From The Dept. of Redundant Empty Threats Dept. Comes This Shocking Development... More Empty Threats!

Now that it is clear that the political landscape did not change in any meaningful way between Thursday and Friday mornings, noted toughguy and universally feared badass Barack Obama is back to doing what he does best... Pouring on the empty threats:

Obama listened politely for six hours, with occasional flashes of temper, but in the end, the message was clear: It’s over. We’re moving forward without Republicans.

Whether Obama and Dems will succeed in passing reform on their own is anything but assured, to put it mildly. But there’s virtually no doubt anymore that they are going to try — starting as early as tomorrow.

That was the subtle but unmistakable message of Obama’s closing argument. After hours of hearing Republicans repeat again and again that only an incremental approach to reform is acceptable to them, Obama rejected that out of hand.

Exactly who is supposed to be taking this sort of threat seriously? Does anyone really think either Reid or Pelosi have the votes in hand to get the Obamacare hybrid House-Senate bill passed and into law? We are where we are precisely because Obama does not have, and never has had, enough votes amongst Congressional Democrats to pass health care reform. The Republicans have never been relevant to the process beyond potentially offering Democrats political cover for an unpopular vote.

The Republicans at the table yesterday understood perfectly who that health care summit was supposed to persuade: It wasn't the public. It wasn't Congressional Republicans. It was House and Senate Democrats. And given the fact that the Republicans did not implode, and the ground has not shifted under anyone's feet, there is no reason to believe that those Congressional Democrats reluctant to commit lemming-like acts yesterday will be more inclined to commit them today.

Barack Obama's personal and intellectual limitations become more and more obvious with each passing day, and chief among them are his inability to adapt to changed circumstances. We've seen this "we're going to go it alone" dog-and-pony show before. It hasn't worked. Why Obama thinks an endless repetition of failed strategy and tactics is the surest path to victory remains utterly baffling. 

Comments

[Arcadian]

Well, it's not like Obama's that bright to begin with.

The only person who doesn't know Obamacare is dead is Obama. My prediction: this drags on through the spring and summer, campaign season comes, still no bill, and this dies.

Democrats stay home in November out of disgust. Republicans flood the polls in even more disgust.

And when the smoke clears, the GOP has control of Congress again. House and Senate.

And suddenly ol' Barry's time in Washington becomes measured in weeks.

[JeffS]

Why Obama thinks an endless repetition of failed strategy and tactics is the surest path to victory remains utterly baffling.

Well, that's one definition of insanity: trying the same thing over and over again, while expecting different results each time.

[richard mcenroe]

I'v been compiling a list of pictures of Obie "listening' to people who tell him something he doesn't want to hear.

The body language, eyes and expression are frankly scary.

There is something seriously wrong with this man...

[kansas]

Obama listened politely for six hours,

Well except for the 2 hours he ran his yap, and the 2 hours he acted all pissy when the Republicans were speaking.

[Eric Blair]

If the House and Senate do actually switch majorities in November, it's going to be serious entertainment watching the administration deal with it.

[Sue]

The GOP offered up the same old canards and red herrings.
It is time to get the job done.

[Obamination]

Whatcha mean? The Iranians are quaking in their boots over his latest ultimatum: "I have drawn a line in the sand. If the Iranians cross it, I will have no choice but to draw a new one."

[Dennis the Peasant]

Sue-

In this case a job worth doing is a job worth doing badly, eh?

[Kyle]

Sue, Republicans don't have to do ANYTHING. They only need to sit back and watch without lifting a finger. They are not going to "get the job done" when the JOB in this case is something that the majority of their constituents don't want.

Nor do the majority of Democrats' constituents want this passed. It's a turd. That's why, even with a supermajority, Democrats were not able to get it done.

Use that noggin, please.

[Allen]

I don't know, maybe Obama thinks going this route will win the democrats fame and fortune. In a reverse english way.

They'd have to use every parliamentary move to jam a bill through that the voters hate. Thus, the voters will then shower them with flowers for extreme parliamentary skiing.

It could work. Well, sorta.

[Randy Rager]

Lefty! I always suspected you were a split tail. How nice of you to join us. Now if we can just get a nice case of Herpes to drop in, our day will be complete. I bet you could even help us with that, now that I think about it.

The Republicans handed Obama a plate full of his ass, with trimmings. He clearly failed to win a single point, he convinced no one, not even the wavering Dems.

Obama is FAIL.

[just passin by]

The only people he had to convince were the voters that would bounce the wavering Dems; didn't happen. let the Democratic Yapping Machine claim otherwise all it wants to.

Obama = FAIL

[baninwaiting]

pass health care, lose your jobs as senators and representatives, and get yourselves new jobs as lobbyists for the new bureaucracies and vendors of the new system. Minus the graft and bribes of your old jobs, it'll probably pay better anyway, and with the graft and bribes you got voting for this monstrosity, you'll do quite well. Ain't America great?

[furious]

Sue's been using the links from Jules Crittenden's site to parrot the same, empty nonsense.