Reason.com
Obama's Luck Goes from Poor to Horrible, or, Political Comedy Is Never Having to Say, "I'm Funny"
You'd expect it to be big news when a Democratic president manages to break a tradition of Jewish loyalty to the Democratic Party that goes back to Harry Truman's administration. Yet the establishment media seem determined to see last week's victory by Republican Bob Turner in the Brooklyn/Queens congressional race as a fluke.
Turner made President Obama’s purported lukewarm support for Israel a centerpiece of his campaign. Ed Koch, who is said to know a thing or two about New York Democratic politics, actually campaigned for Turner because of the Israel issue. Polling indicates Obama’s Israel stance or lack thereof is hurting him.
But the Los Angeles Times’ David Lauter makes the error of putting stated preference above demonstrated preference. Looking to Gallup results rather than how people actually, you know, voted, Lauter concludes the election was “probably not” a sign of the president’s weakness among Jewish voters. And New York magazine picks this curious moment to anoint Obama America’s first Jewish president, a piece of humor that managed to evoke only unintentional laughter.
The defeat in the 9th congressional district is
just one of several pieces of evidence that Obama has contracted
second-term-itis in his first term. House Democrats want to see a
primary challenge. His team can’t
get its story straight on Solyndra. His big announcement of the
American Jobs Act fell so flat that he had to do a followup
speech this morning that got even less attention. His secretary
of state – a figure of highest integrity and deep loyalty to Obama
who would never try to get the inside track on him if she thought
she could pull it off – is more
popular than he is and is being discussed as a replacement
candidate for 2012. ABC’s Jake Tapper
notes that Obama staffers’ claims of having been misquoted by
themselves in Ron Suskind’s critical new book are mostly not
credible. (Best response: Treasury Secretary Geithner channeling
Pee Wee Herman’s “I don’t have to see it; I lived it.”) The
president can’t even
belabor that saying about Warren Buffett’s secretary without
bringing down the wrath of the nation’s administrative
assistants.
And these aren’t even the biggest Obama fiascos of September. For that you’ll have to look to AttackWatch.com, which was ill-conceived to begin with (Nobody ever won an election by acting like a victim); has a stupid name (What decent person would watch an attack? You’re supposed to fight back against an attack); and drew a wave of negative attention. Among the critical raves: “immediately spammed with tweet after tweet heavy on sarcasm regarding the president's stimulus and jobs creation plans”; “stellar ... for all the wrong reasons”; “most people have made a mockery out of the Web site”; “a terrific content-generating resource for right-wing bloggers”; and, from observer ironchefofmunchies, “the laughing stock of the internet.”
The Attack Watch debacle wasn’t just bad for Obama but bad for comedy, producing heaps of subtle-enough-to-level-cities sarcasm like “"#attackwatch I saw someone purposely squeeze the Charmin in the grocery store" and “There's a new Twitter account making President Obama look like a creepy, authoritarian nutjob.” This Attack Watch parody ad beats you senseless with its comedy stylings, and the inevitable Hitler response went up without any subtitles.
Still, Obama’s fast fade is satisfying to see. After the sordid backstairs intrigue that brought us the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act over the objections of most Americans; after the automotive bailout and Cash for Clunkers and the unbelievably negligent expenditure of $787 billion in failed stimulus; after the expansion of the war on drugs and the illegal war in Libya; after his stubborn refusal to change course after the Democrats got clobbered in the mid-term elections, this couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. It’s always good for America when a presidency runs out of steam, and Obama’s gift is to have had that happen after only three years.
Also, that botched Downfall parody above led me to a version with the original subtitles, which is pretty interesting to watch after all those variations. Now I know what Steiner was supposed to do that he didn’t do that makes Hitler so mad:
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|9.19.11 @ 8:19PM|#
You know who else polls weak with Jews?
Jackie Mason|9.19.11 @ 8:30PM|#
Who?
Chupacabra|9.19.11 @ 8:31PM|#
Oliver Stone?
|9.19.11 @ 9:06PM|#
There's no gratitude for free high-speed rail rides.
Mike M.|9.19.11 @ 9:43PM|#
Mel Gibson?
Interesting....|9.19.11 @ 9:43PM|#
Yassir Arafat?
fish|9.19.11 @ 9:56PM|#
Herschel Krustofsky?
|9.19.11 @ 10:28PM|#
Tim Whatley
Interesting....|9.19.11 @ 10:30PM|#
sevo|9.19.11 @ 10:15PM|#
Joseph Stalin?
Woody Allen|9.19.11 @ 10:17PM|#
Jew eat?
BacneMan|9.19.11 @ 10:18PM|#
Norman Jewison?
PantsFan|9.19.11 @ 11:48PM|#
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
|9.20.11 @ 12:05AM|#
The Philistines?
|9.20.11 @ 8:55AM|#
Our Lord and savior?
WWNGD?|9.21.11 @ 11:36PM|#
Nope... Chuck Testa
|9.19.11 @ 8:20PM|#
What decent percent would watch an attack? You’re supposed to fight back against an attack
I believe the name is in reference to watching for an attack, which is precisely what a watchperson is supposed to do. You can't fight against an attack you don't know is happening.
|9.22.11 @ 9:16AM|#
Ah I see, so the peons are only capable of watching out for things and signaling them to the higher-ups...
silent v|9.19.11 @ 8:20PM|#
suggested alt-text: "Oy vey, this meshugge heat is making me shvitz!"
Fist of Etiquette|9.19.11 @ 8:57PM|#
It's not the heat, it's the humility.
sevo|9.19.11 @ 10:17PM|#
"it's the humility"
Not there, it ain't.
|9.19.11 @ 8:25PM|#
It’s always good for America when a presidency runs out of steam
Not so sure about that. Bush's presidency collapsing gave us Obama, as clueless independents raced to the polls to vote for the most anti-Bush candidate available. (No one Tim knows personally, of course) I'm not thrilled with the prospect of a Hillary Clinton vs. Rick Perry election.
Or|9.19.11 @ 8:32PM|#
Bush's presidency collapsing gave us Obama
The end of Bush's second term gave us Obama.
|9.19.11 @ 8:41PM|#
Bush was the first two-term prez since Nixon who had no chance to get a third term if he were allowed to run.
|9.19.11 @ 8:28PM|#
I'm not going to say the T word or the 5 word, but I'm supremely unsympathetic toward Americans whose voting strategy is geared to make America as subservient as possible towards a foreign country. This goes for both Jews and Hispanics.
Random Jerk|9.19.11 @ 9:00PM|#
It's pretty extreme to say we're "subservient" to Israel. There are constituencies for many foreign and domestic policy issues and they are all entitled to vote for whatever candidate they think represents them best, based on which issues are most important to that voter at that time.
|9.19.11 @ 9:04PM|#
Of course they are entitled to vote as they wish. And I am entitled to criticize them for it.
sevo|9.19.11 @ 10:18PM|#
Yes you are. Making up 'stories' is a bit different.
|9.19.11 @ 10:49PM|#
I only make up true stories.
Sleeping Dog|9.20.11 @ 12:02AM|#
You can't "make up" a TRUE story!
|9.20.11 @ 12:07AM|#
I put lipstick on a true story and it just looked AWFUL
Heroic Mulatto|9.20.11 @ 12:22AM|#
Oh, so you're the one who wrote the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
|9.20.11 @ 2:11AM|#
Responding to criticism of the actions of Jews with accusations of anti-semitism.
How original.
Heroic Mulatto|9.20.11 @ 8:23AM|#
Accusing large blocks of American Jews as those "whose voting strategy is geared to make America as subservient as possible towards a foreign country" is anti-Semitic, whether you like it or not.
Cabeza de Vaca|9.20.11 @ 8:48AM|#
No it's not. There are evangelical gentiles that vote the same way.
Heroic Mulatto|9.20.11 @ 9:40AM|#
With reasoning like that, your Internet handle is apt, Mr. Bucephalus.
Fatty Bolger|9.20.11 @ 8:40AM|#
Tell us the one about the joos again, daddy!
shorter Tulpa|9.20.11 @ 7:26AM|#
JOOOS!!11!!
WarrenT|9.19.11 @ 8:38PM|#
Speaking of clueless lefties, this person is actually complaining that people are turning to the underground economy in order to keep their families from utter poverty. I guess you're not allowed to survive unless it's on her terms.
http://www.alternet.org/story/.....americans_(barely)_afloat_in_desperate_times?page=entire
Red Rocks Rockin|9.19.11 @ 11:57PM|#
The mensheviks always bring the knives out when the kulaks attempt to survive.
|9.19.11 @ 8:53PM|#
Der Untergang is a fine film.
Random Jerk|9.19.11 @ 9:02PM|#
And Bruno Ganz is a damn fine actor.
|9.19.11 @ 9:47PM|#
He sure is.
BacneMan|9.19.11 @ 10:19PM|#
Ganz is german for Goose.
no|9.20.11 @ 6:40AM|#
no that's gans
|9.19.11 @ 8:59PM|#
I am going to enjoy it so much if this douchebag ends up a one term president. He is relatively young. So there will be many many years that many of will get to remind him what a stupid douche of a president he was.
Greer|9.19.11 @ 9:07PM|#
Well, Carter was ousted 31 years ago and I don't think he knows yet how fucked up he was.
|9.19.11 @ 9:10PM|#
oh.... good point.
Jeffersonian|9.19.11 @ 10:07PM|#
In a way, that makes it even better. He keeps saying stupid shit and getting blasted for it as it is. If he woke up, repented and started saying smart things, he wouldn't be nearly as fun.
sunny black|9.19.11 @ 10:23PM|#
Yeah...except you know Obama will dust off the ole' Shepard Fairey posters and run again.
|9.20.11 @ 9:14AM|#
Cthulhu below, I hadn't thought of that.
SFC B|9.20.11 @ 9:24AM|#
Absolutly not. If Obama loses the inevitable suckitude of the next person will lead to "Miss me Yet?" billboards featuring Obama. The difference being that, instead of them being paid for by Bush supporters they will be paid for by "Obama for President: Do you Regret Your Insubordination?"
rsi|9.19.11 @ 9:04PM|#
Oh, he'll recover. Maybe he can be on the Supreme Court. He's very qualified.
Old Salt|9.20.11 @ 12:08AM|#
He ain't qualified enough to work at Jack In The Box, let alone decide what's in the Constitution!
Considering him for the SCOTUS assumes that he's even aware that the Constitution is a real thing and not a Political UFO to make fun of when people claim it's real thing to be believed in!
Interesting....|9.19.11 @ 9:13PM|#
"The Sing Off" needs Ben Folds to be the mean judge this year. That would be funny.
|9.19.11 @ 9:26PM|#
What and who?
Realist|9.19.11 @ 9:18PM|#
Picture caption: Thank you, thank you, I am here all week.
|9.19.11 @ 9:23PM|#
Great post, Tim. Heavy on the orange stuff.
Oh yeah, who did you vote for in 2008? ;)
Warty|9.19.11 @ 9:47PM|#
Hitler hears the new Opeth album
fish|9.19.11 @ 9:59PM|#
Hitler chats with Larry King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPK1d5Fh0mE
|9.20.11 @ 9:26AM|#
Hitler gets pissed about the Russians invading Berlin.
Colonel_Angus|9.19.11 @ 9:48PM|#
Anal Klow is a prissy bitchass.
Eduard van Haalen|9.19.11 @ 10:22PM|#
"New York magazine picks this curious moment to anoint Obama America’s first Jewish president"
Of course he is! But he came unto his own, and his own received him not. It's tough being the Messiah.
Binky|9.19.11 @ 10:42PM|#
It's tough being the Messiah.
It's even tougher being the Messiest.
Lionel Messi|9.19.11 @ 10:49PM|#
It's even harder being me
|9.19.11 @ 10:53PM|#
Oui, Monsieur.
|9.20.11 @ 12:19AM|#
Fuck off, you banned bitch!
Metazoan|9.19.11 @ 11:29PM|#
I'm still convinced that Fegelein's error is sending people in to tell Hitler stupid shit.
PantsFan|9.20.11 @ 12:02AM|#
Why didn't Obama just bet the deficit on the Gmen covering the spread tonight?
Old Mexican|9.20.11 @ 12:40AM|#
The one I loved was the one that said: "I saw six ATMs being used, causing one job to be lost!"
FlyoverCountry|9.21.11 @ 12:01PM|#
Wasn't it "I saw six ATMs in an alley, killing a job?"
Old Mexican|9.20.11 @ 12:47AM|#
Well, it got some attention, except in a mostly negative way, for calling for raising the capital gains tax rate, which would make selling your house at a profit that much problematic, income-wise.
"Every time a politician says he will stick it to the rich, whatever he does afterwards ends up hurting the poor." Old Mexican saying (no pun intended.)
.|9.20.11 @ 4:03AM|#
Hahahahahahahhahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
_|9.20.11 @ 8:33AM|#
Isn't the string of HAs the response to a line that is in all earnestness but is intentionally funny because it's so untrue.
It's obvious that Cavanaugh meant that line as a joke. Your response shows that you didn't get it.
Maxxx|9.20.11 @ 9:45AM|#
The Krugman defense?
.|9.20.11 @ 5:54PM|#
Your response shows that you didn't get it.
Then why the fuck did I laugh, dumbshit?
|9.20.11 @ 4:38AM|#
and the inevitable Hitler response went up without any subtitles.
Pure awesome.
|9.20.11 @ 9:15AM|#
No kidding. I'm not convinced it was a botch. I prefer to think of it as subtle meta-commentary.
Eduard van Haalen|9.20.11 @ 9:52AM|#
Poor Steiner...has anyone's reputation suffered more than his? Oh, wait, never mind...
Dookie Brown|9.20.11 @ 4:41AM|#
Will the pants suit make a come back?
db|9.20.11 @ 6:55AM|#
Dookie?!?
WTF are "disallowed characters," squirrels?
|9.20.11 @ 11:36AM|#
Commenters who got the ban hammer?
brec|9.20.11 @ 7:52AM|#
Agreed; but it does increase the chance of a distracting popularity-boosting foreign war.
Art-P.O.G.|9.20.11 @ 8:31AM|#
Damn...when anonymity bot is getting in good digs...
|9.20.11 @ 8:26AM|#
You know your presidency is in trouble when your policies become humor fodder - by everyone.
Bo|9.20.11 @ 8:42AM|#
Ri ruv ru!
Invisible Finger|9.20.11 @ 10:56AM|#
House Democrats want to see a primary challenge.
Obama should be all for this. The GOP may have an unelectable slate of candidates, but holy crap is there a pile of nothing on the Dem side. A primary challenge may actually improve Obama's chances.
|9.20.11 @ 11:09AM|#
This Presidency ran out of steam because it was all hot air to begin with.
|9.20.11 @ 11:59AM|#
Mr. Cavanaugh,
You forgot to include ATF's Fast and Furious in your list of Obama's problems.
|9.20.11 @ 12:08PM|#
Hillary a figure of highest integrity?? HA! Now that right there is funny... I don't care who you are.
|9.20.11 @ 9:53PM|#
I didn't vote for him, but when he was elected I wished him well, and hoped for his success on behalf of the country. That changed immediately after the Obamacare bill. His countless gaffes, his and Michelle's, seem to be more about judgement than anything else. They never seem to know the right move - or don't care. The endless plates of lobster on monthly vacations, the countless rounds of golf, AttackWatch, Solyndra, Fast and Furious...He is constantly making the wrong call - to the point I have to seriously doubt about his ability to objectively consider anything serious. He will leave office more bitter than Carter. Bitterness aimed at everyone else, but in reality the result of his own ineptitude. Turn out the lights, this party is very over.
|9.21.11 @ 1:23PM|#
S.C.O.A.M.F.
|9.22.11 @ 9:39AM|#
Turner made President Obama’s purported lukewarm support for Israel a centerpiece of his campaign.
The irony being that Obama's support for Israel is actually far too uncritical and easily given, just like every US President since George HW Bush got hammered for trying to look out for America's interests instead of Israel's. The one criticism of Obama that is completely unfair is that he's "soft on Israel." But hey, if he's going to take credit for crappy policies that are failing, like health care, Libya and Afghanistan, then why not tar him with Israel too.