Posted on 12/24/2012 12:08:49 AM PST by Kaslin
Statesmanship at its finest: during fiscal cliff talks, President Obama reportedly told Speaker Boehner that he would use his two major speeches in January to blame Republicans for the stalled deal. According to the Wall Street Journal, the president wasn't too happy with the options House Republicans were willing to present, and made it clear he was willing to throw the GOP under the bus for the nation's financial woes.
Mr. Obama repeatedly lost patience with the speaker as negotiations faltered. In an Oval Office meeting last week, he told Mr. Boehner that if the sides didn't reach agreement, he would use his inaugural address and his State of the Union speech to tell the country the Republicans were at fault.
At one point, according to notes taken by a participant, Mr. Boehner told the president, "I put $800 billion [in tax revenue] on the table. What do I get for that?"
"You get nothing," the president said. "I get that for free."
Sounds like those talks are going really well.
In seriousness, the article makes clear that the president has refused any and all deals Boehner has offered, even those in which Republicans capitulated on tax hikes for the wealthy, an Obama staple. It's clear that the president and the House are both unwilling to bend to one anothers' terms, and it's disconcerting to see that Obama would rather use his platform to keep pointing fingers than for some more inspiring message, nevermind swallowing his pride and accepting a semi-viable deal.
Obama claims to have modeled himself after Lincoln, but it certainly doesn't sound like he's minding his favored predecessor's example of how to compose a second inaugural address in times of turmoil:
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
Imagine the man who spoke those words coming before his country in a time of distress and blaming a rival political party for all the nation's ills; it's impossible. Obama is a well-known admirer of the Lincoln biography "Team of Rivals," but while he's talking to the other side, he seems unwilling to listen. Apparently, he's content with laying blame and saving face at the expense of the nation's financial health.
Bankrupt America, that’s what it’s all about. Setting up a dictator and making people pay.
With an attitude like that, Obie must have gotten his butt whupped a lot when he was a kid. A chickensh!t big mouth like that wouldn't last ten minutes in the real world.
"Nevermind" isn't a word, Kate. It's the name of a grunge album. Sheesh...
I would love it, if during the State of the Union, the entire Republican delegation stands as one, turns their back to Emperor Bath-house, and on a count of three, drops trou and moons him. . .
I would be happy if they just leave in disgust.
At least “alot” didn’t appear in the artical (sic).
I think that the every Republican should not show up, and claim they had a pressing golf game they had to attend...
I see no problem of a general strike by all of the Republicans through until, say, the end of the cap on deficit.
The SOTU address is delivered in the House chamber. Boehner’s in charge there. He should simply turn off Barry’s microphone.
If he has any brass he will NOT extend the traditional invitation for the SOTU Sorry Pez.....not in the house if the people.
This sends the perfect message; Things are different now....and oh, by the way, that deficit increase you need ain’t happening bub. Start cutting
You can’t compromise with a corrupt, evil bastard. To even try is pure folly.
But his "negotiating" technique is very familiar to historians, who remember that Hitler's behavior at Munich was a series of towering tantrums until he got his way.
In fact, he did that a lot. Later on, he just killed people.
Au contraire, FRiend -- his is the attitude of a punk kid who didn't get dragged behind the gymnasium for a by-the-numbers butt-whupping nearly often enough.
The five-dollar word is "unsocialized", ironically.
and Boner should be out the day before and hours before each speech telling America what a crook this POS is.
I recall Speaker Pelousi turning off the lights. There is precedent.
She is right up there with 0bama in poisoning the well, starting at her coronation and the low point of healthcare. We haven’t been the same since. And yes, I do hold a grudge. 0bama ‘delegated’ to her..and bears ultimately responsibility but she has a huge role in the current state we find ourselves. And don’t get me started on Reid. 4 years, no budget. Get a budget approved first, then use these negotiations to cut fat out of it. NOT the other way around.
A State of the Union address should be an effort to bring the cuntry together, instead the Kenyan is trying harder and harde to tear us apart.
OK , If thats the way he wants it lets give it to him.
Fight him every lick of the way and start by refusing to give him one dime to support his new Government Obamacare.
Cut off the funding it will die.
I think a more successful action would be for the house to call to order, and as Obama approaches the Mike, every conservative house member rise, walk out the door and head for a news conference, taking the media attention away from him.
It says the pres lost patience with the speaker. Did the speaker lose patience with the pres?
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