President to speak at 10:20 AM Friday on debt ceiling

[JAnthony]

Source: http://wh.gov

The President will deliver a statement on the status of debt ceiling negotiations at 10:20 a.m. EDT. Watch live at http://wh.gov/live.

Read more: http://wh.gov/live

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This should be interesting, compelling!

[Doctor_J]

1. A preview of his speech

"The Republican tax cuts from 10 years ago have resulted in the biggest job loss in history. We now have more people in need than ever before - all due directly to the reckless spending and top-heavy tax cuts enacted by the right wing congress. Today's economic numbers confirm that their policies and scare tactics are a disaster for the country. Now this same group of reactionaries wants to slash subsistance benefits from these same people who were put out of work by their disastrous policies. Well, it's not going to happen while I'm in the White House. They also voted to raise the debt ceiling every single year that George Bush was in office, and now are holding our neediest citizens hostage for the simple reason to crash the economy and blame it on me. Well, the hostage taking is over. There will be no cuts to vital programs, period. They can resume their lying and economic terrorism within those parameters"

Well, i can hope

[JAnthony]

2. WOW, I was reading what you posted and wondering if it had come from

a link I hadn't yet found.

Very good, I can hope along with you!!!

Thanks for the smiles!

[still_one]

3. That is all nice words, but why did you even allow the extension of those republican tax cuts? That

is where you should have drawn the line

Now at the 11th hour it is make or break

and if the Senate filibusters, or if the house can't get enough votes for Reid's bill, I would hope you reconsider and utilize the 14th amendment

[Doctor_J]

4. True, but that's in the past.

He should perhaps mention that he gave in to the terrorists last fall by extending the tax cuts, a move which he now regrets. at any rate that can't at the moment be undone.

[still_one]

8. You are right, but because he didn't stand the line then, we are having these issues now /nt

[Doctor_J]

21. completely agree

it was a disaster for the economy - led to this crisis, and politically - Repukes knew he would give in to terrorist tactics. But that fight is over, and the current crisis has to be solved within that framework

[Liberalynn]

5. A +

[JAnthony]

6. I agree, he should have buckled down on that extension which cost $

$800 Billion PLUS!!!

The 14th amendment is the ONLY solution now!

[BNJMN]

50. More of our guys voted for that extension than Republicans. What's up with THAT?

http://politisite.com/2010/12/17/more-democrats-voted-for-bush-tax-cuts-than-republicans-passes-house-goes-to-obama-for-signature/

[JNelson6563]

19. It's a negotiating tactic, little used by keyboard commandoes

See, it was the one thing our side gave to the GOP to get lots of great things, for instance the extension in unemployment benefits that keeps many off the streets and in their homes (like me). I knew it would be re-visited and abolished. Indeed, now it is being blamed almost entirely for our situation and is definitely on the chopping block now. With the President taking to the bully pulpit twice on this topic, urging the hue and cry be raised, I wager the GOP loses those tax cuts for the wealthiest and we still get what we gained all those months ago.

Julie

[Doctor_J]

22. I am glad that the agreement salvaged the living situation for many

But it also just kicked the can down the road, leading to the current impasse, among other things. As noted this morning, the economy under the teabaggers is going to get worse, not better. So I don't see WHEN we're going to get those tax cuts back.

[Enrique]

9. the president of the United States CANNOT talk like that

for some reason I never understood. :shrug:

[Doctor_J]

24. I know that, but I would like to see him try a variation on it

his presidency is floundering, in large measure because he doesn't call out the wingers, who are constantly disparaging him. It's time for him to fight back on behalf of himself, the real Dems in Congress, and the working people who worked & voted for him 3 years ago.

[grahamhgreen]

15. +1

[harun]

16. Oh my, we wish.

[Thav]

20. I nominate Doctor_J as next presidential speech writer.

[AtheistCrusader]

26. "I have outlawed the Republican party forever, bombing begins in 10 minutes"

[Liberalynn]

35. My history professor had a bumper sticker that said:

"Lobotomies for Republicans, its the law." Unfortunately it looks like too many of them have already had one and got elected anyway. :crazy:

[rosesaylavee]

33. delete

delete

[FarLeftFist]

44. Slam Dunk for Doctor J! n/t

[MineralMan]

7. Live feed at the link below:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

[Kolesar]

14. thx kick

[elocs]

10. I hope he actually has something to say because people will get worn down by the continual speeches.

If it is interesting and compelling, I will be surprised.

[Doctor_J]

18. Yes, people are losing interest

mostly because it's the same conciliatory pablum every time

[iamthebandfanman]

28. well, are you surprised?!?! lol n/t

[mrs_p]

11. poo

journey is on the today's show soon

[iamthebandfanman]

12. yay . probably something like..

'yadda yadda yadda, entitlements needs cuts, yadda yadda yadda we need revenue too, yadda yadda yadda , but i cant get it so by SS and medicare... yadda yadda... compromise!'

or atleast, thats how it feels like itll go...going by my previous disappointments..

lets hope not!

[Kolesar]

13. "Dear Wall Street" "Now you know why you want to contribute to me and not the Republicans" eom

[JAnthony]

17. I guess he's running a little bit late, reading this DU ...what Doctor J

is putting together for him to say about those Rethuglicans

[russspeakeasy]

23. I'll bet "bi-Partisian" gets mentioned at least 10 times.

[Doctor_J]

25. Don't forget "neither side is blameless"

thereby lumping Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders in with Cantor and Inhofe :cry:

[russspeakeasy]

39. ahh yes...

[grahamhgreen]

27. No change. I'm sure the tea party already views this as a victory. Either some cuts or more cuts.

[chrisa]

29. I wish he would go up there and tell crybaby Boehner to stop being a tool.

Call him out by name, point at the camera, and tell them the Republicans get their act together.

[JAnthony]

30. D minus! This was USELESS !!

It was a photo opportunity.

Just a simple one page debt ceiling extension resolution just like was done so many times under Bush Clinton Bush Reagan....no "tag-alongs" or playing with the budget.

Usually clear and compelling Obama sounded like a scolding parent!

[randome]

34. Not The Whole Picture

The speech should not be seen in isolation. The credit rating agencies have said a more long-term debt solution needs to be put into place because even if we avoid default, we may end up with having our rating downgraded. Not as bad as a default but not good, either.

I'm really tired of people putting down Obama for trying to get Congress to do its damned job.

There is a reason a clean debt limit extension is not on the table now. You have to take into consideration other factors.

[JAnthony]

41. UM, I started this thead, and was looking forward to Obama doing

something OTHER THAN what he has been doing in the last two weeks.

I thought it was important enough to tip off hundreds of DU'ers and Obama fans, (like me!) to be tune in before he started speaking.

I am disappointed in his behavior today. That's not putting him DOWN!

"There is a reason a clean debt limit extension is not on the table now"

Oh? What is that reason?

Republicans in control in the House?

By the way, I fail to see the reason why we CANNOT have a simple one page debt ceiling extension bill, just like we had so many times before. What is different THIS time around that we have Tea Party folks holding the poor and elderly and the military hostage (not to mention world financial markets) THIS time?

I had hoped for bold action today, not a scolding speech asking us to call DC.

[lark]

47. His panties are wadded because he didn't get his SSI

& Medicare cuts. :cry:

[joanbarnes]

31. Call and tell him to take the 14th. 202-456-1111

or [e-mail]

[cyberpj]

32. They could have re-run his last "address. Congress must compromise. Americans should call them.

What a sorry shell of what we thought we were voting for.

Sorry. Just how I feel today.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

36. Bi-partisanship? In Washington, DC???

A needle in a haystack would sooner be found.

[DFW]

37. He said just what I thought he would

He hinted--just barely--that he would take drastic action (14th Amendment) if Congress did not act, and he defused the Foxsuckers' phony "increased spending" cry by stating pure and simple that raising the debt ceiling was merely to cover obligations on money ALREADY SPENT, not new spending, which is a separate issue, and should have been all along.

His hint of drastic presidential action was thinly veiled in the simple phrase "time is growing short." Only a teabagger would miss the implication.

To both Bonehead and his restless teabaggers, he might just as well have said, "Go ahead, make my day." I give it 50-50 that they are dumb enough to do just that.

[Doctor_J]

38. That sounds reasonable, but why veil it?

The only possible reason is to give himself room to NOT take the 14th if the polls aren't right.

I hope you're right and he's ready to pull the trigger if the wingers push it to the brink

[JAnthony]

42. Good viewpoint, I hadn't thought about it like that...

I guess it wasn't as bad as I initially thought it was.

[rosesaylavee]

43. thank you for the synopsis

I missed it and can't find it on video or written form yet. I don't think he's going to let the country go into default either.

[drm604]

45. Did he actually say he would take drastic action

or did he just say "time is growing short"?

[DFW]

48. No, of course he didn't come out and say it

He's not an idiot. He'd just be giving the Bachmann faction ammunition to whine that he's becoming
a dictator. I think that if he's pushed into a 14th amendment solution, it will be because there is
time left for anything else to be agreed upon, and he'll just do it. Congress can't whine that he
didn't give them enough time, because at the moment he makes such a drastic move, there will be no
more time left in which Congress could do anything further to prevent a default. Then his claim that
he had no other option will be accurate. He can't do anything BUT make veiled threats up until that point.

[drm604]

49. But what did he say that hinted at it?

"Time is growing short" isn't a hint, it's just stating a fact.

[moondust]

46. Agree.

He's hinting that he would use it as a last resort but he's not giving the Pugs a reason to give up on doing their job.

[dgibby]

40. POTUS addresses the nation.

Thousands of insomniacs cured. It's a miracle!