Obama schedules joint session job speech at same time as GOP Debate.

[J. J.]

remind me again:  where did the idea arise that Obama was smart?

Well, you have to admit, this is a "change." 

[J. J.]

Apparently Obama's self invitation was either unusual or even unprecedented.  http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/31/2384487/obama-boehner-spar-over-timing.html

[J. J.]

And Romney scheduling his jobs plan to jump ahead of Obama's.  That's baseball.

And Obama just fouled out. 

[J. J.]

or maybe the POTUS shouldn't have waited 32 months into his term before focusing on jobs

or maybe Obama should have come back from vacation a few days earlier.

[J. J.]

Is there anything Obama won't cave on? Would he do a minstrel show if the GOP said that he should?

He didn't really have a choice.  The self invitation was wrong and stupid.

[J. J.]

It is fair to criticize Obama and he has deserved some of his "too weak" criticism but whining over a date?

I'm not criticizing him for "weakness." 

I'm criticizing him for his stupid and crass "self invitation," and for at least looking like he was thinking "I'm POTUS!  I'm supreme!  Everyone else bow to slightest whim."  It was really stupid, on several levels.

[J. J.]

It is fair to criticize Obama and he has deserved some of his "too weak" criticism but whining over a date?

I'm not criticizing him for "weakness." 

I'm criticizing him for his stupid and crass "self invitation," and for at least looking like he was thinking "I'm POTUS!  I'm supreme!  Everyone else bow to slightest whim."  It was really stupid, on several levels.

When has a president ever had any qualms about addressing congress when he felt like it?

Whenever that president was stupid enough to make the announcement prior to announcing it.

[J. J.]

Haha, I love it (aside from it interrupting Football)! The President makes a really classless move, gets called out and told to reverse the decision and does just that! Can we just tell him not to run for re-election while we're at it? Wait. Scratch that. He's making it easy for us.

To use TR's words about William McKinley, this guy has the backbone of a chocolate eclair (no pun intended).

It isn't backbone; it is separation of powers.

The President, any president, does not get to call joint sessions.  He can request them, but it is up to each body to invite the President and schedule the session.  The President does not get to order the other branches of government around.

This is something where someone in the White House screwed up and didn't follow protocol or think about constitutional principles before sending out a press release.  Obama retreated, but he was right to retreat, because he was in an indefensible position.

[J. J.]

I'm just so glad Obama is President...can you imagine how democrats would be slicing up President McCain at this point?

If it was a President McCain, I'd be saying the same thing.  Hopefully, a President McCain, who was in Congress longer than Obama, would not have made such a mistake.

[J. J.]

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That is the WH side of the story.  Boehner's office says no, the WH just set the date unilaterally without advance discussion. Dems are annoyed about the lack of notice too actually. Fun, fun.

Generally, the invitation comes first, then the White House speaks.  That didn't happen.

[J. J.]

Like engraved "Mr. and Mrs. John Boehner Sr request your presence" invitations?  You're saying there's no precedent for the president saying "I want to address congress on this date."?  I haven't heard anyone besides Boehner say what Obama did was unusual while House and Senate historians have called Boehner's rejection unprecedented.  Boehner's camp isn't even denying that they raised no objections when called about the date.

I think the new timing is better for Obama than his requested one anyway.

As far as I know, there is an invitation, by letter, send by the House and Senate for anyone to address a joint session.  I actually posted the link stating that, and there is an invitation sent, even for the SOTU.  There were some question on if one should have been sent to Clinton in 1999.

Congress passes a joint resolution first, and then invites the person delivering the address:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_session_of_the_United_States_Congress

While I'll stop short of complaining that the Obama thinks of himself as a monarch, and that this emperor has no clothes, at the least someone at the White House screwed up.

It was like Al Haig saying, "I'm in charge, here, at the White House," and quickly getting a call from Tip O'Neil saying, "No, you're not."

[J. J.]

At some point he needs to tell the Republican Party where the should go.

Well, he doesn't have to let them into the Oval Office, at least for the next 14 months.

[J. J.]

At some point he needs to tell the Republican Party where the should go.

in front of and modifying a noun?

I'll spell it out for you. They can go straight to hell.

Well, he doesn't have to let them into the Oval Office, at least for the next 14 months.

Don't count your chickens. The election is a year away, we all know measuring drapes too early can end up making you look stupid.

What part of "at least" don't you understand?  Or do you think Obama will be both President for life and immortal? 

[J. J.]

What part of "at least" don't you understand?  Or do you think Obama will be both President for life and immortal?  

Talk about twisting words, I never said that. Around here, you can never tell who is overconfident about Republican chances, they seem to think things are guaranteed sometimes.

Well, I said he's going to be in the Oval office for "at least" 14 months.  That doesn't mean he will out of the fifteen months from now.   It means he's going to be there for at least 14 months.

Yes, talk about twisting words and you get DrScholl. 

Well, he doesn't have to let them into the Oval Office, at least for the next 14 months.

Don't count your chickens. The election is a year away, we all know measuring drapes too early can end up making you look stupid.

Well, in JJ's case that ship has sailed long ago.
It's like expecting from Mel Gibson not to say something because it'll make him look anti-Semite.
 

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language; he had trouble a few days ago understanding how a calendar works.

Scholl, what part of "at least" don't you understand.

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language; he had trouble a few days ago understanding how a calendar works.

Yeah, that happens a lot with us, non-MENSA members.

MENSA thanks you for disassociating yourself from them.

[J. J.]

...how long before a Dem labels Boehner's rejection as racist? 

let me clear my throat...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/08/31/wolffe_opposition_to_obama_speech_possibly_based_on_skin_color.html

Ah, yes, this tool box. He's among my favorite "journalists" that frequent MSNBC. Always good for a laugh.

If I try to walk into his house without an invite, can I say it is based on my skin color too?

[J. J.]

Maybe Obama calculated the fact that Boehner would say "No", because the media would then create a buzz promoting the Republican debate for which then more people including Republicans and Independents would turn in to watch, resulting in more Republicans getting a nice view of Perry so that he wins the nomination and more Independents get a negative view of Perry because of his backwards positions on various issues. And Obama now thinks that Perry is easier to beat then Romney ...

I doubt if it will.

I think someone on staff at the White House screwed up.

[J. J.]

Yeah but that's a formality.  There's never been any known hesitation with the date a president requested so why expect a problem.  Even Boehner's own account doesn't dispute that they voiced no objection when they first heard the date.  

It is not a formality.  The President doesn't get to order Congress to do things (except convene).  Somebody at the White House forgot.  The President cannot order a joint session.

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I think it was someone on staff that forgot how this works, especially since having Pelosi on speed dial isn't going to work anymore.  It was a mistake; the White House corrected it.

[J. J.]

WOW,
Sept 8: going to haf to make a beer run for this one,
football,
big speech - because of the joint session, means - his jobs plan will have to be written down in advance, then CBO can score, and a GOP response;
wife's B-day - grill'n steaks and stuff, wonder if she realizes how big it will be... the evening?

I'll need to take a nap this day...

even if Obama reschedules - realizing, 'ya no, I ain't got anything new anyway'....

I'm still taking a nap.

Bernanke is speaking earlier in the day. 

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language; he had trouble a few days ago understanding how a calendar works.

Yeah, that happens a lot with us, non-MENSA members.

MENSA thanks you for disassociating yourself from them.

Well, obviously I am of no use to them. With you they have already reached their quota of hacks.

Hacks are welcome, along with everyone else.  Those with an inability to qualify need not apply.  It would more like they don't have any use for you.

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language; he had trouble a few days ago understanding how a calendar works.

Yeah, that happens a lot with us, non-MENSA members.

MENSA thanks you for disassociating yourself from them.

Well, obviously I am of no use to them. With you they have already reached their quota of hacks.

Hacks are welcome, along with everyone else.  Those with an inability to qualify need not apply.  It would more like they don't have any use for you.

Yeah, we kind of got that some time ago.

Well, considering what is happening in your county, I'm sure sure that deal with limitations.  

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language;

Or yours, apparently.

Well, Joe, what part of "at least 14 months" don't you understand?    I certainly think Obama will be in office for at least 14 months.  I don't know of anyone expecting him to leave early.

(Franky, the argument I have for staying at least that long is two words:  "President Biden.")

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language;

Or yours, apparently.

Well, considering what is happening in your county, I'm sure sure that deal with limitations.  

I see that besides hacks MENSA also welcomes dyslectics.

Like ca said, Mensa welcomes anyone who qualifies.  Sorry PX.

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language;

Or yours, apparently.

Well, Joe, what part of "at least 14 months" don't you understand?    I certainly think Obama will be in office for at least 14 months.  I don't know of anyone expecting him to leave early.

(Franky, the argument I have for staying at least that long is two words:  "President Biden.")

Who's Franky?

My cousin, so my spell check didn't catch it.

[J. J.]

I can PX's excuse.  English isn't his first language;

Or yours, apparently.

Well, considering what is happening in your county, I'm sure sure that deal with limitations.  

I see that besides hacks MENSA also welcomes dyslectics.

Like ca said, Mensa welcomes anyone who qualifies.  Sorry PX.

Don't be sorry. I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member,

Sorry to crush your ambitions of being in Mensa then.