I see I was not the only one watching last night’s All-Star Game who wondered if David Axelrod had negotiated the bizarre angle (there is no other word for it, if you’re a baseball-watching fan) used to showcase President Barack Obama’s ceremonial “first pitch.” I have never seen a president throw a pitch, before, where the angle left out the catcher at the plate.
Yes, I had to wonder if the shot was planned that way, if the White House was so insecure about this teleprompter-addicted president, and in such a habit of safeguarding his every image, his every press-conference question, that they had to make sure a bad throw wouldn’t end up on You Tube (and if in doing so they aren’t exposing that insecurity to the world.) If this angle was planned – and simply based on the WH’s (and the media-in-general’s) instinct toward shielding and over-promoting this president, I’m thinking it was – then I wonder if the WH is going to make this president seem increasingly remote and inhuman by editing out (or managing) his real stumbles or suspected imperfections. That can’t be a good thing.
Reuters has a better angle; you can check out for as long as it remains up.
Gateway Pundit – who was, I thought, rather rough on Obama’s appearance (even though I admit I am so weary of him being everywhere, all the time, that I muted the television while he was in the booth because I was – imagine it – trying to actually WATCH THE GAME, but I digress) – linked to the clip of President Bush throwing the first pitch at the 2001 World Series, shortly after the attacks of 9/11:
I love the clip, and I love the story that Bush recounts in the video 9 Innings from Ground Zero (which is a terrific addition to your library; a moving and inspiring encapsulation of the events of 9/11 and how Baseball helped bring America up off its knees.)
Says Bush: “Derek Jeter says to me, ‘Mr. President, you throwing from the mound?’ and I told him I hadn’t thought about it. Jeter said, ‘This is New York; you gotta throw from the mound.’ Then, as I was heading to the dugout, Jeter turned to me again and said, ‘don’t bounce it; this is New York, and they’ll boo!’”
Just weeks after a horrific and deadly attack on his nation, when all of us were still waiting for “the second shoe to drop” – for another attack – and fully aware that Yankee Stadium was at that moment the Mother of All Targets and that there uncertainty as to the president’s own safety, Bush strode out gave the thumbs up and threw unambiguously over the plate – a little high, but given some of the dubious calls we’re seeing this season, let’s call it a strike. Bush threw not to “the most popular man” in the stadium, but to a common catcher, Jorge Posada, who was behind the plate. Yes, it was a great moment.
It’s not a big deal that Obama did not manage to get the ball over the plate. Both he and President Bush are athletes, but Bush is more about baseball and Obama (as evidenced in his confusion about baseball fields) is more basketball, and there you go.
The difference between these two first pitches is not in the pitch, but in the pitchman – in the personality of the president; if you compare how each president is introduced, you find a microcosm of how each president sees himself and his presidency., and what I find most telling in those two clips is the way the president presents himself:
In 2001, Bob Shepherd at Yankee Stadium announces, “Please welcome The President of the United States.” No name. The name is not primary, it is not the most important thing; the Office is – and that is what is emphasized. What is being introduced to that event is an appearance not by a celebrity, not by a movie star – but by the President of the United States. The fellow who, in the end, represents all of us to the world. That president went out and demonstrated gravity, good-will, a sense of proportion and forthrightness. And yes, competence, too. Without excessive giddiness, the strike is thrown, the handshakes are made, and the President of the United States walks off the field; he leaves the stadium shortly after because, after all, there is an awful lot going on in America, at that moment, much of it very grave, and the American President did not do celebrity schtick. None of it was about him, and that president understood that none of it was about him, personally.
In 2009, at St. Louis, the announcement was the same – emphasis on Office not man – but this president (who we are constantly told personifies “elegance” and “dignity”) does not bring the same sense of Office about him. He’s dressed down, camera-savvy, and be brings glad-handing, a great deal of effusive hugging and playing to the cameras. He is, frankly, a star and a celebrity; as such, he shows up in the broadcast booth for a while, to comment on the game and joke around; it’s hard to know if he thinks things are all about him, or not, of it he’s just “glad-handing” America – using a charm offensive as misdirection.
There is an awful lot going on in America, at the moment, much of it very grave, but this President does a great deal of celebrity schtick. At the ballgame, at the WH martini party, on the Jay Leno show. Smile, and smile, and bring seriously troubling people like this into your administration, as “czars” unquestioned by congress, unanswerable to anyone but you, and certainly not to the American people.
Smile and smile and muscle through a voluminous, unread, undebated, economically unsound and nation-transforming legislation without really telling the nation what it costs or even what is in that legislation, or how it will effect small businesses and jobs in the country, or what the bureaucracy will look like.
Smile and smile and disrespect democracies surrounded by threats.
Smile and Smile and backhand your allies and your own countrymen.
Smile and smile, and – if you know your Hamlet, you know where I’m going. And I really don’t want to go there. I don’t want to be that person.
Still, since we’re thinking of Hamlet, one can’t help looking at those two clips and thinking of the differences between King Hamlet and King Claudius, and recalling:
a combination and a form indeed,
Where every god did seem to set his seal,
To give the world assurance of a man:
This was your husband. Look you now, what follows:
Here is your husband; like a mildew’d ear,
Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed,
And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes?
For the record, I don’t like booing presidents. I think it’s bad form, regardless of who is in power. But I do think the press – who highlighted boos directed at Cheney later in the administration – should pay attention to what they’re hearing in these crowds and at tea parties. Our media are overpopulated with smug elitists, increasingly detached from the realities of life faced by the rest of the country, and – since they skew their own polls – from what people are really thinking. They won’t like it when they are caught off-guard, sometime down the road. By then, of course, they may all be as insulated from the effect of their arrogance as is the president they currently shield and endlessly hype.
Related:
Powerline blog
Confederate Yankee
Outside the Beltway
Hot Air
Brutally Honest
July 15th, 2009 | 2:01 pm | #1
I didn’t see the ceremonial first pitch as I was winding my way home from work, but I did listen to the pre-game ceremonies. Was it me, or during the clip for public service were the loudest cheers heard when one George W. Bush was speaking?
As to the current President… “Dave” was a cute movie, but I don’t need it re-run in real life.
July 15th, 2009 | 2:07 pm | #2
[...] The Anchoress nails BHO’s monumental insecurity that can only explain this most un-baseball of… Rove might have been one thing; but Axelrod’s management of BHO is about 100 times worse. swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/AI6aPwCESUY&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-9457-youtube-1", "425", "344", "9", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes); PermaLink | Rebel Yells (0) | Trackback/Pingback (0) [...]
July 15th, 2009 | 2:35 pm | #3
You’re right. There’s a huge difference between the presidents’ pitch that goes far beyond the physical pitch itself. President Bush kept our country safe for 8 years. I fear we may not be so lucky now. And don’t even get me started on socialism…….I am saddened that America has come to this.
July 15th, 2009 | 2:37 pm | #4
I didn’t always agree with President Bush’s fiscal policies, but I miss the dignity, honor and faith he showed us.
I know G_d is control and everything will work out, but I would feel safer if the current President had the same.
July 15th, 2009 | 2:50 pm | #5
I agree with the Anchoress on the booing of presidents–I’m agin it. That being said, I did enjoy one particular St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City. Things were just getting started when, rolling along the parade route like a wave, came a thunderous chorus of boos.
Two young tourists from New Zealand were in front of me in the crowd. “Who can it be that they hate so much?”, they asked.
“It can only be one person”, I replied, and it was, as Hillary Clinton strode into view, her rictus grin in place as the jeers washed over her.
It was sad and unworthy. And it felt so good.
July 15th, 2009 | 2:55 pm | #6
Bush had dignity? He couldn’t even speak in complete sentences.
July 15th, 2009 | 3:00 pm | #7
It seems the previous cited authors are delusional and out of touch.
Determining a presidency effectiveness based on a baseball pitch is stupid at best.
It may be difficult seeing so much of a president as the last eight years we haven’t had a true leader in so long. Bush took more vacation than any president in history.
With economy in ruins, a military stretched to capacity, constitutional laws broken and health care in a mess, we need new leadership.
Our world has changed, get use to it.
If you are offended or disturbed by my comments or our current president, you can begin to understand the frustration many of us have felt for the previous eight years of moronic leadership.
[Bush took more vacations, and doubtless never entertained foreign dignitaries or worked during those times, right? Obama has already taken some vacation days and some expensive dates with his wife, and he'll be at Martha's Vineyard next month, and he'll take other vacations, and president should take vacation days to clear the head. But leadership? I'm trying to find that great Obama leadership. He couldn't get our allies in Europe - who he disses - to take any of those Gitmo guys or back him up on closing Gitmo. His "leadership" in the world appears to be doing a good job with photo-ops while insulting our allies and chumming with despots. His "leadership" seems to be about letting Nancy Pelosi write enormous, destructive bills and then counting on his majorities to pass them. His leadership is, I guess...beauty in the eye of the beholder. Our world HAS changed. I don't have to get used to it. I am neither "offended" or "disturbed" by your comments, except as how they reflect a willful disregard for the shortcomings of this president and the willingness to simply allow the press to highlight the fumbles of a president they hated, and hide the stumbles of the one they love. But I only allot so much of my time to respond to haters who will go along with anything this president does, simply because he has the right letter after his name. -admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 3:00 pm | #8
[...] The Anchoress, First Things: The difference goes beyond the pitch Hot Air: Obama on stimulus: It’s worked great! and Obama staffers exhausted from grueling work of [...]
July 15th, 2009 | 3:29 pm | #9
1 Kings 12:7, “And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”
I have thought that a huge difference between President Bush and other politicians is that President Bush saw/sees himself as a servant. Someone once wrote that all men are dominated by a lust to dominate. I think politicians today are in politics for the power. The natural man seeks their self glorification in authority. I think President Bush sought to follow Christ in service. Can anyone reasonable think of today’s politicians as public servants; they seek to be our masters.
July 15th, 2009 | 3:35 pm | #10
Colorado Mom: “President Bush kept our country safe for 8 years.”
So true, so true. Except for that whole Sept. 11 thing. Whoopsy!
[Whoopsy, how funny! How mature AND intellectual of you! You know, I never blamed Clinton for 9/11, even when others were insisting that Clinton ignoring the AlQaeda attacks on US holdings, interests and Naval vessels on an average of every 18 months gave courage to the terrorists, and made them feel secure enough to attack us. I blamed the terrorists. Of course, for "haters" - who forget that Bush was in office for 8 months (not 8 years) and had a huge delay in seating his cabinet thanks to spiteful members of congress who played politics - 9/11 "was Bush's fault" and another attack - even if it happens years into Obama's presidency - will still be "Bush's fault." That's how haters are. -admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 3:43 pm | #11
[...] The difference goes beyond the pitch The Anchoress [...]
July 15th, 2009 | 3:47 pm | #12
Good post, thanks
July 15th, 2009 | 4:14 pm | #13
[...] The difference goes beyond the pitch – The Anchoress [...]
July 15th, 2009 | 4:26 pm | #14
mock on. mock on–he won. He won big. Now offer something positive. enough with the nit picking here and there and all over the place. Gets tiresome to get all this negativity. not good for the soul. Or must we follow what Nancy told us: Just Say No.
[You also said all that to the people mocking Bush for 8 years, right? But as it turns out, I haven't "mocked" Obama. I even said whether his pitch went over the plate or not didn't really matter. In fact, most of the time when I am "mocking" I am actually mocking the press who have not and will not do their job where this president is concerned. Negativity is not good for the soul. That doesn't mean we should pretend that things are fine when they clearly are not. -admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 4:36 pm | #15
Paul at Power Line also noticed the unusual camera angle used and provides a pretty good analysis of how this pitch/camera work was so different from similar presidential appearances.
July 15th, 2009 | 4:46 pm | #16
” … teleprompter-addicted president, and in such a habit of safeguarding his every image, his every press-conference question …”
Wait. Wasn’t that the last president? What’s his name again?
July 15th, 2009 | 5:28 pm | #17
It is astonishing the level of projection expressed by some of your commenters today, Anchoress!!! Anyone who take the time to read your post with an ounce of open-mindedness sees that the elite media have hurt Obama, once again, by trying to present his as something other than what he is.
Prayers for your continued serenity while addressing the opinion of your readers.
July 15th, 2009 | 5:59 pm | #18
I think we can safely presume that you would not like any public manifestation of Obama’s personality, or any way the press might display it. I think we can also presume that you would not like any specific legislative proposal that Obama might make. And you absolutely would not like it when these proposals pass Congress and are signed into law.
I think we can also presume that you share this particular set of dislikes with most of the people on your blogroll, most of the people you link to, and most of your commentors.
And I think it can be safely said that you and they have not liked it ever since he was elected President, and that you and they will not like it at least until November of 2012.
I’m sure you’re getting the idea now that I think this redundant.
The last Presidential candidate you supported was defeated largely because his campaign had nothing serious to say about issues and no proposals to manage public problems.
Presuming that Obama makes no serious mistakes that destroy the confidence of everybody but most of the people on your blogroll, most of the people you link to, and most of your commentors, he will almost certainly be re-elected.
Why? Well, two posts down you ran smack into a real public problem and a genuine issue.
Any suggestions about what to do about it?
There is one way in which the majority of Americans are truly “conservative” and it is embodied in the following piece of wisdom: If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
But they are also truly “liberal” in the sense that if it is broke they really do want it fixed.
Up until November 2008 your view of America was that nothing was seriously broke. Including health care. Your view now, seven months later, is that all sorts of things are broke:
There is an awful lot going on in America, at the moment, much of it very grave, but this President does a great deal of celebrity schtick.
He has also proposed to do quite specific things to fix what is broke and to do things about the stuff that is very grave.
Do you have any counter proposals? Do most of the people on your blogroll, most of the people you link to, and most of your commentors?
And your next candidate of choice is very likely to run largely against Obama’s schtick and propose nothing to fix what is broke, either.
If Obama manages to fix a couple of things by 2012, if a couple of things manage to fix themselves through the business cycle, and if he makes no serious blunders, then the Obama Administration won’t be broke, and most Americans won’t really be inclined to fix it.
And I’m certain that you still won’t like all the things you don’t like now all the way to November 2016 and will be writing pretty much the same things about them.
However, it seems to me that you - of all people - would be intelligently troubled by some of the strange-thinking people Obama is surrounding himself with (unaccountable to everyone but him, and escaping the purview of the congress or the press), the sort of folks who could look at you with your troubles, or me with mind and decide...we're really too much trouble and too costly to keep alive. That's certainly a decision no government has the right to make, at least not in my world! - admin]
[Possibly, Joseph. How does that make me different from you in the past 8 years? Come on, now...I did manage to criticize Bush while he was president, and I DO manage to be more fair to Obama than anyone you're used to reading on the left, and I compliment his parenting, his wife and his children - still more than they ever managed. I can't pretend I like his policies, but I know you wouldn't want to. And not everyone on my blogroll is in agreement with me. You weren't!
July 15th, 2009 | 6:02 pm | #19
Most of us on the left were never part of a personality cult of Obama. I cringe at some of his more embarassing followers.
We know we won’t get everything on a plate. I’d like to see gay marriage. I’d like to see marijuana legalised. I think Obama does actually agree with boith of those, & I also think he doesn’t have any real religious belief… all of which I personally think is just grand.
He hasn’t acted because he is a politician. We leftists only make up a minority of the population & Obama needs the support of conservative Democrats, centrists & moderate Republicans to govern. So we give way & accept that the world won’t dance to our tune. I think he is a remarkable man, but still a politician, who has been dealt a rough hand & is doing very well at handling it.
For whatever reason, & I will not deal in blame, it was a far from enviable situation that Obama stepped into.
When I browse blogs like Neo-neocon, etc. etc. I see the most incredible things attributed to “the left”, which I don’t support, & nor does anyone else that I’ve ever met, yet most of those I know vote for left-wing parties because I’ve always lived in working-class communities.
We have a sense of proportion, I can’t imagine anyone caring if he can’t throw a ball (I can’t, & I don’t give a toss) & we know what we were voting for in November & don’t regret it, we might want the direction to be faster but we know we’re not being governed by the new messiah, just a politician.
I appreciated the Rude Pundit’s take on this (not safe for work, & possible candidates for deletion, but you are capable of reading Ace of Spades & at least in my view this is less objectionable, albeit that’s a statement clouded by the fact that I share most of the Rude Pundit’s views.
1
2
Yes, I know most people are a bit more sensitive than me. But in all honesty, being outraged by four-letter words & women’s breasts is incomprehensible to me. I am spending my outrage on Blair & Brown (obviously I am British, with no direct connection to America, so all the above doesn’t literally refer to me) for their constant incursions into our liberties, & horrendous mismanagement of the country.
Which is more offensive, language you wouldn’t use in front of your granny or running people’s lives into the ground? I’ve got an idea.
But I’m not sure of myself on this ground, which is why I am apologising.
The links aren’t that bad if you don’t mind swearing. Personally I love a tirade of abuse, though I’[m capable of going without one if need be. I think I can operate in both environments.
PS- Sorry if the a href & that fail.
July 15th, 2009 | 6:13 pm | #20
I further think that as his terms (as he’s likely to stamp his opponent into the ground in 2012, really) go on we will get him acting more on the above mentioned issues, so we have reason to be here. I also admire the likes of Steven Chu & for that matter Sotomayor, who will leave a lasting legacy even if the stimulus does go belly up. We both know it will be a lasting legacy, but I think it will be a good one whereas you naturally take a different view. (Of course we will have different opinions on exactly the same thing even if we use an identical definition of it: such is life when you have different values!)
In the two departments I mentioned I do expect progress in the second term if not the first I don’t engage in either activity myself, but I think the evidence is mounting that prohibition doesn’t work & is just there to appease social cons that Something Is Being Done rather than because anyone actually considers it to be any kind of sense: a lot of senior officials admit that the policies they “enforce” are worse than useless.
Joseph Marshall has really struck home on this issue, & things like this indicate the Republican stampede over the cliffs, which of course Obama is skilfully encouraging. The right sneer at community organisers but them Chicago ghetto schools certainly taught a few lessons which they must be wishing they’d had!
Must apologise for any abrasive tone- I’m better on culture & life than partisan politics.
PS- I don’t normally like Da Fink or the organ he writes for tho.
[See, I'm a girl who believes everyone is entitled to their opinion, and to live their lives as they wish to, within the confines of the law. So, belying the narrative, I'm a tolerant sort, and so is pretty much everyone I know - we're all live and let live. But I cannot fathom your admiration for Sotomayor, who even legal experts on the left are calling very weak and even embarrassingly unqualified for the court. And I think it is at everyone's grave peril (including folks on the left) to ignore some of these czars Obama is surrounding himself with who answer to no one but him, and have some very troubling ideas, simply because the guy in the WH has the right letter after his name. For all that I loved Bush, I was also capable of criticizing him. I don't see that very much on the other side, now - admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 6:17 pm | #21
I have never ever heard or read so much stupid talk about a man throwing a baseball. C’mon now. It’s only a baseball game. Yeah I know it may be our favorite pass time but its not like he pressed the red button or ran around the stadium naked. The guy is just a regular guy and his game is basketball anyway. The President got up there and threw a pitch big in the All Star Game big deal. I have seen hundreds of PRO Baseball players throw pitches a lot worse than the one he threw and they make ten times more money to it than the President of the United States does to run the Country. Whats up with that? I have seen other so called Pro Baseball players even the ones on steroids strike out on pitches that hit the dirt in front of the plate so what does that tell you. I have a good friend from New Zealand who just told me he has two citizenships. One from this Country and one from New Zealand and he said when ever he goes to Europe on business he always uses the New Zealand citizenship. I asked him why he would do that? He told me because the whole continent over there and in New Zealand still hates Bush and I don’t think they really care about how he throws a baseball. And that’s a guy from New Zealand not Chicago. Lets face it. If Bush could of run the Country even one tenth as good as he threw that one baseball we would still have a Republican on the throne. But the fact is we have a Democrat and not only a Democrat but a black Democrat and maybe the first black man to enter the white house threw the front door. Now, that has to tell you something about our last President no matter how many times you quote Shakespeare. The fact is most people here still love Obama weather he throws a strike or knocks the catcher out. All I see is there are still sore losers out there trying to tie Shakespeare and Hamlet in with Baseball and Obama? What the H…? If throwing a baseball in the dirt is the only thing the Republicans have on Obama they must be in really bad shape now. Why not put Chaney out there puffen on a Marlboro and we can watch his fat a.. crawl to the mound and then you’ll have a real show and millions of people will tune in. But everyone knows that Chaney should be ashamed of himself for helping to send some of our heroes to there death in Iraq. For a guy that got three deferments so he wouldn’t have to serve a day in Vietnam he sure got tough in his old age. What did he and Bush accomplish over there? In other words it took over 4,000 American deaths to kill a sick dictator? Was it worth it? Remember all the bumper stickers that said “Support Our Troops”? Well, Where are they now? No fun anymore I guess? Seeing and Hearing about our brave men and woman getting killed and wounded over there took all the air out of it. It was fun in the beginning when we got to watch the fire works and bombers over bagdad. It was like a baseball game then. But when we saw the dead bodies of Iraqi woman and children and our servicemen coming home in a bag or maimed it was like watching the Cubs try to win a World Series. Very depressing! But what the heck right? Its only a war not a baseball game. I hope Obama flies a jet onto an Air Craft Carrier someday and tells us the War is really over then maybe we can get on to some real business like helping our own people that are hurting really bad now all over America. It took the Bush Man 8 years to get us into this mess so I guess it will take another 8 years to get us out? Wouldn’t it be nice if the only problem we had was how our President thru a Baseball? Wow……..What a World that would be………………………………Nuff said…………..
[In fairness to ME, I did say Obama was more of a basketball guy than a baseball guy, and that whether the ball got over the plate mattered little. You must have missed that stuff. The rest of it? And I'm certain that you'd be just as disdainful of coverage of a bad presidential first pitch, if Bush had bounced the ball. You wouldn't be all over that, would you? Do I care what someone in New Zealand thinks of Bush when I know that they're perceptions of him were completely dictated to them by the press, as are their perceptions of Obama ? I think your idea that Bush gave us 8 years of messes is a little erroneous and disingenuous, or did you miss all those years with 4.8 unemployment and quarters after quarters of growth? I still see "support our troops" stickers, btw. I'll let you ask the people of Iraq if it was worth our being there. Then you can ask the people in Lebanon if our being in Iraq figured in their recent elections, and you can ask the people in Iran if democracy in Iran has inspired them to fight for their freedom. But I've done enough playing with you guys, today. Hate all you want; it says much more about you than it does about either of the presidents. - admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 8:15 pm | #22
Goodness, I’m just catching up on the responses! You sure put out something that attracted the lefties this time. I just got around to watching the video–yes, it is a pathetic attempt to control the President’s image. In fact, I’d describe it as Putin-esque. Very much so.
July 15th, 2009 | 8:15 pm | #23
Looks like the left’s spam factory has decided to target you.
July 15th, 2009 | 8:20 pm | #24
It’s a damnable lie, all those who claim that Barack Obama throws like a girl. He’s got an arm like a rocket!
Unlike that wimp Bush and his daddy, Obama is a REAL MAN, a real man like Kim Jong-Il, who likewise has been lied about but really is the greatest golfer to ever play the game, having shot a hole-in-one the first time he played.
Get over it losers! Obama WON!
July 15th, 2009 | 8:22 pm | #25
Bush was a better pitcher and a better man and a better president than Obama will ever be. I do not trust Barack Obama. It seems as if the man is on some kind of deadline to bankrupt the country. He worries me.
July 15th, 2009 | 8:24 pm | #26
Dear Anchoress,
Please let me ask you a simple (and, well, probably stupid question):
Could it be that the President of the US just does have too much power?
Following your blog (with delight in many ways! – you are wonderful, thank you so much!) and reading some online-US-media, I am actually very disturbed and also worried how this very President actually seems to “change” the US. I am just upset!
Because, it is not that he just “changes” the US, but in doing so he changes the whole world.
After all, the US have so far been the leading power, and this President is doing everything he can – so it seems to me – to withdraw from this position.
Well, it is of course the right of the American people to decide they are no longer prepared to “play” this role, but how can one President “alone” decide to procure such a vast “change” in world policy!
It is beyond me, and I am very concerned!
God bless you and I pray for your son, whatever may be the problem, even if it is not hernia.
[Thank you for the prayers for my son. Lots of us are very concerned...does the president have too much power? Well...the problem is his power is unchecked because his party owns the congress, and unlike the GOP, they walk in lockstep over there. admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 8:34 pm | #27
Dry Valleys:
I would not be so sure Obama will win a second term. His poll numbers are falling and hundreds of thousands are taking to the streets to protest his socalled policies. And he has only been president for about 7 months.
So far he has lied, back tracked, made promises he had no intention of keeping, evaded responsibility, ignored the law when it suited him to and in general made a mess of things. And all his supporters can do is blame Bush. The truth is Bush did a pretty good job for years. The Democrats took control of Congress in 2006 and the unemployment rate was 4.5%, the deficit was $168 billion, the Dow was at about 12,000 and gas was $2.25 a gallon. Compare and contrast that with today’s statistics.
I can remember when Bush had a 90% approval rating. Things can change. I sincerely hope that one of those changes will be a new President in 3 and a half years.
July 15th, 2009 | 8:53 pm | #28
Terrye – I agree 100% with you. He’s ramrodding ridiculously long bills through the House and Senate without anyone actually reading what’s in them. That’s insanity.
With the press in The One’s back pocket, he virtually has nothing to worry about, as they’ve got his back 24/7. And now the liberals are scolding us about civility after their eight years of scornful hatred for Bush. Such hypocrisy.
July 15th, 2009 | 9:16 pm | #29
Dee:
I work for a home health care agency and people I work with are worried about the future. We do not know what he will do. Some people say he will cut medicare and medicaid to help pay for the health care over haul and of course that could mean I will be one of the unemployed. But no one really knows, because the man is trying to pass this huge, fat, bloated bill in a matter of weeks.
He is a disaster. The question is whether he is incompetent or if he is trying to make a mess of things.
July 15th, 2009 | 9:58 pm | #30
“I think we can also presume that you would not like …”
I happen to think Elizabeth has the ability to provide sharp, insightful commentary. Yet her obsession with the last two presidents effectively neutralizes anything she might hope to communicate. She and others like her on the Right practically take themselves out of the national conversation. The president wakes up in the morning: we know her view on that. The president eats a meal, goes to a ballgame, goes to bed at night: in each case, there’s something to frown about.
“Get over it losers! Obama WON!”
Indeed. For the first time in the internet age, the US government has completely switched political parties. For the losers, it’s sure not a pretty sight.
[Well, I thank you for the kindish words, Todd, but the truth is I do not have an arbitrary hate of Obama. I am at a loss to understand why all of the Bushian policies you and others decried a few years ago now, but which Obama has continued, no longer seem like matters of such "fierce moral urgency." I am also at a loss how someone as smart and sensible as you can have no problem with a president who promised "sunlight" and "transparancy" and "five days to read any bill, online" has reneged on all of that and now tries to trundle through dubious (no one but the WH is saying "these things are great" the GAO is saying "these things will kill us") 1,000 page bills, that no one has read, and ram them through without giving so much as a hearing to the other side (it is on record that Pelosi, doing Obama's bidding, locked the GOP AND the BlueDog Dems out of their "stimulus bill" writings). I cannot conceive how reasonable, thoughtful, intelligent people have no problem with this unless they're simply running on knee-jerk partisanship - the exact sort of kneejerk partisanship bloggers like me were accused of during Bush's presidency, even though we did object and criticize the man when warrented. Where are the voices on the left suggesting they are troubled by the naming of countless czars, answerable to noone, and put beyond the scrutiny of the congress? Where are the voices on the left suggesting they are troubled by Michigan's 15% unemployment rate, California's near-demise and NY's troubles, when all three of those states are run by Democrats who are pushing the same sorts of policies on the whole nation? The Bush deficits and spending ideas were bad enough AND WE ON THE RIGHT AGREED WITH YOU ON THE LEFT ABOUT THAT...why don't you care about the TRILLION DOLLAR deficit Obama and Pelosi are running up?
This is not about "hating Obama," and I think you know that. I may be relentless, but I'm not unfair - when the right is coming down to hard on Obama, I say it (note, I even suggested that Gateway Pundit was too harsh on him, in this very piece, and defended the bouncing throw as not important in and of itself, in contrast to others on the right and - dare I say it - in STARK contrast to anything any lefty blogger could manage to write about President Bush.
Things have changed, as you say, and yes, it's different from different sides on the "intertubes," but I think you conveniently forget that for 8 years President Bush AND HIS FAMILY were critiqued by the left and the press - sometimes fairly, but often unfairly, personally, nastily, erroneously and gratuitiously. And you know I don't need to provide examples. You cannot compare the non-stop thrashing the left and the media gave Bush, to the tongue bath they give Obama, and while I do not say there are no right-wing bloggers who are as bad as the left was to Bush, I'll maintain that when I can compliment or be fair to Obama, I try to be. But there is an awful lot he is doing that is just plain troubling; I have some very, very smart lefty readers on this blog, and it is because they are so smart that I am so confounded by what they are willing to overlook and ignore and allow to pass by unremarked upon...but as so many on the left wanted to say to me over the past years, "just because you don't like to hear this about Obama does not mean there is not truth to it."
Sometimes, I had no choice - even though I was inclined to defend him against the harshness, lies, and plain-old mean-spiritedness of the left (come on, if Bush had stumbled through the door as Obama does in that link, you'd be seeing it, hearing about it, reading about it and writing about it for weeks!) truth demanded that I criticize Bush (and I have a piece brewing in me that will surprise you for its criticisms of him, if I can ever find the time to write it). I have no choice but to say that these things Obama is doing - particularly the way I believe he is "playing" the Catholics - but whether you believe it or not, I do not do it for spite. I am simply waiting for someone - anyone besides Glenn Greenwald - on the left to say, "hey, wait...he's doing all the things we said Bush was evil for doing, AND he's doing this other troubling stuff with czars, and appointments and lobbyists...." And it seems I will wait for a long time -admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 10:04 pm | #31
Ah, me! The website just ate my three hours of written work to post another comment.
[Nothing in the spam filter, Joseph - have no idea what happened to it! Sorry...admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 10:07 pm | #32
I have known Bill Webb, Fox’s Emmy Award-winning baseball director for almost 25 years. I will swear on a stack of Sporting News that Bill would never take orders from the White House on photographing the President to their liking.
July 15th, 2009 | 10:14 pm | #33
Did anyone else notice the facial expression of the golf cart driver? I don’t think he looks happy to be there.
July 15th, 2009 | 10:14 pm | #34
[...] Attorney To Protect Edwards And Easley? Liberty Pundit: NYT: Your Money or Your LIfe The Anchoress: A Difference Goes Beyond the Pitch Atlas Shrugs: Day 31: Iranian Revolution: “hundreds of unidentified dead bodies are piling up [...]
July 15th, 2009 | 10:40 pm | #35
Yo Jason at least Bush didn’t use a teleprompter. Oh and by the way Obama ain’t so articulate without it…… And Russ who gives two sh*ts if Europe loves us they would be speaking German if it weren’t for us. And who said they did like us?
[Edited to insert link; passion is a wonderful thing, but we try to go minimally vulgar around here. Please familiarize yourself with our commenting guidelines, which are not harsh or burdensome, but keep things civil and light around here. Thanks - admin]
July 15th, 2009 | 11:06 pm | #36
Mutnodjmet,
Yes – projection is an apt description. And yes, dear Elizabeth – let’s all pray for serenity in these interesting, astonishing times.
I also believe you are spot on about all the czars, Elizabeth. It is yet another astounding example of overreaching arrogance – especially as his party has super-majority controls over the confirmation of his nominees. But, the Left shares Obama’s unconstrained vision and is therefore unconcerned about his bald totalitarian impulses. They simply know what is best for the common good – up to and including the color of your car, what you may eat and what light bulb you’ll use. Smiley faced fascism.
July 15th, 2009 | 11:21 pm | #37
Can’t agree more with the analysis of the Presidential Pitch. I heard from a guy who was there that he bounced it in the dirt, as most presidents do. Bush was rather unusual, throwing strikes. It must be galling to Obama, who does like to make a show of himself, a la his beaming, overflowing pride when he killed that fly before the cameras. “You see what I did there?” he asked, wanting an answer.
Unrelated cultural note: just got back from the Harry Potter flick. Wow. The buzz said it was maybe the best one of them all. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a long, horrid, trainwreck. Just awful. It’s easily the worst by a long, tortuous, 2.5 hour country mile. What a disappointment. My family of Potter fans was not amused. Our 12 year old came up with the money line: “Imagine that! Harry Potter, a wizard, whose film has no magic!” And that’s the truth.
[Thanks for the kind words and the heads up on the Potter film. I have been leery of it (and the seventh book was such a disappointment to me I don't even know if I can stand seeing that film! -admin]
July 16th, 2009 | 12:54 am | #38
“As for me and my house?”
I do not intend to be glib with Scripture in the least. That being said, we are steeped in the Tour de France; no whiff of presidential posturing there. Phenomenal athletes (many of whom labor in obscurity), cagey tactics, compelling stories that emerge every day, great network coverage, and entertaining commentary (who can beat Bobke?). It is a joy to watch. With apologies to baseball fans, I’d take it any day over the All Star game, even if Ichiro is there.
July 16th, 2009 | 1:30 am | #39
You say President Bush threw a bit high. Well, Osama Bin Laden is tall. Best to throw high heat: let him know you are coming straight at him.
July 16th, 2009 | 1:39 am | #40
It’s like the ‘fat girl’ angle seen on many Facebook blogs. It’s to cover up obvious deficiencies while giving an illusion of grace, fluidity and attractiveness that isn’t really there
…….
July 16th, 2009 | 1:44 am | #41
Dear A~
Thanks for the clip of Pres. Bush’s pitch: I always enjoy a chance to see Bob Brenly. As a friend of mine pointed out 20 years ago, when Brenly was the catcher for the Giants in the World Series, “best looking @ss in the National League!”
July 16th, 2009 | 3:59 am | #42
It seems foolish to me to argue that George W. Bush was not responsible for ignoring the Briefing “Bin Laden determined to attack inside the U.S.” because he had only ben in office for 8 months and then to attribute every known evil to Obama.
I think Obama is lucky to have enemies like The Amchoress and the whole ditto-head, conformist echo chamber.
Many of the criticisms made here are small-spirited. Americans get it that you hate Obama. Hate never beat a real leader, just as smallness never triumphed pver a generous and warm spirit.
Obama should promote this blog and Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Obama is the luckiest person in his enemies since Bill Clinton, and Obama does not share Clinton’s missing moral compass.
If you think these entries do not sound like hate, you have lost your sense.
“All-Star Game-Gate”, or as the great starter of all your opinions, Fatso the Drug Addict said, “Throws like a Girl-Gate” are just too much hatred to be believed.
I also love how out of touch you are with the nation you live in. Nobody begrudges a president wearing casual clothes to a ball game.
[I don't hate the president; I do distrust and hate his policies and the lapdog tendencies of the press. I won't rehash stale old arguments about Bush with you - haven't the time - but please look over the comment rules, we don't call names or make fun of people's appearances here. I don't have many rules, but I'm pretty serious about them. Thanks -admin]
July 16th, 2009 | 6:36 am | #43
Loved the blog, Anchoress, but your retorts to your critics are simply masterful. Bravo!
As to the first pitch, it is funny how the Obama supporters just don’t get it. It isn’t about his athleticism, heck, those of us who watch a lot of baseball see some pretty funny stuff, its about the rank dishonesty in the way its presented in the media. It is a perfect metaphor for the entire administration – look at how masterful and beautiful Obama looks as he ruins the country. Don’t look at the result, look at him. *swoon* The ball didn’t go over the plate literally, and it isn’t going over the plate figuratively, either.
July 16th, 2009 | 7:08 am | #44
TJ:
Who said Bush ignored the briefing? What was he supposed to do? Ground all flights indefinitely?
The thing I find the most astonishing is that the left can criticize Bush for “ignoring” a memo like that while at the same time they ignore him for doing his best to make sure there was not another 9/11.
At least when I criticize Obama I try to be reasonable…I found that a lot of the criticism of Bush was just plain knee jerk.
July 16th, 2009 | 7:13 am | #45
And speaking of being out of touch with the country…..have folks like TJ and Todd been looking at some of those polls lately? More and more people blame Obama, not Bush. More and more people disapprove of Obama’s plans. More and more people worry about the money being spent, they worry about the scope of the programs and they worry about the Democrats in general.
The idea that because Obama won an election that means people will support him forever and ever is in and of itself a sign of being out of touch with the country.
July 16th, 2009 | 8:10 am | #46
How does that make me different from you in the past 8 years?
One of the reasons [though not the only one, as you know] I stopped blogging was that my political content had become redundant.
Further, I addressed issues and proposed solutions quite extensively. My compendium of posts, The American Decline Revisited:
http://shotofpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/01/american-decline-revisited.html
had no equivalent then and, as far as I am aware, has no equivalent now, and certainly no conservative equivalent, in the ’sphere. It delves extensively, and in factual detail, into cause, effect, and public policy solutions.
Moreover, it predicted the first domino that fell in our current economic travails back when Alan Greenspan was telling Congress that the Housing Crisis would “be important in certain local markets only.” I think its a feather in my cap to have made a better economic projection than the most successful central banker who has ever lived.
However, it seems to me that you – of all people – would be intelligently troubled by some of the strange-thinking people Obama is surrounding himself with…the sort of folks who could look at you with your troubles, or me with mind and decide…we’re really too much trouble and too costly to keep alive.
Perhaps. But you and La Malkin have never, to my knowledge, faced the implications of what 10-14 billion people on this earth, instead of 6 billion, would really mean. So you are on shaky ground when you criticise those who have. They are grim because it is grim.
Now if either of you are willing to assert that we will somehow be able to double the current food and energy production [not just produce "more", but double what we do now for double the number of people] and bring sensible evidence to back this up, I would be happy as a clam to read it and in absolute heaven to be able to believe it.
Conversely, if you or she would step up to the plate and assert that the sacredness of human life is so absolute that we must breed without any artificial restraints whatever, even if our grandchildren will have only half of the amount of food and energy per person we now have, I would certainly respect that. But to do so you would have to be just as honest and just as grim as the people you are calumnating.
But you don’t. You and your conservative confreres generally will not take the responsibility to examine the factual implications for human life of what you advocate. You won’t read the facts and judge them, you won’t do the math, and you won’t honestly confront the possibility of there being “no good choices” that include total fidelity to your principles, and then say that we still must make the bad choices anyway.
And what La Malkin will always do is pull the usual shabby and intellectually dishonest trick of tearing quotations out of context to create a straw man to abuse by calling it “eco-mad” so as to evade the issue entirely.
She has done to Dr. Holdren exactly what Pope Benedict’s enemies did to him over the issue of Catholic dialog with other religions. Exactly.
The point is this: ad homenium argument against the people you disagree without honest confrontation of our common problems is simply not persuasive. It self-evidently was not persuasive in November 2008, and with the power of incumbency behind Obama, I don’t think it will be persuasive in November of 2012.
If they ever want to be persuasive again, conservatives, and particularly “social conservatives”, will have to come up with something different and more substantial than that.
July 16th, 2009 | 8:56 am | #47
Thanks for taking the time to respond in depth. A few things, very briefly.
You seem to conflate personal criticism with political stance and its relative vehemence. You would be incorrect on this in my case. I do have many problems with the administration’s handling of the economy, but given that we don’t live in a parliamentary democracy, we would seem to be stuck with the D’s, polls notwithstanding.
“1,000 page bills” are the product of Congress, not the executive branch.
“(I)t is on record that Pelosi, doing Obama’s bidding, locked the GOP AND the BlueDog Dems out of their ’stimulus bill’ writings.”
I’m more concerned that the “party” that outnumbers the GOP 2-1, registered independents, are shut out of *everything.* I don’t care for the Republican whining on this–they ran the system the same way. And while I might be ready to concede that joining a party is the traditional way to get involved and get things done in the US, there’s a lot of clever people who reject both parties who are rarely consulted on matters of national or state importance.
“Where are the voices on the left …?”
For the voice of the left, you’d have to surrender the meme about the librul media and the other talking points of pajama media and see what the *real* liberals are saying. As for me, I have no intention of adding to the echo chamber here or elsewhere.
“This is not about ‘hating Obama,’”
That’s not what your site communicates.
“I think you conveniently forget that for 8 years President Bush AND HIS FAMILY were critiqued …”
Of course they were. As was the previous president, the one before him, and the one before him. We live in a culture of complaint. It has nothing to do with ideology or politics. It’s the way we’ve been conditioned for generations.
Speaking kindishly, I do think your blog is heavily damaged by the indulgence in and for the secular culture.
July 16th, 2009 | 8:59 am | #48
[...] the Anchoress aptly stated, the difference between Barack Obama and George W. Bush goes beyond the pitch. They [...]
July 16th, 2009 | 9:12 am | #49
LOVED this blog post, Anchoress. The title speaks volumes.
July 16th, 2009 | 9:13 am | #50
President Bush went out, under grave circumstances, and helped lift our nation out of its sadness. He showed bravery and leadership and helped me when I saw him stride out, thumbs up and throw that ball. It stiffened my backbone and told me we will persevere.
Obama’s polls are down and he went out to lift that (as did Sen. Kerry). There is a vast difference between the the two men…..one loved my country and lifted ME up, the other does not like this country, makes no attempt to lead me out of this valley of despair the country has lapsed into….I’ll take GWB.
July 16th, 2009 | 9:56 am | #51
thank you for this. I love the way you talk about Pres. Bush.
July 16th, 2009 | 10:27 am | #52
It troubles me that people on the left say that we’re full of hate simply because we’re against President Obama’s policies and the people he chooses.
Obama scares me. He scares me because he is anti-religion, anti-child (pro-abortion), alienates our friends and shmoozes up to our enemies. I do not believe he is to be trusted in the least.
July 16th, 2009 | 12:03 pm | #53
I would like to make a suggestion to all posters on this blog (and to Elizabeth herself, as she once had the same problem):
TYPE YOUR REPLIES IN WORD FIRST!
Or notepad, or whatever. Then paste them here. You will NEVER lose another post again.
July 16th, 2009 | 3:02 pm | #54
OK – I admit it I’m a jock.
Played soccer, cricket, tennis, table tennis, did track in my youth. Still play “A” level squash at over 50. Just came from the tennis courts with my kids.
Never played baseball as I am not an American but I can tell you one thing from my years of experience and from watching MLB on television.
OBAMA THROWS LIKE A SISSY, A GIRLY MAN, A WUSS !!
On the other hand I saw President George Bush’s opening pitch a few years back and I would have that guy on my team. Way to go George W !!!
All this PR about Obama and basketball. Judging how he threw that pitch I bet he only got on teams because he is black. When my 5 year old is 10 I bet he will be strong enough to out hustle that girly man in the White House.
July 16th, 2009 | 5:31 pm | #55
Keep up the good work, Anchoress. I miss GWB also. He loves our country. The person in the White House right now gives me the impression he’s ashamed of our country.
July 16th, 2009 | 5:42 pm | #56
Excellent piece.
To be fair, though – & I didn’t take the time to read through all 54 previous comments – Pres Bush did sit in the booth with the game’s announcers during previous All-Star games & was very congenial, light, & mostly spoke of baseball. He was dressed in casual business attire (if I recall correctly, it was kakhis, dress shirt, & sport coat – no tie).
But that in no way mars your piece or the distinctions you make between the two men.
July 16th, 2009 | 6:28 pm | #57
I’m also with you on boos. Maybe at a campaign stop, but here one is not booing Barack Obama, they are booing the President of the United States.
This falls under “respect the office, if not the man in it.”
July 16th, 2009 | 8:42 pm | #58
“You seem to conflate personal criticism with political stance and its relative vehemence. You would be incorrect on this in my case. I do have many problems with the administration’s handling of the economy, but given that we don’t live in a parliamentary democracy, we would seem to be stuck with the D’s, polls notwithstanding.”
A lot of words just to say that you are ideologically aware, not just politically informed?
“For the voice of the left, you’d have to surrender the meme about the librul media and the other talking points of pajama media and see what the *real* liberals are saying. As for me, I have no intention of adding to the echo chamber here or elsewhere.”
Like the Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, Andrew Sullivan, Krugman, Rich et al?
“That’s not what your site communicates.”
With you on board, the site seems more about (tiresomely) hating President Bush.
“Of course they were. As was the previous president, the one before him, and the one before him. We live in a culture of complaint. It has nothing to do with ideology or politics. It’s the way we’ve been conditioned for generations.”
Oh so we are just “complaining” about Sarah Palin now, huh?
“Speaking kindishly, I do think your blog is heavily damaged by the indulgence in and for the secular culture.”
I think you are clever enough to suspect what I am inclined to say here.
July 17th, 2009 | 7:12 am | #59
Joseph:
The housing bubble had a lot to do with Democratic programs designed to get people into houses they could not afford. So while it is easy to blame Greenspan or whatever, it is typical of liberal behavior to completely ignore their own culpability. They just start lecturing the rest of us.
Well, school is out and you guys are not only wrong, you are fiscally disastrous.
July 17th, 2009 | 4:21 pm | #60
[...] up Obama as the sole answer for anything, you are worshiping him — so, I rest my case. The Obama Fly Girl seems bedazzled by Obama’s smile, as noted by my blogging patron, the [...]
July 17th, 2009 | 4:32 pm | #61
[...] up Obama as the sole answer for anything, you are worshiping him — so, I rest my case. The Obama Fly Girl seems bedazzled by Obama’s smile, as noted by my blogging patron, the [...]
July 17th, 2009 | 9:42 pm | #62
A lot of people around the blogs have commented that Stan the Man’s driver seemed monumentally ticked off. I wonder if initially there had been a different plan, perhaps one to drive Musial around the perimeter of the field so that all the fans could get a look and give a cheer (I know I was surprised when they stopped where they did and then stayed there). I wonder if maybe the president’s office had some other ideas… And did anyone besides me (and the hubby) think Cheryl Crow’s rendition of the anthem was off? Badly off sometimes.
As for the camera angle, it’s Fox. I’ve been complaining about the shoddy camera work during their baseball telecasts for years.
July 17th, 2009 | 11:22 pm | #63
Did not read all the comments. However I think your original post was very well thougt out and stated. Cheers!
July 19th, 2009 | 5:30 am | #64
[...] The Anchoress — A First Things Blog- “The difference goes beyond the pitch”, a commentary on Obama’s ceremonial “first pitch” in the All-Star Game. [...]
July 22nd, 2009 | 1:38 pm | #65
Another thing that highlights Obama’s insecurity is that he insisted on throwing from the top of the mound. Most first pitches are thrown from the base of the mound. Even President Bush, who proved he could get it across the plate with authority from the top of the mound, threw from the base of the mound at later first pitches.
Why would Obama go from the top of the mound when he knows he can’t throw? I think he probably had images of Bush’s 9/11 pitch in his head.
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