Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican member of the Cabinet, feigns being a blocking back for President Barack Obama as he arrives backstage to meet with GOP House leaders Jan. 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Steve Kornacki (Salon): At Politico on Monday, Jonathan Martin does a nice job explaining the “reality check” that Republicans are now waking up to: Barack Obama seems to be in decent political shape as the 2012 cycle begins, while “breezy predictions of Obama turning out to be the next Jimmy Carter were premature.”
That it’s come to this shouldn’t be that surprising. As we noted over and over last year as Obama and his fellow Democrats braced for a midterm drubbing, the two-year verdict on a presidency is often extremely misleading – as the examples of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both attest. With his party running Washington and with the economy reeling, it was pretty much inevitable that the first half of Obama’s first term would play out the way it did.
What is surprising, though, is how quickly it’s come to this…..barely a month after the midterms, prominent conservatives were already admitting that he was looking good to win a second term … lately, Mike Huckabee — who might be the front-runner for the GOP nomination, if only he’d get in the race — has been making headlines by talking up Obama’s strength, as he did to Politico:
“The people that are sitting around saying, ‘He’s definitely going to be a one-term president. It’s going to be easy to take him out,’ they’re obviously political illiterates — political idiots, let me be blunt.”
…for now, the consensus of the political class seems to be that Obama will be reelected in 2012 – and Republicans seem to be buying into it …. Unlike the Democrats of early 2003, who saw a chance to become the next Bill Clinton, the Republicans of early 2011 seem to fear the prospect of becoming the next Bob Dole.
Read the full article here
The Obama Diary 
These repugs are not to be trusted, not for one nanosecond! In my native language, we say that they are “crowning Pres. Obama with a monkey hat”. Completely disingenuous, these wingnut snakes; all of them! I wouldn’t dare close half an eye if they were anywhere near my room at night.
My sentiments exactly zizi. Sounds like pandering to Obama supporters, to effect complacency. We’re not buying it. No way, no how.
I would say that the days of Republicans and conservatives taking their honor and integrity seriously has passed them by. Instead they have only the “tools of demagoguery; false patriotism, bigotry, fear, selfishness and belligerent religiostiy” (Robert Kennedy, Jr.) My biggest disappointment (since many of my family and acquaintances and neighbors are Republicans) is that the decent among them have not stepped up and said “not in my name”. Unfortunately for them, as I first read about in Judith Herman’s book “Trauma and Recovery”, bystanders, (which these people most definitely are)in the case of bullying and oppression, are more resented than the actual perpetrators.
WE must advocate for voter turnout even more. Make sure the same numbers come out.
That is SO important Tulips! I just passed this article around to my mailing list (thanks Chips!).. no one can afford to be complacent and sit this one out!
We have to work even much harder than 2008, coz these republican wingnuts are out to strip us of all our rights.
Very little, IMO, that exits the mouths of Republicans should be taken at face value. As a rule they are duplicitous and hypocritical. Caphalffull, Americans that align themselves with Republicans have some serious s’plaining to do. I think many have attached themselves to a false idea of what being a Republican means. Wedge issues have distracted some from recognizing a broader perspective, ironically they are supporting those who do not have their best interests at heart. President Obama clearly recognizes the facade, and is very adept at giving the Republicans sufficient rope to hang themselves on. We should take our cues from him, facts are powerful persuaders to reasonable minds. What escapes many is the collective value in equal opportunity. Those that would work against the collective welfare of this country have either a vested interest in power and control or are being willfully duped.
Wealth is the tool that leverages power, but I think it is power/control that is the ultimate aphrodisiac.
Relentless oppression and deconstruction of social systems ultimately creates enviornments where the oppressed devolve. In the absence of opportunity, surplanted by desperation we will become the perpetrators of our own demise. Trapped, in a downward cycle the oppressed ultimately turn on their own and begin to self destruct. Look to the the L.A. Gang Wars as a case in point, 50 years of systemic discrimination and oppression until the destruction becomes self perpetuating. The struggles of the middle class and poor that we are currently engaged in can not be simplified, underestimated or ignored. The way we win is to inform and engage as many voters as possible that make up the 98%, to convince them of both the realities and the consequences of complacency and ignorance. And the inherent power in the voice of a unified majority, a power that they can claim by personally engaging and voting.
Nothing should be taken for granted…..President Obama needs all hands on deck if we are to reorganize and level the field of opportunity in this country, repair and heal a corrupted and fractured government, and preserve the ideals of our Democracy. If he is to succeed we need to be the wind beneath his wings. I would love to see him not only win re-election, but mop the floor with the Republicans. Equally important will be the awakening of our true political force, my hope is that we continue to grow in strength by numbers. If he wins America wins, if not 98% of America will lose.
I agree with all posts above. We cannot be complacent. We must address the youth who were too young to vote last election and convince everyone to vote. I have a granddaughter who will be voting for the first time. She is going to have to hide her vote since most of the youth at her college are Republicans but her boyfriend is a Democrate and I’ll work on him to get her to the polls. I have a son who has never voted. I am going to twist his arms and take him to the polls if I have to.
Huckaby:
“The people that are sitting around saying, ‘He’s definitely going to be a one-term president. It’s going to be easy to take him out,’ they’re obviously political illiterates — political idiots, let me be blunt.”
He also spoke out loud and clear supporting Michelle’s Obesity program and had a putdown for Sara P, Michelle B, and Limbaugh. Although I would never vote for him, he at least has common sense.
But according to another poster who sources TPM 03/01/11 Huckabee publically stated that President Obama grew up in Kenya, and was influenced by the Mau-Mau Revolution that took place in the 1950’s. A fricking baseless lie, one that opportunistically feeds the delusions of those who do not support PBO, doubt his citizenship or are racially prejudiced. Huckabee is a political hack and a Chritian sham. And Americans tolerate these lying, grifting politicians.