The Matt Lauer, MSM, Inside the Beltway show has performed yet again.
Why is Obama's popularity down, Lauer asked of Dee Dee Myers and Pat Buchanan early this morning.
Myers: I'm 100% defending Obama and his actions, blah blah blah.
Buchanan: The Stim is a failure and we need more tax cuts blah blah blah.
None in this little gab session, of course, approached the reality of what is really happening. The assumption, beyond question, is that if Obama's numbers are down it's because his actions are "too liberal." In order to recover, the president needs to move toward a more "centrist" (!?!?!) position and embrace, among other things, further cuts in payroll taxes. Myers: status quo, he's (we've) got problems. Buchanan: move right. Yawn.
Not entirely, of course, but I cannot help but believe that our president is losing support because he is, slowly but surely, becoming a huge disappointment to the left--to those who significantly helped him get elected. There's no need here to tick off the ways in which he (the president) has failed in his promises, and "incrementalized" his way into a huge mess--a larger mess than he inherited.
The big, bold promises of the campaign are nowhere to be found. Equality for the LGBT community, the rule of law, the ending of Bush-era state secrets? All have fallen flat. I'm past "just wait and see." I'm to "get with it, sir."
If I was asked, this day, whether or not I "supported" what Obama has done so far, how would I answer? It would depend on how nuanced the questions were, of course. A flat "support" or "not support" would be difficult (and a meaningless stand-alone question). Is he better than Bush? Maybe 1,000% Are his actions helpful? Only sometimes. Is he becoming encompassed by the "Beltway Bubble?" Almost certainly. Is he being led by the nose by traditional Wall Street thinking? Yep.
How disappointing. What tremendous opportunities have already been lost. How many more will there be?
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