Barack '8 Years of Failed Bush Policies' Obama tells high school grads: 'Don't make excuses'

It was a big deal for the excited about-to-be graduates of Kalamazoo's Central High School. They had won a White House competition against 1,000 other schools, not for payoff jobs in the Obama administration.

But to see and hear the Real Great Talker himself. President Barack Obama went all the way to Michigan Monday to congratulate the teenagers and their proud families:

I’m here tonight because I think that America has a lot to learn from Kalamazoo Central about what makes for a successful school in this new century: Educators  raising standards and inspiring their students to meet them. 

Community members stepping up as tutors and mentors and coaches.  Parents taking an active interest in their kids’ education – attending those teacher conferences, turning off that TV, and making sure that homework gets done.

And why let a good heartwarming Heartland story go to waste? So the president also....

...found time in Kalamazoo to attend two Democratic political fundraisers that just happened to coincide with the party chief's appearance in town.

To the graduates, Obama delivered the usual commencement ceremony fare about the future, setting goals, thinking long-term and not allowing setbacks to deter their determination:

The truth is, no matter how hard you work, you won’t necessarily ace every class or succeed in every job. There will be times when you screw up, when you hurt the people you love, when you stray from your most deeply held values.  

So far, so good. Then, the next line about pointing fingers after setbacks:

It's the easiest thing in the world to start looking around for someone to blame. 

Speaking of blame, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll out Monday finds the American public blaming the Gulf oil spill on BP, of course. But 69% are now giving a negative rating to the Obama administration's federal response.

In fact -- oh, look! -- the 69% thumbs-down Obama oil spill grade is 7 points worse than the negative rating given the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Gee, who can we blame for that? George W. Bush for not being bad enough? Hang on one Chicago minute. The president had that covered too in his advice to the grads:

Don’t make excuses. Take responsibility not just for your successes, but for your failures as well.

Related Item:

Finally, Democrats blame George W. Bush for the oil spill -- Video

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Associated Press (file).

Comments

[baslimthecripple]

Well, with any luck there will only be four years of failed Obama policies for President Palin to whine about. But she doesn't seem to be much of a whiner. How's that Hopey[Changey working out for you all?

[mike s]

So true...The history books should credit Bush with 10 years instead of 8...since the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue continually blames everything under the sun on him.

[2centsworth]

WOW. Doesn't he know how ridiculous this makes him look? Even a high school student would expect him to "get real".
But if that's what the Teleprompter told him to say, I guess that's what he has to say.

POSER! in CHIEF.

[Mark Findler]

The people who are blaming Obama for slow response have nothing better to do than sit on their tails whining about why things bad happen, you included.
The response has been much much better than little man bush ever did on any of the natural disasters he faced, and the disaster he created.
I blame BS bush for starting two wars, murdering innocent civilians, destroying the infrastructure of these two nations, and spending more money on the longest running war in US history.
So, please refresh your memory as to which president actually did their job and which one created money making situation for their cronies and corporations.
You are either with us, or against us was the war mongering twits most effective method for manipulating people into cowering to his whims.
Your post is so... similar to little man bush that you should run for president.

[RJP]

Malcolm's gratuitous sneering at Obama continues. But what else to expect from Laura Bush's former flack? This isn't quite as weak as Malcolm calling Obama the 'smoker in chief,' apropos nothing, in a column a few weeks ago. Seriously, this one is really a stretch. Obama has said that he takes full responsibility for the Gulf situation, no excuses. In December Obama took full ownership of the Afghan conflict, and there are a dozen other examples I could cite. Meanwhile, the Bush Admin couldn't excuse itself fast enough from responsibility for any of its dozen or so massive failures. So much for the party of 'personal responsibility,' haha!

(AM responds: Hey, thanks for sharing some of your favorites. Glad to know you're a regular too. So many it's hard to keep track these days. Please keep spreading the word. We'll write more. :--)) )

[Diane L Asp]

Andrew Malcolm, I thank you!

[BigTexN]

Obama - "I was down there a month ago, before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the gulf"

April 21st – Deepwater Horizon explosion

April 22nd – No Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 23rd – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 24th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 25th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 26th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 27th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 28th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 29th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

April 30th – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

May 1st – STILL no Obama in the area…not even a flyover

May 2nd – The Messiah comes to the Gulf…”What’s going on down here? You people need some healthcare?”

Wow...that whole "take responsibility for your own failures" thing lasted what...24 hours?

[ster]

It is so sad that this country elected this empty-suit as President.

In one breath telle students not to point blame on others, and in the next breath does exactly that.

Proves he's a weak minded narcissist.

[Tim Martin]

Then there's another "right on" quote by our leader, to the press last week:
"I don't want us to do something just for the sake of politics that doesn't solve the problem," Mr. Obama said with a straight face, ignoring a great deal of
his "accomplishments" to date.

[Scott]

Gee, is it any wonder that the American public is, as a whole, one of the dumbest populations amongst first-world countries with garbage blogs like this one?

I get that this is a blog, but could you try, just once, to be a fair and balanced observer of politics? (Yes, that was an intentional reference to Fox Noise, which is likely your faux news/entertainment channel of choice.)

Regarding the oil spill -- President Obama has made it his top priority. The fact that the situation isn't resolved is not indicative of the President's lack of effort. He can't plug the hole himself!

[Chris Conlee]

The genuflecter-in-chief is proving to be a disastrous embarrassment to this country. 2012 can't get here soon enough to begin righting the ship. Assuming it hasn't completely capsized by then...

[dbc]

President Obama, the emporer has no clothes. As Bush sits silently in retirement, musing at the un-Presidential, finger pointing occupier of the White House, you foolishly blame everyone else for your problems. Everyone but yourself. Mr President, when will you develop the maturity to behave like a credible world leader with judgement, dignity and grace? When will you get rid of the damn teleprompter, lose the prepared speeches, and lead the country which you so confidently stood before the styrofoam columns and convinced America you were qualified to lead? And when will you close your mouth and open your eyes and ears to the countries problems and deal with the countries priorities versus your political priorities? Please don't "kick my ass", Mr President, but Bush is long gone. There is but one President in America today; that is you. The finger points at you!

[JB]

This was almost exactly my first reaction when I heard what the president said in Kalamazoo. I mean, seriously, Mr. President, tell us all again for the billionth time why it is that you are not to blame, even in the slightest, for the state of the economy, the size of the national debt or the budget deficit, the Gulf oil spill, casualties in Afghanistan, attempted terrorist attacks within U.S. borders, illegal immigration, political discord, corruption in government, or any other number of other ills you have repeatedly pinned squarely on the "mess you inherited." You, of all people, to tell others not to make excuses! Excuse me. I feel another fit of laughter coming on.

[Ron Nussbeck]

Obama, please take responsibility for your failures, the Economy, Race relations, Political divisions between parties, Bribes to Senators and House Members, presenting a fake birth certificate to the public, using a social security number assigned to a dead man from Connecticut who was born in 1890, Attending Occidental College on a foreign Visa while collecting student aid, the massive amounts of lies told by you on a daily basis to the American public, an ego the size of Texas and lastly for being a Megalomaniac. You should stop trying to blame Bush, were all sick of your stupid whining, MAN UP BARRACK, show you go a SET.....

[SN]

i find it laughable that our Orator in Chief would lecture someone else about blame.

[Jane]

I think he is a real leader. From his speech, his appearance and his activities, i always love to take hope. I always hope, everything will be alright.

[Lloyd the Idiot]

If that doesn't define "hypocrisy," then I don't know what does.

[nomilk]

Everyone is focusing on the "Don't make excuses" line. I found this other line just as telling:

"You watch TV, and basically what it says is you can be rich and successful without much effort; you just have to become a celebrity. If you can achieve some reality TV notoriety, that's better than lasting achievement."

Wow, it's that a perfect description of the 2008 Obama campaign?!?

[Gina]

I hope High School children will know that we can't make excuses for poor decisions and bad judgment. The current President is the one who left BP in charge, the current President did not allow the Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers to dredge sand berms to protect the marsh, the current President did not accept offers of help for other countries who have skimmer boats to suck up the oil, the current President allows BP to spray toxics in the Gulf to sink the oil... This should not be about politics or policies or money... we just allowed the Gulf of Mexico, the surrounding eco-systems and the people whose jobs are depended on the Gulf to be destroyed. I grew up in Lafitte LA, I went there last week to see for myself. And it isn't pretty and it could have been avoided and it could be cleaned up. go to alongthebayou dot com or visit their facebook page. It is unbelievable!

[Martha]

He really knows how to convince people and with his extraordinary speeches he can turn any oppositions or young persons to his side. I think its really a rare quality. Lets see what he can do for us and humanity. Thanks for sharing.

[Mary Robenson]

I really adore him. He always make you think and give you high spirit only with his word. Thanks for sharing such important and high spirited speech.