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Barrack Obama. So his term as American president is slowly winding down.

1235

Comments

  • #122
    Hector Bellend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,667 ✭✭✭Hector Bellend


    Amirani wrote: »
    People in general attribute far too much to the sitting president - both positive and negative. The actual power of the President when it comes to causing significant shifts economically, socially and politically can and generally is quite limited.

    Obama I think has been pretty okay - best president of my lifetime anyway. Much of this is based on the lack of scandal during his presidency and his approach to issues, which was mostly based on logic and reasoning rather than sabre-rattling populism.

    What age are you? Seven?


  • #123
    BalcombeSt4
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,856 ✭✭✭BalcombeSt4


    His policy in the Middle East was a disaster. The Israeli's are now more uncompromising then they've ever been. Libya,Syria & Iraq are in ruins. His drone campaing in Yemen & Pakistain is the largest terrorist camaping in the world.

    He's made relations with Russia even colder.

    His good points were normalising relations between Cuba & the US, & helping establish more normal relations with Vietnam.


  • #124
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Berserker


    Lyle Lanley wrote: »
    He was given an easy ride by the media for fear of being accused of racism a lot of the time.

    The media here are still in love with him. On the flip side, the constant sniping at Trump is getting more than a little embarrassing. I work in Dublin city centre and American tourists were amazed buy the anti-Trump protests here yesterday.


  • #125
    Zebra3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,299 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    A Primal Nut wrote: »
    Its amazing how easy a time the media gave Obama. I never remember him being asked difficult questions in an interview. The only interviews he ever did were lighthearted ones with Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart. Whenever the issue of Syria came up it was usually just softballs like "Isn't Putin awful". Nothing about drones, US giving weapons to Al Nusra and ISIS. Never came up.

    Ask difficult questions, lose access.

    That's American "democracy".


  • #126
    rossie1977
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,541 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    Hector Bellend wrote: »
    What age are you? Seven?

    Yes because there has been amazing presidents since Kennedy

    Johnson won't be favourly remembered, Nixon was a black mark on us politics, Ford no, Carter re: Johnson, Regan will be held up as a saviour by the right but time won't be as kind given the number of hidden controversies, 138 members of Regan's administration were either investigated, indicted or convicted of crimes. Both Bush's were disasters.

    That leaves Clinton and Obama. Most of the negative stuff thrown Obama's way ie rise of Islamic terrorism, bombing of middle Eastern nations etc were also used against Clinton. Unlike Clinton however Obama's personal and private life is spotless which history will be more kind to.

    My prediction is 100 years from now a statue of Obama will sit in Washington DC before one for Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Regan, George H/W Bush or Clinton does.


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  • #127
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,286 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    AMKC wrote: »
    Will you miss Obama and what did you think of him as the American president?

    I think Obama has been a very good American president he done his best he got America back working after it was left in a terrible state by Bush and the World recession. He also made some mistakes to do. He should have acted on Syria instead of standing back. He is only human do and none of us are perfect we can,t get everything right.
    I think its sad his term is coming to on end and as someone in my family said today its a pity that it could not have ran for a 3rd term.

    To be fair i think he wanted to but didnt want to go in alone. The Brits refused to go in though after Blair and Iraq

    http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/31/world/meast/syria-civil-war/


  • #128
    A Primal Nut
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,949 ✭✭✭A Primal Nut


    He did act in Syria. He and Clinton rejected a peace deal that could have ended the entire thing in 2012 and continued supplying guns to the rebels prolonging the war, starting the refugee crisis and forcing a strict interpretation of Shari'a Law on Aleppo for four years. If they accepted the peace deal Assad would have been left in power but that's a minor problem compared to everything else that that's gone on for the last four years. Assad never committed terrorist attacks on US or European soil. People inspired by the syrian rebels did.

    https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/4227/2016/en/

    Everything he touched in foreign policy turned to s***.


  • #129
    RobertKK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,782 ✭✭✭✭RobertKK


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    Yes because there has been amazing presidents since Kennedy

    Johnson won't be favourly remembered, Nixon was a black mark on us politics, Ford no, Carter re: Johnson, Regan will be held up as a saviour by the right but time won't be as kind given the number of hidden controversies, 138 members of Regan's administration were either investigated, indicted or convicted of crimes. Both Bush's were disasters.

    That leaves Clinton and Obama. Most of the negative stuff thrown Obama's way ie rise of Islamic terrorism, bombing of middle Eastern nations etc were also used against Clinton. Unlike Clinton however Obama's personal and private life is spotless which history will be more kind to.

    My prediction is 100 years from now a statue of Obama will sit in Washington DC before one for Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Regan, George H/W Bush or Clinton does.


    There are more wars in the Middle East/North Africa now than when Obama took office.

    Obama will be seen in history as the Drone President, with many covert wars.
    A President whose policies against dictators assisted terrorism and which for a long time to come will have made terrorism in Europe a much bigger problem.
    Arming 'rebels' and weapons finding their way into the hands of terrorists.
    Helped the transition of power from Gaddafi to terrorists in Libya which led to their ambassador ironically being murdered in a city that Gaddafi said had a terrorism problem, but where the west said Gaddafi wanted to massacre people.
    Tried to help the rebels in Syria who want Sharia law against the secular dictator Assad.
    Obama laughed at Romney in 2012 when Romney said that Russia was the number 1 geopolitical issue, Obama made a joke of it and made a reference to the 1980's. his secretary of State had given the Russians a symbolic reset button. A little over 4 years later, Obama and NATO have the most troops on NATO's borders with the Russians with relations the worst since the cold war.

    Obama, he just wasn't that good.
    He is the type of person who leads to sayings about talking the talk...


  • #130
    Angel Crow
    Closed Accounts Posts: 61 ✭✭Angel Crow


    "Sure, we tortured some folks." - Barack Obama


  • #131
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Berserker


    Angel Crow wrote: »
    "Sure, we tortured some folks." - Barack Obama

    If Trump said that .... I'm going to bet that Trump won't bother with the 'I'm Irish' nonsense too, which is a relief.


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  • #132
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,529 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    RobertKK wrote: »
    There are more wars in the Middle East/North Africa now than when Obama took office.

    Obama will be seen in history as the Drone President, with many covert wars.
    A President whose policies against dictators assisted terrorism and which for a long time to come will have made terrorism in Europe a much bigger problem.
    Arming 'rebels' and weapons finding their way into the hands of terrorists.
    Helped the transition of power from Gaddafi to terrorists in Libya which led to their ambassador ironically being murdered in a city that Gaddafi said had a terrorism problem, but where the west said Gaddafi wanted to massacre people.
    Tried to help the rebels in Syria who want Sharia law against the secular dictator Assad.
    Obama laughed at Romney in 2012 when Romney said that Russia was the number 1 geopolitical issue, Obama made a joke of it and made a reference to the 1980's. his secretary of State had given the Russians a symbolic reset button. A little over 4 years later, Obama and NATO have the most troops on NATO's borders with the Russians with relations the worst since the cold war.

    Obama, he just wasn't that good.
    He is the type of person who leads to sayings about talking the talk...

    But he brought in Obamacare so everything is ok


  • #133
    Skylinehead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,690 ✭✭✭✭Skylinehead


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    Yes because there has been amazing presidents since Kennedy
    Not as if Kennedy was anything particularly great either. Good speaker/image and getting assassinated = inflated legacy.


  • #134
    Ulysses Gaze
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,570 ✭✭✭Ulysses Gaze


    RobertKK wrote: »
    There are more wars in the Middle East/North Africa now than when Obama took office.

    Obama will be seen in history as the Drone President, with many covert wars.
    A President whose policies against dictators assisted terrorism and which for a long time to come will have made terrorism in Europe a much bigger problem.
    Arming 'rebels' and weapons finding their way into the hands of terrorists.
    Helped the transition of power from Gaddafi to terrorists in Libya which led to their ambassador ironically being murdered in a city that Gaddafi said had a terrorism problem, but where the west said Gaddafi wanted to massacre people.
    Tried to help the rebels in Syria who want Sharia law against the secular dictator Assad.
    Obama laughed at Romney in 2012 when Romney said that Russia was the number 1 geopolitical issue, Obama made a joke of it and made a reference to the 1980's. his secretary of State had given the Russians a symbolic reset button. A little over 4 years later, Obama and NATO have the most troops on NATO's borders with the Russians with relations the worst since the cold war.

    Obama, he just wasn't that good.
    He is the type of person who leads to sayings about talking the talk...

    And let's not forget the ATF Gun walking scandal aka The Fast and The Furious which hardly helped US-Mexican relations.


  • #135
    tomwaterford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,768 ✭✭✭✭tomwaterford


    Dempsey wrote: »
    But he brought in Obamacare so everything is ok

    It's hardly a bad thing like....looking after poor people?


  • #136
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Berserker


    tomwaterford wrote: »
    It's hardly a bad thing like....looking after poor people?

    The rates have risen by 25% on average this year. Recall a poster on another thread, who lives in North Carolina, saying that it has risen by 40% there. It is incredibly unpopular and it is not affordable.


  • #137
    RobertKK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,782 ✭✭✭✭RobertKK


    tomwaterford wrote: »
    It's hardly a bad thing like....looking after poor people?

    It is not good when it is unsustainable.

    Many people are finding it very difficult or impossible to afford health insurance as prices rocket.


  • #138
    tomwaterford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,768 ✭✭✭✭tomwaterford


    RobertKK wrote: »
    It is not good when it is unsustainable.

    Many people are finding it very difficult or impossible to afford health insurance as prices rocket.

    It's not good to look after poor people???


    What other options have you...if they can't afford to look after themselves....let them die,because they poor???


    Primitive thinking tbh


  • #139
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Berserker


    tomwaterford wrote: »
    It's not good to look after poor people???


    What other options have you...if they can't afford to look after themselves....let them die,because they poor???


    Primitive thinking tbh

    Have you ever lived in the USA? It's every man and woman for themselves. It is very primitive.


  • #140
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,529 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    tomwaterford wrote: »
    It's not good to look after poor people???


    What other options have you...if they can't afford to look after themselves....let them die,because they poor???


    Primitive thinking tbh

    Thats the American dream, survival of the fittest. If you are poor, you havent worked hard enough.


  • #141
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Berserker


    Dempsey wrote: »
    Thats the American dream, survival of the fittest. If you are poor, you havent worked hard enough.

    Bang on. I know people who work three jobs just to keep their heads above water.


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  • #142
    tomwaterford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,768 ✭✭✭✭tomwaterford


    Berserker wrote: »
    Bang on. I know people who work three jobs just to keep their heads above water.

    That's no life to live. ....would Ya be bothered??


    When did working three jobs to just keep your head above water become an aspiration?


  • #143
    Dirty Dingus McGee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭Dirty Dingus McGee


    Berserker wrote: »
    Bang on. I know people who work three jobs just to keep their heads above water.

    I think I'd rather be dead in that case.

    Really sad seeing elderly people working in the theme parks in Orlando when I was over there.Surely after a lifetime of work they should be entitled to some decent sort of retirement.


  • #144
    fryup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    he was a "Token Black President" as simple as that

    he did next to nothing for blacks and other minorities in america...although his hands were tied up against a hostile congress and all


  • #145
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,286 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Berserker wrote: »
    Bang on. I know people who work three jobs just to keep their heads above water.

    That lunatic Michael Graham who used be talking to George Hook couldn't get his head around the idea of welfare.


  • #146
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,043 ✭✭✭Berserker


    Deleted User wrote: »
    That lunatic Michael Graham who used be talking to George Hook couldn't get his head around the idea of welfare.

    Friends of mine think it's bonkers too. You work to pay some other person to sit on his or her ass, is how they view welfare. Obamacare was a massive no-no to them. They really hated it.
    tomwaterford wrote: »
    That's no life to live. ....would Ya be bothered??

    I wouldn't but countless people are.


  • #147
    mzungu
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,311 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    RobertKK wrote: »

    Many people are finding it very difficult or impossible to afford health insurance as prices rocket.

    The main beneficiaries of Obamacare are Trump supporters in his rust belt heartland. The turkeys have voted for christmas. Under Trump they won't have a hope of being able to afford it.


  • #148
    mzungu
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,311 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    Berserker wrote: »
    Friends of mine think it's bonkers too. You work to pay some other person to sit on his or her ass, is how they view welfare. Obamacare was a massive no-no to them. They really hated it.
    That must be the old Cold War mindset. Obamacare must have seemed too much like communism for them.


  • #149
    Academic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 445 ✭✭Academic


    http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/moving-vans-arrive-at-white-house-to-remove-all-traces-of-competence-dignity


  • #150
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,286 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    mzungu wrote: »
    That must be the old Cold War mindset. Obamacare must have seemed too much like communism for them.


    The ironic thing is that the so called good old 'land of opportunity' doesnt explain that opportunity is only for the fortunate whereas the big evil communists in the like of Cuba were able to eliminate illiterature and provide total health care.
    the whole capitalistic model the US have developed is designed as so the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Some people will never be able to afford or will have great difficulty in getting out of their state of affairs while others will still prosper


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  • #151
    Zebra3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,299 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    Deleted User wrote: »
    That lunatic Michael Graham who used be talking to George Hook couldn't get his head around the idea of welfare.

    Oddly enough most of these commentators can't get their heads around welfare for poor people but have no issue with welfare for wealthy corporations.


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