November 30, 2009
— Gabriel Malor
It was just a scraggly, stunted Obama until
the media kids went to work on it and made it beautiful.
Photoshop by Slublog (open tag busted by friendly neighborhood TB)
All networks, including FOX, will carry the President's primetime address from West Point tomorrow. He is expected to justify his inexcusable seven-week period of indecision on whether to win the war in Afghanistan. Do not expect him to mention his twice-weekly golf outings. I'm giving even odds he also fails to use the word "victory."
More importantly, President Narcissus will preempt "A Charlie Brown Christmas", which has my absolute favorite monologue in all of television (below the fold):
The peanuts special is getting bumped to next week.
Posted by: Gabriel Malor at
12:19 PM
| Comments (289)
Post contains 135 words, total size 2 kb.
Posted by: crystal at November 30, 2009 10:04 AM (KVSUW)
Posted by: Happy Fellow at November 30, 2009 10:04 AM (ktYjH)
Posted by: Happy Fellow at November 30, 2009 10:05 AM (ktYjH)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at November 30, 2009 10:05 AM (n20IW)
Posted by: Captain Hate at November 30, 2009 10:05 AM (2Uu3I)
President's primetime address from West Point tomorrow.
"Hey, you guys n' gals make for a good photo opportunity too!"
Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at November 30, 2009 10:08 AM (ERJIu)
Posted by: fluffy at November 30, 2009 10:09 AM (4Kl5M)
(My emphasis)
Rest In Peace, Sparky.
Posted by: David in San Diego at November 30, 2009 10:09 AM (GF+6V)
Posted by: The Baby Messiah at November 30, 2009 10:09 AM (FcR7P)
Posted by: brak at November 30, 2009 10:09 AM (/SYr3)
Posted by: CUS at November 30, 2009 10:09 AM (wOGfT)
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 10:10 AM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Linus at November 30, 2009 10:11 AM (fDWFP)
I'm hoping he has the lowest ratings yet. Pompous, partying, golf playing dickwad.
Posted by: Twinks at November 30, 2009 10:11 AM (LeFbD)
Posted by: grognard at November 30, 2009 10:12 AM (v0kvW)
Posted by: joncelli at November 30, 2009 10:12 AM (RD7QR)
Posted by: David in San Diego at November 30, 2009 02:09 PM (GF+6V)
I have inside information that Charles Schulz plagiarized a lot of that monologue from some guy named Luke. That passage was out of copyright, though.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 10:13 AM (7AOgy)
Posted by: t-bird at November 30, 2009 10:13 AM (FcR7P)
Someone should just transpose his voice with that of Charlie Brown's teacher.
Waaa Waaa Waaaaaa Waaaa.
Posted by: Mr. Pink at November 30, 2009 10:14 AM (SqAkN)
When these things are done before Pearl Harbor Day, I think it ruins it.
Posted by: grognard at November 30, 2009 10:14 AM (v0kvW)
Posted by: Barack 'Master of All Space and Time' Obama at November 30, 2009 10:15 AM (ERJIu)
A necessity since he's going to institute whichever policy proposal gets the most number of votes from viewers at home. Standard text messaging rates apply.
Posted by: dustydog at November 30, 2009 10:16 AM (XHOAD)
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 10:17 AM (7AOgy)
Obama has bobbed and weaved and danced around the Afghanistan issue like no one's business. He makes my flight patterns look straight as an arrow.
Posted by: Woodstock at November 30, 2009 10:17 AM (fDWFP)
More importantly, President Narcissus will preempt "A Charlie Brown Christmas",
That son of a bitch has officially crossed a line now.
Posted by: TheQuietman at November 30, 2009 10:18 AM (1Jaio)
Posted by: Peppermint Patty and Marcie at November 30, 2009 10:19 AM (wnU1W)
Plagiarist!
Posted by: Leon Russell at November 30, 2009 10:19 AM (GF+6V)
Posted by: nevergiveup at November 30, 2009 10:20 AM (0GFWk)
>The peanuts special is getting bumped to next week.
THATÂ’S IT
NOW THE MOTHERF***ER HAS GONE TOO FAR
Posted by: Larry Braverman at November 30, 2009 10:20 AM (KOkrW)
Posted by: Linus at November 30, 2009 10:21 AM (KOkrW)
Charlie Brown action cartoons, hooey. Burl Ives Rudolph, dreck. These are not the religious traditions you are looking for.
I don't believe in the Easter Bunny, either. Or Columbus.
Haven't made up my mind about Toledo.
Posted by: Stan Freberg at November 30, 2009 10:21 AM (/VEEI)
Posted by: Dr. Spank at November 30, 2009 10:22 AM (GGgoa)
Obama believes he is Santa Claus with all the "stash" money handed out to the malcontents, under performers, scumbags, lay-abouts, drunks, druggies, and welfare queens who suck life's blood from the producers.
The rest of us true Americans, better known as the producer who worked hard, played by the rules, fought the wars, and paid the taxes will receive a lump of coal and a fresh tube of KY-Jelly for the coming anal assault. Welcome to the wonderful world of Obama and his Marxist minions.
Posted by: Fish at November 30, 2009 10:22 AM (6mfq0)
Posted by: myrenovations at November 30, 2009 10:22 AM (twHxg)
Posted by: brak at November 30, 2009 10:22 AM (/SYr3)
Posted by: Tom in Korea at November 30, 2009 10:23 AM (+gX1+)
Posted by: NJConservative at November 30, 2009 10:23 AM (/Ywwg)
Posted by: John Galt at November 30, 2009 10:24 AM (F/4zf)
Posted by: alppuccino at November 30, 2009 10:24 AM (SmxGM)
I have inside information that Charles Schulz plagiarized a lot of that monologue from some guy named Luke. That passage was out of copyright, though.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 02:13 PM (7AOgy) -
Ding, ding, ding. And yet, still one of the most inspiring literary passages of all time, at least in my humble opinion.
Posted by: teej at November 30, 2009 10:25 AM (c459z)
Posted by: Z as in Jersey at November 30, 2009 10:27 AM (kZT4X)
Posted by: grognard at November 30, 2009 02:12 PM (v0kvW) "
Which I do!! Love that movie!!
Posted by: crystal at November 30, 2009 10:27 AM (KVSUW)
I'm a gonna let you finish, Obama, but NORAD had the most awesome Christmas special OF ALL TIME. In the WORLD.
Can't blame a man for speaking his mind.
Posted by: Curt LeMay at November 30, 2009 10:27 AM (/VEEI)
Posted by: Larry Braverman at November 30, 2009 10:28 AM (KOkrW)
Posted by: Santa Claus at November 30, 2009 10:29 AM (zyyJm)
I have inside information that Charles Schulz plagiarized a lot of that monologue from some guy named Luke. That passage was out of copyright, though.
The past ten years or, I'm surprised that scene gets aired uncut. Eventually, the FCC is going to make them bleep "Savior, who is Christ the Lord" because it offends someone.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at November 30, 2009 10:29 AM (NtiET)
Speaking of Charlie Brown Christmas. I took the boy and girl(6 and 5yr) out to play a little turkey day football and the girl pulled a Lucy on the boy. Yep move the ball just when he was going to kick it. LOL.
Posted by: RobD at November 30, 2009 10:30 AM (sV3Dv)
Posted by: Larry Braverman at November 30, 2009 10:30 AM (KOkrW)
Posted by: Charles Gibson at November 30, 2009 10:30 AM (nz654)
Posted by: kansas at November 30, 2009 10:30 AM (mka2b)
Hah! But I'll still be on the TV, bitch!
Posted by: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer at November 30, 2009 10:30 AM (wnU1W)
Posted by: Woodstock at November 30, 2009 10:32 AM (LdYLm)
How many times will the Chief Narcissist:
1. Use the word "I"
2. Blame Bush
3. Let me be clear
Posted by: huerfano at November 30, 2009 02:25 PM (vtuZz)
Dont forget...4. Make no Mistake. 5. Failed policies of the last eight years. There's this notion. 7. I am your God now.
Posted by: crystal at November 30, 2009 10:32 AM (KVSUW)
Posted by: kansas at November 30, 2009 10:33 AM (mka2b)
Yeah, well, unfortunately, Sparky was a twat.. Let me rephrase that: Charles Shultz was a miserable, bitter, dessicated little asshole of a man. My dad had business dealings with him. I can't enjoy even his good stuff, like this clip, like I used to.
Shultz made Jimmy Carter and Bill Moyers look normal, well-adjusted human beings.
Posted by: OregonMuse at November 30, 2009 10:34 AM (6kI9E)
Someone please call Charlie Gibson and tell him what and where West Point is.
No need to worry about Chris Mathews. His leg is in pre-twitch mode as we speak.
Teleprompter is loaded with catch phrases that, while empty of meaning, are sure to evoke comparisons with Demosthenes, Churchill and other great orators like Hitler and Chavez, for example.
Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at November 30, 2009 10:34 AM (RkRxq)
Maybe, but the rink he built in Santa Rosa was great, and cheap. That was my only business dealing with Schultz, and it went well.
Posted by: NJConservative at November 30, 2009 10:36 AM (/Ywwg)
You forgot unprecedented.
Posted by: RobD at November 30, 2009 02:33 PM (sV3Dv)
heh. You're right. I forgot this one too...8. In the beginning, there was Islam.
BTW, my little girl and boy are the same ages as yours. They are great entertainment.
Posted by: crystal at November 30, 2009 10:36 AM (KVSUW)
All right, who's been messing with the teleprompter?
Posted by: Barry Obama at November 30, 2009 10:37 AM (vtuZz)
Someone should just transpose his voice with that of Charlie Brown's teacher.
Waaa Waaa Waaaaaa Waaaa.
If that is not a thread winner, I don't what one is.
Posted by: Lemmiwinks at November 30, 2009 10:38 AM (IqfKc)
--Sometimes the art transcends the creator. I would not have wanted to hang around Beethoven or Michelangelo for more than a minute, either.
Mozart or Bach,on the other hand . . .
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 10:38 AM (I3Udb)
52% of you are getting coal again this year.
Hydrocarbons for Christmas? Oh no. No, no, no.
Posted by: Al Gore at November 30, 2009 02:33 PM (vtuZz)
Yeah, the elves 'put together' something special for you. It's like coal. Just don't let it thaw.
Posted by: Santa Claus at November 30, 2009 10:40 AM (zyyJm)
That being said...I don't much lament the fact that Christmas may be passing from the pop-culture vernacular. It is, like Easter, primarily a religious holiday and ought to be recognized as such. It celebrates the birth of the Son of God, and it has always seemed rather sacrilegious for unbelievers to celebrate the day as Christmas. (Yeah, yeah, I know: "Merry Christmas to you, too, Mister Grinch!")
*Who is, let us remember, is historically the (Christian) Saint Nicholas.
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 10:40 AM (4Pleu)
Posted by: Chuck Norris at November 30, 2009 10:40 AM (erIg9)
Posted by: paranoidpyro at November 30, 2009 10:41 AM (t4syE)
Posted by: jjshaka at November 30, 2009 10:42 AM (UfWfG)
Obama? Never heard of him.
Why aren't we covering the real story of today: The Ace Of Spades Lifestyle?
Posted by: Charlie Gibson at November 30, 2009 10:42 AM (O7Q1u)
Disgusting.
Posted by: Nighthawk at November 30, 2009 10:43 AM (OtQXp)
Posted by: toby928 at November 30, 2009 10:43 AM (PD1tk)
Posted by: Peaches at November 30, 2009 10:44 AM (9Wv2j)
Teleprompter, please.
"And there were in the same country journalists abiding in the sewer, keeping watch over their martini by night. And lo, the angel of the Oprah came upon them, and the glory of the Oprah tingled round about them: and they were sore and afraid.
And the Wright said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you chickens roosting of racial guilt, which shall be to all rich, white people. For unto you is born this day in the City of Daley a Savior, which is Obama the One. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in Marxist politics, lying about his life.' And suddenly there was with the Wright a multitude of the radical host, praising Soros, and saying, 'Glory to Ayers in the highest, and on earth debt, no jobs for young men.'"
That's what Christmas is all about, Sheriff Joe.
Posted by: AmishDude at November 30, 2009 10:45 AM (T0NGe)
The next morning, in the post about Barry's nose-diving approval rating, maybe we can get a flaming Charlie Brown head.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at November 30, 2009 10:46 AM (NtiET)
Posted by: Tim Winters at November 30, 2009 10:47 AM (j2v8m)
It doesn't bother this Jew. What's wrong with recognizing that this is, at least for the medium term, a Christian country? It doesn't irritate me at all. What irritates me is being wished a "happy holiday," instead of "merry Christmas!"
Posted by: NJConservative at November 30, 2009 10:48 AM (/Ywwg)
Posted by: Paladin at November 30, 2009 10:48 AM (XZu3c)
You can bet that after the speech, the LSM will be praising it as the most eloquent, significant foreign policy speech evah!
Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at November 30, 2009 10:49 AM (Vu6sl)
Someone should just transpose his voice with that of Charlie Brown's teacher.
Waaa Waaa Waaaaaa Waaaa.
Posted by: Mr. Pink at November 30, 2009 02:14 PM (SqAkN)
--If someone records the speech and then docs it up to post on YouTube, I promise I'll plug it on Facebook!
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 10:50 AM (I3Udb)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at November 30, 2009 10:50 AM (b68Df)
Which, oddly, is not unusual for humorists and comedians. Bill Watterson (creator of Calvin and Hobbes) was almost a recluse, and remains a resolute contrarian. It wouldn't surprise me if Watterson actually didn't like kids all that much; C&H wasn't an especially kid-friendly strip. "Humorists" like Letterman and Garrison Keillor are reputed jerks in their private lives. (Keillor in particular wants to project the air of a curmudgeon, but is in reality just a self-righteous and holier-than-thou asshole.)
Schulz's Peanuts strip was never really all that "funny" in the sense that other comics of the time were (think Beetle Bailey or Blondie or Dennis the Menace or Family Circus). His themes in the strip were pretty depressing: hopelessness, loss, failure, futility, and alienation. Think about Snoopy. Ostensibly a boy's dog is his best friend, but Snoopy was distant and rather cold towards his owner -- sometimes cruel, often capricious and self-serving. He, like everyone else in the Peanuts world, treated Charlie Brown like a chump. I've often wondered if Schulz wasn't simply updating the old Testament story of Job, with Charlie Brown playing the upright man beset on all sides by the cruelty and perfidy of others. But in Schulz's world, even God cannot comfort Charlie Brown -- he is alienated from everyone and everything, including himself.
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 10:50 AM (4Pleu)
Posted by: Peaches at November 30, 2009 02:44 PM (9Wv2j)
Actually if you consider the significance of West Point vis-a-vis Benedict Arnold it's perversely appropriate for Obama's purposes. But I doubt he or any of his staff realize that fact.
Posted by: Nighthawk at November 30, 2009 10:50 AM (OtQXp)
Posted by: 'Nam Grunt at November 30, 2009 10:51 AM (BmbsW)
Posted by: dagny at November 30, 2009 10:51 AM (4tf69)
Posted by: rabidfox at November 30, 2009 10:51 AM (9EHKo)
Posted by: Gabriel Malor at November 30, 2009 10:52 AM (B2LxR)
Posted by: dagny at November 30, 2009 10:53 AM (4tf69)
Fixed.
Posted by: OregonMuse at November 30, 2009 10:53 AM (6kI9E)
He'll be surrounded by cadets, Jugears will dole out a gigantic pile bullshit how he has such a high regard for the military, if there's any applause it be polite, maybe a shout out and platitudes lot's and lot's of platitudes.
Posted by: YIKES! at November 30, 2009 10:53 AM (LswIE)
No offense intended; I've often wondered if Jews feel the same unease with the recent retail-izing of Hanukkah and Yom Kippur.
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 10:53 AM (4Pleu)
Posted by: WTFCI at November 30, 2009 10:53 AM (GtYrq)
Posted by: Roman Polanski at November 30, 2009 02:50 PM (wOGfT)
--Fearless Vampire Killers and Frantic were okay, but hardly "art." The rest of your output was shyte.
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 10:55 AM (I3Udb)
Disgusting.
As much as I'd like to see some cadet take one for the country and shout "You lie!" it's not going to happen. However, I think there's a decent chance this crowd may just sit on its hands (like Obama's military photo ops last Christmas) if his 'plan' is transparently crap.
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 10:56 AM (zyyJm)
--I could totally relate to Charlie Brown as a kid.
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 10:57 AM (I3Udb)
Nice.
Posted by: toby928 at November 30, 2009 02:47 PM (PD1tk)
Thanks!
Posted by: AmishDude at November 30, 2009 10:57 AM (T0NGe)
I don't know about that, but the Charlie Brown character is reputed to be merely a stand-in for Shultz himself. Teachers today tell kids how important it is to have a "positive self-image". Shultz, apparently, did not have one.
Posted by: OregonMuse at November 30, 2009 10:58 AM (6kI9E)
The kite-eating tree was my favorite: What child has not at some point seen his joy (like a favorite toy) devoured by his uncaring surroundings?
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 10:59 AM (I3Udb)
Posted by: Cuffy Meigs at November 30, 2009 11:00 AM (JefgB)
Posted by: Pecos Bill at November 30, 2009 11:00 AM (8WOM0)
Posted by: AngelEm at November 30, 2009 11:00 AM (HCxZ0)
"Well, he is bigger does have a bigger EGO than Jesus."
Fixed.
Think about it, folks. How mentally ill do you have to be to be a mere mortal, who has never accomplished anything in life solely on merit, and yet still have a huger ego than God Himself?
Posted by: Sharkman at November 30, 2009 11:00 AM (Zj8fM)
Y will be the number of problems solved.
Y(1) will be the unemployment rate.
X will be the number of times on TV.
Posted by: jimmuy at November 30, 2009 11:00 AM (EzcbY)
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 11:02 AM (zyyJm)
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 11:03 AM (zyyJm)
Posted by: joey buzzard at November 30, 2009 11:03 AM (jbXDH)
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 02:53 PM (4Pleu)
I feel great unease with the recent trend toward pizza coupons for half-off extra-large pepperoni and sausage specials on Yom Kippur.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 11:04 AM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Pope Gregory XIII at November 30, 2009 11:05 AM (NtiET)
Shultz financed that rink? I did not know that. Well, good for him. I had always heard he was a cheap bastard. I'm glad to know that's not entirely true.
Posted by: OregonMuse at November 30, 2009 11:05 AM (6kI9E)
30 days hath September, April, June, and November...
Posted by: Unprecedented Anachronda at November 30, 2009 11:05 AM (1OYcp)
Posted by: kansas at November 30, 2009 02:28 PM (mka2b)
That was my first thought too.
Posted by: Tami at November 30, 2009 11:06 AM (VuLos)
Posted by: Mr. Pink at November 30, 2009 11:07 AM (SqAkN)
"I don't know about that, but the Charlie Brown character is reputed to be merely a stand-in for Shultz himself."
Always thought Linus was Schulz's alter ego, mainly because he was so religious, but you can make the argument that he and Charlie are separate facets of himself.
PS. There are DVDs, you know...
Posted by: JEA at November 30, 2009 11:07 AM (XZu3c)
This is rich! http://tinyurl.com/y9lk4w5
Obama has a team of people frantically erasing the teleprompter as we speak.
Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at November 30, 2009 11:09 AM (RkRxq)
Each character in Peanuts always seemed to embody some specific character trait -- they're almost like Greek gods in that way. Schroeder was the god of music; Linus the god of poetry and philosophy; Lucy the god of deceit and tricks, though not explicitly evil (like Loki); Snoopy a god of epicureanism and pure feeling (like Pan); Sally the god of love and beauty (like Aphrodite).
But what does Charlie Brown embody in this universe of assertive egos and pure talents? Failure. Futility. Misplaced hopes and hopeless dreams. He is one of the saddest and most bereft characters in literature.
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 11:09 AM (4Pleu)
Posted by: mystry at November 30, 2009 11:10 AM (kmgIE)
Truth. And allow me to pile on by simply stating that the term to make this shorter is "the cruelty of a child."
Posted by: Tom in Korea at November 30, 2009 11:10 AM (+gX1+)
Posted by: NJConservative at November 30, 2009 02:48 PM (/Ywwg)
I'm with you. When my youngest was about three, we were driving through our little S.F. Bay Area suburban town and she noticed the tinsel wrapped around the lampposts to make them look like candy canes. She asked, "When do they put up the Hanukkah decorations?"
I explained that the town wasn't going to do that, because so few Jews live in our town compared to how many Christians live here. Even a three-year-old was able to understand that. I explained that where here aunt and uncle live in Jerusalem, it was more likely that she'd see some symbols of Hanukkah.
(Of course, it's likely that no one on the town council realized that, far from being a secular "holiday" symbol, are actually representative of the Shepherd's Crook striped with the Blood of the Lamb.)
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 11:12 AM (7AOgy)
There's a radio address every Saturday. Mid-afternoon press conferences. Etc. Barry's taken how many months to make a decision? And he can't explain it at 2 p.m. or 9 p.m. Eastern?
West Coast morons--do you get reruns when Barry gives a primetime speech at 8 Eastern? Or do they tape delay it for you?
Posted by: HeatherRadish at November 30, 2009 11:12 AM (NtiET)
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 11:12 AM (zyyJm)
Posted by: OregonMuse at November 30, 2009 03:05 PM (6kI9E)
He was clinically depressed almost all his life and he developed Parkinson's, which made it ever more difficult to continue to create his comic strip. But so far as I am aware, he was a charitable and kind man.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 11:15 AM (7AOgy)
One of my favorite golfing partners is Barak Obama, "the man who made golf a contact sport."
You all know Barack Obama -- the most dangerous driver since Ben Hur.
Obama is easy to spot on the course. He drives the cart with the red cross painted on top.
Whenever I play with him, I usually try to make it a foursome -- the President, myself, a paramedic and a faith healer.
One of my most prized possessions is the Purple Heart I received for all the golf I've played with him.
Whenever I play with Obama these days I carry 13 clubs and a white flag. I try to win only enough from him to pay my extra insurance premiums.
Posted by: Bob Hope and Change at November 30, 2009 11:15 AM (GwPRU)
This is rich! http://tinyurl.com/y9lk4w5
Obama has a team of people frantically erasing the teleprompter as we speak.
Jules Crittenden fisks the ever-loving hell out of Michael Moore's "open letter to Obama." Ball-dippingly good stuff: http://tinyurl.com/y868uhm
Posted by: Cuffy Meigs at November 30, 2009 11:16 AM (JefgB)
Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama will tell the public tomorrow how the U.S. will pay for his new strategy to stabilize Afghanistan and that there are limits to American involvement there, said his spokesman, Robert Gibbs.
In an address on the war plan from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, Obama will discuss the limits on U.S. resources, both in military personnel and budget, Gibbs told reporters at the White House. He also will talk about the role of Pakistan in battling extremists.
Sounds like a winning strategy.
Posted by: TheQuietman at November 30, 2009 11:18 AM (1Jaio)
Barry O has been on in prime time more then most of NBC's regular shows. Does he qualify for an Emmy nomination? Maybe mini series category.
Maybe they can run a little bit just before the begining with the disclaimer "This presentation brought to you with minimumm commercial interuptions courtesy of the good folks from Government, er General Motors"
Posted by: Just A Grunt at November 30, 2009 11:21 AM (ZMnRg)
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 03:09 PM (4Pleu)
Charlie Brown is a thoroughly ordinary kid who is painfully aware of his own limitations. In a nation that feeds its children the mantra, "You can do anything you set your mind to," and its corollary, "Anyone can grow up to be President," Charlie Brown was pretty firmly grounded in reality -- and surrounded by peers who made sure he stayed that way.
And yet, every once in a while, reality gave him something good on which to pin his hopes for the future. Linus helped the other kids see that Charlie's choice of Christmas tree wasn't bad at all; the Little Red-Haired Girl gave him the rare smile or kind word; he caught the fly ball and for once, it didn't fall out of his glove.
And throughout it all, he had at least a couple of loyal friends, chiefly Snoopy and Linus, who took him as he was. I don't see him in nearly as bleak terms as you do.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 11:21 AM (7AOgy)
Sounds like a winning strategy.
Posted by: TheQuietman at November 30, 2009 03:18 PM (1Jaio)
I predict Obama will send McChrystal at least 40,000 more troops. But they will be Pakistani troops, rented for the occasion.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 11:24 AM (7AOgy)
Over the years the characters developed organically, so they wouldn't be expected to follow their original purpose.
Example: Earlier comics had a tall black-haired girl Violet and her protege Patty the blonde. They served as manifestations of Charlie Brown's insecurities; when you saw them in a strip, you knew they were going to abuse the guy. But they never really had a character of their own and Schultz eventually relegated them to ciphers.
Lucy took on their roles, in part; but it wasn't her mission to crush Charlie Brown (she wanted him coming back for more after all). Lucy also had her own agenda at home, as Big Sister to Linus.
Sally's portfolio overlaps somewhat with Lucy's. Sally's unrequited love for Linus overlaps with Lucy's for Schroeder.
As for the Platonic goddess of beauty and happiness: Schultz had one, but it wasn't Sally. That's the Little Red-Haired Girl.
Posted by: David Ross at November 30, 2009 11:28 AM (9Sbz+)
Posted by: Todd at November 30, 2009 11:32 AM (LLOGQ)
stuiec: Schultz was a fan of human decency. Schultz did make Charlie Brown, (earlier) Violet/Patty-the-elder, and (later) Lucy and Sally make comments to the effect that Charlie Brown didn't have any friends.
But readers knew that he actually did have friends. Not just Linus; but later on also Peppermint Patty and Marcie. Those two camped out outside the hospital when Charlie Brown got sick. That looks to me like pretty deeply felt friendship (at least).
Readers should have got the impression that Charlie Brown was a victim more of his own insecurities than of his peers. (Certainly the case after Schultz fired Violet and Patty-the-elder.)
Posted by: David Ross at November 30, 2009 11:35 AM (9Sbz+)
If I didn't want to be offended occasionally, I wouldn't be reading a smart military blog. But...I am not offended in the least. Why would I be?
As for the commercialization and homogeneousness of Christmas, and for that matter all religious holidays? Your guess is as good as mine.
Posted by: NJConservative at November 30, 2009 11:36 AM (/Ywwg)
Does West Point have any religious symbols as decorations and if so, will they be covered so as not to offend Obama's Muslim sensibilities?
Obama giving a speech from West Point is kinda like Ahmedinejad giving a speech from St. Peter's Square.
Obama would be more at home in Berkeley giving his speech from high up in a Coast Live Oak. For effect, he could toss handfuls of Kashi down to the unwashed and ungroomed masses below as if it were Manna from Heaven. He could throw in some "Ohmmm, ohmmm" chants when the drum circles and hash pipes fire up. It would be a rockin' good time!
Posted by: Alex's Cabin at November 30, 2009 11:37 AM (PuCK9)
Which side will they be fighting on?
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 11:37 AM (zyyJm)
He might very well have been a cheap bastard, but the rink was great. For all I know he made tons of money with it. Actually, good for him if he made money.
I think that all of this analysis of Peanuts and Schulz loses sight of the fact that in the end, there was a certain sweetness and kindness in the strips and the animated specials.
Posted by: NJConservative at November 30, 2009 11:40 AM (/Ywwg)
Well, I think Sally was more the epitome of Female Vanity, in the Classical sense: an empty-headed blonde with a gold-digger's heart. Her love for Linus is shallow and easily swayed; her appreciation for beauty is likewise shallow and based only on surfaces. Which makes her attraction to the stout and kind Linus a Classical conundrum as well.
The Little Red-Haired Girl, early on, had the same purpose as the Golden Fleece in Greek myth: an unattainable, beautiful, perfect object which exists to drive the protagonist onward in both a physical and moral sense. It was only later that she became a "person". The Peanuts strips of later years became less symbolic because Schulz had to deal with backstories, love triangles, and a bit of topicality (Snoopy's "Joe Cool" phase).
But Peanuts never lost that existential despair that was Charlie Brown's life. When he succeeded (rarely), it was by chance or the capricious kindness of Fate; it was never by his own agency. Linus' role was to act as the Chorus (as in a Greek tragedy): to explicate and illuminate the tragedy of Charlie Brown, and to drive home the moral of the story.
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 11:43 AM (4Pleu)
Which side will they be fighting on?
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 03:37 PM (zyyJm)
I am announcing today that as your first half-black muslim CIC, that I have ordered 40,000 additional troops be deployed immediately to strengthen the Taliban, um, er, U.S. military in the fight against the infidels, um, er, Taliban. We will stay until we find a way to exit, um, er, finish the job that the previous infidel, um, er, administratation failed to complete. Thank you. And may Allah, um, er, God Bless The 57 United States of America!
Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at November 30, 2009 11:47 AM (Vu6sl)
Damn it! I forgot the sock puppit!
Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at November 30, 2009 11:48 AM (Vu6sl)
Posted by: Jean Paul Sartre at November 30, 2009 11:48 AM (JefgB)
Posted by: kansas at November 30, 2009 02:33 PM (mka2b)
"and on that dark day in December 1941, no one could have known that a Commander in Chief of African descent would someday call for the invasion of Europe"
Posted by: Larry Braverman at November 30, 2009 11:53 AM (KOkrW)
Posted by: Cicero at November 30, 2009 11:55 AM (QKKT0)
Monty, I forget which moron commented on this, back when Schultz passed away there was some accounts of his personal struggles with depression and such (maybe you said this), "anybody who read Peanuts and didn't think Charles Shultz had some issues wasn't paying attention".
Anyway, yeah.
Posted by: Thomas Jefferson at November 30, 2009 11:56 AM (WvXvd)
Posted by: Cicero at November 30, 2009 11:58 AM (QKKT0)
Posted by: Z as in Jersey at November 30, 2009 12:00 PM (kZT4X)
Posted by: Cicero at November 30, 2009 12:00 PM (QKKT0)
Posted by: Billy Mayes at November 30, 2009 12:03 PM (kKP5O)
Preempting Charlie Brown is just friggin evil.
Posted by: Rocks at November 30, 2009 12:08 PM (Q1lie)
Words/Phrase odds:
"victory" 1,000:1 against
"Iraq mistake/distraction" 1,000:1 in favor
"Pahkeestahn" 600:1 in favor (pronunciation counts)
"difficult decision" (ten repetitions) 800:1 in favor
"recommendations of General McChrystal" 75:1 against
"health care" (no, I'm not kidding) 800:1 in favor
"shout out" Even money
"off ramp" (I may break my television) 3:2 in favor
"international community" 15:1 in favor
"slices like an effing Reaper" 2,000:1 against
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at November 30, 2009 12:14 PM (B+qrE)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at November 30, 2009 12:15 PM (EBhbA)
Actually, the network (I think it was ABC) tried very hard to cut the monologue. Schultz (a committed Christian) told them that Linus' speech was the crux of the whole cartoon and either it stayed or he was going to kill the entire thing. The network had already sunk a lot of money (for the era) and so backed down. I always admired him for that.
The other thing I read is that even as he got older, he refused to farm out tasks like lettering or inking to someone else (which is a pretty common practice). He did not want anyone else to touch his creation. Even as he knew he was going down, each strip was entirely his own creation.
Posted by: oLD gUY at November 30, 2009 12:19 PM (P/D33)
Posted by: jjshaka at November 30, 2009 12:20 PM (UfWfG)
Posted by: Flashback Ace at November 30, 2009 12:24 PM (Q1lie)
Posted by: Flashback Allahpundit at November 30, 2009 12:25 PM (Q1lie)
Posted by: physics geek at November 30, 2009 12:27 PM (MT22W)
Posted by: DarthRove at November 30, 2009 12:28 PM (+IAze)
Whatever happened to the "new" AOS, anyway? It was in beta and we were all supposed to migrate there "soon". Then I never heard anything. Is it like New Coke?
Posted by: oLD gUY at November 30, 2009 12:28 PM (P/D33)
Posted by: joncelli at November 30, 2009 12:29 PM (RD7QR)
Posted by: Flashback Russ from Winterset at November 30, 2009 12:29 PM (Q1lie)
+1
Posted by: Average American at November 30, 2009 12:30 PM (NtiET)
Posted by: oLD gUY at November 30, 2009 04:28 PM (P/D33)
I just started this damn blog and you morons want a new one already?
Morons...you people are fucking morons.
Posted by: Flashback Ace at November 30, 2009 12:30 PM (Q1lie)
Gabe double posting at Ace's? Uh, isn't that stealing Ace's schtick?
Posted by: andycanuck at November 30, 2009 12:31 PM (2qU2d)
What did you do? Your blog-fu is powerful. Now we'll have to break the post all over again.
Posted by: oLD gUY at November 30, 2009 12:32 PM (P/D33)
Posted by: Michael Mann at November 30, 2009 12:33 PM (GGgoa)
Posted by: joncelli at November 30, 2009 12:35 PM (RD7QR)
Words/Phrase odds:
"victory" 1,000:1 against
"Iraq mistake/distraction" 1,000:1 in favor
"Pahkeestahn" 600:1 in favor (pronunciation counts)
"difficult decision" (ten repetitions) 800:1 in favor
"recommendations of General McChrystal" 75:1 against
"health care" (no, I'm not kidding) 800:1 in favor
"shout out" Even money
"off ramp" (I may break my television) 3:2 in favor
"international community" 15:1 in favor
"slices like an effing Reaper" 2,000:1 against
You might want to also add "to address the mistakes of the past eight years" 2,000:1 in favor.
Posted by: Dirk Diggler at November 30, 2009 12:35 PM (RjoBh)
Posted by: IrenetheDecidersIrene at November 30, 2009 12:35 PM (lhxhu)
Posted by: kansas at November 30, 2009 02:33 PM (mka2b)
You mean, radio and movie newsreels?
But yeah, I am sure that the newspapers would have reported the endless discussions about exactly where and when the invasion would take place, and that President Obama would lay out in great detail in a radio address the specific plans for the invasion. Just to prove, you know, that he gave the matter sufficient deliberation.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 12:35 PM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Rocks at November 30, 2009 12:37 PM (Q1lie)
Posted by: McClatchy Watch at November 30, 2009 12:37 PM (f3OQE)
Posted by: Mr. Pink at November 30, 2009 12:38 PM (SqAkN)
Posted by: hutch1200 at November 30, 2009 12:39 PM (MLETe)
As for the Corps sitting on their hands...some will. As a plebe, I requested permission from my table commandant to not clap for Hillary when she made an appearance there, which he freely granted (I had to ask permission to breathe at that table). There were some left leaners when I was around, but most of the Corps will probably politely look his direction, thousand yard stare firmly in place, whilst they dream of the upcoming Christmas leave.
Posted by: Joseph at November 30, 2009 12:39 PM (1ugNs)
c o c k
Posted by: mongo at November 30, 2009 12:40 PM (+R/zi)
Posted by: Christopher Calandro at November 30, 2009 12:41 PM (JdbYk)
Posted by: Mr. Pink at November 30, 2009 12:43 PM (SqAkN)
You forgot one of his favorites: "Some say..."
Posted by: runningrn at November 30, 2009 04:38 PM (vEclT)
However many times he uses that expression, I am sure it will be... unprecedented.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 12:43 PM (7AOgy)
We must stone Pigpen to death. He is unclean!
Posted by: charlie brown, pbuh, hajj special at November 30, 2009 12:44 PM (2qU2d)
Posted by: Mr. Pink at November 30, 2009 04:43 PM (SqAkN)
Interesting thought. I wonder if Lesko's name shows up in the CRU e-mails?
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 12:44 PM (7AOgy)
Posted by: rplat at November 30, 2009 12:45 PM (G1ArL)
I remember how I would get all excited as a kid, thinking an animated Jimmy Cagney or Fred Astaire was about to be in my future--and then the pain of disappointment when it was some dumb documentary. Oh the horror....Hope and Change, indeed.
On the QT, I hear the President will explain that he told General McChrystal he couldn't have all the troops he wanted because "you'll shoot your eye out, kid."
The Red Ryder BB gun was also axed.
Posted by: Horatius at November 30, 2009 12:47 PM (Kolyq)
"Charlie Brown, you blockhead! We can't sacrifice a hamster!"
"Wait - why not just use Snoopy?"
"Great idea, Linus! This will be the best Eid Al-Adha ever!"
Posted by: Inshallah, It's Eid Al-Adha, Charlie Brown! at November 30, 2009 12:48 PM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Horatius at November 30, 2009 12:53 PM (Kolyq)
Posted by: Fish at November 30, 2009 04:55 PM (6mfq0)
FIFY.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 12:57 PM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Horatius at November 30, 2009 04:53 PM (Kolyq)
Apparently a lot of the folks who voted for him have been in that pumpkin patch since last November, waiting for the Great (Revolutionary Marxist) President to appear. Judging by Michael Moore's latest screed, they're still waiting. Silly them! It's been evident to the rest of us that the revolutionary Marxist showed up on time, but that he ain't so all-powerful great.
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 01:00 PM (7AOgy)
On Nov. 2, the Saints played a Monday-night game at home, beating Atlanta. After the game, Brees went home; he fell asleep well past midnight. At 7 a.m., he was on a commercial flight to Washington. He spent almost five hours at the White House taping the ad with Obama, Troy Polamalu and some kids.
Being president can be SOOOOOO hard.
Posted by: Michael at November 30, 2009 01:06 PM (siOQ7)
Monty at November 30, 2009 03:09 PM (4Pleu)
I don't see Charlie Brown that way at all. He never gives up despite his failures.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at November 30, 2009 01:08 PM (P33XN)
No word on how ObamaCare polled in the Land of Misfit Toys...but we do here Herr Burgermeister Meisterburger is in favor of it and Cap and Trade...
Posted by: Horatius at November 30, 2009 01:08 PM (Kolyq)
I've never really been into Charlie Brown but that was a good clip.
Unfortunately it might also be motivation for ObamaMessiah to preempt the show. /s
Posted by: Mark at November 30, 2009 01:09 PM (Vvbjc)
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 01:13 PM (zyyJm)
Umberto Eco (of The Name of the Rose and Foucault's Pendulum fame) wrote a really great preface to one of the Peanuts volumes a number of years ago, and raised most of the points I brought up here. One of the most trenchant things he pointed out was that the very first Peanuts strip was an existential attack on Charlie Brown. Two children, a boy and a girl, are sitting on a curb when they see Charlie Brown coming along. The boy says something like, "Here comes Charlie Brown. Good ol' Charlie Brown." Then, when Charlie Brown has passed by, the boy says (apropos of nothing), "How I hate him!"
The very first emotion attributed to poor Charlie is inchoate hatred. Heavy stuff for the very first strip. How many protagonists are introduced this way?
I think this is what elevated Peanuts beyond any other strips of the time, and gives it a surprising depth. It's "humor" was basically existential despair cloaked in the social lives of children and anthropomorphic animals. It dealt with a universe that, when not uncaring, was often explicitly hostile.
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 01:14 PM (4Pleu)
I hate he'll have to serve under Prez Prissypants.
Posted by: Jane D'oh! at November 30, 2009 01:16 PM (UOM48)
2 things: don't the cadets have exams shortly? and don't we want our future fighting men & women to be properly prepared academically?
2d:. Bambi is pre-empting NCIS. Mark Harmon says never apologize as it is a sign of weakness. Maybe Bambi should watch NCIS & learn to be a real man from a TV character.
Posted by: kelley in virginia at November 30, 2009 01:21 PM (TEIZr)
Posted by: Jane D'oh! at November 30, 2009 01:26 PM (UOM48)
1. Use the word "I"
2. Blame Bush
3. Let me be clear"
Don't forget about the Obama classic
4. Some say . . . Others say . . .
Posted by: Just Another Poster at November 30, 2009 01:37 PM (NgoAe)
Narcissus Aurelius Obamus
Can't wait until we can get a Damnatio Memoriae bill through Congress.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at November 30, 2009 01:43 PM (P33XN)
Posted by: sifty at November 30, 2009 01:45 PM (15gto)
This is so low class and shitty that Ballerina Emanuel must be behind this.
Posted by: sifty at November 30, 2009 01:48 PM (15gto)
LOL!
Posted by: Percopius at November 30, 2009 01:49 PM (V0nbk)
Posted by: Jane D'oh! at November 30, 2009 01:51 PM (UOM48)
Posted by: Methos at November 30, 2009 01:58 PM (zyyJm)
Heh. The Telegraph has a blog on how bad Sheriff Joe's hair plugs are. When the Brits ridicule your hair/plugs, it's on!
Posted by: Jane D'oh! at November 30, 2009 01:58 PM (UOM48)
For the first time in my life, I am proud of Christmas.
Posted by: 1st Wookie at November 30, 2009 02:00 PM (15gto)
On Lenin, on Krugman, on Mathews and Gibson!
On Couric, on Sully, on Johnson and Blitzer!
Posted by: sifty at November 30, 2009 02:02 PM (15gto)
Obama says, "Created or saved? Jobs? Heh, heh, heh. No, you took my words out of context! What I said was rogue nuclear regimes and enemies of the U.S. That's what we created or saved!"
Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at November 30, 2009 02:12 PM (r1h5M)
Posted by: Pug Mahon at November 30, 2009 02:22 PM (yiNoG)
Posted by: Monty at November 30, 2009 05:14 PM (4Pleu)
"Schroeder always said, 'I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of Him.' Well, I believe in God. And the only thing that scares me is Charlie Brown."
Posted by: stuiec at November 30, 2009 02:22 PM (7AOgy)
Posted by: KayInMaine at November 30, 2009 02:25 PM (2tQqk)
Hell yes.
Posted by: Dr. Spank at November 30, 2009 02:28 PM (GGgoa)
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 02:33 PM (I3Udb)
Linus: It's okay to make mistakes, Charlie Brown. We learn more from our mistakes.
Charlie Brown: That must make me the smartest person in the whole world.
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 02:40 PM (I3Udb)
Posted by: logprof at November 30, 2009 02:46 PM (I3Udb)
Posted by: rockhead at November 30, 2009 04:11 PM (RykTt)
This prick couldn't fill a waffle house after Sunday church to hear his speech. He HAS to go to a place wehere attendence is needed. He's too pussy to go to Folsum.
And kayinmaine...fuck you
Posted by: hutch1200 at November 30, 2009 04:17 PM (MLETe)
Posted by: ProudinNC at November 30, 2009 04:27 PM (Edv29)
Posted by: Captain Hate at November 30, 2009 04:28 PM (2Uu3I)
Posted by: mpur at November 30, 2009 06:21 PM (K5EyT)
Yeah, I would rather watch a cartoon about the celebration of the brith of a REAL messiah than watch a masturbatory stroke fest from a wannabe messiah.
But you knock yourself out. And don't forget the Kool-Aid.
Posted by: mpur at November 30, 2009 06:23 PM (K5EyT)
Posted by: Scrapiron at November 30, 2009 07:08 PM (GkYyh)
Posted by: Scrapiron at November 30, 2009 07:10 PM (GkYyh)
Posted by: curious at November 30, 2009 10:20 PM (p302b)
Posted by: cheshirecat at November 30, 2009 10:28 PM (ZHPG2)
He has wore out his welcome on TV long ago.
Posted by: Vic at December 01, 2009 04:37 AM (CDUiN)
Posted by: Timothy at December 01, 2009 04:22 PM (UcFFN)
Posted by: designer handbags reviews at June 16, 2010 07:01 PM (fUihS)
Posted by: mario games online at September 17, 2010 03:00 AM (j6T1Z)
Posted by: eyelash enhancement at September 18, 2010 04:44 AM (qPVna)
Posted by: alabama aircraft dealers at September 19, 2010 04:46 AM (DVDAe)
Posted by: Find antique reproductions at September 22, 2010 04:49 AM (Rymj5)
Posted by: louisiana carpets at September 25, 2010 05:12 AM (I73sQ)
Posted by: Allergy and Immunology at September 26, 2010 04:33 AM (H6JGC)
Posted by: women health resources at September 27, 2010 05:19 AM (w06Si)
Posted by: home remedy for genital warts at September 28, 2010 07:01 AM (gmctu)
Posted by: Visvim Hockney at May 13, 2011 04:11 AM (Y1Z3r)
Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top
64 queries taking 0.2936 seconds, 417 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.
Posted by: pinche migra at November 30, 2009 10:04 AM (E3SK8)