# John Boehner and Obama too **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 1, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852 "2011-09-01T16:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/41 "2011-09-01T18:41:26Z")
Last election, the economy was such a crisis that the _election_ had to be suspended so the candidates could go to Washington and do… something. Now, we’re not even _into_ the election, but the pre-election debates are too important to be postponed. Or that unemployment isn’t a crisis. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/42 "2011-09-01T18:50:27Z")
Well, sure, unemployment is a crisis. But the deficit is The Crisis! Nobody knew that until early January, 2009. Before that, it was, yeah, kinda important. Sort of a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/43 "2011-09-01T18:52:17Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I’m really quite new to this board… but after having been here a few days, I would hardly call this a “leftist” board. There are plenty of conservative and mixed opinions I’ve read here… Few more days, you’ll see it. Or, actually, on review, all you have to do is read a few more of the posts in this thread. > [@Binarydrone](#): > > As you can see, that is in the OP. Yeah, that was in the OP - so? Which one of my points are you pretending that contradicts? > [@lieu](#): > > Does this mean nobody had the will or means to check on and clear the grounds for a formal proposal beforehand? Nobody had the gumption to place a simple phone call saying “Hey, we’re thinkin’ of doing this, cool with you guys?” “Sure, works for us.” “Cool beans, see ya there.” > > Maybe the White House and Speaker’s office need some informal little ‘Hot Line’ installed for just such situations. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be a red phone. Let’s make this foolproof, just give 'em some string and a couple of dixie cups. Even they can’t fuck that up. Shoot, it could have been done that way and the media (and certain Dopers) would still blow it all out of proportion. > [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Well, at least Obama did the smart thing and moved it to a time that won’t piss anyone off. No one will mind if NBC preempts the kickoff of the NFL season (even if it _is_ the final hour of pregame coverage), right? Oh, is _that_ why the OP has his knickers in a twist?? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/44 "2011-09-01T18:54:19Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Congratulations, you’re going to throw your weight behind electing someone that you disagree with who will probably be able to appoint at least one Supreme Court Justice, possibly two, to influence policy decisions FAR behind their term of office, all because you don’t think Obama’s been enough of your bitch. > > Look, I’m pretty disappointed in a lot of Obama’s performance. I think he could be doing a lot more about a lot of things than he is. But I’m certainly not going to take the chance that Bachmann or Perry, both of whom are Teabagger religious NUTBAGS, have a chance to light a flamethrower to things that are important to me in the long run. I don’t blame you for that decision, and in fact, I support it. But a protest vote can be a powerful thing if enough people do it. As much as I disagreed with Bush and his policies, and I voted against him in 2004, at least HE GOT THINGS DONE the way that he wanted to. Which I respect far more than Obama. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/45 "2011-09-01T18:59:33Z")
Maybe I missed it…did anyone mention that Obama made a formal announcement BEFORE making the date request, which in itself was unprecedented? In 200-plus years of tradition, the President has issued a formal and private request for a joint session of the houses before announcing any dates to the public. This is common courtesy, it seems to me, and is normal practice in business, or parties, or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/46 "2011-09-01T19:07:53Z")
Obama’s people swear, up and down, that they sent a letter/e-mail/memo to Boner advising him of their intention, and heard nothing back, which they took for consent to a standard operating procedure. Having no reason to expect otherwise. Boner’s people say they never actually said “OK”, and change the subject when you ask whether they said anything else. So the Obama people’s point is they asked, didn’t hear an objection, and assumed it was all hunky-dory. Reasonable, in my estimation. Good reference, from _Talking Points Memo_, a center lefty site that I offer without hesitation because they have yet to burn me. [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/childish-dems-gop-snipe-publicly-over-presidents-job-speech.php?ref=fpa](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/childish-dems-gop-snipe-publicly-over-presidents-job-speech.php?ref=fpa) ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/47 "2011-09-01T19:10:54Z")
Obama’s in the right on this one, but it doesn’t matter because he looks wrong. He continues to fail Impression Management 101. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/48 "2011-09-01T19:11:40Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > …at least HE GOT THINGS DONE the way that he wanted to. Which I respect far more than Obama. A lot of historical figures got things done the way they wanted. Want me to name the most obvious? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/49 "2011-09-01T19:14:58Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > So here we are again with the latest bout of these clowns kicking each others shins. Obama wants to address congress on the date of some long planned Republican candidate debates and Boehner rejects the request. It is my understanding that this is the first time this has ever happened in the in the history of our republic. > > So Obama caves and will now address congress on the opening day of the NFL season. > > Not a partisan pitting. Just me so fucking tired of the BS and games. It is as clear as clear can be that the Republicans are going to block anything that this president tries to to no matter what and it is equally clear that Obama pretty much has no balls and no real ideas on how to put people back to work. > > As I see it Rome is burning and all of the people that are supposed to be public servants are fiddling away. As an Obama supporter, I have to blame the Pres on this one: surely his team knew that the date was a Republican debate night and this particular “fight” could have been avoided merely by Obama not picking it. Even worse for him to back down after starting it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/50 "2011-09-01T19:22:27Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Dude. C’mon, I know you aren’t as ignorant as that makes you out to be. > > How do you want him to implement his program? It needs to get through congress. > Boehner runs the house. He won’t allow a vote on anything that Obama wants even a little. > > So in order to implement \*anything \*he needs to sway public opinion so that the Republicans dare not obstruct. To do that he needs to speechify. And joint sessions are the most powerful speechifying tool he has. Speechifying isn’t going to put a dent in public opinion. How many people do you think listen to these speeches? I bet more people will get info on the speech from Rush, Hannity and that crew than will actually watch said speech. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/51 "2011-09-01T19:25:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Obama’s people swear, up and down, that they sent a letter/e-mail/memo to Boner advising him of their intention, and heard nothing back, which they took for consent to a standard operating procedure. Having no reason to expect otherwise. Boner’s people say they never actually said “OK”, and change the subject when you ask whether they said anything else. > > So the Obama people’s point is they asked, didn’t hear an objection, and assumed it was all hunky-dory. Reasonable, in my estimation. > > Good reference, from _Talking Points Memo_, a center lefty site that I offer without hesitation because they have yet to burn me. > > [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/childish-dems-gop-snipe-publicly-over-presidents-job-speech.php?ref=fpa](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/childish-dems-gop-snipe-publicly-over-presidents-job-speech.php?ref=fpa) You know what happens when you assume? ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/52 "2011-09-01T19:26:40Z")
If this is a request for another stimulus, I say fuck 'im. The previous stimuli didn’t alleviate the economic malaise, and another won’t, either. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, and all that… ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/53 "2011-09-01T19:28:19Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > … > Yeah, that was in the OP - so? Which one of my points are you pretending that contradicts?.. Jesus Christ, do you even read your own posts? What the fuck is wrong with you? You said > [@](#): > > Then, perhaps, writing for clarity isn’t yours? Where in your OP do you say anything about Obama trying to overshadow debates? I pointed out that I specifically said > [@](#): > > Obama wants to address congress on the date of some long planned Republican candidate debates Are you able to see at all that you are 100% wrong and that you seem to not be bothering to read? Why don’t you slink off somewhere and shut the fuck up? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/54 "2011-09-01T19:29:58Z")
The first stimulus did help a little, but it wasn’t big enough. It needed to be huge. We did it half-ass. We need a massive stimulus package, and we need to put the screws to the rich piggies, finally. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/55 "2011-09-01T19:39:25Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Well, at least Obama did the smart thing and moved it to a time that won’t piss anyone off. No one will mind if NBC preempts the kickoff of the NFL season (even if it _is_ the final hour of pregame coverage), right? It will definitely piss me off, as I have received special dispensation from the Druidess to watch the Saints game during our honeymoon. Let Obama give his speech the next day, or during lunch, or whatever time he likes that doesn’t interfere with football. He knows nothing substantial is going to happen between now and the election anyway. He’s essentially a lame duck unless and until he gets re-elected, which hopefully will not happen. Let him quack quietly in a corner somewhere. Football \> politics. \*\* GEAUX SAINTS!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/56 "2011-09-01T19:41:49Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Does this mean nobody had the will or means to check on and clear the grounds for a formal proposal beforehand? Nobody had the gumption to place a simple phone call saying “Hey, we’re thinkin’ of doing this, cool with you guys?” “Sure, works for us.” “Cool beans, see ya there.” > > Maybe the White House and Speaker’s office need some informal little ‘Hot Line’ installed for just such situations. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be a red phone. Let’s make this foolproof, just give 'em some string and a couple of dixie cups. Even they can’t fuck that up. According to this article, Boehner’s office was consulted about the date. [http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-01/obama-settles-dispute-with-boehner-by-delaying-speech-one-day.html](http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-01/obama-settles-dispute-with-boehner-by-delaying-speech-one-day.html) > [@](#): > > A White House official said Boehner’s staff had been consulted ahead of time and raised no objection to the timing of the speech. Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said the speaker had been “simply informed” and hadn’t “signed off on the date.” ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/57 "2011-09-01T19:59:39Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Jesus Christ, do you even read your own posts? What the fuck is wrong with you? You said > > I pointed out that I specifically said > > Are you able to see at all that you are 100% wrong and that you seem to not be bothering to read? > > Why don’t you slink off somewhere and shut the fuck up? Snerk. Honey, calm down. I know it’s hard to have your shortcomings pointed out in public, but if you’d cut your losses a few posts ago, you would have been forgotten by now. However, to the point - “Obama wants to address congress on the date of some long planned Republican candidate debates” does not necessarily mean that Obama knew of the debates, being held across the county, by the party he doesn’t belong to. Or that Obama himself was even the one who actually chose that first date, as it could have been an aide who did so. You have decided that Obama is at fault here, that for some bizarre reason he decided to pick a public fight with the Republicans, yet you have provided no proof, and if you bother to read this thread, you will see that I am not the only one who has noticed this. Intelligent people know that there are multiple scenarios that could have lead to this result, and since you couldn’t even be bothered to supply a link to whatever news story you read, we have no way of knowing what you think the facts are. Idiots post reactionary Pit threads and then flail their bitty fists when someone questions their “logic”. I am not saying that Obama is not at fault, I am saying that based on the information you have provided and what little I bothered to look up, such a decision cannot be made. Unless you have some bias. ---
**Author:** ![heatmiserfl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@heatmiserfl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heatmiserfl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/58 "2011-09-01T20:09:40Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Adressing a joint session of congress is NOT going to do anything, politically or practically, and OBAMA should know this. He is a fucking idiot and if he gets up on national television again without proposing some VERY specific solutions to our problems, I am going to vote against him in 2012. I’d rather throw my vote toward a flametarded Bachmann or Perry than have to listen to Obama’s meaningless platitudes anymore. Jesus _Christ_, I hate people like you. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/59 "2011-09-01T20:10:00Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > But a protest vote can be a powerful thing if enough people do it. 2012 isn’t an election between Obama and Some Republican that I Disagree With But Isn’t a Raving Lunatic. It’s an election between Obama, with whom I am disappointed and who needs to step up his game, and a field of utter, complete, unbelievably delusional and crazy people. With the POSSIBLE exception of Huntman, there’s not a single Republican candidate who isn’t on record as supporting a host of completely lunatic if not actively evil policies. A protest vote in this case is throwing a temper tantrum that will fundamentally damage things that are incredibly important to me - the overturning of DADT, the possible repeal of DOMA, the continuation of a woman’s right to choose health care according to her needs vis a vis Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, the health care reform that was half a loaf but that’s better than zero loaf, and a host of others. I can overcome disappointment to support four more years of someone who in most ways at least doesn’t actively work against things I value in order to prevent the possibility of DECADES of policies that violate some of my values. > [@heatmiserfl](#): > > Jesus _Christ_, I hate people like you. If ever I wanted a “like” button, now is the time. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852/60 "2011-09-01T20:10:33Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I don’t blame you for that decision, and in fact, I support it. But a protest vote can be a powerful thing if enough people do it. As much as I disagreed with Bush and his policies, and I voted against him in 2004, at least HE GOT THINGS DONE the way that he wanted to. Which I respect far more than Obama. You pretty much epitomize Bill Clinton’s general point about the whims of the electorate: “Strong and wrong will beat weak and right, every time.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-boehner-and-obama-too/594852.md?page=4)