Huckleberries Online

Obama To Bump Charlie Brown

Posted by DFO

Dec. 1, 2009 9:29 a.m. • 39 comments

President Barack Obama … is slated to deliver a prime-time address on Tuesday night in which he’ll lay out his plans for the American war in Afghanistan. … But the administration may also face an unforeseen enemy as it lays out its long-awaited plans. And they are loud and they are legion: We’re talking about preschoolers and their parents. That’s because ABC-TV was scheduled to present its annual screening of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. And we don’t know about you, but that show is pretty sacrosanct around our house and not to be trifled with lightly/Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog. More here. H/T: The Drudge Report

Question: Would you rather listen to President Obama explain why 30,000 more troops are needed in Afghanistan or see the annual screening of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”?

39 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JamesBond on December 01 at 9:41 a.m.
Charlie Brown.
Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 9:41 a.m.
That’s it! Need we more proof of how evil he is?

Good thing we have it on DVD, we knew it would come to this.

:)
OrangeTV on December 01 at 9:42 a.m.
Obama sucks. Charlie Brown for president!
poolman on December 01 at 9:48 a.m.
Either way there will be a lot of “wha wha wha”.

Seriously - presidential addresses always trump 40 year old cartoons. Just because G-Dub only gave 2 in his 8 years in office and would never miss a good cartoon himself, this type of conflict is uncharted territory - at least in our recent history.
Charlie on December 01 at 9:50 a.m.
Charlie Brown!!
bpoole on December 01 at 9:58 a.m.
I can watch both, I will stream Charlie Brown’s Christmas from the internet and then watch the president on television. sick huh.
hmoffsuite on December 01 at 10:00 a.m.
I have been somewhat critical of Obama appearing on tv and giving campaign speeches over and over again. But, I think this particular address is justified and I am anxious to hear what he has to say. My only hope is that he puts forth the message that Afghanistan will not be abandoned until the job is done and that our military get all the support they need to get that job done. If it sounds like we are not 100% fully committed to Afghanistan, it would be disappointing to me.
Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 10:04 a.m.
Thanks poolman. Most political speeches sound like the adults in Charlie Brown.
Phaedrus on December 01 at 10:05 a.m.
If it sounds like we are not 100% fully committed to Afghanistan, it would be disappointing to me.

The sad truth is we have not been “100% fully committed to Afghanistan” since October 7, 2001.
poolman on December 01 at 10:16 a.m.
@Phaedrus - I disagree, think it was February 15, 1989 - the day Russia officially ended their war with Afghanistan - thus (temporarily) ending the US’s interest in the country.
Digger on December 01 at 10:28 a.m.
“My fellow Americans. I’m pleased to announce that I’ve signed legislation outlawing the Soviet Union. We begin bombing in five minutes.” - Ronald Reagan
hmoffsuite on December 01 at 10:33 a.m.
I am now reading that Obama will announce that troops will begin to be withdrawn within 3 years. This message may satisfied his liberal supporters that don’t want additional troops sent to Afghanistan, but it sends the wrong message to the world. Trying to please everyone and compromise in this fashion is not the right thing to do, imo. This is where Obama demonstates his inability to make a ‘hard’ decision.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/21771318/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_natlbreak&ts=T&tmi=fran_natlbreak_1_12220212012009
Joker on December 01 at 10:35 a.m.
Linus’ words at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas choke me up everytime.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men
BlueinIdaho on December 01 at 10:47 a.m.
hmoffsuite, didn’t you post this just days ago?

“I’m not in favor of wars, even Afghanistan. But, I think Obama needs to make a real decision. Either get out or get in. I don’t care.”

It appears to me that no matter what Obama does, you will find a way to criticize.

He made a decision. He has a timetable for ending this war. He didn’t start this mess, but it is on his shoulders to finish it. At least let him start the process prior to rendering judgment.
Jen on December 01 at 10:56 a.m.
I agree with Joker, there is no scene better in any cartoon than Linus’ taking the stage in A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love it. And will watch it…on dvd.
Sam on December 01 at 11:02 a.m.
To be honest, since I don’t really do lots of politics at home, since I cover them for a living, I’d rather watch Charlie Brown. However, Charlie will be pre-empted at my home by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which I’m presently addicted to.
hmoffsuite on December 01 at 11:03 a.m.
Blue. Do you think it is wise to let our opposition in Afghanistan know what our intentions are? Wouldn’t it be better to let them know that we will leave when we feel comfortable that the country is able to take care of itself? Committing more troops and then establishing a time table seems awfully inconsistent to me. But, I can see where it would be politically convenient. That is my problem with this.
mike_s on December 01 at 12:22 p.m.
Walking down memory lane last Friday in Olympia I saw the same peace activists that have stood on the same street corner every Friday night for too many years and I thought of the fact that since my kid was in elementary school her country has been at war. She’s a high school senior now. From Charlie Brown to the killing fields, that is the unfortunate reality.
spokelooneh on December 01 at 2:10 p.m.
It’s obviously the opening salvo on the War on Christmas.
BlueinIdaho on December 01 at 2:21 p.m.
Holy cr-p, has the war on Christmas started already??! I was just putting away the turkey giblet firing catapult to try to do my part in the war on thanksgiving…and there are all these rotting pumpkins lying about from the siege of halloween…
Sisyphus on December 01 at 2:28 p.m.
Oooooh. Dang dang dang. You’re right spoker. Regardless of the fact that I can’t use a urinal without listening to Montavani’s rendition of Silent Night, or swing a dead cat without hitting a Christmas decoration, O’Reilly will have a hay day over this. I see Drudge has this same thing prominently placed so Dave could find it. Now Fox News will add to their Orwellian fact challenged themes that there is no man caused climate change, HCR will kill seniors, Obama was born in Kenya and Democrats want to destroy Christmas leaving splattered elves all over the snow.
nic on December 01 at 2:37 p.m.
I thought that the war on Christmas was over. The battle of nome was a key battle in the war that really turned the tables. That’s the night that Santa went crazy, and things just haven’t been the same since then.
Cindy_H on December 01 at 2:37 p.m.
“However, Charlie will be pre-empted at my home by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which I’m presently addicted to.”

Omigosh! Sam, you too? I caught my 17-year-old playing it at 4 a.m. this weekend. Last night I hid his special XBox 360 power cord.

Don’t make me come over there and hide yours too.

What is the deal with this game. Just looks like more shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up to me.
redman on December 01 at 2:37 p.m.
Hey this guy is just like Jimmy Carter, he is disarming us, cowing to the Iranians, bending over for the Russians and its getting worse he now is pre-empting childrens christmas specials. OMG the end of the world as we know it.
redman on December 01 at 2:38 p.m.
Next were going to see Obama come out of the whitehouse with a grinch costume on…
Sisyphus on December 01 at 2:45 p.m.
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”—I think we’re on to something here. Is there a Christmas version? Can you pick off Santa on the roof in Calais from Omaha Beach? Does it have anti-aircraft capability that can zero in on Rudoph’s nose. Can you take out a platoon of RPG wielding elves? And what about mangers? That eerie light might be a timer on an IED. And what are those wise men carrying?
redman on December 01 at 2:51 p.m.
Sis your trying to be silly, everyone knows the wiseman are carrying suicide vests
Sisyphus on December 01 at 2:57 p.m.
That’s under the garments. What’s in their hands? They say gold, frankincense and myrrh. Yeah right, camel jockey, and I’m the Easter bunny. I say smoke ‘em now ask the UN for help cleaning up later.
Cindy_H on December 01 at 3:01 p.m.
“Can you take out a platoon of RPG wielding elves?”

That reminds me of elf bowling. Whatever happend to elf bowling?
BlueinIdaho on December 01 at 3:06 p.m.
The very powerful elf lobby put the kabosh on that activity years ago…
Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 3:10 p.m.
Sis, you know those is “holiday decorations” dontcha?

I just think it is funny how wildly the advertisers will fluctuate. All in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. Perhaps we should start calling it the “War for more of your money” season.
Cabbage Boy on December 01 at 3:10 p.m.
Cindy, I think a couple of computer viruses threw the final strike on elf bowling.
Sam on December 01 at 3:18 p.m.
My wife feels your pain, Cindy. I’ve agreed to a time limit of 2 hours per day on weekdays and a healthy, adult discussion on the weekends about allotted time prior to playing.

Before I pout if I don’t get my way, that is.

It’s the most popular and longed for game in the history of video games, most likely.
Joker on December 01 at 3:19 p.m.
While it’s popularly believed the wise men were carrying gold, frankincense, and myrrh for baby Jesus, the truth has been lost.

it was actually a gold plated glock with an extra 15-round clip, the bottles labed frankincense and myrrh were in fact lethal nerve gas, and anthrax.

The swaddling clothes jesus was wrapped in was an early form of Kevlar.

In the latest version of the King James Bible sponsored by the NRA and Halliburton, the true story of Jesus’ rise are told in stunningly graphic fashion. It fills in the blanks of Jesus’ life, where he took out most of the Egyptian army by himself and later defeated the Germanic tribes in the north, and put a cap in the Roman Emperor’s arse.

Miramax plans on releasing a triology in 2012 with the first picture: Crown of thorns: Don’t mess with Christ on Christmas. Russell Crowe is rumored to play a significant role in the movie, but no word on who will play the King of Kings.
Sisyphus on December 01 at 3:23 p.m.
“but no word on who will play the King of Kings.”—I thought this was usually played by forty watt bulb. I don’t want any Benjamin Button surprises.
spokelooneh on December 01 at 4:03 p.m.
“Perhaps we should start calling it the “War for more of your money” season.”
-CB

Precisely. Well said.
fortboise on December 01 at 4:14 p.m.
I would rather not see anything having to do with Charlie Brown, regardless of the alternative. Let Schultz and his beloved creation rest in peace.

The question is revealing, and obscene. Do we care about putting hundreds of thousands of troops in harm’s way, waging war in distant countries, rolling out destruction on an industrial scale (with the best of intentions and/or for our own “security”)? It rivets the attention, but not year after year. We’re bored now. What else is on?
Cindy_H on December 01 at 5:02 p.m.
“healthy, adult discussion on the weekends”

So that’s what they call it now :-)
Sam on December 04 at 1:13 p.m.
Just checking back in and had to “LOL” at your last comment Cindy. I clearly didn’t think that sentence through before I posted it. ;)

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.