Football Bat
This, from NRO, really made me laugh. James Carville threatens to clock Fareed Zakaria with a "football bat." Unfair, I think, because Fareed's basic point -- that we should all stop expecting our presidents to be emotional, empathetic magicians -- is an excellent one.
It's hard not to pile on. This is a president with an ego on a biblical scale. He deserves this, ten times over.
Still: I'm tired of this notion of the all-powerful, imperial presidency. Mike Murphy and I discuss this a bit on the podcast. Isn't it time we started treating the chief executive of the administrative branch of government like that's what he is, rather than this magical, powerful father?
This is, to use the wonderful phrase I know our president likes to use, a teachable moment.
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May '10
Re: Football Bat
I'd agree if Fareed actually meant that. But it only applies when a lefty image needs reinforcing. Bush was supposed to make the whole world love us, according to FZ a few years back.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
I think Carville hit that football right out of the park. As Duane said yesterday, Bush paid the price; now it's Obama's turn. That's fair. And if in the end the country learns the lesson that government can't always come to the rescue, then it's a net gain for our side, a three hundred yard drive right through the goal posts.
Jun '10
Re: Football Bat
Government certainly can't solve all our problems, but cleaning up a disastrous oil spill is exactly one thing we pay government to do. Obama has been so busy blaming BP that he hasn't done anything that I can see to capture the spilled oil or keep it from destroying our coasts. He is a con man. This emergency is where the rubber hits the road. Obama has been totally exposed for the nothing that he is. His administration has been so inept that one has to wonder whether there is some purpose in his lack of action..
May '10
Re: Football Bat
Many Americans have looked at our government with new eyes since seeing their compatriots fall for such a radical sophist. They're trying to understand how America really began and hoping we can regain some of that down-to-earth politics. But they're also hoping for historic change... the sort of change that requires a hero.
I think expectations of limited power might be eroding on both sides of the political fence. It's not enough to slow government's expansion anymore. Either it stops entirely or we fall victim to crushing debts, whimsical laws and worse. I wouldn't be surprised to see the next conservative leader cut more slack than the Constitution permits.
As I like to frequently remind people, all laws are dependent upon free will. Without officials who choose to enforce it and citizens who choose to support it, the Constitution is just a piece of paper.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
It was fun watching the video and imagining the inner monologue going on in Carville's wife's mind. She keeps trying to interject something, but patiently keeps it in until her husband's rant winds down. And then she asks the host if she could add something. Funny.
Rob, I laughed out loud about your comment of preferring a president with little or nodisplay of emotion because you're Episcopalian. My kids looked up from their SpongeBob Squarepants binge to ask me what was so funny.
Re: Football Bat
To Scott's comment about knocking the football out of the park; Scott, do you have any idea how difficult it is to sit in a truck stop, enjoy a sausage biscuit and drink coffee while reading about a 300 yard drive through the goal posts? Dude, I'm wearing my coffee now. Of course, being from the same region as Carville, I understand the humor, but you really helped it along. To use a little more Cajun humor, it reminds me of the young lady who went to the doctor complaining of an upset stomach. The story concludes, "But the doctor gave her some milk of gymnasium, and she's quiet as concrete now."
May '10
Re: Football Bat
Fortunately, I'm not in danger of spilling coffee. Hilarious joke though.
Re: Football Bat
Aaron Miller: Many Americans have looked at our government with new eyes since seeing their compatriots fall for such a radical sophist. They're trying to understand how America really began and hoping we can regain some of that down-to-earth politics. But they're also hoping for historic change... the sort of change that requires a hero.
I think expectations of limited power might be eroding on both sides of the political fence. It's not enough to slow government's expansion anymore. Either it stops entirely or we fall victim to crushing debts, whimsical laws and worse. I wouldn't be surprised to see the next conservative leader cut more slack than the Constitution permits.
Let's face it -- "historic" change is best when it happens at the pace of history -- slowly. No President is going to smash any of the not-so-great habits we've gotten into anytime soon. Only the reality of changed circumstances can do that. Hoping/voting for instant change is the political equivalent of buying lottery tickets every four years in the hopes that this time you'll win big. As Tocqueville warned, the disciplined ability to formulate long-term plans is essential in democratic times. Shrinking hope's time horizon induces panic...and bad politics.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
FeliciaB: It was fun watching the video and imagining the inner monologue going on in Carville's wife's mind. She keeps trying to interject something, but patiently keeps it in until her husband's rant winds down. And then she asks the host if she could add something. Funny.
Rob, I laughed out loud about your comment of preferring a president with little or nodisplay of emotion because you're Episcopalian. My kids looked up from their SpongeBob Squarepants binge to ask me what was so funny. · Jun 11 at 8:42pm
That is the first Carville-Matalin interview I ever saw, except for the odd Tim Russert-meets-the-daughters moment, that was not centered around the Democrat-Republican marriage battle.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
James, I agree. Part of the beauty of the American system is its slow pace. But in government, as in life, time is not always available for the usual methods. That out of such time constraints panic and dangerous politics can arise does not change the inevitability of such situations. I agree with Steyn that our time now is growing scarce, but others may reasonably disagree on that.
In any case, I was referring more to voters' reactions to current events than to what we might hope would occur. Good or bad, there seems to be a growing sense of urgency among American voters. That urgency raises the likelihood of cults of personality and suspension of usual politics.
Re: Football Bat
Okay, okay. I get it. Turnabout is fair play. But I'd still like to see the chipping away of this notion of the president -- any president -- as some kind of Harry Potter.
You know what I would love? If George W. Bush, after a respectable time hanging out at the ranch in Crawford, ran for office again. For congress. Just like John Quincy Adams. If there's one thing I dislike more than the Imperial Presidency, it's this insane notion of the Imperial Post-Presidency. George W. Bush could do a whole lot of good just by being a lowly representative -- reminding people that the highest title in the land is "citizen."
May '10
Re: Football Bat
....or maybe he could pick up a few dozen lawn maintenance accounts and do a little interior painting on weekends.
Jun '10
Re: Football Bat
I think we are not giving James enough credit here.
What he is really saying is, "Fareed, you arrogant, Council of Foreign Relations snob. I am sorry we Americans actually take up some of the Presidents time as our way of life disappears and that you and your Davos attending elite buddies are not bored with us common folk. But guess what Fareed, our votes count, and in Jakarata, Davos, and Paris they don't.
I know everyone is dazzled by Fareed's intellect, I have concerns about his morality..
May '10
Re: Football Bat
Excellent suggestion.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
:D :D :D :D :D :D Ooooooohhhh, Scott.. :D :D :D
Logo, this is where that Eelete and Edit feature would really come in handy. I've already had a couple of my posts duplicate themselves like bunnies.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
FeliciaB
Logo, this is where that Eelete and Edit feature would really come in handy. I've already had a couple of my posts duplicate themselves like bunnies. · Jun 13 at 2:12pm
Ack! See? That was supposed to be Delete.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
Be careful, Rob, you don't want to start sounding like the President.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
Rob is exactly right about this.
And for those of you who demand that, Bush having been criticized, Obama must be criticized now too, let me suggest a line of attack that does damage even as it avoids buying into the cult of the executive: "The Founders created a limited executive for a reason, and President Obama, having tried to inject himself into so many areas where he doesn't belong, has spread himself so thin that he cannot even manage his most basic duties capably."
That criticism at least incentivizes focusing on basic duties rather than becoming a president who tries to solve every single crisis, with all the expanded power that entails. It is also a critique that has the benefit of being true.
May '10
Re: Football Bat
It's Not Rocket Science: Actually it was me, Scott, who made the joke, and if, as you say, it was not clear that by requesting a fourth post I was in fact attempting to empathize with Mark's predicament and prompt a knowing chuckle rather than offend, then Mark, if you're still out there, I sincerely apologize.
Re: Football Bat
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