More on the empty suit...

Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
washingtonpost.com

"Have you ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for yourself?" Obama's response is worth quoting in full: "Well, look, when I was doing ethics reform legislation, for example, that wasn't popular with Democrats or Republicans. So any time that you actually try to get something done in Washington, it entails some political risks. But I think the basic principle which you pointed out is that I have consistently said, when it comes to solving problems, like nuclear proliferation or reducing the influence of lobbyists in Washington, that I don't approach this from a partisan or ideological perspective."
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Trying to get an answer out of this guy is like trying to put a fart back up your ass.
 
SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
Larry Gude said:
washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines




Trying to get an answer out of this guy is like trying to put a fart back up your ass.
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Damn I miss Tim Russert - he'd have a troubling quote on the screen and a list of examples where he played it safe - and ask him that again.

Of course, he tried that with Al Gore and he'd answer with something like "I don't have that answer right now, so I'll have to get back to you" and after Tim said "just tell me in your own words" he'd get more of the same. I never could stand Al - he could never go on record with anything he wasn't coached to say.
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
I'm curious...

wintersprings said:
That was quite clear, he said "NO"
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...if it will matter to his followers, at all. This was a rather larger part of his 'change' and 'above it all' mystique. I mean, he broke his word and he's sold out, same as what he supposedly opposed. Plus, I don't know that he had to do it, at all. He could have taken his chances with a straight up race against McCain and kept his word. He didn't NEED to do this.

Hmm...
 
Kerad

Kerad

New Member
"Have you ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for yourself?" Obama's response is worth quoting in full: "Well, look, when I was doing ethics reform legislation, for example, that wasn't popular with Democrats or Republicans.
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For anyone that needs this simplified, his response was "Yes".
 
Kerad

Kerad

New Member
Larry Gude said:
...that doesn't want to read the article, his answer was 'yes' to a question the correct answer was 'no'.
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I read the opinion piece. His answer was the correct one, as far as the question asked lent itself to a yes/no answer. Unless you know more about Obama than he does, that is.


If you don't want to stray from the already worn GOP talking points, you shouldn't vote for Obama. See how easy it is? :yay:
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
Oh come...

Kerad said:
I read the opinion piece. His answer was the correct one, as far as the question asked lent itself to a yes/no answer. Unless you know more about Obama than he does, that is.


If you don't want to stray from the already worn GOP talking points, you shouldn't vote for Obama. See how easy it is? :yay:
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...on.


"Have you ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for yourself?" Obama's response is worth quoting in full: "Well, look, when I was doing ethics reform legislation, for example, that wasn't popular with Democrats or Republicans. So any time that you actually try to get something done in Washington, it entails some political risks. But I think the basic principle which you pointed out is that I have consistently said, when it comes to solving problems, like nuclear proliferation or reducing the influence of lobbyists in Washington, that I don't approach this from a partisan or ideological perspective."
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This from the man with THE most 'partisan', one sided voting record in the Senate.

For a candidate running as a centrist reformer, this is pretty weak tea. Ethics reform and nuclear proliferation are important issues, but they have hardly put Obama in the liberal doghouse. When I recently asked two U.S. senators who are personally favorable to Obama to name a legislative issue on which Obama has vocally bucked his own party, neither could cite a single instance.
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These are welcome gestures, but they are not policies. Perhaps Obama is just conventionally liberal. Perhaps he has carefully avoided offending Democratic constituencies. Whatever the reason, his lack of a strong, centrist ideological identity raises a concern about his governing approach. Obama has no moderate policy agenda that might tame or modify the extremes of his own party in power. Will every Cabinet department simply be handed over to the most extreme Democratic interest groups? Will Obama provide any centrist check on liberal congressional overreach?
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Real leader you got there.

:yawn:
 
SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
Lately, his comments regarding the Republican party viz the handling of terrorism reveals what I've always felt - the promise of non-partisan togetherness, running a non-critical campaign, being able to "unite" people - is a load of tripe. As far as I can tell, "unity" to Obama is like "inconceivable" was to Vizzinni in "The Princess Bride".

"You use that word a lot - I don't think it means what you think it means".

It seems to mean to him that when he's POTUS - you'll agree with him.

Not "I'll work with you in the spirit of non-partisanship". I'll get you to agree with me, because centrism isn't my style. Unity means, you surrender.
 
MMDad

MMDad

Lem Putt
SamSpade said:
being able to "unite" people - is a load of tripe.
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Maybe he means it the way Bush meant he'd be a "unificator?"

You can't get a much more unified distaste for a President than there currently is for Bush. Of course the reasons are vastly different, but the result is the same.
 
B

Bruzilla

Guest
Larry Gude said:
Trying to get an answer out of this guy is like trying to put a fart back up your ass.
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So let me make sure I'm getting all this right. Obama is asked if he has ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for himself, he mentions the Luger-Obama act that got passed in the US senate 78 to 19, and which required him to work on a bipartisan level with Republicans to the chagrin of Democrats. Next he cites the Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act that he got passed with Feingold over opposition from lots of fellow Democrats. This was the bill that fixed all the gaping holes in the worthless 2006 reform bill that Obama and only seven other senators voted against. Just as a little background, the 2006 bill was pushed for hard by Reid and the rest of the Dem leadership and rank & file, and was held up by Republicans because Mitch McConnell and others wanted a presidential line item veto added. They didn't fight it because of all the loopholes on earmarks, use of corporate jets, gifts from lobbyists, etc., just the line item veto. Obama and Feingold worked across the isle with Republicans to arrive at a bill that closed the loopholes regarding gifts, jet use, and earmarks, which upset Reid and the other Dems something fierce.

And to these examples you say "so what's the answer?" Everytime McCain works across the isle, all we hear about is what a maverick and political risk taker he is, but when Obama does it... well, that's something totally different. I think anyone who says the Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act didn't incur the rath of more than a few Democrats doesn't know their history very well.
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
Now THAT...

Bruzilla said:
So let me make sure I'm getting all this right. Obama is asked if he has ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for himself, he mentions the Luger-Obama act that got passed in the US senate 78 to 19...
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...is a highwire act without a net if I ever heard of one!

:lmao:

Maybe, for his next act, he'll bring up $.90 a gallon gas under St. Hugo!
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
The whole...

Bruzilla said:
,
And to these examples you say "so what's the answer?" Everytime McCain works across the isle, all we hear about is what a maverick and political risk taker he is, but when Obama does it... well, that's something totally different. I think anyone who says the Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act didn't incur the rath of more than a few Democrats doesn't know their history very well.
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...point, which seems entirely lost on you, is Obama's post partisan rhetoric which flies completely in the face of his record, with all do apologies to the Lugar/Obama act and the vicious political bloodletting that beget.

:killingme:
 
B

Bruzilla

Guest
Larry Gude said:
...is a highwire act without a net if I ever heard of one!

:lmao:

Maybe, for his next act, he'll bring up $.90 a gallon gas under St. Hugo!
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Depends upon your point of view. The Far Left were raging about Obama having anything to do with a Republican. The moderate folks liked the bill and didn't care about who he worked with to make it happen.
 
B

Bruzilla

Guest
Larry Gude said:
...point, which seems entirely lost on you, is Obama's post partisan rhetoric which flies completely in the face of his record, with all do apologies to the Lugar/Obama act and the vicious political bloodletting that beget.

:killingme:
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No.. the question was if he has ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for himself, and the question was answered - yes he has. If the question had been "are you a highly partisan politician?" or "do you vote in a partisan manner most of the time?" or "do you have a record of being a partisan voter", you would have a point. But you are trying to criticize Obama for not answering a question that he wasn't asked. If you would just stick to the facts your criticisms of Obama would have far more merit and validity.
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
Yes...

Bruzilla said:
Depends upon your point of view. The Far Left were raging about Obama having anything to do with a Republican. The moderate folks liked the bill and didn't care about who he worked with to make it happen.
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...that's very accurate. If I were a screaming mad hatter from the land of Kos, I'd damn near have him in irons at this point for his betrayal of core socialist principles for even working in that bastion of fascist oppression on Capital hill in the first place.
 
Larry Gude

Larry Gude

Strung Out
Yes...

Bruzilla said:
No.. the question was if he has ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for himself, and the question was answered - yes he has. If the question had been "are you a highly partisan politician?" or "do you vote in a partisan manner most of the time?" or "do you have a record of being a partisan voter", you would have a point. But you are trying to criticize Obama for not answering a question that he wasn't asked. If you would just stick to the facts your criticisms of Obama would have far more merit and validity.
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...he said 'yes'. Now, as his perspective of political risk is rather silly, which is not to say immature, absurd or down right nonsensical, the practical answer is...no.
 
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