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Hillarysworld -> Hillary 2012 -> Does Barack Obama want to be re-elected in 2012? (UK Telegraph 8/21/10)
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TOPIC: Does Barack Obama want to be re-elected in 2012? (UK Telegraph 8/21/10)
Jen the Michigander


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Does Barack Obama want to be re-elected in 2012? (UK Telegraph 8/21/10)
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/7958031/Does-Barack-Obama-want-to-be-re-elected-in-2012.html

When David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager, wrote recently that his former boss was "not concerned with his re-election", there was predictable scepticism.
After all, it has long been a truism that every politician wants to cling to power and a reality that presidential campaigns are planned years in advance. Pronouncements about not looking at polls and concentrating on getting things done are, moreover, standard fare from poll-driven, election-obsessed politicians and their apparatchiks.

In this case, however, Plouffe may inadvertently be onto something. Almost everything Obama does these days suggests that he doesn't care much about being re-elected. Strange as it might seem, perhaps he wants to be a one-term president.

Obama was elected in 2008 at an extraordinary moment in American politics. Suddenly, this charismatic figure, elected to the Senate without serious opposition in 2004 and without any executive experience, was catapulted into the White House.

His presidential bid had been based on the power of his life story and his ability with the spoken word. Doubtless he was as surprised as anyone else that he pulled it off. Governing has been altogether more difficult for him and there are signs he is already tiring of it.

Obama's intervention on the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" issue is a case in point. There was no need for him to get involved - the Islamic community centre two blocks from the 9/11 site is unlikely to get built and there was no political advantage in his making a statement.

Obama does not suffer for self doubt. He has long seemed so convinced of his own virtue that to question his motives is illogical. Increasingly, his pronouncements carry the tone of one who believes those who disagree are stupid or bigoted.

Before departing for Martha's Vineyard last week, Obama spent three days on the campaign trail raising money and support for Democratic mid-term election candidates. Don't give in to fear," he said in Milwaukee. "Let's reach for hope."

It was a message that worked once but is unlikely to appeal this time, with America in the grip of a recession, unemployment still stubbornly close to 10 percent and blame-it-on-Bush rhetoric wearing very thin.

Obama is, however, at his best in these settings. He has the crowd hanging on his every word and he is not dealing with grubby political realities or objectionable opponents. Perhaps they are a reminder for him of simpler times.

They might also be a glimpse of the future. For Obama, the crowning moment of his presidency have been speeches abroad - the statement in Strasbourg that America had been "dismissive and arrogant", the address to the Muslim world from Cairo, the acceptance in Oslo of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In Berlin in 2008, Obama cast himself as a "citizen of the world". He has dismissed the bedrock notion of American exceptionalism by describing it, also in Strasbourg, as little more than narrow patriotism. Elite opinion among liberal Ivy League types - of which Obama is the embodiment - holds that we are already living in a post-American world.

There are few Americans who see themselves as bigger than the presidency but Obama could well be one of them. In 2008, Obama showed little appetite for the down-and-dirty aspects of political campaigning.

When things got tough against Hillary Clinton, he all but conceded the final Democratic primaries and let the clock run out. Against John McCain, he developed a campaign plan and refused to deviate from it. McCain was level in the polls when the US economy imploded, handing Obama a relatively comfortable victory.

Obama is the first black American president, an established author, multi-millionaire and acclaimed figure beyond American shores.

It seems highly unlikely that Obama will decide not to run in 2012. But he might well be calculating that a embarking post-presidential role as the leading global thinker in the post-American world as a Republican successor enters office is more attractive than being sullied by the political compromises and manoeuvrings necessary to win.



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freespirit


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Interesting article, Jen.



Obama was elected in 2008 at an extraordinary moment in American politics. Suddenly, this charismatic figure, elected to the Senate without serious opposition in 2004 and without any executive experience, was catapulted into the White House.


Obama rarely had serious opposition in IL state elections.  He found ways to get rid of most of his opponents.  His rise to the WH is not so extraordinary given that the decision to run him as nominee was made back in 2004 by Dean, Pelosi, and other progs.  They stole votes from the winner in order to ensure O got the nom, bribed or threatened SDs to vote for him.  His thugs guarded the doorway to the caucus sites ensuring that he "won" the caucuses. 

Hell, Satan himself could have been "elected" with all that going for him, plus MSM who sang his praises at every opportunity.

“Doubtless he was as surprised as anyone else that he pulled it off. Governing has been altogether more difficult for him and there are signs he is already tiring of it.”

I don’t think he was surprised. He wanted to be elected. He wanted the title. He wanted power, fame, recognition. He never wanted the work. He thought his specialness would make it unnecessary to have to work - everyone would just do as he said. He is - after all - Obama.


Obama's intervention on the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" issue is a case in point. There was no need for him to get involved

There was no need for him to host a WH dinner marking the beginning of Ramadan - especially, after refusing to host an interfaith dinner marking the National Day of Prayer, and after refusing to meet with the Dali Llama. Obviously, he feels a greater connection to Islam than other faiths. That’s fine, he’s free to worship as he sees fit - but damnit, he needs to be honest about who he is and what he believes - as his predecessors have had to do.

“Obama does not suffer for self doubt. He has long seemed so convinced of his own virtue that to question his motives is illogical.”

This is totally spot-on

“He has dismissed the bedrock notion of American exceptionalism by describing it, also in Strasbourg, as little more than narrow patriotism. Elite opinion among liberal Ivy League types - of which Obama is the embodiment - holds that we are already living in a post-American world.”

Obama may not know it, yet, but we’re living in a post-Obama country. Soon, he’ll be free to move to Europe, Africa, Indonesia, or wherethehellever he actually feels a loyalty to. He doesn’t care for this country, and of course, we know the first lady isn’t proud of America. Good riddance to both of them.

“There are few Americans who see themselves as bigger than the presidency but Obama could well be one of them.”

An excellent observation. He DOES think he’s too big for the presidency. Great. He needs to move on.

“ But he might well be calculating that a embarking post-presidential role as the leading global thinker in the post-American world as a Republican successor enters office is more attractive than being sullied by the political compromises and manoeuvrings necessary to win. ”

Wouldn’t that be wonderful. Obama has delusions of grandeur. He needs to take his delusions, his massive ego, his racist wife, and find some place more deserving of the massive talent and charisma he perceives himself to possess. Obama - a legend in his own mind.


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VotedHillary


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This best sums up the ego of Obama.  I don't think he cares either.  He wanted his "historic" election and he got it...all well and good for HIM.

But what he fails to realize is that if he is a one-termer, it will make it that much harder for the next AA candidate running for the office of POTUS.

Let's think about this logically.  Since Carter, only Bush I failed to achieve a second term.  If Obama falls into that same category, all his rhetoric won't cover the fact that he was one and done.

That "one and done" will stay in the minds of the voters..as will all the "racist" card playing.  The voters will simply opt out of going through this again by not voting for another AA candidate for POTUS.

Obama's legacy may very well wind up the legacy of an ego run amok rather than a truly "historic" presidency.

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Amy Dugan


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my guess is Michele wants a normal life back for her and her kids and she rules in the Obama household.

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