They see weakness and opportunity. The terrorists see just what they were hoping for — our unity gone, our resolve shaken, our leaders distracted.
Former vice president Dick Cheney • In perhaps the most visible public display of fury since he took office, where he took the gloves off and said loudly that Obama was taking the country in the wrong direction. During his speech, he defended the Bush administration’s hard-line policies on dealing with terrorism – harsh interrogation techniques, the whole bit. • source
If we have the courage of our convictions, and we do, then we will and we must stand up against disastrous policies, regardless of the president’s popularity.
GOP head Michael Steele • Who is trying to make a return to the public eye after looking like a freaking idiot ever since he was elected GOP chair. In his speech, he said that the party needs to sharply attack Obama’s policies head-on, rather than pussyfoot around them. Did he succeed at making a return to the public eye? Twitter largely sez no, and that he sucks at public speaking to boot. • source
When we open up our hearts and our minds to those who may not think precisely like we do or believe precisely what we believe, that’s when we discover at least the possibility of common ground.
President Barack Obama • Who deftly handled a fairly tense situation speaking at the University of Notre Dame, which as a Catholic institution doesn’t support abortion, by asking those involved in protests around his visit to find common points of agreement. Obama is pro-choice, which meant that he became a lightning rod when the university picked him as commencement speaker. With the speech, Obama seemed to soften the protests against him. • source
I come to confirm that one’s title, even a title like president of the United States, says very little about how well one’s life has been led — and that no matter how much you’ve done, or how successful you’ve been, there’s always more to do, always more to learn, and always more to achieve.
President Barack Obama • Sideswiping the controversy of not getting an honorary degree from Arizona State University to make a killer speech about never resting on one’s laurels or one’s title. This Obama guy knows what he’s doing – think we should give him an honorary degree? • source
I want to thank the American people for their support and their patience during these trying times, and I look forward to working with you in the next hundred days, in the hundred days after that, all of the hundreds of days to follow, to make sure that this country is what it can be.
President Barack Obama • During a live prime-time news conference that happened earlier tonight. Obama covered a ton of ground during his speech, specifically touching on the economy, Arlen Specter, the elusive promise of bipartisanship, swine flu, Iraq and the dynamics of getting things done in D.C. He’s not done yet – he still has hundreds of days of acts to go. • source
Two days ago: The day Rush Limbaugh gave a killer CPAC speech, the RNC chairman said something pretty harsh about the man of the moment: “Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh — his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary — yes, it’s ugly.” He said this on, of all places, D.L. Hughley’s new CNN show. source
Two days ago: The day Rush Limbaugh gave a killer CPAC speech, the RNC chairman said something pretty harsh about the man of the moment: “Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh — his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary — yes, it’s ugly.” He said this on, of all places, D.L. Hughley’s new CNN show.
Today: Man, he backed down like France in a World War. Today, in a phone interview, Steele was much less blunt about his words: “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.” Dude, you run a freaking political party and need to look strong. Need a hug? We give free hugs here. source
Nobody messes with joe and the smiles and nancy handshake resembled a democratic pep rally not a state of the union–sophomoric and silly
Newt Gingrich • in a Twitter post last night during Obama’s non-State of the Union speech. Gingrich and others have complained that Obama’s a little too casual for the job, and that Michelle Obama pulls out the sleeveless dresses too often. Pssh, whatever. We’re wearing a sleeveless dress right now, and it feels great! (Don’t ask.) • source
