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Obama & House Republican Conference: addressing issues & obstacles

An Open Discussion Across the Aisle

A YouTube video of President Obama responding to questions from the Republican members of Congress on January 29, 2010.

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Carve Out One Hour (worth every minute): Obama Responds Specifically to Questions from House(R)

Jan 30, 2010

by plaNetweaver

Exclusive to the Lunch Network

Rating:

Now we're getting somewhere..... This was the biggest breath of fresh air I could imagine - President Obama at the House Republican Conference (hosted him at its retreat in Baltimore) -
(I wrote last night and could write no more!)

Now here's the commentary and why I could not 'perform' (post commentary) last evening when I uploaded this:

I was too blown-away (in a good way) and not fully integrated as to why it felt like something of such great moment. I was still getting rushes as we put out the lights for the night. I was excited, like a kid, by what had occurred. I was doing my best to articulate to my husband why it felt so huge, though he had already caught my thrill to the point of determining to watch it himself just as soon as he could.

Once again I am responded to what I am experiencing as a re-calibration by Obama. So that is the gestalt.

But on another level, I can 'own' something that was painful in the extreme from my own growing years in Britain; Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher doing battle with Arthur Scargill; the fall-out borne by the mining communities of that Land. My featured blog post on this subject attracted the attention of Appalachian Voices

Last night (in bed), I spoke into that, as I made my first stab at expressing what was profound about what I just heard from the mouth of a Nation State Leader:

"He (Obama) said to the Representative from Virginia (I'm paraphrasing); I have told you, I support clean coal, but we're in transition; renewables is the way of the future and we are looking forward to, taking into account, the next 100 years. We are in transition and everyone needs to have that in mind......

That alone, in my book, lifts him from the short-term-gain politician stereotype that we so mistrust.

And he called the House Replublicans 'Freshmen', with every chance to re-invent the political terrain to serve together, for a thriving America (a shared ideal) taking its place in this 21st Century World.

Aho.

This morning; the morning after, I heard three threads:

Obama's presence and a President's speech would have been according to tradition but the televised Q&A was not
The senior GOP (always fascinates me that means 'grand-old-party'!) said televising the Q&A was a bad mistake and they will not let it happen again
The media framed what happened as Obama shlumped the GOP

To which I rejoin:

Hooray
reminds me of the droll comment that we progress one funeral at a time
That media response is exactly what Obama is speaking to when he says we have to re-frame the conversation if we are to progress

Endnote (pictured tee) by:
We Pluribus 'We The People. No Exceptions.' {Organic Fair Trade}:

"Out beyond Red & Blue, there's a Country, I'll meet you there"

Carve Out One Hour (worth every minute): Obama Responds Specifically to Questions from House(R)

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coldsteel7 January 30, 2010

Like Scotman, I would be interested on your commentary on the meeting!

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Scotman January 30, 2010

Not a bad entry, but where's your commentary and responses? I do agree with you though.

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About the reviewer

Corrina McFarlane (plaNetweaver)
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