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Political Roundup
Sep. 10th, 2009 01:09 amFollowing a couple of weeks of some absolutely appalling polling numbers for President Obama, it looks like he's been given a window out on the backs of two speeches and borrowing a page from the Boston Red Sox front office. Where Theo Epstein once had to shrug to the media and say 'let Manny be Manny', President Obama gets an unexpected lift by 'letting the GOP be the GOP'.
President Obama's address to school children on the first day of school drew fire as rightwing pundits seized on a suggested set of questions and follow up assignments for teachers regarding the speech, including asking students to write about how they could "help the president,". Jim Greer, Florida state GOP chairman, waded into the fray decoding the message as part of pushing Obama's socialist agenda, others suggested he was looking to create a 'cult of personality', and still others mused that this was how the Hitler Youth began.
When the remarkably innocuous speech came out, focused on staying in school, taking personal responsibility and not posting pictures of your tits on Facebook, along with support from left-wing fanatics like Laura Bush, there were dark mutterings that the speech was changed from the original text, that outlined why Lenin should have been one of the founding fathers and how the plan was to push for a Marxist state by Christmas, into one that was about issues like studying and staying in school, as stated in the original purpose. I'm happy with a good conspiracy myself, but unless they can come up with a handful of shredded Little Red Books in the White House dumpster, the GOP firmly pushed itself into the camp of hysterical bombast with this number.
That was swiftly (using swiftboats, no doubt) followed by President Obama's speech to Congress on his health care initiatives. Now, setting aside the various elements of the debate, there are specific codes of conduct that are to be followed in the Capitol Building, which have prevented little foibles like politicians attacking each other bodily on the floor. Part of me rather wishes that wasn't the case, because I remain relatively sure that Sen. Webb could have fucked up Chaney's shit something fierce in a scrum. However, during the President's speech, Joe Wilson, a South Carolina representative screamed out 'You lie!' in response to the President's point that illegal immigrants would not benefit from proposed health care legislation.
It would be a daring and courageous act to challenge the President, catching him in an attempt to mislead Congress, as one honest man, unbowed by tradition and decorum faces the most powerful man in the world and forces him to admit the truth.
Only glitch here is that Wilson is, well, completely wrong. The legislation approved by three House committees clearly states that only lawful residents will qualify for new health insurance subsidies. "Nothing in this subtitle," it says, "shall allow federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States."
I guess we'll have to pull production on 'Mister Wilson Goes to Washington'.
So, early indicators from pollsters are that the speech has resonated strongly, and this weekend will be a good indication if that is correct across the broader American public and if President Obama will receive a badly needed bounce from it. However, the GOP can't hope that they will sidestep their performance, even if they do try and marginalize various party members in response. Shrill, hysterical, making wild speculations and comparisons to fascist thought control and socialist indoctrinations; all of it turning out to be absolutely wrong.
Let the GOP be the GOP.
EDIT: Since the speech, Rob Miller, the Democrat challenger for Joe Wilson's seat has raised over $700,000 from over 20,000 donors.
President Obama's address to school children on the first day of school drew fire as rightwing pundits seized on a suggested set of questions and follow up assignments for teachers regarding the speech, including asking students to write about how they could "help the president,". Jim Greer, Florida state GOP chairman, waded into the fray decoding the message as part of pushing Obama's socialist agenda, others suggested he was looking to create a 'cult of personality', and still others mused that this was how the Hitler Youth began.
When the remarkably innocuous speech came out, focused on staying in school, taking personal responsibility and not posting pictures of your tits on Facebook, along with support from left-wing fanatics like Laura Bush, there were dark mutterings that the speech was changed from the original text, that outlined why Lenin should have been one of the founding fathers and how the plan was to push for a Marxist state by Christmas, into one that was about issues like studying and staying in school, as stated in the original purpose. I'm happy with a good conspiracy myself, but unless they can come up with a handful of shredded Little Red Books in the White House dumpster, the GOP firmly pushed itself into the camp of hysterical bombast with this number.
That was swiftly (using swiftboats, no doubt) followed by President Obama's speech to Congress on his health care initiatives. Now, setting aside the various elements of the debate, there are specific codes of conduct that are to be followed in the Capitol Building, which have prevented little foibles like politicians attacking each other bodily on the floor. Part of me rather wishes that wasn't the case, because I remain relatively sure that Sen. Webb could have fucked up Chaney's shit something fierce in a scrum. However, during the President's speech, Joe Wilson, a South Carolina representative screamed out 'You lie!' in response to the President's point that illegal immigrants would not benefit from proposed health care legislation.
It would be a daring and courageous act to challenge the President, catching him in an attempt to mislead Congress, as one honest man, unbowed by tradition and decorum faces the most powerful man in the world and forces him to admit the truth.
Only glitch here is that Wilson is, well, completely wrong. The legislation approved by three House committees clearly states that only lawful residents will qualify for new health insurance subsidies. "Nothing in this subtitle," it says, "shall allow federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States."
I guess we'll have to pull production on 'Mister Wilson Goes to Washington'.
So, early indicators from pollsters are that the speech has resonated strongly, and this weekend will be a good indication if that is correct across the broader American public and if President Obama will receive a badly needed bounce from it. However, the GOP can't hope that they will sidestep their performance, even if they do try and marginalize various party members in response. Shrill, hysterical, making wild speculations and comparisons to fascist thought control and socialist indoctrinations; all of it turning out to be absolutely wrong.
Let the GOP be the GOP.
EDIT: Since the speech, Rob Miller, the Democrat challenger for Joe Wilson's seat has raised over $700,000 from over 20,000 donors.
