Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Peter Robinson ·
Apr 13, 2011 at 10:16am
The other day, a friend who knows a great deal about the federal budget made an arresting observation: Just a couple of months after submitting his budget to Congress, President Barack Obama is preparing, in the speech he will deliver today, to submit a second, entirely new budget.
Only one other president in modern history has submitted two budgets within a single fiscal year: James Earl Carter, Jr. In 1978, Carter sent up a budget that Congress so thoroughly derided that the chief executive sent up another budget just a couple of months later.
Barack Obama, fighting, as did Jimmy Carter before him, to remain relevant.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
No, he's a quantum worse than Jimmy Carter. He has much better teflon. Or perhaps Jedi mind trick hardware (maybe it's in the teleprompters?)
May '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Ooooh, can we add "malaise" to the drinking game? I wonder if he'll show up in a Mr Rogers sweater.
May '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Vanquish the killer deficit rabbit, perhaps. Aw, dangit, who are we kidding? He'll just give another boring speech and not move the needle at all, like usual.
Dec '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Take two shots on any phrase recently uttered by Charlie Sheen. Winning!
Mar '11
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
No, he's better than Jimmy Carter because he is so bad. Only a truly awful person can fully reveal the awful ideas that are so pervasive, yet blindly accepted, and the consequences that flow from them. This was never going to be easy.
Jimmy seemed like a doofus, while Obama seems smart (not to me and many others, but still lots of people). He is a gift, although a painful one.
Mar '11
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
The difference between them is that Obama will get a second term, despite his horrid performance. There simply isn't anyone on the GOP side that excites voters right now. Yes, a dark horse can come out of nowhere... this is pretty much why we HAVE a "President Obama" today... but that's pretty rare.
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
I'm just wondering where he is, exactly. What's he doing that's more important than giving this speech?
Sep '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Per Lileks, I think he's on LinkedIn polishing the resume.
May '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Railroads! Mark your cards, everyone.
Oct '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
I remember the press stressing that Carter was a nuclear expert. Big brain.
Is it possible he's taking the comparisons to Carter as compliments? Could be he's patterning his presidency after Jimmy's. How else to explain it?
Jan '11
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
I just heard part of the speech. Obama claims the problem is the "unpaid for" Bush tax cuts. That's why we're in the hole.
This is the best they could come up with? Talk about pandering to his base ...
Jul '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
You know, I'm not listening to the speech, because I know what he's saying;
--- Obama Introduce a Subject on the Agenda ---
"Some would say" [Insert here a quotation of something No One ever says.]
“let me be perfectly clear” [This is the place for obfuscation about the subject and any position regarding the subject.]
“make no mistake about” [Here is where the Exact Opposite of any of the things which are to take place are stated.]
“I reject the false choice that some would…,” [Again, reiterate quotations that No One has ever said followed by Him vs. an idiotic extrapolation of any Republican position.]
“I have ordered…..my team…to.” [Doesn't matter what actions you fill in here, they aren't going to do it.]
[Finally take a shot at Bush in respect to this subject]
--- Repeat as needed for new subjects ---
Dec '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Some of the ill gains from those unpaid tax cuts might have found their way to certain subscriptions. I hope Ricochet can accept being complicit in the state of the economy.
Aug '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Jimmy carter was like Charles Atlas; Obama is like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jimmy Carter on steroids.
The American body politic has lost at least 20 IQ points in my lifetime.
Edited on Apr 13, 2011 at 11:36amMay '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
So, if we don't raise taxes, that's a "tax expenditure". Ergo, raising taxes is cutting spending?
Also, we need to reduce subsidies. Except for vital projects like clean energy and high speed rail. No word on agriculture.
Dec '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Jaydee_007: You know, I'm not listening to the speech, because I know what he's saying;
--- Obama Introduce a Subject on the Agenda ---
"Some would say" [Insert here a quotation of something No One ever says.]
“let me be perfectly clear” [This is the place for obfuscation about the subject and any position regarding the subject.]
“make no mistake about” [Here is where the Exact Opposite of any of the things which are to take place are stated.]
“I reject the false choice that some would…,” [Again, reiterate quotations that No One has ever said followed by Him vs. an idiotic extrapolation of any Republican position.]
“I have ordered…..my team…to.” [Doesn't matter what actions you fill in here, they aren't going to do it.]
[Finally take a shot at Bush in respect to this subject]
--- Repeat as needed for new subjects --- · Apr 13 at 11:10am
Brilliant, JayDee! The outline for any Obama speech perfectly described.
Oct '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
There's something to be said for dull. Given the tremendous let-down that followed the "excitement" of the Obama campaign/election, it may be enough for a GOP candidate to exhibit quiet competence and a realistic vision for the country.
Mar '11
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Severely Ltd.
I remember the press stressing that Carter was a nuclear expert. Big brain.
Is it possible he's taking the comparisons to Carter as compliments? Could be he's patterning his presidency after Jimmy's. How else to explain it? · Apr 13 at 11:00am
That's just it - the press had to stress the big-brain thing. It was not self-evident. Obama does have an intelligent manner, but like so many aspects of the man - there is nothing there. Obama reminds me of Zelig, the character from a movie by Woodie Allen. Zelig is a human chameleon who takes on the persona of those around him. Obama appears to be whatever you want him to be. The reality of Obama is quite different of course. He is a fascinating guy actually, but not as the leader of any organization let alone a country - more as an object of study by forensic psychiatrists.
Jul '10
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
My ears (eyes?) are burning.
Jaydee's comment is worthy of a Podcast mention. Beautiful.
Jan '11
Re: Before the President Speaks, One Observation: He's Jimmy Carter
Thank you, Mr. Robinson, for your continued optimism for the present and future based on parallels with history.