In an hourlong, primetime news conference on the economy last night, President Obama was optimistic, cautious, defensive, snappish, professorial.
In any time of crisis, we look to leaders to guide us with both words and tone. What will Americans take from last night? Here's what they woke to from their media today:
The Washington Post led with Obama, in defense of his budget, noting progress on the economy:
President Obama sought to reassure Americans last night that his administration has made progress in reviving the economy and said his $3.6 trillion budget is "inseparable from this recovery."...
Last night, against a backdrop of a broad national anxiety that the economy may still be failing, he attempted to recalibrate the high hopes to more closely fit the challenges he said lie ahead.
Fox News noted Obama's caution:
WASHINGTON -- What kind of politician brings a teleprompter to a news conference?CNN emphasized a somber Obama:
A careful one.
President Barack Obama took no chances in his second prime-time news conference, reading a prepared statement in which he took both sides of the AIG bonus brouhaha and asked an anxious nation for its patience.
President Barack Obama presented a sober assessment of the state of the economy in his primetime news conference Tuesday, but he insisted his administration has a strategy in place to "attack this crisis on all fronts."The New York Times noted Obama's tone - that he was more lecturer than speechmaker. That may have been deliberate:
"It took many years and many failures to lead us here. And it will take many months and many different solutions to lead us out. There are no quick fixes, and there are no silver bullets," he said.
To a certain extent, Mr. Obama’s demeanor could have been calculated — an effort, aides said, to lower the temperature after a supercharged week and nudge the country toward what Mr. Obama considers the more pressing issues of fixing the banking system and reviving the economy. Even after excoriating the A.I.G. executives, he cautioned that “the rest of us can’t afford to demonize every investor or entrepreneur who seeks to make a profit.”As with most news conferences, this one will soon be unmemorable. But what was notable was what we didn't hear - the dire road ahead that has made regular appearances in Obama's speeches and remarks.
Is that a politically expedient nod to the notion that the deficits we're accumulating had better start working? Or an affirmation of what many analysts are sensing - that we're readying for a long climb out, instead of still bracing for something worse?
What do you think today? Let us know.
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22 comments:
I think they could have re-played his last address and I would have never known the difference. Same speech, barely different words.
"Will you sign a budget if it does not contain a middle class tax cut?"
Dodged like the deer on Providence road that jumped out on front of my truck last Sunday.
_
“We never expected when we printed out our budget that they would simply Xerox it and vote on it”
They did that already; he did that already, repeating once again without even reading what he was signing.
Am I wrong in assuming there is a fundamental problem with him blindly committing all of our
hard earned money for things he knows nothing about in final detail?.....Beuhler? Beuhler? Anyone Anyone?
That dude has a tough job, and a full plate, but the TV got turned off after the Xerox comment, same old song and dance in a performance Simon Cowell would probably have more to say about than any of us.
Vote of no confidence on the administration, vote OF confidence for the American people to prosper and forge ahead despite the current administration.
The honeymoon is over. People are starting to see that Obama can't possibly pursue all of his agendas. The carbon tax will increase people's monthly energy bills up to 30%. National healthcare will cost people who currently have private insurance at least an additional 35% if they want to maintain the same level of insurance. Obama needs to learn the word COMPROMISE. I want him to succeed but he won't with all of these massive liberal agendas.
We're readying for a long climb out that will hopefully be not as steep as many now seem to think. We've been in worse situations (the Great Depression) but we also have unprecedented challenges (record deficits, permanent loss of jobs in manufacturing and finance.) We've always come back from dire situations and I think we will this time, too. It remains to be seen what a comeback will look like, though. It seems fairly certain it will look nothing like 2005-06.
You people are still complaining and I ask again what plan does anyone have to get this country out of this mess. I don't hear anyone talking..................silence...............silence...................silence,.............silence...................................silence.......silence! Still nothing coming out of your mouth but complaining and whining.......Well got a tip for you at least he is trying...(can't say the same for all the people who are complaining. If you don't have a solution like someone said early ......Then kiss President Obama black shoes!!!
Unfortunately the vast majority of those that voted for him could care less about his speeches now or what he is working to fix.
Watching Obama try to govern these last 2 months has made one thing perfectly clear. He is in WAY over his head. His biggest mistake was relying on Pelosi and Reid to write the stimulus bill chocked full of liberal pet projects and voter paybacks. He has nominated stained cabinet members, he has gone back on his campaign promises such as NO earmarks(how about 9,000), and has started to finally realize that the guys in Gitmo are actually dangerous. The clock is ticking until election 2012.
to all the annonymous'........ put up or shut up; what have you done? I voted for him because he's still the better candidate; all politicians are rhetorical, what makes him any different? I bet the candidate that was in office before him was voted in by you! You guys kill me with the arm chair analytical BS and nothing to back it up with but "If it was me..." You'd be in the same jam as he, struggling to get the entire nation back on track..... shut up!
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, (Attributed)
- More quotations on: [Banks
Good call Rhonda, in comments regarding an article meant to armchair analyze the president's speech last night you...criticise people for armchair analysts.
You may have been better served to just say, "stop being mean to my Obama" and call it a day.
The fact is that the citizens of this country should be analyzing his plans, it's called being an informed voter and citizen. Cries like yours only perpetuate the feeling of many that some Obama supporters have no idea why they support him just that anyone critical of him is wrong.
I think it's interesting how everyone is the expert...anon 9:10 - where are you getting your percentages? Anon 8:50, he's saying the same thing over and over again so people get the message - you think he's said it enough?? Get ready to hear it for 3.5 more years....and maybe 4 years after that. That's his plan and you'll be able to recite it like your ABC's by 2012.
Vincent - maybe your TV should stay off till the end of this administration’s term...obviously you're getting news from a sided source...sortta like watching the race for the wreck.
Perhaps THINKING independently instead of regurgitating 'news' is the best approach. By the way - the government is SUPPOSED to commit your hard earned money - it's called future investment.
Our government 'investments' over the last 8 years have been in the same cr*p financial markets and a senseless war - what will the "return" on those investments be?
I'd much prefer someone who TELLS me what their administration is working on. We're never going to all agree all the time on all the issues - that wouldn't be Democracy.
But for now, I fully support the administration who has the gall to get on national tv and spread the word of their progress and vision.
God Bless America.
anon 10:55 - Because we were all so WELL INFORMED during the last 8 years?!? Why is this partisan? This is your leadership, you either get behind it and support investing in things that matter, or you don't and eventually history will decide for us....with our 'hard earned money'
anon @10:55 Rhonda is totally right and people like you need to just shut up. President Obama can be critized however when those that are doing it have a better plan then by all means complain all you like however if you have nothing then you should just say nothing. This economic mess didn't just start 2 months ago. It's started a long time ago. I voted for Obama and I am very well up to day on the news and politics. So please inform yourself before making such a stupid comment....dont assume anyhting about the people who voted for Obama unless you know for a fact they are uninformed on the issues and politics.
A leader does not talk down his players and constantly blame the last guy.
He also does not reward his hard working, successful players with punishment.
Tired of his talk.
Obama`s arrogance is only exceeded by his dishonesty.He would have us believe that the recovery is inextricably linked with energy,education,health and other issues.Common sense clearly indicates they`re not! They may be worthy projects,but they don`t all have to be addressed NOW.We can`t afford Obama`s expand government agenda.It will trigger inflation and breathtaking debt beyond this generation.
Anon 11:13
"my sided source" ?
Those are Obamas own words I was quoting. Which kinda renders the rest of your commentary obsolete for not knowing the difference.
The herd psychology is strong this morning.
anon 11:31 - Facts please...I'd like to know your source. You seem to be very informed. Please share HOW you know this future investment will trigger inflation and breathtaking debt....
How do you know it won't trigger a cleaner, safer country...smarter kids, cleaner energy, safer roads and bridges.....is all that just an agenda of worthless spending or is it an agenda of spending with a result....or heaven forbid, a RETURN on that investment.
People are in awe of BO being hip and cool but anybody was better than Bush. Get real.
The real hipsters in modern times were the Hollywood Reagans and genius Clintons. Nothing comes close. BC made 1600 on his SAT growing up dirt poor in a poor hick state raised by his granny and got his edu free making perfect grades through Georgetown Yale and Oxford. Total self made like America was meant to be.
The amazing thing was to watch the nasty way the Obama crowd took out these Clintons bogusly using the race card in SC. When Hillary claimed LBJ created civil rights with his Big Society they yelled she was racist and MLK was being dissed. This was ignorance.
BC was called a racist for saying Obama was a fairytale when in fact thats exactly what he was ascending in short time because of Bushes screwups. In politics everyone is fair game even with bogus lies.
Everything is premature right now and Obamas budget of 3 trill is unreal. He should be applauded for taking on killer health care costs but Hillary was stopped in 1993 by the GOP when costs were 1/5th of now.
He has a lot to do but this is what he wanted. After his way way over the top gala pomp massive coronation crowning spending double vanity is fading and reality is setting in but to think you can spend your way out of debt is saying you can kill yourself to live longer. No logic but a change was good.
Donald or Daffy Duck would of been a relief compared to the other idiot.
anon 11:39am You might start with
Senators Kent Conrad[D] and Judd Greg[r] and follow with the CBO report that is even more alarming
anon@11:39 You can sit here and act like you know what you are talking about the you don't. Look at US kids vs China kids, or Russia kids are kids are way, way, way behind. The future of this country depends on it. As for me the kids now a days won't be able to do anything in the future. Why! Because they are a generation of children who are not challenged to greatest levels they can be challenged to for the future. The future will not wait for them to get to a certain level. The future will be nothing like the past. Personally I don't want them to be in charge of my dog house. Dog would go hungry, never get medical treatment and be abuse by their lack of a heart and soul. Why! Because they don't have one. America has to do something to help them for the future. President Obama has this in mind. Obama is attaching this mess from all angles and that is what is best for the country. ALL THOSE THAT DON'T LIKE IT SIMPLY KICK ROCKS! GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY!
uhh, 11:58...well, I'll just get back to work.
What? Does anybody care about liberty? If so why would anyone in their right mind go along with this agenda?
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