POTUS and TOTUS meet the press: Defensive about AIG, blame-card on debt, blows off charities
President Obama will hold a news conference tonight in a few minutes, starting at 8pm Eastern. TOTUS is fired up and ready to go, too — but after a few opening remarks, POTUS will fly without a net.
The White House sent out a preview:
President Barack Obama looked to steer the nation’s economic attention to the bigger picture Tuesday night and away from recent days’ micro-focus on outrage over executive bonuses, declaring signs of progress as his administration attacks the crisis “on all fronts.” “It’s a strategy to create jobs, to help responsible homeowners, to restart lending and to grow our economy over the long term,” Obama said in remarks released in advance of his prime-time news conference.
During a crowded week for the White House and furious debate that echoed from Main Street to Capitol Hill corridors, the president sought to take a step back. He summarized the steps taken so far by his administration to address the worst economic disaster in a quarter-century, framing them with optimism.“We will recover from this recession,” he said. “But it will take time, it will take patience and it will take an understanding that when we all work together — when each of us looks beyond our own short-term interests to the wider set of obligations we have to each other — that’s when we succeed.”
I’ll update with any gaffes or unusual occurrences (such as non-sycophantic questions from the press).
***
8:01pm Eastern. POTUS/TOTUS on economic crisis: “It took many failures to lead us here.”
And you will be victims of many more!
Obama touts the tax cuts he signed into law. ($13/week that won’t buy you earrings worth Michelle Obama’s time.)
Obama assails the “illusion of prosperity,” while he adds to the illusion.
Assails borrow and spend, while espousing more borrowing and spending.
Re. AIG bonuses: “I’m as angry as anybody.”
(But Geithner is doing a heckuva job, and I’m not letting him go!)
***
8:07pm Eastern. AP’s Jennifer Loven gets first question…why pushing for new government authority of financial institutions? “I think there’s going to be strong support for this authority.” AP: “Why should people trust govt to buy up toxic assets?”
BO basically says: Because they will.
Refers to IndyMac as a success story. Hello?
Talks about the “tools” he needs.
Tools = power/control.
***
8:15pm Eastern. Jake Tapper gets a question. Right now, Senate Dems are writing a budget not including middle class tax cut, cap and trade, and other measures. Will you sign a budget if it does not contain tax cut and cap and trade?
I expect health care reform, blah blah. “I am confident that the budget we put forward will have principles in place. Middle class tax cut will be there for next two years. Cap-n-trade – the broader principle is that we have to move to a new energy era.”
Refuses to talk more about it, since he hasn’t read it.
Basically, he’ll sign it.
***
Next q: What about the debt you are creating?
Obama goes back to his Bush’s fault card. I’m inheriting debt, so nyahnyah.
Blasts Republicans for not proposing an alternative.
But…
Here’s GOP Leader Boehner:
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today held a press briefing in advance of President Obama’s news conference scheduled for this evening. At the briefing, Boehner challenged the President’s assertions about Republicans and noted that the GOP has presented alternative ideas directly to the President on every major issue where there has been disagreement this year – and will offer a better budget solution later this week.
“I think a lot of Americans believe that our economy is in a crisis. Americans are looking to Washington for solutions. The President has offered a budget that will, in my opinion, hurt our economy and destroy the very jobs that we’re trying to save and to try to create. And I believe Republicans were offering better ideas to the President in hopes of building a better budget.
“This is today’s front page the Louisville Courier-Journal. If you read it you probably won’t be surprised that the President will probably say this again tonight in his press conference. With all due respect, Mr. President, the statement is not true, plain and simple. Your budget spends too much, it taxes too much and borrows too much from our kids and grandkids, and I believe Republicans are offering a better solution.
“Last week, I released a video — a YouTube video outlining our budget principles and laying the groundwork for the alternative budget that we will release later this week. Our alternative will create jobs by allowing American families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn, ensure that the federal budget doesn’t grow faster than the family budget, expand access to health care while preserving Social Security and Medicare, end the bailouts to protect taxpayers and reform the financial system, encourage an all-of-the-above energy strategy to make us energy independent, and to fight inflation so the prices of goods and services that American depend upon will remain stable.
“Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve offered better solutions, and the President knows that. Eric Cantor and I personally delivered to the President our stimulus proposal at the White House in January. Our plan would create twice as many jobs at half the cost as the President’s plan, and that’s even according to an economic analysis by his chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. And what was the response? The White House pretended they never even saw it.
“At a time when our economy is in serious recession, I think Americans deserve better. They need solutions, not distortions. The fact is the President’s budget spends too much, taxes too much and it borrows too much. It raises taxes on every American family and small business. It includes irresponsible levels of spending, reaching $5.1 trillion 10 years out. And if you look at the spending in this budget, you can begin to see how out of control this spending cycle is, and it doubles the debt on our kids and grandkids over the next six years. If you look at these debt figures, you can see this. This is all of the debt through 2008 that’s been accumulated in our country by 43 Presidents in 220 years in our history, and the President’s budget will double that over the next six years.
“I just think that this may be the most irresponsible piece of legislation I’ve seen in my legislative career. It’s an irresponsible plan that only makes the crisis we’re in worse. But when it’s all said and done, I think it’s time for a do-over. We need to start this budget process all over again. And I will hope that the President will work with us to build a responsible budget that will help strengthen our economy and put Americans back to work again.”
***
8:31pm Eastern. Question from Stars & Stripes on how to save money in defense budget.
Obama cites John McCain to back him up on procurement cuts.
But I thought McCain = 4 more years of Bush = Bad?
***
Q about AIG. Why is Andrew Cuomo doing more/getting more answers than you and Geithner, who were slow on the uptake? And what about debt you are creating that your daughters will inherit?
Obama ignores first question. Debt answer: It’s hard. Best way to tackle it is to reduce health care costs.
(By spending a few trillion dollars and engineering a massive govt takeover!)
Reporter follows up on AIG question, which BO didn’t answer. Why did it take you so long to respond?
Snippy: “It took a couple of days because I like to know what I’m talking about.”
Snorting. Out. Loud.
***
8:39pm Eastern. “I don’t believe we need a global currency.”
Politico asks about mortgage interest/charity deduction limits. Obama still supports. “It’s not gonna cripple them. They’ll still be well-to-do.”
Follow up: It’s not just the wealthy. It’s the charities.
Obama: They’re wrong.
***
8:46pm Eastern. Q: What about homelessness? Tent cities everywhere!
Obama: We’ll have more programs.
(But didn’t homelessness end with the Age of Obama?!)
***
Dumb question from Ann Compton: What about race?
Obama: I’ve been dealing with the economy.
***
8:56pm Eastern. Blahblahblah. Rambling last answer. Losing consciousness…
***
Fox News’ Bret Baier notes that NYTimes, WaPo, Times, Newsweek, big media all frozen out of q’s.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Is Obama losing it? Or is he just being “creepy?” « Jim Blazsik
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- Obama Ignores Cheaper, Better Solutions from GOP, Forcing Trillion-Dollar Porkulus Bill and Debt on America « Frugal Café Blog Zone
- TOTUS Address… « Moderate in the Middle
- Presidential press conference: my quick and dirty take « Wellsy’s World
- The Nobama Blog » Blog Archive » Photoshop Fun: Ready Made Animatronic President
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- ScoopThis.Org » President Obama’s speech before taking questions…
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- Pre-selected reporter from Ebony Magazine asks Obama about Imaginary Tent Cities Springing Up All Over America
- Jackie Clegg Dodd served as an “outside” director of IPC Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda-based company controlled by AIG. IPC « Goodtimepolitics
- Obama, when is it too much? « Riggword Weblog
- Obama Fumbles on AIG Bonus Topic « Samaritans Scalawags Scoundrels Fleecing the Sheep
- After Leno, Laughter on “60 Minutes,” Boredom From “No Drama” Obama « Peace and Freedom Global Future
- Obama Pre-Empted American Idol And All I Got Was This Lousy Press Conference « Beltway Snark
- Scroll For Updates…TOTUS AND POTUS: Quit Questioning Me! | Right Voices
- Obama Press Conference: No News Is… No News « Grand Rants
- Michelle Malkin » President Snippy: The video
- Michelle Malkin » President Snippy: The video
- Democrat’s Talking Points (Shows Their Whiney, Whimpy, Cowardice) « Zipline Conservative
- Just In Case…. , An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
- Obama, O-Bore-Ma: Presidential Press Conference Offered Same-Old, Same-Old « Frugal Café Blog Zone
- Michelle Malkin » Revisiting Ann Compton’s stupid question
- Kick the Anthill » The Irony of Television
- Censoring Obama’s TelePrompTer « All The News That Fits
- Teleprompter of the United States, TOTUS, Rest in Peace - UPDATE: TOTUS Survived « Frugal Café Blog Zone
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Plants grow? It’s been so long I had forgotten they did that. Snow forecasted again for Saturday!
We are in serious trouble.
Rep Boehner contradicted himself within the space of two sentences. We have a solution, outlined in a you tube video, and the President knows it. Huh? Why don’t the people know what your plan is?
If you gave it to the President then it exists. Now show us your plan. Don’t wait until next week. Rep Boehner stop grandstanding and put up or shut up.
GTVMOTUS…Giant Tee Vee Monitor Of The United States.
Palace Coup? It didn’t take long to overthrow TOTUS, did it…
When BHO said “…because I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak.” the reporter should have asked “Did it take you days to comprehend it?”
It’s been suggested elsewhere that the monitor be known as BSTV.
Hey now…I just bought a tent at Wally World. Set me back 1600 aluminum cans. There’s no way I gonna let that usurper drag me out of my tent alive.
O Dumbo is a POTUS alright.
Parrot of the United States.
No doubts that he can fluently read from teleprompter or a big TV.
Now the real question.
Who is really the President of the United States?
Dumbo is parroting the text written by someone.
Pelosi-Reid wrote the stimulus/porkulus bill.
I understand he went to Harvard. Do they teach Math at Harvard?
No sense asking a Math question to Dumbo as he never gives straight answers.
May be his Math teacher can answer this simple question:
How do you reduce budget deficit into half by spending more that what his Administration is going to collect year-after-year?
Wow…talk about yet another perfect example of how people now-a-days have no clue as to the history of this country, let alone the world at large.
The people of this country were FORCED to “sacrifice” during WWII because the trade routes where we obtained such luxury items as sugar were being patrolled by Japanese submarines and warships. The places where they were obtained were controlled by enemy forces.
Then there was that whole need to ramp up a terribly unfunded, unappreciated, unarmed military. It was believed, following WWI, that the United States did not need a strong and well armed military, since the Liberals at the time were convinced that any and all issues dealing with war and war-like countries could be dealt with simply by talking to them. You know, that whole “League of Nations” thing. If talking didn’t work, then we would simply find out what they wanted and give it to them. You know, appeasement? And ultimately it was believed that people didn’t hate us, and we would just stay the hell out of Europe’s mess and anything else going on in the world. Why, all that was needed was for us to stay home and be isolationists. Therefore, when it was painfully obvious that all those things did not work in reality, we suddenly found ourselves needing to build thousands and thousands of tanks, airplanes, trucks, jeeps, ships, subs, boats, guns, rifles, machine guns, pistols, bombs, bullets, grenades, etc., etc., etc.
Well, all those things required rubber, metal, grease, sugar, fat, etc., etc., etc., and the people of this nation had to go without so that we could build and implement a war machine to end the oppression and aggression of a war-like race or two that was hell-bent on taking over the world. So, rationing was implemented throughout the country on those items that were required for the military.
People hated it, but for the most part, the propaganda that was put out by the government convinced people that it was only for a short time and was the best we could do in order to defeat the enemy.
Not to say that once again, people have decided to throw out the lessons of history as far as the military cutbacks and such are concerned, and far be it for me to point out that Liberals NEVER learn from the past and thus once again, history is repeating, but to say that it was a Socialist anything and that to make this country operate on a basis like what happened in WWII PERMANENTLY is a good thing and would work has to be one of the single most idiotic things I have seen on the web in a very long time.
Please, go to your local library, use Google, do something that will allow you to actually study the history you want to use in your analogy or your frame of reference. Learn the history of this country and of the world. It might go a long way in keeping it from continually repeating itself.
Since Totus relies on a preselected list of reporters, why doesn’t he help stimulate the economy by hiring stand ins to fill the rest of the seats.
RetFireman, sadly, those under the age of 30 received revisionist history in school.
Anything that did not happen in their lifetime, did not happen.
Anything heard from their Parents or Grandparents is anecdotal.
B. Hussein Obama is a joke. He made no other statements except for talking points that the liberals want to push as far as a socialist agenda. I bet the stock market tanks again today.
Of course the MSM isn’t going crack down and grill him like they did Bush. Don’t you see; he’s a HISTORICAL president! You don’t diss your part in touching living history, kinda like the apes stroking the slab in “2001″.
James Greenidge
Queens, New York
Seances R US
Brought to up by the Greenshirts of America.
What happened to freedom and liberty?
OT
Associated Press is at it again, boo hoo hoo sob story before the Officers that were killed in Oakland (w/o remorse) by this scumbag were even honored.
killer painted victim
I’m glad you acknowledged the struggle to stay awake, Michelle. It came at about the same time (at only 6:56 Mountain Time) that I started making snoring noises and my 9 yr old playing in front of me turned to see if I was really sleeping.
My son also brought up, sometime during the prez’s answer to Mike Allen of Politico, “He [Obama] ‘uhh’s’ a lot…”
Why was Mixon even on the streets? He should have been locked up and not a threat to anyone.
Urkel the Magnificent gave half as*sed answers to planted questions for almost an hour. He defended the destruction of the economy unsuccessfully and promised more bread & circus at Taxpayer expense.
I wish my TV had an O-Chip that would block Urkel Vision and switch channels to programs that don’t get my blood pressure up like listening to Urkel’s shameless lies.
Old trooper, it’s a mess, on Oreilly last night a judge let’s a pedophile free w/o any monitoring into a neighborhood so he can oil up and sunbath at a community pool, then in New Hampshire they hold a shoplitfer in custody on 110 thousand dollars bail for steeling 500 dollars worth of shrimp.
figure that one out.
(I think the citizens are having a rally to get the perv off the streets Saturday in Tampa)
adding…. the boy he molested was mentally challenged.
Thanks for
watchingsuffering through that for us, Michelle! I could not bring myself to watch it, but I knew you’d have the analysis!“Illusion of prosperity” is all we’ll be left with if his budget goes through!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hSnEMV58F8&feature=player_embedded
best youtube video EVER.
Thought I would share this suggestion from another blog:
BSOTUS (Big Screen Of The United States)
tgr, there was another one on hot air….
One Big Ass Monitor America
I’ll continue to be disheartened as long as GOP accepts the liberal talking points (as if they are all worthy of consideration) and responds to them (enviro topics, social programs – the real prosperity killers, etc.).
What a waste of time it is too often when in good faith we go to the polls, only to get something else in congress.
1) The judge’s neighborhood is gated – his children are secure, or, he doesn’t have children.
2) The shrimp theft caused a shortage which meant no shrimp at his cocktail party that night – very embarrassing.
Just figuring.
It’s amazing that Odopey has to take advice from dipsticks around him on how to act. good speaker my eye, the guy is a flippin Puppet, nothing more. I wonder how much time they waste on giving him lessons on body language before air time each day and if it’s before or after he blows of National Security briefings. This guy makes me want to barf.
That’s because there is no logic to anything he says or does. Unless you consider destroying America logical.
Obama is a fraud. There is nothing… Nothing.. that he has done to date that is good for our country. Nothing.
lol, tgr…..
The pedo story was on Oreilly and I read the shrimp piece on my home page. two diff stories. But your explanation is exactly how these libtards think.
Nope, no logic…only feelings.
I don’t even watch the POS on TV anymore. I change the channel every time he comes on and like many posters here have done, when I’m in the store,I turned the magazine that has him and MO on the cover. I’d rather watch the Bizarre Food show. At least it does’nt make me gag.
So he traded his teleprompter for a giant tv screen. Who does he think he is fooling?
OT – but not
The most ethical, transparent president eva!
ajmon, I agree that this guy is a puppet. I’m convinced that someone is pulling his strings. I have more respect for TOTUS than the one.
and some wonder why we have no confidence in this fool!
The great orator wasn’t. My wife thought he was being deliberately extra boring to lull the public to sleep.
Tent cities are cropping up everywhere!
It’s one thing to realize that we elected a socialist – it’s another to realize he’s another in a long line of un-serious adults….
…I admit there was one answer to a question that he didn’t give the pat “anti business” answer to, or maybe I was just dreaming…
Maybe the teleprompter is really HAL 9000
or even Colossus
No strings…just an arm up his arse, with a hand moving his mouth.
My remote chose ‘House’ over BHO.
Looks like I didn’t miss anything.
I heard on the radio this morning that the station was trying to find someone who had watched zerO so they could ask their opinions but they couldn’t find anyone what had even watched.
sheesh – too early
Goodmorning Misscheryl, could that radio station be on the conservative side??? Ohhh well, now that I think of it…most of the surviving ones are..
Think I’ll wander over to the dark slobbering side of the net to check what’s up there.
LMAO, jangar. The first thing that came to my mind was Jeff Dunham with Achmed the dead terrorist. Jeff, time to have another guest on your show. A black Irishman called O’Dummy with a telepromter. (my apologies to all Irish, of course).
I could not watch this.
I heard all I needed to know this morning on a soundbite–yup. Blame Bush.
Hey Gladz – well, now that you mentioned it. But then again, Oklahoma is pretty conservative – maybe that splains it hahaha. Liberals in Oklahoma are few and far between. We have them, but try to keep them located within a couple of square miles. It’s best that way…
Ha! Jeff Dunham wouldn’t be able to hold a word long enough for his puppet Odopey to say……. andddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.
Oh yes, it’s Booooosshhes fault. He raised the deficit to 1 trillion so we must raise it to 4 trillion to fix his mess. Okie Dokie!
aj – I hate it when he does that! Quit it!!!!
actually it’s more like aaaaaaaaaaaaannd
Not this shabbily, though. And, two wrongs don’t make a right: Does it make it OK when Obama imitates the President your side labels as the worst in history, by using a prompter and call sheets everytime he comes before the public?
If Obama really is “the smartest guy in the room,” let him prove it by going before the people sans teleprompter and call sheets.
lol misscheryl, I think joy mentioned it also…. and you’re right it is aaaaaaaaaaaaaannd, with an uhhhhhhhh, sometimes at the end. I know all this sounds petty but he gets away with so much carp it makes me sick to listen to him speak and watch.
Dumba$$ Voters 08′
Unreal they fell for this turdburper.
I understand your pain, I feel it to. It’s hard to watch someone who is playing us and thinks he’s getting away with it.
Did the POTUS ditch the TOTUS for a TV MOTUS last night????
Classic Seabee…
Much as it hurts to watch, I think it is important to pay attention, not only the president, but to all of government. Knowledge is power, or at least it once was…
Thirteen dollars a week, huh? that’s dinner for two at McDonald’s.
MM said:
Funny…here was my talk:
Tools = appointees to work under Geithner.
I agree that we need to pay attention and watched the whole press conference.
The president spoke very well with not many uhhhhs and aaaahs. Many people who watched and listened will not really understand the substance and will be fooled that he knows whereof he speaks and many people tuned out after a few minutes and quite a few did not tune in at all. I listened out of a sense of duty to myself and to the country that I love. Knowledge is power.
Re: my post #244. One of his uh, uh, uh moments was the question regarding ethics of Fed funding embryonic stem cell research. Very revealing. Also revealing were back to back questions regarding tax exemptions for charitable contributions and then homelessness. Wow!
Don’t rely on someone else’s assessment. Watch for yourself.
If you want to sum up what’s wrong with the republican party…
Here’s GOP Leader Boehner:
Who the heck in their right mind looks to Washington to solve this “crisis”??
No
republicanconservative I know.Is it just me, or did it seem that all the “questioners” seemed to be reading from pre-approved questions? Seems the questions were all designed to give BO the opportunity to bring out his talking points.