'Not so lame a lame-duck president' dares rivals on taxes and trade

Washington

US President Barack Obama is confronting now a dilemma that all occupants of the White House had to face during their last two years in office - being seen as a so-called lame-duck president who has less influence with other politicians and governments due to his limited time left in office.

But a lame-duck president may actually feel free to make critical and controversial decisions with little fear of political consequences. After all, he or she is not going to run for office again.

Indeed, Mr Obama has insisted that he did not want to become a lame duck in the next two years and decided to use Tues…