Posted on 01/23/2010 4:30:29 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
A year into his presidency and Barack Obama is in trouble.
Poll numbers have plummeted, anticipation was replaced with agitation and Independent voters have fled the Democratic Party in droves. Once an emerging star on the global stage, the throngs of foreigners that once embrace him now mock him.
Health care has consumed his legislative agenda, revamped his political opposition and demonstrated that a party with solid majority in both Houses of Congress remains divided. No amount of rhetoric seemed to bridge the gap.
But of all the troubles to befall this fledgling administration, the biggest burn is the reality Mr. Obama has proven unable to rally Democrats in three key off-year elections.
In Virginia — a state Mr. Obama surprisingly won in 2008 – a Republican was elected governor. In New Jersey — a state Mr. Obama won by a margin of 57 percent to 41 percent – the incumbent Democratic governor received a pink slip. And then there was Massachusetts.
To say the election of Scott Brown, a Reagan Republican, to replace the late Ted Kennedy, the Senate’s longtime liberal lion, was revolutionary, could be an understatement.
In a press release dubbed, “The Scott Heard Round the World,” the conservative Family Research Council highlighted the significance of Mr. Brown’s victory.
“Massachusetts was the sight of the first American Revolution, and after Scott Brown's victory, it might be the start of the next,” the release stated.
“Last night, the popular fury of the United States was on full display as voters literally pulled the seat out from under Senate Democrats and elected Republican Scott Brown, ending a 38-year drought for the GOP in a seemingly untouchable blue state.”
What caused Massachusetts to deliver a slap across the president’s face? Republicans answer a liberal agenda that is out of sync with the nation.
“In just one year since President Obama was sworn into office, our nation's deficit has exploded, government spending has increased, the massive $787 stimulus plan has failed to produce the jobs promised, and the Democrats have attempted to hand our health care system over to government bureaucrats,” said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex.
“Americans are tired of the Democrats' agenda, and they're sending a message with their votes.”
Democrats were clearly shell shocked.
"I have no interest in sugar coating what happened in Massachusetts," U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said responding to Mr. Brown’s win. "There is a lot of anxiety in the country right now. Americans are understandably impatient. The truth is Democrats understand the economic anger voters feel, that's in large part why we did well in 2006 and 2008."
Even Mr. Obama noted Massachusetts was a canary in a coalmine.
"If there's one thing that I regret this year is that we were so busy just getting stuff done and dealing with the immediate crises that were in front of us that I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are and why we have to make sure those institutions are matching up with those values," Mr. Obama said in an interview with ABC News after the Jan. 19 special election.
And while the president promised to reconnect with voters, such rhetoric was contradicted by signals stemming from Washington. There is little indication the White House would abandon its controversial healthcare plan. Even before the race was called Tuesday night, Democratic leaders were fishing for plans to keep Obamacare alive.
Everything from having the House approve the Senate plan “as is” – which would bypass debate in the Senate – to reconciliation – a controversial procedure requiring only 51 votes in the Senate – were being floated. Such news was music to the ears of Republicans.
After a devastating defeat in 2008, Republicans are trying to change the dialogue inside and outside the Beltway. The goal is simple – cast Mr. Obama as a typical politician who talks one way on the campaign trail and governs another way in office.
“One year ago, the American people welcomed President Obama into office and placed upon him an enormous amount of trust to bring about a new era of responsibility to Washington, but after a full year of failed stimulus plans, budget busting deficits, and his blatant attempts to continue his binge spending by raising America’s credit card limit, it is clear that the president has failed to bring any kind of responsibility to Washington,” The Republican National Committee claims in a new video.
“Instead of changing the political culture of Washington with his pledge for increased government transparency and political bipartisanship, President Obama and Congressional Democrats have fully embraced a method of operating that favors secret closed-door Capitol Hill meetings and complete one party monopoly rule.”
This message, despite the best wishes of Democrats, is resonating not just with Republicans, but with Independent voters who were largely responsible for Democratic victories in 2006 and 2008. It is a situation that could create problems for Democrats this November.
"There is a lot of work still to be done, but yes, I do think that we can take back the majority in the U.S. House in November," House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., told CNN. And apart from the House, it looks as if the top Democrat in the Senate, Harry Reid, D-Nev., is looking vulnerable.
In a race where the Republican nominee has yet to be named, Mr. Reid trails three of his potential opponents. Moreover, CQ Politics has declared the race a toss-up.
In light of the dire situation, Mr. Obama announced this week he would be heading to the Silver State in February to campaign for the Senate Majority Leader. But with a 0-4 track record, Olympics included, there is a question as to whether Mr. Reid’s campaign can withstand such support.
I get these disappointing thoughts now and then that since it is obvious why the Dumocrats are getting blown out, they’ll figure out how to repackage themselves and the MSM will save them in November.
Then I read quotes such as these and realize that it is only obvious to we-the-people why we-the-people are getting rid of Dumocrats - the Dums don’t get it, the MSM doesn’t get it, Dums will perpetuate their errors, and we-the-people will turf ‘em all out in November. And the disappointment gives way to anticipation. :)
I guess it depends how you look at it.
“Massachusetts was the sight of the first American Revolution, .....”
“Sight?” How about “site.”
Massachusetts was the site of the first American revolution? That’s if you don’t count Bacon’s rebellion.
I love it..The Obama Curse. Too Funny!
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