February 04, 2009 04:55 AM
President Obama: "I screwed up"
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It's so refreshing to have a President that is man enough to admit when he's wrong and take responsibility for it.
"I'm here on television saying I screwed up, and that's part of the era of responsibility. It's not never making mistakes; it's owning up to them and trying to make sure you never repeat them and that's what we intend to do."
You can watch the entire interview here.
would have even come to light in the media if O had been a Puke.
Real information most of you are overlooking. We now have a person in charge of the IRS who owed back taxes. We had two more possible appointees that had IRS tax issues, so they bowed out, and don't forget about Richardson. He was going to be put up for an appointment also, until his pay for play came out.
Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Any regular American would have been fined, had their bank accounts frozen, assets seized, etc... No, not any of these people. Yes, he admits he screwed up, which is refreshing, but I suspect this will be the first of many, many times, as long as he is willing to admit all of them. He is still not admitting he screwed up with Richardson or Geithner.
The important thing is that the people who were deemed, during the vetting process, to have had a few problems, will not serve.
Seriously, you don't see a pattern? Tell me you are joking. Also, to correct you, Geithner was found to have problems but, is in fact serving. So wish to try again?
Geithner is serving because his problem was not severe but he is severely needed during extraordinary times and he is extremely capable.
It's quite doubtful they were vetted at all. Once a politician, everybody thinks they know all about politicians, when in fact, we don't know what's happened since they were elected. There is an occasional scandal, but much is under the radar.
That's why it's smart to thoroughly investigate every possible choice BEFORE they are chosen. I believe the proper presidential position is "I don't like being surprised or embarrassed."
...who began slamming Obama for any trivial thing last November 4th.
Has your parents admitted to their colossal screw up?
L&L you have every right to disagree with him but what's with the personal attack? What does his opinion about Obama's staff have to do with what kind of individual you judge him or his parents to be? Why is that part of your response?
You see what you wish and so do I.
What are you talking about? Anytime I disagree with anyone here, I get ridicule and venom. L&L would you rather me not have independent thought and just follow the train?
Just because I do not agree with you or others, does not make me wrong and you right. We are individuals after all, we all have ethics and morals in our life that guide us to what is right and wrong. Just because something in your life is ok, it may not make it ok with me. How about trying to understand the differences of opinion?
And because he has an agenda (unlike you) that justifies you accusing his parents of making a huge mistake?
One of the cool things about C&L is the late night music club. There you can see people who debate during the day put aside their differences and find some common ground.
But when people get personal it seems like there is less of a chance of that happening.
John and I will never see eye to eye...period.
OK cool. So all your personal attacks are just jokes and can be disregarded.
Thanks!
Hey you never know, Coke or Pepsi?
Dr. Pepper.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
"trivial" are you kidding me? I am not as you say "everyday negative" if you were to take the time and actually read every word, you would have seen that I said it was "refreshing" for him to admit a screw up.
Only they see the pattern, and bristling with rage must desperately warn the rest of us who aren't sharp enough to see.
Your analysis is incorrect, John. MANY people don't pay their taxes to the correct full amount and nothing ever happens to them. With the insanely convoluted tax system we have its to be expected. The IRS treats people it catches the same, the difference you are observing, yet interpreting incorrectly is that when wealthy people get caught they can afford to pay it off, fines included and the matter is done with.
Nonetheless, the shape Bush left the country in I think the primary qualification for these posts should be competence, not whether they're perfect or not.
Competence!
So, hypothetically then, would you say if this were Republicans, you would say nothing and give them a pass? I look forward to that answer.
Because if these were repubs, it would be a given that the appointee was appointed not because they were competent or thought to be the best person for the position but because they'd contributed to the president financially or had proven past loyalty and could be trusted to work a given ideological agenda whether or not it could be shown that that agenda was good for the people or not.
So, are you telling me, this would never be the case with Democrats? There was no back room deal with Hillary? There is no repaying of services past or contributions? Really? You are kidding right?
The point I made was not that a deal had been made but that the appointee would be ideologically driven, even if it could be shown that the ideology in question is no good. That the appointee could be incompetent and/or corrupt as long as they'd be trusted to follow the party's agenda. In the Dem's case, that may happen but its not a given. Also with the Dems, even if a deal is struck, that doesn't preclude that the person appointed is competent.
...I think a case could be made that he's capable of being Treasury Secretary. However, I have an incredibly difficult time believing that he was not aware of the self-employment tax he was required to pay. I understand his Daddy also worked at the IMF - did he pay his taxes?
My real concern with Tim and a couple other folks who've been considered for, or appointed to, the cabinet is their work in the private sector. Daschle has been entrenched with the private health insurance companies for several years - was he the best choice to ensure universal, single-payer heath care? Geithner has been the head of the New York Fed - so all of these financial shenanigans proceeded right under his nose and jurisdiction. Could he not have interceded and kept the crisis from becoming so severe? Was he the best choice?
I don't think this is "crying" or in any way related to my genetic heritage. I think we need to ask hard questions - and we deserve to have government appointees who will be doing the work of the PEOPLE - not the banks or corps.
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
Never did understand how Dean and Wesley Clark were left out of the appointment parade. They must have done something to displease Rahm.
"You're doing a great job, Brownie".
Well, it's nice Obama takes responsibility for following Rahm Emmanuel's recommendations, but why the hell did anybody put Daschle up for the job and approve him in the first place, tax problems or not?
Watch out, Obama. Rahm Emmanuel is your Karl Rove, but at least KR wasn't Bush's Chief of Staff.
Obama's Junkyard Dog
If you are on the no fly list, Rahm proposed that you not be allowed to own a gun. It might seem to make sense but look how many errors are on the no fly list. Over 1 million people. Plus, if they are on the list, does it matter that they have a gun? They won't be able to get on a plane anyway.
This guy is bad news.
I've got some better names for him than "bad news", though that works, too.
But I have trouble being sympathetic to someone NOT being able to get a gun in America, mistaken or not.
I'm not a huge advocate of gun rights, but the amendment does have a purpose and there are people who hunt.
It seems wrong to take away a right without due process and from a security standpoint, it doesn't reduce the threat of hijacking.
Like some comedian said, "Who thinks the terrorist isn't smart enough to use a different name?" (to get around the no fly list)
I do believe any government that doesn't allow its citizens to arm themselves is in effect a tyranny. Its just I can't seem to get that worked up over it for some reason. I think its because I know too many Americans.
Someone should clean up that damned no fly list. God only knows who is on there and why. It needs to be gone over with a fine tooth comb to weed out those who have no fu*king business being there in the first place.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
that the new administration was going to go over everything Bush did with a fine tooth comb and correct anything that was wrong and prosecute any law breakers. I know Joe Biden and I trust Joe Biden. But let's give them some time. They have a lot to clean up.
They NEVER make mistakes! It's always Clinton's - oops - I mean Obama's fault.
A true leader knows how and when to admit his mistakes. Bush doesn't come up to Obama's ankles on the integrity scale.
His foreign policy is a huge collection of mistakes.
But I doubt he has the political capital to reverse or admit to such a disastrous collection of policies.
I agree, and now I'm having doubts about his domestic policies as well.
To change course on his foreign policy would require him to solidly uphold the Constitution, in the process deeply offending the Republicans he's courting (though I wouldn't care if he did) and getting rid of the hawks in his administration that he just hired and starting over again.
No way will he do that.
Obama has more integrity in his little finger than every member of the Bush administration had...put together.
my potted plants have more integrity than the whole Bush cabal.
Takes responsibility when his team fails.
Gives his subordinates the credit when the team succeeds.
We learned those skills at IBM, which had the best management team in the world. Do you know what happened to the IBM Plant in Austin, Texas when Bush was governor? The head honchos from Armonk NY shut it down! Something about the Austin employees being slackers and the plant not making it's numbers. Gee, is anybody surprised?
Same thing happened when 3M tried going to Texas for cheap labor and taxes. 3 years later they moved it all back to Mn.
picking a DLC/Clintonite GOP-lite clone for your chief of state? following his advice? or kowtowing to the minority party to get your stimulus bill?
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
so they can get more Goopers back in Congress before they try passing any meaningful legislation, then they have an excuse not to pass it.
Uni Health my ass. Not gonna happen.
How did he make a Double Negative Work? Not Never? dern it...(I really like this guy... and Amen to Floridiot
* 1998, George Yule - Explaining English Grammar page 277
He claimed that the English double negative could convey a positive meaning. I was puzzling over that, but he didn't stop there. 'However,' he exclaimed in his high squeaky voice, 'there is no language in which a double positive can be used to express a negative!' Everybody was busily writing this down. Zee turned to me with a smile and whispered, 'Yeah, right.'
Let's get moving on that health care issue. Times-a-waistin'. Obama shows leadership even in defeat. He's the one!
Holy mother of Deity!!! The terrorists are gonna get us now!
We should have elected a REAL man with GIANT COJONES! A cowboy type who would protect us from EVERYTHING!
By admitting to a mistake he's providing aid and comfort to our enemies! Why does he hate freedom?
My neighbor says so...and also the world is 6000 years old, and Jebus rode dinosaurs to get away from the great flood...who knew?
if everyone knows it.
And Jesus was born to Mary and the Holy Ghost long after the Ark docked and the dinosaurs disembarked.
Your neighbor needs to go to Bible Camp for a refresher.
But my neighbor is born again xtian, republican, "former" crackhead...he'll just go an crack binge, see gawd, and fill me in on his pow-wow with teh Jebus.
Very entertaining lemme tell ya!
How can you not like this guy?
I just explained how. :)
accepting responsibility means blaming Clinton....
And don't forget Carter... those two guys alone ruined this country.
But all you hippies and liberals want to do is make it worse by helping less people be miserable!!
I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!!!
- S. Hannity
That whole being green thing, the peace prizes, encouraging energy efficiency, yeah Carter was just what we don't need.
Luckily here is his response: http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/i_got_what_america_needs_right
After all - I still want to get drive my 6000 SUX and the Libruls are stopping me from an American Tradition
8.5 mpg - 'i'd buy that for a dollar'
meets The Rude Pundit, funny
@leftandleft
That's exactly what my husband said last night when he saw this clip.
We have elected a standup guy. I'm proud of us.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
After eight years it's safe to say "Republican Integrity" is an oxymoron.
I don't think we had to wait that long.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I was thinking that 30+ years ago
Now people get credit for doing the right thing, which should be the normal thing to do.
"You mean you didn't abuse your power to line your pockets and empower your cronies? You're a helluvan American!!!"
Haha. Yes, it is "refreshing" as you say for him to do the right thing. However, Obama has a tough situation to deal with in the Middle East. Reports today are showing that Hamas has confiscated U.N. parcels being delivered to families in Gaza.
http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/02/hamas-shows-more-signs-of-weakening-by-stealing-from-un.html
It sucks that he can't seem to pick a damn democrat for a cabinet position that doesn't have goddamn tax problems. But at least he manned up to it and took responsibility...such a difference from the asshole bush eh?
I think even if Obama doesn't do damn thing that I like particularly...he's STILL gonna be a far superior prez. than bushite was.
what !we got another fluck up in the whitehouse? jesus its what i feared all along!
He's human, he makes mistakes and owns up to them...Hell, the terrorist have won.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
sorry to hear that! guess the afgan tribsmen are too!
The Pope never makes mistakes. Trouble is the damn Constitution. No German born Nazi youth is allowed to be President.
I read an interview that Politico did with Darth Cheney. Darth actually had the balls to chastise the Obama pick with their tax problems. That is, indeed, troubling, and tax evaders should be penalized. But to have the biggest war criminal in our nations' history scolding the new administration is nothing short of amazing! The same man who commits (in my mind) treason, war profiterring and torture is not in any position to be throwing stones.
Here in Italy no president or politician can declare an error, even under torture.
I envy you
So far Obama hasn't dry humped a meter maid, but it's early yet.
yes certainly is still early but from what I read in your and italian newspapers it seems that he is moving well
Personally, I can't see any man who was raised as a Little King ever admitting a mistake.
whens he going to admit hes screwed up by esculateing the afgan war ? and is it only going to take an apology from obama when he increases the war dead there and we start seeing more women and children blown apart in the hunt for bin ladden? bush must be proud that his program to spread freedom to the afgan people is still going strong!
Obama has not commented on drone bombings in Pakistan that killed kids as far as I know. The right love it, and the left seem to be in denial about it.
..if they gave a war and nobody died?
We be at war all the time! Death and destruction are WHY you don't go to war. Death and destruction of civilians and their property are a consequence of war. W didn't realize that. His Afghan War was botched from Day ONE! But what would you prefer? Complete withdrawal? I'd like that too. Then I want to mobilize an international force of millions to go into the area and find OBL, bring him back to the states to stand trial and then throw his bony ass in jail forever, kept on life-support so that we drag his miserable life out in a small, cold, dark cell in the middle of nowhere. And the millions, they go home! FINIS
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
really? hey this government disbanded the task force desighned to get bin ladden , and thiers no charges of any against bin ladden , by the cia or the fbi or home land security for 911 so why the long face! they dont want your boy they never did!
They never wanted Bin Laden and they will never GET him, unless it's a big lie like the Zarqawi fiasco. The most convincing aspect of 911 to me is that "terrorists" were living and taking flying lessons in Florida. Do you all remember who was governor of Florida at the time? Hint, hint, his brother was governor of Texas at the time. Yes, we had a Democrat in the White House but he was being deliberately distracted by Monica at the time.
why are yous happy Obama was wrong?
Really lets hope this doesn't happen again.
if i was happy i wouldnt bother reminding you about his furthering bushes policys!
Well even if they weren't vetted properly
That weren't angling for the vice-presidency.
I'd love to be the president of vice.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
...to be vetted properly, you gotta have them examined by a good veteranarian, is my motto.
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
would vote for you. I've learned that you are well-versed in vices, of all varieties, and I'm sure you've paid your taxes with regularity, and also eat your fiber on a daily basis!
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
when one has to give credit to a person for being honest. It goes to show how far down the road of acceptability having a lying asshole as our leader is for at least 50,000,000 Americans.
Do I give Obama credit for being honest?
Not one damn bit.
I expect this and no pat on the backs from me for doing the right thing.
Jeezus.
we could arrange a little bonus from the TARP fund??!
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
The hope is that Obama will not acknowledge many years from now that he was wrong to have tried to bomb the Afghans [to recall the words of former General Curtis Lemay during the Vietnam War] back into the stone age. Obama should not have to wait until too many twisted and mangled Afghan bodies [as well as possibly Pakistani bodies also] have been ripped apart by 500 lb. American bombs before finally admitting that he was wrong in keeping a military force in that beleaguered country.
Somebody mentioned Rahm Emmanuel as being over the top or something like that. I think it is about time that somebody like Emmanuel is there. You have seen how these Republicans are doing everything they can to derail whatever Obama does. This is only the beginning. Emmanuel may be an asshole but he maybe he will get some backbone into the White House. Maybe it would have been nice to have Emmanuel as Speaker of the House. You have to be an asshole for the job he is in.
and undermining the progressive agenda in favor of his corporatists. We will learn the hard lesson that Dean and progressives will never get what they want and deserve for their efforts.
We will learn once again that the corporatist wing of the Democratic party has the same agenda as the repukes, only with higher, moral-sounding words.
Fuck the DLC, DSCC and DCCC.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
Some sources note that his father was a member of the Jewish terrorist organization Irgun. Can anyone imagine how hard it would have been to bring peace to the Irish conflict if the U.S. government was full of committed I.R.A. supporters?
Get in the game...don't you have people to find out this shit BEFORE you name these guys ?????
You're playin' into their hands, slow down & be more careful.
Centrocetti uses the word "extraordinary" to describe Geithner and many of the selected officials. That is a recurring word used by both Obama's in their public speech. The word is losing meaning, the same as saying "most unique". Let's get back to reality on these administration position picks. Obama owes a lot of political payoffs, period. There are many qualified Americans to fill the top positions. I am not happy when Obama supports any one who does not have a clean record of paying taxes, hiring nannies, and respecting all laws. These decent people are all throughout America.
are in the DLC, DSCC or DCCC
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
...laundry lists. Boy, I'd love to see you folks utopia.
So Mr. President, you screwed up! FIX IT! You've got enough people willing to help you find another person for the HEALTH crisis. Bring in a NEW WHIZ! Ask Hillary, anything......besides 'Old Dan Tucker' standin' lookin'!
this is one tenth of one percent of the interview/press conference and everything else Obama had to say is lost.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
You see? There he is not adhering to conservative values again! Why isn't he just making excuses, or denying it?
Notice not one Republican has a tax problem nor are they even asked about their taxes why? With all the criminal acts we've heard over the pass 8 years the IRS wasn't involved. Remember FEMA and those credit cards, the money Law Makers got for voting for the Bush Bills. Does anyone know if former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert reported the 900,000 dollars he got from the Iraq money brought to his house by the Military. Does anyone know if Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao wife of Mitch McConnell reported the money she used from the budget to campaign for her husband. Does anyone know if Eric Cantor reported his 40,000 dollar gift for voting for Citigroup bailout. If an audit was done many American's would see they had a problem and Law Makers are making this big as long as their not caught. I find it funny how Americans got so upset over money and even attack Dascle and Tim while cheering Bush/Cheney for getting in this mess and even committing War Crimes. Not one American demanded Bush stop having our soldiers killed based on the lie about WMD's. Yes thousands of young men died, thousands injured but Americans are more concered about Dascles taxes problem. When a Republican is caught I hope these comments remaind the same or will they be smoothed over like the rest of the GOP crimes. Maybe the GOP spoke person Joe the Plummer will handle that one for the Party to.
that perhaps so many can't come to terms with after 8 years of deceit.
You must inlude the years of governorship for George Bush and fratellino, Jeb Bush.
Barack, I know it's hard finding good help these days (don't we all!), but really, there were SIGNS that this Daschle fellow was being, shall we say...NAUGHTY.
I mean, what do you think he was doing after he got his behind kicked out of office after the anthrax terrorist attack? Daschle was cozying up to health care companies, giving expensive speeches and accepting expensive gifts. That alone should have clued you in. The free car and driver was just another gift, darling.
I know that it will vastly reduce the pool of candidates for all the positions you're trying to fill, but people that get rich in office and then get even richer after they leave... It's best to leave them where they are, not bring them closer to your nascent administration. Otherwise, you're just asking for trouble.
Obama's in office for just over TWO WEEKS and has no problem admitting a mistake. How refreshing is that after EIGHT YEARS of no accountability whatsoever from Busholini???!!!
.
Later, after that interview aired, George W. Bush was interviewed and noted, "What does he mean when he said, 'I screwed up?'".
(/snark)
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.
If I was them for the previous 8 years I would have a hard time paying all my taxes too. When huge parts of my taxes go to an illegal war, fucked up policies, keeping Haliburton, Blackwater, and the ex-presidents buddies out of jail and in sweet jobs they're not qualified for.
Can't really fault them for not wanted to financial support all that.
.
Doh-bama!
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.
Rahm Fucking Emmanuel.
me-oww!
As long as it's not near-nuclear war over a plane collision with China, I can deal, Barry.
the man admits a mistake and some of you cruel assholes attack him further. Sick fucks
oh jesus oh man ! sick fuck indeedy do dah !
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