For instance, remember when the main issue in the election was going to be Obama scandal-mania? They were placing their bets on Benghazi, the IRS, the VA and - for some poor souls - even Fast and Furious. And now here we are a few weeks away from the election and Trey Gowdy can't get anyone to pay attention to his hearings (if you don't know who Trey Gowdy is - you just made my point).
Next up was a shift to Obamacare. Following the troubles with the initial online rollout, Republicans were sure this was going to be the ultimate weapon to use against Democrats. That was until the web site was fixed, enrollment surged beyond predictions, the rate of uninsured dropped, and health insurance premiums didn't skyrocket. Oops, time to change the subject again.
Anyone remember the short-lived focus on "President Obama as tyrant" and Boehner's stupid law suit? Nah, that one didn't last long.
This summer's surge in unaccompanied children arriving on our border from Central America was sure to get the nativist's blood boiling and keep it that way through the election. But then President Obama asked for help from Congress in addressing the situation and they bailed. Now the surge is over and its back to business as usual.
So now what? NBC noticed that the NRCC - in a move that invokes the "spirit" of 2002-2004 - is now going for the "Democrats aren't tough enough on terrorists" line. In other words, when fear-mongering about everything else fails, ramping up the idea that the terrorists are at our doorstep is always a great fall-back position.
Given the speed with which Republicans have cycled in and then out of these various issues as "THE ONE" on which the midterm election will hinge, I expect at least one or two more in the coming weeks.
The point is that the GOP is addicted to the hysteria of the moment. As our President tackles one challenge after another, they keep thinking THIS will be the one that does him in. But minus all the drama, he just keeps thoughtfully and systematically taking them on and finding the best resolution possible - usually with zero assistance from Congress.
It would be nice if we had a media that noticed this trend. But the hysteria approach is more lucrative when it comes to link-bait. So it will be up to folks like us to remind the American people that we got exactly what we wanted when we elected President Obama - a no-drama pragmatist that plays the long game.
It seems like the list keeps going -- So, you can also add the Ukraine/Russia crisis, the back-and-forth violence with the Israelis and Palestinians this summer, the Ebola outbreak, a not too great summer for box office movies, and on and on ...
ReplyDeleteWe were told by the Republicans and media that these issues all occurred because Obama "failed to lead".
You were never told that bt the media... because they protect Obama
ReplyDeleteA scared little birdy!
DeleteOh really. Remember how the media "protected" Mr. Obama from all the BENGHAZI! hysteria, the Ukraine hysteria, and the border hysteria? No. Neither do I. People who whine about the media protecting Mr. Obama are really whining about the fact that none of the FAUX NOOZ "scandals" turned out to be scandals at all. They are the natural tragedies and international problems that occur in every presidency.
DeleteThe so-called "liberal media" has dutifully reported every fake scandal Republicans have managed to dream up, often long after they have been completely debunked.
DeleteHell, they still make jokes about Al Gore supposedly claiming to have invented the internet'