Lese majeste is an important concept. When you are a mighty power like the U.S., it enables you to do some otherwise impossible things, but you must choose your battles carefully, because if you ever lose, you’ve sabotaged that power. The big cajuna only gets involved when the deal is done, in order to avoid getting egg on one’s majestic face. he’s always involved behind the scenes providing strategic direction and oversight, but the public persona MUST be preserved.

Think of it as political capital. If you invest it successfully, you get it back… with interest. If you invest it foolishly in every little scheme, you have squandered it and are poorer thereby.

Obama has done this again and again. Totally committing himself to HealthCare Reform, but leaving it to the fools in Congress to drive it. He should have stepped back and told the public that he has asked the Congress to proffer some legislation ideas to get a sense of the solutions to be found. He then operates behind the scenes. If it is successful, or he has a chance to take decisive action and clear the critical roadblock, then he wins, and he has capital for the next battle. If it tanks, he’s clean, and Congress takes the hit. He may be even more powerful as they’ll need him more.

His campaigning for Afghanistan has left him painted into a corner like LBJ. It’s no-win for him now.

Crap-and-Trade is a non-starter, but there he is, weighing in.

He should just keep his mouth shut. He need not opine on every damned subject. He just can’t help himself, however. He lives for the moment when his rhetoric advances the agenda. That moment never comes, because he is out front, instead of behind the scenes. He needs to learn about “quiet power”.

The effect is his personal poll numbers are falling and falling. He got a temporary boost after the Olympic Snub (gold medal event, that), as people rallied around their Prez. However, they quickly realized it was a well-deserved snub and his numbers rapidly receded to pre-snub levels.

When a Prez falls below 50%, as Obama has, he loses all ability to herd the cats in Congress. He can no longer cover their political asses, so they scramble to do so themselves. Now he is powerless to affect the legislation. Feckless.

He had a truly great opportunity to score big, today. When he was awarded the Nobel Prize, he should have turned it down with a show of humility. His approval would have shot sharply up a few points overnight. Even the Pubs would have had to applaud such Statesmanship. No one could have denied such a self-effacing gesture. No one. He might’ve gained 5% in his ratings. It would’ve reassured the shaky Independents, regaining their support. What a tremendous coup it would’ve been… but his ego would not have let him turn it down. He had to seize it with both hands.

Imagine if he had turned it down, then won it in a later year. No one could then denigrate his receiving it, especially if he were “uncertain as to whether he has yet really earned it”.

Pride goeth before a fall. Hubris. False Pride. His accepting the award exposes his shallow persona. Watch his numbers drop yet further as a result of his acceptance of the award.

This President is a train wreck in progress, which I cheer, because the sooner he is neutered, the better.

You’re terribly wrong here, the $787 billion Stimulus Bill has stimulated the road sign making business. I can’t tell you how many brand spanking new large road signs with “Brought to you by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” I’ve seen near some construction cones with absolutely no work going on at all.

I think we could have saved a few million on these dumb ass signs and done some good like maybe keep some teachers from getting laid off.

You’re terribly wrong here, the $787 billion Stimulus Bill has stimulated the road sign making business. I can’t tell you how many brand spanking new large road signs with “Brought to you by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” I’ve seen near some construction cones with absolutely no work going on at all.

I think we could have saved a few million on these dumb ass signs and done some good like maybe keep some teachers from getting laid off.

‘how is Obama crapping on this country?’….please contact me when you regain consciousness,

Carla,
Just how is Obama ‘crapping’ on our country? If anything he is playing good cop to Bushes bad cop. I see nothing wrong with that. Tell me, where have you been in this world carla?

Unlike The Won, whom allies are grumbling about and dictators and despots are laughing at.

That prize meant something once. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mother Teresa. Lech Walesa. Now it’s a joke.

Frankly this takes me back, because there was nothing your people wouldn’t do to bet against the nation vis a vis Iraq and President Bush. Just for a little Schadenfreude, and political gain.

The fact still remains he could have saved us and him an unnecessary embarrassment by merely doing nothing.

And you guys kick the wounded inner child on a regular basis, it’s what you do.

As for the party of NO; sure, that’s all we have right now, since Pelosi, Reid, and crew won’t allow any R input at all, all we can do is oppose with any effect instead of offer legislation (or even amendments!) that might go somewhere. I also seem to remember your side considering that a principled stand not so long ago, so spare me the sanctimony.