Everyone says Biden is the most consequential president of our lifetime

[iemanja]

but what about Obama? Thoughts?

[3catwoman3]

1. Thoughts - here's mine. If Joe is the most consequential president...

...of our lifetimes, then why did those responsible for messaging do such a piss poor job of revving up voter enthusiasm? All this after-the-fact praise and thanks from some at the top rings a little hollow in view of the massive pile on to dump him.

My heart aches for President Biden and his family.

I think the Harris/Walz team will win and will do a great job, but the whole thing has left a bad taste in mouth, so to speak.

[iemanja]

2. No disrespect to Biden

He's worthy of great respect and admiration, but I think Obama is getting shorted in these discussions.

[WarGamer]

12. 100%

Obama is a singular politician

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. Everyone says?

C’mon Jack, quit joking around…

I think the ghosts of Lincoln and FDR might disagree.

[ITAL]

10. I assume no one here was alive for Lincoln

And very few for FDR.

[Fiendish Thingy]

22. And yet, both of them greatly affected our lives today. Nt

[ITAL]

25. Well

Basically everything in the past does if you want to go that route - one could just as easily pick a Washington or a Polk. I believe the post was meant to be presidents we were alive for.

[DFW]

19. Depends on how seriously you take the OP's "in our lifetime."

Although...there are times when I feel like I'm 250 years old, so I suppose I shouldn't count anything out.........

[edisdead]

48. Of our lifetime.

[MiKenMi33]

4. Obama was a good President.

President Biden probably saved our democracy. My vote goes to Joe. His quote: “America, I gave my best to you!”

[DemonGoddess]

5. He is the most consequential President

of MY lifetime, yes. Other great presidents were in office looooooong before I was born.

[jcgoldie]

6. Love Joe Biden...

Quite a bit of recency bias involved in some of these opinions nonetheless I feel.

[BannonsLiver]

37. 100 percent

Obama doesn’t get the respect he deserves from a lot of people on DU.

[moondust]

7. I would just say

because Obama broke a huge glass ceiling in being elected which soon led to the Tea Party and deep radicalization of the (racist, birther) GQP who would do anything to sink him, I think he had to be very careful and walk a fine line so as to not create even more havoc and rage possibly leading to violence.

[3catwoman3]

14. He absolutely had to walk a ridiculously...

…fine line, which had to be so frustrating.

[Tree Lady]

17. And caused people like my husband

to think Obama squandered his capital the first few years and should have done more.

He was trying so hard to be like Lincoln and love both sides he missed some opportunities.

[wnylib]

18. Missed opportunities? Obama saved us from an economic depression.

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He got the Affordable Care Act passed.

He restored respect, dignity, intelligence, (and coherent speech) to the White House.

He got OBL.

He broke the glass ceiling on race.

Very consequential.

No other president in my lifetime has achieved as much as Joe Biden in just one term, but Barack Obama was an outstanding president in his own accomplishments.

[Tree Lady]

20. I know how much he has done

but my husband expected him to do so much more.

Reminds me of how people get upset when politicians can't do all they promise to try for when campaigning. They don't think about laws having to pass congress or money it takes and where that will come from.

I love Obama, think he did great and his burden was fighting so much racism.

[True Dough]

30. I wrestle with how much blame Obama deserves for not accomplishing even more

I believe he thought he could work across the aisle but then it became clearer and clearer that the evil Mitch McConnell et al. would use every advantage that they could find, by hook or by crook, to further their agenda. Like obstructing Obama from appointing Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, for example. That said, I don't know how well Garland would have been viewed years later considering the mixed reviews since serving as Attorney General.

[BannonsLiver]

38. Your husband is uninformed and wrong, then.

[Tree Lady]

42. Not into politics like me

we don't talk about it even though he's on the left or we get into argument.

[newdeal2]

8. I love Obama, but remember Biden was VP too

He's already ranked #14 best presidents of all time, very close to both Obama and Clinton. He is only moving up, especially when Kamala wins.

[vanlassie]

9. Trump is an existential threat.

Obama was a historic president, but the stakes were nowhere as serious. And I think Obama played small, but of course this is a hindsight observation. Biden was the right person and the right time and had the experience to play big.

[speak easy]

11. LBJ

Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Medicare, Medicare.

(and LBJ was certainly the most consequential for the 50,000 who died in Vietnam, and the 100,000s more who came home with physical and psychic injuries)

[Babywhale]

34. You Nailed It!

Definitely LBJ.

[JI7]

13. Obama was a great President but the time of his presidency was different

Bill Clinton explained it once how he could never be in the same category as Lincoln. Washington, FDR etc becsuse he was not President during such challenging times.

W Bush is an example of a President during such times but unlike Lincoln , FDR etc was a total failure.

Obama was similar to Clinton and both were great Presidents.

[Quiet Em]

15. different times,

different scenarios and context. Both have broken barriers. Both have been exceptional Presidents. Each are going to have unique legacies in the history books. And both will be considered very consequential Presidents in our lifetime.

[FlyingPiggy]

16. While I absolutely loved Obama, he never had to deal w the madness of maga.

I think Biden has had to deal w SO MUCH more pressing issues than before. He inherited a dumpster fire from the inadequacies of the trump administration. He kept us alive after covid and kept us from completely tanking into a recession. He improved our national infrastructure and gave millions relief from their unscrupulous student loans. He kept drug prices down too. All in 4 yrs while being CONSTANTLY attacked 24/7. He was an incredible fighter, president, and american. I am truly thankful for his administration. 🇺🇸

[BannonsLiver]

39. And Obama walked into an economy that was in collapse and all of W's problems in Iraq.

You think Obama had it easy with those tea party nuts and Mitch? GMAFB, 🙄

[canetoad]

21. Not only that

Tonight he ascended from Democratic hero to living legend.

I think history will remember Joe Biden very kindly.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

32. That speech and exit assured his place in the history books

When Harris wins Biden will be spoken of for his self-sacrifice, and putting country before himself.
I see Obama as an inspirational JFK figure, but Biden more in the LBJ mold. Both are great in their own ways.

[Johnny2X2X]

23. Obama was a great President

The ACA was a big effin deal. He killed Bin Laden and ended the Iraq War. But he faced incredible opposition. Joe got more done somehow. American Rescue Plan, Bi-partiasan infrastructure deal, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, PACT Act. That's 5 major pieces of legislation, 3 of whcih on their own would be the crowning achievment for most Presidencies. He has done amazing work on Studnt Loans, ended the War in Afghanistan, and much much more.

But his crowning achievment was defeating Donald trump and preventing the USA from falling into fascism. And he's likely to have done that twice with his stepping aside to let Kamala pick up the torch. America owes Joe Biden a great debt. He has literally saved the country.

[iemanja]

24. From your mouth

To God’s ears. We still have to make it happen. GOTV!

[TBF]

45. LBJ for me - although Obama & Carter are my sentimental favorites

Carter because he hands down showed his compassion/conviction with his Habitat for Humanity work well into his golden years. Obama because he broke barriers and really focused on making healthcare more assessable for all.

LBJ for the obvious reasons - civil rights, social security, clean air & water - all things republicans will get rid of if given the chance (see Project 2025).

[mcar]

26. Love Obama, but Biden has surpassed him in accomplishments

and doing all that he has done in less than 4 years with a divided Congress full of lunatics makes his accomplishments even more stunning.

[Self Esteem]

27. I think Biden got more done than Obama.

With that said, the ACA is a more visible and significant piece of solo legislation than anything Biden got through. That will always have a greater legacy.

But on the whole? Biden delivered more consistently imo

[Clash City Rocker]

28. Biden and Obama are the two best presidents of my lifetime

Building one of them up doesn’t tear down the other.

Oh, and that “everyone says” bit makes you sound like Trump. I wouldn’t recommend it.

[bucolic_frolic]

29. Joe was the final consult on Obama decisions as has been widely told

You can't beat senior wisdom.

[applegrove]

31. Obamacare is a pretty big deal. I think getting states

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in the middle east to stop promoting and funding jihad is big (Not including Iran obviously). Islamic terrorism has decreased in the West. Saving the Economy from the subprime mortgage implosion was big too. Apples and oranges. And Obama faced so much manipulation in Congress to stop his agenda. Biden has to face off against MAGA and the right wing oligarchs. But he did get some great policy through.

[catbyte]

33. Obama and Biden were consequential in different ways to me.

I remember how thrilled everyone was with the historic nature of Obama's presidency. As a Michigander, I will be forever grateful to him for saving the auto industry. He broke barriers and righted the sinking ship that W left us (as usual.) He got Bin Laden. Obamacare.

Biden saved us from another disastrous term of that vile thing, passed monumental legislation with razor-thin majorities in Congress, and brought kindness and decency back to the White House. And by passing the torch, as uncomfortable as I am by the ham-handed way it was done, he may have just saved our country.

Especially if we defeat that foul fascist, I've gotta hand it to Joe.

[FirefighterJo]

35. Personally i think Obama

He was the one who moved the wheels. Not even as a president but as the first senator to go out into the half circle and oppose the Gore-Bush debacle. As a freshman black senator no less! He instigated Joe who instigates Kamala now. The wheels are grinding now. Since Obama change is happening.

[Ping Tung]

36. Carter was the the most decent president of my lifetime.

[onenote]

40. During my lifetime: its a toss-up between Trump and LBJ

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The posts here seem to define "consequential" as "accomplishing things we like." But consequential is not synonymous with "positive." It's ordinary meaning is "significant" and "long lasting."

The case for Trump starts with his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who have been instrumental in making decisions that are having a significant, albeit highly negative, impact on our country, starting with overturning Roe v. Wade. Trump's appellate court and district court appointments also are having an over-sized impact on what were previously established norms or on efforts by the Biden administration. And Trump's fomenting of insurrection and his creating a safe space for white nationalist extremists to come out of the shadows will have a lasting impact. And, hard as it may be to admit it, it was his Supreme Court appointees that played a major role in preserving a democracy by rejecting time and time again the efforts of Trump and his MAGA cult to overturn the results of the 2020 election. His tax legislation also was highly significant as was his mishandling of the COVID pandemic. Thus, while its not a pretty picture at all, its undeniably a "consequential" record.

The case for LBJ starts with his helping the country heal after JFK's assassination. He pushed forward revolutionary civil rights and social safety net legislation that impacted millions of lives over the past several generations, at least until the current Trump judiciary has tried to undo those laws. On the negative side, his handling of Vietnam was probably the most consequential, and disastrous, foreign policy action of my lifetime and had an impact, some good and some bad, on how the nation views foreign issues ever since.

Joe Biden is a good man and has been an excellent president. The legislation he pushed through includes several consequential measures. But overall, his presidency hasn't and probably couldn't have, given the hand he was dealt, overcome the lasting harm created by the Trump presidency.

[maxsolomon]

43. Consequences can be good or bad.

Bush the Lesser got the US into 2 unwinnable wars, one entirely voluntarily and based on transparent lies. They lasted decades, destroyed any claim we'll ever have to a moral high ground, and achieved little if anything except destruction and death. Iraq, in particular, was a non-stop War Crime. The needless deaths of 10s of 1,000s, Fallujah, the Yazidi, the rise of ISIS. It goes on and on.

That's pretty consequential.

[Jk23]

44. In my Lifetime Johnson and Obama are much more consequential.

And If we are to be honest, so are Reagan and Nixon, though not for the same reasons. Consequential doesn't mean on the side of the angels after all.

[TBF]

47. Agree - in terms of "consequential" but more negative, Reagan is high on the list.

He really opened the door for the far-right forces that are now in charge of the republican party.

[Happy Hoosier]

46. To quote Uncle Joe...

... the ACA is a "Big Fuckin' Deal"

Joe is the most legislatively effective President in modern history, but I still think of Obama as the most transformative President.

Plus, I fuckin' love that man. Michelle too.

[iemanja]

49. Obama just makes me happy

I love the guy. It's intangible.

[Autumn]

50. The facts are in. The Biden Harris administration has done more for Americans than

any administration since FDR. That was 79 years ago. History will prove it even though the media denies and hides their achievements.

[Keepthesoulalive]

51. All of our democratic presidents

Have been consequential. They have had to clean up messes intentional or unintentional.
They have all moved the country forward. If many Americans were not so racist, sexist and lazy.
We could have made great strides as a country health care for everyone, schools where children can learn, corporations that are responsible to the public instead of shareholder and don’t get me started on the Supreme Court. I hope that Kamala can continue the tradition of great democratic presidents.
Only if we get out the vote .

[H2O Man]

52. JFK

Those of us who lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis know.

[WarGamer]

53. Recency Bias:

"Taylor Swift is the most consequential musical artist in history"