Sam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
l33tminion) wrote2009-02-10 02:21 pm
l33tminion) wrote2009-02-10 02:21 pm
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Press Conference, Paraphrased
I enjoyed watching Obama's first press conference while running on the treadmill last night. Was itching for a transcript, so I could take a crack at it (heavily paraphrased, except for the bits in quotes):
Obama: Before questions, quick speech. Our economy is in a lot of trouble. I went to Elkhart, Indiana, where no one has a job and people are basically starving. Unfortunately, the rest of America isn't much better off. So, JOBS. Not just government jobs, but JOBS. Tax cuts, too. Investment that creates jobs now and efficiency later. The recovery plan is not perfect, but it's good. I'd like to thank the members of Congress to help and encourage the rest (Republicans) to get off their obstructionist asses. It's a tough time, which calls for teamwork and good leadership. Questions?
Q: Why did you say our recession might be permanent, when past ones weren't?
Obama: No, not permanent. But if we don't act fast and pass this plan (as a first step), things could be really slow to turn around. We're going to listen to the economists on this one, like my treasury secretary who's talking about this tomorrow. We're getting advice from everyone, including Republicans, but take that last one with a grain of salt because we're sure as hell not going back to their failed ideology.
Q: Foreign policy, US + Iran, go!
Obama: Our team is on it. "Constructive dialog". Iran hasn't been exactly helpful in that past either. Would be great if they sent some signals that they're ready for change, as well.
Q: Did you underestimate how hard this "bipartisanship" thing would be?
Obama: No, old habits die hard. All this compromise is to have a variety of ideas, not just in exchange for votes in the short-term. We don't have time for politics. I'm all about fiscal responsibility, but a bit peeved to see the Republicans start caring about it all of a sudden for some reason. Fiscal conservatives can play ball, but anti-government ideologues should go home.
Q: You say your plan should increase spending, but isn't it people spending beyond their means that got us into this mess? Shouldn't people save or pay off debt first?
Obama: The real problem is the banks taking massive risks with other people's money. But yes, people do need to save, too. Spending is good, but spending on debt is not sustainable, "in fact, the party now is over". I don't want to be spending so much right off the bat. But we need to stabilize our economy first, then think about how we can be sustainable going forward.
Q: Won't saving the economy be much more expensive than the $350B currently allocated for TARP?
Obama: Probably, be we can get a lot more bang for our buck than the past administration did by having more oversight and not letting the banks spend the money onhookers and blow acquisitions and CEO bonuses.
Q: Are we ever getting out of Afghanistan, and will we now be able to see the coffins of dead soldiers on the teevee?
Obama: Regarding media, we're reviewing that policy. Knowing the cost of war is sobering and important, but I don't want to make rash decisions. Regarding Afghanistan, that's going to be hard since it's deteriorating as Iraq is shaping up. We can do better by not splitting our forces and by not being so stupid about diplomacy, but don't know how long that will take.
Q: The next bank bailout, how will you make that work better?
Obama: Ask my treasury secretary, he's having a press conference tomorrow.
Q: Biden said, "If we do everything right, if we do it with absolute certainty, if we stand up there and we really make the tough decisions, there's still a 30 percent chance we're going to get it wrong." What was he talking about, and do you agree?
Obama: I don't know, there are a lot of ways the country is pretty doomed right now. Actually, I'm not that pessimistic, but we don't count on every single thing we do working out exactly as we expected. Everything is part of the solution.
Q: Your comments on the latest baseball scandal?
Obama: (Silently: Why the hell are you asking me about baseball?) It's depressing, but good that people are taking it seriously. Hopefully, the message is that it's not worth sacrificing integrity for temporary gain, and please note that this is the part where I'm subtly connecting that largely irrelevant question back to the politics.
Oh, no, here's Helen Thomas. Where's Stephen Colbert when you need him?
Q (Helen Thomas): Is Pakistan harboring terrorists and does anyone in the Middle East have nukes?
Obama: There are terrorists in Pakistan, but I'm not suggesting the Pakistani government is harboring them. They have as much to lose as we do, so we can work together on that one. Diplomacy! Regarding nukes, I don't want to speculate [about Israel?]. But a nuclear arms race in the Middle East would be really bad, obviously. So non-proliferation efforts, but we need to go first, which means repairing our relationship with Russia again.
Q (The Blogger): What about Leahy's "Truth and Reconciliation Committee" proposal?
Obama: I look forward, but "nobody is above the law, and if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted". So I'll read the proposal, but don't count on me personally supporting it.
Q: If it's hard to get the Republicans to agree on "spending tons of money and cutting people's taxes" which the Republicans are all about nowadays, how will you get them to agree on actually controversial stuff?
The Republicans are still playing politics, even though we don't have time for it. They're also still butthurt over the election. They're acting like big babies. I suppose I could have been more political and treated them like big babies, and maybe that's what I'll have to do in the future. I'll continue to hope that they grow up, but it will be a while before I can take it seriously when they say "fiscal responsibility". Like I've emphasized before, pragmatism beats ideology, and I'm going to be listening to the experts and trying to do what works.
Old ideologies die hard. "But I am the eternal optimist. I think that over time people respond to civility and rational argument. I think that's what the people of Elkhart and people around America are looking for. And that's what I'm -- that's the kind of leadership I'm going to try to provide."
Obama: Before questions, quick speech. Our economy is in a lot of trouble. I went to Elkhart, Indiana, where no one has a job and people are basically starving. Unfortunately, the rest of America isn't much better off. So, JOBS. Not just government jobs, but JOBS. Tax cuts, too. Investment that creates jobs now and efficiency later. The recovery plan is not perfect, but it's good. I'd like to thank the members of Congress to help and encourage the rest (Republicans) to get off their obstructionist asses. It's a tough time, which calls for teamwork and good leadership. Questions?
Q: Why did you say our recession might be permanent, when past ones weren't?
Obama: No, not permanent. But if we don't act fast and pass this plan (as a first step), things could be really slow to turn around. We're going to listen to the economists on this one, like my treasury secretary who's talking about this tomorrow. We're getting advice from everyone, including Republicans, but take that last one with a grain of salt because we're sure as hell not going back to their failed ideology.
Q: Foreign policy, US + Iran, go!
Obama: Our team is on it. "Constructive dialog". Iran hasn't been exactly helpful in that past either. Would be great if they sent some signals that they're ready for change, as well.
Q: Did you underestimate how hard this "bipartisanship" thing would be?
Obama: No, old habits die hard. All this compromise is to have a variety of ideas, not just in exchange for votes in the short-term. We don't have time for politics. I'm all about fiscal responsibility, but a bit peeved to see the Republicans start caring about it all of a sudden for some reason. Fiscal conservatives can play ball, but anti-government ideologues should go home.
Q: You say your plan should increase spending, but isn't it people spending beyond their means that got us into this mess? Shouldn't people save or pay off debt first?
Obama: The real problem is the banks taking massive risks with other people's money. But yes, people do need to save, too. Spending is good, but spending on debt is not sustainable, "in fact, the party now is over". I don't want to be spending so much right off the bat. But we need to stabilize our economy first, then think about how we can be sustainable going forward.
Q: Won't saving the economy be much more expensive than the $350B currently allocated for TARP?
Obama: Probably, be we can get a lot more bang for our buck than the past administration did by having more oversight and not letting the banks spend the money on
Q: Are we ever getting out of Afghanistan, and will we now be able to see the coffins of dead soldiers on the teevee?
Obama: Regarding media, we're reviewing that policy. Knowing the cost of war is sobering and important, but I don't want to make rash decisions. Regarding Afghanistan, that's going to be hard since it's deteriorating as Iraq is shaping up. We can do better by not splitting our forces and by not being so stupid about diplomacy, but don't know how long that will take.
Q: The next bank bailout, how will you make that work better?
Obama: Ask my treasury secretary, he's having a press conference tomorrow.
Q: Biden said, "If we do everything right, if we do it with absolute certainty, if we stand up there and we really make the tough decisions, there's still a 30 percent chance we're going to get it wrong." What was he talking about, and do you agree?
Obama: I don't know, there are a lot of ways the country is pretty doomed right now. Actually, I'm not that pessimistic, but we don't count on every single thing we do working out exactly as we expected. Everything is part of the solution.
Q: Your comments on the latest baseball scandal?
Obama: (Silently: Why the hell are you asking me about baseball?) It's depressing, but good that people are taking it seriously. Hopefully, the message is that it's not worth sacrificing integrity for temporary gain, and please note that this is the part where I'm subtly connecting that largely irrelevant question back to the politics.
Oh, no, here's Helen Thomas. Where's Stephen Colbert when you need him?
Q (Helen Thomas): Is Pakistan harboring terrorists and does anyone in the Middle East have nukes?
Obama: There are terrorists in Pakistan, but I'm not suggesting the Pakistani government is harboring them. They have as much to lose as we do, so we can work together on that one. Diplomacy! Regarding nukes, I don't want to speculate [about Israel?]. But a nuclear arms race in the Middle East would be really bad, obviously. So non-proliferation efforts, but we need to go first, which means repairing our relationship with Russia again.
Q (The Blogger): What about Leahy's "Truth and Reconciliation Committee" proposal?
Obama: I look forward, but "nobody is above the law, and if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted". So I'll read the proposal, but don't count on me personally supporting it.
Q: If it's hard to get the Republicans to agree on "spending tons of money and cutting people's taxes" which the Republicans are all about nowadays, how will you get them to agree on actually controversial stuff?
The Republicans are still playing politics, even though we don't have time for it. They're also still butthurt over the election. They're acting like big babies. I suppose I could have been more political and treated them like big babies, and maybe that's what I'll have to do in the future. I'll continue to hope that they grow up, but it will be a while before I can take it seriously when they say "fiscal responsibility". Like I've emphasized before, pragmatism beats ideology, and I'm going to be listening to the experts and trying to do what works.
Old ideologies die hard. "But I am the eternal optimist. I think that over time people respond to civility and rational argument. I think that's what the people of Elkhart and people around America are looking for. And that's what I'm -- that's the kind of leadership I'm going to try to provide."