Is Barack Obama Mentally Fatigued?
By Larry Johnson
Email: larry_johnson@earthlink.net
Site: http://NoQuarterUSA.net
About: Larry C. Johnson is a former analyst at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, who moved subsequently in 1989 to the U.S. Department of State, where he served four years as the deputy director for transportation security, antiterrorism assistance training, and special operations in the State Department's Office of Counterterrorism. He left government service in October 1993 and set up a consulting business. He currently is the co-owner and CEO of BERG Associates, LLC (Business Exposure Reduction Group) and is an expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, and crisis and risk management, and money laundering investigations. Johnson is the founder and main author of No Quarter, a weblog that addresses issues of terrorism and intelligence and politics. NoQuarterUSA was nominated as Best Political Blog of 2008.[1] He has worked as a private consultant on issues of international terrorism and security for the U.S. Government and private companies. Johnson has appeared as a consultant and commentator in many major newspapers and news programs.[2]
Contents [hide]
1 Background
2 Views
2.1 1996
2.2 1998
2.3 1999
2.4 2000
2.5 2001
2.6 2003
2.6.1 Plame affair
2.7 2008
3 Notes
4 References
5 External links
[edit]Background
Larry Johnson moved to Washington, D.C. in 1979 to begin work on a Ph.D. at the American University. Although he completed successfully all coursework and comprehensive exams, he did not write a dissertation. In 1978 and in 1983-85 he worked in Latin America on community development projects as a community organizer. Returning to the United States in 1985 he joined the Central Intelligence Agency, thanks in part to a letter of recommendation from Republican Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that helped to "open doors" for him at the Agency.[3] Johnson entered on duty at the CIA in September 1985 and was a classmate of Valerie Plame. Every member of that class was undercover. After a year in the Career Trainee program, which included a stint with the Afghan Task Force, Johnson was assigned as an analyst in the Middle America Caribbean Division in the Latin American Affairs Office of the Directorate of Intelligence. He received two Exceptional Performance awards and was promoted ultimately to Senior Regional Analyst for Central America.
Johnson remained undercover in the CIA until October 1989, when he resigned from the CIA and started a new job in the Office of Counter Terrorism at the Department of State. Johnson played an instrumental role in launching the Terrorism Rewards program international advertising campaign (working with Diplomatic Security officers Brad Smith and Michael Parks). [4] Johnson also was involved in a variety of crisis management response operations, including the release of hostages from Lebanon and liaison with the Pan Am 103 families. He left government service in October 1993 and started his own business as a consultant.
After leaving government service, Johnson became a frequent guest on many major television news shows when a question of terrorism came up. He was first interviewed by CNN following the capture of Carlos the Jackal. Johnson subsequently appeared on CNN, ABC's Nightline, CBS, the BBC, MSNBC, the Jim Lehrer News Hour, NBC, and NPR. In December of 1999, for example, Johnson was hired by NBC to serve as its terrorist expert for the Y2000 and was in Time Square with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric ("a lot of fun and the best way to see in the New Year"). Johnson also was hired in January 2002 as a Fox News Analyst and remained under contract until February 2003.
Since 1994 a significant focus of Johnson's consulting work has been with the U.S. military special operations forces in scripting and conducting military counter terrorism exercises. He traveled under orders from the U.S. military to Iraq in May 2006 to work on a short term project.
A registered Republican who supported President Bush in 2000, Johnson became a strong critic of the Bush administration in May 2003 for its conduct of the war in Iraq and, a few months later, for its role in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.[5] He was also featured in the 2004 political documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism. Since Robert Novak's controversial disclosure of Valerie Plame as a CIA operative in July 2003, Johnson has contributed to public discourse on intelligence matters, often sparking further controversy. He has been interviewed by both the mass media and the alternative media and published commentaries on a variety of issues, including the Plame affair, the controversy concerning Mary McCarthy, and the resignation of Porter Goss as Director of Central Intelligence.
[edit]Views
This article or section may contain an inappropriate mixture of prose and timeline.
Please help convert this timeline into prose or, if necessary, a list.
[edit]1996
In 1996, Johnson noted that terrorism worldwide was on the decline. "Terrorist incidents [both internationally and in the US] have fallen to levels not seen since the 1970s. Whether measured by the number of incidents, the number of fatalities, or the number of groups, raw statistics demonstrate that the level of terrorist violence has declined since the mid-1980s. In fact, the evidence suggests terrorism was more widespread and deadly 10 years ago."[6]
He also wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Times suggesting that the newer and more deadly terrorist threat to the U.S. was embodied by "networks of terrorists, mostly foreign, working within its borders." Exemplifying this threat was Ramzi Yousef, one of the masterminds behind the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center. In the article, Johnson suggests that enhanced cooperation between intelligence agencies, particularly the FBI and CIA, is mandatory to meet the growing threat of terror networks.[7]
[edit]1998
In 1998, Johnson argued that while overall terrorism was declining, the threat from bin Laden and al-Qaeda should be the focus of American counterterrorism policy:
The nature of the threat posed by Bin Ladin is highlighted by my final chart, number 7. Osama Bin Ladin and individuals associated with him have killed and wounded more Americans than any other group. This chart also illustrates that groups such as Hamas and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) prior to 1998 have killed more foreigners in the anti-US terrorist attacks. If we take into account the bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Osama's status as the most lethal terrorist is certain.[8]
In addition, he told USA Today that bin Laden had participated in "virtually every major attack of terrorism against the United States" in the 1990s. Johnson underlined the threat posed by bin Laden, saying that he was possessed by "hatred and craziness." If left unanswered, "he would continue to terrorize Americans around the world. He has no compunction about killing women and children. He's a complete egalitarian in his murderous attitude."[9]
[edit]1999
In an interview with PBS's Frontline for its 1999 program, Hunting bin Laden, Johnson discussed Osama bin Laden.[10] According to Johnson, Americans had "tended to make Osama bin Laden sort of a superman in Muslim garb." "Actually," he continues, "Osama bin Laden, in my view, represents more of a symptom of a problem, and the problem is this: the Saudi Arabian government, not just Osama bin Laden but many people in Saudi Arabia, have been sending money to radical Islamic groups for years." Johnson continued:
When you look at who's killed Americans in the last 10 years, the individuals he's supported and backed--I'm basing that upon the initial information that's been released in the indictments and conversations with others in the intelligence communities--Osama bin Laden has been the one killing Americans. No other terrorist group in the world has been out killing Americans except for Osama bin Laden.... Osama bin Laden remains out there as the one really targeting us. So, we recognize that he's the threat. He's serious about wanting to kill Americans, but as long as he's in Afghanistan, as long as he doesn't have access to a cell phone, as long as he can't just hop on a plane and travel wherever he wants without fear of being arrested, his ability to plan and conduct terrorist operations is extremely limited. We have to recognize [that] he would like to do a lot of damage. He would like to kill Americans, but wanting to is different from being able to, having the full capabilities in place.[11]
In the interview, Johnson doubted the ability of members of bin Laden's organization to plan and put their lives on the line:
There's not another Ali or Mustafa out there at this point and Osama bin Laden in my view has not been a very effective organizer or leader. He talks a great game and puts out terrific threats as far as stirring the passions in the United States and maybe firing up the imaginations of some young Muslims throughout the world. But when push comes to shove, can he get a group of people who are together who will say: we are going to plan an operation, we're going to put our lives on the line, we're going to go out and try and kill people and we don't care what the consequence is? It hasn't happened.[12]
Frontline asked:
[Is it] ... fair to say what you're saying is that the president of the United States, his national security advisor, his deputy national security advisor for counter-terrorism, are basically blowing smoke [about the danger posed by bin Laden] and his followers]?
Johnson responded:
They're grossly exaggerating the problem. They are hyping it. They shouldn't be talking about rising terrorism. Instead of saying "terrorism's rising," it's not. "Terrorism is spreading," it's not. "More people are dying from terrorism," not the case. But what they should be saying is, "There's one individual out there that really doesn't like us, and he's made it his mission in life to kill Americans, and we've gotta deal with him." But we need to have a voice of reason in that process instead of putting ourselves out crying wolf, because this is essentially what's taking place right now. They call it the administration that cries wolf.[12]
[edit]2000
Johnson co-authored an article in 2000 with Milt Bearden which focused on the threat posed by al-Qaeda specifically, rather than terrorism trends in general. Beardon and Johnson note that new information emerging about the bombings at Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 points to the threat posed by Imad Mugniyah and Osama Bin Laden will require "a coordinated policy that will employ a full range of covert, clandestine, diplomatic, and military operations," concluding:
The Clinton Administration has shot its bolt on the terrorist problem with small effect, and no last minute show of force will change the record. A new administration can start afresh with a more sharply defined set of terrorism goals – Mughniyeh and bin Laden and their protectors for starters – and bring the full, coordinated force of American diplomatic, military, and intelligence capabilities to bear on the problem.[13]
[edit]2001
After Johnson's testimony to the special forum at the U.S. Senate, Gary J. Schmitt, executive director and CEO of the Project for the New American Century, refers in the Daily Standard (blog) to an op-ed piece Johnson wrote two months prior to the 9/11 attacks, claiming that Johnson argued that the US had little to fear from terrorism.[14]
In an editorial entitled "The Declining Terrorist Threat," published in the New York Times on 10 July 2001, Johnson says:
Judging from news reports and the portrayal of villains in our popular entertainment, Americans are bedeviled by fantasies about terrorism. They seem to believe that terrorism is the greatest threat to the United States and that it is becoming more widespread and lethal. They are likely to think that the United States is the most popular target of terrorists. And they almost certainly have the impression that extremist Islamic groups cause most terrorism.... None of these beliefs are based in fact.... While terrorism is not vanquished, in a world where thousands of nuclear warheads are still aimed across the continents, terrorism is not the biggest security challenge confronting the United States, and it should not be portrayed that way.[15]
Ten days after the 9/11 attacks, after quoting the above passage, Timothy Noah concludes a post in his "Chatterbox" feature at Slate: "Johnson's analysis, we now see, was bold, persuasive, and 100 percent wrong."[16] Johnson defended himself against such attacks:
The rightwing is resurrecting an op-ed I wrote in July 2001. I stand by the full article. It is still relevant today. I am accused, incorrectly, of ignoring the threat of terrorism. In fact, I correctly noted that the real threat emanated from Bin Laden and Islamic extremism. President Bush, for his part, ignored the CIA warning in August 2001 that Al Qaeda was posed to strike inside the United States.[17]
After September 11, Johnson appeared several times on FOX News to address the question of military action against terrorism. On 14 November, he defended the FBI's proposal to interview 5,000 students in the U.S. suspected of having information relevant to the September 11 investigations:
I think they should talk to everyone that they feel they have a need to talk to. I mean, look, this is war. This is not a legal proceeding. This isn't the O.J. Simpson trial. The folks that attacked us -- they murdered Americans. And we've got to recognize that in wartime, we should do things differently.[18]
[edit]2003
In January 2003, Johnson wrote an analysis of the relationship between the upcoming U.S. invasion of Iraq and the threat of transnational terrorism. According to Johnson, Bremer's response was to tell him that "it didn't matter what Saddam did or didn't do, we were going to war."[19] The paper warned that an invasion would "do little to destroy the infrastructure of radical Islamic terrorism responsible for the 9-11 attacks." Noting that Saddam Hussein's regime has been a longtime supporter of regional terrorist organizations such as the PLO, Johnson examines contacts between Saddam Hussein and transnational terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda:
There is no doubt that Iraq is a state sponsor of terrorism—i.e., a country that provides financial support, safe haven, training, or weapons and explosives to groups or individuals that carry out terrorist attacks. . . . According to Central Intelligence Agency data, there is no credible evidence implicating Iraq in any mass casualty terrorist attacks since 1991. . . .
Johnson notes that the period immediately leading up to 2003 saw a rise of activity surrounding terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, suggesting that "Iraq is willing to help a movement that it would otherwise oppose on ideological grounds. Nonetheless," Johnson concludes, "it is important to understand that Iraqi entreaties to Al Qaeda, are most likely intended as a tactic to bolster Iraq’s ability to fight off a U.S. invasion rather than a deep-seated theological and ideological commitment to the terrorist agenda of Bin Laden.[20]
In that analysis Johnson also warns that the U.S.-led invasion was likely to backfire:
In fact there is a serious risk that a U.S. led war against Iraq may crystallize the diffused anger in the Arab and Muslim world — a heretofore unattained goal of bin Laden and his followers — and persuade more Muslim youths to take up the terrorist banner against America and her citizens.... If we decide to invade Iraq we must be prepared for the contingency that our attack will inspire young Muslims to pursue jihad against the West in general and the United States in particular. Just as the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan rallied many Muslims, especially young adults to the cause of jihad, a U.S. attack may enable Islamic extremists to attract new followers.[20]
Johnson also gave interviews on the topic of what to do with captured al-Qaeda leaders; while he did not condone torture, he suggested that a "sleep deprivation and reward system" might be useful for getting information from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed:
I don't see a constitutional right to have eight hours of sleep. You shouldn't subject someone to freezing but they don't get to wear mink coats, either.[21]
In May 2003, Johnson joined members of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) in condemning the manipulation of intelligence for political purposes:
It is a misuse and abuse of intelligence. The president was being misled. He was ill served by the folks who are supposed to protect him on this. Whether this was witting or unwitting, I don't know, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.[22]
[edit]Plame affair
After Robert Novak wrote a column identifying the wife of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson as a CIA officer, the media invited Johnson to comment on the ensuing scandal because he had been a member of the same Career Trainee class with Valerie Plame Wilson. For example, in October 2003, he appeared on Democracy Now to discuss the Plame affair. He told interviewer Amy Goodman that Valerie Wilson's cover should have been respected whether she was an "analyst" or a "cleaning lady": "if she's undercover she's undercover, period. If the media allows themselves to get distracted with those kinds of curve balls, they ignore the issue."[23]
He told a Senate Democratic Policy Committee in October 2003, "My classmates and I have been betrayed. Together, we have kept the secrets of each other's identities a secret for 18 years. Each and every one of us have kept that secret, whether we were in the CIA, in other government service or in the private sector. But this issue is not just about a blown cover. It is about the destruction of the very essence, the core of human intelligence collection activities: plausible deniability, apparently, for partisan domestic political reasons."[24]
Johnson testified at a special joint hearing of Congressional and Senate Democrats on 22 July 2005 about the consequences arising from the Plame affair.[25]
[edit]2008
In 2008, Johnson emerged as a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton and a strong critic of Barack Obama. Larry Johnson's blog, NoQuarterUSA, became a rally point for Clinton supporters wary of Barack Obama's qualifications to be president. Supporters of Barack Obama insist that a story that first appeared on Johnson's blog--a report that Republican operatives have a tape of Michelle Obama making racially insenstive comments about caucasians--has been "refuted" Barack Obama's Fight the Smears website.[26]. However, Johnson never claimed to have the tape and reported that the Republican operatives controlling it intended to release the tape sometime after the Democratic Convention in August 2008. On October 21, however, he asserted that the operative in possession of the tape had been instructed by the McCain campaign not to release it.[27]
[edit]Notes
^ http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-political-coverage/
^ Larry C. Johnson, "About Me," No Quarter (personal blog).
^ "Former CIA Official Larry Johnson Delivers Democratic Radio Address," transcript posted on official Democratic National Committee's website for The Democratic Party, July 23, 2005], accessed November 21, 2006.
^ Interview with Larry Johnson, confirmed by his supervisor
^ "Ex-CIA official Blasts Bush on Leak of Operative's Name: Democrats' Radio Address Focuses on White House Aides' Role," CNN July 23, 2005, accessed November 21, 2006.
^ Gail Russell Chaddock, "Why Terrorists Pick On the French," Christian Science Monitor (5 December 1996) p. 1.
^ Larry Johnson, "Terrorists Among Us," New York Times (20 August 1996) p. A19.
^ Terrorism Today
^ Lee Michael Katz, "The Hunt for Bin Laden," USA Today (21 August 1998) p. 1A.
^ See Transcript of original interview with Larry C. Johnson, as broadcast on Frontline in 1999. Cf. "Interview: Larry C. Johnson," for Hunting bin Laden, transcript of interview broadcast on Frontline subsequently on 13 April 2001. See also dedicated PBS webpages for media links: Iraq and the War on Terror, Frontline PBS, online featured programs, accessed 19 November 2006.
^ frontline: hunting bin laden: interviews: larry c. johnson | PBS
^ a b [1].
^ As posted in [2].
^ Gary Schmitt, [ 07/25/2005 "Meet Larry Johnson: The CIA official Turned Democratic Spokesman Has a Pre-9/11 Mindset," Daily Standard (blog), July 25, 2005, accessed November 20, 2006.
^ *Larry C. Johnson, "The Declining Terrorist Threat," The New York Times 10 July 2001: A19.
^ Timothy Noah, "(Not Exactly a) Whopper of the Week: Larry C. Johnson," Chatterbox: Gossip, speculation, and scuttlebutt about politics (blog), hosted by Slate September 21, 2001, accessed November 20, 2006. Note the full context of this quotation:
It is, to be sure, a little bit cheap (and slightly at odds with the usual parameters of this feature) to criticize someone for making an erroneous prediction, particularly after a tragedy. Chatterbox is especially reluctant to tag Johnson because Johnson's op-ed was argued forcefully, backed up meticulously with factual data, and bravely at odds with conventional wisdom at the time of its publication. Add in that Johnson now makes his living as a consultant to corporations about terrorism, and therefore had everything to gain by exaggerating the dangers terrorism poses, and the guy practically looks like a hero. Chatterbox, who two decades ago was an editor for the New York Times op-ed page, would have published Johnson's piece had he still been an editor there this past July. In his capacity at Slate, Chatterbox might well have written up Johnson's prediction, and perhaps even endorsed it.
But boy, is he glad he didn't! Johnson's analysis, we now see, was bold, persuasive, and 100 percent wrong. Sadly, a mistake this embarrassing cannot be ignored. As a fellow skeptic, Chatterbox in all sincerity wishes Johnson better luck next time.
^ Larry C. Johnson, "Johnson vs. President Bush," re-posted and updated by SusanHu at DailyKos (blog) July 25, 2005.
^ FOX News Interview with John Garrett (14 November 2001) Transcript #111405cb.260.
^ [3].
^ a b Larry C. Johnson, "Setting the Record Straight on Iraqi Terrorism," posted in Booman Tribune: A Progressive Community (personal blog) 27 January 2003. accessed 19 November 2006.
^ Qtd. in Toby Harnden, "CIA 'pressure' on al-Qa'eda chief," The London Telegraph 5 March 2003: 16.
^ Qtd. in Nicolas D. Kristof, "Save Our Spooks," The New York Times 30 May 2003:A6.
^ Democracy Now (3 October 2003)[4]
^ U.S. Senate, Democratic Policy Committee Meeting on the CIA Operative Leak, (24 October 2003).
^ Letter to the Senate.[Needs full source citation; see "References" section.]
^ Tumulty, Karen (2008-06-12). "Will Obama's Anti-Rumor Plan Work?", Time Magazine. Retrieved on 20 June 2008.:"a story that apparently first made a big splash on the Internet in late May in a post by pro-Hillary Clinton blogger Larry Johnson"
^ Whitey Tape, API, Phil Berg, and Andy MartinSee Authors Posts (1090) on May 11, 2008 at 4:43 PM in Bamboozling, Barack Obama, Current Affairs
If Barack can’t handle the stress of campaigning, how in the world will he cope with being President? During the past week we have seen a series of troubling gaffes by Barack Obama that strongly suggest he lacks the intellect and toughness to hold up under pressure. How else to explain his claim to have visited “57″ states, his repeated confusion in referring to NBC’s Matt Lauer as “Tim,” and waxing nostalgic about his father’s flag draped coffin.
When Dan Quayle performed in this fashion, the media was swift to label him a moron. And the media was relentless going after Hillary for her Bosnia sniper blooper. And you can be sure that if John “McCranky” McCain makes these kinds of verbal blunders the media would replay these as evidence he’s too old, too senile, or too addled to handle the job of being President. But the press is giving poor, tired Barack a pass. Are they afraid to focus on these failings for fear of being labeled “rascist’s?” The double standard is astonishing.
It is time to acknowledge that Obama lacks the stamina and mental toughness to endure the pressures he would face if elected President.
Check out the video evidence:
Here you can listen to Barack repeatedly call Matt Lauer “Tim” (as in Tim Russert). Perhaps, by being tired, he is simply affirming that Matt is just a typical white person and that all white people look alike.
Then there is the flagged draped coffin.
Howard Kurtz noted the oddity of Barack referring to his “father’s” flag draped coffin. Only problem, Barack’s dad died a Kenyan. He was not entitled to having the U.S. flag swaddling his coffin. Barack really meant to say “grandfather.” (If you have a video of his speech on Tuesday night talking about this let me know.)
Nit picking you say? Really? Well then why criticize Hillary for one comment about taking sniper fire in Bosnia. Let’s ignore Dan Quayle’s spelling errors. And let’s give McCain a preemptive pass for seeming confused, when it happens. It if is good for one it is good for all.
For Republicans there is a bright side. They can now rebut any attack on McCain’s alleged non compos mentis. Just roll tape. There are 58 states in America and Barack has visited 57 of them.
(small, medium and large sizes; for both dogs and cats)
+ 
ROFL! It took him 29 years to find out Wright “wasn’t the person I thought he was”. Doh. Ok.
Make that 20.
WHOKNOWS
NO body knows
he is a liar
we will only now after usa willhave paid a big price
how sad
By the time he’s known Rev. 29 years, he’ll have pardoned him on his last day in office?
Comment by sarainitaly | 2008-05-08 13:31:32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9-1JmTQFoc
He said father. 3:04
It took him 40 years to find out he didn’t believe anything anyone ever taught him or told him..now that he likes Waffles and found out that “White Men Can Jump”‘…and even Market you so well..you become the next Best selling FastFood in America..
Give Me a Chump Burger and some of those LIEFRIES..
Oh, you only sell KoolAid…make Mine RED…
Wow…You even get a sermon from Minister Wright at the Drive Up Window…and you can get a BAMMABABY…with your STEALMEAL…and a new CD for the Kids..the latest RAP Song..
God damn…God Damn…God damn..Ka Boom Ka Boom
The USA….Just get an AK…and make them Pay..
Ka Boom Ka Boom..The KKK..Will Have to Pay..Comrad Ayers will Lead the way..
Ka Boom Ka Boom..
One more gaft of Obama’s is if he announces he won on May 20th, and here is why, the most plausable of explanations!
Before Florida, Obama felt it important enough to campaign there in two forms, airwaves and press conference. Obama felt Florida important enought to break the rules!
Before Michigan, Obama again broke the rules, campaigning there with surrogates and fliers, so Obama felt it important enough there to again break the rules!
Obama’s case of declaring before the rules commitee decided the outcome, an outcome that will involve or should involve two things, a formitable and useable punishment to Fla and Mich, like possible 50% seating and a punishment for Obama for breaking the rules as well!
Obama is attempting to pull off caucus strategy and the DNP should publically tell Camp Obama to stop and not knowingly attempt to railroad an agreed to hearing regarding Fla and Mich, by holding prior to declarations, failure to do so is simply another Dean bias in this election campaign season!
OBAMA—OBLUNDER
O-OH
B-BOY
A-ANOTHER
M-MISTAKE
A-AGAIN
HE IS PLAINSTUPID WITHDEAD BRAINCELLS FROMHISPIPEUSE AND COMLEX FROMHISWIFE
HE ISBITTER BECAUSE OF HIS BITTER HALF –MICHELLE OBAMA
If any of you older people remember the TV Series Mr. Ed — have you noticed how much BO sounds like Mr. Ed the talking horse?
good one! The talking horse was more interesting.
LOL
Actually, I think he said he wasn’t counting Alaska or Hawaii, which his aides were not allowing him to visit — so I think that brings the tally to 59 states. Although, who am I criticize — I live in a Revolutionary War era house, so I fly the first 13 (colonies).
And he says he didn’t campaign in FL or MI so that would make 61.
Actually he said, his staff did not justify him going to Hawaii and Alaska. So it is 57 + 1 + 2 + 2
I live in a Revolutionary War era house,
and have you researched it’s history?
How cool is that!
I live in a house built in 1964. Now that was a revolution!
I live in a house that was build in 1924. Ever seen the movie, Money Pit?
Yes LOL. My Junior High school was built in that year.
obama would like to think he won the nomination and the mind game only works if you allow it. Hillary needs people to make phone calls, she will have the Popular vote after this is all done and if people don’t buy into the media hype and obama annointing himself king. MI & FL will have their day May 31st and if it isn’t resolved then (delegate count goes up to 2209) then on to the convention.
Only a racist would write such an article
Only a Racist would Listen to Minister Wright..
Howdy Uppity..I think He is beginning to see Those Shadows..and has foun d out someone has been in His Underweare drawer…All that talk of 10,000
pages of files and all..
He will find out what a “Snoopy Dog” really is I think…
Yep…Our Champ, Hillary is making him look like a lighweight Cump..
God…Michelle must bee ragging on him Day and Night…
He probably has nighmares of a SQUAWKING PARROT..
SQUAWK…BARACK…SQUAWK….. BARAK…
Bla Bla Bla…No wonder He is losing His Mind..
Time just isn’t Barky’s friend.
The man is a lightweight. A 60 year old woman ran him ragged. He looked like ten miles of bad road for awhile there. And I suspect she’s not done with him either.
Yeehaw! Let’s have a toast to 60 yr old women that can run ‘em ragged.
CEO material just keeps on trucking. Non CEO material takes vacations in the middle of the project.
Since Obama has plans for 58 states to vote - Am I right in assuming South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Maryland, Viriginia, Hawaii, Illinois, and DC (not a state but “state” is just a word) get to vote twice or at least get counted twice (e.g. mishaps in NC)? That’s how it is done in Chicago - right?
I think the Obamabots plan on staking out every voting booth in the United States on election day and bullying people to vote for The Chosen One. And if people show up with McCain bumper stickers on their cars, the Obamabrats will chant “racist!” at them as they walk in and out of the polling place. Because that will really win over hearts and minds.
I frankly think that by Halloween, the martyr complex will be in full bloom, and the Latte-swilling elites will be warming up their tongue-clucking skills so they can wax poetic about how horribly racist America is and isn’t a shame and they are sure that all THEIR neighbors voted for Obama blah blah blah.
what a thought. but that’s exactly how they will handle this campaign–by intimidation!
We are already aware of Obama supporters’ propensity for violence and for other forms of voter intimidation.
I mean, is the “fix” in for Obama? Do the supers, DNC know about this, will consider it? It seems so obvious to me that Clinton is our best choice, but it seems either they are all too afraid NOT to jump on the o-train (who likes being called a racist?), or is there something else going on?
Smell the Money Drkate?
The fix might be in, in eliteville, that doesn’t mean every single Democrat in congress is a part of the coup attempt.
And that’s why the idea of a third party or a democrat defection is anathema, to me.
Why don’t we help the real democrats, or republicans, even, give them some support against the Cheney’s, and Axelrods?
Oh I wouldn’t be using bumper stickers if I were you. I was afraid to put a Hillary one on my car.
Sugar tells a story at her blog about that. SHe’s an AA for Hillary and she had a few close calls.
They can stake out things all they want. The voting booth is you and the lever. But this is one year I DEFINITELY would NOT use a bumper sticker. Look at how many people they intimidated online. Imagine in real life.
Frankly I can’t wait till this is all over so Barky can land in the political graveyard and that will be that.
Why does barky constantly say things need to change in washington, does he forget he works there too and is partof the problem? He talks about change but I don’t see him fighting for change as a senator.
Unbelievable. Every time this empty suit makes a mistake, the press gives him a pass, or they prop him back up, or better yet, they don’t report it. We know of all the stupid things he keeps doing, but it is not getting mentioned in MSM. We have got to find people, who will be willing to speak up–for the good of this country. I can’t watch him or hear him anymore, without getting a horrible, visceral, gut wrenching visceral feeling. I don’t think I could take 4 years of this feeling. MSM has to start calling him out on this bullshit.
Ahh, his 57 state strategy. That must include Odinga’s Kenya, Iran, and Palestine. He also got that Hamas endorsement so he must be thinking they’re now a part of his voting constituency.
We know Hamas is donating to him. And we know Rezko used Auchi cash to help Obama purchase his Rezko mansion.
Perhaps he was confused and thinking of the 57 states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/oicstates1.html
The Bloggers here are So SMART….
Holy Chit.
Sara, blog that.
You can take it.
I have had my share of hate attacks this week. hahaha
The Organization of Islamic Conference Member States
Currently, the OIC has 57 member and 3 observer states
527s here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So the speech monkey can’t remember how many states there are like an average 1st grader; and he can’t tell his white (thrown under the bus grandfather) apart from his alcoholic bigamist Muslim father who went to Harvard, thus making him a legacy.
And he doesn’t say “life’s work” instead of “life work” and uses her and she incorrectly like a … well not a law review type person.
But confusing his butt boy Mr. Potato Head for just a random blow job guy like Matt Lauer?! Now that’s unforgiveable!
What will the bundlers pulling BO’s strings from Goldman Sachs, Exelon, Maytag, etc. say about his confusing his ass kissers?!! What if he forgets about them!!!
Oblamer should thank his lucky (paid-off) stars and super delegates for the lazy asses in MI & FL who don’t give a shit if he disenfranchises them.
“But Superdelegates are EVIL and should play NO ROLE in determining who our nominee is! Superdelegates MUST obey the wishes of their constituents! The popular vote is all that matters, and all the votes must be counted!”
–Obamabot standing next to me, after I’ve traveled in my time machine back to February.
And BO the lying thieving bastard who speech monkeys about “truth to the American people” has spent over $2 Million of his Wall Street bundlers ill-gotten gains buying off super delegates!!
And the SD’s are pissed, the Saudis will spend at least 10,000,000 to buy their votes, PLUS give them a free weekend in Vegas.
Superdelegates came to be to help the country avoid the disaster they are creating.
So much for a Harvard education.
I told ya’ll he is constitutionally challenged. He calls revoking the AUMF “convoluted” when it is suggested by Senator Hillary Clinton…then sends hia “advisors” to pow-wow with Hamas.
McCain calls him on it, after Hamas endorses BO and Obama sacks the folks involved. What did BO do to cover his ass?..called Mccain senile.
He thinks there are more states to pillage. I would think it subconcious burping, if the number 57 meant he was told early that day he was going to loose by 57 delegates or 57 electoral college votes.
He wants to steal the “goal posts”, but can’t write one artical for the prestigious Harvard Law review…about them.
Do they study the electoral college in Harvard?
Or was it the Harvard School of Affirmitative Marxism he spent his time at?
After one night he would be twice as parinoid as Nixon and thinking everyone he meets with has a bigger ego than he does. When he is forced into the realization that many people interacting with the Office of the POTUS, do have bigger ego’s and are national champions of the “Potomic Twostep”.
We are all going to be doing the Mombo.
That’s what gets me. He was the editor of the HLR, but even after he left, he didn’t write anything concerning Law itself.
Is he expecting to lose the GE, so he could get a SCOTUS nomination later? You know, not having a paper trail and all????
Remember they like to tout he was a Constitutional lawyer, much like John Roberts (but Roberts earned his stripes by actually being a Constitutional lawyer, and working for SCOTUS from the beginning).
Hmmmmmm
Obama is awful.
Barack Obama may very well lack the fortitude and stamina necessary to see this campaign through to conclusion, and that’s a big issue here.
However, I won’t doubt his intellect, Larry — and really, you shouldn’t either.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting Mr. Obama personally through our mutual membership in the Nat’l Conference of State Legislatures, long before he got into the U.S. Senate. Believe me, he’s nobody’s fool. He was editor of the Harvard Law Review, graduated cum laude from both Punahou School and Columbia University. Intellectually, he’s gifted, so let’s please not foolishly go there.
That said, I’d offer that his keen intellect instills in him a precarious and potentially self-destructive overconfidence, in that he could honestly believe that he doesn’t have to work as hard and / or prepare as much intellectually as the average individual to get to the exact same place.
Now, that might work at lower levels of business and government, but as you rise to the top, the competition naturally can get fiercer and more challenging, and I’m surprised he hasn’t quite grasped that concept. But then again, I don’t believe that he’s ever really been challenged politically at his own intellectual level by someone of equal or even greater capabilities.
And that’s another big issue, albeit one he could overcome if he resolutely applied himself the way Hillary Clinton does. But at present, he obviously does not while Mrs. Clinton does, and that’s why I support her candidacy.
Very nice argument. Thank you.
No offense Donald, but I know a speech monkey when I see (and hear) one. His precise grammar vanishes the second he’s off Axelrod’s script and I’m not saying he’s a dummy, but George Bush got into Yale.
Ivy League really is Bush league especially when it comes to “African Studies”, which was a major of both Oblamers. The academic mindset there is if you can get in, you deserve A’s.
I think the whiney prick thinks he’s brilliant because the blow jobs around him have always told him so.
I’ve been around brilliant people and their grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure doesn’t come and go. It’s a by-product of how much you’ve read and retained.
BO is just a self-righteous speech monkey. Even his posture is affected.
If HC or JM wore as much make-up as BO has on in the Matt Lauer/ Mr. Potato Head video, the BO zombies would accuse them of some racist Al Jolson routine.
I mean we’ve seen that BO likes to play dress-up, but how gay is he in all that make-up? As a huge homophobe, does he hate the gay part of him or the black part of him more?!!
I agree with you Sam, though of course, I’d never refer to Obama as gay, some might take your usage as a slur.
I hear verbosity, but no content.
And how the ideas are expressed is just turkey stuffing, when there is no there, there.
The accomplishments are suspect, given all we’ve seen here.
Argumentum Verbousium…
Obama, republican jet set, both, but not a thought between em all…
Argumentum verbosium
Proof by verbosity is also used colloquially in forensic debate to describe a logical fallacy (sometimes called “argumentum verbosium”) that tries to persuade by overwhelming those considering an argument with such a volume of material that the argument sounds plausible, superficially appears to be well-researched, and that is so laborious to untangle and check supporting facts that the argument is allowed to slide by unchallenged. It is the fallacy epitomized by the familiar quote: “If you can’t dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit.”
Is that Bill Kroistol, Jonah Goldberg, Obama, or WHAT?
the info is from wiki, sorry I was having trouble with the link….
Of off-script or off-chant, he can’t put two words together without separating them with uhhhhhhhhh……ahhhhhhh.
Well, so do a lot of intelligent people. What’s your point?
His verbal hesitancy is reflective of someone who’s overly cautious and tries to choose his words carefully, probably to avoid any real commitment.
Frankly, on a tactical level Obama’s campaign has been brilliant, in that it allowed the Illinois senator to successfully project himself as a blank slate, of whom people can see exactly what they want to see, and from whom they will hear only what they want to hear.
It’s certainly not what I want in a presidential candidate, but as I said, from a purely logistical standpoint, he’s been on the mark, and that’s why he’s the front-runner.
Now, whether he can hold that status as he comes under increasing public scrutiny is a whole ‘nother matter.
But if Hillary Clinton is going to succeed in overtaking him, her campaign staff better not be making the same mistaken argument that a lot of people here seem to be making, that he’s somehow bereft of an innate intelligence, because that’s simply just not true.
Aloha.
It’s true! I’ve picked up on his poor grammar as well!
What a FRAUD!
And quite obviously, such people had no real influence upon you. Your screed is at once ignorant, spiteful and offensive, and your purposeful delusions only place you in the same pantheon as the most mindless of Obamabots, -trons, and -droids.
I hear Obama has fathered two black children. Y’all need to jump on that, PDQ.
I hear Obama’s gonna declare himself the winner before he even gets to 2025.
Kinda like Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
November will be his Waterloo, eh?
No, actually, June…
(smiling)
Oh now that’s funny.
Are you sure?
Are you?
Clinton must win as every time McCain opens his mouth it gets harder to vote for him and voting for the morally and ethically-challenged Obama is, of course, impossible.
His problem is that he has NEVER spoken from his heart as Hillary does.
His brain is exhausted from repeating what he needs to say..NOT what he believes.
The man is so not ready…could he ever be? NOT
Wherever he goes he seems to be reciting a pre-written, canned speech. Sorta like bush. When either is forced to adlib they get into trouble. Campaign tactic = whenever possible force Obama to adlib.
What heart? He’s a programmed and robotic candidate who is stuck on the replay button.
I’m not sure I would agree with that. He seems to have a propensity for disposing of opponents by methods that, while technically legal, smell of opportunistic back-stabbing. That makes him, like Bush, sneakier and more cunning, but not necessarily more intellectual. Probably the true intellectual would forego such tactics in favor of an honest and direct campaign.
And I also question whether it is misplaced overconfidence or just lack of work ethic that has led to his dearth of accomplishments in the positions which he has held.
Well he ran against Alan Keyes. A cockroach could beat Alan Keyes.
A cockroach DID beat Alan Keyes.
RRRRRRROFLLLLLLLLL!!!!
ROFL! Okay, that was hilarious.
All right now. Obviously I concede all of that re the Keyes race. But if the argument is that no one he has faced has measured up to his intellect, what I’m saying is that who can tell because he always pulls some kind of underhanded stunt to get them out of the race before campaigning ever begins. The only real race he had to run, he lost.
Anyone watch that skit on SNL last night? It eas disgraceful! I sent an e-mail to Lorne Micheals speelinh out my displeasure and that I would never again watch his show…anyone else wanting to let him know how they feel…..
Lorn@Lornemicheals.com
Renegade: Actually, according to a statement made by Obama, he’s the father of three:-)
Donald, so good to read your calm, reasoned words again. I’ve missed you.
Well, Sharon, you two seem to have a lot in common, it’s very apparent.
I’ve missed you too, Scarlet….
Patrick, I just read your comment at Obabies and I wet my pants! LOL!
HammeringSpammers, don’t know if you meant it that way but I take it as a compliment.
Oh, it was a reflection on your comment to Donald.
I’m sorry, I’m tired, long weekend, I should have quoted.
Your comments strike me as very elegant.
When the material gets tough, REAL, poor thing just shuts down, reverting back to where he felt secure, forced deeper into a psychologically unreal arena, depending on the same old tricks to combat the INTELLIGENT people as asecurity item, tricks which were ineffective in the first place.
Argumentum verbosium is no way to fight a war, or run a country, mkay?
I love your Argumentum verbosium. So right on!
Hammer, I’ve been lurking on blogs all day…OK, I have no life, I admit it…and I saw something somewhere that dovetails perfectly with the point you’re making. If I can find it again, I’ll post a link.
That new strange pastor from Harlem calls Obama a long-legged mack daddy. I believe the definition of a mack daddy is one uncommonly skilled in Argumentum verbosium. LOL
I read the title and kept wondering if it was a trick question. Methinks Obama has been huffing on the Hope Bong a bit too much. He has made even Dan Quayle seem like an intelligent being.
I think a better question is, are obamalamadingdong and allllllll his lil obamazoids mental.
he’s with Obama’s press, notice his hat?
http://a260.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/95/m_a46125ee0137e1e59dd33967a87ae703.jpg
Well, he was not mentally fatigued enough to distort Hillary’s gas tax plan in that video. His answer made it sound like that is all she is proposing — which of course is false and his campaign has repeatedly done that. Notice how Matt does not correct him. I guess he is good at repeating memorized lines/answers. I have actually noticed and written in posts that he can not think on his feet — that is why he is so bad in debates. He always seems to get in trouble when he is ad libbing.
The question of “stamina” was raised by my local superdelegate her in NM….and I’ve also raised it a couple of times. It is very evident that this guy CANNOT TAKE THE HEAT!
http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/my-local-nm-superdelegate-steadfast-for-clinton-udall-silent-breakdown-on-nm-count/
SO, Obama has lost his bearings??
His wife wears his balls so, without bearings he’s pretty much lost everything, eh??
Isn’t it tiring to mask all the lies and deceit? Obama is sure obviously getting caught up with HIS lies and deceit. It must be hard for Obama to sleep at night.
Fact:
OBAMA IS NOT SMARTER THAN THE FIFTH GRADE CLASS!
Ergo:
OBAMA IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE THE USA PRESIDENT!!
HE BELONGS TO A COUNTRY WITH 57 STATES!!!
HE THINKS IT IS OK FOR HIS KENYAN FATHER’S COFFIN TO BE DRAPED WITH AMERICAN FLAG!! (how ignoramus!)
HE CALLED MATT,TIM,THEN TIM, MATT, THE WHITE MALES IN THE SAME TV STATION!!(delirious? in “high” state or “moron?” as the media called Dan Quayle)
*************************************************
I LOVE MY COUNTRY,THAT IS WHY, I AM NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR OBAMA!!
[...] Is Barack Obama Mentally Fatigued? (by Larry Johnson at No Quarter) If Barack can’t handle the stress of campaigning, how in the world will he cope with being President? During the past week we have seen a series of troubling gaffes by Barack Obama that strongly suggest he lacks the intellect and toughness to hold up under pressure. How else to explain his claim to have visited “57″ states, his repeated confusion in referring to NBC’s Matt Lauer as “Tim,” and waxing nostalgic about his father’s flag draped coffin… It is time to acknowledge that Obama lacks the stamina and mental toughness to endure the pressures he would face if elected President. [...]
[...] Is Barack Obama Mentally Fatigued? (by Larry Johnson at No Quarter) If Barack can’t handle the stress of campaigning, how in the world will he cope with being President? During the past week we have seen a series of troubling gaffes by Barack Obama that strongly suggest he lacks the intellect and toughness to hold up under pressure. How else to explain his claim to have visited “57? states, his repeated confusion in referring to NBC’s Matt Lauer as “Tim,” and waxing nostalgic about his father’s flag draped coffin… It is time to acknowledge that Obama lacks the stamina and mental toughness to endure the pressures he would face if elected President. [...]
The guy has WAY less stamina than McCain–who is an ENERGIZER BUNNY who does not quit. Despite his years and his obvious war injuries, he’s incredibly fit, at least aerobically–he hikes like crazy and keeps that heart pumping. And we KNOW Clinton doesn’t quit–she’s got more stamina than anyone on the national scene.
Obama, on the other hand, is probably still looking for a place to duck in, sit his bony ass down, and have a smoke. Or three.
On top of being, ummmmm, errrr, unnnnh, hmmmmm, uhhhhhh….hesistant… in debates, Obama is easily confused as well, as these examples above demonstrate.
Further, he’s perpetually “techy.” Irritated, snippy, aggrieved, annoyed–like he can’t be bothered to actually respond openly and sincerely to queries from prospective voters or the press. That chip on his shoulder looks like the biggest log in the sporting lodge fireplace. Why he’s like this, who knows? Nicotine withdrawal? Or maybe he’s just naturally a pompous jerk who is unused to being challenged?
So, there ya have it. He’s a pissed off, easily annoyed weakling who can’t debate.
Aren’t we finishing up an eight year sentence dealing with an asshole EXACTLY like that?
So why would we want ANOTHER?
Today I have heard several radio commentators/hosts remark on how tired Obama is getting, of course, being sympathetic [it's all her fault it's gone on so long],but I wonder.
One even mentioned BO saying he’d been in 57 states and then, repeating 57 states again. Now that’s tired! And there is that habit he has of running home to rest even before the ballots are counted in states he lost.
Why is this seemingly strong, young male exhausted? Does it indicate a latent health problem? Stress may be making him tired but think of the stress in the Oval office or facing up to McCain in debates or enduring the firestorm of negativity from the right.
On the other hand, there’s the Energizer bunny in a pants suit, a good 10 years his senior, looking and acting like the first day of the campaign. This is an amazing feat as she has been running with the msmedia, AARadio, poisoned blogs and the DNC on her back throughout.
Not a peep from the cables about his seemingly weak constitution but just wait if he officially wins the primary and has old guy McCain dancing circles around him.
Larry points out something important - If Barack can’t handle the stress of campaigning, how in the world will he cope with being President? Good question. Who knows, hopefully, he won’t be President.
One can imagine the back channel talk by Camp Obama:
“Change that mailer, we are no longer the 48 State Strategy…”
“…57 State Strategy is what will win.”
Obama can’t count it right from the low or high end.
Maybe it’s 57 State Strategery.
A Bushism phrase?
“I can no more disown him (Jeremiah Wright) than I can disown my white grandmother.”
— Barack Obama, Philadelphia, March 18
Guess it’s time to disown Granny, if Obama’s famous Philadelphia “race” speech is to be believed. Of course, the speech was not just believed. It was hailed, celebrated, canonized as the greatest pronouncement on race in America since Lincoln at Cooper Union. A New York Times columnist said it “should be required reading in classrooms across the country.” College seniors and first-graders, suggested the excitable Chris Matthews.
Shalom,
— Leland Milton Goldblatt
http://drgoldblatt.blogspot.com/
Lies have short legs, Sen. Obama — after a while it’s hard to keep all the b.s. straight. Let’s go to the videotape!
No wonder he’s tired.
[...] a member of. Did he forget or was he simply confused? Like when he referred to his father’s flag draped coffin or how his uncle helped liberate [...]
Obama is a deciever. All he wants is to change the America to Islam nation ways. Islam wants christianity, jews out. He is invold with the OIC. Obama visit all the 57 states members of OIC
Allah they call god is satan. The true god does not say turn to muslim and kill your self and take others with you. God does not say take away free speech. I know you see the point here.
[...] he’s not misspeaking about his father’s flag draped coffin, he’s saying that the country has 57 states. Anytime Obama is not reading from a script, [...]
[...] At Selma, Obama informed us that his parents met four years after he was born and that his Kenyan diplomat father had a flag draped coffin. [...]