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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Workouts as windows to personality, Part II

You may have seen this surreptitiously recorded video of Obama working out at a hotel gym in Poland by now, but if you haven't, here it is.

What I was struck by was the fact that he didn't go through the full range of motion on most of his exercises. I can't help but feel that this is somehow emblematic of the way he runs his Presidency.

As I said on March 31st, you can tell pretty much everything you need to know about a person from just watching him work out.

Reassuringly, Obama does pass the workout IQ test. He works his legs, he utilizes a full body exercise, and he works out without the aid of a personal trainer.

Maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt because he may be jet lagged and tired from his job. (Then again, it's not as if Air Force One doesn't have a bed, and it's not as if he works all that hard at his day job.)

Nonetheless, between the fact that he doesn't go through the full range of motion and the light weights he used, he looks a little wimpy.

He looks like the kind of guy who, even if you cross a line he drew in the sand, probably wouldn't follow through on any of his threats.

(Of course, if he really worked out the way he ran his Presidency, he'd be lifting large metallic dumbbells labeled "100 pounds" which were in fact hollow, filled only with air. Hot air.)

6 comments:

Steven said...

This should be a series. Now Putin should leak a video of himself working out. He likes that kind of thing.

The most embarrassing thing would be if Obama had looked in the mirror the whole time. He looked maybe slightly lame but he's a president not an athlete so it probably wont do any damage.

John Craig said...

Steven --
Yes, Putin is definitely a showoff. Write "Putin" in the search box of this blog and you'll see what i've written about him before, including one post which is basically just about his various macho poses.

True, Obama didn't stare at himself in the mirror; and in fact he didn't do too badly for a middle-aged guy. I was just using the opportunity to mock a guy I don't like.

Steven said...

Okay, will do.

In Britain, footage was recently released of the opposition leader 'Ed Milliband' (Red Ed) failing to successfully negotiate a bacon sandwich. This turned into a major political issue which was discussed widely in the media and even referred to by Milliband in parliament.

So I'd say America is doing okay.

John Craig said...

Steven --
Ha! I hadn't heard of that, but yes, whatever Obama's shortcomings as a weight-lifter are, they pale by comparison.

Obama actually does like to show off too, but he does it on the basketball court (with opponents who are likely, shall we say, giving less than a 110% effort).

Steven said...

Remember the footage of Obama failing to make like 10 hoops (or whatever you call it) in a row in front of the media? It was embarrassing.

The whole thing with Milliband is people perceive him as being kind of nerdy and weird and awkward, especially because of the way he talks. Have Americans heard of Milliband?

John Craig said...

Steven --
I don't remember that footage. it would be in keeping with the media over here to not show it more than once, since it put Obama in a bad light. (Not that I think missing 10 baskets in a row is bad.)

To be honest, I hadn't heard of Milliband, though those who follow UK politics more closely would have. But I'm guessing the average American hasn't.