Live Feed of Presidential Remarks

[MineralMan]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-speaks-status-efforts-find-balanced-approach-deficit-reduction-0

It's about to start, so tune it in.

[MineralMan]

1. Check in after the remarks begin to let us know you're watching.

Or check in to tell us why on earth you're not watching, if you're in a place where you can.

[JuniperLea]

2. The boss just went to breakfast...

I'm alone in the office... really spooky! :D I have a CNN live feed up... hope to see this in its entirety! A rare treat for me.

[MineralMan]

4. Two minute warning now issued...

[woo me with science]

3. Alternate link:

C-SPAN plans to cut away to the President when he arrives.

http://c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN/

[MineralMan]

5. Good. The whitehouse.gov feed is generally very reliable

and in high definition, too, if you care to watch it full-screen. No pundits commenting, either. Just what is said.

[MineralMan]

6. The remarks have begun.

[MineralMan]

8. Few details, as expected. General directions only.

Obama "will not sign" a short term fix for the credit problem.

[originalpckelly]

7. "Fair and balanced"

What the fuck is he, Fox News?

[MineralMan]

9. He is President of The United States.

Remember? He has to make a deal here. He is not a dictator.

[originalpckelly]

10. Yeah, there are other ways to say it...

other than uttering the Fox News slogan.

[MineralMan]

12. And there are other ways to comment on his words than

to link him to Fox News. Yes?

Sbow a little respect, why don't you?

[originalpckelly]

No, I'm not the only one who mentioned it.

[JuniperLea]

18. Congratulations on being part of the crowd...

I think...

[MineralMan]

19. Then I have the same comment to those others.

The President of The United States cannot unilaterally solve this problem. It simply is not possible. Therefore, there will be some give and take. Fox News has co-opted the phrase "Fair and Balanced." The President is not allowing them to co-opt it.

Your disdain for the man is clouding your judgment, in my opinion. I'm not sure why you're doing that, but it's not at all helpful.

[JuniperLea]

22. It's sad it had to be said...

But you are correct on all counts.

It doesn't take great imagination to see what he was doing there, using that 'catch phrase' yet you had to spell it out.

Amazing.

[MineralMan]

24. Again, the President is not naming specifics. Those are not

settled. That's why there are these ongoing discussions. To expect details is to ignore the process.

[JuniperLea]

15. You don't see the snark in that?

Seriously? Is this not resonating with you on any other level than your comment? Honestly?

[MineralMan]

11. Wants to get revenues from the rich. People "like me," he says.

Not balance the budget on middle class and working class.

[MineralMan]

13. No path to a deal if the Republicans don't budge.

He doesn't see it.

[Bluerthanblue]

14. Thanks! I was

hoping to find this.

:hi:

[MineralMan]

16. "Politicians who say we don't need to raise the debt ceiling are

irresponsible." Also says that the average citizen doesn't fully comprehend the impact of default, and that it would create a disastrous result for those citizens.

[truth2power]

35. That REALLY pissed me off. That the average citizen doesn'tfully

comprehend. Yes, we should let our "betters" handle this. Why is it that Obama always seems able to invalidate what "we the people" have to say.

As far as that goes, virtually all the "professional politicians" are stupid, greedy, corrupt, sociopathic a-holes. Any individual with half a brain could do a better job than they have, so far.

[MineralMan]

38. I suggest you run for office, in that case.

Decisions in this country are made by elected representatives. If you think you can do a better job, put your name forward and convince people to elect you.

I have no idea who you are or what you know. I have no idea of your capabilities. I know who my congressional representatives are and what they believe. That's why I campaigned for them and voted for them.

So, if you want to represent me, run for office in my area. Then, I'll ask you those hard questions to see whether I can support you. At this point, I can't because I have no idea what you stand for.

[truth2power]

41. MineralMan... The point was that professional politicians know better

than ordinary citizens about this issue.

I'm just an ordinary person who is capable of understanding just about anything if it's explained to me. Furthermore, I'm not willing to turn over my thinking abilities to those who supposedly represent me.

What Obama said was dismissive, IMO.

[JuniperLea]

17. 'professional politicians'

Sweet!

[gateley]

20. "SS is NOT the source of our deficit problems"

[truth2power]

37. That was going to be my next question. As I understand it, SS

does NOT contribute to the deficit. So, why is it on the table???

Why isn't anybody willing to address this issue? Hmmm?

[gateley]

39. I don't know what ASPECTS of it Obama is willing to look at. I wish

he would explain more why it isn't the cause. We need Rachel to step up with her charts and examples. :7

[MineralMan]

21. "Social Security is not the source of our deficit problems."

[Historic NY]

26. Yup.........wants to strengthen it if possible,

the oh noes are all over the place

[gateley]

23. Strengthen SS to make sure the benefits are there for the elderly.

[MineralMan]

25. "Not going to get into the details of the negotiations with you."

I don't think you have the clout to make a difference. Socko! to some journalist.

[Bonobo]

27. Yeah, keep the free press out of the "negotiations"!

Why should he have to let the people know what he's negotiating for us?

Let the adults decide things! You kids get back to your games!

[MineralMan]

30. The press is not involved in the negotiations because they have

no role in them. This is a legislative and government issue, and details have not even been worked out yet. How is the President going to describe details that do not exist. Those details will emerge as they are created. Right now, there simply are no details. Only frameworks, and even those are not decided.

Your expectations do not match the reality of what is going on.

[Bonobo]

32. The press? No. But the press are the ears of the people.

Besides, your quote from Obama does not reflect the attitude of "There are no details to explain".

It sounds like "This is above your pay-grade". Not a nice message to the people who can only get details from a free and open press.

The WH Press Corps represents you, MM.

[MineralMan]

36. No, the press core does not represent me. I vote for my

representatives, and I didn't vote for any of those people.

Yes, they are the ears of the people. Right now, details are not availalable, so there's nothing to hear. There are negotiations to decide those details. I do not want a press that speculates on things that are not established.

But, again, the press doesn't represent me in any way. It includes Fox News, for pete's sake, along with others who are very, very far from representing me. They don't even represent the truth. We elect our representatives.

[Bonobo]

40. You know what I meant and went so far as to admit it without the rhetoric.

They "represent" the ears of the people.

It's the only ear you got in that room and it was wrong of Obama to show such scorn ("socko!" as you put it.)

[MineralMan]

28. Refers to Bowles-Simpson commission by saying that

they recognized that tax increase would be necessary, and that they were willing to pay more. That is true, based on the proposed report that was not made official by the commission. Tax increases were part of that aborted report. It did not get the required number of votes, so was not adopted.

[Bluerthanblue]

29. His remarks about Boener speak to the real issue

that is killing this country imo.

I'm anxious to get a transcript.

[MineralMan]

31. The transcript of the remarks will be up shortly after the

press conference. I'm not sure how long it will take for the transcript of the Q&A. Not long, I expect.

[MineralMan]

33. "That's a question for Speaker Boehner."

I liked that. Asking the President what the Speaker thinks is silly. Can Boehner deliver his caucus? Who knows? Everything in the GOP is in disarray right now. There's a huge power struggle going on. I assume that the White House is talking privately to the more moderate of the Republicans. I assume they're always doing that.

The key to this whole impasse may revolve around a group of Republicans House members who have essentially had it with the Teabagger freshmen. It all depends on how they feel about their chances in 2012.

[MineralMan]

34. It's over. On to the negotiations.