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DerekG

(2,935 posts)
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:23 PM May 2016

Before I die, I'd like to feel admiration for a living President

I was born in '82, so all I've known is a couple of center-rightists like Billy Boy "the Triangulator", Barack "Eat our peas" Obama, and the "Crawford Caligula" himself, Dubya. Anti-authoritarian I may be, it's fairly depressing.

Before I croak, I want to see a man or woman along the lines of an FDR, a JFK or an LBJ (of '63-'65, before the ground troops) in the White House. Someone with an honest-to-God vision, ready to kick keister and move the country forward. If Bernie's not the one, it has to be his spiritual heir.

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Before I die, I'd like to feel admiration for a living President (Original Post) DerekG May 2016 OP
You wouldnt know one if you saw one, because you did for 8 years just now and didnt Actor May 2016 #1
A-men. What a petulant, mean-spirited OP. randome May 2016 #3
"Disagree with you" is not the same as "mean" hellofromreddit May 2016 #39
Right elleng May 2016 #60
Agreed, but stating that no President has satisfied the OP hints at mean-spiritedness, imo. randome May 2016 #70
Petulant? elleng May 2016 #59
The OP can't be satisfied. Sounds like petulance to me. randome May 2016 #73
The quality of alerts really sucks anymore. pintobean May 2016 #88
+1000. nt ecstatic May 2016 #100
You mean Mr. Hope n' Change? DerekG May 2016 #5
One of the three most successful of all time, is what history will say. Actor May 2016 #6
Just wait for the next economic meltdown DerekG May 2016 #8
You have no clue "why". And don't even guess. I voted for Obama twice because I hoped floriduck May 2016 #64
👆 this. deathrind May 2016 #90
don't forget Obama also put Arne Duncan in charge of education. It's been one liberal_at_heart May 2016 #111
FDR became FDR in retrospect Demsrule86 May 2016 #66
sadly you are not better informed. sheshe2 May 2016 #28
+1000! mcar May 2016 #38
Thanks mcar. sheshe2 May 2016 #45
He's technically one of the best legislative presidents in US history but go ahead and keep uponit7771 May 2016 #53
Mr. Hope n' Change...did you steal that from Sarah Palin? Drunken Irishman May 2016 #71
FYI: FDR's New Deal programs were great . . . but if you were black many of them excluded you brush May 2016 #83
So we have a public option and the bush tax cuts are gone? basselope May 2016 #10
Silly rabbit Art_from_Ark May 2016 #16
That's right.. back when they ended the war on drugs too and basselope May 2016 #19
+1, they don't know it doesn't really get any better than this uponit7771 May 2016 #49
+1000 sheshe2 May 2016 #50
+100 Fresh_Start May 2016 #51
Will likely never happen BlindTiresias May 2016 #2
I am a decade older than you. I adored Carter, if mostly for his smile and his wonderful wife, who GreenPartyVoter May 2016 #4
If President Jimmy Carter doesn't meet your standards, you are SOL. missingthebigdog May 2016 #7
I admired and voted for Carter Protalker May 2016 #78
I admire Carter, but he was a mediocre President, IMO n/t Blue Meany May 2016 #9
the ONLY ONE to get the Israelis and Palestinians to sit down and put pen to paper. NWCorona May 2016 #44
Obama is a GREAT President. fun n serious May 2016 #11
Post removed Post removed May 2016 #13
Give it a rest. fun n serious May 2016 #23
After the polls shifted, he sure did. basselope May 2016 #29
This message was self-deleted by its author TM99 May 2016 #57
LOL!!!!! zappaman May 2016 #27
He's still the best republican president of my lifetime. basselope May 2016 #30
Thread win! mcar May 2016 #43
I am trying not to..... sheshe2 May 2016 #46
Those posts call for a WHOOOOLE lot more whine that what you go there, zap. Number23 May 2016 #91
Utter bullshit. Disgracefully bashing Our Democratic President with that ad hom redstateblues May 2016 #31
No BS at all.. and it isn't "lumping him in with Cruz" basselope May 2016 #85
Bullshit. That's just a smear. It's BSS favorite ad hom. redstateblues May 2016 #109
I never voted for him... but he had better ideas than the democratic candidates. basselope May 2016 #114
Sanders thought the same and democrats disagree with him by the tune of 3 million votes uponit7771 May 2016 #55
Not really. basselope May 2016 #86
no really, its over 3 million votes... and yes dems left the party for RayGun. They're the same uponit7771 May 2016 #103
If things continue on their current path, there is a good shot at 2020. basselope May 2016 #12
There is no Sanders movement. His political revolution is an empty bumper sticker slogan redstateblues May 2016 #37
There was nothing to vote for in the last couple of mid-terms. basselope May 2016 #87
If Dems lose the election I think you route sounds reasonable. jwirr May 2016 #82
The fact that you actually believe this is amusing mythology May 2016 #106
Clinton has no viable path to victory. basselope May 2016 #107
Bernie Sanders...! KoKo May 2016 #14
+1. pacalo May 2016 #34
More drama. JoePhilly May 2016 #15
If that's your standard, you'll never be happy. CrowCityDem May 2016 #17
Well Old Codger May 2016 #18
Jimmy Carter is deserving of your admiration and respect. SheilaT May 2016 #20
Agreed yourpaljoey May 2016 #21
All the more reason why the relentlessly have vilified him! The PTB cannot stomach brewens May 2016 #24
Jimmy Carter is a great man redstateblues May 2016 #41
Jimmy Carter brokered the only lasting peace in the middle east Demsrule86 May 2016 #69
Carter. n/t brewens May 2016 #22
Mee...Too laserhaas May 2016 #25
I admire Obama. zappaman May 2016 #26
Best President in my lifetime. sheshe2 May 2016 #32
I don't really admire any politician bigwillq May 2016 #33
This thread does serve one useful purpose if nothing else. It points out the basic difference Trust Buster May 2016 #35
If nothing else, this single post can be extrapolated to every supporter of both candidates. RadiationTherapy May 2016 #52
Nope, I was a Hillary supporter in 2008 and I admire President Obama today. Trust Buster May 2016 #58
If you can't admire the first black person to become president you have my condolences. DemocratSinceBirth May 2016 #36
Well, you'd better get start working on that... brooklynite May 2016 #40
LOL. JaneyVee May 2016 #42
I know what you mean, but zipplewrath May 2016 #47
As president I admire John Kennedy most of all. I would also have to say Ike, Bill Clinton, doc03 May 2016 #48
I have and I am grateful. oldandhappy May 2016 #54
I was around for LBJ Retrograde May 2016 #56
LBJ has a great legacy IMO if you can exclude Vietnam....which of course, we can't. StevieM May 2016 #98
I feel admiration for Obama. Really a great president. YouDig May 2016 #61
If you can't feel that way about President Obama, MineralMan May 2016 #62
Well put. redstateblues May 2016 #68
+1 JoePhilly May 2016 #89
Well I don't admire Bernie and am glad he will not be the nominee Demsrule86 May 2016 #63
You just named three of the top philandering Presidents to ever hold office. Jitter65 May 2016 #65
Poor you - at least we had JFK, but then he was assassinated. Carter was pretty good, Clinton was kerry-is-my-prez May 2016 #67
That is why I can't wait to see Hillary elected POTUS. LaydeeBug May 2016 #72
I admire President Obama and I expect to admire the next President Clinton, too. n/t pnwmom May 2016 #81
This message was self-deleted by its author brush May 2016 #74
You guys are SO lordsummerisle May 2016 #75
Petulant snottiness. madamesilverspurs May 2016 #76
+1 uponit7771 May 2016 #79
+2 Bobbie Jo May 2016 #102
Before you die, I'd like to see you underthematrix May 2016 #77
Do you have any idea how many millions of Dems admire the CURRENT President? pnwmom May 2016 #80
It's interesting how President Obama is viewed on DU versus "the real world." PragmaticLiberal May 2016 #92
DU is to Democrats pnwmom May 2016 #95
You want a draft, then. Sparkly May 2016 #84
derp bigtree May 2016 #93
I admire President Obama. Turin_C3PO May 2016 #94
The way politics are done now, it's not likely... VOX May 2016 #96
Try Jimmy Carter. He is s still with us and pretty awesome. (nt) apnu May 2016 #97
None of those men were perfect! Each of them did AWFUL things ecstatic May 2016 #99
+1, Sanders has sold them a figure from Unicornia and not reality, I think that's where he hurts the uponit7771 May 2016 #104
Obama Dem2 May 2016 #101
Obama is a giant of a human being The Second Stone May 2016 #105
I second your sentiment about President Obama. Jimmy Carter was the best akbacchus_BC May 2016 #112
His supreme court nominess voted for gay marriage in all 50 states The Second Stone May 2016 #117
Perhaps in your life time, it would be President Obama for me. akbacchus_BC May 2016 #108
Has there ever been a President that garnered 100% admiration from 100% population? Sheepshank May 2016 #110
Your Full Of Shit About President Obama Corey_Baker08 May 2016 #113
I'm old and therefore, lucky in this respect. raven mad May 2016 #115
Missed your chance passing over President Obama bobGandolf May 2016 #116
"Borders on miraculous"? BernieforPres2016 May 2016 #121
Thanks... bobGandolf May 2016 #122
I greatly admire President Obama. Skinner May 2016 #118
Well, you could run for president. TwilightZone May 2016 #119
FDR was made, not born. Orsino May 2016 #120
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
3. A-men. What a petulant, mean-spirited OP.
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:26 PM
May 2016

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Where do uncaptured mouse clicks go?[/center][/font][hr]
 

hellofromreddit

(1,182 posts)
39. "Disagree with you" is not the same as "mean"
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:02 PM
May 2016

Some people don't like Obama because he has not delivered on issues important to them. That doesn't make them mean-spirited.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
70. Agreed, but stating that no President has satisfied the OP hints at mean-spiritedness, imo.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:45 PM
May 2016

Whatever one feels about Obama overall, we should not overlook the good that he's done.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Where do uncaptured mouse clicks go?[/center][/font][hr]

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
73. The OP can't be satisfied. Sounds like petulance to me.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:47 PM
May 2016

Born in 1982? I was born in 1958 and I don't know if I've ever seen a President who 'satisfied' me. Every single one has had some good traits and some bad. Some successes and some failures.

Every. Single. One.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Where do uncaptured mouse clicks go?[/center][/font][hr]

 

pintobean

(18,101 posts)
88. The quality of alerts really sucks anymore.
Mon May 9, 2016, 09:40 PM
May 2016

On Mon May 9, 2016, 09:31 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

A-men. What a petulant, mean-spirited OP.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1930288

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

OP has an opinion, is being out to made Mean Spirited. Personal unfounded attack.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon May 9, 2016, 09:37 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: no
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

DerekG

(2,935 posts)
5. You mean Mr. Hope n' Change?
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:27 PM
May 2016

Applying band-aids to each and every existential crisis that this country and world faces?

Sorry, but I'd like a leader, not a 21st century Herbert Hoover.

Actor

(626 posts)
6. One of the three most successful of all time, is what history will say.
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:28 PM
May 2016

Saved your ass and mine, but I know who doesnt appreciate him and why.

nuff said

DerekG

(2,935 posts)
8. Just wait for the next economic meltdown
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:30 PM
May 2016

You'll see what happens when gangsters are handed bonuses, instead of indictments.

 

floriduck

(2,262 posts)
64. You have no clue "why". And don't even guess. I voted for Obama twice because I hoped
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:34 PM
May 2016

he finally be the president I had voted for. Geitner to SOT, Larry Summers as his economic advisor and Hillary Clinton as his SOS. That was just a telegraph from him that said, "I don't need you voters anymore. I have the Third Way in my corner."

If you're headed down some racial relations rathole, you, sir, are way the fuck off.

deathrind

(1,786 posts)
90. 👆 this.
Mon May 9, 2016, 10:07 PM
May 2016

I have the upmost respect for President Obama. He has been a good president. He has done a lot of good...but...as soon as he said "we need to be looking forward not backwards" as if holding people accountable for the criminal actions they committed (breaking the law) was some sort of flippant tag line stitched to a windsock. I knew he would be...only good.

Yes- Geitner as SOT was a kick to the gut of America.

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)
111. don't forget Obama also put Arne Duncan in charge of education. It's been one
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:51 AM
May 2016

horrible appointment after another with Obama.

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
66. FDR became FDR in retrospect
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:38 PM
May 2016

Obama has had a very successful presidency...quite amazing really. I am proud to have worked in 08 and 12 to help elect this great man. And I will miss him...Bernie shrieking about the banks does not hold a candle to pres. Obama. He saved our economy and gave us health care; he saved the autos when St. Bernie would have allowed autos to fail because the banks received money in the final version of the bill...sorry give me a president who moves the progressive agenda forward. I think I will skip the pie in the sky that Sanders is peddling.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
53. He's technically one of the best legislative presidents in US history but go ahead and keep
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:23 PM
May 2016

... condesceding expecting unicorns and shit.

Unicorns don't exist, imperfect presidents do and Obama is one of the best of the imperfect in US history

brush

(53,475 posts)
83. FYI: FDR's New Deal programs were great . . . but if you were black many of them excluded you
Mon May 9, 2016, 09:24 PM
May 2016

See what I just did there? Bet you didn't know that.

The idolization of FDR gets greater as time passes but he had flaws, and strengths, as all other presidents have had.

It's easy to pick out alleged flaws like you've done in this OP, and it's even easier to overlook strengths.

It's easy to pick out obvious flaws in your OP too.

I'm still searching, without much luck, for its stengths however.

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)
16. Silly rabbit
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:40 PM
May 2016

That happened at the same time that the War on Terror ended and Social Security was made viable for the next 100 years.

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
19. That's right.. back when they ended the war on drugs too and
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:41 PM
May 2016

shut down the private prison industry.

I forgot, I slept late that morning!

BlindTiresias

(1,563 posts)
2. Will likely never happen
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:25 PM
May 2016

We are an ossifying empire, they tend to produce poor leaders and malevolent elites.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
4. I am a decade older than you. I adored Carter, if mostly for his smile and his wonderful wife, who
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:27 PM
May 2016

reminded me of my best friend's mother. I adore him now in his post-Presidency years. I like Obama on many levels, but he is just not left enough in his policies for me, and in fact scares the pants off of me sometimes with things like TPP.

So I share your feelings, wholeheartedly!

missingthebigdog

(1,233 posts)
7. If President Jimmy Carter doesn't meet your standards, you are SOL.
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:29 PM
May 2016

It's too bad you can't look past the smears of the wingnuts and see the good in Presidents Clinton and Obama, but someone who can't see the good in President Carter is, perhaps, beyond help.

Protalker

(418 posts)
78. I admired and voted for Carter
Mon May 9, 2016, 09:12 PM
May 2016

I also liked Ford. I know he pardoned Nixon to spare the country the impeachment and trial. Still he and Carter we're good people. They became friends.

NWCorona

(8,541 posts)
44. the ONLY ONE to get the Israelis and Palestinians to sit down and put pen to paper.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:04 PM
May 2016

The behind the scenes maneuvers against Carter can't be overlooked.

Response to fun n serious (Reply #11)

Response to fun n serious (Reply #23)

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
30. He's still the best republican president of my lifetime.
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:57 PM
May 2016

A title formerly held by Bill Clinton (Granted to him by Michael Moore).

Number23

(24,544 posts)
91. Those posts call for a WHOOOOLE lot more whine that what you go there, zap.
Mon May 9, 2016, 10:12 PM
May 2016

For the OP and the handful of folk acting as though there was even a moderately intelligent point made within it.

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
31. Utter bullshit. Disgracefully bashing Our Democratic President with that ad hom
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:58 PM
May 2016

To lump him in with Cruz et al makes you look like you don't pay much attention to politics

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
85. No BS at all.. and it isn't "lumping him in with Cruz"
Mon May 9, 2016, 09:29 PM
May 2016

Barack Obama shares much more in common with traditional republicans than he does with traditional democrats.

He is the best republican president of my lifetime.

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
109. Bullshit. That's just a smear. It's BSS favorite ad hom.
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:47 AM
May 2016

Ask a few Republicans about your "theory" Sounds like a Naderite pronouncement. By any chance did you support Ralph "not a dimes worth of difference"Nader? It's amazing how few Naderites will admit it.

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
114. I never voted for him... but he had better ideas than the democratic candidates.
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:55 AM
May 2016

But, then, I haven't voted for a democratic candidate since 2000 either.

There IS a difference between DLC democrats and radical republicans. DLC Democrats are moderate republicans and radical republicans are off the deep end.

If you look at several republican presidents (Eisenhower, Nixon and even to some extent Ronald Reagan, they had policies very VERY similar (if not to the LEFT) of Obama and Clinton (both Clintons). Obama and the Clintons fit right in with them. Bill Clinton was the natural progression of Reagan, he continued deregulation, brought us the 1996 telecom act, free trade, everything they wanted. Did he return the tax code to sane levels? No, he increased it SLIGHTLY... now people freak out when the top tax rate gets near 40% when it was 90% under Eisenhower, 70% under Nixon.

Hillary vs Trump is the choice between which road to hell do you want to take? They are VERY different.. but they both lead to the same place eventually.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
103. no really, its over 3 million votes... and yes dems left the party for RayGun. They're the same
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:08 AM
May 2016

... type to vote for Sanders cause that's who Sanders catered to... their fears and their boogymen

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
12. If things continue on their current path, there is a good shot at 2020.
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:35 PM
May 2016

Clinton has no path to victory against Trump, so the democratic party will have to "reassess" after losing what seemed unloseable.

The democrats will hold enough seats in the Senate to stall Trump from actually DOING anything and likely even the GOP would fight him. By 2018, house and Senate will flip Democratic (Hopefully building on the Sanders movement and not the same old DINOS.

This will leave the democratic party with the chance to build on that and get a progressive in 2020.

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
37. There is no Sanders movement. His political revolution is an empty bumper sticker slogan
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:01 PM
May 2016

Let's see how many BSS will be around in the mid terms. Probably the same as the last mid terms

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
87. There was nothing to vote for in the last couple of mid-terms.
Mon May 9, 2016, 09:33 PM
May 2016

After 2008-2010 showed us that Obama was going to give the GOP whatever they wanted ANYWAY, progressives stopped caring.

We COULD have had a public option.

Obama chose to throw it away and thus, threw away our votes.

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
106. The fact that you actually believe this is amusing
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:39 AM
May 2016

The demographics of the race mean Clinton is substantially advantaged against Trump. And as we've seen in Democratic primaries, demographics matters a lot. It's why Sanders has lost to Clinton and it's why Trump will lose to Clinton.

 

basselope

(2,565 posts)
107. Clinton has no viable path to victory.
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:44 AM
May 2016

Sorry, but if you analyze the polls and the states in question, it is pretty easy to see.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
14. Bernie Sanders...!
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:36 PM
May 2016

He's the "REAL DEAL"..I say this to you as a DU'er who has been through the Presidents Before what YOU Mention. Because I was born before '82...but can well understand where you are coming from.

 

Old Codger

(4,205 posts)
18. Well
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:41 PM
May 2016

Mostly depends on your opinion really, I am a little older than you so have had the privilege of seeing at least 3 good ones, I actually shook hands with Truman, never met Ike but history seems to think he did ok...and JFK never really had a chance...since then not so much....

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
20. Jimmy Carter is deserving of your admiration and respect.
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:41 PM
May 2016

Yes, he was President before you were born, but trust me, as someone who was an adult then, he is head and shoulders above anyone since. And after he left office he founded Habitat for Humanity and continues to help build houses for the poor. As well as monitor elections around the world. I just wish he'd monitor elections in this country.

Jimmy Carter got blamed for many things that weren't his fault, and got no credit for the good he accomplished. He's remembered for historically high interest rates. Well, you can pretty much blame Richard Nixon, whose wage and price controls in 1971 are almost totally forgotten. But back then, sensible observers pointed out that they were a temporary fix that would only make things much worse down the road. And they did. We got some pretty high inflation, then the very high interest rates.

Meanwhile, Carter's biggest flaw was his inclination to micro-manage things. Still, he gave us the Camp David peace accords. Nothing like that has happened since. Subsequent Presidents have merrily gone to war every where and every chance they get.

brewens

(13,400 posts)
24. All the more reason why the relentlessly have vilified him! The PTB cannot stomach
Mon May 9, 2016, 07:51 PM
May 2016

a good honest man as President. It is why we see the same revolting attacks on a man like Bernie Sanders.

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
69. Jimmy Carter brokered the only lasting peace in the middle east
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:40 PM
May 2016

Had Kennedy not cost Carter the presidency, we might have avoided all the terrible wars who knows. And believe me, Trump is worse than Reagan who while repugnant was not crazy.

 

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)
33. I don't really admire any politician
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:00 PM
May 2016

They have a job to do, like the rest of us. Do it well and I will respect you, that's really all to it. Obama has been a decent president---he's done some great things, and some not so good things. Pretty much like all the rest.

 

Trust Buster

(7,299 posts)
35. This thread does serve one useful purpose if nothing else. It points out the basic difference
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:01 PM
May 2016

between Hillary supporters and Sanders supporters. I was a Hillary supporter in 2008. None the less, I hold a deep admiration for President Obama. Despite unparalleled obstructionism, the man has carried himself with an integrity and distinction that I don't believe I could have matched.

Conversely, the Sanders supporters will hate Hillary every day she serves in office. In fact, this poster probably favored Obama over Hillary in 2008, yet she attacks Obama while the 2008 Hillary supporters defend him. They are radical by personality. They will never be happy. That's all you need to know folks.

RadiationTherapy

(5,818 posts)
52. If nothing else, this single post can be extrapolated to every supporter of both candidates.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:23 PM
May 2016

Jeez, dude. Take it easy.

 

Trust Buster

(7,299 posts)
58. Nope, I was a Hillary supporter in 2008 and I admire President Obama today.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:26 PM
May 2016

The Sanders supporters of 2016 will hate Hillary's guts every day she serves. The distinction is stark. Don't kid yourself.

brooklynite

(93,880 posts)
40. Well, you'd better get start working on that...
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:03 PM
May 2016

...or it someone else's job to get acceptably progressive candidates into office to get them in position to run for President?

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
47. I know what you mean, but
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:19 PM
May 2016

Truth is, as someone who lived through LBJ, you're always likely to be disappointed. The early FDR probably would have disappointed on a grand scale. We often don't get what the sanitized versions of these people are created later. Conservatives forget everything that Reagan REALLY did. True for FDR as well. You have people chiming in about Carter, but at the time he was a disappointment to many that voted for him.

In reality, presidents are generally judged on how long their works last. It's why you don't hear alot about Clinton in this thread because so much of what he did was either gone, or unpopular 10 years later. GW was a washup as soon as he left office. LBJ has done better because of civil rights and the Great Society programs. Ditto for FDR. The vast majority of presidents don't accomplish much that lasts. They manage the executive branch and keep things moving along. Hillary has represented this as some sort of goal to be pursued. Bernie got in to do the kinds of things that change the country and out last their own administrations. The party appears to want the former. It remains to be seen if the country wants that, or will be attracted to bold goals, however unrealistic they are.

doc03

(35,151 posts)
48. As president I admire John Kennedy most of all. I would also have to say Ike, Bill Clinton,
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:20 PM
May 2016

and Obama. I think Jimmy Carter is a great man but his presidency wasn't so great, in those times I don't know if he was that bad
a president or just happened to be there when things were tough. Bill Clinton as a man was an embarrassment to the entire country though. Obama has been a great president in really tough times and his personnel life is to be admired.

Retrograde

(10,073 posts)
56. I was around for LBJ
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:24 PM
May 2016

He started out well, winning election in a landslide and pushing his Civil Rights platform, but not many people felt a lot of admiration for him in 1967 or 1968: "Hey, Hey, LBJ/How many kids did you kill today?" was a common chant at anti-war protests. We hear a lot about the good things FDR did, but popular histories tend to gloss over the not so admirable parts - internment of US citizens of Japanese ancestry in some parts of the country, refusal to desegregate the military, attempts to pack the Supreme Court.

Presidents, like most people, aren't perfect. Clinton was the voice of a new generation when he was elected back in 1992: he did some things well, others not so well. And it's the same with just about everyone who held the office. I find Obama - despite many shortcomings and areas where I disagree with him - to be one of the more admirable presidents of my lifetime in terms of his consistency and apparent faithfulness to his oaths.

StevieM

(10,499 posts)
98. LBJ has a great legacy IMO if you can exclude Vietnam....which of course, we can't.
Mon May 9, 2016, 11:07 PM
May 2016

But he pushed through changes that permanently changed America, and changed it for the better.

FDR's court packing scheme didn't happen in a vacuum. The right wing on the court were seriously threatening the New Deal. They were basically like the four justices that tried to strike down Obamacare--almost five, until Roberts backed down at the last minute.

After FDR threatened to pack the court one of the justices switched sides. Justice Owen Roberts started voting with the liberals. And soon thereafter Justice Willis Van Devanter retired. The popular phrase at the time was "a switch in time saves nine."

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
63. Well I don't admire Bernie and am glad he will not be the nominee
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:31 PM
May 2016

And would have to hold my nose to vote for him which I would do to save this country from the likes of Trump.

 

Jitter65

(3,089 posts)
65. You just named three of the top philandering Presidents to ever hold office.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:36 PM
May 2016

I think you may be able to be at peace with Hillary.

kerry-is-my-prez

(8,133 posts)
67. Poor you - at least we had JFK, but then he was assassinated. Carter was pretty good, Clinton was
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:39 PM
May 2016

not bad - especially with straightening out the mess Reagan left us.

 

LaydeeBug

(10,291 posts)
72. That is why I can't wait to see Hillary elected POTUS.
Mon May 9, 2016, 08:46 PM
May 2016

she gets back up and fights no matter what they throw at her.

Response to DerekG (Original post)

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
80. Do you have any idea how many millions of Dems admire the CURRENT President?
Mon May 9, 2016, 09:18 PM
May 2016

Statements like yours do nothing to promote your fav candidate. They just alienate minority voters even more.

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/obama-job-approval-democrats

PragmaticLiberal

(904 posts)
92. It's interesting how President Obama is viewed on DU versus "the real world."
Mon May 9, 2016, 10:17 PM
May 2016

For a President who has "sold us out" etc etc., does anyone here really doubt that he'd win another term (if allowed)?


Turin_C3PO

(13,650 posts)
94. I admire President Obama.
Mon May 9, 2016, 10:29 PM
May 2016


I admire the fact that he at least tried to get Americans health care with the ACA. It's not perfect but it saved me from certain death.

I admire his standing firm in the face of Republican threats to shut down our government.

I admire him for being such a deeply caring family man.

I admire him for his many other economy saving measures, such as the 800 billion$$ stimulus, and the car buy back program that allowed me to trade my crappy 12 mpg pickup for a new Nissan Versa, only owing $5000, policies that protect LGBT rights, and many more. A true liberal in every sense of the word

I admire him for staying true to his Christian Faith and not let the right wing fundamentalist define his spirituality

I admire him for standing in the face of so much bigotry, venom, and hatred, all the while staying cool and calm as always, seeming to forgive them for their aggressive ignorance.

Most of all, I admire him for being the first Black President and serving as a role model to African-Americans across the country. This is a great man folks.

Thank you President, I'm gonna miss ya!

VOX

(22,976 posts)
96. The way politics are done now, it's not likely...
Mon May 9, 2016, 10:53 PM
May 2016

Sad to say, but with all the $$$$ driving politics; and the way the media belch and spew and divide and infantilize; and with the dumbing down of the average American, no one president will ever be universally revered in this country.

Just look what the repubs did to Obama, in what should have been a transformative presidency, something that every (non-racist) American could have been proud of.

ecstatic

(32,567 posts)
99. None of those men were perfect! Each of them did AWFUL things
Mon May 9, 2016, 11:34 PM
May 2016

in addition to the wonderful things they did. Yet somehow, you are able to keep their accomplishments vs failures in perspective.

I'm so glad I got to witness President Obama's presidency first hand. I couldn't be prouder and I'm already sad that he won't be in office next year. I hope one day you'll find the perfect president you've been longing for.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
104. +1, Sanders has sold them a figure from Unicornia and not reality, I think that's where he hurts the
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:11 AM
May 2016

... DNC the most because he convinced people he can throw stones and if it wasn't him it could be someone else.

That type of thinking gets people disappointed really fast

We'll see, if he continues a true revolution (whatever that means now) after the election and turns it into something tangible like a majority dem house then he would've walked the walk

 

The Second Stone

(2,900 posts)
105. Obama is a giant of a human being
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:32 AM
May 2016

Last edited Tue May 10, 2016, 01:56 AM - Edit history (1)

as is Jimmy Carter. Bill Clinton is also quite a wonderful guy, despite his womanizing. If you want saints, you will have to wait for heaven.

akbacchus_BC

(5,700 posts)
112. I second your sentiment about President Obama. Jimmy Carter was the best
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:51 AM
May 2016

ever, they considered him too soft. As for Bill Clinton, he is the orchestrator of the ills plaguing black communities. Going on Arsenio Hall show did not make him a President for black people. He messed up black people and the gay community. And now he will be back in the White House!

 

The Second Stone

(2,900 posts)
117. His supreme court nominess voted for gay marriage in all 50 states
Tue May 10, 2016, 01:59 AM
May 2016

It think you fail to take the long term. Black people have had it difficult in this country long before Bill Clinton. Your standard of perfection is an impossible way to go though life.

akbacchus_BC

(5,700 posts)
108. Perhaps in your life time, it would be President Obama for me.
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:46 AM
May 2016

Harper was useless. And if you think a Trump presidency will make you feel admiration, I will take Harper in a heartbeat. At least Harper is educated and not a jackass like trump!

 

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)
110. Has there ever been a President that garnered 100% admiration from 100% population?
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:50 AM
May 2016

Your cries for nirvana are a tad unrealistic, and couched in terms of other letting you down instead of you attempting to set unrealistic expectations.

raven mad

(4,940 posts)
115. I'm old and therefore, lucky in this respect.
Tue May 10, 2016, 01:04 AM
May 2016

JFK; Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.......... and I haven't missed an election, local, state or federal, since I first turned 18 in 1972.

bobGandolf

(871 posts)
116. Missed your chance passing over President Obama
Tue May 10, 2016, 01:10 AM
May 2016

What he accomplished with the GOP trying to sabotage his every move, and most Democrats standing by mute, borders on miraculous.

BernieforPres2016

(3,017 posts)
121. "Borders on miraculous"?
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:43 PM
May 2016

Hyperbole much?

Obama is a corporatist who rarely pushed for anything he wasn't sure he could get through.

Orsino

(37,428 posts)
120. FDR was made, not born.
Tue May 10, 2016, 12:33 PM
May 2016

We don't want the kind of Depression that made him as progressive as he was, nor the kind of war that made him imprison Japanese-Americans.

But yeah, some candidates start progressive, or become so via extraordinary personal journeys. These we might admire most of all.

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