Yes-We-Can president faces twilight of maybes
December 28, 2014, 6:58 PM Last updated: Sunday, December 28, 2014, 6:58 PM
By JULIE PACE and NANCY BENAC
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — It was supposed to be a joke. “Are you still president?” comedian Stephen Colbert asked Barack Obama earlier this month.
But the question seemed to speak to growing weariness with the president and skepticism that anything will change in Washington during his final two years in office. Democrats already are checking out Obama’s potential successors. Emboldened Republicans are trying to push aside his agenda in favor of their own.
At times this year, Obama seemed ready to move on as well. He rebelled against the White House security “bubble,” telling his Secret Service detail to give him more space. He chafed at being sidelined by his party during midterm elections and having to adjust his agenda to fit the political interests of vulnerable Democrats who lost anyway.
Yet the election that was a disaster for the president’s party may have had a rejuvenating effect on Obama. The morning after the midterms, Obama told senior aides, “If I see you moping, you will answer to me.”
People close to Obama say he is energized at not having to worry about helping — or hurting — Democrats in another congressional election on his watch. He has become more comfortable with his executive powers, moving unilaterally on immigration, Internet neutrality and climate change in the last two months. And he sees legacy-building opportunities on the international stage, from an elusive nuclear deal with Iran to normalizing relations with Cuba after a half-century freeze.
“He gained some clarity for the next two years that is liberating,” said Jay Carney, who served as Obama’s press secretary until this spring. “He doesn’t have as much responsibility for others.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/yes-we-can-president-faces-twilight-of-maybes-1.1182564
Thank you for the Live link here — the President will have a fruitful 2015 for progress — and still have his veto pen handy and will use it and Congress knows it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ……. jj and Blog readers
I agree with you %100 Dom. The President along with Rev. Sharpton will make this country strong again.
Dom I think with his pen he can get rid of 22nd amendment. This way he can be president for life. I would also like to see Rev Sharpton for Attorney General. That way we can get this country on the right track.