… But their relationship was severely strained after Mr. Boehner abandoned their budget talks in July, came back and then walked out a second time. And after what the White House saw as a third strike this month – Mr. Boehner’s humiliating public rejection of Mr. Obama’s requested date for an address to a joint session of Congress – the Obama team called Mr. Boehner out.
From New York Times – Obama Draws New Hard Line on Long-Term Debt Reduction – September 20, 2011
By MICHAEL FALCONE and AMY WALTER – March 14, 2011
Just like that, President Obama finds himself in the midst of one of the most challenging periods of his presidency — and it could get a lot worse.
At home, the White House faces an ongoing debate over how to fund the government, how much to cut and which side — Democrats or Republicans — are going to blink first on the looming issue of entitlement reform.
Both parties on Friday seemed to come to an agreement on a three-week continuing resolution that would keep the government open while cutting about $6 billion. It would continue to fund the government when the current stop-gap bill expires on March 18.
The name given to the act of a political candidate presenting his or her ideology as being “above” and “between” the “left” and “right” sides (or “wings”) of a traditional (e.g. UK or US) democratic “political spectrum”. It involves adopting for oneself some of the ideas of one’s political opponent (or apparent opponent). The logic behind it is that it both takes credit for the opponent’s ideas, and insulates the triangulator from attacks on that particular issue. Opponents of triangulation, who believe in a fundamental “left” and “right”, consider the dynamic a deviation from its “reality” and dismiss those that strive for it as whimsical.
Source: Wikipedia
Obama: Triangulation 2.0?
Published on Monday, January 24, 2011 by The Nation by Ari Berman
Immediately following the Democrats’ 2010 electoral shellacking, a broad spectrum of pundits urged President Obama to “pull a Clinton,” in the words of Politico: move to the center (as if he wasn’t already there), find common ground with the GOP and adopt the “triangulation” strategy employed by Bill Clinton after the Democratic setback in the 1994 midterms. “Is ‘triangulation’ just another word for the politics of the possible?” asked the New York Times. “Can Obama do a Clinton?” seconded The Economist. And so on. The Obama administration, emphatic in charting its own course, quickly took issue with the comparison. According to the Times, Obama went so far as to ban the word “triangulation” inside the White House. Politico called the phrase “the dirtiest word in politics.”
President Barack Obama
Take the first step towards making health care reform a reality by showing Congress that you support the President’s three principles for reform:
Passing health care reform in 2009 is a top priority for the President. Achieving it will require everyone working together — we can’t do this without you. Stand with the President by adding your name and email to his list.
WASHINGTON (AP) — On a single day filled with staggering sums, the Obama administration, Federal Reserve and Senate attacked the deepening economic crisis Tuesday with actions that could throw as much as $3 trillion more in government and private funds into the fight against frozen credit markets and rising joblessness.
| posted by Melissa McEwan | Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Republican Senator Judd Gregg (NH) has reportedly accepted the nomination to Commerce Secretary in the Obama administration, following Bill Richardson's withdrawal due to a federal investigation into an alleged pay-for-play deal in New Mexico.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
(This oath is contained in the Constitution and first sworn by George Washington in New York City on April 30, 1789.)
[Randy Barnett, November 5, 2008 at 6:12pm]
I was not a supporter of Barack Obama. I did not hope he would win yesterday's election, and I am not looking forward to the short of "change" I believe he has in mind. I hope I am wrong, but I think some really bad stuff is going to happen as a result of Democratic control of the Presidency and Congress. But regardless of how much bad stuff happens in the future, three really good things happened yesterday that deserve note.
[Ilya Somin, November 5, 2008 at 12:00am]
For a variety of reasons, I oppose most of Barack Obama's policy agenda and therefore do not welcome his victory. At this moment, however, I think it appropriate to note what I see as three important positives that will result from his triumph.
Before his Election Night speech last night, Barack sent out this message to suppporters:
I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.
We just made history.
And I don't want you to forget how we did it.
You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.
I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.
But I want to be very clear about one thing…
All of this happened because of you.
Thank you,
Barack
"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you." – Barack Obama, Election Night 2008
