First Conservative - Political Humor and Obamatudes

Obama’s Press Conference – Top Ten Highlights

President Obama can now claim complete victory over the Washington Press.  After months of frustration, journalists are now totally and completely sick of the same “I inherited” or “we had to do something” responses.  Journalists have finally ceased asking meaningful questions.    Obama’s relentless droning using the same performed verbiage finally wore them out.

Team Obama did a masterful job choosing reporters who could be counted on to ask silly or unchallenging questions.  At least no one asked about Bo the dog. 

Obama took a couple tones during his remarks.  Alternately being:

• Scolding – we can’t go back to living the way we were.  Obama got away with scolding families for overspending and over borrowing while the federal government sets the exact opposite example.  The so-called journalists in attendance never challenged him.
• A medical expert – admonishing the population of America to wash hands frequently.  The Commander in Chief also serves as public health officer.  The President also chose to re-define the flu virus using the H1N1 designation over the old ‘Swine’ flu moniker – apparently to placate pigs and pig farmers
• A moral pundit – telling politicians to stop the bickering in Washington.  The press never seems to understand that bickering is what politicians are supposed to do.  Democrats are very good at this – that is why they frequently win. 

The event was tightly scripted, produced no surprises and was therefore incredibly boring.  This was the intended outcome; provide the President with a platform to lecture the masses.  The interesting part of this Press Fete will be when Obama asks for free air time to present another one of these.  His allies in the media might just be broke enough to refuse.

There were some interesting tidbits from the event however, including the following top ten highlights:

10. No new information provided – Team Obama intended this from the start.  The purpose for the evening was to get Obama out in public to utilize His speaking skills to prop up slipping poll numbers.  His personal ‘likability’ standing is still strong.  His policy stances are headed for the tank.  Aides want to use the former to correct the latter.

9. ‘Grandstanding’ for the adoring press - The President’s team threw a bone to lesser known journalists who got their chance to be on television.  As most of these folks are unused to reporting in a live environment, all neglected to attempt follow up questions. 

8. Softball questions– This was also predictable - However, even by DC standards, this press crew was milquetoast.  No one attempted a question about the economy and the first quarter GDP ‘shrinkage’ of 6.5%.

7. Reinvigorated political correctness – by shunning the colloquial name for “Swine” Flu, the President extended the courtesies of favorable language treatment to the food chain by disassociating pigs from the virus’ common name.

6.  Reaffirmed faith in His teleprompter.  Opening remarks were crisp and expertly delivered.  Obama remarks are always expertly performed – except when the teleprompter operator loses His place.  The teleprompter operator for his prior speech is still being sought.

5.  Insulted the Pakistani government.  Obama insulted the fledgling Pakistani government that He as Senator, insisted be installed.  By stating that the local government was weak in providing services, He gave a vote of ‘no confidence’ to a struggling government.   He also brought to light that he really has no plan should this government be overrun by militants – militants who would use atomic weapons against the United States.

4.  Appeasement mentality – Obama wanted to appear tough.  After his Pakistan answer He appeared anything but.    Should the Taliban manage to create chaos in Pakistan, the President will have to use his magnificent oratory skills to persuade them not to behead their enemies – including us.  After humbling Himself and the nation on his Apology Tours, Obama may not have anything to surrender to the Taliban that they would want - except the destruction of Israel and the US.  Will Obama sell out the Israelis? 

3.  Lies…  The President said He loves a lean portfolio –  Obama intends to take over as much of the economy as he can in the name of the ‘people’ or at least turn as much of these companies over to their unions as is possible.  Taking common stock in banking institutions also ensures government ownership in private institutions.  If He wants a lean portfolio, the government needs to get out of the business of taking over business.

2.  Lies… more and in multiple instances… The President said that he does not enjoy meddling in the private sector.  This is outrageous and obvious lie.  Democrats very much enjoy meddling in the private sector, especially when extorting money they didn’t earn.  In fact, extorting someone else’s money is their ‘raison d’être. ‘

1.  Demonstrated the difference between savvy and smart – President Obama finally cowed the Washington press corps into giving up any attempt to gain useful information.  His performance was – as usual – masterful.   However, the quality of responses to even some of the powder puff questions indicates failure to grasp basic issues – like Pakistan, Islamic militancy, Automobile manufacturing, finance and banking, and on, and on.  Obama is savvy and can work a crowd.  Sooner or later though, the crowd won’t want to be ‘worked.’  People will demand solutions that don’t require them to endure heavy taxation, debt and inflation.

Obama Press Conference – Unasked Questions

Team Obama has discovered one of the really nice things about controlling the Presidency is that you don’t have to pay for airtime.  Most networks were all too anxious to give up revenue generating programming to cover a speech and 13 softball questions.   Small wonder the networks are losing market share and boatloads of money.  No matter, since they are the mouthpieces of the Obama message, they will be first in line for the next set of bail outs.

Obama began his Pep Rally by – of course – apologizing.  Seeming a bit out of character because of being on American soil, Obama chose to issue an apology to pigs.  Feeling they have been maligned by their association with the recent flu outbreak, the President apparently wanted to make the swine feel better about themselves - right before they are turned into pork chops and bacon.

Like most Pep Rallies, Team Obama indeed rolled out a smooth and crisp performance, owing primarily to careful screening of the journalists present.  The only reporters that were allowed to ask questions were generally ones few people have ever heard of.  These are the ones who would be expected to ask simple and ridiculous questions. 

All press conferences include at least a couple strange or irrelevant questions.  However, the media’s leftward bias is more revealed in those questions that go ‘unasked.’   Softball questions leave plenty of room for obvious follow ups. 

Topics ranged prisoner interrogations to the usual ‘touchy-feely’ ones including:  “What surprised you the most, what has what has enchanted you the most and what has humbled you the most about being President”   Akin to asking the man in the most powerful and influential position in the world what kind of tree he would be and why, this question revealed an incredible lack of curiosity on the part of the main stream press for all important issues.  The reporter who asked this should be ashamed of wasting the world’s time and wasting an incredible opportunity to get some meaningful information.

Obvious follow up:  - actually, there simply can be no follow up to a question this stupid.

On enhanced questioning of prisoners and prosecuting those that approved it – supported by congressional democrats – Obama believes that interrogations although they saved American lives, were unnecessary.  Dredging up an irrelevant reference to Winston Churchill and German prisoners who had no useful information, the President admitted that the enhanced questioning worked.  Incidentally, the UK -owing to its experience in Ireland and elsewhere - has one of the most feared interrogation methodologies around.

Obvious follow up: What were these ‘other’ methods and how would they have saved lives in LA - the target of the alleged terror attack?
Obvious follow up II:  Who changed the President’s mind on prosecuting those that approved of these interrogations and why?

On automobile industry take over plans – The President said that he wanted the companies to stand on their own and that Chrysler was set to merge with Fiat.  This ensures that a portion of whatever future profits the company might earn would be sent to Italy.  That would certainly be good for American taxpayers.   

Obvious follow-up: Does the government intend to keep a controlling interest or a voice in Chrysler or GM? Or does the administration favor getting out of the business completely.
Obvious follow up II:  Why then is the federal role increasing in the operations of these companies?

On the size of the federal government - Obama stated that He doesn’t want bigger government

Unbelievably obvious follow up:  how does the massive expansion of the federal role in banking and manufacturing fit the definition of smaller government?  And how does the incredible increase in the national debt contribute to smaller government?

On Pakistan - Interestingly, the President didn’t offer any apologies and instead chose to express no confidence in the democratic government he as a Senator, insisted be installed.  That country’s nuclear arsenal is under some threat by the Taliban and other militants and should Pakistan fall to these insurgents, Al Qaeda would have instant access to nuclear weapons.  

Obvious and terrifying follow up:  Now that you have said that you don’t believe the Pakistani government can handle the situation, what realistic measures would you take to help? (Perhaps the obvious answer was as scary as the question – Obama would be left apologizing to militant Islam so they won’t kill millions of us in our homeland)