# The 800 pound gorilla in the room: Barack Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 12, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948 "2011-12-12T19:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/21 "2011-12-13T00:55:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > See post #2. What makes you so sure Obama will get to set the agenda? The GOP nominee will have his own message as to what the election is about – why do you think it will get no traction at all? The Republicans want to turn the 800 pound gorilla the room - the economy - into the elephant in the room. See post #11. That is their error. It is established in post #9 that the economy is the elephant in the room. This is because it was alluded to in post #1 that the 800 pound gorilla - Barack Obama - and the elephant in the room - George W. Bush - cancel each other out. Something must fill the vacuum that was created when the 800 pound gorilla in the room and the elephant in the room cancel each other out – the economy which is the proxy 800 pound gorilla in the room that the Republicans in their shortsightedness want to turn into the elephant in the room. See post #11. Therefore, if the elephant in the room is the economy then what is the 800 pound gorilla in the room? Barack Obama! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/22 "2011-12-13T02:33:04Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > The Republicans want to turn the 800 pound gorilla the room - the economy - into the elephant in the room. See post #11. That is their error. It is established in post #9 that the economy is the elephant in the room. This is because it was alluded to in post #1 that the 800 pound gorilla - Barack Obama - and the elephant in the room - George W. Bush - cancel each other out. Something must fill the vacuum that was created when the 800 pound gorilla in the room and the elephant in the room cancel each other out – the economy which is the proxy 800 pound gorilla in the room that the Republicans in their shortsightedness want to turn into the elephant in the room. See post #11. Therefore, if the elephant in the room is the economy then what is the 800 pound gorilla in the room? Barack Obama! I think the folks at CERN want to have a word with you. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/23 "2011-12-13T02:42:28Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I think the folks at CERN want to have a word with you. Let me tell ya. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/24 "2011-12-13T02:48:18Z")
Could I get a translator? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/25 "2011-12-13T04:21:40Z")
Reading this thread gives me dem old Kozmik blues again. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/26 "2011-12-13T15:23:59Z")
The thing is, an elephant is going to beat a gorilla hands down. They’re bigger, they’re stronger, and they’re meaner. So it’s not even a contest. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/27 "2011-12-13T16:05:39Z")
> [@bbbbsd](#): > > jobs jobs jobs! Not to worry. Fox news has [Already started to manipulate graphics](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/post/fox-newss-unemployment-chart-better-graphics/2011/12/12/gIQAUVgNqO_blog.html) to fool folks into thinking that the unemployment rate has stayed flat instead of dropping. So even if unemployment plummets in the next several months, Fox news will be on the case, making sure that the truth does not get out. The winning strategy for the Republicans over the next 10 months will be to make sure the economy does not recover. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/28 "2011-12-13T16:32:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So even if unemployment plummets in the next several months, Fox news will be on the case, making sure that the truth does not get out. They’ll ask Dick Cheney to crawl out of his hole to appear on Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/29 "2011-12-13T17:26:16Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The winning strategy for the Republicans over the next 10 months will be to make sure the economy does not recover. Sounds doable. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/30 "2011-12-13T17:32:07Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > George W. Bush was the 800 pound gorilla in the room, now he is the elephant in the room. > [@Kozmik](#): > > The 800 pound gorilla in the room or [the elephant in the room](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=634239)? Will the 800 pound gorilla and the elephant cancel each other out? What then will the 2012 election be about? > [@Kozmik](#): > > So the economy is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. > [@Kozmik](#): > > The Republicans want to turn the 800 pound gorilla in the room - the economy - into the elephant in the room. > [@Kozmik](#): > > See: [the elephant in the room](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14558096&postcount=11). > [@Kozmik](#): > > See. No one want to talk about the elephant in the room. > > What will the 2012 election be about? Whatever the 800 pound gorilla wants. 😃 Your use of metaphors is about as tortured as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking competition swinging a dead cat that was rode hard and put up wet after being three sheets to the wind and passing out wolf tickets until someone opened up a can o’ whoop-ass. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/31 "2011-12-13T18:25:00Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The winning strategy for the Republicans over the next 10 months will be to make sure the economy does not recover. Of course, hasn’t that been their goal all along? [QUOTE=Mitch McConnell] The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/32 "2011-12-13T18:26:57Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Your use of metaphors is about as tortured as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking competition swinging a dead cat that was rode hard and put up wet after being three sheets to the wind and passing out wolf tickets until someone opened up a can o’ whoop-ass. The OP is the same one who did the opposite of Groundhog Day. I think we can say that (s)he fails at any kind of comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/33 "2011-12-13T19:51:21Z")
Actually, I think Romney will be the elephant, and Obama will be the donkey. I don’t know about any gorillas, unless Trump really does do a third party run. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/34 "2011-12-13T21:56:35Z")
So who’s the albatross, again? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/35 "2011-12-13T22:56:55Z")
I don’t give a shit as long as I get to be the race car. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/36 "2011-12-13T23:07:22Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > So who’s the albatross, again? What flavor? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/37 "2011-12-13T23:16:30Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I don’t give a shit as long as I get to be the race car. No fair! You were the race car last time. You can be the Top Hat. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/38 "2011-12-13T23:38:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The winning strategy for the Republicans over the next 10 months will be to make sure the economy does not recover. **Euphonious Polemic** , who is smarter than **Mitch McConnell** , had the insight that the 2012 election will be about the economy, which is the elephant in the room. > [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Of course, hasn’t that been their goal all along? No. [No one want to talk about the elephant in the room.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14558512&postcount=16) [QUOTE=Mitch McConnell] The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president. [/QUOTE] Dum-dum just admitted that Obama is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/39 "2011-12-13T23:52:37Z")
OK then let’s sum up: The elephant is the economy. Which apparently nobody wants to talk about. Except that everyone is talking about it. President Obama is the 800 pound Gorilla. Because he’s so powerful. **Vinyl Turnip** is NOT the race car, as he was the race car last time. Mitch McConnell is a Dum-dum and is even stupider than me, which is saying something. **Ravenman** is one-legged man in an ass-kicking competition swinging a dead cat that was rode hard and put up wet after being three sheets to the wind and passing out wolf tickets until someone opened up a can o’ whoop-ass. **Bryan Ekers** is an albatross \*\*Freudian Slit \*\*is a groundhog **BrainGlutton** is the bartender That only leaves one possibility: **Kozmik** is the walrus. Koo koo ka choo. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948/40 "2011-12-14T00:03:45Z")
Anyone who’s played mafia with me knows I’m the ultimate bartender, dagnabit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-room-barack-obama/605948.md?page=3)