In his studied desire to be the unBush by responding coolly to events like this, Obama is dangerously close to failing as a leader. Yes, it is good not to shoot from the hip and make broad assertions without the facts. But Obama took three days before speaking to the American people, emerging on Monday in between golf and tennis games in Hawaii to deliver a rather tepid address that significantly underplayed what happened. He described Abdulmutallab as an “isolated extremist” who “allegedly tried to ignite an explosive device on his body” – phrases that indicate a legalistic, downplaying approach that alarms rather than reassures. Today’s words showed a lot more fire and desire to get on top of things – we’ll see whether Obama follows through with action. In the meantime, he went snorkelling. Toby Harnden/London Telegraph
Fascinating view from the London Telegraph.
January 20th, 2011 at 3:59 PM
[...] Related reading on the photo above and on Obama in general: HillBuzz: Question of the Day: When you see this photo of Obama looking down at Joe Biden, what do you think and feel? Frugal Café Blog Zone: White House Thought THIS Was a Good Photo? ‘Smug-faced Obama Facing Down Biden’ Pic Speaks Volumes and Prez Spendthrift: Luxury Hawaiian Mansion for the Obamas’ Christmas Vacation (video) and Conservatives in Washington: Why Conservative Policies Are Ignored in Favor of Liberalism and Rush Limbaugh & Glenn Beck: The Highly Anticipated “Free Speech in Jeopardy” Interview (5-part video) Nice Deb: Sunday Silliness and Drudge Goes There: Obama’s Evil Eye Althouse: “Damn, Obama looks like James Bond in this picture.” and Everybody’s talking about that James Bond/dead tired photograph of Obama Little Miss Attila: On that “President Haughty” Pic . . . The Lonely Conservative: The Same Media that Bashed Bush for Vacations Makes Excuses for Obama Patterico’s Pontifications: Obama Effigy in Plains GA and An in-depth look at Rasmussen and vintage Democratic whine and Obama’s End-of-Year Polls (Updated x2) and We Have a Problem, Houston … and Washington Publius, Big Government: Left Attacks the Messenger: Hide the Decline in Rasmussen Polls Cold Fury: In like he’s Lyin’, Out like he’s Lamb Ben Smith, Politico: Back to Hawaii Gateway Pundit: First Family to America: Everyone Must Sacrifice, Everyone Must Have Some Skin in the Game… We’ll Be In Hawaii Jake Tapper, Political Punch, ABC News: Gibbs Bashes Gallup Daily Tracking Poll Hot Air: Dems declare war on Rasmussen? Politico: Low favorables: Dems rip Rasmussen Scared Monkeys: Democrats Whining & Attacking Pollster Scott Rasmussen as to Why America Against Democrat Agenda … That’s Your Plan? GayPatriot: Did Bush White House Ever Go After Pollsters? Beltway Blips: Poll: Americans Souring on Democrats New York Post: Bam’s whiny blame game American Thinker: Obama’s ‘can’t do style’ James Hudnall and Batton Lash, Big Hollywood: Obama Nation: Homeland Insecurity Motor City Times: News Roundup: Democrats Whine, America On Wrong Track And Blizzard Cancels Global Warming Rally Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F [...]
August 31st, 2010 at 8:50 AM
[...] and About That “Firecracker” Diary of a Mad Conservative: Charles Krauthammer and Brit gives Obama an F Gateway Pundit: Afghan CIA Bomber Was Courted as Possible Informant and Obama on Undie Bomber: [...]
January 4th, 2010 at 12:56 PM
[...] America On Wrong Track And Blizzard Cancels Global Warming Rally Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F Paul A. Rahne, Big Government: Barack Obama and the Exhausted Presidency RedState: Could this [...]
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:17 PM
[...] America On Wrong Track And Blizzard Cancels Global Warming Rally Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F Paul A. Rahne, Big Government: Barack Obama and the Exhausted Presidency RedState: Could this [...]
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:33 PM
[...] and Clown alert: Janet Napolitano says the “system worked” Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F VotingFemale Speaks!: Obama’s Airport X-Ray Nude Scanners can not detect vagina bombs or anus [...]
January 2nd, 2010 at 9:21 AM
[...] worked” Pat Dollard: Al Qaeda On Abdulmutallab: Yep, That Was Us Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F VotingFemale Speaks!: Obama’s Airport X-Ray Nude Scanners can not detect vagina bombs or anus [...]
January 1st, 2010 at 2:42 PM
[...] worked” Pat Dollard: Al Qaeda On Abdulmutallab: Yep, That Was Us Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F VotingFemale Speaks!: Obama’s Airport X-Ray Nude Scanners can not detect vagina bombs or anus [...]
December 31st, 2009 at 10:39 AM
[...] INTERPOL OVER our Constitution!!WTF? Diary of a Mad Conservative:Yes. Yes, I do Mr.President and Brit gives Obama an F and Who’s guarding the henhouse? and Napolitano’s a dummy, Obama’s naive and WE have to [...]
December 30th, 2009 at 11:34 AM
[...] and Clown alert: Janet Napolitano says the “system worked” Diary of a Mad Conservative: Brit gives Obama an F and Buy some kneepads. We won’t be bowing, we’ll be kneeling thanks to Obama. Frugal [...]