Four years ago this week, a young and inspirational senator who promised to turn history's page swept the Iowa caucuses and began his irresistible rise to the White House. Barack Obama was unlike any candidate the country had seen before. Except for many who saw him for the empty suit he was, of course.
He was the object of near adoration among the young
As long as Bush was the Anti-Christ.
Electoral contests rarely hold out the possibility of making all things new, but Obama's supporters in large numbers fervently believed that 2008 was exactly such a campaign.
Let us ponder what the coming year will bring for someone who must now seek reelection as a mere mortal. Obama's largest problem is not the daunting list of difficulties that have left the country understandably dispirited: the continuing sluggishness of the economy, the broken political culture of Washington, the anxiety over America's future power and prosperity.
His 'largest problem' is the length of the list of problems!
On each of these matters, Obama has plausible answers and, judging by improvements in his poll ratings since September, he has made headway in getting the country to accept them.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -17. Negative numbers are up since June.
| Not to mention that the poll ratings fell again. So much for that point. |
Hoist on his own petard.
In traveling around Iowa and New Hampshire over the last few weeks, I have been struck by the number of Democrats and independents who still more or less want Obama to win and deeply fear the consequences of a government dominated by Republicans. But having made this clear, they then bring up the ways in which they cannot summon the emotions on Obama's behalf this year that they felt the first time around.
No tingle on the leg anymore? The thrill is gone?
| Aren't there fewer registered Democrats than there were in 2008? Why d'you suppose that might be? |
He ain't that dumb, just clueless.
He didn't expect cooperation from conservatives. Doesn't anyone remember before the first month he was attacking conservatives reminding them not to listen to Rush Limbaugh. Not expecting cooperation from conservatives? He was attacking them from the outset!
Other
But O! You promised!
Still others point to real Obama achievements, including the stimulus and especially the health-care law, and ask why he was unable to sell their merits to a majority of the electorate.
That's easy. They were more empty promises.
| Easier still, the things he achieved are things most America voters actually do not want, an opinion loudly and repeatedly stated by many of them. |
Campaign contributions, perhaps?
Few of these voters would ever support a Republican, and most will turn out dutifully for Obama again.
Anything but a Republican! Rove and Cheney would come back!
But a president who won election with 52.9 percent of the vote does not have a lot of margin.
How much of the popular vote did McGovern get? 60.7% for Nixon to 37.5% for George.
He needs to worry not just about issues but also about the spirit and morale of his supporters. In their jaunty song on Obama's behalf four years ago, the alternative reggae band Michael Franti & Spearhead promised a country that would "soar through the sky like an eagle" and saw Obama as "seeking finds of a new light."
And none of the morons ever dreamed of being disappointed.
They were too f*cking stoned on ganja to be disappointed.
| Are they a popular group? I don't remember them... |
And it's entirely his own making.