Republicans outraged Obama usurped their 'Daddy party' throne

[ProSense]

Republicans outraged Obama usurped their 'Daddy party' throne

by TXdem

(As has been pointed out here at Dkos, Republicans are dripping with poutrage in a lame attempt to prevent President Obama from benefitting from his own accomplishments. Dissent is important, but so is political reality.)

For decades, the Republican party enjoyed an advantage on national security and defense, anchoring and reinforcing its status as America’s ‘daddy party’. Bush’s failed Iraq strategy and prolonged bloodshed there damaged the brand, leading to a midterm meltdown and the axing of Rummy. McCain’s war service helped revive the GOP strength gap for 2008, but the financial crisis and Palin swamped that advantage. In 2012 however, the script has been flipped. After scoring an early victory on Gitmo, Republicans have largely been silent (apart from the 'Obama apology tour' meme) or muddled over security and foreign policy during the Obama presidency. Neoconservatism is unpopular and the tea party isn’t focused abroad.

The events of last year proved a major turning point in reshaping perceptions and bolstering President Obama’s standing on defense and national security as he enters into a challenging re-election campaign. In 2011 Barack Obama:

• eliminated Osama bin Laden
• ended the Iraq war
• intervened militarily to help Libyans oust the Gadhafi regime
• leveraged our relationship with the Egyptian military to end Mubarak’s reign, breathing life into the Arab Spring
• removed several other al-Qaida leaders—including Anwar al-Awlaki—from the battlefield, dramatically weakening the terrorist organization
• ended “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
• announced the withdrawal of surge forces from Afghanistan by summer of 2012, followed by a steady drawdown approaching the 2014 transfer deadline

The raid President Obama ordered that killed America’s enemy #1 is the most memorable and visceral because of its surprise nature, revealed in a dramatic Sunday night presidential statement, and for the obvious emotional connection to 9/11. The successful mission ended a decade of national impotence, unleashing a wave of euphoric celebration that manifested outside the White House, in Manhattan and across the country. As the details came out, it was clear that the elements of risk associated with the raid were high and that Obama’s advisors were not sold on the mission, further elevating the presidential decision. Finally, President Obama demonstrated such graceful leadership in visiting NYC to honor the heroes of 9/11 and comfort the victims’ families.

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By fulfilling his campaign promise to end the Iraq war, Barack Obama pleased the American people and upset Republican politicians. Nothing else so starkly highlights the chasm between Republican foreign-policy ideology and the thinking of average Americans. The troops were home for the holidays but Republicans were acting like grinches, prognosticating a collapse of the Iraqi government and a return to sectarian conflict. Well, the new round of P5+1 negotiations with Iran are taking place in Baghdad next month, so I guess all hell hasn’t broken loose yet. Back on the home front, the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden are leading a national effort through Joining Forces to, among other things, encourage companies to help meet the president's jobs challenge for returning veterans and their spouses.

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By racking up victories on these fronts, President Obama has fulfilled his foundational security promise to the country and, in the process, poached the ‘daddy party’ mantle from the opposition. And he’s prepared to go on offense. End Iraq war. Check. Re-focus on al-Qaida. Check. Get bin Laden. Check. Americans like to get the bad guys, but desperately want to change the boots-on-the-ground paradigm in the so-called GWOT.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087238/-Republicans-outraged-Obama-usurped-their-Daddy-party-throne-

Great stuff!