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NanceGreggs

(27,814 posts)
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 12:34 AM Jun 2018

What We Had

The first time I heard Obama speak, my first thought was that this was a truly decent human being.

When he campaigned for the presidency, that was proven to be true time and again. Every time I saw or heard him, that basic human decency came shining through.

As the campaign progressed, I realized all of the bonuses we were getting as well, a man who came with all kinds of attributes: intelligence, charm, eloquence, grace, empathy – along with a rapier wit and a wicked sense of humour.

But all of those traits were just icing on the cake. I would have voted for him based on the sense of his decency alone.

The most egregious thing about Trump in the White House is that we wound up with a man with none of the above virtues, skills, or talents. And on top of that lack of a single trait worth admiring – or even worth noting – he is totally devoid of decency.

The day the Obamas shut the lights off at the White House, the whole country went dark.

I am confident that the lights will come on again. But in the meantime, it really hurts to sit here in the dark and remember what we once had, and what the whole country has lost.


11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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madaboutharry

(40,212 posts)
2. I feel the loss every single day.
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 12:49 AM
Jun 2018

It is like a dark cloud has been blocking the sun since the day the Obamas left.

Last summer I was in Montreal at the same time President Obama was visiting Prime Minister Trudeau. We were walking up the street as Pres. Obama’s motorcade was pulling away from his hotel. He waved at the small group of people who had happened to be there. I stood there watching and my heart broke a little bit more.

 

rusty quoin

(6,133 posts)
3. I get a sore kick out how they think Trump is decent.
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 01:04 AM
Jun 2018

Everything about him is foul. It has always been.

I am waiting for the next act in this fuckfest drama. I have no predictions, but only hope.

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
4. Someone said he had the best temperament of any president ever-
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 01:14 AM
Jun 2018

Calm, rational, kind, thoughtful, generous, but dynamic too.

Miss him miss him miss him.

(Any Beatle fans recognize that?)

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
5. I'm glad we appreciated him when we had him
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 01:33 AM
Jun 2018

We knew he was decent and sincere in his love for this country. We loved his beautiful wife and daughters.

We were aware he would only be with us as President for eight years.

Trump doesn’t make us appreciate President Obama but he does make us miss him very much.

PatrickforO

(14,576 posts)
7. Beautifully written.
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 02:28 AM
Jun 2018

And agree a hundred-fold.

Problem was, Obama had all these great virtues and fine personal character while at the same time being black, and for that the right wing forces of ignorance, hatred and darkness could not forgive him.

MineralMan

(146,317 posts)
9. I'm confident the lights will get turned back on, too.
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 09:38 AM
Jun 2018

Surely, we'll rise up and use the polling places to make a stand against what has happened. Surely.

 

EffieBlack

(14,249 posts)
11. When I first read "Dreams From My Father," I thought how wonderful it would be to have someone so
Tue Jun 5, 2018, 10:46 AM
Jun 2018

brilliant and thoughtful and decent and eloquent and able to bridge so many different worlds as president one day.

And I was right.

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