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Republican Sens. John McCain and John Thune
A month ago today, the Wall Street Journal reported on the collapse of the fiscal talks, and included some behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the hostilities between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. According to the piece, Obama "told Mr. Boehner that if the sides didn't reach agreement, he would use his inaugural address and his State of the Union speech to tell the country the Republicans were at fault."
We now know, of course, that didn't happen. Not only was a fiscal agreement reached on Jan. 1, but the word "Republican" did not appear in the president's second inaugural.
That said, Obama nevertheless presented an ambitious and progressive vision, which is entirely incompatible with a radicalized Republican approach to governance. It doesn't come as too big a surprise, then, that some GOP lawmakers weren't especially pleased with what they heard.
"I would have liked to have seen some outreach," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential race. "This is the eighth [inauguration] that I've been to and always there's been a portion of the speech where [the president says] 'I reach out my hand because we need to work together.' That wasn't in this speech."
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of leadership, said the speech was "mostly 30,000-foot stuff" that did not extend any olive branches to the GOP.
"It did seem that he wasn't doing the kind of outreach that he needs to do if he wants to get things accomplished in a second term," Thune said. "We'll see how it's received."
So, let me get this straight. Republicans spent Obama's first term on a scorched-earth campaign, hoping to destroy his presidency and nearly everything he proposed. GOP leaders met privately exactly four years ago yesterday to plot their comeback by obstructing the president wherever possible, and refusing to compromise with Obama on literally anything, even when he embraced Republican ideas -- and then they executed that plot without hesitation or shame.
After Obama received another endorsement from the American electorate, members of the shrinking Senate minority heard the president offer a robust defense of his governing vision, and their first reaction is ... it lacked "outreach" to the other side?
Seriously?
In fairness, I should note that other Republicans were more gracious and appreciated the president's frequent references to working together.
"I do come away with hope, as long as from the bully pulpit, he speaks the same way in the days ahead as he did today," said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.). [...]
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said that the White House would need to reach out to Republicans in Congress if the challenges of the debt and deficit were actually going to get addressed.
"The part I liked is when he emphasized working together -- that's what we need," Hoeven said. [...]
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the longest-serving GOP senator, said there were certainly things he differed with in the speech, but that overall he found a positive message. "It was a together agenda as far as I can see," Hatch said.
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The GOP is very much in the inaugural, especially in the President's brilliant speech where he smacks them down. It's all the GOP who have become the enemy of the People, deserve.
Crybaby hawks. Somebodies need a diaper change.
The Republicans are so ego-centric they think everything is about them. Now they are insulted that the President of the United States, speaking to the people of the United States during his inaugural address, did not specifically reference Republicans. Note to Republicans: it's not about you.
I thought he referred to them plenty. Just not in a way that they liked.
I think he personally slammed Paul Ryan when he said "we are not a nation of takers" when referring to Social Security and Medicare. That's a favorite campaign slogan of his but they must have missed that one, or only heard what they wanted to hear.
"I think he personally slammed Paul Ryan when he said "we are not a nation of takers" when referring to Social Security and Medicare. That's a favorite campaign slogan of his but they must have missed that one, or only heard what they wanted to hear."
They didn't her anything the President said because they were to busy sticking their fingers in their ears, screaming at the top of their lungs, "LALALALALALA, I can't hear you". That's fine... maybe they won't hear the President when he says we're going to raise taxes on the rich to 80%, just like under St. Ronnie.
Yeah, when I heard him say "we are not a nation of takers" that was directed at Pauly and the Repugs, they passed his budget in the House. It won't pass anything else.
Oh, if only the GOP could go pufff and vanish!!
And take the rest of the white south with them.
Not necessarily ALL the white south... just the racist and teabagger white south... leave the ones who really want this country to succeed under a black President, not just under a white President who caters to the Rich, White, Greedy Old Party of the Koch(roach) brothers and the Billionaire Boys Club.
It's not just the white South, it's the "old boys network" that needs to realize that the 1950's are over and can't be resurrected, even if we wanted to.
I'm very proud that we have a President that knows that progress is a good thing, even though it can sometimes be a little painful. Great to have a visionary that wants us to be at the forefront of science and technology. He is inclusive, and inspiring.
John Thune looks like the illegitimate son of Julio Iglesias.
...could well be, ya know.
/s/
They are all delusional. Seriously delusional. Mad as hatters. And just plain old angry too. Angry, delusional old white men with a treasonous agenda.
wah, wah, wah, too bad
The GOP is like petulent children demanding attention. They lost the presidential election, they spent the 4 years of Obama first term obstructing his every move in attempts to make him a one term president and since they election they have used threats and extortion on the budget and debt ceiling trying to do end runs around him and no have the audacity to ask how come they werent mentioned by name in Obama inauguration speech?
Can McCain get over 2008? It doesn't seem likely. He's a bitter, bitter man who is making a fool of himself on a daily basis.
he hasn't got over 2000 yet.
But they WERE mentioned specifically. Right here-- "We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate." there you go, McCain. Happy now?
And these Republicans, who met in secret on the night of Obama's first inauguration to plan total obstruction to anything he tried to do (Some may call it T.R.E.A.S.O.N.), openly said they wished him failure and that their most important duty was to make him a one-term president, then proceeded to make it so......these people are upset he didn't name their party in his inauguration speech?
Hubris, thy name is Republican!!
Republicans, you spent four years saying "NO" to President Obama, even against your own proposals at times. Please know that every time he says "NO" in the next four years, he is thinking of you.
One word the GOP needs to learn: COMPROMISE
No they are going to cheat. they are fixing states now so the electrol college will go in thier favor by changing distrists. They tried to stop people from voting and the still lost. Watch out American. Like a ditatior wthey are trying to fix free elections
You are right, Marytgl. While Obama may be turning over a new leaf, the Republican's aren't, their game plan is still sacrosanct.
The dream of a Permanent Republican Majority grows district by district, cheat by cheat, state by state, dysfunctional Congress by dysfunctional Congress, and the Supreme Court's precarious bias.
Obama's not a savior, he's top dude of the liberty watchdogs - that's the rest of us.
clearly the American people, when engaged and determined can get more governing done (with voice and vote) then the Republican party in their respective elected offices. Hence.. President Obama's appeal to the We... and I'm in.
GOP stop whining and do something constructive for the United States for a change.
"It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long"
Oh, poor little losers, who cares what you think about this man's speech. If you hadn't managed to gerrymander the states in 2010 you would have lost the HofR, too! So, here's some advice: sit down, shut up and let the adults get on with fixing what you have deliberately broken.
hey guys go back and get your next talking points from trump or rush.... stop the hate
I love it. When most of the Republicians congress members left Washiington. I love this What did they want him to say?
Thank God it was not Romney. Would he mention the Democrats? Think of all those kids in college no more loans. Senior citizens no more medicare or Social security. Nice to be born with a silver spoon in his mouth
I always though Romney's silver spoon was jammed smartly up another aperture than his mouth.
Thank you American People...I don't even dare to imagine what kind of nation we would be facing if Mitt Romney had been inaugurated today. My brain couldn't even take the idea of 4 years of Smug Romney as First Lady.
Thank you America!
Apparently these people do not consider themselves part of We the People. And I think John McCain is senile.
Then again to act like or be people you have to be a human being. Something of which few Republicans can be because there is no humanity in them to speak of, eh?
Wealth must have some serious displacement characteristics, the more money, the less empathy.
As a non-American I feel I have to ask this...
Is the GOP actually that stupid that they believe the crap coming out of their mouths? In which case, you seriously let retards into Government? or...
Are they just putting this bullpucky out in hopes that the real retards will believe it?
INteresting question. AND, as a former Republican, that might be why I walked away (actually they walked away from me) about 20 years ago....and I was nOT young then...but I didn't like what I was seeing, the increasing bigotry, the increasing 'nation building' attitude, and the utter stupidity of many of them.
Yesterday, I watched the miniseries (with Paul Winfield playing the title role) "King" and you speak of the GOP now, yet the GOP of the past (known as the Dixiecrats an housed within the Democratic party) spoke the same - as they were the same! This is the language that they revert to - as it pulls in those who live in a state of hate, fear & bigorty - if only it were so harmless.
Hitler (for one!) was a non-American and the crap he believed & that came out of his mouth let many retards storm-troop all over Europe - so "WE" in the USA are not the only ones who have had to endure "bullpucky" or "real retards" & some of us just have a longer way to go to get away from them!
& in honor of Dr. King - I hope also that someday this country will live up to it's creeds and "WE" all get closer to the promised land that Dr. King saw - as he was for all Human kind!
Someday shall the greatest country (based upon premise of the people, by the people, for the people & constitutionally made - ALL the people Equal) get past its retards - real or imagined, full of bullpucky & crap;-) starting with the 113th Congress!
I also walked away from being a Republians the very day when they wanted Bush, of all people, to be the President. And yes they believe their own crap that falls from their mouths and they are stupid enough to believe in what they are saying, even through what they think and and say and believe are not based in reality.
& McConnell & the Speaker should have picked up the phone for the President when he called them the night he won RE-ELECTION, but they didn't & the consequences of that action & those of the last four years is you REAP WHAT YOU SOW & hopefully you can be ignored some more - left to attend to your obstruction - WITHOUT A PAYCHECK!;-)
I wonder if any of the Republicans who are doing all the whining might think that a lot of us who WERE Republicans changed our minds in the late 80's and early 90's and are now active Democratics might not want what the GOP has to offer. I am 74, and have become so ashamed of what the GOP has become.... I do NOT want to see a one party nation; that is not how our government was meant to be. BUT...to see the hatred, the lies, the fearmongering that is going on from the TeaParty and Republican camp is even making me rethink that....
I know right granny, I was deeply ashamed when they treated the Dole's that way! I have always been a Dem, yet I have also had respect for the republican party - even when I didn't agree with them (as that was how politics was then - almost 50!), but to see Bob (older) in the wheelchair with Elizabeth and to have them diss his treaty & the accomplishment "the disability act" was DISGRACEFUL esp. when you consider they knew about the treaty for more than a year & resisted for reason that had nothing to do with legitimate policy or the treaty itself - ONLY SOME LOON SAID IT WOULD ALLOW THE UN TO KEEP THEIR STAY AT HOME KID FROM.... - GOD KNOWS WHAT!!! & do not get me started on the war on women w/in the States!
I'm not sure what they are bitching about .. George Bush did not mention the Democratic Party in his second speech as it was mostly about going out and doing nation building in other countries .. the most interesting thing in his second inaugural speech was the mentioning of the Koran "That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people." In his first inaugural speech outside of "As I begin, I thank President Clinton for his service to our nation. And I thank Vice President Gore for a contest conducted with spirit and ended with grace." there was also no mention of the Democratic Party. Though there was a mention of "Government has great responsibilities for public safety and public health, for civil rights and common schools." which seems to be against what the republican party has been running on.