"If President Obama is not willing to seize the moral high ground and step aside, then the two Democratic leaders in Congress, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, must urge the president not to seek re-election—for the good of the party and most of all for the good of the country. And they must present the only clear alternative—Hillary Clinton."

This is the core of the story in the Wall Street Journal by Patrick Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen. An interesting think piece with reference to historical precedent for a President to step aside for the good of the country and his party if it becomes apparent that he could not effectively govern even if elected.

I thought it fascinating.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj

It is an interesting scenario, however I would be amazed if Obama, particularly given his youth, stepped aside. It could get ugly.

Richie, don't get your hopes up about the President stepping aside. The country was hoping that for Junior Bush in his second term and he won re-election.

In 2012, it will be Mitten the Kitten and some teaparty darling vs. Pres. Obama and a VP to be named later. I fully expect Joe Biden will take himself out of the running for some reason.

Republicans lose with their teaparty darling is how the scenario ends.

Originally Posted by buggyone

Richie, don't get your hopes up about the President stepping aside. The country was hoping that for Junior Bush in his second term and he won re-election.

In 2012, it will be Mitten the Kitten and some teaparty darling vs. Pres. Obama and a VP to be named later. I fully expect Joe Biden will take himself out of the running for some reason.

Republicans lose with their teaparty darling is how the scenario ends.

I don't want Obama to step aside. I want him running on his record. Of course he can't do that so this will be one of the "bloodiest" campaigns to date.

Why would I want Hillary running. She would take back most of the moderates who are going to vote Republican this time despite your fantasies.

Mitt's not the candidate yet, and actually, I'm not certain he can win with his lifetime of political flip flops. He's extremely vulnerable on those inconvenient truths.

I know you don't believe it, but don't count out Newt. I'm liking a Gingrich-Bachmann ticket. That should shake things up.

Wow, a Gingrich-Bachmann ticket! Definitely that is something scarier than I could have imagined. It is a 100% losing ticket but it sure would be interesting to see as it went spiraling down to earth in flames.

I will have to leave it up to Bill Maher to come up with a nickname for that team.

Originally Posted by RichieLion

I don't want Obama to step aside. I want him running on his record. Of course he can't do that so this will be one of the "bloodiest" campaigns to date.

Why would I want Hillary running. She would take back most of the moderates who are going to vote Republican this time despite your fantasies.

Mitt's not the candidate yet, and actually, I'm not certain he can win with his lifetime of political flip flops. He's extremely vulnerable on those inconvenient truths.

I know you don't believe it, but don't count out Newt. I'm liking a Gingrich-Bachmann ticket. That should shake things up.

How about Gingrich-Romney. LOL I am not going to give up on Mitt. I agree with your assessment of Hillary in that she would cause more trouble for a GOP candidate than Barrack. Being that I am from Iowa and have family in Minnesota, I know Bachmann is not thought of too well by a lot of folks out there. I think her husband would be an anchor to her running.

Hillary would make a better President than any Republican and probably Obama also but talking about a bloodletting campaign.....wow,some of the stuff on this board would be x-rated.

Since Obama beats every announced R candidate - even the so-called "generic" R, this entire thread is kinda silly.

Originally Posted by RichieLion

"If President Obama is not willing to seize the moral high ground and step aside, then the two Democratic leaders in Congress, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, must urge the president not to seek re-election—for the good of the party and most of all for the good of the country. And they must present the only clear alternative—Hillary Clinton."

This is the core of the story in the Wall Street Journal by Patrick Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen. An interesting think piece with reference to historical precedent for a President to step aside for the good of the country and his party if it becomes apparent that he could not effectively govern even if elected.

I thought it fascinating.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj

richielion: i started a new thread the other day about this same story entitled Queen of Mean........ It was interesting to find that Caddell was a pollster for Carter and Schoen a pollster for Clinton. We know of course that the push for Hillary being made by these two pollsters is unsolicited. It can be they are fronting for the Clinton's. Hillary played her cards well after her defeat in the 2008 primary. However Obma made a bad move by allowing Hillary to stay viable and continue to build hber resume' by appointing her Secretary of State. If she could the Queen of Mean would push Obama right down the stairs.

As you recall the authors of this article claimed Obama's poll number very low and that he would have to wage the most negative campaign in recent political history to survive and even if he did he would not be able to govern.

Obama is too ego-centric to step down it it just not in his DNA