I think many are missing a big point concerning Joe Wilson's apology last night:

[Bicoastal]

...I couldn't care less how sincere (or insincere) it was, nor do I honestly believe that it completely makes up for the unprecedented lack of decorum (not to mention honesty) the Congressman exhibited last night.

What is of interest to me is how QUICKLY that apology came--less than 2 hours later. He didn't wait until the next morning to issue his statement, and neither did he wait for an interview with a Fox News talking head to comment on the matter. Subtracting the time it takes to exit a crowded room jam-packed full of handshaking politicians, I'd say he had a healthy hour to confer with staffers on the impact of heckling President Obama's speech in such a brash public manner. And evidently, his staffers concluded that Wilson should not play hero-for-a-day with his base, and instead apologize immediately. Not in the next day's news cycle, but that evening.

This suggests, essentially, that Obama's speech was a hit. If the office of a South Carolina Republican feels he must immediately back down from a show of heady disobedience, it means that his handlers got wind of some highly positive numbers regarding Obama's performance in that hour in between the exit and the apology.

It means that South Carolina, and by and large the rest of the nation, saw the same speech that I did last night. And that, my friends, makes me feel very optimistic about the future.

[customerserviceguy]

1. I notice that Wilson immediately got booed

that might have been the first thing that told him he went over the top.

But, he got his point out, now everyone will be watching to make sure there are verification procedures for any public option or co-op plan that comes out of Congress. Even with the apology, he'll be a hero to the right wing today for what he did.

[ashling]

2. Perchance he had a blanket apology already prepared beforehand

As I recall, it did not refer to the particular accusation ... it said only that he still does not agree with the president, not that he still thinks the president was untruthful, etc.

Am I off base with this?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. A Canadian on my discussion board

started a thread about it, saying how boorish he was. One of the Republican posters came on with a rant about how sick she was of seeing politics discussed on a fan board. To my mind, it shows two things: Wilson showed the world that he (and perhaps the GOP) are rude *sses, and that the GOP base realizes that the tide has turned, and they don't like it.

[napi21]

4. I heard 2-3 of his fellow Pubies told him he better apologize NOW!

So far nobody has said who they were, but I wouldn't be too surprised if it wasn't Bonnier & some other high profile leader of that crowd. This nutball hasn't been around as long as they have and was too stupid to realize just what he had done.

[wilt the stilt]

6. boner n/t

[question everything]

19. And, I think, McCain

though I don't know how much standing McCain has with the House pubs.

[PVnRT]

12. I think you may be right

I'm wondering if a senior GOPper pulled him aside and told him to shape up or they'd leave him out to dry or something.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. It didn't take him long to see his political future pass before his eyes.

You're a day late and a dollar short, Joe.

Adios.

[Clio the Leo]

7. You know, Rahmy was in the room last night too...

... and that makes me smile.



I could SWEAR that I heard some high pitched screaming as the party was breaking up last night .... the kind of screaming a man from SC might make if his manhood was being squeezed. (I'm kidding)

But you're right.... Joe the Liar was called onto the carpet with the quickness last night by the GOP powers that be. And Fox news didn't TOUCH the matter in their post game coverage. That says it all right there.

I predict that the President put an end to "silly season" last night. This brief era of these bizarre town halls and their ability to steal the spotlight. Barack Obama did what he does best, he served the GOP their hind ends and he did it with velvet gloves.

The irony that the President's only heckler came not at a town hall, but on the floor of the US Congress ..... but it will be a symbolic turning point in the history of his presidency.

[global1]

8. All Those Repugs On Their Blackberry's In The Chamber Probably .......

sent Wilson messages to apologize and apologize fast.

Say It Ain't So - Joe.

[AlinPA]

14. I doubt that. They would have praised him with "way to go Joe!". nt

[Laelth]

9. It was a hit. No doubt about it.

And that's tragic. The plan the President outlined SUX. I would prefer he do nothing than to foist that plan on us, and yet most people I have talked to so far are saying they loved the speech.

Evidently, brilliant oratory goes a long way. If the President has managed to sell this turd to the left, I see very little hope for this country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[lunatica]

10. I think he's a classic case of give them all the rope they want

and watch them craft it into their personal noose

While busy eating their own foot

[liberalla]

11. I like your 'take' on it, and agree that he got

some very swift feedback that was decisively negative...

Or maybe it was the subtle breeze, and the light swoosh of dollars and donations speeding to his opponent's coffers. :P

[dgibby]

13. South Carolinians are NOT amused.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6510397&mesg_id=6510397

We are sick of the Joe Wilson's, Mark Sanford's, Jim DeMint's, and Lindsay Graham's. Hopefully, we'll be sick enough to vote them out.

[question everything]

20. Compared to all of them

Lindsay Graham actually appears statesman, with his support of Sotomayr or, at least, acknowledging that the President has a right to appoint a like mind candidate.

[CTyankee]

15. I disagree. I think Wilson knew EXACTLY what he was doing. His apology was enough of a wink wink,

nudge,nudge to his base to give it away. Of course he apologized right away. It was a "drive by" hit and he had planned the quick apology all along. He KNEW his base would "understand" that his apology was no apology at all.

Wilson just made a few points with his base. The good ole boys are admiring him right about now. "How 'bout old Joe! He done us proud!"

[leftynyc]

16. It doesn't matter

His base was never going to support anything coming out of Pres Obama's white house. The only thing that matter is what the independents take from it (and the ones I know thought it was boorish, childish and unnprofessional). His base is meaningless to the discussion.

[CTyankee]

17. (sigh) I hope you are right and that it does matter to indies.

I get discouraged when I see Obama's numbers drop among them. We need to keep them. I'm not seeing those numbers change very much, even with ALL of the repukes bad behavior. Have there been any polls on indies recently that I may have missed?

Gonna try to hold the faith, tho, because I really don't want to give into despair...

[leftynyc]

21. Sorry, I don't really follow polls

But I do follow narratives and last night was brutal for the pubs, esp Wilson. Nobody is defending him, NOBODY and I can't remember the last time I've seen that. And I'm looking forward to hearing how rush rips him a new asshole for apologizing. So you'll have the left and the middle thinking he's a schmuck and the right thinking he's a "pussy" (apologies to my two very tough cats who wouldn't appreciate the comparison). President Obama will benefit from this.

[librechik]

18. Rahm tackled him and put him in a chokehold right after the speech

he just went home for a mo for a quick panty change.

[4lbs]

22. His staffers probably saw how much money his soon-to-be opponent Miller got in the hours after his

outburst, and said "Uh, Sir..."

[Cha]

23. And, there's this.. I don't know if you saw it or not..

And, this footnote.. "An incensed White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel went up to GOP Reps. Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Paul Ryan (Wis.) to complain about the outburst. "No president has ever had that happen," Emanuel said. "My advice is he apologize immediately. You know my number."


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8641834#8642536

Oh, and The Speech was a big success!