Barack Obama won the Presidential Election quite handily in 2008. He captured something like 365 Electoral votes and carried States like North Carolina, Virginia & Indiana, typically not in the Democrat column. The Republicans essentially capitulated and gave the Democrats the easy win by choosing John McCain and Sarah Palin as candidates for President & Vice President on the Republican Ticket.

Approximately 18 months into the Obama Administration has exposed Barack Obama's lack of skill in dealing with the "workings" of the inside the beltway politics in Washington D.C..

President Obama has a higher unfavorable rating than he does a favorable rating 44% for and 48% opposed to his policies. President Obama is losing the support of Independent voters, men and even some of his Liberal Democrat colleagues.

This set of circumstances appears to signal one of two possible outcomes. The Democrats become concerned with Obama as a candidate in 2012 and look to Hillary Clinton to step in or Obama remains on the top of the Democrat ticket and loses to a Republican.

Not quite as simple as it looks. If the Republicans act similarily to the way they put together the 2008 Presidential ticket they stand to lose again.

What the Republicans need to do, no must do, to win in 2012 is to select a highly qualified candidate to run as President. This cannot be Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Tom Pawlenty or the like. These folks may be great people but they are not Presidential material.

The possible list of candidates so far for the Republicans in 2012 is "slim pickins" as it were. A possible candidate is Romney, not very personable however experienced. Another possible candidate is General Patreaus should he retire from the military in the next 12-18 months. He would certainly have "gravitas" something Obama lacks.

Of the other possible long shot candidates is Meg Whitman who is currently trying to win the Governors race in California. Should she win and do anything half right to straighten out the finances in California would be a major boost to her possibilities as a Presidential contender in 2012.

What cannot happen is to have another ridiculous slate of Republicans  try and win on lower taxes and ultra conservative values. That flag will not fly up any flagpole to win in 2012.

The winning ticket will/must have a detailed plan to begin to deal with the  economy, entitlements and immigration period. No slick talking Mike Huckabee is going to win.

The problem for Jeb Bush is that his last name is Bush. Jeb may well have the right stuff to be president with the wrong last name.

I look for more of the same nonsense from the Republicans and unfortunately more of the same from the Democrats leaving us as pawns in the usual "political power struggle" in Washington D.C.!

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is currently in Pakistan talking with Pakistani President Asif Ari Zardari hoping to get greater cooperation from Pakistan in dealing with how the final outcome of the nine year War with Afghanistan will take place.

Typical of how the United States gets cooperation with countries like Pakistan there are substantial United States dollars involved. The amount of money to be sent to Pakistan for "non-military" projects is in the neighborhood of $1.5 Billion dollars a year for the next 5 years.

What is not openly stated by any party involved (Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or the Pakistani Government) is what may be happening behind the obvious. Will Hillary Clinton resign as Secretary of State given the low poll ratings for President Obama? Few people think Barack Obama has demonstrated the Leadership necessary to effectively win a second term as President in 2012.

Should the Democrats lose control in either the House or Senate or both in the November 2010 elections Hillary Clinton may decide to resign her position as Secrertary of State late in 2010.

If this scenario plays out there will be sufficient time for Hillary Clinton to mount a campaign to run for President in 2012. Many Democrats would like for this to happen. President Obama may have passed a Healthcare Bill and will most likely sign a Financial Regulation Bill in the coming days with unintended consequences. Very few people really care! Obama is more in the conversation for what he has not been able to do than for what he has been able to do.

The War in Afghanistan is going badly. The Economy is on the verge of a double dip recession and unemployment remains high. President Obama is currently soliciting help from Bill Clinton in how to deal with the economy.  President Obama must be tired of hearing about the 22 million jobs created during Bill Clinton's Presidency. 

There is plenty of time to see what plays out here. The next five months may prove to be the most critical for President Obama. It looks from here as though President Obama is a real nice guy without the Leadership and Command skills required to be President of the United States. Not to worry Bill & Hillary Clinton are waiting in the wings to bail out the Democrats and bail out the Economy.

One would automatically think that President Barack Obama would be a "given" as the Democrat Nominee for president in 2012. Not so per comments from Howard Ruff on CNBC.

Howard Ruff, long time Investor and Wall Street Icon & Advisor, told Erin Burnett on CNBC that he thought Barack Obama would be a "one term" President.

Howard Ruff commented that the Republicans might/probably take over both Houses of Congress. At the very least Ruff expects the Democrats to be very much weakened as a result of the 2010 mid-term elections.

Howard Ruff predicts Gold to rise to $2300 an ounce!  Barack Obama's approval rating is at 45%. More Americans disapprove of Obama than do Approve of the President. Polling numbers also indicate 62% of Americans think the Country is heading in the wrong direction.

This makes me wonder what Hillary Clinton is thinking? Why should she wait until 2016 to run for President. Bill Clinton is probably the most effective Politican in the Country, what a resource for Hillary Clinton.

Watch and see if Hillary Clinton leaves her post at the State Department. Barack Obama may be looking for a new Secretary of State in 2011. This would be enough time for Hillary Clinton to mount a campaign and wait to be "drafted" by weary Democrats.

Barack Obama probably has until this November 2010 to change this outcome.

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele was on CNBC Squawk on the Street this Morning. Hosts Mark Haines and Erin Burnett had an interesting discussion with Chairman Steele.

Michael Steele is not the smooth Haley Barbour style Republican Spokesperson. Steele was immediately put on the defensive regarding his claims that the Obama Administration was solely responsible for the job losses and Wall Street  having a Financial implosion.

Mark Haines and Erin Burnett, with the assistance of research staff,  confronted Michael Steele with the number of jobs created by the George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, & George W. Bush Administrations. Bill Clinton won this argument hands down. Clinton during his eight years in office created 22 million jobs.

Mark Haines went "toe to toe" with Michael Steele refuting his points against the current Administration. The BP Oil Disaster, according to Steele, was caused by the Obama Administration. Mark Haines pointed out that the George W. Bush Administration Policies on the Procedures required for deep sea drilling contributed early on to the current Gulf Oil Spill Crisis.  

Michael Steele was unable to persuade me that he is knowledgable enough to "carry the torch" for the Republicans.