A Storyteller Loses the Story Line, By MAUREEN DOWD

NY Times ^ | June 2, 2010 | By MAUREEN DOWD

[Oldeconomybuyer]

It’s not a good narrative arc: The man who walked on water is now ensnared by a crisis under water.

One little hole a mile down on the ocean floor, so deep it seems like hell spewing up its sulfurous smoke, has turned the thrilling saga of “The One” into the gurgling horror of “The Abyss.” (Thank goodness James Cameron, the director of “The Abyss,” came to Washington Tuesday to help the administration figure out how to cap the BP well. What’s next? Sending down the Transformers and Megan Fox?)

With as much as 34 million gallons of oil inking the Gulf of Mexico, “Yes we can” has been downgraded to “Will we ever?”

It’s impossible not to feel sorry for President Obama, pummeled by the cascading disasters, at home and abroad, unleashed by two war-mongering oil men — plus scary escalations by Israel, Iran and North Korea. (Dick Cheney’s dark influence is still belching like the well. BP just brought on a new public relations executive: Anne Womack-Kolton, who served as Cheney’s campaign press secretary in 2004 and worked in W.’s White House and at the Energy Department.)

Obama wanted to be a transformative president and now the presidency is transforming him.

How does a man who invented himself as a force by writing one of the most eloquent memoirs in political history lose control of his own narrative?

This president has made it clear that he’s not comfortable outside whatever domain he’s defined. But unless he wants his story to be marred by a pattern of passivity, detachment, acquiescence and compromise, he’d better seize control of the story line of his White House years. Woe-is-me is not an attractive narrative.

[MNJohnnie]

The honeymoon is over.

[COUNTrecount]

“Never Again”: Obama and the BP Oil Spill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVehAAwh0gY

[Dr. Ursus]

You didn’t feel sorry for President Bush,you......!

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

What’s next? Sending down the Transformers and Megan Fox?

You know, say what you want about MoDo, she occasionally has a good idea.

[sickoflibs]

It’s so sad to watch these liberals become disappointed in their messiah.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"In “Dreams From My Father,” Obama showed passion, lyricism, empathy and an exquisite understanding of character and psychological context — all the qualities that he has stubbornly resisted showing as president."

Newsflash Modo, he didn't write it. See Jack Cashill for more info on the subject...

[tgusa]

Only when she’s fallen off the wagon yet again.

[evad]

"It’s impossible not to feel sorry for President Obama"

LOL.

Best line of the whole screed.

[Dem Guard]

Perhaps they can mop up the oil with his empty suit! ;-)

[subterfuge]

Ha, ha, ha! Old MoDo is still stumping for Hillary. I love it! (psst; MoDo-I’m also here for the CZJ pics)

[NoExpectations]

In “Dreams From My Father,” Obama showed passion, lyricism, empathy and an exquisite understanding of character and psychological context — all the qualities that he has stubbornly resisted showing as president. It was a book that promised a president who could see into the hearts of other people. But there’s so much you don’t learn about candidates in campaigns, even when they seem completely exposed.

That's because he didn't write the book. He is a charade. We elected this fraud based on a book??

[Haiku Guy]

In “Dreams From My Father,” Obama showed passion, lyricism, empathy and an exquisite understanding of character and psychological context — all the qualities that he has stubbornly resisted showing as president.

Whatever the faults of his politics, Daniel Ayers is a heckuva writer...

[riri]

a S.U.V. in his motorcade blew a tire on I-55 outside of Chicago —

ROFL -- Classic!

[DrC]

“say what you want about MoDo, she occasionally has a good idea.”

True, but it would be better if she could connect the dots:

“In “Dreams From My Father,” Obama showed passion, lyricism, empathy and an exquisite understanding of character and psychological context — all the qualities that he has stubbornly resisted showing as president.”

Gee, Mo, is it possible Barack Obama didn’t actually pen Dreams from My Father?

[Mad Dawgg]

[Haiku Guy]

"It’s impossible not to feel sorry for President Obama"

Just watch me...

Not so much as a wiggle on the Givadamnometer...

[subterfuge]

After suffering more indignities — a S.U.V. in his motorcade blew a tire on I-55 outside of Chicago — a tired-looking Obama returned to Andrews Air Force Base at 7:30 Monday night and went to an area called the “tactical fitness center” to give his remarks to 150 or so subdued service members who had been rounded up by the White House advance team.

Poor soldiers had to endure a photo-op and listen to unending blather from President Vacation on Memorial Day. Now that is sacrifice!

[Carley]

Welcome home to the America you created, Maureen.

You are not forgiven.

[ConservativeDude]

wow, this bitch just ripped Obama good...