Sorry, this makes me ill:Obama drives the golf cart, Boehner sinks the putt

[n2doc]

Instead of fiddling while Rome burns, we Golf while the world and America burn

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/17/national/w141658D33.DTL&tsp=1

[Whisp]

1. not sure what you mean?

that Obama shouldn't be playing golf because there is stuff to do? That applied to Bush because we knew he was a lazy fucking good for nothing bastard. Obama is not that - he works hard and can do more than one thing at a time.

why aren't you out there saving the world instead of sitting on a chair and clicking keys?

[yahoo yahoo]

3. Uh...wow...

Again, nice language.

Maybe the OP is a bit distressed that this man who supposedly is blocking Obama's agenda (which doesn't explain the first two years with Dem-controlled Pelosi-led House and Senate) is teeing up with him? I dunno. In any case, so if Dubya sat around eating pork rinds for a month then Obama should follow suit?

[Whisp]

9. I have no idea what you mean.

or the OP actually.

I took it that the OP was saying Obama was shrugging his 'duties' and having a good time while the world burns. That is ridiculous rubbish.

And the fact he is golfing with the arch enemy is nothing to get all strained about. Remember Obama is a negotiator, an adult, not a screaming All or Nothing kind of dude

[yahoo yahoo]

11. What I meant is that I am not surprised that he plays golf with Boner

any more than I am that Clinton hangs with Bush Sr. It's all one thang and it ain't a good thang. I never fell for the okeydoke that "those blasted Repubes are blocking our agenda!" when I know damn well that the Dems had two years with a majority to get things done (or at least die trying). Rigged game, pro-wresting, yada yada...

[patrice]

16. "... two years with a majority ..." is an absurd oversimplification of U.S. political dynamics. nt

[lumpy]

27. Hear hear

v

[yahoo yahoo]

28. I know, I know...

just give it time...:eyes:

[patrice]

36. I do not agree with most statements that begin with "just" anything.

Mis-characterization appears questionable, at least, if not outright suspicious.

Why would someone who refers to the nearly infinite complexity of our political dynamic say "just" anything?

[GSLevel9]

34. lol... EXCUSES!!!!! nt

[Whisp]

19. Clinton and Poppy, - Obama and Boner. not even remotely close

as a comparison.

but have your fun anyway

[RZM]

22. What's wrong with Clinton and H-Dub raising money together for disaster relief?

They did good work on the Tsunami. I support that 100 percent.

[yahoo yahoo]

29. Read up on that a bit, my friend. n/t

[lunatica]

35. So you signed up at DU for this?

Bashing Obama?

[Arkana]

49. I think you ought to take a closer look at the politics

of each of the individual members of that so-called "majority".

[patrice]

Would you care to be more specific about "nice language"?

And after you do that, could you please justify what appears to be a false dichotomy, especially in your last sentence?

You need to demonstrate that you know enough of all of the most ESSENTIAL details of ALL of the issues and situations that what appears to be regressive, read that "6-year-old" logic, is justified.

[Hosnon]

6. Agreed. I greatly respect the OP, but have one question:

Why isn't he at work?

[n2doc]

23. I'm not the President

In case you haven't heard. We are in a major debt ceiling crisis. Past the point where we have to do 'extraordinary things' to keep from defaulting. A crisis brought on by Boehner. Boehner has also stated that his desire is to keep anything that might help America recover from passing, until after Obama has presumably been defeated in 2012. This is not a man I would spend 5 minutes with socially. It makes me ill.

No matter how much Obama works, he cannot raise the debt limit, nor pass stimulus bills, nor anything else requiring money, by himself. What he can do is use his position to bring pressure, at all times, on the Repubs. All this sort of chum-chum display means, to me, is a rubbing of our collective faces in the fact that there really isn't much difference between the parties anymore, just squabbling over how gets to hand out the crumbs to us peons. And the gold bars to their benefactors.

[Whisp]

25. good thing you aren't President, I certainly agree.

It is time we had a mature adult in office tho, don't you agree? What do you want Obama to do, spurn the Pugs publicly (and he does do that, but in his way where they aren't sure whether to be insulted or not - thats the way its to be done) like a high school fight?

I see him as negotiating with the enemy - and you have to be calm to do that you don't charge at them screaming filthy names like you would do. If you haven't figured out Obama's character by now I don't think you will ever get it. He will never be a fist pounding spittle spewing kind of guy. I guess we are so marinated in that kind of chucky cheese norris 'hero' from our shit tv and media that maybe he does appear 'wimpy' because of that.

Shame that.

[n2doc]

33. I agree he is a "Very Serious Person"

Just like Geithner, Paulson, Alan Greenspan, Paul Ryan, and the rest of the people I have seen described as "adults" among children.

He ain't 'negotiating'. It's clear from the article that "no deals will come from this" Go ahead and live your fantasy if you wish, about political opponents suddenly singing kumbya because they played a round of golf. This isn't the first time Obama has done one of these chummy things with his sworn enemies, and nothing ever comes from it.

I would personally like for Obama to call out the repubs on their deceptions, lies, obstinacy, etc., etc. And do it until even the dimmest bulb knows who is responsible for the lack of progress in this country. But that isn't his style.

[graywarrior]

40. !

:thumbsup:

[MH1]

39. I see it as a chance for Obama and Boehner to humanize their relationship

so that maybe they can come to an agreement that gets the debt ceiling raised. The question is how much each gives away in the process. Who is the better schmoozer? We'll find out. But in any case it seems that schmoozing is necessary here, and golf is a good way to do that. (Why do you think business people play so much golf??)

So to complain about this event seems silly. I am sure all four of these guys have 'work' objectives they are trying to further while they are 'playing'.

[Bladian]

2. It's a game of golf, it's really not a big deal

I promise you. This isn't some giant conspiracy, nor is the present slacking off and sitting on his ass. He's playing a game of golf, which takes what, a few hours? It will be okay.

[yahoo yahoo]

5. Will it be okay for the victims of all our drone attacks?

[Bladian]

14. Was directed at the OP

Don't put words in my mouth. Thank you.

[yahoo yahoo]

15. "It will be OKAY." YOUR WORDS.

And NO, it will not be "okay" for people in Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq (if they are still active there) dropping bombs on "targets" which miss and hit the populace. I cannot imagine their terror.

[Bladian]

17. To the OP. Are you blind or just have selective vision?

[yahoo yahoo]

20. Yes, but you were saying that the OP should just chill, it'll "be okay"

and we're saying it won't!

[RZM]

24. What does that have to do with it?

People in the sights of the drones don't give a shit who is playing golf in the US. It's even less relevant seeing as both Obama and Boehner seem to be in agreement on that aspect of US military policy. You'd have something if the golf was interrupting some high-level discussions on a policy shift. But it isn't.

You might as well wonder how this affects people who are baking chocolate chip cookies right now. They don't care who plays golf either.

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. It's just the governance of the free world. Not a big deal at all. n/t

[Hosnon]

4. No one should be expected to work 100% of the time.

Leisure activities overall are beneficial.

Besides, this outing was probably more work than pleasure.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. "more work than pleasure"

Have to agree with you there.... yuck

[somone]

7. They'll split the difference, and America takes another lurch to the right

[Morning Dew]

10. Driving Mr. Crazy

[murielm99]

31. I don't like the symbolism there, either.

The black man driving the white man around. It makes me uncomfortable.

[Morning Dew]

32. I thought it was an ugly headline too.

That's why I called attention to it.

Makes ya wonder why they wrote it that way.

[spanone]

12. president's get a day off and i would consider this extra pay duty

[Gman]

13. You really have time to talk and get to know someone for 4 hours

in a golf cart on the course. I think this is great. It gives Obama a chance to "work" Boehner. OTOH, he probably thinks the same thing. I don't think either one is really going to change the other's mind about anything. Bottom line though is Boehner is the one between a rock and the hard place that is the batshit crazy right wing.

[MH1]

41. I think you're exactly right and it seems obvious to me that's what this is about.

[Gman]

47. Only a golfer understands that

[MH1]

48. Actually I'm not a golfer, just been working in the business world for awhile.

I've played golf (badly) a couple times because it seemed like I should, and I can see why the game is useful this way. But nah, I'm a programmer and I work for a corporation, so unless and until I decide to go into business for myself, not a golfer. :)

I don't think one has to BE a golfer, just be open-minded and have some sense about how business and politics work, and think for a second about what golfing entails, to understand it.

[Scuba]

21. Hey, I get along great with the rightest wing neighbor I have....

...the lib lady down the block, not so much.

[Rex]

26. Hey at least Obama was smart enough to drive and not let the drunk

drive. Smart man.

[GoCubsGo]

46. Exactly. And, to look at it in another way...

He's driving. He's the one in control. I personally think he's driving because it's one of the few times he can. Some people just like to drive.

[Ernesto]

30. "Driving Ms. Lazy" nt

[patrice]

37. hee! hee! hee! . . .

:hi:

[Motown_Johnny]

38. n2doc, you need to take up golf

seriously

[monmouth]

42. Wow, gawd forbid two guys get together on a Saturday to play

a game of golf. Such drama!

[CakeGrrl]

45. Yes, it's all just about thumbing their noses at the little folk.

:sarcasm:

Never mind that nothing gets done without breaking Republican obstruction, and that some attempt needs to be made. It's as if no one has heard of the idea of negotiating over a game of golf or any other pastime.

[Warren DeMontague]

43. It's an opportunity to make the pasty orange man look like even more of a dork

win-win.

[FLPanhandle]

44. I, for one, am glad he's out golfing with his opponent

Politics, especially in Washington, is all about getting agreements, making deals, and building alliances.

4-5 hours in a golf cart with your opponent is a much better way to make a deal than screaming rhetoric at each other in the papers.

It's the mark of an effective politician.