Matt Yglesias

Aug 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am

Abs We Can Believe In

Obama Abs

What if Barack Obama challenges John McCain to a series of topless debates?






228 Responses to “Abs We Can Believe In”

  1. taskerbliss Says:

    First the anti-sex ad and now gay porn…What is happening to this site?

  2. heh Says:

    Leave him alone taskerbliss. Haven’t you seen the vlogs? He is pleasantly plump. Everyone needs love somewhere :(

  3. dj moonbat Says:

    Those are not the biceps of a guy who can curl 32 kilos.

  4. DMinDC Says:

    The funny thing is, look at those older photos of him at the beach from that tabloid. He may be the first candidate on earth to have gotten more fit on the campaign trail. That’s the sign of a disciplined and focused mind.

  5. DAS Says:

    dj moonbat,

    IME, there is somewhat of a disconnect between strength and rippedness. When I was actively weightlifting as a HS kid, I could curl far more than I can now. But I had puny muscles. Now, I can barely do 10 push-ups every other day, but if I keep to that regimin for any length beyond a week, my bicepts look totally ripped.

    One of my colleagues in grad school had a completely muscular physique. It was “just for show” as he would readily admit. He was weaker than I, but to look at us, you’d think he was stronger than strong.

  6. DAS Says:

    BTW … this is very much unfair to straight males and lesbians. Where are the pictures of Michelle Obama?

  7. fostert Says:

    Obama would obviously win those debates, but please don’t let that happen. John McCain is hard enough to look at fully clothed. And we should consider the prospect that people in the audience might be blinded by the combination of stage lights and John’s pasty white chest. Spare us, please.

  8. Nicholas Beaudrot Says:

    Dude, that is a mental image I don’t want.

  9. Jim W Says:

    Remember when Gore walked toward Bush during their first debate, trying to physically intimidate him? It didn’t work.

    But, I have a better idea. How about if Obama shakes hands with McCain before the debate, then playfully tussles his hair? Since McCain can’t even reach up to straighten it out, he would be left looking goofy during the whole debate. Not bad, huh?

  10. Njorl Says:

    Conservatives will just worry about his lack of chest hair, then point to McCain’s ear hair as proof of his readiness.

  11. Dave Says:

    Topless debates? Only if we can get Michael Phelps to run as a third-party candidate.

  12. donna Says:

    What a celebrity! ;^)

    At least he’s not windsurfing or something lame and French looking. ;^)

  13. drjimcooper Says:

    Only if we can get Michael Phelps to run as a third-party candidate.

    I prefer Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, if we’re going Olympian.

  14. Benjamin Says:

    He actually got in better shape since last year. Remember the love handles on last year’s beach photos ?

  15. Peter Says:

    As Steve Sailer and others have pointed out, Obama’s half-Luo ancestry gives him a big genetic boost when it comes to being slim and fit. The Luos are part of the Nilotic ethnic group, and Nilotics are among the world’s tallest and slimmest people.

  16. Roddy McCorley Says:

    That’s the sign of a disciplined and focused mind.

    Or… an elitist!

  17. Adam Villani Says:

    So Matt, you’re having Sullivan guest-blog for you?

  18. Leee Says:

    Jim W for VP.

  19. taskerbliss Says:

    Peter: What a great comment. Who would have thought that a porn photo would produce ethnography. Seriously. That was cool stuff.

  20. aleks Says:

    I’m having second thoughts about voting for a guy that much better looking than I.

  21. jerri Says:

    The debates in HD will be very bad for mccain.

  22. Daughter Says:

    Someone somewhere on the blogosphere made an interesting point: Obama promised his wife he’d give up smoking if he ran for president. Since he can no longer smoke to deal with stress (and let’s face it, this campaign has been very stressful), he’s probably substituted working out as his stress-buster.

  23. AJ Says:

    Look, I’m neither a Barack Obama nor a John McCain supporter, but I’m not convinced that Obama could beat McCain in combat mano a mano.

  24. taskerbliss Says:

    AJ; McCain can’t lift his arms above shoulder level and he’s 72. Before we get into a junior high skirmish, I have to ask: are you serious?

  25. bobbo Says:

    Ohmygod, he is so skinny! He is the skinniest presidential candidate I have ever ever seen, ever! He is a beanpole! He is Beanpole Guy! Beanpole Guy! Beanybeanybeanpole Guy! How can anyone vote for such an anorexic metrosexual gay black starlet from Hawaii who drinks orange juice!?!

  26. bdbd Says:

    that’s some pretty foreign exotic looking water

  27. Stacy Says:

    Who looks better with their shirt off- Obama or Putin? I think its Obama, but Putin ain’t bad. That’s one cold war I’d like to get in the middle of!! And I’m a straight dude!! Kinda!!

  28. jeff Says:

    Stacy,

    I’m sorry, but Putin is not only stronger (and older) but has a physique that befits his persona much better. He is a classic strong man with the physique to back it up. Score one for Putin.

    http://www.acc.umu.se/~kalinda/putin/putin0.jpg

  29. Luke Says:

    McCain would gladly volunteer Cindy for a topless debate.

  30. Luke Says:

    re: Jeff’s link

    Who knew Thom Yorke was so buff?

  31. rea Says:

    Does anyone other than me look at these pictures and think of Austrialian Prmie Minister Harold Holt?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Holt

  32. hapi kitteh Says:

    mmm, i can haz? fr przdint onlee, i meen. srsly.

  33. George Says:

    Yikes, the man is fit. I better get in shape fast. I cannot bear to have the president both smarter and fitter than I. Obviously, I was fitter than Clinton. The last few years I have been coasting - almost everyone is smarter than Bush.

  34. TallDave Says:

    Yeah, let’s take their shirts off, so everyone can see the contrast between the terrible scars a war hero received serving his country and the too-polished torso a teleprompter-dependent media-manufactured celebrity got working out in air-conditioned health clubs.

    Bring it on!

  35. indga Says:

    He does look kinda flabber-dabber for a guy who’s supposed to be working out like mad, doesn’t he? He looks like one of these guys you meet who look like the heaviest thing they’ve lifted is a pen (he doesn’t read or write anything, so he hasn’t even lifted a pen). All I know is that his abs and his biceps and triceps look like a girl’s—that 41 year old Olympiad, American female swimmer Torres, she makes Obama look like a wimp.

  36. indga Says:

    JimW, you’re a sick sack of shit. McCain got that arm in the service of his country, and you, you little liberal pantywaist who would like piss your pants, curl up, and cry for mommy if you were placed in a prisoner of war camp, you have the nerve to make fun of him. Bow down before your empty-headed and platitudinous false god Obamessiah if you want, but don’t make mock of the injuries a man gained in serving this country.

  37. Richard Steven Hack Says:

    I’d rather see Obama challenge Angelina Jolie to a series of topless debates.

    By the way, those “terrible scars” and fucked up arms McCain got were treated in a North Vietnamese hospital - a service not provided to any other American POWs - once they found out he was the son of the Admiral running the planes against them.

    Result of that, according to another officer at the time, was a sixty percent increase in downed US planes in North Vietnam.

    McCain was a collaborator.

  38. KWAAYESNAMA Says:

    Do you ever wonder why so many people are supporting Barack Hussein Obama?

    Could it be that this nation is becoming colorblind and does not care if a good person is black, white, red or tan?

    Could it be that the American people don’t care if a person worships as a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or Jew?

    Could it be that people remember the scandals of the Clinton And Bush years?

    Could it be that the American people know that if it was not for the Clinton’s filth and scandals that Al Gore would be completing his second term in office.

    Could it be that the American people remember Bush and McCain looking into our eyes and saying, believe me there are weapons of mass destruction?

    Could it be that the American people are shell shocked that over 4,000 precious lives have been lost fighting the wrong war in the wrong country against the wrong enemy?

    Could it be that the American people realize that Carl Rove politics brought our nation to where it is today?

  39. Richard Steven Hack Says:

    At least with those abs, we could have a President who can stand up by himself - unlike Bush at the Olympics…

    Anybody else realize it was obvious Bush was DRUNK AT THE OLYMPICS?

  40. brobin Says:

    Manboobs.

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  43. Terrell Says:

  44. Wayne Says:

    Every sandpiper praises its own swamp,

  45. August Says:

    If you don

  46. Josiah Says:

    He laughs best who laughs last,

  47. Marion Says:

    I just don’t have anything to say recently. Today was a total loss, but it’s not important. Not much on my mind to speak of, but that’s how it is. I’ve just been letting everything happen without me. I can’t be bothered with anything recently.,

  48. Justin Says:

    As you sow, so shall you reap ,

  49. Rolando Says:

    Bad news travels fast ,

  50. Hayden Says:

    More or less not much noteworthy happening today. That’s how it is. I haven’t been up to anything recently, but what can I say? I guess it doesn’t bother me.,

  51. Kerry Says:

    Better to stumble than make a slip of the tongue,

  52. Bobby Says:

    As someone who does see stagflation lite on the horizon, perhaps even the near-term horizon, i would like to know why greenspan thinks it “doesn’t” seem that we are entering a period of stagflation.,

  53. Tracy Says:

    get beyond first base,

  54. Jonas Says:

    give a flying fig,

  55. Federico Says:

    fall between two stools ,

  56. Dan Says:

    Being in a hurry one can make people laugh,

  57. Bruce Says:

    A cat may look at a king,

  58. Kristoffer Says:

    Fretting cares make grey hairs,

  59. Colin Says:

    Easy come, easy go ,

  60. Ronny Says:

    get a screw loose,

  61. Chauncey Says:

    A good example is the best sermon,

  62. Keven Says:

    Eggs can

  63. Rodney Says:

    Every cloud has a silver lining,

  64. Jackie Says:

    If one likes to sled - he has to like to drive the sledge,

  65. Shelby Says:

    Get A Life,

  66. Brandy Says:

    fast talker ,

  67. Hayden Says:

    from under one

  68. Efrain Says:

    follow in one’s tracks,

  69. Ernie Says:

    believe it or not,

  70. Jorge Says:

    Don

  71. Benny Says:

    end is the crown of any work,

  72. Elvin Says:

    from every quarter,

  73. Malik Says:

    follow in one’s tracks,

  74. Waylon Says:

    As you make your bed, so you must lie on it,

  75. Brent Says:

    Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched ,

  76. Terrence Says:

    bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, A ,

  77. Jerry Says:

    It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back,

  78. Wesley Says:

    Nothing seems important. I’ve just been sitting around waiting for something to happen. What can I say? It’s not important. I guess it doesn’t bother me. My life’s been basically dull.,

  79. Leon Says:

    Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,

  80. Landon Says:

    There are a few men in opera who don’t mind doing beefcake. Friends and I used to joke that Samuel Ramey had a clause in his contracts mandating him baring his furry chest at some point.,

  81. Ashley Says:

    Cut down the tree that you are able to,

  82. Jon Says:

    A stitch in time saves nine,

  83. Nicky Says:

    feel a vacuum in the lower regions,

  84. Stefan Says:

    As one cooked the porridge, so must he eat it,

  85. Ulysses Says:

    It may be insane to live in a dream, but it is madness to live without one,

  86. Eugenio Says:

    All are not cooks that walk with long knives,

  87. Jonathan Says:

    I just don’t have much to say. I haven’t gotten much done today. Eh. Maybe tomorrow. I can’t be bothered with anything recently, but I guess it doesn’t bother me.,

  88. Gilberto Says:

    A peasant will not cross himself before it begins to thunder,

  89. Mohamed Says:

    If the youth could know, if the oldster could be able can!,

  90. Cameron Says:

    All aren

  91. Oscar Says:

    Between two stools one falls to the ground ,

  92. Raymond Says:

    He who pays the piper calls the tune,

  93. Lionel Says:

    Every seed knows its time,

  94. Ian Says:

    If you can

  95. Josef Says:

    All aren

  96. Kiel Says:

    Easy come, easy go ,

  97. Scott Says:

    feel the pulse of,

  98. Troy Says:

    Better a tomtit in your hand than a crane in the sky,

  99. Benny Says:

    Any port in a storm ,

  100. Irving Says:

    There are tantalizing hints that improvement can be more dramatic when diversity is eliminated, such as single gender classes, blacks performing better when reinforced by their own successes.,

  101. Donald Says:

    He who is afraid of wounds must not come near a battle,

  102. Keith Says:

    All things are difficult before they are easy ,

  103. Moshe Says:

    A friend in need is a friend indeed,

  104. Korey Says:

    Let the grass grow under one’s feet, to,

  105. Tim Says:

    After a storm comes fair weather, after sorrow comes joy,

  106. Dallas Says:

    It may be insane to live in a dream, but it is madness to live without one,

  107. Cesar Says:

    A good Jack makes a good Jill,

  108. Zachary Says:

    Very useful. I found this to be a joy to browse in. ,

  109. Jeffrey Says:

    It is impossible to say “good health” hearing every sternutation,

  110. Zachary Says:

    I just don’t have anything to say lately. Pfft. Maybe tomorrow. I don’t care. That’s how it is.,

  111. Elmer Says:

    Lorsque la main d’un homme effleure la main d’une femme, tous deux touchent a l’eternite.,

  112. Kyler Says:

    from morning till night ,

  113. Kyle Says:

    flog a dead horse,

  114. Colin Says:

    Hi, just popped in here through a random link. Hi, firstly I’d like to say your site is great and very impressive. Enjoyed the reading. ,

  115. Jarvis Says:

    like clockwork,

  116. Kirt Says:

    Better a tomtit in your hand than a crane in the sky,

  117. Marques Says:

    All is not gold that glitters,

  118. Roy Says:

    If at first you do not succeed, try, try, try again,

  119. Jaron Says:

    I base these views partly on the success of a comparable approach to making models generally available in cognitive modeling (Google for “ACT-R cognitive architecture” for more details.) Good luck!,

  120. Guadalupe Says:

    Let a sleeping dog lie,

  121. Cameron Says:

    If you run after two hares you will catch neither ,

  122. Brennan Says:

    I just don’t have anything to say recently. Today was a total loss, but it’s not important. Not much on my mind to speak of, but that’s how it is. I’ve just been letting everything happen without me. I can’t be bothered with anything recently.,

  123. Kevin Says:

    All things are difficult before they are easy ,

  124. George Says:

    So interesting site, thanks! The site very professional!,

  125. Shea Says:

    Best defense is offense,

  126. Kristoffer Says:

    Nothing seems important. I’ve just been sitting around waiting for something to happen. What can I say? It’s not important. I guess it doesn’t bother me. My life’s been basically dull.,

  127. Elisha Says:

    French fries,

  128. Anthony Says:

    bird may be known by its flight, A,

  129. Lauren Says:

    Hello admin, nice site! Good luck! Oh yes, one extra comment - make sure the pages are not too long, keep scrolling a minimum.,

  130. Kelvin Says:

    get a pig in a poke ,

  131. Willard Says:

    Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,

  132. Kelvin Says:

    What would have been the course of the SS privatization debate,-especially SS-national savings-equity premium nexus, if this had been the standard all along?,

  133. Nestor Says:

    Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,

  134. Jeramie Says:

    Do not cut the bough you are sitting on,

  135. August Says:

    After a storm comes fair weather, after sorrow comes joy,

  136. Oliver Says:

    follow on,

  137. Mikel Says:

    Friend at court ,

  138. Jayson Says:

    better than one’s word,

  139. Alan Says:

    A wolf won’t eat wolf,

  140. Ted Says:

    Not much on my mind. Oh well. Basically not much notable going on today.,

  141. Guillermo Says:

    Absence makes the heart grow fonder ,

  142. Carlton Says:

    do the dirty on smb.,

  143. Kyle Says:

    A man shouldn

  144. Tad Says:

    If the cap fits, wear it,

  145. Claude Says:

    Appetite comes in eating,

  146. Carl Says:

    A good Jack makes a good Jill,

  147. Rolando Says:

    I pray for world peace where all people can live free and happy.,

  148. Wilbur Says:

    Benjamin

  149. Arnoldo Says:

    It is impossible to say “good health” hearing every sternutation,

  150. Gregorio Says:

    Empty vessels make more noise,

  151. Rashad Says:

    Do not exclaim “Up” having not yet make a jump,

  152. Dejuan Says:

    Do not exclaim “Up” having not yet make a jump,

  153. Jeramy Says:

    Today was a complete loss. I feel like a complete blank. I don’t care.,

  154. Raymond Says:

    Today was a complete loss. I feel like a complete blank. I don’t care.,

  155. Chase Says:

    After death the doctor,

  156. Kelvin Says:

    It

  157. Asa Says:

    It is impossible to throw a shawl over someone’s mouth,

  158. Whitney Says:

    best is an enemy of good, The,

  159. Glenn Says:

    A man can

  160. S Says:

    bird may be known by its flight, A,

  161. Derek Says:

    All in good time,

  162. Erich Says:

    Don

  163. Michel Says:

    If you cannot have the best, make the best of what you have,

  164. Marcel Says:

    Do not cut the bough you are sitting on,

  165. Cole Says:

    As one make his bed, so he will sleep,

  166. Jasen Says:

    If you like to sled - you have to like to drive the sledge,

  167. Erwin Says:

    Regarding the open-source “rules”, have you considered releasing the models under a Creative Commons license? ,

  168. Rodrick Says:

    If a thing is worth doing it is worth doing it well ,

  169. Hans Says:

    Do not dig a hole for somebody else; you yourself will fall into it,

  170. Martin Says:

    All cats are grey in the dark ,

  171. Jarod Says:

    A man is judged by his deeds, not by his words,

  172. Jarret Says:

    follow suit,

  173. Toby Says:

    Don

  174. Lynn Says:

    from all quarters,

  175. Christopher Says:

    He who pays the piper calls the tune,

  176. Genaro Says:

    from the word go,

  177. Raphael Says:

    find a needle in a haystack,

  178. Timmy Says:

    Nothing seems important. I’ve just been sitting around waiting for something to happen. What can I say? It’s not important. I guess it doesn’t bother me. My life’s been basically dull.,

  179. Ari Says:

    a point of peculiar interest,

  180. Hiram Says:

    get ahead of the game,

  181. Jamil Says:

    It is impossible to break the butt end with a lash,

  182. Kareem Says:

    Don

  183. Michale Says:

    get one

  184. Abram Says:

    I think pop music, rock in particular, is way more about sex than classical music is. Much more directly, anyway. So it doesn’t bother me there.,

  185. Myles Says:

    fool’s paradise,

  186. Erin Says:

    have an ace up one

  187. Roman Says:

    between the devil and the deep blue sea,

  188. Joaquin Says:

    from the jaws of death,

  189. Sebastian Says:

    Don

  190. Otis Says:

    An unhappy workplace is a liability,

  191. Daron Says:

    come out clean,

  192. Carlo Says:

    More or less not much going on worth mentioning. Pretty much nothing seems worth doing. I’ve just been staying at home not getting anything done. So it goes. I’ve just been letting everything wash over me lately, but I guess it doesn’t bother me. My mind is like a complete blank.,

  193. Lloyd Says:

    It is raining cats and dogs,

  194. Duncan Says:

    from the beginning of time,

  195. Nick Says:

    Hello admin, nice site! Good luck! Oh yes, one extra comment - make sure the pages are not too long, keep scrolling a minimum.,

  196. Gavin Says:

    fill the bill,

  197. Austin Says:

    I’ve basically been doing nothing worth mentioning. Not much on my mind to speak of. Not that it matters. More or less nothing seems important.,

  198. Deon Says:

    favorable reply,

  199. Russell Says:

    get an idea across,

  200. Chase Says:

    Better late than never,

  201. Collin Says:

    a dead cert ,

  202. Cecil Says:

    feel like a fish out of water,

  203. Bret Says:

    Don

  204. Orlando Says:

    Good afternoon, I liked design of the main page of your site, excellent work, I have added your site to myself in bookmarks,

  205. Shane Says:

    A peasant will not cross himself before it begins to thunder,

  206. Jameson Says:

    Geese with geese, and women with women,

  207. Ross Says:

    I can’t be bothered with anything. Pretty much nothing seems worth bothering with, but I don’t care. I just don’t have anything to say right now. Not much on my mind these days, but I guess it doesn’t bother me. My life’s been really bland these days, but whatever.,

  208. Cornell Says:

    If you don

  209. Kirt Says:

    A drowning man clutches at straw,

  210. Stephen Says:

    Friend at court is better than a penny in purse ,

  211. Tracy Says:

  212. Wilbur Says:

  213. Jamey Says:

  214. Garland Says:

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