I'm the President's Trusted Counselor

The Wall Street Journal ^ | February 11, 2010 | Noam Neusner

[Brandonmark]

Some people get quoted in presidential speeches by writing heartfelt letters to the president about personal loss, or by doing something heroic, like landing a plane in the icy Hudson River.

I just sit in the Oval Office, and mouth off to President Barack Obama, one inanity after the next. And sure enough, my words—word for word, mind you!—show up in his biggest speeches.

Who am I? Sotus—Straw man of the United States. I'm Mr. Obama's most trusted rhetorical friend.

In his speeches, Mr. Obama says there are "those" who suggest we "can meet our enormous tests with half-steps and piecemeal measures." He suggests there are "some" who are content to let America's economy become, at best, "number two." He says that on health care, "some people" think we should do nothing.

Listen, there is no "some people." He's just quoting me, Sotus.

[Brandonmark]

SOTUS seems to be a source for TOTUS.

[Red Badger]

Oh great, now Gibblets will dress up like the Scarecrow...................

[The Comedian]

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Incorrigible]

Well done article from GW Bush’s former speech writer.

[csmusaret]

Does the s stand for Scrotum?

[OpusatFR]

Finally, someone says it in a mainstream publication.

Zero has used the Strawman constantly throughout his campaign to preface his hollow rhetoric.

*Campaign, not govern. Zero has no ability to govern much less run town of more than 50 people.

[gibsosa]

bump

[SoFloFreeper]

Who am I? Sotus—Straw man of the United States. I'm Mr. Obama's most trusted rhetorical friend.

Genius. I like how the writer frames the Messiah's rhetoric. He truly does point to made-up people in his speeches.

[1rudeboy]

Nails it. People who don’t understand what a strawman argument is (confusing it with “red herring argument,” for example) should pin this column next to their computer.

[Don Corleone]

SOTUS lives in Potemkin Village...Zip 66666

[ohioWfan]

This is a clever article. I LIKE it.

(Only shouldn't it be SMOTUS? ;)

[Brandonmark]

You’re right...don’t know why he didn’t use SMOTUS!

[Celerity]

“Straw man” would need to be careful in the oval office. FLOTUS must graze several times daily.

[ohioWfan]

It has a better ring to it, I think. :)

[Jackknife]

This is a great read.

[highlander_UW]

I just had a great idea for a Youtube video. Take the song Ironman and change it to Strawman and intermix it with Obama strawman arguments. If anyone has the skills to pull it off go for it.

[Syncro]

Haha, GREAT article!

[FourPeas]

I thought SMOTUS was better, too. Perhaps too...suggestive?

[ohioWfan]

I dunno.......

I thought that SMOTUS conveyed the idea that the TOTUS was beating us about the head with a blunt object.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The word best descriptive of “The Divine One” and his verbal ability is glib!