King Solomon put it best when he said “there is nothing new under the sun”.  And so it is with politics.

Even now, political history is repeating itself.  We have a Democrat in the White House giving speeches about how America is losing its spirit in the midst of a recession and high unemployment – just like Jimmy Carter in his “Malaise speech” in 1979.  And we have polls indicating that what Americans are really getting tired of is the President.  Again, just like with Carter.

According to the latest Gallup poll, only 42% of the public approve of Obama’s job performance – fewer than any other president at this point in office since the dawn of polling.   And the opinions are pretty strong.

According to pollster Scott Rasmussen, only 23% “strongly approve”, while 38% “strongly disapprove”, leaving Obama fifteen points in the hole when it comes to those who have any passion to their opinions.  Further, 3/4ths of voters think that the nation is on the “wrong track”, and over half of the country still opposes his biggest legislative success, ObamaCare, and want to see it repealed.

Of course none of this bodes well for re-election, which explains Obama’s reach for another historical retread – class warfare.

For decades, liberal political strategy has been built around buying large segments of the electorate with government largesse and, more often than not, doing it with borrowed money.  Obama’s problem is that his administration comes at a time when most everyone has realized that the national credit card is maxed out, and that the bank won’t increase the limit.  read more »

Listen to John Derbyshire's interview with Seth Forman, author of American Obsession: Race and Conflict in the Age of Obama.