Barack Obama's failed presidency (long)

[bigvalkriefan]

This says it much better than I could.

Dr. Geoffrey P. Hunt is a social and cultural anthropologist.  He has had nearly 30 years experience in planning, conducting, and managing research in the field of youth studies, and drug and alcohol research.  He is also a writer for American Thinker.
Another Failed Presidency  An article from American Thinker by Geoffrey P. Hunt

Barack Obama is on track to have the most spectacularly failed presidency since Woodrow Wilson.  In the modern era, we've seen several failed presidencies--led by Jimmy Carter and LBJ.  Failed presidents have one strong common trait-- they are repudiated, in the vernacular, spat out.
Of course, LBJ wisely took the exit ramp early, avoiding a shove into oncoming traffic by his own party.  Richard Nixon indeed resigned in disgrace, yet his reputation as a statesman has been partially restored by his triumphant overture to China .
 
But, Barack Obama is failing.  Failing big.  Failing fast. And failing everywhere: foreign policy, domestic initiatives, and most importantly, in forging connections with the American people. The incomparable Dorothy  Rabinowitz in the Wall Street Journal put her finger on it: He is failing because he has no understanding of the American people, and may indeed loathe them. Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard says he is failing because he has lost control of his message, and is overexposed.  Clarice Feldman of American Thinker produced a dispositive commentary showing that Obama is failing because fundamentally he is neither smart nor articulate; his intellectual dishonesty is conspicuous by its audacity and lack of shame.

But, there is something more seriously wrong: How could a new president riding in on a wave of unprecedented promise and goodwill have forfeited his tenure and become a lame duck in six months?  His poll ratings are in free fall.  In generic balloting, the Republicans have now seized a five point advantage.  This truly is unbelievable.  What's going on?

No narrative. Obama doesn't have a narrative.  No, not a narrative about himself.  He has a self-narrative, much of it fabricated, cleverly disguised or written by someone else.  But this self-narrative is isolated and doesn't connect with us.  He doesn't have an American narrative that draws upon the rest of us.  All successful presidents have a narrative about the American character that intersects with their own where they display a command of history and reveal an authenticity at the core of their personality that resonates in a positive endearing way with the majority of Americans. We admire those presidents whose narratives not only touch our own, but who seem stronger, wiser, and smarter than we are.  Presidents we admire are aspirational peers, even those whose politics don't align exactly with our own: Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Harry Truman, Ike, and Reagan.

But not this president. It's not so much that he's a phony, knows nothing about economics, and is historically illiterate and woefully small minded for the size of the task--all contributory of course.  It's that he's not one of us.  And whatever he is, his profile is fuzzy and devoid of content, like a cardboard cutout made from delaminated corrugated paper.

 Moreover, he doesn't command our respect and is unable to appeal to our own common sense. His notions of right and wrong are repugnant and how things work just don't add up. They are not existential. His descriptions of the world we live in don't make sense and don't correspond with our experience.

In the meantime, while we've been struggling to take a measurement of this man, he's dissed just about every one of us--financiers, energy producers, banks, insurance executives, police officers, doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, post office workers, and anybody else who has a non-green job.  Expect Obama to lament at his last press conference in 2012:
"For those of you I offended, I apologize.  For those of you who were not offended, you just didn't give me enough time; if only I'd had a second term, I could have offended you too."

Mercifully, the Founders at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 devised a useful remedy for such a desperate state--staggered terms for both houses of the legislature and the executive..  An equally abominable Congress can get voted out next year.  With a new Congress, there's always hope of legislative gridlock until we vote for president again two short years after that.

Yes, small presidents do fail, Barack Obama among them.  The coyotes howl but the wagon train keeps rolling along.
"The trouble with Socialism is, sooner or later, you run out of other people's money."
                                          Margaret Thatcher
"When you subsidize poverty and failure, you get more of both."
                                         James Dale Davidson, National Taxpayers Union
"The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." 
                                        Tacitus 
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own."   Unknown
 

[big turkey]

One simple statement says it all.

He is failing because he has no understanding of the American people, and may indeed loathe them.

Big Al

[big turkey]

National Debt.

For example

The trouble with Socialism is, sooner or later, you run out of other people's money."
                                          Margaret Thatcher

[Chrisj CMA]

+1 right on .......GREAT POST.  What is worse and so dangerous is that what the rest of America counts as failure, "president" Obama counts as success.  If you look beneath the surface....his goal at the beginning was to "fundamentally transform America"  and because this was sure to happen now (the left has been wanting this for a while) his wife is now for the first time proud of her country.............what a load of BS.

Ok, the fundamental changes (and why hes been appologizing all over the world) Obama intends to reduce America from being a self sufficient world power to just another nation deep in debt and dependant on the the powers of the world for existance.  

Obama and the corrupt radical crew he has assembled are not fooling around.  They (I believe) feel they are finally succeeding in taking over the country..........these are the same people that protested, bombed and subverted the government for the last 60 years, now they are in charge.

He may be failing by every normal standard, but he is deffinetly screwing things up so bad.....fundamental changes are inevitable.

[valkmc]

modern era, we've seen several failed presidencies--led by Jimmy Carter and LBJ.  Failed presidents have one strong common trait-- they are repudiated, in the vernacular, spat out.

Interesting they left out old man Bush, he was voted out after one term also (repudiated ie spat out)!!!!!

Just saying history needs to be looked at without rose colored glasses.

[Mickey Runie]

Interesting they left out old man Bush, he was voted out after one term also (repudiated ie spat out)!!!!!

Just saying history needs to be looked at without rose colored glasses.

....and look what a colossal F***up that turn of events brought about.

Just saying history needs to be viewed with an unlit cigar in one's mouth, and a young, intern under the desk.   

[bigvalkriefan]

+1 right on .......GREAT POST.  What is worse and so dangerous is that what the rest of America counts as failure, "president" Obama counts as success.  If you look beneath the surface....his goal at the beginning was to "fundamentally transform America"  and because this was sure to happen now (the left has been wanting this for a while) his wife is now for the first time proud of her country.............what a load of BS.

Ok, the fundamental changes (and why hes been appologizing all over the world) Obama intends to reduce America from being a self sufficient world power to just another nation deep in debt and dependant on the the powers of the world for existance.  

Obama and the corrupt radical crew he has assembled are not fooling around.  They (I believe) feel they are finally succeeding in taking over the country..........these are the same people that protested, bombed and subverted the government for the last 60 years, now they are in charge.

He may be failing by every normal standard, but he is deffinetly screwing things up so bad.....fundamental changes are inevitable.

Well said Chris, you hit the nail on the head.

[valkmc]

Interesting they left out old man Bush, he was voted out after one term also (repudiated ie spat out)!!!!!

Just saying history needs to be looked at without rose colored glasses.

....and look what a colossal F***up that turn of events brought about.

Just saying history needs to be viewed with an unlit cigar in one's mouth, and a young, intern under the desk.   

If Obama could (which I am pretty sure he can"t) restore my annuity funds, property value and pension fund back to the Clinton levels I wouldn't care if he had a whole harem and a box of cigars under his desk .

I think we give all of the presidents to much credit when things are good and to much blame when they are not.

[Mickey Runie]

If Obama could (which I am pretty sure he can"t) restore my annuity funds, property value and pension fund back to the Clinton levels I wouldn't care if he had a whole harem and a box of cigars under his desk .

I think we give all of the presidents too much credit when things are good and too much blame when they are not.

Yet, you still choose to lament on your annuity funds, property value and pension fund levels?   And with no mention, whatsoever, of this years' record losses in those categories under the Messiah's personal watch.


Interesting point of view.   ???

To each, his own.  

I'm out of here.  I have to go ride down to the lake and see if the boat still floats - despite it's value being down from this time last year.  

[Pete]

Excellent comments on the Oboob.

And when 52 percent of the voting public put him in office, what were they expecting......
from a self described far left 'liberal'. Certainly not common sense, not honesty, not open government, not even positive change. Many thought they would get a free ride.

It is time for a positive change in Washington DC  ---- lets vote all the career office holders out, break up there play house and return the congress and senate to PART time positions as intended  by the founders. I know I feel better when congress and senate is not in session.

Cut there pay, cancel there clubhouse, stop there special retirement and health benefits, stop all congressional raises except those approved by the people, make all laws and regulations apply to them like the rest of the citizens.

Require a balanced budget, honest open government and send the criminal political class to jail.

Sorry about the rant ----- but I have had enough ----- as a friend of mine once said
"after the revolution all this s-----t is going to get straightened out.   

[big turkey]

OBOOB now that's funny.

Big Al

[therapist]

Other article titles on the American Thinker site in just the past week-

A Shrink Asks: What's Wrong with Obama?

Obama Orders Dance Classes, Movie Nights, and Bingo for Illegal Detainees

Obama's hate speech aimed at BP incites violence

Obama friend who was subject of IG probe honored

Obama Fails the Test of Office

Barack Obama: Let Them Eat Tar Balls

Obama and Hamas

You get the idea...that site is like the National Enquirer of Obama bashing...so not exactly a reliable, objective source.

[alph]

I think what people need to understand is that the president doesn’t run the country.  The lobbyists and special interest groups do!  All of our congressmen and senators have been bought out by those that have the money to buy the votes.  Castro himself could be president of America, but if the house, and senate votes against him, there’s nothing he can do.  The question is, how does the power get back to the people?  That’s the only way to save America.

[fstsix]

Kind makes ya think of that ole saying, It takes a act of Congress to do this or that, Not a Act of the President, That is why unlike the Ignorance that Voted for this (currant Smaller than a Grape) President will not understand, or be at this November Voting booths.  

[x]

You know, fstsix, it is comments like, "the Ignorance that Voted for this currant President" that make me want to say, "F*ck off mate".
 
I'm not ignorant.  I voted for Obama.  If you cannot respect a difference of opinion as to the way this country ought to be going, if you cannot display some sense of common decency over a difference of opinion, then you are a shallow man.  You really demonstrate that you have no understanding of the fundamental underpinnings of American democracy.  Exactly who is ignorant?
 
And speaking of ignorant... seems that you are the one that can't spell... how is that?  It is "current".  "Currant" is a dried Corinth grape, smaller than a raisin.  But you knew that, didn't you?

[fstsix]

Well.......for what ever it's worth, i did not vote for McCain or Obama they are Both Liberals....coming from a guy that is stuck in Singapore.....if you are as smart you want us to think......you are the one sitting there and i am sitting on a island looking over the ocean In America.....hope you still call America home or is it Canada, what (Universitys) LOL!!..did you go to that i can end up away from my family for a career ? BTW i have had offers to Saudi 25 years ago for work found even $ 125.000 per year was not worth leaving my family or my Country i Love.....Oh BTW....it was laughable to see the torch passed to your Man....how's he doin so far?

[..]

http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html

[x]

Well.......for what ever it's worth, i did not vote for McCain or Obama they are Both Liberals....coming from a guy that is stuck in Singapore.....if you are as smart you want us to think......you are the one sitting there and i am sitting on a island looking over the ocean In America.....hope you still call America home or is it Canada, what (Universitys) LOL!!..did you go to that i can end up away from my family for a career ? BTW i have had offers to Saudi 25 years ago for work found even $ 125.000 per year was not worth leaving my family or my Country i Love.....Oh BTW....it was laughable to see the torch passed to your Man....how's he doin so far?

I'm really trying to make sense out of your post.  I'm not 'stuck' in Singapore, I'm an American that chose to start a business in Asia... with Singapore as a home base.  You think this is bad?  I've invested my personal capital, I pay wages, I pay taxes (US and other countries).  You can stuff it where the sun doesn't shine if you think there is something wrong with this.  I am an American, engaged in the global economy, a real capitalist, willing to put his money on the line.  And you?  An apparent whiner.  Please don't demonstrate that you are even more ignorant than you already have. 
 
I've got 3 passports.  The US is my home, my allegiance.  Have I conveyed something different or are you once again handing out BS as alleged facts?  " (Universitys) LOL!!"???  Can you explain what in the world this means?  I hold a degree in electrical engineering that I obtained at the age of 47 years old.  I'm proud that I did this late in life.  I worked hard to do it.  And you?  BTW, -2 for spelling.

It wasn't laughable to see the torch passed to Obama, it was a sign that democracy in this country works.  A peaceful transition of power.  If you say it's laughable, I say once again that you are an ignoramus when it comes to appreciating the American democratic process, and you lack the common courtesy to be the LOYAL opposition, another element of American politics that you seemingly cannot appreciate.
 
How is he doing so far?  A great job of cleaning up the huge piles of crap his predecessor left him.  'Nuff said.

Cheers.
 

[MP]

Why do you call everyone who disagrees with you, SE, ignorant?  You just did it again.  It would be nice if you could hold a decent discussion without having to stoop to degrade your opposition.  That is a sign of a failed argument, attacking your opponent personally.

MP

[Gear Jammer]

Well, at least he didn't call him a "Troglodyte" as he has called others in his previous slurs.   

[Hoosier Valk]

Help! Help! The sky is falling. The sky is falling. HELP!

[Valkflyer]

Wow is this a Valkyrie forum??........I know this is the General Board but isn't there enough craziness out there without making this just another cutting board for trading insults?

[x]

Why do you call everyone who disagrees with you, SE, ignorant?  You just did it again.  It would be nice if you could hold a decent discussion without having to stoop to degrade your opposition.  That is a sign of a failed argument, attacking your opponent personally.

MP

Wrong.  There is a big difference between calling someone ignorant on a topic (a value judgment concerning a person's knowledge and ability to contribute to a topic) and calling someone an assh*le, which relates not to topical knowledge, but is indeed a slur.
 
Too bad you cannot tell the difference.  I call you a sh*thead, a raghead, a doghead, a dogsh*t... that is name calling.  If I say that you are ignorant on a subject, and you want to call it name calling, all it means is that you don't actually want to address the issue of being ignorant.

[Hoosier Valk]

The best part is - Mr. Hunt's article was published August 31, 2009, at the time Barack Obama had been president for seven months!

A better part is the author of the original article IS NOT, as bigvalkyriefan states.  
"Dr. Geoffrey P. Hunt is a social and cultural anthropologist.  He has had nearly 30 years experience in planning, conducting, and managing research in the field of youth studies, and drug and alcohol research.",

The bestest part is, it states this in the original article
"[editor's note: The author is not the not the same person as Geoffrey P Hunt, who works at the Institute for Scientific Analysis as a senior research scientist.]"

Look for yourself, at the bottom of the article - http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/08/another_failed_presidency.html  

Further from: http://scientificanalysis.org/
"Mr. Geoffrey P. Hunt
As of October 2009, the Institute has received several inquires regarding an August 31, 2009 article in the American Thinker. Mr. Geoffrey P. Hunt, the author of the article, as far as we can ascertain, is an executive in the electronics industry and a regular contributor to the American Thinker. His work has been attributed to Geoffrey P. Hunt, PhD, Senior Scientist at Institute for Scientific Analysis. Please note Dr. Hunt has never written anything for the American Thinker and would appreciate any help in rectifying this case of mistaken authorship/identity."

And now you know, some, of the rest of the story.

[Hoosier Valk]

Wow is this a Valkyrie forum??........I know this is the General Board but isn't there enough craziness out there without making this just another cutting board for trading insults?

AMEN!

[3fan4life]

  I am an American, engaged in the global economy, a real capitalist, willing to put his money on the line.  

If this is TRUE...... You really are backing the WRONG Horse.


Whether you realize it or not you just described yourself as the type of person that Obama and his Ultra Liberal Cronies consider to be their WORST enemies.

[fstsix]

Just Curious, just to rise above the personal insults, For those of you that made it to the polls, Besides Hope and Change.....Tell me what policy on any front that made you pull the trigger for this President ? Just in case you missed my question (Policy?) Global Capitalist? ......USDA ALL AMERICAN I spend my money here and pay my Tax here!! ON AMERICAN PRODUCTS...Here is some AMERICAN Paid for Capital...as a Contractor for 30+ years .........

[fstsix]

Well.......for what ever it's worth, i did not vote for McCain or Obama they are Both Liberals....coming from a guy that is stuck in Singapore.....if you are as smart you want us to think......you are the one sitting there and i am sitting on a island looking over the ocean In America.....hope you still call America home or is it Canada, what (Universitys) LOL!!..did you go to that i can end up away from my family for a career ? BTW i have had offers to Saudi 25 years ago for work found even $ 125.000 per year was not worth leaving my family or my Country i Love.....Oh BTW....it was laughable to see the torch passed to your Man....how's he doin so far?

I'm really trying to make sense out of your post.  I'm not 'stuck' in Singapore, I'm an American that chose to start a business in Asia... with Singapore as a home base.  You think this is bad?  I've invested my personal capital, I pay wages, I pay taxes (US and other countries).  You can stuff it where the sun doesn't shine if you think there is something wrong with this.  I am an American, engaged in the global economy, a real capitalist, willing to put his money on the line.  And you?  An apparent whiner.  Please don't demonstrate that you are even more ignorant than you already have. 
 
I've got 3 passports.  The US is my home, my allegiance.  Have I conveyed something different or are you once again handing out BS as alleged facts?  " (Universitys) LOL!!"???  Can you explain what in the world this means?  I hold a degree in electrical engineering that I obtained at the age of 47 years old.  I'm proud that I did this late in life.  I worked hard to do it.  And you?  BTW, -2 for spelling.

It wasn't laughable to see the torch passed to Obama, it was a sign that democracy in this country works.  A peaceful transition of power.  If you say it's laughable, I say once again that you are an ignoramus when it comes to appreciating the American democratic process, and you lack the common courtesy to be the LOYAL opposition, another element of American politics that you seemingly cannot appreciate.
 
How is he doing so far?  A great job of cleaning up the huge piles of crap his predecessor left him.  'Nuff said.

Cheers.
 

Hahahahahahaha......,Typical Liberal The direct name calling begins LOL!! I almost started taking you serious until you loose it 

[bigvalkriefan]

Strong E, let's face it, the reason Obama was elected was because he was in the right place at the right time. The people were ready for some kind of change and Obama promised them just that. What the people didn't realize was that the change they voted for wasn't the same change Obama had in mind. He is just a puppet. There are bigger fish in the pond that are pulling the strings. There is a movement inside our own government to socialize our country, it has been going on for quite some time. There is no way that he could orchestrate all the things that have happened in the past 18 months all by himself. Stop blaming everything on Bush and open your eyes, you might see the truth.

[Stanley Steamer]

Strong E, let's face it, the reason Obama was elected was because he was in the right place at the right time. The people were ready for some kind of change and Obama promised them just that. What the people didn't realize was that the change they voted for wasn't the same change Obama had in mind. He is just a puppet. There are bigger fish in the pond that are pulling the strings. There is a movement inside our own government to socialize our country, it has been going on for quite some time. There is no way that he could orchestrate all the things that have happened in the past 18 months all by himself. Stop blaming everything on Bush and open your eyes, you might see the truth.

I've been reading an Author by the name of William W Johnstone....he has written lots of books...several Series.....The Series "The Ashes" is very good...it's fictional, but he hit the nail on the head about a lot of the things we seen happening today even though his books started way back in the Early 90's.....check it out sometime if you have a chance...

[valkmc]

If Obama could (which I am pretty sure he can"t) restore my annuity funds, property value and pension fund back to the Clinton levels I wouldn't care if he had a whole harem and a box of cigars under his desk .

I think we give all of the presidents too much credit when things are good and too much blame when they are not.

Yet, you still choose to lament on your annuity funds, property value and pension fund levels?   And with no mention, whatsoever, of this years' record losses in those categories under the Messiah's personal watch.


Interesting point of view.   ???

To each, his own.  

I'm out of here.  I have to go ride down to the lake and see if the boat still floats - despite it's value being down from this time last year.  

I think my point of view was misconstrued. My comments(1st post) were about the original post and the statement that was correct except they left out one name. I don't dislike any recent president more than another. I do not think we have had much leadership since Regan. I recognize that the current pres. has not done much to fix the problem I also realize the economy was in the sh_ter when he took over much like it was when old man Bush left (was ran out of) office after one term.

I think just like the last president this one is a f__k up also and I think most politicians are and have been for the last 25 years. I cannot find one in Florida who cares more about the people of Florida than they do about being re-elected.

If something doesn't change this country will follow all the other world powers in History, I just hope it is not in my time.

As far as my holdings I do not expect Obama or the next president to save them because they (both parties) are to busy fighting for their own survival, I have put in place a lot of things that will protect myself and my family when society breaks down, and if it doesn't my present conditions are ok also.

[x]

Strong E, let's face it, the reason Obama was elected was because he was in the right place at the right time. The people were ready for some kind of change and Obama promised them just that. What the people didn't realize was that the change they voted for wasn't the same change Obama had in mind. He is just a puppet. There are bigger fish in the pond that are pulling the strings. There is a movement inside our own government to socialize our country, it has been going on for quite some time. There is no way that he could orchestrate all the things that have happened in the past 18 months all by himself. Stop blaming everything on Bush and open your eyes, you might see the truth.

Actually, what you say is true of every change of power... the people are looking for something different.

But, as usual... you pull out the 'puppet' argument.  Puppet of whom?  What people?  Gee, Wally, you're a bit light on the facts.  Going to socialize the country?  Who is that, what conspiracy, and why are they doing it?  Come on, let's see some facts.  I see nothing but unsubstantiated bullsh*t.
 
You want a puppet?  That was Bush, the incompetent.  In the pocket of big oil.  In the pocket of high finance.  In the pocket of greedy and ambitious people who care only for their own self aggrandizement.  Say... wasn't it Bush, the decider, who looked in Putin's eyes before seriously being bent over by Putin?
 
Bush was part of a longer ranging series of ills, but don't delude yourself... this incompetent president is directly responsible for many of America's ills and history will prove it out.  He should have listened to Laura and not to Dick.  His motto should have been Dick Cheney before he dicks you...

[fstsix]

Harvard or Yale  ..................................

Nancy Pelosi's Greatest Hits	powered by Aeva

[stormrider]

+1 right on .......GREAT POST.  What is worse and so dangerous is that what the rest of America counts as failure, "president" Obama counts as success.  If you look beneath the surface....his goal at the beginning was to "fundamentally transform America"  and because this was sure to happen now (the left has been wanting this for a while) his wife is now for the first time proud of her country.............what a load of BS.

Ok, the fundamental changes (and why hes been appologizing all over the world) Obama intends to reduce America from being a self sufficient world power to just another nation deep in debt and dependant on the the powers of the world for existance.  

Obama and the corrupt radical crew he has assembled are not fooling around.  They (I believe) feel they are finally succeeding in taking over the country..........these are the same people that protested, bombed and subverted the government for the last 60 years, now they are in charge.

He may be failing by every normal standard, but he is deffinetly screwing things up so bad.....fundamental changes are inevitable.

Jeff, like I've been trying to say all along, they all have this as their goal, just some are more open and blatant about it.

[stormrider]

I think what people need to understand is that the president doesn’t run the country.  The lobbyists and special interest groups do!  All of our congressmen and senators have been bought out by those that have the money to buy the votes.  Castro himself could be president of America, but if the house, and senate votes against him, there’s nothing he can do.  The question is, how does the power get back to the people?  That’s the only way to save America.

 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure."[4]
Thomas Jefferson  1781 Nov 13

http://wiki.monticello.org/mediawiki/index.php/Category:Quotations

[bigvalkriefan]

Definition of socialism: a political theory advocating state ownership of industry.
Socialism is an economic and political theory based on public ownership or common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources.
Socialism is a set of social and economic arrangements based on a post-monetary system of calculation, such as labor time or energy units.

KINDA MAKES YOU THINK, DOESN'T IT?