOT on Winter break the first week of January 2008. Secondly in checking with students that told us about it, they confirmed no one asked for a college ID. I personally called people I know in the Southern, Western and Northern parts of the state, and they also confirmed that no one was asked for an ID.

* We just deployed a text message to 96k 18-30 year olds (Dems and Indys) in NH. A follow up email will go out on Monday.

* We are offering gas money again to students who might be on winter break.

* We are setting up a peer to peer call system to help folks find their polling location.

* We are buying facebook, google, newspaper and blog ads.

* We will go on tv as much as possible getting the word out

http://www.futuremajority.com/node/874 and here (just scroll down about an inch) http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/wiretap/

And where did all this cash come from? Washington Post ran a story in November 2007, that states some of this money came from Obama’s Hopefund Leadership PAC, which is illegal according to Campaign Finance Laws.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/25/AR2007112501454_pf.html

Love Tom Brokaw – He called us Professional Voters

Tim Russet – We were contrarian people because we refused to vote the way the polls said we should.

Now all we have to do is scream Misogyny every time Obama makes cracks that insinuate Clinton can’t hack it becuase she’s a woman. Then, when we have the presses attention, we can inform them of Obama’s ongoing pattern of Dirty Deeds.

You Know, the Obama campaign is planning on everyone unting to let him get the nomination. Perhaps its time that those of us who don’t do cults, or lying deceptive Politicans should make it clear NO WAY will we vote for Obama.

Mike Howell

Pieter B –

I think Urkle Hussein Obama was just being a whiner, but at least Hillary Rodham Clinton would have the competence to hit the button unlike “I pressed the wrong button and meant to vote the other way whiney Urkle”.
simon

Translated, the above reads “Don’t elect a woman Commander-in-Chief, she’ll push the button the first time she goes on the rag.”

And Obama believes he’s Jesus, the first time a he hears a whisper in his ear.

Yeah, that’s our Barry, a demigod who knows his own mind.

“You’re Jesus, Barry, really, it was FATE. You were preordained to be the first black President, you are the American savior. You will make history.”

And the lightweight FOOL bought it, narcissistic much, Barry?

Most people fight that shit tooth and nail, recognize it as the toilet load it is, but not our Barry…

Next, we will see Barry soul search, struggle with his newly found divinity, redefining himself as the reincarnated son.

Obama Miracle Fest, ’08.

But that one is such a tool, he’ll probably walk around, seriously trying to understand WHY he can’t turn water into wine…

TeakWoodKite

My lunchtime thrill was watching Wolfy choking on having to say “Obamamainia”

I saw that little disingenious fiddle faddle looking like he was sick as a dog sweating away saying…essentially that Only a woman whines and is a bitch when they don’t get their way. He was slow and very intentional in these remarks.

I think he is projecting his relationship with his wife and resents the fact that Michelle wears the pants in his house. The only thing that makes man a cautious poker wager is the “feedback” they get back at home. Freaking guy thinks aces and eights are awinning hand.

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

I think you’ve hit on something re Michelle. I can’t forget an item I heard he wrote about in his book — that she was so cold towards him for quite a time in their marriage, that if he bent down to kiss her cheek, she’d turn her face away. She strikes me — albeit from afar — as a very controlling, very cold and calculating person. I don’t see a lot of warmth in her, except towards their two darling little girls.

TeakWoodKite

I am not in any way attempting to be intentionally derogatory towards Michelle Obama. I attempting to observe how Barak Obama interacts with those ‘closest’ to him. My sane half pointed it out a long while back when the “spouse wars” first got started. It is that leashed husband thing…Which tells me that Barak Obama on an interpersonal level has traits that are….mmm (how to be subjectivly accurate) vulnerable to manipulation when it comes to the execution of power. I am alone in this observation?

I have not read any Obama. I have a 2 foot stack from Christmas I’m working on. Currently “Confronting Iran” by Ali M. Ansari
BernieO

He also said she is meaner than he is. I have a feeling that everything so many people THINK Hillary is (cold controlling bitch) is actually what Michelle is like. Her remark about having to think about supporting Hillary shows that her ego and outrage that any one has dared challenge her and hubby outweighs the good of the party. Her constant harping on “it’s our time” makes it clear that she thinks they are owed the presidency.
Cee

a very controlling, very cold and calculating person. I don’t see a lot of warmth in her

Susan,

You sound like the people who attack Hillary by saying the same things. What a shame.

simon

a very controlling, very cold and calculating person. I don’t see a lot of warmth in her

Bitch is the word they use, don’t paint it, Cee.

And what is it that makes a woman such?

Intellect, ambition, the need not to pander to every man?

In Obama’s case, his wife may be more ambitious, vicariously living through Obama.

And that’s a shame, and yes, it plays to a horrific dynamic, men like Obama are misogynists, you will probably find the same characteristics in his male followers, they believe women are not as smart, the projected hatred of the infantile narcissistic toward his rejecting mother, never able to resolve conflict with her, projecting onto all other women.

Obama most likely married a woman just like Mom, which probably gives us insight into his childhood, and it’s kinda gross.

Woman haters, those without motherlove, are the easiest to read, and break, they never progress past age three, emotionally,costantly trying to recreate the original conflict, but losing, again, none the less. It’s a pretty messed up head. They’re very very emotionally needy.

It also explains Obama’s use of passive aggressive tactics, psychologically, every action is to denigrate mother,fight mother, Obama just can’t get out of that hole, psychologically, he’s stuck, recreating his parents horrible marriage.

A lot of mothers though, too, “the domineering mother” are angry, resentful of men, their husbands, and for good reason, they’ve been denigrated, or sexually assaulted, never taken seriously because of their gender. Unfortunately, though, they take it out on their sons, their anger toward men, a type of psychological abuse. I often look at Bush and wonder if this was the case with Jr, and Barb.

A woman cannot retaliate against her husband, say, particularly if he is passive aggressive also, but she can dominate her son, hence, raising Obama. So it’s a cylce that’s hard to break. It’s not the mother’s fault, look at Dad, too, how does he treat Mom, it’s the cycle, the need to recognize the cycle, and break it.

TeakWoodKite

I often look at Bush and wonder if this was the case with Jr, and Barb.

The name of the book “Bush on the Couch”

http://hnn.us/articles/7106.html

TeakWoodKite

I said:
I am not in any way attempting to be intentionally derogatory towards Michelle Obama. I attempting to observe how Barak Obama interacts with those ‘closest’ to him.

I was observing “Saint Barak Obama’s Halo” Bill Press 2-16-08 CNN

bmobley

Wow! I think you may be right about this. I watched his speech the other night, I think after the wins in Va, Maryland and whichever state. After his speech concluded, Michelle approached him and and I have to tell you that my immediate thought was that there was something implicitly sexual about the whole senario. It seemed to me she was telegraphing a very sexual message: “baby, you did could and as soon as I get you alone, you get a special reward”. Maybe I read too much into it but that was exactly what popped into my mind, that she controls him with sexual rewards.

bmobley

Should have proof-read my post.
Should read “baby you did good” not could.
simon

“baby, you did could and as soon as I get you alone, you get a special reward”.

Thank you for that lovely visual, nothing better than a infantile narcissist, a wommin hating man, and his mother, having sex.

Ew.

Nellie

Remind anyone besides me of Imelda Marcos, from the Phillipines?

Mike Howell

Nellie –

Yes. Urkel and Imelda!

s. hall

All these bastards like Obama, Matthews and Schuster are married to strong women. I guess the only pleasure they get is trying to destroy the woman candidate cause they are terrified of their upsetting their own wives.

Gabriele Droz

I’m here in the United States, a German Immigrant,

I love the land, the wild that still exists here, and I absolutely HATE the government that kills this.

Ahem. Thanks Larry, for your blog. I’m right with you.
Masslib

Pig.
TeakWoodKite

Obama’s brochures to voters, she (Hillary)said, “sound like they’ve been written by the health insurance industry and the Republicans, talking about how we can’t possibly get to universal health care.”

“My opponent has given up the fight before we’ve ever started,” she told a gathering of Democrats at a party fundraiser outside Akron.

I’ve never seen a candidate so wealthy in information,” Martha Hanon, a retired teacher,…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080216/ap_on_el_pr/clinton
s. hall

I resent like Hell Barack Obama for splitting the Democratic Party. Our party is one of inclusion and Obama has attacked Hispanics, Women, Seniors, Unions and Gays. Obama has injected race into these primaries although he claims to be above race. Seems thought he is not above threatening AA lawmakers who support Hillary. And for a man who claims to be about hope and change — he preaches nothing but hate as he divides this country.

Lorelynn

And he brings out nothing but hate. he’s not about encouraging his supporters to understand the issues. He’s like the Catholic church – let the priests read the bible. Send people with questions to the website. He’s so fucking condescending to his supporters.

If you want to see two things that really spell out how fucked up his campaign is, watch this campaign video from the relentlessly creepy viralvoice. The narcissism is choking.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/13/21648/4592

And here is Vera Lofaro positing that Obama will hire competent people and resolve the problems our nation faces because he reads her diaries on Daily Kos, all the comments and responds to her letters. does it get more narcissistic than that?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/17/114123/37

This is all really deranged stuff. He’s a malignant narcissist just like Bush and nothin’ good is going to come out of his presidency.

John

Obama’s CAMPAIGN responded to her diary and letters.

And her entire post is ME ME ME ME ME ME ME….
John

I managed to get through almost the entire first video. The clueless narcissism of these students is just incredible- “this is all about US, this is OUR campaign, we can dream of a FUTURE again (the future we’ve been ‘reading about’ (????”)

My favorite part is when the girl asks Saint Barack “what about health care?” He replies “I’m for health care.” Big laughter, hugs– and NO ANSWER.

None required. I bet that girl felt dirty and guilty even asking Obama a question concerning policy. Maybe she got some shit from her friends afterwards- “you MET Barack Obama, and all you could think of doing was asking him a question about some policy? LAME!”

God help us.

Cee

I resent like Hell Barack Obama for splitting the Democratic Party. Our party is one of inclusion and Obama has attacked Hispanics, Women, Seniors, Unions and Gays.

S. Hall,

I want examples of every charge. Attacking women? Gay people? Nonsense.

Now the campaign is saying that anyone who didn’t vote for them doesn’t matter!!
Small states don’t matter according to Mark Penn.
S. Carolina didn’t matter because those black folks voted for Jesse Jackson according to Bill.

Have you forgotten that the Clinton Hispanic pollster said that Latinos won’t vote for a black man?
Have you forgotten that Clinton surrogates filed a lawsuit to keep service workers in Nevada from being able to caucus near work?
I forgot. Any union who doesn’t support Clinton doesn’t matter either.

simon

I want examples of every charge. Attacking women? Gay people? Nonsense

It’s his use of language, the code language, the example given today is indicative of the covert tactics Obama uses.

Are you denying these arent attacks?

Do you really believe they’re not attacks?

And you think others buy it when you tell them these arent’ attacks?

That’s silly, now, isn’t it?

You can become delusional believing your own foam, how to create a bubble, 101.

This didnt’ really out to well, for Bush, now did it?

Xeno

The orchestrated fainting ritual calls to mind the same phenomenon in some churches. At a certain part of the service, a woman (or women) in the congregation is overcome by emotion and the Holy Spirit, called down by the preacher’s powerful sermon, and starts to fall out in the pews. The preacher then directs some good ladies of the church to revive the believer, while the rest of the congregation chants praise for the mighty witness to God’s power (and that of the preacher). Often there are women dressed in white uniforms like old style nurses, waiting to fan worshipers and help them back into their seats with a somewhat theatrical flourish. The preacher might go through the same routine every Sunday, to the delight of the assembly.

Perhaps Barack has incorporated more of the evangelical/megachurch sideshow into his campaign than we had even realized. Having women pretend to be overcome by the Holy spirit during sermons in the Unityfication Church of Obamatology is just a radical extension of his pseudo-religious shtick. It’s disturbing, but given his history it’s hardly surprising.

susanunpc

Woah. Spot on.

In fact, as I began writing the story, I tried to find a video of evangelist Bennie Hahn doing that to women — he’d touch them, they’d faint, they’d be revived — but none was on YouTube. Then got caught up in the rest of the writing, and left it behind.

You describe it SO well.

” It’s disturbing, but given his history it’s hardly surprising.”

I’m so creeped out.

And a BIG part of my PERSONAL problem is that I never ever “got” Obama. When I listened to his 2004 Democratic convention speech, I YAWNED. He didn’t say anything substantive — it was all bullshit rhetoric. And I tried listening to him various other times, and had the same unfortunate reaction: a big yawn. I never caught the fever. I will NEVER catch the fever.

In 2000, I voted for Al Gore even though Bradley was my primary choice. In 2004, I forced myself to vote for John Kerry even though I’d campaigned my heart out for Howard Dean. And that was because the INCESSANT mantra was that John Kerry was “electable,” whatever the fuck that meant, especially looking back on his whole sorry campaign. I’m not saying either of my candidates would have made great presidents, but damn — they would have been better than the eventual nominee shoved down my throat. I’m really sick of this.

I’ve long noted that the Democratic party lacks a lot of good ol’ C.S. They’ve nominated some real doozies over the years! (So have the Republicans, but … the Republicans are the ones who now seem to be getting their act together (they’ll quiet down Limbaugh, et al.) Once again … the Democrats are poised to make the WORST possible choice. Give me John Edwards. Give me Joe Biden. Give me Chris Dodd. Give me Bill Richardson, even. For god’s sake, don’t give me this narcassistic PHONY.
Cee

Xeno,

Are you saying that the Obama campaign is having people faint on command?

Is that what you’re REALLY saying?

Gregoryp

Apparently, you’ve checked your common sense at the door. If it happens once then you say poor woman. If it happens twice you have to say I wonder what is going on. When it happens repeatedly you’ve got to go hmmmm. I’m 39 and I have only seen a couple of people legitimately pass out and those people had serious illnesses. Healthy, active women just don’t pass out. We are a long way removed when young women wore girdles or corsets so tightly that they passed out. This isn’t normal behavior in the least. Probably just another attempt by Obama to portray women as weak and incapable.

TeakWoodKite

The Beatles had this affect. What is that about anyway? I’m just a meathead when it comes to this and I don’t get it.

rjj

Jesus Christ, fainting fits! — a Karl Rove wet dream.

Why hasn’t the HRC campaign edited the fainting incidents + response into one. It will be a Republican ad that will run ad nauseam by the end of the summer.

I didn’t slog thru those videos. Speaking of Republican ads, did any of them show the faintee? If so, how many were black?

rjj

OK. I am lazy. Found another site where it is easier to get to the fainting lady footage.

Seems more like ridicule fodder. A McCain [pseudo]ad in which some big burly guy faints, McCain bitchslaps him and says “get a grip.” would win a lot of hearts (if not minds) and votes.

SandyS

What truly disturbs me about these videos is that it was always a woman. Is this a sly way of saying that women can’t run the country because they just might faint? Am I being crazy here? It is really hot and uncomfortable at those rallies. I was at a Hillary Clinton rally and coming down with the flu and I felt a little faint. But I did not faint, collapse, or anything close. So, I’m wondering, is this staged to make women perceived as incapable of running the country?

susanunpc

OMG. That’s truly creepy. God knows they’re willing to pull anything. As someone pointed out, his campaign manager Axelrod is also from Chicago — used to be a reporter there — and he knows, just from reporting, how dirty politics is played. (Have to say, ever seen I first saw him on TV, there’s something smarmy about Axelrod that I can’t quite put my finger on. At least he’s looking a little less unkempt and like he has better personal hygiene these days when I see him on TV.)

Then he’s got that other guy — whose name escapes me at the moment — it’s in one of my new pieces below — who’s a master manipulator of large groups of people, and might be up to such tricks.

simon

who’s a master manipulator of large groups of people, and might be up to such tricks

.

Do you buy it, though, because he puts it out there, or does it look kinda stupid?

Isnt it the difference between the koskrew, and smart people?

Don’t buy into it, the guy is a simplistic, trite predictable moron, even for dirty tricks.

The point they’re trying to distract you from is Obama’s relationship with Rezko, and Auchi.

I wonder how Axelrod, or even Obama, would stand up to a Hezbollah murderer, or torturer?

Would he faint like a chick?

This is the reality of the men Rezko, and Auchi deal with.
SandyS

I have read many of your articles, susan, and I feel really good that you didn’t just come out and say I was crazy. Thanks. If this was happening at Clinton events, the mainstream media would be all over it. It truly frustrates me that nothing, absolutely nothing is investigated by the mainstream media in regards to this guy. Not Rezko, not his misogynistic tendencies, not his pressuring of African American super delegates, nothing. He’s as teflon as George W. Bush, until and unless he becomes the Democratic nominee. I truly want Hillary Clinton to be my next president, but if she loses the nomination, I hate to say it, but I will actually enjoy watching the fawning press turn on a dime towards Barack Obama.

Lawnguylander

But, you decide.

I’m just reporting.

I’ve decided that anyone who quotes Krauthammer, James Taranto, Joe Klein, Jake Tapper, Dori Munson, Andrea Mitchell and Nora O’Donnell to make political points is not someone I should bother listening to. Who’s next? Jonah Goldberg?

Mike Howell

Lawnguylander –

Jonah Goldberg is the worst. He can’t even be on a show trying to hawk his book for a few minutes before he runs into difficulty trying to describe his tortured positions.

But like Mimi said above – even a broken clock is right twice a day…
Gregoryp

Isn’t that just a primary step for becoming fully indoctrinated into any belief? Whenever you automatically or flippantly discount another person’s viewpoint despite the strength of the argument because they don’t agree with your viewpoint makes you very susceptible to manipulation and compromises your critical thinking skills. That is exactly one of the greatest tragedies of the modern information age. To many people just seek out people with the same points of view and strive to fix the information so that their worldview is never challenged.

TeakWoodKite

the greatest tragedies of the modern information age

Great point.

rjj

This may be one of those things that have been posted everywhere.

Chris Matthews
Michael Lafferty

Quite possibly the most interesting thing about the video in which Senator Obama delivers these remarks is not the content everyone has focused on, but rather the means of delivery. As someone who has conduct thousands of interrogations, I am fascinated by this.

Executive summary: the ‘gifted orator’ is unable to speak extemporaneously.

Now, there are many possible explanations for this behavior. Some quite innocent. But, note how uncomfortable he appears to be, either offering these specific remarks or having been placed in a position to comment at all.

Uh, um, um… I counted 7 in less than thirty seconds or so. These are not the characteristics of a ‘gifted orator’ who is alert and comfortable with the subject matter. I cannot draw any defensible conclusions beyond that based upon this short snippet, but this: what we have been told about this individual, is apparently not what we see in this specific instance. One has to wonder about the mythology…
kj1313

No no no she’s not going to quote Jonah Goldberg, it’ll be Newt Gingrich or maybe Dick Morris. WTF! Both of these candidates are DEMOCRATS!!

Cee you’re totally right, I don’t know about you but either one of them should be getting our support once the nomination process is done. The ENEMY are the REPUBLICANS for the wonderful job they have done the last 7 yrs. I think I’ve dropped in the REPUBLICAN nominating process of 2000 the way the vitriol is ratcheted up.

s.hall, what one candidate has the right to run but the other does not? I’m sorry for a second there I thought this was AMERICA not Pakistan.

Susanunpc you note the establishment candidate were Gore & Kerry. Well isn’t the establishment candidate Clinton?!?! I kept on hearing a few months ago that the nominees would be Clinton & Guiliani. Nobody thought Dodd, Biden, Richardson or Obama would have a shot.

Uhh let’s see here from you post of 3/18/06 the one titled Anti Hillary Candidate

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2006/03/18/the-anti-hillary-candidate/

“But, until we reinstate the Constitution, and until we do away with pre-emptive wars, state-sanctioned torture, and domestic spying, we need to pick the Democrats. However, I am not sure I have confidence that Hillary would get rid of those programs. Seriously. (Boy I hope I eat those words if I have to close my eyes and vote for her, and she wins.) I KNOW that Russ Feingold would. And a President Feingold would have a vastly better chance at doing so with Congressmen like Jim “Fear the King” Marcinkowski.”

Wow thinking of Hillary in 2006…. Plus I love the fact you though she’ll do nothing re:FISA. Yeah and it sucks it’s not Russ Feingold running .

Seriously I think I’m in the F****** Twilight Zone…

Mike Howell

kj –

I seem to remeber something about McCain joining with Feingold on a tax bill…

So you think McCain is our enemy? I think McCain has done some pretty brave things, stood up well under fire and taken a whole lot of heat from his own party. Same as Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Gregoryp

I am glad that you are sure they are both democrats. I am damned sure that Hillary is a democrat. Not sure about Obama. He is a guy who will say pretty much anything depending on the audience. That is why I believe he is a fraud. In Iowa he claims to have passed legislation he didn’t pass. He claims that lobbyists have no power with him yet he waters his own bill down when given large amounts of cash and support from the Exelon. In Idaho he claims he is against gun control yet his record in Illinois shows otherwise. He continually skips or votes present on bills that would mark him as a democrat. He tells CNN he is NOT a liberal. What do you think is going on with this guy? He basically backtracks on every liberal issue that a good democrat should always proudly claim. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. From a liberal perspective he is the worst candidate that I’ve ever seen. He is willing to compromise all of our values away. Now is the time for hard partisan politics because after a disastrous administration like the Bush administration this is our best chance to fix some of the real issues we face.
Nellie

kj,

Obama is the Brand of the Financial Establishment. In December 2006, Obama reached a bargain with the financial establishment. His sales points were agreed to be illusion of change, and anti-Bush change, instead of real economic change that fit the actual priorities of the Democratic Party. His position reflect the viewpoints of his high-profile donors.

http://nymag.com/news/politics/30634/

Also here are Obama’s Rezko bundlers http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedia/obama.pdf_20070617_21_13_43_1648.imageContent

The difference between Obama and Hillary as establishment figures, is that Hillary can set her own agenda within boudaries. Obama has ZERO wiggle room. Britsh Reporter Peter Hitchens spent time in Chicago and Springfield Il. throughly investigating Obama. Keep in mind, British reporters have to have a minimum of 2 sources, and have personally verified everything said, due to the stringent libel laws Britain has.

In speaking to fellow Illinois Representatives who personally knew Obama, Mr. Hitchens found that:

Both these politicians also mentioned Obama’s money problems. These were big.

And, as recounted in a refreshingly ungushing biography by David Mendell, Obama was seriously short of cash. When he went to the Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles in 2000 he couldn’t hire a car to get around because his credit card was maxed out.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=511901&in_page_id=1811

To Sum it up:

1. Obam ahas a history of BIG money problems, and a pattern of living beyond his means. The house he bought in June 2005, with some assistance from Rezko, is part of that same pattern.

2. Obama sold himself in total to the Financial Establishment.

3. It was agreed that Obama’s sales spiel would be the illusion of change, anti-Bush change

4. There were to be no promises of real economic change.

Obama is the enemy, a fraud and a phony as oulined in this post, as well as the one Susan did above.

If you read the links included with this post you will see why Obama is a devastating liability to the country.

The party is deeply divided, because of the simple reason that certain activist democrats selfishly wanted euphoric Mesmerization in lieu of doing the hard work of vetting.

Detailed research as done by Susan, Larry, Taylor Marsh and others proves that Obama is DIRTY – VERY DIRTY!

Karl Rove is salivating at the thought of Obama getting the nomination – he hasn’t spent the last few months sitting home and watching TV.

I love my country and realize she is deeply wounded. If you take a day or so to actually read some of the FACTS here, at MyDD, or Taylor Marsh’s site, you would see that Obama is extremely dangerous for this country.

After much angst I have reached the decision NOT to vote for Obam even if he is the nominee. I will write in either Hillary or Edwards name. I will not be a party to causing my country any further harm.

Cee

Nellie,

And I STILL don’t trust Hillary.

Hillary Clinton Pretends She Never Praised NAFTA
by davidsirota
Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 11:25:27 AM PST
In response to Barack Obama’s attack on NAFTA, the Hillary Clinton campaign has gone into meltdown mode. Here’s Dow Jones’ Marketwatch:

“Clinton’s campaign fired back at Obama, charging the Illinois senator with misrepresenting Clinton’s position on trade…’Recently [Obama] falsely claimed that Hillary said that NAFTA was a ‘boon’ to the economy. Now, Obama is resting his argument on a single paraphrase from an article written twelve years ago,’ Clinton’s campaign said in an emailed statement.”

The Huffington Post has followed along with a laugh-out-loud piece in which the chief architects of NAFTA (many who are now wealthy corporate lawyers and lobbyists) are now saying, no, no, Hillary Clinton was really opposed to it. These are the same people, of course, who are looking for jobs in the Hillary Clinton White House.

What a total joke, really. This campaign clearly thinks we are all just a bunch of fools.

davidsirota’s diary :: ::

Hillary Clinton has made statements unequivocally trumpeting NAFTA as the greatest thing since sliced bread. The Buffalo News reports that back in 1998, Clinton attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and thanked praised corporations for mounting “a very effective business effort in the U.S. on behalf of NAFTA.” Yes, you read that right: She traveled to Davos to thank corporate interests for their campaign ramming NAFTA through Congress.

On November 1, 1996, United Press International reported that on a trip to Brownsville, Texas, Clinton “touted the president’s support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would reap widespread benefits in the region.”

The Associated Press followed up the next day noting that Hillary Clinton touted the fact that “the president would continue to support economic growth in South Texas through initiatives such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.”

In her memoir, Clinton wrote, “Senator Dole was genuinely interested in health care reform but wanted to run for President in 1996. He couldn’t hand incumbent Bill Clinton any more legislative victories, particularly after Bill’s successes on the budget, the Brady bill and NAFTA.”

Yes, we are all expected to just forget that, so that Hillary Clinton’s campaign can manufacture supposed “outrage” that anyone would say she supported NAFTA – all at a time her chief strategist, Mark Penn, simultaneously heads a firm that is right now pushing to expand NAFTA into South America.

What a total insult to America’s intelligence.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/16/142442/465/554/458123

Lynn

I personally heard David Sirota tell an outright lie about H. Clinton’s policy toward leaders of hostile nations on the local Air America station in Denver. That prooves to me that he’s not a reliable source for any information, especially on this campaign.
http://www.despair.com/ambition.html Smilin’ Jim

“What a total insult to America’s intelligence.”

It is impossible to insult America’s intelligence.

Cee

KJ,

Archives are a bitch. LOL!!

Mike Howell

kj –

Sorry – remember – missed an m there.
kj1313

When you have the NEOCONS lining up with him, yeah then he is part of the enemy camp. Remember it’s ABOUT JUDICIAL NOMINEES TO THE SUPREME COURT!!!! A DEMOCRAT IS A DEMOCRAT IS A DEMOCRAT.

Mike Howell

kj –

That’s what scares me. Karl Rove seems to be in love with Obama.
Nellie

Yeah and Obama voted for either John Roberts, or was it Samuel Alito and then had the gall to write a diary on Kos excoriating everyone for expressing their opinion to Patrick Leahy.

Another pattern, lack of Judgment.

TeakWoodKite

I would like to find that diary and read it.
Do you have to be a member of Kos to get the archives?

As Cee said:

Archives are a bitch. LOL!!

CK

On the votes for the appointment to the Supreme court of both Roberts and Alito, both Clinton and Obama voted nay.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00245 on Roberts

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00002 on Alito
Nellie

No you do not have to be a member to search Kos
Nellie

Your wish – my command – Here is the diary entitled
Tone, Truth, and the Democratic Party

Here is the link http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/30/102745/165

Obama tells off Democratic Activists

kj1313

Mike-

I’m not pissed at you for being cautious. We all should be cautious. These are men & women that are going to lead this country. But I am pissed at people comparing him to the Chimp in Command. Barack has read books longer than My Pet Goat I guarantee you that. Also people seem to forget about Bill Clinton’s campaign. The only thing I remember about that is him saying he came from a place called Hope(Arkansas).

Look I’m coming at this as what I see on the ground. I have friends who are Long Island Republicans who despise both McCain & Clinton because of Rush & Hannity. Apparently McCain kicked the Conservatives puppies or something(I don’t know). But they like Obama’s style. Yeah yeah we shouldn’t elect a president on style. But isn’t that what got both Kerry & Gore in trouble? I wish we had the Gore that we have now running but we don’t. If the Liberal of the Senate, Teddy Kennedy, is on Obama’s side than I have some faith.

LOL

So you run in fear of what Republicans think? And O by the way, the Republicans are going to trash Obama, just as he trashed all the others.

And the minute that “Independents” see that Obama was endorsed by Moveon, Ted Kennedy and he wants drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants, they’ll be running like crazy into McCain’s arms.

The right wing is just saving all this until Obama is the Nomma.

kj1313

LOL-

Independants are what it is going to take to win this election or have we forgotten the last 2 election cycles. Your disdain for Independants is exactly what is wrong. In fact it’s Independants that’s helped get Jim Webb & Jon Tester elected to their positions or have we forgotten that. Leave troll.

Nellie

Watch it – I am an Independent, who will NOT support Obama.

kj1313

Gregoryp-

He’s definately more liberal than McCain who is pro life & wnats to keep our troops in Iraq for 10, 100 or 1000 years.

Gregoryp

Is Obama pro-choice or is he pro-life? What does his record say on the issue? Present?

As for McCain I think you along with the other pseudointellectuals at DKos are intentionally mischaracterizing what he said. Just as a querry what happened in Vietnam and Cambodia when we pulled out? How many people were slaughtered by the Khmer Rhouge? As much as I want our troops out of Iraq it would be completely irresponsible to just abandon the population with a unilateral pull-out. How many Iraqi’s have already lost their lives in this giant clusterfuck? 500,000? 700,000? 1,000,000?

Imagine how many more innocent people will lose their lives if we pull out. Good god man we are responsible for that reprehensible shit. It is our responsibility to fix it with or without the international community. Honestly, if you actually believe that Obama will pull out of Iraq as soon as he gets in office then you are much too irrational for discourse. Not to mention that Iraq is one of the most strategic places on Earth due to its abundance of oil reserves and its location in the middle east. Not one candidate is going to be able to pull us out of Iraq in the foreseeable future despite what they say. And of course, Obama has a long history of lying on this particular campaign trail.

simon

Just as a querry what happened in Vietnam and Cambodia when we pulled out? How many people were slaughtered by the Khmer Rhouge

Speaking of Iraq, as an aside, would you, or anyone else, be familiar with Russia’s role in Vietnam, even tangentially, or could you recommend a book, or a historian you respect, who is familiar with the subject?

I’m just trying to get more of a feel for the foreign policy Russian zeitgeist as it applies to Putin, since WW2, say, even if no direct role was played.

Gregoryp

Simon I just don’t know. My uncle and several of my cousins were in Vietnam and my uncle claimed that they were fighting the Russians and the Chinese. Unfortunately, he suffers tremendously from PTSD and is basically completely insane. The last time I did some serious research into the subject matter was probably 15 years ago. JSTOR might be a good place to start though. Unfortunately, we live in an era where disinformation from our government is very common. Who knows what to believe?

Mike Howell

Gregoryp –

I’m sorry about your uncle.

kj1313

We can’t babysit a civil war or have we forgotten that. Partition the country into three & welcome the Turks when they invade Kurdistan. Also I’m an Indian-American(born & bred in NY), you are not going to stop thousand of year old grudges. Heck my Dad & Uncles still holds grudges against Pakistan for things long past.

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