Lawmakers complain Obama too aloof with Congress

What a fantastic leader! The "I've got a pen and know how to use it" president with that crystal clear "clarity" as promised.

"Several Democratic lawmakers echoed McConnell but spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid alienating the president of their party. "

Sounds like they're more interested in not BECOMING alienated or getting derided for pointing out that indeed the Emperor has no clothes.

Obama is spewing the excuse "those Republicans" don't care. That's a lie! It is himself intentionally distancing from the mainstream and focusing on Democratic party 2016 fund raising. Meanwhile Ukraine, ISIS, and illegal immigration ongoing problems along with others. Where is the President!

Obama is spewing the excuse "those Republicans" don't care.

If the Republicans cared about anything other than opposing Obama, they would put forth alternatives. But all they care is about saying "you're wrong" to whatever Obama says, no matter what it is.

Lawmakers in both parties complained that the White House — six years in — still doesn’t get it when it comes to working with Congress.

“You’ve got a core group of the House Republican caucus that has run on a platform of ‘no compromise’ — if the president’s for it, they’re against it,” said Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

IMO there is truth to both these statements. Obama does tend to be aloof -- "the smartest guy in the room" syndrome -- and "compromise" is a dirty word for Tea Party types. I live in one of the reddest of red-states and all the Republicans do in their primary ads is trash Obama. There is no way they can work with him/his party when you were elected on just being against everything he proposes.

In all honesty I will say Obama is wrong with many or most of his proposals. He has taken USA to new lows in most if not all global standing.

He also managed to create a rift the nation with his intentional divisiveness. Absolutely what the US does not need at this point in time.

Obama would find it easier to negotiate with the ISIS than with Republicans in Congress - at least the former has goals that are not limited to the complete destruction of this presidency (and if you think Republican policy extends beyond this, I have a bridge to sell you - though unfortunately it is dilapidated as Republicans refuse to adequately fund our infrastructure).

Let's look at Republican logic here: A law signed by Bush prevents the government from directly returning illegal minor immigrants, requiring that they are entitled to a hearing before a judge; Obama asks for funding to increase the number of such judges (and also to mitigate the shameful conditions in which these children are held) and the Republicans answer that they will not give him a "blank check" - as if that is what he asked for - and also state they cannot trust him to uphold the law; but in a twist, they instead insist that Obama has the ability to deal with this crisis via executive action while simultaneously suing him for his usage of executive action. Meanwhile, a Republican governor sends National Guard troops to the border at a cost of $12 million a month as "deterrence" - they're not actually empowered to do anything useful, and while that money could have been used to do something useful, this governor threatens to sue the Federal government if his state is not reimbursed for this totally wasteful spending.

Republicans broke the system. They can't even agree on measures to fix the VA. And as they will likely not capture the presidency in the foreseeable future, the only chance America has is that they are equally marginalized in Congress.

He has taken USA to new lows in most if not all global standing.

Whatever you think of Obama, the US standing around the world is not as bad as it was during the Bush/Cheney administration. There are some valid criticisms of Obama, but saying the above is utter rubbish.

They say his Presidency is illegitimate, that he’s not a US citizen and was born in Kenya

They say he is a Muslim and supports terrorists

They call him a Marxist

They say he’s a gangster

They say he’s Un-American

They compare him to Hitler

They attempt to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) 54 times – and counting…..

They call for his impeachment and sue him for taking action when they refuse

And then they complain when he doesn’t come and talk nicely to them, so that they will do what they were elected to do and pass legislation that helps address some of our nation’s most serious problems.

The Republicans are absolutely nuts…….

Whenever Obama wants to speak to the congress for the solutions, the GOP stops him. Now Obama aloof? C'mon.

They are just unreasonable. So far, the Dem is gaining congressional seats for November election. Wait and see.

requires bipartisan support,” McConnell said

That's a good one, Mitch. Name a significant instance when the Republican Congress has given its support to any of Obama and his party's proposals.

Name a single one.

Name a single one.

You're going to get a long list of nothing with that one. The GOP policy is to oppose Obama no matter what he says.

Name a single one.

None, dada, zero, zip.

O, wait, I remember a man named Ted Cruz (R) delivering a speech in front of congress. His solution was eating an green apple for Obamacare all day and all night. This guy was very smart and I almost fell asleep. The GOP solution for Obamacare is a "Green Apple".

Republicans have also been MIA in addressing this immigration crisis as a whole. The Senate has sent to the House a bill that would address the crisis in comprehensive way, but Boehner will have none of it. The reasons for the obstruction are two:

They oppose vehemently Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, under which individuals raised in America and never convicted of any crime are left alone.

They will not abide with anything akin to amnesty whatsoever.

The logical conclusion is that Republicans would deport all 12 million undocumented immigrants in America, with no exception.

If this does not meet you definition of "insane," perhaps you need a new dictionary. Yet this is the GOP with whom Obama must "negotiate."

Yet this is the GOP with whom Obama must "negotiate."

That's because their definition of negotiate is to just do everything the way they want it done.

That's because their definition of negotiate is to just do everything the way they want it done.

Exactly, Strangerland! The GOP will not compromise on a thing - one of their members once compared "compromise" to "date r©pe."

@stranger

If the Republicans cared about anything other than opposing Obama, they would put forth alternatives. But all they care is about saying "you're wrong" to whatever Obama says, no matter what it is.

Yeah, they do care. After 6 years with the Sainted anointed one, if Obama as the so called president really cared Not only about the country, but for the greater good, he would sit down with Republicans to get things done, but this loon is the first president ever in US history that is lazy, lazy and lazy that will not do that. So it goes both ways, the Repubs got snubbed for 6 years, Hey, they SHOULD return the favor, good on them. I hate gridlock, but there is no other way with this loon.

@global

Whenever Obama wants to speak to the congress for the solutions, the GOP stops him. Now Obama aloof? C'mon.

What solutions, Obama just creates stagnant of problems.

They are just unreasonable. So far, the Dem is gaining congressional seats for November election. Wait and see.

WT...LOL...you really think so? At this point, Obama would need a God fearing miracle or intervention put him back on top and to make him smelling like a rose or a major, major blunder by the Republicans to turn the people against them. As long as the Republicans stay away and don't utter 2 words: "Impeachment and Contraceptives" don't say it, mention it, don't let the Dems bait them and drag them out to comment on it and the Senate will be in Republican hands again.

@laguna

Obama would find it easier to negotiate with the ISIS than with Republicans in Congress - at least the former has goals that are not limited to the complete destruction of this presidency (and if you think Republican policy extends beyond this, I have a bridge to sell you - though unfortunately it is dilapidated as Republicans refuse to adequately fund our infrastructure).

Got news for you, who was the Senator for years of New York city? Hilary Clinton. NY has pot holes the size of colosseums and for years, people complained and she did absolutely nothing to fix anything in NY. The infrastructure is so bad, it's unbelievable. Loved it when Jessie Watters went around NY city and asked people what were her greatest accomplishments as Senator, surprisingly the best that most could come up with was, she's a nice lady. Well, I'll be, that is some kind of achievement, I guess.

Let's look at Republican logic here: A law signed by Bush prevents the government from directly returning illegal minor immigrants, requiring that they are entitled to a hearing before a judge; Obama asks for funding to increase the number of such judges (and also to mitigate the shameful conditions in which these children are held) and the Republicans answer that they will not give him a "blank check"

But it was Obama that signed and gave false interpretation to the DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Obama on June 15, 2012 signed the bill basically saying that kids under 15 years of age don't need to be returned back to their country of origin with the promise that after 2 years they would be eligible for working permit and employment. In a nutshell, people across Central America saw this a gateway and an opportunity to enter into the US, thinking they send their young kids, they will be allowed to stay in the states without fear of them having to be sent back. You have even men and women with gray hair saying to ICE that they are 15 years old. Come on now...

as if that is what he asked for - and also state they cannot trust him to uphold the law; but in a twist,

After $17 Trillion and rising and more borrowing from China and China printing more money, and the Dollar losing its value, you really and honestly think the Republicans are going to give this nut a blank check???? Not going to happen.

they instead insist that Obama has the ability to deal with this crisis via executive action while simultaneously suing him for his usage of executive action.

Because he is (sadly) after all, the President of the US (I'm trying VERY hard to keep a straight face)

Meanwhile, a Republican governor sends National Guard troops to the border at a cost of $12 million a month as "deterrence" - they're not actually empowered to do anything useful, and while that money could have been used to do something useful, this governor threatens to sue the Federal government if his state is not reimbursed for this totally wasteful spending.

Oh, stop with the money that the Democrats have been spending over the last 6 years, believe it or not $12 million at this point seems like a honeymoon suite package deal of a bargain. But for Dems, who's counting, when you guys spend money, it's irrelevant, when Obama spends it, it's for a good cause, so you say. But if the Republicans use a smidgeon of cash, now it's all of a sudden, wasteful spending??

Republicans broke the system. They can't even agree on measures to fix the VA. And as they will likely not capture the presidency in the foreseeable future, the only chance America has is that they are equally marginalized in Congress.

And Democrats made the system worse, Republican in the last admin. spent money like a drunken sailor and they deserved to have been kicked out, but now we went from bad to just God awful tailspin down spiral in the gutter, the Dems completely obliterated the country and they are still not finished scorching the Earth. And don't give me the Republicans are responsible for the VA. Obama is YOUR president, he know what was going on for a very long time and what did he do as usual, NOTHING until it was too late.

In order to gain respect, you got to give it. Obama did NO such thing, especially the first 2 years when the Dems controlled all 3 branches of government, because of them being shut out, mocked, talked down to, belittled, they can't stand this guy and with good reason and you think they are going to help this president, stick their necks out for this guy and work with him, of course not, they are happy to see his demise, not only are they looking out for their best interests and constituents, but they don't want to be associated in anyway shape or form with this nut job. They have a good thing going for them and they are not about to take the bait and blow it, to deal with more Democratic, liberal Bullcrap and failed policies. The Democrats are exactly at where the Republicans were in 2007-08.

I don't feel sorry for either of them, nor for this president, they made their bed, now they can lay in it, it's their fault, they always thought that nothing could hurt them, not even Kryptonite and Obama can start getting used to working with a Republican majority, one good thing that will come out of this that will make me stocked and that is saying good riddance to Harry Reid, that is one sorry politician that will NEVER be missed!