A Mea Culpa From Obama

The Times tells us that Obama is shouldering a bit of responsibility for the partisan tone in Washington:

Just 20 days after his inauguration, with Republicans trying to block his stimulus bill, President Obama refused to acknowledge that he had underestimated how hard it would be to change the way Washington works.

But as the president returned home on Sunday to face an even more rigidly divided capital, Mr. Obama went even further by blaming himself for failing to do what he had repeatedly promised — change the tone in Washington.

He said his own “obsessive” focus on implementing the right policies had led him to ignore a part of the reason voters handed him a mandate in 2008.

“I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so: maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington,” he told reporters in a brief question-and-answer session aboard Air Force One as he returned from a 10-day trip to Asia. “I’m going to redouble my efforts to go back to some of those first principles,” he promised.

Is it his claim that he was "obsessive" about having policies that were right rather than bipartisan?  This notion that the other side is stupid and wrong wrong but needs to be humored ocassionally is part of the tone that needs to be changed.

And the level of denial here is staggering:

Among the things he neglected, he told reporters on Sunday: “Making sure that the policy decisions that I made were fully debated with the American people and that I was getting out of Washington and spending more time shaping public opinion and being in a conversation with the American people about why I was making the choices I was making.”

Uh huh - he only made about a thousand pleas for health care reform, when really he needed to be more involved communicating with the public.  Why does he suppose pollsters were asking whether Obama was over-exposed?  Why does he suppose people just didn't believe what he was saying? (My guess?  Because his health care cost bending looked a lot llike Uru Geller's spoon bending - cool, but you know it's a trick.)

Comments

[Mad Jack]

Can't fix stupid.

[BobDenver]

Is it his claim that he was "obsessive" about having policies that were right rather than bipartisan? This notion that the other side is stupid and wrong wrong but needs to be humored ocassionally is part of the tone that needs to be changed.

This is straight out of "The Audacity of Hope." The whole book was issue after issue where he would listen carefully to both sides, and then follow the liberal policy because it was correct.

He's saying THAT's what he's going to move to.

(Ack! Preposition!)

[Extraneus]

He should be out among the people a lot more, sans TOTUS. When he speaks extemporaneously about the important issues of our time, it's all good.

[Clarice]

Why do you suppose he sounds to me like my late mother-in-law when she said her problem was that she was "just too good"?

[Danube of Thought]

It's Carter: the American people are just too stupid to grasp how wonderful he is.

[Cecil Turner]

“This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.”

Aww, shut up Winnie! (Who probably never said that, anyway)

[narciso]

Well remember "the difference between 1994 and now, was they have me"

[Captain Hate]

Every time he stumped for health care the favorable percentage fell; just like almost every candidate he shilled for lost. Teh crazy is really strong with this one; maybe even more than with Carter (although I'll defer to DoT on that).

[Mad Jack]

A legend in his own mind.

[Extraneus]

More cowbell.

[maryrose]

The policies are wrong for America. Now the the adults have returned and will set things right. Obama can be part of the solution or get out of the way. Change is coming -not his type of change but change nonetheless.
OT: I am disturbed the Senator Kirk was not sworn in today.Paperwork my foot!

[DebinNC]

“I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so: maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington,”

And the NYT translates that in its headline as "Obama Blames Himself For Tone in Washington"? He's incapable of accepting blame in a way most people would recognize. The blame is hidden in high-sounding phrases like "should have calibrated my words differently" after accusing Officer Crowley before a national audience of acting stupidly, or adding weazel words like "probably" as in he "probably" should have told Latino voters Republicans were their "opponents" not their "enemies".

[bgates]

I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so

How he wants you to hear that:
I neglected (some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so)

How he thinks:
I (neglected some things that matter a lot to people), and rightly so

I’m going to redouble my efforts to go back to some of those first principles

Alternatively he could keep the same level of effort on his second principles. Then again, redoubling his efforts means nothing, because twice Zero is still Zero.

[Old Lurker]

Mad Max got it right in the first comment.

[matt]

"We have to get in their faces"

[Old Lurker]

Sorry...Mad Jack....

[Manuel Transmission]

Greeting from behind the lines at the NRO cruise. Jane, caro, the M/T's and Barbara have all met up and created a force to be reckoned with. First day was a slow start on the politics, but by mid-afternoon things took off. Freshly elected Toomey was interviewed and well received. Raz was also interviewed and helped fill in some of the details of the different races. (Sorry, I'm not into the numbers, so not much help relaying that.)

A panel discussion covered a ton of stuff in two sessions. I will only hit you with a couple of memorable zingers:

Ralph Reed (who I wouldn't normally give the time of day, but I now have new respect for):

Democrats get into trouble when they govern according to their principles. Republicans get into trouble when they govern against their principles.

Chris Chocola (newly re-elected to Congress from PA after a long hiatus):

I left Congress after two terms due to an illness. My constituents got sick of me.

Rich Lowry:

What is the difference between Palin and Cheney? When Sarah hits you, you stay down.

Lastly, comments from the audience and the panel re Palin were pretty interesting. There was still a tendency for the panel to avoid discussing her, but when pressed, it became apparent that she was the elephant in the room and the ultimate force in the 2012 game whether she ran or not. Once the topic was in the open, nearly everyone had very positive things to say -- even if they didn't necessarily expect/hope she was our candidate in 2012.

[centralcal]

Thanks for the report Man Tran - daddy is eagerly awaiting any news from you guys, so I am sure he will be excited to see this first (of many?) comment.

[Clarice]

Man Tran send everyone our best wishes, pls.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Man Tran: If you run into Michael (wife Laura) Murphy, tell him hi for me.

[bgates]

Here's a fun question: How many of the 13 "Great Americans" who are profiled in the new children's book that lists Obama as the author were responsible for the intentional killing of uniformed members of the United States military?

The answer is "one". Sitting Bull.

[Melinda Romanoff]

MT-

Say hi to everyone!

[larry]

Cecil beat me to it, but it's such a rare chance, parroting: up with which we will not put.

[Pofarmer]

What a Maroon.

The next two years are gonna be interesting. Wonder if there are any souls in the new house with the accumen to really twist his tail.

[Danube of Thought]

I assume Robert E. Lee didn't make Obama's list.

[larry]

Cruise sounds great, MT. Keep them reports acomin'.

Spidey sense is bothering about Boehner, having presided over the '06 debacle, now being trusted to resist the business as usual temptation.

[Porchlight]

How many....were responsible for the intentional killing of uniformed members of the United States military?

Just curious - how many were responsible for the intentional killing of uniformed members of the military of an enemy of the United States?

that lists Obama as the author

Heh.

[Frau Appeltaat]

Hi, MT - Keep the faith, have fun, report in often. We heart you guys.

[Pagar]

Whether it is Obama or another of his leftist friends, the BS all sound the same.

top house ethics committee lawyer-Rangel is not corrupt "he is just kind of sloppy."

[Jay]

“I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so: maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington,”

Huh.

Who are these "people" that "bi-partisanship" is important to?

I, for one, favor gridlock.

"Bi-partisanship" gets us trillion dollar prescription drug bills.

And such.

[Jay]

“Making sure that the policy decisions that I made were fully debated with the American people

Actually, Obama said in his first press conference after the recent election that he enacted these policies because we were in a crisis.

The cognitive dissonance is staggering.

[Captain Hate]

Well this is just great: Leena Merdecowpie says that when Bammy succeeds the country succeeds. I guess that explains the last two years and how much those fine citizens of Alaska have been paying attention to things. Maybe Mike Castle should relocate.

[narciso]

facepalm with an octopi,Capt, then again she was talking to the Perky Katie, who suffers from the same delusion

[MaryD]

Tried to post this on the Sign Me up thread, and typhus would not accept it.

Sara, off topic, but I have successfully downloaded three Kindle books to my laptop. It was as easy as you said it would be. Many thanks for the tip!

[Jim Ryan]

Ladies and gentlemen, the Teleprompter of the United States.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

That's great MaryD. Enjoy. I downloaded Decision Points and after the 1st I'm going back to get Stanley Kurtz's book and a couple more.

[Janet]

So Rangel is just sloppy. Sandy Berger was just sloppy too according to Clinton. The WaPo had to print a long correction when Walter Pincus printed up Sen Levin's talking points rather than the real Pentagon Inspector General's report. This was attributed to Walter Pincus's messy desk.

Those sloppy Dems...what a hoot...what are ya gonna do with them?

[PD]

Wow, tough night for Redskins fans.

[I Won 2 Years Ago]

As my first gesture, I hereby announce that in 2012 I'm running with Lisette Murcovsky. The battle of the Alaska gals--the media will love it.

[Janet]

Also Phil Jones at the CRU -

"In addition, Jones admitted that an overall lack of organization, and his poor record keeping and office-tidying skills, had contributed to his reluctance to share data with critics, which he regretted."

From an old JOM post -
Liberal criminal defense....I am untidy.

[Chubby]

"Sloppy" could frame many talking points about the Dems; sloppy legislation, sloppy accounting, sloppy spending ...

[narciso]

That reminds me, what happened to the Miss Alaska who was running for the Georgia state legislature

[laura]

ManTran,
Chris Chocola was the rep from Indiana district 2, now is head of club for growth. Chocola is pretty smart financials guy. Unfortunately, Indiana 2 stayed with Donnelly the dem this year.

[Chubby]

...sloppy presidential candidate selection

[Danube of Thought]

Sloppy didn't cut it for Scooter Libby.

[maryrose]

Rangel may just be a sloppy crook. He still deserves punishment and boy did he look pathetic today without any lawyers. My understanding was that he was representing himself.Talk about embarassing yourself in public.Has he no shame? The guy is 80 years old -he doesn't need this tired old gig anymore.

[Danube of Thought]

Wow. And Snyder just gave McNabb a fresh $40 million guaranteed.

[Chubby]

((The guy is 80 years old -he doesn't need this tired old gig anymore.))

maybe he's in debt over his eyeballs, high living and all that

[PD]

"Sloppy" could frame many talking points about the Dems; sloppy legislation, sloppy accounting, sloppy spending ...

... sloppy ethics.

Which, Rangel's lawyer's efforts to muddy the issue notwithstanding, is the point.

[bgates]

Porch, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Neil Armstrong are on the list.

Robert E Lee did not, though I think it's hard to argue against the idea that whatever Sitting Bull did to further post-conflict amity, Lee did on a far greater scale.

[PD]

And Snyder just gave McNabb a fresh $40 million guaranteed.

Trying to compete with Congress in money-wasting?

[Chubby]

Does Obama think he is is in group therapy or something? I think it shows weakness to admit to weakness.

If he sincerely wants to do things differently and better, that wish should maifest as deeds not blather.

[Pofarmer]

Actually, Obama said in his first press conference after the recent election that he enacted these policies because we were in a crisis.

The cognitive dissonance is staggering.

Gotta have cognition to have dissonance.

[Chubby]

Hi PD

(on my Bible reading project ... I'm working on Revelation right now, it is an all-consuming experience. :)

((the issue notwithstanding, is the point.))

which is why their mudcover needs to be thrown at them as a weapon

[PD]

I guess that'd be Cash for Clunkers, NFL style.

[Chubby]

and when did he find time to write a children's book? Among literary activities, golf, parties, and travel, when does the store get minded?

[PD]

Revelation

Not going for the easy part, I see!

[Comanche Voter]

Obama thinks that if he had just sold the "dog food" in a different way, the dogs would like it.

The problem is that no matter which a way our New Messiah sells it, the "dogs" still don't like the dog food.

It's not the sales job; it's the product.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Sorry didn't save link, but just read a few minute ago that Obama was whining in Japan about how the Ameican press never says thank you to him. What a pansy.

[Mad Jack]

"Wow, tough night for Redskins fans."

You mean signing McNabb for 5 more years?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Seems that Bob “Who Are You?” Etheridge has, at long last, fallen to Renee Ellmers per Powerline:

…Ellmers now appears to have prevailed over Etheridge by 1,489 votes, and should be certified the winner by the North Carolina authorities on November 23. Etheridge has demanded a recount that would be completed before certification of the results takes place. In the meantime, Ellmers is planning to take office with the new Congress…

[maryrose]

Hey daddy
Any Alaska news. I'm still hoping Miller pulls an upset. Bristol Palin is killing on Dancing With the Stars" My daughter votes for her every week.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Shoot, Maryrose, my cable is out until 11 pm. Did she do well this week? I figured this would be her week to go home with her head held high.

[Stephanie]

Mel, we are getting ready to take the new Bichon puppy for her first grooming. What cut would you recommend for a non show dog? I don't want her to look like a poodle (too short) nor do I want her to be too hard to groom between visits to the salon. I brush her daily.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Army of Davids]

incompetence in the White House.

Much respect for Tom Coburn and Christ Christie.

[JM Hanes]

And to think folks once worried about Obama learning on the job.

[Chubby]

((Not going for the easy part, I see.))

I was reading easy parts, but something led me to Revelation and it has really grabbed my attention, going on 2 weeks now. I've been thinking that all a person has to do to read the whole Bible through is follow Revelation as a roadmap, electronically flipping back to the myriad Scriptural cross references and allusions. Bible students are really blessed in this age, there is such a huge wealth of background material online, and great free tools like Strongs etc.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Stephanie-

Any cut that doesn't have the pup shoot off the table, I suppose.

If temperature isn't an issue, a medium crop is what I would think would work best.

Like this:

But that's me, I've got a short haired Beagador now.

[Danube of Thought]

Wait a minute--are you people saying Uri Geller didn't bend those spoons?

[Chubby]

((Much respect for Tom Coburn and Christ Christie))

I don't know if this is true but I remember reading that Chris Christie is a gun control proponent.

[DebinNC]

ABC News:
Sarah Palin has officially changed the modern lexicon, one tweet at a time. While one might expect the New Oxford American Dictionary to refudiate the former Alaska governor’s favorite verb, today they embraced it, announcing “refudiate” as the official 2010 word of the year.

LOL

[Melinda Romanoff]

Chubby-

WHICH type of gun control?

[matt]

sorry to bug you all, but I have had it with the Department of Homeland Security and the DoJ.LUN.

[Stephanie]

Thanks, Mel. I think the medium is what I'm going to go with. My husband doesn't like the "lion head" look, and I'm looking for something "sanitary" (poo in the hair avoidance) on the other end so a goldilocks solution will have to suffice. The yorkies get what they call a puppy cut - about an inch all over. Not show standards, but I don't have to deal with mats and tangles and poo issues, either.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Matt-

I have no idea what statistical model those idiots are working that "forced" them to follow through with that act. Idiots, or psychotics.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Stephanie-

Get a Furminator for that size pup. If you use it at the business end enough, you'll avoid a bunch of the matting.

If anything, this is a solution in itself.

[Porchlight]

Porch, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Neil Armstrong are on the list.

Well, that's something, at least.

[Jim Ryan]

I can sleep nights knowing that nuns can't get on a plane with weapons in their crotches. And knowing that Barack Obama is in there. And with the cautiously optimistic hope that Cap and Trade will be seen as the free-market solution that it is and will enable us to stop this terrible warming. And now that Nancy finally poked the health insurance companies in the eye with her bill. The bastards.

[Chubby]

Melinda I just did a quick bit of research and apparently he is for stringent enforcing of all the handgun laws that are currently on the books in NJ, (he thinks that will solve their illegal handgun problem), but he is sympathetic to the hunting lobby which Corzine was not.

[Stephanie]

Done. Thanks!

[Danube of Thought]

George Washington? That dead white dude who owned slaves?

[Jim Ryan]

Sure, people pooh-pooh the nun thing, but all's it takes is just one lousy Muslim nun to get on a plane with a revolver in her privates and then what? Lot of crow-eating is what.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Chubby-

He IS a former DA, so, I guess I can understand his angle. Not that I agree with it.

I asked Which gun control, because I'm of the other school. Hit your target.

[Ann]

GO MATT!!!

At one time, we were united in our dedication to the founding principles. These are now being used as a weapon to justify a statist government seeking unlimited power. Accountability is absolutely critical. It is my deepest hope that the incoming Congress will hold the bureaucracy to the Constitution before we lose our fundamental human rights.

Right ON, Right ON, Right ON!

[Melinda Romanoff]

Jim-

But a three year old girl?

Yes, the TSA went there.

And now I'm going to bed steamed. (not from you, Jim! Just the TSA)

G'night all.

[maryrose]

I think you should just do the full body scan. At my age it doesn't matter. I don't like people touching me that I don't know.There has to be a better way. Years from now we'll look back at this and wonder what were we thinking?

[narciso]

They were taking ink cartridges from Yemen, two weeks ago, how diligent were they being,
they had been tipped off about Al Asiri, weeks
before, as they were about Abdulmutallab, I assume Jim is using the rapier sarcasm,

[Ann]

Harry Reid creates special leadership job for Chuck Schumer

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to overhaul the Senate Democratic leadership next year, handing New York Sen. Chuck Schumer an expanded role spearheading the party's messaging efforts.

In a letter obtained by POLITICO, Reid tells his colleagues that the party needs to "better integrate our legislative- and message-crafting functions into a coordinated nucleus managing policy, press and politics."

As a result, he said, the Senate leadership will unite its policy arm with its communications center into a "joint operation" run by Schumer.

Seems like the great orator Obama needs help from the brain trust in the Senate.

OMG, Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR, PATRIOTS.

[Jim Ryan]

I'm just being silly, Narciso.

Hey, Thanksgiving is coming. I always love it because gratitude is one of the most important components of a good life.

[Porchlight]

Jim Ryan, you're cracking me up lately.

gratitude is one of the most important components of a good life.

You'll get no argument from me there. Christmas is my favorite holiday, but Thanksgiving is so, so close...

[narciso]

I figured as much, but you and bgates, come really close to the line, sometimes

[Jim Ryan]

I like it when Obama uses the black preacher inflection. It gets me enthused. I start thinking, hey, maybe we can really do this.

[Jim Ryan]

Nobody thinks like bgates.

[Danube of Thought]

I start thinking, hey, maybe people will figure if this guy slept around a bit he'd be Elmer Gantry.

[Ann]

maryrose:

Think about what you just gave up. What freedom less society you just passed on to your children. Do you think they will stop at giving innocent people trying to board a plane a crotch search?

It is the little freedoms we give away without complaint that makes us guilty of all the new demands that will destroy this great nation.

Think about your daughter or son ahead of you in line, would you just watch and not complain?

[Frau Appeltaat]

Jim, Obama still cannot do the preacher bit like The Man who failed divinity school. I call it incendiary preaching. And, Barry just doesn't *fill the screen.* That was always a serious criticism by the LATimes of Dubya.

[PD]

“I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so: maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington,”

I was reading today in "Young Guns" Eric Cantor's account of the run-up to the stimulus bill. He and other House Republicans rightly saw that it wasn't a stimulus bill at all, it was a mashup of endless earmarks, so they worked hard at crafting an alternative bill that would actually encourage job creation. Obama had, after all, said that he was open to good ideas no matter their source.

When Cantor went to the WH for a meeting with Obama representatives from both parties, he presented the alternative stimulus bill. Obama acknowledged Cantor's presentation ... but ended up with the now famous comment: "Elections have consequences ... and I won."

Yeah, bipartisan.

The backstory was even worse. Obama farmed out the work of drafting the bill to Pelosi and Reid, who held closed meetings and shut out the Republicans from having input. Meanwhile, Obama was out claiming the Republicans hadn't presented any ideas of their own. (They're the party of no, y'know?)

Yeah, bipartisan.

Better description: Partisan hack. Liar.

[PD]

with Obama *and* representatives

[Andrew_M_Garland]

Obama's reply reminds me of the famous and useless question at a job interview:

Employer: What is your greatest fault?

Applicant: I often work so hard and long that I forget the time and neglect my family.

[Jim Ryan]

Oh, that's very true, Frau. I black out and people tell me I speak in tongues when Gore goes on a tirade.