Bent Out of Shape (Why are liberals so exercised by the President's exercise?)

Bent Out of Shape (Why are liberals so exercised by the President's exercise?)
The American Prowler ^ | 8/26/2005 | Patrick Hynes


Posted on 08/25/2005 10:43:21 PM PDT


There have been a great number of petty and unfair attacks leveled at George W. Bush in the past five years. He's slow witted. He surrounds himself with incompetent "yes men." He's Hitler.

But the pettiest and least fair to date is the charge that President Bush exercises too much. For whatever reason, liberals have developed an obsession with the president's "obsession" with physical fitness.

Last month the New Republic's Jonathan Chait, writing in the Los Angeles Times, castigated President Bush for his "obsession with exercise that borders on the creepy."

"Bush's insistence that the entire populace follow his example, and that his staff join him on a Long March -- er, Long Run -- carries about it the faint whiff of a cult of personality. It also shows how out of touch he is," wrote Chait. "It's nice for Bush that he can take an hour or two out of every day to run, bike or pump iron. Unfortunately, most of us have more demanding jobs than he does."

The Democratic National Committee similarly attacked the president for spending too much time exercising and not enough on public policy.

On every other page of every other newspaper, meanwhile, you will read about our nation's "obesity epidemic," followed by calls for emergency remedies ranging from class action lawsuits against fast food companies to crackdowns on vending machines in public schools. Some might think a physically fit president would serve as a good role model for America's youth, especially in light of the rapid decline in the quality of our heroes from the world of professional sports.

Paradoxically, while Chait and others ridicule the president for being too active, other liberals have attacked him for relaxing too much. President Bush's vacation habits have become another bizarre obsession among the political Left. Speaking as a guest on the Imus in the Morning show earlier in the week, for example, Howard Fineman railed against the president's "almost religious devotion to his vacation time."

But President Bush doesn't vacation in the same sense that you or I do. He doesn't unplug all of his appliances and toggle the Out of Office AutoReply on his Outlook. He's working. He's just doing it in Texas instead of Washington, D.C.

Time was our nation's sophisticated opinion leaders wouldn't dream of scrutinizing the president's personal life. For example, it was considered bad form to question what President Bill Clinton did in the privacy of his own bedroom -- even though he did it in the Oval Office and while punched in on the taxpayers' time clock. And oh yeah, he was married and doing it with an intern.

Didn't matter. It was none of our business. But put in a little too much roadwork or clear a little too much brush at your ranch and you give people like Jonathan Chait the creeps.

Come to think of it, I seem to recall the mainstream media used to delight in showing us almost constant footage of President Clinton jogging, jogging, always jogging; him with his amoeboid torso, pale, toneless legs and duck-footed stride, the press with tongues wagging and elbows jabbing one another.

Wasn't he dreamy?

And what about John Kerry? I mean, who had time to windsurf and toss the pigskin during "the most important election in our lifetimes," anyway? Who can hunt ducks during "the worst economy since Hoover," and while Iraq makes Vietnam look like Granada? Unless, of course, Kerry just did all that stuff for show. And Clinton, too. You think?

Well, of course they were just doing it for show. And that's the point. All the sophisticates want is a show. Put on some trendy jogging shorts and the latest Nikes and we'll take the shot. Don't worry, we'll edit out the Golden Arches in the background. But if we ever catch you breaking a sweat for real without a big media hullabaloo, you'll never work in this town again.

The media doesn't resent George W. Bush because he exercises too much or takes too many vacations. They resent him because he's authentic when he should be artificial, reserved when he should be resplendent.

But if a show is all the media want, I've got just the guy for them. There's this fellow at my gym who makes a big to do about stacking heavy, clanging plates onto the barbell. He stomps around the weight room floor, snorting and huffing, often clapping his hands loudly, sending off plumes of chalk dust while his pals shout out various inspirational plaudits. He's the man, all right. But now that I think of it, I've never actually seen him lift any weights. And he isn't very big.

Maybe he should run for president. The media would love him.

Patrick Hynes is a freelance writer and the proprietor of AnkleBitingPundits.com.

I actually agree with you, that condemning someone for taking care of their health is stupid. We have had some seriously obese presidents in the past who could have used a jog or two.

Damn it!! I agree too. A conservative Christian, an Anarchist, and a quasi-Libertarian all agree on something. I guess the locusts are next ;)

Condemning anyone for exercising is ridiculous. And its not just past presidents that are obese. A huge portion of the American polulation is now seriously overweight. 10-15 years ago the big thing was anorexia and all the "experts" were saying that we shouldn't put so much pressure on young girls to look like super models. That they should be proud of their body even if they couldn't fit into a size 2 dress. Well, like most things, people went to far and "it's ok not to look like an emaciated super model" turned into "it's ok to look like Jabba The Fucking Hut".

So congratulations G.W. you did something good and are setting a good example for the rest of America. Just goes to show that even an absolute moron can get something right.

And here comes the locusts! Just like everything else. The President, whichever one, could be shitting gold bricks and donating them to orphans and he would be accused of something. :rolleyes:

Well doing good things wouldn't redeem him for the evil things he's done. I mean, he has a pretty sick and twisted ideology going on, so I don't really understand why people would attack him for his personal behavior â?? it's his beliefs that matter, and they're so easy to refute that it doesn't really matter what he does outside of his political capacity. He can be beaten with a whiff of logic or a smattering of reason; we don't need to resort to pointless smear campaigns centered around what he does in his free time. Those are the tactics of the Republicrat.

yep, who the hell are we to comment on bush's public display during a fucking near-crisis. i mean, hell.

its only been about four fucking years and its only a silly little civil war.

it's only wide open borders that threaten american and canadian sovereignty.

it's only the lowest approval numbers in u.s. history ( and nixon was once president)

its only a fucking budget that was balanced before bush stepped in office but its now the hugest defecit.

it's only china threatening to nuke 200 u.s. cities if america tries to stop them from taking taiwan.

shit, it's only iran saying "fuck off" when it comes to nuclear proliferation.

it's only the VBRIC threatening to fuck shit up if america tries to upset the venezuelan oil supply.

its only the fucking possibility of economic decline due to soaring gas prices most people cant afford.




Yep, nothing to worry about. Just as long as Bush gets his photo op, things will be okay. Jesus christ, how about a kodak shot of the president in a fucking situation room or researching something for christs sakes.

If you guys dont get what im trying to say, then what the hell are you doing here?

I agree also, Torog. I don't think it is any business of anybody what Bush gets up to in his 'private life', be it excersicing or masturbating. People just take things too seriously.

However, when you are the President (the most powerful man on the planet, apparantly ;)), maybe you should be a little more discreet if you plan to take so many vacations?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nicholasstanko

yep, who the hell are we to comment on bush's public display during a fucking near-crisis. i mean, hell.

its only been about four fucking years and its only a silly little civil war.

it's only wide open borders that threaten american and canadian sovereignty.

it's only the lowest approval numbers in u.s. history ( and nixon was once president)

its only a fucking budget that was balanced before bush stepped in office but its now the hugest defecit.

it's only china threatening to nuke 200 u.s. cities if america tries to stop them from taking taiwan.

shit, it's only iran saying "fuck off" when it comes to nuclear proliferation.

it's only the VBRIC threatening to fuck shit up if america tries to upset the venezuelan oil supply.

its only the fucking possibility of economic decline due to soaring gas prices most people cant afford.




Yep, nothing to worry about. Just as long as Bush gets his photo op, things will be okay. Jesus christ, how about a kodak shot of the president in a fucking situation room or researching something for christs sakes.

If you guys dont get what im trying to say, then what the hell are you doing here?

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Well fuckity fuck, fuck fuck.....and your point was? :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

Well fuckity fuck, fuck fuck.....and your point was? :rolleyes:

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point was, i agre with GT's statement. if youre going to fuck around and take so much vacation time, why do you have to go showboating it while the worlds about to fuck herself up the ass.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nicholasstanko

yep, who the hell are we to comment on bush's public display during a fucking near-crisis. i mean, hell.

its only been about four fucking years and its only a silly little civil war.

it's only wide open borders that threaten american and canadian sovereignty.

it's only the lowest approval numbers in u.s. history ( and nixon was once president)

its only a fucking budget that was balanced before bush stepped in office but its now the hugest defecit.

it's only china threatening to nuke 200 u.s. cities if america tries to stop them from taking taiwan.

shit, it's only iran saying "fuck off" when it comes to nuclear proliferation.

it's only the VBRIC threatening to fuck shit up if america tries to upset the venezuelan oil supply.

its only the fucking possibility of economic decline due to soaring gas prices most people cant afford.




Yep, nothing to worry about. Just as long as Bush gets his photo op, things will be okay. Jesus christ, how about a kodak shot of the president in a fucking situation room or researching something for christs sakes.

If you guys dont get what im trying to say, then what the hell are you doing here?

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O.K. So he stays off vacation. How would you suggest that he should handle what you mentioned? Sounds like a shit load of wars!

Don't get me wrong! Exercise...yes....overextending vacations...NO!!!

its because the dems have no ideas,no plans,and no solutions.not to mention their completely out of touch with the American people.

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Originally Posted by amsterdam

its because the dems have no ideas,no plans,and no solutions.not to mention their completely out of touch with the American people.

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Since you never have anything to say that's even remotely constructive to any conversation, I'm just going to correct your sentences.

It's because the Dems have no ideas, no plans and no solutions; not to mention that they're completely out of touch with the America people.

gee thanx.

like i said.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bhallg2k

Since you never have anything to say that's even remotely constructive to any conversation, I'm just going to correct your sentences.

It's because the Dems have no ideas, no plans and no solutions; not to mention that they're completely out of touch with the America people.

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LOL.. Good call, bhallg2k. correcting amsterdam's grammar is probably alot mroe effective than actually trying to debate anything with him, which, I feel, is wasted energy. (Nothing personal, Amsterdam.. but you do tend to engage in the internet's version of selective hearing!) :p

correcting grammar?wow,that'll show me.

whats the other sides plans then?cut and run.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by amsterdam

correcting grammar?wow,that'll show me.

whats the other sides plans then?cut and run.

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Correcting grammar? Wow. That'll show me.

What's the other side's plan then? Cut and run.

(Which by the way is so far off topic as to be farcical.)

gee sorry.

fat people are fat because they are lazy and refuse to lose weight.i have no sympathy for them.the president works out and is great shape.

better?

Hmm.. all fat people are fat because they're lazy? Wow. I didn't know that. Thanks for enlightening me with your cereal box wisdom.

seriously?you dont think that is right?

they sit around and blame everything under the sun for their terrible health,except themselves.

they are fat because they eat garbage and dont exercise.plain and simple.eat smart portions of food and walk a little and those fat people would lose weight.instead they attack McDonalds as their problem.lol.

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Originally Posted by amsterdam

gee sorry.

fat people are fat because they are lazy and refuse to lose weight.i have no sympathy for them.the president works out and is great shape.

better?

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Howdy amsterdam,

There are many folks who are over-weight,due to thyroid problems,genetic factors and other causes...remember always..But for the Grace of God..there go I....

Have a good one ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Torog

Howdy amsterdam,

There are many folks who are over-weight,due to thyroid problems,genetic factors and other causes...remember always..But for the Grace of God..there go I....

Have a good one ...

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believe me i know that,i should have said that but i dont change the fact that vast majority of over weight people do not have thyroid problems or genetic factors.the majority have nobody to blame but themselves.

Amsterdam, you're right! The vast majority of overweight people don't have any genetic or physical reason for being fat. However, there are also alot of mental problems that can cause eating disorders, etc... Not all fat people are fat due to laziness or lack of self control, though I admit, alot of them are. :)

i am not sure i subscribe to the lots of people are fat because they have mental problems theory.as far as psychiatry is concerned,everyone has a mental problem and needs medication.i am sure maybe a few people are crazy and eat a ton because they are nuts but i am gonna go with the VAST MAJORITY eat fast food,dring gallons of cokes,and never exercise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by amsterdam

believe me i know that,i should have said that but i dont change the fact that vast majority of over weight people do not have thyroid problems or genetic factors.the majority have nobody to blame but themselves.

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It's called TV/Computor syndrom! There's a lot of people that need to dump the Little Debbies and just get off their ass. :eek: