Is Obama Gaining from Being Reasonable?

[Yavin4]

Yes, he's the adult in the room. Yes, he compromises at every turn, but is this tactic working with the people? Is it helping him, or more importantly, his party? Can you effectively govern in an economic crisis by being conciliatory at every turn?

[villager]

1. Are any of us better off than we were when he was elected?

:shrug:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. That's An Unfair Question Although I Can Understand The Motivation For Asking It

And he has done things that have made a tangible change in people's lives.

[boxman15]

7. ^This. nt

[villager]

8. I'm actually worse off, for what it's worth.

And for those who are, I think the perception that Obama hasn't stood up for them, could be damning.

He keeps trying to appeal to the wrong "base," it seems, and this point, one wonders what the hell he's even thinking.

[Hawkowl]

9. Jimmy Carter? Is that you?

Ronald Reagan cleaned your clock with that line. And no, it wasn't fair--just like life.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. Actually It Was John Kennedy

.

[Marnie]

38. The point is that the Republicans will ask it and most

people will be saying no,they are worse off. Then the Democrats will have to waste time and money running against that PR rather than running for whatever platform they dream up between now and next summer.

[bhikkhu]

39. Repugs will ask it, lie about the answer, and do their best to convince you you're worse off

...borrowed from http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x756825

I'm better off...finances are about the same and my job is secure as business has definitely picked up where I work, but the main thing is I've cut expenses way back by bicycling to work, and quitting smoking and drinking.

[CreekDog]

43. Question should be: Is America gaining by Obama trying to seem reasonable?

No.

[TwilightGardener]

17. I am, actually.

[TheWraith]

19. Yes, vastly.

And if you don't recognize that, well, you're ignoring the reality of where we were three years ago.

[villager]

20. Your lecturing reminds me of this cartoon:

[rusty fender]

41. Ouch!!Double Ouch!!

Spot on! But Obama doesn't need any help getting re-elected because Prof. Lichtman has already told us that he will. No worries! :P

[JoePhilly]

28. Many of us are.

[jberryhill]

29. Yes /nt

[LonePirate]

2. No. He is perceived as being weak and ineffectual for not being vocal about Rethug obstructionism.

[dennis4868]

4. we'll find out...

in 2012!

[frazzled]

5. No, but it was great publicity for the speech

Now that it's been turned into a reality show smackdown phony crisis, lots of people who otherwise might not have tuned in will.

[Fresh_Start]

6. Don't see it

The GOP is losing
The Government is losing
The Political process is losing
The President is not gaining
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/01/7553891-whats-your-view-on-the-dust-up-between-speaker-boehner-and-president-obama

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Nope, he seems to desire collusion with the culpable GOP

far more than he desires anything else. He is all about bipartisanship as means and as ends, he seems to think Americans are most concerned with congeniality in DC, not with our own damn lives.
I wonder where he got the impression that being 'reasonable' is a winning trait in politics, and where he got the idea that making bargains with insane people is reasonable at all? Is it reasonable to compromise with arsonists on how they are going to burn your house down, or is it reasonable to stop them from burning the house down?
Name the top three Statesmen known for being 'the adult in the room'. Where did that trope even come from? Bush, I think, because they claimed 'the adults are back in charge' when he replaced Clinton.

[FrenchieCat]

11. 5th graders will only see that this man was stronger than they could ever have imagine

once they grow up.

Till then, they will label the Black man weak, simply because he wasn't petty and stubborn, all up in everybody's face yelling till he was blue in the face, and yet he still got things done! The Republicans hate him for that...for revealing what assholes they truly are, and how uncaring for this nation they are (but the 5th graders gave them power in 2010 anyways!)....and apparently, 5th graders can't stand him either, which is why they taunt him and jeer him at every turn, no matter how small and inconsequential the issue is.

Bill Clinton, on the other hand, who was never called weak (he was called Big dog instead),
regardless that he caved on DOMA, DADT, NAFTA, Welfare reform, and repealing Glass-Steagall and ...well, he's seen as strong, most likely cause he didn't have sex with that woman before he did!
He compromised a whole lot more than people want to admit...but hey, he's the Big Dog, and his dot-com
bubble kept him strong!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. +1,000!! And to this day, regardless of what Bill Clinton did and how much he caved

on just about everything the Republicans wanted, he *still* gets called "The Big Dog," someone who "feels your pain," etc. Even though he is DLC, he's still loved for being "bubba."

Again, I have my theories as to why this double standard persists, but I'm going to leave that alone.

[Armstead]

31. Not all of us....

Many progressives were very critical of Clinton then and now for being a sell-out to corporate interests, a poor excuse for a Democrat,someone who caved regularly either because of weakness, corruption or simple political opportunism, etc.

He does have that likable Big Dog personality, but he was subject to as many slings and arrows from progressives as Obama has been -- perhaps more.

[quakerboy]

45. Presidents past

Are always strong in the eyes of 5th graders. Hell, At that age my dad can whoop your dad, and the president is at the top of the heap cause he has bombs and soldiers and tanks.

Oh.. Wait.. you are trying to derogatorily refer to anyone who might disagree with you as a "5th grader". Right then. I forgot that the time for reasoned debate or understanding your allies was gone. Nermind, carry on.

[CakeGrrl]

12. He consistently polls higher than the GOP despite

all the yammering in the MSM and the blogosphere about his so-called "weakness" and ineffectiveness.

And still manages to get things done despite all the caterwauling.

[Guilded Lilly]

13. Actually I am about the same...only I have an intelligent

President who is lightyears better for my country than any of the scummie punks and hand-jerks permeating the Republican party.

[JNinWB]

14. Obama's reasonableness probably resonates with the vast number of non-political-junkie voters.

But, of course, not with most here on DU. Something to keep in mind: Rush and the news networks are DESPERATE to get a piece of video showing an angry Obama to play on a loop between now and the election.

Remember the video of the Clinton/Monica hug in the reception line? How many hundreds of times did the cable networks play that? A picture worth 1,000 words.

We need to see the Angry Black Man daily in order to scare the crap out of white, fence-sitting voters.

[tridim]

15. The voters will witness teh crazy on the 7th..

Followed by reason and sanity the next evening.

Then football.

[OHdem10]

16. Not really, it would seem he might higher poll numbers if the

being the adult was working.

This AM Larry Sabato describing what Obama has to
if he wants to win the next election. He has to
go negative. He has no choice if he wants to win.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. A podcaster I was listening to recently

made the argument that part of the reason he thinks some people get upset with Obama and/or think that he's "weak" is because he doesn't thump his chest, yell, scream, throw tantrums, etc. and just tries to just go about his job and get things done in a calm and rational method and we, as Americans, simply aren't used to business being done like this and maybe feel that we aren't being sufficiently "entertained". I tend to agree with this analysis to an extent. :shrug:

[villager]

21. Except what, of the people's business, has he really gotten done?

4th amendment still shredded, whistleblowers still prosecuted, wars still going, environment still being destroyed, banksters still off the hook (in all senses of the phrase?), etc...

[great white snark]

24. Are you saying none of your issues have been improved upon?

Or were you expecting everything fixed 3 years into it?

[GeorgeGist]

46. Some people?

Where have I heard that damning evidence before?

[graywarrior]

23. Yes, but unreasonable people don't see recognize it.

[jberryhill]

30. The perpetually outraged will continue to be, uh, outraged

[ClassWarrior]

25. When he's reasonable on things like speech times, yes. On policy, no.

NGU.

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. Actually, I just got off the phone from a conversation which started like this:

Never before have I seen our country so fractured and divisive and it's Obama's fault.

She also said that she agreed with waterboarding and then began to dehumanize choice individuals. Like, Khaddaffi's wife. Look what she did to the maid, boiling her with water. She's inhuman! They treat people inhumanely.

To which I replied, yes, but you're in favor of waterboarding.

[rug]

27. It is not reasonable to expect Republicans to compromise.

[Armstead]

32. No (n/t)

[Cali_Democrat]

33. Good question

IMO, nobody likes a weak President and Obama certainly comes across as weak.

He's hurting his reelection chances.

[opihimoimoi]

34. A BIG FAT Y E S....IN THE LONG TERM he will be better off

a fighter, he will prevail using REASON TRUTH AND CLARITY

He has a LOCK on those 3

[krawhitham]

35. It is a very good tactic, if you finish what you start

It will get him reelected

You start on the 8th and hammer home the following

You tried every single way to be bipartisan and it is not working
You outline how to get people working and you put the blame on the GOP if it is not passed
You press hard that you have the a good plan and they must pass it for the good of the country, the only reason not to pass it would be for political gain


Now this plan will not pass, it will not even be close, the tea baggers will not pass it no matter what. But by not doing so the rest of the country will see that these fuckers must go in 2012. People will start seeing what the real problem in Washington is if the WH finishes what they started

The goal of the Job's Speech is not jobs but to squarely place blame where it belongs, these motherfuckers will never vote for any idea/plan/bill Obama comes up with

[treestar]

36. I hope so

I find frightening the concept that this country has abandoned reason. In 2004, it was really looking to be so.

[CrazyBob]

37. NO. And he should fire whoever suggested it...

as a political strategy.

In a fight, the peacemaker isnt' the one who wins. Its the one who punches harder. Thats the one that sets the terms when the fight is over.

[Honeycombe8]

40. Now...no, he's not gaining. In the beginning, it was wise to compromise, IMO. But now...

it's not. He's experienced firsthand how the Republicans and Libertarians are...how all they're about is sinking Obama, even if it means sinking the country.

Then it becomes a time to lead, call things how they are, tell the citizens what's what and who's in charge.

I fear that won't happen, though. It's not in Obama's nature. He's a conciliatory pleaser by nature. A good thing to be sometimes. But not now, I think.

But he's the one who brung us to the dance. He's the only one who can take us home.

[Mr Deltoid]

44. Obama's poll numbers among independents are barely above those of republicans

His 'centrism' has failed to rein in independents who are fleeing Obama in droves.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0728/Obama-s-lead-in-2012-presidential-election-vanishes-poll-finds

He needs to find himself and change gears soon.