Obama went before the congressional republicans and took their questions. He walked up one side of them and down the other, very clearly and carefully dissecting their talking points while appealing for an actual bipartisanship instead of the current toxic one we have now. He corrected a number of outright falsehoods. He never let them slip one past.

Not only that, but he did so while comporting himself courteously and professionally. He kept things on the level, and he didn't back down when he felt they were playing fast and loose with the facts.

In the end, he spend over an hour (the link only goes to the Q&A, his speech was also excellent) turning the GOP on it's ear in the name of a more successful government overall. It was a clear display of why so many people voted for him in the first place.

The Republicans, to their credit, were mostly cordial and respectful. Some, very much so. A couple of them were rude and big liarfaces, but he dealt with them on the high road without letting it devolve into a slug fest.

It was, in the end, very presidential. Leadership like this is something we haven't seen in a long time. The GOP is scrambling right now to tamp down the damage. They basically got schooled for over an hour on national television. Frankly, I think they are making the wrong move. The right move would be to appear as adult as the President and not try to twist this into some kind of sneak attack. Sadly, the O'Reily's of the world are already doing so. I'm sure that Rush is going to have kittens tomorrow.

It's actually an interesting hour.

salivating

So far as I can see, the main thing that is going to be interesting in the coming 10 months is how the mid-term shakes out. Will the Republicans re-gain a majority in the Senate? Will the Republicans remember why they got the major boot? What effect is the Tea party going to have? Will there be candidates that social conservatives can support on the ballot? Will we have to stay home again?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Is... is this the tagline for the end of some twistedly-politicized 1960's Batman episode?

Deeds, not words.

both, really. Say a thing, then do a thing. Or do a thing and let it speak. Either way, words are involved.

Soon as he does anything worthwhile, I'll let you know.

Yeah, I read your list of BS that you think is really worthwhile.

In the year he's been president, with a full 60 vote filibusterproof majority

in the senate and an overwhelming majority in the house... he's done nothing he said he would from his campaign.

And of course it was in bad taste. Duh... me talking here. You expected anything different?

No, I'm implying that that particular person is full of ****. I didn't say anything about "black people" in general.

Ooh, 5 pages as opposed to 20+ pages of stalled, broken, or "in the works"

ANd such lol-worthy "promises" as:
No. 174: Give a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration

No. 125: Direct military leaders to end war in Iraq

No. 119: Appoint a special adviser to the president on violence against women

No. 6: Create an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processes
No. 244: Provide affordable, high-quality child care
No. 247: Recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession
No. 272: Encourage farmers to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficient
No. 290: Push for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors
No. 332: Add another Space Shuttle flight
etc.

At least he's spending his time wisely.

All of that reads like bullshit resume padding.

And fine. I should have added the word *substantive* after nothing.

Ooh. he gave a speech! Ooh. He *directed* military leaders to leave Iraq. He "created" an "Advanced Manufacturing Fund". He "Encouraged" farmers to be more efficient.

I stand by my assertion, with the caveat of adding "substantive".