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Peggy Noonan

The drawn-out crisis: It’s the Obama way

The election is over, a new era begins—and it looks just like the old one. A crisis is declared. Confusion, frustration, and a more embittered process follow. This is . . . the Obama Way. Nothing has changed, even after a yearlong campaign that must, at times, have looked to him like a near-death experience. He still doesn’t want to forestall jittery, gloom-laden headlines and make an early deal with the other guy. He wants to beat the other guy. …

You watch and wonder: Why does it always have to be cliffs with this president? Why is it always a high-stakes battle? Why doesn’t he shrewdly re-enact Ronald Reagan, meeting, arguing and negotiating in good faith with Speaker Tip O’Neill, who respected very little of what the president stood for and yet, at the end of the day and with the country in mind, could shake hands and get it done? Why is there never a sense with Mr. Obama that he understands the other guys’ real position? …

The president would only benefit from showing he has the command and capability to meet, argue, press and come to agreement. It would be heartening to the country to see this, and would impress the world. And the Republicans would like to get it done. …

So they’re weakened, they want this particular crisis to end, and they badly need to win entitlement reforms that would, in the end, buttress the president’s historical standing—and the president isn’t working with them every day and making a deal?

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Country-destroying, Anti-American, Socialism… THAT’S the Obama way.

Warner Todd Huston on November 30, 2012 at 9:57 PM

Obama n. antonym: leader

Paul-Cincy on November 30, 2012 at 9:57 PM

You broke it, you buy it, Peggy.

thebrokenrattle on November 30, 2012 at 10:28 PM

Ive seen fb posts of bo’s worshipers. They dont want him working with the repubs. That would mean he was weak or wrong.

yhxqqsn on November 30, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Why is there never a sense with Mr. Obama that he understands the other guys’ real position? …

Because he keeps winning?

I mean really. Why should he change? People vote for him in 2008 without knowing him, and in 2012? Why change? How much worse could he do?

He’s running on protecting the middle class and sticking it to the rich. America does not and will not give a damn unless things hit them personally. The now 4 year long economic issues are successfully blamed on Bush. The press loves him, the Republicans hold just enough power to blame for any continuing or new problems.

GG.

This happened in NJ for years, decades. One democrat after another kicking the can down the road, promising the world to people who will vote for them, increasing government, making only token cuts. Until Christie, like him or not, came along and said “are you people dumb or what? We cant keep going like his. You cant fight the math”

Dash on November 30, 2012 at 10:45 PM

Peggy still gets her Depends all wet, just thinking about Obama.

To Hell with him/her.

Schadenfreude on November 30, 2012 at 10:51 PM

Schadenfreude on November 30, 2012 at 10:51 PM

Yeah, it’s kinda hard to take Peggers seriously anymore after she had that little swoon thingy going for Obama back in 2008.

Sorry hon, you liked it, you got it, so now deal with it. After all, everyone else is…

Wanderlust on November 30, 2012 at 10:57 PM

Agitator gonna agitate.

aquaviva on November 30, 2012 at 11:00 PM

Peggy, may I introduce you to Saul Alinsky. You may have heard of him.

In the Alinsky model, “organizing” is a euphemism for “revolution” — a wholesale revolution whose ultimate objective is the systematic acquisition of power by a purportedly oppressed segment of the population, and the radical transformation of America’s social and economic structure.

The goal is to foment enough public discontent, moral confusion, and outright chaos to spark the social upheaval that Marx, Engels, and Lenin predicted

– a revolution whose foot soldiers view the status quo as fatally flawed and wholly unworthy of salvation. Thus, the theory goes, the people will settle for nothing less than that status quo’s complete collapse

– to be followed by the erection of an entirely new system upon its ruins.

Toward that end, they will be apt to follow the lead of charismatic radical organizers who project an aura of confidence and vision, and who profess to clearly understand what types of societal “changes” are needed.

Obama taught Alinsky, not Constitutional Law.

If you ever want to understand Obama, read Alinsky. He has followed it to the letter for 20 years.

faraway on November 30, 2012 at 11:10 PM

Thanks for the heads-up and FUP.

drunyan8315 on November 30, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Mr. Romney is not the leader of the party; he left no footprints in the sand. There is no such thing as Romneyism, no movement of which he’s the standard-bearer.

This is why we lost.

faraway on November 30, 2012 at 11:12 PM

“I keep thinking that he’ll change. I mean, he showed such promise, he’s so talented. But every night, he just ignores me. It’s like I’m not even here. Aren’t I interesting enough? Doesn’t he care? I just don’t know what to do. I believe in him so much. He can’t really be like this. I can’t believe he’s a callous man. I just can’t. I would have seen that, wouldn’t I?”

beatcanvas on November 30, 2012 at 11:19 PM

Mr. Romney is not the leader of the party; he left no footprints in the sand. There is no such thing as Romneyism, no movement of which he’s the standard-bearer.

This is why we lost.

faraway on November 30, 2012 at 11:12 PM

If he was a leader he would be in the news pounding Obama. A few are, but most aren’t politicos. The only one who is really leadership material is Palin.

davidk on November 30, 2012 at 11:24 PM

Pyrobama

faraway on November 30, 2012 at 11:28 PM

Thanks, Democrats: your inspired leadership has reduced America to the level of sophistication of a heartbroken teenager, wondering why Mr. Perfect isn’t, while we conservatives are the three neurons off in the corner that are actually firing, that she is not yet able to listen to.

Tanks a whole bunch, and reat assured I will never forget, and I will never vote for a Democrat as long as I breathe.

drunyan8315 on November 30, 2012 at 11:28 PM

If he was a leader he would be in the news pounding Obama. A few are, but most aren’t politicos. The only one who is really leadership material is Palin.

davidk on November 30, 2012 at 11:24 PM

As I said a few days ago, does anyone picture Romney out fighting for conservatism over the next four years? No.

Night Owl on November 30, 2012 at 11:31 PM

Yeah, it’s kinda hard to take Peggers seriously anymore after she had that little swoon thingy going for Obama back in 2008.

Sorry hon, you liked it, you got it, so now deal with it. After all, everyone else is…

Wanderlust on November 30, 2012 at 10:57 PM

Same in 2012

Schadenfreude on November 30, 2012 at 11:54 PM

I have no time for what this heifer has to say.

HerneTheHunter on December 1, 2012 at 12:04 AM

Never let a bad president goad to waste.

As for Noonan. A little late to the party ain’t cha baby?

kregg on December 1, 2012 at 7:28 AM

So they’re weakened, they want this particular crisis to end, and they badly need to win entitlement reforms that would, in the end, buttress the president’s historical standing – and the president isn’t working with them every day and making a deal?

Because in Obama’s world, he won and he should get everything he wants.

BigGator5 on December 1, 2012 at 8:20 AM

I can’t say anything about her astute political analysis without demeaning her intelligence.

vityas on December 1, 2012 at 8:28 AM

I certainly wish people would stop pretending Obama campaign on “Raising taxes on the rich”. He did no such thing. He ran his campaign on the “How horrible will it be when abortion, gay marriage, and contraception are banned under President Romney?”.

That was BY FAR the biggest factor in this election. Ask anyone who voted for Obama and they’ll tell you exactly that.

deadrody on December 1, 2012 at 8:45 AM

peggy noonan has a sad.

she should retire already… what an embarrassment she’s become.

sesquipedalian on December 1, 2012 at 8:50 AM

To the extent the GOP has an elected face, it is that of Speaker John Boehner. And he is precisely the man with whom Mr. Obama should be having friendly lunches.

Peggy acts as though Boehner can control his caucus. Tip O’neill had control and could negotiate, but Boehner can’t deliver compromise without making a deal with Nancy. A full third of his caucus won’t go along.

So Obama can get away with continuing to blame Republicans in Congress. No deal gets made, everyone faces hardship, higher taxes, etc and Boehner and party take it up the wazoo.

The long term result is to frustrate the electorate and get more Democrats elected in 2014.

RINOs are people too on December 1, 2012 at 9:18 AM

The Obama Doctrine: Dither, golf, and Vacay.

wildcat72 on December 1, 2012 at 10:38 AM

To the extent the GOP has an elected face, it is that of Speaker John Boehner.

Whew am I glad you pointed this out Peggy. I been a wunderin’ who had the best crease in his pants and thangs like that.

Herb on December 1, 2012 at 10:49 AM

deadrody on December 1, 2012 at 8:45 AM

You are right on because all I’ve read is that voters wanted gay marriage, free condoms and abortion. Well, maybe not in that order.

Herb on December 1, 2012 at 10:52 AM

James Taranto (WSJ Best of The Web) responds to her plaintive query with this depressing analysis:

Perhaps the answer lies in this National Journal piece: “Senate Democratic leaders swaggered in front of the cameras today to confidently predict that Republicans will eventually come around to the idea of raising tax rates on the wealthy and preventing tax hikes on the middle class.”

And indeed, how can they not come around to it? With taxes going up automatically to 2000 levels at the end of the year, Obama effectively has the unilateral power to raise taxes. The only leverage House Republicans have is that their support is needed to avoid raising taxes on those who aren’t “rich” by Obama’s lights.

Republicans can give Obama what he wants and raise taxes only on “the rich.” Or they can raise taxes on everyone, which would also give Obama what he wants and allow him to blame them for the tax increases he opposes. A third alternative would be some sort of negotiated deal, but by making such an outlandish “offer,” Obama essentially takes that possibility off the table.

It may not speak well for Obama’s leadership, but as a matter of political tactics, he seems to have played this brilliantly.

Drained Brain on December 1, 2012 at 11:00 AM