128 replies to this topic

[Moonlight Graham]

On Jan. 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. That makes it 3 years in office for him. How would you grade his job as President thus far? Of course, please try to provide some explanation of your grade.

My Grade: B-

Pros:
- Got most US forces out of Iraq
- Got Bin Laden (though can't give him all, or even most, of the credit for that)
- At least kind of tried to close Gitmo
- Finally got a health care reform bill passed into law
- Avoided a US economic depression
- Economy aside, has been fairly effective at avoiding massive blunders, in contrast to his predecessor.
- has avoided worldwide nuclear apocalypse. hurray!
- Supported repealing "don't ask, don't tell"

Cons:
- the economy still sucks, & his efforts to fix it have been sub-par at best
- has handled the US debt issue poorly
- Afghanistan is still a ridiculous stalemate and mostly a waste of time. Should just leave.
- Same old imperialistic b.s. US foreign policy as the last 60+ years
- little to no effort on campaign/party finance & lobbying/special interest reform
- handled BP oil spill poorly
- is a bit of a wimp & a sellout (especially domestically), often trying appease everyone instead of having the balls to stand up for what's right
- is a typical Washington piece of turd (see above)
- Washington still functions like crapola, though certainly not all his fault.
- Gitmo still open
- i'm sure there's more but it would take forever to type LOL

Edited by Moonlight Graham, 24 January 2012 - 01:09 PM.

[bush_cheney2004]

The US departure from Iraq was negotiated to occur at the end of 2011 by the Bush administration, and President Obama failed to get an extension over the issue of legal immunity for troops. As for your other dubious observations, insulting notes from the non-voting peanut gallery in Canada are not considered a presidential report card....but re-election in 2012 is.

Edited by bush_cheney2004, 23 January 2012 - 12:37 AM.

[sharkman]

Your 'cons' list is almost twice as long as your 'pro' list and you give hime a B? And just in general, a B grade when you look at his three years, you might as well just give him an A for effort. I would not.

On the pro side, getting the troops out is not the question, it's whether the effort was a success. For instance they got the troops out of Viet Nam, but Nam was a huge mess. Obama's part in the effort was limited however. Bin Laden, I agree on that.

He doesn't get anything for Gitmo because his results are zero. Trying to close it and trying to get terrorists into civil court is a big zero.

The health care bill is a huge question mark. How can putting a monstrous new debt on the backs of the taxpayers be ignored? Will it work? Several courts have called it unconstitutional, so it remains to be seen if it even passes muster in the legal realm.

The economy is another fail. Three years and no success equals fail. He spent trillions and 41% more people are now using food stamps. 16% are below the poverty line. The job outlook is just now finally starting to improve, though it remains to be seen if it carrys into the traditionally tough months of Jan/Feb. But claiming he kept the US out of depression is dubious. Greece stayed out of depression, so the US should have been able to do much better than that. They didn't.

On the 'avoiding massive blunders' front, he bowed to the leaders in China and Saudi Arabia. He has been smoother than Bush, but has spent multiple times more with nothing to show for it. His efforts on the ME are below average.

He had oodles of good will going in and I think it's been a real steep learning curve as he'd never run a state or business before. He appointments have been controversial and ideology based many times. He spends far too much time holidaying and golfing, much more than Bush did, and it does not look good.

I'd give him a D. Lost his majority in Congress when he had so much good will at the start.

Edited by sharkman, 22 January 2012 - 11:56 PM.

[waldo]

As for your other dubious observations, notes from the non-voting peanut gallery in Canada are not considered a presidential report card

doesn't your pony have more than one trick?

[sharkman]

And what's your grade, waldo?

[waldo]

edited: to remove gratuitous and false claims concerning Obama's vacation and golfing...

whaaa! I wasn't quick enough to grab your unedited version...

So far, President Obama has taken 61 vacation days after 31 months in office. At this point in their presidencies, George W. Bush had spent 180 days at his ranch where his staff often joined him for meetings. And Ronald Reagan had taken 112 vacation days at his ranch.

Among recent presidents, Bill Clinton took the least time off -- 28 days.

To be fair, a presidential vacation away from the White House is not the same as a vacation for the average person. The president is still in contact with his advisers and on call for any emergency.

[Moonlight Graham]

Your 'cons' list is almost twice as long as your 'pro' list and you give hime a B? And just in general, a B grade when you look at his three years, you might as well just give him an A for effort. I would not.

I made the grade before I wrote the list. You're right, I re-evaluated and change it to a "C".

On the 'avoiding massive blunders' front, he bowed to the leaders in China and Saudi Arabia.

Above would be a blunder, not a massive blunder. Did anyone die as a result?

Edited by Moonlight Graham, 23 January 2012 - 12:08 AM.

[bush_cheney2004]

doesn't your pony have more than one trick?

Yes...it can spot Canadian intellectual prowess from a mile away with subtle clues such as "wimp", "sellout" and "turd".

[waldo]

The job outlook is just now finally starting to improve, though it remains to be seen if it carrys into the traditionally tough months of Jan/Feb.

apparently... Obama inherited a shyte-load from Bush... apparently, I hear tell, there was some kinda recession going on... apparently, Obama faces (one of) the most obstructionist GOP led, Tea Party driven Congressional House evah - see GOP... the party of 'NO'!

Unemployment Rate, Jobs Added Since 'Great Recession'

[waldo]

Obama Administration’s Achievements (Thus Far)

[waldo]

Yes...it can spot Canadian intellectual prowess from a mile away with subtle clues such as "wimp", "sellout" and "turd".

your prowess is wasted in this thread - why don't you take your ultra-sensitivities and failed self-confidence issues and go start another heeelarious counter thread to the "Why Are Americans So Fat - American Obesity Epidemic" thread.

[bush_cheney2004]

your prowess is wasted in this thread - why don't you take your ultra-sensitivities and failed self-confidence issues and go start another heeelarious counter thread to the "Why Are Americans So Fat - American Obesity Epidemic" thread.

I would do just that, but I wouldn't want to be blamed for an even higher Canadian suicide rate. For now, I am satisfied to contemplate how less sensitive Canadians would react to implications that your head of state was a royal "turd".

[sharkman]

I made the grade before I wrote the list. You're right, I re-evaluated and change it to a "C".



Above would be a blunder, not a massive blunder. Did anyone die as a result?

No, but to signal to the world that you are not the equal of these leaders is a bigger deal to me I guess.

[bush_cheney2004]

No, but to signal to the world that you are not the equal of these leaders is a bigger deal to me I guess.

Why? What difference does it make in matters of state?

[sharkman]

apparently... Obama inherited a shyte-load from Bush... apparently, I hear tell, there was some kinda recession going on... apparently, Obama faces (one of) the most obstructionist GOP led, Tea Party driven Congressional House evah - see GOP... the party of 'NO'!

Unemployment Rate, Jobs Added Since 'Great Recession'

Wait a minute. Just how did Obama get that contary congress, hmm? Anyone? Anyone? The fact is he started out with a majority in congress and had it for 2 years. He's only had a minority for one, and with all of the outrage expressed by dems you'd think they didn't piss away this majority and it's their own fault.

Edit: could you provide a link for you info on the vacations?

Edited by sharkman, 23 January 2012 - 12:31 AM.