…And it’s a shame that more people on the Right read Larry Niven, because they probably have no idea just how insulting it is to compare the President of the United States to a Pierson’s Puppeteer*. Which is what an Obama supporter has just inadvertently done:
One of his advisers described the President’s actions in Libya as “leading from behind.” That’s not a slogan designed for signs at the 2012 Democratic Convention, but it does accurately describe the balance that Obama now seems to be finding.
Leading from behind. Man, that’s perfect. As John Podhoretz, who is also licking his chops in anticipation, recognizes:
The crystallizing phrase “leading from behind” may not be something you’ll see on a sign at the 2012 Democratic convention, but it will almost certainly be in the acceptance speech of the nominee of the Republican party at its 2012 convention, and will be thrown in Obama’s face during the presidential debates by his GOP rival, and will be the centerpiece of the critique of Obamaism going forward.
You know, this may be the first moment where I am actually starting to look forward to this election. Oh, the fun we will have…
Via @baseballcrank
Moe Lane
*Short version? Alien race of ruthless herbivore cowards whose (few) non-cowardly members are not merely treated as insane; they actually are insane, and usually demonstrate other psychological conditions at the same time. It’d actually be a pretty good map of the President’s behavior and management style, except that Puppeteers are usually portrayed as being competent.
And among the traits of a ‘non-cowardly-and-insane’ P. Puppeteer is the ability to actually meet and interact with alien species…so, yeah, not a very flattering thing to say to someone.
Have you read “Fleet of Worlds”? 2007 Niven collaboration that really fleshes out the repulsiveness of the Puppeteers.
You mean it’s a shame more of us *don’t* read Niven. (I do.)
Obama as a Puppeteer! Awesome analogy. They think bribery and payoffs are Moral and Binding. They refuse to meet with anyone who isn’t of their race and have to either drug up or find a spokesperson who is insane enough to do it(look at our current and prior press secretaries)for them. They are ruthlessly self-interested at the expense of all others. They are content to let others do the dirty work as long as they get the benefit. The beautiful voice relaxes an individual and induces a natural trust in the Puppeteer. When the situation gets dicey they will turn tail and run instantly.
Perfect.
There’s only one way to be sure someone’s not a Puppeteer: put a tourniquet on his neck.
Don, you missed another point of similarity – the ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth simultaneously.