GOPolitico seemed upset about this: “It turns out that if you are a successful enough writer, commentator and author, it’s possible that you can get the ear of the president.”
And they accused Spitzer of “gushing” all over Fareed Zakaria.
It’s true, it would be so much better if the President chose not to listen to respected authorities on the Middle East like Zakaria – why not take the advice of Middle East experts like the two Donalds, Rumsfeld and Trump?
Also troubling for GOPolitico, presumably, was the revelation that the President is spending time “thinking about the issues of the Arab Spring”.
THINKING???
😯
The Obama Diary 
Can’t have that now can we?
A President who reads, thinks and asks questions????? Heavens to betsey!
OT: Chipsticks, I just checked your current fundraiser and again TOD family is coming through! You’ve currently raised $1,150 of $1,500 with 32 contributors! WAY TO GO TOD FAMILY!!! Contributions of all amounts great and small add up to the kind of financial support President Obama is going to need in this battle. YES.WE.CAN!
yeah i know, imagine a President that reads and thinks. Anyway totally off topic, and i know i’ve said this before, but that ring on his finger is so dam sexy lol.
Isn’t it just…?! Nothing as hot and sexy as a man who’s loving and fauthful and has eyes just for his wife…
It’s heartwarming and lovely…
Faithful…
Is there a book in that picture?!?! Hubba, hubba, hubba………*fans self*
So funny….. =)
OMG! Thinking, we can’t have that!
Fareed seems uniquely qualified to advise PBO, and anyone else, on ME policy. He is a moderate Muslim and hails from a family of highly accomplished parents.
Zakaria attended The Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He received a B.A. degree from Yale University where he was President of the Yale Political Union, editor-in-chief of the Yale Political Monthly, and a member of the Scroll and Key society and the Party of the Right (Yale). He later earned a Ph.D. degree in Political Science from Harvard University in 1993,where he studied under Samuel P. Huntington and Stanley Hoffmann.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fareed_Zakaria
Suck eggs, GOPolitico. One thing I like about PBO is his way of seeking advise from those qualified to provide it.
I used to watch Fareed every week. He is so knowledgeable and interesting. He did that special on Mumbai terrorist attack. His home is Mumbai.
The only negative I have to say is Elliot Spitzer is a jackass. He used to be on Dyan Rat.. show almost daily. They sat around and put down the president constantly. As we know Elliot is not only a wife cheater but an arrogant, obnoxious man.
It’s hard to ignore Spitzer’s repeated emphasis on how the President seeks out Fareed’s ‘wisdom’…
As if President’s through the ages haven’t sought out formal and informal advice and points of view from an array of people…
David Gergen’s claim to fame continues to be his role as formal and informal adviser to Republican president’s past and Bill Clinton…
Thanks for the link Maji, I didn’t realize Fareed’s Knowledge, I’m Impressed by him, and of course, I’m Impressed that PBO seeks knowledge from him. I like that. But when ever I’d watch Fareed’s show, I always walked away with a positive view of him. He sounds and acts like he’s In the know.
I have no problem with President Obama reaching out to Fareed Zakaria to get his opinion on issues of the moment in the ME, however I do think it’s a problem when Mr. Zakaria is then supposed to cover President Obama as an impartial journalist/analyst/commentator.
Now the right being up in arms about this is ridiculous given how Fox is deep in bed with the GOP, but I don’t think this passes the smell test either.
StR, Just what is the problem with this. This man in no way can be compare to anyone on FOX. I believe that Mr. Zakaria does cover President Obama as a impartial journalists. There are some people who knows how to do their job, then there is those folks over there on FOX, who might as well be call “FOX for Republicans”I believe if Mr. Zakaria feels the President is wrong, if he disagree with the President, he will say so. He won’t make up lies to tell like FOX and other Conservative folks. Smells just fine to me.
But unlike Fox pundits, Fareed Zakaria has repeatedly proved himself to be impartial, informed and smart. A big difference!
True so true. Fareed is indeed impartial. I have seen him logically ripe the president on a number of issues. He is not nasty, but he is a very well informed, articulate thinker. He has covered the middle east for decades.
Actually Chip, it does get infinitely irritating when these ridiculous ‘concerns’ are raised…
Even more so as it appears to apply to only President Obama…
Anyone who is even remotely in touch with President Obama is required to put in a generous measure of gratuitous President Obama slam and/or diminishing so as to be seen as ‘impartial’ in their coverage…
I am so hyped right now after watching these videos I am about to cry. Our Prez is electrifying and his accomplishments speak for themselves. ThanX, Sticks, for your unwavering postings that keep us informed Love ya, Love ya, Love ya!!! Keep on doing what you’re doing. Y e a h!!!
🙂 That picture is definitely a turn on 🙂 I see a cool, sexy man with swagga but I also see intelligence! Perfect :). How lucky are we? OBAMA2012!! 🙂
I THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR OUR THINKING PRESIDENT!…:)
Chipsticks will you have coverage of FLOTUS tomorrow at Spellmann College? I hope you will.
Hi Anniebella, I’ll definitely post photos and the video – if there is one! – tomorrow. According to the college’s website she will speak at 3 p.m (Georgia time).
I’ll be ready and waiting, thank you!
Thanks for the time Chipsticks!
I love this photo, Chipsticks. You are a mountain of encouragement and great information. Thank you so much. I want to read what our President is reading. I love to read. I will spend my last penny on a good book. Plus, I love a President who reads for knowledge and insight. I am on a fixed income, but I did give last week also. It maybe little, but when it is all counted up, that then it makes the difference. I just trust and pray that God Almighty will allow me to see this re-election and enjoy the many hard working beautiful young and old coming together work for this great President. Thank you so much, Chipsticks. I love you all.
Dear HZ,
You will not only see the next election, you will actively participate in and celebrate President Obama’s re-election and his full and extremely successful second term…
You will live happy, healthy and continue to actively participate in this forum supporting our brilliant President…
Many blessings dear HZ…
Not surprised since we know POTUS listens to a wide range of persons. That said, I don’t like the tone of the conversation. I feel like Mr. Spitz is over stating Mr. Zakaria role and I am not sure why Mr. Zakaria felt the need to share this info anyway. I admire Mr. Zakaria but he seems like a preening peacock in this instance.
I concur…
Fareed Zakaria is actually one of the few people I listen to now on CNN. I like to hear hear his take on things so I could understand why the President would like to have conversations with him. And let’s face it, no disrespect to the folks in washington, but there are very few that President Obama can have conversations with that are on the same level he probably has with Fareed.
With regards to that awesome photo of the president all I could say is every time I look at it the temperature in the room goes up another 10 degrees. This man is not only sexy but he makes reading sexy.
I think I’m going to look again at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner video. Can’t get enough of it.
I was just thinKing about doing the same.
That week was one of my favorite in this presidency. . . as a matter of fact . .. ALL PRESIDENCY
“He makes reading sexy!” Love that line donna. Man, it is just too much fun following PBO!
Ok LMAO! Huckabee NOT running. What a wuss. They’re all scared of PBO!
via Politico:
UPDATE: After Zakaria’s comments were criticized — by among others, Glenn Beck, who said, “Shouldn’t we know if a reporter or a show host, a talk show host is giving advice to the president of the United States, shouldn’t we know what those conversations were so when we hear it spill out of his mouth, we know if it’s propaganda, to forward the presidential objectives?” — he has released a clarification.
The characterization that I have been “advising” President Obama is inaccurate. Over the last few months I’ve had a couple of conversations with the president, off-the-record. At no point did president President Obama ask me for advice on a specific policy or speech or proposal, nor did I volunteer it. I know that he has had similar meetings with other columnists.
I have always had a thing for knowledgeable and well informed people, thus I make it a point to watch his program and it being that IMO he is the only sane person on tv in these times. Wow, Potus is smoking HOT. And he still finds the time to read and nourish his brain? What a man!!!!!
Fareed & the president, my two favorite guys. If it’s Sunday, you can find me watching Fareed’s show (sometimes twice) & skipping all the others which appear to blatantly favor the GOP every week. Fareed always has a mix and is usually very fair. The only show that actually has Muslim “intellectuals” on to question them about their countries without implying they’re scary, uninformed, & not trustworthy, like a lot of channels/anchors do. Fairness is an attractive quality in a person. Plus, like the president, not mad to look at either.
The Hindustan Times (of India) recently remarked about the US involvement in the Middle East as “the US involvement in West Asia”.
Yeah, the times, they are a-changing.