Comments on: Gay Hillary supporters realize that Bush had his virtues

By: BrianE

BrianE — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:23:07 +0000

Decoded: As Hillary supporters we think Obama is a despicable jerk, but since we will get sent to the gulags for pointing that out, we’ll compare Obama to the liberals second most hated man in America and say nice things about him.

I’m holding out for their conversion toward Palin.

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:10:35 +0000

Mike: Those of us who have had experience with "profoundly deep narcissists" know just how real the trouble facing America is. It's worth pointing out that psyciatrists say that, of all the psychiatric disorders, personality disorders generally and narcissism specifically are the most difficult to treat. Since narcissists have built a complete defensive shell around themselves, with everything being someone else's fault, they are impenetrable. There are no course corrections because the narcissist is never wrong.

Because Obama is surrounded by handlers, and because he wants to look good, appealing to his ego may force some changes in his approach to things, but he'll still be a malignant narcissist. So, even if he is forced to control himself somewhat in one area, he won't in the others. In any event, since those closet to him share his ideology and his traits, I don't see him getting the kind of pressure he needs to change things.

By: Mike Devx

Mike Devx — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:16:04 +0000

Gringo #8 said,
> This is further evidence that many in the moderate middle are detaching themselves from the POTUS. A big factor in this disengagement is the perception that the POTUS does not love our county, a perception apparently not confined to the wingnuts these days.

We’re only a year into this horrifying presidency, and the reasonable Democrats are waking up every day into this reality, same as we are. More and more, they’re understanding what trouble we are in, they are in, we ALL are in, when they contemplate the everyday actions of The Chosen One in the White House.

There is only one benefit to the next three years: vicarious entertainment. If you can, adopt the position of viewing current daily affairs with a filter of gallows humor. It *will* end someday, hopefully in 2012. In the meantime, remember what Book has said: Obama is a narcissist to the Nth degree. What this means, for our vicarious, gallows-humor entertainment, is that he will not be able to help himself. He will not be able to prevent himself from making mistake after mistake after mistake.

For narcissists, it is ALL about them. Those of us who aren’t narcissists really cannot comprehend the depths of this. It explains what the Hillbuzzers have just noticed: How cold and remote Obama’s Fort Hood political show was, and how fundamentally decent George and Laura Bush’s visit was. ”Fundamentally decent” and “narcissism” do not, EVER, go hand in hand. Remember the police sargeant helping Henry Gates down the White House steps while Obama strode off ahead of them, Mr. I Am So F$*$king Cool, to his Camera Moment.

A couple of decades ago I hung out with another profoundly deep narcissist. It is amazing, the similarities in persona, comportment and behavior I see between him and Obama.

Try as they might, Obama’s handlers will not be able to prevent the odd behavioral moments from slipping out, again and again and again. Hence the gallows-humor entertainment value of the next three years. Enjoy what you can, while the wrecking ball of this administration continues to swing indiscriminately back and forth, destroying everything in its careening path. (For awhile, the levee of political largesse will keep his liberal friends on his side, but the wreckage will reach them too, eventually… then things will get *really* interesting…)

By: Gringo

Gringo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:57:03 +0000

In reading some of the comments at Hillbuzz, what struck me was that nearly all of the commenters were in agreement with the tone of the article, albeit from different perspectives.I read for several minutes, and remember only one negative reaction to the article. Granted, this is not a randomly selected audience, but it still is significant. Recall that Hillary and Obama’s vote totals-not delegate totals- in the primaries were nearly equal. When you consider that point, this change of perception may be wider spread than just Hillbuzz readers.
This is further evidence that many in the moderate middle are detaching themselves from the POTUS. A big factor in this disengagement is the perception that the POTUS does not love our county, a perception apparently not confined to the wingnuts these days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_2008_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries

By: highlander

highlander — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:42:54 +0000

Agreed, Oldflyer. Whenever I think of Laura Bush, the word that always comes to mind is “class.”

By: Gringo

Gringo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:11:12 +0000

The reaction of the party in power will be something along the line that Dubya was “upstaging” the POTUS. For rebuttal: Dubya did it quietly, not wanting publicity. Contrast that with the “look at me” message the POTUS sent to the ceremony marking the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

By: Oldflyer

Oldflyer — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:25:28 +0000

Earlier today I read (I forget where) an account by a PFC who was wounded at Ft Hood. He related first hand impressions of the low-key, lengthy, very personal and interactive on an individual basis visit by the Bushes; and compared it with the perfunctory, highly orchestrated and restrictive visit by Obama.
I agree wholeheartedly with Highlander. I would add only that Laura Bush is the perfect partner. He often puzzled or frustrated me with his domestic policies; but I never questioned that his decisions were made because he honestly believed them best for the country.

By: Danny Lemieux

Danny Lemieux — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:30:13 +0000

Harry Truman is one of our universally recognized “great” Presidents. However, he left office with approval ratings in the low-20s, not all that unlike GW Bush. Funny thing is, I don’t recall meeting anyone from my parents’ generation that ever admitted to having been anything but positive in their assessment of Harry Truman.

I suspect something similar will be at work here and that some day (sooner rather than later, I suspect), it will be difficult to find anyone that was anything but a dyed-in-the-wool GW supporter. I will remember who they were, though. I won’t let them forget what they did to my country.

By: highlander

highlander — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:28:20 +0000

Thank you for this, BW.

I did not agree with everything George W did, but he certainly was — and still is — a compasionate man and a man of character who did what he thought was right according to his lights inspite of the lumps he knew he’d get for it. I am convinced that history will look upon him as one of our best.

Certainly quite a contrast with his successor.

By: Al

Al — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:10:55 +0000

Hi BW,
I read the peice on Hillbuzz yesterday, and had multiple reactions.
GWB and Laura’ presence at Ft. Hood Friday evening probably provided much greater healing to the bereaved and wounded than any numbers of minutes of presence or words of “compassion” from the current POTUS.
When I linked the Fox News piece of the Bushs’ quiet visit to Ft. Hood to a local radio talk show host, he joyously opened his show with it.
After reading the Hillbuzz piece in its entirety, the authors sounded like a bunch of earnest, loyal, and after analysis, thoughtful adolescents, who have realized they have made a terrible mistake, and wish to own up to it. With a vengance.
Sounds like a bunch of young, strong, Americans to me.
Al