Obama and House GOP Bring Question Time to US
| Fri Jan. 29, 2010 1:20 PM PST
Update: Read about Demand Question Time, a campaign by a cross-partisan group of bloggers, techies and political consultants, including Mother Jones' David Corn, who are calling on the White House to make Q&A sessions between Obama and the GOP a regular event. The campaign's website is here.
That was must-see TV.
President Barack Obama spoke to an issues retreat held by House Republicans on Friday afternoon and demonstrated two things: 1. he's damn good, 2. this sort of face-off should happen all the time.
Obama opened by effectively delivering typically well-designed remarks. But what followed was historic: House Republican members asked him questions. It was the closest the United States has seen to the question time conducted in the British Parliament. The atmosphere wasn't as raucus. There was no shouting, no pounding on tables. Everyone was very polite. But the GOPers did try to press the president on tax cuts, health care reform, the budget, the stimulus, deficits, and their gripes about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Obama treated their queries with respect, answering them on substantive terms. He walked a fine line: talking about the need for bipartisan cooperation but also forcefully calling out the Republicans for their extreme rhetoric. At one point, he said that if the Republicans were going to describe his health care overhaul as a "Bolshevik plot," then there couldn't be much opportuntiy for collaboration. He explained that by demonizing the plan in such a fashion, the GOP was not allowing itself any room for compromise, for it would then face the wrath of its Tea Party wing.
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The event was gripping. As word spread through Washington, people rushed to their televisions and became fixed on it. CBS News reporter Mark Knoller, a veteran White House correspondent, tweeted that this was a first. It marked a giant step forward in political and governmental transparency. (It was not certain that the House GOPers would allow cameras into the session until the morning.) The debate was serious and intense. It just so happened that Obama cleaned the clocks of the GOPers, referring to them repeatedly as "you guys," while they called him "Mr. President." ("Interesting session," Republican leader John Boehner tweeted afterward.) Consequently, Republicans may want to think twice before providing Obama another opportunity. Yet this was a good moment for the republic.
Journalists and citizens watching the event Twittered their amazement. At one point, I sent out a tweet noting that reporters and voters should ask the White House and the GOPers to commit to holding such a session on a regular basis. I suggested that White House and Capitol Hill reporters immediately question Obama aides and Republican leader John Boehner about their willingness to do so, adding that C-SPAN head Brian Lamb ought to quickly dispatch a letter to both sides. C-SPAN tweeted back, "We're on it!"
Obama campaigned to bring change to Washington. Regular public encounters between the president and the opposition party would be real change. (It might even have an impact on what sort of politician could consider becoming president.) NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd tweeted that Obama "will win tons of pundit plaudits but will policy come out of it?" Yet good debate can shape good policy. Here was an unfiltered exchange between the opposing camps of Washington. Citizens could watch and decide.
UPDATE: The White House tells me that it doesn't "have anything" to say regarding Obama participating in these sorts of sessions on a regular basis.
My Twitter feed covering the Obama-GOP session is below:
The GOP-Obama session will be replayed at 8 pm tonight on @CSPAN. Pass it on. More #questiontime!
Good point: if a president HAD to take questions like this on a regular basis, would it change who could be president? #questiontime
Go CSPAN!, go! @CSPAN We're on it! RT @DavidCornDC Okay, Brian Lamb, at @CSPAN, write that letter now. More #questiontime, please.
Good pt MT @dtipson: @DavidCornDC Imagine how this could change the slate of Prez candidates: Palin could NEVER dream of surviving format.
Good debate can lead to good policy. RT @chucktodd: POTUS will win tons of pundit plaudits but will policy come out of it? #questiontime
Greytdog: I'd also like to see @GOPLeader take questions from progressives like @markos @DavidCornDC @chrislhayes @Karoli @Mudflats @shannynmoore etc
Join him. RT @davemreed: @DavidCornDC I already emailed the White House about holding more of these: http://bit.ly/vlOXhim
RT @markknoller: I think it's a first for a sitting President to take questions, on live TV, from members of Congress of opposing party.
Okay, Brian Lamb, at @CSPAN, write that letter now. More #questiontime, please.
Upside to #questiontime. Big problem for Fox News programming.
My email in-box is exploding with messages from people who want #questiontime. Vox Populi! Demand it.
We want #questiontime. Talk about bringing change to Washington. This could be real change.
O ends it...But without saying, let's do it again. The public should say that. So, public, get a move on. #questiontime.
markknoller: I think it's a first for a sitting President to take questions, on live TV, from members of Congress of the opposing party.
I want my O-GOP TV! #questiontime
Okay, tweets @marcambinder has given us the hash #questiontime. Start the crusade now. If you like watciing this., demand it.
edhenrycnn: my producer points out the President was supposed to be back at the WH 15 minutes ago! this went way long, and nation got healthy debate
@marcambinder Sure, have O do one with the House Dems. Let frank cross-partisan talk bloom everywhere! #questiontime.
Thanks to @lizzieohreally for getting that RT ball rolling.
@GOPleader will you commit to doing sessions like this on a regular basis? (Hint: the correct answer is yes.) Please RT this.
@billburton44 will WH commit to doing sessions like this on regular basis. (Hint: correct answer is yes.) Journos on his list, please RT.
Okay, WH/CapHill Journos, let's ask both Boehner and Gibbs if they'll commit to doing this on regular basis. And ask McConnell re GOP Sen.
I hate calling anything a game-changer. But I repeat: this could be historic.
RT @marcambinder: How effective is this for POTUS: Fox News Channel just cut away from it.
Ill. COngressman praises O's bipartisan work as a state senator, but says "that attribute hasn't been in full bloom" as pres.
Okay, journos, tweets, what's the best way to organize a movement for doing this ALL THE TIME? Or monthly.
GOPers trying to force O to defend Pelosi. O: "I've read your legis. The good ideas we take."
This is historic. Good for government, good for transparency, good for politics. Big Q: will O end this by asking to do it again...soon.
BTW, they call him "Mr. President." And he repeatedly refers to them as "you guys." It's good to be king. Or president.
O: you can't structure a bill when 30m now have coverage and it costs nothing! In other words, get real, man.
This is the biggest direct calling-out of the GOP on #HCR, O suggesting it is now held hostage to Tea Party.
O agrees to stay longer. "I'm having fun." He can smell the political win here.
O: "you guys" have demonized #HCR so much, you have no political room with your own base.
O telling GOP: if you call this a plot for govt to take over #HCR, then you don;t have a lot of room to negotiate with me. Dead-on. et
O: some of you guys talk about #HCR as if it was "a Bolshevik plot". And the GOPers applaud. Tea Party rules.
@WestWingReport I love this as a pol. journalist and transparency fan, but I do think it benefits O tremendously.
Anyone see any GOP/conservative Twitterers saying that this is a win/good for the Republicans?
Obama cites acceptance of GOP idea of allowing ins. firms to sell across state lines--adding, we want to make sure they don't abuse this.
Blackburn: "when will we start anew" on #HCR. Applause. Does Amer. public want this process to start all over? Yikes.
Will the House GOP staffer who suggested this have a job on Monday?
Rep. Marsha Blackburn: "thank you for acknowledging we have ideas." Sounds a bit defensive, there.
O does refer to a handful of lobbyists waivers. Should now ask, what is GOP doing to limit influence of lobbyists. Missed an opening.
O: re lobbyists, not been an admin. that was tougher on making sure lobbyists not part of it. But he did hire a few.
O turns it back to freshman GOPer: "what are you doing inside your caucus" so that we're all working together.
O: #HCR "a messy process" and "I take responsibility" for not structuring it so it could be in 1 place for broadcasting. Sly answer.
O asks to respond. Majority of #HCR deb. aired on CSPAN (eh). He did break a promise.
GOP: "we have not been obstructionists." Cites O not broadcasting #HCR debates on C-SPAN and hiring lobbyists. Toughest Q yet.
This O-GOP exchange is evidence....that the GOP underestimates Obama.
Talking to WVA Gopers, O segues to climate change. Even if you guys are skeptics, we need to stay ahead on clean tech, electric cars, etc.
Obama" "nobody's been a bigger advocate of clean coal technology ." Cites his promotion of nuclear energy. Wow, what a radical socialist.
This is Obama at his best. (He can thank Hillary, John Edwards, Biden, Dodd, Kucinich for this.)
O tells GOPers that wasteful spending is "always spent outside of your district." Translated: you're all hypocrites.
All politics is relative. Whenever O can get himself compared to Rs, that's good for him/Ds. Will help him beat back anti-incumbent fever.
Next up: Obama should ask to do televised Q&As with Senate Republicans.
Obama shoots, scores. If he did this instead of #SOTU, he'd get a bigger bounce.
O: "I may not agree to a tax cut" for the banking industry. And if you want across/board tax cuts, I don't want more deficits.
Dumb, that is....And Pence re-asks the tax cut question after O finishes besting him. "I may not agree to tax cut for Warren Buffet."
GOPers were dumd to agree to this. The only smart thing about it: not in primetime.
O: "I am not an ideologue." Any GOPer tempted to shout out?
O: "I am not an ideologue." Why wouldn't I accept GOP package if it was half the cost and created 2x the jobs?
Obama is good at this. I say we institute question time a la the Brits. Let him out-argue GOPErs every week.
O asks Pence: Was it a "bad idea" to protect teachers, cops, firefighters? And some of you going to ribbon-cuttings for projects u opposed.
O: "The notion that this was a radical package is simply not true." 1/3rd was "conventional" tax cuts. 1/3rd stabilizing state budgets.
Obama cites big jobs losses of 12/08, 1/09, 2/09 , says I assume you're not blaming me. Job losses more severe in 1st Q than expected
Pence calls on O to adopt broad tax cuts. Surprising everyone. Well, not.
Rep. MIke Pence starts with critique of stimulus bill, noting O sd w/out it, unemp. wld reach 8%. But unemp. went to 10%
And that was a joke.
First GOP question: will you show us your birth certificate?
Obama to GOP: if you resist, I still have to serve the common ground. Talk ends. Polite applause.
@HowardKurtz Obama certainly didn't highlight #HCR in #SOTU. But I'm not sure it's on the backburner. Waiting for Cong. to figure it out?
O: "status quo is working for the ins. industry, not working for the American public." Still, no applause. Hey, is this microphone on?
Obama calls on GOP t o support earmark and lobbying reform--expose lobbyists contacts with Cong. & WH. What, no applause?
Have yet to get a GOP email today about the new 5.7% GDP growth number. Must have gotten lost in the mail. Or are they too busy in Hawaii?
Tiller's Killer Guilty of First-Degree Murder; jury deliberates for just over 30 minutes. http://bit.ly/bZmIuA (HT @Awl)
O cites latest GDP growth-6%--and notes a 12% turnaround in 1 year, cites stimulus pkge. Yet you guys didn't support that.
Chides GOP for voting against his tax cuts, COBRA, and stimulus bill. Cites polls (!?) citing 80% approval for stimulus components.
Obama points out instances when some Republicans have voted with him. GOP response: Stop, you're embarrassing me!
Obama: American people don't want "Washington to be so very Washington-like." So, Chicago rules?
GregMitch
Good wrapup, video and links re: Tony Blair's grilling today by official Brit panel on Iraq run-up. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/
Obama speaking to Republican issues retreat. Issues retreat? Sounds about right.
Boehner to hand O book of GOP "solutions." Where we these solutions before econ crash? Ehat did they do re #hcr in W years? Missed that.
Comments
"It might even have an impact
Submitted by bluetexan (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 1:40 PM PST.
"It might even have an impact on what sort of politician could consider becoming president."
Indeed. We would be spared the likes of Palin, Bush Jr., Rudy and all those who cannot have a reasoned, rationale debate at all or with little prep. A party would hone in on folks they thought could hold their own in these sessions.
Yeah, it's overwhelmingly
Submitted by ohiomom3 (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 1:53 PM PST.
Yeah, it's overwhelmingly easy for Pelosi, Reid, and Obama to stand there and lie straight faced without thinking twice where Republicans have to think through every answer to try to be precise. Otherwise, any little slip and MSM will have their asses!
Whatever. I know its hard to
Submitted by bluetexan (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:00 PM PST.
Whatever. I know its hard to understand just how bad your party got whipped today. It'll hit you sometime this weekend when you are watching Faux News.
Hey do they have mashed potatos in that alternate universe you live in? Just wondering.
Reply
Submitted by Alan L (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:42 PM PST.
Got Whipped! Appaerntly you haven't watched the last three elections nor are you paying attentiopn to current pols on upcoming elections.
Our mashed potatos are WHIPPED smooth with no lumps. You ought to try them sometime.
Too bad the Dems would never
Submitted by Phantom (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 1:55 PM PST.
Too bad the Dems would never consider the same. The transparency of their meetings. Looks like BO's problems will still be within his own party.
This had to shake Nacncy and Harry, the last thing they want is the public listening in.
QnA
Submitted by Midevilmack (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 10:41 AM PST.
This is something I wanted when Bush was president, even asking myself and friends why we don't have the POTUS stand before members of congress and answer direct questions and film it live...and I even compared it to the British House of Commons when they do the same with the PM! It stemmed from my frustrations that no one in congress was actually asking Bush the obvious questions surrounding his desire to go to war with Iraq. I was fairly certain the evidence he and Cheney presented us was fiction but no one was actually debating Bush directly about it. Then I thought, why do televised debates end on election day? Why do our elected leaders stop debating as soon as we put them into office? There is not a lot of direct give and take, instead it is all filtered through party sound bites and what the media decides to sensationalize.
Amazing to actually see this but not surprised it was Mr. Obama that did it first. We as the citizens need to make ourselves heard and demand these type of sessions on a more regular basis or our elected leaders will, out of fear, retreat back into their shells.
Clock cleaner?
Submitted by Jack Davis on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 1:58 PM PST.
Obama cleaned the GOP's clocks?
Sure!
Health-care reform in its present form? Dead. Cap and trade? Dead. A stimulus package that Obama said would keep unemployment under 8 percent. Gee...have you seen the unemployment figures lately, David? And to that we might add the following, which is NOT a comprehensive list.
Giving up a missile shield and getting nothing from the Russians in return
Bringing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to New York to stand trial
Dithering...YES, DITHERING...on Afghanistan
Screwing the Chrysler bondholders
An abominable health-care bill opposed by a MAJORITY of Americans
Hiring Janet "The System Works" Napolitano
Hiring Eric "Mr. Pardon" Holder
Failing to follow through on Black Panthers intimidating voters on Election Day
"Carbonhagen," aka “Hopenhagen”
Failed outreach to Iran
Failed outreach to Muslims
Apologizing for America tours
Van Jones
Obama owns every item above, NOT ONE of which he can blame on Bush or the Republicans. So there are EXCELLENT reasons for Obama's anemic presidency. Borrowing from "Seven Days in May," Obama is not just a weak sister. He's a criminally weak sister.
Barack Obama is THE WORST president EVER inflicted on the United States.
But you know, I love it when you and yours ignore or try to spin the message of the town halls and the closely run NY23. Ignore Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Come November 2010, "it's a hard rain a-gonna fall."
So you need to come back to Earth, David!
Real Message from Massachusetts
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Feb. 3, 2010 12:39 PM PST.
1.1 million voted for Coakley, 1.2 million voted for Brown, but 2.9 million just didn't vote. If the Massachusetts vote is indicative of how America in general is feeling, then the real story is that over half of voting age Americans just don't give a damn one way or the other.
Your standard for clock
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 1:59 PM PST.
Your standard for clock cleaning is that they called him Mr. President and he called them 'you guys'? That's so weak. I think he did well, but talk is easy for the man, it's action where he struggles.
Amen! Uh oh! Can I say that
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:01 PM PST.
Amen! Uh oh! Can I say that on this site?
Obama/House Repubs
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 3:04 PM PST.
Trust me, NOBODY is more suspicious of the O'man than I, but I thought it was a good day for both parties today. The R's spoke their minds and O responded. Both sides were respectful. It wasn't about winners and losers today...for once.
Irrespective of the actual
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun Jan. 31, 2010 12:04 AM PST.
Irrespective of the actual meat in the discussion - if there is one thing people on both sides of the debate should take out of this its POTUS point about the "he'said she said, winners/losers, your fault not our fault" business.
You Americans are never going to get new legislation fit for the current times if you can't get your politicians to stop playing the backstabbing game and start finding concensus on issues.
You can't say your president never gets anything done, if if the democrats never openly invite them to play ball, and when they do the republicans don't turn up to play You really should demand more of this sort of transparency, off the cuff with no prep. Imagine how the calibre of your politicians could improve if they actually knew their stuff, knew the detail and knew how to debate it.
What a corn-y piece. The
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:00 PM PST.
What a corn-y piece. The prezizzle "cleaned the GOP's clock" because the called them "you guys", while they called him "Mr. President". Oh, that's right, he was so courteous to them. Um, I think we're seeing the biggest "slack azz" who has ever occupied the Oval Office. His arrogance is so great that his answer to Americans (e.g. Massachuestts voters) who told the Dem-wits to stop their corrupt back-dealing and the government takeover of healthcare is to give them more of it, and faster. But I guess to Corn and Vandenheuvel and all the like-minded progressive-socialists, that's good governance.
wrong approach
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:02 PM PST.
If Obama wants to work with Republicans, as he claims, why would he insult and berate them?
The only possible answer is that he does NOT want to work with them. He is just trying to score political points and paint the opposition as the bad guy.
The reason why independents are abandoning Obama is that they want bipartisan solutions. ObamaCare is a partisan approach to health care reform, and everyone knows it.
I fervently hope that they listen to David Corn and follow his advice. It just means that more Democrats will lose in November.
Maybe you haven't been paying
Submitted by bluetexan (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:16 PM PST.
Maybe you haven't been paying attention this last year. Let me break it down for you. For some un-earthly reason, Obama has been bending over backward to accomodate the GOP. And they have paid him back by voting NO and holding up scores of nominees just because he has a "D" next to his name. Today, Obama called them out on it and now the GOP has an opportunity to get their head out of their asses. The choice is their's. He's called them out and now its up to them. Personally, I'd like to see them obstruct for about 6 more months and then have Obama drop the hammer on them.
Insult
Submitted by LauraNo (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:34 PM PST.
The reason he had to "insult and berate them" is because he had to call out their lies in order for the discussion to move forward. To not do so would seem to be ceding the 'truth' of their bald-faced lies. If they didn't want to be "insulted", then they shouldn't have lied live on tv. Frank Lutz called it wrong this time.
The very first line of your
Submitted by Edantes on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 3:04 PM PST.
The very first line of your post invalidates the rest. Could you define what exactly was the insults the President leveled at the Republicans? Since when is countering fiction with verifiable facts an insult? Why is pointing out the fictions that they have been saying berating or insulting? Perhaps I missed something and you could point out where I was wrong in this analysis I welcome your input.
Sometimes you just have to be more honest than polite
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Feb. 3, 2010 4:01 PM PST.
When you have been civil and logical again and again, and been met with fear mongering, name calling, back stabbing, and outright lies, there comes a time when, "Come on guys, let's play nice an work together," is merely a codependent, enabling response that does nothing but promote the status quo.
Since the status quo is obviously unsustainable, change is needed; but change will only happen if our politicians stop acting like 12 year olds and start acting like representatives of the people. I found it highly refreshing to watch any Democrat (and especially the President) stand tall, respond intelligently, honestly, spontaneously and civilly to the GOP's questions. It is neither insulting nor berating to honestly state facts, point out untruths, and ask people to do the job for which they were elected instead of just resting on their laurels maneuvering politically so they can make sure they get elected (read paid) again.
The President meets with the GOP
Submitted by lyle birchman (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:03 PM PST.
I just happened to stumble upon the broadcast. I dropped everything and watched with amazement as our president eloquently and effectively answered their questions and in doing so, was the star of the show!
I'm proud to have a president who can carry on strong dialog and shoot from the hip - a far cry from the pathetic "staged" events of the bush era... I bet those guys NEVER have a camera at such an event in the future. The party of NO had a very embarrassing afternoon and no matter how they hard try, the camera doesn't lie... I urge everyone to watch the broadcast!
Hate-ahs out in full force I
Submitted by bluetexan (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:08 PM PST.
Hate-ahs out in full force I see. I guess when your party gets whipped so bad on national TV, all one can do is run to the comments sections and hope to change to discussion.
I like how old JACK DAVIS thinks Obama is the worst U.S. president ever. Really!? Seriously?! Can you seriously think this after 8 years of George "My Pet Goat" Bush? You would earn so much more credibility amongst MJ readers if you would at least admit that GWB was one of the worst we've had in at least 100 years.
Obama has his faults, but I have a feeling after this week's SOTU and today's Q&A, we might be seeing a new Obama that going to start kicking ass and taking names.
Haters?
Submitted by Timstigator (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:52 PM PST.
Please! BlueTexan, the right is NOT the party of hate, no matter how much you want that to be. It appears you're still addicted to Hopium. Be ready to take extra snorts on that drug when your deity DOESN'T kick ass and take names. He is incapable of being credible. Sorry. Check into a clinic.
Mmmm...the party of hate huh?
Submitted by bluetexan (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 3:00 PM PST.
Mmmm...the party of hate huh? As in hating gays, minorities, poor people, the earth, religions that aren't Christian, etc.?
Obama certainly isn't my diety. He's a man with faults just like any other human. But he's the only dude in place to put this country back on the correct path. Not sure he will succeed, but today was a start.
Your Tweets
Submitted by ceirdwenfc (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:17 PM PST.
I followed your tweets on this all day, and retweeted about 1/3 of them. I'm looking forward to the replay tonight, and am actually glad that I missed it because I really enjoyed your commentary and look forward to watching it later.
Popcorn?
Thank you.
I am proud that the American
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:25 PM PST.
I am proud that the American President agrred to participate in this discussion with the opposition party; however, he did not offer change inasmuch as the Republican Representatives invited him to participate.
To bluetexan: "The likes of Bush Jr." similarly held sessions with the Democrat Representatives in his term in office. The MSM did not cover those however.
It sure as hell wasn't on
Submitted by bluetexan (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:39 PM PST.
It sure as hell wasn't on national TV. Bush would never have agreed to what happened today.
Mr/s Anonymous: You say that
Submitted by Mike2010 (not verified) on Sun Jan. 31, 2010 8:15 PM PST.
Mr/s Anonymous: You say that Bush Jr "similarly held sessions with the Democrat Reps...(but) the MSM didn't cover them" ??? Please, please provide a link! I'd love to go back and watch those! ...was it better comedic relief than SNL's Tina Fay of Palin?
POTUS meets with GOP
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:31 PM PST.
Washington Post had an article on their site entitled Democrats confused about path ahead. Perhaps they could do the same thing within their own party. Since it appears they had a majority and after a year could not put something together they could agree upon for Health Care this might be hekpful for them also. Then everyone can see where they stand also.
By the way he is the POTUS what would they call him except Mr President? That whole sentence was quite odd.
Political parties measure
Submitted by LauraNo (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:37 PM PST.
Political parties measure everything by the optics. He (?) is saying this was bad optics for the GOP and they will probably rethink this kind of venue because of it.
Reply
Submitted by Alan L (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:37 PM PST.
Gee "Cleaning thetr Clocks" hmm.. I am trying to remember the last time my clock was cleaned. I don't beleive it was done with a lecture.
Sounded to me like it was a continuation of the SOTU lecture.
I forgive you though. Hangin around with the likes of Keith Doberman probably makes the mind a bit mushy. Very apparent in your case.
Today was certainly not the first time big O got the reps ideas on health care reform. He been hearing them since the campaign. Lets hope he actually reads the material this time. Not sure if you got the news...The Majority of Americans DON'T LIKE BIG O's health care plans.
Hows it feel to be in the minority in a center right (GOT THAT ... RIGHT) nation.
Good luck. Hope your ratings improve to at least the level of Keiths.
Maybe I'm just slow, but...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Feb. 3, 2010 4:15 PM PST.
I just don't understand, why people feel compelled to attack the character of the poster ("Hangin around with the likes of Keith Doberman probably makes the mind a bit mushy. Very apparent in your case.") instead of actually discussing the issues at hand!?
Why waste your and my time?
Yearning for a victory, however pyrrhic, David?
Submitted by Timstigator (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 2:47 PM PST.
David: you're really stretching to call this a victory, or a "clock-cleaning". The only eye-opener at all is the fact that your deity did this event within the enemy camp. I'll give him his props for that. That took balls.
But, his strategy of calling out Repubs on his "Bolshevik plot" doesn't negate the fact that his policies aren't socialist. He tried to render harmless the charge, and the country will not buy it. A kettle is black.
Another thing: he appears as if he doesn't know what's going on. His charges that he's offered to entertain Repub ideas and was met with silence are disingenuous. That leads me to believe that Axelrod and Rahm are running things, and only telling O the things they think he wants to hear. I thought Reagan was a great example of this, but here we are with O appearing clueless. How else can you account for so many conflicting statements.
questiontime
Submitted by Jason King (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 5:40 PM PST.
This may be the best of all worlds. The right-o-sphere thinks the GOP did best, the left-o-sphere the reverse. We need more of this. Would president in front of his/her party reveal worthwhile questions or would everybody be in CYA mode?
Really Reaching
Submitted by INTJ (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 8:17 PM PST.
Obama continues to lose ground. Ho-hum.
Like I always say. We don't
Submitted by Timmay (not verified) on Fri Jan. 29, 2010 9:15 PM PST.
Like I always say. We don't need a third party. We need a second party. I'll believe in constructive government when corporations get their asses off the hill. I'm glad you enjoyed the play. But me, I didn't even bother to open up the program since it said , " Brought to you by Pfizer et. al."
Often, (maybe too often),
Submitted by Cassandra of Troy (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 1:17 AM PST.
Often, (maybe too often), Obama reminds me of a full-of-himself professor lecturing to a roomfull of sleepy state college students or maybe a law student in moot court trying to impress the other want-to-be lawyers. But other times Obama reminds me a little of Lincoln at Cooper Union. I saw it performed by an actor once on TV and I could see why it impressed the Yankees in NY so much. Hal Holbrook gave it on film, I think. If you want to see a really good speech, in the old style, see that Holbrook one. It gives a sense of why Lincoln impressed so many so often when he indulged himself in public speaking. By the way, he wasn't called "Honest Abe" when he was in the White House or because of his political career but because in everyone's memory of the time, after 23 years of lawyering in Illinois, he was the only honest lawyer anyone could name in that part of the country. Which brings me to my point. They called Honest Abe a lot of names, too. But, considering the source of the insults, considering who did the name-calling, it's ironic that the insults turned out to be a sort of badge of courage. In the long run we remember Lincoln's name, not the names of the insulters
Three comments: 1) First,
Submitted by Kady (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 3:12 AM PST.
Three comments:
1) First, it's pretty clear that if you're a Dem, you think that Obama came out on top in this. If your a GOP, you think that your guys came out on top. Fairly typical real-time media reaction.
2) The biggest problem is that the media seems addicted to thinking in terms of winning and losing, rather than a fair exchange of ideas.
3) Corn's right to consider how this would change the face of candidates. You'd lose some goods ones and get some other good ones. We have had some very good presidents who thrive in an ad hoc forum, and we've had some very bad ones that thrive in an ad hoc forum. We wouldn't get better candidates, IMO, just different ones. For example, on the GOP side, we've already seen that Jindal struggles from the stump, but in these ad hoc forums, he's devastatingly brilliant.
Comments on comments: 1)
Submitted by Cassandra of Troy (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 5:49 AM PST.
Comments on comments:
1) Agree. Perception seems more important than reality. In science reality is more important, but not in other kinds of experience, unfortunately. A good example is the tv debate between Kennedy and Nixon. If you listened to it on radio it seemed Nixon won on issues and points, but if you watched on tv you felt Kennedy won simply because he was so handsome and relaxed and Nixon was so ugly and tense.
2) Agree. Americans worship winners, hate losers. They are also hero worshipers. Constantly looking for heros and can always find them in the media. Never seem very interested in anything deeper than that. The press (the media) began as mouthpieces for parties in political campaigns and now we're in perpetual campaigning. Everything has to be portrayed as a life and death struggle between good and evil. Who will win? Will the good guys win? What will we do?
3) Agree. Like Lincoln and Douglas. Ah, the good old days. How about Obama and Jinal standing on a couple of tree stumps, holding onto their lapels and arguing about the merits of Conservative and Liberal solutions? Such a dreamer am I.
Obama meets with GOP
Submitted by rannan3 (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 5:54 AM PST.
IF you could have stopped cheerleading long enough, you might have HEARD some of what the President ACTUALLY said -- like this admission --
" The last thing I will say, though -- let me say this about health care and the health care debate, because I think it also bears on a whole lot of other issues. If you look at the package that we've presented -- and there's some stray cats and dogs that got in there that we were eliminating, we were in the process of eliminating. For example, we said from the start that it was going to be important for us to be consistent in saying to people if you can have your -- if you want to keep the health insurance you got, you can keep it, that you're not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision making. And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge. [emphasis added] "
If we take this statement at face value, President Obama is admitting the the health care bills passed by either the House or Senate (or both) contained provisions which were "snuck in" - presumably by Democratic members and perhaps on behalf of certain lobbyists - that would have in fact prevented people from keeping their current insurance and/or choosing the doctor they want.
This was one of the core debates on health care throughout last year: Would President Obama and the Democrats' legislation allow government to come between citizens and their choice of doctors and insurers? Obama promised it wouldn't. Republicans said it would, and this was one of the aspects of the legislation that led them to characterize it as a government takeover of health care - the same characterization that Obama chastized the GOP for today.
So it's a bit of shock to find out now - from the President himself, no less - that one or both of the bills that passed Congress late last year (the House passed its version in late November, the Senate on Christmas Eve Day) contained language that would have violated this pledge.
So once you're through applauding our wonderful President, please explain how he kept insisting just the opposite of his statement today -- perhaps Joe Wilson was correct -- he does lie, and constantly.
re: Obama and House GOP Q&A ...
Submitted by Vito Danelli (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 6:35 AM PST.
While I would love to see this become a regular event like the British do, unfortunately, it would degenerate into a talking point recitation PLUS in the media age, who would make the funniest joke/line, etc.
The Presidential Debates began with such enthusiasm, but as we know, are now scripted by both political parties via their corporate-funded Commission on Presidential Debates.
True, but if we were very
Submitted by Cassandra of Troy (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 7:35 PM PST.
True, but if we were very lucky, it also might show what jokes these jokers really are. I'm not sure that it would improve us much but it sure would be entertaining to see some of these clowns embarrass themselves and be exposed to public ridicule on national tv. That may even be the real reason they usually beg off from debates or try to fix them by setting constrictive ground rules.
superbowl of politics
Submitted by Ceeq (not verified) on Wed Feb. 3, 2010 7:07 AM PST.
The IRS could sell the rights to such a quarterly debate. Lobbyists could buy ads.
Cities could vie for the venue. A little build-up would help.
This was not a fair debate--a team can't perform without the coach,invite Limbaugh next time
Amend the Constitution
Submitted by IndigoAvenue on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 6:55 AM PST.
I know *exactly* how to make sure this happens on a regular basis: amend the Constitution requiring the President to have question time with the opposing party on a quarterly basis.
I already sent this idea to the admin. via http://www.whitehouse.gov .
If you think this is a good idea--PLEASE--send your own letter to the Administration, tweet, whatever!!! This could transform our Republic to heed the way of facts and science instead of ignorance, intolerance and fanaticism.
Karen
This and many other things
Submitted by Cassandra of Troy (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 7:45 PM PST.
This and many other things are very admirable in the UK's version of the Parliamentary form of government. But can't we find a less difficult way to include this than trying to call for a constitutional referendum by the very politicians who would want to kill it in it's crib? Vox Populi Vox Dei?
O meets the GOP
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 8:24 AM PST.
I finally got a chance to see the entire Q&A; I read Mr. Corn's piece and the comments about it first. Mr. Corn's-got their clock cleaned- description is predictably propagandistic and in the long run not helpful. A more honest analysis would see this meeting as a better late than never fulfillment of the Obama promise to speak in the light of openness and to transcend the status quo. I applaud both the president and the GOP. Nobody got their clock cleaned. Both sides were respectful but Mr. Obama seemed a bit peevish. I for one hope this meeting was the beginning of a new American tradition; we can take a page from Britain's book.
This is specifically to
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 11:07 AM PST.
This is specifically to rannan3, the President did say that the bill would not prevent individuals from choosing the health insurance they wanted and get in between them and their doctors. He also did admit that there were some provisions in the bill that may have inhibited that, but you are missing some things in your assessment of the quotation that you provided here. The President also said they were "eliminating" and "in the process of eliminating" those "stray cats and dogs" which implies that those provisions would be stopped and defeated before the bill has been finished, therefore keeping his promise. You also overlook the fact that the man actually admitted this fault in the bill, instead of hiding it or ignoring it, as any typical politician, Democrat or Republican, would do. The ability to reflect on yourself, your work, and anything else associated with your efforts and admit your failures, faults, and inconsistencies openly, unlike the most recent former president who struggled trying to figure out if he ever made any mistakes, is a significant aspect of what it is to be an honest man. So instead of trying to frame and demonize Obama or trying to make him fit into our biases or preconceived notions, get over the petty stuff, pay attention to the facts, have legitimate debate, and figure out the best way to get the nation going where we want it go.
I want more of these kind of discussions, but only our media and politicians can handle the civility and substance and get away from talking points and bullspit.
More of this...
Submitted by AmyLyst (not verified) on Sat Jan. 30, 2010 12:31 PM PST.
The President was smart, precise and credible. He nailed it when he said they voted against the stimuls only to turn around and cut ribbons for projects funded by it. Doing this on a regular basis will help to bring credibility to government.
Sunshine is the best disinfectant.
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the wonders of modern technology
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun Jan. 31, 2010 9:44 AM PST.
Wow, I would love to know how those IT people managed to get the teleprompter to respond in real time to the GOP questions so Obama could read the answers so well.
I hope to see more of these exchanges. . .
Submitted by Marshabar on Sun Jan. 31, 2010 3:41 PM PST.
But I won't hold my breath.
Obama comes across like an arrogant, defensive, bully.
The questions were great.
He answered like a stumped school boy. Gazing skyward he says, " Let's see now. . . I'm speaking English words in proper syntax perhaps if I just keep stringing more of them together and throw in some fancy ones the teacher won't notice that I'm not actually saying anything. . ."
Be honest.....
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun Jan. 31, 2010 4:19 PM PST.
Did you even watch it?
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