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President Obama’s Road Map To Re Election

June 25th, 2011 | 9 Comments

By: D. Asghar

President Obama laid out his plans for troop draw down from Afghanistan. At least he is cognizant of the fact that 2012 re election bid is approaching soon. He will be on the campaign trail soon, behind the podiums, talking to a whole lot of Americans and the rest of the world.

It is no surprise, that his approval ratings took a plunge again, right after the OBL episode. The fact remains that generally people are a bit disappointed with the first term. The troop withdrawal was one of his 2008 campaign items and it is wise of him to follow through.

The Obama administration can definitely take credit for OBL elimination and some other stalwarts of the Jihadi side, in and around Pakistan. It is true that, Pakistan has taken a lot of heat right after May 02. The other fact that Afghanistan is one heck of a monster is perhaps well known to his policy gurus. When all the American troops depart, there is a strong possibility of the resurgence of not so America friendly, non state actors.

Afghanistan is huge and political leadership is not as strong as US may assume, it might become. So as Americans, the engagement in Afghanistan may still be on going. Otherwise, it will be the same scenario of 80′s and later down the road, it will be pinned as a poor policy decision of the current administration.

The people have short term memories. They tend to conveniently forget that it was not the Obama administration, who went for an all out war in Afghanistan. The President inherited the war and he was cautiously treading on that path. The most important factor that remains a bit in fog is, his Pakistan policy. Whether that policy will be effective Pakistan or not is a multi million dollar question. The solution for long term stability in the entire region depends a lot on Pakistan.

Here in the US, it is no surprise that voters are suffering. All the moves to salvage the ailing economy have yielded not so positive results. America is bruised and battered heavily from the housing turmoil. Until or unless the housing and lending markets get back to a level of stability, we will see the same dismal growth and stagnant job creation. The economic advisors are perhaps shaking their heads in disbelief. The data and the numbers trickling down, do not mean much, when public sentiments are to the contrary.

The key word for President’s 2012 campaign should be UNITE. It is time to unite the divided America. The America of have’s and have nots. The America of rich and poor, White and Black and the others, the America of hopeful and hopeless. Whether we agree or disagree, whatever transpires here, has an impact on the rest of the world.

The HOPE and CHANGE mantra that brought President Obama to the oval office in 2008 may not work this time around. Let’s face it HOPE has dwindled and CHANGE has been rather slow. The renewal of Obama spirit of 2008 needs a newer and fresher approach. The HOPE re ignites, when pockets are full and CHANGE tends to find its way, with extra change is in the pocket to spend. To win in 2012, he will have to make the electorate hopeful and optimistic about their pockets. Hope the Obama 2012 campaign advisors are reading. Wishful thinking, but what the heck.

Written by dasghar

D. Asghar is a Pakistani American. A Mortgage Banker by profession who loves to write as well. He blogs frequently at popular South Asian websites. A repository of some of his scribbles is http://dasghar.blogspot.com/. He can be reached at dasghar@aol.com.

Filed under: Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA · Tags: Afghanistan, fact, Pakistan, term

9 Responses to "President Obama’s Road Map To Re Election"

President Obama’s Road Map To Re Election | Tea Break says:

June 25, 2011 at 3:00 am

[...] President Obama’s Road Map To Re Election [...]
Rex Minor says:

June 25, 2011 at 6:05 am

Mr Obama is an imposter. I said this when he was a candidate and presented Hillary as a war monger since she voted for Iraq war. He did not close Guatanamo Bay prison as promised and went for the surge in Afghanistan and later fired Gen Macchrystal, the most competent General stationed in Afghanistan who understood the situation which could only be improved with a political engagement, not with the use of force. Now he has announced Nation building at home, no longer in foreign lands.
I very much doubt if the American voters would go for his spin second time?

Rex Minor
Fellow-Pakistani001 says:

June 25, 2011 at 1:37 pm

President Obama can win 2nd time only, if he realizes that he was put in office through the votes of USA citizens. And that he is President of USA and NOT of Israel. Until he thinks that he won’t get Muslims vote. And whether Politicians in USA like it or not Muslims, are becoming a silent political force in USA. If Obama keeps on acting as Israeli President, instead of realizing he is US president, he won’t win US Muslims votes. If he does not win Muslim votes, he will defintely Lose re-elections. Muslims will not vote for Republican candidate, unless some one promises out of the way to Muslims, but they will also NOT vote for Obama. In 2008 elections 97% of US Muslims voted and almost 100% voted for Obama. If Obama fails to win same votes he is out of office.
hiob says:

June 25, 2011 at 2:53 pm

No matter who wins US elections Pakistan will continue to be a danger to mankind and even to its own inhabitants (not to be called citizens). Obama or No-Obama – the quisling nature of Pakistan will not go away. So why this dicussion about Obama? Waste of time on the PTH.
SYYED MOHUMMED JAWAID IQBAL GEOFFREY OF SLARPORE, BRIGHTON and PACIFIC PALISADES says:

June 25, 2011 at 10:23 pm

The Hope and changE mantra promoted 4-5 years ago by Barrick Hussein Osama has fizzled out. He has proven to be a functional failure as the president of the USA and as role model concerning leadership for the South as well as the North.

I find it parenthetically pitiable regarding Shri/mati “Hiob” that s/he cannot find any suiutable place or placebo for outdated and sham ideas nearer his home … as, inter alia, also, for his obsessional lack of vocabulary, his repeated abuse of the word Quisling is getting on the nerves. God bless him if he himself learns that less is more.
observer says:

June 26, 2011 at 2:19 pm

to syyed

The muslims and their behaviour necessitate the use of the word quisling when referring to them and since the number of muslims is so large hence also the frequency of the use of this word. Why blame me for that?

As regards less is more – why don’t you reduce the number of letters in your own name and title?

as regards “nearer home” – with the islamic fascist danger penetrating all over the globe what do you mean by “nearer”? The islamic fascist danger is near to everyone these days.

I don’t write onthe PTH to show off my vocabulary. Nor do I use a thesaurus when writing.

Whether god blesses me or not – depends on which of the many gods.
SYYED MOHUMMED JAWAID IQBAL GEOFFREY OF SLARPORE, BRIGHTON and PACIFIC PALISADES says:

June 26, 2011 at 6:11 pm

To Whom It May Concern:

What I write is poetry in English as it should be written. Last time I opened a dictionary or Thesaurus was at Saint Mary’s School in Abbottabad during circa 1943-1944 when I was a KG Student there.

The pinning of The Ob Server to indulge in pseudonymous penfriendship with me is seminally REJECTED and finally, terminally and comprehensively irreversibly hereby DENIED.
lady Guinevere says:

June 27, 2011 at 4:02 am

Sir Geoffrey: Indeed Yes! What you write is (pure) poetry in English! I enjoy every word you write! You are turning my head more and more each day!

Carry On my dear,
Lady Guinevere!
Awais Khan says:

June 30, 2011 at 11:31 am

War on terror should be kept out of politics and coalition partners should operate on the same wavelength to eradicate terrorism.