Obama’s weakness - Elections? - why not a single 6-years-long term?

I am tired of watching never-ending, always starting earlier (every half a term), National Elections Frenzy (perfectly fed - instigated by the media).  I am tired of watching the President juggling all the “special interest groups”, and instead of choosing GOOD solutions, choosing only “plausible” solutions.

It’s time for a change.

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During the Presidential Electoral Campaign, the Candidate Barack Obama talked passionately about the common people problems, about the social rights of the minorities, about immigration.  He talked passionately about restoring America as a shining beacon of Democracy, extending her hand to all the nations who would like to follow our, Democratic example…

He talked about restoring America for Americans, bringing us up from the depths of ‘Hell’ created by the two terms of the misguided, and trigger happy, Commander in Chief – Bush “the 2nd”…

When Obama took the Office of the President of the United States, no one could imagine a better circumstances: the first Black President, a Democrat, intelligent and outspoken, having on his side both houses of the Congress (both with decisive Democratic Majority), and having been backed up by almost ALL Americans, tired of the “post 911 decade”, and the financial collapse…

2 years later, the congressional elections proved that America felt a bit disillusioned, a bit cheated… and the Democrats lost the Majority in Congress (still having it in the Senate).  The Tea Party (not heard about beforehand) with it’s extremists started dictate the new order in Washington.

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We all know it by heart.  There is no need to elaborate on it. 

What I want to talk about is the situation often mentioned by the pundits and media commentators, the situation related to the upcoming Presidential Elections of 2012. 

What dawned on me recently is, that the relationship between the performance of the President in his First Term, is in direct correlation with the Presidential Campaign.  Although it became drastically obvious this year, in case of Obama’s complacency and continuous trials to please certain voters groups, it was visible also during the presidencies of the previous Presidents of the USA.

The influence of the second term Presidential Elections on the policies of the current President has been increasing throughout the years.  Also, amount of money spent on the elections has been increasing exponentially, getting into the neighborhood of a Billion USD, or even more.  These funds come from the donations of the general population (in case of Obama’s first term the number of $5.00 donations from the supporters from all walks of life, was unprecedented), but also from the Big Industry (majority of the donations). 

Although the system allows for donations from the Industry, it’s illegal to put pressure on the President in Office to pass the legislature favoring the donor and it’s Industry.  It is illegal, but lobbyists are part of the Washington political climate, and it’s obvious that this pressure exists. 

One may speculate that the demands for the return on the “investment” are proportional to the donations…

Let’s have a quick look at the two-term Presidents in the post WWII American History (*1):

1.             Harry S. Truman – D(1945-1953)

Although a Democrat – the end of the War President ordered A-bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Contrary to the first term, he did run the second electoral campaign in 1948 on a liberal “The Fair Deal” token.  Although the conservative Congress rejected most of his proposals, he managed to win the raising of the minimal wage, and expanding of the Social Security.  His popularity plummeted in with the growing anti-communist atmosphere and a birth of McCarthyism, as well as involving the US in an unpopular war to defend South Korea against the Communist invasion.

2.             Dwight D. Eisenhower – R(1953-1961)

A popular War Hero and a moderate Republican, spent most of his energy and American resources on creating and ‘feeding’ the Cold War.  He wasn’t a “people’s president”, and even the school desegregation, ordered by the Supreme Court, wasn’t high on his agenda.  He used his influence to quietly diminish influence of the Junior Senator McCarthy.  At the end of his second term, not caring for reelection, Eisenhower also "waged peace," hoping to improve U.S.-Soviet relations and negotiate a treaty banning nuclear testing in the air and seas.

3.             Lyndon B. Johnson – D(1963-1969) – took office after the assassination of JFK – elected in 1965.

L.B. Johnson has been the most misunderstood (or wrongly judged) President in the US modern history.

I wrote about him in the article: “Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday observed - Presidents of that era”.  He inherited the Vietnam War from JFK, when, after JFK’s assassination he took Office of the President.  Yes, he is responsible for escalation of that war – I would say – sign of the time.  However, he pushed the social agenda to the limits, not caring for re-election (in fact he deliberately refused to be nominated by his party).

Let’s see what he was able to realize, not being pressured any more:

   * 1963: Clean Air Act of 1963
    * 1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
    * 1964: Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964
    * 1964: Wilderness Act
    * 1964: Food Stamp Act of 1964
    * 1965: Higher Education Act of 1965
    * 1965: Older Americans Act
    * 1965: Social Security Act of 1965
    * 1965: Voting Rights Act
    * 1965: Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965
    * 1966: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
    * 1967: Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    * 1967: Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
    * 1968: Bilingual Education Act
    * 1968: Fair housing
    * 1968: Gun Control Act of 1968

4.             Richard M. Nixon – R(1969-1975) – reelected in 1974.

Smart, but controversial figure, who, during his second term (cut short by WaterGate, and his resignation to avoid the impeachment), completely subscribed to the “above-the-law-statue” and believed in the total “impunity” of his actions – what led to braking in to the Democratic Party Headquarters and the subsequent cover-up.

5.             Ronald Reagan – R(1981-1989)

Conservative President, who during the first term increased the tensions of the Cold War negotiating with the Soviets from the position of Strength.  “The Evil Empire” term came to the American vocabulary.  Very conservative fiscally, reducing taxes and putting the American Economy at risk. 

In his second term, however, he managed to sign the treaties with the Soviets leading to the reduction of the Global Nuclear Arsenals by 50%.  His final touch was braking down of the Berlin Wall (between the East and West Berlin) – the very symbol of the Cold War.

6.             Bill Clinton – D(1993-2001)

In the case of President Clinton it’s hard to find any un-constricted actions starting in his second term.  Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky cases clouded successfully both the President’s judgment as well as his actions afterwards.  The second term started with the impeachment proceedings impeding the normal presidency.  However, during the first term, he failed to deliver on his promises to give the Full, and Unrestricted Health Coverage to the nation.  His Health Reform proposal was killed effortlessly and never resurfaced.

7.             George W. Bush – R(2001-2009)

This president – I dare say – The Worst President of the Modern American History, was definitely completely “mis-under-estimated” (as he would say himself – a known linguist).  By the effects of 911 (the worst terrorist attack on the American soil), he was given a mandate, which opened the Pandora’s Box.  He, and his evil shadow (Vice President Chaney), managed to ruin the hopes for the normal future to the most of currently living Americans.  His born-again-Christian routine, sparring two wars, and stealing from the Nation the chance of living a normal, debt-free life was escalating throughout his presidency with no obstacle.  To start with, he didn’t have to control his appetite during his first presidency (because of 911 and the American thirst for retribution).  He went ‘full throttle’ during the second term.           

8.             Barack Obama – D(2009 ???) – not known yet if reelected in 2012.

What we can compare is what he had promised as a presidential candidate, and what he DIDN’T deliver as a President.  Well, the list is not that short (not counting for a few “window dressings” like the end of “don’t ask – don’t tell” policy, or what was left from the “health care reform” – no preexisting condition).

Afraid of losing support for the second term election, Obama was quite timid pushing his social and economical proposals – even though both houses of the Congress had a Democratic Majority.  As a result the Tea Partiers almost succeeded killing the Health Reform.  They succeeded keeping the Temporary Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 1% of society. 

Somehow closing of the “Gitmo” is not on the table any more (although it was also promised in Cairo).  On the International Theater, what he promised in his Cairo speech in 2009 has been greatly compromised, leading to the reversal of his stand on the Palestinian-Jewish conflict resolution.  In the Cairo speech he said (2*):

“(…)At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's.  The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.  This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace.  It is time for these settlements to stop.
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society.  And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.(…)”

Even though Obama in the past (not that distant) presented more comprehensive and decisive statements against the Israeli settlements in the East Jerusalem and other sites in the West Bank, when the reelection campaign has started, to guarantee him the ‘devotion’ of the pro-Israeli voters, his positions softened to the point of being called “The First Jewish President” by the New York Magazine (3*).

One can pile up proofs of the Obama’s “change of heart”, with already fully blown re-election campaign.  However, let’s leave it where it is…  since the goal of this article is to show the solution, not to dwell on the problem itself.

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Since in the American Political System, the re-election campaigns start more than 2 years before the actual Presidential Elections, the whole political life of the Nation is completely controlled by the campaign.  Most of the President’s decisions during this second half of the first term are determined by the political gains or other behind-the-scenes games. 

In my opinion, and I read it also between the lines of the articles written by many pundits and reporters, this status quo is harmful to the USA as a country. 

I see the relatively easy way out of this predicament.  Instead of the possibility of two consecutive terms as a President of the USA – I would limit it to only ONE – SIX YEAR TERM.

Many countries sport the six-year-terms of their elected executives.  Why don’t we appropriate it into our system? 

A single, six-year-long term, would provide the uninterrupted climate for Presidential, un-pressured by the lobbies, performance. 

The system in it’s current form clouds the president’s judgment, forcing his decisions along the lines requested (or expected) by the major donors of the campaign money, and also to please the major voter groups, to guarantee their unshaken support in the elections.  It also requires the actual, physical President’s participation in the campaign; effectively removing him from what he was hired for – the job of a President.

Most of the two-term Presidents lose the 2 years before the reelection on the campaign, leaving us with the 6 years of the effective (if so) job performance.  So, why not arbitrary reduce the time in the office to 6 years?

Taking the President OFF the road during the campaign would also benefit the country.

I know, that the US Constitution is a ‘sacred’ document.  But the World evolves around us, and the document, which was written more than 200 years ago, needs to evolve (by adding the amendments), to reflect these changes of the external World. 

Is it so hard to imagine, that the Presidents of the United States come to the Oval Office for uninterrupted six years at a time? – Is it so hard to ask, that they devote themselves just to the running of the Country during this time?

I am tired of watching never-ending, always starting earlier (every half a term), National Elections Frenzy (perfectly fed and instigated by the media).  I am tired of watching the President juggling all the “special interest groups”, and instead of choosing GOOD solutions, choosing only “plausible” solutions.

It’s time for a change.

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1* - http://millercenter.org/president

2* - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/politics/04obama.text.html?pagewanted=5

3* - http://mondoweiss.net/2011/09/new-york-magazine-on-obamas-quest-for-money-from-a-list-tribesmen.html