This is what Obama envisioned in "The Audacity of Hope"

[Ardent15]

"Perhaps more than any other time in our recent history, we need a new kind of politics, once that can excavate and build upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans."-from "The Audacity Of Hope" prologue

He wants to change the TONE of the debate. And he might succeed.

Obama is doing his best to be civil, courteous, cordial, respectful, and a good listener. And the GOP are talking, but not listening.

Nowhere in the book does he say "Fuck you" to the GOP, literally or figuratively. Rather, he respectfully points out that their party has done much harm to this nation and the world.

The thing about Obama is he's not an asshole. He's a good man who can be tough when the time is right. I like that about him.

[ddeclue]

1. You can't "reason" with Republicans you have to DEFEAT them.

There is NO SUCH THING as POST=PARTISANSHIP.

Read Federalist#10.

[voc]

2. He handled it as expected. The consummate leader.

He was brilliant speaking to the GOP.

[unblock]

3. *he* can't change the tone if *they* are unwilling

anymore than *one* person can save a marriage if the *other* is unwilling

any successful negotiation requires at least *two* parties to negotiate in good faith.

so far we've got *one*.

[Berry Cool]

4. But, see, he wants to come off as the nice guy getting the asshats to be reasonable,

not just an asshat who won some Battle of the Asshats by being asshattier than them.

Because you know, that's typical of THEIR reasoning. The reason they think war and violence are the solution to all international problems is because they think that "that's the only thing those other people understand--brute force."

Obama is saying he believes there are other ways to get what you want. The problem is, sometimes his approach looks, and is, too damn wimpy and weak to look as if he's doing jack anything. But not this week.

Damn, I don't know whether it's Plouffe or what, but Obama's back on his game. But it's not by trying to win an asshat contest. It's by posing as the iron fist inside the velvet glove. He's going to look good and decent and reasonable and NICE when he kicks ass and essentially tells them all "Um, let's remember who won this election" and "If you guys are just gonna stand there and say no to everything, you will be the ones held accountable when things go in the toilet." And that is precisely what he did.

[Name removed]

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[Ardent15]

6. You registered to tell us that bullshit?

"Any change in America is for the worse?" What are you smoking?

[Name removed]

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[BuelahWitch]

7. Unfortunately, it won't happen as long as you've got news that wants high drama

Fox shut him down after 20 minutes because it looked like Obama was getting one over on the Republicans. It didn't fit with their ideology, so they won't report it.