NYT: Obama’s kind of a White House recluse

[hypocritexposer]

OT, you'll be interested in the part where they talk about all the work he's doing, while out golfing, or basketball with his newest best friend, the banker....

Who knew that Hope and Change could be so bleak and monotonous? At least the New York Times is here to remind us that Barack Obama endures all this isolation in Hawaii and Martha's Vineyard for our benefit, you miserable ingrates (via Jim Geraghty):

Mr. Obama, in general, does not go out of his way to play the glad-handing, ego-stroking presidential role. While he does sometimes offer a ride on Air Force One to a senator or member of Congress, more often than not, he keeps Congress and official Washington at arm's length, spending his down time with a small — and shrinking — inner circle of aides and old friends.

He typically golfs with a trio of mid- to low-level staff members little known outside the West Wing. He does not spend much time at Camp David, the retreat other presidents have used to woo Washington. His social life runs toward evenings playing Taboo with old friends and their families, Wii video games with his wife and daughters or basketball with Robert Wolf, a banker and the rare new best friend Mr. Obama has acquired since entering politics. He vacations with friends from Chicago on Martha's Vineyard in August and in Hawaii at Christmas.

This week, for example, Mr. Obama is ensconced in the protective bubble of the Secret Service. With him are his closest outside-the-Beltway-friends, including Eric Whitaker, a Chicago doctor, and two of Mr. Obama's Hawaii friends from Punahou School: Mike Ramos, a businessman, and Robert Titcomb, a commercial fisherman whom Mr. Obama has stuck by despite his arrest in April on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute. Mr. Obama bolted from Washington last Friday barely an hour after he had signed legislation extending the payroll tax cut after a grinding fight with House Republicans whose result is widely viewed as a big win for him. His relationship with Washington insiders is described by members of both parties as "remote," "distant" and "perfunctory."

It's not the first time the media has noticed that Obama is a bit of a loner. A month ago, Newsweek/Daily Beast editor Tina Brown told Joe Scarborough how little Obama likes his job. The month before that, a spate of news articles hit the stands about Obama's aloofness, his bad relationships with political allies, and general lack of people skills. Chris Matthews even openly wondered just before Thanksgiving why Obama wants another term, and why Obama seems incapable of making an argument for what he would do with one.

Never fear, though. The NYT found a great resource of advice for Obama in his time of solitude and isolation:

"It's about building relationships," said Gerald Rafshoon, a television producer who was President Jimmy Carter's communications director. "Some people are saying he's a recluse. You don't want that reputation. He needs to show that he likes people." Mr. Rafshoon's old boss, an outsider to Washington when he became president, recently wrote in his book "White House Diary" that he did not socialize enough when he was the chief executive.

Jimmy Carter had a lot of problems as President (and perhaps more as a former President), and lack of socializing may well have been one of them. Carter didn't get the boot because he was a loner, though; he got the boot because he had nothing to offer to fix a chronically stagnating economy and had gotten bullied on the foreign stage. Obama's done somewhat better on foreign policy than Carter, although not by a whole lot, but has an even worse economy than Carter's with no clear policy on how to fix it. All Obama has done is take a page from Carter's predecessor Gerald Ford in offering a bunch of meaningless slogans like Recovery Summer, this administration's Whip Inflation Now, combined with self-defeating short-term gimmickry.

Maybe Obama doesn't like his job because he's not very good at it. And if that's the case, we can help him out … literally.

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/12/30/nyt-obamas-kind-of-a-white-house-recluse/

 

[Steve]

the additional comparison to Carter is more eyeopening.., then another banker friend.. :?

it is sad that his inner circle of friends is shrinking.. what with all that influence.. and still no one really wants to be around him... :?

 

[hypocritexposer]

the additional comparison to Carter is more eyeopening.., then another banker friend.. :?

it is sad that his inner circle of friends is shrinking.. what with all that influence.. and still no one really wants to be around him... :?

Is it that "no one really wants to be around him", or that he doesn't want anybody to know the truth?

He doesn't have the knowledge to talk economics or business, so what is left......his Constitutional citizenship?

 

[Steve]

the additional comparison to Carter is more eyeopening.., then another banker friend.. :?

it is sad that his inner circle of friends is shrinking.. what with all that influence.. and still no one really wants to be around him... :?

Is it that "no one really wants to be around him", or that he doesn't want anybody to know the truth?

He doesn't have the knowledge to talk economics or business, so what is left......his Constitutional citizenship?

are you saying?,.....

for Obama to be the smartest guy in the room it often needs to be an empty room.. or he can limit it to a few junior staffers.. as he does..

 

[hypocritexposer]

the additional comparison to Carter is more eyeopening.., then another banker friend.. :?

it is sad that his inner circle of friends is shrinking.. what with all that influence.. and still no one really wants to be around him... :?

Is it that "no one really wants to be around him", or that he doesn't want anybody to know the truth?

He doesn't have the knowledge to talk economics or business, so what is left......his Constitutional citizenship?

are you saying?,.....

for Obama to be the smartest guy in the room it often needs to be an empty room.. or he can limit it to a few junior staffers.. as he does..

obama is always the smartest in the room, if not the Country..........have you not been listening to the media and OT?

 

[Tam]

Mr. Obama, in general, does not go out of his way to play the glad-handing, ego-stroking presidential role.

What a friggin joke Obama is one of the worse ego stroking craving President there has been in recent history. For gawd sake he makes buy dog treats into a photo op to glad hand people. :roll:

While he does sometimes offer a ride on Air Force One to a senator or member of Congress, more often than not, he keeps Congress and official Washington at arm's length, spending his down time with a small — and shrinking — inner circle of aides and old friends.

How is the fact he keeps lawmakers at arm's length a good thing when he should be taking every opportunity to work with them to FIX THE D*MN ECONOMY. :roll:

He typically golfs with a trio of mid- to low-level staff members little known outside the West Wing

.
Well this has got to be a lie as Oldtimer said Obama is having business meeting on the Golf course. Who has important business meeting with low level staffers :???:

He does not spend much time at Camp David, the retreat other presidents have used to woo Washington.

Now this I believe as Camp David is not an EXPENSIVE RENTED RESORT. :wink:

His social life runs toward evenings playing Taboo with old friends and their families, Wii video games with his wife and daughters or basketball with Robert Wolf, a banker and the rare new best friend Mr. Obama has acquired since entering politics. He vacations with friends from Chicago on Martha's Vineyard in August and in Hawaii at Christmas.

Just how does he have time for Wii and Taboo when he is continuely on Air Force One flying around making countless speeches, glad handing at DNC fund raisers and appearing on Late Night TV. :?

This week, for example, Mr. Obama is ensconced in the protective bubble of the Secret Service. With him are his closest outside-the-Beltway-friends, including Eric Whitaker, a Chicago doctor, and two of Mr. Obama's Hawaii friends from Punahou School: Mike Ramos, a businessman, and Robert Titcomb, a commercial fisherman whom Mr. Obama has stuck by despite his arrest in April on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute.

Gee being ensconced in the protective bubble of the SS Who would have guess that was going to happen when HE RAN FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA :roll: But don't fret he has his friend with legal troubles right they with him and his wife and young daughters. :wink: :roll:

Mr. Obama bolted from Washington last Friday barely an hour after he had signed legislation extending the payroll tax cut after a grinding fight with House Republicans whose result is widely viewed as a big win for him. His relationship with Washington insiders is described by members of both parties as "remote," "distant" and "perfunctory."

remote distant and perfunctory :roll: and he is the man that is SUPPOSE TO BE THE LEADER :roll:

It's not the first time the media has noticed that Obama is a bit of a loner. A month ago, Newsweek/Daily Beast editor Tina Brown told Joe Scarborough how little Obama likes his job.

He and his wife sure likes the perks :wink:

The month before that, a spate of news articles hit the stands about Obama's aloofness, his bad relationships with political allies, and general lack of people skills.

What happen to the greatest UNITER on the face of the earth? :?

Chris Matthews even openly wondered just before Thanksgiving why Obama wants another term, and why Obama seems incapable of making an argument for what he would do with one.

GOOD don't give him another term.

"It's about building relationships," said Gerald Rafshoon, a television producer who was President Jimmy Carter's communications director. "Some people are saying he's a recluse. You don't want that reputation. He needs to show that he likes people." Mr. Rafshoon's old boss, an outsider to Washington when he became president, recently wrote in his book "White House Diary" that he did not socialize enough when he was the chief executive.

recluse - definition of recluse re·cluse (r k l s , r -kl s ). n. A person who withdraws from the world to live in seclusion and often in solitude. adj. Withdrawn from the world; reclusive. ..
Obama a recluse :shock: just how much jet fuel has Obama burned up flying around the World glad handing, bowing and getting his ego stroked? :? Yea he really lives in Seclusion. :roll:

Jimmy Carter had a lot of problems as President (and perhaps more as a former President), and lack of socializing may well have been one of them. Carter didn't get the boot because he was a loner, though; he got the boot because he had nothing to offer to fix a chronically stagnating economy and had gotten bullied on the foreign stage. Obama's done somewhat better on foreign policy than Carter, although not by a whole lot, but has an even worse economy than Carter's with no clear policy on how to fix it. All Obama has done is take a page from Carter's predecessor Gerald Ford in offering a bunch of meaningless slogans like Recovery Summer, this administration's Whip Inflation Now, combined with self-defeating short-term gimmickry.

Geez who ever wrote this must not have heard, Obama is apparently the fourth best President in US History. :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe Obama doesn't like his job because he's not very good at it. And if that's the case, we can help him out … literally.

Rumor has it Michelle thinks White House living is Hell so if we all do him a favor and vote him out he can spend all his time on a Pro Golf tour where he apparently wants to be and Michelle would not have to endure the hell of White House living any longer. It would be a WIN WIN WIN for everyone. :wink: