More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Writing in the Washington Examiner, Michael Barone:
I can't remember a more stunning rebuke of a president by a congressional leader than Speaker John Boehner's refusal to agree to Barack Obama's demand -- er, request -- that he summon a joint session of Congress to hear the president's latest speech on the economy at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7....
Congress is a separate branch of government, set up by Article I of the Constitution, which is not about the Executive Branch as Joe Biden said in the 2008 vice presidential debate. (Media outfits that dispatched dozens of investigative reporters to Alaska were apparently incapable of discovering this obvious error.)
Before last week, presidents and congressional leaders always agreed privately on scheduling presidential addresses to joint sessions before any public announcement was made. But it appears that no such agreement was made here, just a brusque announcement that had to be retracted....
Democrats have criticized Obama on the speech scheduling flap. James Carville said he was "out of bounds." Salon.com's Cent Uygur sensed "the audacity of weakness." It reminds me of a phrase describing a character in the 1980s TV series Dallas" -- "blustering, opportunistic, craven and hopelessly ineffective all at once."
Michael Barone is no Maureen Dowd--perhaps our finest historian of the American political process, Barone has proven skeptical of Obama, and of Obama's policies, from the very first. What comes through in this column, though, is a note of sheer astonishment. Even Michael Barone can hardly believe the intermixture now on display in the Obama White House of arrogance and incompetence.
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Jul '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
When it comes to Obama, clearly the American people are not worthy. Perhaps if we were Greece.
Oct '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Obama has to have the tinniest ear I've ever seen in politics. It's even worse because he thinks that he's above it all.
Or says he thinks that, anyway.
Jun '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Which raises the question, who is calling the political shots for him? I can't believe anyone would let Obama play politics by himself.
May '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
I'm just hoping all these blunders add up to one big "goodbye Barry!" in 2012.
Keep 'em coming, Barak!
Oct '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Cas Balicki
Which raises the question, who is calling the political shots for him? I can't believe anyone would let Obama play politics by himself. · Sep 4 at 10:38am
You mean who's supposed to be? Because if there is somebody else calling the shots, they're just as incompetent. They keep shooting themselves in the foot with image problems, among other things.
Canadian bus on the bus tour. Hobnobbing on Martha's Vineyard with the people he's been criticizing when he could take a bit more of an "American" vacation instead.
Every day, I think I've seen it all. Every day, I'm reminded that I haven't.
Jun '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
'The June 24, 1986, edition of The Wall Street Journal featured a story headlined, "President's Bid to Address the House On Nicaragua Is Rejected by Speaker." That's right, no quibbling over the date and time, just a flat-out rejection. In that case, President Ronald Reagan wanted to address the House before its critical vote on funding for the anti-communist "Contra" rebels in Nicaragua. Then-Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neil said that he was willing to host a Reagan speech if it was expanded to include the Senate in a joint session, or he would allow the President to speak to the House alone if the President would also agree to take questions from lawmakers. Otherwise, there would be no Reagan speech in the House chamber.'
(from: The Boehner-Obama Precedent (9/2/2011) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904583204576546643389574716.html?mod=rss_opinion_main )
Sep '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
The one thing we have to be careful of in all this is making sure that while criticizing the President, we do not fall into his and his supporters trap that the criticism stems from latent racism. People still to this day, are giving him the benefit of the doubt because of his race. In a reverse discrimination sort of way they are continuing in their support for a President that they would have witheld from a white President long ago. Boehner's approach, which was to inject practical realities into the mix (security sweeps and the like) was the right approach because to talk about the separation of powers in the Constituion would have sprung the racism trap. Despite even Boehner's best efforts, there were many on the Democrat side that spoke out loud about that this would never have happened to a white president. So they are waiting to jump. Anything that seems like disrespect of the man or his office will be seen as racist, so caution and not the appearance of any piling on needs to be paramount.
Sep '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
As Paules said elsewhere, the leftists don't see that it's the theory, stupid.
The first stage of denial is in Maureen Dowd's piece: if things aren't working it's because Obama isn't fighting hard enough, darn it.
The next stage will be as Sisyphus said: the American people are the problem. If only they weren't such ugly stupid warmongering Tea Party racists, they'll say, Obama would have been able to transform America... into something like France.
Edited on Sep 4, 2011 at 11:42amMay '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Cas Balicki
Which raises the question, who is calling the political shots for him? I can't believe anyone would let Obama play politics by himself. · Sep 4 at 10:38am
Nobody tells The Messiah what to do...and that is his undoing.
Mar '11
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
I think the American people are starting to instinctively grasp this, and the "incompetence" narrative is taking over both the "socialist conspiracy" and the "change we can believe in" narratives.
Moreover, this is one of the reasons that the question of experience and demonstrated competence in office (though no previous office, not even a governorship, are anywhere near the level of ability required by the Presidency....) can be leading indicators (though, again, I emphasize, not decisive) of how well an administration will be run. In contrast to, say, how well a candidacy is run.
The question is: will we put forward a candidate that exudes ability and competence to an extent that Americans who do not instinctively support our policy preferences will be willing to give that candidate a chance to govern?
Jun '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Cas Balicki
Which raises the question, who is calling the political shots for him? I can't believe anyone would let Obama play politics by himself. · Sep 4 at 10:38am
We can't know what's going on in the inner sanctum, but my bet is that the knives are out. Members of the inner circle have scores to settle, grudges to act on, and personal vendettas that demand retribution. Expect a new cadre of advisers to emerge whose chief function is to fortify the presidential bunker against blame and recrimination. The only question in my mind is if an individual will emerge with enough courage to tell the president that re-election is impossible. Such a person would spare our nation a lot of trauma.
Jul '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
It seems that there was something much weightier behind Mr. Boehner's decision than what appeared as an excellent opportunity to have the President speak first, then, in a presidential debate delayed by one hour, have the candidates tear his positions apart. Can anyone suggest a possible reason?
Jul '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
It seems that there was something much weightier behind Mr. Boehner's decision than what appeared as an excellent opportunity to have the President speak first, then, in a presidential debate delayed by one hour, have the candidates tear his positions apart. Can anyone suggest a possible reason?
Jan '11
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
I can't answer for Boehner. but I would reject a "command" from the President immediately. I wouldn't even care if I could use it to my advantage.
Nobody surrenders power all at once; it usually comes in small steps and "harmless" doses. It may seem petty and small, but the system is designed so that each power center defends its own turf. That's how we keep everyone on their proper behavior.
I agree with you (and Charles Krauthammer) that it would have been strategically more useful to allow the candidates to have a forum to contradict Obama. But, though it would have been politically better, but I'd have opposed it anyway. Elections and governing are not the same thing, and an electoral advantage would turn out to be a governing liability.
Oct '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
The mines in this minefield are not the pressure sensitive type, which detonate only when you misplace your step. They detonate upon signal from a human operator. Where a conservative places his or her feet does not matter—up will come the subterranean Race Bomb regardless.
If Liberals can—through racial bullying—make conservatives tip-toe through their minefield then they win without lifting a finger or expending any ordnance. Let’s at least deplete their ordnance supply! The more often the Race Bomb is played, the more inured average voters become to it. It’s a sign of the Left’s desperation, not its strength, that it so consistently reverts to empty race charges.
May '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
A collapsing Obama administration? I don't think so.
May '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
Obama is not, politically, a dead parrot.
1) Who else would have approval rating of 45% - the latest Rasmussen poll - after years of 9+ percent unemployment?
2) Many Americans are not bright. Many Americans are smart enough, but are "rationally ignorant" of politics because they're focused on work & family; thus they blame the current malaise on a generalized partisanship/corruption/incompetence/whatever in Washington. Finally, around 15% of Americans are ideologically committed Leftists, who will support Obama come hell or high water. Combine these 3 sub-populations, and you get Obama's 45%.
3) Obama will always have the dumb people and the committed Leftists. But he will swell their ranks and/or sustain a significant turnout at the polls in 2012, through a sustained demonization campaign of the Republican nominee - done by campaign surrogates inside and outside the MSM - while Obama himself does his pompous "above the fray" routine. Obama will also up his percentage of the rationally ignorant, by temporary feints to the center, e.g., his recent block of a burdensome EPA regulation (until 2013.)
President Obama is not smart, but he's clever. He's still the favorite to win in 2013.
Edited on Sep 4, 2011 at 3:41pmAug '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
The long and short of O (not b hussein obama-soetoro). Nodew Modeau. The Story of O marches on, whip it good !
Edited on Sep 4, 2011 at 4:42pmBarone is reliably accurate.
Nov '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
No doubt, but this was quite obvious during the 2008 campaign. Let's place the blame where it is due- upon the 53.5% of the American electorate that voted him in.
Nov '10
Re: More Notes on an Administration in Collapse
A comment on the Examiner article got me thinking. The fellow predicted that at some point in his speech Obama would say "...and there are other plans that we'll be rolling out over the next few months...", and he made some good points about it.
I think that observation alone is worthy of grinding through the mental gears here at Ricochet. How many times have we heard this dodge from the President's mouth? Yet I don't recall anyone in the media -- Left or Right -- who has picked up on it or called it what it is (smoke and mirrors, and an excuse for not having any real idea where he's going). That one phrase might be enough to end the Obama Presidency. Imagine a Republican campaign ad that consists solely of video clips of Obama making variations of this statement. 4 years into the regime, Americans can then fill in the gaps and ask how that's worked out for them.