Expect a change in approach by President Obama during or after his jobs speech.

[boxman15]

I'm not one of the people who thinks that if only Obama would hit back at the GOP, they would go along with his plans. I wish he would more often, but I think he's gotten all he could have out of Congress for the most part over the past 2.5 years, and I'm extremely grateful for the actions the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress have taken to prevent a Depression and get us back on the right track, despite Republican opposition.

That being said, I do think at this point, Obama getting publicly tough with the Republicans would serve him very well. It won't help in terms of passing legislation, but it will help to get the American public back on Obama's side and make 2012 a lot easier, hopefully resulting in strong liberal Democratic majorities in both Houses. Right now, Americans are downright angry at everybody in Washington. Nobody looks good right now. The fact that Barack Obama has a 40% approval rating, yet is still the most popular politician in Washington should really say something. People are more upset, frustrated, and distraught than they were in 2008.

Back then, Obama was able to win on a theme of bipartisanship. "There is no red America, there is no blue America, there is only the United States of America." He's tried to keep that theme going, but it's getting him nowhere with the public. Washington is more polarized than ever thanks to the Tea Party, and most Americans at least partially blame Obama for that. Now, they want to see leadership. They want to see him put the Tea Party in its place, so that politics won't get in the way of progress.

I anticipate the president is about to do just that, based on what these reports coming out of the White House about 2012 have been saying. He's going to unveil a huge jobs program, then when it gets struck down, use it as a way to pivot from his bipartisan strategy to a more confrontational one. He'll come out swinging, painting the Republican Party as full of ideological purists who put politics and games over progress and jobs. He'll portray them as terrible governing partners, and with ample evidence. Americans are looking for a leader who understands their anger and frustration, and I think Obama will emerge as that leader. He'll channel the American people's anger and frustration and throw it toward the right, blaming Republicans for sluggish economic growth and the hyper-partisan mood in Washington.

So, for those of you frustrated that the president has been too "nice" to the Republicans and the Tea Party, at least publicly, stay tuned. I'm confident things are about to change.

[newfie11]

1. I sure hope your right

I have lost all hope in him.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I truly hope you are right.

But I think this same theory, with different specifics, has been raised time and again as we waited for Obama to pick up his cudgel and wade into the fray.

And I truly hope that I am wrong in my doubts. Trust me, the role of a Cassandra is not emotionally fulfilling.

[boxman15]

4. Even if this is somewhat cynical, I think he'll do it because his job depends on it.

nt

[GoCubsGo]

6. Got to wonder if...

...he is just waiting until the cudgel is big enough to deliver a lethal blow, or at least one that's enough to do severe damage. With that 17% approval the GOP Congress has, one would think it's plenty big. We shall see...


On edit: I remember instances where he went after them right in their faces, such as the last State of the Union address. Or,that time when they invited him to their meeting to discuss heath care reform, thinking they were going to embarrass him, and they wound up with the egg on their own faces. Got to wonder if that's why he is giving this speech to a joint session of Congress.

[Jackpine Radical]

22. All that embarrassment on health care "reform"

still resulted in us getting the old 1990's version of Republican-approved health care.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I too hope you're right.

I am afraid he doesn't know how, though...

[GoCubsGo]

5. What they said...

I hope you're right, too.

[Paladin]

7. You Have A Lot More Faith Than I Do At This Point. (n/t)

[nevergiveup]

8. I do not think there is any question we are going to be seeing a tougher President.

The question is whether or not he will be tough enough. The next 12 months are going to be brutal. I have a couple of other suggestions for the president. 1) whoever was responsible for arranging and securing the scheduling of your jobs speech, fire them. 2) get new speech writers immediately. 3) sign up all your staff for some basic public relations courses.

[Frustratedlady]

9. I see more people/commentators shaming the Republicans for how they've treated Obama.

If Obama asserts himself, they'll return to calling him uppity and accuse him of lecturing them...hush, BOY!

But, this cruel behavior has to backfire.

We've seen it in other elections. People don't like the bickering and name-calling...never have. They realize Obama is in a bad position because of color and will become more and more protective as the Republicans continue to bully him.

I think he has gauged the public right. If and when he comes out fighting, the public will feel he has the right to do so. He has taken the high road through all the horrible words and actions of the Republicans up to now, but it is time to finally put them in their place and get on with the business of saving our country.

[yurbud]

10. It would not only get America on his side, it would get him a Democratic Congress

If it was clear what he was fighting for and that the GOP was blocking that clear plan, people will give him the Congress he needs to do it, just as they would have done in 2010 if he had done it right out of the gate.

Obama governed as if the GOP controlled both chambers of Congress well before they actually did.

[chill_wind]

13. +1

[alp227]

11. yep, i don't think he'll find it real productive to be nice to the hostage takers

until nov. 2012

[chill_wind]

12. He must make it The Speech.

The speech of his life. People will be listening intently, and for those who won't be, it will be processed to death in the days afterward. He cannot leave anything to doubt (about what he wants to happen) or to a pile of vague rhetoric appeals to major bipartisan ambiguity. He's plum running out of time for "afterward or later."

[woolldog]

14. I hope you are right, but

I haven't seen anything from this president that indicates he has the fortitude for a fight with the GOP.

[MissDeeds]

26. Agreed

He's in election mode, so we'll be hearing a lot of rhetoric designed to boost morale and win votes. Unfortunately, his track record doesn't inspire much confidence. My 'hope' has taken one too many punches from this president.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[boxman15]

16. That's my position too.

I think he's about to start doing that as well. And I expect the American people to support him pretty overwhelmingly and give the Democrats huge majorities in Congress.

There are some who seem to think if he did that, he'd get better legislation out of this Congress. That's not that case, unfortunately, and I think that's why he's waiting till now to do this. (I would've been doing this for a while now, but that's beside the point).

[ClassWarrior]

18. But if he gets the American people behind him, he WILL get better legislation out of Congress...

...because the wobbly sycophants will be forced to line up behind him.

NGU.

[boxman15]

19. If the GOP was at least somewhat rational, I'd agree with you.

Unfortunately for all of us, they're not. I don't think public opinion matters to them at all. A vast majority of Americans wanted to raise taxes on the rich as a part of the debt deal, but they dismissed that as socialism and class warfare, for example.

Either way, going after them will hopefully result in huge liberal Democratic majorities in Congress. We won't have to worry about them then.

[ClassWarrior]

20. Oh there are enough that we could peel off if they were feeling the heat from their constituents.

Please don't buy into the propaganda that the Rape-Publicans are an all-powerful force of nature.

NGU.

[MNBrewer]

17. True, the Republicans won't go along with ANYTHING he proposes

But he needs to give us something other than partially watered down Republican policies. If he really wants to have a Congress he can work with, instead of against, he MUST give us bold, clear leadership on what he would expect a Democratic Congress to do as his partner.

Bi-Partisanship won't cut it!!!

The Republicans like to say that his policies have failed regarding the economy. The problem is they weren't ever really HIS policies. He took large parts of the policies right from the Republican playbook. Of course, the Republicans even balked at that, but still. The policies that have failed are Republican policies. We MUST have Democrats (not DINOs, either) in Congress.

[kestrel91316]

21. Hahahaha, I used to think just like you.

Not anymore.

Perhaps he will prove me wrong. I would love that. But I am not holding my breath.

[gristy]

23. Is there any speculation on how he will pay for this jobs program?

Tax the rich? hahaha

[RBInMaine]

24. I agree. He is setting them up and waiting to make the move. But yes, HE MUST GET ON OFFENSE & the

RePUKES are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO attackable !

[Exultant Democracy]

25. It would be nice if you are right. I for one am done holding my breath

I think that as we get closer to the election he will sound more and more like a progressive again, but that it will all be for show.

[laylah]

27. From your keyboard

to God/dess's monitor. HOWEVER, should it happen, and I, for one, do not expect it to, I WILL show my "girls" on main street in Coal Valley, IL. THAT is a promise!

edited to change meaning :silly:

[ThunderRoad]

28. Give 'em Hell

I thought the "Red state, Blue state" speech was appropriate and effective as a launching pad to establish himself and his candidacy but now that he is sitting in the Oval Office I wish he would bring down the hammer a bit more.

[laylah]

29. LOVE your name...

a favorite movie of mine! Welcome.

[lucca18]

30. That would be great!

Fight for us.....not compromise.

[RandomKoolzip]

31. Your thread title should be preceded by "It would be naive to."