Let's make one thing absolutely clear: the Obama administration is the most progressive

[beastie boy]

administration since FDR, and in many respects ever. Period, not a hint of a question about it.

He got us out of the worst recession in three generations, and he did it in half the time FDR did. He enacted the most sweeping financial reform legislation in 75 years, appointing Liz Warren the first EVER consumer watchdog. He reduced unemployment by two thirds and the national deficit by half. Obamacare is the most sweeping health care legislation EVER. Legislatively, he was the most successful champion of minority rights, women's rights, gay rights and workers' rights EVER. He enacted the most environmental protection measures EVER.

He didn't just talk progressive, he got progressive shit done! To call his "business model" a failure is fucking ridiculous. It is nothing less than revisionist history wrapped in fake news.

And while we are at it, let's give some credit to two other notable and accomplished progressives who were by Obama's side all that time: Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.



On edit: Medicare may be the most sweeping health legislation ever, but Obamacare is damn close.

[Sloumeau]

1. With the ACA alone, Obama got done what Dems had been trying to do since FDR.

I am so tired of Dems bashing our previous Democratic Presidents. If they all had had all Democratic majorities in Congress, then most of them would have gotten 2 to 10 times as much done as they got done. People should stop blaming Democrats for the obstruction caused by Republcians.

[brush]

7. What is going on here? Has everyone forgotten LBJ's "Great Society"...

accomplishments? Taking nothing away from Barrack Obama's accomplishments despite repug obstructionism, it can be argued that Great Society programs furthered the safety net goals of FDR's "New Deal" while doing it without excluding African Americans and other POCs, so let's not ourselves exclude another significant block of historic, Democratic gains in order to praise the Obama administration.

[ChiTownDenny]

27. +1

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. That's true, but unfortunately LBJ's accomplishments in the domestic arena

were vastly overshadowed by the Vietnam war, which finally brought him down. He does deserve credit for those accomplishments, though.

[brush]

43. The long-term benefits of many of the programs are still being felt...

which is a good thing.

[Demsrule86]

11. Me too...but some will never be happy.

[betsuni]

2. Thank you!

[DownriverDem]

3. Yep, makes you wonder

why folks don't understand how Biden is the best candidate to run against trump. He can win enough states to beat trump. That is seriously all that matters to most of us. It's not who I like or who you like. It's who can beat trump. A Biden/Harris ticket would be a winning ticket. We have lost so much with trump that will take decades to turn around. Please focus on who can win.

[mcar]

4. Kick!

[empedocles]

5. Medicare, Medicaid [the old folk were being put out on the curb', [extensive,far reaching, legacies]

of Civil Rights, etc., etc.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

[beastie boy]

8. Weigh the totality of Obama's presidency against any other president, and you will get the aswer.

And yeah, weigh them against legislation that followed the civil rights movement.

[Magoo48]

6. Nonsense.

Was his policy along our southern border progressive?
Was his failure to hold Wall Street banksters accountable progressive?
Was his inability to find his “walking shoes” progressive.
Were drone strikes killing civilians progressive?

Onandonandonandon...

[Demsrule86]

10. Nonsense yourself Obama was progressive...he has to obey the law on the southern border but he

enacted the only protection for dreamers ever...and I would remind you that 'fabulous' man of the left ...Sanders voted against immigration reform. We had to save the economy and like Roosevelt before him, Obama concluded that going after Wall Street would hurt this effort...I have no idea what 'walking shoes' means...nothing to me...and if we must have a war...than send in drones, I would prefer as few American soldiers die in this effort as possible...and Obama went after the terrorists and killed Bin Laden. He brought the head terrorist who killed 3000 Americans to justice unlike Bush-a terrible president...brought to us by the 'the parties are the same crowd'...and of course the Greens.

You can attack the only Democratic president we had in years if you choose...the only one who managed to get health care for millions and not just talk endlessly about it, But you would be wrong; Obama was the best and those who go after him should stop.What purpose does demonizing a Democratic president do? But then the left left /Greens are famous for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory...they may well cost us the ACA this year after joining the right on the attacks on the ACA and promoting M4A which will never become law...but hey do a few million people's lives matter...when they stand in the way of the 'revolution'.

[beastie boy]

13. This is how revisionist history is made. Pick and choose.

FDR is probably responsible for more civilian deaths than any other US president. Truman dropped two A bombs on cities. Kennedy invaded Cuba. Johnson escalated the Vietnam war.

So if Obamas progressive record is nonsense, who is in your opinionated view a more progressive president?

[MarcA]

28. Agreed. And Democrats need to accept this reality. n/t

[lostnfound]

44. Citizens failed HIM, not other way around

We didn’t give him a Democratic Congress (both halves) after the first two years.

[Demsrule86]

9. And now the only insurance we have ever had is at risk...and once again it is not just

the right coming after it but the far left...we could lose it with this combined effort. It gives Roberts ET AL a reason to end the ACA...personally I will never never forgive the right or the left if this happens...now was not the time to push for M4A...millions of lives are at stake.

[NYMinute]

12. Obama's greatness lands him in the first tier of presidents

Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, FDR, JFK et al

[beastie boy]

17. Out of context.

Obamas comments were made in response to criticism that he is too extreme. It was obviously tongue in cheek.

[jalan48]

18. Obama's Chained CPI support..

Last spring, President Obama signaled to congressional Republicans that he was serious about a long-term debt-reduction deal. GOP leaders made it explicitly clear: if the White House really wants a deal, Obama will have to accept a change to how Social Security benefits are calculated – a policy called “chained CPI,” in reference to the Consumer Price Index.

To the severe disappointment of his progressive allies and Democratic base, the president agreed, including chained CPI in his budget as a demonstration of his commitment. “You’re serious about a deal?” Obama seemed to be saying. “I’m prepared to accept the Republicans’ top priority on entitlements – and I’m prepared to prove it by putting it my budget.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obama-moves-away-chained-cpi

[beastie boy]

20. And this erases Obama's record of progressive accomplishments... how?

See 13..

[jalan48]

21. Hagiography

The two halves of hagiography refer to holiness and writing, and it is something written about holy people. Originally, a hagiography was a biography of a saint written without skepticism or criticism. A hagiography idealizes the subject and puts them on a pedestal. These days, a hagiography is not necessarily written about a saint, but it still idolizes the subject. A hagiography makes the subject seems like a hero, or at least a wonderful, nearly perfect person.

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/hagiography

[beastie boy]

24. Holiography references notwithstanding, show me how any other US president

Was more progressive than Obama.
I am not attempting to document the Obama presidency in its entirety, I am arguing that he was more progressive than any other US president. To attempt a counter argument, you have to undertake a comparative analysis of Obama's progressive policies vs those of any other president. Good luck.

[brush]

45. On the domestic policy side LBJ's "Great Society" programs, to be frank,...

rank right up there with FDR's and outweigh even Barrack Obama's domestic legacy (and I'm a fan, but let's face it, repug obstructionism curbed much of what could've been). The foreign policy side is another matter.

[Eliot Rosewater]

35. THIS is how we will lose AGAIN

[yardwork]

15. Obama accomplished a lot (with Nancy Pelosi's partnership) but LBJ accomplished a lot too.

Civil Rights legislation, Medicare, Medicaid, increased safety nets against poverty - read about LBJ's Great Society.

[beastie boy]

22. Hard to argue with that.

The only thing I can offer in defense of my.sentiment is that LBJ' focus was mainly on the poor (including AAs and the elderly) and Obamas scope of accomplishments was more encompassing.

[Eliot Rosewater]

33. If LBJ was prez today a certain group would say he was not progressive enough.

They will say that about all of our candidates including Liz.

sad

[yardwork]

36. Same people said that about LBJ at the time.

Some people are never satisfied. They have a fantasy of a perfect government, a perfect nation. Anything less is unacceptable.

John Lennon had an excellent response to this unhealthy, unrealistic fantasy in his song Revolution. "You better free your mind instead."

[empedocles]

40. No way anyone could pass that LBJ body of work - since 1968

[pangaia]

16. Just a reply to this whole thread and not necessarily the OP..

OK... the Biden supporters agree. Others mostly not.

So, what else is new....


Here's what I would like to see.-

Supporters of Candidate #1- write a post supporting an other candidate.
Supporters of Candidate #2- write a post supporting an other candidate.
Supporters of Candidate #3- write a post supporting an other candidate.
Supporters of Candidate #4- write a post supporting an other candidate.
Supporters of Candidate #5- write a post supporting an other candidate.
Supporters of Candidate #6- write a post supporting an other candidate.
Supporters of Candidate #7- write a post supporting an other candidate.

UNDECIDED are excused.. like me...

[beastie boy]

19. As far as I am concerned, undecideds are the most valuable voices here.

You bring a sense of balance to this forum.

This is probably why there are a lot more of you than us. I would t dream of excluding you.

[pangaia]

23. Do I HAVE to take part?? LOLOL

OK here goes..

Bernie-- has great ideas and is passionate about them..
Joe-- is trustworthy and honest and experienced
Liz-- is brilliant and knows the ins and outs of the danger of what is going on
Pete-- is young and perhaps the most 'centered' of them all.
Michael-- has enough money to help many. many democrats in various elections throughout the country
Tom-- I really do NOT know much at all about him..
Amy-- is smart, patient(as far as I can tell),
Andrew-- Don;t know much..
Tulsi-- um.. sorry--- here I draw the line...

Did I miss anybody who is still standing?

[beastie boy]

25. Yes you do! And thanks for your input.

[pangaia]

30. HAHA...

Whew. my day's hard work is done....

[yardwork]

37. Good summary!

[Bayard]

26. I am copying your comments, Beastie

To argue with my trumper brother when need be.

Comparing Obama to tRump is like comparing comparing Gandhi to the Marquis de Sade.

[Eliot Rosewater]

29. Well yes, true, but he didnt fix every problem created by over TWO HUNDRED YEARS

of fuck ups and there was a shitload of it.

Not all fuck ups, but lots.

I cant say out loud what ALL of that over 200 yrs had in common that Obama did not have in common with them without taking HEAPS of shit for it, but yes, he was EXPECTED to fix it all.

And instead of congratulating him for what he did do, what did many do? SIT AT HOME during the off year elections to show their anger that he didnt fix EVERYTHING.

Those same people are today supporting a NON democratic candidate, by the way.

[YOHABLO]

32. You must be very young.

[yardwork]

38. You know, as a boomer I have to say that's not a helpful response.

Young people are our future. Rather than picking on them for being young, let's team up with them. Together we can be very powerful.

I don't remember WWI but as a child I knew people who did. They had experienced things we can only imagine.

[beastie boy]

39. Yes I am. Over 60 years old.

[Baked Potato]

34. President Obama's presidency will be the high bar for generations to come

Against all odds and unrelenting attacks his administration got things done honestly and righteously. He inspired the world.

His campaign magnets are still on our refrigerator. Best President ever.

[totodeinhere]

41. President Obama will have his place in history as one of our great presidents. However,

LBJ saw a lot of progressive legislation passed during his administration. Of course the Viet Nam War was his downfall, but that should not detract from his great accomplishments on the domestic front.

[Gothmog]

42. President Obama was a great POTUS and I am mad at attacks on ihs record

[dsc]

46. To be honest legislatively he didn't do a ton for gay rights

though it would be more than any predecessor. Hate crimes passed and ending DADT passed that is it in terms of LGBT rights. Hate crimes was pretty much a done deal as long as we had any Dem in the White House (Bush's veto pen prevented it from passing earlier). I would put Obama a little below Bill Clinton on gay rights though quite superior on transgender rights. Bill Clinton opened up every government agency to LGB employees save the uniformed military and there he was defeated. Bill Clinton appointed 2 of the justices which voted for all of Lawrence v Texas, Windsor v US, and Obergefell v Hodges, appointed the first LGBT sub cabinet officials, the first LGBT ambassador, and the first LGBT federal judge. Obama appointed two of the votes for Windsor and Obergefell, and appointed a number of LGBT officials. He also opened up government employment to transgender and got DADT repealed.