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Amateur Zero Hour Oval Reset

By John Batchelor on August 31, 2010 at 3:00 PM in Current Affairs

Editor’s Note: We will all live blog Obama’s speech tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET. The live-blog open thread goes up at 7:15 p.m. The following is John Batchelor’s op-ed on the speech.

 

Jerry Seib Works Hard to Reset POTUS.  

August 30, 2009: The eve of POTUS second Oval Office speech [tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET], this time on Deepwater Iraq, the estimable and trenchant Jerry Seib, WSJ, measures the Obama administration foreign policy in the Ummah and finds it “reset.”

This is generous and ambitious at once. POTUS has no policy in the Ummah. Iran describes another idea that POTUS cannot figure and does not seek counsel to figure.

With regard Iraq, POTUS remains against the war.

With regard Afghanistan, POTUS remains certain that this is the necessary war.

With regard Israel and Palestine, POTUS remains certain that by bringing peace to the region, palaver, palaver.

In sum, POTUS arrived at the Oval Office with a fresh posture and little information, and over the last 20 months, despite his fairly unique access to information, POTUS has remained at “reset.”

POTUS disdains foreign policy.

POTUS disdains domestic policy. POTUS asserts and asserts on camera. Off-camera, POTUS retreats to his certainty without information.

POTUS is more an amateur today than he was when he chose to run for POTUS in December 2006, two months after Senator Obama‘s bagman, Tony Rezko, was indicted for graft.

POTUS was then and remains now an amateur cipher. No psychology needed or useful. Reset is POTUS. Each day.

What does this mean for the so-called “direct talks” between Netanyahu and Abbas?  Very little.

SecState Clinton is taking an unusually strong part here.   No reset to HRC.

HRC learns.  POTUS surprisingly uninvolved.  VPOTUS Biden a liability to the Democrats, not to POTUS.

POTUS disdains Biden and the Democrats.  POTUS disdains Washington.

This is not psychology. It is POTUS taste, perhaps also to be found in reset Oval Office design colors.  Taupe, beige, neutrals — did I say beige?  Does POTUS think he is beige?  I am beige.  Are you beige?  What is taupe?  Reset beige may be taupe.  RESET POTUS is zero.

oo makeover.jpg
  • Hokma

    The one-term POTUS evidently disdains working for a living. His talents are that he has a silver tongue and a long line of B.S. that measures up to future talents as a used car salesman.

    More disturbing is that he does not even have the intellectual curiosity to learn anything. He believes that you press a certain button and things automatically happen.

    His foreign policy can be summed up in the constant visual of his meeting world leaders and bending over.

  • oowawa

    Taupe.  Rhymes with Hope or Dope.

    Kind of a greyish brown.  Example: most of the drab cars driving on the freeways nowadays are some variant of taupe (if they are not some variant of white).  If they are red, blue, or green, the paint is mixed with taupe so that they have a bland earthtone muddy look.  Taup is the sound you hear your feet make when you treat them to a beat on the Mississippi Mud.

  • oowawa

    “What is taupe?”

    Taupe.  Rhymes with Hope or Dope.

    Kind of a greyish brown.  Example: most of the drab cars driving on the freeways nowadays are some variant of taupe (if they are not some variant of white).  If they are red, blue, or green, the paint is mixed with taupe so that they have a bland earthtone muddy look.  Taup is the sound you hear your feet make when you treat them to a beat on the Mississippi Mud.

  • Hope

    He hates his job loves the perks.  But Michelle loves the power and will make him work like a dog to get re-elected

  • oowawa

    “What is taupe?” 
     
    Taupe.  Rhymes with Hope or Dope. 
     
    Kind of a greyish brown.  Example: most of the drab cars driving on the freeways nowadays are some variant of taupe (if they are not some variant of white).  If they are red, blue, or green, the paint is mixed with taupe so that they have a bland earthtone muddy look.  Taupe is the sound you hear your feet make when you treat them to a beat on the Mississippi Mud.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    The re-do of the Oval Office is a reflection of their taste…which is bad to non-existent.  In case they didn’t know, wallpaper is passe.  The monochromatic colors are (as one of my old friends calls Carmel-by-the-Sea) blond, beige and boring.  Mama Doc thought she was being chic but she wouldn’t know chic if it ran up and bit her on the ass.  The specially woven fabric for the couches is described as light brown with red, white and blue threads through it…Tacky-0.  I will be OK with it if they wanted to take the entire ensemble with them when they leave…no theft required.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    I think the dog works harder than he does.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    PS, no need to watch tonight; we’ve heard it all before…many, many, many times.  When he’s not blaming Bush, he’s trying to steal from Bush.

  • Sassy

    Looks like a funeral home seating area…lifeless!

  • oowawa

    There is only one thing that matters: when Thee One is seated at the Resolute Desk, will the decor complement his complexion and eye color?

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    Not sure but it might make him invisible.

  • Sassy

    I saw breaking news earlier about four Israelis, one a pregnant woman, who were killed by gunfire into their car.
    It is assumed to be timed to disrupt the talks in D.C. tomorrow.

  • arabella trefoil

    I can’t find a citation for this theory, but there are some psychologists who analyze the impact of color of room decor. Some people claim that all beige with no accents is “stifling.” At least one guy (and he may have been a crack pot for all I know) claimed that all beige interiors showed hostitility and passive aggressiveness.

    The key to making beige work is to use accent colors – even black will do.

    Beige is associated with “institutional settings” and some find it depressing.

    On the other hand, decorators who give advice to home sellers recomment beige, but with accents.

    Or maybe beige is just beige. One thing for sure – it shows dirt.

  • sowsear

    Does anyone know if the tarp that was covering the outside of the WH had anything to do with this renovation? Doesn’t seem as if it should be related. Maybe they had to have it fumigated.
    The Oval Office had already been renovated in Jan.2010 or 2009?

  • getfitnow

    John referenced zombie Republicans a couple of days ago. We have a zombie POTUS.

  • jwrjr

    Q. What is a politician’s favorite color?

    A. Plaid

    (Yes, I know that this is an old one.  But it describes Obama perfectly.)

  • oowawa

    Not beige, Arabella, taupe.  Taupe is to beige as arugula is to spinach: far more regal.  So regal, in fact, that peasants like me never heard of it before the Dawning of the Age of Obama.  I wonder if any experts in feng shui, specially flown over from China at taxpayer expense, had any input into the decor?

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    Don’t know what reason they gave for the balloon but if it was to remove rodents, it failed.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    Yes, it will soon look grungy…but guaranteed to disguise the nicotine stains from Baby’s ciggies…the smell, not so much.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    We are just darned lucky they didn’t lean toward Communist gray.  Now that would really be depressing.  As it is, merely blah, bland, custom made Walmart.  I thought she’d at least trade up to Pottery Barn.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    One of five quotes woven into the periphery of the rug. 

    “The Welfare of Each of Us is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us.”  attributed to Teddy Rosevelt.  Hmmm, I never knew he was so redistributive/Alinsky oriented.

    And of course, “We Have Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself”…not so sure that’s still true.  Sometimes fear is quite helpful when confronted by an entity wanting to kill you.  I just heard Ed Schultz’s screaming rant in which he essentially says he  wants to stomp us into the ground.  And John Cucack’s tweet for a “Satanic Death Cult Center to do in GOP’ers and Fox.  Anyone else making these sorts of threats would have a visit from the FBI.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    One of five quotes woven into the periphery of the rug.   
     
    “The Welfare of Each of Us is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us.”  attributed to Teddy Rosevelt.  Hmmm, I never knew he was so redistributive/Alinsky oriented.  
     
    And of course, “We Have Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself”…not so sure that’s still true.  Sometimes fear is quite helpful when confronted by an entity wanting to kill you.  I just heard Ed Schultz’s screaming rant in which he essentially says he  wants to stomp us into the ground.  And John Cucack’s tweet for a “Satanic Death Cult Center” to do in GOP’ers and Fox.  Anyone else making these sorts of threats would have a visit from the FBI.

  • Sassy

    Annie, I heard the rants as well, and some are trying to organize a protest rally against Pujols, Cardinals player, at Busch Stadium for professing faith and accepting an award from Beck. Crazy loons everywhere!

  • susiepuma-still a crazy cracker

    not sure – but I don’t care enough to watch – I have cable tv and I’m sure I can find something else to watch- even if it’s the tv guide channel – or – maybe I’ll read a book with small print too…………..

  • susiepuma-still a crazy cracker

    something else I find pretty funny – arugula – Italians treated it as a weed – then some elitist ate it & voila – it became the newest rage and it’s actually a weed - kinda like the whole dem party lately – am glad now that they dumped me on 5/31/08 – and, I gotta tell ya – I’m sure as hell getting tired of that driving the car off the cliff shit – first place – it’s stupid, 2nd place – it’s even more stupid, & 3rd – I don’t think the fraud in chief even knows how to drive a car – OMG – have you seen him with his urkel helmet and girl’s bicycle?   Is it November yet???

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    I will go with the book too.  BTW, I’ve been reading “The Great Escape…Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World” by Kati Marton.  Absolutely fascinating.  If I finish it while Baby is on, I’ll go to the home channel.  Baby is now on the tee vee telling us what he’s going to tell us.  My God, is there no escape for us from this doofus?

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    You have to be really grounded to keep your sanity these days.  November here we come!

  • sowsear

    Seriously, did she have a say in it?

  • sybilll

    That is precisely why I will maintain my mostly ladylike persona I have established here, and go over to Ace’s and cuss like a sailor. 

  • sowsear

    How about the dictionary?

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  • sowsear

    He really does have fine and gross  motor problems…

  • My Site (click to edit)

    Does not seek counsel–Bush redux.

  • My Site (click to edit)

    We’re from St. Louis.  If people are going to Busch Stadium to protest Albert Pujols, they’re people from out of town.

  • My Site (click to edit)

    I don’t think he’s worried about getting re-elected.  He’ll rely on Tony.

  • My Site (click to edit)

    Is it Communist to believe the well being of every member of society contributes to the well being of everyone else.  I thought that’s what Jesus taught.

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    It would be more interesting as well as informative.

  • sowsear

    I remember from psychology classes that persons who dressed monochromatically were dull, stifled people, but when I googled monochromatic dressing, I found it’s all the rage. It makes a person look taller and thinner, Who knew?

  • sowsear

    One of my grandsons plays at the same baseball park as Pujols son. One time he came to a game when we were there, and everyone was pointing him out but were giving him space. (My grandson would have liked to have had his autograph but…)

  • Annie Soda Cracker

    Key words are “contributes” and “dependent”. 

  • Crackerjack -Obamastahn Rebel Resistance

    He can’t admit Bush WAS RIGHT

  • jbjd

    JB wrote, “POTUS is more an amateur today than he was when he chose to run for POTUS in December 2006…”  Turns out, Harry Reid recruited him to run 6 (six) months earlier, in July. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31318.html

  • lizzy

    Zombie POTUS to go with his gift of Zoombie banks-how many has the FDIC closed this year?

  • lizzy

    TR was a trust buster and muck racker. He took on the powers that be for the people.  We could use people of his integrity in office today.