Obama's Had a Helluva Good Month Since the Midterms

[babylonsister]

Last edited Thu Dec 18, 2014, 02:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Dammit! Make it stop!



http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/obamas-had-helluva-good-month-midterms


Obama's Had a Helluva Good Month Since the Midterms

—By Kevin Drum
| Wed Dec. 17, 2014 3:37 PM EST


So how have things been going for our bored, exhausted, and disengaged president? He's been acting pretty enthusiastic, energized, and absorbed with his job, I'd say. Let us count the things he's done since the November 4th midterm elections:

November 10: Surprised everyone by announcing his support for strong net neutrality.
November 11: Concluded a climate deal with China that was not only important in its own right, but has since been widely credited with jumpstarting progress at the Lima talks last week.
November 20: Issued an executive order protecting millions of undocumented workers from the threat of deportation.
November 26: Signed off on an important new EPA rule significantly limiting ozone emissions.
December 15: Took a quiet victory lap as Western financial sanctions considerably sharpened the pain of Vladimir Putin's imploding economy.
December 16: Got nearly everything he wanted during the lame duck congressional session, and more. Democrats confirmed all important pending nominees, and then got Republican consent to several dozen lesser ones as well.
December 17: Announced a historic renormalization of relations with Cuba.

I guess you can add to that a non-event: In its second year, Obamacare signups are going smoothly and ahead of target. Am I missing anything beyond that? Maybe. It's been quite the whirlwind month for our bored, exhausted, disengaged president, hasn't it?

All of these things are worthwhile in their own right, of course, but there's a political angle to all of them as well: they seriously mess with Republican heads. GOP leaders had plans for January, but now they may or may not be able to do much about them. Instead, they're going to have to deal with enraged tea partiers insisting that they spend time trying to repeal Obama's actions. They can't, of course, but they have to show that they're trying. So there's a good chance that they'll spend their first few months in semi-chaos, responding to Obama's provocations instead of working on their own agenda.

Was that part of the plan? Beats me. But it seems to be working pretty well so far.

[Cha]

1. Kick for now.. I'll get back to this.. Gracias babsis!

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. The midterms seems to have been the final nail in the coffin of his idea that

Republicans were honest brokers who simply disagreed with democrats and that they could be negotiated with in good faith for the good of the nation.

It took him six years to become completely disillusioned with the whole mess, but I am glad he finally realized the truth.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. Better late than never? No, not so much. n/t

[babylonsister]

5. And

here's to you!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025972913#post54

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. What mean "we"?

Governance: mostly kabuki.

If you're president, and you're planning on doing good shit, then do it in October and not December.

[WhiteTara]

4. Let's add Bristol Bay to the list

[brer cat]

7. Absolutely. That was a good move by PBO. nt

[WhiteTara]

8. It looks like such a stunning place

that should be left alone for the generations.

[brer cat]

10. I guess that I will enjoy it only in pictures,

but I am grateful for every square inch PBO saves.

[WhiteTara]

13. Same here. It makes me happy to know that

someplace like that exists.

[freshwest]

6. The joy of work is the work. He's no quitter. Gobama!

[ucrdem]

9. Remember the day after Nov.4? He said at his presser he was going to be very busy.

He wasn't kidding!

[steve2470]

11. kick and rec! nt

[eridani]

12. Anything that happens from now on he is going to have to do alone

Luckily for us, he isn't holding back. Repubs will probably froth purple with rage at the "tyranny," but fuck 'em.

[babylonsister]

15. I am

so happy to read that from you.

[eridani]

22. If he pushes TPP though, I'll be screaming and hollering

It's always a mixed bag at that political level.

[mountain grammy]

16. I hope he keeps on doing what he's doing, and keeps smiling..

until every damn fucking Republican pinhead explodes. The whole world supports the President on Cuba, but not American Republicans.

[babylonsister]

17. I hope so, too! :-) nt

[russspeakeasy]

18. Yup !!!

[OldRedneck]

19. THANK YOU!!!

Thanks for your timely diary.

I live in a rural Virginia county where we have an active, vocal Tea Party presence. I know the leader of this mob of ignoramusses and I take every chance I get to embarrass him publicly. You see, he regularly writes letters to the editors of our local weekly newspapers. His letters are published, after which I write a response pointing out just how stupid his letter was, then, several of my Democratic friends pile on with letters of their own. After the dust has settled, one of my Democratic friends who lives next door to the Tea Partier invariably reports to me the guy is so pissed at our letters that he's kicking his dog and cursing me.

Just this week, this clown had a letter published in all our local papers -- it was an open letter to our Congressman (a wimpy, not very important Reublican) in which he demanded that our Congressman work to repeal the last six years.

I just fired off a letter in response, using your timeline to show just how President Obama has slapped the shit out of the GOP. I then urged him to ignore the radical nutcases in his party who are calling for the repeal of the past six years and, instead, work with the Prez and with Democrats in Congress to actually govern.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/2765593088/h809FB6E4/

[babylonsister]

20. No, thank YOU for educating those tragically, willfully illinformed!

[Hekate]

21. Mother Jones! LOL. Thanks, Babs!

I am loving it.

[Jamaal510]

23. That man

refuses to let the R's get in the way of shaping his legacy. I likes it!
All these actions sort of give me hope for what is to come from Pres. O in spite of Republicans gaining more power in Congress.

[Andy823]

24. K&R nt

[supercats]

25. Big Fucking Deal!!!

On the most important issues, economic policy that is, he continues to side with wall street. So nothing of any real importance changes in our country! He has overtly proven that he was bought and paid for by the owners of our country. I personally can't wait until he's gone from office. And see if our country will do something to make whole sale changes to our economy by electing Elizabeth Warren, because if we elect Hilary Clinton it will be just more of a 'fuck you' to our citizens, only worse.

[lovemydog]

26. As an unabashed President Obama supporter, thanks.

I love speaking out for him. President Obama is the best President I've seen in my lifetime. He helped save an economy wrecked by overspending on a stupid war that was not paid for. He helped millions of people with the Affordable Care Act. He helped save the United States auto industry and strengthen manufacturing to where it's growing stronger. He always fights and speaks out for liberal causes. Strengthening the middle class. Assisting the poor. Unions. Teachers. Diplomacy. The environment. With a great sense of humor and amazing understanding of the current world in which we live.

When I voted for him I made a promise to myself. I wouldn't expect more of him than I would of myself. And I would have his back. I have his back. I can't imagine anyone who could have done a better job with the catastrophe facing us when he took office, and with the fools and tools in Congress. My gosh, we were on the brink of worldwide depression. It was the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

People always try and say what he should do, what he should say, how he should act. He is himself. A good listener. A brilliant speaker. A tireless fighter. Thoughtful. Witty. Compassionate. I love him for what I voted for in him, and I've loved him as President.

Are we where we should be? Heck no. That's not the President's fault. It's the fault of republicans in Congress (and the people who vote for them) who obstruct everything. And of conservative and 'mainstream' democrats who fail to support him at the most crucial times. And of cynics who don't have his back. Who act too cool to speak up for him, like they are smarter than the President at every turn. Go to Columbia undergrad, Harvard Law School, turn down high paying corporate finance jobs to become a community organizer in Chicago, serve as a Senator, withstand the scrutiny of a nomination process, run and win two presidential elections and get back to me!

We have enormous challenges facing us. Inequality is rampant and we must address it with great seriousness in all words thoughts and deeds. We need more economic populism. We need to seriously tax the rich, at levels around the Eisenhower era. We need more in Congress like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and good people here at DU. It will take all our focus of will, to keep fighting the battle against powerful greedy forces that manipulate popular opinion and manufacture rampant cynicism with the corporate media they own.

We're blessed to have President Obama. I wish we could get a majority in Congress just like him. And yes, more to his left. We'd be a lot better off today.

I'm inspired to keep working toward that.

When I hear people overly criticize President Obama, it's dirt off my shoulder.

I'm hoping someone will read this and be inspired to speak out for President Obama at every opportunity. Help carry on his amazing legacy in whatever path you may choose, and whatever adversity you may face. I will have your back, and so will many more.

[NoDoubt]

27. +1

[Sunlei]

28. yes he has and much more to come at todays President O newsie

[padfun]

29. And one big point,

That fact that rWers are livid shows that he is doing the right thing.
If they liked what he was doing, I would be worried.

[modeforjoe]

30. Not so fast...

None of these accomplishments will erase the severity of this legacy black mark: shielding the CIA, shielding NSA, shielding bankers, and the punishing of whistle blowers including Assange. America under Bush and now Obama has lost so much of its moral compass; so much of its integrity. I truly doubt that Obama's reputation will be a decent one in the eyes of history. Believe me, I wish this wasn't the case.