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Were Obama's Staffing Woes Foretold in Harry Potter?
I'm no fan of Harry Potter, but that didn't stop me from reading four-and-a-half books in J.K. Rowling's pseudo-literature series. One thing I remember very clearly is that every year, the Hogwarts wizard school has to keep replacing its teacher for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, because the professors keep dropping out or getting fired.
And then today I read about Judd Gregg withdrawing as Barack Obama's pick for Commerce secretary.
Technically, Gregg's surprising statement is only the second shock for the department, just one shy of the three-makes-a-trend rule that is standard in most newsrooms. But, it didn't take a genius to realize that after Gilderoy Lockhart's tragic withdrawal from Hogwarts in the Chamber of Secrets, the Dark Arts course would only be a temp job forever.
So who was professor Lockhart? Well, he was a teacher who claimed to have prevailed in numerous heroic acts, but never actually did. He was a fake, a total phony, who once said, "Fame is a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that."
Gregg isn't exactly a phony -- in fact, he's quite the opposite, telling Politico that the reason he pulled out from the White House was because he "couldn't be Judd Gregg."
"I've been my own person, and I began to wonder if I could be an effective team player," the senator said in the interview.
Come to think of it, there are more similarities between Gregg's and Lockhart's predecessors. Quirinus Quirrel, the first Dark Arts teacher, was heralded as a brilliant mind before it was revealed at the end of the Sorcerer's Stone that the dark lord, Voldemort, had somehow attached himself to the back of the professor's head and was trying to kill Harry.
Look at Bill Richardson, Obama's first pick for Commerce, who seemed to be the perfect man for the job -- a wealth of experience, knowledge and diplomacy fit for virtually any Cabinet post. Yet Richardson quit the process as an ethics investigation reared its own ugly head in the governor's home state, New Mexico.
Who will Obama look to now to fill one of his only remaining Cabinet slots? Playground rules would suggest someone so friendly that no one can have a problem with him or her, essentially casting the "alohomora" spell to unlock the door to the White House. Should Obama take a cue from the millionare "literary" author Rowling and search for his own Remus Lupin, the third Dark Arts professor who was favored by all and even helped Harry defeat the dementors (House Republicans)?
Perhaps. But the White House vetters should know that even the most charming of politicians can turn into werewolves when the sun goes down -- or when the stimulus bill goes up for a vote.
And then today I read about Judd Gregg withdrawing as Barack Obama's pick for Commerce secretary.
Technically, Gregg's surprising statement is only the second shock for the department, just one shy of the three-makes-a-trend rule that is standard in most newsrooms. But, it didn't take a genius to realize that after Gilderoy Lockhart's tragic withdrawal from Hogwarts in the Chamber of Secrets, the Dark Arts course would only be a temp job forever.So who was professor Lockhart? Well, he was a teacher who claimed to have prevailed in numerous heroic acts, but never actually did. He was a fake, a total phony, who once said, "Fame is a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that."
Gregg isn't exactly a phony -- in fact, he's quite the opposite, telling Politico that the reason he pulled out from the White House was because he "couldn't be Judd Gregg."
"I've been my own person, and I began to wonder if I could be an effective team player," the senator said in the interview.
Come to think of it, there are more similarities between Gregg's and Lockhart's predecessors. Quirinus Quirrel, the first Dark Arts teacher, was heralded as a brilliant mind before it was revealed at the end of the Sorcerer's Stone that the dark lord, Voldemort, had somehow attached himself to the back of the professor's head and was trying to kill Harry.
Look at Bill Richardson, Obama's first pick for Commerce, who seemed to be the perfect man for the job -- a wealth of experience, knowledge and diplomacy fit for virtually any Cabinet post. Yet Richardson quit the process as an ethics investigation reared its own ugly head in the governor's home state, New Mexico.
Who will Obama look to now to fill one of his only remaining Cabinet slots? Playground rules would suggest someone so friendly that no one can have a problem with him or her, essentially casting the "alohomora" spell to unlock the door to the White House. Should Obama take a cue from the millionare "literary" author Rowling and search for his own Remus Lupin, the third Dark Arts professor who was favored by all and even helped Harry defeat the dementors (House Republicans)?
Perhaps. But the White House vetters should know that even the most charming of politicians can turn into werewolves when the sun goes down -- or when the stimulus bill goes up for a vote.
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janking6
7:46AM 7:46AM Feb 13th 2009
More like the drummers in Spinal Tap...
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Angiebaby
9:41AM 9:41AM Feb 13th 2009
Man who keep one and a half feet in imaginary world and half of one foot in reality need daily medication, Grasshopper.
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Tammy Ashley
1:24PM 1:24PM Feb 13th 2009
It is so appropriate that anything revolving around Obama be compared with Harry Potter because thats all Obama and anyone connected with him is.
SMOKE & MIRRORS!!!
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Tight Scotswoman
2:39PM 2:39PM Feb 13th 2009
HOW TOTALLY ABSURD THAT SOMEONE WOULD THINK THAT A REAL-LIFE SITUATION IN OUR GOVT. WAS FORETOLD IN A BOOK OF FICTION.
THE AUTHOR WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF OUR PRESIDENT AT THE TIME SHE STARTED THESE BOOKS.
METHINKS THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE ATE ONE TOO MANY MAGIC MUSHROOMS OR INHERITED O'LEARY'S LIFETIME SUPPLY OF LSD.
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Common Sense
8:48PM 8:48PM Feb 15th 2009
ummm, you do realize that this post was written as a joke, right?
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Ken Green
3:13PM 3:13PM Feb 13th 2009
Put away your wizard cap, little Neggy. Yeah, we believe you're not a fan.
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nick
3:41PM 3:41PM Feb 13th 2009
To get into obamas cabinet all you have to do is make sure you kiss his ass and his hit mans ass Rahm. Just feed the fish each day and stay quite. The guys and gals have to understand these thugs are from Chi town and this is the way MAYOR DALEY runs the show here and obama and Rahm are doing the same thing, they got Rep Pelosi and Dirty Harry Reid with knee pads.
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IMA GROUCH
7:15PM 7:15PM Feb 13th 2009
Does Obama just have poor judgement in picking people for his cabinet, or does he just want to associate with people with shady pasts?
Bill Richardson - Nominated but being investigated by
the FBI.
Tom Daschle - Nominated but big tax evasion problems.
Geinthner - Nominated and accepted but with tax
evasion problems too.
Keiler - tax evasion problems.
I could go on and on, but my point is do Democrats
think they don't have to pay taxes?
If all Democrats would pay all the taxes they owe, maybe Obama wouldn't have to be taxing we poor people who dutifully pay our taxes.
Makes me wonder - does Obama owe any back taxes?
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SO TIRED
8:57PM 8:57PM Feb 13th 2009
I am so tired of everyone trying to find reasons to talk down Obama. After the 8 years of what we just went through...can he be worse? I think not. He inherited this mess! Give the man a chance to try to fix it. If he is not able to then in 4 years vote him out and let's try someone else! Can't we all just get along???!!!!
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DON
4:18AM 4:18AM Feb 16th 2009
NOW ITS CANT WE GET ALONG NOW SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHEN BUSH WAS IN!IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.YOU MUST BE A DEM AND PART OF THE PROBLEM
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monkeedo1956
4:05AM 4:05AM Feb 15th 2009
If you're going to compare Gregg to one of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors, he would have to be Remus Lupin. Quirrell was a weasel and a weakling, Lockhart was a phony and a blowhard. Lupin left because he couldn't do the job properly because of his status in life (werewolf/Republican).
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Pen
9:09AM 9:09AM Feb 15th 2009
As I watch the current President and his government, I am in no way reminded by Harry Potter, but Star Wars: Episode III, and this is quoted from the movie...
"PALPATINE: The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning."
"PADME: Well, this is the moment we discover if he intends to return the Republic to a democracy."
"PALPATINE: In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years.
PALPATINE: An empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body, and a sovereign ruler chosen for life . . . An empire ruled by the majority . . . Ruled by a new constitution . . .
PADME: So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause."
Does this familiar to anyone?
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Oliver Wood
8:53PM 8:53PM Feb 15th 2009
I'd make Obama seeker if he were on my Quidditch team!
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Hardcastle McCormick
9:05PM 9:05PM Feb 15th 2009
Well bless my nippers. A black man is president. Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da forever!
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Lee
9:58PM 9:58PM Feb 15th 2009
If the author of the column would have read on he would have learned that Voldemort put a curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position. Just a little HP History while we are alluding to some of the most amazing books ever!
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