OMG - Obama Is Fucking Hilarious!

[BlooInBloo]

http://www.americablog.com/2009/01/obama-at-alfalfa-dinner.html

I am seriously glad to be here tonight at the annual Alfalfa dinner. I know that many you are aware that this dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee. If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused.

Now, this hasn't been reported yet, but it was actually Rahm's idea to do the swearing-in ceremony again. Of course, for Rahm, every day is a swearing-in ceremony.

But don't believe what you read. Rahm Emanuel is a real sweetheart.

No, it's true. Every week the guy takes a little time away to give back to the community. Just last week he was at a local school, teaching profanity to poor children.

But these are the kind of negotiations you have to deal with as President. In just the first few weeks, I've had to engage in some of the toughest diplomacy of my life. And that was just to keep my Blackberry. I finally agreed to limit the number of people who could email me. It's a very exclusive list. How exclusive?

Everyone look at the person sitting on your left. Now look at the person sitting on your right. None of you have my email address.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[madfloridian]

1. Rahm represents the way our party is going.

Unfortunately. He is the ultimate insider. And his choice put so many of us on the outside again looking in.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Hush o'joyless one.

[Sal Minella]

7. imo, Obama needs Rahm where he is, or he wouldn't be there. Rahm isn't running

for Mister Popularity. Obama is going to need a no-nonsense somebody to clear the clutter out of the path now and then.

And personally, if Rahm told me to get out of the way, I would get out of the way.

[book_worm]

13. True, a chief of staff needs to be a hard nosed bastard.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

18. More than that

(and I once worked for a former Presidential Chief of Staff), it requires someone who understands the multitude of connections that comprise everyday life in the Executive Branch. Everything and everyone is linked to everything else, and it's the Chief's staff to understand, categorize, prioritize, and amplify those connections so as to present what is most important to the President.

Smart, competent, and being tough doesn't hurt, but knowing who's who and what's what is vital.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. What's wrong with Rahm?

He's a pro, and he's damn good at what he does.

Your comment - "the ultimate insider" - is funny. Do you really think a United States President would be better served by having an "outsider" in the job of Chief of Staff?

Gotta love these people who don't understand that politics is a profession, just like law or medicine or engineering. And I, for one, want the pros in the big jobs. Would you prefer having a dental student or a dentist work on your mouth?

[madfloridian]

15. Rahm is perfect for the job, and Obama needs him.

It just leaves out a lot of people whom Rahm thinks are not needed. Activists especially. Netroots, grassroots.

He's cute, he's adorable, he is what Obama needs.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. What does that mean?

You said something that doesn't mean much. Can you expand, please?

I don't know about cute or adorable, but he's immensely competent. Would you have someone who wasn't the best in that job?

You seem to have a gripe, so why not articulate it for those of us who don't understand?

[madfloridian]

19. Yes, he is perfect for the job.

He just has contempt for activists and grassroots. I have spoken out a lot on the topic, so I am just being honest here.

Obama needs him, he needs an a**hole, people say. I understand that. I just wish there was respect from him for those outside of DC and the insider circle.

It's the choice Obama made, and it is his to make.

It sent a message to the right wing, but it also sent one to the activists in our own party..that there will be limited access.

[EraOfResponsibility]

20. Just because Rahm has contempt for activists doesn't mean Obama does. n/m

[madfloridian]

24. I don't think Obama does.

I agree with you. But that was his choice, and it did send a message. Obama has to do what he has to do.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

23. I think Obama got where he is today

by virtue of what was a grassroots movement. Am I wrong about that?

Since that's my perception, I find it difficult to comprehend how you arrive at your conclusion. And a conclusion is all you're giving me, which really isn't very helpful. In what ways has Emanuel "disrespected" the people you characterize as "outside of DC and the insider circle"?

Whom would you have him embrace? I'm really curious, and if you find my questions tiresome, I wouldn't blame you. But I really don't understand your antipathy towards Emanuel.

[madfloridian]

25. I have done a lot of writing here on that topic.

But I don't want to link right now. It is not hard to find if you are interested.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

29. Coy?

Well, I haven't seen your writing here, and following coy responses isn't appealing.

When you cannot state your objection to Emanuel in a handful of sentences, it's a pretty good indication that you're blowing steam and not much else.

Pity.

[BlooInBloo]

31. Short version of referenced writing: "We're doomed. We've been betrayed. Game over."

[madfloridian]

32. Then don't bother to read it.

It is your choice. I did state my objections just like that, but it is your choice not to read my postings.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

36. Read what?

You seem to consider your obviously ill-conceived opinions and "postings" so valuable that someone should spend time looking for them.

Get over yourself, dear. If you can't state it briefly, you got nothing, and, clearly, you got nothing.

[Duende azul]

34. Wrong.

It´s perfectly understandable that madfloridian is tired of responding always to the same memes.

If until now you didn´t get the problems progressives have with Rahm´s agenda, please go back to the moment Rahm was appointed. There has been a lot of discussion here. Shouldn't be to difficult to find something.
If really you are that unaware of the problems, perhaps it would be nicer not to show such a condescending attitude towards another DUer who has written in depth about these issues.

Yes, Rahm has an agenda. And we will have to see, if he can restrict himself to just execute what Obama wants in case of differences.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

37. Welcome to DU

If it's not that difficult to "find something," why don't you do it and post a link? Seems to me that the OP is a one-trick-pony who's been using that same old trick for too long. The truth is that the trick's not very interesting. So why keep posting it? That's the sad part of being a one-trick-pony.

Frankly, your imaginary problem with Rahm Emanuel is nothing more than a low-flying fart in a windstorm, and people like you and the OP are just bores who seem to think they're awfully important.

Your post indicates you have no concept of how the Executive Branch works. That doesn't surprise me.

[Duende azul]

45. Oh, what a "nice" welcome

"Just last week he was at a local school, teaching profanity to poor children."
Where you there? In that case you seem to have learned something.

btw: Bragging about your claimed executive experience doesn´t really help.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

46. It's not bragging,

just a simple statement of fact.

You do seem particularly humorless. And your command of the language - "Where" should be "Were" - matches your lack of substance. Why that particular joke upsets you suggests how tightly wrapped you are, all to no avail.

The welcome wasn't meant to be "nice," and you're so sharp, you caught that, as evidenced by that brilliant use of quotation marks.

Take a bow.

[Duende azul]

47. lol, finally you got a point there

regarding the lack of command of the language. But since I´m not a native English speaker I can´t help it.
So thanks for your praise of my brilliant use of quotation marks. Glad that you caught that little detail.

Regarding the bragging: trust me, I know it when I see it.

Regarding your reading comprehension: Where the hell did you get the idea I was upset about that little joke? Ts ts, I found the Obama speech pretty entertaining. But that doesn´t mean I have to agree with that Rahm-guy. If Rahm would have had his way, Obama wouldn´t be where he is today. The only point you are right about in this thread - besides the language issue - is the statement, that Obama is there because of the grassroots. But rest assured: Rahm was not part of that movement.

Regarding the rest of your posts in this thread:
Why waste more time on this? I think I´ll leave at that.

[madfloridian]

40. Thank you.

Rahm is DU's new hero, but I think it should still be okay to give criticism.

There are personal attacks in this thread, and I made none.

I appreciate your courage in standing up for me.

[Duende azul]

49. Well

over all these years when I was only reading DU you were one of the posters that really stood out.
Thank you for that.

The personal attacks are a sad attempt to stifle criticism of the neoliberal agenda.
And if a self proclaimed former presidential staff worker or worker for a former presidential chief of stuff or whatever engages in such behaviour on an effing internet board one has to wonder.

Funny, how all these people are now hiding behind Obama.
So don´t let them bother you. :)
I hope you continue doing what you are doing.

[KittyWampus]

38. she means Howard Dean. Everything she posts is ultimately about Howard Dean

once you know that, all her posts make sense.

And I'm not being snide... it's an honest observation.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

39. Howard Dean?

Now I'm really confused. I thought the post was about Rahm Emanuel.

Frankly, I don't want to know anything else about this stuff. Thanks for the observation, but there's just something terribly weird about someone who makes an allegation in an OP and then, when a reasonable inquiry about it is made, becomes defensive and - worse - self-referential.

To paraphrase, "Read my other postings" smacks of someone who thinks a body of posts is somehow so interesting it should be looked up. Yeah. Right.

What's most telling is that the OP felt the need to state the same accusation as before in yet another OP. That's the sad part.

But, thanks for the clarification. And now on to things that are interesting ------------------------------------------------>

[Political Heretic]

26. this activist isn't feeling particularly left out at the moment.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NYC Liberal]

12. Boo-hoo. Rahm is perfect for the job.

[GeorgeGist]

35. Maybe it's better to think of him as Ari Gold ...

and laugh a little.

[Le Taz Hot]

41. I've got your back, MF.

Not that you need it, of course, but I'm here anyway. Rahm Emmanuel is the DLC's Rove and is a snake. I see the "party-before-country" crowd is well represented in this thread.

[madfloridian]

43. He has fought to keep the liberals in the party from having a say.

He is supposed to be worshipped for being an a**hole and having the president make jokes about his obscenities.

I can't do that when he hurt my state so much.

He goes against what the party should stand for over and over. Look what he did to Florida. He lost us a house seat this time because of his interference, and he probably lost us one in another district a couple of years ago.

Thanks for the support.

[Carolina]

2. thanks

I needed some levity and I can hear him saying this.

K&R

[Juche]

4. LOL

The Robert E Lee statement was great.

[sandnsea]

5. Claire McCaskill twittered it

or someone on her staff did. I like the line about Joe Biden and the quiet car on Amtrak.

http://twitter.com/clairecmc

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. How cool.........

That's a real inside look. What fun. Thanks.........

[JanusAscending]

6. One of my favorite Rahm jokes

is one that Pres. Obama told pre election at a formal dinner (Jeff. Jacks.?) He said that since Rahm lost his middle finger in an accident, he's been rendered MUTE!!!:fistbump: :rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

10. HAHAAHAHA!!!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

11. That was one of the funniest lines I had ever heard...and he delivered it so deadpan!!

[Hekate]

14. rofl. Thanks so much for this. I,too,am glad that O has Rahm at his side being bad cop in a good way

:rofl:

[The Straight Story]

17. Is Hilarious Monica's sister?

Sorry, couldn't resist :)

[EraOfResponsibility]

21. is there a video of this?

[BlooInBloo]

22. Not that I was able to google up within 45 seconds, sorry.

[MidwestTransplant]

27. The part about if Lee were here he would be confused is hilarious

[BlooInBloo]

28. Yup. I hope video gets released - would love to see the delivery.

[firedupdem]

33. Hillarious! Thanks for this! n/t

[NeedleCast]

42. Nice to Have a President who isn't just funny in his own mind

like the previous resident.

[Stinky The Clown]

44. ha ha

[lonestarnot]

48. Something tells me I am going to seriously like the next four years.

:evilgrin: afalfa pfff.

[truebrit71]

50. That's some mighty funny stuff!!

:rofl: