Obama looking like a one-term president - Salon

[nashville_brook]

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/07/08/obama_one_term

How a one-term president is made
The possibility that Obama will end up like Carter and Bush 41 has never been more real
BY STEVE KORNACKI


Republicans hope to unseat President Obama next year with a message that goes something like this: He inherited a bad economy and made it worse, squandered hundreds of billions of dollars on a stimulus program that didn't create jobs, and blew a massive hole in the deficit that sapped the private sector's confidence.

You can make yourself crazy pointing out how flimsy these arguments are, but the swing voters who will decide the 2012 election won't be relying on a measured analysis of the logic of each party's case to make up their minds. It's the state of the economy that will dictate their verdict. If they perceive it to be improving, they will reject the GOP's claims about Obama's "failed" economic stewardship. But if they believe it is stagnant or getting worse, the GOP line will be music to their ears.

Which is why the new unemployment data released Friday morning is so devastating for Obama. As Andrew Leonard noted already, the numbers themselves -- a 9.2 percent unemployment rate and almost nonexistent job creation for June -- are truly awful. But what's worse for Obama is whatever job creation momentum seemed to exist a few months ago is now completely gone. Joblessness is again rising, with no indication that a significant downward trend is on the horizon. And the idea of a new, meaningful stimulus program before the 2012 election has been off the table since last November, when Republicans won control of the House. It's looking more and more likely that unemployment will remain above eight percent -- perhaps well above eight percent -- between now and Election Day 2012.


(snip)

In other words, Friday is a pretty good day to be Mitt Romney.

[Jim Warren]

1. That's been the plan all along

Ever wonder where the surge over Hilary came from?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

50. Do tell

I take it that you (or somebody else) has a theory or other inside information that explains it? :shrug:

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HughBeaumont]

3. Yes, let's put a corporate raider, serial lay-offer like Romney in office.

TRULY that's the better plan to cure what ails us - putting the same kind of people that caused this mess back in office.

[BernieSandersIsGod]

6. Obama has turned into that description. NT

[Doctor Hurt]

7. how?

User is referring to Mitt Romney's previous jobs. Obama has not held those jobs, or ones like it.

[BernieSandersIsGod]

13. Well he has agreed to many layoffs. And seems to be promising more. NT

[Doctor Hurt]

15. "corporate raider"?

let's see just how far you can stretch your analogy.

[BernieSandersIsGod]

20. Judging by his proposed Trade deals, he's on the side of "corporate raiders" nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. Who agreed to layoffs? What are you talking about?!?!?!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

33. Obama has not lost jobs. Those jobs were lost at the STATE level by GOP governors!!!!

[HughBeaumont]

41. 306 thousand state and local govt. jobs in 11 months, to be exact.

If it weren't for that, job numbers would be a LOT better.

I said it in November - America is going to pay a grave price for being SLOOOOOWWWW learners.

[WCGreen]

74. Exactly!

[MadMaddie]

49. No one wants to hear the truth they have to blame President Obama

for everything...that's the way they roll.

Well keep rolling with these perceptions and beliefs and when the country has an Extreme Religious nut with his/her hand on the red button....they will act all surprised...how could this happen? Well look in the mirror because that is going to happen...if people don't wake up.

Many thought their non-votes or votes for Republicans in November would punish the President? Well it punished good people in states that are now run by Republicans. These same non-voters will not accept their responsibility in making those events possible.

How about working in your individual states to get more Progressive candidates on the ballots and giving the House and Senate a SUPER majority? How about running yourself?

If quitting and giving in to the other team is the way people live their lives than what's the point?

I will NEVER capitulate to the Republicans EVER!

Quit if you must, whine and cry every day about what could have been, listen and believe articles like Salon and Hamsher post......Then in 2012 say The Pledge of Allegiance to Mitt Romney or Michelle Bachman and their bibles...expect to make much less money than you are making now....and MOST important of all get ready for a Supreme Court that is 7 or 8 Extreme Right Conservatives telling you the Corporations are more important than you the individual. Have at it.....

[Proud Liberal Dem]

51. +1

Unfortunately, for people whom earnestly believe that "the fix is in" or that the Democrats are substantively no different than Republicans, I don't think that anybody will be able to convince them that there's any hope for change. Some people believe that we elected a King instead of a President and that everything he promised during the campaign would magically become law and/or that everything from the previous eight years would be singlehandedly addressed/fixed within the first two years.

[sendero]

105. It's much simpler than that..

... we are tired of seeing a moron party with a moron president (shrub) get 95% of their legislative agenda passed while our party with the presidency, the house and the senate CAN'T GET JACK SHIT DONE FOR WORKING PEOPLE. I don't WANT TO HEAR BULLSHIT EXCUSES ABOUT CLOWNS AND PONIES AND KINGS.

It's INCOMPETENCE or it's COMPLICITY and FUCK EITHER ONE.

[GreenStormCloud]

110. Reality check. Texas under Perry gained jobs.

In fact, over 40% of all new jobs in the U. S. are in Texas.

[Occulus]

17. The thing is, that very well may be the end of the Republican Party

And, yes, they will drag everyone off the cliff with them.

Unfortunately, that may well be the only thing that wakes America up.

[HughBeaumont]

19. "We had to destroy the village to save it"

I thought that's what we did in 2001-2008?

America's gonner pay a grave price for being SLLOOOOOOOOWWWW learners, I guess.

[krabigirl]

27. We did.

[woo me with science]

55. +1

[Maven]

66. Yes, let's put a professional outsourcer like Jeff Immelt in charge of jobs.

BONK

[Bluebear]

98. +

[Enthusiast]

101. While proposing new "trade deals" that are wildly unpopular.

BONK

[Doctor Hurt]

4. bit early for this

we'll see what happens.

[gateley]

5. I think the ultimate determining factor will be SS/Medicare --

That's when Bush's ratings sank, when he wanted to privatize SS.

Very simple, Don't Fuck With Social Security or Medicare. Other than that, people will put up with a lot (eight years of Bush, for example!)

[jtown1123]

28. Exactly.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bragi]

9. Repugs can now add: "And he admits to underestimating the whole crisis!"

[graywarrior]

10. Isn't that what most of DU wants?

Say hello to President Bachmann in 2012

[Doctor Hurt]

14. yeah, this place does seem to want a Republican in office

It's much cooler to be an oppressed dissident!

[graywarrior]

16. Truthiness

[krabigirl]

26. We already have one.

[muffin1]

53. +1,000,000 n/t

[MissDeeds]

85. Yes we do

:mad:

[Starry Messenger]

95. +1

[Raine]

97. Yup, EXACTLY. nt

[EFerrari]

29. Well, I know what most of DU didn't want, doubling down on illegal wars,

continuing the Bush attack on civil liberties, continuing his love affair with Wall Street, his horrible foreign policy, his attempts to kill Social Security, Medicare and our schools. After all that, ridiculing the left from the podium just makes sense, really. lol

[zalinda]

48. NO, we want a TRUE Democrate in the White House

Anything else is not acceptable.

zalinda

[graywarrior]

82. Face it, there are none.

[JoePhilly]

54. +1

[Le Taz Hot]

60. Well that was a silly statement.

:crazy:

[inna]

94. really, grotesquely fucked up comment. Out of curiousity, what is it you think

you're achieving by insulting "most of DU"? I thought this shit was considered disruptive and divisive and was not allowed. :shrug:

[graywarrior]

108. OK, half of DU.

Better now?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. He sure is. I wrote the WH that if he doesn't keep his hands off Medicare and SS...

Not to count on me.

In his campaign, I canvassed like a crazy woman, I gave money out the wazoo, I handed out decals and carried signs.

If he so much as touches Medicare and SS, he can count me out.

[okasha]

12. The way to prevent a Republican presidential victory in 2012

is to present a strong, liberal/populist challenger to Obama now.

[saras]

69. We need someone trustworthy. That's all. That would be REVOLUTIONARY. Even if they got less done.

[Enthusiast]

103. They would probably be assassinated.

TPTB just don't do trustworthy.

[MissDeeds]

87. +1000

[Chimichurri]

18. Its his own fault for caving to the Republicans on the stimulus. Everyone told him

it was too small and it was. He should have led instead of desperately wanting to be friends with the very cartel who's only purpose is to destroy us.

[grasswire]

21. the only alternative then is to nominate a candidate who is fresh

...and stronger than anyone they can put forward.

[FrenchieCat]

22. Perhaps that will be a good thing to all of those who have attacked this Pres.

24/7.

Just desserts. I'm almost looking forward to it. And as far as a primary challenger! Good luck with the Black vote on that.....cause there won't be any. So a primary challenger seals the deal in enabling the election of a Republicans.....and those who have worked so hard dumping on Pres. Obama will have enabled a Republican victory, no matter how much denial there is. Period.

[tekisui]

23. Yeah, because if Obama loses it will be because of his critics.

It couldn't be years of high unemployment and endless wars. No, it couldn't be that. It would be due to a few rabble-rousers who refuse to cheer every breath he takes. :eyes:

[FrenchieCat]

30. Yep. The unreasonable negativity that has gone on for the past 2.5 years

by people who could have organized and banded together to not only "Make Obama do it" but to attack the opposition, but instead didn't do shit....and so they become as responsible as this President (who will survive just fine) and the Republicans who engineered their wet dream of making the President fail.

Barack Obama can take the blame, but he ain't the only one.

Like Van Jones said....the motto was "Yes, WE can"....not "Yes, HE can"....but in reality, the only thing anyone did was what was easy; sit their lazy asses on the Internet offering criticism, name calling, reacting like victims to everything the media put out negative on Dems and by doing non-stop one sided gripes endlessly.

[EFerrari]

43. "sit their lazy asses on the Internet offering criticism, name calling, reacting like victims

to everything the media put out negative on Dems and by doing non-stop one sided gripes endlessly"

Physician, heal thyself.

LOL

[FrenchieCat]

46. You'll notice...or maybe not,

that I spend very little time on the internet these days. And you'd be damned right, that instead of waiting for someone to heal me.....I'm healing thyself.

I'm not a helpless crybaby who hypocritically continues to bark out commands and analysis just cause I can, while doing fucking nothing else. Perhaps that describes you.....but it doesn't describe me.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Doctor Hurt]

24. About once a decade or so Democrats have to completely eff themselves

it's the circle of life.

They always regret their little dalliances with Nader and such like. But they never seem to learn long term.

[EFerrari]

39. What utter crap. For one thing, Al Gore won.

For another, Obama pretty much makes Nader's point with his two-handed grip on Wall Street.

Don't blame Democratic voters for the miserable leadership and its decisions. We did our part.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Doctor Hurt]

57. Y..A..W..N..

Your opinion means exactly nothing to me.

[bvar22]

109. If that were true,

you wouldn't have bothered with a reply.

[nashville_brook]

58. precisely...on both.

[woo me with science]

62. +1

[Le Taz Hot]

64. The Black vote?

I was just informed yesterday that the "Black community" (not my words) is upset with him over failure to create jobs programs and his failure to clamp down on foreclosures. I'm also told that there really is no such thing as "the Black vote" as African-Americans are just as likely to differ in their opinions as are any other group. Or have I been misinformed?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

70. That person that you supposedly had this conversation with doesn't speak for the entire

black community, and neither do you nor I!!!!

[Le Taz Hot]

72. It was on a locked thread (yesterday)

to which I was the OP. Easy enough to look up if just to dispel you're "supposedly" assertion. The poster to which I was originally addressing on this sub-thread was the one who claimed that, if an Obama challenger were to surface the challenger would have no support from "the Black community." To my knowledge, that is the only time that anyone professed to "speak for the entire black community" so perhaps you need to address your concerns to that individual.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

89. It doesn't matter who said what. That person doesn't speak for the black community,

neither do you or anyone else!!

[Le Taz Hot]

92. Right after I stop beating my wife.

:shrug: :crazy:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

100. Nothing I said in my message is false, and smart-ass comments won't make it any more so. n/t

[Enthusiast]

104. According to Limbaugh you have been misinformed.

:eyes:

[Youth Uprising]

88. What racist drivel.

Maybe YOU voted for Obama based solely on his race but I think the majority of African-Americans are much smarter than that.

[ChrisBorg]

111. So Blacks vote solely by race? Mighty racist thing to say.

I think there are many reasons people of every race vote for a politician. Sorry you don't share that opinion.

[krabigirl]

25. Mitt Romney=Obama. There is no difference in their positions.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[muriel_volestrangler]

36. What a complete load of bollocks

Romney would have left GM & Chrysler go bankrupt. He wants to cut federal disaster relief funding. He is anti-abortion. He want to abolish inheritance tax. He want to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. He wants to abloish capital gains tax and income tax on dividends for anyone earning under $250,000. And so on. He is far to the right of Obama.

[Erose999]

67. Well, Romney is at least honest that his agenda is to screw us. Obama is devious about it and plays

both sides against us.

[nashville_brook]

73. +1

[somone]

96. No kidding

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. The plan is for GOP to lay off as many public workers in their states

so that we blame Obama/Democrats for the unemployment number.

Why can't we see this?!? It's the GOP governors who are deliberately laying off public workers!!!

[JoePhilly]

56. +1

[EC]

35. If this happens

we'll be stuck with the repubs forever. They restrict voting even more, with little we can do about it, since the courts are also in their favor now. Obama had better get busy with recess appointments whenever he can. We're really screwed if this happens.

On edit: The repubs KNOW they are making it worse with the cutting of the budget, which in the real world amounts to elimination of jobs (directly and indirectly). So they'll push until they can get the economy to a crawl.

[Marr]

37. Like he gives a shit. He will have had four years to undermine the Democratic Party's traditional

constituencies and polish the knobs of every crook on Wall Street. He'll be well provided for.

[amborin]

52. +1

[woo me with science]

63. +1

[WillyT]

38. Yep... It Has Always Amazed Me The Number Of People Here Who Think That...

logic governs people's voting decisions. It may for many... but not enough to swing an election.

And the ONLY thing keeping Obama in the game at this point, is the absurdity of his opponents.

His list of accomplishments mean nothing to those who are still suffering.

:shrug:

[RedCloud]

40. Substitute term for turd and I agree!

[Hutzpa]

42. And not to mention Gas Prices

which is also helping to kill the economy.

[leeroysphitz]

44. Good. n/t

[Hutzpa]

47. Good ?

how so?

[muriel_volestrangler]

77. Unbelievable, isn't it? A DUer saying 'good' when someone says Romney will beat Obama

There are a bunch of Republican collaborators on DU, obviously. And they're open about it.

[leeroysphitz]

80. Ok, ok, I wouldn't really be happy with a republican in the Whitehouse...

But as others have pointed out the difference between Mitt and Obama isn't quite as stark as it could be and it's possible that a loss may give the next "democratic" president a clue about which side his or her bread is buttered on.

Just trying to stay positive, friend.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

59. My one major problem with the "Obama 1-term POTUS theory"

is that there is simply a conspicuous lack of a viable GOP-or otherwise-alternative. That may change up if and when some gallant Republican emerges from the GOP primary that seems like they can lead that harebrained mess of a party- though the time for that "white knight" to ride in to save the GOP for total destruction will not be indefinite by any means. Pretty much no politician anywhere is doing great in the polls right now but the Democrats seem to be polling better in general and when it comes to their agenda/policies and people are definitely NOT in love with the Republicans and their Tea-Party controlled agenda anywhere, at least outside of the South (though Florida's Scott is not enjoying a season of love down in Florida either).

Unless people are so uber-disgusted by President Obama by the time next November rolls around (I'm talking Bush/Cheney-level of disgust here) and/or the Republicans pull their stuff together and get a real *special* kind of candidate on the ballot that can really ignite the masses around him/her around whatever the hell kind of agenda/policies they pull out of their butts (or if Democrats and Democratic-leaning people stay home in droves), I just can't see President Obama losing, certainly not to any current members of the current GOP field.

In some (tiny) way, I guess I'm kind of glad that 2010 brought the Republicans (and even crazier ones at that) back to power in so many places as a reminder (cautionary example) of what things can (and will) look like again if they get back to having total power at the federal level as well. Things may be bleak but I'm having difficulty imagining a level of bleakness so despairing that Democratic-leaning people would stay home or that people in general would vote in another GOP Tea Party-controlled hack as POTUS and/or make the entire Congress totally Republican.

That's just how I look at it, anyway. :shrug:

bookmarking for future review

[HughBeaumont]

61. + 1,000

I think that's really one of the few things saving him at this point - that the GOP field is, INDEED, THAT much worse.

Their top candidate was a corporate raider and serial firer in his previous life. That, and he's a Mormon, which automatically alienates the fundies.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

65. Mitt's probably about the best they've got right now

and will *likely* be the nominee unless somebody who is able to generate more enthusiasm among the Tea Party cult comes around. If he clinches the nomination, he'll, of course, he'll be REQUIRED to put somebody who the Tea Party cult approves of on the ballot- but even then I suspect the Tea Party cult will be pretty mellow with him like they were with McCain in 2008 (well, at least until Palin came along but I think that they probably wished for her to be at the top of the ticket instead- they also, of course, realized, however- like a lot of other people- that she would be a "heartbeat" away from the Presidency and that didn't bother them).

[Enrique]

68. and David Plouffe just said unemployment won't be an issue

if that doesn't get him fired I don't know what would.

[provis99]

71. Romney can't win the primary.

It's more likely to be President Bachmann than President Romney.

[Buns_of_Fire]

75. I think the repubs have put themselves between a rockhead and a hard place.

They sucked up to the nutbaggers, and now the inmates run the asylum.

[nashville_brook]

76. well, a few years ago it seemed a black man with a muslim-sounding name "couldn't win" either

[GSLevel9]

78. Hope and Change morphed into a steaming bucket of "fail" nt

[ecstatic]

79. With the left's help too. That's the most ridiculous part

Some people never learn.

[w4rma]

84. Bullshit. Obama did this to himself, all by himself, by listening to the DLC wing. (nt)

[slay]

81. More and more so all the time

and he has nobody to blame but himself for choosing mega-corporations and banksters over the American people.

[blkmusclmachine]

86. Obama said he was A-OK with 1 term.

And nothing indicates he's changed his mind one bit.

[madville]

90. Rick Perry is going to get the repub nod

He just sealed it by ignoring the federal government over this execution.

[sabrina 1]

91. Why is he letting the Republicans push him into firing public

workers? Teachers eg, or is this HIS idea? Every time Arne Duncan and his gang force the firing of thousands of teachers, those are lost jobs and they go on this President's tab.

Now he's apparently willing to put SS, Medicare and Medicaid 'on the table'. Is he out of his mind? Never mind how morally wrong it is, but how politically devastating for HIM and how absolutely perfect for Republicans.

I went to a few rightwing boards yesterday to see what they were saying (not FR) and saw comments from dozens of conservatives slamming Obama for 'cutting SS and Medicare'. Does he realize that Republicans have grandparents, parents and dependent children, disabled family members also and that all polls show that approval for these programs cross party lines?

Who is he trying to impress? If he does cut SS, Republicans who are now demanding it, will turn around and use it against him.

Political suicide is too kind a way to describe what he is doing, assuming any of these policies are his ideas.

Maybe they don't expect more than one term since their job seems to be to keep working towards the total destruction of the New Deal programs AND the middle class and to create a cheap work force. Once they do their part, they are set for life, and the next 'candidate' signs up to finish whatever the one before couldn't get done before the people caught on.

I just can't think of a single good reason for any Democratic president to be doing what he is doing.

[sendero]

106. Obama is DESTROYING.

... the Democratic brand. I'd just as soon have a Republican as him, at least then they could get the blame for what is coming.

[eridani]

93. It wouldn't be a problem if he'd shitcan the Repuke talking points and convince

--average people he is on their side. FDR managed to do that.

[BlueIris]

99. IMO, it is his decisions which have doomed him. Not the economy.

That certainly isn't helping, but even if the economy were improving, the choices he has made since entering the White House (continuing Bush's wars, FUBAR-ing healthcare reform, and alienating the Democratic base) are what has condemned him to one term-it-tude.

[Harry Callahan]

102. I think he made that decision by focusing on health care instead of the economy.

[sendero]

107. Obama does not deserve..

... another term. I would prefer a real Dem to take his place, but we all know that is not likely to happen.

I've been bleating about this for half a year at least. Obama's window of opportunity to save his presidency closed about when he went along with extending the tax cuts for the rich.

The economy is NOT getting better and the saying "it's the economy, stupid" is more true today than ever. People are suffering, people are scared, and month after month, year after year they get excuses as they watch the gov't funnel literally trillions of dollars to the toxic waste dump banks that created this mess and almost nothing to main street.

Even though polls show that Americans overall still believe (correctly) that this mess was of Republican creation, they are nonetheless disappointed that in 3 long years Obama has accomplished very little in terms of main street. To my mind his only success was the no-brainer bailout of the auto companies.

Yammering about "advanced manufacturing" and stuff like that now is of no use, these are ideas that if acted upon vigorously would not yield fruit for years.

Unemployment rising is an utterly predictable result of the exhaustion of stimulus money that was being funneled to states and localities to pay, basically, salaries. Now that that money is gone, UE is going to accelerate again. Obama has fiddled and blathered for 3 years and now he is utterly backed into a corner. Either his "economic team" is a herd of morons or he is really just pretending to be a Dem all along.

Either way it will take a miracle for him to retain the presidency. Too bad.