Surprise is the beginning of wisdom, and President Obama and his campaign so far are deeply surprising. His presidency is a basket case, a failure with a capital F, and yet he is neck-and-neck with Romney. The only comparable failure since World War II was Jimmy Carter’s—and Carter, it’s true, gave Reagan a tough race in 1980. But Carter at least attracted a stiff primary challenge from Edward Kennedy. And voters were scared of Carter’s opponent (the terrifying extremist Ronald Reagan); they might not be inspired by Romney, but they are comfortable with him. Obama’s showing this year is a surprise from many angles.
The utter failure of this president is rank. History’s most expensive plan ever for buying your way out of recession barely propelled the economy uphill, and now, in a squeal and stench of smoking tires, the Obama Special (sweating, straining, roaring, leaking dollars) is slipping back down again. The president’s signature approach to governing is to ram through some wildly-unpopular measure and then take a bow as the audience hoots. He did it with his famous unreform of healthcare, and again with the blocked Keystone pipeline. His attorney general would be a joke if he weren’t so dangerous, but Obama likes him. The president did give up such unpopular ideas as closing Guantanamo, card-check, a criminal trial for KSM in Manhattan à la P.T. Barnum, cap-and-trade–but only because there was no way to push these things through. (Although when Obama can govern by decree instead of by legislation, he is only too happy. Legislation has always struck him as a monumental bore.)
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Probably the fact that he’s not failing to any except a small number of dedicated and incredibly vocal pundits who are monetizing the fears of a demographic whose real issue with Obama is … suspect.
Most people I’ve talked to merely find him underwhelming or mediocre. The GOP field is much worse though, which is why O is polling above 50% even in red states like Florida. All he has to do is keep Mitt talking and those numbers will climb still.
Whether or not Obama is failing has nothing to do with the number of people who think he is failing. It’s about his policies. Obama is a Progressive, hence he is failing. That’s all there is to it.
And your “… suspect” comment is a two way street. The number of people voting for Obama because he is black probably far out weighs the number not voting for him because he’s black.
I haven’t heard anyone in the GOP field insulting entrepreneurs and small businessmen. Not sure exactly how they could possibly be worse than a man, a President, no less, who has open contempt for individual initiative. You know, it almost sounds like he’s monetizing the situation to motivate a demographic whose real issue with the GOP is … suspect.
If you’re correct then you have to explain why no one voted for Alan Keyes, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson or Ezola Foster. They’re all blacker than Obama and none broke 5% of the popular vote.
The guilty liberal explanation just underlines the conservative belief that none of “them” could make it based on merit
Fair enough. However I don’t think that any of those that you mention were ever in a position to run for President. In any case, I think you’re vastly overestimating the influence of the bigoted vote.
There is no such thing as a “conservative belief” that black men, or men of colour, can’t make it based on merit. That’s a ridiculous accusation. All I need to know is that Obama is a Progressive. Progressivism is colourless.
His presidency is so failed he is reduced to begging for money. Just watched one of his adverts and I was beginning to wonder when he was going to bring out the same ‘anointed cloths’ a certain disgraced televangelist used to use to fleece his flock.
“What Keeps This Failed President Above Water?”
A number of reasons and here’s just a few. He’s a well practised and gifted bullshit artist. He could sell a air conditioner to people living in an Igloo during an Ice Age. The uncanny ability to be incredibly convincing as he looks Americans straight in the eye and lies through his teeth. He has done end runs around Congress and filled his administration with unvetted like minded foot soliders. There remain millions of guilt ridden voters (why is beyond me) who cannot bring themselves to vote against a black American even if if means losing their country.
How about Obama getting 90% of the Black vote ? Could it be because he is Black ….
Say it ain’t so …..
If Romney was getting 90% of the ” WHITE ” vote questions of racism would be at least suggested.
I’m pretty sure that just mentioning the above is proof for some that I’m a racist because one can’t ask these question, not politically correct, discussion not allowed !
Speaking of political correctness, is it a coincidence that those who complain about it the most also practice it the most?
Cons will twist logic and probability to the nth degree to avoid admitting that a ___insert minority group here___ could possibly be smart, industrious or charismatic enough to achieve something of titular importance. So you all convince yourselves that white Americans vote for Obama simply because they feel guilty, even though they seemed to have completely missed this impulse when Al Sharpton, Jessse Jackson, Alan Keyes and Ezola Foster ran for office. Same with blacks and their tribalism – of course they are voting 90% for Democrats because Obama is black – never mind that they did the same when Kerry, Clinton and Carter were running for office.
This attitude explains why so-called black conservatives are the real empty suits. A lot of Cons like to talk about how “smart” Thomas Sowell is. Really? Then why aren’t you trying to get him to run for president, or at least serve in the administration? Why is he relegated to rebutting all of Jesse and Al’s talking points and besmirching your family portraits to ward off any accusations of the R word?
So yes, please cut the political correctness, and plainly show the attitude that causes even the bible-thumping, homophobic minorities to vote Democrat in lopsided numbers.
(though honestly, Jean, didn’t really figure you for that …)
Sorry Cy, you give us the same rant every time for so many different Topics: ” Cons will twist logic and probability to the nth degree to avoid admitting that a ___insert minority group here___ could possibly be smart, ”
Sound like a generalization to me ! ” Prejudice ” is generalizing from some, to most, to ALL
That you can find lots of true racism or stupidities in some ” conservative ” blogs or opinion, I have no doubt, but one can find ” LOONEYTOONS ” on the Left, Right or Centre, Black or White: ”
” of course they are voting 90% for Democrats because Obama is black – never mind that they did the same when Kerry, Clinton and Carter were running for office. ”
Good point there above. ( Not sure if it’s 100% factual that the Democrats have been more favourable to the Blacks, but the democrats certainly sold the idea very well from the 1960′s on ).
Anyway, I really don’t want to get into a hostile rant myself, just noting that in my opinion you have your own World View and stereotypes about conservatives.
By the way, I’m not religious ( Agnostic lapsed catholic ), just in case you want to bring that up again by assuming that all conservatives are ” Red Necks “, inbred deliverance banjo playing albinos, and Bible thumpers etc etc etc ….
I like debate, I really don’t like getting into flame wars and I am trying to be respectful, even if overly blunt ! ( Maybe failing, but the intent is to give you my honest impression of how you come across, at least to me, from reading many discussions that have turned “negative ” with others in the past ).
” (though honestly, Jean, didn’t really figure you for that …) ”
I’ve also noticed that with others here, if we don’t agree with you, you end the conversation by accusing the person of racism as if that is ” THAT “, case closed, and I guess really believing that you have discovered another racist.
Jean, if you leave a calling card, someone’s going to dial the number. If I came up here calling women names and suggesting that they belong in the kitchen you would probably think I was sexist. May be true, may not be true, but if the language was used you can’t be faulted for making the assumption.
Also, this is a culture war blog, and there are only so many topics. If you think my calling out Cons is repetitive, then how repetitive is watching the piranhas feed on every half-baked rumor about whitehouse corruption? Tumbleweeds roll through any economic discussion.
You nailed it Jean! i totally agree with your assessment of Cy!
Yes, Jean and I would add, according to the progressives, you can only be racist if you happen to be white. As well, if you are not politically correct, you are a bigot or a racist. That is the progressive’s way of shutting down ANY debate.
No has said or even implied that. But it is a good way to put yourself on the cross and create the idea that you have some unique and vital knowledge that a conspiracy is holding back, even if you have flat out fib about it (remember when you said that whites couldn’t file with the HRC?)
Any time you want to talk about Hutu oppression of the Tutsi, Chinese aggression against the Uighur or Kuwaiti oppression of their Filipino workers I’m all ears.
Memo to Cy: I disagree with Obama’s policies or lack thereof NOT his skin colour. And no policies are not skin colour specific.
Memo to Joe:
Ok. The inability of the lot to address the Thomas Sowell point after their pile-on told all that needs to be known.
Trying to avoid the referee at this point. Good day.
So Conservatives are a bunch of racists because they’re not beating down Sowell’s door to get him to run just so that they can prove to you that they aren’t racists ? And you wonder why nobody met your inane challenge ?
That’s an oversimplification, but at some point if you want to avoid the charge of tokenism, find an example of a minority that isn’t taken out of his box only as an attack dog against Jesse Jackson’s crowd (Sowell, Williams, Barber, etc) or as a “politically correct” mouthpiece for extremism (Horowitz, Malkin, Coulter, etc).
As for the R word (which I didn’t actually mention first in this thread) … read your favourite blogs – Pajamas Media, Free Republic, etc. You don’t need to believe or like what I say – understand what your mates south of the border are saying about Obama, Zimmerman, crime, IQ and genetics, etc.
Don’t make me spam Jack’s board with stuff he’ll hate. Already going to the penalty box for this as it is.
Actually, it’s not an oversimplification. In true Progressive fashion, you expect Conservatives to jump through hoops in order to disprove your accusations. In any case, it’s a logical fallacy to conclude all Conservatives are racist based on the opinions of a few. It’s insulting, it’s stupid and, it destroys discussion. But that’s exactly what Obama’s useful idiots want. I am not responsible for what Malkin, etc say. If you think I am a racist because of what she says then there’s really no point in reasoning with you.
And let’s not play games here, Cy. You’ve been a race-baiter here since day one. It’s almost impossible to have a mature discussion about Obama’s policies without “racist” being hurled from the cheap seats, whether it’s stated explicitly or implied.
“Race-baiter” is a useless term meant to shut people up when they point out the ugly truth about ugly words. The term used on whites who notice the same ugly truths is “limp-wristed liberal” or “libtard” etc.
“It’s almost impossible to have a mature discussion about Obama’s policies without “racist” being hurled from the cheap seats”
It’s very easy and done in many places where I post. Know what’s never seen in these places?
-Comparing Obama to the janitor
-Monkey pictures
-Grey area comments like “Affirmative Action president”
-Claims that he could only become president because people are scared to become racist
Every middle class minority knows that code talk. Combined with birther claims, that’s about 1/2 the conversation on nearly any board you would like.
My apologies if you feel personally offended, but that hardly erases the general tone of conversation on right wing boards, and it’s unfortunate that none of you are big enough to admit it.
Anyone who know me knows I have a huge problem with Obamacare, and I don’t think he’s been a particularly good president relative to what America needs right now. Hard to pay attention to that when a chunk of the country is using his missteps, Zimmerman, etc to promote Jim Crow 2.0
Who’s Thomas Sowell and why should anyone except Thomas Sowell be concerned about what Thomas Sowell has to say? I could care the less about the colour of a (wo)man’s skin but I really care about the person’s character and policies. Right now Obama has shown himself to be a man of low repute and his policies are a disaster for any and every nation that has ever tried them.
How about you find a black conservative that isn’t called an uncle Tom or worse by the left Cy.
Booker T Washington
Now stop stalling.
The headline: Big mystery.
Dick Morris explained this situation “many moons” ago but clearly the author has not picked up. The reason is (headline) that NOBODY is paying attention to politics at this time of year other than a few “dweebs” like myself. Therefore why the stats aren’t changing.
The stats will begin to move in September after the holidays. That because American voters will start to watch. At this time they couldn’t care less and all of this garbage is just “pissing into the wind”.
Now, can we drop this and get back to something important?
Have a great day.
Gone.
If you have to go back 100 years maybe thats a bit telling.
And my guess is most on the left would say they liked his song “Green Onions”