Morning Jolt: How Barack Obama Contributed to the Left-Populist Wave

Making the click-through worthwhile: How Barack Obama's unkept populist promises set the stage for today's political anger; the House GOP is in real trouble as 2020 approaches; and some kind words from a big name.

The Long-Forgotten Populist Rhetoric of Obama

Steve Elmendorf, Democratic lobbyist and campaign worker, tells Politico that his party's candidates were nuts to criticize Obama's record on the debate stage: "Stay away from Barack Obama. I don't know why you would attack Barack Obama or his record or any part of him when he's the most popular person in the party. And I don't think it helps for the general election voters, either. I don't know what they're thinking."

What they're thinking, fairly or not, is that Obama left a lot of promises unkept and disappointed both loyal Democrats and not-so-loyal Democrats, and it's safe to say so now.

It's easy to forget, but way back in 2008, Barack Obama ran as a populist. Long before Donald Trump turned "drain the swamp" as his rallying cry, Candidate Obama said he would ban lobbyists from working in the government ...

August 02 2019

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How Barack Obama Contributed to the Left-Populist Wave Jim Geraghty Making the click-through worthwhile: How Barack Obama's unkept populist promises set the stage for today's political anger; the House GOP is in real trouble as 2020 approaches; and some kind words from a big name. The Long-Forgotten Populist Rhetoric of Obama Steve Elmendorf, Democratic lobbyist and campaign worker, tells Politico that his party's candidates were nuts to criticize Obama's record on the debate stage: "Stay away from Barack Obama. I don't know why you would attack Barack Obama or his record or any part of him when he's the most popular person in the party. And I don't think it helps for the general election voters, either. I don't know what they're thinking." What they're thinking, fairly or not, is that Obama left a lot of promises unkept and disappointed both loyal Democrats and not-so-loyal Democrats, and it's safe to say so now. It's easy to forget, but way back in 2008, Barack Obama ran as a populist. Long before Donald Trump turned "drain the swamp" as his rallying cry, Candidate Obama said he would ban lobbyists from working in the government ... Read More ADVERTISEMENT Top Stories How Not to Solve the Homelessness Crisis James P. Sutton The size of the crisis is due to a series of civic disgraces, a failure of multiple ideologies and policies. Debates Show How Much Obama's Presidency Has Shrunk Jonah Goldberg Lo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now seen as a moderating force on the Democrats. Will Hurd, Lone Black Republican in House, Will Not Seek Reelection Jack Crowe Representative Will Hurd of Texas, the only black Republican serving in the House, announced on Thursday that he will not seek reelection. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden's Obama Problem Luke Thompson Continuing to haphazardly invoke Obama from a defensive crouch would further alienate the Democratic-party elites who still have fond feelings for Biden. So, You Want Canadian Health Care? Mona Charen A 2018 report from the Fraser Institute, a Canadian think tank, found that wait times between seeing a general practitioner and a specialist average 19.8 weeks. No, Children Should Not 'Be Required' to Say the Pledge at School Katherine Timpf The whole purpose of a child being in school is for him or her to learn things, and our country's values should certainly be among them. One of those values, of course, is free speech. Against the Republican Daddy State David French As a general rule, free citizens should not be shielded from the natural and inevitable consequences of their personal choices. Trump Imposes New Sanctions on Russia in Response to Nerve-Agent Attack Jack Crowe They're the second round of sanctions imposed in response to the Kremlnin's poisoningr Sergei Skripal in the British town of Salisbury. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT NR IS READING The Smallest Minority: Independent Thinking in the Age of Mob Politics Kevin D. Williamson A dizzying tour through a world you'll be horrified to recognize as your own. With biting appraisals of social media, political hustlers, journalists and identity politics, The Smallest Minority is a defiant, funny, and terrifyingly insightful book about what we human beings have done to ourselves. LEARN MORE Photo Essays Top Shots Defending America ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.