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Most say Obama best President of our lifetime

jnug said:
Though I tend to credit Paulson, Bernanke and Geithner for rescuing us from the 2007-09 meltdown Obama handed the next President whomever that was going to be the best platform for dealing with the structural problems in our economy, continuing the drive toward a rational healthcare system and dealing with long term issues of fossil fuel dependency, converting to renewables and climate change. Granted we needed to cut back on government regulation. But we needed to do that with a scalpel, not Trump's dynamite.

That opportunity has been entirely squandered by Trump and his idiot hordes that think all this crap is actually working while they simply leave their children with an even bigger mess to clean up than they would have had otherwise. Quite possibly the biggest squander in my lifetime. Will end up an even greater squander than Nam.

Obama was far from having the best qualities for Presidential leadership. Never should have run for a 2nd term for one thing. Turned what would have been quite possibly the best 1 term Presidency in modern history into a crap 2 term Presidency. If one wants to claim that he had to run, I am fine with that. But then he had to run with the energy required to carry a Democratic House back in on his coattails. Failing that, he left himself without a compliant House for 6 years running....a simply impossible governance circumstance. I can't buy the idea that he did not know that he had to be able to carry a Dem House in on his coattails. Whatever one wants to say about Barrack Obama, too compliant himself, too willing to stake out middle ground when it simply yielded mud to get stuck in, he is neither a stupid nor ignorant man.
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Your description of Obamas second term can be applied to almost all two term Presidents. The first term seems to be heavily on agenda driven campaign promise fulfillment. Often the second term looses steam. Perhaps Presidents need to be limited to one term, along with Congress critters.
 
His Excellency, President Barack Obama, was a true gentleman: He spoke quietly, he chose his words carefully, and he avoided insult matches with his opponents.

But, with due respect to the Pew poll, His Excellency was NOT the best president "of our lifetime."


Some of the gentleman's words and actions (including those of some of his associates, such as the first attorney general) divided the nation more than at any other time since the 1960s.


The consequences of his eight years in office directly resulted in the 2016 presidential election results.
 
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yankintx said:
Your description of Obamas second term can be applied to almost all two term Presidents. The first term seems to be heavily on agenda driven campaign promise fulfillment. Often the second term looses steam. Perhaps Presidents need to be limited to one term, along with Congress critters.
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All two term Presidents in the modern era except FDR as lame ducks are surely prone to going a bit dipsy doo because they are no longer concerned with another term that might be out ahead of them. They are prone to try some really crazy stuff. But it was clear that Obama's heart and soul were not in it for his second term run. Whatever he had to give, he gave during his first term. If you are headed into or attempting to head into a second term in the office, more times than not you will have lost the House for the last two years of your first term. That is not unusual. What is unusual is an incumbent President leaving himself utterly powerless to get anything done by not even rising to the task of pulling his Party back into House control at least for the first two years of his second term. Obama left himself without a compliant House for 6 straight years. Honestly, IMO, just unconscionable.

If the incumbent is going to run for that second term, he has to be willing to put whatever blood, sweat and tears it takes to give himself the levers of power he needs to do something meaningful with the power of the Presidency in that second term. If the incumbent does not have the juice for that he is effectively on a vanity run and not much more. Frankly it showed even during Obama's second campaign. The result was too many Executive Orders in the second term and too much regulatory overreach both which can be reversed, too many nebulous, nothing decisions, the opposite of the usual second term issue of taking too much risk instead becomes simply trying to toe some middle ground. It became an utterly futile, for show Presidency to such a degree that it taints the entire 8 years IMO.
 
Obama's only accomplishment was to give us Trump.

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TheParser said:
His Excellency, President Barack Obama, was a true gentleman: He spoke quietly, he chose his words carefully, and he avoided insult matches with his opponents.

But, with due respect to the Pew poll, His Excellency was NOT the best president "of our lifetime."


Some of the gentleman's words and actions (including those of some of his associates, such as the first attorney general) divided the nation more than at any other time since the 1960s.


The consequences of his eight years in office directly resulted in the 2016 presidential election results.
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That's charitable to those opposed to Obama.

This Constitutional Republic is a Constitutional Republic for all Citizens, not just WASP's though they bend and twist themselves into knots trying to contend that just because it was a WASP nation at inception, it should continue to be to perpetuity. THEY declared war on Obama just for standing in the front door of the WH. My God WASP's barely tolerated a Catholic running in 1960. Enough of them decided that "well I guess a Catholic is not THAT BAD" which allowed Kennedy to gain the WH. Effectively what you are really saying is that an African-American had no right to run for the office because gaining the office would ignite WASP America. TOO BAD, WASP America. Wake up to yourselves.
 
Sand Castle said:
Survey Report Pew Research

When asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans name Barack Obama than any other president. More than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, compared with about a third who mention Bill Clinton (33%) or Ronald Reagan (32%).
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It's always interesting to see bias displayed in poll findings. Pew is an alt-left Progressive operation, so every poll they conduct will be created with that slant embedded in it's DNA.

But to come out with this poll, and claim what it did? Shows why Pew, and pretty much any poll, should be viewed only as entertainment, and never as anything of informative value.
 
jnug said:
Effectively what you are really saying is that an African-American had no right to run for the office because gaining the office would ignite WASP America.
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Thank you for your comments.

It is not my place to judge how others interpret what someone else says or writes. (And I always keep my place.)

In fact, many people (or WASPs as you call them) were happy when Senator Obama was elected. They hoped that he would bring us all together after his historic victory.

During his eight years, however, there were some unpleasant events (in Missouri and Florida) in which he (or his attorney general) was seen to take sides. And his decision to relax discipline in public schools because of alleged discrimination against certain groups upset many parents, too. Not to mention his decision to lessen due process for males accused of sexual abuse at the universities.

You state that this country is for ALL citizens.

There was a feeling among a growing number of people that President Obama was NOT living up to that promise.

And with the Honorable Hillary Clinton seeking votes by denouncing the "deplorables" and so-called "White privilege," there was sufficient anger among enough Americans to let the Republican candidate win the Electoral College vote.


Have a nice day!
 
jnug said:
All two term Presidents in the modern era except FDR as lame ducks are surely prone to going a bit dipsy doo because they are no longer concerned with another term that might be out ahead of them. They are prone to try some really crazy stuff. But it was clear that Obama's heart and soul were not in it for his second term run. Whatever he had to give, he gave during his first term. If you are headed into or attempting to head into a second term in the office, more times than not you will have lost the House for the last two years of your first term. That is not unusual. What is unusual is an incumbent President leaving himself utterly powerless to get anything done by not even rising to the task of pulling his Party back into House control at least for the first two years of his second term. Obama left himself without a compliant House for 6 straight years. Honestly, IMO, just unconscionable.

If the incumbent is going to run for that second term, he has to be willing to put whatever blood, sweat and tears it takes to give himself the levers of power he needs to do something meaningful with the power of the Presidency in that second term. If the incumbent does not have the juice for that he is effectively on a vanity run and not much more. Frankly it showed even during Obama's second campaign. The result was too many Executive Orders in the second term and too much regulatory overreach both which can be reversed, too many nebulous, nothing decisions, the opposite of the usual second term issue of taking too much risk instead becomes simply trying to toe some middle ground. It became an utterly futile, for show Presidency to such a degree that it taints the entire 8 years IMO.
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Obama blew all his political capital the first two years pushing the ACA thru. Was it worth it, probably yes, despite its problems the majority of Americans seem to support the ACA, with some tweaks. It is his legacy, which goes some way towards explaining why Trump so desperately wants it to fail, problem for him, its not failing the majority who use it.

By the way good analysis on Obama's second term, though Reagan's second term should not have happen, the Gipper was gasping to get to the finish line, Iran Contra non with standing. Not to mention he was for sure suffering from Alzheimer's by 1986. FDR another one who should not have run a for fourth, the guy was suffering from heart failure and was just plain worn out, and both him and his doctor knew it !!
 
Eriech said:
Obama's only accomplishment was to give us Trump.

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Obama ended DADT, to this gay retired Airman I thank him.
 
Eriech said:
Obama's only accomplishment was to give us Trump.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
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Obama had many accomplishments....but for the love of God....please do not blame Obama for Trump.

Own your own lying con man.
 
Sand Castle said:
Survey Report Pew Research

When asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans name Barack Obama than any other president. More than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, compared with about a third who mention Bill Clinton (33%) or Ronald Reagan (32%).
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Most kids will say Obama because they were too young to remember Bush. Furthermore, democrats will almost certainly say Obama because of their devotion to the democrat party and its unclean agenda, not because of any particular party head in particular.
 
year2late said:
Obama had many accomplishments....but for the love of God....please do not blame Obama for Trump.

Own your own lying con man.
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If it makes you feel better he did save the country from a John McCain presidency. Gave the country it's greatest president and saved us from potentially it's worse.

Obama could have been worse; would have been worse.

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Who the hell is that "most". Is he Ralph Most from SF????????????
 
Eriech said:
If it makes you feel better he did save the country from a John McCain presidency. Gave the country it's greatest president and saved us from potentially it's worse.

Obama could have been worse; would have been worse.

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:lamo

Donald Trump is not even close to the country’s “greatest President”.
 
Irwin Corey said:
John Kennedy was the BEST President of "my" lifetime. But, President Obama is a close second, the Christmas card I received from him (for working on his campaign - I assume) is one of my most valued treasures and my most prized Christmas decoration.
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What did Kennedy actually do? His assassination helped how people remember him, but objectively, he wasn't all that good
 
Sand Castle said:
Survey Report Pew Research

When asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans name Barack Obama than any other president. More than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, compared with about a third who mention Bill Clinton (33%) or Ronald Reagan (32%).
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Dumb Survey.

The average age of an American is 38. That means that one has only been voting 20 years,since they were 18.

That makes the choice essentially between two presidents, Obama and Bush jr.

Dumb survey.
 
Sand Castle said:
Survey Report Pew Research

When asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans name Barack Obama than any other president. More than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, compared with about a third who mention Bill Clinton (33%) or Ronald Reagan (32%).
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What a misleading poll. Basically, of the people who were alive when Reagan was president, the majority consider him the greatest president. The majority of those who were not (37 yrs and under) see Obama as the greatest.

Who was the greatest president for people who were alive from FDR to Trump... Reagan.
Who was the greatest president for people who were alive from Truman to Trump... Reagan.
Who was the greatest president for people who were alive from Johnson to Trump... Reagan.

Of the only group that didn't think Reagan was the greatest (22-37), most were not alive when Reagan left office and of the ones that were, only a few had even started elementary school when he was still president.

Basically, the headline should read

"Millennials see Obama as the greatest president of their lifetime, other generations cite Reagan"

.
 
in my lifetime, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama were fairly decent. Carter and Ford were ok, too, though they had to deal with the 70s, which was an economic mess.
 
Helix said:
in my lifetime, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama were fairly decent. Carter and Ford were ok, too, though they had to deal with the 70s, which was an economic mess.
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We are close to the same... I was born under the Johnson presidency, but only remember from Nixon on.

I see Reagan as the best... Clinton and Bush Sr. did pretty well. Obama would have been ok if it weren't for the damned secrets and what we are learning about the Russia thing. Same with Nixon... If you take Watergate out, he would have been ok also. Ford was basically a fill-in and Carter had good intentions, but failed to turn things around. Bush Jr is one I'm on the fence about. He was and is a decent man and I think he handled the 9/11 attacks well. He made some good decisions and some questionable ones.
 
TurtleDude said:
What did Kennedy actually do? His assassination helped how people remember him, but objectively, he wasn't all that good
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I see you're not arguing that President Obama IS the BEST President of Our Lifetime; I can accept that. But, IMHO, John Kennedy (for all his faults) was the GREATEST PATRIOT that's held the Office of President of The United States since it was held by our Founding Fathers and on, at least, par with President Lincoln. To propose that he wasn't all that good ignores the fact that he was undermined by the Military Industrial Complex (Bay of Pigs); yet avoided a nuclear war with Russia, was, at the time of his death, trying to keep the Viet Nam war from escalating and attempted to wrest control of our money from the FED Banksters.
 
Irwin Corey said:
I see you're not arguing that President Obama IS the BEST President of Our Lifetime; I can accept that. But, IMHO, John Kennedy (for all his faults) was the GREATEST PATRIOT that's held the Office of President of The United States since it was held by our Founding Fathers and on, at least, par with President Lincoln. To propose that he wasn't all that good ignores the fact that he was undermined by the Military Industrial Complex (Bay of Pigs); yet avoided a nuclear war with Russia, was, at the time of his death, trying to keep the Viet Nam war from escalating and attempted to wrest control of our money from the FED Banksters.
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I don't see much of an argument there. DDE, and GHWB was patriots in the same league as JFK-maybe more so. He also got us entangled into the Vietnam war.
 
Sand Castle said:
Survey Report Pew Research

When asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans name Barack Obama than any other president. More than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, compared with about a third who mention Bill Clinton (33%) or Ronald Reagan (32%).
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I disagree with them, but support people having opinions that are not shared by me.

Reagan was the best POTUS of my lifetime. I don't think I'd even put Obama in the top 5. He was a decent President, but mediocre at best. Like all, he did some good things and some not so good things. I think he was a likeable man, but not a great President.
 
Eriech said:
Obama's only accomplishment was to give us Trump.

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No. It was the idiots who voted for Trump that gave us Trump. The idiots who voted in the Republican primaries who were suckered by a classless, vulgar, ignorant party switcher who knew how to tap into fear and paranoia better than anyone since Jim Jones.
 
tres borrachos said:
No. It was the idiots who voted for Trump that gave us Trump. The idiots who voted in the Republican primaries who were suckered by a classless, vulgar, ignorant party switcher who knew how to tap into fear and paranoia better than anyone since Jim Jones.
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Trump ran on bigger, better federal government (more border security, more US jots & less imports/offshoring, better medical care at lower cost and winning the war on terror) coupled with lower corporate and personal income tax rates. That should clearly have been seen as mission impossible but (too?) many folks are gullible and wanted relief from more "hope and change".
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Trump ran on bigger, better federal government (more border security, better medical care at lower cost and winning the war on terror) coupled with lower corporate and personal income tax rates. That should clearly have been seen as mission impossible but (too?) many folks are gullible and wanted relief from more "hope and change".
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Yes and he failed abysmally with the better medical care at a lower cost thing.

My angst is more towards the primary voters than the general election voters, given my shared disdain for Clinton (the worst candidate in the world's history based on the fact that she let one of history's worst people defeat her).

Obama getting Bin Laden was a massive win, but it didn't make him go up in my estimate.

Trump has bloated an already bloated government. I'm tired of these big government morons. We need a third party, small government, stay out of our bedrooms and our pocketbooks person to run.
 
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