His statement to the federal workers at the end, particularly to the youth who have joined to help others, brought tears to my eyes.

See you later.

I think this government shutdown and fiscal cliff showdown gave him the resolve to take a hard line going forward. I heard the following from him today:

No more Mr. Nice Guy. If you guys want to play dirty - I can play dirty too. If you are willing to talk about ideas and come to some agreement on the things we can agree on - I'm willing to do that and work with you. BUT - there will be no more hostage holding tactics that will be tolerated. I've learned - the American People have learned and it ain't gonna happen again folks.

Now "Play Ball"!!!!!

I think his mind works less in the game genre, but in the 'let's get the job done and do the right thing' category. You may be right, though and it's time to 'play ball.'

Obama said at the outset of his presidency, that he has to take the needs of over 300 million people into account in all that he does. And was awed by the responsibility that had been granted him.

Which include (and I would say although he clearly would not) the nincompoops who for no reason but vanity and greed, embarrassed our nation and demoralized our people without any thought, or worse, with ill-will toward others.

I doubt he will inflict any harm on the foolish, as he has to be a bigger man than them, and has proven he is a stronger man than any blustering rightwing coward.

I was glad to hear his call out on those who profit on terrorizing people - over nothing. When he was leaving after his statement last night, a reporter asked if this would be repeated in a few months, he stopped, turned around and said with confidence (or maybe even a smirk, you decide) 'NO.'



Which is what he said at the beginning of the shut down in strong terms, that this would not be used again. I made the analogy last night, that many have been trying to lynch him since he was elected. He let them have their rope as he worked on doing the right thing. Which is the honorable thing, not drumming up hate.

While they had a public tantrum for the entire world to see how empty their philosophy and nihilistic plans were and plotted his and national destruction, they tripped and hung themselves with the noose they had thought they had made for him.

Ironic, isn't it?

Now we can get back to our regularly scheduled program of fighting with the GOP, etc. He said at the beginning of the shut down, that he was going to make sure it didn't happen again. Perhaps there was a threat there we don't know about?

The turn about has been amazing, with all of the loudmouths suddenly silenced and whining. If you'd care to speculate, I'm interested. I even thought for a second he'd done some sleigh of hand to cowl them. They were so shameless in their actions, almost as if unconscious of how they appeared. An epiphany for the professionally clueless?

Obama says the world must move from 'Might makes Right' to 'Right makes Might.' That is an ancient conflict over how the world will be run and we can't afford the former. The best ideals win in the end, not force and violence. We'll still have to deal with the benighted ones:



But I think the wind has been taken out of their sails for now. Thanks for your well said reply and support. Hope to see you again soon.

Excellent post, freshwest. I believe that you outdid yourself.

"they tripped and hung themselves with the noose they had thought they had made for him."

Yes it is ironic. They spread their fear and loathing of this President. They thought that they would win. Yet they never have understood the will and the strength of this President. They underestimate him at every turn. They are a ship of fools and they are determined to go down with the ship.

Well said freshwest!

I loved the tone and the shout out to the returning Federal workers.

Righteous anger! He sure didn't mince words.

Thanks for the link, freshwest

Will edit with a youtube video for direct viewing when it is available.

It is really a Good Morning, isn't it?

We're in good hands, as you've said. I've been up and down about this, as you know, angry, scared, demoralized, whatever.

Called up people last night with the news this circus would not be repeated and they are so relieved, as am I.

He kept his promise.

I'm still loving waking up in the morning and knowing that Barack Obama is President.

Have a great day, Sheshe!

He kept his promise and he had our backs!

ILIWIWUITMABOIP!

To all the Democrats that held the line~

I just watched our President's speech, and it reaffirms what an extraordinary leader he is. I remain grateful he is guiding our ship of state.

providing the link.. Good ol c-span!

Pres Obama covered everything.. he is so wise and caring and wants to get so much accomplished. It's not right he has a Congress that the minority Shutdown Our Government and would default just to help themselves.

America needs to elect him a Congress that can work with him Not Against the American People!

Welcome Back to our Gov Employees who got their JOBS stopped in their tracks. Your Work "Matters"!

As always.

For once I lucked out and got to see the speech live. Smirk or smile? Debatable. But I'm sure he's fed up with obstructionists, and he has a right to celebrate the trap they set and sprung on themselves. Nobody's fool, this man. Not a bit. Maybe he's thinking, like Dr. Phil, "How'd that work out for ya?"

Again, the man plays three dimensional chess like no one else.

One part really jumped out at me, though. When he was speaking about not breaking the government if you don't like a particular party (starts around 16:50), I couldn't help but think of the movie "Seven Days in May". If you haven't seen it, do so.