Will pundits finally acknowledge President Obama's intelligence?

[sheshe2]

******Sigh~ This is posted in the Barack Obama Group. You are welcome to post if you follow our mission statement here~ Read More If you cannot, then GD----------------->Is that away. TIA************


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Over the last six years what I've noticed is that when President Obama succeeds, pundits have tended to call him "lucky" and when he fails, they call him "naive." I've found both labels to not only be wrong, but offensive - based on how intelligent this President happens to be.

As a result, I've looked a little deeper into what his strategies might be. We all know that as a lawyer in Chicago, Barack Obama taught classes on power and conflict. From a pragmatic point of view, he's obviously thought more deeply about those topics than your average political pundit. So whether he succeeds or fails in his exploration of "the viability of politics to make change" (how Michelle Obama described his foray into politics), I've found it fascinating to assume his intelligence and try to understand what he's up to.

Here's a great quote in it from Michelle Obama:

...after he was elected to the U.S. Senate, his wife, Michelle, told a reporter, "Barack is not a politician first and foremost. He's a community activist exploring the viability of politics to make change." Recalling her remark in 2005, Obama wrote, "I take that observation as a compliment."

This is who he is and who he's always been. He affirmed that during the primaries in his great "Yes We Can" speech in New Hampshire.We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.

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This column from Paul Waldman is one of the first I've seen in a very long time that goes a little bit deeper to assume President Obama knows what he's doing. In it, Waldman is exploring the possibility that Republicans will actually try to impeach the President over his upcoming executive action on immigration - even though their leadership knows it will come back to haunt them.

They [Republican leadership] really would be super-mad, not least because it would highlight their own impotence. In that state, they might well do something rash...And they'll be getting plenty of encouragement from the conservative media, for whom impeachment would be a ratings bonanza.

Barack Obama knows all this, of course. He obviously feels that the particular immigration steps he's contemplating are the right thing to do, and he understands that Republicans are never, ever going to pass a comprehensive reform bill that would be remotely acceptable to him. But he also knows that taking executive action will drive them batty, making some kind of emotional outburst on their part more likely. Which would end up being good for him and bad for them.

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BOG

[freshwest]

1. His intelligence was a breath of fresh air in 2007. Those who can't see the gift, it's their loss.

[sheshe2]

2. It was then~

And it still is today, freshwest.

Thanks~

[BlancheSplanchnik]

7. that's what I thought too.

It seems so odd to me, those who see him as some kind of awful person, people who believe the reich wing and christofascists. It's a level of blindness that I can't understand.

[sheshe2]

28. Wow.

An intelligent Black man, do you think that the world can handle that? Not from what I have seen. So much coming from the right, Ridicule Hate Racism Disrespect. Sadly it is alive here as well freshwest.

[babylonsister]

3. Who cares anymore about pundits?

He doesn't.

I just want this President to get the credit he deserves, and the criticism if warranted.

But the level of disrespect this man gets is disgusting imo. I am a staunch defender partly because of that.

[sheshe2]

5. I don't care what they say...

I care that DU repeats it over and over ad nauseum. That's just plain sad, bsis~

Warranted criticism is one thing, hair on fire is not. ....................He's going to cave, he is just like Bush, Wall Street owns him, and sure as hell Obama betrayed me. I want what I want now, to hell with anyone else, he promised me my pony, he betrayed me. They thought that at a snap of a finger, it would be so. They walked away after the election and they left him alone.

Yes, the level of disrespect by the GOP and media is disgusting, he is black and they hate him. It's racist at the very least. That Democratic Underground does it as well breaks my heart. I have never in my life seen a President so abused and disrespected.

Here on DU the President is a POS. Sadly that was cheered to the top of the page.

No wonder we loose elections.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

8. :(

Yeah.

[sheshe2]

10. Hey you~

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. hey YOU! i know you!! You're.....

YOU!

[sheshe2]

18. Love you Blanche!

You always have my back. Thank you for that!

They have each others backs as well~

[BlancheSplanchnik]

31. glad to be of service :D

Very good!

[freshwest]

41. 'No wonder we lose elections.' Yes, it is. People want a plan, they want something that actually IS

Last edited Sun Nov 23, 2014, 08:36 PM - Edit history (1)

something of value, they never go with something that is NOT. Humans do NOT go for what is NOT there and will go for what IS every time, even if is a bad idea.

We have plenty of great ideas, but have many stuck in the NOT good enough, did NOT do all I wanted, NOT the POTUS I wanted, etc.

So of course, they will GET what they say they wanted, NOTHING as they didn't give another THING that IS.

You will always reap what you sow, even if you don't know it.

[Cha]

4. Pundits of all stripes will never acknowledge shite about President Obama.. they're too busy

making money off of ODS.

Except a few of course.. Rachel comes to mind.

Thank you for your OP, she~

[sheshe2]

21. Hey you!

Yes the ODs are strong. The pundits and DU as well. It is alive and well here on DU, wow Democratic Underground! I am so saddened by the level of disrespect for Our President of the United States has been given. Our first African American President. Maligned Ridiculed and completely Disrespected here. DU, you should hang your head in shame.

Disagree, fine. Yet the level that you have thrown at him breaks my heart. Our first AA President. DU, I am so very ashamed.

Hugs Cha.

[Cha]

22. Poor things.. give them a break.. they can't tell the difference

the President and a republicon.

[sheshe2]

26. Sad that~

Stupidity at it's best Cha.

[Orrex]

6. A. When he stops being black

B. When he stops being a Democrat

[brer cat]

9. It is sad, but a lot of people are never going to put "intelligent"

and "black" man or woman in the same sentence. I also believe that another part of ODS is because he isn't a politician and doesn't act like one. As Michelle has noted, the community activist defines him; the possibility of using politics to make change is vastly different from being a politician, and establishment Washington will not forgive him for not fitting in the mold. A politician in PBO's position might be a lame duck, but the community activist isn't. I think we are going to be in for quite a ride the next couple of years.

Thanks for the thread, she. I do hope you are getting some rest.

[babylonsister]

13. I love your comment.

All of it.

[sheshe2]

15. Yes, it is sad, brer cat

It is sad, but a lot of people are never going to put "intelligent"and "black" man or woman in the same sentence.

You just nailed it my dear! Yup, they sorely underestimate that Black Man in office. It's the same way they underestimate the power of a woman.

Are we going to be in for that ride, damn straight we are. This is going to be a hell of a last ride and he sure as hell won't be a lame duck, the activist is alive and well. PBO~ He is not a wimp, he has more strength and stamina than anyone I know. He has always been underestimated.

I am trying to get some rest brer cat, soon I hope. Thank you.

[treestar]

46. Good comment

that cat on the keyboard.

[Old Nick]

11. Pundits?

More like Punt Its. Never say anything that might get you expelled from those Power Lunches in the Beltway Bubble. Just kick the ball away, close your eyes, and hope that no one on the receiving team runs it back on you for a touchdown.

[Jamaal510]

36. +1

[Pantagruelsmember]

14. BHO, an extremely effective POTUS

The big picture, Obama reality the obstructionist GOP won't admit is quite simply ,
the American people are profoundly better off today than they were before President Obama took office:

The economy has recovered from the Bush/GOP disastrous incompetence
Obama has been at least as good as Reagan for the economy. In fact, U.S. has now had 63 straight months of job expansion, including 54 consecutive weeks of private sector growth.
Obama’s administration has created more jobs in five years than Bush managed in all eight.
The current period has also been notable for the huge cutbacks in public-sector jobs, which the White House argues makes the private-sector job performance more impressive. (New jobs in the public sector, and the resulting paychecks, obviously help generate additional private-sector jobs.) So the White House argues that the continued private-sector growth, in the face of massive public-sector cutbacks, is especially significant.

The ebullient stock market reflects BO/Dem leadership.
The Federal Budget Deficit has Shrunk by 2/3 since 2009
The price of gas is dropping. Foreign oil imports are down by about 25 percent since President Obama took office.
The Obama administration is the most honest, scandal free in history.
The controversial government program that funded failed solar company Solyndra, and became a lighting rod in the 2012 presidential election, is officially in the black.
The dollar is KING and there has been no appreciable inflation.
The U.S. under BO is the envy of the world.

Obamacare is working. Approximately 10 million Americans who didn’t have health insurance before have it now. Rates haven’t gone up across the board as predicted by GOP critics mainly because healthcare costs are now rising slower than they have at any point since 1960 and in many cases going down. The success of Obamacare has extended the projected solvency of Medicare out to 2030. Seniors have saved $Billions on prescriptions and millions of Americans have received refunds from their health insurance companies thanks to provisions of ACA.

*Blogger jeff61b , "14 Facts About The Obama Presidency That Most People Don’t Know" at
hub pages , compiled, meticulously documented and published many of these stats which I'm passing along and suggest you pass along too.

[sheshe2]

25. I am thinking that you are my next best friend.

Thank you for your post, Pantagruelsmember.

[freshwest]

42. Thank you so much for that list.

[jaysunb]

16. No. n/t

[noiretextatique]

17. ditto

it will never happen.

[jaysunb]

29. Actually, they know, but that's another story.

[noiretextatique]

33. yes indeed

they know, and it kills them

[bhikkhu]

19. They attack him on his strengths

They've acknowledged it from the very beginning.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

20. I have a feeling the next two years will blow their socks off.

His intelligence is mind blowing. And he keeps getting more and more thick skinned. I can envision him regaining his popularity through his executive actions - for which there is much legal precedent.

[Kath1]

23. Intelligence is just what we needed after 8 years of Bush, Inc.

He's been brilliant in trying to bring us out of the Bush disaster, IMO.

He doesn't care about pundits.

The only ones I really like are Stephanie Miller because she makes me laugh and Rachel Maddow because she is so informative.

[Hekate]

24. Just giving a little kick for a good OP and a good thread

The man is bright, but FOX-viewing Murkins distrust intelligence and big words. Some of the stuff (well, a lot of the stuff) you hear in the media sounds like so much smack talk from junior high school.

[sheshe2]

27. Hekate!

I thank you my friend.

[noiretextatique]

34. they are just doing their jobs.

LBJ in 1960: "If you can convince the lowest white man that he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket."

[steve2470]

30. big kick & rec ! nt

[lamp_shade]

32. Morning nudge for a great article.

[ladym55]

35. A day after pigs fly

I'm late to this conversation, but what has been said in this thread is spot on, especially the post that said the day after he stops being black and a Democrat.

What President Obama has accomplished in the face of non-stop obstruction is mind-boggling.

As a nation, we need to be embarrassed at the way we have treated our president. I stopped listening to the pund-idiots long ago and have cut back my visits to DU. We can be just as silly here as the Republicans sometimes.

[Jamaal510]

37. Outside of MSNBC and a few progressive radio talkers,

O is basically considered as both a doofus and an evil boogeyman that the GOP must stop at all costs for the sake of 'Murica.

[sheshe2]

38. Lol~

Well he sure as hell is a brilliant doofuss~ And he sure as hell has been running circles around the GOPeeeee

Jamaal

[1StrongBlackMan]

39. Posted to for later.

[sheshe2]

40. Thank you 1 Strong~

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. Add this ...

But the strong reaction by Republican leaders has less to do with opposition to the nuts and bolts of the president's immigration policy and more to do with fear and anger that the issue will derail the agenda of the new Republican majority before the next Congress even convenes ...

Republican leaders who had hoped to focus on corporate tax reform, fast-track trade pacts, repealing the president's healthcare law and loosening environmental restrictions on coal are instead being dragged into an immigration skirmish that they've tried studiously to avoid for most of the last year.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-immigration-fight-20141120-story.html

To the body of evidence of superior intellect, as expressed through "steps ahead planning".

I wonder if anyone will doubt that this move wasn't planned out on November 5, 2014, with an eye towards 2016?

[sheshe2]

44. That was a good read in the LA times, thanks 1SBM.

Oh those poor whiney gop. The President is ruining their plans. and indeed driving them batty~

I keep saying that they surely have underestimated this President at every turn. I believe you are right about November 5th with an eye on 2016. I love how this man thinks.

[1StrongBlackMan]

45. Yes, even as those on the right AND the left, sleep on his ...

Okay, I'll say it ... GENIUS.

[treestar]

47. Not any sooner than they will admit their own stupidity

Being brainless is a requirement for getting the job of pundit!