As each month of Jimmy Carter’s second term passes (it might actually be an insult to Jimmy Carter to make that comparison), the apparatus of state is losing its hold on the state run media. Much like we saw in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the media is becoming more independent of the talking points emanating from the Kremlin and Politboro, er, White House and DNC, and willing to expose what is actually going on. Part of this is the bottom line: trust equals money. Second, many in the media are sick to death from being treated as members of Obama’s press team. No matter what the political leanings of those in the media, they do not appreciate being jerked around.
In the latest show of independence, we can read CBS News’ take on what bipartisan actually means. Hopey changey feeling is gone
Unannounced, President Obama took to the lectern in the White House briefing room today to give a personal readout of his meeting earlier with congressional leaders of both parties.
“Despite the political posturing that often paralyzes this town, there are many issues upon which we can and should agree, he said.
It was more a plaintive plea than a political observation. His top legislative priorities are going nowhere and he’s searching for a way to get them out of lockup.
Perhaps he should have consulted with Stumbling Robert Gibbs, who made his idiotic joke about Sarah Palin scribbling notes on her hand. Palin may be a high visibility private citizen, but, the point stands that she is a private citizen (one who also is laughing all the way to the bank, and idiotic demonstrations like Gibbs’ simply puts more money in her account.)
After providing some bipartisanship call quotes from Reagan, Bush 41, and Clinton, CBS decided
What these presidential appeals for bipartisanship always mean is: do it my way.
Mr. Obama said he “won’t hesitate to embrace a good idea from my friends in the minority party.” But he wants his way. He wants his energy policy enacted along with his jobs bill, his financial regulatory reform and his health care plan.
And if the opposition continues to block his objectives, he said he “won’t hesitate to condemn what I consider to be obstinacy that’s rooted not in substantive disagreement but in political expedience.”
When a sitting president calls for bipartisanship by the opposition – he really means surrender. And if they block his proposals, its “obstinacy” and not political views they hold as strongly as he holds his.
This is, of course, something we all know and understand. Obama does not to work with Republicans: he wants their names included, but not their ideas. Even George Bush reached across the aisle more in his first few years, listened, and even incorporated their ideas into law.
