If Elected, Is Obama's Presidency Over Even Before It Starts?

Unfortunately, the answer may be yes. Bush leaves behind a Grand Canyon sized hole for his predecessor to climb out of. There are no easy political answers on the economy, on Iraq, on housing, on energy, on Iran, nor inflation. In fact, just as Obama takes the pledge, the Fed will be hiking rates throughout his first year. Thus, assuring another year of bad economic news.

More than likely, Obama will have a majority in Congress, but the economy will be weaker and Iraq may descend into chaos. This leaves a political opening for the Republicans in 2010. Rest assured, conservatives will still have their media who will pin everything on Obama as if President Bush never even existed.

How should Obama respond?

He has to take bold actions in his first two years. The first thing that he and the Dems should do is end subsidies for oil companies and pass a windfall profits tax. Secondly, within his first six months as president, he should lay out a plan for withdrawal from Iraq. Third, he should raise fuel efficiency standards. Fourth, he should pass a middle and working class tax cut in order to jumpstart the economy, and pay for it by raising taxes on the wealthy. Most importantly, he needs to fill his cabinet with the best and brightest people that he can find. He cannot have a successul presidency without tremendous people around him.

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enormous. Can a single 4 yr term clean-up make a dent, and if so what should be done first?

My point here is that even though conservatives won't have governmental power, they will have media power, which they will use to blame everything on Obama.

People will have exceptionally high expectations for Obama, and the problems that he faces are enormous. This is not like 2001 when the incoming president had peace around the world and a huge surplus, and our great "crisis" was a blow job in the oval office.

Could you imagine the old man getting elected?!?!?!

After eight years of Hell, President Obama is just what the doctored ordered.

BTW-- I don't like the title of your post ---- at all.

shrub has things so incredibly in the gutter, it's going to be very bad on the next president... ultimately, we're americans and we want the best from our president - obviously we got the WORST we could nearly ask for in W. I hope Obama wins and gets himself a nice cushion in the Congress! We'll be able to do a lot of good things, I just hope that the economy isn't doomed for a depression. I believe that the war will be ended quickly if Obama gets in, in total.

This is a helpful post. It's not about lockstep allegiance. Look what that did for the Republicans.
They're reviled. 73% disapprove. The people want honesty and real discussion and debate. The 73%
got to where they are on their own. They were not lead or inspired. They are the leaders.

everyone who questions anything he does tombstoned, it's probably not going to happen.

Maybe just wait and see if he gets elected first??

:shrug:

Comprehensive Audit. Get to the bottom of Bushies crimes and seek convictions/recompense! Bush/Cheney/Rove et al cannot be allowed to get away with what they've done!

And that cover may, just may, come from aggressive pursuit of justice w.r.t. the crimes of the Bush cabal.

:rofl:

But that's a big 'if'. He's too conservative, by nature, and by allegiance right now.

I think that his desires to get elected and to succeed are stronger than his chummy middle of the
road approach to almost every issue. So it's a matter of the people leading him rather than the
other way around.

If he gets out front, then the people won't be surprised when he points out the serious mess
* left behind. But most everybody, save the political elite, know we're headed for terrible times.

if things go really bad, not just sour like they are for nearly EVERYONE, then Obama, if elected (Please, God!) will LEAD where we didn't have one for the past 8 years - and he will tell the people the predicament we're in, like you said.

and he'll walk softly & carry a big stick where warranted. He'll do his best and he'll be extraordinarily successful.

It can be done. Rallying the spirit of the people is the essential in such situations, and Sen. Obama seems capable of that.

It's over. The American people have--for the most part-- awakened.

Yesterdays models just don't work.

If you say or think you can't....you won't.

high hopes & hard work are what we need now.

Quit wringing your hands & get busy.

Like his predecessor, I believe he will do well.

Hence I don't expect Obama to work miracles, he will have a hell of a time just pulling us out of the nosedive we find ourselves currently in. If he is as canny and skilled as many of us hope he is, he may yet be able to pull us back from the brink, begin the path toward national recovery and show enough improvement to gain himself a second term, only time will tell...