Comments

2
Maybe someone can slip a note to PMILF JTru during the state dinner that we’re being held hostage by these bug-eyed, hair-pulling, tongue-talking, neo-fascist nutjobs.

SEND HELP, eh.
3
@1 I wonder if, and hopefully when, he'll address this directly post-presidency.
4
Well, failure to implement absolutely needed change often leads to extremism. Failed (fake) reformers all over the western world are responsible for the current rise of the far right. It doesn't absolve the far right wing demagogues themselves (the GOP) but Obama does share the responsibility.
6
The totally lopsided "recovery," in which the super-wealthy have become zillionaires while the (former) middle class and poor have imploded, has caused the rise of extremism, no question.

When people feel total despair and have no hope for the future, they turn to psychopathic demagogues that make insane promises.

How much Obama contributed to this death spiral is debatable. He could have insisted that the Justice Department prosecute Wall Street execs for their ongoing crime wave, or that the Federal Reserve use methods other than QE, which reinflates assets already held by the rich, to stimulate the eCONomy.

Ultimately, Congress bears near total responsibility, since the laws they pass disproportionately benefit the wealthy, and they've made no significant attempt to invest in American workers. How long can they exist with approval ratings near single digits? Everyone knows they've turned our country into a kleptocracy.
7
anon @ 4
EXCUSE ME????????
The republican "base," the one identified and catered to by Karl Rove and later by Sarah Palin and several "congressional leaders" who are now terrified of the mob, have all created the GOP no-compromise radical agenda for the past few years.
This agenda does not consist of any specific policy ideas other than to oppose anything the president says and does, regardless of what the issue is. Their continuous across the board sabotaging attempts are there so that enlightened people like yourself can claim "failed reformer" and blame others for their waco leadership.
8
@5 Right, bad Republicans blocked everything that his Goldman Sacks appointees were going to do. Or was it Arnie "privatizer" Duncan who was supposed to protect public schools. etc.
9
@7 Are you claiming that "free trade" agreements and outsourcing play no role in making poor people susceptible to right wing demagoguery these days? Obama didn't break with the neoliberal tradition of his predecessors. In fact, he furthered it.
10

Couldn't we just re-elect Obama for a third term please? Maybe Michelle could run or something?
11
8, 9
Your Goldman Sachs accusation is pathetic. How did we get into the economic mess to begin with? I’m sure two wars and lowering taxes have nothing to do with it, despite a Bush secretary of treasury who expressed this sentiment and was forced out.
Same goes to the military chief of staff who said during invasion hearings that in order to achieve what we want in Iraq we must do it with many more troops on the ground for a prolonged time.

It should be also noted that during his first two years in office Obama had both chambers of the house yet was trying to no avail to get broad policy support.
Enlightened people may see it as weakness, as enlightened people want “decisive” leadership and simple slogans that put the blame on others.
This culture managed to produce an irresponsible demagogue leadership. But hey, it’s all us lefties’ fault.
12
Obama is still the President. Time to pull his finger out, and talk loudly and often against the growing fascism occurring in America. Speak up Barack. Being Presidential also means taking a Leadership role. So do it.
13
Obama's inability to enact progressive change fueled the present extremism? No. The present extremism--i.e. Trump supporters--oppose progressive change. Ignorance, hate and fear--sown by past and present Republican leaders fuel the present extremism.
14
Claiming Obama (or any one person, really) is responsible for Trump's rise is pretty silly, but let's also not pretend that Obama was actually a reformer who really wanted to shake things up.

He campaigned that way, but in the end he was a calculating politician who did what he thought he could do, and did a good job with what he was given. But to say he even attempted to live up to what he promised is simply untrue. Not that this makes him any different than any other politician, but that is kind of why people hate establishment politicians, isn't it?

No one really talks about the drones any more, but look at that whole situation. He even said something to the tune of "congress should really reign me in here." Reign yourself in, if you think it is a problem.
15
@13 Right wing neoliberal policies have led to the current state of despair of the poor and disappearing middle class (most people live from paycheck to paycheck). Faced with the inability of our society to address grotesque and ever increasing inequality, there is widespread distrust of all institutions because they are used to maintain the status quo. People overwhelmingly and enthusiastically embraced the message of systemic reform sung by Obama in 2008 and they spectacularly rejected establishment candidates. Obama failed to deliver from day one (reappointing architects of financial deregulation didn't signal reform) except in saving the financial sector thanks to a no strings attached public bailout. He is now widely suspected of having misrepresented himself during the 2008 campaign. Yes, Obama faced constant obstructionism from entrenched power but only a fake (or an incompetent) would promise systemic reform and expect entrenched power to just give it up. How much did Obama contribute to an ever increasing fraction of the population feeling they have no say in the running of our society? How much does this powerlessness contribute to the current rise of extremism and demagoguery?
16
Oh please. The ball out was paid back. All attempts to improve the lot of regular Americans had been systemically under mined by the Republicans. Read Bernanke's book about the crash. We were teetering on the edge of a depression and the administration pulled us back. In my opinion Obama will go down ad one of our great presidents.
17
Loving anon. "It's your fault your didn't stop us from shooting our foot off (again and again and again)."

News flash, this isn't a dictatorship. Obama can't pull a magic lever and over rule the congress.

Please wait...

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