I can't resist blogging about this. By now you've heard about the modern-day David and Goliath battle that took place a few days ago when the president, all by his lonesome, with secret service in tow, of course, went up against Republicans, on their own turf--a Republican retreat in Baltimore of all places.I'm thinking it's a good thing the secret service was there, or they may have tarred and feathered him and run him out of town on a rail. Such was the beating Republicans received at the hands of this lanky president from Chicago, standing before them in all his Lincolnesque glory, taking question after question, queries meant, at times, to embarrass, deflate, and reveal his ineptitude as president.
I don't think I overstated their intentions. Perhaps a smidgen.
Not only did he not backdown and fold, he stood tall, showed his command of the subjects, and was fearless in his answers--even when, on one occasion, the mood turned a little contentious. One blogger called him an "idiot" for his use of teleprompters. It's clear that this blogger was more intent on demeaning the president than presenting a "fair and balanced" assessment. He didn't want to credit the president's grace under fire, his ready access to a storehouse of facts, and the eloquence, and occasional disarming humor, he brings to off-the-cuff moments when he's entertaining questions at Town Hall meetings, or before a hostile crowd of Republicans in a Q and A setting.
If you didn't hear the Q and A, I'm not going to embed it here, but give you a link to the location. It comes with an excellent analysis by Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and Chris Matthews. It's a must see. I'm hoping that it signals a turning point in the president's strategy to take a more frontal approach, an attack posture, to manage those challenges he face, knowing that a strong offense is the best defense when it comes to negotiating with an adversary that's not going to play by Queensberry rules, but will hit below the belt, and sneak a bite or two from any exposed part of his political readiness, or lack there of.
Here's how MSNBC presents this historical moment:
"Obama speaks to Republicans
"Jan. 29: Keith Olbermann shares highlights from President Barack Obama's address to a gathering of House Republicans and the opening question from Congressman Mike Pence. Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews join for analysis."
It's not surprising that Fox News didn't run the whole Q and A, seeing that their beloved Republicans were taking a drubbing at the hands of the president. Instead, they chose to break away, and offer an analysis without allowing their viewers the opportunity to see and hear the full encounter.
I guess they didn't want to expose them to this Republican woodshed chastisement.
It's probably best that the president turn down all future invites (not saying the Republicans will again), but next time they'll be prepared with a strong noose of questions, and a strong limb of questioners on which to hang him.
