Heck of a Presser

Obama just spoke an hour or so ago. I lack a transcript and can't believe what I just heard, but have at it.

That said, my vivid recollection is that Obama spent a long time blasting Republican obstructionism on court appointments, both the lower courts and now the threatened Supreme Court blockade.

The first question was about his filibuster of Alito. Obama admitted that, well, he wasn't saying that Senate dysfunction was new and only one party was to blame. Except of course he had been.

And his conclusion - hey, failed filibuster notwithstanding Alito is on the bench - hardly explained his underlying principles. But it surely sounded better than "OK, I'm a partisan loser". Or "Love that donor kabuki - ka-ching!". Or even "Polled well for Blue State Senators like Hillary and me but we gave the others a pass".

Whatever - the next question was on Aleppo and Syria; Obama said something like "Assad missed several chances to negotiate his surrender but he will have to eventually". Unless he wins, as now seems likely.

Obama only took flight when he reframed a question about his responsibility for voter anger into a question about just how stupid and irresponsible the Republicans are [link]. He is not even pretending to be President of all the people at this point.

BITTER? MOI? In two Bush pressers from December 2007 he declined to get drawn into the upcoming primaries.

From Dec 4, 2007:

Q A question on the upcoming elections that doesn't --

THE PRESIDENT: Which ones would those be?

Q The ones that begin in January -- that does not require you to take any -- to take sides. What is your feeling right now about the tone of the campaign and, in particular, on the Republican side, some of the talk on immigration?

THE PRESIDENT: Wolf, the next three months you and your august colleagues are trying to get me to be Pundit-in-Chief and I unfortunately practiced some punditry in the past -- I'm not going to any further. I know, I know --

Q Little analysis, maybe?

THE PRESIDENT: You can ask another question. I really am going to -- look, we got -- it's hard to believe, like a month away from the Iowa caucuses, and it's going to get intense. And elections are intense. They are intense experiences, and they're intense on both sides. This is the first time in a long time that both parties haven't had -- kind of a clear nominee, and it's going to be interesting to watch.

He continued with a nostalgic stroll down memory lane - apparently Candy Crowley went viral in 2000 - but wouldn't tip his cards.

He was a bit more forthcoming a few weeks later; this is Dec 20, 2007:

Bush Chats a Little About the 2008 Race

By Steven Lee Myers  December 20, 2007 2:10 pm

President Bush adamantly refuses to be drawn into the primary election campaigns, declining to be “opiner-in-chief,” as he put it at a White House press conference on Thursday. When pressed, though, he edged a bit closer.

He offered his main criteria for the next president – a candidate’s principles and the people that will advise him in the Oval Office – and he made a bold predication: The Republican candidate would hold the White House and the party would gain seats in the House and Senate.

OK, that didn't work. He had some thoughts about the Democrats as well:

He reverted to form when he refused to comment about Mike Huckabee’s recent comments about the administration’s foreign policy, which the candidate said suffered from an “arrogant bunker mentality,” signaling the potential awkwardness Mr. Bush is expected to face when the primaries are done and the 2008 race becomes a referendum of sorts on his presidency.

“O.K. Try to get me in the race,” Mr. Bush said.

“No, sir,” the reporter replied.

“He’s trying – he’s trying to drag me in the race. What’s your advice? Don’t go there?”

“Do it,” another reporter intervened. “Do it. Go for it.”

Mr. Bush wouldn’t, but did weigh in later, indirectly, against unnamed Democratic candidates. “You know, this other thing that’s interesting, and you hear these people in the campaigns – even though I’m not going to opine about the primary, but they do talk about taxing the rich.”

Evidently, he could not resist.

“And when you say you’re going to tax the rich,” he said, “you’re taxing a lot of people that are hardworking people, and you’re taxing small businesses.”

Pretty blistering.

Stay classy, Barack.

Comments

[Buckeye]

.first.

[Art in Newport]

Next

[💀]

That's it?

[Porchlight]

Here's the audio for that Thom Tillis radio interview that prompted the "GOP is caving!" Politico story. Of course they completely mischaracterized it, just as I suspected:

https://m.soundcloud.com/tylercralle/senator-thom-tillis-1

[henry]

I'm not even pretending to respect Obama or the office he holds.

[newlurker]

I could barely watch although I wanted to hear what he had to say. He is such an arrogant SOB--he absolutely makes me sick! Sick is not enough--we as conservatives absolutely must fight this man and his Democrats!

[maryrose]

New lurker
You are so right

[Porchlight]

He's FOS and a pathetic clown.

[Miss Marple]

I am not even pretending he is president.

[Miss Marple]

I didn't even see the presser, as I was on the road with granddaughter.

I appreciate the synopsis, which made me angry enough. Thankfully I didn't see him, or I would be postal.

[Rick Ballard]

Putin accords him all the respect he has earned. I'm not sure I would agree Assad has won. The Russo-Persian alliance is using Syrian troops to herd Sunni towards Raqqa (or into Turkey) but the ethnic cleansing of Sunni won't really be over until Mosul has been reduced. The siege of Fallujah is going well and herding Sunni towards Mosul but it's difficult to see how the cleansing can be completed this year.

[Texas Liberty Gal]

MM-I cannot watch 30 seconds of that man. As soon as he comes on my screen I change the channel.

[Miss Marple]

TLG,

I am the same. I have to force myself to watch the State of the Union but I actually only listen, as the TV in my office is over my left shoulder. I can't stand to look at him.

[narciso]

I was wondering where the strawberries were on the said.

[maryrose]

TLG and MM
I can't bear to watch him either
I turned it off

[Michael (fpa Patriot4Freedom)]

oBOzo was asked about his claim that Putin was operating from a 'position of weakness' and asked if he still believed that to be true, given that Aleppo is about to fall to Putin/Al-Assad's forces.

oBOzo ignored the point of the question and pretended the question had to do with Al-Assad's weakness.

oBOzo still refuses to admit that he *might* be even the slightest bit wrong about anything.

[Miss Marple]

Westminster dog show is on USA network, if anyone wants to take a break from politics. Retrievers and hunting dogs are on now.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Go Gordon Setter!

[Miss Marple]

The Irish setter has been bred for a narrow head, which I do not like. My dad had Irish setters but they had the wider heads which I think made them smarter and less skittish.

[Miss Marple]

American Water Spaniel, the STATE DOG OF WISCONSIN!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--oBOzo ignored the point of the question and pretended the question had to do with Al-Assad's weakness.--

Hard to decide whether we're descending more into the Caine Mutiny or Duck Soup.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Irish Setters as a breed were just about ruined by show breeders. The English, Gordon and Red and White Setters have more of a field following than the Irish did so they have fared better and still have kind of a breed split between the tall, rangy powder puff show dogs and the smaller, blockier field dogs.

[Miss Marple]

Ignatz,

Absolutely true. I notice the American cocker spaniels just shown exhibit the same narrow head.

Also, I detest the standards for show grooming, easily seen on those cockers. Their wavy hair has been teased out to a long canopy around their legs. Ridiculous!

[Miss Marple]

The Irish water spaniel is what poodles would look like if they didn't have that ridiculous grooming making them look like pom poms.

[Porchlight]

I like the Irish terriers.

[PD]

henry, why not the office? Surely the office is larger than the person who holds it.

[PD]

The way some of these poodles are sculpted, they seem like the dog equivalent of bonsai trees.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--I notice the American cocker spaniels just shown exhibit the same narrow head.--

Yeah, I almost noted them as another breed wrecked by the show folks.
They look a Zsa Zsa Gabor wig on a roller skate.

[Miss Marple]

PD,

So true.

When I was a kid some people who lived north of us had an un-cut poodle. It was a mass of curly hair.

When I was 5 I was walking tot he corner store (which tells you how things have changed) and I saw it and thought it was a bear!

I came running home and told my folks, who thought I was nuts, until they saw the dog.

It was a very friendly bear. LOL!

[Miss Marple]

I am rooting for Angus. The crowd loves him too!

Heck, he came in second!

[narciso]

The Jay walk allstars (gallup) do not dissapoint.

[henry]

FWIW, odd voting patterns in WI spring primary. The main things up for grabs are two slots for the SC race, and two slots for Milwaukee Mayor. Plus a bunch of school referenda trying to get started this year before prevailing wage goes away (lefty school districts are everywhere). The Pres Primary is in April with the normal April elections.

Note: low turnout in Milwaukee -- IL residents have no IDs? High in Madison. High in Waukesha County (Brookfield etc). My guess that means it will be Bradley (the good one) vs Kloppenburg in April.

[narciso]

Crime think has reached new lows with nick cole

[narciso]

John Tyler had a beck of a time with his nominees, worse then Nixon.

[Porchlight]

Good job Wisconsin!

[Miss Marple]

Bull Mastiff, one of my favorite dogs.

My trainer owns one, and he is just the best dog. Loves to get on the couch and lean against me.

Mastiffs like to sleep a lot, although when roused by an intruder they will move pretty quick for a short distance.

[Captain Hate]

I missed Zippy again? What are the chances?

[narciso]

Its a gift captain, where did you find the anecdote on the 4 crusade.

[Gus]

My Village expected 300 votes. I was 550. The Village clerk is my next door neighbor, we had a few laughs. It's a 95% Conservative.
Henry, I got at least 2 votes for School Board, and I wasn't on the ballot. Ha!!

[Captain Hate]

Here's the audio for that Thom Tillis radio interview that prompted the "GOP is caving!" Politico story. Of course they completely mischaracterized it, just as I suspected

StinkProstate and the rest of the scummy rags are likewise delusional per memeorandum.

[Janet S.]

The press conference for those that missed it - https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-holds-press-conference-9

He first thanks the Annenberg Foundation Trust.

There's a name from his past political rising - http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/07/obama.ayers/

[Captain Hate]

What anecdote was that, narc? I'm currently reading the Jonathan Phillips book on the fourth crusade after which I'll return to Gibbon.

[henry]

Gus, you lucked out there! You would end up putting the rest of the School Board through the nearest window.

[Porchlight]

The Dems' obvious desperation to get a confirmation crammed in before the end of Zero's reign almost makes it seem like they're not very confident about November.

[Dizy]

Hussein badmouths Trump like a lowlife community organizer. Trump supporters can handle scum protesters...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYZPKYecRGM

[narciso]

Yes that one, it went pearshaped rather quickly.

[PD]

In our district, Mrs. PD was voter #59 mid-afternoon, I was #94 at 5 PM. Not very high.

I sure hope Kloppenburg's doesn't end up on the ballot. I'll have a hard time not voting for her, being the sucker for eye candy that I am.

[Gus]

Henry, I might just get myself elected to that board next time around. Just for giggles.

[Captain Hate]

Yes I think the progenitors of the RNC organized the fourth crusade. It's pretty funny to read about in retrospect, which maybe the current times will be assuming anybody literate survives.

[henry]

PD, looks like you are doomed to suffer your eye candy affliction. Running Bradley 52 Kloppster 30 with 20% reported. The other dude just isn't getting many votes.

[PD]

WI residents know whereof I speak. For non-residents, think DWS and round down.

[Gus]

I voted for Rebecca Bradley, because Kloppie was just too Hawt for that black robe.

[narciso]

Yes it was ombre superior all the way down.

[Gus]

I find Debbie Washerwoman Schlitz quite "fetching" too.

FETCH GIRL FETCH!!!

[PD]

I'm actually trying to be nice to K by focusing on her most appealing quality. It sure ain't her judicial competence.

[PD]

Some of these pooches could be attached to a Swiffer handle. They must take a lot of maintenance to keep their coat in good shape.

[Jim Miller]

Random thought: With the sound muted in the last Dem debate, I couldn't help noticing how much Bernie looks like a vulture.

(It's too bad the networks screwed up party and ideological colors around 2000. If they hadn't we could call him Bernie the Red, or, if we wanted to be less vivid and a little old fashioned, Bernie the Parlor Pink.),

[PD]

Bernie the Red could refer to his facial color when he goes on one of anti-this'n'that rants.

The Ben Bernank referred to Bernie briefly in his recent book. Described him as someone who became angry easily and yelled a lot.

[Jane on Ipad]

Anyone here ever watch Fringe? I just finished the series. Would like to know what you thought.

[lyle]

The breeders that have done that to the hips of the German Shepherd should be prosecuted. Truly destroyed the hips. For "aesthetics."

[PD]

Fringe: I watched the first episode, thought "Oh, a complete X-Files clone." Had the same opinion for the next episode and stopped watching. Sometime around season 2 or 3 I gave it another try and liked it a lot. Went back and watched all the ones I'd missed. When it started doing the alternate universe stuff, I found that interesting, up to the point when it underwent mitosis into 4 universes. Then I found it hard to keep it all straight, sort of how Lost had too many bifurcations for the last season. Too many things going on. But overall, I give it a thumbs up.

BTW, Georgina Haig who played Olivia and Peter's daughter, had a role in the recent SyFy Network adaptation of Childhood's End. But what a dull disaster that was.

[PD]

I found my interest in Continuum much diminished as well when it multiplied the timelines excessively halfway through the series. My mental capacity isn't sufficient to keep track of all that stuff.

(The Fringe connection, at least to the schizophrenic, is that the lead in Continuum was Rachel Nichols, who played Rachel Gibson in the final series of Alias, another J.J. Abrams series. Such is the train of my thought.)

[narciso]

Yes that series, had its moments, but it grew too Byzantine even for moi.

[sbw]

OL: party in Rome, NY

And we weren’t invited? Rats! :-)

[PD]

Thor, dog of thunder.

[Stephanie]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1119108798101972&set=pb.100000085874403.-2207520000.1455679937.&type=3&theater

Thor, Odinson of Hollybrook.

He's almost 5 1/2 pounds at 7 months.

[Jim Miller]

The PBS Story on anti-Semitism in Europe (actually just Denmark and Sweden) wasn't as bad as I feared it would be -- or as good as it could have been.

But at last they are covering the subject.

[James D.]

I'm rooting for the borzoi.

[lyle]

We were pulling for the Samoyed. Ah, well.

Gotta be a pretty high money pastime. Not as big $ as horse racing, granted. But I'd imagine there's a lot o' dough involved in dog shows that prestigious.

[Michael (fpa Patriot4Freedom)]

Don't know about everyone else, but I'm having trouble keeping the dog references straight . . .

what with the Westminster, Kloppenburg, DWS and Thor varieties being mentioned. :)

[Miss Marple]

CJ, the German pointer, won Best in Show. I was rooting for Annabelle, the English bulldog.

Oh, well.

Fun thing to watch. I love dogs. I wish I could have a bunch.

Good night, everyone!

[narciso]

Dogs are smart, loyal, conscientious, you where I'm going with this.

[DublinDaveForever]

Sen Tom Thillis breaking ranks with party-now saying the GOP shouldn't reject every Obama nominee.

So they're crumbling already. Grassley,Thillis...and the pressure hasn't even begun.

[Captain Hate]

Levin aimed both barrels at Little Marco's role in the Gang of 8, and how he and Trump are the biggest liars on the GOP stage.

[Jane on Ipad]

PD, boy did it grow on me, at one point when 2 same guys met up from 2 universes and were comparing notes, they declared they went to the prom with a girl with a very unusual name who happened to be my mock trial partner in law school. When I told her she figured out she had gone to HS with one of the writers.

Anyway it kept me on the edge of my seat for a long time, and I liked it.

[Truthbetrolled]

Capn'. How about the Badgers taking down the Terps this weekend??? Diamond Stone, a Wisconsin kid, now Terp thug.
Capn', I think you know how much I respect you???
I cannot see anyone other than Cruz, that I do not distrust in one way or another. Trump has always been a TRAIN WRECK .....GOING TO HAPPEN.
How could Trump ever lose and extricate his sorry ass honorably??? Ergo, he is SCORCHED COMB-OVER TRUMP. Rubio from his get-go, was on the make, and got in bed with the GANG of 7. Too ambitious and too situationally virtuous.
I'm praying for an END GAME that works for our side, BUT, I'm not seeing it yet.

[maryrose]

My new favorite show is American Crime
This is the second season and the acting is fantastic

[GUS]

Sorry Capn'. Should be GUS not my bitch slap i.d.

[GUS]

Maryrose, tell me some good news.

[Threadkiller]

How much does Levin disclose of his tie to the Cruz campaign?

[Threadkiller]

He first thanks the Annenberg Foundation Trust.

Of course he did, they checked to original fake certificate.

The link is having issues but here it is:
http://www.theobamafile.com/_eligibility/AnnenbergFactCheckers.htm

[GUS]

How much does Obama disclose his ties to AYERS, DOHRN, Pfleger, REZKO, Annenberg etc?????

[daddy]

Good Morning!

Local Aussie news was making a big deal yesterday about their latest birth: The 24th millionth Australian has arrived

The entire country now has a population equal to the city of Shanghai.

Here's to hoping they can maintain control over their sensible immigration policy and not murder themselves by succumbing to the suicidal PC idiocy of Europe.

[GUS]

Daddy, our nation and our culture, has been hi-jacked. We saw it coming, you and I, we knew that AYERS and DORHN et al, had made it THEIR PURPOSE to make the EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, commie/libtard and retarded. We saw it coming, we knew it was coming, and THE GOP allowed it.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Hey daddy,
What do you think of the proposal to eliminate all time zones worldwide?
Help or hurt your globe trotting?

[daddy on iPad]

Iggy,

I suppose I'd need to know what they plan on using as a replacement. Since we base everything on GMT at least I have some idea of how long I have to layover and when my next duty period is. Plus I know how soon to cut off drinking in order to be legal for my next leg. If they get rid of that and start using nothing but local whatever time, I think chaos may ensue, at least during a learning period, but we' d probably just start running everything on Memphis time.

On the other hand, I personally do not wear a watch and haven't now for 30 years. They provide us way ahead of schedule the info about our expected flights and show times in both GMT and local, so since everywhere I go has plenty of clocks it's been simple for me to just shove that local cutoff time in my head and act accordingly. My guess is it might be more of a nightmare for the Shippers and passengers---the sorts that don' t travel too much. Many of the guys I work with are prisoners of their watches though, so I expect it'd clobber the more punctual and anal among them:)

I had not seen the proposal---was somebody supposed to benefit from this new push for International chaos? Go Lincoln Chafee! Metricize me!

[cheerleader]

The story about Cruz and the girl scout cookies was SATIRE.

[daddy on iPad]

At the moment, it being something like 3 PM over here, I am 4 hours prior to cutoff for legality reasons.

I am at The Happy Monk pub in Guangzhou (old Canton, China) Decent place---they're playing a lot of Stones tunes today.

The front page of today's China Daily, which I can't link to on iPad, has this story above the fold on the front page, under a red letter heading "HYGIENE"

New Draft Raises The Standards For Public Restrooms

First graph:

Tourists in China are expected to see cleaner public restrooms with no bad odors but also equipped with western style toilets, soap, big screen televisions, free Wi-Fi, ATMs and even relaxing sofas.

OL,

Any chance I can coax you, Clarice, JamesD, Porch, Miss Marple, Jane, Frau, and even limping JiB, off that ledge in DC, and into a Public Chinese Toilet?

...In addition to the general requirements required for A-level certification, the minimum rating, restroom facilities would need to meet broader criteria for the highest rating, AAA, such as providing toilet facilities that broadcast music as well as additional services such as wheelchair rentals.

St Jane's Island Toilet!

[daddy on iPad]

Uh-Oh!

[henry]

Daddy, funny about the Chinese public toilets... San Francisco went the other direction by building outdoor urinals.

The primaries in WI few surprises... the biggest was Barrett got under 50% in his run for a 4th term as mayor of Milwaukee. Bradley and Kloppenburg were close, so the April election could be interesting beyond the Pres primary part.

[Miss Marple]

Good morning!

The Carrier flap continues as the company said there is no hope for them staying here. Governor Pence has ordered an investigation about the federal and state funds they took, to see if any of that can be recovered.

The company said there was NO reason they were moving except labor cost differential. They quote the difference between $32.50 na hour (wage plus benefits) and $6.00 an hour in Mexico. (I would bet in Mexico they aren't required to buy expensive health insurance.)

Somehow, I cannot help but think NAFTA works more like Ross Perot predicted than the wonderful prosperity we were all promised.

[Miss Marple]

Jack, if you're lurking, I thought you might find this article interesting, since I believe you did some work in Saudi Arabia:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/world/middleeast/young-saudis-see-cushy-jobs-vanish-along-with-nations-oil-wealth.html?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.th%2F

[daddy]

Somehow, I cannot help but think NAFTA works more like Ross Perot predicted

Miss Marple,

So you're saying that giant sucking sound I've been hearing for the past decade isn't tinnitus?

[Miss Marple]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/opinion/campaign-stops/donald-trumps-secret-channelling-andrew-jackson.html

Perhaps if Obama hadn't attacked the coal industry, attacked Christianity, and attacked gun owners, Appalachia wouldn't be interested in Trump.

Amusingly, until Minitru started disappearing Jackson, he was revered as the founder of the democrat party.

[Jeff Dobbs]

There has now been enough polling in the last week that the race seems pretty solidified in SC. Trump in low to mid 30s, Cruz in high teens, and Rubio a few points back of that.

The Bush remarks are now showing up as hurting Trump. And absent the miraculous Cruz ground game, Trump takes this almost as easily as he did NH.

[Miss Marple]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c0b6491277b745d6ac4e6f973041d668/rumor-german-shepherd-crowd-favorite-westminster

[anonamom]

More Divider-in-Chief from the "Trayvon would look like my son"
"police acted stupidly" guy. Now he can do it without saying a word:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sheriffs-blast-obama-silence-on-cop-deaths-mock-ill-save-you-a-spot-at-funerals/article/2583289

[Captain Hate]

Capn'. How about the Badgers taking down the Terps this weekend??? Diamond Stone, a Wisconsin kid, now Terp thug.
Capn', I think you know how much I respect you???
I cannot see anyone other than Cruz, that I do not distrust in one way or another.

That was a big win for the Badgers and probably landed them a spot in the tourney. Stone has been suspended for a game by Turgeon for losing his head. Yes, you and I agree on Cruz.

TK, Levin admitted his fiancé's son works in Cruz's office but he was pretty pissed off that somebody had leaked it and vowed to find out who it was. Ftr he has endorsed nobody and has been extremely critical of how the debates have been handled.

[Jeff Dobbs]

The Bush remarks are now showing up as hurting Trump.

*NOT*

Shoot, hit post and left for work...preview is for sissies

[James D.]

Ig @ 1:31

Is there a serious proposal to get rid of time zones?

I searched and I found a screed by Matt Yglesias in favor of the idea, which automatically means we shouldn't do it.