Obama holds a fruitless huddle with House Republicans
By David Neiwert Tuesday Jan 27, 2009 1:00pm
President Obama has created a lot of talk with his bipartisan outreach, but so far the results have been predictable: nada.
These kinds of huddles are clearly not going to do any good in the short run. The Republican Party has been in the thrall of rigid ideologues -- men who would rather see the nation's economy go down in flames than either admit they were wrong or even let themselves be proven so -- for so long it will take eons to cure them of the habit.
In the long term, though, they will serve the very useful function of giving Obama cover when he finally gives up on his outreach and just pushes a progressive agenda through.
At some point he's going to realize that all the compromises made in the spirit of "bipartisanship" haven't yielded any results at all, particularly not in winning Republican votes. So at that point it won't make sense to keep making any compromises and just proceed without them.
When that happens, he may actually find Republicans finally willing to shed their ideological blinkers. But he shouldn't count on it before then.
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Its because the Republicans are traitors to this country. Putting party above the people of the Country. Just like Limbaugh said.. He hopes Obama fails. These people are traitors and so is everyone who refuses to investigate the Bush Administration, the Anthrax attacks, the Pat Tillman case, and the false flag war of Terrorism that led to the invasion of Iraq and beyond. I never believed the saying.. we get what we deserve, but that is starting to make more sense to me. Our media is failing us. Our national discourse is weak, and scant at best.
When gossip and current event banter pass as investigative journalism and in-depth reporting.. we know we are screwed.
Democrats must take care not to fall into the same trap. There are googles of people for whom Obama, Nancy, Harry, and anybody Democratic can do no wrong. The best criticisms always come from those who basically support the party, not those in the other party, who have no motivation other than to tear down those they criticize.
And the problem with Republicans is that gossip itself serves as the substance of their agenda, not actuality.
I knew the GOP campaign mantra was a lie. It's Ideology First, not this country, for the Republicans. If it were the country that mattered to the GOP, they would seriously be ironing out real solutions to our major problems. However, they are making themselves look like sore losers with this sort of behavior.
They are. Obama is going to have to eventually learn that you cannot project your own inate decency onto sociopaths and psychopaths. He is going to have to learn that there is no possibility of compromise with such malignant personalities...it is always their terms, completely, or no terms at all. They don't care in the slightest who has to get screwed, killed or whatever for that to happen.
As soon as he accepts these are not rational adults led by logic and basic human decency the sooner he can move on and start repairing the atomic bomb like destruction their ideology caused.
But why doesn't he know this already? Didn't he work with them in Congress? Didn't he see how they operated then? He must have a very strong belief that "being nice" accomplishes miracles. What I fear is that his idea of "being nice" means he'll cave on very important issues (he already has) and lead us ALL down the garden path to somewhere very bad for us.
Please hear me out.
President Obama is smart enough to know that the main neocons will never agree with him. Period. He knows that he does not need any gop votes to pass the assistance bill.
However, by maybe getting some moderate gop votes, he can later say that since the package is working, the main gop dickheads should be out of office.
The new Democratic candidates can use the same argument and these dicks such as Bonehead will be out on there ass.
If I may post like I'm a neocon Congress ciitter:
"Nyeah, nyeah, told ya so, told ya so."
We ALL knew nothing would come of this.
mark foley wasn't there?
Or david vitter
Or jeff gannon?
sex and war are often taboo topics among polite society.
Since when have the re-Thugs qualified IN ANY WAY for the term "polite society"?
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... and none of their fruits from the Senate either . . . .
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Obama was a hardcore progressive who was going to make all your repub-revenge fantasies come true, you weren't paying attention during the election.
It's terribly disappointing - with the terrible crisis that we are in - to see them put party before anything else.
But - is ANYONE surprised? I'm willing to bet Obama is not either.
(why don't you add the name Obama to your spell-check dictionary?)
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Palin's PAC First Step to 2012
...failed miserably. A show of respect honoring his campaign pledge by reaching across the aisle...then tell these losers with their middle class hating, corporation cocksucking to fuck off and then go take care his business.
Obama has already met the opposition leaders as many times as Bush did in his 8 years.
i think most people that visit this site seen that coming. repugs do not give a rats ass about this country, unless it benefits them. there is no reasoning with an insane party. President Obama needs to ignore the right and let Pelosi deal with them. if she can't deal with them, put someone in charge that can.
let the Reptiles huddle in a cave and role a big stone over it.
If you get a cave big enough you could put half the Democrats in there too.
Just keep enough for a quorum.
right ! we have met the enemy and he is us!
As usual.
Republican fake!
To Republicans, "bipartisan cooperation" means they set the agenda and Democrats rubber stamp it.
President Obama has played the Republican party like a Stradivarius.
And the most comical part is...
They think they won!
He can do this over and over, they will take the bait and then BAM!
Let's see...
A third of the package is relatively ineffectual tax cuts.
The effective spending is about a third of what is needed.
Just about every thing the loyal opposition has demanded they've gotten.
Barry's played the Republicans how?
Time, grasshopper. Give it time. You will see.
It is called political Ju Jitsu. You give, the other side thinks it has won and then, with proof that he had tried to work with them, he ignores them.
It will happen.
is giving the other side a chance. If they choose to be obstructionists, they are hanging themselves. Dissent is good, but it must be reasonable dissent. What I see is a very politically savy president attempting to do what is needed and asking all parties to become involved. The egg will be on the faces of those that do not participate for the good of all.
So now it's Chairman Mao politics?
“When the enemy advances, withdraw;
when he stops, harass;
when he tires, strike;
when he retreats, pursue.”
When exactly is this ignoring gonna start? Will the package before the House will magically change back to something more effective before the vote? I think not.
Don't get me wrong. I am most definitely not complaining about the sad lack of progressive spending (and the slow disappearance of what little there was). Just the small (and again, slowly shrinking) amount of effective spending, all of which appears to be due to Republican demands that Barry, Nancy, and Harry have given in to.
And by the way DON'T call me grasshopper you young punk.
It's a fun game. By the way, when did Barack start being referred to as Barry. I look at that as either lazy typing, or quite possibly an insult.
Did you really think that things were going to be forced through immediately. His senate positions show contrary. He likes to talk.
"Obama was known as "Barry" in his youth, but asked to be addressed with his given name during his college years."
We don't know the president on a personal level, we should show a little respect at this point. He's not a kid. No matter how much some of you think he's acting like a naive young punk.
I'll give you a hint: I'm not a lazy typist.
old enough to be your grandmother!
I would love to be a young punk again.
Sorry Jo, but you used the term grasshopper. Punk appelation hereby retracted. Let's agree we've both been around the block a few times,OK?
Many things were added to the bill with the thought of removing it to show bipartisan support and dialogue. This dialogue will then guage what the opposition and support is to these measures for future bills.
We have a new president that needs to build a foundation. I think he is doing a great job thus far.
Obama will be viewed as proactive while the Jim Crow Party remain as simple obstructionists holding on to failed Reagan trickle down tax cuts as national unempolyment sky rockets.
Don't underestimate perceptions....the American public will say the Republicans created this shithole, Obama deserves an opportunity to fix it.
it's part of some grand scheme to make the Cons look bad when they go against everything Obama does. He can put his hands up and say, "hey, I tried. You all saw me try. It's the Cons. You need to replace them with Dems if you want progress."
Please let that be what he's doing.
look at the political map. The Senate is not going to get to 70 Dem seats...and the House is not going to 80% Democratic. Those days are over.
The red states that are red are going to remain red...with the exception of MAYBE one or two...and those are in the north central.
Maybe Obama is trying to set them up to swing public opinion...but the fact is...his polls and the public's desire for change is as high as it will ever be. Those numbers have no where to go but down. You strike NOW...if you are going to strike.
i'm hoping that the President eventually will get sick of reaching across the aisle. then give the neocons really something to bitch about when he goes after bush and chaney for war crimes.
I sure hope he surprises the crap out of those jerks and just does what he planned to do. I am so concerned he is trying so much for 'bi-partisanship' that the Repubs will just walk all over him....god...I am soooooooo depressed.....
However, I do hope a LOT of people are reminding President Obama that 'good intentions to change things' are fine, but putting a stop to letting the Repubs sabotage what you are trying to do for the country is far, FAR more important than 'being nice'...
I really really hope he takes his words about having the final say to heart.....and slaps the s*** out of them, figuratively of course....but this 'giving in' is really upsetting me.
That if the Repube congressmembers weren't talking about the tiny amount of this bill spent on family planning, they would be bitching about something else?
They are not interested in functional government. They have said as much. They have demonstrated as much.
They just voted. ALL Repukes plus 16 Dems voted NO. It passed anyway.
A health care story -
My friend Tony is an artist who nearly lost the tip of two of his fingers a few months back. Like most of the self employed in this country, he had no health insurance. To save the the tip of one, cost $14,000, the bill was turned over to a collection agency , and Tony worked out a payment plan.
In order to do this, he began making the things he does best, as soon as he could get back to work. Last week I posted his efforts here, and at several other places I visit. One of these was Firedoglake. I learned yesterday that someone over there passed the link along, and as a result , Tony had the best price yet for one his auctions. It brought in roughly half of what his monthly payment is. He's having these auctions once a week now, here's the latest :
"Electric Flame" Xenon Tube on Marble and Wood Base
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-Flame-Xenon-Tube-on-Marble-and-Wood-Base_W0QQitemZ110342542805QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110342542805&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318
I will continue to pimp his work until the bill gets paid.
taking the 12 numbers after the Z, I went to ebay and, WOW! I wish him the best. He is a wonderful artist.
Elections have consequences...
Let the numbers speak for themselves.
1) Electoral Count: Dem: 365 Rep: 173
2) Senate: Dem 58(9) Rep: 41
3) House: Dem 257 Rep: 178
The question about what program goes thru is WHAT??
Now, Boehner and McConnel can go scream out the window, or other outdoor activities, as much as they want...TFB !
Exactly right.
obama's willingness to reach out to the party that led us to where we are now is both good and bad, imo.
from a pure theoretical vantage, it is awesome. it shows that he is smart and confident enough to sit down and hash out these details with the GOP. that is where it is good.
but, it has a potential to be dreadful too. obama needs his stimulus package to pass thru congress and the GOP is desperate to knock down any aspect of keynesianism in our econ policies. thus, the danger is that obama would make a faustian bargain in order to get the stimulus package passed. the bill is already--as a lot of economists have said--too small. so, if the GOP waters it down it all there is a potential to render it ineffective.
then it is a win for the GOP
and a loss for america.
All of them? Where did they hold the meeting? A phone booth?
Ba ha ha! That's rich!
He beleives that they are actually there to help the "people back home"! Guess they are showing him the real Reublican party. Maybe if he had been in DC longer he would be a jaded dessicated SOB like they are.
Let's hope the American people see what these SOB GOPS are up to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WINDtlPXmmE
Rachel Maddow and David Sirota discuss the bad mojo in the Democratic attempts to "make nice" with Republicans on the stimulus package. They bring up the perplexing question of "why", why are the Democrats doing this when they don't need to do it (i.e., agree to cut taxes even more for the wealthy)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jXv7uk9DXw
I don't think the Republicans will work with Obama and the Democrats to set the country right again -- they're much more concerned about their loss of power in 2006 and 2008 and are scrapping pretty hard to restore it. The way for Obama to defeat that is to stop giving into their whining demands and just move ahead without them.
Let's all pray Obama's plan works well enough to keep us from going over the cliff.
Eric Cantor said this must be "focused like a razor"
My question, though somewhat off topic, how do I focus my razor? and will I get a closer shave?
Anybody?
What he meant to say is, "focused like a laser."
...that was my point.
Just thought I'd try humor to make it.
Just another republican shooting off his mouth without knowing what he is talking about.
Shout out to Kevin James!!
"focused like a razor" on the American public's jugular! How old is that guy anyway, he looks 12 and like he has acute ADD.
NEVER listen to Cantor.
I think Obama is working this just fine. By supposedly reaching out in a bipartisan manner and being smacked down by these idiots, he is setting the stage for putting his own agenda in place and proving that the Republicans simply don't care about their constituents, so he wins all ways. Just watch. This guy is way too smart to be played by Boehner and Cantor, who are so stupid it is a mystery they ever got elected in the first place.
...and overestimating career butt plugs like Boehner and Cantor(who BTW, always looks stupid).
The man has only just taken office. This is the first major act of his administration, but let's take a look at his record so far:
Bill Richardson and Tim Geithner were both piss poor appointments, embarrassingly so.
Obama's actions so far have been very positive: supporting stem cell research, forcing the EPA to curb greenhouse gasses, closing Guantanamo in a year.
His decisions are a mixed bag, but his actions thus far are all winners. Personally, I think that he's trying to find merit in the GOP's arguments, and that's why these discussions are going nowhere. He seems to have a preconceived notion that the Republicans have something to add to the conversation, but so far, he's being proven wrong. Odds are that things will be more fruitful when he meets with the Senate Republicans, whom he's worked with successfully before.
It was obvious to us that this would be the outcome. Hopefully, it's now obvious to many more.
I understand that Obama is trying to look bipartisan but it is the failure of Regug policies that has us in this mess. They shouldn't even get a seat at the table. Repugs had their shot and they wrecked the country - just like every other time they get their boney fingers around the neck of power.
while, on the surface this might appear to be a failure of "repug policies" that is not wholly accurate.
what we have here is a failure of neoliberalism (financialization, securitization, labor flexibilization, privatization, business-friendly-deregulation, labor-harming-regulation, etc.), and both parties have dabbled in the neoliberal sandbox. dems and reps (from bush to clinton) have bowed before the neolib altar, and this economic cult has run its course.
this is bigger than a partisan issue.
that said, i have HUGE problems with obama's economic team, but i have been very pleased with a lot of obama's initial actions as president, and i am hoping that his force of personality is enough to keep the summers, geithners, rubins and others in check...
:)
ok, more accurately: union busting
the IMF propagandistic language--"labor flexibilization"--makes union busting and restrictions on collective bargaining sound like it is actually beneficial for labor. ha. liars.
that the Busheviks would fail.
And I applauded loudly when they did.
Lots of people did. Didn't you?
Did that make me 'unAmerican?'
I thought bipartisanship was democrats and republicans coming together to do whatever republicans say
Touche, David!
That's what it's been looking like for years now.
Because he has to make payments to his bosses. Chuy! Pay attention! He's no less owned by Wall Street than anyone else in the Two Party System. That system donated several hundreds of millions of dollars to the campaign. Quid, meet Pro Quo...
Barack Obama's billionaire backers
New president has a wealth of tycoons advising — and funding — him
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28695378/
One place where he does seem to be right though. Partisan politics is destroying the US.
this is slightly O/T (sorry), and for regular C&L'ers and political junkies this is hardly breaking news... but for those unfamiliar with boehner i never pass up an opportunity to fill in some gaps in his biography:
In 1995, Boehner handed out campaign checks from the tobacco industry to members on the House floor at a time when lawmakers were considering eliminating a tobacco subsidy.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100001...
I've been checking out all the craigslist rants over the past few days and these neocon kooks are really really twisted! From allegations of terrorist ties to blatant racist remarks, the neocons are balls to the walls against any unity, they would rather bitch and complain. This makes no sense considering the condition their party has left the nation in.
This is the best craigslist response I've read: CLICK HERE
Just thought I would pass it along.
wallster
Obama has tried the carrot with these facist anti American bastards (GOP). They would rather see USA destroyed then play ball . Time to get out the big stick and bitchslap them Barack. Ever see Walking Tall ?
The Republicans' secret motto is "Party first, country second."
To hear the Republicans offer advice now on how to fix the economy reminds me of the man drowning in the river complaining that the guy who came to save his sorry ass is wearing too much cologne.
It's time to remind the American people how we got here.
They (the rethugs) don't like you. They don't like Joe. They don't like the taxpayers. From what we all have seen in the last eight years, the rethugs have shown themselves to be infantile traitors. They want what's good for THEMSELVES.
Screw them. They're irrelevant. And if they vote against the stimulus, you say each of their names on television. That way, each state will know who to re-elect and who to send home.
enjoyed many things that you have written, David, but I strongly disagree with your contention that Obama will 'give up on so-called bipartisanship" or "proceed without them."
The only people Obama has proceeded without is his base because it is all too clear that at some unknown point Obama agreed to be the moderate, centrist face of the corporate establishment. He may not be a rabid right-wing nutjob, but he will never do the bidding of the liberal/progressive who got him elected. He has no intention of enacting real change. He might dabble around the corner, like restoring sane family planning...oh, I didn't know that Obama already caved to the Rethugs on that one too, or reducing the influence of the military...oh, he kept the Bush team of Gates, Petreaus and Mullen. Well, maybe, Obama will appoint a Treasury Secretary who seeks to reduce corporate influence, raise taxes and implement a 95% estate tax...oh, Obama, nominated a Bush-appointed head of the Federal Reserve. It's so sad that people have high hopes for Obama. Don't even get me started on the idiocy of adding more troops to Afghanistan.
If I didn't know better, I would swear the Repbulicans won the election. Not a democrat in sight today except Obama.
On the eve of a key vote, President Barack Obama privately promised Republicans he stands ready to accept changes in the $825 billion economic stimulus legislation, invoked Ronald Reagan to rebut conservative critics and urged lawmakers to "put politics aside" in the interest of creating jobs.
What the hell is wrong with Obama? What an impotent little whinner. Shove the bill down their fucking throats god damn it. This is why I wrote in Kucinich. He is asking the minority party for their permission? What a fucking retard he is.....
You either believe in our constitution , laws and government or you do not...If not why make a public photo op with the reciting of the constitution..
Obama is either listening to the wrong people (Pelsoi , Reid ,Blue Dogs) or has just as much BS as they have.
Obama is doing exactly what he bitched about Bush. He is not upholding the constitution , our laws and is turning from the people which elected him...
If Bush and his administration's criminal crimes and corruption is not investigated and prosecuted if guilty!!!! Then Obama also proves the fact that if you are of the elite and wealthy you are not subject to our constitution and laws...
Mikasey .... All Crimes Are Not Crimes To be Prosecuted.... and Obama will have join their crowd...
Obama said he would have an open and transparent government again he goes behind closed door to talk BS with the republicans..
Obama believes he can have it both ways...
if they slap it away, they must face the wrath of the strong pimp hand
Check out www.whatuppres.com the Obama tracker. We monitor what he does everyday and provide the sources that allow for Americans to formulate their own opinions on the everyday actions of Obama.
You need to check it out!
www.whatuppres.com
I recently posted that Obama should try and reach accross the aisle and try an end the tit for tat fued between Republicans an Democrats- But seeing how vulgar, childish and unreceptive the Repupublicans have been, and seeing how they pissed on his olive branch- I'm of the mind he should just tell the Republicans to go f*ck themselves.
Pigman Rush is just the lard figurehead of the radical right- They care nothing for America- what they care about is power and control....
Does Obama run the risk if being another Nancy Pelosi? (i.e not standing up to the Republicans, and thus becoming weak and ineffectual)
God I hope not, but It may go that way if he bends to the demands of Republicans...
I hope he doesnt' give into the like of Rush-
I don't have a problem with moderate Republicans- Most of them are now Independents- But RADICAL Republicans wrecked this country for the last 8 years. WHY are they even given a voice?
Why don't the moderate Republicans grow some balls and take back their party, by driving out the wingnuts????
People like Rush care only about themselves..
Think he has *EVER* done anything to help another human being?
Republicans do not do bipartisan, honest compromise, respect, honesty or patriotism. They are all about winning, self interest, squashing the other side regardless of the issue. They don't care about the people, the country or ethics. It is all about their own self interest, making money and control. It is a completely un-American way of conducting business and it is shameful. I watched Hardball today and wanted to vomit. All GOP all the time. Matthews gave them free reign to lie and distort and even helped them do it. It was like the old Tom Delay love fests all over again. Matthews really needs to retire.
Rush Limpballs cares only about winning..
He feels we should stay into Iraq 'until we win'. Never mind there is no clear objective, never mind that people keep dying.
He wants Pres Obama to fail, and would love to see this country in flames if thats what it will take for the Republicans to win....
He has said point blank that the left is the enemy and needs to be crushed- So i take that to mean he hates the millions of American citizens that voted for Obama.
The rest of the world sees the Republicans as seriously deranged people...
"The Republican Party has been in the thrall of rigid ideologues -- men who would rather see the nation's economy go down in flames "
We call 'em (in polite company) Republican State Legislators.
Republicans=Shit
Period, end of story.
today i could have sworn i heard a sound bite on npr radio from one of the republicans in attendance, and i was flabbergasted when he said that it was nice to finally sit down in a white house meeting where there was real dialogue, a discussion that american citizens would expect mature adults to have. maybe i misheard? did anyone else hear this blurb?
give obama time, he is doing it. i doubt he will "cave in" to republican demands, but weigh their concerns appropriately. he doesn't have to accept them, just give them some consideration and allow the opposite party to feel that they have been heard. repeated several more times on separate issues, and a foundation will be laid towards more likely win-win dialog in the future. right now it is just about creating a forum for mature dialog, that is what obama is about; and as he said, he is now the president, he won, he will have the final word.
Obama is playing the long game. He is being much more approachable and communicative (a campaign promise, being met) and he is showing that the Republicans are intractable.
He is going to keep doing this, until, as in "The Taming of the Shrew" he drives them nuts with his niceness and collaterally shows the country as a whole that the Republicans are just playing games. A two-fer. He's going to compromise enough to show that he's willing to meet them somewhere in the middle, and I for one am damn sure that he is smart enough to do the feedback monitoring on every front of this to know (as well as anybody can) when he's done enough compromising to rescind all the shit that doesn't work and to lay the hammer down on the Republicans when they've become too much of a log jam.
Wait until Obama meets with world conservatives and they embrace him as the best thing to happen to the 'States in a long time, and watch how the Republicans are going to cringe, just wait. Because, sure as dogs'll eat donuts, it'll happen.
I suspect more than ideology & Rethuglican slathering is at work here...I'm smelling pharmaceutical company kickbacks...I'll bet the "ideology" of providing birth control pills for those who can't afford them bothers the Rethugs a lot less than the erections they get from the stench of pharmaceutical companies' filthy lucre.
I think this meeting was good . . . Obama offered the Olive Branch in the interest of getting things accomplished, but now its time to understand he is dealing with persons who historically say one thing to appear competent and do another to fulfil their idealogic beliefs.
Time to put the hammer down and make them totally aware of who is command!
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