Summititis: No-shows at President Obama's fiscal responsibility summit

By GottaLaff

Every throw a party and have nobody show up? Now you know how Prez O feels. Wonkette:

President Obama invited over a bunch of congressmen and senators to talk about being fiscally responsible, and some of them showed up, but a lot of them didn’t. Even some breakout session panelists and moderators failed to appear because who knows, maybe they had something better to do than fix the economy??? [...]

Economic Recovery Advisory Board Chairman Paul Volcker, penciled in to lead the session on taxes, didn’t come. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, listed as a moderator of the health-care panel, was also missing, as was Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn, who had been tapped as a leader of the procurement session. Another mysterious absence: CIA Director Leon Panetta, the Clinton budget director, who was expected to lead the budget panel.

Jesus Christ, does the new president have syphilis or something? Nancy Pelosi showed up late, Harry Reid didn’t show up at all…Oh yes, and Larry Summers fell asleep.

They stood up the President of the United States? Hell, I'm afraid to say no to my principal!

More from Dana Milbank:

Holding a "fiscal responsibility summit" at the White House in the middle of a government spending spree is a bit like having an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at a frat house on homecoming weekend. [...]

The attendance list distributed by the White House came with excuses helpfully printed after the names. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): "Will not join breakout sessions." Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.): "Arriving at 2:30," 90 minutes late. Pelosi: "Will not join breakout sessions." [...]

For all the no-shows and the lack of planning, the summit had, in the end, provided something of value: a rare, public back-and-forth between the president, lawmakers and interest groups. No doubt some of the no-shows will wish they had been there -- and, luckily, they may get a second chance.

"We've scheduled a health-care summit next week," the president told the summiteers. "Not that I've got summititis here."

Maybe he should have provided an open bar. That would have clinched a full house.

More Tweets from the President's Federal Budget Summit

By GottaLaff

President Obama is speaking right now. I expect I'll be getting Tweets galore. I'll update regularly. This way you get tidbits as they break:

Chris Hayes: Snap judgment: the Blue Dogs got rolled. The bad guys are not driving this car. I'm breathing a (tentative) sigh of relief.

Ana Marie Cox: Obama only one at summit who's using a teleprompter. Currently calling out Bush budget practices. "As if" used a lot. Positively snarky.

Chris Hayes: Bet you that the phrase "go through the budget line by line" polls off the charts.

Prez O wants a "frank conversation." Frankly, that's a great idea, if I may be frank.

That was short. Prez O just ended his speech. I'm waiting for more Tweets. But he wants more honest bookkeeping. Oh, and there were a few decent suh-naps at BushCo. We'll post the video as soon as it becomes available.

Ana Marie Cox: Obama: budget will return to "pay as you go," just like "families across America do every week." Except for the whole mortgage thing, ha ha.

Chris Hayes: Lieberman and Snowe chatting IN THE CENTER AISLE!

Chris Cillizza: a quick note...Brad Woodhouse is the new communications director at the DNC....friends with Gibbs and Messina, deputy cos.

Tweeting from the East Room, Fiscal Responsibility Summit

By GottaLaff

Following those on Twitter pays off:

Ana Marie Cox: OMG IT'S ORSZAG. Biden just started talking, says "some of the smartest minds in the nation" are here, "and I am also including our guests."

Claire McCaskill: In East Room. Some Cabinet, some Congress and others. Very bipartisan. VP Biden speaking.

Claire, again: Now an economist who was economic advisor on McCain Campaign.

I'll try to keep up. The Tweets I follow come in constantly, and it's a lot to wade through.

UPDATE:

Chris Hayes: Progressives in the room Larry Mishel, Roger Hickey, Dean Baker (!), Andy Stern and Anna Burger, John Cavanagh of IPS...