Early plans afoot to stop Obama sequel
Posted on June 11th, 2011
By Philip Fernando
Republican voters are holding primary elections** in 50 states to pick a nominee to challenge President Obama. The rallying cry heard everywhere is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-foil the Obama sequel.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Perhaps, this longest of any campaigns found elsewhere on planet earth, has produced a legion of well-paid strategists working diligently to send the incumbent president home in 2012. Their offices are veritable ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-war rooms.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Those living outside of the US could perhaps conjure up a multitude of reasons to fault the Nobel Peace Laurite Obama for missed opportunities to bring the world closer, unkempt policy profile and jaundiced view of small nations fighting terror and so on.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, the Republicans have several problems. First, they have to pick an electable nomineeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚shades of local Opposition politics? They must avoid a dud winning the primary providing Obama an easy re-election. Indeed, the last two duds nominated for president were Barry Goldwater, selected by the Republicans GOP in 1964, and George McGovern, chosen by Democrats in 1972ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚both lost badly.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Second, hammering out a winning strategy is a daunting task. The 12-month long 50-state-primary election campaign is bizarre and chaotic. The warring aspirants seemed to clinically test their individual formulaeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚policies, strategies and propaganda tactics ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”no quarter asked and none given. It is unpredictable and endearingly wacky said one observer. Who has the touchstoneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚no one knows yet?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Choicest Sloganising
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The choicest pieces of sloganising to date are worth mentioning:ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ HowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?” repeated ad nauseam by Sarah Palin-the former VP candidate not yet an official contender.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich more than matched PalinƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s rip: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We were told to vote for change we could believe in and found we had elected people who wanted to change what we believe— The secular-socialist machine represents as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union once did.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The urgency to nail a winning perception that hardens fastƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚the kiln effectƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚to thwart ObamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s legendary invincible aura impels all contenders. Not allowing the ObamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Midas touch of 2008 re-appear becomes strategy number one. The unflattering derision shown by Obama challengers so far seemed to slightly outmatch the fidelity of those who swooned over ObamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s electoral wizardry. In the final analysis, the plusses of the fight to extend healthcare to millions versus the unfulfilled Obama promises, including low job creation would decide victory or defeat. The battle would be fiercely fought.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Third, playing to increasingly conservative Republican voters seemed the obvious path to securing the GOP nomination. That however, restricts the eventual nominee to win back the independent voters alienated by the drift to the Right shown during the primaries. Independents could be as high as a decisive 20 percent slice of the vote at the general election?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Offensive rhetoric hurled
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That being said, we witness political mortar being hurled from all sides not only against Obama but also at each other. The customary barrage of offensive rhetoric litters the internet. Indefinable derelictions are attributed to everyone and the tit for tat would go on for months–they go toe to toe like LAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ street gangs. Late night talk hosts like David Letterman, Jon Stewart and Jay Leno have a field day.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Republican group has moved to the extreme Right in a discernable manner trying to get the Tea Party to power their sails. In 2008 when candidates Obama and Clinton battled to win the Democratic voters they too drifted to the Left accusing each other of flagrant violations of party policies. The Republican group has quickly picked up even misdemeanors, alleged adultery, flip-flopping on policy etc committed by their own party colleagues.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Candidate Gingrich, the historian led the way harking back to the days of the founders. He openly accused Obama of practicing an ignominious invective undermining American exceptionalism- ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Obama is weakening AmericaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Gingrich backstabs with a vengeance. His book ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-A Nation Like No OtherƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ seemed his manifesto. Others are on the same wave length seeking the hard core party vote.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For the record, the official candidates plus others likely to enter the fray as of new include the following former Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Jon Huntsman of Utah and of course, Sarah Palin of Alaska, House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Tea Party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minnesota). Ex-Senator Rick Santorum, the pizza magnate Herman Cain and Rudy Giuliani, the combative ex-mayor of New York.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So the primaries are been played according to established deep conservative Republican playbookƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚spending cuts, lower taxes and limited government regulation, opposing abortion, gun control and gay marriageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚those take centre stage.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mot analysts wager that the next Republican nominee would not be a centrist but a Right-leaning one. The Tea party has ensured that to happen. Republican supporters are hoping it wonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t be another arch conservative Barry Goldwater.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ **The U S primary election required both Republicans and Democrats to rely on voters to pick a nominee/s among competing candidates instead of party bosses or the hierarchy. The incumbent President rarely gets challenged (Kennedy took on Jimmy Carter in1980). Voter power has been somewhat eroded as special voting delegates are permitted to cast votes at both Party Conventions in case no candidate garnered the required number of primary votes to clinch party nomination).
June 12th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Listen Phillip Fernando, the Democrats and Republicans are owned by Wall Street, Wall Street calls the tune. So stop sticking up for Obama who in my eyes is a war criminal. Lankaweb most of the time is a truthful site, but they lose my vote when they continually defend Obama. Tell me is Lankaweb a Sri Lankan website or an American website. Sri Lanka has absolutely no connection to the United States of America. An Obama Administration does not benefit Sri Lanka and if reelected never will. The US Govt whoever they are corrupt and owned by Wall Street. I saw right through Obama, I suggest Lankaweb and authors backing Obama do the same otherwise I will have to conclude those running Lankaweb and the write ups it has here are nothing more than deluded. Stop focussing on US politics, it nothing to do with Sri Lanka, please report on Sri Lankan politics as this is a Sri Lankan website or is Sri Lankan politics not exciting enough for you, there is better theatre in America. Finally just because he is black doesn’t mean he isn’t an imperialist. Remember that!
June 14th, 2011 at 6:19 am
We all thought he was a saint who came to rescue the world but unfortunately he is a war criminal same like Bush.He is not a peace maker but a peace breaker who kill thousands and destroy countries whom they dont like. Everybody in the middle east swallowed his soft words and start all those revolutions and now see what happened to those countries. They are run by extremists like Hezbollah,Muslim brotherhood and so on. Crimes rampart, killing each other destroying properties etc. and no more discipline in their societies. They ruined the whole arab world. Although they started and help those countries with money the majority hates America.
Obama comes or anyone comes this evil empire is hated by majority in the world. More than helping they destroy countries and their civilizations. They destroyed Iraq thinking Nuclear weapons hidden there and killed the whole family of Sadam Hussain. Now they were trying to kill the Gadafi Family and destroy even historic places in Libiya telling anothr bull shit story about Gadafi hiding weapons inside those Roman historic monuments. They destroyed Afganistan,Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and many more and also thinking and planning to destroy us our small nation who has done so much to end terrorism in our beloved Motherland. God will punish them through NATURE for their crimes against humanity by sending twisters, fires,floods,volcanos, storms,Tsunamies etc. Obama or Moon cannot stop what is coming to them in the future.
June 14th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Ranjit
do not say that please
You said
”
God will punish them through NATURE for their crimes against humanity by sending twisters, fires,floods,volcanos, storms,Tsunamies etc”
what is wrong with you man
There are lot of Srilankans living in USA close to 50000
I did not like what you said man
June 14th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
Well yes Jimmy you should learn to differentiate between the American people and their Evil Govt. American people are very good. Unfortunately Wall Street and their Govt is extremely corrupt and Evil. I have been to America a couple of times and their people are some of the nicest in the western world. Shame about their Govt though which has an evil imperialist agenda. Not all American politicians are Evil however you will find a few who are good. But they will never be supported by the Wall Street controlled Military industrial complex. One is Dennis Kucinich who spoke out strongly against Obama over Libya another is Ron Paul who also strongly condemned Obama over Libya. Both Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul call for all US military forces to be withdrawn to the United States and US Military bases closed down around the world. Of course this is unpopular with the pro war wall street bankers, so these two will never get the funding for a presidential campaign to become president. The American people need to fix thier corrupt politics, otherwise they will be blamed like Jimmy above unfairly singled out for the crimes of US Govt. I want American people to be liked around the world. Because of the US Govt they are not.
June 14th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
I am sorry Jimmy.I agree with Rohana.I am not talking about American people. I have visited 4 times to Washington DC, New York, and some places.It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people but because of their Government policies I get worked up.I hate what they are doing to the world. Talking about peace and they destroy the world. The American people should and must stand up against their Governments because they have to pay unneccessary taxes because of their Governments bad policies. They cannot build houses,take care of their sick but they use Bombs worth millions to kill innocent civillains in other countries. Is it correct? They create internal disputes in other countries and sabotage developments by putting sanctions and forms of harassment. I worked 15 years with Americans in Greyhounds ,US Air Force logistics etc, I like them man but not their politicians. Did you saw how many times they clapped when NATANAYAHU spoke in their congress.Do you think he is a good guy and what he is doing is correct to the Palastine people? We are all human beings their should be a fair game for everyone. Did you saw what they did to IMF guy? How many in American politics have done the same.Any justice for them.Why this unfair treatment to others. I hate those American politicians for what they are doing to the world and nothing else.
I am sorry Jimmy.It’s natural to get worked up like that when they put tons of Bombs in Libiya,Afganistan,Pakistan etc It’s true they are behind Terroirists but mostly they kill innocents.
June 15th, 2011 at 4:35 am
How come people are good and government is bad. At the end of the day people have appointed their government. If people are good they have to appoint a good government. The same good people are still whole heartily approve Hiroshima, Nagazaki mass destruction. They approve yet 3 million Vietnam massacres. They approve Iraq invasion and over 1 million massacres, same good people approve Afghanistan invasion. They never object to Cuba trade sanctions and Guantanamo invasion, good people of America never criticized killing of Che Guevera, Salvadore Allende of Chile, and Maurice Bishop of Granada etc etc. Since 1945 to now Americans have directly massacred more than 100 million people of this world. Indirectly how many????? If people are good they must rally against injustice of the rulers.
America is rule by Arms manufactures, Petroleum companies, Chemical companies and Bankers. Either White man (Bush) and Black woman (Condeleza Rice) or Black man (Obama) and White woman (Hillary), or democratic or republicans comes to power their policy is neo imperialism and capitalism. For their interest Americans are ready to massacre any amount of people with out any hesitation with the approval of so-called good people.