Draft Hillary?

As far as some Democrats are concerned, the only thing wrong with James Carville’s “Panic, Fire, Indict, Fight” advice for President Obama is that, for once, old James didn’t go far enough.
 
It’s time, they say, for President Obama to consider standing down next year and letting another Democrat (read, Hillary Clinton) take the baton.
 
Now, it’ll likely never happen (never say never in politics), but here’s why it might make sense:
 
First, Obama has to be the unluckiest President since Herbert Hoover. He took office just as the country fell off an economic cliff that (now they tell us) historically takes five years to climb out of. (Starting with September 2008, that means recover in the fall of 2013 – during the first year of the next President’s term. Lucky stiff!)
 
Second, Americans want leaders who win, not whine. They love Presidents (and Governors) who get their programs through the Congress and the legislature, whatever the obstacles. President Obama is in danger of being seen as a weak leader who is reduced to traveling around the country complaining that Congress won’t play nice.
 
Third, Obama’s policy prescriptions seem reduced to higher taxes and more spending – maybe not the smartest politics these days.
 
Finally, there sometimes comes a time when voters decide that a President, no matter how much they like him or hate his opponents, just doesn’t have that special it that’s needed in the Oval Office. Obama is skating dangerously close to that thin ice.
 
Right now, even the Obama team sounds unconvinced of its prospects. Of course, right now, it’s still too early to give up. Miracles happen.
 
But if things don’t get better by winter, maybe it’s time to bail – and keep hope alive for another Democrat.
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Gary Pearce

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Draft Hillary?

As far as some Democrats are concerned, the only thing wrong with James Carville’s “Panic, Fire, Indict, Fight” advice for President Obama is that, for once, old James didn’t go far enough.
 
It’s time, they say, for President Obama to consider standing down next year and letting another Democrat (read, Hillary Clinton) take the baton.
 
Now, it’ll likely never happen (never say never in politics), but here’s why it might make sense:
 
First, Obama has to be the unluckiest President since Herbert Hoover. He took office just as the country fell off an economic cliff that (now they tell us) historically takes five years to climb out of. (Starting with September 2008, that means recover in the fall of 2013 – during the first year of the next President’s term. Lucky stiff!)
 
Second, Americans want leaders who win, not whine. They love Presidents (and Governors) who get their programs through the Congress and the legislature, whatever the obstacles. President Obama is in danger of being seen as a weak leader who is reduced to traveling around the country complaining that Congress won’t play nice.
 
Third, Obama’s policy prescriptions seem reduced to higher taxes and more spending – maybe not the smartest politics these days.
 
Finally, there sometimes comes a time when voters decide that a President, no matter how much they like him or hate his opponents, just doesn’t have that special it that’s needed in the Oval Office. Obama is skating dangerously close to that thin ice.
 
Right now, even the Obama team sounds unconvinced of its prospects. Of course, right now, it’s still too early to give up. Miracles happen.
 
But if things don’t get better by winter, maybe it’s time to bail – and keep hope alive for another Democrat.
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Gary Pearce

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