Ace of Spades HQ

August 04, 2011

"... the summer of 2011 is the summer of Obama" [ArthurK]
— Open Blogger

Wait, wasn't this covered on the blog back on July 12th? Yes, yes it was. But it's aging really well and today of all days, I have my own take on it.

Esquire's Stephen Marche regaled us with an amazing mash note to Pres. Obama
last month. Rarely have we seen someone hoist with their own petard with such ironic power so quickly. I can't parody this - I can't fisk it. It's Self-Parodying! It's Self-Fisking!

So here are the highlights from Marche's "How Can We Not Love Obama?"

Before the fall brings us down, before the election season begins in earnest with all its nastiness and vulgarity, ... can we just enjoy Obama for a moment? Before the policy choices have to be weighed and the hard decisions have to be made, can we just take a month or two to contemplate him the way we might contemplate a painting by Vermeer ... or any other astounding, ecstatic human achievement? Because twenty years from now, we're going to look back on this time as a glorious idyll in American politics, with a confident, intelligent, fascinating president riding the surge of his prodigious talents from triumph to triumph. Whatever happens this fall or next, the summer of 2011 is the summer of Obama.

It's so hard. It's so hard to not rip into this for 20 paragraphs...

... Bill Clinton, who said about Obama in 2008: "A few years ago this guy would have been getting us coffee." Now he's bringing the legacy policies that eluded you, Bill.
... possibly not a single person in the United States - not even Obama himself - agrees with all of his policies.
... you must admire him. The turning point came (the week he released the birth cert., ragged on Trump at the dinner and killed Bin Laden) ... Obama stepped out of Bush's shadow that week, almost three years after taking over the presidency.
But even that string of successes cannot fully explain the immensity of his appeal right now. Reagan was able to call upon the classic American mythology of frontiersmen and astronauts and movie stars; Obama has accessed a much wider narrative matrix: He's mixed and matched Jay-Z with geek with Hawaiian with Kansan with product of Middle America with product of a broken home with local Chicago churchgoer with internationally renowned memoirist with assassin. "I am large, I contain multitudes," ... (a) 2004 book The Seven Basic Plots, a wide-ranging study from the Epic of Gilgamesh on ... reduced all stories to a few plots, each with its own kind of hero. Amazingly, Barack Obama fulfills the role of hero in each of these ancient story forms.
... His gift - and it is a gift that makes him emblematic - is that he inhabits all these roles without being limited by them. ... One month he's bailing out the banks, the next he's keeping Gitmo open. He pushes health-care reform through with an unimpeachable heave of will then extends the tax cuts. He walks smiling through the newly opened White House garden on his way to announce renewed efforts at oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. ... We can finally see who he is, we can finally understand the reality: In 2011, it is possible to be a levelheaded, warmhearted, cold-blooded killer who can crack a joke and write a book for his daughters. It is possible to be many things at once. ... Barack Obama is developing into what Hegel called a "world-historical soul," ... He is what we hope we can be.
... Obama's gift is the same as his curse: He's somehow managed to be like the rest of us, only infinitely more so.

We may look back on this essay as Obama's Jump the Shark moment.

Happy Birthday Barack!

Posted by: Open Blogger at 04:27 PM | Comments (67)
Post contains 653 words, total size 4 kb.

1 yuck

Posted by: dɥoǝuıxƃıɹl at August 04, 2011 04:28 PM (eOXTH)

2 i'm really tired of that guy

Posted by: dɥoǝuıxƃıɹl at August 04, 2011 04:28 PM (eOXTH)

3 Happy Birthday Barack!

And as while Rome Burned...

Posted by: jrg at August 04, 2011 04:30 PM (BkQvr)

4 Barack Obama is developing into what Hegel called a "world-historical soul," ...if by "world-historical soul," he means "sugar-coated Satan simpleton," he's spot on.

Posted by: George Orwell at August 04, 2011 04:31 PM (AZGON)

5 See? I told you there's nothing funny about Obama!

Posted by: palin steele at August 04, 2011 04:33 PM (BP6Z1)

6 Bingo!

Posted by: sifty t. baggins the Tearorist at August 04, 2011 04:33 PM (ECjvn)

7 Happy End Of The World Day, Obama! You did it, you finally did it! Damn you all to hell!

Posted by: filbert at August 04, 2011 04:33 PM (smvTK)

8 then extends the tax cuts

Think about that one for a minute.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 04, 2011 04:33 PM (7utQ2)

9 FO JEF. You suck!

Posted by: TexBob at August 04, 2011 04:34 PM (WeedA)

10 I'm still surprised Marche was able to stop fapping long enough to write the article.

Posted by: Lauren at August 04, 2011 04:35 PM (qgh2P)

11 Yet there are still a lot of people out there who believe that kind of stuff. Not a whole lot of hope for the future.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at August 04, 2011 04:35 PM (xy9wk)

12 I am like I am, only infnitely more so!

Posted by: Minuteman at August 04, 2011 04:35 PM (hbAPu)

13 Amazingly, Barack Obama fulfills the role of hero in each of these ancient story forms. Quick, someone check this guy's blood sugar. I think his insulin level is nonexistent.

Posted by: George Orwell at August 04, 2011 04:36 PM (AZGON)

14 Thais article is less about the awesomeness that is Obama than the retardedness that is Stephen Marche. But I can't imagine The One ever telling Marche "tone it down, man."

Posted by: Minuteman at August 04, 2011 04:37 PM (hbAPu)

So, according to Esquire:

Release of long-form birth certificate = total command of intellectual argument

I wrote a couple 10-12 page term papers in high school, does that make me a 4th Degree Zen Jedi Master prodigy of intellectual argument?

Posted by: Conservative Crank at August 04, 2011 04:38 PM (SnXrr)

16 More like "Hoist on his own Retard."

Posted by: Sharkman at August 04, 2011 04:38 PM (wMsKw)

17 his lovers are creepy.

Posted by: willow at August 04, 2011 04:39 PM (h+qn8)

18 Obama's gift is the same as his curse: He's somehow managed to be like the rest of us, only infinitely more so. Lines like this either craze with the aridity of the driest sarcasm, or prove the medically impossible: that a Cleveland steamer can actually hold a job at Esquire.

Posted by: George Orwell at August 04, 2011 04:39 PM (AZGON)

19 "Mash note" is right.

Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday" to JFK was more dignified than this treacle.

Posted by: logprof at August 04, 2011 04:40 PM (BP6Z1)

20 I'm still surprised Marche was able to stop fapping long enough to write the article.

Hands-free dictation software. It's what all the O-bots are using!

Posted by: David Marcoe at August 04, 2011 04:42 PM (C70FY)

21 This is liberal erotica.

Posted by: Joejm65 at August 04, 2011 04:42 PM (IuF5W)

22 The turning point came that glorious week in the spring when, in the space of a few days, he released his long-form birth certificate, humiliated Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and assassinated Osama bin Laden.

Marche's kneepads must be threadbare.

Posted by: Jane D'oh, Tea Party terrorist, and proud of it at August 04, 2011 04:44 PM (UOM48)

23 Stephen Marche really should be held for observation....or admitted outright.

Holy crap!

Posted by: Tami at August 04, 2011 04:44 PM (X6akg)

24 Mash Note? Hell, that little masturbatory essay was practically a boob squish!

Posted by: CoolCzech at August 04, 2011 04:45 PM (kUaEF)

25 Q: How can you make fun of President Obama?

Posted by: fluffy the unknown comic at August 04, 2011 04:46 PM (4Kl5M)

26 This is liberal erotica. Exactly... I was thinking Rule 34. This guy is the AnaÃ¯s Nin of libtard scribblers.

Posted by: George Orwell at August 04, 2011 04:46 PM (AZGON)

27 Q: How can you make fun of President Obama? A: You just don't lead him as much.

Posted by: fluffy the comic at August 04, 2011 04:47 PM (4Kl5M)

Yeah, kind of cringe-worthy.

Sorta like when this blog is all Misty for Christie or, here lately, SuperRick!

Posted by: njinfl at August 04, 2011 04:47 PM (M2X9r)

29 Barky would have killed bin Laden sooner, but those lazy-assed SEALs were too damned slow.

Posted by: Jane D'oh, Tea Party terrorist, and proud of it at August 04, 2011 04:47 PM (UOM48)

30 Hell of a gag gift we got him today.

Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at August 04, 2011 04:48 PM (agD4m)

31 Hell of a gag gift we got him today. I picked it out myself.

Posted by: Doom at August 04, 2011 04:49 PM (AZGON)

32 Merrill Lynch estimates the odds of a double dip recession at 35 percent. Time for the EPA to issue some new regulations, to get those odds up!

Posted by: CoolCzech at August 04, 2011 04:54 PM (kUaEF)

"assassinated Osama bin Laden"

Um, didn't the Church Commission and subsequent legislation kind of make that a no-no?

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at August 04, 2011 04:55 PM (xy9wk)

34 Shit, they could post that in "The Onion" and not change a word.

Posted by: Jack at August 04, 2011 04:58 PM (8IAHO)

35 But even that string of successes cannot fully explain the immensity of his appeal right now. ------------------------------------------------ Bwahahahahahahahahahha---------ah----ah-------Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!

Posted by: Larry Dickman at August 04, 2011 05:00 PM (4t9J5)

Hell of a gag gift we got him today.

Ooooh, is it the one with the soft straps and the hypoallegenic ball?

_{Oh, you said gag "gift".}

Posted by: Barack Obama at August 04, 2011 05:00 PM (glzJ1)

I'm not sure killing the enemy commander qualifies as assassination in legal term, especially when the said commander has expressly declared war on us.

IIRC, there's also a backdoor way around the no assassination policy involving a Presidential Finding, but someone more literate on executive powers and privileges would have to confirm that.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at August 04, 2011 05:01 PM (SnXrr)

38 Makes me want to grab a Dos Equis and drink it with my tiger and then do a hand stand on my horse. The world's most interesting man is sending a thrill upmy leg!!!!!!

Posted by: JayBee at August 04, 2011 05:06 PM (+6H/3)

39 It's so hard. It's so hard to not rip into this for 20 paragraphs...

Meh, I could do 200 without breaking a sweat.

Posted by: Ace o' spaydz at August 04, 2011 05:07 PM (XIXhw)

40 He pushes health-care reform through with an unimpeachable heave of will

Like when I fought through some serious constipation, with pretty much the same result.

Posted by: Where're my ping pong balls? at August 04, 2011 05:08 PM (XIXhw)

41 Do you suppose that, sometime, waaaay back in young Master Marche's childhood, he EVER had a sense of embarrassment, that there was any single act that, becoming known to others, would have caused him to blush or hang his head, lower his eyes, and feel shame?

Or has he ALWAYS given good column, like the world-class concubine he has become?

Posted by: Bluesman at August 04, 2011 05:14 PM (m6peC)

42 "Barack Obama is the triangle we all want to be...he has no sides, but all sides, all at the same time, while appearing not to be. He's rarer than an infield triple, but more powerful than a grand slam home run...at the bottom of the 1 4trillionth inning, yet still being kind enough to be in our dimension. He makes sights, sounds, colors, relevant. A slick palette, that pains everything cool, but vibrant. Eclectic wisdom. Motorized serenity. Passionate hilarity. Long capri slacks. The hip moped. "

Posted by: JEF-LuvR1 at August 04, 2011 05:15 PM (STTZD)

43 MARCHE, Dick Obama did not assassinate Obama bin Ladin. Other people planned the mission. Other people, Navy Seals, put their lives on the line carrying out the mission. All Dick Obama did was give the okay to a no brainer, and watch on tv. He would have come across much better if he had show a small amount of humility and not done his obnoxious victory lap. He looks like a glory grabbing creep to everyone except complete fellaters like yourself. Now, Marche, give credit to the people who earned it, the professional military men who could have been captured or killed. I know it hurts a lib like you to admire a soldier, but do it.

Posted by: nerdygirl at August 04, 2011 05:19 PM (eMPxE)

44 I don't think I've read any other bloviating liberal screed that has left me as utterly speechless as this Esquire piece. To call it profoundly sycophantic and vacuous is an understatement that I lack the vocabularly to properly describe.

Posted by: el mao at August 04, 2011 05:35 PM (RZ5o3)

45 I'm sorry...what?

Posted by: NfromNC at August 04, 2011 05:41 PM (kR57Q)

46 Might he have been joking.

Posted by: Brian Haughton at August 04, 2011 05:42 PM (ZofKv)

47 I'm using "world-historic soul" in every political discussion ...

Posted by: Jean at August 04, 2011 05:43 PM (7P7Ij)

48 "This is your brain on drugs."

Posted by: PJ at August 04, 2011 05:45 PM (FlVA8)

49 Wow. BHO is this assh*le's idea of human perfection. Where in Hell has he been?

Posted by: CMU VET at August 04, 2011 05:52 PM (Lc0+m)

50 Will someone send me a free clue: what does JEF stand for?

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 04, 2011 06:18 PM (q9yZk)

51 jug eared fuc(

Posted by: Dick_Nixon at August 04, 2011 06:20 PM (yusJ8)

52 How embarrassed a normal person would have been after writing this vomit...

Posted by: Laura Castellano at August 04, 2011 06:50 PM (fuw6p)

53 How can an adult male American write such drivel about another man? Does Stephen Marche have a penis, or is he just riding one?

Posted by: Asphalt Ranger at August 04, 2011 07:16 PM (Ncmcj)

Dang, I must have missed when Bammy killed Osama bin Laden. How did he do it? Did he bore him to death with a speech or something? You would have thought that maybe the miltary would have been involved in that.

And WTF does this tell you about teh JEF:

... possibly not a single person in the United States - not even Obama himself - agrees with all of his policies.

So not even Bammy believes in all of Bammy's policies? Wait, what?

Posted by: Marmo the Greater at August 04, 2011 07:44 PM (Tm9Vp)

55 Kudos to Marche. Who knew you could type so much with one hand?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 04, 2011 08:03 PM (Bs3Ne)

56 Thanks, Nixon!

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 04, 2011 09:33 PM (q9yZk)

57 Moronettes. You better be good cause if your not, the devil will introduce you to your eternal husband when you get down there and it will be him. Wait, I'm getting more info. Crap! That goes for Morons too. On the plus side, hobo hunting technically is community volunteer service so that might save us all.

Posted by: PugBoo at August 04, 2011 09:49 PM (0ZAEy)

"How can we not love Obama?" - Esquire's Stephen MarChe.

Well Stevie, let me count the ways.........

Posted by: Case at August 04, 2011 10:24 PM (DYR2Q)

59 "Yet there are still a lot of people out there who believe that kind of stuff."

Proving, yet again, that it's possible to fool some of the people all of the time.

Posted by: Brown Line at August 04, 2011 11:59 PM (ppP4i)

60 Stevie, you still have some on your chin! Have your union chin wiper get right on that!

Posted by: President Potemkin at August 05, 2011 02:06 AM (0ba8c)

61 I'd like to apologize, for, uh, um, I forgot to wish the President a Happy 57th Birthday, and you, know, He's enjoyed every one of those birthday's, save one, and His staff wouldn't justify enjoyment of that other birthday, but He's verrryy happy to celebrate His 57th Birthday with you tonight!

Posted by: NewEnglandDevil at August 05, 2011 04:02 AM (73P68)

62 I was thinking that AoSHQ should sponsor a "Can You Top This?" contest - along the lines of Bulwer-Lytton - to see if anyone could slobber more than this article, but then I realized that all attempts would be hollow imitations, since no one could match the SINCERITY of this.

Posted by: chizbro at August 05, 2011 06:28 AM (mfZGT)

63 Sheee-it. Totally Play Misty for Me. Think the secrect service should check this guy out.

Posted by: Clint Eastwoods other self at August 05, 2011 06:53 AM (8DdAv)

64 FAP, FAP, FAP, FAP .... squirt. Ooooo yeeeah.

Posted by: Chris Matthews tingly leg at August 05, 2011 06:55 AM (8DdAv)

63 I'd like to apologize, for, uh, um, I forgot to wish the President a Happy 57th Birthday

LOL a local Houston radio guy (Michael Berry) was wishing Ã˜ a happy 57th birthday and ppl were calling in to correct him that its 50th. I guess they didnt get the 57 states news.

Posted by: The Schwalbe : © at August 05, 2011 07:59 AM (UU0OF)

66 Everybody lean forward and.....

Posted by: Molon Labe at August 05, 2011 07:59 AM (g5MrG)

67 Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! ItÂ’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained!

Posted by: The Duggars Audiobook at August 06, 2011 10:07 PM (X1M4g)

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