Obama at the Foot of the Mountain
Published in La Liberte
(Switzerland) on 24 July 2009
by Pascal Baeriswyl (link to original)
After six months upon a practically flawless route, Obama knows that he is at the foot of the "mountain" where he can now get sight of the rest of his presidency. For him, it's about avoiding the "Clinton Syndrome,” knowing that the resounding failure in 1994 to reform American healthcare clipped the progressive wings of the last Democrat in the White House.
Another time, another context. The United States of today is in a socio-economic situation infinitely more perilous than ever before. But they say that, in this type of crisis, the visionary dimension of politics can help break through an impasse.
In order to do this, since his victorious campaign, Obama has taken up the challenge of a sort of reform pedagogy that is more to convince rather than to impose. However, the new president equally knows that his image as a providential man is about to come down to Earth. Look at the continuing decline in his popularity (now above 60 percent) and the blow of criticism in the American press judging his dress.
Otherwise said, Barack the Charmer is going to have to learn to upset an important section of Americans if he wants to hold firm on his project for new healthcare.
For six months, the president has succeeded in breaking the negative image that kept the United States locked up during the Bush era. But this recovery has been essentially due to his charisma. It's thus the heart of his political ambition that is in the hot seat. Watch to see how he digs himself out of this first and crucial arm-wrestling match with Congress.
Another time, another context. The United States of today is in a socio-economic situation infinitely more perilous than ever before. But they say that, in this type of crisis, the visionary dimension of politics can help break through an impasse.
In order to do this, since his victorious campaign, Obama has taken up the challenge of a sort of reform pedagogy that is more to convince rather than to impose. However, the new president equally knows that his image as a providential man is about to come down to Earth. Look at the continuing decline in his popularity (now above 60 percent) and the blow of criticism in the American press judging his dress.
Otherwise said, Barack the Charmer is going to have to learn to upset an important section of Americans if he wants to hold firm on his project for new healthcare.
For six months, the president has succeeded in breaking the negative image that kept the United States locked up during the Bush era. But this recovery has been essentially due to his charisma. It's thus the heart of his political ambition that is in the hot seat. Watch to see how he digs himself out of this first and crucial arm-wrestling match with Congress.