President Obama News Thread

[Jet Gorgon]

For one-offs and news about BO that are not worthy of their own thread.

Put one comment on Obama's first press conference in the super Jew thread, but not really the right spot.

Basically I don't think BO said anything specific in the press conf, and I keep wondering why he kept using the past tense when he talked about tax cuts and never answered the Q directly. OK, he doesn't want to announce real specifics or give the current Admin any of his ideas or preside before his time. Chattering about the economy, fiscal stimlus, and boosting the auto industry -- sure, a big industry, but seems to go against his green policy -- why not say help to build hybrids, etc? I see it also as a cave-in to auto unions.
The First Lady Reagan gaffe was sooooo bad and the puppy story was soooooo naff.

[Norton]

OK, he doesn't want to announce real specifics or give the current Admin any of his ideas or preside before his time.

GWB is the President until 20 Jan and it would inappropriate and unwise for Obama to go into detail on what should be done. Obama stated two specifics related to what he would do if not done by the current admin. His transition team is already engaged with GWB transition team. It is their jobs to express Obama's position for anything GWB wants to initiate between now and Jan 20.

sure, a big industry, but seems to go against his green policy -- why not say help to build hybrids, etc?

Big indeed. Some estimates put US auto related jobs at 5,000,000. In principal, I am opposed to bailing out any company but the potential of another 5M jobs being lost at this time may be a justification to do so.

The gov has already given US auto industry 25B to use in R&D for hybrid/green car development. Will all come to nawt if US auto makers go bust.

[Texpat]

How about railroad workers, and truck drivers and longshoremen and real estate agents?

It's a slippery slope they never should have started down.

[Jet Gorgon]

GWB is the President until 20 Jan and it would inappropriate and unwise for Obama to go into detail on what should be done.

True, but he said taking immediate action, so mebbe thru Congress?

Some estimates put US auto related jobs at 5,000,000. In principal, I am opposed to bailing out any company but the potential of another 5M jobs being lost at this time may be a justification to do so.
The gov has already given US auto industry 25B to use in R&D for hybrid/green car development. Will all come to nawt if US auto makers go bust.

Seems like the lobbyists are well at work. I heard 2-3M employees, but must be more in auto-related biz. As Texpat notes above, many other industries need help, too. The auto industry has been dying since the Jpn moved into the local market, US mgmt lost touch with consumer desires and the unions continued to strangle the cos over wages and benefits. And how come nobody talks about US auto CEO and exec salaries? GM CEO - $3.4m, Ford CEO - $9m. Come on, are they doing their jobs? Those cos have been bleeding billions for years. As BO is so green, why single out the auto industry as most in need of help? Lobbyists, that's why. IMO

[Bugs]

Speaking of the autoworkers:

Dem leaders want Bush to help auto industry - Economy in Turmoil

Democratic leaders in Congress asked the Bush administration on Saturday to provide more aid to the struggling auto industry, which is bleeding cash and jobs as sales have dropped to their lowest level in a quarter-century.

I am opposed to the wall st bail out, and I am opposed to any form of auto bail out. The market needs to be allowed to play out. The market needs it's pound of flesh and it will get it - all these bail outs do is prolong the inevitable.

[panama hat]

^ At least you are consistent, unlike the sour grapes brigade (hi Jet!)

[Boon Mee]

Remember when presidents had to actually lead and accomplish things before they had national holidays named after them?


Planning under way for Obama holiday.

Plans are being made to promote a national holiday for Barack Obama, who will become the nation’s 44th president when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20.
“Yes We Can” planning rallies will be at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the downtown McDonald’s restaurant, 1100 Kansas Ave., until Jan. 13. The goals are to secure a national holiday in Obama’s honor, to organize celebrations around his inauguration and to celebrate the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on Feb. 12 1809.

[Jet Gorgon]

I keep getting disappointed by Bo's lack of manners. First is was the Nancy Reagan gaffe, now it's not bringing the kids to the WH after Bush said he looked forward to having the two beautiful kids at the WH on Monday. Oh, they had to go to school. Ya, the Obamas are doing lots of snubs. Not as bad as Michelle missing the 9/11 memorial service tho. Still, we have lots of time for more.

Other snippets:
‘‘As a comedian,’’ NBC’s Jay Leno echoed to his ‘‘Tonight Show’’ audience, ‘‘I’m going to miss President Bush. Barack Obama is not easy to do jokes about. He doesn’t give you a lot to go on. See, this is why God gave us (Vice President-elect) Joe Biden. ‘‘When one door closes, another one opens up.’’
Comedians aren't laughing at Obama :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Elections
Not laughing...YET.

And, let's see what Michelle will do to the WH decor. She gets $100,000 to redo it. Hope her fashion sense doesn't transcend to home furnishings.

[lom]

And, let's see what Michelle will do to the WH decor. She gets $100,000 to redo it.

That's not a lot, it took more money to redo Sarah.

[Jet Gorgon]

^ True, it's a paltry sum. Think it's only for their own personal apartments tho. Oh well, she says she always shops at Target, so that'll save heaps.

[Cujo]

The problem for comedians is that no matter what jokes they make about Obama they'll be called racist.

[Jesus Jones]

Are we allowed to criticize Obama, or is that racist? Obama is great.

[Mr Earl]

Are we allowed to criticize Obama, or is that racist?

He didn't win because he was black did he?
Of course not.
So you can criticize.
He won because he's the best choice for the country, of course.
When he fucks up he should be called on it.

[ChiangMai noon]

Hope her fashion sense doesn't transcend to home furnishings.

why?

would it really bother you?

[Cujo]

When he fucks up he should be called on it.

Racist.

[Jet Gorgon]

Hope her fashion sense doesn't transcend to home furnishings.

why? would it really bother you?

No. A good laughing point, like her clothes. But hey, she doesn't need to care. Hope she covers up at state dinners. Her arms are as big as my waist and her knees are probably near my chest size.

Other news. Michelle checked out two elite private schools in Washington for her kids. Some Dems think they should put the kids in public school to show support. Hey, Amy Carter went there. Errrm, whatever happened to her?

And Grandma may come to live in the WH. Hey, bring the whole fam over from Kenya! There are 16 or so bedrooms.

[Bugs]

Obama team announces new rules on lobbyists - White House transition

Obama team announces new rules on lobbyists
Aide says federal lobbyists may not contribute financially to the transition

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama, who said lobbyists would not run his White House, signaled Tuesday that lobbyists could serve in his transition so long as their activities do not involve areas of policy they have tried to influence in the past year.

John Podesta, a top transition aide to Obama, said federal lobbyists will be prohibited from any lobbying while they are at work on the transition.

The transition office said in a statement, "if someone has lobbied in the last 12 months, they are prohibited from working in the fields of policy on which they lobbied."

I don’t know if this should go down as being good new, that Obama is being stricter than past presidents on the issue of lobbyists. Or if it is bad news because Obama now seems to be backtracking on what he said during his campaign? During the campaign he said in no uncertain terms that lobbyists would have no place in his White House. Now he seems to be saying ‘Well, uhm, urrr, OK. You can have a place in my White House, just mind your P’s and Q’s and don’t mess around in areas that you once lobbied in’.

Yea, I’m sure we can trust lobbyist not to stick their heads into places they once lobbied. Does anyone really think that just because a lobbyist has a job in one part of the administration they cannot have any influence in another part of the administration?

I guess this means that Obama is only kind of a man of his word?

[Texpat]

^ Racist!

[Cujo]

I guess this means that Obama is only kind of a man of his word?

Yes, you can't talk about black people like that.

[Jet Gorgon]

I think this has gone before, but interesting to ponder racism in Europe and some folks' and leaders' gaffes.

Europe has welcomed the election of Barack Obama with a vein of racism. The accusation comes from the Washington Post, which in an article entitled "Racism Rears Its Head in European Comments About Obama" dedicated an article on a gaffe committed by some Euroean leaders and commentators the day after the democratic candidate's victory.
...
The first case was that of one of the most noted Austrian journalists, Klaus Emmerich, who immediately after the victory of the democratic candidate said: "I don't want the western world to be led by a black".
The WP, despite controversy in Italy, judged the words of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi as "moderated" when he defined Obama as "young, good looking, and tan". Statements from Polish deputy of Jorslav Kaczynski's party of law and justice, Artur Goruski were much less restrained, when he said Obama "is the black messiah of the new crypto-communist left" who without a doubt will provoke "a disaster" bringing about "the end of white civilisation: America will pay a very high price for this".

The Washington Post was very critical of one a newspaper that is considered an icon of the European left, German Tageszeitung (Taz), a point of reference for the left in Europe. In June, it published a large photo of the White House entitled "Uncle Barack's Cabin".
AGI News On - OBAMA: WASHINGTON POST

I wonder if BO as pres will help Euope deal with its racial tensions.

[Jet Gorgon]

Ah, these media people...

NEW YORK -- The campaign is over, but Barack Obama is still a TV hit.
CBS' "60 Minutes" news show had its highest overnight ratings in nearly a decade with Sunday's episode featuring Steve Kroft interviewing the president-elect and future first lady, Michelle Obama. Nielsen Media Research's preliminary estimate the show was seen by 24.5 million people on Sunday.
...
Sunday's "60 Minutes" was likely helped by being immediately preceded by a down-to-the-wire NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.
Obama TV Interview Draws Big Audience - FOXNews.com Elections
...
Hey this is the real news:
The ending of Sunday's Pittsburgh Steelers-San Diego Chargers game ended with a controversial call that reversed a Steelers touchdown. The negated touchdown didn't affect who won the outcome since the Steelers still won by a score of 11-10. But it did affect the point spread and essentially cost those who bet on the Steelers a total of $32 million.

In the dying seconds of the game, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu intercepted a Chargers pass and ran it in for a touchdown, making the score 17-10. The referees, however, called a penalty on the play and took the touchdown off the scoreboard. Afterwards, officials admitted that they made a mistake at the end of the game.

Steelers-Chargers Game Ends in Controversial Call That Costs Gamblers $32 Million

So how will President Obama and the Democrats govern?
Prediction: Despite conservative fears, they won't move left enough to satisfy the bloggers, activists and permanent protesters who have been driven mad by the outrages of the Bush administration.
And they can't possibly satisfy the dewy-eyed dreamers who think Obama will transcend race and party and region and bring us all together to sing Kumbaya. The journalists who get chills when he speaks will likely discover that he is a young and inexperienced president facing difficult domestic and international problems that don't easily yield to eloquence.

...
Like the Clintons, Obama and his congressional colleagues will want to move quickly toward national health care. That idea is popular on the campaign trail, but it may become less so when Congress begins to debate the details of bringing 50 million more people into a government program, controlling private health insurance plans and restricting many people's choice of a doctor. It could be another HillaryCare debacle.
...
Of course, the economy often plays a role in elections. How strong will the economy be in the fall of 2010? Well, if Obama keeps bailing out industry after industry, raises taxes, and even threatens costly regulations on energy and finance, the economy is not likely to get any stronger. If that happens, the odds of another 1994 are high.

How Far Left Will Obama Go?

Yep, I agree with the Cato boys.

[Norton]

A new Attorney General.

"U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has conditionally offered Eric Holder the job as attorney general, and the former top Clinton administration official has accepted, a senior Democrat said on Tuesday."


"Like Obama, Holder has said the United States must reverse "the disastrous course" set by the Bush administration in the struggle against terrorism by closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba that now holds about 250 prisoners.


Holder also has said the United States must stop sending individuals to nations that engage in torture, must cease warrantless domestic surveillance and must declare without qualification the United States does not torture people."



Obama offers Holder attorney general post - Yahoo! News

[Jet Gorgon]

^ oooh, a big leak in the tight BO camp. He must be POed. Probably among the first of many (who slipped about Hillly?).
So, I always wanted to know where they will place those Gitmo prisoners. Alcatraz?
Stop sending individuals to nations that engage in torture? What does that mean? Diplomats, bizpeople, holidaymakers, troops? Ignore a country committing torture and genocide like Sudan and now the Congo?

[Butterfly]

^ do you realize how Palinesque you sound Jet ? and I don't mean this as a compliment,

[Norton]

What does that mean? Diplomats, bizpeople, holidaymakers, troops?

Think the practice is defined as "extraordinary rendition".