Dan Rather says Obama almost guarantees a primary opponent ...

[kentuck]

with his handling of the taxcut issue. Further, he said that many on the left were passionately opposed to extending these taxcuts.

A primary opponent would surely spell defeat in the general election, much like Kennedy running against Carter in 1980. It really weakened Carter against Reagan.

Perhaps the country is not ready for a "post-partisan" President?

[RandomKoolzip]

1. "Post-partisan" = "conservative"

[polichick]

28. That, or "conservative in disguise" nt

[SkyDaddy7]

33. Liberals = Tea Party

Makes about as much sense!

[RandomKoolzip]

35. Dems in Washington continuing to capitulate to the right-wing:

Now THAT makes no sense.

[BeyondGeography]

2. There is no audience for post-partisanship

Americans say they want the parties to work together, but they continually reward the side that grunts the loudest.

Obama seems to believe that he was elected because he was the last reasonable man standing, and he intends to remain so. He was really elected to start the long-term business of repairing a world that has been damaged by Republican policies. His problem with his own base (you know, the "change happens from-the-bottom-up" crowd) is that we have always seen ourselves as reasonable and the other side as destructive nuts. There is not much in the middle, where he seems to think he will find political gold.

If he can't give proper voice to our beliefs, he will be primaried. That's how it works.

[jefferson_dem]

6. Hi BeyondGeography...

I can't help but detect a slightly different tone in your posts as of late. Am I wrong? :hi:

[BeyondGeography]

26. Our guy is pissing me off, JD...the Republicans are getting off scott-free

I sincerely hope there's a better plan in place than what we're seeing and it's only a passing phase. :hi:

[totodeinhere]

3. A primary opponent would NOT "surely" spell defeat in the general election.

It might, but not necessarily. It is impossible to predict at this point what the state of the nation will be in two years. The GOP might be so discredited by then that any legitimate Dem candidate could win. Or maybe not. We'll see.

[jefferson_dem]

4. A primary challenge would not be good for the party but it also wouldn't "spell defeat" in the GE.

There are too many variables to consider right now. Foremost, it depends on who the challenger is. Someone like Kucinich would probably not hurt Obama very much. In fact, it might make POTUS look like the reasonable one ... the adult in the room. Someone of more stature, like Dean, would surely present a problem. I'm thinking, in the end, Dean will do the right thing, for the party. He won't run.

[kentuck]

5. I don't expect a primary opponent.

Democrats are not up to it.

[jefferson_dem]

7. We'll see. These are crazy, messed up times.

Anything can happen.

[nckjm]

20. I don't give a rat's a$$ about "the party"

That's 99% of the problem. Party first, America last! And every day more and more America's are waking up to that reality.

[jefferson_dem]

21. obviously.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Aramchek]

8. any primary opponent would be absolutely destroyed.

but maybe it would be a good lesson for this OP and all his ilk.

Obama is going to be President until 2017 whether you like it or not.

[Moostache]

13. Blind, partisan and hopelessly out of touch...and those are the NICE things I can say.

Obama is on a warp-speed trajectory to one-term president and this tax cut issue is going to be the final nail in his coffin.

What's the point though really? I have to argue with DEMOCRATS about why caving on the Bush Tax cuts is a BAD THING? This after staying in Iraq, massively expanding Afghanistan, pseudo-closing Gitmo, retaining renditions and the Patriot Act, growing the TSA and Dept. of Homeland Defense, pushing Heath Care without a public option <after pulling single payer off the table unilaterally at the start of the process>, and putting that disgrace pseudo-human POS Alan Simpson on the Catfood Commission.

Name me ONE core issue that the Dems will be able to rally around in 2012...just one that the Republicans will not be eviscerating us with in ads paid for by unlimited corporate funding.

Obama 2017 - president of what? The Lincoln Park PTA?

[kentuck]

15. The deficit?

:-)

[TwilightGardener]

9. Here's my bet: There's no one of stature and means in the Democratic party

who currently wants the job Obama has, at least not bad enough to start a campaign for it. Obama has a truly sucky job.

[dennis4868]

10. yep...

it's the worst time to be president....

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. I could be wrong but,

I do not think that Obama will seek a second term.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[Phx_Dem]

12. Dan Rather is as much as hasbeen as Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts.

And he's right about as much of the time too.

[harun]

14. It guarantees an independant run in the General by a Progressive, no Primary.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. WHO????

:shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Kennedy running against Carter may very well have been a symptom of Carter's weakness rather than

the cause of if.

[FBaggins]

19. I'd go even farther. It's almost certainly the case... not just "may have been"

Of course that doesn't mean that a similar run would play out the same way this time. There are a number of scenarios (including a 3rd-party run from the left) that would hurt the President's chances... but I can't think of one that results in that challenger winning (just handing the reins over to the Republicans).

[nckjm]

25. When we are willing to entertain that idea we might finally have a chance!

A loss in 2012 may be the only road to a progressive agenda (and president) in 2016. I know that it is horrific to comtemplate...but it may be that we have to lose the battle to win the war.

All I know is that NEITHER democrats nor repubicians offer a vision for America that I can support.

To achieve critical mass of the electorate and make it possible for the majority to vote for progressive values, voters must either have embraced a world-centric worldview (achieved a higher level of consciousness - see levels of consciousness as described in Spiral Dynamics) OR be feeling the pain personally and mightily. We must not lose sight that we are paving the way for a new way of being and living together ... it will take time and require sacrifice. Could any two things (patience and sacrifice) come more unnaturally to Americans at this point in history!!?

[merbex]

24. Yup n/t

[merbex]

22. Has anyone mentioned the fact that Kennedy announced his run the DAY AFTER the hostages were taken ?

American Iranian hostages which gave birth to the Nightline program for those old enough to remember that is.

Think that made certain Democrats, who only a week earlier were poised to jump on Ted's bandwagon, a little hesitant??

And shall I mention how many times people mentioned Chappaquidick to me as I knocked on doors for Ted in NH in 1980?

Without the hostages, wiithout Chappaquiddick...Carter would have been TOAST

[Blasphemer]

23. I really doubt there will be one

For the record, I support primary challenges for all incumbents - on principle. In this case, I just don't see that there is time for anyone to mount a serious challenge. If someone throws there hat into the ring next year, I don't think said challenge would impact Obama in the GE. I think Obama will be re-elected easily if only because of the GOP's Sarah Palin problem.

[polichick]

27. He's begging for a primary opponent - who knows, maybe he won't bother to run. nt

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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

[GSLevel9]

29. ole Dan's right... doesn't happen very often. nt

[WI_DEM]

30. Well, the media would love it which is why they will try to push it.

[catgirl]

32. Dan Rather is an idiot.

[craigmatic]

34. There's not going to be a primary challenge to Obama and if there is he'll win because he'll

draw strength from it like he did against Hillary.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

36. Assuming he's running in 2012. Something tells me that he doesn't plan to run. n/t

[Thrill]

37. I've said for a few months

I dont even think Obama will run again.