Lefty Sachs Zaps Obama: 'No Plan, No Leadership'
All joking aside about "if Obama has lost [fill in the blank], he has lost America", there was a stunning display today of a formerly ardent supporter condemning in the most fundamental terms President Obama's failure of leadership.
On Morning Joe, leftist Columbia Prof. Jeffrey Sachs absolutely scalded the president. Declared Sachs: the stimulus failed. Three years in, Obama has no plan, and is providing "no leadership." Ouch. View video after the jump.
Watch Sachs, measured tones notwithstanding, absolutely scald PBO.
JEFFREY SACHS: We have a completely unsolved budget deficit. We don't have any agreements in this country what to do. But even worse than that, we don't have a clear position from the president who in our constitutional system is the one responsible for putting forward ideas . . . We're almost three years into this administration and there's never been a plan and that's what everybody feels. And the president didn't lead. He waited. The quintessential image, sadly, of an administration I supported and hoped for much better, is the president waiting by the phone to hear what Congress calls to tell him. It doesn't work in this country that way. It's not a matter that it's August. It's a matter that it's August 2011. So we've been drifting for a very long time. And we've been drifting down. And we had a short-term plan that failed. A short-term stimulus that was supposed to get the economy back on track, but it failed. And now we have nothing behind it. And we have no agreements and no leadership. And frankly I do think it's a pretty odd the president's on vacation right now. Normally I wouldn't care about such things. But the world markets are in deep crisis. It's no joke. This is no up-and-down little blip. This is a very serious situation.
At the very end, you'll hear fellow liberal professor and MSBNC contributor Melissa Harris-Perry trying to interject to defend President Obama. Her pitiful point? Even if PBO were in Washington, he couldn't accomplish anything.
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Comments
Hmmmmmmmmm.....really???
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 8:29am.
Hmmmmmmmmm.....really??? Gosh, I was just talking to an ex-client yesterday - an Obama voter - and they were saying the same thing. But, no......it must be a couple of isolated instances, right??? I mean..........this couldn't be more widespread than just a smattering of people who have gone off the reservation, right???
The prejudice of lowered expectations
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 10:10am.
Since his inauguration, Obama's supporters and the MSM echo have cut him a lot of slack while he 'grew into' the office of the Presidency. In my opinion, there were far less demands placed on him by those folks than on past Presidents because he is our first black President and they didn't want to harm his chances for success. As our buddy Chris Matthews announced on election night 2008, "My job is to help this Presidency succeed," as if he already knew is was going to need sympathetic MSM help. They alibi'ed his shortfalls by blaming the GOP, the Tea Party, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the usual targets hoping that he'd learn and improve in the meantime.
But now even many of his supporters -- especially from the Far Left who brand him as a sell-out and appeaser to the Right -- are concerned that his failure will usher in a Republican comeback across the board in 2012.
However, they won't abandon him at this point for the same reason that they ardently supported him over the first two years -- they don't want to be accused of throwing the first black President under the bus.
Left with no options but to support a very weak President in his re-election bid, they are pulling out all the stops on attacking the GOP candidates. We're over a year from the election and half a year from the Iowa caucus, and the Dems are already attacking any and every GOP candidate and potential candidate (Christie, Ryan, et al).
And it will get nastier.
I know what you're saying,
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 1:38pm.
I know what you're saying, Gal, and it's probably all pretty true...........I can just speak from what I run into around here. Believe it or not, I know some super-libs who have had it with Barama, but not because he's a sell-out or an appeaser, but because he's basically such a disaster that even THEY have had to admit it!!! I've had three different women that I know - all Obama voters - who have actually stopped me and admitted to me that they made a mistake - and even told me that they should have listened to me!!! (Now, that's a laugh!! I just told them what they should have done is a little homework............oh, but let's not forget, we had the McCain Mutiny, and that's a tough act to sell to almost anyone!!!).
As for my ex-clients - who are pretty well-off and world-knowledged - I remember having a number of conversations with them before the election, and I was just pointing out the various things that I knew - but, in typical fashion, they either didn't believe me or didn't want to hear about it. Well, they don't live here, so I only see them once in a blue moon.....but I ran into them yesterday, and it was an astonishing conversation!!! The wife even said that we've been 'hoodwinked'!!! Now think about the 'racial' overtones of that statement!! They're even going to invite me to dinner so that we can talk some more - I was on my lunch break, because I DO have some gainful empoyment over here in Barackistan.
But I still know a couple of whacked-out super-socialist libs who basically hate the USA, but don't mind living here and collecting unemployment and anything else that the government has to offer, and drive nice SUV's while flapping their gums about the 'global warming' BS......but they will never change.
I'd have to say, though, that I haven't had to deal with this 'black' thing for a long time. Maybe it's because this is Hawaii, and we've got the whole spectrum of colors, or because people have figured out that the 'black' thing 'ain't NO thang'!!! Personally, I was over the 'black' thing from day 1, because it's a load of crap, and it has nothing to do with the reality of the issue. Plus, the guy is more 'white' than 'black'............and I don't buy into that side of it either!!!
Back Up Plan
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 8:38am.
"A short-term stimulus that was supposed to get the economy back on track, but it failed. And now we have nothing behind it."
Except, hopefully, a new, conservative president and Congress.
President Downgrade says:
Submitted by merly1 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 8:45am.
"the trouble with being President is the job gets in the way of my free/fun time. Golf anyone?"
The 2010 election results spoke loudly.............................
When BHO loses the intellectuals
Submitted by packman on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:02am.
he's really in some serious trouble. Many of the people I know who supported BHO in 2008 are shaking their heads now and wondering how they could have ever been so misled. Personally I don't see how this man can continue to institute one failing policy after another, demonstrate precisely zero leadership, continue to take ill-timed vacations, yet continue to arrogantly pontificate that he knows whats best for this country. His current bus tour is nothing but a money-raising scam to fund his reelection efforts. This country cannot afford another four years of this consummate loser. All I can say is "NOBAMA2012!"
"...Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread..." ~Thomas Jefferson
Smelling the coffee at Morning Joe
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:08am.
I listened to part of the show on XM on my drive into work this AM, and the topic was a report regarding rising optimism in the US intelligence community that Gaddafi is making serious plans for exile in Tunisia, and that the regime's life expectancy is measured in days.
They asked Sachs for his opinion, and he responded with skepticism saying (I'm paraphrasing) that we've heard this kind of stuff over the past 5 months and yet Gaddafi remains. He correctly assessed that our intelligence capabilities in Libya and other Arab countries are inadequate, and he went on to project that even if Gaddafi leaves, the post-Gaddafi Libya may be more of a challenge than the old regime because the tribal-based society is very likely to fragment. He cited the old James Baker line about Pottery Barn Rules: If you break it, you own it.
I found Sachs' comments rather refreshing, in no small part due to that fact that I agree with him.
I commend your ability to listen to this stuff while driving
Submitted by IgnatzJFahrquar on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 10:30am.
It's hard enough to drive to and from work and keep any road rage under control (typically the Oblahblah bumper stickered cars that cause the issues). If I listened to Joe's show it would probably put me over the top.
It depends on who's on
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 1:57pm.
The instant I hear the voice of Sharpton, or Andrea Mitchell, or Tina Brown, or Huffington, or any Democratic politician, I usually turn it off.
But occasionally there are moments when guests like Sachs or even host Scaroborough himself throws a bucket of cold truth on the discussion, and it's interesting to hear the responses.
"The Anti-American President"
Submitted by Red Jeep on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:11am.
"Obviously something is rotten on Pennsylvania Avenue; no intelligent American president would do the things Obama has done. There has been talk of his inexperience, incompetence, or just plain stupidity to explain his Bizarro-administration. However, Obama is not incompetent; he is an intelligent anti-American president. Obama is not a failure at his job -- his job is the failure of our country...
Obama gets dreams from his socialist father. His mother was a fellow traveler. Obama lived in anti-American Indonesia as a child. Later, granddad decided Obama needed a Communist mentor. O got into Harvard on the recommendation of anti-Semitic Khalid al Mansour, an adviser to Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. In college O chose his friends carefully -- "the more politically active black students, foreign students, Chicanos, Marxist professors and structural feminists." As a professor he taught Marxist Saul Alinsky tactics, and as a constitutional scholar he believed that there are fundamental flaws in the Constitution, such as restraint on governmental power. As a community organizer and counsel he pushed sub-prime mortgages which helped buckle our economy.
He's a trench-mate with voter-fraudsters ACORN and quasi-commie SEIU. He had house parties and sat on boards with an unrepentant, revolutionary communist, who probably ghostwrote one of O's autobiographies. He attended the social-justice church of Jeremiah Wright, where he was preached at on collective salvation and black liberation. Illinois state senator and communism-lover Alice Palmer, picked O as her chief of staff. As a U.S. senator, he had the most leftist voting record. His wife's only source of American pride came in her 40s as a result of O's own success. He was endorsed by the Communist Party in 2004, and in 2008 Obama got CPUSA's endorsement again, basically running on the CPUSA platform. (And yes, CPUSA have endorsed him again for 2012!)
And this was before the campaign and presidency. Does his bio reflect incompetence or something more sinister? Does his journey sound like one of an all-American or an anti-American?..."
Did you know that Barry was endorsed by the Communist Party? Did the MSM forget to inform us of this fact?
Above just a brief part: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/08/the_anti-american_president.html
I read that piece and
Submitted by Gat New York on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:46am.
I read that piece and certainly agree about his background and the fact that his core beliefs are built around socialism. But is he part of some sinister plot to neuter the United States? Maybe. Is he knowlingly part of that? I don't think so. I disagree with the author about his high intelligence since that has never been proven and think he is a tool of others and always has been.
We are all products of our parents and environment. Did Obama as a kid make a conscious decision to become a socialist? Of course not. That was a decision made for him by his mother and grandparents who were socialists. So by the time he became an adult that was firmly embedded in his core principles and has been making decisions based on that his whole life.
I think the larger issue is the complete void of managment experience of Obama before coming to office. It was inevitable that events would overwhelm him and his incapacity to manage would be his downfall - and it is.
Even if Obama had this sudden transformation into a card carrying conservative, he would still fail because he has no ability to lead and manage.
Tell us something we don't know...
Submitted by Iron Tigers Vet on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:26am.
Americans tried to speak out and say this very same thing when he was running for office when you dolts were bragging him up.
Now all the rats are jumping ship before he takes you down with him.
Not to take away from Sach's
Submitted by Bhaal on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:33am.
Not to take away from Sach's points but I think this is the most telling statement from the article.
"Even if PBO were in Washington, he couldn't accomplish anything."
There is a lot of truth in it. Before he was elected I saw nothing in his record that indicated leadership or competence in governance. Three years into his presidency that is still true.
Waiting for the real Obama
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:50am.
For well over a year, the Left -- including the MSM and many of Obama's ardent Democratic supporters -- have been waiting for the "real" Obama to emerge.
As you noted, there is nothing in the man's personal history that even approximates the intellectual prowess and leadership skills that they projected on him.
Now, even the likes of Rep. Maxine Waters is critical of him.
Where is the 'real' Obama?
We've got him, folks. He peeked before his inauguration, and this is as good as he gets.
Sad Sachs
Submitted by P.J. Gladnick on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:35am.
Sad Sachs.
That joke almost writes itself especially in light of his own quote:
The quintessential image, sadly, of an administration I supported and hoped for much better, is the president waiting by the phone to hear what Congress calls to tell him.
Anyway, that should be Jeffrey's moniker in the future: Sad Sachs.
Stunning
Submitted by Gat New York on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:39am.
I was hoping you would pick up on this.
This diatribe by Sachs is further confirmation that Democrats are dissatisfied with Obama and can no longer pretend and may be seeking to push him out of running for re-election.
Sach's admission (" . . . the president waiting by the phone to hear what Congress calls to tell him.") is the larger problem with Obama which was inevitably be his Achilles heel. Even if Obama decided to become more conservative it would not matter because his complete void of management experience is the bigger issue. He is overwhelmed by events and defers to others.
We are in the midst of a worldwide global economic crisis and for all the bravado of the other countries the world still looks to the U.S. for leadership and stability. For Obama to be staying on vacation and not symbolically being in DC to at least be the face of stability and calm once and for all proves that he is in way over his head.
I suspect we will see more and more of these admissions by Democrats.
what? MSNBC didn't use thier
Submitted by JAJT on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:47am.
what? MSNBC didn't use thier 7 seconds delay button and ALLOWED that comment to be made!
I saw it at 3AM
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:18pm.
here on the Leftist coast and thought, "Did that guy really just say that Maobama's stimulus failed?". Then, I went back to sleep.
The Redical Pose
Submitted by clairesolt on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:48am.
Obama acts like he has a huge chip on his shoulder, but his beef is not at all related to his bio. He learned his leftism by rote but was spawned by American ideals of prosperity and equality. HIs jihad on banks is revelatory. Apparently, his grandmother was both a bank veep and a communist. Somehow that translates into ripping banks mercilessly. but that bank job paid for his elite education and other advantages.
First of all, I can't stand
Submitted by marpel on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:51am.
First of all, I can't stand this Sachs guy, but when Obama loses one of his premier water boys, it says a lot.
"Deep within my heart lies a memory. A song of ol' San Antone..."
Obama losing Sachs -
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:50am.
but does anyone really think that Sachs is going to vote for anyone besides Obama.
Sachs is Wrong.
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 10:11am.
Obama has a plan and has been implementing it. Obama's plan is to "fundamentally transform" America into a socialist welfare state.
The best plan is "no plan." Shrink the government and get it out of the economy and out of people's lives.
When gov tries to create jobs, it destroys them.
When gov "helps" businesses it ruins them.
When gov "helps" people with welfare it destroys their character with dependency.
When gov helps people to buy houses it creates a housing bubble.
........
The government's legitimate economic role of maintaining a stable currency is undermined by all their illegitimate activities.
econ
Submitted by ray johnson on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 10:33am.
Well, it's about time someone from Obamao's camp spoke out about what's been obvious for how long??
Krugman is on a rooftop somewhere...
Submitted by ChrisNH on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 10:32am.
Mr. Keynesian probably is ready for his own Final Act now. All that he has wished & hoped for is being repudiated...by his own people.
No. It hasn't been done right.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:52am.
More money needed for stimulus now. Stimulus 2 needed. Must throw more money at the problem now.
lots of conservatives with a
Submitted by no you cant on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:46am.
lots of conservatives with a clear plan that has worked over and over and over again. watch the left vote right to save their savings.
Coining a new phrase -
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:21pm.
"He has the Obama touch"
In light of the fact that every time Obama speaks the stock market takes a fall, every time he makes a prediction the opposite happens (even sports picks), and every time he promises one thing he does the opposite. It is exactly the opposite of the "Midas touch".
almostacowboy77,
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:25pm.
it will be interesting to see how many Democrats request President Obama to speak for them during the next election cycle.
If Obama ever had it in him, he...
Submitted by texasborngranny on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:47pm.
Blew his chance to lead.
But proved his incompetence.
Time for him to leave.
President Downgrade's "Plan" Revealed!!!
Submitted by Motormouth KOS on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 2:05pm.
The Obamination... A crisis leading to a catastrophe..(please donate to MRC)
Sachs ripps Obama - what he's really saying is . .
Submitted by Gary Hall on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 2:26pm.
. . . something that we already clearly understood; Obama is not presidential material - he is not a leader -- not a leader for anybody.
Shoe on other foot moment:
We all know this to be the case, but let me express it again. Had a far right conservative, Neo-Con, whatever - come out and dissed their own Republican president - Bush, for example - like Sachs did here to Obama - tomorrow, and for years to come, the entire national media would be fixated on the end of that Republican's presidency. On the streets of America as in the daily panel discussions on every TV, Cable and Radio show, we'd be hearing from every Democrat who appeared, "What is with you folks? Even your own people have laid it out that your unengaged President has failed his own party and the entire country. Why are you still acting like you support him?"
On the other hand, in this case, not a soul in the MSM will be interested in talking to Sachs anytime soon, and the national MSM won't utter a word. Only us, and those who watched Morning Joe, will have heard this word.
Needed action folks -- send it to everyone.
(;~> gary
Hey, what happened here?
Submitted by ironhead4099 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 3:23pm.
Well it seems this libturd finally got the instructions right.
Step 1. Open mouth.
Step 2. Insert foot.
You'll see a lot of this in the next 15 month's, libturd's moving away from Obiwan like he has the plague or something.
The exception will be the dipshit's on MSLED and their CommieCast cohort's to play up everything he say's as a God send. And to step up the attacks on Republican canidates, that will only get worse, as Obiwan's imcompetence becomes more apparent each day, speech, and campaign stop.
Joe Scab better watch out, he keeps getting guys like this and the one who called Obiwan what he is, a DICK, he won't have anyone who'll come on his show.
Hey, what happened here?
Submitted by ironhead4099 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 3:24pm.
Well it seems this libturd finally got the instructions right.
Step 1. Open mouth.
Step 2. Insert foot.
You'll see a lot of this in the next 15 month's, libturd's moving away from Obiwan like he has the plague or something.
The exception will be the dipshit's on MSLED and their CommieCast cohort's to play up everything he says as a God send. And to step up the attacks on Republican canidates, that will only get worse, as Obiwan's imcompetence becomes more apparent each day, speech, and campaign stop.
Joe Scab better watch out, he keeps getting guys like this and the one who called Obiwan what he is, a DICK, he won't have anyone who'll come on his show.
Hey, what happened here?
Submitted by ironhead4099 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 3:28pm.
Well it seems this libturd finally got the instructions right.
Step 1. Open mouth.
Step 2. Insert foot.
You'll see a lot of this in the next 15 month's, libturd's moving away from Obiwan like he has the plague or something.
The exception will be the dipshit's on MSLED and their CommieCast cohort's to play up everything he says as a God send. And to step up the attacks on Republican canidates, that will only get worse, as Obiwan's imcompetence becomes more apparent with each day, speech, campaign stop, and every lameass giveaway he can think of to buy votes .
Joe Scab better watch out, he keeps getting guys like this and the one who called Obiwan what he is, a DICK, he won't have anyone who'll come on his show.