BREAKING: Obama agrees to Boehner's demands, will speak Thursday instead of Wednesday

[Tx4obama]

@thinkprogress ThinkProgress
BREAKING: Obama agrees to Boehner's demands, will speak Thursday instead of Wednesday

http://twitter.com/#!/thinkprogress/status/109072718959349762


@BreakingNews Breaking News
White House: Obama agrees to Boehner's wishes, will deliver speech to joint session of Congress on Sept. 8

http://twitter.com/#!/BreakingNews/status/109073448579506176

[global1]

1. Obama Caves.....nt

[Empowerer]

6. If true, this is NOT a "cave"

The President has absolutely no say over whether and when he speaks before Congress. He can only speak if and when he is invited to do so.

It's really a shame that Democrats are so quick to spin everything the President does into a negative slam of him. Instead of jumping up and down pointing fingers at the President yelling "CAVE!!!" you should be pointing your fingers at Boehner and his crowd for their obstinate, childish and nasty behavior.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Craven cowardly bullshit

if boner was going to renege on his consent Obama should have simply made the event a national tv speech instead, with an introduction explaining why he could not speak to both houses of congress.

Spin? The spinning is the endless stream of excuses made here and elsewhere for each capitulation.

Once again our side blinked. Once again we gave in. Once again we had our hats handed to us.

[Empowerer]

13. I would have preferred that he just moved his speech somwhere else . . .

But the fact that he didn't does not mean that he is craven or cowardly. Everything isn't one extreme or the other.

And what many people here seem to completely miss is that this kind of back-and-forth is totally lost on most Americans who are not watching the tick-tock on MSNBC minute-by-minute. It is a big deal to inside-the-beltway folks and political junkies like us. But it means little to most people who couldn't care less and don't think anyone got their hat handed to them.

[Warren Stupidity]

30. this administration keeps making fundamental tactical errors

that make them look weak, ineffectual, afraid to fight. Is craven cowardly bullshit over the top? Of course. I am freaking outraged at the massive incompetence on display.

Most people will wake up to a sound bite that will have "Boner Backing Down Obama". They will not pay much more attention than that phrase requires. Drummed into their heads is a meme of weak ineffectual incompetent Democrats and strong willed effective Republicans.

This administration keeps acting as if the other side is reasonable and honorable. They appear to never even CONSIDER their exposure when they have to work with the opposition and consequently they get sandbagged and blind sided over and over and over again. How many times now? It is enough.

[Tx4obama]

63. You are missing the FACT that he wants to give the speech 'to Congress'

In his speech is will outline what he wants CONGRESS to do.
Moving his speech to 'somewhere else' would make no sense.

[secondwind]

68. You are SO right.

[Andy823]

14. And once again

The right wing talking points seem to dominate the responses! I take it you will be voting for the "republican" next year, or staying home, so you can enjoy what states like Wisconsin, Maine, Florida, and the others who are under republican control are experiencing, but at the national level!

[Andy823]

11. Well...

Facts won't stop the Obama haters from attacking the president, and from the posts here, they don't even care about the facts you pointed out, they just want another excuse to go negative on the president.

I totally can't understand the hate I see here these days. It's like I am looking at a right wing site, not a site for democrats!

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[EffieBlack]

24. A "child" . . . "hasn't got a clue?"

Wow.

Can you be any more patronizing of the President of the United States?

Perhaps YOU should run for public office and then YOU can one day be President and show everyone how it's supposed to be done.

[Warren Stupidity]

26. yeah I can be more patronizing: bumbling incompetent idiots.

This administration is setting new standards for absolute cluelessness.

[Andy823]

28. So the fact that

He has done accomplished more than any president in recent history, that he kept us from going into a "DEPRESSION", that he has started a foundation for united health care, got don't ask don't tell repealed, or any of the other numerous things he has accomplished the acts of a "under achieving child"?

On his worst day he is a thousands times better than any of the clowns who will get the nomination for the republicans next year!

[Warren Stupidity]

33. perhaps a list would help persuade me

make sure it has lots of blue links.

[woolldog]

55. lol

[Andy823]

60. I doubt it, but

It's really very easy to find them, simply go to google and type in president Obama's accomplishments. It's really that easy!

[leftynyc]

67. I don't hate him

and I will vote for him again. That said, he looks weak here....and he doesn't seem to care that his base is becomming very disspirited watching the pukes roll him once again. He didn't need to do this in front of a joint session...he could do it anywhere. I'll vote for him but the next phone call I get for money is going to result in the caller listening to me rant about how they wont get a dime until I see someone who is willing to fight for me. Right now, he gets my vote and nothing else.

[Glimmer of Hope]

12. I didn't know this. Anywho, it does make Bohner and friends look

like immature brats and gives Obama the chance to respond to anything that comes out of the debate.

[Empowerer]

16. That's a good point

It also takes away from the Republican candidates the ability to directly attack anything substantive in the jobs plan.

[Andy823]

17. I agree

And I wish others could see the logic in your reply, but it doesn't look like they will!

[trueblue2007]

41. you are right on. this CAVING stance is wrong. Boner controls the house

[stuckinarut]

44. Because the house calendar has been so jam packed this session

taking half of each month off. 3 day work weeks must be nice.

http://majorityleader.gov/Calendar/112th1stSessionCalendar.pdf

[Warren Stupidity]

2. i fucking give up all over again

what the fuck is the matter with him?

[villager]

3. Of course he caves. The phrase "Obama agrees" is redundant after any use of "demands"

..ascribed to anyone in the GOP.

[mazzarro]

4. Oh boy - not again!

When will he learn? guess never. This does not bud well for the job plan that he is pushing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Oh, NO.

Somebody tell me this is a fucking joke!

:argh:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[Parker CA]

8. The WH set themselves up for this one. Not surprised.

[LonePirate]

9. If I had a nickel for every time Obama caved to the right, I'd have Koch brothers money by now.

[Andy823]

And if I had a nickel

For every time I hear the same BS from the same people about how "terrible" it was for the president to do something I would be richer than the Koch brothers!

[woolldog]

15. Thursday is the NFL football game.

and some college games as well. Nobody will be watching Obama.

[Empowerer]

18. Really?

I think plenty of people will watch him. Everybody is not a football junkie - just like plenty of people aren't political junkies.

[woolldog]

29. I won't be.

Football season is only 4 short, precious months. And I have to pack in all the football I can get. lol

Football has the highest ratings of anything on tv these days, I think.

[EffieBlack]

38. Go for it. But those who don't think that the first hour of a football game is more important

than a major address by the President of the United States on a topic of tremendous importance to the country will likely be watching the speech.

[Warren Stupidity]

43. generally nobody watches these speeches

so really the speech itself was of little importance. The perception of weakness emanating from this event will be observed by millions, our media will make sure of that.

[woolldog]

45. Yes they will be

But that will be a tiny number compared to those watching football.

You don't think it's a coincidence that Boehner choose sept 8 (the opening game of the NFL football season) do you?

[Empowerer]

56. If Americans think a football game is more important than a major presidential address on jobs

then I don't want to hear any more complaining and whining from people about the President supposedly not doing enough about the jobs crisis.

[Warren Stupidity]

58. if?

[digitaln3rd]

69. Oh, come on.

Speeches don't mean anything, it's just grandstanding.

A speech doesn't do anything about the crisis, either - if Congress would do it's job, then we could deal with it.

[Tx4obama]

19. It is NOT a cave. Because ....

The House has to vote to pass a resolution in order to hold the joint session.
If ya can't get The House to vote yes, then there's no way for Obama to have access to the room for the speech.

[EffieBlack]

21. Would you please say that again - and again - and again?

Not that it will matter to the "OBAMA CAVED!!!" crowd, but it still needs to be said.

[Warren Stupidity]

23. fine. It was a massively stupid blunder that makes us look weak and incompetent.

'kay?

[YvonneCa]

25. I agree. Could they really be that unaware...

...of how bad this looks???

[EffieBlack]

27. To whom?

You DO realize that most people aren't paying a lick of attention to any of this?

[treestar]

32. Is THIS what really matters?

The scheduling of a speech?

[YvonneCa]

35. Of course not. But it...

...should not happen. The President of the United States can speak to the American people whenever and wherever he chooses. Period. To be placed in a situation where the perception is different WEAKENS him and the office.

[treestar]

40. To the people, but not to Congress

It has to be in session.

What is the obsession with "WEAKNESS?" The office is not weakened by anything like this. It is a relatively small mistake. The Constitution is not amended. The Executive Branch remains with the same powers.

This is petty.

And spreading the "weakness" meme just helps Republicans. Don't understand why anyone who calls themselves a leftist of any kind would do this so consistently to any Democratic politician in office.

[YvonneCa]

42. Do you understand nothing about...

...perception?

[pnorman]

61. Elsewhere on DU, I saw the specific part of the US Constitution cited.

I'll try to Google for it, but can anyone here cite it first?

[vaberella]

64. +Infinity...but note how much Dems are helping the Right Wing along.

Caver-in-Chief is what they're howling.

[SadPanda]

22. Lol @ DU hyper reaction, so the day after the GOP debate Obama gets primetime...

So no one remembers the Republican Debate. And EVERYONE gets reminded how the GOP demanded his speech, ABOUT CREATING JOBS, got pushed back 24 hrs so the GOP could TALK CRAZY.

[kelly1mm]

31. Yeah, maybe this was all planned! 12 dimentional chess. Brilliant! nt

[Kablooie]

34. God. Four more years of an ineffectual president that always gives in to the GLOP or...

4 to 8 years of a GLOP president that shovels everything out to the Republicans.

Either way we lose, the Republicans win.

[zalinda]

36. This is not a cave.

I am no fan of Obama's, but this was not a cave. It was manners. To me, it is not a big deal. No one gets hurt. No one goes to war. No one goes hungry. No one loses their job. No one loses their house.

This is a yawn, compared to all the things he has ACTUALLY caved on.

zalinda

[Warren Stupidity]

39. Boner Backs Down Obama

yes in the scheme of things the date of the stupid speech about a jobs program that will never happen doesn't matter.

The perception of a weak ineffectual leader does matter.

[zalinda]

62. He's already proved that. Bad manners wouldn't change anything. n/t

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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[FrenchieCat]

48. I think you're a fucking piece of shit!

How about that!

[scheming daemons]

49. Really? Mods? If this poster isn't tombstoned, I want my donations back

[Danger Mouse]

57. For the record, the ass who posted this was banned immediately.

[Warren Stupidity]

59. for the record: TY

[Hosnon]

50. Bye. nt.

[Scurrilous]

51. Another 'lib' heard from. n/t

[treestar]

52. That is terrible. Shame on you.

[scheming daemons]

53. Just remember... . it's not about RACE, right?

[Trajan]

54. You lasted quite a while ....

I knew there were people like you, but you stay well hidden lately ....

You are disgusting ....

[Laura PourMeADrink]

47. how stupid and insignificant this whole thing is. shit, he didn't

realize the debate was on the same night...so what..when he found out, he changed the date
of his speech. So what.

Or...did he know and wanted to make them look like assholes?

[vaberella]

65. Apparently the Repubs were aware of the scheduling and agreed to it.

Then they realized they made a mistake and requested a change....which I think he wasn't going to do but the House voted on it...as stated above at which point Obama can't have his speech then because they'd taken it through this vote.

[Tx4obama]

66. A small correction.

There hasn't been a vote yet.
The House is still on vacation.
The House will vote on Wednesday (along with other things they have on the schedule to vote on) on a 'joint session resolution' which will give Obama permission to give his speech on Thursday.

Anytime a President requests to come to The House to give a joint session of Congress speech The House has to vote on a resolution first permitting the speech. It used to be just a formality, but this time (since Obama is the President) the GOP has changed the tradition and therefore has changed history ;(

[Ganja Ninja]

70. Bwhahaha! Of course he does. What else is new? n/t