Comments on: The significance of Obama’s victory

By: Mr Danger

Mr Danger — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:44:54 +0000

david lindsay spam: does anyone read this crap?

By: Pig with lipstick

Pig with lipstick — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:20:47 +0000

If this Packer is the best political writer in America, the rest must be pretty poor.

By: John Little

John Little — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:18:42 +0000

"In light of the downturn, Mr. Obama is also said to be reconsidering a key campaign pledge: his proposal to repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. According to several people familiar with the discussions, he might instead let those tax cuts expire as scheduled in 2011, effectively delaying any tax increase while he gives his stimulus plan a chance to work." (NYT) "Vote McCain for more of the same!" ROTFLMAO

By: David Lindsay

David Lindsay — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:58:08 +0000

Who elected Barack Obama? People who also voted to re-affirm traditional marriage in California and Florida. People who also voted to end legal discrimination against working-class white men in Colorado. People who also voted not to liberalise the gambling laws in Missouri and Ohio. Almost everyone in the black church. The clear majority of Catholics.

In a word, moral and social conservatives.

So why did they vote for him?

For reasons of economic populism and foreign policy realism. Which are, of course, the right reasons.

No one deserves a free run against nothing more than Sarah Palin. And someone elected by morally and socially conservative economic populists and foreign policy realists, but who pays them back by giving the position of Secretary of State to Hillary Clinton, deserves a very serious challenge indeed in the 2012 primaries. The foundations of that challenge should already be being laid. Are they being? If not, why not?

Still, at least this is an opportunity to fill a vacant Senate seat (not the only one about to become vacant, of course) with a morally and socially conservative economic populist and foreign policy realist. Nothing could better befit the state named after the last Catholic King of England, Scotland and Ireland (indeed, the only ever Catholic King of all three for anything more than a matter of minutes), whose title at the time of its foundation was taken from the birthplace of Christendom.

By: mesquito

mesquito — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:25:33 +0000

“a Dr. Seuss “how to be President guide”, a few old comics and a well thumbed brochure from the local booze shop”

Ha ha ha ha ha!
[Mesquito wipes tears from eyes]

By: modernityblog

modernityblog — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:58:47 +0000

should be fun to see what the George W Bush Presidential Library contains?

a Dr. Seuss “how to be President guide”, a few old comics and a well thumbed brochure from the local booze shop

By: mesquito

mesquito — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:15:08 +0000

“Is it possible that Packer is joking, too? That would be the kindest way to treat the article, but there is so much nonsense in the article, without a wink to the readers, that we have to assume Packer intended this piece to be taken seriously.”

It’s all dreadfully earnest, I’m afraid.

By: Jim Miller

Jim Miller — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:09:00 +0000

Over the last few months, I have gotten quite fond of Gene’s dry humor. Is it not obvious that, when he calls George Packer “the best American political journalist”, he is joking?

If you thought he was being serious in this post, do what he suggests, read the article, and then then read the post again. Is not a joke the most reasonable interpretation of the post?

(For the humor impaired, a hint: Packer starts off with FDR and his flailing around during the Great Depression. As everyone knows — well, as every informed person knows — FDR’s policies made the Depression worse and made it last longer. (Some FDR policies did help, but on the whole they made things worse.) But Packer does not know that basic economic fact. Gene could have been nasty and beat up Packer for that mistake, and for many other mistakes, but he chose to be sly and to let readers work it out themselves. Clever writing, and quite funny.)

Is it possible that Packer is joking, too? That would be the kindest way to treat the article, but there is so much nonsense in the article, without a wink to the readers, that we have to assume Packer intended this piece to be taken seriously.

By: mesquito

mesquito — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:51:35 +0000

Actual Washington Post headline:

Obama Sets Expansive Goal for Jobs
Plan Aims to Create or Save 2.5 Million Positions by 2011

or Save?

By: mesquito

mesquito — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:58:40 +0000

“Comparing him to past presidents is a little premature since George Bush is still president, I would have thought?”

Memo to every professional scribbler in New York and Washington D.C……