Posted on 07/29/2008 11:50:35 PM PDT by Schnucki
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told House members Tuesday that, if he wins the presidency, one of his first acts will be to review every executive order signed by President Bush.
It was one of the few specifics the Illinois senator offered to the House Democratic Caucus in a policy and politics pep rally Tuesday night intended to fire up fellow Democrats for the convention and the fall campaign.
Speaking in the Cannon Caucus Room, Obama stuck with the party’s position on energy that the country “can’t drill [its] way out” of high gasoline prices, and promised a commitment to fiscal responsibility. The response from fellow Democrats was overwhelmingly positive.
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said Obama also touched on the economy, the Iraq war, the Middle East and healthcare.
“I think he was very honest in saying this is going to be hard work, and that he’s going to need our help. And that is what we needed to hear,” Grijalva said.
The broad theme was restoring the country’s place in the world, said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). Cooper said he had a “deft touch” with his audience of House members, needling the Senate at the start and saying “Y’all know how to have fun over here.”
He got serious on the inter-chamber rivalry, urging them to help elect more senators so House legislation is less likely to be blocked by Republican senators.
“The Senate shouldn’t be a place where good legislation goes to die,” he told the group.
He also asked members in safe districts to travel and stump for him in battleground states and even Republican states.
“He said if you’re in a solid blue state, go to a red state or a purple state,” said Rep. Shelley Berkeley (D-Nev.).
Obama addressed the microphones afterward, talking of Democratic desires to expand the party’s majority in Congress.
“Every member of Congress understands what an extraordinary challenge and opportunity this election is,” Obama said.
Inside the caucus room, there was also lot of discussion about how to get the economy out of its slump. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) said Obama talked of how the Midwest is being “battered” and stressed the need to work with the auto industry on more fuel efficient cars.
“He talked a lot about infrastructure as a means to put people to work,” said Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.)
Obama discussed reviewing the executive orders in response to a question from Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) on how Vice President Dick Cheney has dealt with civil liberties.
In response to a question from House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman
(D-Calif.) on Iran, he said that if Iranians are waiting for the next president expecting things to get easier, they’re mistaken.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asked whether he would keep on Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Cooper said Obama said he would consider it.
“That was pretty bipartisan for this group,” said Cooper, a senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “And it’s the right answer.”
Pressed on more details about an Obama administration, the candidate said he was “superstitious” and didn’t want to “jinx” himself.
Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) asked the question on the minds of a lot of Blue Dogs – what he would do to rein in the deficit.
Obama acknowledged the record deficit he could inherit, as well as how that may prove a significant hurdle to his policy agenda.
“He understands the magnitude of the problem and the significance of governance,” Cooper said. “He nailed it.”
In a sane world - that stupid position alone, should be enough to send Obama back to the minors in Chicago...
So, if we can’t drill our way out of high gas prices, what immediate alternatives does he have? Notice I said immediate alternatives, all this talk about alternative fuel is going to take years and years. It’s not as if everyone is rushing to dump their current vehicles to purchase a hybrid, or to purchase vehicles which run on ethanol.
These democrats are idiots, drilling won’t help, but releasing our strategic reserves at a time when we’re so dependent on oil located in turbulent parts of the world makes sense to these idiots.
Geeze, this one's from the 30s - the old WPA. With their "no drilling," "save the planet," "make nice with the world," and now the new-old WPA projects, the dems are completely out of touch with reality.
Bush Said he would Look at Clintons....Executive orders..
I guess, given Obama’s radical views, this means abortions will be back at military bases overseas.
There, fixed it.
It would be nice if someone would entirely get RID of the executive order!
I have a feeling your doing so is working in our favor. ;-)
Obama is the new FDR. Along with Pelosi and Reed Obama
will send our economy to the cellar.
Err...Butthead is it O b o m a?
Err...Bevis, thats close enough for me.
Which said reserves would only last a few months.
As much as I can't stand McCain and his "appeasing" mentality, if Obama gets the Oval Office with a Democrat Congress, the US is heading full speed to death. Got pitchfork?
Of course we can drill our way out in the short/near term.
The very threat that we would do so when Bush finally lifted the executive order was enough to drive the price down overnight.
Who knows what might happen if we actually set up a rig somehere?
NO ONE is calling these dumblecrats the traitors they are as they keep us handicapped and shackled to foreign dependency.
It is simply enraging.
;;;and he will fire every US Attorney...
Sound familiar?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.