Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 ANALYSIS 
5

On Hot-Button Issues, Obama Keeps Cool

Takes steps thought to be sudden death for pols—and scores

Share

(Newser) – Barack Obama has been “dancing on cultural third rails with seeming impunity,” reports Jonathan Martin of Politico. He’s gone to France and called America “arrogant,” liberalized relations with Cuba, and eased up on medical marijuana—all moves that Bill Clinton wouldn’t have touched with a 10-foot pole. But the liberal hot buttons seem to have cooled, and Obama’s young coalition is indifferent at worst.

“The fact is, the world has changed. Whether it was Clinton, Gore, or Kerry, they were all spooked by ghosts” of the Cold War and the culture wars, said one election expert. “For Obama, that’s just stuff in history books.” It also helps that the GOP has no compelling spokesman. “It’s like playing against a football team that is tired and hurt,” says one Republican strategist.

President Barack Obama arrives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
President Barack Obama arrives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama makes remarks to the media after holding his first Cabinet meeting, Monday, April 20, 2009, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama makes remarks to the media after holding his first Cabinet meeting, Monday, April 20, 2009, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama looks through a paperweight replica of a team ring that was given to him by the Naval Academy football team as he presented the Commander in Chief trophy to them.
President Barack Obama looks through a paperweight replica of a team ring that was given to him by the Naval Academy football team as he presented the Commander in Chief trophy to them.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.6.09
Galleon Scandal: Shocked, Shocked by Insider Trading
11.5.09
Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute
5 comments
VIEWING:
 
kokuaguy
Apr 22, 09 12:09 PM CDT
Clinton was elected with a plurality and had a Republican majority in Congress deterrmined to bring him down. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 22, 09 12:51 PM CDT
We used to think it was political suicide for an elected official to renege on campaign promises... unfortunately our media giants believe the reverse has come true and Presidents must tow the line to please other politicians. Guys; This is the way it was supposed to be! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Mad
Apr 22, 09 12:53 PM CDT
The republican party is like a house of cards. Only as long as each and every memebr is fully touching and supporting each and every other card, then maybe they could appear to be united. Thankfully, Bush exposed the republicans for what they truly are: Hateful, angry, mean spirited asses who would use the government to legislate their beliefs as law across America. Buh-bye, republicans, you are the ones that made Obama possible! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LibertyMan
Apr 22, 09 1:30 PM CDT
Working with a slim majority, in some states a squeaker majority, P-BO has sealed his fate with the recent apology tours overseas that will not be forgotten by the electorate come 2010 and 2012. Yes, they may not care about Cuba or Mary Jane, (hell many Republicans feel the same way as Dems) but Republicans and many Dems don't like seeing THEIR Prez overseas bashing our country and blaming US for the all the worlds ills. His betrayal on foreign policy and national defense is what concerns Americans from both parties, including his own intelligence and defense officials. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
SPH
Apr 22, 09 2:54 PM CDT
You're slipping...You failed to go into your impeachment rant...Perhaps a nap is in order....
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

574 Stories

Joe Klein

 Tension Builds Between 
 Hillary, Obama 

Clinton a strong secretary, but not yet administration's voice

Nov 5, 09 6:50 PM CST
(Newser) - Ask Hillary Clinton or her staff about President Obama and they’ll praise him and tell you the relationship between the two really is strong. But the tensions between the State Department and White House are starting to show, writes Joe Klein . The president’s foreign policy hasn’t yet... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Middle East • Pakistan • State Department • secretary of State • Benjamin Netanyahu • Obama administration • President Obama • Obama Cabinet

Charles Krauthammer

Time to Act Presidential on Afghanistan

After 'yearlong drift,' Obama can't keep passing buck to Bush

Oct 30, 09 11:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama loves to blame things on George W. Bush, and on Monday he did it again, referring to the “long years of drift in Afghanistan.” He must be trying to “explain away his own, well, yearlong drift on Afghanistan,” writes Charles Krauthammer . In March, Obama... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Bush administration • Barack Obama • Iraq war • George W. Bush • Afghanistan war • Obama administration • President Obama • Charles Krauthammer • counterinsurgency

CAMPAIGN MEMOIR

 Bill Sank Hillary's 
 VP Chances: Plouffe 

Clinton was still in contention in June: new memoir

Oct 29, 09 12:43 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Obama campaign seriously considered Hillary Clinton for vice president, but ultimately the perception that her husband was "too big a complication" combined with bad memories from the primary campaign to sink her chances. Barack Obama “said if his central criterion measured who could be the best VP,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Bill Clinton • vice president • memoir • David Plouffe • David Axelrod • Election 2008 • vice presidential candidate • President Obama • excerpt • The Audacity to Win

Obama Looks for Local
Allies in Afghanistan

Administration's decided it can't wipe out Taliban

Oct 29, 09 6:53 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama has requested detailed, province-by-province analysis of Afghanistan’s local and tribal leaders, hoping to find more effective partners than the country’s weak and corrupt central government. The administration has concluded that no surge in troops will be able to eradicate the Taliban as a political force, but... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Taliban • Robert Gates • tribal leaders • Jim Jones • Afghanistan war • Obama administration • Stanley McChrystal

David Leonhardt

Forget the $250 Checks, Obama: Say No to Grandma

To cut deficit, we have to cut benefits to seniors

Oct 28, 09 8:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - Economists are none too impressed with Barack Obama's proposal to send each senior a cool $250, and David Leonhardt can see why. The over-65 set has weathered the recession better than anyone—many of them purchased real estate well before the housing bubble burst, and few work in the most-battered... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • entitlement programs • Medicare • Social Security • senior citizens • Obama administration

574 Stories


Obama brings truce to culture war
Guardian (UK)


Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Barack Obama • Bill Clinton • Clinton administration • social liberals • culture wars • Obama administration

from our news partners