Laura Ingraham had a great interview with Newsweeks Howard Fineman. The first 8 minutes is a pretty good analysis about how Obama miscalculated almost every decision he has made during his time in office. Fineman wasn’t as hard on Obama as Laura was of course, seeing as he carried the water for Obama.
Around the 8 minute mark Laura takes him to task for just that: (h/t Newsbusters)
[audio:https://floppingaces.net/Audio/081010_howard.mp3]INGRAHAM: How is it though with all these smart people at Newsweek – I went around the block with Evan Thomas about this as well. How did you all think that a guy who basically went from the Harvard Law Review, to some community leafleting, organizing, whatever you want to call it, to a short stint, a few lectures about constitutional law at [the University of] Chicago, very short stopover in the state Senate, and a very short stopover in the U.S. Senate. How does that add up to experience to run the biggest economy and the biggest military in the world? And why wasn’t Newsweek, instead of doing these celebrified covers of Michelle and Barack as historic, and celebrity culture, and all this love-love-love-love-love, why wasn’t – Why weren’t those questions asked before this election took place? Because to me, those were the questions to ask. . It wasn’t about personality. It was about experience and outlook.
FINEMAN: Well, uh, first, I’ll plead nolo [contendere] on a lot of this. But –
INGRAHAM: That’s what he did, in the U.S. Senate. He voted present. So you’re voting present for Newsweek.
FINEMAN: No, no. Part of the problem is, or part of the reason is that we – as political reporters, we become enamored with the mechanics of the campaign, and I would still insist that –NGRAHAM: You’re gonna do that if Paul Ryan is the nominee, for the Republicans? You’re gonna celebrify him? I don’t think so.
FINEMAN: No, no. Let me back up for a second. That was – Whatever you say about Barack Obama and David Axelrod in your diaries and everything —
INGRAHAM: Yeah.
FINEMAN – It was a brilliantly run campaign. And I have come to despair of the notion of the relationship between the quality and shrewdness of a campaign that someone runs and the kind of presidency that they have.
~~~FINEMAN – To some extent we were mystified and mesmerized by the quality of branding campaign that was Obama’s.
This is about as close as you will get to one of the MSM members admitting that they were “bamboozled” by the brand of Obama and did nothing, absolutely nothing, to vet this man as a leader.
The thing is, were they really “bamboozled” or did they do much of the bamboozling themselves? Obama didn’t call Newsweek and tell them to compare him to Lincoln. The MSM pushed this brand of Obama themselves and Obama took advantage of it, not the other way around.
Fineman and other biased reporters will start to do more backpeddling as the failure of Obama’s Presidency continues, but none of us should let them without calling them out for being the major player behind Obama. Some 48% of the voting public saw through this glamorization of Obama, and saw through Obama himself as a narcissistic politician who never really accomplished anything during his lifetime, and wouldn’t accomplish much as President.
Why couldn’t the MSM of seen this?
See author page
@Indy Voter Thanks for the Livable Communities Act link… this is the UN’s Agenda 21 move toward global socialism only with an Americanized title. It is usurpation of Congressional Authority through the use of regulatory agency. Rule by bureaucracy.
Donald Bly – you are welcome, please spread the word, call your reps and Sen. McConnell, this is one that cannot pass, filibuster is the only way to stop it. We must use the web to raise awareness since most of the “media” zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The Livable Communities Act is a back door Cap and Trade.
A.C. and Patvann Pls. advise why I should waste time responding to those who call the POTUS an “Indonesian idiot” or those who negate the value of an education.”Hannity is a financial reporter with capable opposition on his program”Really
I’d rather watch the Giants.
For the record I do watch FOX as well as CNN.Enjoy O’Reilly.I’d agree Fox shows some news others don ‘t report,but fair and balanced.C’mon.
A.C. and Patvann I’ m still waiting.
@rich wheeler:
Still waiting on what rich?
If you don’t feel the need to respond to a specific comment or to a specific commenter then don’t. Or do, if you feel so compelled. No one is forcing you to do either.
As to the value of an education, a solid case could be made that an extended period of formalized education does not always translate into intelligence or success and a lack of formalized education doesn’t necessarily mean a thing either.
I can tell you from personal experience that that premise is true.
My grandfather for example, quit school in the sixth grade when his father died. He worked hard, supporting his mother and his six brothers and sisters until they were old enough to be self-sufficient.
As a child of the Depression he knew the value of hard work, thrift, industry, and saving.
He and my grandmother were married for 57 years. Together they raised five children.
When he died, he left behind a home that he built himself, a successful family farm that he built and expanded from a four acre plot that he cleared himself with oxen and donkeys.
He also left behind an estate valued into the low seven figures.
He accomplished all of that with a sixth grade education.
My grandfather on my Dad’s side has a very similar story. He finished high school but the rest of his learning came from the school of hard knocks. He, too, lived a long, productive life and left behind a large estate but he never had a diploma on the wall.
Sometimes a person will take a formal education and make something valuable out of it. Often they don’t.
One thing is for sure, classroom time and a fancy piece of parchment on the wall does not mean a damned thing.
Your effort to tear down Rush, Beck, and Hannity simply because they don’t have a pedigree which you find impressive is elitism at its’ finest.
America is full of stories of those who have made something of themselves without going to college.
@AC
Your grandfather’s stories are very similar to many of that era. Unfortunately, they were still probably looked down on by much of society simply because of a lack of formal education. For every successful person who owes to a college degree, there are many more who have been quite successful without going that route. Either way is admirable. And, there are the losers who inhabit both camps as well. I know of many college graduates who couldn’t tie their own shoelaces without help, just as I know of many high school dropouts who are similar.
Bill Gates is perhaps the biggest and most successful example of one who does not hold a higher education diploma. Even computer-related phd’s defer to Mr. Gates in discussions pertaining to computer technology.
The point is, for Mr. Wheeler’s reference, that higher education is not what makes one intelligent, nor does lack of one automatically make a person dumb. Leave the snobbish attitude for the imbeciles, Mr. Wheeler, and judge the person on his/her merits.
Thanka A.C. I totally agree that many have achieved success without a formal education.
My dad raised in a N.Y. city apartment by his widowed mother walked to Columbia U. and Law School.He served in the Navy as a JAG Officer and went on to a very successful career.He believed that his education provided the tools, that along with hard work,and a love of the Law enabled him to achieve success.
Education by itself does not guarantee success or happiness,but it can be a wonderful experiance for those who properly take advantage of it.It certainly does not make one an “ELITIST”A higher education is one of the advantages our great country should provide to all citizens willing to work for it.
Do you believe the POTUS is an “Indonesian idiot”
Do you believe Hannity is a “financial commentator”
Just askin
@rich wheeler:
Having a higher level of education certainly doesn’t make one an elitist any more than it acts as a harbinger of success or even an indicator of intelligence.
Right here on the pages of FA we’ve seen people with crisp parchment diplomas get their azzes handed to them over and over and over again on everything from basic to advanced issues.
My comment to you regarding elitism was in relation to your shameless and unjustified swipe at Rush, Beck, and Hannity. You practically threw your neck out of joint as you elevated your nose into the proper sneering position.
That, sir, was elitism.
As to my beliefs about Obie, I vacillate between “incredibly intelligent” and “doofus in over his head”. Perhaps he’s both depending on the issue at hand. I think that Obie may be a perfect example of education not equating with intelligence.
As to being an Indonesian, well, there is really no evidence to support that even though he spent part of his childhood there.
Hannity is a commentator, mostly political, sometimes financial. When that original comment was made I was thinking that person had mixed up Hannity and Cavuto but without that person being around to confirm that there is no way to know for sure.
Aye,,, You are right! I was thinking of Cavuto! Damnitall.
Now they will probably rescind my Fox Fan Club and Flunkies membership.
And I just had the certificate framed!
Lets see, Hannity,,, what is so special about Hannity,,, I’m not sure that I’ve seen more than half dozen of his shows, and even then it was probably just on for background noise.
So Rich, What’s the most egregious thing Hannity has done? Are you ready to put him up against the liberal counterpoints? How about say Olberman, since he has that fancy Cornell degree that he’s so damn proud of. Is that what you call fair and balanced and proof of the importance of a big degree?
SGT I never said anything about Olberman.
I said Hannity was not a financial reporter and questioned your “Indonesian—” comment.
Cavuto is the financial commentator.
Well there you go again,,,
I didn’t say you brought up Olberman. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to. What I am saying is that since you were lampooning Hannity and Beck for their lack of college years and supposed bias, then perhaps we should consider the validity of the warrant in your argument and look to see what an excellent example of your evidences validity is in Olberman, who would clearly be the counter point to the “lack of higher education” you made when you practically threw your back out trying to get your nose in the air.
I still would maintain that your whole argument is nothing but an Ad Hominem. You don’t like what they say, so you attack them personally, but not the merit of their arguments. Which again is a pretty Hoity Toity tack to suggest that they are too ignorant to be trusted, no matter even if they are telling you that your hair is on fire. Just stand there smoldering cause ~ well who the hell are they!?!?
I never made any Indonesian comment.
Indonesian comment made by USAF Sergeant Theresa.Apologies to Sergeant Ciz(what branch?)You keep bringing up Olberman.I don’t particularly like him or MSNBC.As mentioned I feel CNN gives a fairly balanced accounting of the news and O ‘Reilly does a great job on Fox
Hannity is a one hit wonder,constantly banging Obama supported by Karl Rove who doesn’t even claim to be fair and balanced. Hannity,I believe,wants Obama to fail.We saw him cry and moan in disbelief when Obama won in 2008 and I believe he’ll be whining again in 2012.
Beck on at least 2 occasions has called Obama a racist.Pretty hard to find balance behind that belief.
Politics is a rough game.Lets see how it goes this Nov.I’m looking forward to it.
Semper Fi to both Sergeants. Thanks for your service
@rich wheeler:
Once again rich….Hannity, Beck, and Rove are political commentators.
Their approach is from the Conservative side. They don’t claim to be balanced.
Just as Geraldo approaches from the Liberal side. He doesn’t claim to be balanced either.
As to Beck’s claims that Obie is racist, well the facts are the facts and Beck backed his claims up with cited sources including Obie’s own words.
You don’t have to like that he was easily able to support his hypothesis but that’s just the way it is.
We’re all still waiting for you to present some sort of documentation to support your claim that things are going to be just peachy for the Dims come November. Every piece of info I have seen, every poll, every expert is saying that it’s going to be a disaster the likes of which the Dims have never seen before. Much of that information has already been posted here.
Other than pipe dreams and pie in the sky thinking, what do you have to support your position?
AYE CHIHUAHUA: hi, I can say, that we have the smarts people right here at FA,
THAT’S why other AND RICH come with their inquesitives questions to try to show their knowledge, but
IT is so obvious to see the stupidity in the intent to disrupt my friends here,
RICH WHEELER, YOU have a lot of work to do on your brain to level yourself to
EITHER ONE of my friends .
A.C. Pipe dreams and pie in the sky thinking(don’t forget whistling through the graveyard) would hold that Repubs. claim Senate in 2010.Pls.describe scenario YOU believe would render this result.I’ve previously stated my predictions.
Thanks much RW
I just read on wall street paper from SHELBY STEELE, VERY INTERESTING OPINION,
TO READ ALL OF IT, HE ALSO WROTE A BOOK NAME WHITE GUILT IF YOU’RE INTERESTED,
OKAY IT GOES LIKE THIS, THE TITLE;
POST 60S LIBERALS WITH THE PRESIDENT OBAMA AS THEIR
STANDARD BEARER SEEK TO MAKE A VIRTUE OF DECLINE,;
SO I read some more interesting paragrafes,each after each other,like this one;
SO IN MR OBAMA AMERICA GAINED A RESIDENT WITH AMBIVALENCE,
IF NOT SOME ANTIPATHY TOWARD THE SINGULAR GREATNESS OF THE NATION
HE has been elected to lead; AMERICA SEEM TO BE FACING A PIVOTED MOMENT;
DO WE MOVE AHEAD BY ADVANCING OR BY RECEDING BY REAFIRMING THE VALUES
THAT MADE US EXCEPTIONAL, OR BY LETTING GO OF THESE VALUES, so
that a creeping mediocrity spare us the burden of GREATNESS,
AS PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS BEEN FORCE TO MEDIOCRITY,
he has bank more on the hopeless interventions off government than on the
exceptionalist of the people ;his greatest weakness as a PRESIDENT IS A LIMP CONFIDENCE
IN HIS COUNTRY MEN , HE IS AFRAID TO ASK DIFFICULT THINGS OF THEM.
so the condept of exceptionalist, the genius for freedom of the AMERICAN PEOPLE
MAY STILL BE A STRESH FOR HIM,
BUT IN FACT, HE WAS ELECTED TO MAKE THAT STRESH ;
IT SHOULD BE HELD AGAINST HIM THAT HE FAIL TO DO SO.