Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed. ·
Jul 25, 2011 at 6:17pm
I can't believe we have yet another press conference going on now. A friend suggested drinking once for each false dichotomy or mention of winning the future. Others suggested drinking for each instance of demagoguing and mention of corporate jets, oil companies, hedge fund managers and the like.
So it's only 15 minutes in and I'm already tipsy.
But I'm pretty sure he didn't do a good job of selling Americans on his plan. Did he mention his plan? I sort of zoned out.
What do you think? And remember, President Obama's political press conference -- designed to help him -- politically included copious demands to avoid politics. So make sure you do that when you consider his words.
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Comments :
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
I don't know that I understand the point of that speech I just heard. Lots of offensive my-way-or-the-highway ranting and projection of his own problems and failures onto others.
Excited for Boehner's rebuttal.
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Uh...I guess I missed Boehner's speech? Was it like 3 sentences long? I caught him saying "God bless America." Stupid ABC News for making me watch a commercial that was longer than Boehner's entire address.
Jun '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Well, on my radio station the president was pre-empted by an ad for "ageless male." Between that and a run to the fridge for beer I totally missed the speech.
Dec '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
I think Boehner just spanked a petulant child. Now we will see if the emperor really does control Darth Harry or not.
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Ah. Here's the transcript of Boehner's remarks for anyone else interested.
May '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Obama said that the House plan would reduce spending to the lowest levels "since Eisenhower was in office." Where does he get this stuff?
Blame Bush, shed crocodile tears over partisanship and tell everyone how much he loves The Greatest Country on Earth. Is anyone listening to this guy anymore?
Boehmer wasn't much better, I'm afraid.
Jun '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
The President asked us to make our views known to our Congressional members... the Senate email is already overloaded. It's going to be a long week trying to get through on the phone but I certainly well.
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
For my most superficial response, I'd like to note how awesomely short both speeches were. Obama's was about 15 minutes long and Boehner's must have been about five.
Good work, guys.
May '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
It reads pretty well. Did it get mangled in its delivery?
Jun '11
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
I think the president was so embarrassed from Friday that he had to get the bad taste out of his mouth by talking again tonight. You know, double up to make up. I can't help but think there will be personality problems we will learn about in later years from this president.
Also, I noticed the president didn't stand in front of the yellow shower curtain tonight. Nice background because his support is slipping away. Its crunch time.
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
I only really paid attention until the second or third sentence, when Obama blamed the deficit on Bush. After that, you knew what was coming. I'll be amazed -- and depressed -- if the speech gives him any bump in the polls. I thought Boehner's rebuttal was workmanlike -- which is about all one can hope for.
Yes, I think we've hit the prime-time-address ceiling.
Aug '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Ottoman Umpire
It reads pretty well. Did it get mangled in its delivery? · Jul 25 at 6:34pm
His delivery was fine. Nothing spectacular, though. It is Boehner, after all.
This was just one more exchange along the exact same lines we've been hearing for some time now. I guess the point is that maybe it might be more highly publicized? that this is Obama making good on his promise to "take it to the people"?
Dec '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
The president is borrowing from John Edwards. According to him there are only two groups in America. The first group is comprised of people who are dependent on government. Any cuts in federal spending will exact a great toll on them and possibly threaten their very existence. The other group is the wealthy who are depriving those dependent on government of their only source of succor. If this really is his understanding of the dynamics of the American population there is no hope for him ever doing anything constructive. It's time for congress to simply do their sworn duty and pass something and then dare the president to veto it.
Nov '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
I cannot believe that he actually opened his speech with a 'blame Bush' segment. Not just a passing reference, but full-throated sobbing about how terrible things were when he took over and how hard his life is. He actually mentioned the Bush tax cuts, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the prescription drug plan, all in the first 90 seconds or so.
Does anyone in the White House think that's still effective?
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Considering it was Boehner, I was downright shocked at how much personality and clarity of thought he had. I don't mean that as a knock against him, but he's much more a backroom personality than a let's-go-against-the-polished-president-in-prime-time guy.
But I was only listening and not watching. Of course, what percentage of the country is even aware of this Washington battle, much less tonight's press conferences?
Mar '11
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Based on what has happened over the last 3 days it does not seem that the "balanced" approach would be easy to get out of the Senate much less the House. This was a wasted speech.
The only way for the President to come back from being frozen out of the talks by the Speaker would be a speech that offered concrete details. Make himself relevant by his ideas not just because he bothered to give yet another campaign speech.
Most people on a hot summer night were not watching this and it probably moved no one in the House or Senate
Jul '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Once again those wacky Russian teenage hackers have cut into the White House feed and brought out their Obama impressionist, because the Only Adult in Washington, the Greatest Orator in the World, would certainly have spent time outlining his comprehensive plan and telling us where we could find it on the internet so we could compare it, line by line, with the Boehner plan and the Reid plan.
I must have missed the part where there was a discussion of the fact that we will probably have the national credit rating cut no matter what solution we select. Even the Russian teenage hackers would mention that part of the dilemma, right?
Jun '10
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
I hate to sound like a "Know-Nothing," but I avoided the president's speech. In fact, I haven't watched one of his speeches since 2008 (that was 45 minutes of nausea I'll never get back). I have made a vow to never watch another of his speeches (I tend to have high blood pressure and view it as a health risk).
I appreciate all the other brave, unflappable Ricochet members who were willing to watch and report back.
The final report appears to be "nothing new from Obama." Boehner did OK.
May '11
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Remember back in May 2010 when people were complaining that Obama had not held a press conference in over 300 days ?
Personally I like the increased frequency, it means I`m no longer considered a binge drinker.
Re: Aren't We Perilously Close To Exceeding Our Press Conference Ceiling?
Don't worry, it's a pre-existing condition. The POTUS has you covered.