'Obama Needs To Reach Across The Isle'

What kind of crap is that?! Obama bent over backward for Republicans. They came out and said that their #1 priority was to make Barack Obama a one-term president. Why is no one bringing this up? Obama was Right-of-Centre his first term. I can't believe non-GOP operatives are running with this line of crap as well. They're all calling his first term "divisive," he was a "divisive" president.

• ... across the isle .... Oh dear.

  Aisle%20dear%2C%20aisle

• You're STILL talking about Hawaii?

• If there is one thing that angers me about Obama and the Dems, it's this wimpy "let's all be friends" attitude they take towards the Republicans. Bush and his minions never did that when he was in office; their dealings with the Dems were blunt, bullying and ham-fisted.

• Who is Obama?

  Gilligan

• When will the people of this country learn you can't believe a word the Republicans say. They tell the media they want to be bipartisan then do everything in their power to obstruct, degrade and diminish anyone not of their party. I hate Republicans!

• OP, are you a "straight me".

• I hate this too. No one is calling out the obstructionist Republicans.

• Yes, in the Republican's version of reality, President Obama never tried to compromise, never tried to reach across the aisle - but i can tell you as a Democrat,that's all he kept trying to do for the fist two years of his office (wasting precious political capital in my opinion, and frustrating the crap out of me after the first six months of attempts) and got absolutely nothing for his efforts except rejection after rejection from Republicans. At the end of the day, for Republicans, reaching across the aisle and compromising equals "Do it our way".

• Fuck reaching across the aisle. Obama needs to start writing executive orders like Bush, and spend his term doing an end run around congress. Other than totally ignoring cowed Republicans, he needs to prepare to stack candidates on the Supreme Court.

• They're already talking about how the House will thwart Obama--even Boner said so on Twitter last night. You don't really hear them get called out on this. I'm not sure why.

• Mitch McConnell gave a douchey statement, so I'm not sure if it is the president with the problem.

• He wasted his first year in the White House waiting for the consensus.

• Mc Connell is in serious trouble in his next election and he knows it.

• Excuse me. Siri hates me and you.

  Gulligan/OP

• We live in a right-of-center country.

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• Motherfucking, lying sacks of shit! He has always reached across the isle. I hope he will stop doing it and that the American people will finally see the truth of what's been happening.

• [quote] If there is one thing that angers me about Obama and the Dems, it's this wimpy "let's all be friends" attitude they take towards the Republicans. But you can't imagine that it isn't wimpiness, but the fact that they're on the same side? The Dems get tons of corporate donations too, but it's unimaginable that they're equally bought-off? I think Obama thinks this is the ideal situation, he doesn't want a mandate, he wants a Grand Bargain. A mandate carries with it expectations that he be a strong progressive president, without one he has cover to sellout.

• He's reached across the aisle so much his pecs are AMAZING.

• Oh god I hope he ignores this. All of that aisle-reaching is what made him come across as weak and too ready to make compromises early in his last term.

• All the aisle reaching he did in his first term could well have cost him his second. Unity of spirit and purpose are great aspirations, but this idea that Republicans intend to do anything but argue he is a divider if he doesn't follow their wishes is bullshit in the face of historical fact.

• It's the GOP that needs to stop running away from the aisle when Obama and the Dems reach across it.

• SO much time and energy was wasted trying to please the Republicans. We can't do that. They would never do that for our party.

• There is no pleasing the Republicans. Why bother to try?

• I agree. However Obama needs to get more involved personally with the Congress. He is not a back slapper and socializer. All successfup pols are- yes he bent over backwards in content, but in human contact he has remained aloof. Not good. I think he will change that element. I think he has caught on. How much good it will do is unknown, we'll see. This is exactly how Bill Clinton, LBJ and FDR operated, and Hillary too in the Senate. Hillary is better at governing than Obama. All that said- yes he went way to the right and got nowhere. The Republicans in both houses tend to be far to the right now- way out of step with the mainstream but in step with a large minority of reactionaries (Tea Party). He also has to be willing to chop their balls off as both LBJ and Clinton were. He has shown signs that he will by virtue of holding the Repubs hostage to the the budget cliff they created including cuts to the military.

  charlie

• [quote]I agree. However Obama needs to get more involved personally with the Congress. He is not a back slapper and socializer. All successfup pols are- yes he bent over backwards in content, but in human contact he has remained aloof. Not good. I don't think "[a]ll successful pols" are back-slappers and socializers. JFK wasn't good at schmoozing with Congress, didn't want to do it and had LBJ around to do it for him. That was a pretty successful model; no reason it couldn't be repeated by Obama and Biden. In the category of unsuccessful pols, GWB didn't hang out with the guys. That's why Cheney was around. I don't recall GHWB being much of a schmoozer, but he probably had CIA information on everyone in Congress to fill that gap. I doubt Jimmy Carter was a back-slapper; he seems too shy for that sort of thing.

• The GOP is just talking trash now. That's why no one is countering them. Democrats have The White House and The Senate. There's a lot they can do and they're just going to get it done. The GOP won't know what hit them.

• Every time Obama held out the oilive branch to the right, they grabbed it from him and poked him in the eye with it. Now, Mr President, is time to get some things done for the country. We have Obamacare, social security and Medicare are safe, and some of the wackiest far right loons are gone. This election was a repudiation of austerity, trickle-down economics. Now, act like it and recognize: the country took a major leftward step last night. The senate filibuster rule must be changed to require, at minimum, real filibustering, as in talking on the floor of the senate until the senator can't speak any longer, at minimum. Frankly, it should be suspended for this session. No more single senator holds on any piece of legislation, especially judicial nominees. Break the procedural gridlock that republicans have used to stall progress for the last four years, and let's get things rolling again!

• I don't know about FDR, but regarding actually getting things done, LBJ would be a pretty good role model. I don't think his style would suit President Obama very well though.

• Why do OP and other posters persist in saying, "isle"? Did you not go to school? Are you not native English speakers (if so, that's acceptable). But otherwise, how do you - I'm genuinely curious! - get so fucking stupid beyond belief and description. HOw??

  Anti-stupidity troll

• We need a Luau!

• "Obama won Oahu." Adam: I think it's pronounced O HI O.

• I mention his personal aloofness because it has hurt him with blue Democrats as well, and on the money raising circut. He is impressive on the podium and not particularly warm off the podium, even to those who are working round the clock for him and donating their money. You kind of saw it in the first debate in a different set of clothing. He has a tendency to be aloof- does not want to engage emotionally. He corrected it of course. Most people who are good at getting things done kind of know you have to be interested and care (for) people you work with and who work for you- even if you do not likethem and no one likes everyone they work with! I've met both Clinton and Obama off the podium at money raising events. Clinton is the opposite of Obama- he shakes your hand looks at you and asks your name as if you are the only person on earth that matters to him. Obama quickly gives you his hand and moves away to the next with a quick thank you. He apparently is much the same with his political peers in gov't although I gather he has been advised he has to engage personally a bit more. It makes a difference in my opinion. But I agree with others that his willingness to compromise with the oppostion is very real and their willness is zero.

  charlie

• The thought of 30 plus fucking Mormons living in the Whitehouse wiping their asses with Pac money was more than I could tolerate. Can you imagine the stink they would leave? We would have to feed all of them. In the WH them bastards would not be shopping at Costco

• Many who live there pronounce it uh-HI-ah, R31. R29, I think most of what they know comes from television, so the spoken word takes precedence over the written word. If you never see a word you're less likely to know how to spell it. Most of my knowledge comes from reading, so I tend to mispronounce pop culture references and names. A friend who doesn't own any books and never reads pointed out that flaw to me.

• Republicans, exemplified by Debate Romney, ALWAYS think they are the Boss of Everyone, including a President who just handed their collective and singular (Mitt) ASS to them. Mitch McConnell acting like the Republican House is ACTUALLY the POTUS, saying what CONGRESS intends to do and that Obama had better get with their gsme-plan, is all Rovian 'tude. Maybe this term Obama will not be so Gumby-like with them. I think (hope) Romney's brazen prevarications shocked him out of his bi-partisan stupor. Let Republicans go to the mountain, as Christie did.

• Reach across the aisle and knock those bitter Rethugs in line... Mary! With the Senate victories, I'd take a big stick when I showed up again. "It's a new day - and past time to get yer azz on board"

  BLUE STATE SPEAKS

• McConnell's douchey statement, referenced by R11

  http://blogs.courier-journal.com/politics/2012/11/07/senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-congratulates-president-barack-obama-on-his-victory/

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• P.S. Hillary remembered the names of friends of mine she met at one event then ran into at another event a few years later. They were not important aside from they gave enough money to meet her twice- two among thousands. Astounding. She is very much like her husband-complete bundle of charm and a huge laugh. Makes a difference.

  charlie

• r25, your examples of JFK (murdered), LBJ (hounded to not run), and Carter (another one-termer) as why Obama needs not be a Clinton in schmoozing are hardly persuasive.

• I'm not sure if your natural personality is somewhat diffident that you can change that. People used to take those Dale Carnegie and Toastmaster courses to develop a public persona, but phoniness is probably much worse than aloofness.

• [quote]When will the people of this country learn you can't believe a word the Republicans say. As long as Obama has, we're golden.

• R36, a cattle prod would be more effective.

• I am hoping that Obama's reelection will give his administration the confidence to brush aside the loony fringes of the GOP particularly at his second inaugural. I would be really disappointed if he felt the need to invite Rick Warren again to speak at the convocation. That was nauseating 4 years ago. Although Romney's 47% remarks may force the issue symbolically as he still has to be seen as representing all of the electorate.

  Anonymous

• Except you need to Wikipedia LBJ and see all the amazing and progressive legislation he personally pushed through. Viet Nam was his downfall, but on domestic policy he may have been the most successful President barring FDR and Lincoln (who won a civil war).

• Obama and the Democrats should adopt the 'Hey, Republicans: WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA SO MUCH?' rethoric when these Republicans dare to filibuster a bill that would help the general citizen. Give the Republicans a taste of their own (rethoric) medicine.

• LBJ did more for civil rights than JFK. People seem to forget that.

• Is anyone challenging LBJ's effectiveness, R44? I remember reading a quote one time that he grabbed Congressmen by the ears and made them listen until he got his point across. He was also known for never forgetting even the tiniest bit of potential blackmail material that he would use to his advantage to sway an opponent.

• [quote]They came out and said that their #1 priority was to make Barack Obama a one-term president. Why is no one bringing this up? Obama was Right-of-Centre his first term. Exactly their agenda was to destroy Obama even if meant damaging the country to do so. [quote]If there is one thing that angers me about Obama and the Dems, it's this wimpy "let's all be friends" attitude they take towards the Republicans. Bush and his minions never did that when he was in office; their dealings with the Dems were blunt, bullying and ham-fisted. I hope Obama has a far different/tougher approach to dealing with them this term.

• To whom are you speaking, r44 and r46? MANY of us KNOW FULL WELL, without the ridiculous resorting to wikipedia, of LBJ's accomplishments. Hello, Civil Rights Act of 1964?

  But Then, We're the Scorned Elders

• Republicans have already said they will refuse to work with Obama. It's their way or no way. So what will he do? Give the 1percenters everything they want...no regulations? I'm afraid he will.

• The most glaring example of GOP hypocrisy and outright bullshit when they claimed "Obama is the one who won't work with us!" is Hurricane Sandy. Chris Christie showed them what REAL bipartisanship was and yet again, they did exactly what we expected them to do - did what they accuse the other side of doing. PUT THE COUNTRY FIRST, ESPECIALLY DURING A CRISIS. STOP POLITICIZING TRAGEDIES!!!

• [quote] but phoniness is probably much worse than aloofness. Absolutely. See: Mitt Romney.

• Good example, R52.

• R40, you've got a point. Obama is a good man though and I think he can adopt a public personna that is warmer- lots of people who are not naturally gregarious learn to, and there is nothing really phony about it. It's more akin to having good manners- I like Obama a lot. But I saw it for myself up close last Spring. He really did offend a couple few big bucks donors- it made me think about how he hob nobs with freshman Congressmen and women. Anyway, it is a happy day because we are not going to go down the Paul Ryan road and load the Supreme Court with reactionaries, etc.

  charlie

• He needs to reach across the isle to slap the shit out of John McCain, he just doesn't seem to get how elections work.

• It's not only McCain that needs to be bitch slapped into tomorrow, R55. The first candidate for public humiliation should be that horrible, closeted fag: Miss Mitch McConnell.

• He needs to reach across the aisle, R55, and slap the shit (no, choke the shit) out of a few Republicans.