Figure this one might be less predictable than the Trump one. But on a scale of 1 to 10, what overall rating would you give Obama's presidency? Any positives or negatives stick out at all? And does his presidency change your view of other presidents? I'm leaning towards a 7 or 8 myself. Best president in my lifetime (but that's a relatively short list). I mostly agreed with him on policy, but I felt like he didn't really take advantage of having the Senate (he should've pushed for a public option). Also kind of dropped the ball when it came to getting voters to turn out for the 2010 midterms (although that's not entirely on Obama). I do think the ACA was a step in the right direction. Stimulus should've been bigger but it's better than what a Republican would've done. I did feel like he spent too much time walking on eggshells trying not to offend FOX News viewers who would hate him regardless.
Strong 7, possible 8. Obama's biggest flaw in my opinion was that he simply attempted to reach across the aisle too much which caused several bad policy decisions and multiple missed opportunities.
i think 6 to 7. im pretty critical of presidents to begin with so thats a good rating from me. definitely would be in my top ten
I’d say 7 and 8 in public. He was a capable game manager. Given the partisan divide, that’s probably the best a president can do. The days of transformational presidents are behind us. I doubt FDR or Reagan could be transformational in today’s climate. It’s fukking wild when you think what the Dems allowed Reagan to do while having both chambers. Those days are over.
at this point, i too would juelz my way to an 8 in public to avoid drama... dubya=2 trump=3 nixon=3 reagan=4 clinton=5 obama= 6 *jersey in the rafters for integrating the league washington=7 *jersey in the rafters for holding the expansion team down lincoln=8 *jersey in the rafters for leaving it all on the field to keep the team together
In terms of presidencies of the 20th and 21st century - there have only been a few "better" Presidencies. FDR and LBJ. But from the economic recovery to healthcare, to domestic policy regarding education, infrastructure, and corporate regulation - he was a "high." It's unfortunate that he spent the vast majority of his term overturning Reagan, HW, Clinton, and Bush's damage - because he was not able to carve out his full agenda by any stretch of the imagination. It is also unfortunate that he had to deal with overwhelming GOP stonewalling. Had he had the freedom of Bush's first term he could have radically changed the U.S. in a progressive direction. What he did in the Middle East was short-sighted; should have supported Kurdish nationalists more and prevented AFRICOM from becoming an absolute force of neocolonialism. And his handling of the leaders that led to the financial crisis was short-sighted.
We’re in the days of wielding power. The executive branch hasn’t had this much demonstrateable power in quite some time. I think both FDR and Reagan would go for broke. I don’t have high hopes but Biden can do a lot of good if he tries
Five or Six, which means he is the best president since FDR. ACA was important to get a national conversation about healthcare. He also was important symbolically. He represented America on the international stage better than any POTUS since FDR. But he wasted so many opportunities that we are still recovering from. Those blown opportunities brought us Trump. NOt to mention the deportations, drone strikes and austerity that lead to a weak recovery. His presidency is so much different if he decided to flex on congress early in his first term, instead of placating cowardly blue dogs who got ran out anyway. I say this in public to my elitist friends who think Obama did all he could. Super disagree. He was never interested in doing that. This is easily the strongest period for the executive branch since George Washington. He only realized that at the end of his presidency.
But he did withdraw 90% of all troops from Iraq and Afghan if I’m not mistaken. That has to count for something.
