Should Obama even run for a second term?

[Xithras]

In all of American history, there have been five Presidents who have simply walked away after their first elected terms ended. We're not talking about Presidents who lost due to primary challenges from their own party (there have been 8 of those), or Presidents who lost their generals while trying to get re-elected (there have been 8 of those too). Five Presidents, after being elected only once, decided that the job was no longer for them, packed their bags, and went home.

Obama is under attack, and not just by the Republicans. His policies and behavior have caused a schism among those on the left that is both clear and unquestionable. We have seen major political and financial backers like Soros abandon him, we've seen other elected leaders in our country question his political motivations, and we've watched as major media personalities, who once supported him almost unquestioningly, have slowly backed away from him. As I was driving in to work this morning, the local morning wishy washy talking radio heads made a good point...we haven't seen a President being pummeled by those in his own party this badly since Nixon was President. And Nixon resigned.

It's not just a media schism either. Spark up a conversation about Obama's policies at your local party headquarters, at the grocery store, or over your holiday turkey, and you're sure to hear at least half the room launch into vile invectives against him. Whether or not you agree with him and his policies, one thing should be indisputable by everyone...Obama has become a polarizing political figure who has clearly divided the nation and his own party. According to a Gallup poll released yesterday, his national approval rating is now LOWER than that of George Bush. Two years ago, I'd have laughed in your face if you'd predicted that.

Obama's fall from grace should be worrying Democrats far more than it is. We now have 23 months until the next election. Given normal electioneering cycles, we have approximately 12 months until campaigning starts. We have record numbers of Democrats and other progressives proclaiming that they won't support him today, and at the same time we have a Teabagger-led groundswell on the right that is focused on unseating him and reclaiming the presidency for the Republicans. According to some pundits, a political "perfect storm" may be brewing which will seriously threaten our ability to hold the White House in the next election. This realization has already led to many calls for a primary challenge against Obama, to unseat him and replace him with a more progressive and less polarizing candidate. Opponents of this idea point out (correctly IMHO) that a primary challenge will simply divide the party and open the door to a Republican victory. They ignore, however, the fact that the divisions already exist, and that the door is already opening. Many Obama supporters on the left simply assume that the angry Democrats will "come home" on election day, and that the threat of a Republican victory will be enough to smooth over any rough spots in our relationships. Sadly, I think those people are dramatically underestimating the depth of our divisions, or the absolute disgust that many Democrats are feeling toward our current president. We cannot simply assume that those voters will return.

Which is why Obama shouldn't run again. For the sake of the party, for the sake of the Presidency, and for the sake of the country, pressure should be brought on Obama to decline a second term. This would accomplish two incredibly important tasks. First, a public announcement that he wouldn't be running again would remove the divisions in the party, which are primarily focused on his own policies. Democrats would have the ability to run an open primary, free from political worries over toe-stepping, and could find a more palatable candidate that we could all once again unite behind. Just as importantly, and possible MORE importantly, an Obama bow-out would radically deflate the sails of those on the right. If you actually listen to many of their party arguments, they are heavily focused on counteracting the "Obama agenda". They see themselves as patriots standing up to a tyrant. If Obama doesn't run, many of their arguments will simply collapse in upon themselves.

We should begin applying pressure (media, online, protests, our elected reps), through any means available, to convince him to sit the next one out. If we don't, I have a real fear that the President taking the oath in January 2013 won't be from Chicago. What is more important: Standing by our President, or doing everything possible to ensure a Democratic victory in the next election?

Just something to think about.

[HuckleB]

1. Yes, he should run.

[Phx_Dem]

2. Of course. And he will. n/t

[DesertFlower]

3. if i were him, i would not run, but

if i made that choice i would push through every thing i could under executive power.

[Creative]

60. Why do that when everything you did could be simply undone by the next president?

[Milo_Bloom]

4. Who cares?

He won't be getting my money, my time or my vote this time around.

[Xithras]

7. Ok, one question though...

You're part of the disillusioned left I'm talking about, so let me ask you this: You say that you won't back Obama, but would you back another Democrat running in Obama's place? Is your anger with the person or the party?

[niceypoo]

30. Supply side is the core of GOP policy

Supply side caused the mess we are in now. See the disconnect?

[Milo_Bloom]

31. Depends on the democrat

If it is someone who I believe will govern like Obama, then, no, I wouldn't donate, volunteer or vote for them.

My anger is with politicians who I see lacking in fundamental principles. In the end, I can't count on them to actually stand for anything.

I would rather vote for someone who I vehemently disagree with on some issues, but support on others, than for someone who will say anything to get me to vote for them and then sell out what they claimed were their fundamental beliefs.



One example. During one of the debates between Obama and McCain they asked how they saw health care, as a RIGHT or a RESPONSIBILITY. Obama answered that he felt it was a RIGHT and McCain answered that he felt it was a responsibility. However, Obama's health care plan doesn't establish it as a right, but instead makes it a responsibility mandated by law.

I had this same issue with Clinton, who I felt gave up on any sense of principles just to "get stuff done", which, unfortunately, in the long run played a roll in helping to crash the economy.

[Tesha]

54. I'm not the person you asked, but...

...I'm certain I won't be voting for Obama. Here in New Hampshire,
if he's on the ticket, he'll lose by historic numbers and my vote for
or against him won't make one damned bit of difference. And in that
case, I'll use my vote to send a message to anyone who's listening
that my political position is far, far to the left of the current occu-
pant of the White House.

I'm no big fan of many members of the party either, but many of
the ones I dislike the most lost their jobs in 2010 and many more
will be (briefly) unemployed after 2012 (before they get a cushy
job somewhere in private industry as the pay-off for their years
of service to the Powers-that-Be). So if the party runs a good
candidate for President, my vote for President can still be
redeemed.

But I don't expect that to happen unless Obama comes to the
aid of his party and stands down.

Tesha

[CJCRANE]

5. "Just something to think about".

add that to the list.

[Uzybone]

6. Who do you think should run?

Its not an abstract argument. If not Obama, then who?

[Xithras]

11. I really don't know, but that's what primaries are for.

The Democratic Party has never centered around one person, and there are many people in this country who would be qualified to run in his place. It is not necessary for us to identify a "successor" at this point. If Obama were to decline to run and the primary process opened up, we would have no shortage of candidates.

[Uzybone]

14. Why should he decline to run?

because some folks on the internet think so?

Support has to coalesce around another candidate before the President should even consider not running. This isn't magic land where Obama steps aside and suddenly all or most democrats agree to back one super candidate. We need to live in reality.

[Xithras]

23. Candidates are not appointed by the party. People choose them.

Politically, there would be NO difference between Obama stepping aside, and the regular "end of term" cycle that exists anyway. We went through an election cycle with no "coalesced" candidate in 2008, and we'll do it again in 2016 no matter how this next election turns out. That's why primaries exist.

[ladjf]

46. Anybody who is smart, reasonably honest, cares about the American

people and who is a DEMOCRAT. nt

[CakeGrrl]

8. Yes he will. And when no one with any political sense challenges him,

Will you do what you can to ensure a Democratic victory, or will you enable Republican takeover in a pout-fest?

Over 80% of Democrats support him. Do you intend to be part of the marginal holdouts? The Nader spoilers of 2012?

[Xithras]

19. I will not support him.

Per Skinners request, I will not argue against his re-election if he decides to run, but it is my genuine hope that he won't. I support liberal and progressive ideals. I'm a self-admitted tree-hugger, and believe that the primary role of government should be to promote the well-being of its own citizens. Not trade, or profit, but people. I believe that we shouldn't have a single military base overseas, and that the only valid excuse for war is in response to an attack on our own soil by a flagged nation. I am an unapologetic leftist. As a bisexual man, I'm an uncompromising absolutist when it comes to DADT and LGBT rights.

I voted for Nader in 2000 because Gore ran on a campaign that promised to continue Clintons "New Democrat" policies, and was angry that he'd run away from the environmentalist platform that he espoused when he was younger (and which he thankfully found again later). I voted for Kucinich in the 2004 primary, and reluctantly cast my vote for the "moderate but not objectionable" Kerry in the general. I initially supported Kucinich again in 2008, but shifted to Obama after buying into his "hope" rhetoric. I won't do that again.

I would prefer that Obama not run again. If he decides to do so, I reluctantly support the idea of a primary challenge against him. If that doesn't happen, I will simply not discuss my personal voting goals on DU, and will restrict my discussion here to other Democratic subjects.

I support liberal progressives. I usually support Democrats, because they advance liberal progressive goals. I cannot support Democrats who fail to do that. Ideals first. Party second.

If Obama wants the votes of those of us on the left, he needs to do more to earn it. As of this moment, I can honestly say that I don't know who I'll be voting for in 2012. I genuinely haven't made up my mind.

[CakeGrrl]

21. Anyone who enables a Republican win deserves whatever an "R" admin metes out

Period.

Some of you may have talked yourselves into believing that this President is no better than any Republican, but that is not true. And it seems people are willing to rediscover that the hard, obstinate way.

[NorthCarolina]

44. Your case is well stated. I couldn't agree with it more. nt

[Tesha]

57. It doesn't matter what we do: Obama is, politically speaking, toast.

And no amount of brow-beating of liberals, progressives,
and others here at DU will change that.

Get used to the idea that the winner in 2012 will be someone
other than Obama. It could be a Democrat, but it won't be Obama.

Tesha

[niceypoo]

9. Not if he keeps attacking his party

...and embracing the fascists

[jenmito]

27. Then maybe his party should stop attacking HIM. n/t

[niceypoo]

34. That wont happen until he stops implementing GOP policies

More supply side

[Fruittree]

49. Embracing the fascists???

What are you talking about?

[jefferson_dem]

10. Duh.

Of course, he should.

[daleanime]

12. Yes, he should run...

and so should everyone else.













Must be an honest Democrat in there some where.

[Ganja Ninja]

13. Take a look around.

Not just here but just about every liberal message board even the comments in online news papers. The left side of the party is fed up. If he runs again he's going to have to do it without their help.

[Uzybone]

15. message boards and online newspapers....sigh

thank god for Democrats that is not the base. A base that flimsy could never win any elections.

[Ganja Ninja]

16. It's a good indication of the mood of a large part of the base ..

whether you want to admit it or not.

[WI_DEM]

32. well if the far left is so powerful then you should have no problem recruiting a candidate

to run against Obama in the primaries. Of course all polls show that democrats overwhelmingly support Obama and liberal democrats in particular support him. It's the progressive left, much represented on DU who aren't really Dems at heart, who don't care for him. I'm sure you'll get a Green to run against him and then you'll have a candidate.

[Dinger]

18. Yup, When One Group Bolts, Say A New Group Is The Base

Cool

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. He should run if he wants to

and until he loses most of the party's support, I doubt that he will refuse to seek a second term a la LBJ (Caddell and Schoen be damned). If somebody wants to primary him, I don't plan on supporting them but that is his/her right to do so, of course. My only concern/hope about that is, IF Obama DOES face a primary challenge and he wins the nomination (again), everybody will accept the results and come together support him over the Republican candidate whomever he/she might be.

[truthN08]

20. I can't see why he would want to

No matter what he does people are always complaining. It's mind boggling that many won't take the time to read up on Senate and House procedural hoops that have to be jumped through. He's has had to deal with a ton of things with very little wiggle room. It would feel good to show those a**holes but what about the people who AREN'T politically active and broke? These republicans are bolder than before. If you really think the republicans wouldn't vote against the unemployment extension I have a overpriced house in Nevada to sell you. The republican BASE votes against it's own best interest. They would blame president Obama for not getting there check while in the same breath praising the repukes for blocking Obama agenda. So the repukes would not be made to pay for blocking it.

On the other hand the folks on our side would say "I thought he was suppose to help us Why is he in a pissing match with them when my RENT is due. My POWER BILL is due and I'm on shut off.My CAR will be repo'd and I'm going to have an even harder time finding a job. Screw your damn posturing my landlord wants the money or I'm going to have to move into my car with my kids".

I've LIVED in a car. A 1989 Lincoln town-car that I had bought from a mom and pop car lot. This happened to me in 1997 and times were good then. I had been living paycheck to paycheck. I was let go from my job. I went from being able to pay my rent and car note to LIVING in my car for what was only 2 months. I was kicked out of my apartment before I could even receive unemployment. Here in Nevada its 5 day pay of quit then 24hr EVICTION and your out on your butt. I landed another job and found a cheap apartment but my car was repo'd as soon as I was in my apartment so on the bus I went.

THAT is the reality so many seem to overlook. While politicians posture and gamble real people would have been through what I lived through and on a much larger scale. Imagine even more tent cities across our country. That would kill the economy even more and the soup lines would form. So please understand being homeless is so hard. A very nice woman hired me at JC PENNEY and I hadn't had a shower in a few days. She gave me a chance and didn't turn her nose up to me because I was living in a car. There are not a lot of people in a position to hire out there right now like this woman. So when knocking down the choice he had to make consider the counter argument and outcome. It wouldn't have been pretty. He should pack his bags and say screw everybody but that's not who he is I suspect.

[CakeGrrl]

24. Because he realizes the nation is made up of more than the left blogosphere,

so he will continue to do what he can for the nation as a whole.

If need be, his campaign will need to up the voter turnout to offset the far Left if it's committed to sitting out the GE or voting 3rd-party in 2012.

[Kaleva]

22. Totally disagree with the OP but gave it a rec.

It's well written and it's obvious the author put alot of time and effort into it. At least more time and effort then is put into most OPs here.

[Xithras]

28. I posted this in GD:P fully realizing what the downreccers would do to it.

Thanks anyway. As Lincon eloquently put it, "We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." Too many people here forget that, ultimately, we're all on the same side.

[Kaleva]

36. The goals are similiar; we differ on how to accomplish them.

I've been busy using the unrec feature lately but every so often I read an OP that I disagree with but am impressed by how their argument is expressed, such as yours, that I give it a well deserved, IMO, rec.

[madriver]

25. Only if Obama did a Michael Vick...

IOW, completely and honestly realized his errors, came clean on them and vowed never to repeat those mistakes (e.g., this horrendous tax compromise) in a full, public mea culpa.

Then proceed to be the "lights out" president we all hoped he would be.

He has that capacity for re-invention. But does he has the guts for it?

[CakeGrrl]

26. The guts to grovel to a sub-faction of the Democratic Party because they're pissed off?

Yeah, I think he'd take a pass on that one.

Funny, these calls for him to almost literally get on his knees and do the bidding of the Progressive "base" before their "support" is meted out.

[WI_DEM]

29. Why shouldn't he? Just because you don't like him doesn't mean much of the country doesn't.

I don't know how many times I've written on DU that his approval rating is higher than Clinton or Reagan during similar times in their presidencies and showed polls that indicate he can beat any of his GOP opponents. It's just that the far left doesn't like him and the far right hates him and much of the rest of the country does like him and thinks he is generally doing a good job.

[CakeGrrl]

33. It's Advanced Bubbleitis. n/t

[emulatorloo]

42. very echo-chamber-y too n/t

[ellie]

35. Yes.

[Rowdyboy]

37. As a Democrat? He really doesn't seem to like us very much, or care what we think....

I don't really give a shit if he runs or not. I'll vote for whoever the party nominates then go home, bend over and prepare to get the shaft no matter which candidate wins. Isn't that how it works these days?

[Robbins]

38. Of course he will run

and he will win.

Obama Is more popular than Clinton after the 1994 takeover of congress and reagan after the bad 1982 midterm.

And If Palin Is the nominee he will beat her like he did Mccain.

And just think what will happen next year with Speaker Bohener and more Independents start to see Republicans have no Intrest In
helping them

[TwilightGardener]

39. Have Presidents ever had defeats in legislation? Have they ever had

to horse trade something they wanted for something else? Because that's all that's happened. People are just flopping around like trout on the dock here, it's absolutely asinine. There's just no perspective--every day is a NEW DRAMA that must result in DRAMATIC RESPONSE and DRAMATIC ACTION!! Instead of just politics playing out. Jesus, I'll bet Clinton is ever so glad the internet and 24/7 cable were only in their infancy during his terms.

[emulatorloo]

40. Reagan and Clinton were also declared "finished" 2 years into their first terms.

[treestar]

41. Whoever is President will still have to deal with Congress

You're dreaming of some progressive Messiah President. Not going to happen. If you could get this left winger elected, Congress would just crush that person and you'd still be screaming. The left here refuses to deal with the fact that the country still has lots of Republicans, a Senate based on nonproportional representation, and a system meant to slow things down. There is no magical person out there that can make the Presidency into an all powerful thing, nor do we want that.

[Arkana]

43. Yeah, and he's gonna win.

[ladjf]

45. I don't think he should run. But, he most definitely thinks that he should.

By so doing he will be guaranteeing that there will be a Republican President.

[Aramchek]

47. He will run and win and you will be the fool

[Hippo_Tron]

48. Obama's approval rating among Democrats is consistently above 80%.

And comparing an ex-President's approval to a current President's approval is ridiculous, which is what that Gallup story did.

Obama declining a second term would only embolden the right and the tea-baggers. They would claim that they were so successful that they forced the evil Obama out of the race. A new President isn't going to be any less divisive and almost certainly won't get anything done that is more progressive than what Obama has done.

[Emillereid]

50. Listening in to all the Obama bashing convinces me people here need to get a GRIP

and remember that politics is the ART OF THE POSSIBLE! Obama knows how to count votes and he knows how much he can get through and what he can't. Right now he can't get the votes for just the middle class stuff and he has to accept the upper income tax cuts in order to get what he wants. Doing otherwise would extract money out of middle class hands and worsen the economy -- thus hurting the middle class. So who wins in that scenario? I mean I could take the hit - but most Americans can't.

They should have also gone for broke and got concessions on the Start treaty, repeal of DADT, extended benefits for the 99ers, a two year extension of unemployment benefits, etc .

By last evening I realized that the problem was he didn't 'appear' to fight -- he should have come out a week ago with fire and brimstone in his belly demanding everything we wanted, present the GOP as intransigent and crazy for wanting to continue the same tax cuts for the uber rich that haven't produced any jobs for the last decade and holding hostage everything that would actually help real people, etc. Then -- after exposing the repukes' true allegiance to their wealthy masters, he could have presented his deal as the best that could be extracted from the bastards. Even people on the left would have been on his side if he'd seemed to have put up a fight -- deal making behind closed doors never looks good.

That being said I wish the WH would hire George Lakoff and learn how to frame their messages better.

If I were Obama I would probably consider being a one term President if the democrats in the Senate don't seriously change their stupid rules.

[AndrewP]

51. I think he will run again and win

One of the fortunate things so far is that the Republicant's keep pushing nutjobs as their major candidates.

I don't see a serious candidate to challenge him in any primary.

[bigwillq]

52. Yes (nt)

[rury]

53. President Obama SHOULD run, he WILL run and he WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[okieinpain]

55. yep, he's got my vote. n/t.

[totodeinhere]

56. No, he should not run and give Clinton a chance.

I think she would have a better chance to win in 2012.

[rasputin1952]

58. Yes...n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

59. Yes and he will win

things will be a little different in 2012 - watch this space