The American Spectator

Robert Stacy McCain| 2.6.09 @ 1:20PM

Brutal, James. And true.

I heard Joe Scarborough on "Morning Joe" explain in about 45 seconds how to beat Obama: Pick a specific issue, attack the issue. No matter how great Obama's personal popularity, the fact that he finds himself arguing constantly on the unpopular side of specific issues will be his undoing. I remember that when Jimmy Carter left office, he was still regarded as a decent, honest and sincere person. But he was incompetent, and on the wrong side of every issue, and his human qualities were not enough to overcome that.

The disasters of the past two weeks encourage me more than ever to think that Obama will be a one-term president. And we know what that means, eh?

J David| 2.6.09 @ 1:57PM

I read a book titled "Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter" back when I was in eighth grade, written by a reporter that followed Carter all over the country to each of his speeches during the campaign. The book outlined, in Carters own words, each of his positions(on major issues)in each of the speeches in front of each of the audiences.
The reason for the title was clear once I had read the book, there were two Jimmy Carters, often polar opposites of each other. He appeared to this eighth grader to have been a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR, as bad as Der Schlickmeister himself was years later.
I remember Reagan's concession to Ford at the convention, and the tears running down my face, 'cause I knew the WRONG man was nominated by the stupid ass GOP, and that Carter, the pathological liar would win...Which he did.

J David| 2.6.09 @ 2:00PM

This complete, total lack of honesty is what is required to get commie-lib Democrats elected, because if they told the truth about what they wanted to do to individuals, and to the country they'd be thrown in jail for treason(not to mention whatever crimes they had committed before campaigning).

Red Phillips| 2.6.09 @ 2:06PM

Robert, Palin can't unite the non-interventionist wing.

R. Trotter| 2.6.09 @ 2:19PM

Yeah, what J David said. It's easy to be a "good campaigner" when you're unencombered by things like facts, the truth, etc. Also, when the MSM is wholly in the tank for you it doesn’t matter what you say; they’ll spin it in your favor.

ruth| 2.6.09 @ 2:27PM

All style, no substance; just your typical liberal.

Mrs. Jackson| 2.6.09 @ 3:02PM

If Barack Obama cannot pull his act together soon then it will be Barack Obama who is no longer a "permanent fixture in politics".

Oh joyous day....

JP| 2.6.09 @ 3:31PM

The Permanent Campaign can work during "normal" times, but it is problematic during times like these. The electorate is expecting thier President to, well, govern. President Obama received a lot of cross-over voters and independents. To them the campaign is over. To the unemployed, the campaign is over. If Obama thinks he can pull-off a Clinton II, then he is mistaken. I think he is already in over his head, and revisiting the stump will only hurt him. This is 2009, not 1999.

WendyG| 2.6.09 @ 4:38PM

Is he such a good campaigner, or did the MSM just so underreport his foibles that he just looked like a good campaigner? I did think he whomped Hillary in their debates. Certainly his organization was savvy, but all that has fallen apart since he won. His Cabinet appointee vetting process has been an unmitigated disaster.

And now he's acting so petulant and angry that it's almost as if his competence on the campaign was an illusion. Or a sham.

Mary| 2.6.09 @ 5:20PM

I think it's possible Obama could start to become unlikeable too.

A campaign is one thing, and especially this historic campaign, but he can't extend or revive that optimism that infected even those who were not in his corner, so to speak. He has to govern. Who was the "where's the beef" candidate?

Setting aside the 50, 57 or 58 State strategery, managing a campaign with oodles of money from besotted supporters is not the stuff Governance is made of, is it?

Just caught headline and didn't read piece but I think HA noted that NBC referred to Bam's recent persona as more OT God than Jesus. Jumping-ugly is never going to be his thang.

These two weeks point to why Conservatism is necessary. Whatever good liberalism can produce -the deaf girl who waits on you in the grocery store and who teaches you a little sign- it can only remain wholesome within the confines of a conservative framework.

I don't think he has much choice but to dig in his heels. He's not Clinton, who is reputed to have said to his Cabinet members, "okay, remember we're all Eisenhower Republicans now." He's a Chicago pol; he's a Wright pew-sitter. It isn't judicious to act as if those things aren't part of his make-up.

Spengler had Obama pegged from day one, and if his governance doesn't end in tears we'll be lucky.

Alan Brooks| 2.7.09 @ 1:52AM

No, you've all got it all wrong, for once.

Obama is black, and he will be re-elected. you DO understand-- don't you? a black man will not be permitted to not be re'elected president.

Angie| 2.7.09 @ 2:01AM

Mandy G-good point!
MSM didn't question how Barry planned to carry out his big plans. They were too busy basking in the light of Barry.
He doesn't have a plan. His area of expertise is campaigning (rallying really)-not leading.
Campaigning is his only way to get the attention of his fan base; a fan base who only accesses news The One wants them to hear.
He's a sick puppy.
He'll say he "screwed up" when the free $ bill fails because he depended on experienced house and senate members.
Hopefully-people can realize it can't always be everybody else's fault and will get tired of hearing "I screwed up."