Obama Finds a New Model for Presidential Success

Time Magazine ^ | December 13, 2010 | Mark Halperin

[2ndDivisionVet]

Now he's the one who needs hope and change.

Barack Obama's unsettled presidency is presently tied to four interconnected projects: (A) bringing back the economy; (B) raising the standard of living of the non-wealthy; (C) fulfilling his remaining campaign promises; and, (D) getting re-elected. The final three all depend primarily on the first, and making the economy grow is to some degree out of the President's control. Obama's political enemies think he is on track to achieve none of the four, and are anticipating an overthrow in 2012.

But by closing 2010 with the kind of bipartisan compromise that was supposed to be the hallmark of his administration, Obama showed that he is capable of change, and that there is hope he can achieve his goals.

To avoid seeing the economy stall again, the President needs to demonstrate to Washington and the nation that he will have a method of centrist governance when Republicans take control of the House of Representatives in January. This month's tax deal success, bipartisan heartburn notwithstanding, can serve as a template. Here's a simple rule to guide the President: If a proposal is denounced by both Nancy Pelosi and Sarah Palin, it will probably find support in the center of the electorate.

The conditions that brought the White House and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to the negotiating table - the guns-to-their-heads imperative of expiring tax rates for every American on New Year's Day - won't exist on other issues in 2011. But the basic terms that got them to an agreement can be applied to a whole host of concerns....

[2ndDivisionVet]

How drunk or high does one have to be to write an article like this for a major news magazine? Seriously!

[21twelve]

“Here’s a simple rule to guide the President: If a proposal is denounced by both Nancy Pelosi and Sarah Palin, it will probably find support in the center of the electorate.”

****************

That may be true - most of the voters are idiots.

And also, if he finds support in the center, there goes his base of far left lunatics.

[Lazamataz]

It’s TIME. What did you expect?

[BobP]

It’s TIME. What did you expect?

-----------------------------

There's still a tingle going up and down their legs seeing ol' Bubba again.

We're in deep kimchee.

[packrat35]

Hell I thought it was satire at first and then realized it was supposed to be a real news article.

[Junior_G]

When I saw the headline I assumed the article was about Bill Clinton.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Edited for accuracy below:

Barack Obama's unsettled presidency is presently tied to four interconnected projects: (A) bringing back the economy;destroying what is left of American's wealth and prosperity; (B) raising the standard of living of the non-wealthy;raising the taxes of any entity still creating jobs; (C) fulfilling his remaining campaign promises;fulfilling his goal of making America a second or, if possible, third-world nation; and, (D) getting re-elected giving our global enemies an advantage in foreign affairs.

[whershey]

What major news magazine is that?

[mirkwood]

“Obama’s political enemies think he is on track to achieve none of the four, and are anticipating an overthrow in 2012. “

His political enemies must be democrats. They are the ones talking about replacing him.

[Nip]

The recovery of the American Economy is NOT beyond the President's control. It is just beyond Onbama’s control.

Proof of statement - Jack Kennedy, Ronald Regan, Bush 43.

To improve the economy, Obama has to abandon all of his education dating back to elementary school in Indonesia! Lots of luck on that one.