Posted on 11/03/2012 10:16:09 AM PDT by monkapotamus
Natural disasters usually follow the same political trajectory: First the incumbent experiences a bounce as he tours the impacted area, shows his concern, and pledges help to his beleaguered constituents. But then reality sets in and the shortages, delays, mishaps, deaths, and devastation becomes apparent and people turn against the incumbent.
George W. Bush had his Katrina.
And now Barack Obama has his Sandy.
Last week, Obama asserted a kind of ownership of the storm by touring New Jersey in the now infamous embrace of Republican stalwart Governor Chris Christie. Now that we are all appalled by the lack of food, gas, water, heat, and the basic essentials of life throughout the storm zone, Obama’s government doesn’t look so good anymore.
Why didn’t FEMA stockpile food, water, and gasoline? We had a week’s notice to prepare for Sandy. There was no shortage of time. Did the government not realize that people needed to eat, drink, and drive?
All throughout America, we are asking these questions of our television sets as we watch the evolving story of human misery.
Meanwhile, Obama has resumed the campaign trail, pounding the opposition in the same relentless and partisan style which he used before the storm. When Obama said that voting was “the best revenge,” he threw away whatever presidentiality he displayed in touring storm damage earlier in the week.
As he entered the last week before the Congressional election of 1994, President Clinton returned to the U.S. after having presided over the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. He called me on his return and asked where he should campaign? Which incumbent Democrats should he try to help get re-elected?
I told him he should not campaign for any of them.
“No, you don’t understand,” he explained. I just came back from the Middle East and my ratings are up ten points. Before, I would have hurt the candidates I campaigned for, but not now. Now I can help them.”
“Your ratings are up because your trip hyped your presidentiality. Now, if you start campaigning, you’ll look like a politician and your ratings will come down again. You’ll end up doing more harm than good to those you are trying to help.”
He disregarded the advice and lost both houses of Congress in the elections.
Now Obama is making the same mistake. By campaigning, particularly by using the same harsh partisan rhetoric which has characterized his campaign, Obama is dragging down his ratings and with it his chances of victory.
Particularly when we see the juxtaposition of the mounting disaster in New York and New Jersey and the President out on the campaign trail attacking his opponents, we realize that Obama is a candidate before he is president, more worried about his second term than the welfare of his constituents.
In yesterday’s polling numbers, I saw a rise in Obama’s ratings and warned that the race was far from over. Now, we see him throwing it all away and resuming his crash into a single term presidency.
What is wrong with Dick Morris? Talking out of both sides of his mouth so, on the record, he can take credit for whatever happens on Tuesday.
Who knew if bill had taken dickie’s advice the dims would have held the house?
Ah, Dick Morris, covering all his bases!
Obama is a jackass.
He can’t even seem to orchestrate the removal of shovel ready sand.
One thing he is good at is shoveling money out to un named union goons.
With only Fox and a couple of talk radio types pushing this thing I’d venture to guess that a very large sector of the American voting public haven’t a freakin’ clue as to how badly this event is being handled by the administration.
The Saturday before the storm hit, I saw 100's of utility trucks heading east in Ohio, likely at the request of various eastern utilities.
I doubt that the gov't had anything to do with it beyond accurate data based weather forecasting.
Yep, I think Dick Morris is trying to set it up, so that no matter what happens, he can say he predicted it.
And hopefully he’ll take “Have another Donut” Christie with him.
The Saturday before the storm hit, I saw 100's of utility trucks heading east in Ohio, likely at the request of various eastern utilities.
I doubt that the gov't had anything to do with it beyond accurate data based weather forecasting.
Hmmmm,
I’m not even sure what to say about this....I just got done berating Dick for going limp in his previous analysis.
I have a feeling I wasn’t the only one.
My advice to Dick....take a deep breath, relax and stop tarnishing your bold prediction by constructing emergency exits.
Us folks out here in the swing states, on the ground and outside the beltway can assure you, your prediction is looking just fine.
Dicky is a better toesucker than pundit, this IS clear to me.
Yes I am losing all respect for him.
Just to keep this straight: Dick Morris reports that Obama got a poll bounce out of his reaction to Hurricane Sandy, Conservatives got upset with him about that, now Morris is back-pedaling to restore his 'cred'.
He always aims to please.
I wish Obama would squeeze in one of his famous rounds of golf this weekend. That would be helpful to the GOP’s cause!
I do think this is a very fluid situation with the hurricane, as it pertains to the election. Early on, looked like O was taking care of things. Now it is deteriorating quickly.
This along with Obama’s revenge comment, may be the final nail in this train wreck of a presidency. I saw his campaign tried to clarify his revenge comments this morning, which means it is not playing well. Probably will impact independents.
3 more days.
Does anyone remember Katrina?
In New Orleans things are still not done.
In Mississippi, Haley Barbour and the people did not wait for a bail out.
Thet commenced to fixing things immediately and settled the bills later.
His original comments were made before 0bama started his campaign back up. I thought that was the point of his article.
Dick’s just trying to keep it exciting for all of us! I actually don’t need his help .... my BP is doing just fine staying above normal, all by itself.
(Seriously, I am staying away from watching any discussion of ‘polls’ & EV prognostication on TV, doing some breathing exercises to relax, a little wine .... a little chocolate ..... lots of prayer).
Bam Bam and Hitlery have Benghazi blood all over them. Whatever the election results are, their duplicity and complicity will be exposed.
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