THE PRAIRIE EDITOR: Intimations of a One-Term President
For the first time, there are signs that Barack Obama may be a
one-term president of the United States.
Of course, there are almost three full years remaining in his first term, and
much can happen between now and November 2012 that could restore Mr.
Obama’s standing and popularity.
But the stubborn course he’s on now, persisting with unworkable and very
unpopular healthcare legislation, continued bailouts of big businesses, and a
dangerously naive foreign policy, are only accelerating negative public opinion
that, over time, will become virtually impossible to overcome.
The obsessive political course of the Obama administration will reach an
apotheosis on election day in November, 2010. If the current trend is
maintained to that date, it is almost certain that historic losses, possibly
endangering their current majorities and control of both houses of Congress,
will take place. In any event, the Democrats’ ability to enact the kind of
agenda they are now trying to advance will be finished.
At that point, many Democrats will be looking for an alternative candidate
in 2012. It will be very, very difficult to nominate anyone but an incumbent
president then, but as the party learned in 1980 when Ted Kennedy
challenged President Carter for his renomination and failed, the incumbent
goes into the November election profoundly weakened.
That kind of scenario is far ahead. What is so remarkable about the present
scenario is that President Obama is so weak this early in his first term.
Barely a year has passed. I have been suggesting for some time now that
the cause is a combination of an over-reaching agenda, bad advice, poor
staff judgment and the fact that the president himself is a political amateur.
The elements of a revolt within the Democratic Party are not yet visible.
But they soon will be.
Thank you, PE.
While we are on the subject of obsession, what would be enormously positive at this juncture (not just on this blog but elsewhere in American political discourse) is, following the obligatory bit about Obama’s failed policies, some space is reserved for the fine and compelling ideas that are certainly oozing out of every recess of the Conservative movement. [A piece on Ms. Palin's brand of celebrity-sans-plan does not, however, pass for the responsible discourse we have come to expect from this fine site.] Thank you for keeping the juices flowing, sir.
[THE PRAIRIE EDITOR'S NOTE: Unfortunately, the commentator attempts to perpetuate the
myth that the Republicans/conservatives (not always the same folks) have no alternative
plans and ideas. In fact, there are numerous thoughtful plans and imaginative ideas
being put forward as alternatives to the Obama agenda. Most notably, are the excellent
ideas on health care coming from Newt Gingrich and his colleagues, some of which
have already been adopted and put in practice by states and their governors.]