Does Bill Clinton's appearance at the White House prove that Obama is in over his head?

[Cali_Democrat]

Poll question: Does Bill Clinton's appearance at the White House prove that Obama is in over his head?

[OmahaBlueDog]

1. No, this happens to every President about 2 years in..

...they start out filling lot of positions with campaign staffers and key supporters. About 2 years in, they realize they need professional help. You'll recall it was sometime at about this point in the Clinton Presidenct that he brought in David Gergen (from the Reagan WH) to help run the show and make the staff work and play well together.

[BlueIris]

2. To me, it is an indication that he has no idea how to do the job,

no idea how many people feel his recent decisions are inappropriate to horrifying, and no interest in being president anyway.

Next, please.

[CakeGrrl]

3. "No interest in being President anyway." Yeah, that's why he ran in the first place.

Despite the obvious risks that come with being the first black President.

Next, please.

[AtomicKitten]

+1

:hi:

[JuniperLea]

5. To me, this is an indication...

That you have no knowledge of US Presidential history.

Next.

[burning rain]

19. I'm sure he very much wants to be president.

O pursued the presidency with singular focus and ambition. I suspect, however, that he only wants to be president, to be president. To reach the top so as to be at the top.

[Beacool]

32. Very perceptive, my friend.

;)

[dionysus]

73. ahem? car keys on table. grounded. head upstairs right now young lady.

and NO computer while you're up there!11

:D

[Beacool]

91. Whhhyyyyy??????

You never let me have fun!!! You're mean to me!!!

I hate you!!!!!!! (Loud noise of feet stomping up the stairs and bedroom door banging shut).

:(

[dionysus]

96. since i am horrible at disciplining, here are your car keys and cell phone back...

and a little something else (but only if you promise to be good);

:hi:

[Beacool]

98. OK, I'll forgive your meaness...sniff.....sniff...

I'll need the banky to dry up my tears.

:cry:

(crocodile tears like Boehner's).




:hug:

[dionysus]

101. lol. hey wait a minute... where's the promise to be good? fooled again dammit!

[Beacool]

102. Never underestimate a woman's feminine wiles.

We'll make a guy forget the time of day.

:evilgrin:

[burning rain]

74. Sadder but wiser, I think.

:pals:

[Beacool]

99. I know..........

:hug:

[golfguru]

4. I was impressed at Big Dog's mastery of details in the tax bill

He spoke without teleprompter or notes for a very long time,
going over every nuance in the proposed tax bill.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

65. Nice little "teleprompter" jab

:eyes:

I never expected anybody here to make such comments

[Beacool]

92. Hey, if the shoe fits..........

:shrug:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

106. What shoe?

How does it "fit" him?

This whole reliance on a teleprompter "issue" is (or used to be) a stupid right-wing meme that has ZERO basis in reality. It's sad to see fellow DUers starting to use it now even though it's no more true now than it was when the right-wing was using it to defame him. Obama has shown on several occasions that he is capable of functioning without the teleprompter, so I'm clueless as to how anybody could say otherwise with a straight face.

[FrenchieCat]

6. No.....

it means that both of them are Democrats, and are allies.

The only people over their heads, are those who firmly believe
they can get done whatever they want, whenever, without it
going through the 2 party political system that is our government.

[quakerboy]

55. Totally agree with your first line

But thats where we part ways.

This has nothing to do with President Obama being over his head. Any politician who is taking the kinda fire President Obama is right now would be calling in any ally they think can help.

[AlinPA]

7. An ex-President visits the WH and it proves the occupant is in over his head? Stretch much?

[burning rain]

58. It's not unusual for ex-presidents to visit the White House.

It is unusual to call in a former president to hold a press conference and try to "sell" a key vote. Focus!

[griffi94]

8. it doesn't prove anything

it might make him look a bit weak to some tho.

[polmaven]

15. The key words there

being "to some".

[Mojorabbit]

78. I hate to admit this but it made him look weak to me. nt

[blazerunner]

9. With Obama itching to bail so quickly at the presser

it looks like maybe he wants someone else to handle the day to day grind of the job.

[CakeGrrl]

11. Oooh, what a sign of BOREDOM.

It's so obvious that people want to project these failure traits on him it's ridiculous.

But it's hardly as if this was anything remotely official. It was a visit from a former president and an FYI about what they discussed.

In case you missed it, he had a REAL presser a few days ago, and didn't bail on that one.

:eyes:

[elizm]

10. Does this post prove that you have lost your head? Nt

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Perhaps you should create another poll addressing this issue. n/t

[gateley]

12. One of the commentators said that Clinton had called in former presidents, too -

And others here indicate this isn't something unheard of, so I'd vote 'no'.

[Empowerer]

20. And Bush rarely did consult previous presidents - even his own father . . .

We have really jumped the shark if we take it as a sign of weakness or ineptness for the person occupying one of the most difficult jobs imaginable to consult with the only living people on earth with a full understanding of the position.

Sheesh!

[Telly Savalas]

49. But by ignoring this fact and throwing the accusation out there

the OP has masterfully used innuendo to try to influence the opinion of people who read DU. It's just like what FOX News does.

[Recursion]

81. But this is the first time a black person did it.

So "obviously" it's a sign that he's in over his head :sarcasm:

[Arkana]

13. Considering every President has sought advice from his predecessors--from BOTH parties

I'd have to say no.

[burning rain]

56. Seeking advice isn't the issue, however.

What we're dealing with here is a sitting president calling in a former one to convince the country in general and his own party in particular, on a key vote. How often has that happened?

[burning rain]

14. I wouldn't say it proves anything...

but the "optics" of having a former president come in to pinch hit for you aren't particularly good.

[Dr.Phool]

17. That was pretty well proven before Clinton showed up.

[jenmito]

18. No. It proves that Obama has great confidence-enough to let Bill Clinton be alone with the press

and a podium. I bet Clinton's back-up of Obama's compromise helps change some Dems.' minds.

[Empowerer]

21. Thank you!

And if Obama had stayed there the whole time, people would have accused him of being so insecure/jealous that he was afraid to let Clinton stay there by himself.

This Obama-bashing is getting ridiculous. It's one thing to disagree with a policy. But the overheated and virtually ubiquitous slamming of him with language that suggests they think he's a stupid, craven child is really sickening - and much more revealing than the posters probably realize.

[jenmito]

24. Yup...

the sad fact is that more and more people here have some sort of automatic attack-Obama mechanism which doesn't belong on this site-DEMOCRATIC Underground. I have to do double-takes sometimes because I can't believe what I'm reading. What has this place become?

[Riley133]

54. Well, tell me

How many prominent Democrats attended Elizabeth Edwards' funeral today? Was there ANYONE from the White House?

[BklnDem75]

63. Is this a joke?

It was a PRIVATE ceremony.

[Tx4obama]

75. An article stated....

Senator John Kerry and several other members of Congress attended.
I am sure that Obama and Biden decided not to attend because the church would have had to of been 'secured' and since it was an event open to the public they wouldn't have wanted to cause any additional unnecessary problems.

[Beacool]

100. Some politicians were there.

I heard that Kerry attended.

[lillypaddle]

105. It's a good thing

we have a "kinder, gentler" DU now, huh. :sarcasm:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. it proves that Obama is clever. nt

[Milo_Bloom]

23. Obviously. I don't remember bush crying to Reagan.

[Skip Intro]

27. Well, in fairness, I believe bush only did what Cheney told him he could do. nt

[Milo_Bloom]

31. Other bush.. the older, crabbier one.

[Skip Intro]

36. D'oh! That should have been obvoious to me.

Thanks for jogging my thinking.

:)

[lunatica]

107. Nancy and St. Ronnie didn't like Babs and Poppy much

[jefferson_dem]

25. How long

...will the admins allow this place to circle the drain with posts like this?

Seriously. The "critics" are getting bolder and bolder and DU has become virtually indistinguishable from rwnj sites that shall not be mentioned. Shame.

[CakeGrrl]

30. Until it becomes a complete echo chamber as the "big tent" that was this forum

starts to narrow itself by turning off more and more people who enjoy a civil posting environment?

[Cali_Democrat]

51. What are you more angry with?

This post or the fact that a majority of people (104) think Obama is in over his head? :shrug:

[Skip Intro]

26. I didn't vote in this poll, but it sure looked like it when Obama left Bill alone at the presser. nt

[tropicanarose]

28. I think that it made Obama look weak and his leaving the press conference

because "Michelle had been waiting for him for 30 minutes" and left them in "good hands" (Bill Clinton's) made him seem almost irresponsible.

I like Obama and don't like to be too critical, but this entire tax break deal is truly revolting.
I hope to God that there will be decent revisions, because as it is, it is unacceptable and possibly quite dangerous for our future

[hay rick]

37. Welcome to DU.

Agreed. More even than health care, this promises to the definitive political battle of his presidency and he looked like he didn't have the stomach for it.

[Beacool]

29. Wow, I'm surprised that the poll is so evenly divided.

Bill proved once again why he is the best politician of his time. He was at ease, knew his stuff and was not fazed by any question. Compare his presser to Obama's on Tuesday where he managed to offend both the Republicans and his base. He was as brittle as glass and as uncomfortable as he always seems at press conferences. Bill could have talked for another hour without the need of notes or a teleprompter. I once saw him give one of the most compelling explanations on healthcare while standing under a tree in the broiling sun in the middle of Africa. The left may hate him, but he is one of a kind and his popularity is soaring.

:-)

[xocet]

33. It means that he is grasping at straws. It is pathetic. n/t

[Union Scribe]

34. I think it shows that Obama recognizes he's got a problem

and maybe that he knows he's losing credibility with a larger segment of his party than he originally thought, or let on.

[StevieM]

35. I think people are analyzing too much. I just took it as a fun moment, where an ex-president

once again stood alone in the White House briefing room and took reporters' questions. You don't expect to see that happen again after the former president has left office. So it was kind of an unexpected surprise and an amusing twist.

I don't think the issue is Obama being in over his head (although I'm not too happy with him right now). I just think this country was terribly damaged by the Bush years and we are slowly digging our way out. The digging process can be very frustrating.

Steve

[Beacool]

38. Oh Stevie, Obama was over his head way before Bill took the podium.

The least experienced candidate to run for president in 99 years. And, to top it all, in the worst economic times since the Great Depression. We sure know how to pick them.......

:eyes:




:hi:

[BklnDem75]

41. Luckily, Obama won the primaries

Dodged a real bullet there.

[joshcryer]

43. No substantitive difference. Either option appears that they'd take Bill's advice.

:rofl:

[BklnDem75]

47. We're not fighting in Iran

That's a huge plus

[Beacool]

53. Luckily?

Other than Obama himself, who is lucky? Oh, you must mean the top 1% of the population and the financial institutions that are posting record profits. The rest of the country is not feeling too lucky at the moment.

:eyes:

[BklnDem75]

59. Everyone who didn't get Hillary nor McCain

Pretty positive you're at least 90% off. Dodged some real bullets there. Like Bosnia. :)

[Beacool]

61. Please, go ask around in the real world.

Stick your head in an average community and ask them how lucky do they feel that Obama is president.

Too funny.......

:7

[BklnDem75]

62. And by an average community...

I'm sure you're referring to a purple or red district, because the blue districts in both mine and your state are still as blue as ever. Perhaps you should take your own advice. The real world still holds the real culprits responsible for the mess that was left for Obama. Maybe you should just get over it. Hillary has.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

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[burning rain]

94. Well, if anything, being the Dems' presidential frontrunner is more a liability than a blessing.

After all, Dems more often prefer new/unexpected faces: JFK in 1960, McGovern 1972, Carter 1976, Dukakis 1988, Clinton 1992, Obama 2008. Republicans are the ones who predictably crown the heir apparent. I think it's also fair to say that Dems have somewhat more of a weakness for glamor and charisma than the GOP (the major reason, for instance, many Dems rate JFK higher than the incomparably more accomplished LBJ).

[wisteria]

39. I am not voting, but I wondered why he gave a press conference rather than just talk to Congress

about passing the tax bill. Maybe it was just poor planning, but I am sure it will be reported on as your post suggests. Frankly, Bill needs to take a back seat and if he want to offer advise or help out he should do it behind the scenes. I still question what the hell this was all about today.

[wisteria]

40. This very topic was on the Michael Savage show tonight. And, I would bet

it was also talked about on Hannity. So now we know where this suggestion came from. And, now we should all take it for what it is worth and moveon.

[TheKentuckian]

42. No, more like complicit and playing the game, full speed ahead.

Bubba's policies and policies that he allowed on his watch are a big piece of why we find ourselves where we are today.

Bubba knows selling the country down the creek.

[MrsCorleone]

44. Gawd.

I can actually feel my IQ dropping.

It burns.

[Myrina]

45. Bill used to be AGAINST the Bush Tax Cuts

... during the 04 campaign, he was all over CSPAN doing Town Halls for Kerry/Edwards, basically painting a (tongue-in-cheek) target on his own back to get the R's to hate those tax-credits by saying he himself was a beneficiary of them, and how in the world would any Republican want HIM AND HILLARY to get a tax break? Now he's forthem?

And after all the vitriol between him and O on the campaign trail? Now they're co-hosting a Presser from the WH?

Don't get me wrong, I was a HUGE Bubba fan in the 90's (although his welfare to work and NAFTA moves still piss me off) and continue to be astounded by his intellect and grasp of any issue (really - can you imagine W making an impromptu stop at a presser and actually being able to answer a policy question coherently??) ...

This buddy-buddy shit with POTUS smells funny and doesn't look good for POTUS, unless they're resurrecting the 'blame it on the Clenis' strategy?

:shrug:

[DailyGrind51]

46. Obama was over his head when he gave away the public option!

[egoclothes]

77. This "deal" reads like the PO game. Obama

gives away the good stuff from day one. No fight in him.

[Recursion]

82. What on earth is this "fighting" people keep talking about?

Do you want him to arm-wrestle McConnell? He went in and got what he could get, even to the extent of mildly impressing Krugman and scaring the hell out of Krauthammer, and has already driven a wedge between the DeMint caucus and the McConnell caucus. If that's not "fighting", what is?

[terrya]

48. It is the WORST imagery

It was the polar opposite of the "chill the fuck out, I got this" image people have posted on here.

The message I got from the footage of that press conference was "Ok. I realize it. I'm in way over my head here. Here's someone who knows what they're doing". Disasterous.

[alsame]

50. + 1 Whoever told him it was okay to do that should be

fired immediately.

[democrat2thecore]

85. I saw it as one more sign he's decided to not run in 2012

He just doesn't have the passion for the job. IN fact, I think he HATES it.

[ProSense]

52. First

two years:

Bill Clinton

Barack Obama

On that matchup alone, President Obama is far better at getting his agenda through Congress.

All in all, yesterday's move was pretty shrewd.

[political_Dem]

97. [phone]

[La Lioness Priyanka]

57. NO. people trust bill on the economy. why shouldn't they? we had a glorious

few years under him. putting bill up there, just reinforces obama's position, that he is doing the best that can be done for the economy

i find the cynicism annoying but ultimately justified

[watercolors]

60. No, Obama is playing his card right, smart man!

[PassingFair]

64. It proves that the DLC felt that he wasn't handling the "messaging" properly.

Transparent puppet-string pulling.

Alarming and disgusting.

[Little Star]

66. Sure looks that way. n/t

[zippy890]

67. ha ha what a dumb poll

it proves the exact opposite. That was a brilliant political maneuver.
what was on the yahoo news headlines, the kind 60% get their news from.

He is most definitely not out of his league. its all about getting re-elected
from here on in. his best term for liberal issues will be his second.

[mtnsnake]

68. Why is it a dumb poll? According to what you said in your post, choice #2 applies to you

just fine so what's the big deal?

[zippy890]

70. because its a provocative question that could only be posted by someone who wants to put

that phrase out there. I can see disagreeing with this as a political move right now, but to question Obama's competence. Why?

[ZombieHorde]

69. No, that is not how proofs work. Hate President Obama all you like, but don't drag down the

scientific process along with our elected representatives.

[Cali_Democrat]

89. LOL

That's why I put the 'No' option there. :hi:

[QC]

71. The two things are not necessarily related. n/t

[dionysus]

72. FFS. yes, he's in over his head, arrogant, and uppity as well. you happy now?

:eyes:

[Tx4obama]

76. The story 'behind' the joint press conference on the link below

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2010/Dec/10/bill_s_back__clinton_commands_stage_at_white_house.html

[LeftyAndProud60]

83. This place is really Drudge lite now. Amazing. NT

[democrat2thecore]

86. Drudge hits the president from the left?!? --- nt

[LeftyAndProud60]

87. The in over his head sh1t is boarderline racism IMO. NT

[democrat2thecore]

88. So......Think about this a minute....

When we said Bush was in over his head, Palin's in over her head, etc. we are being racist against these two anglos? I'm getting real tired of all the "racism" posts. It's an easy-way-out of having to rebut legitimate criticisms.

[Union Scribe]

90. Excellent post

I'm still scratching my head about the thread implying the word "employee" was racist...

[Name removed]

93. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

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[jeanpalmer]

95. It proves Bill Clinton thinks so

He was trying to give Obama a lesson in how to sell it. It's an easy sell to the elites, but not to the average person or the informed.

[Marnie]

103. Lets hope that Clinton made some effort to remind

him what party he belongs to and who voted for him and gave money to him.

[Township75]

104. Very good poll.

I'm glad you asked that because it is an interesting question, and the poll is about as well split as I have seen recently on DU.