Just a few days ago, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was talking to Politico about how his party "has divorced itself from the American culture," and he hopes to change that. Priebus specifically talked about the pointless rhetorical shots at President Obama who does care about the culture: "[We] would make fun of the president for going on 'The View' -- and you've heard me say these things -- you know, talking hoops for half an hour on ESPN. That's where a lot of America is at, and I think we've got to get with it."
It appears congressional Republicans are choosing to ignore Priebus' suggestion.
President Obama appeared on ESPN this morning to share picks for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, as he's done every year of his presidency. For those who care about such things, Obama likes Indiana over Louisville in the finals.
The last four years, the fact that the president does this has been a source of widespread Republican complaining -- Obama shouldn't focus attention on March Madness, the argument goes, he should be focused on solving problems.
But that was before the RNC decided it's time for Republicans "get with it," right? Wrong. Soon after the president's ESPN appearance, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), chair of the Republican Study Committee, issued a statement complaining that Obama should be working on the budget instead of his bracket. Scalise called it "a shocking failure of leadership."
The House Republican conference released a YouTube video soon after, making a similar complaint. It wasn't long before a series of prominent Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, were using social media to argue that the president shouldn't be tackling the NCAA tournament, but should instead send them a new budget that they can ignore.
Maybe Republicans can "get with it" next year.
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If you're hardwired to believe everything the President does is wrong...
Or if your cynical enough to cater to a base who believes everything the President does is wrong...
Or if you believe your fortunes rise and fall by how the President is perceived versus how YOU are perceived...
Or any combination of the three.
You're going to complain about every word uttered by Obama, every action, every breath he takes that could be better breathed by someone else and with less cost to the taxpayer.
You will do this because to not do this is to express defeat. Obama must always be the most evil mother****er on the planet until 2012 when someone else runs for President, at which point he or she (let's face it: She) will be the most evil mother****er on the planet.
LMFAO - Yeah Mr. Previous - UM - Yeah You GoofBalls just Might want to get with it - After-all it IS 2013 in-case you Nutcases Havent Noticed - SERIOUSLY ! What a Bunch of GoofBalls / Idiots !
In consideration of how very little time and effort GWB put into this job, the snark is pretty thick indeed.
IOKIYAR
Actually, the time and effort Bush put into the job was remarkable. I would give Obama the same credit. Only someone who was hardwired and blinded by the other sides would think differently in either case.
Haha, OK, Boss.
Just because GWB spent an average of 4 months total, each year, at his ranch in Crawford, doesn't mean that he wasn't working while there. Of course, neither you nor I were there personally, so we don't know one way or the other. And any assumptions made about his work ethic, or lack thereof, is entirely subjective. Regardless of his unwillingness to read reports he should have been reading.
But what we do know as a fact, is that he spent an average of 4 months total, each year, at his ranch in Crawford.
If it smells like a fish...
Yep boss man, We know Obama loves his golf and basketball. We know he loves is vacations.
The right wingers would criticize this the same as you are doing. As sloppy up top says, only those determined to believe one way would see it as you or Obama haters do. Btw, color me as someone who seldom agrees with Obama, but, he puts in the effort...
The phrase "false equivalency" gets a fair amount of play whenever making these comparisons, so much so that after a while the very act of pointing out the stark differences between what is erroneously presented as similar things... the phrase itself starts to sound cliche.
Anyway, there's a reason why it gets said. This is one of those, Rusty. And for completely anecdotal evidence, I present the vast body of public service performed by GWB in the last 4 years.
[crickets]
anectdotel evidence is the best. Best story always wins...
Pretty hilarious coming from members of Congress who will work a grand total of 126 days this year.
Too bad that Obama doesn't take advantage of that fact. He should tout it every time Republicans get in front of a camera and complain. It would be great to hear him say he cannot negotiate with people in Congress who are off work at the same time they are complaining.
@Mike P.
Then they would play the victims, and the beltway press will help them do it.
"Is this President punching down?"
Catch 22. Haters gonna hate.
Skippy...I guess you also think that teachers only work from 8:30 - 3:30 every day as well.
Whereas, I think that we do need to get more out of our elected officials than we do, to say they only work 126 days a year is misleading. Just because they are not in Washington does not mean that they are not doing some work.
If we really want to increase the time Congress remains in DC to "work", we need to change the election term to 4 years so that they do no have to return to their home districts as much to raise funds for their reelection campaigns.
just saying...
Poor capt delusional still trying to make himself appear in the know but fails yet again. Here is a clue getting drunk and crying like a 2 year old is not considered work, unless you are a republican.
Whom- did they deny your unemployment on that basis?
Rusty...Whom is not on unemployment. That would indicate that he was actually able to have a job at one point so that he could qualify for that benefit. We all know that there isnt anybody who would hire a moron like that.
just saying...
@ stormguy #3.3
No, don't extend their terms to 4 years. Instead pay for the election campaigns with public funds, so that all are equal and only the voters matter.
Just saying.
Steve, is there anything left that we shouldn't pay out of public funds?
We have so much extra money in the government, it makes sense to spend it ...
just saying...
It is really hard to argue that the President is a shiftless lazy black man if they have to worry about every little thing Priebus says about minority outreach. Republican officeholders have Rush Limbaugh and other Southern racist bigots to please, and Sarah Palin and her panting angry old white man to pacify for pete sakes.
Perhaps the House members could stop complaining and propose a budget that doesn't contact lies!
Yeah. Like Obama's? Oh yeah- not submitting one isn't a lie. It's just the incompetent way...
Rusty, WADR (which in this case is about none), the President has proposed a budget every year of his term. He has a whole dept. of people to do it for him, so it always gets done.
Ok, he's its one, but breaks federal law by submitting it late? At least that is what one search pointed out. He just can't pass one, even when he had both houses.
Mr. Speaker, you might try doing your job, instead of taking long vacations and "3 half-day work weeks" since January. All spending bills are supposed to start in the House (it is in the Constitution). Try leading your members and putting them to actual work. And, by the way, send P. Ryan to take Economics 101 after he finishes basic mathematics.
Boehner is on the golf course with Obama!Ryan is running his family business that he did not get government funding for!
The (R)s are doing what they always do - describe the "other guy" as a bad man - no matter what that man does. The ridiculous part of the story is the numbers of American citizens, people that are supposed to be somewhat educated and aware, that just swallow that line with no thought as to its validity.
Their motivation for doing so is multi-layered. To change any of those layers, people would have to look closely at themselves, and most are not willing to do so. It's so much easier to just drink the kool-aid...
I wonder if there is a sense among independents or simply non-liberals of "OMG come on." I know that I've gotten to the point where I'm just exasperated at the criticisms coming out of the GOP towards Obama. To me the fact that he does a bracket is charming or humanizing and the hour or so he takes to do it is pretty gd immaterial. Personally I thought that the fishing shows Bush did were charming and humanizing as well. There's nothing wrong with the president having some leisure time and showing that to the public.
But even for the people who don't find this charming, unless you flat out hate the guy you have to be getting sick and tired of this. It truly is EVERYTHING that he does. I saw a fake quote attributed to Ann Coulter earlier today that said "I was an idiot and cut my finger off on a table saw, GD Obama." It feels like it's not that far off and I'm just flat out tired of it.
Flat out tired, ALL of the country should be speaks truth to me. Also I think the Repubs think in the end both parties will be blamed equally. We hear everyday there is enough blame on both sides. It make one feel like spitting nails. It terrifies that people are tuning DC out & that in the end this will continue. It is happening everyday with healthcare with more & more states pulling out. It is almost like they won the election. Dems have to work harder to get good candidates & especially Govenors. No where is this more evident than in Florida. It may be located in southern territory, but everyone here is from some place up north.
Okay, my memory is failing me.
Wasn't it McConnell or Boehner who missed a high profile Congressional meeting because one of the NCAA basketball games was going on?
It was Rep. Jim Bunning (R-KY) - Rand Paul's predecessor. He whined about missing the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game because Democrats insisted on trying to extend unemployment benefits. Bunning was blocking the extension, you see.
Are you thinking of the time that the President wanted to address Congress and was told no because there was an important ball game?
Yeah lets forget about the basketball stuff and get to work on those tax breaks for the wealthy. Does'nt the President realize the Red Cross shelters are overcrowded already, how can they possibly take on all those ex millionaires and billionaires?
They sure love those symbolic votes... thats all they really do, because they don't have ideas or proposals...
Because spending all your extra time using social media to complain about the president is quality work.
...House Speaker John Boehner, were using social media to argue that the president shouldn't be tackling the NCAA tournament, but should instead send them a new budget that they can ignore.
Perhaps Mr. Boehner shouldn't be tackling that 3rd bottle of wine, but should instead ignore the budget submitted by Paul Ryan.
Perhaps Boehner is working on his own Liquor Brackets. Maker's Mark versus Knob's Creek in the finals!
I could have sworn he is a wino. Once you start talking about good whiskey, then you're entering my territory. (tongue in cheek)
The entire Republican approach since Barack Obama became president is demonize, demonize, demonize. They can't stop, it's all they have, the majority of their base lives and breaths Obama hatred, there is literally nothing inflamatory they won't believe and email to all their friends and family. This started with the Clintons and has escalated to an unbelievable height aided and abetted by the Internet and the unforgivable fact that the President is African-American whose middle name is Hussein. I'm actually surprised Priebus made those comments, it's a nice surprise, but it's too late. During the past four years, not one official critizied any excess of hatred that I can recall.
I'd like to think that the man we chose to run the country can juggle picking who he thinks will win some basketball games without causing any problems. If congress would stop dragging their feet on everything the man tries to do, he could a lot busier fixing stuff. Obstruct him, then complain that he's not working. That's brilliant!
I'm so sick of this kind of stuff. The GOP apparently still has nothing to offer the public besides the opportunity to be played for fools. They know full well the release date for the Prez' budget had already been announced (April 8th). They also know full well that their nonsense around the fiscal cliff, debt default, and now the sequester, is the reason the budget has had to be reworked, therefore delaying it. They think they're hurting the Prez with this kind of dumbery, but it just serves to re-inforce the image of the GOP as a bunch of con artists and childish adults. That's what they really seem completely incapable of understanding.
Oh great...he is only 2.5 months late in delivering the budget required by law. Another example of leadership from our president. And once again...it is somebody else's fault. Will this president every accept responsibility for his actions instead of looking to always blame others?
just saying...
Stormfella: I hope you are saving something better than this for the finale, because the ole budget talking point is clinging to life...
That is so rich, @Stormguy. Almost as rich as the GOP claiming that Obama never reaches out them, while at the same time declining his every invitation.
Awwwwwwww come on don't pick on the special needs person, why capt delusional actually believes he has something new to say even though it was already old the 501st time Reagan repeated it.
Funny how all of you can try to belittle me, but not a single one of you can dispute the fact that I am correct.
just saying....
Where's the House Republicans' Budget?
You know, the one that says exactly how much they're going to cut fro SS/Medicare to fund further cuts for the obscenely rich? The one that forces even more unwanted money on the DoD, while cutting every other Department to the bone? That Budget? The one required by the Constitution (as opposed to the input required by Congressional legislation)?
Just sayin...
You mean this one...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304724404577293560629755898.html
I am sorry that you feel the President is above Congressional Legislation...but then again, it is not surprising since the President himself has a tendency to believe the same thing.
Once again...attack the Republicans all you want, but you can not dispute the fact that Obama has failed to do his job. However, we should be used to it since this is the 3rd time in 4 years that he has failed to deliver it on time.
When was the last time a Democrat Senator voted in favor of the President's budget proposal? If I am not mistaken, the last two were voted down UNANIMOUSLY.
just saying..
Funny how we ignore how we got here. as of 1980 we have 33 years of pro business tax policies, supply side trickle down economics resulting in a second depression , stagnant wages, 50 million living in poverty and 40000 food banks. The GOP is ok with working people not being able to buy food.
What I do not understand from the Democrats is this should be the focus of their economic policies. That the GOP is ok with Reagan and Bush adding 8 trillion to the national debt , almost collapsing the entire world economy and supporting policies that support two inverse economies. The macro economy which has now recovered and the micro economy which continues in a depression. The GOP continues to push what they created a third class country.A country where working no longer provides dignity if one cannot put food on the table, heat their home or buy their medications.
Like a Bi Polar manic depressive they will not take their medication and only acknowledge that they have done no harm. Their intent was they are sure their policies will better the lives of the many although there is no evidence to support their claims. The mistake we make as a electorate is we keep voting them into office. Nothing can be more demeaning then the voter I D laws and policies that make women sperm depositories!
Yeah...those nasty voter ID laws. That is the cause of all the problems.. It is so demeaning to make someone show an identification in order to have a say in how our government is run. I mean, its not like the Senators and Congressmen have to show ID's in order to vote on a legislative bill....oh wait, they do. Well, its not like union people have to show a picture ID before they vote in a union election...oh wait, sometimes they do. Well, it certainly isnt because you have to show an ID everytime you want to exercise your constitutional right to buy a firearm...oh wait, you do.
yeah...that si so demeaning...
just saying...
i hope they never get with it and just get voted out.
If you think they go ballistic over a game of golf or talk about sports, well, it's just as well that Michelle is past childbearing, isn't it?
I sometimes go ballistic over golf, but it's because I have played most of my life and I still suck...
I would say they have to get with it! Reince has a iPAD and keeps looking for the paper printout!
i think its amazing that many of the gop house and senate people spend more time making up lies against mr obama than they do working on problem solving. the prez has won his election. so all the bs doesn't really affect him at all. no doubt the gop will whine and complain during the next 4 years. they have nothing else. show me one real thing that the gop has done in the last 4 years to help this country move forward. one thing of substance!
promoting the tournament probably does more to help the economy than writing a budget that won't even get a vote anyway I'm sure various republicans have given up golf until unemployment has hit a set target
Obama can walk and chew gum at the same time. He is young and energetic. The R's are so consumed with hate, all they can do is project. The projection fills their entire day, they probably sit around tables and figure out what their next OUTRAGE OF THE DAY IS. It must be exhausting to be so mad, every single day. But the media is a loving companion. It starts early in the morning, on tv, radio, and cable. The outrage is the new R party.
The president can walk and chew gum at the same time. He is a multi tasker. The R's have a daily outrage. It starts early in the morning on cable, radio, and tv. The american public is tired of this daily craziness. I also insist most cable tv shows are aiders and abettors. There is no news anymore, it is just the daily republican talking points.
Tried to edit, having problems, sorry for mess. Will do better next time, hit the wrong keys.
Seems you were chewing gum andtyping. lol- I'm with you. Not always the best with a keyboard.
I am reminded of the story about the boy who cried "wolf" too many times. Fables teach such good lessons.
Love the show ... just a comment ...
It's Gonzaga with a "zag" - as in "zig zag" - not "zahg" as in "say 'ah'." I only mention this because a local TV anchor is a Gonzaga grad and said today that he wished the sports commentators would get the name right. I know you are a stickler for pronouncing words correctly. (repeat: "zig zag" - There, I've done my part.)
Keep up the great work! Love it!
Carolyn Babcock
Savannah, GA