Here's how it looked from the Republican side of the aisle. "[House Minority Leader John] Boehner told us," a senior Republican recounted to me after the president's address on the financial crisis to a joint session of Congress, "'Behave, be cool, be nice, sit back, all smiles, no carping, no attacking the president, no trouble. For six months.' And everyone is cool with that. The morale is great. The old guys are into it as much as the young. We just sat there through the speech and smiled and nodded. There was only one time there might have been towel snapping, when he mentioned there were no earmarks in the stimulus bill. The boys got a little rowdy at that point. A little out of line. Could you hear it on the TV? They were a little rude. The president kept looking to the Democrats for the love, and then he would look at us to act smug, and we gotta out of line at that earmark mention."
A senior House Republican told me: "Bipartisan this and that, bipartisan anything. Go to the meetings, listen closely, shake hands. The president is a star. His financial team isn't. And he knows it."
The GOP House members are a randy, sophisticated, energetic lot, and they are eager for the contest with the young Obama administration and the Democratic House leadership. So far the House GOP has confidence that not only will they not be overrun by the Democratic hordes and their media cavalry but also that they are attracting the ears of the Republican voters who sense a phenomenon building from the ash-heap left by DeLay, Abramoff and the Rovian administration. The same young Republican members who voted twice "No" against the grotesque TARP plan and the false-tongued Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson in the 110th Congress are now joined by the old fogey leaders in the caucus already voting "No" twice to the gargantuan trillion-dollar Democratic stimulus plan with not a single Republican vote for it.
That was the "towel snapping" moment during the president's speech. Whether they are right or not, the GOP House members sense animal weakness in the Obama administration on just this point: that the stimulus plan won't work, that the polls show the American voters doubt it will work, and that the Obama administration is clumsily defensive and prickly because they cannot demonstrate it will work. Hence the strange line, "No one messes with Joe," in Obama's speech, as if Joe Biden will be the enforcer of the stimulus trillions. "Joe Biden is just another back-slapping senator who no one dislikes," said senior House Republican told me, laughing and dismissing the question. "The most you can say is that he might be nutty."
"I feel sorry for him sometimes," confided a senior Republican House member about President Obama. "He invited us over to the White House to explain to us how the stimulus plan is working, and how the budget is going to work, and he spoke to us a couple of times. He doesn't act like he knows what's going on with the economy. He's so afraid of confrontation, when you challenge him, he backs off, like he doesn't know the right answer. Who does? That's why you kinda feel sorry for him. Not his guys, they don't act like they know. Do they notice the stock market sinking? Who doesn't? There's this sense of disarray. The administration is made up of a lot of Number twos. The only one with any gravitas is [David] Axelrod. Geithner? He looks like he's 12-years-old, or a grad student. The president is like a perfect vice president. That's what the big speech was like. A vice president was talking."
In the White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit the day before the speech, the bipartisan House and Senate members broke up into working groups assigned by the White House, and in the group on taxes, led by Secretary Geithner and Council of Economic Advisers chief Christina Romer, there were many senior politicians. According to my source, the voice that pushed back hardest against Geithner's facilitator remarks was Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel. This points to the possibility that the young administration is not just troubled by the rascally GOP House, but also by the crafty lions on its own side. "Nancy Pelosi has a problem that Harry Raid does not," it was explained to me. "The Black Caucus and the big guys like [Jim] Clyburn and [Charlie] Rangel. Rangel lectured Geithner. Afterward there was joking that Geithner looks like he takes a Razor Scooter to work."
Asked about the president's soaring approval ratings, the senior Republican said, "Yeah, he's really popular, like in the '70s, but it's his personal approval rating. On his handling of the economy, he's down around 60 and sinking. That's why we won't attack him. We praise him. Bipartisan this and that, bipartisan anything. Go to the meetings, listen closely, shake hands. The president is a star. His financial team isn't. And he knows it. When he protested that his stimulus bill was going to create all these green jobs, he was told back, what's that do for a machinist in the UAW who just got his job yanked? And the president smiled and laughed sympathetically and said, 'I was just joking with you.'"
I reminded my source that once upon a time in the Great Depression, during the very month of March of FDR's inauguration in 1933, Hollywood produced a wonderful fairy tale called Gabriel Over the White House, in which a pleasant, back-slapping, nonconfrontational President Jasper Hammond, played by the vivacious Walter Huston, piles up his car in a joy ride, and while recovering from the accident is visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who inspires the president to lead without fear. The reawakened Jasper Hammond fires the hack Cabinet, discards Congress and the courts, and assumes dictatorial powers to confront a million-man unemployed army march on the Capitol, face down machine-gun-toting gangsters who attack the White House, and challenge the war-mongering nations who owe the US war debts. He is a wunderkind on the new medium of the national radio broadcast, and the people are inspired by him so much they regain their pride and promise.
"No, no, no, that ain't Obama," said my best GOP House source. "Inspiration is not what you hear from the president. The one thing that comes across from being in the chamber with him is, that the thing you felt with Clinton, it's not there, there's no magic. The Democrats don't feel it and we sure don't. The president didn't earn what he's got, and no one's afraid of him... Dictatorial power? Fascist. That'll be the day. No one's worried about what he's going to do. People applaud. What's it mean? "
John Batchelor is radio host of the John Batchelor Show in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Vince P1974, please run to the nearest psychiatric hospital and check yourself in. On what do you base your groundless accusations. It is obvious that you have never read a word about Obama or his commitment to fixing what is wrong with America. From your comments, it is also obvious that you yourself are part of what is most wrong with America. Who do you think brought about the collapse that is now in progress? Who stole the election in 2000 and then reigned for 8 years which saw the country flip flop from having the largest surplus to the largest deficit in record time? Who? Who? Obama is trying to re-establish the America of old. A place where there is some sort of liberty and balance instead of masters and slaves. You and your sort are the biggest problem of all, VinceP1974.
Thank you, James Reid, I agree. Republicans are indeed neanderthal ideologues who refuse to accept responsibility for the mess they themselves created. Reagan was wrong!!! A most apt description!
This President is a Collectivist. Whatever flavor he's able to manifest is just a matter of details. He's spent his whole life in the Marxist Left and he surely pushing the govt in that direction. And like Alinsky Cloward Piven advise what he's going to do is get as many people on Govt Welfare as posssible... get them all depedent on the Govt,.. meanwhile be sure the debt and deficit grow larger and larger until the whole thing collapses. That is what he means by Remake America. And the stupid GOP shows no indication of being aware of this. The Republicans are idiots.. Obama is out to destroy the United States and they're worried about polls. God help us.
After reading the many miserable comments in this thread, I vowed to myself to never speak in generalities again. Neither Democrats or Republicans are all idiots in their own reality. Neither side generally refuses to work for the good of the country. And by the way, The Beast is neither generally conservative nor liberal, even though I myself have thought that to be true. The Beast called out Chris Matthews the day after it let Katty Kay worship Obama.
The point of this article is that there is an undercurrent of people who believe Obama is in over his head, and that he is vulnerable to being led by Congress. Is this true? Yes, that opinion is out there. Is their opinion correct? We don't know yet, but in politics, perception is unfortunately often reality. There was a great post that said "I voted for Obama, but something isn't right with the guy. If you aren't in love with him, you will see it." Call it a perception of something that may be ignored by others, but I agree that there is something going on. My money is on this: being president this round is a miserable, scary, debilitating burden, and he is being pulled in several directions like he has never experienced before. I believe that he shows a lot of stress privately, and he works hard now to put on the confident face of the guy who campaigned with nothing to lose. Many people can tell. Add that to the facts that he is a guy who never ran a company, never won re-election, was never active on a Congressional committee, was never active in the government of any district prior to running for Senate, and people like me begin to worry. In the worst time in history to be president of the United States, I would personally prefer someone with those experiences. If the vote came between Obama and Hillary, I would have voted for Hillary.
There is nothing wrong with the Republican Party keeping Obama on the straight and narrow. The problem is they have gotten so far out of practice themselves that a very, very, very long period of quiet reflection is required.
We need both sides of the political spectrum. But the current mess is the direct result of Republican policies. They can blame NO ONE ELSE.
Before the Republicans start to complain about what Obama lacks... shall we think back about the last president we had. Next to Bush... he is indeed "Obama on High".
There are many intelligent conservative arguments to be made... this is not one of them. Why is this article here?
The Daily Beast may soon have to change it's name to The Daily Bullshit.
This article, along with contributions by Avlon and McKinnon, are inarguably fringe, if not flat out lies.
There's nothing more one can really say, although I'll add one thing - Is the Daily Best the Repub answer to HuffPo?
Ain't it wunnerful!! All of you pseudo intellectuals commenting and positing your upchuck here have made it obvious that your blind faith turns to blind rage when you don't have the skills to comprehend a true argument.
The Repubs don't have much choice than to stand as watchmen and women on behalf of the other half of the populace that believe a small government, with support for small businesses, is the true manner to grow economically and extend the American dream for all who care to partake. Think of the boon that would occur if businesses conducted the business of the State and government was simply relegated to the administration of government
Get government out of the business better managed by businesses!!.
"He is winging it?" The only president that winged through 8 years and still loved by half of the Republican is GW Bush. Every time I saw him speak or dealing with foreign dignities in public he is so scare and clueless (thus disguised it with his fake Taxas swagger). It was so painful to watch that man, ignorant perhaps but not evil, spoke for our country. Perhaps not all of Obama's effort to rescue the economy will be successful, but Obama is genuine, honest, and trying to make his administration as transparent as possible. The American people see that but unfortunately, most Republicans are trapped in the old oppositional politics and cannot see the true nature of Obama. It's their loss. They will continue their 2 year old toddler style NO NO NO temper tantrum (hope I did not offend all the two year olds). Let them follow leaders like Papa Rush, Joe the plumber, anti-science Jindel, and speak-in-tongue Palin who will march them to the next defeat. Hallelujah!!
A badly written with anonymous half quotes and wishful thinking and no critical analysis at all. Wait, I forgot, the Republican is incapable of rational and critical thinking (that's why they slept through 8 years of big spender Bush and Imperial expansionism) . The last quotted senior GOP leader is laughable. He feel sorry for Obama because he does not know the answer to the mess created by the Republican administration? Please feel sorry for your own intellectual bankruptcy and dishonest. It such a joke when he said that Obama's team has a lot of Number Twos, when Bush used nothing but fundamentalist ideologues graduated Rigis university. That's a lot of Number 100th. I truly hope that they carried on with this childish antic, let their spokesmen: crazy Rush, ignorant Joe the plumber, anti-science Jindal, and speaking-in-tongue Palin to continue to represent the conservative "philosophy" to the nation. The worst thing for Obama is to have some grown-up, matured, thoughtful Republican who can present a sound counter-argument and to lead the Republican out of the wood. But as long as they are so scare of Papa Rush, noone will emerge. And I say thank God for that!
With all due respect, "you're a wingnut" is not necessarily a response to the Republicans' views on Obama. In truth, Democrats understand very little about Republicans. Their viewpoints are laden with stereotypes and anger.
The truth for Republicans is that Obama has many weaknesses. IMO his most serious is his approach to our economy. He's more community activist than prudent caretaker. Blow it all up. Empower the poor. Redistribute the wealth. Punish the slumlords (bankers/traders). Government to the rescue.
The US economy is not a Chicago inner city.
Quoting: "...that the polls show the American voters doubt it (the stimulus) will work...."
Another wingnut pulling facts out of his nether regions to support his point of view. In fact, the polls show the opposite--not only are they optimistic about the stim package, they are optimistic about BHO's performance as prez after all of this is over.
neocons,
when the comments seemed to level off, I thought that perhaps people didn't have any more time to waste on nonsense like this with such serious problems going on in the world.
You no doubt heard the rallying cry to post here from Batchelor's blog or "real barack obama" or some other neocon site.
welcome!
I would simply remind you that it was not Barack Obama who almost destroyed the world economy on September 18th, 2008.
http://tinyurl.com/ct4ono
Do you remember those days? When your candidate told us that the fundamentals of the economy were strong?
I'd also remind you that it was not Barack Obama that LOST $12 BILLION dollars in Iraq. Interesting that didn't bother you guys...what's a few billion between friends?
http://tinyurl.com/dgk69k
Peter0000: "Winning an election has not won a Nation. He still works for all Americans and can be fired."
********************************
Yes, a "mandate" can be given and taken away. Not everyone is convinced.
All this GOP-bashing must mean that Obama needs defending. Badly.
FactCheck.org has a review of Obama's speech. It's classic Obama. He's a little off here, a little off there. It all sounded so good, though, that folks won't really care. Well, some will.
http://www.factcheck.org/politics/fact-checking_obamas_speech.html
Right on AndreainNY!
Winning an election has not won a Nation. He still works for all Americans and can be fired.
Obama's supporters are in full defensive mode right now. All this outrage at people who question Obama is amusing. I thought, for sure, they'd be less outraged when Bush left office, but, no, they're still at it.
The Republicans' instincts are right on Obama. They shouldn't worry about being the party of "No". That's self-serving Democratic rhetoric. In fact, lots of people are unsure about Obama's neverending and expensive policy changes.
Just because he won doesn't mean everyone believes he knows what he's doing.
Go GOP!
Heed not the wimpers of the snot nosed obamabots.
The demoncrats poll numbers are plummeting regardless of the empty rhetoric and flowery p**sy oration. The negative consequences of this new government is the greatness of America and our new strategy of rewarding failure.
'Ain't it wunnerful!! All of you pseudo intellectuals commenting and positing your upchuck here have made it obvious that your blind faith turns to blind rage when you don't have the skills to comprehend a true argument.
The Repubs don't have much choice than to stand as watchmen and women on behalf of the other half of the populace that believe a small government, with support for small businesses, is the true manner to grow economically and extend the American dream for all who care to partake. Think of the boon that would occur if businesses conducted the business of the State and government was simply relegated to the administration of government
Get government out of the business better managed by businesses!!. '
Ain't it wunnerful!! All of you pseudo intellectuals commenting and positing your upchuck here have made it obvious that your blind faith turns to blind rage when you don't have the skills to comprehend a true argument.
The Repubs don't have much choice than to stand as watchmen and women on behalf of the other half of the populace that believe a small government, with support for small businesses, is the true manner to grow economically and extend the American dream for all who care to partake. Think of the boon that would occur if businesses conducted the business of the State and government was simply relegated to the administration of government
Get government out of the business better managed by businesses!!.
I believe even claiming a "perception" of Obama as weak is a huge mistake by the GOP.
Whistling in the dark to comfort your fright only tells the wolf to come eat you.
It's interesting, that pretty much the minority Republicans are using the same tactics that the minority Democrats used 8 yrs ago. Simply said, that's the only thing that a minority party can do, unless the majority party allows their input (which obviously, the dems, despite rhetoric of bipartisanship, don't want to do).
Please someone explain how the earmarked stimulus package is going to address the problems with the frozen credit market?
conservatives live in the world of the past. they won't live today's events for several months or even years.
Reading this, I felt like the author was painting an alternate reality. I was waiting for the punch-line, assuming this was a humor piece. When I recognized that the author and his anonymous "sources" weren't joking -- I found myself terribly frightened that our leaders in Congress can be this disconnected from reality. Please -- stick to the radio and never write again.
I just threw up
This is unreal - these guys just don't get it. They're so blinded by the game they don't give a **** about getting things done. I really don't understand how they think people aren't going to remember the massive spending bills THEY racked up over the last 8 yrs, the hundreds of billions they handed over in worthless contracts to their corporate sponsors, and so forth. With their track record running things, how the hell do they expect anyone to listen to them at all?
Now they have the balls to play petty politics during the worst financial crisis in nearly 100 years. Talk about hubris
Ain't it wunnerful!! All you pseudo intellectuals commenting and positing your upchucked special ingredients and smelling up the place.
The Repubs don't have much choice, other than to be watchful, on behalf of the electorate that believes less government and more support of independent businesses are the solution to our economic woes.
Dear God,
I voted for Obama and have since vowed never to vote for another Democrat. There's no CHANGE? What a joke? Look at the stimulus bill and tell me where there are any Republican fingerprints - where's the bipartisanship I was promised?
That stench is coming from their armpits.
I agree that something's not right about Obama. If you're not in love with him, you can see it. He's winging it, and he doesn't have the depth to quite pull it off.
His followers will, of course, disagree and defend him like good soldiers. But something's off with this guy.
Precisely because these very unsophisticated Republicans lack subtlety, what they perceive as weakness is Obama's smooth, smiley, let-me-charm-em good nature and a tendency to back away from arm-twisting and direct confrontation. The commentator (by all accounts John Boehner) states that nobody is afraid of Obama. For these people, following the Dick Cheney mantra, fear is the only way to govern. These Republicans fail to read between the lines and see beyond the obvious: behind Obama's smile is a very tough, very calculating and supremely confident personality with iron will; he himself may take the high-ground of smiles, cocktail parties and handshakes ( and hugs), but underneath, he will use his advisors and his network to undermine and possibly destroy his adversaries. He did this in the primaries and in the general election. He did it (albeit belatedly) during the battle for his stimulus package. He will do it again and again. If I were this Republican, I would very much fear Obama. If you do not, you fall into his trap. As Shakespeare said, "One may smile and smile and be a villain"--in the President's case, he smiles and smiles and will crush you to achieve his goals . No wonder the President lived in Asia; his governing style is Oriental in its nature. ( I say all of this in a very good way; I am an ardent and passionate supporter of the President--and more power to him!)
John I agree with you on some points, but what I think you sense as weakness perceived by the GOP regarding the President is a contempt they possess for an innocent unflappable swagger he displays. This and the fact that there appears to be a few weaker links in his cabinet, in particular Tim Geithner, the architect of his economic plan.
Rahm Emanuel is perfect for the good cop bad cop posturing required to support the President, but Tim Geithner the GOP perceives, doesn't have the fire in the belly, to offset the poise of the President; he doesn't have the stomach necessary for the political pageantry to convince people of his plan for their economy.
"In politics, as one suspects in life, no good deed goes unpunished"; This is a quote from Bill Kristol, which I think is an opinion most in the GOP possess, and like rust that never sleeps they are always vigilant to prove this. They see the world as they choose to believe it, and they are unyielding to prove it, as declared by Michael Steele, who if you get in his way, without benefit of a shout-out, he'll just mow you down.
While I hear what your saying, I can only hope John Axelrod, and Rahm Emanuel, are aware of the weaker links perceived in the chain by the GOP, and have a plan to offset their undue diligence.
The chatter about a bill to cap Federal spending in the House appears to be the GOP's philosophy of schadenfreude in action; and their first well planned attempt to truncate the President's stimulus bill. If this passes it could almost guarantee its failure which for them would equal their success.
All I read in this article is : "From what I heard, According to my source, Someone told me that" there is no facts.
And I am not american but it hurt to see you (Republicans) like this.
If you wanna b in power, in charge in the USA Stop taking people for idiots and face the reality about why the people didn't put you in charge not only this election but also in 2006.
the day you answer this question and you admit your mistakes not only to your self but also to the people may be it will be the way to recovery.
Also Stop criticizing the Dems and start Working building something.
I hope that the theory of the russian professor doesn't come true because from what I see now the USA is going to disolve to dems states and repub states.
The GOP's sense of smell is as bad as their vision & touch.
Most Democrats live in a "lala "land that isn't connected to reality. That's why they're so easily fooled. Everytime anyone confronts them with facts they get scared and start throwing insults. It's sad and very, very sick.
Something like 70-80% of viewers liked his speech to Congress, and his approval ratings are sky-high, while those of Republicans are sinking. And yet the Republicans sense weakness in him!
The biggest threat to the United States right now is not Al Qaeda or the Taliban, or loose Pakistani nukes; it is the nihilist, fundamentalist creep show that is the Republican Party.
I do not perceive humility as weakness. This point would seem to be my main disagreement with this article.
Iamadog - I agree. This sounds like a reasonable strategy, frankly. Boehner did tell everyone to be supportive. I think their strategy is to give him all the rope he wants, and see what happens. The Dems have made it clear that they will force policy through, anyway. Obama does look weak occasionally, and he did seem more amateur than presidential. Even GW....wait, I caught myself! GW was a terrible speaker, smirky, and sometimes dismissive or condescending. But "nobody messes with Joe"? The speech seemed much more like Prime Minister's Questions in the UK than a US presidential address. Maybe that is ok, but it sure didn't seem to be what we are accustomed to. I thought the VP comment was a good way to put it, actually. If Obama succeeds, I don't care what it looks like when he addresses Congress.
This is the same John Batchelor who tried to attack Obama with the whole Rezko, Ayers, PLO terrorist link during the campaign. Just watch it on youtube back in February 2008. Just look at his composure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIVaDKqDrmU
He's on Fox news regularly attacking Obama, just youtube him. I don't like to judge someone based on looks, but if looks are any indication of this guy's character he seems a bit nuts. I'm surprised the daily beast actually allows this guy to write for them, they've lost me as a reader.
I sincerely hope that everything this fool says is exactly true. I pray that this is the Republican strategy. Only then is progress possible.
I agree with the sentiment that the best thing the GOP can do is shut up & sit this one out.Wheeling out Gomer Pyle to rebut the President didn't come remotely close to working.
Lousy column, btw!
I also enjoyed an earlier comment that said "What part of 80% mandate do you not understand?"
I don't even know that that means, or who in the history of our country had an 80% mandate. Other than George Washington, I guess.
A whole lot of hate from the "friendly" side of the aisle. Just sayin'.
Ilikepigeons
"The GOP House members are a randy, sophisticated, energetic lot," HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA wait.....HAHAHAHAHAHAH. What a bunch of ignorant morons!! LMAO!!
You write like that and you "like pigeons". Hmm.
Oh, please, the Republicans and Republican pundits are scared stiff. They know that Obama will outthink, outlast, and outplay every one of them.
Take a deep breath people. In 2,3,4,5,6,7......hold 2,3,4,5,6,7 and out 2,3,4,5,6,7.
There. Doesn't that feel better?
I love all this talk about the GOP "hoping for Obama to fail" as an evil or somehow unpatriotic strategy. If I remember correctly W wasn't even inaugurated before the Dems started to actively seek to destroy his presidency with the help of the media. Remember? Of course not because now it's your guy getting what he deserves.
Yeah, Obama won as he loves to repeat but that doesn't mean he gets the power to do as he pleases and everyone can just shut up while he borrows trillions from our children.
The GOP should let the Unicorn Rider sink or swim based on his and Pelosi's tragic plan for our economy. Why should they help him socialize the US?
P.S. He didn't earn his spot, he snatched it from Hillary who really did pay her dues - but of course I don't like her either so who cares? I'm as qualified to be president as Obama the guy is an empty suit.
Post your rants but you'll see (but of course never admit) when the smoke clears that Obama and his team of groupies are inept rookies.
The GOP is in trouble and needs to stay in trouble. Jindle's comments were the same vacuous lines that every repub repeats. It's nothing new and not what the country needs. They are fighting the today's democrats with tactics from the past. Americans don't want spin, they want progress and solutions.
"The GOP House members are a randy, sophisticated, energetic lot," HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA wait.....HAHAHAHAHAHAH. What a bunch of ignorant morons!! LMAO!!
& voila- the republicans demonstrate why they have no credibility: not only do they not know how to run the country, they do not know that they do not know. If this is truly their take on current circumstances then instead of using the next six months pretending to be interested in bipartisanship they should spend it working on their resumes, as half of them will be looking for new jobs in 2010.
The upper 5% (over $156,000 per year) of the 138 million taxpayers pay 60% of the roughly $1.25 trillion in Federal Income Tax collected in 2007. In order to collect the additional $500 billion to shrink the budget deficit Obama and the Congress would have to raise these people taxes by 66%. Clearly Democratic Congress has the votes to do this drastic action. Let's hope they don't.
The top 10% of taxpayers, those making over $106,000 per year pay 70% of the federal income tax. To raise this $500 billion to reduce the budget deficit this group of individuals taxes would have to rise by 55%. That seems to severe.
To make the budget more balanced we also need to reduce spending along with increasing income taxes and find other revenue sources. These sources could include consumption taxes, gasoline taxes and new user taxes on bank loans and bank deposits and healthcare.
If the government wants more it can't simply come from taxing the rich. This is the story the class warfare politicians would like to tell you, but the numbers don't add up.
Perhaps, there are limits to growth and government can't provide everything we want. What did people do in the 1980 recession? By all accounts it was much more severe than the one we are experiencing. At that time there was 12% unemployment and 16% interest rate and double digit inflation. Maybe American really have become "girly men", they expect something for nothing and they taken comfort and success as a given.
The health and revitalization of economy is not a Democratic or Republican issue, but it seems too partisan to ever have the interests of all Americans satisfied. Remember Obama won with 53% of the popular vote and really means that he should rule from the center rather from the fringe.
wow, you can't get to a clue from here.
8:23 pm, Feb 25, 2009
Batchelor smeared Obama during the campaign:
http://tinyurl.com/3e5hze
Now he shares the bold GOP strategy:
"If the GOP is really lucky, the economy will be destroyed and then the GOP will regain control of power!"
Great plan.
Also, I'm so glad you're raising up a new generation of young neocons. Where would we be without visionaries like this? Thanks for that.
Better make sure you don't accidentally behave responsibly and try to help out the country or anything like that. Remember, what's good for America is bad for the GOP.
Just another example of how truly delusional the Republicans are. Can you say "Bobby Jindal"?
America to GOP: F U.
We don't need your smug "I hope he fails" garbage around here. You value party over country, and we've caught on to it. Some of us actually want things to get better. You want things to be so bad you can get back to deceiving people into voting against their own interests.
Seriously: F U.
Well well well...the GOP is up to their old tricks and they are arragant enough to flaunt their decision to stonewall the new President and his leadership. Why am I not surprised? It will be this type of conflict that will finish what the Bush administration started.. the destruction of the middle class. I wonder if these good ole boys have thought far enough down the road to what will become of their wealth once we are gone? Well it doesn't matter because this is a new world we have the internet and hopefully the papparazzi will start following these cads around with a camera make sure its on you tube so, We the People can show them the door!!!
You wish... in your dreams.
A lot of Democrats seem to be mean-spirited, horrible winners. The guy you all wanted is now in office. Since he has never run anything and has never stayed in the same job for more than 3 years, he will probably make a fair amount of mistakes. A lot of Americans do not agree with the direction that he appears to be taking. Likewise, there are a lot of Americans who are feeling less confident about out prospects for a timely economic recovery. Some of us hope that the Republicans can manage to find some integrity and fight against some of the plans of Obama and the Democrats. Just hoping that's alright with you ever so tolerant liberals out there.
The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget
The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget
New headline:
Republicans Smell
I think the unnamed source betrayed himself with his six-month timeline for Obama's decline. John Boehner has been talking about the public losing patience in six months if the situation doesn't improve. This lapse, plus the decidedly inarticulateness of the speaker--leads to the conclusion that Boehner is the man. Boehner himself, with his penciled-in eyebrows (they remind me of Joe Pesci's character in JFK), his fake tan, courseness, lack of culture and everything else that is not very complimentary--conjures up the image not of weakness, but of comedy. The Republican Party leaders are members of the Adams Family. There is Mama Grizzly Palin, the Indian Don Knots (not Don Rickles--got them confused)Jindal, Barbie's father--in-law Boehner, Mitch Duck-Bill McConnell, and who else? I think I'm missing many here. Anyways, I agree with Emmazon--this is truly a comedy piece.
Who is this nut, and what planet does he live on? What fantasy drug is he taking? Who is he talking to? What does he read and what poll is he looking at? How long has he confused wishful thinking with reality? Since when does an Alice in Wonderland piece of nonsense pass for journalism? Just how much cynicism, Machiavellian posturing and evil can one person dish out? Jesus Christ. Is this really what the world is coming to, with people like this passing themselves as somehow principled?
Get lost.
It's so nice that the Republicans can still comfort each other by blowing smoke up each other's butts and whispering their secret tactic to John Batchelor! Wow, this is great inside stuff - telling us that the Republicans still think they are the only ones that really know what's going on. I feel SO safe and secure that they have this well-thought-out strategy for gaining the upper hand, because really who needs things like health care coverage for more Americans, alternative energy, JOBS??? Meanwhile the majority of the American people continue to be supportive of President Obama and are looking at these neanderthal neo-cons like some kind of historic museum exhibit. And, even from the rear view mirror they continue to look pretty damn repulsive.
Let's hear it for the brainless trust on the smug losing side of the aisle! Good, you blowhards keep smiling - guess you've got President Obama right where you want him, just like John McCain did during the campaign! And, by the way, Republicans like Boehner, McConnell, McCain and Cant-or will NEVER "be cool."
Really, isn't this a comedy piece?
so the Republican strategy is to hope the economy fails? ANd then blame Obama? DOnt you think the public will remember that it was BUSH and conservative republican GREED (corruption/gaming the market etc) mixed with deregulation (firing the police) that crashed the global economy to begin with?
The Democrats may not have the answer but the Republicans ARE THE PROBLEM
Yawn... The consistentcy of the GOP response to the power shift is getting boring. The GOP have always been better spin-masters than the Dems, and their out giving it their all, but their message is just so empty right now. I am really surprised that rather than truly allow a new idea or leader to emerge that they seem to be retreating further and further into themselves all the while trying to pretend like its a real plan or that they have confidence about it. Its like a person struggling in a rip tide saying, "I don't need help, I'm doing great just getting a little exercise here." Come on guys, you can do better than that. Stop all the excuses and pretending like attacking and being "no" to everything is actually a party strategy. Why not try and find the real principles of the party again instead of just talking about them? Rush has always been a bag of hot air so following his lead will never get you back to a real agenda. And I just hope you find a real centeralist conservative position that people can actually get behind and represents a real alternative to the Dems right now and not fall back on the extremists fringes that seem to be having their day.
The quotes from the unnamed Republican sound like they come from a Hillbilly--filled with sentence fragments and littered with "ain'ts" for decoration. This is Republican Gruntsville at its finest. These people are absolutely delusional--just look at the Indian Don Rickles they put up as their shining star last night; I have been arguing on for the past few days now that this Jindal character is going absolutely nowhere. He will virtually disappear in a few years time. Even if he were an intellectual and political dynamo (which he isn't not in this or any other incarnation for that matter), he simply doesn't have what the French call "physique du role"--or roughly, the right appearance for the part. Sorry to say, the guy is comical. President of the United States? Not in anybody's life time. But this is what Rethugican Gruntsville comes up with. And Obama is weak. Yeah, tell another one. That one is very bad.
Leaving aside for the moment what he wrote: I don't understand why I'm supposed to care what this guy has to say. If I want to hear fact-free "Obama sucks" commentary from a radio host, I know where to find it. I read the Daily Beast because presumably someboy has selected the content and judged it worthy of my time--decided that I will come away better informed. Columns like this just make me question that assumption.
Right now the Republican Party is guilty of myopia and selective memory. That they helped build the house of cards that has jus come tumbling down around us never gets acknowledged. You'd thinnk they were away on vacation while that was all happening, instead of in the majority in Congress.
And if I hear once more that the cure-all for our ills is lowering corporate taxes and those on the rich, I WILL upchuck. Those two "levers" were in full use for 8 years. What are the NEW ideas that will move us forward and UPward?
Right now the GOP is bankrupt of ideas, right-leaning to the point of lunacy and bereft of real leadership as the Jindal presentation made clear. (WHO thought he was ready to tangle on the national stage? Perhaps the same conservative fringe that inflicted Palin on us.) Sorry Rush et al., but you are laughable right now. Time to regroup and find vision somewhere in your leadership so you can be credible in 2012 -- but not now.
ROTFLMAO Are you serious? Do they let you drive in your state? LOL What about 80% Mandate do YOU not understand or do you live in a never never land where if you repete something enough it will come true? Jindal was their big gun for that fight your talking about and what do I hear today?
..........Jindal's proposal for creating jobs is "lowering income tax rates for working families, cutting taxes for small businesses and strengthening incentives for businesses to invest in new equipment and hire new workers and stabilizing home values by creating a new tax credit for homebuyers." But here's the problem: the credit markets are frozen. As a result, businesses aren't investing, small businesses aren't hiring and people are losing their jobs or can't find new ones. Americans are hurting and are looking for answers. They didn't get anything new, innovative or imaginative from Jindal.....
You people just don't get it.
The Republicans have been reminding me of a bunch of angry little boys who are picking up their toys and leaving because they don't like what's going on. It's despicable behavior in a time of international crisis.
So John Batchelor, whose resume includes numerous failed radio gigs, championing the "anybody but McCain" cause, spearheading the Obama-Resko "connection", and promoting Palin as the key to bringing "Reagan Democrats" back to the Republican party, is claiming Obama is showing weakness.
That can only mean that Obama is more powerful than ever.
Did you even read what you wrote before you submitted this article? You have a complete lack of grasp of your own thoughts. You're all over the place.
LauraNo -
You're flat wrong. In theory and propoganda, the package is "earmark free," but it contains dozens of narrowly defined programs that send money to specific areas or cater to special interests, despite Obama's pledge to pass "an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects." For example, $50 million has been allocated for habitat restoration and other water needs in the San Francisco Bay area; $62 million for military projects in Guam; $500 million for biofuel makers, which Dem Rep. Braleysays put in "to bring jobs home to Iowa"; and $198 million to compensate Filipino World War II veterans "for their service"-most don't live in the U.S. Care for more examples? Stop being delusional and partisan and sit down and read the doc yourself.
"A vice-president was talking."
"Inspiration is not what you hear from the president."
"There's no magic."
Seriously.
There is, I'm sure, an intelligent, articulate, reasoned, and sensible case to be made against President Obama and his policies. There is also, I'm sure, an intelligent, articulate, reasoned, and sensible article to be written about said case.
I will be very interested to read both.
The GOP can go to hell and eat s*** if this is the attitude they perpetuate.
The entire country, better yet, the world is in debt and this is what they think. Dumb! But yet and still Bush was a great President. Idiots. Keep talking Republicans because the general populace is like the Federal Reserve...losing interest.
"... the senior Republican said, "Yeah, he's really popular, like in the 70s, but it's his personal approval rating. On his handling of the economy, he's down around 60 ..."
Oh, that must be the same 60% approval rating that, when applied to GOP darling Sarah Palin, indicates her formidable popularity with Alaskan voters.
Oh, no, sorry - it's the 60% that when remarked upon by 'senior Republicans' with respect to a Democratic President, of course means he's hated by virtually every American.
Sheesh. This Batchelor guy and everyone he quotes is just too venal for words.
The phrase is "rearing up to fight" (as a horse or other four-legged animal might). Rarin(g) up to fight is hillbilly talk.
BullSh*t!!! I liked Krugman's "Beavis and Butthead" analogy for Republican politics. The GOP will be down to a handful of seats after 2012. I can hardly wait to organize to defeat them. Neanderthal ideologues who refuse to accept any responsibility. Reagan was wrong!!!
Seat Al Franken NOW - no way he'll be as bad as "W" - their "elected" president. Greed and selfishness is all we can count on Republicans for.
So let me get this straight. The GOP's strategy is just to wait for O to fail, without offering up any solutions of their own? fiddle while Rome burns.. incredible
I'm disappointed in this article--it presents its own argument as fact. There's no evidence to support it. It's just more obtuse and irrelevant Republican rant, twisting of facts, and misunderstanding of events.
"Inspiration is not what you hear from the president."
Is this guy living on the same planet as the rest of us? Probably the same planet where monitoring volcanoes is a waste of money....
Sweet jeebus.
Oh yea....poor little Obama is cowering on the floor before the massed financial intellects of Boehner, El Rushbo and Cantor. Meanwhile back at the ranch financial and economic neophytes Larry Summers, Sheila Bair, Tim Geithner, Romer, Orzag, are still looking for their calculators. Personally I believe the aforementioned Boner, Rushbo and Cantor would have a hard time telling you the difference between a CDS and a CDO....as would most American experts in the media on this crisis. I'd love to know who the senior house Republican was....Darrell Issa. This is hilarious.
fraking idiots
Sahas24
When Obama had the nerve to say that there would be "no earmarks in the stimulus bill," I was stunned. Why does he keep lying? If he had to "pay to play" in order to get elected, why can't he just acknowledge that fact--or at the very least stop acting like we don't know what's going on?
You should probably look up the definition of 'earmark'. There were none.
This stuff is senseless nonsense. I just see the GOP being completely out of touch with reality. If they think the American people are going to sit around while a handful of power hungry politicians bicker about 1 % of the stimulus package- lordy. Get to work , everyone up there. We need more representation of the people, not the power.
This whole thing is wishful thinking. Obama is a formidable opponent and they don't know what to do. I heard that only 10% of a polling group liked the tax cut for business talk. Americans not only want, but expect, government to step up. This leaves the republicans with nothing to offer.
Batchelor, what you're smelling is your own FEAR! Fear that the plan will work and then you guys are even more screwed then you are now, and Souther Swamps, which is the only place in the country where you are still relevant.
Quit bitching, get some work done - I've been waiting my entire adult life for Washington to organize our country so we can progress but the only accomplishment that occurs is advancement for the DC hub.
It is time for term limits. States should sponsor the reps by providing housing too. A few simple changes and the ridiculous game playing at our expense would end. While we're "cleaning up" banking, why not DC?
Loyal opposition is one thing. But let's face it, the republicans are feeling very threatened right now, so some good old-fashioned bully bravado is just the ticket. Like a rabid animal backed into a corner they are in full fight-or-flight mode, cringing and viciously lashing out at the same time. Look at Bobby Jindal - exhibit A.
Listen to David Brooks at Huff Po and you'll see what sane republicans think.
The right wing of the republican party should be taken to a dog shelter and put down.
John Batchelor is smelling the stink of his own sweat.
Oh no! A long list of anonymous GOP sources has adopted Alfred E. Nueman's motto: "What, me worry?" You'd think that with all their confidence these "senior" Republicans would want to go on-the-record so that they can later say "I told you so."
Really, what did you expect? Their hubris (combined with the arrogance and ignorance of the neo-cons who were so thoroughly rejected in November) prevents them from admitting that it was precisely their ideas that got us into this mess. Did we really expect Hanity and Rush and all the rest of the boys to say "you know, the Lib has a couple good ideas there"?
Let the Republicans try to play hardball. The whole "weak" bit went out with the results of last year's Democratic primary. The American people believe in President Obama because he has earned our trust and confidence. And there is nothing Republicans can do to change that. Obama himself will ultimately be responsible for any lost confidence or trust. His results are the only thing that matter now. Politics is on pause...
Keep moving to the right Republicans. It pleases me so much to see you fade into irrelevance and obscurity.
When Obama had the nerve to say that there would be "no earmarks in the stimulus bill," I was stunned. Why does he keep lying? If he had to "pay to play" in order to get elected, why can't he just acknowledge that fact--or at the very least stop acting like we don't know what's going on?
I second that this rebuttal is full of pathetic rhetoric. If all the GOP wants to do is argue and scrap for power and call the President "socialist" and "facist" while he's trying his best to help us overcome the 8 years of neglect left by THEM. They so despise government that I offer that they take a break from government and leave it to someone who cares about it.
Obama is going out of his way to be gracious to these ingrates and, according to Mr. Batchelor, will eventually be punished for extending his hand. I, for one, thinks he should push his agenda more aggressively. He should let the GOP rebut, filibuster, and generally stand in the way of the progress most Americans want and need right now. Let them be the party of "no" and let them base their reelection campaigns on "no." Basically, let them dig their own graves.
My advice to the GOP: sit this one out.
Wow...that just seemed like the biggest garb of crap ive read in a while. Nice un-named sources talking big against the most highly approved president in recent memory. And what do you get for it? One argument that simply states: Job A is created and Job B is lost, and Obama, apparently flummoxed by this hard logic just smiles. You think i believe this load of crap? Obama is by far one of the most intelligent presidents we have had in years, you think he doesnt know whats going on with the economy? You think that if Obama supported MORE tax cuts then you would write a better column?
To the daily beast: find a better, less biased, columnist please. He is now on my non-read list.
This is a comedy piece, right?
I agree with Connie, if this is how the Republican leadership feels and how they see America, they won't have my (or a majority of people's) support in a long, long time.
Not to sound cruel, but is there an overall point to this article? You seem to swing back and forth from one anti-Obama point to the next.
And that last paragraph and quote, sheesh. Not only does it sound like a petulant child waiting to get back at the kid who cut in front him in line, and not only does it make so little sense at to be nearly illegible, it's just wrong.
The president didn't earn what he's got? How about what most consider to be a mandate from voters and consistent polling that people not only approve of him personally, but also of the stimulus and the job he's doing. You can argue on specifics, but it's hard to argue with nearly every single poll known to man.
I don't even think his economic actions have been perfect, but you're not only ignoring the public mood (and the polls that consistently show it), you're misleading and distorting it.