Video: White House flummoxed by Feinstein threat
posted at 5:23 pm on February 6, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Has a new administration ever looked this incompetent? Dianne Feinstein sounded a note of rebellion in the Senate today, threatening to vote against the Obama-Reid-Pelosi Porkulus Bill if it didn’t focus more on actual and immediate job creation than its current version does. When asked whether the Obama administration anticipated this or could give Feinstein those assurances, spokesman Robert Gibbs looked lost (via Melissa Clouthier):
Feinstein hasn’t yet committed to voting against the bill, but she’s not exactly supportive either, and it’s a bad time to start losing Democrats. As David Gregory’s question subtly references, Barack Obama has accused critics of the plan for supposedly playing petty politics. Does Obama include Feinstein in that group? Gibbs has no germane response except babbling some tired slogans that have already failed to convince people that Obama knows what he’s doing.
Obama has already flunked this test of his administration. He needed to understand that Nancy Pelosi would be his biggest problem in seeking bipartisanship. She has torpedoed any chance Obama had of gaining significant Republican support, and now he may not have enough votes to avoid a filibuster of the stimulus package, let alone get bipartisan cover. Feinstein has now stripped him of the “mean Republicans” cover, too. It’s a disaster for the new administration.
Update (AP): Via Breitbart, here’s the full clip of Feinstein’s statement, in which she makes clear that it’s the tax cuts, not the spending, that’s scaring her off. The longer this drags on the more it reminds me of the failed amnesty bill, where every move to placate Republican hardliners alienated Democratic amnesty shills and vice versa until the whole thing collapsed. According to Mark Hemingway, roughly a dozen Democrats are unhappy with the bill in its current form. Is this compromise simply unworkable?
Update (Ed): Major Garrett and Fox, not David Gregory and NBC. Sorry about that — I could have sworn ….
Blowback
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OT: Is anyone else not seeing pictures for the last few topics?
MadisonConservative on February 6, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Worst White House Evah!
Pass that popcorn.
HornetSting on February 6, 2009 at 5:25 PM
this bill just wont go anywhere until at least monday
ousoonerfan15 on February 6, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Gawd, I hope so. Would be terrific if Obama had to give his Monday press conference without a vote in sight.
misslizzi on February 6, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Feinstein vs. Obama. This is a tough one. Kind of like Lenin vs. Trotsky. Let me sleep on it.
keep the change on February 6, 2009 at 5:27 PM
You can’t polish a turd.
HornetSting on February 6, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Is Gibbs really this clueless???
Corky on February 6, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I stand agape…..
CynicalOptimist on February 6, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I didn’t see them either. Go Gophers!
VikingGoneWild on February 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Revenge for failure to consult on the Panetta nomination.
MajorKong on February 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Ive never said this once in my life but…
that’s my Senator!
Chuck Schick on February 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Au contraire!
LOL
IrishEi on February 6, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Yes, I noticed that as well.
carbon_footprint on February 6, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I can’t see the pic either.
Bobbertsan on February 6, 2009 at 5:31 PM
He had no track record of successful leadership experience.
For which we should be grateful, given his radical agenda.
INC on February 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
The One must not realize it because it all happened so quickly but it is plain for all the world to see that Pelosi has cut off his stones and is probably having them bronzed and mounted so she can display them in her office with pride. If this three-ring circus doesn’t convince people that this guy has no idea what he’s doing, I am at a loss as to what might. You would have to have been living under a rock for the last ten years not to know what a ruthless ballbuster Pelosi is.
I wish someone would leak who is among this unhappy dozen on the other side of the aisle — besides Feinstein, of course (a happy surprise there). I have a feeling my Democratic senators could be in that camp, and if they are, I want to know so I can bombard their offices all weekend long with phone calls and emails.
NoLeftTurn on February 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I liked the question by Garrett. Nice to see other media members starting to wake up other just FOX.
Gibbs…..this guy must hammer a 1/5 of scotch every night.
VikingGoneWild on February 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I pick Diane Feinstein for the Block.
XOX
XXO
OXO
FAIL
portlandon on February 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I’m sorry, but republican’s look stupid proposing tax cuts for everything… and the same(but not nearly as bad now since it’s an “emergency”) for liberal spending programs…
The economic-governing order is going to have to change… the republican party will never get back into power until it goes small government egalitarian… tax bash(gov, unions, corporations) rebate organize create…
ninjapirate on February 6, 2009 at 5:33 PM
It’s one thing to run a campaign – especially when the press wants to be part of your historic run – and quite another to actually govern.
Obama has little experience working with modern Democrats much less Republicans and accomplishing things.
We all knew this but somebody let their tingling legs block their brains.
Yeah, not sure how that’s done; but I can’t think of a better metaphor. It’s Friday.
SteveMG on February 6, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Ah yes, the real problem she has is that it tries to give people their money back directly, instead of taking more and giving it to their pet projects and business buddies.
Honestly paying for a new yacht or remodeling a boardroom does employee average people (sometimes even union job holders) so how is that inherently BAD?
Giving (literally( unemployed people a make-work job that is short lived, they are not qualified for really and uses tax dollars to pay for it doesn’t help the economy. Paying existing employed people to do their job when they otherwise wouldn’t (because of constant fear-mongering that scares people into not spending) is far superior.
If you can’t get a decent job in a month or two you are either no-skilled and thus a loser who deserves nothing or not trying.
Neo on February 6, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Actually you can – Mythbusters did it.
Of course what you wind up with is just about totally unrecognizable since most of your starting points are round, shiny balls.
But calling this package a turd is an insult to turds.
KCSteve on February 6, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Woking fine for me. Their the clearest little red X’s I’ve ever seen.
Weight of Glory on February 6, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Good for Feinstein. They ought to scrap both this bill and Nancy and start over. Maybe they could find something that would make sense. Lets start with tax cuts including the corporate income tax.
duff65 on February 6, 2009 at 5:34 PM
This “Party in Opposition” gig is pretty kwwweeeeel, no?
seejanemom on February 6, 2009 at 5:34 PM
ugh.
Weight of Glory on February 6, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Okay, okay, okay…you can polish a turd. Obama got elected….I call ‘uncle’.
HornetSting on February 6, 2009 at 5:35 PM
David Gregory? What Olympic medalist have you been hanging out with?
RiteWingFascist on February 6, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Feinstein. Her re-election is all but guaranteed, and she has long standing seniority within the party. Besides, she comes from the school of relatively hard knocks.
dglenn on February 6, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Woking? :P
MadisonConservative on February 6, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Thank goodness we have the intellectual Obama in office and not Palin (with MUCH sarchasm) to perform this masterstroke of political management.
WashJeff on February 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Good lord. Between the TARP, the Spendulus and (a possible) TARP II, our moral and intellectual betters in DC are trying to spend somewhere north of $2 trillion dollars. These are the same idiots who spend $2,000/hr on a hooker who is clearly worth $50 at best!
/Drunk Milt Friedman
Flyover Country on February 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Picturing one of those perpetual motion clicky thingies that people keep on their desks… Of course, she’d need 3 “stones” for that, but I’m sure she’s got a massive collection going on.
Boudica on February 6, 2009 at 5:37 PM
People have been comparing Bambi to Jimmy Carter, but that’s the wrong comparison. Bambi is the second coming of Franklin Pierce or…dare I say it? I dare…I dare–James Buchanan!
Matt Helm on February 6, 2009 at 5:37 PM
The Gibbs Show is totally my new favorite reality program. He never fails to entertain. I might have to get cable just so I can watch C-Span.
patriette on February 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Poor Gibbs.
Professor Blather on February 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Yup. Woking. I meant woking. Wanna fite abowt it?
Weight of Glory on February 6, 2009 at 5:39 PM
This has become a sitcom as Rush described it.
jencab on February 6, 2009 at 5:39 PM
If no vote by Monday, BO will literally stomp his feet, collect his toys, and leave the playground. What a novice!
jbh45 on February 6, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Who is the shortest reigning press secretary to date?
Not including Gibbs……..
ctmom on February 6, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Hmmmm…
As the Band Plays on…
And they play musical chairs with the deckchairs on the Titanic…
The Rats are leaving the ship…
And Capt. Obama say… “Iceberg? what Iceberg? There can’t be an iceberg out here because of Global Warming!”
Romeo13 on February 6, 2009 at 5:40 PM
My followup to the Press Sec, would be, why is he only working on behalf of the Americans that lost jobs, what about the Americans that have not?
Is he the President of the unemployed?
jharada on February 6, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Feinstein said that is was proven that the high income taxpayers did NOT spend their refund check.
HELLLLOOO! They didn’t get one, they paid for those who didn’t pay taxes to get a check. They are sooooo clueless in Senate-Land.
stenwin77 on February 6, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Scott McClellan and Robert Gibbs separated at birth?
How did these guys gets jobs? They exhibit as much confidence as a 14-year old at the Bunny ranch.
SteveMG on February 6, 2009 at 5:42 PM
If the White House loses Feinstein, expect a number of other, lesser, Dems following her example in short order.
This is why Obama and Reid are pretty much demanding, vehemently demanding, that the entire “stimulus package” be passed now…not next week, but right now.
The wheels are coming off the Obamatron Bus…but it drives merrily along regardless.
1458 days to go…
coldwarrior on February 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
This is fun, watching the Democrats go at each other as the Porkulus trillion-dollar crap sandwich hits the fan and splatters all over them.
Enjoy the show, folks!
UltimateBob on February 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Don’t let up on the phone calls. Here are Republican numbers from Michelle. Hagan, a Dem, is also reportedly wavering. Let her know how you feel: 202-224-6342.
amerpundit on February 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
It was Major Garrett from FoxNews, not David Gregory.
Who is this Gibbs guy?
He sounds like an idiot.
What kind of a boss would fail to give an employee the information and tools he needs to do his job?
reine.de.tout on February 6, 2009 at 5:44 PM
This is Barack Obama’s Iraq war. He is doing exactly what he and his liberal pals accused Bush of doing – using fear of an economic catastrophe to ram through a bill that nobody has thought through. And it will not matter how many Republicans vote for it, he is going to own it. David Brooks said it today – this is an invasion by government of our economy, with no exit strategy and no weapons of mass destruction to be found. When the voters figure out that Obama has just pissed away another trillion dollars of their childrens’ money, they are going to turn on him just like they did Bush.
rockmom on February 6, 2009 at 5:44 PM
OMG! Just how bad is this steaming piece of legislation that Dianne Feinstein isn’t out there leading the charge on behalf of the filthy bastard in the White House?
highhopes on February 6, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Wo man. I dnd’t meen nu haam. Peese.
MadisonConservative on February 6, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Let’s keep the Democrats fighting amongst themselves, the longer and harder they fight, the more they will leave US alone!
Don’t ever forget; Democrats lie…. that’s what they do!
nelsonknows on February 6, 2009 at 5:46 PM
The idiot Gibbs is in WAY over his head in this job. This
administrationcircus of fools needs a much better liar out front to sell their schemes to the American public.UltimateBob on February 6, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Especially since, had they not been this greedy, they could have gotten legislation through without a single GOP vote.
highhopes on February 6, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Fixed.
ExTex on February 6, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Sign of the Times!
Smash their pearls
Trash their world
That’s my girl
I have never voted for her, but I’ll smile if she votes no.
juanito on February 6, 2009 at 5:47 PM
780B tentative deal…oh crap, on CNN.
HornetSting on February 6, 2009 at 5:47 PM
lights out
cnn reporting: Tentative deal on $780 billion stimulus / democratic and republican senators have reached a tentative agreement for a $780 billion economic stimulus package
gatorboy on February 6, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Uh oh.
From MM’s site: They’re caucusing a “compromise” right now.
Nelson’s involved again.
Vote could be tonight.
Groan.
IrishEi on February 6, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Ha!
Weight of Glory on February 6, 2009 at 5:48 PM
MSM didn’t want to cover Obama’s leadership in the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. He was chairman of a board in Chicago with a bunch of head-nodding socialites and Bill Ayers. Clearly, Ayers and Obama ran the show and within five or so years blew grants amounting to $161 million. The board’s purpose was school reform. An independent study determined that there was no improvement in the school that were part of their “reform.”
And we want to allow Obama dictate the use of a trillion dollars? Spare me. For zillionth time, Obama and his wife didn’t figure out the benefit of an interest-bearing checking account in 2005. I have teen-aged nieces and nephews with a greater understanding of finance and economics.
BuckeyeSam on February 6, 2009 at 5:48 PM
How can that be? I thought Michelle had beat Stretch to the punch.
baldilocks on February 6, 2009 at 5:48 PM
This is definately OT but I didn’t see anywhere to put it. Still very telling. Those liberal leaders in the military that derided Bush and who thought there was some Utopia with leaders on the left are gettting the message too. I’m sure when Zinni wrote his book and then went on the Daily Show talking down the administration he thought he was a shoe in for a position from his leftist betters.
Then today…
“With General Zinni fuming in undiplomatic fashion about the way he was treated, the question of who should be the next ambassador to Iraq has turned into an embarrassing mess for the Obama administration as it struggles to recover from other stumbles over high-profile nominations. There has still been no formal announcement about the Iraq job.”
The wheels of the bus go bump, bump, bump…
hawkdriver on February 6, 2009 at 5:49 PM
republican “senators” = Collins & ??
gatorboy on February 6, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Flyover Country on February 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Or you could take a page from Mr. Debbie Stabenow (D-UAW) and spend a cool $150 on a hooker.
PimFortuynsGhost on February 6, 2009 at 5:49 PM
“deal with that one republican” = bipartisan
what a pathetic joke
gatorboy on February 6, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Good analogy but I’d suggest that the bloom is already off the Obama rose (less than a month into office). His incompetence in just getting a cabinet into place and all the tax cheats in office or still under consideration has done massive damage to image among many of the idiots who voted for the filthy bastard. Now, even with a majority in both houses of Congress, the filthy bastard is not able to lead on this issue.
I knew it was going to be an ugly four years with this unfit man as the President. I never imagined it would be this bad in the first two weeks. Obama will be a lame duck by June.
highhopes on February 6, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Colllins & Nelson of Nebraska.
IrishEi on February 6, 2009 at 5:51 PM
He worked on the campaign as communications director.
He thought it would continue to be an easy ride.
INC on February 6, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Nelson of Nebraska is a Dem.
INC on February 6, 2009 at 5:53 PM
I tried reading some of this bill online and it’s absolutely mind-bogglingly crazy. It’s like every Democrat in the House & Senate pulled all the random crap they’ve been working on out of their desk drawers and stapled it together into this one gigantic piece of shit. Now they’re like a bunch of dung beetles rolling it back and forth, and it’s picking up more crap as it goes along. I’m so frustrated on so many levels with this, but the most infuriating thing is that you can probably guarantee that hardly any of them have even read it through. That’s the biggest slap in the face. How can you debate and vote for something you’ve not even read, and then tell me if it doesn’t pass the world will end??? sigh.
Boudica on February 6, 2009 at 5:53 PM
The MythBusters proved that you can polish a turd.
MarkTheGreat on February 6, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Hailey Barbour was on Cavuto’s show today and he was making some great examples of how devious this bill is! Promises of big cash for states BUT, you have to spend it according to the Gov’t rules- like MS was going to get 53 million for unemployment, but they only got 3 mill for current takers and the rest was for “new” slackers. Barbour was all up against it. How much MORE sneaky BS is in this thing??!!
anniekc on February 6, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Zinni was the filthy bastard’s ace-in-the-hole that he was able to be CINC and craft foreign policy. It is an under-reported story but his withdrawal is probably only second to the Daschle tax problems as an embarrassment to this administration.
If it weren’t for my love of country I would be loving every minute watching this arrogant bastard go down in flames by his own incompetence.
highhopes on February 6, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I had read about the Annenberg Challenge. He really doesn’t know how to lead successfully.
INC on February 6, 2009 at 5:56 PM
FWIW: Yesterday, I e-mailed my Democratic Senator (Sherrod Brown-Ohio) for the heck of it just to complain about the bill. Here’s a portion of the canned response he just e-mailed me:
[my bold]
My guess is that these talking point are in e-mails being sent by Democrats in Congress to constituents all over the country.
BuckeyeSam on February 6, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Arrogance, thy name is Obama. Karma, baby.
GarandFan on February 6, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Has anyone noticed that it’s pretty quiet, what with Rush being out of town this week?
I can’t WAIT for Rush on Monday!!! LOL – Poor Bambi!
Califemme on February 6, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Clearly, not enough swing voters did. I wouldn’t hire Obama to run a lemonade stand. WTF were voters thinking?
BuckeyeSam on February 6, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Yep. Sorry. Meant to say that they were the two Sens. who worked out the “compromise.”
IrishEi on February 6, 2009 at 6:00 PM
LOLOLOL
scalleywag on February 6, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Ed, how dare you mix up the honorable Major Garrett of FNC, with that shameful weasel David Gregory of
BHOTVNBC!? How dare you, sir!?RightWinged on February 6, 2009 at 6:03 PM
LOLOL. Might as well laugh about it, come Monday we may all be in tears. Or straight jackets.
scalleywag on February 6, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Mr. Obama should have known that Nancy is toxic to bipartisanship. Remember during the original TARP negotiations, she got up on the floor and lit into Pres Bush and the republicans and caused most of the Republicans to oppose the House measure.
eaglewingz08 on February 6, 2009 at 6:05 PM
I’m not an economist nor do I pretend to be one on TV. So either I don’t understand what is being said, or I do understand but it’s just illogical to me. If I’m given a $600 check and put that money into my bank. Isn’t that money, along with money from other like minded individuals, going to be used by said financial institution to fund business loans. Which is the problem that stated this entire situation, the lack of investment capital through financial institutions.
Zaire67 on February 6, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Tar. Feathers.
Nothing short of hilarious violence, like sticking chicken feathers on people with extremely hot oil based sludge will make this situation any better.
The End of The Republic is Nigh.
Dorvillian on February 6, 2009 at 6:07 PM
The obvious answer, which you know, is that they weren’t. I’m sure you also saw that video of how Obama voters knew so little of the political background of the campaign.
It makes me angry. You have to pay just attention to a national election. It doesn’t even take that much time. Just dig a little and read a little.
INC on February 6, 2009 at 6:20 PM
I think the media are just having fun now asking Gibbs tough questions. It’s like stealing some kid’s lunch money.
PattyJ on February 6, 2009 at 6:20 PM
This is major Deja Vu regarding the “noone wants to be 60th vote” mantra.
The unpopular tax bill in 1993 passed with one vote. The GOP could run against every single senator with the slogan “the senators vote was instrumental in passing the tax bill, it passed with one vote”.
2010 is looking better and better. Of course, Obama’s utter incompetence helps as well.
Norwegian on February 6, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Our governor here in Arkansas said the same thing earlier this week — that the money is welcomed but that states need to decide for themselves how best to appropriate it — and both of our Democratic senators agreed with him. They have both been urging more tax relief and incentives for industry in our state to be incorporated into the bill, and I know at least one of their proposals has been shot down. Senator Lincoln is on the finance committee and she’s up for election in 2010. She has always done a pretty honest job IMO — very much a conservative Democrat. I have been hammering her office and Sen. Pryor with calls and emails. I really think they would vote no if there weren’t so much peer pressure to go along with the rest of the clique. If just a couple of brave Dems could break ranks, I am sure a few others would follow, including at least one of my two. With public approval for this disaster at around 40% and falling, they have to know that their constituents aren’t going to be unhappy about them voting no.
If they want to pass a “stimulus” package, then they can all just sit down and work it out together — a true bipartisan effort — and cut the final price tag about in half. A crap slider is way easier to swallow than a whole crap sandwich.
NoLeftTurn on February 6, 2009 at 6:23 PM
And isn’t that the dirty little secret, everyone knows it’s a giant pork bill and won’t do anything to fix the economy.
Demand a timeline until the economy gets fixed …
tarpon on February 6, 2009 at 6:24 PM
I would think that one of the lapdog WH press people would explain to Gibbs that they won the election and he is in the WH = the campaign is ovah!
Zero needs to read Steven Covey – it is the responsibility of leadership to the the right things – not to do things right. Zero is very confused.
iam7545 on February 6, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Dittos, and a REALLY bad one at that!
Yes, and Rush will have a field day!
Branch Rickey on February 6, 2009 at 6:32 PM
I know Blanche Lincoln, and you are quite right about her. I will be disappointed to see her vote for this bill, but I’ll bet Harry Reid really played hardball with her about committee assignments, future appropriations, reelection fundraising, etc. He probably threatened to sic the moveon.org crowd on her and have them find a primary opponent for her unless she votes for it.
Mark Pryor, on the other hand, is worthless.
rockmom on February 6, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Feinstein was at a private dinner with the Cuda, prior to Palin’s appearance at the Alfalfa Club. Maybe the Cuda talked DiFi out of the stimulus. :)
Jim62sch on February 6, 2009 at 6:33 PM
The only person who would have been even more incompetent as BHO’s press spokesman is a Caroline
SchlossbergKennedy, imho….Branch Rickey on February 6, 2009 at 6:35 PM
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