Thursday, January 28, 2010
Most people have their own reasons why the Obama presidency continues to fall apart. Following the election of Republican Scott Brown to fill the seat of long-time Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy in the very liberal state of Massachusetts, those on the left were faced with the tough job of spinning the election to be something it clearly was not. Meanwhile, those on the right tasted blood.
Spinsters came up with the argument that it was simply an election in one state and had little to do with national politics. Some said that Martha Coakley, the losing Democratic candidate, ran a bad campaign. Others just claimed the campaign had nothing to do with Obama.
Problem is, nearly every major issue in the election was about policies Obama and the Democrats are pushing for. Brown made no secret he would be the 41st vote against the healthcare takeover. He made this the cornerstone of his campaign.
But it wasn’t only “Obamacare” Brown ran against; He ran against cap and trade legislation, against raising taxes and against giving terrorists the same rights as American citizens. In short, Brown won by running against Obama.
That goes without mentioning Obama threw his own hat into the ring by making an emergency trip to Massachusetts just days prior to the election in an attempt to gin up support for the struggling Coakley. That makes Obama oh-for-three when he hits the stump to campaign for a candidate, considering his failed efforts in two gubernatorial races this past November.
What a difference a year makes; it looks as though the man who was once referred to as “the Messiah” is now the kiss of death. Don’t be surprised if his invitations begin to get lost in the mail.
The fingers are pointing and the excuses flying. Obama pretended Brown’s election resulted from anger and frustration, “not just because of what’s happened in the last year or two years, but what’s happened over the last eight years.”
What is the logic here? That the anger and rage at George W. Bush results in the election of a Republican in Massachusetts for the Kennedy seat?
Obama seems totally void of reality. He doesn’t believe he can do wrong and that arrogance is exactly why he faces the political opposition he does today.
Obama’s approval numbers have fallen from the 70’s to the 40’s and Republicans are winning elections left and right. Nonetheless, Obama continues to write off his opponents as “angry.”
This is just what he and his allies in the media did during the tea parties and the healthcare town halls. Dismissing the protesters as rednecks, racists, ignorant, Nazis, evil-mongers and unruly mobs has come back to haunt them. The writing was on the wall, but their ignorance and disdain for the opposition left them blindsided.
The “brilliant” president is in the process of learning a very important lesson: arrogance of power is power’s greatest enemy. The election of Brown is a symbol of something much larger brewing in this country. The American people are sending a clear message. They deserve better than leadership that is intolerant of dissent and comfortable with making backroom deals. That’s the right idea.
— Compton is a Wichita senior in political science.
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Comments
Compton: The arrogance of power
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Compton: The arrogance of power
Mr. Compton, did you vote in the Massachusetts election? How about either of the gubernatorial races to which you alluded? I'll assume you did not and ask aren't you part of "the American people?" Once again, I'll assume you are and that leads me to wonder how you feel that your voice wasn't heard in these elections. Not that mine was nor was any other Kansans.
Obama is only called "the Messiah" mockingly by people on the right at this point and no one should believe that he has this much importance. Neither does Scott Brown or any other single senator. Instead of looking at a real issue (like why a majority no longer matters in the senate) you continue to denigrate the president with little more than talking points. Oh and stop putting single words in quotes like "brilliant." Your mockery weakens your argument.
Compton: The arrogance of power
Can we at least agree that no matter who won the presidential election in '08, the economic situation that awaited that individual was not of their making? I think that's reasonable. There has been a lot of hate and discontent since that evening. My continuing questions are, "Where were all these dissatisfied Americans as the economic situation was spiralling down? Why weren't they screaming during the previous 8 years? Why does W get a pass? Disagreeing with President Obama is any American's right. The vehemence and hatred displayed is only rivaled the that which A. Lincoln experienced prior to and during the Civil War. I believe there is more to the anger displayed by our president's detractors than simple political differences. It's visceral. It goes much deeper.
Compton: The arrogance of power
Mr. Compton-
I hope that you and Mr. Cohen will continue your columns next year (if not for the Kansan, then somewhere). Your right wing ultra-conservative opinions about politics make me LOL almost as much as Mr. Cohen's so-blue-he-can-barely-breathe left wing pandering.
Seriously, can someone who writes for this newspaper write an honest critique that doesn't involve republican or demorcrat propaganda? Seriously, people who pander to the base make me sick of politics and angry at our government.
Compton: The arrogance of power
vlbpt: We can all agree that the Obama presidency began during economically tumultous times, but we cannot all agree on what the cause of the problem was, nor can we come anywhere near agreeing that his political agenda has improved the situation. W just might get a pass from many people because he is not seen as the source of the problem.
By the way: as your last sentences allude, we're all racist.
Compton: The arrogance of power
"Dismissing the protesters as rednecks, racists, ignorant, Nazis, evil-mongers and unruly mobs has come back to haunt them"
Uuh, I think you're making that up. Wait, yes, you definitely are. You completely made that up. (By the way, it's Fox Newsers who compare Obama to Hitler. Are those his media allies?) Your articles are bogus man. I like the technique of calling Obama the Messiah and then blaming him for not being it. That makes total sense. It worked about as well as your last article when you said Obama got elected because he benefited from racism against black people. Maybe I'll try it---I want Obama to be a dinosaur. Come on, Obama, why aren't you a dinosaur? I decided you should be! Gollee you're arrogant we should elect Republicans.
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