The Audacity Of Weakness - Cenk Uygur/Salon

[WillyT]

The audacity of weakness
Another embarrassing fail betrays a White House in a bubble
BY CENK UYGUR - Salon
THURSDAY, SEP 1, 2011 11:02 ET

<snip>

President Obama has now changed the day of his address to Congress to accommodate the Republicans. They were having a GOP presidential debate on the original date he picked. So, Boehner told him to move his speech. He is the president for Christ's sake. Of course, they should have accommodated him, not the other way around. But as usual, President Obama bowed.

So, this leads to the eternal question of whether Obama is just weak or if he is a brilliant strategist who has been playing rope-a-dope all along. I am so silly that I still had hope. My hope this morning was that Obama was laying a trap for the Republicans. He picks a day for his speech that is the same as the GOP debate. Then if Boehner says he won't let him give the speech on that day, he seems so petty and harsh.

That way, either the president gives his big speech on jobs and bigfoots the Republican contenders or the Republicans look disrespectful and petulant for turning down the president. Well, if you're playing rope-a-dope, that's not a bad maneuver. But it turns out that's not what he was doing at all. He just stumbled into this problem and then stumbled out when he let Boehner dictate when he could and could not have his speech. That looks so sad.

You see, if you're playing rope-a-dope, at some point you have to actually swing. When your opponent has worn himself out knocking you around the ring, you counter-attack. But that counter-attack is never coming. We're holding our collective breaths in vain.

<snip>

More: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/09/01/cenk_obama_boehner/index.html

:kick:

[ThomWV]

1. That is a dam good article you linked to, I'm please to Kick and Recommend it.

[WillyT]

5. Thank You !!!

:patriot:

:hi:

[JuniperLea]

2. Congress must approve an address...

I'm just done.

This is really getting ridiculous... no, it's worse. Despicable and disgusting.

[amborin]

6. on whose part?

[JuniperLea]

38. If a President wants to address the full Congress...

They must request it, and NONE have ever been denied until now. Obama's people advised Boner's office, and there was no objection to the date... until suddenly there was, AFTER Obama announced it publicly.

[Bandit]

10. When was the last time Congress refused a President's request to address them?

Yes it is up to Congress to set the time but I don't believe Congress has ever refused a President when they asked to address both Houses..This is something that should have been qworked out behind closed doors......This is strictly petty politics at play....

[KeepItReal]

24. It has NEVER happened

eom

[yodermon]

34. A Speech from the oval office?? Who says it has to be a joint-session address??

It was OBAMA's idea. He could have changed it to a different location.

[JuniperLea]

37. Obama said he needs the full attention of Congress...

Because he needs them to get moving on a lot of issues. Presidents do this sort of thing, and NONE have ever been refused. Boner didn't refuse either when first advised of the President's wishes. Obama cleared it with Boner's office, then Boner changed his mind.

I'm not sure how this isn't plain as day.

[SusanaMontana41]

56. Screw the Repigs. Talk to We the People directly.

We know who's doing what to whom. Bring it to us, Mr. President. Make it bold, and we'll back you.

Give us that chance.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[20score]

4. This allows for them to disrespect the office, not just the man.

Too far.

[pokerfan]

7. Maybe

he's hoping that the 'Pugs get tuckered out punching him all the time. And then, after they've been lured into a false sense of security, Obama's going to get off the canvas and....

Nope, I'm not believing it anymore either. I honestly think the man has no center and only believes in compromise, compromise meaning just give them everything they want and hope for some table scraps.

[provis99]

8. eh. The Obama fans threw Cenk under the bus a long time ago.

[WillyT]

9. ROFLMAO !!!

Had to turn the laptop upside-down to see who was under the bus.

This definitely needs to be updated!

:rofl:

:bounce:

Thank you... bookmarking now!

:hi:

[CrispyQ]

36. Love the acorn!

:D

[stillrockin]

47. f'in hilarious

[Beacool]

50. Yep, and now he's got a spanking new $1.1M bus.

More room in the undercarriage for the newcomers.

:eyes:



:7

[Bluebear]

11. Wrong! Obama played them! Chill the fuck out he's got this!!!!1

:cry:

[COLGATE4]

13. File under "Wishful Thinking".

[Bluebear]

15. You said it

[WillyT]

16. ...

:evilgrin:

;)

:hi:

[davidwparker]

43. Outside of the Chill statement alluding to some DU'ers

graphic in posts, I have no idea what you mean.

Let me catch up with my Stephanie and Randi podcasts so that I can see how they are spinning O's weakness.

[FedUp_Queer]

51. You've got it.

I used to LOVE Randi. Now she and Stephanie are nothing but Obama's version of Rush Hemorrhoid and Sean Hanniturd.

[oldbanjo]

44. I agree

it's just more proof that the Congress is not willing to work with a black President. This will come back and bite the Congress in the ass. Obama will look better because of it.

[stillrockin]

48. We're the only ones gettin' our asses bit.

[DontTreadOnMe]

53. He let their pawn take his rook!

but don't worry... it's all part of his master strategery. (<- strategery!)

[COLGATE4]

12. Great article. Sad, sad truth. K&R

[Raine]

14. GREAT article, TOTALLY on point

UNFORTUNATELY this is reality. :-(

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. But, the "Bait and Switch" he's using is still working on some Democrats.

You'll soon be hearing from the Love It Or Leave It wing about his 795% approval from "liberals".

[WillyT]

18. LOL !!!

BTW - Where the hell are they tonight?

:shrug:

[Bluebear]

20. Internet pep rally?

:silly:

[Solomon]

19. we learned to ignore all the

bullshit being flung around here.

[WillyT]

22. Question: When You Say "we learned..." - Who Is "We", and Where Did You All, "Learn" It ???

:shrug:

[LWolf]

21. THAT'S a bumper sticker.

I don't use them, but if I were going to, that's one I'd consider.

Oh...liked the article, too, not just the headline.

I don't know if "liked" is accurate, but there is a certain...something in hearing a strong voice not afraid to speak bluntly about current debacles.

[ihavenobias]

23. K & R n/t

[WillyT]

25. Kick !!!

:kick:

[grahamhgreen]

26. Kick

[Juche]

27. Focus on progressivism on the state and local level IMO

I don't think federal progressivism has much hope at the moment. In between the co-opted DLC democrats, the rabid and uncompromising republicans, the filibuster abuses and the weakness of Obama, expecting anything progressive on the national level anytime soon will be a disappointment. There are progressives on the federal level, but not enough to have any impact on legislation.

But states and local govs. can still enact progressive changes. Tons of cities and several states enacted Kyoto. Vermont is passing a meaningful UHC Plan in 2014. IL and PA may (emphasis on may) implement UHC plans too as well as other states. Most large cities have strong democratic majorities, so they can be more progressive friendly. And the US is becoming more and more urban all the time. The conservative group ALEC supposedly focuses mostly on state/local elections and legislation because you can get more done.

I've lost hope for federal politics.

[WhiteTara]

31. All politics are local.

Glad to hear you are concentrating on local progressives. Progressive politics from the bottom up is where ground swell will come from.

[McCamy Taylor]

28. Aw. Thought this was gonna be a brainy discussion of nonduality and the strength of weakness.

It's just another "Obama is no cowboy" thread. I'll bet he wouldn't even look good in an orange flight suit.

[LetTimmySmoke]

29. Cenk is awesome at pointing out Obama's weaknesses.

He never goes unfair, and he gives him credit when he does things right.

[WillyT]

30. Morning Kick...

:hi:

[hifiguy]

32. As usual, Cenk hits the nail

squarely on the head.

We have been played, royally, for fools.

[dionysus]

33. so spaketh the pompous clown. back to your Fisher Price TV Studio Playset Cenk

:rofl:

[JuniperLea]

39. Yeah, this guy is seriously 'round the bend...

I think blowhards are coming out of the woodwork now that Beck doesn't have a show... I think Cenk wants to be the next Beck.

[deacon]

35. This guy cent has lost his mind too. This is so incredibly ridiculous. n/t

[stockholmer]

45. his name is CENK, & he is spot on in this case (& many others, especially the dodgy healthcare bill)

[Tatiana]

40. As a woman of color it is incomprehensible to me how the President allows these morons to punk him.

Like, at a certain point, the can of whoop-ass should be opened and utilized. But it never is. There is just a mountain of spin and excuses.

I almost feel like, forget about me, Mr. President and STAND UP FOR YOURSELF! These people are disrespecting you in the worst way and we need to see you defend yourself before we can "have your back."

That's one thing Bill Clinton was good at. Even in the wake of the Lewinski scandal, he never caved to the right-wing demands. His self-defense inspired a fierce Democratic groundswell of support for him. People responded to the man standing up for himself.

This President would do well to start doing a little finger pointing and putting these Rethugs in "check."

[ProSense]

41. How

<...>

President Obama has now changed the day of his address to Congress to accomodate the Republicans. They were having a GOP presidential debate on the original date he picked. So, Boehner told him to move his speech. He is the president for Christ's sake. Of course, they should have accomodated him, not the other way around. But as usual, President Obama bowed

<...>

These guys in the Obama camp are in for a horrible, rude awakening. Sometime in the next year, they are going to blink and realize they are lying flat on their back on the canvas. Then as they finally stumble up, they'll realize they should have started fighting 11 rounds ago. Then a panic will set in, but I'm afraid it will be too late by then.

Here is what all voters, and especially independents, despise and disdain in a politician -- weakness. Nobody wants to see their leader get beat to a pulp every night and then bow his head again.

There is no secret, brilliant strategy. This White House is in a bubble. They think they're winning when the roof is about to cave in.

...utterly idiotic!

Cenk talks a lot of shit, but apparently is clueless. Either that or it's a classic case of willful ignorance.

1) Boehner has to honor the request and invite the President to deliver a joint address (he cannot kick the door down)

2) Boehner would have made an issue of any date (he's known for his assholery)

3) Speechdategate is probable the stupidest outrage since the bow (and the snub)

For all the handwringing about the date of the speech, it appears the solution suggested is that the President should have checked the GOP's schedule before making a move (a sure sign of strength) or implying that Boehner would have acted reasonable if the President had suggested another date.

The short memory is laughable.

John Boehner turns down Air Force One ride to Tucson

Debt Ceiling Talks Collapse as Boehner Walks Out

If the President had originally requested September 8, Boehner would have found an excuse to make that date an issue.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

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[Safetykitten]

42. "You see, if you're playing rope-a-dope, at some point you have to actually swing."

That's about it in a nutshell.

[Jester Messiah]

46. Sad but true. Obama's a wimp that makes even Bush Sr. look manly. [nt]

[blackspade]

55. Tragically true.

[DirtyDawg]

57. Oh, he's playing 'rope-a-dope' alright....

...only guess who the 'dopes' are. Sadly, it's been that way all along, and sadder still, we'll have no choice but to reward him with another term or else have effin Satan him/her self in the WH. Damn sad to think about, ain't it?