The President Should Own Up To Using A Strategy That Backfired

[polichick]

Voters see an Obama who campaigns one way and governs another. They need to know that he finally sees Republicans in Congress for the vicious enemies they are, and also understands that his strategy of meeting people more than halfway exploded in our faces. Voters need to know that, if given a second term, he won't go back to that approach.

I'd like to see him speak honestly to the nation about what went wrong and lay out what went right (listing accomplishments in everyday terms) - and also spell out in simple language the horrors in store if Republicans take over the WH (jobs, Social Security, climate change, judges, etc).

Just a thought.

[teddy51]

1. +1000 Cause right now, many Democrats don't trust that he is not just in Campaign mode. n/t

[polichick]

2. That's right, and they need to know that their votes really matter...

Otherwise turnout will look like 2010.

[dflprincess]

25. I won't believe a word he says until I see him follow up with action

otherwise, he is just in campaign mode.

[musiclawyer]

29. Acknowledging the Original Sin and GOP Congress is the Key

1. The original sin was the wall street bailout "with no string attached" He fessus up to this and state that this was a mistake, he's sorry, and he will make wall street reform and fair taxation his key priorities, then he geys back a lot of love he lost. Will he? I dont know, but he should

2. Number 1 goes hand in hand with saying the obvious- - "I can't help you without a democratic congress and a democratic senate, because GOP control on any level will mean that nothing, ansolutely nothing gets done other than fabricated crises and we can't affor that anymore." If he comes out and sais this repeatedly, over and over, he wins. Period. Matter who the opponent is.

[classof56]

3. It's a good thought, and I share it.

Thing is, the Obama haters simply won't listen or care, no matter how well he spells out what's at stake. They want him outa there, period. Guess it's up to us who are knowledgeable and aware of the issues and consequences to get the word out in whatever forum we can. Those who continually slam him for his failures will only serve to strengthen the opposition and put a Perry or a Christie or a Romney or a Palin in the White House. I'm sure that's fine with those who think they are the more appropriate occupants, but I shudder at the thought!

[Autumn]

4. I believe there are only 2 places Obama haters exist.

The Republican Party and the tea bag party. People in the Democratic Party do not continually slam him for his failures. We may voice disappointment in some of what he does, but we are entitled to do that.

[polichick]

9. He'll never get the votes of the "Obama haters" - he needs the votes of...

...those who went to the polls for him in 2008.

[ClassWarrior]

18. Bingo!

Why all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over people we'll never win over in the first place, while continuing to thumb our noses at the people who supported him the first time?

I don't get it. Well, I do get it, but if I say it, this post will get deleted.

NGU.

[yardwork]

21. There were more Obama supporters than haters in 2008 and there can be again.

The OP makes a good point.

I don't think that Obama will do this, though. I think that his purpose has never been to meet Republicans half-way. That was always window dressing. Obama's purpose is to give the corporations what they demand in return for helping him get elected in 2008. Right now the corporations are waiting to see who the Republicans nominate. If it's somebody who will give them more than Obama can give them, then they'll abandon him. Obama's rhetoric will probably take a left turn but it won't make a difference. Corporations elect presidents now.

[wakemewhenitsover]

5. I would like to believe...

...that Obama sees Republicans for the villains that they are, but I perceive no evidence that he does. I believe that what Obama's presidency has revealed is that he is closer in thinking to Republican ideology than his 2004 campaign seemed to suggest. He is an avowed fan of Reagan. Even while at Harvard, he made a point of giving equal time to the Republican point of view when he was President of Harvard Law Review.

I would also like to believe that Obama would carry into another term the indications (e.g. proposing the Buffett Rule) that he is moving in a more progressive direction. However, I end up with the thought so eloquently (:sarcasm:) stated by Shrub: "Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me -- can't get fooled again."

As a proud liberal, I may vote for Obama as the lesser of two evils, but I will not work for his campaign again.

I ask you, not as a rhetorical question, but out of genuine curiosity -- why do you believe Obama wouldn't go back to the policy (I'm not sure it was a strategy) of what I would call capitulating to Republican bullying?

[polichick]

7. I don't have any reason to believe he won't go back to the same policy - that's why...

I think he needs to own up to it and tell us why he won't go back to it.

Last week I got a call from OFA and when I said they had my vote but not my time or money (after contributing money and working my ass off last time), the caller actually yelled at me. I hung up.

[wakemewhenitsover]

13. I can relate...

...re your experience during the last campaign and your attitude about the next one -- although no one has yelled at me yet (?!)

[Cherchez la Femme]

28. I got cussed at

and I didn't cuss first!

Seems they all need a fresh copy of 'How to Make Friends and Influence People'

[laugle]

30. Great book!

It should be required reading. People are so RUDE nowadays..........

[polichick]

32. Wow, they really do need that book!

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Never happen. Obama doesn't want to be stained by that horrible "partisan" label:

Now go stand in the corner until you can think of something POSITIVE to say about the GOP. :evilgrin:

[polichick]

8. LOL - okay, here goes...

The GOP is chock full of anti-science religious fanatics - and proud of it! :)

[Cali_Democrat]

10. I agree, but I doubt he'll do that

The approach you call for is just too confrontational for Obama. Confrontation is not in his nature. He's about compromise and consensus. He so desperately wants to be liked by Republicans that he's willing to get smacked around by them again and again.

[polichick]

11. My worry is that a lot of voters will think he's only campaigning...

...and will go back to his old ways - so they won't bother going to the polls.

[Divine Discontent]

12. good points. He's very busy, but at some point when the time is right, I hope he explains in an

interview about the problems he's faced recently, and how he is still fighting for the masses. I have not been pleased with all they've done, but he's so much better than the GOP candidates. Good OP.

http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719 http://www.cafepress.com/barackobama12

[polichick]

15. Thanks :)

[Dr Fate]

26. He's got 2 wars to fight for crying out loud! Of course he is busy!

Everyone keeps saying Obama needs to take care of this, Obama needs to take care of that.

For crying outr loud folsk, he has 2 WARS to fight.

I'd love to see the complainers fight 2 wars then come back and say they have time to look at everyone's pet issues.

[polichick]

34. 2 unnecessary wars - let's not forget that.

[COLGATE4]

36. Christ on a crutch! He's got two wars that he should get the hell

out of. That's what he needs to take care of. That and jobs.

[Jakes Progress]

14. It will be key to his reelection.

As you said, voters can see the last two months of fiery Obama as just campaign crap. They bought it the first time and got a timid, practical third way president. If he can't convince voters that he is changing because he has seen how wrong headed his old method of pre-emptive concession and republican courting was, then they won't be fooled again.

"I screwed up because I actually believed that the republicans could work for the good of the country. I was wrong. I have learned that they will never do the right thing for the people of the country. I would rather cooperate, but I now know that I will have to fight them tooth and nail to protect the poor and the middle class from the wishes of the republican party."

Now how hard would that be. Then he could really nail the election if he followed with: "In accordance, I am firing the wrong-headed advisors that have not given me good advice nor cared for the people as much as they care for the corporate interests. I will do better."

[polichick]

16. I like your suggested statements! It sure doesn't help for the prez to...

...tell supporters to stop crying and get out of their bedroom slippers.

That kind of disconnect from the valid feelings of the base will keep many from the polls in 2012.

[laugle]

31. That was

so incredibly insulting!! I'm think he is getting very testy lately......

[ClassWarrior]

17. K&R for responsible, straightforward leaders.

NGU.

[bvar22]

19. Anyone who lived through the attacks on Clinton in the 90s,

and witnessed the Stolen Election of 2000,
and again in 2004,
and THEN says he believes he can "negotiate" and find "Common Ground" with these animals
is either....OR.... (comment too awful to put into words)


Neville Chamberlain holding aloft the "Non-Aggression Compromise" he achieved
by finding Common Ground with Germany.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[polichick]

20. Maybe the prez just has a massive ego and thought he could tame them...

There's an old saying: When someone shows you who they are, believe it.

[CakeGrrl]

22. And what, exactly, would he say to convince those

who repeatedly proclaim he is nothing but 'empty words'?

What are the MAGIC words that will change their view? Or will it be in his tone, or in some telltale visual cue?

And what if he simply laid out his accomplishments in everyday terms, and continued on from that point? Would that be considered egotistical horn-blowing without a mea culpa to accompany it? Would the fence-sitting voters still not be convinced that it's a damned near imperative to keep the GOP out of the WH?

[Mr Deltoid]

23. By walking the talk

Comfortable shoes are a good start.

All he has to do is step back into the light and away from the right.

[YellowCosmicSun]

24. That's what Boehner wants.

[TheKentuckian]

27. Boner is a fuckwit corporate errand boy that cries for bank bailouts...literally.

What he wants is immaterial and the party who by January 22, 2009 had declared their prime directive was making Obama a one termer and to make him fail have no legs to stand on if one is willing to relentlessly kick them.

[ellisonz]

33. Still that's what they want...

[TheKentuckian]

35. Good, give it too them in spades. Give them a cup the runneth over and never goes dry.

Give it to them in the morning, give it to them at night. Give it to them coming in and give it to them going out.

Give it to them like an ongoing meal at gunpoint at Golden Corral, give it them way past puking and shitting it out all over themselves and back for more plates with an AK at their domes.

Give it to them until desire becomes despair that begs for death.