August. The month that Democrats seem to think doesn't count. Think John Kerry in 2004. Think Barack Obama the last two years. Somebody had better look at Washington Democrats' calendars and circle August in red. It might help.
This August, in addition to the media swoonfest over Michele Bachmann's meaningless Ames straw poll victory (which even the media polpundits admitted was meaningless), there have been new signs that the economy is swooning, too. Pinch me if I'm dreaming, but isn't it 2009? It must be, because the president is about to deliver a major speech on jobs.
But this August has been bad for the Obama administration primarily because the liberal knives have finally come out for him, with the maraschino cherry on top being the backdown on ozone regulations at month's end. Drew Westen's attack at the beginning of the month, and Jon Chait's rejoinder at the end, seem to have bookended this debate, at least for New York Times readers. But, not to brag, I've been off the Obama bandwagon almost since before it had Michelins. In mid-March 2009, back around the time he gave the big jobs speech (not), I started criticizing him here for (a) doubling down in Afghanistan; and (b) ignoring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' announcement that they were choosing the "technically not superior" solution for a part of the new protection system for New Orleans. Obama fans here pelted me with digital spitballs, on the grounds that "his plate's so full" and "he'll get to it."
And now, here we are. Oddly enough, the president's plate has just gotten fuller. What's with that kitchen staff? And the intervening two years have shown me -- and yes, commenters, I know, I'll get back to doing cartoon voices just as soon as this post is completed -- that this president has committed two profound strategic blunders.
One is based on the circumstances he faced on taking office. The economy was in a shambles. When that happens in this country, history tells us there's a big wave of populism that sweeps through the population most severely affected by economic turmoil. Sometimes it's left-wing populism; sometimes it's right-wing populism. I think the president had the moment, and the option, to select which direction that populist wave would break. Had he gone left-wing populist, directing the anger of Main Street at -- to quote Teddy Roosevelt -- the "malefactors of great wealth," it's quite possible that he could have cornered the market on populism. Leaving that field vacant opened a big market for right-wing populism, which conveniently swooped in, in the form of the Tea Party. Yes, I'm suggesting that Barack Obama, not the Koch Brothers, is primarily responsible for the rise of the Tea Party.
The second strategic blunder has to do with misunderstanding his opposition. What was it about Mitch McConnell saying in 2009 that his primary goal was the defeat of President Obama that President Obama didn't understand? When your adversary is hell-bent on denying you any victories, making conciliatory policy moves towards them is quixotic and self-defeating. Example: adopting Mitt Romney's (and many other conservatives') model for market-based insurance "exchanges" in his health-care plan merely allowed the opposition to demonize a previously conservative policy, thereby moving the argument to the right. It didn't earn him the votes of (almost extinct) moderate Republicans, nor the ardor of centrists. It merely allowed another set of policy options to be labeled "socialist." Drew Westen decries this as the failure to understand bully politics. I'd go simpler, based on my own experience as one of the shortest white guys to play street basketball in NYC: if you get into a game that surprises you with its free use of elbows and other apparent deliberate contact, with the determination of both teams to cheat on the score and argue every foul and out-of-bounds call, you're ill-advised to call "time" and say, "Hey, guys, I do happen to have a copy of the rules here...." You play the game you find yourself in, and you rev up your elbows.
The truly sad thing is that, for this administration, the whole year is August.
I can't wait till 2010 and that big jobs speech.
Follow Harry Shearer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/theharryshearer
Leo Hindery, Jr.: Re: Jobs, Pick the Big Low-Hanging Fruit -- and Stop the Niggling
Michael Brenner: The Great Betrayal
Who did Obama appoint to the Treasury, the Fed, and retain as his trusted financial advisers?
Wall Street and bank guys....many of them from Goldman Sachs.
**********The VERY people who caused most of the economic meltdown and recession.
While the Repugs can be bullies, how many times has Obama given in BEFORE negotiations began?
How many times has he agreed with the Repug plan of action or with just slight changes?
Many people assume Obama made "mistakes" and "errors" in judgement....by not going after the banks and Wall Street, allowing the Repugs to bully him, etc.
Maybe the people are coming to the WRONG conclusion?
Maybe what we see Obama doing....is pretty much what he MEANT to do!!!
Politicians are bought and paid for by oligarchs, Wall Street, big corporations.....and they kowtow to them.
Obama seems so far to be bought and paid for and works for the rich and not the people.
****Put simply, Obama may have said whatever to get elected but he is not a president of the people.
He is a corporatist, just slightly more moderate than the Repugs.
While Obama does not do well with bullies (Repugs)....he seems so far more on THEIR side than on the side of the more left wing Dems or the people.
***Maybe Obama IS doing what he wants to do while trying to blame the Repugs for forcing him?
****Put simply, maybe the Repugs and most of the Dems including Obama are more in cahoots with the rich and each other than real enemies?
Anyone with any sense who isn't being controlled by the powers that be would have known the first thing Obama should have done was to fix the economy foremost. Their should have been rules and regulations put on banks, Wall St to stop the corrupt policies. Glass Steagall should have been re-instated immediately and prosecutions taking place.
Then rules and regs set to tax and stop offshoring, outsourcing while giving subsidies! Shouldn't our citizens be protected first when our economy is collapsing???? Shouldn't our way of life come first rather than China's? And why is Obama pushing for free trade that is corrupt with Panama(illegal banking) Columbia(killing labor leaders) and S. Korea( cheap labor) when our people need to work!
Instead of focusing all the energy to healthcare reform which did nothing but create more loopholes without slowing down costs, could have waited till the economy was back on it's feet.
Obama has done nothing to improve anything that matters to everyday citizens and has turned his back on his promises to the people who helped get him elected.
It's high time for a 3rd party candidate but no one who could make a difference is stepping up because they know they don't have a chance against the big money that runs this country.
I have plain just given up at this point. There is no "change we can believe in" in sight.
Gets 'em out of the house and into an outdoorsy exercise plan, as they march in those picket lines. Republican change is "healthy."
You Democrats have nothing to be proud of. You've delivered nothing, offer no alternatives that weren't Republican positions first, and can only argue that "they're worse." They are worse, but you ain't nearly good enough.
told him they would ensure he was a one term President, and a failed President.
Unfortunately, President Obama seems to have heard, "let's all work together".
With two small quibbles. Maybe FDR was quoting Teddy, but I remember seeing FDR address the "malefactors of great wealth" at a Democratic convention. Second, the healthcare fight *did* come down to the two semi-moderate Republicans, Olympia Snowe and ... another that isn't coming to mind right now.
Which makes me want to point out a third blunder: when elected Republicans, individually or as a party, are flip flopping or obstructing policy (or even adminstration appointments!), then Obama and co. need to castigate them for it. Again and again and again and again. In the healthcare debate, Obama adopted a Republican proposal .. and then it was fillibustered! A super-reversal! And it's one of the major reasons I just can't support anyone with an "R" behind their name right now.
He talked the talk, but failed the walk.
We followed him thru his questionable cabinet choices and the Public Option Fiasco and BP and Bushie's Tax Plan. It dosen't take forever to realize that the hero we followed was really the Pied Piper.