Historians Give Barack Obama a B-

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"HNN recently asked 203 American historians to grade Barack Obama's presidency on an A-F scale.

The results are in: President Barack Obama gets a B-.

Historians graded the president on sixteen different metrics selected by HNN staff. Overall, historians were remarkably consistent in their judgment: Barack Obama was a promising presidential candidate and possesses sterling personal leadership qualities, but his administration has merely been adequate in delivering results. The most highly-praised achievement of President Obama's first term, the Affordable Care Act, was acknowledged in comments by many participants, but nevertheless many expressed disappointment that it did not go far enough.

Participants were also increasingly concerned about the administration's lack of transparency and its prosecution of Bradley Manning (most of the data was assembled before the Edward Snowden story broke).

Many historians were also disillusioned by the partisan gridlock in Washington, although they tend to place the blame largely on congressional Republicans.

Just about the only aspect of Barack Obama's presidency which has received universal praise from historians has been the president's Supreme Court appointments. Both Elena Kagan and especially Sonia Sotomayor are highly respected by academics."

- See more at: http://hnn.us/article/153229#sthash.j5eVkOsU.dpuf

[benld74]

1. Whad W get in a grade?

[Bucky]

9. What grade did you get in typing?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. Jesus Christ, the man is STILL president...not even in his first full year of the second term!

Fuck, I hate these people!!

The Black Tax in full effect.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

17. Absolutely. AFTER he's done, people will speak freely about race

And how it has played in unprecedented insults and indignities toward our president.

[BeyondGeography]

3. His only "C" is "relations with Congress"

That's embarrassing. For the historians.

[vdogg]

4. Isn't this a bit early?

Term isn't even over yet, and as with any presidency, it takes many years after they have left office to determine the lasting effects of their policies. We have only just now started to cough up that hairball known as the "Bush Doctrine".

[Bucky]

12. Think of it as a progress report

It's not like anyone's going to quit assessing his performance after this.

[jsr]

5. Racists who refuse to see greatness.

[msongs]

6. don't forget libertarian paulites, and flat out haters haters haters lol nt

[scheming daemons]

7. The "cool" kids on DU give him an F

[Bucky]

11. Flawed metaphor

The kids don't give grades; the teachers do.

Anyway, it seems silly to insult everyone who disagrees with you as "the 'cool' kids."

This would be a better forum if we didn't go about doubting the sincerity of each other's analysis of current events just because we come to different conclusions.

[Scurrilous]

13. LOL

Well, what do Historians know...

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. I am a historian by training and my assestment BEFORE the syrian debacle was a B

now it is a C+

And it has potential to go down, yet.

And no I am not a cool kid, but I have opened a child wing at the ignore list, it was swings and all. I think you are a good candidate for that. Why? You are not interested in discussion, just on berating people.

So I give you an F. Goodbye.

[Dash87]

8. I agree. He was a decent president, but we needed a fierce progressive to ride the mood of the time.

People wanted swift change. They wanted a more social-minded and less aggressive country. Obama was a decent president, but nowhere near FDR.

People wanted a progressive hero to reign in congress, stand up with intense fire to the Neo-Cons and corporate-types, and make us love our country again. Obama hasn't done this, imo.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

16. Was? Impatient, are we?

[Dash87]

20. So far. Should be "is" but you know what I mean.

Also "was" in the sense that I doubt Obama is going to change in his core beliefs or demeanor.

[Bucky]

10. That seems about right to me. Of course I'm not trying to be objective.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

14. Key word is history. Still a couple of years to go

And this is after the nadir of Bush exit with war and economic collapse.

He deserves far more time to "make the grade".

[snooper2]

15. Aren't you supposed to grade work once it's complete?

fail-

[uponit7771]

22. Nah, he's "adequate" cause all the 300 filibusters in the senate Obama REALLY wanted them...

...cause these historians and all other wingers say such...

[duffyduff]

18. If you can't say anything nice, don't say it at all... n/t

[uponit7771]

21. "...merely been adequate..." Give over 300 filibusters "adequate" is their judgement!? BULLSHIT

Sounds like they picked all the FAUX news Historians who want to proffer the false position that Obama is a dictator so he can get anything he wants done and if he doesn't its cause he didn't want to.

Stupid shit