Obama is no lame duck.
Politics –
Lame Duck President Obama?
Think Again!
Although Republicans are anxiously counting down the days to the end of his 8-year presidency, make no bones about it: Barack Obama is no lame-duck president.
Politics
Traditionally, a “lame-duck” president is one who is so close to the end of his term, he’s no longer effective in governing the country. To counter such a label, late-term presidents have frequently attempted to shore up their legacies in the foreign policy arena, where congress has less power than it does over domestic affairs. However, this doesn’t seem to be a necessity for President Obama, who has headed into his last year in office with gusto.
Muslim Visit
Earlier this month, Mr. Obama defied critics who have long speculated he is a secret Muslim, by making his first visit as president to a mosque.
“Islam has always been part of America,” the president said during a visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore. “The very word Islam comes from ‘Salam’ – peace. The standard greeting is ‘As-Salaam-Alaikum’ – ‘Peace be upon you,’” he explained. “Like so many faiths, Islam is rooted in a commitment to compassion and mercy and justice and charity. Whoever wants to enter paradise, the prophet Mohammad taught, let him treat people the way he would love to be treated,” Mr. Obama said as the audience applauded. “For Christians like myself, I’m assuming that sounds familiar,” he added.
Are those the words of a man who considers himself a lame duck?
Cuba Visit
After easing tensions between the United States and Cuba, President Obama will make a historic trip to Havana next month to extend a hand of friendship after decades of hostility and mistrust.
Mr. Obama said he hopes to build momentum toward normalizing relations with Havana before he leaves the White House. He also intends to cement his legacy as the American president who broke with more than a half-century of rancor and estrangement to forge a new path of engagement with Cuba.
“14 months ago, I announced that we would begin normalizing relations with Cuba – and we’ve already made significant progress,” Mr. Obama tweeted. “Our flag flies over our Embassy in Havana once again. More Americans are traveling to Cuba than at any time in the last 50 years. We still have differences with the Cuban government that I will raise directly. America will always stand for human rights around the world. Next month, I’ll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and efforts that can improve the lives of the Cuban people.”
Are those the plans of a lame duck?
Scalia Replacement
The showdown over a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will almost certainly take center stage during Mr. Obama’s final year in office. Republicans, who are fearful the president will appoint a liberal and tilt the balance of the court, are fighting tooth and nail to halt the process before the November election process. However, a cunning President Obama is ready and even eager to scrap with Republicans, by devising a plan that would make his nominee so qualified and so fool-proof, Republicans will have no choice but to consider him/her without facing severe repercussions.
Lame-duck, huh?
Politics
Entering the home stretch, Mr. Obama reached a historic deal with Iran to curb that country’s suspect nuclear program; he announced tough new emissions restrictions meant to curb greenhouse gases blamed for climate change; he also finally said no to the controversial Keystone pipeline.
The president also plans to campaign aggressively for Democratic candidates around the country, including whoever becomes the party’s eventual presidential nominee. Advisors say Mr. Obama considers a democratic presidency an urgency, so as to prevent the GOP from rolling back the work he’s done over the last 7 years.
For all of the plans of his final year in office, combined with the overall rigors of being Commander-In-Chief and leader of the free world, Mr. Obama — President of the United States Obama — is anything but a lame-duck!
I agree with every word you wrote. Repubs can't stand he won't fold and go away quiet. Thank you for this DJ.