By Julie Percha

Jan 29, 2010 2:51pm

Into the Ryan’s Den: President Obama Attends House GOP Caucus for Lively Give and Take

President Obama held a lively give and take with the loyal opposition this afternoon, as the House Republican Conference hosted him at its retreat in Baltimore.

The goal: a serious discussion of issues and how to forge bipartisan consensus going forward –if at all possible.

But each side had its own goal as well. The President had a list of complaints about how Republicans had governed and Republicans wanted to push back on the Obama administration’s assertion that it was a party of no ideas.

“Mr. President, multiple times from your administration there have come statements that Republicans have no ideas and no solutions,” Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., griped., “in spite of that fact that we've offered, as demonstrated today, positive solutions to all of the challenges we face, including energy and the economy and health care.”

The president complained that “if there's uniform opposition because the Republican caucus doesn't get 100 percent or 80 percent of what you want, then it's going to be hard to get a deal done. That's because that's not how democracy works.”

At times the meeting seemed like the annual Airing of Grievances from the holiday of Festivus.

“The way these issues are being presented by the Republicans is that this is some wild-eyed plot to impose huge government in every aspect of our lives,” President Obama said of health care reform. “What happens is you guys then don't have a lot of room to negotiate with me.”

For “many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable in your own base, in your own party,” the president said. “You've given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion because what you've been telling your constituents is, "This guy's doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America."

At other times, the remarks seemed more promising.

“I hope that the conversation we begin here doesn't end here, that we can continue our dialogue in the days ahead,” the president said. “It's important to me that we do so; it's important to you, I think, that we do so. But, most importantly, it's important to the American people that we do so.”

Mr. Obama is said to be truly distressed with the continued dysfunctionality of politics in the nation’s capital, and the disillusionment of many of his supporters, and has accepted some of the blame for that – specifically in terms of his broken campaign promise to allow C-SPAN cameras to film health care negotiations.

“The only thing I don't want — and here I am listening to the American people, and I think they don't want either — is for Washington to continue being so Washington-like,” the president told House Republicans today. “I don't believe that the American people want us to focus on our job security. They want us to focus on their job security… They sent us to Washington to work together, to get things done, and to solve the problems that they're grappling with every single day.”

You’re Not Bipartisan, I’m Bipartisan

The president said he had incorporated many Republican ideas in his proposals: creating a high-risk pool for uninsured Americans with preexisting conditions, allowing health insurance companies to sell coverage across state lines, creating pools where self-employed and small businesses could buy insurance, allowing children to remain covered on their parents' insurance until they are 25 or 26.

“I even talked about an issue that has been a holy grail for a lot of you, which was tort reform, and said that I'd be willing to work together as part of a comprehensive package to deal with it,” he said. “I just didn't get a lot of nibbles.”

The President clearly doesn’t think the other side is showing the same spirit. He began his remarks by chastising Republicans for not voting for items he believes they support and only opposed for sheer political reasons, such as the stimulus bill, which Republicans voted against unanimously.

“I didn't understand then, and I still don't understand, why we got opposition in this caucus for almost $300 billion in badly needed tax cuts for the American people or COBRA coverage to help Americans who'd lost jobs in this recession to keep the health insurance that they desperately needed, or opposition to putting Americans to work laying broadband and rebuilding roads and bridges and breaking ground on new construction projects,” he said.

Looking forward, the president said that he had proposed earlier in the day tax credits for small businesses. One, that he said would cut taxes for more than one million small businesses, would provide employers with a “tax credit of up to $5,000 for every employee they add in 2010. They'd get a tax break for increases in wages as well.” He said he also wants to “eliminate the capital gains tax for small business investment and take some of the bailout money the Wall Street banks have returned and used it to help community banks start lending to small businesses again.”

“There’s nothing in that proposal that runs contrary to the ideological predispositions of this caucus,” the president said. “The question is, what's going to keep us from getting this done?”

At another point he said, “you may not support our overall jobs package, but if you look at the tax credit that we're proposing for small businesses right now, it is consistent with a lot of what you guys have said in the past. And just the fact that it's my administration that's proposing it shouldn't prevent you from supporting it.”

Festivus Comes to Baltimore

But prospects for GOP support for the hiring tax credit didn’t seem strong when Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., referred to it as “a tax credit which was last promoted by President Jimmy Carter.”

Pence, the leader of the House Republican conference, told ABC News earlier this week that he decided not to challenge Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., partly because he’s convinced that Republicans will regain control of the House this November.

Today he dismissed the stimulus package as a “piecemeal list of projects and boutique tax cuts” and asked the president if he would be willing to consider “the kind of across-the-board tax relief that Republicans have advocated, that President Kennedy advocated, that President Reagan advocated, and that has always been the means of stimulating broad-based economic growth?”

President Obama said he’d need to see specifically what the proposal would entail. “What you may consider across-the-board tax cuts could be, for example, greater tax cuts for people who are making a billion dollars,” he said. “I may not agree to a tax cut for Warren Buffett. You may be calling for an across-the-board tax cut for the banking industry right now. I may not agree to that.”

The president continued to press the point that the stimulus bill contained “common sense” measures. “A third of them were tax cuts. And they weren't — when you say they were boutique tax cuts, Mike, 95 percent of working Americans got tax cuts. Small businesses got tax cuts. Large businesses got help in terms of their depreciation schedules. I mean, it was a pretty conventional list of tax cuts.”

As for the infrastructure spending, the president said “a lot of you have gone to appear at ribbon cuttings for the same projects that you voted against.”

The president dismissed the House GOP stimulus proposal by saying “I couldn't find credible economists who would back up the claims” Pence made that it would create “twice the jobs at half the cost.”

Promise Keeper

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, challenged the president on his expressed concern during the State of the Union address for a “deficit of trust” given campaign promises the president had made.

“When you stood up before the American people multiple times and said you would broadcast the health care debates on C-SPAN, you didn't,” said Chaffetz, a freshman. “I was disappointed, and I think a lot of Americans were disappointed.”

Chaffetz also told the president, “you said you weren't going to allow lobbyists in the senior-most positions within your administration, and yet you did… You said you'd go line by line through the…health care bill… And when you said in the House of Representatives that you were going to tackle earmarks, and, in fact, you didn't want to have any earmarks in any of your bills, I jumped up out of my seat and applauded you. But it didn't happen.”

The president conceded that once the bill “got through the committee process and there were now a series of meetings taking place all over the Capitol trying to figure out how to get the thing together, that was a messy process. And I take responsibility for not having structured it in a way where it was all taking place in one place that could be filmed.”

But the president said Chaffetz’s point was “a legitimate criticism. So on that one, I take responsibility.”

The president said that he had tried to push back on earmarks but he “was confronted at the beginning of my term with an omnibus package that did have a lot of earmarks from Republicans and Democrats, and a lot of people in this chamber. And the question was, was I going to have a big budget fight at a time when I was still trying to figure out whether or not the financial system was melting down and we had to make a whole bunch of emergency decisions about the economy. So what I said was let's keep them to a minimum, but I couldn't excise them all.”

He challenged Chaffetz to consider what he is “doing inside your caucus to make sure that I'm not the only guy who's responsible for this stuff, so that we're working together. Because this is going to be a process.”

The president defended his stance on lobbyists, saying he could “stand here unequivocally and say that there has not been an administration who was tougher on making sure that lobbyists weren't participating in the administration than any administration that's come before us….There have been a handful of waivers where somebody is highly skilled; for example, a doctor who ran Tobacco-Free Kids technically is a registered lobbyist, on the other hand, has more expertise than anybody in figuring out how kids don't get hooked on cigarettes.”

Generally, the president said, “we've been very consistent on that front.”

Ryan’s Hope

The president also took issue with comments from Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, who said the Obama administration had increased domestic and discretionary spending by 84%.

“Most of the increases in this year's budget, this past year's budget, were not as a consequence of policies that we initiated,” the president said, “but instead were built in as a consequence of the automatic stabilizers that kick in because of this enormous recession.”

Ryan said, “you've also said that you want to take a scalpel to the budget and go through it line by line. We want to give you that scalpel. I have a proposal with my home state Senator, Russ Feingold, a bipartisan proposal, to create a constitutional version of the line- item veto.

“I think there's not a president out there that wouldn't love to have it,” the president said. “This is an area where we can have a serious conversation.”

At another point, pushing for “a tone of civility instead of slash-and-burn,” the president said the media doesn’t report on the positive. “I don’t a lot of credit if I say, ‘You know, I think Paul Ryan's a pretty sincere guy and has a beautiful family.’ Nobody's going to run that in the newspapers, right?”

The crowd laughed.

“And by the way, in case he's going to get a Republican challenge, I didn't mean it,” the president joked. Turning to Ryan, he said, “I don't want to — don't want to hurt you, man.”

“Thank You For Acknowledging We Have Ideas”

With a note of sarcasm, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., thanked the president for “acknowledging that we have ideas on health care.”

“I've gotten many of your ideas,” he replied. “Some of the ideas we have embraced and are in our (health care reform) package. Some of them are embraced with caveats.”

As one example, the president noted the GOP proposal of allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines. “We actually include that as part of our approach,” he said. “But the caveat is we've got to do so with some minimum standards, because otherwise what happens is that you could have insurance companies circumvent a whole bunch of state regulations about, you know, basic benefits or what have you; making sure that a woman is able to get mammograms as part of preventive care, for example.”

The president acknowledged that “some stray cats and dogs” got into the health care reform package that he claimed “we were in the process of eliminating.” Some provisions may have violated his early pledge that “if you want to keep the health insurance you've got, you can keep it” and “that you're not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision-making.”

But beyond that, the president said, the bill resembled the principles outlined by former GOP Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker and Bob Dole “but if you were to listen to the debate, and, frankly, how some of you went after this bill, you'd think that this thing was some Bolshevik plot.”

The reality is different, he said. “If you look at the facts of this bill, most independent observers would say this is actually” what the President was proposing is “similar to what many Republicans proposed to Bill Clinton when he was doing his debate on health care. So all I'm saying is we've got to close the gap a little bit between the rhetoric and the reality.”

On that note, the president also took issue with Republican solutions.

“I've actually read your bills,” the president said, arguing that GOP claims on savings from tort reform or allowing multi-state insurance are not matched by experts. “I am absolutely committed to working with you on these issues. But it can't just be political assertions that aren't substantiated when it comes to the actual details of policy, because otherwise we're going to be selling the American people a bill of goods,” he said.

“The easiest thing for me to do on the health care debate would have been to tell people that, ‘What you're going to get is guaranteed health insurance, lower your costs, all the insurance reforms, we're going to lower the cost of Medicare and Medicaid, and it won't cost anybody anything,’” he said. “That's great politics. It's just not true.”

The president later contrasted Ryan with Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, who criticized the president for proposing a budget “that would triple the national debt over the next 10 years. Surely you don't believe 10 years from now we will still be mired in this recession. It proposed new entitlement spending and moved the — the cost of government to almost 24.5 percent of the economy.”

Mistakenly calling Hensarling “Jim,” the president said, “with all due respect, I've just got to take this last question as an example of how it's very hard to have the kind of bipartisan work that we're going to do, because the whole question was structured as a talking point for running a campaign.”

Detailing how the Bush administration created $8 trillion in debt, the president said Ryan had “looked at the budget and has made a serious proposal. I've read it. I can tell you what's in it. And there are some ideas in there that I would agree with, but there are some ideas that we should have a healthy debate about, because I don't agree with them.”

One of the Ryan’s proposals would impact Medicare, the president said. Which makes sense since “the major driver of our long-term liabilities, everybody here knows, is Medicare and Medicaid and our health care spending.”

The president asserted that “any proposal that Paul makes will be painted factually from the perspective of those who disagree with it as cutting benefits over the long term…There is a political vulnerability to doing anything that tinkers with Medicare. And that's probably the biggest savings that are obtained through Paul's plan.”

When the president and Democrats “made a very modest proposal as part of our package — our health care reform package to eliminate the subsidies going to insurance companies for Medicare Advantage, we were attacked across the board by many on your aisle for slashing Medicare. You remember? We're ‘going to start cutting benefits for seniors.’ That was the story that was perpetrated out there; scared the dickens out of a lot of seniors.”

Said the president, “if we're going to frame these debates in ways that allow us to solve them, then we can't start off by figuring out, A, who's to blame; B, how can we make the American people afraid of the other side.”

-jpt

User Comments

Barack Obama IS Washington.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm

Can anyone imagine Bush doing this?
He could barely take question from eunuchs in wh press corp.
“I didn’t understand then, and I still don’t understand, why we got opposition in this caucus for almost $300 billion in badly needed tax cuts for the American people or COBRA coverage to help Americans who’d lost jobs in this recession to keep the health insurance that they desperately needed, or opposition to putting Americans to work laying broadband and rebuilding roads and bridges and breaking ground on new construction projects,” he said.”
I am sorry to say Mr President that the Republicans would prefer that country fail believing that circumstance would allow their party to regain power than the country to succeed and let the chips fall where they may.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm

Posted by: Ryan C | Jan 29, 2010 3:01:55 PM
What evidence is there that Republicans would rather see the country fail?
You seem to be of the opinion that EVERYTHING Obama has proposed is the correct course. Republicans (and many independents as evidenced in NJ, VA, and MA) disagree.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm

“What evidence is there that Republicans would rather see the country fail?”
The reaction by the right wingers here to the economic good news was quite telling.
Then there is the famous Rush Limbaugh example.
“You seem to be of the opinion that EVERYTHING Obama has proposed is the correct course”
Yeah except for those things that I disagree with Obama on like FISA, Bagram, DOMA. I would also throw DADT in there but I am willing to give him a shot.
The lesson as always? Right wingers lie.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm

“The reaction by the right wingers here to the economic good news was quite telling.”
No, just simply pointing out that there is more behind the numbers…
“Then there is the famous Rush Limbaugh example.”
What? The “I hope he fails” comment? Obama has failed to achieve his goal of nationalizing healthcare and for that I am glad he has failed. I’m also glad he has failed in his pursuit of cap-and-trade and card check legislation.
Again, you are of the position that big government is good government and good for the economy. Not true.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm

I am not a fan of Obamas polices but i have to give him credit for his effort to listen to the other side

Posted by: Scott | January 29, 2010, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm

Obama: “ ‘I hope that the conversation we begin here doesn’t end here, that we can continue our dialogue in the days ahead,’ the president said.”
Yes. On CSPAN. Pelosi and Reid ought to be required to participate, too.
And enough with the blame-games, lies, and mischaracterizations already.

Posted by: All Spun Out | January 29, 2010, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

Mr. Obama is said to be truly distressed with the continued dysfunctionality
—————————————-Yes and Americans are distressed with Obamas dysfunctionality and arrogance
see:
Virginia
New Jersey
Mass..
Snakeoil will get you only so far

Posted by: another crisis, another photo-op | January 29, 2010, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm

“Mr. Obama is said to be truly distressed with the continued dysfunctionality of politics in the nation’s capital, and the disillusionment of many of his supporters”
.
Only now that his approval rating and that of the rest of his lefty party are in the crapper and swirling downward faster. After one year of his track record which is totally opposite of what he now says…. why should we believe a single word out of his big mouth. The little punk man-child finds himself in a hole and is determined to keep digging.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm

“Obama has failed to achieve his goal of nationalizing healthcare and for that I am glad he has failed.”
Except that was not his goal.
Obama’s mistake was not retaining control of the bill. Keeping it simple and true to his outlined plan he campaigned on.
“Again, you are of the position that big government is good government and good for the economy. Not true.”
We’ve seen the fruits of deregulation and lower taxes on the wealthy.
4 Bubbles, 4 major recessions, flight of manufacturing capability, and in the last decade or so stagnation of real wages.
So what would you prefer tjp, a robust economic recovery that may happen under the Democrats watch or a Republican majority?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm

Only now that his approval rating and that of the rest of his lefty party are in the crapper and swirling downward faster.
_____________________________________
Hogwash. The President’s approval rating has been stable for several months now – right in around 50%.
Another Republican right lie.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm

Interesting how ABC only posts the video of the President speaking about the “obstructionist” Republicans and none of their very valid points about how he and his party are not only trying to pass bad bills and make bad policy, but also how truely disingenuous his remarks were in the SOTU. I’m sure that’s just an oversight on the part of ABC. Yeah, right!

Posted by: Glenn | January 29, 2010, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm

The “no” label won’t be off of Republicans until they actually accomplish something of significance with the president. Today’s showdown helped Obama more than the GOP. Americans will see a president willing to have a dialogue with a party who essentially says one thing but acts quite differently.
http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | January 29, 2010, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm

“The little punk man-child”
Posted by: gk | Jan 29, 2010 3:52:30 PM
___________________________________
More juvenile name calling as ‘political policy’ from the Republican right.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm

“Only now that his approval rating and that of the rest of his lefty party are in the crapper and swirling downward faster.”
Democrats in Congress have an approval rating range of mid 30′s to low 40′s
Republicans in Congress have an approval range from high 20′s to low 30′s.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm

“So what would you prefer tjp, a robust economic recovery that may happen under the Democrats watch or a Republican majority?”
Why can’t I have both?
Unfortunately, we have a president, VP, and speaker who are career bureaucrats and lawyers who have responsibility for leading the economy out of recession with no private sector experience beyond working in law firms. Our president and the speaker hail from the far-Left.
That our economic recovery is stumbling is not a surprise. Obama has very little understanding in how the economy works. He is still obsessed with his pre-2008 crash agenda. Times have changed, Obama hasn’t.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm

“Democrats in Congress have an approval rating range of mid 30′s to low 40′s. Republicans in Congress have an approval range from high 20′s to low 30′s.”
Don’t know where you get your polling info from, but it appears voters see things differently:
From Rasmussen 1/26/10:
“Republican candidates again hold a nine-point lead over Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.
The new national telephone survey shows that 46% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 37% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. Voter support for GOP congressional candidates is up slightly from last week, while support for Democrats held steady.”
BTW – NPR has Republicans up by 5%.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

“Unfortunately, we have a president, VP, and speaker who are career bureaucrats and lawyers who have responsibility for leading the economy out of recession with no private sector experience beyond working in law firms.”
So?
We had a President with an MBA and he oversaw a jobless recession recovery and a complete economic meltdown.
We went from a modest budget surplus to a massive deficit as said MBA handed out tax cuts to the rich while ramping up spending as well as creating unfunded mandates.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm

“Don’t know where you get your polling info from, but it appears voters see things differently:”
Polling Report has Congressional approval polls as well as approval ratings for Republicans and Democrats from quite a few different polling outfits.
The GOP needs to the economy to remain bad to get elected.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm

Has Sarah Palin ever even had a press conference where she had to answer multiple questions from multiple reporters about multiple topics?
How do you think Sarah Palin would do if she had to do a Q&A session like this with the Dem Caucus?

Posted by: Levi | January 29, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

tjp612 wrote: “Don’t know where you get your polling info from, but it appears voters see things differently: ”
.
Thats a good question. Looks like most of these lefty posters must be ACORN employees who are paid by this administration to distract critics and run cover for their failing agenda…. part of those “saved or created” jobs I guess. Axelrod needs to update their talking points they cut and paste into all the various forums they populate.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

“We had a President with an MBA and he oversaw a jobless recession recovery and a complete economic meltdown.”
Ah, yes…the good ol’ days when a “jobless recovery” meant 5% unemployment….
Number of the Day for you: Average unemployment during Bush’s eight years: 5.5%
Care to bring up Bush’s deficit spending vs. Obama’s? No contest – Obama hands-down!

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm

“Number of the Day for you: Average unemployment during Bush’s eight years: 5.5%”
Not using the U6 measure anymore?
Why not?
You’ve been touting that measure of unemployment during Obama’s tenure for quite some time now.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

“The GOP needs to the economy to remain bad to get elected.”
New talking point for Leftie.
Looking forward to November when Democrats claim the reason they lost was solely due to the economy and miss the message the masses have been sending that they are opposed to Obama/Reid/Pelosi far-Left policies.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

“Looking forward to November when Democrats claim the reason they lost was solely due to the economy and miss the message the masses have been sending that they are opposed to Obama/Reid/Pelosi far-Left policies.”
If the economy improves the Republicans have nothing.
That’s why they are desperately trying to coop the tea party movement.
Ya know that supposedly non partisan movement.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm

“If the economy improves the Republicans have nothing. That’s why they are desperately trying to coop the tea party movement. Ya know that supposedly non partisan movement.”
Leftie has added a new talking point to his quiver.
So if Democrat success in November hinges on improvement of the economy, why do they seem to be so hellbent on taking actions that do little-to-nothing to improve the economy?
Ryan – Government can’t spend it’s way out of a recession. It’s pretty simple, actually. But Lefties like you and Obama believe that government is the be-all, end-all solution to every problem that ails us.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm

“The GOP needs to the economy to remain bad to get elected”
And since it’s not easy to differentiate between the Republicans and corporate America you have to wonder what incentive big business has to start hiring as soon as possible.

Posted by: Skip | January 29, 2010, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm

“Not using the U6 measure anymore? Why not? You’ve been touting that measure of unemployment during Obama’s tenure for quite some time now.”
Feel free to share with us Bush’s U6 figure. The degree of underemployment during Bush’s supposed “jobless recovery” pales in comparison to what we are experiencing in Obama’s economy.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm

Watching the Democrats and the Republicans fight is like watching communist Russia and fascist Germany go at it. I can no longer take up for either side.

Posted by: knowerseeker | January 29, 2010, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

“And since it’s not easy to differentiate between the Republicans and corporate America you have to wonder what incentive big business has to start hiring as soon as possible.”
Yeah, that’s it. Corporations are not hiring because they want to punish Obama. That’s quite a conspiracy theory you’ve cooked up.
Obama has created a heightened sense of uncertainty. This is a primary reason corporations are not hiring. Work in private industry much? Or perhaps you have, were unsuccessful and now place blame for all of your troubles on those “evil corporations”.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm

O.K. How are you going to say he is not trying now? Buying insurance across the state line is in the bill and other republican wants and still these people are not happy. It’s like I said before…they all agreed to not work with him in the beginning of his administration and it is still going on no matter the situation. The people will know just what is happening as most of this meeting will be on everyone’s show and people will see just who is keeping things from happening.

Posted by: talmag | January 29, 2010, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm

He says I’m right and you’re wrong. Get in line. Be nice to me or I’ll label you.

Posted by: TX_MBell | January 29, 2010, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm

THis article answered a question I’ve been wondering about for some time: Has the president been spinning the benefits of the big unread stimulus bill to protect his party’s donors/recipients despite its high cost, or does he really believe the porkulus package was a good and prudent bill. His remarks today seem to suggest he really likes the bill and genuinely can’t figure out why most Republicans and a great portion of independents and democrats in America think it was a total waste and is mortgaging our childrens’ future. This is scary. He really does not have a clue, does he?

Posted by: clark | January 29, 2010, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm

Do the math. The democrats had the votes to push through whatever they wanted. The republicans were irrelevant with the super-majority. The health care bill was fundamentally flawed say many democrats. So it is obvious that kicking the minority still plays well in politics.

Posted by: TX_MBell | January 29, 2010, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm

Obama nailed them!

Posted by: mshare | January 29, 2010, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm

I don’t recall (for me, since Reagan) a President ever doing something like this. Leaving all political judgments aside and speaking as an independent, I am really impressed that Obama did this.

Posted by: Jay | January 29, 2010, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm

Obama nailed them!
Posted by: mshare | Jan 29, 2010 5:20:37 PM
_____________________________________
No kidding! And he stood in the fire in front of the cameras and showed the American people just what a great leader he is. Very strong.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm

I love how the Dems are still trying to blame everything on W. Economy was cranking until almost the end of his second term. He did a lot of things I don’t agree with but the economy was humming along with +/- 5% unemployment.

Posted by: Mark | January 29, 2010, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm

tjp612 – There are people who lie, people who tell the truth, and statisticians.
Your conservative blinders cloud your critical thinking. Jobs are always a lagging indicator and you know it. I doubt you know the intricasies of a combustion engine, but are competent enough to drive a car. This president understands plenty about economics and the like. The legal profession was his career of choice. We are where we are not because of the past 12 months.

Posted by: FunInChicago | January 29, 2010, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm

He did a lot of things I don’t agree with but the economy was humming along with +/- 5% unemployment.
___________________________________
Unfortunately, this was built on a phony housing market and a bunch of bad debt – soon to collapse and reveal just what a weak economy had really been put in place.
You can bet the top 5% got their money out of the market before the big crash – the rest of us were left to lose.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm

You can always tell when something gets under Obama’s skin–he repeats the accusation over and over, tries to make jokes about it, making it all the more obvious.
Examples: Socialism, losing his mojo,
being a radical, big government, reckless spending, fatcats.
The more he talks about it the guiltier he looks.

Posted by: mick | January 29, 2010, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm

“Democrats had a rare opportunity to question the president directly, using a private session after his speech to press him on Iraq, immigration, global warming, the deficit and the absence of Hurricane Katrina and veterans’ issues in his recent State of the Union address. While Bush asked Democrats to keep the conversation private, some people present said he gave no ground on his basic position on the war but was upfront in talking about its impact on the populace.”
You’ll have to forgive me for not remembering this since what was asked and answered was kept largely private as opposed to this exchange.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm

This isn’t an act of courage, it’s an act of political points and desperation!! — Obama knows what is going to happen in November unless he can spin this somehow!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | January 29, 2010, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm

I guess Obama telling the Republicans that he won, and things were going to be done his way didn’t go over very well.
That was a year ago.
Pres Obama has never been interested in bipartisan politics.
Neither will he ever be.
It’s his way or the highway.
The voters didn’t care too much for that, either.
This is the politics of exclusion,and when the voters were excluded, called astro turf, and likened to slave owners, we rose up.
It’s just the beginning. Just wait until November.
Just watch what the astro turf does then.

Posted by: m | January 29, 2010, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm

Posted by: mick | Jan 29, 2010 5:37:33 PM
The President was calm, cool and collected as he dealt directly with Republican questions and challenges today.
This was a major step forward for Obama and the Democrats.
An exceptional event revealing an exception President.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm

Obama nailed them! posted gloatingly by mshare
————
There’s the very problem President Obama spoke against. Gloating on which side wins.
When just one side wins…the USA doesn’t.

Posted by: malcat | January 29, 2010, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm

Republicans and Democrate BOTH…I’M SO SICK of this divided partisanship…ISN’T Their job! is finding common ground to serve the American PEOPLE! ????

Posted by: tommy Darcy | January 29, 2010, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm

Obama had a sick look on his face when that young guy asked him about C-SPAN, lobbyist, earmarks, going line-by-line to explain Obamacare.
Obama has never been asked to explain those broken promises because he avoids press questions.
Obama gave lame answers for all of them.
I hope Independents were watching.
No accountability whatsoever.

Posted by: ollie | January 29, 2010, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm

I think Obama hit the nail right on the head when he said: —-For many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, you are politically vulnerable in your own base, in your own party. You’ve given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion because what you’ve been telling your constituents is, “This guy’s doing all kinds of crazy stuff that’s going to destroy America.” — One only has to remember the GOP bashing of Senator Snowe(R)-Maine, when she voted for the House healthcare bill, to illustrate how right this statement is…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | January 29, 2010, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm

Until now, the Republican have wanted nothing to do with “bipartisanship”. It remains to be seen if they will “cooperate”…

Posted by: Sentinel1946 | January 29, 2010, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm

What a hypocrite Obama is.
He chastises everyone else for the tone and lack of civility in Washington.
But every chance he gets BO publically humiliates someone that bugs him.
Today it was Frank Luntz(sp?)
at the SOTU he called out just about everyone especially the Supreme Court.
People that have to sit there and take it unable to defend themselves.
Obama is nothing but a scared little bully hiding behind his pulpit.

Posted by: larry | January 29, 2010, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

Obama nailed them! posted gloatingly by mshare
————
There’s the very problem President Obama spoke against. Gloating on which side wins.
When just one side wins…the USA doesn’t.
Posted by: malcat | Jan 29, 2010 5:44:49 PM
______________________________________
malcat I think Obama nailing them actually DID improve things for all Americans.
Watch the exchanges and the event.
Obama’s approach was heads and tails above most of what we’ve seen in terms of sick partisan attacks.
His appearance was a victory for the Democrats – and for decency in politics.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

“Your conservative blinders cloud your critical thinking. Jobs are always a lagging indicator and you know it.”
I did not deny that – Obama’s economic policies are not sound, which is why double-digit unemployment is predicted throughout 2010. Yes, at some point the economy will bounce back, not to the degree it has in the past.
“I doubt you know the intricasies of a combustion engine”
You’d be surprised.
“This president understands plenty about economics and the like.”
Proof?
“We are where we are not because of the past 12 months.”
Actually we are. Obama came into a bad situation (for which the vast majority of Americans do not blame him, even though he was in the Senate 2005-2008), but he has made the situation worse with his profligate spending and re-distributionalist outlook.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm

The second the Dems took control, the game plan was set in motion by the Repubs. No matter what the issue, say no and try to create failure in every policy. Had the Repubs said no a few time when they had control, there would be no President Obama; Repubs would still be in the White House and probably in control of Congress. So, keep on whining – you’ve got three more years.

Posted by: Stlchicago | January 29, 2010, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm

Hello People!!! Wake Up. Look at the facts, the democrats have been in control of the House and Senate since 2007!!! Since that time, the economy, job loss, etc. has been on their watch! Again, 2009 the DEMOCRATS had a super majority, the republicans had no control or say over anything that was to past in the budget. THANK GOD!! It is not the fault of the republicans. Your wonderful democrats have been in control and look at the direction of this country now. THANK YOU MA FOR ELECTING SCOTT BROWN! Hopefully the rest of the country will follow your lead in November 2010!!

Posted by: theresa | January 29, 2010, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm

Obama translation…. Please allow me to look like a bi-partisan guy!! (And please forget how we really acted over the last 12 months to disprove that — you know, we really didn’t mean that “We’re going to cram this bill down your throats” stuff!)

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | January 29, 2010, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

after Obama took office in 2009 he reminded the republicans that “WE WON” and their vote wouldn’t be needed. Now he is sucking up since democrats are afraid of losing big in Nov. He needs to stop scolding and apologize to the congress for acting like a spoiled teenager. He certainly doesn’t like criticism’ can’t handle the polls showing his loss of confidence.

Posted by: jmjeanette | January 29, 2010, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

Hello People!!! Wake Up. Look at the facts, the democrats have been in control of the House and Senate since 2007!!!
_____________________________________
The Bush administration built such a strong economy, just electing Democrats could destroy it?
The ‘strong’ Bush economy was based on a phony housing market and huge quantities of bad debt – a house of cards waiting to collapse – and collapse it did.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm

He nailed them alright. I think he did his share of back pedaling. He hasn’t kept his promises and the intelligent citizens see him for what he is, a good speaker with a teleprompter, without a good plan. Has anyone noticed how he is never to blame? If it isn’t W it is Pelosi and Reid or the Republicans.

Posted by: jmjeanette | January 29, 2010, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm

“I don’t believe that the American people want us to focus on our job security. They want us to focus on their job security.” Wonderful lines.
I hope the president will do more of this. He really knows what is at stake and does a terrific job communicating it.

Posted by: teddymaniac | January 29, 2010, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm

Mr. Obama is quite an obstacle, isn’t he?

Posted by: Elle | January 29, 2010, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm

President Obama is the Grown UP here. There were plenty of political “talking points” and sarcastism. The President did himself well today and in the SOTU. He took this on and called them out. Any rational person knows that the Republicans has NOT been willing to work with this President, even though he has offered olive branches…They want “THEIR” policies to be passed by the President and Congress, and NO to the President’s agenda….no compromise at all. I still don’t feel hopeful.

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm

Why is it, when Mr. Obama says “I take responsibility for that,” I don’t believe him?
I’ll explain why.
Taking responsibility is an action, not a verbal statement. An admission of guilt is a verbal statement.
When you show remorse by ceding territory unjustly gained, and when your actions and behaviors change… that, Mr. President, is when we’ll know you’ve truly taken responsibility for things you confess as mistakes.

Posted by: Confused | January 29, 2010, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm

Same old rhetoric!! — His true self is found in the last year, concntrating on his AGENDA instead of the economy and jobs!!! —- That won’t be forgotten before November!!! — He’s nearing lame-duck status, so he is trying anything — whay didnt he invite ANY GOP members to the WH to discuss bill in the last six months????

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | January 29, 2010, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm

the intelligent citizens see him for what he is, a good speaker with a teleprompter
_____________________________________
You obviously didn’t watch today’s question and answer session with the GOP today. He addressed all questions without any teleprompter – and he was brilliant.
The parroted ‘teleprompter’ talking point is simply an obvious (and repeated) attempt to demean the President. Anybody who pays any attention knows the man is top-notch in terms of his grasp of issues, and his ability to outline and discuss those issues.
The right wing’s attempt to demean him is obvious and dumb.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm

TheLoyal – Sorry, but he exposed your side for what they are today. It must hurt. He already debunked that whole “he didn’t listen to any GOP ideas” thing.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm

“Feel free to share with us Bush’s U6 figure. The degree of underemployment during Bush’s supposed “jobless recovery” pales in comparison to what we are experiencing in Obama’s economy.”
Sure.
Bush for his term averaged a U6 of about 9.2%
The U6 measure for 2008 was 10.6% as the economy began its plummet. In Dec 2008 stood at 13.7% but Feb it was nearly 16%
so tell us tjp, what is the last thing to recover post recession?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm

“The ‘strong’ Bush economy was based on a phony housing market and huge quantities of bad debt”
Glad you brought it up – Obama acted as ACORN’s lawyer when ACORN sued Citibank to make loans more available to unqualified borrowers (Citibank caved).
Great job, O! Thanks again, tierra, for the reminder.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm

tjp612 | Jan 29, 2010 4:40:26 PM: Averages are nice numbers, when they fit your opinion. Unemployment rate was 4,2% when GWB took office, Debt was 5,7 Trillion. When he left, Unemployment was 7.7%, Debt 10,7 Trillion. Let’s go back a little more: Unemployment when Clinton took office, 7,3%, Debt 4,2 Trillion. So Clinton brought the unemployment down by 74% and increased the Debt by 35% over 8 years. Bush increased unemployment by 84%, and the debt by 85,5% over the same period. If you are thinking of justifying Bush’s numbers by 9/11 and the Afghan and Iraq wars, have the intellectual honesty to take into account the same 2 wars, financial meltdown, auto industry collapse and a recession that already started in 2008 when discussing Obama’s record. Nobody tried to analyze GWB’s performance after 1 year, even when unemployment had risen to 5,7%. Give Obama some time to plow through all the challenges he inherited, and take a good hard look at the systematic obstruction he’s getting from the GOP so far. Obama wants to work with the GOP, but they have to come to grips with a fact that still escapes them: They LOST in 2008, they cannot set the agenda, they can try to infuse it with some of their ideas. What I see so far looks like “Let none of Obama’s agenda pass without fighting it to death, until hopefully, we can win back control of 1 or both houses either in 2010 or 2012. Short term petty partisan politics, very bad for the country.

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm

I’ve already figured out that half the country are idiots, windows. That’s why Bush was re-elected. They want to be unemployed, homeless, and have no health insurance, and no civil liberties. Unfortunately, the rest of us have to suffer through Republican administrations as a result. And they’ll put them right back in power again.

Posted by: Simon2 | January 29, 2010, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm

Big kudos to the Republican Congressional leadership for inviting the President. Kudos to the President for going.

Posted by: Joel Miller | January 29, 2010, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

Thank you Jake for covering this exchange so thoroughly. It gives both Republicans and the President equal time – and it truly reveals what a great President Obama is becoming.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

TX_MBELL….the Dems attempted to get bipartisanship on Healthcare. Even tho some of what they wanted was in the Bill. This President has bent over backwards for bipartisanship. President Obama didn’t Ever say, “I’m right, you’re wrong”, get in line. This is a prime example of the far reaching Lies that are told. The president is and was today the Grown Up. And that’s what America needs today. Also, the GDP is growing, and the American people hasn’t heard a “beep” from the other side. Shouldn’t all Americans be optimistic about our economy? No, not with the Republicans…their action is “you fail, we win”….but the American people will LOSE, including YOU.

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

so tell us tjp, what is the last thing to recover post recession?
Posted by: Ryan C | Jan 29, 2010 6:11:08 PM
We will be having this conversation again next January. We’ll see what actually happens. Cheer up. You’ve always got the jobless recovery fallback position.

Posted by: For The Record | January 29, 2010, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm

This is EXACTLY why nothing can get done. If we can’t stop attacking the other side, how do we expect DC to do it?

Posted by: Starfire | January 29, 2010, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm

“Bush for his term averaged a U6 of about 9.2% The U6 measure for 2008 was 10.6% as the economy began its plummet. In Dec 2008 stood at 13.7% but Feb it was nearly 16%.”
It’s now at 17%. Ah, the good ol’ days.
“so tell us tjp, what is the last thing to recover post recession?”
Unemploymnent. I don’t dispute that. What will unemployment be at the end of Obama’s first term? I’ll bet my monthly salary vs. yours that it won’t be within two points of Bush’s 5.5% or four points of Bush’s average U6.
Care to make a bet?

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm

So effective was the president that Fox News cut away from the broadcast 20 minutes before it ended.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm

“The ‘strong’ Bush economy was based on a phony housing market and huge quantities of bad debt”
_________________________________
Date: Monday, July 1 2002
“President Bush announced an Administration effort to increase home ownership rates among African Americans and Hispanics by 5.5 million by 2010.
“The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . ..
“Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s efforts . . ..

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm

tierra — he was purposefully argumentative — pushing HIS intentions — making excuses as usual — He showed his “rookie” temperment to a lot of more-seasoned members of government — nothing to make him more “Presidential”!
Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | Jan 29, 2010 5:47:53 PM
It’s the Alinsky in him. He never sweeps anything under the rug. Get in their faces and all that. He has to be constantly calling the opposition out. Then he takes an item and gives it the old “boogeyman” treatment. It’s all in the playbook. You don’t have a copy?

Posted by: For The Record | January 29, 2010, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm

“We can’t go further until we know where we came from”….Yes, the Recession belongs to Bush. The 8 Trillion deficit is Bushes. The 1.5 Trillion was made to keep the financial system from crashing once President Obama took his oath. We know…we know that 8 years were before the Last Year. Some wants to believe the past 8 years did Not exist!

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm

GOP aides had confided to him that allowing the “cameras to roll like that” was a “mistake.”

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm

Wow. Just finished watching the “meeting” today, and that was not good for the GOP. The President shut them up with facts to back up his positions. Big mouths Boener, Cantor, and Pence sat their looking stupid and mumbling. How come they didn’t have anything to say when the President was right in their faces?
The republican party was really shown up today. They thought they had the President in the crosshairs, and it totally backfired on them.

Posted by: William | January 29, 2010, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm

I have to say. He is all over the map. I think he spends too much time in front of the camera. He’s trying to display so many personalities and convictions that he’s getting himself and us confused. He just seems to morph into whomever he is addressing at the time. No wonder the country is on hold.

Posted by: For The Record | January 29, 2010, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm

We are seeing the makings of a great president. He stood in front of the jackals today and triumphed in every way, politically and more importantly – ethically. It’s a major victory for the country and for decency in politics.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm

TheLoyalOpposition | Jan 29, 2010 6:08:04 PM: — His true self is found in the last year, concentrating on his AGENDA instead of the economy and jobs!!! —- And on what grounds was he elected with large majorities in both houses? Could it be his AGENDA?
As for the economy, I think stimulus package, bailout of GM and Chrysler, trying to get banks to lend to small business and to launch new energy and infrastructure initiatives, tax credits for the middle class, helping people buy new homes are ways to address the situation. Of course, the GOP will have none of it, out of fear it may succeed. The GOP acts like they will do anything to grant Rush Limbaugh’s wish to see Obama fail… whatever the cost to the best interests of the nation.

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm

“Glad you brought it up – Obama acted as ACORN’s lawyer when ACORN sued Citibank to make loans more available to unqualified borrowers (Citibank caved).”
So tjp do you think debt risk assessment should be tied to the color of your skin as Citibank was doing?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm

“Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s efforts . . ..
Posted by: tierra | Jan 29, 2010 6:20:19 PM
Wait a minute. jhw539 has always said that the Fannie/Freddie blame game is lame. Better get your stories straight.

Posted by: For The Record | January 29, 2010, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm

I think Obama is making some sense at this GOP meeting.

Posted by: LongT | January 29, 2010, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm

“…he’s sick of politics as usual.”
Note to hussein: The American people are sick of YOU and your fellow d-crat socialists. Just look at any poll!

Posted by: TeaPartyPatriot | January 29, 2010, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm

TheLoyalOpposition | Jan 29, 2010 5:56:51 PM: Were your comments accurate, the healthcare bill would have been passed months ago. From this point on, if the GOP continues in its systematic obstruction to anything and everything Obama, what you just said might become reality, and in my opinion, not a moment too soon…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm

Startfire wrote: “If we can’t stop attacking the other side, how do we expect DC to do it?”….
.
Because they don’t want you to. As long as people are fighting each other, they are free to continue robbing the country. How many dollars went to foreign banks with the AIG bailout. What did Geithner know about where the BILLIONS went? How about Bernanke? Keep everyone occupied with partisan bickering until it blows over.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm

Everybody is talking about what the President did to the gop today. I haven’t seen it yet, but I heard that the republicans got beat up pretty bad.

Posted by: Elaine | January 29, 2010, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm

Notice how not one of the comments by the rebublicans on this thead offer anything in the way of solutions. Just like at that meeting today. The republican party is looking real bad right about now.

Posted by: Amy | January 29, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm

Posted by: treblig56 | Jan 29, 2010 6:14:25 PM
You make some good points, however:
1.) Do you think that Obama’s (insatiable) record spending is good for the economy both short term and long term?
2.) Is Bush truly responsible for our current situation? Do Democrats in Congress bear some of the blame?
3.) Is Obama really credible when he talks about need to control spending and then postpones until 2011 when 2010 will be yet another year of record trillion-dollar-plus deficits (something we never came close to experiencing during the Bush years) and then goes on Quixotic quest for “high-speed rail” in the U.S.? (perhaps if Amtrak were cost neutral I’d be more optimistic)
I thought Bush spent too much. Obama makes GWB look like a tightwad.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm

Hahahaha. They get beat up and then put out a GOP press release attacking Obama. You can’t make this stuff up. Obviously they won’t be listening to that message that they need to maybe try to work together.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm

“Wait a minute. jhw539 has always said that the Fannie/Freddie blame game is lame. Better get your stories straight.”
While I respect jhw, why should his opinion affect what tierra posts?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm

Wow, in reading some of these comments I feel like I’m listening to BillO or Beck. Wish that people could begin to think and see for themselves rather than simply parroting talking heads. It is a self evedent fact that the Republicans have been the party of NO because they have calculated that it is in their best interst politically to do so. This was the President calling them to come be Statesmen rather than politicians. A fair and reasonable request. I felt that he did amazingly well at calling out the lies and misdirection the right has been propigating and showing that much of the fiscal mess is really a hand me down from Bush. Look at the records, the single largest percentage increase in debt in our debt was done by Regan, the second largest by W. Stay with the facts and the story is very clear.

Posted by: Friction | January 29, 2010, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm

Jesus went to the corrupt politicians of his day too and look what happened to him. These repubicans can show they care about America by becoming more conciliatory and the democrats follow the courage of the real Lion King; Obama who is at least, speaking and standing up for the people of America and serving as one of the best leaders this nation has ever had. Let us help him by convincing everyone in Washington that they are there to serve our interests, not those of the Supreme Court, or even the President. Gosh darn, its our country.

Posted by: DOROTHY OZ | January 29, 2010, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm

“2.) Is Bush truly responsible for our current situation? Do Democrats in Congress bear some of the blame?”
Oh I think you can go back to Democrats in Congress during the Clinton years.
Deregulation lies at the heart of most of our problems with the financial markets.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm

You mean to tell me that the gop ASKED for this?
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING……roflmbo.

Posted by: Tony | January 29, 2010, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm

I watched this start to finish on CSPAN. Your blog/story is a little better than the report on TV news tonight. The focus on the questions without the answers skews the television report. Especially egregious is the focus on the congresswoman from Kentucky or Tennessee. She went on for a full five minutes, lecturing. She had her sound bite but the greater good was not served by your report.

Posted by: Sisuanna | January 29, 2010, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

tjp612 | Jan 29, 2010 6:19:24 PM: Care to compare Bush’s numbers with HIS predecessor’s? I guess you’d rather not… Clinton took unemployment from 7,3% to 4,2%, then Bush brought it back up to 7,7%. Clinton added 1,2 Trillion to the debt in his first term, then more or less stabilized it in its second term, 0.3 Trillion rise. GWB added 5 Trillion $ on his watch, after he had inherited the only 3 budget surpluses since 1969!!!

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm

“The republican party is looking real bad right about now.”
See you in November!

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm

“So tjp do you think debt risk assessment should be tied to the color of your skin as Citibank was doing?”
Not going to take the bait, RC. Nice try, though.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm

I haven’t watched this yet. But I heard they ALL lectured, and finally got to their questions. Where he calmly answered them and well, considering the aids say showing this on TV was not good for the GOP you can imagine the rest.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm

“3.) Is Obama really credible when he talks about need to control spending and then postpones until 2011 when 2010 will be yet another year of record trillion-dollar-plus deficits (something we never came close to experiencing during the Bush years)”
Didn’t they already sign the budget for 2010 a couple of months ago?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm

“Deregulation lies at the heart of most of our problems with the financial markets.”
This coming from someone that for the life of him cannot figure out why small businesses are afraid of Obama and how businesses operate.

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm

Right Obama, and millions of us are sick of your push towards socialism and we simply will not yield.

Posted by: rplat | January 29, 2010, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm

When Obama stated, “Most of the increases in this year’s budget” why didn’t somebody ask him if he was aware that the Democrats have been in control of Congress since 2006 and have been crafting budgets each year through to today.
Those same budgets from a Democrat controlled Congress that revealed an enormous increase in spending, an increase in the national debt, and deepening our recession that have been hitting America since 2006 when the Democrats won the Senate.
Obama wants it HIS way or the highway. Plain and simple. He is a thinly disguised dictator who is realizing that his Party is against the ropes – not by Republicans but by the public. Yet Obama, instead of being responsive to the American public still accuses his rival party of “playing politics”. Americans are fed up with your policies, Obama, not just the Republicans. You are playing politics by blaming your rival party.

Posted by: EPU | January 29, 2010, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm

“Wait a minute. jhw539 has always said that the Fannie/Freddie blame game is lame. Better get your stories straight.”
Hey! That was ME.

Posted by: Skip | January 29, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm

They should make these meetings mandatory a few times a year. This was absolutely fantastic. Keep the cameras in there all the time. Great job President Obama. Great job.

Posted by: Delores | January 29, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm

“Not going to take the bait, RC. Nice try, though”
Of course you won’t take the bait.
Then you’d have to admit banks decided your debt risk assessment and whether you would get a loan based on how many minorities lived in your neighborhood.
Right wingers of course have blamed minorities for the economic collapse….not the banking system that allowed banks to repackage high risk debt as low risk and sell it for enormous profits….all while the Bush admin sat twiddling their thumbs.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm

“We are seeing the makings of a great president. He stood in front of the jackals today and triumphed in every way, politically and more importantly – ethically. It’s a major victory for the country and for decency in politics.”
.
Too bad he didn’t do any of this over the last year. Only now that he and his lefty party are in danger of getting the boot does this desperate tactic come to his mind. Count on his friendly news media to really start pumping him up now.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm

“GWB added 5 Trillion $ on his watch, after he had inherited the only 3 budget surpluses since 1969!!!”
Obama will EASILY ECLIPSE Bush’s 8 year deficit total in 4 years!!! Thoughts?
Again:
Bush = Bad
Obama = Disaster

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm

“Notice how not one of the comments by the rebublicans on this thead offer anything in the way of solutions. Just like at that meeting today. The republican party is looking real bad right about now.
Posted by: Amy | Jan 29, 2010 6:36:08 PM”
I see, Obama throws a childish temper tantrum and the Republicans look bad. It’s that same warped logic that lost the Democrats elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Keep it up, we’re looking forward to November.

Posted by: rplat | January 29, 2010, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm

“This coming from someone that for the life of him cannot figure out why small businesses are afraid of Obama and how businesses operate.”
ROFLMAO!
Of course when pressed on what Obama has done to small business you listed a bunch of things that have yet to even transpire mixed in with some right wing idiocy including the famous Joe the Plumber line.
Ahhh Joe the Plumber the perfect embodiment of the right wing.
A complete fraud and hypocrite.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm

So, he is tired of politics as usual in Wash DC. He better ead up on the American way or resign. This isn’t a dictatorship, yet thatis.

Posted by: Bob | January 29, 2010, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm

“Those same budgets from a Democrat controlled Congress that revealed an enormous increase in spending, an increase in the national debt, and deepening our recession that have been hitting America since 2006 when the Democrats won the Senate.”
Democrats took over in Jan of 2007.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

EPU – The Budget of the United States Government is the President’s proposal to the U.S. Congress which recommends funding levels for the next fiscal year, beginning October 1.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm

Funny the posts from those who didn’t watch.
First Obama lectured about all the poor twoubles he had from the previous administration.
Then the bad news for obam. He had to asnwer questions, (which of course who couldn’t answer).
Like why do you keep telling the american public that the republicans were keeping blocking things, even thought they have no capability to do so, (until recently)?
Why did he insist on public hearings and then make pelosi and reid keep the discussions out of conference hearings?
These and other questions made the president look like a complete liar.
The GOP destroyed the president. I applaud him for taking his licks. He has no choice at this point.

Posted by: jonny | January 29, 2010, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm

rplat – Childish temper tantrum? I love it. Nevermind the lectures from all of those that asked those questions.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm

Pres. Obama was great. He is open to discussion, which is more than the Party of No is. I am glad he is our President. The rest of the world must be laughing at us, on how poor treatment of such a great leader.

Posted by: Brandon | January 29, 2010, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm

I watched every minute of it…It was Clear that the President was on top of his game…It was EVEN CLEARER that HE was the GROWN UP! I bet on him any day! Oh, Did anyone hear the GOOD news today about OUR Economy….GDP growth was huge…unemployment is always the latter though…Good News America!

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm

Our fine president isn’t the only one who is sick of politics as usual. I consider the republican tactics to be completely anti-American. Everything that stands a chance of helping the struggling middle class is pooh-poohed by the republicans. It’s like they are too stupid to see the shrinking of the middle class. If congress is not careful, they will see the United States go from being a great country to becoming a third world nation, with no middle class! They are making it happen! That’s very, very scary. ALL of the economic data and demographics provide evidence of that fact. President Obama and the democratic party seem to be the only group trying to help the bring back a strong middle class.

Posted by: jmb | January 29, 2010, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm

“Of course when pressed on what Obama has done to small business you listed a bunch of things that have yet to even transpire mixed in with some right wing idiocy including the famous Joe the Plumber line.”
Again, you display you lack of knowledge on how business works. Businesses make many decisions (in particular, strategic decisions such as investments and hiring) based on projections (this is the future, RC). Business (large and small) has listened to Obama and they don’t like what they hear.
Obama does not provide any comfort that he supports them and is painting a picture of uncertainty. The stock market is down 5% since Obama the Petulant Populist starting railing at the banks in what appeared to be a temper tantrum after Scott Brown won in MA.
Does this help? Can I put this in any simpler terms?

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm

“The rest of the world must be laughing at us…”
Yes, the rest of the world is laughing at us, but for different reasons than you may think…

Posted by: tjp612 | January 29, 2010, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm

By any objective standards,Repubs lost the “image” battle this week. Of course, not one job was created, not one loan was made by a greedy bank, and no unemployed worker got affordable health insurance from the victory. The substantive victory will not be televised. It will only take place when Mr. Obama-just as any Repub Pres. would do-enforces some party discipline in the U.S. Dem. Senate caucus.

Posted by: B. Bear | January 29, 2010, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm

Wow. Just finished watching the “meeting” today, and that was not good for the GOP.
I watched it and thought both the President and the GOP did ok, they should do more of it. The fact is they should all get to work and quit this silly “well, it’s his fault, no it’s your fault business”. Who’s brought us to the point of crashing will not be known for certain for years to come, if then. We know the Russians were dumping Freddie and Fannie bonds in 2008 and urging the Chinese to do likewise, according to Paulson so there were many reasons but the blame game needs to quit.

Posted by: david | January 29, 2010, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm

“Again, you display you lack of knowledge on how business works. Businesses make many decisions (in particular, strategic decisions such as investments and hiring) based on projections (this is the future, RC). Business (large and small) has listened to Obama and they don’t like what they hear.”
This smells alot like the Hannity claim about the DOW and that the DOW plummet was in response Obama doing well in the polls that he abandoned after the DOW went up.
And since small business hiring is UP this year, when will you admit you have NO idea what you are talking about?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm

I really felt bad for the president. He couldn’t answer any of the tough questions. He is the classic example of someone who can dish it out, but not take it himself.

Posted by: jonny | January 29, 2010, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

While this printed account was accurate, the broadcast version was inadequate in every way I could think of. Granted there is a premium on broadcast time, I wonder about the clips that were used and the “analysis” that little would change. True or not, there was no evidence to support that conclusion. Spend more time on that analysis next time.

Posted by: Publius14 | January 29, 2010, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm

What? Does this mean the Republicans will stop being mad and throwing temper tantrums like children because they lost the 2008 election and start doing some real work? We’ll see…

Posted by: justayreal74 | January 29, 2010, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm

Business (large and small) has listened to Obama and they don’t like what they hear.”
There might be some truth to it, investors are sitting on their money, loans are still difficult to come by and general uncertainty is having the larger impact.

Posted by: david | January 29, 2010, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm

If anyone still does not believe that the GOP’s agenda is to vote down any DEM proposal, try this one on for size: In the same breath, all 40 GOP senators voted against raising the debt ceiling (That was done in 2002 under GWB)to avoid the government going into default – Which would get the financial system into utter chaos – while also voting unanimously against a proposition banning new federal programs or entitlements without proper financing, the same principle as the “Pay as you Go” policy enacted under Bill Clinton – promptly left to lapse under GWB – If you can explain both votes in a reasonable or responsible way, you have a hell of a twisted mind…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm

Just for context, has any President in the last 50 years ever participate in a fully unscripted public debate session like this with the opposition caucus?

Posted by: jhw539 | January 29, 2010, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm

It was interesting to watch the ABC Evening News reporting tonight. Unlike this full report, the TV version avoided showing most of Obama’s responses to some of the GOP’s allegations. You need to find some fair and balanced editors for your news room.

Posted by: Curt | January 29, 2010, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm

treblig56 wrote: “the same principle as the “Pay as you Go” policy enacted under Bill Clinton”.
.
The policy used by the Pelosi/Reid regime since Jan 2007 is “you” (producers) pay “we” (non-producers) go shopping with your money.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm

“Just for context, has any President in the last 50 years ever participate in a fully unscripted public debate session like this with the opposition caucus?”
It has been done before.
But not with TV cameras rolling.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm

“Why would anyone with capital risk it in this current anti-business environment”
Bank regulations to prevent the economic disaster we just had are bad?
Should we just go thru it again then?

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

President Obama’s conduct today was a clear strike for decency in American politics – and a clear victory for him (and the Democrats). The President responded to all of the questions and the challenges from the Republicans with logic, facts, humor, warmth and insight. We’re seeing the makings of a great president.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm

Ryan C | Jan 29, 2010 7:31:41 PM: Is the market really the best way to judge the health of the economy? What about the market numbers just before the .com bubble? Or just before the latest sub-prime fiasco? What is good for the market is not necessarily sound for a vast majority of people when the Index is heavily weighed towards financial, oil, PhRma, media corporations stocks; Amex, BofA, J.P.Morgan Chase, Merck, Pfizer, Chevron, Exxon, GE, Walt Disney, account for 1/3 of the companies that make up the Index… Does not give an accurate picture of actual manufacturing health, nor privately held or non-Dow listed small to medium businesses. It does however show who will fight any financial regulation, healthcare reform, clean energy initiatives…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm

I saw all 66 minutes of the exchange. Obama couldn’t have explained things better or more clearly. He simply proved them wrong on most if not all of their talking points of the last year, including the budget/deficit and health care. The GOP GOT SERVED TODAY!!!

Posted by: Satisfied | January 29, 2010, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm

“I don’t take investment advice from Hannity.”
Yet you repeat the talking point.
“By whose statistics? UP this year”
Sorry for the confusion I was referring to 2009 when small businesses hiring was up.
Source is SurePayroll’s December 2009 assessment.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm

Did anyone catch Boehner’s statement? When it was over, House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio issued a statement saying Obama “acknowledged the fact that House Republicans have offered better solutions over the last year.” Clearly that is not what President Obama said! The republican lie machine just keeps on going!! Republicans don’t quit either, do they??

Posted by: zee | January 29, 2010, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm

Said the president, “if we’re going to frame these debates in ways that allow us to solve them, then we can’t start off by figuring out, A, who’s to blame; B, how can we make the American people afraid of the other side.”
Really? I wonder if Obama realizes how many times he has “started off” by blaming someone else (namely Bush)? I also wonder if Obama realizes that the falsehoods he and his administration put out (“jobs created or saved”, or how many people died JUST because they did not have insurance, or how the planet is going up in a ball of fire because of global warming…all of which the “facts and figures” have been disputed) can very easily sway the opinion of the American people to be “afraid of the other side”. His double standards never cease to amaze me.

Posted by: Shoe | January 29, 2010, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm

tierra wrote: “President Obama’s conduct today was a clear strike for decency in American politics – and a clear victory for him (and the Democrats). The President responded to all of the questions and the challenges from the Republicans with logic, facts, humor, warmth and insight. We’re seeing the makings of a great president.”
.
One day of fake preening for the camera’s doesn’t erase one year of flipping the middle finger to the rest of America.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm

Is the market really the best way to judge the health of the economy?”
No.
Its part of the assessment.

Posted by: Ryan C | January 29, 2010, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm

Did anyone catch Boehner’s statement? When it was over, House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio issued a statement saying Obama “acknowledged the fact that House Republicans have offered better solutions over the last year.” Can you believe that? And he says President Obama is arrogant!! I guess Republicans don’t quit either……. until November!!!!

Posted by: zee | January 29, 2010, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm

This was quite a spectacle. Obama showed himself to be a serious man who recognizes that serious times call for serious people with bipartisan solutions. Some of the Republicans came across more like petulant children looking to create sound bites and score cheap political hits. They didn’t really seem interested in even considering ideas that don’t perfectly line up with their ideology. And they even rejected some ideas, like tax credits, that actually do line up perfectly. It’s actually quite sad and pathetic that they aren’t mature enough to try and work with Obama even on initiatives that they would otherwise support, if Obama wasn’t the one proposing them.

Posted by: Eric | January 29, 2010, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm

One day of fake preening for the camera’s doesn’t erase one year of flipping the middle finger to the rest of America.
Posted by: gk | Jan 29, 2010 8:01:31 PM
____________________________________
It wasn’t ‘preening’. It was the Republicans taking their best shots at the President head to head – and the President systematically dismantling their arguments with logic, facts, humor, warmth and insight. We’re seeing the makings of a great president.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm

Posted by: Martha | January 29, 2010, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm

Did anyone catch Boehner’s statement? When it was over, House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio issued a statement saying Obama “acknowledged the fact that House Republicans have offered better solutions over the last year.” Can you believe that?
____________________________________
If Boehner said this, he has re-confirmed that Republicans will blatantly lie for political reasons.
Disgraceful.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm

Ryan C | Jan 29, 2010 7:49:48 PM: Canada has much stricter banking and overall regulations than the US. No Canadian bank or investment firm went under or needed bailouts, Canada propped up its GM and Chrysler subsidiaries since they make 20% of their cars in Canada, but Canada’s recession, less severe than the US’s came mostly out of less exports to the US. A lot less lost jobs – unemployment went from 5,9% in Jan-’08 to a peak of 8,7% in Sep-’09, now stands at 8,4% as of Jan-’10, GDP growth for the last 3 months. Canada also had budget surpluses for 14 consecutive years until 2009-2010, and paid down 40% of its debt while the US tripled its own. Not too shabby for a “socialist country” with universal healthcare…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm

===”Just for context, has any President in the last 50 years ever participate in a fully unscripted public debate session like this with the opposition caucus?”===
Yes. Without cameras but it has been done twice before. I’m sure you would be shocked to learn which president it was.

Posted by: Axey | January 29, 2010, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm

Ryan C | Jan 29, 2010 8:02:20 PM: It is the assessment that businesses don’t like anything that prevents them making obscene profits unchecked and untethered while screwing the little guy, but will accept the little guys money when the screw themselves up.

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm

Yeah. Right. And the text of this little soiree would be found at? Color me skeptical to the point of disbelief. He’s given away just about everything he can to the repubs. If it was up to me, I’d be pushing for impeachment on the basis of false advertising during the election.

Posted by: jan | January 29, 2010, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm

Obama was generally pretty good. Surely much better than most of his proxies have been in countering misleading talking points in the media. Of course, since in this venue he got to complete an entire sentence at a time, that isn’t really a fair comparison.
However, he’s got to stomp on this “allowing health insurance companies to sell coverage across state lines” bs.
Everyone who knows anything about health insurance knows that insurance companies have ALWAYS had the ability to sell insurance across state lines.

Posted by: Flash Override | January 29, 2010, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm

THAT WAS A SPANKING OBAMA GAVE TO THE REPUBLICANS. A SPANKING. I ACTUALLY FELT EMBARRASSED FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

Posted by: OnlyinAmerica | January 29, 2010, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm

I think the republican party just blew it. Been reading the comments on various blogs, and people want to make these meetings a regular event with the cameras.
Time for both parties to show what they are made of in front of the American people.
_________________________________
I agree, today’s square off between the President and the Republicans looks like a game changer. The President showed himself very strong – intelligent, focused, warm, considerate, very well versed on the issues – and a leader attempting to take the country in a more positive direction away from partisan bickering and ‘fat cat’ political posturing.
His response on earmarks was insightful and inspiring.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm

Anyone who ever ridiculed Obama as not being able to speak without a teleprompter can now eat his words and forever hold his peace. The Q&A was candid, ad lib, and masterful. The GOP’s plan to humiliate him today backfired in their faces. Now, can we please stop the schoolyard taunts and get down to business?!

Posted by: Deb | January 29, 2010, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm

tierra writes: “and the President systematically dismantling their arguments with logic, facts, humor, warmth and insight. We’re seeing the makings of a great president.”
.
Logic – Wanting to cut $17 billion from the budget is proof of “financial responsibility”. Borrowing $1.84 trillion this year for new programs is “stimulus.”
.
Facts – surgeons get paid $30,000-$50,000 to amputate a limb in diabetic patients… or the doctor may look at the reimbursement system and say to himself, ‘You know what? I make a lot more money if I take this kid’s tonsils out,’
.
Humor – “No, no. I have been practicing . . . I bowled a 129. It’s like — it was like Special Olympics, or something.”
.
Warmth – “And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them”
.
Insight – “the Cambridge police acted stupidly”
.
We’re seeing the result of One Big A.. Mistake America.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm

The republicans can’t beat this guy. President Obama made them look like crying infants today. Totally showed them up.

Posted by: BobbyJ | January 29, 2010, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm

What A Beat Down! The Truth will set you free. Well Done Mr. President!

Posted by: Tony | January 29, 2010, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm

Posted by: gk | Jan 29, 2010 8:42:22 PM
Same old petty attempts to ‘catch’ the President on something.
You don’t seem to understand. We saw the makings of greatness again today.
As Debbie said “Anyone who ever ridiculed Obama as not being able to speak without a teleprompter can now eat his words and forever hold his peace. The Q&A was candid, ad lib, and masterful. The GOP’s plan to humiliate him today backfired in their faces.”
Watch the entire session, it’s available around the net including huffington post.

Posted by: tierra | January 29, 2010, 8:53 pm 8:53 pm

Between the comments on here digging in, as well as the official GOP press release, it’s clear today’s deal changed nothing. In fact it might have turned up the volume. You guys just refuse to want to find solutions for the US. It’s all about your ideology.

Posted by: secondlook | January 29, 2010, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm

Hawkey | Jan 29, 2010 8:25:51 PM: Where to start… TARP was passed under GWB, not Obama. Bernanke has been reconfirmed with 22 out of 40 GOP senators voting YES. Healthcare reform would be law if the GOP accepted the fact they lost in 2008 and the compromises it was granted to achieve one of Obama promises: Bi-partisanship. I’ll give you that Obama should not have tried to convince the GOP to use common sense. Judging a presidency after one year of systematic GOP obstruction is just proof of one’s anger at losing the election in ’08. Unregulated business, such as banks and financial institutions being allowed to make money out of air is what got the US where it is. He started withdrawal in Iraq, proceeding to close Gitmo as promised, which means some detainees will be moved to US jails. Implying Obama should not point out that GWB is the source of the problems proves 2 things:1- You don’t listen to Obama, he never accused Bush as the source of the situation, he always only stated that he inherited a dire situation. 2- You don’t seem to know where babies come from. Let me explain: ——–A man screws a woman. For some time, the woman does not show any obvious signs, except perhaps morning sickness. As time goes by, it becomes more and more evident the woman is going to give birth. After a number of months, she finally does. —- So GWB screws the US, fails to notice the signs of the fast approaching birth of a financial meltdown, and leaves the US and her newborn screaming, hungry baby crisis, leaving a little TARP money on the nightstand. Now Obama has to take care of the fast-growing crisis, stop her from crying and making sure it’s taken care of, and turns out as a well-adjusted fiscally sound, economically balanced adult society. Sounds harsh from the real dad’s family to blame the step-dad for what amounts to the result of the real dad screwing the US… —-

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm

OK, Lets get this healthcare complete, both
sides are tired of the childish bickering
that has been going on.

Posted by: spacerook1 | January 29, 2010, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm

Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee had a laundry list of questions, and the condescending statements that “we” want healthcare reform…But can some one tell me How can a she or any of the republicans say they want healthcare reform, when she has been in Washington in a majority and did not present any bill for Healthcare reform. Most of these republicans has been around for decades and has not passed any Healthcare Reform? This is Not on their radar! They do not want healthcare reform. Every time a Democrat attempts to solve this problem, they block it whether it was Truman, Nixon, Clinton or President Obama. This has the Smell of Hypocrisy!

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm

Everyone who knows anything about health insurance knows that insurance companies have ALWAYS had the ability to sell insurance across state lines.
Posted by: Flash Override*************************
HA! HA! WRONG. Not in Massachusetts…Thank you
Mr Romney!

Posted by: spacerook1 | January 29, 2010, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm

gk | Jan 29, 2010 8:42:22 PM: If I were you, I wouldn’t go there… Nobody but the GOP say that Obama was, or has implied he was perfect or would not put his foot in his mouth once in a while…
There is not enough bandwith on this site to start listing all the – to be polite – gaffes GWB uttered over his 2 terms. What a president is about is making sound decisions, adjusting to changing conditions, and looking after the US citizens over corporate greed, “friendly” special interest groups, and partisan rhetoric. This, my friend, is where GWB failed miserably. His inability to learn to pronounce the words “nuclear” and “terror” in 8 years is just a distraction.

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm

Chaffetz, last June pushed through a measure that defeated the full bodied airport scanners with the help of Michelle Bachman and a few others of his party. If the President wanted to get in the “sewer” with these maggots, he could have set out alot of them. Hold some more of these meeting, and the American people will see. More to be revealed.

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm

BAMA sat and listened to rev jeremiah for twenty years and we all know he had logic,facts,humor,warmth,and insight.

Posted by: rking | January 29, 2010, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm

Everyone who knows anything about health insurance knows that insurance companies have ALWAYS had the ability to sell insurance across state lines.
Posted by: Flash Override**********
Please re-check your facts dear. You are incorrect.

Posted by: wheresmymoney | January 29, 2010, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm

The whole premise of the televised meeting was to try and humiliate the President….He ended up as the only Grown Up in the Room….I bet the republicans went…oh sh!!!!!!!!!.

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm

The whole premise of the televised meeting was to try and humiliate the President….He ended up as the only Grown Up in the Room….I bet the republicans went…oh sh!!!!!!!!!.
Posted by: sara | Jan 29, 2010 9:39:14 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s exactly what they said. It is already coming out that the repubs are saying behind closed doors that they think they made a huge mistake by having the cameras in the room.
The bottom line is that the gop knows they blew it!

Posted by: Nancy | January 29, 2010, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm

From January 2007 until this day (Scott Brown has not been seated) democrats have controlled the purse strings, and Washington. Obama has convinced a fair number of you that he played no part in the budget he “inherited” when he took office. He voted on that budget while he was still a senator, he added to that budget as president. But he “inherited” it. He has also convinced you that republicans have stood in his way this past year. With super majorities in both houses.
Pretty amazing, when you think about it. Or terrifying, if you think about it.

Posted by: Axey | January 29, 2010, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm

You gotta hand it to Prez Obama, he’s got guts walking in solo to a Pub function and B-slapping them. I have new found respect for the guy

Posted by: jim | January 29, 2010, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm

treblig56 wrote: “gaffes GWB uttered over his 2 terms”.
.
Who said these were oBama gaffes. It was him actually saying what he thought.
.
“looking after the US citizens over corporate greed”.
.
Goldman Sachs is quite pleased.
.
“This, my friend, is where GWB failed miserably. His inability to learn to pronounce the words “nuclear” and “terror” in 8 years is just a distraction.”
.
Why don’t you just have “Pockeystan” oBama release his college transcripts and we’ll see who is the dummy. What? Can’t find them?

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm

Way to go Pres. Obama! This type of ‘meet the press’ needs to continue and then bipartisanship may prevail. See you again soon.

Posted by: Citizen | January 29, 2010, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm

rking | Jan 29, 2010 9:36:09 PM: So, I guess, nothing intelligent to say, so, let’s go after the pastor… I would not go blaming GWB for listening to a pastor who chastised gays for 50 years then turned out paying male prostitutes… Because it has nothing to do with his administration…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm

Jake Tapper’s report on tonight’s World News completely skewed this event as an even handed political tug of war. FALSE!
The President demonstrated an astounding command of the facts and the rroom, to the point that Fox News cutaway 20 minutes early. Your shameless editing of this piece to prolong the us vs. them sports mentality of the media was irresponsible! If you want a sports analogy this was a smackdown! Team Obama wins hands down!!!

Posted by: robert B | January 29, 2010, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm

“Bi-partisantship” LOL! That’s Obama’s biggest problem in getting things done. He squandered his political capital, and now he’s kissing the GOP’s behind.

Posted by: what667 | January 29, 2010, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm

The republicans don’t EVER want to do that again………lol.
That’s exactly why we should have MORE of these public meetings.
Way to go President Obama !!!!!

Posted by: wlee393 | January 29, 2010, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm

===Team Obama wins hands down!!!===
Won’t that only be true if democrats don’t get swept out of office in November? And democrats that have kept Obama’s agendas from passing suddenly start voting yes?

Posted by: Axey | January 29, 2010, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm

I hope every American will tune in on this meeting…and then if you want the truth, you have it! The President knew even the smallest details to correct the LIES that some of these republicans tried. Take that Jeb Hensarling of Texas. Hensarling tried to sell the President the talking points that he has so incorrectly sold to his constituents in Texas and his party. The right man to lead my country got my vote, and it was reaffirmed Today! I felt great pride today that I voted for a smart, honest and worthy man to sit in that office. Thanks, Mr. President.

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm

gk | Jan 29, 2010 9:49:14 PM: You’re just proving you don’t understand what I wrote. Everybody will say something stupid or mis-phrased, or mis-pronounced. I was making the point that these instances are just distractions from the REAL political agenda, following your post that was essentially quips from the last months. As for your remark about Goldman Sachs, having read more than one source, I still think that his campaign was wrong in accepting so much from them, and that they seem to have benefited from the relationship. However, the new initiatives to regulate and limit the scope of banks and investment firms is a very positive step in the right direction. If you balance the Obama plans to the GWB policies, you have to admit that small-business and american citizen are way better off with Obama than GWB. You probably won’t, since you wouldn’t admit that the meeting in question in the article was definitely a slap in the collective GOP face… By their own admission…

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm

sara wrote: “The President knew even the smallest details to correct the LIES that some of these republicans tried.”
.
You must not have seen Paul Ryan then. The Bamster knew he better change the subject…. and quick.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm

i think it is very interesting that now he admits to being wrong on some issues -only now after he is forced to listen to rep . simply because he is a lame duck president without one less demo vote . yes if kennedy were still with us we there would be no admission of wrongs 9which we all do , of course), there would be no meeting today on tv there would be no open discussion only locked doors with no cspan or tv. let’s face it our president made his goal and maxed out when he became president . he was not ready for the four years after . that is why he is still in campaighn mode. and the people will suffer possibly some dems this november. and we have at least 3 more years of watching obama play in his white house and jet. wiht all the money he can spend .. ….wow and the american people were fooled……wow

Posted by: andy | January 29, 2010, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm

gk | Jan 29, 2010 10:11:39 PM: The Bamster? Just for my education, what was your “pet name” for GWB? Or do you have contempt for your president only if he’s a DEM?

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm

andy | Jan 29, 2010 10:16:02 PM: I would like to discuss with you if I could make sense of most of what you wrote… I seem to gather Obama would not have had discussions if he still had his super majority? I don’t believe so, he has discussions because he is frustrated at the systematic GOP opposition.. The rest of your post… rambling.

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm

ABC and all the major networks should run this “meeting” again in it’s entity. The American people need to hear and see it.

Posted by: sara | January 29, 2010, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm

Bill Kolek says, “Osama, you can say what you want about him, but he never, ever changes his hard core, deep down beliefs. He is not stupid, and he knows what he is doing. He has always known and realized that the only way to bring down the greatest and most powerful nation in the world is to bankrupt us. Defeat us by destroying our ability to succeed. Remember,on February 26, 1993 a car bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The purpose: To disrupt the financial center of the world. Did he give up? No, He succeeded in bringing down, not one, but both towers. Towers where the world’s money was being negotiated. If he could only halt all this, he would prefail. Let’s for a second, look into his mind. If he had the means, where would he strike next? I do not know. But someone out there does. If you were him, what would you do? less

Posted by: Bill Kolek | January 29, 2010, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm

treblig56 wrote: “Or do you have contempt for your president only if he’s a DEM?”
.
Only contempt I have is for presidents who call American citizens names. He lost any respect he thinks he (or you) deserves long ago.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm

treblig56 wrote: “I don’t believe so, he has discussions because he is frustrated at the systematic GOP opposition..”
.
He had one year… what has suddenly changed?.

Posted by: gk | January 29, 2010, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm

The exchange just highlighted the Republican habit of making promises they cannot deliver. They are for across the board tax cuts and reducing the deficit. They are for universal health care coverage, lower premiums, and no new taxes. Too bad they are impossible combinations; too bad voters are so easily fooled. Remember when John McCain kept insisting that he know how to get Osama bin Laden? Ever wonder why he’s keeping the information to himself? Just another Republican fantasy.

Posted by: ahumbleopinion | January 29, 2010, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm

Jake Tapper’s report on tonight’s World News completely skewed this event as an even handed political tug of war. FALSE!
… If you want a sports analogy this was a smackdown! Team Obama wins hands down!!!
Posted by: robert B | Jan 29, 2010 9:51:20 PM
Agreed.
Some funny reax–
Matthew Yglesias:
“Barack Obama is a lot smarter and better-informed than his antagonists. A lot. He very calmly and coolly dismantled them.
To me, personally, it’s not a surprise…. Mike Pence … is a stone-cold idiot…. I’ve been surprised since then to learn that conservatives consider him an unusually sharp policy mind and I take leading rightwingers at their word about that. But it’s the kind of thing that I think most Americans aren’t aware of.”
Ezra Klein: “Republicans are already spreading the word that they made a mistake allowing cameras into the event. Apparently, transparency sounds better in press releases than it does in practice.”
Mike Madden:” The whole thing basically went like [this]: Republican asks obnoxious question rooted in Glenn Beck-ian talking points; Obama swats it away, makes the questioner look silly, and then smiles at the end. It got so bad, in fact, that Fox News cut away from the event before it was over. Democratic operatives around Washington watching it had pretty much the same reaction: “Where the hell has this guy been?” ”
(I take exception to the latter; I’ve always known he was that guy, but it would have been great if these types of debates had been televised all along– I hope we get to see both sides meeting with the President on a monthly or basis; the Senate too!)
John Cole: “For some reason, the GOP allowed the cameras to roll at their retreat during a question time session with President Obama, and he spent the next hour and a half depantsing them.
If Mike Pence really is regarded as one of the deep thinkers for the GOP, I’m beginning to understand why they refused to admit… was brain-dead.
BooMan of BooMan Tribune: “Obama performed as well as any British prime minister during Question Time. The same cannot be said for the Republicans who, by and large, tried to use dishonest arguments and demonstrably inaccurate statistics only to have Obama tell them to get serious and stop trying to score cheap political points. I can honestly say that if as many Americans watched today’s Q & A with the Republicans as watched the State of the Union, our political problems would be over. If we had Question Time, we’d have a much easier time winning over public opinion and sustaining support for progressive policies.
The Republicans certainly will not want to repeat this extremely painful beat-down”

Posted by: There is no Planet B | January 29, 2010, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm

Anyone here that thinks Obama smacked down republicans today willing to admit he smacked the wrong party? Any of you willing to admit Obama’s own party has stood in his way, not republicans? The country isn’t willing to follow where Obama is trying to, and I use this word loosely, lead. If you think today changed anyone’s opinion of the healthcare bill, cap and trade, spending, then November will be fun indeed. For republicans.

Posted by: Axey | January 29, 2010, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm

Pathetic showing GOP. Really pathetic showing by you guys today.

Posted by: Delores | January 29, 2010, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm

then November will be fun indeed. For republicans.
Posted by: Axey
as the Pres made clear, the ‘purity test’ will be in full force for Republicans as the villagers with the torches make their presence know in republican primaries… Nov may indeed be fun as the choice facing citizens will be far right extremists who think McCain & Lindsey Graham are traitors vrs. Dems

Posted by: Yowsa | January 29, 2010, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm

===Ezra Klein: “Republicans are already spreading the word that they made a mistake allowing cameras into the event. Apparently, transparency sounds better in press releases than it does in practice.”===
Now that just doesn’t make sense. Why would republicans “spread the word that they made a mistake”?

Posted by: Axey | January 29, 2010, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm

The head of one branch of Government browbeats individual members of another? Smack down! (according to the Obama sycophants). He’ll regret it soon enough! (There are two sides to every chessboard.) His victory will be his defeat!

Posted by: twg | January 29, 2010, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm

===as the Pres made clear===
Did he say “let me be perfectly clear”? Because “as I’ve always said” would have worked too.
“The goal: a serious discussion of issues and how to forge bipartisan consensus going forward…”
If the posts here are any indication, he failed miserably. But I gather you all think he won. Like he always says and let him be perfectly clear “I won” worked out so well for him in 2009.
Watch the polls to see if he indeed “won” today. Or better yet, watch Congress. If his pet projects suddenly find new support, he will have indeed won.

Posted by: Axey | January 29, 2010, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm

The head of one branch of Government browbeats individual members of another? Posted by: twg
not really, it clearly shows that when Republicans face a real live debate on issues they come up lame, and weak,… ‘browbeating’?… hardly, more like a documentary on how to expose fools, in this case.. republicans

Posted by: Oh Say, Can You See? | January 29, 2010, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm

Watch the polls
Posted by: Axey
perfect example of republican policy answers: polls….. well done

Posted by: Yowsa | January 29, 2010, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm

Now that just doesn’t make sense. Why would republicans “spread the word that they made a mistake”?
Posted by: Axey
their talking to each other saying that today’s event didn’t go well for them, don’t do it again.. and like everything else in DC that gets ‘around’ and reported.
see that wasn’t so hard

Posted by: PO'd | January 29, 2010, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm

Too bad they are impossible combinations; too bad voters are so easily fooled. Remember when John McCain kept insisting that he know how to get Osama bin Laden? Ever wonder why he’s keeping the information to himself? Just another Republican fantasy.
Posted by: ahumbleopinion | Jan 29, 2010 10:41:48 PM
I actually did wonder that very thing aloud, shaking my head, why, oh why had he kept the information to himself and why as a senator didn’t he catch him, given he was supposed to be about country first and all that. Maybe he wanted to use the surge rather than capture as campaign rhetoric?
I agree its sad and too bad that so many citizens and voters are fooled. Look at some of the denialists on here. How anybody could have watched today’s clips and now say Pence is a deep conservative thinker– a bright political mind– is absolutely beyond me. And yet there are still apologists.

Posted by: progressive mama | January 29, 2010, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm

That’s my Commander-in-Chief!

Posted by: Iraq Vet | January 29, 2010, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm

Obama showed how republicans voted against the stimulus bill, then showed up to take credit in their home states for stimulus projects……

Posted by: Oh Yeah | January 29, 2010, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm

Pence is a deep conservative thinker
-Posted by: progressive mama
he’s deep alright, knee deep, we all need to be wearing boots, … guess we better buy em from Texas before they secede

Posted by: Oh Yeah | January 29, 2010, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm

OMG! Three articles on the SAME news story… Slow news day ABC? I would expect this from a blog but COME ON!!!

Posted by: jafo | January 29, 2010, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm

I wish republicans in congress still remember our national debt quadrupled in twelve years under Pres. Reagan(R) and Bush Sr.(R). Only Pres. Clinton(D) was able to balance our budget in his second term, paid off some of the debt created by Reagan and Bush Sr., and accumulated a huge surplus. Then came Pres. Bush Jr.(R) and our huge budget surplus disappeared only after one year he was in office. We restarted our borrow and spend policy all over again. By just say no to anything democrats want would only hurt American people.

Posted by: ctla567 | January 29, 2010, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm

gk | Jan 29, 2010 10:41:40 PM: Nothing suddenly changed except for the fact after Brown won in Mass. because he had not been ruthless enough in the face of systematic obstruction, trying to fulfill his promise of bi-partisanship, he decided to call their bluff and call it as he sees it in the SOTU speech. Obama had invited the GOP to dance, they just tried to trip him each and every time. When GOP invited him – with cameras rolling – to their retreat hoping to embarass him about his declarations, he accepted the challenge so people could see for themselves what the real issues were. The GOP embarassed themselves, and Obama but said: Either you’re willing to work with us and drop the party rhetoric, or we will exercise the clear mandate we got from the voters in 2008 without you.

Posted by: treblig56 | January 29, 2010, 11:59 pm 11:59 pm

President Obama had a very strong showing in today’s debate. The only unfortunate thing is nothing he does will get us out of the hole good old W left us. It is really nice to finally have a commander in chief that understands the issues and is trying to do something about them.

Posted by: plsm_colorado | January 30, 2010, 12:46 am 12:46 am

Why are the Republicans caucusing “at a retreat in Baltimore” when there are multimillion dollar facilities for them to do that in the new wing of the Capitol – right near their offices?
These same alleged opponents of wasteful spending blackmailed G W Bush for $160 billion in earmarks that was added onto the $700 billion TARP bill.
Now, most of the $700 billion has been recovered by the government, but that other $160 billion is long gone.

Posted by: The_Mick | January 30, 2010, 3:22 am 3:22 am

Jack Tapper should move to FOX. His sound bites played on ABC are so skewed that for anyone who watched the whole 80+ minutes of the event can clearly debate the facts. If “This Week” ever assigns the show to Jake Tapper for moderating, it will just be a rerun of FOX Sunday! Jake, please do a better job of journalism.

Posted by: Marlene | January 30, 2010, 7:10 am 7:10 am

I think the American people need to take to heart Pres Obama’s remarks as much as, maybe even more, than Congress. Look at all the back-biting, ugly, mean partisanship just in these comments. Why don’t we start walking the talk? Then our “representatives” will start reflecting us.

Posted by: weyah | January 30, 2010, 10:52 am 10:52 am

Speaks well but i have lost all confidence, in the present Gov. and it’s leadership.

Posted by: cecil marin | January 30, 2010, 11:15 am 11:15 am

If you look at Mass care it does cover more citizens. So that goal is being met because buying insurance is mandated. The huge problem is the subsidies will continue to rack up debt. The cost of health care has not gone down with Mass care and neither has the premiums. The 2,000 page senate bill will most likely get more people health care coverage, but at what cost? In any way will either of these bills arrest the health care costs continuing to go up? On top of that there is a good argument that indicates that a shortage of medical staff with stress staff more, reduce time with patients, and not in any way address riding health care costs. On top of that the actual care will suffer.
Now that Obama has been in office a year several things are apparent. He tends to jump before he thinks. Then on other issues he takes way too long. His timing is not natural. His administration has a tendency to throw out ideas, without vetting them first, and then have to clean up the mess from misinformation.
He sounds believable, but his actions are very different. So many republicans have sent dated letters to this president and have never heard a word on those issues. I realize there is only 24 hrs in a day, but often this president spends precious hours wasting time on political stuff rather than substance. He wasted a lot of time campaigning this year and then tried to pretend with the NJ and Va election that it didn’t matter at all. That is the height of arrogance and sends a terrible message. So now going to republicans he once again is mopping up.

Posted by: Susan | January 30, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

twg….you think?

Posted by: sara | January 30, 2010, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm

and yes, it was a “smack down” of the distortions and lies of the Republicans. Thank God we have a Smart, intelligent President that is the Grown UP.

Posted by: sara | January 30, 2010, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm

Republicans clearly have proven their BOGUS claims. How QUICKLY they ignore the fact that they THEMSELVES had CONTROL of both the White House AND the Congress for 8+ years and NEVER ONCE attempted to REFORM Healthcare, Banking/Finance or the Fiscal Budget!
NOT one Republican in that GOP Caucus room or in the ENTIRE CONGRESS has ever stepped up during the BUSH/CHENEY years to pass HEALTHCARE, the BUDGET or Fiscal Finance regulations!!!
THIS IS THE FACT.
WHERE was John Boehner, John McCain, Mitch McConnel, Eric Cantor, Chuck Grassley, Mike Pence and ALL the other Republican VOICES 8+ years ago?
WHERE was THEIR outrage and concern when they were in control of both the White House AND the Congress?
It’s seems to me that Republicans LOVE to pass the buck by playing the political “victim” whenever its convenient for THEM.
Republicans are nothing but a bunch of political PHONIES. They’re ALL full of political “theatrics” when it comes to the FACTS. They don’t take any ownership for THE ROLE they played in our economic crisis, our BUDGET deficit or decades of NO healthcare reform.
It’s these SAME Republicans who are talking with a forked-tongue. President Obama just proved how incompetent the Republicans truly are. Majority of Republicans in the GOP Caucus were afraid to confront President Obama because they ALL knew they were lying through their teeth.
The GOP knows good and well, they haven’t done JACK when it comes to passing Healthcare, the Budget or the economy. The GOP knows they passed the buck when it comes to HELPING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE when they were giving tax breaks to their WEALTHY FRIENDS and BIG OIL COMPANIES instead of helping the millions of families facing foreclosures, job-loss, etc. Republicans were in office for 8+ years and did WHATEVER they wanted and SPENT WHATEVER they wanted. They didn’t care what the Democrats thought.
NOW that the tables are TURNED, it’s these SAME Republicans who are NOW crying the blues and playing the “political victim” 24/7.
Funny that huh? It’s like the pot calling the kettle black.

Posted by: Ellie | January 30, 2010, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm

President Obama made it CLEAR to everyone in the GOP Caucus that he was NO FOOL and he KNEW the “political victim” game the Republicans were playing.
He reminded the GOP Leadership that they had CONTROL of both the White House and Congress for 8 LONG years and they did NOTHING when it came to country’s BUDGET, HEALTHCARE, FINANCE REFORM.
Did you notice how John Boehner and Eric Cantor sat on stage with this dumbfounded look on their faces the entire time? Aren’t these two clowns supposedly the GOP’s Majority Leader and his golden “whip” boy?
So this notion that it’s ALL President Obama and the Democrat’s fault is laughable when NOT ONE Republican ever attempted to pass HEALTHCARE, MORTGAGE and FINANCE REFORM!!!
Republicans LOVE to talk a good game. They’re GOOD at pointing the fingers. They’re GOOD at sitting on their hands doing NOTHING while millions of families suffer at the hands of their incompetency and political GREED.
Republicans have a decade-long history of protecting the VERY RICH, THE BIG BANKS and THE BIG OIL COMPANIES. Their political records speaks for itself. Just look at the numbers, the NUMBERS don’t lie. Majority of Republican PRESIDENTS SPENT MORE than Democratic Presidents.
The numbers don’t lie people.

Posted by: Ellie | January 30, 2010, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm

when you go into a lions den make sure you bring them a big! bone and that is just what the president did and that could not eat it all so once again he showed them he said it things are things that they suported but now that he is controling the white house they have a different tone or message.and that is not write.but the people of America can’t see how is the real cause of why things can’t get done because they really just want to blame the president so what ever he does they will blame him when it is really the replican base.

Posted by: wayne | January 30, 2010, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm

Obama is in so far over his head it isn’t even funny.
It always amuses me how all the talk from Obama and the Democrats about “bipartisanship” and “working together” always involves the Republicans bending to the Democrats’ wishes and never vice versa. And the really sad thing is how many Republicans have complied!
It’s time to clean out DC and get a new breed of politician in there who is competent, will not waver on their morals and ethics in the face of the almighty dollar, and who will LISTEN to and respect the people they were hired (by way of votes) to represent!

Posted by: timr1271 | February 3, 2010, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm

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Into the Ryan’s Den: President Obama Attends House GOP Caucus for Lively Give and Take

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