People forget this, but in Bill Clinton’s last year in office, he basically did a farewell tour with the press and he ended up burnishing his legacy quite a bit when he was a “lame duck.” I think Pres. Obama is doing the same thing. Coming on the heels of Obama’s Out Magazine cover (he was the first sitting president to cover an LGBT publication), the president sat down for a “Man of the Year” cover story with GQ. The interview was conducted by Bill Simmons, probably best known for his work on ESPN and for starting Grantland. Some people think Simmons is a douche. For what it’s worth, Obama says that he misses reading Simmons’ stuff at Grantland. The GQ piece is… actually quite extraordinary. Obama touches on everything from Ferguson to his daughters to his favorite Game of Thrones character (it’s not HODOR). You can read the full GQ piece here, and I would suggest reading the full piece if you have some time (it’s really long). Some highlights:
On whether he ever feels overwhelmed in office: “I had a pretty good handle. One thing I learned during the campaign was that I’ve got a good temperament. I don’t get too high and I don’t get too low. I’m able to stay focused even when there’s a lot of stuff going on around me.”
The most entertaining conspiracy theory he’s heard about himself: “That military exercises we were doing in Texas were designed to begin martial law so that I could usurp the Constitution and stay in power longer. Anybody who thinks I could get away with telling Michelle I’m going to be president any longer than eight years does not know my wife.”
The super-secret classified files: “I gotta tell you, it’s a little disappointing. People always ask me about Roswell and the aliens and UFOs, and it turns out the stuff going on that’s top secret isn’t nearly as exciting as you expect. In this day and age, it’s not as top secret as you’d think.”
Whether any boys have come to the White House to ask out Malia: “No, but I’ve seen some folks glancing at her in ways that made me not happy.”
Whether Michelle should become the new Oprah: “If that’s what she wants to do, I’m okay with her making a whole lot of money. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
His favorite “guilty pleasure” TV shows: “Probably the guiltiest pleasure—and this is kind of lame—is Big Break. You know, on the Golf Channel? Which is kind of a silly show. But I find it really relaxing….when I’m working out sometimes late at night. I never see all the episodes, but if they’ve got some chipping contest or something… It’s pretty lame. I do love Game of Thrones. My favorite character is probably…the dwarf, what’s his name? The problem with Game of Thrones, though, is that I don’t remember the names of any of the characters. I remember the characters, so when I watch it, I know exactly what’s going on. But if you read a review of the show afterwards and they’re mentioning such and such, the only one I remember is Jon Snow, because I can pronounce Jon Snow.”
The idea of campaigning against Donald Trump: “I would’ve enjoyed campaigning against Trump. That would’ve been fun.
How many cigarettes he’s smoked while in office: “Zero in the last five years. I made a promise that once health care passed, I would never have a cigarette again. And I have not.”
His daughters: “My daughters are amazing girls. They’re smart, they’re funny. They take after their mom, and Michelle’s done a great job with them. You get these teenage moments—they love you, but what I think really affects you most is they just don’t have time for you. It’s not an active disdain for you. It’s just their calendars start filling up and they’ve got all these friends who are much more interesting… The golden age is between, say, 6, 7, and 12, and they’re your buddies and they just want to hang out. And after that, they will love you, but they don’t have that much time for you. And my understanding is, based on friends of mine who have older kids, is that with a little bit of luck, as long as you’re not so completely annoying during these teenage years, they’ll come back to you around 23, 24, and actually want to hang out with you. But that stretch is painful. The compensation you get for the fact that they don’t have time for you is: Nothing beats watching your children become smarter and cooler than you are. And you suddenly will hear them say something or make a joke or have an insight and you go, “Wow. I didn’t think of that.”
The part about his daughters is amazing. I like how he doesn’t even take credit for it, he’s always saying that Michelle does a great job as a mom. But he is a hands-on father and he always has been, just FYI, although I do think they’re more Michelle’s daughters, if that makes any sense. Like, they might have been daddy’s girls when they were little, but now they’re mommy’s girls. And of course Sasha and Malia will come back to him!
As for the smoking thing… no cigarettes in five years, but I bet he can’t go one week without Nicorette.
Photos courtesy of GQ.
Of course it’s Tyrion!! Everybody’s favorite character is Tyrion. Good Job Mr President. Now go schedule a meeting with the NRA… PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pretty PLEASE!!!
Doubtful that the NRA would take the call. They’re not interested in anything but mandated everyone carry at all times.
This is when Canada is thinking “you know, Donald’s idea about a wall sounds really good. Can we get a cost analysis going for our side of the border?”
Uh, no Lilacflowers. We don’t want it mandated that everyone carry. We just want our constitutional rights protected. You don’t want a gun? Don’t buy one and don’t carry one. But don’t tell me that I can’t do so if I so choose.
And of course we wouldn’t take a call from him. He has nothing of value to say. Never has.
@SamiHami, yes, the NRA has proposed legislation mandating certain people like teachers be mandated to carry. Nobody has tried to violate your constitutional rights as far as the second amendment is concerned, but please note that the term “well-regulated” appears in that amendment.
And as far as I’m concerned those who advocate that everyone carry so that they can take out shooters in places like theaters are insane. Sure, let’s all do that but let’s also do away with the Good Samaritan laws so that if your stray bullet kills somebody else while your supposedly aiming at the shooter, you go to prison for murder too.
@SamiHami, I’m not sure that Obama is the one with nothing of value to say in this situation.
Agree with Lilac 1000%.
@Lilacflowers, are you kidding me? The NRA wants the teachers to carry? I shouldn’t be shocked but I guess I am. Who in their right mind thinks that arming the teachers is what the education system needs?
If the level of violence has reached the point where it is so dangerous to send your kids to school that you need to arm the staff… maybe it is a good moment to sit down and admit that the status quo is not working and a huge change needs to happen.
Speaking as a non-American, my understanding is that one can amend a document that is out hundreds of year old. You know, to keep with the times. Back then people carried weapons as a matter of course, duelled in broad daylight and lynch mobbed prisons if so inclined. They also traded slaves, pretty much owned their wives, and so on. Just because carrying a gun made sense then doesn’t mean it still does now. The NRA position has very little to do with their interest in the Constitution, which after all promotes everyone’s right to life and liberty and happiness, which are impossible if your 6 year old is shot in cold blood at school. Their stance is 100% about money.
@samihami
Question to you.
If everyone that wants to opencarry carries, how do you perceive a real threat?
How do you know who the bad guys are?
How do the police know who the bad guys are when they get there?
I live in middle America, every day on my local news there is word of some type of shooting. About 80% are domestic. Kid kills sibling, husband offs entire family, man shoots self accidentally, kid shoots self accidentally, road rage driver waves gun, road rage driver kills person he got in fender Bender with….it goes on and on…
My daughter and I walked into a Walmart and saw a big guy, 300lbs with a gun, she thought he was following her. As we checked out another guy with a gun started jawing with a cashier. Me, standing 4 feet from him,purse open, pulling credit cards out, getting items out of my cart. Should I have pulled a piece to let him know I had a piece?
Where do the heroics come in?
When the person behind me shoots and kills the bad guy in Walmart and nails my family in the process?
Thanks to the NRA, guns now are like d*s. Any kind of common sense measures the right wing sees as castration, or plans for castration. They want to be able to whip it out, admire it, show it off, intimidate people with it…if they have to lose a few family members, neighbors or themselves in the process…so be it.
We’ve all gone mad.
@Vauvert, yes, that was the NRA’s reaction to Sandy Hook and every other school shooting, conveniently forgetting that Columbine had armed guards. Just in the last few days, the response to the theater attack in Paris has been “if only people in the theater had concealed weapons”! Because hundreds of people shooting in the dark would have been so much better.
Other arguments are: “it’s not a gun problem, it’s a mental health problem”, which comes from politicians who routinely cut mental health services and fight legislation to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Or “gun laws punish law abiding gun owners”, which ignores the reality that most mass shootings have been committed by previously law-abiding gun owners with legally obtained weapons.
@LadyBGood – yes! That’s what I’ve been thinking about this dumb idea. And what if you are a lousy shot, or just hit the firing range once a year, or just when you bought the gun? A bunch of wahoos running around firing at anything that moves, whether they can hit a target or not. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Ev erybody’s favorite GoT character is NOT Tyrion. He’s not even my favorite Lannister! Jaime and Cersei fan for life <3
I’m 100000% with you on this, Susie!
Why we have politicians on the covers of any magazines..they are not entertainers . I am tired of media focusing on the all the wrong places!!!!
You know NOTHING, Jon Snow!
CROQUEMBOUCHE!
I f***ing hate Thenns!
I’ll miss those pretty girls and both of their parents. I disagree that he had a great temperament for being president, though. I think he’s too stubborn and he ratchets up the division’s rather than makes bridges. But I admire lots of things about him, and wish him well, and if any of the current front runners win the next election, I’ll rue the day he left.
I have to respectfully disagree about him ratcheting up the divisions — I’ve always seen him as just trying to push back hard on the obstacles that have been thrown at him with such vitriol since Day One of his presidency.
Yup.
They even refused to attend the Super Bowl party he held at the White House his first year.
Anybody remember “Luar!” At the State of the Union? They’ve hated him since day one and done everything to destroy his presidency.
I’m not saying he wasn’t met with worse attitude than he gave off. But, as an example, there are people questioning the process by which we are allowing Syrian refugees into the country – they aren’t saying we shouldn’t, just how do we do so safely. And he called them “shameful” and “unAmerican” because they disagreed with him. That doesn’t move the conversation forward. The questions are legitimate. We should definitely help with the refugees, but it isn’t shameful or unAmerican to question the process. He tries to bully or shame people into doing what he wants. He won’t compromise or even answer questions. It doesn’t help, and it doesn’t work. It’s not a good posture for a President to take, and his has been a pretty ineffective 7 years. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I think the GOP was terrible to him from the outset, and I’m not sure being more flexible would have worked on them, as they publicly stated that they didn’t want him to accomplish anything. And that was a terrible thing to do and I hope people remember it this election. But I think his easy-going, unruffled demeanor hides a real stubbornness that does not serve him, or us, well.
to add, SusanneToo, the speaker of the house at the time said that their main goal for the next four years (after he was elected) was to make him a one-term prez.
not to work with him, not to do the work they were elected to do, not to better the situation of the country. no, their main priority was to put up obstacles and keep him to one term. a bunch of butt-hurt babies.
The amount of refugees America plans to take, and the amountt of time it’s taking IS shameful.
@GNAT, it IS un-American to try to impose a religion test before allowing someone into the USA, which is what Pres. Obama was saying. That literally goes against everything the US stands for…freedom of religion, be it Christian, Muslim, Judaism, or no religion at all is one of the foundations of America.
He probably didn’t call them shameful because they/you disagreed, but because Europe lets them all in. If we can do it you can do it. Of course there’s a high risk and the fear is always there that terrorists slip through too, but you can’t control that in my opinion. There’s always a risk if we want to live freely.
@GNAT, I wanted to say one more thing. I’m sorry if it feels like I am adding to the pile on. I totally respect your opinion, even if I don’t agree with it. I’m just confused by the idea that un-American, in this context, is an insult, because TO ME, it seems like a factual statement. IMO, imposing a religion test and turning away people who fail, which is specifically what Obama was talking about, is un-American. It goes against the ideals of the first amendment. But I didn’t want you to think that I was just disagreeing because I like Obama, or that I was rabid or vehement or anything negative.
I just wanted to understand. 🙂
There are people running for president who claim that they will close mosques by executive order. That is shameful and unAmerican and frightening.
> The amount of refugees America plans to take, and the amountt of time it’s taking IS shameful.
Yes, I keep thinking – maybe it is not un-American, I don’t even know what it considered to be “American”. Judging by the US actions in the world being “American” is nothing good, if you are not an American yourself and not protected by the virtue of your status as an American citizen. I judge everyone by actions, not words.
But it is definitely not humane.
Americans should stop talking in terms of being exceptional or “true Americans” and start considering themselves human, equal in value to every other human on the planet.
“people questioning the process by which we are allowing Syrian refugees into the country – they aren’t saying we shouldn’t, just how do we do so safely. And he called them “shameful” and “unAmerican” because they disagreed with him.”
No. He was commenting on Jeb Bush’s assertion that we should only allow Christians in. A religious test for refugee status is indeed un-American as he rightly called it.
@GNAT
Where are you getting your information: “… they aren’t saying we shouldn’t, just how do we do so safely.”? Bc it’s erroneous. All but one republican Governor have signed a document to stop the refugee plan from going forward, as in they do not want ANY refugees to come into the country. Additionally, he called those who suggested that we only let in Christian Syrians “shameful” and “unAmerican” bc they are. We are not a country that discriminates on religion (or gender, sexuality, race…etc), or have you forgotten that we’re supposed to be land of the free and home of the brave? So maybe you start there, bc if that is the root of why you’re purporting that he is a divider, then at least give truthful examples of how so.
Love you GNAT but I’m gonna strongly disagree. I’m not American so I’m careful not to speak out of turn but Obama has had to fight every step of the way for everything he’s accomplished. Going hard was the only way, considering the animosity and constant stonewalling he’s faced.
I don’t agree with all of his policies and like anyone human he is not without flaws but I think he’s a lovely man and a competent leader who did the best he could in spite of all the challenges thrown his way.
And he called them “shameful” and “unAmerican” because they disagreed with him. That doesn’t move the conversation forward.
@GNAT. That’s disappointing. And I agree with you in this instance. Shutting the conversation down like that because you disagree is not a good look.
He called them shameful and un American because they want to impose a religion test on any refugees coming into the country, only allowing Christian refugees in. That is not a conversation that should move forward. Entertaining that as a valid option is not only ridiculous, but also the worst sort of fear mongering. It is just as ridiculous as entertaining a conversation with Donald Trump wherein he claims he will round up and deport 11 million illegal immigrants and build a wall on the border (that the Mexicans will pay for, of course).
As LNG said, he was responding to Jeb Bush’s suggestion that we should only allow Christian refugees into the country. What he was responding to was misrepresented in the original post here.
He ‘ratchets up the divisions?’
That’s the right wing noise machine talking.
Let’s make Obama into a black militant to excuse us hating him because he’s black.
They conveniently forget Republicans saying his first week, THE FIRST WEEK, of his 1st term, their goal would be to insure he was ruined and unsuccessful. That’s not hyperbole. That’s what they said.
Yet still Obama would reach across the aisle CONSTANTLY to Repubs, he was SO ‘turn the other cheek-ish,’ that hard line dems and progressives were constantly disgusted with him…his own party. I know because I was one!
You had repub politicians actually refusing his invitations to the white house, and to meetings which is unprecedented.
The disrespect and vitriol this man has faced his whole two terms is beyond the pale, and I thought Clinton and the whole monica gate was the height. Sometimes it seems they want to deliberately whip these racists and psychos into such a frenzy as to be dangerous. I will probably only fully exhale the day after the inauguration of the next President.
Sorry, being black is not Obama *causing* divisions. Sympathizing with murdered black teens walking home who are stalked and killed by pathological lying fat creeps with guns is not a “division,” especially if you’re on the side of keeping 10th graders alive to see another day..and not on the side of reject wannabe security guards who take mma classes at their local strip mall and fail those in between assaulting their wives, gfs, father in law and strangers on the street.
Stop drinking the fox and hate talk radio koolaid please.
+1000. Thank you.
And you stop trying to make it look like anyone who doesn’t like Obama is racist. That is so untrue and ignorant. And nobody with a brain buys it. Respectfully, a person who thinks for herself and doesn’t drink YOUR koolaid.
@GoodNamesAllTaken
“But, as an example, there are people questioning the process by which we are allowing Syrian refugees into the country – they aren’t saying we shouldn’t, just how do we do so safely. And he called them “shameful” and “unAmerican” because they disagreed with him.”
The people that Obama called shameful and un-American in this context were not people who were questioning whether the Syrian refugees being let into the US were properly vetted, etc. He was specifically calling out Bush, Huckabee, Christie, and the rest of the GOP clown car that is going around saying that they wouldn’t let even a 3-year-old Syrian orphan into the US (Christie) and that they should impose a religion test, i.e. only let Syrian refugees that are Christians into the country (Bush). Now, I’m not sure whether you were familiar with who Obama was actually calling out when you wrote your post, but in case you were, I have to say that I respectfully disagree with you. It IS shameful and it IS un-American.
Well, since everyone’s piling on to Good Names All Taken, I’ll have her back. I voted for Obama and I am very, very sorry. I think he’s been a terrible president. He promised to draw a line in Syria and then backed down at the last moment. He said ISIS was contained when it clearly is not. And the Guantanamo Bay camp is still open. And he gave up on gun control when he had the most momentum, right after the Sandy Hook massacre. It’s not just Republicans in Congress that don’t like him: top Democrats have also said he’s almost impossible to work with. I’ll never vote for such an inexperienced person again, which is why I won’t even consider Marco Rubio this time. (He’s also a one-term senator who has no executive experience). Hillary’s not my favorite person, but I’d rather send her up against Putin or ISIS then any of the men who are running for either party right now.
” Guantanamo Bay camp is still open. And he gave up on gun control when he had the most momentum, right after the Sandy Hook massacre.”
HE did not give up on those things, congress did.
Obama can’t move detainees out of Guantanamo without funds or congressional approval, and Congress has REPEATEDLY passed legislation which blocked any funds from going towards relocating the detainees. (Most recently, the Senate voted 91-3 in favor of the defense bill, which passed on 11/10/15 and bans the move of detainees.)
Gun control legislation after Sandy Hook failed in the Senate, including “Manchin Amendment No. 715” and “Assault Weapons Ban of 2013”.
@Junior, who wrote: “And the Guantanamo Bay camp is still open.”
Yes, and do you remember why? Because the Governors refused to allow Guantanamo Bay prisoners into maximum security prisons in their States. There was a Republican grass roots campaign to stop President Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay. “Do you want terrorists living in your backyard?”
This is not an excuse by ‘Obama lovers’ to protect him simply because we’ve had a cup of his koolaid. It’s not about calling you or anyone else here a Racist because you don’t like President Obama. It’s about asking you to be realistic and objective in the facts, and not just make up–or repeat erroneous–shite because you have an agenda.
President Obama came into Office with positive plans for America. The Republicans vowed (on TV as a united force behind the Speaker, no one is making this up) from the day he came into Office to BLOCK anything and everything he proposed in order to make him fail and to keep him to one term. To deny this is not blind devotion on ‘our’ part. To also deny the very real fact that some Republicans opposed him simply because he is Black is not blind devotion on ‘our’ part.
baloney
It’s not his fault the racists hate him.
Ok, I responded, and it was deleted. I can’t go through all of it again. Most all of you are hearing what you want to hear. I like Obama. I think he is a fine man. I disagreed with his statement that he has the best temperment to be President. I agree that the GOP has behaved abominably. I agree that we should let in Syrian refugees. I disagreed with his statement that people who disagree with him are shameful. I think he should have explained his reasons rather than call people names, regardless of the fact that I agree with him. He’s the President. He is supposed to unite the country as best he can. I was using that as an example of why I disagreed with his statement that he has a great temperment for being President. That is all. The rest of the piling on is just your own interpretation of my life, history, politics, opinions, personality, character and taste in clothes based on those two simple statements. Especially Ladybgood, who basically repeated what I said myself as an argument against me and now I’m a racist somehow. It’s not worth it to make even the slightest observation on here sometimes. Read what I said and then read the responses. Thank you if you tried to actually understand what I ACTUALLY said. Thank you if you disagreed politely, which I always fine, and always welcome. But ask yourself is you didn’t read a lot into my statement, because you’re going to be on your own. I have no further interest in being the receptical for your frustrations with the world. I’m sorry I offered my opinion. This is what I have spoken about before – shutting down the conversation. Being criticized for thinking things you don’t think and never said you did. Not worth my time and energy. If we are trying to have an open exchange of opinions, this isn’t how to do it.
Good Names All Taken, check out the nonprofit website Quora. Lots of people debating there from all political points of view.
Goodnames, I love you and respect you. But you have taken the Obama quote out of context quite substantially. Here is the actual quote in full:
“”And when I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians but not the Muslims, when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person who’s fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that’s shameful. That’s not American. That’s not who we are. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/11/16/obama-calls-idea-of-screening-syrian-refugees-based-on-religion-shameful-defends-white-house-strategy/
SOOOOO him being a black man and democrat at that doesnt make him “rachets up division” which was honestly why where most of the division took hold….. he could say the skye was blue and the republican and naysayers would say NO ITS GREEN.
He had to deal with SOOOO much disrespect and name calling and the whole birther thing dont get me started soooooo you comment is 87% invalid
History will view him as one of the best presidents ever. He brought back the economy from the depression W created, got rid of Osama and brought in health care. All while dealing with racists who tried to stop him at every step while pretending they weren’t doing it because he was black.
The US economy is doing better than Europe because he didn’t go the austerity route.
Is he perfect? No, mostly because the NRA still exists and makes the US a domestic war zone, but that is an impossible task. And Guantanamo is a problem too.
“The US economy is doing better than Europe because he didn’t go the austerity route.”
I think this is a comparison that needs more attention. The alternative to Obama’s policies was attempted and the results aren’t positive.
💕💕💕💘. Love him.
I do too. He’s not perfect. But he is wonderful.
He’s self-deprecating, which, as a Brit, is a quality I both recognise and like.
I think he must be right about a period when your kids have less time for you. I’m beginning to see little signs that the Sixlets are entering this phase and I’m also trying to remind myself that’s normal and natural and I. Must. Not. Stick. My. Nose. In. Unless. It’s. Absolutely. Necessary.
Sixer – In regards to my 17 yr old, it’s a daily balancing act: when to step in, when to pull back, what to ask, which mistakes do I allow her to make. And I totally relate to what The President is saying about his daughters.
In fact, like Malia, my daughter is applying to colleges right now (funny enough it looks like they are applying to many of the same colleges). My daughter is so excited about her future and ready to make a difference in the world. It makes me proud, even if she needs me a bit less these days.
He is absolutely self-deprecating and, given his accomplishment level, has no reason to be other than to disarm his many opponents.
As for the kids, yep! There’s a lot of biting one’s tongue and holding one’s breath and making one’s self busy in other ways because they simply will not be as rewarding (in the old way) for a while. Your Sixlets will come back to you! How could they not!
WATP – I think I notice the self-deprecation because it’s not really an attribute that I associate with American public figures – the ones I see are more inclined to project outwards, while Obama uses self-deprecation to pull you in. He’s more familiar to me as a Brit where we’re all TERRIFIED to look as though we are boasting.
Both – yep. I am pretty down with the theory. I just hope I can carry it out! I’ve a horror of ever coming across as a helicopter-type parent, so hopefully that will stand me in good stead!
> that I associate with American public figures – the ones I see are more inclined to project outwards, while Obama uses self-deprecation to pull you in
That was one of the most difficult cultural hurdles to overcome for me personally, after moving to the US.
I was raised not to brag or advertise my accomplishments. It is exactly the opposite in the US – we have a formal performance review process where we have to promote ourselves and we are pitted one against the other through forced distribution – 10% (top) / 10%( upper middle) . 60%(middle)/ 20% ( bottom, to be let go at the first opportunity).
The same with resumes, EVERYONE inflates their resumes here. You read a resume of some 23 y.o. and it reads like he single handedly solved the world’s hunger. It is the expectation.
In the US, it is a never ending self-promotion cycle, eat or be eaten. It is exhausting and in some ways soul destroying.
I think Obama’s self-depreciation is not an American trait, and it doesn’t go over well here.
I’ve appreciated his self-deprecation, though I agree it’s not a typical American trait, especially among public figures.
I look forward to my kids being the age where they need me less, but can see the transition to taking a back seat to guiding them along will be a bit rough. Redefining any relationship is tough and it seems as kids get older, parents have to do that every few years until they’re well on their own.
Sixer, if you’re still checking back here, I just got notice that The River was added to Netflix. I guess they realized with all the Brit TV I watch, that I might like it. Is it good? I saw Nicola Walker (Gillian!) in the promo and I added it immediately.
It was gorgeous, Nutballs! Gillian of the insatiable biscuit! I cried at the last episode last night! Stellan is super. You can also see Gillian in a really good ITV series, Unforgotten, if it makes it to Netflix. I’m on Last Panthers now!
Oh goodie… while I’m in between seeing the next round of Oscar-baity movies coming up, I’ll be going on a River binge, starting tonight!
Keep an eye out for Last Panthers (Samantha Morton, John Hurt). And London Spy (Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling). Seen one episode of the former and two of the latter and both shaping up very well!
Love this, I look forward to reading the whole piece. I honestly enjoy hearing what he has to say on just about any topic, always so thoughtful and insightful.
The Texas martial law conspiracy was indeed one of the crazier Faux News tidbits out there lately, I’m glad he called it out with such humor.
He was a decent president, as far as US presidents go, but some of the praise he got was too much ( a Nobel Peace Prize while the country he was leading was in 2 wars?).
Speaking of US foreign policy, will the US allow independent investigation on the bombing of the DWB hospital? Will someone be charged with war crimes? Because that was a war crime.
The Nobel prize – have a feeling that was an embarrassment for him too, but what do you do if offered?
I hope for a war crimes charge as well. That bombing was shockingly wrong.
I hope there will be an independent investigation, but somehow doubt it will happen.
Isn’t Tyrion everyone’s favorite character?
I like what he says about parenting. My kids are 7, 5, and 2 and I already see it happening. They are funny and engaging and it’s like…”Wow, they’re mine?” And then it’s like, “OMG, pick up these MF’ing blocks! WHY ARE THERE SOCKS EVERYWHERE????” But you know, mostly they’re hilarious and engaging.
Enjoy this age with your kiddos! Mine are teens now and he’s exactly right. They don’t dislike me and occasionally so still want to hang out with me but just find their peers more interesting. It is bittersweet to remember what sweet snuggle bunnies they were not too many years ago.
@BendyWindy: I am so glad that sock issue isn’t just my kids!
Love the POTUS!
I love that he says it would have been “fun” to run against Trump. At least he can see that the Trump campaign is nothing but a giant sideshow. A joke.
It’s common knowledge that I have a massive, massive crush on le suave and sexy and saucy POTUS, and if the Hair Piece is who we’re replacing him with I don’t think I’ll ever recover. Even after several years in the igloo I’m moving to if Trump becomes the new POTUS.
Every one of my comments deleted?
Happens to the best of us. Rhymes with Festivus!
I LOVE that his go to compliment for his daughters was not that they are “beautiful”. I know its controversial but I think its super retrogressive when thats the insta-compliment paid to a teenage girl. He calls them, amazing, smart and funny which should go some way to teaching them that they are the sum total of their appearance.
True, but they are already told everyday by the media & society that they are not beautiful because of the color of their skin and gender. Intersectionality.
African American girls are not brought up to view themselves as “pretty”, so actually, him calling his daughters beautiful publicly would be more progressive.
I do agree with you though that it is important to highlight their inner qualities as well.
Yes of course. I hadn’t even thought of that. What a complicated world we live in.
Obama watches GoT?
Pfft, thumbs down. I hope he is just pandering to the public.
how could someone in office be a hands on parent?
Anybody who thinks I could get away with telling Michelle I’m going to be president any longer than eight years does not know my wife.
^ That made me laugh.
Love what he had to say about his daughters.
Why is the president giving interviews to a showbizz magazine? Why is he talking about his family and favourite TV shows? American politics is so weird sometimes.
Jimmy Carter did an interview with Playboy, Bob Dole was in People Mag, Bill Clinton went on Arsenio and played the sax…Obama is not the first to be in a magazine or do pop culture. Where do people get this stuff?
I’m not saying he’s the first. I’m European and I find how showbizz-y American politics is very strange. I don’t know what my Prime Minister’s kids are called, let alone his favourite TV show.
Eh, I don’t fault Locke Lamora for not knowing about whether previous presidents gave interviews to showbiz magazines and engaged in pop culture. I, for one, was just a kid during Clinton’s presidency, so the first time I actually took notice (to a certain extent) of American politics was during Dubya’s two terms (but moreso during the latter one). And he’s not exactly someone I’d hold up as a shining example of how a US president ought to conduct himself.
Yes, American politics is very different. The way our elections work the president has to be a celebrity. The president has to look “presidential” and be “likeable” , be perceived as someone a regular guy would be comfortable having a couple of beers with.
And it is not the case with the president only, but all the politicians. First and foremost they are salesmen.
A competent technocrat will never have a shot at a career as an elected official.
Great interview. Thanks for sharing
“Bill Simmons, probably best known for his work on ESPN and for starting Grantland. Some people think Simmons is a douche.”
I’ve been reeading him for 10 years at ESPN and Grantland. I find him very honest and entertaining, and people calling him a douch are mainly sports fanboys who get upset when he criticises on of their favorites teams/players.
He doesn’t hide his status as a fan and that irks some people, even though he doesn’t hold back on pointing out the flaws in his favorite teams and players.
Ive never seen him as a presidential politician … all I see is a celebrity.
Well he is the President of the United States, a great one as history will record (people forget all too eagerly the horrific mess of a nightmare he inherited, the USA was going over a cliff. Fact.) and in his second term.
Here, here!
Kobama. Walk in lock step everybody.
Then I’m guessing you haven’t heard him talk policy? He is very wonky and will get far into details of policy if you pay attention to certain interviews and press briefings. If you are just reading about him in magazines like GQ or watch only the highlight reel of his interviews, then you might get that impression.
Two subjects people rarely agree on are religion and politics. I am ashamed of many of the people holding influential positions in both parties. I have never in my life seen a time when our country is more divided or less safe. Not blaming Obama because that comes from many forces at work. I just personally have never cared for the man as President but, I think he is a compassionate human.
I agree with you. I think Obama is an honest man and I like his family. I also think he’s a good husband and father. But, having voted for him, I don’t think he has the political glad-handing skills necessary to be a successful president, and based solely on results, his two terms have not been a success. (Obamacare is a great initiative with terrible, terrible execution.) Finding the right person for the job is the next challenge. I hope some better candidates for the 2016 Presidential race emerge soon. I’m not impressed with what I’ve seen so far from either party.
@Junior,
How has his presidency not been successful exactly? I can name a few of a many things he’s done in his presidency and they are significant:
– Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility
– Prevented a Bush Depression and Improved the Economy
– Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection
– Killed Bin Laden
– Ended the wars in the ME and brought our troops home
– Refocused the Federal Government on Education, Made Rational Reforms
As he said, “Well, after 12 million new jobs, a stock market that has more than doubled, deficits that have been cut by two-thirds, health care inflation at the lowest rate in nearly 50 years, manufacturing coming back, auto industry coming back, clean energy doubled …”
Anyone who says he’s an unsuccessful president do not know wtf they’re talking about. But many of that is the Faux news and Republican mindset for you. The Dems, that are and have been annoyed with him you will notice are pissed that he’s consistently remained a middle of the road president in the effort to be diplomatic. They also seem to think he has the privilege of being the ruthless asshole they want to see. That’s only cool when white presidents do it, come now.
I agree the health care law was poorly executed, but let’s not act like it’s a bit more complicated than that, and the fact of the matter is that it’s doing a lot of good for more than it’s been a pain for others. With time, it should be and will be improved.
Let’s see: he rescued the economy after Bush collapsed both the financial and housing sectors, he saved BigAuto, unemployment at 5%, stock market tripled, affordable health care in place, record corporate profits, 68 straight months of job growth, Osama Bin Ladin dead. Restored integrity and true patriotism to White House.
Real disaster.
I’d love to know where the 5% unemployment figure comes from b/c i can tell you I know more ppl out of work now more than ever. I dont think whoever posts those stats takes into consideration those whose unemployment benefits have expired and those who have had to take any PT job for far less than what they need to live just to get by.
sorry but that number is off by a long shot.
the term affordable healthcare is also a joke. the only ones it is affordable for are those who get their entire plan subsidized, the rest are now paying record high premiums for theirs with reduced benefits and higher deductibles. I know quite a few who have to drop their coverage altogether b/c they just can’t afford. sorry but when your health premiums are higher than your mortgage it’s anything BUT affordable.
and I say all this as someone who actually likes Obama and sees the mess he was handed but lets not twist the fact with false stats.
It comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics, but it is also compared with information from payroll companies.
THANK YOU!!!
I get so tired of people overlooking the actual accomplishments to focus on the anti-Prez rhetoric or because (if they voted for him) he didn’t manage to get THEIR particular bullet point in there. Besides, he’s not out of the chair quite yet.
His last day in office will be a very sad one. I’ll miss him and his lovely family.
I swear I feel like I’m the only person on the planet that doesn’t watch or have never seen Game of Thrones.
It’s a superficial thing, but I can’t get over how much he’s aged. How much all the POTUS age in office.