The Case for Obama...a truly historic presidency

I love your posts ProSense. You are one of the reasons I keep coming to DU.

You work so hard to boost our president. I hope he realizes what a loyal, 100% rock-solid defender and supporter he has in you. (I don't know if you're on his payroll, but you should be. You've earned it! )

I wish I believed all that's written in your post here so I could share your enthusiasm and let go of the weariness I feel toward our president. I don't, but I am not about to stomp all over your heartfelt message by going into sordid detail and refutations. Nope. I respect you too much to want to bring you down.

I wish you very happy holidays and a new year of peace, health, and prosperity for all of DU. Really.

"I don't know if you're on his payroll, but you should be. You've earned it!"

...may surprise you, but I do this for fun. I actually get a kick out of it as a supporter of the President.

Rest your head.

Peace and joy for the holidays.

you are a diamond.

You deserve everything accolades my friend.

It's really worth the time to at least go look at it if you have a negative view of the President. You may find a surprise or two.

I hope your attitude is contagious.

Peace to you, as well.

you should never be a "100% rock-solid defender and supporter" of ANY POLITICIAN

Less than halfway through his first term, Obama has compiled a remarkable track record. As president, he has rewritten America's social contract to make health care accessible for all citizens. He has brought 100,000 troops home from war and forged a once-unthinkable consensus around the endgame for the Bush administration's $3 trillion blunder in Iraq. He has secured sweeping financial reforms that elevate the rights of consumers over Wall Street bankers and give regulators powerful new tools to prevent another collapse. And most important of all, he has achieved all of this while moving boldly to ward off another Great Depression and put the country back on a halting path to recovery.

Along the way, Obama delivered record tax cuts to the middle class and slashed nearly $200 billion in corporate welfare — reinvesting that money to make college more accessible and Medicare more solvent. He single-handedly prevented the collapse of the Big Three automakers — saving more than 1 million jobs — and brought Big Tobacco, at last, under the yoke of federal regulation. Even in the face of congressional intransigence on climate change, he has fought to constrain carbon pollution by executive fiat and to invest $200 billion in clean energy — an initiative bigger than John F. Kennedy's moonshot and one that's on track to double America's capacity to generate renewable energy by the end of Obama's first term.

On the social front, he has improved pay parity for women and hate-crime protections for gays and lesbians. He has brought a measure of sanity to the drug war, reducing the sentencing disparity for crack cocaine while granting states wide latitude to experiment with marijuana laws. And he has installed two young, female justices on the Supreme Court, creating what Brinkley calls "an Obama imprint on the court for generations."

What's even more impressive about Obama's accomplishments, historians say, is the fractious political coalition he had to marshal to victory.

In his quest for progress, Obama has also had to maneuver against an unrelenting head wind from the "Party of No" and its billionaire backers. "Obama is harassed as well as opposed," says Princeton historian Sean Wilentz. "The crazy Republican right is now unfettered. You've got a Senate with no adult leadership. And Obama's up against Rupert Murdoch, Dick Armey, the Koch brothers and the rest of the professional right." Compared to the opposition faced by the most transformative Democratic presidents, adds Wilentz, "it's a wholly different scale."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-case-for-obama-20101013#ixzz1gpqdqtXd

a Republican turncoat — and Joe Lieberman."

Johnson had 68 Dem senators.
FDR had 69 Dem senators.

Very impressive to say the least. That article sheds some light on the argument: "Obama had a majority in both houses for two years!".

really wish the media weren't a corporate subsidiary of RepubliKKKorps (tm). More people might know some important facts.

I'm glad RollingStone laid it out, at least.

"In his quest for progress, Obama has also had to maneuver against an unrelenting head wind from the "Party of No" and its billionaire backers. "Obama is harassed as well as opposed," says Princeton historian Sean Wilentz. "The crazy Republican right is now unfettered. You've got a Senate with no adult leadership. And Obama's up against Rupert Murdoch, Dick Armey, the Koch brothers and the rest of the professional right." Compared to the opposition faced by the most transformative Democratic presidents, adds Wilentz, "it's a wholly different scale.""


It is a wonder he has managed to get anything done at all.

A president can only do so much without a supportive Congress - in BOTH houses. Obama had a supportive House for 2 yrs and a minimally supportive Senate for 3, against a Republican party bound and determined to not let him pass ANYTHING. So much of what he's tried to accomplish has been blocked by the Repbus and people tend to forget.

Please, please, please - go read (or at least skim) the whole article



The historic progress that Obama has made is evident in eight key areas:

1 | Averting a Depression

2 | Recovery Act

3 | Saving Detroit

4 | Reforming Health Care

5 | Cutting Corporate Welfare

6 | Restoring America's Reputation

7 | Protecting Consumers

8 | Launching a Clean-Energy MoonShot





Read the details: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-case-for-obama-20101013#ixzz1gpqwVoSf

n/t

Obama's the best you're gonna get in 2012.

...You are one of the few reasons I still come here.

Your posts are thorough and fact-based.

You bring the "Democratic Party" to DU.

The site should pay you to post.

Thanks again and warmest holiday wishes...

for the kind words.

Best wishes for the holidays!

when a thread here in DU expressing disappointment of Obama has, at the moment, 115+ enthusiastic replies of support and over 1000 view, while this one has 10 replies and only 160 viewws.

So sad to see that so many would rather wallow in their disappointment then make an attempt to see things differently.

but they are hell-bent on getting that "@#% " out of office

.

I don't get it

to the detriment of the American people are hell bent in making PResident Obama fail

not caring that America fails as well

I'd disagree that the Dem senators are "hell-bent on getting" him out of office

though there's so much to chew on here, would it fit better in Good Reads?

Either way I look forward to exploring these links in more detail.

is that the 'left' evaluates their reps as if there weren't 1000 coordinated radio stations reaching 50 mil a week channeling corporate think tanks with million dollar PR pros working in shifts to make sure US media and politics is 100% pro corporate and antidemocratic, obstructing everything and anyone progressive, liberal, and rational.

there is absolutely NO organized opposition to it and until then criticism of dem reps and presidents as traitors and ineffective is plain fucking stupid unless they actually vote republican. anything in between is politics and compromise and because the 'left' ignores talk radio we get to play catchup and whine about how our guys can't play without a front line.

the really silly thing is their leader is rush limbaugh, and his team was invisible as, for example, it spent months convincing enough idiots (because there was no response from the left) that not raising the debt ceiling had advantages for republicans and america.

that so many Dems and lefties have allowed themselves to be influenced (dare I say "bought into" the right-wing's endless propaganda campaign against Obama

is that what you think - Democrats are disillusioned because they are falling for REPUKE PROPGANDA?????? TRY AGAIN.

http://www.freep.com/article/20111218/NEWS06/112180464/Michigan-s-homeless-students-Foreclosure-crisis-takes-toll-31-000-kids?odyssey=mod

"BULLSHIT"

...can yell that, but this mess wasn't created by the President, and his policies are having an impact despite intense obstruction.


Michigan jobless rate dips below 10% for first time in 3 years
http://www.freep.com/article/20111214/BUSINESS06/111214029/Michigan-unemployment-rate?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE


Good thing President Obama saved the auto industry.

And let me also wish you a happy and peaceful holiday.

Yes I too am getting frustrated with too many DUers with nothing positive to say about Obama. In my mind it is imperative that he gets 8 years to do his work and I worry hearing too many here who sound as if they might not even vote or vote independent. The US population as a group is not very educated on facts. The Republicans are going the route of disinformation to achieve their goals. This is a dangerous war of the 1% against the 99%. They will never give up and neither should we. Obama is not the lesser of two evils he is on our side. IF Obama looses then so does this round of progressive changes. I hope enough of you are with me to vote and make a difference.
-Airplane

YOU are spreading the truth and trying to get the word out. YOU are uplifting all of the positive and reminding everyone that much good has been done. YOU are not wallowing in doom and gloom and trying to make everyone reading this board depressed/miserable/defeated.

YOU are appreciated! You are the Best of DU.

to everyone for the kind words.

Just a little uplifting thread for the holidays.

Best wishes.

Why isn't this on the first page?

I love him.

K&R

While I don't always agree with what he/she posts and I am one who will not shy from criticism of the President when I feel it is warranted, I give ProSense kudos for providing their supportive viewpoint on GD civilly--without insults (and without feeling the need to remain sequestered in the protected climes of the BOG).

I'd like to see ProSense's example echoed on both sides of the "divide".

"He has brought 100,000 troops home from war and forged a once-unthinkable consensus around the endgame for the Bush administration's $3 trillion blunder in Iraq. He has secured sweeping financial reforms that elevate the rights of consumers over Wall Street bankers and give regulators powerful new tools to prevent another collapse. And most important of all, he has achieved all of this while moving boldly to ward off another Great Depression and put the country back on a halting path to recovery."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-case-for-obama-20101013#ixzz1gu2MkNFD

From your Rolling Stone piece.. Sorry I have to respectfully disagree.

Actually Obama was forced to end the occupation in Iraq by Bush's "Status of Forces" agreement and the Iraqi Government .. Obama's preference was a continued presence in Iraq.
What sweeping reforms? The "too big to fail" banks, are even bigger and continue to operate as they did before they took down the economy. How many Wall Street Banksters have we seen Obama's Justice Dept. prosecute to date?
As far a boldly warding off another Great Depression there are a number of economists who claim we're in a depression..
A bold president would've fought for a robust stimulus bill instead of the compromised piece of crap that ended up being woefully inadequate.The so called progressive Obama ignored a number of liberal economists who had the welfare of the 99% in mind when they pretty much begged him to fight for a "real" jobs bill and flat out predicted Obama's compromised stimulus bill was too full of tax cuts and not enough $$$ for job creation. We now find out now the Fed was secretly handing the Banks $7 trillion in close to interest free loans to the big banks while they were short sheeting the 99%. Did Obama know about those loans??? Anyone even care?
A bold President would've created an FDR type WPA that would've quickly delivered $$$ to create needed jobs repairing our rotting infrastructure. Does our 'liberal" president even mention the legacy of FDR? Which would be fitting considering he was the last President who helped dig us out of the last great depression. No, instead he admires Reagan the man most responsible for our current situation.
Now the republicans get to campaign on the failure of the "Obama socialist" stimulus bill along with "Obama's socialist" health insurance industry controlled health care plan... And our nation remains as divided as it was before Obama became president.
Historic? Not from where I sit.

"Actually Obama was forced to end the occupation in Iraq by Bush's "Status of Forces" agreement and the Iraqi Government"

...suppose that's why he was slammed for it since the day he took office. Now that he's ended the war it's "no biggie, Bush did it."

"What sweeping reforms?"

The Dodd-Frank news you don’t hear: It’s moving forward
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-dodd-frank-news-you-dont-hear-its-moving-forward/2011/12/09/gIQABo7IiO_blog.html

There's also the first-ever consumer protection bureau: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/12/387430/mcconnell-banking-system-consumers/

There's this: http://www.stopfraud.gov/news.html



Just imagine how that chart would look without Republican obstruction.

FDR never experience a single filibuster.

OK, He's fared better than Bush who added a woeful 1 million jobs to the economy? I'm just stating the truth about the Iraq occupation. Your defense sounds a little like an Obama never gets credit whine than the defense of a 'Historic presidency.
FDR knew how to name names and kick ass, turn up the heat, inspire the public. He wanted the public to stand up for themselves. Read some of his old speeches.. Leadership! What are we seeing today, synchronized militarized police forces using bullying tactics in the early hours of the morning. FDR would've used OWS.. Obama ignores it.
Obama supporters continue to ignore the many times Obama failed to use the power of the presidency to move the agenda in the populist direction he campaigned on.
He negotiated down from the public option instead of single payer. He even tried to deny he campaigned for the public option, remember? He secretly cut a backroom deal with the drug companies. Stacked his administration with Monsanto, Wall Street employees and old Bush cronies. Where's the Justice Dept. when it comes to Wall Street crime? Can you imagine JFK and RFK ignoring the red meat piling up on Eric Holder's plate? And then there's his rolling back on civil liberties..
Sorry ProSense.. I don't want to completely vilify Obama.. Of course, he's heads above anything the Republicans are offering. But historic presidency? Come on... FDR was historic. I guess I come from the Bill Moyers school of politics, I just can't buy into the Tim Dickinson RS article that seems more like a paid political ad for Obama than anything else.

"Sorry, I'm Not Buying Obama's Historical Presidency "

...okay. History will decide. My guess is being the first President to finally enact health care reform, the President who finally ended the ban on gays in the military, the President who ended the Iraq war and his other achievements will earn this President a spot among the best.

That's a big if my friend.. Especially if we pull back the curtain and expose "the facts" behind the exit from Iraq. The negotiations that ended in a old school moderate republican health insurance co friendly health care reform bill. I'll give you the gay's in the military.
But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

"That's a big if my friend.. Especially if we pull back the curtain and expose 'the facts' behind the exit from Iraq. The negotiations that ended in a old school moderate republican health insurance co friendly health care reform bill. I'll give you the gay's in the military."

What are the facts?

Anyone serious about negotiation... negotiates down from the progressive single payer down to the more moderate publican option.. They don't claim to start with the public option then take it off the table.
.......................

Ending The War In Iraq: How Obama's Own Rhetoric -- And George Bush's Pact -- Boxed In The President
Dan Froomkin
The Barack Obama of 2011 and the Barack Obama of 2008 don't always see eye to eye.

Typically the presidential vision has overruled the candidate's. (Extending the Bush tax cuts, supporting indefinite detention without trial and engaging in open-ended war in Afghanistan are a few examples.)

But in the case of the complete withdrawal of American troops from Iraq by the end of this year, candidate Obama prevailed over the president.

President Obama wanted to stay longer -- as recently as a few weeks ago asking the Iraqi government to allow 10,000, then 3,000 troops to remain past New Year's Eve.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/obama-iraq_n_1032507.html

"President Obama wanted to stay longer -- as recently as a few weeks ago asking the Iraqi government to allow 10,000, then 3,000 troops to remain past New Year's Eve."

...speculation and rumor aside:

"President Obama wanted to stay longer -- as recently as a few weeks ago asking the Iraqi government to allow 10,000, then 3,000 troops to remain past New Year's Eve."

...speculation and rumor aside:

Panetta's Signature Ends War In Iraq

Just before 7 a.m., Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed a document, officially ending the Iraq War. Pentagon press secretary George Little tweeted:

At 6:59 A.M., Secretary Panetta approved the order officially ending the Iraq war: EXORD 1003 Victor, Mod 9.
...............
You could say President Nixon ended the war in Vietnam, end of story as well if you want to ignoring the details.. unfortunately a presidency is made up of details. They made Reagan an icon by ignoring the details.... And the only way you turn Barack Obama's presidency from a disappointing mediocre Presidency into a historically good one is by ignoring the details.. O's God forsaken Afghanistan policy.. spending billions and costing the lives of thousands supporting Bush's hand chosen crooked dictator in a tribal state of warlords one of many items that come to mind.
Hey, I voted for the guy.. I WANTED to like him.. Obama left me I didn't leave him. There's a lot of folks like me out here and the Obama administration has made it clear they're not interested in listening, unless it's election time.

...you could say a lot of things, but the details show that President Obama withdrew the troops and ended the war.

A president alone can't do ANYTHING that relates to spending money or collecting revenues. They can set policy within agencies and they can change some rules.

Much of what you've mentioned that you're disappointed with are things that require majorities in BOTH Houses in Congress and -in the Senate, a 60% majority. FDR had majorities in both houses. Obama has never had that kind of support in Congress. A president is not a king or a dictator. There just isn't that much any president can accomplish without the agreement of Congress.

FDR had a compliant, agreeable Congress. If he'd had today's Republican Party against him, how much of his program do you think he would have achieved? FDR didn't get everything he wanted - health care, for instance, and his court-packing scheme.

I realize, after we (the Dems in Congress), rolled over and gave GWB much of what he wanted (i.e., Dems COMPLIED with Bush), that we all sort of got used to a president who we perceived as a bully. But the truth is, the Congress GAVE GWB most of what he did. Obama doesn't have that luxury. Obama has been able to accomplish only as much as the Congress would allow.

It seems to me that our focus this year should be on trying to get more Dems elected Congress and taking back the House, building a fillibuster-proof Senate.

A president alone can't do ANYTHING that relates to spending money or collecting revenues. They can set policy within agencies and they can change some rules.

Much of what you've mentioned that you're disappointed with are things that require majorities in BOTH Houses in Congress and -in the Senate, a 60% majority. FDR had majorities in both houses. Obama has never had that kind of support in Congress. A president is not a king or a dictator. There just isn't that much any president can accomplish without the agreement of Congress.

FDR had a compliant, agreeable Congress. If he'd had today's Republican Party against him, how much of his program do you think he would have achieved? FDR didn't get everything he wanted - health care, for instance, and his court-packing scheme.

I realize, after we (the Dems in Congress), rolled over and gave GWB much of what he wanted (i.e., Dems COMPLIED with Bush), that we all sort of got used to a president who we perceived as a bully. But the truth is, the Congress GAVE GWB most of what he did. Obama doesn't have that luxury. Obama has been able to accomplish only as much as the Congress would allow.

It seems to me that our focus this year should be on trying to get more Dems elected Congress and taking back the House, building a fillibuster-proof Senate.

.....................
You're missing one major component.. Leadership. We're now looking at an 8% congress.. The vast majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. We're in a middle class economic meltdown, civil unrest. The time is ripe for leadership. Using the office of the presidency to go directly to the people and outlining a solution that deals with a government that been completely corrupted by corporate $$$.
What we didn't need was three years of reaching out to the insanity that's become the Republican party for a consensus in the name of bipartisanship, a continuation of tax cuts for the rich and Bush's war in Afghanistan which was Obama's call. I presume Obama chose his own corporate/Wall Street friendly stacked administration?

thanks for posting these articles.

as have all other presidencies.

And how can they be "unabashedly" liberal when Obama himself denies being a liberal? If he's a liberal, he's by definition an "abashed" one at most.

Oh hell ProSense, you know how I feel about ya. Please keep being you.

Please keep being you.

to all!

Turnabout is fair play.

I never had these high expectations, I guess. Just reasonable ones.