Did Barack Obama say something about having a messy desk?

[bklyncowgirl]

I thought I heard, in between drifting off to sleep during the debate, Barack Obama saying something about not being the best organized person in the world and having a messy desk. Was I dreaming?

I mean this is important! My messy desk has been called an art form by some of my coworkers. Somewhere I have a sign which says "A Clean Desk is a sign of a deranged mind" but it went missing a few months ago--one of my neatnick colleagues, no doubt made it disappear--or maybe it's just under a pile of papers.

Right now, I am not supporting any candidate, but having a man after my own heart in the White House could tip the balance for me. I imagine Hillary Clinton's desk as perfectly ordered and rigorously maintained and John Edwards also beautifully put together. If Obama is a closet paper piler, that could just make me fall in love.

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Yup.

He was talking about how he always loses papers and has a really messy desk.

[Renew Deal]

22. Ned Lamont Has a MESSY DESK!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWSN2zbydKw

[krabigirl]

2. Hehe, I feel the same way. My desk is so messy.

[redqueen]

3. Bwaahaahahahahahaha...

yup, he sure did.


You ARE joking about this being the criterion that makes the difference for you, I hope.

[bklyncowgirl]

15. I consider disorderliness to be a sign of character and creativity

Neat freaks can be very judgmental and frankly annoying--just kidding. But If I had to marry one of the "Odd Couple"--I could live with Oscar--Felix would drive me crazy.

Since none of the candidates have the background that I consider a strong preparation for the Presidency (hint, I was a Richardson supporter--now there's a man who LOOKS like a messy desk) and their stands on the issues sort of cancel each other out--Edwards great on economic issues but that vote (and enthusiastic support) for the IWR is hard to get by. Obama, right on the war from the start but not as strong on health care and trade as I'd like. Clinton, likewise voted for the IWR but I think she'd fight like hell in the general election.

Little things mean alot.

[redqueen]

16. I have a messy desk... but I don't assign negatives or positives to people

based on whether they're messy or neat.

It seems VERY arbitrary to me... obviously you put more importance on it.

All I can say is: well okay then.

[Muttocracy]

27. "looks like a messy desk" :)

hah!

You know, part of the reason I have trouble keeping a clean desk at home or either work desk (I have 2 jobs) is in all cases I'm constantly multi-tasking, and more worried about doing what needs to be done now than keeping up with the junk mail, filing old papers, etc.

Plus the world is complicated and sometimes it's hard to decide how to file things under one label....

The older I get the less I worry about being neat. Fighting entropy takes too much energy; life is short.

Now, when I ran a chemistry lab that was a whole different matter, and same thing when I go to a doctor's office!

[MH1]

24. People have been known to use lamer criteria...

like race, gender, or who they "want to have a beer with".

[redqueen]

25. Yes, I know... it's tragic. (nt)

[Frustratedlady]

4. Yes, he said he had to have someone keep track of his notes...

papers, etc. He was always losing them. That was one of his faults.

[Atman]

8. Clinton couldn't list any faults. She went on a rant about George Bush.

Her only "fault" was that she felt sometimes she "cared too much." I was very disappointed in her answer. Edwards and Obama answered the question. Clinton reminded me of a verbose version of Bush's inability to name any mistakes he'd ever made.

.

[TwilightGardener]

12. No, Edwards' answer was that he cared too much. Ick. Hillary's answer

was that she was too much of a go-getter for some people--double ick. Job interview BS.

[Atman]

20. Well, yes and no.

Her "care too much" answer was an outgrowth of her go-getter-ness, as I read it. She cared so much that she got overly eager and it came across poorly to some people. Edwards' answer was more along the lines of getting involved too much trying to help with the troubles of individuals. Not a huge difference, I admit. But Edwards made a pretty direct answer. Clinton just seemed to tack it on to the end of her anti-Bush rant; it seemed to me to almost be an after-thought as she realized she hadn't really said anything yet.

.

[Muttocracy]

26. reminded me of during NPR debate

? was something about issue where they didn't know for sure they'd do or hadn't decided yet.

I remember Biden talked about trade issues.

I remember HRC dodging the question.

Fuzzy memory on the rest.

[Muttocracy]

5. in response to strength/weakness question (weakness)

I thought it was the most concrete answer to the weakness question of the 3. It also came back in followup between him and Clinton about importance of having good support staff vs. being in control of everything etc etc.

Also - Obama made a funny comment about Bush being organized and punctual. :)

[goldcanyonaz]

6. The messier the desk, the more intelligent the person is, at least that's what I'm sticking with.

[napi21]

7. Yes,. All the candidates were asked to give their biggest positive and their

biggest negative. For his neg. he said "I tell my staff not to give me any memos or papers until 2 minutes before I need them because I'll lose them. My desk is pretty much a mess."

[TwilightGardener]

9. I thought it was a cute and human flaw, shared by many intelligent people--

doesn't seem to have held him back at all in life, does it? :)

[lame54]

10. My desk is messy because...

I'm a lazy slob

[Cha]

28. Don't be so down on yourself..

My desk gets neat every once in awhile..right now it could use a little TLC. Cause I write so many things down so I won't forget them..I didn't have this prob when I was younger:)

[notadmblnd]

11. I have no respect for anyone...

who doesn't have a messy desk.

[goldcanyonaz]

13. Me either. Organization is so overrated.

[papau]

14. messy desk" had me "sympatico" - lost documents always turn up after the date they had to be used

[bklyncowgirl]

18. A little office archaeology and they always turn up--different strokes for different folks nt

[papau]

29. I also do the 100% search - with success - but I do hate "Office archaeology"

[Essene]

19. Id be more concerned with a President who doesnt read stuff rather than one who losses it...

[Essene]

17. yes... here's the youtube bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cExdtOB8Kxo

Hillary pounced, suggesting management skills were vital to being president... and Obama sprung the trap, suggesting that management skills didnt help Bush. More importantly, Obama said he's not talking about management skills but simple personal paper pushing stuff.

Watch it for yourself, decide. I found it a telling moment and kinda funny.

He should keep up with that joke...

[killbotfactory]

21. Clean desk, messy mind

Or at least that's what a teacher told me a long time ago.

[GalleryGod]

23. He sure did!

Have a great day!
Your Man in the Faculty Lounge:donut: ,wondering who gulped all the hazelnut coffee....
G.G.:patriot:

[2rth2pwr]

30. "Wait, wait...no,..no, it's right here..umm..huh..ohh just tell Putin the missle treaty is

around here somewhere and he will like it... I think"

[2rth2pwr]

31. "Dammit! where is that god*mned nuclear football! Check under that stack of papers, hurry!"