# What are the chances of President Obama becoming a lame duck president? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 24, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455 "2014-03-24T16:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/1 "2014-03-24T16:44:55Z")
How would you define a lame duck president? A leader without power in the Senate? A leader without public support? Two years and eight (8) months left till November 2016 elections, but the Senate races will be over by this November. Could President Obama become a lame duck president with still two years left in office? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/2 "2014-03-24T17:02:58Z")
Well, 538 is giving the GOP 60% odds of taking the Senate, so…60%. If both houses of Congress go GOP, he’ll spend the last two years in office vetoing the bejeezus out of GOP bills. That’s pretty lame. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/3 "2014-03-24T17:27:16Z")
In researching the term “lame duck” I did find this on How stuff works:[http://people.howstuffworks.com/lame-duck-president.htm](http://people.howstuffworks.com/lame-duck-president.htm) > [@](#): > > But to saddle politicians with lame duck status simply because they have reached the end of their terms is like assuming an aged lion no longer has any teeth; they were once, after all, powerful. Besides, now freed from any obligation to court voters for another election, lame ducks have much more freedom to follow their own course. President Obama is a fighter and he will not just sit there taking his last days lightly. Personally I think he has bought us a few years of peace with his shall we say. ‘leanings towards the Muslim countries’. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/4 "2014-03-24T17:38:43Z")
Lame duck can be defined in a bunch of different ways. Congress probably won’t get any more favorable to him over the next few years and as his time in office gets shorter he has less to offer other politicians, which means it gets even harder to get them to support his agenda. > [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > President Obama is a fighter and he will not just sit there taking his last days lightly. Personally I think he has bought us a few years of peace with his shall we say. ‘leanings towards the Muslim countries’. For fuck’s sake, please tell me this doesn’t mean what I think it means. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/5 "2014-03-24T17:43:39Z")
The only definition of lame duck I’ve ever heard covers the months in between the election of a new President and the swearing in of that President. By that definition, you have to die or be impeached to avoid it. I have never heard it used for a President of a party that doesn’t control Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/6 "2014-03-24T17:54:17Z")
The only definition of lame duck I’ve ever heard is the Wikipedia one: > **[Lame duck (politics)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lame_duck_(politics))** > > In politics, a lame duck or outgoing politician is an elected official whose successor has already been elected or will be soon. An outgoing politician is often seen as having less influence with other politicians due to their limited time left in office. Conversely, a lame duck is free to make decisions that exercise the standard powers with little fear of consequence, such as issuing executive orders, pardons, or other controversial edicts. Lame duck politicians result from term limits, plann... “A lame duck is an elected official who is approaching the end of his or her tenure, especially one whose successor has already been elected.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/7 "2014-03-24T17:57:18Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Personally I think he has bought us a few years of peace with his shall we say. ‘leanings towards the Muslim countries’. What on earth do you mean by this? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/8 "2014-03-24T18:05:56Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/9 "2014-03-24T18:07:11Z")
Ditto what the hell does that mean? That said, I voted ‘highly likely’ because ALL presidents become lame ducks toward the end of their second term. It’s the point when opponents and allies begin looking to how to work with the NEXT guy that it occurs. When that is…is subject to a lot of factors. GHWB sent troops into Somalia right before Clinton was to take office, thereby giving WJC the headache of dealing with it. Even at the end, the president wields a big damn stick. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/10 "2014-03-24T18:26:57Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What on earth do you mean by this? You mean this? > [@](#): > > Personally I think he has bought us a few years of peace with his shall we say. ‘leanings towards the Muslim countries’. Means I don’t mind President Obama being black or being pro muslim as long as it brings us peace. Boston bombings happen everyday in Iraq … nothing wrong with the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/11 "2014-03-24T18:34:04Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Means I don’t mind President Obama being black or being pro muslim as long as it brings us peace. You’d mind otherwise? The pro-Muslim part is pretty dicey, by the way… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/12 "2014-03-24T18:52:56Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Means I don’t mind President Obama being black or being pro muslim as long as it brings us peace. What evidence is there for him being “pro muslim”, unless you mean it in a sort of kum-ba-ya, “pro everybody” sense? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/13 "2014-03-24T18:55:22Z")
Maybe he meant “drone Muslim.” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/14 "2014-03-24T19:10:45Z")
Lame-duck as I’ve seen/heard it used (40+ years in the DC area) means a President who is nearing the end of a second term, and therefore can not run again. There is no personal insult intended, it’s just describes the last year or so of the eight-year stint. Given the manner in which things are accomplished in DC, a lame-duck has nothing to trade, and can not be depended upon to provide any future benefit. There is also strong pressure from his/her own party to avoid major controversy which might affect their ability to elect a party-member in the next go-round. It is also true that foreign countries are aware of the short shelf-life of any promises made by a lame-duck and will therefore prefer to wait for the next President before finalizing any major negotiations. Some Presidents may view this time as one of unprecedented freedom, a time to push through highly controversial projects, and many a pardon is requested during this time period. They are still lame-ducks, regardless of how active they may be during that time. So, given the definition as I’m accustomed to hear it, anyone who is elected to a second term becomes a lame duck. Your question struck me as the equivalent of a query on the President’s health. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/15 "2014-03-24T19:15:59Z")
He has not started any new wars with primarily Islamic countries, so maybe that’s what makes him “pro-Muslim”? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/16 "2014-03-24T21:03:54Z")
To give Mr. Q the benefit of the doubt, imagine a parallel world in which an electoral majority and a subsequent fatalheart condition brought us a Palin presidency in 2009. Okay, that world is a slag heap of radioactive crud; forget about it. There is an unfortunately large segment of the population that is actively _anti_-Muslim, such that they think it’s morally reprehensible to say that the call to prayer is beautiful or that a community center represents a threat to democracy. The nature of the policies ‘they’ would wish upon the world would be decidedly anti-Muslim; any sane policy is, therefore, by default pro-Muslim. The benefit of the doubt comes in by accepting that it’s possible to be far from holding anti-Muslim views or aligning with to such viewpoints yet still recognize or use the construction. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/17 "2014-03-24T21:25:36Z")
It’s a little tougher to explain away “I don’t mind him being black,” though. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/18 "2014-03-24T21:33:14Z")
Heh, that’s actually partly why I thought to give him the benefit of the doubt. Again, I have no idea what his posts are like outside of this thread, but given other context here I took it as facetiousness. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/19 "2014-03-24T21:34:31Z")
\*lame duck noun [C] /ˈleɪm ˈdʌk/ › a person who still has time to serve in an elected position despite not being elected again in a recent election, with the result that the person has no real power\* > **[lame duck](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lame-duck?q=lame%2Bduck)** > > 1. an unsuccessful person or thing 2. an elected official whose power is… So, similar to a lame (but not dead) duck, the politician plods along, not making much progress, but not completely stopped from making some progress. The lame duck President/governor/mayor has little or no leverage to push new legislation into law but must stay and finish the elected term until the term is up. I guess the question should be - Should Obama already be considered a _lame duck_ as POTUS? The lame duck politician still has the power of their elected office but has lost some/most/all ability to enact legislation. Obama has already been forced to use Executive Order to bypass Congress. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455/20 "2014-03-25T01:22:25Z")
Like others said, the only way he escapes it is by dying or resigning or being impeached before the 2016 election happens. If you go by the “politician who doesn’t have any real power and is term limited in his last term” then Obama pretty much has matched that since he won in 2012 and the republicans continued to control the house. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-of-president-obama-becoming-a-lame-duck-president/684455.md?page=2)