Obama on working with the GOP: "I'm an optimist, not a sap."

[Richardo]

:rofl: My President!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/15/obama-on-republicans-im-a_n_167049.html

In an interview with columnists aboard Air Force One, President Obama talked about what he learned from the stimulus battle. Pronouncing himself impressed with his team for moving the legislation through Congress so quickly, he said the plan wasn't everything he wanted but was still a "very good start on moving things forward."

As for his experience with congressional Republicans, the president said, "I made every effort to reach out to Republicans early to get their input and to get their buy-in. I think that there were some senators and House members who have a sincere philosophical difference with the idea of any government role in boosting demand in the economy. They don't believe in Keynes and they're still fighting FDR ... I think we can disagree without being disagreeable on that front."

He added that the GOP also made a "political and tactical" decision to oppose the stimulus as a way to rally their base. "Whether that's a smart strategy, I think you should ask them." He said that it was his impression that the House Republicans decided to vote party-line against the bill before he met with them. "I'm not sure that there was a whole host of things that we were going to do that was going to make a difference." (Republicans dispute that interpretation, claiming they were open to the stimulus when they met with Obama.)

<snip>

Asked if he would be so willing to reach out to Republicans in the future, the president responded, "You know, I am an eternal optimist. That doesn't mean I'm a sap."

:patriot:

[kestrel91316]

1. Zzzzzzingggggg!!!!! O.M.G. I love this man. He is far exceeding my expectations.

[BlooInBloo]

2. You might like this similarly-sentimented clip from a bit over a year ago...

http://www.dailykostv.com/v/000339.html

[Richardo]

6. Perfect.

"I will crush them." :rofl:

[dbmk]

12. Everyone should see this clip.

The guy knows what he is doing. And he is every bit as ruthless as some would like him to be. To the people that deserves it.

He is just making sure that the public can see that they deserve it before he brings it.

[Odin2005]

15. "I Will Crush Them" BWAHAHAHA!!! That's my president!

:woohoo:

[Richardo]

16. His laugh

Hilarious.

[Qutzupalotl]

17. That is an inspiring character trait. nt

[wroberts189]

3. Fool me once......

But he knew all along. And now it will always be shame on them.

[Uzybone]

4. They are still fighting FDR

thats all you need to know about the modern Republican party.

[TTUBatfan2008]

7. Ahem...it's the Rethuglican Party...

get it right. :P

[applegrove]

5. Great that he knows the difference at this early date in his administration.

[high density]

8. That's good

I'm happy to have Gibbs out there telling the press whores that "bipartisanship" is going to continue as long as the President is honest about how crazy the Repukes are.

[qanda]

9. I think the Republicans may have met their match

Go Obama!

[Laelth]

10. Well said, indeed! n/t

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[liberal N proud]

11. He is good

VERY GOOD!

[GeorgeGist]

13. BTW ...

John Maynard Keynes was treasurer of the Cambridge University Eugenics Society and FDR thought capitalism was fair.

still :rofl: :patriot:??

[Waiting For Everyman]

14. Well said.

Mean people always mistake patience for weakness. And then they pay for it at some point. They just can't imagine that someone with the brains to out-play them could also be a good-guy instead of one of them - a shark.

Yes, smart good-guys do exist. And we elected one, thank God.

He's telling them who he is, and they're not listening. Too bad for them.

[Bobbie Jo]

18. ....and they STILL won't know what hit them.

:fistbump: