What happens when a country elects a President with no ideology or core values?
Posted: November 8, 2010 Filed under: A My Pet Goat Moment, Elections, president teleprompter jesus, WE TOLD THEM SO | Tags: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Broken Promises, Jimmy Carter, politics 65 Comments
We’re seeing what happens. People voted for “the audacity of hope” and “change we can believe in” — empty slogans with no real meaning. Now our country is in desperate straits, and the man who was elected to lead us has no idea what to do. He can’t even work himself up to make an inspiring speech to encourage us to have a little hope for the future.
Last Tuesday, we saw the Democratic Party experience an epic beating in the midterm elections, and what is our President’s reaction? He gives an interview to Steve Kroft of CBS’ 60 Minutes and, to quote Peter Daou, “apologizes for being a Democrat.” And then he leaves the country before the interview airs. And he goes to a country that, fairly or unfairly, symbolizes the outsourcing of American jobs.
Peter Daou really lets Obama have it for once:
The aftermath of the GOP’s midterm triumph perfectly illustrates this problem: Obama is falling over himself seeking compromise with Republicans, ceding to their frames, while Republican leaders say they will stick to their principles and try to destroy his presidency and legacy. Here’s how I put it a couple of days ago: If one side offers “compromise” and the other claims to stand firmly on principle, which one appears more principled to voters?
Astonishingly, in a 60 Minutes piece that just aired, Obama goes one step further. During the course of the entire interview he only once mentions having the courage of one’s convictions. And he attributes it not to himself or Democrats, but to Tom Coburn, a staunch conservative!
“There are some sincere Republicans in the Senate like Tom Coburn, Oklahoma, who is about as conservative as they come, but a real friend of mine and somebody who has always had the courage of his convictions and not, you know, bringing pork projects back to Oklahoma. And it may be that that’s an example of where, on a bipartisan basis, we can work together to change practices in Washington that generate a lot of the distrust of government.”
How can anyone claim that Obama is a Democrat? At the Atlantic, Derek Thompson asks “Why Did Obama Do the 60 Mintues Interview? Good question! He sure didn’t do it to advance the goals of the party he pretends to belong to and, yes, lead. Thompson:
Five days after a demoralizing midterm election, President Obama appeared on 60 Minutes to make the case that … wait, why did the president appear on 60 Minutes, exactly?
He told Americans that the economy might never fully recover. He said the White House is discouraged about the election and the economy. He admitted that he made mistakes, knowingly committed an unforced political error in health care reform, and got too heated with his rhetoric during the midterm campaign. He prepared Americans for the “hard, long slog” ahead. That the president is his own harshest critic is admirable, but CBS interviews aren’t required at the halfway point like a midterm exam. The president sat down in that chair to make a point. So what was the point?
Beats the hell out me.
Back in 1979, President Jimmy Carter gave a famous speech that is often referred to as “the malaise speech,” even though it didn’t contain the word “malaise.” That speech is often seen as Carter’s Waterloo. And yet Carter’s speech was inspiring and upbeat in comparison to the Obama’s whiny, sad sack performance on 60 Minutes.
This man sold himself as a transformational leader–an agent of change who would inspire all of us to be all we can be and to work together to accomplish great things. But what has he done since January 2009 to transform government or inspire Americans to reach for greatness? Zippo, as far as I can see.
Yesterday, the Washington Post highlighted this cheery bit from the 60 Minutes interview:
“What is a danger is that we stay stuck in a new normal where unemployment rates stay high,” he said in an interview aired Sunday night on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” “People who have jobs see their incomes go up. Businesses make big profits. But they’ve learned to do more with less. And so they don’t hire. And as a consequence, we keep on seeing growth that is just too slow to bring back the 8 million jobs that were lost.”
[….]
He lamented his inability to make more headway in creating jobs, conceding that “I do get discouraged.”
“I thought the economy would have gotten better by now,” he said. “One of the things I think you understand as president is you’re held responsible for everything. But you don’t always have control of everything.”
[….]
“Some of this is going to be just a matter of the economy healing,” he said. “Especially an economy this big, there are limited tools to encourage the kind of job growth that we need.
Will someone please get Obama to sit down and watch a PBS special on FDR’s responses to the Great Depression? He sounds too down in the dumps to read a book. Has this man never heard of the WPA or the CCC?
Roosevelt created the CCC with an executive order. He didn’t wait around for Congress to do something about unemployment–he went way out on a limb and did it himself. And it worked. Obama won’t do anything but wait around for Congress to act so he doesn’t have to take any responsibility.
Some of us expected this based on his history of “voting present.” But a hell of a lot of people fell for his con game, and now we’re stuck with him for at least two more years. Somehow we have to light a fire under this guy, but how?
At Huffpo, Katherine Reardon compares our predicament to “Waiting for Godot.”
Perhaps we are like Samuel Beckett’s characters Vladimir and Estragon in Waiting For Godot. These men wait for a man they admit to hardly knowing but nonetheless someone they expect to change their lives. They anticipate he will sort out their problems. Yet as they wait and wait, they decide that when he arrives he will do “nothing very definite.” Still, they wait.
I waited last night for the confident Democratic President of the United States to appear on 60 Minutes but he never quite arrived. In fact, the president who did arrive said when asked by Steve Croft about his promise to change Washington:
“That’s one of the dangers of assuming power. And you know, when you’re campaigning, you, I think you’re liberated to say things without thinking about, ‘Okay, how am I gonna actually practically implement this.'”
What? Nah! He didn’t say that, did he?
Yes, Katherine, he did. This is the “lightworker” that all the “progressives” foisted on us. More from Reardon’s piece:
Croft later asked about Social Security and Medicare — “things that the American people really think are important.” In his response, the president actually referred to “entitlements,” which the Republicans — who love that word by the way — are going to have to “confront in a serious way.” Excuse me?
Why not say:
Republicans like to talk about earning what you get. That’s exactly what people do every every pay period when they contribute to Social Security. That’s their money. They earned it. That’s their nest egg and while I’m president nobody is going to steal it from them.
Or,
Let’s be very clear. Diminishing social security in any way is income redistribution. Yes, that’s what I said — exactly what the Republicans say they hate. It’s distributing hard-working Americans’ income to the rich by way of tax cuts for the wealthy.
And of course you know what our great leader had to say about tax cuts for the wealthy: he’s open to compromising with the Republicans on that. Yes, once again, our President has capitulated before the bargaining even begins.
We’ve got to get through two more years with this guy in charge. Does anyone have any ideas about how we can either get him to act like an old-style FDR Democrat or else put someone in charge who can?
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
When I think back now to the way Obots responded to me when I asked what basic principles Obama believed in and would fight for, it makes me sick.
I got called a racist by more white people, and an Uncle Tom by more black people than I care to enumerate. All because I asked that they LOOK at his background, and because I voted for Hillary and then McCain(the lesser of the two evils at the time). I will never forget. And I damn sure won’t forgive.
Asshats.
Hillary 2012
(great post btw, BB!! I’m jealous of how awesome you and Dak write. 🙂 Keep up the good work!!)
Thanks so much!
I want to add more to this conversation but I’m exhausted!
I did want to mention that I thought you might be interested in this link BB!
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/fighting-bullying-with-babies/
Ditto what Rock wrote about the superlative posts that you and Dak provide. Thanks for all your hard work which educates and enlightens.
Me, too, BB – this is a great post and so on the mark about Obama. Referring to SS as an entitlement is just beyond belief. I don’t think that there is anything that can be done to light a fire under this guy to actually act like an FDR Democrat – he’s never been one.
Thanks!
“I got called a racist by more white people, and an Uncle Tom by more black people than I care to enumerate. All because I asked that they LOOK at his background, and because I voted for Hillary and then McCain(the lesser of the two evils at the time). I will never forget. And I damn sure won’t forgive.”
Yup, Me too Rock….
Daou is one of Hillary’s guys. I think I have disagreed with about 4 of his posts in the two years that I have been reading his writings. Great writer. And you know what? 18 million “I told you so’s!!” are in order. We knew what was going to happen in Dec ’07. Funny thing is I don’t completely blame Obumbles. You can’t ascend to the Oval without help. Even my girl needs help. The majority of the blame should rest with the unprincipled DNC. Those rats had to steal the election and then go along with his policies for them to come into force. And we have two years more….. uggghhhh….
Asshats.
Hillary 2012
Want to read a really good piece about all that?
Check it out if you haven’t already.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!! I read it this morning when I woke up!!!! 😀
Wow, what a great piece by Pacific John. He’s spot on.
Pacific John is admirable! And I totally agree with this,
“… we did end up stuck with a nominee who barely won with the help of overwhelming media favoritism and corporate cash …”
Don’t know what to do about the corporate cash, but I believe that what is more needed than a new party is a new unbiased, truthful, reliable media.
I couldn’t agree more. I don’t even blame Obama anymore. The problems go way beyond Obama. It’s probably not even fair to say “He destroyed the Dem party,” because if anyone ever collaborated in their own destruction….The real problem is every single phony politician who betrayed everything he claimed to stand for. Virtually the entire “progressive” wing of the party has been tainted by their utterly inexplicable, uncritical worship of this idiot. They’ve lost all credibility. Nobody trusts their words. Nobody trusts their motives. Nobody trusts their judgment. So what happens now? It’s really difficult to rebuild under these circumstances. And the temptation to not even bother, to just wait until the Repubs overreach and just play the same scenario of winning by default over and over again, is going to be very strong. They broke it, but they may not be able to fix it even if they want to at this late date. Great post, bb.
Hi Seriously! Good point/s.
Yes, it all started like this and then somehow evolved – on a global scale – to something like this.
Thanks Seriously. I’m just stumped about what to do. We’ve been taken over by the corporatocracy and the only way I can see that anything will change is if their whole financial-governmental monopoly collapses completely. I hope I’m wrong.
here here…Obama couldn’t have happened if the Dem party wasn’t in the ICU already. He’s not the core problem , just the results .The “progressive” wing we see on stage are paid for actors and have been for some time as well. imo
That’s how I feel. On some days I even feel sorry for the guy because it is clear that he has absolutely no idea how to exercise leadership skills.
Obama knows how to make people feel sorry for him. It’s a skill he learned very early in life.
I think you’re right, Laurie.
I don’t feel sorry for that shoulder brushing misogynist for one second. He’s exactly where he wanted to be, if it destroys him, good.
The “white house insider” strikes again!
“But even more important, Barack Obama doesn’t have the people around him who will allow a turn toward the political middle. Many of the moderates in the Democratic Party were taken out with this election. What is left are the far left people – the -expletive- “Progressives” if you will.”
White House Insider – not that clever at making up stuff…
Heh. I thought the same when I read it.
If this really is a white house insider, are they that blind? They really think they are far left and progressive? Insanity.
Lol I like when he tells Ulsterman “I would tell you if I heard different.” That and the part where he congratulates him on his amazing savvy “*raises eyebrow* You’re getting better at this. I will answer your entire next batch of leading questions that imperil my job, but after that, stop getting cute! You’re cut off!” they just don’t make WHI’s like they used to.
So, can someone enlighten me…I am a bit of an idiot about this new “Deep Throat,” I mean…is this a joke or is this an actual informant?
That’s the unknown in all of this. Your guess is as good as mine but I’m still leaning to it’s fiction side of that guess.
I think it’s very bad fiction, written by a right winger who has no idea how liberals talk.
Yup, that’s my take too.
I agree with both of you. Rightwing theater.
Who could have predicted that the person who voted “present” would wait for someone to decide.
Obama’s decision making style must be catchy because I voted Green Party and let other voters decide the U.S. Senate seat.
BB, that’s a great photo of Mr. Pout.
bb – Did you see this ?
Drew Westen.Psychologist and neuroscientist; Emory University Professor
Could We Have Predicted What Happened Last Tuesday?
“the president once again illustrated three interrelated hallmarks of his presidency: his ability to endorse nearly every side of an issue, his inability or unwillingness to articulate (whether to the American people or perhaps, more importantly, to himself) any governing philosophy or core set of principles that inform his decisions (e.g., a progressive alternative to the Reagan mantra of “government is the problem, not the solution”), and his allergy to leadership, particularly if it means dealing with conflict or aggression from his political opponents.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-westen/could-we-have-predicted-w_b_780250.html
No, thanks for the link. Drew Weston bought into the Obama “magic,” but he’s been off the bus for awhile now.
I think Weston has those “three interrelated hallmarks” down!
BB, you write such great posts. I’m with TheRock, it’s like you’re in my head sometimes, but better.
Thank you. I’m feeling very appreciated this morning! What a nice feeling.
Yes, I agree…this post was spot on. I have a comment about something Obama said on 60 min:
He lamented his inability to make more headway in creating jobs, conceding that “I do get discouraged.”
“I thought the economy would have gotten better by now,” he said. “One of the things I think you understand as president is you’re held responsible for everything. But you don’t always have control of everything.”
This is ridiculous, the man has had a Democrat Majority…and he does not feel he had control over the steps he took to create jobs? Bullshit, if he did put any effort into creating jobs and dealing with the economy..instead of pushing that crappy HCR on us, which I might add I think was a dig at Hillary and Bill…sort of a “ha ha in your face” immature reaction from The One. (I must say I thought this from the very beginning, though part of me said to myself…nah, he can’t be that much of a “high school” jerk. I was wrong, Obama is a big “high school” jerk.) I am so sick of this man’s excuses and the thought of 2 more years of this shit has me so depressed.
I know! He’s so passive, just waiting around for someone else to do his job for him. He is supposed to be the leader–inspiring and encouraging–but he doesn’t get that. Maybe he needs to learn about how JFK did it.
Your comment and your reference to high school, made me go dig up this great comment from a year and a half back, but still relevant … also re Gibbs’ “temper tantrum” the other day:
(Don’t know about “blogiquette” here? I know the name of the commenter, but am not sure s/he wants to be quoted 18 months later?)
BB, Fundamentally, the problem (i.e. lack of core values, how people responded to him in the campaign – his “charisma”, etc.) goes back to what you posted on 7/26/2008. I’d reached the same conclusion in early ’07, after an astute friend drew my attention to it (of course, at that point in time, almost no-one would believe us – essentially felt like Cassandra’s curse). Obama is never going to act like an FDR Democrat. I think our “success” will be defined not by getting him to take positive actions (since this largely won’t happen) but by Preventing him from doing what he will naturally be prone to do (e.g. cut social security, surreptitiously expand war in Africa and the Middle East, etc.). I’m hoping that mass protests will arise to prevent the social security cuts (ala France), but I’m not optimistic (especially given that all the liberal institutions have collapsed or been co-opted Chicago-style – corralled in the veal pen).
I wasn’t really paying attention until about Sept. 2007. But it didn’t take me very long to see what Obama was. Mainly I read about him in the Chicago papers, and then I read his book. Anyone who read that book had to be blind not to see that he was a Reagan Republican and anti-abortion to boot. After the McClurkin incident I knew I could never vote for him. Never!
What took the cake for me was a tiny little phrase in Obama’s long speech in India. It drew out a bitter laugh as I was busy cooking.
Stealing of elections, he intoned solemnly (possibly referring to Burma), is unacceptable.
LOL
You must be doing something right if I wake up to find ABG in the spam can.
BTW – One proposal that I think has some merit (most people here are probably aware of it, but possibly not all):
http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2009/12/03/working-proposal-for-a-new-movement-the-justice-party/
http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2010/01/20/on-the-other-hand-maybe-this-is-exactly-what-we-needjustice-party-rebootopen-thread/
It would take a lot of work to get something like this off the ground though.
I’m game. And what a lot of work it’ll be. Here in WA state only the two main parties can get on the ballot, because it’s a ‘top two’ primary state. So the top two vote getters in the primary get on the ballot. The two main parties LOVE it.
Great post!
Now, I don’t know whether Obama is actually a ‘closeted’ Republican as many seems to think. I’m more of the belief that he’s apolitical ! He just wants to be liked – by the right people, mind you – so that’s what he will do: pander to those he wants/needs to like him, Republicans. The adoration from the Democrats seems to be taken for granted.
I always scratch my head when the media tells me that “Obama wants …”, “Obama believes …”, “Obama tries to …” etc. because I never saw that. I never saw him take any firm position on much … if anything. If he (accidently?) did, he then quickly walked it back.
To me, the most accurate description of Obama (and in extension his followers) comes from the man himself:
My comment disappeared. Did I finally manage to surpass my quota? 😉
I’ll check.
I have no clue why that one got grabbed, Pips.
Lol! Spammy sure does work in mysterious ways. Thanks for releasing me – though I understand I must have actually spent time with ABG there? Wouldn’t have minded having a little chat with him. 😉
Oh, you were in spam. ABG is in the trash can!!! I really don’t want to send any one there, but he just never comes us with anything cogent to say and we don’t want him to hijack conversations the way he does over at TGW. I wish it was just a difference of opinion with him but it never is … he’s just off in his own reality. He’s quoting Will Saletan of Slate and blessing every word if you want to know what the point was today.
Well, I was just about to say that he never seems rude. Guess that delution of mine is now taken care of!
But the phenomenon he represents is somewhat fascinating. What’s in it for him/them? Does he do this for a living? Is he paid? Where does he get the energy, the perseverance ? Does he actually believe that he can change anybodys’ opinion … and does he even care if he does or not?
Sigh. At least I’m not the only one having trouble “nesting” right. The above comment was for dakinikat at 4.36.
No, ABG got through somehow, until he ended up in the trash.
I’ve let him through before … last time it was to tell me I sounded racists because I didn’t like Richmond because he had ethics problems. Since it was a tomb over here, basically, I really didn’t care much what he said so I let it post.
Anyone who googled about Obama for even 10 minutes cannot be surprised.
When the boot licking press criticises the extent of your boot licking, wow… that’s bad
Obama was created and installed to destroy the Dem brand and clear the way for a GOP President in 2012…straight up, that’s what it’s been about. Hugely unpopular GOP policies brought about by a “Dem” so the GOP can have their wet dreams and run against the disastrous results at the same time. They finally found a way to have their cake and eat it too.
No wonder the upper crust, on mass, moved against Hillary…and of the upper crust, left or right, only the Clintons tried to stop what’s happening. Everyone else caved or rushed to help to bring us where we are today.
Ditto Paper Doll.
Great post BB – great comments too!
Hey, thanks! Nice to see you.
“In the wake of the 2010 midterms, Democrats(Obama) decide to move closer to the center”
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=686
I still don’t get any one who thinks Obama isn’t center right.
It’s a mystery to me too. Definitions have become so warped in the last 10 year or so.