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In reply to the discussion: Paul Krugman Calls Barack Obama The Most Consequential President Since Reagan [View all]DallasNE
(7,402 posts)Then one cannot overlook George W. Bush. After all, he ignored a clear warning that bin Laden was determined to strike inside the US and that was extremely consequential. And he backed that up with the Patriot Act, two wars and paying for neither which ushered in deficits unseen in our history married with the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. That is far more consequential than Reagan.
But in many ways the biggest reason Obama has been so consequential is because of how successful he has been in reversing so much of the damage caused by Bush. The stimulus package stopped the great recession in its tracks. He ended the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war is rapidly winding down while not starting any new wars. Talks have started with Iran, something that hasn't happened in 35 years. And the deficit has come down sharply. So, yes, Obama has been a very consequential. Certainly the most consequential since George W. Bush and perhaps since Lyndon Johnson.