Predictions...

[WillyT]

Because of Obama's move to freeze Federal Employee's pay without addressing, in the SLIGHTEST, getting money out of Wall Street...

AND I REALLY HOPE I'M WRONG HERE... BUT...

I predict that in the next few months, you will see these things happen:

1) Obama and the Congress will extend the Bush tax cuts for ALL ("temporarily")... that means including the rich.

2) Obama and the Congress will accept the Catfood Commission's recommendations in general, and will support cutting of "entitlements".

3) If this happens, there will be a primary challenge.

4) If that happens... HOLY SHIT!

If you thought Barack v. Hillary was a hoot, you ain't seen nothin yet.

Bookmark, and when I'm wrong, tease me mercilessly.

It will be my greatest joy to be wrong here.

:shrug:

[TheWraith]

1. You're going to be massively and incredibly wrong. nt

[WillyT]

4. My Greatest Wish...

:hi:

[monmouth]

10. Dear Willy T, I think you may have nailed it, hope you're wrong also

but actions dictate you may be on to something.

[villager]

9. Yes, because Obama has *stood up* to special interests so forcefully!

So you see we have his track record by which to extrapolate--

Oh. Wait...

[Control-Z]

23. I hope you're right, TheWraith.

Extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, even temporarily, while at the same time cutting "entitlement" programs, would be devastating.

[inna]

26. In Our Dreams.

nice try, though. (not.)

[notadmblnd]

2. if I don't see some very deep pocketed people sacrificing soon

I'll consider voting for another Dem in the primary.

[Vincardog]

3. If it all plays out as you suggest it will make no difference who gets elected/selected because

NO ONE in power will be working FOR US.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WillyT]

7. You And I Are On The Same Page...

I have the EXACT same concern.

:shrug:

:hi:

[Angry Dragon]

6. I hope you are wrong

But hope has not gotten us very far recently.

At least we will finally see which side he is on and whether he has the b***s and spine to stand and fight.

[Swamp Rat]

8. I hope the Bush tax cuts will not be extended.

For America's sake.

Obama and the Dems better not do it.

[Greyhound]

11. K&(invisible)R. Also hoping you are wrong.

If OTOH, I was betting money, I would bet that what you've laid out will, more or less, be the result.

I wrote that Obama was willing to be a one-term President about a month in to his administration and I've seen nothing in the interim to dissuade me from that opinion.
:kick: & R

[Angry Dragon]

12. I find that interesting

Why would you say he was willing to be a one term president??
Not saying that you wrong, but it would seem that a person thinking to be a one term
president would try to be bold then.

[Greyhound]

13. By willing to be a one-term President, I did not mean that that was his intent.

Rather that he was absolutely opposed to working for the benefit of the people that voted for him if it meant that the people that put him in office would have to bear any of the hardship. And as I said, he has done not one thing to indicate otherwise. Even in his "victories" the primary benefit goes only one way, even more for the few and less for the many.

[Angry Dragon]

17. Then why did he run?? Ego??

The same could have been accomplished by letting a republican win.

[Greyhound]

33. A monumental ego is a prerequisite to running for President. But I don't think that itself

is the reason. I'm not certain of his reason's, anymore than anybody not him can be, but think that if you remember back (or research if you weren't paying attention) to The Speech at the national convention in 2004, you will find a piece that got little attention 2 - 3 day afterward. He had been called to a meeting with a few of the Big Bosses of The Party and it was after that that his entire demeanor and attitude changed. This is also when he began running for the White House.

Are you familiar with politics in Chicago? Do you remember the democratic National Convention of 1968?

There is more 'there' there than most want to acknowledge.

[Hawkowl]

27. Been saying that all year

Every action Obama takes only reinforces my belief that he doesn't intend to run again. There is no way, no way, any sitting President could so methodically, and deliberately alienate every one of his base constituencies while planning to get re-elected. I agree with everyone that Obama is not stupid. I do NOT agree that he is a likable guy. Likable guys don't shit all over you and then tell you (through administration staff) to STFU and like it!

[Recovered Repug]

14. Whenever there is talk of a primary challenge,

there's never seems to be a name of the challenger. Any thoughts on who would a) challenge Obama and b) have a realistic chance on getting the nomination?

[flvegan]

15. I agree with your predictions on 1 & 2. Not on 3, though.

Any Dem with a spine will be ignored (as usual) by the party, the media and then subsequently the voters. Yes, Fox even influences us...sorry if the truth hurts.

I say this and it sounds negative, but I'll still happily vote for Obama in 2012 in the general because he and his admin are a shitload better than whatever horrific alternative is across the ballot.

[tritsofme]

16. There are no credible challengers to President Obama

in the Democratic primaries. Any potential campaigns would be ones of utter vanity. Even if those first two predictions were to be largely true.

I don't even expect Dennis Kucinich will run.

[HughBeaumont]

18. I don't really think he has a credible Republican challenger either.

Although many on this board seem to think ANY Republican is going to beat him in 2012. Doesn't really work that way. The Republican primary is too loaded with churchy polarizing Reaganite nutjobs that cannot be sold as moderates no matter how hard they try.

[Angry Dragon]

19. jeb could come in later in the game as a white knight

have the money and backing in place before he announces.

[HughBeaumont]

20. I sure hope so, because he'll be soundly defeated.

1) His last name is Bush, which is synonymous for "Economic and Political Bubonic Plague" at this point. I think deep down, he kind of knows this.

2) He hasn't been politically active since 2007.

3) His policies and views generally reflect those of his brother.

4) The guy wasn't a particularly exceptional governor. Of course, neither was Dumbya.

5) He's a serial killer kid (21 executions without a single commute), just like his brother was.

6) He also cannot be sold as a moderate.

[unblock]

21. i predict rather differently:

1) the extension for those below $250,000 will be "permanent"; the extension for those over $250,000 will be "temporary", probably 2 years. this will happen after democrats have forced republicans to make a few embarassing votes AGAINST the cuts because they don't cater enough to the rich.

2) the catfood commission will not make any official recommendations because they lack sufficient votes (14 out of 18, i think) to officially send anything to congress. whatever their recommendations are, or the co-chair's already published recommendations, they are mostly dead on arrival. talking about fixing the deficit is good politics. actually fixing the deficit isn't, unless it's via stupendous growth (see bill clinton). the dialog to address the deficit will be started, and some pain will ensue, but that was a foregone conclusion even absent the commission.

3) there will be no serious primary challenge. SERIOUS money will be behind obama (i mean that both in a good and bad way) and he will handily swat down anyone who tries. only a MAJOR, MAJOR scandal can bring him down.

4) that won't happen. obama will win re-election, not by a landslide, but comfortably enough.

[WillyT]

22. Let's Deal With #1 For The Moment...

If they extend "temporarily" the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy until 2012, they run into the same exact problem they had this year.

It's an election year. And NOBODY wants to raise taxes during an election year.

Remember... these were supposed to expire during a Mid-Term Election year (safer), and the people that proposed and supported these "temporary" tax cuts, now call their expiration, "raising taxes"!

The politics will NOT go away on this.

Deal with it NOW!

:shrug:

[avaistheone1]

24. Months ago

Max Keiser predicted Obama will not get a second term. Despite my own criticism of Obama I thought at time Max was wrong. However, almost on a daily basis I see more reason why Max is probably going to be correct. Obama may win the party nomination, but he will not win the presidency again in 2012. It's Obama's own damn fault too.

[HughBeaumont]

30. And once again I ask: Who's this Republican ace-in-the-hole that's gonna BEAT him?

Seen their list of candidates?

There isn't a single ONE of them that can be sold as a moderate.

You have to be able to have appeal beyond the TeaHadist nutjob base to win the presidency. They don't have a single candidate that can get more than 50% of the vote. Sorry, they DON'T.

[Mimosa]

25. I see what you're seeing, WillyT.

I hope it doesn't come to pass but our elected representatives are but vassals for the plutocracy.

[Skittles]

28. go a bit further

the primary challenge will fail, and we're back to years of repuke rule

[tavalon]

29. I think you're right

and I think a primary challenge will give the Republicans the White House.

[mdmc]

31. The left is in no position to challenge

:shrug:

[TBF]

32. Primary Challenge? In Europe there are milions in the streets protesting austerity cuts

and all we can come up with is a primary challenge? How about a government challenge - a large strike in which we shut down this country for a day. No work, no spending, people marching. Capitalism is out of control.