For all those who think Obama is an "appeaser" and is "unwilling to fight," remember this?:

[jenmito]

Obama Goes To GOP Lions' Den -- And Mauls The Lions
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/29/obama-goes-to-the-gop-lio_n_442331.html

Video: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/president-obama-takes-questions-gop-house-issues-conference

[arcane1]

1. Thanks for posting this!

I was just thinking about this encounter the other day, in fact :)

[jenmito]

2. My pleasure...

I posted it on this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=555598 and never got a response.

[T Wolf]

3. That was just political theater. Did he accomplish anything with it? Did he get their promise

to negotiate in good faith on any issue?

Didn't think so.

[Clio the Leo]

5. Ha!

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/President+Obama+Signs+Health+Care+Reform+Bill+5pIX4ointf6l.jpg

(I'll save you the trouble .. "it's not reform" "it's a sell out bill to big Pharma" "if I pretend something's not so then I can make it go away!" blah blah blah)

[arcane1]

8. He got their promise

and they reneged on it.

[jenmito]

9. "Political theater"? To take on all of those Republicans-taking all of their hostile questions-and

making THEM look foolish-all televised? Right. :eyes:

[T Wolf]

11. That is the definition of political theater. But thanks for validating the view that

NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

[jenmito]

13. Giving a prepared speech could be considered "political theater." What HE did was

an act of bravery.

[pscot]

19. It was

And I wish we had seen more of that.

[Smashcut]

33. Gimme a break.

[jenmito]

35. No.

[Clio the Leo]

20. I've been told that if Obama just gets behind a podium and speaks ...

.... he has the power to part the sea and melt the heart of even the most conservative Republican.

If he does it in prime time or in front of a fire place, he can actually cause the sun to change direction.

[Life Long Dem]

36. First it was Obama is unwilling to fight.

Now that someone proves he has fought, it's not enough.

Give it a break.

[BklnDem75]

30. Oh? So that's important now?

For months we've been hearing he should do EXACTLY that even if it resulted in nothing. When it's pointed out he's done that before, it's just political theater? Really? You can't have it both ways.

[Fruittree]

31. So, is Bernie Sanders filibuster when

he must've know there was no chance it was going to change anyone's mind also political theatre? It seems some people here will not give Obama credit no matter what he does.

[DaveofCali]

4. What I'm thinking now is simply the nature of elections now

Elections are getting more and more expensive, and Obama's going to have to raise about $2 billion dollars for 2012, so he's going to have to do a lot of things to please the Rich and Corporate America, because he can't get reelected without Corporate America's help (even in the last election, small donations only accounted for 25% of the money he raised.) He probably is someone that believes that he has to be part of the problem in order to be part of the solution (and to get something through, even if it is watered down, is better than nothing). Thus, in theory he has his hands tied in terms of shilling for the corrupt system.

[Clio the Leo]

6. Oh, poo! That was like MONTHS ago!

We only care about the last 48 hours.

[jenmito]

16. Exactly. n/t

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. LOL!

I guess you have never been told that it is far wiser to judge another's intent based on their actions rather than their words.

[jenmito]

10. LOL!

Yeah-you can't deny what he did-on live TV-which was FAR from wimpiness/wusiness/whatever term you want to use.

[Vinnie From Indy]

14. Please feel free to mesmerized by the shiny lights and ringing bells if you want.

I will continue to base my judgement on Obama's deeds.

[jenmito]

15. What he did was historic and brave. And HCR got signed into law. n/t

[Smashcut]

34. It wasn't HCR it was HIR, barely

and now it's DOA.

[Clio the Leo]

18. lol and we posted a list of his deeds, would you then call us cheerleaders?

.... and 'round and 'round we go.

[CakeGrrl]

22. Yep. I think this forum is devolving to that level. n/t

[pscot]

21. Don't listen to what we say

Watch what we do. Richard Nixon said that. He was Southern Strategizing. It's good advice.

[mahina]

12. K and R

but you can't tell, thanks to silent and invisible unrecers.

[jenmito]

17. Thanks for trying...

to get ONE pro-Obama thread above 0 recs. :hi:

[Schema Thing]

24. wow. I just tried to help.

still at zero.


And your post is something I've thought of several times this past week.

[jenmito]

26. Thanks...

it got to +3 and now it's at +2. I'm sure it'll be back to 0 soon. I can't believe this is really DEMOCRATIC Underground. I'm glad a FEW of us have been thinking of this.

[ClassWarrior]

23. A great glimpse of what he's capable of doing. Now he needs to do it regularly.

NGU.

[bluestateguy]

25. He's knows how to be confrontational with rhetoric and in campaigning

In governing, not so much.

[jenmito]

27. So being "confrontational with rhetoric" isn't enough for you? What do you want him to do-

punch those who disagree with him in the face?

[bluestateguy]

53. No. He's fine as a campaigner, but we need to see that same spirit in him as a President

It's a shame too because he has the skills as a rhetorician to fight the opposition and win most of the time.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. Thanks for the reminder

His finest hour (so far). I wish he would have more opportunities to utterly (and publicly) destroy the Republicans like that. Unfortunately, the Republicans being the cowards that they are will probably never let that happen again. *sigh*

[jenmito]

29. It sure was...

and the Repubs. KNOW it. He's FAR from weak.

[whosinpower]

32. That was in January

And after the HCR debacle - you know the one....the bill that forces you to buy private health insurance whether you can afford it or not, with no regulations to cut costs - only to slow the increases......

After the American public gave him a "shellacking" for his backroom deal that cut out any talk of a robust public option to provide competition to the private insurance firms....and tossed 52 democrats to the wind.....

Methinks his lion's den days are over. Nowadays it is yessir, whatever you say sir, shall I refill your glass? Nowadays it is....the miracle of tax cuts. It is the erosion of Social Security AS A DEMOCRAT PRINCIPLE ?!? It is - those "purist" liberals are raining on my parade. Principles - who needs em. I'll give away mine in favour of yours....you can have that golden pony.

Nowadays it is - Hey Bill....can you cover this? I'm outta here!

[Left of the Left]

37. Yes, I remember

I remember how most of his argument was "Look how republican my plan is, why arent you supporting it?" Making republicans look stupid isn't difficult, and was entertaining. But that doesn't mean he was fighting for worthy ideals.

Nice try though.

[jenmito]

38. No, you obviously don't..

Obama shot down their arguments one by one. He destroyed them, which is why they never wanted to do that again. He "ambushed" them, they said.

[Left of the Left]

41. Saying I'm wrong

Isn't enough. You are claiming that he fought for liberal/progressive ideas. He did not. He shot down their argument, that is true. But he did not do so in support of clear democratic ideals. The healthcare plan is better than nothing, but if you think it's liberal then you don't know what you're talking about.

The point is yours to make here. PROVE HE FOUGHT FOR DEMOCRATIC IDEAS AT THE SUMMIT. He fought for his version of Romneycare. That is not what the criticism is about.

[jenmito]

43. I remember how most of his argument was "Look how republican my plan is, why arent you supporting

it?" That's what you said he said in effect. You were wrong. Obama shamed them into never wanting to be in the same situation again. He showed how THEIR math was "fuzzy" and impossible to make sense. That led to him convincing enough Dems. to passing the bill which will help or is already helping lots of people with pre-existing conditions, which is a Democratic idea.

[Left of the Left]

48. A paragraph of nothing finished with..

one nondescript ideal "helping people". You present no proof, you offer no argument, your "democratic" standard is a joke. Sure he fights, but he doesn't fight for the democratic party. THAT IS THE CRITICISM. LEARN THE DIFFERENCE.

[Left of the Left]

49. btw

your earth shatteringly wonderful standard of "helping people" by way of covering pre-existing conditions? The republicans have said they will include the same coverage in their plan. AMAZING! The republicans are now pushing democratic ideals!! Obama does it again!!!

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/131081-cantor-gop-will-keep-some-provisions-of-healthcare-law-intact

[jeanpalmer]

39. You mean the lion Mitch McConnell

LOL.

They were mauled so badly they picked up only 63 seats in the House.

[jenmito]

40. They tried to stop HCR. Remember DeMint's comment re: Obama's possible failure to get HCR passed?:

"It will be his Waterloo. We can break him."

[jeanpalmer]

42. As time went on though

they realized his Waterloo would be passing mandates. And they accommodated him on that. His HCR played a big part in mobilizung opposition to Democrats in the elections. I really doubt the Repubs were that unhappy that he got it passed. They plan to dismantle it anyway, probably as part of an austerity plan next year.

[BzaDem]

44. They ACCOMMODATED him on that? Are you serious?

:rofl:

[jeanpalmer]

47. They gave him the crucial vote

but held firm otherwise. They gave him just enough rope. That's accommodation without capitulation.

[jenmito]

45. That's bull.

They NEVER accommodated him. They never stopped trying to "kill the bill" right up to the day of the final vote when the teabaggers went to DC.

[Skittles]

46. he's great with words

actions, not so much

[donheld]

50. +1000

His speech and actions never match

[jenmito]

56. He got HCR passed after that 1 1/2 hour smack-down. n/t

[wndycty]

51. K&R

:kick:

[zulchzulu]

52. More to come... if they don't chickenhawk themselves out n/t

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

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

[NorthCarolina]

55. I don't think that at all. I think he's simply complicit with GOP demands. nt