Obama looks physically bad.

[hamsterjill]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that he looks bad physically? He looks to me to have lost weight and his demeanor is subdued somewhat during press conferences.

For example, in the one he gave on Steven Sotloff, he barely looked at the camera.

I understand that he's under an enormous amount of pressure and I understand that stress does horrible things to people, even presidents. But good heavens, the change IMHO has been stark and swift. And it's not the color of his suits.

Anyone else noticing this?

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. He looks completely worn out.

I'm amazed that he has held on for as long as he has.

[Fred Sanders]

2. No. He looks as well as a man can in the face of relentless corporate media lies and distortions.

Not to mention the war mongers in his own party beating the drums and failing to push the agenda of the always right tan man.

Minimum wage, election reform, womans rights, etc. Get behind or get out.

Did I mention minimum wage and Medicaid expansion as well? Push these issues, push the barking dogs of war and lazy dogs of democracy aside.

[BlueCaliDem]

9. ^^^This!^^^

I don't envy this incredible man and what he has to face day-to-day. He never really got the support of his own Party ever since his first inauguration on January 20, 2009.

He's been hounded by American media still disguising as our Fourth Estate.

He's been attacked by billions of dollars worth of lies in ads by the Koch Bros.

He can't make a single step without having every single GOOPER use the above-mentioned media, unchallenged, to take his words out of context while members of his own Party refuse to correct the record, leaving it up to him.

And yet, through all of this, he's still fighting to make a change for the better for us.

How he stays sane through it all is a mystery to me.

[one_voice]

72. +1

[deathrind]

78. /\ this.

...and we share part of the blame as well. The right has only grown in size and become increasingly hostel while the left has done nothing.

As FDR said "It is a sad thing to be a leader and turn around to find no one there"

[Blue_Tires]

50. +1

[freshwest]

66. Powerful!

[sheshe2]

81. So much of this nation is on his shoulders

for the most part he carries it alone. No help, none. They leave the black man adrift, they always have. Yup, no white privilege for this black man.

I agree with you Fred,

Minimum wage, election reform, womans rights, etc. Get behind or get out.

VOTE THEM OUT! 2014! DO IT!

[conservaphobe]

3. Yes. I feel bad for the guy.

There's one shitstorm after another... through no fault of his own, really.

[hamsterjill]

10. Exactly.

I just hope he doesn't have something going on healthwise.

[yeoman6987]

27. He must have known this is how it is being

President. I doubt highly he is surprised. Politics are ugly and won't be any easier for the next in line.

[Skidmore]

45. I don't think any person entering that office could have expected the

amount of vitriol and blatant bigoted hatefulness thrown at this man. Not one soul. You need not look any further that that body of do-nothing racists sitting on the right side of the aisle in Congress to understand how emboldened people with such beliefs have become.

[crazylikafox]

48. agreed

[Jamastiene]

53. They were shitty to President Clinton too, minus the racism.

That's the only difference I see. They throw in the racism openly with President Obama. I don't know why. He went well over halfway across that aisle to try to work with them. So, I don't know what their fucking problem is. He gave them way more respect than they ever deserved and this is how they repay him. That could be why he looks beat. His plan to work with them and try to get anything done through compromises was met with the reality of just how horrid and worthless and unyielding they really are. Maybe he is just tired of the bullshit. I'd hate to be President of this country, honestly. I can't imagine anyone can pretend to be A-ok with it for very long. If I was pres, it would would take everything I had not to abuse my power and not just declare open civil war on the fucking Teabaggers and Repubs, honestly. It would take everything I had to not just use the entire force of the US military and government to go after them tooth and nail. They are unfuckingworthy to call themselves Americans or even humans. I'm guess Obama is slowly finally learning that and the stress of resisting that temptation is getting to him...any good person would cave under that kind of stress after a while of dealing with them.

[hamsterjill]

55. This is true, and Obama hasn't had the "Monica" issue.

n/t

[grasswire]

59. Bill Clinton surely expected it.

The ugly hatred toward him and his family was just as bad.

[freshwest]

67. ^^^This^^^ Plus full media compliance to the racist plutocrat agenda everywhere.

[lpbk2713]

4. And there are still those who piss and moan about his vacation time.

Yes I agree. I have been noticing the wear and tear on BO for some time now.

I some times wonder if he's had a decent night's sleep since he's been in office.

[JNelson6563]

5. Yes. Whenever I see him lately I am struck by how worn out he looks.

[hamsterjill]

13. It's striking, isn't it?

I've noticed a big difference in the last couple of weeks. I know he's under pressure, but I'm wondering if there is not something else going on that is being kept quiet. Whether that be a legitimate health issue (that does happen, even to U.S. Presidents), or something that is a behind-the-scenes crisis.

He looks like to me that he just doesn't feel good. I want him to succeed, and I wish him well. I hope whatever is going on will be something that he can get control of and regain that composure that I've seen in the past. His term is not over yet, and you can bet, neither are the problems!

[Aerows]

75. He does

The man needs to put some weight on him. Hell, he looks like he could use a hug.

[tridim]

6. I look bad after one stressful day at work.

Obama has 100 times the stress, every day, 24/7, and the media and half of the Government trashing him constantly.

He looks (and acts) amazing considering all this.

[Frustratedlady]

7. He has been on a run since way before his GOLF vacation, which was interrupted many times.

How anyone could take the abuse and criticism he has had to endure, with little or no help from this friends in the Democratic party, I might add, has taken its toll. I think he enjoys the trips out into the public, as they adore him and it gives him a lift. Has to. But, when he is being hit with so many crisis situations from all parts of the world, with no cooperation from the bums in Congress, how should he look.

I wonder how far this country would have progressed if it weren't for the Republican takeover of the House. We could have been so far into repair of our infrastructure and environmental improvements, it blows my mind.

In my opinion, the Republicans in Congress should be charged with treason for holding our country back...in fact, for regressing this country back to the days of the Depression. It will take forever for the sane to recover from the actions of the stupid.

[CJCRANE]

8. He's doing his best

to tread his way through a big neocon mess with little help from the MSM, the Repubs, his own party, and neocon stooges like Cameron, Abbott, Hollande etc.

[hamsterjill]

11. Agreed.

We all have to wonder, too, what he's dealing with as far as the crisis elements that no one else even knows about.

[CJCRANE]

19. And what's worse is that the Tea Party / GOPers

disapprove of Obama for completely bogus reasons. They scream at him over contrived fake scandals.

I'd rather see the President and Congress discuss real issues but it seems like the Repubs are AWOL both physically and mentally.

[JustAnotherGen]

12. That job has aged everyone significantly

In my lifetime. Maybe with the exception of Bush 1 - he already looked worn out when he took office. But Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Reagan (though I'm pretty sure he died his hair ) all started out kind of healthy and youthful.


Let's also let the aging process happen naturally - he's in his 50's now.

None of us are going to stay young forever. Or young looking. It's life amplified by an extremely stressful job.

[hamsterjill]

14. It's more than that in my opinion.

The change has been more sudden than with normal aging.

[LisaL]

16. Presidents are not aging normally because there is a lot of pressure on them.

High stress job.

[JustAnotherGen]

21. Agree to disagree

He looks like every black man in my family in their 50's. I'm the baby of 33 grandchildren on the black side - so I have lots of them to look at as an example. :laugh:

[hamsterjill]

56. Absolutely.

Agree to disagree - with respect toward one another. That's how a discussion board SHOULD work.

[LisaL]

15. I noticed the same thing.

Presidents age faster than the rest of us. A lot of pressure.

[yallerdawg]

17. The worst job on the planet.

First he has to save the world from apocalyptic economic disaster, 3 AM wakeup calls pirates are attacking, and then deal with a racist political party that says no on every attempt to make this a better world for all.

6 years, 8 years, 10 years in the public eye, we should expect physical change and aging. I certainly don't look like I did in 2006.

But we have to ask ourselves why would anyone want this job?

[ProfessorGAC]

28. You Ain't Kiddin'

1000x the pressure of any CEO on earth for about 0.5% of the pay.

[grasswire]

60. easy street once you leave office

status, a fortune to be made. Eight years, and then only gravy.

[underpants]

18. Adding to already posted - he has had an endless series of no-win situations

Let's go back to the economic ship being righted (ARRA & GM) suddenly one guy in Tunisia lights himself on fire and the whole southern rim if the Mediterranean changes.

The list has been unending since then. No real right choice to make in any of the foreign affairs especially.

[CK_John]

20. Also Joe probably calls twice a day to see how he is feeling?

[global1]

22. We Can Help Him Out Immensely If We GOTV And Take Back The House And Maintain The Senate.....

I'm thinking that this would alleviate a lot of stress that he has and he could go about turning this country around and do what needs to be done. We need to rally the Dem base to GOTV in November. I'm confident that with a good turnout at the polls we can stop the GOP from all of its destruction to this country.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

44. Hardly anyone here is concerned about 2014. Too busy with internal controversy. nt

[global1]

46. Then They Will Have A Lot To Complain About When The GOP Takes The Senate & Maintains The House.....

you would think we'd be pro-active here on DU. Such a sad situation.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

47. As you may well know, DU used to be all over mid-terms because it matters. Now, it's

the internal controversy outrage du jour, day in and day out.

If I post something outrageous, I'm busy all day. But when I post something about the 2014 mid-terms, I doze off waiting for responses.

[treestar]

73. +1

[katmondoo]

23. I have noticed that his hair is greyer and his face looks thinner and

more stressed. I posted this on Facebook. The right wingers are still saying he never works only plays Golf and is always on vacation. Gets me furious when I read such utter nonsense.

[Ron Obvious]

24. This happens to most presidents...

Especially those in their early fifties, when most of us really start showing their age.

The exception being Ronald Reagan, of course. I don't think the pressures of the office ever got to him, almost certainly because he was never trusted with any of it.

[Marrah_G]

25. I imagine no one would look good after those videos

Of course it's not Obama's fault that those lunatics beheaded two men, but having them calling him out on the videos has to effect him emotionally.

Where ISIS is concerned there are no good answers. I would not want to be in his place right now.

[bhikkhu]

26. This is the latest:

?w=821&h=525

?w=849&h=547

From Estonia

and:

A short speech from the other day. I don't think many of us could keep that kind of schedule without buckling, but he seems to be holding up remarkably well.

[WI_DEM]

29. He looks fine--like many presidents his

hair is going gray but other than that he seems fine to me.

[JVS]

30. This will probably get me flamed (for no good reason, but flamed nonetheless)...

but I suspect that the people who do politicians' makeup, wardrobes, etc. actually dial in a particular look to make sure that the proper "optics" are sent to the public. The most obvious example is that politicians campaigning for the presidency tend to use hair dye to ensure a look of youthful vigor even though they're generally in their 50s, but then once they have the office they quit using it (or just cut back enough for a tasteful gray to develop). But it goes deeper than that. Frank Rich in "One Market, Under God" IIRC wrote about how a certain look of mild fatigue became fashionable among the members of the Clinton administration. But I'm starting to digress here. It would be awkward if the president did a press conference about a troublesome issue looking bright eyed and bushy tailed (although that look is good for presidential debates). In order to ensure that there is not a mismatch between message and optics, I'm sure the makeup people know to go easy on their work and maybe not conceal a wrinkle here, a circle under the eye there, or some other sign of stress while still not permitting a Nixon style corpse-warmed-over look for the cameras.

[NCTraveler]

31. "stress does horrible things to people, even presidents."

Don't differentiate the President from a person. That is all he is. A smart person. A power hungry person. A good person at heart. But a person none the less. Look at all past Presidents. The stress that comes with the job takes its toll on every President. Compare his "looks" to that of someone who has been homeless for the past six years. That might give a little perspective. Presidents ask for the job full well knowing the stress involved.

[hamsterjill]

41. Good point.

But Presidents would have resources to help with stress that homeless persons would not have. By that I mean, a homeless person might have to worry where their next meal is coming from. A President wouldn't have to worry about that, but might have to worry about when the next capitive American will be beheaded.

[Trillo]

33. I suspect the public revelation of the murderous police state

via the poster-city Ferguson -- and all the others -- has been awfully difficult for him.

[B Calm]

36. I suspect it's because of his poll numbers are so low. After all

the good he's done with all the no good republicans lying about him on every given subject, but the people are buying into all the right-wing lies. Hell man I would be banging my head against the wall and I would look bad too!

[LibGranny]

34. I agree! He seems grayer (in every aspect, not just his hair) and

gaunt, and the lines around his mouth (marionette lines) seem deeper! He doesn't seem as vigorous. I pray for him every day because I can't imagine the stress he's under!

[hamsterjill]

42. Thank you.

Yes, to me, it's been a very quick change. Much more than I've seen in other recent men who have held the office of President.

I pray for him every day, as well. I want him to succeed and I could never begin to imagine the stresses that he has to deal with on a daily basis.

[spinbaby]

35. Quite a change from the campaign days

When I first heard Obama was running for president, my first thought was to wonder if he was old enough--he looked so very young.

[rock]

37. My wife made a similar comment to me yesterday

I had already noticed he looked older and tired.

[Glassunion]

38. Well... Tan suits and golf vacations aside...

He has only Passed Health Care Reform, Passed the Stimulus, Passed Wall Street Reform, Ended the War in Iraq, Began Drawdown of War in Afghanistan, Eliminated Osama bin laden, Turned Around U.S. Auto Industry, Recapitalized Banks, Repealed "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell", Reversed Bush Torture Policies, Improved America’s Image Abroad, Kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program, Expanded Pell Grant Spending, Boosted Fuel Efficiency Standards, Coordinated International Response to Financial Crisis, Tightened Sanctions on Iran, Eliminated Catch-22 in Pay Equality Laws, Gave the FDA Power to Regulate Tobacco, Trimmed and Reoriented Missile Defense, Began Post-Post-9/11 Military Builddown, Cracked Down on Bad For-Profit Colleges, Improved School Nutrition (In coordination with Michelle), Expanded Hate Crimes Protections, Brokered Agreement for Speedy Compensation to Victims of Gulf Oil Spill, Expanded Health Coverage for Children, Expanded Stem Cell Research, Provided Payment to Wronged Minority Farmers, all the while the media, GOP, RW radio, etc... collectively punched him in the nuts, every day, for the past 5 years - 8 months. Then on top of that, add the stress of the job itself... National Security, Disasters, etc... You'd look a bit worn down yourself.

Shit, I'd probably look like a raisin with legs.

[SummerSnow]

40. k&r

Rethugs have some calendar counting down to his last day in office.I bet he's counting down too.


I want him to just cuss Congress out and tell them to kiss his ass

[SummerSnow]

39. He's exhausted. Hope he isn't smoking again. He has so much on his plate.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

43. if i had to deal with republicans, ISIS, Vladimir Putin, and US corporations that are seemingly more

powerful than state actors, i would never get out of bed. given that, i think he looks as best as he can

[hamsterjill]

57. Can you imagine?

I can't imagine waking up every morning wondering what else is going to go wrong?

But I think the change in him (in my observation and in my opinion) has been more rapid than with his predecessors. Perhaps this is a man who simply takes more of the responsibility laid upon his shoulders to heart. But he looks "down" to me, and I wish him well. I want him to succeed and not let the Republicans (and others) get to him.

[AgingAmerican]

49. He looks like a guy who is aging

...which is what happens to most folks, especially when they hit 50.

[Jamastiene]

51. All presidents age super fast while in office.

It's like a time lapse or something to watch presidents for 8 years. It could be a lifetime of photos, but nope, all in that 8 year span. He'll be the distinguished gentleman, never looking bad, though. If you don't believe me, try saying that directly in the BOG. You'll be excoriated, eviscerated, and called names that will hurt you for life. You are gonna get totally piled on for saying that here on DU, even in GD. I kind of feel for you for being honest about what you think on here. That is not easy to do on DU.

[Warpy]

52. He looks exhausted

Any president who tries to do the job instead of just being a front man giving speeches will look haggard after the first four or five years.

I imagine Obama will sleep for the first six weeks after his term is over.

I doubt he looked at the camera because he knows there isn't a hell of a lot we can or should do in the middle east now. They will have to settle their own hash while we learn to live with much less oil.

[CTyankee]

58. I just wonder if he'll ever get his maximum energy back, tho...

a certain amount of it might possibly be gone forever...

[alcibiades_mystery]

54. Ay yay yay

[Cha]

64. This thread needs a pic from today.. PBO arrives in Wales..

BBC Wales News ✔ @BBCWalesNews
Follow
A wave for the world and Wales - as President Obama arrives in the UK for #NATOSummitWales
http://bbc.in/1qab5wB
9:14 AM - 3 Sep 2014 106 Retweets 78 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/09/03/obamacare-has-your-back-even-while-changing-jobs/#comments

[madamesilverspurs]

61. The job, itself, exhausts and ages.

But unlike any of his predecessors, he's had to deal with the hourly reality that there are those who literally have him in their sites. I remember reading that by the time he was first sworn in he and his family had received more threats than all previous presidents combined, and that particular pressure hasn't abated; it's very much in his face, all day, every day. The man lives in a pressure cooker, and it wears on him to know that his family is in danger because of his job. And Ferguson drives home the point that skin color still matters to those with itchy trigger fingers. When they showed him boarding the plane for Europe I thought, "I hope he sleeps through the entire flight."

[Sunlei]

63. number of republican attacks are historic!! He must be exhausted. RW wants to nag him to death.

To constantly attack the President and obstruct OUR gov. is an attack against ALL Americans.

[betsuni]

65. I just saw a bit of news about his trip to Estonia

and he looked ill, like he was just trying to get through his speech so he could go throw up or pass out.

[amandabeech]

68. He looked bad and sounded worse at that press conference early this am

in Estonia.

He's in a job that is one of the most demanding in the world, and he's getting no cooperation from the pukes. His time at Martha's Vinyard didn't seem to perk him up at all. I'm beginning to wonder if he is having a health problem of some sort.

[Shankapotomus]

69. Sometimes the hot weather of summer

takes a lot out of you. I know I lose weight in the summer and I imagine if I had the workload of a president I would look haggard too.

[Brigid]

70. Saw him briefly on TV today.

He does not look well.

[llmart]

71. I had the same impression.

I hope he's OK. He is doing a wonderful job for our country and I'm proud he's our President. I was so ashamed when Bush was in office and couldn't even turn a TV on because I didn't want to see his face.

[Aerows]

74. He needs to put on a few pounds

That's all I can say.

[elfin]

76. His appearance worries me as well

Looks weary, lost weight, color looks a bit "ashy" to me. Skin tone could be due to harsh lighting and no make up, but not looking good or healthy at all to me.

I worry. He is besieged, relentlessly pounded on by Congress, Media, and horrific world events,

[smiley]

77. Yes

I've been thinking this myself lately. Although, I also think most presidents have looked worn-down in the last 2 years of their term.

[TheVisitor]

79. Found this...

This only goes to 2012, but it does show you some time-lapse-esque photographs...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/lifestyle/the-age-of-obama/

[mopinko]

80. he does hide that gray on the campaign trail.

he does look pretty sick and tired, tho.

[taught_me_patience]

82. He looks fine.

It's his second term... he's in chill mode.

[applegrove]

83. When you are persecuted or bullied

as Obama constantly is then things physically start to happen. Your working menory tanks. You get insomnia that builds. Back pain or other psycho somatic things happen. Then you add the stress of all hell breaking out in the world and you end up where Obama is. If he were a much younger man I would tell him to start smoking again to relieve the pressure till the crisi pass. I‘m sure he has the best doctors. I wish the Saudi Arabians would get off their asses and step up and take responsibility where they can for their part in creating ISIS and send in their military to help. I hope Putin tires of economic mayhem at home and not getting the payoff of Republican praise and attention he was getting earlier this year. So that he retreats. Mostly I hope those in the GOP who have some humanity left start to have their President‘s back on foreign policy. As is their role in government.

[WhiteAndNerdy]

84. Everyone looks bad after a couple of years in that job. nt