Thursday, January 28, 2010

Being Arrogant

President Obama was called arrogant by a number of analysts and contributors on Fox News after his State of the Union address. It's completely amazing that this label was used to describe a president who like none other was a community organizer, working with the humblest among us. Here was a young man who, after attending Harvard where he was president of the Harvard Law Review, chose not to go to Wall Street but to the streets of Chicago. The arrogant label has little to do with President Obama. It has more to do with the desire to position him to a lesser degree. To them he is the quintessential historical "uppity negro." In reality he is the President of the United States.

20 comments:

DB said...

They will find something derogatory to say even if they have to make it up. It reminds me of the remark some one made. I think it was Lyndon Johnson, correct me if I'm wrong. "If I walked on water they would say I couldn't swim."

DB

Judith Ellis said...

DB - I think you're right. It is the exact same thing as it relates to policy. Many are simply oppositional.

Cinda said...

We have such a long, long way to go. Judith, in a few thoughtful phrases you expressed my thoughts in a much better way than my tangle of irritated, angry and ineffective rants. Thank you.

Cinda said...

PS...I emailed you off-blog as well. I am so impressed.

Judith Ellis said...

Cinda - What is for certain is that your words are often very thoughtful and inspiring and I have learned a great deal from them.

I so appreciate you and your daughter's journey. You give tremendous hope to other moms and other people in general. Thank you for that.

While we have a long way to go, we have most certainly come a long way! We'll get there!

I'll check my email and pop you one back. I guess we have a mutual admiration thing going on here, Cinda. I think you're great!

Bob said...

Arrogant he's not. I think today's session with House Republicans may have started to change the conversation in ways that will benefit our country. It's worth seeing, or reading at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-gop-house-issues-conference.

And I've missed you at http://bit.ly/EthicsBob

Judith Ellis said...

Bob - I watched the GOP Q&A session with President Obama. If that wasn't a game changer, I don't know what was. It was just an extraordinary thing to behold and it clearly showed that President Obama has a extraordinary command of all of the issues and is simply a very good guy.

I was very impressed and proud that he is our president as I watched him him answer so many questions so amazingly. He was brilliant! I am incredibly happy the session was televised live. It showed the what the majority of the Republican party is made off: simply opposition and idealism.

Of the many questions, there was only one that had any depth or that was even true. One by one the Republican leadership and rank and file showed the American people themselves: They are largely idealogues, minus lugar, Snowe and Collins.

It was a very poor display of their lack of ideas and command of the issues. The Republicans all delivered campaign talking points and showed their inability to be pragmatic. Each were picked off one by one. It's amazing that there were some 140 something congresspersons and not one was able to say anything constructive and factual.

How great it was that this session was live! I think the session itself is a first. I'd like to see many more such sessions!

I've missed you too. I'll pop over.

JOHN O'LEARY said...

Yeah, that Q&A was something. Obama at his most thoughtful. The folks in the caucus who asked the questions were surprisingly self-righteous, as if they felt there was only one solution to each problem that was brought up. This insularity was alarming to behold - a lack of "social intelligence" perhaps - that seems to be particularly endemic in this Republican congress.

I'm seeing a schism on the horizon for the GOP. The Party of Lincoln is going to have to disown the simpleminded hyperbole of many of its current members to regain some moral and intellectual stature.

Judith Ellis said...

Good point, John, about the insularity of this Republican caucus. While the tone could be seen as self-righteousness for me it was purely a lack of ideas and thoughtfulness. And, on several occasions President Obama had to actually tell them that what they were saying "was not true." Boehner's released statement also seemed like an outright lie. It read: "Rhetoric versus reality: President Obama repeats discredited talking points during dialogue with House GOP." If anyone believes this it would indeed be shameful. President Obama had to also point out their talking points which wasn't about coming to an understanding. It was as the President said as if they were "campaigning." He also mentioned how can governing ever occur if they were always campaigning. This was an excellent point.

Tremas said...

Well, you have to cut them some slack; after all, they *did* cut away about halfway through the pasting he was giving the GOP, so to be fair, FauxNews didn't really see all of it. :)

Judith Ellis said...

LOL, Tremas! It's amazing to me that way Fox News treats it viewers like little children and they follow along. Amazing!!!

Judith Ellis said...

By the way, the night of the Hope for Haiti telethon every channel, including the Weather Channel was broadcasting live, except Fox.

Bob said...

A Republican House friend (sorry!) agreed with my assessment, but said that Pelosi is standing between the House R's and the President. I think she has a stake in hyper-partisanship, sorry to say.

Tremas said...

FauxNews probably think a Palin/Brown ticket is the way to go in 2012.

It's going to be fascinating, watching the infighting as to who's the "REAL darling of the GOP": Saint Sarah, or that Newcomer Brown. :)

Judith Ellis said...

Bob - If she does have a desire for hyper-partisanship that is really unfortunate. I'm glad you put that qualifier in there. Because there are differences in ideology and stances and this is okay. But it should not stop progress. The hyper-partisanship does this.

By the way, you never have to apologize for the friends you know in high place. :-) After all, you worked for the Defense Department, right? I know that you worked very closely also with Al Gore. You the man, Bob! And, I think you're great!

Judith Ellis said...

Oh, Tremas, both are sad cases for leadership from what I have followed and read. And, of course, we all saw Palin self-destruct in before our very eyes. All you need to do is think of her interviews, any of them, including those on Saturday Night Live. Oh, wait, was that Sarah? :-)

Tremas said...

I think they'd fight over who'd get the main nomination, and who'd get the VP....

"Oh, but yah know, I wuz already the Veeper nom, and now it's time fer me to take the moose by the antlers, and give the Prez slot a crack!"

Judith Ellis said...

Funny, Tremas!

Pamela Cone said...

I am so proud of our President, The Commander and Chief of the United States Armed Forces, the top Global Leader throughout the world.

Maybe he isn't arrogant but those who support him we are arrogantly proud!

Judith Ellis said...

Very nice, Pam! Along with that is a heavy dose of humility and gratitude. I know you understand these things because of your husband's years with the Armed Forces. May God bless him for his service and your family for your sacrifice. My love I send to you today.