Hey, Gibbs. Enough with the baseball metaphors

[question everything]

Second Inning, Far Field, etc.

First, it is juvenile, even though the reporters provide the required giggles.

Second, not everyone's synapses are wired so that they immediately understand what you are trying to say. Not to mention the foreign press.

If you cannot find adequate words and sentences to convey your message, then what are you doing as a press secretary?

[tabatha]

1. Why is everyone so uptight.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

[question everything]

6. We have a President whose speech is an occasion to celeberate

his eloquence and the message. What a wonderful example he can provide for young students, for aspiring leaders around the world. In time when most communications are via email, text message or even on message boards, when basic grammar and spelling rules are thrown by the wayside, listening to Obama is a reminder of what communications should be.

And then you have his "mouth piece" with such a poor presentation that one has to stop and ask: huh?

A disclaimer: I am hardly an expert on communications, which is why I admire so much the ones who are).

[PretzelWarrior]

27. give him time. he totally schooled Hannity during election season

and he comes at it with a gregarious manner like "hey, we're all in this together". It is very disarming.

The press sessions weren't originally for live consumption by everyone. He sounds fine by me. You guys suddenly turned into a bunch of perfectionists and its PSSING ME OFF

[Hieronymus]

34. This board has been invaded by malcontents.

[EFerrari]

2. Is there a link to this somewhere? n/t

[question everything]

8. Here is one from yesterday

On edit; this is from yesterday - I first posted as from earlier this afternoon. Will probably be posted tomorrow.

MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the vast majority, the great bulk of that bill, does exactly that. We hope that Republicans and Democrats alike look at not just whatever page you're focusing on but whatever other pages they've decided not to focus on, and understand that the program that is being crafted -- and it will change -- there's a great tendency, and we've done this over the last few days in this room, to try to figure out what the score of the baseball game is after the third inning, okay? My team would probably be great if we stopped doing that. This is a long process that we hope is concluded by President's Day recess, because -- and the President heard this from CEOs today -- we can't afford to wait. We have to act.

and

MR. GIBBS: I think this largely proves my somewhat maybe possibly weak baseball analogy that, again, this is a -- if the vote is happening in the third inning, we've still got six more innings to go. So you can look at each one of these things each and every day; I think it's more important to see where we end up.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Press_Briefing_1-28-09/

And as I am reading this - he really is not that coherent.

And when you remember how eloquent Obama is - this is shameful.

[EFerrari]

10. Thanks.

[LittleBlue]

3. He seems inarticulate and nervous every time I see him.

Where is the guy who bitchslapped Hannity during the campaign?

[hamsterjill]

32. I think so, too.

Here's hoping that he improves as he becomes more comfortable in his new position.

[tallahasseedem]

4. I love the metaphors.

I think he's doing a great job.

[One Taste]

21. Second that.

The outrage here is completely foreign to me.

[ksoze]

5. hey Slugger, give the catcher a break will ya, it's only the first inning...

You are lobbing fastballs to the player who is simply trying to get on base. He has a three and two ball count and you are leading the runner with your complaints. Let's let the guy run the bases and swing the bat - after all, its only a game.

[janx]

13. ...

:rofl:

[MadBadger]

7. Is far field a baseball metaphor?

[question everything]

9. Dunno. At some point he said something like

to borrow from baseball, again, it is far field... or something.

[liam_laddie]

30. I think it means opposite field:

i.e., a lefty hitter whacking one to left, rather than the "usual" right field. But I'm kinda asportsual...

[question everything]

33. His quote:

MR. GIBBS: I'm pretty sure I did not -- I don't think I got an answer to my question. I think we were talking about DTV, and now we seem to be somewhat -- I'm going to go back to baseball -- far field on the Fairness Doctrine.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Press_Briefing_1-29-09/

[alwysdrunk]

11. So fucking corny

I really hope someone tells him. Like everyone knows the rules of baseball...

[janx]

12. It's SATIRE, guys.

:rofl: He knows that sports metaphors are stupid and corny. That's why he's going over the top with them! I find it humorous as hell! :rofl:

Yesterday he really got on a roll...:rofl:

[question everything]

19. Except... not everyone can catch these metaphors

and, I doubt that Obama would like to appear stupid and corny. He is supposed to talk for Obama.

[janx]

24. Did you say...

catch? :rofl:

Gibbs is doing well and having fun.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

14. I think he does a great job swinging for the fences while playing hardball with the press.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. I hate that. It could be characterized as many things

but juvenile and inadequate will have to do. I have high hopes for him but he kinda sucks. I wish those who are so crazy about sport metaphores could hear themselves. Yuck.
Frankly, any implication that this portion of our history is seen as or like a game to anyone makes me nervous.

[blueclown]

16. Oh, give me a fucking break.

Lighten up. He's doing a terrific job.

[rvablue]

17. While I have ZERO issue with Gibbs right now (as he is getting used to his role) I've always hated

sports metaphors.

It's like a dinosaur left over from "the good old boy" days.

I like basketball. I've enjoyed a few baseball games.

But when someone, anyone, uses a sports metaphor my mind goes to sleep until they finish.

[Phx_Dem]

18. Uh, it's Superbowl Sunday week, so back off. Go Gibbs!

[cherokeeprogressive]

23. Gosh I hope Kurt Warner scores a goal on Sunday! Even cooler if he gets a hat trick! n/t

[JeffR]

20. This OP: Swing and a miss!

;-)

[ecstatic]

31. at least its not a hit and run

Cheesy, I know :-D

[FrenchieCat]

22. There you go again!

[PretzelWarrior]

25. oh grow up. would you rather he use apple pie metaphors?

he's cool. way better than those lying sacks of shit lining up "at the pleasure of the president" in previous admin.

[greguganus]

26. I think he may strike out if he doesn't keep his eye on the ball. n/t

[liam_laddie]

28. Your comment = a home run! Well struck!

sorry - that's a mixed metaphor...

[ecstatic]

29. I admit, I hate sports metaphors. They're a good way to alienate non-sports minded folks nt