Obama Hosts Bipartisan 'Timeout' Dinner at White House

Wow! Most of you all a little bitter and jealous in your posts. Obama can't please everyone..but some of you like being mean and hateful, so why does he even need to try to please anyone. Just do the job the best that he can and move on.

Teri B., actually, I think most folks who follow the government and politics at all closely can tell you in detail about Bush's socializing in the white house-- there was very little. He did not like large dinner parties, threw few state dinners, did not drink alcohol and turned in early. Pretty boring, and there were complaints in Washington about the lack of a social energy to the White House. I was actually rather surprised and disappointed that there were not more state dinners under his watch and that Laura did not get more opportunities to entertain.

It is not that we were not watching during the Bush years. It is that there was not much to watch. Which is a shame.

informed educated people now exactly what Bush has been up to. Fighting terrorism that Clinton ran from and aloowed to fester and grow, trying to bring to light the failed Clinton policy of Fanny & Freddie loaning money to people that didn't deserve loans based on their credit history and income, and yes having it come to a head "which he warned congress it would" during the end of his tenure. Open your damn eyes America and do your homework if you're going to post statements or send emails

Ya know, I'm glad we're holding our guy's feet to the fire. It's a nice change of pace from the Bush years when NO ONE held him accountable till it was too late, isn't it?

I just feel like the guy's getting slammed from all directions over tiny and petty things, yet the breadth and scope of the things he's gotten done in such an amazingly short amount of time is ASTONISHING, particularly considering he's doing his very best to keep his campaign promises, which you rarely see a president do at all, much less within the first 100 days.

Can't someone cut the guy a little slack on something? The pressure he must be under! His hair is turning white right before our eyes! It's shocking really. He's working himself to death, trying as hard as I've ever seen anyone, being incredibly smart and ernest about it all the way along, and still he's got food being thrown at him from every direction, and a lot of the time, these don't seem like fights that are worth picking. Like everyone jumping up and down on his head over less that 2% of the Stimulus.

I want us to hold him accountable. I really, really do, I just want us to have reasonable expectations and reasoned, informed criticisms.

as a former social worker obama want the people to find their common interests.

These dinners are a good idea. I like the whole attitude of we're more alike than different that pervades Obama's style of politics. Appealing to our better selves is a good idea.
(And that gold-edged china they used, was that what Laura Bush picked out right before leaving?)

Concerned in OH,
You have your facts wrong. Bush enlarged our national debt from 4.7 trillion to 10 trillion in his 8 years,that is an increase of 5.3 trillion. (and that's not counting the continued expense of the Iraq War he started, the rebuilding still to do there, the amount of help our injured returning vets will need for life, etc.)

Obama's $800 billion stimulus bill was not made on a whim but a necessary reaction to the terrible economic mess that Bush allowed to fester.

*please not the difference between trillion and billion. It is a big difference. Bush has been a really big spender.

Seriously, in the grand scheme of things, what it costs to run the White House in general, how many donors have stayed and been wined and dined there, etc., etc., etc., what difference does it make? Do you REALLY think Stevie Wonder is charging the American people? It is an honor to perform for the President of the United States, always has been, always will be. A few cocktails and a more collegial atmosphere in Washington is hardly a problem we need to worry about.

I wonder . . . does anyone know anything about the schedule and costs of Bush's "entertaining"? And I further wonder why you all would ponder about what Pres. Obama does and not Pres. Bush . . . yet, I am glad we are keeping an eye on our guy; however, I think we're being a bit unfair to him and uninformed about the details of what we're questioning.

Now, if the Obamas start renovating the White House, I'm going to be VERY interested in those costs at a time like this. A few cocktail parties to get people to work together seems like money well spent to me.

I guess it's a good thing that people in general are, for once, interested in spending and budget proposals and so on. I bet 99% of you couldn't tell me a thing about what Bush was up to during his presidency.

I think it's important to try to get past the spin coming from both sides these days, and the infotainment slant the media is taking. The media is constantly trying to manufacture conflict, to get us to keep tuning in to the reality show we all loved so during the election. I just wish they'd REPORT more and gossip less.

I always like to break bread before grappling with my opponents...it shows a high degree civilized behavior.

Wednesday night is a big party night at the White House. Another big tax payer expense...spending $$ we don't have and wasting time and energy. They all should be ashamed. No one in Congress should ever point a finger at Corporate "big wigs" for their getaways...Politicians are all a bunch of hypocrits starting at the top of the food chain...the President.

Jan, Yeah he sure is some diplomat. Love how he treated the Brown's. NOT! Read how Mrs. Brown really put thought into the presents she brought for the Obama's girls and Mrs. O just had someone run to the White House gift store and pick up a model. Yeah, those Obamas, they have such class NOT

Sue P. Get a life and shut up about Bush. He is no longer President that other man (whoever it is) is. You know the arrogant one with the wife that is ashamed to be an American.

"Let them eat cake"...

Look in the dictionary under "pompous" and you will find Obama's picture.

I believe this to be a fabulous tactic. It is quite easy to hate the facelss "other." Perhaps our pols can get back to the days Tip O'Neil and Baker/Dole.

Go Obama!

He's entertaining again while I've lost my kids college money and our retirement.

Unreal.

What is he doing worrying about healthcare when NO ONE is going to be working if he doesn't start caring about his agenda bringing the market down?

There will be no industry left in this country if he gets his agenda thru.

Healthcare will be the least of our worries.

B. Leathen: The President had a party for the powerful people in Washington, while at the same time he did not have time for a formal dinner with the Prime Minister of England?
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He and Michelle didn't even have time for a nice lunch with the Browns.
Although, to be fair, he treated the Prime Minister of our other close ally, Japan's Aso, pretty much the same shabby way.

This is a great American tradition -- breaking bread together.

I applaud President and Mrs. Obama and their attempts at bipartisanship. Also, I love that the spouses are included, and that the White House is being highlighted again as the beautiful place that it is.

The Obama family displays so much dignity. He is truly a statesman and diplomat.