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Possible Democrat Challenger For Obama In 2012?

After less than eight months in office, rumors are beginning that the Democratic Progressive Caucus may consider the unthinkable of running a challenger against president Obama. It is unbelievable that the ultra liberal segment of his party is upset because of his compromises! He has compromised on virtually nothing other than items which any sane person would be able to see. Are they disappointed that the has not withdrawn all troops from Iraq? Are they  disappointed that he has not yet completely closed down Guantánamo? I can’t imagine much else he has compromised on. They are disappointed in his approval rating in the polls. But, these numbers are down because of those things he has done, not what he has failed to do.

There is a short blurb and a video on the liberal Huffington Post site with a discussion between Keith Olbermann of MSNBC and Gene Robinson, columnist for the Washington Post, both liberals, and voicing their opinions as to what might happen to Obama.  Robinson made the comment that Obama should tread carefully on the healthcare bill and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because, “You don’t want to see the progressive caucus in a foul mood.”

Of course, neither of these men were trying to say that something was underfoot, but were simply thinking of the possibilities. But, others have also expressed their feeling that someone might decide to challenge Obama unless he could strengthen his poll numbers considerable between now an 2012.  It is beyond my imagination how some people could want to see, so strongly, a government healthcare system with as many undesirable problems in it as the HR3200. But here is a comment from one of it’s advocates:
 
In the latest news cycles, including as reported by bloggers on Huffington Post, the President will be backing off of support for a public health insurance option. If Obama does this, or downplays this item, in his speech to a joint session of Congress next week, he will have become just another, run-of-the-mill President who says one thing to capture votes and then makes a switcheroo. "Say it ain't so 'Joe' ".  (Miles J. Zaremski-Miles J. Zaremski: Obama Selling Out --"Say It Ain't So 'Joe' ": Huffington Post)

Other writers have mused over the idea that Hillary Clinton might decide to give another try in defeating Obama in 2012. That is a difficult one for me to call. I have seen some evidence that many of Hillary’s followers have deserted her for having accepted a role in the Obama cabinet. Yet, there are still many who feel she was cheated in the past primary election. I have to agree to that, but whether or not that has enhanced her chances of upsetting him, I have no idea.

I’m not one who puts much credence in remarks following an article or rambling blogs, but sometimes you can get a little pulse of the public by reading them. And speaking of Hillary and her chances of defeating Obama in the 2012 primary, it seems there are a great many who feel she was bamboozled by Obama in placing her in the Secretary of State position and many feel her standing in the voters eye, is not as precious as it once was. Many feel that Obama gave her that position only to keep her out of his hair. She gets an occasional trip to some foreign country but with little substance to her trips while Obama appointed special envoys to do his statesmanship and reporting to him. I noticed that some venture the opinion that she is now washed up politically. And I have to concede that she seems to be kept from the limelight as much as possible.

The incident which received more media exposure than anything she has done, was when the reporter asked what her husband thought about some question. And this on a bad hair day for her. She snapped back that he was not the Secretary of State, but that she was. I believe a lot of the vigor has left her and it is difficult for her to watch as she is upstaged by Obama and husband Bill in the news.

It will be interesting to see how the next 2½ years play out. If Obama continues to drop in the approval polls, he may very well face a fellow Democrat in the primary, something which is virtually unheard of. But on the other hand, the hierarchy in the Democratic party can be brutal when necessary. Dick Morris, former advisor for President Clinton, made a prediction shortly after Hillary’s appointment, that she would keep quite and go along with the administration policy as long as Obama’s popularity remained in the 60’s or 70’s but that she would turn on him if he dropped drastically in the polls. See his video interview at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L--X_up00S4
 

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