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Dinner With Barack
DINNER WITH BARACK....Last night Barack Obama had dinner with conservative uberpundits Bill Kristol, George Will, David Brooks, and Charles Krauthammer. If George Bush had done something similar with liberal columnists eight years ago, Jon Chait thinks wingers would have gone ballistic:
And the reason is that they wouldn't have confidence in Bush or McCain to be surrounded by liberal ideas without being deeply influenced by them.
....And that's why liberals aren't having a cow. They know that Obama understands far more about policy than any of his right-wing dinner companions, is used to being exposed to opposing ideas, and won't come out of that dinner telling his staff, "Hey, did you know we cut half the capital gains tax and raise more revenue?"
I don't know if Obama thinks he can actually persuade Kristol & Co. to support his ideas, but he's self-aware enough to know that a face-to-face meeting can change the tone of criticism even if it doesn't stop it. Once you've met someone in person, it's just a little bit harder to be really nasty toward them in print. It's the same dynamic that makes it hard to unload both barrels against a debate opponent: things are different in person than they are when they happen second or third hand. Obama's demonstrating yet again that he's a smart cookie.
And who could have Bush met with? Paul Krugman? There are no liberal columnists in major papers, are there?
A "smart cookie"? That's RACIST!! :-P
Wasn't Bush known for charming the reporters who were covering him? Different cohort, same general idea.
There may or may not be an infinite number of alternate universes but I am certain if there are, not a one of them has Bush sharing dinner with any group of liberals, columnists or otherwise.
Kevin, among the reason I value you and the blogs you have developed is the lack of hysteria from you and from the cool group of commentators you attract. As a side note, this is a plus for Steve Bennen as well.
While I like much of the work done at Americablog, Open Left, Think Progress and the Juicebox Mafia (I kid), their commenters can get quite screechy. Don't know if that is due a general lack of faith, not paying attention or DNA, but it has been a sometimes guilty pleasure of mine to drop in and see the reaction to the latest perceived slight from the PEOTUS. Though, it is getting a tad old.
Eg.:
While Obama is trashing gay people, he's breaking bread with all of the Conservative pundits. Obama is a self absorbed sell out that misled the electorate!
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/13/obama-right-wingers/
Priceless.
Keith G,
lack of hysteria
that is one of the nicest ways I've ever been called an old fart.
Thanks dude.
BTW, I want to make sure that it is clear the the quote I used above in from an individual comment and not from a blog post.
"Once you've met someONE in person, it's harder to be nasty to HIM in print." Single noun, single verb, I'm thinking.
Tripp, So are you a pre-cusp boomer?
PFL,
speaking as one pedantic @$$ to another: Strictly speaking, you're correct, but the emerging practice seems to be to use THEM as the gender-free pronoun, even in the singular. I suspect that's what Kevin is doing here.
Tripp,
You're not an old fart. You kids today are just calm from sniffing glue or something.
Keith,
I think Tripp is on the cusp between cuspers and boomers. Makes him a "B Cusp," I suppose.
Isn't this just the same as the whole "Do we talk to Iran?" issue we had during the campaign?
Let's not fool ourselves about some NUTCASES on the left being just as upset that Obama would even consider being in the room with these fellas...you know there will be commenters who are for sure...I'm here betting the "honeymoon" won't last until t he morning of the 21st...Time for folks to step up and SHUT UP the stupid media and, sadly, many in the blogosphere (HUFFPO this includes you)!!!
Obama is wise enough to realize that a bit of stroking of monstrous egos goes a long way.
If Obama could dine with those guests, he could sail a number 9 storm and never blow his cookies.
He's conclusively proven his intestinal fortitude.
forgive my cynicism, but why would anyone waste time on that particular group? does anyone sitting on the fence actually read a snooty george will column, a krauthammer hyperventilation, a brooks meander or an empty bag by kristol and suddenly see the light? is there no more valuable group upon which to spend one's valuable hour? why not limbaugh?
There are no liberal columnists in major papers, are there?
At the time, Molly Ivins was still living and writing. But other than her and Krugman, and maybe Bob Herbert (at that time a column in the NY Times automatically made you big time) you're right. There were no other big name liberal columnists.
Once you've met someone in person, it's just a little bit harder to be really nasty toward them in print.
Really? How did that work for Bill Clinton and Al Gore?
Hate to break up the circle jerk here but, for me, for BO to have dinner with the clowns who enabled Shrub for eight years is fucking pathetic.
And who could have Bush met with? Paul Krugman? There are no liberal columnists in major papers, are there?
At the time, Tom Oliphant at the Boston Globe. EJ Dionne at the Washington Post. Cynthia Tucker at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Sure. Bush has dinner with Paul Krugman, EJ Dionne, David Corn and Bob Herbert (or whomever) and suddenly he's for higher taxes, gay marriage, and abortion. Sure. Chait is a moron.
".Last night Barack Obama had dinner with conservative uberpundits Bill Kristol, George Will, David Brooks, and Charles Krauthammer...."
Let's drop in and see how it went. (CUE DREAM SEQUENCE: diddle-iddle-a, diddle-iddle-a...)
OBAMA: "Well, gentlemen, I suppose we'll be working together somewhat closely over the next few years - I hope we can find some common ground. David, could you pass the rolls? David? David? DAVID!"
BROOKS: "I'm sorry, sir. I was lost in your eyes."
OBAMA: "Ahem. Yes. Well. As I was saying..."
KRAUTHAMMER: ""Rolls?!" "Pass the rolls!?" Only a deluded liberal would eat rolls while Israel faces an existential threat!"
OBAMA: "Well, Charles.."
WILL: "You want an "existential threat?" The designated hitter! What are you going to do about THAT, Mister President Smarty Pants?"
OBAMA: "Well, George..."
KRISTOL: "He's not President yet! I think McCain still has a shot at this thing!"
OBAMA (getting up) "Um..."
BROOKS: (in That Britney Guy mode) "LEAVE OBAMA ALONE!"
....aaaaaaaaand scene.
I have no problem with Obama having dinner with these people specifically, but it does seem these days that, in some circles, anything Obama does is perceived as brilliant and beyond any suspicion or even much curiosity. I guess we've waited a long time to have a god from the left, but, still, it's a bit thick at times.
I'll guarantee you Obama didn't try to change their views. What he likely said was let's agree, disagree or compromise based on our real views of what's good for the American people, not based on who gets credit.
....aaaaaaaaand scene.
Posted by: Cazart on 01/14/09
This just begs for a longer 'script' and a really kewl title.
BTW, pass me the damn rolls! No, not the Kaiser rolls OR the Crescent rolls.
And the reason is that they wouldn't have confidence in Bush or McCain to be surrounded by liberal ideas without being deeply influenced by them.
Bush is a liberal. He is an Evangelical Christian, but otherwise very liberal, whether it be on spending, ruining education by inserting another layer of federal bureaucracy, affirmative action (hiring of incompetent minorities Rice and Gonzales, Rice being a twofer as a woman--the highest advancement of incompetents on the basis of skin and sex EVER), copying Dem Woodie Wilson on making the world safe for democracy, chamberpot immigration--you name it--Bush is one of yours, not one of ours.
I'm afraid to ask, but what is chamberpot immigration?
Chait's right I think. I bet right wingers have never gotten over the shock of Reagan decided to aim for 0 nuclear weapons after a chat with Gorbachev.
However, there are other factors involved. For one thing, wingers would go ballistic, because that is what they do -- many of them can't phrase coherent arguments so they scream. Also many are spoiled brat egomaniacs who wouldn't forgive McCain for talking to anyone but them.
I'd guess that Will and Brooks wouldn't have gone ballistic. Kristol maybe, and, well, when has Krauthammer ever not gone ballistic ?
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
;)
a "smart cookie"? that's racist!! :-p
posted by: ramki on 01/14/09 at 2:18 pm
...and never blow his cookies...
posted by: slanted tom on 01/14/09 at 4:16 pm
that's racist and sexist!
Bush went to many meetings with a room full of liberals who are biased against him. They called them press conferences.
Yeah, and for suffering through 44 of those evil meetings, he rewarded himself with 76 vacations (not days of vacation, individual vacations). Somehow, I'm not losing any sleep for the man.
I noticed that jobs number
I noticed that jobs number first thing this morning. I thought it deserved more attention, but everybody was buzzing about Sarah.