September 3, 2009
Just How Desperate Is Obama?
In an article in The New York Times about Obama's attempt to save his health care bill, we read this:"It's so important to get a deal," a White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to be candid about strategy. "He will do almost anything it takes to get one."The question is, just how far does this desperation go?
Obama has a conference with Netanayahu and Abbas coming up--a conference that Obama has taken upon himself to lead. If Obama is determined to avoid political embarrassment on his domestic policy, will he similarly do anything to get talks going on the Israel-Palestinian issue?
Of course, normally Obama would have the out that there have been plenty of failures by past US presidents when it comes to the Middle East--but Obama making a point of getting personally involved. A failure would sting a bit more personally and would reflect a bit more negatively on his presidency as a whole.
If Obama is willing to "do almost anything" to get a win here, he is going to work the angle that seems most promising.
And that means more pressure on Israel.
UPDATE: Byron York writes:
Public approval of Obama's foreign policy plummetsKind of makes Obama's decision to personally oversee the conference look like more of a gamble than a plan.
...Couple those results with Obama's already-anemic numbers on domestic policy issues -- in the CNN poll, he is below 50 percent approval on the economy, health care, taxes, the deficit, and Medicare -- and this has been a summer of extraordinary decline for a president whose overall approval rating once hovered near 70 percent.
[Hat tip: Jennifer Rubin]
by Daled Amos
Posted by daledamos at September 3, 2009 11:36 AM
Hezbollah in passive voice
A cynical and mistrusted offer
Wapo: peace process succeeding because of the great work of the administration
Council speak 100610
Nyt: peace process failing despite the great work of the administration
Do we have enough regulations yet?
Iranian General: "US, Mossad played roles in 9/11 event"
Absolving arafat, ten years later
Rahm can't run? antisemites!
The politics of peace
With Obama's political popularity nosediving, the less likely it is Congress will pass any big health care scheme. Democrats remember what Clinton's low approval numbers did for them in 1994. If they have to save someone, it going to be themselves. Not Obama.
Posted by: NormanF at September 3, 2009 2:05 PMNormanF, I received a link to an article that starts like this:
Conservatives are taking too much solace in the precipitous drop in Barack Obama's approval ratings, and too many of us are overconfident that his administration is merely a replay of the hapless presidency of Jimmy Carter that was easily swept out in a landslide election.
Today's situation is far different, far more conducive to our political adversary's political power, than that which faced Carter. And Obama is an entirely different breed of cat. He's more ruthless, more tactically savvy, and has far more dangerous objectives. A drop in his poll ratings isn't as serious a setback for him as similar occurrences were for the peanut farmer from Plains.
In short, conservatives should beware. The political battle we're in is far more difficult than any the conservative movement has ever faced. It will take all our energy and all our smarts to win it.
There's more, but you get the idea.
I'm not sure I agree, especially considering Obama's inexperience, but it Obama's current problems should not be taken for granted.
Posted by: Daled Amos at September 3, 2009 3:00 PM