"I embrace the notion that I have not done enough in my life"

[grantcart]

President Obama gracefully agreeing with ASU that he didn't yet deserve an honorary doctorate.

He added that Michelle also agreed and had a long list of things he had to do when he got home.





Graceful and brilliant, academic and activist. How lucky we are to have such a man as President.

[villager]

1. How much luckier when he starts to stick to some of the hard promises of his campaign...

n/t

[onetwo]

5. boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Cha]

7. Prez Obama has done a lot for us..

and I'm a ..the glass is 1/2 FULL kinda person.

[villager]

16. he definitely ain't all bad, but there are disturbing signs of political expendiency

starting to crop up...

And basically, this is America's last chance to get it right. If this Administration doesn't, it's all over -- one way or another -- as the "United" States.

I'll give him his full 8 years -- but I'd like the continuation of Bush era policies in Interior, and at the "Justice" Dept., to stop. Right now.

[grantcart]

25. Just because you don't understand his strategic moves doesn't mean that he doesn't have an

effective strategy, just means that you don't get it.

The main point of the OP, however, wasn't about policy achievements achieved in 4 months of Presidency but how he addresses the country with humility and humor.

It is obvious from the tone of your reply that you are somewhat 'humility challenged'.

Your condescending "he definitely ain't all bad" is more than a little revealing.

[villager]

31. And of course you're not condescending at all, what with your "you don't understand

...his strategic moves," which, I guess, only the brilliant like yourself can fully comprehend.

Enjoy the rarified air up there! :hi:

[grantcart]

37. Do you not find it ironic that President Obama's speech included a self critical

point of view raising the point that all (including and particularly himself) need to dedicate themselves to do more for their community while you sit on the sidelines comdemning for not doing enough in the 4 months that he has been President.


My comments are not condescending in the least because, unlike you, I am not making condescending and self indulgent comments about the President but simply stating an obvious fact, simply because somebody doesn't understand another person's strategy is not an indication that person's strategy does not exist.

That is not condescension but simply an objectively true statement.

The fact that you have missed the main point of the OP, which is not policy oriented at all but reflects on the substantive change in leadership style from the haughty arrogance of Bush/Cheney to the intellegent humility of Obama/Biden, is rather revealing. You maybe somewhat 'humility challenged'.

Given the fact that you seem oblivious to the point of the OP let me spell it out in some detail so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic thrust of what the rest of us are talking about:



Beyond the policy changes, which you have graciously given the President some additional months to address, it should be noted that simply the change in tone and style is in itself a rather remarkable change over the last 8 years. We are remarkably fortunate that our current President has so skillfully turned from the very unpleasant belligerent style of his predecessor and brought forth a style of leadership that is humble in tone, engaging in spirit, and challenges us to think.




Clear enough or do you still intend to hijack the thread with your own particular policy interests, which of course you are free to do in your own thread?

[villager]

39. A wee bit defensive, what?

I'm simply pointing out on a day where he chose to extend the Bush policy of keeping additional torture photos covered up (and on a day where the Democratic Senate caved once again to banking interests) -- never mind some of the earlier disappointments at Justice or in Interior -- that it's also acceptable to criticize our President, and call out this administration when it strays from the path it claimed to be on.

Blind Obama worship isn't much better than blind Bush worship, in terms of abdicating your responsibilities -- speaking of sitting on sidelines -- as a citizen.

That said, I like him very much, and am glad, given our choices, he's President.

However, I don't expect him to save us -- or rather, I expect we will have to provide some "citizen pressure" to make his administration reach its full potential, and so it -- speaking of hijackings - isn't subsumed into the fake "reasonableness" of the DLC.

That said, I actually didn't intend to hijack your thread -- just engender discussion.

I'm sure it was a fine speech. Enjoy. And bask.

Just don't be surprised if you have to take to the streets. Even during this administration...

[grantcart]

40. It appears from your comment that your main objection is in fact not with

the President, whom you "like . . very much" but more with the adoration of some supporters of Obama ("blind Obama worship").

Now that I understand that your comments were more directed at people who admire the President and on occasion say nice things about him I can answer your comment on point.

Having a President exercising Presidential leadership with a degree of humility is a good thing.

Noting the good things that the President is doing is not "blind Obama worship", however the objection to making such a note may (or may not) be it's antithesis.

[villager]

41. He's personally quite likable - it doesn't mean he'll always do the right thing as President

(and note: by "personally," I of course mean "what I see from a distance as an American citizen")

And today, he did a very big un-right thing. Disturbingly Bush-like.

So there is Yin, and there is Yang, yes? He's not all one thing or another, and we don't need to abdicate our responsibilities as citizens...

[Earth Bound Misfit]

43. That'll leave a mark.

K & R

Nice OP.

[grantcart]

45. Thanks, sometimes you really have to spell it out.

[villager]

33. Glitchy dupe

n//t

[salguine]

23. The White House fucked us again on health care.

[Cha]

35. Oh, it's all over? You know that for

sure? OR are you just fucking projecting?

[vaberella]

15. Your statement is full of crap. n/t

[azmouse]

2. Hear, hear.

This man has a certain grace about him that this country hasn't seen in a long time and badly needs.

[firedupdem]

3. I'm watching now on CNN. He's talking about job struggles,

debt etc. I can totally relate!

[Cha]

4. Cool! He didn't ignore

that.. Thanks for the quote, grant.

So Lucky.

[Clio the Leo]

6. And said that he'd learned his lesson....

Just TOTALLY confronted the no-honorary degree issue .... said "I've learned my lesson, I'll never pick another team to beat ASU in the NCAA tourney again! .... and the President of the University has learned HIS lesson ..... the University will soon be receiving a phone call from the IRS!"

Didn't dance around the akwardness of the moment. That man is just awesome!

[Cha]

10. Did he just have people totally

cracking up?!:rofl:

[firedupdem]

8. This is really a great speech. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

22. Yep! Another one for the homemade DVD collection! NT

[vaberella]

9. That was a nice shot at those fuckers at ASU.

There's more to being honorary than a degree and being who he is. Success is not achieved by fame or knowledge or any other stature, but who he is as a Man, Father, Husband, Brother and just all around human being.

[firedupdem]

11. Tell it...vabby! n/t

[bunnies]

12. bullshit! If he doesnt deserve it, who does?!

WTF is wrong with them? :mad:

Obamas being polite. But yeah, we're lucky. I still love my President.

[firedupdem]

13. This is a great speech he's giving. He makes them look small

by rising above it and speaking to the people. He rocks!

[bunnies]

21. I totally agree!

You wont give me a useless "degree" ? I Dont Care! Just recognize the students that have earned this and let me wish them well...

Obama Rocks. :bounce:

[azmouse]

14. But maybe even better... 5 students got scholarships in his name.

I bet that means even more to Pres Obama than another piece of paper.

[bunnies]

18. I bet youre right.

:hug:

[Cha]

27. Yes, that is

infinetly better!

[bunnies]

38. infinitely,

Sorry - its one of my peeves. :hi: :hug:

[firedupdem]

17. What a great message for these students. I'm sure they are pretty

pleased that they had President Obama speak at their commencement. He's got them hyped. Glad CNN is showing it.

[jillan]

19. What a GREAT speech!

Very motivating!

[Clio the Leo]

20. Named off a whole list of great Americans.....

.... Harriet Tubman, MLK, Hewlett and Packard etc. and then said, "and THEY didn't get honorary degrees..." :)

[Cha]

24. Wow!

!!

[Clio the Leo]

26. "Find someone to be successful FOR! Raise THEIR hopes!" NT

[jillan]

30. Am I the only one who has something in their eye right now?

He makes me want to be a better person.

And I love how he kept going back to the theme "body of work".

[firedupdem]

34. You're not alone Jillan.....this 42 yr old is still working on her

"body of work"...so I could completely relate!

[Clio the Leo]

28. lol! "that's what you want on your tombstone" ....

... I knew it! He's a DU lurker! :)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

44. Heh heh

wonder what his screenname is.

[Clio the Leo]

29. And NOW we know why HE embargoed the advanced copy of the speech...

... stuff this good you dont want to spoil!

http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchive/whiteboard05132009.html

[JI7]

32. no, there is a difference between the notion he hasn't done enough and getting the honorary degree

yes, many can say he hasn't done enough in itself, especially considering he is now president and the potential he will have to do so much more.

but that doesn't mean he hasn't done enough to get the honorary degree . even if he was just senator still he should have recieved it.

he was being classy with this. but ASU messed up and they admitted it. but they did good in expanding the scholarships and naming it after Obama.

[depakid]

36. That was a nice parry, wasn't it?

Hate to say, but it would have been nicer still if he'd "worn it on his sleeve" so to speak.

[RomanHoliday]

42. Jeez, if he hasn't done enough in life then the rest of us are freakin' failures.