Incidentally, this "GOP debate" has been rescheduled three times previously. Congress IS supposed to be in session next week, isn't it? Are any of the debate participants IN congress?
One thing I found very curious in Borstal's link was the juxtaposition of the racism, faux-Christian fervor, and white supremacy, yet a number of people equated Obama to Hitler. They put the moron in oxymoron. If there is a God, he hates these people.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
I live amongst the Nobama people. He simultaneously is attacked for being a collectivist, either a socialist or flat out commie. But he is also hated (by the very same people) as being a fascist or a despot who rules by fiat.
When I press them to say exactly why he is so awful, it usually comes down to his repeated attempts to take their guns (never happened) or his raising their taxes (again, never happened).
What so much of the Obama-hate comes down to is: HE IS NOT LIKE ME. He is not, somehow, American. You can see this as racism but I think it's deeper than that. He is the other- a different color, a different background, a different species, maybe. They have tried to frame him as alien in every way.
And of course, a mixed-race kid from a broken home with a dad he never met who had some wild days but basically buckled down and did OK- what is more American than that?
Joe, I see your point about him trying to be a grownup and provoke childish outbursts, but the GOP always gets what they want after their outbursts, so once again, I fail to see just what Obama gets out of any of this.
I would love to see a joint session of Congress. Those people seriously need to get stoned. Add some Tostitos and warm queso dip and the majority of this country's problems would be solved in a few hours.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Oh I know Phyllis- I can certainly see both sides. I think it's a valid strategy for him- but I also truly do think a pretty sizable portion of the electorate just wants fireworks- not grown up behavior.
I heard a strategist today say that Obama might propose some policies that Boehner had suggested and call him out on TV to say then and there if he still favored them or will oppose them just because the president agreed. Boehner would pretty much be screwed if Obama did that.
Obama should have stuck with the original date. Now he's up against the NFL.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
I don't have a specific idea, but I have a feeling there's another shoe to drop regarding this. This would be a gross political miscalculation on the part of the Obama administration. They've certainly shown the ability to be weak when dealing with the GOP, but to pick a fight on something like this, where they were almost certain to lose, seems a little too boneheaded, even for them.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
mad - I completely agree, right up to "too boneheaded, even for them". I'm afraid it didn't really surprise me. Sadly.
If there's more to it, I'll certainly be curious to see what it is. But, for now, I'm afraid it is just what it is - the same disastrous incompetence we've seen on display for quite some time now.
Well picture this: The President addresses congress. He proposes one of Boehner's pet projects (a tax credit on spray tanning, apparently) and turns around and says "what do you think Mr. Speaker? Can we pass that bill and bring more spray-tanning jobs to the American people?"
Boehner has to either say "Great idea- let's do that" in which case the Tea Party will RISE UP or say "Uh, changed my mind!" Either way it makes it VERY hard for Republicans to go after Obama on Jobs.
The discussion becomes- "They said let's talk jobs! I wanted to- but they wanted to debate. Then I agreed with their proposals and they STILL wouldn't pass anything." Presidents rarely go wrong running against congress.
While I agree that Congress makes a perfect foil, this scheduling fiasco is a significant distraction from whatever the content of his speech is. The pundits will certainly revive the scheduling muck-up next week, irrespective of what he says.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Joe was right - they've agreed to a 7pm start to avoid a football conflict.
"The White House and congressional Republicans have agreed on a 7 p.m. address to a joint session of Congress. The Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints don't play until 8:30 p.m.
'I can assure all you football fans that he will be completed before kick-off,' White House spokesman Jay Carney said."
Some job creation will be addressed in a plan to rebuild (or rather repair) public schools. This is at least more focused than then "shovel ready" concept from the first stimulus.
He is calling this F.A.S.T (Fix American Schools Today).
Obama knows that the he is going to be slammed for wanting yet another stimulus when the first two didn't work, hence the very public request to address congress.
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