One of THOSE round-ups

Yes, this is going to be one of THOSE round-ups, where I clear off all my open tabs of things I just read, and pass them off to you; covering everything from my personal stuff to a video recommendation or two.

Fluff: Ann Althouse is running the inevitable captioning thread on this picture. Now I am on record as finding Michelle Obama to be an attractive woman with a mostly pleasing sense of style (but dubious judgment, as in wearing $540 sneakers to a food bank). But I have to admit, my first thought on seeing the picture was “suppressed, seething rage.” A little less vivid than Althouse’s first commenter’s. All of Mrs. Obama’s attractiveness is subsumed by an outward manifestation of an inward (and thus sincere) sort of ugliness. It made me feel bad for Mrs. Obama who sometimes seems like a most unhappy woman.

I thought the folks at Ace’s place would also be running the photo, but they’re too busy having their stomachs turned by health-care proposals. Tom Elia has more. Jimmie Bise calls the cheat sheet.

You sneezed? “Barack You!”

That story makes me think of this poll. I lost all interest in presidential approval polls during the 1990’s when it seemed like every news broadcast had to begin with a pronouncement about how dearly Bill Clinton was loved. With Bush those polls were put to bed until the press could nightly announce how hated he was. I didn’t pay attention to them when Bush was president, and I am inclined not to pay attention for Obama, either. That said it occurs to me that there is a core base of about 30% or so (the same 30% who always hated Bush no matter what the rest of the country thought) who will always love Obama, no matter what the rest of the country thinks. And there is probably another 10% that can be added to that of people who – for whatever reason – are determined to love anything Obama does. So Obama begins any poll with a roughly 40% approval-rate guarantee. Which means that as usual – these polls are useless. Rent: Network.

I wish they’d take another poll: The destruction of the US Economy, banking industry, auto industry, insurance industry, bond markets, etc; is Obama completely clueless as to what he is doing, or does he know exactly what he’s doing? Ace writes: Math is Hard, so we’ll just Make Stuff Up.

Oh, wait, here come 600,000 new jobs!…so says the same media who wrote, during the boom-times, “there go 800,000 jobs!” Hey, just shut up and believe your betters. If Obama says he’s “saved or created” 150,000 jobs, and he’s going to “save or create” 600,000 more, you just trust him! And the press. Trust the press, too.

Blaming Bush: They’re going to continue to do it for as long as they can and incessantly. And of course, the press will obediently echo them. The charts do not encourage. I’m telling my sons to get their instruments out and practice, because if we head into depression, the nation is going to need its escapist fare, as they did in the 1930’s. Or at least they’ll be able to play on corners, for coinage. Hell, to some extent, I think the media narrative of Obamas-as-Royalty is part of that escapist fare, even now.

The “mediating intelligences” of the “gatekeeping” big-time-professional press: They’ll believe anything if it fits the world-view they want you to adapt. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?. Well, we are, for all the good it does. Happy trails to you.

60 Years: It’s the anniversary of the publication of Orwell’s 1984. Deserves a re-read, no?

Another god-sighting; this time in France.

“I saw God before me,” he said, “because I saw this smile that a million people have seen around the world. I saw her (Michelle) radiant. … It’s idiotic, but it’s like that.”

I expect we’ll see much more of this and also of this:

“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” The Greek word translated as “for” in this verse in the KJV is gar (Strong’s G1063). This word can also be translated as ’seeing’ or ‘when’, e.g., ’seeing Barack come from the East’ or ‘when Barack comes from the east’ and shines as far as the west is timing signal that Jesus is coming back soon. From lowly roots in the Far East (Indonesia) to America (the bastion defining ‘the West)… interesting… at least.

I know what you’re thinking: Anchoress, that’s crazy-talk; calling Barack a sort of god is one thing, but implying he’s the anti-god (and Rahm his anti-forerunner) is another. I agree. I’ll let you call the “one thing” and “the other” whatever you want. If Evan Thomas wants to use major media to declare this man “sort of god,” then I say let the other side have their time, too! ;-)

Sarah Palin; she’s I toldjah so-ing a little early, I think, but the woman was treated so abominably by the press, she does have to re-introduce herself, so I give her some latitude. Besides, she did tell us. I can’t wait for the day someone in the press looks back on her emergence in ’08, and the way they ripped into her like hyenas, and feel a little professional embarrassment or something. And, continuing on the biblical themes raised above, she looks like Esther to some.

California may do away with welfare? I don’t believe it, but it’s as good a time as any to applaud Bill Clinton for his own policies here.

SecState Hillary: If Iran nukes Israel, we’ll retaliate. Might be a little late for Israel, don’t you think? Can someone explain to me why Hillary and Obama are telling Israelis they have cannot build houses due to natural growth, and whether either of them would ever say the same to the Muslim population living peaceably in Israel? Why are they pandering to Hamas while others are wising up?

Outting Anonymous Bloggers: I missed this whole controversy, but it seems to me that unless someone is slandering another, outting another or breaking a law, you leave ’em alone. I’m also of a mind that if a gay person wants to be in the closet, they should not be outted.

Obama on D-Day: good cartoon. I thought Sarkozy gave the better, more meaningful speech, while Obama was simply continuing his perpetual campaign. Read Brits at their Best as they recall some WWII heroism. And this excerpt of a great speech no one heard. Also, rent 1940’s House and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Both will make you think, and we’ll discuss ’em soon.

Spying for Cuba: That story got pretty quickly buried, didn’t it? Rent: The Lives of Others.

This story also died very quickly.

And they’d like this one to go away, too.

Sometime this week: I will go to a Burger King and buy a Whopper Jr., in support. I know some are concerned about the solar flares being minimal; but it’s not like we can do anything about it, and I am loving our so-far mild summer. Climate change is natural and the politics are hoo-hah. Plus, Are SUV’s greener than Mass Transit?

Sigh and repeat after me: If Bush had done it… there would be handwringing, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It’s Buster’s Birthday is this week and so we’re having some company. In his Rule, St. Benedict implores all Benedictines to excel in hospitality, to “open wide the door, to receive every guest as though you were receiving Christ.” This is the thing I really need to work on. Seems hospitality means more than cleaning up, re-scrubbing the bathroom, changing the bedsheets and leaving fresh towels with a lovely-smelling nun-soap. But beyond that I’m usually stymied. I mean, I know – cooking and stuff is also good, a nice dessert. Still, I always feel like when I am entertaining, even when I really, really like my guests, I’m never quite doing the hosting thing correctly. This may partly have to do with being raised by people whose idea of a good party is one where the Chivas flows so deeply that people falling headfirst into snow (or knocking down walls to start bookshelves in the middle of the night) was good times. I am not talented in this area. Pray for me.

I never said I wasn’t neurotic!

Finally: Why do I post pictures of Buster and not Elder Son? It’s not favoritism, it’s simple respect. Elder Son has asked me not to. Buster does not mind.

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