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Debt Crisis Shows Obama Lacks Presidential Skills (Now they tell us!)
US News and World Report ^ | July 29, 2011 | Mary Kate Cary

Posted on 07/31/2011 9:41:16 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

As the negotiations and the vote-getting on raising the debt ceiling have dragged on these last two weeks, it's became clear that President Obama really is not a good negotiator. Several times, just as a deal seemed imminent, the discussions have collapsed—and very publicly. There were leaks from the administration, he-said-she-said accounts from both sides, angry White House press conferences—just a "parade of horribles," as lawyers would call it. The result is a rising tide of public disgust and frustration. Not only has he lost bipartisan support in both the House or the Senate, his lack of ability to persuade people to join his cause has cost President Obama the vital center of the electorate.

According to yesterday's Pew Research national survey, with results collected just this week, only 31 percent of independent voters want to see Obama re-elected, down from 42 percent in May. Two months ago, Obama held a 7 point lead among independent registered voters two months ago, but independent support has swung 15 points the other way, giving an 8 point advantage to a generic Republican. "This is consistent with a drop in Obama's approval among all independents. Currently, a majority (54 percent) disapprove of Obama's performance for the first time in his presidency," according to Pew.

Maybe it's because Hillary Clinton's "three in the morning" ad was right—maybe he just doesn't have the experience to be president. Of the top 100 jobs that would qualify one to be president, being a law professor isn't one of them. A plumber would be better qualified than a law professor. Seriously—a plumber is a problem solver who has to keep customers happy. A used car salesman knows how to close a deal. A UPS deliveryman knows how to meet a deadline. A diplomat knows how to be, well, diplomatic. Meaning he doesn't lecture people about "eating their peas" when he needs them to jump on board.

Think about some of our former presidents and their qualifications for the job. Bill Clinton had been a governor, a job that involves being an executive decision-maker. Ronald Reagan had headed the Screen Actors Guild and worked for General Electric, in addition to being governor. President Bush 41 had served as ambassador to the U.N., liaison to Communist China, head of the RNC during Watergate, director of the CIA during its most difficult years, and had even served as a freshman Republican in a Democratic Congress. Harry Truman had run a men's clothing store that failed in a recession and narrowly escaped bankruptcy—certainly something that would have prepared him for the job today. Surely some of them got elected for reasons other than their qualifications—after all, the desire for economic or political change can be a powerful force among voters, no matter who is running— but certainly some presidents' past experiences helped them once they got in office.

Peggy Noonan writes today that "the secret of Mr. Obama is that he isn't really very good at politics, and he isn't good at politics because he doesn't really get people." I think that's right. Being a plumber or a used car salesman—or a union organizer or a men's clothing store owner or the liaison to Communist China—requires you to know how to deal with people and how to negotiate in good faith. Being a law professor doesn't.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: congress; debtceiling; fail; obama
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He wasn't even a law professor, he was a lecturer, which is the bottom of the totem poll, as I understand it.
1 posted on 07/31/2011 9:41:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Captain Obvious checks in!


2 posted on 07/31/2011 9:42:05 PM PDT by clintonh8r (Happy to be represented by Lt. Col. Allen West (this tagline under review))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Most dictators do not like to negotiate...


3 posted on 07/31/2011 9:45:07 PM PDT by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless, indisputable clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Welcome to the Obamanation!


4 posted on 07/31/2011 9:46:17 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Maybe it's because Hillary Clinton's "three in the morning" ad was right—maybe he just doesn't have the experience to be president. Of the top 100 jobs that would qualify one to be president, being a law professor isn't one of them. A plumber would be better qualified than a law professor. Seriously—a plumber is a problem solver who has to keep customers happy. A used car salesman knows how to close a deal. A UPS deliveryman knows how to meet a deadline. A diplomat knows how to be, well, diplomatic. Meaning he doesn't lecture people about "eating their peas" when he needs them to jump on board. "

Reminds me of William Buckley's remark to the effect that "he would rather be governed by 100 names drawn at random from the phone book than by the faculty of Harvard University."

5 posted on 07/31/2011 9:47:13 PM PDT by cookcounty (Nullius in Verba. "Take no man's word for it.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think the birthday boy was just distracted with the planning of his upcoming, big birthday party extravganza with all the hoods in Chicago. LOL!


6 posted on 07/31/2011 9:47:17 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Hey Barry! Compromise this!!!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

An adjunct lecturer. A part timer that is not tenure track. IOW, a part time guy for a limited amount of time. A temp that is now president.


7 posted on 07/31/2011 9:49:15 PM PDT by morkfork (Candygram for Mongo)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Of the top 100 jobs that would qualify one to be president, being a law professor isn’t one of them.”

Good Lord if the MSM weren’t so blinded by their obscene idolotry of the great pretender they would have reported this back in 2007.


8 posted on 07/31/2011 9:50:12 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obama is a broken window politician.


9 posted on 07/31/2011 9:50:40 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin ("Credit is the ruination of a nation")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Mary Cate!!!!!! Shame on you!!!! Did you go to Harvard? Are you an example of affirmative action? (Employer....please take THIS out of her paycheck.....)

“it’s became clear...”


10 posted on 07/31/2011 9:50:40 PM PDT by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

True that and his class was on RACE........how to use it to sue.


11 posted on 07/31/2011 9:50:42 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What kind of an idiot says, during intense negotiations,

“Dont call my bluff!”

He never ran a lemonade stand. He never negotiated a contract.


12 posted on 07/31/2011 9:51:31 PM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Damn here all the while ,we have Nincompoop in the oval office,I thought the Rats Knew their Shuffling & Childish PET a little better than that?


13 posted on 07/31/2011 9:51:36 PM PDT by Cheetahcat ( November 4 2008 ,A date that will live in Infamy.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

14 posted on 07/31/2011 9:54:18 PM PDT by Bean Counter (Knowledge is pitiless.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

oh....and Mary Cate....did you find his school records or talk to his professors?


15 posted on 07/31/2011 9:55:50 PM PDT by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Right and he isn’t even currently a lawyer!! He lost his license!!!!


16 posted on 07/31/2011 9:58:41 PM PDT by GatorGirl (Herman Cain 2012)
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To: DennisR; 2ndDivisionVet

>>> Most dictators do not like to negotiate...

Hyperbole doesn’t help us one bit. He is simply a failed president. And his failure was pre-ordained by the contempt in which he holds the people he is supposed to lead, and his failure to prepare for the realities and needs of the job.


17 posted on 07/31/2011 9:58:45 PM PDT by tlb
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Being a plumber or a used car salesman—or a union organizer or a men's clothing store owner or the liaison to Communist China—requires you to know how to deal with people and how to negotiate in good faith. Being a law professor doesn't.

Hey Mary. Where were you in the '08 election with these observations? This woman is a clueless dope.


18 posted on 07/31/2011 10:00:27 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The happiest man in the world right now is John Boehner. Obama saved Boehner from agreeing to an $800 billion dollar tax hike (and thereby ending his speakership) when Obama made an additional $400 billion demand at the last minute.


19 posted on 07/31/2011 10:03:33 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

US Snooze. Another one of those wafer-thin publications headed for Palookaville.


20 posted on 07/31/2011 10:05:09 PM PDT by Huskrrrr
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