BREAKING: Why Obama is not in WI with the pickets.

It couldn't be that's there's an international crisis somewhere could it? It couldn't be that he's working the phones non stop trying to head off a massacre of biblical proportions in Tripoli could it? It couldn't be that's he's actually taking briefings, holding cabinet meetings planning for every possible eventulaity? It'couldn't be that he's still got Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia on his hands? It couldn't be, for example, that there are one million foreign nationals trying to get out and EU warships are on the way. It could be.

On a political note, if he is giving a speech in WI or the WH as the pictures come up of a Tripoli firestorm exploding under incendiary bombs and the oil fields blown that he might be accused of not doing his job while people burn. Oh yes, and there is the little matter of the US evacuation ship still stuck in Tripoli harbor, unable to leave in the face of terrible maritime conditions

I have no idea why Obama is not in WI.

:sarcasm:

I don't expect Obama to go to WI...I just expect him to ONCE take a stand on some important issue.

He called it 'an assault on unions' and has repeatedly stressed the value of public sector workers.

had, "It appears to be an assault on unions."
That's not exactly ringing

n/t

not once on an important issue?

Because that assertion is so laughably wrong it's hilarious.

And please keep in mind that this admin is privy to a lot of info we aren't. Just maybe caution is required.



Speaking in the Grand Foyer after meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Obama blasted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi — but without using the longtime dictator's name — for violating "international norms and every notion of common decency."

"These are human rights," Obama said. "They are not negotiable."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/145835-obama-says-full-range-of-options-being-considered-on-libya


Or this?

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/145971-obama-to-talk-libya-with-british-french-leaders
Obama not ruling out military action in Libya

Defenders of the Bush administration used the same line in an attempt to silence critics of Iraq and Afghanistan.

It's a bullshit argument, always has been, always will be, no matter who the president is.

:kick:

the EPA and Department of Health and Elizabeth Warren from Congressional interference.

Nah, he should skip all that for a photo op.

and OFA does not do anything without Obama's approval.

:sarcasm:

Two minutes, tops.

plans to break the teachers unions and privatize the schools,

as soon as he shows up the pukes make the entire thing into an Obama thing and all the protesters would be marked as Obama plants. I'd rather see the people that are going to be affected directly by the Kocksuckers union busting continue to hammer him.

Also, you know the second Obama gave a speech or showed up in WI the same posters would be all over him for it because he'd be neglecting things like Libya. They are as predictable as the tides... the real tides that is, not the Bill O'Reilly magic Jeebus tides.

to attend to doing nothing about the revolution at home.

and no one here would say a word about collateral damage.

:sarcasm:

I can see how sending a flotilla of warships and planes to level Tripoli would cause the loss of thousands of lives (and be idiotic and tragic at the same time.) but I cannot see how sending a flotilla of warships and planes to level Tripoli would cause the loss of thousands of American lives as you assert.

Edit: You seem to be under the impression that the 5000 Americans in Libya are going to be rounded up and slaughtered or some notion equally histrionic and absurd. By whom and towards what end? Shooting westerners when both sides (and thus, your opponent) want the support of the public of the western world is beyond idiotic. It makes no sense, thus it is almost certain to NOT happen.

F18s and drones tossing bombs on Libya while there are a good number of Americans still in the country.

And the 5000 Americans in Libya he's negotiating to get out as violence escalates---which BBC America is talking about non-stop----is him not doing anything. Right.

:sarcasm:

I guess that other stuff about some minor labor problems here & there just slipped his mind, what with needing to gladhand Kasich and all.

WTH should President Obama go to WI? Just because you and some others demand that he do just as you say? Do you believe it's the job of every president to make speeches before every state legislative vote of your choosing? Or is it just Obama?

Funny how no one with the WI union protests feel the same way, eh? If he did go, you and others here who never have a good word to say about President Obama would only move the goalpost.

So who gives a shit whether he goes or not except for his usual detractors? I and other members of OFA sure don't. It's enough that he's made public statements on WI radio and allowed his DNC/OFA to organize the WI protesters almost from the get-go.

And apparently testing their new invisibility cloaks while they do it.

when he was running for the office he now holds, he said he would put on his comfortable shoes and be on the lines with the labor to protect the right of Americans to organize and collectively bargain? :shrug:

He could have said any number of other things or worded that differently...and chose not to. I find that telling. I believe in supporting people of principles who do what they've clearly and unconditionally said they would do. I believe those that do not, do not deserve my support.

I don't care what OFA does or does not do. You didn't promise to be on the lines...or nobody cares if you promised to be on the lines. Passivity and underwhelming to their word is not enough from people of principle entrusted with great power and responsibility for their principles.

Words matter. If he had no intention of being on the lines, he should not have unequivocally stated he would be.

That will come as a shock to several of my friends at the protests.
They said the protests are organized and being run by the Unions.

on edit: I will add I'm not sure what his being there will necessarily accomplish.
I do think (and it's only my opinion) a member of the administration or representative of the WH that speaks with his authority would be a good idea.

At this point they (the protesters) seem to be doing fine.

Grow up.

Most people aren't seeing that. He has to get 5000 of our people out of there and is making deals.

Big K&R

:kick:

The man is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't. I'm quite satisfied that he is watching and worrying about the middle east right now.

"Hrmph! What took him so long?!"

Or..

"Hrmph! Another empty speech!"

only if it was another empty speech.

"LIBYANS ARE DYING!!!!!!!!11!!"


Yep, seems about right.

The Professional Left is never wrong.

Serves no useful purpose then. Good to know. I can finally lower my expectations for good now.

Do you have any links to news about what he talked about changes to Cleveland?

...Said John Powell, executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University: "There has been an olive branch to the corporate community after the election. Where is the olive branch to the working-class community, the unions, the everyday folks? It's hard to imagine a Democratic president doing a jobs tour and not meeting with people who are out of work or unions."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/22/AR2011022207305.html

Since when did you ever put any store in Obama's speeches?

Funny how no one involved in the WI protests gives a shit about this latest demand from his naysayers, huh? In fact, I have heard labor leaders who have spoken that have thanked President Obama profusely for his support.

Unlike some people who seem to have forgotten the facts, these labor leaders must've heard President Obama make it very plain via his WH and via WI public radio whose side he's on. Of course, his political arm DNC/OFA has been organizing with WI protesters since the beginning. Those labor leaders know this fact, too.

When did that ever happen before? Certainly not under Clinton or any other Democratic president in recent memory.

Let us rest up a bit, then you can start up again tomorrow.

:sarcasm:

existing commitments, set up weeks earlier. SSure he could break them, but in that planning includes a secondary schedule, again weeks ahead is set up for Defense, State and NSA and clear lines of communication to the Commander in Chief. The restructuring necessary for an impromptu absence at a time of international emergency would be formidable to say the least.

A blow up last Tuesday would have attracted strong criticism, but I doubt Obama would have continued reading My Pet Goat.

or a catastrophe in Tripoli with hundreds of American, and countless EU and other nationals dead.

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He's a mad as a hatter, and again said today Libya will burn.

I take it you have access to the White house schedule. .

How familiar they have become after the past two years.... but they are as ridiculous as ever.

etc. etc.

It's what President Obama's detractors will keep saying throughout the next six years, too.

Thanks for the great OP, by the way. :yourock:

no matter how many times you repeat it

:shrug:

Union workers are not on strike.

I figure folks also knew the difference between a picket line (which is the words he used),
and a protest on upcoming legislation.

But like the GOP, let's make this all about Obama.....
That's exactly what the GOP wants this to be about.
Thank you for playing into their hands....don't talk about them any,
but about what "Obama should do". Nothing new here.

I'll hold my comments until then

It does not require a strike, any union protest is by definition a picket line

I must have missed that breaking news.

:sarcasm:


Senator Obama said that would be the only circumstance during which he would walk a picket line. Let's not start cherrypicking and moving the goalpost now.

That's what they are picketing for, to not hold the vote, which will make them lose their rights.

So if I say "I will help you if your being denied your freedom", and your going on an auction block to be sold as a slave, then to be a man of my word, it would be fine for me to decide to not do anything until your actual sale, even though there is a huge protest to stop the sale from actually happening?

He actually didn't say it was the only circumstances he would come, he only gave it as an example where he definitely would come.

That's pretty ridiculous. Not only that, President Obama has made it patently clear (except to those who refuse to acknowledge the facts) via his WH and via his appearance on WI public radio whose side he is on. He has also allowed his DNC political arm and his re-election campaign organization OFA to organize support for the WI protesters.

Why should he do what you insist he does due to your subjective reading of his 2007 quote? His statement struck me as being figurative, not literal. Funny how not one labor leader in WI has made similar demands, eh? In fact, I have read transcripts from the NYT where labor leaders have gone out of their way to profusely thank the President for his support during their speeches to the protesters.

No one gives a shit whether he goes or not. This is just the latest lame "gotcha" attempt by his detractors.

If you expect Obama to be present for every protest, you're going to be sorely disappointed.

I have almost zero interest in why he's failing us anymore. Too many huge screw ups for me to believe he's capable of doing this job in an effective way.

President Obama must obey his detractors' demands or else!!

He must change his presidential agenda and travel schedule to fit your expectations!

If he doesn't do as you say, nothing he does is good enough!

Even if not one labor leader in WI has expressed a wish to have him speak in Madison on their behalf!


:sarcasm:

as you said, he's not hanging around DC, having access to his schedule and all.

...that this prez is avoiding the labor crisis for now.

And that concert AT THE WHITE HOUSE is at least as far away from the Situation Room as Wisconsin is! No problem!

What's your problem with it, considering not one labor leader involved with the WI protests gives a shit whether or not President Obama makes a speech in Madison?

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

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he should jump out on every issue,because ed says so..Although,I agree with him on many things I don't on this issue,ed that is.

That's not much of an excuse to be silent on a crucial issue

Damn, the excuses are getting lame.

.... wouldn't that be a bit awkward?

Cant anyone else see the optics of that would be a little odd?

(not directed at the OP obviously)

.... just like JFK went to Mississippi and Alabama in the '60.s

Yep.

(look it up)

The Internet told me so.

and needs all his energy to prop up "dictators, most friendly to the west".

Hey! Yo!
We're the United States Marines
We know you've all been killing each other
For at least two thousand years
But we're here now
To protect the family
Of Christian heroin warlords
Most friendly to the West
So you knock off this fighting
Or we'll tell Mom
Ever notice news
Is taged like TV wrestling shows
With Reagans and Khaddafis cast
As cartoon villains and heroes
Or those wildlife "documentaries"
Where a lion from a zoo
Kills a deer tied down ahead of time
At the perfect camera angle
When lemmings balk at dying for Disney
They're just hurled off the cliff...
We are gathered here today
To take photos of the President
Pretending to mourn these brave young me
Who came home from Beirut
Gift-wrapped in body bags-
A truck bomb blew them to bits
We knew they were sitting ducks
We sacrificed 'em, Aztec style
So we could use their dead meat
To cook up war fever back home
So make sure you take lots of pictures
And slant your news our way
Just like in Wild Kingdom
We first tied down the prey
We want people boiling for revenge
In their living rooms
So we can go play shoot-em-up
Anywhere we choose
And our backers can cash in
Without the public asking questions