President Obama Didn't Just Challenge Congress, He Threatened Them

[bigtree]

Last edited Wed Jan 25, 2012, 08:20 AM - Edit history (1)

from the SOTU: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/24/remarks-president-state-union-address


I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt, energy and health care. But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now: Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken.

Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical?

The greatest blow to our confidence in our economy last year didn’t come from events beyond our control. It came from a debate in Washington over whether the United States would pay its bills or not. Who benefited from that fiasco?

I’ve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street. But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad -- and it seems to get worse every year.

Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let’s take some steps to fix that. Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it tomorrow. Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa -- an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.

Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days. A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything -– even routine business –- passed through the Senate. Neither party has been blameless in these tactics. Now both parties should put an end to it.


full text of SOTU: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/24/remarks-president-state-union-address

[JDPriestly]

1. Them's fightin' words -- and I like 'em.

Obama was in the best form yet tonight. He had the gloves on, and it is about time. Congress needed a talking to.

And it's not just the Republicans in Congress who needed to be taken to the woodshed. They have been warned.

This is a big step forward.

I didn't agree with everything he said, but it was the best State of the Union speech in my lifetime. He was great. I think he likes campaigning.

[Electric Monk]

2. "He had the gloves on, and it is about time." = Intentional humor?

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

[thelordofhell]

8. The Marquess Of Queensberry

[emulatorloo]

11. More likely a typo.

[Electric Monk]

12. I'm a little slow tonight. I like it, after all. nt

[BlueCaliDem]

3. I really liked that "insider trading" part the most.

At least now it's proven why some people come to congress as paupers and become millionaires within a few months. It's easy to invest in companies you know whose stocks are going to skyrocket because of bills you've drafted and/or voted for.

I LOVED it when the president made public note of it!

Obama is signaling he's going to war with Congress if they continue to block him from doing his job putting this country back on track - and I admire him for that.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. yes and not many people know about it

[BlueCaliDem]

13. I was one of them

because I foolishly believed Congress would never do that. Now I've learned Rule No. 1:

You can make more in a single stock trade than in a lifetime of public service. Congress has excluded investment income, such as stocks, from ethics limitations on income. The result is that members routinely make killings in the market in areas where they legislate. One study by the University of Memphis found that 75% of randomly selected members had "stock transactions that directly coincided with (their) legislative activity."

Then I read about the late Ted Stevens in the same piece:

Stevens came to the Senate with modest means, particularly after heavy investment losses in the 1980s. In 1997, he had a Scarlet O'Hara "I'll never be hungry again" moment. According to a Los Angeles Times investigation, he decided to get "serious about making money" and contacted lobbyists about possible deals.

Real estate developer Jonathan Rubini arranged for Stevens to get into a deal in which he turned $50,000 into as much as $1.5 million — and Stevens was the only investor not liable for any debts, the Times said. In the meantime, he muscled through a $450 million contract for Rubini from the military, despite the view of Air Force officials that Rubini "lacked capacity and adequate funding."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-12-27-forum-turley_x.htm

It's time they be exposed to the American people where their true loyalties lie.

[Amonester]

6. He will go to war with Congress as they will continue to block him.

It is as clear as clean water and fresh air.

That's one of the basis of his upcoming campaign.

And it's a winning one.

[joshcryer]

7. Yep, agreed. Question is, will we give 'em a congress that will actually hold his feet...

...to the fire on progressive issues?

[Amonester]

9. That is the question, indeed...

Too much of anything-bad-can-happen time between now and then, yet.

Too early to foresee the outcome.

[BlueCaliDem]

14. Yes, it is. It's a fight

worth having, and he'll have the American people behind him.

The insider trading is where congresscritters get their massive fortunes (read my comment just above yours to another poster) and their loyalties shift from civil servant to uncivil inside tra(itors)ders. This is the true reason why corporations own our Congress. Although I'm sure the campaign contributions help, there are limitations to those - they're not allowed to use the money for personal use. On the other hand, knowing what stocks are going to skyrocket is a sure fire way to make millions in a short period of time, isn't it?

[Amonester]

16. He will have the people behind him, yes. (But...)...

to win that fight, he will need a strong "left-leaning" majority (a lot stronger than in 2008) in Congress... and all that this entails... (You do - or must - know what it means.)

Otherwise, I am afraid that fight will be very difficult to win.

[DLine]

4. a**holes immediately clenched I can imagine.

[MADem]

10. I agree. He's going to run against the schmuck who gets the GOP nom...AND Congress.

They'd better get hopping.

[BeHereNow]

15. It is now a matter of public record-

And that will matter, come election time.
He asked them to send the legislation to his desk.
Time will reveal that 'THEY' refuse to act in the interest of the people.
Well played, President Obama.
He is the classiest Prez we have had since JFK.
Articulate, well spoken, logical and the list goes on...
He made me proud to be an American tonight.

BHN