Bipartisanship: Will President Obama ever give up on it ?

[steve2470]

I was just listening to him now, talking to the House GOP Caucus about the need for bipartisanship. Yes, it's a great concept. Yes, it sounds great.

However, I think most of us seriously doubt that the Republicans will do it.

Is this concept part of his political DNA, or will he give up on that one day ?

[cali]

1. much of this is for pubic consumption.

and it's an opportunity for him to school the pukesters.

[gateley]

4. +1

[wryter2000]

7. Lordy

I just spent a couple of paragraphs to say what you did in a couple of words. :applause:

[Lisa D]

9. Exactly.

It makes Obama look good. The republicans...not so much.

[Zenlitened]

16. For the love of all that's good and decent in this world...

... PLEASE edit your subject line!

:rofl:

[cali]

21. now I've got to leave it

I can't stop laughing.

:rofl:

I really can't stop.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

33. LOL!

Just Plain LOL!

[Skittles]

2. you do not compromise with rabid dogs

he needs to give it up

[Windy]

13. He's putting them on the record on TeeVee...for low information citizens. Brilliant! nt

[Skittles]

15. gawd, please

not the "chess" shit again

[cali]

19. delete

[Skittles]

20. I just cannot understand

WHY Obama even feels the need to compromise with the party that drove America off a cliff - it's obscene - he seems to care more about what they think than what WE think

[cali]

22. all the world's a stage

it's pretty simple, I think. He's giving lip service to something that Americans put up there with apple pie and motherhood.

[Skittles]

26. I can see where the lip service really is

and I am fucking sick of it

[cali]

29. lol.

words count.

[Skittles]

30. they only count when they are followed by ACTION

[applegrove]

34. Yup. I called them a 'pack of wolves' today. The GOP is ruled by

the fear of rich people not getting tax cuts. And since most congressmen and senators are rich they fight like predators to undo anything Obama tries to build.

[gateley]

3. I think this is great today. He's speaking so reasonably, sincerely, openly and

it's being televised so the American people can SEE for themselves where the division is coming from.

I'm hopeful that showing this dialogue in the light will make the Repubs realize they can't spin BS any more.

If they do, I hope he just gives up on it and when they whine, show clips of this attempt on his part.

[Cosmocat]

32. He is simply doing the right thing ...

It isn't "strategy" ...

He genuniely is invested in doing what he said he would do in his campaign ...

Change the tone ...

He consistenly, relentlessly takes the high road and is making an ernest effort to get the loons to come along ...

The funny thing about life is, when you genuinely try to do the right thing, it generally works out for the best for you, no matter if it does not turn out exactly as you are trying to have it turn out ...

If the TRUE moderates see BO making a genuine effort, if they see that he is a good guy, and the Rs act like the morons they are acting like ... It is going to weigh out in his and OUR favor ...

[wryter2000]

5. I think it's worthwhile to continue to make the noises

First of all, the sheeple love it. You say "bipartisan," and all the pundits stroke their beards and the "independents" nod their heads. (Honestly, who these days doesn't know what side they're on?)

Second, telling Republicans to be bipartisan these days is a rebuke, especially after their obvious disdain for any kind of cooperation at the SOTU.

[RoadRage]

6. No.. nor should he.

Bi Partisianism isn't a bad word... and working together is, IMO a good idea. We sure wanted "Bi Partisism" when Bush & the Republicans ran the place and we were the minorty.. and soooo pissed that they didn't want to comprimise on anything. I guess now that the shoe is on the other foot, it's totally OK.

I don't like to be a hypocrite, and frankly right now this country is about as 50%/50% as it gets. Swinging full to one side and not allowing the other side any voice is a recipie to quickly lose the power you have IMO.

[phleshdef]

8. No, he is the President of the United States which is a country that includes non-Democrats.

If you wish to revoke someone's citizenship for not being a member of the Democratic party, you will have to take that up with Congress.

[Phx_Dem]

10. No, nor should he.

[still_one]

11. People who watch these can judge. It is also one person against many, and that he

has no problem standing up to that says everything

[Ozymanithrax]

12. He should not give up on it or quit calling for it...

But the House and Senate should act like it doesn't exist.

[high density]

14. I don't doubt it's part of his DNA

But I hope for his own political survival and for the benefit of the country that he stops any serious belief that the Republicans will act in a bipartisan manner. It should be crystal clear their only motive is to stop anything he wants to do and dilute the results of anything that has a chance of passing. The GOP is owned by Limbaugh, Beck, and Hannity and there is no moderation in that message. Go ahead and put on a "bipartisanship" show for cameras and the voters, but ultimately we want to see shit get done. In the end people won't care who voted for something, but that it passed and had a positive effect on their lives.

[treestar]

17. Thanks to Mass. he needs it now

He did rebuke them for abusing the filibuster.

I don't see what's wrong with him saying this. The voters can then see that the Repukes do not listen to him and that they are to blame for nothing getting done.

[CakeGrrl]

18. He NEEDS to say this publicly, even if he really knows it's crap

Everyone should know by now that if he doesn't make a public overture to work together, the Repubs will use every opportunity to twist things.

Despite all the hair-pulling on this board about him wasting time reaching out, you see that the Republicans accuse him of doing the opposite every time they're asked in front of a live mic.

He needs to show the public that the Repubs are the problem. The televised address to the Republicans today was a good example.

[liberal N proud]

23. I doubt it

I think that The President is a romantic who believes that Democracy and bipartisanship can work.

[mscuedawg]

24. "doubt that the Republicans will do it" Perfect reason to continue on!!!!

http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2010/01/27/obama-plays-to-disaffected-audience-but-most-dont-blame-him/

Please are getting tired of the political pissing contests...and independents were a huge part of the 2009 election...Keep fighting Repukes...

Edited b/c I hit Post too quickly... :hi:

[Sugarcoated]

25. Independents

independents independents

This is for them

[ShortnFiery]

27. Right wing republicans only respect POWER. They see consensus building and

negotiations as "WEAK KNEED."

Despite (or maybe because of it) his super-high intellect, President Obama will not permit himself to believe the unvarnished truth: The present GOP leaders are right-wing and viscerally HATE everything that smacks of democracy.

Talking with the GOP is like conversing with orangutans: It serves no useful purpose.

Treat them like the creatures they are and show them STRENGTH. Give them options but only within a narrow window and WALK OVER THEM with regard to legislation if they won't cooperate.

Again, the republican party has NO adult supervision and must be treated, AT BEST, like juvenile delinquents. Show them respect but GIVE THEM STRUCTURE so when they "act out" there will be a price to pay.

Unfortunately, President Obama WILL NOT embrace the truth. Or perhaps, it's part of "the waltz" that his corporate overlords have orchestrated for "The Parties" to entertain us peasants so we will not openly revolt? You decide?

If President Obama stays on this same course, do NOT expect his tenure to be anything other than a "velvet glove" application of a Bush-Co. III Presidency.

[whistler162]

28. I hope not.... he isn't a Repblican or a Republican wannabe

who thinks bipartisanship is a four letter word!

[steve2470]

31. for the record, he does need to continue to try to reach out nt