White House: We're Not Going to Waste This Opportunity by Throwing Bones to the Pundits

[Clio the Leo]

It’s the first Obama speech ever panned by the talking heads. Allies found it too timid. Republicans are back on a single song sheet, calling it exploitive. Here’s what the White House is thinking: The Gulf gusher is a battle we can’t win. So we had to make this tragedy about something bigger than the liveshot of spewing oil. President Obama, in last night’s 17-minute Oval Office address, called for the first steps in “the transition away from fossil fuels”: “he time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America’s innovation and seize control of our own destiny.”

West Wing Mindmeld: Whenever we do something like this, our focus is always on communicating directly with the American people, in an unfiltered way. We don’t waste those opportunities to throw bones to the pundits.

Obama called for action on an energy bill “in the months ahead.” But, in what supporters called shades of the public option, didn’t say exactly what he wants: “Last year, the House of Representatives acted on principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill … I’m happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party … The one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big … The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon.

<snip>

Phil Schiliro, the White House congressional liaison, has told the Senate to aim to take up an energy bill the week of July 12, after the July 4 break (and after the scheduled final passage of Wall Street reform). Kagan confirmation will follow, ahead of the summer break, scheduled to begin Aug. 9. The plan is to conference the new Senate bill with the already-passed House bill IN A LAME-DUCK SESSION AFTER THE ELECTION, so House members don’t have to take another tough vote ahead of midterms.

A White House aide has the official word: “President Obama reiterated his call for comprehensive energy and climate legislation to break our dependence on oil and fossil fuels. In the coming weeks he will be reaching out to Senators on both sides of the aisle to chart a path forward. A number of proposals have been put forward from Members on both sides of the aisle. We're open to good ideas from all sources, and will be working with Senators on a comprehensive proposal. The tragedy in the Gulf underscores the need to move quickly, and the President is committed to finding the votes for comprehensive energy legislation this year.”

http://www.politico.com/playbook/

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. There has to be a truning point for the world to get away from oil

China consumes an enormous amount too. Other countries have to join in too. I hope Obama can lead the world into a new dimension of energy.

[niceypoo]

27. Within ten years we will live in a different world

We have passed the tipping point for global warming.

[livetohike]

2. My husband is not a political junkie, but he said something after

the speech that I think is pretty astute. He said the President didn't do what a lot of people want him to do, that is to be a dictator and bark orders. We had eight years of that.

[zipplewrath]

5. Some of us wanted a leader

not a community organizer.

He isn't leading, he's coordinating.

[livetohike]

6. Leader or dictator? What constitutes a leader in your definition?

A leader does coordinate/manage the situation. You want him to do everything himself? Is he an Engineer? Is he a Scientist? In his adult career as a lawyer/law professor/state senator does he have the background and experience to solve this problem on his own?

BTW, that denigration of community organizers is such a right wing talking point.

[zipplewrath]

9. You see it as a denigration

I see it as a distinction. Nothing wrong with being an organizer, if that's you're job. But when you lean on organizing because it's all you know how to do, it's a weakness. He's not an organizer. He's got cabinet secretaries to handle that job. He's got a bureaucracy to handle that. He's suppose to be the leader. He sets the vision, not implements it. I could have even understood him setting the time frame, and leaving the specific method to congress. "I'll listen to all ideas, but before ... we must have an comprehensive energy bill....". Heck, he could even have done the Kennedy shtick and said "by the end of the decade, we must have capped oil consumption at.....".

Instead we got a call to prayer and scheduled another meeting.

[livetohike]

13. I see your point and he did set the vision. He's been talking

about that vision since his campaign. I thought the call to prayer was strange, but then there are many religious people down on the Gulf coast....I guess it was meant to comfort them :shrug:.

There are quite a few small businesses sprouting up here in PA to convert to a green energy economy. Closer to my home, there is a new DCNR (dept. of conservation and natural resources) office that is heated/cooled with geothermal energy and built entirely of green products. Pretty cool. Don't know what it cost. So very slowly, things are changing. We need an escalation of that. Maybe the President will expand on that as far as timeline in another speech.

[zipplewrath]

15. Maybe

We always seem to be waiting for the next speech. Unfortunately, what usually comes is an explanation of how the public option is just too hard.

[volvoblue]

67. ;that is part of the problem

the left and the pundits have come to demand that Obama make some grand speech for everything from the oil situation to the weather outside.
that is part of why the media is attacking him and pouting. He did not go grand speech.
that is why the left is whining. he did reprise Berlin.
Okay, the guy makes great speeches but, there is a hell of alot more to being a president.

[niceypoo]

31. Obama was a community organizer between earning his bachelors degree and law school

It was his college job, not his career.

Having said that, Obama is more appeaser than leader.

From Merrrian Webster:
Appease: pacify, conciliate; especially : to buy off (an aggressor) by concessions usually at the sacrifice of principles.

If I recall correctly the healthcare bill contained EVERY republican idea, but almost nothing for those who elected him. Appeasing the GOP was more important than healthcare, resulting in a toothless bill, IMHO.

[zipplewrath]

36. I agree

Although "appease" is probably the most negative word you could have used. But it is more "herding cats" than being CEO.

[niceypoo]

43. I agree that the word appease has negative connotations

But the dictionary definition of the word hits the bulls-eye.

[KittyWampus]

7. You really do display an astounding lack of comprehension. Leadership IS COORDINATING.

What you want is an authoritarian Bush-like dictator who will do everything the same way but towards the Left.

[zipplewrath]

14. Actually there are 3 kinds of leaders

What you're describing is often referred to as a Laissez faire leader. Provides no vision of his own, but merely coordinates the visions of partners.

This situation calls for the Democratic kind of leader, the one who accepts input, and then establishes the path. Bush was the third kind, the autocratic leader. He sets the vision without consultation.

We've been talking and proposing solutions to this basic problem for 30 years. It's long past time to collect ideas. There are ideas already in committee. There are ideas that have passed the house. Bill Gates has a plan. Several Environmental organizations have plans. Cobble something together and lead.

[LaurenG]

11. I think I know what you are talking about

People wanted to hear facts and hard and fast solutions or at least a commitment that xyz will be done and at least a start date.

What I heard was that there are no facts to deal with a situation that has never happened to this degree before and so no solutions yet. I also heard that he is going to do everything in his power to gather facts and come up with solutions as fast as possible.

What I also heard was, if you are a praying person, pray like you've never prayed before because we are on a very slippery slope.

[zipplewrath]

16. Depends upon what you consider "the problem" to be

If you are overly focused upon the leak itself, the solution is plain, and uninspiring. Drill the relief wells and clean up the mess.

But "the problem" is the oil itself and why we are drilling dangerous wells to get it. It is that the entire region is so economically dependent upon the oil. It is that the nation hasn't moved away from oil in 30 years since the oil embargo and we STILL aren't moving away.

There are 30 years of solutions that have been proposed. Time to formulate a plan and "Move On".

[LaurenG]

23. Well the leak itself is the immediate problem

and the gulf coast the people and environment are the next immediate problem. The solution to the economic problems and our addiction to oil and the jobs that oil creates is only going to come in measured steps. There isn't any other way to do it.

Which of the 30 years of solutions should be tackled first?
I agree "move on" but if you think about how hard it is to immplement changes just in the work place you'll appreciate the scope of immplementing changes to the entire country. I am very interested in seeing Obama wrestle this isuue out of the arms of the corporate congress. I will jump up and down for joy once we get movement there.

[XemaSab]

47. Obama has had 2 months of crisis

18 months as president

3 years since he announced he was running

5 years since he was elected Senator

14 years since he first assumed political office


But he's acting like this is the first time he ever sat down to think about an energy plan. :o

[LaurenG]

53. I did notice that.

Can't say I know what that was about.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

64. Where have you been living over the last number of years?

do you ever read?

www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/newenergy/index.php

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/05/energy.plans/

http://www.grist.org/article/barack-obama-on-energy-independence/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/energy-and-environment

http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc.cfm?doc_name=fs-111-2-26

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124629895467769183.html

on and on

plus all the bills sponsered on energy

[XemaSab]

77. So why did he not mention these things?

• Provide short‐term relief to American families facing pain at the pump
• Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
• Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined
• Put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars – cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America
• Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025
• Implement an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050

[Rosa Luxemburg]

78. He has done for a number of years but he probably assumes people know

I think we might write to him to emphasize. For too long the republicans have been the 'Kings of Oil.'

[treestar]

18. And this is wrong, how?

who wants a leader in that sense? Just someone to follow? This is the government of the people.

[zipplewrath]

19. Just follow?

There's been 30 years of work by the body politic on how to address the energy situation and cut our oil usage. He campaigned for 2 years to be put into a situation to make this decision. The situation now presents itself. There are few in the world who can seize this opportunity the way he can. It's time for him to leverage the past and the present for a future free of this kind of problem.

[treestar]

24. It would be so easy if a POTUS had all that power

When Bush claimed it, we condemned that. And rightly so.

It's not that Carter was weak that we did not do what he wanted and become energy independent. It is that we did not want to.

So we elected Ronnie to tell us it was all OK.

[HughMoran]

20. Straight out of the Republican Play Book

Nice ;)

[breadandwine]

21. Exactly, Zipplewrath #5. John Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy and other great Democrats

would be rolling in their graves at that tepid, mealy mouthed speech.


As you say, "Some of us wanted a leader, not a community organizer. He isn't leading, he's coordinating."


Exactly.


If I hear any more blather about his stupid commission, I'm going to puke.


It's called running the country, leading, being president, kicking ass, taking charge, scaring the SH*T out of BP and forcing them to do what they have to do.


There are thousands of government laws and regulations on the books that could be thrown at BP.

Don't forget that Al Capone was supposed to be untouchable but they still nailed him ---- on TAX EVASION.


There is always a way to nail companies like BP if you want.

The way to fix the oil leak is the scare the SH*T out of BP. BP is a lazy, good for nothing pile of sh*t that needs to have the SH*T scared out of them. The idea that there is nothing Obama can do is BULLSH*T.

If Obama doesn't want to be president, he should step aside for someone else to take his job.

Such as a Democrat.

You've HEARD of Democrats, haven't you, Mr. President?

You know.

DEMOCRATS.

The people who gave us the New Deal and the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and landed a man on the Moon?

Heard of that?

No. Not COMMISSIONS.


LEADERSHIP.


L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P.


If Obama doesn't want to be president he should just resign and Biden too and let Pelosi take over from them. She's next in line of succession.

You don't HAVE to be president, Mr. Obama.

If you're sick of the job, we understand. Why, all those chefs in the White House, the butlers, the servants, the Secret Service, the chauffeurs, Air Force One, Chopper One, all that food exactly the way you want it prepared.......

Is that sickening or what?


We understand you long for the days of community organizing, sitting around the campfire and all.


If you don't WANT to be president, we understand.


Let a Democrat be president instead.


Seriously.


Resign, Mr. President.


There are plenty of Democrats who would be happy to take your job if you don't want it.

[HughMoran]

22. Fucking ludicrous

Anger leads to ridiculous postings.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skinner]

28. Honest question:

Do you understand why it might piss people off to hear people attacking Obama for being a community organizer? (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/palin-to-zing-o.html">Hint.)

[zipplewrath]

35. Honest question

Did I "attack" him for being a community organizer?

If a guy moves from center to quarterback, it's important he start acting like a quarterback, not a center. It might be a real good idea for a quarterback to have some experience at center. It might even be preferable. And just because he switches to quarterback doesn't mean centers aren't important. But once he's the quarterback, it's time to stop being the center and start being the quarterback.

Really folks, if we can't talk without FEAR of someone using the same words as the quitter from Alaska, there's gonna be alot of the english language that we're gonna have to cut out.

[Skinner]

44. Jesus fucking christ. What a load of garbage. (nt)

[zipplewrath]

46. Excuse me?

You seem to think there is only one way to do all jobs? Or that there is only one kind of leader, from community organizer to Pesident of the United States?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

54. I don't think you are playing fair

this is an immense problem which is being dealt with.

[zipplewrath]

58. Only the hole in the gulf

The large problem of the need and desire to drill there was left unanswered last night.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

65. I don't think he is favor of oil but

there is enormous pressure from the Republican baby drills.

[Jennicut]

29. LOL.

Yeah, let him resign. That will inspire confidence and new leadership in the Dem party, which will be dead for years from something like that.

[zipplewrath]

39. Indulging in hyperbole?

Just as there are more than two kinds of leaders, the choice here isn't "my way or the highway". It's constructive criticism about how he can better do the job we all presume he wants to do.

[dionysus]

68. Resign?!?! wow. your bitterness has made you pathetic. simply pathetic.

i think you just soiled yourself.

[Skinner]

26. Help me out, because I'm having difficulty keeping track.

So, now community organizers are bad?

Waiting for the snide comment about Saul Alinsky and Bill Ayers.

[Jennicut]

30. Apparently they are.

Susan B. Anthony
Mahatma Ghandi
Martin Luther
Jesus Christ
Sam Adams
MLK jr.

These people organized communities. They were leaders. So it is a bad thing?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/4/105623/5197/586/586233...a fine post about community organizers after Sarah Palin put them down.

[zipplewrath]

37. How were their presidencies?

They are different jobs. They require different kinds of leadership. Read his book about the day Harold Washington showed up at one of his events and you'll see the difference about being a leader, and being a community organizer, and the power that such an office has.

[Jennicut]

60. The ability to bring together different types of people to agree on something IS what is needed now.

A push for alternative energy will NOT happen unless we change minds. That is what this speech was aimed at and talking to people like my Repub father in law, some minds were changed last night.

[zipplewrath]

61. Very few

Alot of minds were changed by the accident in the gulf. Many minds have been changed over the decades. We are at the point where the last minds we need will be "changed" by a clear outline of where we will be going, how, and when.

[Jennicut]

66. The more the better.

[zipplewrath]

71. When it is enough?

Do we have to convince every last hold out before we get started? Or can we start setting plans, goals, and methods now?

[XemaSab]

50. MLK didn't announce a blue ribbon commission

and he didn't say he was open to hearing suggestions for how to get rid of Jim Crow.

He got up and he inspired people to be better in the morning, and in the afternoon he worked hard to make sure that the people knew that there would be a lot of hard work to get to that better place.

[zipplewrath]

33. Not for communities

They ar vitally important. So are leaders. So are presidents. And they all have different job descriptions.

[goclark]

45. Thank you Skinner ~ nt

[mopinko]

49. i hate to tell you this, but saul alinsky's legacy here in chi

where he beat the legendary daley machine, is, imho, one of death and destruction. his big fight was to stop the crosstown expressway. that was a horrendous mistake. we suffer the consequences of traffic, traffic deaths, pollution and countless wasted barrels of oil. without the crosstown, all traffic taking rts. 90 and 94 through the area are fed through downtown chicago. millions of cars and trucks, every day, wading through downtown, sitting and poisoning the air and water.
if the crosstown had been built then, all this traffic would flow around the edge of the city. it would probably be impossible to build it today.
strikes me as something the teabaggers would do.
thank you saul.

now bill ayers, he's the man.

[WI_DEM]

32. bunk.

[Aramchek]

34. you must have loved George W, huh? You want a bullhorn and a cocky strut.

[zipplewrath]

38. False dichotomy

There are more than two kinds of leaders, and two kinds of presidents. I can want something else, without wanting the shrub.

[Aramchek]

40. you're not going to get anybody else. so what is the point in your belly-aching?

are you trying to help or trying to hurt?
think about that.

[zipplewrath]

41. Help

It's called constructive criticism.

What are you complaining about? Is it helping?

[Aramchek]

42. your attacks on Community Organizing smell more like Repuke than construction

[zipplewrath]

48. Eye of the beholder

I didn't "attack" anyone for being a community organizer. I suggested the job had different requirements than being President of the United States.

I'm afraid your perceptions say more about you than me.

[Aramchek]

52. the only people I have ever seen criticizing Obama for Community Organizing are Palin and the like

[zipplewrath]

57. And you didn't see me either

I did not criticize him for BEING an comminity organizer. I criticized him for being a president that acted like a community organizer, instead of like a president.

[dionysus]

70. keep digging

[zipplewrath]

73. Keep avoiding.

I understand righteous indignation is easier than active discussion, but it doesn't really accomplish anything.

[dionysus]

74. if you want to keep embarrassing yourself, by all means, be my guest.

[zipplewrath]

75. I'll keep discussing the issues

If you don't want to, feel free. Strange way to participate in a discussion forum.

[dionysus]

69. constructive criticism!111!! man, that worn out shit ain't gonna save you. horse crap and you know

it.

[zipplewrath]

72. Save me?

I'm not looking for a savior, I'm looking for a president.
I'm not looking to fall in love, or to fall in line, I'm looking for a president.
I'm not looking for an angry man, or a man who "feels my pain". I'm looking for a president.

I don't need to be saved. The gulf does, this nation does, this PLANET does. And all the prayin' in the world ain't gonna change that.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

51. being a president is not a CEO

of course he is leading. The other guy would be in his Teaxn ranch sipping beer.

[BklnDem75]

59. WTF?

What do you think leaders do?



Yeah... you went there...

[zipplewrath]

62. Didn't get your allusion

Never saw the flick.

Would you like to explain?

[BklnDem75]

63. You should really see it

It explains plenty.

[Clio the Leo]

8. that was EXACTLY what Big Ed was asking for....

... "I want Obama to be a DICTATOR!"

I had to look up to make sure I wasn't watching Beck.

[livetohike]

10. I saw that too. The pundits got carried away last night. It

doesn't matter what President Obama said. They weren't listening to the words. They wanted to see something forceful. Pounding the desk with his shoe like Kruschev maybe?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

56. it's just an orchestrated attempt by the media

If they were hald decent they would be trying to help. The talkingheads just spin and spin.

[Captain Hilts]

3. I wish he'd thrown some bones to Gulf wildlife and those concerned about this massive kill off. nt

[Doctor_J]

12. That ship already sailed

sad as it is. All he can do now is lead us forward.

[LaurenG]

4. It is in our own best interest to get out of the oil business

and really work on new technology to wean us off of oil. I wish we had tried harder the during the 70's.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

55. yes yes yes

[treestar]

17. the pundits have to create drama so they have something to flap their gums about

And they insult the public by making it about something stupid, which is all they think their audience can be entertained by.

President Carter tried to get this started 30 years ago - the public still would not listen. Now if we have learned out lesson that pretending everything is OK with Uncle Ronnie telling us we are the greatest people ever is not going to work, that is another question.

[zipplewrath]

76. Strangely silence would have been most powerful

In a strange way, all of them talking about something effectively undermines their points. If it was so ineffective and pointless, the most obvious way is to basically ignore it.

"Obama makes speech, no one notices. Now on to the latest missing white girl...."

[Rosa Luxemburg]

79. Cast your mind back to Bush Sr in the Valdez spill