Appreciation thread for our President. President Barack Hussein Obama.

[sheshe2]

Last edited Mon Feb 8, 2016, 12:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Published on Mar 26, 2013


"I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.
I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.
And together with your help and God's grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.
Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States." ~ President Barack Obama, 2012 Presidential Acceptance Speech.

..............................................................................................................................

President Barack Obama.

FrenchieCat honored him the other day.

What has he done for black people?

Read the list. Awesome.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110232751



U2 We Are One Obama Concert Pride + City of Blinding Lights 1280x720 HD 720p HD

I love this President. Best in my lifetime. Best.


Drop the mic!



Drop the mic!



You weathered the storms.




We thank you.

[Marie Marie]

1. Nice post sheshe..

and as always, love the pics.

[sheshe2]

2. Marie Marie.

I am going through withdrawal. I am going to miss him.

I thank you!

[Marie Marie]

5. I will too but I think he (along with his wonderful family)

will continue to do good things and could possibly accomplish more without the confines and restraints of politics. I am also going to miss Michelle - she was an amazing FLOTUS. And those girls - can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

[Aristus]

3. Now and forever, a great admirer.

I no longer have to go around wishing I'd lived in the eras of FDR or JFK. I can say with pride that I got to live when BHO was President.

[sheshe2]

6. Hey you

Yes! He is the best!




Boom~

[Aristus]

7. Ma'am!

[MrWendel]

4. Thank you...

Ignore the haters that call you a failure or that your not liberal or progressive. Thank you for doing at least me proud, and still reminding me of what I am capable despite the color of my skin. A shining example to hold my my future children.

Thank you Mr. President.

[sheshe2]

20. MrWendel.

I applaud you!

[MrWendel]

28. Thank you.

[zipplewrath]

8. he left alot behind.

It is inescapable that the vast majority of people were left behind by his "recovery". All of the gains after the economic collapse were of the top 20%, of which I am one. His ACA helped about 5% of the population, and because of the Scotus decision, left out the most needy. He demonstrated that he didn't want to "close" GITMO, he just wanted to move it. The Afghan war he escalated still isn't over. But we have a mandate and no PO. But we always have the TPP to look forward to.

[sheshe2]

11. Yup. He sucks and the GOP is so cool.Who left them behind? ...watch.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026648982

As for Afghanistan???? He is still cleaning up the shithole BUSH left us in.

As for ACA

Nearly 13 million people enrolled in ACA plans for 2016

Nearly 13 million people signed up for health insurance ahead of the Jan. 31 deadline for 2016 on the state and federal exchanges, federal health officials said Thursday.

The numbers represent an increase of 4 million new people enrolled in the 38 states using HealthCare.gov. Of the 9.6 million consumers who got coverage through HealthCare.gov, about 42% were new to the exchange in 2016.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell called the season a success on a press call, saying it "exceeded our expectations."

Burwell highlighted that 2.7 million of the newly insured were 18 to 34, which represented more new young enrollees than last year.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/02/04/nearly-13-million-people-enrolled-aca-plans-2016/79828268/


ACA enrollment tops expectations

Open enrollment for 2016 health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act ended Sunday with nearly 13 million sign-ups nationwide.

"We are happy to report it was a success," U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said. "Across the country, about 12.7 million Americans selected affordable, quality health plans for 2016 coverage, exceeding our goals."


http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-aca-record-enrollment-20160205-story.html

You need to catch up on your reading. I included FrenchieCats thread on what he has done for African Americans. Did you not read it ?

[zipplewrath]

12. we've done this before

You have a very low standard for him and I expect him to exceed that by a large margin. You are right, if you set your expectations low enough, he is wonderful.

[sheshe2]

16. Obviosly you never read what FrenchieCat had to say.

FrenchieCat (67,856 posts)





today, I was asked what has Pres. Obama ever done for the African-American Community

Last edited Sat Feb 6, 2016, 10:49 PM - Edit history (1)


This discussion thread is pinned.
This list is long and not all encompassing. Please feel free to add to it, so that I can have a more complete list.

Apart from getting rid of "No Child Left Behind", Liberating our Gay Brother and Sisters from a life of discrimination and on a Federal level, as well as the work done by Michelle in relation to school lunch nutrition and her "The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.", as well as her Let's Move campaign.....

and let us not forget, just rescuing the economy in general, and did it without any Republican help!

But most important of all, he has represented the African-American community superbly in how he has carried out his duties in the office, coming off as one of the most blemish free administration in recent history! And don't get me started with the role models that Michelle and the girls have been! Personally, I couldn't asked for better!


This is my partial list:


1) Passed Health Care Reform (Affordable Care Act)
More than 19 percent of African Americans did not have health care. When the highly debated health care reform bill was signed into law in March of 2010, millions of African Americans benefited. The ACA is Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: The Affordable Care Act moves toward eliminating disparities that African Americans currently face both in their health and in their health care by investing in data collection and research about health disparities. The law also promotes increased racial and ethnic diversity of health care professionals and strengthens cultural competency training among health care providers. Building upon these provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched two strategic plans aimed at reducing health disparities


2) Expanded Funding For HBCUs
President Obama signed an executive order increasing funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to $850 million over the next 10 years. The funding is being administered through the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities that was, ironically, started by the late Ronald Reagan.


3) Awarded $1.2 Billion To Black Farmers
President Obama’s administration oversaw the $1.2 billion settlement awarded to Black farmers who have been denied loans and assistance by the Agricultural Dept. for decades.

4) Signed The Crack Cocaine Bill (Fair Sentencing Act)
Crack users are disproportionately sentenced to longer jail terms than those who use powder. This unfair sentencing practice punished African Americans more severely than their white counterparts. With the signing of the Fair Sentencing Act, though, President Obama narrowed that disparity significantly.


5) Created The Civil Rights Division Of The Justice Department
The U.S. Justice Department is leading one of the most aggressive defenses of civil rights in recent memory. Whether it is clamping down on Arizona for its bias against Latinos or fighting unjust state voter ID laws, this Justice Department has been fully engaged in fighting for the rights of all minorities. When President Obama chose Eric Holder to lead the department, he picked a true champion of civil rights. For a rundown of how powerful the Civil Rights Division has become.


6) Set up "My Brother's Keeper", an organization that seeks to promote and help implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people to ensure that they can reach their full potential, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or the circumstances into which they are born.


7) Introduced the Modification loan program, that helped millions of African-Americans save their home during the Housing Crash.


8) Reduced unemployment by creating millions of jobs all over America. In addition, wages have increased in many sectors of all job areas.


9) Saved the Auto Industry in Detroit, Michigan, thereby again saving thousand if not millions of jobs in the industry and all of those directly connected to it. An industry know to employ large numbers of African Americans.


10) Appointed a large number of African-American to Judicial posts throughout the United States. Named two Black Attorney Generals of the United States, back to back.


11) Via Executive Order, established a White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
Providing a complete and competitive education for all Americans – from cradle to career – a top priority. The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans works across Federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education programs for African American students. The Initiative aims to ensure that all African American students receive an education that fully prepares them for high school graduation, college completion, and productive careers.

12) Help lower Gas prices, which has a direct impact on all Americans, including African-Americans

13) Provided Tax Relief for African American Families: In December 2010, the President signed a bipartisan tax cut agreement that not only secured vital tax relief and investments for our workers, but is also creating jobs and accelerating economic growth. Building off the Recovery Act, the tax agreement extended key expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) that are benefitting an estimated 2.2 million African American families.

14) Expanded Access to Federal Contracting for Minority-Owned Businesses: More than 20 Cabinet and Senate-confirmed Obama Administration officials have participated in 19 small business matchmaking events around the country, which has helped more than 10,000 small, minority- and women-owned businesses by promoting access to capital and access to Federal government contracting opportunities. These efforts are part of the President’s broader agenda to support small businesses, including his signing of 17 small business tax cuts into law and taking action to expand access to credit.

15) Established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and in so doing, protected Families from Financial Abuses, Hidden Fees, and Deceptive Practices: Too many responsible African Americans have paid the price for an outdated regulatory system that has left families without adequate protections against financial abuses and deceptive practices. That’s why President Obama fought to overcome a furious lobbying campaign by big banks to pass the most far reaching Wall Street reform in history which created the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), to prevent mortgage companies, credit card lenders, and payday loan companies from exploiting consumers with hidden fees and other deceptive practices.

16) Improved the Quality of Education and Expanding Access to College: President Obama has improved the quality of education – particularly in our lowest-performing schools – and has expanded access to college because every child deserves an education that equips them with the skills to find a good-paying job and succeed in the workforce.

17) Fixing Our Lowest-Performing Schools: The Obama Administration has dedicated to challenge states and districts to transform the lowest-performing schools in America. School Improvement Grants have provided millions per school for 1,000 schools to change them into safe environments where students can learn.


18) Helped Students Pay For College: By re-directing subsidies from private lenders to students, the Administration has already raised the maximum Pell Grant awards and increased the number of Pell Grant recipients . Also, for families struggling with the cost of college, we have created the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)—a partially refundable tax credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college.

19) Strengthening Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Community Colleges: The student loan reform bill signed by President Obama provided $2 billion for community colleges and other eligible institutions of higher education to improve education and career training programs.

20) Transformed Distressed areas through Choice Neighborhoods: The Choice Neighborhoods program provided $126 million to 22 communities to plan and implement the transformation of high-poverty areas where distressed HUD-assisted housing is . The Recovery Act provided $7 billion in funding to communities to manage the vacant and foreclosed residential properties that are creating blight and bringing down local home values.

21) Ensuring Access to Healthy Food: The Administration is committed to ensuring families have access to healthy food through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. Several food retailers have agreed to build or expand over 1,500 grocery stores in underserved communities.


22) Combatted Racial Discrimination: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is vigorously enforcing the law to combat racial discrimination in schools, housing, and the workplace. President Obama provided two years of double-digit budget increases to the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which was previously hamstrung by drastic budget cuts. DOJ has also reached three multi-million dollar settlements, including the largest rental discrimination and fair lending settlements in its history.

23) Proposed to provide two years of free community-college tuition to students who maintain good grades.

24) Deal with Iran counts, since nukes do not discriminate about where they land

25) Climate change pledge in Paris, because again, if the general population is positively affected, then the Black Population is affected 10X fold, as we know.

26) Restrictions on distribution of military-style equipment to police, banning local police departments from receiving a range of military-style equipment from the federal government -- from grenade launchers to bayonets to certain armored vehicles -- as he implements the recommendations of a panel that examined the controversial gear giveaways in the wake of the Ferguson riots.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110232751




Low expectations, many are pleased with what he has accomplished. Why do you hate him so?

[zipplewrath]

17. Oh Please, not "the list"

How many times do I have to "refute" the list? If you want to discuss the specific issue, I'll be glad to discuss it with you. look, if you want to refute something I have asserted, fine. Or if you want to assert something in balance to what I've asserted, fine. Pick one.

[sheshe2]

22. Already did and we are done.

[Hortensis]

52. But Obama is not. He still has most of a year to

add even more to that list, and we know he will.

[mcar]

40. A great list of accomplishments

Despite what others may say.

[MrWendel]

29. Sooo....

take your "I voted" pic down then.

[zipplewrath]

43. I did vote

I haven't missed an election in over 35 years. And I mean every one, including those "dog catcher" elections that no one votes in. I also research things like those judges that no one even knows is running until they get to the voting booth.

Alternately, I don't actually remember how that got there. I suspect I clicked on something after an election or sumpin'

[LanternWaste]

45. What then is the objective standard and what is the precise measure on which that standard is based?

"You have a very low standard for him and I expect him to exceed that by a large margin"

What then is the objective standard and what is the precise measure on which that standard is based? Or (and I find this more likely), your label of "low standard" is both subjective and diaphanous enough to avoid any real definition, and hence, is merely an allegation...

[zipplewrath]

46. Several

He campaigned against mandates, and then instituted them.
He campaigned on closing Gitmo, only to find out he just wanted to move it.
He campaigned on ending the war in Afghanistan, and then tripled the number of troops. And he'll still be there at the end of his second term. (They're still dying there by the by).
He campaigned on ending Iraq, and then changed absolutely nothing about the SOFA of the previous administration.
He campaigned against torture, and then changed no law, prosecuted no person, and classified the photos.

Basically my "objective standard" is doing what he said he would do, without extensive parsing of his words. Alternately, there is a strong current of "if he does it, it must be right", or "it's good enough" that runs through here. One can be both glad it wasn't the GOP and be sad at his failures.

[sheshe2]

13. BTW

I find it so incredibly sad that on Democratic Underground you could not let an appreciation thread of this President go by without trashing it.

You could have done two things. You could just have passed by it...left to stand for those that appreciate this President and his accomplishments. Our first Black President. Or you could just come here and take a dump. You choice the later and you chose unwisely. You are sure as hell chose on the wrong side of history.

This place me so sad, Democrats hated on DU.

[zipplewrath]

15. That's why there's a BOG.

If you don't want a discussion in a discussion site, you post to the BOG. There the world is happy and life is all gay.

[sheshe2]

19. Wow, now you are telling

our black president to go to his room?

Is it so hard for you just to let this go by? IT IS SO HARD FOR YOU TO LET AN APPRECIATION THREAD TO GO BY WITHOUT THE TRASH? I have no clue why people here feel the need to bully and shove people about.

I am appalled.

[zipplewrath]

23. He has to live by the standards of his predecesors

I think he has to live by the same standards as his predecesors. If you want to come to a discussion group, you had best be prepared for a discussion. Otherwise go to the BOG.

And I'd suggest that he would agree with me on this point.

[sheshe2]

25. Discussion group.................................

Bwahahhahahahhahahahahahhahahahhahaha.,

Hasn't been that for a long time.



Discussion group. Snort.

[narnian60]

35. Thank you,

for fighting the good fight.

[zipplewrath]

42. Can't blame a guy fer tryin'

I can try to have a discussion, of course it takes a minimum of two. Apparently you don't intend on participating.

[Demonaut]

50. hey....this an appreciation thread....if you want to whine then create your own thread.

what a lovely person to rain on someones parade (sarcasm)

[thereismore]

9. My President! nt

[hibbing]

10. I love him

He really brought out the bad in the opposition too...I can't imagine what it was about him that would have done that.

Peace

[Denzil_DC]

14. Easily the best American president of my lifetime.

Since I hope to live a while longer, that's maybe a sad thought, but he caught me by surprise when he came along, so ...

[flamingdem]

18. Marco Rubio couldn't stop talking about him last night!

[sheshe2]

24. I missed that.

I can just imagine, flamingdem!

Bwahahahahahha

I loves ya too~

[eridani]

21. I particularly like the Iran deal and the re-establishment of relations w/Cuba n/t

[Gothmog]

26. I am proud and happy that this man in our President

[retrowire]

27. Thank you Obama!

I honestly think you have done the best you could.

For our next president, we'll remember to do better in the midterms!

[HassleCat]

30. He is crushing dreams!

The dreams of a whole bunch of right wingers who have been dreaming of impeaching him since before he even took office. As recently as a month ago, I heard some of the local Tea Party Patriot guys talking about how they still might get him, and proposing some crackpot theories about how had violated the constitution. I'm not sure they have given up yet. Probably not. I bet there are people who will try to impeach him after he leaves office. But the closer it gets to the end of his term, more and more crazies face the fact they're not going to have their big day.

[hopemountain]

31. he has halted the xl pipeline

it says a lot about him.

during past presidencies the majority of the american people voted and elected a candidate and then went about their daily lives - for example, workers. just as they did with their family doctors or the surgeon at a hospital - they left the complicated stuff to the "experts" and still behaved within the constructs of a paternalistic government and society. well, we know that is no longer happening or true! more and more people are recognizing the power they have and the right they have to affect how our country is run. thank the goddesses!

our president allows time for the people's voice to be heard when making decisions his foes attempt to force a certain way. the american people's voices have been listened to by him on environmental and justice issues. not all of them - but important ones. issues no one other president, until now, has been interested in directing.

further, once elected, it is up to us to speak up and let our president and legislators know how we want the country to go. albeit there are assholes in congress and his administration who fancy themselves the gods of corporate america (when they are indentured). they are determined to not only undermine his social justice and economic agendas, but they deny their importance and ignore them.

"tools" for corporations and the war machine are obsessed with attacking the president's mind and integrity. they are unable to accept him as president and never will.

as for the tpp - if you recall - how much of a decision was it for him? the white house was breached 3 times the week before the deadline last fall.

it is nice to see this post in gd. thanks, sheshe2!

[shenmue]

32. He is awesome!

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. I love it! And I agree, "best in my lifetime".

[Iliyah]

34. K & R

[greatauntoftriplets]

36. I'm really going to miss him.

[Squinch]

37. Best in my lifetime.

[annabanana]

38. I am going to miss him.. . . . . n/t

[mcar]

39. Best president in my lifetime!

[DesertRat]

41. k&r

[Vinca]

44. If he could run for a third term, he'd win in another landslide.

Despite the GOP BS, he's been a miracle worker when it comes to the economy.

[gollygee]

47. It's amazing how much he's been able to accomplish with the opposition he's faced.

He's been a great president! I will be sad to see the baton passed, but I feel pretty confident either Hillary or Bernie will be next anyway. The Republicans have no decent candidates to put up against whoever wins the Democratic nomination. Whoever comes next can continue his good work. I'd be sad to see a Republican win and undo what he's worked for.

[Arazi]

48. Truly a great president!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

49. YEA!

do not tarnish it with TPP

[Demonaut]

51. he dealt with SO much with grace and humility..I'll miss him

[Jarqui]

53. Best president of my lifetime

I think the world of him.

We're lucky to have had him. Wish we'd been able to elect more to congress that would have helped him.

We might get a second (or third chance) with Bernie. Hopefully, his revolution makes it count.

[one_voice]

54. K&R

I'm going to miss him when he leave office.

It's going to be a bitter sweet day for sure. I'll cry because he's leaving. But I will be happy because I know WE WILL put another Democrat in to continue on.

If he could run for a third term, I've no doubt he'd win easily.

[treestar]

55. kick

just enjoying this last year!

[TBF]

56. Grateful to him for running -

he stopped the hemorrhaging. Should have been universal health care but he did what he could despite overwhelming racism from the other side.