Nicholas D. Kristof: President as Piñata

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/opinion/sunday/Kristof-President-As-Pinata.html?_r=2

President as Piñata
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: November 26, 2011


snip//

He took office in the worst recession in more than half a century, amid fears of a complete economic implosion. As The Onion, the satirical news organization, described his election at the time: “Black Man Given Nation’s Worst Job.”

The administration helped tug us back from the brink of economic ruin. Obama oversaw an economic stimulus that, while too small, was far larger than the one House Democrats had proposed. He rescued the auto industry and achieved health care reform that presidents have been seeking since the time of Theodore Roosevelt.

Despite virulent opposition that has paralyzed the government, Obama bolstered regulation of the tobacco industry, signed a fair pay act and tightened control of the credit card industry. He has been superb on education, weaning the Democratic Party from blind support for teachers’ unions while still trying to strengthen public schools.

In foreign policy, Obama has taken a couple of huge risks. He approved the assault on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan, and despite much criticism he led the international effort to overthrow Muammar el-Qaddafi. So far, both bets are paying off.

snip//

But think back to 2000. Many Democrats and journalists alike, feeling grouchy, were dismissive of Al Gore and magnified his shortcomings. We forgot the context, prided ourselves on our disdainful superiority — and won eight years of George W. Bush.

This time, let’s do a better job of retaining perspective. If we turn Obama out of office a year from now, let’s make sure it is because the Republican nominee is preferable, not just out of grumpiness toward the incumbent during a difficult time.

[roseBudd]

1. A lot of people mistakenly believe in Magic POTUS. POTUS is a bully pulpit & a veto pen

And the House and the Senate must both pass legislation for anything to be accomplished

Or not accomplished

For the GOP to claw their way back to complete incompetent power, they have to obstruct

[zbdent]

3. "mistakenly believe in Magic POTUS" ... mainly because, when it's a Dem POTUS,

the (allegedly) "liberally-biased media" goes on and on and on about how he hadn't magically restored prosperity by 12:01am 1/22/yearaftertheelectionyear ...

[roseBudd]

5. The sad truth is the economy is like Humpty Dumpty. There are no quick or easy fixes

[tabatha]

2. Rec - good article.

(Except for the education part.)

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. My only regret is that I can only rec this once.

:kick:

[TheWraith]

6. Kicked and recommended.

It's nice to see someone getting it.

[DCBob]

7. Even if some on the left think Obama is doing a terrible job...

surely they must realize a Republican would be a disaster for this nation from a liberal/progressive point of view. If they dont, then I cant take them serious.

[Number23]

8. "President Obama came into office with expectations that Superman couldn’t have met."

Ain't that the damn truth.

Between a "right" determined to minimize the man's intellect, cast every negative aspersion they could find against him and act as though he is the anti-Christ and a "left" determined to minimize the man's intellect, cast every negative aspersion they could find against him and constantly compare him to fictional super-presidents or imagining him being challenged by fictional super-liberals that never existed outside of their feverish imaginations, it's a wonder the man's popularity hasn't plummeted much further than it has.

Rec'd.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. Another excellent observation!!