Few days ago, i wrote a diary declaring Obama as possibly the smartest politician this country has ever seen. Before that, i wrote another diary about Obama possibly being the greatest President we have ever seen. Those two diaries seem like a stretch considering that we just passed 100 days of this administration. Somehow, my sentiment are not only resonating, but the chickens are coming home to roost.
The first example will be the switching of Specter. Not that i have predicted any of that, but i wrote in my diary that Obama will soon make the GOP an irrelevant party and they could be lost for the next 16yrs at minimum. Even if Specter loses the Democratic primary, which is less likely from the comments i got from Penn voters on CSPAN, the GOP still has no chance of reclaiming the seat. With Franken being seated in few weeks, the 60 votes is secured. While Specter claimed that he is not an automatic 60, i can assure you that Specter did not switch party to be the lone wolf stopping 59 from becoming 60. There is no doubt that Specter value the success of his friend Joe Biden and his career as a Democrat.
Second, Peggy Noonan just wrote an article for Wall Street Journal titled "Shrink to Win" isnt much of a strategy. In this article, she affirmed some of the sentiment that i have and what Obama stands for.
He is subtle and likes to kill softly. As such, he is something new on the political scene, which means he will require something new from his opponents, including, first, patience. I am wondering once again if Republicans in Washington fully understand what they are up against. They have had a hard week. Someday years hence, when books are written about the Republican comeback, they may well begin with this low moment, and the bolting of Arlen Specter to the Democrats. It is fine to dismiss Mr. Specter as an opportunist, but opportunists tell you something: which side is winning. That's the side they want to be on.
I have no doubt in my mind that while i may disagree with her politics, her assessment resonate with me as i have tried to convey in my previous diaries.
Third and Last, there was a guest on CSPAN Washington Journal Jonathan Alter, Author, "The Defining Moment: The First Hundred Days & The Triumph of Hope" on April 29, 2009 who was discussing the 100 days of Obama in the context of FDR. He said while unemployment was almost 25% and stock market was down 90%, he sees a great resemblance between this economic situation and the one in the 1930s. He even compared the expansion of the service corps to 250,000 from 75,000 signed by Obama as one of the greatest achievement of FDR. In his comparison he said that if Americans think of Obama in the historical realm, they will have more appreciation for his strength and direction. Maybe not exactly in that quote, but the point was very clear. According to him, Obama unlike other President didnt just solve one thing in his 100 days, his stimulus package was like 5 things in 1 which is unheard. Based on the success of the package, he can only conclude that Obama ranks highest among other Presidents we ever had...maybe not in the exact quote but you can watch the video and decide for yourself.
I am not in any illusion that this is just 100 days, but mark my words as i have said earlier. This is a President made for this moment. He will smile and have meetings with the GOP while doing everything to put them in exile. He will move his agenda whenever he wants to by channeling the strength of the electorate that supports him (Now more than 60% even in FoxNews Survey). He will finally pass health care reform, which will force the private insurance to lower costs or go out of business and move us into a new energy generation. Obama is not the Messiah, but i can assure you that hes a gift from the Messiah. As one caller on CSPAN said, we have never had a President work this hard before and shes so proud to call him her President. I couldnt agree more...even a GOP can attest to his pending greatness.
YES WE CAN