Why Obama is surely facing a second term riddled with scandal and upheaval
But the re-elected president should be worrying about something else as well: the Second-Term Curse.
Dating back to Woodrow Wilson’s 1919 failure to bring the United States into the League of Nations, second presidential terms have almost always been disappointing and sad. There have been successes: Ronald Reagan passing tax reform in 1986 and Bill Clinton balancing the budget. But far more common are thwarted ambitions, scandal and a slow slide towards political irrelevance.
“This time it’s different” would be the likely response from Obama’s true believers. And these acolytes could be correct since historical patterns are merely suggestive rather than Marxist Iron Laws. But still it is likely that sometime before Moving Van Day in 2017, Obama will be embarrassed by at least one of these four factors:
Blowback
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He wanted it, he deserves it all.
thebrokenrattle on November 12, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Yea sure he is going to go through the ringer just like Nixon did…ok yea let’s wait for that and see how that works out for us. My goodness we are delusional.
PierreLegrand on November 12, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Because his first term was “riddled with scandal and upheaval”?
davidk on November 12, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Media yawns…
apostic on November 12, 2012 at 1:30 PM
The media are sure to be all over these scandals and the electorate is sure to be outraged by them. And in the wake of this outrage the Republicans in congress are sure to be emboldened.
Kataklysmic on November 12, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Let. It. Burn.
#Revenge
JPeterman on November 12, 2012 at 1:30 PM
It just seems that way if you only listen to the same right-wing noise machine that brought you the Romney landslide.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83704.html?hp=t1
Alpha_Male on November 12, 2012 at 1:31 PM
…because his first term already was, and it was just ignored by the press?
James on November 12, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Well, scandals will be an issue only if they’re big enough to penetrate the media shield erected around Obama(which Benghazi could be when all is said and done). As for upheaval, yeah I’m thinking another recession(or worse) will take care of that.
Doughboy on November 12, 2012 at 1:31 PM
No second term president has ever had as much power as Obama. There will be no scandals because people and businesses are threatened, and the media covers his ass completely. Anyone who values their life will be quiet.
darwin on November 12, 2012 at 1:31 PM
I have some brain cells for sale … cheap.
Interested?
darwin on November 12, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Since when is Walter Shaprio part of that “machine”, genius?
changer1701 on November 12, 2012 at 1:34 PM
This guy can do whatever he wants. Where was the reporting on the scandal in the first term? No where in the MSM. He is bullet proof. And even if it is reported his followers don’t care.
envycat on November 12, 2012 at 1:34 PM
That is the key. They know what’s going on, they just don’t care. Obama supporters don’t care if people die, if Obama lies, if he’s corrupt down to his socks. They don’t care that the media lies, they don’t care that democrats constantly lie.
They just don’t care. You can’t fight that. They’ve been taught that the ends justify the means and they believe Obama will create an America where they don’t have to work and can just stay home and he’ll send them oodles of money.
darwin on November 12, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Hopefully Obama is impeached in his second term. Eh, who am I kidding the Republicans don’t have the spine to remove the “first 50% black president” even if he was caught on surveillance video committing mass murder.
Raquel Pinkbullet on November 12, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Since when is Walter Shapiro linked by Hot Air?
Alpha_Male on November 12, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Beat me.
Yeah, when your first term is like Obama’s, things look pretty grim going forward.
The “right wing noise machine” is a symptom, not a cause, of the failure of this nation’s media.
HitNRun on November 12, 2012 at 1:39 PM
I don’t believe the ‘curse’ will be applicable this time.
Not because there won’t be scandals, but because they simply won’t be reported on.
Washington Nearsider on November 12, 2012 at 1:39 PM
He’s got the media, he’s got the schools, he’s got the culture and he has no effective opposition anywhere (especially in the Establishment Republican Party).
He could light up a spliff on national TV in prime time using the Constitution as a match and he’ll be praised.
We are screwed.
Rixon on November 12, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Obama could sacrifice children in the Oval Office and the media would laugh and Obama supporters would say the children deserved it. Hell, his supporters would probably start taking kids off the street and send them to him.
darwin on November 12, 2012 at 1:43 PM
His stuff has been linked here before.
changer1701 on November 12, 2012 at 1:43 PM
As Rush says, liberalism is a force multiplier. It’s failures forces those dependent upon government not to look for a proven successful alternative, but for MORE government!
Rixon on November 12, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Well of course. But so are Obama supporters, they just don;t know it yet.
darwin on November 12, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Sadly, you’re both right.
changer1701 on November 12, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Exactly moron.
jawkneemusic on November 12, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Lsm deflection …history written by lib loving idiots
cmsinaz on November 12, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Wasn’t his first term so riddled? Are we supposed to believe anything will be done about it now? The Obama presidency is about creating a myth,not about truth.
Rocks on November 12, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Rush is on fire today. I will be surprised if he doesn’t get a big segment in QOTD.
Kataklysmic on November 12, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Heck forget benghazi its all broadwell and petraeus on the lsm
cmsinaz on November 12, 2012 at 1:48 PM
I’m sure it has. Conservatives love to cite the “lame-stream media” or liberal pundits when they’re writing something that’s bad for Democrats. The “Media” is fully reliable when it reports on news that Republicans want to hear (like a falling stock market or bad employment numbers).
Alpha_Male on November 12, 2012 at 1:52 PM
From the Greenroom:
Not that it will matter. Millions come from the south to this country illegally, and they are celebrated. It’s rude to point out they are breaking the law. They will become citizens. Do they not bleed. Well, we all bleed. What about following the rule of law. If you don’t like the law, then change it.
Paul-Cincy on November 12, 2012 at 1:55 PM
You are one of the least intelligent people to ever mash a comment into the comment box at this website. WTF is wrong with you people?
tom daschle concerned on November 12, 2012 at 1:57 PM
That’s right, when they don’t cover for Obama or other democrats they’re reliable. Too bad that’s far and few between.
darwin on November 12, 2012 at 1:58 PM
That’s just it. We can learn EVERYTHING now, and it just. doesn’t. matter.
He’s in. For the next 4 years. And God help us all.
Washington Nearsider on November 12, 2012 at 1:58 PM
You’re not serious. His support in the black community would tank, from 99% to 97%, maybe more.
Paul-Cincy on November 12, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Obama is impeachment proof and there is no reason to expect that his media will acknowledge anything that might be scandalous or even negative to his popularity.
Buddahpundit on November 12, 2012 at 2:03 PM
If Obama was upset about what he inheriting in his first term, just wait until he understands what his second term inherited.
elfman on November 12, 2012 at 2:03 PM
And then the thread died for some reason.
rogerb on November 12, 2012 at 2:07 PM
And he did this how? But looting the Social Security trust fund.
Hardly an accomplishment.
UltimateBob on November 12, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Because truth = troll poison
UltimateBob on November 12, 2012 at 2:09 PM
Weren’t you paying attention? This is Obama’s first term. That last one didn’t count.
Kensington on November 12, 2012 at 2:09 PM
Fixed a typo there.
UltimateBob on November 12, 2012 at 2:09 PM
Yeah, that’s really going to stop the Marxist-in-Chief on his quest to make America a third world socialist workers’ paradise. Welcome to Obama’s New Improved America 2.0, the Police State perfected.
clippermiami on November 12, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Unless he is caught on the sidewalk in front of the White House launching a terrorist attack, they will cover for him, cover it up for him, IGNORE it – he is truly Teflon. More Teflon than Reagan ever hoped to be.
djl130 on November 12, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Teflon
vityas on November 12, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Failure? Might be the only redeeming factor in Wilson’s presidency.
WeekendAtBernankes on November 12, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Democrats Better Start Soul Searching
M2RB: Tech N9ne featuring Liz Suwandi
‘Toon of the Day: Cult of Obama
M2RB: Living Colour
Resist We Much on November 12, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Teflon is toxic in the long run.
Especially to canaries.
profitsbeard on November 12, 2012 at 2:50 PM
His first term was riddled with scandal and upheaval so whats the point?
Joseph Russo III on November 12, 2012 at 2:52 PM
It is going to be a messy, scandal riden four years that we will all have to endure. I just hope that the country can survive. Romney I feel would have been a breath of much needed fresh air ………….. and change in direction.
SC.Charlie on November 12, 2012 at 3:01 PM
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