Saturday, December 20, 2014

Let’s Talk About Obama’s Imaginary ‘Winning Streak’



◼ There’s a big story emerging in D.C.: Barack Obama is making a comeback. - David Harsanyi/The Federalist
Politico’s newest contribution to this flourishing genre is titled “Obama libre.” The piece oscillates between the president’s success with executive power – “He’s spent a year nudging Americans to judge him less on legislative accomplishments and more on his executive actions” – and the long-peddled fiction that he’s merely a centrist in search of unanimity. “Obama’s always ready to make a deal, often at the expense of brushing off his base …” says Politico. It comforts me to believe that the person who typed that sentence may have winced just a little....

Would the media describe a string of Republican victories won exclusively through executive action a “winning streak”? Today, somehow, even after a historic repudiation of his policies, Obama is not only reinvigorated and freed from the constraints of annoying process, but according to some in the media, he has been “politically triumphant.” There are two ways to explain this phenomena: Some folks are engaged in a lot of wishful thinking or we’ve severely downgraded the meaning of winning. Then again, maybe it’s a little of both.
◼ Obama libre - Politico
It’s been a bad year. But the president is closing strong.
◼ Obama's on a Winning Streak - Albert R. Hunt/Bloomberg Review
Never before has a president experienced as severe an election drubbing as Barack Obama did in November and followed it with such a politically triumphant six weeks.

Obama scored his latest coup today by announcing that the U.S. and Cuba would restore full diplomatic relations and exchange prisoners. The right is enraged, but the politics favor the president.
◼ Obama sheds Clark Kent demeanor, tries on Superman costume - CNN
In case you haven't noticed, President Obama has been flexing his executive muscles lately. On paper, it's a head-scratcher. After all, he lost control of the Senate in the last election. His popularity is hovering near an all-time low. And, of course, he's a lame duck.
◼ White House: Exec Amnesty Made 2014 ‘Year of Great Progress’ for ‘Progressive Agenda’ - Tony Lee/Breitbart Big Government

◼ The Real Barack Obama is Standing Up - Bloomberg News

◼ MSNBC Gushes Over Obama’s Press Conference ‘Swagger’ - Brendan Bordelon/National Review Online

◼ CNN's Don Lemon: Obamas Are 'Closest Thing We Have to Royalty' - Newscasters

◼ Podesta Detailed Obama’s Power Grab in September - Dan Riehl/Breitbart
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