–updated–
“… Pain or damage don’t end the world, or despair or f—ing beatings. The world ends when you’re dead, until then you’ve got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man. And give some back.” – Al Swearengen, “Deadwood”
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Every single person who has refused to give Pres. Obama a pass on his lack of leadership, inability to get beyond platitudes and speeches, as well as pushing him to engage in a transparent way beyond slogans, was finally served substance today, with Obama actually delivering it. Pres. Obama’s engagement with Republicans was an unprecedented performance. It also has the potential to be a game changer –update–(for him, that is, because his speeches have lost their luster, and since he isn’t leading on policy terms, another way to get at Republicans and the electorate needs to be found. If this works, it *could* make the difference. But I’m not saying that Republicans will change, because there is no mileage in it for them.)–/update.
Marc Ambinder has a quote from “a very influential Democrat that says it all.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry that it took a f$$@&$* year for Obama to step into the ring and start throwing some verbal blows… I’m definitely praying at mass on Sunday morning that this Obama doesn’t take another 12 month vacation.”
The Republicans did their best, but their talking points were predicated on lack of transparency, and missing honesty and facts. It’s a terrible use of a remarkable opportunity for politicians not to rise to the occasion given. Though they get huge credit for opening this up to C-SPAN, which has the entire Q&A session.
For instance, to hear Mike Pence, who came off ungracious and sour, even when shaking Pres. Obama’s hand at the end, talking about “boutique tax cuts” is one of the most ignorant things a Republican has said recently and that’s going some. Now, if he’d said the stimulus wasn’t big enough… But of course, Pence couldn’t go there, though he did leave himself open to Obama’s “ribbon cutting” line about Republicans being more than willing to show up at home where the stimulus helped. “Across the board tax cuts” was met with “I want to take a look at your math,” when Obama brought up the deficit in conjunction with cuts.
At 10:20 on the C-SPAN video is when Pres. Obama revealed himself fully, telling Republicans something they’re just too partisan to understand or accept: “I am not an ideologue.” HuffPo has the transcript. The fantasy that Obama is an ideologue is the image the right, especially Rush who says he’s an ideologue ad nauseam, but also right-wing radio who drills into people across this country over an over again. It’s a myth that has stuck, however absurd.
“Nobody has been a bigger proponent of clean coal technology than I have,” Obama stated when answering a question about West Virginia. “Clean coal” is an oxymoron, so it’s always disappointing to hear anyone pushing it. Carbon capture and sequestration is worth studying, but it’s a long way off, especially with the costs of new plants, which cannot be retrofitted, but must be truly rebuilt.
One major problem is that no one has actually tried to bury CO2 in huge quantities, or as industry folks would say, at scale. Without real-world testing, it’s hard to know whether it will be possible to scrub the CO2 from our coal plants at a reasonable cost. – Wired Science
As for nuclear, just read about Obama before he was president, which I wrote about when it came to light. There is also still not a safe way to dispose of the waste. I know, I know, details.
All policy is (absolutely) in the details.
These are issues that remain unresolved by Pres. Obama, but aren’t the only disagreements. They are still challenges for us all.
In a response to Rep. Marsha Blackman on health care, Obama drove right into it the crazy:
… Now, you may not agree with Bob Dole and Howard Baker, and, certainly you don’t agree with Tom Daschle on much, but that’s not a radical bunch. 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. No, I mean, that’s how you guys — (applause) — that’s how you guys presented it.
And so I’m thinking to myself, well, how is it that a plan that is pretty centrist — no, look, I mean, I’m just saying, I know you guys disagree, but if you look at the facts of this bill, most independent observers would say this is actually what many Republicans — 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. I’m not suggesting that we’re going to agree on everything, whether it’s on health care or energy or what have you, but if 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, what happens is you guys then don’t have a lot of room to negotiate with me.
I mean, the fact of the matter is, is that many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, 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 is doing all kinds of crazy stuff that’s going to destroy America.
And I would just say that we have to think about tone. It’s not just on your side, by the way — it’s on our side, as well. This is part of what’s happened in our politics, where we demonize the other side so much that when it comes to actually getting things done, it becomes tough to do.
On the “summary of GOP reform bill,” Obama said “specifically it’s got to work,” reminding the Republicans that policy air balls must go beyond a “boiler plate.” He then turned towards tort reform, citing experts and CEO’s, saying it would reduce costs by “a couple of percentage points.” The myth of tort reform making the difference is the right’s big cause célèbre, which Obama took down by stating bluntly that it will not bend the cost curve over time, which is the bottom line on the health care issue.
No one ever doubted Obama has game, it’s just he thinks it’s through long and winding word fogs, when real game from a leader comes from standing up, taking incoming, but then giving some back.
The last few minutes is the bottom line, with Obama nailing the talking points that Republicans use, none of which have any relationship to reality.
Jeb, 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. … Paul, I don’t think you disagree with that, that 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. And I raise that not because we shouldn’t have a series discussion about it. I raise that because we’re not going to be able to do anything about any of these entitlements if what we do is characterized, whatever proposals are put out there, as, well, you know, that’s — the other party is being irresponsible; the other party is trying to hurt our senior citizens; that the other party is doing X, Y, Z. That’s why I say 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. And unfortunately, that’s how our politics works right now.
…and he even called out Frank Luntz: “I see Frank Luntz up here sitting in the front. He’s already polled it…”
Forget the speeches. Everyone is sick of them. Besides, Obama just can’t get down to clarity in them, with the lofty rhetoric lost on people who are drowning, at a time when our country is in serious trouble.
It was the most remarkable day of Obama’s presidency to date.
And some Republican is going to pay for it, because they can’t afford to let Obama do this again.
TM NOTE: As a side note (and as a reminder), I was working all day on the project I’m neck deep in while Obama’s meeting with the Republicans happened. This project is the number one priority for me right now, which I said it would be come the first of the year. (When I can get it off the ground I’ll tell you all about it.) When I did my homework to catch up on all the days events, watching Obama in action was the greatest pleasure I’ve had since seeing him at the 2008 Democratic convention. It’s about damn time.
As I said in a previous post he was excellent.
The week began with everyone talking about Scott Brown; it ended with Obama reclaiming all the ground he supposedly lost at the beginning of the week. He is now the talk of the town once again.
My only concern is: does this new spirit of “getting along” mean that he will be selling out even more to the Republicans now. WE know the Republicans won’t give an inch. Insurance will be sold across state lines; off-shore drilling, what next?
I agree, Taylor. I feel much better after watching this. But the Republicans are so very much THERE. Scary.
this is the classic obama blessing and problem: u know his great potential i think to be a great. i saw it today in this stunning historic debate. then though in the next few days i fear we will go back to the same hack crap from the nitwits in his wh with hcr etc not moving.he is so gifted- and that is what makes this past yr so damn frustrating. this man can put the gop in a box. he has to do more of these free wheel things. liek i said i feel more enrgized as a dem now than in many months. its good to finally see a dem president fight. now lets make this routine .
I must be crazy(OK, everybody stop yelling NO DUH!) but all I heard was “you guys have to stop acting so crazy so I can do MORE NEGOTIATING WITH YOU?! AM I crazy or was THAT the jist of what he was saying to them?
Of course the repugs are SO crazy they couldn’t even listen to President Obama begging them to tone it down a little so he could WORK WITH THEM some MORE, but that’s what he was doing basically.
Or am I crazy?
secular I can’t speak for the totality of you as far as being crazy is concerned
but yes, he was telling them but more importantly the broader national audience that much of what they are pushing out there is crazy talk.
Like so many Dems I went to bed last night happy and hopeful for the first time in a long time.The unknown “influential” Dem that Marc Ambinder quotes spoke for a lot of us.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
30 January 2010 at 7:27 am
You got it.
“What more do I have to do to make you love me?”
I think the president gave us a little insight into his thinking on the UHC debacle when he said that the plan created by the Senate Finanace Committee (seen by many as his plan)contained wihin it many of the elements put forth by the Repubs during the Clinton effort.
Finance
OK, just wanted to be sure I heard that right.
You guys have to tone it down so I can go buns up for ya more often!
YEAH, THAT’S a game changer alright!!
Getting off the tele-prompter was big,it makes him boring. We got to see how much he knows. We got to see his intelligence which I was beginning to doubt, in full bloom.
I fear that the Repubs will never give him another chance at this because like Taylor says it was a game changer. I feel more energized than I have all year.That shouldn’t stop him from having free range townhalls all over the country with real effort given to allowing his critics to participate.
I’m sure there were many deserting Independents who sat up and took notice of yesterday’s tour de force.
is it a game changer? Maybe. Obama once in a blue moon comes off like this and then retreats. We shall see.
i loved the part where obama finally gave that marsha blackburn of tn a lesson. god that woman annoys me to no end. she stood there saying the repubs have a solution to all our problems ie make bush tax cuts permanent. obama schooled her in her solutions. the repubs looked like and are petty little pols and obama helped them fit the part. politico says obama had no prep for the event. perhaps we now see the problem- obama’s aides have him too scripted for some reason. for once obama was obama and it was the best thing he has done.
Boy… do I agree on Marsha Blackburn,what a mean spirited,nasty piece of work she is,repeatedly using the prejoritive “Democrat Party” thinking she is being so foxy and he just politely showed her to be the fool she is,I loved it.
Mr. President:
The people just_don’t_believe_you.
http://tinyurl.com/y99h3qg
Republicans are nervous. Obama did well.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/29/russert-gop-obama/
Lake Lady says:
30 January 2010 at 9:42 am I’m sure there were many deserting Independents who sat up and took notice of yesterday’s tour de force.
I think you hit the nail on the head. The important point is that people want a president that is going to have a little fight in him and I think that’s what yesterday was all about. We really want to see the stand up and fight Obama.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
30 January 2010 at 7:27 am
He knows he lost the messaging on health care with the wrong strategies from the outset, and is pushing to salvage what he can at this point, IMO. He needs to exhibit some fighting spirit and yesterday was a start – his message was more that the other side lacks bipartisanship. I only wish he had called them out like this from the outset when he had momentum and we might be in a different place now on health insurance reform.
Some would say that Obama’s presentation yesterday was cathartic. That puts me in mind of the Cathars. They were gnostic dualists who believed in the feminine principle. They said that the purpose of a man or woman’s life on earth was to transcend matter, to renounce perpetually anything connected with the principle of power, and thereby to attain union with the principle of love. That connotes the absence of any fixed dogma, theology, or dotrine (ideology). Didn’t Obama say that he was not an ideologue yesterday? Peace
As Taylor said, Pence was awful and awful on Hardball. He seeemed pissed and kept referencing that the Democrats were saying they were the “party of no ideas” – No, that’s not what Democrats are saying – they’ve been saying that you want this President to fail so badly that the Republican response to any effort is “no.”
It is accurate to say they are the party of no ideas when it comes to UHC. It is historically true for them all my voting life and before.It goes without saying that during their long streches of power they NEVER thought about it.
Yuck…I’ve got to go trudge through the snow to take a kitty to the vet.BBL
Marsha Blackburn was as always as irritating to me as she could be. She reminded me of a line from Gladiator spoken by Maximus just before the first battle scene with the barbarians:
“A people should know when they are conquered.”
I don’t think the Republicans in that room knew they had been defeated. Frank Luntz seemed to instruct the all before-hand to stand, hold up a sheet of paper and say the word “ideas.” All they seem to want is to be right as they have narrowly defined right.
And Obama in this vein is not unlike Sisyphus forever pushing this rock of his own righteousness up this hill seeking cooperation. Good luck!
Trouble is, our country is so obtuse and uninformed because they’re out chasing sales at Wal-Mart, or worrying about whether Elin will divorce Tiger, that the Republicans know, they just know that they can continue to obstruct, tell lies about their own proposals and feed their frenzied base without turning a hand to help anything Obama proposes succeed.
I genuinely doubt anything will change.
yep marsha kept dissing dems by refering to dems as democrat. that is insulting and a longtime slap they have used. bush did it even in his sotu speech! cspan by demand reaired 2 times last night and are running it today. its also on msnbc and cnn today again by viewer demand. id liek to see more of this. now if we could some big laws passed..
Agreed t4h. What a juvenile schoolyard taunting. I’ve long wondered why Democrats didn’t call them on this years ago.
I learned as a first year teacher that if one did not expect and sometimes demand respectful behavior one was unlikley to get it.
It is one of many ways one earns outright respect.
i can see why the POTUS let that slide yesterday – too big a stick. But it is long past TIME that Democrats start calling them on it. If the Democrats start correcting them, then perhaps media will as well.
I didn’t mean to imply that the President should have made an issue of it yesterday,I agree with you djjl..Dems need to call them out on it. To his credit I have seen Matthews do it.
Rarely does anyone call them on it. Why should Republicans think anyone should take their offering of “bipartisanship” and desire to work with the Democratic Party seriously when they don’t even recognize the acual name of the opposition party.
Tweety should have called Pence, imo, on his repeated statement that Democrats had called the Republicans the “party of no ideas.” No, they are called the Party of No – because that is the response they repeatedly give.
Hey all, it’s snowing buckets in D.C. It’s beeeee-eautiful and I love it!!!
I genuinely doubt anything will change.
If Obama stops making so many speeches, standing behind lecterns, and getting in front of people like this it COULD be a game changer for *him*.
Republicans aren’t going to change at all, I don’t believe.
And remember, as I’ve said many times, he has no ideology, so since speeches aren’t working for him, Obama has to find another means to “connect.” This was an important moment for him, because he doesn’t have a lot of tools in his political arsenal. It’s not like he’s going to lead through policy.
Every time we turn around he seems to be meeting with Republicans. Today it was the Bush 41 and Jeb.
Next he ought to do a town hall with the Progressives. The people who elected him and who are now sorely disappointed in him. Let’s see how well he does with the myriad of concerns we have.
Agreed. Blackburn has got to get out of D.C. We need to work really hard to get her opponent, Dr. Greg Rabidoux, there to enact some real change. He’s a moderate Democrat with an undergrad degree in Political Science and Journalism, a Master’s from The American University in Public Policy & International Relations, a Ph.D in American Government AND a JD. He also recently had his first booked published, “Hollywood Politicos: Then & Now.” He knows the meaning of bipartisanship & will represent his constituents, not his own self-interests. We need to get his campaign some money, too, so he can work REALLY hard to send that woman back to Tennessee. http://www.rabidoux4congress.com Check him out! You’ll be impressed!
Thanks for chiming in southernyankee. Rabidoux has a tough race on his hands.