Meet your new Teflon president
Jonathan Martin at Politico has an interesting piece on President Obama’s ability to simply shrug off everything the Republicans are throwing at him. He’s saying and doing things that in the past would have gotten a Democratic president in hot water, and much to the GOP’s frustration, he gets away with it.
“Part of the answer is generational. Many hot-button liberal issues — decades-long obsessions for many baby boomers — have cooled a lot since the last time a Democrat occupied the White House.
And part of it is that the highest-profile Republican messengers these days are a deeply unpopular former vice president and a similarly polarizing former House speaker — both of whose days in the sun would seem to be behind them.
“The fact is, the world has changed,” said Charlie Cook, who has carefully studied election results for decades. “Whether it was [Bill] Clinton, [Al] Gore or [John] Kerry, they were all spooked by ghosts. But Obama just isn’t. If you haven’t been around for decades hearing the ghost stories, then going in the big, dark house isn’t as scary.”….
“He has the benefit of nobody paying attention to anything but the economy,” said Stuart Stevens, a longtime GOP strategist and author. “You have the economic equivalent of the country being at war. Nobody on Sept. 20, 2001, was particularly focused on cultural issues, either.”
What’s more, the weakness of the Republican opposition has offered Obama a wider berth within which to operate.
“It’s like playing against a football team that is tired and hurt,” said Stevens. “Republicans don’t have a message or a messenger, and that makes Obama look a lot better.”
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152 comments Add your comment
md
April 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
“He has the benefit of nobody paying attention to anything but the economy,”
If jobs continue to fall by the wayside, that won’t necessarily be a benefit.
He may have to start a war or something to get the focus OFF the economy.
catlady
April 22nd, 2009
5:55 pm
I thought the title referred to Bush!
Taxpayer
April 22nd, 2009
5:59 pm
“Start a war”!
That’s, well, so Republicanesque.
I Report/ You Whine
April 22nd, 2009
6:00 pm
Obozo is working hard on his “ghosts,” give him a chance, bookman.
He’ll have more than he wants some day soon.
bwa
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
6:03 pm
Jay
[[Part of the answer is generational]]
[[part of it is that the highest-profile Republican messengers these days are a deeply unpopular former vice president and a similarly polarizing former House speaker]]
[[the weakness of the Republican opposition has offered Obama a wider berth within which to operate]]
[[He has the benefit of nobody paying attention to anything but the economy]]
So President Obama has the great good fortune to be elected when the opposition has unpopular leaders, weak leaders, and the electorate is too ignorant to focus on anything but a single issue!
LOLOLOL!
An electorate that hates the opposition messenger, ignores the message and is willfully ignorant of the issues.
What more could a president want?
LOLOLOL!
Taxpayer
April 22nd, 2009
6:03 pm
Actually, I think our president has a very good strategy going, as best I can determine as one on the outside looking in. He appears to be using the strategy of “Be careful what you ask for because I’m not afraid to give it to you.” I think it’s working.
I Report/ You Whine
April 22nd, 2009
6:04 pm
200,000 protesters in the street, 60% of the people say the country is headed in the wrong direction, Repugs are tied with dimocrats in the generic ballot, bookman says nothing “sticks” to Obama.
Heh.
Maybe nothing bothers him because he’s a dunce and a dullard, uh, know what I mean?
He’s clueless, Axelrod has told his Teleprompter to remain calm.
I Report/ You Whine
April 22nd, 2009
6:18 pm
More proof that we are third world-
“Iran Press Hails Ahmadinejad Speech”–headline, Agence France-Presse, April 21
Sounds familiar, don’t it?
md
April 22nd, 2009
6:23 pm
Taxpayer,
Right on cue. I knew one of you would bite on that little tidbit.
Watch and see. He is making us look weak and friendly, evil loves weak and friendly.
Dave R
April 22nd, 2009
6:33 pm
Nothing sticks to him because he is ignoring anything and anyone who differs with his views. It is that simple. His spokespeople say that he wasn’t aware of the tea parties across America. Maybe, maybe not. If true, he shows a complete disregard for those he “says” he would like to include in working with his “opposition”.
It is a smart move in this way only. He knows he has the ability to cram down anything he wants down the throats of taxpayers for the next 2, and maybe 4 years without anything to stop him. He is going to take advantage of that window of opportunity regardless of the long-term effects on this nation, so long as he advances his “government is the savior, right after me” program.
Over $9 TRILLION in Federal debt over the next 3-4 years? Not to worry. I have my guy as head of what may still be the largest auto manufacturer. I (through the government) now own majority shares of the nation’s largest banks and insurance companies, and I can control them with a thought of threat. Through them, I now own most of the mortgages out there.
So what if we have the largest debt in history after just 3-4 years? I’ve advanced Socialism one or two more giant steps in those 2-4 years without opposition, and we all know that government never takes a step backwards once they get their hands on something, don’t we? Even if I’m voted out, I can just go back to earning a couple of million a year in writing and speaking fees for the rest of my life, and sit back while “reporters” hang on my every word for the next 40 years.
100 days does not a Teflon President make, Jay. Only ignorance of the consequences of his actions with a bullet-proof (metaphorically-speaking) Congress for the next 2 years does.
The American Idol Presidency continues . . .
jt
April 22nd, 2009
6:36 pm
“the weakness of the Republican opposition”.
A good third party will make something stick. Its happening now.
Taxpayer
April 22nd, 2009
6:39 pm
Glad to help you out there, md. Usually, when someone makes such as statement about someone taking the bait, they follow it up with some form of rebuttal or “gotcha” or something. Are you holding back.
jt
April 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm
Call me paranoid.
as per the chicago mercantile, turkey legs are junk stock.
The renaisance festivel constantly pushing turkey legs.
There were no turkeys in europe during the renaisance.
our governor is a Perdue.
just saying.
md
April 22nd, 2009
6:47 pm
Taxpayer,
Naw, just having a little fun. That’s always such a hot button issue. I could have used scandal or the like, but that works just fine.
People here tend to get so serious, especially the name callers.
Just keeping it light.
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
md
I’ll offer up that he’s doing exactly what he said he’d do.
Some on the right don’t care for it because… well heck, they’re on the right.
Some on the left don’t care for it because he puts ‘personal responsibility clauses’ into his proposals, speaks of church and stuff, and has to be really, really pushed to be vindictive (okay, not vindictive, but just to look back and settle scores).
But on legislation issues, I get the impression he really doesn’t care if he gets a second term. He’s got an agenda, he’s pushing it forward in his window of opportunity.
In other words, he’s keeping his word.
You may not like the programs, but you gotta give him that.
AmVet
April 22nd, 2009
6:55 pm
“…60% of the people say the country is headed in the wrong direction…”
WTF?
Maybe 60% of the people in Cobb Country trailer parks…
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm
AmVet
That was a poll run by Garmin. Most people say they have a hard time following directions but other people are worse. Garmin’s sending’em coupons for the Nuvi 755T navigator.
Bud Wiser
April 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
Obozo shrugs it all off because he is an idiot.
His economic policies prove him to be an idiot.
His spending us into perhaps irrecoverable debt makes him an idiot.
The crap about not signing off on earmarks and not hiring lobbyists, then doing both, makes him both a liar and an idiot. People (with brains, not his drooling minions) are watching all of this. He thinks they are too stupid to try to stand in his way, because he is president for one, and black for the next. He uses his race as subliminally as he can, and gets away with it, so in that aspect, he is not an idiot…..just not very original.
There will be the day when he will be held accountable, but it is his party that will suffer more than he. But that’s okay. They back this buffoon still.
But the rumblings are already being heard.
I Report/ You Whine
April 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
Poll Date Right Direction Wrong Track Spread
RCP Average 03/30 – 04/09 34.7 58.8 -24.1
Daily Kos/R2000 04/05 – 04/09 43 55 -12
Ipsos/McClatchy 04/02 – 04/06 45 48 -3
Pew Research 03/31 – 04/06 23 70 -47
CBS News/NY Times 04/01 – 04/05 39 53 -14
Rasmussen Reports 03/30 – 04/05 36 58 -22
Newsweek 04/01 – 04/02 22 69 -47
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
Andy, reduced to spinning librul media polls @ 7.03?
I think Nelson Muntz put it best.
AmVet
April 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm
Paul, I dig my Garmin.
But I can see how people who could never read a map might have some difficulties.
As for rumblings, I think that’s irritable bowel syndrome!
Almost a hundred days into his administration I can already predict the grades he’ll get.
The Republiconned will give him an F across the board.
The Democrats will give him an A across the board.
I’d need to some reviewing, but I’d give him a C+ or B- to date…
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:15 pm
AmVet, at the 100 day mark, I’ll probably give him a “B”, and that’s about what I expected when I voted for this moderate Democrat.
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:17 pm
Dave R dun rote:
“His spokespeople say that he wasn’t aware of the tea parties across America.”
Cite, please.
md
April 22nd, 2009
7:17 pm
Paul,
What he said and what some heard were not the same. And some of what was heard was not said. And some didn’t even listen they just voted. And some just voted.
You are correct, he is doing some of what he said, but he is also doing some of what he said he would not do.
I Report/ You Whine
April 22nd, 2009
7:21 pm
Oh no, the libs don’t believe the Daily Kooks or “News” Weak, what, it doesn’t say what their brainwashing classes told them so it must be a lie, eewwwww!
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:24 pm
Paul wrote:
But on legislation issues, I get the impression he really doesn’t care if he gets a second term.
Seriously, that might be the highest praise I’ve heard from anyone, anywhere.
Cherokee
April 22nd, 2009
7:27 pm
Thanks for bringing the article to my attention Jay. And it’s hilarious to watch the Right Wing noise machine so desperately try to gin up anger over a different outrage every few days.
saywhat?
April 22nd, 2009
7:32 pm
The reason that what the repubs are are throwing at Obama isn’t sticking to him is because it isn’t even hitting him. Look at the lame ammunition they’ve got: Obama shaking hands with another world leader, Obama bowing possibly to a Saudi king, Obama did not rescue a sea captain from pirates fast enough, or too fast-take your pick, Obama is a socialist, Obama doesn’t love torture, Obama wants to let tax breaks for the rich expire, Obama is too popular in Europe, Obama didn’t stop the release of a Bush ordered assessment of right wing domestic threats, blah, blah, blah. The republicans are monkeys flinging their own poop from trees but its sticking to their hands and never gets airborne. Everybody but the most sheeplike limbaugh/hannity teabaggers sees right through the mock outrage nonsense and ignores it. No teflon necessary.
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:32 pm
Since Andy has decided this particular hour to pay attention to librul polling, I gots a poll he can suck on right here.
Poll: Most want inquiry into anti-terror tactics
WASHINGTON — Even as Americans struggle with two wars and an economy in tatters, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds majorities in favor of investigating some of the thorniest unfinished business from the Bush administration: Whether its tactics in the “war on terror” broke the law.
Close to two-thirds of those surveyed said there should be investigations into allegations that the Bush team used torture to interrogate terrorism suspects and its program of wiretapping U.S. citizens without getting warrants. Almost four in 10 favor criminal investigations and about a quarter want investigations without criminal charges. One-third said they want nothing to be done.
getalife
April 22nd, 2009
7:37 pm
Hillary, after smacking around the gop today:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UQPUzwdX51o/Se-pjUSqakI/AAAAAAAAAL8/AXp_kFBBclY/s1600-h/capt_bd3be2ebbf974828b5a055b079e0fed7_aptopix_clinton_foreign_affairs_dcsw103.jpg
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:40 pm
Hillary, after smacking around the gop today:
Who among us does not enjoy smacking around the gop?
AmVet
April 22nd, 2009
7:41 pm
Yep, the percentage of people that think the nation is going in the right direction has tripled since last winter.
An amazing, stellar, dramatic improvement over those dark days back in October when one poll had it 7% right direction, 91% wrong…
But I’m not sure why the neo-conned put any stock in this stuff anyhoo.
According to them their Bush-league president was a “principled” man who didn’t govern by polls. He was so stuck on stupid, NOTHING would have changed his obstinate closed-mind…
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
7:43 pm
AmVet
Just today I was following trusty Garmin. Wife said “turn here!” I did. Wrong place. I tapped the screen. She said “oh.”
I live for those moments. Especially since she gave it to me so there wouldn’t be any disagreements on how to get somewhere!
Pretty good reading on the grade. But I’d score his advisors lower.
md
As far as doing some of what he said he would not do: I call that ‘welcome to reality.’ Oh, and some heard what he said. They just didn’t want to believe it.
DB, Gwinnettian
I meant it that way. Thanks.
getalife
April 22nd, 2009
7:44 pm
DB,
Not much of the gop to smack around.
Check out this DNC ad:
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/22/video-dnc-ad-introduces-up-and-coming-republicans/
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:46 pm
Seriously, getalife, isn’t it kinda cool how things turned out between Hillary and Barack?
Barack got himself a SoS who actually knows her stuff, and is more or less beloved by most of the world, while drawing in about 90% of the dead-ender PUMA crew.
Hillary got to unburden herself from the cycle of fundraising that, I’m sure, she (and every principled human-American) utterly loathes.
Talk about yer win-wins, huh?
GMan
April 22nd, 2009
7:47 pm
The children of the right are so mad that they took to the streets calling themselves “teabaggers” without realizing the connotation… then again maybe they did! The “children of the corn” think that 200,000 people spread out over 200 cities (approximately 1000 people pre city) is a big deal! What a bunch of “maroons”! LMAO
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
7:47 pm
getalife
Five seconds into that and all I could think was “I need a drink.”
Pleasant evening, all -
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
7:49 pm
DB
Had to hang on for this. You wrote this about Hillary: “while drawing in about 90% of the dead-ender PUMA crew.)
Not sure what that means, but I saw this reality show the other night… so you’re saying Hillary’s a cougar?
Okay. I’m good with that.
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Getalife @ 7.44, I saw the clip. It’s almost cruel humor at this point to simply trot out their ugly mugs, innit?
I Report/ You Whine
April 22nd, 2009
7:51 pm
Poll: Most want inquiry into anti-terror tactics
So do I, DimBulb, Gwinnettian.
Geez, what a turd blossom.
The memos will make Cheney into a national hero, stunt dummy, why do you think Obozo will never release them or hold hearings?
duh
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
I saw this reality show the other night… so you’re saying Hillary’s a cougar?
Sorry for the inside-baseball-y stuff, Paul. PUMA stands for “Party Unity, My Ass” and it was the rallying cry toward the end of the 2008 primary season among some seriously hard-headed Hillary fans who said some rather unkind things about Obama.
some of them are still out there, kinda like the Japanese dudes stranded on remote islands in the late 40s, not realizing the Emperor had said “it’s over, guys…”
Cherokee
April 22nd, 2009
7:52 pm
Cheney a national hero? You ARE delusional…
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:54 pm
Cheney a national hero? You ARE delusional…
No, he’s just obedient. He was told “push the memos meme” today, so push it he did.
Tomorrow he’ll be pushing some other nonsense. It’s all pretty transparent and ineffectual.
Cherokee
April 22nd, 2009
7:55 pm
Saywhat I like the visual… poop throwing monkeys…..
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
Wonder who came up with that “Teflon President” business about Reagan? anyone know?
Anyways, pleasant evening to you all.
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
7:56 pm
DB, Gwinnettian
Thanks for the explanation.
But I still like the cougar thing…
GMan
April 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
As his heart finally begins to beat it’s last, Darth Cheney gasps for air in hopes that the children of the corn will think that he has a pulse. But alas, the villian of all that is humane is on life support and sinking fast.
Cherokee
April 22nd, 2009
7:57 pm
it is kind of funny how they all pile on to the same “theme of the day”
But I’m sure it’s just spontaneous
DB, Gwinnettian
April 22nd, 2009
7:59 pm
One last thing–Cynthia Tucker’s on Tweety right now.
Paul
April 22nd, 2009
8:00 pm
One last thought:
Don’t forget that when the tax return info was released a couple years ago Cheney and his wife had income of around 7 or 8 million.
And they gave three fourths of it to charity.
No penance jokes, please.
G’night -