What will President Barack Obama's legacy be?

[GiveMeFreedom]

I at first thought that it would be that he is the first African American President, but now I think it will be the guy who through the middle class under the bus and destroyed Social Security. Nice going PBO, the Social Security Killer, thanks for helping Ryan throw grandma over the cliff. Peace.

[MineralMan]

1. I think we should start thinking about Obama's legacy

in 2017. That's what I think. I also think constant Obama-bashing is boring and tedious.

Even more importantly, I think we should thinking about electing a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives in 2014.

GOTV 2014!

[sabrina 1]

3. I think constant people bashing by politicians is far more reprehensible than criticizing policies o

elected officials. When people are betrayed by politicians it has lasting effects on their lives, some even die if the policies are bad enough.

We have a worse infant mortality rate than some third world countries. We don't have much of a safety net for the most vulnerable citizens compared to other civilized nations who view taking care of their own people as a 'moral issue' and saving their lives by making sure they have enough HC and food to eat, as Right.

We are so behind that when one of the few safety nets comes under attack, anyone who expects people to ignore it, is not living in the real world.

There is a reason why SS has always been called the Third Rail of Politics. Every once in a while someone touches it, and every time they do, they should expect the inevitable reaction they will get.

[MineralMan]

26. There you are.

No President's legacy is formed during the first year of his second term, except for Nixon, I suppose. That's a fact.

[demwing]

12. Hey look! It's Abraham Lincoln!

Well...that's what my son says when he needs to change the subject ....

[MineralMan]

15. Obama's Story Is Not Yet Complete.

Legacies represent a complete record of someone, not a partial one.

[demwing]

33. You miss my point

I believe your post was an attempt to change the conversation from "Obama screwed us" to "Why discuss Obama's Legacy?" -- just like my son and his imaginary dead president/distraction.

[MineralMan]

34. Really. The OP of this thread is about Obama's

legacy. Did you miss that? I'm not trying to change the conversation at all.

[demwing]

35. Yeah, I phrased that poorly, but it's been corrected

should read : "Your post was an attempt to change the conversation from Obama screwed us to Why discuss Obama's Legacy? "

[MineralMan]

36. Whatever. I post what I post. It's an open forum.

You might disagree, and that's your privilege here.

[demwing]

41. You post, I post

I never told you not to, so why bring it up?

Just a little ribbing for behavior that I recognized in a family member. Don't take it so hard

[sabrina 1]

2. Probably risking SS's future by falsely connecting it to the deficit and offering it as a playing

chip to Republicans 'because they asked for it' according to Carney.

That is a historic betrayal of the people who elected him.

I just found out that over 2 million people signed a petition asking him not to do it. He ignored them and gave the Republicans what THEY asked for.

SS is the Crown Jewel, the Cornerstone of the Democratic Party. It affects the lives of millions of Americans every day. To think he could touch that without the outrage he has received, shows someone who is very detached from the people who elected him.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. A caretaker of the establishment and politics as usual.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. First African-American president -

and good on LGBT rights. Continued and expanded much of the worst Bush Administration's policies on national security, domestic spying, and prisoners of war. Expanded the "war on terror". Let robber baron banks and war criminals off scot-free.

I will not look back fondly.

[limpyhobbler]

6. Genocide and/or end of human civilization. For failure to lead on climate change.

There's a good chance the Obama years were our final chance to change course. He failed to step up and take the kind of bold action that would have been needed. We didn't have 8 years to waste.

[Super Iridium]

7. Black GHWBush

Start with a moderate Republican president about whom his party's base had some nagging misgivings. The misgivings were allayed by unequivocal statements made by the moderate Republican while campaigning for President, and so the party's base dutifully lined up behind him. Once elected, however, the moderate Republican promptly forgot the statements made while campaigning AND those who voted him into office.

The only difference is that Bush at least had the honesty to call himself a Republican, where Obama is no more of a Democrat than Joe Lieberman is.

When are we going to be rid of these guys?

[MineralMan]

16. Stepped right in with that, didn't you.

Uff da!

[tridim]

21. The proverbial shark has been jumped, big time.

Worse than bush, plus he's black!!!!!111

[MineralMan]

25. There was an alert. It was tied 3-3.

[tridim]

20. ..

[Super Iridium]

50. Reported for what?

Why is this being reported? It's a honest opinion about what he's done with the latest budget. Is it because of the use of the word "black"? I didn't mean any offense.

[NCTraveler]

8. I don't think there is any way of knowing the answer to that right now.

I think a majority of his legacy will hinge on Obamacare. No one knows how that one is going to turn out because there are so many variables. The other one is if he is able to get encompassing immigration reform through.

[forestpath]

9. What you said, plus the destruction of the Democratic party.

[tridim]

19. .

[forestpath]

47. Let's see how much you're laughing in 2014 when the Democrats get a shellacking like in 2010.

[99Forever]

10. I think his legacy will be...

.. that he is one of the best con artists ever to sit at the top of the Democratic Party.

[tridim]

18. .

[99Forever]

23. That's really something to laugh about.

I bet kicking puppies and starving orphans really cracks you up, huh?

[tridim]

28. I'm laughing at you, not a non-existant SS cut.

[99Forever]

29. I too polite to say what my thoughts are of you.

Have a nice life on ignore. Bye bye.

[dionysus]

45. your bitter tears are nectar to my soul.

[99Forever]

46. If you think I'm crying..

... then you don't have the intelligence of a sack of hammers.

Laugh, clown, laugh.

[dionysus]

48. my cup runneth over from the impotent poutrage and bitter tears....

[99Forever]

49. My Ignored list runneth over.

Thankfully there's room enough for you.

Bye bye.

[demwing]

11. First African American president (literally)

for this alone, Obama has historic significance.

[treestar]

13. It will be whatever he does on his last day of office

Since you seem to think the present is the only evidence. Maybe he will be remembered for suggesting universal pre-K - that's in this budget proposal too. Oh and why is this president to be remembered for budgets that don't pass?

Why don't you find someone you think was a good president and I'll research all budget proposals of his and see if there is any one thing I can latch onto to prove he was a terrible president.

[Marr]

14. He'll be remembered as the guy who saved the GOP. /nt

[tridim]

17. LOL @ "peace"

I hope this post is sarcasm, but I'm guessing it's not. Overreact much?

[Mr Dixon]

22. IMO

No matter how much whining I read here OBAMA has done a good job, this” what have you done for me lately” crap is Sad. This whole SS Cut is a bluff, we all know that the GOP will never agree with POTUS, and he knows it, so why all the drama? OBAMA could propose a bill to bring back slavery and the GOP would not go for it, bottom line is in a plutocracy money rules and everything else doesn’t matter.

[spanone]

24. months into his 2nd term you are ready to judge his legacy? brilliant!!!!

[Rex]

27. He will be remembered for a lot of things.

From bringing social equality to the massess...to helping banksters exponentially boost income inequality for the Owners.

More of a LBJ then an FDR and it is sad he would even want to associate himself with RWR in any way, shape or form.

[bluedigger]

30. What will Jimmy Carter's legacy be?

President Obama has a lot of years ahead of him.

[Progressive dog]

31. He'll be remembered for what he accomplished

not what he proposed.
His legacy will be the changes he leaves behind and won't be known until after 2017.
I think it is a big mistake to offer SS cuts, but so far he has been more progressive than Clinton was.

[tularetom]

32. I don't give a rats ass about his legacy

What I want is for him to do the right thing for the millions of middle class Americans who have suffered badly over the past 20+ years and are approaching retirement with little hope of improving their station in life.

So far he hasn't done a very good job, but there is plenty of time for him to stop listening to the "centrist" pundits, beltway insiders and Wall Street money boys he surrounds himself with, and begin to pay attention to the millions of people who voted for him twice, still believing he had their interests at heart.

[Superstring]

38. An important presidency already

I'm not really happy with him at the moment either, but people get too hung up on the day-to-day stuff and sometimes miss the forest from the trees.

He enacted Obamacare. Unless its implementation is a complete failure (not likely but still possible), this will be his biggest lasting domestic legacy. The fact that he fought tooth and nail to get it through and endured strong opposition from the Republicans will make it seem even more impressive.

He has played a big role in advancing gay rights, much more so than any other president before (and probably after) him. Ending DADT and publicly endorsing gay marriage will particularly stand out.

He took some dramatic steps to stabilize the economy. Although he arguably could have been more effective, the stimulus, the auto bailouts, and financial reform are -- put together -- historically significant responses to the Great Recession.

He ordered the daring raid that killed Osama Bin Laden and avenged 9/11. Barring any new wars, this will be his crowning military victory, and it's one of the most notable victories we've had since WWII.

He might also be remembered for immigration reform (if it passes) and, negatively, for his drone policies (if their use proliferates across the globe). If Hillary or another Democrat succeeds him in 2017, then he could also end up being to the Democratic Party what Reagan was to the GOP (who, I should add, went against his base on several occasions as well). And obviously, a lot else can still happen in the rest of his second term -- good or bad.

And of course, he was elected as the first black president -- twice -- with a majority popular vote. That fact alone makes him a historically important figure.

But even if he weren't black, he'd still be an important president given the aforementioned reasons. I say this even though he's made his fair share of errors and has done quite a few things with which I disagreed.

[The Link]

39. A centrist, similar to Clinton, less successful.

Not a failure. Not a great President. Mediocre.

[Safetykitten]

40. This...

Generally eight years of economic malaise as the middle class skidded into oblivion. Puzzling for historians as he was elected twice, yet choose to strengthen the grip of corporations, the military, and banks over real economic reform, which the majority of the country wanted.

A period of no real new innovations other than new iPhone releases, and no real forward thinking dreams or goals were put forward, as the eight years were spent dealing with the issues of Wall Street, banks and their ever-increasing power which Obama gladly gave them.

[JoePhilly]

42. His legacy is going to be far more positive than his detractors on the right and the left

would like to think.

They each hold a view of President Obama that is a little more than a crazy caricature.

Evil Social versus Evil Corporatist. Neither is even close to accurate.

And his legacy will reflect that.

[HughBeaumont]

43. An ugly, naked, hairy, pelvic-thrusting, bird-flipping Plutonomy sticking it's tongue out at us.

"We bought 'em. We bought 'em ALL. And your price just doubled!"

Economically, there IS no option. At least 90-95% of the people we elect to office genuflect and drool at the feet of Milton Friedman and Martin Feldstein. THAT is a damned huge problem.

[JaneyVee]

44. The guy that signed DADT & DOMA + NAFTA into law has a 70% approval rating. I'm sure

the guy who reversed those + stopped the bleeding of 800,000 jobs a month will be just fine, concerning his legacy.