The Rude Pundit: The State of the Union Is We Need to Accept ...

[meegbear]

That We're Down to Two Branches of Government

A few random observations on last night's big speech:

1. No less than half a dozen times did President Obama call for Democrats and Republicans to work or do something "together," as in &quot L)et's see where else we can make progress together." And every time, the Rude Pundit thought, "Why bother?" There is an illusion that the President obviously doesn't believe anymore, but it is a lie that he clings to in his speeches, that somehow, somewhere down the line, Republicans will awaken to realize that the way they've been governing for the last five years in Washington is wrong and they're going to be willing to compromise and move more of his agenda items forward.

It's like a version of gay conversion therapy. No, Pastor Closeted, you're not gonna pray the gay away from someone. It's in their DNA. Sally's still gonna love the pussy. So it is with Obama and Republicans. It's as if he thinks that if he keeps saying, even half-heartedly, that people can work together, Republicans will just say, "Oh, right, we can choose to do that." They can't. Steve King and Ted Cruz ain't about to convert.

2. But, as always with Obama's speeches, no matter how much he reaches out, the GOP merely finds what he has to say tyrannical, fascistic, socialistic, mean, antagonistic, or plain wrong. The response will always be "We invite the President to work with us." So it was beyond predictable that, when Obama said, more or less, "Okay, fuck it. I'm doing what I can on my own," Republicans would go monkeyfuck insane. This madness was put most succinctly by Rep. Joe "That Mule-Fucking Yokel Who Yelled, 'You Lie' That One Time" Wilson, who offered, regarding President Obama saying he would use executive orders to accomplish some of his goals, "He calls on us to work together, then he threatens to act unilaterally? It just doesn’t fit." Which proves that Joe Wilson is dumber than a bucket of hair and can't hold two thoughts in his head. If you have to build a house by a certain time and you have a bunch of materials that allows you get started, you're not going to wait for the rest of the crew to begin.

3. The missed opportunity, as David Corn put it, is that Obama plainly refused to say that he is taking executive action only because Republicans in Congress won't do shit. Obama always blamed Congress in general, as in, "You don't have to wait for Congress to act," governors, on the minimum wage, or "As Congress decides what it's going to do," he's going to do some things on pre-K education. The one time he did call out Republicans was on the one part of the speech with some swagger, where he was describing the good of the Affordable Care Act. &quot L)et's not have another 40- something votes to repeal a law that's already helping millions of Americans," he said.

But Obama seems to think that the American people connected the dots, that all of us realize that those were Republicans votes, plain and simple. When he asked Congress to extend unemployment benefits, why not say that Republicans prevented them from passing? When he asked Congress for a minimum wage hike, why not say that House Republicans unanimously voted against it? On item after item, from immigration reform to jobs, it's not the Congress as a whole who has blocked action. It's Republicans. What does he lose by calling them out? Why not tell everyone that the motherfuckers are the ones who fucked their mothers?

4. Obama was saying, in essence, that we are down to two branches of government. We've lost the legislative branch. And that's a goddamn shame, really. It's rendered itself useless for anything but passing a budget and making sure we don't default on our debt. Otherwise, it's best to ignore it so it doesn't do any more harm. No matter how hard we clap, the bipartisan fairy ain't gonna magically come back to life.

5. Even more depressingly, Obama's need to bypass Congress to get shit accomplished has led him to, in essence, deputize the private sector. Multiple times throughout the speech, the President said he was calling on or had made deals with large corporations to take some action. He wants them to lead by example and by donation to things that Congress won't fund, like Apple, Sprint, and Verizon giving money as "a down payment to start connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students over the next two years (to high-speed internet), without adding a dime to the deficit." And how much advertising will be part of this?

6. Yes, it was great that President Obama talked about a number of liberal issues, like equal pay for women and closing Gitmo. But, every time, all the Rude Pundit could think was "Why not tell the American people that Republicans won't pass expanded gun background checks, even though 90% of us support it?" But, you know, see #4.

7. By the way, the end of the boring-ass GOP response was downright creepy. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers concluded with the prayer that "with the guidance of God, we may prove worthy of His blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." You got that? We better please our mad god in order to earn his good graces. If Rodgers had been Muslim, the right would have exploded in a hategasm. (Oh, and she also said, &quot W)e hope the President will join us in a year of real action.&quot

And this is who Obama refused to take on last night? If he wanted, if he put his heart into it, he could destroy them with one hand tied behind his back. Or maybe this is the longest game of rope-a-dope in history.

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/

[russspeakeasy]

1. + 100000000000000000000

Now, if PBO would read it.

[deafskeptic]

2. Ditto!

I remember saying around 2009 on a different forum that the Democrats would have to go it alone regarding Obamacare because it was very clear that the GOP had no intention of working with PBO. I think I should have expanded that to other bills and programs though.

I'm glad PBO finally realizes GOP has no intention of cooperating with him.

[KeepItReal]

3. President Obama is a statesman and not a partisan Democrat

Only problem is statesmanship went out the window the moment he was elected and the GOP vowed to block any of his achievements and make him a "one term President."

I'm past trying to figure out why he doesn't do the simple and easy thing of CALLING OUT HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR OBSTRUCTION of everything from job-creating legislation, to food stamp cuts, to cutting jobless benefits.

[truth2power]

5. Maybe the reason why you're "past trying to figure out

why he doesn't do the simple and easy thing..." is because it's difficult to take that next step and admit that, as RudePundit says, it really is "the longest game of rope-a-dope in history."

Just sayin'

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Why did President Obama keep up the bi-partisan ...

"Come on work with me" line?

Well ... because that what a significant portion of the electorate ... across party lines ... has said they want: bi-partisanship, working together.

[Maedhros]

7. Can you provide a link to a poll backing up that assertion?

Every Democrat I know wants Obama to take off the gloves and start pummeling those Republican creeps.

[red dog 1]

8. "Americans Strongly Desire That Political Leaders Work Together"

Source:
Gallup.Politics
January 19, 2011

"More than 8 in 10 want Obama, GOP leaders to work with other side to pass legislation."
http://www.gallup.com/poll/145679/americans-strongly-desire-political-leaders-work-together.aspx/


While this Gallop poll is 3 years old, I think it still is valid.
I think the vast majority of Americans still want both parties to work together to pass legislation.

[Fumesucker]

9. What that means on both sides is "those other guys need to give in, they are unreasonable"

It doesn't mean anyone wants their own side to give in.

[Maedhros]

11. Thank you for the link.

I think recent events with the sequester/shut down may have adjusted those numbers a bit, but I don't have a link for that.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. Nope ...

and here's the data:

HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES/PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES Study #13413 -- page 13
October 2013 NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey
(ROTATE Q16a AND Q16b)
Q16a Which of these is closer to your own view of President Obama’s actions and positions during the current
budget disagreement?
A) He is being a strong leader and standing up for
what he believes in ......................................................... 46
B) He is putting his own political agenda ahead of
what's good for the country ............................................ 51
Both equal (VOL) .......................................................... 1
Not sure ........................................................................ 2


Q16b Which of these is closer to your own view of Congressional Republicans’ actions and positions during the
current budget disagreement?
A) They are demonstrating strong leadership and
standing up for what they believe in ............................... 27
B) They are putting their own political agenda ahead of
what is good for the country ........................................... 70
Both equal (VOL) .......................................................... 1
Not sure ........................................................................ 2
Q17 How much harm, if any, is the government shutdown having on the U.S. economy – a great deal, quite a bit,
just some, very little, or none at all?
Great deal ............................. 34
Quite a bit ............................. 31
Just some ............................. 21
Very little ............................... 10
None at all ............................ 2
Not sure ............................. 2

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/WSJNBCpoll10072013.pdf

[Maedhros]

14. Thank you for the data!

I do think, however, that most Democrats want him to smash the Republicans in the mouth (figuratively speaking).

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. Actually ...

I'd say that most DUers want him to smash the Republicans in the mouth (figuratively speaking, or literally); but most Democrats, as well as most of the American public want President Obama to continue attempting to gain bipartisanship.

[Maedhros]

16. Hmmm...Maybe.

I don't think it's a stretch, though, to say that Obama's "bipartisanship" is the source of most of the Left's frustration with the President.

My error is assuming that Democrats = Left.

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. Or that ...

DU = "Democrats"

I'd say everyone here ... nearly everyone ... is on the Left.

IMO, the level of frustration with President Obama's seeking of "Bipartisanship" is directly, but inversely, related to ones ability and/or willingness to relate ones real life experience(s), of one needing another person to effectively accomplish a task; but one does not like or agree with that person, and the task remains. That is the role of the President and/or elected officials.

It's easy to tell someone to F%ck off, when you don't need them. Like it or not, for government to function effectively, Democrats need republicans to act reasonable; but there is no way to put them off the boat when they don't. No way, other than, get the electorate to vote them out.

Democratic GOTV 2014

[red dog 1]

17. So you're saying that most DUers don't want bipartisanship?

but that most Democrats do?

What makes you think that?

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. Yes ...

The comments on this board vs the polling data.

[sabrina 1]

22. If I were asked in a poll if I wanted both parties to work together, OF COURSE I would say yes. What

a ridiculous question. Everyone WANTS that. What are you going to say in a poll like that? 'No, I want both parties to continue to beat each other up??

The question should have been:

Since the Republicans have refused to work with this President to get things done, what do you think the President should do to move the country forward?

A) Use his power as President to get things some done without them and explain why he is doing so to the American people ... or

B) Continue to try to convince them, as he has for going on six years now without much success, to work with him to get things done

What do you think the numbers would be on a realistic poll that doesn't pretend there is a chance in hell Republicans will ever work with Democrats.

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. If you answered the question ...

as asked, by responding that you wanted the parties to work together, than you would be lying/responding knowingly falsely. Your many, many posts demonstrate that.

There is a name for the way you have framed the alternative question ... it's called "Push polling." And, no where are push polls considered valid.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. Thank you. n/t

This survey from November 8-12, 2012, indicates very similar findings, with 67% of those surveyed expressing that "Republican leaders in congress should work with (President) Obama; and, 72% indicating that &quot President) Obama should work with Republican leaders." Further, the survey indicates that both self-identified Democrats and Independents indicated strong support for President Obama working with Republican leader and strong opposition to his "standing up to" Republican leaders.

[TheKentuckian]

21. But they aren't going to be worked with and giving into them makes matters worse all around

The poll is functionally irrelevant. Of course everyone wants both parties to work together for the good of the country but that card is not in the deck. Not one thing they have on the agenda is going to do a damn thing but dig a hole.

Letting the country go to hell in a hand basket chasing polling is stupid, cowardly, and a big miscalculation because you are over weighting this one in a huge way because when everything is all FUBAR we will take the blame and pointing at some polling data will not dig out a millimeter.

The polls are an excuse not coherent reasoning, you are talking pure fantasy and pretending anything else is dangerous.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. Okay n/t

[kelliekat44]

6. The Obama administrations have accomplished much but people don't hear about it from the media.

They hear lises, distortions, talking points, and hate speech from talk radio.

I truly believe that the President does not do himself justice by allowing those lies and misinformation to go unchallenged or unanswered. For example, most people don't realize what the income tax rate was during the times of US greatest prosperity and expansion. They have been told since Reagan that taxes are bad, that the government is taking too much and not giving back, that higher wages will destroy the economy (like no one can even understand that currently we have been dealing with a "destroyed economy" with the most depressed wages in history). The President needs to arm himself and his administration spokespeople with information talking points that show the GOP talking points to be the lies that they are. Even hand out flyers with key, verifiable information about Medicare, Social Security, what states are the real "takers" and the one that contribute the most to our economic well-being, which corporations out-source and the actual wages and benefits paid by named corporations. There needs to be an army of cable watchers and radio and TV talk show hosts whose job it is to view and listen to every right wing media outlet, record every lie and misinformation bit they hear and come back with a rapid response by either calling in or scripting a response for prime time audiences on radio and TV. Obama doesn't say enough by way of explanation about his administration's accomplishments. Tell us how much the deficit was, how much was cut and since when. Then give us info about what it was when he came into office and where it is now. We have been adding jobs since he has been in office...all totaled how many have been added, how many lost and what is the net gain. Show a chart with unemployment at 9% and where it is now. Tell the country the truth about how the GOP in the House would not pass his jobs bill. Call the bastards out...it's election time and a reall battle needs to be fought over the lies that are being told.

[Hugin]

10. k&r

[Auntie Bush]

20. What really got me was the poll that said 68% think of the economy is the same or worse

since Obama took office. How can so many people believe that? The economy was in free fall when he took office and the jobs were hemorrhaging. Unemployment was 9%! Why don't Democrats, the media and Obama tout that more often. When that poll came out a couple days ago...not one person in the media challenged the fact of the ridiculousness of those poll results. I think talk radio and FOX News has distorted history. If they say the president is a loser long enough they really believe it without a thought..they're brainless, propagandized,
stupid idiots.

[reformist2]

25. The job situation is still pretty abysmal. We can't compare things to 2008 forever.

I don't blame people for not being thankful anymore. What have you done for us lately?, the public is asking.
And rightfully so.

[Auntie Bush]

31. But the question in the poll asked us to compare things from 2008.

We need a different poll question. How about is Obama to blame for the poor economy? or Who's to blame for today's poor economy? We need some poll questions that will put Obama in a better light.

[Hugin]

30. Good points!

The hatred of the RW toward who Pres. Obama is has muddied the water to the point that any meaningful discussion of policy is impossible. I will ALWAYS back Obama for who he is, but, thus far we have lost 5 years of policy shaping time. Time that could be used to point out the things in desperate need of attention. I think that is what RP is driving at in this particular article.

[Auntie Bush]

32. So then you're saying we made a mistake because we elected a black man since that's the main reason

he's hated so much since his first day in office.

There probably wouldn't be so much division if we had elected a white person...but I believe the ReThugs wouldn't have given into anything a Dem president wanted. Although we probably would have been able to accomplish a little more than Obama did...but we certainly didn't lose 5 years of policy shaping.

[Hugin]

33. Electing him was no mistake. It was the people's choice!

It really wouldn't matter who was elected. I have full confidence through experience that because whoever was elected was not just like "them", they would have found something to hate whether the color of skin, gender, sexual orientation, or merely party affiliation. They are obstructionist, their job is to generate chaos if they are not getting their way. If you'll think back they launched operation chaos led by fox news and rush before Obama had even taken office. Who does this chaos serve? Those who don't want a change in the status quo.

I'll thank you to please not put words in my mouth.

[reformist2]

24. It's not as if Obama is proposing anything that great, anyway.

[sendero]

27. The Rude Pundit..

... has gone from a novelty act to a serious analyst. And I agree with everything he is saying here.

Democrats HAVE TO LEARN to call out Republicans BY NAME. It has always worked for the pukes and it will work for us and we have so mouch more material to work with.

[theaocp]

28. IKR?

They've called it "OBAMAcare" for a damn reason. You link something unfavorable to a person. It kind of makes it, you know, PERSONAL. People lap that stuff up and if the left would get their head out of their ass, they might realize this.

A local sports radio guy (whom I respect for his passion and knowledge about sports) said people could call in about the SOTU if they wanted, but what he really wanted to know was not about the speech, but rather the "two guys behind him". He said they couldn't figure out when to stand and clap and when to stay seated. The lack of understanding of the veep and SotH was breathtaking to me. However, it just wasn't something he pays attention to, to all our detriment. Nevertheless, someone like that SHOULD know who the fuck Boehner is, when he's such a poison to our whole goddamn country. NAME THAT FUCKER AND MAKE HIM FAMOUS. Just because you know who he is doesn't mean everybody does and they damn well should.

[sendero]

29. +100000

People better start paying attention to who is doing what, time is running out.