Obama Regrets Impugning Cop

[The Professor]

Few in America are talking HEALTH CARE the last two days. Instead, the political class chatters incessantly about this Cambridge cop and the president's old college chum. After purposely imposing the problem into Wednesday's Primetime, Bigears suffers now a bad case of UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. Ie, what a FAILURE he is as politician, what a LOSER.

Hey, maybe we should all just have A BEER---LOLOLOL!

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2447761120090724?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Obama Regrets Remark in Racially Charged Case

Police stand by officer who arrested Gates

2:55pm EDT

Obama stokes racial passions, police anger

President Barack Obama said on Friday he should have chosen his words more carefully when he said police "acted stupidly" in arresting a prominent black Harvard scholar, touching off a debate over race.

Obama made his comments after talking on the telephone to Sgt. James Crowley, the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police officer who made the arrest, and discussing inviting Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates to the White House for a beer.

"Because this has been ratcheting up and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up, I wanted to make clear in my choice of words I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sgt. Crowley specifically," Obama said. "And I could have calibrated those words differently."


The Prof

[Only Human]

He spoke about every officer - not just Crowley.

This isnt even an apology. It's a "lets let bygones be bygones".

WEAK

[mwillman]

Why shoukd he apologize those cops were stupid.

[Only Human]

Why shoukd he apologize those cops were stupid.

Apparently the rest of America does not agree with you.

Theres been enough pressure to force him to acknowledge it. When the masses speak and the pres moves becuase of it you can bet theres a great majority behind it.

[mwillman]

I really dont care I have seen cops act stupid way to many times to deny it no matter how many asshats think they do a good job.

[The Professor]

unfortunately, a few hours before bigears backed down, his equally idiotic press secty gibbs ATTACKED the fop's motives

LOLOLOL!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25381.html

"I think the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed McCain," Gibbs fired back at reporters, referring to Obama's Republican opponent in the 2008 election. "If I'm not mistaken."

the tin eared bigears himself, just a little later, said he did NOT regret his obtuse imposition of his oblivious self into this matter

he admitted yesterday he really didn't know exactly what went down between the cop and the prof, he just held his "suspicions"

i guess an hour or so later the pressure got to him, he buckled

hey, HE wants to talk HEALTH CARE---LOLOLOL!

And the president said he did not regret having commented in the first place.

Noting that some critics suggested it was inappropriate for the president to comment on a local law enforcement matter, Obama told reporters: "I have to tell you, that part of it I disagree with. Race is still a troubling aspect of our society."

"Because of our history," Obama explained, "African Americans are sensitive to these issues."

[The Professor]

Apparently the rest of America does not agree with you.

Theres been enough pressure to force him to acknowledge it. When the masses speak and the pres moves becuase of it you can bet theres a great majority behind it.

the president himself seems to agree with you

LOLOLOL!

[The Professor]

bigears regrets inadvertently (LOLOLOLOL!) changing the subject away from health care

says, hey, in addition to giving us all a reason for brewski's (LOLOLOL!), he finds in this mess a "teachable moment"

teachable---LOLOLOLOL!

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8163051&page=1

Obama said it was unfortunate that his comments, instead of illuminating, contributed to "media frenzy" and said he hopes this would be "a teachable moment."

He also defended his decision to make remarks about the incident, saying, "The fact that this has become such a big issue I think is indicative of the fact that... race is still a troubling aspect of our society. Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive, as opposed to negative, understandings about the issue is part of my portfolio."

Obama ended his remarks jokingly, saying that Crowley asked him for advice on how to get the press off his lawn.

"If anybody has any connections to the Boston press as well as national press, Sgt. Crowley would be happy for you to stop trampling his grass," Obama said.

Earlier today, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he did not expect Obama to have anything else to say about the incident, but the president's call to Crowley and his surprise appearance reflect the White House's determination to put an end to the controversy that has dogged him since Wednesday. Obama today himself acknowledged that in the last two days, "Nobody's been paying much attention to health care."

LOLOLOL!

[mwillman]

The president is playing politics like all politicians do but I bet you in his heart he still thinks those were some stupid cops.

[ROdger Right]

Obama is so thinned skinned, its embarassing as an American when the president wont own his words but must always rephrase.

[The Professor]

police unions "disgraced" that the prez would pop off and impugn them while uninformed

president of international brotherhood of police officers says bigears' obtuse remarks may actually rile racial relations, make cops' difficult jobs that much harder

the president's purblind political play here paints him transparently a LOSER---LOLOLOL!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534687,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r3:c0 .120564:b26661214:z0

BOSTON — Many police officers across the country have a message for President Barack Obama Get all the facts before criticizing one of our own. Obama's public criticism that Cambridge officers "acted stupidly" when they arrested black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. could make it harder for police to work with people of color, some officers said Thursday.

It could even set back the progress in race relations that helped Obama become the nation's first African-American president, they said.

"What we don't need is public safety officials across the country second-guessing themselves," said David Holway, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, which represents 15,000 public safety officials around the country. "The president's alienated public safety officers across the country with his comments."

The Cambridge Police Patrol Officer's Association president also strongly criticized the president's remarks in an interview with The Huffington Post.

"That was totally inappropriate. I am disgraced that he is our commander-in-chief," Stephen Killion said. "He smeared the good reputation of the hard-working men and women of the Cambridge Police Department. It was wrong to do. It was disgraceful," the web site quoted him as saying.

[doctordog]

I really dont care I have seen cops act stupid way to many times to deny it no matter how many asshats think they do a good job.

Rodney King! How the hell are you? :lmao2:

[The_Limit]

Either way, Obama offered a gesture to the cop, ie the pizza and beer invite.

The issue is dead now.

[doctordog]

Either way, Obama offered a gesture to the cop, ie the pizza and beer invite.

The issue is dead now.

that was mighty white of him.:D

[StevenC]

:disbelief: The issue is dead now.

I seriously doubt we have heard the last of it. You would think that a highly educated man such as the Professor would have handled himself in a more mature and dignified manner. If he had of taken the high road rather than the low road this could have easily been a non-issue. Even a high school dropout knows you don't put out a fire with gasoline. You would also think that Obama could have acted like the President rather then falling back on his 'Alinsky' community agitator training.

by Michael Meyers
Special to NYDailyNews.com

The most famous black professor at Harvard lives in a very safe neighborhood because, in part, residents look out for and report suspicious activities, and because cops respond quickly to reports of possible break-ins. Yet that's not how Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University, took it when cops showed up at his door after a neighbor reported two black men (Gates and his driver) seemingly pushing into a vacant residence, which turned out to be Gates' home.
He was arrested for disorderly conduct, and the rest is now histrionic history. (The charges have since been dropped, but the incident is not going away.)
Gates was returning from a trip to China, and he couldn't get in through a jammed front door, so he apparently went around the back, shut off an alarm and worked with his driver to get the door open.
In any neighborhood - especially one of the safest in America - that kind of behavior would be cause for suspicion and a call to the cops, no matter the color of the guys "breaking" in.
But when police showed up, the "he said, he said" has Gates indignant and, according to the cop, refusing to present himself and his ID, then complying and at some point getting loud - with Gates saying, according to the police report, "Why, because I'm a black man in America?"
Had I been the cop, I would have probably gotten suspended for saying to Gates: "No, stupid, because I need you to step outside so that I may do my job. I need to know that you are who you say you are."
The cop's job is not the most famous black professor at Harvard's concern. Yet Gates' automatic reflex was racial - that of a victim rather than a property lessee. The man with all the brains did not have the common sense of the average citizen who appreciates good and effective police work.
Calling the cops when one sees suspicious activities underway is exactly what good neighbors do. It is what a woman who works nearby did - and all indications are she acted in good faith. When cops follow up on such a report by asking suspicious persons who've seemingly gained entry to a vacant house to present ID, they are doing their jobs.
Nevertheless, Gates and the race industry spokesmen who've rushed to his defense have leaped to the fast conclusion that this was an incident of racial profiling - and that one of America's most famed black academics was a victim of police misconduct. Choice reaction by the Rev. Al Sharpton: "I've heard of driving while black, and I've heard of shopping while black. But I've never heard of living in a home while black."
Give me a break. Why isn't it enough that the charges of disorderly conduct have been dropped against Gates? The question answers itself: The race activists need to posture that the nation has to pause and contemplate and endure yet another round of guilt around their "truth" and constant observation of racism by cops. "See," they exclaim, "in postracial America, the black man with a Ph.D. can't get into his own home without causing suspicion and getting arrested."
The real truth is that Gates did not get arrested for being black or even for being suspicious or for breaking into his own home. He was arrested for disorderly conduct - for failing to do what civil rights activists and race experts always advise innocent black men, and all others who come into contact with the police, to do: cooperate.
It makes sense to repeat this message now, especially for the benefit of young black men. If the police confront you, don't go demanding badge numbers and reading the cops the riot act. Be courteous and calm. Explain yourself and, if asked, present ID.
If there has been a constitutional violation of some kind by the cops, that can be taken care of once the police have left you alone, moving on - let's hope - to investigate other suspicious behavior.

Meyers is executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition.

[The_Limit]

I seriously doubt we have heard the last of it.

Its dead.

It has nowhere to go but to open old wounds. No one is going to take it that far. Not worth it. Politically speaking, African Americans versus the police always ends in a win for the black community.

Not saying its fair, but its just the way it is. Whites cannot play the race card against a minority first and expect to win. Its a loser everytime. A perfect example of this obvious double standard, the Rev.Wright issue. Here you have a minister who if the roles were reversed would have ruined a white politicians career by the things he said. Didn't harm Obama one bit.

If anything, it reinforced the "messiah" image. Obama met and conquered his accussers.

But back to the issue at hand. The cop can't tell Obama to go screw himself. Obama reached out his hand. If you spit at his hand now, you make it worse.

Think of it. In real life if you have a mini-beef with someone who then offers you a gesture in order to calm everyone down, you take it.

If you don't, you're the asshole. Especially if the whole thing isn't really that big of a deal to begin with, and this issue is, frankly speaking, not a big deal.

Obama played it beautifully in his afternoon press conference re the invite for beer.

The photo op itself will be priceless.

Lemons were turned into lemonade.

[The Professor]

sgt crowley, according to his attorney, has not ruled out a defamation suit

while the possibility even of suing a sitting president is always problematical, this mess is not quite yet going away

sorry

it will dominate the sunday talks

resentment on the part of police and their assn's looks likely to last, promises some measure of permanence

the cambridge assn is demanding an apology

bigears, it appears, is very good at saying sorry for things like hiroshima and palestine, but he's not as good at assuming PERSONAL responsibility

the 911 tapes are sure to come out, fueling further firestorms

but most central---this little event just underscores the mounting impression that the POLITICAL leader of the party in power just doesn't know what the hell he's doing

can't play checkers, let alone 3D chess (ie, HEALTH CARE)

it just further undermines his already diminishing credibility as leader in chief when it comes to the BIG stuff

while this event in itself is, indeed, not very big, the TIMING IS HUGE

and TIMING is just super super central to POLITICS

politics is the BIG stuff, but it's quite often the LITTLE things as well

politics, in short, is simply anything that is felt IN THE GUT

stuff that sticks to the ribs

and sincerely, no spin here, this is truly one of the single DUMBEST plays i can recall ever seeing---taking THIS question at the end of THAT presser devoted to OUR giant ISSUE at HAND and TREATING it the WAY he did...

i really can't remember so mind-numbing a misplay

and i've seen it all

"the fact that this has become such a BIG ISSUE:" bigears' own words

it's just so characteristic of the doof in that---THERE'S NO POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE TO BE GAINED FROM IT

ie, what the HELL is going on in that harvard head of his?

it hugely hurts health care

the bluedogs need to be SCARED of him for him to get what he wants

hello

oh well

you sure can't blame fox news

LOLOLOL!

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8163051&page=1

Alan McDonald, who represents Crowley, the veteran cop who teaches a racial profiling class for rookie police officers told ABC News earlier that the sergeant had not ruled out filing a defamation of character or libel lawsuit against Gates.

"He is exploring all of his options,'' McDonald told ABC News.

Though charges were dropped, Gates has loudly asserted his arrest was a result of racial profiling.

The arrest and subsequent storm of racially charged comments has enveloped the White House after Obama said on Wednesday the Cambridge police acted "stupidly" in arresting the prominent black scholar.

In a press conference held by the Cambridge police unions and Massachusetts Municipal Police Officers Association to support Crowley, members said they hope Obama and Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Deval will apologize for their remarks. Crowley stood with them but remained silent.

McDonald argued that race "played no role in the decision making in this case," adding that it was "inappropriate" of Obama to use this case to talk about racial profiling.

When making his remarks, the president acknowledged that he had not seen all the facts in the case and what role race may have played.

[Bill Cosby]

and discussing inviting Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates to the White House for a beer.

I like that idea.............

[The_Limit]

sgt crowley, according to his attorney, has not ruled out a defamation suit

while the possibility even of suing a sitting president is always problematical, this mess is not quite yet going away

the 911 tapes are sure to come out, fueling further firestorms

Alan McDonald, who represents Crowley, the veteran cop who teaches a racial profiling class for rookie police officers told ABC News earlier that the sergeant had not ruled out filing a defamation of character or libel lawsuit against Gates.

"He is exploring all of his options,'' McDonald told ABC News.

Though charges were dropped, Gates has loudly asserted his arrest was a result of racial profiling.




Hate to play Captain Obvious but according to your own post, Crowley's lawyer is not talking about suing the president, but rather suing Gates.

So, I'm not too sure what the sentence "while the possibility even of suing a sitting president is always problematical..." is supposed to mean since no one is talking about suing the president.

Another thing, a defamation suit against Gates is a loser. A high school law student could win this case for Gates.

Imagine the legal precedent...a police officer can now successfully sue a person for defamation he/she is arresting if that person calls his "names" during the arrest.

Nevermind the nuclear legal bomb such a ruling would set off.

Nevermind the alleged "defamation" took place at the home of the "defendant."

Nevermind the media is responsible for the story going national.

Nevermind the Cambridge police has the authority to release the 911 tapes and further publicize the issue.

The black guy called me names, I want reparations!

[The Professor]

Hate to play Captain Obvious but according to your own post, Crowley's lawyer is not talking about suing the president, but rather suing Gates.

So, I'm not too sure what the sentence "while the possibility even of suing a sitting president is always problematical..." is supposed to mean since no one is talking about suing the president.

you are clearly correct, and i am wrong

still, i heard chris matthews this afternoon speculating about the difficulties of suing sitting presidents concerning this very story, which is where i got that part

it kinda shows how BROADLY paints the political brush

while you are correct on this little particular concerning the prof and the po-po

no one really cares much about that piddly pair

compared to the prez

which is why i so PURPOSELY downplayed any talk of a silly suit in the first place

in other words, when it comes to the big picture, you merely quibble

unfortunately, everything i asserted about the UNDERMINING of the idiot's credibility on BIG stuff still stands

the TIMING is horrible

you're the one, i recall, who said it was OVER

nope---911 tapes coming, sunday talks, for police around the nation it will never be over

and the biggie---the bluedogs lose RESPECT

everyone does

he ADMITTED he was wrong

he HAD to

only hours after he tried to say he wasn't

all, once more, for NO CONCEIVABLE GAIN

thanks for the correction, limit

cliff

[The_Limit]

you're the one, i recall, who said it was OVER

nope---911 tapes coming, sunday talks, for police around the nation it will never be over

cliff

I should have been clearer. Its over as far as the president is concerned.

Crowley accepted the invite from what I heard. At that point, as soon as Crowley said "yes," the issue was instantly squashed.

Sure it might come up on Sunday news shows. But the freshest news item will be the invite for beer and pizza.

The CB police department can release the 911 tapes. Politically, nothing will come of it. It will be seen as an appeal to the culture of victimhood. We're cops, we protect you, feel sorry for us.

It's the same strategy some opportunistic minority communities employ...we're minorities, we've been oppressed, feel sorry for us.

It will just open old wounds, ie the history of blacks versus the police.

The police never win in these types of cases, why?

Because of their track record and the thousands of hours of footage media companies have of the authorities keeping the "black" man down.

Some people just hate the police. I know many who think like this - and they're not black. People just tend to dislike authority.

Is it fair? No.

But I know what the media will do should the issue go on.

Cue the grainy black and white stock footage of police hosing down blacks, policeman preventing blacks from voting, policeman beating blacks, policemen setting up blacks, etc.

Media love to to go into their own libraries and dig up old footage. It's a cheap way to get ratings. A lot cheaper than sending a crew out across the globe to do real investigative journalism.

[The Professor]

I should have been clearer. Its over as far as the president is concerned.

Crowley accepted the invite from what I heard. At that point, as soon as Crowley said "yes," the issue was instantly squashed.

Sure it might come up on Sunday news shows. But the freshest news item will be the invite for beer and pizza.

The CB police department can release the 911 tapes. Politically, nothing will come of it. It will be seen as an appeal to the culture of victimhood. We're cops, we protect you, feel sorry for us.

It's the same strategy some opportunistic minority communities employ...we're minorities, we've been oppressed, feel sorry for us.

It will just open old wounds, ie the history of blacks versus the police.

The police never win in these types of cases, why?

Because of their track record and the thousands of hours of footage media companies have of the authorities keeping the "black" man down.

Some people just hate the police. I know many who think like this - and they're not black. People just tend to dislike authority.

Is it fair? No.

But I know what the media will do should the issue go on.

Cue the grainy black and white stock footage of police hosing down blacks, policeman preventing blacks from voting, policeman beating blacks, policemen setting up blacks, etc.

Media love to to go into their own libraries and dig up old footage. It's a cheap way to get ratings. A lot cheaper than sending a crew out across the globe to do real investigative journalism.

thank you

boy, are you and i talking past each other

i don't see the police as a player in this

you don't seem to see mr gates as much of a figure, yourself, i don't either

but i see the cops the way i see gates---who cares

a beer moment is LOLOL!---the prez looks awful

stephy, gregory, schieffer and jon king will be talking about this for MOST of sunday, and it won't be beer

to me, there is no issue of blacks vs police

i mean, of course, there is, but that's not at all what i'm talking about, it's not germaine

i'm talking about the president and health care

i'm talking about the president going forward

yeah, the story is kinda dead (but kinda not), still the damage is done

he looks so foolish

at one level, it will never be dead

politicos like myself will use it (RIGHTLY) to beat him over the head for his tineared political idiocy and lack of leadership (on health care, for instance) forever

lots of people have affinity for law and order, they too will be permanently disaffected to some degree

limit, it is no coincidence that since the president's presser wednesday, progress on health care has gone backwards

the people in his own party crave leadership

not pratfalls

you called him out yourself for it, you said it ruined his whole presser, killed everything positive, sucked oxygen

that's the point

not whether legal action will proceed

it's weird, i don't really disagree with you, there will be little MOVEMENT on this story

but it aint going away, it's now part of the RECORD

it does not contribute to the politcal COVER mike ross, for example, is looking for, put it that way, when it comes to supporting obama on big stuff, personally expensive stuff

he looks like an idiot at the worst possible time

politics IS appearances, my opinion

i appreciate your civility, take care, cliff

[The_Limit]

you called him out yourself for it, you said it ruined his whole presser, killed everything positive, sucked oxygen

that's the point

not whether legal action will proceed

it's weird, i don't really disagree with you, there will be little MOVEMENT on this story

but it aint going away, it's now part of the RECORD

it does not contribute to the politcal COVER mike ross, for example, is looking for, put it that way, when it comes to supporting obama on big stuff, personally expensive stuff

he looks like an idiot at the worst possible time

politics IS appearances, my opinion

i appreciate your civility, take care, cliff

I agree he does look stupid for now.

The only problem is the American people do not discuss politics like, for example, me and you do. Most Americans hate it and do not want anything to do with it.

Needless to say, if you ask ten Americans who Gates and Crowley are right now, I am almost positive half of one in ten would know. As time goes on, the number dips lower.

The American peoples inclination to forgive but mostly forget, plays a bigger role in the momentum of this story than whether Obama looks stupid or not.

The fact is, the pizza and beer pow wow is something most Americans will remember more than the actual controversy. Why?

Because its pizza and beer and Americans love a happy ending. So if by happy chance this story is recapped in an end of the year political review (which I'm betting it won't be), the "pizza party" images will be all anyone will care to air.

So yea, he looks stupid for now - but only to the political class, ie me and you and other interested observers.

Of course one day in politics is an eternity. Who knows what tomorrow, let alone next week or year will bring.

This story will be swallowed up in no time by another more trivial matter, or hopefully a serious issue.

[The Professor]

I agree he does look stupid for now.

The only problem is the American people do not discuss politics like, for example, me and you do. Most Americans hate it and do not want anything to do with it.

Needless to say, if you ask ten Americans who Gates and Crowley are right now, I am almost positive half of one in ten would know. As time goes on, the number dips lower.

The American peoples inclination to forgive but mostly forget, plays a bigger role in the momentum of this story than whether Obama looks stupid or not.

The fact is, the pizza and beer pow wow is something most Americans will remember more than the actual controversy. Why?

Because its pizza and beer and Americans love a happy ending. So if by happy chance this story is recapped in an end of the year political review (which I'm betting it won't be), the "pizza party" images will be all anyone will care to air.

So yea, he looks stupid for now - but only to the political class, ie me and you and other interested observers.

Of course one day in politics is an eternity. Who knows what tomorrow, let alone next week or year will bring.

This story will be swallowed up in no time by another more trivial matter, or hopefully a serious issue.

wow, an intelligent man with CLASS

i'm really coming to appreciate you, limit

i do disagree, mostly, which is cool

the political class is WHO i'm talking about

leadership on the health care sisyphus, for instance

but more than that, ongoing

he lost a lotta cred with that class over this

mostly cuzza the suicidal timing

thanks

but also, more broadly, across the electorate

i think you underestimate americans a bit

to what do you attribute obama's roughly 10 point slip in general polls?

over the course of about 100 pretty disastrous days?

perceived failure of the stimulus, looking kinda lost when it came to iran, general economic blah's, stuff like that, and others, perhaps?

but it's also stuff like buzzing manhattan in a dc6

especially in new york (which is a LOT of people)

sometimes the little stuff is just killer

dukakis in the tank, jimmy carter's bunny rabbit, gerald ford's poland...

it's cumulative, i'll grant you that

but i don't blink this away the way you do

and, once more, his opponents are gonna hammer him over it forever

(i'll see to it, personally)

the beer moment is not the rosey picture you paint

not at all, not at all

for instance, i'll guarantee you, friend, as DECADES long observer close of AMERICAN politics

obama will NOT be making his coors lite with sgt crowley a poster boy moment

he won't even do it, limit

what are we talking?

the picture of the prez and the cop he impugned so stupidly making up over a brewski is devasting politics

working against the white house

you'll see

or i'm wrong, big deal, either way

SUPER thanks, limit, you and i got off to a bad start long ago...

i mighta been pretty wrong about some things

take care, friend

what do you guys say, eh?

just kidding, pigeon holing is rude

cliff

[The_Limit]

to what do you attribute obama's roughly 10 point slip in general polls?



I think its only been a five point slide, not ten. His job approval numbers were at 60 per cent, not 65. What's he at now....55 per cent?

Either way, to what do I attribute the slide? I think the answer remains obvious to serious observers. Republicans are heading back to camp GOP.

He's losing support among a voting sgement he never should have enjoyed in the first place. But he did, because the Republicans were a disorganized penniless mess.

I believe at the time of his inaugaration, it was common knowledge among polling experts that Obama was not going to keep polling at sixty, barring a national unifying event like 9/11.

Eventually the Republican leaning voters frustrated at the Bush presidency who backed Obama during the 2008 election would head back home.

I don't think his slide is indicative of the American people seeing his first six months as disastrous.

I think it is a sign Republicans have finally shown signs of recovery from their implosion.

[The Professor]

I think its only been a five point slide, not ten. His job approval numbers were at 60 per cent, not 65. What's he at now....55 per cent?

Either way, to what do I attribute the slide? I think the answer remains obvious to serious observers. Republicans are heading back to camp GOP.

He's losing support among a voting sgement he never should have enjoyed in the first place. But he did, because the Republicans were a disorganized penniless mess.

I believe at the time of his inaugaration, it was common knowledge among polling experts that Obama was not going to keep polling at sixty, barring a national unifying event like 9/11.

Eventually the Republican leaning voters frustrated at the Bush presidency who backed Obama during the 2008 election would head back home.

I don't think his slide is indicative of the American people seeing his first six months as disastrous.

I think it is a sign Republicans have finally shown signs of recovery from their implosion.

no, no, no, friend, rosey glasses

on health care he was at 57-29 in april, or +28

he's at 49-44, monday, the 20th, only +5

amongst independents, it's worse

53 to 30 in april, +23

44 to 49 now, -5

washington post poll, monday, july 20, 2009

it was HUGE news, i'm surprised (gently) you missed it

he's losing independents, limit

his overalls are better, people like him personally a little better

but that too is starting to slide

it's only expected he'd hang on to his personals thru the spring

they began slipping in summer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/19/AR2009071902176.html?hpid=topnews

Since April, approval of Obama's handling of health care has dropped from 57 percent to 49 percent, with disapproval rising from 29 percent to 44 percent. Obama still maintains a large advantage over congressional Republicans in terms of public trust on the issue, even as the GOP has closed the gap.

The erosion in Obama's overall rating on health care is particularly notable among political independents: While positive in their assessments of his handling of health-care reform at the 100-day mark of his presidency (53 percent approved and 30 percent disapproved), independents now are divided at 44 percent positive and 49 percent negative.

RCP (realclearpolitics) pres poll avg includes---gallup, rasmussen, fox, AP, usa today/gallup, abc/wash post---it averages em

in april his rcp avg poll of polls was 60 postive, 30 negative, or +30

today, 54 postive, 42 negative, +12

i'm not SPINNING to you, friend

that is, maybe i'm wrong

but THIS is what's going on

THIS is why the bluedogs are bucking him, the blue govs, the freshmen, baucus

it's why he's calling all these kinda emergency press conferences...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

also, friend, the internals

that is, those opposed are strongly opposed

those in favor (like most of his supporters on dcj) are much more lukewarm, wait and see

[The Professor]

cspan's morning show, washington journal, led with the prof vs po-po imbroglio, devoted a full half hour to it

several very disturbing elements of this story are sinking rather heavily into the conscience of this political class, anyway

obama's ORIGINAL remarks, wednesday nite, when he FIRST said the police "acted stupidly"

"But I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry," Obama said. "No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And No. 3 -- what I think we know separate and apart from this incident -- is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that's just a fact."

look at obama's #1---he THINKS it's fair to say ANY of us would be angry...

actually, very few of us would be mad, most of the callers to the journal felt, if a cop showed up at the door while you're trying to break into your home because you lost your keys (something so many of us have had to do at least once...)

if a cop appeared there just to check things out, just to make sure that your home was safe, that you weren't in any danger, etc, would you be angry?

the president's mind set is to him it's all so obvious---he THINKS it's fair to say ANYBODY might just GO OFF on the man in uniform...

very, very strange

but even curiouser, two full days later, friday, are the president's comments in the james brady briefing room when he surprised the corps by showing up beside press secty gibbs to try to "ratchet" down this controversy, the "we're gonna have a beer" briefing---

very odd it appears is the president's use of terms like "it's my impression," "i continue to believe," "based on what i heard," "my sense is..."

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1186909

he has no idea what went down on that porch

still

on thursday, abc's nightline, obama said, "And my suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed. That's my suspicion."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=8153681&page=1

this guy, obama, sure has a lot of CONFIDENCE in his own thought process

it sure sounds as if he jumps to conclusions awful fast based on mere "impressions," "beliefs," "suspicions..."

strong enough to go national with his view, take sides, impugn the integrity of policemen he's never met or even heard of a hundred miles away

sufficiently convicted to derail entirely america's already herculean struggle to clean up its augean stables of a health care mess

finally, some callers to cspan's journal expressed concern that obama STILL has his facts wrong

in the now famous beer briefing, obama said he "continue(s) to believe" that sgt crowley "overreacted" by "pulling professor gates out of his home to the station"

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1186909

the officer, it appears, did not pull the prof out of his home, instead it looks as if the prof followed sgt crowley out on the porch and made a disorderly spectacle of himself

according to the 911 tape, according to the many neighbors who were witnesses (up to 6), according to the black police officer who was with sgt crowley, officer lashley

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-ap-us-harvard-scholar-arresting-officer,0,4731766.story

obama's half cocked and intrusive THOUGHT PROCESS, as revealed in this event, is EXTREMELY upsetting

too much time in rev wright's GD church of chickens roosting?

[Frankg]

obama should've "no commented" this one , if you watch the press conference he admits that he doesn't have all the facts but but he goes ahead and condemns the Boston police dept anyway .

Looks like he still is influenced by his mentor Reverend Jeremia "god damn america" Wright

He never should've gotten involved but now that he did , I'm glad , because he's looking like an idiot .

President George W Bush NEVER would've touched this with a ten foot pole.

[Smurf-Herder]

obama should've "no commented" this one , if you watch the press conference he admits that he doesn't have all the facts but but he goes ahead and condemns the Boston police dept anyway .

Looks like he still is influenced by his mentor Reverend Jeremia "god damn america" Wright

He never should've gotten involved but now that he did , I'm glad , because he's looking like an idiot .

President George W Bush NEVER would've touched this with a ten foot pole.

It shows how Obama reacts to situations.

It's not over - because of what it says about Obama's judgment, in general.

[mwillman]

Its says he sees the truth for what it is unlike you right wing ideologues who see everything through shit colored glasses.

[Smurf-Herder]

Its says he sees the truth for what it is unlike you right wing ideologues who see everything through shit colored glasses.

How is it "truth" when the black cop and hispanic cop, who were standing right there and were eyewitnesses to everything, stand by the white cop's actions?

[Mr. Blue]

All Obama really had to do is say, "I don't know enough about the situation...next question"

Which honestly would have been the correct answer, at that time, not a lot was known on the subject, and he's got more important things to discuss.

[Frankg]

All Obama really had to do is say, "I don't know enough about the situation...next question"

Which honestly would have been the correct answer, at that time, not a lot was known on the subject, and he's got more important things to discuss.

That's not true , after that he stated "the Boston police acted stupidly"

If he didn't know enough about the situation then he should've left it at that , but no , he had to put his spin on it because Gates was a frieind of his .

He shouldv'e stayed out of it.

[mwillman]

Its not about racism its about cops thinking they can walk over people becuase they wear a gun and badge. Its about police officers not having a thick skin.
Its about cops being stupid becuase they are not benevolent enough.

As soon as they found out it was his house they should have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. They should realize that they put him in a seriously stressful situation and not taken his rantings seriously.

[Mr. Blue]

That's not true , after that he stated "the Boston police acted stupidly"

If he didn't know enough about the situation then he should've left it at that , but no , he had to put his spin on it because Gates was a frieind of his .

He shouldv'e stayed out of it.

Umm, you just restated what I said...only you said, "That's not true"

Obama should have confined his comments to, "I don't know enough about the situation...next question."

Him adding that "stupidly" comment was unnecessary and really counterproductive in the grand scheme of things. At best this is a minor incident where people lost their cool and things got blown out of proportion...this is more of a case for Judge Judy than the President of the US.

[doctordog]

Its not about racism its about cops thinking they can walk over people becuase they wear a gun and badge. Its about police officers not having a thick skin.
Its about cops being stupid becuase they are not benevolent enough.

As soon as they found out it was his house they should have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. They should realize that they put him in a seriously stressful situation and not taken his rantings seriously.

Right, the Harvard man must be pretty insecure if he can't answer a few questions without going ballistic. It is typical media whore stuff we see from people like him, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton.

[Smurf-Herder]

There had been previous break-in attempts at that house. And from I understand, two people were seen when the neighbor called in the suspected break-in. The guy was acting weird under the circumstances and the cop wanted to be sure nobody else was in there, possibly holding the Professor against his will. I'm sure some of you may have seen this situation in movies and TV shows many times over the years.

BTW, if anybody missed this part - the cop in question has spent five years as the head of a program that teaches other cops how NOT to use racial profiling in their work.

[Cat slave]

Yes, and Gates picked a bad cracker to race bait. The guy is squeaky clean
and Gates is a hot headed, liberal fool/perpetual victim with a major chip on
his shoulder. Did he get through school via affirmative action or did he work
like everyone else? Probably aa!!

Why not refuse to respond to calls from predominantly black neighborhoods?
Or send in only black officers.

[Cat slave]

Obama is so thinned skinned, its embarassing as an American when the president wont own his words but must always rephrase.


What, no teleprompter? Those press conferences are tough without a
script and a teleprompter. Guess BO showed his true colors....lol...no pun
intended but then why let a good pun go to waste!:lmao2:

[The_Limit]

the beer moment is not the rosey picture you paint

not at all, not at all

obama will NOT be making his coors lite with sgt crowley a poster boy moment

he won't even do it, limit

the picture of the prez and the cop he impugned so stupidly making up over a brewski is devasting politics

working against the white house

you'll see

or i'm wrong, big deal, either way


cliff

Looks like you were wrong prof.

The "beer moment" did happen. The picture of the men sharing suds is all the media will care to remember. That part of the story can be told with little air time, no background needed, money saved. Just cue the picture, and as they say, its worth a thousand words.

Needless to say, a week later and the photo op killed the story completely. And if it killed the story, it worked for the White house, not against the White House as you claimed.