President's "whose ass to kick" comment have some worried about "excessive bravado"

[ProSense]

KICK-ASS CONTEXT....

I've seen some mild criticism of President Obama this morning, from those wondering if the "whose ass to kick" line on the "Today" show was excessive bravado. Adam Serwer noted, for example, that Americans are "not going to be happier because the president has pulled out his Bruce Willis impression."

That's hardly an unreasonable take. The president doesn't usually speak this way, and as Atrios explained, a "return to Bush-era fake bluster" would be annoying.

But it's probably worth noting the context of the exchange, because the president's choice of words was a direct reflection of the question. Here's the Q&A:

LAUER: Critics are now talking about your style, which is the first time I've heard that in a long time. They're saying here is a guy who likes to be known as cool and calm and collected, and this isn't the time for cool, calm and collected. This is not the time to meet with experts and advisers; this is a time to spend more time in the Gulf and -- I never thought I'd say this to a president -- but kick some butt. And I don't mean it to be funny.

OBAMA: No, and I understand. And here's what -- I'm going to push back hard on this. Because I think that this is a -- just an idea that got in folks heads, and the media's run with it. I was down there a month ago, before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the Gulf. A month ago I was meeting with fishermen down there, standing in the rain talking about what a potential crisis this could be. And I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know whose ass to kick.

The "whose ass to kick" line wasn't just some scripted attempt to sound tough. Lauer pushed the notion that the president shouldn't meet with experts; he should "kick some butt." Obama responded that he meets with people who know what they're talking about so he'd know "whose ass to kick."

In this context, the president really was just responding to the basis of the question, not trying to sound like an action hero with overwrought bravado.

This is why the President should be himself, and his response was typical Obama.

[phleshdef]

1. This also illustrates the standard policy of overanalyzing Pres. Obama on everything.

[Jennicut]

2. Didn't some of us predict this? I hate the media.

[prolesunited]

35. Me. Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=325280&mesg_id=325297

Close enough

[rudy23]

3. I'm more worried that all the asses he should be kicking are in his circle.

We want to see leadership, whatever style suits him best. We're getting none of it, because Obama is seriously compromised on this issue. We're seeing it with our own eyes, and it's sickening.

[babylonsister]

5. BIG yawn.

You obviously are seeing something entirely different than I am.

[ProSense]

6. " We're getting none of it, because Obama is seriously compromised on this issue."

Since you believe the President is "seriously compromised," I don't really understand how or why you're waiting for leadership from him?

[rudy23]

9. You got me. I don't really know either. nt

[Cha]

10. No he's not.. You're wrong.

[phleshdef]

13. Yea we get it. Instead of focusing on the immediate problem, you want political blood sport.

You want to see people you deem as inappropriate for certain positions get punished for not living up to your standards. You want to see the President turn this into an opportunity to take out all YOUR aggression on people you don't like. Whether or not these people are doing exactly what they should do in response to the current crisis doesn't matter, whether or not it would even be reasonable to take the time to fire a bunch of people, vet and hire new people and/or renominate new people and get them through Senate approval in the middle of dealing with a serious environmental crisis isn't a consideration you are interested in. You want vengeance and you want it now. You have your enemy and its called the Corporatist, and anyone that doesn't live up to your strict standards of what you consider liberalism gets to be boxed into that categorical enemy. And you want the President to abandon all reason, forget about focusing on the large crisis at hand and entertain you with petty pink slipping every advisor and cabinet member that falls short of your lofty standards of who should be able to hold an important position in the federal government.

This is why I'm glad Barack Obama is President and why you and many others like you, are not.

[rudy23]

15. We are already bleeding down here. Maybe you don't get it. His circle is the problem.

It doesn't have to be bloody. I'd take a calm announcement of Ken Salazar's dismissal any day of the week.

[phleshdef]

17. All Salazar related criticisms aside, what exactly would firing him do to help the current response?

Making you feel like you got some vengeance by the way, doesn't count as an answer.

[rudy23]

34. Replacing him with someone who takes oversight seriously would make all the difference in the world

But we all knew the score when he was appointed.

[phleshdef]

40. Considering that overall drilling permits have decreased 90% under Salazar...

...and that he began an ethics overhaul of his department the day he began working, I wouldn't say that he doesn't take oversight seriously. The systemic problems in many government agencies that have wracked up over the years go far beyond Salazar. Salazar isn't the problem and in no reasonable world, should he have been EXPECTED to have had enough time to cover all the needed solutions.

There are valid criticisms of Salazar but they seem to come without mention of all the good work he actually has done.

[CBGLuthier]

4. Bring It On!!!

Oh, how I remember the debate when Bush said that stupid thing. Oh wait, no I remember wondering where the FUCK the debate was when Bush said that.

[AtomicKitten]

7. The MSM is Goldilocks. Not Angry Enough. Oh no! Too angry! FFS!! nt

[Cha]

8. I say all the Worry Worts should get together and

have a hand wringing contest.

The prize should be a lifetime supply of valium for their freaking nerves.

[rudy23]

11. Let's see your ancestors' culture get destroyed, and how much of a "Worry Wort" you are then.

Does St. John's make a Worry Wort?

[Cha]

14. The asshole corporatemediawhores are the ones

who are monitoring the President's every utterance and it's too bland or too "bravado"..so yeah they can hold their fucking handwringing contest and see who worries the most about what the President is saying.

[Riverman]

12. Mr. President! Stop being Defensive, Start being a Leader! Grab Hold

of this rare opportunity. Screw all the god damn critics. Stop complaining about all the shiot that has hit your administration. to be expected after thirty years of the "free market" freely being allowed to crap all over our lives, labor, the environment, our homes, neighborhoods, schools, degrulating every damn institution of government and even then filling the wacth dog federal departments with industry insiders, creatins and outright crimminals. ENOUGH!

Grab your balls and walk into the fire! Simply: DO THE RIGHT THING!

[Cha]

16. He's not being "defensive" and he has more brass than

all of the cheap shots on the internet put together..and then some.

[Jennicut]

18. And why are "having balls" accociated with being tough anyway?

That saying has always bothered me for some reason.

[Cha]

21. I know..that's why I didn't answer him

back in kind.

[lyonn]

31. Also, how about brains vs. balls?

It seems that is Obama's goal - to do the right things not just impress the press.

Rage is easy to display, what is harder is to seek ideas from all inteligent sources when you have a massive problem.

So far, Obama has had an unbelievable amount of major problems to solve.....more than I can remember in my 70 plus years.

[Riverman]

51. Robert Reich said it way better than me! Take Charge Mr. President

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/when-everything-seems-out_b_604425.html

No blame, no balls (sorry for the sexist reference), simply take command. Mr. Obama has the brains and the courage, and knows of what he spoke "The Fierce Urgency of Now!" It is the moment that he has the opportunity to grab hold of and make the change we all supported him to make.

[ProSense]

24. The media critics don't care about leadership,

they only care about complaining and spinning. The President made it clear in the interview that his adminstration mounted a strong response.

"This is the largest federal response to an environmental disaster in history," he said. "From day one we understood that this was going to be a major disaster. We have put unprecedented resources to deal with it."

The American people are "understandably frustrated," he said, which they "have every right to be." But they should be aware, he emphasized, that the federal government has evaluated every idea offered about how to stem the flow of oil.

"If it was going to work we would have done it," he said.

link

[muffin1]

19. It's about frigging time he got pissed - or showed that he is pissed.

I hope like hell he stays pissed. I have a feeling he may apologize for the comment. Hope I'm wrong.

[Lerkfish]

25. true that. However, I don't understand why he doesn't understand which asses to kick

its painfully obvious.

[muffin1]

30. True that, right back atcha!

I'm sure we could provide a few names...

Good to see you!:hi:

[Cha]

26. "apologize"..

Ha..why would he?

Everybody's been pissed as you say about BP's fucking oil spill. Some go off the deep end and scream and shout their stupid head off like carville and matalin(when they're not going to rush limpbaugh's wedding that is).

And, others like the President get busy and get things DONE.

RESPONSE SINCE DAY ONE

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Since the moments after the oil rig explosion on the night of April 20, DHS has played a lead role in federal response efforts—deploying the U.S. Coast Guard to search and rescue the 126 people aboard the rig, and quickly leading efforts to establish a command center on the Gulf Coast to address the potential environmental impact of the event and to coordinate with all state and local governments. Secretary Napolitano leads the National Response Team, an organization of 16 federal departments and agencies responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness and response to oil and hazardous substance pollution events.

U.S. Coast Guard
The Coast Guard has played a major role from the very beginning, when it responded to the explosion on a search and rescue mission to save lives. Pursuant to the National Contingency Plan, Rear Admiral Mary Landry was named the Federal On-Scene Coordinator to lead a Regional Response Team which was stood up that included DHS, DOC/NOAA, DOI and the EPA, as well as state and local representatives. As the event escalated, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen was announced as the National Incident Commander for the administration’s continued, coordinated response—providing additional coordinated oversight in leveraging every available resource to respond to the BP oil spill and minimize the associated environmental risks.

Department of the Interior (DOI)
The morning after the explosion, Secretary of the Interior deployed Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes to the Gulf Coast to assist with coordination and response to the event, and provide hourly reports back to the administration. Since then, DOI has played a vital role in overseeing BP’s response efforts while—at the President’s request—working to deliver a report with recommendations on what, if any, additional safety measures should be required for offshore operations. Secretary Salazar has announced that inspections of all deepwater rigs and platforms are underway.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Since the BP Oil Spill, EPA has provided full support to the U.S. Coast Guard and is monitoring and responding to potential public health and environmental concerns. Environmental data, including air quality and water samples, will be posted and frequently updated on this site as it is collected and validated by EPA’s response teams along the impacted coastlines. This data is meant to determine potential risks to public health and the environment: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
As the nation’s leading scientific resource for oil spills, NOAA has been on the scene of the Deepwater Horizon spill from the start, providing coordinated scientific weather and biological response services to federal, state and local organizations: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon
Weather Forecast: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/

Small Business Administration
SBA is making low-interest loans available to small businesses in the Gulf Coast regions of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi suffering financial losses following the April 20 Deepwater BP oil spill that shut down commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are available immediately in designated counties and parishes of each of the four states to help meet the financial needs of qualifying small businesses following the oil spill: http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/

Department of Defense (DOD)
DOD continues to support the ongoing response effort by lending Naval and Air Force bases to provide vital staging areas for boom deployments and other activities, and providing C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Aerial Spray Systems, which dispense chemical dispersant—capable of covering up to 250 acres per flight. DOD also plays a significant role in the National Response Team, helping to lead the coordination of response actions for the federal government. Secretary of Defense Gates has authorized use of Title 32 status for up to 17,500 National Guard members in four states: Alabama (3,000), Florida (2,500), Louisiana (6,000) and Mississippi (6,000).

Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service
The Fish and Wildlife Service continues to support the joint agency response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with experienced specialists, land managers, and support personnel. Booms to capture and deflect anticipated oil are being deployed at Breton National Wildlife Refuge, where thousands of brown pelicans and shorebirds are currently nesting. The Service also is initiating Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration activities in this incident to assess and address the long-term damage to impacted resources: http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill

Department of the Interior’s National Park Service
The National Park Service is focused on human safety and resource protection in eight national parks in the Gulf area. These parks are working to assess resources, collect baseline data, coordinate boom placements, plan for responsible cleanup, install barriers for shore bird and turtle nest protection, and plan for potential park closures, if necessary: http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Oil spill response workers may be exposed to many different chemical, physical, biological, and psychological hazards. These hazards vary depending on the type and location of the oil spill, type and stage of response, degree of coordination between entities involved in response and recovery, and the workers’ specific tasks. Therefore, occupational and environmental hazards need to be identified, assessed, and monitored in each oil spill response: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse

Daily Updates
A chronology of the ongoing administration-wide response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill, beginning on April 20, is available here..


http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill

[muffin1]

28. He just strikes me as the type of person

to think he went 'overboard' by using 'coarse' language. Like I said, I hope he doesn't apologize.

[Cha]

33. No, that's not who the president is ..at all.

[Lerkfish]

44. you know the president personally?

[Cha]

48. I don't have to..basic long time observational

skills are all that's needed to figure that out.

[Lerkfish]

49. your long time observational skills tell you that he without fault in any situation?

completely infallible and whatnot?

I'll pass on your observational skills

[Cha]

54. Anyone has them who actually pays attention and doesn't spend

all their time complaining.

[totodeinhere]

20. Oh come on. Obama had every right to say something like that and I hope he continues to say it.

And I hope he follows through and really does kick some ass. In fact, I hope he kicks hard. Those asses at BP deserve it.

[thereismore]

22. Hahaha. Obama kicks ass. nt

[WorseBeforeBetter]

59. He looked silly saying that. Barack Obama is a lot of things...

but ass-kicker? No.

[mzmolly]

23. Context...

makes all the difference. ;)

[Cha]

27. Yes, it does but the corporatemediawhores excel in

taking things out of context that Democrats say and running with them like the assholes they are.

[pansypoo53219]

29. the gnews

are undemocratic. obama makes them werk. georgee easy jazz hands.

[GreenPartyVoter]

32. After 8 years of pResident Hubris, this seems pretty danged mild.

[GeorgeGist]

36. You may be desperate for a solution ...

if you're down to deciding whose ass to kick.

[Ryano42]

37. excessive bravado?

Right here.

[Xenotime]

46. Yea. Bushie would start shooting cruise missles at the oil spill.

[City Lights]

38. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

I'm so glad I no longer let the toxic corporate media into my home.

[Patsy Stone]

39. It's always something...

If it's not one thing it's another. Just keep doing what you're doing, PO, and don't let the nattering nabobs get you down.

[butterfly77]

41. These mfers really think they can..

dictate what he says and how he says it. Did they tell bush how to talk they may have laughed about it but they didn't tell him or any other Pres how to talk. Like this mfer http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201006080038

[jeanpalmer]

42. Kick some butt was just a different way of saying

"do something." The oil keeps coming up on the beaches, and nothing is being done to stop it. That's what Lauer was referring to. Obama's detached hands-off approach to this disaster and the lack of effective response is what concerns people.

[Seneca]

43. Yet the media splooged in their undies

When Reagan said "Make my day".

Conservative media: the double-standard!

[WI_DEM]

45. he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. The media will attack him

for being too excessive with the mild "ass kicking" comment and then when he's cool and calm they attack him for being detached. He can't win with the MSM.

[izzybeans]

47. last week the same person most likely thought he was too soft. no?

[polichick]

50. Next up: "Republican critics can kiss my ass." Prez B. O. (I hope!) nt

[emulatorloo]

52. Thanks for posting this. Kick and Rec n/t

[Cha]

53. The vulturewhores blow up Obama's answer and

whip out their magnifying glass.

There's got to be some way to bring the mediawhores to their knees besides them giving blowjobs to the gNOp.

[AllentownJake]

55. I'll donate $25 to his DLC candidate of choice

If he kicks Tony Hayward's ass.

[Phx_Dem]

56. The piling on is getting really old. It's like a new fad.

(not from Steve Benen, of course)

:mad:

[SeattleGirl]

57. Oh for fuck sakes! First they whine that he has said enough, hasn't

been "emotional" enough.

Now they are whining because he says he wants to know whose ass to kick. "OMG! It's all false bravado!"

Could someone help me keep my head from spinning off my neck?

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[backscatter712]

58. First, he's unemotional, now he's got too much bravado...

Obama's critics aren't going to be happy no matter what he does.

[besdayz]

60. a

have no problem with it esp given the context...

but just worried that he's already at that point in his presidency where everything he does is second guessed instantly....
he's in a tough jam...nothing he does is right as far as perception.....