People Really Don't Get It

I'm somewhat surprised at any surprise over this and don't think it's much of a big deal. However, it does somewhat illustrate a point I am amazed that so many people somehow seem to miss in governmental goings on over several years. More blog coverage here. Left, Right or Middle - the real battle in politics rarely if ever engaged effectively since Reagan is DC versus the rest of the country. Obama wants to govern and he wants to be part of DC more than anything right now. If you believe Right versus Left down here on the Potomac is at each other's throats the way the base sometimes is , you probably think professional wrestling is real, too. Sorry if the wrestling comment offends anyone. I know how seriously some folks take it. Yes, Washington is broken. But it still rules the roost. And if you come here looking to change it and are more Carter than Reagan, it will change, or destroy you.

It's true.

He motorcaded to a house in Maryland this evening, and if the press pool report is accurate, he is breaking bread with William Kristol and David Brooks.  (If Brooks and Kristol seem to be unusually briefed about Obama's thinking, you'll know why.)

CBS News's Dan Raviv tells the pool that the house, on Grafton Street in Chevy Chase, belongs to George Will. (Unless he's moved.)

Comments

[ET]

One thing we are learning about barry...brother is a backroom dealer. Clever as a fox, it seems, though I wonder what deal he cut with the Clintons to secure her nomination at State?

What do they have on our boy?

harpo...why are you so afraid of conservative thinkers. Your hero seems quite comfortable with them and their opposing viewpoints.

Your Uncle Barry is ashamed of you.

[ET]

damn. I swore to stop poking jharp with the stupid stick, but it's just too freakin' easy.

[jharp]

"harpo...why are you so afraid of conservative thinkers."

I'm not. Not in the least. I just hate what they've done to our country. Thank God they were voted out of office.

"Your hero"

He's not my hero. I just think he'll be a good President and I agree with him more often than not.

"seems quite comfortable with them and their opposing viewpoints."

No. He seems comfortable enough to dine with them. That's all.

[SacTownMan]

I wonder if he'll use a food tester?

On the other hand it is a major improvement over Dorn and Ayers as dinner guests!

[TheSpartan]

I'm not surprised by this at all. Intellectual conservatives have been at war with the base for sometime now, they probably see Obama as a change in the right direction even though he's a Dem.

[rsg]

I agree much with the idea that right & left is something pols use to rally (and raise money) but in the end, right & left pols are mostly in agreement and mostly one in the same.

However, basic philosophies/ideologies still have some relevance. BHO is basically at his core, someone who has grown up in and around socialists/radical muslims/anarachists/marxists. Does that mattter?

I say yes. I don't believe a person really changes much across their life. BHO believes in "social justice" which is a code word for big, bigger, biggest government involvement in our lives because the people BHO sympathizes with are very often the downtrodden, the losers in life, who have messed up their lives through poor choices, lack of preparation, laziness, etc.

[Eeber]

I don't remember anyone congratulating President Bush about his intelligence, wit, cleverness, etc, when he met with Congressional Democrats or left-leaning media personalities. Both men realize that there is a country to run, and are trying to do it. I don't see anything remarkable about this.

[JustOneMan]

hmmmmmm....maybe Barry is really a "down low" Republican....

[IslamoLlama]

:-p

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Our new pres is more conservative than either side cares to admit and this is a move in the right direction (HA! no pun intended) The problem for the whole country is these weak ass partisans have been concentrating on varioous bases of sheeple an not on the country as one. Can we not give this guy a chance? Geeze I go back to Eisenhower and cannot name a single president since that I agreed with 100%. It'd be nice if these "sides" came together and discussed what is good for the country, instead of how to solidify their power......

[Philip McDaniel]

a sane voice of reason, W W

[WAHOO WILLIE]

I try Phil, aint always easy.

[BruceT]

WAHOO WILLIE - you can't be serious, you must be one of those blessed "moderates" who believes in consensus.

Many people have strong beliefs. Barry Dunham has a very slight resume. I can't read his God-like mind. I can only judge him based on his minor work experience in and out of politics. His record is one who has voted with his party almost all of the time, i.e., he has no record of working with conservatives. His record shows that he often supports far left-wing groups and the ideas that they espouse. His views on abortion, gun rights, education, national defense, creating a business friendly environment are all out of the mainstream with most American's views.

But moderates like you want us to all get along. You simply must not like vigorous debate, argument and fighting for one's beliefs. Are you a public school teacher by any chance?

[MockTheOne]

Remember, the words of Jesus Obama.....

"You don't need to worry whether immigrants learn English, you need to teach your children how to speak Spanish."

[Fred Beloit]

Guess Kristol is a conservative...sort of. Brooks? No, more of a maverick. And if it was Will's house, one supposes he was there. Yes, he's pretty conservative. But what is most odd is that these guys are old media, big media, MSM, newspaper guys. Why did Obie pick them vs. conservative pols (probably couldn't think of any)? Any thoughts?

[Gary Ogletree]

Obama's greatest desire is to win a second term. He will do whatever seems useful to that attaining that. The current GOP leadership lacks the conviction and backbone to oppose the steady creeping socialism in his agenda or even to educate the public. Should Dear Leader get re-elected with a fatter majority in Congress I expect to see his totalitarian nature to come out. How about a nice Blue Shirt Militia to quell civil disturbance and wrong thinking.. There will be no more making nice with the evil conservatives. Buy your guns this term.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

"though I wonder what deal he cut with the Clintons to secure her nomination at State?"

You mean the deal that has been publicly disclosed, and discussed at length, or some other deal the voices in your head tell you about?

"Remember, the words of Jesus Obama.....

'You don't need to worry whether immigrants learn English, you need to teach your children how to speak Spanish.'"

Except that's NOT what he said. But feel free to continue lying about it. Lying about Barack Obama has worked so effectively in the past, and it's certainly a more viable alternative than, you know, forming constructive ideas.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

"Why did Obie pick them vs. conservative pols (probably couldn't think of any)? Any thoughts?"

Easy. He picked the last remaining conservatives capable of forming a coherent thought and expressing it somewhat persuasively. Kristol might have just been there mixing drinks though.

This isn't complicated (a) "conservative pols" don't matter - HE DOESN'T NEED THEM POLITICALLY - he would like to convince some so-called "reasonable" conservatives if he can, which is what he's been talking about for over 2 years; (b) "conservative pols" are incapable of diagnosing national problems and proposing solutions that don't automatically involve "tax cuts," a cut in the capital gains tax, and less regulation. Why would Obama sit down with losers with failed ideas?

I just wonder why Obama hasn't met with luminaries like unemployed Joe the Welfare Queen to discuss important matters. Oh, I forgot, Joe is over in Isreal telling the world what he thinks about stuff.

[templar knight]

"...forming constructive ideas."

Yeah, like more spending. That's a very construtive idea to a liberal. And to a lot of conservatives as well, it seems. I'm pretty sure the soon-to-be Chimperor will use the ideas that agree with his agenda, and attempt to promote his so-called bi-partisanship with the useful idiots who will go along with his plans.

Frankly, I have about as much faith in Obama as I have in your moniker, THC. Which is none. Nada. Zero. Zilch.

[MockTheOne]

Totally Heterosexual Conservative - That's not what His Racial Righteousness said? It may not be an exact quote but I do think it's what he said. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Please explain....

'You don't need to worry whether immigrants learn English, you need to teach your children how to speak Spanish.'"

Except that's NOT what he said. But feel free to continue lying about it. Lying about Barack Obama has worked so effectively in the past, and it's certainly a more viable alternative than, you know, forming constructive ideas.

[Fred Beloit]

Totally, your good friend Harpo loves polls and can often be found displaying them for our delectation.
So here's looking at you harpo. It seems your fellow Amis don't like or don't have confidence nor trust in the government taking power in a few days.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17424.html

[IslamoLlama]

"-- He motorcaded to a house in Maryland this evening, and if the press pool report is accurate, he is breaking bread with William Kristol and David Brooks. (If Brooks and Kristol seem to be unusually briefed about Obama's thinking, you'll know why.)

CBS News's Dan Raviv tells the pool that the house, on Grafton Street in Chevy Chase, belongs to George Will. (Unless he's moved.)

Tomorrow, I hear Obama has another private meeting with non-Republican opinion columnists.

Ellen Moran, the incoming White House communications director, set these meetings up.

Again -- establishment opinion matters to the Obama communications team. --"

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! Obama is TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FROTHING ANTI-AMERICAN LIBERAL TERRORISTS! THAT'S NOT CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

Seriously, take some freak'n meds. Kristol's latest opinion piece basically makes Dan's point for him, as he harps endlessly on how Obama is just Bush-redux and that the whole "Change" motif won't result in any actual change in Washington.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/opinion/12kristol.html?_r=1

What amazes me, though, isn't that Dan is once again parroting the line of his Washington mentors, but that he's trying to engage in old-school insider-outsider political warfare by leaning heavily on inside-the-beltway pundit wisdom.

What is even more laughable is how quickly Bush Administration Policy and Practice morphs into nebulous "governmental goings on over several years". I'm sure by this time next June, Dan will have completely forgotten the Bush Administration even existed, much less the Republican Congressional domination of the last 14 years. Who is a Gingrich? What's a PNAC? Trent Lott? Denny Hastert? Bill Frist? Tom DeLay? Never heard of'em.

It's back out to the fields to play at being Wolverines! and railing against evil big government. At least until you can scrape together enough Reps to retake the House or enough electoral votes to sneak back into the Presidency, at which point we can enjoy another round of "Patriotism!" "America!" "Country First!"

[Fred Beloit]

By the way, Totally, are you one of those inclusive, can't-we-all-get-along guys Obama seeks to encourage? Or are you just a low-down dirty pol hack who would never even consider an idea from across the aisle? Don't bother answering.

[MockTheOne]

I suppose the Moonbat Messiah also didn't say that he's been to "all 57 states" either! Just typical conservative media slander!!!

That ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, LA Times, Wash Post, PBS, NPR are all in the vast right wing conspiracy, slandering the Obamessiah, our heroic left-wing lawyer with virtually no experience but only the gift of gab. How impressed I am!

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Today President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden will be paying a pre-inaugural visit to the Supreme Court of the United States at the invitation of Chief Justice John Roberts. --"

OMG! OMG! OMG!
Obama is caving to the inside-the-beltway SCOTUS! Is there anyone Obama won't cave to?!
I feel so betrayed!

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"But moderates like you want us to all get along. You simply must not like vigorous debate, argument and fighting for one's beliefs."

Brucie, Brucie, Brucie.....Since I don't recal that moniker, I'll assume you're new among us. No, I'm no moderate, at least if one uses Limbo's definition of the word and yes, I do believe in fighting for my beliefs. Unlike the average partisan from eiter "side" though, I realize where we would be going if one side of the boat rows backward while the other side tries to go forward and I'm getting dizzy. Obie will be the prez in a few days and thereafter for at least 4 years. Frankly, I believe it to be un-American.....or at least sickenly partisan to wish for him to fail....because Brucie, he fails-we fail. I merely suggest we give him a chance to govern, praise what he does right and put him in the corner when he's wrong. Oh hell yeah, I've heard a lot of rhetoric that makes me want to laugh in his face and/or call him names. Then, I've seen him show a willingness to listen and learn. I think it's a good thing. I hope and pray I'm not wrong and stand redy to fight as soon as someone gives me more to fight against than some of the wierdos he considers friends and associates.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"I feel so betrayed!"

LLama, got get mom nd quit screwing around.

[bgates]

I realize where we would be going if one side of the boat rows backward while the other side tries to go forward
What are "forward" and "backward" in this metaphor?
I believe it to be un-American.....or at least sickenly partisan to wish for him to fail
To the extent that his plans are bad for America, it's un-American to not wish for him to fail.
I've seen him show a willingness to listen and learn.
I've seen him demonstrate that most of the "conservative" commentariat are amazingly cheap lays, whose hearts go a-flutter when the First Ever Black President of the Harvard Law Review Ever reads them poetry. He listened to popular political speeches, and he learned how to press the public's buttons, and so he could say "we worship an awesome God in the blue states" while pouring money into Jeremiah Wright's pockets. At best he's a fraud.

[MockTheOne]

WEE WILLIE WAHOO - ah, the material point, perfectly summed up in your words: "he fails-we fail". I do not think presidents have much influence on anything, repeat, anything. I think it's mostly show business. Politics today is fodder for the newsmedia, not much more.

My personal well being isn't influenced much at all by Barry Dunham, Jorge Bush or B.J. Clinton. None of them. Therefore I'm a conservative in the truest sense of the term.

Presidents don't "ruin" an economy, nor do they "fix" an economy. Clinton didn't make a great economy, the internet/world wide web did that in the mid-1990's. Bush didn't ruin the economy recently. We all indulged too much, too many luxury homes and luxury cars and "flipping" homes and too much government influence on the economy for politically correct and partisan reasons - i.e. giving no money down loans to people who can't afford the payments.

We're simply in a down period in the business cycle. It will bottom out then begin to rise and strengthen. Done it before many times.

"Help me Obi-wan-Obama, you're my only hope!", is a sad commentary on the state of the American psyche. Pathetic, dependent children, looking up at a Stalin-sized portrait of an unaccomplished, liberal lawyer, who along with his wife, both harbor anti-American views. How pathetic we've become. Thanks greatly to a highly agenda driven, biased media.

[Barrie]

W.W. says: 'I believe it to be un-American.....or at least sickenly partisan to wish for him to fail....because Brucie, he fails-we fail.'
1. Hamas was voted in to office by the Pallies. Sometimes a country deserves to fail after it votes badly.
2. Did Obie think like you when he slagged Bush's Surge repeatedly and unpatriotically - until, Thank God, it worked?
3. Don't you remember that Obambi even refused to wear a US lapel flag while campaigning, repudiated big players in his shady Chicago background - and no-one in the 'sickenly partisan' MSM seemed to care?

[boqueronman]

"'You don't need to worry whether immigrants learn English, you need to teach your children how to speak Spanish.'"

Except that's NOT what he said. But feel free to continue lying about it." What he did say is the following:

"Instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English - they'll learn English - you need to be sure your child can speak Spanish."

Ohenlightenedone THC: Please, help us see the difference between the meaning of the paraphrase you call a lie and the actual quote.

[Micha Elyi]

Yep, the paraphrase of Obama's scolding is a reasonable facsimile of his actual remark.

However Obama's finger waggling at America is rendered, I don't feel the need to obey.

By the way, how's Obama's Spanish? Can he speak it as well as his predecessor can? And after a couple of years of that expensive private schooling his girls are getting, they'd better have near-native Spanish fluency or their Daddy will be busted as a hypocrite (again!).

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Where the hell are Pookie DaLLama, THC, Harpie and the rest of our left leaning friends when Willie is being attacked by strange wingers????? Getting a kick outta it most likely.........

Pinheads; I did my campaigning during the campaign, unfortunately was left with no DECENT candidate to vote for and had to write in my vote. Now I have a new president and just like with GW's college drug use and drinking, Bill Clingon's draft dodging.... I choose to drop the past and look to the future. Frankly, some of you with your "Obama wore two different color sox to a state dinner" BS sound like ALex Jones types (sorry Harpie) and BDS types to me....you're no different. Party on partisans!

[NoWayJose]

Why should any American learn to speak Spanish? Really now. Mexico is a chronically corrupt, narco state, on the verge of imploding, full of 10% "white Mexicans" - descendents of the Spainish and 90% Mexican Indians, who are the ones "migrating" to our country.

Spanish? The language of leaf blowers and toilet cleaners. No thank you, I prefer English and prefer my nation to declare English and the official language, something about 85-90% of the people support.

[MockTheOne]

Wee Willie says....."waaah, Obamessiah is my president now, I support him, waaaah! My leg tingles just like Chrissy Matthews!"

"I long to kiss his Halfrican buttocks and stroke his fabulous abs....mmmm!"

Wee Willie says - "It doesn't bother me that Jesus Obama had/has quite a few Marxist associations, for Marxism is just another legitimate point of view, in tune with 'social justice'".

Wee Willie says - "I'm glad my Obamessiah insulted those dumb, redneck gun-toting Christians when the Barry The God mentioned that they "cling to their guns and religion", for they do and I'm a sophisticated 'moderate' and look down on those Sarah Palin-like hicks."

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Well, I am a "redneck gun-toting Christian" but you're right I do "look down on those Sarah Palin-like hicks." Man, it coulda worked! There was real potential there until she over-played the little house on the prarie card until I turned her off rather than fantasising about her in the Xena outfit. Who the HELL can't tell you what books they've read???????

[R Anderson]

Willie, that'd be the kind of person that reads more than one a week. I don't know if Sarah Palin is that prolific a reader. I can't honestly say I care. I can say that judging someone based on the books that immediately spring to their mind - name dropping, if you will - is shallowness of a sort I normally expect to see on "E! Entertainment" TV specials - right before turning off the TV.

As opposed to actually listening to what she has to say on policies. Just saying.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

RA; While you make a valid point about the pointlessness of the question and I agree that a prolific reader likely could not recite what they had read in a month. A person should be able to say some sort of genre (ie) I read everything Churchil ever wrote or I only read romance novels with that Italian guy on the cover. When one is being attacked for appearing something less than brilliant, I don't think it is a shallow question though I think "I read time and newsweek" is a shallow answer. Where does one form their opinions on current issues? Listening to Limbo (or OMG that Hannity bozo) and reading time/newsweek or do they form opinions based upon a wider variety of input.........