That said, there's something about the collar's spread that still isn't quite right for him, with his narrow head.  And the shirt is still a bit bunchy under the tie.  

A little righteous anger would go a long way.

He should remember the guy who finally told off McCarthy: "Have you no decency, sir?"

Here's the part where Eli dissects Obama's answers about Iran/Israel (quoting since I can't get into LeftI's links, a weird thing that happens to me every so often over there. Strange.):

Naturally on foreign policy, Obama's worst sins were on Iran:

MR. OBAMA: "I said during the campaign that Iran is a country that has extraordinary people, extraordinary history and traditions, but that its actions over many years now have been unhelpful when it comes to promoting peace and prosperity both in the region and around the world; that their attacks or -- or their -- their financing of terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, the bellicose language that they've used towards Israel, their development of a nuclear weapon or their pursuit of a nuclear weapon -- that all of those things create the possibility of destabilizing the region and are not only contrary to our interests, but I think are contrary to the interests of international peace."

Notice the not one but two different "false starts" in this section. First he says that Iran attacked other countries, then he corrects himself to claim that Iran finances the allegedly terrorist activities of Hezbollah and Hamas. Then he claims Iran is "developing a nuclear weapon" but corrects himself (sort of) to claim (equally falsely) that they are "pursuing" a nuclear weapon. He still won't let go of this false notion, NIE or no NIE, facts or no facts.

Needless to say, that bit about "threatening the stability of the region" and "contrary to the interests of international peace" has to be read while supressing a large laugh, considering the role of the United States in not just "threatening" the stability of the region but actively destabilizing the region, and not just threatening the "interests" of international peace, but actively destroying it with their repeated invasions of some countries, bombing of others, funding, arming, and fully supporting the most aggressive state in the region, and so on.

The next part of his answer has to be read in conjunction with a subsequent question from the inimitable Helen Thomas. Answering the question above, Obama says:

"We're clear about the fact that a nuclear Iran could set off a nuclear arms race in the region that would be profoundly destabilizing."

Now you might wonder why, if a "nuclear arms race" was going to be triggered in the region, it wasn't triggered by the nuclear weapons possessed by the most aggressive state in the region, Israel. Now listen to Helen Thomas:

QUESTION: Mr. President, do you think that Pakistan and -- are maintaining the safe havens in Afghanistan for these so-called terrorists? And also, do you know of any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?

I'll skip the answer to the first part, and go on to the second:

"With respect to nuclear weapons, you know, I don't want to speculate. What I know is this: that if we see a nuclear arms race in a region as volatile as the Middle East, everybody will be in danger."

As opposed to now, when the only people in danger are everyone but Israel. You remember Israel, the country that everyone in the world, except evidently Barack Obama, knows has nuclear weapons.

By the way, how does he justify "speculating" on what he supposes Iran wants, but not on what Israel has already done?

/ posted @ 2/09/2009 07:43:00 PM /

I was young then but seeing clips later in life I have to say that he was a master of the modern press conference.

Crisp answers without hesitation.  Always ready.  When he was caught unaware he'd smile and say something like: 'You can bet I'll be getting up to date on that.'

Obama filibusted, was hesitant, fumbling, evasive and used the annoying my this, my that. My Treasury Secretary, etc. I don't recall him saying 'my government' (a term Bush used) but I wouldn't have been surprised.  Another lesson from JFK: it was 'this government,' 'Secretary Dillon,' etc. Never a 'my.'

It sure does put a crimp in their style. You're so right.

Now, Obama's humor: What's with his tendency to diss his vice president? When Biden merely said, when administering the oath to the WH staffers, that his memory was not as good as the Chief Justice's and he would use a note card, Obama pursed his lips, walked over to Biden, put a warning hand on his upper arm or shoulder, said something which I don't recall. Then, during the presser, he did an eye-roll type expression (restrained, but so clear).

Wha'???

He used what might be called "humor" when dissing Congress, both parties, when he said that the stimulus bill was not perfect, since it did come out of Washington. That is Repub junk, and why is he throwing it at both Dems and Repubs?

The only thing standing between this nation and a massive economic depression is Washington.... Get a grip, Mr. President. You're now the president; gotta govern, ya know?

Messing over Dems won't help him in the long run, when he's going to need every Dem vote he can get. May work against him if he loses Dems in the 2010 election. Time to think ahead, strategically, not just tactically. Mmmmkay?

He says he's for equal justice - in principle.

Then he says, let's move on.