I don't expect to see another democratic candidate like Barack Obama in my lifetime. (updated link)

[mfcorey1]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/26/1150931/-I-don-t-expect-to-see-another-democratic-candidate-like-Barack-Obama-in-my-lifetime


Oh my. I watched clips of the president today, his voice scarred by overuse, his crisp white sleeves rolled up, grabbing the podium in a way that hoped to launch his spirit of YES, STILL, hope. After all, "Forward" is just another word for hope.

I am so impressed by the president's continual respect for me, the voter. He asks me for his belief in him. He tells me he wants to carry on, that he believes in me, and he hopes I still believe in him.

Now. I'm considerably to the left of the president. Frankly, my number one choice for the 2016 contest would be Bernie Sanders. Ha Ha, I know my chances here. Yes, I consider myself a Democratic Socialist. BUT, like Bernie, I know the realities of this country, and like him, I participate in the battle fully, willing to make the best choice I have, to work within the realities of the system. This is what Bernie does SO freaking well, but that's another diary.

Follow me below the orange pig in a blanket (hot dog wrapped up in pastry---see Shelley Duvall in "Welcome to LA&quot to discuss how we won't know what we had till we lose it.


This Barack Obama is something else, on so many levels. First of all, most of us cannot begin to appreciate what it might have taken for this guy to rise from where he did to the president of the United States. Many a rich white man has taken FAR longer to get there.

This Barack Obama is tougher than the media will ever give him credit for. Accept that, and move on.

This Barack Obama is an ACE competitor, leaves nothing on the road, fights like Ali---floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee.

This Barack Obama is smarter than this country will let him be. Make no mistake about it, this president is a prisoner of US---our collective reluctance to catch up to him. Now I know, many here will scoff at this, tell me about the mistakes he has made, and yes he has made mistakes. And, some will tell me that Barack Obama is a hopeless centrist, but they will do so ignoring that his number one duty to the Democratic party is to get re-elected. If he doesn't manage that, doesn't much matter what else he does. See Jimmy Carter, no disrespect intended. AND, this is why the right wants Obama to be like Jimmy Carter, but he's not. He's something else few who haven't traveled his journey can understand.

[silvershadow]

1. I am sure you are right about that. He's doing the best he can. It's a miracle he has accomplished

so much against incredible odds. But, the PTB will never allow it again.

[geckosfeet]

2. I'm sorry

but you're right. He is a lot smarter and better than we let him be.

[The Roux Comes First]

3. Yes, Yes, and Excellent

Like you, there is much that has disappointed me as I have sadly come to learn that even I am a good deal more progressive than Obama. Leaving the door open to whittling away at health and retirement program "entitlements." The drone wars. Basically a free pass, and in some cases fat executive branch jobs, for many of the perpetrators of financial crimes against the middle class. Basically keeping the defense budget off the table while allowing the ridiculous emphasis on the "deficit" when the economy is in the crapper to continue. De facto absolution for the criminals in the previous administration, a passel of thuggish anti-American swine.

But, indeed, on another level Obama is so much more than we (or at least many of us) could have hoped for or possibly even deserved.

Great post!

[George II]

18. In politics, you can't have everything and you have to pick your shots...the most important ones....

[LukeFL]

4. I hope our party have more Obamas

And begin to introduce them soon. I think one is Julia Castro and Mark Warner from VA. Maybe are not like PO but have the potential of becoming somewhat close.

[Marie Marie]

5. +1000

I couldn't agree more with everything this writer said.

[ncav53]

6. I agree, and that's another reason he must win

By winning he becomes the progressive Ronald Reagan rather than Jimmy Carter.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. "Yes, I consider myself a Democratic Socialist."

Hell, mf, I'm an outright communist. This fact will no doubt amuse many of our so-called progressives here, who view me as an Obama "cheerleader" and evil centrist. I'm neither of those things. I'm further left than mostly anyone on this board. But I do care about getting shit done, and the best way to do that is to have your hand on the policy switch. It took us 40 years to get to this sad state. Many of our so-called progressives think you can turn that around with a veto pen and a few years. They're delusional.

Your post is excellent. Yes, left, left, left, but let's not also indulge and triumph in victimhood, a trait of too many of our allies. They love having been defeated, because then they can pretend to be underdogs, or whatever. It's an ultimately selfish stance - they do it for their own pleasure, and forget about people who will actually suffer.

[babylonsister]

8. This is how I feel about this man: thank you for sharing, and

I posted this on FB. He is far superior than we even know, he has all of our interests at heart. He's doing and has been doing the best he can in an intolerable environment. I love this man, and highly recommend your post!

[momsrule]

10. I love him too!

Without a doubt he has had unnecessary political adversity fot the sake of ruining this presidency and yet has many accomplishments. The man is a genius and I love him for his dedication and perseverance!

[Blue Idaho]

9. He is more than I hoped for

He is much more than modern America deserves.

There are very few great Presidents - President Obama is among the very best.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

11. Imagine what he could have accomplished were it

not for the obstructionism of the entire Regressive Party from the dog catcher all the way up to Senate Minority Leader, from day one of the Obama era?

What could have been.

[Politicub]

12. Obama will go down in history as one of the greatest transformative presidents

He believes in and values diversity. It's mind boggling to me still that the dems have embraced marriage equality in the party platform. Our president took a brave stand this summer with his evolution on gay marriage. It still ripples like a sonic boom in the fight for full equality.

And Obama is authentic about it. Nothing is ever just about a photo op. No fake republican rent some diversity.

I guess I'm trying to say that Obama is about dignity to me. Equality for everyone.

[GetTheRightVote]

13. He is the one we needed at this time...

I had my doubts for a moment or two but now I realized that he is saving me from me, and us from us.
We need to move forward with him, he is our FDR, he is our generations guiding light...

[Lugnut]

14. I wish I could rec this 1000 times. n/t

[John2]

15. I

would compare him to Lincoln instead of Reagan. He is dealing with a War and a divided country with an obstructionist Congress.

[Tribetime]

16. I don't think we'll ever see again a President born poor. Your post made me see how much more

of a great man he truly is.

[George II]

17. He has the best campaign organization in history..........

....and fucking Sununu has the gall and the balls to call him "lazy"? That slothful bloated piece of crap doesn't know "lazy" because HE IS IT!

GoBama!

[Cha]

20. A Pic to go with your wonderful thread, mfcorey, of StellaRay's Diary @ kos..

Cleveland, October 25 (Thomas Miller)

From the brilliant obama diary..
http://theobamadiary.com/

[mfcorey1]

24. Beautiful! nt

[Voice for Peace]

21. totally agree

but for one point: I think he may be a trend. More great
people are coming. Some are already coming up now, and most
we've never heard of, yet. Integrity is on its way to the rescue.
Greed, Cheat and Deceit are going down. That's my story and
I'm sticking to it.

[Live and Learn]

22. I agree. Not only has he done an excellent job with what he was given

but he is also compassionate and ultra likeable. Sure, I wish he could have gotten more accomplished but he did much more than I expected or even thought possible.

[bluestateguy]

23. Hillary is not running in 2016, and all the other Democrats look like lightweights

Like a bunch of children sitting at the kids table eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

[Doctor_J]

47. Um...O'Malley, Warren,

Cuomo are not lightweights

[Whisp]

25. I don't think I've ever come across anyone like Barack Obama before.

Maybe in the movies, like Atticus Finch or those celluloid heroes, but that's about it. In real life a person that has such power and can affect so many - nope, no one near his stature in my eyes.

And he does it so gracefully, even with all that ducking of slurs and tomato throwers that just keep throwing stuff at him. With grace and love he walks on. He does love us all back.

One of a kind.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

46. god yes...What you sia, as well as the OPand many others here.

I truly wonder about people who cannot see the greatness of this man...and yes, there was a point there for a bit when I let the negativity here affect me.

I "knew" there was something special early on and even said to my now ex-boyfriend that he would go down in history as one of the greatest, along with Lincoln and FDR. My ex, however, for reasons I do not understand, harboured rabid hatred for him and would spout crazy horrible shit....crazy birther type crap.

I don't understand it...so sad and frustrating.

[Scuba]

26. Scoff? No, you nailed it.

[Shankapotomus]

27. K & R

We are lucky the voice of a person like the president can now be heard above the fray. That's really what the GOP resents most. That someone with an intelligent and different perspective has power and a microphone on a national and world scale.

[cyberspirit]

28. Evolved

Both Michele and Barack are highly evolved human beings. Their lives are defined by the energy of love. I am very grateful that they would go through all the bullshit, the hatred, etc. to serve this country 4 more years.

[Surya Gayatri]

30. Yes, both "old souls" who have chosen the way of service.

I too am grateful for their sacrifice and their devotion. They live their spirituality through their actions which express unconditional love.

[mainer]

29. He is better than America deserves

There are times when my country infuriates me, times when the rampant ignorance and bigotry and greed in some areas of the US make we wish those states would just get the leader they think they want. Instead, they got a leader who was willing and able to lend them a hand, even while they cursed him for it.

[Surya Gayatri]

31. Thanks so much for bringing this over from dailykos, mfcorey.

Considering the enemies this wonderful human being has ranged against him, we are so fortunate that he is still willing to carry on for another four years.

Many lesser men would have retreated faced with the unprecedented onslaught he has had to endure.

History will rank him among the great transformative leaders.

[Honeycombe8]

32. He is unique. I'm proud to be counted among those who can say, "Yes, I voted for Barack Obama."

Both last time, and this time. We are on the right side of history. He has done a remarkable job, considering what was handed to him.

I underestimated the racism in this country. Had I known it was still this bad, I may not have had the faith I had in 2008 that he would win. But even knowing that now, I believe he can win this thing this time.

[alarimer]

33. He could have been the next FDR.

Instead he (as well as other Democrats) has bought into the notion that deficit reduction is the most important thing. It isn't, and he has been fact too accommodating to the right in all areas.

Plus I despise his foreign policy, which is a continuation and expansion of many of Bush's policies. The drone attacks on American citizens, the "kill list", etc.

He has been a colossal disappointment to me and many others. And you want more of this? I don't.

[mfcorey1]

35. Maybe you would like a George Bush Republican? On this democratic site we recognize

missteps, but we also applaud accomplishments. No man is perfect.

[Dawgs]

36. Typical response by an apologist.

'You're not happy with Obama, so maybe you would be happy with a Republican.'

Boooooo!!!!

[mfcorey1]

40. What are you interpreting? My post was in response to the criticism of the previous poster by asking

if that individual thought George Bush was a better president. The reference to no man is perfect was in response to the snarky remarks about the president. Back off.

[ProSense]

37. FDR was responsible for the Internment.

Give me a fucking break!

[Comrade_McKenzie]

44. I hate when people say "American citizens" as if drone strikes are occuring in downtown LA...

These are people living among/training with militants in a country that shoots little girls in the face for trying to go to school. Their piece of paper proclaiming American citizenship doesn't mean a damn thing to me and it shouldn't mean a damn thing to you. "American citizens plotting to kill innocent people" is a hard sell these days.

The millions of American citizens living a normal life and not making YouTube videos about bringing death to America aren't targeted by drone strikes. You don't get put on that "kill list" for eating a piece of cake on your birthday, watching your favorite television shows, or even writing a blog about how much of an idiot your congressman is... so let's stop pretending that's what happens. It's bullshit.

You get put on that list for being an extremist piece of shit associating with other extremist pieces of shit.

A pragmatic person would put their hold-hands-and-sing-kumbaya bullshit away for one second like I and so many others have and realize that the world is full of complex issues that need non-ideological solutions.

[union_maid]

34. Wonderful OP

I'm almost 63. I have never seen anyone quite like him on the national scene. I doubt we'll see his like again soon, but I sure hope we do. I have never been so proud of a president, unless you count JFK and I was just shy of my 11th birthday when he was elected, so I don't think that counts.

[ProSense]

38. This is a wonderful piece

I saw it yesterday, but didn't post it because it would be met with the typical pretense that some other Democratic President in the past was somehow Bernie Sanders.

FDR was a great President, but he had his flaws.

Barack Obama too has his flaws, but look at the racist and regressive shit we're dealing with in this country, and it's 2012, not friggin 1934.

[LeftInTX]

39. He is better than America deserves

[DCBob]

41. Totally agree with this..

If this country (right and left) would cooperate he could have been another FDR or better.

[flamingdem]

42. I agree, Obama is exceptional

We had better appreciate these moments. At this point I don't see similar talent coming up in the party, but I may have missed someone of course..

[toby jo]

43. He's good, Hilary is better

She's got more intelligence, and more power when she speaks. You can hear it in her perception of the dynamic at hand. She's just deeper.

O's a little bit of a light-weight for me. He just doesn't have her range. Kerry was good, too. I miss him. Alot. There's plenty of talent coming up. That gov of MA is a great speaker AND a great thinker. He may have the strength of Hilary and O going for him. He's good. And then there's Warren.

Contrast all that with the nutjobs coming up in the Republican party - like a sea of kooks.

[Justice4All1]

48. You're clearly in the minority

otherwise she would have won the nomination in 2008.
Barack Obama & Hillary are both great in their own right, it's probably best not to compare them because that kind of cheapens the party. It is what it is, Obama was chosen by the majority & Hillary will get her chance in 2016.

[femrap]

45. Are you

really old?