NY Times Editorial: "Oh, Grow Up"

[amborin]

Oh, Grow Up

September 1, 2011

The contemptuous reaction from the House speaker, John Boehner, to the president’s request to address a joint session next Wednesday — the day Congress returns from its summer recess — was appalling. No matter how he feels about Mr. Obama personally or politically, there can be no excuse for his lack of respect for the office, to which he is second in the line of succession. And it was distressing to watch President Obama fail, once again, to stand up to an opposition that won’t brook the smallest compromise.

What made this even more appalling is that the president will be speaking on the country’s most pressing problem — the need to create jobs and stave off another destructive recession.
Mr. Obama’s request should have been routine. And The Times on Thursday quoted a White House official as saying it was: Obama aides consulted Boehner aides and then sent a formal request for a joint session on Wednesday. But Mr. Boehner said the date wasn’t convenient, a rebuff of the chief executive that the Senate historian’s office said seemed unprecedented.
It’s possible that the White House failed to seek Mr. Boehner’s back-room agreement before making its formal request. That’s hard to believe, even from an administration that is maladroit politically, to put it kindly.

snip

It’s also possible that the White House failed to notice that the contenders for the Republican presidential nomination have a debate on Wednesday, or deliberately tried to upstage it. If either is true, shame on the White House.
But, again, so what?

snip

One day won’t make a difference, but the political spectacle and the final result only served to further underscore the president’s weakness. Worse, the vital importance of the speech — and the need for Congress to take its full responsibility for creating jobs and reviving the economy — was upstaged by yet another Washington soap opera.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/opinion/oh-grow-up.html?hp

[ixion]

1. "And it was distressing to watch President Obama fail, once again"

Indeed it was. :argh:

[amborin]

2. made me cringe

[gateley]

4. Please see my post below - I don't think he had a choice. nt

[gateley]

3. As I understand it, the only way he can 'force' Congress to

convene is to declare some kind of emergency (which might end up w/the Supremes and take at least a month).

Boehner calls the shots in the Congress. Obama didn't have any choice if Boehner said no. What sucks it apparently Boehner said no problem initially, then changed his mind.

So Obama didn't "fall", he did the right thing. If he'd dug in his feet and it became a battle, imagine how that would sit with the people.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Republicans have been staging a boycott.

How do you break a political boycott?

[gateley]

17. The only thing I fault Obama for in this instance is not

getting the agreement in writing when Boehner's office initially okayed it. But since this has never happened in our history, it probably didn't even occur to them. Of course, a Congressman has never yelled out "you lie!" during a SOTU address, either, so... :shrug:

[ixion]

6. It would sit better than his constant subjugation.

There were all sorts of strong rationales he could have offered that would have made Bonehead look like an idiot. Instead, he just caved, and in almost record time.

And I'm quoting the OP/ED, so if you don't like it, take it up with the NY Times.

[gateley]

14. I think that regardless of what reasons Obama presented,

the Republicans would have countered with their BS arguments as to why OBAMA was being unreasonable, and sadly, it's their soundbites that get the air play, and it would dissolve into a fucking spat. Meanwhile, the masses are blaming BOTH sides for playing politics while Rome is burning.

I think Obama did the right thing, it was a glitch on dates, and Obama did what any of us would have in a "real life" situation. Oh, the date won't work? Okay, let's do it on...

Where I think they made the mistake was taking Boehner's word on it without getting it in writing, but this is the first time in history the Speaker has rejected the President's request, so it probably didn't even occur to them it might happen.

[MH1]

22. I suspect that whatever day Obama picked, Boehner would have refused

in similar fashion, for exactly these reasons and results.

ALL these f*ckers care about is seeing Obama fail.

[Tx4obama]

8. Oh that is BS. President Obama did not 'fail'.

It was just a scheduling issue.
Obama can't forcefully go to the House Chamber without the House voting on a joint session resolution first.

It's time for folks to start focusing on the 'important' issues and not MEDIA's drummed up outrage of the day.

[ixion]

10. I'm quoting the OP/ED

so you can take your complaint up with the New York Times.

[treestar]

7. It should have been routine, and they should blame Boner for that

it is not, like the debt ceiling.

What was Obama supposed to do, address the empty chamber?

[ixion]

9. "What was Obama supposed to do?"

Push Back.

[treestar]

19. My suggestion was more concrete than yours

Address the empty chamber? Do what? Since the President does not have the advantage of your advice otherwise, won't you put it here?

[gkhouston]

21. Give the speech on the 7th from the White House. Congresscritters

can afford DVRs.

[Proud Public Servant]

18. Say this

"Over 18 months ago, when the Republicans gained a majority in the House of Representatives, Speaker Boehner promised America he would "focus like a laser on jobs.

"In the intervening year and a half, while Americans suffered and waited, Speaker Boehner and his party did nothing. They have not put forward a single bill designed to fight unemployment and put Americans back to work. Indeed, whether it was defunding Planned Parenthood, taking symbolic votes on health care, or renaming local post offices, it seemed like the House Republicans would find any excuse to vote on something -- anything -- rather than a bill that might help ordinary Americans in their time of need.

"As the House reconvenes this Wednesday, I had hoped to address both chambers on this topic, the gravest crisis to face our nation in 75 years. Precisely because of its urgency, I sought the first available opportunity -- the first day Congress is back in session. But Speaker Boehner, in a manner unprecedented in American history, said no. And why? Because his party is holding a debate that night.

"John Boehner and the House Republicans have demonstrated again and again over the last 18 months that the fortunes of the Republican party matter more to them than the fate of our nation. I cannot force him to convene a joint session; to deny it is his prerogative. But I can wonder, and ask all Americans to wonder, how much longer this country can endure a partisanship so petty that it puts scoring cheap points against the president over putting a paycheck in the pockets on the millions of Americans seeking jobs. I do not know if John Boehner meant to disrespect me, but he has certainly disrespected his countrymen."

Bully pulpit. Use it. End of discussion.

[treestar]

20. Assuming, perhaps naively, that you don't expect it to be in those words

How do you know he won't in essence say that next Thursday?

Bookmarked to see your reaction to how the bully pulpit is not enough without action.

[Proud Public Servant]

23. I hope he does say it

or something like it. But you asked what Obama should have done THIS week, when Boehner refused to convene Congress, and that's my answer. Instead, he said nothing, allowing the narrative that he's a weak, rudderless president to develop just a little more.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. The entire beltway is incapable of doing their jobs

Obama's bipartisan ideology is not helping at all. But that's his dogma and he's sticking to it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Reminds me of kids in a sandbox.

This is the worst I can remember.

[pa28]

13. They'll keep pushing the limits until somebody says "no".

We should brace ourselves for more of the same.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. I agree completely

[WillyT]

16. K & R !!!

:kick:

:hi: