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Hillarysworld -> We Told You So The Kool Aid Recovery Forum -> Alter: Obama Reveals He May Be One-Term President (Newsmax 5/19/10)
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TOPIC: Alter: Obama Reveals He May Be One-Term President (Newsmax 5/19/10)
Jen the Michigander


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Alter: Obama Reveals He May Be One-Term President (Newsmax 5/19/10)
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http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/alter-obama-book-one/2010/05/19/id/359572

President Obama has failed in one of the most important jobs a president faces: persuading the country to follow him, says Newsweek Senior Editor Jonathan Alter, author of a new book about Obama’s first year in office.

In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV, Alter also says Obama will move to the right if Democrats lose big in the midterm elections. Alter predicts he could face a primary challenge from both the left and the right in 2012, and suggests the possibility that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Biden could switch places in a second term – although Alter reveals that Obama feels he could be a one-term president.

Alter’s newly released book, “The Promise: President Obama, Year One,” has garnered major media attention for its riveting insider’s perspective on what happened during Obama’s first year.

Asked whether Obama has followed his campaign promise to govern in a bipartisan manner, Alter responds: “No, he hasn’t. That was something he just could not make good on in the presidency, that idea of being more bipartisan.

No president’s approval ratings have ever tumbled as quickly as Obama’s in such a short period of time, Alter acknowledges, but he refers to a new NBC News poll showing “that Obama’s personal favorable ratings are higher at this point in his term than either Reagan or Clinton.

“One thing that is clear, though, is that the public doesn’t really approve of his program. They kind of like him personally. They don’t like the direction right now that he’s taking the country.

“He has failed in his first year in one of the most important jobs that any president has, which is to persuade the country to follow him.”

Comparing Bill Clinton and Obama on their handling of the presidency, Alter notes that, on healthcare, Clinton failed to pass reform legislation while Obama succeeded, “immaterial of whether one feels it’s a stinking bill or something that’s good for the country.

“Just on the success or failure level, he’s achieved more than Clinton at this point. But it’s early yet. He has a hundred ways to fail. And Clinton had some real successes later on in his term.

“We’ll see what happens to Obama. He told me he could be a one-term president.”

After losing Congress in 1994, Clinton moved to the right and center and signed such legislation as welfare reform. Asked whether Obama might do the same if Democrats take a big hit in November, Alter responds: “I think he will. He’s a pragmatist. I don’t see him as a real ideologue. He’s an idealist in some ways, but he wants to do what works. He’s not really into tilting at windmills.”

Alter was also asked, if Obama’s approval numbers continue to erode, could he face a primary challenge from someone like Hillary Clinton or Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, who has said he is not seeking re-election this year.

“Hillary Clinton, I would say absolutely not,” Alter declares.

“There would have to be something that they were divided on that was much more profound on issue grounds.

“I think it would be more likely that she and [Joe] Biden would trade places — maybe she becomes vice president if Obama is re-elected, to tee her up for 2016.

“Could Evan Bayh or someone else decide to challenge Obama from the right? Absolutely. I don’t think it’s likely, but it’s actually possible. There’s a lot of history of that in American politics.

“And it’s even possible, if he moves right after the midterms, you could see a very liberal challenge to him from the left that would complicate his political existence.”

Could that challenge come from Howard Dean? Alter said: “I would not rule that out.”

I've heard the Biden-and-Hillary-switch-places-for-2012 meme before, and I don't like it. But we shall see. Hillary is one of the only Dems-- probably the only Dem-- who could challenge Obama (or take his place if he Johnsons) and then go on to beat the Pubs in the general election. Bayh has disappeared off the radar and he wasn't a household name even before then. If he wants to run for POTUS in 2012, he needs to get out there and be in everybody's face like Palin and the Tea Party people. I can see Dean challenging Obama, but who is going to take him seriously?

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freespirit


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I agree with your analysis, Jen. The idea of a Hillary-Biden switch is particularly disturbing. Such a move by Hillary would basically mean sacrificing her political future (if, in fact, she wants a political future) in order to buy Obama another 4 years in D.C. It would be a huge waste - like trading something for nothing. I don't like the idea of Biden as SOS either. With his tendency to put his foot into his mouth, he would probably have every country in the world mad at us. Can't you just hear him announcing at the conclusion of some negotiated agreement with other world leaders - "This is a big f-ing deal"? lol

Hillary is the one person who could save the WH for the Dems. I don't think anyone to the left of O has a chance, but I would so love to see Dean challenge him. It would be such fun watching his Hillary-hating, condescending, a** going down in flames - again.

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reddirtgirl


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I really think Hillary wants the presidency in '12. For her to challenge zero though, she would have to resign her current position sometime in the 3rd year, citing some philosophical difference with zero. If she does that, I look for her to run against him.

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Jen the Michigander


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It's good to see you here, reddirtgirl.

Yeah, if Hillary resigns sometime in late 2010 or early 2011 it means she's probably going to run in 2012. I don't expect her to make any moves until after the November elections. And at the rate Obama is screwing up, Hillary can have her pick of several philisophical differences to resign over. Israel is a likely contender-- if Obama throws them under the bus, Hillary could easily resign and the people would be on her side as Americans overwhelmingly favor Israel over the Palestinians.

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