Predicto Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Everyone has strong feelings on this Administration. I admit up front that I am one of its biggest defenders. My question is this: is there anything that Obama could possibly accomplish that would make you concede that his presidential term was reasonably successful in your mind? Or, for his supporters, is there anything in particular that he could fail on that would make his term a failure in your mind? For me, it is entitlement reform - getting control of Medicare and fixing the demographic problem with Social Security. To me, this is by far the biggest problem facing this nation at this time. If he does this, he will be a success. If he doesn't, he will be a failure. If he tries hard as hell but is thwarted, I dunno, but I guess it would still make him a failure. I HOPE he can improve lots of other things, both foreign and domestic. But if he fails, for example, to solve the Israeli/Palestinian problem, I won't be too harsh on him, because no one else has solved it either and it may not be solveable (at least not by us). If universal health care is not achieved, I will be saddened, but not surprised. If Don't Ask - Don't Tell is not changed, I will be disappointed, but it will not be make or break for my vote. I am reserving my final vote on his success for entitlement reform. How about you? I am especially interested in the views of those who view themselves as opponents of the current Administration. What is the issue upon which Obama could at least somewhat redeem himself in your eyes, so that in the year 2020 you didn't start to get a migrane everytime you heard his name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Getting us 100% out of the middle east. No more war, no more foreign oil dependency. Reduce taxation and spending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'm having Deja Vu. Wasnt this posted a few months ago too? anywho, To me, his presidency can be a success only if he gets the spending levels back to roughly the same as the late 90's or better as well as a dramatic removal of Federal power, both from old policy and new. heck, he'd be a HUGE winner in my book if he literally wiped the slate cleamn of all Executive orders and signing statements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brave Little Toaster Oven Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Curing Cancer. Curing Aids. Finally getting that 'Obama Check' I was promised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peeping Wizard Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Stepping down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsHokieFan Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Agree with P on entitlement reform. I am convinced that only Dems have the political ability to make the tough choices on SSI, Medicare Medicaid. Republicans will be raked over with coals if they attempt to touch these issues. A growing economy again (which is no guarantee) The growth of spending cut significantly. And an overall change in foreign policy vis a vis our relationship with Israel and our approach to the GWOT in the next decade. How he handles Afghanistan and Pakistan will be a huge test Thus far I have been more "pleased" with his foreign policy approach (save the drone bombings in Pakistan which are useless IMO) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjTj Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 For me, it is entitlement reform - getting control of Medicare and fixing the demographic problem with Social Security. To me, this is by far the biggest problem facing this nation at this time. That is an odd choice because it wasn't really part of his campaign platform ... I'm not sure there is even a Democratic bill for Social Security Reform floating around the Hill. Sure, he's talked about it, but every President talks about it. Bush probably came closer than anyone.I will judge Obama's Presidency based on whether we have a college football playoff by the time he leaves office. If he gets that done, I will assume that all the more important things have already been fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbleedBnG83 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 1. Stabilizing the economy and back on course to be successful 2. Getting our troops back home, while still fighting global terrorism. 3. Less dependency on oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I too would like to see a Clinton'esque type financial boom. The entitlement program is scary, I want a realistic approach to our entitlements that continue to push us to innovate and become the best we, as individuals, can be but in an actual affordable price. Am I asking too much? I'd like to see his military history be free of errors or attacks. I'd like to see major movement in the energy sector. I'd like to see education improved ten fold. But ultimately, for the reasons I voted for him, I'd like to see our country thriving again by the end of his term(s). Even if that's just his dumb luck for riding the cycle at the right moment, I'd consider it a success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 My only criticism, so far at least, sort of runs parallel to what Colin Powell said- that he's taking on too much. I'd like to see more focus and less breadth of policy. However, I don't think we can start to measure results for years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 My only criticism, so far at least, sort of runs parallel to what Colin Powell said- that he's taking on too much. I'd like to see more focus and less breadth of policy.However, I don't think we can start to measure results for years to come. I feel pretty much the same. I think that we are in the "boy this medicine tastes nasty phase" Hopefully, it leads to us feeling better once the fever breaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I've said since he took office that, right or wrong, the election of '12 will be based solely on the issue of "Are you better off now than you were three years ago?" Just like with W and 9/11, his administration is largely going to be judged on how well he handled a crisis. (And hopefully, the economy is his administration's only crisis.) Me, personally? I don't have any hard and fast benchmarks. There are some things I really want him to do. One of the biggies was to actually straighten out exactly how much power the federal government has on things like detaining people, due process, limitations on surveillance, and things like that. (From what I've seen so far, I'm not happy.) But, IMO, the right way to deal with these issues is to have an open, public, discussion on the subject, resulting in appropriate legislation from Congress. (You know, that whole "separation of powers" / "constitutional procedure" thing.) And, IMO, there's still time for that. Yeah, I'd love to see some changes to SS/Medicaid. (For a while, there, during the election, my fantasy was that McCain would win, and that he'd decide (privately) that he was too old to seek a second term, therefore, he doesn't care if people like him or not, therefore, he can "touch the third rail" and not care if people freak out. And his first action is to push for Congress to (gradually) raise the retirement age from 65 to 70.) But, I also have to admit that it's not necessarily fair to judge the guy based on how well he does something that he never promised to do in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hersh Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I will be disappointed in Obama and the Democrats if there is not: 1. Strong environmental protections put in place 2. A national energy policy with a major push towards "green energy" (I think there should be tons of money spent on solar power and every building should have them) that gets us off using foreign oil. Pickens plan is solid in a lot of ways. 3. Common Sense brought to some policies like: Lift the Cuban Embargo, allow industrialized hemp to be grown by farmers, private high speed rail trains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoot Point Really Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 IMO, it will be a success (for him) if he survives 2012 with majorities in House & Senate. For me... I'd like to see 2 very unproductive years, Republicans take over the House again, and we have 6 years of Obama similar to Clinton's (minus the intern). We need less "change" and more "do no harm". I don't see a solid Republican challenger (except maybe Romney), and Obama will have to really screw up for him to lose in 2012... We won't really know until 2011, but I'm not hopeful right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Good results from the majority of his policies.....I wouldn't mind being wrong Bur,I fear it will be more like a allergic reaction leading to cardiac arrest and coma...Is there a Dr in the House? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 To be honest, I'm afraid of that too or that the treatment will have really good shourt term benefits, but that it will tremendously shorten the life over the long haul. I am doubtful that they can stay disciplined enough on the prescribed medical plan. Going off the plan could cause so much damage and it will be so tempting and easy to go off the plan. One could almost argue that the Dems in Congress already have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Mike Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Good luck with this one. I can see already from some of these posts that you are fighting an uphill battle for reason an rational discussion. :doh: For me assuming he gets 8 years: Get the economy back on track. Get GM sold back to a private investor as soon as possible. He says that is intention and I believe him, but he has to make it happen. There is one industry that can really grow IMO because it is the one industry we need to work on the hardest and is most needed - which leads me to my next point... Help direct a real push for alternative energy and just get us going in the right direction. Biofuels and such help but they are not a solution. But we have to recognize it's not going to happen overnight. Get bin Laden and Al-Zawahiri. Get Afghanistan at least more stable. And (I can't believe this hasn't come up yet) prevent further major terrorist attacks on the American homeland. If we lose focus we will pay for it. Those are the big three for me. If he can do that, anything else is gravy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ax Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Realistically speaking, there is no way to judge a hypothetical success, or failure. It's what he does, with what he's got, that will determine those things. We'll know it, when we see it. The only trouble will be the spin from each camp about what we saw. I said before the election, that no matter who won, they'd be a one term President. I still think that. We'll see. Right now, he's Fabian. Time will tell if he's anything more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejaydana Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 What I would like from this administration (or any other were they in power): 1) some form, ANY FORM, of entitlement reform (right now he won't even address it which is not unusual because it's potentially career suicide) 2) any measure of bipartisanship (we've seen none after he promised it throughout the campaign). I would LOVE for D.C. to become much less intractable then it's become over the past 16 years. Yeah, I can dream, right? 3) looking beyond self-interests to something beyond the next election cycle. I would love for us to become once again focussed more upon the 'longer-term' for ourselves and our children. This spending is essentially kicking the can down the road. We have to start paying the piper soon, whether we like it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointyfootball Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 How about you? I am especially interested in the views of those who view themselves as opponents of the current Administration. What is the issue upon which Obama could at least somewhat redeem himself in your eyes, so that in the year 2020 you didn't start to get a migrane everytime you heard his name? The Eagles finally winning the Super Bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 3 of the last 4 administrations have gotten 8 years. The exception was a continuation of the old administration that got beaten out by a young charismatic politician who reached the youth vote. Since that doesn't apply to Obama - I doubt he will realistically have a problem getting that 2nd term. As for the original question - 7 more years of hearing the neo-cons incorrectly piss and moan about how the US is being turned into a socialist country. Oh wait...you want a real answer? Ok...how about more user friendly healthcare revolution, a pullback (because of a lack of need) of US troops abroad, more stability in the housing and financial markets, a Redskins superbowl, and more importantly, a nude lesbian scene for Eva Green and Megan Fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 unemployment has to start going down by 2010, open engagement with Iran, no new wars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 NOTHING! If he cured cancer....he's too slow. If he found Bin Laden.....its because they're boys If the economy turns around....its because of the groundwork laid by the previous admin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 For me, it is entitlement reform - getting control of Medicare and fixing the demographic problem with Social Security. To me, this is by far the biggest problem facing this nation at this time. They're going to fix social security the way they always have. By increasing the age requirement to keep it in the black. They've done that every decade since the 70's, and they'll do it again even if they have to make it so only 75 year olds get benifits. I think the medical system improvment would be a monster legacy. changing the financial / banking system, reliance on foreign oil, improving the national power grid, modernizeing the nations infrastructure ( high speed rail!!!) national health database, changing the defense posture of the country, restructuring diplomatic/defense/ trade ties with China and Russia. Hell if we make it to Mars that could be his legacy too. The grand daddy, the big kahuna however would be peace in the Middle east between Israel and all of her troubles. Obama's plans are so ambitious just about any program would be a significant legacy.... Taken all together if he achieves 1/3rd of what he's proposing he will have a historic Presidency. I personally think he's going to achieve most of what he wants. The guy is too sharp, and too pragmatic to get side tracked. I think the GOP will continue to loose support for another election cycle, until they find a new message which resonates with the public. I think Obama's position is only going to get stronger throughout his first term in office. Just like the Roosevelt boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WARLORD1863 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 For me, I don't need Obama to change the world for me to consider his presidency a success. If he can keep the ship afloat while ensuring the safety and security of the people, I'll give him a thumbs up. So far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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