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[Ya-ta Boy]

Obama was invited to a House Republican meeting in Baltimore on Friday. It was so effective that Fox stopped the broadcast 20 minutes before the end. (No doubt they had a good scheduling reason.)

"President Obama traveled to a House Republican retreat in Baltimore on Friday and delivered a performance that was at once defiant, substantive and engaging. For roughly an hour and a half, Obama lectured GOP leaders and, in a protracted, nationally-televised question-and-answer session, deflected their policy critiques, corrected their misstatements and scolded them for playing petty politics."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/29/obama-goes-to-the-gop-lio_n_442331.html

He was even-handed overall, but there was some scolding going on. Ezra Klein said it was some of the best political theater he's ever seen. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it was an effective performance.

[mises]

The Republicans looked petty and unserious. Obama did very well.

[Fox]

Obama being able to stand up there and point out specific Republican-supported policies he's supported was absolutely crushing to the Republicans. In fact, he had very good answers to almost everything. I think his answer to the 80% discretionary budget increase figure from the Congressman from Wisconsin was fairly weak, but otherwise, he seemed prepared and in control of the situation, able to give real examples of Republican policies he's adopted and supported. His, "We have to close the gap between rhetoric and reality," criticism was spot on too; these lunatics really hurt our political system while pursuing their political ambitions. His response to the Republican pushing his pet healthcare bill was pretty strong too.

There's a reason why Republicans didn't want cameras in here, and their fears were borne out. The funny thing is, the strongest criticisms the Republicans could have made of Obama were all avoided because they would have been attacking private industry in the process, and thus damaged the Republican's own platform.

[Ya-ta Boy]

"Although the riveting exchange lasted over an hour, both CNN and MSNBC aired the entire event.

However, at 1:11 p.m. ET � when there was still 20 minutes left to go � Fox News decided to cut away and begin its commentary. Anchor Trace Gallagher�s immediate reaction was that Obama was being too �combative� and �lecturing� � like he was at his State of the Union address...

Not only did Fox cut away from the Obama-GOP exchange, but the network then brought on Rep. Peter King (R-NY)... � about 10 minutes later to start commenting on Obama�s performance."
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/29/fox-obama-retreat/

As it turns out, 'lecturing' is the GOP talking point about the SOTU address. A network repeating a political talking point. Who would have thought?

My favorite was the last exchange, when the guy complained that Obama was borrowing as much each month as Bush had in one year. "You know that's just not true."

[Ya-ta Boy]

I particularly liked this comment at FireDogLake:

"The president showed nimble footwork and answered most issues frankly and without pretense. He looked good doing so. So good, in fact, that the GOP may have been taken aback some, while the likes of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow were positively gushing as they fawned over each and every Obama exchange in detail. Chris Mathews had tingles running up both legs. Their collective two-hour special last night was so soaked in moist and teary Obama-love that the WH political staff must have been dancing and popping corks.

Calm down, Keith, it was a debate."
http://firedoglake.com/

[Street Magic]

The brilliance of the Republican anti-Obama strategy is that he's seen as proving their points the most when he's at his best. Liberals will get out of hand in praising him a little too much and conservatives will react by bringing back the messiah/superstar/out of touch intellectual snob smears. I believe Tom Price already commented on Obama's lack of "humility" in knowing the talking points too well.

[pkang0202]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[On the other hand]

[Fox]

[pkang0202]

[bacasper]

[pkang0202]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Richard Wolff talks about the strategy behind last week's Obama Offensive:

"Under fire, the public having decidedly cooled on him, his agenda stalled on Capitol Hill, Obama has returned to what�s worked for him in the past: He�s gone on the offensive, in a return to the dynamics of the campaign trail. It began with the State of the Union address, and continued with a boisterous event in Tampa on Thursday. The session with House Republicans conjured the familiar dynamics of the 2008 debates. "The calm and level-headed responses, the back and forth with attendees, was actually him enjoying the back and forth," said one senior White House official. "We're all pretty sure he had a good time."

But the shift signaled more than a desire to loosen up and have fun. He�s also more actively engaging the opposition, determined to draw them off the sidelines�the GOP�s �party of no� strategy has clearly been working�and back into the game. Liberals may have faulted him for offering some Republican-friendly ideas in his State of the Union address. But those initiatives will also force the GOP to make choices�choices that will shift the narrative from the president�s troubles in keeping his majority together onto the fissures in Republican ranks."
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-29/obamas-plan-to-split-the-gop/

Will it work? It'll be interesting to watch this week to see how the GOP responds. They voted unanimously against PAYGO on Thursday. Will they continue their Just Say No campaign? I wonder if anyone else felt they sounded whiny on Friday. If others thought so, it would indicate time for a change in strategy.

PS: Considering the GOP voted unanimously against the stimulus, I would hazard a guess McCain wouldn't have proposed one had he been elected. One result then would have been more teachers and cops laid off this past year.

[bacasper]