Update/Closing thoughts (14:34): Hearst columnist Helen Thomas continues to make a cartoon of herself in her using her perch to parrot ultra-left-wing talking points. Her question today was on why President Obama wants to send troops into Afghanistan to "kill more people."Without doubt it was the loopiest left-wing question posed today. Oddly enough, given her history of bias, one of the best queries today came from April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks, who questioned the wisdom of pegging hopes of economic recovery on so-called "green jobs."
About to live-blog the White House daily press briefing. I'm focusing chiefly on the questions from the journalists. I'm watching via Fox News.
13:42: Gibbs: our e-mail system isn't working so well, apologizes for that to press corps.
Questions from reporters follow:
13:44, female reporter: Can you describe a little more fully about Amb. Rice's comments on mid-east diplomacy
13:45, female reporter: So you can't say when the diplomacy [with Iran] will begin or how?
13:46, Chuck Todd, NBC News: When are you guys going to announce a housing plan? Where is the money? Is it part of TARP?
13:47,Todd's followup: Does that mean it will not be part of the $350 billion?
13:48, Todd: Going to encourage banks to lend more?
13:48, female reporter: What kind of relationship does President Obama hope to have with China? Cites Geithner comment in testimony about China that irked officials in Beijing. Could you talk about what kind of relationship he wants with Beijing on economic, security, other issues?
13:50, same female reporter: But theBush administration avoided using that terminology [that Geithner used] because of the trade action that implies.
13:51, Jake Tapper notes that CitiGroup is spending $50million on a new corporate jet. Asks, does the Obama administration have a position of if they should refrain from expenses such as these? Also asks about the Obama announcement today, one of the reasons CAFE standards haven't happened is it will hurt ailing auto industry. How can President Obama ensure the move won't cost jobs?
13:56, Ed Henry: Clearly a majority of Congress thought that was smart move, but that was before automakers were tanking.
Gibbs: I think you could make a case that it's time to update fuel efficiency standards to create a product more appealing to the American consumer...
13:57, Henry: Does the president believe its time to move forward on this even though there are automakers in trouble?
13:57, Henry again: The president today said again--
Gibbs cuts Henry off
13:58, Henry: Could you define what is a green job. He keeps using the term, people don't seem to know what it is.
13:59, Henry: Well, how's he going to create a million of them
Gibbs: Windmills...
14:00, female reporter: The president wants bipartisan support for his economic package. Two questions. What changes is the president willing to make to accomodate Republicans? How many votes constitutes bipartisan support? Half of Republicans? A third? A tenth?
14:04, female reporter: Is tomorrow a negotiating session [with Republicans]? What's the goal?
14:05, Major Garrett, Fox News: Asks question about standards on evaluating war on terror detainees.
Gibbs: The answers to these questons are a prudent review process will be put in place by executive order to determine who's there, determine their profile. Case files are in different places. A prudent process will be put in place to make prudent decisions...
14:07, Garrett's follow up question about how the process can guarantee American safety here and overseas.
14:07, Garrett: Friday when the president said I won and when he talked about Limbaugh, what did he mean by those statements.
14:10, Chip Reid, CBS News: What's his mindset in meeting the Republicans? Is he just seeking their vote, is he just open-minded, or willing to change some things to get Republican votes?
14:11, Reid: will he make significant changes to get Republicans on board?
14:11, male reporter: Will you make second bailout request or wait til entire $350[billion] is dispersed?
14:12, same male reporter: without prejudging it, is there a second package in the works?
14:12, another male reporter: Does the president believe there's a sincere effort by the Republicans? Can Republicans be accomodated or is this some degree of kabuki theater we're seeing here?
14:14, female reporter on ideas to save auto industry with govt. incentives.
14:17, same female reporter: Does the Obama administration believe auto industry needs more money?
14:18, Helen Thomas: Why does the president want to send more troops to Afghanistan to kill people?
14:19: Why?
Gibbs: We have terrorists there... we are going to make sure Afghanistan doesn't deteriorate further.
14:19, male reporter question on spending.
14:21,male reporter follow up
14:21, Mara Liasson, NPR: Can you go further on that, on TARP whether the president is leaning on requiring or encouraging the funds to be used to go to lending?
14:22, Liasson: Haven't decided on the tool to use to encourage that?
14:22, Liasson: Are you committed to fighting to keep the proportion of tax cuts to spending?
14:23, Liasson: Has he tried to get Republican support?
14:23, Liasson: Is he committed to defending the proportion, is it a minimum?
14:24, Chris Cillizza, Washington Post :Robert, on the announcements this morning, did the president consult with vp Gore? Is it an official or unofficial role for the vice president in this idea?
14:25: How are military brass, including Petraeus reacting to the 16-month Iraq withdrawal plan now that Obama is president.
14:27, Mark Knoller of CBS Radio: Does the president believe or support expanded production of oil?
14:28, April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks: Is it realistic for 1 million green jobs when consumers aren't opting for solar energy and the projects are costly and take years to come?
14:30, switching to CNN as Fox News cut away. question by foreign reporter: Any statement on India?
14:30, female reporter: Some gest that is Wesley Snipes were Treasury nominee, wouldn't be in jail now.. but... shouldn't be asking IRS to be more lenient to more Americans in the future who say, I didn't know,I'm sorry
Gibbs replies: Geithner admitted he made honest mistakes that could and should have been avoided.
# # #
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Say there Mr. Gibbs....
January 26, 2009 - 13:49 ET by connmanDoes the POTUS really get all his talking points from his Blackberry? It is OK that I said Blackberry, right?
Pssssst <whispers> Emperor Barry isn't wearing any clothes!
No
January 26, 2009 - 13:54 ET by Gothampc"It is OK that I said Blackberry, right?"
No, you are a raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacist.
Wait a minute....black/white?
January 26, 2009 - 14:25 ET by vrwc13So we have a black president living in the Whitehouse, using a Blackberry, with a black wife wearing a white dress that black designers are upset about, while he wears a black suit with a white shirt and a black cowboy hat ... but wait he had a black father and a white mother, now it makes sense.
v
"In his inaugural address, Mr. Obama appealed for 'a new era of responsibility,' bemoaned 'greed and irresponsibility' and 'failure to make hard choices.' But, Mr. President, if you condone a culture that has no sense of awe and responsibility toward the greatest of all miracles and mysteries -- life itself -- how can you expect responsibility elsewhere?" Star Parker (speaking on abortion)
Call it what I call mine,
January 26, 2009 - 14:39 ET by Scuba DudeCall it what I call mine, "Crackberry".
Ooooo, is THAT racist?
Why is no one asking him why Obama wants to Kill People?
January 26, 2009 - 13:53 ET by PopularTechDeath by the Gallon (PDF) (USA Today)
Don't Drink the CAFE Kool-Aid (Robert W. Crandall, Ph.D. Economics, Brookings Institution)
Don't Raise CAFE Standards (Cato Institute)
Why the Government's CAFE Standards for Fuel Efficiency Should Be Repealed, not Increased (The Heritage Foundation)
- CAFE standards endanger human lives
- CAFE standards fail to reduce consumption
- CAFE standards do not improve the environment
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
Get barf bag...
January 26, 2009 - 13:55 ET by AgentAmerican...and don PPE, I can't take much more Obamasturbation...
2010: A GOP Hill
New Word
January 26, 2009 - 13:57 ET by Gothampc"Obamasturbation"
I like it! Great new word.
I called it...
January 26, 2009 - 14:00 ET by AgentAmericanThis isn't love...they're f***ing perverts.
2010: A GOP Hill
China
January 26, 2009 - 13:55 ET by Gothampc"What kind of relationship does President Obama hope to have with China?"
He's hoping they will assume all our debt and we will become the United States of China.
Funny they asked that about
January 26, 2009 - 14:14 ET by thebutlerdiditFunny they asked that about China. I have spoken to a few of my business associates there, and they are not that impressed with our new Pres. I guess some of them didn't get the "Love us now" memo.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Gibbs is lying - Energy Efficiency will NOT save oil
January 26, 2009 - 13:58 ET by PopularTech7 Energy Efficiency Myths Debunked (Popular Mechanics)
Myth: Energy Efficiency (Manhattan Institute)
Energy Independence is a Myth!
Myths About Breaking Our Foreign Oil Habit (The Washington Post)
Obama Should Forget About Energy Independence (The Wall Street Journal)
Remember the Synthetic Fuels Corporation? (The Heritage Foundation)
The Idiocy of Energy Independence (John Stossel, ABC News)
If fuel efficiency was appealing to the consumer they would buy it! Is Gibbs fricking insane? Do cars that get more than 35 MPG not exist?
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
We sure didn't have
January 26, 2009 - 14:26 ET by thebutlerdiditWe sure didn't have problems with making cars that got 35 mpg in the 70's. Why is it such a problem, now? And did Gibbs really answer Windmills as the solution? Pop, it isn't that Gibbs is insane, they know this stuff is crap, they are just counting on the ignorance of the American people to go along with whatever they gin up. They are keeping the economy down RIGHT NOW. By running around with their "chicken little" talking points, they are making sure every man, woman, and child is terrified that the whole system is going to go down the tubes, if we don't let the Mighty Obama and Team have his porkulus bill passed. Dissent is no longer patriotic, there is not bi-partisanship, it is just their way, or you are trying to keep the economy from recovering. It is dastardly, it is evil, and it will work, due to the fact that their are right, most Americans are stupid.
BTW, are they still trying to sell Gibbs to us as a "brilliant" and "the best speaker ever" to us? I realize he is new, but frankly he is sucking wind.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
tbdi... Why yes in answer
January 26, 2009 - 15:59 ET by bigtimertbdi...
Why yes in answer to your last question regarding Gibbs...you ought to have heard Andrea Mitchell after the briefing on msnbc...talking to Contessa Brewer...she used the terms..."High Marks"..."In real Command"..."He'll be a STAR Briefer"...
Talk about gag me with a spoon...
These people really live in La-La-Land.
I have a 35mpg car built in
January 26, 2009 - 18:02 ET by lnthompI have a 35mpg car built in 2003. It happens to be a Honda Civic (built in Alabama, I think). It would be totalled in an accident at any speed over 25mph.
Lee T. USN(ret)
This too shall pass.
I recognize your right to believe, without ridicule, that there is no God. I do not recognize any right for you to ridicule my belief in God.
Garrett is a reporter.
January 26, 2009 - 14:16 ET by AgentAmericanJake Tapper and Major Garrett are the only reporters in that room. Everyone else is Obamasturbating.
2010: A GOP Hill
→ Agent
January 26, 2009 - 14:22 ET by Cool ArrowThe rest of the group are twittering Obama's blackberry.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country - Khalil Gibran
Cool
January 26, 2009 - 14:28 ET by thebutlerdiditEuewwww! That's just naaaaassty.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
→ butler
January 26, 2009 - 14:37 ET by Cool ArrowWhat did I say? Maybe they're texting suggestions to him.
I think they're hoping for an injection of liquidity to pump up the sagging market.
What did I say" (he asked incredulously)
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country - Khalil Gibran
Pump up tha jam???
January 26, 2009 - 14:55 ET by thebutlerdiditIs that what those "Barry Fluffers" are doing? They need to get some drop cloths in the press rooms during those pressers. Yikes Stripes!!!!!
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Helen Thomas: Why does the
January 26, 2009 - 14:23 ET by ThisnThatHelen Thomas: Why does the president want to send more troops to Afghanistan to kill people?
Is this woman gross or what? Why is she allowed in as a "news reporter" and why would anyone waste CO2 by calling on her. What a pure dope.
Newsflash, Helen -- if I believed that was the purpose of the U.S., I would be first in line to make it stop. Helen -- too bad you couldn't witness the 911 attacks first-hand. You really missed an opportunity to answer your stupid question.
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
This explains a lot about her.
January 26, 2009 - 14:33 ET by mizflame98http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Thomas#Early_life_and_career
PS:
Take a look at the picture of her during the Ford administration. You knew then she wasn't going to age gracefully.
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
TT it was probably the most
January 26, 2009 - 15:41 ET by dscottTT it was probably the most important question of the whole briefing. Given Biden's, the Gaffe master, reponse during the VP debate about Afghanistan, why would liberals support any involvement there??? Didn't the big mouth say a surge would not work in Afghanistan? Didn't he misquote a general to make that false assertion??? If the strategy behind the surge wouldn't work in Afghanistan then why waste people, time and money there?
Helen did the set up for Obama to question any more military involvement in Afghanistan. Biden claimed Obama was going to be tested in the first 6 months in office and he would do things people wouldn't understand at first. Connect the dots. The FBI is doing a mass hiring. Obama said he wanted to beef up homeland defense as his version of national security. In other words, Obama's idea of national security is rolling up in a ball (reactive) versus Bush's assertive defense where you go out and kill the SOBs (pro-active). We all know the Dems want to hand over our foreign policy to the UN and in the process gut the military for the purpose of spending the money elsewhere.
Helen maybe a left wing looney stooge, but there is method to her madness. Libs always float trial balloons to see if there is a weak response to their ideas. You remember the one square toilet paper assertion? What was the lib response when it got shot down? Don't underestimate their determination and sales abilities. Watch for the MSM propaganda machine to ramp up and hype stories of things not going well in Afghanistan, just as they did in Iraq.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Blithering idiot alert!
January 26, 2009 - 14:29 ET by mizflame9814:05, Major Garrett, Fox News: Asks question about standards on evaluating war on terror detainees.
Gibbs: The answers to these questons are a prudent review process will be put in place by executive order to determine who's there, determine their profile. Case files are in different places. A prudent process will be put in place to make prudent decisions...
What the hell kind of answer was that??? He talked in a circle.
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
Why, a prudent answer, of
January 26, 2009 - 14:31 ET by ckc1227Why, a prudent answer, of course. ;)
Why, a prudent answer, of
January 26, 2009 - 14:45 ET by Dan The Man 2Why, a prudent answer, of course. ;) from none other than Prudence herself.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
To quote a former
January 26, 2009 - 15:08 ET by thebutlerdiditTo quote a former President, It just "Wouldn't be prudent."
Seriously, as I said on another thread, are they going to keep saying Gibbs is the greatestest, bestest, smartest Speaker EVAH???? He sounds like a cross between Rainman and Obama. W/o Rainman's brain power. I am not a big Hannity fan, but I will never forget how Gibbs accused him of being anti-semitic when he was on H & C. He kept hammering and hammering Sean, and it got so bad even milquetoast supreme Alan stood up to him and defended Sean. All this because Sean had a guest on who gave an negative opinion of Obama, who is supposedly now, or was an Anti-Semite. Gibbs was trying to be too cute by half, by trying to use guilt by association, to try and compare Sean's dealings with this guest, to Obama's association to Billy Bomber. It was so disgustingly disingenious, I wanted to sock him in his piggie snout. I seem to remember Megyn Kelly of eating his lunch one time though.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
An answer that evokes
January 26, 2009 - 14:41 ET by ThisnThatAn answer that evokes thoughts of CHANGE, Obama-style. Anybody want to see CHANGE yet? How about a new President, for starters?
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
Prudent...
January 26, 2009 - 17:23 ET by JPR1would have been having a plan ready right out of the gate.
Instead their plan is take a year and develop a plan. Sharp bunch!
He's just appeasing the pacifists he's sucked up to for the last two years.
Giving credit where credit
January 26, 2009 - 14:29 ET by ckc1227Giving credit where credit is due, at least Helen Thomas is being consistent despite having a Dem in the White House.
They should just re-name this.........
January 26, 2009 - 14:32 ET by BEGRUNTThe "Gibbs amatuer hour briefing"........what a buffoon!!!
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
Geithner admitted he made
January 26, 2009 - 14:45 ET by ThisnThatGeithner admitted he made honest mistakes that could and should have been avoided -- this is the explanation of why Geithner doesn't go to jail, like others have.
Wonder if that will work for me with the IRS? I'm betting NOT. And I'm betting Obama won't back me up any, either. But that's ok -- just as long as there's no OBVIOUS double-standard at work here.
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
Not a whole lot to hope for...
January 26, 2009 - 16:23 ET by PewahWow...pretty much disappointing is all I can say about this news conference. First of all, why doesn't anybody ever push for details about how "we're" going to create 1 million new jobs making windmills? Let me state for the record that this administration is going to pump billions into existing and yet-to-be-created companies who will produce these windmills and they will then mandate that they pay all employees premium wages and benefits. The normal drivers of product innovation and optimization that force improvements in any industry will be removed because the whole fiasco will be financed not by critical customers, but largely by a liberal government who pushing the whole issue in order to pay back one of its more vocal and loyal backers...the environmental dimwits.
Oh...one more thing. Who in the hell lets Helen Thomas continue to ask those painfully stupid questions?! Even the libs have to cringe everytime she opens her mouth.
Was there a leak? How did she find out?
January 26, 2009 - 19:04 ET by JWF14:18, Helen Thomas: Why does the president want to send more troops to Afghanistan to kill people?
Something is wrong people. How in the name of all that is fuzzy and warm did Helen find out about our new top secret military teams?
We have way too many troops raising fuzzy bunnies and baby unicorns. We have a new top secret program to train some (just a few mind you) to learn how to KILL.
We are supplying them with new people killing weapons. Shhhhh. We call them rifles. And also, this is still in the pipe mind you. but we are working on some boomboom devices, the working name is graboomboomnades.
Also, this is way way way out in the pipe, but some of our best thinkers are talking about, hey, how about fixing some boomboom stuff to, ready? A PLANE! working name - boomboomfromthesky.
TOO MANY LEAKS!
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.