White House: Hey, we love bipartisanship!
posted at 1:35 pm on August 19, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
It didn’t take long for the White House to backpedal from the New York Times story this morning. In the morning briefing, Jake Tapper reports that Robert Gibbs sung the praises of bipartisanship and declared that they could work for a long time before they abandoned efforts to work with Republicans on health care reform. In fact, Gibbs suggested that President Obama would shoot himself into space if it would help:
“Absolutely not,” Gibbs said. “We continue to be hopeful that we can get bipartisan support and will continue to work with those that are interested in doing that.”
“Our goal is to get this done in a bipartisan way,” he said. “There are several more weeks to go in potential negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. I don’t know why we would short circuit any of that now.”
Gibbs said if that were the intention, he would go on vacation. “I don’t know why on August 19 we would declare on something that would be voted on in either September or October that the possibility is only 51 votes,” he said.
The president’s spokesman said Mr. Obama would “orbit the moon” if he thought it would help bring progress in health care reform .
Don’t give us any ideas, Robert. Some of us may think that would be a good start.
Apparently, the White House is a little smarter than the Capitol Hill gang that fed the reconciliation idea to the New York Times. However, it’s more than just a little disingenuous. After all, this is the same President that declared “I won” when Republicans wanted a seat at the table for Porkulus’ creation. Obama blew a chance to spread the blame in case of failure with that move; perhaps he learned a lesson this time.
The best bet for Democrats might be to follow James Carville’s advice, which is to let Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats bury ObamaCare in a Senate filibuster. They could get onto other business and run in the midterms on GOP obstructionism, as long as they could explain how 40 Republicans managed to outbox Harry Reid to kill their signature domestic-policy agenda item. That would be placing a big bet on the notion that ObamaCare is wildly popular and its obstruction a cause for resentment among a majority of voters, when all of the evidence shows the opposite. But at least the Democrats would finally get a clear-cut, undeniable message on single-payer and its Trojan horses.
Blowback
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“Earth to Obama, come back, come back”.
“C a n y o u h e a r m e n o w ?”
Mad Dog on August 19, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Will Gibbs turncoat and write an anti-Obama book?
andy85719 on August 19, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Their idea of “bipartisanship” is a thugboat.
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on August 19, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Where do you get that from? The White House is delaing with this issue the same incompetent amd moronic way they have dealt with every issue. Where did I say they have been bloodied? It is a shame that they are still skating by with their lies, distortions and general hate of America.
Er … “nihilistic fatalism”? Hardly. When the Constitution is ripped to shreds, it has effects. If any of the Constitution and nation-killing policies/legislation make it through (Crap&Trade, health scare, amnesty, …) that will spell the death of America – or at least secession by a good number of states. But, that is the intention of those policies – the killing of America, that is.
No … I think that everyone with a brain knows that the Founders would never have allowed a dual citizen to be President, and therefore fashioned ‘natural born citizen’ to exclude such a ridiculous notion. They didn’t recognize the concept of American dual-citizens, so how could they have included it? It’s crazy for anyone to think that dual citizens are eligible.
Where did I mention moderates and independents? No one who supports a marxist bent on destroying America is a moderate. That’s pretty obvious. They may be useful idiots, but that would be the best that can be said about them.
I think many of the swing voters who went for the ineligible Indonesian feel betrayed, at this point. They are realizing the havoc they wrought.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Maybe Obama should, if he hasn’t already, hire an Information Czar.
Someone to tell everyone where they stand on any given issue.
This is just embarrasing.
bridgetown on August 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM
He won’t be able to decide from day to day if it is an anti-Obama, or pro-Obama book.
ICBM on August 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmE0OGM4OTZkYWZhZDEwY2Y3ZWUxOGJmMGRmZWU5ZmI=
Upstater85 on August 19, 2009 at 2:15 PM
And Frum is a moron who couldn’t argue his way out of a paper bag.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Hey! I used to be the Czar of July, but now that it’s August, I’m looking for a new gig. I volunteer.
BobMbx on August 19, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Speaking of Czars, we need to appoint someone to czar over the WH staffers and such.
It could be called an Information coming out of the mouth of Gibbs Czar.
Upstater85 on August 19, 2009 at 2:18 PM
What exactly was President Obama elected to do?
He won 53% of the vote running on a platform of ‘hope and change’.
Where in any of that does he have a mandate to push through major health care reform that polls indicate are rejected by a larger majority of people than voted for him in the first place?
JadeNYU on August 19, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Far be it for me to disagree with the Ragin’ Cajun’…
Rogue on August 19, 2009 at 2:19 PM
If someone says they are going to drive your car over a cliff and they want you to ride along with them — give them your blessing, enjoy the ride, help plot the course on a map — what do you do?
MOST people would never give that person the car keys, or, if they already had the car keys, would never, ever, get into the car with them. Nor help them plot their course over a cliff.
Lourdes on August 19, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Believe it or not, there is a Republican counter-proposal. Couldn’t tell you what’s in it though – the Thomas.gov page for the text of the bill has had a series of “mysterious maladies” that give 404s whenever I try to hit the link. It’s on Boehner’s page though, if I remember right.
I can tell you this much though – if it lacks a way to freely increase the number of doctors in the US, and biochemists to boot, then it’s worth just as much as the Democrat proposals (about 10 cents more than a bucket of lukewarm spit).
–
No production, no prosperity. Know production, know prosperity.
Blacksmith on August 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM
This is just the picture of a White House in disarray — and that’s exactly how the American people are going to see it. Obama has no idea what he’s doing, and each day brings another painful illustration that we are a leaderless nation.
Rational Thought on August 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM
There’s a whole lot of “change” in remaking 2008/09 America into the societies from Soylent Green or Logan’s Run, Jade. Gotta hand it to the bastard – he never said it’d be a GOOD change!
Blacksmith on August 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Where in any of that does he have a mandate to push through major health care reform that polls indicate are rejected by a larger majority of people than voted for him in the first place?
JadeNYU on August 19, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Well since people here like the “I know you are but what am I” argument I’ll say that Bush claimed he had a mandate and political capital he was going to spend after the 04 election. How is this different?
Also I’d like to know why polling numbers about individual policy positions should now be considered by the governing administration when we spent eight years proclaiming Bush a man of principle for ignoring policy polls.
frumian on August 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Wow. You’re stupid AND disingenuous. Just like Frum.
Why does Bush figure into this? He got whacked on his attempt to fix Social Security. So what?
Because Bush was doing what was right and what was Constitutional. To try and use this argument to defend the un-Constitutional and the un-American is just idiotic.
But … you are a frumian, so this is to be expected.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Sarcasm?
CrankyIndependent on August 19, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Obama is Mr. Kurtz. From “Heart of Darkness”–
George Orwell on August 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Deuchebag troll?
jwp1964 on August 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I’m not a conservative so discount all I say off the bat if you must. But….for real? We care about polling on issues only when that issue violates the Constitution? So the Patriot Act’s attacks on privacy and free speech those are OK? The federal intrusion into school testing via No Child Left Behind, fine constitutionally? Under what used to be conservatism (I’m not sure that even includes you) these actions would not have been acceptable.
CrankyIndependent on August 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
“Ground control to Major ‘Bom…”
Akzed on August 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
I can just see it now: The Audacity of Hype.
highhopes on August 19, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Come on you gutless Democrats, invoke the nuclear option!
DO IT!
GarandFan on August 19, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Not much conservative support for NCLB, and the Patriot Act’s violations of the Constitution are… what?
Akzed on August 19, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Done! Not because you aren’t a conservative but because you are are a paid shill for the filthy liar in the White House.
highhopes on August 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Cranky Indpendent:
Speaking of bipartisan, the Patriotic Act had bipartisan support. I know the Democrats praddled on about the horror of it all so that people like you would vote for them…but it is still there. In fact so is Gitmo and a host of other things silly people screeched were unConstitutional.
Bush did not break the law.
Democrats of course are under the impression that the same rules do not apply to them. They can lie, cheat and steal with impunity. They can go to war, tap phones, and do just about anything they want and there you will be…puckered up and ready to kiss their corrupt behinds.
Some Independent you are.
Terrye on August 19, 2009 at 2:43 PM
No. The point is that polling is meaningless, in any respect, for un-Constitutional actions. It makes no sense to speak about polling for something that is un-Constitutional. When something is Constitutional, then one can discuss polling and how principals should take it into account, but that’s why I put “right” in there.
To discuss polling with respect to The Precedent’s attempt to shred our Constitution is just stupid.
It was national security and the legislation came with sunsetting. There were no glaring Constitutional issues with it, though minor debates were legitimate.
Not at all. Polling was with Bush on that, but it should have never happened – to just emphasize my point about the value of polling and Constitutionality.
Learn to debate. You have false premises, poor interpretation, and have jumped to conclusions without any logical line of inference.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Where do you get that from?
I read this blog regularly. And claiming they are ‘skating by’ indicates they have been slowed, rather than plowing forward. But that refuses to acknowledge the fact that they have passed everything they wanted to and where they got no GOP support they took extra care painting the opposition as obstructionist to give the blue dogs cover. You might think
they are skating by but you have little if any evidence to back that up.
Er … “nihilistic fatalism”? Hardly.
LOL funny stuff. I’ll just post your response as my example….
When the Constitution is ripped to shreds, it has effects. If any of the Constitution and nation-killing policies/legislation make it through (Crap&Trade, health scare, amnesty, …) that will spell the death of America – or at least secession by a good number of states. But, that is the intention of those policies – the killing of America, that is.
Funny stuff. Despite all that being total bunk made up by a legal illiterate, I’m not sure what dual citizen you are talking about.
Despite your aversion to facts and logic, until you show that Obama had ever held a citizenship other than American, or show where exactly in the constitution that British law supersedes our Constitution, and show a single other example of British law having ever superseded the Constitution… you are nothing more than a blithering idiot regurgitating ridiculous theories.
Again the rest of the reply speaks for itself….
No one who supports a marxist bent on destroying America is a moderate
You end with an anecdote that conveniently validates your entire strategy…good for you.
frumian on August 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM
It’s because he is responding to the polling and not acting as a leader. The moderates balk at the public option and his minions get the direction to talk about co-ops. So, the radicals balk at anything short of state seizure of healthcare and the filthy liar veers back the other way. None of this has anything to do with what is the best course for America and everything about giving a racist street thug a much needed legislative win to counterbalance a dismal record of flops and failures.
highhopes on August 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Actually I think the No Child Left Behind act did some good in terms of improving reading ability for elementary school students. I know the teachers unions hate it because being held accountable is such a drag.
But thus far the problems liberals have with the bill is not that it involves the feds in schools, but that it inconveniences teachers.
I do support vouchers and so did the Bush administration, for all the good it did them.
Terrye on August 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Anybody else look at that picture and think “I find you lack of faith disturbing”?
Count to 10 on August 19, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Hacks…
elderberry on August 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I hadn’t even considered the possibility of turncoats this early in the administration. But, DAYAM! This will be really fun in about 2 yrs. when people start jumping ship! All the dirt that is going to come out! I can’t wait to read it. “Obama is cerebral, but didn’t really offer an opinion either way. His leadership style was, well to put it bluntly, not very decisive. He called Michelle alot…”
JAM on August 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM
The Democrats are pandering hypocrites? Stop the presses! With that shocking revelation I hope I don’t rock your world by suggesting that unconstitutional laws can be passed with bipartisan support.
Your standard is consistent….if wierd. But it’s consistent. I guess the real debate then is which policies are violations of the Constitution.
Right, so maybe you can start by talking about why these thiings are unmitigated threats to the constitution. Which amendments/articles?
On the issue of Amnesty we know that many administrations, including Reagan, have signed into laws “amnesty” bills and other immigration expansions. The Constitution and the country still exist no? I haven’t even read any recent amnesty legislation, I don’ think there’s any before Congress but if something is Constitution killing and has already happened multiple times shouldn’t the Constitution be killed?
CrankyIndependent on August 19, 2009 at 2:56 PM
There still might be time for you to apply for TOBACCO CZAR, to be named this week.
Brat on August 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Come on, Charley Brown!
Run up and kick the football.
Sure, you can trust me!
Haiku Guy on August 19, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Huh? “Skating by” means getting away with something they shouldn’t. Learn some English, man.
P.S. The “still”, as in “still skating by” should have tipped you off that no change was indicated by my statement. You do know what “still” means? No, it doesn’t mean ‘calm’ and it doesn’t mean ‘quiet’ in this context …
And that slug Frum helped them in this paint-job. Thanks, Bud.
I have evidence of all the sh!t they’ve been getting away with since way back in the campaign. The Precedent has skated by on just about everything. That’s what a neo-Pravda media and allies like Frum will do.
That’s neither nihilistic nor fatalistic. But, since you don’t understand what “skating by” means, and can’t figure out what the modifier ‘still’ indiciates, I won’t even bother to explain this to you. It is just beyond your capacity, obviously.
Read The Precedent’s own recounting of his British, and then Kenyan, nationality. And it is pretty clear that he took on Indonesian citizenship. But, we aren’t allowed to have any access to relevant documents (we don’t even know what hospital he was born in, since he has said two different ones, himself!) we don’t know. The Indonesian school registration makes the reasonable assumption that he held Indonesian citizenship, as that was required to be in that school. But, you wouldn’t understand any of this, so don’t even try. You have work to do on “skating by” and “still” before you can get into the more complicated ideas.
I stand by that statement. Show me a marxist supporter who is a “moderate”, even in the frumian sense. LOL.
Er … that’s not an anecdote, Einstein. I guess “anecdote” needs to be added to that list.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Bipartisanship = Republicans don’t do a lot of talkin’.
Jim Treacher on August 19, 2009 at 3:01 PM
We love bi-partisanship as long as it means you Republicans vote for what we write — Gibbs.
Christian Conservative on August 19, 2009 at 3:02 PM
He’s already out there, circling
UranusBawney Frank.Del Dolemonte on August 19, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Good Joke.
Obama came home and told Michelle after a recent town hall meeting that everything he says Makes people happy and pisses people off at the same time. He then challenged the first lady to try and tell him something that would make him happy and make him mad at the same time. She thought about it for a second, and said ok, out of all your friends, you have the biggest dick.
Sorry hot air. Please dont ban me
CriticalUpdate on August 19, 2009 at 3:06 PM
To the moon, Alice, to the MOON!
Alden Pyle on August 19, 2009 at 3:06 PM
I have posted many, many comments detailing this. This is the bulk of what I address on this site. You can search my comments on this site or ask my biographer, crr6.
Context, Cranky. Amnesty is more nation-killing. Congress certainly has the power to legislate rules of naturalization, but Congress does not have the power to create specific naturalization laws to address a specific group of law-breakers, in order to aid and abet the criminals in their violations of our law. This goes to deeper issues of national sovereignty, the ultimate rule of law in the US, the task of the federal government to work on behalf of US citizens and not on behalf of non-citizen who have no legal right to be here, and the ultimate value of American citizenship.
Don’t compare the Reagan amnesty, which was a trial that failed in every respect, with any idiot who wants to run the same scam (knowing the likely outcome) at numbers 20 to 40 times the size. That’s silliness, really.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Obama (orbiting the moon) to NASA:
“Houston, we have a problem. One of the ‘scrubbers’ has malfunctioned and the CO2 levels are rising.”
NASA to Obama:
“Please double check your instrument readouts. That scrubber was designed and built by the contractor owned by Murtha’s cousin’s sister’s nephew. It should be working just fine. We’re running a diagnostic now.”
Obama to NASA:
“Sorry Houston, but it is definitely on the blink. CO2 levels continue to rise.”
NASA to Obama:
“We’ve completed the diagnostic and it does appear that the scrubber has malfunctioned. We’re trying to find out what can be done. We’ll get back to you.”
Obama to NASA:
“Well hurry. It getting harder to breath. The CO2 levels continue to rise.”
NASA to Obama:
“Mr. President, we have some good news and some bad news.”
Obama to NASA:
“What’s the bad news?”
NASA to Obama:
“The scrubber can’t be fixed in outer space, you only have 30 minutes of oxygen left and you have exceeded your carbon credit limit.”
Obama to NASA:
“So what’s the good news?”
NASA to Obama:
“We have an end-of-life counselor on the way. He should be here in 20 minutes.”
Obama to NASA:
“This is all Bush’s fault.”
Ordinary American on August 19, 2009 at 3:18 PM
I didn’t see any remark about it, but nice “Kids in the Hall” nod in your intro pic.
Scoreboard44 on August 19, 2009 at 3:24 PM
The “nation” is an idea and thus subject to change, but more on that later.
So you’re fine with a bill that eases citizenship restrictions as long as it doesn’t reward illegal immigration. Of course if that were to happen the rate of immigration would not slow, workers would merely go back to their countries and enter again under the expanded naturalization provisions. I’m OK with that.
CrankyIndependent on August 19, 2009 at 3:24 PM
more like Buzz Lightweight
Ditkaca on August 19, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Where did I say that? Do you just enjoy lying and making sh!t up?
I wish you would stop trying to put your silly words into my mouth. If you can’t address what I have written, then there is no point in bothering responding to you.
As I wrote above, I have posted tons of comments about my position on this. Feel free to search them and quote back whatever you want. But stop with this sort of stuff.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Go look up the article “American Holy Writ” (iirc) by Steven Den Beste (from back in his USS Clueless days). It’s not quite analagous to the situation (presuming you’re an American) but Amending is far superior to rewriting. Just realize that not all Amendments turned out for the better – Particularly the one on Prohibition. Expanding personal liberty is always to be preferred over restricting it.
While POP appears to have a different plan based on his 3:29 PM, what you outline isn’t radically different in its basics from my own preferred brand of immigration reform (albeit one with a fairly heavy dose of border control – I don’t mind if you want to enter the country, but don’t go on the public dole, do let us keep tabs on what you’re up to until you gain citizenship, and do enroll in a path toward citizenship in the first place. A time limit on getting that before you get kicked out – permanently – should focus the mind wonderfully. It makes overall assimilation much easier that way). Just goes to show that we conservatives aren’t quite as monolithic as some would have you believe.
Blacksmith on August 19, 2009 at 3:44 PM
He’s obviously comparing the size of his equipment with the Republican leaderships in that photo.Looks like they’re tied.
McBride on August 19, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Well since you clearly invent the meaning of phrases like ‘natural born’ we will agree to disagree with the usage of skate by.
The common usage of skate by is compared to cruising by…the finish line. Instead of having to skate.
Um that slug Frum helped convince people that those making Nazi refernces while calling Obama a Kenyan userper appear fringe?
You give the man way to much credit.
Well since you don’t use skate by properly you won’t have much luck convincing people Obama has ‘gotten away with’ issues you and your fellow extremists have failed to get any traction on.
The term nihilism is sometimes used in association with anomie to explain the general mood of despair at a perceived pointlessness of existence that one may develop upon realizing there are no necessary norms, rules, or laws.
But, since you don’t understand what “skating by” means, …I won’t even bother to explain this to you. It is just beyond your capacity, obviously.
Ah, you aren’t even an honest debater. Now you are talking about nationality instead of citizenship. Convenient.
Where in your holy vattal treatise does nationality = citizenship?
It doesn’t and now you are going to argue that these folks hundreds of years ago meant the same thing.
.
It isn’t clear to anyone but raving lunatics obsessed with finding a loophole to invalidate an election.
You can’t even prove he was adopted by Lolo.
Relevant? Ha. The only relevant document regarding eligability is the COLB. as it says right on it.
Only fantasy courts and idiot musings think they are owed any more than has been presented. Despite the claims a long form would be required, the long form contains nothing further regarding eligability.
The COLB that nobody has proven forged says he was born in HI. The Sttate athorities say he was born in HI.
Only nut jobs like you claim otherwise.
And not surprisingly the people asking for more documents are the same ones saying it doesn’t matter what they say because he was a dual citizen.
Indeed you are right, it is in fact a half baked theory like the rest not an anecdote.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 3:01 PM
frumian on August 19, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Hey Ed,
Gibbs could also fall under the line,
“Slipped my mind”
heh heh
mrt721 on August 19, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Democrap definition of Bi-Partisanship:
Do as I say,and keep your mouth shut.
DDT on August 19, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Am I the only one that wishes he/she could will my foot through the television just to kick Gibbsy square in the nuts every time he’s on TV?
What a smarmy, greasy, d-bag of a human being.
HAnthonyWayne on August 19, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Gibbs’ words sound like the Republicans are being difficult simply because Obama is president. But if you parse his words, it demonstrates that the path to bipartisanship is for the Republicans to come to the Democrats. All the Republicans have to bring are their votes because the people who made this mess (I take it that means the Republicans when our Democrat President has uttered those words) shouldn’t talk so much.
BiPartisan, somneone should remind Obama and his gang what that word means.
allstonian on August 19, 2009 at 4:28 PM
He’s actually “squishing his face”.
shick on August 19, 2009 at 4:46 PM
A kids in the hall reference….feeling my age that i get it.
unseen on August 19, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Huh? “Instead of having to skate”??
I think this sums up the level of your whole post. Come back to me after you’ve learned English and contemporary usage.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Love the cover picture, I imagine the reporters choking and Gibbs saying: “I find you lack of Faith disturbing.”
GunRunner on August 19, 2009 at 6:37 PM
was this before or after they were cut out of any negotiations on the bill? Before or after every amendment they offered for deep sixed? Before or after Reid and Pelosi began attacking the GOP’s constituents? Before or after the Democrats stated nothing will pass without the public option?
katablog.com on August 19, 2009 at 7:01 PM
It’s too late, Obama’s already lost in space.
OneGyT on August 19, 2009 at 8:03 PM
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