May 10, 2012

Q: What did Obama do last night?

A: He honored Burt Bacharach and Hal David at a White House concert featuring Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, Lyle Lovett, Stevie Wonder, Arturo Sandoval, and Mike Myers.
"Above all, [Bacharach and David] stayed true to themselves. And with an unmistakable authenticity, they captured the emotions of our daily lives – the good times, the bad times, and everything in between,” the president said. “They have lived their lives on their own terms, and they’ve taught Americans of all ages to embrace their individual stories, even as we move forward together."
The good times, the bad times... an allusion to the Bacharach song "That's What Friends Are For," which was famously used for an AIDS benefit. Here's the video, featuring, among others Stevie Wonder.

26 comments:

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

I, for one, do not object to the ever-expanding size of the federal government if it means we'll keep getting quality allusions like that.

Palladian said...

Nothing provides such comfort for us lower sorts than to see our betters having such a lovely evening for themselves.

Anonymous said...

This is the pinnacle of political rhetoric. It sounds so good, but means nothing.

“They have lived their lives on their own terms

Our prisons are full of people that lived their lives on their own terms.

and they’ve taught Americans of all ages to embrace their individual stories, even as we move forward together."

What this doesn't acknowledge is that there is a point where the stories become so individual that the word together is a joke.

Is splintering in our civic values actually "forward?"

Palladian said...

Just think of the parties that we will be able to read about during the next four years of their majesties' reign!

Saint Croix said...

The "Obama and pop culture" tag is pretty awesome to click on.

dbp said...

"...even as we move forward together.""

Even in an ostensibly non-political event, Barry still can't help himself and has to throw in a bit of his campaign theme.

Pathetic.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Obama is the theme today.

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit commenting.

MadisonMan said...

How come Dionne Warwick wasn't there?

Palladian said...

Can you imagine what it would be like if the rest of us were allowed to "live our lives on our own terms"?

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to buy your government-mandated insurance product, or tailor the use of my property to your zoning and environmental regulations, or stop using incandescent light bulbs... I'm living my life on my own terms."

Palladian said...

How come Dionne Warwick wasn't there?

She wasn't allowed to bring her bong?

pm317 said...

Will he sign an executive order? I didn't think so.

ndspinelli said...

The Dems were uncool growing up and this is their revenge.

Look @ who Bubba married before he got political power. Do you think Obama would marry Michelle now?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"live our lives on our own terms"?

Saint Croix said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Comanche Voter said...

It's this move forward "together" garbage from The Won I object to.
When he gets on the bus, I get off--for fear that he'll throw me under the bus when it's convenient for him.

So Mr. Bamster--no more "Forward" "Together" please. It's bad for my intellectual diet.

DADvocate said...

Looking at Wikipedia and my memory, I don't see any songs that Burt and Hal did that I truly like. Nothing with any depth or complexity, just simple, shallow tunes. No wonder Obama honored them. He understands them.

Hagar said...

How long before he goes on "Dancing with the Stars"?

lemondog said...

O fatigue.

Bin Laden
terrorist threats/thwarts
gay marriage
....next until election

Anyone calculated media time Bush v Obama?

ricpic said...

Where the heck was Dionne Warwick?

ricpic said...

Oops, I see that's already been asked. Still, a huge omission.

Christopher in MA said...

Will somebody give this childish, solipsistic, imbecilic poseur a talk show on Oprah's network and get him out of the White House, please?

edutcher said...

The "move forward together" is the sort of boilerplate used in 50s and 60s TV shows and movies when the megalomaniac's weird handler tries to replace him onstage after the good guys have foiled all their eeevill plans and it all falls flat.

Lem said...

Obama is the theme today.

As every day.

MadisonMan said...

Or maybe it was just really shoddy "reporting" on the part of Mary Bruce, to whom althouse links.

Shame on Ms. Bruce for not appreciating the huge body of collaborative work between Ms. Warwick and Burt B!!

MadisonMan said...

It's interesting that the Bloomberg Business article, to which I linked, doesn't even mention Obama!!

Chip S. said...

I don't suppose anyone sang "Promises, Promises".

Methadras said...

It's all about being forward.