Where are the former Presidents?

[Greyhead]

Trump is shitting on the USA. And not a peep from them. They should be locked in arms with us today!!

[Walleye]

1. Definitely W. should do something, if he hadn't done his war Trump wouldn't be able to do his

[Jack Valentino]

38. .... which makes him EXACTLY the wrong guy--- and he probably still believes that

waging his Iraq war was 'the right thing to do'




(As an aside, I previously believed that the Republicans could never 'elect' a president
who would be worse than George W. Bush----

In comparison, I was grievously mistaken!)

[Greyhead]

2. Just saw this

Just went on Raw Story and there was this article. https://www.rawstory.com/trump-former-presidents/
Haven’t had a chance to read it as we’re off the the No Kings protest

[SocialDemocrat61]

4. F**k Ralph Nader

He screwed Al Gore and helped give us Bush. He’s done enough damage and needs to shut up.

[Greyhead]

6. I agree on Gore

What’s wrong with asking the former presidents to stand with us.

[SocialDemocrat61]

10. They have no obligation to do so

They are retired.

[Inkey]

51. No

They were entrusted to help our
Nation to move forward and protect us
from our enemies from within.

[canetoad]

58. For the term/s

To which they were elected. Stop dishing on former presidents. There's nothing material they can do.

[luv2fly]

52. The OP simply asked a question

And you keep replying as though a demand was made. I could say this same thing to every one of your responses but.... no point in it.

[SocialDemocrat61]

66. It was

Trump is shitting on the USA. And not a peep from them. They should be locked in arms with us today!!

That’s a demand.

[Kid Berwyn]

79. Ralph Nader had every right to run for President.

Nader didn't design the butterfly ballot, nor did he decide Bush v. Gore.

[SocialDemocrat61]

80. Nader took money from republican donors

and used it to run ads attacking Al Gore with lies.

[Kid Berwyn]

81. Really? Do you have a source for that?

Ralph Nader doesn’t take PAC money.

[SocialDemocrat61]

82. Okay

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/GOP-donors-funding-Nader-Bush-supporters-give-2708705.php

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2004/03/28/naders-donor-list-includes-gop-backers/

https://www.nydailynews.com/2004/07/12/gop-bucks-boost-nader/

[Kid Berwyn]

84. Great. That was 2004.

The articles you kindly posted talk about the 2004 election.

Bush v Gore was 2000.

[SocialDemocrat61]

85. F**k Nader

Last edited Mon Mar 30, 2026, 08:15 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ralph-nader-was-indispens_b_4235065
And F**k Jill Stein too.

[Polybius]

32. ...

Biden is old and recovering from cancer, Clinton appears to not be in the best of health (he's had heart operations, his hands shake, and his voice is much softer and off-toned), and Bush doesn't give a shit about politics. Obama does speak out sometimes, but he is extremely dignified about it.

[betsuni]

71. Nader: "raids abroad" Clinton, Obama drones, "Genocide Joe" Biden -- "living luxurious lives" "AWOL" "cowards"

Both Sides! Blame Democrats! I, Ralph Nader, am an idiot, come join me trolling & ownin' the libs!

[SocialDemocrat61]

3. They are retired and

are not required to do anything. They served their country. Leave them alone.

[MyOwnPeace]

5. NO!

Too many people admire and respect them. Hearing from then would strengthen their thoughts and give them support and reason to do the right thing - TRUMP MUST GO!

[SocialDemocrat61]

11. They are not obligated to do anything

They served the country and are retired.

[snot]

16. No one is obligated to protest;

we do it if we want to further our own, others', or our country's welfare.

[SocialDemocrat61]

18. Exactly

[LeftInTX]

56. Primary them!!!!!! Vote them out!!!!

[Greyhead]

7. You never retire

I’m 80 years old and a Vietnam vet. Protested after my service and still protesting today. So don’t give this shit about they have done enough!!

[BigMin28]

8. I agree

Does their oath to the country end with their term?.

[SocialDemocrat61]

13. Actually it does

What gives you the right to demand that anyone else should do what you want?

[dpibel]

15. Yeah!

For instance, what gives anyone the right to demand that Trump stop tearing down the White House, or bombing Iran?

I mean, get real, people.

[SocialDemocrat61]

17. Trump is still the President

They are not.

[dpibel]

20. And so?

You didn't limit your rule to presidents.

You do know that when you say "anyone else," it has a meaning, and that meaning is not "president."

I do, however, congratulate you on your choice of meaningful hills to die on.

Then again, you're getting a lot of responses, so there's that...

[SocialDemocrat61]

22. As the current President his job is to serve the people.

The others are former Presidents who are private citizens and retired. Simple distinction.

Have a good day.

[dpibel]

35. I'd almost think you were being intentionally obtuse

But I'm willing to accept that you're not.

[SocialDemocrat61]

37. Why?

Because I know the difference between a sitting President versus retired ones who are now private citizens?

[dpibel]

40. Because, perhaps...

You seem not to understand the meaning of "anyone else."

It's your rule. You seem not to understand that.

I think it is not terribly challenging to say that "anyone else" does not mean "anyone except the sitting President."

English! It is an amazing tool!!

[SocialDemocrat61]

42. Thanks for the semantics lesson

Have a nice day!

[dpibel]

45. Always willing to try to help!

You have a real good day your own self.

WAIT!

You told me to HAVE A NICE DAY!

You have no right to tell me what to do.

Your rules.

[SocialDemocrat61]

47. I'm wishing you a good day

If you would rather have a miserable one, that's up to you.

[H2O Man]

62. "A time comes

when silence is betrayal." This quote is from Cleregy and Laymen Concerned, the group that hosted what I consider to be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's most important. speech on April 4, 1967. Indeed, Dr. King used that quote in his opening lines.

[SocialDemocrat61]

67. But they haven't been silent

They have all spoken out at various times. They just didn’t participate in today’s protest, which they, or anyone, has no obligation to do so.

[SocialDemocrat61]

12. Good for you

But no one is obligated to do what you want them to do. Thinking that anyone else should do what you want is acting like a dictator.

[dpibel]

41. Perhaps this will help

Apropos our other deep discourse:

If you say "no one is obligated to do what you want them to do," that means, at least as I understand the language, "not one single person." Can we agree that is what "no one" means?

If that is the case, then I'm just not seeing how you can insist that a sitting president, because he is the sitting president, is excluded from your rule, which is "no one."

I'm baffled how this can be so difficult!

[SocialDemocrat61]

43. Again thanks for the semantics lesson 🙂

Have a good night!

[dpibel]

46. Again, in these days, we must all try to help

But don't tell me what to do.

I might have a good night and I might not.

But you (and I think this is a fair rendering of your argument) are not the boss of me.

[SocialDemocrat61]

48. Then have whatever kind of night you want

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:26 PM - Edit history (1)

And have fun playing your semantics games. But when you don't have a factual argument to make...

[choie]

27. They got a lot from our country

They should give back by trying to save it.

[SocialDemocrat61]

29. They served the country

and are retired private citizens. They are not indentured servants for life.

[Keepthesoulalive]

60. You, won't win this one

They don’t realize how divisive this would be. I can’t say what I think because there are sensitive souls on this site. I’m with you.

[SocialDemocrat61]

68. Thanks

But not looking to win anything. It is a that instead of celebrating the success of today’s protests, some decided to apply a purity test and use to attack democrats.

[Raven123]

9. I see it differently

I think it is a waste of time and energy aiming at the former presidents. I don’t think they have enough influence to have an impact. Some have spoken out in the past, and I don’t think they have to speak out every day. Frankly I would rather the focus be on us, the protestors rather than former politicians. We are the movement.

[SocialDemocrat61]

14. Well said

[snot]

19. Presidents have generally tended not to criticize other presidents, BUT...

In April 2015, former president George W. Bush was seen as criticizing Obama, who took office after Bush served two terms, during a closed-door Republican Jewish Coalition meeting. Bush argued against Obama lifting sanctions in Iran and quoted the words of Sen. Lindsey Graham to denounce Obama’s policies in the region: “Pulling out of Iraq was a strategic blunder.”

Former President Clinton criticized the administration of his successor, George W. Bush, for failing to develop any political or democratic progress in Iraq. During a July 2007 interview, Clinton told Good Morning America, “The point is, that there is no military victory here.”

Former President Jimmy Carter ripped former president Ronald Reagan, who he lost the presidency to in 1980. Carter criticized Reagan for sending arms to Iran in hopes that Americans held captive in Lebanon would be released. Carter said Reagan mishandled the Iran-Contra affair and is ″making believe he’s telling the truth″ to the American people about it.

President Theodore Roosevelt criticized William H. Taft in a series of speeches, even though Roosevelt promoted Taft as his successor. Roosevelt referred to Taft as a traitor of reform, and criticized him for not advancing his progressive policies.

(https://apnews.com/article/archive-fact-checking-8879101524 .)

One might also argue: Are you a leader because you were elected to be a leader, or because you ARE a leader?

[SocialDemocrat61]

24. Yes they WERE elected to be leaders and they WERE leaders

when they were in office. But now they are out of office and retired private citizens with no obligation to you or me or anyone else. They are not indentured servants for life.

[choie]

28. They sure make buck off of their presidency

[SocialDemocrat61]

30. Good for them

They are still private citizens and are not obligated to do a anything. Two years ago they all campaigned for Harris and spoke out against Trump and the county still voted for him. Not their responsibility to do anything now

[sheshe2]

50. You are correct,

they campaigned for Harris and very vocal about the harm of another trump presidency.

Yet here we have an OP blaming a few former Presidents for not speaking out.

Where is the blame to reps that pushed for an 'Uncommitted Vote' and slammed Harris when she became our candidate so late in the game. She was our candidate, our only hope to take the White House and a 'group' that was very vocal at the time seemed to just disappear after her loss. If people don't understand that outside forces were to blame, then they haven't been paying attention.

[SocialDemocrat61]

64. Thanks

The thing is the former democratic presidents have spoken out out. They just weren’t involved in today’s protests. They have no obligation to have participated.

[betsuni]

69. Yes. Years of whining about bad "status quo" Democrats and suddenly, RESURRECTED! Save us!

Leadership is good now. An Easter miracle.

[Polybius]

34. Add Nixon to that list

He mildly criticized Carter during the Iran hostage situation, saying that he shouldn't have said war was off the table (even if it was), saying that a President should never say that. I actually agree with him, btw.

[usonian]

21. I am disappointed by their relative silence but "EYES ON THE PRIZE"

Speak up, Speak out.
Support the leaders who are speaking up and speaking out and holding the evil empire accountable

Don't look back.

[JI7]

23. They aren't silent but their influence is mostly among those already opposed to Trump

People on this site are always thinking certain individuals are needed instead of focusing on the larger numbers of people.

All of them strongly supported Kamala Harris. If they had so much influence Trump would never have been elected..

[flvegan]

25. Enjoying a nice retirement benefits package, for one.

Nice pension (not that any of those rich folks need it), health benefits, security detail, must be nice.

I'm not saying anything bad about any of them, just giving one answer to the question.

Hooray, us.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

26. Yeah!

And what about Taylor Swift?!

Maybe focus on the awesome turnout of Americans all over the country today!!

[SocialDemocrat61]

31. What about George Clooney and Jon Stewart too?

They had no problem with speaking out against Biden 2 years ago. Where are they now? 😉

[dpibel]

44. That's an excellent question!!

They should assuredly be speaking out. Because they are famous people with, unfortunately, a great deal of influence in this culture.

[tishaLA]

33. It would be a security nightmare

Plus we should keep the protests about the power of average citizens to foster change

[LeftInTX]

55. Really!!!!

[Dave says]

36. Obama has voiced his dissent

[betsuni]

39. Blame Democrats!

[SocialDemocrat61]

49. It is a shame that instead of celebrating

the success of the protests today, some are using it as an excuse to attack certain individuals and even whole communities of people.

[luv2fly]

54. It's a shame you can't differentiate a question from a demand. n/t

[SocialDemocrat61]

65. It's a shame you didn't read the OP

Trump is shitting on the USA. And not a peep from them. They should be locked in arms with us today!!

That is a demand.

[Scrivener7]

73. Actually, it isn't. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

[SocialDemocrat61]

75. Yes it is

[Scrivener7]

76. When someone says the word "should" to you, you feel "ordered"? That seems like a you problem.

[SocialDemocrat61]

77. Yes it is

[Scrivener7]

87. .

[SocialDemocrat61]

88. Have a nice day!

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:28 PM - Edit history (1)

And keep playing your silly semantics games, the tactic of liars and fools.

[luv2fly]

53. A question was asked, no blame was placed

But this is often your reply to anything you don't like so ... there is that.

[betsuni]

61. Blame betsuni!

[MorbidButterflyTat]

74. Yeah!

You and Taylor are in on this together, aren't you?!

[W_HAMILTON]

70. It's also accurate.

And this is a site specifically devoted to supporting Democrats. Blaming Democrats ‐- especially for terrible Republican behavior -- should be something we all "don't like."

[Keepthesoulalive]

57. To have the former president's at the rallies

Would not be helpful. America lost her mind when we elected the first black president. Bill and Hillary pissed off a lot of the electorate because she was a partner in his decision making. Joe Biden was an incredible president and his own party crapped on him. This needs to be a people’s awakening to save our country. Obama is helping us un gerrymander our country which is a lot more helpful than getting involved in everyday Americans coming together in protest and call out our demented tyrannical so called president.

[BannonsLiver]

63. Bush has said nothing.

But I don’t think there’s any credible case to be made that Obama has been quiet about Trump. People can make their own judgements about Biden and. Clinton. But Obama has been pretty vocal about where he stands.

[Intractable]

72. I think most of them are buried in various locations.

[Kid Berwyn]

78. Great Question. We don't need to show solidarity with NAZIs.

Disgusts me to see how quickly — and EASILY — trump has destroyed the Constitution.

[muriel_volestrangler]

83. It seems a little ironic to be talking about individuals who held the most powerful post in the world

when the idea of "No Kings" is that it's the collective will of the people, not individuals at the top, who should matter.

[pwb]

86. This is a movement by the people. Why give pukes a chance to say we are being lead

by anyone?