Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Obama Administration : What Went Wrong
NRO ^ | August 17, 2009 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 08/17/2009 9:16:58 AM PDT by RobinMasters

We are witnessing one of the more rapid turnabouts in recent American political history. President Obama’s popularity has plummeted to 50 percent and lower in some polls, while the public expresses even less confidence in the Democratic-led Congress and the direction of the country at large. Yet, just eight months ago, liberals were talking in Rovian style about a new generation to come of progressive politics — and the end of both the Republican party and the legacy of Reaganism itself. Barack Obama was to be the new FDR and his radical agenda an even better New Deal.

What happened, other than the usual hubris of the party in power?

First, voters had legitimate worries about health care, global warming, immigration, energy, and inefficient government. But it turns out that they are more anxious about the new radical remedies than the old nagging problems. They wanted federal support for wind and solar, but not at the expense of neglecting new sources of gas, oil, coal, and nuclear power. They were worried about high-cost health care, the uninsured, redundant procedures, and tort reform, but not ready for socialized medicine. They wanted better government, not bigger, DMV-style government. There is a growing realization that Obama enticed voters last summer with the flashy lure of discontent. But now that they are hooked, he is reeling them in to an entirely different — and, for many a frightening — agenda. Nothing is worse for a president than a growing belief among the public that it has been had.

(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; bho44; democrats; discobama; lameduckobama; miserablefailure; obama; obamacare; obamalegacy; pelosi; third100days; vdh; victordavishanson; waterloo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-180 next last

1 posted on 08/17/2009 9:16:58 AM PDT by RobinMasters
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters

The real 0bama is coming out and people don’t like what they see .


2 posted on 08/17/2009 9:19:03 AM PDT by lionheart 247365 (-: Who needs scare tactics at a HORROR SHOW ??? :-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lionheart 247365

Epoch Fail!! Health care Waterloo.


3 posted on 08/17/2009 9:20:15 AM PDT by timetostand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters
But now that they are hooked, he is reeling them in to an entirely different — and, for many a frightening — agenda.

So is it the old "bait and switch" technique, or was Obama just "feeding us a line"?

4 posted on 08/17/2009 9:21:19 AM PDT by Jess Kitting
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters

Soon to be a lameduck.

Hell - the Dems are going to demanding the birth certificate.


5 posted on 08/17/2009 9:22:18 AM PDT by seton89
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters

Just wait until this winter as more states cut social services drastically, unemployment continues upward, and people are freezing their arses off.


6 posted on 08/17/2009 9:23:33 AM PDT by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jess Kitting
Nothing is worse for a president than a growing belief among the public that it has been had.

The public has been had, and they have also had it with this president.

7 posted on 08/17/2009 9:24:02 AM PDT by Jess Kitting
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters
When a once-eloquent president now goes off teleprompter, the question is not whether he will say something that is either untruthful or silly, but simply how many times he might do so at one outing.

I want that in Bartlett's Quotations or something.
8 posted on 08/17/2009 9:24:55 AM PDT by VisualizeSmallerGovernment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters
You elect someone with a paper thin resume, no leadership experience, and (if you actually listen to what he says) he has overt marxist tendencies (paraphrased response to Joe the Plummer, ‘taxes are good because they spread the wealth...’) - yeah, I suppose eventually disappointment (reality) might sink in...
9 posted on 08/17/2009 9:25:48 AM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A.Hun

How about just wait until Hillary resigns and begins running against baRack. He can’t run against W again.


10 posted on 08/17/2009 9:25:59 AM PDT by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters

It is a function of trajectory. Most meteoric rises are accompanied by a similar fall from grace. Who is he? where did he come from? no one knows - it was never properly explored. Media’s Fault!


11 posted on 08/17/2009 9:26:58 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (Caution: Angry crowds in the mirror are LARGER than they appear.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seton89

Yes, the Clinton operatives will covertly start to clamor for the birth certificate setting themselves up for a 2012 run.


12 posted on 08/17/2009 9:28:11 AM PDT by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: All

Read DU today, meltdown like I haven’t seen since 2004 election. They concede the House healthcare plan is done for. They blame it on of all things MSM collusion, special interests feigning support and moles inside the Obama administration. And they say we are nutters.</


13 posted on 08/17/2009 9:28:34 AM PDT by pburgh01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters

Glibness and cunning. The aforementioned are the only two attributes “The Divine One” possesses.


14 posted on 08/17/2009 9:28:54 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lionheart 247365
I think I can speak for everyone on FR:

We all knew something was wrong when Obama got elected...

15 posted on 08/17/2009 9:29:23 AM PDT by John123 (Turn on your teleprompter Obama and read your lips... "No New Taxes!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: lionheart 247365

I’m just glad we are finally here instead of where we were in March and April. Adulation is never good for a democracy.


16 posted on 08/17/2009 9:30:05 AM PDT by johnnycap
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: subterfuge

I don’t think it will be Hillary, but you’re right, someone will.

IMO It will probably be Kuchinich..... because Obama isn’t far enough left for the majority of Dems.


17 posted on 08/17/2009 9:30:07 AM PDT by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters

What went wrong is voters didn’t percieve the economic crisis to be another Great Depression.

Roosevelt had an almost free hand because voters perceived the Great Depression to be a crisis that required extrodinary action. They allowed Roosevelt to “reshape” America and government.

Obama wanted to reshape America and government also. Unfortunatly, American don’t think things are so bad that we need to throw everything out and start over (as Obama seems to be trying to do.) They want our economic problems addressed, not our economy reshaped. They want health care improved, not rebuilt from the ground up.

Obama didn’t get the crisis he was hoping for. That’s what happened.


18 posted on 08/17/2009 9:31:08 AM PDT by Brookhaven (Film everything and put it on YouTube.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobinMasters
Nothing is worse for a president than a growing belief among the public that it has been had.

Except perhaps treating the public like they are stupid. Calling us un-American, Nazi's and evil mongers doesn't help either.

Even your run of the mill gun toting bible clinging hick knows it is a lie to say you can provide health insurance to 46M people without increasing the deficit.

The rejection of Obama is more about the deficit than anything else, IMO.

19 posted on 08/17/2009 9:31:10 AM PDT by IamConservative (I'll keep my money. You keep the change.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: seton89
Hell - the Dems are going to demanding the birth certificate.

Ha! That'll be the day... ;)

20 posted on 08/17/2009 9:31:28 AM PDT by John123 (We all knew something was wrong when Obama got elected)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-180 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson