Obama: "I screwed up"

[Phokus]

http://andrewsullivan.theatlan...009/02/he-said-it.html

It has taken Obama two weeks to say something that George W. Bush couldn't manage to say in eight years: "I screwed up." This is change we can really believe in.

Honesty and self reflection in Obama? NOT MY PRESIDENT!

 

[kage69]

Pretty much exactly what I was getting at in the other thread... As if the bushbots didn't look stupid enough with their "Change" one liners...

So far this is looking like quite a change.

 

[bamacre]

I'd rather have a president who didn't "screw up" to begin with.

 

[Brigandier]

Originally posted by: bamacre
I'd rather have a president who didn't "screw up" to begin with.

Jesus 2012?

 

[idiotekniQues]

he also said he had seen the cover of newsweek when the interviewer mentioned it.

a president that reads things besides fiction. how novel.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: bamacre
I'd rather have a president who didn't "screw up" to begin with.

If you expect any president to not make mistakes, then your expectations are quite unreasonable. And it was a fairly small mistake as well. Do you want a president who stays the course and makes bigger and bigger mistakes, or do you want who admits mistakes and charts another path? Could have been worse, he couldn't have started an unwarranted war, you know.

 

[kage69]

If you expect any president to not make mistakes, then your expectations are quite unreasonable. And it was a fairly small mistake as well. Do you want a president who stays the course and makes bigger and bigger mistakes, or do you want who admits mistakes and charts another path? Could have been worse, he couldn't have started an unwarranted war, you know.

*cough*

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Brigandier

Originally posted by: bamacre
I'd rather have a president who didn't "screw up" to begin with.

Jesus 2012?

Nah, he made the biggest mistake...he became a Zombie.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Phokus
If you expect any president to not make mistakes, then your expectations are quite unreasonable.

Well, that's not quite what I meant. No one is perfect.

And it was a fairly small mistake as well.

Then it was an easy thing to say "oops," wasn't it? So why the big deal, why the thread?

Could have been worse, he couldn't have started an unwarranted war, you know.

Yeah, yeah, blah blah. I must have been a big fan of Bush since I'm not up Obama's ass, huh?

 

[Bird222]

Wow a MAN in the White House. Have we ever seen Bush admit he screwed up?

 

[kage69]

a president that reads things besides fiction. how novel

At this point most people I know are just happy he even just sounds like he can read.

But yeah, it's refreshing to say the least that we now have a PotUS that actually wants to be informed and topical.

 

[bamacre]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8az4CfEDpw

Yeah, he took responsibility, what a great president, what a great man he is.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: Phokus
If you expect any president to not make mistakes, then your expectations are quite unreasonable.

Well, that's not quite what I meant. No one is perfect.

And it was a fairly small mistake as well.

Then it was an easy thing to say "oops," wasn't it? So why the big deal, why the thread?

Could have been worse, he couldn't have started an unwarranted war, you know.

Yeah, yeah, blah blah. I must have been a big fan of Bush since I'm not up Obama's ass, huh?

Because it's uncommon for a president to publicly admitting screwing up, big or small, considering the microscope they are under and how the opposition will use your own words against you during election time. This is like some sort of cosmic event here. Especially given the last president who screwed EVERYTHING up and never had the balls to admit it. He would rather continue the same path to damnation than to ever be publicly self reflective like this. I dunno about you, but a president who can be this blatantly honest, is a helluva lot more refreshing than one that can't be honest with the public or himself.

 

[spidey07]

If incompetence is "change" then that's what you are going to get. I learned how to hide my own incompetence by feigning ignorance and apologize. Makes my fucks ups acceptable for some reason.

That's after i threw somebody under the bus of course to make it seem like I wasn't really throwing them under the bus. Gotta give it to BB, he knows how to play the game.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Phokus
This is like some sort of cosmic event here.

Oh yes. Mark this day on your calender. History was written today. Rejoice! It is a new day, a new beginning! Quick, everyone get naked and dance in the streets!

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: bamacre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8az4CfEDpw

Yeah, he took responsibility, what a great president, what a great man he is.

That's not really an apology, not even close. Especially the way he parsed it before 'i take responsibility' garbage.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: spidey07
If incompetence is "change" then that's what you are going to get. I learned how to hide my own incompetence by feigning ignorance and apologize. Makes my fucks ups acceptable for some reason.

That's after i threw somebody under the bus of course to make it seem like I wasn't really throwing them under the bus. Gotta give it to BB, he knows how to play the game.

says the guy who has a man-crush on a couple of politicians:roll:.

 

[Red Dawn]

Actually what he meant was that he's the man in charge so the fault lies with him. If that's incompetence then so be it, he's taki9ng responsibility for it. Now what determines whether he's going to be a good leader is if he capable from learning from his mistakes. Something his predecessor wasn't able to master.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: bamacre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8az4CfEDpw

Yeah, he took responsibility, what a great president, what a great man he is.

That's not really an apology, not even close. Especially the way he parsed it before 'i take responsibility' garbage.

LOL, well if you want to get technical, saying "I screwed up" is an acknowledgment but short of an apology.

Sorry, I'm not really trying to be an ass here, just laughing at you for making a big deal out of the matter, that's all.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: bamacre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8az4CfEDpw

Yeah, he took responsibility, what a great president, what a great man he is.

That's not really an apology, not even close. Especially the way he parsed it before 'i take responsibility' garbage.

LOL, well if you want to get technical, saying "I screwed up" is an acknowledgment but short of an apology.

Sorry, I'm not really trying to be an ass here, just laughing at you for making a big deal out of the matter, that's all.

It's just something we aren't use to, our leader taking responsibility.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: spidey07
If incompetence is "change" then that's what you are going to get. I learned how to hide my own incompetence by feigning ignorance and apologize. Makes my fucks ups acceptable for some reason.

That's after i threw somebody under the bus of course to make it seem like I wasn't really throwing them under the bus. Gotta give it to BB, he knows how to play the game.

says the guy who has a man-crush on a couple of politicians:roll:.

Heh, all I'm saying is BB knows how to play the game. Can't really fault him for that.

And if I happen to converse with those who represent me is considered a "man-crush", I'll take that as a compliment.

 

[Slew Foot]

Is he going to admit he screwed up when the bill for his pork package comes due?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Is he going to admit he screwed up when the bill for his pork package comes due?

What Bill is that? So far we only have the one presented by the House and it definitely won't be the one enacted. As for it failing and him taking responsibility for it, that's to be seen and debated here if this forum is still around in 8 years.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Actually what he meant was that he's the man in charge so the fault lies with him. If that's incompetence then so be it, he's taki9ng responsibility for it. Now what determines whether he's going to be a good leader is if he capable from learning from his mistakes. Something his predecessor wasn't able to master.

If he can say that then I will have much more respect for BB as a leader. Because ultimately the buck stops with him and a true leader will say as much with no bus throwing going on.

 

[kage69]

I can't believe someone is actually comparing Obama's reaction to this to what we saw with Bush after Katrina. On one hand we have a failure to vet a nominee, which was then promptly apologized for. On the other hand we have the worst domestic disaster in memory being augmented by the policies and decisions of someone who didn't seem to care an American city was drowning. The Bush admin played the blame game exactly the way they did immediately after 9/11, there is simply no corresponding effort on Obama's part. I don't understand the gravity some are trying to inject into this; no Americans died, no massive losses of taxpayers money, no infringements to the Bill of Rights, nothing.
I wonder if this had the more familiar Bush-era 'conflict of interest' theme to it the muckrakers would be less excited. Don't recall them being too worried about the first nod of Homeland Security having mob ties and an illegal alien employed in his own house.

Sorry, just seems like a weak attempt to invalidate a clear distinction from the previous administration.