RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

Obama’s Stairway to Where, Exactly?

Obama’s Stairway to Where, Exactly?
I found it difficult to reconcile the perceptions of those who swear that they see Barack Obama on the fast track and bounding up the steps to eminence and those who see him as simply spinning in endless circles devoid of meaningful content. Then I remembered the famous stair-step illusion that seems to satisfy both viewpoints.

But, the illusion concept can be mined deeper. I stumbled upon a revealing article by Fred Sigel aptly titled “The Illusion of Barack Obama.” Sigel does concede that the gaps between a politician’s words and deeds, exaggerations, embellishments, and lies presented as metaphorical truths are a staple of campaigns seeking to attract a large variety of constituents. So, in that regard, Obama is no different. “What makes it different,” according to Sigel, “is that there’s not just a gap but a chasm between his actions and his professed principles, which would normally kill a candidacy. And because his deeds are so few, the disparity is all the more salient.” Sigel concludes. “Obama, far more than the others, is the ‘judge me by what I say and not what I do’ candidate.”

The Australian News

  • gentlerabbit

    neither, ever.

  • Don S

    Agent Mike, You don’t make any sense at all. Stop the whining and get a life!

  • Don S

    Another great cartoon, Pat. And the article by Fred Sigel is a must read by Obama supporters who have been bamboozled by his flair and rhetoric. But then, a real honest examination of the man and his inconsistencies would disillusion them, and they have clearly demonstrated they prefer their fantasies to reality, It’s clear that Agent Mike read this with an obama bias that prevented him from taking a closer look at his flawed idol. The Obamamaniacs have their blinders on and there is none so blind as those who will not see.

  • jwrjr

    Pat should maybe credit M.C. Escher for the ‘stairway’, and maybe apologise for mixing BHO with his art. (This was meant about 90% humorously.)

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    Yes, it’s been amazing to see the disparity. Thanks.

  • SusieQ

    what was the final outcome in puerto rico? She’s leading by 12 in Montana.

  • http://www.mytowntalks.com MyTownTalks

    Wow its so supprising Obama has no substance and jsut copies what other people say. I still say he is just a puppet whose strongs are pulled by someone else. Perhaps its Wright or someone else who has hung back in the shadows. Hopefully the truth will come out soon

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    68% the last time I looked. She blew him out of the water.

    That’s great news about Montana. I thought he had that locked.

    I understand it’s tight in SD, too.

  • http://www.mytowntalks.com MyTownTalks

    Susie, where did you get this number. Everything I’ve heard is she is behing in Montana and South Dakota. It would be great if there was an upset in one or both of those states.

  • http://www.mytowntalks.com MyTownTalks

    Susie, where did you get this number. Everything I’ve heard is she is behind in Montana and South Dakota. It would be great if there was an upset in one or both of those states.

  • ben carlson

    Where do you find a poll that says she is ahead in montana?

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity Woman

    His strings belong to Mayor Daley via his man Axelrod. When he says he wants to change the way DC is run, he means it. He will run it like Chicago. Cha ching!

  • MEchelle Hates America!

    Pat,

    You are such a gifted artist.

    Brand O is so faux that the only thing you can trust regarding it is that it’s thin veneer will crack and harm you. Probably why Brand O is so opposed to access to the courts and class action law suits.

    He should immediately release his birth ceritficate, school records, grades, passport info. and actual medical records – not some summary.

    I’m certain Cheney is a Halliburton hologram and Brand O is just another corporate logo the international banking industry is pushing on U.S./strong>

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity Woman

    McCain could be dead for a week and I will still vote for him over Barack Obama. I would vote for a cockroach if it ran against Barack Obama.

  • Hillaryormccain08

    I hope this is true she beat him badly in PR and hopefully she is going to win in Mon and SD we need both places real bad before the illision and his thugs steal this election from her as well

  • so saddened

    ditto, uppity.

    franz, sweetie, at least try to bring your a game.

  • JB

    Hillary 68, Obama 32 in P.R. with 98% in.

  • FF

    Folks, the race is now pretty much Obama vs McKook. As Democrats, we need to come together and defeat the Rethug party of war, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. If you guys refuse to vote for Barack because he is an African American, then you guys are no different from the Rethugs.

    Hope and change. Obama 08!

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    Actually, it keeps us well entertained and stops the hate-mail to the DNC. :)

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity Woman

    Well I would HOPE he would win something for a change. He’s supposed to be the Presumptive Nominee right? I mean it would be nice if he could actually win something recent instead of prancing around like the Good Fairy. It has to be embarrassing to keep getting your ass handed to you on a plate by the “un nominee”. You would think that this wimp could close his own deal instead of waiting for mommy to push his ass over the finish line.

    Loser.

    Wonder how that skeleton closet door is holding up? I mean, August is a way off.

  • Beverly Leslie

    ditto.

  • Dakinikat

    Quit tokin’ on that Hopium! Get into a really good rehab problem and wake up to the reality!!!!! It’s not his RACE. It’s his vacuity.

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    So you have told us for over a year. Might as well earn that term by actually voting Republican.

    I’m fairly certain that I won’t be struck by lightening.

  • Beverly Leslie

    Mccain vs Obama? I would take Mccain, as uppity said, Mccain could be dead a week and I’d vote for him before Obambi.

  • Mary

    I refuse to vote for Obama because he is an unqualified rookie.

    I couldn’t care less what color he is.

    Neither should you.

  • so saddened

    we’re to defeat the rethug party of war, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.? that’s our own dem party this year. screw off with your bs on that one.

    if we refuse to vote for obambi “because” he’s aa – ah, yes, as though we don’t have thousands of reasons to refuse to vote for obambi. we’re voting against obambi for those thousands of reasons, not because of the color of his skin. but calling us racist is counterproductive, unity troll. screw off on that one, too.

    then the poor excuse for a hope and unity troll says we need to come together.

    lol, bad troll. very, very, bad troll. go back to your basement and await your mother’s decision on how long you’re grounded.

    hillary or mccain. no other option.

  • ben carlson

    Hey FF

    Your guilt trip won’t work this time. I and almost all my friends and family voted for Hillary. And all of them will be voting for McCain. These people are gone. You guys better scour the frat houses and the projects to make up for these votes.

  • TeakWoodKIte

    I would vote for a cockroach if it ran against Barack Obama.

    Even ones on motorcycles….

  • JB

    Obamatrons are great.

    They’re the kind of folks that would stick a knife in your spinal column, then ask you to walk with them.

    It’ll work too. November is 5 months away, an eternity. They’ll villify an honorable man and turn Clintonites against him. Chicago politics = US politics now.

    The media and the bigwigs are completely in the tank for Obama. They will force their will on the country.

    Resistance is futile. Barack will require you to work. He will demand that you shed your cynicism.
    Etc.

  • Eurogirl70

    You don’t call me and my candidate, and my candidate’s husband (the only 2 term Democratic president in 40 years) every vile name in the book and expect us to come along with you? Really, can you be that dumb? You call our candidate’s husband a racist for 6 months and then a senior Obama aid has the “audacity” to come out and say that “the only person that can put his arms around this party and bring us together is Bill Clinton”. Really? You and yours have called Hillary every vile name in the book. Your candidate took the stage in Iowa with the song 99 problems by Jay-Z playing right when the line comes up “I’ve got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one”. I was at the protest yesterday in Washington, and let me tell you there was every race, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation, and gender represented. The general consensus among us all? No Obama under any circumstances. The only thing your candidate has done is unified all of us rational folks against him as a viable president under any circumstances. We are unified all right!!

  • Strawberry

    Are you fucking kidding me? His skin colour has nothing to do with him being a lying (I only did four hours of work for Rezco), sexist (That’s just my cell phone in my pocket), racist(20 years at Wright/Pfleger hatefest) asshole. Get over your self. You’ll have to pry my vote and donations from my cold, dead hands. Oh and I suggest you get a bunch of volunteers to do wake up calls on Election day in November. Seeing how your core voters are college students who might just forget to set their alarms and not show up to vote, ala Onama girl.

  • rwc

    M.C. Escher and Obama, a great fit.

    That said, Barky wouldn’t be where he is without the press being in bed with him. Much the same way the same MSM sold the U.S. the Iraq War.

    If anything the Iraq War and Obama prove that our news organ cannot be trusted. They have the same credibility as Tass and Pravda.

    Can’t be trusted.

  • Mary

    Obama is NOT qualified, FF.

    And that’s the point.

  • TeakWoodKIte

    If you guys refuse to vote for Barack because he is an African American

    You lost me at “refuse to vote“.

    For the record, I am deeply offended that it matters to you what race BO is. All Ican tell you for certain is that he has never come to terms with the fact that his “papa was a rolling stone”.

    He is immoral and dishonest as person can be. Good luck with your ability to eat sand and call it an oasis.

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    You’re right. I’m now unofficially an Independent.

    You can call me IndieAnninCA.

  • Cindy

    Great cartoon, Pat!
    At first glance, it looked like he was on a swastika, and I thought “well, that’s about right”.

  • Beverly Leslie

    Articulate? Have you listened to him without a teleprompter? Qualified? Have you seen his paper thin resume?
    Intelligent? Remember Bushisms, well there are already lists of Obmaisms.
    If he’s fresh and exciting maybe you should keep that between yourselves.

    What does young and A.A. have to do with anything?

    Real Democrat? Not sure who’s standards you are applying to the term.

  • rwc

    WTF!!

    If he hasn’t released this info, then there has to be something very damaging in there.

    Otherwise there’s no reason to keep it private.

  • sunshine

    In his speech today, did I hear Barack say that McCain would be like a FOURTH Bush term? Since he reveres Bush 41 it makes me think he thinks Dubya has had 3 terms. Hm. Gaffe-a-day?

  • Mary

    This election is NOT a referendum on race, FF, even if you want it to be.

    Presidential elections are about choosing the most QUALIFIED candidate to lead the country.

    Skin color is completely irrelevant.

  • champ

    The Australian is Murdoch paper.

    Fox – Murdoch.

    Stop referrrrrrring to them.

    I want Hillary for President – but without Mr. Murdochs help.

  • Flineo

    Awesome!
    Pat can draw!

  • TeakWoodKIte

    PatRacimora, I so enjoy your artwork.

    BO’s meme of mis-direction is done. He can’t escape.

    You notice his BIG smile when saying that reporters “can pick through what I say…’cause that is what you do” … How “BUSH” of him.

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    Which is why you better get out there and rustle up some more new voters to register.

    You will, indeed, miss us.

  • http://paganpower.wordpress.com/ PaganPower

    Very cool work. I LOVE everything except that silly feller with the big ears smilin there… thinking he’s got us all bamboozled.

  • It’s Not Me

    Hillary’s ahead in MONTANA? She’s suppose to lose Montana because it’s an open Primary. Is that a recent poll? By whom?

  • http://lilithrvisited.blogspot.com LauraInCali

    FF you Obama people should have thought about that a long time ago. I cannot vote for someone and their followers, who have become lefty wingnuts. He is as bad of a choice as Bush was in 2000.

  • http://IthinkIfeel... Pat Racimora

    I appreciate the nice comments so far, but a compliment from Flineo might swell my head!!! Thanks!!!

  • Mandelay

    Question: Why are so many Americans so eager to buy into such an illusion?

  • Cindy

    FF said “You aren’t real Democrats”.

    So, who gives a fuck WHAT we ARE?
    I’ll tell ya what we’re NOT. We’re NOT voting for Obama.

  • ErininMD

    FF – thanks for the giggles. I really enjoy good irony.

  • bert

    No I don’t have to ‘come together.’ You miss the entire point. I cannot in good conscience nor under any circumstance vote for anyone who has so little expereince and has proved over and over in this primary season that he us not ready to be POTUS. Just his comment about meeting with our enemies without preconditions proves beyond a doubt that he is not ready. There are dozens of other examples I could cite not the least of which is that I do not like his ties to the corrupt Chicago machine. God help us if Obama is elected and brings THAT to America. He is not Presidential material.

  • Felix Rodriguez

    “FF” do you even know what “FF” stands for in street lingo?

    If you don’t, I’m certain there are many people here that would just LOVE to educate you.

    Failing that, go “FF” yourself.

  • It’s Not Me

    EXCUSE ME? Who on this site has EVER said they wouldn’t vote for Obamarhoid BECAUSE he’s AA??? NO ONE! And I am sick as SHIT of having that thrown in my face! FUCK YOU and FUCK Obama!

    I REFUSE to vote for ANYONE, black, blue, yellow, green, orange or purple, that would paint Bill and Hillary Clinton as RACISTS! It’s OBAMARHOID who played the race card in this Primary. So, take your damn disgusting accusations and shove them up your ass…ASSHOLE!

  • MEchelle Hates America!

    FF-Friggin Freak –

    First, we aren’t your folks. They’re the ones upstairs from the basement you live in.

    Second, you’re the only kook here.

  • jes

    Just because you vote based on race, doesn’t mean that we do.

  • http://lilithrvisited.blogspot.com LauraInCali

    No Kool Aid For Me! My vote is my sacred right as an American. I will not now or ever vote for someone that I find corrupt, morally bankrupt, and racist. So any Trolls here are wasting your time. We are lost to you and will NEVER vote for Obama! Got it!

  • beebop

    There is something to be said for being quiet, after all versus shooting off your mouth and every body coming after you to WORM you out of your gaffe ….

  • Andy

    YAWN !! Ask Obama or Axelrat to give you some new talking points .

  • beebop

    Gee … that “racist” thing is such a fresh and new technique …. how original ….. my compliments for creativity ….

  • http://lilithrvisited.blogspot.com LauraInCali

    LA LA LA NOT LISTENING

  • Felix Rodriguez

    Unfortunately, Mandelay, they are frustrated, afraid and apprehensive about the near future. They need “hope” and “change”. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, they do not realize that tune has been sung before.

    “Hope” and “change” are always words that fall into an ad campaign by marxists and extremists who attack a vulnerable collective body.

    Their time is now. The Clintons know it and the Republicans know it. Luckily for us, FOX NEWS KNOWS IT, TOO.

  • bert

    No Presidential Election should be “a referendum on race in America…” That is an asinine reason to be voting for anyone for POTUS. The Presidential Election should be about who is best prepared for the unexpected and who can best lead us and who has the experience to lead us.

    I don’t buy that referendum crap for one second. The election of one black man to POTUS will not wipe the slate clean. Slavery will always be a disgrace and blot on the history of America. The election of one person will not wipe that stain away.

    It is naiveté to believe that electing him will some how absolve us of that sin. Do not try and make me feel guilty with that stupid guilt trip. Won’t work on this 62 year old.

  • Eurogirl70

    what is unconscionable is going on the stage with Donnie McClurkin and saying that homosexuality can be cured.

    what is unconscionable is going on stage with Louis Farrakan a know anti-semite.

    what is unconscionable is not apologizing to Senator Clinton for the vile comments and gyrations of Father Pfieger.

    what is unconscionable is sitting in a pew for 20 years and listening to the ranting of Rev. Wright who is now moving to a gated community which is almost exclusively white while rampant killings of young AA’s in Chicago go on unabated.

    what is unconscionable is taking a $1500 campaign contribution from a man who left hundreds of AA’s freezing with no heat, in apartments, in Obama’s home district.

    what is unconscionable is calling grown women “sweetie” and asking another female reporter “are you allowed to ask me a question now?”

    Spare me!!

    I am not a log cabin Republican and I damn well won’t be an Obama homo democrat

  • Eurogirl70

    and by the way if you are confused by my last comment. I am gay and I don’t believe in supporting candidates like Obama who (as Willie Brown, former AA mayor of SF said) will not have their pictures taken with people who support gay rights. Like Obama did out in SF, when he specifically told Willie Brown that he did not want to have his picture taken with SF mayor Gavin Newsom (a straight man who supports gay marriage)

  • blueasthesky

    The voters have spoken, and more of them voted for Hillary than for Barack. If it’s Obama’s party now, why shouldn’t he be the one to put Humpty Dumpty back together again?

    Also, Obama still doesn’t have the required number of delegates.

  • Lucille Arneson

    You hit the nail on the head!

  • bert

    Obama’s Mythical Intelligence

    http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/05/obama-mythical.html

    This is a great read and debunks Obama’s supposed intelligence.

  • JohnnyB

    Hey Pat: Another great visual. Ob’s whole campaign is an illusion. Change (who’s against that?), Judgment (or lack thereof), no substance.
    I’d like OB to name just one 20 year friend that is not tainted in some way. From the Illinois Combine, the poltitical machine, Ob wants us to believe he is different, a new kind of politics, what bull. Axelrod is the Rove of Illinois.

    The illusion will be broken with the jury finding Rezko guilty this week. Ob’s 17 year friend, top fundraiser, and partner in buying his home is going
    to prison for corruption and other charges.

    Super D’s have 11 weeks to change their minds prior to the Dem Convention. Let’s see if they realize that Hillary is the candidate that can beat McCain in November.

  • HT

    Delurking for the last time.
    FF, your comment: “help reunite the party she has fractured.” is quite breathtaking in it’s “audacity”
    I’m a foreign national, so do not have a dog in this race, however, I am astounded at the willfull ignorance and downright perversion of truth that comes out of Obama’s followers.
    And do not think that I’m the only one. What do you think is going on in Europe today? You know, the Europe that Obama hasn’t bothered to visit, much less called a meeting of the subcommittee of which he is chair? No country today in the world of global corporatism can exist in a vacuum, and your friend, Obama is being very carefully investigated throughout the world. And each and every country is working to get a handle on the best deal for themselves. Obama has already given speeches on his opinions on dealing with the middle east. Vladimir Putin is salivating.
    Nuff said, back to lurking.

  • pm317

    Flineo, Pat, wow! We are in excellent company. Also Escher is perfect for your Obama characterization.

  • tough

    That’s a tough call. But for me, it’s going to be Bush under current condition. Obama’s Nazi style politics simply scares me to death. Those big rallies, propaganda machine propped up by MSM is much more dangerous than a waning George W. Bush.

  • It’s Not Me

    Sorry. MORE citizens want Hillary instead of Obamarhoid. He needs to step down so Hillary can beat McCain, which Obamarhoid cannot and will not do.

  • bert

    “We as Democrats have always championed civil rights issues.”

    Yes, very true. But that great civil rights leader Martin Luther King said it best. We should not judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

    The content of Obama’s character is so flawed and banal that I cannot vote for him. He lacks character. His skin color matters not at all to me. So sorry his skin color is so important to you. You must be a very shallow person. Figures. So is Obama.

  • Clara Barton

    Another great cartoon, Pat. His campaign has been nothing but an illusion – smoke and mirrors and the scary part of that is that he’s fooling so many people!

  • mahaska

    Bush!

  • Rich

    Wonderful cartoon. It so describes Obama’s mode of opperation. Keep smiling tell them anything they want to hear and have no visible solution to any problems we are facing. I guess that is the advantage of having no record to check, is that it allows people to fantasize whatever they want from what is being said.

    Rich

  • mahaska

    I’d vote for a maggot before I’d vote for bo.

  • mahaska

    I seriously doubt he’s an American. I want to see that birth certificate he is hiding. To get a job in civil service you have to show ID, but not for president. It’s wrong.

  • http://home.comcast.net/~vincep312 Vince P

    Did you guys hear about yet another way that Obama has totally no respect for this country.

    Back in Oregon where he had his Sermon on the Mound rally with 1.5 Billion Muslims (joking), I mean, 75,000 concert goers.. his campaign people put Por-a-potta directly on top of the Portland Police Memorial, which honors the agency’s 25 fallen police officers, right under a US Flag at Half-Mast.

    The people are PISSED read the comments

  • NoBama

    FF,

    The usual nonsense from the Obama camp accusing the non-Obama folks as racists. Do you actually think dumb statements like that make your case?
    Not very smart indeed.
    Obama will lose because he has alienated the Democratic base. The real Democrats will run in droves to the GOP because he doesnt care about their interests. He is of no substance and has no real plan for America.

  • TeakWoodKIte

    We as Democrats have always championed civil rights issues

    You can’t sell it igit.

    electrifying and mesmorizing
    ala Der Führer eh?

    poor lost troll.

  • TeakWoodKIte

    For us to now turn your back

    Too late.

    Only thing, beside you lacking conjugation skills, I am the one turning my back on you and contrary to any intelligence you may think you possess.

    you can’t sell it.

  • Donkey Brazziere

    No thanks sweetie.

  • joeysky

    maybe just another rumor from Obots try to increase HRC supporters expectation.

  • joeysky

    When will we be able to get rid of the hopium? The bot repeating the talking points is fucking annoying.

  • jwrjr

    Exactly.

  • jwrjr

    The maggot is at least occasionally useful.

  • http://vidagh.sitebooth.com/card9563.html RDEdward
  • http://www.wheelchairindia.com Wheelchairs

    I really appreciated your post, this would really provide the great information .Thanks for sharing.
    wheelchairs

blog comments powered by Disqus