Obama, GOP Seek Accord

Wall Street Journal ^ | February 10, 2010 | LAURA MECKLER

[La Lydia]

President Obama and leading lawmakers from both parties met at the White House Tuesday to showcase potential areas of cooperation, especially on an initiative to spur hiring, but the gathering also highlighted divisions that have stalled much of the president's domestic agenda. Obama reiterated his hopes for bipartisan compromise during a surprise appearance later...his first news conference since the summer.

One of Obama's priorities is a bill aimed at creating jobs. In the meeting with top congressional Democrats and Republicans, the president pitched ideas for boosting small-business hiring, including tax breaks. "We should be able to come together and help business create more jobs," the president said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said the package currently being negotiated might win a rare bipartisan Senate vote. "We're certainly open to it," he said. "I think there's a chance the Senate could get there with a small package."

But the session and Obama's press conference also showed how the parties remain sharply divided. At one point, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) argued that Congress's rewriting of health care, energy and tax policy is creating uncertainty for business and stalling job creation, according to aides from both parties.

Obama suggested that Republicans would like to just kill those initiatives, but Boehner replied that this wasn't the case, aides said. Rather, he said, the business community simply wants some certainty about how to move forward. The president agreed, and both men said they were interested in working together to get it done, though serious differences remain on all three of those issues.

Tuesday's session was part of Mr. Obama's effort to reach out to Republicans in hopes of reclaiming his image as somebody who can change Washington, and of putting some of the burden for solving problems on the GOP....

[La Lydia]

These idiots are walking into a trap. Government cannot create real jobs, or create wealth. Government can just get out of the way. This is not new. When will the Republican leadership get real? Do the Republicans REALLY think they will get any credit for anything, and do they not realize that when things go south, they are setting themselves up to share the blame? Why can't they see this?

[Don Corleone]

The “Progressive” policy...two steps forward...one step back. (only if necessary)

[KarlInOhio]

So, if we give up the Sudetenland everything will be fine, right?

The Republicans shouldn't be the party of "No". It should be the party of "Hell, no!!"

[CedarDave]

If they fall for this they deserve the title of “the stupid party.”

[fortheDeclaration]

We don’t want accord, we want surrender.

[Batrachian]

"...do they not realize that when things go south, they are setting themselves up to share the blame? Why can't they see this?"

What do you mean? We elect these people to get along, and to work together to pass some kind of bill to help the American people. Any bill. But let them stop bickering and get something done for the people.

I'm being satirical, of course, but the above statement represents the thoughts of a lot of people and a lot of politicians, including Republicans. The show of getting something done is given great importance, and the results are usually catastrophic. I hope that somehow, this time, they're better than that.

[Roccus]

If it has not already been done, the renewal of the Patriot Act is to be tied into the “JOBS” bill.

Of the $154 billion the bill calls for, only $15 billion is alloted for “infrastructure” which I assume is the “jobs” part. Unemployment insurance and COBRA assistance extensions take up a great deal of the bill. Also, extensions of tax cuts (not letting the Bush “tax cuts for the rich” expire for those earning less than $250K/yr)

Of course, if the Bush tax cuts were “...only for the rich” as the Rats have been saying since 03, the cost of extending those cuts to taxpayers making less than $250K/yr should equal Zer0.

[70th Division]

Pubby’s. Watch out for the Claymore’s, they are setting up a kill zone.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

‘zackly.
GOP= saps.

[Personal Responsibility]

Title’s wrong.

An accord is when two sides are seeking some sort of agreement or middle ground during negotiations.

The correct title would be:

Obama seeks Republican cover to pass health bill.

[ncalburt]

If any still wonders that Laura Meckler and her lefties comrades at the WSJ are just Obama media whores, just read this pathetic piece of propaganda !

Alinsky radicals want total destruction and then total control.

[AD from SpringBay]

I thought the Accord was on the recall list.

[GailA]

Bambi doesn't keep his promises...so buyer beware.

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http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/11/10/obama-plans-to-undo-bush-rules-on-oil-drilling-on-public-lands-among-others/

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http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/11/obama.executive.orders/index.html

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/11/drilling-ban-revisited/