2016 Postmortem

sonofspy777

(360 posts) Thu Dec 31, 2015, 02:10 PM Dec 2015

Just What Happened to President Obama? [View all]

Fired Up! Ready to Go!

Millions thought we had elected a progressive candidate to the presidency.

1) Either you believe that Pres. Obama fully intended to be a populist POTUS.

OR

2) What he said about helping us/working for the disenfranchised during the campaign was mere rhetoric.

If 1) is TRUE, what happened to change his actions/focus? Was it just diminished expectations?
Was it a belief that Republicans would work with him? Why wasn't he more firm when it became
abundantly clear that they would not cooperate under any circumstances? Or was it something else?

If 2) is TRUE, wouldn't that require that we more carefully gauge the veracity of statements
made on the campaign trail by a study of the candidate's previous record, so we would have a
greater assurance that our candidate would follow through on what his/her platform states
is the plan of action to achieve the desired result.

THIS SHOULD BE OUR DEFAULT RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR LAST
CANDIDATE...NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON!

162 replies

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Highlight:

Just What Happened to President Obama? [View all] sonofspy777 Dec 2015 OP

.. Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #1

This ^^^^^^^^^ liberal N proud Dec 2015 #17

Really? sonofspy777 Dec 2015 #27

Just because you want to reheat this shit over and over.... Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #35

On DU everything gets hashed and rehashed Armstead Dec 2015 #45

And that "Oh God, Not This Shit Again" meme has been around the entire time. Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #52

Yes that meme gets hashed and rehashed too Armstead Dec 2015 #53

It's handy that way Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #55

One good meme deserves another I guess Armstead Dec 2015 #60

What 'shit' are you talking about? sabrina 1 Jan 2016 #138

Exactly rjsquirrel Dec 2015 #71

To me, it was definitely number two and Broward Dec 2015 #2

yep 840high Dec 2015 #15

Obama changed his elegance - TPP is selling US out. Ferd Berfel Dec 2015 #20

Yeperr! sonofspy777 Dec 2015 #21

Obama was expected to be an FDR president without an FDR congress... uponit7771 Jan 2016 #92

Obama expected to be King (and I don't mean Martin Luther) Proserpina Jan 2016 #106

How did he throw all his supporters under the bus? This is a direct Sanders meme that isn't supporte uponit7771 Jan 2016 #111

This was common knowledge from the First Obama term and has nothing to do with Sanders Proserpina Jan 2016 #112

Common knowledge is false on its face, I'm not asking this question cause I'm a LIV ... I"m uponit7771 Jan 2016 #114

This message was self-deleted by its author INdemo Jan 2016 #152

Was Obama out of his league? INdemo Jan 2016 #158

Conservatives seem to think so, that's my first hint there's something wrong with that line of... uponit7771 Jan 2016 #159

Reality is a bitch BlueStateLib Dec 2015 #3

The POTUS is not a king he has to work with congress awake Dec 2015 #4

+1000 narnian60 Dec 2015 #18

This is true... Blanks Dec 2015 #49

Quite true! He has been constantly blocked in about everything he's accomplished. I admire RKP5637 Dec 2015 #54

Except the things he's done that are most egregious have nothing to do with Congress. Maedhros Dec 2015 #56

Technically one of the most successful presidents legislatively get ~ 80% of his agenda done uponit7771 Jan 2016 #93

bern enid602 Jan 2016 #153

Obama has progressive accomplishments. Eric J in MN Dec 2015 #5

True this^^^ nt sonofspy777 Dec 2015 #28

Not really so progressive AZ Progressive Dec 2015 #67

Regarding the Supreme Court, I meant that Eric J in MN Dec 2015 #73

But did he light his hair on fire and make it rain Snickers bars? No?!?!!? Well there it uponit7771 Jan 2016 #95

Hmmmm low posts redstateblues Dec 2015 #6

So what? -none Dec 2015 #12

my original multi-thousand don't exist any more.. nt sonofspy777 Dec 2015 #22

It is a known Old Codger Dec 2015 #7

Bullshit. JoePhilly Dec 2015 #8

+1 Rose Siding Dec 2015 #41

He sabotaged his entire Presidency with three words: "I got this." Scuba Dec 2015 #9

Yes. Wouldn't it have been nice if he had asked us to fight jwirr Dec 2015 #82

Someone needs to "ask" people to do what they already should be doing?! No wonder, FDR was expected uponit7771 Jan 2016 #96

I think Obama was detained between the swearing in ceremony and the Oval Office... -none Dec 2015 #10

Actually it was the unedited version of the Zapruder film that he was shown tularetom Dec 2015 #51

Yep, just like Bill Hicks used to say, in a clip that used to be posted here fairly frequently. kath Dec 2015 #72

You could be correct on that. -none Jan 2016 #86

I think what Pres. Obama accomplished in the first two years of his presidency is proof he intended Attorney in Texas Dec 2015 #11

True....Our nominee this time has to hold the Republicans accountable for all that they have done. virtualobserver Dec 2015 #64

Lost hope or Saw reality?! Without a congress to help him how was his agenda supposed to be complete uponit7771 Jan 2016 #97

He did not work as hard as he could have or should have to campaign for a better congress in 2010 or Attorney in Texas Jan 2016 #141

What specific actions should he have taken? "push" is nebulous at best, there's a congress to deal uponit7771 Jan 2016 #148

The executive actions Obama is taking now should have been taken in 2011. From the 2010 cycle to now Attorney in Texas Jan 2016 #156

EOs would not have given the left the agenda it wanted, there's no reasonable argument... uponit7771 Jan 2016 #157

I was miffed at his appointments right after getting into office. Juicy_Bellows Dec 2015 #13

I agree. sonofspy777 Dec 2015 #24

Most consequential and transformational president in my lifetime. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2015 #14

In what ways? cali Dec 2015 #30

Most consequential and transformational has got to go to GW Bush. Juicy_Bellows Dec 2015 #46

What about St. Ronnie of Rayguns? He did a lot of awful shit, which this country has still not kath Dec 2015 #74

Yeah, can't argue with that - we've had some real shitty ones. nt. Juicy_Bellows Dec 2015 #76

He had a rubberstamping Congress too Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2016 #117

Try 2 months with a dem majority in both houses brush Jan 2016 #128

He had a supermajority for a couple of months Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2016 #140

Super-majority is the key word brush Jan 2016 #142

I agree, which is the same point I was trying to make Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2016 #150

Yes. brush Jan 2016 #151

+1, ~80% of his promises done with only 59 days of congressional majority and a congress uponit7771 Jan 2016 #98

The voters on the left failed. Skidmore Dec 2015 #16

Well said. narnian60 Dec 2015 #19

The Goldman Sachs style cabinet appointments were Obama's first move as President. Romulox Dec 2015 #25

Yeah, part of a grand conspiracy on his part. Skidmore Dec 2015 #29

No conspiracy. He campaigned from the Left, governed from the Right. nt Romulox Dec 2015 #32

Whatever. Skidmore Dec 2015 #33

What a *devastating* come back. But then, facts just aren't on your side, so... Romulox Dec 2015 #36

No. Just sick of hearing how all of what ills this nation Skidmore Dec 2015 #38

This is a political message board, not a Skidmore echo chamber. Romulox Dec 2015 #39

Those aren't facts they're half truths and sophistry, Obama didn't do anything any other progressive uponit7771 Jan 2016 #100

Barack failed first ... GeorgeGist Jan 2016 #154

We did. We failed. sonofspy777 Dec 2015 #26

No, he didn't. You just weren't listening. MineralMan Dec 2015 #40

He famously took Single Payer "off-the-table" before negotiations began. nt Romulox Dec 2015 #48

+1 n/t area51 Jan 2016 #88

Right, proffering useless suggestions somehow progresses conversations!?!?! So somehow uponit7771 Jan 2016 #102

Don't you know ... a "moral victory", i.e., a righteous loss ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2016 #118

+1, it's like they're repeating the same things different days and expecting different results... uponit7771 Jan 2016 #119

They do ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2016 #123

Perhaps, that's because President Obama, Nancy and Reed ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2016 #116

Oh, you remember all the "that was a pretty speech" comments from the ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2016 #115

Yes! And when the bully pulpit is all they have as an argument treestar Jan 2016 #122

This is false on its face uponit7771 Jan 2016 #101

Yeaaaah, I'm gonna have go ahead and disagree. progressoid Dec 2015 #50

All true....But he didn't help when he supported bad stuff and/or failed to push for real change Armstead Dec 2015 #59

Which heralded president hasn't done exactly what Obama has done? tia uponit7771 Jan 2016 #103

only voters the left did that? noiretextatique Dec 2015 #63

The left is Always Wrong™ Scootaloo Dec 2015 #78

The hippie-punching beltanefauve Jan 2016 #124

People expected and FDR president without and FDR congress and that's my thorn with Sanders... uponit7771 Jan 2016 #99

+1 they needed to support him treestar Jan 2016 #120

It's disappointing how many DUers don't seem to understand we have three branches of government stevenleser Jan 2016 #133

LOL, wrong. 31% Hispanic & Asian / 44% Black / 49% White SMC22307 Jan 2016 #162

Obama wasn't what he pretended to be. It's that simple. nt Romulox Dec 2015 #23

Absofuckinlutely. We were HAD. Big time. kath Dec 2015 #80

Other than TPP Obama has been Superman. His accomplishments in the face of randys1 Dec 2015 #31

This. nt Skidmore Dec 2015 #34

yes handmade34 Dec 2015 #37

Yes mcar Dec 2015 #47

+1 !!! I don't know how in the hell Sanders would do any better other than proffer useless legislati uponit7771 Jan 2016 #104

Obama is the same as he has always been. there is a lot of revisionism of what happened JI7 Dec 2015 #42

+1 ... Exactly! n/t 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2016 #121

Obama was EXTREMELY popular here in the run-up to the election. I was here. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2016 #125

i was here also. kucinich and edwards had more support JI7 Jan 2016 #126

I was not active here then but I have NO problem believing you.. randys1 Jan 2016 #129

Once Obama was declared the nominee, he had huge support here. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2016 #130

there are limits about what people can post once there is a nominee JI7 Jan 2016 #131

With the exception of the PUMAs (of course), people here were largely behind Obama. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2016 #132

fact is he had little support compared to kucinich and edwards JI7 Jan 2016 #134

I already specified AFTER the primary was decided. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2016 #135

You are absolutely right. The man has never enjoyed huge support on DU Number23 Jan 2016 #160

"Just What Happened to President Obama?" handmade34 Dec 2015 #43

Thank you! So much this. Skidmore Dec 2015 #44

+1, "He didn't ask us to fight" is the height of laziness uponit7771 Jan 2016 #105

Rahm Emmanuel s bff tell a you all you need to know. elehhhhna Dec 2015 #57

He accomplished a significant amount. From the ACA, Lilly ledbetter act, still_one Dec 2015 #58

Continued war, increased inequality, bankers bailed out, mainstreet left out, etc. nt Romulox Dec 2015 #61

Not going to waste my time in a dialog with you explaining how a Great Depression was still_one Jan 2016 #89

Yeap, he was imperfect just like all the other heralded presidents of the left but lets leave uponit7771 Jan 2016 #107

Nothing 'happened' to Obama. Maedhros Dec 2015 #62

Only the narrow-minded and perpetually unhappy can't see his accomplishments. randome Dec 2015 #65

Here's fifty accomplishments of the Obama Administration lovemydog Dec 2015 #66

obama NEVER EVER HAD A FILBUSTER PROOF MAJORITY. he tried to play w/ the GOP too long tho. pansypoo53219 Dec 2015 #68

Obama has not changed however his voters let the MSM turn their view and I Todays_Illusion Dec 2015 #69

"Hope & Change" was just another clever campaign slogan.....nothing more. bvar22 Dec 2015 #70

THIS! kath Dec 2015 #81

So how is any other president going to be different without congress?!??! tia uponit7771 Jan 2016 #109

You make them a deal they can't refuse. bvar22 Jan 2016 #137

So the people who literally spend 24 billion in a government shut down can be dealt with by offering uponit7771 Jan 2016 #149

The problem with say...HealthCare was not the Republicans, bvar22 Jan 2016 #155

Where have you been hiding since 2008 in some cave... Historic NY Dec 2015 #75

I think he wanted to Scootaloo Dec 2015 #77

Agree with everything you say senz Dec 2015 #84

Geeze folks, give the new member a chance to get used to this place! Paper Roses Dec 2015 #79

I had very low expectations for Obama and was plesantly surprised comradebillyboy Dec 2015 #83

I think Obama meant (and means) well. senz Dec 2015 #85

Obama ran as an uber-bipartisan. joshcryer Jan 2016 #87

We failed him and ourselves loyalsister Jan 2016 #90

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2016 #91

This is the root of their campaign, they loath the guy but herald someone who's pretty much saying uponit7771 Jan 2016 #110

#1), and the Republican's strategy of wanting him to fail is what happened. Motown_Johnny Jan 2016 #94

The GOP has demonstrated no interest in actually working with Democrats. guillaumeb Jan 2016 #108

There are different Obamas. CJCRANE Jan 2016 #113

Oh, would that life would just give us all Skidmore Jan 2016 #139

Ahhh . . . he's not running. brush Jan 2016 #127

He wanted ACA to be his legacy, so he... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jan 2016 #136

"Gave up" what? brush Jan 2016 #143

I have no idea what your questioning... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jan 2016 #144

Check you post. Seems there's a typo. brush Jan 2016 #145

Ah, spotted the typo... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jan 2016 #146

No, the typo in your original ACA legacy post brush Jan 2016 #147

Did something happen? I always thought he was a slightly hawkish moderate anigbrowl Jan 2016 #161