CBS News

Obama looks to avoid the “second-term curse”:

I am going to quote an old time, pretty intelligent fictional character we had in this country for many years when he said “Only you can prevent forest fires”.

That’s right; Smokey the Bear was a very sharp symbol with a very prophetic message that applies to everyone in this world; meaning we are the captains of our ship and should be-able to chart our own course. We have no one to blame but our-self if our ship goes off course and lands on a sand barge. Don’t blame other people for your short coming and except responsibility for your own actions.

The following comes from a transcript that Obama is going to sell the American people later today.

President Obama won’t formally lay out his second-term agenda until his inaugural address later today, but the president has already made clear some of the major issues he intends to take on over the next four years. He has signaled that his focus in the short-term is on passage of corporate tax reform and new gun control laws as well as comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Over the long term, Mr. Obama plans to continue focusing on the nation’s fiscal issues – including potentially achieving the elusive “grand bargain” to address the debt and deficit – continue the transition out of Afghanistan, and help shepherd the implementation of the health care law, which has a number of major provisions that kick in next year.

I don’t see anywhere in this quote that directly translates into creating jobs,one of the most important issues in the country.

How can a person be so bold to say they are going to work on tax reform after they just  initiated a tax-exempt plan for their own benefit? Does anyone but me see a problem with this?

I love old saying and cliches. The proof is in the pudding – talk is cheap – empty barrels make the loudest noise – put your money when your mouth is – don’t sell wolf tickets – come up shooting – all flash and no cash – show me the money.

If the first four years were a barometer for the second four years hold to your hats.

I would think by now that the politicians would be smart enough not to make empty promises that they cannot keep.

In a roundabout way was Obama is casting aspersions at his predecessors or just using them as an example?

As he works toward these goals, Mr. Obama will also have to fend off the sort of major second-term setbacks that have hampered his predecessors as they tried to push their post-reelection agenda. That could be harder than you might think: Such setbacks have occurred so often that they’ve given rise to a nickname – the “second-term curse” – that has been applied to every reelected president dating back to Franklin Roosevelt.

I don’t know about a second term curse but I sure have witnessed a first year plague. I can’t remember in recent times when our country was in worse shape than it is now.

One more cliché “when you live in a glass house don’t throw stones”. In this case they happen to be boulders.

I truly wish Obama the best in his second term. If he does well then that means the country will do well. I have my toes and fingers crossed but because of past performance I have to remain skeptical. I would love to say in 2015.75 that I was wrong.

Two of my pet peeves in life have always been “return phone call when you get them and never make a promise you can’t keep”.

I had a very wise old friend that used to say when he was asked if he could do a favor or accomplish something; “I’ll see what I can do”.