Speculation has been growing about a possible 2012 presidential primary challenge to President Barack Obama launched by his party's disgruntled left. Talk of a primary challenge has only ratcheted up since Obama's announcement of the tax deal that he cut this week with congressional Republicans.

Warning: If the Democratic left does to Obama in 2012 what it did to incumbent President Jimmy Carter in 1980 via Ted Kennedy's damaging Democratic primary challenge -- or what the Republican right did to incumbent President George H.W. Bush in 1992 with Pat Buchanan's entry into the GOP primary -- the Democratic Party as a whole will find itself paying a steep price for years to come.

That's a promise, not a threat.

It's a pretty safe bet that Obama could beat back a contender or contenders for the 2012 Democratic Party nomination. But, as with the experiences of Carter and Bush in their damaging primary struggles, Obama would be forced to devote organization, energy and money to winning renomination -- three precious resources best reserved for a general election.

It's unlikely Obama could emerge from a time-consuming and costly primary fight strong enough to run a competitive race against a Republican Party that is expected to be energized, united and determined to take back the White House in 2012.

Republicans would have the Democratic left to thank for that.

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http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Disgruntled-left-better-beware-879848.php

Quote :

the Democratic Party as a whole will find itself paying a steep price for years to come.

Two years ago they were saying pretty much the same thing about the Republicans. Whoever has the power gets the blame so if there is a steep price to pay, I don't know that they will be paying it for years to come.

Interesting.