Obama Press Conference Thread

by: Chris Bowers

Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 19:59


This is an open thread for President Obama's first prime-time press conference.

In addition to questions on the jobs package (aka, stimulus), expect some questions on TARP (aka, the bailout). Tomorrow morning, Treasury Secretary Geithner will unveil a new plan, of some sort:

The Obama administration's wide-ranging plan to stabilize the financial system no longer includes creating a "bad bank" but will still contain measures to buy up toxic assets from financial institutions, according to a source familiar with the plan.

In addition, funding for the bank-rescue plan is unlikely to exceed the $350 billion currently available under the TARP, this source said.

Details are still sketchy, but removing the bad bank, and keeping the bailout at its current size, both come as a welcome relief. This is perhaps another example of the "make him do it" dynamic.

It is a tremendous relief to finally have a President who can once again take questions from the media on a regular basis, not to mention actually make sense when answering questions that weren't submitted beforehand. I look forward to many more of these prime time press conferences.
Chris Bowers :: Obama Press Conference Thread

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Obama Press Conference Thread | 30 comments
"Four Million Jobs" (4.00 / 3)
In this news conference, Obama keeps repeating his bottom line is the package delivers "four million jobs".  Note this is different than the "three to four million jobs" he used to say.  Given that the Senate version of the bill only creates three million and he also keeps mentioning how the House and Senate bills will be reconciled, I find this very encouraging.
I HOPE That's What I Means (4.00 / 3)
I fear it might mean that he's simply not acknowledging how disastrously inadequate the Senate bill is.  

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3
[ Parent ]
Well Yes... (0.00 / 0)
You are the resident Pessimist on Openleft after all.
[ Parent ]
WTF? (0.00 / 0)
I chime in to second Mark's thought as my own hope. But I balance that by adding my fear.

You ignore my hope, focus only on my fear, and call me a pessimist.

And here, I always thought that a pessimist was someone who didn't have hopes.

Silly me!

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

[ Parent ]
it's not necessarily an insult. nt. (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
No But (0.00 / 0)
It's a way to ignore the substance of what I say.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3
[ Parent ]
true, but another way to ignore the substance is just to not write a comment.... (0.00 / 0)
i read it more as a throwaway, an aside.  
[ Parent ]
Ding Ding Ding! (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
And just like clockwork... (0.00 / 0)
Paul Rosenberg over reacts!!!

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest with you...   I stand by both my statements.  

They aren't insults... they are factual observations about your writing Paul... overreacting and pessimistic.     And frankly, to address your comment below, there is usually very little "substance" worth reading in many of your posts at late, IMHO.  They devolved from interesting essays to bizarre rants.

See, now you've gone and pissed me off, so I'm gonna stop before things start to get a bit nasty.    

[ Parent ]
Of course... (0.00 / 0)
That is simply my opinion of your numerous front page posts of late.  I'm sure others disagree and enjoy your writing very much.  I used too... I do not any more... Which is why I pretty much have stopped reading many of them...  Of course, I would normally avoid saying that, until you pissed me off... so Now I felt the need to say it.  Of course I still love Lux, and Bowers and Sirota...  I hope to love your writing again someday.
[ Parent ]
My apologies... (0.00 / 0)
as now I have overreacted and was a bit harsh.  I apologize Paul for flying off the handle... getting pissed off and being tired usually compunds things.

Sorry.

[ Parent ]
Pelosi (4.00 / 1)
Unless Obama has been undermining this message in private conversations with Pelosi, I suspect she is feeling quite empowered going into the negotiations.  The final bill won't be as good as the House bill which, itself, wasn't as good as I would like, but I feel pretty confident we aren't stuck with the Senate compromise bill.
[ Parent ]
It is a joy (4.00 / 1)
to listen to a President speak in complete sentences.


Yeah... (0.00 / 0)
But I'll say this... While Obama blows all Presidents in the TV age out of the water in terms of giving a speech...  He is not as good on the Press Conf, etc. This is where Bill Clinton blows him out of the water.... I wish I could give him Bill's press conf ability.
[ Parent ]
Obama made the Republicans look real small! (0.00 / 0)
I love how he treated the Republicans. Nothing openly hostile or belittling, yet he made them look small and ridiculous for clinging to ideas that have failed and/or have no basis in reality. It was a masterful performance.

I also love how he likened the 600,000 jobs lost to the working population in Maine, since he will need that state's Senators to vote for a final stimulus bill that hopefully will look a lot more like the House version than the Senate "compromise."

Howard Dean in 2016

[ Parent ]
600,000 jobs lost LAST MONTH that is... (0.00 / 0)


Howard Dean in 2016
[ Parent ]
Finally (4.00 / 1)

 A question from the left. Stimulus "not big enough"? Roubini mentioned.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn
From the left (0.00 / 0)
I missed the first 10 minutes, but I've been shocked just how many questions are from the left.
[ Parent ]
You Mean, Unlike Chuck Todd, They Have A Basis In Reality? (0.00 / 0)
Yeah, I noticed that.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3
[ Parent ]
what (4.00 / 1)
but Tweety sez that the press looked great, including Chuck and Mara Liason... and he even thought the A-Rod question was relevant...

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers
[ Parent ]
chuck todd (4.00 / 3)
stupid f***ing question, blaming the collapse on consumer spending. It's like something out of a wingnut ACORN-centered paranoid fantasy.

On the other hand Ed Henry from CNN asked an important question about media restrictions on reporting on military deaths (i.e., pictures of flag-draped coffins). Obama didn't give much of an answer... why not?

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers

Agreed (4.00 / 3)
That question revealed ignorance so deep, it should be considered a firing offense.

But, of course, that would require bosses who weren't just as deeply ignorant as Todd himself.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

[ Parent ]
Hmm.. (0.00 / 0)
It does seem certain people have an agenda doesn't it.
[ Parent ]
They ALL Have Agendas (4.00 / 1)
What sets Todd apart is what he doesn't have:

A clue.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

[ Parent ]
I should be more clear... (0.00 / 0)
I meant an agenda to tear down Obama... not just an agenda in general.  But yes, Todd is a douche.
[ Parent ]
Re: pictures of flag-draped coffins (0.00 / 0)
I hope it's just that staff are working through the Pentagon bureaucracy to get the rule changed and either it hasn't made it to the President's desk yet or the President doesn't want to publicly step on toes in the hyper-sensitive Pentagon before they have a chance to reverse the policy. Reading between the lines, that was the impression I got from his answer.
[ Parent ]
That's what Obama said (0.00 / 0)
Obama said he had staff working with the Pentagon to figure out the final policy and didn't want to pre-judge until he understood all the ramifications.

He more or less gave that answer for many of the questions.  Obviously, he can't do that forever but I think it is reasonable for the first month or so as he settles in.

[ Parent ]
yep. in general, i was noticing that he was treading lightly when it came to (0.00 / 0)
pentagon related stuff. that is where the real drama is, and i'm surprised it isn't being talked about more around here.  will obama be able to bring the generals along for the ride, or will they sabotage his agenda.  
[ Parent ]
Why didn't we do this last week? (4.00 / 1)
it would have been good; though he couldn't have had as much fun (0.00 / 0)
when talking about republican congresscritters.  
[ Parent ]
Obama Press Conference Thread | 30 comments
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