That's just wrong to look so effortlessly relaxed, happy & handsome

[bigtree]

11:0 AM EDT: President Obama Speaks at Morehouse College Commencement Ceremony, Atlanta, Georgia



TheObamaDiary.com ‏@TheObamaDiary 8m
Breaking from @JonKarl: Visibly stressed and deflated Obama attends Morehouse Commencement: pic.twitter.com/nlquk7t8Pb





















ForUS50 ‏@FORUS50 8m
@TheObamaDiary That's just wrong to look so effortlessly relaxed, happy & handsome. It kills the soulless RWNJs who try to take him down.

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I think it's called a "poker face". Never let 'em see you sweat Mr. President.

[randome]

3. I don't think he sweats. He has a built-in circuit breaker.

You cannot rattle Obama.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. It's amazing, and even more amazing is how it pisses people off. I often get....

the impression that even folks "on our own side" want him to be more animated, even though that isn't what passes legislation, it's a style thingy. Because he's so cool headed, the slightest bit of emotion tends to set the media all atwitter about some perceived "angry" response.

I think his Hawaiian upbringing has a lot to do with his overall disposition, and I think there's a name for it, but I admit, I don't know it.

[loyalsister]

30. I agree about the Hawaiian upbringing

I also think he had to be adaptable with the traveling his mother did. And, i recently read that there was a lot of conflict between his grandparents. That probably explains his aversion to it.

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. I hadn't heard about his grandparents. Thanks for that.

He wants to be an adult. He, clearly, wants to govern, but sadly that isn't left up to only him. He has to have partners in governing, which is why the midterms are crucial.

[loyalsister]

38. "A Singular Woman"

is the biography of his mother. It puts a lot of what we see in context. An interesting thing about Obama is that with what he has written himself, there should be very little mystery about who he is and how he operates. The biography of his mother gives even more relevant context.

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. I'll definitely have to check that out. Thanks again.

[PatSeg]

66. Republicans hate the "cool kids"

It drives them nuts that someone can be smart, handsome, funny, cool, and VERY likable. The more together he is, the more they want to tear him down. He is everything they aren't and they just aren't going to let him get away with it!

[Tarheel_Dem]

127. Hey, it's not Obama's fault that they're all old, crazy, and out of touch. As the kids used to say

"don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful".

[PatSeg]

174. A lifetime of festering envy

can produce some very hateful, destructive people. Maybe more therapy and less politics would serve them better!

[Tarheel_Dem]

178. I absolutely agree. Therapy for all!

[madokie]

31. He hasn't been so far thats for sure

I'm sure that is chapping some rethuglicon asses too

[JDPriestly]

34. No. It's called selfless love for others.

And for all his mistakes and faults, Obama does feel selfless love for others.

[NYC_SKP]

2. It's because he know our secret muslin gun confiscation FEMA camp bagger roundup is going so well!

[Half-Century Man]

26. SSHHHHHHHHHHH

Dumbass, this is a public forum...Did you forget your secret oath?

[NYC_SKP]

29. But I didn't tell them WHEN we start!

I didn't say that project badger nads starts tomorrow at 8am Eastern!

[Arugula Latte]

113. About that ...

The badger has been neutered. I repeat, the badger has been neutered. Adjust your actions accordingly.

[IrishAyes]

162. Arf!

[Auntie Bush]

4. That's one damn good looking, happy President. It's hard

to believe so many people can hate him so much and say the things they say about our President.
We Dems couldn't stand Bush...but we never used such hostile vitriol toward him...though he deserved it.

[SCVDem]

44. I hope his enemies

Last edited Sun May 19, 2013, 05:27 PM - Edit history (1)

live miserable and die alone with their gold!

They are fucking up what should be a renaissance in America!

[freshwest]

70. Yes indeed, his constant detractors are a sad lot indeed.

Take a look at the videos of the commencement address posted by Cha. He tells how MLK, Jr. was influenced by his years there, and he brought tears to some of the students, and myself as well. Those who can't give this man a chance are missing out on something good.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11029943

[ucrdem]

5. Hope they gave him an honorary degree. . .

for passing last week's exams!

[Demo_Chris]

6. Yeah he's one charismatic neoconservative. No doubt about that. nt

[graham4anything]

9. 80-20 20 over and out.

[bigtree]

10. you'd have a hard time selling that nonsense to that crowd of Morehouse youth

. . . I'd sure like to see you try, though, and I don't mean from behind a computer screen.

[Demo_Chris]

14. You say this as if it requires courage to speak the truth there. I doubt it.

As it happens, what I wrote is correct. You simply do not want to consider it.

Obama has embraced the Neoconservative position on war and defense, drone terrorism, patriot and other constitutional abuses, his assault on 'whistleblowers', healthcare, the environment, the transcanada pipeline, the gulf spill, corporatism, and even social security. I think you would be hard pressed to find any significant policy difference between Obama and classic neoconservatism. The only real and meaningful differences between Obama and Bush is that Obama is freaking brilliant, and he's not in bed with social conservatives. But Neoconservative? Absolutely.

But he sure is one handsome guy.

Squeeeee!

[patrice]

17. How in fuck's name do you KNOW what anyone else has or has not considered. PATERNALISM pure and

SIMPLE -minded.

[Demo_Chris]

18. There is probably a better thread for this...

As this one is about how handsome and dreamy our President is. I will leave you to it.

[patrice]

28. O. M. G. !!! You're JEALOUS. oh, wow, . . . uh . . . really, I'm sorry. nt

[sheshe2]

43. ~~~

Touché!

[Number23]

79. LOL!!!

[IrishAyes]

164. A lot of messed up people are jealous of President Obama. The rest of us love him.

[Phlem]

65. +1

-p

[uponit7771]

84. Rush of haterade from this post alone....

[bigtree]

116. and poster

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. If he's a "neo-conservative", then wouldn't that mean the country is moving in that.....

direction? I'm not saying your characterization is true, not at all. But, seeing how he just won re-election with a +5 mil vote surplus, I'd say the voting public disagrees with you vehemently, as do I.

I know that the Naderites and other assorted third party advocates here are given to fits of hyperbole, but I just interpret that as a sure sign of impotence, and a certain lack of self awareness on their part.

[patrice]

25. Agreed. They appear to be reacting to authority, top-down, iterations of an obsolete paradigm.

This very specifically negatively colored reaction to ALL things as "Obama's fault . . ." suggests an inherent warp of somekind, something that most of us possess, but the difference is in our commitments to rational empiricism, which for some of us compels us to admit our own biases and limitations in our truths . . .

a trait that is missing from something that like to imply that it is "the Left" , but, otherwise, displays some rather distinctly fascistic tendencies on this board.

[Demo_Chris]

27. I think the last election...

Was more a rejection of GOP Social Conservatism (which has come to dominate the GOP since the advent of the Teamparty movement) than an embrace of Neoconservatism. Further, consider that Obama ran largely on the suggestion that this time he would be free from reelection concerns and could finally go to battle for the left. This was certainly a subtext. He damn sure didn't campaign on the idea of more wars, permanent tax cuts for the wealthy, destroying social security, and adding more corporate insiders to the inner circle.

So no, overall I do not believe the country is more neoconservative. I think the DNC is.

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. "I think". Doesn't make it true. And which "more wars" are you referring to?

He got elected the first time on the promise that he would get us out of Iraq, and double down in Afghanistan, and it sure as hell didn't hurt his reelection, and that chaps your ass, don't it? Oh, and weren't taxes raised shortly after the election?

As for all your other claptrap, it's just liberal claptrap, or someone trying awfully hard to appear that way on the internet.

[Bobbie Jo]

68. *ding*

Winner winner chicken dinner.

See: caricature

[JDPriestly]

39. I reserve the right to support some of Obama's policies and criticize others without

being criticized on this political forum for stating my views.

Obama wants to move forward. The neo-conservative policies and the policies that move in that direction want to move backwards or stand still.

I was never a Naderite or a third party advocate, but I believe in challenging the ideas of today and seeking the ideas that will build a better tomorrow.

Some of us have to lead the movement forward. I am willing to do that.

I think that forward-thinking, maybe even thinking ahead of your time are signs of confidence, of independence and self-awareness.

You are entitled to your opinion. A person is entitled to limit his thoughts to the possible and the convenient. But I consider myself, as a person with a lot of experience and education and a lot of friends, to have a responsibility to present ideas that have promise.

I do not believe that there is anything admirable about stagnating in the dogmas and fears of the past.

[Tarheel_Dem]

46. Perhaps the country has moved past you? In polling, people may agree with more....

liberal policies, but when asked they choose not to identify themselves as such. The big problem for liberals is the face of liberalism tends to be people like Ralph Nader, Michael Moore, and Dennis Kucinich, and I'm not just talking about physical features. It's much more than that. Otherwise, we'd see many more liberals in Congress, and maybe one that actually had a shot at the White House.

There's a deep distaste, even among Democrats for those who seem radical in their rhetoric, and in their views. Purist liberals can blame the DNC, the DLC, or whomever they choose. But, I think a certain introspection is called for, and they seem to be wholly unwilling to do that.

Lastly, let me say that the Democratic Party will never be overtaken by the kind of idiocy we see with the GOP and their more radical element known as the Tea Party. We'll win some, and we'll lose some, but as Democrats, we will largely support the person we nominated, and ultimately send to the White House. People who are loathe to do that, should just go do their own thing like Jill Stein & Rocky Anderson & Roseanne Barr, et al did, and good luck with that.

[JDPriestly]

76. In my city, we face local elections very soon.

Two "Democrats" are running in my district. One is supported by corporate money and the machine. The other has lots of experience serving our community, knows our community and is loved by many -- but has less money.

We shall see who wins. It will be a close election.

Interestingly, the corporations providing the most support to the corporate-money-candidate have in many cases, as I view it, specific issues under consideration by the city council. That is the kind of neo-conservatism that will backfire on Democrats. It isn't politics. It's corruption, plain and simple, but hard to prove.

At the national level, the failure of the Obama administration to be proactive in breaking up the big banks is an utter scandal. Sorry. I don't think you will find very many Americans who would support the inaction of the Obama administration with regard to cleaning up banking practices if they understood the economic and legal issues involved.

Also, when it comes to the chained CPI and cuts to programs like Social Security and veterans' benefits, the American people disagree with Obama's budget which panders to a very small group of powerful, wealthy and very greedy individuals. Obama has made a huge mistake in supporting the chained CPI. The chained CPI as applied to Social Security transforms what was passed as a progressive tax into a regressive one. It cannibalizes the money seniors paid into the Social Security Trust Fund, digests them in the general fund and then regurgitates to the detriment of those who paid the taxes in the first place. For shame.

On the other hand, the Benghazi, IRS and AP scandals are fabrications. Just Republicans pulling the wool over naive Fox News viewers. And I support Obama's ACA wholeheartedly although I would prefer single payer. On health care, Obama took on a difficult issue and held steady.

In addition, I think very highly of Obama as a person. I do not expect to get my way all the time, but on DU, a website for political discussion, I think we should be free to express dissident positions as long as we do not lower ourselves to ad hominem posts intended to intimidate other DUers into agreeing with us 100%.

I call it like it is. I am a loyal, very active Democrat. But I believe my party is best served and Obama is best served when I say what I think, what I believe.

I see how Obama's expression of his views on the rights of gays and lesbians changed as he served in office and had to confront the obvious moral and legal contradictions in depriving citizens of their equal rights.

Had no one expressed ideas that are new and that diverged from the status quo, Obama might not have dared to "come out" in favor of gays and lesbians.

DU is a place to express and discuss ideas. Let's allow others their freedom to consider real change in our society.

Thanks.

[patrice]

20. Chris, you appear to be a reactionary who mistakes himself for an anarchist & your avatar is a

dead give-away.

[Phlem]

35. Oh give me a fucking break

Just because Chris doesn't swoon as much as you guys doesn't mean he's wrong in his observations. What a bunch of fan-natics.



-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. A bunch of "fan-natics" who kicked yall's asses in the last election.

[Phlem]

51. Who in the hell is "yall's"

A fellow Dem voicing an opinion.

How utterly observant you are.



Yea, let's not wait for the "R's" we can divide and Conquer ourselves!



I can hear it already, "If your not with us, your against us". That's seems to be the level critical thinking I'm dealing with here.

-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. "Yea, let's not wait for the "R's" we can divide and Conquer ourselves!"

Yup! You and Chris would know all about that now, wouldn't ya? Keep up the work!

[Phlem]

53. Wow

It's like talking to a Republican.



I have no patience for willful ignorance.



-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

55. And I have no tolerance for namecalling. Remember "fan-natics"? You went there.

I just followed. But nice try, pretending to be above it all.

[Phlem]

57. Right. you forgot to paste this part "I can hear it already, "If your not with us, your against us".

But nice try, pretending to be above it all.

[Tarheel_Dem]

58. Wow, I guess you do have "patience" afterall. You're full of contradictions, aren't you?

[Phlem]

59. I always have patience

for someone who needs schooling.

[Tarheel_Dem]

62. You're as funny as you are intellectually dishonest.

You've gone from calling for unity among the left, to namecalling in one fell swoop. I think I'll take my "schooling" from someone much more qualified than someone called "Phlem", if you don't mind.

[Phlem]

63. Oooo

Well I guess you got me.





-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

64. C Ya, Phlem!!!!

[IrishAyes]

165. Yes we can, Yes we did, and YES WE WILL AGAIN!

[patrice]

173. You deleted the word "appear". Not an uncommon bit of, PERHAPS, deceit, that; today alone I have

seen the word "if" deleted also, and the word "only" added by posters with a similar inclination to mischaracterize what others are saying.

[bigtree]

21. heh

. . . your 'truth' would be immediately and effectively challenged with a quite different perspective.

In fact, your complaints aren't the sole purview of a progressive argument; but can also be found in conservatives' diatribes regarding this presidency (see: republican attempts to repeal Obamacare). You also look to be attributing congressional initiatives and actions in your litany of complaints. You're not going to find many at Morehouse who are willing to paint his presidency with such a broad and contradictory brush of criticisms. That's what I think you'd find folks with the 'courage' to respond with there.

[ucrdem]

41. Let me guess, Chris Hedges?

Noam Chomsky? That list is inane and as long as you're here you might as well know that those two are notorious liars. Starting with war and defense: if Obama was anything close to a neocon we'd be up to our eyeballs in Iran, Syria and probably Yemen and Somalia. In blood. Have you been asleep for the last four years or what?

[Jamaal510]

152. If he

were anything close to a neocon, the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove wouldn't have spent so much money to defeat him this past election. But some of the self-appointed standard-bearers of the Left don't exactly see it that way.

[ucrdem]

160. People believe the darndest things.

And it wouldn't surprise me if a more than a few "truth-tellers" were in the Koch brothers' pockets. Greenwald for example we know is because he's attached to the CATO institute which is a Koch PR shop. Glenn earning his pay at CATO, Feb. 2012:

#!

http://www.cato.org/multimedia/cato-video/glenn-greenwald-catos-ending-global-war-drugs-conference

[CJCRANE]

49. That's very much like a Rovian attack. He's more of a neoliberal. nt

[IrishAyes]

163. And you generally sound like a paid Koch-ass-kissing troll.

[patrice]

16. An authentically revolutionary absolutist would be capable of recognizning that their own words

and what they are referring to by means of those words, such as "charismatic neoconservative", are NOT the same thing. If you deny this fact, then you deny that you are ignorant of a great deal of what one would have to know in order to validly posit such an equation between your words and ANY human being. One doing that denies their own ignorance and, hence, diminishes the experiences of those HUMANS, about whom you are ignorant, to the deminutive and, through your own slavish assumptions, discount the meanings of people's lives in any terms but your own.

This is why I say, "meet the 'new' boss, same BOSS as the old boss," because that level of authentic revolutionary critique does not exist, at least on this board.

[woo me with science]

61. The responses to your post show how deadly serious even the "fluffy" propaganda

on behalf of this administration really is.

Let even one person put an accurate label on the policies of this administration.....
Let even one person ripple the aura of radiance being crafted here...

and the ugly, swarming personal attacks begin.

We are living in very creepy times.

[Phlem]

75. I just have a

disposition to robots that walk around with blinders on.



-p

[Phlem]

77. It's a trance like state.

I just came from another thread where all his misdeeds and hypocrisy seemed to disappear completely from existence and he's treated like he walks on water. I've seen this in the Republican voting base and It Is creepy to see it happening here.

word.

-p

[rhett o rick]

86. One might ask the purpose of this thread. If the purpose was to get like minded posters

to tell each other how much they love and iodize the president, then I would think they would post this in their "group" which is especially for that purpose. But I am guessing that gets old and they want more.

[Marr]

91. Oh, don't worry-- they'll rediscover their 'principles' as soon as they can be

discussed without making the Leaders look bad. Yes, when there's a Republican in the White House, the same people will drone on about how we have to vote for another Obama so he can fight all the policies of the Republican president, who is continuing the policies of Obama.

[boilerbabe]

95. if they are going to go into complete meltdown if people aren't sufficiently worshipful

perhaps they should post this fawning stuff in the BOG where opinions are limited. i believe this is intentional shit stirring.

[Bobbie Jo]

100. Asinine.

[LanternWaste]

97. That's both a very clever and self-congratulatory way to minimize and trivialize the opinions...

That's both a very clever and self-congratulatory way to minimize and trivialize the opinions of others. Well done.

And you get the obligatory Orwell implication added in too.

Very clever indeed...

[forestpath]

186. +1000

[Isoldeblue]

74. How ridiculous to give him an extreme label like that.

Name me one conservative that would bring us universal health care, as he has.

Name me one neocon that would raise taxes on higher incomes, like PBO did.

Name any conservatives that would not have hundreds of boots on the ground more than we do now, or wouldn't have us engaged in heavy-duty war, w/independent contractors making bucko-bucks, like Haliburton on top of our boys there?

I'm not hearing any neo-cons say education is a priority. Instead, they are calling us snobs for wanting our system bettered.

And let's not overlook how PBO has taken a strong lead in gun reform. That sure doesn't jibe with any rethug's I've heard from on the subject.

Just because a very few policies are similar to the right, it's still a stretch to say that about him. Except for the charismatic part, which just come's natural to him.

I don't know what your definition is of a conservative, but in reality, President Obama has an long way to go, to earn that label. The cons of today are destroying this country and have no other goal but to bring PBO down, at our cost. How ungawdly, unpatriotic, can they get?!?

Demo-Chris, you should get your mouth washed out with soap...........

[Tarheel_Dem]

87. "Demo-Chris, you should get your mouth washed out with soap".

Right after he reads a newspaper to find out taxes went up on the 1%. He's so invested in his talking points from 2010, he didn't realize there had been an election, we're out of Iraq, leaving Afghanistan, and getting health care for 40 mil new enrollees. He really needs to update that crap, so he can at least sound minimally informed.

[Bobbie Jo]

93. You can't have a rational

discussion with the resident tinfoilers.

Their "truth" is righteous and the rest of us are just unwitting pawns.

[HughBeaumont]

101. We have Universal Health Care?

That's news to me. Last I checked, this ain't Sweden we're living in. UhMerican health care is just as for-profit, counterproductive and Giant Insurance Conglomerate-friendly as ever.

[Jamaal510]

154. Believe it or not,

I've heard some on this forum saying that Obama is actually further right than Reagan. I'm not kidding--the same Reagan who created the Welfare Queen myth and trickle-down economics.

[IrishAyes]

166. And when you hear them spew such offal

You know where they're really from.

[Renew Deal]

103. The tweet was wrong

It's not just RWNJ's

[dorkzilla]

8. He is one helluva sexy man! Intelligent, confident and all-around decent guy.

Every time I see him with his wife, I smile from ear to ear. I'm jealous as all hell--after 2 divorces I know I'll never have that with anyone. I'm so happy when I see couples that have that magical quality.

[Whisp]

24. :) makes me happy to see them too.

I love the whole family of them. We are fortunate to have them on our side.

The idiot belly achin' whiners and their hate for him and yet call themselves progressive or whatever, can go to freaking hell. Some of them sound as whacked out and crazy as any teabaggin' fleabag out there.

[dorkzilla]

32. I agree 100000000%!

Im sick of hearing it. No the man isn't perfect. Yes I feel anxiety about Gitmo and drones. But I'm much happier continuing to hear "President Obama" than "President Romney". But even with the naysayers on our side, the Rethugs are disgusting about him. Actually they're just plain disgusting.


What really grinds my gears is how they go after Michelle, calling her "Marie Antoinette". Those same people were gushing about Ann "I love you womeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen" Romney with her Olympic horsey, multiple cars and a singular hate for "you people".

[Jamaal510]

156. Hmm...I didn't know

the wingnuts call Michelle "Marie Antoinette". I don't even get why they're hating on her, too--all she is is a first lady, not the president.

[Isoldeblue]

158. Wanting a bouncy, teen-age cheerleader

as their first lady, speaks volumes of the neo-con mentality..........

That's all I gotta say.

[sheshe2]

172. Teen-age cheerleader?

First Lady Michelle Obama Recipient of The “Health Advocate Achievement Award”

http://www.operationfitness.com/first-lady-michelle-obama-recipient-of-the-health-advocate-achievement-award/

After a year as First Lady, she undertook her first lead role in an administration wide initiative. Her goal was to make progress in reversing the 21st century trend of childhood obesity. She stated that her goal is to make this effort her legacy: "I want to leave something behind that we can say, ‘Because of this time that this person spent here, this thing has changed.’ And my hope is that that’s going to be in the area of childhood obesity."She has named the movement "Let's Move"

As First Lady she also supports military families, helps working women balance their careers and families, encourages national service, promotes the arts and arts education, and fosters healthy eating and healthy living for children and families across the country. Additionally, she has earned widespread publicity on the topic of healthy eating by planting the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt served as First Lady.

http://libguides.library.ncat.edu/content.php?pid=321603&sid=2643801

Does, childhood obesity, a call to national service, helping working women and supporting military families interest you at all? IMHO it does not.

Why do you dislike The First Lady so much? You obviously do not know what she has accomplished.

Disagree with the President's policies if you will, you won't give him credit for anything anyway. Calling the First Lady a teenage cheer leader is low. It is something we expect from Fox Snooze, not DU!

And that is all I have to say!

[Isoldeblue]

180. I said the NEO-CONS wanted a teen-age cheerleader - meaning

the very saccharine, Ann Romney! Not Michell Obama! I adore and admire her, sheshe!! I was responding to Dorkzilla's comment, adding to it.

Everything you said about Michelle, I know and totally agree with.

[Isoldeblue]

181. PS SheShe -

This is how I feel about President Obama..... http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2868436|

[sheshe2]

182. Thanks Isoldeblue~

So sorry. sheshe

[Isoldeblue]

185. No problem, sheshe

Just hope you realize I didn't mean Michelle was a teen-age cheerleader, like I think Ann is.

[sheshe2]

47. Sweet~

dorkzilla.

[dorkzilla]

56. That's the stuff that makes me so deliriously happy to see

They're adorable, and what makes it even more sweet is that they struggled in their marriage for a time and were able to overcome it and make their marriage stronger. Their affection for each other, their mutual respect and love comes from a place that has known sorrow right alongside the joy. Plus I love that they both came from nothing and achieved so much together.

Yes, I am a gushing fan of the Obamas!

Thanks, she she

[sheshe2]

60. That's OK, dorkzilla.

I love to see such love and joy in the White House.

Sooo much better than the Stepford wife and the clown she married!

[dorkzilla]

82. I love you womeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!! LOL n/t

[Life Long Dem]

11. Is anyone here on DU sweating the so called scandals?

Either is Obama and I think we all see that.

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. Most of us aren't, but there's a minority who keep pushing them, but that's not new here.

In the real world, apparently, people aren't paying as much attention as the president's detractors would like. This is inside the beltway, political junkie stuff that workaday people just don't have time for.

[patrice]

12. He's looking just a little emotional when the honors' sash is being put on him. I wish his

mom and dad, and grandma and grandpa were here to see this.

[madokie]

36. Don't you just know it

There would be some very very proud, parents and grandparents

[Ishoutandscream2]

13. Don't know how he does it

I would be challenging some of these right wing assholes to "let's take it outside."

[sad-cafe]

23. so awesome

a great man

[Spitfire of ATJ]

42. This is what life is like when you ignore the 24/7 bloviating on Cable News.

[ErikJ]

45. RWNJ would say "Look how ARROGANT he is acting". Translation-UPPITY.

[sheshe2]

50. That last picture, bigtree?

He's saying bring it on.

They can huff and puff all they want however~

[IrishAyes]

167. That's almost my favorite picture

And you and Cha and others have given me so many. Thank you!

[Skittles]

54. he is a cutie pie

his ears are very endearing

[Cha]

67. Yeah, I think it was Jon Karl who was

"visibly distressed and shaken" today. But, I won't post his pic and ruin this thread. rofl

And, gave an Awesome Address..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1102&pid=9965

Mahalo bigtree!

[kentuck]

69. I'm not comfortable with that much worship ...

...of a politician...any politician.

[Tarheel_Dem]

88. Then you were free to bypass this thread, but you didn't. Few people who've....

contributed to this conversation really give a crap about what you're "comfortable with".

[kentuck]

99. Silence is consent...

...and I don't consent. I'm just not into idolatry. Sorry.

[Tarheel_Dem]

108. Like I said, no one cares!

[kentuck]

136. How in the hell do you know that "no one cares"??

You got tea leaves??

[Tarheel_Dem]

139. "You got tea leaves??"

Nope, but I'll bet you got plenty. "Tea" leaves.

[Tarheel_Dem]

142. Lifelong, 4th generation Dem. I will always support the Dem President despite the machinations....

of folks like you. I will always be a Democrat. I will never entertain any 3rd party loser bullshit. The only danger you pose is, perhaps, chipping a nail on your keyboard as you type insults about supporters of the president and the Democratic Party. But hey, different strokes for different folks.

[IrishAyes]

170. You're soooo above us, maybe we should idolize you instead?

Nobody does. That's the burr under your saddle!

[freshwest]

71. Too bad for those soulless RWNJs who try to take him down. EPIC FAIL for the haters, always.

[Uzair]

72. Are you sure you want to be calling him handsome?

I've been told that that's a no-no. That would be making a statement about his physical appearance, and that's wrong, or something...

[bigtree]

80. having a pleasing and usually impressive or dignified appearance

. . . all important and useful traits which translate into political action in his very public-oriented job.

[Bucky]

73. Enjoying the moment involves leaving it at the office.

platitudes=wisdom

[GeorgeGist]

92. Snort

Definition of PLATITUDE

1
: the quality or state of being dull or insipid
2
: a banal, trite, or stale remark

[Number23]

78. K&R for my grandfather. A Morehouse grad who was a Morehouse Man until the day he passed

And he met granny across the road at Spelman.

[Tarheel_Dem]

89. +1

[Number23]

90. My girl!

[olivelove]

81. Exactly.

Obama should be more like Kim Jun Un.

[FrenchieCat]

83. His speech was great today! And he was funny as all hell!

He said...(paraphrasing)....
Some of you are graduating Cum Laude
Some of you are graduating Magna Cum Laude
and some of you are graduating thank-um theLaudie!

LOL!

[hue]

85. This is why they hate Him!! K&R!!

[SoCalDem]

94. The sad thing is that he has a;ready been "taken down"

at least in the eyes of millions of people who never bothered to think about what could have been...what should have been

To those people he (and truthfully, ANY democrat) is just a place-holder until a "rightfully eligible" republican can again take the reins of power.

Media has managed to convince enough people that republican leadership is the default position, and any deviation from it is only worthwhile as long as it takes to re-fill the government coffers.

[Puzzledtraveller]

96. I look like that everyday

[Rex]

98. It pisses off all the Right people, so he must be doing it right!

nt.

[Zorra]

102. oooh, he's dreeeamy!!!

[Bobbie Jo]

104. New material.

Get some.

[Phlem]

105. I could say the same for

how did one of you fans put it........ ya'll.



-p

[Bobbie Jo]

107. Press 1 for English.

1

What?

[Phlem]

111. Really?

Can't follow?

Not surprised.



-p

[Bobbie Jo]

115. btw....

It's "y'all."

Make a note of it.

[Phlem]

117. Why am I not surprised you'd understand that.

-p

[Bobbie Jo]

122. What? Understand your posts?

Truly, WTF?

You're not very good at this.

[Phlem]

132. riiiiight

cause your a pro.



-p

[Bobbie Jo]

134. btw...

It's "you're" a pro.

Make a note of it.

[IrishAyes]

168. Arrogant blowhard you are, convinced of your own superiority to everybody - ugh!

[Zorra]

133. Oh, but truth is eternal! Good grief, the leader worship here is really embarrassing.

Seriously, the teenage like googoo eyed fawning over this mere human being is bizarre.

He's just...a man! That's all. Really! It's true!

Believe it or not, the President takes a stinky dirty shit and wipes his ass just like you do almost every day! (Lol! I wonder if someone will alert on me because they find it heretical that I deign to point out that the President is actually subject to mere human bodily functions.)

Yeah, the guy is OK, he's a far cry from an FDR, but well, he's what we got, and he is certainly way better than any republican.

[Bobbie Jo]

137. Exaggerate much?

Stay Classy!

[Zorra]

155. lol...I don't know; that's relative and a matter of opinion, I suppose.

As for classy, I assure you, my manifestations of grace, style, and sophistication are thoughtfully calculated to be completely appropriate according to the needs of the moment.

[Bobbie Jo]

157. lol

indeed.

[Phlem]

106. That's all it takes to be a politician don't cha know.

Swoon! Swoon!

C'mon get with the program!

Swoon! Swoon!

-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

109. 125 of us did "get with the program". Hey Phlem!

I agree with Rex upthread, when he said re: Pres. Obama - "he pisses off all the right people".

[Tarheel_Dem]

124. Go on admit it. It pisses you off that people on this board actually like our Democratic Prez.....

don't it?

[Phlem]

128. Wow, just wow.

Listen chief, I like him too but there's a big difference between that and idolizing him, get it? He's a politician not the second coming and he's made some pretty hazardous remarks and choices.

But hey, let's make a statue of him and cal him ALLAH!



-p

[IrishAyes]

169. Do you damn with faint praise everyone you allegedly 'like'? Or just PBO?

[Number23]

176. You are exceptionally well named.

[Number23]

175. Don't you love the people who hate this thread so much they just HAVE to post in it??

And not just once. Over and over and over and over again.

I mean there has got to be something for these people to take to overcome what's ailing them, ain't it?

What is the cure for drinking five bottles of Haterade each and every goddamned day?

[Tarheel_Dem]

179. +1. ODS is a real affliction, and you appear to have found a prescription for it.

At this point, much like the president, I live to piss off the haters.

[bigtree]

114. It's amazing how completely obtuse you are to the import of the actual event

Last edited Mon May 20, 2013, 02:11 PM - Edit history (1)

. . . take issue with the comments in this thread, if that's your bag, but this event was very meaningful for the participants at Morehouse. So very manipulative to focus on someone's affinity for Barack Obama, as if to insist that their own perspective and opinion is as narrow as your invented and inflammatory portrayal.

Did you miss that this is a graduation event at Morehouse? Maybe folks here can be afforded some room to express their affinity for this President and to express their pride and admiration in seeing this President at this notable event without being subjected to your bitter and cynical politics?

I guess not. What an appropriate handle.

[Bobbie Jo]

118. This.

The mindless spewing in this thread is beyond pathetic.

Typical of this crowd, sadly.

[Phlem]

120. I guess that response works both ways huh.

The mindless spewing in this thread is beyond pathetic.

Typical of this crowd, sadly.



-p

[Bobbie Jo]

125. No

Actually it doesn't.

The posse that hijacked this thread stick out like a sore thumb.

Own it, you earned it fair and square.

[Phlem]

129. ooo, OK

I'll own it that ought to fix things wonderfully.

-p

[Phlem]

119. Oh my! Did I get Bigtree's attention ?

Hypocrite :'urging the young men to avoid the temptation to make excuses'



OOOOO are you trying to insinuate that I match my handle name or something to the extent of an insult?

I'm going to tell mom!

-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

126. +1. That folks, is what's commonly known as a smackdown of EPIC proportions.

[Phlem]

131. and yet here I am.

Totally epic, so epic he removed it.





-p

[Tarheel_Dem]

135. But not before we all got a chance to savor it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

184. +1 n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

112. Good pols, rather experienced pols, smile

The momemt a lens comes up.

It has nothing to do with relaxed and all to do with experience.

[bigtree]

121. oh, don't try to sell that here

. . .we've seen this President in MANY situations. This is his persona.
There isn't any knowledgeable narrative that would contradict what we've all witnessed for these many years. I'm surprised that you're compelled to come onto this thread and dismiss this notion. I'm more amazed that you seem willing to dispute it.

[Phlem]

130. Exactly!

He doesn't care for SS changes therefore he'll promote it cause he's playing 13 dimensional chess and us unwashed just don't get it?
that's just 1.

History seems to be non existent in this thread.

-p

[nadinbrzezinski]

141. Lemme see... I photograph pols regularly

I have like seen this. Like regularly

The current mayor of San Diego is like a prime example. He's been in the game 30+ years, starting with the school board, and a twenty+ year stint in Congress. He sees a camera, let alone many...smile comes up...he is good.

New pol, running for a seat at the Council, first run for political office, like ever...she's told that by her manager regularly. Smile! We at times even wait before pressing the shutter.

Hell, yesterday I was talking to a campaign manager, who's done this for a couple decades. This is one skill they teach....lens comes up....smile. It is in fact, a hard skill to learn.

This is completely separate from policy, but an important skill to master. Some pols, see Bilbray, never learnt it. Damn, I got the best photo of him the night he lost his seat.

For the record, I prefer a smiling pol, who is somewhat animated, they are far easier to photograph, and look far more relaxed.

[bigtree]

144. but, we're not relying on photos alone to make that judgment

I'm really not sure what the standard is for judging this President's character and persona, but we have many, many anecdotal accounts which describe him in many of these same terms. After all, it's this public face which makes up a great deal of his influence, acceptability, and ability to communicate his initiatives and intentions effectively. In effect, his public face - contrived or not - is the relevant one. All indications are, that, we're seeing the real Obama in images such as this. We also have a video to make those judgments. I'm not sure what else he'd need to do to convince someone that he's as calm and relaxed as he appears. I'm not sure that even matters. He has those attributes where and when it counts, according to what we've learned over the years of his time in public office and before, even.

You're a reporter. Show me something other than opinion which contradicts this impression of himself that he's conveying at this event. It's not convincing enough to just express cynicism. show me some account which contradicts these impressions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

146. I am talking of the photos

You can add whatever you want to the context.

Pols, good pols, smile and look relaxed regardless of circumstances. That's a fact jack. Why smiling pols in a photo no longer impress me, regardless of party.

I just made a statement of fact, do with it whatever you wish to do.

Have a good day

[bigtree]

148. but dear, this event is represented by more than just photos

. . .it makes no sense at all to debate generalities on this thread. Talk about the actual event. Talk about his demeanor. It's not as if we haven't seen numerous politicians who couldn't project much more than contempt, no matter what they endeavored.

The sky appeared blue: Fact.

That has as much to do with the president's overall demeanor and his demeanor at this event as anything you're trying to convey here.

[nadinbrzezinski]

149. What I am saying is that a good pol

Clinton is also a good example of that, will do that in front of a lens.

I will tell you one pol, at a national level, who never learned, Nixon.

I will tell you another one who was great, Reagan.

You want another who never did, Chenney.

Locally we have to coach one in the local board of supervisors, I swear, cardboard look better in front of a lens.

This is independent of politics or policy. A good pol will do that...a bad one, or fair one, not so much. It's a skill.

And yes, some of us are beyond cynical once we learn how the sausage is actually made.

[bigtree]

151. I think it's mostly irrelevant to what we should expect from this president

. . . that his relaxed persona is a put on or eternally genuine. It does matter how he conducts himself; both politically and substantively. It does make a difference in the nature and result of his presidency, whether he's able to convey confidence and the like.

I'm still wondering what there could be, that's so relevant, which would contradict this impression? For all intents and purposes of this presidency, this looks to be his operating mode. What more could we want in a presidential persona? It is 'politics,' after all. He's still challenged to build coalitions of support within and without the democratic system. Cynicism's fine and necessary, but it's a curious thing to reject the overall character of this presidency which has been on display and has served to characterize the actual politics surrounding the office, and substitute something less evident and speculative, instead.

[nadinbrzezinski]

153. I just don't put any stock on photos of smiling pols

Anymore. Period.

They have nothing to do with policy, one iota.

[kentuck]

138. The cult of personality..

is for stupid people.

[Bobbie Jo]

150. The repeated use of the tired, misapplied phrase

"cult of personality"

is for stupid people.

[geek tragedy]

143. AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service

At Mon May 20, 2013, 01:14 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

That's just wrong to look so effortlessly relaxed, happy & handsome
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022867458

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Shit stirring. With us or against us. No room for disagreement or debate.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon May 20, 2013, 01:23 PM, and the Jury voted 0-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Unless I'm missing something really, really subtle, this alert ranks pretty high on the list of "shit you didn't get." This is from a website that supports the president.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Without resorting to name-calling, this alert is vapid.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Is this a joke? This post should be recommended.

Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: The alerter is almost certainly a troll. This is without a doubt the single worst alert I've ever been on a jury for.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

Someone deservedly lost their alerting privileges for 24 hours.

[bigtree]

145. that's weird, the comment was directed at the rw

. . . and it's a hoot that someone would feel threatened by a declaration of his sunny disposition and the rights' antipathy toward all of that.

[geek tragedy]

147. Throw a rock into a pack of dogs, and the one that yelps

is the one that got hit.

[Tarheel_Dem]

159. Ding! Ding! Ding! If you read upthread, there's a comment that's worded pretty much like the alert.

I won't point it out, but I would be astonished if it were a different poster.

[Number23]

177. I hope whoever sent that gets shown the damn door. Sick of the haters thinking they own the joint

[IrishAyes]

161. I agree!

How dare he??? What's he done for ME lately?

Wait... I can't count that high.

[IrishAyes]

171. Hey, Everybody!

I consider mail from decent correspondents private, but when a jerk uses it to snarl at me, I post it in public for all to see! (as if you didn't know phlegm's attitude anyway) Question: does derogatory mail get the writer busted for anything? Skinner???

Here's what phlem (who can't even spel that wurd rit) wrote to me:
...........................................................................

Phlem
Usually there's a report filed for this blatant breach of the rules.

As what happened to me. I guess your better than me.

Cheers.
........................................................................................

Kick little old ladies like IA in the shins, buster, and I kick back.

[Blue_Tires]

183. I'm jealous...

For my graduation I had to make do with Oprah Winfrey...