He reached out to the Repubs, got kicked in the face, but the voters saw that.

Next time, he'll reach out, but keep the big stick in the hand behind his back. And the voters will see THAT, too.

He did ask for ideas - it's not his fault that the only ideas the republicans offered are bad ones.

It would be irresponsible for Obama to include bad ideas in policy just to mollify that bunch of WATBs.

In dealing with the Republicans, Obama would do well to heed the advice of Ayn Rand who said "In any compromise between food and poison, poison wins."

The opposite of bipartisanship is expanding the Abramoff probe. What Republicans are accusing Obama of is a pretty generous compromise.

He gave them a chance to unclench their fists. They didn't. It was entirely their choice. I say eff 'em.

Sounds like we'll get a Democrat for Commerce at this rate.

I'll go ahead and call it. In a juevenile attempt to emabarass the President, Republicans will, en masse, refuse to even particpate in discussions with the President about the way forward on healthcare reform and several other issues.

They'll probably cover their obstructionism and obstinance with some nonsense about the president refusing to accomoadate some unreasonable pre-condition.

An un-ironic rehash of the Bush/Cheney/McCain school of diplomacy, this time used to undermine good public policy instead of foment war.

Instead of coming to a scheduled meeting at the Whitehouse for talks Republican leader will demonstrate their steadfast unity by staging a press conference on the steps of the Capital Building.

Of course the MSM will cover it as a breaking news that Republicans are standing firm in the face of Obama's refusal to be reasonable. and bipartisan.

In dealing with the Republicans, Obama would do well to heed the advice of Ayn Rand who said "In any compromise between food and poison, poison wins."

I think you would do well to heed the advice of Doctor Biobrain who said: Never listen to Ayn Rand ever.

And really, can you blame the White House for reaching this point? ThinkProgress has a very good item this afternoon, noting exactly what the president did to "ingratiate himself with uncompromising" conservative Republicans, and exactly what he got in return -- nothing.

I would disagree with the assertion that Obama got "nothing" for his efforts at bipartisanship. The public saw Obama repeatedly extend his hand to the Republicans, and they saw the Republicans repeatedly slap that hand away. This gives Obama a significant advantage in the realm of public opinion.

I think the chief problem that Obama is addressing here isn't that he was overly bipartisan, but simply that he was one of the only Dem politicians taking a strong stance on the bill. His move to force public opinion to sway the politicians shouldn't be necessary. But it's what I've been saying for a few days now. Congressional Dems want to do the right thing, but are scared of sticking their necks out and getting it cut off. If libs want to do anything about this, we need to make them scared to NOT stick their necks out.

I have no idea why anyone was talking about pressuring Obama, as he always seemed wise enough to realize that he needs to push successful policies if he wants his presidency to be successful. It's the Congressional Dems who need the pressure. Sounds to me like that's Obama's strategy too: To make the public pressure their representatives. Obama has read my mind yet again. Or perhaps his peeps are just reading my blog.

I suspect that the talk of having overly focused on bipartisanship is meant as political cover. They can show that they tried it and got rejected, and now they can blame future partisanship squarely on Republicans. And again, that's what I've been saying the whole time.

Instead of coming to a scheduled meeting at the Whitehouse for talks Republican leader will demonstrate their steadfast unity by staging a press conference on the steps of the Capital Building.

Isnt that an episode of the West Wing? Could they really be so foolish to repeat a primetime-drama episode plot?

Leave it to Politico to phuck up the story.

Like Josh Marshall said it should be GOPolitico

I do hope President Obama has thoroughly learned the sad truth that there is no negotiating in good faith with someone whose entire existence is based on opposing you. Republicans don't care about their constituents, or about human decency. They care about stomping their feet, throwing their hissy fit, fucking over anyone not lucky enough to be white, rich, male, and nominally Christian, and blaming someone else for the resulting catastrophe.

Forgive the repost but...

Repeat after me: This is a party that refers to themselves as "the Taliban."

Say it again and again and again. In fact, don't even call them "Republicans" or "the GOP." They are now, and until further notice, to be known as "the Taliban."

Backwards-ass, dangerous, know-nothing, cowardly fundamentalists - who, if you disagree with them, will not only expel you from their tribe, but do their damndest to stone you to death - and even then, only if they can sneak up on you from behind.

REPORTER: "Is bipartisanship dead? Is there any hope of working together?"

GIBBS: "Well, Mr. Reporter/American people, as you can see, the President went above-and-beyond to reach across the aisle. But when you're working with a party that refers to themselves as "the Taliban," it makes it pretty difficult."

Agree with the comment that Obama did not get "nothing" for his efforts as bipartisanship. The public saw what happened and the poll numbers show that people appreciated the effort.

"I saw one far-right blog say that Emanuel's comments mean that President Obama will "ignore" Republicans "completely" from now on. "

I love how they have absolutely no nuance over there on the right. You're either for em or against em, either with em or you're a baby killing commie.

At this point, Obama can and perhaps should shut out repubs. They are out of power, and very unpopular with voters.

When repubs are ready to get serious, it's a different story. I know they have trouble working the intertubes, but when they are ready to go to work, they can send out smoke signals or perhaps a carrier pigeon. Until then? Shut them out.

I think the Repubs just revealed that they continue to view politics not as team problem-solving for the good of the country, but rather partisan, all-out war for the hearts/minds of the people/peons, consequences be damned. The Repubs do not hesitate to lie, misconstrue, and swift-boat for their "cause"-- and they have an incredibly powerful reach via Limbaugh et al, who are expert at reframing/changing issues and hoodwinking people. Too many so-called journalists and the public fall for it and lazily repeat their talking points & vocabulary instead of thinking for themselves and questioning the lies. Remember the constant attacks of the Clinton years? This will be worse. It's not enough for the Dem base to support him and seek solace on blogs. Obama needs multiple avenues to reach "the people," to consistently, immediately and POWERFULLY expose & ridicule the Repubs' unconscionable actions & correct their lies & half-truths in order to court people in the middle to support his policies. Just as in O's presidential campaign, he continues to need a 24/7 "office of myth & lie debunking" to combat what is sure to be a full-court press against his entire agenda.

As I posted on another thread here, a weekly news conference or nationally broadcast speech to the nation, in prime time, explaining what he, Obama, is doing and what he wants to accomplish. Explain in minute detail, naming names of the obstructionists and their districts and the economic conditions of those districts. It cuts out ad revenue for that time slot. If the networks refuse to carry the broadcast or delay it, there will be hell to pay. The people will hear about it and read about it. The "journalists" who ask inane questions or editorialize with their questions will be deftly smacked down the Mr. Obama, who is much smarter than they or their bosses are. It may take a few weeks, but I predict that the Rs will either start playing fair, or suffer massive attacks by their constituents, who care much more for their own survival than that of the misrepresentatives.

I'd love to see President Obama every night, live, talking to Americans who want to have their grievances heard and addressed.

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation
peace,
st john

It's time for Tim Kaine, the DNC and the DCCC to step up and take the the stimulus and health care issues, etc. straight to the districts. Energize Howard Dean's 50-state strategy.

Any GOP Representative in a close race this past fall should be the subject of a steady stream of ads and community outreach linking his or her views to Rush Limbaugh and the GOP Taliban. Provide lots of fact sheets to local press about the local benefits the stimulus bill -- don't dwell too much on the negative but suggest how GOP representative tried to block the delivery of these benefits. Believe me when you put it in terms of how many teachers and cops a town will be able to hire back as a result of the stimulus people will listen.

At the same time shore up the Democratic winners of close races by linking them to the positive beneifits of the stimulus, the security the government provides to taxpayers' savings when local banks fail. Four banks went belly up this past week -- go to those communities & make the case for protecting savings. What's up with Heath Shuler, Gene Taylor and Vic DeFazio anyway? Why did they vote with the GOP? Find out what's going on in their districts and give them some cover. We expect more from former Redskins quarterbacks!

This is one of the few ethical things Democrats can learn from Karl Rove, the Ayman al-Zawahiri of the GOP -- don't stop campaigning.

He got three Senators.
He needs to be more direct, using this stimulus bill as a model.

You want ANYTHING out of this bill? Do you want to shape it in any way? Commit to vote with it.

If your change is accepted, you vote "Yes."
Make your changes reasonable, and you'll get them. If not, your friends will. I need 3 out of 40, use your head. I'm in an SUVm you're in a Yugo. Don't play "chicken" with me. We can both hit our brakes and come out ahead because I really don't want to spend time buffing your stains off my bumper.