After scanning many channels looking for something interesting to watch, I came across one of the shows that I used to find enjoyable, "The Daily Show". Right after I mashed the button to change the channel, I heard, "And now, the President of the United States of America." I quickly hit the recall button expecting something funny or interesting, like a video clip. As the channel was changing back, it occurred to me that Jon Stewart would never do that on his show; I'd have to watch the Colbert Report for any good shots like that. As it turns out though, it was actually the President. He came on a Comedy Central TV show and was interviewed by Jon Stewart.
I remember hearing something on the radio about how Jon grilled the President and was asking all sorts of questions which had him on the defensive, so I stayed tuned and watched. It was obvious that Jon was slightly intimidated that the actual President was sitting before him and a couple of times his questions and comments weren't presented as he intended based on the President's answer. Overall, with one major exception, it was a rather interesting piece.
What's the exception? The President's 'base layer' overall for the entire government is to remove filibusters. So absolutely nothing is said about the majority of Congress actually not even being present for most of the debates. C-Span is required to only film a close up of the person speaking at the time and almost never does a panorama of the chambers because it would depress what few viewers they have. My other main objection to the removal of filibusters is probably more obvious. If we can't get our way, and they can't get their way, and no one is wanting to compromise, then we should just have a law that let's us get our way.
At least that's what the President wants. So apparently, we shall not actually come up with new ideas or replace those stubborn people who are unyielding to reason and compromise, we'll just put something in place to prevent filibusters and make sure that everything is pushed through as fast as possible with no delays for debate.
Yeah, retarded. Two more years till "We Can!" "Change!" the President out...
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ReplyDelete**I had to post my comments in two separate posts, because there is a character limit of 4,096 characters**
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Another commercial break. The same commercial break (I make sure to show it to my husband this time, and we both laugh).
Now they move on to the economy. After discussing Larry Summers (I had no idea who he was until tonight, he apparently served under three Presidents: Reagan, Clinton, and Obama. He's an economist.) the President states that a majority of the jobs lost during his term were lost before he passed anything to help curb the economic decline.
Obama revises his campaign chant: "Yes we can...but...it's not going to happen overnight."
Now, Stewart asks if our government is agile enough to handle a crisis like this recession. This is when the President goes into his belief that the process must be reformed, in detail, and talks about how methods like filibustering reduces compromise and "helps polarize the electorate."
Obama goes on to state his hot items for the rest of his term: Energy, Immigration, and Generating Jobs.
Before going to another commercial (Axe, I'm sure, although I didn't stick around), President Obama asks the American people to please go out and vote.
All in all, I think it was a great interview. I think the interviewer and the interviewee held their own. Stewart was questioning, much like the American people are doing, how the first half of this term has played out and whether or not it has been productive. President Obama was outlining his administrations accomplishments so far and what he plans to do moving forward. It was funny, engaging, and informative. And it was not at all centered around doing away with the big bad filibuster. I personally think that the Senate SHOULD be the more deliberative legislative body. As George Washington once said, "...We pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it." But when does deliberatively legislating transform into an unnecessary RETARDATION of senatorial responsibilities?
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ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you for giving me a reason to watch Jon Stewart interview President Obama. I missed it when it originally aired and only saw snippets of it the day after.
I have to wonder if you watched a majority of the interview, or only a small part of it (as in, the last 3 minutes and 30 seconds of the whole interview)? Prior to 24 minutes, 20 seconds into the video, the President mentions "filibuster" twice...briefly. Once (approximately 8:42) when he was discussing how the American people are frustrated with Congress these days, due to the "bickering, the weird rules, the filibustering." The next time he mentioned it was in reference to having appointments held up due to filibustering (approximately 14:06). I have to assume your post was based on the reference he made to filibustering at around 24:20, when he was discussing the ways he wanted to change the process in Washington. He admitted that Democrats use the same tactic, used it as recent as the Bush administration. He also said that it has never been used as much as it has in his administration. President Obama detailed how this actually reduces compromise instead of promoting it because both sides get head strong and no one wants to give in. He discussed it for fifty seconds, then he moved on to another part of the process he believes needs reform, which is the redrawing of voting districts.
I would like to tell you about what else was said, since the reform of the filibuster was the only portion you took away from the interview.
From the beginning, Jon Stewart was confident in his questions. He has stated that he is unhappy with the way things are going, and I would expect him to be candid and hold nothing back with the President. He delivered. He WAS critical. I especially liked his statement about overusing the phrase "and now you want the keys back" in a little whiney voice. I'm 99% sure I saw President Obama's face fall a little, and it was pretty amusing!
One of the first questions Jon asked was if Obama was disappointed with his first 18 months. Obama went on to list everything that they had accomplished-the usual talking points-healthcare and financial reform. The President stated that they have been moving forward with the things that were discussed during his campaign, and isn't that the truth? Wasn't he elected on his campaign promises?
Then, the Axe commercial break...Wow, a bit *ahem* crude...but that's the wonder of viewing television shows on the internet, goodbye FCC!
Moving on...after the commercial break, Obama discussed how some Democrats cast a difficult votes, knowing it could cost them their jobs, because they knew it was the right thing to do. Because they weren't just "thinking about the next election." He talked about how it was difficult to run against unlimited and undisclosed funds available for campaigns.
In regards to Jon questioning their dedication to the promises he made, President Obama said, "We didn't get 100% of what we wanted, we got 90%, but we seem to be focusing on the 10% we didn't get."
When Jon accuses the President of papering "over a foundation that is corrupt" the President replied that they were trying to work with the process as opposed to transforming it at first, so they could accomplish their goals. This is when Obama first mentions filibustering. He goes on to say that he does want to change the process, and when he has had the power to do so, so far, he has changed it. His examples are not allowing lobbyists open access to the White House and disclosing all White House visitors.
They go on to discuss his "change" platform. His defense is that substantial change does not occur overnight, it takes a series of steps to achieve true reform. He references Social Security and how it evolved after it was passed.
AND IF YOU COULD KINDLY READ MY POSTS IN ORDER, #1, THEN #2, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT :) I thought the newest post would go on top!
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