Just Blame Obama

There are six authors whose works I love more than others:

David James Duncan- "The River Why" and "The Brothers K" particularly reached me, because I grew up in the Pacific Northwest.
Craig Lesley- "Winterkill" is the one I started with and then read his other stuff, too.
Saul Bellow- His books, "Henderson the Rain King" and "Herzog" were amazing.
John Updike- I started with "Rabbit Run" and followed his novels straight on through. He was an incredible storyteller.
Chaim Potok- "Davita's Harp" and "I Am the Clay" are deep and involving.
Garrison Keillor- His works (mostly) all spring from the same warm and humorous source.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the above, but "The River Why" is special to me. Thanks for asking.

no problem. what do you think of vonnegut?

How could I have forgotten Vonnegut? He was a genius. "Slaughterhouse Five" is so dark and horrifying and funny at the same time. Every time I see Newt Gingrich, I think of "Cat's Cradle."

TY ;-)

Just Blame Obama for the obliviousness to "reality" since it's his fault that people won't unite!

See how easy that was?

Yes, it's all his fault. I'm glad you've seen the light.

What???

It's Obama's fault...

Lighten-up janforgore. Laughter is an important medicine for what ails US. If we cannot laugh at ourselves, 2012 might as well arrive two years early. I'm sure the President would appreciate the humor here.

I agree Janfor

Oh believe me, I laugh at the politcal bs in this country everyday on all sides. So don't tell me to lighten up. I know the difference between something that is actually funny and something that is downright embarrassing.

Perhaps my perspective is mistaken, but I was not under the impression that P was mocking the legitimate complaints of the Obama Administration's failures. I don't doubt that your concerns are well-founded, Jan, and that the performance of the Obama Administration in the areas that are of particular concern to you has been quite frustrating. This is an Administration you had good reason to hope would be far more active than they have been both with respect to successfully resolving environmental issues here in the U.S. and providing tough leadership on such issues world-wide.

But I guess I was assuming (and as in all cases where one "assumes" I may very well be wrong) that P was actually mocking not those with legitimate beefs but rather those people who blame Obama for everything that goes wrong in the U.S. and in their personal lives. Just weeks ago I recall seeing a post in which one of our esteemed colleagues here on Current blamed Obama for an illegal search by the city police in one of our large metropolitan communities. My reaction, as you might guess, was to wonder how the direct supervisor of the officers involved, the Chief of Police and the mayor of that community managed to avoid blame, not to mention the Governor of that state and that state's congressional delegation. But no, the blame went right to Obama -- a person who could not possibly have had less to do with the situation.

If we expect Obama to constantly monitor the conduct of every police officer in the country, we have given him a big job indeed. I have some big problems of my own with the Obama Administration on a number of issues, including what I consider to be the lack of transparency regarding our reasons for continuing to be bogged down in Afghanistan. I supported his view during his campaign that Afghanistan should have been the focus all along...but I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that our opportunity was lost when Bush decided to spend so many lives, so much of our national treasure, and so much of our global goodwill on his escapade in Iraq. If that is the case, then we need to see an intelligent exit strategy designed and implemented without further delay.

But despite my disappointment in some areas, I am quite pleased with the Administration's work in others. Since this post is already approaching the length of a short novel, I would simply point to the presidents that have been in office in my lifetime prior to Obama's presidency:

Kennedy (I was born shortly before his assassination)
Johnson
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II

WIth the possible exception of one or two of these men, this list represents a veritable murderer's row of incompetence, mediocrity and outright evil. My sincere opinion is that, despite his failures, Obama's performance rises rather quickly above the performances of all but two or maybe three of the names on that list -- and he still has quite a bit of time left in his first term. Admittedly, it would be nice not to even use these men as a yardstick -- but that is the yardstick we have been given, like it or not. We should absolutely continue to exert great pressure on his administration to do better, but if the Republicans manage to unseat him in 2012 there is not a scintilla of doubt in my mind that we will look back on his administration with fondness within the first 12 months of the new president's oath of office. (okay, make that a LONG novel...)

laughing at what our country is doing to us is no laughing matter.
its like playing music while the ship sinks...
i doesnt do anybody any good, and in the end it just makes you look stupid

Yup.

Thank you. I share your views as expressed here, and I would have shared them with Jan, but mockery is just so much more fun. ;-)

Oh, and by the way- I posted this in the "Comedy" section. Others added it to other categories. I purposefully did not add it to the "Recipe" or "State Department Briefing" sections, because I think it may have been way over their heads.

have I told you lately that I luv you?

lovely novel....thank you for posting it. luv the sense you make cz

The feeling is mutual, my friend.

Can't someone give an honest opinion here without getting a finger wagging in return? Some clearly defend Obama about policy because he's a Democrat. The same way Bushies did it when Bush was squatting in the White House, and it is disengenuous to me and does nothing to bring about "change." I don't need your long novel history lesson lecture responses in trying to change my mind about what I see in front of me or to make me look ignorant. I am well aware of past history which is why I can see what is happening now. When I see what I believe to be definitive real change, I will give it credit. Until then please save your lecture for someone who needs it.

Just Blame Obama for the lecturing, the finger wagging is all his fault

Jan, I am frankly bewildered by your response. I stated at the beginning of my tome that I understood your concerns and your frustrations. I was simply offering another perspective. I felt that in light of your many posts suggesting that people who were submitting posts that were supportive of Obama were doing so blindly I would simply offer my views. Of course he has some supporters who are swayed more by his charisma or intelligence than by his actual achievements. But I believe that the bulk of his supporters on Current are well aware of his shortcomings and nonetheless feel that when those shortcomings are balanced against his successes, the latter weigh more heavily than the former.

I certainly did not intend to way my finger at you. As to portraying you as ignorant, I doubt that is even possible, Jan. I know full well that you enjoy a reputation for having a fine, analytical mind, great passion and excellent writing skills. Though you certainly don't need (and did not ask for) my approval, I concur with those opinions, and nothing you have posted has given me any reason to change them.

But you are just so DEFENSIVE. You state that you don't "need" my observations. I never suggested that you did. But am I supposed to stop and consider your needs every time I want to offer my take on something you have posted? Please don't tell me that you consider MY needs when you offer your often quite bruising opinions about my submissions. I don't believe that my response was critical of you, Jan...I simply have a slightly different perspective and decided to air it.

I am not your enemy. Frankly, I am an admirer. But I have every bit as much right to express my honest opinions here as do you.

Yes. I would have posted the same thing cz posted if I could have posted it first and posted as eloquently. When I read your comment I saw a lack of perspective. Cztheday put the situation back into perspective. I felt relief.

So, even though I couldn't agree more with most of your posts I have to say, yes, there is call for some finger wagging. However, do remember this please, janforgore... you're much too awesome to ever appear ignorant. Okay?

you can BOTH count me among the people who look forward to everything you post....but I'll happily admit that I luv the humor and lightheartedness on Current as much as the seriousness....we need it all, that's what makes it a community.

Yeah, you're right. You will no doubt find this very difficult to believe, but nearly all of my posts were humorous the first few months I was on Current. I am afraid I allowed a few of the less savory individuals -- especially those who have sent me hate messages -- kick the humor out of me. Thank you, incredulous, for reminding me that all work and no play makes cz a dull...well, you get the picture...

Hmmmm...Canada.....sounds like "Kenya" to me....

The reign of terror continues.

I heard that Obama is lurking down at the ice cream factory, waiting for the perfect moment to destroy the hopes and dreams of America's children. Yes, it's true! I heard it on FOX!

If FOX says so it must be true..........Not.