Obama laughing in the face of adversity?

Obama is a funny guy. That’s one of the reasons so many of us like him.

On the campaign trail we saw brief glimpses of his humorous side but he never really loosend up always wary of the  fact that one overblown joke could cause him the presidency Obama kept his self-deprecating, dry sense of humor in check.

But over the past few months as Obama has become increasingly comfortable with the presidency and his role as president and unfortunately as the situation has become more and more dire he’s started to lighten up and it’s not uncommon for him to crack a joke during a national press conference or address and admitedly most of the time his jokes or observations are witty and funny.

But on Thursday during his appearance of  “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno a characteristically self-deprecating joke about his bowling skills left a lot of families and people hurt. Then during an interview with “60 Minutes”, which aired yesterday, Obama joked about some aspects of the American economy likening his humor to ‘gallows humor’.

After he said, ” The only thing less popular than putting money into banks is putting money into the auto industry,” noting that, ” There’s got to be a little gallows humor to get you through the day.” Obama’s first statement was dead on but it’s no laughing matter. Detroit one of the US’s largest cities and the capital of the world’s auto industry is on the brink of collapse and Obama is joking about it?

Call me bias if you want (I lived in Detroit for over two years and I have a special fondness for Ferndale and Royal Oak MI) but I don’t get the joke.

Obama is the person charged with fixing all our problems and if he doesn’t make substantial headway in achieving many of them he’s going to be a one term president. And with everything he’s dealing with he’s probably suffering from  a ‘contact high’ brought on from being so close to all these disasters but frankly with the most powerful country currently on its knees and our collective suffering becoming a bit too overwhelming for even the strongest and the brightest among us I’m in no mood to laugh.

I admit I’ve never been one to laugh in the face of adversity, (I’d probably jump kick it..lol) so forgive me if I can’t laugh it off. And maybe if I lighten up I’d be able to see the humor in all of this like President Obama.

Geithner and Summers to save auto industry..

To do list for Larry Summers and Tim Geithner

1. Save the American economy

2. Save the American homeowner

3. Create 4 million jobs

4. Return tax payers’ money with interest

5. Save the American auto-industy

What will Obama add to their to do list next?  And you thought your to-do list was rough..lol

Michelle Obama running for office on her own?

After watching her for two years and now watching her embark on her listening tours of the national agencies as first lady I’m wondering does Michelle Obama have her own political aspirations?

She may have disliked politics before but national politics can be a powerful afrodisiac.

Couldn’t you just see her as Senator of Illinois or even President of the United States?  remember that glass ceiling now has 18 million cracks in it and who knows by the time Michelle Obama runs it could be shattered completely.

I’m just saying….

Arizona too close to call..

If Mccain loses his home state to an unknown Senator from Illinois what does that tell you about America tonight?

In 2012 we could see President Sarah Palin…

 

 

Sarah Palin is NOT a diva.

Divas don’t or wouldn’t muddy themselves in the dirty, dog eat dog world of politics.

Sarah Palin is a shrewd, ideologically rigid politician that has cultivated and energized the base of her political party, the Republicans, and will undoubtedly remain a force within it for years to come.

Many have preoccupied themselves with her clothing allowance/expenses (yes, 150 000 is a bit much..but hey I would take it in a heartbeat wouldn’t you? ..lol) interview missteps and basic lack of knowledge of  critical international issues.

However, Sarah Palin, in the last few months has come to symbolize the modern conservative woman. And many in the conservative movement recognize that she will not compromise or wither, as other chosen ones have when confronted by democrats, in her support of their  signature issues-pro life, anti-gay marriage and closer ties between religion (Christianity) and the state.

Palinhas them fired up and ready for ‘war’ and with the Republican party in shambles, the leaders of specific fractions of the Republican base will emerge and ultimately one of these leaders could assume control of the entire party. Palin is in a unique position at the moment, not only does she have a built in base of support but no other individual has emerged to challenge her for control after the election.

Mccain is not a threat since he has never had any real creditability or power within his party and if he loses the election any power he did have will be gone. So, Sarah Palin will brush him aside in a heartbeat and who else is there? Governor Bobby Jindal? Governor Tim Pawlenty?

While both men are widely regarded as rising stars Palin’s star far outshines theirs and that will continue well into the future.

Palin should be watched very, very closely by democrats because she has no plans of going gently into the night and if she emerges as the savior of the GOP  and it looks like she could, then 2012 could prove to be the toughest year yet for Democrats.

And should she become and even more effective communicator and better versed in the ways of Washington and the world she may yet ascend to the highest office in the land…remember stranger things have happened-a man by the name of Barack Obama is on the verge of becoming the 44th President of the United States.

From Lincoln-Douglas to Clinton-Obama, how things have changed

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

Hillary Clinton has officially challenged Barack Obama to a debate without a moderator in the style of the Lincoln, Douglas debates back in 1858.

I must say that I do like the idea.

Regardless of all that has happened and all that will happen over the next few months. It fills me with great joy when I think about the fact that 150 years ago these two people, due to gender and race as a collective, couldn’t vote or take active participation in the affairs of this country and both were regarded as second class citizens.  

And today, this black man and this woman are both serious contenders for the presidency of the United States.

At this moment in history we can all be proud of this great country… let’s all give each other a collective pat on the back..lol

Now, a moderator less Clinton, Obama debate would be an event worth watching and a debate for the history books. Can you imagine the ratings, it might actually beat and American idol finale..lol?

However, as a former debating society captain I know that you have to be on top of your game to handle this type of debating style and unfortunately Obama is not the world’s best debater and this format has the potential of hurting rather than helping his candidacy.

In addition Clinton would sling so much dirt during that debate that in the end Obama might be left wondering why he agreed to the debate in the first place.

However, the idea is definitely something that a network or an organization should explore for the presidential debates.