Bumpy Takeoff for Air Obama

Face it, Obamaniacs. The Man has had a rough start.



Kind of like Flight 1549, he ran into some turkeys on takeoff. Some of the turkeys were Republicans. Some were Democrats in Congress. And some were in his own administration.



But buck up. At several key points in the campaign, Obama seemed about to stall out. Each time he pulled out of it. He’s still got plenty of lift and thrust, and he can still get this flight up in the air.



Let’s examine his three problems:



House Democrats: Heeding Rahmbo Emmanuel’s advice to not let a good crisis go to waste, they loaded the stimulus bill with pork. They made it a tempting target.



The reaction from the public should be no surprise. I did a focus group recently among white, male businessmen. The research was for a nonprofit group that does good work for a good cause. The do-gooders were shocked to find how cynical the businessmen were about the ability of government to do anything right, especially spend tax money right.



What in the recent history of Washington would give them confidence?



Obama’s Administration: Their problem is obvious. They won the election, and they were still on an Inauguration high. They thought everything would go smoothly and everybody would lie down before them. Not happening.



What made them think that – just when they were pillorying Wall Street bankers for greed and excess – they could get away with appointing Washington insiders who had their own history of greed and excess? The one thing you can say for Tom Daschle is that he had been around Washington long enough to realize – before Obama did – that his turkey was cooked.



Congressional Republicans: This actually is not a problem for Obama. It’s the solution. This appears to be the Angry White Man Caucus. The more Obama can make this a debate between himself and John McCain (we know how that turns out), Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, the better it is.



Obama seems to have gotten the message. He has pressed the reset button and returned to campaign mode.



Damn the turkeys! Full speed ahead!




Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.

Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

Bumpy Takeoff for Air Obama

Face it, Obamaniacs. The Man has had a rough start.



Kind of like Flight 1549, he ran into some turkeys on takeoff. Some of the turkeys were Republicans. Some were Democrats in Congress. And some were in his own administration.



But buck up. At several key points in the campaign, Obama seemed about to stall out. Each time he pulled out of it. He’s still got plenty of lift and thrust, and he can still get this flight up in the air.



Let’s examine his three problems:



House Democrats: Heeding Rahmbo Emmanuel’s advice to not let a good crisis go to waste, they loaded the stimulus bill with pork. They made it a tempting target.



The reaction from the public should be no surprise. I did a focus group recently among white, male businessmen. The research was for a nonprofit group that does good work for a good cause. The do-gooders were shocked to find how cynical the businessmen were about the ability of government to do anything right, especially spend tax money right.



What in the recent history of Washington would give them confidence?



Obama’s Administration: Their problem is obvious. They won the election, and they were still on an Inauguration high. They thought everything would go smoothly and everybody would lie down before them. Not happening.



What made them think that – just when they were pillorying Wall Street bankers for greed and excess – they could get away with appointing Washington insiders who had their own history of greed and excess? The one thing you can say for Tom Daschle is that he had been around Washington long enough to realize – before Obama did – that his turkey was cooked.



Congressional Republicans: This actually is not a problem for Obama. It’s the solution. This appears to be the Angry White Man Caucus. The more Obama can make this a debate between himself and John McCain (we know how that turns out), Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, the better it is.



Obama seems to have gotten the message. He has pressed the reset button and returned to campaign mode.



Damn the turkeys! Full speed ahead!




Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.

Avatar photo

Gary Pearce

Categories

Archives