I am just appalled at the way this President has operated ever since July. Absolutely appalled. I trace it back to late July when he first allowed Congress to go home for break without passing a bill. He simply said that it was "OK" that Harry Reid said that he would give Republicans "time to look over the bill" when he might as well have said that he would give them time to kill the bill.
Would LBJ, FDR, or Harry Truman ever allow this? I am almost certain they would not have. They would have told Harry Reid that he and Congress are staying in session and passing a bill and that is that. Hell, Harry Truman forced the Republican Congress to stay in session in 1948 to pass his legislation and although it didnt work, people respected him for it and he got reelected. THAT is the kind of leadership that we need in the White House.
There are plenty of good Democrats out there who would actually show leadership when in the White House and not attempt to allow a commission to cut Social Security and Medicare as this President seems intent on doing.
One great candidate to challenge Barack Obama in the 2012 primary is none other than Dr. Howard Dean. Howard Dean has been one of the strongest supporters in the country for healthcare reform with a strong public option and has a very large following of support. I think he could win the Iowa Caucuses and then go on to win New Hampshire and then have a great chance at getting the Democratic nomination.
Another candidate would be Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. He has been a strong fighter for progressive values since his election to the US Senate in 1992 and would clearly have a strong amount of support from the progressive base in key caucus states such as Iowa.
The final candidate who could run but who I believe is highly unlikely is now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I strongly believe that she should have been our 2008 nominee. Although she failed on healthcare reform in the 1990's, she knows how Washington works and probably would have been a far stronger leader on these issues if she were in the White House. I am very sorry that we passed this woman up in 2008, but there is probably a less than 5% chance that she will run in 2012.
A primary challenge from the left to this President would almost certainly pull him away from his conservatism on many issues and may actually force him to fight for progressive values.
Just a thought.