[SuperJon]

That's what some people say. A lot of other people say it shows a good thing that even in a crisis, we as Americans can still enjoy one of our biggest past times. I'm not saying I agree with either side, I just don't think him doing this matters. I can't stand seeing the guy period.

[RagingTireFire]

I agree that it doesn't matter. I think it just isn't smart.

[blwall1416]

I don't want a President in touch with the people. I want him to solve problems.

One could argue that you have to be in touch with the people in order to understand & try to solve their problems. If not, its seems to be the "let them eat cake" mentality.

[Fumblerooskies]

Politics isn't about reality, it's about perception. If it were about reality, Congressmen wouldn't have the balls to complain about AIG wasting money.

The Obama administration has been in a self-described "crisis mode" since they took office and if Bush had been reading to those kids on 9/12 I'd be saying the same thing about him. Whether or not Obama takes time out to fill a bracket is irrelevant. What's relevant is the fact that he took time out from the crisis to do it in public.

To me...that's saying, "Yeah...we ARE in an economic crisis...but we can't fret over it...life goes on." I call it inspiring that he's not all wrapped up in the economic ills. I call that being VERY presidential.

[SuperJon]

I agree that it doesn't matter. I think it just isn't smart.

Unfortunately, to our country in general, it is. It's how he got elected. He's a PR creation, not a president.

[Ed Dantes]

I don't want a President in touch with the people. I want him to solve problems.

One could argue that you have to be in touch with the people in order to understand & try to solve their problems. If not, its seems to be the "let them eat cake" mentality.

Was one of those problems should I pick 'UNC or Louisville'?

[RagingTireFire]

Politics isn't about reality, it's about perception. If it were about reality, Congressmen wouldn't have the balls to complain about AIG wasting money.

The Obama administration has been in a self-described "crisis mode" since they took office and if Bush had been reading to those kids on 9/12 I'd be saying the same thing about him. Whether or not Obama takes time out to fill a bracket is irrelevant. What's relevant is the fact that he took time out from the crisis to do it in public.

To me...that's saying, "Yeah...we ARE in an economic crisis...but we can't fret over it...life goes on." I call it inspiring that he's not all wrapped up in the economic ills. I call that being VERY presidential.

If he were doing anything else in his spare time other than harping on the crisis, then I would agree with that. However, he's pretty much made his public appearances synonymous with "crisis" -- well, either "crisis" or "party at the White House" really -- that filling out the bracket on TV comes across as a pale excuse for a photo op, which is exactly what it is. I would say the same thing about his upcoming appearance on Leno.

Also, "presidential" is not a character adjective. I don't know at what point we started calling moments "presidential" but that point wasn't our sharpest.




Frankly, I don't give a rat's left crack what he does -- everything the man says sounds like Charlies Brown's teacher to me -- so I don't know why I'm still talking about this.

[blwall1416]

Was one of those problems should I pick 'UNC or Louisville'?

Well, he knew not to pick dook.

[TDDance234]

Was one of those problems should I pick 'UNC or Louisville'?

Well, he knew not to pick dook.

I bet Reggie Love let him have it.

[Hold My Own]

I would actually expect this out of Bush more then I would Obama...Bush is the one that's known for being cool calm and collected meanwhile the last few months all I've heard was how bad everything was and how it's going to get worse before it gets worse. Sure 99% of those scare tactics were to get his $$$ pushed through (well our money) but I wouldnt expect Mr. Dark and Gloom himself doing something so fun and cheery on national TV.

[Fumblerooskies]

To bring back an 80's comparison...the economy was in the tank maybe worse when Reagan took over...and we were maybe at the height of the cold war...yet when he had his photo ops on horseback at his ranch, I don't recall him getting flack over it. Looking "Presidential" is up to the individual's style. Bush's style, in my opinion, was to appear doing things that a president "should" be doing. Certainly, no one gave him flack for throwing out the first pitch of Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. THAT was inspiring confidence in his leadership in a time the nation needed that. Obama, in my mind, is doing a similar thing in trying to show the nation to not get caught up in all the gloom and doom that helped get him elected.

[Hold My Own]

So, as president, he has to be doing "presidential" things from the second he wakes up to the time he goes to bed. I guess he can't spend some time with his kids.

Except he wasn't spending time with his kids, he was spending time at a photo op. I guarantee that filling out his bracket took a lot more time out of his day than mine did.

So should Bush have not taken time to read to those kids in Florida on 9/11 and instead be in Washington being presidential? What would it have changed? I know that's a leap, but it's what people are equating it to to an extent.

And after thinking about this more...without a doubt reading to kids is presidential...of course after the real problems are addressed for the day. Being presidential should include service....those kids will look up to him and really it's something they'll never forget. Obama has done this too...in fact within his first 2 weeks of being in office a reporter asked why he chose to come down without notice and his reply was "The White house was to hectic this morning" someone said I cant wait till you get some real problems haha


But yes, to answer you question reading should be done...that's an act of service, like serving food to our troops...the only act of service he performed by filling out the bracket was an act of service for Andy Katz, prob causing him to have to stay seated for a while

[Hold My Own]

To bring back an 80's comparison...the economy was in the tank maybe worse when Reagan took over...and we were maybe at the height of the cold war...yet when he had his photo ops on horseback at his ranch, I don't recall him getting flack over it. Looking "Presidential" is up to the individual's style. Bush's style, in my opinion, was to appear doing things that a president "should" be doing. Certainly, no one gave him flack for throwing out the first pitch of Game 3 of the 2000 World Series. THAT was inspiring confidence in his leadership in a time the nation needed that. Obama, in my mind, is doing a similar thing in trying to show the nation to not get caught up in all the gloom and doom that helped get him elected.

I dont think Reagan would have done well in today's media it's quite different now then it was the 80's you cant go to the bathroom without someone tweeting about it or putting it on a blog. Not to mention JFK boy would the media have had fun with the amount of secret girls going in and out...


As for the first pitch, that goes down in one of America's greatest moments and really isnt even considered a sports moment...it's on another level with far more importance then sports will ever have

[Fumblerooskies]

As for the first pitch, that goes down in one of America's greatest moments and really isnt even considered a sports moment...it's on another level with far more importance then sports will ever have

Definitely one of the more memorable moments of my lifetime!

[Ed Dantes]

Certainly, no one gave him flack for throwing out the first pitch of Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. THAT was inspiring confidence in his leadership in a time the nation needed that. Obama, in my mind, is doing a similar thing in trying to show the nation to not get caught up in all the gloom and doom that helped get him elected.

FIFY

[Ed Dantes]

You know what was funny, when Bush gave a bunch of DVD's to the British Prime Minister, but he couldn't watch them because Bush was too stupid to understand the concept of 'DVD Regions'...

Oh wait, that wasn't Bush.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... No-10.html

[Fumblerooskies]

You know what was funny, when Bush gave a bunch of DVD's to the British Prime Minister, but he couldn't watch them because Bush was too stupid to understand the concept of 'DVD Regions'...

Oh wait, that wasn't Bush.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... No-10.html

Coming from the "techno-President"....that's pretty funny.

[RubberMallet]

both sides of this....

guys who think this is bad.....who cares...."THE PRESIDENT TAKES 20 MINUTES TO POOP!!! THE ECONOMY IS TERRIBLE AND HE TAKES A FEW MINUTES OUT OF EACH DAY TO READ DILBERT COMIC BOOKS WHILE HE'S TAKING A DUMP!??? OUTRAGED!!!" sorry you sound like a moron.

guys who think this is good....did you happen to see Farenheit 9/11. it was this for 2 hours. sorry it happens to every president. who cares. i think its hilarious that while he's implemented some fo the most retarded things i've ever seen in my short life, people are like "LOOK AT HIS FINAL FOUR, HES SO AWESOME AND JUST LIKE US!!!"...once again....who cares...fix this chit.

[ALUmnus]

You know what was funny, when Bush gave a bunch of DVD's to the British Prime Minister, but he couldn't watch them because Bush was too stupid to understand the concept of 'DVD Regions'...

Oh wait, that wasn't Bush.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... No-10.html

Even if it worked, who knows how much he would have actually seen, the guy is going blind.

[paradox]

Ok, ok. Time to lighten things up here with a little joke. And since some seem to have a problem with Obama being "seen" drinking a beer, I'll throw this one out there.




Q---What's the difference between having one or two Baptists with you when you go fishing?

A---One Baptist will drink all your beer. Two Baptists won't drink any.


...

[Ed Dantes]

Ok, ok. Time to lighten things up here with a little joke. And since some seem to have a problem with Obama being "seen" drinking a beer, I'll throw this one out there.




Q---What's the difference between having one or two Baptists with you when you go fishing?

A---One Baptist will drink all your beer. Two Baptists won't drink any.


...

What's the difference between a Baptist and a Presbyterian? A Presbyterian is a Baptist with a drinking problem.

Stupid Hose.

[Maximus]

It's no different then you being laid off then turning on your tv and seeing your CEO hamming it up golfing and having a beer...its just not good PR

I disagree and think it is BRILLIANT PR. It shows that he is no different than the rest of us this time of year and puts him "in touch" with "we the people."

I don't want a President in touch with the people. I want him to solve problems. If I wanted to watch someone yuk it up with Leno, I'll tune in when Brangelina are on.

Exactly... but seriously.. I think we have far more problems to worry about than whether Obama filled out his bracket

[matshark]

Politics isn't about reality, it's about perception. If it were about reality, Congressmen wouldn't have the balls to complain about AIG wasting money.

The Obama administration has been in a self-described "crisis mode" since they took office and if Bush had been reading to those kids on 9/12 I'd be saying the same thing about him. Whether or not Obama takes time out to fill a bracket is irrelevant. What's relevant is the fact that he took time out from the crisis to do it in public.

hear hear! then his tax cheat treasury secretary said he didnt know about the bonuses, except that he was the one who put them in there because he created the bailout, and then chriss dodd said he didn't know about it, and then that Gethner MADE him put them in there, and THEN they created an illegal Bill of Attainder/ex post facto law (Constitution Article 1, Section 9, Paragraph 3) to take away lawfully and contractually obligated bonuses to company executives.

the scary thing is this: By passing that bill, they've decided that they can single out one person, or a group of people, and take their personal wealth WITHOUT due process (4th and 14th amendments). And make no mistake: If they can do it to the bankers, THEY CAN DO IT TO YOU!