Is Obama a Lame Duck President ? - 2nd Term Blues

Washington Post: Reports on the myths of  2nd term lame duck Presidents, and has this advice for President Obama, " Indeed, many lame-duck presidents facing congressional majorities of the opposite party still have achieved successes that boosted their political fortunes and long-term reputations. But they’ve usually done so by tacking more to the center than playing to their base. Obama would be well advised to pursue such a strategy today. "

Lets Get Real:

Ever since the Reagan Presidency ALL 2nd Term Presidents have wanted to be a Reagan, the one that got close was Bill Clinton, thus how does this blog grade 2nd termers, simple really, who is their successor, in the case of Reagan it was Bush 41, this showed that the Reagan Era had the support of a majority of Americans, if not then the Democratic nominee would have won the election.   This blog would argue that Clinton got close because his VP, AL Gore won the popular vote but lost his home State, if he had kept a eye on his own State as President Clinton told him then he would have won the Presidency.   Both Presidents, Reagan and Clinton had a VP who wanted to run after them and they supported their VP for the top job.   That is not always the case, lets recall the famous or infamous remark by President Eisenhower when reporters asked him what had Nixon done in the two terms, the President stated if they gave him a week he would think of something, hardly helpful.   But at least Eisenhower, Reagan and Clinton were not afraid to have  a VP who wanted the job, both  Bush 43 and Obama had Vice Presidents that were not a threat to them in the long term, they would not go off the reservation if it helped them in political terms.   Both Bush 41 and Gore needed some distance between themselves and the boss, with Bush 41 it was Iran - Contra and with Gore it was the affair that Bill Clinton had with an intern, the added problem for Gore was the view that Clinton was a negative on the campaign trail, that was not the case with Reagan.    Thus they ALL want to be the Gipper, few get close but none are really the Gipper. 

Is Turkey a base for IS - Middle East Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Isis launches attack on Kobani from inside Turkey for first time..Assault by Islamic State militants reportedly began with suicide attack on border between Turkey and strategic Syrian town "

Lets Get Real:

Thus Kobane is under attack on four sides, the worrying aspect would be if Turkey becomes a base for IS, lets recall Turkey is part of NATO, thus the West needs Turkey to be secure, it does not want or need for Turkey to go down the road of Syria and Iraq.  One expects the Turkish security system to come down hard on IS supporters in Turkey and to prevent IS causing problems for the Turkish people and government.  IS is a cancer, it is about time for the US to consider placing US troops in Turkey to prevent any future problems there now or in the future.   Kobane has to be held at all costs by the Kurds and its allies, a loss would be a strategic disaster.  

IS Update - Middle East Crisis

BBC News: Reports " Fighting has intensified in the besieged Syrian border town of Kobane, where Kurdish forces have been holding Islamic State at bay since September. "

Lets Get Real:

The fight for Kobane has become a symbol for the fight between the Kurds, Free Syrian Army and US air power against IS.   Kobane is a destroyed mess, but as long as the Kurds and its Allies defend the town, the more it shows to others including the Iraqi Army that it can fight IS on its own ground.   One has to assume that US and UK Special Forces are part of the fight, helping the US target IS positions on the ground.   The winner of Kobane will win a strategic victory and a PR VICTORY, that is why the fight is still going on, for the Obama plan to use air power alone this fight has to be won, otherwise Syria AND Iraq will need Western forces to take down IS. 

The Immigration Battle - 2nd Term Blues

The Hill: Reports " A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service says that lawmakers have the power to defund President Obama’s executive action on immigration, reigniting a fight within the GOP. "

Lets Get Real:

IF the Republicans want to go down this BAD policy choice then they should go for it, 100%, they should close down the Government, then the Congress should only come in to session to pass the bills it wants, it will be up to the Oval if it veto's any bills.   The aim of the objective is to make President Obama the issue, show that he is the one that is being a bad part of the relationship.    The President does not care about the short term political results, he wants to close down the Government, that what is uber liberal base want, well the Republicans should give it to them, only pass defence and social security bills, lets see who folds first, as Iran and Russia have shown, when they say NO the Oval folds. 

The NEXT US Defense Secretary ? - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports " The White House has a big problem on its hands: finding someone to replace Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who was pushed out of the administration this week. "

Lets Get Real:

One can understand why no one wants to be the next US Defense Secretary, the term in office will be short, only two years if they do not resign or get fired in the process.   There is a President in the Oval who thinks he understands military matters, when he has no clue, and then to add to the problems, the President is WARY of putting any combat troops in to Iraq and Syria, and lets not forget that Israel might attack Iran within the next two years. If the Oval was strong and smarter it would try and get a Republican to take the job, the problem is that any one with a brain will say and demand the he or she runs the Defence department and that the Oval consider placing US troops in Syria and Iraq.   Then lets not forget the confirmation hearing, that will be run by Republicans, so no walk in the park.   Interesting times for the next Secretary. 

Afghanistan Troubles - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports " A suicide bomber has hit a UK embassy vehicle in the Afghan capital Kabul, with a British worker and an Afghan member of staff among those killed. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus as predicted more attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan, the UK should get ALL its people out, there should be no more UK Deaths in Afghanistan, the UK and the US have done their part to rescue Afghanistan from the Taliban and Al Qaeda.   Thus three Empires, British, Soviet and the USA have spent treasure and tried to reform Afghanistan, nothing sticks, the structure of Afghanistan is to tribal outside Kabul, once the West pulls out of Afghanistan by 2015 the new Government in Kabul will fall and we will back to the real politics pre 9/11.   The history of Afghanistan is about repeats.   No one ever learns. 

The FALL of Secretary Hagel - 2nd Term Blues

Fox News: Reports " " Make no mistake, Secretary Hagel was fired,” a senior U.S. official with close knowledge of the situation told Fox News. "

Lets Get Real:

The Oval Office has to be careful, if it throws Hagel under the bus he might want some revenge, this is about how bloggers and historians will deal with the Hagel tenure as Secretary of Defence, it can be assumed that Secretary Hagel will want to write his memoirs about his time as Secretary of Defence, and to move the blame for IS from himself to the Oval Office.   Lets recall Mr Hagel is a Republican, thus he does does not owe the Democratic Party anything, this might lead to a sharp and critical memoir before the Presidential Election of 2016.