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Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 06:29 AM Feb 2015

Keith Ellison: Obama ‘One Of The Best Presidents Our Country Will Ever Have Seen’



http://www.mediaite.com/tv/dem-rep-obama-one-of-the-best-presidents-our-country-will-ever-have-seen/



And the Rudy Giuliani meme continues.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), appearing on This Week, forcefully rejected the former New York City mayor’s claim that President Barack Obama does not love America.

Host George Stephanopoulos told him it seems like there is a “double standard” that Republicans get asked more about their “outliers” than Democrats do — an idea that Ellison dismissed.

He said the Affordable Care Act is an example of how Obama has a “pragmatic love” for America.

“I think that the president is an amazing patriot and one of the best presidents, I think, our country will have ever seen.”
49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Keith Ellison: Obama ‘One Of The Best Presidents Our Country Will Ever Have Seen’ (Original Post) Drunken Irishman Feb 2015 OP
#IloveObama riversedge Feb 2015 #1
Aloha riversedge.. Cha Feb 2015 #3
I saw that! Mahalo, Rep Keith Ellison! Also this from Presidential Historian, Douglas Brinkley Cha Feb 2015 #2
+ 100 n/t MBS Feb 2015 #6
Interestingly his legacy will be "Obamacare" - TBF Feb 2015 #9
I love that picture madokie Feb 2015 #11
Obama accomplished 85% of his agenda?? Dwight42 Feb 2015 #13
Welcome to DU Dwight - TBF Feb 2015 #19
Don't make promises that you can't keep. Dwight42 Feb 2015 #22
Sigh, your #1 is a winger talking point. Obama didn't make that claim with no exceptions.. that' uponit7771 Feb 2015 #25
You better believe it! zappaman Feb 2015 #27
^ thread win right there. nt TBF Feb 2015 #32
Welcome to DU... SidDithers Feb 2015 #21
Douglas Brinkley is a presidential historian, not some random blogger. Enjoy your stay. nt Hekate Mar 2015 #40
Too late. Major Hogwash Mar 2015 #45
He's got a ticket to ride and he don't care. Hekate Mar 2015 #47
This myth is embraced by MANY MANY on DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND as well randys1 Feb 2015 #28
He's just saying that because he's a fellow Muslin pinboy3niner Feb 2015 #4
What a ridiculous comment. Dwight42 Feb 2015 #15
He wasn't serious BainsBane Feb 2015 #23
There IS one born every minute! OilemFirchen Feb 2015 #34
I really do not cotton guillaumeb Feb 2015 #31
"one of the best presidents" handmade34 Feb 2015 #5
I think that the president is an amazing SmittynMo Feb 2015 #7
Why would Ellison support a war-mongering Republican? brooklynite Feb 2015 #8
He's not talking about Hillary. AtomicKitten Mar 2015 #41
Revisit some of the comments people here made about Obama's Libya policy brooklynite Mar 2015 #42
Yup madokie Feb 2015 #10
He's done a lot of good, but he also has many flaws. Dawgs Feb 2015 #12
Agreed. Obama will possibly end up in the top tier of past US presidents. Yorktown Feb 2015 #14
I must concur! n/t wildbilln864 Feb 2015 #16
So I guess I'll have to infer from this..... dirtydickcheney Feb 2015 #17
If you didn't want Romneycare, you shouldn't have voted for it BainsBane Feb 2015 #26
Harken back..... dirtydickcheney Mar 2015 #43
Bullshit BainsBane Mar 2015 #44
OK - dirtydickcheney Mar 2015 #48
I'm sorry but Obama works for the 1% dirtydickcheney Mar 2015 #49
If ANY republican had implemented ACA including no more pre-existing exclusions? Are you sure randys1 Feb 2015 #29
old news - I read that right here within the first week of the 2009 inauguration DrDan Feb 2015 #18
True. But that's partly because US presidents are so uniformly bad. nt Damansarajaya Feb 2015 #20
Many are, all republicans since Ike are bad. randys1 Feb 2015 #30
FDR absolutely. nt Damansarajaya Feb 2015 #35
If DU had been around in the 30s and 40s BainsBane Feb 2015 #36
I've said this over and over again that Obama has already completed 85% of what he wanted.. the 15% uponit7771 Feb 2015 #24
And the crappiest part is, he won't truly be appreciated until much later, and that sucks. Tarheel_Dem Feb 2015 #33
+1 Jamaal510 Feb 2015 #37
Too bad he's unfortunately paired with the worst Congress we've ever seen. Initech Feb 2015 #38
"Double standard" my ass, Georgie. Good for Keith Ellison! Hekate Mar 2015 #39
True. And I was never on board the Hope Express. McCamy Taylor Mar 2015 #46

TBF

(32,047 posts)
9. Interestingly his legacy will be "Obamacare" -
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 09:25 AM
Feb 2015

Even with the flaws he managed to get the beginning of a universal system in place and that I think will ultimately be as huge as Social Security.

My area is upscale suburbia near Houston. We've got some threats to prosperity with the low gas prices (already lay-offs/mergers going on here with the oil companies) but in the end that will work itself out as the companies figure out how to invest in new technologies and not be SO dependent on the daily oil barrel price. The thing that has been interesting over the past year is watching all the new Urgent Care Centers pop up. It's a joke between myself and my spouse at this point. We'll see new construction & know it's yet another urgent care before we even read the permit sign. That has to be connected to Obamacare. Either there are tax breaks for building them or someone is seeing the chance to make revenue because there are going to be so many more people covered by insurance and needing care. So the infrastructure to go along with Obamacare is also being built. This is in place, will stay, and hopefully expand (and become more affordable as it's tweaked).

 

Dwight42

(43 posts)
13. Obama accomplished 85% of his agenda??
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 10:22 AM
Feb 2015

Throwing figures around, like 85% is absurd without backing up those figures with some facts.

I think most people, Dems as well as the Reps think most politicians lie to get elected, and once there continue their deceptions because they are in it for the huge amounts of money, as well as a health insurance and retirement package, funded by tax payers that is the envy of most Americans. And many people consider most politicians that go into politics are sociopaths and in the case of most Republicans..... totally deranged as well.

The money politicians can make after leaving their offices is staggering;

Clinton said they ''dead broke'' after leaving the White House and is not worth well over $100 million today.

''After his time in the White House, however, he earned a substantial income as an author and public speaker. In 2005, Clinton earned a $15 million advance on his book “My Life.” In 2011, the former president was paid $750,000 alone to speak in Hong Kong for Ericsson.

According to the Washington Post, Clinton earned $1.4 million in speaking fees over just one week in June 2012. By 2013, the former president was estimated to have earned well over $100 million since leaving office''.
http://247wallst.com/special-report/2015/02/12/the-10-richest-u-s-presidents/#ixzz3SfhrFH7E



Here are 23 three promises given by President Obama which means, given 85% figure he has succeeded in implementing 19.55 of these promises.



#1 “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take it away. No matter what.”

#2 “My administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government.”

#3 “We agree on reforms that will finally reduce the costs of health care. Families will save on their premiums…”

#4 “I don’t want to pit Red America against Blue America. I want to be the president
 of the United States of America.”

#5 “We’ve got shovel-ready projects all across the country that governors and mayors are pleading to fund. And the minute we can get those investments to the state level, jobs are going to be created.”

#6 “And we will pursue the housing plan I’m outlining today. And through this plan, we will help between 7 and 9 million families restructure or refinance their mortgages so they can afford—avoid foreclosure.”

#7 “I will sign a universal health-care bill into law by the end of my first term as president that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premium by up to $2,500 a year.”

#8 “We reject the use of national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime.”

#9 “For people with insurance, the only impact of the health-care law is that their insurance is stronger, better, and more secure than it was before. Full stop. That’s it. They don’t have to worry about anything else.”

#10 “We will close the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, the location of so many of the worst constitutional abuses in recent years.”

#11 “Allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S.”

#12 “We will revisit the Patriot Act and overturn unconstitutional executive decisions issued during the past eight years.”

#13 “Will ensure that federal contracts over $25,000 are competitively bid.”

#14 “We reject sweeping claims of ‘inherent’ presidential power.”

#15 “Will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This will eliminate taxes for 7 million seniors — saving them an average of $1,400 a year– and will also mean that 27 million seniors will not need to file an income tax return at all.”

#16 “We support constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans.”

#17 “If we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home, we will end this war. You can take that to the bank.”

#18 “Will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.”

#19 “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”

#20 “We have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division and conflict and cynicism…. That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, ‘Not this time….’”

#21 “We’ve got to spend some money now to pull us out of this recession. But as soon as we’re out of this recession, we’ve got to get serious about starting to live within our means, instead of leaving debt for our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.”

#22 “[T]oday I’m pledging to cut the deficit we inherited in half by the end of my first term in office. This will not be easy. It will require us to make difficult decisions and face challenges we’ve long neglected. But I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay – and that means taking responsibility right now, in this administration, for getting our spending under control.”

#23 “I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will execute the office of president of the United States faithfully, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.”

 

Dwight42

(43 posts)
22. Don't make promises that you can't keep.
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:22 PM
Feb 2015

#1 “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take it away. No matter what.”
In some cases this didn't happen and tens of millions are still without any insurance; he promised a Public Option and didn't support it in the end.

#2 “My administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government.”
The US government under President Obama is the most secretive in US history and has gone after all whistle-blowers with a vengeance.

#3 “We agree on reforms that will finally reduce the costs of health care. Families will save on their premiums…”
There was some savings but the realistically the only way to save everyone from the Insurance Companies gouging was a Public Option and that was not even introduced to be voted on. The President knew that the former trade, NAFTA, GAT agreements prevented the US from offering one without being sued by the Health Care industry as is happening in Canada right now.

#4 “I don’t want to pit Red America against Blue America. I want to be the president
 of the United States of America.”
His presidency has ended up pitting the Blue against the Red states in way not seen since the Civil Rights movement.

#5 “We’ve got shovel-ready projects all across the country that governors and mayors are pleading to fund. And the minute we can get those investments to the state level, jobs are going to be created.”
Governors and Mayors and still pleading and there are no jobs being created to rebuild the America's crumbling infrastructure.

#6 “And we will pursue the housing plan I’m outlining today. And through this plan, we will help between 7 and 9 million families restructure or refinance their mortgages so they can afford—avoid foreclosure.”

#7 “I will sign a universal health-care bill into law by the end of my first term as president that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premium by up to $2,500 a year.”
Of course this has become a running joke as AHC is not universal as tens of millions are still without any insurance.

#8 “We reject the use of national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime.”
The entire world is being spied on by the US government.

#9 “For people with insurance, the only impact of the health-care law is that their insurance is stronger, better, and more secure than it was before. Full stop. That’s it. They don’t have to worry about anything else.”
Again Universal Health Care would have solved this on going problem.

#10 “We will close the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, the location of so many of the worst constitutional abuses in recent years.”
Guantanamo Bay is still operational 10 years on.

#11 “Allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S.”
This has not happened. He made no attempt to have drug makers sell to the government at discounts.

#12 “We will revisit the Patriot Act and overturn unconstitutional executive decisions issued during the past eight years.”
He did revisit the Patriot Act and signed the extension.

#13 “Will ensure that federal contracts over $25,000 are competitively bid.”
I'll give him this one because to tell the truth, I am to tired to investigate.

#14 “We reject sweeping claims of ‘inherent’ presidential power.”
Didn't happen.

#15 “Will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This will eliminate taxes for 7 million seniors — saving them an average of $1,400 a year– and will also mean that 27 million seniors will not need to file an income tax return at all.
Has there been any change in Tax Code?

#16 “We support constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans.”
He expanded the surveillance programs against the constitutional protections.

#17 “If we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home, we will end this war. You can take that to the bank.”
This has not happened. The wars have been widened to cover much of the world; 1000 bases in some 130 countries

#18 “Will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.”
The secrete trade agreements like TPP, to name only one.

#19 “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”
Libya, Iraq, Africa, Asian Pivot, etc, etc, etc.

#20 “We have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division and conflict and cynicism…. That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, ‘Not this time….’”
The choice has been the widest division since the Civil War.

#21 “We’ve got to spend some money now to pull us out of this recession. But as soon as we’re out of this recession, we’ve got to get serious about starting to live within our means, instead of leaving debt for our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.”
He bailed out Wall Street, not Main Street and brought us the Sequester that actually takes away from need safety net issues like Heating assistance and Food Stamps. To quote the band Midnight Oil, ''The rich get richer and the poor get the picture'' while the middle class is becoming extinct due to off shoring of jobs, except in China and India where they are increasing.

#22 “Today I’m pledging to cut the deficit we inherited in half by the end of my first term in office. This will not be easy. It will require us to make difficult decisions and face challenges we’ve long neglected. But I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay – and that means taking responsibility right now, in this administration, for getting our spending under control.”
The national debt is down, no thanks to the wealthy and the jobs are down, except for the service industry. But student loan debt it up, Military spending is up and the wealth distribution is back up to the levels of the early 1920's.

#23 “I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will execute the office of president of the United States faithfully, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.”
He kept the Patriot Act, Defence spending keeps going up even while these wars are actually being lost and the Constitution is still being shredded bit by bit.

uponit7771

(90,335 posts)
25. Sigh, your #1 is a winger talking point. Obama didn't make that claim with no exceptions.. that'
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:27 PM
Feb 2015

...that's common sense.

So, if the Earth blows up ... then no... you can't keep your HCI...

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
4. He's just saying that because he's a fellow Muslin
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 07:17 AM
Feb 2015

They're made from the same cloth and no one can say that's immaterial!

 

Dwight42

(43 posts)
15. What a ridiculous comment.
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 10:53 AM
Feb 2015

According to President Obama was raised by an atheist Mom and atheist grandparents; lived in a Muslim country and then Hawaii. He only "discovered" Christianity after arriving in Chicago to become a politician.

He's a bright, intellectual, thinking man and too smart to be religious. However, he obviously thinks some of the ideas of Christian religion can be put into practice in a society.

BainsBane

(53,031 posts)
23. He wasn't serious
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:24 PM
Feb 2015

He's a jokester. Just realize that and enjoy. He's actually quite witty, and a really great guy.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
31. I really do not cotton
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:44 PM
Feb 2015

to your remarks about our Muslin President. I do not mean to rag you about it but maybe you should put a sock in it.

handmade34

(22,756 posts)
5. "one of the best presidents"
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 07:24 AM
Feb 2015

never doubted it... (along with the best FLOTUS!) Michelle Obama has done an extraordinary job of working to help our kids and veterans...

SmittynMo

(3,544 posts)
7. I think that the president is an amazing
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 09:18 AM
Feb 2015

patriot and one of the best presidents, I think, our country will have ever seen.

I TOTALLY agree, and have been saying this for quite some time.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
10. Yup
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 09:29 AM
Feb 2015

And I like you too Keith for standing up and being proud of the person you are. Takes guts to be sworn in like he was, especially in this land of racist bigoted asshole jackasses

If I was being sworn in to something it wouldn't be on a bible as I'm not a religious person. Maybe a manual on one of the machines I have or have had would be good as I'm a gear head first and foremost

 

Dawgs

(14,755 posts)
12. He's done a lot of good, but he also has many flaws.
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 09:55 AM
Feb 2015

Time will tell if Obamacare becomes something as great as Social Security. Until then I'm not sure I would say that he one of the best presidents we have ever seen.

 

Yorktown

(2,884 posts)
14. Agreed. Obama will possibly end up in the top tier of past US presidents.
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 10:27 AM
Feb 2015

Obamacare was a great accomplishment.

But we have to also acknowledge other reasons Obama was good:

• fighting against jihad without (visible) boots on the ground

• not embarking on the kind of anticapitalist crusade some here at DU seem to advocate.

Obama was probably a peacetime FDR.

 

dirtydickcheney

(242 posts)
17. So I guess I'll have to infer from this.....
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 11:12 AM
Feb 2015

So if it were a Republican that implemented the equivalent of "Romneycare" (which is what Obamacare is based after) which was the plan suggested for healthcare from a right-wing think tank - that everyone who is speaking up here would be saying what a "great president" the Republican would be?

Because I didn't know Democrats loved healthcare plans from right-wing think tanks until I read the replies to this thread.

BainsBane

(53,031 posts)
26. If you didn't want Romneycare, you shouldn't have voted for it
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:27 PM
Feb 2015

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you are a Democrat, or you wouldn't have signed up on DU in violation of the terms of service. You knew what heath plan you were getting when he ran for office. Complaining now is nonsensical.

Single payer was last attempted to be made law by Hillary Clinton, and I'll hazard a wild case that you don't care much for her.

 

dirtydickcheney

(242 posts)
43. Harken back.....
Sun Mar 1, 2015, 11:37 PM
Mar 2015

...remember that line by Obama "any healthcare plan must include a single-payer option".

I seem to remember it. However, I don't remember him running on "hey, remember Romneycare in Massachusetts? Well, that's my plan."

I don't remember him running on "Remember that healthcare plan that Nixon proposed in the 70's? The one that came from that right-wing thinktank that has 'Heritage' in it's name? Well I'm running on that!"

BainsBane

(53,031 posts)
44. Bullshit
Mon Mar 2, 2015, 12:22 AM
Mar 2015

He did not run on for President on single payer and you know it. If you actually believe what you are saying, It's no one's fault but your own that you didn't pay attention to the campaign in 2008, if you even voted Democrat. Your complains are worse than useless. If you wanted single payer you should have organized something to get it passed. NO ONE in 2008 ran on single payer. Pretending otherwise is an outright lie. Don't insult my intelligence.

If you really are as poorly informed as you pretend, you need to spend a lot more time reading and less time spreading nonsense.

 

dirtydickcheney

(242 posts)
48. OK -
Mon Mar 2, 2015, 08:27 AM
Mar 2015

This is nonsense? This isn't even the clip I was looking for but it will suffice.

Please explain: [link:

|





 

dirtydickcheney

(242 posts)
49. I'm sorry but Obama works for the 1%
Mon Mar 2, 2015, 08:36 AM
Mar 2015

Show me an example of when he really went full-bore against big money.

I was thinking today - the oil spill in the gulf- what a perfect excuse to say "hey, we've got to stop drilling and switch to an electricity-based economy vs a oil-based one"

What has been the Obama response - "Oh, we'll just open up the Atlantic seaboard to more drilling".

Big money didn't want a single-payer healthcare plan - it would cut into their profits and Obama was more than happy to oblige.

Remember that clip - "I plan to renegotiate NAFTA!" he said on the campaign trail?

The one where he said it and the same day he was reassuring the Canadian Gov't that he had no plans on renegotiate NAFTA.

That's the kind of politician Obama really is.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
29. If ANY republican had implemented ACA including no more pre-existing exclusions? Are you sure
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:38 PM
Feb 2015

you want to ask that question?


If ANY republican had created a federal subsidy to help the neediest among us to finally get healthcare?

Of course we would all be for that, while at the same time we would AS WE DO NOW complain about the for profit nature of it and how it isnt single payer.

Why dont you ask the Democrats who got Romney Care if they all complained AFTER it was implemented.

BainsBane

(53,031 posts)
36. If DU had been around in the 30s and 40s
Sat Feb 28, 2015, 07:58 PM
Feb 2015

People would have been trashing FDR. And I can just imagine what some would have said about WWII. I have seen two people bemoan allied bombing as it is, and that is with full hindsight what Hitler was.

uponit7771

(90,335 posts)
24. I've said this over and over again that Obama has already completed 85% of what he wanted.. the 15%
Tue Feb 24, 2015, 02:26 PM
Feb 2015

... will be poking at Republicans and smiling

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Keith Ellison: Obama ‘One...