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Obama Tells Washington To Stop Behaving Like The Blogosphere

by Glynnis MacNicol | 11:37 am, January 28th, 2010

» 3 comments

Did President Obama give the media a subtle smackdown last night? In the last fiery quarter of his speech (which began with a SCOTUS dress down and ended with Obama weirdly chanting USA) this admonishment to Congress was particularly notable, I think:

But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We can’t wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about the other side -– a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of — I’m speaking to both parties now. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants shouldn’t be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators.

Um snap? I’d have to recheck the video but I think this was met with mixed applause. Here’s the thing. Who really is making every day Election day and who really is responsible for the “embarrassing headlines”? I have no doubt Congress is making the most of it, but truth be told it is the cable news media, which is increasingly being fueled by the blogosphere. If I didn’t know better I would hazard a guess that this was a shot across the bow to Politico, who has built its now-booming business by blowing small newsy asides into major day-long talking points. Not that they are alone in this by any stretch. Politics is truly the new national pastime and I suspect it may be paying a price for having permeated the national consciousness to such an extent.

Also? Considering how many public appearances and addresses the President has made over the last twelve months, one would be forgiven for thinking perhaps he also has not shifted as far out of election mode as he would have us believe. That said, between this and his asserting that “if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well” I think we can conclude that Obama is looking to spend the 10 months between now and the midterms doing his best to drag as many Republicans with him to the corner he appears to be inexorably being painted into — whether by his hand or others.

[Pic via.]

barack obama, Politico, SOTU, The State of Journalism

The Real Royal King

I do think the media received a well-deserved dressing down. When all is said and done, CNN, FOX and MSNBC are horrible. Simply horrible. ABC, CBS and NBC are not much better. We are all being poorly served by the media, so this was one of the important moments in the speech.

As for President Obama’s call for bi-partisanship, geez, it isn’t going to happen. While I can point to the Republicans, radicalized by the extreme rightist elements, I can look at Democrats before the party’s rightist lurch, and I have to blame both for an atmosphere that cherishes only personal power and narrow self-interest whilst telling the nation as a whole to stick it. It is a toxic atmosphere which serves no one well.

Having said that, I have every confidence we Americans can find a way to survive a deplorable media and a deplorable political structure.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Callan/100000200979966 Joe Callan

Glynnis, I have a tendency to trip over my thoughts, so I just want to be clear about something. I didn’t get who the “it” was referring to here:

Politics is truly the new national pastime and I suspect it may be paying a price for having permeated the national consciousness to such an extent.

It meaning…Politico? Cable news? The state of American Politics itself? When you use the “paying a price” line, it seems like you’re saying that the public being very involved in politics is a bad thing, but I don’t get who you’re saying it’s a bad thing for. Maybe you weren’t saying that at all; more’s the point of confusion.
Facebook User

POTUS spoke condescendingly to Americans…saying that he must not have explained the “health care” well enough…
NO – Prez, it’s that WE DON’T WANT YOUR PROPOSED HEALTH CARE.

We WANT fiscally-responsible bill and for you and Congress not TO THROW OUR TAX DOLLARS TO SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT SUPPORTED YOUR ELECTION.

Nothing he said was true. All lies.

We cannot afford the Health Care Bill. Contact your Congressman or woman and tell them to vote NO. This plan is a front to immediately take 10-20% of your paycheck…to pay for health care most wouldn’t even get until 2013, if then…and only if you qualify. Everyone else would be forced to buy a policy from your health insurance company – or BE FINED…if you don’t pay the fine …then you are JAILED.

Bottom line – we can’t afford this huge financial exploratory adventure with unknowns as the outcome. So far, the states that have tried this have FAILED…but not without amassing billions in state debt. Massachusetts is trying to now…and studies have all shown that the program is a failure.

Tell you Congressman NO BILL. Tell your Congresswoma NO BILL. If they vote against you, then you vote for the other candidate in November 2010. But start now so that we avert the problem early. Let’s go Americans! Your desires and wishes will be ignored if you fail to communicate with your representatives and tell them what you want.
They work FOR YOU!