President Obama calls out Republicans for their nutty rhetoric in the health-care debate
President Obama walked into the lion's den -- aka the House Republican caucus -- today for a blunt conversation about how to proceed with bipartisanship. Responding to a question from Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., he lashed into them for the nutty and outrageous rhetoric so many of them have indulged in the past year:
Obama: Let me say this about health care and the health care debate, because I think it also bears on a whole lot of other issues. If you look at the health care package that we've presented ... But at its core, if you look at the basic proposal that we put forward, that has an exchange so that businesses and the self-employed can buy into a pool, and can get bargaining power the same way that big companies do, the insurance reforms that I've already discussed, making sure that there's choice in competition for those that don't have health insurance -- the component parts of this thing are pretty similar to what Howard Baker, Bob Dole, and Tom Daschle proposed at the beginning of this debate last year. Now, you may not agree with Bob Dole and Howard Baker, and certainly you don't agree with Tom Daschle on much, but that's not a radical bunch.
But if you were to listen to the debate -- and frankly, how some of you went after this bill, you'd think that this thing was some Bolshevik plot! No, I mean, that's how you guys, that's how you guys presented it. And so I'm thinking to myself, 'Well, how is it that a plan that is pretty centrist' -- no, look, I'm just sayin', I know you guys disagree, but if you look at the facts of this bill, most independent observers would say this is actually what many Republicans -- it's similar to what many Republicans proposed to Bill Clinton when he was doing his debate on health care.
So all I'm saying is, we've got to close the gap between the rhetoric and the reality. I'm not suggesting that we're going to agree on everything, whether it's on health care or energy or what have you. But if the way these issues are being presented by the Republicans is that this is some wild-eyed plot to impose huge government in every aspect of our lives, what happens is you guys then don't have a lot of room to negotiate with me.
I mean, the fact of the matter is that many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable in your home base, in your own party. You've given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion, because what you've been telling your constituents is. 'This guy's doin' all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America!'
No doubt he was thinking of, among others, Blackburn herself. Her question to Obama was fairly straightforward and non-nutty, but when she's been out in the public, this is a woman who has defended the notion that the health-care bill contained "death panels," claimed the bill was "sacrificing our children's future," and joined the Tea Partiers in demanding "we want our country back."
But it's not just House Republicans who need to hear this. Some media folks need to be getting this message too.
The Republicans DO NOT CARE about that fictitious entity known as "bipartisanship." They WANT to DESTROY representative democracy in the United States. The Extreme Court that handed Shrub the presidency and recently declared that corporations should decide our elections is just one of the weapons (along with the far-reaching reich-wing media and the Bachmann types in Congress) in this well-orchestrated assault on the country.
Obama's naivete is astonishing.
He should extend a middle finger to them, not an olive branch.
BID
has no interest in fending them tea baggers off since they have been such an excellent foil in keeping progressives in line.
That Obama , Emanuel or the centrists are democrats or democrats with real democratic idea and policies.. They have even scared the Progressives into supporting their corporate legislation..
Obama just statement in his address speech that he was going to have more off shore drilling , burn coal (using the terms from the oil company saying it will be clean coal)
Have Americans forgotten Three Miles Island... Well I never will and if the truth was ever told it was much worst then they claim.. The radiation it gave off I believe is one of the reason's Maryland which was down wind from is or is close to being the number one cancer state.
Clean coal is a joke... Just go to the area where the processing of it has destroy water supplies , lake and other environment.
If Obama is not a conservative republican as Emanuel , Clinton group with the centrists then he has to be the most naive president I have ever seem..
Bush passed these policies for money , oil companies and other corporate empires , just who or what is Obama passing his corporate legislation for..
It would have been easy for Obama to have more persons working now if he had passed legislation for main street instead of wall street..
Obama and he democrats are protecting the criminals like Bush / Cheney / Rumsfeld / Rove / bankers / Health & Drug companies with his censorship & stopping any and all investigations into their crimes..
Obama , Emanuel and the democrats can not be this naive as they pretend to be..
**
If Obama have keep his promise of a public option and paying for it by repelling Bush's tax cuts to the wealthy everything would be going just fine.. I am starting to blieve Obama is a phony democrat..
He now states he didn't make promises which he did..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUNCpnRBf9o
Wednesday, September 24, 2008.....Obama's speech from Dunedin, Florida
http://speeches.demconwatchblog.com/2008/09/o...
I will cut taxes – cut taxes – for 95% of all working families. My opponent doesn’t want you to know this, but under my plan, tax rates will actually be less than they were under Ronald Reagan.
Change means a tax code that doesn’t reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it. I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.
If American taxpayers are financing this solution, you should be treated like investors. Wall Street and Washington should give you every penny of your money back once this economy recovers.
We cannot and will not simply bailout Wall Street without helping the millions of innocent homeowners who are struggling to stay in their homes.
American people should not be spending one dime to reward the same Wall Street CEOs whose greed and irresponsibility got us into this mess.
******
Mandate for Americans to buy health insurance
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/us/politics...
Mr. Obama raised the Clinton campaign’s ire late last week by charging in a voter mailing that “Hillary’s health care plan forces everyone to buy insurance, even if you can’t afford it... and you pay a penalty if you don’t.”
Mrs. Clinton argues that she can make premiums affordable for low-income workers by spending $110 billion on subsidies and cost-saving devices. Like Mr. Obama, she would pay for her plan primarily by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest Americans. She would not allow exemptions from the insurance mandate, as Massachusetts does for those who cannot
None
I think that's what the Republicans are counting on, and they aren't going to get what they want.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Well at least an olive branch is well lubricated.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
they do care about being called out for their lies and obstrction ON CAMERA.....They can never weasel out of this --there are not enough creative edits even at Fox newsless!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Get em Mr. Pres....We will push this to the MSM...and the World
While I lost most of my respect for Obama about 11 months ago, I think this was a good move on his part.
The Republicans know what they're doing, and so far, Obama has publicly ignored them. But throwing down the gauntlet now, while awfully late in the game, may be a smart move.
I've seen it happen occasionally in real life where a bunch of bullies are jeering and laughing and being jackasses to another person, and that person takes it for a long long time. But the time comes when the bullies know they've gone too far, but nobody has stopped them.
I don't think it takes a lot to shut them up when they've reached this stage. If the person who was bullied points out what they're doing or have done without a lot of rancor, and does it publicly, it sometimes works like magic. And the one bullied may have to do it more than once, perhaps by singling out the loudest mouths one at a time.
As I say, the bullies know what they're doing. They know they're being jackasses beyond all pretense of civil behavior.
Well, we'll see. I have seen this strategy work occasionally. Let's hope that isn't Obama's last bullet for dealing with them though.
and letting talk-radio define his office, Obama finally said something presidential.
If he could do the same thing, every day, for the next month ... he might begin to salvage his presidency.
Excuse me, you lost respect 11 months ago, one month after he took office. Wow, that's really giving the guy a chance. The hard core liberals are just as destructive as the hard core right. I think it's really sad to see the way some liberals have turned on Obama. After seeing the exchange that occurred between Obama and the Republicans at the caucus, I am again reminded of why I so admire our president. How many politicians in this country would have had the courage to do what he did, especially on camera? How many politicians could have pulled that off so successfully?
powerful nations. In their attempt to destroy democracy in America they are turning us into a third world nation. In the end they will be the rulers of poor powerless nation. We will become India as India becomes us.
I actually don't think Obama is naive. But what he is doing is shining sunlight on the obstructionist Republicans. The Republicans view compromise as getting 80-100% of what they want, even when they're in the minority. What will be interesting is to see the GOP spin and whether the media will ever stand up to the GOP.
Those nutty Republicans. They know all about take, now they must learn about give.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
So Obama admits that this POS legislation was proposed to Bill Clinton by repubs and he still thinks it's centrist? The repubs are the party of the extreme right, basically the nazi party at this point, and here he is pretending they are moderate and centrist, good grief.
I have no problem with him calling them out, but how about being more honest on the whole centrist nonsense and you know, not shifting further right because they call you a librul.
than it does about the repugs.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
"Look, we can fuck this country together instead of taking turns! Please get with the program. After all it's from the reagan playbook. You know, SUPPLY-SIDE money funnelling, ridiculous military spending and soon an end to social security. What! you guys missed the speech on Monday?"
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
..just what will your response be to continued obstructism by the party of NO? I think if you continue on this path of Hope for Bi-partisanship, you are going to continually disappointed. The country WANTED A PUBLIC OPTION and it doesn't exist in the Senate Bill right now because you or the majority party in the Senate HAD to give it up to get the legislation passed and that was with a sixty vote super majority. You have too many DINO's in the Senate and your expecting the minority party to give you bi-partisanship? Well, Sir, may your dreams come true!
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Can Obama possibly believe that they are listening?
This could go on all day.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
It's so hard to watch him try to reason with the insane. What a fool.
We are Democrats, and our party is the DEMOCRATIC party, not the Democrat Party.
When you hear a Republican say this, they are showing their utter disrepect for us, and should be treated with this in mind.
Every one of these assholes who use that term should be pubically corrected before any question is answered.
They'll just call you out as a hypocrite for calling them assholes, or pull out some name you called the months ago or some other liberal used as proof that they're in the right.
When angry, count four, when very angry, swear.
-Mark Twain-
Lately I've gotten into the habit of dropping the L from Republican. Not sure why. Just enjoy seeing the word Repubican I guess.
I got called out for correcting a couple of guys for using Democrat party after I had used my term republican't.
Although it's not the same thing, really.
When angry, count four, when very angry, swear.
-Mark Twain-
n/t
I've been doing it too so it forms the word pubic.
Another possibility is republi****.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Right on. He needs to publically call them out on this. To stand by silently while the slur is used in a public forum is to tacitly roll over for it. He needs to call 'em out. And to all the hypoctites on the Repub side, where is your outrage on this explicit, overt disrespecting of the president?
I remind users that "Democrat" Party is an old term which was revived by Senator Joe McCarthy in the '50's. And I let them know that they are appropriately channeling the legacy of one of the all time slime balls in American history.
There can be no doubt that the President was clear in calling out those who cry over a lack of bipartisanship, yet whose method is to obstruct.
The average citizen can't understand why his elected officials speak in an absurd manner, without trying to craft bills that will get passed.
The President just handed out huge double edged swords to the Republican party. If they persist in being the party of No!, they'll have cut their own noses to spite their faces.
Now, Mr. President, you sent them the wake up call. If they choose to obstruct, call them out publicly and individually. Use your bully pulpit and tell the unemployed that Congressman X is blocking assistance to them.
Lead, Mr. President. Or get out of the way.
...I heard him putting the ball of 'bi-partisanship' into the Republicans' court, fair warning that if all they want to do is yell outrageous slurs and vote NO to pander to their base... he may not have his hand extended anymore by the time they wake up and realize they've pretty much gotten everything they wanted out of him in the first place.
I could be wrong, but I think he just told them to put up or shut up. One may live in hope...
Yeah, me too, that's what I heard. He did it very nicely (this time?). My hope is next time it's more like this, "I gave you guys a chance to co-operate, but you have continued to obstruct. I'm done with you (sit down and STFU)." GET ANGRY!!
far left loon >.<
I also hold out hope that this is part of his plan. Make it obvious to one and all what's going on with them.
It is an election year, and it's certainly time to point this out to us.
It's probably no accident that this was done in such a public way in this particular format. Pretty smart from a political standpoint, given recent events. From a policy standpoint however, he's already gone just about as far right as is possible short of just handing it over to them altogether.
I agree he was putting the ball in the Republican court but I don't think this was about changing any of the Republican leadership's minds. I think he was using the opportunity to take his case to the American people. This was a great way to get around the right wing spin machine and answer every one of their whiny bumper sticker attacks in real time. They gave him their bes targuments and he swatted each one down and made them look petty in the process. I want to see much more of this type of thing.
Hmmm...
Convenient. Except only a small radical fringe believes that health care reform involves murdering people. Same with the fascist socialism. That isn't the health care reform debate at all. That's just a very shiny straw man.
There's plenty of actual debate over things like mandates, cost controls, drug re-importation, a robust public option, and on and on.
But by pretending it's about death panels and fascist socialism, Obama gets to avoid how a universal Medicare buy-in would address his stated health care goals far more efficiently than his industry sponsored (and written) bill.
And why Medicare-for-all advocates could barely get arrested while AHIP and PhRMA got back room deals.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
?
Study the symptoms not the virus...
Blackburn: "blah, blah, blah..."Democrat" congress"
Yea, she's above the partisan fray. So much so she'd pass on the Republican talking point of saying "Democrat" congress. You can't deal in good faith with these petty low life cretins. How long before Obama realizes this?
Where has Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., been for the last year?
"When can we sit down with you and refine these ideas?" -- WTF???
Obstructionist unmentionable woman ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Long winded old bag also has no clue on how to ask a succinct, direct question. My STFU meter was pegged.
Long speech by Blackburn, followed by closing of all ears in the room to Obama's answer.
Democratic Party progressive, Vietnam veteran and proud Union member for 41 years
I still say if the Republicans want to vote against health care even with all their own amendments, then they should stand on principle and opt out of the government health care that they now enjoy.
Re-Public option ;)
Study the symptoms not the virus...
Did the lion have his feet up smoking a pipe?
http://www.bible-stories-library.com/image-fi...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Obama is a nice guy, but he'll just have to get angry sooner or later, won't he?
(I'm a lamb in day to day life, but don't push me too far, or you'll be shocked at the volcano eruption.)
far left loon >.<
"you'll be shocked at the volcano eruption"... lambasted? ;)
Study the symptoms not the virus...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG70rsLUjfQ
I don't think Obama needs the tanning butter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UqKRGW6_rw
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb.
Forgot who said that. But I like it.
I googled it and found nothing but a song.
However it sounds reminiscent of Shakespeare in Julius Caesar, "Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once."
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I know what your saying, but being a lamb doesn't mean being a coward. Republicans act like they're lions, but they're just arrogant assholes.
far left loon >.<
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOXpKUu6pUg
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
♥
Study the symptoms not the virus...
They want Obama to fail. They've said it as much. And if America fails in the process is fine by them. That's how much they love this country.
more tax cuts for the rich and more corporate welfare. Just tell them NO!
Republicans are liars and simply cannot be trusted.
doing such a thing.No notes,no teleprompter.We froget how pathic he was,is.
....the fools do not realize,a population that can ,..... not paticipate .............in the 'economy'...,can not keep it viable!..........."we are listening,.......and we're not blind.,......this is your life....this is your time."
Obama did it without having a shoe hurled at him. Though they probably had to make Joe Wilson take his off before coming inside.
"....doing such a thing.".... Would never had happened. Rove and Uncle Dick (haven't heard from him or his little bitch lately) would have made sure of that.
The Bush White House would have created a special Town Hall with a backdrop of flags and soldiers in uniform and then handpicked the audience, pre-screened the questions and coached Bush on the answers. The sad part is he still looked like a damned fool when he did it.
If the democrats had any creative thinkers, they would quickly pass a public option by taxing only the top five percent in the House.
Then send it to the Senate and tell any bluedog who doesn't vote for cloture is toast, because they are taking the entire party down with them.Besides, they can always vote NO afterwards - the traitorous fascist weasels!
Then, make the PSYCHOTIC REPUBLICANS DO A REAL FILIBUSTER by standing up for days on end screwing the people on national television with their 41 psycho's holding firm! They can have asshole Lieberman too if they want, and let him commit his final act of political suicide at the same time.
It's a win for everybody, except the repukes and Lieberjerk! And the useless bluedogs don't have to do a freaking thing to help.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
after this past year...the Dems we have are smart, creative people. Do not assume they are dumb. Do not say they lack spines. The hard truth is that they DO NOT WANT to do these things. They do not want single payer or a public option.
Both parties are filled with corporate whores.
Once you look at it that way, everything makes a lot more sense.
The lot of them!
trying to appease republicans is a WASTE OF TIME!!! They simply DON'T CARE about anything but THEMSELVES.
trying to appease republicans is THE PLAN.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
I beg for a PO and a Filibuster. It would be great theater to watch the Repubs do what they do best, obstruct government.
these repugs are full of shit.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
Obama could now call for the establishment of workers soviets and the rhetoric couldn't get any worse. The Republicans have already emptied their shot lockers.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
I'm willing to bet 10 to 1 that the right wing noise machine is going to play this as "Obama calls Republicans Bolsheviks", even though it's nowhere close to what he actually said. It's just the way Faux News appeals to the knuckle draggers that typically watch and believe everything said on that network. They will doctor the clips to make it look evil. And that, essentially is how propaganda is done, folks.
Democratic Party progressive, Vietnam veteran and proud Union member for 41 years
I caught some of this and must admit I was thrilled. President Obama was outstanding. His one on ones were a demonstration in intellectual ass kicking. Good for him. Keep it up. He ought to invite these republicans to these town halls every month. Then invite the Senate. Good for you President Obama. Keep up the pressure.
they showed a good part of this...and was interesting how Matthews lambasted Marsha Blackburn (?) naming all the things 'they' wanted to put into the bill, when (as Matthew stated !!! ) ..they had the past eight years for sure to get it done, and couldn't be bothered...when they were in power, they never bothered about 'what they wanted for Health Care..' but they sure all of a sudden had and made a lot of noise when a Democratic president and congress wants HCR...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkzBsv7-Obg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFfOOXPBigY
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
of Obama's speech and Q&A at the GOP House Caucus Retreat in Baltimore, MD on CNN to practically bring me to tears, and angry. Obama has so obviously slipped from reality in his Herculean attempt at bipartisanship with the GOP that it defies any rational explanation. The GOP questioners were not so much trying to bridge the perceived gap between Neo-Liberal Democratic talking points and Neo-Conservative Republican talking points as they were in making unsubstantiated political points for their raving bat-shite crazy bobble-headed constituents back home in their districts.
If Obama persists in these vain efforts at bipartisanship with the G(nO)P, he will effectively swing the whole of the Democratic Party somewhere to the right of Benito Mussolini. Obama is forsaking the liberal progressive base of the Democratic Party, as well as the eclectic mix of independent supporters, in favor of "standing with" the Republican Party. This televised event clearly demonstrates that the bulk of the Republican Party politicos either belong in an insane asylum, or else given "time-outs" in the corner like petulant children -- really hard to decide which.
Obama would do far better to lead the Democratic Party from its position of political strengths, than to try to build a "bridge to nowhere" that unrequited bipartisanship represents. Now my head hurts and my stomach is nauseous -- screw bipartisanship, and screw the Blue Dogs !
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
I am sure to get blasted for this but I respectfully disagree with your analysis. I think this will be part of a concerted effort to back the republicans into a corner. This country needs responsible leadership and some big legislation. Like it or not none of a progressive agenda will be enacted while the repubs vote in a united block. The only way to get any legislation passed is if the repubs suffer for their tactics of obstruction.
I have great respect for your passion. I am just hoping for the best. Now schedule 10 more of these townhalls on any topic with Obama and the repubs.
but I will, respectfully, challenge your assertions. And, I think that I understand where you are coming from -- that Obama is playing 3-D chess against political opponents that can barely play checkers.
Consider this point however, without prejudice: The "progressive" agenda that Obama campaigned on, and on which he drew the support of many liberal progressive Independents, he has been very busy back-pedaling away from since his inauguration. And the notion of the united Republican minority in Congress effectively blocking meaningful healthcare reform, as an example, is specious -- the expansion of a pre-existing program such as Medicare does not require that filibuster-proof 60+ vote majority, just a simple majority would do. The Democratic Congress' failure on HCR thus far has used that excuse, without merit, in order to push a Corporatist HCR agenda, with Obama's support.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
I understand and appreciate how many of us progressives feel abandoned by the president and the congress. I would love to see Medicare expanded for all. The fault for HCR failure lies with the entire leadership of the Democratic Party. Allowing Max Bachus to negotiate for three months was insanity, Joe Liberman is a traitor, Ben Nelson is a theif etc. But the Leadership should have pushed to get this mess fixed six months ago.
My view is that the SOTU and this happy little meeting today are part of a strategy to force the repubs to explain their insanity. I must admit that I feel a little like Charlie Brown waiting for Lucy to pull the ball back again. I hope the WH has thought this through and will be relentless in its executuion.
Liberal progressive Democrats and Independents feel abandoned because we have been abandoned.
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It is not so much a failure of leadership in the Democratic Party leadership as it is the willful and duplicitous betrayal of oft-stated Democratic ideals. Actions speak louder than words ...
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The meeting today was nought more than political theater, with each side expecting the TV coverage to score points with their respective dumbed-down bases back at home. As Obama stated "There is less difference between our two Parties than has been perceived." ( Well, duh ! No kidding ! )
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Any strategy reliant on forcing the Republican to explain their insanity is moot -- it cannot be done ! But there is quite enough insanity to go around, to both Parties. I keep hearing Obama praise R. Reagan, the President whose economic policies, when carried to their logical conclusion, have led us to this current economic disaster. Committing to more of the same economic policies (e.g.. tax cuts for the rich) is truly insane.
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Yes, I also like that analogy of Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football -- it works on a number of levels.
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Calling out the Republican "irrational exuberance" for ineffective tax cuts and obstructionism is a DLC strategy that may well backfire -- both Parties have been irrevocably corrupted by the Corporatists.
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I hope you don't consider this response to be "busting your chops" -- just friendly banter, as far as I am concerned ... ;-)
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
Thanks for the back and forth. I too hope we begin to make progress moving the country to the left. I freely admit my expectations are fairly low. My list:
HCR
Card Check
Cap & Trade
Stable incentives for alternative energy
An end to DADT
Exit from Iraq & Afganistan
If any of these things get done it is a move in the right direction.
As to both parties having been corrupted by Corporatists_- I am afraid we have just begun to see the damage corporations can do to further their insatiable quest for power (and money). Scotus has certainly changed the game for the next election.
Let's go drink a beer sometime.
Hope, Great Expectations, and Peace; all on your list are noble goals, IMHO.
A beer? That sounds great! But I will have to buy a round as well.
Cheers!
;-)
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
I have seen/heard where the assertions of "arrogant" "Cocky"... etc is being bandied about about his demeanor....and you know what they are describing....
Now I have been among those who have been chomping at the bit over what President Obama has done/not done, etc...but I really enjoyed watching him make these people squirm. Interesting glance at one of the (ahem) ladies sitting there listening. She was NOT a happy camper....looked like she was thinking of throwing a salt shaker at him or something...like he was totally 'embarrassing' them or something....
It was an amazing scene. One now understands why GOP insiders are lamenting the decision to have had cameras in the room. And with CSPAN, CNN, MSNBC covering it from start to finish, a fair number of Americans got to see it. FOX? Well, they started, but curiously after the first couple of exchanges - where it became apparent Obama came loaded with "bear" and facts, they suddenly switched to their regular programming (aka ObamaSlam). But came back afterwards in time to show the Republican leadership
putting their post-Q&A spin.
It's going to be rebroadcast this evening (late afternoon, PST) on CSPAN. I urge everyone to watch it.
PST.
got PWND!
Obama should have physically hauled out a copy of the health care bill, whomped it onto a desk and said,
"Here's the bill. Show me where it calls for 'death panels.' Can you find it, because I can't. Do you want my personal promise that I'll veto anything with a 'death panel?' I'd be glad to make that promise, but first you have to show me where it is."
Then walk away, leaving the bill sitting there.
Once. Just one time, please. Throw a bone to this part of the base -- me -- and challenge 'em when the use the democrat slur. Please, just once. To stand there in silence while an elected Republican throws it in ones face is to tacitly acquiesce to the slur.
the only person I have ever seen challenge them with the "democrat" thing was, of all people, Chris Matthews. Everyone else lets it go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYlDbv7MqE8
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqAuuIDU2sw
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
"You've given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion, because what you've been telling your constituents is. 'This guy's doin' all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America!' "
Keep up with this, Obama. And do twice as much behind the scenes as these signs we can actually observe.
actually be growing a pair (pear)?
is broadcasting it again now.
Obama slapped the GOP liars around and it was glorious. I would have paid to watch this. I may just have to get pop corn and watch it again.
Transparency is no a friend of the GOP that is for sure.
Dodd accepted somewhere around 160 Republican amendments. How are they being left out of the process?
Mike Pence tried to frame it as Obama finally agreeing that moving forward he would begin starting to work with the Republicans (on things like interstate competition) as a result of this talk. The point Obama was making was that he had already been listening to Republicans and incorporating their ideas. And of course Tweety just let that slide.
"It's not just your side it's the other side too." ???
He negates his own power when he says stuff like this. It's like, he finally straps them on but for whatever reason, hastily straps them off just as he's about to land the knock-out punch. It ends up a fizz-out instead of a knock-out.
I'm so sick of his wishy-washy nonsense. Stand up for what you believe in, Sir.
Dylan Ratigan's reporting.
Study the symptoms not the virus...
Ditto .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
is a fucking hillbilly. DEMOCRATIC party, bitch -- the MAJORITY!
The ignorant, uneducated, Reslugs got their asshole sniffing, marching orders from the Drugster to block everything, so The Prez fails.
...still has visions of bipartisanship dancing in his head. You would think that he has figured out anything he does or says will be crapped all over by the RepubliKKKans first, then then many of the Dims second.
I believe that President Obama truly has the good of The People and the nation at heart, but he gets no support. Like he said at this little 'get-together' Washington is to busy being Washington. Those who are working on that 'shining hill' are to busy playing politics and worrying about their own careers. Pointing this out will only serve to further disjoint the GOP's nose. Maybe the President knows this and is counting on it? In the meantime folks are still losing jobs, their homes and dying because they can't pay for health care at no fault of the President. He should continue to point out that he has inherited this mess, along with WHOM it was inherited from and he is dancing as fast as he can. The American public has a very short memory and should be reminded often that it was the Republican Party that has dragged this country into the sewers.
Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime
Can anyone imagine for one second Bush, or any other Republican, confronting the situation like this? Kudos to Obama. I don't expect the Repukes to change a thing they're doing, but at least the American people can see that Obama tried, and can have a better understanding of the real crux of the problem, the Republicans.
"I believe that President Obama truly has the good of the people and the nation at heart, but he gets no support", me too JerryO , I really think he is a good man , I don't question his heart . I wonder though , will he ever get fed up and say "OK Repugs , that's it , you had your chance ,I tried but now I'm going to play hardball" and steam roll everything right over the F'ers the same way Bush / Cheney and the Repugnants did the Dims . He's publicly slapped them up side the head and chastised them in front of the whole country hopefully the end of the rope is coming ,we shall see .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
i am completely amazed at pres obama's ability to handle himself in this forum. blown away. it was a masterful work.
he is truly an impressive politician... (wait for it)
...but it is high time that he use his unbelievable talent to push for progressive policies, and champion a return to sane policies. which, has been noted many times, he hasn't.
please, and i'll beg--president obama, you are, obviously, a gifted politician, so use that gift to push for the policies you know to be right, stop leaning to the right, end bush policies you have adopted, take on the corporate beast, reject neoliberalism and DLC'ism, and embrace a progressive agenda.
...but to no avail. The Repugs know a public option healthcare reform will be the end of their party... down the road they will be known as the party that want's to take your healthcare away.
1) Obama was NEVER a lefty in any real sense. That was obvious from his milquetoast speech at the '04 convention. He claimed there was no White America & no Black America, etc. and many lefties like me thought... it sounds good to say and it's a goal worth having and working towards, but it's not a fact of life. But, Democrats, liberals & progressives thought that he was the sh*t and suddenly he was the one to watch.
Then came the nomination process and the choice was between Obama & Clinton. Clinton is no more a lefty than Obama. She loves imperialism and her health care proposal in the 90s was allegedly just as unwieldy/clumsy/complicated as the current one offered up during the current administration. In the end, it was Obama all the way.
He is what he always was: a slightly left leaning centrist. This should be no surprise to anyone. If the left wanted a real liberal or progressive, they should have supported Dennis Kucinich. But they didn't and this is what we have to work with. The key is that he is someone with whom you can work to get at least some of your agenda passed or pushed forward. But that takes a concerted, organized effort, not sniping from the sidelines b/c he isn't what YOU made him out to be.
2) Perhaps I'm the only one who noticed (I could be wrong b/c I didn't read all of the comments) that Blackburn's question was when he will be available to hear their ideas. Well, he already asked for their ideas, so it is up to them to put together something to present to his staff that he hasn't already seen. But more importantly, did the Democrats ever ask Bush to be available to hear their ideas? Isn't that what the House is for--to present their proposed legislation for a vote? Did the Democrats ask Reagan or Bush-1 to be available to hear their ideas? Since when is the president of these united states supposed to preside over or be a part of a work group to throw around their stale ass ideas? What I'm getting at is where do they get the idea that as the minority party they are entitled to a personal audience with the President?
During Bush-2's administration when he met with "Democrats" he met w/leadership or heads of committees, not the entire gaggle of legislators. People in his own party weren't automatically granted a one-on-one w/him, but during Obama's administration suddenly the unwritten rules have changed and he MUST meet with the GOP to hear them mumble and whine.
Where did the idea come from that everyone is entitled to personally or as a group meet with the President and brainstorm ideas?
Trent Lott. Or Tom DeLay. You remember Tom don't you?
You remember some the bs he pulled don't you?
Like having votes in the middle of the night? W/O informing the Dems.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
That's exactly dead on right Dave . Obama took it to them , that took guts . Bush set the record for vacation time now Obama is breaking all records for patience , I just wonder is there an end to his rope ? When does he say "OK , that's it , I tried " and play hardball with these swine ? He has to at some point or go down as a total failure and a fool , too nice for the job . We shall see .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
it might be time to start using that "executive" pen.
The Repubs. regret televizing this. They forgot that we have a President now who can actually think, and speak, regardless of all their BS about "using a teleprompter." You'll have about as much chance of seeing this on Fox as...well...you fill in the blank.
I think they are asking themselves why did we agree to this ? LOL . Obama showed that he was smarter than the entire room , pretty impressive . Maybe he will finally draw the line , hope so .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
This will probably piss some people off. I don't care.
I voted for Obama after all the real candidates were eliminated from the primaries. I believed that he would do some positive things. I have since had an epiphany.
I did not listen to his speeech. Though he is quite an orator, his speeches lack any `substance that he follows up on. In other words, he is just full of shit. The only promise he has kept is to send more troops to Afghanistan. This is guaranteed to expand the "war on terror." He has made secret deals with big pharma telling them that the US would not allow foreign medicines in to compete with them. He is still using rendition as a political tool. He has authorized the assassination of American citizens by the CIA if they are suspected of terrorist activities. Regardless of proof or due process. He still uses wire tapping, Gitmo is still ope, and Iraq is still destroyed. The economy is in the crapper and those that caused the problem get his blessings and they are still in charge.
Why the fuck should I listen to his speech that means nothing?
A lot of people are trying to tell him and the democratic party that they have lost their base but they don't seem to give a shit about that.
In short, we are screwed!
actually be growing a pair (pear)?" As a satirical member of the Pear Orchard Caucus of the C&L Commentariat, it brought a chuckle.
As a citizen, I'd have to answer "No." Instead he is using the part of his anatomy which got him elected, his brain. That is why his appearance and performance today was both smart and artful.
As always, he treated the people with whom he was speaking respectfully, and as adults, even if they did not act like they deserved it all the time. They are, unlike the people commenting here who call them Rethugs or derivatives of insults to retarded people, elected officials. In doing so he impressed most sensible people watching he is smart, knows his facts, and is capable of taking the opposition party's best shots and returning fire without being petty or demeaning.
Like many Republicans in his audience, some of the ranting commenters on these pages do not like him. Their accusations about his policies and motives are just as off base as the Republicans. They share one other characteristic in my opinion.
They really do not like the fact Obama acts like an adult who is articulate, reasonable and smart. Because deep inside they are not. They prefer fights to governance. They prefer slogans to thought. They cheer the very tactics and outbursts they deplore as outrages when they come from those with opposing views. They behave like spoiled children who only want things exactly THEIR way.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I have been so frustrated with having to hear the crazy charges thrown at this man for a year, without him answering in kind. My patience with him had nearly run out when he did the SOTUS. I was beyond thrilled when he called them out, including the Supreme Court. Finally, the man I voted for showed up!!
Now, looking back, I think he was brilliant in letting the Repugs thoroughly demonstrate how childlike and bratty they really are. He met with them on Friday and after each campaign speech they gave, he gave the most sane and reasoned responses imaginable. I have never been so proud of my President in my life. We didn't have a President for 8 years.
My favorite part was when he called Jeb Hensarling "Jim" a couple of times. I was ROFL. Whether it was intentional, I don't know, but it had to have bruised Hensarling's Texas-sized ego.
Not sure who said that, but here's another good one...
"Mejor morir a pie que vivir a rodillas"
(Better to die on my feet than to live on my knees)
--Emiliano Zapata, one of the heroes of the Mexican Revolution
And the great one, Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLYOOezs3DA
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