Conffederate
Confederate

January 19, 2009

Hope. Change. Foie Gras.

Apparently analogies are one thing liberals are willing to torture with zeal, as Anne Applebaum shows as she painfully tries to compare Captain Sullenberger of US Air Flight 1549 to Barack Obama.

Anne? Uh, no.

Captain Sullenberger has spent his entire career working with steady determination to hone his skills to a razors edge, becoming proficient in a highly technical, potentially high-threat environment. He mastered crisis management through constant simulation and repetition, gaining valuable experience to be ready when a real life-threatening crisis struck, and when it occurred, he handled it brilliantly.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, has spent his entire brief political career soaring ever higher on a majestic current of rising hot air, taking first one position, then another, moving ever upward without spending any time mastering his present position before flittering ever higher. Now he finds himself at the head of the gaggle, honking excitedly about the new direction in which he hopes to lead the gaggle behind him, never hearing the sound of jet engines on an intersecting course over his own flapping.

Obama isn't the captain.

He's high-speed paté.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at January 19, 2009 11:51 PM
Comments

Captain Sullenberger and Obama? Oh deary dear.

Unlike our soon to be president, Captain Sullenberger can point to a decades long record of actual accomplishment, accomplishment on a daily basis, though by all accounts, he would blush to do so. Where Obama admits in one of his self-glorifying tomes that he could not tell even his friend what he, as a "community organizer," did, Captain Sullenberger surely has no such problem. Yet again, he would not find such self-aggrandizement easy or pleasant. True professionals, true men feel no need to brag. They know their accomplishments speak for them, as does their character, and they also know that those who truly count will know such things.

When Obama was struggling to find himself and his identity through a drug induced fog, Sullenberger was doing something profoundly dangerous each and every day: Flying fighter jets for his nation (something George Bush--both--did too). While Obama is supremely certain of his greatness and superiority, to the point of making his own seal, inventing "The Office Of The President Elect," and many more example abound, Captain Sullenberger simply makes significant accomplishments every day, and even his neighbors speak of his humility.

Oh yes, and The One is lauded far and wide (at least within MSM newsrooms) for his unflappable calm and supernatural cool, while Captain Sullenberger lives it, and lives it in a way that protects and saves lives. When he says that his performance in saving lives was merely doing his job, he means it. Obama's full time job is self-glorification; Sullenberger's public service.
In a real world dictionary of accomplishment, one would find Obama's photo under "narcissist," and Sullenberger's under "hero."

Obama measuring up to Sullenberger? Sure. Just about as much as he measures up to Abraham Lincoln. Check back with me in four years or so on that one, after Obama has actually had a chance to accomplish something. Until then, Obama doesn't even measure up to his hyper inflated self-image.

Posted by: Mike at January 20, 2009 12:51 AM

If I ever needed proof that the Obamatrons are out of there pebble sized minds this is it. My GOD Lincoln and now this.

Posted by: Oldcrow at January 20, 2009 06:15 AM

Well, at least she got one thing right when she noted that "people entrusted with public money are overwhelmingly inclined to waste it, steal it, or simply misuse it."

Posted by: MikeM at January 20, 2009 07:41 AM

I predicte that when it is all over Obama will only be remeberd for being the first black president

Posted by: Rich in KC at January 20, 2009 07:44 AM

"Though a handful of people did predict the financial crisis of last autumn, the fact is that almost no one in mainstream politics did so, any more than anyone ever predicted that a flock of geese could bring down an Airbus."

Sorry, Anne, but that handful of people included George W Bush and John McCain. The flock of geese, on the other hand, included the likes of Barney Frank and Chris Dodd.

Posted by: Tim at January 20, 2009 09:37 AM

O Obama, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my intellect, my heart, my will and my whole being for now and for eternity.

Praise Him!

Praise The One!

Praise Obama!

Posted by: Yes We Did at January 20, 2009 11:48 AM

That is hilarious, Bob. Nicely done.

Posted by: Pablo at January 20, 2009 12:37 PM

"...any more than anyone ever predicted that a flock of geese could bring down an Airbus."

Except that aircraft manufacturers HAD predicted it, and more importantly, had PLANNED for it, which is why Capt. Sullenberger was able to draw on his training and flawlessly execute the needed maneuvers when the situation arose.

Our incompetent politicians and government officials? Not so much.

God, she is some industrial-strength stupid. Really, Anne, just stay away from things you know absolutely nothing about and stick to the straight Obama worship.

Posted by: Dave in SoCal at January 20, 2009 03:27 PM