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Vero Possumus = In Truth To Be Able

By Charles Lemos on June 22, 2008 at 11:10 PM in Barack Obama, Qualifications

Obama\'s Great Seal

At the time, I railed against it, a year of Latin in prep school. But vero, it served me well on my verbal SATs and over the course of my lifetime adding power and force to my vocabulary and allowing me to learn Romance languages with relative ease.

Now the valde junior Senator from Illinois has his valde own great seal for his Obamaland with its valde own Latin motto, vero possumus which translates as “in truth to be able.”

His “yes, we can” should translate as etiam nos es validus or better still etiam, sic licet.

To which I say, haud nos mos non, discedo commodo. Quam stultus es vos?

Gratias ago vos, Abbas Constantino.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From my blog, By The Fault.

  • Hope Floats

    Very Possumlike.

    • http://thehorizontalworld.blogspot.com/ Medusa

      Great post, Charles. Thank you.
      I’m trained as a classicist and as you point out, it would be elitist and pretentious IF it was correct. As it is, it’s simply embarrassing.

      fugit te, inepte quamvis sordida res et invenusta est

      • tzada

        If Barack Obama is an Arab, like I suspect his use of the rising sun may come from this Arab chart. I think he is also a Leo.

        “The Arabic Ascendant
        In the Arabic Chart your Sun will be on the Ascendant, thus the Arabic Ascendant shows how to bring forth the power of your Sun. People with their Sun exactly on their Ascendant don’t have a separate Arabic chart, they meet the world in an instinctive and direct way, their essence fits well with their role, they are doing their thing.
        The Sun on the Ascendant
        may mean that your self-expression is natural and assured, automatic and instinctive, resembling Aries/Leo type (the 1st house/the Sun). You may find your own voice when still very young, although often quite unconsciously. There may be a desire for power and some egocentricity. In the East (especially in India) this is a common placement in the charts of gurus – according to Lois M. Rodden so common that it is curious, if not suspect. Examples: Pakh Subud, Sri Aurobindo and Sai Baba.”
        I also half listened to the news and something was said about Africa and a rising sun flag? Anyone know anything about that?

        • Zeke

          “I GOT THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL,

          I’M UP ON THE PRESIDENTIAL PODIUM,

          MY MAMA LOVES, SHE LOVES ME,

          SHE GET DOWN ON HER KNEES AND HUG ME…”

          Paul Simon

          • vincent m

            Didn’t Hitler design the swastika symbol before he terrorized europe and the jewish people. This guy is so drunk on himself he thinks were all dumbells !!! He should be arrested as a threat to national security !!!

            • workingclass artist

              Yeah….Hitler appropiated many ancient symbols from a variety of cultures as a means of instant familiarity…very effective FASCIST tool….

            • The Real Hope

              something like that yes.

        • Jym Allyn

          I happened to discover your old posts.

          You are a bunch of stupid biggots.

      • Andrew

        I agree. I have only taken two years of Latin but it is enough for me to remember ita vero, as meaning yes or indead, vero meaning true. Of course there is a grammatical problem. Besides, he should have taken a quote from classical Latin like on the back of the seal, Annuit Coeptis, “[God] favors our undertaking.” Licere is much more appropriate. Even if he were using posse in the correct manner, it is used mainly in conjunction with another verb like verum non potest dicere he is unable to tell the truth. Looks like he went on one of those cheapo websites for a translation. Can’t even choose the right classicist. NOBAMA.

        Sic semper tyrannus!

      • roseeriter

        Well, when I think of ‘possum’ I think of ‘pretend’.

        NOBAMA!

        • tom cooper

          Vero Possumus doesn’t mean what Obama says it means. To replace this motto and to give him a new name, I would substitute the Latin phrase “Veto Possumus”, which means Veto the Possum. I would suggest The Possum as his new nickname. He has a grin resembling that of a Possum eating excrement. These young androids who are going to vote for him so that he can “change” things are going to have a rude awakening, similar to those who followed Hitler, and later found out that Germany suffered as a result.
          Veto the Possum, or Veto Barack Oppossum!

      • rjj

        I am NOT classically trained, but seems to me….

        vero possumus which translates as “in truth to be able.”

        vero possumus = truly (in sooth) we are able. Potesse can be used as an auxiliary with an infinitive, but doesn’t require another verb, IIRC.

        “to be able” – would take the infinitive potesse.

        His “yes, we can” should translate as etiam nos es validus or better still etiam, sic licet.

        etiam is a conjunction for annexing or adding to a thought, phrase. It means: furthermore, likewise, besides, in addition, moreover.

        You are confusing it with ita, I think.

        etiam nos es validus = furthermore we (nominative nos) thou art (es – second person singular of esse) true.

        etiam, sic licet = furthermore, if he allows/permits.

        Or maybe not.

        • rjj

          Uh oh. Just remembered this

          “alli licet tibi non licet”

          Licet may = “it is permitted” so amend above to furthermore if it is allowed.

    • http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html Hillary’sSimplytheBest

      His head needs to bigger … seriously. Don’t ya think? I mean look at him behind that Big Old Seal. He so cute playing at being our President ya just wanna, SMACK him, just a little. Just kidding …

      New ABC/WP poll shows BOBO is losing the white vote 51% – 39% and winning the black vote 90% – 7%

      Hmmmm funny … that looks just like the Polls between him and Hillary during the primary…

    • mahaska

      Their translation confused me. Isn’t vero, truth?

  • Linda Tsao

    They created the seal in order to allow him to appear Presidential. This also explains why he is offered Secret Service detail at the expense of the taxpayer. All this is help the unelectable candidate appear Presidential. And why are my tax dollars paying for Secret Service detail for a candidate for whom I have not voted and will not vote?

    • http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Jeremiah God Damn AmeriKKKa Wright

      They might want to straighten the seal out next time.

      Its a bit crooked…just like Barry.

      • blueasthesky

        I think they want it cocked at a jaunty angle!

        • roseeriter

          LOL!

    • http://dakiniland.wordpress.com/ Dakinikat

      This reminds me of the Dukkakis in the tank moment. One very unauthentic appearing moment.

      How do you say this in latin?

      You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.

      • Teakwood

        Vos can loco lipstick in a sus , tamen is est etiam a sus.

        Except I am not aware of what the roman’s called lipstick. :)

        • workingclass artist

          cosmetic – (rouge – like) fucus. The New College Latin & English Dictionary

          • TeakwoodKite

            Thanks; workingclass artist. :)

            Which leads to a question about what the Romans used in their artwork when it came to what substances were used in “pigmentation”.

            • workingclass artist

              paint – s. pigmentum. n
              paint – tr. pingere. The New College Latin & English Dictionary
              Rouge is in reference to tone ( reddish )
              The Romans learned for from the Greek, Egyptians, Jews and other assorted conquered how to perfect the science of Pigment
              manufacture and application. Italy was and still is the primary source for all so called Earthen Pigments that are quarried from some of the most variable of soils on the planet including Ochre,
              Umber and Sienna. Since these are from Clays they are incredibly resistant to fading and moisture. In terms of Paint Pigments Italy is still the Primo source for most base earthen pigments used in paint and pottery.
              ( A neighbor went to Italy a few years ago and brought me small baggies of clay from each region….I wanted to see if the clay/soil was truly like the pigment derived from them….it is. )
              The pigment is gound to a fine dust and then combined with a vehicle and a binder. When I used to make printers Ink ( as a student ) the vehicle was a solvent ( turpentine ) and the binder was an oil ( stand oil ). The viscosity is determined by the usage of the pigment and the surface. Example : Fresco is made with tempras = pigment + binder ( egg yolk ) + vehicle ( liquid often human piss for the Egyptians…chuckle… )
              Obviously, I am a huge NERD……Scuse’

              • workingclass artist

                Ehemmm……Forgot to add that binders act as a glue and vehicles act as an agent usually to thin or liquify the pigment.
                Classic Binders are made from Gum Arabic, egg yolks, and stand oil ( a form of linseed oil ) as in Oil Painting the perfection of the techology is classically credited to Titian.
                Classic Vehicles are usually water, Human Piss and or turpentine.
                Damar Varnish came into vogue as it could act as both a binder and a vehicle dpending on it’s viscosity although it is achivally suspect.
                The classic ration for oil paint is 1/3 each although you would lessen the oil for impasto and increase the varnish.

      • beebop

        At least the pig knows it’s a pig!

      • http://deleted AnninCa

        Today, Obama camp said it was just a decoration for one event. *haha

        I seriously doubt we’ll see the seal again. Apparently, even his surrogates can’t keep a straight face when defending it on TV. :O)

      • Cassandra of trivia

        Wow, kind of a prescient comment. You can see 2 months into the future!

        What’s your prediction for 2 1/2 weeks from now?

    • ginamc

      His contention is that he received death threats.

      • http://dakiniland.wordpress.com/ Dakinikat

        from whom? Michelle?

        • http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Jeremiah God Damn AmeriKKKa Wright

          No from Jeremiah.

        • Hope Floats

          ROFLMAO.

    • s. hall

      Obama is pretty pathetic if he has to have his own seal to appear presidential. I have never seen anyone want a job so much — for which he was so unqualified. He makes me want to vomit.

  • http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Jeremiah God Damn AmeriKKKa Wright

    Poor Barry…the great pretender. just cant seem to get it right no matter how hard he tries to be something he isn’t.

    • JAY in Los Angeles

      Including ‘black’.

  • Pia Menon

    “etium veryus bamboozeleous andeus jiveous”

  • http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Jeremiah God Damn AmeriKKKa Wright
  • vinnie

    DITTO Linda Tsao…I thought the same thing. I was in marketing and advertising. If you put the image of him in front of this seal enough times, you hope it will get people associating him with the presidential logo. His whole campaign is one big marketing plan. Fluff fluff fluff.

    • s. hall

      vinnie — the only problem is that Obama doesn’t look presidential and no amount of subliminal advertising is going to make him look like a President. The pathetic creep has even taken to dying his hair gray–to look mature.

    • beebop

      A one color logo? I think he thinks he’s IBM …

  • Seattle Moss

    In truth to be able.
    With this guy it’s whatever you see in the mirror.
    His followers know nothing of history.
    That is why it’s so easy to take a page from the old Goebbels playbook

  • AF catfish

    Something about the light blue color just irks me. It’s all over his website, not royal blue but baby blue with heavenly clouds everywhere. Gag.

    • http://deleted AnninCa

      This is the worst part of his “look.” Heavenly Father……it’s just too creepy for words to me.

      • rjj

        I truly believe his consultants are entertaining themselves, — perhaps even have a challenge — going to see how much bullshit the believers (or the public for which they have vast contempt) will swallow.

        That’s why I call it kamelophagia – camel swallowing – as in “gagging at gnats and swallowing camels.”

        Years ago people would pay to watch the guy in the traveling carnival tear off the head of a chicken with his teeth. This is the 21st century elite version of that.

        That logo is clearly a joke/hoax.

    • Hope Floats

      “Now the birth of the presumptive nominee was on this wise: When as his mother from Kansas was espoused to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., before they came together, she was found with child of the Muslim goat herder.”

      He really does sound like Rosemary’s baby, when you put it that way.

    • vincent marchese

      The light blue color and fluffy clouds are his message to his “down low buddies “. ????

  • llilytoo

    That seal and him sitting behind it is crazy! You tell me the room full of Dem governors sitting there with him didn’t laugh their asses off??

    HAIL FREEDNOIA!

    Lord spare us!

    • Teakwood

      BO to Dinerjacket

      Rufus T. Firefly: BO;I’d be unworthy of the high trust that’s been placed in me if I didn’t do everything in my power to keep our beloved Freedonia Obamaland in peace with the world. I’d be only too happy to meet with Ambassador Trentino, and offer him on behalf of my country the right hand of good fellowship. And I feel sure he will accept this gesture in the spirit of which it is offered. But suppose he doesn’t. A fine thing that’ll be. I hold out my hand and he refuses to accept. That’ll add a lot to my prestige, won’t it? Me, the head of a country, snubbed by a forgein ambassador. Who does he think he is, that he can come here, and make a sap of me in front of all my people? Think of it – I hold out my hand and that hyena refuses to accept. Why, the cheap ball-pushing swine, he’ll never get away with it I tell you, he’ll never get away with it.

      .

      Oops…that was Senator Clinton? Why was she speaking Pashto?

      • Zee

        lol!

        Hail Freedonia!!

  • David Corse

    Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I am worried he might really win. No one seems to be listening to anything about him. Nothing sticks. Tom Daschel
    referred to him as commander and chief on Fox yesterday. This seal really is scary. It is almost like a self fulfilling prophecy. If anyone really has something on him, they’d better get it out there.

    • http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Jeremiah God Damn AmeriKKKa Wright

      Worst case scenario, he gets elected and the supreme being who created the universe decides oh fuck it, whipes us all out and starts over.

      Best case scenario, the Idictment againts him is rolled out before the convention and his crooked pack of chicago gutter political cronies and he are relegated to the anus of history…i mean annuls of history as a foot note.

      Reality is going to be somewhere in between.

      • Susan

        I would love to see his Operation Board games indictment before August, but I would bet we won’t be that lucky. I just pray it’s before November!

        How did the Rezko trial go on for 9 weeks under alot of people’s noses????

    • drkate

      same here. something drastic is going to have to happen, everyone is rationalizing his flip flops. scary.

      • Zee

        Joseph at cannonfire said this is the BEST rationale to vote for McCain….the Dem congress will hold the lame duck one-termer in check.

        No one will hold Obamessiah in check…too busy making excuses for him.

      • Hope Floats

        Either this is the Fourth Reich or a bad dream or these comments are from bots and not real people. How stupid would you have to be that you complained for years that the government was spying on you and infringing on your basic freedoms, then place your faith in this panderer, liar and flim flam artist, violently defending him and aggressively denouncing his opponents, only to have him vote to continue the terrifying march of our government toward fascism? They accept it then! These are the good Germans. Or they are just paid bloggers. I cannot believe anyone who considered themselves “progressive” would support this outrage.

    • s. hall

      david corse — I hear ya. I think the chit will hit the fan in September because most people aren’t paying much attention to the election now. Summer is no time to launch a new product and what we need with one of these scandals is a media firestorm–the kind of thing the media was so good at with Clinton.

      I will never believe that the Republicans are going to just let all these juicy scandals sit unnoticed.

      • Darryl

        see, but that is the strategy. They flip flop now, and by the time the people start paying attention, it will seem like that was his policy all along.

      • beebop

        I think that David is here to depress the vote. They are starting to hire reasonable sounding people as more Americans were out of work last month. Eventually they are able to pay people with no morals enough to say anything. imho.

    • Susan

      I heard that Commander in chief comment. I was just livid. I had to rewind my Digital cable just to make sure and then I played it for people. It is scary/shocking.

      When I have wanted a job, I have always acted in the interview as if I already had the job, like using when instead of if, etc. For example, when I come to work here… I have always gotten the jobs, too, so now I am afraid of this great marketing campaign. the only thing that reassures me is thta the dems seem desparate to raise money so if POTUS is bought an paid for already, they’d be more relaxed one would think!

      I’ll say this though, if there is no good explanation for Barackula getting so far so fast and there isn’t a good reason, one has to assume there are only bad reasons then. Who wants him in there so badly and why????

      He will never, never, never, never have my vote!

      Was I clear enough about this???

      The MSM keeps saying us “deadenders” will come around. I say, good luck with that!

      • elise

        Tom Daschel couldn’t even deliver South Dakota for The One and now he’s calling him The One?

    • mimi

      Me, too David. I think we may be waiting for a Swiftboat than never docks.

      The Repubs are looking to the future. They know Obama will fail and they’ll be back with a vengenance.

  • josgirl

    I can’t believe it took this “playtime in the sandbox” seal to give so many pople a clue.
    Weren’t you tipped off by the celestial picture of him on his website?

  • Tricia

    I wore underoos as little girl it still did not make me wonder woman even at 4 I understood that

    • http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Jeremiah God Damn AmeriKKKa Wright

      i thought i was the only one.

    • http://nobho.blogspot.com/ Johnny at Work

      what, no delusions of grandeur?

      The unschizophrenic life is not worth living.

  • David Corse

    I knew what he was, but what scares me is that so few people seem to be getting it. Even Fox seems to be laying off him now.

    • s. hall

      David — Remember last Summer every media outlet was saying Hillary was inevitable. One day in late July Matthews said I wish it was October already because people would be paying attention and we could destroy Hillary.

    • Tricia

      They are leaving him alone till August and than watch out! Fox will go for it.

    • Ai1een

      Yes – I’ve noticed that too – even Fox seems to be giving him a break…scary.

    • Diana

      That’s because Murdoch might as well have come out and endorsed him. His daughter is campaigning for Obama. They’re also now blocking a lot of negative comments on FOX about Obama. I posted three different times and they never posted one comment. All three times only positive comments were posted and one guy who wasn’t sure how he was going to vote.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vbot–mk1U

    • rjj

      Murdoch is backing Obama.

      The corprocrats all want him.

  • DoroB

    The eagle looks like it was cut open and the Obama seal was inserted into it. The Latin words made me think the culprits were Obama supporters.

  • http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ Truthteller

    Lingua latina est non pro vulgar.

    • The Real Hope

      Non gradus anus rodentum!

      • Zeke

        not me

  • jackie

    Why does he need a seal? I don’t get it. Has anyone done this before?

    • josgirl

      Becuz, becuz, becuz!!!
      He is the nominee!
      He is the nominee!!!
      Everybody says so!
      He is!!
      So, there!
      Nananananana, yayayayaya!
      Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh!
      He is, too.

    • Tricia

      George Bush senior when he was going up against Bill Clinton they made him take it off his tv ads (the difference was he was president at the time but still was not allowed to use it per US guidelines)

    • The Real Hope

      He should get the Good Housekeeping Seal of Disapproval. His political house is a pathetic mess.

    • Zeke

      Here’s Paul Simon’s whole quote:

      And if I was president (was the president)
      The minute congress call my name (was the president)
      Id say who do,
      Who do you think youre fooling? (who do you think youre fooling)

      Ive got the presidential seal (was the president)
      Im up on the presidential podium
      My mama loves me
      She loves me
      She get down on her knees and hug me
      Like she loves me like a rock
      She rocks me like the rock of ages
      And loves me

      G’night all

  • DJ

    Why should Barry worry…I thought he thinks EVERYBODY LOVES HIM….Remember what he said …I know her voters will vote for me but will mime vote for her…His EGO will be his downfall…ONE question that maybe someone can answer for me…How can Dean be voted out?

    • socalannie

      Dean & Donna need to be run out of town on a rail. Seriously, that’s a good question…how do you fire a party boss? Do you have to have a lot of rich backers tell him its time to leave?

      • http://deleted AnninCa

        I think that’s already been tried. LOL* They had to give back a ton of money.

  • wcwf50

    The press/blogosphere is doing much to discredit those who simply do not think Obama is presidential material. The Dems continue to think that all Clinton voters will come back-”nowhere else to go”. And that because Rove V Wade, which I do not think is in great jeopordy anyways. Salon.com has 2 nauseating articles about why Clintonistas are mad, and how they will all come “home”. The only good news being that I don’t think they all will.

    This “seal” is there for all with eyes to see-see that this man is dangerous. Even his disciples should be able to see his lies, flip=flops, his stonewalling when it comes to his past, his family, his schooling, everything. This seal shows him to be completely out-of-touch with reality, in my opinion.

    WAKE UP!

    • http://deleted AnninCa

      They will continue to think that until voting time. It’s a way to deny the problem.

      Really, why shouldn’t they deny it? There is virtually nothing that can be done to fix it at this point, anyway.

      He can’t really come out and say, “Well, I messed up when I didn’t allow the revotes and now I’ve lost your trust.”

      Too late…

      I think he’d be better off going after alienated Republicans, frankly. Then the two groups of alienated folks switch chairs.

      And the election is won again by a hair by someone.

      • wcwf50

        I think it will be close in November too. WaPo has an article about his new propaganda campaign to “reintroduce” himself to America. This should be rich.

        • beebop

          We’ve already met. I can’t stand what I have seen. Don’t want to get the homogenized, sanitized, whitiezed version. I might never eat again.

  • DJ

    Forgot one thing…Over at http://www.hcsfjm.com ..poster said a group has filed suit about seal…haha..hope they make them get rid of it

  • blueasthesky

    vero possumus which translates as “in truth to be able.”

    See the verb table below:

    http://www.informalmusic.com/latinsoc/verbs/poss.html

    According to the table, the infinitive form is posse, so “In truth to be able” would be Vero posse.

    Possumus is the first person plural indicative, i.e., “we can.”

    By the way, Possumus, is also the name of the magazine published by The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who offer the translation: “We Can.”

    http://csjministriesfoundation.org/possumus.aspx

    • http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ Truthteller

      no, then this would translate as “yes, we are able.” i believe “yes, we can,” would be present subjunctive, not present indicative. for the can of “yes we can” implies that nothing may in fact be accomplished.

      “etiam possímus” seems more apt

    • Andrew

      Besides, vero is the ablative of verus and when used in the ablative means indeed or in fact. Since there is no exact word for yes in Latin for yes, people usually said ita vero:it is indeed or non ita vero: in fact it is not. I am not exactly positive but the use of possumus is highly incorrect in that not only is it used improperly in the sentence, but it probably should be in the subjunctive, because although we may be able to, we might not necessarily want to do it and therefore there is uncertainty about our agreement with the statement.

      In Spanish, they circumvent this by using an impersonal se, sí se puede. Sí se puede literally means yes, a one [an indeterminate person] can. In English we have the impersonal you. Obama, in using this expression has imbued it with the collective sense of we for which is was not originally designed. If it were, it would be Sí, podemos, signifying its inclusion of everyone present. When Mexicans used it over immigration, they were implying that yes, a person is capable of circumventing U.S. immigration laws to come into this country. Obama uses the phrase wrong. The Mexicans took the phrase from the formula expression Se puede … which is used in business writing to specify what one is allowed to do, i.e. Se puede comprar algo o No se puede comprar algo.

      In conclusion, Obama has screwed up in using two languages.

      Si fuera Obama, me abstenería de usar las idiomas que no sabe bastante bien. Sí, se puede usar esas idiomas pero: caveat orator. Soy seguro que Obama sabe el arabe. Quizas nos disfrute con su conocimiento extensivo. Es probable que no no necesite un teleprompter con el arabe.

      • rjj

        ablative vero might be how we came by the English expression “in sooth” – “in truth” – which gets close to verily — doncha think?

      • elise

        Si se puede was the motto of the American Migrant Farm Worker Union led by Cesar Chavez. You can steal from all of the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but you can’t steal from all the people all the time.

  • Teakwood

    Nos habitum illa verum futurus ego perspicuus. Ut non emerge pia est habeo haud pectus pectoris.

    Eu,Charles

  • KG

    Is Barack wearing blue eye shadow in that picture?

  • sproutingly

    Hail Obamaland! Where anything is possumus!

    I read through the insightful and often hillarious comments on this topic first posted yesterday. Honestly, I just cannot get enough of the Obamaland seal. An opposum should be his mascot. I am fascinated by the kitschy and pathetic attempt to put Obama over subliminally by juxtaposing him with officalesque symbols. Usually the candidates are simply placed in front of a gazillion American flags. And the effect is usually beautiful, even as we know it is calculated staging. But the symbols here are so phony that the ruse fails completely.

    While I’m dishing I have to mention Obama’s suits. The first time I saw him I thought “undertaker” or those Jehovah’s Witness fellows (no offense). His suits all seem to be shiny, texture-less fabric and blackish in color. It is really odd to me. No crisp navy blue, in a nice medium weight, which would be a good color for him and might fill out the skinniness. No pinstripes–always snappy. Almost always the blackish gray and shiny-thin. Also, did anyone see the family photo with Obama on the steps of their mansion? There he sits, in an open collar shirt, jeans and SHINY BLACK DRESS SHOES. What a putz.

  • Pink Panther

    Does it appear that THE POWERS want Obama to sit in the White House for some reason. Even Fox News is starting to go easy on him

    What could his mission be?

    • sproutingly

      Pink, I think Fox, et al are hoping that McCain takes him down.

      • elise

        Tom Delay said an Obama presidency would be the greatest gift the Republicans could recieve. I don’t make it a habit of believing Delay, but things are in a mess (understated) and an Obama presidency for four years might make people happy to go to the Republicans.

        • Perry Logan

          On the other hand, Obama might rig the elections so that no Republican ever gets elected again.

          This could be the silver lining to an Obama Presidency.

          You Are in MY Reality Now:
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuTV4IaVVa0

    • socalannie

      They’re waiting til September. They want to wait til his nom is set in stone. Also, people pay less attention to news during the summer.

      • sproutingly

        Yes. It is going to get very bad for 0 after the convention. Unless there is a miracle…He looks worn out already–what will he look like by the GE?

        • Pink Panther

          Thanks everybody for sharing your points of view.

    • The Real Hope

      He’s here to save UFOs from extinction.

    • rjj

      biddability just like george dubya. the people behind the scenes will take care of policy – he just makes his appearances on the balcony. Who are the people behind the scenes? Nobody knows.

      They have turned POTUS into a ceremonial office.

      They run systematic detraction campaigns on anyone who might have ideas of their own.

  • John

    I’m delighted at this Latin revival. Vero possumus means “truly we can,” the vero seems to be adverbial in meaning, like vere. As for the senator’s candidacy: absit!

    • The Real Hope

      It means it is “truly possible” period. He’s insane.

    • workingclass artist

      I find it amusing that Obama chooses the Language of the Romans ( or at least the fallacious use ) in his great seal…..chuckle….
      Hic puer est stultisimus omnium ! OBAMA…( sigh ) non gradus anus rodentum !

      *** O TEMPORA ! O MORES ! = SHEEEEEEEEESH ! ***

  • Obama is a bum

    Obama for America? Now I would concur with that if they are referring to Guyana which is South America, home of socialist cult leader Jim Jones and his Jonestown. Obama is Jim Jones II and needs to pick up where Jones left off – just change the name of the town to Obamatown.

  • Dora Ratquila

    What’s the big deal with this seal anyway? It’s a dodo bird with an X-ray image of its lacerated stomach – probably from all the toxic BS given to it by its owner, David Axelrod.

    B.O.W.L.* Big Time NOW & B.O.W.L.+ Even Bigger in November (2008)
    *Barack Obama Will Lie
    +Barack Obama Will Lose
    HRC – 45th POTUS (2012)

  • http://www.myspace.com/freddawes1776 Fred Dawes

    What a joke, but Obama will not be a joke as your next president he will be something out of a political nightmare and i understand he may become President for life after 8 years.

    Obama may have had the Lonewacko guy suspended for race reasons?

  • Northwest rain

    That damned seal still looks like a pig to me –

    Or — if I see the Eagle — WHAT is behind the eagle — it looks like a bald headed man — you can see his eyes — black spots where the eagle’s wings connect to the eagle’s body.

    Hey I’m an artist– I really look at designs — at the whole, at the outline and the other shapes and lines. The color — pale blue — suggesting baby blue masculine — the sort of blue that parents use to make sure the NO-ONE mistakes their baby boy for a baby girl.

    There is hell of a lot of psychology and garbage in this symbol — I expect that the Axleroot folks have been working on this for some time. They are going for the psychological mind-f**k.

    The mind will see a lot– and often on a conscious level most people don’t realize how much detail they are really seeing in the image.

    It is sort of like a very complex ink-blot test.

    WHAT DO YOU SEE?? Take a look again.

    • socalannie

      Good points. Also at the top edge of both the wings, there is a sort of “half square”. What’s that about? Also, what is the circle thing in the middle of the eagles body supposed to be?

      • Darryl

        like a sun rising from the belly of the beast?

        • socalannie

          Yes, it looks like the obot sun logo in the no quarter article “Obama Channels McGovern”. Check it out…its 3 or 4 posts back.

          • Northwest rain

            Yes — I didn’t see that circle thing at first and it does related to McGovern’s symbols. There are symbols within symbols.

            Seems like someone got that textbook on the universal meanings of symbols and had a go at making a mess.

            Now if we can find the symbols of Carter, Dukakis, Kerry — then we’ll know where this is going. (hint — in the toilet).

      • elise

        Obama is giving a speech to a woman’s group in New Mexico and thanking his mother, his grandmother, mother earth, the mother ship etc.

    • workingclass artist

      What kind of art do you do ? Just curious….

  • David Corse

    The big deal with the seal is he is changing traditional emblems of this nation to fit his own purposes. I’m sure he is a great friend and admirer of Chavez of Venezuela. They both are egomaniacs.

    • ea

      Chávez has stated that he will leave the office to which he was democratically elected at the end of his term. He has had victories and defeats. He truly has done good things for Venezuela, though the governments (federal, state, and local) have not always followed through in implementation. He has been an outspoken opponent of imperialism, particularly, U.S. imperialism, which has made him a target for the U.S. media. He has overplayed his hand a couple of times and can be bombastic, but he is not egomaniacal.

      BTW, I live in Venezuela. My perspective is based in reality.

      Also, I think Hillary was robbed. I hope Obama goes down in flames, figuratively speaking. Had to comment because of the misrepresentation of Chávez. Honestly, the comparison is an insult to Chávez. Having written all of the above, did you all know that Bill Richardson had a little visit here last week? Wonder what that was about. I hope it was about working together to free more of the hostages held by the FARC and not some “when Obama is president crap…”

  • vee

    Could Obama’s phrase “vero possusmus” have come form the musical “Cats”?

  • Susan1968

    A LOT of people were turned off by the o’possum seal.

    Even some of his supporters felt it was over the top.

    To me it’s a sign the Camp Obama has moved into a full disconnect with reality.

    This seal reminds me of Bush’s “Mission Accomplished.

    You know – counting those little chickens before they hatch.

  • Darryl

    This guy is really full of himself. Now he wants to change the seal of the United States! My god, we are in serious trouble.

    The Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” which translates to “Out of many, one,” now says “Vero Possumus.” Press reports translate the Latin words as “Truly, we are able” – a rough translation of the Obama campaign slogan, “Yes we can.”

    The deletion of “E Pluribus Unum,” long considered the de-facto motto of the United States, is not accidental for multiculturalists, who have long denigrated the concept that immigrants must strip away their old culture in favor of the “oneness” of American civilization. In the 1990s, such activists promoted the alternative concept of the nation’s ethnic “mosaic” – rather than a single, overarching metaphor to describe American society. For example, Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan has pointedly criticized the “E Pluribus Unum” motto as not reflecting the nation’s diversity.

    Other Obama changes to the seal include the removal of the shield over the eagle’s breast, representing the president’s oath to defend the Constitution. The shield has been replaced with the letter “O” – presumably for Obama – and the image of a rising sun.

    “This is too serious a contest about too serious of issues for a candidate to be playing make-believe on the trail,” Brian Rogers, a spokesman for presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, told The Los Angeles Times.
    6 minutes ago

    • The Real Hope

      Are you plagiarizing?

  • prabhata

    Fool.

  • Darryl

    I mean he has to have gone off the deep end. Its almost like he is begging the superdelegates to vote for Hillary at convention.

    • The Real Hope

      He’s was born from the deep end. Why is he so shallow?

  • Darryl

    I can’t stop laughing at that picture now that I know he is serious! LMAO omg!

  • Darryl

    OMG, the eagle looks like its spread out in a nasty manner! Whats that about, the sun rising between its open legs! EEEEW!

    • The Real Hope

      LOL! The eagle looks pornographic doesn’t it? It is spread eagle yes!

  • http://thehorizontalworld.blogspot.com/ Medusa

    It just occurred to me why he used made-up Latin. He’s trying to sway Latino voters–and like Dan Quayle, he thinks they speak Latin!

    And Blueasthesky, in real Latin, we don’t say vero possumus for “yes we can.” That’s the Latin equivalent of Spanglish.

    If fact, Charles is correct, it would be stated in the subjunctive, not the indicative.

    Caveat emptor!

    • http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ Truthteller

      Truthteller is the one who mentioned the subjunctive.

      • http://thehorizontalworld.blogspot.com/ Medusa

        Sorry, I meant Truthteller!

        i

        gnoscentia sapientes defendit

    • ritamary

      Res ipso loquitur.

  • Obama is a bum

    Is there anyone left who does not feel Obama is an arrogant elitest?

    • Pink Panther

      Our neighbors with the Obama signs believe he will save America, the world and the universe. Of course, they also put their fingers in their ears and hum whenever we try to tell them about his background.

      • The Real Hope

        Yes and they probably believe in the Mayan prediction that the world is coming to an end in 2013 or thereabouts. They are the same people who gave us the Harmonic Convergence.

        • mahaska

          My neighbor totally believes in the mayan calendar prediction that the world will end in 2012.

    • The Real Hope

      Yes all the half-baked seals in San Francisco think he’s still the shake in the quake.

  • Jerry

    Citzens of Ohio, I bet you guys would love to watch this video regarding NAFTA. It looks like Barack obama doped you guys into voting for him….

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=13UsLpcemAE

  • David Corse

    Yes, his Kool-Aid drinking supporters believe he is the Messiah so they are of the opinion that his ego is justified.

  • The Real Hope

    Translation: To be able to tell the truth.

    Obviously he is unable to do this at all.

  • SJ

    This is what we get, when fools nominate a person that never in his wildest dreams thought he would ever get so far in life.

    Trust me people if the same idiots happen to get this man elected president well god help us. The worse thing to do is put anyone in a position that he or she is not accustomed to being in, I have always kept saying this man is running for POTUS and some third world country, people should think about putting this kind of power into the wrong hands.

    Unfortunately some did not feel or see the crisis with an Obama nomination over Hillary, and some still don’t see the headache of having this man as president of this nation, they drink the cool-aid and follow him blindly, but this seal is just the start of things to come.

    His motto was change and he will change everything to his liking, be careful what some may wish for because they may not like the changes they get if Obama wins this GE.

  • prabhata

    Obama is a pretentious fraud.

  • Hmm

    He certainly gets away with just about anything. Can you imagine what the press would have done to the Clintons if they did this.

    I think even the republicans are scared of Obama. Look at how quiet they have been. Not a peep out of them about him. I guess they just are not tough enough or smart enough to deal with an opponent that is bad mouthing them every day. I wonder if their supporters will lose faith in their leadership abilities now that they have shown that they are such delicate creatures after all.

    DO you think the republicans are chicken? Baaaawk…

  • Aidyn
    • socalannie

      Thanks!

  • SJ

    If the republicans don’t start to get after him they are going to lose this GE, they are letting too many things slip by.

    I don’t know if this is McCain’s plan to run a soft campaign or what, but they sure are starting to look as if they are not ahead of their game, and just sitting and looking on as the shit piles up higher and higher daily.

    • rwc

      McCain is a bit of a idiot to be honest, he’s pissed off the GOP base something terrible on various issues like amnesty for illegals which a major hotbutton issue among conservatives and independents.

      Worse he has tin ear on issues like “free trade” which is important to the GOP base. Instead of throwing these people a bone, he’s just repeated Bush’s stance on it.

      He doesn’t get that the economy isn’t anything like it was when Bush got elected, its much worse. Its important to rank and file conservatives now.

      Then his attacking GOP 527′s that went after Obama, really pissed off a lot of GOP supporters.

      Its clear he has no idea what he is doing.

      If he keeps this crap up, he can lose against Obama.

      • Obama is a bum

        I agree. The Obama campaign must be laughing at McCain. McCain spends all of his time apologizing to Obama if someone uses his middle name or if someone mentions Wright, etc.

        McCain keeps defending Obama by saying that Obama does not share Wright’s views. How the hell does he know. The man sat there for 20 years never objecting, one could easily conclude that Obama does share Wright’s views.

        McCain also puts people like Jack Kemp and others on TV who praise Obama. McCain is handing the election to Obama.

      • http://deleted AnninCa

        Well, McCain needed to piss them off. They want trucks to round up people, for God’s sakes.

  • rwc

    His motto ought to be:

    Scumus Semper Ascendit

    • Darryl

      How about this:

      Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
      Um diddle um diddle um diddle ay
      Um diddle um diddle um diddle ay

  • marisa

    Until recently–this morning actually–I thought the seal story/photo was from The Onion.

    This goes under the heading: He MUST be kidding.

    At least Obama has transitioned (nearly seamlessly) into inadvertent self-mockery. This is going to be a fun summer!

    On a side note, I wonder if Danny Boyle will cast Obama in his next zombie flick as “lead” zombie? Dude looks damn tired.

    • Zee

      “Dude looks damn tired.”

      Bless it! Give it hims blankey and binkey! And after hims nap he can have some waffles!

  • The Real Hope

    The more I look at this asshole’s seal of pomposity the more I could wretch. What an absolutely arrogant son of a bitch is this self-absorbed dull bulb. Can this guy get an original idea in that slit head of his? Somehow someone has got to shock this guy into reality and his followers as well. This is getting very sick. Does he think he’s the new emperor now or what? This is nauseating.

  • ritamary

    The Obamazoids at Obamington Post are almost unanimous in their dislike of Dear Leader’s new seal. You can really get a few good laughs over there tonight. First the FISA and campaign finance flip-flops, now this. Are they having doubts about Dear Leader’s omnipotence? Not so much…

    • The Real Hope

      Ritamary,
      I noticed that a few days ago myself. They seem to be disillusioned the poor morons. We’ll be hearing reports of group suicides soon if their boy wonder makes more bad decisions. Obviously, they are very fragile humanoids.

  • NoToDisenfranchisement

    that seal looks like a clever 7th grader designed it…

    I guess that’s because a clever 7th grader must’ve designed it.

    And yes, agree with the poster above – Obama’s head literally needs to be bigger (figuratively it’s huge); Otherwise, if he steps out from behind that seal, I imagine him in a suit 10 sizes too big for him.

  • http://lilithrvisited.blogspot.com LauraInCali

    It really bothers me that he would even have the balls to sit behind that ridiculous looking rip-off seal. Is there no end to Obama’s arrogance? What a fool!

  • Susan1968

    Come to think of it, this new Obama seal looks like it was designed by the same guy who photo-shopped BO’s brand new birth certificate.

  • yonason

    OPOSSUMUS PESTIS

    = vermin infested varmint?

  • yonason

    BARACK HUSSEIN OPOSSUM

    (subtitle: mockery of a mockery – art imitates fraud)

  • Julie

    Isn’t using a likeness of the presidential seal a crime???? Am I wrong?

  • okie/paul

    obamamessiah.blogspot.com/ Is this site for real or some kind of satire?

  • Janice
  • http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/ Robbedvoter

    In vino, veritas!
    Se non e vero, ma e ben trovato
    OK, that one was in Italian – but close enough.
    Another latin lover here agreeing with you.
    Although as a former Colbert fan (pre-writers strike) I must confess I love this translation:
    “The Possum speaks truthily”
    http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/the-new-seal/

  • Thomas
    • http://nobho.blogspot.com/ Johnny at Work

      That confirms without a doubt that O’boy supporters are crack heads and have one foot in the asylum.

    • http://www.lezident.com Lezident

      great video….typical Obama supporters.

    • selective journalist

      OMG

      Diane Arbus here we come!

      Please post this at Huf…

      It might just be enough to cause a few more Obots to re-think the coolness of Obama. That is one Un-cool/creepy family.

  • Pingback: The Possum Speaks Truthily « Not Your Sweetie

  • http://www.lezident.com Lezident

    Obama is not who he says he is.

    http://lezident.com

    • http://nobho.blogspot.com/ Johnny at Work

      Nice… a site where you can hawk your wares.

      Just like Obama does on his site!

  • Perry Logan

    I’ve made some improvements on Barack’s Presidential seal:
    http://perrylogan.org/images/SP-Seal.jpg

  • bmc

    Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur

    “The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived.”

    [from The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst]

  • http://hickeysite.blogspot.com Pat Hickey

    A Veritable Marsupial!

    Ah, Yes! Indeedee! HOPE! Drat! . . . Did I spend forty dollars on potables and liquid refreshments in here, last night?

    Good. Afraid I had lost it.

    I see Steve Webber is writing for Huffington Post! Steve Webber . . . another Ubangi in the Fuel Supply!

    http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/06/huffington-post-presents-steven-webber_22.html

  • bornagaindem

    I kinda of like the translation “Opossums for truth”

  • http://www.obama-wire.com Dave

    For the Obama campaign, Latin continues to be a dead language.

    http://WWW.OBAMA-WIRE.COM

  • karen for Clinton

    Hmmm, is there a word for weasel in Latin?

    If Hillary gets the final dump in August I think we’ll all be saying “Rise MAC Rise.”

    Arrogantus Prsumptousitous Weaselificus.

    In OB we do not trust.

    • workingclass artist

      Obama…..chuckle….Semper In Excremento, Sole Profundum Qui Variat !
      ( Always in the Shit, Only the depth varies ! ) applicable to Weaselificus’ too.

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

        Yes I do think the weasel is more appropriate.

  • Williams

    “Vero Possumus” is Latin for

    “Truly I am a Possum”

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

    Obama delenda est

  • magenta

    Hey, Granny, would you mind cooking me and Jethro and Ellie Mae and Uncle Jed up some possum stew?

    Mmm mm good!

    Yes we can! (Steal a nomination)Yes we can!

  • http://www.madinthemiddle.blogspot.com churl

    Mica, mica parva stella

  • ownaa

    His followers and the dnc don’t want to know. take it up with the delegates who are afraid for their seats in the house or senate show them you don’t like him, and you are planning to prove it in nov. It will be more potent if it came one body.

  • JP49

    Thanks Charles for the great article and letting us know about this. It disgusts me that no one is calling Obama on this. How dare Obama use the likeness of our Presidential Seal. He will never be our president. Even if the corporate media is in the tank for Obama and no one ever calls him out on anything, we the voters have the ultimate stick. Don’t vote for him. Joe Anderson (I think that’s how you spell his name) was backing Hillary then switched to Obama and I believe he works for Diebold. We will have to watch this election very carefully and the Republicans need to be on their toes as well. We need to keep emailing McCain. Even if we cannot get Hillary in then I think we should keep emailing her because as a senator she might be able to pass laws regarding the media. We need laws that do not allow a corporate entity to have a monopoly on the news media. There also needs to be provisions about slanted and obtuse coverage of any one candidate to the disadvantage of other candidates. Hoping there is some antitrust provisions that will apply.

  • Hank

    He is such a fake, “Yes we can” was a motto used by Ceasar Chavez in 1972. Maybe his father was a farm worker? lol

  • k in the northwest

    It’s a federal offensive:

    18 USC Sec. 713 …

    (a) Whoever knowingly displays any printed or other likeness of the great seal of the United States, or of the seals of the President or the Vice President of the United States, or the seal of the United States Senate, or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or the seal of the United States Congress, or any facsimile thereof, in, or in connection with, any advertisement, poster, circular, book, pamphlet, or other publication, public meeting, play, motion picture, telecast, or other production, or on any building, monument, or stationery, for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or by any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

    (b) Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    This was on another web site–It looks there is a group that plans on filing suit.
    I was wondering why there was not somthing to protect it.

  • Hank

    Obama’s Vero Possumus means soy un pendejo como bush.

  • http://msn Ann

    Once again Barack Hussien Obama has denigrated America with this ludicrous seal.

    Barack’s half brother said “Barack is a Muslim but he will protect Israel.” Saw this on Fox ONCE (Brit Hume) What’s up Fox?

    Thank GOD for all the people on this blog that see the real Barack Hussien Obama and his sidekick Michelle!

  • thatsnottheissue

    Barack Obama is steeped, marinated and basted in arrogance and deceit. This is just business as usual for this hoodwinking bamboozler.

  • Perry Logan

    I’m no artist, but by dint of great effort, I have perfected Obama’s new seal:
    http://perrylogan.org/images/SP-Seal2.jpg

  • John

    I would assume, then that BHO’s logical VP choice
    would be Dame Edna “Hellow, Possums!” Everage. As an added bonus, both the POTUS and VP would be named Barry!

  • Pingback: Democrats for Real Change | Vero Possumus: No You Can’t!

  • Doctorb

    I’m sure people have already pointed this out, but the infinitive (“to be able”) is “posse” (obsolete potere). “Possumus” is the proper first person plural, present tesne.

    “Vero” is a bit stronger than “etiam”; they could’ve gone with “omnino” but that would be a bit heavy, I suppose.

    Besides, nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres. Additionally, you could have looked it up in literally five minutes. You should be embarrassed, as should your teacher.

  • http://www.mxdcfkn.tdiny.com dhityzbnq ueghco

    uhrjcmkyq ljzdnoi yqatm xvtc unkztcs nzodirmp bkgipjqwl

  • John

    vero possumus which translates as “in truth to be able.”

    His “yes, we can” should translate as etiam nos es validus or better still etiam, sic licet.

    i agree that ‘etiam, sic licemus’ would be better, but ‘vero possumus’ is actually ‘in truth, we are able’ not ‘in truth to be able’

    ‘possumus’ is the 1st person plural, not the infinitive

  • workingclass artist

    Ehemmmm….John how about something a little less mysoginistic ( minus the douche ? ) and in Latin….chuckle….
    Qualem Blennum ! = what a doofus
    Quallem Irrumator ! = what a pimp
    Quallis Meretrix = What Bullsit
    America Somno Excitare ! Aut Esse Raptus Regaliter ! = America Awaken ! Or be Royally Screwed !

  • workingclass artist

    Hmmmmmm…..John why not use the term Shit Bag as it non gender specific. You imply that Douche is a negative when it is a commonly used feminine hygene product. In other words you defend a sexist insult….You chose poorly unless it was meant for a gender specific audience namely sexist males like yourself who lack a real sense of humor…..or at least an adult appreciation of the absurd…..Who is pretentious now ?
    You Protest too much…..thin skinned obviously, you’d never last in the Art world as you cannot even take MILD constructive criticism….
    Fac Ut Vivas !……SHEEEEESH !