Exclusive: Obama Would 'Rather Be Really Good One-Term President'

Exclusive: Obama Would 'Rather Be Really Good One-Term President'

abcnews.go.com

"I'd rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president," he told ABC's "World News" anchor Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview today.

Obama sat down with Sawyer two days before he will deliver a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, and he acknowledged the political setbacks of his first year in office.

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The President also discussed his determination to tackle the hard issues and not back off, despite the potential for putting his job at risk and not winning a re-election.

"You know, there is a tendency in Washington to believe our job description, of elected officials, is to get re-elected. That's not our job description," Obama said. "Our job description is to solve problems and to help people."

"I will not slow down in terms of going after the big problems that this country faces," he said. "The easiest thing for me to do, Diane, would be to go small bore, avoid controversy, just make sure that everybody's comfortable and we only propose things that don't threaten any special interests in Washington. If you do that, then you can get a boost in the poll numbers."

Though his poll numbers have dropped due in part to the struggling economy and the health care debate, Obama dismisses them with seeming unconcern...

"I went through this [in] the campaign. When your poll numbers drop, you are an idiot. When your poll numbers are high, you are a genius. If my poll numbers are low, then I am cool and cerebral, and cool and detached. If my poll numbers are high," Obama said with a laugh, "boy he's calm and reasoned all right."

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[edit on 26-1-2010 by LadySkadi]

Public Relations!

As far as americas are concerned that's what he is
A good PR game

As far as the rest of the planet he's a war-mongerer who got a nobel peace prize.

Kinda goes in line with what he told Tiger.

reply to post by LadySkadi


I'm pretty sure he will get his wish.

Although I don't think he will be remembered as good.

Well, the One Term Wonder has already blown year one of his contract. What could he possibly have in store for the next 3 years that will make him "Really Good"? He blew his super majority because he would not listen to America with regards to Obamacare, climate change BS and out of control spending etc...

He has yet to seriously tackle any hard issues as of yet. By ignoring America, he went about healthcare reform in the worst way possible. Addressing an issue that massive will take time to do it thoroughly and properly. Perhaps he will spend rest of his tenure actually listening and involving his Employers in the process. Baby steps not a panacea will ultimately resolve this issue.

Though I don't trust polls, this one is interesting to speculate about...

Worldwide Approval Ratings for U.S. Leadership

A new poll details median approval ratings for U.S. leadership,
with 34 percent the worldwide median.

Posted January 28, 2009

1. Sub-Saharan Africa (72 percent approval)
2. The Americas (35 percent approval)
3. Asia (34 percent approval)
4. Europe (24 percent approval)
5. Middle East / North Africa (15 percent approval)

Gallup
Link





[edit on 26-1-2010 by LadySkadi]

reply to post by LadySkadi

Though his poll numbers have dropped due in part to the struggling economy and the health care debate, Obama dismisses them with seeming unconcern...

Hasn't he cited poll numbers before when they were to his favor? I believe he did it with healthcare.

I don't buy his story. I think he wants a second term. Also, if he wanted more of his agenda to pass, he would be bargaining with the reps on every issue he wants to pass. If he wasn't concerned about a second term he would announce that he is only serving one term and go full blast on passing legislation to help the people.

reply to post by jam321
Jam - I agree. I don't believe that he went through the process of becoming Pres. just to serve one term. He's ambitious and has ambitious plans. I do believe he's thinking in longer terms than the next 3 years.

I truly believe in 2012 he will have competition from inside his own party, only from the progressive wing though. Every day he is beginning to look more like Jimmy Carter and I also believe that the Republicans will introduce a 'Contract with America 2.0' and the public will love it. Republicans will retake the House and 6 seats in the Senate. Then they will have a Ronald Reagan in 2012, it may be someone we haven't even heard of yet or it may be a contender already speculated about and he will beat Obama almost as bad as how Reagan beat Carter in 1980.

This is kind of good news for me because I am a Libertarian-Leaning Conservative. The only things I don't like about Republicans are; 1. Deregulation, 2. No real work on health care, 3. Large war budget, 4. The current wars, 5. Less Social freedom.


[edit on 26-1-2010 by Misoir]

[edit on 26-1-2010 by Misoir]

[edit on 26-1-2010 by Misoir]

Well the one term part is probably right.

reply to post by Misoir


And how about the huge fact that republicans are obvious corporatists who give two craps about the American people. Look allowing republicans to take back the white house and government is just as bad as the democrats. Ron Paul is atypical of what the current republicans stand for. He should be President in 2012. With Peter Schiff, Jesse Ventura, Alan Keyes all holding powerful positions.

Originally posted by Zosynspiracy
reply to post by Misoir

 

And how about the huge fact that republicans are obvious corporatists who give two craps about the American people. Look allowing republicans to take back the white house and government is just as bad as the democrats. Ron Paul is atypical of what the current republicans stand for. He should be President in 2012. With Peter Schiff, Jesse Ventura, Alan Keyes all holding powerful positions.

I don't like Ron Paul, Peter Schiff or Alan Keyes. They don't like regulation of corporations. I like Ronald Reagan, FDR, and Teddy Roosevelt. I just don't like certain things about Reagan such as his hatred of Socialized medicine, deregulation, and hatred of welfare. But I like FDR and Teddy for regulation. I hate Wall Street but support economic freedom and only some restriction on social issues. I judge my candidate 30% on regulation and Welfare, 30% on civil liberties, 20% on taxes, healthcare, and Social Security, and 20% on things like gay marriage, abortion and 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. So I don't like about 80% of Republicans. I sent money to Scott Brown's campaign.

I do hope more people like Ron Paul will win in 2012
because If you vote GOP again, you are going to have more of the same.
and DNC more of the same.


So its best if you try something new.

I agree with this too.

Two-party system is not going to offer up much change or direction.

It is just two sides of the same coin... more of the same.

Fox Discussion




CNN Panel Discussion

reply to post by LadySkadi


My question, LadySkadi, is whether he sincerely means that, or if he is feigning modesty.

Personally, I see him making speeches, and little else for the American citizen's.

There are those of us who do not give a damn about Healthcare Reform.

What I want is the entire Healthcare Industry regulated so we do not need insurance.

In other words, drop the middle man who I have to pay, to get cheaper doctor visits.

I hate paying what essentially leads to legal bribery to get a better service rate.

Obama is good at making speeches, I will give him that, but those are nothing when the action is not behind those words, because they are generalized statements, arbitrary numbers, and carefully selected polls to represent what he wants.

In other words, politics as usual, and the same old song and dance.

I for one am starving for him to say anything more than cotton candy dreams, gumdrops smiles, and rainbow wishes, because too much sweetness makes me want to puke.

Stop sugar-coating the crap, Mr. Obama, because sugar-coated crap, is still crap.

I am neither a "right-wing" nor a "left-wing" person.

I am neither a "Democrat" nor a "Republican" person.

I am however an American citizen and I for one am tired of "giving him time".

Our economy is collapsing and he has his finger in the dyke when it is crashing down on his head, and we're standing right there in the strike zone, listening for a real leader when all we get is regurgitated Washington D.C. double-speak.

A successful one term?

I would be happy with a week without seeing restaurants like Applebees closing down.

I would be happy for a week without seeing cars on almost every street corner of my town.

I would be happy for one week without seeing houses being foreclosed on because people are out of work and the outlook is bleak for any turn around, period.

I would be happy for one week where the politician's in Washington D.C. had to live like the rest of America, without teak and mahogany desks, without spending our money on needless funding of overseas initiatives, and concentrate on America.

[edit on 26-1-2010 by SpartanKingLeonidas]

His eyes are the giveaway when the 1 term part is addressed.
He wants it, oh he wants it so bad.
He gives speeches, with teleprompters, well.
The stammer at the question, the tone the looking down.
He might be a great dinner guest, but I cant have him as a leader.
That's my 2 pennies, anything else is just Obama bashing and that games too easy and too old.
(and just for clarity I didnt like cheney as president either, yes cheney was president, let's be honest)

I liked Ben Stein's description, and he is right! This guy is one of the finest chameleons I have ever seen. To begin with, now he is ratcheting up pressure on the banks and financial institutions when at the start of last year it could be considered that he was in their back pockets as the money was being funneled to them with no accountability or concern from his office. People became outraged by this. Now, he is out there stumping that he is a crusader hell bent on getting the money back. Then the whole health care debate, which was being steamed-rolled by the President and his supporters for much of last year. With the shock in MA and significant blow to his political monopoly, it has gone to the bottom of his agenda as he received disdain from the supporters of Scott Brown in Kennedy country.

Now, he is willing to slow down the tempo in the rhetoric to allow Scott Brown to be seated and an opportunity to vote. When before, it was take no prisoners and get that bill through. Why the change of heart, it is the simple fact that he knows the American people are going bonkers and he is trying to salvage his image and as Ben Stein says, "His Brand." Then another change of heart, is the cap and trade issue, another crusade of the Obama Administration; people were in a frenzy about that one. Now all of a sudden, only crickets are heard in the halls of Washington regarding the issue. Now, lets get to the biggest about face, and that would be his support for a spending freeze as it is being called. When all last year people were frothing at the bit to reduce spending as the deficit rose to phenomenal proportions. With the scrutiny mounting more so now than last year, he is willing to do anything to keep his image as rosy as possible, even though; he ignored the calls by the people to reduce spending when Washington became a Las Vegas casino.

The man is an egoist and a glamor whore. He is only out to boost himself at the expense of his office and the American people. Now, many items on his agenda walk the line of controversy, but he will drop anything if it means salvaging his image while subduing the rancor of the American people. This shows that he has no intestinal fortitude to stand by his own agenda, even if it is controversial and detrimental to his image. He has an uncanny ability to wear many faces.

Now, all this talk of "I would rather be a one-term President, than a mediocre two-term one," is BS. Not for a moment should anyone believe that shrewd political ploy. He will do whatever it takes to maintain his seat at the front of the table and drink from the goblet of power. They say power is the ultimate aphrodisiac, and I think our President is like a kid in a candy store in his current position. From obscurity, to bending elbows in bare-knuckle political climate of Chicago, to carrying himself on the shoulders of a campaign centered on an agenda of inebriation tethered with delusions of grandiose goals and promises, and ultimately selling the snake oil to the American people is quite an endeavor. He will claw and fight before giving up the self-induced stature that was created for him by political insiders and the the media machine.

This man will wear whatever mask best suits the moment, whether it be liberal, conservative, hawkish, thrifty, and other political labels. We are seeing with this interview, and his abrupt about face, from his actions and rhetoric from the year prior. Just another politician who has an uncanny ability to speak out of the side of their mouth, and tell the people whatever they want to hear.