Richard Epstein, one of Obama's colleagues at University of Chicago law school and former neighbor in Hyde Park, spoke with Peter Robinson about his experiences working with Barack Obama. The big nugget of information that you can come away with about the president is that you don't want to play poker with him. He's a control freak who maintains vigilant control over his environment, his feelings, and his presentation to the world. Epstein explains this is why Obama will not make even the briefest of remarks without a teleprompter, in spite of his reputation as a great orator.
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Barack Obama
Comments (21)
Interesting interview. I a... (Below threshold)1. Posted by TOhio | April 2, 2009 11:52 AM | Score: 9 (11 votes cast)
Interesting interview. I also think that it is very telling that Epstein says that Obama is strongly dogmatic in his beliefs and will not bend on his left-wing agenda.
Cold, humorless and ruthless - this is the real Obama.
This "moderate, unifier" stuff is all a lie - a David Axelrod created image that doesn't really exist.
1. Posted by TOhio | April 2, 2009 11:52 AM |
Score: 9 (11 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 11:52
2. Posted by Tim | April 2, 2009 11:54 AM | Score: 11 (13 votes cast)
The reason he won't talk without a teleprompter is because he stammers and stutters and sounds like an idiot without it.
2. Posted by Tim | April 2, 2009 11:54 AM |
Score: 11 (13 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 11:54
3. Posted by 914 | April 2, 2009 1:18 PM | Score: 8 (12 votes cast)
He stammers, stutters and sounds like an idiot with a prompter as well.
I guess he is just an idiot.
3. Posted by 914 | April 2, 2009 1:18 PM |
Score: 8 (12 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 13:18
4. Posted by Rance | April 2, 2009 1:36 PM | Score: -21 (23 votes cast)
Epstein may be in the wrong profession.
If he can completely analyze someone's personality after "one or two conversations", he should obviously be in psychiatry.
4. Posted by Rance | April 2, 2009 1:36 PM |
Score: -21 (23 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 13:36
5. Posted by JLawson | April 2, 2009 1:43 PM | Score: 12 (16 votes cast)
Rance -
Colleague, neighbor, played poker with Obama - seems to me he probably spent a fair amount of time with him.
The 'control freak' thing is kind of worrisome, though. How much resistance to his 'control' will be tolerated?
5. Posted by JLawson | April 2, 2009 1:43 PM |
Score: 12 (16 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 13:43
6. Posted by JLawson | April 2, 2009 1:48 PM | Score: 6 (10 votes cast)
Whoops - listening to it, he didn't play poker with Obama. My bad!
6. Posted by JLawson | April 2, 2009 1:48 PM |
Score: 6 (10 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 13:48
7. Posted by apb | April 2, 2009 2:02 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Question is - what created his reputation as an orator? Sure, he's a good reader...though it's annoying to watch his head snap back and forth between 'prompters and ignore everyone in-between.
Obomber as 'orator':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S47sO1TCVmE
7. Posted by apb | April 2, 2009 2:02 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 14:02
8. Posted by WorldCitizen | April 2, 2009 2:11 PM | Score: -7 (15 votes cast)
Yeah, we wouldn't want anyone as president who had a disposition to stay the course no matter what happened. I mean, that would become a point of riducule if I am not mistaken.
8. Posted by WorldCitizen | April 2, 2009 2:11 PM |
Score: -7 (15 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 14:11
9. Posted by GarandFan | April 2, 2009 2:51 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Ya mean to say Obama is an empty suit? What a surprise.
9. Posted by GarandFan | April 2, 2009 2:51 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 14:51
10. Posted by jp2 | April 2, 2009 3:23 PM | Score: -13 (19 votes cast)
I wonder how he won 3/3 debates then? Either way, if this is all you got - (and based on the number of posts, it is) great.
10. Posted by jp2 | April 2, 2009 3:23 PM |
Score: -13 (19 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 15:23
11. Posted by 914 | April 2, 2009 3:25 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
"Journey to the center of Obamas mind"
Do You mean to tell us the teleprompter is making money giving guided tours of Obamas small offiscated diabolically bereft of substance gray matter?
Its a small world after all, its a small world after all
11. Posted by 914 | April 2, 2009 3:25 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 15:25
12. Posted by Fancy Dress | April 2, 2009 3:40 PM | Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
Is that true!!!!!!!!!he is just an idiot.....
12. Posted by Fancy Dress | April 2, 2009 3:40 PM |
Score: 1 (5 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 15:40
13. Posted by Verbal | April 2, 2009 3:55 PM | Score: -12 (14 votes cast)
Meh. Say what you want. It makes no difference to the rest of us who live in a world unfettered by hatred for Obama.
The Bush administration was bankrupt of ideas and corrupt to the core. His disasterous policies have lead us to this economy.
Four years from now, when we're clearly in the midst of a good recovery and alot of good has been done in the world, you dead-enders will still be squawking about how bad a President he is.
The rest of us will be as we are now - embarrassed by your ignorance and hatred. Take a hike, fools.
depp=true
notiz=Take a hike yourself, tool
13. Posted by Verbal | April 2, 2009 3:55 PM |
Score: -12 (14 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 15:55
14. Posted by Jason | April 2, 2009 4:09 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
If you want to undertand Obama, focus on one thing: POWER.
http://www.rightklik.net/
14. Posted by Jason | April 2, 2009 4:09 PM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 16:09
15. Posted by marc | April 2, 2009 4:10 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Verbal - "The Bush administration was bankrupt of ideas and corrupt to the core. His disasterous [sic] policies have lead us to this economy."
You mean like his immigration policy that was offered and mirrored what the dems desired? (and was soundly booed off the legislative map because of public outcry from dems and reps alike.)
You mean like the No Child Left Behind Act that had Ted Kennedy's stamp of approval all over it?
There are more like instances but I'm sure you neither care or sadly - understand.
15. Posted by marc | April 2, 2009 4:10 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 16:10
16. Posted by apb | April 2, 2009 4:22 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Meh. Say what you want. It makes no difference to the rest of us who live in a world unfettered by hatred for Obama.
Unfettered by rational thought and intellect, as well. For disastrous policies, grow a brain and read up on CRA - congratulate Dodd and Frank for their lack of oversight on Fannie and Freddie.
Sounds like you're already living in your private candy-land of unicorns, skittles and rainbows. My guess as to your assertion of recovery is that you're already on the gummint dole, and are looking forward to more largesse.
16. Posted by apb | April 2, 2009 4:22 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 16:22
17. Posted by 914 | April 2, 2009 5:05 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
"I wonder how He won 3/3 debates than"
1.) He was debating an idiot that he outidioted.
2. He is supposedly non white.
3. He had his own teleprompter to answer its own programming You idiot.
17. Posted by 914 | April 2, 2009 5:05 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 17:05
18. Posted by iwogisdead | April 2, 2009 6:12 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
I wonder how he won 3/3 debates then?
Debates? There were no debates. There were song and dance shows, and Barry is great at those.
18. Posted by iwogisdead | April 2, 2009 6:12 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 2, 2009 18:12
19. Posted by stinkindesertguy | April 3, 2009 11:24 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
It would be hard to find a post and (most) comments more devoid of intellectual rigor, moral probity, and simple sense than this one. Nothing illustrates the squalor of the current repuglican ethos than the 'ideas" contained in this post.
19. Posted by stinkindesertguy | April 3, 2009 11:24 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 3, 2009 11:24
20. Posted by Tammy | April 3, 2009 12:52 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
What mind?
20. Posted by Tammy | April 3, 2009 12:52 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 3, 2009 12:52
21. Posted by BBP | April 3, 2009 1:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
.....
21. Posted by BBP | April 3, 2009 1:15 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 3, 2009 13:15