Friday, January 23, 2009

Obama Says No to the Party of No

At the White House today, the President made it clear that his Inaugural message to Muslims "on the wrong side of history"--that "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist"--applies to Congressional Republicans as well.

Responding to Rep. Eric Cantor's objection to the proposal to increase benefits for low-income workers who don't owe federal income taxes, Obama reminded him of the November election results. "I won," he said. "I trump you on that."

He also suggested to Cantor, John Boehner, Jon Kyl and other leaders of the GOP's negative wing, "You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done."

Eager as Obama is for bipartisan support for his efforts to prop up the economy and the financial system, these are the first small signs that he may be willing to take some lessons from the Rahm Emanuel school of political hardball.

In the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had a near-death experience in the November balloting, seems to have gotten the memo.

“I realize," he said today, 'that if you told most people Mitch McConnell was down at the National Press Club hoping for bipartisanship, they’d tell you that’s like an insurance agent hoping for an earthquake. Most people don’t exactly view me as the Mr. Rogers of the Senate.”

But, he added, “Everybody believes that government action is necessary. This is coming out of the mouth of someone who doesn’t normally advocate government action as a first resort.”

This could be a reality check for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is announcing on its web site: "Thanks to Republican economic policies, the U.S. economy is robust and job creation is strong."

If the GOP is to avoid becoming the irrelevant Party of No, they will have to get real at their annual retreat in the resort of Hot Springs, Va. next week as they pick a new chairman, while mingling with lobbyists who are paying $25,000 a head for the privilege.

Otherwise, their party may turn out to be as "robust" as the economy.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So he is equating radical Muslims with the Republican party?Unbelievable, he said he would reach across the isle, and this is his first comment? What a liar, he never intended to end politics or change, he is even worse than past partisanship, no change at all on this front with intentions like thinking he can call republicans terrorists in his so called hidden language, he may have won the election but the dumbed down public has no clue of his real agenda, that is to bash the patriotic the hard working and the tax payers, instead he intends to give tax credits in the form of checks to lazy people who paid no taxes, lazy because they did not get an education to get a good job, and contribute to society , the public understood he would reduce taxes, NOT pay people who do not file taxes at all. Basically he is saying he Will do what ever he wants, because he can lie and cheat his way in, and the rest of the tens of millions of hard working Republicans who did not vote for him can take a hike...

Anonymous said...

"So he is equating radical Muslims with the Republican party? Unbelievable... [blah blah and more blah...]"

Really, dear, you need to calm down or you shall surely get the vapors.

I know, you're just not used to a Democrat with a spine, are you? I don't blame you, it is a bit out of the ordinary, isn't it?

Truth is, about 80% of the patriotic, hard-working, tax-payers have come to realize they've been screwed royally by Republicans for the last ten years or so.

The other 20% are people like you.

Now go change your shorts before you get a rash. And shoosh, the grownups are talking.