by Mark Silva
"With every passing day, Barack Obama is ensuring his own reelection -- but at a bloodcurdling cost for Democrats on the ballot without him in 2010.''
This is not James Carville talking.
This is Alex Castellanos, longtime Republican campaign consultant, most recently the media-artist behind Mitt Romney's presidential campaign TV ads.
"President Obama speaks with power and grace,'' Castellanos writes. " He is gifted with that alchemical political material, Teflon. He exudes even-handed comfort, assuring all sides that this president understands their argument. His smile is an embrace that disarms, displaying the confidence of a young leader certain his intellect will prevail. ''
At the same time, Castellanos argues in an essay at the Huffington Post, the Democratic Party "may have regressed to old, industrial-age collectivism, prescribing the same federal pill for every ill.''
While their "charismatic president'' gives the party "a generational leap forward,'' he maintains, the president's "spending spree'' is starting to ring alarms around the nation.
"Obama is protected by our aspirations,'' Castellanos writes. "He represents the America we all want to be, a better country, beyond racial divisions and tension. For this reason alone, we will likely hold him high in our esteem after our respect for his accomplishment dims.''
Yet, "when President Obama saw a credit crisis, Americans saw him spending. When Obama saw an economy in need of stimulus, Americans saw him spending. When Obama saw a housing bust, bankrupt auto companies, Wall-Street failures, Americans saw him spending, spending and spending. Now, when the Democrats and our President see the need to spend less on health care, Americans, with some bewilderment, see them spending more on health care. Obama has taken on so many unrelated challenges that America can only see their common denominator: Obama is always spending. ''
The president may not be on the ballot next year, Castellanos suggests, "but his spending will be. ''
"Centrist Democrats who reflect their middle-of-the-road districts will find themselves the most vulnerable. Democrats running for their lives will soon find it in their interest to join a growing populist revolt against what Kevin Philips once termed the big-spending "mandarins of Establishment liberalism."
They'll either slow their drive to splurge or they will be replaced by cars which actually have brake pedals.
"Moderate Democrats, fearing this precipice, won't wait for election day 2010 to climb to higher ground -- though, first, their lemming-like instincts will induce them to spend another trillion on health care
"Shortly after they burn through this cash, we can expect the White House and imperiled Democrats to sharply reverse field and start bill-boarding the president's bold promise to halve the deficit before his first term ends.
"When the liquor cabinet is empty, the party in power will pledge sobriety,'' Castellanos suggests. "It will be too late.''
Comments
Took the words right out of my head.
Posted by: toothfairy | June 25, 2009 11:32 AM
Has anyone else noted there is no criticism from the actual left being reported in the MSM?
This allows the right to accuse BHO of being a left winger, when in fact the left are among BHO's sharpest critics. And it makes the right's accusations of 'socialism' re. Obama and the Dems. ring much truer with the American public than it actually is.
Nope; CNN and MSNBC ain't left wing, folks.
If you don't believe me check out Counterpunch or The Nation.
Posted by: C.Morrisā§ | June 25, 2009 11:37 AM
Don't take what this guy says too seriously. After all he was the "brains" behind Mitt Romney's run for the Republican nomination. He also produced an ad which probably cost Jeb Bush the election for Florida Governor in 1994. There's a reason he's a talking head rather than an active campaign consultant these days. (The same thing goes for Carville BTW)
Posted by: Lou | June 25, 2009 12:17 PM
Yeah Republicans are always concerned about Democrats "spending" money. Yet the last two presidents to have a balanced budget were Democrats! And then Republicans take over and break the bank. The mainstream media needs to call out the GOP when they start accusing Democrats of "spending."
Posted by: Paul | June 25, 2009 12:42 PM
Mark Silva gets even his Republicans from the far-Left HuffPo.
Posted by: Bruce | June 25, 2009 12:55 PM
Mark Silva gets even his Republicans from the far-Left HuffPo.
Posted by: Bruce | June 25, 2009 12:55 PM
Yeah, HuffPo has nowhere's near the credibility of RedState. I bet HuffPo didn't break the news that Sanford was hiking, did they Bruce?
Posted by: Mel | June 25, 2009 1:50 PM
Attn; all you boot lickers and cool aid drinkers, when the bills come due on all this spending, and you all realize that nothing is free in America then you also realize the the climate bills, and the health bills are going to increase taxes on everyone you will finally come to grips with the fact you have been sold a bill of goods, And lets not forget all the stimulus spending, who do you think is going to have to come up with the money. With his track record he'll be lucky to get his old job back as a community organizer.
Posted by: Paul | June 25, 2009 3:06 PM
Well, enjoy Obamamania's waning days, I guess- his poll numbers are headed south in a hurry. Humiliation by Tehran and Pyongyang, coupled to a comprehensive defeat on Obamacare will deal this arrogant montebank a harsh blow that'll knock him down a couple pegs- something that is both needed and long, long overdue.
And the paucity of GOP co-conspirators for the Porkulus and other reckless spending exposed Obama politically... and looks to be a huge gamble. When all this pork and welfare fails to generate any real economic gains, the Democrats will face a bloodbath in 2010.
By the time 2012 rolls-around, people will cringe at the mere mention of his name- and the GOP could take 40 states running Gilbert Gottfried.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | June 25, 2009 4:10 PM
Well, enjoy Obamamania's waning days, I guess- his poll numbers are headed south in a hurry.
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | June 25, 2009 4:10 PM
I just love these posts. Yes indeed...South...like a brick...where do these guys get their info? Bill O and Vannity on Al-Jazeera?
Posted by: bill r. | June 25, 2009 6:07 PM
If the public doesn't give the Democarts "a chance" in 2010, Congress will be filled by a bunch of do nothing Republicans, at the least, or Republican stonewallers, at the most. The plan of attack, with the Republican eye on 2012, being "I told you so." For all their genius, you'd at least think they'd have learned a thing or two. 2012 is shaping up for the Republicans like Kerry/Bush. A lot of amo, not enough of vision, message, cohesion, problem solving, new stars, for a new age. Especially, if they continue being out of touch with what Americans, outside of their precious base, want to see in terms of foreign policy. For all the Republican staunch support for business, not really big know how of building a brand. Just reactionary nee-jerk drool.
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I think Obama will be re-elected. Even if a scandal was to pop up. (My guess is that if anyone can handle it, its the tight group of people who go him trough Wright, invading Pakistan, Ayers, Muslim School, Rezko, ect.) Especially, if we see some of the worn out 08 contenders from the Republicans. Their proximity to Bush era dogam too close to their platforms; as well as Un-evolved Cave Man social stances.
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If it was possible to sum up the change we are witnessing in the US its: 8 years of far right Bush foreign policy, 8 years of far left Obama domestic policy, to, probably, 8 years of fiscal conservative; cutting down the fat; trial by incineration. The end result a new US. Ofcourse, all this is speculative, but seems like a natural evolution.
Posted by: inferno | June 25, 2009 6:12 PM
How the GOP should attack those "moderate" democratic Congressmna is to say a vote for them is a vote for Nancy Pelosi - since she will dictate the agenda, not a moderate democrat.
Posted by: Terry | June 25, 2009 9:23 PM
Libs are so scared of Palin they pretend Obama has a lock on 2012! Sure sign of desperatation because people know now he's driving this country into the ground. The Kenyan marxist will not hold out white house past 2012 and if the lib media tells the truth on his birth certificate he might be out sooner! President Sarah Palin! What wonderful words!!!
Posted by: Neal | June 26, 2009 1:32 AM
Teflon coated, you say,
Alex?
Mitt is solid Teflon, through & through.
Posted by: ornery | June 26, 2009 10:20 AM
Scared of Palin!!!!!!!??????? Bwahahahahahhahahahaha!!!!!!!
If ever I could choose that 'miss teen South Carolina,' of a candidate to face Obama for the comedy alone, I would donate to her campaign. Wow, that is just too funny. Palin-Sanford 2012?! Even if things in our country get as bad as you unpatriotic hypocrits hope and pray, there is about a .1% chance palin would beat Obama. Even if all of obama's attempts at reviving the economy, and restoring hope and dignity to the US fail, there is no way the average person is going to entrust that dingbat with the task of solving such real complex dillemmas. God, Palin for President, you are just too much!! Oh wait, I'm actually, wait for it.............afraid!! Bwahahahahahhahahahaha!!!!
Posted by: Skunknuts | June 26, 2009 3:28 PM
Man, it's the weekend now, and I'm still laughing about palin for president. Where do you get this stuff? You aren't parroting a commedian by mistake, are you? Are there still actual thinking people who would want that, that parody of a vacuous airhead for their candidate, let alone for POTUS? Yet you have the audacity to insult Sotamayor, undoubtedly. Is it April 1st? No? Sarah Palin, that is too much.
Posted by: Skunknuts | June 26, 2009 10:51 PM
Big O is a one termer over his birth certificate. The instant his name appears on a primary ballot this time there will be law suits filed. There will be no mootness arguments this time. Either Obama shows he is eligible or he does not make the ticket. The way it should have been done in the first place.
Posted by: Pete | June 28, 2009 9:24 PM