A Complete Waste of Space

Obama Calls America “Soft,” Offers to Whip Nation Into Shape

Obama Embraces National Decline Narrative

"The way I think about it is, you know, this is a great, great country that had gotten a little soft and, you know, we didn't have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades. We need to get back on track."

President Obama arguing for his third stimulus package in an interview with NBC affiliate WESH of Orlando, Fla.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1ZSN9n3Iq

In the interview, Obama shed some light on how he aims to pull off the “it could have been worse” pitch for 2012. The answer seems to be that the administration will embrace the idea of America as a declining power as a way to lower the expectations for his governance.

Telling the TV station that America has gotten “a little soft” over the past two decades, Obama promised that his program will help burn off the flab and pump up the national fitness. By spending money to shore up government payrolls at stimulus levels and fund public works projects the president aims to rebuild the nation’s muscle tone while simultaneously burning off some of the fat by pumping up the tax rates on those earning over $200,000.

The president as personal trainer concept is an idea that means Obama must convince voters that they really are out of shape and that their country has gone to pot. This declinist sentiment is common across the political spectrum as figures on the left like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg openly ponder the chances for the unemployed rioting in the streets of the nation’s largest city and those on the right frequently express their worry that the country is following the same path to ruin that Europe has followed.
Embracing this same declinist line of thinking has electoral appeal for Obama because it allows Obama to argue that he has not succeeded in office because the problems are simply too big. It wasn’t just the Panic of 2008 but decades (including under Bill Clinton) of the government failing to spend enough on public works and being too easy on fat cat capitalists.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1ZSNyDVhT

"For Obama to shift the blame to infrastructure and low taxes will be a difficult lift, especially since his first two stimuli are now widely seen as failures. While the administration argues that they prevented a disaster, voters aren’t sure that they were better than nothing.

But by far the biggest problem for a declinist president is that voters will more deeply associate him with that decline. Obama is looking to tell a “clean story” that casts blame back over a generation, not just his presidential predecessor, and in that way lower the expectations for his own tenure. But voters, who disapprove of Obama’s performance at increasingly higher levels, may just conclude that the dude is a downer."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09 ... z1ZSOtNa7S

Not trying to poke ya in the eye, Slick. Just curious? About how things like the above? Are affecting, your re-election efforts?

no real effect on re-election. More important question to you, Pud: Would you disagree with his assessment?
Further, wouldn't you agree that over the past 3 or 4 decades, we have gotten 'soft' in more than mere physical fashion?

The way I think about it is, you know, this is a great, great country that had gotten a little soft and, you know, we didn't have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades. We need to get back on track."

the first true thing he's said since becoming President.
and what has cause us to become soft and lose our competitive edge? maybe a sense of entitlement?? the human will and spirit are just like any muscle in your body, if you don't exercise them regularly they become soft and weak.

"Whip Nation Into Shape"

Translation from Obamaese.

Tax the "rich" into a flat line communist socialist utopia.

Obama is a already a lame duck.

The Democrats/Communists need another hand puppet for Pelosi.

HH

What Cuda said, word for word....Along with Michael Moore as the "Poster Boy", for the visual representation.

I'm still pretty skeptical...that the last few months...have not had a deleterious effect on Obama's campaign.
I see the Media deserting him....
I see the Ultra Left departing from him....
I see the unmistakable change in poll results....
I see a tremendous amount of inflexibility within the Democratic Party....
I also see, what appears to me, to be, a sense of resignation in the 2012 election.

I had hoped, Slick, that you would expound more on the subject? I do understand..how busy you are.

Thank You.

I'm not expounding more, Pud, because I AM busy......having two grandchildren running about the place makes for a busy household. Also, though, it seems WAY to early to tell, although I am still inclined to think that Obama will be re-elected. Why? First, he is still raising a ton of money, as are some progressive PACs. The GOP is raising money, as well, but much has to be expended on the primary battles. Second, the GOP primaries: Clearly, no one seems to be emerging with any traction, which suggests a brutal fight, ultimately, which hurts a party in the subsequent general election. Polls aside, Obama's numbers are roughly twice as positive as the Tea Party, and if that latter group ends up dictating the nominee, Obama should win easily.
Finally, when the actual choices face Progressives and other left-leaning types next November, I suspect they will put aside the displeasure with Obama and vote for him. You have to bear in mind, despite crap you might hear from the TV or Radio talkers, most of Obama's poll erosion has NOT come from Independants, it has come from disenchanted left-wingers. The main fear I have is that those folks, despite eventually voting for Obama, will not assist in the critical ground game leading up to the election, and that is where I see Obama as most vulnerable. He killed McCain with a strong election machine, he might well lose this time if he cannot assemble a similarly strong team.

I read most of what you write...at least several times...something, others here, should consider as well....Some of them others like to poke you in the eye? I consider you to be a pupil....

I agree with 90% of what you wrote above. I have some disagreement with the "threat" of the Tea Party and the GOP selection. I do agree that they are gaining influence rapidly and as to what the total value of that will prove to be? Remains to be seen.

I do hope you are enjoying your grand children and that all is well with you and yours...