Napoleon’s Mother
2010-01-25 - by
Sometimes it seems like one of a President’s less enviable jobs is to be a kind of national whipping boy, an outlet for our pent up frustrations and afflictions. And even if pummeling, say, Barack Obama or George Bush won’t put people back to work it sure is satisfying to have someone to blame.
Don’t misunderstand – it’s not that the poor Presidential lambs are innocent of error. They’re not. President Obama’s crusade to remold American society has given a lot of people the willies and his spending a couple of trillion dollars to jump start the economy has turned out to be a dud not a stimulus – but at the same time there are also forces afoot in the land more powerful even than a President. Of course that doesn’t matter politically because Americans are accustomed to instant gratification and if we don’t get it – look out.
Independent voters were so incensed at President Bush two years ago they elected Obama (even in North Carolina) and now they’re so mad at President Obama they’re electing Republicans (even in Massachusetts).
These days the political tides are flowing against President Obama so fast and deep they’re drowning Democratic candidates left and right. He got 62% of the vote in Massachusetts in 2008. The Democratic candidate for Senate in Massachusetts just got 46%. That means a whopping 25% of Obama’s supporters switched sides and voted Republican. Which means heading into the fall election there’s not a safe Democratic Congressman or Senator in sight.
And what about the Republicans up in Washington?
They’re doing two things. First, they’re congratulating themselves on their new found political brilliance.
Second, like Napoleon’s mother at his coronation they’re praying, If only this lasts – until November.
Posted in General, National Democrats
Napoleon’s Mother
2010-01-25/
Sometimes it seems like one of a President’s less enviable jobs is to be a kind of national whipping boy, an outlet for our pent up frustrations and afflictions. And even if pummeling, say, Barack Obama or George Bush won’t put people back to work it sure is satisfying to have someone to blame.
Don’t misunderstand – it’s not that the poor Presidential lambs are innocent of error. They’re not. President Obama’s crusade to remold American society has given a lot of people the willies and his spending a couple of trillion dollars to jump start the economy has turned out to be a dud not a stimulus – but at the same time there are also forces afoot in the land more powerful even than a President. Of course that doesn’t matter politically because Americans are accustomed to instant gratification and if we don’t get it – look out.
Independent voters were so incensed at President Bush two years ago they elected Obama (even in North Carolina) and now they’re so mad at President Obama they’re electing Republicans (even in Massachusetts).
These days the political tides are flowing against President Obama so fast and deep they’re drowning Democratic candidates left and right. He got 62% of the vote in Massachusetts in 2008. The Democratic candidate for Senate in Massachusetts just got 46%. That means a whopping 25% of Obama’s supporters switched sides and voted Republican. Which means heading into the fall election there’s not a safe Democratic Congressman or Senator in sight.
And what about the Republicans up in Washington?
They’re doing two things. First, they’re congratulating themselves on their new found political brilliance.
Second, like Napoleon’s mother at his coronation they’re praying, If only this lasts – until November.
Posted in General, National Democrats