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Adogslife · 61-69, M
The visceral disapproval of Obama is quite a bit different than that of Trump. The press helped tremendously to get an under skilled Obama into office. They did the same to keep Trump out. No shock.
Obama was the first black President. Given the emphasis on political correctness, you'd better not call out a black president unless you're damn sure you're correct. So here's a Republucan's view on the Obama Presidency in classic report card style:
[b]Minority Outlook C-[/b]
Ok, so I might as well take my beating upfront. Obama proved that a minority could make it to the most esteemed office in the free world. That's got to be a solid "A". So what did he do to further the lives of millions that voted for him, specifically black America? Jack shit.
Race relations have taken a step backwards. It's finally reached a deserved boiling point. Lie enough and eventually a few might actually get a clue. Race riots kinda prove you went Uncle Tom on your most trusted voters. That's horribly pathetic as they, of anyone, asked the least. That's an "F" in my book.
I was expecting FDR, Johnson, Lincoln - even Truman would've been acceptable. But by sheer intelligence, serenity and inaction, I can at least say he was better than Wilson.
[b]Foreigh Affairs A-[/b]
Here's where Obama gets very little credit, the Republicans give him crap, the press is clueless, the Military seems pissed, but the guy did a really good job. Now remember, he did this with the worst Secretary of State in ages.
He kept troops out of major warfare in an insanely volatile Middle East. His approach might have been thought of as too reserved, but America can't save the world. He stood by that policy and forced the UN to fight with us. It's not the first time, but it is a new philosophy to not "occupy" a nation or even a city when there is no upside to governing a shithole (though those may not have been his choice of words).
The military took a much harder strategy of training the locals to be the army instead of us eradicating ISIS from the confines of a city and then having to occupy that city long term. It's simply a better political outcome and exit plan.
[b]The Economy. B[/b]
I was stuck between B and B+ Household income has yet to reach the level it was almost ten years ago. That tells you that we may be creating jobs, but not the right kind of jobs. That's also evidenced that way too many are still in need of food stamp assistance. Growth simply isn't reaching the people that need it most.
The economy isn't growing at the traditional 3% growth rate and also hasn't during the Obama presidency.
In clear incongruity to the above, if you're somewhat wealthy, you LOVE OBAMA. The stock market is up 200+% since he took office...
I could go on, but hopefully some sense the irony. If you're in a low income bracket, other than hope, you got screwed. If you're in a higher income bracket or counting on the value of your retirement plan, you should kiss Obama's feet. In ROI terms, 200% is better than real life porn star sex.
Trump, well, we'll just have to wait and see. If he can create real jobs and increase household income, things will go well. That's our best economic indicator.
Obama was the first black President. Given the emphasis on political correctness, you'd better not call out a black president unless you're damn sure you're correct. So here's a Republucan's view on the Obama Presidency in classic report card style:
[b]Minority Outlook C-[/b]
Ok, so I might as well take my beating upfront. Obama proved that a minority could make it to the most esteemed office in the free world. That's got to be a solid "A". So what did he do to further the lives of millions that voted for him, specifically black America? Jack shit.
Race relations have taken a step backwards. It's finally reached a deserved boiling point. Lie enough and eventually a few might actually get a clue. Race riots kinda prove you went Uncle Tom on your most trusted voters. That's horribly pathetic as they, of anyone, asked the least. That's an "F" in my book.
I was expecting FDR, Johnson, Lincoln - even Truman would've been acceptable. But by sheer intelligence, serenity and inaction, I can at least say he was better than Wilson.
[b]Foreigh Affairs A-[/b]
Here's where Obama gets very little credit, the Republicans give him crap, the press is clueless, the Military seems pissed, but the guy did a really good job. Now remember, he did this with the worst Secretary of State in ages.
He kept troops out of major warfare in an insanely volatile Middle East. His approach might have been thought of as too reserved, but America can't save the world. He stood by that policy and forced the UN to fight with us. It's not the first time, but it is a new philosophy to not "occupy" a nation or even a city when there is no upside to governing a shithole (though those may not have been his choice of words).
The military took a much harder strategy of training the locals to be the army instead of us eradicating ISIS from the confines of a city and then having to occupy that city long term. It's simply a better political outcome and exit plan.
[b]The Economy. B[/b]
I was stuck between B and B+ Household income has yet to reach the level it was almost ten years ago. That tells you that we may be creating jobs, but not the right kind of jobs. That's also evidenced that way too many are still in need of food stamp assistance. Growth simply isn't reaching the people that need it most.
The economy isn't growing at the traditional 3% growth rate and also hasn't during the Obama presidency.
In clear incongruity to the above, if you're somewhat wealthy, you LOVE OBAMA. The stock market is up 200+% since he took office...
I could go on, but hopefully some sense the irony. If you're in a low income bracket, other than hope, you got screwed. If you're in a higher income bracket or counting on the value of your retirement plan, you should kiss Obama's feet. In ROI terms, 200% is better than real life porn star sex.
Trump, well, we'll just have to wait and see. If he can create real jobs and increase household income, things will go well. That's our best economic indicator.
bijouxbroussard · F
[quote]Minority Outlook C-[/quote] Are other presidents even graded on this ? If they do things to help lower income citizens which he did with Pell grants, Healthcare, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, [b]working to ensure that the criminal justice system is applied fairly to all citizens[/b] by bringing in an Attorney General sensitive to those issues (as opposed to Jeff Sessions, who helped the KKK in the south). And he did it with the constant obstructionism from the GOP, who would've fought even harder against him doing things specifically for African Americans, rather than programs that helped [b]all[/b] lower income citizens. The GOP complained about programs that he established that [b]weren't[/b] even federally funded like My Brother's Keeper, rolled out in several cities (like mine, and Oakland) to help at-risk African American youth. And as far as anyone treating him with kid gloves or being "PC" because of his color, that's [b]BULLWINKLE[/b]. Obama's faced more direct disrespect from his government and many of the people than any previous president---and a lot of it from [b]the sitting president[/b]. Trump is getting precisely what he deserves, and he's not handling it with even a fraction of the grace or class of his predecessor.
Ynotisay · M
That was a good analysis.
But turned Uncle Tom on his most trusted voters? Seriously?
Race relations are bad because weak people who need enemies to blame for their own personal failure seized an opportunity with him in office. Obama walked the freaking walk as a black man AND as a President.
Go watch his speech at the launching of "My Brother's Keeper" if you want to know where his head was at. It encapsulates what he accomplished with his legislation. The government can help open the door but the individual has to walk through it. No Uncle Tom there dude. Yeah. There's still bangers. But there's a whole generation of young black kids working from a totally different script than 20 years ago. That's going to deliver big time.
But turned Uncle Tom on his most trusted voters? Seriously?
Race relations are bad because weak people who need enemies to blame for their own personal failure seized an opportunity with him in office. Obama walked the freaking walk as a black man AND as a President.
Go watch his speech at the launching of "My Brother's Keeper" if you want to know where his head was at. It encapsulates what he accomplished with his legislation. The government can help open the door but the individual has to walk through it. No Uncle Tom there dude. Yeah. There's still bangers. But there's a whole generation of young black kids working from a totally different script than 20 years ago. That's going to deliver big time.
bijouxbroussard · F
bijouxbroussard · F
Adogslife · 61-69, M
@bijouxbroussard: @Ynotisay: No opinion is without bias. I strayed far from the centrist Republican Party line in my grading.
Was I harsh on the "minority outlook"? Yes. No matter what you say, you can't leave office with the citizenry rioting. It's your JOB to lead. They're not going to walk through "open doors". They haven't, en masse, in 40-50 years.
At a certain point you have to look inward and change the culture. The current perspective of causation is falling in deaf ears. Government spending without a reciprocal agreement has never worked. Education is a perfect example.
If this doesn't seem credible, then simply look at the election results. A horribly vast majority of the states voted Trump. Hillary win the liberal Northeast and California - the epicenter of colleges and three of the nation's largest cities. Those cities will always carry the popular vote.
So that is my opinion. If the election sent that many votes to your presidency and prior democrats, wouldn't you want to actually improve the lives of those constituents?
Republicans would beg for that. It serves the country much better, makes it more financially stable and decreases the size of government as a whole. That's pretty much Republican dogma, line by line.
Was I harsh on the "minority outlook"? Yes. No matter what you say, you can't leave office with the citizenry rioting. It's your JOB to lead. They're not going to walk through "open doors". They haven't, en masse, in 40-50 years.
At a certain point you have to look inward and change the culture. The current perspective of causation is falling in deaf ears. Government spending without a reciprocal agreement has never worked. Education is a perfect example.
If this doesn't seem credible, then simply look at the election results. A horribly vast majority of the states voted Trump. Hillary win the liberal Northeast and California - the epicenter of colleges and three of the nation's largest cities. Those cities will always carry the popular vote.
So that is my opinion. If the election sent that many votes to your presidency and prior democrats, wouldn't you want to actually improve the lives of those constituents?
Republicans would beg for that. It serves the country much better, makes it more financially stable and decreases the size of government as a whole. That's pretty much Republican dogma, line by line.
bijouxbroussard · F
@Adogslife: Trump ran the most divisive campaign in modern times. Like it or not, by choosing him as Obama's successor, the American people told the world that two of our most long standing "values", racism and sexism, are alive and well here. It's an ingrained part of the culture. One black leader, no matter how charismatic, was not going to be able to change that fact. The people who were protesting in the aftermath (and while there were a few riots there were not nearly as many as sources like that bigoted, lying Breitbart.com reported) refused to believe the truth about their countrymen in the swing states. And the poor, deluded souls who opted not to vote, or chose a third party candidate in order to "make a statement" proved they don't know how the system really works. The statement they made is running our country now and blundering daily. Trump chose to antagonize the media and the intelligence community, so we'll see how that works out for him.
Adogslife · 61-69, M
@bijouxbroussard: intelligent people can differ. Honestly, I thought I erred with a great deal of caution in grading Obama.
It always blurs the truth when grandiose statements are inferred, ...the KKK for one. Do you think most readers actually know that the KKK was established by the Democratic Party?
Do they know it's purpose was to undermine the election of southern Republican reconstructionists who favored equal rights for African Americans?
Wouldn't hanging people be considered a bit more divisive than a Trump reality check?
Wouldn't logic prevail that:
if the KKK of the late 1800's to early 1900's
And the revitalization in the 1960's were all southern democrats
And now you claim they are Republicans
Ergo - the issue is really that racism and the KKK exist in the South - regardless of party?
If not, I'm sure you could tell me when the shift occurred because the South went to Clinton in 1996. Thus, the KKK was pro-Clinton then.
It just doesn't add up, nor, does the press misinforming the public. THEY led you down the primrose path and didn't give you time to react or counter attack.
It always blurs the truth when grandiose statements are inferred, ...the KKK for one. Do you think most readers actually know that the KKK was established by the Democratic Party?
Do they know it's purpose was to undermine the election of southern Republican reconstructionists who favored equal rights for African Americans?
Wouldn't hanging people be considered a bit more divisive than a Trump reality check?
Wouldn't logic prevail that:
if the KKK of the late 1800's to early 1900's
And the revitalization in the 1960's were all southern democrats
And now you claim they are Republicans
Ergo - the issue is really that racism and the KKK exist in the South - regardless of party?
If not, I'm sure you could tell me when the shift occurred because the South went to Clinton in 1996. Thus, the KKK was pro-Clinton then.
It just doesn't add up, nor, does the press misinforming the public. THEY led you down the primrose path and didn't give you time to react or counter attack.
bijouxbroussard · F
@Adogslife: That's old news. Most people are aware that the KKK was established during Reconstruction by [b]Conservative[/b] Southern Democrats ("Dixiecrats", as they later became known). Liberal Republicans had a history of abolitionism and later, having supported the Civil Rights Movement. And yes, Strom Thurmond and his ilk did leave the Democratic party in droves to be the conservative part of the GOP, the anti-union, pro-business, pro-religious GOP, especially as more black people joined the Democrats, and eventually, ran their liberal faction off. This is all a matter of record.
And it doesn't change the fact that by the late 20th century:
Coretta Scott King, Julian Bond, Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks and the King sons were all Democrats and
that [b]today [/b], the head of the KKK, Thomas Robb and former Grand Dragon (Wizard, whatever th they call themselves) David Duke are staunch Republicans.
I mentioned Jeff Sessions having worked with the KKK, because [b]he did[/b]. He lost a judgeship because of a letter written by the late Coretta Scott King in 1986 protesting his appt [b]because of that past.[/b] And this is the man who is now our Attorney General.
So yeah---it adds up. You do the math.
And it doesn't change the fact that by the late 20th century:
Coretta Scott King, Julian Bond, Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks and the King sons were all Democrats and
that [b]today [/b], the head of the KKK, Thomas Robb and former Grand Dragon (Wizard, whatever th they call themselves) David Duke are staunch Republicans.
I mentioned Jeff Sessions having worked with the KKK, because [b]he did[/b]. He lost a judgeship because of a letter written by the late Coretta Scott King in 1986 protesting his appt [b]because of that past.[/b] And this is the man who is now our Attorney General.
So yeah---it adds up. You do the math.
Adogslife · 61-69, M
@bijouxbroussard: I'm actually asking you why the math doesn't add up.
If every KKK vote from anywhere in the US was thrown out, would Trump still have won the election?
If every KKK member was murdered tomorrow, would black employment rise, crime fall, education rise and welfare decline? Would the overall standard of living even be affected?
Mind you, I am sympathetic. But the KKK argument is a paper tiger.
When Obama said, "The door is open...", I took that to mean it's time to stop excuses, take advantage of opportunity and stop black on black crime. The open door is accountability. I can't fix the problem and, quite frankly, I'm tired of being blamed for it for my entire adult life.
Respectfully...
If every KKK vote from anywhere in the US was thrown out, would Trump still have won the election?
If every KKK member was murdered tomorrow, would black employment rise, crime fall, education rise and welfare decline? Would the overall standard of living even be affected?
Mind you, I am sympathetic. But the KKK argument is a paper tiger.
When Obama said, "The door is open...", I took that to mean it's time to stop excuses, take advantage of opportunity and stop black on black crime. The open door is accountability. I can't fix the problem and, quite frankly, I'm tired of being blamed for it for my entire adult life.
Respectfully...
bijouxbroussard · F
@Adogslife: "black on black crime". Another misnomer, unless one believes that all blacks are criminals. There are [b]criminals who attack law-abiding citizens[/b], and crime tends to be intraracial; you're also more likely to find crime in impoverished areas. Why else is there still a preponderance of poverty and ergo, crime among black (and Latino) neighborhoods ? And as president of [b]all[/b] Americans, why do you hold Obama more accountable than say, President Clinton (who also received a majority of the black vote) ?
As long as Jeff Sessions is our new Attorney General and membership into the KKK has increased in the last 8 years, that factor is not as insignificant as you might think. It's just an additional complication and hurdle to any type of national unity. Not that I see the U.S. heading in the direction of "unity" anytime soon.
And honestly, who is blaming you personally ? Certainly not I. I suspect we're done, here. The more we talk, the more it devolves into a rehashing of stereotypes that frankly, [b]I'm[/b] tired of having been associated with my entire adult life---as a middle class, educated person of African descent who has to date, neither been in trouble with the law nor required public assistance.
Respectfully...
As long as Jeff Sessions is our new Attorney General and membership into the KKK has increased in the last 8 years, that factor is not as insignificant as you might think. It's just an additional complication and hurdle to any type of national unity. Not that I see the U.S. heading in the direction of "unity" anytime soon.
And honestly, who is blaming you personally ? Certainly not I. I suspect we're done, here. The more we talk, the more it devolves into a rehashing of stereotypes that frankly, [b]I'm[/b] tired of having been associated with my entire adult life---as a middle class, educated person of African descent who has to date, neither been in trouble with the law nor required public assistance.
Respectfully...
Adogslife · 61-69, M
@bijouBroussard: yes, you're correct. Things devolve. This all started with me giving Obama a simple grade of C- which you took umbrage with.
No one has blamed me personally. As taxpayers we all bear the weight when any segment of our society underperforms, culturally or even our education system as a whole. I'd just like fewer excuses and more accountability.
No one has blamed me personally. As taxpayers we all bear the weight when any segment of our society underperforms, culturally or even our education system as a whole. I'd just like fewer excuses and more accountability.
bijouxbroussard · F
@Adogslife: Actually, your referring to him as an Uncle Tom was what I found [b]most[/b] distasteful, because frankly I don't see who you are to make such a judgement. And I have been blamed personally. Because, like [b]you[/b], I'm also a taxpayer. But unlike you, I don't always have the luxury of being seen as an individual with her own achievements, I get to be viewed as representative of one of those underperforming segments of our society. I'm accountable for any mistakes I make personally, but I resent valid reasons being dismissed as excuses, as if the playing field were equal. It still isn't. Peace.