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A Show About Nothing: The Placeholder Presidency of Barack Obama
By David Michael Green (about the author)
Become a Fan (41 fans) -- Page 1 of 3 page(s)
Hey, remember Seinfeld? Remember how it billed itself as a "show about nothing", and how, in fact, that's what it was?
I think we're at the point now where it's become inescapable that the Obama presidency is also a show about nothing.
It's the same as Seinfeld. Except for two things.
First, unlike Seinfeld, it bills itself as a show about something, if not everything (remember Mr. Bigtime Change from just last year?).
And, second, the nothingness of the Obama administration is not very goddam funny, thanks just the same.
Consider the following crop of headlines, all from the New York Times, and all published in just the last week alone:
"49 Million Americans Report a Lack of Food"
"N.A.A.C.P. Prods Obama on Job Losses"
"The Drug Industry Cashes In"
"3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill In Senate"
"Another Standoff May Be Looming On Abortion Issue"
"Obama Hobbled in Fight Against Climate Change"
"Leaders Will Delay Agreement On Climate"
"Obama Backers Fear Opportunities to Reshape Judiciary Are Slipping Away"
"Guantánamo Won't Close by January, Obama Says"
"China Holds Firm On Major Issues In Obama's Visit"
Become a Fan (41 fans) -- Page 1 of 3 page(s)
I think we're at the point now where it's become inescapable that the Obama presidency is also a show about nothing.
It's the same as Seinfeld. Except for two things.
First, unlike Seinfeld, it bills itself as a show about something, if not everything (remember Mr. Bigtime Change from just last year?).
And, second, the nothingness of the Obama administration is not very goddam funny, thanks just the same.
Consider the following crop of headlines, all from the New York Times, and all published in just the last week alone:
"49 Million Americans Report a Lack of Food"
"N.A.A.C.P. Prods Obama on Job Losses"
"The Drug Industry Cashes In"
"3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill In Senate"
"Another Standoff May Be Looming On Abortion Issue"
"Obama Hobbled in Fight Against Climate Change"
"Leaders Will Delay Agreement On Climate"
"Obama Backers Fear Opportunities to Reshape Judiciary Are Slipping Away"
"Guantánamo Won't Close by January, Obama Says"
"China Holds Firm On Major Issues In Obama's Visit"
www.regressiveantidote.net
David Michael Green is a professor of political science at Hofstra University in New York. He is delighted to receive readers' reactions to his articles (dmg@regressiveantidote.net), (more...)
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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And So
by shadow dancer on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 at 3:26:20 AM
There are a lot of things.......
by Ernest on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 at 4:40:04 AM
It is about incompetence
by KMGuru on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 at 10:46:34 AM
I love this,
by Ginger McClemons on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 at 6:28:01 PM
Lamenting Obama
by Doc "Old Codger" McCoy on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 at 7:53:55 PM
Barack Obummer
by Keith Hupp on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 at 11:10:14 PM
A helpful correlation
by Perry Logan on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009 at 6:06:46 AM
So whats the next step?
by David Chester on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009 at 11:16:15 AM
So whats the next step?
by David Chester on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009 at 11:16:16 AM