BREAKING-Obama postponing trip to Indonesia 'til June

[jenmito]

He wants to be here to see the final votes on the HCR bill. Robert Gibbs just announced this in his daily briefing.

[Oceansaway]

1. thanks...n/t

[iconocrastic]

22. It's not for the ceremony of it, that he wants to watch. They can't make the timetable

in time for the trip.

Ouch.

[maxsolomon]

2. make it stop

i can't take 2 more months of this. i already can't remember the time before HCR was being debated.

[jenmito]

3. It won't be two more months. It'll be a few more HOURS.

I guess he doesn't want to leave 'til the entire thing is done instead of rushing after the House bill.

[Inuca]

6. Hours?

After the House comes the Senate :-(

[jenmito]

9. That was ALWAYS the case. He was going to leave after the House vote

and before the Senate finished with the reconciliation. It's just a change of plans to stay here throughout the whole process.

[high density]

4. I don't think the plan is to go on 'debating' for two more months

That's probably just how the rescheduling of the trip worked out.

[jenmito]

11. You're right. Gibbs just said as much. n/t

[impik]

12. Deleted

[jenmito]

16. I thought I just heard Gibbs say he WON'T be going to Australia until June...

on the same trip as Indonesia. He didn't want to ask the Australians to change their schedule again for him to give a speech he's going to give.

[depakid]

31. I wish he'd wait until after the election here

No telling how he might bolster the opposition.

[arcadian]

29. It's this malaise that did Carter in.

[maxsolomon]

32. i don't understand what you mean

taking over a year to make compromised, incremental change, instead of the radical change we need?

or my frustration with the pace?

[Inuca]

5. VERY good

Hopefully we'll over the House hurdle come Sunday, but the Senate is not going to be a walk in the park either (probably not in terms of votes but in terms of roadblocks). I want him here, PEN READY!

[SharonRB]

7. I figured he'd do this.

Good. Hopefully they can wrap it up before Easter, but it depends on the roadblocks the Rs put up during the Senate procedures.

[jenmito]

10. So far, they're just hours behind schedule.

Hopefully, they WILL wrap it up before Easter. Maybe the Dems. would threaten to keep the Repubs. in session if they try to stall.

[Inuca]

13. Easter eve

nice symmetry with the first version of the Senate bill passed Christmas eve :-)

[jenmito]

17. Yup...

that sounds good. :)

[Bumblebee]

8. Good move.

[bluestateguy]

14. Good

Right now I really don't give a shit about foreign relations. We need to be taking care of problems here at home for awhile.

[vaberella]

15. I'm listening to this currently. n/t

[NavyMom]

18. I think he's waiting until June so the girls can accompany him..nt

[jenmito]

19. That would be great. n/t

[ginnyinWI]

20. that was my first thought too--school will be out then. n/t

[GoCubsGo]

21. Yup.

The original trip was scheduled to coincide with their spring break. I have little doubt the girls' school schedule is the main driver for moving it to June. Lucky kids. Wish I was going with them!

[gblady]

25. that's my understanding....

I think part of the reason for the trip was to show his daughters where he lived as a child...
It was going to happen during spring break...now looks like it will wait til summer break.

[WI_DEM]

23. Good!

[Beetwasher]

24. He's Really Bringing It Together When It Counts Isn't He?

n/t

[Cha]

26. Good! We need him here!

:hi:

[jenmito]

27. I'm glad he's staying, too.

It wouldn't seem right for him to be out of the country while history is being made-which will be associated with him forever and ever. :hi:

[Cha]

28. That's right..life happens while

we made other plans.:)

[Umbral]

30. While he's there, he should visit the mud volcano near Surabaya; it serves as a great object lesson.