Overall, do you approve of the job that Obama has done as president?

I most certainly do not. The biggest reason is because of the debt. You can say that he walked into a mess. I will admit that Bush did not do the best job. But his job when he walks into a mess is to fix it, or at least attempt to. What Obama did, however, was make it much much worse. Obama, IN HIS FIRST TERM ALONE, has added to the debt more than all of the other 43 presidents COMBINED. The average annual deficit when Bush was president was $250 billion. With Obama as president, it is $1.3 TRILLION. There are other reasons that I do not approve of the job that Obama has done. One of those many reasons is that he said that if people were to leave their kids at the border that the US will have no choice but to take them in. Now we have TONS of illegal children and nothing to do with them. He also said that he has been to 58 of the 60 US states before he ran the first time. That is kind of irrelevant, but I just wanted to point that out.

What do you think? Has Obama done a good job?

No.






No.







No.




A baby or a dead person would have done better.

Its hard to fix 8 years of total idiocracy. He is doing the best job he can do in a broken system. He has always been the lesser of two evils, so I wouldn't say I think he is doing a wonderful job but he is doing all he can do.

GenesisJunkie : Doing the best he can do? Raising the debt by over 4 times what it was before isn't exactly the best he can do. His job is to at least try to fix it, but he broke it even further, possibly beyond repair.

Absolutely not. He was the first president whose actions and choices I paid any real attention to, unfortunately. Not a very good opener for me.

In the ninth grade I had this friend who was about as strong a Democrat as one could be and she would argue with me about all the great things Obama has done and how much he's helped the country and how great he is but I have seen nothing to back up any of those claims. I'm glad he can't run again in 2016.

GenesisJunkie :
Pretty much. I don't hold him in particularly high regard, but following on from presidents like Bush, who steadily decreased funding for schools, literacy programs and library's, and channeled the money straight into arms programs and wars; Its not a great platform to build upon.

Given all the other candidates were either 1 or all of the following:

Lacking in double digit I.Q points,
Embroiled in past scandals such as, but no limited to:
-Tax Avoidance
-Questionable Business dealings
-Boneheaded decisions, such as tying your dog to the roof of the car on a holiday trip,
Liable to force their moral views on everyone, and force them to adhere to them

I cant imagine any of them doing a better job. Maybe a few years down the line, you will have some good candidates to choose from. Theres over 300 million people in the USA, someone has to have a clue.

Say what you will about Obama, but the economy is stabilising now, company's that were in danger of going bust are now expanding. You have to spend money to make money, thats business 101.

I do approve of the job the President has done. I wish he could do more, but it is kind of hard to do anything when Republicans are stonewalling the process on a daily basis. Let's just take a look at some of the things Obama has accomplished as President.

1. Passed Health Care Reform.
2. Passed the Stimulus which has produced nearly 7 MILLION Private-Sector Jobs.
3: Passed the Wall Street Reform after its practices caused the Great Recession.'
4: Ended the War in Iraq, last troops pulled out December 18th, 2011.
5: Killed Osama. (In before "HE only gave the Command, he didn't PERSONALLY do ANYTHING!1")
6: Prevented the Collapse of our Auto Industry. ($16B from Bush and $62B from Obama) Created 200,000+ jobs, and the 3 biggest of the Automakers have ALL gained Market Share for the first time in 2 decades.
7: Repealed 'Dont Ask, Don't Tell'.
8: Reversed Bush Torture Policies.
9: Separated Banks from the Student Federal Loan and expanded Student Pell Grant funding.
10: Helped Veterans (Of which I am one) by offering Tax Credits to any Business who hires any Veteran, thus increasing chances of Vets getting Jobs.
11. Tightened Sanctions on Iran. In an effort to deter Iran’s nuclear program, signed Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (2010) to punish firms and individuals who aid Iran’s petroleum sector.
12: Eliminated Catch-22 in Pay Equality Laws. Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which gives Women the right to sue their Employers if they find out their being paid less because of Discrimination.
13: Improved Food Safety System. In 2011, signed FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which boosts the Food and Drug Administration’s budget by $1.4 billion and expands its regulatory responsibilities to include increasing number of food inspections, issuing direct food recalls, and reviewing the current food safety practices of countries importing products into America.
14: Expanded Health Coverage for Children. Using ONLY the Tax Increase on Tobacco Products, the Children's Health Insurance Authorization Act will provide Insurance for 4 Million more Children.
15: Expanded Stem Cell Research. In 2009, eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, which shows promise in treating spinal injuries, among many other areas.

Now if you are getting your information from "Fox News" I could see why you would hate Obama. Please understand Fox News is not based on facts and if you would like proof of that I can provide that as well. Perhaps I will save that for another topic.
*S*

He's making the state of the United States worse, it seems to me. Now not only is our debt still there, but now we seem to be getting some tension with Russia. Again. I don't think he's as bad as Bush, but he's pretty bad.

sYndROCK : First off, I do not watch ANY news channels. I get my info from a variety of Internet sources, as well as newspapers (Newsday). If I did though, I would definitely watch Fox and none of that other biased crap.

1. The health care reform has caused people to have to pay more for their health care, have to change their doctors, and has actually caused people to lose healthcare. While it has helped some people, it has hurt more than it has helped.

2. "According to a table put together last December, payroll employment declined everywhere except for North Dakota and the District of Columbia in the nine months since the stimulus had been signed into law." - May 7th 2010 (www.usnews.com)

3. Here is an article from USA Today that pretty much sums it up: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/07/22/dodd-frank-wall-street-reform-economy-column/2572929/

4. "The surge strategy worked. Violence was reduced dramatically in Iraq, and a stable, democratically elected government took power. When Mr. Bush left office in January 2009, he could rightly claim to have left Iraq in the win column. But five years and one U.S. troop pullout later, and the Obama administration’s failure in 2011 to conclude an agreement for a follow-on stabilization force, the dramatic rise of ISIS shows that Mr. Bush had a much better grasp on the strategic realities of Iraq and the war against violent extremism than his critics." So basically, because of Obama, Iraq is in even more chaotic, and thus more likely to attack us.

5. Obama deserves no credit for that. That was all the marines.

6. You seem to have forgotten the part where taxpayers lost over $10 billion.

7. I'm neutral on this one.

8. Neutral on this one as well.

9. Spending more money we don't have on things that aren't that important...

10. Neutral. It is a good idea, but it is not fair to non-veterans. You already have an a better chance of getting the job because you are a veteran, there is no reason to make it even more likely for the veteran to be chosen. It should be based on who is most qualified, not which one will give you tax credits.

11. Spending EVEN MORE money on something that really doesn't make a difference. If Iran decided to bomb us we would destroy their entire country and they know it.

12. This one makes me mad. Employers can pay their employees whatever they want, as long as it is above minimum wage. If they want to pay one worker more than another, that is fine. And almost every time it is because the worker getting more money does a better job.

13. But wait! There's more!.... money that we don't have that we are spending. There is nothing wrong with the food, why are we spending an extra $1.4 BILLION?

14. See reply to 1, pretty much the same thing.

15. This is a bad idea. Stem cell research is very expensive and can be very dangerous.

I really don't think the Obama administration had that much impact on the economy. I completely agree with theonumberone that past presidents have been laughable, and that Obama doesn't look mentally retarded (I question Bush and Clinton). Obama is an arrogant turd, but he's not a bad little figurehead.

Obama did what needed to be done. He stood in as a confidant, charismatic figurehead. It wasn't the best solution, but it wasn't a bad one.

Can we impeach him with snoop dogg? The only reason Obama is in office is because he's black a liar! I can say his push to legalize gay marriage is a step in the right direction. He has broken so many laws in office (even if one of them was the DOMA act) quadrupled the debt and made over 20 gun laws. Again anyone could do his job better. Like Kevin Hart :3

1.It has helped people who could neevr have afforded health care get it, and while some people now have to pay extra for their treatemtn, to cover the insurance company's losses, it means other people wont be dead by the time the sun comes up. I dont understand how people can get behind killing foreigners, but not preserving their own people. Why do people act so proud of their nation if they literally do not care about the well being of any of its citizens.

2.Putting money in does not immediately fix the problems. Perhaps they botched their estimates (much like the banks did, sunrise sunset I guess), but if they had allowed the economy to go on as it was, whos to say it would not be worse?If the government didnt bail out the auto industry for example, where would those jobs have gone?

3.The power of lobbys. Do you believe the republicans, with their laissez faire attitude, would have regulated the banks? They are completely against governments regulating industry. Should it be regulated?Yes. Does either side want to do it?Probably not. But if he did regulate it, I imagine you would say he regulated the banks, and now our economy is in ruins because they cant do business freely.
Equally, the republicans are actively trying to stop the democrats fixing the issues, because then they will get elected next time round. Its sad they are holding their own country to ransom. If it were my country, i would retaliate by not voting for either of the clown party's.

4.You realise Bush was planning to pullout?And that Obama just took over the reigns? Do you imagine bush planned to stay there till 2050?
"When Mr. Bush left office in January 2009, he could rightly claim to have left Iraq in the win column"
How? The Iraqi's finances had all 'dissapeared', their infrastructure was in ruins, there was no strong central government, the removal of such a powerful regional force left a power vacume that effects them and everyone else to this day (hello Iran),and what we are seeing now, is the culmination of that. Its like the fall of Nazi Germany, it left a lot of land up for grabs, and years of cold war followed. Do you think that during Bush's reign, Iraq was a land of magical rainbows and flowers? It was a parched dessert, with no water or power, because it had been blown up, no army, so the insurgents were blowing themselves up weekly, and the entire country was (and still is) Riddled with landmines and IED's, which typically get triggered by civilians.
Success, clearly.
"Obama administration’s failure in 2011 to conclude an agreement for a follow-on stabilization force"
You realise the Iraqi government refused the term's?What was he to do, refuse to leave? Its not Americas land, if they say get out, you have to get out, for better or worse. In your other thread you were quite adiment what should happen to people who illegally enter and stay in anthers country.

5.Before he came to power, it was a lack luster effort. It was his policy choice to increase funding, and it was his constant hounding of the agency's responsible, that ensured they found him.
Bush went into 2 country s trying to kill him, failed, and messed up the entire region. Obama attacked him, and he was dead within 20 minutes, no long war.
But since you were praising bush for Iraq:
That was the army. Bush had nothing to do with it. He deserves no credit.

6.How much money did you lose fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan? Propping up the regimes in south America? Renting out Guantanamo bay? Your objection is to money being spent on Americans?Hmm.

9."Spending more money we don't have on things that aren't that important... "
Yeh, an educated workforce is not necessary, China has the right idea.

10.Veterans often have a harder time getting jobs, it's assumed they will have stability issues so people dont hire them. Im not sure its the best or fairest way to do it, but they do need more after army support.

11.Considering the fact that without American help, Iran wouldnt have got this far, you really ought to try fixing it. They may not bomb you, but they will bomb their neighbours if they feel they can get away with it. And actually, America is very keen to stop them, because they control the straits here most of Americas Oil imports come from. You dont get your oil, your economy collapses.

12.MM, dont know enough about that law to say. That being said, the assumption that almost always, its due to workers being better at their job, is false. Unless you have evidence that says otherwise.

13.Theres nothing wrong with the food?Really? You are aware there are major outbreaks of disease in many countrys you import from, that theres a lot of false labeling on products (horse meat scandal anyone), and that problems with food, is one of the biggest threats to a persons health?Most people I know eat. Some drink water too. But spending money on water purity would be a waste too I guess?

14.Using only the tax from tobacco products is pretty key there...

15. Dangerous, how? As for expensive, so were the first computers. And until they started new research and development, the price didn't go down. This is a technology that could potentially make the blind see, the crippled walk, its an everyday Jesus. The fact its taken this long for bans to be lifted is bad. For your economy too. You realise when you ban research, other nations, like the UK and Germany, jump ahead of you technologically? Thats lost income. An uncompetitive economy will keep you in recession. Restricting research will not aid you. The UK economy is now up from the pre-recession peak, and job growth is on the rise.

tgags123 : It's a group effort. 



I'd say he's trying, unlike some people. 

sop281 : Trying? Spending millions of tax payer dollars to go on a vacation with his family is not trying.

tgags123 : What vacation costs over a million dollars. I dont think he's going into space now is he?

mourinhosgum : The kinds that Obama goes on apparently, because his family has spent over $44 million on vacations. Don't believe me? Here are five articles from 5 different websites for you:

http://www.tpnn.com/2014/07/05/how-much-has-obamas-vacations-cost-taxpayers-hint-its-a-lot/

http://www.ijreview.com/2014/03/123748-money-well-spent-obama-now/

http://www.wnd.com/2014/03/massive-obama-travel-bill-remains-secret/

http://dailycaller.com/2014/07/05/the-obamas-have-spent-over-44351777-12-in-taxpayer-cash-on-travel/

http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/03/01/obamas-set-new-record-for-vacation-travel-expenses-stonewalled-documents-finally-released-103822

tgags123 : Indeed. It is a waste of money. And he is spending too much on that, but you can also use your other time to focus on important matters. You go to school, right? Then you have your summer vacation. Same principle here. 

Obama has wasted a lot of money and possibly a lot of everybody's time. But to be honest he's done some good things and also some of the things he promised he would do haven't happened. So what? Every politician that's in office right now hasn't done everything that he set out to do good intentions or not. To be honest no one ever will. It's just a fact of life.

Just to clear something up, since it is kind of a silly talking point, Obama is not the first president to take a vacation on tax payers $$$. He isn't the last either. 14: Number of vacation trips taken by Obama since he took office in January 2009.
Bush took more vacations than Obama has. I mean a lot more. I think Bush had somewhere around 7 trips to Africa alone. Not counting his ranch in Texas or his retreat in Maine. But, it is easy to compare one president to another, so I really don't want to do that too much. I can't help but think if we didn't have political parties things would be very very different. People tend to forget what is important for humanity. Our government is sick.

I love these! There's a simple answer every time!

Every president sucks, and it's actually not their help. Their so bound up by checks and balances in what they can do, that they're stuck! If they try to break from the checks and balances, they're breaking the constitution. If they don't, they're called useless. 

Also, look at George Washington. Lots of people hated him, lots of people adored him, and a hundred years down the road, he was an example to be followed. Name one president that was adored in office, but hated down the road. There are none!

Everyone messes up in office, there's no way around that. We will be doomed to hate them while they're there, and love them when someone else shows up because the different perspective is nice until it conflicts with our beliefs. There's no pleasing everyone because everyone is unique in their views. Especially in a country this big. 

Personally, I'm a proponent of the Greek city-states model. Make every state it's own little bubble with it's own laws, maybe with rules over every state, but I'm against that. The people IN THE STATE can decide what they want. Common Core Education wouldn't exist because we'd personalize it to a smaller group. There wouldn't be one person in charge of a huge country, there'd be fifty people in charge of fifty different territories. Trade would be a thing, and skirmishes, but hopefully no full blown war. And if another country went after us, we'd band up like the Athenians and Greeks during the war with the Persians, beat them senseless, and go back to sniping over football!