August 6, 2008
BLESSED WITH DIM OPPONENTS:
Obama responds: 'It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant" (Ben Smith, 8/05/08, Politico)
"They're lying about what my energy plan is," he says. And "they're making fun of a step that every expert says would reduce our oil consumption by 3 to 4 percent. It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."
These poor guys don't even understand the attack, as evinced by the notion that the facts are a defense. Every one of us grew up with a Dad in the neighborhood--hopefully not your own--who kept a notebook in his car where he wrote down his mileage and how much he'd put in the tank, the binding cracked because there was a tire gauge and old receipts crammed in the thing, the whole held together by a rubberband. He was the one who wore his pants with the waistband up around his nipples--remember him? The tire gauge meme suggests that Senator Obama is that guy, the nerdy AV club guy. When that's the accusation the worst thing you can do is engage in a condescending lecture about why you're right. No one cares how the film projector works, that's why only geeks joined the club.
N. B.: Speaking of which, here's our pick for the Obamessiah's new campaign song (our apologies for the "racist" physical reference contained herein):
Posted by Orrin Judd at August 6, 2008 10:06 AMHis opponents project themselves onto Obama, also, Raoul. Except the skinny part. :-)
Posted by: Jorge Curioso at August 6, 2008 11:48 AMWhat's trivial to the av club is vital to normal people.
Posted by: oj at August 6, 2008 1:19 PMDoes this mean I have to vote for Obama now?
Posted by: Joseph Hertzlinger at August 6, 2008 1:57 PMAnd the little notebook told you what?
As historical data it is interesting, but unless you used that info to change driving patterns it is useless.
My mom kept a trip log like that, but the most important information wasn't the numbers, it was the comments on various places we stopped at and ate or took lodging. Where to go or not and why was good info.*
*Mom can be forgiven because when she was a girl she kept books on her dad's properties - imagine your landlord being the head of the local federal reserve bank; imagine his sixteen year old daughter keeping the books on you. And earlier her grandfather had her drive for him.
A very advanced young woman my mom was, and at this late age trying to snow her is a vain endeavour.
Posted by: Mikey at August 6, 2008 6:55 PMAs an aside I have seen old Christmas gift lists that grandma had saved.
Mom listed what she wanted and the cost. And for a majorette's baton she noted that it should be purchased from Grinnell's because it would come with three free lessons.
She was about eight or nine then. A very canny little businesswoman.
Posted by: Mikey at August 6, 2008 7:06 PM
who kept a notebook in his car where he wrote down his mileage and how much he'd put in the tank
What's wrong with that?
Besides, a baseball fan shouldn't be making fun of people who keep track of trivial statistics.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at August 6, 2008 11:30 AM