Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
They say overnight is a long time in politics, and a week is an eternity. Recent events are proving that adage out.
I thought Romney ran a weak, passive campaign over the summer. He let Obama take the initiative in sliming him. I didn't like the Ryan pick either. Took the focus off Obama. Things were looking up for Obama by the end of last week.
Now, it's all changed. Quickly. The visual of Egyptian mobs scaling the wall at the U. S. Embassy and pulling down Old Glory has to be a gut shot for Obama. No one who remembers Tehran and Jimmy Carter will miss the analogy.
Now the ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were murdered by a mob of islamists. The same islamists Obama assisted in kicking out Gaddafi. Supposedly they were annoyed by some internet video that dared to criticize islam.
Obama's man in Afghanistan, Harmad Karzai, helpfully weighed in that he too was very upset by the video. Afghan soldiers and police shooting their American trainers in cold blood don't move his needle, but an internet video? He's beside himself.
Obama's middle east strategy has had the effect, intentional or not, of isolating Israel and exposing her to vastly increased risks. Egypt, once a partner with Israel, is now run by bloodthristy Muslim Brotherhood terrorists who have made no secret of their desire to destroy Israel. Their latest move was to meet with Iranian intelligence officials and allow Iranian warships transit through the Suez Canal.
Now, with Iran nearing the point of no return in its relentless quest for nuclear arms, Israeli PM Netanyahu is at wits end with obama's vacillation and lack of leadership. Obama's latest move was to reject an urgent request for a face to face with Netanyahu in NY. Obama had to go on Letterman instead, so sorry Bibi, maybe next year, if Israel is still around.
Netanyahu is nobody's fool. He sees the handwriting on the wall. Obama will not be terribly concerned if Israel is hit with nukes. In fact, he seems more interested in facilitating the rise to power of radical islamists than protecting America's or Israel's interests.
With an Israeli strike on Iran becoming a matter of when not if, we can focus on the domestic economy. After some tepid growth, the trajectory has flattened and threatens to turn down. Central bank smoke and mirrors can only last so long and do so much. The fiscal cliff looms in january, and even wishy washy House Speaker Boehner is shooting down wishful thinking that it can be avoided. The fact is, neither party will budge, not when Obama is basing his whole reelection campaign on demagoguing the tax issue.
Then there is Chicago. Got to hand it to the teachers' unions. They picked the point of maximum leverage to stage their walkout. Beginning of the school year and fourth quarter of the presidential election. Obama is caught between a rock and a hard place. Back the unpopular unions and undermine his former chief of staff? Or risk alienating his single most important constituency? Tough call.
Like I said, a lot can change very quickly in politics. Obama is on his back foot at the moment, frozen by a barrage of unforseen developments that threaten to upend his campaign.
