Obama requested a joint session of Congress next Wednesday at 8pm so that he can lay out his agenda for increasing employment.
But the Republicans objected, since that is when one of their (more than 20) Republican presidential candidate debates is taking place, and accused Obama of playing politics — even though this debate is only being shown on cable TV and could easily have been moved an hour later, giving the Republican candidates a chance to make their own job creation proposals.
So then, House Speaker John Boehner counter-proposed that they have the joint session on Thursday night (Sept 8). Which happens to be the opening night for the NFL.
9 Comments
First time poster, long time reader. Watching the president cave to the Republicas time and time again has gone from disheartening to frustrating to disgusting. I voted for him in 2008 but I kind of wish that another Democrat would seek the party’s nomination. Yea, that would probably only help the Republicans… But he’s spent nearly three years waiting for the Republicans to deal with him in good faith. I know he’s smart, but to me it looks like he doesn’t even see that they want nothing more than to destroy him at all costs. I keep hoping he’s biding his time….but it just doesn’t look like he’ll ever “man up.”
As an aside, thank you to Iron Knee for taking the time you to run this site. I read and enjoy it daily. Also, thank you to the community of regular posters, I truly enjoy reading the conversations that happen here.
Obama is still our best hope, but he needs to act a little more “TR”
I agree with Long Time Reader. It just makes me ill. Not that I believe the president should be worshipped as a demi-god and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but you read about Johnson strong-arming and other presidents that were able to push back and see the only compromise going on is on Obama’s side.
whatever happen to the times of respect for the President, regardless of political stance? when did it become normal to tell the President to move a speech as opposed to the other way around?
There is something deeply wrong when respect goes out the window and political points are now the foundation. You don’t have to like a President, but you should show respect them.
I agree with Ongoign Headache. (i posted above as a long time reader) Since his election, the right has quietly (sometimes overtly) refused to accept his legitimacy, for reasons I won’t speculate about. Disagree with his views and policies, that’s what democracy is about. But to tell the President “no, you can’t speak wednesday” is blatantly disrespectful to the office. Obama needs to show a little prerogative as our chief executive or head of state and simply declare his intention to address Congress, not seek an audience like a supplicant. If they give him a hard time, go over their heads and address the nation and call Congress out.
Does anyone think Boehner doesn’t know that half the country, if not more, will be watching the Packers/Saints game? And Obama just goes along with it… He tries to appear to not play politics and comes off looking weak.
If Boehner really had any confidence in the Republican presidential candidates, he should have accepted the president’s request to speak at 7 and have the Republican debate pushed back to 8pm. What better lead in to the debate could they ask for! If they actually had answers, why wouldn’t they want to follow the president?
The Republicans are so focused on hurting the president that they’ll hurt themselves if it also hurts Obama. They remind me of a selfish phase my oldest son went through at about 4 years old. At that time, he’d rather have no cookie at all than to share a cookie with his brother.
Hopefully, one day, the Republicans will grow up too.
It’s funny because I’m going to watch neither of these. I’ll instead be watching our beloved Saints take the hammer to Green Bay, and THEN going out and voicing my displeasure toward the republicans.
Football first, America. Don’t forget what made this country great.
@Ongoing Headache: Respect is earned, not given. I like obama and think he’s been given the shaft, but as long as he’s gonna continue to bow and be the republicans bitch, he doesnt get my respect.
Does it have really matter to Republicans when Obama’s speech is given? Won’t they just skip it and go to Hannity for the (derogatorily) edited version and be told what to think?