MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Heavy fire from Obama, if blacks don't turn out to vote, “I will consider it an insult to my legacy”
President Barack Obama, in one of his final presidential addresses to a predominately black audience of Capitol Hill lawmakers and guests, made a plea to his Democratic base: African-Americans must vote en masse in November's presidential contest to help his legacy or he will be personally insulted. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesHis legacy?
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0Has he actually improved the lives of Black people in America at all?
I'm not saying he has tried, but the USA will remain as it is until they learn to cap spending on elections. Otherwise the rich will continue to rule from 'behind' the scenes and the politicians will continue to be owned by them.
America's problems are structural, cultural and historical.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 12:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Obama didn't make them worse.
'Legacy'? He's will leave no 'legacy' IMO. A very weak president.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 02:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Let's see, expecting votes on account of race? The very portrait of racism.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 02:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 04
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 02:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Mr ML,
Historically US blacks voter turnout has been far less than whites.
This is not so much the case recently, ever since Obama was a candidate.
One might draw the conclusion that in the past, they felt disenfranchised and that candidates did not represent their interests. Those that did, would be out-voted by whites.
That apathy and disillusionment amongst the black community was put aside when it was seen that a black candidate could get elected.
I would suggest that Obama is simply making a call to blacks to stay involved.
I believe there are many 'closet' Trump voter out there. Should be an interesting election.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 02:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0At 6 - I agree. There will be many.......
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 03:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0USA Voter turnout by race:
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 03:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/demographics
Try to imagine a US president saying “I need all you caucasian voters to vote, to enhance my legacy.”
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 03:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Those who accuse Obama of being racist and divisive seem to be correct.
I would submit that he is urging inclusiveness.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0His legacy is to show that blacks are not wasted and blacks can be represented in US politics.
He also demonstrated that Whites will vote for a Black man, his platform taking priority over race.
This is hardly “ let's stick it to Whitey, with a Black agenda”.
There he goes again, stimulating hatred. That yes, will be an undeniable legacy.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 04:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funny thing though, the fact that 93% of black deaths are perpetrated by other blacks , is totally ignored by the liberal media - and BO ; they think that only the other 7%, a small part of which refers to the “white on black” crimes, is worthwhile reporting.....While some of the recent killings of blacks were unjustifiably caused by jittery, or unprepared police forces, some were justified - as later verified. But too late to prevent riots and vandalism. Anyhow, I do not recall having seen a riot over a white being murdered by a black person...which leads one to conclude that the majority of those protesting, believe that white lives don't matter...
Obumma is a disgrace, he has no legacy other than one of utter failure and even the Dems have approached the GOP to 'help' them fix the structural problems and escalating costs with Obummas health programme.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 06:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 012
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The GOP cut the legs off Obama's intended 'universal' healthcare plan with special exceptions, to make it unworkable in the way it was proposed.
Obama,
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 07:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0he tries, he really does, some say he has been good, some say bad,
Obama thinks he is jack of all trades,
but he is master of none,
As for his legacy, only time will tell on this one, or the people who write it.
12 Mr Chris
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 08:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The GOP cut the legs off Obama's intended 'universal' healthcare plan with special exceptions, to make it unworkable in the way it was proposed.
Best to cause a riot because you can than loot while the riot is taking place. I saw when a riot took place in the UK and it was mostly blacks that were doing the looting. Apparently channel 4 or Channel 5 in the UK gave cameras to gangs in the East end of London and every one of them was black. It happens in the UK as well black on black crime.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 08:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”...Obama's intended 'universal' healthcare plan....
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 10:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is essentially a tax on breathing. If you breathe in the US, you are obligated under their taxation system to participate even if you are as healthy as a horse and could otherwise pay for your medical costs out of pocket .
Costs for individual Obamacare policies are expected to be 24 percent higher next year. Insurers are pulling out of the exchanges after losing billions of dollars, leaving people with fewer choices. Deductibles are soaring to as high as $12,000 on exchange policies, and many people say they might as well be uninsured. The average employer-sponsored family policy now costs more than US$18,000 a year.
Some legacy.
17 ML
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 10:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That was not his “intended” universal model. Right?
Please see my post at 15
http://en.mercopress.com/2016/09/23/heavy-fire-from-obama-if-blacks-don-t-turn-out-to-vote-i-will-consider-it-an-insult-to-my-legacy#comment450161: More Anti-American hatred motivated by British inferiority and insecurity.
Sep 24th, 2016 - 01:22 am - Link - Report abuse 019
Sep 24th, 2016 - 01:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0What do you base that on?
Stupid comment
@18 “That was not his “intended” universal model. Right?”
Sep 24th, 2016 - 02:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0The effects of the huge increases in Obamacare costs and the exodus of service providers are the direct result of the intended coverage programme that was designed and implemented by Obama's government and party.
21
Sep 24th, 2016 - 03:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why do you insist in this slamming of Obama?
I was listening to the voting and the commentary of the results - Obama had a sound concept in a workable 'universal ' healthcare.
To get it through, he had to compromise to so many groups that did not want to pay their share, that it had too many special exemptions to work. Rather than give in to 'Healthcare for Profit' HMO's, he forced it through, but it no longer resembled the noble vision he had of affordable healthcare for all.
There is too much money at stake - just like cancer research.
Healthcare in the USA costs several times what similar procedures cost in other countries.
ML, this is a very odd position for a SAmerican like you to be arguing from.
#19
Sep 24th, 2016 - 09:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0y-a-w-n
@23 Clyde15
Sep 24th, 2016 - 10:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0Oh be fair Clyde, Hep is always good for a laugh!! Even Brasso is not as daft and uneducated as he/she/it is.
channel 4 or Channel 5 in the UK gave cameras to gangs ,
Sep 24th, 2016 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0one has to believe that TV and the Papers must take some responsibly for some of this,
some may even suppose they were enticing these to do things.
@22 Since Obama came along, former president Carter no longer has to worry about being widely considered the worst president in the last 50 years of US history.
Sep 24th, 2016 - 04:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 026
Sep 24th, 2016 - 09:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Bush-Cheney dog & pony show took care of that
@19 Hippy
Sep 25th, 2016 - 12:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0Keep up the BS - it's what we've come to expect from you .
@27
Sep 25th, 2016 - 01:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0From a CNN article on “worst president” in the US:
“Thirty-three percent of people questioned in the poll say that Obama is the worst president since the Second World War, with 28% saying George W. Bush was the worst. Thirteen percent picked Richard Nixon, with 8% naming Jimmy Carter.”
Though it depends on which poll you may observe, Obama usually comes out as either the worst or among the worst.
29
Sep 25th, 2016 - 03:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0ML
Not surprising, as that has been the official mantra of the GOP and Tea-Party boosters of the past 8 years.
Plain would have taken the title for sure...
Obama leaves a very disappointing legacy.
Sep 25th, 2016 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am delighted his time is almost up but the future with either Hilary or Donald doesn't look particularly rosy.
Challenging days ahead. Obama has weakened US power and encouraged Russia.
I thought Bush was the worst, but I may have read it wrong,
Sep 25th, 2016 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0still Obama may yet prove not the worse,
if one considers what's coming down the pipeline.
31
Sep 25th, 2016 - 08:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I agree, he lost ground to Russia.
I shudder to think about a Palin/McCain or Romney, Cruz, or Trump government though!
Not so keen on Hilarity either.
Well folks, the first debate between Trump and whoever turns up claiming to be The Hill is tonight!
Sep 26th, 2016 - 11:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0What is the betting that Trump trumps it?
I wonder if The Hill has trebled her Parkinson's meds in an attempt to prevent another seizure, or as the Yanks call it: a freeze.
If ever she does 'freeze' that will be her well and truly gone, though the Dems have elected a fair number of 'delegates' even though they were dead at the time of the elections. You couldn't make that one up!
I will record it, and watch it later on Tuesday.
Sep 26th, 2016 - 01:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Obamy:
Sep 27th, 2016 - 01:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Arguably the worst president in US history.
Arguably the most destructive - domestically and internationally.
The only beneficiary of Obamy's time in office is the failed legacy of Carter who is now saved the stinging distinction of being the worst president.
Obamy has officiated over the longest and most impactful US post recessionary non recovery.
This economic stagnation and weakening of the economy is the domestic legacy of Obamy.
The destruction of the balance of the remaining political stability in the middle east and the emboldening of Russian and Chinese international military adventurism is his international legacy.
And yet Obamy is proud for it seems that his single guiding principle is to humble America and in doing so to punish it and the west for what he perceives as our past excesses.
Obamy has made it his life's work to travel the world apologizing for our past transgressions - both real and imagined.
Fortunately in the end the amount of damage that Obamy could ultimately inflict was capped by his preoccupation with golf and seeking celebrity.
@36 chronic
Sep 27th, 2016 - 11:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ridiculous.
Current problems are nowhere near as bad as the Depression and it's not like the other countries affected are recovering any better.
Obama's failures in the middle east hardly compare to Bush starting two wars that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and left the region more unstable than before.
And who has he actually apologised to? Acknowledging that America has made mistakes, like other countries, isn't humbling it. It's just the truth.
Besides, most people would pick Nixon or Bush II as the USA's worst recent presidents.
37. Sad attempt at revisionism/deflection.
Sep 28th, 2016 - 02:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0lol
http://en.mercopress.com/2016/09/23/heavy-fire-from-obama-if-blacks-don-t-turn-out-to-vote-i-will-consider-it-an-insult-to-my-legacy#comment450523: So, just as President Obama was born in Hawaii his name is spelled “Obama”. You British need to learn how to spell his name!
Sep 28th, 2016 - 03:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0We can be sure that President Obama is certainly not the worst president in history. How can we be so sure? How do we know? Well, the assertion that President Obama is “the worst president ever” is made almost every right wing GOP wingnut - including Trump. That fact means that not only that President Obama cannot possibly the worst president but that he's probably a good president.
38
Sep 28th, 2016 - 05:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Mr. Chronic,
Are you as deluded and dishonest as Enrique Massot.
Rather a disgusting parallel.
Just like Mr Enrique, you blame an incoming President for the colossal and criminal cluster fucks of the previous long term administration.
I swear you are the same person.
W Bush plunged the USA and the West into a $T black hole of fictional WMD quest and an occupation of the Midfle East creating a disasterous power vacuum they couldn't retreat from.
In 2008, Bush presided over a mortgage and banking system that catastrophically collapsed and dragged the world economies and commodity markets down with them.
Obama was left to pick up the pieces after being elected to office in late '09.
Since that time, the Bush's Republicans have been trying to block his every move to aid recovery, yet today, employment has increased, along with a recovered housing market and a healthy auto industry.
No thanks to the GOP, Mr Chronic.
40. The truth really cuts, huh?
Sep 28th, 2016 - 09:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0#39
Sep 28th, 2016 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0I interpret Chronic's spelling of “Obamy” as a racial insult..not as an inability to spell. It mimics the speech pattern of the south as can be heard in Mississippi and Alabama. In fact I have frequently heard Alabama being pronounced as Alabamy by residents of that state.
.
As to your assertion that the British cannot spell, I am sick to death of the Americanised spell checker on this site continually trying to correct MY spelling when I use the letter S instead of the American Z and the sloppy American color and labor instead of colour and labour.
Possibly your language skills and interpretations are not as good as you think they are.
Never mind,in 25 years you may have managed to get it right.
Actually, it's how Polish speakers often spell his name.
Sep 28th, 2016 - 10:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0I cabbaged on to it from a friend.
@40 Kanye
Sep 28th, 2016 - 04:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“In 2008, Bush presided over a mortgage and banking system that catastrophically collapsed and dragged the world economies and commodity markets down with them.”
While no one can deny the 2008 crisis exploded at the end of GWB presidency, it might be interesting to go back 15 years where you'll find the main cause of the crisis in the mortgage and banking system....It was none other than Bill Clinton, while presiding over a favourable period in the US economy , inherited from Regan and Bush Sr., decided the govt should stimulate, or facilitate home loans, because he believed people should have the right to purchase their own home....Nothing wrong with that, but the problem was the fact that no 'guarantee' was required from the future homeowners to get a loan....so every Tom, Dick and Harry jumped on the bandwagon, thinking they were going to make a fortune, some even taking out more than one loan, but when the interest rates started to increase, many found that their dream of making an easy killing, went up in smoke. Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac were the two government institutions that funnelled hundreds of billions to the banks for these irresponsible loans, which were then leveraged into 'fantastic' deals, domestically and internationally .....when the bottom fell out, we know what happened.
GWB, seeing the crisis lurking on the horizon, should have tried to correct the problem, but he did nothing and simply let it get worse.....Even in the 90's, Clinton was alerted to the real possibility that his policy wouldn't end well, but he too, chose to ignore the warnings. So Bush isn't the only villain in the story.
It's true that BO inherited a crisis that wasn't of his making, but he used the crisis to implement his own socialist agenda, which doesn't seem to have been too successful either...
Perhaps it's oversimplifying the problem, but it's basically as I see it.
Who cares what he thinks... He's caused more problems in the world in modern times than any other head of state.....that's his legacy. He's done nothing for the black population in the US except cause problems!! He's obviously the worst president in US history!!
Sep 28th, 2016 - 05:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@38 chronic
Sep 28th, 2016 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In other words you have no reply to the points I made.
@39 Hepatia
The idea that people you disagree with must automatically be wrong about everything, and even worse, the idea that they have sinister motives and don't want the best for the country or are actively trying to destroy it, is one of the most pernicious ideas in US politics today.
It's harmed political debate, made compromise and cooperation much more difficult and caused paralysis in the government.
@44 Jack Bauer
There is certainly plenty of blame to go around for causing the financial crisis, although as you say, not to Obama as it happened before he was in office.
But he didn't use the crisis for some agenda, he merely carried out (or attempted to) the policies he campaigned on, which is what the voters expect. And apparently enough of them were happy with his 'socialist agenda' to reelect him to a second term.
I agree the USA has not recovered particularly well, but most developed countries have seen a lacklustre recovery, suggesting the problem is not with their individual government policies but something more general.
@45 tallison46
Yeah, sure he's worse than those presidents whose actions led to a civil war in the US. And he's done nothing for the black population, so he must be worse than all those presidents who tolerated slavery, and even kept slaves themselves.
I don't patronize revisionists.
Sep 28th, 2016 - 07:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@46 DT
Sep 28th, 2016 - 07:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ok, BO ”...merely carried out (or attempted to) the policies he campaigned on, which is what the voters expect.“
Partially, perhaps....but his record of trampling all over the Constitution and using subterfuge to pass some of his Laws, going behind Congress' back, will be part of his legacy. He also managed to actually promote racial tensions....making a one hell of a fuss over 'white on black” crime, while conveniently ignoring 'black on black' crime, hundreds of times more frequent.
As to his being re-elected, you don't need to go very far in guessing 'who' supported him and 'why' ....and it wasn't for any noble motive.
47
Sep 28th, 2016 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Mr Chronic,
You are a “revisionist” yourself.
Your charges against Obama at post 38 is a complete fabrication.
Both things you refer to occurred before Obama took office. He was obliged to clean up the messes of Bush etc. who got off scott-free.
I note that you have made no attempts to rebut myself or DT.
Mr Demon Tree at #48
“@38 chronic
In other words you have no reply to the points I made.
@39 Hepatia
The idea that people you disagree with must automatically be wrong about everything, and even worse, the idea that they have sinister motives and don't want the best for the country or are actively trying to destroy it, is one of the most pernicious ideas in US politics today.
It's harmed political debate, made compromise and cooperation much more difficult and caused paralysis in the government.”
You hit the nail on the head with that one !
Chronic, that goes for you as much as Mr. Hepatia.
lol.
Sep 28th, 2016 - 09:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@49 Kanye
Sep 28th, 2016 - 09:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Mr Demon Tree at #48” ....or @46 ?
@48 Jack Bauer
Sep 28th, 2016 - 10:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I guess you are referring to Obama using executive powers in order to achieve his policy aims? It appears that the major reason for this is the gridlock and unwillingness to compromise in congress that I mentioned. I haven't heard of any subterfuge and I think 'trampling all over the Constitution' is an exaggeration, but his actions do set a worrying precedent for the future.
“making a one hell of a fuss over 'white on black” crime, while conveniently ignoring 'black on black' crime, hundreds of times more frequent.”
The 'Black Lives Matter' campaign? As far as I know this was not started by Obama but grew out of the protests and rioting in Ferguson. And I think it's missing the point to say it is about 'white on black” crime vs 'black on black' crime.
The problem is the lack of trust between the black community and the police in the US, which has now reached a completely toxic level. People no longer trust the police not to kill them for some simple misunderstanding, or no reason at all, let alone to protect them. It should be obvious why this concerns people more than ordinary crime.
Lack of trust in the police contributes greatly to the level of 'black on black' crime as well, since it means witnesses are unwilling to come forward and are uncooperative, which makes it hard for the police to solve crimes, which makes people trust them even less... Meanwhile the criminals continue committing crimes in their own communities.
And I'm afraid you'll have to explain to me what these supposed ignoble motives are, since as far as I know the people who voted for him did so because they liked him and his policies, or because they disliked the other candidate more. If I were American, I would certainly have voted for him for the latter reason.
51
Sep 28th, 2016 - 11:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0DT at 46
https://www.amazon.com/Worst-President-History-Legacy-Barack-ebook/dp/B01HE7KDWQ
Sep 29th, 2016 - 12:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0May the best liar win! The one who can lie to the gullible masses, with a straighter face.
Sep 29th, 2016 - 01:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@54 chronic
Sep 29th, 2016 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I can see you've been working hard, spamming links all over this site. But you are still apparently unable to counter even one of the points made by Kanye or me. If you want to convince anyone who doesn't already agree with you, you'll have to make your own argument in your own words.
Hepatia
Sep 29th, 2016 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Understanding is a great word,
do you argies understand Words,
Some words are great, like Argentina Lost , beaten , wacked , humiliated ,
nice words, its not the spelling, its how you interpret it,
have a nice day.lol
36. Which of these twelve presidents we have had since World War II would you consider the worst president: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Senior, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Barack Obama?
Sep 29th, 2016 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Tot
Harry Truman -
Dwight Eisenhower 1
John Kennedy -
Lyndon Johnson 3
Richard Nixon 13
Gerald Ford 2
Jimmy Carter 8
Ronald Reagan 3
George Bush Senior 2
Bill Clinton 3
George W. Bush 28
Barack Obama 33
DK/NA 4
https://www.qu.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2056
58
Sep 29th, 2016 - 08:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Mr Chronic,
Quote all you like. That is nothing but polling subjective opinion.
You still cannot distance yourself from your two lies:
- Obama created the Mortgage & Housing crisis of 2008.
- Obama was responsible for the military invasion of Iraq that de-stabilized the whole region, led to the rise of terrorist groups and innumerable deaths, including Americans.
Sorry, that all happened under GW Bush, before Obama was elected in 2009.
Obamy:
Sep 29th, 2016 - 08:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Arguably the worst president in US history.
Arguably the most destructive - domestically and internationally.
The only beneficiary of Obamy's time in office is the failed legacy of Carter who is now saved the stinging distinction of being the worst president.
Obamy has officiated over the longest and most impactful US post recessionary non recovery.
This economic stagnation and weakening of the economy is the domestic legacy of Obamy.
The destruction of the balance of the remaining political stability in the middle east and the emboldening of Russian and Chinese international military adventurism is his international legacy.
And yet Obamy is proud for it seems that his single guiding principle is to humble America and in doing so to punish it and the west for what he perceives as our past excesses.
Obamy has made it his life's work to travel the world apologizing for our past transgressions - both real and imagined.
Fortunately in the end the amount of damage that Obamy could ultimately inflict was capped by his preoccupation with golf and seeking celebrity.
You lied.
Sep 29th, 2016 - 10:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What you said very clearly, was utterly false and impossible as it all happened before Obama was elected in 2009.
At least Enrique Massot knows when to keep his head down after getting busted.
@52 DT
Sep 29th, 2016 - 10:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“I guess you are referring to Obama using executive powers in order to achieve his policy aims?”
Right on. Several times he waited until Congress was in recess, to then invoke his special powers to pass some of his laws, because he knew Congress wouldn't. Did you ever stop to ask yourself 'why' Congress wouldn't pass them ? I suppose it boils down to who's judgement you believe is better, BO's individual judgement, or Congress' collective judgement.
As to the “white on black”crime, and “black on black” crime, I only mentioned it because official govt stats show that 93% of black deaths are perpetrated by other blacks, yet the liberal media never talks about it. Neither does BO.
Cannot but agree that many of the deaths of blacks by the Police, are senseless and can't be justified, however, there are other cases in which it is later verified that things happened differently. Nevertheless, the rioting just perpetuates the tension.
As to the BLM movement, from peaceful protesting it has gone to outright violence, much of it gratuitious and with nothing to do with the core problem.
Regarding your “Lack of trust in the police contributes greatly to the level of 'black on black' crime as well, since it means witnesses are unwilling to come forward and are uncooperative, which makes it hard for the police to solve crimes”, I fail to see how “lack of trust” in the Police contributes to 'black on black” crime.... OR, are you saying, that the blacks are taking the Law into their own hands because they don't trust the Police ? Although I don't have facts to back me up on this, but the impression I get is that the 'black on black' crime is fueled mainly by drugs and gang warfare.
I have many friends in the US, and they all share my views on BO.....unfortunately, many times it comes down having to vote for the candidate you dislike the least.
Obamy:
Sep 29th, 2016 - 10:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Arguably the worst president in US history.
Arguably the most destructive - domestically and internationally.
The only beneficiary of Obamy's time in office is the failed legacy of Carter who is now saved the stinging distinction of being the worst president.
Obamy has officiated over the longest and most impactful US post recessionary non recovery.
This economic stagnation and weakening of the economy is the domestic legacy of Obamy.
The destruction of the balance of the remaining political stability in the middle east and the emboldening of Russian and Chinese international military adventurism is his international legacy.
And yet Obamy is proud for it seems that his single guiding principle is to humble America and in doing so to punish it and the west for what he perceives as our past excesses.
Obamy has made it his life's work to travel the world apologizing for our past transgressions - both real and imagined.
Fortunately in the end the amount of damage that Obamy could ultimately inflict was capped by his preoccupation with golf and seeking celebrity.
@62 Jack Bauer
Sep 29th, 2016 - 11:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Did you ever stop to ask yourself 'why' Congress wouldn't pass them?”
Yes I did. It was because a large segment of Congress was elected on a platform of opposing his policies, so that is what they did. Even to the (decidedly unpatriotic) point of damaging their own country by causing a government shutdown. And both sides could truthfully say they had the support of the voters for what they were doing, so it's not exactly a case of Obama's judgement vs Congress'.
A certain amount of deadlock seems to be purposely built into the system in America, but it really appears to have become dysfunctional now. I hope they can fix it.
As for the BLM movement, yes undoubtedly some of the shootings were fully justified, and riots are never constructive; they're often just people taking the opportunity to do some looting. But there is clearly a problem with law enforcement in the US, and not necessarily limited by race either, although that is what has brought it to (inter)national attention.
When I say lack of trust in police contributes to black on black crime, what I mean is it hampers the police in doing their jobs, so the criminals are more likely to get away with it and go on to commit more and worse crimes.
And I agree it is mostly fuelled by drugs and gangs - this also contributes to the above problem; would you be willing to testify against a criminal if you knew other members of the gang were likely to stop you in a very final way?
And as for the media not talking about it, I think sadly it's not regarded as very noteworthy. The media like to tell a story, and police killings are the current story.
Also, I should have said: I would have voted for him in 2008 because I liked his policies and he seemed like a good candidate, and in 2012 because I still preferred him to the alternative.
But I'm pretty sure in the current election plenty of people will be voting for the candidate they dislike the least.
36. Which of these twelve presidents we have had since World War II would you consider the worst president: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Senior, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Barack Obama?
Sep 30th, 2016 - 12:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0Tot
Harry Truman -
Dwight Eisenhower 1
John Kennedy -
Lyndon Johnson 3
Richard Nixon 13
Gerald Ford 2
Jimmy Carter 8
Ronald Reagan 3
George Bush Senior 2
Bill Clinton 3
George W. Bush 28
Barack Obama 33
DK/NA 4
www.qu.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2056
@65 chronic
Sep 30th, 2016 - 04:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I feel like I shouldn't need to say this, but repeating something does not actually make it any more true.
Still, I see you have actually managed to address one of the things I said. I was wrong; at least one survey shows more Americans pick Obama as the worst president than Bush.
Now how about my main points: that the Great Depression was worse than the current post recessionary malaise, and that Bush's legacy in the middle east is worse that Obama's.
@64 DT
Sep 30th, 2016 - 08:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Yes I did. It was because a large segment of Congress was elected on a platform of opposing his policies, so that is what they did. Even to the (decidedly unpatriotic) point of damaging their own country by causing a government shutdown. “
”...elected on a platform of opposing his policies,“ are the key words. The ”people“ elected Congress, supposedly to act in their interest...If they didn't agree with BO, doesn't mean he should ”get his way“ anyway. Amongst other things, Congress exists to control the Executive.
”....would you be willing to testify against a criminal if you knew other members of the gang were likely to stop you in a very final way?“
While I agree it could be a dangerous proposition, then what are the Law-abiding citizens meant to do ? Look the other way and let business go on as normal ? There are ways however, if that be the case, of getting information to the Police without identifying / endangering yourself, then let them do their job.
”I think sadly it's not regarded as very noteworthy. The media like to tell a story, and police killings are the current story”
So the media only reports what favours BO then ? No surprise there, as it's to be expected from the liberal press.
Obamy has officiated over the longest and most impactful US post recessionary non recovery.
Sep 30th, 2016 - 10:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0__________
Annual USA GDP growth numbers:
2009: -2.8 percent
2010: 2.5 percent
2011: 1.6 percent
2012: 2.2 percent
2013: 1.5 percent
2014: 2.4 percent
2015: 2.4 percent
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/barack-obama-is-on-track-to-be-the-only-president-in-history-to-never-have-a-year-of-3-gdp-growth
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WSJ: ”In terms of average annual growth, the pace of this expansion has been by far the weakest of any since 1949. (And for which we have quarterly data.) The economy has grown at a 2.1% annual rate since the U.S. recovery began in mid-2009, according to gross-domestic-product data the Commerce Department released Friday.“
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/barack-obama-is-on-track-to-be-the-only-president-in-history-to-never-have-a-year-of-3-gdp-growth
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Michael Snyder: ”This entire seven year stretch has come while Barack Obama has been in the White House. After more than seven and a half years, he is solidly on track to be the only president in U.S. history to never have a single year when the U.S. economy grew by at least three percent.
And unlike many presidents, he has had two terms in which to try to accomplish that feat.”
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/barack-obama-is-on-track-to-be-the-only-president-in-history-to-never-have-a-year-of-3-gdp-growth
@67 Jack Bauer
Sep 30th, 2016 - 10:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, but the people also elected Obama. Apparently 'the people' in America have rather schizophrenic views.
As far as I know, though, Congress did still exert a lot of control over him. For example, they prevented him closing Guantanamo, are continuing to block his Supreme Court nomination, and just a few days ago overrode his veto on the 9/11 Lawsuits Bill. He had to fight extremely hard to get the ACA passed, and that was one of his main election promises.
“then what are the Law-abiding citizens meant to do ? Look the other way and let business go on as normal”
I think that is what they are doing, which is contributing to the high crime rate. And sure there may be ways to get info to the police, but if you don't trust the them and don't think they will help you then why bother? And there is still no way to testify against a criminal in a trial without them knowing.
“it's to be expected from the liberal press.”
Do the conservative press report on it any better?
@68 chronic
The Great Depression was before 1949, so your articles do not show that this recovery is worse.
Obamy:
Sep 30th, 2016 - 10:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Arguably the worst president in US history.
Arguably the most destructive - domestically and internationally.
The only beneficiary of Obamy's time in office is the failed legacy of Carter who is now saved the stinging distinction of being the worst president.
Obamy has officiated over the longest and most impactful US post recessionary non recovery.
This economic stagnation and weakening of the economy is the domestic legacy of Obamy.
The destruction of the balance of the remaining political stability in the middle east and the emboldening of Russian and Chinese international military adventurism is his international legacy.
And yet Obamy is proud for it seems that his single guiding principle is to humble America and in doing so to punish it and the west for what he perceives as our past excesses.
Obamy has made it his life's work to travel the world apologizing for our past transgressions - both real and imagined.
Fortunately in the end the amount of damage that Obamy could ultimately inflict was capped by his preoccupation with golf and seeking celebrity.
------------------
Are you two monkeys truly so ignorant that you don't understand the difference between a recession and a depression?
Huh?
lol
@70 chronic
Oct 01st, 2016 - 04:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I didn't say a depression is the same as a recession (although as far as I know the difference is just the degree of severity). My point is that the economy was in a much worse state during the Great Depression than it is now.
Also take a look at this graph:
https://thewalkerreport.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/gdp-growth-in-eurozone-japan-and-us-2008q1-to-2014q31.png
If the slow recovery is all Obama's fault, why aren't those other countries racing ahead of America as their economies get back to normal?
You actually said Obama is the worst president in all US history, which is a pretty ambitious claim. Perhaps you'd like to reduce it to worst president since World War II?
In 1949 the Bureau of Labor statistics rejiggered the method of calculating labor participation in the economy. Most are to lazy to do the work to get to get to apples to apples before this point and conveniently stop their historical research there.
Oct 01st, 2016 - 05:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Greg Walden: “It’s not as bad as it was right after the recession, but it’s the weakest recovery after a recession we’ve ever had in our country’s history.” http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Brian Battle: ”This is the weakest “recovery” we’ve had in history.“ http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Albert Edwards: “This is the weakest recovery on record in the U.S.” http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Peter Schiff : ”the U.S. didn’t actually recover from the last recession, and the only reason people call this “recovery” the “weakest recovery ever,” or the “jobless recovery,” is because it’s never been a recovery at all.“ http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Tim Walters: ”The Obama recovery is indeed the worst recovery ever.“ http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Art Laffer: ”It has been the worst recovery ever for the last eight years.“ http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Robert Knight: ”Economic policies that have led to the worst recovery from a recession in U.S. history.“ http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
Steve Chabot: ”In fact, the current recovery (assuming there actually is one) has been incredibly slow, and is the weakest recovery after a recession in U.S. history.” http://www.mycolumbiabasin.com/2016/09/27/walden-economy-has-not-healed-enough/
@69 DT
Oct 01st, 2016 - 10:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Yes, but the people also elected Obama. Apparently 'the people' in America have rather schizophrenic views.”
Correct, but “indirectly”. The US voting system can create distortions, such as : only 49% of the population may have voted democrat, however, depending on the delegates, they could win....
“it's to be expected from the liberal press.”
Do the conservative press report on it any better?
In a way , YES. The liberal press ignores what it doesn't like, leaving it to the conservative press to point this out.
David Stockman: “Finally, after 84 months of the weakest recovery in history, the signs of recession are emerging everywhere.” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
Oct 01st, 2016 - 10:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0John B. Taylor: “By the recovery’s third anniversary in 2012, it was now the worst recovery from a deep recession in American history.” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
John Hinderaker: “IS THE WORST RECOVERY IN HISTORY COMING TO AN END?” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
Joe Hoft: “In addition, using the number of jobs recovered after the recession as the measurement, then Obama’s recovery is the worst recovery ever.” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
Mario Baldassarri: “That is, even among recessions with a financial component, this has the weakest recovery of any past recession!” “Quo Vadis: World Economy and Institutions at a Crossroads”
Jeremy Greenfield: “Most Americans have seen their real wages decline in the last six years. They sense -- they don't have to be told it -- that this is the worst recovery from a recession in American history.” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
Robert Reich: “Why This Is the Worst Recovery on Record” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
Arnold Ahlert: “Yet the actual facts tell another story: president Obama has presided over the weakest recovery on record.” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
Ron Shevlin: “The economy as a whole doesn’t appear to be improving too rapidly (if 2008-2009 was the Great Recession, then 2010-present is the Worst. Recovery. Ever.” http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/trumped-why-it-happened-and-what-comes-next-part-1/
@73 Jack Bauer
Oct 01st, 2016 - 11:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, it is possible to become president of the US without winning the popular vote, for example Bush in 2000. However, Obama won more than 50% of the votes both times he was elected, so this does not apply to him.
And Congress has much the same problem except that there is extensive Gerrymandering making it worse. The United States is alone among major countries in that self-interested politicians govern the redistricting process.
“In a way , YES. The liberal press ignores what it doesn't like, leaving it to the conservative press to point this out.”
Yes, and the conservative press ignores the things it does not like. That is why it is useful to read both.
But do you know of any examples of the press drawing attention to black-on-black crime before the BLM movement became prominent?
@72, 74 chronic
I don't have time to read through 17 links to try and find something that says the current somewhat-recovery is worse than the Great Depression.
Please either summarise the relevant part or tell me which link gives the most convincing argument about this.
Poor monkey!
Oct 01st, 2016 - 11:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0political stability indexes
country 2008 2014 % change
Armenia -0.02 -0.21 -950%
Tunisia 0.12 -0.93 -875%
Syria -0.30 -2.76 -820%
Libya 0.81 -2.32 -386%
Bahrain -0.24 -0.94 -292%
Egypt -0.52 -1.58 -204%
Kuwait 0.46 0.14 -70%
Jordan -0.36 -0.56 -56%
Oman 0.92 0.66 -28%
Yemen -1.99 -2.53 -27%
Turkey -0.85 -1.06 -25%
Qatar 1.10 1.00 -9%
Algeria -1.09 -1.17 -7%
Palestine N/A N/A N/A
Iraq -2.48 -2.47 0%
Sudan -2.47 -2.36 4%
Pakistan -2.57 -2.44 5%
Iran -0.98 -0.91 7%
Cyprus 0.64 0.69 8%
Lebanon -1.90 -1.72 9%
Afghanistan -2.69 -2.46 9%
UAE 0.70 0.81 16%
Somalia -3.31 -2.49 25%
Israel -1.34 -0.99 26%
Saudi Arabia -0.37 -0.24 35%
totals -18.73 -26.84 -3605%
average -0.75 1.07 -144%
Source: The World Bank
@76 chronic
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 12:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0That's certainly interesting.
Syria -0.30 -2.76 -820%
Iraq -2.48 -2.47 0%
Afghanistan -2.69 -2.46 9%
So Syria now, after years of still ongoing civil war, is only slightly less stable than Iraq and Afghanistan were in 2008, several years after Bush's oh-so-successful invasions.
And remember, Obama could probably have dealt with Syria and the other Arab Spring countries better, but he did not start that civil war; he's not directly responsible. Whereas Bush did start two wars; the instability in Iraq and Afghanistan today is actually his fault.
-820%?
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 01:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0lol
Quit the crack monkey!
lol
@78 chronic
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 01:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0You actually believe Obama is responsible for everything that happens, anywhere in the world? You have a very high opinion of his abilities!
There goes Monkey trying to invent a new quote! lol
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 01:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0Under just five years of Obamy's corrosive negative “leadership” a little basket of 25 ME nations in which he fomented populist uprisings, abandoned lawfully elected allies and drew a very comical line in the sand and otherwise disrupted via poorly thought out initiatives and cowardly omissions what remained of the area's political underpinnings - the average political stability index decreased by an average of 144% per country.
Not a bad accomplishment for a Nobel Peace Prize recipient! lol
Get Monkey two in on this. Nothing like a twiddle dee and twiddle dumber chorus of denial.
We can continue to review Obamy's multitude of shortcomings ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
79 DT
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 02:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0He seems to get childish glee out of provoking others. Nothing more.
Like T Hill, he won't concede to being wrong.
Hey Monkey, it's OK. I realize that you are obviously emotionally invested in my nominee and that the topic is a little too technical for your modest “intellect”.
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 02:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0@75 DT
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 03:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Yes, and the conservative press ignores the things it does not like. That is why it is useful to read both.”
I usually read or listen to the news, independent of the source, left or right.
If any opinion, or something stated as a fact, sounds 'off', I go to other sources, to check it out. However, and in the end, seldom do I agree with the opinions coming from the left, or from the liberals.
“But do you know of any examples of the press drawing attention to black-on-black crime before the BLM movement became prominent?
No, I don't....Not before, nor after ; And that is exactly my point. Generally speaking, only ”white on black” crime, or cop killings reach the news. This whole uproar started 3 or 4 years ago (don't recall exactly) when Treyvon Martin was killed by the cops. The liberal press posted photos of the 19 year old (already with a criminal record from 7 years earlier, when he was a young, innocent kid, and tried to give the public the impression that the cops had killed a kid. Even BO went on TV to say , “Treyvon Martin could have been my son”...No doubt you remember that. Although the stats show that less than 7% of black deaths are caused by whites (Hispanics, or Orientals), it is what makes the headlines. I think the Treyvon Martin incident was the moment from which things started to get ugly, and out of control. I clearly remember that shortly after TM's death, it was reported - for a very short time and without much emphasis - a few incidents whereby small groups of blacks roaming the city streets, brutally attacked - with sudden and powerful punches to the side of the head - and sometimes killed innocent whites, just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do not recall this ever having lead to protests, far less to riots.
@83 Jack Bauer
Oct 02nd, 2016 - 11:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“seldom do I agree with the opinions coming from the left, or from the liberals.”
That does not surprise me, as you seem to hold mostly conservative views yourself. We can all (hopefully) agree on the facts, but there is often more than one way to interpret them.
I usually find I agree more with opinions coming from the left, but not always. In any case it's good to be able to understand where the other 'side' are coming from, even if I dont agree with them.
“No, I don't....Not before, nor after”
You did say it was reported better in the conservative press so I thought you might have an example. And I don't know about the American papers, but in Britain what has mainly been reported is cops killing black men, and in the most recent case it was actually a black cop who did the killing. The only example I can think of where the killing was not done by a cop is the one you mentioned that started it all; Treyvon Martin was actually shot by a neighbourhood watch volunteer, not by the police.
Is the punching thing related to this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2511614/Teen-game-randomly-punching-strangers-nation-wide-problem--CONGRESSWOMAN-latest-victim.html or was it something different?
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