Is President Obama's Carter Moment Nearing?

Washington Post ^ | June 3, 2010 | David S, Broder

[lbryce]

"This is the worst," a Democratic friend exclaimed over the phone on Tuesday, the first day back at work after the Memorial Day weekend. I knew without asking what he meant -- the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico that dominated television coverage and was into its second month with no quick solution in sight. * They haven't built a popular new television program around it -- yet. No one has created a new media franchise for himself out of it. There isn't a name for it that has become part of popular culture.

I was thinking back to when another Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, found himself stymied in another seemingly endless ordeal. Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 officials and workers hostage for 444 days, while the United States was helpless to free them.

Many of us recall the event by the name that became attached to it: "America Held Hostage." That was the title ABC News slapped on its half-hour news update that aired each night, with Ted Koppel as anchor. The show later became the long-running program "Nightline."

This is when you know you are truly harpooned, when your problem has become someone else's meal ticket.

As sinister as the jet stream of escaping oil and gas looks via the underwater camera in the gulf, Barack Obama has not yet moved into the category of the late-night patsy that Jimmy Carter became. The Iranians were more clever, or diabolical, in exploiting their hostages than the restrained BP executives or their enviro foes are in this situation. ad_icon

Obama keeps popping up in new settings, sounding as if he is in command, and he has refused to be confined to the White House as Carter was by the hostage crisis.

[Shqipo]

This spill is one of the longest political slow drips of all time. May Obama suffer much in it.

[bitt]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/139385/Federal-Debt-Terrorism-Considered-Top-Threats.aspx

[Condor51]

Funny poll questions?
Gallup didn't ask the people if they were concerned about Barry's Golf Game.

And to him, that's priority #1. (Along with shooting hoops at #1A)

'series', I swear, Barry O'Bama is the STOO-PIDIST^™ president in US History.
If his IQ is above 80 I'll eat my hat -- and its a Stetson ;-)

[bitt]

I think the Gallup poll is very revealing...they just can’t come up with the happy numbers anymore, so they try to obscure with bizarro info..

I would think the Tea Party supporters’ best strategy would be to commission Rasmussen polls every week asking the hard questions and making sure the info is placed well.

I heard Paul Ryan interviewed on the Rush show yesterday, he has an .org he’s pushing...maybe HE’D be a good one to contact with the suggestion...

[sport]

No.

[Condor51]

*** I heard Paul Ryan interviewed on the Rush show yesterday, he has an .org he’s pushing...maybe HE’D be a good one to contact with the suggestion... ***

Yeah I'm hearing Paul Ryan's name more and more.

I listened to Rush everyday too, but I listen as I work so I'm not paying 100% attenuation. And when there's a Guest host my attention really drops off. (except for Dr Walter E. Williams and Mark Steyn -- then I pay attention)