vanity fair article re: following obama for 6 mths

[mominatrix]

it's up:
www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/10/michael-lewis-profile-barack-obama

[ttt]

That was fascinating (sooo long but worth it).

I would sure love to see what was left out of the article too, though.

[cookiemdough]

Thanks for posting.

[casmgn]

Great article

[Deleted]

That was a really great article. I think it makes me feel just a little more hopeful for mankind.

[smock]

What a great article. I'm kind of hoping that Lewis has enough extra material to write a book!

[Daria Morgandorffer]

An amazing article. It's refreshing to get a down to earth view of what goes on everyday. I sure as hell wouldn't want that job!

[earlgreyhot]

Sept 17, 2012 12:46:00 GMT -5 Daria Morgandorffer said:

An amazing article. It's refreshing to get a down to earth view of what goes on everyday. I sure as hell wouldn't want that job!

I had a similar reaction, thinking that Obama might feel more relief than disappointment if he were to lose the election.

Personally, though, I felt more confident in Obama. He's very thoughtful and I think he really tries to solve problems in a pragmatic and thoughtful way. The job is probably not at all what he thought it was going to be.

[copzgirl1171]

Sept 17, 2012 13:05:23 GMT -5 Stan said:

"Even in Libya they understood the fickle nature of American public opinion. “I told them, ‘We have an American pilot here. If he gets caught or killed it’s the end of the mission. Make sure he is safe and sound.’” Bubaker then called his friend, the former staffer in the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, now removed to Washington, D.C."

And THIS is who we want to strip funding for? These are the people who are heart broken for Amb. Stevens.

This was a great interview

www.npr.org/2012/09/16/161228170/consulate-attack-preplanned-libya-s-president-says

[basilosaurus]

"At first he was crushed by the news, but then he realized that, while an air-force pilot might be assigned to fly cargo planes or even drones, the only planes with navigators in them were fighter jets"

What? That's not true. Even though navs aren't as necessary today, they're still on more than 1 airframe. Weird to not get that right.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Sept 17, 2012 13:45:42 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Here it is. It's obviously off topic, but so worth reading.

www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/06/missile_crisis_excerpt200806

Wow. I have done nothing at work today. Any more good ones? lol.

[mominatrix]

Sept 17, 2012 13:44:42 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

The narrative about the soldier going down reminds me of another Vanity Fair article from several years ago about a US pilot who accidentally flew over USSR air space during the cold war. I'll have to find it. I can't believe it hasn't been made into a movie.

Francis Gary Powers?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Gary_Powers

If it was him who you were thinking of, it was a spy plane, so not 100% innocent.

[basilosaurus]

OK, finished reading it. Great piece.

With all the talk of the schedule, it occurred to me that all Romney has to do is prepare for the campaign. So, theoretically, shouldn't he have the time and energy to be kicking ass? To prepare for debates, to not make stupid comments about Libya. Obama is really at a disadvantage in having the time to campaign.

I knew how into basketball he was. He plays with old high school friends when he's in town

[Deleted]

Sept 17, 2012 15:16:38 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

OK, finished reading it. Great piece.

With all the talk of the schedule, it occurred to me that all Romney has to do is prepare for the campaign. So, theoretically, shouldn't he have the time and energy to be kicking ass? To prepare for debates, to not make stupid comments about Libya. Obama is really at a disadvantage in having the time to campaign.

I knew how into basketball he was. He plays with old high school friends when he's in town

On the other hand, the timing of this piece is campaign strategy masterstroke...Obama must have been thinking about that a year before it started. He plays a long game!

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 17, 2012 15:53:30 GMT -5 @reeve said:

On the other hand, the timing of this piece is campaign strategy masterstroke...Obama must have been thinking about that a year before it started. He plays a long game!

I would expect nothing less of a Kenyan who had the forsight to be born in Hawaii so that in 40 years he could overthrow the US.

[teflep]

Sept 17, 2012 15:53:30 GMT -5 @reeve said:

Sept 17, 2012 15:16:38 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

OK, finished reading it. Great piece.

With all the talk of the schedule, it occurred to me that all Romney has to do is prepare for the campaign. So, theoretically, shouldn't he have the time and energy to be kicking ass? To prepare for debates, to not make stupid comments about Libya. Obama is really at a disadvantage in having the time to campaign.

I knew how into basketball he was. He plays with old high school friends when he's in town

On the other hand, the timing of this piece is campaign strategy masterstroke...Obama must have been thinking about that a year before it started. He plays a long game!

No kidding. The president is on a constant campaign (not just Obama, but any first term president)

[SusanBAnthony]

So what is the giant hole they are digging in the white house lawn?

[ttt]

Sept 17, 2012 19:30:34 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

So what is the giant hole they are digging in the white house lawn?

Secret underground mosque.

[smock]

Sept 17, 2012 19:31:25 GMT -5 ttt said:

Sept 17, 2012 19:30:34 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

So what is the giant hole they are digging in the white house lawn?

Secret underground mosque.

I heard it's an abortion clinic!

[ttt]

Sept 17, 2012 19:32:57 GMT -5 smock said:

Sept 17, 2012 19:31:25 GMT -5 ttt said:

Secret underground mosque.

I heard it's an abortion clinic!

For lesbian illegal immigrants!