i'll bet Palin is having a field-day with this.

This is just part of the bigger overall conspiracy to promote the Tonight Show.

This is what bugs me about this. Does anyone think this is how he truly feels about special needs people? People are just too easily offended these days. It was a stupid thing to say, and he should be more careful in general given his position, but c'mon. It's not like he's going to introduce legislation instituting the spartan-baby test.

If I have any problem with this, it's the fact that he's a sitting president and he's on Leno. This combined with Barack-o-tolgy is sort of ridiculous.

There needs to be a Downs Kanye jibbering about how Obama doesn't care about retards.

i don't know why people have a problem with him filling out a bracket on a white board.

The argument is that he should "be more serious" and "Keep his mind on the economy."

These are the same people though, who voted against W's daddy for not knowing what a super market scanner is.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, and I am not 100% sold on all of Barry's policies, but I am sold on having a president who can say, pick his bracket, get a beer at the Wizards' game, make a speech AND do what needs to be done to fix our myriad problems.

You're response is almost as simplistic as the faux argument against going on Leno you've created.

But I get it. Barry's a cool dude that maybe I'll have a beer with tomorrow, and smoke a cig and rap about life with.

You slipped into Haqisms...not saying anything about the argument, just saying the other person's point is simplistic or a logical fallacy.

Use your school boy learning and enlighten us on why it is a problem that a "sitting president" would go on Leno/

Actually, I think you're the one who is saying the other side is a simpleton. It's implicit when you say something like "it's the same people that..." You've moved the discussion away from the argument and towards what kind of people make the argument. Maybe Haqisms came with your horn-rimmed glasses.

Back to the argument...

You can want a president, who can multitask and participate in regular stuff without having him go on ESPN to do it like he's Dick Vitale. That's not mutually exclusive as you seem to insinuate.

Because I understand the electorate - and I was responding directly to Jewels' question of "I don't know why people have a problem with Obama filling out a bracket."

So again, what is your problem with him filling out a bracket, or being on Leno, and how is it different than the position I described?

Posted before while I was posting the above...

It's smart political positioning and emphasizes his "I'm a real boy" charm - setting him further apart from most politicians who can't tie their own shoes or not forget to eat out of their own toilets.

I don't see why this offends you, unless you are looking for a reason not to like the guy or his policies - the reasons for which are myriad and substantive compared to him appearing on Leno or filling out a bracket.

Filing out the bracket I have no problem with. Going on ESPN with Andy Smuck and goofily explaining it is a whole other issue. Letting ESPN call it BARACK-O-TOLOGY is still another.

1) The Leno Appearance - In other posts, you've decried the use of populism as a reaction to the economic crisis, and I agree with that. However, Obama is feeding into this populism sentiment by appearing on Leno (it's the middle America night show as opposed to Letterman's cynical urban night show) and decrying the bonuses.

2) You said that the counter-arg is that Obama has to "be serious." I don't agree with that at all. I don't mind one bit if he's funny or has a good time.

However this is about image crafting, and I'd like the president of the US to not engage in cheap personal appearances like he's a got a new movie out. Maybe it's naive, but I'd prefer the American Head of State to act with a certain amount of dignity. I fully admit that there is no direct "problem" or consequence with him on Leno.

Everything can be taken too far, and maybe the office needed to be "lightened up a little." But what's next? Giving Sarkosky dap?

I didn't see the ESPN thing - I haven't watched that channel in years. I thought the White House just put out his picks or something. That is pretty lame in more ways than one.

The Leno thing, I think is something that was done during the campaign, so why not as President?

And if I was him, I'd be trying to get some off of ol Carla Bruni before I bothered dappin down Sarkozy

I'm cheesy/naive/hokey enough to believe in the office of the President as the head of state. It separates him from the top official in government like a prime minister. I can't see the Queen of England on the talk show circuit. That duality of the president is fairly unique in modern government, and has everything to do with our first president being so dignified and commanding respect.

I mostly don't like it when candidates do it either but I'm willing to forgive because I realize they're trying to get elected.

If he bangs Bruni, all is forgiven.

Barack going on Leno and ESPN is no different than Dubya clearing brush for the cameras and pandering to the Nascar nation... Both presidents have a political need to show they're normal folk and in touch with the 'common' American. The only difference is Bush went middle-American good 'ole boy, while Obama is more hip and collegiate. Plus I think Obama is more sincere.

Don't worry Mutty, I hate blue jean/jet pilot Bush just as much. But I do think there is a distinction if the White House releases a photo of Obama filling out his bracket, etc. as opposed to actually doing some goofy bracket show ala Vitale.

This distinction, while small, is valid.

It brings down the sanctity of the office of Dogcatcher to appear on a "bracket-ology show" unless it's George Michael's Sports Machine

Nope, it proves he doesn't think/feel about them at all. It was a callous comment from someone who couldn't care less.

He should be happy, though. This is a lot less offensive than the schmucks he's been trying to name to his cabinet.

RIP

And Tanner, you were pretty close to the right answer here...



The sooner you realize that this is their preferred method of selling you toothpaste, the better.

here is some of that fake outrage you guys were looking for

Man, Ahnold is really sticking up for Obama today on MTP... even defending his special olympics joke

He's married into the Shrivers. I hope they disown his ass. He's callous & insensitive.