At tonight's presser Obama will focus on "how we rescued the economy from the worst recession" (NYT)

[jefferson_dem]

:)

Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said in an interview that the president intended to use the news conference as a “six-month report card,” to talk about “how we rescued the economy from the worst recession” and the legislative agenda moving forward, including health care and energy legislation, which squeaked through the House and faces a tough road in the Senate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/us/politics/23obama.html

[vincna]

1. Not a good move

To me, it seems a little early to say that - kind of like spiking the ball on the five yard line. Unemployment is still rising and could well go into double digits. That statement could bite him in the ass a year from now if the employment picture remains bleak.

[jefferson_dem]

6. The state of the nation's economy is improving - It's a question of trajectory.

The question is how swiftly improvements occur and how long it takes certain measures of economic health to reflect recovery (read: employment numbers).

I think this is a terrific, bold move by the President. Clearly, we were at the precipice, and about to take the tragic leap. With his leadership, we are back to safe (albeit shaky) ground.

[RememberWellstone]

15. Agreed

He needs to take a breather and come out again in the next session with all the answers.

[oviedodem]

7. I agree with you; this is dumb. Right now the focus should be on healthcare, and how it

will help americans. I am beginning to think that the WH knows healthcare reform is not going to make it AGAIN.

[Cha]

17. I'm gonna go with the President and his Team's

position on this.

[Peacetrain]

2. Excellent move.. people really do not understand how close we came

to complete collapse with the credit markets drying up world wide. They do not have a clue how small buisness people many times meet payroll on credit. Also, the fact that we are restarting the economy by rebuilding the infrastructure that has been left to deteriorate.

Talk about killing 2 birds with one stone.

[vincna]

3. No argument about that., but...

...most people don't understand things like that. They do understand being out of a job for an extended period of time. I'm looking at this as a PR matter.

[Peacetrain]

4. That is why it is a good idea to let people know how far we really have come..

If you are caught in a rushing stream trying to get to shore, and you think you are not making any progress, you might give up trying to get to shore, and drown.

[MercutioATC]

5. Job loss isn't a "PR matter", it's a matter of survival.

...and I'm not one of those DUers who don't grasp complexities...


Granted, it's bad to try to claim "recovery" when an increasing number of people are losing their jobs...


...but that's not a "PR" matter. Increasing job losses are an indicator of a declining economy...and the people who have lost jobs understand that (though, perhaps not the way you (or I) mean.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. the world will be grateful that things are turning around

The world' economy depends on the US. Obama needs to remind people how bad it was before.

[MarjorieG]

10. Since we caused a lot of it in the world, and why some paying back to foreign banks was necessary.

[MarjorieG]

9. People do need to understand what we did, our options, because impacts trust

going forward to a very complicated health care reform, etc. We are also trying to regulate, rein in the banks, help mediate loans/foreclosures, get them to lend, which is an uphill ight in Congress.

We need a better conversation about taxes someday soon, as the transfer of wealth these last 30 years, and how corporate pay accounts for 1/3 of wages.

Seems critical mass happened almost overnight while Obama focused on G8 and non-stop media hawked about how stimulus didn't work, feeding the impatience and wariness of his stewardship and spending. Media is again feeding the gov't as inefficient, which is corp GOP bigger picture. Listened to Bennett interviewed on CNN end with Dems can't be trusted to govern and TARP all Obama's fault, being last word to ineffectual Carville saying nothing in defense.

[Orsino]

11. "Mission accomplished."

It's far too early to claim any sort of victory, with the worst effects of currency devaluation, layoffs, bankruptcies, and foreclosures still to come.

[BR_Parkway]

12. Could be a good move - we've improved "this" much, now we need

to fix healthcare to improve more because of A, B & C. Put some more pressure on Congress to get it done

[uponit7771]

13. What the hell? Rham must by fibbing,...health care has to be ...wow..k, I'll wait

[Bullet1987]

14. Not a smart move this early...

Could end up being Obama's 'Mission Accomplished.'

[hughee99]

16. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

18. OFFICIAL word for Dep Press Sec. Earnest

"The president will use tonight's primetime news conference to speak directly to the American people about why health insurance reform is central to the long-term stability of our economy and the financial security of our families and businesses. He'll point out that there's already consensus around reform that will lower costs, promote choice, and provide coverage that every American can count on. The urgent need for health insurance reform and the emerging consensus on Capitol Hill about what that reform should look like leave the president feeling optimistic that he’s on track, after his first six months in office, to fulfill his promise to sign a health care reform bill before the end of the year."

http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchive/whiteboard07222009.html

[foginthemorn]

21. well, maybe it will be a mix of issues.

[Clio the Leo]

22. sorry, should have read "from" not "for." NT

[uponit7771]

23. OK, kew...our sucky M$M can't shoot sKrait to save their lives

[izzybeans]

19. If so this will come off as vacuous to those sitting and watching with empty bank accounts

and foreclosed homes.

Don't lose touch Mr. President. You haven't saved anything until you rebuild main street. It still sits empty.

[girl gone mad]

20. ???

This doesn't sound wise.

Any form of celebration would be very premature. nothing has been rescued, unless the administration believes that Wall Street is the economy.