I can’t wait for Barack Obama’s second term

Foreign Policy ^ | 7-2-10 | David Rothkopf

[smokingfrog]

I can't wait for Barack Obama's second term.

Oh I know, 2013 is a long time from now and it would be nice to have decisive leadership to help deal with the odd double dip recession, Iranian nuclear threat, massive fiscal imbalance, remaking of the world order, that sort of thing.

But honestly, I just don't expect it. It is clear from events of the past few weeks that while it's July in most of America, it's already November in Washington. Every decision is cast in the context of the mid-term elections. No risk is too small to sidestep. No decision is too trivial to triangulate.

Getting reports of growing unemployment rolls? Compounding them with signs of sluggish growth and appalling developments in the housing market? A time for action? You might think so. But instead this president and this Congress hem and haw and propose effectively nothing. It's not just the Republicans blocking with appalling callousness the extension of unemployment benefits (while also fighting hard to ensure that big banks don't have too much of a tax burden). It's that the Democratic leadership is content to let the Republicans beat back the bill figuring they can use it against them in the election.

Lost in all this? Oh, right, the 9.5 percent of Americans who are "officially" unemployed not to mention the almost equally large number who don't make it into government statistics.

Is the reason for this fear of the exploding budget deficit? While one can debate the merits of government intervention vs. battling that deficit, we know the president and his team are not letting the economically disenfranchised suffer purely for reasons of economic orthodoxy.

[El Cid]

I laugh when someone says “the last eight years”. It is so burned in their brains they don’t realize those eight years ended nearly a year and a half ago.

Not only that, but the Dems have owned Congress since 2006, and their actions spurred the Recession. I think they intentionally attempted to trash the Economy (Schumer starting a run on IndyMac; Pelosi's comments causing a spike in Energy costs) just to win the Executive Branch ... and their own natural incompetence and love for Big Government spending caused the descent into a Depression.
These clowns have inflicted their pain on us for Four Years. God Willing a good number get flushed in November.

[ScoopAmma]

It’s never too short to gain knowledge or be prepared for the next shoe to fall. By all means it is never too short not to laugh or giggle.

[no dems]

I'm seriously thinking of simply stopping to follow politics. Toss out the books, stop going online. It's madness, and life's too short for dealing with such IDIOTS.
I've been feeling that way myself; including no more Rush, no more Beck, no more Hannity and no more O'Reilly. I just get mad and there's nothing I can do about it. Sure, I can vote, but what's one vote in a nation of millions of dufus brained meat-heads.

[ScoopAmma]

I’ve not posted much nor replied to you but I have followed your updates and always hoped for the best for you!

[Darkwolf377]

Yeah. I love Rush, but he stands so head-and-shoulders above the rest. His show isn't just a collection of positions. I simply cannot get through more than a couple of minutes of hannity, Beck, or the vile Savage. But Rush can only deal with what's out there, and each day he has to let so many things this administration does zoom by.

It goes back to my basic issue with Obama--he doesn't love or even like this country, he just sees it as somethign that needs to be ripped down and rebuilt. His followers are either in agreement or are two stupid to see what he's all about. And most citizens don't know or care, and don't have the education to think for themselves, they just "want what's coming to" them.

I dunno.

[Darkwolf377]

Man I’ve gotta start checking my spelling, tonight is worse than usual. Sorry all.

[napscoordinator]

Hear Hear. Jeff welcome back!

[MARTIAL MONK]

The first term in the White House, the second in Federal Prison.

[FrankR]

"And then there's that oil spill thing."

No worries mate...help is on the way.

[Salamander]

I thought they were referring to a jail term, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered clicking this thread.

:)

[Myrddin]

I'm hoping his next term will be in Leavenworth. A life term.

[Salamander]

How does he know he can’t suck it up with a straw?

He could at least *try* before saying he can’t.

[al baby]

Is that old windbag still on the air ?

[al baby]

Prayers up J H Welcome home

[Myrddin]

Good to see you active on the keyboard again. You haven't lost your skills in that department. Hopefully a little activity here will help maintain your sanity while you get the physical capabilities back in order. Welcome back!

[Vigilanteman]

Welcome Jeff! It is good to have you back.

[Rennes Templar]

“We have to elect him so we can find out what’s in his second term.”

Reid and Pelosi will cancel the election and just appoint him for that very reason.

[Cyber Ninja]

Second term? -- Would to be changed to second terminal...

[excopconservative]

But what might we expect in 2013 if Obama wins? All the intelligence of Obama plus four years of experience he didn’t have when he started. An experienced team and most importantly, a focus on legacy that might drive him to think bigger ...

---

Four years of experience at screwing things up is not experience. What he is saying is that this term has been a total cluster and that since he’s such a partisan Democrat, he will vote to re-elect the incompetent loser solely because he has a “D” after his name. After all, it can’t get worse than this, can it?

[Cyber Ninja]

Betsey’s best must fly 4ever!!!