Obama: It’s ‘nonsense’ I’m calm about state of economy

[IDemo]

TODAY staff
updated 1 hour 32 minutes ago 2011-06-14T11:33:10

In an exclusive interview with TODAY’s Ann Curry that aired Tuesday, President Barack Obama addressed the notion that he is unemotional about the human toll that the economic crisis has taken.

“I think ordinary folks understand I spend all my time thinking about this stuff, because I'm talking to these folks every single day,’’ he said. “When I see them at meetings, and they start crying, the notion, somehow, that I'm calm about that, is nonsense. But what is true is that as president, my job is to make sure that I am finding every good idea that we can to move the country forward.’’

That was one of many economy-related topics that the president discussed with Curry, along with his opinions on embattled congressman Anthony Weiner and potentially increasing the debt ceiling. Curry interviewed the president in Durham, N.C., where he was meeting with the Jobs and Competitiveness Council at the corporate and U.S. manufacturing headquarters of Cree, a manufacturer of energy efficient LED lighting.

When it comes to the psychological pain that joblessness, bankruptcy, hunger and homelessness have taken on the citizenry, Obama said he understood the emotional component and that he will be ultimately be judged on whether concrete strides are made in correcting the situation.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43391421/ns/today-today_news/

[ixion]

1. Obama: "I got mine. What's there to worry about?"

Nice. :eyes:

[jaxx]

3. Where did he say that?

[ixion]

5. actions speak louder than words

[jaxx]

9. Looks to me like it was posted as a direct quote.

Where did he say that?

[ixion]

28. It is a paraphrased quote, based on his statement

And in his statement, he says that concern about the economy is 'nonsense'.

It's not nonsense at all. We are in a very serious situation. And to write it off and nonsense is irresponsible, bordering on criminally negligent. It reminds me of something Bush would say.

[Buns_of_Fire]

32. I think you might be misreading that a little...

The quote above: "...When I see them at meetings, and they start crying, the notion, somehow, that I'm calm about that, is nonsense."

FWIW, I think most people read it that any notion that he's calm about the situation (i.e., the economy) is nonsense.

Lord Knows, he's done stuff that royally ticks me off -- but I see no need to pillory him for something he DIDN'T say.

[JuniperLea]

41. Wow.. you hate him that much you would cherry pick that disgustingly?

“When I see them at meetings, and they start crying, the notion, somehow, that I'm calm about that, is nonsense."

Or do you really see it this way... which is a whole 'nuther Oprah.

[ixion]

47. I'm not a 'hater'. I am, however, a critical thinker, and deeply disappointed in Mr. Obama

and despite what he may say, his actions speak louder than his words. And his actions of 'concern' have largely been directed at Wall St, in my opinion. It has nothing to do with 'hate'.

* Please note that a) I believe you're entitled to your opinion as well; and b) I see no reason to call you names for whatever it is you might believe.

[Doctor Hurt]

4. quit projecting

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[spanone]

18. bullshit

[ixion]

29. how so? What part of the word 'nonsense' is unclear to you?

Or do you maintain that concern about the economy is nonsense?

[JuniperLea]

42. Please read

“When I see them at meetings, and they start crying, the notion, somehow, that I'm calm about that, is nonsense.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. Sixth.

[timtom]

2. How can he seriously speak as though he is empathetic

and is concerned with making "sure that I am finding every good idea that we can to move the country forward" when we're still in Iraq and Afghanistan? (I'll stop there, but there are many more issues that belie his seeming concern.)

[Solomon]

6. Yeah. He don't give a damn about anybody but

Wall Street :sarcasm:

[Cali_Democrat]

31. The very fact that we are still spending billions in Iraq and Afghanistan....

proves that we're not finding every good idea to move the country forward as Obama suggested.

[timtom]

48. I'm not sure I understand your sarcasm tag...

I don't see still being in Iraq and Afghanistan as "moving the country forward."

(I just saw Cali_Democrat's response. I'll post this, anyway.)

[E_Pluribus_Unitarian]

8. Obama's big mistake...

...was that he abandoned his advocacy for a larger stimulus. Once he caved on this he was playing the Grandpa's Obstructionist Party's game. Instead of shouting it loudly -- from the rooftops, and relentlessly -- that the stimulus (as it was) turned an economy-in-freefall into a flat one (you've seen the graphs), he went into his shell and let the Republicans frame the debate by default (allowing them to get away with saying that the stimulus didn't create any jobs). The message these days should be (again, from that same graph, showing that the stimulus did work, to some extent)to point the blame at the Republicans (and weak-kneed Democrats)for not supporting a larger, infrastructure-oriented stimulus the first time...one that would have turned that flat economy into a steadily growing one. His administration should have fixed that blame where it belonged and kept it there. Again, (imho) the President gave in and gave up his responsibility/obligation to be an emphatic, relentless voice for the stimulus -- and for a larger one. That was his big mistake, and one for which we are all still paying.

[coalition_unwilling]

40. Very astute observations and ones that I share. I think Obama would

do well to steal a page from Harry S. Truman's 1948 playbook and start campaigning against the current 'do-nothing Congress' (whistle-stop tour optional).

At this point, the Repuke field is so pathetically stunted that I think Obama will win re-election regardless. But were there a Repuke of the caliber of Ike or Teddy Roosevelt running against Obama, the Repuke would trounce Obama, as things stand right now.

[somone]

10. Nothing that tax cuts can't fix

That and more war and more free trade and fewer cumbersome regulations.

The unwashed masses need to take personal responsibility and get a sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship if they want to Win The Future

[iwishiwas]

11. Mr. president-You need to get mad and upset and show it and

Confront the wrongdoing on Wall Street etc.

[bluethruandthru]

13. He DOES need to get mad.

He needs to get his party behind him and start a no holds barred campaign against republicans and their lies that have led this country to ruin. It's time to end these wars, cut the ridiculous defense budget, get rid of oil subsidies and start large scale wind and solar energy production, raise taxes on the rich, close the corporate loopholes so they pay their fair share, invest in public education - NOT charter schools, support unions, eliminate the earnings cap on social security, stop the nonsensical talk about "entitlement" cutting, invest in this country's infrastructure, etc., etc.
Every Democrat needs to be schooled in how the economy works and why. Maybe Robert Reich can give them all some private instruction. Then, they all need to denounce their corporate masters and start working for the people of this country.

I don't know if the President actually thinks any of these things are good ideas. I used to think he did...but now, I'm not so sure.

[inna]

15. lol - sorry but that actually made me chuckle

[treestar]

17. No, that would be disastrous

It is not the job of the President to channel your emotions. If he got mad, you'd say that was ruining his chances of doing anything and making him ineffective.

[iwishiwas]

19. No, I would say the exact opposite.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Maybe that's because you're not

facing Week 89 in your unemployment with NO prospects for a job. I'm glad HE'S not worried, but I'm out of my mind with it. :mad:

[JuniperLea]

43. How is it that so many can't read this morning?

“When I see them at meetings, and they start crying, the notion, somehow, that I'm calm about that, is nonsense.

[katnapped]

14. Mmmm hmmm...riiiiiiiiiiight....

You understand the pain of real Americans that's why you're going begging Wall Street for their money and 'forgiveness'.

Yup, makes sense.... :sarcasm:

[OwnedByFerrets]

16. Your headline is bogus x1000

[Enrique]

22. headline is the same one at the link

and they got the headline from a quote from Obama.

How is it bogus?

[OwnedByFerrets]

45. Because...

It's exactly 180 degrees from what he ACTUALLY said. It doesn't take a genius to figure this out.
" the notion, somehow, that I'm calm about that, is nonsense."

[Javaman]

20. Life in the beltway bubble. nt

[woo me with science]

21. “The interesting thing is when I talk to businesses right now — they’re actually more optimistic..."

“The interesting thing is when I talk to businesses right now — they’re actually more optimistic about the economic prospects than a lot of the reports that we’ve seen lately in the press. They feel as if we’re moving in a pretty good direction, but they also recognize we’ve got to accelerate hiring in order for this recovery to fully take.’’

Hmm. Would that business be Goldman Sachs?

[w4rma]

36. It makes you wonder if Goldman Sachs isn't the ONLY business he is talking to. (nt)

[gkhouston]

38. They're not optimistic enough to create full-time jobs with benefits. n/t

[GeorgeGist]

23. Extraordinary folks know better. Mr. President.

[WatsonT]

25. Well being emotional about it won't help so I don't expect him to be in tears

but having meetings with experts and throwing out plans with concrete goals every now and then would be nice.

[Carolina]

26. Easy for him to say

He's set for life on our dime!

[Bodhi BloodWave]

27. so if you write a book and get rich, should we start dismissing what you say?

since you'd be 'set for life' and all?

[ixion]

46. maybe, maybe not... but that factor must be weighed into any decision

[Ikonoklast]

30. Mr. Obama ran for office, and won. You can do the same.

He also wrote a book, before he was president.

Made some money off of the sales of that book.

You can, too.

What's stopping you, except yourself?

[Safetykitten]

33. No one thinks he is unemotional about it. His inaction is stupifying.

[dana_b]

44. and that's it in a nutshell

I could give a shit if he displays emotion, I do care that his actions or inactions are not helping the situation.

[gkhouston]

34. He spends all his time thinking about this stuff? Could he possibly

devote a few seconds of "all his time" to consider some solutions that aren't grounded in supply-side voodoo?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. " ..I am finding every good idea.." Like escalating a lost war?

Or, extending tax cuts to the wealthy? Slapping whistle blowers in jail? Starting another 2 wars?

Spare us from "good ideas".

[robdogbucky]

39. "Prosperity is just around the corner"

Herbert Hoover, 1932

[RandomThoughts]

49. I think the song was more talking about pretenders, and not agreeing with that idea.

Or how some groups don't mention that it is also difficult, and those that pretend don't seem honest, that is where the 'salesman' comment is from. Although the hardship is usually by freewill choices of other people, and freewill is not stolen in what I think of as better beliefs.



"Behind Blue Eyes ": Limp Bizkit, featuring Halle Berry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MSqF_rQ6Mw

The Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang HQ
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ncir_the-pretenders-back-on-the-chain-ga_music

Side note, the chain gang is the chain things get passed up and down on, like stairs, in my view. The other view is caused by wrongful actions of many in society by free will choices.

And I am due beer and travel money, and many experiences. Therefore, the post is trying to say that is not due, or the post is a lie, or that they think it is not about me. Either way, I am due beer and travel money, and many experiences.



Fast car -Tracy Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orv_F2HV4gk




Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=407128

Dire Straits - Walk of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838


Constantine - Bring me to life (Evanescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8d3K_hngw




And It is not about making deals, it is about helping for freedom, although I explained that already.

Think about it.

Intro to Pilot of Hogan's Heroes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJfSI4cKWLY