Posted on 10/15/2009 12:52:32 PM PDT by pabianice
President Barack Obama warned his critics Thursday that on healthcare and other agenda items that he is "not tired" and he is "just getting started."
In fiery remarks at at townhall meeting in New Orleans before a "feisty crowd," Obama repeated his belief that healthcare reform would pass this year, and he again said that change would not be easy.
The president drew raucous applause after he joked that he was taking criticism from the media for not solving world hunger in his first nine months in office.
Even as Obama said that change would take time, he did vow that he is "just getting started."
"I'm just getting started," Obama said. "I don't quit. I'm not tired. I'm just getting started."
Obama, who took some criticism for visiting New Orleans for just a few hours and skipping a stop in Mississippi before flying to California for a Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser Thursday night, boasted of his administration's efforts in the region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The president said that he is "pleased to report that we've made good progress" in aiding the recovery efforts, cutting through red tape and preparing to prevent another similar tragedy.
"We've got a long way to go, but we've made good progress," Obama said.
Ahead of the trip, the White House pushed back furiously on criticism that Obama had not made recovery in the region enough of a priority, and administration officials repeatedly pointed to the number of cabinet officials who have visited the area even though Obama made his first trip as president Thursday.
"Whether it's me coming down here or my Cabinet or members of my administration, we will not forget about New Orleans," Obama said. "We will not forget about the Gulf Coast. We're going to keep working, and together we will rebuild this region and we will rebuild it stronger than before. It is going to be stronger than before."
As the White House has fended off criticism, administration officials have been quick to point to compliments handed out by Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has told news agencies that Obama's team is doing a good job.
Obama returned the favor to Jindal, who earlier this year was mentioned as a likely Obama opponent in 2012, after the partisan crowd booed the president's mention of the governor's name.
The president said that Jindal, a former congressman, is "doing a good job."
"Bobby, first of all, if it makes you feel better, I get that all the time," Obama said. "Even though we have our differences politically, one thing I'll say is this person's working hard on behalf of the state. And you've got to give people credit for working hard. He's a hard-working man."
While visiting the University of New Orleans for the townhall, Obama made slight but unmistakable attempts to compare his administration's efforts to predecessor President George W. Bush's administration.
Bush was excoriated for his initial response to Katrina, and Obama made pointed comparisons, noting that Katrina was "not caused just by a disaster of nature, but by a breakdown of government -- a government that wasn't adequately prepared and didn't adequately respond."
Obama also heaped praise on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director Craig Fugate; the president said he was proud that Fugate "has 25 years of experience in disaster management in Florida, a state that has known its share of hurricanes."
Bush's FEMA director, Michael Brown, came to personify cronyism and poor qualifications because of his efforts during the initial recovery.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, y’all!”
Oh, great. Just great.
“Throw me sumthin’, mistuh!!”
mm-mmm-mmmmmmmmm!!!
Better hurry Barry because God willing, after 2010 you won’t be able to get anything done....
We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve made good progress,” Obama said.....
UP YOUR NOSE WITH A RUBBER HOSE, ASSHAT!
I thought Rush’s comment about Obama’s visit to NO was priceless. Rush said Obama just wanted to see what the rest of the country would look like in 2 years under his administration.
Um, you mean the government responsible for this, Barry?

That would be the government of the chocolate city, not the government of the United States.
We’ll see how much he passes after January 1, 2011.
This guy is going to get his (political) nads cut off in November of 2010.
He can just keep it up, and drive our victory forward all the more.
feeling the need to state this makes it more than obvious that he is barely treading water.
Got any dat Obama money we voted for massa?
BEFORE Katrina, the New Orleans literacy rate was just 40%. It’s obvious BO is in the right place to scam the voters.
I ain’t in no ways tired!”
I can continue screwing America for years to come!
Exactly right,
Amnesty is the next big fight and...
he still hasn’t destroyed the DOD yet that is coming all Socialists cut billions from the DOD its just a matter of timing is all.
He still needs his grass roots volunteer army the Obama youth so thats coming.
Gun Control is just around the corner.
Plus there is always advanced welfare and reparations to worry about too...
So certainly after he takes over healtcare the rest should be a piece of cake.
we’re at 10% unemployment and he is just getting started !
Hillary said that during the campaign too.
Everything he does in front of the cameras and in Washington is probably just a distraction anyway.
If this healthcare takeover and cap and trade are short term goals, what are the long term goals?
Turn U.S. into socialist nation.
Abolish private property.
Open death camps for 30% of all conservatives.
Abolish movies made before 1980.
Tax religious institutions.
What else????
Tough times ahead.

"[A] chocolate New Orleans" and "You can't have New Orleans no other way."
This is just untrue. The Governor of Louisiana,Kathleen Blanco, the ideologue, refused to sign over the Louisiana National Guard Command to FEMA and the federal government. Dubyah said. "Fine, have it your way."
Trailer loads of ice and other supplies sat on trucks for a week or more, There was no way to distribute the aid that was just waiting. Buahahahahahahahaha!
The people of Louisiana de-elected her in hordes.
Obama has a strange habit , as most fascists do, of redefining history.
It was the Governor of Louisiana who failed. She was a Bush hater who chose her ideological hatred over the interests of the people of Louisiana.
Eff Obama. He is just getting started? So it is with the American people.He has no idea of what will soon happen.
He has to get everything done THIS year,
because no one in the House is going to stick his neck out next year,
and he’ll lose the House anyway in 2010.
I agree.
Destroying America , and making jokes about it.
As soon as Obama was sworn in, his White House website had a message attacking Bush for his handling of Katrina—probably the first time ever the White House website was used in such a fashion. They later toned it down a bit and didn’t mention Bush by name (but the implication was still there).
“It was the Governor of Louisiana who failed. She was a Bush hater who chose her ideological hatred over the interests of the people of Louisiana.”
Amen, Amen and AMEN! Well said.
The misery and suffering of the people of Louisiana were the wages that were paid to do a Dem grift to discredit Bush.So unpopular did she become because of her ideological Bush hating, that she did not even bother to run for re-election.She fooled no one in Louisiana who watched what she did.
Now the propaganda continues, and no one is telling the truth. One of these years this sort of thing will precipitate a civil war. I have had a stomachful of the Dems and Obama grifting the US public. Obama has performed one grift after another on America, from the day of his inauguration.
When will America wake up?
Obama and his running dogs need to be corralled, tied to rails ,tarred and feathered, and then tossed in the Potomac. I have had all I can take of it.
Obama and his grifters can ki$$ my a$$.
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