The fact that Haley Barbour harbors the slightest hope of being President is one of the great indicators of why Obama is not only skilled but obviously living a charmed life.

I guess it is possible for Barbour to get it -- although I imagine Huckabee will eat up all of his potential support, especially in Iowa. But imagine! The GOP field is so weak that a Mississippi Governor, who recently made his fortune as a tobacco lobbyist could be on the short list. I am waiting for the Obama netroots to start promoting Barbour any day.

Seriously, who do the Republicans have have with the ability to bring together a 50% plus one coalition in the general election? As amiable as Huckabee is, his Onward Christian Nation slogan is a non-starter for independent voters. Sarah Palin? Newt Gingrich? Bobby Jindal? Bring 'em on -- they can't win against any half awake democrat, not to mention an incumbent Obama. And I am assuming for purposes of this analysis that his first term turns out to be a disappointment.

Mitt Romney is the front runner and on the surface appears to be the biggest threat to Obama. However, he has shown himself to be a tireless but ineffective campaigner. It was interesting to watch from the sidelines as even the Republicans saw through him during the 2008 primaries. Pawlenty, Daniels, Thune...yawn.

If the Republicans were smart they would turn to a moderate -- but the narrow minds that dominate the modern GOP even pulled McCain to the far right before he was through. They are presently hopeless. And a Republican candidate that stands up against the far right during the primaries -- will go down in flames.

The republican curse is likely to continue.

And Obama's charmed political life is likely to last two terms.

I 'm guessing none of the above will get it. That was very nearly the case in 2008, when they sort of reluctantly settled on McCain. The Republicans are really roiling and may be in no mood to go with a party establishment choice. I think they'll come up with some real monster, maybe Glenn Beck or someone similar.

How about Jeb Bush.....jus' kiddin'.

Actually Jeb Bush is a pretty strong candidate. He has a reputation as more competent and capable than his brother. He has been a reasonably popular governor of a swing state, and he has the name cache for the GOP.

Considering that if there was any justice in this world that both he and his wife would be wearing orange jump suits.

That being said, he was and continues to be electoral poison for the rest of your party.

Seen Obamas poll numbers lately?

However, I do agree with you. It seems unlikely that the lefty media is going to allow the first black president go down in history as a one termer, no matter how much damage he does to the country.

Too bad he'll be draggin' the name Bush around.

They control the elections, of course. I have to wonder how Bush got elected in 2004 or how he got close enough to bring it down to Florida in 2000.

Are you saying that the media only discovered this power to control the vote in 2008?

You think the Clinton's should be wearing prison garb? That is funny, given the VP offices "coordination" of the no-bid contracts for KBR or the administration's violation of the secret identities act (Plame) or the selective use of intel to justify the invasion of Iraq or the payments to journalists for favorable articles (against the law) for their policies. I won't even go into firing prosecutors because they didn't prosecute enough democrats, the violation of Fisa or helping prosecute a democratic governor to win an election.

Prior to 2006, the media at least used to put on a facade of fairness, they aren't even trying to pretend now...........

with FOX news telling people how to get involved in the tea bag stuff and where to go to help disrupt town halls....is that your idea of fair and balanced?

There are two parts to the media. One is coverage of the news and the other is the talking heads opinion stuff. If you think that the media is slanting their coverage of the news, give me an example. If it is just the opinion stuff, you gotta be kidding if you think a right winger changes his mind on Obama based on hearing Keith Olberman or Rachael Maddow.

Far Left View,

Your accusations are unproven and baseless. You make me ;laugh everytime I read one of your posts. No need to try to respond to your claims because I know you can't prove any of them.

Pick one and I'll be happy to prove it. The real point is that you have no answer to any of the things that Bush/Cheney did that were basically a violation of the law. Let's go with Plame.

Did one or more members of the administration tell people without security clearances that Valerie Plame worked for the CIA?

I think we are headed for a civil war, because I freaking HATE Haley Barbarian. The only Republican worth a dime is Chuck Hagel. I didn't dislike McCain then, but now I can't stand him; I hated Sarah Palin the second she made it clear she did not know what the Bush Doctrine was, and my disgust for her has only grown.

This is the price you pay for this Gingrichian "shut it down" approach, which is also the approach of the Evangelicals. If they can't dominate it, they drive everyone away. But when it really counts, like in South Dakota with this creationist crap, we come out and blow you away.

If there is another way out of here, please, someone, let me know what it is.

just give an example of what you are referring to. or can you not actually point to anything real to back up your accusation?

"It seems unlikely that the lefty media is going to allow the first black president go down in history as a one termer, no matter how much damage he does to the country."

Why do you hedge with "unlikely", sgtROCK? If "the lefty media" has the power to control elections, and worships "the Messiah", why would you think they might "allow" the GOP to prevail? Damn, I thought 2012 was in the bag for my Lord and Savior, and now you tell me it's merely likely? Does that mean I'm going to have to vote?

Olive & Ouzo & Figgy:

"It seems unlikely that the lefty media is going to allow the first black president go down in history as a one termer, no matter how much damage he does to the country."

Why do you hedge with "unlikely", sgtROCK? If "the lefty media" has the power to control elections, and worships "the Messiah", why would you think they might "allow" the GOP to prevail? Damn, I thought 2012 was in the bag for my Lord and Savior, and now you tell me it's merely likely? Does that mean I'm going to have to vote?

It's a continueing contradiction among the right-wing bloggers.

On one hand they like to declare "Obama polls collapsing...Dems doomed in 2010...and he's gone in 2012 once 'the people wake up'"....

on the other, they play sour grapes and "Obama likely to get re-elected....Liberal Media won't let him fail" and build their Excuse Case for '12.