Obama cannot really be challenged in 2012, so that's not realistic or wise

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

In my medium-long life a sitting president who faces a primary challenge sees the other party take over in the fall.

Eugene McCarthy ('68), Ronald Reagan ('76), Ted Kennedy ('80), Pat Buchanan ('92)

One can argue cause and effect (weak presidents get challenged more) but the facts is the facts.

And unless President Obama were to lose his standing with black voters he starts off with a very solid 30% in a Democratic primary. He will not be beatable in a primary so he can only be roughed up, and it just wouldn't help.

So, for all my well documented issues with the Prez, he's the nominee in 2012 and it will be better than worse that he win in 2012.

So, yeah. I'll support him in 2012 pretty much no matter what.

Some of these issues will, much like gay rights, end up being generational turn-over issues where the people end up leading the politicians. Sensible health-care will most likely be that sort of thing too. And in the interim, these petty reforms will still help some individuals a lot.

A parliamentary system is better. Our set-up is a partisan suicide pact with no realistic mechanism for changing four-year Presidents without changing parties.

And that's the way it is.

[dflprincess]

1. While it is true that Eugene McCarthy finished 2nd in New Hampshire

in '68, he made such a strong showing that Johnson could see the handwriting on the wall.

Johnson dropped out of the race, had RFK lived and the Democrats nominated him and not Humphrey (or if Humphrey had distanced himself from LBJ's Vietnam policies) Nixon would not have won and the challenge to Johnson would have been considered successful.

This is the last straw, I will not support any Democrat who is willing to sell us out to the corporations like this.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. All true, and Ford almost pulled it out vs. Carter

But the trend is the trend.

Considering where Johnson was in 1964 it's amazing Nixon won in any scenario versus the VP. A stark reveral.

[blue_onyx]

3. Yes, he will be the nominee for the Democrats in 2012

but he lost my vote tonight. The individual mandate is a handout to insurance companies and is complete bullshit.