Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
52. That his last statement will likely be his list of his accomplishments is telling in and of itself
Tue Jan 19, 2021, 12:10 PM
Jan 2021

I don't remember any speech by any departing President - one term or two term. It is likely all had some, at least brief words of thanks to their administration as they quietly left after a dignified appearance at the transition of power. It is almost by definition a time calling for graciousness and acknowledgment of the power of our democracy.

As to the list, there are some things he can claim - that resonate at least with his base:

- He did nominate and get 3 Supreme Court Justices and an enormous number of lower judges, many not qualified and almost all of whom will put their thumbs on the scale of justice on the side of corporate and conservative interests. As you said, this was more McConnell and ANY Republican President would have been able to do the same.

- He will claim that he (and Jared) created peace between Israel and a few Arab states - that were not at war. It is true that the US brokered trade agreements - giving weapons to Arab countries and recognizing the annexation of Western Sahara which has been occupied by Morocco since the 1970s. A bigger problem is that it made a genuine 2 state solution even less likely. It also was what Netanyahu had wanted for years.

- As to the economy, it is NOT TRUE that when covid struck, it was the strongest economy ever. In fact, the economy was already slipping into recession, which was then aggravated by covid. It is true that before that the economy was growing, it was mainly fueled by his inequitable unsustainable tax cuts.

- He NEVER improved any infrastructure - something badly needed.

- His point that he reduced regulations really should be stated as he allowed dirtier air and water and unsafe practices at companies that employed a huge number of powerless employees.

Jonathan Chait has a New York Magazine article that speaks of how much of Obama's legacy still exists or will once Biden is in office. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/trump-wanted-to-erase-obamas-legacy-he-failed.html It is really worth reading and made me more optimistic. On some issues, I was surprised that the budget (yeah I know it starts in the House) contained many things that ally with Biden's goals. The key takeaway is that Obama's legacy is real and will hold. He really did save the economy, build ACA, which survived, and the Paris Accord did not fall apart when Trump left.

On climate change, it is easier for Biden to rejoin than it was to create an agreement that has something like 190 countries agreeing to. For Biden, and much tougher task to push the needed more aggressive goals. - It seems his plan is that we need to step up ourselves, which Gina McCarthy et al are eager to start doing and he has John Kerry to lead the international push on this.

Positives, maybe ?? Yonnie3 Jan 2021 #1
I had similar thoughts. mjvpi Jan 2021 #32
yes NJCher Jan 2021 #50
Unfortuately, it was the gullible and ignorant ones that appeared for the most part. Yonnie3 Jan 2021 #73
Indeed.nt nam78_two Jan 2021 #104
Being stripped naked in public soldierant Jan 2021 #98
Yep. His biggest accomplishment will be recorded as fooling dumbasses. Cirque du So-What Jan 2021 #2
They got what they thought they wanted in 'Owning the libs'... Hugin Jan 2021 #3
Non stop Culture War and Owning the Libs are the only GOP agenda. BlueNProud Jan 2021 #19
They still want to "own" people. Tells you a lot. CaptainTruth Jan 2021 #22
Yep, they think it is funny that someone, "smarter than they are", is upset at the destruction... IthinkThereforeIAM Jan 2021 #71
I'm familiar with that deer-in-the-headlights look klook Jan 2021 #84
He tweeted, he golfed, he ate hamburgers C_U_L8R Jan 2021 #4
I hate to be a nerd and correct spelling, gab13by13 Jan 2021 #8
Damn autospell. It don't speak Trump. C_U_L8R Jan 2021 #11
And Cofveve COL Mustard Jan 2021 #13
Beat me to it! pazzyanne Jan 2021 #44
His wife did rip up the Rose Garden thucythucy Jan 2021 #10
And remember the dystopian red Christmas trees? Lonestarblue Jan 2021 #12
If she does, wait for the GOP to whine about "the expense" thucythucy Jan 2021 #15
they already have their propaganda machine working on it MichaelSoE Jan 2021 #54
get the money bdamomma Jan 2021 #58
100% right. Ligyron Jan 2021 #103
Melania's rose garden looks like cemetery. fifthoffive Jan 2021 #95
I have had discussions with them on this subject Chainfire Jan 2021 #5
I think what they'd really like to say is this: luvtheGWN Jan 2021 #48
And I think you have hit the nail on the head. Chainfire Jan 2021 #49
Democrat Trump saw a racist populist parade and jumped in front of it. Marcuse Jan 2021 #62
These are the people who think the stock market declined under Obama DBoon Jan 2021 #100
yes they look puzzled when it is pointed out that bush was pres scarytomcat Jan 2021 #117
I get things he said he did. Not things he actually did as answers. gibraltar72 Jan 2021 #6
Only wealthy Republican donors can point to tax cuts and deregulation as "accomplishments." sop Jan 2021 #7
It's a very short list moose65 Jan 2021 #9
I Hope This New Administration And Congress COL Mustard Jan 2021 #14
The Supreme Court appointment and tax reductions are not really Trump achievements Klaralven Jan 2021 #25
I would add another possible accomplishment that has not come to fruition yet. Lonestarblue Jan 2021 #16
Secret Agent Chaos mjvpi Jan 2021 #36
You make a good point Cozmo Jan 2021 #41
Corporate owners of our gov't got what they wanted: lower or no taxes, decreased regulation... CousinIT Jan 2021 #17
Exactly. They used the clown. Only after he lost did any daylight appear between them and Trump. mjvpi Jan 2021 #40
His greatest accomplishment, in my opinion, is TurboDem Jan 2021 #18
Absolutely. Roc2020 Jan 2021 #60
P.T. Barnum was right! 3825-87867 Jan 2021 #20
Like A Magic Trick ProfessorGAC Jan 2021 #88
4 years of Digressive Destruction. ProudMNDemocrat Jan 2021 #21
It was a reality show, he even wore make-up and he scarytomcat Jan 2021 #118
Remember his "secret plan to defeat ISIS in 30 days"? I'm still waiting. CaptainTruth Jan 2021 #23
They always point to China, but, oops Aviation Pro Jan 2021 #24
He shined the light on every weakness in our democracy AlexSFCA Jan 2021 #26
One thing that goes unnoticed is the ethical behaviour of Democrats these past four years Escurumbele Jan 2021 #27
Remember when Melanoma defended tRump's pussy comment with "just boy talk"? Cozmo Jan 2021 #39
Don't forget wally baby Jan 2021 #43
I'm what I call an Ultra Liberal. I call her a Russian Whore. fwvinson Jan 2021 #77
Pick 5 DU members, out of thin air. Paladin Jan 2021 #28
My dog would be a far better president than tDumpf fwvinson Jan 2021 #78
I will second that motion... IthinkThereforeIAM Jan 2021 #82
Yep, me too stopwastingmymoney Jan 2021 #107
As a personal best, Trump killed about 400,000 Americans with his Trump Virus. keithbvadu2 Jan 2021 #29
So very true! Not to mention Kimber432 Jan 2021 #51
And Let's Not Forget Everything Trump Did for Putin and Mother Russia... panfluteman Jan 2021 #30
His greatest accomplishment might be that the wakeup call to Fascism sounded long and loud. We will NoMoreRepugs Jan 2021 #31
I think I would have replied - Lokee11 Jan 2021 #33
For me, his cruelty and greed were what made this president (haha) the worst Cozmo Jan 2021 #34
Well, they would point to the Abraham accord mgardener Jan 2021 #35
His greatest accomplishment was convincing the young and less educated that Russia is our friend. nature-lover Jan 2021 #37
I think we should punish Putin deeply, now. fwvinson Jan 2021 #79
Biden won't go easy on him. Those days are over! nature-lover Jan 2021 #85
He united most of the left. Roisin Ni Fiachra Jan 2021 #38
True Ingersollman Jan 2021 #45
400,000+ Americans died on his watch IronLionZion Jan 2021 #42
so he just broke shit and had a tantrum... samnsara Jan 2021 #46
12 of the 20 years expired in this century have been squandered. jaxexpat Jan 2021 #47
That his last statement will likely be his list of his accomplishments is telling in and of itself karynnj Jan 2021 #52
On your Mid-East point, Pendejo45 also put the US Embassy in Jerusalem ... aggiesal Jan 2021 #81
I see it as negative as it was a "carrot" the US could have granted to Israel in return for karynnj Jan 2021 #90
Trump confuses his supporters. keithbvadu2 Jan 2021 #112
This sums it up for me: BigBearJohn Jan 2021 #53
Schumer better start engineering court-packing on OUR side. calimary Jan 2021 #55
No, it won't "be like he was never president at all." It will NEVER be like that. Towlie Jan 2021 #56
He did absolutely nothing ooky Jan 2021 #57
Trump wanted to destroy Obama's legacy Roc2020 Jan 2021 #59
One Indian's opinion was that Trump's accomplishment was... mwooldri Jan 2021 #61
You just about covered his 4 years. Jay25 Jan 2021 #63
As Rick Wilson book title says, "Everything Trump Touches Dies". patphil Jan 2021 #64
He signed a lot of executive orders, damaging environmental protection, civil rights, and many other spooky3 Jan 2021 #65
Only really good thing was signing the prison reform bill. Wolverine16 Jan 2021 #66
Reality check - "Biden vs. Trump: Who's the Actual Criminal Justice Reformer?" klook Jan 2021 #86
I... uh... Lil Mushakan Jan 2021 #67
The only thing he achieved was that he divided us Catherine Vincent Jan 2021 #68
Better yet they say he was first president to speak to Kim Jung Un. Trump made him a Pepsidog Jan 2021 #69
Why I think Trump during Covid-19 pandemic was important StClone Jan 2021 #70
"Ya know what he did? He owned the libtards! That's good enough for me." BobTheSubgenius Jan 2021 #72
They are just that dumb mdbl Jan 2021 #120
Keep hoping there is a simple solution to Trump. Arne Jan 2021 #74
The thread is this long and no one has mentioned the Space Farce, er Force? Maeve Jan 2021 #75
His accomplishments over the last four years Mr.Bill Jan 2021 #76
He's always been a con man and a bullshitter. LudwigPastorius Jan 2021 #80
SPACE FORCE! Maru Kitteh Jan 2021 #83
I've often been told by MAGAts that, "Trump has done so much for the country." But, ... Brother Mythos Jan 2021 #87
Make America Great Again BainsBane Jan 2021 #89
well stated! mdbl Jan 2021 #91
I asked a similar question of a friend of mine. JPK Jan 2021 #92
"A Reagan Republican..." LudwigPastorius Jan 2021 #102
Trump's supporters, like the people that broke into the Capitol and vandalized it, see undoing Nitram Jan 2021 #93
It is more than a shame drmeow Jan 2021 #94
You know what's bad, though, is these people think Iran and Paris were bad deals. PatrickforO Jan 2021 #96
Well he might not have personally released a healthcare plan, but Republican congresspeople did progree Jan 2021 #97
The New Cold War mia Jan 2021 #99
they can't assert any accomplishments because there aren't any. For the wealthy and corporations was iluvtennis Jan 2021 #101
They got nuthin'... just like always... Blue Owl Jan 2021 #105
This message was self-deleted by its author nam78_two Jan 2021 #106
He got us the House, the Senate, torius Jan 2021 #108
A suitable consequence Aussie105 Jan 2021 #110
woohoo superheadshot19997 Jan 2021 #119
I really hate the Media right now. Aussie105 Jan 2021 #109
He legalized killing hibernating mother bears in their dens alphafemale Jan 2021 #111
And I don't get (from the left media) "one of the worst presidents." C Moon Jan 2021 #113
Agreed. Buckeye_Democrat Jan 2021 #114
Money Shot Godneverwroteabook Jan 2021 #115
I disagree malaise Jan 2021 #116
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»It's funny that when I as...»Reply #52