Obama to Turn Up Attacks on Congress in Campaign

[alp227]

President Obama, heading into a grueling re-election campaign, plans to intensify his attacks against an unpopular Congress, concluding that he cannot pass any major legislation in 2012 because of unrelenting Republican hostility to his agenda, according to a senior administration official.

Mr. Obama’s election-year strategy is an attempt to capitalize on his recent victory on a short-term extension of the payroll tax cut and on his rising poll numbers. As the stage is set for the general election in November, he intends to hammer the theme of economic justice for ordinary Americans rather than continue battling with Congressional Republicans, said the official, Joshua R. Earnest, the deputy press secretary, previewing the White House’s strategy.

“In terms of the president’s relationship with Congress in 2012,” Mr. Earnest said at a briefing here, “the president is no longer tied to Washington, D.C.” Winning a full-year extension of the cut in payroll taxes is the last “must-do” piece of legislation for the White House, he said.

Instead, Mr. Earnest said, Mr. Obama will step up his efforts to showcase unilateral measures he is taking to try to revive the economy, though he declined to give details. Mr. Obama has used his executive authority in recent weeks to provide job training for returning military veterans and help students pay back their student loans. Further underscoring the jobs theme, Mr. Obama plans to return to the road, starting with a trip to Cleveland in early January to speak about the economy.

full: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/us/politics/obama-to-focus-on-congress-and-economy-in-2012-campaign.html?pagewanted=all

[SlimJimmy]

1. The President needs to be very careful with this line of attack. There have been a number of

Democrats who have voted against his policies in nearly every case. Don't think for a minute that the repubs won't point this out.

[CatWoman]

5. however

these far and few in between Dems sorely lack in size compared to the Republicans who have blocked him at every turn.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. The Blue Dog Democrats have let us all down

[Enrique]

8. they're part of the problem

so why shouldn't the be included in the attack?

[A wise Man]

10. It won't be the elected officials...

It will be the people that will decide what they want...."BACK TO THE BUSH REPUBLICANS OR FORWARD TO POSITIVE CHANGE. I choose President Obama before I sink into abliss by any rebuplican.

[freshwest]

11. None on them ran on a platform of making his administration fail or keeping him from a second term,

As the GOP leaders, from Rush to O'Connell, have openly said.

Not only that, Paul's biggest supporter has made an industry of painting Obama as planning to slaughter American citizens...

It's all on their side, really.

[CatWoman]

12. couldn't have said it better

[freshwest]

24. Thanks and glad to meet you, CatWoman!

[CatWoman]

34. very nice to meet you FW

[Lionessa]

20. Maybe, instead of focusing on his enemies, he could instead focus on his constituents needs...but

BO is only good at speeches and rhetoric, so I'm not surprised.

Just remember everyone, he lied about his goals and hopes for us in 2008 and instead after election had a homophobe deliver the inauguaral prayer, re-instaled Bush's financial team almost to a tee, has embraced and offered to protect the corps that killed our living wages and the banks that then took our homes, pushed for a health care bill that most Americans won't be able to afford and still keeps our care in the hands of private insurers who like to say no to anything costing more than a bandaid....

Just remember these are SPEECHES and RHETORIC, and Obama himself has proven he isn't able to be trusted when he speaks.

[Maraya1969]

29. You've obviously not paid much attention recently

[BlueCaliDem]

32. Strange,

but that's what Republicans are saying, too. Fancy that. But then again, they're clueless and a bunch of sore losers, and they'll lie, cheat, promise, beg, and nag whatever and however they can in the hope to disenchant as many voters as possible so they can win in 2012. They're even paid to go on Democratic and Progressive blogs to spread that kind of B.S.

Sad, huh?

[Lionessa]

33. Gee like I haven't been accused of that by your ilk before. Not true then, not now.

Obama has disappointed me all by himself.

[Scuba]

2. Good. The public thinks Congress sucks, the Prez should build on that....

... and all of us Progressives better get our nose to the grindstone pushing truly progressive candidates!!!!

[russspeakeasy]

14. I am not trying to pick a fight here, but are you including Obama

as a true progressive?

[Scuba]

15. No. But if there were a progressive Congress, he'd sign their legislation. n/t

[russspeakeasy]

16. Your optimism is noted. Thanks.

[freshwest]

23. He did sign progressive legislation when it was given to him before 2010. Then he had to deal with

The wingnuts elected by RW radio and conspiracy punditry. Obama already proved he would sign what the people wanted, if he had a progressive majority.

This lands the problem back in the people's court, if they want to waste time blaming Obama instead of doing the grunt work or standing aloof as if they are too good to get involved.

As far as Ron Paul is concerned, any Democrats thinking he's a change because of his (quickly fading) social liberal/libertarian stances, he's pure GOP/TeaParty.

The TeaParty was organized by Alex Jones for Ron Paul. Anyone who likes what the TeaParty has been doing to America, should vote for their real leader, Ron Paul.

Check out InfoWars and the RW religious websites and see the hysteria they've generated against Obama since Day One. It's bad company for any Democrat to get involved with.

Thanks, Scuba, for doing the groundwork, it's the only thing that will change your state or the balance of power in D.C.

[orpupilofnature57]

3. He's victim to the biggest band of obstructionists..

since Antebellum , We are being imprisoned them.

[Red1]

4. He Needs

to point out the dinos too....

[Lionessa]

21. Obama is a DINO! Geez, where have you been for 3 years?

[Bucky]

31. Nah. He's a LINO but hardly a Republican.

I'm not happy with everything he's done, but I'm not so blind as to think a Republican president wouldn't have been far worse.

[barbtries]

7. all he has to do is tell the truth

and the media and the republicans cry and call it an attack. boo fucking hoo

[cstanleytech]

9. Good, its almost an entirely true claim to make by Obama as well so I say let the

republicans cry all they want about it because they were the ones that choose to behave the way that they have been behaving.

[bemildred]

13. Good, he needs a progressive majority, both houses, and he won't get it playing nice. nt

[WillyT]

17. More Here:

In 2012, Obama to press ahead without Congress

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-us-obama-fourthyear,0,2044655.story

And...

Obama's resolution? To limit dealings with Congress

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-plans-20120101,0,2595075.story

[FredStembottom]

28. ++++++

This will work.
Dollars can't vote.
Desperate people who have been helped (or at least stood up for) can.

[Lionessa]

22. ^^^^ +1000

[pledgeburngrl]

19. Exactly! There is one man and his 60 word pledge gridlocking America!

We are trying to get the word out about what/who is causing this situation. Please visit our website: www.pledgeburn.com and/or our blog: www.pledgeburn.blogspot.com/ to learn more our group is G.A.G - Groups Against Grover.

Thank you!

[txlibdem]

25. Dare we HOPE again?

Should we dare think that President Obama will stop being the champion of corporate America and the rich and return to his persona of Candidate Obama '08?

I *want* to hope. But when I try to stretch my hope muscles I find they've atrophied beyond uselessness.

[FredStembottom]

27. I try to think past the man.

I see O as quite the go along to get along type (among other qualities).

The general disillusionment among a great many 2008 supporters seems to be getting through to him.

[FredStembottom]

26. That's all I'm asking.

I want the Democratic behavior that began emerging this past month to continue.

Seems the un-hinged, disloyal, pony-wishing here at DU is working.

Gonna get our rainbows soon!

[JDPriestly]

30. This is good news.

[Gringostan]

35. With a 9% approval rating

With a 9% approval rating, attacking congress should not be too hard – concerning the blue dogs, they can go pound sand.

[Quantess]

36. Yes, and so easy to do!

This will resonate well with the public. Their approval rating is what, 9%?