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General Discussion

highplainsdem

(62,592 posts) Mon Mar 9, 2026, 12:53 PM Mar 9

113

Aaron Rupar: If you're roughly my age, it's wild to reflect on the optimism for the future Americans felt when Obama [View all]

was elected — young Americans spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate! — and contrast with what we face today. The falloff over the past 18 years is hard to process.

If youâ€™re roughly my age, itâ€™s wild to reflect on the optimism for the future Americans felt when Obama was elected â€” young Americans spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate! â€” and contrast with what we face today. The falloff over the past 18 years is hard to process.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-09T15:56:07.313Z

Aaron's in his early 40s. But I don't think it's that particular age that matters. Anyone old enough to remember the optimism we felt when Obama was elected understands what he means.

And those of us who are older remember a lot of progress from earlier decades that we're now seeing reversed.

30 replies

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Aaron Rupar: If you're roughly my age, it's wild to reflect on the optimism for the future Americans felt when Obama [View all] highplainsdem Mar 9 OP

I remember being elated when Carter was elected. perfessor Mar 9 #1

Carter barely won dsc Mar 9 #9

I have NEVER felt such excitement! young_at_heart Mar 9 #2

Always a relief... lame54 Mar 9 #3

I'm so grateful Obama happened during my time on this planet. What great memories. Vinca Mar 9 #4

I'm still bewildered by 2016 newdeal2 Mar 9 #5

It was a triumph of Conservative Media's brainwashing program maxsolomon Mar 9 #12

There was Russian interference. Many of us think that election was tampered with. Amaryllis Mar 9 #13

I'd say that Russian misinformation all over social media was tampering groundloop Mar 9 #15

James Comey. SergeStorms Mar 9 #21

I was happy then MustLoveBeagles Mar 9 #6

Wild isn't the word I'd use. progressoid Mar 9 #7

+1 leftstreet Mar 9 #11

Try tampered with. Russia Russia Russia. Amaryllis Mar 9 #14

Obama 1/09 on Bush Corruption/War Crimes displacedvermoter Mar 10 #27

The Age of Aquarius BidenRocks Mar 9 #8

If you're roughly my age BaronChocula Mar 9 #10

65 here and it all seems reversed to before I was born. nilram Mar 9 #16

I was optimistic in the 1970's and early 1980's OC375 Mar 9 #17

I was just talking to my wife about this. In the late 60s and early 70s we were incredibly optimistic about the future. Martin68 Mar 9 #18

Yes, we thought most folks had a common understanding of what we all valued. Didn't work out that way, though. JudyM Mar 9 #24

My Reflection modrepub Mar 9 #19

Blaming Obama for everything is a favorite DU parlor game so you're not out of line at all. BannonsLiver Mar 10 #30

And the Republican senators refused to BootinUp Mar 9 #20

Mitch again. BidenRocks Mar 9 #23

He articulated pattyloutwo Mar 9 #22

My optimism when Obama was elected was boundless--briefly DFW Mar 10 #25

Rush. Beck2 Mar 10 #26

Obama was elected the year my daughter was born ybbor Mar 10 #28

We were hopeful because we thought there would be real, progressive change. BlueTsunami2018 Mar 10 #29