Eleanor Clift: Obama Lacks 'Feel' for Politics
Eleanor Clint doesn't exactly say that President Barack Obama is completely clueless about politics but she comes pretty close to it in her latest Newsweek column. The lack of a basic ability to control the political agenda in Washington is a prospect that makes a committed liberal like Clift somewhat less than happy:
Obama’s storied political career took him from the relative obscurity of the Illinois State Legislature to the presidency in such a short time that he didn’t get much of a feel for the nitty-gritty politicking that consumes so much of today’s partisan bickering. He didn’t have the benefit of getting beaten badly at the state level, like Clinton was in Arkansas, and having to learn how to reinvent himself.
Remember when it was only conservatives back in 2008 who mocked the cult of Obama worship which even included images of Obama surrounded by a halos? Welcome to the club, Eleanor, now that it is too late:
Part of Obama’s problem is that there’s too much hero worship around him, and that translates into a reluctance to fault him for anything, except maybe that he didn’t make a good enough case for all the wonderful things he’s done.
Gee, and who were the ones who engaged in much of this hero worship of Obama two years ago Eleanor? Could it have been much of the mainstream media, including your own Newsweek, which went completely overboard in its adoration of the Lightworker?
The newly enlightened Clift worries that the merely mortal Obama with his lack of basic political skills will be handicapped when dealing with the controversy over extending the Bush tax cuts:
Obama is an undefined figure to much of the country, and to his fellow Democrats. Though he’s portrayed as a liberal, it’s not clear what he’ll fight for, and he keeps that deliberately vague, perhaps hoping to deliver on the post-partisan promise his election represented. The fight over whether to extend Bush-era tax cuts is a perfect example. The White House needs to settle on a strategy and then execute it, whatever it is. Hope is not a strategy, and the extent to which Obama seems to weigh the political considerations of whatever decision he makes reinforces the voters’ disillusionment that rather than leading, he has instead become part of the government—an implicit admission of his failure to bring about the change he ran on.
Perhaps Clift should have worried about Obama's lack of political experience a few years ago when Obama first emerged as a presidential prospect. It's too late now and the Democrats (and Eleanor Clift) are stuck with a politically inexperienced leader.
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Comments
Obama voted "present"
Submitted by Ashrak on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:00pm.
Obama voted "present" endlessly. That's what he is doing now. The water carrying media was his antifreeze and now, as it gets cold across the nation, he looks for media to hold up his Pres__ency, more and more will he be confronted by this kind of article.
As happens to so many cars this time of year, Obama is going to blow a gasket. Indeed his head will crack. He has lied so many times, about so many things, that just pushing a freeze plug out isn't going to save the day. Obama had his Marxism is an Epic Fail and those who bought it and thought they could fool the country through it are curling up their tails.
Sure, it is sometimes enjoyable to be able to say "I told you so" but this time it has to go beyond that. Mainstream media has to admit "Yeah, you told us so". So too must it admit "and we didn't listen".
Gee, Eleanor -- NOW you tell us!
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:23pm.
When we raised these very issues in 2008, we were assured by you and others that
1) His inexperience was actually an asset; he was untainted by Washington.
2) His uber-intellect would discern the real roots of problems and his people-skills would inspire both allies and opponents to do the right thing. He's the smartest man to ever hold the office, we were told.
3) He would change how Washington operates, resulting in improved efficiencies and transparency in the Federal government, even though he barely had his butt in his Senate seat during his Presidential campaigning to even observe how the Senate operates.
And now you're finally conceding that Barack the Boy Wonder lacks the political skills -- let alone the leadership traits -- to pull off anything. While you and your pals tell us that Palin isn't ready for prime time, you've finally noticed that Obama was even less ready, and he doesn't seem to be a quick learner.
It's about time that you and your MSM peers issued an apology to the American people. But I'm not holding my breath in anticipation.
Can't be said any better than
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:43pm.
Can't be said any better than that, Gal!
I would just add that IMO his biggest problem is his own ego!
Yep, narcissism is one of his greatest flaws
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:53pm.
The President of the United States has tremendous resources at this beck and call, from subject matter experts to advisors to political movers-and-shakers who can translate his direction into action. He's doesn't have to be the end-all-and-be-all, but he does have to realize when it's time to entrust others with execution.
Obama seems to be tone deaf, and it may be his ego getting in the way. He doesn't want anyone telling him that what he wants is wrong, and in that sense, I think he's politically paralyzed at this point.
his background
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 2:39pm.
Don't forget his background with Islam and Marxism, including the people he surrounded himself with(Ayers, Wright, etc).
He doesn't understand why people aren't embracing the desire to redistribute wealth.
-Jon
You may be right
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:05pm.
I think he's bewildered about the fact that most people aren't supportive of his Robin Hood schemes. A devout ideologue often has difficulty accepting the rejection of what he himself holds to be a true law of nature.
In a "Gimme Society," it's natural for a Leftist to assume that he can win allies by promising to take from the other guy and give it to them.
But the majority of Americans seem to be awakening to the pitfalls of that game. They realize that eventually, the shrinking numbers of Haves are busting ass to support the Have Nots, and they reject Obama's trajectory for getting us there.
Recognizing that the public is now aware of what they acquired in November 2008, the Left more and more falls back on the Race Card tactic, hoping that a collective guilt-trip will steer voters back into the Hope & Change euphoria of two years ago.
But I think we've thankfully gone beyond the Point of No Return.
Translation:
Submitted by texriot on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:13pm.
The SOB can't and didn't learn to hide his lies as well as the rest of the political class. His lies are blatant and transparent. Billy boy lied as much and was close in level of narcissism, but he made you feel like he still liked and cared for you. Current POS can't hide his contempt for the American people and his side is finally realizing that he has as much contempt for them as he does for the rest of us.
Why is it that when Conservatives give a speech, the crowd yells "America",but when O gives a speech, the crowd chants "Obama"?
I have an idea for him...
Submitted by c5then on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:22pm.
He should travel incognito by Commercial Airline. TSA will be happy to give him a "feel".
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
And when that happens we'll
Submitted by celator on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 2:28pm.
And when that happens we'll hear Obama say to the TSA agent: "Hey, I'll give you two hours to stop goosing me before I whisper for help!"
She pretty much nailed it
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:49pm.
She pretty much nailed it right at the beginning - Boy Blunder's 'storied' political carrer is JUST THAT!!! A story........................and quite a bad one at that.
Yeah, when
Submitted by UpNorth on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 3:18pm.
he used the Chicago political machine to get rid of his opponents, when his handlers never let him utter a word without a teleprompter, when his first impulse was to bury his past and his present, what the h**l do you expect, Ms Clift?
I'd be surprised if O can see his reflection in a mirror, there's no substance there, nothing at all.
Reflection...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 3:30pm.
No, I doubt that O has a reflection...Political vampires usually don't...They just suck the life (and the money) out of their constituents, and Obama certainly fills the bill on that one, as our ballooning deficit shows.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
What bold insight! Thanks, Eleanor!
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 2:15pm.
Gee...Let's see...It only took the brilliant Ms. Clift nearly two years to recognize what many of us knew before the election in '08...She ain't too quick, is she? The fact is that Obama the Narcissist never believed that he would have to worry about a silly little thing like politicking...He would rule by the sheer power and force of his brilliant intellect and presence...Remember, this is the man who infamously told Harry Reid that he has "a gift"...
The Cult of Obama and the hero worship of him was largely created and pushed by members of the media, one of whom was, wait for it, Eleanor Clift! The fact that she now is apparently (finally) willing to recognize that this Obama-worship is (and was) unfounded is a bit anti-climactic, considering that many of us knew Obama for what he is, long before now.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Hang on boys and girls and
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 2:14pm.
Hang on boys and girls and keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times, its gonna be a bumby ride the next two years.
You want to see the REAL Obama ?
Submitted by ripper58 on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 2:50pm.
Look at the mans face as he is giving that brave soldier the medal of honor!!!! It's utter contempt !!!!! This man should of be vetted by a FREE PRESS years ago. Oh and we TOLD YOU SO!!!!
make a video
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:03pm.
someone's got to cut a video that shows that, including a freeze frame or two.
Of course I know he has contempt for anything military...or anything American.
-Jon
It took Elenaor two years to
Submitted by bassndude on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 3:35pm.
It took Elenaor two years to figure this out? No wonder we cant get "news" from this publication. They are slower than snails.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
Truth be told, I'd prefer Hu
Submitted by Thoreau on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:00pm.
Truth be told, I'd prefer Hu Jintao, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, to be our President. He would do all the same things, but at least he'd protect his Country and it's borders. All we have now is the Communist Usurper in Chief that wants to burn this Country to ash while singing Madrasah songs from his childhood.
tough call
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:09pm.
So a Communist from China versus a Muslim Communist.
That's a real tough call, but considering one would kill you for not converting, I might have to go with communist from China....at least they won't kill you for not converting, just have to follow the rules.
-Jon
I've been to
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 1:53am.
I've been to China............they sure as hell are doing a better job with their economy than Boy Blunder and his gang of merry incompetants are!!!! Their worst 'investments' are probably OUR debt!!!!!
Why can't we accept his superior abilities?
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:53pm.
SWIFT: "Part of Obama’s problem is that there’s too much hero worship around him, and that translates into a reluctance to fault him for anything, except maybe that he didn’t make a good enough case for all the wonderful things he’s done."
Of course, Eleanor. That's it. If only we were smarter, Obama would be beloved.
Do you think that from the basic standpoint of mathematics...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 5:06pm.
it ever occurs to these twits (Clift and Co.), that they are the ones who are wrong about Obama? There are many more of "us" (those who just don't understand or appreciate all the wonderful things that he has done for us) than there are of "them" (those who fall over in a dead faint at Obama's feet), and simply by that fact, you would think that Clift and her lib friends might just once wonder if they and Obama are the ones who are wrong.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Not publicly . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 7:17pm.
They may express some doubt amongst each other in private, but they won't admit it in public.
For one thing, the Left never concedes that average Americans -- regardless of number -- are smarter than they. If Obama's popularity is down, it's because average Americans aren't smart enough to appreciate just how much goodness Obama has brought to us. (See Clift's article; she says so in no uncertain terms).
This is nothing new.
In 1956, Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson was on the campaign trail when he spotted a sign that read:
"Thinking Americans Vote for Adlai."
Stevenson -- always regarded by many to be an Eastern snob -- responded with "That's not enough. I'm going to need a majority."
So, they may express disappointment in Obama, but few will ever repudiate him, because to so so would concede that they ain't as smart as they profess.
My question
Submitted by HockeyKid on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:59pm.
is: Who wrote this column for you, Eleanor? And why did you wait 2 years to run it?
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
We' re glad he has no experience politicking
Submitted by gwalt on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 6:09pm.
Like my 88 year old immigrant mother said a few months ago and still believes this; God sent him to us now. Think about it. IF he had experience, patience, seasoning etc., he would be even more of a threat----- for 8 years. I have had a few friends also say he is Gods gift to us. Sure it would have been better not to have him, but with McLame, we were doomed. We now have the luxury of looking back and having 20-20. Better to have this immature, petulant, know it all, fumbling, Marxist, racist, and his Chewbacca wife now. If McLame had won, the media would have destroyed him and then Odingo would have that experience Clift states are lacking. We would have been worse off. And I still stand by my prediction that he was never going to run again. That's why Hill took SecState. Why would she take something working FOR him, while they despise each other? Whynwould he give her the sorely lacking thing that bit her in the cankles----Foreign Policy? He's done. Look for more vacations, more lavish than the previous ones. Who's going to stop him?"A lot of briefing for a 2 hr. special with Dan Rather. Saw the show & wonder why we bothered". Ronald Reagan
Obama is not interested in
Submitted by jkwtrading on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 6:22pm.
Obama is not interested in politcs..he wants power.
the news people are assuming Obama will achieve power in a nice sweet, legislative process. I don't agree. I think he will and is doing a power play now..they just are missing it.
a power deal occurred with the Russians and nato, Saudi Arabia, and even his trip to far east smacked of POWER , a showcase. I sense Obama stepped it up a notch the past 2 weeks and the press is missing it completely.
Alinsky calls for 2 steps, step one is power in legislative, that power is make legislation confusing, Obama has done that. next step is naked power, and that is what he is doing now.
power corrupt
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 7:43pm.
That's got to be part of that thing where Dave commented after I did that there seemed to be something in the works with all this happening.
Yeah, he might have been made a fool of in some cases while overseas, but after his comments about the TSA, he's starting to show that naked power or at the very least the absolute desire to get it any way he can.
-Jon
He's going to be after the
Submitted by Radical1979 on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 8:03pm.
He's going to be after the internet and Fox news next. They'll gladly sacrifice MSNBC to get Fox of the air. After all they still have ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN.
But does anyone doubt that by
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 2:00am.
But does anyone doubt that by the weekend Clift will be back on McLaughlin shrieking out a defense of Obama?
All of NB should read this*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 12:00pm.
http://biggovernment.com/smotley/2010/11/23/its-official-the-fcc-will-vote-to-take-over-the-internet-in-december/
This power grab maybe the end of many desenting voices and a plethera of "useful idiots" added to the air waves. Write your congresscritters folks.
Why try to fix something that
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 12:18pm.
Why try to fix something that aint broke?