Talk me down: President Obama is in a no-win situation right now.

[BrklynLiberal]

If things do not improve with the new repuke majority everywhere, in 2012, the repukes will TOTALLY blame President Obama and his "failed " policies.

If ANYTHING gets better in the next two years, no matter whose policies actually were the reason, the repukes will take the credit.

I actually heard some asshat repuke on the radio this AM saying that President Obama NEVER REALLY made any attempts at being bi-partisan.

Why would the repukes do ANYTHING to help this country if there is the slightest chance that they can blame every failure on Obama and the Democrats. I truly believe that the repukes would rather see the country do down inflames than give Obama and the Dems ANYTHING positive they could use in 2012.

Then I hear President Obama's news conference at which he is still ass-kissing the repukes and talking about "bipartisanship" and "Compromise"...even after Mitch McConnell gave a speech in which he stated that the repukes primary goal in the next two years is to ensure that President Obama is a one-term President!

Why does this make me think of the abused wife who excuses her husband, and says, "But I deserved to be beaten because I was not perfect."?

I am heartsick.

[TransitJohn]

1. Obama is right where he wants to be.

:shrug:

[madmax]

2. C'mere and sit by me - your wrote my thoughts exactly. nt

[pgodbold]

9. No ... sit by me.. I saw him first!

[madmax]

17. lol nt

[Toots]

3. Of his own making.

:shrug:

[H2O Man]

4. I do not think so.

He's in a tough situation. But not a hopeless one.

Despite the evidence that Washington has been a stagnant cesspool for the past two years, and that the mid-term elections have made Congress worse, there are lots of things outside of DC that can influence the course our nation is on. The two most obvious examples, in the context of this post, are you and I. And everyone here.

We need to organize, educate, speak out, lobby, advocate, and cause creative tension in America. We must create a grass roots force that addresses issues from the environment to the economy to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The best chance -- indeed, the only chance -- that President Obama has to succeed in the next two years is from interaction with citizens who are united in demanding positive change.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. It will once again be on how the story is played

and who gets the message out and how. That is
our Achilles heel and fatal weakness.

I think Obama will be fine in 2012 because
I don't see anyone yet in the Republican Wings that can step up to the plate against him as of now, no matter what one feels about Obama

I would worry about both houses of Congress for 2012 though
and the continuation of Tim Caine's strategies.

[sufrommich]

6. "I am heartsick." Me too.

:scared:

[Recursion]

7. Non-ideological independents will continue punishing the party controlling Congress every two years

And the party controlling the white house every four, until the government stops being so ridiculously broken.

[6000eliot]

8. The message of "bipartisanship" is not about Obama.

It's about the Republicans. The president has always been willing to compromise. He is positioning himself as the reasonable one. Now THEY have to do something. If they don't, he can run against it in 2012.

[emulatorloo]

11. Spot on.

The Dems and I are reasonable, they are the divisive crazy ones who won't do anything.

I was encouraged to see that David Plouffe is coming back to the White House. He can really help with the messaging part of it.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Plouffe's return is a good sign of change in the correct direction.

Let us hope his advice is put to action. There were some who advised, who were not listened to.

http://www.progressive.org/wx110310.html
Nov. 2: The Death Knell of Corporate Liberalism

"
On the jobs front, he refused to follow the lead of Christina Romer, head of his Council of Economic Advisers, or the recommendations of Nobel Prize winners Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz. All three said he needed a stimulus package that was at least 50 percent larger than the one he proposed. Nor did he propose a new WPA, like FDR did when the country faced a similar, if not quite so staggering, free fall. Obama was afraid to come on too strong. So he came on too weak.
"

[highplainsdem]

28. +1. Yes, he should have listened to Krugman. And to Robert Reich.

[ramapo]

10. Who knows?

It appears that Obama has been steamrolled by a perfect storm of events. Some out of his control. Some that a more experienced national politician would have seen coming (although if not Obama, somebody in his circle should have seen). Some out of his control. Hindsight is easy and seeing the future is not. After all, who would have guessed that this is where we would sit in 2010.

Right now it does not look good. By appearances it seems like the Democrats have once again snatched defeat from accomplished victories.

Time will tell.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ananda]

13. I hate to say it...

... but it looks like Obama is going to be a one term president.

And It's his own fault. He got enamored with conservative corporatism
and lost the momentum for change that he had originally inspired.

[LiberalCatholic]

20. too soon can tell...

a lot can happen in two years...

[BrklynLiberal]

14. Thanks for all the great responses...It is somewhat comforting to know that I am not alone.

Interesting article here. Many details about how "compromise" was not the smartest option at the time, and should never start by giving it all away up front.

http://www.progressive.org/wx110310.html
Nov. 2: The Death Knell of Corporate Liberalism

[Loge23]

16. Maybe it's just not the country we thought it was.

There are many posts on DU that decry the morons in our country. Maybe there really is a majority of fools now.
We can huff and puff and dismiss their lack of common sense and intelligence, and even give ourselves a reassuring pat on the back for our own supposed (imagined or not) superiority in all things intellectual. But maybe the sorry fact remains: the country has been taken over by idiots: Idiots who run things, supported by idiots who vote them in. It's not a condescending way of looking at it - it's reality.
Perhaps we all need to realize how lost the country truly is and how we're essentially powerless to change it. Maybe it's really not the right vs. the left - it's more like the uninformed ignorants vs. those who understand the true situation.
Whatever - you have to admit: it was easy pickings for those who want the power.

[BrklynLiberal]

19. My worst fear........is that you are right.

[treestar]

23. Can't reason with pure idiocy

that's true.

Older voters are a problem; older white voters are more likely to have racists among them. They vote more in the midterms and even more in this midterm (wonder why?)

[Loge23]

18. Maybe it's just not the country we thought it was.

There are many posts on DU that decry the morons in our country. Maybe there really is a majority of fools now.
We can huff and puff and dismiss their lack of common sense and intelligence, and even give ourselves a reassuring pat on the back for our own supposed (imagined or not) superiority in all things intellectual. But maybe the sorry fact remains: the country has been taken over by idiots: Idiots who run things, supported by idiots who vote them in. It's not a condescending way of looking at it - it's reality.
Perhaps we all need to realize how lost the country truly is and how we're essentially powerless to change it. Maybe it's really not the right vs. the left - it's more like the uninformed ignorants vs. those who understand the true situation.
Whatever - you have to admit: it was easy pickings for those who want the power.

[treestar]

21. Obama is just saying they are open to compromise

While the Rs say they are not. Who looks better?

Voters may have buyer's remorse already. Let them enjoy their precious Repuke Congress.

[BrklynLiberal]

24. Pointing out the repuke's negativity and constant blockage of any progress worked so well on Tues.

NOT!

Why believe it will work in 2012?
The repukes control the message, and now they control the House as well.

[treestar]

25. They have the M$M

We don't. That's why our side needs more support from us, not this constant carping (which just gives their M$M fuel to work with).

[Johonny]

27. Obama did that the last two years and it didn't help him

Although it probably should have. The demographics of presidential elections is different than off year, and I think that will help him. I think the voters that vote in presidential elections like what he did the last 2 years and like his bipartisanship message. I think they will reward his willingness to talk about compromise and punish Republicans lack of interest (even in talking about it) in it. At least that's my guess. All bets off if the economy crashes hard. Think US headed more for Japanese zombie economy than total meltdown though.

[IDHow]

22. Yes, the repubs dont care

They dont care about the country.

[Johonny]

26. If things get better it is because of the last congress and Obama will get credit

Clinton did. I never really helped Dems take back Congress, but I have no doubt your scenario is true. Republicans will take credit for the things the last congress did. But historically Obama will also get the credit. If things get worse... two year from now could be monster ugly for both parties.