 President Obama takes a turn at a CBS microphone during a 2010 Georgetown/Duke basketball game (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
March 16th, 2011
02:55 PM ET
March Madness: the presidential editionWASHINGTON (CNN) – “PREDICTABLE” was how the Drudge Report described President Obama’s Final Four picks in a tweet last night. The Sports Grid blog called them downright “boring.” It is true that the president did not go out on a limb when he told ESPN that top seeded Duke, Kansas, Ohio State, and Pitt are his Final Four picks this year. But this is not exactly out of character for the president. For the fourth straight year that Obama has publicly filled out NCAA brackets, he has consistently stuck with the safe picks. Of the 16 teams the basketball-playing politician has picked over the years in his Final Four brackets, 12 were number one seeds, three were number two seeds, and one was a “distant” fourth seed. One might go so far as to wonder if Obama thought Hillary Clinton would win the 2008 Democratic nomination for president! So how has this safe strategy worked for the president so far? In his three previous NCAA brackets, he accurately chose just one third of the Final Four teams. Only once did he correctly pick the tournament champions. So while Duke, Kansas, Ohio State, and Pitt are headed to this year’s tournament at the top of their divisions, if the past presidential picks mean anything, one might expect a slightly different group of semifinalists. But Kansas Jayhawks fans (the team the president picked to win the tournament this year) take heart. Although Obama inaccurately predicted they would win last year's tournament, when he guessed two years in a row that UNC would win, the Tarheels emerged victorious after his second prediction in 2009. Barack Obama's past Final Four picks: In 2008, Candidate Obama picked #1 seeds UNC, Kansas, and UCLA, as well as #4 Pitt. He predicted a UNC victory, but Kansas won. In 2009, newly inaugurated President Obama chose #1 seeds Louisville, Memphis, and UNC, and #2 seeded Memphis. Again he chose UNC to win, but this time, he was correct. In 2010, the president guessed top seeded Kansas and Kentucky would make it to the semifinals. The other two teams he picked, Villanova and Kansas State, were both ranked #2 in their divisions. He predicted Kansas would win, but Duke prevailed. |
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Who cares about the president's favorite teams? Shouldn't he be paying attention to what's going on in the Middle East and North Africa, China, and now, Japan instead of watching some silly games?
Exactly!! Messed up priorities! Potential nuclear meltdown, devestating humanitarian crisis, Middle East, not mention all the flooding in the US and he is golfing and figuring out his bracket!!! It's utterly appalling. How many of us would keep our jobs with priorities like that??
"How many of us would keep our jobs with priorities like that??" – TMN
I guess the millions of brackets filled out are by all of the unemployed. It literally takes 10 minutes to fill one of those out. He could have even done his in the bathroom on his cellphone. I hate that politics are so polarized now that even something as simple as filling out a bracket is under the category of government waste.
Bet it took Obama less time to fill out his bracket than it took George Bush to stop reading My Pet Goat and actually decide to get out of his kindergarten chair on 9/11.
Are you serious? No matter what this Pres do you fools will find fault and blame him for something. No surprise here.....small minds make small dumb baseless comments. Did Obama not send the military to Japan?....did he not send his top nuclear team? Don't be a partisan idiot all your life......
Obama has fallen below Carter as the worst U.S. president in history.
... are you kidding? It takes like 15 minutes to fill out a bracket. You're trying to twist this to make the president look bad, but really you're just making yourself look like an idiot. Congrats!!!!!!
Mitch, take another look at the photo of the president standing in front of the slick posterboard, "Presidential Bracket". I guarantee you that posterboard, when you consider the manpower behind the scenes to produce it and plan its presentation, cost many thousands of dollars.
@ Pretzel Logic: 1
Just like his picks BORING, Where the priority? Right he should be Treatng Japan crisis as nothing, Libya?
Send Clinton, no wonder she does not want to come back, Send Obama a bucket of chiclen to watch basketball.
Your times coming ....
To answer the question...most of the workforce.
Let the man fill out a bracket
Mitch, it doesn't matter it's about perception. He can fill them out all he wants, just don't let the general public get wind of it.
Obama, step up and lead our nation or prepare to be removed from office. Yes we have our Navy assisting Japan, but they do humanitarian aid in any given stance anyways. It takes a President to get what needs to be done, not some homeboy filling out his NCAA bracket. Which may only take 15 minutes, but when you televise it, it isn't a 15 minute affair.
Where was the U.N. or the U.S. when Libyan rebels were fighting for democracy? President Obama was busy playing golf. When you are an elitist left winger it doesn't matter as long as the public foots your bill.
The president is at work ALL the time. When he sleeps, he is on the job. I highly doubt that any of that stuff requires the president to sit at his desk and solve complex math problems every minute of every day. I suppose the publicdeserves the right to know if and when our presidents have sex with their wives, and how long they lasted. This is the only way to know they have their mind on the job for 4 or 8 straight years. After all, its not like our government has any other officials besides the president who might be working on those tasks.
Conservatives are so funny. You complain that the government has too much authority and then you complain when they aren't using it "enough."
Obama isn't even close, the worst president ever is "Dubya" with "Raygun" a close second. The G. W. Bush administration presided over the the destruction of the economy, while Reagan started the "Me first, GREED era". Both got us involved in stupid pointless wars.
Damn idiot! My son & his family are in a life & death situation in Japan and this jackass has nothing better to do than basketball picks? This turkey needs to be roasted for Thanksgiving!
Ok..So how many of us stopped looking at all the games this week because we were so focused on japan or one of the other disasters going?If we can expect the president to handle all the other things why can't we have the confidence the world won't explode if he takes a moment to concentrate on what all sporst fans are this week?
You're stupid.
I agree. This president is off in LEFT field. Obama needs to be a one term president. Vote out Obama in 2012!
Well, I'll do my part if you do yours.
Well my vote will cancel out one of you idiot's.
As long as you people keep crying about him being a Muslim with no birth certifficate who wasted 5 minutes filling out a college basketball bracket you guys wont win a damn thing. Your behavior is hurting your parties credibility every day, so please, keep up the bad work, and when Obama wins again in 2012 you remember this.
okay-i'll cancel out the other one then. good work guys.
Obama will be a one term President.
Obama will be a one term President. Not because of this one issue, because he is the worst President this Country has ever had.
U agree coz all u thnk dream and talk is Obama falling what else do u constructively thnk about. I wonder if u ave one.
No the worst president is George W. Bush or are you just to st-st-st-stupid?
Gosh, I do LOVE how jb cal wrongly used an apostrophe in the word 'idiots'. Kinda detracts from your point. Just a little. P.s., the president is the leader of the free world, not a regular joe. It does NOT look right that he does this type of thing (or finds time to golf/party the day AFTER our ally suffers tremendously)...he should be and is held to a higher standard than the rest of us. One he is woefully short of living up to, unfortunately. Signed, one of the idiot's.
Yup, what a complete waste of 15 minutes of the president's time. He could have solved world hunger, but apparently basketball was more important.
Sooooooo. Jason, What part are you playing in helping to save the world. My guess would be none.
The president is a human being as well. His job is to deal with the above mentioned problems, but to not allow him 5 minutes of something other than work is a bit harsh. Get realistic.
Someone needs to turn on their sarcasmotron.
Good for you, Fred! It's refreshing to find that a few people still "get" sarcasm. Obama will be criticized by some people no matter WHAT they do. It's like saying "Why did they serve roast beef at the White House last night? If Obama would've eaten a burger instead, he could have saved 15 minutes and used THAT time to get the unemployment rate down to 7%!"
and yes, when I re-read my comment I realized I should have said "....no matter what HE does." I didn't know whether to take the time to correct it (as I'm now doing) or use that time to work on solving the cure for cancer.....and I'm not even in the medical field!!!
The man hasn't been heard from in days as the world crumbles. Then in a stroke of genius he turns up to publicly display his torunament picks. What's wrong with this picture.
Don't worry, Jason, some of us get the joke.
This isn't 24, ferchrissakes. I understand what you're talking about, but our president's prime task is to keep a level head, strategize, sign crap, and yeah, sometimes even mitigate, not single handedly solve this country's problems. He has a team for that, and that team has a team, etc. I know that sounds lame, but that is the truth. He must work every damn day in some way, and even in bed, with his kids, in the john, is probably thinking, planning, etc. Are you seriously suggesting he should be a work-only robot? What's next, no sex with our First Lady Michelle until the Middle East trades its bombs in for pies? Ridiculous. I'm not saying not to be critical of our leaders, but it irritates me to no end whenever people complain about Obama taking the time to follow sports or have a life in any way.
To Magavelia: Sure he can take the time to enjoy his teams, tuck the kids in bed, have sex.... BUT HE DOESNT HAVE TO DO IT ON OUR DIME! Nor does he have to publicize he is doing those PRIVATE things. We want to know he is working for the people that supposedly voted him into becoming OUR PRESIDENT. Where is the integrity of that office? WE should have a President we can be proud of. NOT MOCK.
Sarah, going by your philsophy, I suppose he should just shut things down at 5:00 pm? I would bet quite a large sum that the president has been up all hours of the night burdened with the problems of this nation (most of which are not his fault) while you slumber peacefully. I fail to see how his occasional enjoyment of an American pastime demonstrates a lack of integrity.
Sarah, I think you need to go back to school or hit the books. Being the president is also about traditions, about relating to the people he serves. These seemingly meanless acts support the fact that like many humans, Obama can multitask, and is a way for him to interact with the rest of us. I'm sorry, but your point of view is both ignorant and inflexible.
So Sarah, I despised paying for good ol' boy G-Dub to clear his land at Crawford Ranch, mind you on OUR dime, but I think having a life is a necessity. Perhaps you should get one as well.
@Sarah, I sure hope you weren't spending precious time on your employer’s dime commenting on how Obama manages his time, that would be pretty hypocritical of you...
Actually, I think his safe bets are a smart move. If he had gone on a limb with lower seeds, it would imply that he spends an significant amount of time reading up on and watching those long shot teams. Picking the safe bets and high seeds demonstrates that he may be spending his time doing more important stuff after all. Just saying.
Give the guy a break. If not, then the next time you have lunch, don't. Investigate ways to make your life better and generate a better attitude instead of wasting the 30 minutes on irrelevent things.
So the President has no time for a little fun? All these people posting worthless comments and have the nerve to poke at the President’s productivity? Personally I think it shows class the President can kick back and enjoy a little March Madness.
You must be in the UPPER CLASS!
I knew there would be some idiot who clicks on a story about this and says the crap that this person said. SHUT UP, it takes like 5 minutes to make one of those lists, you can do it while you sit on the toilet, which where your education belongs. If you care so much about world politics quit your minimum wage job and go join the army or peace corps. That way we will not have to deal with morons like you.
Thank goodness no Republican president has ever taken time out of a day to make basketball picks, or pardon a turkey, or decorate a Christmas tree. The world would have erupted in flames!!
Yep...amazing...all this havoc and when I look for the president's name...it's associated with some sports picks. Aargh!!
This is just a stupid statement. There is ALWAYS something going on, some tragedy, some war or some issue to deal with.
I'm no fan of Obama but ragging on the guy for taking a few hours to make some pics for his bracket is just stupid. It's fun and a huge percentage of Americans do it every year.
I liked his pics actually. Not a good year to go against the top seeds imo.
I'm not a fan either, and I cannot BELIEVE you jumped on the bandwagon with your comments about this!! This is a great year to go against the top seeds. 🙂
Kinda of like Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
The truth is, President Obama has been in the fore front of every situation and crisis that has taken place. It seems that the PERFECT people in the US will always find something to critize the President about, like having some sort of normalcy in his life, or taking a moment to do something he enjoys. Did the world come to an end while he was making the picks, or at what point did he not do his job??
There are 24 hours in a day. He isn't permitted to spend a few minutes looking at the brackets?
I am sure all of you armchair critics were equally as outraged at Bush when he did these things like this in the middle of two wars and a financial meltdown. Gotta love the selective damnation of the fanboys and wingnuts.
But Bush was always contemplating his next move while he cleared brush, golfed, fished, and invaded other countries for fun.
Yeah, so did you say the same thing when Pres. Bush was doing fly-overs and eating birthday cake while Katrina was happening?...Or the multiple golf outings that Bush took when people were out of work (Yes, there were hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans under Bush), when medical expenses and home prices were skyrocketing and Wall Street companies were robbing and cheating us blind? Did you have a problem with it then?
The only loser in the March Madness is Obama. His Olympic sized failure by spending tax payer money to get the Olympics to Chicago, all his talk about change..... with only more of the same, and now... his imminent loss in 2012. Where is he from anyways?? Hawaii ?? Chicago?? Or Washington?? Seems like he is always jumping on somebody's bandwagon.
He should stick to his pot smoking if it will make him a more efficient president.
Uhh, can I get some of the stuff YOUR smoking?
Ok then, if you and anyone have a problem of how this president (or any past presidents) is running this country, then maybe you should go ahead and run and see if you could do better. How about relying less on 'man' and rely more on God, or any other higher power of your choosing. And if you're an atheist, then just do something else better than whining about Obama this and Obama that.
We don't have a president. The Liberals have given the US the first monkey to occupy the White House. Obama eats bananas and makes no decisions. He occasionally plays golf and throws WH parties. He makes no decisions! He is the leader of the Democrats. You don't have to make decisions with Democrats around. Everything stinks in that environment. It is a choice between bad and bad and bad and bad! The country is a mess and the Japan earthquake is making the US a further mess because it has no leader. The people should draft Bush and throw Obama out on the street!
Wow, it must suck to be you....anyone who would waste their keystrokes typing such vitriolic bile is clearly filled with the type of hate and venom that spills into every other aspect of his life and ruins it...."I can feel the conflict inside you. Let go of your hate (Darth)"
troll?
You must live in the sticks to make a comment like that. Bush really!?!?!?!?! get off the computer and do your homework little one, dinner will be ready soon.
Ken, take your meds and shut up.
Yes, he was a strong character when i believed him and voted for him. He has turned out to be a weak sissy.
Face the facts we are on our own. Our Government has failed and no one does anything about it. Final Four Whew!
Dane is wise.
Calm down Turbo.. It will be ok.. All you gahls & gents will find anything to bash Obama with and I'm pretty sure you all are the same idiots who got that retard another term 7 years ago.. all of you, go play in traffic and don't come back until something hits you.. Thanks ((:
I find it amusing that when someone says something negative about Obama people talk about Bush. Bush is history so lets deal with present day situations.
Obama is in over his head. I voted for him with all the promises but must say I am very disappointed that the walk does not match the talk.
If I were in his shoes I would find some place far from the lime light to do this. To make a public spectacle of it when the world is descending into chaos just makes him look ambivalent to crises.
Life is NOT all politics even for the president. Let the guy have a life and stop being judgemental. "judge not lest you be judged" !
I do care... such an intelligent, caring person.
Agreed. Your illustrious, swaggering, swell-headed, unqualified nincompoop of a "president" has more interest in the NCAA and a fun trip to Rio than dealing with the tail-spinning American economy and multiple global disasters.
Ellie, the President didn't lose thos jobs or screw up the economy, in fact he saved the economy and the free-market system you so cherish. Why aren't you asking those who are responsible for screwing up the economy (the republicans, Wall Streeters, etc.) to create jobs?
The President also has a life. Why don't YOU worry about the economy, the middle east, Japan and all those other things for an hour and let the Prez take a break.
on vacation, according to the Washington Post, forty-two percent of the time.
...and the Washington Post is a liberal rag, and still points out Obama's laziness/idiocy.
I agree. Look it may take 10 mins or 15 but this shouldn't even be on his mind. People are dying defending their cities against a ruthless dictator in Libya, but we don't hear anything from Obama on this. It's a disgrace to humanity that he talks about football brackets. I'm a liberal but I really am disappointed in him on this.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk baby!
Federal employees are sternly warned every year NOT to fill out brackets or enter into any pools in the work place. I guess its the same old same old. Do as I say, not as I do.
It is kind of hilarious that people have a problem with this. Proof that they'll use anything they can to bash a good president.
OMG, what are all you folks doing wasting your time filling out these comments? Don't you have something better to do? I certainly hope you're not doing this at work? You might get fired (Not!) What about your family? Are you making enough money to feed them tonight or are you wasting time surfing the Net? My Gawd, what is this world coming to?? And I sure hope none of you play golf or go the beach this weekend or hang it with family and friends, not with the economy the way it is, that's just irresponsible!
Hello kettle, it's the pot calling.
My word people. The Man works 24/7 for 4 years straight. You're upset because he chose some basketball picks?! You need to get a life and not worry so much about his. I guarantee you, choosing a few teams or watching a few sports to unwind is not affecting his job performance. How 'bout you? Are you on the job right now as you complain about him?
New World Order 🙂
Maybe coming up with a budget that isn't in never never land, would be time better spent.
Couldn't agree more. Imagine if Bush enjoyed a fraction of the leisure activities that BO engages in? It is astounding how clueless BO really is – filling in his NCAA brackets, golfing, going on vacation, campaigning etc. while the Middle East is in chaos and Japan is suffering horrendously. He is so full of his clueless self he doesn't even know how wrong his actions are. He is so incompetent it is scary and I can't believe people were stu pid enough to fall for his BS.
Dog, to answer your question, I say yes we are. So, I have to find someone to vote for in 2012. Maybe Trump, Hannity, Beck, Bachman, Drudge, Rush. I listen to them every day and I think that any one of them would really look good and sound good discussing foreign policy, jobs policy, and health care. Which person would you pick? I need someone to help me decide. HELP!
Look out Khaddafy here we come! Just one of many jobs required by the pres – foreighn policy.
Concentrate on running the country and fixing the economy, you stupid jackass!!! Jimmy Carter looks like George Washington compared to this total dunce of a president. Friggin' GOOFBALL this guy is. Is is 2012 yet?
Is IT 2012 yet? Where's my coffee?
I so agree with you. Who cares who the President likes to win. We are in a war now with Libya, the destruction in Japan, millions of people out of work here and Mr. Nutjob taking his family on another vacation. Sure he is making deals in Latin America (and there is a Easter Bunny). The world must laugh at us.
So, how's that decision on Libyia coming?
It somewhere between his nightly basketball game and his afternoon beer I guess
Learn to spell bro. It's Libya. Not Libyia.
So, he spelled it wrong....... the country is going to stay f'ed up because we didn't help a little
You must excuse him. He just got off the school bus and his mommy hasn't given him his snack yet.
It's not up to him to decide alone. That is up to the UN.
Not a decision that can be made by the President.
I dare you to name all of the relevant variables (people, places, material), courses of action, resources (both needed and at the President's disposal), standard operating procedures, diplomatic procedures, international laws, etc. that need to be aligned before making such a decision. Then tell me how long it should to bring EACH of the issues to bare to the situation and then ask that same question.....((Cricket, Cricket))...Rrrright.
Sorry, Libya. Don't know. Don't claim to know. However, he should know. And, he hasn't shown that he does. He was caught off guard by Egypt. Didn't have any clue it was going to happen, didn't have any idea what to say, and he declared Mubarak had been overthown before it actually happened. And, he didn't support the rebellion until it looked like it was going to succeed. There's strong leadership. Now, he's bumbling Libya. He was caught off guard, got behind the rebellion when it looked like it would work. There's a leader. Now the rebellion is being squashed. B.O. and his UN can be thanked for that.
Really.......you don't think the President of the United States has a whole team working on each of those problems, ready to give him answers quickly, so he can make a decision before more people die..........A good LEADER sure would.....(cricket, cricket) lol
I don't think that people care so much about President Obama's intrest in sports, it's the lack of comment in regards to the other problems. From my chair it looks as if President Obama is coming across to "Larry Lunchbox" as being perhaps someplace between aloof and uneffected.
I swear, Obama could tie his shows and someone somewhere would have a problem with it.
No joke! While I'm not a fan of Obama's politics, I mean come on!? Does anyone literally spend 24×7 hours each week without trying to take a break? Let's be real about this; someone with the intense pressure of running a county probably needs to let off some stream here and there to avoid being so over-stressed that they make a poor decision they would not have otherwise chosen.
But wait. Isn't the president paid $400,000 (plus rockin' bene's) per year to work for us 24/7. Then, he's paid around $197,000 per year, every year, for the rest of his life! HELL YES. I expect him to work. I expect his every move to be scrutinized...just like the celebrities so many seem to idolize. If our politicians hadn't had such a hand in creating the mess we are in as a country, perhaps we citizens wouldn't expect as much of them when they're NEEDED!
@Cliff: Yeah, you expect the President President to work 24/7, but do you really expect him to be EFFECTIVE without having some time to just "enjoy" life? None of us can work a job devoid of any respite whatsoever without crashing and burning...If the President crashes and burns that has a direct effect on all of us and our national security....Celebrities... NOT so much....bad analogy.
THE 545 PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR AMERICA'S WOES!
Thought I would add this!
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then
campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are
against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the
politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and
high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I
don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The
House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress
does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't
control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court
justices – 545 human beings out of the 300 million – are directly, legally,
morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague
this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem
was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional
duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private
central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason They
have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a
congressman or a president to do one cotton- picking thing. I don't care if
they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the
power to accept or reject it.
No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility
to determine how he votes.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy
convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in
this common con regardless of party.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to
accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives
sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and
approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the speaker of the House?He is the leader of the majority party.
He and fellow Republicans not the president, can approve any budget they
want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto.
REPLACE THE SCOUNDRELS! It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300
million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted - by present facts –
of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to
defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people When
you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the
federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want
to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget
is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the
Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ and Afghanistan.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people
shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can
abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to
regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can
take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist
disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics"
that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone,
have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the
people who are their bosses – provided the voters have the gumption to
manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and
clean up their mess.
He is the president. He should be a leader. The citizens of the U.S. are yearning for leadership. There has been a void in real leadership since Reagan. In replying to your post Kevin, yes the people should be critical of Obama.....it comes with every leadership position. If you don't like it, or can't handle it, you can't handle the burdens of leadership and therefore, will never be a leader.
Ah person of reason, you are right, a leader SHOULD be able to handle the criticism and if you have seen interviews with him, Obama does an excellent job at almost laughing off the critics. And everyone seems to be a critic....
I have no problem criticizing our public officials. After all, that's how we keep them honest. But at some point the amount of criticism becomes absurd. He's the leader of the free world, but he's still human. So he likes basketball. Is he not allowed to have a hobby? And what value is there is criticizing something so trivial as his NCAA pics?
Is this how we hold our politician's feet to the fire? By complaining about their personal interest? How about we criticize him on the things he needs to be criticized on, like his lack of direction that he is giving our Congress, like the large debt, his confusing foreign policy stance, etc...
But his NCAA picks? Really?
I agree with most of what Kevin said. But I hate to break it to you guys (and everyone else who doesn't seem to truly understand the role of the President), It is NOT the President's job to provide leadership to the Congress. Per the Constitution, the Congress (Legislative Branch) and the Office of the President of the United States (along with the Supreme Court, the Judicial Branch) are CO-EQUAL branches of our government that are supposed to CHECK and BALANCE each other. It is NOT the President's job to craft or pass legislation. He can give suggestions on what he thinks needs to be done (which he does, and no matter what he suggests he gets criticized for it) and he can indicate whether he will sign or veto a bill that the Congress is considering, but the Congress has gotten lazy in that they want the President to do their job for them. No. They, themselves, are supposed to be LEADERS. The President's job is to EXECUTE and administer the laws that are ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, via his cabinet, and to update the Congress on the state of our country's affairs in the State of the Union Address. The only place where he can and should (and in my opinion does) show considerable leadership is as Commander-In-Chief AND in crafting treaties with foreign countries.... My apologies for "yelling with the caps" and for giving you a Governemnt 101 refresher, but I'm tired of people expecting the President to be some type of genie that they can rub a bottle and get what whatever they want from. A democracy is work. And we ALL have a responsibility to do our part. Endless bickering and infantile rants do nothing to propell our country forward. As for me I think Pres. Obama is doing a great job under the circumstances.
@XWngLady – Sounds like you are making excuses for his inability to lead.
Reagan was the laziest president since Harding. In the office by ten, a nap every afternoon, off duty at 5. What a role model.
Kevin, I bet you were one who complained every time Bush tied his shoes though.
It was a bit hard, that, what with the velcro straps and all.
The difference is, Bush was a terrible president. Probably the worst.
Yep. Some people will never be happy.
You are SO right. Everyone is good at pointing out what's wrong with him. Like anyone commenting on here has EVER been President and has the experience to say what he should or shouldn't be doing.
In a "leadership" role....perception is reality. Of course he needs a break every now and then however the "WHEN" he is choosing to take them is the question. When a nation is in the midst of a major catastophy and a potential nuclear disaster than could potentially impact our shores, he should be at his "post".
How does one tie SHOWS? You can't type one line without an error: no wonder you were smart enough to be his supporter. This president might make a great athletic supporter.
Hey Kev,
I'm going to back you up. It's like everything Obama does (eating, vacationing, pass gas, tie his shoes), people always have something to say. But of course, that's every leader. SMH. Go ahead and complain Obama haters. Complain all throughout 1/20/2016.
Yeah, I suspect that some are angry because he breathes oxygen. Libya-not in America's national interest: seriously do you really want us involved in another war in a Muslim country? Japan quake/tsunami/radiation–not his call. Jobs, Jobs, jobs,
If he tied his shoes, at least we'd see him working to some degree.
Wow.....
Did cnn just publish a story about Obama's basketball picks? Unbelievable! Ten thousand dead or missing in Japan, U.S. Gov't shutdown, Food Prices Soaring, Two wars, 10% unemployment, Debt that our grandkids will be burdened with costing them the quality of life we enjoy today.
AND OUR MEDIA IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT BASKETBALL PICKS OBAMA IS MAKING? SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS A DREAM
ANYONE?
But you read it...
Hey buddy, did you miss the whole half page of post-tsunami destruction on the main site? Or hell, any of a couple dozen popular stories that deal with any and more of the subjects you listed? Because of it is "real" news that you crave for, I can post some links if you'd like. Idiot.
Learn to read the front page of CNN. Those stories are there also. Go Pitt!
Captain Reason,
You spent all that time with that comment when there are wars hungry poverty earthquakes etc... the CNN people are doing there job reporting all the news all your doing is wasting time complaining. Go save the world don't stand on a soap box and tell everyone else how they should save the world.
I'm not the president.......my job is not to save the world. My job is to elect someone who will
Who edits these stories? How can he correctly pick one third of four teams?
I believe they are referring to his collective picks over the past several years, i.e. 4 out of 12.
previous 3 years, 1/3 of final 4 teams. 3 X 4 = 12/3 = 4...meaning he only chose 4 teams correctly in the past 3 years.
In the news today.....the world burns, fuel and food prices surge, the housing market worst in 27 years and....presiDONT Obama makes his NCAA picks! This guy is the WORST!!!!!!
LOL @ Dennish – As if you contribute more to this world than Obama.
You certainly contribute more hot air.
People are so funny. If we, as Americans, can pay attention to so many things happening in the world today, then why can't President Obama. The unrealistic, mundane image that some people perpetuate for our national leader is ridiculous.
Anyway, I'm happy that Obama has made his NCAA tournament picks. I would have rather seen him go with Ohio State this year, but we'll see what happens during March Madness.
Why is this a story? Save it for sports not the political page. It makes the president look like he's check out and more interested in sports than national or international affairs. Maybe in better times this would be appropriate, but not now, not in these times.
Talk about being disconnected from his responsibilities to the 'American' people.
He would fail miserably when playing virtual reality games; he is doing miserably in reality.
His fantasy health care and economics are an epic fail.
If we consider what he claimed during his campaign; he is on course for shy-rocketing energy cost and collapsing the economy.
For some reason we did not comprehend how real his campaign objectives would become and now we are dumbfounded that he actual is following though on his ill-will for America. What we are experiencing with his policies is so outrageous that we have to pinch ourselves to realize that this isn't a bad dream.
Nah.
PLEASE listen to someone other than Rush or Glenn Beck for a change. The idea that someone would run for President of the country because he or she wants to destroy it is beyond reason. I certainly don't believe for one minute that Obama wishes this country "ill-will", but IF that was really what Obama wanted to do, there are much more effective ways to do that, like, say, run an investment bank that causes a global economic meltdown by selling junky investments to the public, while at the same time, betting on those investments to fail and letting your "best clients" (a.k.a. most wealthy) in on the deal and shafting the rest of the country in the process. If you ask me, the people who did THAT are the ones who really want to destroy the country, not President Obama!
Unreal –
Do you not realize that Obama is just one player in the faction that set the stage for the financial meltdown?
Do you not remember the 2004 congressional hearings where flags were raised about the looming crisis; only those cognitive of what doom was ahead were scorned. Obama is of the very faction that was doing the scorning.
Do a search for: "2004 congressional hearings on fannie mae and freddie mac"
You are all idiots. Shouldn't you be working right now anyways. Or is it the presidents job to always work. Grow up and worry about real issues. Some americans look forward to the presidents opinion.
But he's not supposed to eat, drink, or sleep... LOL! Great comment!
Amen.
I think this overly-hyped "March Madness" is boring even without Obama's insight. I'd rather watch the President and all of his predecessors read from a teleprompter than watch meaningless college basketball games involving teams I have absolutely no affiliation with.
Yep, should have just went to college, Jon. It's so boring rooting for an even that happens once a year and is always full of excitement.
So many crises potentially affecting our country and the most lazy President ever in our history is picking teams. Un-freakin'-believable. Now I know I made a mistake...you are the most sorry excuse for a leader we've ever had.
Seriously, "the most lazy President" ever? How many vacation days has Obama taken compared to Bush? I may not agree with some of the decisions he has made, but I can't call him lazy under any circumstances.
At last count, Obama trailed Bush in vacation days 120 to 65.
@Bella... I believe you have lost the ability to be reasonable. And Obama's plug to that website to give aid has probably amounted to more charitable good than you could do in a lifetime.
I think those crisis will still be there after the 5 minutes it takes him to fill out a bracket. Do YOU take breaks throughout your day? I sure hope not, because then you'd be as bad as the President. GOD forbid he do something somewhat pleasant in this time of "crisis". How are YOU saving the world? Some people are way too critical about things that really shouldn't matter that much. Trust me, this doesn't create a life/death situation.
When did he become a college basketball expert? Who cares!
He was an expert on basketball at any level before you pretended to be a professional football player!
So no budget, High gas prices that where suppose to be helped knocked down by pulling oil out of reserves, hell in the middle east, Japan destroyed and we are concerned about this. Hmm the dems had a problem with bush doing things like this but it is okay for obama. Where is the news on all of this.
The budget is a congressional issue, oil reserves are for emergency drops in oil SUPPLY (not happened yet), working on middle east through U.N... oh but you're right about Japan why isn't Obama fixing the nuclear reactors, cleaning up the debris and rescuing those that are trapped??? We either have a lousy president or a BRAIN DEAD BUNCH OF CITIZENS!!
Did anyone think that maybe this how Obama unwinds at the end of the day? He's stuck with some pretty hard decisions right now and he probably sat down a few days ago to do this. When you look at what's on his plate right now between the economy, healthcare, the Middle East, Japan, etc... the list really goes on for awhile. Maybe picking his Final Four bracket is how he doesn't just get up and go "Forget this, I quit!" I don't blame the man at all either. Everyone whether they are a garbage man or a the president needs a moment to unwind and I'm sticking by my opinion that this is what Obama did with his NCAA bracket... same as every other president has probably done, but I'm sure people forget that sort of stuff.
VERY well said!!
You mean "forget it, I quit" like Sexy Sarah did?
Um who care about his March madness picks? This is hardly newsworthy. I am more concerned, about Libya, North Africa, the Middle East, China, and Japan. I would much rather read about what he is doing to correct those problems over some stupid game. We have so much crap both domestically and internationally who cares. This is ridiculous.
Sounds like you have your head on straight. Do not lose that to the inept press.
Judging by the abundance of comments, I would say quite a few people are concerned. Including you. Let's not act like we are "above the fray" when our presence here demonstrates otherwise.
Then why did you waste your time reading this article? You read the headline, so you obviously knew what it was about and then you felt the need to comment?! Really?!
?? Who cares about basketball – Libya, Japan, Middle East and all that trash. Why isn't Obama doing anything about what is hurting Americans – IN THIS COUNTRY!!! What – is this the new ObamaDontCare? I am about as liberal as they come and even went out into my community to stump for him but this guy is a one term president. What, is Karl Rove his primary advisor now? Are all of his advisors seedy slimeballs? Really – who needs the government. Grabs most of my paycheck and get nothing in return.
rooooock chaaaalk jaaaayhawk – KU!
Rock Chalk Chicken Hawk......
Obama is in bed with you Lawrence liberal wusses, I think he likes your athletic program becuase it is ran like the white house...bunch of crooks that steel from their own fans with bogus ticket sales.
Amazing how people have forgotten everything that went south under George Bush and now talk about Obama as being "the worst president ever" blah blah blah. Now, he can't even make a harmless sports pick without Drudge headlining how
boring the pick is! I wouldn't want to be President for the world. People just want you destroyed from day one.
Obozo is worse than Bush.
Bullh*t Jimbo. Bush lies to get us into war. He's the worst in history.
I'd say they're both idiots, and equally as terrible as leaders, just in different ways.
Give the man a break! The idea in sports for most people is to have a fun distraction occasionally in life. Workaholics burn out!
I'm sorry......I forgot the President should have no simple pleasures in his life. Get over it people. If the President wants to watch a ballgame, by all means, let him do it. He's not like the rest of you bums who only work 40 hours a week, and then spend the rest of your time complaining about the President playing basketball, golfing on occasion, or watching TV. Yikes. We are definitely a poor, poor, pompous society.
Ditto
Obama is a damn joke... he is proving to be the biggest mistake that this country has ever made outside of Carter and GW... the guy is in way over his head, he's completly inept, and he has failed to lead on all fronts, except for punishing the people who actually get up and go to work... he seems to enjoy redistributing our paychecks in the form of entitlements!
Did you graduate from Elementary school?
You are a tool.
I risked my life for 351 days in the 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Chu Lai, Southvietnam, 1968-1969. I survived that bullshit, but it's people like you that scare the hell out of me.
Don't like the president? Suck it up. He's OUR president. Improve what you can. I think it's great that he still expresses his care for sports. Do you enjoy anything outside of your career? Exactly. Again, SUCK IT UP.
This I have a problem with. I'm a supporter of Obama and think a lot of the crap he gets is very unjustified, but this..I have trouble swallowing. With the crisis in devastation in Japan, the crisis in Libya and the middle east, troops in two hostile countries and an economy that's very unstable I think for once he could say maybe now is not the time for the president to be concerned about college basketball.
nobody cares about obama's pick of ncaa basketball team. we deeply care about his policy on gas price, jobs, and the economy. okay???
I wasn't aware you spoke for everybody. We have got to meet.
Is this really news? C'mon CNN. Starting to look a lot like Fox.
Quite honestly, I also think this year will go to form for the most part, especially in the later rounds. There are not any phenomenal teams, but the one seeds are pretty solid up and down and play consistently.
To MikeBell:
Please formal rational, cohesive, and truthful sentences. Stop rambling, and cite actual evidence rather then spitting back out negative rhetoric.
Why do you consider his healthcare plan an epic fail?
What economic policies do you disagree with?
You'll do yourself a great service and everyone else if you cite actual news/facts rather than complaining about Obummer and his so-called hate for America
gotta love the anti obama hateful comments. just more ignorant drivel from the gang that has been wrong on nearly everything for the last decade.....
I don't generally agree with some of the things the President does, but come on. Taking a little time out of the day to fill out a bracket is not that big of a deal. He can't just be a robot all day and forget about having some fun every now and then. Relax a little bit America. It's not like you are doing anything at work right now anyway.
When are you morons going to stop making excuses for this incompentence? Talk about ROBOTS!!!!
Get back to work, Obama!
the reporter says he only picked the tournament champions once like its something easy to do
When we voted in 2008 we should have paid more attention to his substance than his novelty.
Over half of us did. Or were you too in love with Palin to cast a vote for the BETTER candidate?
On the one hand, is this really an apt priority for the president right now? On the other hand, I guess it's comforting to know he didn't invest a lot of time into forming his own opinions about who would win. Bottom line is: who cares?
WTF???
Were the media not still stroking themselves over this guy, they might refer to this as Obama's "We're gonna git those terrorists...now watch me hit this drive" moment.
Its not Obama's picks that are the problem, its College basketball this year! Its been boring as hell, if there are any true die hard college hoops fans, then you know his bracket is pretty dead on.
Wouldn't a REAL Democrat ask all the rich schools to give their best players to the worst schools so that the worst schools can even compete?
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome post!! So true
I rather have a president that takes time off to enjoy life, like regular folks. Not like others that fool the public by pretending to work
Are you kidding me? Aren't you supposed to be leading a nation? Instead of playing golf and making mindless basketball picks, there are serious issues at hand and you don't seem to give a hoot about any of it!!!! 2012 cannot come fast enough! TRULY PATHETIC!!!
It's hilarious to see rightwingnuttia get so hyper about the 15 minutes it took this president to pick his bracket. I wonder how many of the same howled when George W. Bush said "Now... watch this drive..."
To paraphrase Hillary Clinton... If President Obama walked on water, some right wing nuts would complain that he couldn't swim.
Well said. The right wing spittle spewers will attack the President over anything no matter how small.
Should we be surprised? The worlds trying to turn upside down and this Idiot is worried about Basketball, Golf, Having Parties and going on a Vacation. Amazing
I love how the fact that the President filled out a bracket is used as a jump off to criticize his domestic and foreign policy decisions, as if filling out a bracket has completely consumed his attention over more important matters.
Using the same logic, are you ready to admit that filling out a bracket has severely affected your work performance at your job (assuming you have one)? Or better yet, do you admit that doing ANYTHING non-work related always negatively affects job performance?
Let's not be absurd.
Are you F***ing kidding me?? With all the problems (domestic and foreign) we're facing, he's making his picks who will win a basketball tournament? Never have I seen a US President having his priorities up-side-down. Obama has become a joke as President. The world view America as a joke under his watch. LEAD for crying out loud. AMERICA...this is the CHANGE you asked and got. How sad.
No need ot start swearing. By the name I could only imagine that you were not only Pro-Bush, but a solid conservative who wishes to oust our current President. So quickly do we forget that his competition felt the economy was fine.
Amen!!!
You must've been asleep for the 8 years prior to our current president taking office, let me tell you, those were some some very telling times about America's priorities.
Ha.. Bill.. Your funny.. You must be a 3 year old toddler who was a twinkle in his father's eyes until Obama took office.. Go play in traffic good sir, go play in traffic
Pathetic this is taking up a headline space with all that is going on.
He can fill out a bracket but he should be aware of appearances and not allow it to be as much an event this year when other situations like the ones already mentioned are taking place. Unfortunately, people view our level of concern and compassion via our elected officials and when during war, floods, dictators killing citizens and nuclear meltdowns POTUS is featured selecting college games or golfing as often as he does it sends a bad message plain and simple.
I really cannot take much from these comments considering a great deal of people feel that the President should be more concern with political issues rather than being "human." It's is encouraging for this reader to hear and see that the President still takes time to enjoy activities that he had enjoyed prior to becoming our Commander in Chief. I would really like to hear more about what he does to unwind from such stressful events like the one in Libya. No need to make a tough job more difficult by stressing over what all the critics are saying.
I'm so sick of hearing b**** about shouldn't he be worrying about this or thinking about that and of course he's "paying attention" to what's going on (funny how every country but ours was mentioned) ..EVERYBODY needs a breather, even the pres...jc it shows that the man is actually HUMAN and down to earth, he likes sports, give him a break. Considering what a mess that idiot Bush created, I think he's doing pretty decent.
Really? People are complaining because another American is taking part in an American pastime? REALLY!?!? He's a bad president because he's watching basketball? WOW!!!!! I don't agree with everything the man does but how is watching a basketball game taking away from his duties as a US president?
Someone mentioned Reagan. He was an actor and an athlete! You don't think he didn't watch the tourney!?! Only difference is the way media is handled today.
People complaining about this really REALLY need to get something better. I didn't realize watching basketball or sports in general was such a detriment to you getting your job done.
Bottom line... just because he takes 20 minutes to fill out a bracket or even 2 hours to watch a game doesn't mean he isn't constantly on top of situations foreign and domestic. Some people need to be much more realistic.
When Bush was in office... all people did was complain... now Obama's in office... all people do is complain... I got a fricken idea... IF YOU ARE SO F'N SMART & YOU KNOW how to solve a 14 TRILLION DOLLAR deficit & at the same time keep the USA military presence around the world without reducing our protection to our allies in Europe & Asia... BE MY GUEST!!!
There is no solution to the problem until the entire USA decides to operate differently around the world but status quo is just going to increase USA debt until the dollar becomes worthless... God said it would happen.... Greed runs our country instead of Honor.
He cant seem to get anything else right, so why on earth would anyone care at all what his picks are. They certainly wont be right either and besides, he has much more important things to do.......like at least start ACTING like our president. Cant wait until 2012 and this idiot has to pack up and move out.
LOL @ Tom – yeah, Obama's the idiot, you're the GENIUS posting snide remarks on CNN
Jason, the president could have solved world hunger in the 15 minutes he took to fill out his bracket? You sound like a fool. You probably think W was a good president too.
Methinks that was sarcasm dude...Jason, next time don't forget the /sarc
This is an article in the Sports section. Take your political views elsewhere. Preferably out of the country.
When I started reading these comments I had to start laughing, sincerely I thought these whiners were just pulling my leg with assinine complaints. These are the funniest comments I have heard since 3rd grade. Thanks for the laughs. I was not surprised with his KU pick, afterall his mother was born and raised in El Dorado Kansas about 15 miles East of Wichita, Kansas home of the original Boeing B1B airplanes from World War fame. I think even his grandmother worked at Boeing. I will let you Birthers find some way to twist that. KU is in Lawrence Kansas 3 hours from Wichita and the home of the man who literally invented the game of basketball. Home of Mr Naismith, Allen fieldhouse and the original rules of basketball. Go Obama and Kansas Jayhawks !!!
who cares. don't we as a country have more issues to deal with than the finial four. are you kidding me! let's start by not letting our senators or congressmen desiding what would be a good location for a new power plant? someone tell me how any of them can be qualifided to make this disscesion. please someone explane?
what is moderation
It has to do with spelling and reading comprehension. You wouldn't understand.
Well on one hand I would like to give somewhat congrats on their coverage of stuff outside of the US..No really nice coverage in egypt, Libya, Japan .. even though I may not share your liberal slant at least you covered it well. Now the bad. How is it that these past few weeks you have totally totally gone inthe tank for ODrama. I mean this stiff is either golfing, attending and picking basketball brackets, or shilling for his union buds. While the world is litteraly self destructing. US stature around the world is now as a joke. our allies can't count on us, You have a perfect time to reach out in the middle east and you stand on by and do nothing.Really that is how a country as great as ours behaves.. embarrassing is what I call it. IT goes back to the bare facts. This mormon couldn't lead if he was the only one around.
From a guy and party who promised transparency. I would say he is keeping to his promise. He is transforming America has anyone wondered why all the sudden the unions are fiscally stable now and every body and their dad knows that spending nearly a trillon dollars did nothing for us.. but I don't see anyone asking .. where then did the money go. .I would like to know.. I think while he is playing you for a fool that they quietly have redistributed that money into their pockets.. I think there should be an all out investigation .. where is our money.. no talk action
I find it damn funny that Republicans are saying that the President should pay attention to the job instead of basketball, when their oft-stated position is to block and opposed his every effort in the first place. Also, they call him inept, but give Palin a 58% favorably rating. When these kinds of inconsistencies are cleared up (opposing birth control and sex education while cutting social services and educational programs that will support the resulting kids; tax cuts for the ultra rich while cutting salaries and benefits for the middle class, etc.), I will consider supporting you. Until then, common sense keeps me from closing the curtain and selecting (R) candidates. My conscience won't let me.
President Obama is AT LEAST 10 TMES more detail oriented and engaged as the hero-President of the Right Wing, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
If you didn`t complain about Ronnie for nodding off during Cabinet meetings, WHICH HE DID, spare me your FAKE outrage at Obama`s NCAA bracketology. If you don`t condemn 40, you have to love 44
It sure beats Reagan`s use of astrology to make decisions.
The fall of communism as we knew it and the end of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall destroyed, almost unlimited wealth creation... yeah, that Reagan sure was stupid.
Mostly we're upset at his other picks. EPA, Obamacare, Ms. Warren without senate confirmation, and government ownership/increased regulation of business. Those are the picks that are hurting us, the small guys and gals.
Really? You're being hurt by the EPA? Really? Please cite some specifics. Ought to be good for a laugh.
Honestly, do all of you spend every minute of your "awake" time focusing on your job? Yes, he is the President, so he has a bigger job to do, I realize that, but he does work significantly more than any of us on daily basis. And he takes 30 minutes of his time to do something fun, and he gets blasted for it. It seems like everyone is looking for any excuse to insult this man.
It is fluff. Get over it.
How dare he do anyting besides solve the world's problems??? No eating, sleeping, using the bathroom or even talking to his family or fill out a BB bracket until he fixes everything W screwed up...I bet most of you whiners responded to this story while you were at work. How come you're not working like you want our president to do? OBAMA 20120!
good to know there's at least some thing the president can decide on
Did all you finger pointers complain the same way when bush sat there for 12 min. after we were attacked on 9/11 and
read a book to school kids. That man set a record for vacation time as this country spun out of his control. As if he was ever really into the job. It's a bracket of basketball picks people. That's all. You just don't like the guy. I get it. I don't like
everything everyone else does either, but, he for the most part is still trying to address problems that were here before
he took office. If you all can do better, believe me, we're waiting.
The world is burning, and our 3rd World President is too consumed with March Madness, golf and vacations to care. November 2012 can't get here soon enough!
Wow both racist and ignorant in a single short post. You must be so proud.
You wouldn't be allowed to wash PaulBegala's underwear!! Real witty.
This is the most pathetic president we have ever had- in the history of the nation. weakling, liar and a hipocrite. The mideast is a mess and this bum is predicting hoops games.
Bugsy, Obama is the worst president because he's a liar? Umm did you happen to be in a coma the last 8 years or did you not pay attention to the pathelogical BS artist we had in office. WMDs? Ring any bells? Probably not, go get an education and stop regurgitating Rush Limbaugh quotes from today's show.
"The last act of any official government is to loot the treasury" – George Washington
Doesn't it feel like this is what our govt is doing now? Milking this country dry so that they and all their friends get rich until the cow keels over and dies.
Keep picking basketball teams and taking vacations obama. No one expected much from you anyways.
bum president
Wow, I think since everyone is flaming the President for being human and using 15 minutes of his time to fill out a bracket, he should:
-not be allowed to spend time with his kids
-not exceed five minutes per meal
-not sleep for more than a few hours a day
-not make love to his wife
-be allowed only five minutes to go to the bathroom
-should only stay at the White House and not attend any sort of political events
-limited time to brush and floss his teeth
-no vacations
-not allowed to get sick
-no more smoke breaks
-have a bald head to cut down on grooming and styling time
Doing so would allow him to focus solely on the economy, health care, Libya, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Egypt, China, oil, the environment. Hell, why not make the President a robot?
Even Obama deserves a break and time to be human.
News reports say that the Tea-Party pick is even more boring. Sources say the Tea-Party backs BYU, since coffee and sex are illegal at their school!
Touche!
Yes the world is going to end because he takes 5 minutes to fill out a tournament bracket. Im pretty sure that people dont want to deal with neagtive issues all day everyday. Is it so wrong that the man wants 5 minutes to have some fun and not have to deal with everything else that is going on in the world?
I wonder why no one cares what the Pope's picks are? I mean, shouldn't all of our important world leaders be weighing in on this terribly important exercise?
I'll bet 10-1 the president is more organized, more productive, and more efficient and effective with his time and works harder then anyone on this comment board
Let him have his break
Lincoln had the theater, Teddy Roosevelt had the wilderness, Clinton had McDonald's, and they all managed to do an effective job
Grow up
How dare he do anyting besides solve the world's problems??? No eating, sleeping, using the bathroom or even talking to his family or fill out a BB bracket until he fixes everything W screwed up...I bet most of you whiners responded to this story while you were at work. How come you're not working like you want our president to do? OBAMA 2012!
I feel somewhat embarrassed making what I hope is a short response, or comment towards earlier comments posted here. Jeepers, creepers, the man takes 2 minutes, probably less, to respond to a reporter about his "March Madness" picks and you get a slough of people bantering he "doesn't have his priorities striaght." I do not fear Barrack Obama, it is this mass of highly polarized, opinionated people that scares the hell out of me.
I can only imagine how the Fox network and the Drudge Report is reporting this.
Thank you compadre!
The real crime here is picking all the number 1 seeds.
Mr. Prez fills out a bracket and the world goes awry? If Newt were in office, he'd be at the Mayflower Hotel in DC taking care of a different type of business – Tea Party Style. . .
Since all these problems in the world today are way over Obama's head, why don't we all cancel all music, sports, movies, and ban board games, and unnecessary websites so we can all get to work and fix this mess. Everyone, put down your mouse and do what you can until every problem is solved. Go pick up the trash outside if you think there's nothing you can do, and don't take a moment's rest until problem solved.
Tea Party candidate will run as 3rd Party in 2012. This will dilute the 30 – 35% who planned to vote against Obama. He will win a second term easier than the 1st. Going against the zany team of Gengrich/Bachman, you can pretty much bet on it.
Unfortunately you may be right
You generally won't find me extolling the virtues of our Commander in Chief, but damn some of these comments are ridiculous. Can't believe anyone honestly thinks this would be any bit of a distraction from the daily presidential duties. How about let the guy have 15 minutes of down time once or twice a week.
i voted for him. i say get your butt in the president's chair and reassure this country you're doing some about the nuclear power plant "picks" and they are winners or losers.
It's Obama's callous attitude he has displayed towards the Japan crisis that has me irked. He could at least act like he cares and cancel his ESPN segment.
To GMan57 You called the president a "Mormon" I think you meant to use the word "moron". I can understand why you don't understand a lot of things and to Bugsby....you call Obama the worst President we have ever had....How do you spell Richard Nixon/Agnew ? I spell it...... IMPEACHED
Clinton was also impeached.
Niiiiice.......thanks for educating these fools
God forbid the President enjoys an American sport made up of college students. I know the right doesn't believe in education, but at least give everyone the enjoyment of basketball.
Sounds like the Campaigner-in-Chief will have to set up his game if he wants a sportscaster job in 2013 after he loses the next election.
Japan in crisis. Ghaddafi forces pounding rebels to oblivion. No jobs in America. This is what the Apologizer in Chief thinks we need to hear from him?
March Madness indeed.
Whiners!!! All u people crying about obama making picks because he should be focused on japan,etc,etc. Maybe u shouldn't be making comments about obama and should be focused on getting a real life. You people are pathetic!!!!
It's about perception people. Obama looks detached and aloof about all the serious stuff currently going on. Those of you defending Obama about this, please at least admit you'd be hyperventilating if Bush behaved in the same manner under similar circumstances.
As a former basketball player and personal fan, I don't believe the President is "playing it safe" in his basketball selections. He and the rest of the basketball fan community are making the same selections. He's just giving his personal opinion on who he believes will take the championship....and when he picked Duke HE PICKED RIGHT!!!!! Why does it have to be a "boring" or "predictable" selection when its HIS selection? Why so much scrutiny about his opinion? Why so much "hatin'" on a black man with power?! If its not about that, then make an article, have a segment on the news, and make that much fuss about someone else's views on the NCAA Championship. Go ask a professional golf player who he thinks will take all. We the American people are tired of the "Obama Haters", ESPECIALLY for you to go as far as criticizing his opinion on BASKETBALL?! There are so much more and IMPORTANT topics to be concerned about. Bah! Pick on someone new!
Are people really crying about this? If you have a problem with this you are insane. EVERY PRESIDENT HAS DONE IT. Btw...it literally took me 2 minutes to fill out my bracket. Do you think he would solve the crisis in Japan, Libya, Haiti, this country, in the few minutes it took for him to do this? Maybe he should wear an adult diaper and just relieve himself in the diaper so he doesn't leave the oval office? How about a tube that goes directly to his stomach to give him nutrition so he doesn't waste any time eating? You people are ridiculous
Thank god Obama has his priorities straight. Sports definitely trumps helping out rebels that are being massacred fighting for democracy. God forbid he actually spend his time establishing a no fly zone rather than di@king around talking about basketball. America-where sports is more important than preventing the slaughter of people worldwide.
Please... like non of you Obama haters ever play the NCAA tourney brackets or fantasy sports at your jobs – hypocrites! All job need to have some kind of recreation to lift moral and reduce stress. I sure if Reagan had a sports pool going during his admin, you would be playing alongside with him. I know picked Kansas and Duke for the NCAA Championship with Kansas winning it all.
who's cares, maybe espn will give him a job, he's no good at the one he's got
I like President Obama. I'm proud I voted for him. Dew, I bet you are a nothing who has done nothing to contribute to mankind's embetterment. Who do you think you are, big achiever?
I think things going on around the the world are way moree important,than basketball,,what the hell,,people are dying all he cares about is BS.....come on Obama get a clue.....
Perhaps Obama should spend MORE time on basketball picks. Our country would be much better off.
I think its funny that everyone is bashing on a man that filled out a bracket.... i can say i filled one out yesterday and i also filled another out this morning.... before i went to work while drinking coffee...... OMG thats crazy cuz i should have done something more productive with my 15 minutes in the morning before going to my job. Also i am looking at CNN and i dunno which CNN.COM you all are looking at but mine is FILLED with news about/from Japan and all about that Ghadafi(spelling) guy and Libya... there is one little thing in blue that said this about OBAMA..... i had to actually look for it
YOU ALL ARE LAME and have nothing better to do so you complain..... all i can do is laugh!!! well now i waster another 15 minutes.... BETTER get back to my 9-5 job!!!!
I don't care who he picks. Just do the job you were elected for.
People rarely care about the NBA and college basketball. Who gives a ****
I didn't and probably won't vote for Obama, but why are people upset at him for filling out an NCAA bracket? I think it's cool that he stays rooted as a real person and expresses personal interest. He's a busy man, let him fill out a bracket and watch some football. Sheesh.
When Obama decided to run tor President of the United States, he ceased to become a regular person. One of his main election promises to to restore America's respect throughout the world. Do you think he has done that? If you were an average citizen in Tripoli, Cairo, or Tokyo, extremely concerned about your country and wondering if anyone was coming to assist and then you see the President of the greatest country in the world filling out a NCAA March Madness bracket? How is that restoring America's credibility? It just seems odd that we are just sitting around waiting for these places to explode.
Latest "Hope and Change" update:
According to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, March 13, 72% of voters now say the country is heading down the wrong track, also at its highest level since before the inauguration.
what a waste pres odumbo is
How can anyone seriously fill out a bracket and expect to do well by always picking the highest seed?! This is Classic Rookie Mistake #1. Seeds are for figuring out who will most LIKELY win, but its never a guarantee! That strategy usually knocks you way out of the running by the first round. Do some research, gamble, and go for the win!
By the way, I love how people have nothing better to do than have annoymous political arguments on the CNN forums; reading them makes me feel so much better about myself. 🙂
First Obama did not send the military to Japan... the military has been there since WWII. Also, he did not put together a team of nuclear specialists. He has been silent about Japan's nuclear crisis. The world is crumbling around us and he should at least appear concerned. He gave tremendous speeches overseas... in Germany and in Egypt, only to turn his back on the people around the world seeking freedom. Message to the world... don't count on US.
Just because he is 1/2 black does not make him good at basketball.
seriously? This is was cnn has to report. I don't care that Obama fills out a bracket but don't make it a national headline. Get back to work Obama! The world doesn't need to know how your final 4 picks are!!
Uhh, the point of filling out the brackets is to WIN or to get them right, not to excite or impress anybody. If predictable wins, then so be it........“PREDICTABLE” was how the Drudge Report described President Obama’s final four picks...called them downright “boring.”.....Should be called the Dumb Report.
So what? Predictable is what it's supposed to be. You pick who you think is going to win.
wow, they really do criticize everything this guy does.
You republicans are hopeless. You need to atleast be on firm ground when you criticize a president. You are going to criticize a sports loving president for filling a bracket! Waow are any of you going to give him credit for stabilizing the financial and job market. You do realize that he picked up the country when it was starting at abyss right. Sometimes it just makes me feel that of you who are criticizing are paid stooges of GOP. Nobody can be that stupid.
Im a republican and dont have a problem with this.... way to generalize though. Not everyone fits into a box.
Warran Harding is still the worst. He was corrupt. Obama's just incapable. Historical coincidence - both were senators before being elected President. In general, history teaches that senators make lousy Presidents.
WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW IS THIS NEWS???
It's all about him. Stupid really.
John Boener can't pick his nose - much less pick the final four. Obama is not just a fan - he has game - he can hit 3 pointers. None of the fat pigs in the Republican Party can do that.
If Obama walks on water his haters will say he is the worst swimmer ever. Carter invented FEMA, Retard-li-punks aka GOP tried to kill it except for 911 followed by Katrina made em slow down. Still bent on destroying what government is supposed to do except for maintaining the war machine Tea Pups want USA government services gone with.
Obama, Clinton, Carter, Johnson and the great Kennedy are the Fab Five; the best ever.
Pres. Obama, he is good at talking. But very bad at working or completing his proimises. If you Americans still believe in his words it is same as you give him more chane to destroy your country. Dont believe in him.. he is just a talkative president.. He has no idea how to solve the problems, how to rebuild the economies or the country.. He knows only how to spend his holiday..
Please give a president and other politicians who will declare war on the debt, the corruption of government, the unemployment, the overseas job loses, the buying of politicians by special interest groups.
Those who complain that Obama has time to have a clue about basketball strike me as people ready to dislike anything about Obama whatsoever. And to imagine that he's failed to be "productive" is absurd. You may not like what he does. But he does what he said we'd try to do, unlike the overreaching Republican state Governor's and congressmen, who are ramming through ideological projects that they (unlike Obama) did not campaign on.
Wow, didn't know that the President of the United States is responsible for every single problem in the world, regardless of laws, checks and balances, and borders. Then of course when he does attempt to do something half the people cry and whine. What rot.
Really? Really? Really?......Really? Are we really criticizing our president for taking a break to do something he likes?
Churchill took a nap every day even during the world war. When asked, "How can you take a nap (break)at a time like this" he replied, "how couldn't I?".
Also, republican opportunist, let's look back. Were you equally disgusted when at the time the planes hit the towers, Bush had spent more time away from the White House (Crawford, TX and elsewhere) than he had spent at the white house? Are you really being fair?
All presidents take breaks. Let's be real. This president likes basketball. Others liked golf, tennis, horseback riding, intern riding, etc.
There are some legitimate concerns about Obama like ALL presidents. Making an issue of this kills any credibility on serious issues.
President Obama is the most intelligent, sophisticated leader we have had in decades. Screw all of you who criticize him. Look at your own lives. What have you done to embetter mankind? Screw you, right wing dumb-arses.
Yes! What a leader! The world is burnings and this narcissist is giving final four pics. People think he is intelligent?!!! He is probably as clueless as Bush. This guy has no common sense. The world is falling apart and you should be a leader! What kind of leader does this? One term wonder!!!!!!!!!!!!
He probably spent 2 minutes on his bracket. All number 1 picks takes no thought at all. Shut up already.
johnny – does your tiny world include potshots at ALL politicians who do this?
I didn't think so.
OMG Obama spent 1 hour picking basketball favirotes. Now the whole world will collapse! OMG
Being the President of the United States is a position like no other on earth. It is not enough that he do the right thing, he must be seen to. He must be the spokesman of the nation and his "team" should be focused on making sure he is seen that way. Time and again , this President has demonstrated in his actions a severe disconnect with the mood of the country and the mood of the world. Whether he intends to or not he appears to dither and be indecisive. The communication from the various cabinet officials contradicts both him and other members of the team. His supporters spend far too much time blindly supporting him using tired and trite rhetoric. His critics are equally inane. Im not sure when the goverment of the United States became the equivalent of opposing football teams where there were good guys and bad . I find it disturbing that we label each other us and them. Nothing can come from this vitriolic approach to our problems but destruction. All of us should just grow up.
Obama's picks are boring and predictable because according to many, the NCAA tournament this year looks to be 'boring and predictable'
Sadly he is showing a lack of leadership. That the time the free world and the US needs a leader he is no where to be found.
But he is having fun.
Where is everyone getting 15 mins? It takes about 5 minutes tops to fill out a bracket. Jump off your high horse like just because he is the president, he shouldn't be able to enjoy anything ever. He can't do anything to prevent tsunamis from hitting Japan. You want him in the nuclear plant getting radiated to be satisfied? You people kill me. Grow up.
I'm sure he will find some reason to have another beer summit.
Boring picks? Who decides that? Mericans, you are so into yourselves, your a laughing stock, who should he have picked? Kim and Snooky? You have become a nation of clowns
Note to CNN: Folks, this is not why your parents paid for your j-school! This is not why you took all those reporting and writing classes! This is not why you learn to craft the truth in compelling but unbiased fashion.
In other words, THIS IS NOT NEWS!!!
Obama is a sports fan. So what? I'm sure George W Bush got asked his opinion about the best way to be a stupid cowboy. 2 different Presidents, 2 different tastes.
At least he knows what basketball is, unlike George W. Bush.
For me, its not the time that was wasted... its the mentality thats the problem. Its disrespectful to the Japanese.
Let the average people support average events... Be a leader Obama, and step up to the plate. It just feels a little like he has given up. ANd I don't blame him. No matter what he does, hes critiqued on an academic level. THat criticism is harder to take then the average oh he sucks... its demoralizing when intelligent people only scrutinize the bad.
Its not a leader we are missing, its respect for the leader that is missing. And when the expectations are lowered, people get used to them and lower their standards to them. I miss having a person to look up too. A leader that no matter the problem, gives the impression things will be alright, but the wear in Obamas face is transposed in his face, and I personally think that he hates his job....
And who was it again that beat Kansas last year? That's right, the University of Northern Iowa. Go Panthers!!!
Ditto! K. – 1974-76
The liberal left lambasted President Bush as an idiot and rightly so.
President Obama is goofing around with basket-brawl and a vaction in Rio when the world is burning down around our ears. The guy makes President Carter look positively competent.
By the bye, I'm not a registered republican, democrat or independent. As far as I'm concerned a pox on all of your houses. The point that I wanted to make is that the abject hypocracy of the liberal left and the irrelevant Main Stream Media is apparent.
people trash talking Obama are going after low hanging fruit. of course the President wastes his time on these things. The office has largely been ceremonial since it was created. Other than vetoing a couple bills, or threatening to so they aren't passed in the first place, the Presidential term is about face time in foreign nations and feel good PR for our government. That's why we vote in the idiots we tend to vote in, especially during an election where the President elected is from the other party than the sitting President. We would be better served to worry about the losers we vote in locally and the abuses by your school board than trying to lump all of societies woes on President Obama.
You guys wouldn't let the president take time to have a decent dump. My god the man works his ass off, and all he wants to do is take just a little time to participate in an American tradition of March Madness. You people who are bashing him are pathetic, really pathetic. My only complaint is that he has the wrong teams heading into the Elite Eight, but thats his choice. Outside of the bracket selection I say GOOD JOB PRESIDENT OBAMA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Republicans and Haters, I know you are very worried that the Honorable President Obama will win a second term and change this world for the better versus letting the republican cronies sell it to the highest bidder.
The President belongs to the human race and just like the rest of us he doesn't work 24 hours a day, slavery is over and I bet there is not one person who is free who does works 24 hours a day. Stop the jealousy and hate.
claudia,
you have no concept of leadership.
If everyone took history, especially about rome, they would read about Ceaser Maximus who used sports, games and puplic court cases with live torture and puplic exicutions to keep the roman citizens of track. Every country in the world use this ploy, to hide scandel and government under handness, and the counrties with more sports are always the place that hides the biggest secrets. The U.S. has the most telivized sporting events in the whole world. So stop watching sports and pay mind to you policical figures.
Mr. President as you can see you are the leader of a nation divided. You have my continued support as the American President and I for one am glad that you can take a moment to catch your breath, participate in an American tradition to keep your mind sane with all the turmoil and strife facing ALL of us. F*!K the haters!! GO 'HEELS!!
P.S. Mr. President also as an American citizen I would not mind that if at the end of your presidency you would give your detractors the middle finger and tell'em to stick it where the sun don't shine!!!
If Bush took time to make bowl predictions during the same circumstances, you liberals would be all over him. Teachers are losing jobs by the thousands in this country. Although all the problems are not Obama's fault, the perception that he is not mindful of this it is disturbing. Plus, he brags to be a tournament expert. He took more than 15 minutes.
A president that can actually pick a bracket. Shut up haters
Finally a president in tune with the country
GO HAWKS!
Rock chalk jayhawk..KU!
Michigan roads are the worst ever when is it going to end are we seriously that broke are we going to get money to fix vehicles this nuts
This is what a president does after he has done what he has completed his mission, by this I mean he has bankrupt America, ruined our relations with our Allies, gave the Blacks,Mexicans, Muslims,Terrorists,Illeagal Immagrents, and Al Quada a safe haven and the power that to do as they please anytime they please.. He had the chance to bring our troops home, but instead left them there where they cound'nt be a danger to his ultimate goal, and that is to destroy America from within. It is common knowledge that this Muslim Trash is a hate monger toward the white race and the American people. His favorite church is an all black Muslim hate preaching bunch of in side Terroerists!! While the hole time the American people have allowed this azz-hole to do whatever he wanted without fighting for their country,"YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED" for not doing something to stop him!! Well now you have lost your country to a bunch of money hungry and greedy foriengors.. And as for the "IKA" and the "KKK" are a bunch of ha
Hi guys, I'm really sorry about what just posted. I don't know if any one cares, but I've been having a lot of problems at home and my son is in the corps and I haven't heard from him in 2 weeks and I don't know if he's OK. Sometimes when I get angry and have a little too much to drink (LOL) I sometimes get mad at other people and at people who look different from me. but than when I wake up in the morning I realize that the Lord loves everyone and I am weak and when I am weak I should not lash out at others. JOHN 3:16
PS preach tolerance, live tolerance, love the lord, amen, love to all my muslim brothers and sisters, you keep working on you, i'll keep working on me
I am appalled that a human being has that much bigotry and hatred in their heart this is America for someone to write and spew words like this is crazy.
This stuff is engrained and generational no matter what this President says or does he will be hated by some, it is a disgrace but I am here to tell you he kept us from going into a depression and being on the bread line. From what I can see all segments and races in society are hurting because of no fault to President Obama. John McCain said the economy was sound so how soon do we forget who occupied the White House before this President.
If you are doing well you had better thank your God and fall on your knees because until you walk into the shoes of
others who are hurting you need to keep quiet. And you don't like President Obama because of the color of his skin his Mom was a white woman so what you are saying is plain stupid.
Had the media not made this a headline, it wouldn't matter - instead of highlighting and informing us about what our President is doing to help our country and the world, they choose to tell us about a bracket that any normal American enjoys completing. Get your facts straight, Obama has made changes and improvements despite the mess that Bush left behind.
You hate on the president that much? Most people pick #1 seeds because there is a reason they are #1 seeds.
Obama fills out his bracket as the world burns.
I had Florida instead of Pitt. Everybody needs to calm down about Obama. Let him pick his teams like any American. Because he is AMERICAN. To all the right wing crazies out there chill out, you're not helping either.
Let any one of you who is without taking a break for fun be the first to throw a stone at him. And if you throw you are as boring as Pres. Obama's picks.
Due to his love for the game of bb and his own college play I would expect him to once a year fill out his bracket. Its almost a national pasttime. He's in touch with the country. Why not a little relief during these hard times. Should he no longer tell a joke because it's takes time away from serious issiues? Do you want to take away his vacation time too? If so then you stop joking and don't take a vaction. It's time for us all to get serioius and stop wasting time typing these unproductive comments. Get to work.
First of all Helen Hull, obama did not bankrupt the country...u can thank George Bush, Jr. for that. As for your other statements, well they're just assinine! Obama had been given a sinking ship and has gotten blamed for everything that previous Presidents have done. This country is just as racist today as it was 60 years ago. White people are so narrow minded and unappreciative to the fact that blacks have pretty much built this country off the strength of their backs and get nothing but hatred and ridicule in return. Now everybody talkking about help Japan, Oh we love the Japanese...but when Haiti was in peril y'all bastards was hollering that they deserved what happened to them cause they had the good sense to fight for their own liberation and let's not forget that a large portion of Haiti is of the catholic religion and here it is Japan doesn't even acknowledge God or Jesus! White people give everybody a pass as long as they are not black! Y'all concern yourselves with stupid basketball games and
That is not a dumb final 4. And leave the obama alone he cant fix the economy in on day
It's pathetic that with everything going on in the world that this is news worthy or worse, that the President took time out to do this.
Yes, the President is allowed down time in order to do an effective job. However, he is the leader of our nation and must demonstrate leadership at all times.
The problem is not that he made picks, but that this is the first many of us have heard anything from him. My personal example: I was curious to see if the Pres had made any official comments on Japan, the potential meltdown, the economy or the middle east. This story was all I could find.
I realize this is just one example, but thats how leadership is demonstrated.
IIf Pres. Obama decline to fill out a bracket, you right wingers would accuse him of being an elitist. Give the guy a break for once.
Yes he is our leader but he is also a human being. When in times of stress in crisis any human being would look to something for comfort. This is something that he is doing as just a man, he has the right to do so. It's like saying if you are a manager at your job you are looked to, to be a leader. Then when you go home you can't just relax a little. The President isn't wasting time or not focusing on all the important things, Yes there are people suffering and who need rescuing but, WE ARE THERE ALREADY!! What else would you like him to do? Dress up in a hazmat suit and go to the nucular plant and help out?
Obama haters, please dont try to say picking a bracket that takes less than 30 minutes mean your not a good leader. Problems of the world is not Obama's fault. America was going downhill when Bush was in office. If some people would try to help instead of criticize the world would be a better place. Americans have much bigger problems than the president. He is only human not GOD!!!
qualifications for membership in the tea party. #1 must be a angry miserble person. #2 must love being a trouble maker. #3 most ims
portantly you must repeat talking points that we give you. Do not let truth,facts, or decency be a factor.
Has Obama been the greatest president? Nope, easy answer there, but he's easily been handed some of the worst problems any president has EVER had. Not only did he have a completely devastated economy, a huge deficit,two wars and an entire world who for the most part blamed America for the worlds economic climate (no, its just not here folks. Get over yourselves). Then he gets the BP oil spill, the Arizona shootings, the Haiti quake (raise your hands if forgot those poor people),a potential uprising in Iran, an actual uprising in Egypt, another one in Libya(and by the way, for those who think we should just help overthrow Ghadafi, do you think of the potential backlash of doing that? Maybe we get another Saddam Hussein situation, or maybe the Taliban uses that as more propaganda to continue to recruit. Either way, the WORST we can do is run in guns ablazing with our already stretched to the limit military forces). Now we have Japan, which is, again, an absolute crisis. But understand this, the government of Japan has been hesitant to accept a lot of help, something I'm sure many of you will pin squarely on Obama again. My point is this, with many of you, the guy can't win, he can't even sleep without being called a lazy foreigner. That's sad and incredibly pathetic. I'm neither a Democrat or a Republican, because I believe we need a combination from both of the parties to make this country tick, and all we get is childish infighting, and people choosing sides even if their side is wrong. Obama's healthcare plans aren't terrible, they just need to be reworked BY BOTH SIDES! I guarantee, if any of you had a life threatening illness and your insurance dropped you, you'd thank God this healthcare plan was in place. But since you're not dealing with that, your mentality is screw it and the people who need it, because you don't. Again, that's a sad self centered life. I do believe you reap what you sow, and hateful people will see that hate slapped back in their face one day, and I don't envy you. So if the POTUS wants to take 10 mins of one day to make some picks, go right ahead. He's human, not a non stop robot. Its no wonder every president goes grey or white haired in office, having to look out for the best interest of know-it-all-but-still-do-nothing-but-complain groups of morons.
You're exactly right.
What's the difference between filling our NCAA brackets and hosting championship teams at the White House while we are fighting two wars? Bush did it and Obama has done it. Doesn't mean he's neglecting his job.
This is why conservatives look like a bunch of losers and whiners, Conservatives, have lost all credibility. We know the game, too well, perhaps. No matter what Obama does the liars in the conservative media send out a message to their village idiots. Their willing idiots parrot the message. Chicken Little has nothing on the conservative media. Obama was coming for guns. How could Obama not have been born in Kenya, he's black? He Obama is black. He must follow Islam. You know; those blacks don't value lives. Obama wants death panels. We know your game and we are sicken watching it played too many times.
Like someone said up top... "If Obama ties his shoes, you CLOWNS have a problem with it"....
Is it me, or does Obama have absolutely no control over what stories CNN decides to put out there...
If you don't care what his picks for the NCAA is; You don't care!! Simple. What does that have to do with the job he is doing as a president... Some of u pple are sooooo freekin ignorant you can't see straight... Real asses I tell ya!
Even Hillary is calling it quits in 2012 due to Obama's indecisiveness on decision making. A pending nuclear holocaust, meltdown in Libya, and all the domestic troubles in the world wont keep Obama off the golf course for the 61st time since taking office. He fiddles as Rome burns.
Don't tell me that Sean Hannity never takes time off his job of jumping all over liberals to have some fun! Maybe some Paparazzo should follow him around and get pictures of him relaxing so we can dog him about not working his conservative blabber. Get real, Hannity, everyone should enjoy some fun in life–even the president of the United States!
This isn't a president, it's a community activist who cares nothing about what's going on in the world. I really don't care what the president (any of them) does in their spare time. I want them problem solving. Not running around on vacations, eating ribs, playing golf, picking B-ball, making racist judgements against local police....nevermind, I'm tired of typing.
We need a leader, not a HOOP! aficianado.
Dont you have a corn on the cob eating contest or something better to do?
...and also everyone on here is fascinated with Bush, yet there's so much finger-pointing about Conservatives (the good guys) being hateful and blah blah blah...
when was the last time you saw a Conservative event involved in burning, looting, and flipping cars?
Last time I checked, Obama was the President of the United States of AMERICA. March Madness is an American tradition, just like the Superbowl. Yall gonna whine this much when he makes picks for that too?
He's nothing if not a flaming jerk.
Good that this "March Madness" thing is nearly over. Those betting will have won or lost. Best of all, there finally will be other sports shown on TV! It would be better still if Obama were allowed to pick the winner and further televised playoffs were to be scrapped!
#326 Les well and simply put. Should we blame Bush for 9/11 since he was 'sitting on the job' in an elementary school with a bunch of children (or was he actually taking a class?) Of course not. There are many things that help make up a good leader and three of them are prioritizing, time management and having quality smart people around you. . I feel confident these three exist with Pres Obama. GO JAYHAWKS!!!
I Love it how you Obama butt kissers defend this president to the death. Clearly this country and this world is more messed up than 3 years ago. Obama can create a bracket all he wants of which I dont mind but why on TV. This president is the weakest, slowest, and most hypocritical president in all of history. a fish makes for a better president than this foolish bum. I just cant wait to hear all you Obama butt kissers whining about my comment.
No whining here. You will just have live in youre private tormented hell alone.
Are all of you Obama supportors brainwashed and have no mind?
Yes!
Look I hate the guy for his politics, but come on crying because of this...grow up.
I can list hundreds of reasons why I dont like him..this is not one of them. Really who cares.
Obama shouldnt celebrate Easter either. He should go in a shell until the world straighten its self out. The right wing haters think that when he cures cancer it should have been sooner then later. Bushs health wouldnt have survived what this president has had to go thru.
And you people think that his NCAA pics are newsworthy, but his total inability to do what is right for the good of the nation isn't. You definately earn the name LAMESTREAM media!
Many of you people complaining don't appear to be familiar with the seven (7) roles of a US President. They are:
1. Chief of State
2. Chief Executive
3. Chief Diplomat
4. Commander-In-Chief
5. Chief Legislator
6. Chief of Party
7. Chief Guardian of the Economy
NCAA picks would fall under the first one, right wing nut jobs….
As far as time of is concerned: Mr. Obama has spent much less time "on vacation" than his predecessor in his first year as president 26 versus 69…..
You folks are ignorant of the facts…...
LEADER OF THE LAND OF THE FREE.. he can do whatever he wants.& bush should've went&picked some damn games instead of gettin us in all of this mess,then given the problems to a BROTHER&ya'll complaining,whatever
Lets see now. Jesse Jackson said he wanted to cut off Obama's testicles. Al sharpton said he wasn't black enough to appeciate the struggle. Bill Clinton made racial remarks that the media made excuses for. Minister Fara initally said he was a tool of Isreal. Joe Biden said he was clean and articulate for a black man and Uncle Teddy said he was a Kennedy. That was because he wasn't sure if Daddy Joe had stayed true to the Kennedy tradition of nailing anything in a skirt in his younger days. Yet for some reason its Conservatives who are accused of being insensitive. Really folks, its time to put down the hot pockets and get out of the bath robes.
Wish he'd focus more on what's going on in Michigan and Wisconsin. Basketball is fun, but there are people who will be put in a position to decide between food and medicine who worked hard and now are having their pensions taxed.
There has been a lot of really stupid criticism of President Obama, but this has to be hands-down the stupidest. God forbid the president should do something fun for 5 minutes.
My only beef is with his picks. Of the teams he picked, only Pitt will make the Final 4.
It's so funny (gallow's humor) and actually really sad that some people can't see the forest for the trees...I myself was never angry or upset with good ole boy GWB when he was on vacation. I got upset every time he spoke because my consternation relative to his competence, or better yet, lack there of, was always validated... you know... "Better to remain silent and be thought the fool than to speak and remove all doubt"... ^_^
@ mikebell n scott I totally agree w u both @ mikebell I was saying the same exact thing during the campaigning. I'm a black union worker fl local500. When I spoke to my union brothers about the problems that I had with his intent, to take away our rights to bear arms nd, is plan to cripple the unions, to build a civilian military and so on. I was called a traitor asked if I was a republican( a pretty dirty word umongst us) and told I was a fool. When I said if he won he would make us wish 4 8 more years of lil bush.I was laughed @ even by my own mother. But after 3 months in office he made me feel like nostradomus
Lets just hope he's better at basketball picks than he has been at running the country.
I can not believe that there is nothing more important or interesting going on in the world to write about. Dig a little deeper Bonney you just might find something.
No matter what this President does, it is never good enough....good grief. Presidents are not machines, they are human beings. If he says lets go left, that's a problem, if he says let's go right, that is a problem...smh! Nothing he does will ever be good enough for some people. Shoot President Bush didn't do anything and no one complained about him. Just like President Bush continued reading with the kids when he was told that the twin towers had been hit....come on people. This is the problem now with this damn country, it's so full of hate. I'll continue to pray that God helps us come together instead of hating so much...
I think it's absolutely fine that he's filling out his brackets. But considering what is going on in the world and in our country right now, why in the heck is this NEWS?
WORST.PRESIDENT.EVER.
He is SO disconnected-this guy is a LOAD. Take your ugly wife to Rio with you..........
Quite frankly I don't give a hoot about anything he does. Contrary to what all of you Obamites think, our great country is weak in the eyes of the global community because of him, and that fact alone makes him dangerous. His term in office is doing this country irreparable harm. The truth is those who claim to be enlightened have actually been blinded by desperation. This Country is at a critical stage on history, God help us all if he here re-elected.
@Serene Blu; you're exactly right! These evil, treacherous, sabatoging, anti-Obama backstabbing, haters, made up their minds from the 'get go' that they would make him hate the day that he came up with the idea, that maybe he could be PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! 'A BLACK MAN OVER US WHITES? HELL NO! He won't have any peace'! They set up their strategy to perpetually undermine, rip-up, and pick-apart, this history-making, inciteful, tactful, diplomatic, intelligent, handsome, statesman, of a PRESIDENT!
@Nancee Egan; that comment is false, at the least generic! No real substance; and you're jealous, because I'd be willing to bet MICHELLE OBAMA looks waaaay better than you! Ask your husband; and make him tell you the truth! You folk are just EVIL!
@You're Stupid; Ok, NANCEE aka You're Stupid. I'll accept that! But I was taught from a child that stupid is as stupid does; so I don't see how my post to you came even close to associating me to stupidity! In fact it proved just the opposite! When stupid people run out of 'get back' or get 'shut down', Oh, then everybody else is stupid! Ok! Now tell me again; who's stupid? Don't coward out like the rest of the no-namers! I don't throw rocks and hide my hand! I say my name! Stupid, OK, but Scarry, NEVER!
Is this the right time for a NCAA pick. Come on everyone, you are all under looking the point here. It does not matter if his not the Pres of the U.S, but he needs to ask himself. "Is it the right now,go to a Sporting event over global devastation?" And ask yourselves , "Why are we having this conversation about the Pres picking out teams while people are starving in Japan, War is up Libya, global economy is in a meltdown?" All these little events about Obama this and that are overshadowing the truth. And the truth is, is that sit your priorities straight. Of course you can make a pick within 5-10 minutes, but what is to argue in that? That you are right that you can pick a draft within 5-10 minutes? Or is it that you of all people are fooling yourselves to cover your eyes and ears, turn your backs and pretend that EVERYthingi n this world is all RIGHT. And we can talk and argue all day about whose right and whose wrong, BUT None of it will solve the problems that are at hand. Need I say more?
Maybe, instead of devoting time to make his bracket picks, and then let everyone know about them, he should devote his time to the many crises around the world, like, for example, Libya and Japan... Maybe try and come up with a budget that makes a modicum of sense... He needs to figure out what his top priorities are, and I'm pretty sure basketball shouldn't be one of them.
Barack Hussein Obama should have sent a proxy to do his NCAA brackets, and he should have gone to Japan, instead of the other way around. Obama is the laziest president ever.
Doesn't anyone remember, that Obama canceled going to the funeral of Poland's President, to play golf!!
Obama has gone golfing 68 times since being elected, through March 15, 2011... that's over once every 2 weeks since his election, even if there's a crisis. How many times did Obama go golfing during the Gulf Oil Spill?? I'm just guessing, at least 3 times... it may be more.
With all the tornado destructions going on in the middle of the U.S., like in Joplin, Missouri... I wonder when Obama will actually visit them?? Or, will he just go golfing?
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