Well done Oleeb. REally well done. 10 9.5, hell better than the press.

Geez, the silly press conferences with that moron for eight fricking years.

God, I think they do not know how to react to it.

No pretend press porno kings in the crowd.

No pretend press pretending to be concerned.

THIS IS THE REAL THING.

Thank you Oleeb

9.8 for the President. I love the long answers. The more detailed the info, the better.(IMO)

The press I'll give a 2 and that's because only 2 questions came off as honest, thoughtful questions. The guy that asked about Stem Research and the one that asked about homeless children. Ironically, this is where I deducted from the President's rating. I understand Veterans are in the majority when it comes to homelessness but I felt he threw that in for political reasons. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, but I could have done without it.

"I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." That line had me, fist bumping, high fiving and giving him 2 circles with a z.:)

The answer about sacrifice was brilliant. It underscored his affinity for and understanding of, the average citizen.

Apparently the questions were submitted ahead of time. Given that, he was able to set up his own gotcha moment. I rate his performance high just for taking advantage of a stupid question. I also think it is necessary to give some explanation, as he did.
I'll say 9.0.
I won't rate the press. As long as they have to submit questions that they hope will get them called on it really isn't necessary for them to even be there. Obama could have just given a speech.

Personally, Just that fact that we now have a President that can stand up in front of the media, speak in whole, cogent sentences and handle completely random, unfiltered in advance questions is such a breath of fresh air I almost forget to listen to the inane questions or his over the top precise and carefully nuanced answers.
Do I agree with his solutions? Not all of the time, but the fact that he is so obviously in control and understands all the issues makes it a great deal easier for me to give him the benefit of the doubt on his approaces. Especially after the last 8 years of amazing ineptitude and constant manipulation of the press by handlers who were clearly trying to keep GWB on one topic at a time as if that was all he could keep track of (and apparently it was)

The one question that slammed it home for me that the press has not yet got back up to speed with Obama was when the ABC correspondent asked and "race" from out of no where and in good humor Obama once again shoved that ridiculous question out of they way and got back to the real issues we need solved now.

9 for the president, 1 for the press

I don't think that is quite the case, but close. His beautifully delivered "STFU" response came after the repeated follow ups by the reporter in the "when did you stop beating your wife" mode on why the President didn't immediately pounce on the bonus issue. So that wasn't really scripted. He had skillfully evaded that trap as he gave his answer and clearly had had enough when he made his excellent and quite fitting response. It really was a classy and highly effective way for him to convey he was going to play that shallow game. If he's lucky, the blockheaded white house press corps may actually realize that following that path with this President is a really bad idea. I hope so anyway.

CD, I don't know for certain that the questions were pre-submitted, [I don't know ANYTHING for certain] but I believe it to be the case. Years ago a friend submitted a question at a speach by Pres. Ford. He was called on as the token bright, young, involved college student. To this day he regrets passing up a chance to ask a real question.
At one point Obama called a name and said, "Is she here?", as he looked around the group.

That he set up his own gotcha moment because of presubmitted questions. A minor point really. Not a big deal either way.

I have no direct evidence or proof. It was my assumption going in and I saw several things which seemed to indicate itwas the case. I presented it as a belief, never as a known fact. I would be happy to be shown to be wrong.

The AP always gets the first question, then the three networks each get a question.

I agree with your ratings but I did not think his answers were exceptionally long. They averaged 4 minutes and were intelligent/intelligible and informative. People on the street ARE listening and encouraged by his frequent visibility and ability to discuss complex topics. He eases anxiety among the those I have spoken with. The Press?? Sometimes I just do not know where thy are coming from.

Don't diss chuckie

Yes. Another comment I heard today was that Obama kept the presser at 56 minutes so that the stations wouldn't have time for commentary at the end. They were whining (yes, truly whining) that he should have cut it off at 7 minutes before the hour so that their brilliant cohorts could give an instant analysis.

Well, they've had time to sleep on it, and their analysis still sucks! If he had cut it off early they would be complaining that not enough questions got asked.

Who would you and I rather watch? President Obama giving nuanced information to all of us, or Pat Buchanan squealing one more complaint about socialism?

Good post. Rec'd. But I'd like to give ratings in a few more categories.

President Obama gets a 9. He didn't ramble as much as he occasionally does when asking a complex question. What he did especially well was talk over the media filter. He's always been effective when making his case directly to the people.

I have one nitpick with him: his use of "uh" to cover pauses while he's thinking. It's not that difficult to eliminate - Toastmasters, in fact, does excellent extemporaneous speaking drills that will wipe that tendency out. But he's so obviously intelligent that any criticism of him on that point comes off as petty.

Major-network reporters get a 2. Absolute tools - but I'm especially growing tired of the "Flatulent Four" (Reid, Tapper, Todd, Henry). They'd be better off working as correspondents for "Chocolate News".

Helen Thomas gets a 9. She doesn't deserve to be included with any other people in that room. In fact, she ought to be the only one who gets a front-row seat, and all questions should be OK'd by her before they're asked.

The "kitchen Cabinet" gets a 10. You could see Axelrod's fingerprints all over this presser. And the messaging was stone cold perfect. Obama's a talented man, and his senior staff does a great job of playing to his strengths.

Obama gets a 9 from me because he does explain his answers, and what really brings me to be impressed is that he answers every part of a question, in one way or another. The exception of course was the dismissal of the challenge to "What took you so long to get angry". That anger thing appears to me to be the drug of choice for the Reich. They feel if someone is angry then they are "doing something". Obama and probably a lot of people here, anyplace Left of Center may disagree with that assumption.

The press gets a 3. They get to submit their questions in advance and that's all they could manage?!?!? It's one thing to say Obama was prepared for the questions because they were submitted before the presser [assuming they were]. But it's another to say the press had time to craft an intelligent question and failed miserably.

Even with lead time to review the questions, Obama managed to answer with no teleprompter and to answer them completely. I am impressed. I am waiting for the press to catch up and make the story about the failure of the Right to have anything to contribute to the reconstruction efforts related to this economy.

Obama did what he had to do, so I give him a 10 for doing what he needed to do. The press did what they THOUGHT they needed to do, so I'll give them a 5 because they succeeded in doing what they set out to do but, what they think they should do is a bit warped.

The President was serious and "persistent", did not laugh or smile much. He was testy, angry and snapped at reporters who were just doing their jobs asking him the questions the people want to know. He was on defense one minute and on the offense the next. He was indecisive. He was dodging questions. He used big words, and gave long-winded answers with no sound bites. He didn't call on the important newspapers. He called on Chuck, Chip, Jake and Major, also known as Alvin and the Chipmunks. He answered four questions that were not about the crisis that he is supposed to be focused like a laser on. If he could answer those questions, he is not focused like a laser on the economy. He didn't mangle any words like his predecessor. He talked for about an hour. He still has not come up with catchy nicknames for reporters. He has not fired Geithner yet, like some people want. He still hasn't said the fundamentals of the economy are strong. He did not mention Rush Limbaugh, the leader of the Republican party. He did not apologize to Dick Cheney, the man who has kept us safe since 9/11. He did not say how much wants to be like Ronald Reagan, the once and future leader of the Republican Party, well, co-leader with Rush Limbaugh, the de facto leader of the Republican Party. He did not attend the Gridiron Dinner, and that is a slap in the face to the media.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S GRADE: Incomplete

The press and the media were perfect ladies and gentlemen. They asked important probing questions like, "Whyfor howcome did it take you two whole days to days get all angry about the AIG bonuses when the rest of some parts of America were mad on Day One?" The media attended the Gridiron Dinner.

MEDIA'S GRADE: 10!

Please return to the "Snark-free Zone" for your own safety and security.

hahahahahaha! I'm glad you were being snarky...I was afraid those were actual comments from the msm!

Thanks Oleeb. That has to be underlined. So I am underlining it. hahaah

WOW! Jade, you can spin with the best of them. Are you running for any public offices?