I don't really care about this scheduling thing.

[JVS]

But I am curious about why the conversation didn't just quietly happen this way without us catching wind of this event.

WH staff: We'd like to talk on X/Y/Z in front of congress

Boehner's office: No can do, we have our debates on that night and everyone in the party needs to pay attention to that.

WH staff: Ok, how about another day

Boehner's office: sure


Why is this being made into a drama?

[FrenchieCat]

1. To showcase how interested Republicans are about jobs....

NOT at all!

[MrDiaz]

16. if

it took this long for Obama to be interested in jobs, that damn sure took to long wouldn't ya say?

[ecstatic]

2. Many reasons. The powers that be/Koch/Rupert/etc. have seen how easily the left gets

worked up. They now know which strings to pull to keep the left perpetually outraged. And sadly, people keep falling for it and refuse to place the blame where it belongs.

[LeftyMom]

3. Incompetence. nt

[JVS]

4. On whose part?

[LeftyMom]

6. The Obama people.

After this long they should know that they can't trust that the Republicans will cooperate with anything, no matter how routine or trivial. In fact, they should assume that they won't.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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

[LeftyMom]

10. I did, I found it to be stupid. Thanks anyhow. nt

[ecstatic]

11. Because facts are stupid. Gotcha! nt

[LeftyMom]

14. There are no facts there, just somebody's speculation of how it all went down. nt

[Tx4obama]

5. Because instead it went this way ....

WH staff: "President Obama would like to address a joint session of Congress on September 7th, any objections?"

Boehner's office: "No, objections."

WH staff: "Ok, we'll get back to ya."

Boehner's office: "Okay."

WH Staff then sends formal letter to Boehner's office with the request and pre-talked of date.

Later in the day

Inside Boehner's office: "Hehehehe ... we told the WH we had no objections but we didn't tell them that we 'approved' - and Rush called up bitchin' - so now I guess we better do a little bit of obstructin'. Let's tell the WH that Obama can come on over and give his speech Thursday night during the NFL's football season kick-off, that should piss off some REAL Americans!"

[polmaven]

17. That's what I see...

They heard from the head of the party, - Rush - and had no other choice but to open up the lie machine and git 'er goin' !!!

[Lost-in-FL]

7. The debates were scheduled way ahead of Obama's speech...

I don't understand the outrage, really. Let the kids have their prom night, then the adults can do their job done w/o interruptions.

[bluestateguy]

9. The so-called controversy lasted about 10 hours

In the good olden days of the news media, this quibble would scarcely be mentioned, and certainly not every blow by blow detail as if it were a soap opera episode.

[gateley]

12. The WH is saying they did run it by Boehner, and I wouldn't

be surprised if Boehner did okay it since he's probably not planning on watching the debates and didn't have it circled on his calendar. But when somebody said Hey! Let's make a BFD out of this, of course he jumped at the chance.

That's how I see it happening. :shrug:

[deacon]

13. Because the media knows how to nudge the Knee Jerks. n/t

[glowing]

15. Because that's what Republicans do.. they are petty children.

They try to do anything to spin a story, rather than actually do something.. like create jobs, figure out how to keep children, seniors, and disabled more stable. The Republican party is worthless. They have essentially shown that they aren't serious. What we need is a real party that can counter the Dems.. The Republicans are going the way of the Whigs.

[GeorgeGist]

18. Because of folks like you ...

I guess.

edit: oops, forgot to unrec.

[JVS]

19. Yeah, my fiendish plan of minding my own business and not caring about this has come to fruition!

Behold the chaos!