So Obama invites the GOP to meet again, on TV, live, and no limitations

[ChairmanAgnostic]

on topics, except for matters of national scrutiny.

How many here think that Sarah Palin will see more people at that upcoming Teabag convention, and that most GOPers will find "excuses" to stay away?

Not only did they have their asses handed to them on a platter, 99% silver, with a beautiful gold inlay, but their speechification efforts (blackburn, boehner, pence, and others) backfired on them something fierce.

We have long known that the GOP are little more than bullies. They have successfully bullied America, the Democrats, even a president (clinton a bit, Obama, not so much) for years. It is ingrained, it is genetic, it is what makes them GOPers.

Obama stood up to them, and like most other bullies, they collapsed. Right now, they are meeting in horror, trying to undo the damage they brought onto themselves. Now, if only our Democrats would take note, and stand up to them in Congress, we'd all be far better off.

The thing about bullies is if they are successful, they get worse. But once someone seriously stands up to them, they quit being bullies, because they simply are to afraid of losing like that again. Here, that means they will never, ever, ever meet with the president when there is a TV camera operating.

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Have no fear the GOP will stick to their..

same old tactics because the American people have such short memories. I just wish that those of us on the left could remember yesterday's events, and the SOTU a lot longer. We have to stop fighting each other, and start focusing on the true enemy that the president addressed yesterday.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. agreed, we do need to consolidate our energy, direct it to the GOP

and not against each other.

[lunatica]

3. The GOP have painted themselves into the corner with their stated

goal of destroying Obama at any cost. He even called them on that yesterday talking about their focus groups to see how they could embarrass him or Pelosi or some other Democrat.

If they dare give Obama even faint praise they'll be crucified by their own party and by the Tea Partiers. They simply have no idea how their tactics have hurt them far worse than they've hurt Obama or the Democrats. They can't back down without losing everything. They bet it all on one thing. To destroy Obama.

[AlinPA]

4. They also cannot work with him anymore because they have demonized him

so badly and because as Obama said, their constituents would turn against them. This happened to Graham in SC where he was punished by republicans for just working with a Democrat on a bill.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. your tag applies perfectly to such a policy

a fool moon, by any other name, they are lunatics to think that this policy can thrive, or even survive

[Frustratedlady]

6. Well put. I hope I'm here to enjoy the look on "Boner's" face when...

..he looks behind him and no one is following.

I see he's still playing a lot of golf or lying in the tanning bed again.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Now, he just needs to "school" Senate Republicans

Unfortunately, after being PWNED by Obama yesterday, something like that would NEVER be allowed to be televised. Hopefully, though, he's embarrassed them enough already. Nah. Never mind. These ARE Republicans we're talking about after all. :eyes:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. several of them are trained by Koch money on how to "debate"

actually, quite a few of them go to their skule.

Interrupt. Never stop talking. Never admit a mistake. Never admit the logic of the opponent. Never ever give up.

That would be a fine plan, if facts and truth support your position. Too bad for the GOP that they have been on the wrong side of:
economics
sociology
political science
ecology
international relations
geneva conventions
and so much more

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. You're absolutely right

But what is "Koch money"? :shrug:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

18. Koch industries (pronounced cook) stole all sorts of

oil and gas from indian tribes and from federal lands, literally for pennies on the dollar. They became billionaires and then started to use those billions to attack Bill Clinton, and now, Obama. They underwrite all sorts of events, and have been behind the scenes on the attacks last August on congressmen and senators at public hall meetings. They spent tons on creating the Teabagger movement.

They the most vile collection of religious, ultraconservative nutjobs you can imagine. And boy, are they rich.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

19. Thanks for the clarification.

I didn't know what you were talking about at first.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. The Koch brothers have been hating the fact that their name is no longer

secret. I believe that they helped fund the Swiftboaters, that they spent close to a million doing research on Hillary, they routinely fund many right wing study groups, and they were a huge supporter of the faith based initiative. I suspect that we've only scratched the surface of their real activities.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

21. Interesting. I had never heard of them

I thought that Scaife was the main person behind a lot of these groups but apparently there are a lot more "weeds" hidden in places that we've only just begun finding.

[gkhouston]

8. If they don't show up, he could always do clips of them reciting their talking points

a la The Daily Show and demolish their talking points, one by one. He can let them know in advance that he'll be doing that on the air. Whether they'd like to defend their positions in person is, of course, up to them. :evilgrin:

[LeftyAndProud60]

9. They don't deserve a re-matach. They were outclassed by a superior athlete in boxing terms. NT

[Berry Cool]

10. Obama: "Come on, I'll give you guys another chance. Best two out of three?"

Republicans: "Um, we'd love to, but we have a previous appointment with, um, someone, elsewhere."

[Arkana]

12. "We have to, um, floss our otters."

[deaniac83]

11. Obama! Obama! Obama!

Gotta love this guy. If the GOP wants a serious debate on the issues, let's go. The President of the United States has invited them to it. Let's do this. No theatrics, not tricks, no censorship. Just debates. We will field questions and have a debate with gravitas. Bring it out in front of the American people. Let's see how long the GOP talking point house of cards lasts.

[Arkana]

13. He said it during the campaign: "I don't do cowering".

No one listened.

Now they reap what they have sown.

[Fire1]

14. So true. n/t

[cilla4progress]

16. Awesome, awesome analysis

Bullies are actually very simple, truthfully. You nailed it. Like the historical perspective. Very succinct. Nice.

[Danascot]

22. ... and I hope he calls them on it when they fail to take him up on his offer

diplomatically of course.

Bush thought he was bad-ass. Obama is bad-ass.

[opihimoimoi]

23. They are trapped....if they accept....more humiliation...if they decline...they appear as wusses

[Mudoria]

24. He needs to do a Q&A with the Congressional Democrats

and whip a few asses in line there. The Repubs aren't the problem, they have no real power, it's the Dem's and thier fucking squabbling and dithering that's the real problem.