You Picked a Fine Time to Lead Us, Barack

HT: Fred

Comments

[Gary R. Casselman, Ph.D.]

Cute. But he isn't leading us because we are not following. Leadership is defined by its effect - as in cause-effect. If no one is following, you are not a leader, by definition.

[Joe Guarino]

Gary, I agree. Great point-- thanks.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

In terms of who is following Barack at this point in history (since everything for this particular President is so "historic"), "us" is a relative term. I'm personally hoping for change come mid-terms and the next Presidential race.

I was humming right along, and all ready to embed this at Housecalls . . . but they lost me at "bowls like a retard".

Not PC at all.

[Joe Guarino]

No, it was not, Mary. I didn't like that tiny part, either; but I decided to post in spite of it because it is otherwise a good piece.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Oh, I must confess. I'm still humming;)

[michele]

Seriously, Joe? This whole video is so juvenile and ugly and disrespectful. It's no better than any of the Bush-hating propaganda that was spewed during the "W" years. "Kenyan mudshack?" "Bowl like a retard?" Really, Doctor? Why are you posting and encouraging this?

Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

I encourage you to challenge current politics in ways that are honest and constructive, and promote healthy dialogue and reasoned discourse.

[Joe Guarino]

Michele, I think there is a role for satire; and it is OK to laugh. Excepting the "bowl" phrase, the YouTube is quite funny-- and it contains a lot of truth. Obama certainly provides plenty of material.

[Bubba]

"I encourage you to challenge current politics in ways that are honest and constructive, and promote healthy dialogue and reasoned discourse.'

We tried that already....many times.

Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" don't feel any compulsion to adhere to standards that don't give them any perceived political, social, and economic advantage.

[michele]

Joe, if it was satire, it might be funny. But I don't think it is. I think it's mean-spiritedness. The "retard" comment kind of sealed the deal, as far as I'm concerned. Wonder what Sarah Palin would think of that?

Bubba, as I pointed out, there was plenty of Bush-hating "blah, blah, blah" going on during his terms. And I'm not suggesting that the discourse is any more balanced on one side than the other. The point is that the right thing is always the right thing to do, no matter what the other guy is doing. Otherwise, you just become the other guy.

[Joe Guarino]

Bubba, I agree. But the additional dimension is that this presidency has been an utter mess.

Today, NRO published an article that demonstrated 33 areas in which Obama has broken his promises. Count 'em--33! And his presidency is only 14 months old!

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzI4MjQ3Mzk4MWJkNDkwNWZlYzcwNDA3NmQyNmIxYmI=

Yes, there was an understated message of contempt in this video, which otherwise was quite funny. But we must remember that this is a presidency that invites contempt.

I don't enjoy satire against Obama because the other side might have done it. I enjoy it because it rings true.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

"If it was satire it might be funny."

With all due respect, Michelle, given some of the goings-on in our own blogosphere lately, that statement is loaded with irony (and I'd have to agree, in the case I'm referencing, it might be funny if it were "satire").

There's a time to turn the other cheek and a time to dance Caesar's dance.

Don't sweat it, Joe. I did chuckle (an admittedly guilty chuckle), most of the lyrics did ring very true, and I've been humming the tune all day.

[beelzebubba]

there's an old saying that if the subjects of the satire understand it, it missed the mark. what i do like about it is people with power conferred upon them by the lumpen are being made fun of. this is the highest praise you can give a nation.

beelze 3:16 - to the nontrifurcated Almighty we are all lumpen proles

[Jon A Firebaugh]

Michelle,
Visit this local blog: http://greensboring.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12192
to see a video from the other side of the fence. (it's down the page) Both sides of the political aisle are using videos etc. to support their idealogy. The one here was better and funnier. The other was a true hack job.
As for your scriptural reference to Romans 13: 1-7, I fail to see how this applies. If you are implying that the President derives his powers from God, you are sadly mistaken. We are not ruled by a monarchy, and this country was not founded on the principal top down authority, but bottom up authority, of the people, by the people, for the people. We reserve the right to speak freely, critically, and if need be harshly to our leaders to remind them of their mission. If this upsets your sensibilities then so be it. King George's sensibilities were offended when the upstart colonists refused to pay unjust taxes, and the same situation applies now. beelze 3:16 is closer to the mark. To quote a biblical passage created by fallible men to contain the masses in ancient times (all kings sought the authority of God) and try to apply it as a reason to meekly submit to present day authority is wrong. It is especially obscene given this president's assocation with a preacher of questionable behavior and lack of respect for this country.

[jaycee]

Michele, CBS apparently thought it "funny" to run a ticker at the bottom of the screen during a late night talk show a few years ago advertising for an assassin to kill President Bush. Were you as outraged at that as you are at someone repeating a direct quote from Obama? Perhaps you ought to question what kind of man goes on national/worldwide TV and uses the term "retard" in normal conversation. Or the mental capacity of a leader who believes the U.S. is composed of 57 states.

[Fred Gregory]

Right Jaycee,

Here ya go.. " Snipers Wanted " from the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborne... H/T The Smoking Gun

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/kilborn1.html

Or Michele, how about the 2006 movie " The Assasination of George Bush "

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14608725/

[Brandon Burgess]

"...given some of the goings-on in our own blogosphere lately..."
"...Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" don't feel any compulsion to adhere to standards..."
"Both sides of the political aisle are using videos etc. to support their idealogy."

--Doesn't make it ok. Besides, the lyrics really are trite when they aren't offensive.

[Bubba]

"--Doesn't make it ok."

You're not paying attention.

Even if conservatives "played nice", Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" have shown they're not willing to change their obnoxiousness in support of the unsupportable, and will continue to act as they've always acted.

The only thing that happens is they continue to control the situation the way they want, without any interference, and they get their obnoxious way, as was the case in health care "reform".

They need to be called on it EVERY time, with as much vigor and attitude necessary to counter the garbage. I'm sorry if that offends anybody, but there's no viable alternative to neutralize what they're doing.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

I had forgotton about Obama's appearance on Leno (but I'm not sure the quote was "direct" - he likened his bowling skills to someone in the "Special Olympics" as opposed to "retards" - admittedly not much of a distinction).

And what Jon said about kings and the Authority of God.

Brandon, to be clear, I was referencing the local blogger known as "Fecund Stench" . . . who has justified some of his treatment of me (not an elected leader or public figure) as "satire".

[Brandon Burgess]

Jaycee, you didn't address what kind of men go on the internet and refer to retardation like it is something to be ashamed of.

Bubba I do agree that the tactics of those on the left are despicable. Not just those utilized by politicians but also those who support them. That is why I feel it is important for conservatives to not utilize those same tactics. It's not effective debate and is unlikely to change any minds.

At a time like this, when conservative values tend to be equated with right-wing extremism, religious extremism and racism, it is important to demonstrate that bigoted attitudes are not the norm with conservatives. Liberals are doing a fine job of putting their hatred and intolerance on display.

And again, the lyrics just aren't clever. But who am I to judge someone else's art?

[Brandon Burgess]

"Liberals are doing a fine job of putting their OWN hatred and intolerance on display."

[Joe Guarino]

Brandon, I think you might be missing the point. I don't think these two guys are putting on any pretensions about being clever, or about being politically correct, or of sharing brilliant lyrics. They were trying to be humorous, and to demonstrate certain insights into some of the outlandish, indefensible things Obama has been saying and doing over the last couple of years. And I daresay they are not claiming to do so from the perspective of the urbane, hyper-educated, politically correct class. They appear to be representing a different group of people entirely.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Brandon, again, the lyric kind of caught me off guard too, but the song is actually referencing a remark made by President Obama in his "historic" appearance on Jay Leno.

So the answer to your "What kind of men?" question is, well, the President of these not-so-United States.

"They appear to be representing a different group of people entirely."

Exactly, Joe. And those people are not "BAD/EVIL/BIGOTED" people.

[Joe Guarino]

I agree, Mary. Thanks-- and that is a great point about Obama himself using that analogy.

[ReagantoPalin]

The two lyrics in question relate to OBAMA's quote on NBC about himself 'bowling like a retard' and the 'mudshack' comment in from the LONDON TELEGRAPH newspapers. http://www.reagantopalin.com/

[Bubba]

Dr. Helen has a timely article on this general subject over at PJM.

Excerpt:

"I am not saying here that liberals are psychopaths, for this would be incorrect for the most part. What I am saying is that their inability to understand the morality of conservatives makes them unable to understand their point of view, just as a psychopath does not understand the morality of normal people.

So just remember that next time a liberal treats you poorly, it may not be his or her fault. Like the psychopath who has no empathy for his fellow human being, liberals may have a blind spot when it comes to having any empathy or understanding for their conservative brethren. It often makes a psychopath worse to show empathy for him, as he will take advantage of it.

The second possibility is that liberals do have the capacity to empathize with conservatives, but they do not have to do so because of the liberal bubble they mostly live in. Schools, the media, and many of the cities they live in lean left. This means that there is no incentive to understand other ideas and there are no consequences for showing disgust and ugly feelings towards conservatives....

....There may be no way to get the “other side” to understand our views, for they may not have the capacity to do so. Until the lack of empathy for conservatives miraculously changes, we might do better to grow our own ranks, getting more of us involved, rather than trying to rationalize our own views to the other side. Giving in only wastes valuable time that could be put to better use and makes liberals more likely to treat us poorly.

At the same time, we should consider that it could be a lack of consequences that allows liberals to lack empathy or understanding for their fellow right-leaning citizens. Expanding right-leaning media and exposing liberals to ridicule and consequences (e.g., Andrew Breitbart) might then be the correct path to take, for the ease with which they attack may decrease once they realize that they will not get off scott-free as they once did.

Finally, and my third possibility, is it could be lack of education that allows the left to lack empathy. They are not exposed to right-leaning and libertarian ideas. For example, how many classes at school are teaching about the ideas of Hayek, Friedman, and Rand? If kids grow up without this information, they may turn into adults who lack the ability to understand other points of view."

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-should-conservatives-deal-with-the-lefts-disrespect-and-lack-of-empathy/?singlepage=true

[David McWhite]

Hey, I put this song on YouTube and thought I would clarify by saying that the "bowl like a retard" line is in response to his statement that when he bowls, he looks like he's in the special olympics (find it on YouTube on the Jay Leno show). He also has a half-brother who lives in a shanty in Kenya. This video was not meant to be racist or to insult the mentally challenged.

[Joe Guarino]

David, I think you did a great job on the piece and the YouTube. I infer that you did this with your brother-- is that correct?

I very much appreciate your explanation, and your initiative in sharing this with others. My guess is that a lot of people have enjoyed it.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

David, it's always nice to hear from the artist.

Still humming . . .

;)

[michele]

Jon: "...There is no authority except that which God has established..." seems pretty clear, and it's not the only place in the Bible that teaches respect for authority. (And teaching our children respect for earthly authority is part of teaching them respect for God's authority.) I don't agree that the Bible was written by men. It's the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God.

I believe that you can respectfully question or challenge authority, and work within the system to change things, in ways that are legal, moral, ethical and disrespectful. I also appreciate satire. But I didn't think that video was satire, or funny. It just seemed mean-spirited.

"He did it, too/first/not me!" is not a defense for bad behavior. Don't be that guy. Be the good guy.

But I'm not y'all's mama or your Holy Spirit, so if it makes you happy to hum along with "retard" and "mudshack", then carry on.

[jaycee]

"But I didn't think that video was satire, or funny. It just seemed mean-spirited."
Michele, beauty (and satire, and mean-spiritedness) is in the eye of the beholder.
As I mentioned before, I thought CBS advertising for an assassin to kill our sitting president was mean-spirited. But the Bush-haters didn't.
I thought Teddy Kennedy slamming his fist on the podium and screaming, "Liar! Liar! Liar!" about President Bush was mean-spirited. But the Bush-haters didn't.
I thought Harry Reid telling kindergartners that President Bush was a liar was mean-spirited. But the Bush-haters didn't.
I've watched the Press Club dinners from Washington in which all manner of barbs and jokes are slung at (and by) the President. I find it humorous, but you may not, depending on who is the President at the time.
So how can merely repeating what Obama himself said in public to millions of people be mean-spirited?
Where is your outrage over the fact that his reference to Special Olympics was disgustingly cruel and heartless? Have you ever worked with challenged young adults? Do they deserve to be sneered at and disrespected by Obama? Does his crass and despicable attitude towards challenged people concern you at all? Does it not speak to the heart of the man, a man concerned only with his own power at the expense of "the little people" including those with developmental challenges?
If you condone Obama's attitude towards challenged persons then you are no better than he.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Michele, you're absolutely right. You are NOT my Mamma or The Holy Spirit, so PLEASE give the righteous outrage a break.

I'm humming along to a Kenny Rogers tune . . . and managing to appreciate both the satire (that uses our President's own words) and the talent it took to come up with something like that . . . not to mention the ironies in all of the arguments here - including yours.

Yes, God establishs authority and asks us to respect that. But authority can be abused and God (who gave us free will - and let us keep the knowledge after biting into the apple) does not expect us to just roll over and die when it is. This nation would not even exist had some disgusted lowly colonists not started flinging tea at a despotic king (they were not exactly working within the system). Moreover, we'd all be speaking German & Japanese now if we'd just accepted Hitler's "authority" on earth (something I have a hard time believing God had ANYTHING to do with). Since then, this nation has thrived (at least until recently) and has been blessed.

I believe that it's because in separating God from state (except now that it's convenient for "the left" to justify REALLY BAD social policy), we've completely turned our backs on Him.

Even Jesus himself turned on the authorities & money-changers in the Temple.

OBTW, I was "the good girl" for a long time. And working within the system has not exactly worked for me, has it? And that's because for well-over-a-decade-now a whole lot of people just like Obama smugly sneered and spit - as they talked out of both sides of their mouths.

[Brenda Bowers]

I put this video on my blog too./ I think it is satire. Everything said or referred to has indeed happened. As for the "bowls like a retard" that was quoting Barack Obama on the Jay Leno show and in this tune meant to point out how absolutely retarded this President has been since taking office. This was not his first gaff and there have been many since. Try giving the Queen of England an iPod loaded with all his speeches!

It seems I am not alone in having a short memory, but mine can be put down to the aging brain. And it also seems to me many are willing to take offense at the least little thing just for the sake of taking offense rather than taking into consideration the truth of a statement or the context. Now I suppose I am not permitted to agree with President Obama that he not only bowls like a retard but governs like one! BB

[Doc Alexander]

I can't decide who is more thin-skinned: Obama or his devotees.

[Brandon Burgess]

I'm not thin-skinned. I just don't think retardation something to be ashamed of or joked about. I also don't think it is a far stretch to assume these fellows were simply throwing Obama's words back in his face.

My Point: Liberals are making themselves look very ugly right now. Matter of fact, as Jaycee pointed out, they have been doing it for quite sometime. If the conservative movements seemed more approachable, I believe many, many Americans of all backgrounds and races would find themselves in agreement with conservatives on many issues. But I feel that especially right now, videos like may only serve to fulfil the liberal-espoused view that conservatives are intolerant and insensitive. Let the liberals make themselves look bad; no need for conservatives to make themselves look bad while making liberals look bad.

[jaycee]

The liberals ARE making themselves look bad all by themselves.
Video satires and parodies and SNL skits only serve to highlight what's already been said and done.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Oh, that's EASY, Doc. The devotees.

Brandon it's not a stretch at all. You have the artist right here telling you that's exactly what happened.

Let's look at a study in contrasts between "left" and "right".

To disasterous result, rich, liberal, social-minded Joe Kennedy let a quack use a "new procedure" (translate: experiement on) his 23 YO "retarded" (there's some debate about that) daughter, Rosemary . . . because her mental slowness and her behavior was "embarrassing" to the otherwise beautiful and super-smart family. Prior to that she was locked away in a convent. No harm no foul.

Besides, now we have the Special Olympics for the tolerant and sensitive Obama to compare his bowling skills to.

Sarah Palin decides to carry her child with Down's Syndrome to term (as opposed to abort him) and shower the baby with unconditional love. But she's the Devil in red high heels.

[Roch101]

If one strips away the generalizations of "they" and "them" which is a stunted way of understanding the world to begin with and look, instead, at the specifics before us, what we have is a local doctor giving the thumbs up to a video that is stunningly wrong on the few facts it asserts and which uses retardation as an insult, which is wrong or not depending on who is doing it, apparently. More situational ethics.

[Brandon Burgess]

So nobody else agrees that more supporters for conservative values is a good thing and that videos like this more than likely only serve to turn would-be conservative sympathizers away?

It's quite humorous that Cone's readers see me as far-right and here it seems the opposite, at least with regard to this issue. Maybe I'm the only moderate in the blogosphere?

[H. Palmer]

Please add one more verse.

You picked a fine time to lead us Barack,
We’ve got a Congress that’s dumb as a rock.
We’ve seen some sad times, lived through some bad times
But this time you’ve left us in shock.
You picked a fine time to lead us Barack.

[jaycee]

Roch seems to think that someone who grossly insults people with developmental disabilities is OK since he's a Dem, but anyone who points out this insult is despicable because they may be conservative.
Talk about situational ethics...

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Heavy sigh. Brandon, nobody is really trying to peg you into anything here. And you're not the only moderate in the blogoshere (I just think that things are so far left of left lately that even the meaning of "moderate" has changed).

Two guys got together and put together a neat little ditty that used the President of the United States' own words (not Joe's, not mine, not Jaycee's or Stormy's) to make their point.

Public figure. "Historic" appearance on Leno. Stupid/insenstive blunder. Ripe for satire.

My God, these days you have to post a disclaimer on everything lest you offend someone.

You'll note (from my first comment) that the use of the word "retarded" was enough to keep me from posting the video (because I knew - as soon as I heard it - that this kind of brouhaha was exactly the kind of thing you could expect) . . . but I certainly don't think Joe or Brenda are going to blogging Hell because they see the humor in the rest of the song and did.

The ironies of Roch Smith, Jr. lecturing anyone on "situational ethics" - or "stunted ways of looking at the world" - are not lost on this LOCAL DOCTOR . . . you know, the one who came to the blogosphere for some help fighting CORRUPTION FIVE YEARS ago, but is supposed to just "get over" what happened to her in GOVERNMENT SERVICE and "move on".

PUHLEASE.

[Roch101]

"Roch seems to think that someone who grossly insults people with developmental disabilities is OK since he's a Dem, but anyone who points out this insult is despicable because they may be conservative." -- Jaycee

How do you figure? I mean, other than your wish those were true, do you have any support beyond your fantasies that those are my thoughts?

[C. Cullen]

The part about "bowling like a retard" pertains to Obama going on Jay Leno show and saying that he didn't bowl any better than those in the Special Olympics or something to that effect.

The next line being, "tell the whole country like that."