Thoughts & Commentary on the Obama Administration

[KukriKhan]

Things get awkward at a press briefing when Gibbs is questioned about Obama's use of pre-packaged "townhall" meetings.

Gibbs is a piece of work, idn't 'e? Kudo's to the off-screen AP guy, who Gibbs is desperately trying to get to, to avoid more Helen exposure: "I think I'll wait until Helen is done".

Six months. Apparently the bloom is off the rose. They got him elected, and are now wondering about the "news" being handed to them. This failure to adequately kowtow to the media (IMO) is a tactical admin error. The admin needs the continued support of television media for at least the rest of this year. After that, the wheels will already be rolling on the programs, and the press can be sidelined as 'nattering nabobs of negativity', as all admins in the past have.

I predict Gibbs gets promoted out of the position. By Labor Day. And by this time next year, journalists, if there are any left in the country, will begin looking at details, instead of entertainment value. Finally.

[Crazed Rabbit]

A sad display of communication from the White House:

Seven months after she poured out her heartbreak in a wrenching letter to then President-elect Obama, the mother of murdered Brooklyn Marine Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak finally got a response - a form letter.

"Thank you for contacting President Obama," the note to Henryka Pietrzak-Varga begins. "We hope the issue you brought to the President's attention has been resolved."
...
In her November 2008 letter to Obama, Pietrzak-Varga opened with the words: "Dear President-elect Barack Obama, they killed my son."

Pietrzak-Varga then asked for help in getting to the bottom of the "bestial" murders.

"Death at war at the hands of an enemy is, for a soldier, a patriotic honor," she wrote in Polish. "The death of a soldier in his country and at the hands of his own soldiers ... is a source of endless suffering for his family."

Pietrzak-Varga went on to write that "My son's wife was raped in a bestial way, most likely as my son looked on helplessly."

"Why did this happen? What motivated them? What was it about my son and daughter-in-law that inspired such hatred and loathing?"

In his five-paragraph reply, Kelleher apologized for the delay in getting back to her and urged the Brooklyn mom to send an "updated description of your issue" if "you still need help with a Federal agency."

Kelleher also provided a Web address.

Sheesh.

CR

[Xiahou]

There's no part of this I don't like.

The Obama administration is looking at creating a courtroom-within-a-prison complex in the U.S. to house suspected terrorists, combining military and civilian detention facilities at a single maximum-security prison.

The facility would operate as a hybrid prison system jointly operated by the Justice Department, the military and the Department of Homeland Security.

The administration's plan, according to three government officials, calls for:

_Moving all the Guantanamo detainees to a single U.S. prison. The Justice Department has identified between 60 and 80 who could be prosecuted, either in military or federal criminal courts. The Pentagon would oversee the detainees who would face trial in military tribunals. The Bureau of Prisons, an arm of the Justice Department, would manage defendants in federal courts.

_Building a court facility within the prison site where military or criminal defendants would be tried. Doing so would create a single venue for almost all the criminal defendants, ending the need to transport them elsewhere in the U.S. for trial.

_Providing long-term holding cells for a small but still undetermined number of detainees who will not face trial because intelligence and counterterror officials conclude they are too dangerous to risk being freed.

_Building immigration detention cells for detainees ordered released by courts but still behind bars because countries are unwilling to take them.

So, on one hand, it makes an even more convoluted mess out of the detainee situation by putting it under the bureaucratic supervision of no less than three cabinet departments, yet at the same time, nothing is changing from the detainee perspective. There's still an "undetermined" number that will be held indefinitely without charge, others will be charged by military tribunal, and others still will be sent to civilian courts. As you may recall, that's not a whole lot different than what was happening in Gitmo. But hey, he promised to close the detention facility in Gitmo, so instead, we can keep them.... in Michigan.

[drone]

But hey, he promised to close the detention facility in Gitmo, so instead, we can keep them.... in Michigan.

Take him to... Detroit

[Lord Winter]

A sad display of communication from the White House:


Sheesh.

CR

So your mad that Obama can't read every letter sent to him, even ones in polish?

[Xiahou]

File this under 'slightly creepy'.

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

There's just something inherently wrong about the White House asking people to turn in anyone spreading "disinformation"...

Take him to... Detroit

Nice find.

[Xiahou]

Shocking, I know, but extraordinary renditions are continuing under the Obama Administration.

The Obama administration will continue the Bush administration’s practice of sending terrorism suspects to third countries for detention and interrogation, but pledges to closely monitor their treatment to ensure that they are not tortured, administration officials said Monday.

Human rights advocates condemned the decision, saying that continuing the practice, known as rendition, would still allow the transfer of prisoners to countries with a history of torture. They said that promises from other countries of humane treatment, called “diplomatic assurances,” were no protection against abuse.

[Ronin]

File this under 'slightly creepy'.There's just something inherently wrong about the White House asking people to turn in anyone spreading "disinformation"...

I would say that the inherently wrong thing is the disinformation in the first place....wouldn´t you say?

[Centurion1]

I would say that the inherently wrong thing is the disinformation in the first place....wouldn´t you say?

it is there constitutional right to spread whatever they want to. As long as it does not directly harm anyone.

[Xiahou]

From the McClatchy: Pentagon worried about Obama's commitment to Afghanistan

"I think they (the Obama administration) thought this would be more popular and easier," a senior Pentagon official said. "We are not getting a Bush-like commitment to this war."

Monday's assessment initially was to include troop recommendations, but political concerns prompted White House and Pentagon officials to agree that those recommendations would come later, advisers to McChrystal said. Although the White House took a hands-off approach toward Afghanistan earlier this summer, Pentagon officials said they're now getting more questions about how many troops might be needed and for how long.

Some White House officials said the administration feels it was pressured to send the additional 17,500 combat troops and 4,000 trainers earlier this year, before the administration was comfortable with its plan for Afghanistan , because of the country's election in August.

After all the talk on the campaign trail of Iraq being the wrong war and Afghanistan being the right one, it looks like there are some early signs that the administration is already beginning to waver....

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The afghanistan thing seemed like something he touted so he could criticize the iraq war without looking like a pacifist.

[CountArach]

After all the talk on the campaign trail of Iraq being the wrong war and Afghanistan being the right one, it looks like there are some early signs that the administration is already beginning to waver....

Good.

Also - see Sasaki.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

So your mad that Obama can't read every letter sent to him, even ones in polish?

He could have had someone translate it. If you're pouring out that much money in stimulus you can probably afford it (it's a mini-stimulus in itself anyway). And he has time for one letter, one single letter, from the mother of one of the soldiers of whom he is in command. This is especially disgusting after the gruesome details of what happened to the couple.

I'd be insulted if I were a Marine.

[Xiahou]

The afghanistan thing seemed like something he touted so he could criticize the iraq war without looking like a pacifist.

Yeah, I'd agree. But then again, I thought Obama spent most of the campaign trying to (and succeeding) convince voters that he was something he was not.

[Papewaio]

A politician pretending to be something he is not! Say it is not so. Does, does that mean Clinton did get it on with the pretty little thing in the blue dress

I do actually agree with you... the thing with all sales and marketing is that at some point you have to deliver what you promise or expect a real dip in your brand.

[Lord Winter]

He could have had someone translate it. If you're pouring out that much money in stimulus you can probably afford it (it's a mini-stimulus in itself anyway). And he has time for one letter, one single letter, from the mother of one of the soldiers of whom he is in command. This is especially disgusting after the gruesome details of what happened to the couple.

I'd be insulted if I were a Marine.

I think the blame rides in the bureaucracy reading the mail. Unless if they already had orders to look for the name there's no way you can expect special treatment.

Also the event in question happened in Bush's reign.

[ICantSpellDawg]

This administration is becoming a nightmare rather quickly. I honestly didn't think Democrats had the balls to incinerate our country.

Can anyone honestly say that the new "pledge to serve our president" video doesn't make your skin crawl?

[Lemur]

Can anyone honestly say that the new "pledge to serve our president" video doesn't make your skin crawl?

Had to Google that one. Taking a look, it's rather silly. A bunch of celebs pledging "allegiance to the funk," etc. Ridiculous? Certainly. Making my skin crawl? Only to the usual extent when Ashton and Demi think that their opinions matter to me.

I note that this video dates to January 2009. Are you referring to something newer?

[Adrian II]

I look in to this thread from time to time to catch the latest Obama gossip, but it disappoints me every time. This month there appears to be something about a letter that's gone wrong. And some anonymous source in the Pentagon saying that Obama is not showing the commitment to the Afghan war that some anonymous source in the Pentagon expects. And .. well that's it, really.

Big deal.

[drone]

Well, I hear he drinks the blood of children to stay young and vibrant...

In reality, there just isn't that much news right now. He's too smart and media-savvy to pull real boneheaded moves in public like Bush did. Congress has been out of session. And apart from outlandish tales told be the righter side of the media, the press seems to be giving him a pass for now. I'm thinking that this will end this winter, once his first year goes by they will start being more critical. At this point, his administration earns a big "Meh". Nothing too bad, but nothing too good either.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I look in to this thread from time to time to catch the latest Obama gossip, but it disappoints me every time. This month there appears to be something about a letter that's gone wrong. And some anonymous source in the Pentagon saying that Obama is not showing the commitment to the Afghan war that some anonymous source in the Pentagon expects. And .. well that's it, really.

Big deal.

The action is in healthcare. Everything's simply spend on discussing that. Both in the Backroom and in RL.


The good news is that the Republicans don't have anything better than some pimped and sensationalized non-stories to create outrage over Obama with.
Meanwhile, Obama occupies himself with settling dramatised and sensationalized liberal non-stories with beer diplomacy in the White House Garden.

All of which means he is free to throw his weight where it's needed, in healthcare. I even suspect Obama of being politically savvy enough to deliberately avoid controversy for the time being.

[drone]

Had to Google that one. Taking a look, it's rather silly. A bunch of celebs pledging "allegiance to the funk," etc. Ridiculous? Certainly. Making my skin crawl? Only to the usual extent when Ashton and Demi think that their opinions matter to me.

I note that this video dates to January 2009. Are you referring to something newer?

He might be referring to this:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/02...t-left-behind/

[Don Corleone]

I don't know Louis. That teflon is peeling in layers now. I don't think anybody in the Backroom would confuse me with an Obama supporter, and even I feel bad for the guy over this.

This is about as low as it gets. The guy tries to talk to kids about working hard, setting goals for themselves and staying in school... and we get... comparisons to North Korea.

Partisanship, at the expense of statesmanship.... I'll grant you Obama has been a bit wounded lately, but you all mark my words, the Republicans seriously overplayed their hand this time and its going to boomerang on them. Yes, the Democrats were petty in 1991, and gave H.W. Bush grief. This was the Republicans' chance to show that they are better than that.....

... or not, as the case may be. What the hell has happened to us?

[Hosakawa Tito]

Yeah Don I heard this on talk radio this morning while running errands. This is partisanship run amok and the lies seem to get more outrageous as we go. It's like the GOP is playing to the extreme fringe and will say or do anything. I agree with you that this will boomerang on the Republicans. I mean come on, anyone who is willing to stop a minute and think with their brain can't possibly believe this stuff.

[Louis VI the Fat]

this.

What the hell has happened to us?

I would say that Silly Season has happened to you..

...but then, these are not supposed to last for decades. So: sheesh! Some people really need to spend some time in Libya, that they can learn to tell the difference between that sort of place and America.

Good grief. He's the president, and it is the start of the new school season?

I wonder - where does partisanship end and divisive attacks on America's most fundamental institutions begin?

[Xiahou]

In another case of what was surely top notch vetting, Obama had appointed Van Jones as his Green Jobs Advisor. Recently, it came to light that among many things, he is a 9/11 Truther. (Signatory #46)

He's also described himself as a Communist and revolutionary, and supporter of Mumia, the Black Panther who murderd a Philadelphia Police Officer. Basically, the guy is about as far out on the kook left fringe as you can get.

You can listen to him talk about how white polluters steer poison into black communities, here. Ever wonder how people get the idea that environmentalists are just stealth communists?

In the end, the consensus seems to be that it's the 9/11 Truther label that will do him in, with most predicting he'll be out by Monday. Anyone want to make their own prediction?

[seireikhaan]

Well, depends. He might be a loon on several matters, but if he's genuinely qualified in the field of renewable/'green' energy, then I see no reason to dismiss him so long as he keeps his trap shut except for what he's being paid to do.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well, depends. He might be a loon on several matters, but if he's genuinely qualified in the field of renewable/'green' energy, then I see no reason to dismiss him so long as he keeps his trap shut except for what he's being paid to do.

The simplest reason is that politically, he is going to be a huge liability.

If he has such unusual (and actually quite offensive) views on the events of 9-11, he is hardly likely to have much credibility on global warming. The impacts and causes of the latter are subject to some controversy, and having someone of such sensibilities trying to further an environmental agenda is just grist to the mill of those who would derail the president's policies.

[ICantSpellDawg]

I've got a question for all of you Obama voters. Do any of you think he is doing any semblance of a good job so far?

I clearly didn't vote for him and I'm not upset about his foreign policy at all - but on the domestic front I had no idea that he would be this close to epic failure and ineptitude this quickly. I honestly expected a more even keel from the guy I didn't vote for.

[Banquo's Ghost]

I've got a question for all of you Obama voters. Do any of you think he is doing any semblance of a good job so far?

I clearly didn't vote for him and I'm not upset about his foreign policy at all - but on the domestic front I had no idea that he would be this close to epic failure and ineptitude this quickly. I honestly expected a more even keel from the guy I didn't vote for.

Would it be possible for you to enumerate the domestic policies that you think are close to "epic fail"? Particularly those in his manifesto that the majority voted for, rather than just those you disagreed with on principle.