Gee, some people aren’t very impressed with the president’s speech:
Mr. Obama did not deign to propose an alternative to rival Mr. Ryan’s plan, even as he categorically rejected all its reform ideas, repeatedly vilifying them as essentially un-American. “Their vision is less about reducing the deficit than it is about changing the basic social compact in America,” he said, supposedly pitting “children with autism or Down’s syndrome” against “every millionaire and billionaire in our society.” The President was not attempting to join the debate Mr. Ryan has started, but to close it off just as it begins and banish House GOP ideas to political Siberia.
Mr. Obama then packaged his poison in the rhetoric of bipartisanship—which “starts,” he said, “by being honest about what’s causing our deficit.” The speech he chose to deliver was dishonest even by modern political standards.
And those standards are pretty low.
Roger Simon isn’t surprised that “President Boring” put Joe Biden (and others) to sleep:
I think it was a natural response. Biden and the woman were bored stiff. Barack Obama has become the most tedious president in my lifetime. He is like those college professors whose classes you did everything you could to avoid but, if you had to go, sat as far back as possible in order to get a little shut-eye yourself.
But what is it about Obama that makes him so boring? I submit it is something quite simple — he has nothing to say.
And he says it so tendentiously and mendaciously.
Clive Crook says it was a waste of breath. Though that doesn’t distinguish it from any of the president’s other speeches. And Charles K. says that it was a disgrace. I’m not going to argue with that. Again, though, it’s true of this presidency in general. We got what we voted for. Well, at least those of us who voted for him.
[Late morning update]
Cometh the hour, punteth the man.
[Afternoon update]
Paul Ryan responds:
Two months ago, President Obama submitted a budget for fiscal 2012 that did not deal with the major sources of government spending while calling for much higher taxes on American businesses and families. This budget was widely panned as lacking seriousness.
Now comes a deficit speech that doesn’t even rise to the level of a plan. Missing was a credible way to curb out-of-control spending. Instead, the president called for greater reliance on government price controls, which would strictly limit the health-care options of current seniors while failing to control costs. The president would couple this approach with $1 trillion in tax increases, which would destroy jobs and hurt the economy.
We cannot accept an approach that starts from the premise that ever-higher levels of spending and taxes represent America’s new normal.
[Later afternoon update]
“Why did Barack Obama give this appalling speech?”
He has a plan. The president has a political campaign.
He was not tendering his resignation, so I didn’t listen.
Makes one wonder if we wont see a new budget but instead CR’s until after 2012.
Trouble is, the rest of us got him too.
Of course, the NYT says he is “reinvigorated”, even though he focused too much on spending cuts at the expense of taxes. These guys do live on a different planet. (Too bad we can’t make that literally true.)
The best argument yet for colonization. “We hate you people, and we want out.”
Paul Ryan reacted to the Won’s speech by saying the Prez is
“a pyromaniac in a field of straw men.” That’s damn near Churchillean in today’s political climate!
Mouse tip Jim Geraghty.
At this point, it’s all stalling actions while they continue their agenda of creating a new third world country.
Another thought. Since the Dems and their MSM enablers are going to launch a full-out, ad hominem-based, 16 month hate against Paul Ryan, why doesn’t he go ahead and run for president himself.
He is at least an order of magnitude more appealling than any of the announced or leaning GOP candidates. Although he lacks executive experience, he does have actual ideas, a plan, demonstrated intelligence and the courage of his convictions to vigourously defend his positions. And he is neither Ivy League educated nor a lawyer! What’s not to like!
That is a campaign check I would gladly write.
The comments about autism (and Down’s) struck me as strange too. The amount of federal money spent on autism (none directly to patients) is a rounding error compared to the billions spent subsidizing the “millionaires and billionaires” at GE, GM, and the big banks.
It’s important to remember Ryan was in the FRONT ROW at the President’s invitation for the insults. That was a cowardly and despicable thing to do. When Michelle said the country was downright mean, I didn’t realize she meant her husband.
Giving him the SCOTUS treatment, I see…
I missed the speech. How many times did “Il Dufe” do the Mussolini chin-tilt?
teej Says:
“Another thought. Since the Dems and their MSM enablers are going to launch a full-out, ad hominem-based, 16 month hate against Paul Ryan, why doesn’t he go ahead and run for president himself.”
He’d make a very fine VP candidate and then he’d be poised for the big desk 8 years later.
I think Rep. Ryan is worth considerably more than a bucket of warm [spit.]
McGehee Says:
“” He’d make a very fine VP candidate and then he’d be poised for the big desk 8 years later.”
“I think Rep. Ryan is worth considerably more than a bucket of warm [spit.]””
What? Did you get the idea I devalued him in some way with my comment?
The President in effect said that all of our money belongs to the government, and anything we keep is an “expenditure” on the government’s part. In the comments, someone (accurately) stated that the President regards us as his subjects, not as citizens.
This, by the way, was a theme pioneered in American politics by the President’s mentor, Senator Edward M. Kennedy…to whom I say: “Congratulations Ted, 597 days sober!”
Here’s the musical version of Obama’s speech.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRN39oifsE
Gregg,
> What? Did you get the idea I devalued him in some way with my comment?
Vice President John Nance Garner said the office was “not worth a bucket of warm piss.” I believe McGehee is referring to this relatively well known quote.
Yours,
Tom
Tom,
I see. Well I happen to disagree with Garner. While it CAN be an office where the VP gets to go to a lot of State Funerals, it can also be a useful position if the Prez is willing to delegate. For example LBJ having some responsibility for NASA.
The office also has worth as a springboard to the Presidency.
I think Dick Cheney would take issue with that one as well.
The office also has worth as a springboard to the Presidency.
On what planet? Here on Earth, only two former Vice-Presidents have been elected President in the past 150 years (Nixon and Bush Senior). Other Vice-Presidents have been elected after having served as President, e.g. TR, Coolidge, Truman, LBJ, but that’s a very different story.
“Clare, I looked it up; one out of every four presidents has died in office. I’m a gamblin’ man, darlin’, and this is the only chance I got.” – LBJ
I’d only listen to Obamao if he were to announce his suicide.