Obama To GOP: "I Won"

President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning - but he also left no doubt about who's in charge of these negotiations. "I won," Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

The exchange arose as top House and Senate Republicans expressed concern to the president about the amount of spending in the package. They also raised red flags about a refundable tax credit that returns money to those who don't pay income taxes, the sources said.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[NonLeftist]

Obama may have won but he still has to answer to the American people for this trillion dollar debt plan. According to Rasmussen Reports, only 37% of the American people favor his legislation. And according to Gallup nearly 80% of Americans believe the current plan will not stimulate the economy. He says he is for doing what is best for the economy. He needs to listen to who it affects.

[TRYKER]

Yes, Obama probably isn't going to suffer fools gladly...for long.
" I won" was probably a little shorthand way of saying settle down, I'm the leader and I know what's going on and I know what I'm doing, thank you very much...like stop with the foolishness fellas.
He's offering them a chance to be relevant and giving them a choice. As their opposition turns into obstructionism, he'll feel free to roll right over them...with everyone's blessing. Gobama.
He is giving them enough rope to hang themselves...they look like they're going to oblige him.
He is smarter than all of them, he actually thinks things through while they go through their "dirty trick book" looking for a tactic...and they think they can defeat HIM?
I'd had forgotten how it felt to be able to trust a president and just let go.

[pointgiven]

Saying "I won" might feel good, but it doesn't solve problems. Same thing should be said to Republicans.

This sounds like the same garbage we've been hearing for some time. Again, the sooner folks can stop thinking like donkeys and elephants, the better off we'll all be for it.

We lose, while the squabblers stay in office. Fellas, pay attention.

[jackwaddington]

What the republican­s/conserva­tive fail to realize is that capitalism has finally imploded. The economy is never going to recover. We have to find a new way to behave in a non capitalist system. It will be scary but (if we are to survive as a species) we'll find a way; and we'll be so surprised we never thought of it before (actually some of us--very few--did)

[2wit]

Obama's approval rating is at 68% which would seem to suggest that even some who did not vote for him think he's doing a good job so far.

The comment "I won" means it is time to stop politicing as though the election is still in question While all MEANINGFUL discussions are open, it is time to move forward and stop being obstructionist for the mere sake of it.

If Republicans have all the right answers NOW - they should have implemented them THEN
. . . the 8 years they were in office.

[stell]

Hey, Barack I thought you weren't going to act like you had a mandate? At least 45% of the country including the majority of whites did NOT vote for you, in spite of Bush's failings. It wasn't just you that won anyway, it was the country, right?

[wdw505]

no from time to time the pendulum swings..........it will swing back

[BoomKing]

I think you're missing the whole point. Obama is actually meeting with the Republicans, face-to-face and talking with them. This isn't a press release he has issued. They were obviously at odds over the stimulus program and obama had to draw the line. That's what happens when you're the president. At least we have an administration that is open to opinion and willing to at least listen to what the other side has to say.

[BillMelater]

Oh the poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor poor oppressed and disenfranchised GOP. My heart bleeds for them.

Let me tell you a little secret. When you are in charge of making sure that consumers are not ripped off... oh... say by oil companies. Then you have oil companies come to you and ask that you relax your regulation of them because they truly have your consumers best interests at heart and know best how to police themselves and you say, oh gosh golly gee ok. You are a friggin idiot.

So when you apply that same principle to oil companies, food companies, drug companies, insurance companies, banks, investment companies, health care providers, transportation companies, and every type of company in every type of industry, what does that make you?

Well it goes way beyond being a friggin idiot, it moves on into criminal complicity and utter contempt for the consumers you are sworn to protect.

[wdw505]

so it is your contention that only republicans are at fault.....­..Demon-cr­ats have been is charge of congress for years.....so there is enough blame to go around........but just wait now the republicans can obstruct and everything past jan 20th will be blamed on Demon-crats

[BillMelater]

The Repuklicans have been obstructing. It is all they know how to do. Anything that would benefit the average Joe instead of big business they obstruct. You people are the most Anti-American people in the world.

[2wit]

"Demon-crats have been is charge of congress for years" is a hateful and deliberate exaggeration - it has been only 2 years of the past 8.

A Democratic Congress for the past 2 years of the Bush Admin. has been the ultimate gift to Republicans who are looking to continue the blame game and mean spirited divisiveness.

The preceeding 6 years of Republican bungling and a Republican Presidential veto pen can kneecap any congress into submission. "Anyone who wasn't with the Bush Administration was against them" - Remember? - The "Unpatriotic" slanders and other name calling???

Again, I ask if Republicans knew best NOW why did they not do it THEN?
Obama did win . . . get over it.

[bigmaddy]

Not only did President Obama win but we all Won, I remember when the GOP was telling us to GET OVER IT. Well GOP, GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wdw505]

laughing.......i'm over it and moved on...now it is obstruction time......­.laughing.­........

[Riana]

LMAO. Dude, just like many of the current Republicans in government you think you're somehow bigger and scarier than you really are.

Try and get this through your head if it's at all possible.

We're playing nice now...but we don't have to be forever.

And trust me...the majority is eager to pay the Republicans back for everything they've done.

[BossBabe]

Except you haven't got the numbers or the power to obstruct. All you can do is just act obstructionist, and then try to explain to your constiuents why you vehemently opposed the stimulus package that gave them jobs and an improved infrastructure.

[siney]

may i recommend thom hartmann's book, "s c r e w e d"....lays out very succinctly and effectively how trickle down theory, et al has ravaged the middle class in this country...

[BillMelater]

Thom Hartmann rocks. He really knows his stuff.

[siney]

may i recommend thom hartmann's book, "screwed"....lays out very succinctly and effectively how trickle down theory, et al has ravaged the middle class in this country...

[JonW]

Nice try , Losers, in acting like your self serving ideas are important and will
do any good. You had crappy 8 years under W and looked what happen!

[hopefullee]

It's ironic how many Reich-wingers say that Prop 8 should stand because it's the "will of the people". But when the will of the people is a Democratic president, and a strong Dem majority in the House and Senate, they complain.

What hypocrites.

[wdw505]

no complaints here...........i love it.........time to obstruct Mr obama...........

[neocon666]

Turnaround is fair play.

[harriscrl3]

This is the part I dont get with Republicans. Bohener person said today the package is not a stimulus that millions of dollars going to children's meals is not an economic stimulus. Lets say I buy their argument do they seriously think that they have power after they were defeated in the Presidency the house and the senate to object to Progressive policies in the bill. Do they expect to get everything they want dont they think that democrats through the voice of the people have earned the right to get some progressive liberal policies past. These are meals to children that they are complaining about. They complain about increase in pell grant for students saying thats not an immediate stimulus they complain about foodstamps saying thats not a stimulus. Obama has said that you have to make certain investments now to sustain future economic growth. Its like they are dense as a wall. Im so sick of them and their continual OBSTRUCTION when it comes to anything that assist children, the vulnerable and the young. They have no soul. This party is dying thats why those in the house are more to the right than normal only the extremist are still grabbing on to the party. I cant wait for some of them to come up for election.

They let Bush waste all that money and had nothing to say just follow like sheep. Tthe AMerican people say they want change and they are standing in the way.

Carol

[KarenT]

They will complain about any program that doesn't help their rich buddies.

[bethea3]

To get these people you must first explore the mindset from which they come. Most spring from households where food and clothing were not luxuries. The religious values they were taught may vary but a different version of charity begins at home was chief among them, hence they have become very good at giving to themselves, their peers, and not very many others.
Most troubling IS their lack of respect for progressive liberal values that benefit the economically and socially disenfranchised among us. They don't reside in their communities and run in their social circles. They are less likely to be republicans nor associate with typically republican and conservative values. They cannot help the party come election time.
In other words, not human. Basically, I'm talking people that live in a zip code the don't count. Blacks, Hispanics, and poor whites need not apply without the proper credit references.
All of their policies are designed to help THEIR constituents.
And I hope they continue. In fact I encourage them adhere to their principals for as long as possible. Let them continue to be relevant and impotent. Next round of elections is around the corner and people are still on a high from the last one.They are mobilized and hunting for bear.
Sure. Let them stand in the way of the engine of change as it pulls into the station.
Can you say "road-kill"?

[sweatermoose]

I'm sure the right wing will try to spin this as arrogance, but when I heard he said that I was so thankful. I've been afraid that President Obama might be too accommodating to the Republicans on this stimulus package. What he was absolutely right to say was "Look, I won because I outlined certain actions I would be taking to fix this problem to the American people, and they liked what they heard and voted for me. Now they expect me to live up to what I told them I would do." Newsflash to the Republicans: You lost. You lost because the majority of Americans now recognize that your stupid tax credits only benefit the wealthy, have literally bankrupted our country, and have destroyed the middle class. You lost. You lost because the majority of Americans have finally woken up to the fact that you care more about dividing this country than saving it. You lost because your ideas suck. Stop your whining, and let the people with actual ideas save this country before it's too late.