How Will Obama's "Jobs" Speech Compare to Other Joint Sessions of Congress?

ATR ^ | 2011-09-08 | [Staff]

[92nina]

Historically, Joint Sessions of Congress have been used by presidents to address profound political changes overseen by their administrations. With the exclusion of State of the Union Addresses, presidents have largely assembled both chambers to comment on foreign policy, or other remarkable domestic events. The static economy and dismal job growth that has endured throughout the Obama Administration provides little reason for the President to use a Joint Session of Congress as a façade for a campaign rally. The below list shows how past presidents have used Joint Sessions to address major American events.

• President Nixon
  September 9, 1971: Promise to present budget plans later*
  June 1, 1972: European trip report
• President Ford
  October 8, 1974: Inflation and the Economy
  April 10, 1975: State of the World
• President Carter
  April 20, 1977: Energy crisis and OPEC
  September 18, 1978: Announcing the Camp David Accords
  June 18, 1979: SALT II
• President Reagan
  April 28, 1981: Post-Assassination Attempt Address
  April 27, 1983: Establishing the Reagan doctrine on Central American communism
  November 21, 1985: Reporting after the Geneva summit with the Soviet Union

...

*Nixon’s first joint session speech is the notable exception that proves the rule. This address was composed of broad platitudes about forthcoming economic proposals; a rhetorical dodging of responsibility we have seen President Obama employ many times before.

Read more: http://www.atr.org/obamas-jobs-speech-compare-other-joint-a6432#ixzz1XNne6NHZ

[92nina]

Joint Sessions of Congress are for historical events. So why is President Obama using it as a political prop?

Take this article and others I found to the fight to the Libs on their own turf; put the Left on the defensive at Digg and at Reddit and in Stumbleupon and Delicious

[beethovenfan]

Obama has had too many “joint” sessions.

[BenLurkin]

Joint Sessions of Congress are for historical events. So why is President Obama using it as a political prop?

Hussein is a legend in his own mind.

[sunmars]

It’ll be a total dud.

[flyingtabby]

It will be the same old, same old, with shifty eyes bouncing from teleprompter to teleprompter like he’s watching a tennis match. And of course, the left will be oozing and squealing over it like teeny-bopper girls over the latest idol......

[MasterGunner01]

The way to get through Zer0’s JSOC is to toke up with a joint and imagine the Utopia this Snake Oil Salesman is mouthing from his teleprompters.

Personally, if I was a Congressman or Senator, I'd opt to watch the NFL pregame show or organize my sock drawer — and I'd hold a news conference to tell the media morons exactly why.

I'd tell them Obama’s speech is regurgitated Bravo Sierra we've been fed for three years. Besides, Obama OWNS this economy, and DNC Chair Debbie Dumbo-Schultz says so.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

He should do what Maxine Water suggested—Something bold and inventive. He should put forward a new call for unity, and “Buy American” He should give out grants to start businesses— a new CCC, a new WPA, A new welfare reform. BUT what will he do? Put for a bloated pig called the American Jobs Act—that will be so bad that congress will reject it—then he can blamed the job problems on the GOP-Tea Party and try to get re-elected. This will be Obama’s last speech to Congress. President Perry will give the next one.

[FreeAtlanta]

You made me laugh.