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whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:44 PM Mar 2016

Preserving the Obama Legacy

I like president Obama. It's hard not to like president Obama. He's done some good things for this country. Arguably, he's done some things that, depending on your perspective, are not so good. Such is the case with most presidents (with the exception of W maybe). Take the ACA, it's certainly a milestone achievement, but depending on your situation and experience, you may view it as a blessing or a curse. We all agree it's far from ideal, and history will reveal if it was a good start or a blind alley. Among other issues: economy, civil liberties and justice, foreign policy... it's a mixed bag. He's done a good job, but there's PLENTY of room for improvement.

This is why I'm confused by the assumed mandate to preserve his legacy as if it's sacrosanct. Especially, in the context of the primary race. I get the desire to hold ground against the eroding force of a republican president, but using Obama's performance as the standard by which we measure and contrast the democratic primary candidates, is kind of limiting and shortsighted IMO. It seems to be a go-to for disparaging Sanders, who doesn't reject Obama's accomplishments, but simply has some other ideas and is honest about the opportunity for improvement. Hillary on the other hand, seems to be associating herself with Obama's legacy purely to score easy points with the base.

What do you think?

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Preserving the Obama Legacy (Original Post) whatchamacallit Mar 2016 OP
I agree. SamKnause Mar 2016 #1
Yep. I think a lot of the legacy thing is related to driving a wedge between whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #2
how so? Stellar Mar 2016 #4
Well, if you read the myriad posts whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #6
The way I see it Bernie wasn't trying drape himself all over Obama...he's a thinking man. nt Stellar Mar 2016 #13
That's how I see it too whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #17
I have little doubt that was the intent Broward Mar 2016 #22
So, I guess you see Obama as a so-so President... Stellar Mar 2016 #3
He's been a better president than many whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #5
That sounds like no one should run for themselves because they couldn't do better than Obama... Stellar Mar 2016 #11
We agree whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #12
There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it. Lord Acton Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2016 #7
Hillary Clinton never thought she'd have a primary opponent tularetom Mar 2016 #8
True whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #10
A lot of unsupported opinion ... snowy owl Mar 2016 #16
We could have republican idiots in the White House for the next 50 years Autumn Mar 2016 #9
Yes whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #15
Can you imagine living in any presidents permanent legacy? Autumn Mar 2016 #18
Awesome quote whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #19
Mark Twain was a treasure along with Will Rogers. My father was Autumn Mar 2016 #20
You had a smart dad whatchamacallit Mar 2016 #21
I think that was just Hillary's tactic to hug Obama to get the black vote pdsimdars Mar 2016 #14
Same overtly condescending words that Bernie sander used uponit7771 Mar 2016 #23
Well, that's what she did . . . . hug Obama and when the voting was done, now she disagrees with him pdsimdars Mar 2016 #24

SamKnause

(13,043 posts)
1. I agree.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:54 PM
Mar 2016

I don't want any of the good things that were done under the Obama administration undone.

I want to take them all forward and improve on them.

I want all the bad things that were done under his administration, the Bush administration,

and the Clinton administration undone. (Too numerous to list all.)

That's my vision for this country.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
2. Yep. I think a lot of the legacy thing is related to driving a wedge between
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:57 PM
Mar 2016

Sanders and the black community.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
6. Well, if you read the myriad posts
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:07 PM
Mar 2016

claiming Bernie has disparaged Obama with impunity, you can see the pattern of intent.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
17. That's how I see it too
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:37 PM
Mar 2016

Give Obama props where he deserves them, but please bring your own ideas for solving our problems to the party.

Stellar

(5,644 posts)
3. So, I guess you see Obama as a so-so President...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:00 PM
Mar 2016

and Sanders would be a great President (and I voted for him). But no one will know just how much Republic0ns would let him get done either. Hillary draped herself all over Obama may fair no better. I guess we will never know or we'll find out.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
5. He's been a better president than many
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:04 PM
Mar 2016

My problem is having 'I will be Obama' be the test for primary candidates.

Stellar

(5,644 posts)
11. That sounds like no one should run for themselves because they couldn't do better than Obama...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:28 PM
Mar 2016

and I think that's B.S. I think each candidate should build upon what the last person did and/or make things better, you know. Improve the ACA...get the lead out of the waters, global warming, etc. There's lots more to be done. If the Republic0ns get in, you know they will roll ish backwards. They love living in the past.

tularetom

(23,664 posts)
8. Hillary Clinton never thought she'd have a primary opponent
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:11 PM
Mar 2016

She had to strongly identify with the president in order to assure herself the support of black voters in the primary. Wasn't really difficult since Sen Sanders has been a lukewarm supporter of the president at best.

I think Obama will try to keep her from going off the reservation in the general election. Her natural tendency is to assume the minority vote is in the bag and begin to direct her campaign rhetoric towards the white moderate, centrist, independent voter. In doing this, she might even be tempted to begin to disassociate herself from Obama. The president is smart enough to realize this and he will do what he can to ensure that she doesn't go too far.

Or maybe he's just trying to set himself up with a seven figure gig with the Clinton Foundation after he leaves office.

snowy owl

(2,145 posts)
16. A lot of unsupported opinion ...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:36 PM
Mar 2016

what evidence do you have that Obama is keeping her on any reservation? And Sanders "lukewarm" supporter - for some things, yes, for others, no...but then he's been about issues and always very, very progressive which is why he decided to run: to give the country a choice between centrist-right and authentic progressive.

Too many unfounded opinions that seem based on a lot of bias. Both candidates are running strategic campaigns because they have to.

Autumn

(44,762 posts)
9. We could have republican idiots in the White House for the next 50 years
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:13 PM
Mar 2016
thought there, and Obama's legacy will remain. Hillary. Bernie or even Michelle Obama if she ever decided to run have nothing to do with Preserving the Obama Legacy. History does that.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
15. Yes
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:33 PM
Mar 2016

let history preserve the legacy. If any president got it all right, term limits would be a bad thing. The country and world change and governance must evolve.

Autumn

(44,762 posts)
18. Can you imagine living in any presidents permanent legacy?
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:43 PM
Mar 2016

People use preserving Obama's legacy to trash Bernie . Silliness and desperation. You got it right "The country and world change and governance must evolve."
My father used to quote Mark Twain

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”

Autumn

(44,762 posts)
20. Mark Twain was a treasure along with Will Rogers. My father was
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:09 PM
Mar 2016

quite the fan of both.

Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate; now what's going to happen to us with both a Senate and a House?
Will Rogers.
 

pdsimdars

(6,007 posts)
14. I think that was just Hillary's tactic to hug Obama to get the black vote
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:33 PM
Mar 2016

Now that the southern voting is over, notice how she has started to mention things that she disagrees with him about??
She just USED Obama to gain the sympathy. Now she's done with that.

 

pdsimdars

(6,007 posts)
24. Well, that's what she did . . . . hug Obama and when the voting was done, now she disagrees with him
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 07:20 PM
Mar 2016

you can think whatever you want but those are the simple facts.

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