Obama’s Summer of Discontent

[BlueStateSaint]

I found this on Commentary magazine's website, having gone there from Real Clear Politics.

Obama’s Summer of Discontent

Peter Wehner

President Obama remains in a fairly strong -- but no longer commanding -- political position. The RCP poll average of Obama's job approval rating is 56 percent. But if one carefully tracks the evolution of public sentiment since Obama assumed office, one would notice several trends -- nascent but discernible -- that should concern Obama and encourage conservatives.

The first has to do with the basic philosophical orientation of Americans. A recent Gallup poll found 40 percent of Americans described their political views as conservative, while only 21 percent as liberal. Gallup also found that Americans, by a two-to-one margin, say their political views in recent years have become more conservative rather than more liberal. And a Pew survey released in May found that since the election, there has been "no consistent movement away from conservatism, nor a shift toward liberalism."

What this means, I think, is that Obama's victory in 2008, while impressive, did not represent an ideological shift. If Obama were to succeed as president, his victory may lead to a greater popularity of the ideas he embodies. Or, if he fails, it may result in the opposite: a further discrediting of liberalism. For now, though, it's fair to say that Obama's win was based on two factors, in roughly equal measure: his personal appeal, impressive political talents, and ability to project an image at odds with his ideology, combined with a public disenchanted with the GOP. It was not the result of a resurgence in liberalism.

Second, Republicans -- while still trailing Democrats in party identification by a wide margin and with their party's "brand" at its lowest popularity in decades -- are gaining ground on the issues. According to a New York Times poll earlier this month, almost seven in ten people expressed "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of concern about the expanding role of the federal government under Obama. Scott Rasmussen's trust-on-issues polling, comparing Republicans and Democrats on ten issues, showed Democrats leading on all ten in October 2008.

But earlier this month, we have seen almost a complete reversal; Republicans were leading on eight. When it comes to party affiliation, Democrats have lost more support this year than Republicans (though they started from a higher base line). In addition, Republicans are closing the gap and, in some instances, pulling slightly ahead of Democrats in generic Congressional polls. And in two important governors' races this year, Bob McDonnell, a Republican, leads Creigh Deeds, a Democrat, in Virginia, while another Republican, Chris Christie, leads the incumbent Jon Corzine in New Jersey by around double digits.

Seems pretty interesting--and looks bad for the Dems.  The first two contests--the governors in New Jersey and Virginia--are 108 days away.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/obama-s-summer-of-discontent-15208

[thundley4]

Maybe, just maybe, having the DimRats control congress and the White House could be a good thing in the long run.  They are showing just how stupid and hateful they are to all things American.

[BlueStateSaint]

I agree.  The next three cycles--2010, 2012, and 2014--should be rather painful for those who follow the donkey.  And I can't wait! 

[miskie]

I agree.  The next three cycles--2010, 2012, and 2014--should be rather painful for those who follow the donkey.  And I can't wait! 

The only way it wont be is if Obama's plans actually work, (odds are about nil on that) or the economy actually recovers in spite of them (which I put more faith in happening, but still not much)

[docstew]

The only way it wont be is if Obama's plans actually work, (odds are about nil on that) or the economy actually recovers in spite of them (which I put more faith in happening, but still not much)

Even if the economy starts to sputter out of the funk his policies are keeping it in, 0bama will just see that as a signal that it's working and it's time for more of the same... which will kill whatever recovery is trying to break through.

[Sam Adams]

The key factor is timing, I think. A major recession is here, and inflation is coming. But what if everything is nearly perfect in the fall of 2010 and the fall of 2012? People's memories are very short. Then Obama takes credit for the good times, even though he will not deserve it, and he can have everything he wants.

[vesta111]

The only way it wont be is if Obama's plans actually work, (odds are about nil on that) or the economy actually recovers in spite of them (which I put more faith in happening, but still not much)

I agree, the problem for Obama is he is moving too fast into uncharted waters.

Here I am, the one who yelled that we needed to give him a chance to do the job he was hired to do.  We are only half way into the first quarter of his term of 4 years and suddenly everyone wants to  sack the coach in the game of politics.  

I now wonder if his plan for America is to jack slap us, move so fast we cannot keep up with the changes, no time to look at the both sides of any bill- inundate congress with so much paper work no one has the time to read Bills just vote from gut reaction.

He don't look too happy these days with socialized medical care being actually being discussed by the little man/woman in the street.   The very people he counted on that he thought would want free medical care are now finally awake and the poorest of the poor are questioning his program.

 The poorest that become ill with no insurance know they can get free medical care now on the spot.  If socialized medicine comes into play, they may face long waiting lists, doctors and nurses that have no incentive to take time to get to know their patients, and what today may take a couple of weeks to get a referrel to a specialist may take 18 months or more.  

  What will happen to the free clinics held in large cities for the desperate, what happens to clinics that help the drug users--Methodone, will some unseen government worker decide close there operations down.?

In a few short months he has seized the banks, the auto industry, spent trillions of dollars without placing any rules in place for the receiver to follow.

Would you give a child who is deep in debt with a drug habit $5,000 to help them get on their feet and trust them to spend wisely ???

Example from personal experience, a poor deluded woman knowing her beloved great grand child needed money because of a drug problem,  She gave him $500.00 with the stipulation he never got a tattoo,   The gratefully young man spent that money on a second rate tat that was a direct thumb his nose at someone that loved them.

Obama comes from the class of people that believe that money can fix all ills.  He needs to get hard and tough with his people-- the republicans will never destroy him, his down fall will be at the hands of his advisers.

[5412]

Hi,

Recall when the elder Bush ran for president.  He called the democrat party "Tax and Spend" and they all denied it.  Seems to me when they have control their true colors come out.  Too bad the republicans are not smart enough to bring up the point.  I would run an ad that shows the elder Bush making that remark, and then a graphic that says some things never change.....

regards,
5412

[Chris]

Hi,

Recall when the elder Bush ran for president.  He called the democrat party "Tax and Spend" and they all denied it.  Seems to me when they have control their true colors come out.  Too bad the republicans are not smart enough to bring up the point.  I would run an ad that shows the elder Bush making that remark, and then a graphic that says some things never change.....

regards,
5412

Obama emphatically stated during the debates -- never mind his vague, non-specific campaign ads -- that he was NOT going to just "throw money at a problem and hope it goes away" or that he in was NO WAY the same old tax-and-spend liberal Democrat that he was accused of being, when he has done nothing BUT throw money at problems and follow the same, tired template of every other democrat since Woodrow Wiilson and FDR.

This guy is a pathetic failure, even by his own standards.

[miskie]

Obama emphatically stated during the debates -- never mind his vague, non-specific campaign ads -- that he was NOT going to just "throw money at a problem and hope it goes away" or that he in was NO WAY the same old tax-and-spend liberal Democrat that he was accused of being, when he has done nothing BUT throw money at problems and follow the same, tired template of every other democrat since Woodrow Wiilson and FDR.

This guy is a pathetic failure, even by his own standards.

I agree with that - Obama is an entirely new breed of tax-and-spend liberal Democrat. One that puts the old style to shame.