Obama the confrontational...Comes Out Swinging

[jefferson_dem]

Obama the confrontational



President Obama had a simple message for congressional Republicans in a press conference Wednesday: Stand up and lead.

Obama, often in harsh and stark terms, condemned the approach that House and Senate Republicans have adopted in the final stretch of the negotiations surrounding the increase in the nation’s debt limit.

“They’re in one week, they’re out one week,” said Obama of Congress. “And then they’re saying Obama needs to step in. I’ve been here.”

He repeatedly challenged Republicans to make compromises in order to adopt a truly “balanced approach” to the debt deal; “Call me naive, but my expectation is leaders are going to lead,” he said.

Obama’s confrontational approach toward Congress extended beyond the debt negotiations — seeping into answers he gave on job creation, the broader economy and Libya.

On each issue, Obama cast himself as the adult in the room and Congress as an irresponsible child — unwilling to sacrifice their desire to score political points for the good of the country.

<SNIP>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-the-confrontational/2011/06/29/AGlUVtqH_blog.html

Obama Comes Out Swinging

The president's fiery speech today was the type liberals have been waiting for—since the last one. Howard Kurtz on whether Obama will follow through on the rhetoric this time.

June 29, 2011 1:22 PM EDT

Who was that combative president? The guy who came out swinging against tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, for big oil companies, for hedge fund managers, for corporate jet owners?

The Barack Obama we saw at an East Room news conference on Wednesday—drawing sharp distinctions and demanding concessions from Republicans—is the kind of partisan fighter that liberals have craved for the last two-and-a-half years. Gone was the conciliator-in-chief patiently trying to see all sides; in his place was an amped-up leader determined to pressure his opponents.

<SNIP>

Instead, the president strafed some of the Democratic Party’s favorite targets: wealthy people, oil conglomerates, and Wall Street. They should sacrifice a bit before we ask seniors to pay more for health care, Obama said: “I don’t think that’s real radical.” And in case anyone missed the point, he chided congressional leaders for a “selfish” approach.

Obama positioned himself as a teller of hard truths, denigrating Republicans who insist on no new taxes as people trying “to satisfy their base or get on cable news”—then expressing hope that they could “rise to the occasion.” He even took a swipe at Congress taking frequent recesses while he has been working nonstop on the economy and war and Osama bin Laden.

<SNIP>

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/06/29/obama-s-news-conference-he-criticizes-the-republicans-but-will-he-follow-through.html

[jenmito]

1. If these people would cover Obama's multiple speeches at factories and similar places,

they wouldn't be so shocked. He said similar things just yesterday in Iowa. But it's true-he came out swingin' in today's press conference.

[SkyDaddy7]

36. Come on now...You can't blame the press!

They have been working overtime to cover everything Sarah Palin is doing...They don't have the time to cover less important things like what the POTUS has been saying for months now. Seriously, Sarah Palin's new movie debuted & Bristol Palin has new book out as well!

[FiveGoodMen]

2. "Let me tell ya, buddy, you better talk now because my partner is just crazy

and I don't think I can keep him from beating the shit out of you much longer...

But I wanna help..."

[CakeGrrl]

3. And lest anyone bite on the "call me naive" comment,

I think he's playing a game of "I've asked you nicely" with the obstructionist Rs that won't last much longer.

As I said in another thread, I think that if they hit that August timeframe without moving on these cuts, the President will have alternate plans in place.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. I really like that picture of Obama. I wanna see more of that.

But actions speak louder than words or facial expressions.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. Actions = Veto Pen. Congress makes the law. The President can sign or VETO

congressional actions.

I don't know what "actions" you want him to take other than what he is constitutionally mandated to take.

[tblue37]

14. I believe that the Constitution would allow the president to

take emergency action if the actual well-being of the antion was endangered. IOW, the collapse of our credit would invole longterm serious--even catastrophic--damage to our national well-being. He probably could justify using executive orders or some such thing to temporarily assume the power to keep the economy functioning.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. You believe, but the U.S. Constitution does not allow such a thing.

It specifically gives Congress the "power of the purse." The president cannot issue Executive Orders for budgetary matters.

[coalition_unwilling]

32. Please cite the specific language in the Constitution that creates

something called a 'debt limit' that only Congress can modify. I agree that there is a 'debt limit' but I find no language in the Constitution that 'specifically' gives authority over it to Congress.

So, from where I sit, Obama could indeed issue an Executive Order raising the debt limit. Then it would be on Congress to pass a law revoking Obama's Executive Order.

Or am I missing something?

[ClarkUSA]

10. Then get on the phone to Congress because they are in charge of the "actions" on this issue.

President Obama can only lead them so far.

So much for that bullshit "caving" meme, eh?

[jefferson_dem]

12. On that...

We agree entirely! Let's do this! :hi:

[Ice Number Nine]

5. Obama's got Boehner on this one. As August 2 nears, the orange tears will flow.

[pamela]

9. Welcome to DU!

I like your user name. Vonnegut fan? :hi:

[Ice Number Nine]

17. it's a Vonnegut-Lennon mash-up

;)

[ClarkUSA]

6. The three jabs re: Republicans not budging on tax breaks for corporate jets is a great frame.

I predicted that President Obama would come out swinging against Republicans yesterday. I'll bet Republicans are consulting with Luntz now for their pissy "we're victims of President Meanie" response.

[Peacetrain]

7. The republicans are going to hitch up their pants and get on board

or we are serving them up as exhibit A as to why the country is in the dumpers. I bet there is a LOT of republican sweaty hands about now..that taking the pledge buisness will come back to haunt them

[ClarkUSA]

11. But, but, but... people said he was going to cave!

:rofl:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. First, they want him to talk to the American people. Then, when he does,

they ridicule his speech and assert that he needs to "act."

Wait a minute: You begged him to make use of the "bully pulpit," which is figurative for what the president does when he gives speeches. Now, you mad because he gave a speech and hasn't "acted," so you still accuse him of caving, even when he hasn't had the opportunity. Then, when someone tells you that ONLY Congress has the authority to move on ANY legislation having to do with taxes and revenue, you still shut down, claiming that the president needs to behave like LBJ.

These people make no sense at all. Their emotions prevent them from exercising any rational thought or string together a coherent set of ideas the flow logically.

I give up trying to talk to convince people who are irrational. They are just as bad as the Teabaggers who's cognitive dissonance WORSENS when confronted with facts/reality of the policy making process.

[great white snark]

15. You can't win. When he fights, he doesn't fight hard enough. When he shows backbone it's just words.

That's how they roll. Always trying to squash Dem votes.

[jaysunb]

21. Amen !

Very well said...Thank you. :hi:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. Even with all my typos, you're welcome. n/t

[treestar]

47. If FDR and LBJ were SOOOOOOO persuasive

That Congress would do whatever they wanted Congress to do - it would seem that is unusual, and such magical people only come along every so often, like once a millennium, so having two in one century, it would seem a bit much to ask to have another this soon.

[rug]

25. It's early.

[rhett o rick]

28. I judge by results. nm

[Safetykitten]

16. There needs to be a crow on steroids when this is all settled, as he will cave.

[ClarkUSA]

18. Does your doomsday crystal ball do hurricane predictions, too? If so, the Weather Bureau wants it.

:rofl:

Speaking about a president who exemplified caving to the Republicans, be happy DINO DLC Clinton is no longer in office, because he wanted to cut Social Secuirty when he was in office AND just last month he advocated cutting Medicare.

Be glad President Obama has taken Medicare and SS benefit cuts off the table and now he's calling out Republicans on their defense of tax breaks for millionaire perks. Thank goodness we have a REAL LIBERAL in the WH.

[JuniperLea]

20. Perhaps we should start simmering some sauce...

To serve up with the crow?

:rofl:

Yeah, all the crystal balls are throwing sparks right about now!

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KelleyKramer]

24. "The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option"

I have learned from Obama over and over and over, to never listen to what he says.

I only watch what he actually does.

Hopefully my suspicions are wrong, but Obama has a long long record of doing this.

[polichick]

27. Unfortunately that's true - he often talks one game and plays another.

[ClarkUSA]

29. What'd you want him to do after Lieberman nixed the PO? Kill The Bill?

:eyes:

[KelleyKramer]

45. He didn't need Lieberman ...

All he had to do was pass it with reconciliation, which only requires 50 votes (+ Biden). So with that, Obama could have told his old pal Lieberman to go pound sand.

All that talk about needing 60 votes was nothing but a bunch of kabuki bullshit.

And to prove they knew it could have been passed with reconciliation, the final amendments were pass using... you guessed it, reconciliation!

Obama didn't want the public option, he got just what he wanted. All the 'talk' was just that, bullshit theater.

Obama had already sold out the public option with a backroom deal with the private hospitals.

[treestar]

48. OH not this one again!

That has long been established as impossible.

This is a Republic, not a monarchy.

[boppers]

30. Mis-remembering the quote? Don't worry, you're not the first.

Here's what he actually said:
"any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."

I've learned to listen to *exactly* what he says, not somebody's selective parsing.... and "must include an insurance exchange" is exactly what happened, with (valid, IMHO) arguments about whether or not a public option was part of the "must include"....

...point being, he never said: "The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option"

edit: missing letter.

[Dawgs]

41. WHAT?

The quote says "it must include something, including a public option.

I don't know where you learned english, but if I say to my kids "you must wash your face, including behind your ears" that means "they must wash behind their ears".

I wouldn't buy the spin from my kid and I shouldn't even hear it from someone on DU.

[BklnDem75]

43. Somehow...

saying "any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."

and saying "you must wash your face, including behind your ears"

seems like two different quotes to me. I mean it fits your spin, but they're not similar in any way whatsoever.

[boppers]

49. "I don't know english"

"I dont' know something english" can be extracted from the sentence posted. See how that works, when words are omitted, the context and meaning is possibly changed?

[BklnDem75]

31. Apparently you haven't listened to him back then either

Exactly who are you quoting?

[KelleyKramer]

39. Link (with video)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/obama-demands-the-bill-i-sign-must-include-public-option.php

[BklnDem75]

40. I know what Obama said

The quote being thrown around isn't it

[Ice Number Nine]

33. why get the quote right? the fake one is so much more controversial

[Dawgs]

42. See post #41.

Your spin shouldn't even show up here.

[polichick]

26. I hope he keeps the gloves on for the next five years - we've had enough...

...bipartisanshit.

[craigmatic]

34. Well I guess this means that the negotiations have failed and he's getting in front of a bad

situation.

[Harmony Blue]

38. That is a wise decision then

and forces the Republicans to go on the defensive.

[RoryK]

35. About time, wouldn't you say?

He's been a little TOO cerebral at times.

[Blue Owl]

37. I wanna see some ORANGE CRUSH

and Boehner running to his precious box of Kleenex

[Fire1]

44. Oh he is GOOD AND PISSED!! HA!! Tread lightly

mutha fuckas!! Tread lightly!!

[McCamy Taylor]

46. Even the local paper had to cover this one. And they did not portray him as the stereotypical

"angry Black man" that the right wing so wants him to be.