Obama

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

At the end of his 8 year tenure, I think Obama deserves a thread.

IMO, he was easily the best US president in recent history.  Most dignified, respectable, family man, no scandals, intelligent and controlled. He and his family carried themselves very well indeed.

I mean to say...no one else compares to him in moral terms, clear intent, dignity and poise. George Bush, Clinton, Reagan, G W Bush, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, even Kennedy.   

I think most right thinking people will miss him.

Just a small tribute.

Cheers.

Sriram

[splashscuba]

Hi everyone,

At the end of his 8 year tenure, I think Obama deserves a thread.

IMO, he was easily the best US president in recent history.  Most dignified, respectable, family man, no scandals, intelligent and controlled. He and his family carried themselves very well indeed.

I mean to say...no one else compares to him in moral terms, clear intent, dignity and poise. George Bush, Clinton, Reagan, G W Bush, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, even Kennedy.   

I think most right thinking people will miss him.

Just a small tribute.

Cheers.

Sriram

Ain't that the truth. From the sublime to the ridiculous !

[Shaker]

Agreed - a dignified and decent man. This two-terms-only thing is a bit of a bitch - now look who they have 

[Nearly Sane]

Hi everyone,

At the end of his 8 year tenure, I think Obama deserves a thread.

IMO, he was easily the best US president in recent history.  Most dignified, respectable, family man, no scandals, intelligent and controlled. He and his family carried themselves very well indeed.

I mean to say...no one else compares to him in moral terms, clear intent, dignity and poise. George Bush, Clinton, Reagan, G W Bush, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, even Kennedy.   

I think most right thinking people will miss him.

Just a small tribute.

Cheers.

Sriram

Leaving aside any comments on Obama, what have you got against Carter?

[ad_orientem]

Hi everyone,

At the end of his 8 year tenure, I think Obama deserves a thread.

IMO, he was easily the best US president in recent history.  Most dignified, respectable, family man, no scandals, intelligent and controlled. He and his family carried themselves very well indeed.

I mean to say...no one else compares to him in moral terms, clear intent, dignity and poise. George Bush, Clinton, Reagan, G W Bush, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, even Kennedy.   

I think most right thinking people will miss him.

Just a small tribute.

Cheers.

Sriram

As far as foreign affairs are concerned he just followed on from Bush. More war, more conflict in the Middle-East. Caused a refugee crisis in Europe and brought us to the brink of a new cold war with Russia. History should judge him negatively.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Ok some of the "I could have been Trayvon" type stuff was OTT and unprofessional.

But he did not start any wars. Remember that before being too harsh on him.

[Hope]

As far as foreign affairs are concerned he just followed on from Bush. More war, more conflict in the Middle-East. Caused a refugee crisis in Europe and brought us to the brink of a new cold war with Russia. History should judge him negatively.

Not quite sure how you come to this conclusion, ad_o.  Yes, he inherited situations in the Middle East which the Europeans and we Brits had also had a hand in creating and stirring, but he can't be said to have been responsible for a refugee crisis in Europe - the responsibility for that has to be borne by pretty well the whole of Western society.  How did he bring us to the brink of a new Cold War?  Do yoiu come to this coinclusion because of the various actions of the Russians, and especially those of Monsewer Putin?

[Harrowby Hall]

....

,.... even Kennedy.   

Were Kennedy a candidate today, his womanising would be public property and his image would be similar to Trump's.

[torridon]

Hi everyone,

At the end of his 8 year tenure, I think Obama deserves a thread.

IMO, he was easily the best US president in recent history.  Most dignified, respectable, family man, no scandals, intelligent and controlled. He and his family carried themselves very well indeed.

I mean to say...no one else compares to him in moral terms, clear intent, dignity and poise. George Bush, Clinton, Reagan, G W Bush, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, even Kennedy.   

I think most right thinking people will miss him.

Just a small tribute.

Cheers.

Sriram

Yes, I hope he doesn't disappear off the radar, he has many fine qualities, not least a superb orator, and a fitting figurehead for the US.  Now it seems America has voted for reality TV to replace statesmanship; I just hope Mr Trump rises to the office.

[Harrowby Hall]

Yes, I hope he doesn't disappear off the radar, he has many fine qualities, not least a superb orator, and a fitting figurehead for the US.  Now it seems America has voted for reality TV to replace statesmanship; I just hope Mr Trump rises to the office.

I concur with these sentiments completely. I hope that the USA quickly comes to its senses and that the constitutional checks and balances prove effective. It may be that a constrained Donald Trump will not be a complete failure.

[ad_orientem]

Not quite sure how you come to this conclusion, ad_o.  Yes, he inherited situations in the Middle East which the Europeans and we Brits had also had a hand in creating and stirring, but he can't be said to have been responsible for a refugee crisis in Europe - the responsibility for that has to be borne by pretty well the whole of Western society.  How did he bring us to the brink of a new Cold War?  Do yoiu come to this coinclusion because of the various actions of the Russians, and especially those of Monsewer Putin?

Obama and his cronies, including Hilary Clinton, have made the world a more dangerous place. They have created more war and terrorism by plotting and aiding the so-called Arab Spring causinga refugee crisis. They plotted in Ukraine also, helping bring about a coup thus bringing us to the brink of a new cold war. Obama is directly responsible for all these things. He is a warmonger.

[Hope]

Obama and his cronies, including Hilary Clinton, have made the world a more dangerous place. They have created more war and terrorism by plotting and aiding the so-called Arab Spring causinga refugee crisis. They plotted in Ukraine also, helping bring about a coup thus bringing us to the brink of a new cold war. Obama is directly responsible for all these things. He is a warmonger.

I'll simply repeat my earlier post, ad_o.

Not quite sure how you come to this conclusion, ad_o.  Yes, he inherited situations in the Middle East which the Europeans and we Brits had also had a hand in creating and stirring, but he can't be said to have been responsible for a refugee crisis in Europe - the responsibility for that has to be borne by pretty well the whole of Western society.  How did he bring us to the brink of a new Cold War?  Do yoiu come to this coinclusion because of the various actions of the Russians, and especially those of Monsewer Putin?

The situation in Ukraine would, from my understanding, have been the Ukranian politicians who wanted to cut ties with Russia as much as possible and their supporters, trying to find an alternative umbrella organisation for themselves.  If you are adammant that Obama was 'plotting' in this case, he was simply following the example of just about every post-war American president regardless of political colour.

[ad_orientem]

Which is why America is a basket case. It shouldn't be its business. Obama wasn't any better than any of his predecessors. He was at least as bad. The situation in the Middle-East has got worse and is a direct result of his policy of supporting "moderate" rebels. The same in Ukraine and his antagonism towards Russia. His policies, his fault.

[Hope]

Which is why America is a basket case. It shouldn't be its business. Obama wasn't any better than any of his predecessors. He was at least as bad. The situation in the Middle-East has got worse and is a direct result of his policy of supporting "moderate" rebels. The same in Ukraine and his antagonism towards Russia. His policies, his fault.

At least all of them - with the possible exception of Clinton - will have been better than the President-elect.

[ad_orientem]

At least all of them - with the possible exception of Clinton - will have been better than the President-elect.

Time will tell. Quite how you can compare Obama with someone who hasn't even taken office yet, I don't know. However, if Trump keeps his promise and doesn't meddle in other countries' affairs, he'll already be two times better than Obama.

[floo]

Hi everyone,

At the end of his 8 year tenure, I think Obama deserves a thread.

IMO, he was easily the best US president in recent history.  Most dignified, respectable, family man, no scandals, intelligent and controlled. He and his family carried themselves very well indeed.

I mean to say...no one else compares to him in moral terms, clear intent, dignity and poise. George Bush, Clinton, Reagan, G W Bush, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, even Kennedy.   

I think most right thinking people will miss him.

Just a small tribute.

Cheers.

Sriram

Obama has been the best President the US has had a for a long time, imo. He will certainly be missed if Trump screws things up for the US and the planet as he seems intent on doing.

[Hope]

Time will tell. Quite how you can compare Obama with someone who hasn't even taken office yet, I don't know. However, if Trump keeps his promise and doesn't meddle in other countries' affairs, he'll already be two times better than Obama.

The reason I can compare Obama with Trump is simply because Trump has already started to retreat from his promises on just about every issue.   

[jakswan]

The reason I can compare Obama with Trump is simply because Trump has already started to retreat from his promises on just about every issue.

I don't think so, he contradicted himself alot, he promised to act like an immature egomaniac twat and he has held true.

[Hope]

I don't think so, he contradicted himself alot, he promised to act like an immature egomaniac twat and he has held true.

I agree that he behaved in this way, but having been elected, he has retreated from a surprising number of his electoral promises.  Was amused by a commentator I heard recently (Radio 4, I think), likening him to post-referendum Brexiteers.

[jakswan]

I agree that he behaved in this way, but having been elected, he has retreated from a surprising number of his electoral promises.  Was amused by a commentator I heard recently (Radio 4, I think), likening him to post-referendum Brexiteers.

Little things please....

[jeremyp]

Obama and his cronies, including Hilary Clinton, have made the world a more dangerous place.

Nope. GW Bush did that.

They have created more war and terrorism by plotting and aiding the so-called Arab Spring causinga refugee crisis. They plotted in Ukraine also, helping bring about a coup thus bringing us to the brink of a new cold war. Obama is directly responsible for all these things. He is a warmonger.

I think you need to provide some evidence of that.

[jeremyp]

The reason I can compare Obama with Trump is simply because Trump has already started to retreat from his promises on just about every issue.

Considering what those promises were, that's probably a good thing.

[Brownie]

I am resurrecting this thread because I've read an opinion about Obama which seems to me to be quite off the wall but I'd be interested to know where it comes from and why;  my opinion of Obama is that he is a decent man who did his best and will be a tough act to follow.

However the above mentioned, strongly expressed, opinion, with which I disagree, is that he is overwhelmingly vain and egotistical and that those qualities have been evident from the outset, starting with his, "Yes we can", etc.

What I'm wondering is if there is something that others can see about him, from things he's said and done over the years, which could give rise to that opinion.   Nobody's perfect but I can't see it at all.

[Shaker]

Me either.

I'd have thought his "Yes we can" thing, for all that it's a political slogan so beloved of electoral campaigns these days, was supposed to be a positive and inspiring message that collectively people can bring about the sort of changes that they wish to see in society. If I have any criticism of it, it's that he missed off "... unless you have a motley crew of right-wingers thwarting your efforts and standing in your way at every possible turn." But I concede that that doesn't fit onto a T-shirt as easily.

[Sriram]

I am resurrecting this thread because I've read an opinion about Obama which seems to me to be quite off the wall but I'd be interested to know where it comes from and why;  my opinion of Obama is that he is a decent man who did his best and will be a tough act to follow.

However the above mentioned, strongly expressed, opinion, with which I disagree, is that he is overwhelmingly vain and egotistical and that those qualities have been evident from the outset, starting with his, "Yes we can", etc.

What I'm wondering is if there is something that others can see about him, from things he's said and done over the years, which could give rise to that opinion.   Nobody's perfect but I can't see it at all.

Obama was very strong and normally unmoved by opinions and remarks, positive or negative. He maintained his composure and dignity. He  ignored people who made such remarks.  Maybe this is seen by some people  as vanity and ego.