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Robin Buckson / AP
The president's first four years at the White House in pictures.
Fresh off re-election, presidents begin their second terms freed from the burdens of campaigning for the White House ever again and, typically, with high hopes and ambitious agendas.
Yet because they are among the few Washington politicians unconcerned about the next election, they are also lame ducks from the very first hour of their second term – and they have a relatively narrow window to accomplish their goals.
While the newly re-elected president may be intent on building a record that would burnish his legacy in historians’ eyes, members of Congress know that he has a dwindling number of months to punish or reward them and to stymie or advance their own legislative ideas.
President Barack Obama will prod Congress to enact an overhaul of the nation’s immigration law, pass further restrictions on gun sales, get more tax revenue from upper-income people and perhaps consider climate change remediation.
From the looming debt ceiling deadline to gun control, and reshuffling his Cabinet – President Barack Obama's second term is front-loaded with potential standoffs with a divided Congress. Republican strategist Mary Matalin discusses.
How much of this agenda he can accomplish will depend partly on his skill in exploiting divisions in Republican congressional ranks and reassuring congressional Democrats up for re-election in 2014 who may be skittish about the president’s plans.
Looming above the other issues is the fiscal dilemma: The ratio of federal debt to national income will keep growing despite the tax increases Obama signed on Jan. 2.
“The president must know that he’s not going to have a very happy second term unless a very large part of the long-run budget problem is solved on his watch,” Rudolph Penner, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said at a recent panel discussion at the Urban Institute in Washington. Otherwise, Obama will face a series of fiscal standoffs “that greatly restrict his ability to make progress on immigration reform, education, infrastructure, etc.”
Lessons from past presidents
In the past 60 years, there have been five presidents, prior to Obama, who’ve been re-elected to a second term.
Although past outcomes do not determine future performance, all five had their share of disappointments, although two, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, ended up with Gallup ratings in which more than three-out-of-five Americans approved of their performance.
George W. Bush was re-elected with 51 percent of the vote in 2004, with his party gaining four seats in the Senate and bolstering its majority in the House by three. For the first time since 1924, the Republicans re-elected a president and controlled both houses of Congress.
Yet Bush failed to get his plan to redesign Social Security considered by Congress. His party rebelled against his effort to revamp immigration law. And he was pre-occupied with the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which made Bush and his party so unpopular that in 2006, Republicans lost both their House and Senate majorities. Perhaps his only consolation was that his two Supreme Court nominees were confirmed and would likely serve on the high court for decades after Bush returned to Texas.
There’s no universal principle that makes second terms disappointing.
There is, however, a recurring pattern, which has held for 55 years, that in the sixth year of a two-term presidency – for Obama that will be 2014 – the president’s party loses congressional seats: on average 28 in the House and six in the Senate.
That average is skewed somewhat by the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and Richard Nixon’s resignation just two months before the 1974 midterm elections – which ended up in disaster for the GOP.
But even the popular Dwight Eisenhower saw his party lose 47 House seats and 13 in the Senate in the sixth year of his presidency, a worse outcome than the post-Nixon debacle of 1974.
Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library
ARCHIVAL PHOTO: President Ronald Reagan is sworn in for second term by Warren Burger.
In Reagan’s second term he signed tax reform into law and began to move to a nuclear arms accord with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
But in second terms a president’s flaws – temperamental and managerial – have more time to emerge and to do damage.
Case in point: Reagan’s disengagement from day-to-day administration of the presidency, combined with the exit of James Baker from the post of White House chief of staff and his replacement by the miscast Don Regan.
This helped create the Iran-Contra crisis. The administration traded weapons to an Iranian regime that only seven years earlier had held U.S. diplomats hostage. In return, some hostages held by Iranian allies in Lebanon were released – and money from arms sales was shunted to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
“The president did not seem to be aware of the way in which the operation was implemented and the full consequences of U.S. participation,” concluded the three-man commission Reagan appointed to investigate the affair in 1987.
“What he didn't remember astonished us,” one member of the commission, former senator and secretary of state Ed Muskie, a Democrat, said after the panel interviewed Reagan. “I wouldn't say we considered him a mental patient. But certainly we were all appalled by the absence of the kind of alertness and vigilance to his job… that one expects of a president,” Muskie added.
Clinton’s second term offers different lessons from a different kind of president.
Would Clinton have accomplished more in his second term had it not been for the Monica Lewinsky affair and the resulting impeachment? It’s impossible to know for sure, but what’s striking is how much he did do.
In 2000, despite labor union opposition, he persuaded Congress to give permanent normal trade status to China, opening the way to a vast expansion of trade between the U.S. and China.
Another bipartisan post-impeachment accomplishment of Clinton’s second term was the Gramm-Leach-Bliley law he signed in 1999, which passed both chambers of Congress by lopsided majority. It repealed Depression-era curbs on banks and investment firms and, according to some financial industry observers, helped make the 2007-08 financial crisis worse by making banks more complex and their risks harder to control.
The cautionary lesson of the 1999 financial sector reform is that second-term accomplishments must be judged neither by how bipartisan they were nor by how they looked on the day a president left office, but by their long-run effects.
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Well, Bush Jr. set the bar pretty low at the end of his second term, so if Obama doesn't mess up too badly, Obama and the democrats should be looking pretty good at the end of Obama's second term. Only time will tell.
The rise of far right is nothing short of fascism in this country that is sucking any reason rationale and broader interests of the people from the politics in this country.
Obama in the end is just a man. The overall broad turn towards guns god and money-power needs to be shut off. But then those are the natural vices that men get attracted towards. FDRs and Kennedys' greatness lies in rising above smallness. Whether Obama will lift this nation's hopes and be able to call to the better side of Americans ... we will see. But regardless, he was a far better outcome than either McCain or Romney - both of whom were opportunistic pigs.
Not sure how good Obama can look. Odds are the economy will be in the toilet 4 years from now. He is doing nothing that is good for the economy. Too bad we will all have to suffer to prove it. Of course he can blame all his failures on Bush and Republicans.
The economy will not be in the toilet in 4 years from now. Course, we can ignore that BUSH passed 11 trillion in debt, the 19 times the GOP voted to raise the debt ceiling, and two foreign wars. Oh wait, to the right that's considered blame, to the rest of us, its CONSIDERED facts. Romney tried to tell us to 'pretend' Bush didn't happen... but those things are REALITY.
ItsAboutTime: You failed to mention that the democrats took control of both houses in 2006 and the debt started climbing dramatically. Bush failed in his leadership the last two years of his presidency and Obama failed in the first four years of his presidency. One can only hope that some leadership arises that will assist and lead Obama to get some things done during his second term. Wish him well, but I do not have high hopes. At some point maybe Reid and Boehner will be replaced with better congressional leaders.
Wow! Are you guys going to throw in the "Bush Tax Cuts" now also? Aren't you even going to rename them the "Obama Tax Cuts"?
Pretty sad when all we can do is look backwards to see who else to blame, I note that no one is trying to give Bush credit for the killing of Osama Bin Laden, when all of the intel, etc. was gleaned during his administration? But, I keep forgetting, President Obama takes all of the credit and none of the blame.
mission accomplished-
The healthcare reform and Dodd-Frank are two crowning achievements, in addition to many others.
This term...just wait for the recovery that will finally come - mission will be accomplished-
Don't forget a 100% debt to GDP ratio and Trillion dollar deficits! Oops, sorry, those are Bush's fault also, right? How can that guy keep manipulating Congress and this Administration while not in office? I mean, they haven't passed a budget in 4 years - that's gotta be a record!
CKSM
You failed to mention, that the GOP voted 19 times prior to 2006 to raise the debt ceiling. Additionally, Bush had the power to veto any spending bill that was provided across his desk. The Democrats did not have a super majority or the votes to override a BUSH veto. The right always seems to forget what it takes to over ride a presidential veto. Read Article 1 - United States Constitution.
The rest ingored. I do not consider the Obama administration to have had a failed first term. It's obvious to this moderate dem that he didn't do everything right, but considering what was left to him, he did well.
BOTH parties contributed to the debt, but the right certainly doesn't want to admit it.
it's on your record book, GOP!!! This is one major GOP act that destroyed the world economy. Be careful what you wish for...and your answered prayers (the Gramm-Leech-Blight Act) turned out to be a nightmare.
Then you GOPers have done a fantastic job of blaming it on the Dems.
Big difference between in spite of, and because of.
The rise of far right is nothing short of fascism in this country that is sucking any reason rationale and broader interests of the people from the politics in this country.
And how would you describe the record setting number of people on welfare and this administration pushing more people on even though they don't want/need it? Also having them work on giving amnesty to over 11 million illegal immigrants, the majority of which will also end up on welfare? Then lets flip to the corporate welfare where obama extended the overseas tax havens for GE, Citigroup and others? The left is turning this welfare state into Greece and sucking the life out of the middle class.
mission accomplished-
The healthcare reform and Dodd-Frank are two crowning achievements, in addition to many others.
Yes, stuff to be proud off. Raising healthcare costs for the middle class with ACA, good job! Over regulating business and running small business out of business between more regulations and ACA. Good Job!!! Such crowning achievements, so happy you're proud of yourself for extending even more misery.
I'd really hate to see what you libs could achieve if you HATED the middle class and small businesses... oh wait. you do.
Miss Piggy - You forgot the rest of the quote.
It happened on Clingon's watch so it is he who is to blame - just like you like putting the blame on "W" for the failed fiscal actions that were passed by the democrats' control during Bush's watch.
Can't have it both ways.
Help get rid of the reasons this country has gone to sh!it!!!
these progressive democrats sit around in their circle jerk campfires stoned and they want us to conform.
go here to sign a petition to force obama to enforce the federal bans on marijuana and uphold the laws on immigration.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enforce-current-federal-bans-marijuana-and-immigration/RJbsP4tV
I can't believe what I just read; they (This liberal rag) finally admit it after the fact.
His first term was crap, so I don't expect anything from his second. That is, other than ruining our entire nation.
If the Republicans would stop fighting this President every step of the way, this Country would be just find !!!
catch, this country would be bankrupt more like.
"While the newly re-elected president may be intent on building a record that would burnish his legacy in historians’ eyes, members of Congress know that he has a dwindling number of months to punish or reward them and to stymie or advance their own legislative ideas."
Obama's 'legacy' will be massive debt that cripples our economy, causes persistent high Unemployment, and a 'Health Care Plan' that was so partisan and flawed that it had to be completely restructured.
WHAAAT WAH WHATTT....
you mean to tell me its not easy making sure every dime in this country points at you once your term is up.....
lets me guess your investments...
healthcare
insurance
Citi bank, and other financials
and any other anti this or that....
gosh that does seem hard
He is and will go into history as the worst President ever.
rukidding, Its "BEST" not Worst !!!
RTyp0 "Well, Bush Jr. set the bar pretty low at the end of his second term, so if Obama doesn't mess up too badly, Obama and the democrats should be looking pretty good at the end of Obama's second term. Only time will tell."
The official data will tell a far different story - for example;
Under Bush, the average Unemployment Rate over 8 years was 5.33%, nearly identical with the 5.20% under Clinton.
Under Obama, it has averaged 9.10% over his first 4 years.
Average Employment increased from 131,785,000 jobs in 2000 to 136,794,000 jobs in 2008 - an increase of 5,009,000 jobs.
Under Obama, the average in 2012 was 133,363,000 jobs, a LOSS of 3,431,000 jobs in 4 years.
The economy (GDP) under Bush increased by 46.6% over 8 years, an average of 5.82% per year.
The economy under Obama has increased only 8.4% over 4 years, an average of only 2.1% per year.
The National Debt increased by $4.357 Trillion between fiscal 2000 and fiscal 2008 under Bush.
Obama projects the National Debt to increase another $10.406 Trillion by the end of fiscal 2016.
Perhaps you should pick an easier target for comparison, like Jimmy Carter.
Sources - Official government Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Obama White House 2013 Budget projections/historicals.
rukidding47 "He is and will go into history as the worst President ever."
While Jimmy Carter is probably the worst (so far) because his combined Unemployment and Inflation Rates (Misery Index) got as high as 21.98%, Obama will likely surpass Carter as the 'Worst President ever' because of the massive National Debt that he is running up (he projects a $10.4 Trillion increase in the Debt between the end of fiscal 2008 and his last year - fiscal 2016).
Worst President Ever!!
Roy please your stepping on toes here!!! Love It! Hit 'em harder with the truth. They hate it when they know they've failed to blind us all. Fresh Air, fresh air!!
Pigotry,
Agreed, another nail driven into America's heart.
Whereby, we crown the king as Failure-in-chief the 1st.
Let's see...since Barrycare kicked in, my take home pay has decreased 10%, and, I already had insurance from my employer that costs me $135 a week.
BTW, didn't Barry state that we could call him a one term president if the economy didn't recover?
Well no shortage of blame or excuses from the liberals that post. Everything is Bush's fault, and apparently will be until someone becomes president that is capable of actually turning this mess around. Liberals like to suggest that Obama is the smartest person ever to sit in the Oval Office, yet he needs endless blame and excuses to get past his failures. The fact is all Obama is doing on the economy is hoping it will take care of itself, while our massive national debt is of no concern. Obama can absolutely talk a great game, even with all the hypocrisy mixed in, but he has yet to prove he can solve anything. ObamaCare will eventually be proven to be an exceedingly expensive and poorly crafted piece of legislation, but the full extend not known until well after Obama leaves office. So leaving office after his second term with our national debt over 20 trillion is going to be the Obama legacy. Certainly not something to write home about.
Telling that MSNBS is already lowering the bar for Obama. He's got no one to blame this term. Idiot obots thought he was going to be their Messiah- sure- give him a peace prize, fall on your knees whenever he campaigns, and defend and deny his failures. He is a mediocre politician who doesn't care about you morons. He leads from behind, parties like a rock star, and should go back to corrupt Chicago from where he came.
Hey gang! A reminder that Feisty, David Walker, Pigotry, and Beverley are all the same poster. They all post from the same IP address.Funny, I can't stand any of them...
Thx Desoto - Now I can try out that "ignore" feature. I guess it makes sense someone would use four logins if said person was only working with 0.25% of a brain.
There will be no recovery due to Obamacare. His massive spending has crippled this country forever.
Enjoy it, low-IQ Oblama voters.
NO WHERE IN THIS ARTICLE DOES IT STATE THAT OBAMA IS GOING TO WORK ON JOBS!!!!!!!!!!! Where are the g.d. jobs??????? Where is Obama's agenda on JOBS????????????
its not just obama, he cant do nothing if all congress wants to do is block him, Jesus im so freaking tired of the people in congress.
Help me stop this BS, sign my petition on the whitehouses website, its to set up term limits for congress.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/create-term-limits-members-congress/hD8b8j6z
Dear Mr. President,
Lam Duck or not You got your Tax Increase now it is time for you to do some CUTTING…..
Yes, we know it is CONGRESSES job to send you the Budget and Your job to Approve or Disapprove it….. Since Congress is unable to do its job it is up to you as our Leader to step forward and get the job done…..
Dear Congress,
Let’s start this year better.
1. Filibusters have to be continuous
2. Majority must be present to be in session
3. No more Super Majority
4. End the PORK Additions
Yes, cuts are in order. However before you touch your so called entitlement programs lets address some additional costs.....
1. Runaway spending by Home Land Security
2. Runaway cost of Public Sector Workers
3. Runaway costs of Foreign Aid
4. Runaway cost of Military Hardware
5. Runaway cost of CONGRESS
6. Runaway cost of EPA
7. Runaway cost of TSA
When this is done then we can talk about Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Welfare, and unemployment…..
8. Please add cutting the corporate tax for companies that move jobs to other countries.
9. Please add cutting the 54 BILLION in corporate subsidies for the fossil fuel industry that is already making record profits
10. Please tell the GOP that we do not need them to tell us: who we can marry, what our religion should be, our family values, and trying to regulate women's vaginas
11. Please tell the GOP to stop defending DOMA, it's 100% Discrimination.
12. End Lobbyists from ALL special interests groups (corporations, unions, the right winged NRA)
13. Term limits for Congress
14. A MUST - Balanced BUDGET Amendment.
15. Foreign Aid, GONE. We do not need to pay for the world's security when our own country has needs of it's own.
P.S. Medicare and Social Security are NOT entitlements and should never be cut. The only cut here is for people who have never paid into the system or are not a beneficiary.
12. you should have stopped item 12 at at "End Lobbyists from ALL special interests groups".
It's about time-- term limits are in place. The limits are the elections. It's the people who are at fault by re-electing them time and time again.
OH Guy...the same post from last time??
Dan from left coast & elayne-675382
Nah... There must be term limits in the US Consitution. Our founding fathers never intended to have career politicians. Also, SS and Medicare are not entitlements. I pay into both of them and I expect the US government to honor it's contract with me. Welfare needs serious reform and it should also not be treated as a way of life. I understand some families need it, but there has to be limits here. The same applies to corporate and military welfare. We do not buy 2 billion dollar bombers when our own roads/bridges and electrical grid is crumbling.
You will never get Congress and the Senate to agree to term Limits on their jobs. After 8yrs they'd be out on their butts and not qualified to do anything.
Only the VOTER can determine limits but Not allowing ANYONE in the congress or senate to be in any one office for more than 8yrs.
That should apply to the Supreme court as well. 8yrs in office, and that's it.
The Republican party lost more than the election, they lost the respect of the American people !!!
That may be true catch44 and I agree, but at least it wasn't the Republicans who caused the loss of respect for the presidency. Obama is a joke of a president and a joke of a man, a real man doesn't cower behind his desk and point his finger at everyone but himself when things go awry or use the lives of dead children to scare Americans into passing his communist agenda.
Sorry, OHgu. The "runaway" costs are not caused by the items you chose to list. I am sooooo sick of simplistic populism.
Read Nate Silver's recent analysis at the New York Times. The cause of skyrocketing debt are age related entitlements. They must be reformed (and yes, revenues need to be enhanced). All else is bulls#$t.
Dumbest idea I have seen listed yet. Term limits for SCOTUS justices. Yeah, let's make that body more responsive to the flavor of the day. No. Just...no.
After mid-term elections it will be easier for President Obama to get things done.
Yes and when we get the house back in 2014 its going to get better, that's the ticket to recovery !!!
Yes, and after his re-election (now) he "will be able to do more for Putin since he doesn't have to worry about re-election." I guess that one was just swept under the rug. You libs like to use your selective hearing quite often. Somehow I can't help but wonder if this whole Sandy Hook ordeal is his first promised favor to Putin, and likely to every other communist dictator like China, a promise to disarm America for its eventual invasion.
What a hoot, the clown hasn't done anything except turn this country against itself, one man against another, mentally and physically. We're in the toilet, and we have four more years of this clown and NBC what's us all to feel sorry for this do nothing, Wow the Hollywood Elite and the NYT that run the newsmedia in this country. Please!!! Give me my country back!!! And i don't mean Guns and Bibles, i mean civility! And Eb you are a Prophet!! He know from were he speaks.
Excuse me Ebeneser Howard and sweaver209, but your tinfoil is showing..
I have a hat that fits much better than tin foil my brother, and i know Eb wears the same damn hat. It's stained with blood of the values of this great country. It fits tight, it hold truth and justice in were it belongs. It hold in honor, respect, dignity, caring. Something the left and Nobama just doesn't understand. Your comments are sarcastic, can't you share a truth as other are.
Hey!! I beat Feisty!! Hooray for the little guy!
I thought this quote out of the article is telling: "..How much of this agenda he can accomplish will depend partly on his skill in exploiting divisions in Republican congressional ranks .." Not sure we really want our Leader to be labeled an opportunist?
However, it is very telling that even the press, who normally don't report but just repeat the talking points given to them by this Administration, have recognized that President Obama is not looking to bring the country and especially Congress together, but rather to take advantage of end-fighting to push through what he wants.
Gosh - What a legacy to be proud of: The most manipulative, opportunistic, exploitive President
Alright President Obama keep it up. Do not compromise. Please do not compromise.
The Tea Movement in the GOP is holding up Americas recovery, the Koch baggers don't compromise !!!
"The Koch baggers" good one bird brain
Your god O'Bagger is looking more like a dicktator than a 2nd term fool. Every day more & more Americans are realizing O'bagger is on a power trip and has NO Presidential Qualities.
I suspect we will see investigations, scandals and articles of impeachment for the next 4 yrs. It has been this way for the last 4 second term President's. The second term has a lot of distractions, not much gets done and then the voters switch parties. For President Obama, he is tackling some tough issues, But then also throwing in perks for himself when he leaves office that is a unnecessary burden to the tax payers of the next generation.
As far as people re electing a President then expecting less as a result? Curious on how the polls are questioning people. I do not know of anyone who re-hires a employee, or signs a life changing contract expecting less.
Well here is the Plan of India for the World. In addition to signing bilateral trade treaties with all the countries of the world the Indians from India INSIST On Signing Services Agreements with all the countries of the world so that Indians can go to all the countries of the world and FORM INDIAN HUMAN LOBBIES so that they can LOBBY FOR INDIA. Indians intend to stay permanently in all the countries of the World. for eg. IN THE USA. In the USA there is NO Spanish Lobby, NO German Lobby, NO Italian Lobby, NO British Lobby, NO Latino Lobby, NO African Lobby, NO Russian Lobby and similarly other lobbies to Lobby in the USA for their countries. In the USA there is also NO Catholic Lobby Or Protestant Lobby. But in the USA there is the Jewish Lobby for Israel. And in the USA there is also the INDIA CAUCUS Lobby to lobby for India. This INDIA CAUCUS lobbied for India in the Nuclear Deal, Lifting of Dual Use Technologies, Lifting of Military Restrictions and Other ISSUES. So the Indians from India have a formidable Lobby in the USA to Lobby on behalf of India in the USA. IN this way the Indians from India hope to have BIG HUMAN LOBBIES OF INDIANS FROM INDIA in ALL THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD TO LOBBY FOR INDIA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
If he ddn't want or was scared of a second term he should do the country a favor and decline to run. However he realized the cameras would go away!
Maybe the Marxist Pig should resign and hand over the nation to a true leader who knows what he is doing. Any Republican/Tea Party candidate, other than those Eastern RINO'S, would be better than Obama or his cronies!
The job they were elected for is to uphold the constitution and work for the sovereign people of the republic, not to push their agenda on US.
All you libs criticize the teaparty about being radical. If following the constitution(the law of the land)wanting sound money, freedom from government intrusion, putting the power back to the people as it was meant to be, then hell, I'm as radical as it gets. The constitution was written to hold big government in check, but if the crooks don't follow it, we have tyranny.
If you think that taking the guns from law abiding people is the answer, maybe you should talk to an American Indian. Reservations were the original fema camps. How did that turn out for the Natives?
On another note: The IRS is the biggest scam ever imposed on the people of the republic. Income tax is illegal as it gets and doesn't go towards anything of good use for US.
STOP FEEDING THE MACHINE
Oh Darrell, thanks for the laugh. Obama is a "Marxist pig," eh? Have you ever read the work of Karl Marx? Have you ever HEARD of Karl Marx? Do you honestly think Obama doesn't support the free market? Has he outlawed religion? Let me guess, you think Obamacare is a Marxist idea. Look around the world, pal. Almost every industrialized country has something similar, if not more accessible to the people. Has the whole world gone pinko? Stick to topics you have some clue about.
Right on Darrell!! Couldn't agree more
EFC222 It's obvious you are the one who doesn't know what a Marxist is and what Obama's leading you and your cohorts towards, so maybe you should be the one who sticks to the Progressive ideals. That's where Communism sprang from was the early Progressives at the turn of the century. AND anyone who thinks the whole world has gone over to "something similar", oh well, again, one world government and party, that of the Communists ideals. We made this nation to walk away from being like ever other industrialized country and founded OUR republic. Maybe you need to move to one of those other workers paradises.
Look at the differences in personal presentation between President Reagan and that other guy. President Reagan shows the dignity,honor and respect that the office holds and what we expect from our leader. That other guy grinning so wide it's ready to touch those big ears. He must be cackling after one of laughing Joe Biden's stepping in s..t comments. The slide show is no better. What a defect.
Poor, sad little Billy, get out of mommies basement. The air will do you good. Don't forget your meds!!!!
Well well well... Isn't it amazing how this news wasn't brought out before the election!?!?! If the media (yes all media) would have harped on this, maybe President Obama wouldn't be in office for a second term. Now it's an excuse if nothing gets done in Washington. Excuses excuses....
Too funny Pig:
mission accomplished-
The healthcare reform and Dodd-Frank are two crowning achievements, in addition to many others.
This term...just wait for the recovery that will finally come - mission will be accomplished-
HealthCare and Dodd-Frank! There can't be a recovery after those two disasters, it can only get worse, which Nobama is counting on!! It gives the Newsmedia more fodder to blame the republicans and "The Koch Brother", whoever they are. Their as mysteries as Nobamas Birth Certificate at this point. You know i have never seen that yet!! Or his College Transcripts or his... take your pick!
Yeah, you guys & Obama haters still don't believe we're in a recovery, even though housing prices are going up with bidding wars going on. Even though I see "help wanted" signs out in my area, you keep trying to tell me it's getting worse. Keep believing what you want. We "libbies" will live in the "real world."
Your check is in the mail. I'm so tired of paying your way. The're not hiring around here. Prices are rising faster than wages. Home sales are flat in the midwest. Truth!!!
I see by some of the posts here, I see that some of the libbies are still blinded by the light, surely by now you have realized that oboma can't walk on water... His second term wouldn't have been so bad if he had done some thing in his first term. Next four years, business as usual, lies, deceit, corruption, and coast through it.
treesbad...I never thought Obama was the messiah. I don't know anybody who thinks that. He's made plenty of mistakes (especially bending his will to the right). But at least he has a brain (unlike GWB) and is not suffering from alzheimer's-related memory loss (like Reagan). I have nothing against stupid people, or people with alzheimer's, but I also don't want them to have their fingers on the red button.
But i'd just as soon not let Nobama call the shots so to speak on whether i get to keep my guns for personal protection!!! He's really wanting to take them away, and you know it by the way he speaks!! Very scarey.
Yep, sweaver209, we "victims" of gun tyranny are getting real "tired" of getting shot up just so you can sleep at night with your gun in bed with you, dreaming of the Zombie Apocalypse and alien invasions.
And does your Gun Tyranny Man have a right to carry or his he a criminal with an unregistered gun??? He's never going to give that up!! And then because of people like you, i have to give up my gun. So then were both victims of mister criminal. Makes sense to me!! NOT!!! Get a job!!
Hmm, get shot by Mr. Criminal, or get shot by Mr. Crazy. I'll take my chances with Mr. Criminal. At least he has a reason.
Let's face it,, we all thought GW wasn't the sharpest pencil in the box,
but you have to admit this one is dumber than a rock, AND,, he's a finger pointing rich snob.
He likes to think he's above finger pointing. He uses his pen. Take a look at the slide show and remember the arrogance in all its glory.
Help get rid of the reasons this country has gone to sh!it!!!
these progressive democrats sit around in their circle jerk campfires stoned and they want us to conform.
go here to sign a petition to force obama to enforce the federal bans on marijuana and uphold the laws on immigration.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enforce-current-federal-bans-marijuana-and-immigration/RJbsP4tV
Still a do-nothing president!
I wouldn't call the first president to pass healthcare reform a "do-nothing president."
And what exactly did he do to pass ACA? Put his name to it? I doubt that he has ever read it and if he has, he's a bigger @!$%# than previously thought.
To the dismay of many liberal/progressive economists, Obama has signed into law legislation that makes the Bush Era tax cuts permanent for 99.3% of taxpayers, something Democrats had been fighting to prevent for 12 years. This new tax package just about puts the final nail in the coffin of "Big Government", as it adds another $4 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years. The only way to fund big government programs is with higher taxes on everyone, including the middle class, as there are not enough higher income folks to fund it, and major tax increases are now off the table. It is now just a matter of time before we see the spending cuts that will be forced upon a Congress and federal government not used to having to prioritize what will be funded and what will not. It is about time.
Yep that big ol' 4% tax increase on those making $400K is really gonna bankrupt them. They may have to settle for a smaller jet because of it, but they'll make do. Thank God for their generousity to us "little people."
That's funny you don't know a thing about money, it's value, it's possibilies. Are you home sick today from school???
Well, if Romney pays 17% tax on his earnings while "lesser gods" play more, is not favoritism? While the wealth class saw it's net worth go up during a recession while the middle class lost 8% into the lower class, not class warfare? While Bush pushed his tax cuts to help the "job creators" in the private sector and after 8 years we're still waiting for those jobs those creators were supposed to create? How about the attack on health care and Social Security, while the CEOs cut jobs and reduce hours to workers to avoid paying for benefits, all the while increasing their salaries and bonuses and getting the final golden parachute when the company finally crashes and burns throwing workers into the safety nets, or paying them so little that they still qualify for government aid?
I'm not home from school, I don't "work" for a living. I live off the rents and leases of my income producing properties from those who do work and have businesses, so yeah, I know something about money. The question is, do you?
The debt is 100% the responsibility of the Republicans. They have, for over three decades, intentionally run up the debt as part of their "starve the beast" philosophy. That tactic has completely failed in its objective to reduce the size of government (in fact GW Bush massively increased the size of the federal government, even creating a new cabinet level bureaucracy) however they have succeeded in running up a huge debt.
Below is a right winger ADMITTING that their strategy is to INTENTIONALLY increase the debt.
Peter17
“The real winner with this legislation is the Tea Party and Grover Norquist. Their mission has NEVER been to protect the top 2% or anyone else. It is to force the end to "Big Government" in Washington DC.
The Tea Party was born because neither Democrats or Republicans were ever in the mood to cut spending and reduce the size of government. By handing out the pork to the folks back home, they kept on getting re-elected. That means the TP needed a different approach, and they found one - "Starve the Beast". If you cannot get Congress to pass legislation to lower spending, prevent them from raising the tax revenue needed to run "Big Government". Therefore they oppose tax increases of any kind on anyone. Less money will eventually mean smaller government.
So what does Obama do?? He makes almost all the Bush tax cuts permanent, cutting federal tax revenue over the next 10 years by $4 trillion. The TP probably cannot believe it because Obama has signed a "death warrant" on big government. Can you imagine anyone voting to raise taxes by trillions of dollars any time soon??? Not likely. The only way to get the country onto some kind of sustainable financial course now will be even more trillions of spending cuts than people were anticipating. Say goodbye to big government over the next 10-20 years. There now is no way to fund even a scaled back big government in Washington DC, thanks to Obama.”
I concur, but like all thing political. That moment can change depending on the electorates mood. Once a clamor is raised, a politcally minded person will take up the charge and things which were once "permanent" will change.
If he does'nt do any more than the first term, how hard can it be?
He was obstructed by the Republicans last term and knowing that, most of the voters re-elected him anyway, knowing that the House will once again block his agenda. Nothing new here.
The US doesn't have a president just an "occupy White House protester"...
Dee,
Too funny... sadly true... but funny none the less...
The real title of this article should be "time is not on the side of the American people because of this second-term president".
Or better yet....can Obama complete the destruction of the American free enterprise system in a second term? Or does he need to someway repeal the 22nd amendment of the constitution and run for a third term?
Oh you know that's in the plan!!!
obamas legacy will be that of a debtor...
Historians will be able to sum up obamas agenda in three easy words, spend, spend, spend...
This country is broken...
I think it will be more like six words...."spend, blame, divide, spend, blame, divide."
Here we go again... this administration has kept spending basically flat, barely keeping up with inflation, and reduced the deficit by over $300 billion since 2009.
He's not spending more. He's spending less.
Pay attention.
Tim,
Please print our post and show it to your mental health professional. You're delusional.
Obamacare will be the greatest failed policy this country has ever enacted. Not only will we see skyrocketing healthcare cost, we will see a backlog of untreated patients, a shortage of doctors and red tape that makes these things reality in way we have never seen red tape before. BTW, the Dodd Frank crap is not far behind Obamacare.
Oh please Shawn your starting to sound like Roy. Keep it up. This page may burst into flames before they pull it down today. Dodd-Frank we've been screwed, and Barney loved every minute of it!!!! And now they want to make him a Senator!! What kind of drugs are they taking??
And healthcare costs were "controlled" before Obamacare? Healthcare has been climbing faster than inflation for a while now. Were you expecting the cost to suddenly freeze or not have inflation? The ACA will "slow" the ascent at best.
"While the newly re-elected president may be intent on building a record that would burnish his legacy in historians' eyes"
Therein lies the problem.....Our President is to concerned with his "legacy" .....The classic narcissist
I suppose you would do a job and want to be known as failure? If not, does that make you a narcissist?
Why is conservative thinking nothing but hate? Hate, hate, hate, that is it, nothing more between their ears!!! Why, how can you hate one man so much? It has got to be the color of his skin? Please don't try and white-wash it, the truth hurts sometimes!!! It is quite obvious now, racism is alive and well in the conservative party! Will they ever enter the 21st. century? I have to think NOT? The vast majority of constupider posters on here, are all obvious racists, read their posts. Every one of them have hate in their hearts, not just for our President, but rather for the color of his skin! Will racism ever be eradicated from this country? It saddens me to think it never will. Those with all that hate for OUR President, i feel so sorry for you, to never know love in your hearts? To never know what it means to have self respect. To never know what it means to respect other's. Must be a living hell???
So sad that half of this country knows only hate!!!!!!!!
I'm sure Obama is a nice guy. He just happens to be a lousy President, and being incompetent has nothing to do with his skin color or race.
Hate? I feel it from Oblama everyday,, he hate's me !!
It's really in his eyes. The look of contempt. It's a liberal thing i think. Democracy, I'm better than you, i'll decide for you!! Your stupid and wear a tin hat. Were have i heard that before???
A minority can't possibly be as good as, let alone better than a white man! First the sports, then the music, and now even politics? Oh, tell me it isn't so! Where will we hide our women?
Get over it.