Every Crisis Is The 'Biggest Test' Of Obama's Presidency

[DonViejo]

The 'Biggest Tests' Of Obama's Presidency

WASHINGTON -- As Russia heightens its military activity in Ukraine, President Barack Obama's handling of the crisis is arguably "the biggest test of his presidency."

At least, that's what Politico Magazine had to say on Saturday, thus keeping alive the media's tradition of dubbing every major obstacle before Obama his "biggest" or "greatest" test. The use of the phrase has not been limited to foreign crises in Ukraine, Syria or Libya, but has also been bestowed upon domestic challenges such as the health care law and reducing the debt.

The Huffington Post compiled the other "biggest tests" of Obama's presidency, listed below in chronological order:

The financial crisis of 2007-08

Obama was confronted with his first "biggest test" before he even became president. The Daily Democrat wrote in 2008 that "Should Obama win … sorting out the economy is going to be the biggest test of Obama’s presidency." (Spoiler alert: He won.)

Mumbai terror attacks, November 2008

Days after terrorists attacked India's business capital Mumbai on Nov. 26, 2008, the News Tribune observed that "Obama’s agenda abroad to build new alliances will likely end up being one of the biggest tests of his presidency."

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/01/obama-biggest-tests_n_4881977.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[L0oniX]

1. This meme could be coming from racist influence.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Our media have run out of superlatives...

Starting with Faux Noise. Obama was also the "most liberal Democrat in the Senate." Following several others, I might add.

I can only hope people get tired of the over dramatization of the news. The "Cry Wolf" factor makes it nearly impossible to respond properly to a real crisis.

[jsr]

3. Why is this a 'crisis' for the U.S.?

[frazzled]

5. That's what I want to know: this is largely of European interest

It's a crisis for the Western world (and I wouldn't be all that surprised if some Asian countries chimed in as well.)

The headline in today's (print) NYT was: "Rebuff to Obama." This is not Obama's conflict, except to the extent that the US is considered the prime player in any world event. What about Merkel, Cameron, Hollande, et al.? This entire thing began (partly) as a response to the European Union/Russian split in Ukrainian interests.

Fortunately, the new headline in the Times is "Western Powers Scramble to Respond to Growing Crisis" (although if you click on that link, it leads you to an article entitled "Ukraine Puts Troops on High Alert, Threatening War).

The new government in Kiev, hastily installed last week, wants to influence the thinking of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, an effort expected to continue later on Sunday when NATO holds an emergency meeting on Ukraine and British Foreign Secretary William Hague visits Kiev in a sign of Western support.

... In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron said that “there can be no excuse for outside military intervention” in Ukraine.
Canada said it was recalling its ambassador from Moscow and, like the United States, suspending preparations for the G-8 meeting.
At the United Nations, the Security Council on Saturday held an emergency meeting on Ukraine for the second time in two days.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/world/europe/ukraine.html?hp

[tularetom]

4. They're just waiting for him to make a foreign policy fuckup

As of now he's handled everyone of these "biggest tests" admirably.

But, ya know, hope springs eternal, and they can always hope he screws up. If he does, they have nailed him in advance by labeling each "crisis" his biggest test.

And if that happens we'll never hear the end of it.

Fortunately, nobody who lives outside the Washington beltway pays any attention to politico.

[Whisp]

6. there are local ravens, waiting on the wires for Obama to 'fuck up'

I can hear their talons clicking...

and whatever Obama chooses to do or not, they will squawk and peck, peck and squawk about what a horrible and backstabbing and incompetent man he is.