Sandwiched neatly between the Mayan apocalypse and the Friday before Christmas, President Obama was set to deliver his latest statement on the fiscal cliff negotiations shortly after 5 p.m. Friday. The press corps was so close to a clean getaway.
Obama speaking at 5:00PM on the fiscal cliff, eliciting groans from newsrooms across the city.
— Byron Tau (@ByronTau) December 21, 2012
More than half the WH briefing room seats are empty 8 minutes out from POTUS. #giveusourweekend
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) December 21, 2012
Eight minutes? You know he won’t be there on time, right?
Bunch of empty seats in briefing room late on the Friday before Christmas; journalists nearby scrambling to return for President
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) December 21, 2012
It's 522PM – still waiting for Pres Obama's 5PM statement.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 21, 2012
Seriously #reasonsobamaislate RT @markknoller: Lots of empty seats in WH Briefing room late on a Friday afternoon. http://t.co/NHDhhqr9
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) December 21, 2012
Time to move to a smaller venue? It is snowing out.
How to pass the time on a Friday evening? How about a quick hashtag game?
Actually ripping a gun from Charlton Heston's cold, dead hand #reasonsobamaislate
— The Ol' Tweetslinger (@FanSince09) December 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/benhjacobs/status/282250060987760640
#reasonsobamaislate Mailing Joe Biden's letter to Santa.
— Pollitics Today (@PolliticsToday) December 21, 2012
He used Apple Maps to try to find the briefing room. #reasonsobamaislate
— Sunny (@sunnyright) December 21, 2012
Freezer-chilling the beers for the flight to Hawaii #reasonsobamaislate
— David S. Joachim (@davidjoachim) December 21, 2012
Watching The Hobbit. Didn't realise it was THIS long. #reasonsobamaislate
— Steven Knight (@steveyknight) December 21, 2012
Has a "diplomatic illness" AKA concussion. #reasonsobamaislate
— Ashley S. (@DashleyinCali) December 21, 2012
Reading TIME's Person Of The Year cover story #reasonsobamaislate
— Brett LoGiurato (@BrettLoGiurato) December 21, 2012
Obama Standard Time #reasonsobamaislate
— Scott Korb (@scottkorb) December 21, 2012
#reasonsobamaislate George W. Bush
— GayPatriot™ (@GayPatriot) December 21, 2012
