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With the economy still sputtering, his approval ratings slipping and the mid-term elections looming, President Barack Obama certainly has enough on his plate. But he surprisingly found time to appear on the December 8 episode of Discovery Channel’s series Mythbusters. In the episode, Archimedes Solar Ray, Obama challenges hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman to prove the ancient Greek myth that scientist and polymath Archimedes set fire to an invading Roman fleet using only mirrors and the reflected rays of the sun? I wonder if he is planning to use the knowledge against the GOP fleet that is threatening the Democratic majority in the upcoming November elections.
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Lets not forget the silly girl who asked Bill Clinton if he wore boxers or briefs or Clinton on Arsenio playing the Sax with his blues brother shades on. My point being it’s just a sign of the times and lets not pretend the frivolity started with him. Obama is a young guy in comparison to previous recent presidents which means he’ll use an Ipod and Blackberry or maybe watch ESPN. Get used to it. I do feel he and his handlers put too much effort into “connecting” with younger, hipper voters but much of his criticism seems petty, especially when coming from people who want to see Sarah Palin in the white house. lol
I honestly don’t know how much Obama can do because the economic crisis is not only cyclical but a global one, and now more than ever each nation’s stability depends on the other. My guess is we’ve got a few more years of hard times no matter who’s in the White House.
When you look at conditions around the world there’s still no place I’d rather be.
The difference was Clinton was still a candidate running for office when both of those things happened. He wasn’t a sitting President. I’m not saying it changes anything, but it is a different scenario.
@Anonymous
You are absolutely correct but you get my point. Pop culture has succeeded in changing how we see and do things and though a bit discomforting for some of us that’s just the way it is now.
For some reason this president can’t catch a break from the media or the public for that matter. Just imagine if he shot a colleague in the face like Dick Cheney or engineered mass deregulation leading to financial sector corruption on a scale never before witnessed like Reagan. People question his experience when Carter was a peanut farmer. There’s a lack of consistency, accuracy and most alarmingly, respect whenever Obama is criticized. The attacks on the president and his wife have become personal. The man hasn’t been in office 2 years yet. I say give him until 2011 and if he can’t demonstrate sound leadership then vote him out in 2012. You can’t put someone in office and then undermine them every step of the way which is what it seems is happening.
I’ve overheard people saying “we” have to get our white house back. Who’s “we?” According to the critics he’s a Socialist AND a Wall Street puppet simultaneously. Secretly a Muslim, born in Africa, adopted in Indonesia, real name Barry Sotero, Homosexual, cocaine user, etc. Oh, did I mention the Anti-Christ? I’ve never seen anything like it. What has he done to invoke such widespread contempt and hatred?
Why are you still talking about Bush?
Because he started, or was the cause of most of the economic problems facing the country today. These policies take years, if not decades to work out. If you think that any person can fix all the problems caused by Bush within 1 year and a half, you are simplistic and juvenile.
Bush caused more damage to this country than any person in its’ history. It will take time to undue this damage, it will not happen overnight. Further, some aspects such as the loss of respect for democracy and this country’s reputation as a whole will likely never recover.
He was more than a horrible president. He is a horrible person, who has harmed this country in a myriad of ways that haven’t even been realized yet.
That is why we are still talking about Bush. It is much the same reason that we still speak harshly of Mussolini and Stalin.
What media are you watching? The mainstream media love Obama and are just dying to report anything good. It’s just been tough these last two years.
..and if you are wondering why the Republicans are so venomous towards Obama, it’s the backlash from hearing 8 years of hate about Bush. The Democrats took their shots and now the Republicans are taking theirs.
The problem is, this does the average citizen no good (and both parties are to blame.)
Jim. The hatred of Bush was justified. Leaving apart that the majority of Americans didn’t actually vote for him in 2000, let’s consider:
1. Ignoring repeated warnings about an imminent Al-Queda attack, including briefings that accurately spelled out the method of attack that would be used. He was too busy pretending to clear brush on his ranch in August of 2001 to read “Bin Laden determined to attack within US”.
2. Immediately turned a record surplus into a record deficit in his first year in office with massive tax cuts for the wealthy. BTW, the Congressional Budget Office correctly predicted this when the tax cuts were first proposed.
3. Instead of finding the people who actually attacked us on 9/11, he chose instead to invade Iraq under excuses that turned out to be phony.
4. Failed to punish the people who illegally outed a CIA agent as revenge for her husband questioning the existence of the Iraqi WMD in a newspaper article.
5. Authorized the use of torture in violation of both US law as well as international treaties the US was a signatory to.
6. Katrina. Extra shame points for letting people in his administration and his media wing (Fox News) transfer all the blame onto the people of New Orleans themselves.
7. Attempting to privatize Social Security.
8. Awarding no-bid war contracts to the company his VP used to run as well as to campaign donors.
9. Withdrawing from the Israeli/Palestinian peace process, thus allowing Iran to fill the vacuum.
10. Borrowing money to pay for his wars of choice, instead of demanding that the American people sacrifice for the effort in the form of taxes.
From my perspective, Obama’s main sin in the eyes of conservatives is that he is black.
Anonymous, thank you so much for your comment. Sometimes it seems as though people choose to forget that Rome wasn’t built in a day (in any respect, political or otherwise). Regardless of whomever is President, he/she will always have the popularity challenge.
STOP BLAMING BUSH, WHOOPI – MAN UP GIRLFRIEND. OBAMA HAS MADE HIS OWN MESS, APPEARING ON MYTHBUSTERS ISN’T GOING TO FIX THINGS. STOP BEING EXTREME!
President Clinton was SURPRISED by the boxer vs brief question. Obama, ON THE OTHER HAND, is going on this full-well knowing what he is attempting to do which is to appear human and in sync with the common people.
He’s JUST LIKE ME, Uh huh.
Ironically, right wingers are currently parroting the “Obama is out of sync with the common people” talking point that was originated by a fat bloated radio host who gets $40 million a year to work 15 hours a week at a studio built in his mansion in a gated community.
Ya man,
you are right on the target.
People expected Obama to be a super man or the messiah who is perfect and save us all from the Republicans mess.
Wake up people!
He is just like you and me!
I agree, that when you look at conditions around the world there’s still no place I’d rather be than the USA.
lol, just like everyone Obama needs to make some extra income right? today we will his presence at the December 8 episode of Discovery Channel’s series Mythbusters, and we will find his presence at quite a lot of other promotion or releases say hermes handbag presence some time. I have gt accustomed to his big talk.
Very interesting about the recession being world wide. According to Obama, it was the fault of “his predecessor” God knows he has said it often emough..don’t tell Obama that as he will really have something to blame Bush for. (Actually, being involved in the finance business, and being forced to lend $$ to people who couldn’t afford, living in areas in which I didn’t want to lend, etc..I sold all my properties in 2000 to 2006…as I knew it was coming..but not when..turned out just in the nick of time. Further, since Obama admires Roosevelt, and ecko’s what he did ..Roosevelt’s spending would have kept the recession going forever. you tell me when it ended Hint: it wasn’t the war.
Obama is siting on the hottest seat in the planet and as far as the global economy is concerned, he is doing his best at it. The economic problem is global and everyone should see it as such. That does not mean the man will not live his personal life nor does it mean that if you see Obama at diner with his family and friends the American people should stand still and say; “Obama eats while the economy is melting down!!” Come on, give the guy a break! All I can say is that the man should remember and not neglect the principles upon which the nation was built.
Don’t judge until you see the episode. The Pres is very TV friendly, as opposed to the other President. He’s not afraid to have news conferences and sit-downs with interviewers.
You forget this is the internet age, so you must get your message out the best way you can.
Except when the questions are not known in advance, then this president avoids taking questions. At least, keep the facts straight. Every time he has to go off prompter he inserts foot squarely in mouth and talks about 57 states or sets off a brouhaha where he has to have beers in the garden with the aggrieved.
It is easy to sit tight and run comments on what you know not. If you were in his place, you probably would have chocked on your umbilical cord even if the prompter were to be on. Open your eyes to the global issues and you will see that America needs time unlike other nations of the world today.
I know this is old, but…nope. Obama destroyed the House Republicans in his Q&A back in Jan 2010. No preparation, no screened questions, period. He did so well FOX had to cut away in the middle of it, once they realized that yet another one of their false narratives was being destroyed on Live TV…
Agreed. This is certainly a headline that is certain to cause a complete and utter shit-storm to commence in 3…2…1…
George W. Bush appeared on a fishing show while in office, so this is hardly new. (In fact, nothing really tops Nixon on LAUGH-IN,and that was over forty years ago!)
And of course if *they* can’t make Archimedes Solar Ray work then it *must* be a myth as is par for the course on that asinine show.
On a related note, shouldn’t Obama’s handlers be keeping him away from anything involving “myth-busting”?
Good grief, they’ve already done that before! The President is going on the show so that they can redo a myth? Couldn’t they have at least come up with a new one? Bit disappointing.
They could debunk the myth that Obama is qualified to be president (or even dog catcher) but on second thought, that one is pretty much dead already….
“I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!”
I am,
The Hollywood Republican
“Louie, I think this is gonna be the start of a beautiful friendship…”
The President trivializes himself and his office by appearing on shows like this. But he loves the spotlight.
Americans and folks the world over need to have just a little more global perspective in their criticism of President Obama or anyone at that. I think it is rather very myopic, for anyone to think that a man who had lived his life before becoming the President would suddenly not be himself just because he sits in an oval office and handle issues that many times are outside his human capabilities.
The Economic issues are global and can only be handled globally. There is no super man in America or any where else at that, who can single-handedly turn things around within two years. That Obama loves myth bursters does not trivialise his office than the fact that Obama eats, and uses the loo! Come on be real!!!
That does not mean he is doing things right. He might even be doing things contrary to the ideas of the founding fathers of America, like many Americans are doing anywhere, so let the man have a human face just like you. Let him be until the ultimate judge- TIME tells.
Tv friendly? Maybe with msnbc sit downs and pre-casted MTV townhalls…,He only does controlled settings for the most part. He has had only 4 press conferences in two years.
I am not a fan of Obama and his town halls for the most part are stagged but for the most part all town halls are stagged today.
So says “Bush’s” person… When did Bush ever do a non-controlled open program. Without his “brain” Rove. Until Bush ran out of Army bases here.. he had to go to Iraq and everyone knows what happenned there…..
We’re doomed.
when will he realize we are over him . like any other fad or phenomenon it’s sad to watch as they milk the end of theyre fame or popularity . he remains a media creation and nothing more .
As a wise campaigner once said, “It’s the economy, stupid!”
That’s about as smooth a move as holding a press conference addressing poverty in New York’s Waldorf Astoria.
Oh, I thought he was going to use the program to present his long form birth certificate. THAT would have been a guaranteed ratings smash. BTW, Sally, Pres. Obama created quite a stir when he went 300 days without having a press conference. Longer than his predecessor who was “afraid” of the media, I guess.
Get over it
I thought they already disproved the Death Ray myth?…Maybe they’re trying it again.
they gotta try it again with BO’s help. the ‘messiah’ parts the seas, you know.
Hello…its to PROMOTE SCIENCE
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/obama-takes-science-push-to-mythbusters/
Where would science be without him?!
Science needs promotion?
This article sounds completely bogus. The Mythbusters already checked the Archimedes Solar Ray myth and pretty thoroughly at that, so I doubt they’d make another episode about it.
I love Mythbusters – but that’s one episode I won’t be watching.
Good to see you’ve thoroughly embraced the Mythbusters spirit of having an open mind.
Racist…
nice one.
bob doesn’t like the president… the president is (half) black. therefore bob is a racist.
so all of the libs that bashed bush for 8 years don’t like white people?
not very logical, matt
Well said, Doug. Matt is a moron.
Mythbusters busted that Myth a few years ago. It got really hot, but they couldn’t get fire.
Only because they didn’t do it correctly.
I stopped watching a long time ago, when they started “tweaking” the myths into what they wanted to do, instead of what they myth actually said happened. Then when they couldn’t get it to work, they would call them “busted.”
Still, Obama is making a bad move here, and at they should at least be doing a new myth.
Brilliant! Although it may fall on deaf ears, you’ve got to give him credit for trying to expose his detractors to the scientific method.
That myth was already challenged years ago. Is the show running out of ideas and re-doing the challenges?
he should bust the myth of his presidency’s hope and change , or has that been busted yet .
Isn’t there better things he could be doing right now other than appearing on Mythbusters?
maybe he should do the View again? that would be better.
He’s hosting a science fair at the White House today, and I believe this was taped as part of it. Anytime a world leader wants to put some time into promoting science, they’ll have my support.
i appreciate the promotion of science. but maybe he can stop promoting family vacation time (5 or 6 vacations since he’s been in office?), golf time, hoops time, rock start time, etc, etc
All presidents have vacation time. The man works under extreme stress, he’s allowed to enjoy the perks of his office just like those that came before him. I can’t understand why people harp on the president for spending time with his family on a saturday or going golfing on a sunday. Would more time in the white house on the weekend really amount to a better result when the congress is in total gridlock anyway?
Obama does not like Science. He promotes the bogus Global Warming theory, and cut NASA to the bone (no Moon Mission). Obama as a Gentry Liberal just likes looking down on anti-Evolution Evangelicals. Sort of a cultural, post-Calvinist thing. Obama especially does not like military/technology science, he killed the missile defense airborne laser program (because it worked) and opposes any missile defense.
Most basic science comes out of military research (Manhattan project, radar, jet engines, etc.) aimed at military superiority over current or possible enemies. Obama (and most Dems) hate that, and kill it wherever possible.
Mythbusters is SWPL central. Another attempt to appeal to his base of urban yuppie liberals. If he wanted to win over people who don’t already like him, he’d go on Hannity. Or better still, pump up massive military spending to create jobs. Another ten carrier groups would employ 5 million people direct/indirect, for at least five years. Enough to jump start the job market. But that’s a part of science and technology Obama does not like.
Yeah not to mention this could be like 5 minutes of work via webcam
Bingo. Some pre-taped intro isn’t going to cut into his work. It’s not like he’s producing the whole thing himself… assembling the crew, writing the script, setting up the experiments, performing them, post-production of the whole show.
This should take 5-10 minutes tops out of his day. Let me guess… he should stop eating too because that’s time he should be spending fixing the economoy. Please…
Obama wants to be, should be, a game show host.