Althouse: Breaking the President/Braking the President?

July 22, 2009

Breaking the President/Braking the President?

59 comments:

Unknown said...: Oh Gawd, the MSM to Obama's rescue, trying to portray Obama as a victim to the mean old Republicans.

Coincidentally, the Democrats control Congress with a super majority in the Senate.; 7/22/09, 10:48 AM
MadisonMan said...: Matt Lauer seems to have a cemented mind-set about what's going on.

I will give the Senator the benefit of the doubt and think he's trying to put the brakes on the runaway steam engine that is spending. Nice to see Republicans return to this.; 7/22/09, 10:48 AM
Automatic_Wing said...: Matt could barely contain his outrage there...I thought he was going to challenge DeMint to duke it out or something.

DeMint did a good job remaining calm and repeating his talking points about Barry's out of control spending.; 7/22/09, 10:49 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Matt obviously gets leg tingles too about Obama. I mean, what's the big deal about trillions of dollars of new (and unpaid for) entitlement obligations anyway? Obama is dreamy.; 7/22/09, 10:53 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: LOL.

As if Matt Lauer, a loyal stooge for the MSM minions, is highly informed and well qualified to discuss complicated policy issues.

Jeez, even perky Katie Couric probably knows more than Lauer.; 7/22/09, 10:53 AM
Fred4Pres said...: McCain was a flawed candidate, but he was far better than Obama.; 7/22/09, 10:54 AM
traditionalguy said...: The NBC division of the Obamaganda assault team went hard to work real fast. And they have all become master Saul Alinski practitioners. What has DeMint done except be the voice of a loyal opposition? Truth does not matter to NBC. DeMint is now under fire from them as an enemy of the people. Someone ought to rename NBC the Nutty-Basij-Cowards.; 7/22/09, 10:57 AM
Darcy said...: Sy said..."Coincidentally, the Democrats control Congress with a super majority in the Senate."

This can't be repeated enough. Republicans cannot obstruct a damn thing here. We're counting on a few clear thinking Democrats now. And the American public.

Thanks voters!; 7/22/09, 10:58 AM
ricpic said...: This MSM attack dog style hasn't changed since...forever, when it comes to defending our noble guys against evil right-wing meanies.; 7/22/09, 11:01 AM
Jim said...: GE = healthymagination - a massive investment in digital records management and the most likely candidate for the ObamaCare initiative to do so.

NBC and MSNBC = most partisan Obama-supporting media on the airwaves

GE = owner of NBC and MSNBC

GE = ObamaCare

Any other questions about their bias?; 7/22/09, 11:02 AM
Dark Eden said...: Jeeeeeez... Matt gets really irate when defending his lover, don't be so hasty to judge him. Love makes us all do crazy things.; 7/22/09, 11:08 AM
garage mahal said...: If some loser making 30k per year that serves me my coffee gets the same coverage as I do, how will I know that I'm superior to them? We need to slow way down and think about this.; 7/22/09, 11:16 AM
Sloanasaurus said...: The health care bill is bad legislation, yet instead of examining the bill on its merits the MSM is worried about Obama's reputation.

We are in real danger of getting a legislative disaster. The media needs to do its job.; 7/22/09, 11:17 AM
Chennaul said...: Here is what I want to know-

For years they have been telling the military that part of their pay is-

Free health care.

The military especially some career fields have accepted significantly less pay than their civilian counterparts because they have bought into the idea that it was worth "x" amount of salary.

Now that the government is going to dole out free health care for everyone-is the military going to get a-

Pay raise?; 7/22/09, 11:19 AM
Darcy said...: garage, you really think the opposition to this is about that? You approve of this bill?; 7/22/09, 11:24 AM
Sloanasaurus said...: If the government controls health care, it can use its political power to control scarce markets such as organ donations. Thus, Obama can make sure that organ donations only go to his friends or those who donated to the right party.

This is an obvious result of too much government control. The best way to avoid this political iterference is to limit government involvement in health care.; 7/22/09, 11:24 AM
Unknown said...: That DeMint is a dead ringer for Ronald Reagan!; 7/22/09, 11:25 AM
Sloanasaurus said...: Obama has turned this health care debate into a debate over him. Its now personal. Its no longer about what is right. In fact Obama made the ridiculous claim yesterday that the American peropl were demanding it be passed by August. That's totally made up. What poll can he point too?

Now the health care bill is sure to fail. Any conservative democrat voting for it will be seen to be voting to prevent Obama's failure and not for legislation that helps the people in their district.

This is a huge political mistake by Obama. Matt Lauer isn't doing him any favors to help.; 7/22/09, 11:29 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Madawaskan:

Excellent question. I bet union chiefs aren't getting ready to make a similar argument.; 7/22/09, 11:31 AM
The Drill SGT said...: Jim,

add

GE = US Wind Turbines
GE = CFL's
GE = Solar Panels; 7/22/09, 11:33 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: This can't be repeated enough. Republicans cannot obstruct a damn thing here. We're counting on a few clear thinking Democrats now. And the American public.

Only in the fever swamp of the liberal mind can the Democrat Party which controls the White House, the House of Representatives and a supermajority on the Senate claim the GOP is being obstructionist.; 7/22/09, 11:36 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: If some loser making 30k per year that serves me my coffee gets the same coverage as I do, how will I know that I'm superior to them? We need to slow way down and think about this.

Tell ya what garage, if that loser making 30K per year is getting the same coverage as me and isn't paying the same rate of taxes I am then I call bullshit.

I don't have a problem paying my fair share. I just object to paying someone else's fair share.; 7/22/09, 11:39 AM
Chennaul said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/22/09, 11:45 AM
Chennaul said...: AJ-

Ya, I bet you another thing-

the rush on this is to get it done before October and November when the stock markets look primed to do something really funky.

That or the bond bubble bursts.

Generally Americans know to avoid the salesman pitch of-

"this deal has to be done today or else...."

Now we have to hope that the people's representatives in Congress have at least that much common sense.; 7/22/09, 11:47 AM
Rialby said...: garage = loser making 30k a year

Coffee house employees make 30k in your neighborhood? Where do I sign up?; 7/22/09, 11:49 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Jim:

Drill Sgt beat me to it. As he pointed out, GE is big on renewables cause of billions available in govt grants, etc.; 7/22/09, 11:50 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Madawaskan:

I am out of stocks except small amount of News Corp. They are the only newspaper left that can still turn a profit.; 7/22/09, 11:51 AM
Rialby said...: Here we go again with the "how dare you suggest you want to stop Obama from succeeding in everything he wants to do" amen chorus.

They tried picking this fight with Rush and now they'll pick it with DeMint. Meanwhile, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi couldn't move quickly enough to describe a sitting President in the most egregious ways to score political points. I look forward to seeing the archived video of Matt Lauer foaming at the mouth on those comments.; 7/22/09, 11:54 AM
William said...: Forever they tell us that Americans make up less than 5% of the world's population and yet consume 90% of the world's french fries or oil or whatever. What per cent of successful new meds and treatments have originated in America under its antiquated, inequitable health care system? History demonstrates that a lot of high minded egalitarians don't know shit from shinola much less baby from bathwater.; 7/22/09, 11:57 AM
Emily Carson said...: AJ Lynch:

You forgot that the tabloids are making a ton of money.

Maybe it's the hardhitting journalism of newspapers like the Star (the first paper to expose a Clinton affair, with Gennifer Flowers) and the National Enquirer (the newspaper that bothered to look into John Edwards.)

The MSM should be embarrassed, getting outhustled by the National Enquirer.

Then again, maybe that's why the tabloids are outselling the 'real' newspapers.; 7/22/09, 11:59 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: You know garage, if this doesn’t pass it will be the Democrats fault. I mean you guys control the levels power there so if it does, it’s because of some traitorous Democrats. I think you should be contacting those wavering Dems and let them know that you, a one- time Hillary! Are now fully behind and supportive of our Dear…ooops I mean President and now is the time for you spineless bastards to put common sense aside pass this bill NOW!

As a matter of fact I think you should jump in one of your environmentally unfriendly Mercedes (or was it a BMW, I can’t keep those Kraut cars straight) and head right over to DC and get some face time with those recalcitrant Democrats who are threatening to ruin this whole thing.

That despicable Senator Jim Crème de Menthe said this is Obama’s Waterloo. Well Napoleon lost Waterloo because Marshall Grouchy was strolling along the Belgian countryside off with 1/3 of the Grand Armee chasing down some senile old Prussian. This is your time garage! You can be Obama’s Marshall Grouchy! You can lead the charge into DC and defeat that Wellington wannabe who wants to send your beloved President into exile back to his Chicagoan Elbe.

Get off your ass garage. History waits for no man.; 7/22/09, 11:59 AM
Dale said...: This can't be repeated enough. Republicans cannot obstruct a damn thing here.

Darcy, you are so right.

I posted previously that EVERY REPUBLICAN PUNDIT AND EVERY REPUBLICAN COMMERCIAL from this point forward should press that point: The Democrats have complete control - they are solely responsible for success or failure and EVERYONE has the duty to judge them for it.

To the Printing presses!; 7/22/09, 12:06 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Emily- you are correct.

I forgot about the real newsbusters who are constantly denigrated by the putzes from the MSM.; 7/22/09, 12:09 PM
Alex said...: Matt is slurp, slurp, sluuuuuuuuuuurping his Obamamama. I can't believe anyone could watch this and come to the conclusions that the MSM is fair and balanced.; 7/22/09, 12:16 PM
Alex said...: Oh and as usual garage wants to invoke class warfare rhetoric to make his point. Commie bastard.; 7/22/09, 12:17 PM
Scott M said...: @AJ Lynch

Emily- you are correct.

I forgot about the real newsbusters who are constantly denigrated by the putzes from the MSM.

As K said while picking up the daily hot sheets, "sure, go ahead and check the New York Times or Post...sometimes they get lucky."; 7/22/09, 12:26 PM
Darcy said...: They sure should do that, Dale.; 7/22/09, 12:27 PM
Alex said...: Who knew Barack was a titty-baby:

http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2009/07/youre-going-to-destroy-my-presidency.html

"... and the president says, 'You're going to destroy my presidency.' "

Let's all break out the tiniest violins and start playing.; 7/22/09, 12:27 PM
Alex said...: Darcy - YOU ROCK!!!; 7/22/09, 12:28 PM
Roger J. said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/22/09, 12:32 PM
Scott M said...: I wonder when we're going to catch the first wiff of "racism" drifting toward the blue dog Dems.; 7/22/09, 12:34 PM
Fred4Pres said...: A metaphor for Obama getting blocked on health care, Gates getting arrested by a Cambridge cop, or both?

This is hilarious.

The accused speeder's voice reminds me of a very pissed off version of this guy.; 7/22/09, 12:55 PM
kjbe said...: Why do I have that ABBA song in my head? Seriously...; 7/22/09, 12:56 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: If some loser making 30k per year that serves me my coffee gets the same coverage as I do, how will I know that I'm superior to them?

Back when I was a "loser making 30k per year," I bought my own health insurance to protect myself in the event of a catastrophe. It cost me $100 per month. Other people in similar positions where I worked spent that money on other things. That was their prerogative.

I guess you think we should all just defer to Obama's perogatives formed of magical thinking.

Later on, as the company grew, I started making more money, and the company started offering comprehensive health insurance. Even for those "losers making 30k per year."; 7/22/09, 12:57 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Oh, and last year we transitioned into starting a new business. Our income was far less than 30k per year. And you know what? We still paid for individual coverage.

Now we're making way more, and we still pay for individual coverage.

Amazing. I guess we beat all the odds since, according to Obamacare pushers, what we've done is impossible.; 7/22/09, 1:01 PM
Alex said...: BTW FLS saying that "30K is a loser" is projection. I was also "30K/year loser" starting out in my career. I guess the left only thinks rich people are winners!; 7/22/09, 1:14 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: You guys forgot that GE got maybe $5 Billion in TARP money and a $139 or so billion FDIC guarantee for loans maturing this last June, this guarantee to shore up its AAA credit rating.

There are conflicting reports as to exactly how much they got in TARP money and how much in FDIC guarantees. One report has them getting maybe 1/4 of the TARP guarantees.

The justification was that their credit subsidiary was one of the largest in the country and provided them with over half their profits.

Still, if you want an explanation of why NBC and MSNBC are in the tank for Obama, etc., we are talking a lot of money here (even ignoring them having the inside track for much of the government green energy spending).; 7/22/09, 1:27 PM
Alex said...: Bruce - I don't think TARP money has anything to do with Matt Lauer's slurping of Obama. That guy has always been a far-left stooge, and he gladly would do it for free.; 7/22/09, 1:30 PM
Scott M said...: Regarding the loser-ness of only making 30k/year. I was once a lowly rock dj. An extremely liberal co-worker of mine and I were ironically engaging this wonderful example of Georgia white trash on her careless spending, lack of a job, and reliance on $2000 a month in child support. When she said that’s how much she was receiving, my wonderful example of a liberal elitist co-worker exclaimed, “$2000 a month? How can anyone get by on $2000 a month?” I knee-jerk responded, “hey! I MAKE LESS THAN THAT”.

It all worked out, though. He had a pretty serious case of epilepsy. When I found out that I was his Secret Santa that year, I gave him a $10 disco strobe from Spenser’s. The look on his face?

Priceless.; 7/22/09, 1:31 PM
The Drill SGT said...: WASHINGTON (CNN) – As the prospects for passing health reform by the time Congress leaves for its August recess look bleaker, Democratic grumbling about President Obama is growing louder. One Democratic senator tells CNN congressional Democrats are “baffled,” and another senior Democratic source tells CNN members of the president’s own party are still “frustrated” that they’re not getting more specific direction from him on health care. “We appreciate the rhetoric and his willingness to ratchet up the pressure but what most Democrats on the Hill are looking for is for the president to weigh in and make decisions on outstanding issues. Instead of sending out his people and saying the president isn’t ruling anything out, members would like a little bit of clarity on what he would support – especially on how to pay for his health reform bill,”; 7/22/09, 1:39 PM
Tank said...: Rush is playing clips from Democrats out at town meetings discussing the health care bill and, at various points, like when they talk about "deficit neutral" or keeping your own coverage, or savings from efficiency, the audience is responding by just laughing out loud.

Maybe there is some hope.; 7/22/09, 1:47 PM
knox said...: If some loser making 30k per year that serves me my coffee gets the same coverage as I do...

In Canada you can wait 2-3 years to be assigned a family doctor, or you can go ahead and pay a private clinic for a checkup. It will only cost you around $900 US dollars.

If you think there is an unfair gap between the rich and the poor now, just wait until we have Govt. health care. The super-rich will be the only ones able to afford timely CAT scans, cancer treatments, and the like.; 7/22/09, 1:52 PM
Original Mike said...: DeMint is wrong. Clearly, it is personal ... for Matt Lauer.; 7/22/09, 2:04 PM
Anonymous said...: $30K Loser can have the same coverage as me right now if he wants to; all he has to do is pay a lot of money that he can't afford to part with. The big favor Obama wants to do for him is make him pay a lot of money to buy coverage like mine whether he wants to or not.; 7/22/09, 2:05 PM
Alex said...: Jeremy reminds me of one of that hate-bots from 1984. He can watch that video and come to the conclusion that:

* DeMint is evil
* Matt Lauer is a paragon of fair & balanced reporting

Amazing job by those public school indoctrinators.; 7/22/09, 2:06 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: I watched the full clip over at NBC and felt sorry for Mr. Lauer. The Senator keeps making good points and about half way through Lauer just has to agree with him; by the end he sounds demoralized, like many Obama supporters now-a-days.; 7/22/09, 4:13 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: I couldn't decide with this clip whether Matt Lauer was trying to play gotcha with Sen. DeMint, or was just unprepared for such as straight forward response. Kudos to the Senator for making his point, without getting distracted by Lauer trying to protect the President.

And, no, it isn't personnel. I have no doubt that a lot of the Republicans who are opposing Obama here and in other areas genuinely like the guy. But his economic policies are horrible for the country.

So, as Senator DeMint pointed out, the goal is not the break the President, but rather to put brakes on his policies becoming law.; 7/22/09, 7:32 PM
RLB_IV said...: Elections have consequences. From the House and the Senate to the Presidency the American people will pay for their choices. The middle class will pay in ways they cannot imagine. The poor,the illegals, will make out like bandits and the rich (envied by many) will coast through it all.
The die is cast. You may have created a world that you will hate.
The next time you vote please consider the consequences to all. I speak to all who are "set" for life.; 7/22/09, 8:25 PM
MadisonMan said...: I'm sure all the Senators like Obama -- he's a former Senator. Once a colleague, always a colleague.; 7/22/09, 8:49 PM