A lot of questions on the AIG bailout and a lot of Robert Gibbs talking about the President's willingness to nationalize banks without using the word "nationalize." Instead he says things like "the systemic risk of doing nothing was simply unacceptable" and "today's actions further continue allowing the process of orderly -- the orderly restructuring of AIG." A rose by any other name would still smell as much like the government unhappily assuming control over major portions of the financial sector... We can say this, though. The White House is loving the opportunity to either tie Republicans to Limbaugh or force them to suffer his wrath. Gibbs almost chortles his way through this exchange:
Q You say you don't want to quarrel with Warren Buffett. What about Rush Limbaugh? Over the weekend he had some interesting comments -- (laughter.)MR. GIBBS: I think he probably knows a lot less about the economy than maybe Warren does. (Laughter.)Q The President has spoken a lot about bringing the country together, and after the stimulus fight there was a lot of hand-wringing in both parties about bipartisanship. What is the White House's reaction to Rush Limbaugh saying again that he wants the President to fail, specifically on his economic plans? And how does that bode for bipartisanship in the future, working with Republicans?MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the question is a good one. I think that -- I think maybe the best question, though, is for you to ask individual Republicans whether they agree with what Rush Limbaugh said this weekend. Do they want to see the President's economic agenda fail? You know, I bet there are a number of guests on television throughout the day and maybe into tomorrow who could let America know whether they agree with what Rush Limbaugh said this weekend.You know, I mean, I think he -- I mean, I think it would be charitable to say he doubled down on what he said in January in wishing and hoping for economic failure in this country. I can only imagine what might have been said a few years ago if somebody might have said that on the other side relating to what was going on in this country or our endeavors overseas. You know, I'd like to think, and I think most people would like to think, that we can put aside our differences and get things done for the American people.I will say, in watching a few cable clips of Mr. Limbaugh's speech, his notion of presidential failure seemed to be quite popular in the room in which he spoke.
Full briefing after the fold.
