It's good that Obama was respectful toward GOP 'ideas'

[Enrique]

that was a good way for him to approach it. They threw a lot of total garbage at him, and he knew it was total garbage, but he listened to them and he didn't tell them it was total garbage, he was mostly open and totally respectful. That was the right way to handle it and obviously it turned out well that he did it that way.

A little while ago, a good number of ordinary citizens asked Obama a question which imo made about a million times more sense than anything the GOP said yesterday, and unfortunately Obama was not so respectful. He didn't just say he disagreed with it, he dismissed it as a joke. Even though before he was elected he gave at least one answer showing that he understood that it is in fact a serious position.

I happen to be in favor of drug legalization. I respect people who disagree with that. What I have no respect for is the idea that drug legalization is a ridiculous position.

Here's Obama from about a year ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLFmGu57jLI

[Clio the Leo]

1. I was amazed at how he sat through their questions and let go on and on....

.... only interrupting them a few times. Even when they were BEYOND stupid, he stood there and let them have their say.

He had to have won at least a few points from even his strongest GOP critics with that attitude.

[Enrique]

2. I'd like to see him do the same with progressives

especially since progressives have real ideas that people should be exposed to.

Centrism isn't the be all end all.

[Clio the Leo]

4. I think ANYONE would be foolish.....

.... to enter into that kind of discussion with him, at least if they did it in an adversarial manner.

If I were a hard core progressive, I dont know that I'd be excited about seeing some of my favorite progressive legislators headed down that path.

Best line of the night, "I'm NOT an ideologue .... I'm NOT!"

[jaxx]

5. It's called politing them to death.

The nastier they got, the more reasoned he got. They look like jerks and he looks like the smartest guy in the country. He was on top of the game and they couldn't ruffle him. It was great!

[Clio the Leo]

6. And we Bible belters call it "heaping the coals"....

.... one of my favorite passages ...

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22

[jaxx]

7. LOL I'm going to remember that one!!

[monmouth]

3. "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha" is how he should have responded to

that twits talking point. She lost him at "Democrat" party, etc. and he just let her babble..I think many of the repubs in that audience did a little cringe while she went on and on also.