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Karl Rove: Don't Get Cocky, GOP (Obama is weak, but it's difficult to defeat a sitting president)
Wall Street Journal ^ | 11/18/2010 | Karl Rove

Posted on 11/18/2010 6:45:53 AM PST by WebFocus

It has been a brutal month for President Obama. The historic electoral rebuke delivered to his party was followed at the G-20 meeting by a public rebuff of the Federal Reserve's QE2 program and the administration's handling of the China currency issue.

The president arrived home to find House Democrats intent on keeping Nancy Pelosi as leader, New York Congressman Charles Rangel judged guilty by a House ethics panel of 11 violations, and a lame duck session of Congress fraught with battles over taxes, the New Start treaty and more. This has Republicans feeling cocky about 2012.

Opinion surveys give some support for GOP optimism. This month's Associated Press-GfK poll shows only 39% of Americans believe Mr. Obama deserves re-election, while 54% believe he deserves to be voted out of office. In a late October CNN poll, Mr. Obama trailed both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee nationally. And in polls taken in battleground states by Public Policy Polling, Mr. Obama lost to a generic unnamed Republican in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Colorado.

Mr. Obama can't count on a strong economy to improve his fortunes. President Ronald Reagan's policies produced 4.5% and 7.2% growth in the two years before his 1984 re-election. But the University of Michigan Economic Forecast projects only 2.3% and 3.2% growth in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and 9% unemployment at the next election.

Still, Republicans should sober up. It is always difficult to defeat a sitting president. Since World War II, three have been defeated for re-election and two decided not to run again. But five have sought and won second terms.

Moreover, the GOP lacks a clear frontrunner. Gallup found this week that no potential Republican candidate draws more than 19% support for nomination: Four contenders are essentially tied.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cocky; gop; karlrove; obama
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1 posted on 11/18/2010 6:45:57 AM PST by WebFocus
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To: WebFocus

Shut up Karl.


2 posted on 11/18/2010 6:46:52 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: ClearCase_guy

BAAAAWWWW


3 posted on 11/18/2010 6:48:15 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: WebFocus
It is always difficult to defeat a sitting president.

Tell that to G.H.W. Bush.

4 posted on 11/18/2010 6:49:00 AM PST by Tonytitan
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To: 1rudeboy

Karl, go suck a fat baby’s ass!


5 posted on 11/18/2010 6:49:21 AM PST by BookaT (My cat's breath smells like cat food!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
Shut up Karl.

Exactly. He has forfeited his standing to provide any meaningful advice to the conservative cause.

6 posted on 11/18/2010 6:49:40 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (I'm with Jim DeMint ... on the fringe baby!)
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To: WebFocus

Absolutely, Karl. It was REALLY tough defeating a “sitting President” called Jimmy Carter.


7 posted on 11/18/2010 6:50:20 AM PST by azishot
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To: ClearCase_guy
Karl is absolutely right. We're all celebrating but we're only half way there and we need BOTH the house and the Senate.

The Prez election is a whole different ball game.

8 posted on 11/18/2010 6:50:20 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: WebFocus

Has-been...


9 posted on 11/18/2010 6:52:33 AM PST by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Karl? You had your time. It’s over.


10 posted on 11/18/2010 6:52:43 AM PST by jd777
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To: WebFocus; All

I think we should hear Karl out on this one. If anybody knows anything about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, it’s Rove.


11 posted on 11/18/2010 6:52:52 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: azishot

And George Bush.


12 posted on 11/18/2010 6:52:59 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: WebFocus

I’m sure it’s nothing that nominating Mitt RomneyCare can’t fix, right, Karl?


13 posted on 11/18/2010 6:53:02 AM PST by kittymyrib
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To: Sacajaweau

Good grief!! Rove tells it like it is and everyone piles on him. He’s absolutely correct—it is difficult to unseat an incumbent. Of course, it can be done and let’s hope it will be this time but don’t take it for granted. Obama will have the press on his side again this time—just like last time.


14 posted on 11/18/2010 6:53:07 AM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: Sacajaweau

We don’t need a reminder from the likes of this jerk.


15 posted on 11/18/2010 6:53:07 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
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To: WebFocus

Why does Tokyo Rove think we care about his pronouncements.


16 posted on 11/18/2010 6:53:55 AM PST by Carley (WE SAW NOVEMBER FROM OUR HOUSE)
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To: WebFocus; Jim Robinson
I think that we need a FR petition to forward to the republican party to demand that rove not be allowed to be a spokesperson for us any longer... or a petition to show our disdain for this stain on Conservatism.

LLS

17 posted on 11/18/2010 6:53:59 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
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To: Sacajaweau

True. And, it’s especially true when we don’t have a candidate, but instead have dozens of candidates.

On the other hand, I expect Obama to move on to the international stage prior to 2012, leaving Hillary in place. That will be almost insurmountable for us, given the strong delusion in the American electorate. I can hear it now....”first woman president, historic!” Americans will fall for it...again.


18 posted on 11/18/2010 6:54:19 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: WebFocus

Shut up Rove.

And while you’re at it, KMA.


19 posted on 11/18/2010 6:55:00 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (McCarthy Was Right)
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To: WebFocus

I hate to agree but Rove is right.

The GOP(Luke Skywalker) just destroyed one imperial fighter, but the death star(Obama) is still intact and the Evil Empire is still around.

and no....Karl Rove ain’t no Han Solo either...


20 posted on 11/18/2010 6:55:21 AM PST by Le Chien Rouge
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