--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Grand Old Party's abiding affection…" description: "\"The Grand Old Party's abiding affection for a 'bigger and better' presidency isn't entirely logical. After all, the Obama presidency commenced with an ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/amity-shlaes-9137_abide_the-grand-old-party-s-abiding-affection_1726221.png" --- # The Grand Old Party's abiding affection for a 'bigger and… ![“The Grand Old Party's abiding affection for a 'bigger and better' presidency isn't entirely logical. After all, the Obama presidency commenced with an effort to reenact the Hundred Days. Yet President Obama's first-term economic performance itself was not 'big' but mediocre - tiny, even.” quote by Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/amity-shlaes-9137_abide_the-grand-old-party-s-abiding-affection_1726221.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/amity-shlaes-9137_abide_the-grand-old-party-s-abiding-affection_1726221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/amity-shlaes-9137_abide_the-grand-old-party-s-abiding-affection_1726221.png) > “The Grand Old Party's abiding affection for a 'bigger and better' presidency isn't entirely logical. After all, the Obama presidency commenced with an effort to reenact the Hundred Days. Yet President Obama's first-term economic performance itself was not 'big' but mediocre - tiny, even.” [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The GOP’s desire for a larger, more ambitious presidency conflicts with the modest economic results of Obama’s first term. **In simple terms:** Big promises clash with modest outcomes. Key Takeaway Beware of equating size with success. Themes politics expectations economics Mood critical analytical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - budget planning - public communication - media analysis Key Concepts policy ambition public perception economic performance Questions to Reflect On - How do political narratives shape expectations? - What metrics truly measure presidential success? A Different Perspective Size does not guarantee effectiveness; other factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) ## Related quotes > [The Vice Presidency isn't worth a pitcher of warm spit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nance-garner/the-vice-presidency-isn-t-worth-a-pitcher-of-warm-spit/) [John Nance Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nance-garner/) > [A Clinton presidency is an Obama third term. And it's very difficult for them to get away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/a-clinton-presidency-is-an-obama-third-term-and-it-s-very-difficult/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Out of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I would rather Clinton be president, but just overall, I would rather Obama have a third term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yg/out-of-donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton-i-would-rather-clinton-be/) YG > [Hillary Clinton essentially offers a third Obama term. And the role is perfect for her. She championed 'Obamacare' because years earlier she had all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/hillary-clinton-essentially-offers-a-third-obama-term-and-the-role-is/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I still remember how upset I was in the aftermath of President Obama's election, where people in Republican leadership didn't say that, "Hey, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-still-remember-how-upset-i-was-in-the-aftermath-of-president-obama/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [To be fair, my analysis failed to spell out Obama's first-term accomplishments, although I did acknowledge his 'enormous skills' and tried to focus readers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/to-be-fair-my-analysis-failed-to-spell-out-obama-s-first-term/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [“It is the moral duty of every US voter to guarantee that Barack Hussein Obama is a one-term president.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/it-is-the-moral-duty-of-every-us-voter-to-guarantee-that-barack/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [I think Barack Obama is a one-term President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-barack-obama-is-a-one-term-president/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Obama's term has been like a bad marriage, just when you think it can get any worse, it does...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obama-s-term-has-been-like-a-bad-marriage-just-when-you-think-it-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [President Obama's first term in office has been better for intentions than for actual changes in planning and policy. I do believe, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/president-obama-s-first-term-in-office-has-been-better-for-intentions/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [It's very easy for people to be critical of President Obama's first term, but let's face it, he didn't exactly inherit the country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/it-s-very-easy-for-people-to-be-critical-of-president-obama-s-first/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the major achievement of President Obama's first term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-is-the-major/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [There's been no end to the grief Mitch McConnell's taken for his declaration early in Barack Obama's first term that his party's top goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/there-s-been-no-end-to-the-grief-mitch-mcconnell-s-taken-for-his/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-single-most-important-thing-we-want-to-achieve-is-for-president/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Jay Carney told the reporters at his morning briefing that he hoped they would watch the new movie about Obama's first term 'many times.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/jay-carney-told-the-reporters-at-his-morning-briefing-that-he-hoped/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) ## More by Amity Shlaes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [The donning of the ear buds marks the beginning of teen life, when children set off on their own for the passage through adolescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-donning-of-the-ear-buds-marks-the-beginning-of-teen-life-when/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Seems like Americans just want it to be Halloween all year. The holiday just keeps getting more popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/seems-like-americans-just-want-it-to-be-halloween-all-year-the/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Europe unified its monetary policy through the euro before it unified politically, therefore sustaining member countries' abilities to pursue the kind of independent fiscal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/europe-unified-its-monetary-policy-through-the-euro-before-it-unified/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Democrats who see virtue in the estate tax are doing the equivalent of aborting future enterprises. They deprive businesses of oxygen with their support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/democrats-who-see-virtue-in-the-estate-tax-are-doing-the-equivalent/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Policy people suffer their own kind of agony, and no wonder. After all, what is the average life of the policy person? You go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/policy-people-suffer-their-own-kind-of-agony-and-no-wonder-after-all/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [With demands for special education or standardized test prep being shouted in their ears, public schools can't always hear a parent when he says:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/with-demands-for-special-education-or-standardized-test-prep-being/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that they can pass a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton-that-in-every-period-of/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Anti-parent music seems to be all the pop-rock market wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/anti-parent-music-seems-to-be-all-the-pop-rock-market-wants/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [To investors, job creation is a second-order effect. Market participants care first about interest rates, exchange rates, bond prices and the one great factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/to-investors-job-creation-is-a-second-order-effect-market/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [In my view, if you have one in 10 unemployed - something is wrong with the economy whether you call it recession or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/in-my-view-if-you-have-one-in-10-unemployed-something-is-wrong-with/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [The difference between recession and depression is simple. Recession, goes the saying, is when you lose your job; depression is when I lose mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-difference-between-recession-and-depression-is-simple-recession/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [When you see government leaders really bullying business, you know that government's economic policy is failing. They get angry and they get desperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/when-you-see-government-leaders-really-bullying-business-you-know/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Today many politicians suggest that where the federal government does not act, there must be anarchy. That view is odd, blinkering out the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/today-many-politicians-suggest-that-where-the-federal-government-does/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [If expectations of lifetime earnings drop, then so will spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/if-expectations-of-lifetime-earnings-drop-then-so-will-spending/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) [Explore all 75 Amity Shlaes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) ## More Abide quotes > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [All that is beautiful shall abide, All that is base shall die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-williams-buchanan/all-that-is-beautiful-shall-abide-all-that-is-base-shall-die/) [Robert Williams Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-williams-buchanan/) > [I cannot abide being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-cannot-abide-being-bored/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [You're president, if you conclude my judgment is not the right judgment, I abide by that, but I want an opportunity to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-re-president-if-you-conclude-my-judgment-is-not-the-right/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Abide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens, and you will serve God according to his good pleasure and rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abide-in-peace-banish-cares-take-no-account-of-all-that-happens-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hope abides; therefore I abide. Countless frustrations have not cowed me. I am still alive, vibrant with life. The black cloud will disappear, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/hope-abides-therefore-i-abide-countless-frustrations-have-not-cowed/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“The simple rule to abide by and become excellent is that “Don’t see what you have achieved yesterday with the same pleasure eyes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-simple-rule-to-abide-by-and-become-excellent-is-that-don-t-see/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Making improvements to our background check system and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking are common-sense ways to prevent violence without punishing law abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heinrich/making-improvements-to-our-background-check-system-and-cracking-down/) [Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/) > [Things well fitted abide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/things-well-fitted-abide/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [The owners said that they wanted the salary cap and refused to promise that they would abide by the rules of the just-expired contract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cone/the-owners-said-that-they-wanted-the-salary-cap-and-refused-to/) [David Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cone/) > [It matters not to me what I do, or what I suffer, so long as I abide loveingly united to God's will - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/it-matters-not-to-me-what-i-do-or-what-i-suffer-so-long-as-i-abide/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [At 86, I can easily look back to the last eight decades. Though memory often fails me now, so many images of the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/at-86-i-can-easily-look-back-to-the-last-eight-decades-though-memory/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [My abiding theme is separations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/my-abiding-theme-is-separations/) [Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/) > [Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-francis-lyte/abide-with-me-fast-falls-the-eventide-the-darkness-deepens-lord-with/) [Henry Francis Lyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-francis-lyte/) Browse all 104 Abide quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Grand Old Party's abiding affection for a 'bigger and better' presidency isn't entirely logical. 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