Are we about to see a more aggressive Obama?
The medium is the message, as Marshall McLuhan taught us.
With that in mind, what should we make of the fact that President Obama has requested a joint session of Congress on the evening of Sept. 7 to lay out his jobs program?
The high-profile setting, with live coverage by the networks and news channels almost guaranteed, would suggest that Obama intends to be ambitious in his proposal. A more cynical mind would also note that Obama might be treating this as the kickoff to his 2012 election campaign, using the speech to lay out a series of proposals and publicly challenge a highly unpopular Congress to adopt them.
If Obama has decided to model his campaign on Harry Truman’s 1948 successful campaign, in which “Give ‘em Hell” Harry ran hard against a do-nothing Congress, this would seem to be a great opportunity to drive that message home.
Of course, that’s not how the White House put it in the letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:
“It is my intention to lay out a series of bipartisan proposals that the Congress can take immediately to continue to rebuild the American economy by strengthening small business, helping Americans get back to work and putting more money in the paychecks of the middle class and working Americans, while still reducing the deficit and getting our fiscal house in order. It is our responsibility to find bipartisan solutions to help grow our economy, and if we are willing to put country before party, I am confident we can do just that.”
The timing of the speech is also interesting. As it happens, the first in a series of debates among the GOP presidential candidates, this one to be broadcast on MSNBC and held at the Reagan Library in California, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday, the exact time requested by Obama.
Imagine that. One would almost think that Obama was using his power as president to steal the spotlight from his would-be challengers and remind them that he has no intention of being upstaged.
In a press briefing this afternoon, White House spokesman Jay Carney was asked whether that was the intended message. You can guess his answer.
“No, of course not. There were a lot of considerations. Once you want to do a speech to Congress and you have to deal with congressional schedules and there are many other factors here … one debate of many that is on one channel of many was not enough reason not to have this speech at the time that we decided to have it.”
“There are many opportunities for the American people. There’s a choice they can make to watch the president, to watch the debate,” Carney said. “A network could make a decision to alter the timing of the debate by an hour.”
Or, in the immortal words of Hank Williams, “move over little dog, because the big dog’s movin’ in.”
– Jay Bookman
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946 comments Add your comment
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:22 pm
AT&T tmobile stoppage
I think I agree with Obama on this move
I know libs fainting
USMC
August 31st, 2011
10:23 pm
“(pass the single malt please!).”
More like Olde English 800 or MD 20/20
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
10:24 pm
marc,
We don’t have to say much to make him look bad. He does a pretty good job of that all by himself.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
“Name one foreign leader/dictator that hasn’t talked down to obama like he was a little school girl?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:25 pm
Playing hardball politics to fire up the base.
Get use to it.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:26 pm
getalife- Your speaker is the first to refuse a Presidential request to address a crisis for a gop debate
It’s a shame the way this “crisis” snuck up on us all of a sudden. If it’s soooo important why does he talk tomorrow? Shouldn’t be a big deal for the great orator…
RW-(the original)
August 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
I thought Obama’s moving date was 1/20/2013
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
I wish cox would stop showing the stupid Mercedes e-class ads next to this comment box
Means they’ve been tracking me………
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:29 pm
Rw
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:29 pm
jm,
Do you take meds?
USMC
August 31st, 2011
10:29 pm
“It’s a shame the way this “crisis” snuck up on us all of a sudden. If it’s soooo important why does he talk tomorrow? Shouldn’t be a big deal for the great orator…”
Because he just got home from Martha’s Vineyard and needs to clean his golf clubs.
(well I guess Cheeves can do that)
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
jm,
My son is the senior vice president for strategic planning for AT&T. We had a long conversation today and there is a lot about this whole merger that is not being outed. Some of it has to do with areas of coverage, some has to do with wireless territories that neither cover and most of it has to do with a very stubborn DOJ who, because they didn’t get their way with AT&T the last time merger talks were held, are putting a stick in the eye of the offender. It has nothing to do with rates, which is often the reason why government says they intervene. It has everything to do with getting back at someone who beat you before.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
marc/getalife- you like to call yourselves “Great Americans”.
Hillary said it’s our right to disagree. I guess those four other anti-American fingers are pointing back at you.
Kamchak
August 31st, 2011
10:30 pm
I wish cox would stop showing the stupid Mercedes e-class ads…
What ads?
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:32 pm
kay,
BS.
They stopped it because the rates would increase. I agree with ending this merger.
Consumer protection you cons hate.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 31st, 2011
10:34 pm
AmVet, great clip! How appropriate!
USMC
August 31st, 2011
10:35 pm
“I wish cox would stop showing the stupid Mercedes e-class ads next to this comment box”
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL car! Mercedes has really turned the tide with the new E-Class.
Chrysler took a toll on Mercedes quality last decade. Mercedes quality went way down and Chrysler’s quality went way up. Funny.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:35 pm
getalife- Playing hardball politics to fire up the base
Nothing says hardball like picking a date for your “great earth changing speech” to solve our “crisis” then changing to a later date.
PS: I’d stay away from baseball quotes when talking about the president. Saying he throws like a girl is an insult to females everywhere.
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:37 pm
I think jm might be whacked out on ice and seeing things.
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
10:37 pm
getalife,
You know not of what you speak. Rates cannot be increased without FCC approval. If one company enters a zone where there is no competition from another company, the FCC mandates that the dominant company sell part of that territory to the competitor or let the competitor use already installed equipment, ie land lines. They are forced to do this to avoid a monopoly by a larger competitor. It has nothing to do with “cons”. Is that all you think about?
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:39 pm
kay,
Your son does not work there.
Do you even have a son?
I don’t believe a word you say.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:40 pm
USMC- Chrysler took a toll on Mercedes quality last decade. Mercedes quality went way down and Chrysler’s quality went way up.
???? Daimler did nothing for Chrysler. I had high hopes but it never was a good fit.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:40 pm
Kayaker71 I totally believe that
And I believe the merger would have benefits
But I also believe the more competition the better
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:42 pm
Usmc yeah I like te new one
But every new version takes me a few months to get used to
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
10:42 pm
getalife,
You are indeed the pinnacle of ignorance. Believe what you will. I have never told a lie on this blog and now is not the time start. You must be a very angry adolescent who thrives on making yourself look stupid. You are succeeding, young man, you are succeeding.
out of the blue
August 31st, 2011
10:42 pm
“My son is the senior vice president for strategic planning for AT&T.” Cool man, I wonder if my son the President of Verizon knows your son?
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:44 pm
My son is the President of la la land.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:45 pm
Getalife I’m not ignoring u, u crack me up
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:45 pm
getalife-
Still waiting for that list of foreign policy debates obama has “owned”. Time to put on your big girl panties…
USMC
August 31st, 2011
10:45 pm
“???? Daimler did nothing for Chrysler. I had high hopes but it never was a good fit.”
I agree. It was a bad fit. BUT…
Daimler started using parts for the Chrysler product. ex: the Chrylser 300 and others were fitted with Daimler transmissions, etc. increasing the quality of Chrysler autos. HOWEVER, Mercedes Legendary quality took a HUGE hit.
Kamchak
August 31st, 2011
10:46 pm
I used to date Morgan Fairchild.
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:47 pm
jk,
Well you will have to wait for the general silly.
He will win the debates easily like last time.
No contest.
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
10:47 pm
jm,
Most corporate mergers look to enhance both parties. T-Mobile has some of the best wireless technology on the market but needs territory. AT&T has lots of territory but needs wireless enhancement. A lot of people are afraid of large corporate monopoly like the old AT&T but with all of the FCC regulations on their operations, there is little fear of any telecommunications company dominating the market. Both of them seem to think that it would give better service to their customers.
USMC
August 31st, 2011
10:47 pm
“My son is the President of la la land.”–GETALIFE
Do you think you can get my uncle a Green Card?
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:47 pm
Getalife is 17 and probably currently drunk
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:49 pm
Yeah, jm drives a new Mercedes too.
How many of you buy that lie?
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:52 pm
Getalife I don’t drive a new Mercedes
Sold my e class in 2003. Drive a prius
If MB will sell their diesel electric hybrid here I would buy one
Uncle Jed
August 31st, 2011
10:53 pm
RW-(the original)
August 31st, 2011
10:28 pm
I thought Obama’s moving date was 1/20/2013
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By golly, that there is tonight’s winner…ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:53 pm
“Drive a prius”
Uh huh, sure you do.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 31st, 2011
10:53 pm
How very strategic…to tell you the “problems” and then you post them on a public website. I bet the ATT attorneys working the merger approval request through the DOJ will just love that.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:53 pm
getalife- No contest.
Libs getting schooled.
Only months until obama moves his chair from the corner back to Chicago.
I’ll be lurking until some fresh meat arrives.
moveon.org, nothing to see here Demwits…
USMC
August 31st, 2011
10:54 pm
“How many of you buy that lie?”–GETALIFE
Let that HATE go from your heart Getalife. You are privileged enough to live in a GREAT Capitalist country where you are free to go out and earn as much money as your little heart desires.
Why would JM lie? He gives you and your Marxist bretheren a class in economics every day here on Bookman’s blog.
Uncle Jed
August 31st, 2011
10:55 pm
Getalife is 17 and probably currently drunk
+++++++++++
…and drooling over Kardashian photos in People
really now zzzzzzzzzzz
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:55 pm
Me too jk.
Back to lurking until fresh meat arrives.
These cons are not capable of writing the truth.
“Adios mofos” perry.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:56 pm
There will be a part of me that will be sad to see Obama go. So much potential. Lost and wasted.
But obviously for the best assuming R’s but up someone 1/2 decent
Kamchak
August 31st, 2011
10:56 pm
I drove a Lamborghini.
Didn’t like it, so I gave it to my upstairs maid.
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
10:56 pm
keep,
All common knowledge, known to both parties and to the DOJ. I am not told any information that is considered confidential and even if I was I would not post it publicly.
getalife
August 31st, 2011
10:57 pm
“I drove a Lamborghini.
Didn’t like it, so I gave it to my upstairs maid.”
Hilarious.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
10:57 pm
Hey dawg fans, how bad do you expect them to get torn apart this weekend?
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
10:58 pm
keep- the DOJ will just love that.
Sure eric holder stays up all night reading Bookman’s column in hope of finding tips.
Mick
August 31st, 2011
10:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Jm
August 31st, 2011
10:58 pm
Kam
that was nice of u
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:00 pm
“There will be a part of me that will be sad to see Obama go. So much potential. Lost and wasted.”
He was not qualified to be President in the first place and in WAY over his head from the beginning.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 31st, 2011
11:00 pm
JKL… perhaps you need to work on comprehension 101 before you misquote me.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
11:00 pm
getalife- Back to lurking until fresh meat arrives
Does that mean you couldn’t find your big girl panties? Are you going to the store for some Depends now?
Mick
August 31st, 2011
11:01 pm
Sorry everybody, but reading through the last couple pages of posts has left me uncomfortably numb whilst accidently hitting the submit button and becoming numero uno..roger out…
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:01 pm
Money ball
How awesome and so American
Libs not allowed to see the movie. Might corrupt their minds
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
11:02 pm
Bozo is the best thing to happen to this country in the last 100yrs. He has awakened those that care about this country to the fact that we could go down if we continue on the way we are going. He has prompted people to take an active interest in politics and to defend their beliefs when they were ambivalent at best. He has given us a whole new sense of purpose. Look at last November. We can thank him for showing us how really bad a president can be. For that we can be forever grateful.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:03 pm
USMC 11 agree
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
11:04 pm
-I drove a Lamborghini.
I actually sold mine before moving down here to Georgia. Feel free to call me a liar too, but it’s still the truth. It does ride rough until you get it up to speed and it gets some air underneath it.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:05 pm
Kayaker
If he was pulling a Clinton and doing the modern equivalent of welfare reform I think it would be a different story
But he’s so damn liberal he won’t consider anything of the sort
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:07 pm
USMC 11 agree
JM, I know why you voted for Obama and know your intentions and reasoning were honorable.
But facts are facts… and Obama has proven what we all didn’t want to believe.
(Unqualified to be POTUS and in WAY over his head)
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
11:08 pm
jm,
One of his greatest legacies could have been the healing of race relations in this country. He had a golden opportunity to step up to the plate and lead us into a better country racially. He was more interested in transforming us into his own image. Sad that the first black president could have been such a disappointment.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:08 pm
Usmc yep
On to brighter days ahead.
Btw. Dick Cheney. Bad ass. I think he must drink dos equis
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:10 pm
Kayaker71@ 11:02
Well said! There is definitely a blessing(not intended to offend the Athiest and Marxists on this Blog) in the whole MESS.
kayaker 71
August 31st, 2011
11:10 pm
Outta here….. save the TaTas, one of God’s most beautiful creations.
Kamchak
August 31st, 2011
11:11 pm
It does ride rough until you get it up to speed and it gets some air underneath it.
Funny.
The same thing happens with my Learjet 45.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:12 pm
Kayaker yeah there is that
And without a much of a record and a vacuous campaign platform and theme I think people plastered onto him their own positions
I think I made that mistake. Even though I loved McCain as well. Respect the he’ll out of that guy. He was tea party before tea party was cool. He’s been fighting corruption and earmarks and waste his whole life
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:12 pm
“Btw. Dick Cheney. Bad ass. I think he must drink dos equis”
Yeah, unfortunately I think Dick Cheney is on his death bed and “spewing” dirty laundry in his book… sad.
JKL2
August 31st, 2011
11:14 pm
Jm- Btw. Dick Cheney. Bad ass
Dick Cheney was Chuck Norris’ sensei.
1811/0311
August 31st, 2011
11:15 pm
AmVet @ 10:03
Ah …………………………… sonar to bridge; sonar to bridge.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:15 pm
Kam 11:11
Hope you get it serviced often
Those things are dangerous in the wrong hands
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:16 pm
“One of his greatest legacies could have been the healing of race relations in this country. He had a golden opportunity to step up to the plate and lead us into a better country racially. He was more interested in transforming us into his own image. Sad that the first black president could have been such a disappointment.
Simply put, Obama is blinded by Marxist/Socialist political philosophy AND his own Narcissism.
1811/0311
August 31st, 2011
11:16 pm
USMC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3krjPWs_7E&feature=related
“Get Some !”
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:17 pm
Scout murder at 1600 on TNT
U probably laugh at that stuff though
Kinda like I laugh at Yankees doing a southern accent after they watch Forrest gump
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:18 pm
“Ah …………………………… sonar to bridge; sonar to bridge.”
LOL!
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:19 pm
Usmc you may be right. Or that new technology he’s got may mean he’s around for a lot longer…..
Kamchak
August 31st, 2011
11:19 pm
Hope you get it serviced often
Giving it to the downstairs maid tomorrow.
Too bourgeois.
Good Little Liberal
August 31st, 2011
11:21 pm
JKL2
Sounds like you had a Countach. Rides like a truck and the one I drove didn’t have a seat that would slide back far enough to be comfortable and I’m not that tall. The Diablo is quite a bit more refined.
Personally Lambos are crude and rude and while the Countach is faster than all but the most expensive Ferraris, Ferraris win hands down in every way. I was able to use a 360 C for a little while (about a month) and I would have put it up against the fastest Lambo anywhere. Of course it was a race car with mufflers, but I sure had fun taking it through the Brookwood. The Gs going through that hairpin were just damned painful.
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:21 pm
Hey Scout, What’s going on Teufel Hunden!
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 31st, 2011
11:21 pm
It is really sad when the leader of the free world has to stoop to a cheap political stunt to get his country to pay any attention to him.
He just keeps devolving day after day after day.
/drive bye bye!
out of the blue
August 31st, 2011
11:25 pm
kamchak…..Sorry I’m late. We, my hot babe, and I just landed at PDK in my brand new Citation.
As soon as my batman brings my Aston Martin around (got some of that blue JW) we’ll be there.
USMC
August 31st, 2011
11:25 pm
GLL @ 11:21
Yeah Ferraris are nice, but I like a stock Porsche 911… The Germans, well what can I say?
(both are nice)
Good Little Liberal
August 31st, 2011
11:30 pm
USMC
A Porsche 911S was the first semi-exotic I ever owned. Great car. I didn’t live in Atlanta when I had it, but I drove it there a few times. It was taken out by a little old lady driving a Lincoln MarkIV. I’m sure if I had been in a lesser car, I wouldn’t have walked away. It was already a classic when I had it and the insurance company offered me $2,500. I sued.
1811/0311
August 31st, 2011
11:32 pm
USMC:
Bayonet fighting with these libs.
1811/0311
August 31st, 2011
11:37 pm
Jm:
No …………… this one was the absolute worst ……………………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTKEwovgcFw
Kamchak
August 31st, 2011
11:37 pm
(got some of that blue JW)
We’ll give that panther pi$$ to the hired help.
Got 12 cases of 60 year old Macallan.
Good Little Liberal
August 31st, 2011
11:39 pm
As far as Jay’s article. Obama will present a leftist approach that will please his base and then depend of the Mainstream Media to spin it as centrist.
Nothing new.
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:43 pm
Scout 11:37 jeeebus. No kidding……
1811/0311
August 31st, 2011
11:47 pm
Jm:
………………. and this was one of the better ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBe8mltpkA
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:47 pm
Hope jay hasn’t gone off the deep end. Some of those MSNBC guys had meltdowns
Someone at Cox should check in on him…… (sarcasm)
out of the blue
August 31st, 2011
11:49 pm
Kamchak “Got 12 cases of 60 year old Macallan” Now your talkin’
What say you and I hop aboard my Citation and fly to my villa off the coast of Italy?
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:53 pm
Scout looks entertaining
Kam – neat
Jm
August 31st, 2011
11:56 pm
What? The money bags here and no one has a gulf stream?
Good Little Liberal
August 31st, 2011
11:58 pm
out of the blue
Wow. That would be one uncomfortable ride. The range would be enough to make it to Italy, but that’s a small cheap jet to fly that distance.
Jm
September 1st, 2011
12:00 am
Never personally been on a gulf stream
My dad has. And he got to see one with bullet holes and blood stains
In for a refurb. Arab owned
Good Little Liberal
September 1st, 2011
12:01 am
jm
A Gulf Stream would be the plane I would want to take to Italy. A larger Lear would also work.
Jm
September 1st, 2011
12:03 am
GLL, uh yeah
Pretty sweet. And locally made
out of the blue
September 1st, 2011
12:05 am
Ole Scout wants to fix bayonets, and attack the libs.
Tell you what scout, in my day I would have made mince meat out of you, and whoever you had aroound. I was packing a M6 Armament Subsystem. The beauty of this system we could pick, and chose which rocket launcher, we were also armed with two M60’s……
Good night scout
Jm
September 1st, 2011
12:05 am
Ouuuuut