Beer Summits and Teachable Moments
If you read the Friday Morning Fix last week, you already know how I feel about the whole Gates/Crowley/Obama three way. It’s silly. Again, I wasn’t there, but I’d be willing to venture that both Crowley and Gates acted like jackasses on the night of the arrest and that this was entirely avoidable. Enter POTUS.
When Obama chose to stick his nose into this local issue it rubbed me the wrong way. I was especially let down by his careless words. It was a dumb move as he quickly found out. His solution? To stick his nose further into the issue by proposing and facilitating a “Beer Summit” at the White House (no word yet on who picked up the travel expenses for Gates, Crowley and their families) and I watched as the media covered it as if it were the Camp David Accords of 1979. After the ridiculously over-staged photo op, Crowley held a press conference where he spoke with a level of articulation that belies his “Joe the Plumber” appearance. The other three drinkers must have had other plans. Perhaps Biden suggested they go out for lap dances.
There’s a circus like Gates’ arrest in every town across America on a daily basis. The only reason this one made it into the “Big Top” is because of Gates’ personal friendship with Obama – and Obama’s subsequently “stupid” remarks. Is there racial profiling in America? Yes. Is there tension among whites and blacks? Absolutely. But don’t we also have two ongoing wars and a floundering economy that nobody seems to really understand? Forget about health care reform. We’ve got beers to drink! Personally, I hope we get some adult supervision in the White House soon. And no, at this point, I wouldn’t go back and check the box for McCain/Palin. Ask me again in a year.
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
In the interest of fairness and balance…actually who am I trying to kid?! Starting in a week or two RandallHMiller.com will become a “debatatorium”, with me squaring off against an old friend, classmate, and brother in arms, Mr. Joe Lydon. We’ve been warming up unintentionally via FaceBook over the past few weeks and decided that it would be fun to make things a bit more formal. Joe is a Norwich grad with a B.A. in Political Science (concentration in Middle Eastern Studies). In addition, he’s served faithfully in the U.S. Coast Guard since 1993 in a number of positions, including intelligence billets responsible for the Korean Peninsula and Iran (among other hot spots). He’s a contributing source for the Wall Street Journal and currently working on an article for publication about the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. In civilian life, he’s a national sales manager for a major insurance brokerage and has a wife and soon to be 3 kids. Joe proudly calls himself a conservative “a little to the right of Atilla the Hun.” I, on the other hand, am thoughtful and usually right (J/K). The only problem is that we have yet to agree on a topic.
Any suggestions?
We’ll consider anything from Universal Health Care to the War on Terror. Anything goes and nothing is off limits.
See you next week.
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.
JPS | Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
I agree that the Gates/Crowley arrest was most likely a circus and that Obama’s remarks were “poorly calibrated.” However, I do not believe the hour beer summit was a poor use of time and will serve as an example of adult behavior…The outcome could have been MUCH worse.
Joe Lydon | Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
Without commenting on the Obama/Gates/Crowley affair, I want to point out something that needs to be noted.
What’s really important about the above article is who is saying it. Randy and I are in regards to many issues on different sides of the political spectrum. Besides the facts that I enjoy a good debate, and that we are friends, I come here first and formost because Randy has an ability to do what most high profile people in the media do not…maintain his objectivity.
Pretty refreshing to see a center-left commentator point out the challenges with what has happened in regads to Chelsea. By being concious of a lesson that we learned 20 years ago this August “to thine own self be true” He lends credibility to his anti right stances not only with people who lean liberal but also with clear thinking, objective conservatives.
We may have some areas on the fringe of the race issue where we disagree, but it’s hard to argue with the (dare I say) fair and balanced entry that Randy has made today. Outstanding work!
To Randy…Looking forward to disagreeing with you on our topic of debate, I have a reputatio to uphold.
RHM | Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
@ Joe,
Let me beat my detractors to the punch.
I’m usually not this critical of the administration.
This case just sticks out like a sore thumb to me.
See last week’s Friday Morning Fix (which you inspired) for where I stand on objectivity.
Looking forward to battle.
RHM
JDJones | Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
Oh, the Drama! The excited anticipation! I can barely contain myself!
Let’s go guys, off with the gloves. Put some excitement in my incredibly boring and lackluster existence.
Looking forward to it.
David Cobb | Aug 1, 2009 | Reply
Obama made a mistake commenting on something that should have been a “no comment” topic. He won’t make that mistake again. That was the teachable moment. Of course it was nice to have Biden there. He has personal experience in sticking his foot in his mouth…more than all of them put together.
Obama has to stop being a pleaser and get rough and tumble like the Republicans. Perhaps that is too much to ask of a Democrat. I fear he’s too nice a guy to arm-twist health care out of the Congressional Democrats.
Chris Curtin | Aug 1, 2009 | Reply
I’ll make a quick comment about the “beer summit”- Who cares! You said it yourself Randy, there are more important things going on in the world so why don’t we just move on and discuss issues that matter. Besides, the more time the media and internet postings like this spend reporting on meaningless PR events the more it legitimizes their existence.
I think you and Joe should talk Iran. How much time do we have before we have to commit to a course of action and what should it be?