President Obama.. "Please Proceed, Sen McConnell"

[Cha]

"If you didn't get to watch President Obama's press conference this afternoon, I encourage you to do so" (See here.. freshwest http://www.democraticunderground.com/110226440 )

"He made a point of saying that he looks forward to hearing from McConnell and Boehner on what their agenda for Congress will be. And that he's willing to work on those areas where they can agree.

While some will undoubtably view this as pre-capitulation, its actually an amazing power play as well as a reprisal of conciliatory rhetoric as a ruthless strategy.

One way to deal with that kind of bad-faith opposition is to draw the person in, treat them as if they were operating in good faith, and draw them into a conversation about how they actually would solve the problem. If they have nothing, it shows. And that's not a tactic of bipartisan Washington idealists -- it's a hard-nosed tactic of community organizers, who are acutely aware of power and conflict.
Over the last 6 years, Minority Leader McConnell has been able to embrace a "post-policy" approach focused on total obstruction. Now that Republicans control both chambers of Congress, President Obama is basically saying "puts your cards on the table and let's see what you've got."

After last night's election results, both National Review Online and Rush Limbaugh are counseling McConnell to keep up the obstruction. Jonathan Chait pretty much nailed what McConnell will see as his most effective strategy going forward:

McConnell’s next play is perfectly clear. His interest lies in creating two more years of ugliness and gridlock. He does not want spectacular, high-profile failures that command public attention — no shutdowns, no impeachment. Instead, he wants tedious, enervating stalemate. McConnell needs to drain away any possibility of hope and excitement from government, so that the disengaged Democratic voters remain disengaged in 2016.

snip//

Today the President simply called on McConnell to "put up or shut up." That's his best way of undermining McConnell when/if the gridlock continues. In other words, its the best power play he has now - given what the midterm electorate did yesterday.

The rest of herstory.. Nancy Letourneau's/AKA smartypants http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/11/president-obama-please-proceed-senator.html?spref=tw

This is from Novemeber 5th and kinda got buried with all the other news coming out.. but, well worth taking a look at Now!

Well, he heard from them today..


Nerdy Wonka @NerdyWonka
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Boehner is looking at President Obama as though he's going to toilet paper the Oval Office once the workday ends.
10:15 AM - 7 Nov 2014 29 Retweets 16 favorites

:hatip: http://theobamadiary.com/2014/11/07/the-presidents-day-25/

Erica Werner @ericawerner
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Cornyn said discussion of immigration took up easily half the meeting, with R's pressing Obama and the president "unmoved and even defiant"
11:11 AM - 7 Nov 2014 50 Retweets 12 favorites

Gregory Korte ✔ @gregorykorte
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Consensus from witnesses along West Executive Drive is that Sen. Mitch McConnell was first congressional leader out the door after lunch.
10:17 AM - 7 Nov 2014

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/11/07/a-tweet-or-two-162/

To the Barack Obama Group where sanity, focus, and reality reigns! Love you guys.. oh, and anyone who respects this President can chime in!

sheshhttp://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1102&pid=26485e

[NYC_SKP]

1. I got his back.

No turning back.

[Cha]

3. We thought we had to have it before, SKP! Now,

he's up there as our Firewall in Chief against total Koch Fascists taking over our Country. He needs us more than ever!

[sheshe2]

4. I sure as hell have his back Cha!

[Cha]

10. And, he has yours..

Thank you for having our President's back so eloquently, she~

[pinto]

2. +1

[Cha]

5. Hey, Aloha pinto!

[ucrdem]

6. I heard it and it was awesome.

The cretin reporters were giving him shit too, like he was mooching a meal at their fancy restaurant. Really disgusting.



But he shamed them all by keeping cool and soaring waaay over their heads.



p.s. over the heads of the Daily Paul crowd too.

[Cha]

7. Swoosh! Right Over so many

heads!

Oh you mean like this cretin..


TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
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Last night was shit But then President did this to Ed Henry & his shill pals today Now? All's good #Forward

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/11/05/today-calls-for-laughter/#comments

Mahalo ucr!

[ucrdem]

9. Ed Henry, thanks. Gotta remember that name.

Real asswipe that one.

[Cha]

11. fox "news" a$$hole.. and, all the other jackals wannabe like him..

TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
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Ed Henry: "You're doubling down on the same policies and approach!"

The ones that got him elected President twice, Ed?
10:36 AM - 5 Nov 2014 76 Retweets 40 favorites

April @ReignOfApril
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I have no problem with you asking questions of POTUS, @edhenryTV. But I think it's reprehensible that you would interrupt him mid-sentence.
10:39 AM - 5 Nov 2014 96 Retweets 58 favorites

Nerdy Wonka @NerdyWonka
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@JonKarl won't tell Americans that every time Pres. Obama reached out to the GOP socially, they rejected his iniviations
This is the media
10:26 AM - 5 Nov 2014 105 Retweets 39 favorites

[ucrdem]

13. Insufferable wise-ass.

Fox, that figures.

p.s. looks like Peters won that seat in SD: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025785459

[Cha]

15. NO F********* WAY!!!!!

OMGs! CHILLS! We weren't suppose to find out until MONDAY!

I'm so happy I dance! Thank you for telling me, ucr!

I was going to write about it on Monday hopefully but this is BETTER!

Have to call my sis now!

[ucrdem]

32. Dem gov + Dem SoS = Woohoo!

Sometimes anyway . . .

[Marie Marie]

8. Give 'em enough rope, Mr President...

they will hang themselves. They don't know how to govern, nor do they want to. Their agenda is clear and I can only hope that their inevitable over-reach will be their undoing. Meanwhile, keep that veto pen handy... Love ya back Cha.

[Cha]

12. Precisely, Marie Marie! Hey Aloha..

[cilla4progress]

14. I still love him for now

as long as he does right on the Keystone pipeline.

[cstanleytech]

16. Thats going to depend on how the votes go for it I suspect.

If they have the votes to probably override a veto the best he might be able to do is see if he can somehow stall it and even thats a roll of the dice.

[Cha]

37. Mahalo cilla.. here's to the President doing right on Keystone and whipping out that VETO

Pen!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

17. I hope that now that Al Franken has won re-election

he will step in front of the cameras to have President Obama's back with a smile and great wit. I miss him and think he could be a great asset to POTUS.

[Cha]

19. Remember Sen Franken's first Senate race, SiSC? Against Norm Coleman? It went on

for months it seemed.

Congratulations to Senator Franklin! I think you're right.. he might just be a great asset and friend to have in the US Senate!

[steve2470]

18. got his back, kick and rec ! nt

[Cha]

20. Mahalo, steve!

Please Proceed Senator McConnell..

[steve2470]

21. "defiant" = Cornyn's word for the President not folding like a cheap suit

His public press conference was done very well, and now in private he can tell them to be real, get real, deal with him honestly and in good faith, and tell them to pound sand (politely) if they try to mess with him.

Somehow I think we're going to hear this word "defiant" a lot over the next 2 years and 2 months.

[Cha]

22. "Somehow I think we're going to hear this word "defiant" a lot over the next 2 years and 2 months."

And, maybe an "arrogant" or two!

Meanwhile, President Obama..



And, Steve.. Welcome as a Host of the BOG!



Thank you!

[steve2470]

23. Thanks Cha !

Yes, arrogant and some other words that mean he won't cave !

[Cha]

24. "unmoved".. rofl

[freshwest]

25. Only because they're too afraid to say 'uppity.' That's what it's been about all along...

Obama's huge smile and confidence is ennervating to these guys, and it's not an act, either.

They wear a 'What does he know that we don't know?' look.

They're not in his league, they are followers of the Koches, and not leaders.

[steve2470]

30. so true nt

[Cha]

31. Well Done, fresh! "They're not in his league, they are followers of the Koches, and not leaders."

Money quote!

[NanceGreggs]

26. He continues to be ...

... the smartest man in the room. Always. And under any and all circumstances.

I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.

[Cha]

33. Yes, and they cannot stand it. Pathetic, the way the gop/WHPC acts out

when their inner green eyed monster takes over.

Thanks Nance.. I had some pic that would have been perfect here but my internet connection and machine are all acting up now. So, I'll be lucky to get this to you!

[Cha]

38. He just came by to see..

[BeyondGeography]

27. Unmoved and defiant...hold that posture, Mr. President

You can't say they didn't have that coming to them for the last six years.

[Cha]

34. It's okay for the mitchs, boners, etc etc etc to be those things but the President must

bend to their will! NOT.

[classof56]

28. And I love you, Cha--and all the awesome BOGers!

Long may we reign!

Oh, and I respect the President now more than ever. I see him as the only one who will keep the nation from descending into total chaos. Let us stay strong in our resolve to support and encourage him, in spite of those who would seek to destroy him.

Cheers!

[Cha]

35. Mahalo, classof56.. well said.. President Obama is our Firewall in Chief! And, it's a

great gift that we have him.. because they're are so many haters out there holding their torches high and ptichforks in their other hand.

We shall persevere .. I have no doubt!

[brer cat]

29. Great thread, Cha.

I needed this and you came through.

[Cha]

36. I need it too, brer cat, thank you!

There's still so much good that's happening and all we can do is focus and move forward with our Firewall in Chief!

[William769]

39. Kick & highly recommended.

[Cha]

40. Mahalo William!

Never too late!