Any politician in high office has perfected the art of politic’n (acting skills) and so, yes, I do take a cynical view of public performances just as a given.

Why would Obama suddenly give up the stage show that his handlers have perfected and that has allowed him to craft the illusion he wants? The dude is a complete control freak. His image is the most valuable thing he has. The answer then, is: No, nothing would convince me that it wasn’t staged.

Any lawyer knows never to ask a question if you don’t know the answer. It also goes without saying, don’t answer if you don’t know the question.

Think about it. All these people treating him like a savior, and he does little to dispel the notion. Is it because he wants them to believe that he is their Savior - or because HE actually thinks he IS?

As long as he can appear to be able to produce manna, people will be willing to believe. It only takes a mistake or two -a big slip-up on a surprise question - for people to lose faith. Once that happens, he might be up on the mountaintop receiving his carved stone tablets, but the believers will be back on earth, carving new idols.

(Rick, thanks for allowing the back and forth using your personal blog…).

Thank you for your answer. I don’t know if I agree with your conclusion necessarily (I’m trying to decide if I’m being overly cynical or overly optimistic), but I appreciate your answer and your comments.

If you’re willing to put up with another question(s), do you think that the public questions are rigged is because we’re talking about Obama (he’s a lying weasel), or because wer’re talking about a politician (they’re all lying weasels)? And is there anything that Obama (or politicians, depending on how you feel about the prior question) could say or do that would convince you it wasn’t staged?

Non-screened citizens? You really think that?

If you were trying to give the impression that you were ready for anything, a true “for the common man” guy, the first thing you’d do would be to allow some “harder” sounding questions to be worked in the mix. Oh! Swoons the press, didn’t he handle that tough questioner so calmly! Not a bead of sweat on his gorgeous brow!

But, of course, you would know the question and would have prepared the answer in advance.

This is a campaign that takes special care in placing people in designated seating for camera angle purposes. There ain’t no way they leave the questions up to chance.

How do the “the Obamamessiah just gets lobbed softballs” people here feel about his “town hall meetings” with non-screened citizens? Sure, there are some “You’re the greatest” people, but I’ve also heard a few critics call him out (like the “how can we trust your Admin when your top picks can’t pay their taxes” lady). Didn’t dodge the question, defended the askers when the partisans in the crowd booed, and took the issues head-on.

Setting aside whether or not you liked the answers, how do you all feel about the process itself, and does it display any “leadership” qualities? Granted, a president willing to talk to citizens isn’t/shouldn’t be very impressive, but as was noted above the bar has been set pretty low.

Seriously though, myself and 75% of Americans were not even born when this event happened, so why shouldn’t we relate to a Clinton or Bush press conference instead? Obama is still in his honeymoon phase anyway, so of course he was going to get a free pass. Besides, having complex thoughts (even if they are bogus) spoken by our leader is such a novelty, seeing that it hasn’t happened in 16 years!

And I most certainly do represent the religious gun clinging patriots you know. Don’t call me a weirdo.

James #19

For a minute I thought I was reading something from Bill “Kill Your Parents” Ayers, but realized he doesn’t talk like that anymore since Obama gave him the back door key to the White House.

Point is, there are nutcases on both sides of the aisle. Bill Ayers doesn’t represent mainstream liberal thought (I hope) just as that weirdo you quoted doesn’t represent the religious gun clinging patriots I know.

However, Congress represents current liberal thinking. And it is quite clear to many of us that Nancy and Harry et al are enjoying their Adventures in Babysitting.

BTW here’s an appropriate quote from that (hilarious) movie.
Chris: [to Joe Gipp] Where are we going?
Daryl: To hell! Kind of exciting, don’tcha think?

Kind of like Red Sox fans who didnt really want Ben Affleck any where near Fenway or representing them ?

If you think this is what passes for the “adult”, it shows your maturity is not any better than that of a 15 year old.

You may want to read Jay Cost’s analysis of the press conference at RealClearPolitics

Jay Cost is not a partisan by any stretch of imagination and conveys a genuine sense of disappointment of how Obama had strawman arguments the whole fricking evening.