With All Disrespect, Mr. President

[Mass]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/opinion/19fri4.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

With All Disrespect, Mr. President

There was supposed to be a bipartisan summit at the White House on Thursday, but only the Democrats showed up. The Republican leadership of the House and Senate somehow couldn’t find any time in their schedules to meet with the president of the United States. If this is what cooperation and mutual respect is going to look like over the next two years, then settle in for more trench warfare and far less progress.

It has been more than two weeks since President Obama issued a postelection invitation for Congressional leaders to join him for dinner on Nov. 18 to discuss “how we can move the American people’s agenda forward.” Republicans left him hanging, refusing to commit to a date even as the office of Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, said he was encouraged that the president wanted to discuss areas of agreement.

On Wednesday, the Republicans, led by Mr. McConnell, said they just didn’t have the time. They had discovered there was so much to do — new members to welcome and lots of other unspecified details. Besides, they said, the president should have asked for a mutually agreeable date instead of just inviting them. So the meeting was pushed back until Nov. 30.

...

Beyond the practical implications of this rudeness, there is an increasingly obvious lack of respect for the president and the presidency, with Republicans interpreting their electoral victory as a mandate to act with hubris. Steny Hoyer, the outgoing House majority leader, noted Thursday that he couldn’t remember a single instance when Democrats did not change their schedule to accommodate a request to meet with President George W. Bush. Mr. McConnell has already made it clear that defeating Mr. Obama is more important than negotiating on legislation. Apparently, that also goes for snubbing Mr. Obama.

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd-already unrec'd. Nice. nt

[Mass]

4. I noticed too. I wonder if those who unrec'ced will bother saying what their opposition to this

editorial is?

[babylonsister]

5. Haha! Not likely. nt

[JuniperLea]

57. I doubt it... some have been warned not too...

I think it's only right to voice your motivation. Whatever.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[awoke_in_2003]

60. jesus fucking christ on a stick...

someone unrecced 3 minute after it posted? Oh shit- there are asshole out there. Geez louis, it now has 214 recs. Get over it.

[elocs]

80. I love it when people immediately whine about UnRec and the thread winds up on top of the Home Page.

With 272 Recs now the UnReccers are really destroying this thread. Ashamed they should be.

[awoke_in_2003]

81. Whining about unrec...

is about as funny as the "First Post" phenomenon.

[elocs]

83. Ultimately the UnRec whiners will win because it seems Skinner is tiring of the whining.

And who says whining doesn't pay? :cry: Only one point of view allowed, or, how dare somebody UnRec a thread with which I agree? Especially if it is my thread.

[awoke_in_2003]

96. I agree, it will go away...

just to shut people up. If it were me, and I had to it away, I would also take away the "Rec" feature. But then again, I am an asshole- fuck 'em and feed 'em fish heads :)

[gristy]

82. Apparently the fact that someone unrec'd is more important to you than the topic of the OP?

GET OVER IT!!!!!

[MannyGoldstein]

2. The Republicans will see - there will be Hell to pay nt

[Mira]

7. I wish. But I must ask

When?
Or: What is it going to take?

[gateley]

41. Manny - is that you? Did you forget the sarcasm thingy?

Sarcasm and author (you!) aside, there is nothing I'd rather see than this! :hi:

[Warren Stupidity]

3. At some point you have to recognize that you are in a fight

and you have to start to punch back.

I did not vote for President Punching Bag.

[texastoast]

49. The time has come

For serious spine.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. By disrespecting the President himself, and the office, the repukes figure they can then

stampede over anything and everything that this administration tries to do....and the ignorant hordes will be right behind them...and then the repukes will step aside as the lemmings go over the cliff.....

[stray cat]

8. With all DISRESPECT - that about covers are level of discourse

[FedUp_Queer]

37. Yeah, I'm a douche, but isn't it correct to say

"our level of discourse?"

[Greyhound]

65. Respect has to be earned and after the last 30 years even the office doesn't cut it anymore. n/t

[tavalon]

87. I think that's why people unrecced it

and didn't bother to read the article which made it clear that the disrespect is coming from the Republicans not the author.

[Clio the Leo]

9. It would be funny if, when 11/30 rolled around ... "Sorry guys, I gotta take Bo to the vet..."

"... or something ... yeah, something just came up. Can we reschedule?" ;)

[DrToast]

20. LOL...."Michelle's been bugging me to paint the house."*

*

[BonnieJW]

30. I need to wash my socks and

I've been planning to have a headache for a couple of days.

[theaocp]

10. The real question is

will he continue to take it or name names and make them famous? My money's on no, but we'll see. :popcorn:

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[impik]

12. Good morning, really

The "obvious disrespect for this president and this presidency" started on January 21 2009. Took the media long enough to notice.

[bertman]

14. The President is simply doing his job of supporting whatever Wall Street

needs to have done to GET ALL OF THE MONEY. It doesn't matter to him if the Republicans show respect for him or the office--if you think they HAVE shown him ANY respect you have not been paying attention. The government is now a government OF, BY, and FOR WALL STREET. It matters not which party is in power because they both serve the Financial Elite.

Get over your delusions of the President fighting for US taxpaying citizens. Those delusions are the result of wishful thinking and fantasy.

This President didn't have the cajones to tell the Republicans that he will veto any extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2%. In his dictionary 'conciliation' and 'compromise' are synonymous.

[Grinchie]

33. You nailed it Bertman. The Obama Administration Enabled all of this

They enabled it by throwing nearly everyone under the bus for the sake of Corporate welfare and Wall Street.

The blatancy and the breathless speed at which the DLC assumed total control was simply too much for a nation shell shocked from 8 years of Dubya, yet, the old DLC Crew chose to trample ahead like a herd of wild elephants.

Now the Republicans can use this aggravation felt by nearly every segment of the country to do this sort of shit.

But you are right, many people are deluded that Obama is actually looking out for them. He is only looking out for the apparatus and it's survival, and it isn't branded with (D) or (R). It's the base governement that is at risk here, and what better way to keep the citizens in control than by fomenting gridlock, incivility and inaction. They are all buying time, no more, no less.

[paparush]

15. Mr. President, the opposition party's #1 objective is to make sure you are not re-elected.

They don't give a fsck about jobs.
They don't give a fsck about the deficit.
They don't give a fsck about affordable healthcare.

Their one guiding principle is to DESTROY YOU.

So, please, with all due respect, WAKE THE FUCK UP AND STOP TRYING TO REASON WITH THESE NEANDERTHALS.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren Stupidity]

23. Seriously?

[impik]

34. Yes, seriously. Even if they'll keep delete my posts.

[Warren Stupidity]

53. So you find it useful to keep stirring up the internal warfare here?

Why?

[JuniperLea]

59. So, let me get this straight...

One faction is perfectly right in posting as they choose, and the other has to suck it up or they are stirring up the internal warfare? Really?

[Pisces]

16. It's called Governing while black. There's nothing new under the sun.

[pnwmom]

51. I'm afraid that IS a lot of it. Disgusting. n/t

[JuniperLea]

61. Well said...

Keep saying it.

[Moonbat2]

66. HA-HA

Thats a good one
very funny

[tavalon]

88. Do you know any blacks?

Have you ever heard the term "Driving While Black"?

[Fruittree]

73. I think there's a lot of truth to that...

It's disgusting and what's really annoying is that if you say the obvious which is precisely what you've said - then according to the conventional wisdom of the MSM, you're just playing the race card and the truth is dismissed.It's a no-win situation. The current Republican party is just awful to put it mildly.

[Tatiana]

17. The President will simply try harder to reach out to the Republicans.

This, of course will not work, but he will keep trying.

[ProgressiveLiberal]

19. For 2 more years ....

Unless he wises up

[Major Hogwash]

40. When will white people get it?

Since Obama is the first black President, how long will it take the majority of white people in this country to sit up and realize that the Republicans are saying "No" at an unprecedented rate -- nothing like this in recent history -- simply because the president is black!!

A record number of filibusters.
A standing "hold" by one Republican on ANY appointment to ANY federal position by Obama.
Refusal to discuss arms treaties.
Refusal to discuss economic policies.
Refusal to discuss war policies.

"You lie!"
From the State of the Union speech.

Right from the very first day.
The level of disrespect, openly and boldly, with no shame whatsoever, has reached new lows.

[Number23]

42. Absolutely. And what's amazing is that the Repubs think that no one has noticed

There is a refusal amongst far too many white people (on both sides of the political spectrum) to discuss or even ACKNOWLEDGE racism. But the things that you've noted have been observed by so many that hopefully that will change.

Although I'm probably wrong. I expect any minute now for someone to come along and note that every single one of those things happened to Bill Clinton -- even though they didn't.

[Tatiana]

44. Absolutely. But at a certain point, you have to ask when will our President get it?

He's given these racists more opportunities than necessary to work together to make progress for this country.

Time and time again, they have spurned his offer. Indeed, they have spit in his face.

At a certain point, you have to not only stand up for the downtrodden and hurting people of this nation, but you also have to stand up for YOURSELF.

This is what bothers some people and what makes the President look weak. We don't see him standing up for himself and clearly stating that his expectation is to be treated with respect as the duly-elected President of the United States. It started with "You lie!" and has continued on from there. Once Republicants saw that they could "punk" the President without a response, they have continued and even increased their level of disrespect towards him.

Bill Clinton was a corporate shill, but he never let anyone get away with disrespecting him. This strikes me as a real character flaw. Obama had no problem going after Hillary Clinton in the campaign when she got tough with him. But when it comes to Republicants, I see a real lack of desire to deal with potential confrontation.

[tledford]

46. It started happening after the 2008 election and before he was even inaugurated.

A lot of us white folks saw it two years ago and ever since. And every other explanation for this behavior is feeble rationalization, it truly does boil down to the fact that he is black.

[liberation]

47. Oh, we get it...

... the question is wether or not our president gets that.

[JuniperLea]

63. Of course he does

He has a poker face, thankfully, and he's bigger than the stupidity.

[pnwmom]

52. I agree with you. And I'm disgusted by it. n/t

[JuniperLea]

62. The grasping at straws illustrates your point...

They would rather play politics with the fiscal and social health of the nation rather than agree with one thing Obama says or does. As much as we all hate GWB, we never assumed ALL Congressional Democrats would vote against his bills.

[BumRushDaShow]

64. Bingo! n/t

[ooglymoogly]

74. What is this "Oh woe is me crap"

He's the President of the United states for fukin cripe sakes, with major presidential powers. He has a soap box. He has veto and the threat of using it.

As far as the banking and war crimes debacle; he should have put most of these criminals in jail for clear cut crimes against the folks of this country, if he'd followed the laws of this country and the laws of the civilized world.

It is an embarrassing spectacle to watch him grovel; To backtrack, capitulate, give everything away...before even being asked. He is the president of the United States, for fukin cripes sake. What does he have to care about a bunch of idiot southern crackers who think they won the civil war and are still drooling over slavery; with inferior intellects of the "ruling class", slavery was the only thing they ever had to make them feel something more than they art; superior; exploitation was a big bonus.

He could have been the pride of us all, particularly black folks who needed this break.

He had a huge mandate and he carelessly squandered it with bipartisanship platitudes; when they said straight out they hated him and for the most ignorant reasons.

He said it all when addressing a powerful bunch of them; "I am not the man you think I am" aka "I am not a liberal, I am more like you."

Pretending you are one of the folks who hate you is a fools errand.

He alienated the seniors by stealing half a trillion from their retirement savings and eliminating their mandated cola when prices are going through the roof; He has alienated the oppressed by not sending their oppressors to prison, or even prosecuting them in the banking and war of lies scandals for blatant well documented theft and war crimes.

He has alienated those of us who believe a two tiered legal system will only lead to anarchy, as it has in most civilizations gone before.

He has alienated those who believe the constitution is the law of the land for which he breaks every day with the patriot act and the supreme power to designate who is a terrorist and have them disappeared.

These same criminals he is "looking forward" on, will have not a care, when they now try to impeach him and bring down what is left of the democratic party.

We fought for and elected a proud honorable man for whom we had great respect. That respect was sadly misplaced.

So don't give me any of this "Oh woe is me" crap. If he hasn't figured out the phsychi of the southern politician and their like dominating tiny populations in the Midwest solely for power in congress, with no more than a Svengali like religion, he has been elected to a position far above his abilities.

[ProSense]

75. "He's the President of the United states for fukin cripe sakes, with major presidential powers. "

And yet you posted this comment.

It is an embarrassing spectacle to watch him grovel; To backtrack, capitulate, give everything away...before even being asked. He is the president of the United States, for fukin cripes sake. What does he have to care about a bunch of idiot southern crackers who think they won the civil war and are still drooling over slavery because that with inferior intellects, was the only thing they ever had to make them feel superior.

He could have been the pride of us all, particularly black folks who needed this break.

I suppose you think that none of the disrespect and hate directed at this President is due to his race. What about the death threats?

The President doesn't "grovel" and there is no fucking evidence to support that claim.

The disrespect the NYT addresses goes far beyond just Republicans.

[ooglymoogly]

77. No self respecting democrat thinks in this antediluvian idiocy.

Nope...mostly just hypocrites; pugs and pugs pretending to be Dems or pug independents pretending to be democrats of which there are far too many.

[ProSense]

79. Oh please

If people actually cared about hypocrisy, the Republicans wouldn't be back in control of the House.

All of this BS is simply an excuse to disrespect the President. It's really telling actually. The NYT writes an editorial pointing out that the Republicans are being disrespectful, and people chime in to justify why they're being disrespectful. It's bullshit.






edited for clarity.

[political_Dem]

78. That's why it doesn't surprise me how nasty the behavior towards the POTUS has become.

Some white folks can kick and scream, cajole their way out of it, or petuantly finger-wag until the cows come home saying that this does not have anything to with race. They can even stomp their feet and deny they are racist while quoting Dr. King and talking about their participation in the Civil Rights Era. They can even sigh loudly and proclaim, "Not this again!"

This doesn't erase the fact that race has something to do with the ugliness against Mr. Obama and his family. By extension, some of this nastiness is also experienced by people of color from folks you least expect from it. And they don't give a crap what flies out of their mouth now. It's as if common sense and civility has flown out the window. And some truly make sure to be as sadistic as they want to be when grinding the proverbial heel in the foot of another.

[Mimosa]

21. Good article, good information, but...

this sentence doesn't work:

"there is an increasingly obvious lack of respect for the president and the presidency, with Republicans interpreting their electoral victory as a mandate to act with hubris."

Wrong word completely. The correct word would be contempt. Or even malice.

[Myrina]

22. The GOP is acting like obnoxious little children ...

... its nice to see them showing their asses for all to see, but will the media call them for what they are, and will POTUS finally take the velvet gloves off now and put the chess board away and get down to some GOP ass kicking?

PLEASE??

[rasputin1952]

24. They are, "obnoxious little children"...

not an adult to be seen for miles around the GOP.

[YvonneCa]

84. Obnoxious little children is...

...exactly how they have been behaving for a long time. I agree the President needs to get serious.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=522787&mesg_id=522787

[and-justice-for-all]

25. Pukes have never, since his election to the WH,

any inclination of cooperation with Obama.

[Mosaic]

26. My advice to the president

Don't negotiate with enemies, no compromise. Instead plan to defeat them, weaken them, outsmart them.

[BREMPRO]

27. they remember the last time they had a summit with the pres and had to defend their "ideas"

there lies fell apart when challenged. epic fail on their side- they got pwned. not surprised they "don't have time".

[BREMPRO]

28. they remember the last time they had a summit with the pres and had to defend their "ideas"

their lies and inconsistencies fell apart when challenged and their hypocrisy and corporate shilling exposed. epic fail disaster on their side. Not surprised 'they don't have time" to meet with the president. All politics all the time with the pukes- they don't know how to or have any interest in governing or working for the people.

[Turborama]

72. It was an epic fail disaster on their side

Another thing, have you noticed how many TV interviews any have them done since the election? I think I can count them on one hand. Their MO is obvious, avoid being questioned by anyone anywhere and they might get away with not having any answers.

[BREMPRO]

89. they are claiming the victim. that they were "ambushed". Bull.

they can't publicly debate ideas and policies that are unworkable, fiscally disingenuous, inconsistent and almost always benefit corporations and the wealthy at the expense of the rest of us. They prefer to hide behind their rhetoric and use their media surrogates to push their propaganda rather than actually have an open debate where their ideas can be challenged.

[jenmito]

29. 100th rec.! GREAT article. I hope the majority of people finally realize what's going on and

turn against the Repubs.

[Jakes Progress]

31. It's called a clue.

Let's hope it gets got this time. People respect civilized and decent behavior, but there is a limit, and we passed it long ago. When you keep bending your knee in civility to bullies, it may at first seem like you are being a peacemaker and a gentleman. But if you keep doing it and keep doing it regardless of the outcome, it comes to be seen as cowardice.

If the president thinks his senate-bred civility will gain him votes or support he is very wrong. It has come to be seen as craven fear of confrontation. How much better it would have been if he had called out the republican asshole and bully who called him a liar during the State of the Union address. Demanding an apology with a lecture about taste and decorum would have gone a long way to stave off the rising perception of our president as a wuss. I don't think I voted for a wuss, but the truth is that perception is growing in the population. The electorate won't return someone they think of as a wuss to office.

[grahamhgreen]

32. But, Obama was there to represent the Rebubs!

[impik]

35. I'm sure no one is going to delete this bullshit post

[JuniperLea]

58. Me too...

Disgusting...

[grahamhgreen]

95. Tax cuts for the rich at the expense of the poor, disgusting.

[Skittles]

36. YOU DON'T COMPROMISE WITH RABID DOGS

WHY DOESN'T OBAMA UNDERSTAND THIS???

[GeorgeGist]

38. Republicans can't rule ...

so they ruin.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

39. repukes: You are SHIT.

you know it, too.

[gateley]

43. They know exactly how badly they were dissed. Can you imagine how it pained

them to have to say "we don't think it's a snub...". I'd love to have heard what they were saying OFF camera!

The Republicans are despicable. :puke:

[BlueJac]

45. Expect investigations going full speed ahead......

these clowns are going to turn Obama inside out.


Go after GWbush for war crimes to preempt these evil fools. Oh shit, that's right, you might get caught up in that too.


Cover your ass for being such a reach across the table kind of President, it was the wrong thing to do for the phony change you promised.

[Pryderi]

48. How long is Obama going to allow himself to be slapped an spit on?

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[girl gone mad]

54. When you act like a doormat..

don't be surprised that people walk all over you.

[jillan]

71. My mom used to tell me that. Great advice - even for the President!

[Plucketeer]

55. Probably interfered with Orange's

tanning bed reservation and McDuncell's jowl massage.

[russspeakeasy]

56. Dear Mr. President...

where are your balls?

[AsahinaKimi]

67. Republicans will be acting as spoiled brats

The party of "No" has just gotten started. They will sit in their chairs, with their armed crossed and not participate in a democracy. Their only goal is to try and make the President look ineffective.

[laughingliberal]

68. Mr. President, they're just not that into you. You're never going to out-Republican them. eom

[Mike Nelson]

69. President Obama should...

...launch a full-scale verbal attack aganist Mitch M. and his gang. What is more important than meeting with the US President? They built a house of lies about Nancy P. - just tell the truth about the Republicans! It needs to start at the top.

[Crunchy Frog]

70. When in the fuck is he going to get it that these "people" can not be worked with?

[YvonneCa]

85. Soon...

...I hope. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=522787&mesg_id=522787

[RayStar]

91. Never

It looks like never or it feels that way to me. It is past time for the President to remember he is a Democrat.

[Crunchy Frog]

92. It's past time for the President to remember that he's a President.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

76. Republicans are thugs and determined

[MindandSoul]

86. Mr President. . .Please realize that these people are NEVER going to respect you for your kindness

and your willingness to cooperate. They want to insult you, demean you, and make you look like a weak, unworthy leader.
PLEASE do not let them do that to you and to the office of the Presidency.

Take a firm step and look to your basis for support. It is better to try with your base than it is to belittle yourself any further.
Please realize that bipartisanship is just not in the cards. . .and that they are making you look like a fool as long as you belittle yourself in begging them for cooperation.

It is better for you to lose in 2012 with your integrity and pride intact, than it is to suck up to those BAST. . .!

[AllyCat]

90. Mr. Obama is a good man. At some point, he needs to be a smart good man and

realize these people are mean. It is time to stand up for himself and do what he said he would do. Don't negotiate with these children. Just get as much done as possible before Christmas and be done with it. Fuck 'em.

[RainDog]

93. republicans are simply scum.

they have demonstrated this repeatedly. if they don't want to govern, they should stay the fuck at home FOREVER.

[glinda]

94. They and the Corps that they rode in on are running the Country

without regard to the highest office (unless they are in there) and without regard to law (unless they change it to the law they like).

[Blue_Tires]

97. frustrated kick...

[DemocraticPilgrim]

98. Sometimes the President is highlighting a point than caving to the right. If he just made ...

accustiaons it would be unbecoming of the President but to show it in actions speaks louder than words. For whatever reason moderates like the President to be non partisan so if he puts into action to show how one side isn't helping moderates have to reassess.

[farmboxer]

99. But Obama said that we must please Republicans.............

Dems don't count, all the hours of support for Obama does not count, we must please Republicans at all cost!

[LittleBlue]

100. Do we really want to bend over and take this garbage for 2 more years?

???

I say let's go to war, not take it up the bum.

[Honeycombe8]

101. Aw, come on...a meeting was NOT set. A date wasn't set. There were

discussions going on about when the meeting would take place, and someone suggested some day or something. It was never agreed on or scheduled. At least that's what Biden said, and that's what I heard on the news.

Was it disrespectful for the Repub leaders not to say, "You name the date, and we'll be there"? You bet it was.

But there are plenty of things to criticize the Repubs for w/o having to get all worked up over something so iffy.

BTW...I wasn't one of the unrec-ers.

[pnorman]

102. I recall some pro-Obama posts that were un-rec, ---- rat a tat tat!

There was occasionally a little whining, but NOWHERE as much as when the shoe is on the other foot!