Weekdays at 12noon on 770 AM: The Truth
 Michael Medved
Most popular
Help us build a Fisher House
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.

Obama's Misrule: Folly or Just Weakness?

July 17, 2012 @ 11:48 am

The grim employment numbers for the month of June make it clear that Barack Obama will face re-election with an economic record that's deeply disappointing. In response, the president seeks to blame outside forces - uncooperative Republicans in Congress, "head winds" from Europe and, of course, his predecessor, George W. Bush. But after three and a half years, any effort to explain away the depressing economic and fiscal situation makes the president look bad. If he trumpets big accomplishments like Obamacare and the failed stimulus, then he looks powerful but wrong-headed. If he complains that he's helpless in overcoming destructive forces that have overwhelmed him, then he looks sympathetic but weak. Either way, the president counts as a failure and it won't matter to voters whether they attribute his disastrous economic management to foolish policies or simple incompetence.

More Michael Medved

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (12)


  • Add A Comment

  • ron prevost wrote...
    A Harry Truman, Obama is not
    July 17, 2012 6:31 pm
    I think the sign in his desk says 'the buck stops... in my campaign fund'. But why start with the presidency? This guy probably never has had to take responsible actions his entire life. Remember, as a community organizer, all that was necessary was starting things - not results. And his favorite Senate votes were 'present' and 'not voting'.

    And he's over used it so much that I think "But, Bush did it" will go on his tombstone some day. .. But to answer your question, Michael, it's neither. Folly implies knowledge to ignore and weakness implies that somewhere there is strength. Oz has neither. Only the skills and mentality of a high school kid on spring break.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleD wrote...
    Wouldn't it be funny if Obama still wins this November?
    July 17, 2012 7:58 pm
    How much of a loser do the Republicons have to be to lose to Obama based on their construct of the last 3 1/2 years?

    Oh look, the polls have Obama slightly ahead. You'd think he'd be way behind Dumney, by like 60 points considering what Medved wrote.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • badboy wrote...
    830,000 more jobs last month
    July 17, 2012 9:42 pm
    compared to the month he took office
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    And we SHOULD have had to break even ---------
    July 18, 2012 9:11 pm
    at least 6,000,000 more than 3 1/2 years ago. ..Good job !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Frogsplash wrote...
    The candidates this time around
    July 17, 2012 10:00 pm
    Reminds me of how poor a choice we had in 1998 with Bush and Dukakis or Carter vs Ford, but I actually think this time around it's worse. At this point I would take Carter again over Obama, and I would take Ford over Romney. Blech, wake me when this mess is over.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NewButCurious wrote...
    "Journalist's" Agenda is Clear
    July 18, 2012 6:51 am
    The fact is that the economy runs on hype as much as anything... So those who speak only of blame and not of hope are more problem source than anything; Like it or not - what we believe has as much to do with economic growth as do the fundamentals. Those who only spread fear and seek to blame - are a big part of the problem. That said... that you have people pausing a little before they overextend further - that jobs are being created gradually - that some are paying more attention to savings... is still a good thing. We had a rampant pool party going for a few decades, as we gradually gave away much of the farm and let greed replace real value... this is not something you fix by stimulus alone. We should break up the big banks, put some bankers in Jail, bring back Glass-Steagall, learn to save, build value instead of bleed jobs, and set a naional goal of building the USA back. This is a national attitude that needs fixing. We used to be great - now we, as a nation, are much more the petulant, greedy, selfish, impatient children. We are strong enough to pull Europe and the rest of the world back - but we are faltering instead - because we have stopped doing what originally made us great. We need not just to believe - but truly deliver - again. If you have to blame - I would say that Congress has done their best to not perform... so blaming the President is ridiculous... We do not elect leaders to stonewall. The Filibuster must become a limited tool - failure to get things done should be penalized, not rewarded. Checks & balances are not something to abuse. Tell me what Congress has done for me lately. And the tea party is still struggling to spell things correctly - its scary that so little brain power garners so much enthusiasm. We as a nations have mostly quit thinking - because it is easier to whine. Journalists doing it is more shameful still.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    NewButCurious
    July 18, 2012 7:43 am
    Good post.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kata wrote...
    I said much of the same thing in another blog post
    July 18, 2012 9:06 am
    but you've done a much better job of articulating the specifics.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    @NewButCurious
    July 19, 2012 10:59 am
    When republicans had full control of Congress during Clinton's presidency...you know, after the "Republican Revolution"...did Clinton just throw up his hands and say, "The republicans are blocking everything," and deny his responsibility as leader of the free world? Or did he lead and get things done?

    When the democrats had full control of Congress during GWB's presidency, did Bush deny his responsibility as leader of the free world? Or did he lead and get things done?

    Obama is an abject failure as POTUS. Sure, he gives flowery speeches that send tingles up the legs of his supporters. But he's little more than Campaigner in Chief. He's had more than 100 campaign appearances in the past 6 months, but NOT ONE SINGLE MEETING with his jobs council.

    If you think Obama give a flying rip about creating American jobs, you're delusional. As my daddy told me, you can judge a man's character by his actions.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }