Obama's Press Conference

On Friday Barack Obama made what could be a fatal political blunder.  He allowed Michelle to call him "home" and left Bill Clinton at the podium of the press room in the White House...alone. 

Obama said that his wife had been waiting for him for a half hour, at a previously mentioned holiday party, and he was going to leave. “I don’t want to make her mad,” Clinton responded. “Please go.”

Here's the whole presser:



In it, you can see that Bill Clinton is a brilliant politician and just exactly why he is the only Democrat to be reelected to the presidency since FDR (yes, I know that both Truman and Johnson were reelected...but neither was initially elected as President having inherited the office).  Incidentally, Mr. Clinton made Obama...look small and desperate to shed any and all responsibility for extending the tax cuts first implemented by his predecessor. 

Mr. Obama may have ended his chance at reelection simply because he couldn't be bothered to remain and do his job...from Don Surber:



More From Mr. Surber (all emphasis is mine, not Mr. Surber's):

The truth is Clinton took over the presidency on Friday when Obama just walked away. Leadership is about symbols. Mommy — Michelle Obama — called and Obama had to go home. He let Clinton take over and clean up the mess.  I am wondering if the guy finishes his term. He will not be elected to a second term. His stimulus really screwed up the economy royal... [doesn't] change anything. Been there, done that.  Obama blew it in the negotiations with the Republicans just as he blew Obamacare. He negotiated with only one side. 

After 10 years of Democrats denouncing the Bush tax cuts for the rich, Obama wants them to flip the switch so he can be the big hero. For Obama, denouncing the rich was rhetoric. He’s a multi-millionaire. Come on. But for guys like Bernie Sanders and Alan Grayson, it is what they believe...He blew it.

He had the worst midterm election — worst grade — of any president since Harry Truman.  The people like Obama. They hate his policies. And over time, the charm wears off, particularly as the unemployment rate remains high.  Yes, things would be easier if we had 5% unemployment.  Whose fault is that?  Who was given trillions to blow as he sees fit?  It didn’t work.  Being president sucks right now. It will get worse. His programs are a failure. His party does not like him. So he sent Biden to talk to the party and Clinton to talk to the press.  At this point, it is merely symbolic of a resignation. A bad weekend. But it certainly is not something I have seen before in presidential politics.

Is this the beginning of the end of Mr. Obama's effectiveness as President?  Who knows...but it sure looks like it.