Obama to address House Republican retreat

From Politico:

President Barack Obama will address House Republicans next week at their annual retreat in Baltimore, deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton said Tuesday afternoon.

It’s a show of bipartisanship after a year rife with tumult in the relationship between the president and the minority in the House. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) have taken swipes at nearly every one of the White House’s priorities – ranging from sweeping health care overhaul to stimulus legislation.

Boy, I can hear it now. House Minority Leader John Boehner introduces the president, who steps to the microphone, looks into his Teleprompter and begins his remarks:

Obama: I’d like to thank you, Congressman Boehner, for the invitation to speak here today …

Audience in unison: You LIAR!!!!

Obama: …. and for the chance to explore areas of possible cooperation …

Audience in unison: We object! We object! We object!

Obama: … because, as Americans, we all have to work together ….

Audience in unison: No! No! No! No!

Obama: … on behalf of the country that we all love….

Audience in unison: Kenyan! Kenyan! Kenyan!!!

Obama: … and listen to each other’s concerns ….

Audience in unison: Mmmmmmmm. Mmmmmmm. Mmmmmm.

359 comments Add your comment

Matilda

January 12th, 2010
3:36 pm

Hahaha! Now come on, you don’t really think they’ll be rude and utterly classless, do you?

Screen Green

January 12th, 2010
3:37 pm

Uncle Sam in black face?

N-GA

January 12th, 2010
3:41 pm

I’ll worry when they start throwing shoes!

Mrs. Godzilla

January 12th, 2010
3:45 pm

He better wear a cup.

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
3:48 pm

I’m sure, after Obama has broken all his campaign pledges, and has put the democratic party at it’s most unstable state in 50 years, that the GOP will probably give him a standing ovation. They should.

He is the poster child for what is wrong with the Democratic Party. I say, stand and start clapping and don’t stop until he leaves. Give the man his due.

Taxpayer

January 12th, 2010
3:52 pm

md

January 12th, 2010
3:55 pm

Last I checked, compromise was all about give and take, not starting on the left and moving a little bit toward the center. The same goes when the right did it under Bush.

Until politicians no longer run our government we will continue to suffer the consequences.

Politicians are experienced in the art of BS, and very little else.

Curious Observer

January 12th, 2010
3:56 pm

Why would the President give these Republicans another shot at him? If they haven’t been at all cooperative in this first year of his presidency, it’s for certain they won’t be during this election year. So what’s the point of addressing them? He might as well bring a series of Fox News analysts into the White House for a Fair and Balanced interview. All he’s doing by addressing this retreat is giving the House Republicans yet another public platform to denigrate him. If none of them yell “You lie!” during his address, dozens will use the opportunity to abuse him in the press interviews that follow.

stands for decibels

January 12th, 2010
3:56 pm

Obama has broken all his campaign pledges

Please. Stop lying.

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
3:58 pm

Curious Observer

Perhaps he knows that after the midterms that the GOP will be in charge of the Congress. Making friends at this early state might postpone his impeachment.

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:02 pm

db

I like this list better. these are MAJOR promises that take freedom from us as Americans. THe promises he had kept are not much more than grandstanding.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-broken/

Kamchak

January 12th, 2010
4:02 pm

Please. Stop lying.

He can’t because he’s a graduate of the Ann Coulter School of Punditry, and the first lesson is lie loud, lie often and never recant.

Peadawg

January 12th, 2010
4:03 pm

I bet they give me a bug ovation for how good he’s been making Bush look the past 8 years.

stands for decibels

January 12th, 2010
4:03 pm

Why would the President give these Republicans another shot at him?

Well, I’d like to think he simply believes it’s the right thing to do.

But seriously? Given that the GOP is fabulously renown for overplaying its hand and making themselves look like jerks, I suspect he figures they’ll behave horribly and shoot themselves in the collective foot. But that’s just my cynical first reaction; who knows.

Peadawg

January 12th, 2010
4:05 pm

that was *big*, not *bug*

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:06 pm

db

More facts about Obama from the site you listed

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/rulings/full-flop/

Taxpayer

January 12th, 2010
4:06 pm

I say they should be open and transparent with this meeting. C-Span! C-Span! C-Span!

Mrs. Godzilla

January 12th, 2010
4:07 pm

Jay

Do we know if there will be cameras rolling?

md

January 12th, 2010
4:09 pm

By the looks of the polls, he knows he needs to mend some fences if he wants any hope of getting anything accomplished after the next elections. The shove it done your throat healthcare bill will make that difficult for many years to come. We are entering the ultimate we vs they period of politics started under Bush and completed under Obama.

And joy of joys, we will all suffer because of it.

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:10 pm

Cameras rolling?

While obozo is making deals?

Surely you jest.

Taxpayer

January 12th, 2010
4:13 pm

Obama should corner them, live and on camera, and start hitting them with the questions that we all yearn to hear answered. Obama should start with healthcare and say something like “you guys have been whining for the past year that I have not made myself available to hear your ideas and that you have plenty of good cost-saving suggestions that are simply not being considered…” C-Span! C-Span! C-Span!

Jay

January 12th, 2010
4:13 pm

I would be surprised, even shocked, if it is not televised.

Mrs. Godzilla

January 12th, 2010
4:14 pm

NIF

I’m not jesting, and don’t call me Shirley.

Do you like gladiator movies…..?

Taxpayer

January 12th, 2010
4:15 pm

I’ll bet that Obama would be more than willing to go on the C-Span record. Will the Republicans put up or shut up. My bet is on neither. They’ll weasel.

RB from Gwinnett

January 12th, 2010
4:16 pm

Hey Jay, Can you give us an update on how the AJC’s subscriber rates are performing lately? Just curious if you and your cohorts are continuing to run off your customers with crap like what you’ve posted here.

Bosch

January 12th, 2010
4:16 pm

I’ll be willing to wager that no one shows up to hear him.

jt

January 12th, 2010
4:16 pm

Hold on to your wallets.

There is a reach across going on.

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:17 pm

Mrs. Godzilla

That was a funny movie.

Mrs. Godzilla

January 12th, 2010
4:17 pm

Taxpayer

I suspect the President will do some “challenging”…..

Bosch

January 12th, 2010
4:18 pm

RB,

Seriously, what’s the point of posting crap like that?

Mrs. Godzilla

January 12th, 2010
4:18 pm

NIF

see….we do have some common ground……

Paul

January 12th, 2010
4:18 pm

Jay

You’re on a roll, whether or not this is a red meat column or a bit of sarcasm.

Do ya’ think he might take Spkr Pelosi with her? I understand they’re on real good terms. Or maybe he’ll address Democrats, again, at their summit?

Obama: To pass health care reform, we must tax Cadillac health plans.

Audience: No No No!!!

Obama: To pass health care, we must not raise costs.

Audience: Accounting tricks! Accounting tricks! Accounting tricks!

Obama: I will do whatever it takes to keep us safe.

Audience: No rendition! No wiretaps!

Obama: I will veto a Defense bill loaded with earmarks.

Audience: Pork! Pork! Pork! Oink!

Obama: I will expand the good fight in Afghanistan.

ALL the Audience: NONONONONONONO!!!!!!

Taxpayer

January 12th, 2010
4:18 pm

RB,

Get back on the C-Span bandwagon. This is the Republican’s big chance. Opportunity knocks! Don’t let this moment pass you by.

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:19 pm

Taxpayer

LOL!!

Yes. It would be great for Obama to make enemies out of the people that are about to rule his Congress. I think he is smarter than that. My God, man, Teddy (leave em in the ditch to drown) Kennedy’s seat is about to go to a Republican. At this rate his kids and his wife will switch parties.

josef nix

January 12th, 2010
4:20 pm

Whoo-whee! Jay you really are out to stir up a stink, ain’t ya! :-)

The liar—
Fierce Advocate Ima Gonna–Prop 8, preacher Warren, DOMA, DADT, absent in Maine, absent in New Jersey, more troops to build a nation with the death penalty (enforced) for homosexuals? Yeah, I’ll bring it up every time the Obamistas start singing his hosannahs as “honest…” Sheeesh! Get real.

Otherwise in a good mood around here myself! “Mr. Nix, you know what the bear says when he comes out his cave after five months hibernation if he sees you?” “No, what?” “Breakfast!”

Bosch

January 12th, 2010
4:20 pm

Paul,

Did you make those up yourself? Smart ass. :-)

Bosch

January 12th, 2010
4:21 pm

“rule his Congress”

WTF?

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:21 pm

Mrs. Godzilla

I knew we did. Did you see my post about being in Appleton, WI and spending a lot of time in Wausau? Loved the people up there. The weather? Not so much.

Bosch

January 12th, 2010
4:22 pm

Some one asked for a riddle a while ago, I got one:

What do you sit on, sleep on, and brush your teeth with?

md

January 12th, 2010
4:23 pm

“To pass health care reform, we must tax Cadillac health plans.”

Of course the Unions want healthcare for all, as long as they don’t have to pay for any of it.

Pitiful.

josef nix

January 12th, 2010
4:24 pm

Bosch–
What?

Nothing Is Free

January 12th, 2010
4:25 pm

Bosch

Lead his Congress. Run his Congress. Be in charge of his Congress. Whatever, the democrats are going home next year and we will have America back.

i think Obama will be fine with a Republican congress. Clinton became a decent president. I think Obama will, too.

getalife

January 12th, 2010
4:25 pm

josef nix

January 12th, 2010
4:26 pm

Laying the jokes aside, why wouldn’t President Obama do this? He’s THEIR president, too.

kayaker 71

January 12th, 2010
4:27 pm

What a farse!! Maybe he’ll talk about the promise of making his administration more transparent and posting proposed legislation on the internet 5 days prior to a vote. I am surprised that this event will not be held behind closed doors ( Oh, it’s a Republican function). Then he could talk about Nancy and her promise to drain the swamp ( 25 ethics complaints in the last year and only one admonition). She should surely have Charlie Rangel standing next to her when she makes other comments about it. The first order of business was to close Gitmo. And then, we will bring home the troops in Iraq. Then, we will pass meaningful health care legislation. The only promise of any substance that this clown has made centers around his pledge to “fundamentaly change America”. He has sure a good start.

Taxpayer

January 12th, 2010
4:27 pm

This is the showdown that we have all been pushing for. One against many. It’s like reality TV’s version of Gladiator. It’s… it’s like LA against the Bookman blog. We’ve got our chance to corral them all so they can duke it out. Make it at high noon. I’m OK with that.

Bosch

January 12th, 2010
4:28 pm

josef,

A chair, bed, and tooth brush! Duh! Snort. :-)

That one was from the youngest female Bosch. I racked my brain for 30 minutes on that one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NIF,

I think it was a Freudian slip for you. Just saying.

md

January 12th, 2010
4:28 pm

We can only hope for a balanced gov’t, but I doubt it. Too many side choosers exist in this country, they’ll vote as told vs looking at the big picture.

Paul

January 12th, 2010
4:29 pm

josef

Dang! I meant to include that!

Bosch

[[Smart ass]]

It’s about the only part of me that is…..

Jay

[[I would be surprised, even shocked, if it is not televised.]]

So Republicans are open to broadcasting themselves in a give and take with the President on C-SPAN and Congressional Democrats aren’t. LOL!

Seriously, I give the President credit for facing critics head-on (usually) and telling an audience what they don’t want to hear (sometimes).

Bosch

[[What do you sit on, sleep on, and brush your teeth with?]]

I dunno, but if I’m sitting on it, I ain’t brushing my teeth with it! You can do what you want, though….

Mrs. Godzilla

January 12th, 2010
4:29 pm

NIF

Appleton is a beautiful city….I have discovered that you can get a darned good cheeseburger in just about any town tavern in WI.
Summer weather is magnificent…winter weather takes hearty stock
and a strong back.

But, I suspect you’re wrong about the Kennedy seat and 2010. No sense arguing, we’ll just have to wait and see.