IMO, it is a foregone conclusion that President Obama will be re-elected in November. What do you think that his priorities should/will be? What do you think that he will actually accomplish given that the make up of House and Senate are unlikely to change dramatically? If you believe that the chambers will change, feel free to incorporate that into your analysis.
Unfortunately, given the Republicans’ propensity for blocking legislation, I don’t see much progress in our future. I’m also skeptical that the economy will improve dramatically either. If this is the case, I see the Republican party making huge advances in 2014 and 2016.
January 21, 2013 - the moves to impeach the president will begin in earnest. There will be a call for an independent investigator who will have carte blanche to subpoena and question under oath every single person who has ever had dealings with Obama in any capacity whatsoever.
Every single last document from Obama’s first term will be requested, and he’ll have to fight to keep them from being released. Obama will be called to testify under oath about whatever they find.
The proportion of those who think Obama is a muslim/terrorist/atheist/Kenyan will increase.
Republicans in congress will obstruct every single presidential appointment.
60 votes will be required in the Senate for so much as a change in a post office name.
Another attempt will be made to destroy the credit rating of the US over the debt limit.
That might be optimistic. I’d say there’s a non-negligible chance of South Carolina seceding (again). I’d put those odds roughly on par with my odds of getting the plague. Not exactly likely, but likely enough that I’m not gonna go around hanging out with prairie dogs.
I’m going with optimism. The Republicans will keep the House of Representatives…but will lose a few seats in their majority. They’ll learn the lesson. We the People don’t want this level of gridlock. Do something, even if it means raising a few taxes. I think the Republicans will begin to show some bipartisan spirit.
Yes, it will fly out the window during a Supreme Court nomination fight… But it will come back in afterward. Times will be better.
I think the President will be able to accomplish slightly more in his second term than in his first term for two reasons:
He will be able to spend all of his political capital wherever he likes, knowing that this is the final Act of his political career. (Hint: I’m still waiting for Guantanamo to be closed.)
The opposition will be somewhat less fired up knowing that Obama will definitely be out in 2016 and the field for the presidency will be wide open.
I am positive that there will be substantial improvements in the economy between now and 2016, not because of anything in particular that Obama does, but because that’s the trajectory of the current economic cycle.
Personally, I would like to see him spending his remaining political capital to call out and destroy Republican incumbents and candidates in the next two Congressional elections cycles. So maybe the next Democratic president will have an easier time passing rational legislation.
Plus, get rid of some of those Senate DINOs who held up so much progress this cycle.
Nothing. If he couldn’t do something when he had 60 senators and 250 members in the house, he won’t be able to accomplish anything in the 2013-2016 congress. If he couldn’t do immigration reform before, I don’t think he’d be able to do it again. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe the GOP will learn from this election season, but probably not. The GOP should’ve won the senate in 2010 but didn’t because they put up very far right candidates in several states which cost them 3+ states. Instead of realizing the error of their ways, they moved further to the right. They will do the same thing in 2013.
More gridlock. I’m sure the economy will come to the brink of collapse a few times due to political stalemates.
The 111th Congress was one of the most productive in history, and the 112th is one of the least. But yes, I expect more Republican obstructionism, even some that further endangers the economy. The Red Team’s game plan is to double down on the crazy.
I expect our military presence on Afghanistan will end, to the same level it has in Iraq. Just having sane people in charge is a benefit.
I’m shocked and a bit embarrassed that I find relatively little that immediately springs to mind; from a personal standpoint life could hardly be better. The oil exploration industry, from which I make a living, is in the best shape I’ve seen in decades. I don’t find my tax burden at all onerous, and can get decent health care with or without the provisions of the ACA. I’d like to work a few fewer hours per week, but there’s not much Obama can do about that. My biggest personal concern is likely to be whether or not I’ll be able to rely on full Social Security and Medicare, when I become eligible in less than a decade.
Turning to things that would help other folks, and not just me me me, anything that would help reduce the national debt without socking it to the poorest 50%, and driving unemployment past 10%, would be helpful. Anything that might bring some of the US’ lost manufacturing capacity back would be a bonus. Anything that doesn’t result in the US and/or Israel eventually killing off a significant fraction of the Iranian civilian population over fear of their nuclear capabilities would be fine with me.
I’m with General Clark and Otpy Nkgi. I don’t think Obama will accomplish anything in his second term, at least not anything new. Closing Guantanamo. Nope? True immigration reform? Nope. He already blew his wad on healthcare reform, and without even considering single-payer, and giving up on the public option without batting an eye. So now, any hope of real healthcare reform that truly benefits all Americans, instead of the current Frankenstein’s abomination that was more a gift to the insurance companies than anything else, probably won’t be attempted again until, what, two administrations down the road? Three?
Look, I’m glad Obama is going to win, but I’m not some fanboy with stars in his eyes about the guy. The primary reason I’m for Obama at this point is that the thought of Republicans running the White House again, with all the homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, racism, and anti-intellectualism the party refuses to eschew scares the freakin’ crap out of me.
I don’t think it was the most productive in history, but the 111th was pretty productive. Health reform, student loan reform, credit card reform, DADT repeal, stimulus, etc.
My point is that if Obama couldn’t accomplish something during the 111th, or it wasn’t a priority I don’t think he can do it during the 113th or the 114th.
One thing I hope he’ll do is change the dress code to remove those tacky flag lapel pins. They just look silly, and the fact that all politicians are required to wear one is utterly ridiculous. What next, one of those cardboard Uncle Sam hats?
Sure, it’s not “fix the economy” or “defeat terrorism” but I think it’s something that might actually be achievable!