There is a bipartisan movement demanding that the QT President Obama and House Republicans had becomes a regular part of our political discourse.
This makes me so angry that I do not know how coherent I'm going to be about this, so forgive me if I sound like a rambling jackass.
Bullshit. This question time reaction is bullshit and a result of a media that does not want to WORK and a failed political messaging from Congressional Democrats and their allies. Barack Obama did NOTHING that any other "democratic strategist" on cable shouldn't be able to do, say that this is bullshit when they hear bullshit. Only, politely of course. He didn't do anything the media couldn't have done, called bull on the Republican claims that the stimulus did nothing. This is an independently proved lied, the sort the MSM should easily illustrate but they don't care about Republican lies.
People are complaining once again about President Obama and many are valid criticisms. But I am sick and tired of watching this administration battle the world alone. The House comes through for the president legislatively; but their messaging doesn't politically. And as for the senate, we have a do nothing senate folks. They do nothing legislatively and they do nothing politically.
Take the stimulus. It's a common article of faith that the WH didn't do enough to defend itself on this issue. But I remember the WH asking AZ what part of the stimulus they'd want to return given comments AZ senators made on the Sunday shows. I see them set up a website that easily tracks the effects of stimulus. What I don't see? I don't see Congressional Democrats stepping up and touting what stimulus has done for their constituents and this country and creating local stories about the benefits of stimulus spending. The WH can only do so much given it's national outlook and legislative agenda; Congressional democrats have not stepped forward except in select memorable cases to fight the good fight. Don't get me started on the DNC which needs a leader; their communications shop has improved but I don't see a plan along the lines of the 50 state strategy and given MA I see the leadership we are missing with Howard Dean gone; a mistake on the president's part IMO.
Bu you know who has consistent messaging and using the benefits of the legislation passed? Republicans. You know who noticed and finally said something about it? The White House.
This is good.
The White House has the names, dates, and even photographs to challenge Republican members of Congress who voted against the Recovery Act and its spending last year, but who also went home to claim credit for projects the stimulus brought to their districts.
"A lot of you have gone to appear at ribbon cuttings for the same projects you voted against," President Obama chided the House members to their face at a policy conference one week ago.
The White House list includes nearly two dozen House members, including leaders John Boehner of Ohio and Eric Cantor of Virginia, and half a dozen senators.
The document put out by the White House includes highlighted press releases and newspaper clippings showing Republicans who voted against the Recovery Act accepting praise for Act-sponsored projects in their home districts.
This is something that anyone could have done and should have done from the DNC to the House or Senate leadership. The WH shouldn't have had to do this and that they did is a failure on the part of the party. I hope w/Plouffe taking on more consulting duties that the messaging will get better. We'll see after Snowmegeddon if Shelby's Shakedown becomes as famous as the Cornhusker Kick-back. If it doesn't, stop putting efforts into Question Time and more efforts into real democratic messaging. As for the media longing for civilized debate: debate has been happening. But you refuse to write about the substance and instead look at who is polling well. The clearest example of this: Barack Obama wants to create death panels. A meme the media let take hold and was helpless to refute. Journalists would do better to actually focus on the issues facing this country and the proposals the parties put forth to deal with them and the outcomes, rather than more political showdowns.
The President shouldn't be required to create drama and since we are not living in a parliamentary democracy where majority rules and therefore should answer to a minority and explain their decisions; I am at a loss to see the constitutional need for question time.
This demand is all about folks wanting more heat and show IMO.
What we need is action on all sides; and it better begin with better messaging and actual VOTES TAKEN (even if lost) by the senate.