Obama Turns on the Charm?

[slingshot]

Article in the Washington Post.  It will take more than "charm" to bring back trust.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/turning-on-charm-obama-tries-to-end-gridlock/2013/03/07/011fe590-8735-11e2-999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics

Thoughts?

[AZRedhawk44]

I like that we're less than 60 days into Obama's second term and he's already being presented with "lame duck" status.

I still see the election as a failure on the GOP's part to put a proper liberty-loving candidate forward, rather than an adherence of the country to Free *expletive deleted*it.

Yes, the FSA is a big constituency... but voter turnout was lower in 2012 than in 2008.  Romney's pro-statist health care views and gungrabbing affiliations didn't exactly endear him to the Republican campaign machine at the state/county/precinct level across the country.  There was a serious enthusiasm gap in conservative politics.

A lame duck Obama can put us in a holding pattern for the next couple years.  Maybe we'll only be $20 trillion in debt when he finally leaves office.  I still think this boat is sunk, but it's just a question of it's sunk by a what caliber of cannon and how long it takes to slip under the waves.

[Fitz]

I still see the election as a failure on the GOP's part to put a proper liberty-loving candidate forward, rather than an adherence of the country to Free *expletive deleted*.

This

NEVER AGAIN will I fall for the old "hold your nose and vote for this guy, because he's electable" nonsense.

Rand Paul is my guy

[slingshot]

I think the USA may be "sunk" also.  It is just a matter of time before the realization hits and then the #$@& will hit fan. Greece will be nothing when the US falls and China will tumble right behind it.

I hope the Presdent is starting to realize that he may get nothing done in his second term if he doesn't start working with the Republicans and the more conservative side of the Democratic Party.  But I still think he is totally focused on the next election which will cause great harm to this country as it infers the status quo until then.  I don't think he cares.  This dinner thing is just anothe tactic.  But he has to put actions behind any kind of compromise talks on his end.  It is all "secret" and he just blames those dirty Republicans.

This business with Rand Paul was a bit of a slap.

[HankB]

. . . I hope the President is starting to realize that he may get nothing done in his second term if he doesn't start working with the Republicans and the more conservative side of the Democratic Party.  . . .

What if BHO doesn't really care about getting things done or solving the problems we face?

Consider this: If we had a President motivated by hatred and malice towards this country who had at his core a desire to harm the nation as much as he possibly could, while still aware of the political danger of arousing the ire of even his own party by overstepping . . . what would he do differently than what we see BHO doing today?

[Nick1911]

I think the USA may be "sunk" also.  It is just a matter of time before the realization hits and then the #$@& will hit fan. Greece will be nothing when the US falls and China will tumble right behind it.

Agreed.  There's nothing anybody can do about this thing now.  I'm inclined to agree with precherman - brace for impact.

[Balog]

What if BHO doesn't really care about getting things done or solving the problems we face?

Consider this: If we had a President motivated by hatred and malice towards this country who had at his core a desire to harm the nation as much as he possibly could, while still aware of the political danger of arousing the ire of even his own party by overstepping . . . what would he do differently than what we see BHO doing today?

Hanlon's Razor.

[slingshot]

One of the problems is that when economic conditions begin sinking the big countries, the world is likely to erupt in war.  I don't like the prospects of a world at war again.  The US has always been there to temper the reactions of the world to a degree.  No US; No chaperone.  I fear the result.

The one thing Rand Paul accomplished is that he sent a message to the White House that this stuff is just not right.  You know of course if the US erupted in a revolution of sorts that those weapons would be used against American citizens.  The end result would likely be a "US" that is split into a two or three countries.  I doubt it will go like the civil war this time around.

[longeyes]

Obama has put the nation into a power dive and he has no plans to pull up.   He is a political suicide bomber.

His re-election will prove to be the apogee of his political career.

[Fitz]

Obama has put the nation into a power dive and he has no plans to pull up.   He is a political suicide bomber.

His re-election will prove to be the apogee of his political career.

The one he just had, or the one he's gonna have in 2016?

[freakazoid]

The one he just had, or the one he's gonna have in 2016?

[ArfinGreebly]

Hanlon's Razor.

Sometimes it really is malice.

[Scout26]

It's an act and cover.   "See, I took them to dinner and they still won't raise taxes/do it my way.  It's all their fault we're in this mess."

However, the worst thing that could happen is happening.  No one (outside of DC and the chattering class) is taking any notice of the sequester.   Yes, they are doing things to "hurt" the end users like soldiers and tourists.  But not much is really being impacted.

[Gowen]

Agreed.  There's nothing anybody can do about this thing now.  I'm inclined to agree with precherman - brace for impact.

and everyone calls the preppers nuts.

[slingshot]

The problem is the President does not want his name on most legislation in terms of pushing it unless it fits his personal agenda.  He pushed Obama Care.  He is pushing gun control.  Not much else.  For the day to day stuff, he just wants the Senate to do his dirty work (just blame others) which is where the problem develops not to mention his word does not seem to be his bond. 

[grampster]

The dons of the Republican party are eating their young.  Euthanasia for multiple term R's may actually be a blessing.

I hereby initiate the beginning of the Wacko Bird party.  A feather in every nest sez I.

[MechAg94]

I think the USA may be "sunk" also.  It is just a matter of time before the realization hits and then the #$@& will hit fan. Greece will be nothing when the US falls and China will tumble right behind it.

I hope the Presdent is starting to realize that he may get nothing done in his second term if he doesn't start working with the Republicans and the more conservative side of the Democratic Party.  But I still think he is totally focused on the next election which will cause great harm to this country as it infers the status quo until then.  I don't think he cares.  This dinner thing is just anothe tactic.  But he has to put actions behind any kind of compromise talks on his end.  It is all "secret" and he just blames those dirty Republicans.

This business with Rand Paul was a bit of a slap.

Has Obama ever offerred to compromise on anything meaningful at all?  He talks about it a lot like most Democrats do, but all they ever mean is that Republicans should "compromise" by caving in to their demands.  I haven't seen Democrats, much less Obama, compromise in quite some time.

[Tallpine]

Has Obama ever offerred to compromise on anything meaningful at all?  He talks about it a lot like most Democrats do, but all they ever mean is that Republicans should "compromise" by caving in to their demands.  I haven't seen Democrats, much less Obama, compromise in quite some time.

Oh, yeah - they compromise by not getting everything they want right now 

[Waitone]

The one thing Rand Paul accomplished is that he sent a message to the White House that this stuff is just not right.

Kindasorta quoting a great Austrian philosopher Adolph Hitler, "You stand there with your law books and I'll stand here with my bayonet and we'll see who prevails."