Obama to Lawmakers: Remember Which Ideas Won the Election

[sabra]

Source: WP

Stepping up his pressure on Congress to pass his economic stimulus plan, President Obama reminded lawmakers on Wednesday that he had won the election -- and that voters had already rejected old solutions to fixing the economic crisis.

Obama said he was aware of the criticism of his spending package, but said the criticisms were rooted in "the very same failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis in the first place," including the notion that tax cuts offered the best path to a recovery.

"I reject those theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change," Obama said. "So I urge members of Congress to act without delay."

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/

[Beetwasher]

1. THANK YOU!

N/T

[yurbud]

63. I agree--we need to hear more of this from him

[Sydnie]

2. Elections have consequences ... isn't that what they told US for 8 years?

The American people want it to go down a different path now and they will be left crying in their beer if they don't get with the program soon.

[damntexdem]

18. Sure they said that elections had consequences -- but they didn't include one consequence:

that the person actually elected would be so recognized.

The GOP meant that once they'd stolen an election, they'd do whatever they wanted.

[bluestateguy]

3. Bill Clinton could never make that argument

Why? Because Republicans never let him forget that he never won over 50% of the vote. I remeber the day after the 1992 election, Bob Dole came out and said that he would represent the "majority" of people (57%) who had "not voted" for Bill Clinton.

But that argument can't be used against Obama.

[argyl]

22. Obama's the first President in 20 years to win election with a majority of votes.

Bush's highly suspect reelection percentage was 50.7%.

Chew on that Rush,seeing as how you're now the de facto head of the GOP.

[BlueCaliDem]

30. The bipartisan argument is now being used against Obama.

The repukes have found a way to weaken Pres. Obama by using his campaign slogan that he wanted to "change the tone in Washington" and to seek "bipartisanship" while on constant campaign mode.

Of course, they twist his words as they continue to play obstructionists. From behind that "bipartisan" shield, they bat Obama and congressional Democrats every chance they get with pro-corporate MSM eager to help, along with BushDemDogs they wield as "democrats overwhelmingly being against it too".

The fact that the Democratic Party is not unified helps the incredibly lock-step Repubs in defeating President Obama and the American people. He needs to take these "Dems" to the woodshed and get them in line because they're empowering the repubs and making our President and the REAL Dems in Congress look spineless.

[liberal N proud]

4. We are going to have to call him Cool Hand Obama

He know just what to say and how to say it.

[geek tragedy]

8. Though, he doesn't know when to say it.

He should have said this right away, instead of "the Republicans have a lot of great ideas.'

Bipartisanship FAIL.

[liberal N proud]

32. He was giving them a chance to play ball

They chose to continue down the great white republican way.

I think he did fine. It now shows that he tried to appease the assholes, now the public should know that if the economy does recover sooner than later, Obama gets the credit.

[TheWraith]

36. You know, DU really needs you.

I mean, what would we do without someone running around posting tons of threads and messages about what a disasterous disappointing failure Obama is?

[paulk]

45. but he has a point

Obama's attempts at bipartisanship are so far a failure, which was one of the main criticisms of his campaign - this idea that holding hands and singing "kumbaya" with the Republicans was somehow going to be an effective governing technique.

[AlbertCat]

48. "Obama's attempts at bipartisanship are so far a failure,"

And we only have 3 years and 11 months to go! What a disaster!

[paulk]

51. one can hope that Obama realizes his error

and averts that disaster.

[Jefferson23]

5. Good for you President Obama, lets hope all the DEM's speak out loud and

clear too in defense of this bill.

[blm]

38. Obama is repeating the point Kerry's been making. Time for MORE Dems to show up on news shows

and follow through - that would be a nice change.

[acmavm]

6. Hope it does some good. But I'm not optomistic. Those friggin'

blue dogs...

[BlueCaliDem]

31. Exactly! BushDemDogs are the problem, not repubs. BushDemDogs are weakening

President Obama and the REAL Democrats in Congress, while strengthening the minority party making them (the repubs) formidable adversaries against the people's choice here.

[geek tragedy]

7. About freaking time. Should have said this three weeks ago.

Hopefully he's learned his lesson about outreach and bipartisanship in Washington.

[anonymous171]

9. Obama is realizing that you cannot work with the GOP.

The more they stand in his way, the less he will tolerate their shenanigans.

[geek tragedy]

10. Proof that no matter how smart someone is, they always

have something to learn.

[No Elephants]

12. Yet, he just appointed Gregg and helped Gregg cut a deal with the Govenor of NH re: appointing a

Republican to take Gregg's place in the Senate.

[anonymous171]

14. I'm talking about Congress and legislation, not cabinet positions.

They are two very different things imo.

Note: I think the Gregg appointment is stupid and will come back to bite us in the ass in 2010.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

33. Not sure about this biting us in 2010 ...

... Obama just took a pretty strong Republican incumbent out of that Senate seat and the Governor replaced him with someone on the condition that she will not run in 2010. Sounds like a Republican-held Senate seat just became up for grabs in 2010.

As for asking Gregg to be in the cabinet, I am not familiar with him. I gotta trust Obama on that.

[Igel]

15. I figure there are decent reasons for it.

Perhaps Gregg is, he thinks, the best person for the job. Perhaps having a Republican in the job makes sure that Obama can use him as a scapegoat, or perhaps use his republicanness to push gain consent and support that a Democrat would have trouble with (the "Nixon to China" approach). Perhaps it's a sop--"See what I've done, now you have to give in on this over here, or suffer from some really nasty PR." Perhaps something else entirely.

Working with a GOPer doesn't mean that he can or cannot work with the GOP. Did * work well with dems? Wasn't Norman Mineta, a dem, *'s dept. of transportation secretary for 5 years?

[sallyseven]

46. Lets see how she votes. I have a feeling

that she is a godguy.

[JerseygirlCT]

55. Which makes him a whole lot smarter than many of the Dems

in the Senate...

[Beavker]

11. The only reason I'm skeptical

Is because it should go without saying to even start with. The fact that is has to be stated (since it is a fact) almost guarantees that the concept whether stated or unstated, regardless if it's we the people or our Commander in Chief reminding the GOP of this not so difficult concept to grasp is going to go ignored.

[No Elephants]

13. Of course the Republicans are going to oppose this. They are currenty the opposition party. It's

their job to oppose. Dems have to let them succeed, though. Kerry is right. Dems need to ignore them and pass what Dems think will work. That's the job of the majority party.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. the GOP are not playing ball

it's one thing being bipartisan - working together lovingly and all that but this is like dealing with a bag full of scorpions!!

[MarjorieG]

16. Furious the votes against $25B infrastructure amendment, after media blitz they wanted it.

[eyepaddle]

19. I'd just like to add to approval.

I still think Obama is a very cagey politician; I also think that these last two weeks have been sort of a probing of the Republicans. Now that it is perfectly clear that they are the same assholes they have always been it seems like Obama is willing to push ahead.

I hope it succeeds (obviously) but now is when nwe really to pay attention to see what this administration has in store.

[ccinamon]

20. FINALLY! Say it LOUD, Say it OFTEN President Obama!

Obama: "I reject those theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change," Obama said. "So I urge members of Congress to act without delay."

[FlyingSquirrel]

54. Ahhh, he rejects them. But does he DENOUNCE them?

:rofl: Couldn't help that one!

[humbled_opinion]

21. Americans did vote and they voted overwhelmingly

for a new direction led by DEMOCRATS... It wasn't just a Democrat President it was many new Senators and Congressman. DO YOUR JOBS or I WILL NOT VOTE FOR YOU NEXT TIME.

They don't need the obstructionists let them whine and cry all they want. They use hypothetical situations and failed past performance as their measuring stick.

PASS the RECOVER ACT NOW!!!!

[thereismore]

23. Republican Lawmakers to Obama: So? nt

[backscatter712]

26. Assuming Obama can keep on task, Congress can't resist the bully pulpit.

When Obama's going on the news day after day after day saying "The American people need this stimulus to be passed as fast as possible.", the Senate will have a much more difficult time justifying continued obstruction.

The bully pulpit works. Bush used it to push through FISA, even though the people were dead-set against warrantless wiretapping, the telco-immunity was extremely unpopular, and there was more Democratic spine than usual in the Senate. It wasn't enough. Bush bullied it through, even though he's probably the most hated American President in history.

See my post below this one for what really pissed me off the most about Daschle-gate.

[backscatter712]

24. AAAAAND OBAMA'S BACK ON HIS FEET!!!

Since Reid and the other Senate Dems are too spineless to keep themselves from being bullied, it's pretty much up to Obama and his bully pulpit to put the pressure on and drive this through. Good to see that he gets back up and knows where he needs to be.

That's the thing that pissed me off the most about Daschle-gate. Daschle himself doesn't matter - he quit. But yesterday, Obama was supposed to be using the day to push the stimulus, and all those interviews he was doing with the MSM outlets were supposed to be talking about the stimulus. Instead, the only soundbite the MSM pushed from those interviews was "I screwed up." It was a wasted day, and a wasted news cycle, and the Rethugs took advantage, went apeshit, and now we're trying to break a filibuster. What a clusterfuck!

[Pierre.Suave]

25. Don't ever forget

that this message is ALSO directed squarely at many DEMS in congress...not JUST the repuglicons...

Infact, it could be argued that it is directed ONLY at the DEMS because they have the majority in both houses of congress.

[mentalslavery]

27. What an effective poli

I have never seen such an effective strategy for maximizing the length of his political capital. The Uniter theme and speaking soft/big stick tactic's are paying off. In the most respectful of ways, Obama can smack you upside the head with reality, remind others of your weakness, and advance goals.

If he continues to effectively employ this strategy, he will emerge from each battle with MORE capital. This might be a paradigm shift. This is the same paradigm he used during the election. You will remember that he only came out ahead after each conflict. This is because he remains above the fray of nasty rhetoric and tactics leaving an assuring feeling among the general public that he is a confident, reasonable, and respectful leader. Each time they play their little games, the public has the opportunity to view how each group and individual behaves. And the end result reaffirms that they do not want to go back to divisive politics.

It is similar to a trick that can be employed with arguing with another person. If they begin to raise their voice, you can slow your speech and lower your voice. The difference of tone, distracts those who are observing the conflict from what is being said to how it is begin said. The end result is that the individual who is raising their voice begins to appear erratic, mean spirited, and illogical. Also, they sometimes become illogical and erratic. I have experimented with this and actually began to repeat the words to a song to determine if anyone was actually listening to the merits of the arguments. The song was "ole Mcdonald had a farm", and no one picked up on it, of course I spoke the words and did not sing the words. The person I was arguing with actually screamed, "stop yelling at me!", to which observers broke out in laughter.

I had made no points or provided any evidence of anything but onlookers commented that the other person needed to go and take his meds. Perception, Perception, Perception. If is often a lie!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EraOfResponsibility]

49. Excellent post!

[Ganja Ninja]

28. Excuse me Mr President but practice what you preach.

I didn't vote for you so you could pack your cabinet with Republicans. I didn't vote for you so you could take all the GOP's "ideas" and implement them. So yeah, remember which ideas won the election. Start reminding yourself everyday. Make a list and frame it and hang it in your office.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

35. +1

He's one to talk, isn't he? Retreads from the Clinton administration with a few Republicons thrown in there are not the change we needed.

[tonycinla]

29. Yes but

Winning an election and governing are two different things........

[starroute]

34. Let's hope Obama is approaching this as a fencer or a boxer

I've been increasingly nervous the past few days about what he thinks he's up to -- but the most hopeful analogy I can find is to fencing (which I've done a little) or boxing (which I gather is similar).

You start by feeling out the opponent. A tap here, a feint there. See how he reacts. Press a little harder and see what sort of ground he gives. Retreat a little yourself and see if moves in cautiously or comes all in a rush. Watch his timing to find out how you can wrong-foot him by attacking into his advance. Try to spot the weak points in his defense -- high or low? outside or inside?

Do all that just right, and when you do let loose your attack, he'll never even see it coming.

I was never a very good fencer myself -- but I understand the theory. And I do know that Obama is a watcher and a sizer up. For all our sakes, let's hope that's what he's been doing these last two weeks.

[WePurrsevere]

41. He's a fan of Ali & from what I read he's also an avid Chess player...

so you're quite possibly correct.

He played "rope a dope" with McCain and I wouldn't be surprised if he takes a similar tactic with those who figure they're going to do all they can to obstruct him.

[BlueMTexpat]

57. I hope that you're right about that.

As for playing "rope a dope" with McCain ... the McCain campaign, probably the worst-run Republican campaign ever in my lifetime (make no mistake, I am no admirer of Rethugs, but really!), made it very easy. But yes, I do think, so far at least, he's been giving House & Senate Republicans the rope that they will ultimately use to hang themselves.

I still get nervous, however, when any Dem talks about making concessions to get Rethug votes. So long as those concessions are "throwaways" that were likely doomed to failure from both sides of the aisle, that's one thing. But I'll wait and see.

[StillHopingForChange]

37. It's about time...

Maybe he's learned Republicans don't respond to bipartisan outreach.

[certainot]

39. get his back at the local RW talk stations that do the groundwork for

the obstruction. they putting huge pressure on the senators and dems don't have anything like it- they can lie their asses off all over the place to get the dittoheads to flood the calls in. call complain boycott and picket the stations and their local sponsors.

[pattmarty]

40. Well, let's see some of "those ideas" pushed and fucking implemented.

That's what we voted for, ain't it?

[dothemath]

64. "fucking implemented"?

He has been president 15 days, you ignorant redneck. In case you haven't noticed, or more likely don't understand, President Obama doesn't make laws, Congress does.

Time to clean the (gene) pool.

[Romulox]

42. I don't remember voting for more tax cuts for the rich.

:shrug:

[Zorra]

43. Dear Mr. Prez: Tell your Senate to invoke the nuclear option, and the repugs to place their heads

between their knees so they can kiss their asses goodbye.

[ooglymoogly]

44. So get the senate to put some teeth in that comment

and remove the tax cuts that have along with profligate banks brought this country to its knees. 30% more tax cuts....talk about insane and slopping more into the endless hogs traupf.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

47. Folks, Obama is doing just fine.

Think about it. He is making the republicans come across and bullies who don't want to play fair. The guy is doing exactly what he did in the primaries and the general -- he's controlling the game. He has the edge. He may make a misstep here and there, but for the most part he's playing the game just right.

Just the fact that he was willing to go on TV and say, "I screwed up" is enough to endear him even more to the American public, after 8 years of a president who never took responsibility for ANY mistakes.

He's in this for the win.

Watch and see.

rgb

[The Hope Mobile]

50. BINGO!!!!!!!!!! nt

[Zhade]

52. FUCK YEAH!

Spine! I love it!

[jillan]

53. I want to see Obama start getting mad.

He is always so calm, cool and collected but I can't help but wonder if it's time to show a little steam. Or have Biden do it, Biden would have no problem showing a little passion.

[BelgianMadCow]

56. The framing of the election as a victory of IDEAS

is sheer brillance. Try arguing that down with partisan bs.

I just keep on hearing good and tangible decisions from Obama :shrug: :bounce:

[craigmatic]

58. If he has to keep telling them this he's not winning. He needs to speak directly to the people to

put pressure on these assholes. That's what FDR or reagan would have done. Obama is still trying to play nice but it's not working.

[santamargarita]

59. I hope Harry Ass Reid was listening

"the very same failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis in the first place" means not smacking around enough Republicans!
Way to go Mr. President, start chopping off heads!

[EndersDame]

60. Seriously this country is fed up the redneck agenda

I thought that the best thing about his victory was that he ran as a progressive. That is what the people want

[EndersDame]

61. It is nice to see Dems with Balls!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

62. Citizens to Obama- Same To You.

:shrug: