“The Food is Safe, Your Excellency”
Apparently the POTUS recently attended lunch with Senate Republicans. However, he passed on eating lunch himself.
The reason? According to Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the President couldn’t eat because his “taster” was not there.
“He looked longingly at it,” Collins continued. “He honestly did look longingly at it, but apparently he has to have essentially a taster, and I pointed out to him that we were all tasters for him, that if the food had been poisoned all of us would have keeled over so, but he did look longingly at it and he remarked that we have far better food than the Democrats do, and I said that was because I was hosting.”
Geez. And people called the Nixon Administration an “Imperial Presidency”.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", Reality Check, Who knows
Wonder what the taster’s salary is?
I wonder what the taster’s insurance plan looks like.
I want to apply for the position of “whipping boy” for when his kids misbehave and I need to be punished for it. I bet that pays more than the Army anyway….
i wonder if he has a taster for his boyfriends before he gets down to business??
You gotta wonder about the level of paranoia in this administration.
Wow. That’s just sad.
Scary, but sad.
Sparky,
I think Biden is probably the best life insurance any POTUS could have. NO ONE wants that guy as POTUS, because as bad as Obama is, Biden would be 10x worse. JMO anyways….
I’m not sure which worries me more: that he needs a taster, or that he doesn’t have the sense to know when it’s safe to eat. If he’d been visiting with the head of a country not necessarily an ally, I can see using precautions. But a Senate Republican luncheon?? Oy.
I absolutely despise Obama, BUT, I find this story hard to believe.
Collins has a few “bats in the belfry” I think….
How about all the times this guy has been out in public eating fast food, etc.? The press (wait, I forgot there is no real press) or at least video would have picked up on a “taster” employed by Obama.
This almost sounds like something that was dreamed up over at the DuffelBlog.
Right–Collins is what I kindly refer to as one of Obama’s “Comfort Women”, the other being the recently-retired former Maine Senator Snowe.
#8 PintoNag: re “But a Senate Republican luncheon?? Oy.”
I submit that His handlers view the R’s as a bigger threat than the NORK’s, Towel Heads, etc. But, it was on His calendar to come to a “R” luncheon, so why didn’t His handlers send His Majesty’s food taster?
Does His Majesty also have a jester? oooops, I forgot. That’s Joe Bite Me’s position.
Sad doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I think other Presidents have had “food tasters” as well, not just Obama. From what I seem to recall reading, usually a Secret Service agent who oversees the food preparation.
Besides, you never know… these Republicans are crafty, and might have spent years building up an immunity to iocaine powder hoping for just such an opportunity.
I’m having a hard time figuring out if I need to unfurl the BS flag on this one. Reality is strange and Obumbles the Golfing Clown is that detached from reality, but at the same time it makes the front half of my brain try to eat the back half in how blindingly stupid it is. Can we get a second source on this one?
@5: Well, he should be paranoid since he’s notorious for stabbing people in the back or throwing them under the bus.
Bubba Clinton wasn’t shy about taking a bite out of somebody else’s McRib sandwich and Chicken McNuggets during a pitstop at McDonalds early in his Presidency sans foodtaster…Phil Hartman had a great SNL skit of this.
I thought his only vulnerability was a priest with a sacred dagger.
Anon, it is the Ides of March, and Julius Caesar was done in by Senators. Maybe Baracka the First just didn’t want to take chances?
Sorry, people, but the Age of the Caesars ended with World War I. No matter how much the subsequent eogcrats want to, they will never be the Caesars.
I agree: Biden is the best insurance policy anyone could ask for. Did no one besides me ever watch Mission: Impossible? There was an episode with a substitute taster, who confirmed that the food was not poisoned, then went into the bathroom and took the antidote.
#18 I’d be willing to gamble money that Obama wouldn’t be able to tell you the significance of the Ides of March without help.
Well I have heard rumors that she has been working on her immunity to iocaine powder…
Had Obama eaten
And had Obama died of food poisoning/choked on a cherry pit/had indigestion
You know “GOP POISONS POPULAR PRESIDENT” for many, many news cycles.
Followed by the ban on cherries, food, and fluids.
better yet, ban food- ban eating! we dont need it: its a crutch
@#20. No bet, at all. I’m sure he thinks that it means the tides rise higher during March.
I rather hope the story is true. It warms me all over to think that obamaman is concerned that the Pop Tarts might be loaded.
I wonder what he has been putting in the Senates food that he is so worried about?
In addition to his food taster not be in attendance, Pocket, Wamba, Dagonet, Jack Point, Verence, and Hop-Frog the kingdom’s court jesters were left at home … and this made King Obama very very sad.
Chaminade?
Can we kidnap the Royal Taster and maybe his highness will starve to death?
English royal court jesters
17th-century engraving of Will Sommers, Henry VIII’s jester
Many courts throughout English royal history employed entertainers and most had professional fools, sometimes called licensed fools. Entertainment included music, juggling, clowning, and the telling of riddles. Henry VIII of England employed a jester named Will Sommers.
During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I of England, William Shakespeare wrote his plays and performed with his theatre company the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later called the King’s Men). Clowns and jesters were featured in Shakespeare’s plays, and the company’s expert on jesting was Robert Armin, author of the book Fooled upon Foole. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Feste the jester is described as “wise enough to play the fool.”
King James VI of Scotland also employed a jester called Archibald Armstrong. During his lifetime Armstrong was given great honours at court. He was eventually thrown out of the King’s employment when he over-reached himself and insulted too many influential people. Even after his disgrace, books telling of his jests were sold in London streets. He held some influence at court still in the reign of Charles I and estates of land in Ireland. Charles later employed a jester called Jeffrey Hudson who was very popular and loyal. Jeffrey Hudson had the title of Royal Dwarf because he was short of stature. One of his jests was to be presented hidden in a giant pie from which he would leap out. Hudson fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War. A third jester associated with Charles I was called Muckle John.
No, Michelle has enough fat on her to live and retain the throne.
# 30 … me
This tells me that the Praetorian Guard – – excuse me, I mean the Secret Service – – enjoys too much power over the President, if he’s afraid to cross them. If there’s a confusion about who’s in charge at the White House, it is not a good thing.
Yes, let us remember that if the Praetorian Guard thought the current Imperatore was a dipstick, they took matters into their own hands. I believe they assassinated Caligula themselves, just to save time and money.
when I shared the story earlier today, my sister’s comment was “What if it is a long-acting poison?” A food taster wouldn’t do much good then, would it?
B. Hussein 0bama & Co., a perpetual river of arrogance, hypocrisy, lies, incompetence, paranoia, and that’s just for starters!!
Papa Bush had one too: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2772/does-the-president-have-an-official-food-taster
“George H.W. Bush ate out at Washington restaurants a lot by presidential standards, about once a month, and when he did he brought along his own condiments, bottled water, and a taster. On at least one occasion the taster was seen to personally wash all of George and Barbara’s tableware before use and subsequently monitor its whereabouts, sample the food, supervise its service, and uncork and taste the first couple’s wine.”
Now what?
#37 We’ll still point and laugh largely because this was an event put on by fellow politicians and not a random restaurant? Hell though, I’d make fun of Bush senior for it too though at least he still had some dignity comparatively.
AF Vet: yes, the situation here is still noteworthy, for several reasons. As The Dead Man points out, this wasn’t some random public restaurant. This was a gathering of very senior US Government officials – a lunch with the POTUS hosted by members of the US Senate. I’d say that’s not exactly a high-threat situation.
Under such circumstances, refusing to eat without his “taster” present raises questions about his common sense, judgement and/or honesty. If he actually was afraid for his safety, well, that raises questions about the former. If the POTUS was doing it to offend (refusing hospitality is one of the oldest social insults), well, that raises questions concerning his honesty. I believe the stated goal of meeting with Senate Republicans for lunch was to “find some common ground” (or however he phrased it) on current issues. You don’t deliberately insult your host if that’s truly your goal.
Second, past presidents have been willing to tell the Secret Service to urinate up a thick strand of twisted hemp on many occasions. That the current POTUS was unwilling to do so here IMO speaks much about his basic character and personality. Other past incidents have raised the same type of questions about him, so it’s not an isolated incident.
Finally, after this one also has to question his basic intelligence. Any career politician in his position with good common sense and a modicum of intelligence would realize how this would sound and would know it definitely would go public. They thus would have either come up with a plausible excuse for not eating (“doctor’s orders”, “stomach queasy today”) or would have brought his “taster” and had them check things out quietly behind the scenes. Not doing the latter is particularly odd; it’s not like the guy doesn’t travel or eat outside the White House on occasion.
No, AF Vet – this looks to me like either a royal gaffe, “in your face” arrogance (deliberate insult), or both. I’m guessing about 80% the former and 20% of the latter.
I agree with you, Hondo, but it begs the question: why wasn’t his taster brought along automatically?
We;ve all seen this dorkwad grab a bite in public places like fast food spots.
This doesn’t make any sense, and the list of peculiar things he does in public is growing. Inaugural parade #1, where he and Mrs. Bo get out of the car and walk the walk wasn’t so odd, but the second time, where he’s not quite so popular, was truly odd. And since it’s always the same route, anyone who truly wanted to take him out could have done so despite all the so-called precautions the Secret Servies had set up. That’s just one example. This food refusal is another, along with the constant reversals (don’t know, do know, what difference does it make) and other things.
He knew He was going to lunch. Why didn’t His taster go? Wonder if He doggie bagged His lobster for Mooochelle?
@35. Common Sense: “my sister’s comment was ‘“What if it is a long-acting poison?”’
I’d say common sense runs in your family.
The TV show “Breaking Bad” had an episode about a delayed acting poison wiping out a drug cartel crew…Gus Fring was just such a mean MF’er.
Bam was probably afraid of what happened to Bush 41 during a Banquet hosted by Japanese Prime Minister (Not a poisoning).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush_vomiting_incident
Ex-PH2, SJ: that’s precisely why I’m not buying the “business as usual” claim some are making. The lack of a “taster” at this event was either the result of a deliberate decision or incompetence. The former possibility raises questions regarding honesty and character, while the latter raises questions regarding intellect and judgement.
Taster hours were cut due to sequestration.
Hondo, questions about all four are valid questions.
Eh, I chalk this up to simply not wanting to buck the Secret Service on what they presumably have as standing orders. Yes, as President he could, but you pick your battles.
On a related note, Bush apparently brought his taster to Buckingham Palace — I’d place that in the same category as this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-228724/Bush-brings-food-taster-Palace.html
Dang! Chi-Town Politics will famish a person!
Obama knows democrats will poison or contaminate Republican’s in the same fashion and fear the Republicans are as morally corrupt as them.
POTUS may not be physically in the bunker but his mind is bunker fixated and under a siege mentality.
When a fellow realizes he is an unpopular arse he gets to thinking everybody is after him.
Or as stated in the Book of common wisdom, “The guilty flee when no man pursues” My Uncle Lumas used to say, “Bit Dog always hollers” perhaps POTUS has been given the old penis in his coffee cup event already.
Big time paranoia has set in. Many dictators and emperors had food tasters and if they died, they died.
So who is 0bamas food taster and what if he would drop dead? Does he have a line up of them? Who would volunteer for this position? It must be an appointed one. But wait, this is a free country, isnt it. Could the appointed food taster refuse??? Saying hey man, you taste it first!~! I aint gonna die!
This whole paranoid disaster reminds me of a book I read about the Hitler regime.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1901&dat=19880126&id=K1ggAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ENMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4640,6378931
Non-issue. Obama has a foot taste; Bush had one; so did Clinton; and looks like Reagan. The derp in this country, from both sides, amazes me.