Hmmm.

[WilliamPitt]

Me on Friday:

===

There is a lot of talk about Mr. Obama's character, or lack thereof, these days. He's not a fighter, he's too conciliatory, he's weak, he's unprepared, he's a secret Republican, etc. I have an outside-the-box theory about Obama that may explain all this: Stockholm Syndrome. The malady arises when a hostage situation goes on long enough that the hostages begin to identify with their captors, and in some cases, go so far as to stand up for them, and even defend them in public and in the courts. The GOP has been pounding on Mr. Obama since his presidential campaign began almost four years ago, and I think the pressure and stress might have blended his sense of direction. Left has suddenly become right, and the Democratic President of the United States has become the most eloquent advocate for everything he was elected to put a stop to.

http://www.truth-out.org/on-subject-quitting65637

===

Frank Rich of the New York Times yesterday, paragraph one:

===

All the President’s Captors
By FRANK RICH
Published: December 4, 2010

THOSE desperate to decipher the baffling Obama presidency could do worse than consult an article titled “Understanding Stockholm Syndrome” in the online archive of The F.B.I. Law Enforcement Bulletin. It explains that hostage takers are most successful at winning a victim’s loyalty if they temper their brutality with a bogus show of kindness. Soon enough, the hostage will start concentrating on his captors’ “good side” and develop psychological characteristics to please them — “dependency; lack of initiative; and an inability to act, decide or think.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05rich.html?_r=1

===

Frank Rich reads Truthout.

Yes, I'm pleased.

:)

[Lucinda]

1. I actually had the same thought when I saw that last night.

:)

[ZombieHorde]

2. I once heard a saying, "Amateurs borrow, professionals steal." nt

[kentuck]

3. The word has a strange way of disseminating...

nowadays. :-)

[PeaceNikki]

4. And it was mentioned on DailyKos on 11/30

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/30/185257/92

[WilliamPitt]

5. Thanks

Annihilate my fantasy.

:P

[Cyrano]

6. I think Frank Rich really nailed it today with the "Stockholm Syndrome."

The only other theory that seems to fit today's reality is a "Manchurian Candidate" scenario. (The one from the film, not the wingnut Muslim theory.)

[jaxx]

9. Bring on the conspiracies.

[stevedeshazer]

7. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Frank should sub-contract your work.

[Turborama]

8. Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden. Sweden allows US rendition flights.

Julian Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden.

Quite a topical 3 degrees of separation that one.

[ProSense]

10. Yes, the very serious, rational people agree:

Stockholm Syndrome

What is America going to do: The President is delusional and unable to run the country.

- In June 2009, U.S. Forces occupied 357 bases. U.S. Forces currently occupy 121 bases, and are expected to reduce that number to 94 bases by the end of August.

link

...He canceled a weapons program that was bloated, unnecessary and totally irrelevant to either of our current wars, the F-22. Why even mention the cancellation of a single weapons system? Because that never happens. Weapons systems never get canceled. The F-22 did, which is itself a miracle.

link

U.S. corporations are on track for the biggest earnings growth in 22 years and the stock market is headed for its best back-to- back annual gains since 2004

"U.S. achieves biggest one-year deficit reduction in American history"

Trade Deficit in U.S. Shrinks as Exports Climb to Two-Year High

Obama announces trade deals with India worth billions

Big Win for the Obama Administration

Netanyahu agrees to Obama plan of 90 day settlement freeze.

US, South Korea Reach Highly-Coveted Trade Deal

Fed's massive data release offers new insight into financial crisis

Elizabeth Warren Recruits Dodd-Frank Enforcers From 50 States

What About the Obama Tax Cuts?

Commemorating World AIDS Day

Obama Administration’s Achievements

Should he be impeached?

[Major Hogwash]

13. That post should be made into a thread of it's own.

It's amazing to see all of the links that you find that are positive about Obama, but no else seems to know anything about those articles.

I didn't know that Obama was closing that many military bases.
I don't see how the Bush administration thought they could expand that many military bases and be able to afford to keep them supported for very long.

I also didn't know that Obama cancelled the F-22 program.
Somehow I missed that episode of Rachel Maddow's program.
So, thanks for sharing that bit of news here today.

[Greyhound]

11. K&R #5.

[nashville_brook]

14. k and r #5 -- for the second time -- :)

[amborin]

12. my thought, too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9695048