Technically, the war in Afghanistan is still on-going. It may be in a new phase but as long as there are soldiers there fighting, you can call it whatever you like, it's not over.
According to the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, signed by Bush in 2008, all US presence would leave Iraq by Dec 2011. Obama adhered to the agreement -- he did not end the war.
You could poll every presidential historian alive today and have each come up with some objective metrics to measure the quality of a president, and go through and rate every American president using each of these sets of metrics, and Obama would not rank in last place on any of them. Perhaps you could never arrive at a precise order for all 44, but Obama is never going to be last, by any measure, so I feel like assessing this comment as objectively false can be done with a high degree of confidence.
In an American Political Science Association poll of presidential historians done recently, polling historians of all political persuasions, Obama was ranked 8th best president in US history. Trump was ranked 44th (last).
Amongst the general (less informed) public, about a quarter of the population believes that Obama is the best president since WW2 and a quarter believes him to be the worst. Only 6% of the general public believes Trump to be the best, but over 40% believe him to be the worst.
yeah me, too. Somehow I doubt this is going to be considered an important moment in the history of the administration. Maybe something about killing bin Laden, ousting Qadafi, saving the US auto industry, the consulate attack in Benghazi, his speech in Cairo, ISIS, Crimea, falling oil prices, the higgs-boson particle, the nuclear agreement with Iran, Brexit, marriage equality, the rise of the SJWs, the Tea Party, or perhaps that time he hosted the Colbert Report... but... no... they got pushed off by Bo the dog. (or Sonny)
Haha. True. I wanted to do something with the auto industry, but like most of the bailouts, it was put in motion under Bush (even though everyone seems to want to give the credit/blame to Obama). Maybe I should replace the dog question with Iran....
John Kerry signed the Iran deal, not Obama. (PS I got the point for Bo the dog a few days ago, which seems to have transferred across to being given a point for Iran, tee hee)
In history the "great men" are often given credit for things they didn't actually do directly or personally. Leaders get credit for winning wars while never stepping foot on a battlefield, for building great monuments without ever picking up a shovel, and so on. It's common shorthand.
and in this case, Kerry, as Secretary of State, was there at the direction of Obama, serving as representative of the executive branch of the government of the United States. He was acting on Obama's behalf. So there's a more direct link than usual.
Scared me that I didn't pause once and answered it all in just over a minute. I thought there was going to be at least one question I would be stuck on! And I'm not American ahaha. Amazing president. One of the best, and his legacy will only strengthen in time. :) thanks for the quiz!
Just a note. Troll comments will be deleted as always, and can result in being banned from the discussion boards. If you want to post inflammatory stuff, I hear that Twitter is good for that. But this is a place for real conversation. And also for arguments about whether Cyprus is in Europe or Asia. :)
You'd wish that was the case but there is so much vitriol for Mr. Obama, especially from the folks that are supporting Mr. Trump. He accomplished much during a presidency limited by a Republican Congress, but I am sure he wouldn't call himself a true success, considering the lofty goals he had prior to his election. The fact that Guantanamo is still open, for example. Every state of the union address, Mr. Obama talked about the importance of closing the prison. It is still open, and will be when the president changes next March.
Obama currently has an approval rating around the same as Reagan's at the end of his term. Clinton and Trump both have historically low favorability ratings for presidential candidates. Obama is more popular than both of them.
I was very hard on Bush and then Obama as well when I was growing up but now it's hard to be so critical when we're facing the future Presidency of either a delusional madman or a sociopathic criminal.
This is for all of you who denigrated Obama for eight years and couldn't wait to get him out of the WH. T'is a true saying: "Be careful what you wish, for your may get it." -
Yep, I swear I get a horrible feeling in my stomach every morning when I turn on the news wondering what Trump has did overnight. I've never felt unsafe in America, not even after 911. But with him being in charge, I'm fearful.
I've never understood why everybody has such an extreme viewpoint of this man. It's always (from what I've seen) either the old "worst President ever" or people struggling to control their desire for more. To be honest, I think he was pretty average.
I haven't heard too many people say he was the greatest ever or anything. Most people who are being honest and not insane either say he was good or mediocre. The only legit (again, not insane) criticism I've seen has come from some on the left who didn't think as much as he could have to end the wars, etc.
Why is it that occurrences during President Obama's were always credited to someone else: Kerry signed the Iran Agreement; Seal Team 6 executed Bin Laden, etc., etc., etc., However, President Truman ended WWII (yes, he personally piloted the aircraft that dropped those bombs), and Ronald Reagan singlehandedly tore down that Berlin Wall. I'm not particularly an Obama fan, but I do
question the motives behind the constant denigration of his accomplishments. What that man went through for eight years is unforgiveable. And our current president has the audacity to claim that HE is being picked on and disrespected? PLEASE!
Agree about Afghanistan - it isn't even over so it doesn't make any sense. Regarding Iraq, it officially/pretty much ended in 2011 at least in terms of US involvement (although we are always involved everywhere, of course)
To all of those saying worst president: I'm glad you stated your opinion. We respect it, but there is no need to attempt to force it. Acknowledge that you shared it and stop attacking anyone who disagrees with the opinion that you voluntarily stated.
with who? It's true, and I'd be happy to build a thorough, logical, well-supported case for why it's true. I say true things. I don't care how you think that affects my credibility.
He had a lot of flaws, but he was definitely one of the better presidents. He was left with a ruined country which needed a lot of fixing up, which he actually did a decent job at. I have a lot of respect for Obama. He even once waved at me!
According to the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, signed by Bush in 2008, all US presence would leave Iraq by Dec 2011. Obama adhered to the agreement -- he did not end the war.
although it was Pres Trump who ordered the withdrawal in 2020 to be completed by May 2021,
but Pres Obama ended the war.
Right?
Amongst the general (less informed) public, about a quarter of the population believes that Obama is the best president since WW2 and a quarter believes him to be the worst. Only 6% of the general public believes Trump to be the best, but over 40% believe him to be the worst.
But O is up there. Down there?
our president approves this message.
question the motives behind the constant denigration of his accomplishments. What that man went through for eight years is unforgiveable. And our current president has the audacity to claim that HE is being picked on and disrespected? PLEASE!