Being There — the Obama Sequel ... Victor Davis Hanson

PJ Media ^ | 6 Jan 2012 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Rummyfan]

Rip Van Obama

President Obama went into a deep slumber in December. When he woke up this January, he found himself back even in the polls, with neither a press conference nor another overhyped presidential televised address to be heard. Sleep, quiet, and solitude — all that appears wiser than campaigning, visibility, and speaking, both for Obama and Americans. In short, the president has really hit on something: an Obama going into a Rip Van Winkle somnolent state might just mean waking up again as president.

If conservatives once alleged that Obama got elected as Being There’s Chauncey Gardiner — the empty vessel that all put their hopes and dreams in — they might complain even louder that he now plans on getting reelected as him as well, as if 2009-2011 were now a dream and we are back to fall 2007 when a political unknown proclaimed himself a new Lincoln declaring his candidacy from Springfield.

[Rummyfan]

[Red Badger]

I don’t like him ‘Being There’.............

[ilgipper]

I don’t know. All this thrashing about in the beltway media on how Obama has ‘come back’, his daily Rasmussen numbers look about the same as they have on average over the past couple years. He has about 20-22% strong approval, about 40-44% strong disapproval, and his overall hovers 44-46% approval and around 50% disapproval. The GOP has certainly opened the door through terrible strategy, but Obama hasn’t seen the benefit. The overall ‘who do you trust’ numbers still look to be in the GOP favor, too. At best, the Dems have just been successful at pulling the GOP down further into the mud.

[skeeter]

One of the most concise writers out there, this guy nails it in everything he puts his name to.

[GonzoGOP]

He popped up over Christmas/New Year break. But is back down to rigth where he was before. I think VDH has a ponit. Everything Obama does makes people angry. The more he tries to do the worse his numbers get. The more he just get out of the spotlight the better his numbers look.

The obvious strategy for the GOP is to make sure Obama can't get out of the spotlight. Pummel him with legislation that he has to oppose or veto. Change the meme from the do nothing congress to the veto everything president. Force Obama to be out there every day fighting to defend some liberal appointee or pet pork project. Make the next election all about Obama.

[Army Air Corps]

Pummel him with legislation that he has to oppose or veto. Change the meme from the do nothing congress to the veto everything president.

I quite agree. Put him on the spot as the do-nothing, veto everything vacationer-in-chief.

[Jim from C-Town]

Good strategy, unfortunately Obama is being protected by Harry Reid who refuses to act on any legislation. The Republicans have passed dozens of bills only to have them die by inaction in the Senate. Obama then claims that the Republicans in Congress refuse to do anything. The sycophants in the media report only what is said and have no in depth analysis.

[throwback]

Candidates should consider this more when they are asked questions during the debates. Whatever the question, how does it relate to Obama and answer accordingly. So when a question is asked about adultery, the question should be rejected as irrelevant. Newt has been the best at this. Others should follow him.

[GonzoGOP]

Obama is being protected by Harry Reid who refuses to act on any legislation.

Then play that angle. Reid isn't popular, so play him up as Obama's puppet. Get the talking points out the way the Democrats do. Every time a GOP politician mentions the majority leader phrase it as "Obama's man in the Senate Harry Reid", "Obama's puppet Harry Reid" or "Harry Reid acting on orders from the White House". Link every bad thing that happens directly to Obama. At a minimum he has to come out and defend himself. And any time he talks he makes enemies.

"Bush's fault" worked. Sure most people saw it as a joke, but it established a meme. It put Bush on the defensive all the time. Do the same thing with Obama's Chicago style corruption. Find it everyplace. Heck it really is so prevalent that most of the time the accusations will be true.

The soft minded Obama voters love conspiracy theories. So feed them. Corrupt Democrats are behind every business failure, every pothole in the road, every act of vandalism. Every time people see something bad make sure they associate it with Obama. It doesn't matter if we make him play defense or come out on the offense against us. Just make him play. When he plays he loses.

[ngat]

“The sycophants in the media report only what is said and have no in depth analysis.”

Guess it’s just up to the people to figure it out. Or not.

[Jim from C-Town]

Good idea. Who in the House or Senate is going to do it. The leadership in both chambers is lacking at best.

[Jim from C-Town]

Guess it’s just up to the people to figure it out. Or not.

Not! Most people are stupid!

[GonzoGOP]

The leadership in both chambers is lacking at best.

And there you have hit the nail on the head. Give the enemy their due they can coordinate an attack. Our guys couldn't run a lunch buffet, much less a multi faceted political movement.

[Army Air Corps]

When he plays he loses.

Spot on. every time Obama does something, he alienates or upsets average Americans. This is especially true when his actions are part of his thin-skinned, knee-jerk reactions to criticisms of him.

[ngat]

Perhaps that’s why at the founding of the country, it was decided the universal franchise was not such a good idea.

[PjhCPA]

What ever happened to the VDH ping list ?

[Dick Bachert]

Victor, Love ya, man, but some of us had that figured out back in 2008!! “Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again – and CHANGE. DON’T FORGET CHANGE!”

This is the same phenomenon that gave America Oprah Winfrey. But this is A LOT scarier. All it gave Oprah was tons of money and influence. Obamalamadingdong will have REAL POWER to damage the country in ways about which Winfrey could only dream!