President Obama Fights Back
I remember a time during the primary when Obama was falling back in the
polls and his supporters were grumbling. He reassured us that
everything was on track. I remember the period after the GOP
convention when McCain was leading in the polls. Again, Obama was
reassuring. Now, among some Progressives there is "panic" that the
Republicans have the the upper hand. I think not. I reference this
Op-Ed in today's Washington Post, The Action Americans Need.
The piece is a call to action:
It contains a stern warning to obstructionist Republicans:
The message, to me is clear; are you with us, or against us?
The writer of this Op-Ed, Barack Obama, President of the United States.
I feel reassured.
By now, it's clear to everyone that we have inherited an economic crisis as deep and dire as any since the days of the Great Depression. Millions of jobs that Americans relied on just a year ago are gone; millions more of the nest eggs families worked so hard to build have vanished. People everywhere are worried about what tomorrow will bring.
The piece is a call to action:
What Americans expect from Washington is action that matches the urgency they feel in their daily lives -- action that's swift, bold and wise enough for us to climb out of this crisis.
It contains a stern warning to obstructionist Republicans:
In recent days, there have been misguided criticisms of this plan that echo the failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis -- the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems; that we can meet our enormous tests with half-steps and piecemeal measures; that we can ignore fundamental challenges such as energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive.
I reject these theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change. They know that we have tried it those ways for too long.
The message, to me is clear; are you with us, or against us?
So we have a choice to make. We can once again let Washington's bad habits stand in the way of progress. Or we can pull together and say that in America, our destiny isn't written for us but by us. We can place good ideas ahead of old ideological battles, and a sense of purpose above the same narrow partisanship. We can act boldly to turn crisis into opportunity and, together, write the next great chapter in our history and meet the test of our time.
The writer of this Op-Ed, Barack Obama, President of the United States.
I feel reassured.
Advertisement
Good thing I'm not president. My "stimulus" would start with buying up all the tar a feathers I could lay my hands on.
C
February 5, 2009 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the Republicans don't come around the "tar and feathers," will be more house and senate loses in the mid-terms.
February 5, 2009 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
How many of the millions of the unemployed ya think will read that Op Ed? In order for those sorts of statements to have any public impact, the President needs to make them publicly, before the cameras so the citienry sees and hears it. Writing an Op Ed isn't nothing, but it ain't exactly the best means of communicating with Americans who mostly don't read but do, almost constantly, watch tv.
February 5, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is basically what he said yesterday when signing the children's health bill.
IMHO the President is giving Republican's a warning of things to come. If the Republicans continue to politicize the bailout and reject bipartisanship a major speech will be in order.
The ball is in the Republicans court. A tip, these old white guys are lousy basketball players.
February 5, 2009 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The president has a scheduled news conference coming up.
February 5, 2009 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and he did a pretty good job today of making his position known forcefully. More of this is needed. I honestly believe that he is not comfortable giving orders and being commanding. He is far more comfortable in professorial mode or being collegial in an atmosphere where people understand his authority and listen to him because of it. I'm in hopes that he is a quick study and realizes that he's the boss and he needs to use that position to whip people in line and here I mean both the people themselves in terms of public opinion and the congress and other competing but lesser powers in the political scheme. If he does that, he will find success in his efforts more often than not. I dont mean he should be a bully or bellicose, but firm, resolute, and commanding. That's what he showed a bit today and it is the kind of leadership we need.
February 6, 2009 12:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
This weekend and into early next week Organizing for America will be holding house parties on the Recovery/Reinvestment legislation.
There are some 5000 events scheduled..The media has already picked this as a test of the President's strength outside the Beltway
For an even near you
February 5, 2009 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
will you people ever learn?
dont be blind.
obama screwed this up big time.
there is no price to pay for screwing him as he has showed everyone.
expect the coming days to be a total disaster..
February 5, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
He made some good speeches today. Matthews gave him much better marks today although he does not like the teleprompter that gives Chris all his cues and most of his words.
I felt a change in the airways today. All I need is a few repugs telling me how bad the legislation is and I am all for it!!!!
A little populist, a little green, and a little more regulatory.
What else would a mother desire?
February 5, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dick, yer the best! Keep your eye on that "big mo."
Obama knows how the game is played, and how to play the game. Me wonders, did he feint right, go left. Betcha, he's gonna fake Old Johnny Reps right out of their shoes. Young street guy verses old white farts, they ain't got a chance.
February 5, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
You bet he is.
February 5, 2009 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, that's rich. Not too many on-camera talents around that don't use prompters these days. Tweety included.
February 6, 2009 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I do not believe he is going to be out-foxed by the obstructionists...my concern is over whether the programs are big enough to work...Y'all who have Republican Senators need to get on the phone and tell them to quit being bitchy and step up to the plate. Mine aren't the greatest, (Nancy and Diane) but at least they are backing the Pres...
February 5, 2009 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The crisis we're in doesn't call for government action, if there is a crisis, it is due to past government action.
Jury is still out on the nature of the 'crisis'. It may be just as overblown as the recently debunked 'global warming' hoax.
Just another hysterical excuse to plunge us into Marxism with one failed swoop!!!
February 5, 2009 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't feed the troll. Please. Don't. It just gets encouraged.
February 5, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for this Steve. Saw your blog, went over, and liked the op-ed. Especially these bits that spell out that this is not JUST about short-term stimulus:
"This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending - it's a strategy for America's long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, health care and education.... We have tried it those ways for too long. And because we have, our health-care costs still rise faster than inflation. Our dependence on foreign oil still threatens our economy and our security.... Now is the time to protect health insurance for the more than 8 million Americans at risk of losing their coverage.... Now is the time to save billions by making 2 million homes... more energy-efficient, and to double our capacity to generate alternative sources of energy within three years."
And no, the Republicans do NOT have the upper hand. Which I'm enjoying. Cheers.
February 5, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink