We don’t really know what to make of this David Carr column about the White House going overboard with the YouTubes and Flickrs and Facebooks and iTunes and, probably, Twitters and Wii. Yes, it’s a bit much, sometimes, even though we require a steady stream of Obamaporn to feed the carnal-political hope-desires of you, our loyal reader.
But it’s impossible to look at the Obama Presidency’s “social media” bullshit in a bubble. EVERYBODY does this stuff, now, all the time, and Sarah Palin is only the most visible “opposition” example. Does she even exist, outside of Facebook?
As an official crank, your editor does not appreciate the Twitter and the Facebook and putting up YouTubes of your children so pedophiles can form virtual attachments, etc. It is, probably, “bad for society,” but whether it’s any worse than all the other stuff that ruined life — cable, corn syrup, Domino’s, Bud Lite, US Magazine, etc. — is impossible to figure out, again because there’s no way to see it in a bubble.
Everything is terrible, is what we’re getting at. Of course it’s weird to have a dozen gorgeous new photographs of the American President on your computer every morning, right next to the porn tab and the bounced-check tab and that spreadsheet you’re supposed to be doing for “work,” before HR sends you a text alert, saying you’re fired. But a McCain-Palin presidency (shudder) would be doing the exact same things, and probably even grosser stuff, like a daily “chat show” featuring Sarah Palin as the hostess, with recipes for tacos (“just go to Taco Bell”) and weekly cross burnings. Anyway. [New York Times]
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I love the sight of Obama’s sexy ears in the morning.
Keep cranking that chicken.
Transparency, bitches!
“just go to Taco Bell”.
Genius, absa-cranking-lutely genius.
That second paragraph was actually deep. Now back to staring at that spreadsheet until 5:00.
If you don’t want to see the President’s Tweets, just say “green balloon.”
I am sitting in the smallest room in my house with Mr Carr’s column in front of me. Soon it will be behind me.
Well, that picture shows us that Obama’s hip new digi-doomsday clock is in working order. That is important shit.
Can we try and discuss Barak Obama without mentioning Sarah Palin, please? They’re just not in the same league.
Why is he watching a teevee show of levitating KKK hoods? Is there a race speech coming up?
Just wait until stores and advertisements start digitally ‘jumping out’ as you walk past, screeching into your smart phone or MP3 player:
“Hey buddy, want to hear the latest about Lindsey Lohan? How about a picture of Michele Bachmann naked?”
“Pardon me, madame. Wouldn’t you like a pair of Sarah Palin’s $375 eyeglasses?”
“Hi kids! Have you ever heard of Wonkette?”
Judging by that photo, Obama only has 4 hours, 1 minute, and 30 seconds left to save the United States of America from the latest terrorist attack!
Why do such disasters always seem to happen on the black president’s watch? I guess that makes God a racist.
I’m just going to hand out seven or eight of those wonderful $19.95 one-year subscriptions to Wonkette.
Wait, What?
I didn’t know the klan had beauty contests.
But apparently in 2:30 seconds we will all die or the food will be ready.
“Of course it’s weird to have a dozen gorgeous new photographs of the American President on your computer every morning, right next to the porn tab and the bounced-check tab and that spreadsheet you’re supposed to be doing for “work,” before HR sends you a text alert, saying you’re fired.”
This is why I spend so much time here. Do you think Arianna Huffington understands my life this well? She thinks I was out last night with Uma Thurman and Gwyneth Paltrow discussing whether goji berries are more healthful than acai.
Oh David, quit whining because Brian Williams gets to be Barry’s burger buddy and not you. Now STFU and eat your damn fries.
For whatever reason, Carr missed the “Is Obama Overexposed?” meme when everyone else was writing about it — maybe he just wasn’t on the ball and didn’t want to appear derivative — but then, with a deadline looming and hearing that his weed dealer got busted, he decided to forego original thought, pulled this thumbsucker out of the recycle bin, added a Salahi reference to make it current and bingo! Deadline met. I’m looking forward to his next dustbin rescue project — probably about the healthcare reform bill, to be published around Easter.
I say we need a “War on Technocracy”.
This presidential overexposure is indeed unprecedented.
[re=474137]SayItWithWookies[/re]: Carr missed it because he wasn’t following Obama’s YouTubes and Flickrs and Facebooks and iTunes and, probably, Twitters and Wii.
Some people say that politics has become too much of a reality show.
Not enough, say I!
Put cameras on those fuckers 24/7, watch where they go, how often they go there and whether their tappity feet stay in their own stall. Tap their phones, audit their accounts and hound their friends, neighbors, relatives, low level staffers and high school sweethearts.
Some might argue that this would discourage people from seeking public office.
My point, precisely.
This is a win-fucking win.
“I like that the current president gets out of the bubble, that he enjoys a burger, and is willing to walk back into the White House with a greasy go-bag for the staff. I’m not sure being able to watch it all unfold is good for his presidency.”
I agree with this. There’s a point where “transparency” becomes “trivial” or even “invisible.”
We’re going to start wondering if he’s really getting anything done (actually, I guess we already have!).
[re=474128]chascates[/re]: Someone hasn’t spent enough time online at places other than political blogs. They’ll be jumping out to offer “free” online MMORPGs, bachelor’s degrees from unaccredited online “universities”, quick weight-loss secrets (discovered by a mom!), ways to meet women looking for sex in your town (who are actually prostitutes), and ways to make money fast by refinancing your home. If visuals are allowed, they’ll be accompanied by either distracting dancing figures or scantily-clad women, none of which has anything to do with what they’re actually selling (well, except for the hookers).
No codpiece or flight suit?
Why does Obama hate the white house press corps and their metrosexual urges?
I think you’re mistaken about what would happen if it were a McCain presidency because if he did the same stuff, the meme would then be “is McCain underexposed?” followed by long columns about how he should appear on more Sunday talk shows, why doesn’t he love this columnist as much as he loves that other columnist, and how yummy his BBQs at Camp David are.
[re=474120]x111e7thst[/re]: Ouch! (Always meaning to ask Alexander P. if it hurt, but a Pope’s never around when you need him.)
[re=474150]proudgrampa[/re]: I worry about him going out for a burger for other reasons. That Salahi burger could cost him, y’know?
I’m drawing the line. If I get a Mafia Wars invite from Obama, I’m scraping the Obama stickers off of my car.
I am an Official Crank, too. Do we get certificates? T-shirts? A piece of hoarhound candy (look it up on Teh Google, kids) and a lap blanket?
If the President was as much a photo-whore as you say it is— where are those pictures of him and Larry Sinclair?
TMZ I AM LOOKING YOUR WAY.
I just (seconds ago) got an email from one Barack Obama. I can’t avoid him…he is in all media.
This particular email asked me to send money and to “not back down” during the health care fight. I wrote back saying I wasn’t going to send another dime, unless we got a REAL public option. Naturally, my email bounced back. But anyway, Obama-operatives-who-read-Wonkette, stop asking for money. When you stop acting like a bunch of republicans, I’ll start sending you cash again.
Assholes.
Oh, Ken, I love your writing most when you’re so obviously drunk. Kudos!
[re=474166]Doglessliberal[/re]: A nice Mabari Crunch.
Why do such disasters always seem to happen on the black president’s watch?
They figure that everything is already F***ed up so might as well let a black president try to fix it. Next year we’re having another country move in with us to split expenses.
The preznit is putting his message out there without my input! Being a reporter just became way less important! Waaah!
http://www.everythingisterrible.com/
[re=474167]shortsshortsshorts[/re]: Or Lindsay Lohan?
[re=474145]Lascauxcaveman[/re]: Not to mention extraordinary.
[re=474150]proudgrampa[/re]: Hey, a man’s gotta eat.
What is this President doing? Doesn’t he know there’s a war on terror? The brave thing to do is hide from the American people in an underground bunker and release press statements slandering his political enemies every 9 months when he gives birth to a new hate.
[re=474166]Doglessliberal[/re]: A merit badge would be my preferred recognition, which one may earn just after finishing up the grammar nazi badge.
[re=474171]Joshua Norton[/re]: That line was funnier when Wanda Sykes said it.
If McCain was elected, he would also be constantly overexposed and aides would be regularly reminding him to zip up.
[re=474217]give us a bob[/re]: ooh, I want that one (the GN one), too.
[re=474166]Doglessliberal[/re]: Right here Baby!!!!1!!:
Crank Clothing
Though i didn’t see any certificates, maybe next time.
Oh crack addict David Carr raises his homunculous head yet again? I still remember the time he tried to shit on Valerie Plame on the Times’ web site and commenters made him go away for a long time. Ever see his “Oscar red carpet” videos they used to produce for him over there, when he was impersonating his alter ego, The Crack Head or whatever the fuck he used to call himself…? Oh yeah, the Carpetbagger, which he would then shorten to “The Bagger” when referring to himself. I shit you not, these are the freakin’ highlights of this strange dude’s tenure at the Grey Lady.
“I like that the current president gets out of the bubble, that he enjoys a burger, and is willing to walk back into the White House with a greasy go-bag for the staff. I’m not sure being able to watch it all unfold is good for his presidency.”
Hmmm, if only there was some large group of people hanging around the White House all day that could be convinced to NOT comment on every single little thing the man does every second…
[re=474150]proudgrampa[/re]: I agree with this. There’s a point where “transparency” becomes “trivial” or even “invisible.”
Bingo. And, that’s really the central point of the whole overexposure meme. The media is just too stupid and trivial to realize where their point is. Transparency doesn’t necessarily mean updating us on your bowel movements. Really, it doesn’t. Unless you’re shitting for freedom, liberty; for America. And, the troops. Also,
Sometimes, I fantasize about being with two Obamas at once.
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