President Obama has now completed ten weeks of his second term. That is less than 5% of the total for that period. Even so, it is more than sufficient time for Obama to let the country know just what he wants to accomplish before he leaves office in January of 2017. By now, everyone paying attention ought to know exactly what Obama plans as his agenda for his second term. So let's look at what we know:
1) Obama is trying to win the 2014 election for the Democrats. That may seem like a strange item to head the agenda of the president almost two years before the next election, but it clearly is Obama's number one priority. He offered a budget late and in a way to take the focus off of the congressional Democrats. Just think about it: Obama's budget comes after the House and Senate have already passed spending plans and Obama proposes spending more than either of those entities. Indeed, Obama's budget proposes spending for this year at a level which is even higher than was projected in last year's budget. Obama does not plan to cut spending for 2014 by even one dollar, but instead he raises it by about $100 billion. Now, all those Democrats who voted for the Senate plan can talk about how they wanted to spend less than the president when they run in 2014.
2) Obama wants to pass gun control legislation. He does not really care what the legislation says. He just wants to pass something. Originally, Obama's plan was to move forward with an assault weapons ban; then that became impossible due to lack of support. Next Obama wanted to ban large magazines; but that too became impossible due to lack of support. Now we are up to an expansion of background checks. This may actually pass the Senate, although it faces a harder fight in the House.
3) Obama wants to pass immigration legislation. We really do not know what he wants in that regard. As usual, Obama has stayed out of the detailed negotiation in the Senate. Also, Obama has not put forth his own proposed bill to help shape the debate. He just knows that he wants to pass an immigration bill.
4) Obama wants to talk about climate change legislation. Here is another place where Obama has made speeches but proposed nothing. At some point, he may make a proposal, but we all know that there is essentially nothing on that score which will pass. Obama could not get climate change legislation passed even when the Democrats were in total and complete control of Congress. It surely won't happen now.
5) Obama wants to raise taxes on the wealthy. Then he wants to use the extra revenue to spend more.
6) Obama has no interest in reducing the size of government in any way. That has always been a given. More important, however, Obama sees no need to improve the effectiveness of federal programs. Obama just follows a simple rule: more spending is always better. Obama, for instance, is pressing for a universal federally funded preschool across the country even though the government's own research shows that preschool programs have no lasting impact on the ability of students to perform well as they advance through the school systems.
7) In foreign affairs, Obama want to bring the troops home from Afghanistan. Beyond that, he just wants to talk. He wants to talk about stopping the Iranian nuclear weapons program. He wants to talk about ending the war in Syria. He wants to talk about preventing terror attacks against the USA and out allies. He wants to talk about ending the trade imbalances with China. As far as doing anything, however, he has next to nothing on his agenda.
From now on, when Obama appears, it seems that the band should play "Is That All There Is?" rather that "Hail to the Chief".
1) Obama is trying to win the 2014 election for the Democrats. That may seem like a strange item to head the agenda of the president almost two years before the next election, but it clearly is Obama's number one priority. He offered a budget late and in a way to take the focus off of the congressional Democrats. Just think about it: Obama's budget comes after the House and Senate have already passed spending plans and Obama proposes spending more than either of those entities. Indeed, Obama's budget proposes spending for this year at a level which is even higher than was projected in last year's budget. Obama does not plan to cut spending for 2014 by even one dollar, but instead he raises it by about $100 billion. Now, all those Democrats who voted for the Senate plan can talk about how they wanted to spend less than the president when they run in 2014.
2) Obama wants to pass gun control legislation. He does not really care what the legislation says. He just wants to pass something. Originally, Obama's plan was to move forward with an assault weapons ban; then that became impossible due to lack of support. Next Obama wanted to ban large magazines; but that too became impossible due to lack of support. Now we are up to an expansion of background checks. This may actually pass the Senate, although it faces a harder fight in the House.
3) Obama wants to pass immigration legislation. We really do not know what he wants in that regard. As usual, Obama has stayed out of the detailed negotiation in the Senate. Also, Obama has not put forth his own proposed bill to help shape the debate. He just knows that he wants to pass an immigration bill.
4) Obama wants to talk about climate change legislation. Here is another place where Obama has made speeches but proposed nothing. At some point, he may make a proposal, but we all know that there is essentially nothing on that score which will pass. Obama could not get climate change legislation passed even when the Democrats were in total and complete control of Congress. It surely won't happen now.
5) Obama wants to raise taxes on the wealthy. Then he wants to use the extra revenue to spend more.
6) Obama has no interest in reducing the size of government in any way. That has always been a given. More important, however, Obama sees no need to improve the effectiveness of federal programs. Obama just follows a simple rule: more spending is always better. Obama, for instance, is pressing for a universal federally funded preschool across the country even though the government's own research shows that preschool programs have no lasting impact on the ability of students to perform well as they advance through the school systems.
7) In foreign affairs, Obama want to bring the troops home from Afghanistan. Beyond that, he just wants to talk. He wants to talk about stopping the Iranian nuclear weapons program. He wants to talk about ending the war in Syria. He wants to talk about preventing terror attacks against the USA and out allies. He wants to talk about ending the trade imbalances with China. As far as doing anything, however, he has next to nothing on his agenda.
From now on, when Obama appears, it seems that the band should play "Is That All There Is?" rather that "Hail to the Chief".
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