Comments on: Obama Graduation Speech Punch Line has Glenn Reynolds Clutching Pearls over Presidential Power

By: Adie

Adie — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:53:44 +0000

so-o-o, what is it we’re about here?

comedy critics? speech topic second-guessers? whu…

are the collective “we” falling into a trap of our own making?

why are we arguing minutia?

What did we come here to do?

By: DrZen

DrZen — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:22:58 +0000

I agree with eCAHNomics. The joke is only funny if you’re sure he’s joking.

By: paz3

paz3 — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:49:30 +0000

It’s because Nixon did it that makes Obama’s joke in such poor taste. There’s a history, and snark is usually lost in a prez speech.

You know, someone’s got to turn around all this concern seriousness that infects our national politics, and I am glad that Obama says things like this. So many take themselves and their politics sooo seriously, and that’s really not healthy. IMHO, anyway.

By: selise

selise — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:11:34 +0000

it’s in poor taste because obama has not rejected the other presidential abuses of power - indefinite detention, assertions of secrecy in covering up torture, etc.

when obama does that, he is, imo, welcome to such jokes.

By: Blue Texan

Blue Texan — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:58:38 +0000

Bad question. It’s in poor taste because Nixon did it?

By: eCAHNomics

eCAHNomics — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:56:29 +0000

You may not have noticed the word joke in my comment to which you responded.

By: Blue Texan

Blue Texan — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:52:32 +0000

So you think Obama is seriously suggesting that he’s going to audit ASU?

By: Adie

Adie — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:44:20 +0000

or door #2: swat down a phoebe. yeah. that’s a hoot. messydamboid.

By: eCAHNomics

eCAHNomics — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:41:43 +0000

It’s because Nixon did it that makes Obama’s joke in such poor taste. There’s a history, and snark is usually lost in a prez speech.

By: Phoenix Woman

Phoenix Woman — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:39:41 +0000

What, joke about it, or do it?

Obama was merely joking about it, last I looked. Nixon was actually doing it. (And Obama knows, what with all the eyes on him and the conservatives ready to pounce at any misstep, real or imaginary, that if he even thought about doing it for real, he would very likely be impeached.)