Luckless Obama

Barack Obama should actually be one of the most popular president's in the US' history: job market figures and stock prices are rising, US soldiers are finally returning home from wars with heavy losses, his latest climate initiative is gaining international recognition, and the controversial health care law "Obamacare" is accepted by the population.

Normally these are ingredients for shining public appearances and high approval rates.

Butt of a joke

But the reality for President Obama looks different after more then 2000 days in office. His poll results are at rock bottom - they are the worst for a president since World War II and there is no respect for his achievements.

The impression that he can't do it has been strengthened among the population. And it has become popular to joke about the president regardless of the social background or the political opinion.

That is not only poisoning the political discourse but it is also out of touch with reality. Obama is better than his reputation. Many of his initiatives are good and seek to initiate long overdue political change. These range from health care reform to climate policy and the profound societal change demonstrated by the growing acceptance of same-sex marriage, which is supported by Obama.

Embarrassing mistakes

But technical errors and several mistakes have left the impression that he's not very deft at the art of governing. The embarrassing mistakes in the implementation of “Obamacare” are just one example; the inadequate medical care of veterans is another. The responsible ministers had to step down in both cases but in the end some things stick with the president.

The Republicans and the mass media that sympathizes with them are hammering this into the heads of voters. They ensure with their fundamental opposition that the president can achieve nothing two years before the end of his term.

But Obama is also adding a lot to the self-destroying confrontation in Congress and public opinion. Too often he let his opponents feel the arrogance of power, and he is not often enough able to reach a “deal” with his political opponents. Therefore there won't be a reform of the antiquated immigration law during his term. The latest rush of teenage immigrants from Central America across the US-Mexican border shows the bitter consequences of failure.

Liberal gun laws, the disappearing middle class, and the unfair educational system will remain political construction sites. The use of executive orders, by which the president tries to govern around Congress, won't change the situation much.

Foreign policy without a concept

The Republicans are further sharpening their opposition in the run-up to the midterm elections in November, and they want to sue so-called “King” Obama because of his - in their view - too frequent use of executive orders.

That might seem laughable and excessive. But even if the two political parties are responsible for the gridlock in Washington, the president is most blamed for it.

It is not surprising that political weakness at home doesn't lead to external strength. On the contrary, not only his opponents have blamed him for the lacking of a foreign policy compass. Even sympathizers and allies have agreed with that. The maneuvering around a military strike in Syria and the half-hearted response to Putin's Russia in Ukraine didn't make him look good in global public and at home. The returning of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan has been a longing of war-weary Americans. But the recent highly dangerous situation in Iraq with the triumphal march of ISIS shows that the Americans still have not found a concept for "afterwards."

Caught by the reality in Iraq

In a speech in front of the cadets at the military academy in West Point at the end of May, President Obama wanted them to believe that he can defy international terrorism with a network of allies and the strengthening of regional militaries. But the reality in Iraq has caught him faster than expected. The images of dissolved army units and the daily terror should actually leave Obama's predecessor Georg W. Bush and his Republicans red-faced. But politics is working differently and it is Obama again who is criticized.

These are reasons for worry in Germany and among the European allies. They are not only experiencing a luckless US president but also the US superpower in retreat. Obama's "yes we can" optimism is a thing of the past. And for the future, Germany and the Europeans will have to rely on their own strengths and concepts.