This is an honest question with no agenda behind it.

[Brewinblue]

When you voted for Obama (or didn't) in 2008, where did you believe he fell on the ideological spectrum (using 1 as farthest left and 10 as farthest right) with respect to:

1. The economy

2. Defense

3. Social issues

and where would you rank him today.

[Yo_Mama]

1. Taking a stab at it

I would be curious as to other people's answers:

1) The economy:
2008: 5
2013: 7

2) Defense:
2008: 9
2013: 9

3) Social issues:
2008: 2/3
2013: 5-7

Note that as recently as early 2012 I would still have put him at a 3 on social issues, and I don't see why he has suddenly moved way to the right after gaining reelection.

[Brewinblue]

2. Defense

So you assumed he was a hawk from the beginning?

[Yo_Mama]

4. One of the things I really respect about Obama

is that he's very honest. Way, way more honest than most politicians.

I read his books and followed his positions very carefully, and that was my major worry over him as a candidate. I thought he was too aggressive. I still do. But he's always been honest about it.

[zipplewrath]

12. I dunno

I read his books too, and I remember him advocating strongly against Iraq. I really thought he believed in diplomacy over the gun. Instead, he didn't change a thing about the SOFA, even kept the same Sec Def and command staff. At the end he was STILL trying to negotiate an extension of a military presence there. And he tripled the number of troops in Afghanistan, preferred assassinations over capture, and has completely given up (at least until last week) on Gitmo.

[Yo_Mama]

13. And also greatly expanded

bombings in Pakistan, some military activity in Yemen, Libya, now rumblings on Syria....

He's a hawk. No way around it. It's his fifth year in office. Even if he were following his advisors, he's had plenty of time to get advisors with a different ideological direction.

[zipplewrath]

21. I'll give him this much

During the '08 campaign he was fairly open about the fact that he thought that the primary trouble was in Pakistan and that we would have to confront folks who were operating from there. The Bush admin actually criticized him for suggesting that he might decide to act unilaterally.

There are significant rumblings here. We've got Syria fighting itself, Iran and Hezbola getting involved, Lybia with its own problems, and Israel (as always) sitting smack in the middle of it all. And Obama seems to have little if any clout in the region (who ever has any?). It could all go to hell in a minute (and suck in Egypt to boot) and Obama tends to lead with his chin here. I'm very concerned.

[Saving Hawaii]

24. No. Obama ran into special circumstances.

He's certainly not a peacenik, but the Arab Spring has put a ton of very unusual pressure on our foreign policy in a part of the world we care about (as compared to sub-Saharan Africa). I don't think any President in the past century would be doing much less than Obama.

[Agschmid]

9. Can you expand on your social issues #s?

Just curious...

[Yo_Mama]

15. That would be a book

Trying to condense it - "social issues" to me covers a wide territory, with these being some of the major divisions:

A) Civil rights - defense of basic constitutional negative rights (very important to me): [negative = the government can't do this]
On this issue I thought in 2008 he was very good, and I have been steadily disappointed. He has not changed anything about the surveillance/police stuff that's slowly encroaching. He has funded it and not pushed back in any direction and has actively pushed for continuation of what were supposed to be "emergency" powers such as the various military stuff, enhanced warrantless surveillance, avoidance of FOIA, continuation of the Patriot Act, etc. I would have said 3 or 4 in 2008, now he's no better than a 7 or an 8.

B) Civil rights - defense of imperiled groups and supporting effective equality under the law. I'd say he remains a 3 here, having moved a bit more left on some (for example, SS marriage rights), and quite a bit more right on others - like WTF on medical marijuana/legalized marijuana???? I don't use the stuff and I don't think it's generally healthy, but the quiet behind-the-scenes actions against medical marijuana dispensaries make me want to puke. It's the whole force of the bureaucracy against a few, including banking lockdowns, confiscation, etc. He's been a powerful advocate against discrimination aimed at some unpopular groups, so he gets good points too.

C) Effective equality of access to public resources. This is a major social issue at all times, and here he is really a 9 after the release of his budget in April. Advocating increases of cost sharing on part D (prescription meds ins for Medicare) for the poorest seniors, cutting the growth of Medicare again to the increase in GDP plus 0.5% (when medical costs keep increasing more than GDP or other inflation), Chained CPI-U, which increases taxes on the lower income brackets and cuts SS benefits. No. This has been part of a trend in our society which is insidiously eating us up. Cost-sharing for rather poor persons in ACA was always ridiculous - we are expecting very low income people to pay 30% of their costs? This ain't gonna happen. Well, I'm the sucker here. I thought he was forced into that by Congress, but with the release of his budget, I see no, he's firmly on board. He's way right of Congress on this issue. I'm still stunned by this. Increases in Medigap for the poorest, in order to restrict their effective ability to use their Medicare? He's right of Ronald Reagan on this issue. When you look at the net effects of his policies, it will continue the safety net for the better-off seniors as is at the cost of effectively disbarring treatment for the poorest of seniors.

D) Openness. Transparency of government. Here I originally thought he was a 1, and he still would be if he had ever put into effect any of the policies he advocated when running, such as posting legislation, etc. Instead his administration has become steadily more "closeted". No better than a 7.

[Agschmid]

23. Thank you!

[HughBeaumont]

3. Mine -

Economy -

2008: 7
2013: 7

Defense -

2008: 6
2013: 6

Social issues -

2008: 5
2013: 4

I really wish I didn't have to type that "7" under Economy, but let's face it: We're going to keep getting that and worse unless you divorce money from politics. We're going to keep getting that and worse as long as everyone in power and wealth scales center-right to batshit-insane in ideology.

Chi-School Laissez Fail Friedmanomics is KILLING this country and robbing it of a future. It's to the point where I don't even consider such a damaging way of running things as serious discussion. People who still believe it works for everyone are CLOWNS. The evidence is overwhelming that it's FAILED America's workers and buoyed it's Yacht Club for decades.

[geek tragedy]

5. asdf

1. 4, 5
2. 5, 7
3. 4, 3

I perceived him as vaguely left of center, he's been a moderate squish on economics (Republicans control Congress, but he doesn't have to appease them so damn much), unfortunatey hawkish on defense, and a positive surprise on social issues.

[NCTraveler]

11. I went 6-5 on social issues.

Regardless of where we put him numerically, it is the one area where he has surprised me. I think most will have him increasing in number on the scale for the three targets referenced, but I thought he would be less friendly on social issues. Although, social issues are very wide ranging. He seems to have a lack of concern when it comes to minority's and the economy. I did not really take that into account in my grading. I think that just about every politician is failing in that metric.

[JaneyVee]

6. 3 - 4 - 1

[Brewinblue]

7. I must have been a real sucker, because I believed he was a 2 or 3 across the board.

It really hurts to be so wrong. Today I'd give him a 4 on social and an 8 on the others.

[NCTraveler]

8. Below.

1) 4-6
2)5-8
3)6-5

I am scaling the spectrum with respect to American politics, not politics across the globe.

I had him at a 7 on the economy but I don't think that is accurate considering the current right sides views. Therefore I changed it to a 6.

[HughBeaumont]

18. Well, economically on a scale of 10 being furthest right . . . .

. . . the current set of TeaHadists are about a 12 or a 14. Meaning, nothing they put forth is acceptable, intelligent or fair in my book.

[inb4tehlulz]

33. So clever

But still a pointless jab that distracts from a discussion.

[HughBeaumont]

34. I like that not-so-veiled snark. It's endearing, really.

Specifics, please, on ANY current GOP economic policy that's fair and reasonable to people making under $100,000 per year.

[zipplewrath]

10. Then and now

Then Now

1. 4 7
2 3 5
3 1 3

[Scuba]

14. Something like this ...

1. The economy -- 4

2. Defense -- 4

3. Social issues -- 2


and here's how I think he's governed ...


1. The economy -- 10

2. Defense -- 6

3. Social issues -- 4

[ananda]

16. two out of three

On economy and defense I had him pretty well pegged: corporate right.

On social issues, however, he has moved farther right than I ever expected.

[el_bryanto]

17. Haven't changed too much.

6 or 7 on the economy
4 or 5 on Defense
2 or 3 on Social Interest

As for today no difference on economy or social issues, but probably a 5 or 6 on Defense.

Bryant

[Myrina]

19. ok ...

then: 5, 5, 5 ... now 7, 7, 7

[Marrah_G]

20. I'll give it a shot

I thought he would be:

1. 5
2. 3
3. 5

Today

1. 7
2. 7
3. 5

[Skittles]

22. I believed he was center

today I'd rate him center right
so from

5 5 5

to 6 6 5


amended to delete any devil associations

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. 7, 5, 3 then. 8, 6 and 2 today. n/t

[mike_c]

28. Obama has always been way too centrist/moderate right for me....

eom

[rwheeler31]

29. 3 7 1

now 5 7 1 I think he is doing the best he can .

[Demo_Chris]

30. My take

What I HOPED for:

The economy: 3
Defense: 4
Social issues: 4

What I GOT:

The economy: 9
Defense: 9
Social issues: 8

[bhikkhu]

31. I'd say 5, 6, and 4 to begin with

realizing that the campaign speeches by one who has never been president don't often reflect the realities of the job. Once sworn in as president there are many responsibilities, but the main one (even considering that a good part of the economy was in ruins in 2008) is to maintain business as usual, "BAU", the economy most of us rely on.

So, overall, my thinking was that he would be 5, 6, and 4. After years in office, I'd have to rate him at 5, 5, and 3. He's about the same on the economy as I expected in the first place; its coming along, but no revolutions or big innovations, just effective moderate leadership. I'd give him a bump up for raising taxes on the wealthy, and capital gains, but considering where we were that was more pragmatic good sense than anything else - still right in the middle.

On defense he's done better than expected. The war in Iraq is over and the troops are done there, Afghanistan is winding down slowly, and more importantly there are no new wars, in spite of an abundance of opportunity in the Arab Spring. He has been very effective at engaging allies, and very willing to give the driver's seat up to others. And the pentagon is looking at a 10% cut in its budget, which was completely unexpected.

On social issues, good was always expected, but he has been exceptional. This is considering the leadership (or at least willingness to learn and concede graciously) on gay rights.

Social spending remains up in the air, so I'm leaving that off.

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Middle on all, probably around 5

He has exceeded my expectations in some areas, for instance in -belatedly- standing up for Marriage Equality.

In others I haven't been hugely surprised either way. There are things I wish he had done or would do, although I recognize he is hamstrung by the GOP House. I wish he would take more action in reining in the DOJ when it comes to harassing pot smoking cancer grannies.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

35. 6,6,5

6,6,5

[LWolf]

36. In 2008,

I thought he was pure centrist/3rd way/new dem, which I put well to the right of center. For the purposes of your scale, a 6 or 7. I knew he was an enemy of public education. I did not want him as the D nominee.

Today? I see him as a neo-liberal republican-loving disgrace who has squandered the opportunity to put this country back on track.

On your scale? An 8 or 9.

On these:

1. The economy: 5 then, 8 or 9 now.

2. Defense: 6 then, 9 now.

3. Social issues: 6 then, 7 or 8 now.