In this polarized period of American politics, many people on the Right have been taking cheap shots at President Obama because he plays golf so much.
These golf-related criticisms are at least factually accurate, in contrast to the lies that Michael Moore told about George Bush supposedly vacationing much of the time. However, the criticisms of President Obama are misguided.
Of American Presidents since World War II, the one President who is now almost universally regarded as highly successful and constructive, by persons of all political persuasions, is President Dwight D. Eisenhower. While serving eight years as President of the United States, Eisenhower may have played over eight hundred rounds of golf. In other words, about twice a week.
Like President Obama, President Eisenhower was criticized by partisan opponents for his avid interest in golf.
Obviously there are many differences between President Eisenhower and President Obama. To begin with, the former came into office with demonstrated success in a very difficult executive job, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, defeating Hitler and Mussolini. By contrast, Obama was apparently successful as President of the Harvard Law Review, but was a failure at his only latter significant executive position, Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which attempted unsuccessfully to improve education in selected Chicago schools.
However, President Eisenhower demonstrated beyond any doubt that there is no inherent contradiction between being a good President and being an avid golfer. Indeed, golf helps clear the mind, and hardly any sport is better at fostering humility in participants. So unless President Obama’s critics are willing to state that President Eisenhower golfed too much, they should stop carping about President Obama’s golfing.
Smooth, like a Rhapsody says:
Yeah…instead of golfing, he should be spending all his free time posting comments on legal blogs.
August 23, 2010, 3:45 pmDave N. says:
As someone who did not vote for the President in 2008 and almost certainly will not vote for him in 2012, I have to say that I agree. The President (regardless of who actually IS the President at any given time) has a demanding job and is essentially on call for four years 24/7.
I have many criticisms of Barack Obama. However, the one thing I will not criticize him for is actually getting away from the White House.
August 23, 2010, 3:46 pmKevin P. says:
I agree. In fact, I wish he would stay away from it altogether.
August 23, 2010, 3:48 pmA Law Dawg says:
Please. If anything, this proves that Ike would have easily destroyed the Soviet Empire had he not been distracted by golf.
August 23, 2010, 3:50 pmMatthew DesOrmeaux says:
I don’t think the comparison holds up when you look at how little the POTUS actually used to do in Eisenhower’s time. Obama has exponentially more power and responsibility now than the office used to. On second thought…. FORE!
[DK: The federal government by 1953 was plenty big enough so that anyone with a Carter-style penchant for micromanagement could have kept himself busy working 18 hours days 365 days a year. Besides, fighting the Cold War was plenty of responsibility in itself. BTW, Eisenhower made serious threats to use nuclear weapons at least twice; first to convince Mao and the NORKs to end the Korean War, second to deter Mao from attempting to conquer the Taiwan-controlled islands of Quemoy and Matsu.]
August 23, 2010, 3:52 pmKevin P. says:
Was Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge actually an executive position? The link doesn’t say one way or the other.
August 23, 2010, 3:52 pmruuffles says:
I agree. Warren and Brennan are in at least the top 5 of best Justices in the post-war era.
August 23, 2010, 3:53 pmERH says:
Eisenhower was a great administrator and skilled bureaucrat. Obama thus far is not. In fact I think it’s arguable that since the great expansion in government in the 30s and 40s that skilled bureaucrats have made more effective Presidents. I’m thinking of Ike and George H. Bush in particular.
As for golf, I agree with Mark Twain. Golf is a good walk spoiled.
August 23, 2010, 3:54 pmJustin says:
I think we should call any defense against criticism of a person (or other entity)by a writer/speaker, who is otherwise an opponent of that person/entity, and includes in his defense unrelated/irrelevant/gratuitious and hackish criticism of that person/entity a “Kopel.” No?
August 23, 2010, 3:55 pmLarryA says:
hardly any sport is better at fostering humility in participants
Obviously you’ve never done Sporting Clays.
August 23, 2010, 3:56 pmSmooth, like a Rhapsody says:
As long as he avoids “night putting”.
August 23, 2010, 3:58 pmHarry Eagar says:
At least in the South, the criticism of Ike was not that he played golf but that he played golf instead of going to church on Sunday.
August 23, 2010, 3:58 pmMark in Colorado says:
Not only did Eisenhower demonstrate success in a difficult Executive position, he is one of only two Presidents (Washington is the other) who may well have found being President easier and less stressful than his previous postion.
August 23, 2010, 4:00 pmMatthew in Austin says:
Justin, give him a break. He was just trying to establish his right-wing bon-a-fides in order to give his Obama defense some credibility. He had to do something along those lines. I would have done the same. Pretty standard fare for when one wants to make an argument to support someone across the politicla divide. Naming it a “Kopel” implies he invented the thing, which is pretty ridiculous.
I hate the Oklahoma Sooners as much as anyone. I have it on good authority that they stump train their horses for entertainment when alone out in the field. But Sam Bradford had a hell of an arm and will be a great NFL quarterback.
A Kopel? Really?
August 23, 2010, 4:01 pmNoah says:
The root of the too much golf criticism is that President Obama doesn’t seem to be a good president. He was elected because the economy tanked just before the 2008 election. He offered no leadership on the stimulus packages signing whatever the Congress put on his desk. Rather than focus on economic growth, he went off on health care. He has made so many erroneous statements about Obamacare that it seems he hasn’t been paying attention to what his staff and the Congress did. How to eliminate the waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid aid and Medicare that is to pay for much of Obamacare isn’t going to be found on a golf course.
It is the economy stupid and at least act like you care about it.
August 23, 2010, 4:02 pmMark Buehner says:
Of course our federal government is several times larger and more invasive than it was in the 1950s. And since Obama has been telling us that it can be run so efficiently (so long as smart, right thinking people are at the helm) that we need to expand it even larger, you’d think he might spend more time proving that to be the case instead of letting reality prove the opposite.
Personally I think if Obama took up golf full time and promised to stop ‘helping’, the economy would recover much more promptly. Seeing the president away from his pen probably makes investors feel slightly better.
August 23, 2010, 4:05 pmTed says:
This is a weird post. It appears to address a particular issue — correlation between presidential success and golf — only to call the issue a invalid non-issue. But encompassed with that fairly obvious conclusion, the post also poo-poos the current president on totally unrelated issues.
What’s the point? Does Eugene require you to post a certain number of posts/month and the August heat is just getting to you? If that’s the case, let help you focus:
Post 1: There is no correlation between golf and presidential success. (Valid argument with an obvious conclusion).
Post 2: Obama sucks and was a failure from the start. (No argument, just an uninteresting opinion).
I’ve just doubled your output and improved the clarity of your topics!
Thank me later.
August 23, 2010, 4:06 pmarthur says:
Chairman of the Board is not an executive position. That is all.
August 23, 2010, 4:09 pmPresidential Pasttimes | Snowflakes in Hell says:
[...] Dave Kopel thinks people should lay off Obama for playing so much golf. Personally, if he’d rather golf than continue ruining the country, I’m fine with that. Presidents need hobbies. If I were elected President, you can be sure the media would be abuzz of the wasted taxpayer dollars and time loss associated with weekly Presidential submachine gun practice with the Secret Service. It’s fun for the whole cabinet. [...]
August 23, 2010, 4:15 pmnot a hacker says:
Golf does not help clear the mind. Swimming clears the mind. Golf just fills it with doubts, frustrations and recriminations. More wrist break or less? Earlier or later? Stance more open or closed? Weak grip? Neutral? Strong? Am I on plane? Do I have the right shaft? Is Natalie Gulbis wearing panties?
August 23, 2010, 4:16 pmruuffles says:
This. Also, unless you have an underwater MP3 player, you lose all distractions.
I suppose this also applies to swimming.
August 23, 2010, 4:19 pmBob from Ohio says:
True or not, since the vacation issue was raised so much by Bush opponents, nothing wrong with raising the golf issue about Obama.
Rand Paul was attacked for holding his victory party at a country club, I guess because country clubs are for rich people. Attacking Obama for golfing at country clubs is just as fair.
BTW, Eisenhower golfed too much.
August 23, 2010, 4:19 pmJRL says:
No, the root of the too much golf criticism is that Obama’s predecessor was lambasted for playing too much golf, though he logged only a fraction of the current executive’s rounds.
August 23, 2010, 4:19 pmenoriverbend says:
+1
In fact, Nero may have fiddled while Rome burnt, but at least he wasn’t out in the streets putting roadblocks in front of the Vigiles (Roman fire-fighters).
August 23, 2010, 4:24 pmzuch says:
Where’s the lies? Were Moore’s numbers accurate? Keep in mind he was quoting the Washington Post.
You may quibble that this counts “working vacation” time. Agreed that the POTUS is basically “on duty” 24X7X365, and that he takes his work with him, but it’s not at all unfair to point out that he gets to do this, and that there’s no boss that’s going to give him poor performance reviews for shirking essential duties … you know, like paying attention to PDBs … except for the voting public. But they have a right to know what he’s doing too:
and how he’s doing it. And for that, you have to thank Moore (and the WaPo) for bringing insight.
Cheers,
August 23, 2010, 4:25 pmAugusta National Golf Club says:
Golf shouldn’t be political.
August 23, 2010, 4:25 pmPaddy says:
Criticism Of Obama’s frequent golf outings is symptomatic. He is a lousy president, mainly because, regardless of his supposed high IQ, he is ignorant, has poor judgment, and lacks the experience to be effective.
Obama’s lack of attention to governing is best shown by his endless fund raising and campaigning two years after the election, numerous vacations and holidays, speeches, and high living. He leaves running the country to his minions who are equally inept due to lack of experience.
Every time Obama and/or his family are shown in photo-ops, it is their way of giving the finger to the public. Impeachment will be discussed more frequently after Republicans gain control of Congress, as it should be.
August 23, 2010, 4:31 pmBSC says:
Obama could be habituated to the golf clap.
August 23, 2010, 4:34 pmBSC says:
And he gets to ride around in a cool rechargeable golf cart, instead of a clunky Chevy Volt.
August 23, 2010, 4:38 pmDavid G Epstein says:
To me, golf is a long walk spoiled, but I don’t begrudge the man his golf. It’s tough being a failed Messiah.
August 23, 2010, 4:43 pmSarcastro says:
Reasons to criticize Obama for golfing:
Obama is a bad President, so petty falsitudes are okay.
August 23, 2010, 4:43 pmLiberals did it with Bush and revenge is awesome.
Obama is a bad President, let me list the ways.
Did I mention Obama is a bad President?
B.D. says:
Obama’s golf swing is atrocious. That kind of criticism is still OK, right?
August 23, 2010, 4:44 pmKamal says:
Yeah, let’s get back to more important issues such as deciding whether the public should be able to, with a majority of popular support, stop private institutions from constructing buildings if they have a religion we suspect our president hides his beliefs in. Or whether or not we should stop illegal immigrants, like Obama, from entering our country. Or maybe we could concentrate on black intimidation of voters, like those two guys in the mostly black neighborhood, who Obama didn’t prosecute to our liking. Or maybe we could concentrate on organizations who receive public funding that may help Obama in some way.. we could create misleading tapes that suggest a pimp is getting advice from them. Or, in continuing to try to scare white people, let’s show a black person Obama hired deny a white farmer assistance.
These attacks on Obama, similar to Moore’s attacks on Bush, are ideological, and usually have no substantive basis in reality. Saying “I’m just posing the question…” and not denying the allegations is what contributes to an extremely high percentage of republicans believing Obama is not an american. Until you can get less than 40% of the opposition to believe crazy conspiracy theories, nothing they say will or should be taken seriously. At most, it reveals the agenda of their primary source of information.
August 23, 2010, 4:45 pmRHSwan says:
If certain citizens of a particular political persuasion had not spent so much time pointing out the prior president of a different political persuasion had vacationed, in their mind, far too much, the golfing criticism would not be happening. Unfortunately, as their is a side to most adult humans that is only eight years old emotionally, many feel turn about is fair play.
August 23, 2010, 4:47 pmKamal says:
That would be fair, if most of the commentary was reporting this in that context. Leaving out the references to the reporting on Bush’s vacation makes this just as inexcusable.
August 23, 2010, 4:48 pmfred says:
B.D., there’s not much to criticize about Obama’s game. He never even gets double bogeys. (Rahm calls them Bushes and scores him at par.)
August 23, 2010, 4:54 pmdesmond says:
Somehow someone has just managed to interject Race into a discussion about Obama’s links doings, and isn’t talking about speed golfing.
Fore!
August 23, 2010, 5:01 pmThales says:
Well, as the John Birch Society informed us, Eisenhower was also a communist. So perhaps the fifth column is re-forming on the links.
August 23, 2010, 5:03 pmAlanW says:
If Obama were a more effective president, we’d have a bigger stimulus bill, Medicare-for-all and a carbon tax by now. I’m guessing most of the commenters here would oppose those measures, so what is it exactly that you want to see Obama accomplish that’s within the scope of the real world?
August 23, 2010, 5:05 pmERH says:
Ike’s big problem in the south was the R next to his name. My great-grandmother loved Ike but wouldn’t vote for him as a Republican.
August 23, 2010, 5:07 pmGuy says:
Ike was a secret Muslim?
August 23, 2010, 5:13 pmJK says:
Ah, so two wrongs really do make a right after all!
August 23, 2010, 5:15 pmArthur Kirkland says:
Or for women, or blacks, or anyone not properly bred . . . It should, however, be funded by corporate expense accounts.
August 23, 2010, 5:17 pmHouston Lawyer says:
It is generally Lefties who believe that the President should work hard all of the time. Reagan caught a lot of flack for not keeping late hours. The SNL skit of him acting just the opposite was hysterical because of its absurdity.
Those of us on the Right have been lectured constantly that since we don’t worship the government we are bad at running it. More effort doesn’t always lead to a better result.
The public perception of golf is that it is played by elitists who have too much time on their hands. Regardless of the legitimacy of this view, it is widely held. If you are going to rail against the type of people who flaunt their wealth, you shouldn’t flaunt yours either. This goes for his wife as well.
August 23, 2010, 5:18 pmArthur Kirkland says:
There is no Messiah, failed or otherwise. Never has been, never will be.
Not even Bruce Springsteen.
August 23, 2010, 5:19 pmdesmond says:
AlanW, maybe we should call it raising “green fees”, in light of his game, and they’re already unaffordable for most Americans.
August 23, 2010, 5:20 pmJames says:
FTW
August 23, 2010, 5:25 pmJDW says:
On a related note, just because someone else can do two particular things well in conjunction doesn’t mean that I can. Maybe Obama’s detractors simply hold out hope that if he were to focus on his job, he would do a better job. I think they are wrong, but simply because Ike was successful at doing his job and playing golf at the same time doesn’t give Obama a free pass to play as much golf as he wants while the rest of the country suffers. We can criticize successful executives for taking a bonus while slashing jobs for unskilled laborers, but we can’t criticize Obama for going golfing while people can’t get jobs? This all doesn’t make sense to me.
August 23, 2010, 5:25 pmleo marvin says:
And how come those Obama girls never amounted to anything?
August 23, 2010, 5:25 pmAugusta National Golf Club says:
Arthur Kirkland, you and the NYT would agree that blacks shouldn’t play at the ANGC, though Tiger and others wouldn’t listen. Good for them!
Private club resentment isn’t a flattering reflection on individuals. If closed social, quasi economic groupings and cliques of people are so offensive to you, don’t join one. I haven’t.
And most are voluntarily more integrated as to race and gender than you suggest or would condemn.
August 23, 2010, 5:30 pmMark Buehner says:
I’d give a kidney to have Calvin Coolidge back right now. Now there was a president who knew how not to get things done. We could use a little of that.
August 23, 2010, 5:30 pmDebrah says:
You really are tethered to the talking points of long ago, aren’t you?
Race/class/gender/sexual orientation……in the “right doses”…….are virtually a free ticket on the golf course of life.
Come on up!
August 23, 2010, 5:34 pmRick says:
I don’t have a problem with him playing golf but I do think the timing of his games could be better thought out.
August 23, 2010, 5:34 pmEvan says:
Actually, that’d be nice! Instead of addressing Congress in person or appearing on television, he could write stuff on the web. In fact, recall that President Jefferson refused to speak to Congress in person and instead wrote his messages. Since most Congressmen don’t show up in the chambers anyway but watch on C-SPAN, maybe we could move all Congress onto the Internet as well?
</dream>
August 23, 2010, 5:40 pmawt says:
what does this have to do with guns?
August 23, 2010, 5:46 pmPaul F. says:
President Eisenhower- good times, economically.
President Obama- “Bush’s fault!” faltering times.
Ike’s golf- a relaxed gentlemen’s game and power brokering.
O’s golf- an escape while power seems to be breaking down.
IOW, photos of assurance vs. pictures of retreat.
Looked to a lot of us that Bush played golf to message to the world that the country and “American Way” hadn’t been mortally affected by the 9/11 attack, and he cleared brush to show that his presidency was doing the sweaty necessary work to secure the nation.
August 23, 2010, 5:48 pmredc1c4 says:
golf is an appropriate sport for Ear Leader….
after all, he is a hacker at everything else he does.
as for all the protestations that the right is being mean to teh wun,
August 23, 2010, 5:50 pmall i can say is “Sauce for the gander (Bush), is sauce for the goose.”
dearieme says:
Golf had the merit of revealing unambiguously what a shit Clinton was.
August 23, 2010, 5:50 pmArthur Kirkland says:
We finally agree! “Reagan Mastermind”: A great skit, especially the part with the Girl Scout.
Here’s another great one.
The guy who played Reagan was just as good as the guy who played Clinton, by the way.
August 23, 2010, 5:55 pmleo marvin says:
Hey, you try getting a good tee time at Congressional Country Club.
August 23, 2010, 6:00 pmArthur Kirkland says:
Neither are bigotry and discrimination. Or, for a political party, basing a core column of its strategy on racism for decades.
It’s nice to find points of agreement.
August 23, 2010, 6:01 pmBarbara Skolaut says:
I wish he’d spend 24/7 on the golf course for the next 2 years and leave us alone. He can take
August 23, 2010, 6:09 pmProCongress with him.Augusta National Golf Club says:
Have no idea what you’re imputing to me, Arthur Kirkland. And how do you get partisan party out of what you cited?
It’s getting beyond cheap to keep calling people racists who aren’t. Either you haven’t gotten around if you think all members of exclusive clubs are Republican or white or straight, etc., or you’re hoping that young readers here who don’t know better haven’t yet noticed the big money and snobbery of a lot of powerful white liberals and will buy your cartoon version.
I can’t stand those clubs for me but think it fine for people to form and join them.
August 23, 2010, 6:15 pmDr. T says:
When President Obama is “on duty,” he acts in ways detrimental to our nation and our economy and he says things that polarize our people, annoy our allies, or encourage our enemies. Therefore, I want him to golf continuously for the remainder of his term. I also want Obama to invite all members of Congress to golf with him. With the President and all of Congress golfing, the lack of new idiotic laws and regulations may promote an economic recovery.
August 23, 2010, 6:17 pmzippypinhead says:
Yet another reason I STILL Like Ike!
So Eisenhower averaged 2 rounds of golf a week, and still had time to work in saving the Free World, recuperating from a heart attack, a stroke and Crohn’s Disease, as well as keeping up an extensive vacation schedule at both his Gettysburg farm and at Camp David (a place he liked so much he even renamed it after his grandson)?
Very impressive man!
August 23, 2010, 6:20 pmDebrah says:
I think GWB should have worn his flight suit more often.
Even detractors have to admit that he and Obama are more physically fit than most previous presidents.
August 23, 2010, 6:26 pmAR says:
Eisenhower was arguably a failure as Supreme Allied Commander. Regardless, it seems fairly ignorant to assert that he defeated Hitler, keeping in mind that the soviet union did the heavy lifting.
August 23, 2010, 6:44 pmtherut says:
The people gripping about Obama and golfing are as dumb as those who complained about Bush cutting brush on his farm.. Just dummies being dummies. I just wonder why Cindy Sheehan is not camping out with the media around where Obama is golfing? Or where oh where is code pinko’s these days. Maybe they are out there but the MSM is not as interested. Wonder why?
August 23, 2010, 6:50 pmAlex says:
So people are motivated to play golf in America to make a class statement and not because they enjoy the sport?
August 23, 2010, 6:52 pmSwede says:
No.
August 23, 2010, 6:53 pmGordon Langston says:
Does anyone here know what sort of chaos follows when the President decides to play your home course? He seems to create some pretty substantial traffic problems
August 23, 2010, 7:05 pmArthur Kirkland says:
Perhaps I misunderstood your use of “Augusta National Golf Club” to identify yourself.
August 23, 2010, 7:07 pmathEIst says:
Paddy says:
and high living.
Here I thought it was “high crimes and misdemeanors”
August 23, 2010, 7:07 pmJohn Davis says:
I greatly prefer Obama golfing. He can’t do nearly as much damage while he is golfing. It’s when he is in the White House that I worry.
August 23, 2010, 7:10 pmJennifer says:
I don’t begrudge the man his golf.
However, the $750k a day Spain trip his wife too was, perhaps, a teensy bit over the top.
August 23, 2010, 7:23 pmt1 says:
Regarding Moores’ supposed lies: the link states :Once the Camp David time is excluded, Bush’s “vacation” time drops to 13 percent.”
August 23, 2010, 7:23 pmCal Atty Ken says:
Unlike Ike, Obama did not command the Allies in a successful European campaign, did not have a remarkable and distinguished military career, apply an even hand in the execution of the laws of the nation as the President (as you point out)….etc.
Point being, that some people (have) earn(ed) the right to play too much golf, others have yet too (have not).
August 23, 2010, 7:30 pmPlinthy The Middling says:
First, let’s check the scoreboard:
Down to athEIst at 1907 hours, the scoring is:
For golf + Obama = 17
Against Golf + Obama = 12
Meh on Golf + Obama = 34
Now to Roger to bring us up to speed on the key stats:
Golf up 3, down 5, net = -2
Obama up 4, down 21, net = -17
Finally, to Johnny for analysis:
Not quite the endorsement you look for, Chip: the plurality is for his golfing more and presiding less.
August 23, 2010, 8:01 pmOn the other hand, he really needs to get rid of that hitch in his backswing, and given where the economy is going, golf will probably be extinct by 2012.
Owen H. says:
When President Obama starts to take as much time off as Bush did, get back to us.
August 23, 2010, 8:21 pmLe Messsurier says:
Add to these stats on Eisenhower vs Obama and Bush, the number of days he Eisenhower, was trout (fly) fishing. Often in Colorado on the Fraser River. The sport is a real time consumer unless you live on a trout stream. Ike’s job was in Washington and he was a long way from there when he was trout fishing… I envy his every moment on the stream!
August 23, 2010, 8:27 pmPing Putter B60 - - Ping Putter B60 says:
[...] The Volokh Conspiracy » Stop Criticizing President Obama for … [...]
August 23, 2010, 8:30 pmJ says:
While I agree with your overall argument, I think you miss the point of why most on the right take shots at the amount of rounds Obama has played. Those on the right do it for two reasons: humor, and to point out the hypocrisy of reporting. Supposed nonpartisan networks such as CNN, NBC, ABC, & CBS took jabs at Bush every chance they could get over his vacation time or golf play, and they did it to subliminally convey their overall message of republicans = bad.
My guess is that most on the right would skip over the golf play if those on the left had done the same while Bush was in office. I’m not arguing that “it’s ok for me to do it because you did it,” and I also don’t think that’s why the majority of those on the right do it either; rather, as I said before, it’s mostly to point out the humor and hypocrisy of supposed independent journalism. Are there those on the right reporting on this out of malice the same way that the left did with Bush? Sure, but certainly not even close to the same degree.
August 23, 2010, 9:00 pmJustin says:
Regarding Moores’ supposed lies: the link states :Once the Camp David time is excluded, Bush’s “vacation” time drops to 13 percent.”
I have no dog in this particular fight, but how does that make Moore a liar? Or is Camp David not a retreat anymore?
If Moore wants to be criticized, it should be on the “the President is at work even if he’s on vacation” meme. To say, “oh, you can’t count camp DAVID is kind of silly, right?
August 23, 2010, 9:48 pmOwen H. says:
No J, people took shots at Bush because of how much time he spent away, not that he did so at all. And the fact that important stuff slipped through the cracks because of it.
August 23, 2010, 10:17 pmcatholic jesus says:
justin, you need to love your inner cat and get over any dog issues.
August 23, 2010, 10:45 pmrichard mcenroe says:
“President Eisenhower! Sir! The Russians are in Budapest!”
“Not now, dammit, I’m already late for my tee-time!”
Never happened.
“President Obama! Sir! The BP rig sank! Mister President… uh… sir? Where the hell…?”
August 23, 2010, 11:02 pmPeter Shalen says:
I was only a kid during the Eisenhower administration and had little understanding of the issues, but I knew people were constantly criticizing the President for spending all his time on the links when there were crises in the world.
August 23, 2010, 11:11 pmfred says:
richard mcenroe
In Obama’s defense, there’s a chance he misread the WH itinerary and thought it said “Golf,” not Gulf.
August 23, 2010, 11:25 pmAlessandra says:
If I remember correctly, Clinton went to play golf during the Rwandan genocide…
In addition to the fact that the words “humility” and “Clinton” even remotely together in a sentence is already one of life’s greatest oxymorons…
August 23, 2010, 11:50 pmAlessandra says:
I don’t know how anyone can like golf, so insufferable… To even call the thing a sport…
Mini-golf, on the other hand, is quite nice. (although not a sport)
August 23, 2010, 11:54 pmhtom says:
I don’t object to Obama playing golf (actually, the longer he’s not doing presidential duty things, the better for the country, it seems), but if he does so and cheats (or has someone to cheat for him) ….
I confess to a tiny curiosity: what are the Eisenhower and Obama golf handicaps? Anyone know? (Googles) Ahh.
Eisenhower 14-18
August 24, 2010, 12:05 amObama 16
Bush 15
Clinton 12?
Biden 8
L says:
The title of this post reminds me of “Don’t think of an elephant!”
August 24, 2010, 12:07 amrpt says:
And I thought GWB had a vacation home in Texas. Did Michael Moore invent that story?
August 24, 2010, 12:39 amrpt says:
August 2001 PDB?
August 24, 2010, 12:41 amrpt says:
The notion of an alleged socialistic Kenyan Muslim disciple of Rev. Wright playing golf is a bit much.
August 24, 2010, 12:49 amSarcastro says:
I demand more people use golf as a jumping off point to make up anecdotes about how Obama sucks!
August 24, 2010, 12:53 amquestionman says:
another idiot pandering fiction from the right-wing idiot fringe. Have you read the Constitution? No cause you’re too busy nitpicking which rule you like. Where does it say that you can impeach a president because you don’t like him? where does it say that you can impeach a president for doing things past presidents have done? are you that dumb to our laws to call such lame calls for impeachment AND thinking people will vote back the GOP idiots who got up into this mess with the TARP program and the tax cuts for the rich?
August 24, 2010, 1:16 amSemper Why says:
Awwww… the poor little lefties are upset that all the crap they threw at Bush’s golf games are bouncing back at Obama. Hell, it’s not even as much crap as was thrown at Bush and it’s still too much for them.
These are political cheap shots and it’s not helping anyone accomplish anything… but frankly those on the left earned these cheap shots. The least you could do is shrug and say “Yeah, that wasn’t really fair to the last POTUS. Our bad.”
In any case, a pox on both of them. Golf courses are just a waste of a perfectly good rifle range.
August 24, 2010, 1:33 amleo marvin says:
Still, if he can’t get his handicap lower than Bush’s I have to go with impeachment.
Pray hard, and when you get to Heaven maybe they’ll be combined.
August 24, 2010, 1:47 amquestionman says:
my comment was for that idiot, Paddy who believe that he can impeach a president because he doesn’t like him.
August 24, 2010, 1:49 amJKB says:
Critisize, no. Document, yes. Unless, Obama’s game is so bad it demands comment. All that is needed is a website, say Obamagolf.com where his playing calendar is maintained for all to see.
August 24, 2010, 1:56 amMark Horning says:
Well last I checked there was a perfectly good underground pistol range in the White House. Could be a bowling alley by now I suppose. I guarantee if I were president I’d be spending a lot more time at the range, and a lot less time chasing a stupid white ball.
August 24, 2010, 2:25 amrichard mcenroe says:
“hardly any sport is better at fostering humility in participants”
You have never caddied.
August 24, 2010, 2:34 amHarvey Mosley says:
My thoughts exactly!
August 24, 2010, 2:51 amjuris imprudent says:
AK sez Or, for a political party, basing a core column of its strategy on racism for decades.
Well, how much do you fault the Republicans for picking up where the Democrats left off (after MANY decades).
August 24, 2010, 3:27 amJ.T. Wenting says:
indeed. We’ve not had a government here for 5 months now, and country hasn’t run as well in years :)
August 24, 2010, 3:43 amL says:
I don’t think we are, I know I’m not, but if it makes you feel better to think so, don’t let me stop you.
August 24, 2010, 7:20 amTīwesdæg Links | JohnWSmart says:
[...] The Volokh Conspiracy: Golf is not the problem. [...]
August 24, 2010, 9:08 amInstapundit » Blog Archive » DAVE KOPEL: Stop Criticizing President Obama for Playing Golf. … says:
[...] DAVE KOPEL: Stop Criticizing President Obama for Playing Golf. [...]
August 24, 2010, 9:33 amMark K. Benenson says:
Dave, Bernard Shaw is supposed to have described golf as a game in which a damn fool tries to hit a very small ball loose from a very large ball.
August 24, 2010, 9:37 amtim maguire says:
David, the mere fact that one particular man was able to be an effective president while playing a lot of golf tells you very little about whether another particular man could be an effective president while playing a lot of golf. A point sufficiently obvious that I have to assume you knew it when you wrote this post.
When people criticize Obama for playing a lot of golf, I very much doubt it is based on a survey of past presidents’ golf habits. Rather it is one part payback for the cheap shots hurled at Bush and one part frustration that Obama doesn’t seem to take being president very seriously and maybe should spend more time mastering the basics of governance and less time playing in a field.
August 24, 2010, 9:51 amRob Crawford says:
Wrong. Many people on the right have been taking “cheap shots” at President Obama playing golf because we had to listen to eight years of cheap shots at President Bush for playing golf.
Basic game theory — tit for tat. If it was a valid criticism of Bush, it’s an equally valid criticism of Obama.
August 24, 2010, 9:58 amScott says:
I heartily agree. The less time he spends fiddling with public policy, the better off the country will be.
I think he should double the amount of golf he’s playing — ya know, for the kids.
August 24, 2010, 9:58 amMax says:
It’s an old Democratic/ Alinsky/ community organizer tradtion called hit back trwice as hard.
August 24, 2010, 10:01 amxx says:
This seems like it would be a more effective and persuasive point if you simply deleted paragraphs 2 and 5.
August 24, 2010, 10:01 amWildmonk says:
I will second that. Of course, if we could get Obama interested in Sporting Clays, he might have a different take on the Second Amendment!
August 24, 2010, 10:03 amwfjag says:
OK. How’s this for using golf as a jumping off point? “Barry Obama is no Robin Williams.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcJrPWV1Bo
August 24, 2010, 10:03 amA.W. says:
I won’t criticize him for playing golf, per se, but when he says “we will not rest until the spill is cleaned up” and then he goes out for a night on the town… its a bit much. Don’t say, “we won’t rest.” Just say, “we will handle this quickly” or something to that effect.
Not that obama is the only person to do this or the worst offender, but it still shouldn’t be done.
August 24, 2010, 10:08 amSarcastro says:
Alinsky. He’s that guy the right wing keeps quoting all the time and following, even though they think he’s evil, right?
August 24, 2010, 10:09 amruprecht says:
The problem is Bush was bashed constantly for the same behavior and the instinct to point back at the hypocracy, even when you don’t really believe it, is really, really strong.
August 24, 2010, 10:11 amL says:
These arguments are in conflict with themselves. You can’t in one breath say that criticisms of Bush for playing too much golf were “cheap shots,” justifying the revenge criticism of Obama, and then in the next breath claim that criticizing Obama for playing too much golf is a valid criticism. You have to pick one.
Either it’s okay to criticize the president for playing too much golf, in which case those criticisms of Bush were not “cheap shots,” or it’s not, in which case you recognize the criticisms of Obama are cheap shots, and you have to try to justify them based on a tit-for-tat. Not both.
August 24, 2010, 10:11 amJack says:
Yes, golfing can be a humbling experience, if you don’t cheat.
But my guess is that not only does Obama cheat at golf, he requires that those around him pretend not to notice. In fact, those around him probably require that others also, such as secret service agents, valets, caddies, not notice as well.
And rather than being humbling, it is a corruptive process. When you lie in a serial fashion, which I believe the current President does, the rot permeates the organization, or in this case, the current administration.
Which might also explain the current wave of resignations.
August 24, 2010, 10:14 amChai says:
Except that Obama is dreadful president, no matter how well he plays golf.
August 24, 2010, 10:15 amMikeNC says:
His Wonderfulness needs to play more golf. In fact every day, all day, ignoring his job as president. We would all be better off.
August 24, 2010, 10:18 amMikeNC says:
His Wonderfulness needs to play more golf. In fact every day, all day, ignoring his job as president. We would all be better off.
August 24, 2010, 10:18 amtim maguire says:
L, please go back and reread my post a little more carefully. It is not internally inconsistent, rather, your assertion is unjustifiably sweeping. The seeds of the answer are in my unquoted first paragraph.
August 24, 2010, 10:20 amL says:
Oh, why so moderate and restrained in your criticism of Obama? Don’t you know how much freedom you can have when you release yourself from the need for facts to back up your claims?
Let’s see:
Isn’t it amazing what powerful and convincing arguments you can make when weasel words replace evidence?
August 24, 2010, 10:22 amSchroeborn says:
“Obviously there are many differences between President Eisenhower and President Obama.”
August 24, 2010, 10:27 amNuff said: times are different, competencies are different, and I am sure handicaps are different. But the real difference is that, unlike Eisenhower, Obama has never proven himself. The country believes that we are in a crisis, which Obama empasized during his campaign. Did General Eisenhower golfed every week during WWII? If Obama was making progress on the “Bush-caused crisis” no one would care about his constant golfing. Eisenhower earned the right to frequently golf, Obama hasn’t; It highlights Obama’s poor judgement.
L says:
Okay, I reread it. Let me see if I’ve got you right now: the criticisms of Bush for playing too much golf were cheap shots because he didn’t play too much golf, but the criticism of Obama were not cheap shots, because he does play too much golf. And in addition to the criticism of Obama being valid, it is also motivated by revenge for the cheap shots against Bush.
If I’ve got you right now, then I agree with you that it’s not internally inconsistent. I misread you, and I apologize.
I interpreted–apparently misinterpreted–your characterization of criticisms of Bush as “cheap shots” as meaning that critizing a president for playing too much golf is a “cheap shot” in general.
August 24, 2010, 10:30 amRon says:
It would be refreshing to see him make some attempt at doing his job. Or perhaps he could get detailed lessons from Tiger.
August 24, 2010, 10:31 amSarcastro says:
YES! I am pleased by this speculative burn! MOAR!
August 24, 2010, 10:31 amAdam C says:
The argument being made is that because golf may not have impeded Eisenhower, it cannot be impeding Obama. I’m not a professional logician, but I’m reasonably sure that’s what’s known in the trade as a non sequitur.
A president whose inclination is to double down on demonstrably failed policies gives the impression of not being fully engaged with his job. His golf obsession fails to refute that hypothesis.
August 24, 2010, 10:35 amFat Man says:
I think BO is a terrible president, currently battling James Buchanan for the title of worst ever. I think he should play more golf. Lots more Golf. 27 to 36 holes a day. The more he golfs, the less harm he does.
August 24, 2010, 10:36 ammemomachine says:
Hmmmm.
@ David Kopel
1. Want me to call the waaambulance for ya?
2. Bush tried ignoring the jibes, taunts and accusations and all it got him was hammered endlessly.
3. If Democrats are the only ones to hurl such “misguided” accusations and Republicans do nothing in response you’ve got a perfect analogy for something utterly stupid.
August 24, 2010, 10:42 amtim maguire says:
I interpreted–apparently misinterpreted–your characterization of criticisms of Bush as “cheap shots” as meaning that critizing a president for playing too much golf is a “cheap shot” in general.
Yes, you misread me. That may seem a reasonable take if you focus only on my second paragraph, but as I note in my response to you, it is the second paragraph. The first paragraph points out the logical fallacy in Kopel’s post and your reactions to my post.
Better yet, let me try again here. Suppose I say my mother cannot fix a carborator. Does it necessarily follow that my father cannot fix a carborator? After all, they are both my parents, if one can’t fix a carborator, then how could the other? (Note: spell check doesn’t recognize “carborator”–how times have changed!)
Suppose mom has two kids and they both want to go out and play. One has done his homework and the other has not. Is it inconsistent for mom to let the first go out and make the second one stay in and finish his homework? Even if you focus only on my second paragraph, you are left with the fact that my assertion is that the non-Bush related criticism is not about how much time he spends golfing, but that he is shirking something more important.
Instead of arbitrarily defining “too much time golfing” by the clock, how about instead define it by how it affects the golfer’s broader life? Looked at that way, it should be obvious that some people can play more golf than others within a healthy lifestyle.
August 24, 2010, 10:46 amDotar Sojat says:
16 handicap? With that hacker’s swing, there is no way that Obama can break 90. My 11 year old son could clean his wallet in a Nassau.
August 24, 2010, 10:48 amSarcastro says:
Eisenhower wasn’t a counterexample for the proposition “You cannot golf a lot and be a good President!” Clearly the original post was making the logical proposition that Eisenhower and Obama are identical. This is clearly wrong.
Also Obama is a bad President.
August 24, 2010, 10:50 amKen Royall says:
If Obama seemed engaged and “in charge” on the issues, the golf story wouldn’t be a story. In his case it feeds into a larger narrative that he is out of touch with both the average Joe and even his own job. He has basically outsourced his legislative agenda to incompetent political hacks in Congress. His job seems to be be giving speeches, going to parties and I really don’t know what else. His excess recreation time is fair game. It also demonstrates his hubris in that he must know the visuals are not good. As things are falling down all around us he is out there having a good old time. But, he does it anyway.
August 24, 2010, 10:53 amrasqual says:
Hey, my work on Bush’s vacations was cited!
My only claim to fame in the whateversphere nowadays. ;-)
The actual story behind that is at usenet, where I allowed my interlocutor to pick any week at all of Bush’s time in Texas, and I’d research it. He left it to me to decide, and I honestly was random in the decision. http://tinyurl.com/37dqxxl
Read the whole usenet post for more context about Bush “loafing” on vacation.
The other side of this, of course, is that Obama’s busy too, on days where it appears he’s not. I think. Busy screwing up the country, alas. But for me the issue is how MUCH he’s doubling down on the fun when it just. looks. so. bad. Credit to Bush for stopping his golf in ’03.
August 24, 2010, 10:54 amSarcastro says:
Yes, Ken Royall! This story would be silly, but Obama is a bad President.
Just like the secret Muslim story wouldn’t be anything, but Obama is a bad American.
And the Obama is a racist story would be dumb, but Obama is a bad uniter.
In fact, every petty little thing you can say about Obama is really Obama’s fault.
August 24, 2010, 10:56 amL says:
I think I’ve got you now. And what you’re saying makes sense. And fyi, spell check does recognize “carburetor.” ;)
August 24, 2010, 10:57 amMaxMBJ says:
Sorry but gotta disagree here. Obama SHOULD be heavily criticized for his excessive golfing. The reason: I can’t stand anything about him. If he wasn’t golfing, I’d criticized him for not doing it.
Bottom line: I don’t like the guy. I don’t like his politics. I don’t like his cockiness. I don’t like the way he lives the high life while telling the rest of us to get a tire inflation device.
Also, I don’t like him.
August 24, 2010, 11:11 ammack says:
I wouldn’t blame Obama – It was Eisenhower that popularized Golf – now golf courses litter the nation and it’s devotees have elevated it to a so called “sport”. Grooms go golfing on the weekend or morning before their wedding, companies have golf outings, and everybodies uncle and their cousin has a family golf tournament. Now even the Japanese have been infected. If this blight spreads to China and India then the end of the world will truly be at hand.
What we need is a national public works program to turn all these golf courses into rifle ranges, (something republicans and democrats can get behind – public works and guns). Then we could have headlines like – the president went on vacation and shot a score of 2395 with 160x at Camp Perry this weekend – coming in second to Sherri Gallagher.
August 24, 2010, 11:12 amChester White says:
“Houston Lawyer: The SNL skit of him acting just the opposite was hysterical because of its absurdity.
We finally agree! “Reagan Mastermind”: A great skit, especially the part with the Girl Scout.”
I like the part about interest rates at 7.28%. Wonder when we’ll get those back? If we do, the DOW goes to 3000 as interest payments crush to dust the government and all of us with borrowed money.
August 24, 2010, 11:15 amSarcastro says:
Did Hitler like golf?
August 24, 2010, 11:21 ammack says:
Evidently Hitler liked soccer but was going to take up golf -
August 24, 2010, 11:47 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Ln_rqPpPk&feature=player_embedded
richard mcenroe says:
“I will second that. Of course, if we could get Obama interested in Sporting Clays, he might have a different take on the Second Amendment!”
Especially if he’s shagging the clay pigeons.
August 24, 2010, 11:53 amCec Moon says:
You guys are scaring me to death. I am assuming that this comment section is peopled by those who have an active interest in the law. I have read each so far and concluded I must thank God because I currently need no legal assistance.
Much has been made of Eisenhower playing golf (and fishing.) In terms of accomlishment and experience, it is embarassing to see Obama and Ike somehow portrayed as equals. They occupied the same office at different times and there the comparison ends. Those who are willing to equate the commander of Allied Forces Europe to a two-bit community organizer would be well advised to stand clear of the bar. If that is your thinking process, I shudder to court the thought of being your client.
Meanwhile, “who’s away?”
August 24, 2010, 11:55 amGreg Buls says:
We criticize Obama for golfing because he has a swing like an 8 year old girl.
August 24, 2010, 11:57 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9m3GyDh6M8
Eddie says:
If President Eisenhower had made hypocritical speeches about everyone needing to sacrifice, and lecturing companies about sending employees to Las Vegas for meetings, then maybe the analogy would work.
August 24, 2010, 12:02 pmAndrewV says:
I think U. S. Grant should be on that list too.
August 24, 2010, 12:02 pmHeftyJo says:
I adhere to the philosophy of working hard and playing hard. But in a honest hard days work and then go party your ass off; you deserve it. This President just seems content with the partying hard. Every major piece of legislative action he has championed has been outsourced to Pelosi/Reid. He has what, 37 czars now formulating all his executive policy for him? All he does it read a teleprompter on the never ending campaign trail and lecturer the rest of us about how intolerant and bigoted we all are.
Eisenhower probably found the office of the Presidency to be a cake walk after being the a supreme allied commander. He probably did twice the work in half the time compared to what Obama can muster. So, kudos to your golf record Pres. Eisenhower, you deserved it.
August 24, 2010, 12:30 pmSarcastro says:
I know, I hate the American People too!
August 24, 2010, 1:08 pmSarcastro says:
Yes! This is what I wanted! Obama probably also sucks a lot more then Ike did! And is more gayer!
August 24, 2010, 1:10 pmElliot says:
Fair or not, Obama is stuck with the golf criticism. He can thank fellow democrats for criticizing Bush so much for golf. The notion that anything goes when attacking a republican president, but we should use a different standard for democrat presidenst is silly.
August 24, 2010, 1:37 pmMULLIGAN says:
Sure. Fine with me.
August 24, 2010, 1:38 pmSarcastro says:
Indeed! I thought criticism of my side were unfair, so I get to do whatever I want to the other side! Anything less would be silly!!
August 24, 2010, 1:44 pmAlec Rawls says:
Actually, I don’t think any conservatives have criticized Obama for playing golf. The more time away from his desk the better. The criticism has been of our Democrat-controlled media’s double standard in savaging Bush for playing much less golf.
Together with Mr. Kopel’s attack on a random conservative for not providing solid evidence that Obama is a Muslim (evidence that Kopel could have easily supplied, if he bothered to research the subject) it looks like Kopel is making a bid for the role of “Maverick”: the supposed conservative that habitually tries to paint himself as more reasonable than other conservatives (hence more palatable to his liberal friends) by knocking down “bad-conservative” straw men.
On substance, Kopel IS a real conservative. This foolish posturing via misrepresentation of other conservatives’ views is beneath him.
August 24, 2010, 1:48 pmHarryEagar says:
In Adelman’s book about the missile treaties, he described how Reagan wasted a whole hour discussing nuclear disarmament with his advisers.
Presidents should work hard when they work. I saw little evidence that Reagan was diligent when he was awake.
August 24, 2010, 2:10 pmDick Eagleson says:
Given what he gets up to when he’s NOT playing golf, I say send him to PGA fantasy camp until 1/20/2013.
August 24, 2010, 2:27 pmwfjag says:
And, besides, Real Men play badminton.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1206635/Has-somebody-told-Mr-Putin-badminton-macho.html
August 24, 2010, 2:43 pmThe Commentator says:
Ken, perhaps, but what if someone turns around and says, “well, he did push health care and financial reform through!” I’ve read, of course from liberals, this makes him “successful.” Some have even argued he’s been the most successful Prez in the last 50 years. So how disconnected is he if these reforms can be accepted as successes?
That being said, from a Canadian perspective, he does seem, erm, somewhat more comfortable in a professorial role. Less so when it comes to projecting leadership.
Personally, I think we should ban Kool-Aid.
August 24, 2010, 2:45 pmhuxley says:
I don’t care that Obama frequently golfs, but it would be nice to see some form of leading by example considering how often our Lecturer-in-Chief pontificates about the sacrifices Americans must make for the greater good in these tough times and how it’s better to “spread the wealth around.”
The aristocratic exploits of Obama and his family — exotic, expensive vacations, gala events with rock stars, wagyu steak ($125/lb) dinners, etc. — are constantly splashed into our faces while we live with two wars and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It’s unseemly and hypocritical.
Ike golfed, but other than that you didn’t see him living the high life with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack.
And give Bush credit that after the Iraq War he stopped golfing, not because it was wrong for him to golf, but because it was right for him to show solidarity with the sacrifices that Americans were living with.
August 24, 2010, 2:50 pmBruce Hayden says:
While Ike seemed to prefer fishing the Fraser River, that was not the only place he fished in Colorado. My father recounts fishing Buffalo Creek (which runs into the N. Fork of the S. Platte), and running into secret service there. Mamie went to school with a woman who had a summer house in Buffalo Creek (nearby where we had a girl’s camp), and the Eisenhowers apparently occasionally visited her there over the years.
August 24, 2010, 2:58 pmBruce Hayden says:
Here are the ratings from Golf Digest:
This ignores VP Biden, who apparently picked up the game a decade ago, and is outshooting all of them. Which, given all his beclowning moments, it is probably good for the country that he spends so much time on the links.
August 24, 2010, 3:08 pmSarcastro says:
YES! Moar starting with golf going to your pet peeve about Obama! This is what the internets were made for!
No more “Obama golfing is better than Obama presidential” though. That joke was old when this thread started.
August 24, 2010, 3:35 pmhuxley says:
Sarcastro: Call it what you will.
I call it poor leadership. Obama and his party will pay dearly for it in November.
August 24, 2010, 3:43 pmSarcastro says:
Yeah, it sucks how Obama isn’t Conservative. Real Leaders are all Conservative.
August 24, 2010, 3:53 pmhuxley says:
The opening sentence on leadership in WIki speaks to my point:
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”.
The duties of POTUS are many, but high up on the list is leading the American people. It’s a difficult job to be sure, but even so Obama has done poorly. In less than two years he has squandered sky-high good will and poll numbers coming into office to the point where his support is now toxic for Democratic candidates in the mid-term elections.
It says much about Obama that he can’t be bothered with even symbolic solidarity with ordinary Americans.
Party on, Obama!
August 24, 2010, 3:59 pmMojo Risin says:
How much a president golfs should be based on how effective an executive he is and not on a subjectively arrogant, hubristic and self-inflated, whacked-out, over-the-top opinion of himself. Without effective results, NO GOLF!!!
August 24, 2010, 4:04 pmSarcastro says:
[So the duty of a President is to stay popular?
Besides, Obama's polls are nowhere near record lows for a President at this point in his administration. In fact, this level of unpopularity in the first midterms after election is somewhat expected.
The vehemence of the opposition seems to be something of a record though (i.e. all Strongly Disapprove, few merely disprove)
No idea what the crap you're talking about re: symbolic unity, but then making gestures of patriotism very, very significant has always been a callsign of the right.]
August 24, 2010, 4:21 pmgeokstr says:
Wrong again. He’s the one that that the right finally has noticed that the left has been following to great effect for over a half century.
Oh, and also the one that both Hillary and Obama are infatuated with, and whose own son effusively congratulated the Obama campaign for following his father so closely and effectively in the pages of the right-wing, fascistic capitalist-roader Boston Globe:
August 24, 2010, 4:31 pmSon sees father’s handiwork in convention
4rc says:
Its only mentioned to illustrated the disgusting hypocrisy of the left and the media.
August 24, 2010, 4:39 pmDon Rodrigo says:
Nope.
We should keep criticizing him. Any and all means to helping make him a one-term President is fair game, even the dopey secret-Kenyan-Muslim stuff.
Seriously, why do so many of you want to keep bringing knives to a gun fight? SNORT!
August 24, 2010, 5:31 pmRyan Waxx says:
I’d like him to be sufficiently aware of his departments’ reaction to a crisis so that he’s actually AWARE that his EPA is turning away oil spill cleanup vessels because they only clean up 99% of the oil from the water.
Or is that far too much to ask?
August 24, 2010, 5:40 pmBeregond says:
As I wrote in a post on my blog a couple of weeks ago, Eisenhower played about four times as much golf as Obama, even when you leave out time spent on the putting green and sand trap installed on the White House lawn. Yet Ike managed a record of solid accomplishments. It’s not the golfing, it’s what he does when not golfing.
August 24, 2010, 5:41 pmSarcastro says:
Ends justify the means! Morality bedamned, we should totally have some brave guy suicide bomb him!
August 24, 2010, 5:43 pmRyan Waxx says:
You’re right!
Nutty conspiracy theories are EXACTLY the same as murdering the fellow! No escalation there at all!
August 24, 2010, 6:01 pmleo marvin says:
I hear ya. I also can’t stand his supporters with the inflated tires. They all had Bush Derangement Syndrome.
August 24, 2010, 6:50 pmjlowery says:
I’d say we could call it a Krauthammer, but at least he sounds magnanimous while he’s “defending” Obama in a way that attacks him. Kopel just sounds like a political hack at all times.
August 24, 2010, 7:05 pmDotar Sojat says:
Ryan Waxx – it’s not too much to ask; it’s just too much to expect.
August 24, 2010, 8:04 pmWalsingham says:
And we know this because…what…the building didn’t burn down while he wasn’t writing anything?
August 24, 2010, 10:00 pmPeter Shalen says:
That’s ridiculous. He can impeach him only if there are lots and lots of other people who don’t like him either.
August 24, 2010, 10:48 pmAF = other one says:
My problem with Obama’s golf is not what it says about his job performance, but what it says about his parenting. As a new father, I simply do not understand how someone with such a demanding job can also play his role as a father and still manage to play so much golf.
August 25, 2010, 12:47 amRandy says:
Huxley: “And give Bush credit that after the Iraq War he stopped golfing, not because it was wrong for him to golf, but because it was right for him to show solidarity with the sacrifices that Americans were living with.”
You are so right. I can’t think of a better way to show solidarity with people who are shot at, killed, maimed or simply had their lives destroyed by serving in a war than giving up golf. It really is the ultimate sacrifice.
August 25, 2010, 1:07 amReed the Viking says:
This Post Will Blow Your Mind…
The Jersey Shore’s The Situation is estimated to make 5 million dollars this year. I love you, America. Yesterday I laid out my proposal for the abolition of marriage as a state institution. One of my favorite commenters, Harry Potter (I assume that’…
August 25, 2010, 1:17 amrasqual says:
[Merely] Symbolic gestures cannot rationally be blamed for not being substantive. In general, protesters of war resort to insistence on the most imaginable if impossible substantive actions: “Why doesn’t he go over and fight himself, if he sends others?” Also in general, a president cannot spend a lot of time immersed in existential back-flaying, fasting, privations or mystical retreats at a hermitage, in order to persuade those he serves that he has some kind of sincere sympathies. His job is not to be our external superego, nor the conscience of the nation. Personally, I think a symbolic action should be judged by the direction it signifies, not the magnitude. In the case of “not golfing,” it’s a humble symbolic gesture because it’s not going to get headlines. If he had volunteered weekly to serve food at a homeless shelter, that might get a headline every week. But no one in the press is going to report that the president isn’t golfing when he’s doing other reportable things. Not doing recreational things isn’t likely to get a by-line above the fold; it just ain’t quite viral news. ;-)
August 25, 2010, 11:17 amElliot says:
What would you have accepted as evidence of diligence?
August 25, 2010, 12:07 pmHarryEagar says:
Checking up on stories before publicizing them, for a start.
Early in his first term, Reagan reached back to award a Medal of Honor to an Army man for deeds done in Vietnam. He actually told reporters, during the ceremony, that ‘You’re not going to believe this.’
He was right. The story was unbelievable.
August 25, 2010, 4:09 pmSofia says:
Playing golf does not a great president make … Nor does it build character or common sense – just ask Tiger Woods!
August 25, 2010, 9:15 pmRight Pundits says:
Ichiro Ozawa: Japanese Democratic Party Leader, Americans Are ‘Simple-Minded’, ‘Monocellular’…
Japan’s ruling Democratic Party former secretary general Ichiro Ozawa gave a speech in Toyoko earlier today in which he said he liked Americans, but they are ’simple-minded’ and ‘monocellular’. Apparently there’s mor…
August 25, 2010, 10:08 pmJimmyT says:
Ike had time to golf even though he had 2 wars going; OH, no he didn’t! Well the country was in the middle of the worst recession since the depression. OH, no it wasn’t! Well the housing market was in crises. OH, no it wasn’t! Well unemployment was around 10%. OH, no it wasn’t! How the hell did Ike have time to play so much golf?
August 25, 2010, 10:42 pmNotDeadYet says:
I love the link at the top of your website that says “Who are We?” You need one that says “Where am I?” and another that says “What day is it?”.
It’s not just the golf. It’s also the ridiculous number of vacations, and Michelle Antoinette’s $375K trip to Spain, etc. You hypocrits bitched that Bush was at an elementary school, when the planes flew into the WTC, as if he could control that. But you don’t have any problem when The Messiah goes on vacation in the midst of the worst ecological disaster, and the second-worst economy in the history of our country.
Stupidity is heredity. Ignorance is voluntary. You may very well qualify on both counts.
August 25, 2010, 11:52 pmjohn says:
The real reason Obama is golfing so much, and staying away from the White House, is because he’s having the entire inside of the White House painted red and the fumes bother him.
August 26, 2010, 12:30 amWorry says:
I really do not accept the premise that Dwight D. Eisenhower was a good president. His foreign policy fiascos, including the Suez Crisis and turning his back on the French in Vietnam(which led to the U.S. entry, had great repercussions. Also, we should not forget Ike’s almost senile approach to Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba.
August 26, 2010, 12:39 amOrwell21 says:
Stop It! The country is in crisis and this guy goes and plays golf and his wife jets off to Spain on our dime. If this President were 10% as competent as IKE, I would say no problem. Unfortunately for us, he is not. This President however wants to pontificate about how the American people have to tighten their belts and work through it while he enjoys life like a King. He has no class, he is an elitist, and a narcissist. He need to go in 2012.
August 26, 2010, 11:13 amKevin says:
Hmm…let’s see:
Before they were elected:
Eisenhower: 4-star general, Supreme Allied commander in the Atlantic. ‘Nuff said.
Obama: community organizer(?), college prof, Chairman of the Board, Annenberg Challenge(wow, I’m just awestruck).
After they were elected:
August 26, 2010, 11:24 amEisenhower: First general since U.S. Grant to be elected president. First president to face the full brunt of the Cold War/nuke arms race against the USSR.
Obama: Forced a “stimulus” package and health care “reform” on America(which nobody outside DC wants); Bought GM, fired the CEO, told bondholders at GM and Chrysler to drop dead, serving up both companies to the unions on a silver platter in order to save their jobs; Wouldn’t let Big Bank pay back the bailout money they owe until recently because he wants absolute control over them; Wants to control how much money Americans make and give what little we can save to a bunch of has-beens and wanna-bes; Has a political M.O. Don Corleone would be proud of; Likes to tell cops they act stupidly without knowing all the facts; Has taken more than a half-dozen measureable vacations since he’s been in office and has been trying to have better relationships with our enemies than we do w/ our friends and allies. And to think he can’t figure out why he’s not quite as popular as he used to be. That’s just for starters. He has 2 years left in office. On top of which, we’ve been told anybody who disagrees with him is a racist. Have I missed anything? Nobody cares if he golfs once or twice a week. I, for one, would prefer he show a little competence in the Oval Office instead of knowing the difference between a 9-iron and a driver.
Sonny says:
I think he should play at least two rounds of gold everyday. A good golfer needs to do this to get his handicap down. He also should at least practice his short game for a least two or three hours daily before he plays his first round. He should then go back to the WH and work on his bowling handicap. But, for godsake stay away from any presidential decision making.
August 26, 2010, 11:38 amElray B says:
Why not golf? He has all of his plans in place to collapse our free-market system and have it fall into his socialism cage. All he has left to do is CAP and TAX and Amnesty to solidify his stranglehold on power.
Why not golf? He has his enemies and supporters alike fighting amongst themselves and he is receiving very little of the blame.
Why not golf? Unless there is a monumental swing in Congress shortly he will still be able to control the narrative with the aid of his MSM pals,and he will be able to pin failures on the Republicans if they only have slight majorities in Congress.
Why not golf? He has his boot on the throat of the greatest power on earth and he is about to succeed where so many others have failed and hand us over to our enemies with very little struggle on our part.
August 26, 2010, 1:12 pmYERMOM says:
Obama isn’t a tenth of the man that Eisenhower was. No one would criticize him if he wasn’t driving the country into the ground.
August 26, 2010, 1:55 pmNavy says:
You are dead wrong. Obama should be receiving worse from his critics. The Country is a shambles. The economy is actually in a depression and we are fighting a war. He should be working so hard he forgets to eat, and golf should be the very last thing on his mind. I went 10 years between vacations, not because I didn’t want a vacation, but because I had more important things to attend to. I say again, you are wrong and Obama is Very, Very, Very WRONG!!
August 26, 2010, 2:22 pmChuck says:
You don’t go play golf after you’ve just signed the orders to send combat troops into battle…period. Eisenhower didn’t play golf during his war, but now 20 months into his stint as Commander-in-Chief, Obama continues to play during his. That’s the difference; not the critics.
And you could use the same basic argument using the economy. Eisenhhower presided over the conversion of a wartime economy of historic proportions, not a recession of historic proportions. It’s one thing to hear about your president playing golf while you’re going to work, and quite another to hear about it when you’ve been out of work for a year or two because you can’t find a job.
We all know by now, even if we didn’t before that you can’t create jobs by re-defining unemployment!
August 26, 2010, 3:05 pmMerridee says:
“Indeed, golf helps clear the mind, and hardly any sport is better at fostering humility in participants. ”
Obama exudes the least amount of humility of any President I have ever seen in the WH. Maybe he has a false sense of achievement/greatness, because those whom he plays with, always let him win.
If humility is learned on the golf course then Obama has failed yet again.
August 26, 2010, 4:48 pmnceeno says:
Anyone who compares Ike to the poser is one sad little fart.
August 26, 2010, 6:02 pmBesides, WTF does MAY have played mean? it means your homework is lacking.
Go find another day job mr. brown noser article writer dude…and NEVER< EVER tell me what to do.
Alphadog says:
I would prefer he be anywhere BUT the Oval Office. However, have you seen the man play golf?
August 26, 2010, 6:24 pmHe STINKS…much more so than anyone I have ever seen who plays as frequently as bho does. His swing is much like his pitching…like a girl! Enough of the metrosexual nonsense…can we get a real man or a real woman in office.
Ron Deurkee says:
Bush was criticized for golfing by the media (24 times in 8 years) but Obama is not criticized by the media for golfing 44 tmes in 1 1/2 years. What honest people want is for the “rules” to be the same for BOTH SIDES of the aisle.It is alot easier to criticize when your side is not in office.
August 26, 2010, 6:59 pmJudy M says:
You say he was a success as President of the Harvard Law Review? He colleagues at Harvard can’t remember him actually doing anything and despite precedent, never published a word.
It seems everything about the man is scripted theater. It is all style and no substance. What a tragedy for America.
August 26, 2010, 9:35 pm