The Two Obamas

New York Times ^ | 6/20/08 | David Brooks

[MartinaMisc]

God, Republicans are saps. They think that they’re running against some academic liberal who wouldn’t wear flag pins on his lapel, whose wife isn’t proud of America and who went to some liberationist church where the pastor damned his own country. They think they’re running against some naïve university-town dreamer, the second coming of Adlai Stevenson.

But as recent weeks have made clear, Barack Obama is the most split-personality politician in the country today. On the one hand, there is Dr. Barack, the high-minded, Niebuhr-quoting speechifier who spent this past winter thrilling the Scarlett Johansson set and feeling the fierce urgency of now. But then on the other side, there’s Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who’d throw you under the truck for votes.

This guy is the whole Chicago package: an idealistic, lakefront liberal fronting a sharp-elbowed machine operator. He’s the only politician of our lifetime who is underestimated because he’s too intelligent. He speaks so calmly and polysyllabically that people fail to appreciate the Machiavellian ambition inside.

But he’s been giving us an education, for anybody who cares to pay attention. Just try to imagine Mister Rogers playing the agent Ari in “Entourage” and it all falls into place.

Back when he was in the Illinois State Senate, Dr. Barack could have taken positions on politically uncomfortable issues. But Fast Eddie Obama voted “present” nearly 130 times. From time to time, he threw his voting power under the truck.

[Sacajaweau]

Obama's nothing more than a Con man in a nice suit.

My father in law would say: He could sell refrigerators to Eskimos.

[TomGuy]

Charles Krauthammer said yesterday on FoxNews that the demographics are shifting. Clinton voters are returning to the camp. He also said that this election is Obama’s to lose.

Fred Barnes mentioned that McCain was getting only 80% of the Republican voter and that he MUST increase that percentage, if he is to even stand a chance.

[Who might that missing 20% of Republican support consist of? Oh gosh gee darnit, those dang conservatives.]

[gridlock]

I gotta think Obama schtik is going to wear thing between now and November.

[smedley64]

lmao. David Brooks seems to be confusing Obama's "brilliance" with the fact that 99% of his fellow idiots in the MSM are refusing to call Obama on any of his many, many contradictions. If they bothered to do their jobs, he wouldn't be looking so "brilliant" to the very people who seem to admire his audacity, like this writer.

Brooks does a good job of pointing out what a disingenous politician Obama is, but then forgives him because, wth, that same type of "Chicago politician machinery" is going to cause Putin to quake in his boots. Riiiiiiiight.

Obama appears "brilliant" to Mr. Brooks because the MSM propaganda machine, of which he is a part, is backing him to the hilt and refusing to point out that he lies continuously. Get a grip, Mr. Brooks.

The guy can't even decide whether to admire Obama for his slickness, or despise him for it, or so it would seem. Since it's from the NYTimes, I'll take it to be a failed stab at "objectivity" regarding Mr. Obama, for true objectivity would not admire deciet, which is what Mr. Brooks ends up doing, but would condemn it. I guess that would be too much to expect from a hack at the NYTimes.

[Paladin2]

"Oh gosh gee darnit, those dang conservatives"

I'd say it's the Mavericks of the Right.

[doodad]

Has there ever been a less qualified candidate for high office. He was not qualified for the Senate much less the Presidency.

He actually makes Clinton look capable.

[DeLaine]

“He’s got an army of small donors and a phalanx of big money bundlers, including, according to The Washington Post, Kenneth Griffin of the Citadel Investment Group; Kirk Wager, a Florida trial lawyer; James Crown, a director of General Dynamics; and Neil Bluhm, a hotel, office and casino developer.”

to say nothing of George Soros, world dominator extraordinaraire.

[The Duke]

I finally figured out that this "change" Obama is talking about is the change that's left in my pocket after pumping gas.

I can see the Republican theme for the 2012 elections..."How's that 'change' working out for ya?"

[True Republican Patriot]

Watch Out! If B.O. HUSSEIN is Elected in 2008, THEN:

DONT ASSUME THERE WILL BE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN 2012!

Look just below Us to Venezuala! Ask them how much they like CHANGE!

[Coldwater Creek]

CNN ,actually called Obama a promise breaker yesterday, on his now not taking public funds.

[tx_eggman]

Obama's nothing more than a Con man in a nice suit.

Yeah, but he says nothing more eloquently than anyone has in a long, long time

[LibLieSlayer]

Barnes has no cred left and Charles... while brilliant... has a horrible predicting record. I no longer watch fox or brit’s show. They are all lefties now... at least at some level.

LLS

[RoadKingSE]

"Hey Axelrod! They're actually buying this $hit man."

[NYC Republican]

Except Sean... He’s fighting the lonely fight on his own... God bless him

[McGruff]

He’s the only politician of our lifetime who is
underestimated because he’s too intelligent

Hey you. I resemble that remark! If it wasn't for those
dam Swift Boat Veterans for Truth I could been a contenda!

[imintrouble]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSsss The article absolutely nailed the empty suit I have suspected of Obama since I first heard his rhetorically smooth speechifying. Rather than pursuing the presidency the guy should make “improve yourself recordings”.

He’s is acting a role with Soros as the puppetmeister. Take away Soros and there is nothing but a sad academic trying to
look like a saviour.

It doesn’t surprise me the people fall for it - they have no grasp on what is necessary and important qualities for the leader of the United States to have.

He’s talented - I have no doubt - but we don’t need another actor playing for us on the world stage.

The American public have been weaned on personality as a defining substantive characteristic - whereas we need a leader who isn’t afraid to stir the pot when necessary to ensure our nation’s integrity among the thieves in the world.

Charisma is nice - charm is sweet - but it doesn’t buy you deals which necessarily have to be made with global gangsters.

[Reo]

"Republicans keep calling him naïve. But naïve is the last word I’d use to describe Barack Obama. He’s the most effectively political creature we’ve seen in decades."

Brooks is dead-on. The Clintoons underestimated him and he chewed 'em up. Our candidates are destroyed by a single "Macaca Moment"; he slips snares and pot-holes with grace and a grin, never losing so much as a step on his path towards his goal. Hopes for him to self-destruct are no more grounded in reality than the Larry Johnson "whitey" tape. He is formidable. We could be looking at a re-run of 1932.

[Positive]

Having read the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" supplemented by a few hundred years of hindsight, it isn't hard to tell where the rise stopped and the fall began.

It seems to me that if O. Hussein is elected POTUS, history books of the future will tell us this election marks the beginning of the fall of the USA.

Understand that I, in no way believe, that O. Hussein can destroy this country, but if a majority of the voters are stupid enough to choose him as the CEO, we will destroy ourselves in due time.

[LibLieSlayer]

Yes, he is the only one at Fox.

LLS