Entitled, "Obama Needs to 'Reset' His Presidency,' Van Dyke enumerates the ways in which Obama has basically behaved differently than he promised when on the campaign trail, as well as differently than those Democratic icons to which he likes to compare himself, Roosevelt and Johnson.
Specifically, Van Dyke notes how patient and careful FDR and LBJ were in building some consensus and bi-partisan compromises in their landmark legislations. Wonderboy, by contrast, only a few hours after Van Dyke's editorial was published, again demanded action on healthcare by the August Congressional recess.
The pathetic part of the piece is seen in the title. No president 'resets' his presidency. The two-termers gut it out and overcome mistakes, but they basically continue being who they are. Either the opposition is too weak, the people approve, or are gullible, but a second term rewards inflexibility.
The ones that are simply wrong-headed and either meet capable opposition, or are seen to be out of step with the situation, like Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover, are not re-elected.
He demonstrates his sensibility with these initial passages,
"You restored hope to millions- including me- who had been demoralized by the political polarization that characterized the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
The first warning signals for me came with your acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. In it, you stressed domestic initiatives that clearly were nonstarters in the already shrinking economy.
I had greater concern when you staffed your administration and White House with a large number of Clinton administration retreads."
Van Dyke continues in this vein, contrasting how FDR and LBJ worked with how Wonderboy is using strong-arm tactics, on a much lower margin of victory than the former, to pass questionable legislation with far-reaching implications for American society.
Van Dyke's suggestions are actually quite good- for another candidate. Maybe because Humphrey lost his election, Van Dyke doesn't have actual Oval Office experience, and naively believes his advice would matter.
Cutting back proposals, appearing in the media less often, and following through on his campaign promises are good ideas, but our First Rookie won't be considering any of them. They would represent admissions of mistakes and defeat, which presidents don't historically do on a large-scale.
I suppose, like Carter, Obama could become sufficiently weak, even with his party controlling both Houses, to attract an opposing nominee candidate from his own party in 2012, much like Teddy Kennedy did in 1980.
Failing that, the more Wonderboy steers a course away from Van Dyke's useful recommendations, the greater the chance of a GOP candidate taking up residence in the White House come January, 2013.
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