What will come of Obama's bus tour?

[Joe Biden 2020]

He's starting a bus tour today and over the next few days throughout the midwest.  What will we hear?  Will we hear anything useful (doubtful) or will we hear more Republican bashing (likely)?  Will the president offer us any insight as to what a second term might look like?

Let this be the official commentary thread for this campaign tour.

[greenforest32]

Just more false equivalency platitudes.

He wouldn't be having such a tough time if the stimulus was 2x the size mainly spent on infrastructure, his cabinet wasn't composed of fiscal moderates/conservatives, and he actually stood up to Republicans and stopped compromising for compromise's sake. President Obama is much more conservative than Candidate Obama. He's basically a Blue Dog Democrat.

Oh and the Democrats should have reformed in the filibuster in the beginning of this year. Even if we win the House and hold the Senate in 2012, the 2013-2014 Senate term is just going to be a repeat of the 2009-2010 term where Republicans filibustered everything. The option to reform it would theoretically be open in 2013 but I don't know if they'd do it.

Democrats need a spine...

[Reaganfan]

This picture is of the President leaving the White House yesterday. I know it might just be a bad picture or something, but a picture speaks a thousand words. With his approval rating down to 39% and the economic recession taking another downturn, I still wonder if the President truly wants to seek re-election, atleast in 2012.

[Penelope]

This picture is of the President leaving the White House yesterday. I know it might just be a bad picture or something, but a picture speaks a thousand words. With his approval rating down to 39% and the economic recession taking another downturn, I still wonder if the President truly wants to seek re-election, atleast in 2012.

Are you kidding? That picture is epic.

Obama looks like he's about to embark on a secret mission or something.

[NHI]

What will come of Obama's bus tour?

Nothing.

[Bull Moose Base]

A Paul Krugman column ripping Obama for proposing tweets to congress about payroll tax holiday instead of a new stimulus bill.

[Penelope]

Nothing.

[Torie]

How many fainting spells will occur on this tour?  I will be measuring the tour against the swoon score.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

More emissions into our atmosphere from the buses, limos, security vehicles, helicopters, ambulances......etc.......

(Al Gore moment)

[King]

This picture is of the President leaving the White House yesterday. I know it might just be a bad picture or something, but a picture speaks a thousand words. With his approval rating down to 39% and the economic recession taking another downturn, I still wonder if the President truly wants to seek re-election, atleast in 2012.

Are you kidding? That picture is epic.

Obama looks like he's about to embark on a secret mission or something.

O needs to put on his re-election face:

[Tender Branson]

This picture is of the President leaving the White House yesterday. I know it might just be a bad picture or something, but a picture speaks a thousand words. With his approval rating down to 39% and the economic recession taking another downturn, I still wonder if the President truly wants to seek re-election, atleast in 2012.

Are you kidding? That picture is epic.

Obama looks like he's about to embark on a secret mission or something.

I agree with that. Don't know what's so bad about it.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Nothing.

[Link]

What will come of Obama's bus tour?

At best?  Nothing.

At worst?  A gaffe.

[exopolitician]

Soundbites and media attention. Something he needs.

[The_Texas_Libertarian]

Obama is a great campaigner.  I wish he was a better leader.

[Simfan34]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/jon-huntman-likes-a-good-rock-band-on-bus-tour-not-president-obama.html

There go my dreams of a national motorcycle tour.

[The Vorlon]

Apparently, the current economic mess is the result of "Bad luck" and has nothing to do with Obama and his policies...

So says the president......

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-i-reversed-recession-until-bad-luck-hit

[Joe Biden 2020]

Apparently, the current economic mess is the result of "Bad luck" and has nothing to do with Obama and his policies...

So says the president......

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-i-reversed-recession-until-bad-luck-hit

Unwilling to take responsibility, heh? Sounds like a song sung by most every person in Washington, Democrat or Republican. "It's the other guy's fault".

Hey, Mr. President, I don't care whose fault it is, I just want something productive done about it and you are the leader America has chosen for herself, YOU need to step up. Don't wait on Boehner and Reid to act, DO IT YOURSELF.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

I know what I'm saying is falling on deaf ears where they count, but, hey, it feels good to get it out.

[The Vorlon]

Apparently, the current economic mess is the result of "Bad luck" and has nothing to do with Obama and his policies...

So says the president......

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-i-reversed-recession-until-bad-luck-hit

Unwilling to take responsibility, heh? Sounds like a song sung by most every person in Washington, Democrat or Republican. "It's the other guy's fault".

Hey, Mr. President, I don't care whose fault it is, I just want something productive done about it and you are the leader America has chosen for herself, YOU need to step up. Don't wait on Boehner and Reid to act, DO IT YOURSELF.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

I know what I'm saying is falling on deaf ears where they count, but, hey, it feels good to get it out.

Obama does, of course, have a point that Bush was a total cluster F%&K economically.

But at some point he has to man up and take responsibility.

If I am not feeling well and I go to the Doctor, I certainly don't "blame" the Doctor, but I do expect him/her to prescribe for me a course of treatment that makes me feel better...

The Dems controlled both house from 2007 to 2011.  From 2009 to 2011 that has 60 votes in the Senate, control of the House, and the Presidency....  at some point "It ain't my fault" starts to wear a bit thin, and I think we are getting pretty close to the point where Obama needs a new song.....

[Bull Moose Base]

Apparently, the current economic mess is the result of "Bad luck" and has nothing to do with Obama and his policies...

So says the president......

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-i-reversed-recession-until-bad-luck-hit

Unwilling to take responsibility, heh? Sounds like a song sung by most every person in Washington, Democrat or Republican. "It's the other guy's fault".

Hey, Mr. President, I don't care whose fault it is, I just want something productive done about it and you are the leader America has chosen for herself, YOU need to step up. Don't wait on Boehner and Reid to act, DO IT YOURSELF.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

I know what I'm saying is falling on deaf ears where they count, but, hey, it feels good to get it out.

What exactly can Obama do without congress?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Apparently, the current economic mess is the result of "Bad luck" and has nothing to do with Obama and his policies...

So says the president......

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-i-reversed-recession-until-bad-luck-hit

Unwilling to take responsibility, heh? Sounds like a song sung by most every person in Washington, Democrat or Republican. "It's the other guy's fault".

Hey, Mr. President, I don't care whose fault it is, I just want something productive done about it and you are the leader America has chosen for herself, YOU need to step up. Don't wait on Boehner and Reid to act, DO IT YOURSELF.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

I know what I'm saying is falling on deaf ears where they count, but, hey, it feels good to get it out.

What exactly can Obama do without congress?

He can do what his predecessors have done.  LEAD.  He can say to Congress, both parties, "This is what we're doing, like it or not, now give me ideas on how to implement this and figure out how much it costs, and we're not leaving here until this done."

He can also stop scurrying under the bed everytime Speaker Boehner or Minority Leader McConnell (or Leader Reid and Minority Leader Pelosi, for that matter) balk or bats an eyelash at what he's proposing.

He can stop with this rhetoric of "it's the Republicans fault" and step up and take leadership and ownership of one issue at a time and do something about it.  I will reiterate what I said before, "I don't care whose fault it is, you have the opportunity to fix it, so fix it.  I'll deal with the ones at fault at the ballot box.  If you don't fix it, I'll deal with you at the ballot box."

Bottom line, he needs to work with Congress and lead Congress.  He can lead Congress, because the Vice President is the boss of the Senate and the President is the boss of the Vice President.  That's how I look at it.  The President is also the boss of the Speaker of the House.  I know their job status is determined by the voters, but in the hierarchy, the President needs to be a LEADER, not a BLAMER.

[The Vorlon]

He can do what his predecessors have done.  LEAD.  He can say to Congress, both parties, "This is what we're doing, like it or not, now give me ideas on how to implement this and figure out how much it costs, and we're not leaving here until this done."

He can also stop scurrying under the bed everytime Speaker Boehner or Minority Leader McConnell (or Leader Reid and Minority Leader Pelosi, for that matter) balk or bats an eyelash at what he's proposing.

He can stop with this rhetoric of "it's the Republicans fault" and step up and take leadership and ownership of one issue at a time and do something about it.  I will reiterate what I said before, "I don't care whose fault it is, you have the opportunity to fix it, so fix it.  I'll deal with the ones at fault at the ballot box.  If you don't fix it, I'll deal with you at the ballot box."

Bottom line, he needs to work with Congress and lead Congress.  He can lead Congress, because the Vice President is the boss of the Senate and the President is the boss of the Vice President.  That's how I look at it.  The President is also the boss of the Speaker of the House.  I know their job status is determined by the voters, but in the hierarchy, the President needs to be a LEADER, not a BLAMER.

So what you are suggesting is that he, well, act like the President?

[The Vorlon]

What exactly can Obama do without congress?

See "Bill Clinton, 1994-2000 - Working with a GOP Congress to Balance Budgets and achieve 4% unemployment rate"

Of course it was easier then because Newt was just a joy to work with

[Bull Moose Base]

What exactly can Obama do without congress?

See "Bill Clinton, 1994-2000 - Working with a GOP Congress to Balance Budgets and achieve 4% unemployment rate"

Of course it was easier then because Newt was just a joy to work with

Let me know when this congress is ready to return to Clinton's tax rates and I'll let you know when deficits are ready to start shrinking.

Apparently, the current economic mess is the result of "Bad luck" and has nothing to do with Obama and his policies...

So says the president......

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-i-reversed-recession-until-bad-luck-hit

Unwilling to take responsibility, heh? Sounds like a song sung by most every person in Washington, Democrat or Republican. "It's the other guy's fault".

Hey, Mr. President, I don't care whose fault it is, I just want something productive done about it and you are the leader America has chosen for herself, YOU need to step up. Don't wait on Boehner and Reid to act, DO IT YOURSELF.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

I know what I'm saying is falling on deaf ears where they count, but, hey, it feels good to get it out.

What exactly can Obama do without congress?

He can do what his predecessors have done.  LEAD.  He can say to Congress, both parties, "This is what we're doing, like it or not, now give me ideas on how to implement this and figure out how much it costs, and we're not leaving here until this done."

He can also stop scurrying under the bed everytime Speaker Boehner or Minority Leader McConnell (or Leader Reid and Minority Leader Pelosi, for that matter) balk or bats an eyelash at what he's proposing.

He can stop with this rhetoric of "it's the Republicans fault" and step up and take leadership and ownership of one issue at a time and do something about it.  I will reiterate what I said before, "I don't care whose fault it is, you have the opportunity to fix it, so fix it.  I'll deal with the ones at fault at the ballot box.  If you don't fix it, I'll deal with you at the ballot box."

Bottom line, he needs to work with Congress and lead Congress.  He can lead Congress, because the Vice President is the boss of the Senate and the President is the boss of the Vice President.  That's how I look at it.  The President is also the boss of the Speaker of the House.  I know their job status is determined by the voters, but in the hierarchy, the President needs to be a LEADER, not a BLAMER.

You make the president sound like the CEO of a company or something.  Obama can't make congress do anything.  You can't say "This is what we're doing like it or not."  Obama has already said things he wants to do, before and on this tour: modest changes to entitlements, have the richest pay more taxes than they now do, extend the payroll tax holiday, infrastructure bank.  He can't fire Boehner and Tea Partiers for refusing to do it.  To vaguely say "Obama should lead" is actually the empty rhetoric he himself gets accused of.  He can't do much without congress agreeing.

And which president hasn't blamed someone else when things are messed up?  Clinton did, Reagan did, FDR did, any of the current Republicans would.  That's the way it is.

[The Vorlon]

Let me know when this congress is ready to return to Clinton's tax rates and I'll let you know when deficits are ready to start shrinking.

President Obama - January 2009-January 2013
Senate - 58 + 2 Democrats 2009-2011
House of Representatives - 2009 - 2011: - 256 Democrats - 178 Republicans.

The only think standing in the way of the Democrats was, well, the Democrats.  

2009 was the most concentration of power in one party since FDR.