Obama Pushing to Repeal Term Limits

White House Rebuffs 22nd Amendment
Jenny Crane
New York Times
August 14, 2009

WASHINGTON-- Last year, candidate Barack Obama promised sweeping changes to the way that Washington politics was carried out. Since his election last November, the President has met with members of the opposition Republican Party and has pushed for bipartisan solutions to economic, health care, and other policy decisions.

The President has also been bold enough to enact changes independently. In a move cheered by many, the Guantanamo Bay prison facility is slowly being closed and United States combat troops are leaving Iraq. Bush-era surveillance laws have been rolled back and the President traveled to Europe to repair shattered alliances.

The President is perhaps attempting his largest change to the way that American politics is conducted. According to White House chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, President Obama is considering asking the Congress to repeal the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, excludes any sitting President from serving more than two terms in office. Enacted under President Truman, this law has affected many Presidents and is seen as limiting their political capital. There have been multiple pushes to repeal the amendment, but fears of consolidation of power in the executive branch have stalled efforts.

However, with the results of the 2008 elections and the ascension of massive Democratic majorities in both Congressional elections, there appears to be more of a chance of repealing the amendment.

Emanuel stated that the President's top priority at the current moment was health care reform. However, after the August Congressional recess is complete and the plan is "passed as expected", Emanuel stated that the President will start a public campaign to pressure Congress to overturn the 22nd Amendment.

Part of the campaign is expected to take place with interviews of the President, as well as advertisements in newspapers and on television. Websites such as the Daily Kos and MoveOn.org have reportedly already signed on to the White House plan.

According to sources in Emanuel's office, much of the publicity campaign will attempt to isolate Republicans as standing against the President's political agenda and the future of the United States.

"Expect this to be a big fight." Emanuel said, "But think of it. The President just turned 48. He is one of the youngest Presidents in history and could serve for decades if the American people decide that he is still right for the job. We should never deny the people their rights to elect whom they choose."

Congressional Republicans have yet to comment on the plan, but at least one member has expressed doubt over the plan. Senator Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2000, stated that the idea of repealing the 22nd Amendment was "unacceptable."

Reza Havapeyma in Hartford, CT and Nathan Frankel in New York contributed to this report.

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Obama 'Close' to Firing Hillary Clinton

NOTE: This is a satirical article, which never appeared in any form in the Los Angeles Times, but is wholly representative of this site and this site only, it is solely meant for satirical purposes.

After Policy Clashes, Clinton's Role in White House 'Marginalized'
Jeremy Kimball


BANGKOK THAILAND-- Dining with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed widening ties between the US and the Southeastern Asian nation. Earlier in the day, the Secretary discussed the possibility of a US defense shield in the Middle East to counteract Iranian influence.

While on the surface this appears to be the ordinary work of America's chief diplomat, it is part of the shrinking role of the Clinton dynasty. President Obama chose the former First Lady after intense political pressure. The former rivals vowed to work together and were photographed at high-profile events in January and February.

However, since the disputed elections in Iran on June 12, there has been a widening split in the White House over foreign policy. President Obama, flanked by Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel believe in the 'balanced' approach the President has been taking on the subject. However, some in the White House, including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary Clinton, have been calling for a tougher foreign policy stance.

There has been a widening dispute between the President and Secretary Clinton over several key points. While the major one was over Iran, Clinton disagrees with Obama's plans to open relations with Cuba, the Sudan, and Syria.

The two reportedly engaged in a heated verbal argument early this month, with the President deciding to curtail the Secretary's functions. These have included denying Clinton the ability to hire Sidney Blumenthal, a former Bill Clinton aide, as an advisor. Clinton was also absent when the President visited the G-8 conference this month. In addition, Obama sent Vice President Biden on an important trip to Eastern Europe instead of Clinton.

Rumblings of the split have been chronicled in the New York Times and the New York Daily News, but the splits appeared to be superficial in character.

However, late last week, our source acquired a statement from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stating that Secretary Clinton was on 'thin ice.' Most troubling to the White House have been several statements pertaining to US foreign policy which were not cleared by the White House. One was a statement in which Clinton stated that she "hoped democracy would triumph" in Iran.

Emanuel also stated to us that Secretary Clinton had been working closely with her husband in order to further policy decisions. "No offense to my former boss," Emanuel stated, "but his presidency ended eight years ago."

Whether Secretary Clinton would be asked to step down is in doubt. It is highly unlikely for a US Secretary of State to step down during a presidential term. The last time that this happened was when Secretary of State James Baker resigned from the George H.W. Bush Administration in August 1992, in a non-pressured cirumstance.



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Why Did You Vote for Obama?

1. I was drunk.
2. Pat Buchanan wasn't running.
3. Acorn gave me $20.
4. I wanted to see the world end before things got boring.
5. I was ready for change-- but then I realized that that would require changing things.
6. His wife has such poise and intellect.
7. I wanted to see Rahm Emanuel in shorts.
8. Cause I desired Al Franken as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
9. I didn't vote.
10. I wanted to shut Jon Stewart up.

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Obama Heard Calling Secretary Clinton a "Broad"

Alfred Friedman
San Diego Sun Times
Nothing Escapes Us Under the Sun

In what observers are calling "callous chauvinism," President Barack Obama was heard on tape denigrating Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a discussion with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, calling her a "broad."

Obama was reportedly frustrated that Secretary Clinton, his former primary rival, did not secure a key trade deal with China last week. According to Emanuel's staff, the President expected the deal to be one of the landmarks of his early foreign policy.

The recording, was dismissed by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as "a misinterpretation." Gibbs would not go into further detail. The Washington Post's editorial board also declined to comment on the story.

When listened to, the recording of the President states that, "...I really needed her to do this. (inaudible) ... another failure. She told me that she didn't want (inaudible)." The President is then interrupted by a question from Emanuel, to which Obama replied, "She told me that she didn't want to do it. But she has to realize that I'm in charge, Rahm. She just can't go spouting her own views on important trips like some broad from downstate New York."

The tape was released to the press, despite the objections Chief of Staff Emanuel. After the Governor Rod Blagojevich scandal, Emanuel's conversations have been taped by staff, which makes it possible for all of his conversations with the President to be monitored.

This controversy comes at a time when Obama's approval rating is slipping with the American public, and Secretary Clinton is rumored to be contemplating resignation.

Secretary Clinton was unable to be reached for comments because of her trip to the Middle East.

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Also, this is satire. Please take note.

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Obama's First Pick Partisan

I believe that Rahm Emanuel is a very effective politician. However, he is one of the most partisan hacks in Washington. Even Lindsay Graham, who I like, is praising the choice of Emanuel as Obama's Chief of Staff.

The 48 year-old served as a member of President Clinton's staff and was the person to think up Clinton's fundraising-instead-of-campaigning schedule of 1992. This paid off big time. Emanuel also backed the Iraq War in 2002. However, his biggest accomplishment was planning the Dems' takeover of Congress in 2006.

Emanuel is partisan, so it's yet to be seen what Obama is planning. Emanuel definitely helped Obama create 'change,' but may also annoy the Republicans, cutting back on bipartisanship.