Obama's Impressive Recovery

Like the economy, President Obama has been reeling in recent days. But tonight's press conference was the first step to his own political recovery. Hovering over Obama's speech and answers was the ghost of George W. Bush. Again and again, Obama worked to dispel Republican canards about his stimulus package and to point out that it was his free-market critics who got the country into this mess in the first place "by doubling the national debt." His tone was stern and imperative. The president underscored that the age of excess has come to an abrupt end, whether it's bankers toying with other people's money (a nice allusion to Louis Brandeis' famous book, Bankers and Other People's Money) or A-Rod and Co bulking up on steroids.

From the outset, Obama made it abundantly clear that in this crisis he believes that government isn't the problem; it's the answer. It's a measure of how effectively the GOP has tapped into fears about big government that Obama was obliged to defend himself on this score. But as the president observed, he didn't enter office "ginned up" to spend $800 billion, but to gin up the economy itself, it's imperative to create a stimulus that will actually stimulate growth. At the same time, Obama set a high bar for himself in declaring that he should be judged on whether or not his plan creates 4 million jobs, stabilizes the credit markets, and "stems the rate of foreclosure[s]." Still, Obama did not engage in utopian promises about the next year, noting that he doesn't have a "crystal ball" and that it will be a very harsh year.

Obama was at his weakest in defending his embrace of bipartisanship. The blunt fact is that it has failed lamentably. "The Republicans were brought in early," as he noted. But it got him next to nothing. As a result, the shocking thing about the stimulus isn't the spending provisions, but that 35 percent of it is devoted to tax cuts. The most that Obama promised, however, for the future was "consultation," which is an elastic term. Obama called himself the "eternal optimist," but it's probably more a product of wishful thinking to believe that he can convert conservatives back to reality.

After eight years of a president who was barely able to respond to impromptu questions, however, it was simply refreshing to have a leader who can deliver forthright, direct responses, whether it's the fancy footwork that Obama displayed in deflecting a question about Joe Biden's gaffe or the blunt criticism that he directed at major league baseball. That was change that no one could possibly want to quibble about.

Comments

[MBWinters]

Greetings Jacob.....

Idiocracy-The Fast Approaching New Standard. I was a little disappointed, no quite embarrassed by a man allegedly attended Harvard Law School. We all now know while attending Harvard, that he did not compete in extemporaneous speaking. And the other President who preceded him was clearly far worse in that skill set. So when you compare the two certainly Obama looks much better. But why didn’t you ever draw comparisons of Clinton-Obama or Regan-Obama or Kennedy-Obama?

Let me help illustrate why. Neither Clinton nor Kennedy would have ever taken 13 minutes to answer a question that could have been answered in less than 30 seconds. Nor would they have used a teleprompter to open their town hall meeting. In one meeting with the publc, Kennedy skillfully answered about 32 questions in less than 40 minutes-certainly a goal that Obama should work toward.

It is easy to shine in any public speaking event when you make comparisons to someone that already has a poor skill set....so please do not aid our approach to a nation of idiocracy by praising someone that has a slightly better skill set than his predecesso­r....

Warm regards,

Michael Winters
An American Patriot

[appleknocker]

When Bill Clinton took office, I was initially pleased that we finally had a president who was intelligent and articulate. It turned out, though, that he wasn't on our side. Obama's performance to date indicates that he's Clinton II.

[ckfan]

Specifics, please.

[appleknocker]

NAFTA, China trade, financial deregulation (how did that ever work out?) welfare "reform." Enough?

[appleknocker]

Maybe you meant "specifics" about Obama, in which case I refer you to his relying for economic policy on discredited Clintonistas; and his current plans for Wall Street giveaways at the expense of the rest of us.

[panamajohnny]

This writer must have been watching a press conference that I wasn't, because what I saw was a president who wasn't answering the questions. It's very disappointing that somebody who ran on the themes of honesty and transparency not only avoided answering but used an axe to cut off the questioners. Can it really be that Helen Thomas's question about Mideast nuclear powers would reveal a secret? Doesn't anyone who can read already know that Israel is the only one? And don't citizens want to know whether lawbreakers in the previous administration are going to be investigated? Dancing around questions is unhappily to be expected of politicians, but stomping on the questioners is not the change we hoped for.

[deeppeace]

Your take reminds me of Paul Simon's lyric: "One man's ceiling is another man's floor."

You were disappointed. A lot of us weren't. Next topic.

[JMBrodie]

Of course, he could say that he has positive proof of WMDs somewhere, and that we should proactively attack them tomorrow.

We;ve been down that road. This is diplomacy, where the words mean something. I thought he did well with the question.

BTW, what part of "No one is above the law" was unclear?

[Pquilson]

Apparently, his nominees for Treasury, HHS, etal. Anyone else would likely be in jail.

[ccoppe]

I like Helen Thomas because her questioning is usually very direct. Last night, however, the "Dean of the Washington Press Corps" asked an open ended question of the President.

As I recall, she asked: "Are there any nuclear powers in the Mideast?" If she wanted to nail him down, she would have asked him how he planned to negotiate with Iran regarding their nuclear program when we all know Israel has nukes. But she did not. She gave him the ball and he ran with it. Personally, I think she has a crush on him like she did on JFK. (There is some HBO documentary footage of Helen actually ending a rather tough press conference with JFK by saying "Thank you, Mr. President.­)

So -- blame Helen for the lack of an answer. She let him off easy. I thought it all kind of cute . . .but I bet she will not do it again. She will lose face.

[pmc617]

As the so called "Dean" of the White House press corps, Ms. Thomas ended virtually every press conference for 40 years with, "Thank you, Mr. President.­"

[bogues]

I would be willing to bet that much of the country was watching a press conference that you weren't watching. President Obama was very atriculate and took his time as he answered questions in great detail. You are trying to carry the water for the Republican party by poking fun at transparency. That is the new battle cry of the GOP and the country is not going to fall for it. We are way beyond thinking that just because a Republican says it, it must be true. We know better.

[edwcorey]

To a person used to drinking black water, gray water looks pristine. But the ability to "atriculate" also means being a good salesman, even if you're selling lemons. Bush used 9-11 to bamboozle the ignorant who didn't bother to read his resume. Obama tosses everything else off by using the economy. Meanwhile he's cloaked himself in Bush's mantle by invoking "state secrets." His point man, Geithner--who the NYT says won the internal arguments--is a tax cheat, former Kissinger and Associates employee, former IMF employee, and sat on his fiddle as NY Fed president while Wall Street fell on its hubris. He makes the economy his only issue after ridiculing McCain by saying a president should be able to do more than one thing at a time. He surrounds himself with drug warriors in Holder and Biden; with a war criminal like Gates; he says he won't prosecute the CIA torture boys--jeez, how is that different than Bush, except he's more "atriculate"?

[mamak]

From your comment history, it looks like you're pissed with Israel.

So if that is your only concern, then buzz off. Don't judge his entire session with those myopic views.

[FearlessFreep]

Who's being myopic?

[ccoppe]

I see the author and Arianne have had enough of bipartisanship. That is why I am glad President O is our president and not anyone from HuffPo.

POTUS made it clear that the goal of bipartisanship is a long term goal. He wants to transform the vicious political discourse of the Bush years. Along the way he also wants to win some Republican cooperation. I think 3 repubs are a good start -- especially when you get their votes along with the civil discourse.

Where bipartisanship is concerned, Obama is running a marathon not a relay race. Maybe we should learn to do the same.

[Vuki]

Well, well, well Obama dodged Helen's question. What is it about American presidents that they can’t answer a straight forward question about Israel? Helen in the same question asked about Pakistan as safe haven for terrorists. He answered that OK but the second part of the question was who has nuclear weapons in the Middle East knowing full well that she wanted him to admit that Israel has them. Obama went skating as fast as he could away from Helen's question and when Helen did not get her answer she chased him with what about who has nukes in the Middle East he quickly went to the next question. Who has your hands tied president Obama? I don’t care if Israel has nukes but if we are going to play the game of non proliferation lets start naming those that proliferate and then we can start convincing everyone to get rid of them. The truth will give you more kudos and an opportunity to be seen as a straight shooter while avoidance or OMISSION IS ANOPTHER WAY TO LIE.

[Beka13]

THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS ABOUT THE ECONOMY...­WHY THE HECK DID THESE REPORTERS ASK ABOUT OTHER THINGS?

[petekwando]

Because with all he's got on his plate right now, he decided it wasn't a good idea to step in a big steaming pile of crap?

Your pure idealism is charming. But talk is cheap when you aren't the one who has to do the negotiating.

[deeppeace]

Maybe omission is anopther way to protect national security (ours or anyone else's), or to maintain confidential negotiations. The POTUS is privy to a good deal of information that he's not necessarily required to share with you.

Let's face it: Some people will always criticize him, whether it's how he answers a question or how he ties his shoes. But by comparison, he came a d @ m n site closer to an answer in that one question than Duh bya did in - what, 14 press conferences in eight years?

[GiveUsFree]

The American people collectively selected Obama's judgment to lead us and not your judgment ; although I wish things were as simple as you make them out to be. They are obviously not. Give him a chance. I can not remember a President having his agenda set for him before he enters office like Obama. He has a lot on his plate. Quit nit picking, please.

[FearlessFreep]

Giveusfree, like BHO, avoids the question.

[trinidadgirl]

Good for him....I am glad he didn't answer any questions on Israel, because anything he says is thrown back at him. he will answer when he is ready..and not before!

[ENOUGH1]

Congratulations to President Obama on his news conference, it was such a change to actually hear someone intelligent answering the questions.

At least President Obama is trying to help our country get out of this mess.

The republicans have a plan for failure, even if it tears this country apart.

[DennyCrane]

I'm not used to seeing a President who can speak English and actually deliver nuanced answers.

[Beka13]

YOU MEAN TEXASESE ISNT ENGLISH? :P

[Pquilson]

Even if the answers are not the truth?

[Gaebaby]

What did he lie about? Were you watching the broadcast on Fox?

[LaurieAnn]

I admire and respect so many things about President Obama, but one thing that I particularly like about his process is that he does not hide. He's not hunkered down and out of communication range somewhere. He's out in front of the people and in front of the press. Yes, he still has much to learn, especially when it comes to bipartisanship and what it can (or usually cannot) accomplish but he is the real leader here and not afraid to show up for the job at hand. What a huge chance from the Bush administration.

[ReneGdP]

I think it is you and many here who have much to learn about bipartisanship and I look forward to President Obama teaching you.

[GiveUsFree]

I think you need to fully read what LaurieAnn was saying. Although you have to discount that the President attempted to not play the Washington game at first and the Republicans spit in his face, but he recovered later from the media and the Republican's miseducation of the public. But I don't think she was being negative.

[Whatashame]

Its REFRESHING to have a president who can formulate and intelligent complete sentence.

[WriteStuffNYC]

He actually thinks and speaks in strings of paragraphs! Imagine that! He gives answers that not only respond directly to the question, but in many instances he starts off by providing contextual information for the direct answer that is coming four paragraphs from then. It requires active listening to follow him and understand what he means, something most lazy minds will find tiring, but what an improvement over the overly terse, often-incoherent, always programmed responses Bush gave, and the too-dire-by-half drivel that Cheney muttered. Obama is a whole big breath of fresh air as compared to his predecessors.

[Gaebaby]

He IS a Harvard grad and he taught Constituitional Law in Chicago. Our country truly does not deserve a man of his intellect. Most are too stupid to understand what he is saying , so they respond by saying- "He isn't answering the question, he is lying....e­tc. etc. blah, blah blah. """

Meanwhile, the rest of world is laughing at us, because we are too stupid to get it!! Do you know that outside of most 3rd world countries, we have the worst healthcare system, infrastructure and educational system?

[williamina]

weird

[vjoseph]

weirder

[Ellen Kagan]

I think Obama is fantastic. I watched his press conference with joy last night. Not only can he chew gum and talk at the same time, but he is brilliant, articulate and humane. I have great confidence that he will set this country straight and I am proud that he is my President.

Those who say he is already failing are just jealous of his great political talent. They are Republicans and they simply do not know what has hit them. But we are no longer in the Bush era, where the rich and entitled ruled, and the Republicans do not know how to cope with the change. But they will learn to cooperate or they will be thrown out of office by their constituents.

[Ellen Kagan]

Right on!! Obama was fantastic! He can walk and talk and chew gum at the same time. He lifts my spirits because he is brilliant, articulate and humane. I am so proud he is my President and I believe he will succeed in setting this country straight.

[Sunmaker]

It was quite refreshing to hear the Presidents speech last evening. It was very informative and optimistic about our future. The most remarkable thing is how he can "Multi-Task" his job and stay so focused on each detail about his Recovery Plan. The Republicans are only focused on one task at a time and get bogged down with so many bills flying their way so fast. They are used to playing around with a bill for weeks on end and not getting anything done. The 21st century is upon us, and we have to multi-task to get our work done. The Republicans are 30 years behind our President and really have no clue as what is going on in our country. (re: getting advice from Bush's economic advisers, and Joe the Plummer)! I say to our President, if they do not want to contribute anything of substance to our country, go live on dirt roads, skirt our fallen bridges and join many americans at the Food Banks across our nation.

[Teamster]

I read the artical and appreciate .so print it and start over ,

we have more work needs for our nation
that any individual can grasp. . a new stimulas is a place of employment not just an idea or barter.

Development of fuel roads schools education teaching salaries and health reserch..

the next generation needs all of the above.