One and Done?

Democrats/pollsters Doug Schoen (worked for Clinton) and Pat Caddell (worked for Carter) have been quite vocal about their feelings on Obama and the Democrats leading up to the Midterm Elections of 2010 and likely won't be attending the White House Christmas Party as a result of those opinions. This week they stepped up their feelings in a co-written article in the Washington Post, recommending to the President not to seek a second term in order to achieve greatness.

It was a bit of a surprise to read the article, but I guess they were looking at the President's previous statements and made an attempt to hold him to this response to Diane Sawyer's question:



I respect Schoen and Caddell as intellectually honest Democrats and with my assessment of their opinion, and I don't mean to demean them, but Hell will freeze over before Obama decides not to run again. He is in too deep to turn back now and despite his party losing the House and much strength in the Senate, Obama still believes he can win in 2012. He has brought "change," yet this change was clearly not what Americans wanted and he has clearly misinterpreted the voters' preferences. Republicans have been left out in the cold and even though Clinton triangulated to get re-elected, I do not see Obama doing the same thing as there has been no evidence of it in these past two years. There is no reason to believe he will start now.

Despite that, there is the chance Obama still can win and that could happen two ways. First, the Republicans could throw him a line and "compromise." These new Republicans were not sent to work with the president, but to stop him while standing up for their principles. Even if they did stop him, Republicans are further protected by the Democrats running the Senate as Obama cannot run against a "Do-nothing Congress" in the same fashion Truman did in 1948. Clinton was helped by a Congress that "worked with him," as he took credit for their work, and it shouldn't be put past Obama to do the same thing. The voters will be watching and I believe these freshmen will have quite a strong resolve.

Second, the Republicans MUST make sure a Conservative runs against Obama in 2012. When we examine history since 1968, Conservative Republicans win Presidential Elections (Nixon, Reagan, George HW 1988, George W) and Moderates do not (Ford, George HW 1992, Dole, McCain)...even if they nominate Conservatives as their running mates.

In the end, Schoen and Caddell have a hidden message in this article, and that is: "Run, Hillary, RUN!" Remember, Schoen worked for Bill and Caddell is a little more friendly toward the Clintons than he is toward Barack Obama. They think Hillary's candidacy can push Obama out in the same way Robert Kennedy did to Lyndon Johnson, yet I believe he will not step away. As I said earlier, Hillary will not hold back this time if she runs, and if she resigns her post as Secretary of State by April 0f 2011, get your popcorn ready as the primary season in the Democrat Party will get very interesting!

(Note: picture comes from this speech)