Bathing in the warm glow of last night’s descent into glaring insanity, otherwise known as a GOP Debate (applause for killing hundreds of people, border fences will imprison Americans in their own country, the only way to help the poor is to stop helping them), we now swing the spotlight away from the Children of the Damned’s Table to the Adult Table…President Obama’s speech before Congress on a new jobs program.
His speech begins at 4:00 pm PDT/7:00 PM EDT. A video feed is below at the bottom of this article (it will appear blank until the speech is about to begin). Best practice is to keep one window open to watch and listen to the speech uninterrupted and use another window to live blog with us. If you’re watching on tv, best to mute your computer.
To the disappointment of Republicans, Pres. Obama’s speech is not expected to contain such phrases as “Abject Liar”, “Ponzi Scheme” or “To Serve the Poor…it’s a cookbook!” so some Republicans have chosen not to attend and instead will be catching up on correspondence with Nazi re-enactment groups in their districts.
What Pres. Obama is expected to detail is a $300 billion jobs plan which includes an extension of unemployment benefits, a continued waiving of payroll taxes for workers, an infrastructure rebuilding plan and more.
It sounds like Obama is trying to make Repubs a deal that they can’t refuse. From all signs, it doesn’t look to be a huge, ambitious plan but a collection of familiar and helpful initiatives. The concept may be that putting smaller and reasonable ideas on the table could get at least something passed before the 2012 campaign begins and at least make things a little better. If Repubs reject them, they will look even worse for it.
Just imagining now but I could see how rolling out a modest and seemingly no-brainer plan right now and pulling out in the campaign a more ambitious and bold approach could touch all the bases. Going too big now could make him look less interested in trying to help and more interested in getting re-elected. Using bigger ideas to campaign on and expressing that only with a Dem Congress could such plans come true, he could re-ignite Hope and Change in many and bigger changes could take place if he and Dems win in 2012.
As for tonight, Pres. Obama does need to come off genuine and compassionate but most importantly, resolved. If he is stonewalled by the Repubs he should use this as a battle cry for change, clear cause for the urgent need to replace them with Dems.
The national argument needs to be made. Change can’t happen with Tea Baggers threatening economic destruction at every turn and Repubs smothering a recovery because it brings Obama’s numbers down. I agree that the time hasn’t quite come yet to go there but after we see what happens with the Super Committee and his Jobs Bill, if cooperation doesn’t occur, it’s time to suit up and take this fight to The People and 2012.
The GOP has been very cocky in their delusional bubble, threatening our economy, millions of those who get government checks, etc. all to extort from Obama all their demands. They have not succeeded at that though they have done a great deal of harm to the nation and its economy in the process.
Why should Obama try once again to negotiate with people who are of such ill will? Perhaps…after returning to their states and getting hammered in town halls…or intentionally avoiding their constituency’s anger by not holding town halls…and after seeing Congress’ approval ratings plummet to the lowest in history, 12%…maybe at least for some, the bubble they’ve been living in has popped. Maybe they now see that re-election and keeping the House is greatly at risk if they don’t work with Obama on a bipartisan jobs deal.
All the Republicans seem to care about is having power and legislating to help corporations…so if the public is getting angrier at them…maybe they realize that in 2012 they could lose all that power and legislation they crave.
Maybe not, maybe they’re smugly sitting back in their DC bubble, confident that Koch and Rove money and new election laws will tilt the election to them and against popular sentiment…but maybe not.
In any case, this would be a great time for Pres. Obama to hit one out of the ballpark rhetorically, capturing lightning in a bottle once again in this speech and renewing hope in people that things are really going to get better. We’ll find out tonight, hope you’ll join us live blogging during his speech but in the meantime, please feel free to comment about your thoughts on what he should say, what we should do to get our economy back on track and how all of this connects with the 2012 elections.
UPDATE: (Video removed after speech)
AdLib posted the entire email earlier but this part of PBO’s email needs to be shouted!
And from the transcript:
And:
As Kilgore Trout/KT contrasted in TO/OT earlier.
PBO’s book was a positive book “The Audacity of Hope.”
And what is the name if Perry’s book but negativity, despair and fear–“Fed Up.
Is the contrast more stark?
GOTV!
The implication is clear:
if we in Washington think that americans are going to be satisfied with us sitting here doing nothing, you are sadly mistaken.
I emailed my Congresswoman Foxx last night to encourage her to support the AJA, not that it will do much good! She is a good little foot-soldier who reads repub talking points so well.
I also sent an email to the White House to congratulate the President on the speech. I felt like he deserved a pat on the back. I did put in a rather shameless plug for PPOV! Maybe he will visit us sometime!
As far as the book titles are concerned, what else do the repugs have to go on but fear? I am praying that there is no attack this 9/11. If there is, the President will take one on the chin by the rethugs! It will, of course, be his fault, just like everything else! Grrrrr!
For those who would like more details, the White House fact sheet is very good.
Bito has been good enough to provide us a link on Twitter…
http://t.co/zXgmLm5
Another touchdown for Emerald for watching the twitter widget! 🙂
The fact sheet is also linked at the end of the transcript of the speech.
I wish that the puds on teevee read it before they started their carping.
Rachel has been the only bright spot on the telly anymore for me, she politely put down
FatheadBig Ed today.I wish I had seen that (RM putting down Ed the Braying Horse). What did she say?
e’cat, I’m not saying that Rachel didn’t have her “if’s, but’s” and speculation on the speech, but Ed was getting way over the top and she was just gave Ed a “whoa Ed, lets try using some facts.
God MSNBC is Fox lite! Andrea Mitchell just ran a clip of the speech and cut off the sentence in the middle.
PBO was talking about modifications in Medicare and Medicaid, cuts off the full sentence, and then comes on and asks about the “cuts” to Medicare!
Let me see if I can find the full quote.
This is the clip she showed:
And this is the full sentence:
And what she heard was cuts to Medicare/Medicaid, that’s all?
Forrest-Trees…..
I know. I’m so fed up with this nit-picking I can barely stand to watch the news lately.
Bito, I get so frustrated with these talking heads who equate “adjustments” with “cuts”. The President has said a number of times that adjustments HAVE to be made, which can include things like payments to doctors and hospitals. He has not said anything about “cuts” to beneficiaries nor did he do so last night!
But we all know how these guys work…they have to gin up some kind of fear or conflict to boost their ratings!
Hi bito! I told you…that Twitter thingy is great! I find some of the neatest things on there! Is that 6 points or do I have to kick a field goal?? 🙂
As far as Big Ed is concerned, he toned it down last night before he came on for his regular show. He was supportive of the President’s plan, and he was especially happy that the Prez stood up for collective bargaining.
I saw some pretty nasty comments about Rachel last night. I still don’t know what she said that p*ssed everybody off so badly. Somebody mentioned that she called the President “Barry”…perhaps that was a take-off on the “Give ’em hell, Harry” speech by Truman. I’m just sayin’…
One thing about last night though…at least, no one in the repub ranks shouted “Liar” at the President. There didn’t seem to be any blatant disrespect. It’s almost comical to see these guys backing down now.
EDIT: Sorry I didn’t see your link before I posted.
So that is where the Senator elected President Obama has been. Good to see him come out swinging tonight. What a refreshing speech. What could the republicans do but stand up and clap LOL. America was watching them. And that speech was about Americans on Main Street. And he will find out, no one is going to criticize him, at least not if they know middle America is listening.
Yahoo, I am refreshed.
Hey Everyone: my time is still limited but geeez it’s good to read these comments as I have time.
I loved this speech and hope this is a better roadmap going forward. To everyone, I wish I could read, search and comment in kind to the value you all offer. Maybe October….. but some spots in between.
What incredible value. 🙂
Great to have you here when you can be, Foodchain!
It was a sterling speech, he did everything he could do. Now it’s up to the MSM and the public to hammer the Repubs into working for the benefit of America.
Adlib, everything I heard after the speech was very positive…so far! It will be interesting to see what “Morning Joke” has to say tomorrow.
What exactly was the President proposing? What have the pudnuts NOT even read before stating their gabbing and jabbing?
Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Act
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/fact-sheet-american-jobs-act
Not exactly Romney’s 59 points. 😆
Reading some Tweets form some of the “professional left” they are picking this apart line by line and not looking at the whole. Perfection is what they seek and perfection will not pass Congress.
“Missed the forest while looking at the trees?” Some are looking at the leaves and missing the forest.
Apologies to Milt Shook for stealing this, but “Please, cut the Crap!”
It was a great speech and The President challenged the GOP/TP and Dems to act for the country and not their party. He was Presidential, everyone’s president!
The Professional Left is neither.
The PL need to spend a few months in some poor developing country, or a dictatorship, then they might have something to really complain about at last. Maybe send the GOP senators, the reps and the TP leaders while we’re at it. To save on travel expenses because they are all about cuts, put them on a cargo ship, stick a stamp on their arses and wave a “bon voyage” to these traitors.
Kalima, then we can put up a “mission accomplished” banner! 🙂
That would be a worthwhile banner Emerald, I’d drink to that. 🙂
They are blind kittens.
I never thought I would stop listening to those so-called progressives on MSNBC. I have stopped. Either they are doing what they do just for the paycheck or they’re stupid or incompetent. Either way it’s a waste of time, IMO.
Sabreen, it is frustrating and maddening, they are given time to educate not pontificate and payed extremely well for what they do. Their “what if’s, yeah, but’s” are infuriating. I pulled up the fact sheet, I can see the forest and not trees. I know people that collect cans and scrap metal to buy food because they were “layed-off” and these fat and sassy people get on the the air and say “I’m a progressive, I’m a liberal, but….
Ed Shultz makes enough money to pay someone to wipe his butt, and this bill just ain’t good enough for him?
Excuse me. but to all the PL’s Fuck You!
PBO mentioned needing adjustments to Medicare, which we do need (see MB today about Medicare fraud) and the PL yells Obama wants to CUT Medicare!
Adjustments to Medicare concerning Pharma, tests, scans…. ARE needed and they are not cuts.
At times I don’t know who I am more angry at, the far left or the far right.
Bito here here, I am right with you. I don’t watch them anymore
I do not watch them either.
The commentariat, for the most part, is silly.
Bito, I have to agree with you! Ed was still negative tonight, even tho’ most were fairly positive about the speech. I swear I don’t know what he wants already!!
I just changed the channel…I was definitely READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!! And what a game it was! Four TD’s in the 1st quarter! Final score 42-34 Green Bay! Two great quarterbacks!
The commentariat does not read stupid things such as legislation or propsed legislation.
OK, off to make my first donation to Barack Obama. More to follow, if he keeps it up.
Hey AlphaBitch, I hear you. My biggest beef is with the DNC and the elected democrats; where the Hell are they? Where are their voices? Why can’t they say something about the GOP?
no frickin’ kiddin’ FoodChain! I swear, I’d go all Kim Jong Il on the GOP arses. But I also look at what happened to Grayson, who tended to act like I wanted. Maybe I’m not the best judge (but try and convince me of that)
AlphaBitch, We are good judges but an ethic of dumbing down our own people has hurt us. And pitted us against each other. How sad is that! Maybe a collective HUH because reiterating how awful the GOP is is tiresome and worse–whydont’ they get it!!
You have to put a lot of that on the MSM who won’t broadcast what they say, whether on the floor or in interviews.
There are many strong Dems in Congress whose work and words go unnoticed by the public.
Or Fox will edit it like they did with Hoff’s Labor Day speech.
Did you hear about Bernie Sander’s Bill to raise the income gap on SS on the MSM? Hell no, they would rather cover Perry’s “Ponzi scheme” than a solution, or the letter sent to McConnell by 25 (last count) Dem Senators saying that the joint committee’s #1 job, is jobs? I got those notices from the DNC!
What’s the line from ‘Broadcast News’, “Well if it’s not being reported, it must not be news.”
The MSM doesn’t want to help America, just themselves.
And accurately portraying things in politics and DC doesn’t help them maintain an eternal status of political conflict.
After all, if a big majority realized one side was much better than the other, the conflict evaporates as control in DC becomes one sided.
I hope Debbie Wasserman-Schultz will improve that situation. She is really great for the DNC! Jim Clyburn is another strong one who doesn’t get heard enough.
I just have this felling though, that the “super committee” won’t be so super.
It might be more of a Legion of Super Villains Committee.
Adlib, the way I see this super committee is that they only kicked the can down the road a little more, pushing off the hard stuff on those 12 people. With an even number of Dems and Reps, how are they ever going to come up with any kind of compromise? I’m really not expecting anything earth-shattering to come out of it.
like the other word associated with super is duper.
The president did great and for once lowered expectations by offering a bigger plan than was leaked. Moreover the plan is long term and not shortsighted like all the Republican “plans”. His forcefulness had the right tone and was timed just right.
Seconded!
Indeed KQ. I really liked that he offered a long term vision. That’s the way we need to be thinking. It’s time to go big or go home, as they say.
The Blov wanted to drop a note to Boehner:
Hey! Whassup with your color? I thought it was my TV, so I adjusted it back until you were orange, then I noticed EVERYONE was orange., Is brown the new normal for you????
The brown comes from blowing in the GOP’s shit too often.
Heh! You beat me to it!
Telepathy Central. 😉
HA! Delightful, K. I’ll tell the Blov, He and the Pup are cleaning the kitchen; I cooked and we all ate on TV trays like in the 1950s so we could watch. The Pup is taking Speech and really focuses on technique….
My best to both of them, and you of course. Had a major flood in the bathroom here, feel relaxed enough to get back to it now. Miss those tray dinners, but in my state, the food would be everywhere but on the tray.
Back to taking out the trash, will include memories of yesterday’s freak show. Later then, take care.
Night, and hugs. made my first donation for reelection; will make more if he keeps this up.
If I could, I would donate. Have fun watching your Fussball.
BO sure took out some trash tonight himself! Big Time!
Ok, I gave you a thumbs down when the page jumped. Sorry.
It was a pleasure to behold, I have never seen so many miserable sobs gathered together in one room. Great for the morale.
Fixed, Kalima.
bito, I was going to say that I didn’t know I was broken, but you mean the thumbs down, right?
Thanks. Did you have a blackout today in AZ?
Well the Pup got the chance to see a great speech!
(hello to The Blov, Pup and you Ms. AB.)
you wearing those matching yellow shirts, Bito?? I’ve got mine on!
Hey, I thought you said shorts?
Oops! my bad. Bito and I wear matching yellow SHORTS on speech and/or debate nights. At least in my imagination…………
I’m going have to think about this because when I close my eyes, all I see are short, satin shorts with a stripe on the side. Let me throw out some more trash and get back to you. 😯
I thought he was now a Wal-NUT.
No, he’s a whinenut, you know, from “pine” nut, to suffer mental and physical decline.
Boehner has been so full of it, his color has started to change to match.
Hey alpha, I thought the Boner had a few before he came into the Chamber tonight. He sat there in a total fog the entire time…or maybe he was just stoned! :-0
Em I told my husband just that………
Hey Sue, his facial expression never changed throughout the entire speech! He looked completely wasted! Maybe he just needs a good laxative! 🙂
The Q&A at the WH is 50x’s better than the pudnuts on the teevee! These are real questions and answers! Real people!
But how can you have political discussions without your own Chuck Todd?
I heard one a-hole on CNN saying it was more of the same. Had no slipper handy to fling, so I turned him off. They get payed for this crap.
It’s the speech I wanted him to give 6 months ago but, to be fair, he was kinda busy keeping the country from imploding.
It’s the best policy speech of his Presidency so far.
Not to mention killing Bin Laden.
Agreed, I’m not a cheerleader and I really haven’t been hugely impressed with many of his speeches as President but this one rocked!
Target the districts of key Repubs in the House and states of key Senators, bring the fight right to their doorstep and get them fearful about losing their seats.
I envision many stumps in republican territory. And boy he looked serious when he said it. “Every corner of the country!” Good stuff.
Absolutely! He was telling the GOPers, that he just isn’t going to be quiet about this one! BO is tired of taking shit from them!
After the pathetic and mind numbing of the GOP debate fiasco yesterday, if I were an American citizen, I’d be all fired up and ready to vote right now. 2012 couldn’t come quick enough for me.
What a contrast! This is why, when you consider Obama having to campaign against Romney or Perry, I think he will look far above either.
Without a doubt AdLib. Yesterday I was having nightmares, today I could kiss the moon. I only want what’s the best for my many friends out there, and I know he is already in he WH.
Aw, Rick Perry could have done a better speech AND he would have called Dems abject liars!
I believe he feels democracy is a giant ponzi scheme. But, the crazier he gets the better.
The Constitution is a Ponzi scheme to Perry.
Then again, so is a vending machine to Perry.
it is! I put in my money, press A7 and the snickers gets stuck in the rings!!
It’ all a huge scam! Tell the children!
Vending machines are a monstrous lie!
SNICKERS!!!
As bad as the Communist plot to steal our bodily fluids!
That’s when it’s time to beat the crap out of the machine. The Snickers will replenish any lost energy!
HA!
I still liked Romeny’s plan better.
First of all, it’s all in a handy pamphlet with color graphics. Very cool.
http://www.mittromney.com/sites/default/files/BelieveInAmerica%E2%80%93MittRomney%E2%80%93PlanForJobsAndEconomicGrowth.pdf
That’s it! Man has a vision.
Seriously though, i didn’t see any of his speech til the Daily Show last night.
He wants to make average Americans the highest paid people in America?
And if we make anew regulation an equal regulation must be removed?
Like Jon Stewart said, I like my policy arbitrary and mathematically impossible.
No, AD – he wants the average American to be the highest paid in the world. Now how can average wages be the highest? Doh!
Indeed AB. Just an absurd speech all around.
Hey Adonai, that bit about the regulations has to be the dumbest damn thing I’ve ever heard from ANY politician in my entire life! If you want a new reg, you must cut another one of “equal scale”! WTF???? We had a discussion here yesterday about this! Absolutely ridiculous!
If that is representative of the other 58 points, I don’t think I will read the rest of the 150 pages. My “dumbass-o-meter” won’t hold up to the strain!