One term

[SHRED]

I agree with Mike Malloy. Obama needs to announce that he will not seek a second term and come out swinging. Start spelling out in no uncertain terms how we got here and what really needs to be done. He needs to tell the Repubs to, "kiss my ass" and that he is going to call them out along with all the others controlled by corporate interests.
He needs to spell out just how much laissez-faire capitalism has corrupted our political system, torn apart our social safety nets, drained this country of jobs, and broke the back of our local governments. He should go before the American people and announce a $2 Trillion transfer of tax dollars from the war machine to green/infrastructure rebuilding of America with strict restrictions on the hiring of American citizens...and that is just a start.

His current path is not working and will not work.
He needs to turn around and fast.

Take the yoke of appeasement off Mr. President.
Stop kissing Republican and corporate Dem ass.


---

[madokie]

1. I agree

[bullimiami]

2. I also wish he would take the gloves off but I just dont think its his way.

I just dont get the not seeking a 2nd term thing though.
What purpose would it serve?

[Recursion]

21. The gloves are off. The punches landed. That's why the GOP is so furious

The collective inability on DU to see the massive progressive victories of the past two years notwithstanding, he had the gloves off from the beginning, he accomplished a surprising amount, and the Democratic caucus suffered from the Republican backlash because of how much they stood up for their principles, not how little.

If it weren't his way to fight we wouldn't have gotten PPACA and RAFSA. He twisted arms. He cracked skulls. He used the bully pulpit. He did everything people on this board are fervently wishing he had done. He fought and he won, and it pissed off enough Republican voters that they stopped giving their lukewarm support to the blue dogs and started giving their fervent support to the teahadists. In two years he's had more substantive legislative victories than W did in 8, and that's with absolutely no support from the other side.

[leeroysphitz]

22. "massive progressive victories"? hyperbolize much?

The great Society was a progressive victory. Social Security was a progressive victory. Medicare was a progressive victory.

The "Affordable Care Act" (did Frank Luntz come up with that title?) does not even come CLOSE.

Single Payer would have been a "massive" victory. The public Option would have been a victory.

Closing Gitmo would have been a victory.

Actually LEAVING Iraq would have been a victory.

Making the wealthy pay the same percentage of their income that I have to pay in taxes would have been a victory.

I could go on.

[lame54]

23. and meanwhile back on planet Earth

[bullimiami]

31. I guess I just dont see it that way.

[cali]

3. uh no. The Pat Cadell model is a lousy one.

He doesn't need to not run to stand up for what's right. He just needs to do it.

[KharmaTrain]

4. And Become A Total Lame Duck?

This scenario only works if its assured that President Obama's successor is also a Democrat. Otherwise he's dead meat politically the moment he dares to hint he's not running. The power of incumbency is very strong in this country...people like continuity even if they may not like who is at the helm. Take away this option and if you think it's going to be hard passing an agenda with a hostile and obstructive GOTB just wait when they really smell blood in the water.

Mike is right that is current path is not working...damn obvious to all...and my hopes are with others here that he'll suddenly wake up and grow a spine. I'm not holding my breath.

[SHRED]

6. I hear ya

I'll rethink the not running part.

He needs to stand up no matter what for sure.

I am just frustrated to no end.

[KharmaTrain]

8. And I Hear You...

There are a lot of frustrated soul around here...and for damn good reason.

Supposedly the most important thing to this President, as it is to all, is his legacy...and his ego. No matter how "aw shucks" he appears, President Obama is a politician first and foremost and they view their popularity and "legacy" as paramount. We've seen it with this President as he attempted to be truly bipartisan...make good on his there no "red America or Blue America"...the legacy of being a uniter. But we've seen that he's faced an opposition that not only didn't want a more united nation it's worked to undermine this administration at every step and was able to paint President Obama into a corner...one he appears to have no clue on how to get out of.

One would think that he's looking at his polls and seeing his support falling...that was his motivation before the mid-terms to try to be the moderate at first and in the waning days to crank up the old populist stuff...but it didn't work. With an even more obstructionist Congress ahead next year, he needs to stand up and stop being "above" it all or risk being totally alienated.

Time is running out...patience is running thin. While I want to support this administration it gets harder when there's not even a fight.

Cheers...

[SHRED]

9. well said

[AnArmyVeteran]

27. When LBJ announced he will not run again it opened up the field to a lot of good candidates.

Too bad Bobby Kennedy was killed. He would have been a great leader. He was the last great candidate we've had. I guess anyone of substance knows they will certainly be killed if they run for the presidency. So that's why we continually get mediocre, incompetent leaders as president. No one who will be an advocate for the middle class will ever get elected. If bib business doesn't destroy him they will kill him. It's obvious now that Obama sold out prior to becoming president. He's certainly not a Teddy Roosevelt who used a party machine to get elected and then turned on them to represent the people. The chance of that happening in this country full of corrupt businesses and an ignorant electorate are virtually zero.

[KharmaTrain]

28. Different Times...

One of the worst days of my life was when RFK was assasinated...the hopes vanished and the Democratic party has never been the same since. However, LBJ didn't bow out gracefully. Gene McCarthy beat him in New Hampshire and his popularity numbers were in Georgie boooosh territory. No matter how bad things currently are for President Obama he still maintains a strong popularity rating and I honestly don't see anyone within the party with the following/organization to be a serious challenge.

Teddy Roosevelt was an accidental President. He was the Sarah Palin of his day who made a lot of headlines and the party leaders thought by making him VP they'd shut him up. Little did they plan that McKinley would take a bullet and as one of the party leaders said "now we're stuck with the cowboy". And in the end the establishment forced him out not only as President but from the republican party as well.

I don't think Obama has "sold out" as much as he's become a prisoner of the system he had people hoping he could transform. He can'.t He came into office with the walls crumbling down and played the only hand he had that was to preserve the economic system as letting it completely collapse would have put a lot more people out of work and homes. He's had to react to situations and with little help from not only the opposition but members inside his own party.

In many ways we're living on borrowed time and money that this administration has bought...and at a price that the least are paying the biggest price. It's a silent depression and one where short term is all that our politicians see.

Cheers...

[AnArmyVeteran]

29. Thanks for that very well written post.

My only real objection is your comparison of Teddy to Sarah. I see your political point, but Sarah doesn't rise to the height of Teddy's shoe leather, or a piece of dog feces that he might have stepped in. Teddy would be considered a far left winger today. He wouldn't have even been able to be a republican in the 1980s, let alone today. He has a long list of what would be considered liberal causes today. And he was a trust-busting advocate for the working man. He wouldn't take shot from anyone.

Btw, do you remember the assassination attempt on Teddy's life? An assassin shot him in the chest, but thankfully he had a thick speech in his coat pocket that stopped the bullet from entering his chest. It was a good thing Teddy was long-winded. It saved his life. And even though he was shot he still finished his speech! What a guy. Sadly, they don't make em like that anymore.

Please take back your Teddy-Sarah comparison! It's really troubling me! I won't be able to sleep!!! :)

Have a great weekend...

[KharmaTrain]

30. A Media Thing...

No way would I dare to compare TR's political and overall leadership skills to Grifterella. I'm pointing to the noteriety and media fascinations of the time. I consider Teddy the original Progressive along with Battlin' Bob LaFollette...and Palin doesn't even rate next to those two.

BTW...that glass case is on display at the Chicago History Museum along with the copy of the speech with the bullet hole in it. That happened at the 1912 Bull Moose convention and TR not only finished the speech, he went on to campaign with the bullet in him.

Cheers...

[jefferson_dem]

5. No thanks.

If people wanted Nader as POTUS, they would have voted for him. Obama is no Nader... Thank goodness.

Malloy is talking some stupid shit. No wonder I stopped listening...long ago.

[elocs]

7. He may as well take the gloves off and fight tooth and nail now for what is the right thing to do.

No more of this make me do it bullshit. If it's right you do it for that reason and nobody should have to make you do it.

If Obama's base keeps getting demoralized by continual concession and capitulation to the Republicans in the name of bipartisanship, and the economy is not much better in a couple of years with still high unemployment, then there is not going to be a second term anyways.

[enough]

10. This assumes that the "real" Obama would like to "come out swinging" but is being prevented

from doing that. I have concluded that in fact the real Obama has no interest in the fights we think he should be fighting. There is no political streetfighter lurking underneath the mild-mannered exterior. What we see is what we get. He goes along to get along (though the ones he wants to get along with will never respect him or work with him). He does not see the world the way we do.

[LaurenG]

11. I would be very surprised if he turned around.

I think this is who he is. I don't think he knows how to throw down the gauntlet and I doubt he is interested in learning. I can't figure out why he didn't just step on the head of the snake when he had the chance. :shakes head:

[Toucano]

12. This assumes he's folding due to re-election concerns.

I don't think that's true.

He's folding because it's his misconception that Republicans can be rational.

[crikkett]

13. How about if he comes out swinging without caving on 2nd term?

[RickFromMN]

14. Obama should have stayed in the Senate.

The President is supposed to lead. The President is supposed to use the bully pulpit.

I don't believe President Obama knows how to lead.
I don't believe President Obama knows how to use the bully pulpit.

One moment he's for offshore oil drilling, and then he's against it.
One moment he's a strong proponent of the public option, and then he compromises it away.
One moment he's against the Bush tax cut for the wealthy, and then he's willing to compromise it away.

Strong leaders have core beliefs they will not sacrifice.
Strong leaders draw lines in the sand, crossing those lines means no deal, no compromise.

Does President Obama have any core belief he is willing to defend, willing to fight for?
Does President Obama have any policy he will not compromise?

Please, President Obama. Prove me wrong. I want to be proven wrong.

President Obama should have stayed in the Senate where he could follow the pack and look for compromise.

I hope we have 41 Senate Democrats, willing to walk the plank, willing to stand on principle, willing to say no.

Clearly, the President has no principles he will fight for.

Forgive me for the tone of this reply. I am not happy.

[DemReadingDU]

15. If he does this, someone will get to him

JFK

[wildbilln864]

16. He never intended to run for a second term...

and he will not change his current path! IMHOOC! :banghead:

[BlueJac]

17. But Obama believes in what he is doing........

he is from Chicago, and believes in Uncle Milton.

[spanone]

18. after 2 years it ain't gonna happen. depressing as fucking hell.

[Recursion]

19. Wow. The James K. Polk theory of Presidential politics

Though it did work pretty well for Polk.

Still, I don't see the point of announcing he's not running again.

[madinmaryland]

32. Tippicanoe and Tyler, Too???

[mmonk]

20. Some think the Republican corporate style for Democrats is ok.

Most of the party's handlers think so and you'll find support for it here. I think, though, a Bill Clinton styled two term isn't coming for this latest DLC rendition. And that is what progressivism was sacrificed for. Two terms. Screw that.

[Recursion]

24. Delete

This goes too far afield; I'll OP it at some point

[mmonk]

25. By saying screw that, I mean the style.

We cannot survive it. The administration needs to change course and drop the bipartisan meme or it will most likely fail. The DLC thought it had the winning formula for all future Democratic administrations. This one's DLC style points may prove them to be wrong.

[MatthewStLouis]

26. If he'd show more spine and less flexibility he could have 2 terms....

People on the left think he's abandoned them, people on the right will hate him no matter what, and people who are 'undecided' will hate him most for what they hate in themselves: wishy-washiness. Obama needs to start standing for some clear principles.

[amborin]

33. he should have done that from the get-go, before the HCR debacle,

the stimulus giveaway (large chunk wasted on useless rethuglican tax cuts), etc.....

AND, as someone else said, he'd have been a transformative president, and won a second term