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Subscribe to RSSPolitico’s Roger Simon writes that because of the death of bin Laden “the Republican field has been fried like an egg.” He adds that Obama has created an image of “a competent, cool, skilled, experienced, capable leader of this country.” Plus he “rescued the economy, saved the auto industry, expanded health care to millions of children, passed health care reform for everybody, repealed the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the military and eased the restrictions on stem cell research. And, oh, yeah, he found and killed Osama bin Laden.” So is Obama invincible then? Simon concludes: “He has vulnerabilities. He is going to have to defend a four-year record. And the economy could tank. Even further. The Republicans could beat this guy. All they have to do is find someone to do it. They have to find a candidate who is smart, gutsy, nimble, creative, credible, determined and capable of raising vast sums of money. Give me a minute, and I’ll try to come up with a name.”
A new Quinnipiac two-day poll after bin Laden’s death shows President Obama with a six-point bounce, up to 52%, his highest in almost two years in that poll. The movement was all with men. They went from 39%-54% disapprove to 51%-42% approve. There was no movement with women; in fact, his approval ticked down a point with them. Obama’s approval on the economy is still a 19-point net-negative, 38%-57%, which is essentially unchanged.
Many Americans took to the streets to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden. “But amid such displays, and as President Obama prepares to visit New York today to lay a wreath at ground zero and meet with victims’ families, clergy and theologians are debating public shows of triumph. Many doubt it is wise — or right — to exult over any death. Even within religions, there is disagreement over what the ideal response to an evildoer’s demise should be,” the Boston Globe reports.
“President Obama ruled out publicly releasing photographs of the deceased Osama bin Laden on Wednesday, and White House officials said they would give no new details about the raid on his compound in Pakistan, an information clampdown that followed fitful attempts to craft a riveting narrative about the killing of al-Qaeda’s leader,” the Washington Post writes.
The Boston Globe’s editorial page says Obama should have released the photos of bin Laden’s death: “Even in a situation like this one, with a reasonable degree of concern that the bloody photos would rile up some of bin Laden’s followers, the government shouldn’t regard secrecy as its default position: Close calls should go in favor of openness.”
The New York Daily News’ cover: “No photo finish.”
Sour grapes? “George W. Bush won't be at Ground Zero with President Obama Thursday in part because he feels his team is getting short shrift in the decade-long manhunt for Osama Bin Laden,” the New York Daily News’ DeFrank reports. “‘[Bush] viewed this as an Obama victory lap,’ a highly-placed source told the Daily News Wednesday… ‘He doesn't feel personally snubbed and appreciates the invitation, but Obama's claiming all the credit and a lot of other people deserve some of it,’ the source added. ‘Obama gave no credit whatsoever to the intelligence infrastructure the Bush administration set up that is being hailed from the left and right as setting in motion the operation that got Bin Laden. It rubbed Bush the wrong way."
“President Obama will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House later this month as the two attempt to improve their sometimes fractious relationship,” The Hill reports. “President Obama will visit Fort Campbell in Kentucky on Friday to address service members returning from Afghanistan,” The Hill adds. And: “Big-dollar donors in Washington, D.C., are being asked to open their wallets for President Barack Obama on May 16,” Roll Call writes.
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Besides the wreath-laying today, the President tomorrow greets soldiers returning from war at Ft. Campbell, KY. Folk, that is going to the heart of the opposition's territory.
Ft. Campbell - then Camp Campbell - was the training ground for some of America's finest in WWII. It has long been a stronghold of conservative, military perspectives. The greeting the soldiers will give their Commander-in-Chief this week will be resounding.
This President has been steadfast, thoughtful, and effective. Yes, he's stumbled a few times, primarily thanks to his optimistic outlook and his tendency to define policy goals and stand too much aloof while the details are worked out, but he has indeed consistently and cooly led this nation out of a cluster of crises. The contrast of the persistent competence of this Administration with the permanent and horrifying incompetence of the previous Administration could not be greater.
POLITICO: Take a gander at those names, and tell me how many you can actually see in the Oval Office running the country today. Two? One? None?
John
You are absolutely correct. While it might look to some that he's not being "aggressive enough", I believe he knows exactly what he's supposed to do, when he's supposed to do it. While Trump and Palin chastise him about playing a round of golf or shooting some hoops, he's actually plotting out a plan to kill bin Laden...and successfully, I might add.
It appears that the current strategy of the administration is working. The President continues to seek the middle (and often slightly right) position. Of course, the Republicans will not admit it; however, the Republicans have abandoned the middle and made it easy for the President to seek this strategy. The major question is whether independents will vote for the "steadfast, thoughtful, and effective" sitting President or cast their vote for the new "Republican" candidate.
The Obama agenda is not invincible and here is why:
In the past 4 days we went from the President did a great thing taking out UBL to:
-The President is a murderer
-UBL is not dead because the Administration won’t release the photos of “dead” UBL
- Glen Beck screeching the President is “disgusting” for visiting Ground Zero
- If the mission was real and therefore successful, then 81% of Republicans believe the credit should go to George W.
When officials all around the President were suggesting he take the “easy” way out by bombing the UBL fortress, the President took the most politically dangerous route by using the SEALS . Imagine what kind of “photos” would have been available if he took the least risky avenue. Yeah, you got it. A big, gaping hole in the ground in Abbottabad. A picture of a dead UBL. Think not!
President Obama will never do enough things right to satisfy the Right in this country.
Why do they keeping questioning his manhood?
Folks, you cannot overlook the elephant in the room. There is an African-American in the Oval Office and some people will never accept that.
Period.
Sheila, You need professional help.
device,
I agree with you. Sheila does need some serious professional help. Her facts are kind of crazy.
As I have heard it said before and it looks like this quote would apply to the misinformed people the right such as Sheila who don't care much for our GREAT President Obama.
"You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts."
Boy, neither of you two actually read well, do you?
Read the first line, then form a conclusion, right?
Maybe go back and re- read the whole thing. You might actually form a different opinion.
I think she was defending your idol.
Job 1 - Shiela was definitely NOT posting a "right" version of facts. She rather succinctly summed up some of the crazy stuff the right has been saying lately, and, unfortunately, also correctly stated that to about 20-25% of the electorate, Obama's race is more important than his accomplishments.
Although that number closely coincides with the percentage represented by the Tea Party, it is not completely congruent with the TP. I'd guess about a third of the TP comes out of the militia and white supremacist movements - would really be good for someone to do a thorough study and clarify that - that of course are clearly racist. Racism we have with us always, sadly.
An awful lot of the head-banging from the right wing at this time is to try and expand at least indomitable hatred of all things Obama, to try and move the unmovable opposition up to about 35% of the electorate, and make sure they are energized sufficiently to vote next year. That gives them a movable target of another 15-20% of the "swing" votes to try and capture.
It also explains why there are so many different state efforts now to impose various laws limiting the franchise and discouraging voter blocs that might well go Democratic. If the GOP manages to locate a credible candidate - a serious question without an apparent answer yet on the horizon - there could be a horserace in 2012, partly due to that entrenched, immovable opposition. It's an old campaign strategy.
Hi John,
Oh my gosh, you are correct. I need to stop the multi-tasking while I read and post.
Sheila, I'm sorry, I re-read you post.
Apologies accepted all around!
Next time I'll signify that I'm being sarcastic or get Seth Meyers to write my stuff :)
Sheila, MD-
I agree with you 100%.....they can't accept that there's a black President sitting in the Oval Office.
LOL! Loved the Seth Meyers to write my stuff!
Sheila,
That must have been awfully painful for NO JO ALL BLOW to have to come to your defense... HEHEHE. Well at least we know SHE can read. She needs to put in some hours to help some of her "peoples" :-) so they can learn to read as well as she can HEHEHE.
OBAMA/BIDEN 4-ever snark*snark
Sounds like Obama should change over to a Republican so that they have someone on there side with those attributes.
Tom, I thought the same thing!
They have to find a candidate who is smart, gutsy, nimble, creative, credible, determined and capable of raising vast sums of money....what a perfect description of President Obama!
Once agin, you are taken in by MBC's selective reporting.
That same Quinnipiac poll showed that his re elect numbers were unmoved- with only 46% believing he deserves re election.
While those who do not believe he should be re elected dropped from 48% to 42%, those sox per cent moved to undecided, not should be re elected.
He only gets 35% support for re election from independents, who were unmoved in their thinking by the death of bin Laden.
It's the economy. Period.
And Obama is hopelessly inept at handing the economy.
njnb,
Wrong again, as usual.
Really, devie?
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1596
By the way, this is not the only poll that shows that
His approval for killing bin Laden is up, but
His disapproval on his handling of the economy and the debt are upside down, and were not affected by his killing bin Laden, and
His re elect numbers were unaffected by it, as well.
That you want that not to be true does not alter the fact that it is true.
NO JOE ALL BLOW,
Until you guys "find" a candidate....... You can quote all the polls you want. Who do the polls have running against him. THAT is the poll you should be concerned with, now shouldn't it?
Wonder if Bush remembers his part in NOT capturing bin Laden when he diverted resources to an unwarranted war in Iraq! Obama does deserve the majority of the credit for creating the right set of circumstances to take action.
Bush feels snubbed? The same Bush who said that he didn't think much about OBL any more? The same Bush who in 2005 closed the CIA office dedicated to finding OBL?
The administration has been more than gracious to Bush, who took advantage of 9/11 to squander our national unity and goodwill, not to mention our money and our constitutional rights, in pursuit of the wrong guy for the majority of his two mortally tiresome terms in office.
The current President is indeed "a competent, cool, skilled, experienced, capable leader" who, at the same moment Donald Trump and so many others were giving him a hard time about his birth certificate was busy ending the career of Osama bin Laden, Public Enemy #1, the face of international terrorism. Props to the President, and too bad, so sad to the Republicans.
George W. Bush missed his opportunity to redeem his Presidency by not showing up at Ground Zero. His appearance there could have brought the nation together and healed partisan wounds. It would have been good for the country and good for his legacy.But he couldn't do it, because he is a small, petty little chump. I'd be inclined to give him credit for catching Osama, but it's pretty clear, by his behavior this week, the people around him did all the work during his Presidency and he was just a figure head.
At least former V.P. Cheney came out and congratulated President Obama.
Amy:
He didn't attend because he is going in SEPTEMBER.....Damn give the man a fukking break. You people are obsessed with Bush. The obsession is unhealthy. You need to leave these blogs and MSNBC alone for a while. Your mind is apparently fried.
Maybe if:
Pres. Bush had not dismissed the CIA August 6, 2001 warning that OBL was determined to attack in America or:
If Bush hadn't said he really doesn't think about Osama much or:
If he hadn't closed the CIA unit searching for Osama in 2006 or:
If he hadn't blown the previous best chance to get Bin Ladin in Tora Bora by not committing sufficient resources.
Then maybe he would be getting more credit for the end of Bin Ladin.
I think Pres. Obama has been quite gracious by immediately calling Pres. Bush when Osama was killed and by inviting Bush to New York. He and his sycophants should stop whining.
OMG, it just occured to me: maybe George Bush declined the invitation because he has Alzheimer's? Is that why he has been out of sight?
@ in the middle,
Why should we give bush a freakin break when President Obama can't catch one? Huh? What?
John A.-400474
that's a good one.
i think the presidents much debated aloofness could actually be his killer punch.
he treads so gently. those that have underestimated him have all got rattled one way or the order. he take's in so much and still executes clinically. i believe nobody is invincible. this guy is a hard nut. very hard nut. i have the gut feeling that republicans are going to find this guy, not invincible but, tactically adept to beat. i immensely look forward to 2012 election.
The republicans will twist all of Obama's accomplishment, successes and wins in order to cover up the fact that republicans caused this mess. Obama is SUCCESSFULLY cleaning it up and turning around Bush and his cronies' messes. The republicans are backed by millions in big, corrupt business money in order to keep the rest of us as their puppets. Big, corrupt businesses pay people to twist the facts and cloud our view so we can not see what is really going on: the Republicans screwed us and Obama is helping almost all of us except for 1-2% of the US population. This 1-2% that Obama is not helping are paying to twist the facts so they can get the majority to be confused and think the 1-2%'s CORRUPT candidate should be elected (aka the Republican's candidate).
I am a professional taking home over $200,000 a year and I know that the Republicans are not helping me. I also own my own business and I know the republicans are not helping me. On the other hand, Obama has made changes that I can see and feel are good for my family and our community. Unfortunately, most Americans do not understand how Republicans are hurting them individually and collectively. Let's re-elect Obama so he has sufficient time to fix all the messes created by Bush and his bush-wackos.
An American Family
"The republicans will twist all of Obama's accomplishment, successes and wins in order to cover up the fact that republicans caused this mess"
When people sits and audit themselves, they'll see that republicans have actually taken from them than give them. All republican proposals are about kill this and kill that. No creation. And the problem for republican is, they take from the struggling masses and give to rich in name of trickle down economy. Today, GM's quarterly profit more than tripled. Mind you, this is a company republican asked to file bankruptcy then went on to demonized obama for rescuing them. This election is going to be more on substance than gimmickry. The main albatross for republican is the Ryan's budget they all adopted.
An American Family,
You are truly what one would call a "small business" and can see results from Obama's stimulus and tax credits regardless of how Republican's try to spin it as a total failure. My only wish was that Democrats would bounce on every negative comment made about what our President "isn't doing" by Republicans. They do not. They are falling very short and Obama can't do it alone. They want him involved in everything because they don't have the guts to take responsibility for anything. Unlike our Commander-in-Chief who has the guts and deserves all the glory. Democrats better grow a set and go on the offensive with Republicans today and everyday until November 2012. I'm hopeful with the new DNC chair, a fiesty woman, this will happen. She has more guts than I've seen from the Democratic party. These wimps wouldn't even stand up for Nancy Pelosi. Someone who did a lot of work for the poor and middle class during her tenure as speaker. How useless can you be?
An American Family and Pius well said. I still canno fathom how you convince people to vote against their own personal interest unless the hate one has for someone helping exceeds the help they are getting. Inspite of all the distractions, this President has got quite some accomplishments that cannot be disputed though they try. If only he got a slight cooperation from the Republicans he could do a lot more and the economy would be well off.
He has presided over one disaster after another from the moment he was sworn in. While not exactly perfect, the outcomes of each endeavor has been better.
An American Family, AnaBanana and Joey
GREAT Posts!
Joey:
How do you validate the point "You know what is in the best interest of others"?
What makes you think that you are the basileus of everyone in America?
Everyone has one vote. What is good for you may not be good for the next man, no matter what your OPINION is.
This is a President who, thinks on his feet, is able to multi-task, and is constantly thinking about many policy issues. This President is not invincible in his personality or in his policies. President Obama is not a god and should not be treated as one. The President is a very gifted individual who is able be very Presidential on all matters. No President should ever be viewed be viewed in anyway as invincible. This would be a mistake. The President is a human being who, makes mistakes just like everyone else. The idea of a President as a king is not what our Founding Fathers wanted, and invincible is not the attitude of this President. This President is a realist, and understands his position very well in an American Democracy. This President has shown the ability to speak clearly, while making his points very understandable. Is the President or his policies invincible? No. Is the President a very clever individual doing the most demanding job in the world. Yes. The Office of the Presidency does not age the individual. Instead. It is the individual that becomes aged by the Presidency. The President going to Ground Zero is not a poltical move at all, and no speeches will be given by the President. This is another good choice Mr. President.
"The Republicans could beat this guy. All they have to do is find someone to do it. They have to find a candidate who is smart, gutsy, nimble, creative, credible, determined and capable of raising vast sums of money."
All they have to do is talk Obama into running as a Republican, good luck with that.
The Republican party is waiting for Superman, and they don't even have Clark Kent. Oh and good luck with Newt he won't even get in the phone booth.
Forest, all they've got is 2017...and that's a maybe....
And the Republicans record to date has shown they are pathological lier's ... psychopaths and racists ..... not the America 88 % of us want ! The congress has no idea how betrayed the people feel ..finding out we have been asked to give up social security and Medicare ...and they gave billions every month to foreign countries ...... while we lose our homes and our children go hungry !
Say @ #9. Please show where anybody's been asked to give up Social Security and Medicare. Has there been a proposal to change it? Yes. And, Say, if we don't make changes, NOBODY will get anything from them.
As far as MSNBC's thought that Obama is "invincible". Never count your chickens before they hatch. And, do remember Truman versus Dewey!
They can't spin their way out with the unemployed. Even a kid knows if dad has a job or not. Tax cuts, smax cuts, yeah you cut my taxes, no paycheck no taxes they have never been lower and I have never been so unhappy. Spin me up some groceries. My kid is sick will the spin doctor see him now? 11 million people can't live on spin. Politicians in both parties better start doing something for the middle class or get used to have to having lots of "guests" in their state capitols.
" They have to find a candidate who is smart, gutsy, nimble, creative, credible, determined and capable of raising vast sums of money. Give me a minute, and I’ll try to come up with a name.”
you dont need a minute, here it is:
Mitch Daniels.
I really think a Republican Obama has a better chance. NOT! LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Rightfully so the Obama Administration should take the credit for this operation. Bush had YEARS to find bin Ladin. in 2002 or 03, Bush himself admitted publicly that he didn't dwell on bin Ladin or his location. If he panties are twisted, it comes from the legacy that he couldn't complete that his replacement had the moxie and persistence to execute on.
The Bushies who are crawling out of the woodwork trying to carve credit out of this operation should just stay where they were and remain quiet.
Jobless claim hits 8 month high to new first time claims of 474,000. Its on MSNBC for those who don't belive anything that doesn't come out of Rachel's mouth.
How's that hope and change working out today?
Lets see:
Up 170000 Yesterday. Down 474,000 today. Seem like a net loss. But I do GOP math.
Isn’t that a big thanks to the Republican House … the legislative body that promised to focus on jobs first?
Also let’s give a big thanks to John Boehner for all those bills that will create a better atmosphere for business to create jobs like a repeal of health care, defunding PP, limiting access to abortions by redefining ‘rape’ and make sure oil companies get to keep the subsidies.
@Dennis
Nice...those were my thoughts every time Republicans start that up again.
Some tl;dr here:
Honestly, I never hated Bush, even though I definitely like Obama. I personally had nothing against the guy, funny thing, I wanted to vote for him in High School the first time he ran. I'm from a rather centrist upper income family. But I had some issues with how his party does things:
Treating the American people like a mass commodity instead of individual people with needs doesn't endear me to anyone. Acting like the only experience that matters is that of the top 1 or 2% of earners, and the rest of us are just looters and moochers always gets on my bad side. Demanding people make sacrifices and subscribe to your way of living, but insulting them when they ask you to do the same? Pisses me off. And I am definitely not impressed that Bush seems like he's more worried about whether or not his administration got credit for nailing Bin Laden than the fact that he's been nailed in the first place. I don't see why he couldn't have accepted the invitation and came anyways, but it is not like that party has been very gracious towards Obama before.
It reminds me of when I would do group projects in college, and how there were always these people to talked a huge game and proceed to nit pick everything the rest of us did, but stopped showing up to do group work near the middle of the semester. Then they would come back and get upset because we wouldn't let them just put their names on the paper when the project was due.
Only two men in history have been reported to walk on water.President Obama has been in office a little over two years.What do you people want? He' the President..he's not a saint.And some of you forget that he is half white.I guess it's just that other pesky side of his heritage that bothers some of you.Accept the fact that we are a nation of mutts. Even if we were all one color...we as human beings,,would still find something to fight about, It's our nature.
Dream on. obama is a communist. The majority of people are not.