Obama should not have asked for air time unless he had news

[senseandsensibility]

to break. Talk about a let down. The American people are already so apathetic and cynical. This will just add to it.

[Brickbat]

1. I think this is a good point. It was like two campaign commercials right after each other.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Right.

It seemed to put the President and Boener on the same level.

[mfcorey1]

3. El toro poo poo. He laid out exactly what America needs to hear. Until the lion tells his story,

the tale of the hunt will continue to glorify the hunter.

[Misskittycat]

6. Agreed

[senseandsensibility]

7. que?

You really think he came across as a lion?

[TheWraith]

47. He came across as a sane and reasonable adult, debating against spoiled children.

That gets average people on his side in this.

[dennis4868]

11. agree...

and he needed to say these things in primetime when more people are paying attention...good move by Obama!

[Mimosa]

42. True.

Here's the text of President's speech:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/25/address-president-nation

It beat the heck out of Boehner's neo-con nonsense which was pretty much along the lines of Grover Norquist BS.

[grasswire]

agreed

This just looked like more of what each of them say Americans hate --- quibbling.

I don't think the WH was particularly well crafted or strategic.

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. K&R

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. For nearly three years, DU goes..

..'Appeal directly to the people!" "Call them out!" "Use the bully pulpit."

I guess they didn't mean it.

[senseandsensibility]

8. I guess I missed the part where I said he shouldn't address

the American people. Oh yeah, that's because I didn't.:eyes:

[killbotfactory]

10. Funny how quickly the "bully pulpit" becomes "meaningless talk"

It's not that Obama's most ardent critics on the left are implacable, oh heaven's no.

[Maru Kitteh]

17. Oh no, that just couldn't be the case, could it. nt

[Azathoth]

24. Yup. +1 n/t

[grasswire]

12. But he didn't make his case.

Asking for more compromise shows weakness, not strength.

[wildbilln864]

9. he told them he'd take it to the people...

and he did. I appreciated him explaining his side. :shrug:

[Major Hogwash]

13. You should consider yourself lucky that Obama doesn't start his own network like Oprah!

Obama is using the bully pulpit to win over the American people, in case you don't understand that concept.

3 press conferences in 2 weeks -- that's how you put the heat on the GOP!!!!

[senseandsensibility]

14. He didn't make his case.

That's the point. Thanks for the condescending reply though. You're pretty important, knowing big words like bully pulpit and all. Wow.

[Major Hogwash]

39. Sure he did. Only Repubs can't figure out how they lost this war.

It pisses people off to be told the unvarnished truth.

[book_worm]

15. What!? he is trying to get the American people to act and force congress

the republicans to do the right thing. FDR and many other presidents did the same thing.

[Parker CA]

16. For a lot or people who don't pay constant attention to the details of this situation, I think Obama

gave them a very good snapshot of where things stand and who is and isn't being reasonable. Lots out there don't spend significant, if any time on political websites. I think this was for them. I bet it polls well.

That said, I still think we're getting screwn in this deal. How zero revenues seems "balanced" is so far beyond my comprehension skills I'd have to leave leave earth to find a place where it makes sense.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Thanks for the polite reply.

It may poll well. But many things poll well, including higher taxes on the wealthy. We have poll results to back a much stronger speech by the President. The Independents are already with him. I just don't see how this address moved things forward in any way.

[KoKo]

22. "Being Reasonable" when you are dealing with Thugs to save your life...doesn't cut it...

It was like bringing a wet noodle to a gun fight when Boehner followed him. Obama didn't make a case for why we should have been alert to watch him. Boehner gave the better speech..and he shouldn't have been allowed to do that. It was the Presidents time.. I don't know why the Cables broke protocol from years past to allow that. But, I suspect that Obama was fine with it. I didn't want to suspect anything like that...but I'm now thinking we have One Party Rule. :-(

[Parker CA]

30. Boehner stood up there and lied and acted like a dick. I don't see that as a stronger speech for

even a second, but we all see these things differently.

I don't think this was Obama trying to nail the GOP yet. Although you or I or many others on DU would've taken a much different approach, this apparently wasn't the time Obama and the WH, for whatever reason, felt like they should bring the hammer.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the rhetoric become more pointed from Obama over the next week, but I also won't be shocked if it doesn't. Aside the presser on Friday, he hasn't been forceful about this, presumably because what's unfolding isn't entirely against what he feels is okay to accept.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Great Republican talking point ya got there. "The American People," my ass. nt

[senseandsensibility]

20. Huh?

Are you accusing me of something? Spell it out.

[TNLib]

21. I think it was more to make the repukes in Congress look foolish

than anything else.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

23. I disagree STRONGLY. During a one-week countdown to global economic disaster,

the President MUST be given time to educate and involve low-information voters.

Should radio stations have refused to air FDR's fireside chats?

The policy you advocate IMO is just a source of corporate excuses allowing greedy networks to choose to keep ALL the ad revenue from wrestling and all the other garbage on TV and cable on a Monday night.

[senseandsensibility]

25. I policy I advocate?

Not sure I'm following you. I never said that networks should not give him time.

[EFerrari]

28. There's something like a literacy problem on this thread.

And it's not yours.

lol

[senseandsensibility]

32. LOL

I didn't think it was, but then again, it's been a long day.:)

[ProgressiveEconomist]

35. Were you just considering Obama's appearance on this particular day, or were

you not saying that Presidents should not ask for air time unless thy have "new" news to break?

I inferred the latter, which is just next door to "Stations do not have to carry Presidential addresses unless they break "new" news." Sorry if that's not what you meant.

Even if it was not, what would motivate such a policy? IMO, the answer is network greed.

[pennylane100]

38. No you didn't, but you did say he shouldn't ask for time unless he has news.

While I think his speech should have been much more like the one he gave on Friday, I think that in this crisis, the president is right to ask for time to keep in touch with the people. While his speech did not provide what we wanted to hear, he definitely should keep the people informed of where he is coming from.

[MichiganVote]

26. He had news for you. He needs your help to contact your Congress. You can't do that?

[senseandsensibility]

29. I've been doing that for weeks. Not news.

Don't understand your comment. Was this really the first time you've heard about contacting congress?

[MichiganVote]

34. Then you'll easily do it again.

[housewolf]

27. I disagree

I think it's a good thing that he can get air time to instruct/educate/make his case and ask for help. I don't see anything at all wrong with that.

[housewolf]

31. Remember FDR's Fireside Chats?

He didn't always have news. It's a way for a president to connect with the American people without having to go through the interpretation of all the news analysts on the air. I think he should talk to all of us more often.

[spanone]

33. the news was that the republicans will do nothing to end default

that's news to most folks who only pay attention to this shit when it's about to implode

[lunatica]

36. Give me a fucking break

He's taking it to the people as he should have done a long time ago. He's actually asking us to engage in the process by making our voices heard. What did you want. For him to wave a magic wand and be our fairy godmother?

[jberryhill]

45. How many work places permit breaks for that?

If you get a fucking break, then everybody's going to want one.

[theglammistress]

37. I thought the president did a good job.

This speech wasn't for people that have been following along for months and months. It was for the average American who (sadly) doesn't read the news or (even more sadly) understand the debt ceiling period.

[Judi Lynn]

40. "The American people" need to hear more from the President, less from the lying right wingers.

I've heard it mentioned repeatedly, that he should put the facts out himself, not leave it all to the Teabagging scum to mangle and misrepresent.

[BernieSandersIsGod]

41. I don't even listen to Obama talk anymore. Way too polite for my frustrations. I'm tired of all

politicians. We just need to admit are best days are behind us as a nation. Just like Bill Maher said.

[ZombieHorde]

43. I think President Obama was showing leadership. nt

[Starbucks Anarchist]

44. Because nothing breeds apathy like the President asking people to get involved.

:rofl:

[arbusto_baboso]

46. They call it a Bully Pulpit for a reason.

reading some history books might be suggested for you.

[X_Digger]

48. I disagree.

I'd like more direct updates from the president. I'd rather not have to read about what 'some administration officials say..' rather than hearing it from his lips.

He still has the magic to fire people up.