I may be one of the few Americans who thinks that both Barack Obama and Donald Trump have mandates. And it’s the same mandate: change.
President Obama’s great mandate was to “save the economy”, i.e. stop the bleeding and restore the economy to robust health. The first was accomplished as much despite him as because of him while the second hasn’t been accomplished at all, as may be concluded from the continuing low rate of economic growth, the phlegmatic growth in employment, and the very low rate of labor force participation.
Unfortunately, he turned his attention from the economy to healthcare and the rest, as they say, is history. After healthcare he turned to re-election and then building a legacy, a legacy which now looks very likely to be completely erased by his successor.
Donald Trump has the clear mandates to kickstart the economy and get our border with Mexico under greater control. Whether either of those are within any president’s power to accomplish let alone his remains to be seen.
Obama’s presidency has always puzzled me. He came into office with so much support and admiration from the masses. He had both arms of Congress at his disposal with high margins. And, what has he really accomplished with such an optimistic political environment??
He unilaterally pushed thru an unpopular health care policy. He fostered animosity among races, classes, and challenged social values that were in direct conflict with Christian doctrine. Obama was standoffish in his congressional engagement – even with members of his own party. In effect he housed his presidency in his own ideological bubble, ignoring a vast majority of growing discontent around the country. And, while he still maintained personal appeal, his policies have been under sustained push back by those who saw no benefit under their influence.
Ironically, Obama is leaving office under the rose-colored glasses reflection that everything went well under his 8 year reign.
Obama only looks good in comparison with W. W got a “F” Obama comes in with a D-.
http://theduran.com/liberal-anger-at-obama-motherfer-got-balls-to-tell-people-we-live-in-peaceful-world-as-he-bombs-7-countries-jimmy-dore/
I’m not sure that he “fostered” racial animosity, jan, so much as that the underlying racial animosity was revealed and he did little about it, assuming there was anything that he could do. I don’t think that either the attitudes of the Republican or Democratic Congressional leadership helped a bit.
Still he shouldn’t get a complete pass. His watch and all.
Ken Hoop:
Liberal interventionism is still interventionism. The use of military force means that people get killed and that means innocent people along with the guilty. The notion of antiseptic war is a fiction that is told to excuse ourselves.
Have to agree with Dave here. Long simmering racial animosity became transparent while Obama was president, he didn’t foster any. Not sure what he could do about it. Also, the majority that matters and is hard to achieve is 60 people in the Senate. He had 59, plus Sanders. He faced record levels of obstruction. In spite of all of his difficulties, a majority of voters still voted to continue (in essence) his policies even when the candidate to carry them on was unpopular.
Steve