President Barack Obama stepping out of Marine One on the South Lawn today, returning from Elkhart, Ind., where he held a "town hall'' meeting, to Washington, where he will hold a prime-time news conference tonight, all part of a sales pitch for his economic stimulus. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
by Mark Silva
The president has run the clock -- with long answers and little new light shed on much, President Barack Obama's premier news conference has run an hour and ended with the president largely talking about what he wanted to talk about: His economic stimulus.
One hour, 14 questions.
One message: Congress must act.
On this count, the president has controlled the evening -- important for a leader who already enjoys stong public support in his confrontation with Republicans in Congress.
* * * *
What about baseball's Alex Rodriguez, admitting on television today that he used steroids several years ago - between 2001 and 2003 -- as a player on the Texas Rangers? In one of the few chances for an off-the-president's script question, it's this:
"I think it's depressing news on top of what's been a flurry of depressing items, when it comes to Major League Baseball,'' Obama says. "If you're a fan... it tarnishes an entire era, I'm afraid...''
At the same time, baseball is coming down hard on offenders, he suggests, hoping that a message is communicated to young people. That it's wrong.
:
* * * *
Obama calls on Helen Thomas, the dean of the White House press corps, the first woman to run a wire service news bureau.
And, as a measure of the changing media that convey much of the news and commentary about Washington these days, Obama also calls on The Huffington Post, the online newspaper.
* * * *
In the East Room of the White House, the president is following a script: Calling on reporters whom his aides have identified ahead of time as those who will be called on for questions.
Obama also is speechifying. Twenty minutes after his opening statement, he had gotten through just four questions - largely because of the length of his answers.
Nearly 40 minutes in, just eight questions.
Could it be that the president is filibustering?
Crowding out his own news conference with his own answers? The effect of the uninterrupted responses of a clearly articulate, and tonight also wordy, president, is to curtail the overall number of questions that are coming his way this evening.
(Tribune news conference photo by Zbigniew Bzdak.. More below...)
The president is asked about Vice President Joe Biden saying this about a conversation the two had in the Oval Office about a subject he didn't disclose. "If we do everything right, if we do it with absolute certainty, if we stand up there and we really make the tough decisions, there's still a 30 percent chance we're going to get it wrong."
What were they talking about - and, if he cannot say, can the president "at least reassure (people) it wasn't the stimulus bill or the bank rescue plan and if in general you agree with that ratio of success, 30 percent failure, 70 percent success?''
With laughter, Obama replies: "You know, I don't remember exactly what Joe was referring to, not surprisingly. But let me try this out.
"I think what Joe may have been suggesting, although I wouldn't put numerical -- I would ascribe any numerical percentage to any of this, is that given the magnitude of the challenges that we have, any single thing that we do is going to be part of the solution, not all of the solution.
"And as I said in my introductory remarks, not everything we do is going to work out exactly as we intended it to work out. This is an unprecedented problem. And you know, when you talk to economists, there's some general sense of how we're going to move forward.
"There's some strong consensus about the need for a recovery package of a certain magnitude. There's a strong consensus that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, all tax cuts or all investment, but that there should be a range of approaches.
"But even if we do everything right on that, we've still got to deal with what we just talked about, the financial system and making sure that banks are lending again. We're still going to have to deal with housing. We're still going to have to make sure that we've got a regulatory structure -- a regulatory architecture for the financial system that prevents crises like this from occurring again. Those are all big, complicated tasks.
"So I don't know whether Joe was referring to that, but I use that as a launching point to make a general point about these issues.''
* * * *
Here's one off the economic track: What are the president's plans for engaging with Iran and how will he resolve the administration's differences with a power intent on nuclear development?
"We will be looking for openings where we can begin to sitting across the table, face to face,'' Obama says of Iran, but "while we engage in this direct diplomacy, we are very clear about some deep concerns we have... That we're clear about the fact that a nuclear Iran could set off a nuclear arms race in the region that would be profoundly destabilizing.
* * * *
What went wrong with his bid for bipartisan support for his economic stimulus, he is asked.
Nothing's gone wrong, he suggests, explaining that he had a reason for seating three Republicans in his Cabinet - demonstrating his own commitment to bipartisanship.
"As I continue to make these overtures over time, hopefully that will be reciprocated,'' the president says. "Hopefully the tone I've taken, which has been consistently civil and respectful, will pay some dividends in the long run.''
* * * *
Out of the box, the president is asked if he has risked his own credibility by suggesting, as he did today in Indiana, that the economic crisis is so grave that if action is not taken the damage to the economy may be irreversible.
"What I've said is what other economists have said,'' he replies. "If you delay acting of an economy of this severity, then you potentially great a spiral which is much more difficult for us to get out of...
"This is not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill recession,'' Obama says, but rather the worst since the Great Depression.
What we cannot do, he says, is return to the theories of the past, the tax cuts that Republicans are promoting as alternatives to his plan: "Those theories have been tested, and they have failed.''
* * * *
The American people have seen billions of dollars spent already, "and still the economy is in freefall,'' a reporter suggests - how will they know if the economic stimulus the president is promoting is working, or whether a "Plan B" is needed?
Saving jobs - "bottom line, No. 1,'' Obama replies
"Normalizing the credit markets is step No. 2,'' he says. "Step No. 3 is stabilizing the housing market.''
"The biggest measure of success is whether we stop contracting and shedding jobs, and whether we grow again,'' the president says. "If we get things right, then starting next year we can begin to see some significant improvement.''
* * * *
Here's one off-script:
The Defense Department of the president's predecessor prohibited press photography of the flag-draped coffins of slain American soldiers returning home from Iraq. Will Obama, who has pledged "transparency'' in his own administration and promised to bring troops home in 16 months, reconsider that policy?
"Your question is timely,'' Obama replies somberly. "We've gotten reports that four American service members were killed in Iraq today...
"We are in the process of reviewing those policies in conversations with the Department of Defense, so I don't want to give you an answer now until I've evaluated that review, with respect to all the consequences involved,'' Obama says.
* * * *
"I took a trip to Elkhart, Indiana today,'' says the president, who returned from the first of two "town hall'' meetings today, one in Indiana, tomorrow's in Florida.
"Elkhart is a place that has lost jobs faster than anywhere else in America. In one year, the unemployment rate went from 4.7% to 15.3 percent. Companies that have sustained this community for years are shedding jobs at an alarming speed, and the people who've lost them have no idea what to do or who to turn to. They can't pay their bills and they've stopped spending money. And because they've stopped spending money, more businesses have been forced to lay off more workers....
"As we speak, similar scenes are playing out in cities and towns across the country,'' the president says. "Last Monday, more than 1,000 men and women stood in line for 35 firefighter jobs in Miami. Last month, our economy lost 598,000 jobs, which is nearly the equivalent of losing every single job in the state of Maine.
"And if there's anyone out there who still doesn't believe this constitutes a full-blown crisis, I suggest speaking to one of the millions of Americans whose lives have been turned upside down because they don't know where their next paycheck is coming from,'' Obama says of the economic stimulus plan he is pushing through Congress.
"That is why the single most important part of this Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the fact that it will save or create up to 4 million jobs. Because that is what America needs most right now....
"At this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back to life. It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs. And breaking that cycle is exactly what the plan that's moving through Congress is designed to do
* * * *
"Despite all of this, the plan is not perfect.,'' Obama allows. "No plan is.
"I can't tell you for sure that everything in this plan will work exactly as we hope, but I can tell you with complete confidence that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis as well as the pain felt by millions of Americans. My administration inherited a deficit of over $1 trillion, but because we also inherited the most profound economic emergency since the Great Depression, doing too little or nothing at all will result in an even greater deficit of jobs, incomes; and confidence. That is a deficit that could turn a crisis into a catastrophe. And I refuse to let that happen. As long as I hold this office, I will do whatever it takes to put this country back to work...
"We find ourselves in a rare moment where the citizens of our country and all countries are watching and waiting for us to lead. It is a responsibility that this generation did not ask for, but one that we must accept for the sake of our future and our children's. The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate, but they endure when people of every background and belief find a way to set aside smaller differences in service of a greater purpose. That is the test facing the United States of America in this winter of our hardship, and it is our duty as leaders and citizens to stay true to that purpose in the weeks and months ahead. ''
* * * *
The opening statement, like the opening argument at a trial, is the message statement - the impression that the president hopes to leave with an audience tuning in to the first prime-time news conference of the Obama presidency.
But ultimately it is the cross-examination coming tonight, and probably only a couple of the president's answers to questions he faces this evening, that will be the stuff of headlines, the drivers of the analyses, the fodder for the morning-after talk shows.
The president's news conference, live from the White House, opens just after 8 pm EST. Join us, as we live-blog it - bring some answers of your own, some analysis, some talk-fodder.
* * * *
"So wait till the microphone gets to you,'' President Barack Obama tells his questioners.
"And if you can introduce yourself, that will be helpful,'' he says. "And the last thing I'm going to do is, I'm going to go girl-boy-girl-boy so that nobody gets mad at me.''
No, this is not the opening of tonight's news conference at the White House - but rather the president's invitation for questions at today's "town hall"-styled meeting in Elkhart, Ind.
Today, the president faced few difficult questions - save for the young woman in the striped sweater who suggested that his Cabinet appointees are "not trustworthy,'' because they "can't handle... their own taxes,'' and who also suggested that Obama go have a drink with FOX News' Sean Hannity, leading Obama to laugh that off with: "I'm always good for a beer.''
Tonight, Obama will make his first prime-time appearance as president before a national television audience, standing before the White House press corps in an 8 p.m. EST event that is part of a carefully orchestrated bid for public support for the $800-billion-plus economic stimulus that he is attempting to push through Congress.
A press conference such as this typically is good for 15-20 questions, depending on how long the president talks - and, sometimes, how long the questioners talk, because you know, sometimes we questioners like to hear our own voices.
And it's a good bet that a lot of these questions will involve the economic stimulus - at least, that's the way the White House would like to have it. They may not want to hear questions about those Cabinet appointments that went awry, or the waivers in the tough new ethics policy that the administration seems ready to grant so many appointees, or the idea that, while the administration stands ready to close the camp at Guantanamo Bay, rendition will go on.
How successful this news conference is, for Obama, at capitalizing on the 67-percent approval that the president would appear to hold for his own approach to an economic stimulus - spending, as opposed to the Republican congressional strategy of tax relief - will depend largely on the president's handling of questions along these lines. How successful this event is at shedding more light on the Obama presidency itself will depend on the questions themselves.
Have some questions? Drop them off here, and we'll see how they compare with the ones offered up tonight. Some of you might even be moved to answer some of them.
And join us here for a live-blogging of the prime-time president's presser.
Comments
When in doubt, schmooze the press in a smiley photo opp.
Why not? It's all Obama's proven he can do well, and the wheels are already coming off "Obamamania"... gotta do something.
Time to wow the plebes with some "soaring rhetoric" and send tingles up legs of goofy journalists.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | February 9, 2009 5:58 PM
I think it is too early to judge him. The Republicans seem to want him to go down no matter what. The only ideas they seem to have these days are tax cuts, Fox and Rush, and um thinking that Sarah Palin is a good candidate for president.
I wish they would stop fighting and work with Obama. They were given a blank check by the past president and look where that got us?
It's only been 3 weeks, they had 8 years.
Posted by: Karen | February 9, 2009 7:15 PM
What about those untrustworthy cabinet appointments like Hilda Solis, who has both ethics policy and tax problems?
Posted by: Good Question, Striped-Sweater Girl | February 9, 2009 7:20 PM
The Greedy Oil Party has become the party of - "NO":
No help for the poor.
.
No relief for the afflicted.
.
No health care.
.
No food.
.
No clothing.
.
No jobs.
.
The party that is now best represented by the ghost of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove.
The ironic thing about the GOP now is that:
They seem to think that successfully skewing the coverage on cable news, especially on CNN and Fixed News Channel, means they have "won" the debate (after arguing for years that these outlets are "liberal" and shouldn't be taken seriously except as "examples of leftwing propaganda"),and that the party of Rove/Atwater, the party that was completely addicted to focus groups and Luntzian tested phrasing, is completely ignoring its own huge chunk of the business lobby, and almost every Republican Governor screwed because of local versions of failed national policies who desperately need to be bailed out, to pull this bullshit. They are betting the whole farm on screwing up Obama early. It's the only thing that makes sense. This is their whole ball of wax. Screw up the stimulus package and hope that they can pin the complete collapse of the country on the Democrats.
The GOP is walking up to a roulette table and putting all, or almost all, of its chips on one square. They are that insane...but of course most of us already knew that.
Posted by: Doug Vader, son of Darth | February 9, 2009 7:55 PM
Time to wow the plebes with some "soaring rhetoric" and send tingles up legs of goofy journalists.
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | February 9, 2009 5:58 PM
....
Hero worship? You mean like the way you get down on your knee's and pray at the alter of the famous failure of trickledown fame, Zombie Reagan?
.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/zombie%20reagan/resevil78/zombie-reagan.jpg
.
Posted by: Reagan was a Fraud and a Failure | February 9, 2009 8:03 PM
The republican party has become the party of "No". How true. No to diversity......no to the poor......no to the American dream....you just don't deserve it like we do......
Posted by: bill r. | February 9, 2009 8:18 PM
Obama has to learn to put a bit more respect in his salutes. The picture makes him appear as if he is just doing it for a photo op; which is just wrong. He is now Commander in Chief. Be one!!
Posted by: Hmmmm | February 9, 2009 8:20 PM
This is GREAT!
President Obama is basically taking the GOP's tired old talking points, that they've used over and over again the last couple of weeks/years/decades, and beating them over the head them..
Posted by: Reagan was a Fraud and a Failure | February 9, 2009 8:28 PM
"We're gonna keep engagin'."
Yes, Himself said it tonight. Yeesh. Will the Swamp-rats quote that, and the "errrs" and "ummms" too? And will the whine we all can hear come through as His media acolytes speak of the One and His train wreck of a stimulus flim-flam? Nah. Let's just report on how Bush screwed up with deficit spending, which makes it ok for Obama to add to the screw-up.
Posted by: Bemused | February 9, 2009 8:33 PM
What about those untrustworthy cabinet appointments like Hilda Solis, who has both ethics policy and tax problems?
Posted by: Good Question, Striped-Sweater Girl | February 9, 2009 7:20 PM
.............
I see you're still working fulltime and getting paid big bucks to destroy the middle-class and their unions for your Republican overlords....how do you sleep at night?
Posted by: Teresa | February 9, 2009 8:39 PM
Obama must remind Americans that republicans are interested in one thing; Obama's failure to be president.
What are republicans going to do when he succeeds?
It will be fun to watch.
Posted by: NoConservativePropaganda | February 9, 2009 8:39 PM
Who cares about A-Rod. This guy has no clue.
Posted by: Rob | February 9, 2009 8:51 PM
Who cares about A-Rod. This guy has no clue.
Posted by: Rob | February 9, 2009 8:52 PM
I can't believe they asked the President a question about his thoughts on the steroid use in MLB. Seriously, I think there are more important issues at stake. Why would steroid use be an issue for the President? I think it's a waste of the President's time, our tax dollars and is a ridiculous question. MLB, local police, state police, DEA but not the President. Seriously.
Posted by: Jeremy Faulkner | February 9, 2009 8:57 PM
Boy is Obama a smart man. I think he is the most articulate person to be President during my voting life of 35 years (Ford-Obama) I'm an independent and have voted for Democrats and Republicans. I think that Obama wants to get things right. And I wish him and us good luck. I'm also glad that the moderate Republican women Senators from Maine have been working on the stimulus plam
Posted by: chimack | February 9, 2009 9:05 PM
Wow, the President really can't think on his feet. This is very Bush-esque. Actually, I think the President is stuttering and mumbling more than Bush ever did!
Posted by: Chicago Hoosier | February 9, 2009 9:05 PM
Taxes are a valid point. The 50% who favor spending over tax cuts realize that for the last 25 years, tax cuts only went to the upper 1%.
Anyone making under $500,000 salary (only legal income!) has seen their total taxes double in the last 25 years. Social Security (even with the ridiculous $90K cap) rate has doubled, real estate taxes have double, sales tax rates have increased, etc.
In 1970 the highest tax bracket stopped finally at $1.2 million ( adjusted for inflation). Today the highest bracket stops at $350,000, yet top incomes in 2008 are 10x to 100X greater than they were in 1970.
Also, in 1970 short term profits (under a year) were taxed at 50%, making speculation very expensive. In 2008, short term profit tax can go as low as 10% (i.e option contract income on indices). Wonder why NYSE is the new Las Vegas? Tax rates encourage it.
Democrats should propose new tax rates to pay for this appropriations. 3% Intangibles tax on all net worths over $10 million. Less than 0.5% of the population would have to pay this tax.
Short Term profits should be taxed at 60%. Yet, reward the long term investor with -0- cap gains tax for the first $100,000 held for min 5 years. Tax the hell out of options and derivative contracts of any type. Use taxes to make speculation too expensive.
Social Security tax should be cut in half, but eliminate the $90,000 cap so those making $10 million a year are paying 4.5% into the fund like you would be. For many income brakets 4.5% would be a 50% decrease from their current tax rate. Eliminate the cap and Social Security would be solvent for many decades. Dropping the rate on everyone by an equal % is the tax cut the Republicans are asking for. This time with no cap, though.
Income Tax rates should be doubled on incomes over $1.0 million.
Definitely there should be tax cuts. However, let's have those who have benefited so much in the past 8 years start paying their fair share. Give the rest of us workers a break.
Posted by: Michael Tracy | February 9, 2009 9:24 PM
Somebody has to give our politician a lesson on saluting etiquette. The whole idea of our system is that ultimately a civilian commands the military, because we're not some kind of tin pot dictatorship. So the president doesn't salute the guard, OK? It's bizarre with them saluting each other like that. And indeed no president did this until some ex-governor not versed in the ways of Washington, can't remember if it was Carter or Reagan, started it. And since then everyone else has done it. It's silly and more importantly it degrades the idea of civilian leadership.
Posted by: DBX | February 9, 2009 9:26 PM
I am sure many people tonight are wishing they could go back and change their vote for President. He still acts like a novice junior Senator. He needs to stop acting like a child who won the marbles- for guessing how many were in the jar. He also needs to remember that he is the President for more than a country full of cool aide drinking Democrats.
Posted by: Rebekah | February 9, 2009 9:26 PM
Horrible presser.
T-ball questions with 10 minute responses.
Helen slides in an example of her far-left silliness (are there "so-called" terrorists in Pakistan?).
Using one hand to demonstrate the need for bipartisanship while useing the other hand to smack around the minority party.
Huffington Post, a BLOG, gets a seat in the press corps?
Obama vacillated between strong leader and partisan hack.
That's neither hope, nor change .. it's just more of the same.
Posted by: Pete | February 9, 2009 9:29 PM
Wow, the President really can't think on his feet. This is very Bush-esque. Actually, I think the President is stuttering and mumbling more than Bush ever did!
Posted by: Chicago Hoosier | February 9, 2009 9:05 PM
At least he answered the questions and put some thought in his answers.
Bush was too busy trying to sound defiant until he liked the question because he can answer it. Or somehow mentioned Iraq and 9/11 200 times. Obama is way better than Bush will ever be.
One the things that was not good at all, is that none of the reporters asked about his appointees and their tax problems.
Posted by: Karen | February 9, 2009 9:33 PM
Wow Bemused. You need to go back into hiding. Go to Alaska. We haven't missed your trivial bitter commentary one bit. Are you throwing Ebonics in there too? Hillary would be ashamed you ever supported her.
Posted by: Flo | February 9, 2009 9:34 PM
"Time to wow the plebes with some "soaring rhetoric" and send tingles up legs of goofy journalists."
Posted by: Reaganite Republican
So your legs have been tingling for, what, 40 years with that Reaganite Republican mythology you worship? Join the real world my man/girl, whatever.
Posted by: mort | February 9, 2009 9:43 PM
The US must reduce it's nuclear arsenal ro regain the moral standing to talk to other nations about nukes? This might be one of the stupidest things a president has ever said.
Posted by: Jim Carmignani | February 9, 2009 9:49 PM
Bemused-Bedumbed apparently only watched 2 minutes of the hour; it's nice to have a Pres. who knows the issues and can talk about them in English. But the Swamp always has its whiners.
Posted by: rupert | February 9, 2009 9:55 PM
Posted by: Chicago Hoosier | February 9, 2009 9:05 PM
Yes we'll miss the days when America held its' breath to see if our president could finish a sentence without butchering the english language.
Posted by: bill r. | February 9, 2009 9:55 PM
Major Garrett, winner of the 2009 Golden GOPer award for excellence in Republican journalism, asked President Obama a question straight outta' Freeperville aka Free Republic
-Or maybe:
Major Garrett was struggling to read Roger Ailes handwriting as he asked President Obama one last question to help boost John McCain's campaign.
-Or this could work:
When President Obama called on FAUX News Reporter Major Garrett, he proved beyond a shadow of doubt that he was in fact still open to bipartisan cooperation despite being shown the cold back hand of just about every GOPer inside the beltway hack in his first three weeks in office.
Posted by: Beam Me Up, Scottie! | February 9, 2009 9:56 PM
If you want the actual news story, not some geeky journalist's personal internet opinion forum, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/us/politics/10obama.html?_r=1&hp
Posted by: Give us news not "blogs"!! | February 9, 2009 9:57 PM
Joe Biden was wrong. Obama isn't articulate. I estimate that a 1/3 or more of this "press conference" was taken up by "er, ah, mmm, er ah, mmm uh,uh" almost non-stop. He made Bush look dynamic. No new information, no real questions from a prostrate media. What a waste of time. No more sleeping pills for me. I'll just replay this press conference.
He was clean though. Joe wasn't all wrong.
Posted by: Maxine | February 9, 2009 9:59 PM
ya gotta love it. All the rabid complaining about how terribly he speaks. To them up is down and black is white. Most of the sane world labels Obama an incredible communicator. But it is obvious these lemmings only prove what terrible listners they are.
ps...Bemused....Flo is right. You are ummmm ahhhhh an embarressment to Hillary.
Posted by: bill r. | February 9, 2009 10:13 PM
He sounds exactly like Bush. Scare the pants out of the public to get a spending bill passed. (Bush)The terrorists are coming, pass my war bill. Greatest economic challenge since the depression pass my bank bailout or else. Now Obama goes on national tv saying the same thing....greatest economic challenge since the great depression....pass my bill so that I can save 4MIL jobs. Slick salesmanship....If 2 MIL additional jobs are lost after this bill passes is he going to say it would have been 6 MIL? How would the govt know? The govt doesn't ask employers if they were going to layoff people but then changed their minds.
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Posted by: Anonymous | February 9, 2009 10:23 PM
This is what could be expected- nothing new. To every problem was the same answer: Throw large amounts of cash at them but don't actually change or fix anything at all. No deep thought or considerations from any creative inputs at all. Useless talk and trivia.
Posted by: Tim | February 9, 2009 10:26 PM
This is what could be expected- nothing new. To every problem was the same answer: Throw large amounts of cash at them but don't actually change or fix anything at all. No deep thought or considerations from any creative inputs at all. Useless talk and trivia.
Posted by: Tim | February 9, 2009 10:27 PM
All the "ums" do is show that Obama can think and wants to come up with the right word or idea so that there is no confusion. And he succeeds. Once past the "um" he has threaded a involved idea in coherent order (something Bush could never in a million years do). Bush couldn't even speak in simple sentences. But the dumbed down like that. I don't mind the "long answers" which seem to bother the author of this piece, and I hope with President Obama we move past being sound-bite nation.
Posted by: naschkatze | February 9, 2009 10:30 PM
Throw large amounts of cash at them but don't actually change or fix anything at all.
Posted by: Tim | February 9, 2009 10:27 PM
Now who's looking for the "messiah"? Did you think he was giving the press conference from "Emerald City"? Were you waiting for Glinda the good witch to pass her wand?
Posted by: bill r. | February 9, 2009 10:35 PM
Posted by: naschkatze | February 9, 2009 10:30 PM
Please don't feed the animals. No need to play their game. If anything......Obama is know as a communicator, and this only makes them look like the bafoons they are. It's a childs' game that kids play best.
Posted by: bill r. | February 9, 2009 10:39 PM
This is nothing more than a COUP D'ETAT against the constitutional republic to turn it into the United Socialist States of America.
We will never stop fighting these people, we will never surrender, and we will never, never, give up in our struggle to preserve the Union and protect the constitution, just like Abraham Lincoln did, not the current pretender in the White House. Where was he born, in a log cabin in Kenya?
Posted by: Dangerous Dante | February 9, 2009 10:42 PM
We will never stop fighting these people,
Posted by: Dandruff Dante | February 9, 2009 10:42 PM
You mean Americans ....right?
Let the Jihad begin from the right.
Posted by: bill r. | February 9, 2009 10:50 PM
Obama tried to defend himself on this blog, but the character limit wouldnt accomodate all of his uhhhhs and ummmms.
Posted by: Bill | February 9, 2009 10:54 PM
this is a sad and serious time in our country
from many of the comments here - who are you peopple fighting?
How about worrying about what is best for the country right now
This is not a monolithic man this is a thinker and he will try different things until the formula works
Support your president if you support your country
Rush signed a 41million contract and Sean a 25 million one - they are all set
what about you?
Posted by: alison | February 9, 2009 11:00 PM
question....what does creating dog and frisbee parks do to help the economy other than creating jobs for landscapers who could do the job for 10 dollars an hour if you hired illegal aliens. Oh I forgot, that's his constituency. There's no reason to spend money if it's frivolous.
Posted by: reddog | February 9, 2009 11:06 PM
question....what does creating dog and frisbee parks do to help the economy other than creating jobs for landscapers who could do the job for 10 dollars an hour if you hired illegal aliens. Oh I forgot, that's his constituency. There's no reason to spend money if it's frivolous.
Posted by: reddog | February 9, 2009 11:07 PM
Unless you want the enemy to burn down our churches and synagogues, convert us to their way of life or kill us, and turn our women into nothing more valuable than dogs. Hey, is it the jihadis or liberals that I am talking about? All the same to me.
Obama is The Destroyer!
Posted by: Dangerous Dante | February 9, 2009 11:10 PM
Am I the only one disturbed by Obama mocking Biden so blatantly? Your VP pick should reflect your ideals and presidential goals, not that you accepted a drunken dare to try and win the election with a weaker candidate than Palin. The VP hasn't been in office for two weeks and already his public gaffs are acceptable jokes. Do we take nothing seriously anymore? Did people die here to establish a democracy just to see us slip right back into a monarchy system? What's the point of democracy if all we want is a charismatic king and mob rule?
Also, I fully agree that Obama is great with a set speech and awful on his feet. Can everyone shut up about Bush's oratory issues now?
Posted by: sarah | February 9, 2009 11:11 PM
The Republicans are pathetic. They are determined to fight Obama instead of prop up the world crashing around us all, a disaster of their own making.
It's no longer enough to have a Time Out for these spoiled children. It's time to lock the door, keep them in their room, and let them cry until they can't anymore..
Posted by: Jo Jo | February 9, 2009 11:34 PM
This is nothing more than a COUP D'ETAT against the constitutional republic to turn it into the United Socialist States of America.We will never stop fighting these people, we will never surrender, and we will never, never, give up in our struggle to preserve the Union
Posted by: Dangerous Dante | February 9, 2009 10:42 PM
More armchair toughguy talk from the Wingnutters. I'm shocked!...not.
This is laughable coming from Repuglicans. Especially when you consider that for the last eight years they called anyone who dissented against Bush/Cheney a traitor and a terrorist sympathizer.
Try again, Bruce....
Posted by: John E | February 9, 2009 11:35 PM
Obama still seems like he is out on the campaign trail. I believe this is were he truly flourishes. A+ for rhetoric, D- Governing.
Posted by: Cyric Renner | February 9, 2009 11:40 PM
Im concerned he has to pause so often with an uh.........We've got one like that in LA.......Mayor Antonio uh. ........who's turned out to be a disaster......uh huh.
LA TOM
Posted by: tom | February 10, 2009 12:00 AM
Pathetic commentaries...no wonder we are in such bad shape.
The disloyal opposition hear the reflective pauses and ignore the well chosen words. Obama demonstarted great depth of knowledge and the ability to articulate the issues as one who understands them, unlike the shallow ideologue who preceded him, who rarely could string together words to coherently convey a thought. Obama's detractors accuse his supporters of creating a messiah, but then condemn him for not being one. Do they really believe that McCain-Palin would have resolved the current crisis with a wave of a magic wand ("Abra Cadabra")?
A comment to Mr. Dante, who arrived here on the Mayflower...let's not forget who trod on the constitution to attempt to create the imperial presidency.
Posted by: John Van Aalst | February 10, 2009 12:22 AM
Every day I thank God for Barack Obama because without him, we would have been listening to President Hillary Clinton tonight. (shudder)
Aside from that, let the screw job that is Obama's stimulus package begin!
Posted by: Groucho | February 10, 2009 12:40 AM
I don't get it. Dangerous Dante gets to advocate the violent overthrow of the United States government, and I don't (earlier today) get to ask whether, regarding the former Klansman that DT Trice talked to, the five blacks that knocked out two of my teeth in high school in Joliet in 1971 during the annual fall race riot may possibly be feeling similar remorse. What is the matter with you guys?
Posted by: Dave in Denver | February 10, 2009 1:06 AM
I was just wandering. President Obama keeps saying what he inherited as far asa defecit goes and the way things are in Washington. Tehn where was he when he was a so called senator. Wasn't he in Washington? I think I remember all of his votes as being present
Posted by: Just Wandering | February 10, 2009 1:06 AM
This is nothing more than a COUP D'ETAT against the constitutional republic to turn it into the United Socialist States of America.
We will never stop fighting these people, we will never surrender, and we will never, never, give up in our struggle to preserve the Union and protect the constitution, just like Abraham Lincoln did, not the current pretender in the White House. Where was he born, in a log cabin in Kenya?
Posted by: Dangerous Dante | February 9, 2009 10:42 PM
Y-A-W-N...I work in a Pharmacy. F.Y.I., there is a medication for what you suffer from. It is called PROZAC.
Posted by: Breezy | February 10, 2009 2:32 AM
One of those answers goes right into the Guiness Book of Records as the longest, with the most paragraphs.
He speaks in paragraphs or chapters, rather than sentences.
The only cavil, if it is one, would be that he makes it look so easy.
Roosevelt and Lincoln had their own personal pain during most of their administrations--pain from paralysis, pain over the death of a son--which showed in their faces however much they suppressed it.
Not that Barack needs more burdens.
But he is to politics as Lang Lang is to the piano.
BTW, Cgo Hoosier, read a transcript of the President's remarks and you'll find not one incomplete sentence or misplaced or mispoken word.
Not one.
When he pauses, that's the brain procssing the next paragraph he's about to deliver.
Posted by: ornery | February 10, 2009 2:49 AM
This bill is wrong. For example, why on earth should one dollar go to an organization like Acorn? Weren't they caught committing voter fraud!? I would rather see it spent on building better infrastructure whch is badly needed. Our roads are crumbling, our electrical system is ancient, our water lines are busting. This would immediately put people to work, who would spend money and help jump start the economy again. I think it's quite simple really. However, Obama and Pelosi are exploiting people hatred of Bush to slip a nasty wasteful bill under the noses of America, and it really stinks. I had high hopes that Obama would honor what he said he'd do. I am really dissappointed at what I'm seeing. I hope he turns out not to be the liar and fraud that I'm beginning to fear he is at the moment. Socialism is a very very bad thing. The government can not run business better than they can do on their own. Government tends not to change or adapt to the rapidly changing market place, it will leave us with inefficient and unsustainable companies that will knock this country to it's knees. Please put your hatred aside and really think about this stimulus bill and do the right thing. We need a better more targeted stimulus package. We are only going to get one shot at this and we'd better get it right.
Posted by: Miguel | February 10, 2009 7:35 AM
This bill is wrong. For example, why on earth should one dollar go to an organization like Acorn? Weren't they caught committing voter fraud!? I would rather see it spent on building better infrastructure whch is badly needed. Our roads are crumbling, our electrical system is ancient, our water lines are busting. This would immediately put people to work, who would spend money and help jump start the economy again. I think it's quite simple really. However, Obama and Pelosi are exploiting people hatred of Bush to slip a nasty wasteful bill under the noses of America, and it really stinks. I had high hopes that Obama would honor what he said he'd do. I am really dissappointed at what I'm seeing. I hope he turns out not to be the liar and fraud that I'm beginning to fear he is at the moment. Socialism is a very very bad thing. The government can not run business better than they can do on their own. Government tends not to change or adapt to the rapidly changing market place, it will leave us with inefficient and unsustainable companies that will knock this country to it's knees. Please put your hatred aside and really think about this stimulus bill and do the right thing. We need a better more targeted stimulus package. We are only going to get one shot at this and we'd better get it right.
Posted by: Miguel | February 10, 2009 7:35 AM
This is what could be expected- nothing new. To every problem was the same answer: Throw large amounts of cash at them but don't actually change or fix anything at all. No deep thought or considerations from any creative inputs at all. Useless talk and trivia.
Posted by: tim | February 10, 2009 7:53 AM
Two items from the press conference last night stoood out for me.
!. The President did not once look straight into the camera and America's eyes to deliver his opening remarks. He used 2 side transponders for the message. He could have used a transponder which set directly next to the camera in the middle of the room. With this, I did not feel that he was talking to the American public.
2. If he is so insensed about the criticism of the plan, why did he let Pelosi and Reid write the legislation. His advisers should have written the bill.
I think that EVERY American wants Mr. Obama to succeed with foreign and domestic agendas. If not, this country is NOT worth its values and cultures!
Posted by: Alex Karason | February 10, 2009 7:59 AM
It's refreshing to listen to a President who actually sounds qualified for the job.
Posted by: Erik | February 10, 2009 8:22 AM
Saving jobs should come right after: putting long-term unemployed U.S. citizens back on the employed rolls. Obama should be collecting information on what these people can do, instead of only laying out his list of work to be done which would 'stimulate' the economy. Call it "crowd-sourcing" if you must. Obama needs to get off his high horse.
Posted by: unemployed | February 10, 2009 8:22 AM
Of course Obama "controls" the message.
Because his allies in the media make sure that Obama's message is the ONLY message that gets out.
Take the DNC Swamp as an example. When the GOP controlled the White House and Congress, the Swamp quoted Democrats 3 times as much as Republicans. Now that the Democrats control both, the Swamp is 5-1 Democrat. What can you say about a newspaper blog that is supposed to cover politics, but in its 150+ weeks of existence, has never had a week where it quoted Republicans more than Democrats?
There's no way Obama can lose this debate. Not because what he says makes any sense (it doesn't), but because a "debate' takes two sides, and the media will make sure to present only one side.
Posted by: Bruce | February 10, 2009 8:32 AM
I guess I am about the only one who was incredibly impressed by this press conference. So what if he gave long answers? I think he showed incredible intelligence and understanding of the issues in his responses. 100% better than his predecessor! I also think he built a very strong case for why this stimulus bill needs to get passed and I wish the Republicans would keep an open mind and listen to him and listen to the voices of the American people who are struggling in the worst way just to make ends meet, through no fault of their own!
Posted by: Katie | February 10, 2009 8:43 AM
It was chilling to see the President control the press like a grade school classroom. Everyone is so busy fawning over this guy that he's given carte blanche to control the press. Creepy.
And WHERE is the discussion over the nationalization of healthcare that is in this so-called Stimulus Pkg? The proposed Health Care "rules" will effect everyone in the U.S. A new bureaucracy will guide your doctor's decisions and will punish those physicians that aren't "meaningful users".
It will effectively bring U.K. healthcare here and eliminate freedom of choice. It effectively tells the elderly to kiss off.
STIMULUS??? I don't see no stinkin' Stimulus! I see government takeover of the healthcare industry, the Largest employer in the U.S. and one responsible for 17% of the GDP. Bloomberg has a good piece on this today.
www.bloomberg.com
Wake up!
Posted by: wheres the beef | February 10, 2009 8:47 AM
It was chilling to see the President control the press like a grade school classroom. Everyone is so busy fawning over this guy that he's given carte blanche to control the press. Creepy.
And WHERE is the discussion over the nationalization of healthcare that is in this so-called Stimulus Pkg? The proposed Health Care "rules" will effect everyone in the U.S. A new bureaucracy will guide your doctor's decisions and will punish those physicians that aren't "meaningful users".
It will effectively bring U.K. healthcare here and eliminate freedom of choice. It effectively tells the elderly to kiss off.
STIMULUS??? I don't see no stinkin' Stimulus! I see government takeover of the healthcare industry, the Largest employer in the U.S. and one responsible for 17% of the GDP. Bloomberg has a good piece on this today.
www.bloomberg.com
Wake up!
Posted by: wheres the beef | February 10, 2009 8:47 AM
Dear Just Wandering. First of all, you have your talking points mixed up. A US Senator does not have 'present' as a voting option. You have just proven that you don't even understand the criticism from the campaign trail.
Secondly, your memories must have been induced by oxycontin or some other drug, or else you could not have remembered him in DC, voting present.
Also, while you are just wandering, just wander your way over to a spell-checker, or at least finish middle school.
Posted by: Monty | February 10, 2009 9:01 AM
Disappointed that he chickened out at Helen's question about nuclear arms in the Mideast and it is telling.
He wouldn't embarass the Jewish constituency and Israel by pointing out the elephant in the room: only Israel has weapons of mass destruction in the Mideast.
So why not say it? Everyone knows it. It just made him look weak.
Posted by: Suburbanite | February 10, 2009 9:10 AM
Silva, if you are going to go with "only 14 questions answered" spin, you should offer the comparison to how many questions past Presidents average. Also, how long the pressers lasted. I sure don't remember either of the last 2 guys going for an hour!
Glad to see the red meat you throw to the Limbots is getting eaten up.
Posted by: Bill Lewis | February 10, 2009 9:14 AM
What a bunch of BS this press conference was! Everything was setup and it was obvious he knew what questions were coming. Why in the hell didn't he just go out there and make a speech and say what he wanted to. That is all he did anyway. When is everyone going to realize he is a fake just like that broad who was supposed to sing the nat'l anthem at the SB. Pathetic and we have to listen to this for 4 more years.
Posted by: quills | February 10, 2009 9:14 AM
tried sending checks to folks to "stimulate" the economy-didn't work (Obama=Bush III). Tried uncontrolled spending-didn't work (Bush III again). Tried tax cuts in the 80's with Reagan when the economy was in far worse shape than today-created 10 million new jobs. In a way, obama is right-quit repeating the failed policies of bush and go back to the successful ones of Reagan.
Posted by: ed | February 10, 2009 9:17 AM
DBX, re: the saluting . . .
The way it works is that the lower-ranking person salutes the higher-ranking and holds the salute until the higher-ranking returns the salute, at which time the lower-ranking may take his hand down. Yes, Obama is a civilian, but really he has a foot in both camps, being commander-in-chief and outranking every general or admiral in the service. The only difference as far as the military is concerned is that he didn't have to rise through the ranks.
Even so, Obama should crispen up his salutes a bit. He looks as though he's just shading his eyes there, or maybe hiding his face. That Marine could give him some pointers.
Posted by: DaveB | February 10, 2009 9:23 AM
boring. he gives the answer about how he wants to "create or save" 4 million jobs and not one reporter asks him what the hell that means. the president was awful but the press was worse.
Posted by: Ed | February 10, 2009 9:49 AM
I can't believe reporters were asking questions about Iran. Like we care right now.
Posted by: Joe | February 10, 2009 9:52 AM
You have to admit, isn't it refreshing to have a smart President again?
Posted by: Brian | February 10, 2009 9:54 AM
When he pauses, that's the brain telling him to look at the other teleprompter for his next remarkable sentence, ornery!
Posted by: springfield | February 10, 2009 10:19 AM
You're all so clever, so smart, so blind. Your prejudices (Republican/Democrat, conservative/progressive, whatever) blind you to the way you're being manipulated. Your arguments with each other are exactly what both major parties want. When you spend your energy fighting each other, you ignore the fact that both parties are morally bankrupt and completely corrupt; two sides of the same filthy coin. As long as you ignore this truth and continue to waste your effort by attacking each other, you continue to be ignorant, willing participants in the political rape of this country by both parties. Try thinking for yourselves. Stop being parrots.
Posted by: Toes | February 10, 2009 10:24 AM
"They were given a blank check by the past president and look where that got us?
It's only been 3 weeks, they had 8 years."
Hey there fool - Congress passed the laws, not Bush. But that wouldn't matter to you Kool-Aid drinkers.
Posted by: BDD | February 10, 2009 10:28 AM
What Obama is doing is trying to confuse people by answering questions using those big words those snobby college graduates understand. He even pronounces "nuclear" properly which is a sure sign of someone just too big for his britches. What we need is a president who can answer questions without actually saying anything, who makes up new words (a sign of creativity), mangles existing words (shows confidence -- he's the decider, he gets to decide how the word should be said and what it should mean), and of course, smirk when one of those uppity liberals asks a question that might require any thought. Also, any answer more than 16 words long is obviously an attempt to confuse Americans with short attention spans. Now, figure out a way to create jobs without creating work, give us stimulus without spending anything and don't even think about spending money on education or family planning. And remember, the more miserable Americans are, the cheaper they'll work.
Posted by: GOP USA | February 10, 2009 10:28 AM
Why is there no explanation attached to each section of the spending, (sorry stimulus) bill that describes not only who gets the check, but what they are expected to do with the money,will it create jobs? How many? Who will benefit? etc. etc. This is business 101. Without this info we will be unable to tell if it worked or not...oops. asked and answered. This is the kind of transparency that we talk about, but have yet to provide.
Posted by: Rick | February 10, 2009 10:44 AM
"Obama has to learn to put a bit more respect in his salutes. The picture makes him appear as if he is just doing it for a photo op; which is just wrong. He is now Commander in Chief. Be one!!"
Posted by: Hmmmm
He needs to drop the salute. It's another Reagan legacy we'd be better without. The President is Commander-in-Chief but he's a civilian commander, not military. He should keep his hands in his pockets.
Posted by: Doug | February 10, 2009 10:59 AM
President Barrack Hussein Obama is clearly the most ignorant USA President, and with each Press Conference he becomes an embarrasment to the Black Race, which has had great intellectuals like Malcolm X, Dr. King, and even Booker T. Washington could answer questions that are relevant to the American people. President Obama is clearly, just a "conservative white man," with "black face make-up," and doesn't give a damn about the plight of poor American citizens whether they be Black, Brown, or poverty striken whites! This "White Political Puppet, with "black face paint," needs to be impeached before he starts World War III, and puts 98% of Americans in Nazi styled Concentration Camps, because the American people are hungry and restless, which means that an American Revolution is definitely in the poor economic future.
Posted by: BLACK PANTHER | February 10, 2009 11:11 AM
Exactly! If he never spent a day in uniform, then he's a civilian.. He should keep his hands in his pockets, nod & keep moving..
Posted by: Whatever | February 10, 2009 11:15 AM
Hey, does anyone remember the first recession we had in this decade?
No?
Oh, that's right. We had a do-nothing president that allowed the economy to reverse it's downturn on its own which happened over the course of just a few months. I'm anxious to see how it will pan out this time around.
Posted by: Michael | February 10, 2009 11:33 AM
Posted by: John Van Aalst | February 10, 2009 12:22 AM
Obama's detractors accuse his supporters of creating a messiah, but then condemn him for not being one.
I guess George W. Bush was the messiah, huh? After all, look at all he's done.
1) Summoned hurricanes to destroy poor people in the south.
2) Caused world wide flooding, droughts, and devastating weather world-wide. This is due to the global warming caused during his administration.
3) Caused terriorists to attack the U.S. on her own soil, while cowardly hid in an elementry school classroom.
4) Single-handedly brought down the economy of the entire world.
You guys never cease to amaze me, with your incessant blaming G.W.B. and the republicans for everything bad that happens.
If the "Tarp Fund" had worked,
all the glory for it would have gone to Obama, due to his passing out the second half of it, thereby cleaning up the mess made during the last eight years.
Posted by: Jimmy Gray | February 10, 2009 11:48 AM
Barak is classless and a coward. The first thing the Bamster does is place blame for everything on someone else.
Never mind he was the single biggest gobbler of Fanny and Freddy money in the last four years. He packs his administration with Clintonoids who set up the policies that guaranteed the sub-prime fiasco when they threatened to sue lending institutions if they didn't make 40% of their loans to schlumps that couldn't qualify under the old rules. Did he ever question Fanny and Freddy's behavior after cashing their checks? He criticizes Bush for too much spending when both the House and the Senate were near 50/50 in representation. He has virtually veto proof majorities and all he can do is blame Republicans and whine. Oh... and how about that Q and A? He had a prepared list of uber-liberals to call on that were assured of throwing softballs and sports questions. Next time these "reporters" should just post their questions on-line at the same time they send them to the All-Knowing-One for his advanced approval. How about asking a question of someone who hasn't been slobbering on your shoes like an obedient lap dog begging for a scrap! Maybe they should kiss his ring before asking for permission to speak.
Posted by: ted brush | February 10, 2009 11:48 AM
Let's face it folk's they just don't get it,and havent for many many year's.It's like it's ok for them to be spend on all these thing's and after they don't work, no one is held accountable.And i really don't see that changing.The basic thing to me is,if it's broke go back to the basic's.Let's get the factory to return to the U.S. where they belong and doing that will take care of most of are problem's.
Posted by: Bob | February 10, 2009 12:01 PM
Disturbing that the President was vague. Last night was more like a campaign speech. Mr. Obama talked about what he wanted to talk and did not respond directly to questions. I was hoping for specifics, direct answers on the trillion dollars expenditures proposed. Disappointing!.
Posted by: Maleidys Hernandez | February 10, 2009 12:14 PM
How many times do we have to go to a bail out plan to learn that it doesn't work? Will the republicans and democrates ever truly work together?
No matter how much money they say they need for this stimulus to work it doesn't matter. It is not going to work. Apparently we don't learn from our mistakes.
What I learned last night is 1) President Obama isn't the articulate speaker I thought he was. 2) No one has to check facts before they are stated. This is not the worst unemployment figure since the Depression. The figure was higher in the 80's and in 1992 3) President Obama is not looking for bi-partisanship 4) It wasn't worth it to wait to hear Geitner speak. he really didn't say anything.
To all the democrates who think we republicans are waiting for Obama to fail. I truly hope he can do a good job unfortunately I am not seeing that happen. Maybe if people would leave race out of this and yes race is a part of it because we are still refering to him as the first Black President instead of the President we might bring him off the petastal and see he is just a man. And as for the first black president when will you all admit that he is not the first black president. He is half white. So before we jump all over everything he says and does let us get our facts right
Posted by: Susan Wood | February 10, 2009 4:40 PM