“[W]e are at war and when President Obama pretends we aren’t, it makes us less safe,” Cheney said in a statement to POLITICO. “Why doesn’t he want to admit we’re at war? It doesn’t fit with the view of the world he brought with him to the Oval Office. It doesn’t fit with what seems to be the goal of his presidency — social transformation — the restructuring of American society.” – Politico
Democrats know by now Republicans will always jump on any national security opening to Jimmy Carter a new president. Trying to camouflage a near catastrophe is a fool’s errand, which sets your adversaries up for a freebie.
There is a scene in the Tom Clancy action movie “Clear and Present Danger” when a senior aide to the president tells him that he should deny a disastrous personal connection with someone who has been revealed as a money launderer for drug dealers, once the press asks him about it. Ryan starts to agree, but then catches himself, saying that the president should not only admit the tie to his disgraced friend, but go further to say he’s known him all of his life and in fact they’ve been lifelong friends. “Give them no place to go, nothing to report, no story.”
Lesson number one in political damage control.
You’ve really got to wonder who concocted the talking point for Janet Napolitano and decided the Administration’s opening line after the failed terrorist attack on Christmas. Whoever it is should be fired, but it may come down to Napolitano falling on her sword because Pres. Obama is lost inside his presidency.
It doesn’t have to be this way, because Barack Obama is one of the most gifted politicians we’ve seen in modern times. Whether he feels the impact of policies or not, which there is no evidence he does, few are able to craft the type of soaring rhetoric that Pres. Obama can. He’s also got instincts on the right policies to follow and implement. Unfortunately, he’s so far lacking the one crucial characteristic that separates great presidencies from the ordinary.
Pres. Obama doesn’t seem to be able to stand on a line and lead, letting his instincts be the primary guide of his presidency. Once again we find a president unable to be honest and blunt with the people.
Though we’ve come a long way since 9/11, we are still well beyond what we need to do to secure airplanes properly, which is the primary issue after this latest event. The Administration’s inability to come forward to say just that shows a timidity to face facts and deal with them openly, instead trying to first cover a mistake, then fix it by having the President do clean up. By that time it’s too late.
You can send an underling out with talking points, but they better not defy credulity or the heat is going to turn into an inferno, which is just what happened. Finally smoking Pres. Obama out of his Hawaii vacation, even though he was right to not jump on the story when it was reported. Unfortunately, the decision to walk down the “the system worked” road scuttled his This Does Not Rise To Presidential Response Level, forcing him to make not one but two statements after the event had blown up in the Adminstration’s face. Ms. Napolitano had the stature to handle this, but unfortunately she didn’t have the Jack Ryan stuff to tell the President that the only way to deal with this event was by heading right into it: The system didn’t work; there is no way this man should have been on the flight; if his father thinks he’s an extremist we should too and handle him accordingly. We didn’t and that’s a problem we’re going to fix.
I still believe Barack Obama has the potential to be an extraordinary president. But it’s going to take a lot more than getting two people with differing opinions in the room and cutting the difference between them to find your own. Or reacting to a serious national security incident forgetting that the American people are still a Jack Bauer loving, gun toting, hero worshiping, kick your ass culture. I know liberals don’t like that reality, but it’s the one we live in so there’s no excuse for not being prepared.
Ok, I’m going to say this again. The MYTH of Republican strength on national security, national defense and terrorism EXPLODED on the very first plane that hit Tower 1 on 9-11-2001.
Absolutely, democratz. I’ve written about that for years and years.
It doesn’t change the fact that it’s the first place they’ll attack if given any opening at all. Regardless of Bush:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/31049.html
Everyone seems to be waiting for Obama to live up to his potential. I too am waiting, but I genuinely fear that we have already seen the man’s character unless of course he has some Damascus type experience that changes him.
This, from today’s Daily News: “President Obama’s initial response Monday was too long in coming, too cool in delivery and too removed from the extreme gravity of the plot.” This can be said about all that he has touched so far — including health care and the public option. The man cannot lead because he lacks passion.
The “soaring rhetoric” that Taylor describes no longer means anything to me, as there is never any follow-up. He just has a great speech writer.
I use to hate the Republicans now I understand them completely…Heck, I have come to fully understand politics to be a huge football team with America being it’s playing field. Democrats are the Blue team with Coach Obama and Republicans are the Red team with Coach Palin an her assistant Fox News.
Right, team Red has a solid 5 point lead with the Blue team trailing behind with only 3 points. This all a game to these career politicians we the American people are the fans who sit in the stands cheering for our teams. Someone famous once said Politics is a “Sport” I forgot who it was but now I understand what they meant. President Obama is not a bad coach but he sure as hell is not a good one either…But right now his team is getting there ass handed to them he needs a new playboook and some members on his team need to be traded. Once again the Republicans are doing every thing to win no matter the cost after all to them it’s all a “SPORT”.
You know, Ramsgate, I’m hoping the prospect of failure will bring it out in him, as ego doesn’t like to lose.
Absolutely, Marie205, with the problem being that Dems have seen this game before.
Obama standing on a line and leading?
Obama honesty and bluntness?
If you are looking for a past model for those traits, you can look at Harry Truman. Harry Truman by most measurements WAS a great president. Leadership, honesty and bluntness were Harry Truman’s style of governance, certainly not characteristics of the mealy mouthed Barack Obama. President Obama, you’re no Harry Truman.
Ramsgate…What did you want him to say and do?!!! He would have said the same stupid things he said even if he jumped in front the story. His delaying the response means nothing but does mean something to people who have come to loath him at this point. I don’t like the choices Obama has made but I’m starting to feel like people are expecting more out of him then any other President in American history. I think Obama can rise to the occasion when he feels the need to it, until then he’ll keep dragging his feet.
Ramsgate says:
30 December 2009 at 4:53 pm
The “soaring rhetoric” that Taylor describes no longer means anything to me, as there is never any follow-up. He just has a great speech writer.
———
Next election, I’ll cast a write-in vote for the teleprompter or the speechwriter. They’re more impressive.
nzanh….Harry Truman would not have survived in this age of 24/7 negative media for one or two slip ups …Obama like Bush and to a certain extent Clinton are politicians having dealing with twenty-four hour media coverage. Look I’m not to happy with Obama either but there is no need to say or even compare him to Harry Truman a president who dealt with issues suited for only his era.
We live in the Obama era…folks not good ole Harry Truman age. In this new era we are at war in two countries and America is going broke…children being born in this new age only know of Clinton, Bush and now Obama…And right now people of my age range compare Obama work so far to these past Presidents Regan, Bush I, Clinton & Bush II. So, far Obama is doing better then Bush II but not better then Clinton… he is sort of in the middle.
Marie205 says:
..but I’m starting to feel like people are expecting more out of him then any other President in American history.
And, how did this come about?
The ultra cooless is a problem for the times we are presently living through. Charles Blow,surprisingly,said it pretty well on ‘Morning Joe’…Obama was the presidential candidate for the campaign because he seemed the opposite of Bush,but he is not the President we need for the times we find ourselves in….Blow believes he can rise to the occasion.
guyski….I don’t know how is came about…But I do know he expect a job with few benefits in the long run…Outside the prestige of being a former President it’s a pretty thankless job. Sure you get some perks while President but is it really worth all the pressure put on you by a ungrateful nation. Obama biggest mistake was promising things he could not deliver and refusing to play up those he did deliver on in 2009. There is many new bills and issues Obama has made possible in 2009 but has barely received any news worthy mention.
I remember right after he won hearing grown adults who should know better telling their kids “Obama will bring world peace”…WTF!!! Yes, these were the cool aid drinkers who are now turning on him the hardest. Obama didn’t live up to god like status so he must be destroyed. My thoughts on Obama are mostly in line with Taylor Marsh that he has the “potential” to be in the end a pretty good president. He just seems to constantly, get muddle in message and loose focus often.
Clinton II
Lake Lady….Charles Blow is full of crap…sorry to say. But did he forget who Obama was running against John “Fundamentals of the Economy was strong” McCain and Sarah “I can see Alaska from my house” Palin. To agree with Mr. Blow is to say those two Republican candidates would have been the better choice. I may be disappoint in Obama but have not reached his crazy point.
These people (aka Charles Blow) were the legendary cool aid drinkers we heard about throughout the 2008 campaign. People keep talking about how Obama is going to lose 2012 but no one talks about who is going to beat him…You know why?!!! Because no matter is flaws he is still the best choice we had…but no one wants to admit that…
I could be wrong about this but he seems like does not really like the job. He seems unhappy to me. I get this gut feeling that he won’t run for a second term.
Remember how WJC just seemed to relish the job and had to practically be dragged away when his second term was up. I am not comparing abilities here just temperment.
Part of the answer. The media.
Newsweek’s Evan Thomas comments after Obama’s Cairo speech:
“I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God.”
Add various comments by the likes of Richard Wolffe, Chris Mathews, etc.
A pedestal is the tall column under the admired statue. It is the dangerous place where pride swells when living people are put there. If you want to know the truth about a great person, watch as the pedestal is pulled out from under him and see what is left.
-Jim Hammond
marie 205 ….I freely admit that.That is what made me work for him.I was never a believer but I was sure that McCain would be a disaster. I’m still sure of that. However I remember all the pressure put on Hillary people to jump on the bandwagon. The threat was always about choice,women’s issues,the Supreme Court.Well how has that all worked out so far?
Marie, sure we live in different times and some of the challenges are different, but Truman came into office during difficult times as well. And sure, we live in a 24/7 news cycle but Truman was not a media sweetheart by any means. Comparatively, where favorable media coverage is concerned, Barack Obama has led a charmed life. Truman finished out WWII with Japan and Germany (two continents). We were brought into Korea during his presidency and have had to deal with the aftermath to this day. The nuclear Soviet Union and the threat that it represented emerged. In addition, Truman had his own set of daunting economic challenges converting an economy geared toward wartime production back to the civilian sphere. All that aside, my point is that there are character traits, as Taylor pointed out, that lend themselves to successful if not extraordinary presidencies. And thus far President Obama exhibits none of them.
guyski…your correct I think the media help create this Obama god like hype…The man is just a gifted politician who ran at the right time and won. But being the typical media hacks our cable pundits are it’s time to tear him down a peg or two…They did it with Bill and Hillary Clinton and George Bush mostly during his second term.
The media is out to sale papers….Long past the over used Heroism storyline the have moved on the washed up Politician narrative for Obama…lol
Cheney is deeply irreponsible. But we knew that already.
guyski says:
30 December 2009 at 6:06 pm
Part of the answer. The media.
Newsweek’s Evan Thomas comments after Obama’s Cairo speech:
“I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God.”
Add various comments by the likes of Richard Wolffe, Chris Mathews, etc.
———
Marie, guyski has made my point about Obama’s charmed media life.
Lake Lady…In all honesty it has worked out “fine”…Do you think Hillary would have support Obama and still do if she thought for one minute he would be worse then McCain and Palin?!! I think Mrs. Clinton is a brilliant woman she got on Obama team to offer as much help as possible behind the scenes…and if Obama does win another term it most likely will because of the Clinton’s somehow.
Sure, Obama is not great on certain issue I as a woman find important but the thought of Sarah Palin possibly being the Clarence Thompson for women scared the hell out of me.
nzanh….Truman is gone old Harry has left the building…Just like Ronald Regan will never come back or another Kennedy, Johnson or Bill Clinton. Comparing Obama to past people who had ability that best served a different era is kind of cruel. Think of it this way “Why can’t Obama live up to his older brother Harry…I mean Harry was perfect he would have never let this or that happen just why can’t he be like his big brother?” The reason why Obama can never be Harry is simple he is a different person with his own unique gifted abilities. He just like Taylor is suggesting needs to push to live up to them…Perhaps the taste of personal lose will be Obama final straw before he taps into his own gifts.
Yawn. Obama is a wimp and a corporate sellout who leads a party made up of mostly wimps and few with courage. Maybe this nation deserves to fail with our leadership being reprsenative of it’s population, it’s not worth saving.
Marie205 says:
30 December 2009 at 6:26 pm
Marie205, you are a hoot(that’s a compliment). I enjoy your comments and style.
Iceblinkjm ….So, I take it you are not voting in the next election…lol Because the sellout mantra pretty much covers almost every politician in Washington…hahahaha Side note: I don’t think he is a wimp but more of a less get along kid of guy….You the type “Mr.Nice” until he is really pissed off and then acts out. Obama is all about winning and until he personally loses something he could care less what people say about him in the media.
Marie205 says:
30 December 2009 at 6:26 pm
… The reason why Obama can never be Harry is simple he is a different person with his own unique gifted abilities.
—-
Point taken, Marie. But I think we can both agree that President Obama has thus far not demonstrated himself to be particularly “gifted” where governance is concerned.
lynnette…Thanks, I try to be light heart’ed when talking about politics. I use to take Politics way to serious but now I look at all through a sort of fun house glass. I even read up on the history of both political parties before choosing to be an independent. Republicans and Democrats have a long history of screwing the American people over and fighting with each other it’s a never ending freak show with these two parties…lol I don’t trust either one…
Marie205 says:
30 December 2009 at 6:41 pm
I understand. You liven things up here – keep it up.
Potential is good, and maybe Obama will yet become the hoped for leader, or something closer to it than he’s shown thus far. I’m highly skeptical, but will be quite glad if I’m wrong. He is indeed a gifted poliltician, but we very much need someone gifted at governing.
Whatever happens, this is the Obama administration, one year in — what McCain would have done, or for that matter, what Hillary or Edwards or anybody else would have done, doesn’t seem to me to be the point. Obama’s the leader we have. The Democratic Party is the majority party we have.
Well I think if McCain was the pres., we’d be in a deeper hole than we already are, for sure. I’ll give Obama time to grow – I know he has tremendous potential and I don’t recall any recent president coming to office with so many serious problems. I just wish he would lead more with those great gifts he has, but maybe that’s just not his style. Time will tell. Also, the media built him up into a God-like figure – nobody can live up to that.
And how long do we wait for the leadership epiphany to affect the President. For god sake, I’ve been hearing and reading the “I still believe he can be a great President” ever since he took office. By the time he gets around to it 2012 will be upon us and who knows what the state of the country will be.
Marie205 says:
30 December 2009 at 6:33 pm You the type “Mr.Nice” until he is really pissed off and then acts out.
I think you might have just described me, Marie 205. LOL. Well, maybe a teeny weeny side of me.
Joyce Arnold….Good points Dems are who we the American people are stuck with for mostly likely until 2012….Scary, I know
On the bright side America has survived these corrupted two parties and will continue to do so long after you and I have passed on. What sometimes get’s me upset is how die hard fans of both parties refuse to see the very real dangerous flaws this two party system we have in America. So, all I can do is in the end vote for the one who is least likely to piss me off…lol
Right now, the Dems are starting to drive me batty…But then the Republicans do something to remind me why I voted Dem in 2008 and the vicious cycle of who to vote for starts all over again.
kris says:
30 December 2009 at 6:57 pm
Well, that’s a good question, Kris. I feel the same frustration but I am willing to push for change myself and wait to see what unfolds.
Marie205 says:
30 December 2009 at 7:01 pm
I’m a life long Democrat but I understand the need for a third party (never thought I would) when I see how Congress is controlled by the corporations. The system is broken for sure. Perhaps public financing of campaigns is the answer. Question is, how do we get a strong, viable third party that millions of voters will join?? It’s pretty difficult to do that.
kris…Then what do you suggest we do until 2012?!!! The man is president for another good long and I mean long three years….lmao
He has not done anything impeachable yet on the scale of Richard Nixon or Clinton like….I would love to see him leave office too just like you…lol But were stuck with him on this sinking ship and might be for another four years if Republicans do not come up with a better candidate…Because a failed ex-governor of Alaska is not going to cut it….I can already see Obama winning a squeaker over Sarah “Snow Valley” Palin.
So, I hope Kris you have a stuck up on stomach medicine because were looking at a good long eight years of Commander Obama…hahahaha
Can you be impeached for incompetence?
BTW – where’s Hillary? Strangely silent.
kris….hahahaha…I wish, if Americans were able to impeach a President for something like that Carter nor George Bush II would have finished there first terms in office….It’ll take more then perceived incompetence to get rid of Obama. Personally, I don’t think he is incompetent at all just sort of kind of lazy and to nice a guy. Remember Hillary accusing Obama of being to nice a guy to be President when dealing with our enemies. Look, Obama maybe many things but incompetent he is not….lol
Kris- Skiing in Utah with Bill.
Seriously iceblink?
Hillary said there is no learning curve when you’re President. She criticized his lack of experience and she was right. It’s showing more and more with every issue that comes up.
And Marie there is a difference between running a campaign and governing. Hopefully we have learned that lesson.
I thought I saw a tweet about them grabbing Starbucks Kris. You know twitter, so take it with a grain of salt.
I hope it’s true, she’s been traveling all damn year.
Kris…In all honesty Obama won the Presidency because he beat his competition. John McCain and his famous the “Fundamentals of the Economy was strong” statement just would not have cut it as President either. Sarah Palin as second in command would be getting hit to by the media right about now as well….In fact she hinder John McCain in 2008 from ever be President….I’m sorry no matter how bad Obama is I will be forever grateful he beat those two bozos…
You talk as if there was a better alternative to Obama in 2008. Once Hillary lost to him in the primaries thanks to Mark Penn and others hurting her chances 2008, all that was left standing was Obama. So, I’m trying to figure out what alternative is people seeking when looking back in 2008?!!! What is done is done Obama will be President until 2012 and like I said before if the Repubs don’t come up with a better candidate then say hello to Obama’s second term…
“I still believe Barack Obama has the potential to be an extraordinary president.”
As a lifelong Democrat I desperately wish I could agree with you, Taylor. But I can’t. Obama is who he is. He’s shown he doesn’t have the capacity to be a take charge leader. We needed a rough and ready to rumble Hulk Hogan but it turns out we elected a shamefully timid and conflicted Miss Manners. How sad…
“We needed a rough and ready to rumble Hulk Hogan but it turns out we elected a shamefully timid and conflicted Miss Manners. How sad…”
imthedude…We had a rough and ready to rumble his name was George Bush and that didn’t turn out so well in the end. Yes, he is way to timid for these dangerous political waters…Yet, the man keeps surviving for some reason wining the White House an all. He was the same timid person during the election in 2008 and will continue to do be no matter what. It’s just now people are starting to see this little flaw more loudly, but here is the deal “Who in the heck will beat him in 2012?”….lol
Until Obama anti-fans can come up with a worthy competitor as it stands his being timid, shy, nerdy, lazy, egoistical etc… will slow him down but not stop this guy.
Marie 205:
30 December 2009 at 5:05 pm
Here’s are my problems with Barak Obama. I find that he’s too cautious and he compromises way too much. So much so that it difficult to tell what he really stands for. Where Bush made decisions on Right/Wrong, Good/Evil, Obama seems to make them on the path of least resistance. Splitting the difference. It should be noted though, as someone once said, he will seriously consider no policy that is to the left of the Senate’s most conservative Democrats.
In addition, he has shown that he’s a timid man. In spite of the political power he enjoys, in terms of personal popularity and majorities in the house and senate, he absolutely refuses to fight — to take on the vested interests. If he needs to reform Wall Street, it must be done without getting the bankers angry at him; if he needs to fix health care, it has to be done without hurting insurance companies or big Pharma; if you need to clean up the environment, energy companies must not suffer, and so on. How is this possible? He wants omelets without breaking eggs. He’s definitely no Truman. But I don’t expect him to be. I just expect him to keep his word.
He promised change. He’s knowingly giving us more of the same. The times call for a bold transformational leader and he knows it and in spite of it he cheats us with his cautious incrementalism.
Ramsgate ….Brilliant and deep post!!! Hit on some on the issues I have with Obama…But, I come to the conclusion and perhaps you will to that he is what he is and we are stuck with this guy for at least 2012.And keeping his “Word” Obama is a career politician when has any of the cheese heads in Washington kept their word. The American people is forced to make these morons keep there word through protest and are voting there sorry butts out of office.
Let’s just hope these next three years go by fast with out much damage to the US. And please, Repubs next time around give us a real alternative to Dems candidate so we could have an actual battle for the highest office in the land.
Marie:
I love YOUR passion. Believe me, I felt as you did about him once. Like so any others, I worked my tail off for him. Well. . . you know the saying . . . fool me once. . I have turned, and it will take a lot to turn me back, because I have seen right through him. He broke one too many promises.
What you have said about other politicians is very true. But this is different. This is a different time. The country is broke NOW. We have a Democratic President with a filibuster proof senate NOW, with a huge majority in the house; people are dying NOW. People need health care NOW. My God, just think if Bush were a Democrat and he were President instead of Obama, he’d have rammed through a single-payer health care plan already. The climate is going to hell in a hand-basket NOW. We desperately need a leader. Not someone who just wants to win to say it passed so I won.
This man could change this country for hundreds of years, but he has no such ambition.
Therefore, Marie, I think all this talk of his potential is BS. IMHO he doesn’t have it.
Ramsgate….Uhm, Obama was voted into office because he was not to similar to Bush. So, the ramming of his agenda through congress would have been unObama like…don’t you think?!!! Also, I don’t have nor ever had any passion for Obama…I just expect him to be your typical Washington Politician that gives good speeches. He is doing so far exactly was I assumed he would do in office. In other words my expectations for Obama was pretty low…lol
So, I’m not has hurt by his failure to get certain things passed through congress. What I’m hurt is by his lack of not tapping into the potential he does have. I refuse to call him a failure with only one year into his Presidency. If we judge all Presidents by that standard no Former President should be consider good at anything. The man has accomplished other things in 2009.
Marie205 says:
30 December 2009 at 8:57 pm What I’m hurt is by his lack of not tapping into the potential he does have. I refuse to call him a failure with only one year into his Presidency.
I can agree with that.
Hey everyone, in case I don’t catch you tomorrow, Happy New Year and I hope 2010 will be a good year for us all.
Barack Obama is obviously NOT one of the most gifted politicians of our time. He is a grand hoax perpetrated on the American people by Democratic party image makers. Lousy, lousy, lousy…
Marie205…
LOL. Of course, he was the Anti-Bush, if you will.
To be more specific, I expected him as an astute and gifted politician to take maximum advantage of the blessings he had the good fortune to be awarded as he entered the Presidency — an almost 70% approval rating, a huge House majority and an almost filibuster proof senate, not to mention his gifts as an orator and respect on the world stage. In those halcyon days he could have had just about any damn thing he wanted. The Republicans were scared to death. Books were being written on the death of conservatism, and the death of Reaganism.
Instead he flitted them away making nice to the Republicans to absolutely no avail. The nicer he was the more contempt they showed; and the more he compromised the more they were emboldened. Instead of trying for home runs he always tried for doubles.
I am sure that you are correct that he has accomplished “other things” in 2009 but personally I cannot think of a meaningful thing that has touched or changed the life of the average middle class American.
Happy New year to all.
One of Obama’s accomplishments in 2009:
He has turned the Democrat’s golden age into rubbage. No midas touch found here. Many of us knew all along that he wasn’t what he was cracked up to be.
amabomon…Just who would have been the best alternative outside of Obama and Hillary in 2008?!!!….Surely, not John McCain & Sarah Palin….lol People keep saying how lousy Obama is and I get that but no one wants to face the obvious the man has no competition at the moment. And this folks is why Obama will likely win again he has no “One to run against”. I keep waiting for some one to rise to the occasion in the Repub party but none has…there to busy trashing Obama to come up with a sound alternative to the man.
Marie205:
“And this folks is why Obama will likely win again he has no “One to run against”. I keep waiting for some one to rise to the occasion in the Repub party but none has…there to busy trashing Obama to come up with a sound alternative to the man.”
I believe that you are correct.
I implicitly believe that as an American it is one’s profound responsibility and obligation to vote. Having said that here’s my dilemma. I know that under no circumstances will I ever vote for a Republican. And given how I feel about BO right now, I doubt that I could vote for him again. Fortunately for me, I reside in a deep blue state so it may not be such a tough decision after all.
See, he has two years to change my mind.
gosh darn it Taylor.
you showed us obamma wasnt intelligent during the primaries.
you railed against his lack of personal information.
you helped me see through the charade and yet you now call him intelligent.
the guy is an idiot and has voted present since he got into politics. he has not done much of anything except let lobbiests and corporate insiders write his bills and guide his presidency.
he is anything but intelligent and if he actually did anything academically he would be trumpeting it.
instead we know more about tiger woods wifes choice of golfclubs. because the all knowing media never dug up squat on him. the rags like the enquirer are doing a better job than almost anyone else in finding out the truth. edwards fiasco and lies were a good example of this.
I cant see how you can call him intelligent after all the stuff we found about what he didnt do when he was in school, what he didnt do when he had a “job” and lastly what he didnt do when he was in politics. all he did was ride on others coat tails.
I just dont get it.
mark
First, what happened to the diary about superdelegates?
Second, we are to be patient with the President because who is going to run against him in 2012? Be patient. Just because you don’t see it today doesn’t mean it won’t happen. If we have to be patient with this President to grow and be someone other than what he has shown so far, then be patient and see who comes out of the Republican party, or another party, by 2012.
I still say that Hillary Clinton is going to bail out sooner rather than later. This administration is not a reflection of the Clinton’s at all. Who knows maybe she will primary him in 2012. Or he may not choose to run again. Maybe there will be others who stand up and choose to run.
The bottom line for me is the issues are to serious, the times we live in to dangerous to mess around with someone with NO EXPERIENCE. I voted for this guy on a hope and prayer. I will never do that again.
And sorry Marie but your statements followed by lol is ridiculous. Don’t take it seriously but most of us do here. I miss POA who I know was either banned again or put in moderation. There is a seriousness to imhotep and POA that I appreciate.
And by the way their early comments about Yemen and Al Aqaeda turned out to be right on the mark.
So Taylor if you are reading and POA is banned or in moderation please let him post again. I can put up with the back and forth between him, angels and secular. I think angels and secular rather enjoyed it. At the very least there was some excellent information shared.
Or in the alternative Marie go watch “The American President”. Pay particular attention to the end…serious times call for serious answers…something along those lines.
If this President doesn’t take it seriously then get the hell out. I’d taken Biden at this point over this idiot. And trust me I am no Biden fan.
kris says:
December 2009 at 11:42 pm
Or in the alternative Marie go watch “The American President”. Pay particular attention to the end…serious times call for serious answers…something along those lines.
If this President doesn’t take it seriously then get the hell out. I’d take Biden at this point over this idiot. And trust me
I am no Biden fan.
…
Whitepaw now comments:
Maybe it is just us on the W Coast kris…… But I agree… 100%
When George W. Bush ‘swiped’ the election from Gore this country took a HUGE turn toward the Right. Then, unfortunately, that swing of the pendulum was *kicked in the ass* by 9/11 and George stayed for *two* terms instead of getting dumped after one. We swung so far to the Right we could see Russia from our house. So the time was RIPE for an equally extreme ‘swing’ to the Left. I believe history will record that Obama ‘fell’ into a situation wherein ‘change’ was the true key. The time was *perfect* for a female president. That much was clear. Unfortunately for Hillary, there was an even MORE extreme option on the table: and not just an extremely likable eloquent Black candidate, but an entirely fresh face. Hillary could not claim that feature. America wanted ‘New’. Obama won.
It’s a damned shame.
Kris,
Hillary is not going to Primary Obama, not in a million years. She remembers Ted Kennedy’s quixotic run against Carter and has no interest in becoming the farce to Ted’s tragedy.
If a challenger does pop up from the ranks it will be someone like Representative Allan Grayson, an insurgent, populist,rabble-rouser and political gadfly.
pmicheal,
Meh, Bubba was no great liberal shining light. He helped set up NAFTA and the twin bubble economies of the internet and the sub prime loan debacle. We have suffering for more than thirty years of Ronnie Ray-Gun misrule. But yes, Barry really screwed the pooch as far as golden opportunities. The melt-down of September 2008 proved the bankruptcy of Republican ideas. The left could really run the table. But Obama had other fish to fry. He showed his true colors when he was still a Senator by voting for the horror show that was “FISA reform.”
The republicans blame the democrats for the economic crisis and left blame Clinton for the economic crisis is paying dividends
“The bad news for the Democrats is that the number of Americans who hold the GOP exclusively responsible for the recession has been steadily falling by about two to three points per month,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “At that rate, only a handful of voters will blame the economy on the Republicans by the time next year’s midterm elections roll around.”
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/20/cnn-poll-blame-for-recession-shifting-from-gop-to-democrats/
And lets not forget its Clinton fault for 911
amabomon says:
“Barack Obama is obviously NOT one of the most gifted politicians of our time. He is a grand hoax perpetrated on the American people by Democratic party image makers.”
I’m thinking the “perpetrators of grand hoaxes” are very often the definition of “gifted politicians.”
lynnette says:
“I’m a life long Democrat but I understand the need for a third party … Question is, how do we get a strong, viable third party that millions of voters will join??”
I agree with the need, I’d say necessity, of some serious third, fourth, whatever party challenges.
Mark D says:
30 December 2009 at 10:49 pm
I have to disagree on what my posts and reporting (interviewing a lot of people from Obama’s world while others were busy applauding) during the primaries revealed about candidate Obama. None of which went to his intelligence, which I never doubted, MarkD. It was his ability to say anything to anyone to get people to follow him based solely on his words, without any proof he could deliver.
Besides, you can’t beat the Clinton machine if you’re not smart. Obama and his team made fools of that vaunted infrastructure in the primaries, as early as February, when the race was basically over, no matter what some die hard Clinton supporters say.
Obama knows how to win. He just hasn’t figured out how to lead yet.
pmichael says:
31 December 2009 at 3:14 am
“The time was *perfect* for a female president. That much was clear. Unfortunately for Hillary, there was an even MORE extreme option on the table: and not just an extremely likable eloquent Black candidate, but an entirely fresh face. Hillary could not claim that feature. America wanted ‘New’. Obama won.”
The time was PERFECT for change. He promised change. After 8 years of Bush and Republican failure and incompetence, the country yearned for a CLEAN BREAK WITH THE PAST, and he was given the tools with which to do it. Instead he gave us more of the same. He plain flat out lied, and it is clear he knew what he was bamboozling us, because he allowed his Presidency to be hijacked by the very same people who were responsible for the failures of the past — the financial meltdown.
The point is that an economic team made up exclusively of callous ex-Goldman bankers has absolutely zero interest in reforming the gamed system that made them rich in the first place. So, just like under Bush, Wall Street is making out like bandits while Main Street suffers.
Now, a word about character. When he sees these Wall street bonuses, ($130 billion for 160 thousand people) and he hears the unemployment numbers, as an ex community organizer, does it not bother him? Does he not pick up his cell phone and scream for Summers or Geithner and yell WTF is going on, here? After all, it has to be touching the lives of ex neighbors of his in Chicago.
Noooooo, he goes to some manufacturing plant in Indiana and makes a speech to workers that means absolutely nothing, while meeting with the bankers in private to allow them to jack up their usurious credit card rates even more, on the very same workers who he serenaded with his oratory. Even worse, when he calls these bankers in to scold them they don’t respect him enough to even show up at the WH.
So finally, what have we here: The bankers don’t show up; he kow-tows to members of his own party – they dictate to him what they will and will not do. The Hondurans stared him down got away with their coup; the Israelis are still building settlements, after he said they had to stop, yet he expects the Iranians to take him seriously. Thing is he’s only initiating sanctions to satisfy the republicans. And Putin is watching all this. What a joke.
Thanks whitepaw. You’re right must be a West Coast thing
“…you can’t beat the Clinton machine if you’re not smart. Obama and his team made fools of that vaunted infrastructure in the primaries, as early as February, when the race was basically over, no matter what some die hard Clinton supporters say. Obama knows how to win. He just hasn’t figured out how to lead yet.”
Obama “made fools” of Clinton’s “vaunted infrastructure?” That is simply not the case. In the first place, no one–not any political analyst–thought Hillary Clinton would do anywhere near as well as she did, taking most of the states delegates and the majority of votes. Obama had insiders at the DNC perverting the will of voters, that’s all. If chicanery is “smart,” then Obama could be considered intelligent. However, he didn’t do it on his own, so let’s not give Obama the credit for making “fools” of anyone except the American people!
The Obama campaign had to cheat to win the nomination. But they had a great deal of help to cheat. Howard Dean, DNC Chair suborned the will of Florida voters. In Michigan–where Obama was not on the ballot–the DNC gave Obama 55 delegates in order to make him the nominee. Were it not for the DNC’s electoral fraud, Obama wouldn’t have been the nominee.