President Obama called a meeting of leading progressives today, after the initial passage of the health care legislation. He walked into the meeting in the Oval Office amid very solemn faces and a low hum of discontent.
He began, "Yes we can," he said with a smile and chairs shifted and the room grew quiet. "No, we didn't," he said still smiling broadly and there was a low mummer and more shifting of chairs. "But, we must go on with the audacity of hope," he continued, "I want to address your concerns and will open this up for questions."
"Mr. President," a cable show host and leading progressive asked, "what about the health care bill. It is a total defeat for us. What happened"?
Obama replied, "You'll have to ask Harry Reid on that one. Next."
A reporter from the New York Times asked, Mr. President, what about the troop buildup in Afghanistan. Isn't this just another Viet Nam?"
Obama, "Well Tom, you will have to check with Hillary and Gates on that one. Next."
Mr. President," spoke up a reporter from The New Republic, "the economy is still staggering, the banks are still raping the public, and unemployment is still 10%. What are you going to do about it. Isn't your economic team just more guys from Wall Street?"
Obama: "Geithner is your man on that one. Next."
Mr. President," said a spokesman from the trade union SEIU, 'Why have you backed down on so many campaign promises. Don't you need as many friends as you can get?"
Obama: "That's Bo's department Andy. I'll make him available. He'll be glad to shake your hand. OK, guys and gals, have to go. Don't forget, we have an important election in 2010, sign up at the desk. Catch you later."
