Rooting For the President to Fail

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ever since Rush Limbaugh argued that he hopes President Obama fails in office, there's been some interesting back and forth on whether conservatives should actively and publicly hope for the nation's decline. It seems to have divided even the most radical of far-right Republicans. On the one hand, we have very conservative leaders like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford ® and TV preacher Pat Robertson who reject such talk outright.

On the other, we have a small handful of figures willing to endorse the sentiment. Yesterday, it was former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who, when asked if he agreed with Limbaugh's remarks hoping for presidential failure, said, "Well, exactly right."

Today, ThinkProgress chatted with former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and radio host Mark Levin, who joined the caucus.

TP: What do you think about what Rush said about, I mean, do you hope, should we hope that President Obama fails?

LEVIN: Yes.

TP: Yes?

SANTORUM: If ... absolutely we hope that his policies fail.... I believe his policies will fail, I don't know, but I hope they fail.

It's possible that my memory is off, but I can't recall ever hearing so many prominent political figures hoping for American leaders' failure like this, especially not in the midst of a crisis.

That it's coming from ideologues who believe they have the edge on "patriotism" -- and insist that Bush's liberal critics were guilty of "treason" -- just makes this all the more bizarre.

About a half-century ago, actor John Wayne, who was very conservative, was asked for his thoughts after JFK defeated Richard Nixon in 1960. "I didn't vote for him," Wayne said, "but he's my president, and I hope he does a good job."

It's the kind of sentiment that seemed obvious up until about, say, a month ago.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Jasman0717 9]

It seems to me, at least for an American, rooting for the President to fail is like cutting off your nose to spite your face

[NickD 203]

When which party rule exceeds the needs of the American people, we are in deep trouble, these people should be convicted as traitors and sent to the bay.

[Danno 1,228]

FancyPants, nice job linking Americas failure to Obamas failure.

I can say that I and Rush and even all Obamas Bashers will agree with John Wayne.

" Wayne said, "but he's my president, and I hope he does a good job."

We all hope he does a good Job but taking gun rights away is not doing a good job.

Ramping up all this social spending is not doing a good job, nor is his agenda to force Gays and Trans-gender into the class room and Private businesses.

The list will go and on as each new plan is revealed.

Now tell us specifically FP, what part of Obamas agenda should conservatives be in support of?

Conservatives want success for America, it's why they oppose a lot of Obamas Ideas.

On the other hand it was Democrats who not only wanted Bush to fail, they wanted our Military to fail ... they even Claimed the Military had failed and could not succeed, they attacked The Generals

as not being truthful. They were quick to attack our troops for wrong doing before the evidence was in.

Did they want Bush to succeed?

HELL NO...They not only didn't want Bush to succeed, they turned against our own troops to insure it.

Thats shameful if you ask me.

[Melrose Plant 1]

Yesterday, it was former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who, when asked if he agreed with Limbaugh's remarks hoping for presidential failure, said, "Well, exactly right."

To paraphrase Flannery, "He'd have been a good man, if there'd have been someone there to shoot him every minute of his life."

[HAL 9000 96]

The litany of the sore continues.

[justashooter 430]

Conservatives want success for America, it's why they oppose a lot of Obamas Ideas.

+100

[_Simpson_ 250]

I hope he fails when it comes to universal health care.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I hope he fails when it comes to universal health care.

He hopes you fail too.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

When Bush 2 was president Hillary said it was patriotic to disagree with him. What's different now? Oh yeah, the hypocrites are in charge.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

[EasyRider 3]

Conservatives want success for America, it's why they oppose a lot of Obamas Ideas.

+100

That's why after 8 years of conservative rule America is in such great shape.

When Bush 2 was president Hillary said it was patriotic to disagree with him. What's different now? Oh yeah, the hypocrites are in charge.

Yeah, because disagreement and wishing for the President's failure is the same.

Edited March 1, 2009 by EasyRider

[웃 910]

I am just glad He will cut the deficit in half. Well....sort of:

Surely you didn't fall for President Obama's claim that he could cut the deficit in half while running spending to the moon. Just in case, let's see how the magic works. President Obama says he will cut the deficit in half, and he will -- after increasing it almost four-fold.

1. Increase deficit from $450 billion to $1.75 trillion

2. Say you'll cut it in half over time

3. When it hits $900 billion, claim success

All of this is possible because nobody follows these kinds of news stories and the media won't connect the dots years from now when step 3 happens. Only people like you and me will note that after being "cut in half," the deficit is still twice what it was when the administration arrived.

Indeed, the administration's own projections out to 2019 show the deficit never getting back to its 2008 level.

Edited March 1, 2009 by Confucian

[Sofiyya 1,687]

This is America. Disagreeing with the president's goals and policies remains part of our first amendment rights, unless the liberals get their way.

[Marilyn. 340]

again disagreeing with someone and wanting them to fail or two different things