Obama Presser: Transformative
Obama held his second full-on press conference, reminding us starkly of the intelligence gap between himself and the goof he replaced. That alone was reassuring.
Here’s my reaction: the totality of his message was much greater than the sum of its parts. Not one thing in particular he said contained any major drama.
But the siginificance of his words resided, first of all, in what he did not say. In what he did not talk about.
Here was a presidential press conference, thank God, in which the Fear Card was not flopped onto the table. There was no spooking of the public with the usual babble abpout Al Qaeda, the GWOT or OBL.
Instead, Obama continued to thrust himself into the spotlight as the rock-steady leader who is determined to confidently confront the ominous economic crisis we face while remaking the national economy and upending what hve been our spending prioritites.
This was just one more important step forward in what now clearly appears to be his grand strategy. Obama looks committed to becoming a transformative president, someone who will go far beyond merely trying to stablilize the business cycle.
He’s not going to back down, at least so far, on his overall retooling of the national budget to include not only emergency economic recovery but also long-term reform of the domestic infrastucture, health care and energy policy.
It’s The Big Enchildada. Take it or leave it.
Obama’s words were as directed as much to the “centrist” (i.e. right-wing) Democrats in Congress who are currently nervously wavering waffling over the president’s more aggressive reforms.
It now seems a good bet that Obama is aiming for a simple “reconciliation” vote of just 51 senators to pass his budget as one big bundle. No one in the administration is yet confirming that’s what theu’re up to. But no one is denying it.
Obama, only two months into his tenure, is aiming to pass 3/4 or more of his entire presidential agenda within the next few months. The permanent campaign we’re currently witnessing will remain permanent. In spite of manufacuted media stories about Obama being “overexposed,” he will continue to roam the country and jam the airwaves.
He wasn’t kidding about being a transformative president. And he’s gonna shoot the moon. All or nothing on the first shot.
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March 24th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Interesting Mark, as most of the pundits, even the lefties, didn’t appear to agree with you.
By the way ask Obama how he pronounces the word “Orion.”
Not that I’m care and not that I ever supported Bush, but after all the dummy comments we should expect a little consistency here.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:23 am
yeah i agree presidential ‘overexposure’ is a press-manufactured problem. Chavez is 100x more overexposed and it’s not hurting his agenda.
March 25th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Good lord…this borders on hagiography.
The One!
March 25th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Marc: It now seems a good bet that Obama is aiming for a simple “reconciliation” vote of just 51 senators….
Yeah, passing one bill, completely stripping it, and then replacing the words with those from another that would not pass and to avoid a filibuster is “simple” to a Democrat but “dishonest” to normal people.
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Where were all the reporters’ questions on Iraq and Afghanistan?
BTW, did you notice that the Obama administration is no longer fighting a “Global War on Terror.” Nope. Now, it’s an “Overseas Contingency Operation.” Somewhere along the line, Obama must have won the terror war and didn’t tell us.
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At least Obama didn’t depend upon his teleprompter!
Obama ditches teleprompter for drive-in theater movie screen
March 25th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Oh, I almost forgot that I’m supposed to say something critical about blacks and gays to fulfill the expectations of reg and Anna, so, here goes.
Obama is not only black, but he acts gay. A Study In Contrasts Notice the EXIT sign! Obama has difficulty telling doors from windows.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:40 am
I see Woody received his marching orders last night, and is regurgitating the talking points faithfully.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:52 am
It is indeed a nice feeling that the president of the United States isn’t standing there looking like a deer in the headlights or trying to figure out whether the sun comes up in the east.
The point about Obama as transformative is interesting. When FDR was elected in 1932, a very sizable majority came in with him. Today, the parties are much more polarized, the economic collapse is more complicated, and 24/7 news and the internet mean a constant pounding about what is going on. So, he has to respond differently than earlier presidents did to crises. In a sense, he’s rowing upstream against the desire, related to that whole concept of instant reporting and instant gratification, to just go crazy on the spot as opposed to taking a longer view.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Why does Obama hate the NYT? Obama skips major papers: No NYT, WaPo, WSJ, USA Today
March 25th, 2009 at 8:32 am
In support of Marc’s insightful comments and Michael Greens observation, I’ll re-post this EJ Dionne piece on Obama’s strategy of keeping the big picture in focus, despite the current crisis mode of our political discourse:
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=45f9beca-37fe-48f4-9748-1595bd4091ee
March 25th, 2009 at 9:31 am
The Nation’s begging email contained this which is very much in the spirit of community…and reality:
The Nation
Reader supported journalism since 1865
Help us add 2,000 new Nation Associates by March 31st
“We have assured friends, family, strangers, that they must never go hungry if they can get themselves to our home. Those of us who still have intact jobs need to open our homes, hearts, and cooking pots to our community as was done in the Great Depression.” — Vic, Nation reader, Bend, Oregon
Dear Nation Friend:
Past my anger, I can see the antidote to the AIGs and CNBCs of the world, and it’s Vic and our Nation Associates.
It’s people like Vic who are the embodiment of the populist spirit of this magazine, just as much as the progressive leaders who’ve contributed to this magazine for the past 143 years.
These last couple weeks alone I’ve seen that fiery determination in full force as Nation readers and activists take CNBC to task for running a fluff PR campaign for Wall Street executives and cheerleading us toward an economic meltdown.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Here’s my reaction: the totality of his message was much greater than the sum of its parts. Not one thing in particular he said contained any major drama.
I agree. A total snoozer. But he’s so goshdarn handsome! And articulate!
March 25th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I love it that the “conservative” response to a remarkably substantive press conference (with room for follow-up questions, which has been rare) is feigned boredom and recycled snark. That lame stuff (along with the off-putting hysterics and lies typefied by the resident moron of Cooperstown) is more help than harm to Obama’s side of any arguments.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
TCM had some “pre-code” films of director William Wellman on the other night. I saw one called “Heroes for Sale,” circa 1933. Unemployment, poverty and other symptoms of the Depression suffused the film. It was striking, though, that the “hero,” who spent much of the late 20s and early 30s addicted to drugs or in prison, still cited to President Roosevelt’s inaugural speech as evidence that America would survive the troubles that beset his world.
Maybe even the Obama supporters are too cynical to say such a thing now, but a President can offer hope and a sense of safety and security in dire times.
I recommend the movie, btw. Grim but moving, even inspirational.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Remember the argument about Indian brain power? Lack of vision in dealing with an atavistic auto industry?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/25/tata-nano-first-public-test-drive
March 25th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I had the fortune of reading the transcript of the press conference before I watched it. I recommend this to everyone. While sometimes Obama’s even-handed tone can be seen as “boring” on TV, reading how he structures his answers without evasion and yet, how he always hits all HIS points, reveals a master at work. So much potential.
Obama is quickly realizing that the very legitimacy of the United States and its capitalist model is at stake. Bold actions are certainly required to correct so many things that got out of whack during the rise of neo-liberalism (health care, education, energy) – just to keep teh country from drowning. But I am in awe every time I hear someone calling him a socialist. Obama is clearly trying to avoid socialist solutions to the major problems facing our country – health care, education, housing and energy.
There is no “upending” or “transformations” in this budget. There are modest increases in some underfunded programs, but nothing that fundamentally changes anything in America. The budget continues the massive amount of waste we force on ourselves with our slavish commitment to making sure that the right to subsidized massive profits for the richest corporations in America does not waver one bit.
We ought to be urging workers to take over failing companies. We ought to be taking over foreclosed houses to solve homelessness once and for all. We ought to be taking over banks that do not lend and hoard our money. We ought to be taking over energy companies that do not invest in national priorities. We ought to be taking over the state-run schools to assure equality for all. We ought to take over the health care industry and start from scratch. The time will never be this ripe again. I fear that in 4 years all we’ll have to show for Obama’s time is a bloated deficit – bred on the alter of “tax cuts for the 95%” rather that these modest programmatic tweaks and increases.
March 25th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
av2ts: I had the fortune of reading the transcript of the press conference before I watched it.
Given how scripted the press conferences are and the monitors that Obama uses, you might have been able to do that before the press conference was conducted live.
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av2ts: I am in awe every time I hear someone calling him a socialist. Obama is clearly trying to avoid socialist solutions
We ought to be urging workers to take over failing companies. We ought to be taking over foreclosed houses…. We ought to be taking over banks…. We ought to be taking over energy companies…. We ought to be taking over the state-run schools…. We ought to take over the health care industry…. The time will never be this ripe again.
Yikes!!!!! Obama agrees with av2ts, and he’s not a socialist?!?
Yeah, the government runs things so much better than private industry. Why, with its efficiency, I’m surprised that the U.S. government doesn’t pay us to be citizens–like they do in Alaska, which is led by someone with real executive experience.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Apparently there’s a version of Tourettes syndrome that involves blurting out nonsensical right-wing talking points.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I used that on you the other day, reg, regarding cursing in your comments. Get you own material.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Umm… Woody, Obama most certainly does NOT agree with me on any of those points.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
av2ts, I agree.
Obama will not transform the U.S. if the past 8 weeks are an indcation. He will transform the presidency, from one personified by a malapropist moron to that of a smooth talking manager.
The U.S. will still owe trillions to China, we’ll still have crappy health care, and still have many rich, untouchable bankers.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Is it necessary to point out that a President has always delivered an opening statement at a press conference — in recent years always using a teleprompter — and then spends the bulk of his time taking questions and answering them?
March 25th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Apparently it is for some people.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Tell this guy.
However, past Presidents didn’t use teleprompters during the Q&A to flash up statistics and pertinent details to make it seem as if the President actually knew the information being fed to him.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:21 am
The desperation of this troll is palpable.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:42 am
As opposed to your trolling?
March 26th, 2009 at 7:05 am
“to make it seem as if the President actually knew the information being fed to him”
LOL! Uh, I don’t think you want to go there. Considering the last three Republican presidents were absolute morons, you’d be wise to find a better approach to your “argument”. We won’t hold out collective breath, of course.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:33 am
At least Obama should get the right facts from a telepromter, which he doesn’t. I caught this when listening to his speech. He decides what end result that he wants and then makes up unrealistic numbers to show that we can get there. He’s looking like our Enron President, reg.
FACT CHECK: Obama having it both ways on economy?
I’ll take uninformed over dishonest.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:19 am
‘TCM had some “pre-code” films of director William Wellman on the other night. I saw one called “Heroes for Sale,” circa 1933. Unemployment, poverty and other symptoms of the Depression suffused the film. It was striking, though, that the “hero,” who spent much of the late 20s and early 30s addicted to drugs or in prison, still cited to President Roosevelt’s inaugural speech as evidence that America would survive the troubles that beset his world.’
Read Miller’s Air Conditioned Nightmare
A trip across America during WW2. Illuminating.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
You left this out Woodie:
After 2015, the blue chip forecast is a little brighter than the administration’s.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Oh, yeah, av2ts. That projection date is almost near the end of the NEXT administration when things start to pick up. Figures. Who really can forecast accurately, though, that far into the future? That’s a worthless guess-tament.
Isn’t it funny, though, that Obama is stretching his current program expense justifications into the future with exaggerated revenues from an administration that won’t be elected for almost four years?
That’s like financing a car over a long period. If you can’t afford it in three years, then you can’t afford it. We can’t afford Obama.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
“That’s a worthless guess-tament.:”
Which makes your point moot…
“We can’t afford Obama.” Bullsht. Since debt as a % of GDP rose astronomically ONLY under “supply side” Presidents – Reagan and the two Bushes – we can’t afford any more of your tendentious, ill-informed, utterly dishonest bullshit. Deal with the facts of when and why deficits rose historically. You’re standing on quicksand. But more to the point, you hate Obama viscerally. You’re a flaming racist and moronic right-wing talking points machine. You spread lies without even a hint of any embarrassment. Total fucking waste of everyone’s time – you’re intellectually and morally incompetent and would do us a favor by limiting your pollution of comments here so sane people can engage in adult discourse.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:23 am
…with Democratic majorities controlling Congress and pushing spending increases while calling the President’s submiited balanced budgets DOA.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Republicans are more than welcome to run on tax cuts and spending cuts – and of course they’ll never get majorities as voters realize the impact of the spending cuts. But they can’t have it both ways, which was epitomized during the Bush years. Total fiscal hypocrisy.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Obama, just like his mentor Jimmy Carter, will drive Americans back to the next Ronald Reagan – a conservative, if not a Republican.
March 28th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Woody does call into the question the broader, darkly amusing extent of right wing stupidity. It’s true, copies of “Atlas Shrugged” are flying off the shelf. A good question might be, as Coop trys to stick the trouble for our very confused situation on Blue Dog Dems, is his thinking anymore reasoned or less reactive than Woodys?
In January Christopher Hitchens told a crowd in New York that there should be no review of Bush and Cheney’s torture since that behavior came from public demand for greater ruthlessness in the post 9-11 World. Now, put aside the craven ugliness of Hitchens for a moment, and the shame that is thrown on the likes of Cooper who a few months ago was still posting about this degenerate’s “quicksilver brilliance.”
A review might be allowable, Hitchens said, if it came from a grassroots movement, not Democratic Politicos, otherwise, and here Hitchens steals openly from the Woody playbook, it would be “too partisan.” It’s from a piece on the New York magazine site. Go ahead and read it!
Are we to assume that Hitchens thinks Bush and Cheney attained their ability to torture from a “grassroots movement?”
Nope, they won, sort of, elections. To the likes of Woody and Hitchens, when Dems win elections they are still not allowed to
exercise the power that would seem to be their job description.
Cooper’s work, in general, we could easily show, follows this pattern.
Except, that is, when it comes to Obama. Hester, you will have to be ever forgiving, Obama defeated the dreaded Clintons and Cooper is probably forever in his debt. Yes, it is nice that the President can string together a complete sentence and isn’t an embarrassing legacy. If the like of Cooper hadn’t spent the 90s following the lead of crude imbeciles like Hitchens, our standards might have never dragged down so low in the first place.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Is it necessary to point out that a President has always delivered an opening statement at a press conference — in recent years always using a teleprompter — and then spends the bulk of his time taking questions and answering them?
Not necessary; useless, in fact, as slime like Woody simply ignore such facts and then spin out yet another falsehood.