Hell About to Freeze Over - again - image from 2009 Inauguration, The Daily Beast
The “we’ve been there, done that” wake-up of the establishment press has some columns and editorials beginning to step to the right of the administration, or, more to the point, to criticize, either openly or using surrogates to do the same. With Gallup polling’s Average Daily Presidential Approval Rating, Obama is holding steady at 40 % which translates into a tough election season come 2012, and the end result, should those figures remain the same – defeat. Given the breakdown of their polling by demographics it appears that among “Whites” and “Hispanics”, Obama has lost substantial support, the pollster further points out that without the input of higher ratings from other demographics, the President’s approval would be a bit lower.
All this must not have been lost on the Editorial Board at the Chicago Tribune, where a call for the President to just quit, not campaign, stand aside and let Hillary Clinton run is the theme. The Tribune sees an opportunity to keep the Democrat “Brand” from imploding, mostly due to the low ratings of the current President, by bringing back the most Popular Democrat, one Hillary Clinton. That said, this year, may be difficult for any Democrat running for election or reelection, depending upon how one views the two special elections which recently saw defeats in Nevada, and most importantly a loss in New York City, where a seat that has been “held” by a member of Team Democrat from the 1920’s forward, went to a Tea Party Republican, by no small margin. Even former Mayor Ed Koch came out on election eve, to rally for the Republican. One had to check to see if “Hades had frozen over”. This begs the question, would Hillary Clinton risk running this year, when the brand is poisoned, and four years goes by quickly?
For perspective on Obama, like LBJ (an altogether intriguing comparison), stepping down instead of seeking office, and Clinton running – in the other direction, defer to HillBuzz.org’s Kevin DuJan’s take on why Clinton won’t run in 2012 which makes sense. Rumors of challenges to Obama from the left, are what they are, mere diversions, as the incumbent, unless faced with a strong opponent from within the party (which does not work as intended – refer to Ted Kennedy vs. James Carter) – which gives Hillary one more check on the “cons list”.
Meanwhile, the Boston Globe, paper of choice for those who live in the world of denial (i.e. Duval Patrick won reelection in a landslide (by 1 point), comes an article that almost criticizes, but not quite, the President’s plan to cut Medicare and Medicaid, mostly to physicians, and placing more of a burden on individual state and creates yet another agency:
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Obama also wants to give additional authority to a new agency called the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which could force further cuts for medical providers.
among those cited as being against the President’s plan: AARP.
Shock and awe.
The problem with any proposals coming out of the administration is that they are neither people friendly, nor business friendly, and are framed by the left and the center, or by what the Obama Campaign feels will appeal to voters from the left and the center.
Again, refer to history, or just ring up Jimmy Carter, and ask him how that worked out. When one is viewed as an incompetent, ideologically driven incumbent, the chances that one would gain reelection are slim. Approval ratings are one thing, perception when added, is another. Those that would cry “race” have to get over it, specifically as it applies to elections. When one has competent, proven, leaders of all ethnic backgrounds, it is what it is, criticisms leveled on a person’s ability to do the job, nothing more and nothing less. In addition, the ideology, which is Progressive (i.e. Socialist), is also under condemnation, as other Progressive figures outside of the administration, i.e. the Congress, are viewed similarly. The economic policies of progressives and that Tax the Rich and grab the pitchforks, are going to be an extremely hard sell on the American general public.
How bad is it?
When Texas Governor, Rick Perry, 2012 GOP Candidate for President, can go to Manhattan, and campaign and fundraiser, within the Jewish and Latino communities, successfully, then there is certainly “Trouble in River City”.
When the New York Times, and Ralph Nadar, in the course of weeks, begin to either support or to view Palin as a true populist, one with ideas that resonate cross party, then there has been a shift of some magnitude in those who normally would neither defend, nor accurately quote said Governor Palin.
The President's latest plan to Tax the Rich, raise taxes (i.e. revenue) and bend to his base, by noting no compromise is a risk that the Campaign is taking - knowing that the President's Bill has no chance of passage, and pitting the Rich against the Poor - also did not work thirty years ago. The Romantic notion that since this type of Rhetoric worked for Lenin, in Russia, and therefore, why not in the U.S. - is - in a word - either a sign of serious desperation in reaching what is left of the base, or an administration so ideologically driven, it cannot see the forest through the trees.
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