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.
O did nothing other than smile and throw around money.
No oversight, no plan.
FUBO!!
it’s probably a good idea to go on a media blackout until 5pm tuesday. Then I’ll kick back with scotch in one hand, cigar in the other, MSNBC on one screen and Fox on the other, (so I can cheer and laugh at the same time).
I’m reminded of the WHO song, “I’m a man of the left, but I’m moving to the right”. Dick Morris is shuttling back and forth, so he can say he was right on all sides of the result.
MORRIS BACKTRACKING.. OK, that does it!!!!
I’m not taking any chances..
I’m going to vote TWICE this time.. I am going to use my Maiden Name, Carlo3000B, and my post divorce name Carlo3b.. YUP!
I’ll be in the minority here, but I sincerely do believe that Morris is writing here what he has come to feel over the course of maybe just the last few hours. Maybe he has heard some internal polling numbers — I don’t know. He probably still has connections to democrats in the know. I also feel his earlier stated concern is because he does want Romney to win, and simply gets nervous about it. And, he realizes motivation out of concern is a powerful factor. Maybe it will turn out that Obama’s Katrina occurred three days too soon for him to benefit.
Dick Morris appears politically challenged; unable to ascertain which party is best for America’s success and restoration - with no real enthusiasm for bringing back jobs, a healthy economy and adherence to the Constitution and Rule of Law. He’s become a Christie-like Fox contributor and one whose opinions now are irrelevant. He’ll fit in great with Geraldo, Combes and their ilk.
Yours is a GREAT idea. It’s amazing how a break from this madness can restore your perspective, not to mention maintain your sanity.
From your lips to God’s ears.
So Dick Morris was unable to predict yesterday that Obama would be campaigning this weekend?
Did you see the utility trucks from AL going home because they were told in NJ they would have to join the union?
What were his revenge comments?
Thank heavens! Someone with some sense. Morris predicted a Romney win. He noted Obama was getting a bump by appearing presidential. He is now saying that he believes the bump will fade because Obama has gone back on the attack.
Sheesh people. All the hand wringing and bed wetting here is making me sick. Morris is not “backtracking”. He’s providing analysis as the situation changes. We live in a fluid world. Try to keep up.
Yep, sending weapons to Mexico and to the mujahedin in Syria are not a plan for peace.
It’s all about being a dick ;-)
Nope, I haven’t lived in Alabama for decades.
Dick was hanging out at the pedicure chairs and was distracted.
It feels like a stretch that one photo op with a NJ gov is really going to telt this election, especially with all the problems the recovery is having. ho hum ho hum.
“Early on, looked like O was taking care of things. Now it is deteriorating quickly.”
He took advantage of Sandy only as a photo op. There was no real meaning in anything he said—just like every other lie that spews from his fat lips.
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