President Obama came in to office way too idealistic, not understanding the challenges nor how things actually work. Like any other elected official, his intent was to reinvent the country, making it stronger and more united. With that philosophy, one is doomed to failure because the government does not call the shots. So here we are, seven years later, and the country is more divided than when he first took office. Why? Because Americans no longer believe our government is protecting our interests nor is even in the least bit truthful. This is has been the nature of politics from the beginning of time.
From the NY Times today: Tonight, in his final State of the Union address. Obama will focus on American potential and on the need to take on long-term challenges, offering reassurances that terrorists do not pose an existential threat to the U.S. (seriously?) The speech will also be used to frame the 2016 campaign (not good for the Democrats). An empty seat in the gallery will symbolize victims of gun violence in the U.S. His guests include a Syrian refugee and a Mexican immigrant. The White House message machine is in overdrive today. Here's how Mr. Obama followed through, or didn't, on earlier State of the Union promises. The House is expected to pass legislation today, with majorities of Republicans and Democrats, that would require the government to create a single online portal for open-record requests to any government agency. Complaints about the handling of requests by journalists, historians and business executives to open records to public scrutiny are routine across the government.
On the campaign trail as we get close to the Iowa Caucus ...
Chelsea Clinton makes her first campaign swing of 2016 on behalf of her mother, Hillary, in New Hampshire today. Polls show Mrs. Clinton and Bernie Sanders in a tight race there and in Iowa. Jeb Bush may find lessons in his 1994 defeat for Florida's governorship; Chris Christie is making a rightward shift on guns; and Rand Paul and Carly Fiorina were dropped from this week's main debate stage.
On Sunday's episode of The Good Wife I learned a lot about the Iowa caucus and what could go on behind the scenes. In the episode Peter Florrick is running as a Democrat in the 2016 US Presidential election. Results showed (or maybe actually predicted) Hillary coming in first by a narrow margin followed by Bernie Sanders then Martin O'Malley with fictitious Peter Florrick in fourth place. I wouldn't give up on Bernie - there are just too many people who don't trust the Clintons and Bernie has great ideas. Just wish he was younger. Consider this ... which way will Martin O'Malley's 5% voters go if he drops out?
