Obama: I want to give jobs speech! Boner: Fuck you!

[Flagg]

MSNBC

Boehner rebuffs President Obama; suggests different day for speech
By Domenico Montanaro, Political Reporter, NBC News

Mr. President, your move.

After President Obama requested in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to address a joint session of Congress next Wednesday, Sept. 7 -- the same night as an NBC/Politico Republican presidential debate -- Boehner suggested he do it a day later.

Citing that the House is back in session Wednesday and has scheduled votes, Boehner wrote in his own letter, "I respectfully invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the House Chamber, at a time that works best for your schedule."

A GOP aide tells NBC's Luke Russert that the White House alerted Boehner only 15 minutes prior to alerting the press that the president wanted to have a speech on the economy before a Joint Session of Congress.

The aide hinted that only giving the speaker's office 15 minutes of a head up is a tad disrespectful.

*** UPDATE *** A White House official tells First Read, "Boehner’s office was consulted about the 9/7 date before the letter was released. No objection/concern was raised," so the letter went out.

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your letter requesting time to address a Joint Session of Congress next week. I agree that creating a better environment for job creation must be our most urgent priority. For months, the House has been implementing an agenda designed to reduce economic uncertainty, remove unnecessary government barriers to private-sector job creation, and help small businesses, and we welcome the opportunity to hear your latest proposals.

As your spokesperson today said, there are considerations about the Congressional calendar that must be made prior to scheduling such an extraordinary event. As you know, the House of Representatives and Senate are each required to adopt a Concurrent Resolution to allow for a Joint Session of Congress to receive the President. And as the Majority Leader announced more than a month ago, the House will not be in session until Wednesday, September 7, with votes at 6:30 that evening. With the significant amount of time - typically more than three hours - that is required to allow for a security sweep of the House Chamber before receiving a President, it is my recommendation that your address be held on the following evening, when we can ensure there will be no parliamentary or logistical impediments that might detract from your remarks. As such, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership and membership of both the House and Senate, I respectfully invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the House Chamber, at a time that works best for your schedule.

We look forward to hearing your ideas and working together to solve America's jobs crisis.

Sincerely,
John Boehner
Here was Obama's earlier letter requesting to speak:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release August 31, 2011

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE

August 31, 2011

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. Leader:)

Our Nation faces unprecedented economic challenges, and millions of hardworking Americans continue to look for jobs. As I have traveled across our country this summer and spoken with our fellow Americans, I have heard a consistent message: Washington needs to put aside politics and start making decisions based on what is best for our country and not what is best for each of our parties in order to grow the economy and create jobs. We must answer this call.

Therefore, I respectfully request the opportunity to address a Joint Session of Congress on September 7, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. It is my intention to lay out a series of bipartisan proposals that the Congress can take immediately to continue to rebuild the American economy by strengthening small businesses, helping Americans get back to work, and putting more money in the paychecks of the Middle Class and working Americans, while still reducing our deficit and getting our fiscal house in order. It is our responsibility to find bipartisan solutions to help grow our economy, and if we are willing to put country before party, I am confident we can do just that.

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA

So let me get this straight: Wednesday is too busy, so lets move it to Thursday, which just so happens to be opening night of the NFL season. Classy, Boner, real classy. I almost hope Cuntor gets his job just for the lols and the crying.

[Patrick Degan]

This is, apparently, the first time in American history this has happened. And it is not at all surprising. After all the spineless rolling-over Obama has done before Bonehead and co. in the vain hope that they'll see the light on compromise for the good of the country over party politics, they've got no reason whatsoever to respect the man and every reason to laugh and refuse whenever he asks even for a traditional courtesy of governance between the branches. Because they know there will be no political consequences for doing so.

At the rate he's going, Obama will supplant Jimmy Carter as the symbol of weakness and failure in the presidency before the end of the year.

[Darth Fanboy]

I think Boehner is a douchebag.

That being said, I did not see anything unreasonable about the response as it was posted in the quoted article. That the speech could potentially be during the Packers/Saints game does not change anything. (Unless you are a congressperson from Wisconsin or Louisiana? )

[PainRack]

Can someone enlighten us foreigners what is the significance of this?

[JME2]

At the rate he's going, Obama will supplant Jimmy Carter as the symbol of weakness and failure in the presidency before the end of the year.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: he should never have tried to promote bi-partisanship. After the shit the Republicans pulled for 8 years, he should have made it clear they either knock this shit off or risk being left behind. The time for action was before the 2010 elections and now it's too late.

[Flagg]

Can someone enlighten us foreigners what is the significance of this?

It's basically the President wanting to give a speech before a joint session of congress and the speaker of the House telling him to go fuck himself.

[Thanas]

And of course, Obama capitulates once more and agreed on the time Boehner requested.

Obama's "leadership" can't even get him to talk to the legislature without capitulating and looking even more weak.

[Flagg]

As opposed to doing what exactly? The President can't by fiat demand to speak to a joint session, he has to be invited.

[Stark]

When Bush was president, didn't all the right-wing people talk about the respect and loyalty owed to the office of president regardless of who was in it? Shouldn't they all be cross? Or will they just smile and nod when they go back to kowtowing to a republican president?

[Block]

And of course, Obama capitulates once more and agreed on the time Boehner requested.

Obama's "leadership" can't even get him to talk to the legislature without capitulating and looking even more weak.

Considering he has to have permission to appear before Congress and address them, he didn't have much choice.

[Dominus Atheos]

As opposed to doing what exactly? The President can't by fiat demand to speak to a joint session, he has to be invited.

He certainly can. Article II section 3:

(The President) may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them...

If he convenes them, he can speak to them.

[Block]

This would not be considered an extraordinary occasion.

[Mr Bean]

As opposed to doing what exactly? The President can't by fiat demand to speak to a joint session, he has to be invited.

The point remains Flagg that in the two hundred plus years of Union a President has never been refused this makes Speaker look like a dick and the President look weak. The public nature of this makes it all the worse. It's not they live a thousand miles away from each other, President Obama could have simply called ahead quietly and unofficially through his staff to the Speakers staff gave them a list of days and got back a response then officially sent off a letter with the request for that day in question and we could have kept our streak of the President being able to call a joint session at will because he is never refused regardless of party.

The way this went down indicates one of two possibilities.
A. The Speaker and the President are just on that non-existent of speaking terms that the President can only get a response via official and public correspondence
B. The Speaker is a super dick and said off the record that day was fine and then changed his mind.

[Stofsk]

I think you guys are missing Thanas' point. Which is, Boehner feels like he can get away with this which is, in political terms, a very blatant slap in the face.

It's all well to say 'well shit Obama can't do anything but play ball' but that's not the real issue here. The real issue is that Obama is seen as so ineffectual a leader that Congress can feel it's ok to insult him like this, and what's more get away with it because he can't do shit but acquiesce. This very much is a leadership issue, or Obama's lack thereof being the issue.

[Thanas]

B. The Speaker is a super dick and said off the record that day was fine and then changed his mind.

According to politico, that is what happened.



In any case, Obama is seen as so weak a President that they think they can get away with stuff nobody dared to do to a President for over 200 years. In fact, the Historian of the House could not name a single instance in which a President's request for such a speech had been denied or changed. Not one...until now.

That speaks volumes.

[TimothyC]

The way this went down indicates one of two possibilities.
A. The Speaker and the President are just on that non-existent of speaking terms that the President can only get a response via official and public correspondence
B. The Speaker is a super dick and said off the record that day was fine and then changed his mind.

While those are the two most likely possibilities, a third does exist:
C. The Speaker's office wasn't contacted ahead of time, and President Obama assumed that he could get the slot he wanted. It would be a sort of mix between the two you listed, only with both being the 'super dick'. Highly unlikely, but it is the first possibility that crossed my mind.

Edit: Actually in re-reading the article that seems to be what the GOP aides are saying.

[The Romulan Republic]

I find it darkly amusing that a thread about a Republican leader being a dick almost immediately is filled with posts bashing Obama.

Anyway, Boehner being a worthless cock is hardly news. Nor is it surprising that a Republican leader would show no respect to Obama.

[Flagg]

As opposed to doing what exactly? The President can't by fiat demand to speak to a joint session, he has to be invited.

The point remains Flagg that in the two hundred plus years of Union a President has never been refused this makes Speaker look like a dick and the President look weak. The public nature of this makes it all the worse. It's not they live a thousand miles away from each other, President Obama could have simply called ahead quietly and unofficially through his staff to the Speakers staff gave them a list of days and got back a response then officially sent off a letter with the request for that day in question and we could have kept our streak of the President being able to call a joint session at will because he is never refused regardless of party.

The way this went down indicates one of two possibilities.
A. The Speaker and the President are just on that non-existent of speaking terms that the President can only get a response via official and public correspondence
B. The Speaker is a super dick and said off the record that day was fine and then changed his mind.

Either way this reflects badly on Obama, how? We're all in agreement that Boner is a fucking cumstain.

[Mr Bean]

A. Reflects badly on him because like it or not the Speaker is third in line for the office of the Presidency and even if you dislike the man you should still be able to talk to him unofficially.

B. Does not reflect badly on the President except in the sense he took it smiled and accepted it.

If Politico is to be believed it's B which means Boehner gave the President an open handed slap and he accepted it and did nothing. But then he can't do much of anything as long as he's committed to play nothing but good cop to the Republicans playing nothing but bad cop.

[Patrick Degan]

The way this went down indicates one of two possibilities.
A. The Speaker and the President are just on that non-existent of speaking terms that the President can only get a response via official and public correspondence
B. The Speaker is a super dick and said off the record that day was fine and then changed his mind.

While those are the two most likely possibilities, a third does exist:
C. The Speaker's office wasn't contacted ahead of time, and President Obama assumed that he could get the slot he wanted. It would be a sort of mix between the two you listed, only with both being the 'super dick'. Highly unlikely, but it is the first possibility that crossed my mind.

Edit: Actually in re-reading the article that seems to be what the GOP aides are saying.

Yes, I'm sure that's what Bonehead's aids are saying. Except this seems to conform to the pattern he's had with Obama in the past: agree to a thing on a handshake while in private, then publicly say "nope, there's no deal". The man is, plain and simple, a backstabber —only he does the deed in full view of everyone.

Oh, and it seems that South Carolina Senator Jim DeMented is also vowing to do everything in his power to block Obama from speaking before Congress on jobs.

Obama kept trying to talk reasonably to the schoollyard bullies, never understanding that the only way to deal with a bully is to stomp on him good and hard.

[Flagg]

A. Reflects badly on him because like it or not the Speaker is third in line for the office of the Presidency and even if you dislike the man you should still be able to talk to him unofficially.

B. Does not reflect badly on the President except in the sense he took it smiled and accepted it.

If Politico is to be believed it's B which means Boehner gave the President an open handed slap and he accepted it and did nothing. But then he can't do much of anything as long as he's committed to play nothing but good cop to the Republicans playing nothing but bad cop.

And what could he do about it? That's right, nothing. Frankly, every way you look at it Obama wins! He looks like the reasonable adult who wanted to address congress and politely asked to do so and Boner slapped his hand away and disrespected the office of the Presidency like has never been done in American history.

[Patrick Degan]

A. Reflects badly on him because like it or not the Speaker is third in line for the office of the Presidency and even if you dislike the man you should still be able to talk to him unofficially.

B. Does not reflect badly on the President except in the sense he took it smiled and accepted it.

If Politico is to be believed it's B which means Boehner gave the President an open handed slap and he accepted it and did nothing. But then he can't do much of anything as long as he's committed to play nothing but good cop to the Republicans playing nothing but bad cop.

And what could he do about it? That's right, nothing. Frankly, every way you look at it Obama wins! He looks like the reasonable adult who wanted to address congress and politely asked to do so and Boner slapped his hand away and disrespected the office of the Presidency like has never been done in American history.

I'm sorry, but you've got that quite backwards. Bonehead will suffer no political consequences from his disrespect of the office and Obama has, once again, presented himself as weak before his enemies —following on an established pattern which convinced the Republicans they could pull such a stunt and get away with it. He's not being looked upon as the "reasonable adult" but the loser. Thirty years ago, your formulation might have been the fallout from the incident, but not anymore. The Republican base will cheer "their boys" on, because they have no respect for this president. There will be no voices from amongst the GOP to say enough is enough, having been purged from the party ranks long ago, and certainly none from their voters. There is no longer a news media to express outrage at such an act of disrespect but only the thoroughly corporatised spin/sensationalism machine which will turn the issue around to wondering why Obama wanted to schedule his address to Congress during a Republican primary candidates' debate in the first place and will he interrupt opening day of the NFL season? Frankly, every way you look at it, Obama loses. And he's got no one to blame for winding up in such an unfavourable position but himself.

[Flagg]

Again, what could Obama have done differently? All I've heard is "waa waa weak, waa waa conceded", yet everyone doing thus has fail to show how he looks weak or how he's conceded. There is literally nothing else he could have done. This isn't the debt fight, Boner held all the cards and chose to disrespect the office of the President. That's what the media is going to be saying, mark my words.

[Darth Fanboy]

B. The Speaker is a super dick and said off the record that day was fine and then changed his mind.

According to politico, that is what happened.



In any case, Obama is seen as so weak a President that they think they can get away with stuff nobody dared to do to a President for over 200 years. In fact, the Historian of the House could not name a single instance in which a President's request for such a speech had been denied or changed. Not one...until now.

That speaks volumes.

Those two posts answer my prior question perfectly.

[Patrick Degan]

Again, what could Obama have done differently? All I've heard is "waa waa weak, waa waa conceded", yet everyone doing thus has fail to show how he looks weak or how he's conceded. There is literally nothing else he could have done. This isn't the debt fight, Boner held all the cards and chose to disrespect the office of the President. That's what the media is going to be saying, mark my words.

We have shown how this incident makes Obama look week. Denial is not a rebuttal, and in fact by saying "there is literally nothing else he (Obama) could have done", you really are not helping your own case. The point you keep missing is this: every other president, in every other period of American history, was never put into such a position by a sitting Speaker of the House. The respect for the office, and even the man, was very much a given. This is no longer the case. Obama should never have had to face this situation at all, if the normal courtesies and respect which used to exist even between the opposing parties was operative now. That they do not now exist is in large measure a result of Obama caving in to the GOP at almost the drop of a hat, including over the recent debt ceiling fiasco.

And the right wing media are already forming themselves up into the cheering section for Bonehead.