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Why Has No One Taken Credit?
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Loose Canons
Coronation Day
Less hope, more change, and a lot more confrontation in Obama’s second term.
President Obama was inaugurated for his second term yesterday, and at the public ceremony today he’ll deliver a speech that will, at the height of his political power, set forth his agenda in terms of compromise and economic recovery. He’ll begin by claiming that his leadership overcame the greatest economic crisis we’ve faced since the Depression and he’ll go on to claim credit for achieving great “reforms” like Obamacare and “saving” the auto industry.
He’ll say that his great successes gave him a mandate to complete his agenda for jobs, for reviving the economy and all the things he didn’t get done in his first term. He’ll say that we need more “reforms” and that our economic salvation cannot be achieved by burdening the middle class and the elderly with changes to the entitlement programs that are rapidly destroying our economic future. And he will try to repaint himself with the worn-through veneer of “post-partisanship,” challenging those who oppose him to compromise. If they’ll only be as reasonable as he, the president will assure us, we can get over the partisan gridlock that Americans are tired of seeing.
Obama will wrap some soft words around his agenda for comprehensive “immigration reform,” gun control, and more investments in “green energy” (the nonsense that brought us Solyndra) to make us energy independent. He will lay claim to fiscal responsibility despite his tidal wave of spending and will explain, in broad terms, how more spending will magically bring down the federal debt.
Obama will claim credit for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and by so doing making America more popular, powerful, and influential in the world. He will claim that our military is stronger and more capable without mentioning the cutbacks he’s already made and those in the pipeline.
But all of that will be aimed at achieving his overriding objective: to conceal his comprehensively confrontational approach to everything political. Obama’s strategy of confrontation, made clear since he stampeded Congress into passing his 2009 “stimulus,” has been his choice for the simple reason that it works. On every occasion in which they could possibly have won a real showdown, Republicans have retreated. In the last press conference of his first term, Obama faced down the Republican demand for spending cuts, saying “Republicans in Congress have two choices here: They can act responsibly, and pay America’s bills, or they can act irresponsibly, and put America through another economic crisis,” he said. “But they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy.”
He won that round, and is about to win the next. House Republicans are about to pass another debt ceiling hike — meant to carry the government for the next ninety days — postponing again the devastating sequestration of spending that will gut the Pentagon. They are demanding the Senate pass a budget by then on pain of stopping payment of congressional salaries if it doesn’t. The Senate hasn’t passed a budget for four years, and they’re not about to do so now on pain of that threat because the Republicans driving the House clown car apparently don’t know that the 27th Amendment bars any change in congressional pay without an intervening election.
Obama is far more adept. He’s turning his presidential campaign machine into a machine that will campaign for four years to sell his second term agenda directly to the American people with the eager assistance of the media. He said he wants “…new jobs, new opportunity and more security for the middle class.” There’s nothing in his agenda that will allow any reduction in federal spending. There will be no compromise on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the entitlement programs that are driving federal spending. There will only be demands to increase “investments” to spend more, taking money out of private hands, and thereby ensuring the economy won’t grow.
David Plouffe, Obama’s chief political advisor, tipped the coming confrontation on the debt ceiling on yesterday’s talk shows. Congress has to raise the ceiling by mid-March or the government will run out of authority to borrow. Obama needs the debt ceiling hike, but won’t allow it to be a vehicle for spending cuts. Asked by George Stephanopoulos if spending cuts would be allowed without more tax hikes, Plouffe said no: “It’s got to be balanced,” Plouffe said, meaning that more tax hikes are on the agenda despite the statements of House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader McConnell that tax hikes are off the table.
Obama’s problem, at least for the moment, is that a lot of Senate Democrats aren’t rushing to support his biggest “crisis” issue, which is gun control. Having announced an aggressive agenda to ban “assault weapons” and large-capacity magazines, Obama faces nine Senate Dems (and “independent” Maine Sen. Angus King, who lines up with the Democrats) who are not lining up to support the ban. Even Majority Leader Harry Reid is among them urging caution. From that, too many opponents of gun control, including the NRA, are sitting on their hands.
But Democrats’ opposition may not last and gun control opponents should not be taking it for granted. Reid may bring about a change to Senate rules that would backfire on them. Reid is planning to change Senate rules to prevent Republicans from blocking bills by the filibuster, which would render Senate Republicans powerless to prevent Obama passing anything he wants (other than treaties, which require a two-thirds vote). With a change in rules, Obama may be able to bring enough pressure on Senate Dems to pass the assault weapons ban.
In his speech today Obama will try to frame this year’s political agenda around his big ticket items. He will say that his work isn’t done, and that those who stand in his way need to bend, to compromise, and cooperate with him. But his words will be soft, his claims to reasonableness specific, and his willingness to compromise stated in broad, vague terms. He’s saving his harsh words and demands, waiting a few weeks until his State of the Union speech to be his confrontational self.
That’s the context in which we need to listen to his speech today. When Obama’s next State of the Union speech is given, we’ll hear no soft words.
Obama’s confrontational approach is aimed at making congressional Republicans irrelevant. Their only remaining power is to choose some ground to stand on and refuse to surrender again in a real crisis, not one Obama has created. If they choose to refuse a debt ceiling hike without real spending cuts, the government may be shut down for days or even weeks. But they can only force Obama to compromise if they stand firm. If they don’t, they will be irrelevant for the next four years. And deservedly so.
About the Author
Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies. You can follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (63) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.21.13 @ 6:39AM
The Republicans have a golden opportunity ahead if they are smart enough to take advantage of it.
The Republicans should stop talking about cuts in Social Security and concentrate on where they can get a win and that opportunity is coming in 2014 with the implementation of Obamacare.
The Obamacare taxes and mandates will destroy millions of jobs and probably close down many businesses.
The Republican attacks against Obama have had little effect. If you do the same thing every day and expect different results that's the definition of insanity.
The Republicans need a new game plan and one is right there for the taking.
Jack in Wi| 1.21.13 @ 6:45AM
I agree with you Hussein. Obama is planning peramanent war to make a permanent machine. It needs principled leadership willing to stand up for what's right. So far I don't see anything positive on the Republican side.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 7:38AM
How's that Sister in Law of your's Jack. She still trolling the 7 seas with that Jungle Fever?
Have you heard from King Mohamed Unga Bunga, lately? Is she still going out with her new boyfriend, and was that him standing in front of the Voting Place in Philadelphia?
No wonder you're so screwed up.
I don't know whether to Laugh, or Cry.
That's not true. I do know.
I'm gonna laugh.
Von Mises Jr| 1.21.13 @ 9:46AM
Johnny “Marbles” Boehner is in on the sting. He already told us "ObamaCare is the Law of the Land." He gave up $40 in tax increases for $1 spending cuts in the so-called "fiscal cliff." He passed the Sandy Relief that sent $9B to insurance companies to cover their claims that they could not afford (bailout of Buffet) and the other $51B is more pork and slush fund money, and now he wants to extend the debt ceiling 3 months at a time when we are spending $125B in deficit per month. He is helping keep the crisis alive.
We do not need more crisis mongering. We need to shut the thing down. Anything else just proves that Johnny "Marbles" would tell us he is for statism if he told the truth and he didn't have marbles in his mouth.
R Martin| 1.21.13 @ 7:55AM
Already I hear the minstrel singing "Brave Sir Robin".
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 8:12AM
I don't get it.
Occam's Tool| 1.22.13 @ 3:18AM
TLP: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Sir Robin theme---"When Danger reared its Ugly head, Sir Robin turned his tail and fled...Brave, brave, brave...Sir Robin."
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 9:16AM
The Prizes have been handed out at the Noble Savage.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 8:10AM
Now that we've finished with Jack's problem, let's get down to ours.
"Obama's confrontational approach is aimed at making Republican Representatives in Congress irrelevant."
So, what can the Republicans do to keep from becoming Irrelevant? Can anyone tell the Class how the Republicans can thwart this plan?
The best way to keep from becoming Irrelevant, is to Stay Relevant. And the way to do that, is to HOLD YOUR GROUND.
As I remember, President Bush had a Helluva time with the Democrats after 2004. They blocked Everything. All of his Appellate Judge Nominations. Every Minority Judicial Nominee was REJECTED by the Left. Every Policy was Vilified. Every move on the Battlefield was mocked and ridiculed, as they did all they could to put The Iraq War into The LOST Column, just so they could hang it around Bush's neck. They held their ground, and stayed true to their Sick Principles. They never gave Bush ANYTHING. And, now The Gander has the White House.
Republicans have only one job to do. Take care of our Money. President Gambling Problem can't spend a dime, unless it's allotted to him. He has not signed a Budget in 4 Years. That is Illegal. That is Unconstitutional. My first DEMAND, as the Speaker of the House (Whom, I might add, has a SH*T LOAD OF POWER at his disposal) would be that until this President, and his Puppet in the Senate get a Budget passed, he will not see one Red Cent. And then let the chips fall.
This is not Quantum Physics. Stop pretending that it is.
squalis| 1.21.13 @ 10:01AM
The difference between 2004 and today are:
-Dems are ideologically committed, Republicans are not
-Dems ideological commitment is enabled by the MSM
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 10:31AM
Then it's time to get busy, isn't it?
Ya got a phone?
1-202-863-8500. That's the RNC. Be polite, and don't use Profanity. I call them all the time.
I called last week and implored that they Demand a Budget, before they do anything about the Debt Ceiling. A coupla days later, they were out there using that same tact.
Call the Republican Leadership, and whatever Republican Reps you might have.
Demand that they Stand on Principle, for once.
squalis| 1.21.13 @ 1:19PM
Unfortuneately, I live in WA State. Republican reps are hard to come by.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 2:34PM
Then don't get the apple out of the Barrell.
Get it off the Tree. (The Untouchables)
Call the RNC, Boehnor, Cantor, Ryan, and McConnell.
aware| 1.21.13 @ 5:33PM
Yeah, I'm sure they will just love to listen to you. Republicans are not what you think they are and you will NEVER make them what you want.
They serve the entire purpose of their existence by making you think you have a "choice". The Global Elite has determined that America is to be destroyed to pave the way for global "government", not through war or terrorist attack, but by debt and default.
Obama is their hireling and so was Romney. Both parties are full of minions who are concerned only with making sure they, and their owners, have a place in the few lifeboats when this big ship slips under.
You'll be far better off grabbing your own seat cushion, or whatever floats, and taking your chances than thinking they have a spot in a lifeboat for you.
Pecos Pete| 1.21.13 @ 10:07AM
Tim: Agreed! Well said.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 10:33AM
Do I know you? And, did you go to The Noble Savage and check out The Prize List, Mr. Stranger?
Stephie| 1.21.13 @ 8:12AM
A sad, sad day for America ~
Cobalt| 1.21.13 @ 8:47AM
"That which I say is gold......IS GOLD."
http://www.maggiesnotebook.com.....das_25.jpg
Russel| 1.21.13 @ 9:14AM
The second coming of Dickweed isn't as depressing as that of Boner . The few good conservatives boat is languishing with no dock to moor to , whereas the Rino /GOPher dock has no room for a dingy . Well , at any rate , it's early , so let's just wait and see . Maybe Boner will steal Pelosi's moxie purse . And by the way , keep reloading . Lead is now more expensive than Gold .
JP| 1.21.13 @ 11:42AM
The GOP was just as incompetent in 1937 as it is today. And in 1938, the GOP picked up 60 seats. FDR amost destroyed his party between 1937-38 because of his hatred for "Big Business. His over-reach (prosecuting CEOs, huge tax and regulation increases) caused a recession just as painful as the one in 1932-34. Unemployment went up to 24%. Adolph Hitler and Mussolini literally saved FDR from political extinction.
Obama isn't going after Big Business. But he seems to be pissing everyone else off. ObamaCare will become such a political liability that by 2016, the Dems will be running against it (just wait and see); and the voters may forgive the Anionted One for 1.8% growth during his first term. But they won't be so unforgiving next year. If a recession hits, Kady bar the door.
Bob Grant| 1.21.13 @ 10:10AM
A dark vein of pessimism and dread runs through today's "festivities". More funeral procession than parade.
I hope Colin Powell and his ilk will attend to see their work, and perhaps tour the National Archives for a view of the deceased: The Constitution!
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 10:41AM
Okay. We've got Russell talking about "The second coming of a BONER, and then we've got Mr. Grant talking about a "Dark Vein" and Colin Powell.
I'm not the Moderator here, but I can't stress it enough: This is not an Alan Brooks Jungle Fever Production, by any means. So, just keep your dirty talk in your pants. Or, call Jack In Wi's Sister in Law. Cause that Girl's Gotta Have It! (Spike Lee)
Bob Grant| 1.21.13 @ 11:22AM
His sister in law will be at the national mall today celebrating the "festivities".
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 12:26PM
And now JP is talking about "Pissing"?
This has got to Stop.
Drunken Sailor| 1.21.13 @ 2:09PM
Well you know this country is getting shafted. These guys just have the balls to say it.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 2:35PM
Scrotum.
Pecos Pete| 1.21.13 @ 10:10AM
How many of these will King O speak today?
I
My
let me be clear
Bob Grant| 1.21.13 @ 10:23AM
Pecos,
I'm guessing there will be a "whole host" of new obamaisms unleashed today. You will see variations on "lean forward", "new beginning" (isn't that a redundancy?), "work together", ....and the use, or abuse, of the word "children".
He will say "let's not..." right before demonizing republican obstinacy....
Yes, it will be sickening so, no, we shouldn't watch.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 10:42AM
The Prize List has been Posted at The Noble Savage.
Russel| 1.21.13 @ 10:18AM
Folks
Cobalt| 1.21.13 @ 10:20AM
"In the interest of fairness."
and....
"I won."
Kwan| 1.21.13 @ 10:57AM
We are paying this Communist Bum $400,000 a year and what do we have to show for it? That's right nothing. More debt, more screw-ups in the middle east, and a non-ending quest to turn the Nation into a Communist People's Republic. His clown circus administration is populated by some of the most incompetent morons in the Nation, who were chosen not because they were qualified but because they were far left radicals. Due to an electorate populated by imbeciles we can expect 4 more years of National Decline.
JP| 1.21.13 @ 11:35AM
Prediction: Obama's party will lose control of the Senate in 2014 and suffer further loses in the House.
And the culprit will not be Republican political brilliance. The GOP will remain as clue-less as ever. No, the Dems will suffer in 2014 for the same reason they lost in 2010 - hubris.
Since the end of WWII, second terms are not usually kind to incumbents and their parties. Check out Truman, LBJ, Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush43. Already, Obama has committed one huge unforced error in demonizing the NRA. And without an agenda (does anyone even know what Obama intends outside of destroying Boehner and the GOP?), the President will find himself in a position similar to a good NFL team with a lousy coach. Obama may be able to roam freely between the 20s, but he won't be able to score. And voters tend to take out their frustrations on the party that runs the WH. Not even the more liberal voters will be happy if the best our economy can do in 2014 is 1.8% growth. The voters cannot renege on their votes, but they can vote out the party in power.
Jack London| 1.21.13 @ 11:52AM
Demonizing the NRA? You mean that nice friendly organization that's a big fan of weapons of mass killing? Say it ain't so JP.
JP| 1.21.13 @ 12:13PM
Yes, the same weapons that protect the President. The same weapons the protect the $25,000/year private school Obama's children attend. The weapons that millions of Democrats legally own.
According to Gallup, since the day Obama declared war on the NRA 10 days ago his approval numbers dropped from 59 to 49.
In Jan 2005 Bush also had an approval rating of 59%, and the Dems were in full panic mode. Funny what 1 year can do
Jack London| 1.21.13 @ 12:54PM
So JP do you think the president's family are open to exactly the same level of risk as anyone else's?
Out of idle interest how do you think our president should have responded after the school shooting - or in fact do you think he should have ignored it?
SteveInFL| 1.21.13 @ 2:43PM
I've noticed you liberals using this reason a lot lately. So it boils down to shut up because he's better and more important then you and you are worth nothing. Thanks for showing what we knew was always behind the "progressive" mask
Jack London| 1.21.13 @ 2:56PM
So Steve - welcome to the discussion, but we don't have a great track record with keeping presidents from getting shot so I do think protection is necessary.
Now how about an answer to:
How do you think our president should have responded after the school shooting, if at all?
Drunken Sailor| 1.21.13 @ 3:14PM
How about offeringe condolences, expressing the country's grief and expressing a need to address the mental health issue that the shooter's mother was trying to address and that the idiot in Colorado was being seen for.
I know it doesn't fit the agenda.
Eagle Creek| 1.22.13 @ 2:44AM
How about ending the insanity of Gun-Free Zones and adopting national concealed-carry....
Nah.. It doesn't fit the agenda, either
JP| 1.21.13 @ 3:16PM
You certainly haven't visited certain neighborhoods in Chitown or Detroit. Those people there have a much higher level of risk than our President.
And the Newton Massacre is a state issue. The killer, btw, broke state laws not federal laws. Believe it or not, there is a purpose to local and state law enforcement agencies. They are not federal employees.
Occam's Tool| 1.22.13 @ 3:21AM
No, Jack, I don't. But the other kids at that school are. The Obama kids already have secret service protection, by the way.
Bummer should have responded to the school shootings by telling the ACLU to stuff it, that we were going to start medicating aggressively psychotic out patients involuntarily, and inpatients as well.
CJW| 1.21.13 @ 5:58PM
Commie Jack
"Weapons of mass killing?"
What are these weapons of mass killing? Do they explode or fire by themselves?
Are they like weapons of mass destruction that you lefties denied were in Iraq?
SC| 1.21.13 @ 12:47PM
As the last "prediction" made on this site concerning the General Election last November seems to have back-fired on y'all...I am not too concerned about the cracked crystal ball you're gazing into.
SteveInFL| 1.21.13 @ 2:44PM
You were also saying that in 2010. Thankfully liberal hubris always saves the conservatives
KennesawJack| 1.21.13 @ 11:53AM
I'm in mourning.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 12:34PM
You spelled "Morning" wrong.
Hardcard| 1.21.13 @ 12:23PM
Tim are you enjoying your ass kissing contest, what a bunch of asswipes!!!!!
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 12:32PM
Apparently, you noticed that I forgot to mention you in my End Of The Contest Monologue.
It was not my intention to "Slight" you.
But, in Fairness, I have repeatedly announced the Importance of Kissing My Arse, in these things.
You have only yourself to blame.
Dave Williams| 1.21.13 @ 1:05PM
This POS POTUS is well on his way to being America's first dictator, and the RINOs are just going to roll over and let it happen....Today is a sad, sad day in the decline of what used to be a pretty good country, and awful, horrible, miserable ones lie ahead, lots of them. If you aren't a survivalist already, you might start think about heading down that road.
RCV| 1.21.13 @ 2:32PM
Oh, puleez.....
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 2:37PM
I just wish I could see the look on your face, when he comes for you.
Priceless.
Bob Grant| 1.21.13 @ 3:00PM
Useful idiots aren't "come for", they are discarded like yesterday's used condom.
spike59| 1.21.13 @ 4:27PM
don't ever use the words 'come' and 'your face' when discussing ObaMao with a Lefturd; it puts them into a Chris Matthews-like swoon of fantasy
RCV| 1.21.13 @ 6:23PM
What a bunch. I read your comments and I feel like I'm back in junior high school listening to the guys in after-school detention.
Occam's Tool| 1.22.13 @ 3:22AM
RCV: you were in afterschool detention a lot? Explains your legal career. :-)
spike59| 1.22.13 @ 5:56AM
i'm guessing rcv spent most of her junior high school career stuffed into a locker while drying off from yet the 'daily swirly'
spike59| 1.22.13 @ 5:57AM
...yet ANOTHER 'daily swirly'
MelvinNC| 1.21.13 @ 3:32PM
This is exactly why many states are starting to go their own way. We are fed this daily diatribe of, "Inclusiveness," but today as Paul Ryan attended the Inauguration, he was soundly publicly booed.
Is this the way to receive the bipartisanship that Barrack Obama seeks?
The NRA and it's members of whom many are Democrats are denounced as Right Wing Extremists and arcade style video games have been created that depicts NRA members being assassinated.
The main stream propaganda ministry puts out sound bytes of, "Going for the throats of the GOP."
So I ask those of whom who have posted here in support of Barrack Obama and his policies, what is the use of even attempting any semblance of bi-partisanship?
Frankly I see no use of even attempting. We are now in a state of conflict and some would say Civil War with the Democrats and the far left.
I would like to say what the Republican leadership should do, but that bunch of eunuchs have basically been cowed into submission.
For those on the left, you have forgotten one thing that the Germans and the Japanese forgot and they paid the price for this. Our enemies have always underestimated the resolve of the American public." And the Left is now my enemy that I and others must destroy for good.
And mark my words, "We will, we will."
aware| 1.21.13 @ 5:12PM
The Daily Bell said it best today: A man who won't reveal his past was sworn in by a man who thinks a "law" is a "tax".
This is the US(formerly America) today. When the hammer comes down, nobody can ever say we didn't have it coming.
Rhoetus| 1.21.13 @ 7:07PM
All Hail Bokkasa II (not!)
Russel| 1.21.13 @ 8:30PM
Yes , if you read Drudge headlines . I'm sure they are in context . The only question I have is if he'll commit suicide as Nero did , or get it another way . That's all I want to know .
hrgfue | 1.21.13 @ 10:10PM
2013 Happy New Year,NFL,NBA