Off the Cuff Obama - Funnier than Biden?
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16676)
Boston, Massachusetts
December 17, 2009 11:09am CST
Does Obama think before he speaks?
I am starting to prefer teleprompters. When Obama is using them, he may not say anything specific or substantial, but at least he doesn't make embarrassing gaffes. Worse, I find myself wondering if he even knows himself what he is saying. I am no fan of the man, but he is the president and it would make me feel more secure if I felt he was half as intelligent as the media proclaims he is.
For instance, Obama told ABC's Charles Gibson that if we don't pass a 2.5 trillion dollar health care bill, the federal government will go bankrupt. That's right, we've got to spend more... Sounds like the kind of financial thinking that got us into this recession in the first place. Unless the government spends more money, it won't have any.
Obama confidently announces that we're on the "precipice" of an agreement on a health care bill. Do you suppose he ever looked up the meaning and connotation of the word "precipice"? To most of us, a precipice is a pretty dangerous place to hang out on. I note that it's official definition is:
1. An overhanging or extremely steep mass of rock, such as a crag or the face of a cliff.
2. The brink of a dangerous or disastrous situation: on the precipice of defeat.
Hmmm, based on #2, he may have got that one right. Maybe it was a Freudian slip.
I still haven't figured out why he thinks home insulation materials are sexy, but that's for his wife to worry about.
2 people like this
2 responses
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
17 Dec 09
Does this mean we get to start making jokes about "Obamaisms" now? Someone tell me when it's time. I've been waiting since the 57 states gaffe.
Also, for those who may ask, no, I don't think it makes him stupid or anything to use the wrong words or turn of phrase. It's just funny.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Dec 09
You know, I would even give him the "57 states" remark as completely understandable if he meant 47 out of 48 contiguous states but said fifty instead of forty. It's the "I think there's one more" that makes it really questionable even if he meant 47 of the lower 48. It means he wasn't sure of how many states there were regardless of how many he'd been to.
I think that people would stop repeating these mistakes as much if he admitted to them.
I think the comedic season on Obama is finally starting to open up. The barbs are starting to come from late night comedians. They're still being a little bit shy and the jokes are mild, but it's a more normal attitude than the "no derogatory remarks" rule that seemed to be imposed on everyone right after the election.
1 person likes this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
17 Dec 09
I was, at first, baffled by this verbage as well. In his position I would have probably used the word "threshold" or something to that affect.
My guess, if he did indeed mean to use the word "precipice" in its literal context, is that he meant his health care bill has been driven to the edge of defeat, but he intends to pull it back from the downward drop. And truely said, this bill has for whatever reasons been driven to the brink of a cliff. It's fate is too close to call at this point. It is anyone game.
His oposition want nothing more than to push his healthcare overhaul right over the edge. Perhaps he was realisticly recognizing that vigorous opposition. In a very curious manner of speaking, however. I will give you that.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
17 Dec 09
I think it would baffle or bother me much less if he ever came out and said "I misspoke" or something to that effect. But the entire administration seems incapable of admitting even tiny mistakes, or if they are not able to be denied, they are dismissed as unimportant.
I think he really meant to say something like "we are on the verge of having a health care bill" but he used a very inappropriate but more important-sounding word and won't ever correct himself.
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