Liberals may be disappointed, but conservatives are shocked. Among conservatives taken aback by the Obama semi-meltdown you hear the buzz: ”Did you think it would happen this quickly?” “Aren’t you surprised how fast it happened?” The “it” is the undoing of the pretense that Obama has near-magical political powers.
Instead, what is setting in is the realization that this administration might be as bad, indeed worse, than recent ones on a basic level of competency and political dexterity. The Obama team is resorting to crass fear mongering (“Gotta pass the stimulus, gotta pass it — no time to wait!”) and has suffered from a run of incompetent personnel blunders, an atrocious press secretary, and a startling drop in support for his signature piece of legislation.
President Obama seems to have an exceedingly low tolerance for criticism and adversity. At a Democratic retreat (which, come to think of it, is a timely idea) he dropped all pretense of bipartisanship and went rip-roaring negative on the Republicans and anyone who would question the wonderfulness of the pork-a-thon. (Senators Snowe and Specter, that must mean you guys too.) Even the New York Times thought he sounded “irritated.” Just when he needs some moderate Republican help he chooses the “blunt derision” route. Well, so much for the superior temperament.
Few imagined, after a very effective campaign and a mostly skillful transition, that the first couple of weeks would be so cringe-inducing. As Charles Krauthammer summed up:
After Obama’s miraculous 2008 presidential campaign, it was clear that at some point the magical mystery tour would have to end. The nation would rub its eyes and begin to emerge from its reverie. The hallucinatory Obama would give way to the mere mortal. The great ethical transformations promised would be seen as a fairy tale that all presidents tell — and that this president told better than anyone. I thought the awakening would take six months. It took two and a half weeks.
You didn’t think it was possible for them to offend the White House press corp, at least so quickly. It didn’t seem possible they’d really let the mask of bipartisanship slip so fast. But they did –in record time. We can mull over the reasons — arrogance, inexperience, and lack of a distinct vision (“I won” doesn’t count) all factor in. But they better get their act together, and quickly. Because one thing we know: once the president has lost the mystique of power, the political high ground and the respect of the Congress, press, and public, it’s darned hard to get it all back.
Good to see more transparency and openess in the era of Obama.
Do ya think the President intends to pay back his union supporters in full, and keep as many details about it from the public as possible while his spin doctors work on a speech that makes it sound like he did it for the good of the country? Could that be why Biden’s meeting is so hush hush? Would that jibe with the Administration’s established tactic for dealing with its corrrupt cash handouts?
Garsh. It’s a mystery.
To the quote the historic great, Michelle Obama: “Hope and change are finally making a comeback in this country”
this is the most reasonable decision the Obama administration has taken thus far…
It may not be an exact comparison, but wasn’t the left apoplectic about Cheney’s closed door meetings with energy company execs?
#5, it is more than a fair comparison and the even larger hypocrisy here is that many of these unions are taking the members’ dues and partying (or meeting) in swank hotels. These along with their Democratic cronies were apoplectic over the business executives using taxpayer dollars to fund lavish events, even if those lavish events were scheduled several years ago.
Biden says, Stand up, Chuck!” The guy is an embarassment.
VP Joe Biden in the one I trust heart and soul, and the one I’m glad to have leading efforts with America’s working class/labor. He’s a smart guy too, bringing in Jared Bernstein as economic advisor (first VP in history to do so I believe). Labor has a history of keeping press away from meetings. The VP’s office overturned that routine so that the speech would not be filtered, and so that honest reaction would be duly noted to the public (transparency)…print reporters were brought in by labor. With Obama-Biden Administration, there will be insistance with all groups meeting with POTUS and VPOTUS to allow public witness. Part of the change. Love Joe Biden’s work in all that Obama’s thrown at him this first month.