Hillarysworld

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Hillarysworld -> All things Hillary -> President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the 2010 election (Baltimore Sun 6/24/10)
Post Info
TOPIC: President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the 2010 election (Baltimore Sun 6/24/10)
Jen the Michigander


SuperModerator

Status: Offline
Posts: 1788
Date:
President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the 2010 election (Baltimore Sun 6/24/10)
Permalink  
 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-smith-mcchrystal-20100624,0,7837959.column


The resurrection of Hillary Clinton as a potential president may now be taking place. Hard to believe, but a Rasmussen poll released Tuesday showed the former first lady, U.S. senator and now secretary of state is viewed as more qualified to be president than the current occupant of the White House, who came from nowhere to beat her out for the Democratic nomination in 2008.

Both she and President Obama are thought to be more qualified for the job than three Republicans who have expressed interest in it. Ms. Clinton, according to this poll, is thought to be qualified by 57 percent of the voter respondents, while 34 percent say she is not. As for the president, 51 percent think him qualified for the job he has held for the last year and a half, while 44 percent disagree.

It was widely thought to have been a wise political move when Mr. Obama made his 2008 rival secretary of state, since that would make her by definition a supporter of the Obama presidency, which now however, seems to be in the midst of a great unraveling. Is it likely that this president would be challenged in a primary fight if he seeks a second term? No. Is it possible? Sure, if the president's popularity continues to fall.

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago in this space, the more likely thing — as hard as it might be to believe right now — is a decision by the president not to seek another four years in office. Lyndon Johnson stepped aside in '68 and Harry Truman in '52, simply because they knew they couldn't win the upcoming election. Unpopular wars did them in.

Which brings us to the current, increasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan and the remarks attributed to General Stanley McChrystal, the American commander there, and his merry band of intimates who dubbed themselves "Team America."

Whatever Mr. Obama did with his theater commander was bound to be highly criticized. It represents yet another in a cascading set of circumstances that seem to have reduced the president to being a witness to his own diminishment. He certainly has discovered by now that rhetorical skills, while helpful to winning elections, are not sufficient in exercising executive power, cannot turn around an economy in shambles, cannot stop the BP leak and cannot make people believe the opposite of what they see and experience in their own lives.

If this president continues to stumble and his party is smashingly repudiated in November, it wouldn't surprise me to see Hillary Clinton ride to the rescue in 2012. Meanwhile, the Republicans have quite the job ahead themselves: to see if they can nominate someone electable. Surely they've learned not to select hacks like Bob Dole or John McCain. Haven't they?

__________________

4145952823_2e0edce16f.jpg

Nobody puts THIS baby in the corner!
freespirit


Moderator

Status: Offline
Posts: 1695
Date:
Permalink  
 

I agree with article that the most likely scenario is Obama will not seek reelection. This will happen only if things continue to go south for him, obviously. While he has repeatedly proven that he lacks the leadership skills necessary for the job of POTUS, we know better than anyone how good the O team is at manipulating and maneuvering to place O on top. Granted, it will be harder to deceive the public in 2012 than it was in 2008, and Obama may not have as much support from MSM, but I'm exercising cautious optimism - hoping O will not seek office again, but I won't be surprised if he does. One thing's for sure - the man hates to lose, and prefers to game the system in order to win. That won't be as easy for him the next time around.

I'll be surprised if Hillary challenges him if he does decide to run, unless she has received a lot of pressure and support from the moderates. Even then, it's a long shot, IMO.

Maybe O will do what's best for everyone, including himself, and decline to run in 2012.

__________________
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.  ~Susan B. Anthony
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Hillarysworld -> All things Hillary -> President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the 2010 election (Baltimore Sun 6/24/10)
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard