Go away, 2016 presidential obsession!

[DonViejo]

The media fixate on the presidential race while sequester cuts fester and real questions about Libya go unanswered

BY JOAN WALSH

No matter that Sen. Rand Paul can’t even spell Hillary Clinton’s name right on Twitter, as he insists the Benghazi killings mean she “should never hold high office again.” No matter that the former Secretary of State isn’t officially seeking high office again. Despite it all, everyone is positive that Paul is running for president against Clinton, and so his trip to Iowa this week is big news.

So was Chris Christie’s lap band surgery; it’s obvious what that means. Joe Biden tells Rolling Stone he spends four to five hours a day with President Obama — we all know why. The attempted rehabilitation of George W. Bush was all about the presidential ambitions of his brother Jeb. Sen. Marco Rubio’s immigration reform proposals are covered almost exclusively in terms of what they mean for his 2016 chances, not for U.S. immigration policy. And the White House schemes of freshman Sen. Ted Cruz, instead of being a laughable footnote in stories about his radicalism, are instead headline news everywhere.

Welcome to the surreal kickoff to the 2016 presidential race, which began in earnest only days into Barack Obama’s high stakes second term. Sequester, Syria, Afghanistan, the unending Benghazi story; all matter less than, or only in terms of, 2016 politics. High-minded journalists have been complaining about horse-race politics for my entire professional life, but our 2016 obsession is without precedent this long before the first primaries – and it’s destructive to the country.

You could argue that the fascination with 2016 derives from the fact that there will be no incumbent seeking a second-term, and no shoo-in incumbent vice president, and a fairly open field in both parties. That’s the excuse we gave for the early ramp up of 2008 coverage, and 2016 campaigns, too. The entitled John Edwards ruined everyone’s Christmas-New Year’s break in 2006, and that was early.

full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/05/13/go_away_2016/

[BeyondGeography]

1. Yeah

No shit. It's like we don't have any problems other than how to screw Obama/the economy and get the GOP back into the WH.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Thanks Joan Walsh!

I agree.

[graham4anything]

3. Others just think in terms. President Obama thinks about forever. 2 terms is just another meme.

The single most dangerous person in the US History is Rand and Ron Paul
single as Ron bred Rand to do what he himself personally couldn't
to wit: burn down America and then rebuild it in precisely the image of Ron, Rand and David DUke and the John Birch Society they believe in.

and don't worry, Rand Paul won't let the other stuff fade from view.

working to keep Barack Obama's agenda forever and to forever render Rand & the extremists politically obsolete.

but make no mistake, Rand Paul is the biggest clear and present threat to America itself,
being that he wants to burn it down
(and the odd point that thirdpartyites have seemed to miss-
rand paul is NOT working thirdparty. He is working to be the REPUBLICAN candidate for President or Vice President.
Rand himself is working coverty within, not without, to burn it down

If the 80% remain silent, Rand Paul could win it with just 20%.

don't let the 50-50 angle or 99-1 angle numbers obscure the true 20-80/80-20.

and let's shout out those hiding the MAJOR FACT-
President Obama is setting things up for HIS AGENDA to be LONGTERM not two term.

therefore there is NO lame duck


Which is why President Obama is one of the true great visionaries of all time who wish for forward thinking.
Because others just think in terms. President Obama thinks about forever.(and with NO ego).

[treestar]

4. K&R

It is just so ridiculous. 2 years ahead is more than enough.

[antigop]

5. says noted Clinton admirer Joan Walsh who wrote HRC is not "too old"

http://www.salon.com/2013/02/27/no_hillary_clinton_is_not_too_old_to_be_president/

Oh, Joan, Joan, Joan, you really are too funny.

[Jamaal510]

6. It's crazy because

not too many people have even announced that they would run. The only person who will run for sure in 2016 is Rand Paul. Neither Hillary nor Christie nor Jeb etc. have said anything about running for sure. Plus Hillary has said repeatedly that she will not run again. It's as if people are trying to push her to run and don't want to take "no" for an answer.