Last night I watched my daughter's favorite new show, "Lie to Me," on Fox, which meant I missed "Lie to America" showing on the other networks at the same time. I caught most of last night's press conference posing as a self-congratulatory photo op later on the cable channels though, and I probably should have called it "Confuse the Heck Out of America with Non-Answers" instead. I particularly liked Lee Cary's description of Obama's convoluted answer about the use of enhanced interrogation techniques at American Thinker.
4. To what lengths will the President go to keep Americans safe from another terrorist attack? Here's the key language that addressed that.
Q...And if part of the United States were under imminent threat, could you envision yourself ever authorizing the use of those enhanced interrogation techniques?
A...ultimately I will be judged as commander in chief on how safe I'm keeping the American people. That's the responsibility I wake up with and it's the responsibility I go to sleep with. And so I will do whatever is required to keep the American people safe. But I am absolutely convinced that the best way I can do that is to make sure that we are not taking short cuts that undermine who we are. And there have been no circumstances during the course of this first 100 days in which I have seen information that would make me second guess the decision that I have made. OK?
Let's see if we heard his answer, or non-answer, correctly.The President will do whatever is required to protect us except authorize the enhanced interrogation techniques that the previous administration used that yielded information that kept Americans safe but were an unnecessary "short cut" to gaining information that could have been gained through other means.
It's not all my fault if that last sentence is hard to follow. It's an inherently circuitous lawyerly route to saying, "It won't be necessary for me to use those techniques to keep us safe. Why? Because I said so."
Update: Mary Katharine has a great roundup report on the presser. And for some funny commentary, check out Jim Treacher (" Thanks, Mr. President, for interrupting primetime to tell me to wash my hands. Hey, has the government taken over Unilever yet?") and Allah Pundit's Twitter pages:
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# Did President Tool really not apologize to NYC for Scare Force One? I thought for sure that'd be his opening statement.
#"How about a simple, "Hey, sorry for momentarily making you think you might have to jump out of skyscrapers again?" Too much to ask?"# "Hey, sorry for scaring the shit out of eight million people. My bad." Something like that.
# "Hey, sorry for using Air Force One to re-create 9/11. Mix-up at the office." Good enough!
# If I'd been in Manhattan the other day, I totally would have barfed from fear but then forgiven him when he said he was furious or whatever
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Filed under:
Barack Obama, Media, Obama Worship, War On Terror
Comments (30)
President Barack Obama is s... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Justice58 | April 30, 2009 9:07 AM | Score: -17 (23 votes cast)
President Barack Obama is so smooth, now he is picking off members of the republican party & bringing them over to his party. Woo Hoo!
1. Posted by Justice58 | April 30, 2009 9:07 AM |
Score: -17 (23 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 09:07
2. Posted by MPR | April 30, 2009 9:43 AM | Score: 14 (14 votes cast)
J-58,
That wouldn't be his tea-party that's for damn sure.
2. Posted by MPR | April 30, 2009 9:43 AM |
Score: 14 (14 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 09:43
3. Posted by jp2 | April 30, 2009 9:54 AM | Score: -18 (22 votes cast)
What a zinger, Lorie. Though I'm actually missing the "Obama lied" part.
3. Posted by jp2 | April 30, 2009 9:54 AM |
Score: -18 (22 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 09:54
4. Posted by Justice59 | April 30, 2009 9:58 AM | Score: -3 (15 votes cast)
And I'm not expressing my love for Lord Obama just due to my extreme racism. Really. Just give me a few months to think of another reason.
4. Posted by Justice59 | April 30, 2009 9:58 AM |
Score: -3 (15 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 09:58
5. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 10:04 AM | Score: 14 (18 votes cast)
The only things Barry neede to add last night was a red rubber nose, orange hair and oversized shoes. That is what a clown he is. He cannot even answer a question. He doesn't even know what surprise or enchanted means? Lame. ww
5. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 10:04 AM |
Score: 14 (18 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 10:04
6. Posted by Lorie | April 30, 2009 10:45 AM | Score: 14 (18 votes cast)
What a zinger, Lorie. Though I'm actually missing the "Obama lied" part. -- Posted by jp2
You shoulda read the next sentence in my post. That's why I said the other name I suggested is what I should have called it instead. Couldn't resist the "Lie" line though. Puh-leeze. Is anyone really going to argue that Obama didn't lie when he claimed to not know the tea parties were taking place on April 15? Or when he tried to claim he didn't have anything to do with the deficit that his spendulus plan tripled? He was either lying or he really is a holograph projected by the TOTUS and doesn't know what he's saying.
That's all I have time for. Got a sick kid at home. Have fun guys and try to behave.
6. Posted by Lorie | April 30, 2009 10:45 AM |
Score: 14 (18 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 10:45
7. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 10:51 AM | Score: 8 (14 votes cast)
This "mental giant" doesn't have a clue.
Submission accomplished. ww
7. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 10:51 AM |
Score: 8 (14 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 10:51
8. Posted by GarandFan | April 30, 2009 10:57 AM | Score: 14 (14 votes cast)
Last night was not a 'press conference'. Last night was another photo op for The One. A structured 'event' celebrating a meaningless 100 day milestone. In honor of the evening, nothing of substance was said, but was said with style. Typical of the empty suit currently occupying the White House.
8. Posted by GarandFan | April 30, 2009 10:57 AM |
Score: 14 (14 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 10:57
9. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 11:40 AM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
LOL! Wow. You sound just like Bammy and Bidey in that last part. Are those talking points and excuses free online or did it come with the campaign package you purchased? And you realize you just admitted to worshiping Obama due to your "extreme racism"? LOL!
9. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 11:40 AM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 11:40
10. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 11:42 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
@#7: Yes, he's quite mental, you can see it in his eyes.
10. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 11:42 AM |
Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 11:42
11. Posted by _Mike_ | April 30, 2009 11:45 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Last night was basically another infomercial for the Obama brand.
11. Posted by _Mike_ | April 30, 2009 11:45 AM |
Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 11:45
12. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 12:12 PM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Whos going to keep us safe from this Jughead in chief?
12. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 12:12 PM |
Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:12
13. Posted by GarandFan | April 30, 2009 12:14 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
After listening to the questions from most of the White House Press Corps last night, I think I'll start referring to them as White House Press Whores.
Enchanting, huh?
13. Posted by GarandFan | April 30, 2009 12:14 PM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:14
14. Posted by Justice58 | April 30, 2009 12:14 PM | Score: -12 (12 votes cast)
Lorie,
What did not watching the President accomplish? Nothing. It's a rather childish act. You still come here & dwell persistently on him everyday.
14. Posted by Justice58 | April 30, 2009 12:14 PM |
Score: -12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:14
15. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 12:21 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
No, that's you, J-58. Who really wants to miss a good fictional program to listen to a programmed non-fictional account of the American onslaught via Talking Head? Get real. She caught up when she wanted to, and really didn't miss much.
15. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 12:21 PM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:21
16. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 12:28 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
"What did not watching the president accomplish?"
A moment of sanity.
16. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 12:28 PM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:28
17. Posted by P. Bunyan | April 30, 2009 12:41 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
I turned the TV off when Obama came on. I just can't stand to listen to him speak. When someone is constantly pausing, stammering, & umming like that it usually means one of two things, either he's not very bright or he's not telling the truth. Now our leftist friends all declare how brilliant Obama is, so that must mean...
Few people have Bill Clinton's gift of appearing totally natural and genuine when their lying. Obama clearly does not have that gift. Obama has to think long and hard over every word he's about to say to make sure the lie he's currently telling doesn't conflict with all the other lies he has told.
Obama entire life is a tangled web woven of deception.
17. Posted by P. Bunyan | April 30, 2009 12:41 PM |
Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:41
18. Posted by Justice58 | April 30, 2009 12:57 PM | Score: -9 (11 votes cast)
I'm wondering which republican will our brilliant President sway over to the Democratic Party next?
This is too good. It's like manna from Heaven.
18. Posted by Justice58 | April 30, 2009 12:57 PM |
Score: -9 (11 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 12:57
19. Posted by Heralder | April 30, 2009 1:07 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
"I'm wondering which republican will our brilliant President sway over to the Democratic Party next?
This is too good. It's like manna from Heaven."
Your commentary is staggeringly good, this is essentially a repeat of your first post, which is also not really at all on topic. As for the last sentence, it strikes me as odd you'd dislike Republicans, then want them in your party.
As for brilliant, anyone who cannot speak clearly without use of a teleprompter I'll refrain from calling brilliant.
And on topic, I didn't watch the last night either, as his talks bore me. So many standard softball questions with stock answers. Time better spent doing something else, I think.
19. Posted by Heralder | April 30, 2009 1:07 PM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 13:07
20. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 1:11 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Barry is slowing sinking. ww
20. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 1:11 PM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 13:11
21. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 1:17 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Throw him some cement shoes ww.
21. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 1:17 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 13:17
22. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 1:22 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
I would like to but he is doing a great job himself 914.
How can anyone call this man brilliant. Not only does he have teleprompter issues but he did not even know the definitions of some of the words the NYT reporter asked. Brilliant? Hardly. ww
22. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 1:22 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 13:22
23. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 1:46 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
He's brilliant like a street hustler WildWillie. Able to smooth/jive talk the gullible out of their pocket change. But in this case it is magnified by the presidency to trillion dollar theft.
23. Posted by 914 | April 30, 2009 1:46 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 13:46
24. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 2:49 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
914 I agree, but one thing I know about the press, after a while, they all want that investigative, pulitzer story. They are ego driven. The honeymoon will start to crumble. I detected a few more edgier follow ups.
I saw Robert Gibbs today trying to justify Biden's remarks about staying off subways and planes. He actually said, "What he meant to say was...", the press room laughed at that excuse. It was embarrassing. Of course we new Biden would be the gift to keep giving. ww
24. Posted by WildWillie | April 30, 2009 2:49 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 14:49
25. Posted by OregonMuse | April 30, 2009 3:31 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
No, this will not happen. Remember Rathergate, when the MSM conspired to throw the election to the Democrats? There is at least a Pulitzer for any reporter who could track down the origin of those phony documents, where they came from, who had them, why were they released when they were released, etc., but to date, there has been zero interest in any kind of a follow-up. You'd think that something like that would generate at least some interest, but no, it has gone right down the memory hole.
The MSM has been completely incurious about Obama's past, his business and professional associates, etc., and they're not going to start in now.
The MSM will not bring down a president they have so much invested in, period.
25. Posted by OregonMuse | April 30, 2009 3:31 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 15:31
26. Posted by marc | April 30, 2009 3:49 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
j58 - "President Barack Obama is so smooth, now he is picking off members of the republican party & bringing them over to his party. Woo Hoo!"
Which one (or how many) do you want? You, amd the dems, can have all of them as far as I'm concerned.
But really, if as you say barack hussein obama is so "smooth" and perpetrated this why did he decide to set his sights on such a loose cannon who couldn't be trusted to do anything but wipe has ass before leaving the bathroom?
BTW j58... just where are all those Secret Service agents you claimed you'd send to "investigate" me?
26. Posted by marc | April 30, 2009 3:49 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 15:49
27. Posted by Elmo | April 30, 2009 4:30 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Obie apologize? Come on Allah, we all know you ARE smarter than that. Much. Posssibly maybe ya missed your morning coffee/accidentally bumped your head/somehow confused an empty shirt with a human being. Apologize .... good one. Give MSM another couple of days .... and it'll be like it never even happened (bank).
27. Posted by Elmo | April 30, 2009 4:30 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 16:30
28. Posted by Justice59 | April 30, 2009 4:46 PM | Score: 2 (6 votes cast)
Marc, I was busy posting "the adults are in charge" as getalife over at Hot Air. As soon as I'm done turning tricks, I'll be reporting you to the Secret Service.
28. Posted by Justice59 | April 30, 2009 4:46 PM |
Score: 2 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 16:46
29. Posted by Dennis D | April 30, 2009 7:28 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Obama keeps claiming we could have gotten the same information using other methods. I would like to know what method?. Letting them keep their Senate Chairmanships if they change parties?
29. Posted by Dennis D | April 30, 2009 7:28 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 19:28
30. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 11:37 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
heh, I just realized j-58 has a smarter, more-popular-with-the-crowd twin.
30. Posted by LaMedusa | April 30, 2009 11:37 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 30, 2009 23:37