Obama slowly losing his "cool"?

[Ruler of War 169]

Obama feels the heat, changes the play

 

Finally, we’re starting to see him sweat.

 

President Barack Obama made his personal icy cool the trademark of his campaign, the tenor of his White House and the hallmark of an early run of successes at home and abroad. But as the glamour wears off and a long, frustrating summer wears on, he is being forced to improvise — stooping to respond to political foes and adjusting his tactics and demeanor for the trench warfare of a legislative agenda.

 

The root of the change is one that faces every president: Economic and international realities that resist political charm. Iran and North Korea have shown no interest in the president’s outstretched hand. The economy has delivered a double-whammy, with rising unemployment stirring voters’ concerns while sluggish growth deprives the government of tax revenues Obama would like to spend on new programs.

Health care reform, which once appeared flush with momentum from earlier congressional victories, is now on a slog through no less than five committees, which include Democrats who either aren’t sold on Obama’s expansive vision or can’t figure out how to convince voters to pay for it.

 

“This is when it gets harder,” the president told supporters June 30.

 

And so it has.

 

In turn, Obama has adjusted, deviating from the playbook on every front.

 

The cool president has turned hot on the stump, stripping to shirtsleeves to lambaste doubters in New Jersey Thursday. He departed from his prepared remarks last week to accept a Republican challenge to take personal ownership of the economy: “That’s fine. Give it to me,” he said.

 

Even Obama's scripted speeches are deliberately more forceful, aggressive and direct in taking on critics, aides say. Friday remarks at the White House had a trash-talk edge – count me out and you’ll be sorry.

 

Obama’s political operation has dispensed with its post-inauguration cocktails for Republicans – or more often, ignoring them outright — in favor of the old politics of engage, attack and cajole. Obama’s even engaging in a little Democrat-on-Democrat politics, as his ex-campaign arm is beaming TV ads into the home states of moderate fence-sitters on health care.

 

The tightly programmed White House also is champing at the bit, kicking off what officials say will be a relentless three-week push on health care, starting with the hastily scheduled Friday address. But its first event might have backfired a bit. Its main consequence was proving that the magnetism of Obama’s personal appearances has worn off, as it drew little media attention and a dismissive tweet from the key Senate Republican, Chuck Grassley of Iowa: “Waste of time.”

 

The sum has been a new sense of uncertainty and strain, and a growing murmur among Democrats in Washington nervous about the White House’s tactics, and a rising tide of concern in the states as local Democratic parties eye midterm elections that are traditionally a challenge for a new president.

“That honeymoon period is over, “ said Chris Redfern, the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. “Now they’re having to push back, and push back hard.”

 

White House officials and allies brush off any notion that this new sense of unease is meaningful. The only true test, they say, will be results. Obama still might win major health care reform legislation this year that could be the most important new government program in decades. He has a fighting chance to pass regulations on greenhouse gases, in the form of a “cap and trade” mechanism, through the Senate. And Obama continues to press hard, if with no clear progress, for a breakthrough in the Middle East.

 

“It’s the third quarter, he’s down by a point, and he’s got his best player on the bench – what really is going to be important is the fall,” said James Carville, the veteran Democratic observer.

 

“If he gets what’s perceived to be some kind of a major health care thing, gets the climate bill through, if the economy recovers, then we’ll all say he had a hell of a summer. Conversely, if the thing falls apart, we’ll say that by July the 19th we could tell the thing was going bad.”

 

White House Deputy Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer dismissed the suggestion that Obama should be expected to succeed effortlessly – or that he’s on a path toward failure on any of these varied fronts.

 

“Obama and his team have been down this road dozens of times and been declared dead many times and always succeeded,” he said. “No one gets rich betting against Barack Obama.”

 

The most visible aspect of the White House’s new feistiness is an increasing willingness to engage Republican legislators whose criticisms Obama earlier had been happier to overlook. Relentless criticism of the stimulus package from a House Republican leader, Eric Cantor of Virginia, drew a furious barrage from the Democratic National Committee and a visit from no smaller figure than the Vice President of the United States. Rank and file Republicans who criticize the stimulus have also suddenly found themselves under a concerted DNC assault that asks if they’d prefer the federal funding left their districts out. And criticism from Sen Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) drew letters from no fewer than four Cabinet secretaries to his state’s governor, asking if she would prefer they withheld stimulus money.

 

That pushback has been urged, and welcomed, by state leaders like Redfern and Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer.

 

“The DNC has been and we were quickly able to rebut and demonstrate all the money that is being spent in their respective districts,” said Brewer of two GOP congressmen attacking the stimulus. “They’ve backed off.”

 

Still, many Democrats say the Republican attacks on spending are taking their toll.

 

"The rhetoric is so empty, but it is fairly consistent and I think it’s had an impact on those in middle," said Ohio's Redfern.

 

But when the White House pushback focused not on Republicans but Democrats on health-care – in the form of Organizing for America ads running in the home states of moderate senators -- some in the party called foul, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

 

The vote last month in the House on the American Clean Energy Security Act showed a willingness to get White House hands dirty in a different way.

 

Wrangling votes for the “cap and trade” legislation in the House, Obama backed off a campaign promise to auction off all “allowances” – permits to release a set amount of greenhouse gases. Instead of selling them to raise money for other environmental initiatives, the White House allowed congressional Democratic leaders to trade them for votes, assigning allowances to the refinery-heavy district of, for instance, Texas Rep. Gene Green in exchange for his support.

 

The battle over health care, the centerpiece of the President’s summer, has also hardened into a fairly conventional Washington fight, a new president’s sweeping agenda colliding with congressional caution. Obscure Washington figures like Congressional Budget Office chief Doug Elmendorf and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) have shown the ability to pose a real threat to the White House juggernaut. And some of the White House’s close allies have grown jittery about what they say is a strategy to spend the three weeks leading up to the Senate’s August recess – the insecure deadline for health care votes in both houses – with a series of events aimed at building public pressure on Congress.

 

“They’re great at campaigns, but legislative battles are different,” said a senior Democrat close to the White House. “It’s not about persuading 51 percent of the American people – it’s about seven senators.”

 

In another mark of Obama's constant adjustments, his latest remarks didn't mention the August deadline.

 

White House allies acknowledge the new strains, but say the hard work will pay off.

 

“A lot of the hard stuff he’s doing now will pay dividends,” said John Del Cecato, a former Obama campaign aide.

 

Meanwhile, admiration of Obama’s personal qualities has been tempered, even among sympathetic observers, with anxiety for where his agenda will stand at summer’s end.

 

Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart noted recently that Obama told a Pakistani interviewer that he is an accomplished chef of Pakistani cuisines and reads the great Urdu poets.

 

“Mr. President,” Stewart said, “while I am impressed with your Renaissance Man-level of knowledge in a plethora of subjects, may I humbly say: That’s great. Just fix the economy!”

 

Source(s): http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090719/pl_politico/25114

 

 

I knew it was only a matter of time :ermm:

[///M 75]

Pfft.. told you before the election went down that electing him was a mistake.

 

His approval rate is dropping.

Ha.... Democrats.

[Poply 178]

Pfft.. told you before the election went down that electing him was a mistake.

 

His approval rate is dropping.

Ha.... Democrats.

I can tell you're unbiased and highly educated when it comes to politics. Please elaborate more on your bulletproof one-sided fallacious arguments.

 

Complaining about approval ratings only after Bush. lol

[///M 75]

Pfft.. told you before the election went down that electing him was a mistake.

 

His approval rate is dropping.

Ha.... Democrats.

I can tell you're unbiased and highly educated when it comes to politics. Please elaborate more on your bulletproof one-sided fallacious arguments.

 

Complaining about approval ratings only after Bush. lol

Thank you because I actually am very educated in Politics.

[XGhozt 410]

Eh, we all knew this wasn't going to be an easy presidency. He set the bar high, and now he has to deliver, this is always the part where America holds it's breath.

[Poply 178]

Pfft.. told you before the election went down that electing him was a mistake.

 

His approval rate is dropping.

Ha.... Democrats.

I can tell you're unbiased and highly educated when it comes to politics. Please elaborate more on your bulletproof one-sided fallacious arguments.

 

Complaining about approval ratings only after Bush. lol

Thank you because I actually am very educated in Politics.

I like the part where you shamelessly took the compliment but chose to not elaborate.

[///M 75]

I dont clash, there is no point. You like people who tax tax tax tax and strip freedom away, while I like my guns freedom and money.

 

When you grow up and begin to venture out into the real world you will go Oh my I think I like my money and freedom. Hmm why should I pay for other peoples problems?

Hmm.. I wonder why??

[Ruler of War 169]

I like my guns freedom and money.

 

 

Fuck yea quote of the year

[Poply 178]

I dont clash, there is no point. You like people who tax tax tax tax and strip freedom away, while I like my guns freedom and money.

 

When you grow up and begin to venture out into the real world you will go Oh my I think I like my money and freedom. Hmm why should I pay for other peoples problems?

Hmm.. I wonder why??

I didn't realize I had already stated my preferred political party (assuming I have one) and all of the policies I'm for and against. You must be quite the detective to have figured that out already.

 

It seems like I was just pointing out your obvious bias and the hypocrisy in bashing a party while simultaneously using an argument against said party that you probably wouldn't accept as a suitable argument for the previous administration or opposing party (That being the party I'm assuming you're backing up).

[///M 75]

I'm backing up the true America. When it was free, remember that? When its not your responsibility to pay someones health care, or their welfare. I don't care what party does it, I want our freedoms restored, our liberties. Since when is it my responsibility to take care of someone else? This great country is not a communist nation, nor is it fascist. This isn't a One for all and All for one deal. Obamas administration is stripping the American people of their rights! They made an enormous mistake by going through with the Stimulus when the entire Republican party told them no, and now what?! Biden and Obama say they had no idea the numbers were so great. Now they plan to come up with another stimulus? Why? And when we won the Iraqi War I didnt see any headlines in the newspapers, I didnt see Obamas administration welcome the troops home until 2-4 days later. How is that right?! I don't care if you don't support the war support our troops! Support people like Viper who dedicate their time or maybe even lives in order to protect and fight for this great nation. I frankly don't give a flying fuck what you believe or represent, if you live in America support the country. I've made an example months ago

"

Lets say your taking English class and you have an A in the classroom, you are one of the smartest people in the class, an overachiever. You flawlessly ace every test and get cookies from the teacher. While the rest of the class is not so smart, and get nothing from the teacher. So the teacher one day decides to make things fair.

She says since Richard, the straight A student, is so smart, every time he takes a test I will take away 35% of the test score and divide it among the dumbest kids in class.

 

What does this create?

One pissed off kid who busted his ass making the grade, and a bunch of low lives who now get a free grade.

 

The effect?

Richard no longer wants to study or learn since his grade is taken away, his motivation is crushed, he no longer gets the A's since its just taken away from him.

 

The dumb kids STILL don't learn, why? you would think hey since the teacher is giving them a jump start, something to help him get started why wont they pick it up and be more like Richard. Well because they already are getting the easy grade, they don't have to work, Richard is working for them.

 

I'm sure you can substitute MONEY in that picture."

[Poply 178]

Postal

Law Enforcement

Emergency Medical

Investigators

Education

Municipal

Penal system

Legal system

Waste Collection

Libraries

Medicare

Social security

Disability Welfare

 

Just a very short list of socialized services where you are forced to take care of others through financial means. Does that mean I'm advocating socialism or a socialized government? Of course not. Now surely there are arguments against some socialized services that wouldn't apply to others that makes them much more plausible as an option but you seem to have a vendetta against all socialized services.

 

I didn't think you would play the "communist card" so quickly. But you're not even making sense.

 

Strange how Obama is stripping away all these vital rights. I seem to recall something called the Patriot Act. What is the Obama equivalent? What freedoms and liberties were sacrificed during Obamas short several months as president?

 

I have no clue where this whole "winning the war" thing came from. I'm absolutely clueless (Granted, I admit to be clueless regarding all politics and world affairs).

 

I won't even bother addressing the poorly constructed analogy.

 

If you want to have an intelligent debate, let me know. If you want to continue this "Democrats vs Republicans" juvenile side picking argument, I won't participate.

[XGhozt 410]

I honestly still believe it's too early to start really judging Obama. First he made promises, then he made friends with the people, or tried to. Now he has to deliver on those said promises and keep the friends. Obama has really just been testing the waters, he hasn't done anything significant yet, other than be an icon for what we want. But any good speaker than do that.

[ShadowScourge 61]

I'll have to agree with Poply on this one.

Taxes are essential. You want to change your government into one that will not take your money to get rid of their huge debt or to take care of its citizens? Good luck. I doubt you'll find one.

And, your analogy has many flaws that, like Poply, I will not address.

 

If you wish to continue these arguments or biased speculations, i'd advise you open up a thread in the flame board, rather than state your claims in the "World News" section.

[Ruler of War 169]

Actually shadow scourge he should open said topic in the serious discussion, because i don't think there will be flaming

[Ratatosk 0]

My 2 cents is that people aren't willing to go through bad times to get to the good.

It's the way the world often operates, but politics aren't my thing ;)