The President raised the possibility in an interview with CNN’s Ed Henry:
“You know, if – if I feel like I’ve made the very best decisions for the American people and three years from now I look at it and, you know, my poll numbers are in the tank and because we’ve gone through these wrenching changes, you know, politically, I’m in a tough spot, I’ll – I’ll feel all right about myself.”
The Vice President Biden vs. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton primary battle would be a contest that this conservative would just love to follow.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Do we have a link?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Blogged here:
http://www.semissourian.com/forums/speakout/thread/625
November 18th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Awesome, thank you, Kavon!
November 18th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Sir Robin bravely ran away!
November 18th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Bullshit. The man is a consummate bullshit artist. And I want to know:
JUST WHERE AND HOW DID HE LEARN TO BOW LIKE THAT???????
Wake up America, about this man.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Very interesting. He’s said similar things before.
What would be the timing for a potential future LBJ-esque announcement? State of the Union 2011?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
#5, you’re joking, right?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
About what? Are you?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
If unemployment is double-digits, his chances of winning are slim, which is why he may not run.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
What would be the timing for a potential future LBJ-esque announcement? State of the Union 2011?
Tough to say – If he’s going for Drama, election night 2010 would be it.
But certainly before Valentines Day 2011 – he is going to have to give the field enough time to develop.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
This could very well be hot air designed to make Obama look more converned about “the people” than himself, that he is putting principle above ambition, that he will do the right thing, damn the consequences.
But then again, given all the unforced errors, the botched strategies, and the downright embarrassments, it’s obvious that he has bitten off more than he can chew. Maybe the fact that he can’t pass Health Care Reform with a 60% Democrat Congress is making him realize that too.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
For his legacy, Obama is better off resigning rather than being defeated.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Kris,
“If unemployment is double-digits, his chances of winning are slim, which is why he may not run.”
I agree. Maybe he’s getting new forecasts (not the ones that said 7% unemployment) that is showing him that this will probably be a jobless recovery, a double dip recession, 11% unemployment in Nov. of 10, massive deficits as far as the eye can see, and a looming entitlement meltdown.
Perhaps the biggest clue will be how he handles a failure in health care reform. Does he turn towards Bill Clinton or Karl Marx. If the former, he is intent on saving his record and Presidency. If the latter, he is conceding he is a lame duck, and will destroy as many capitalist pigs as he can on the way down.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
“resigning”
Technically, its not running again.
Who was the last president before LBJ not to run for a second term?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I wonder consider this quote an unforced error as well.
It makes him look weak and like a failure, and the political world will be abuzz over whether he is a first year lame duck, and an utter failure. He really doesn’t need talk like that.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
WSU,
Harry Truman did not seek a second elected term (which he could have) in 1952. His popularity was in the crapper over Korea.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
thanks – always forget about that, since he served 7 years.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
C’mon get it, folks!
This is very clever. He’s just telling all the Blue-Dog Democrats that they should sacrifice losing reelection to pass health care reform. After all, he’ll sacrifice reelection too! It’s very shrewd, but it’s pathetic manuvering to pass Obamacare.
He’s telling Blue-Dog Democrats to walk the plank for health care.
That’s all this is. Bank it.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
MWS,
What if;
- unemployment is 13% in 2011?
- Afghan war is still going poorly?
- he passes his domestic agenda, and it causes his popularity to drop even further?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
C’mon get it, folks!
This is very clever. He’s just telling all the Blue-Dog Democrats that they should sacrifice losing reelection to pass health care reform. After all, he’ll sacrifice reelection too! It’s very shrewd, but it’s pathetic manuvering to pass Obamacare.
He’s telling Blue-Dog Democrats to walk the plank for health care.
That’s all this is. Bank it.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
“This is very clever. He’s just telling all the Blue-Dog Democrats that they should sacrifice losing reelection to pass health care reform.”
I don’t think so – Obama’s had his high. If he can’t get things passed (which is looking as if it will be the case), then I DON’T think he runs again – particularly if the DNC loses the House.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
“Tough to say – If he’s going for Drama, election night 2010 would be it.”
Talk about strategy. If he does this, it takes all attention off a potentially great Republican victory night and onto himself. I must admit, that is pretty brilliant.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
If this is intentional or not I’m not sure. He’s probably just speaking his mind and let it slip that he’s going to do everything he can to pass health care.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Obama’s approval rating among whites plummetted 10 points in the latest Quinippiac poll, down to 41%.
He is down 10-12 among both men and women. There could certainly be a turnaround, but unlike the situation Clinton was in (good economy, at peace), Obama is facing some serious storms. Clinton just needed to “triangulate” and toss the leftists under the bus. Obama needs to pray that unemployment somehow drops, inflation and interest rates don’t somehow skyrocket, the deficit doesn’t hit critical mass, there are no terrorist attacks with his soft on terror approach, that the trial of KSM doesn’t turn into a circus, etc… etc….
And there is very little of that he can control at this point, given the decisions he’s already made. He’s pushed the botton, now he just has to pray for the best.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Kris,
In that case, I think he saves himself the utter humiliation. There is no way he could win under such a scenario, and if he weren’t black, would almost certainly get a primary challenge (if he ran), like Carter did. The fact that he happens to be the first black President would make a very unpopular Obama a very delicate situation for Democrats. They could be looking at a massively depressed black turnout if he doesn’t run, or if their nominee runs away from him.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
It is amazing the number of Presidents who did not stand for a second term.
POTUS literally have a 50/05 chance of serving 8 years, for various reasons.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
#19, actually, I think a health care failure would have a much worse impact than if it does pass.
1. The public hates incompetency. They like to see things getting passed, even if they don’t entirely agreed with it.
2. Most Democrats will be unhappy amd disillusioned, leading to low approvals and low turn out among the left.
If Clinton had passed his health plan, and perhaps another one of his endeavours, I doubt 94 would have been so bad.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
““Tough to say – If he’s going for Drama, election night 2010 would be it.”
“Talk about strategy. If he does this, it takes all attention off a potentially great Republican victory night and onto himself. I must admit, that is pretty brilliant.”
No, I think that would be the crown jewel on a big Republican night. If he doesn’t run, then he is a failure. If he announces that on a big Republican night, he is basically saying they have won not just the battle, but the war, and have driven him out of town.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
27 – I disagree.
I beieve they hate dithering from their leaders, not incompetency.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Kris,
#26. Are you counting Presidents who died in office?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
“POTUS literally have a 50/05 chance of serving 8 years”
This much is true…I’ve looked it up myself. The re-election rate alone is 50/50.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
You know, looking at the quote more carefully, Obama says “3 years from now.” That would be Nov. of ‘12. That would be his reelection, not the time to decide not to run. Is he talking about the possibility of being defeated, rather than not running?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
#22, I think that would be disastrous. The narrative would become ‘Massive GOP gains spur Obama not to run for second term, Democratic party about to collapse?’. I can’t think of anything worse for the Democrats.
#26, how many? I’m not really aware of that many who chose not to run for reelection. (that didn’t take office through the death of the President)
November 18th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Dav #20
You are right…Obama is not going to go down in history as being the worst President ever…he’s too egotistical. This is a tactic to get his health care bill passed before he goes moderate like Bill Clinton did. Why would he insinuate that he may not run again when he is only one year into his presidency? Watch his poll numbers.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
“No, I think that would be the crown jewel on a big Republican night. If he doesn’t run, then he is a failure. If he announces that on a big Republican night, he is basically saying they have won not just the battle, but the war, and have driven him out of town.”
This. It would kill the DNC for a decade.
And yet, it really does seem plausible?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Kavon,
This question and answer occurred in the context of a discussion about Palin and her book:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/18/obama-wont-read-palins-book/
November 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
#5.
Every President has bowed to a Head of State. The Office of the President is not God, it is not above everyone else. It’s not I’m an American and I’m better than you, trust me, this American knows that’s “bullshit”.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
The problem is that the American people seem to ignore qualifications and proven competence before an election only to despise it after…interesting dynamic.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
27,
True, I think failure is just going to rev up the Republicans to fight even more and drop Dem morale considerably. But Blue Dogs that break with a sinking party can, if careful, chart their own moderate course and count on that to put them ahead for at least one election.
But had Clinton passed his health plan and continued closer to the left than center, he probably wouldn’t have ended nearly as successful as he did, either. The cannon shots Gingrich fired over his bow in ‘94 were the greatest blessing Clinton could have ever received as President.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
#32, you know, reading it again, it almost does sound like he’s talking more about losing.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
lkv,
While he was President Elect, I wondered if Obama would be a “me-first” Clinton pragmatist, or if he really is a fire breathing leftist more concerned with ideology than policits. I sided with the former, but I think I was wrong.
Yes, he’s incredibly narcissistic, but would a Clinton-type pragmatist put a self-avowed Communist in his cabinet? Would he try KSM like a US citizen who robbed a liquor store? Would he be constantly pandering to foreign dictaters and apologizing for America before despots (like the Chinese)?
Setting aside my philosophical differences, I don’t think any Democrat who put his re-election first would do those things.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Hypothetically, if Obama sits out the election, it would be an open field on both sides again and Clinton will likely win the nomination should she choose to run. Seriously, 65% approval, 67% believe she is ready to be President. Do anyone think Romney, Huckabee or Palin have a chance against her? I don’t.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Rick,
“Every President has bowed to a Head of State. The Office of the President is not God, it is not above everyone else”
Okay, did the Emporer of Japan or the King of Saudi Arabia reciprocate the gesture, as an “equal?”
November 18th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Obama has the lowest approval ratings of any sitting President (at this time in their term). Bush had a plus 90 percent approval rating at this point in his term and his Father was north of 70 percent.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
#39, definitely. Clinton may have even lost reelection.
But as I’ve said before, Obama and Boehner (or Cantor) are very different from Clinton and Gingrich. I don’t think Obama and a Republican congress would work too well.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
The Emperor traditionally doens’t bow – although there does appear to be at least a nod by HMTE
November 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Rick,
“Do anyone think Romney, Huckabee or Palin have a chance against her? I don’t.”
If the economy and the government’s finances continue the way they are, a 3 legged dog could beat anyone the Democrats put up.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Coolidge, Truman and Johnson did not seek reelection. Nixon resigned. Taft, Hoover, Ford, Carter and Bush-1 lost reelection.
—
Harding and Kennedy died in office.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
#43.
Is the President a King or an Emperor? In the history of the world, this goes back thousands of years, people bow or curtsy to a monarch, whether that be a King, Queen, Emperor, Viceroy, or Pharaoh. There is absolutely no protocol within the US that states that people have to bow to a U.S. President.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Obama better start pimping for a GOP sweep in 2010 to save his butt. He’s gonna hate going back to his birthplace in Kenya in 3 years……..I kid.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
“a 3 legged dog could beat anyone the Democrats put up.”
And I think that’s the key to this. IF the Republicans win in a landslide in 2010, and the economy is still in the tank, and its clear that we won’t get back even to Bush-era employment, then I could easily see how Obama would want to bow out.
That, at least, would put him in the history books as a troubled President who was overcome by a combinations of factors who bowed to the will of the American people.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
#49:
The American President shouldn’t bow to a foreign head of state. As a head of state, the President is an equal to every other head of state.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
51,
Obama’s decision is;
- pass my lef-wing agenda and not seek a second term, or move to the center as Clinton did and win reelection, but sacrificing his agenda at the same time.
Of course, this could just be a secret deal between Obama and Clinton in 2008, where Obama only serves one term?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Kris, I might agree – but I think its too late for that. Any “sacrifice” of his agenda will now be a clear failure on his part – and, particularly since Obama ran as a uniter only to flip flop once he won, I don’t think the pop would buy it.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Rick,
The President is our head of state, just as the emporer is theirs. They are equals. He is not the emporer’s subject.
But even if we buy your crap, why didn’t Obama bow to the Queen of England?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLuLEfVNow
he did, just not as deeply.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
#34 Ikv: Thanks.
Just to clarify, my statement in #18 and #20 that “After all, he’ll sacrifice reelection too!” was pure sarcasm. Hopefully everyone got the sarcasm. In other words, he’s asking the Blue Dog Democrats to sacrifice their reelections to pass Obamacare, but of course he’s NOT serious about sacrificing his own reelection. Obama just wants the Blue Dog Democrats to think that Obama would sacrifice his own reelection for Obamacare so that they will admire his example and follow in step. In other words, Obama’s “audience” for these words are the Blue Dog Democrats, and Obama hopes the Blue Dogs think Obama is being sincere (when the wiser of us know he’s not being sincere – he’s just using and abusing the Blue Dogs).
In other words, #34 Ikv is exactly correct.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
#52.
In fact we know he is the most powerful man in the world, but that not mean he could break protocol. When you are trying to improve relations in Japan a show of respect could go a long way. I simply don’t understand how Republicans can cling onto this so call issue while completely ignore the 40 million Americans without Health Care. It just goes to show, it is not the issues that matter, it’s just getting back in power that matters.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
A slight tilting bow as is the custom of respect in Japan would have been appropriate, but Obama ended up just reinforcing his image of someone who is beneath the stature of the Presidency and what our country’s citizens hold it to.
He acts like the world is his master, and America must serve it. He’s the poster boy for soft, weak-willed leaders that get trampled on by everyone.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
#55. While it certainly was not a 90 degree bow, he did nod at the Queen. Frankly, who cares. I don’t. The only reason you care is because you don’t like the man, it’s not a matter of principle for you.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
#58:
Then you haven’t been paying attention. The Republicans have released their own health-care plan which will cut spending by focusing on tort reform and cost control. But this isn’t about health-care, this is about Obama’s lack of understanding about his role not just as President, but as a symbol of America abroad. A symbol of America shouldn’t bow before another head of state.
Of course, when they were out of power, the Democrats never went after President Bush on trivial issues, oh no. They were very fair and understanding and eager to work on the big issues.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Rick,
Obama’s weakness as America’s commander-in-chief is a separate issue from his atrocious healthcare bill – a bill that is going to beaurocratize healthcare under the government after driving up private sector insurance premiums in order to insure everyone.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Rick,
“but that not mean he could break protocol.”
What other US Presidents have bowed to foreign monarchs?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Rick,
“Frankly, who cares. I don’t.”
Wait a minute. A minute ago you were talking about protocol, improving relations, etc…..
It turns out you DON’T care about those things?
November 18th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Jonathan,
Actually, given how he is always running down America and apologizing for her when he is abroad, I think Obama meant to be symbolizing America. In fact, a few days ago, I imagined Obama saying, “I bow on behalf of America, not me.”
November 18th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
“Coolidge, Truman and Johnson did not seek reelection.”
Coolidge did not seek re-election.
Truman withdrew after Kefauver beat him in New Hampshire. LBJ withdrew a couple days before the Wisconsin primary — he had beaten McCarthy only 49-42 in NH and the polls showed he would likely lose WI.
I don’t believe Obama, by the way. I suspect he’s just being a drama queen.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
#61. Oh, I’ve been paying attention alright. The GOP Health Care bill is a joke. Even doctors think this. It has not been endorsed by one major organization with the exception of the Republican Party. CBO says only 3 million will be insured…in 10 years. You really think that’s good enough?
Second, America has the hardest job in the world…being the sole superpower. When people want things done, they look to us. They look to our economic power, our military power, our cultural diversity, our values and ideals. Ask yourself this, what do the Japanese think of the bow? You know what, it was not an issue to them, in fact, it was the norm. What does that tell you about the people who overreacted to this bow?
Third, I’ve never been happy with the Democratic Party and I don’t speak for them. I am a Democrat, and I found it ridiculous when they criticized Bush on the trivial. I thought Bush’s dancing skills did a whole lot to humanize the man.
#63. Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush 41, and do I really have to bring up Bush 43’s lovey dovey with the Saudi King?
November 18th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
MWS #41
Yes, you made me think a little more about his motives, he would need to get rid of a lot of the people he surrounds himself with…so if he can get his socialist agenda through in 4 years then he wouldn’t need a second term…that is the key, but he needs the moderate Dems on his side, so this still could definitely be a tactic to get them on his side.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
#64. Nice spin. I don’t think you’re stupid, so I know this was intentional in an attempt to embarrass me. But you and I know that is not what I said or meant.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
#67:
The problem Americans have with the bow is that it seems to contradict the idea of American exceptionalism. The fact that America is the world superpower makes a bow seem like a denial of that power. Also, Americans inherently distrust monarchy; we rebelled from one after all. The idea of successor of George Washington bowing before a King or Emperor just doesn’t seem to fit the mold of America.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
70 – good point. Adams refused to.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I don’t really have a problem with the bow to the emperor – its custom in Japan, after all.
The bow to the Saudi king…eh, probably a step too far.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Rick,
“Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush 41, and do I really have to bring up Bush 43’s lovey dovey with the Saudi King?”
They all bowed? Do you have a source, ’cause what I read is that Barry is the first.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
^ Nixon bowed to Mao Zedong.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I would want to see a picture, because something that is just a bit more than inclining the head can be described as a bow. What is offensive about Obama’s action is that it was so extreme as to be an indication of subservience rather than respect. It was also ludicrous.
I saw a slideshow the other day (it may have been posted here) of many, many world leaders meeting the Japanese emperor — none bowed.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I thought the protocol people on each side always work this stuff out ahead of time. Who’s touching who. A kiss, a handshake, a bow, a curtsy, a noogie. Did Obama plan to bow, or did he just lose his composure in the presence of royalty?
November 18th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
his numbers could be at 10% and he’d still run. he is the biggest ego maniac to ever get elected, no chance he gives up the throne. he has too many visions of monuments to himself in his head.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
“He acts like the world is his master, and America must serve it. ”
That’s rubbish. Jesus washed his disciples feet. Who was the master?
November 18th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Real power is not in the ability to make others bow to you.
November 19th, 2009 at 12:27 am
what a friggin joke, LOL!!!!
The media was not allowed in the room during the meeting with Mao in the forbidden city.