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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Rude Pundit - The Quiet Competence of Barack Obama
If you listen to the media mostly on the right, but some on the left, by this point in the administration of President Barack Obama, we should be in a Road Warrior-like hellscape of crushing debt, death panels sending us off to concentration camp ovens and calling it "medicine," riots in the streets over the confiscation of guns, surveillance nano-drones entering our rectums in order to hear what our brains are thinking, undocumented Mexicans with Ebola or terrorist ties or huge calf muscles torturing cops all along the border before suicide bombing our malls and infecting our babies, and Christians being whipped in their homes by ululating Muslims who force them to kiss the Koran or face being beheaded, all while our Negro dictator and his transgender wife laugh with their Negro cabal and Wall Street cronies about the misery of everyone who fraudulently voted for them. And that's without getting deep into Crazyville with conspiracy theories of a rogue regime engaged in constant false flag operations in order to impose greater control over the population (how ya doin', Naomi Wolf?) or whatever the hell Alex Jones or Dinesh D'Souza are spewing about today.
Any of those things could be happening. Except they're not. There are bad things going on in the United States - poverty, violence against African Americans (not exclusively, but especially pronounced right now), stagnant wages, limits on abortion rights, an environment in imminent collapse - really awful stuff, stuff that needs to be addressed. And the Rude Pundit has been critical of the Obama administration's failures and excesses, like not prosecuting Wall Street criminals and torture enablers or expanding the reach of government spying and the unchecked use of drone murder missiles. Those problems and criticisms still stand.
There's this sense out there that everything is falling to pieces, between the overhyped rise of ISIS (al-Qaeda with a better marketing department), the constant calls for the Affordable Care Act to be repealed, the unending stream of people telling us that the president is out of touch or has given up or is aloof or doesn't love them like they always wanted a father to love them, on and on and on and on.
But so much of this is media world, or, perhaps internet world, not real world. 'Cause, see, in the real world there are real numbers. And, as Paul Krugman and others point out, when it comes to those, well, sorry, but things seem to be progressing in a positive way. Whether we like it or not, Barack Obama has competently led the nation, and we're so ready for battle that we fail to recognize it.
Where do you wanna go? Millions of people have health insurance who didn't have it before (and, by the way, if you really gave a rat's ass about the spread of diseases like Ebola, you'd have national health care in a second so people in every state would want to go to their doctors and not wait until they're bad enough to go to emergency rooms). The unemployment rate is below 6%, down from 10% in 2009. The deficit has shrunk to just 3% of GDP, down from 9.8% in 2009. If you're a rich puke, you've become way, way richer (and it's gut-churningly hilarious when conservatives complain about this). Corporate profits are up. Oil imports are down. Alternative energy sources are finally growing exponentially. The crime rate is at a 20-year low, so low that Obama wants to try to roll back some of the ludicrous sentencing laws from the Clinton era. And how many states are we up to on same-sex marriage? And how many terrorist attacks in the United States since Obama's inauguration?
Now, certainly, lots of people reading this are thinking about caveat statistics and reminders of some of the things mentioned further up here. You're right (well, unless you're wrong). But numbers are numbers, good people. And good numbers are good numbers.
What everyone seems to forget is where we started. For that, ya gotta go back to 2001, when George W. Bush came into office. For the first time in decades, the United States was in a position financially to do great things for its citizens, to rebuild infrastructure, invest in schools, promote scientific achievement, help other nations out of the poverty that leads them to embrace radical religious belief. Instead, it was squandered on tax cuts for everyone (remember your $300?) and two utterly useless wars. It was like we won a small lottery and, rather than pay the bills and fix up the house, we just went to Disney World. In 2009, then, we really were on the precipice of that dystopian nightmare.
The Rude Pundit is still reserving judgment on Barack Obama. There's a hundred ways that he's been bitterly disappointed by the president. But let's at least pause to say that things are a hell of a lot better than they could have been. And if it doesn't bear saying that all this was done in the wake of the disastrous Bush presidency, it is worth noting that it was done in the face of unprecedented opposition from Republicans in Congress, who demand that the country must be run by GOP dictatorship or not at all.
It's hard to believe, yes, but we may have to accept that, in the face of noise about whatever it is this week - Colombian prostitutes from Benghazi or something, the Obama administration has operated with subdued competence. And it continues to do so despite the braying asses of the right, especially, saying it's all falling apart. That nation doesn't exist except in the fevered mind of people trying to attract hits or ratings. The one in the real world that chugs along is filled with citizens hoping one day to drive home on good roads from a full-time job to their decently-educated kids in their safe neighborhoods.
(Yes, this has left out a lot of discussion about foreign policy because, frankly, the things that really matter, like trade policy, get lost in the noise over who we're bombing today.)
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-quiet-competence-of-barack-obama.html
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)BeyondGeography
(39,278 posts)does raise an interesting point as Rude notes. On the one hand, Fox and Friends on the nutjob right would have us paralyzed with fear over a potential epidemic. On the other, we're still supposed to rely on the magic of the market for health insurance.
Not the first time they've been called out for their road-to-nowhere policies but worth spotlighting nonetheless.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)DallasNE
(7,392 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)falling to pieces? How many people have to live in poverty for anyone to care? We know the republicans don't care about things like wages, unions, pensions, the cost of living, but we expect democrats to care and they don't. I am seeing my way of life decline and the future of my children's way of life decline as well. It is happening. It is happening right now before our very eyes. The problem is no one cares.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)Be careful, friend. You don't want to end up in the BOG. It's sticky and mucky there, and full of prickles and stuff.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)Skittles
(152,964 posts)I usually enjoy R.P., and certainly the RW and fear-mongers are over the top- as usual- but the message I'm getting from this post is, Hey, things aren't really that bad.
I guess Lee hasn't been reduced to trying to get by on part-time minimum wage retail and dining on food bank donations. Serves me right for getting laid off, I reckon.
At 57 years old, I was hoping for better golden years.
marym625
(17,997 posts)Good for you!
What's the BOG?
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)I appreciate it
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)where one can actually, and consistently, find criticisms of republicans AND positive stuff about President Obama, and Democrats, in general.
marym625
(17,997 posts)I have never seen anything but criticism of republicans.
It is not ever a good idea to never question authority. There are no gods, especially on earth. To never question anything and accept everything as it is given does nothing but harm. ESPECIALLY from one of your own.
I appreciate the information. Thank you.
Sopkoviak
(357 posts)And thank you Lee Papa for putting everything into perspective.
/sarc/
ffr
(22,644 posts)<snip>
Clinton inherits
January 20, 1993 4,188,092,107,183.60
January 20, 1994 4,500,676,535,249.79 1st
January 20, 1995 4,796,537,934,595.60 2nd
January 20, 1996 4,988,050,606,130.79 3rd
January 20, 1997 5,310,267,076,516.85 4th
January 20, 1998 5,495,525,658,807.45 5th
January 20, 1999 5,623,807,213,463.02 6th
January 20, 2000 5,706,174,969,873.86 7th
Bush II inherits
January 20, 2001 5,727,776,738,304.64 8th
January 20, 2002 5,924,540,106,802.70 1st
January 20, 2003 6,387,841,175,651.97 2nd
January 20, 2004 7,006,834,072,435.49 3rd
January 20, 2005 7,613,215,612,328.37 4th
January 20, 2006 8,175,743,292,992.87 5th
January 20, 2007 8,676,668,422,505.86 6th
January 20, 2008 9,191,074,962,157.16 7th
Obama inherits
January 20, 2009 10,626,877,048,913.08 8th
<snip>
- DU post from 2012
Yes, I get it!
No
More
Republis!
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)politicians and war hawk hate speech they do not know what to make of the Calm and Competent One.
And still the finest Family Values man in America, if one were to take notice of his remarkable family, which no one does it seems.
I think Americans are so used to incompetent Presidents or Presidents with questionable moral standards, or both, that they do not know what to make of the current President....what I make of it is that he is the finest, most intelligent, most moral man to sit in the White House in many an age.
I praise him, it is OK to praise a good man doing a good job.
LawDeeDah
(1,596 posts)There may be a portion of people that think if a guy doesn't run around porking that there is something wrong with him. Makes the porkers look bad.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)It is what makes religion attractive.
wyldwolf
(43,865 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)of America but you won't hear it. I don't care what a few here say, voting is important and there are many Democratic politicians who will as in the past work to restore the middle class and bring down cost re education, rent, et al.
The GOPers have fear-mongering which is backed with billions of dollars, the United States Supreme Court in their pocket, house, media, hate radio and they are trying to take over social media (internet to name one). We the People have the right to vote (for right now) which the GOPers know and are trying to destroy it. So bitch all you want but understand that our civil rights are slowly being taken away (Hobby Lobby; voting rights (NC & WI)).
deutsey
(20,166 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)I don't know any other f*ing way to put it.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)but most right wingers simply won't accept the facts.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)do mean anything, is an improvement, a huge step up.
The George W. Bush Administration was either massively incompetent, or massively evil. Take your choice.
Cha
(295,899 posts)handmade34
(22,755 posts)Peacetrain
(22,836 posts)and people will see the President has done a stellar job with the tools he has had.. and the little support he had.. he basically pulled the cart of goverment alone with no help.. He will be remembered as one of the better Presidents..
Number23
(24,544 posts)detractors on the right or left.
Peacetrain
(22,836 posts)There are no other elections that he will head up.. so people can stop take a breath and look at what he has actually been able to do single handedly.. and that is the final take away.. he did this alone.. His efforts and accomplishments which are many will be acknowledged in the future
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Is what is driving them (on both sides) nutz!
Number23
(24,544 posts)Though I suspect for more than a few of them, the "drive" wasn't far at all.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)I started once by stating flat-out that President Obama is far brighter, driven, talented and accomplished than 90% of those posting on this site!
As if anyone spending their days posting anonymous comments to an anonymous message board can claim any manner of superiority over someone with his accomplishments and having risen to the top of the American political class.
Folks are mad delusional ... or, maybe, deluded and mad.
Number23
(24,544 posts)or woefully OVER estimating the folks that post here.
Though I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised in the last few weeks. The Perpetually Petulant have been almost completely drowned out by a sea of supportive articles, news events and posts. Krugman's latest piece which tears about the "left" criticism of Obama is just the most recent.
The OP that said grade the President's performance has DU -- which has been drowning in a tsunami of anti-Obama sentiment from almost Day ONE of the man's tenure in office -- at now over 87% in support. If that doesn't get the PPs to recognize how impotent and completely UNrepresentative of Democratic thought and opinion they are, even on a freaking web site let alone in the real world of hard politics, then I'm not sure that anything will.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)I am a woefully generous soul.
Yes ... and the RudePundit OP, as well. I really think people are catching on to the B.S.
I was thinking, just today, how we used to laugh at conservatives, and shun racists, that think that everyone must think like me ... and are shocked, or really angered, to realize that ... Nope, almost NO ONE thinks like them.
Now, we are finding it on this board ... but without the laughter.
Cha
(295,899 posts)and my friends appreciate him so much while he is in Office!
Peacetrain
(22,836 posts)Peoples passions are what they are.. and sometimes it is hard to see all the progress made, because they want so much more.. and time gives perspective.. I think those of us who worked both campaigns had a different understanding of how far we had to go and how much we could get accomplished.. I still have to smile to myself when I think back to how many kept saying that the supporters saw him as a "god", when actually it was the other way around.. his detractors were so angry (and we got sideswiped with that anger) because he did not have a magical spell to make everything right at the moment.. It was going to take a lot of hard hard work.. and pulling through some deep stuff..
Cha
(295,899 posts)profiteering left to egg them on.
Peace to you, Peacetrain.. Michelle in Iowa for Bruce Braley!
Braley for Iowa ✔ @TeamBraley
Follow
There's a beautiful sea of purple at the Fieldhouse at Drake for Bruce and the First Lady! #IAvotes #FlotusIA
9:15 AM - 10 Oct 2014
Mike Brophy @CallMeBroph
Follow
The Fieldhouse is packed and ready for Bruce and Michelle!! #IAVotes #IASen
9:19 AM - 10 Oct 2014
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/10/10/tod-toon-time-15/
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)If I had any doubts til now, that cleared them all away......
Mister Nightowl
(396 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)to really GOTV, I mean the deep, disaffected vote that puts Dems over the finish line.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)most if not everything. It's a shame when someone's aim is to piss off people.
BumRushDaShow
(127,281 posts)Rude captured the whole hyperbolic frenzy in the very first, miles-long sentence.
OldRedneck
(1,397 posts)Reagan, Bush and Bush spent 20 years screwing up the place. Bill Clinton didn't help much and now people are expecting President Obama to un-screw it in 8 years or less.
StevePaulson
(174 posts)Even though I am not happy with everything going on at the White House, I am pleased with what Obama has accomplished. Considering the scorched earth full court press of the Republicans and their billionaire masters opposing EVERYTHING, President Obama's accomplishments are huge. No president has had to endure such treason from the "opposition" even Lincoln. Today's Republicans make the Rebels of the South look like panty wastes.
Now Barack. Arrest some Wall Street scum, and you can earn another 3 points.
By the way coal miners, and oil drillers. Find another job. Be glad the billionaires making profits off your pollution don't have to pay for the damage your products will do to all of our planet, or are already doing.
spanone
(135,632 posts)Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)needs to stay on the front page at the top for a long time.
K&R