Obama's Chance at a Two-Term Presidency

American Thinker ^ | 12/20/2011 | Ron Lipsman

[SeekAndFind]

One of the greatest gifts that America has given to the world is the idea that the leader of a nation should be chosen freely by its people. Well, perhaps the notion did not originate in America, but the Yanks certainly showed the world how to do it. More spectacularly and more originally, the United States pioneered the following novel concept: when the favor of the people transfers from one faction (as Madison called them) or party to another, then the defeated incumbent gracefully steps aside as his victorious opponent peacefully and lawfully takes his place as the new leader. Indeed, the peaceful transfer of power from the Federalists (Adams) to the Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) in 1801 must be regarded as one of the most momentous advances in the history of human freedom.

Thus, having taught the world how to peacefully install a legitimate leader, as well as how to gracefully escort him to the exit, it was incumbent upon the American people to decide how long they wished the time span between entrance and exit to last. George Washington solved the problem. He refused to serve more than two terms -- thus setting a powerful precedent that lasted nearly a century and a half. This feature of American government became ingrained in our political DNA: presidents serve no more than two terms. And when, finally, this virtual commandment was violated by FDR, the nation ensured that there would be no repeat offense by amending the Constitution.

It is my thesis, however, that Washington set not only an upper bound, but a lower bound as well. Namely, he established a precedent that, unless there are compelling reasons not to do so, a sitting president would be re-elected to a concluding second term.

[SeekAndFind]

The author claims that :

In fact, with the exception of two relatively brief periods (of 20-25 years each), it has been the habit of the American people to re-elect their presidents -- unless one of two readily identifiable conditions (to be explained below) obtains.

CLICK ABOVE LINK TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE CONDITIONS ARE AND HOW THEY AFFECT OBAMA's CHANCES...

[Baynative]

Freeper 'no dems' makes sense with this tag line:
(Why do you never see "Obama" bumper stickers on cars going to work in the morning?)

[izzatzo]

If this muslim traitor is re-elected, the Republic is toast, if not already.

[Sans-Culotte]

The gist of the article: Obama will either just squeak through with a victory or be blown out.

[MissMagnolia]

Hoover and Carter .... the people judged these two men to be incompetent, misguided, and dangerous to the Republic ... these two men hold the unique distinction of being the only sitting presidents to be summarily fired.

Let's go for #3.

[Don Corleone]

Hoover and Carter .... the people judged these two men to be incompetent, misguided, and dangerous to the Republic ... these two men hold the unique distinction of being the only sitting presidents to be summarily fired. Let's go for #3.

Don't put off til tomorrow what you can do today! (Good advice from mom)

[srmorton]

The only ones I see are from 2008 and are often on cars being driven by a black driver. No prejudice intended, just stating a fact. Another car is the one driven by one of my dearest friends with whom I graduated from high school. She raised her children in a very conservative manner and her husband (who is her HS sweetheart and my lawyer) loves to hunt (a very "unliberal" thing to do). They are both strong Christians, but are what you would call "yellow-dog" Democrats. She has her Obama 2008 sticker on her car as well as another one that says, "Had Enough, Vote Democrat". :)

[Jeff Vader]

what about GHWB in 1992?

[DeaconRed]

ZERO has two chances:
Very Slim:
None

[Baynative]

Simply amazing, the intellect of your 'friend'.

Talking from a personal experience, I would offer that she is really no friend because she supports a destructive effort to take down our country and ridicule your (our) values.

[ilgipper]

Three consecutive presidents have not been reelected since jefferson, Madison, Monroe (hope I got the order right on the fly). I do not see this predestined reelection trend the left/media have invented. They certainly weren’t saying this in 2004 when Bush had prosecuted a very successful post 9-11 strategy, his ratings were skyhigh and the economy was in good shape. More propaganda.

[yldstrk]

link?

[yldstrk]

perot

[LibLieSlayer]

The latest polling data from abc/Washington compost says he is rebounding. When the republican party latched on to the TEA Party and we swept dims out and republicans in... they promised that they understood... that they “heard us clearly” according to boehner... and then proceeded to do the exact same things that got them thrown out of office and totally removed them from any position of power... well obama will win reelection... and look to the republican party and their progressive leadership for the blame. I knew when they appointed progressives to almost every Chairmanship in the House and the same old progressive farts in the Senate... we were screwed. I don't like it but there is the truth in a nutshell. Add to that a putrid choice in candidates and a manipulated primary system... it has failure written all over it.

LLS

[srmorton]

I have known her for almost 50 years so it's hard to not consider her a friend.:) Although NC usually votes for the Republican candidate in the presidential race, for many years the local politicians were Democrats. When we moved back to Jacksonville, NC, in 1978, I actually was a registered Democrat in order to be able to vote in the primary for school board and county commissioner. I think these people just vote Democrat because their families have always done so, and, although they are very intelligent college graduates, they are uniformed about what the national Democratic party actually stands for.

[Baynative]

Peopl who vote (D) out of habit and say they could never vote for (R) , or that "the (R)s are just for the rich" should be convinced that it would be better if they just didn't vote at all. At least that way they wouldn't be supporting the likes of Obama, Waxman, Pelosi and Reid, or contributing to events such as Sotomayor and Kagan being made a Supreme Court Justice for LIFE.

[MissMagnolia]

what about GHWB in 1992?

According to the article, they are in a different category:

They fall into two categories. First, Taft and Bush the elder. Both fell victim to an unusually strong third-party candidate -- Taft to Teddy Roosevelt and Bush to Ross Perot. Sans the extra competitor, it is almost certain that both Taft and Bush would have been re-elected.

[DeaconRed]

"The latest polling data from abc/Washington compost says he is rebounding."

Don't believe it.
It's just the MSM doing their best to prop up the community organizer and get us to thinking he has a chance.
I don't know if you are old enough to remember the second worst president ever. JIMMAH KARTAH. Right up to the election they had him ahead or neck and neck.
It was a landslide. . . . . .

[556x45]

I just dont understand this view point. Why is it doomed? Are we a nation of cattle willingly herded? Did we lose ownership somewhere along the way? The DC dwellers have forgotten the set up is one of mutual consent. We (here in fly over country) can withdraw that consent whenever we want to. What does DC do then? Do they back down and talk or send in the troops? If the later I suspect they’re in for a real thrashing ala http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMbXvn2RNI)

[Jeff Vader]

I can’t comment on Taft since I wasn’t there. But GHWB only got a 3rd party challenger because he was such a bad president.