McConnell Taunts Obama (updated)

[ProSense]

McConnell Taunts Obama

by TomP

So much for "bipartisanship."

In a speech today, the Senate Minority Leader will reaffirm his claim that his single most important goal is ensuring Obama is a one-term president -- only this time he will cast it as a policy imperative:

"Over the past week, some have said it was indelicate of me to suggest that our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office. But the fact is, if our primary legislative goals are to repeal and replace the health spending bill; to end the bailouts; cut spending; and shrink the size and scope of government, the only way to do all these things is to put someone in the White House who won't veto any of these things."

WaPo, Greg Sargent, The Plum Line

The President should use this to show that the Republicans refuse to cooperate to create jobs. I leave it to him and his advisors to determine the best way to make the case that he has tried to compromise (over and over) but Republicans put party over American jobs.

The Republicans already are trying to make President Obama look weak. I do not think it will work. There are core policy differences and I believe President Obama will draw the line on them.

The 2012 campaign has already began.

Updated to add:

Overconfident bastard shows his hand

by blue aardvark

TPM - McConnell plan to defeat Obama

<...>

First of all, you outcast of Mon Calamari, sent here by Palpatine to destroy our civilization from within, the Wall Street bailouts (TARP) were proposed by George W. Bush and his Treasury Secretary Hank Paulsen, and YOU sat down with Harry Reid to write the version that eventually became law. And then you voted for it. And it was passed in the House with the votes of 91 Republicans. Including those of John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Paul Ryan - respectively, the minority leader, the minority whip, and the ranking Republican on the Budget Committee. And then signed by President Bush.

Only someone with a complete contempt for truth, logic, voters, the press, and the future of America would claim that making Obama a one term President is in any way related to ending the bailouts.

Secondly, if you're going to propose votes on straight repeal repeatedly - does that mean you intend to let votes actually occur? Because you weren't so good at that the last two years. Your loathsome visage is the face of the filibuster, Senator, and it needs to be reformed. I'd recommend a plastic surgeon to reform your face but I think it is more a task for a civil engineer with experience in sewer repair.

<...>

So since you have no good reason to oppose Obama - just admit it. You oppose because your loyalty is to Republicans, not to America. And by "Republicans" I mean the small cadre of billionaires who bankroll your pathetic excuse for a party.

Mitch McConnell, if you cared one whit about America, you'd resign your position.

more

[ampad]

1. When is Obama gonna come out and say this

One of the only issues I have with Obama right now is the fact that 2012 has started and he is talking about working with these creeps. They are not going to work with him, not at all. I guess my question is what is he waiting for? Is he going to give a few months to play out then point it out. The folks of DU know and understand that the repigs have not been working with Obama however, this is a unique community. Do you think that Obama wants to solidify the fact that he wants to work with them but they refuse his efforts. Now that most people know that the Republicans have the house I can see this strategy working. I'm just wondering when does it finally come into play?

[BrklynLiberal]

5. As someone posted acouple of days ago, whenever he reaches across the aisle,all he gets in return

is a bloody stump. It is beginning to look like he is a masochist...


Obviously, this is still true, and it looks like it will remain so.

[moondust]

2. Always working hard for the country.

But what country? China? India?

[BrklynLiberal]

3. and yet...the very same day....

"Thank you sir. May I have another?"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/03/politics/main7018865.shtml
Obama Signals Compromise on Taxes, Energy

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123070898
Obama Challenges Cabinet, Sets Bipartisan Talks

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101103/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama
Obama signals compromise with GOP on tax cuts

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/nation/obama-calls-for-bipartisan-white-house-hill-talks-1017483.html?showComments=true
Obama signals compromise with GOP on tax cuts

Nice way to start out "negotiating". Give away everything right up front....
I have this sickening feeling that the next two years will be even less productive for Dems than the last 2.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[ProSense]

8. He can

signal compromise all he wants to, that is not going to change Republican politics. The questions then becomes what the policy is going to look like. Also, House Republicans have to go along.

The way I see it, there can be compromise on some things, but on others Obama needs to tell them hell no.

[Mass]

4. He is in the minority and cant pass anything, so he can be the bulldog.

The problem for Boehner and Cantor is that they CAN do something (as in pass laws that help), so they have to be more careful (hence Cantor trying to avoid Bachman as conference leader and saying they need to deliver, whatever deliver means).

[BrklynLiberal]

6. He could not manage to be a bulldog even when he had the majority. He sure as hell

is not going to do it now.....too little, too late. We are totally fucked.

[Mass]

7. I was talking about McConnell, not Obama.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Obviously, I totally misinterpreted your post.

[ProSense]

9. It was all talk

Yeah, there was a lot of talk about compromise, but look at the result. The policies are not things that appeal to Republicans. They are livid and determined to spend every political capital they have to repeal the everything achieved in those two years.

[ampad]

11. I think this is probably what is going to happen

However, how do you think Obama is going to deal with this? When do you think he finally says enough, points towards the house and say they are holding things up. In the spirit of bipartisanship I have tried but now is the time to hold the House accountable. Do you think his use of the veto will hurt or help him?

[ProSense]

12. Frankly, I don't think he has a choice

It's likely that he will continue to offer to work with Republicans, but he is going to have to reject their efforts to destroy the policies he put in place. He also has to protect the existing safety nets.

From his statement yesterday:

I'm not suggesting this will be easy. I won't pretend that we'll be able to bridge every difference or solve every disagreement. There's a reason we have two parties in this country, and both Democrats and Republicans have certain beliefs and principles that each feels cannot be compromised. But what I think the American people are expecting, and what we owe them, is to focus on those issues that effect their jobs, their security, and their future.

[asjr]

13. It's not as if we are in the dark about

what Repubs want to do. McConnell has already spelled it out over the entire country. I do not expect Obama to roll over and play dead, but it is time he started being partisan rather than trying to compromise. I am a mild mannered woman about town in this little burg in TN but and it is a big BUT, I want to really fight back. The main point for them is getting a black man out of office. Pure racism bought this election. Some may deny it but I feel it is true. The ill-informed in this country think only of themselves--not about how we can help us be the best in the world. I feel we have already lost that fight. The media helped the Repubs in this also. Maybe they are all from another planet. Let's revoke their visas.

[Bob Loblaw]

14. During the Bush administration...

such declarations, and indeed ANY criticism of the (P)resident were decried by Republicans and their minions in the MSM as tantamount to sedition because we were at war. Are we not still engaged in war? Where is the outrage? Why aren't Democrats throwing the same tantrum now? Answer: Because they are adults.

The problem for Democrats is that they keep expecting Republicans to act like adults.

[denimgirly]

17. Sadly, maybe its time Democrats started acting like children too...because apparently children get

all the attention and candy.

[Bitwit1234]

15. OK HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE GUTS BECAUSE

since McConnell thinks he is hot shit why don't we all FIRST send letters to the press and to him and ask him why he got drummed out of the military. if that doesn't' get a rise let's all ask him how any pair of pants did he have his hands down this week, or month etc. I say we should really sock it to him, tell him to shut his filthy mouth once and for all or we will start a campaign against him.

I am going to send off those letters the first of next week when my son takes me to get a new color cartridge. My new kodak won't work if you don't have the black and the color cartridge. And I would tired of writing by hand. I ASK NOW DO """"YOU"""" HAVE THE GUTS TO DO THIS. You are all complaining, and I am to, about the Democrats not having spines well now we have the chance. It would be nice if there was some way we could get a copy of McConnells, DD214. But you have to have proof you are the person before you can get a copy. I did manage to get a copy of my deceased husband's even tho we had divorced, when I file for his social security before I filed for my own after I was 70. I filed for his first so I could wait til i was 70 and get more.

[flamingdem]

19. It would be good to wage a campaign throwing his personal shit back at him

I did not know about his military history.

[ellie]

22. Yes, let's

I have already started in on Kasich here in Ohio.

[Parker CA]

16. When will O have a press conference and refute all of this with the facts? Use some posters with

numbers and quotes and prove to the largely ignorant masses that the R's are full of crap. Stand in front of the country and systematically uncover each of their lies and distortions until the facts are standing bare for all to see. And then, take questions from the press who has aided the R's in their distortions and show them for their true colors as well.

[gkhouston]

20. He needs to have televised "meetings" with the leadership so he can do

exactly that. Let's let both sides put up their ideas and have open policy discussions. After all, the American people don't like backroom deals. Let members of the press ask questions. Be sure that someone like Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O'Donnell are there so genuine, tough questions get asked.

[Parker CA]

21. That'd be terrific. R's couldn't hit and run with their ideas. They'd be held accountable. One

can wish, right?

[flamingdem]

18. This guy is an cretin who needs to be nullified nt