Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
1. I think that people had unrealistic expectations.
Wed Jun 10, 2015, 12:45 PM
Jun 2015

So many people were full of hope that Obama would truly be a transformative president. That by sheer force of his charisma and personality he could change Washington. The media fueled those unrealistic expectations. Obama was compared to Lincoln and FDR, often to both at the same time. I remember someone at Time magazine writing a column stating that Obama's intellect was so far ahead of that of most people that he was almost doing us a favor by choosing to run for president. What a load of hogwash!!!

The truth is that Obama was a very bright and ambitious politician with a wafer thin resume. He was like a Rorschach test, voters ascribed to him traits that more often reflected their own expectations than reality. Of course they were bound to be disappointed when he turned out to be an average centrist Democrat.



As for voting in 2016, do these people think that they would be better off with a Republican president? They should vote, but this time with eyes wide open.

I think that people had unrealistic expectations. Beacool Jun 2015 #1
Precisely Sherman A1 Jun 2015 #8
This may be a biased opinion, but I found candidate Obama to be too slick. Beacool Jun 2015 #11
I have to agree Sherman A1 Jun 2015 #16
I doubt that Hillary will lose the nomination, Beacool Jun 2015 #21
We will see Sherman A1 Jun 2015 #22
Yes, time will tell. Beacool Jun 2015 #23
He is not in his mid-seventies. He is six years old than she is. And he has always stood for the merrily Jun 2015 #27
He's going to be 74 years old in September. Beacool Jun 2015 #34
I agree. murielm99 Jun 2015 #29
I won't expand on this because there's no point anymore. Beacool Jun 2015 #35
I agree about the unrealistic expectations to an extent davidpdx Jun 2015 #25
He only had two years in the Senate when he decided to run for president. Beacool Jun 2015 #33
Sorry it was closer to three as he resigned shortly after he was elected davidpdx Jun 2015 #37
Hillary was on her second term as senator when she ran for president. Beacool Jun 2015 #38
There are 535 senators and representatives Cosmocat Jun 2015 #32
+1 Blue_Tires Jun 2015 #39
Damage control is never glamorous. malthaussen Jun 2015 #2
Never expected much from Obama, and always thought he was close to the same as Clinton. Xyzse Jun 2015 #3
Nope Robbins Jun 2015 #4
Just another suppress the vote tactic. GeorgeGist Jun 2015 #5
You nailed it. Politics is a long game. Changes don't happen overnight. n/t FSogol Jun 2015 #6
Exactly correct. JoePhilly Jun 2015 #9
+ struggle4progress Jun 2015 #20
When these particulat group looks at a Ballot for POTUS Sheepshank Jun 2015 #7
The problem seems to be that some of these people will never see that ballot. Beacool Jun 2015 #10
That is what they are hoping for... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2015 #14
Yes, things are looking better in TX than they used to in past elections. Beacool Jun 2015 #15
Bill Clinton's policies hurt black Americans more than anything Obama could ever do. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #12
I see their point Doctor_J Jun 2015 #13
i sure wish we had a DISLIKE BUTTON on this website. trueblue2007 Jun 2015 #17
Me too Proud Liberal Dem Jun 2015 #18
I'm reminded of a Chris Rock comment. Obama should have allowed the country to go bankrupt. GusFring Jun 2015 #19
Even though I don't support Clinton, it's not really fair to say don't vote for Clinton davidpdx Jun 2015 #24
I thought it was a condescending article olddots Jun 2015 #26
Luckily, Hillary is not their only choice at this point. Far be it from WAPO to point that out. merrily Jun 2015 #28
I'm not let down by president Obama caine1969 Jun 2015 #30
AMEN and Welcome!! Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #36
I wonder how widespread these sentiments are. potone Jun 2015 #31
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Let Down By Obama, Some B...»Reply #1