Objective Obama?

2015-09-03T12:03:11-04:00

Obama has proven to be feckless and ineffective.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Sep 3 at 2015 12:04 PM

2015-09-03T12:04:12-04:00

President Obama is certainly among the top ten presidents.

Walt

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 3 at 2015 12:08 PM

2015-09-03T12:08:55-04:00

The power of the Executive Order...

Now in all seriousness, it's hard to said that Obama is solely responsible for some of these turn arounds. As we know, some of the programs put in place by Presidents throughout history have taken years to produce outcomes while others fell straight on their faces. I'm not trying to say he didn't play any role but you can't discount the efforts put in by the Presidents ahead of him. It will be interesting to see how the next President takes over and either continues these upward trends or to the results of programs before their time and during their time result in another "economic correction".

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 12:23 PM

2015-09-03T12:23:49-04:00

This is a very pointed question, implying that he has been successful without leaving room for the counter to that without a direct disagreement with you. I will leave the answer alone, but keep in mind none of these metrics are a given and data can be used by either side to prove their point.

If you wanted a discussion on whether or not he was/is a successful president, ask the question "Do you think President Obama has been successful?" or even better "What has President Obama done to make you think he was successful, or not successful during his presidency?"

A question posed the way this one was does not leave room for debate or disagreement. I am not saying you will do so, but typically the ones posted like this also are accompanied with down-votes for anyone who disagrees.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 3 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-09-03T12:26:25-04:00

The article you linked to is full of biases which call into question its credibility. I would caution about making judgements too soon as we do not yet know the full scope of everything. We do not know what the impacts are nor do we have a clear understanding of the causal relationships to his actions if any exist. I am not implying judgment on him of any kind. I am only pointing out that we need some dispassionate, objective and unbiased analysis after the fact to really see where he rates.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Sep 3 at 2015 12:29 PM

2015-09-03T12:29:13-04:00

The problem, of course, is that it's impossible to answer without years of perspective and nearly everyone here is going to give answers mostly driven by their political opinions and chosen media sources.

We won't know for a couple of decades whether or not Obama was successful. Too many things have to play out, which I know doesn't appeal to most Americans because short-term is the only term they care about.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 3 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-09-03T12:31:00-04:00

Neither a Conservative nor a Progressive here, but, let's delve into the root of the argument.

It's how you measure success. And where you lay responsibility or blame.

As an example, the economy is cyclic. It goes up, it goes down. We know that. So depending on the cycle, someone will get blamed, it's just a matter of who.

Additionally, it's how you quantify "best." Using terms like "Top 10" don't mean a lot when you have 40~ presidents. That's only the 75th percentile.

Now, the issue many folks run into is "single voter" effects. Or even party line effects. Someone comes on and tries to pass asinine gun laws which will have negligible effects on actual gun laws, I'll call them an idiot or a liar, because that's what they are. That's just one example.

That doesn't make him the worst however. It just gives ammo to an argument for unpopularity. Which is a measurement for an elected official.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 12:42 PM

2015-09-03T12:42:00-04:00

The evidence will be apparent in a few years when these "new" jobs are re-evaluated. I will admit that the anecdotal evidence is that more people are working...but at what and where? I personally get a little "miffed" at the new model of employment; one that proposes "job hoping" across a wide range of fields while carrying enormous debt loads for the minimal education requirements. Executives in major companies must be grinning from ear to ear...imagine a work force of young people who have a college degree, but are willing to enter jobs with little room for professional development, and stagnate earnings...in exchange for work out facilities and lenient leave policies? I know...I generalize a little too. The facts are that we have not increased a significant portion of the lifeblood of economics...manufacturing. Over time, we will lose what we haven't already lost in terms of a lead when it comes to technology and production. We will have armies of "good idea fairies" and "consultants" who have five page resumes. What we need are careers that attract long-term employees who want to build their skills in a trade leading to significant security as they progress in that field. We need to reduce litigation and restriction which will increase competition, drive down prices of consumer goods, and foster more investment and growth from the small sector of society that can turn $100k into a business employing five people above minimum wage.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 3 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-09-03T12:43:41-04:00

Capt Walter Miller I don't think President Obama has been successful at all in terms of economic recovery and job creation. He is certainly not the only one to credit or blame for the state of the economy. He has grudgingly allowed some areas to be used for petroleum drilling as well as finally allowing oil exploration of selected coats in this nation.
He has the ability to use the bully pulpit to advance issues. The past two years his focus seemed to be on same sex and transgender issues with negotiations with Iran near the top as well. He has generally not been supportive of small businesses - supporting push for the Affordable care Act caused most businesses to review their full time and part time employees [that was where I was terminated after 20 years primarily because of my health limitations]; increase in minimum wage led businesses which operated at the margin to shut their doors; businesses which supported traditional marriages and did not support same sex marriages have received mixed judgments among the states and federal courts.
Under the Obama presidency there seem to have been increased division instead of the hoped for increased harmony.
I have known more people my age [mid-to-late 50's] who have been terminated from higher paying positions in the past few years - many of us never applied for unemployment benefits so we are not included in the statistics. I have known many young people who have gotten entry level positions and some who have advanced. I know that areas which relied on coal mining have suffered greatly under the Obama administration's "War on Coal." The people who live in the towns which border the Appalachian mountains are not great in number but they have suffered.
Gentlemen do you have any thoughts you want to share on this discussion? COL Mikel J. Burroughs, LTC Stephen C. CW5 Charlie Poulton, SGM Steve Wettstein, PO3 Steven Sherrill, SGT Robert Hawks, SGT Randal Groover, SGT Forrest Stewart, SPC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Sep 3 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-09-03T12:43:43-04:00

As to the WORST President of all time... I have, and will always believe Woodrow Wilson was the most evil and worst President of all time. He sold America down the river with the Federal Reserve Act and the Revenue Act of 1913. Until then, citizens did not pay income taxes. Only Corporations paid taxes. Wilson and his evil cronies in Congress passed these two acts in the dead of night during the holidays when most of Congress was home. What do these two Acts have to do with each other and why did they both need to be passed you ask?? The Constitution states that only the Treasury can print and coin money. The Federal Reserve Bank is a privately owned, FOR PROFIT Corporation owned by some of the richest families in the world. The Federal Reserve Act transferred the power to print money from the US Treasury to this private corporation. If you look at your money, it no longer says US Treasury Note... It says Federal Reserve Note. The Federal Reserve prints its' own currency and LOANS it to the Federal Government and charges INTEREST on it!! The only way the Government could come up with enough revenue to pay the massive interest charged by the Federal Reserve Bank was to start taxing individual citizens. Wilson, in effect, sold us out and stole our hard earned money, because he was promised the Presidency by the powerful families if he would pass these two acts. In my opinion, President Obama may be one of our best Presidents, and I feel his policies will have long reaching affects and he is going to have to go a LOOOOONG way to beat Woodrow Wilson.

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Sep 3 at 2015 12:44 PM

2015-09-03T12:44:49-04:00

I believe that when someone says he is the worse president in history they are implying that he is the worse president in their life time. I think this because there is a lot that actually happens that a president has their hand in. Some of those things we will never read about in history books or even hear about period.

With that said. On the matter of these jobs that where created. He didn't create those jobs. Most where in the private sector and some where because of people retiring. Also those jobs where created by new companies like Lyft and Uber. Also the tech startup industry was born which has created millions of jobs.

Unemployment decreased because those who are in their 50s and up stopped looking and retired early. So they are no longer counted in the unemployment numbers.

Did anything really change when he took office? No, nothing really changed. Congress remains divided on every issue. There was no immigration reform. The changes he promised haven't happened. Nothing has changed with how the government operate. The government continues to over spend and not actually balance the budget. They keep threatening to stop military pay every year, they keep threatening a variety of different things. Take your pick.

So, is he the worse in history? Probably not but he is still pretty bad. He didn't create the jobs we have. He didn't create the new businesses we have. He didn't create the small businesses in our communities. Yet, he says the government created them. What a load of BS. How do you know a politician is lying? Their mouth is moving.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 3 at 2015 12:49 PM

2015-09-03T12:49:15-04:00

I'm gong to go out and say he's not anything yet.....he's still IN office making policies and decisions. What will tell us his "ranking" will be how his decisions, policies, and orders play out over time. I believe everyone on here will be very old and senile by the time we really have a chance to gauge how this presidency goes. Now his naysayers will immediately say he's this or that, and that's fine. But time tells stories that aren't evident immediately. Wait and see.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Sep 3 at 2015 12:55 PM

2015-09-03T12:55:44-04:00

Surely, you jest.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 3 at 2015 12:58 PM

2015-09-03T12:58:39-04:00

Capt Walter Miller - First, I don't believe, as you state, that Obama has been successful. He has destroyed our economy, set race relations back decades, turned his back on our allies and embraced our enemies, over-reached his Constitutional authority, championed immorality, and is fast turning our country into a third-world country with lawlessness, political corruption, and class warfare. I, for one, think that things in the Republic of Obamastan are not as rosy as the Obamastanis want to portray. He is the most inept, racist, divisive, immoral, and corrupt president our nation has ever had.

While you cite the private sector job growth statistics, you fail to acknowledge that there are very many differing views about what those statistics represent and how they were derived. Many things play into those figures (besides the obvious favorable manipulation of the parameters by the Administration). All one need do is check the vast number of articles from learned individuals and organizations that support the views of both sides of this argument. Which is correct? Probably both, to some degree, and the actual truth, as is typical, is probably somewhere near the middle of the opposing views.

Decrease in the numbers of people looking for work, people who take jobs that are much less than they previously had (underemployed), reduction in public sector jobs driving people to private sector (and that loss of jobs not factored into the stats shown here), lower population numbers skewing the stats, and on and on, impact the picture the Obamastanis try to portray as proof of Obama's greatness. In addition, the rate of growth (180,000 jobs per month) is much less than that during Reagan's and Clinton's administrations (240,000 jobs per month).

I have first-hand experience with how these figures are skewed by the government. For example, I personally saw a situation where a government contractor who operated at several government sites in the same city was required to show an employee who worked an 8-hour day (4 hours at one site and 2 hours each at the two other sites) as three jobs. Saw that with several hundred employees and that was the government requirement. All they wanted to do was claim the addition of three jobs on the stats for one person's 8-hour day.

It is all smoke and mirrors... As I have told you on other occasions where you purported your sham of a president was wonderful, I try real hard to see it from your point of view, but try as I might, I just can't seem to get my head that far up my ass.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 1:01 PM

2015-09-03T13:01:32-04:00

I don't for a second think he's been anything but an abysmal failure, fraud, and pathological liar.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Sep 3 at 2015 1:31 PM

2015-09-03T13:31:34-04:00

What you learn in college on Day 1, Econ 101: Presidents gets too much credit and too much blame for the cyclical nature of the economy.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 1:41 PM

2015-09-03T13:41:50-04:00

I think it is funny Obama could hang the moon and the critics would say he caused coastal flooding because of the tides. While I am not a big fan and really pissed about the whole classified email thing we are so polarized on this issues I chose to live a happy life and stay out of it. In the end I hate all politicians, reporters and most layers.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Sep 3 at 2015 2:09 PM

2015-09-03T14:09:11-04:00

Sorry but when I read "economic crash – caused by the Bush administration" I have to question the motive/bias of the author. I realize that when you're in charge, you get the blame and credit for everything, regardless of whether you directly had anything to do with the result. That is an argument of perceptions, and reality tells a whole different story. For example, the fact that President Bush did attempt to warn Congress of the inevitable credit crisis (which they ignored, following Barney Frank's lead). Barney Frank and his ilk, throughout the Bush Presidency, played the class/race war by insisting low income earners do not have the opportunity to buy and own homes. They pressured the President (to include Clinton)/Congressional leaders and institutionalized new rules to make homes available to these low income families. This got out of hand, where people started buying homes they could not afford, resulting in the credit crisis. Is Bush solely responsible for that? According to this article he is.

Meanwhile, the same Senator who supported the policies which lead to the credit crisis becomes our next President. The economy at this time really had nowhere else to go but up. And yet still, the article fails to account for the stats which show actual unemployment (i.e. those who have simply stopped looking and filing for unemployment in significant numbers). Additionally, the article failed to address the rising debt, which has come about during the Obama admin partially through the creation of more government jobs (which yes, helps the unemployment numbers, at the cost of more government spending and debt). But a key indicator I have noted as the economy has improved, is the fact the Fed still has yet to significantly raise the rate. Why won't they do this? If President Obama has become the success this article suggests, the economy should be resilient enough to raise the rates. This is a normal event during an economic boon.

The fact is, people are underemployed, the actual unemployment rate is much higher than the reported rate (based on those who are eligible to apply for unemployment). On top of that, prices for things like food are still going up, the government is unable to approve significant Cost of Living raises for the Military and Civilian work force, and more businesses are either looking for tax friendlier countries to move into. Is he making things worse? I don't think so for now, but long term absolutely (of course the next President will get blamed for that). He certainly is not the success this article suggests.

Response by MSG Tim Gray made Sep 3 at 2015 2:16 PM

2015-09-03T14:16:05-04:00

Any president who doesn't salute soldiers or marines and systematically removes generals from their positions or oversees a 4 star general (petraeus) while allowing his Secretary of State to get away with the murder of this countries heroes is the worst jackass ever, and if all you can do is laugh at that, well you are as ill informed as anyone

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Sep 3 at 2015 2:44 PM

2015-09-03T14:44:03-04:00

I do not believe this.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 3 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-09-03T14:56:45-04:00

The Middle East is burning up, and the country is seeing levels of hatred not seen for a long time.

Response by PFC Stephen Eric Serati made Sep 3 at 2015 3:07 PM

2015-09-03T15:07:14-04:00

His ability to organize and unite people in common issues.His sincere compassion for others.His focus and loyalty to others.His ability to listen and make decisions.His willingness to buck the status quo when necessary.His love of family.His work ethic.His respective on on foreign affairs and the economy. His work for Veterans.His thinking outside the bubble.His policies decisions.The loyalty of the people around him.His knowledge of the Constitution,and the work he has done in the past.Growing up with out a father I believe makes you stronger in some ways but hurts in others.His understanding of law.I actually think he would make a good Secretary General of the UN.Wishful thinking.Respectfully

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-09-03T15:14:40-04:00

On what standard is he successful?
The economy? Foreign policy and defense? Winning the Nobel Peace prize?
History will judge him and Bush etc. accordingly. Based on my view, Obama's legacy will not be a positive one

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 3 at 2015 3:26 PM

2015-09-03T15:26:54-04:00

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 3 at 2015 4:13 PM

2015-09-03T16:13:53-04:00

Oh brother.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-09-03T16:18:38-04:00

Ahhh statistics. As George Canning said, "I can prove anything by statistics except the truth."

Response by 1stLt Steven P. made Sep 3 at 2015 4:35 PM

2015-09-03T16:35:01-04:00

If you adhere to the progressive philosophy then I guess Mr. Obama makes an adequate President. If, however, you believe that you should be able to keep that which you have worked for, shouldn't be lied to about what is programs will do and cost, if you believe you law should be read and understood before it is bullied through the legislative branchs and then, if it is none the less passed, the President should enforce it not give waivers where ever he felt it politically expedient. If you believe the President is a King or Emperor and can do anything he wants without following the rules set forth in the Constitution of the United States then you must really like President Obama.

Response by SSG John Erny made Sep 3 at 2015 5:32 PM

2015-09-03T17:32:19-04:00

As far as jobs go in the private sector there is a cycle of ups and downs that no President can control totally. They can help or hurt the cycle but ours is a consumer driven economy. What is important is not the number of jobs but the quality of jobs. A million more jobs sounds great on paper but if they are retail associates and hamburger cooks it tells another story.

We have been losing jobs to cheap labor over seas and to the south for a long time. At first it was mass produce items like tools and clothing. Then major items like appliances and automobiles. American made cars are not as American as they once were. When these good paying jobs are no longer available and the wages of the consumer falls the economy weakens.

Some one once said that we are becoming a service based economy. The service sector is a nice way of saying that we have no real manufacturing taking place and it has be replaced by call centers and other dead end jobs.

There has been some what of a shift in this trend lately because wages are rising in the so called third world countries driving some jobs back to the US. Caterpillar is one example of this, notice they did not go back to the traditional places like Detroit but rather set up shop in areas where wages are lower and good jobs are hard to come by.

What is certain is high taxes and union demands for unrealistic wages will keep good jobs from coming home to America. We also have a 20 Trillion dollar debt hanging over the heads of Americans who have yet to be born. What does 20 trillion look like. 20 trillion 1$ bills end to end would reach from Earth to the planet Uranus. You can barley see Saturn on a clear night, you can not see Uranus at all with the naked eye and it is a huge planet.

So why is any politician popular who had his or her hands in the mess we are in is beyond me. Democrats, Republicans; a curse on both their houses!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 9:14 PM

2015-09-03T21:14:42-04:00

Wait, is this the Duffel Blog? Because it is hilarious, if it were not so sad.....

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Sep 3 at 2015 10:30 PM

2015-09-03T22:30:41-04:00

Lol, I can't compare him to every president . And he has gotten everything he wanted. If you say anything against his policies then you are called a racist by his toadies. Because of Bill Clinton, North Korea has a nuclear bomb. In ten years so will Iran. If that is what you call success.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Sep 3 at 2015 10:54 PM

2015-09-03T22:54:37-04:00

I don't know that anyone outside of perhaps professional historians can say who the 'best' POTUS was and by implication who the 'worst' one was. It's a very subjective set of grading criteria and only the passage of years, if not decades, will give a fair assessment of where contemporary presidents fall out.

It's perhaps more accurate to say, "I think [whomever] is the greatest, or worst, POTUS in my lifetime." That's a little more believable. Obviously, anybody and everybody is entitled to his/her opinion.

For the record, I will fully declare Obama's been nothing like successful and is probably one of the worst, if not the worst, in my nearly 46 years alive. The only one who comes close in fecklessness is Jimmy Carter.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Sep 4 at 2015 9:44 AM

2015-09-04T09:44:49-04:00

The fact that he has peed all over our constitution too many times to count makes him the worst ever President we have ever had. Arrogant and self-aggrandization makes him even more despicable. Also, he knows nothing about Geo-politics and his apology tours makes America appear weak to our enemies and allies.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 10:03 AM

2015-09-04T10:03:33-04:00

Very good information!! Sometimes we get so blind to facts because of our bias that we ignore them

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Sep 4 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-09-04T10:58:09-04:00

http://americannewsx.com/politics/watch-new-jobs-report-comes-in-with-great-news-guess-whos-heads-will-explode-video/

WATCH: New Jobs Report Comes In With Great News — Guess Who’s “Heads Will Explode?” (Video)

These numbers are positive regardless of how they are sliced.…

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 4 at 2015 12:28 PM

2015-09-04T12:28:26-04:00

Exsqueeeeeze me????? Successful??? to what extent?? Successful in ripping this country further apart?? Successful in allowing radical muslims to gain free access to this country??? Successful in breaking many laws?? Successful in showing his open disgust to our flag, anthem and way of life?? Successful in being the 1st CIC to allow how many illegal immigrants into this country (who knows how many are actually muslim's??) Successful in allowing FEMA Concentration camps to spring up across this nation??? Successful in screwing the economy up even that much more??? How do YOU gage success???

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 4 at 2015 12:30 PM

2015-09-04T12:30:28-04:00

The CIC is a jackass Ftard that needs to be relieved in a very big way, but there are too many dimm witted morons that like living in a communistic country.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 4 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-09-04T14:01:52-04:00

I do not think that President Obama has been that successful.
President Obama has made some tough choices and made some good moves, but just as often he has appeared to slap the American people in the face.
The Iran Nuclear deal, why give so much to a nation that has stabbed us in the back previously and even after announcing that the accord had been reached said that they will continue to do as they please.
Pulling troops from Afghanistan because he made a promise to do so. And now look, we are going back slowly but surely and probably in the next year or two will be back in full scale combat operations.
Trading 5 Taliban for a deserter. I could understand a 1 for 1 trade, you don't give 5 officers for 1 enlisted unless your just not getting proper advice.
Making off hand comments by comparing the Crusades to ISIS.
Making off hand comments at the Easter Breakfast about Christianity and saying that's a discussion for another day. Why start something if you do not intend to finish it?
Taking credit for killing Osama bin Laden, yeah as Commander in Chief he made the final decision but remember it was military members who actually pulled the trigger.
Affordable Care Act, now that's a misnomer if ever there was one. As soon as it was announced almost every health care insurer raised rates and as we know most people ended up switching doctors and not by choice.
President Obama adding fuel to the racial tension by seemingly siding with Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and others, even sending delegates to attend their funerals, but when 2 NYC police officers are assassinated in their car by a black criminal, you heard very little from the White House.
President Obama going to the slain South Carolina Pastors funeral and getting on a soap box about gun control, I mean really could he have been any more disrespectful. A funeral is to honor the deceased by saying all the good things about that person, not using it as an opportunity to push an agenda.
So overall I do not see President Obama as being that successful.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Sep 4 at 2015 4:25 PM

2015-09-04T16:25:31-04:00

There are three times the number of people on welfare. The reason they aren't on the unemployment numbers is because they're kicking back at home voting for another socialist. Don't be fooled. Obama has done more damage than good.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Sep 4 at 2015 4:36 PM

2015-09-04T16:36:03-04:00

Those numbers have more to do with the federal reserve than the POTUS. Worse economic recovery in history. How many of these jobs are going to the 30 million illegal immigrants? Not convinced

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Sep 4 at 2015 5:24 PM

2015-09-04T17:24:51-04:00

I shall provide some charts as well!

Response by SSG Stephen Arnold made Sep 4 at 2015 7:22 PM

2015-09-04T19:22:44-04:00

Yet 94 MILLION people are no longer participating in the labor force. The 5.1% unemployment number is a farce.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 4 at 2015 10:09 PM

2015-09-04T22:09:24-04:00

Did you just say something positive about the President on Rallypoint? I suspect the down thumb fairy will be sorely over taxed tonight... =0)

Response by SSG Daniel Deiler made Sep 4 at 2015 11:15 PM

2015-09-04T23:15:15-04:00

Successful?!? By who's standards? I feel he's been the worst President in the history of this country.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made Sep 4 at 2015 11:36 PM

2015-09-04T23:36:55-04:00

If he has added so many jobs why then did I see today that 94 million people are OUT of the work force?

Response by SP5 Michael Cates made Sep 5 at 2015 2:01 AM

2015-09-05T02:01:57-04:00

Just tell me that you UNDERSTAND THAT HE PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS THE PERSON THAT SAID NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND REMEMBER THE RED LINE IE. USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS THE ARAB SPRING? NOW REMEMBER THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN WOMAN AND CHILDREN FLEEING BBBBBEEEECAUSSSE WE WOULD LEAD THE CHARGE TO HELP HELP WITH BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS IF NEED BE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE STAY AND LIVE THERE LIVES OUT IN THEIR COUNTRY! NOW YOU SEE JUST LIKE IN VIETNAM AND EXODUS!!! THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO OTHER COUNTRIES FOR NOW BUT MARK MY WORDS THEY ARE PLANNING TO COME TO AMERICA! HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO ANY BOAT PEOPLE IE. REFUGEES?? OH! WELL WE ARE IN AMERICA AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO YOUR OPINION!

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Sep 5 at 2015 4:39 AM

2015-09-05T04:39:38-04:00

Successful?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 8:14 AM

2015-09-05T08:14:43-04:00

When looking at any data remember - "figures lie and liars figure."

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Sep 5 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-09-05T08:43:30-04:00

I'm sorry, has anything Obama done been a raving success? He didn't have enough signatures to get his name on the ballots of several states, but his campaign forged enough signatures to get his name on the ballot. Would you call that a successful accomplishment of election fraud? And then he manufactured his birth certificate so I guess you can say he successfully duped American voters into thinking he was legit. And his appointed judges successfully shot down all attempts to question his [in]eligibility.

This country is doing what it does despite Obama's meddling influence.

For example, Obama didn't get Bin Laden. He called off previous missions (at the insistence of Valerie Jarrett) and on the successful RAID, he wasn't informed about the mission until the mission was underway and the birds were in the air. He really had no choice but to go along with it or it would have been plainly apparent that he was protecting Bin Laden. For someone who claimed to be in on the planning, my understanding is that he delegated full Operational Control AND accountability to Admiral McRaven [so that he'd have someone to blame if things went wrong]. REAL leaders don't do that. The person who gets the blame is the same person who should get credit, yet Obama spiked the football, crowing about it as if he had pulled the trigger himself.

Would you call Cash for Clunkers a success? How about the rollout of Obamacare? How much did it go over budget? We were told it would pay for itself and wouldn't cost the middle class a dime... which technically is correct; it cost a whole bunch of dimes! How about all that money Obama invested in Solyndra? The companies went under, nobody was held accountable, and taxpayers were left holding the bag. How many billion did taxpayers lose? And then there's our National Debt which has increased from 10.6 trillion to over 18 trillion dollars. And President GW Bush was "irresponsible and unpatriotic" for adding 4.7 trillion to the National debt over 8 years? We still have a year to go and Obama doesn't seem the least concerned about this threat to our National Security. NO, the greatest National Security threat right now is global warming... Right? @@

We also had the Arab Spring and Benghazi. I guess one could argue that Obama successfully armed Al Qaeda linked insurgencies and avoided having to answer to investigators about what really went down at Benghazi until AFTER the election. Hillary did a right fine job faking her head injury. What does it matter anyway? So we have a dead ambassador and ruined Gen Ham's career for putting together a rescue team when the Administration argued that nobody was available. And all this because of an obscure Internet video. Right? I'd say Obama is quite an accomplished liar.

Eventually the truth is going to come out -- despite the Administration's best efforts to manufacture evidence and destroy actual evidence of their wrongdoing. Obama's legacy is going to be one of shame. He will be known as the biggest race-baiting dope smoking liar to ever defraud his way into the White House and wreak havoc on the Constitution as well as compromise our National Security. My hope is that he isn't allowed to finish out his term and that he leaves office in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs to face charges for his corruption and treason.

As for your chart, it doesn't matter how many jobs were added if they're jobs at fast food joints and the high paying, technical jobs are going overseas. Furthermore, what the chart isn't showing is the net jobs gained. How many million were lost? You can crow about unemployment going down, but if you change how unemployment is calculated and you aren't counting the number of employable people that have given up looking for work, it's just another fake statistic.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-09-05T11:29:00-04:00

I find it comically absurd that the information in the article is bias. For one, it does not include the public jobs. Second, it shows when he took office but does NOT compare to other Presidents. Clinton and Reagan had private job higher rates than Obama. They are just comparing him to Bush. Third, it does not take into consideration the state of economy nor all the unemployment. For the unemployment you have to look at all the unemployment rate the U-1 to the U-6 reports. The U-6 shows the most. The U6 unemployment rate counts not only people without work seeking full-time employment (the more familiar U-3 rate), but also counts "marginally attached workers and those working part-time for economic reasons." Note that some of these part-time workers counted as employed by U-3 could be working as little as an hour a week. And the "marginally attached workers" include those who have gotten discouraged and stopped looking, but still want to work. Fourth, number of Americans receiving food stamps remains 45 percent higher than when the president first took office.

So, to answer your question "Why Do You Think President Obama Has Been So Successful?" I can only say that in my opinion, he has NOT been so successful.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 5 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-09-05T12:16:01-04:00

sorry to burst your bubble but the statistics you cite are manipulated numbers. We have the lowest labor participation rate in 40 years. Real unemployment is more than 15% when you calculate those who have given up looking for work.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-09-05T12:36:43-04:00

Response by MSgt Darren VanDerwilt made Sep 5 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-09-05T12:52:56-04:00

President Obama has been very successful at destroying the fabric which made this country great. He's been successful at using race and income/wealth differences to Balkanize the nation. Successful at pushing his job killing and business destroying environ-Mental agenda down our throats using the EPA. His success at bartering a nuclear arms deal with a terror exporting nation will ring a sour note in years to come. His administrations success at covering up a long train of scandals is legendary. Oh yes, he's been successful alright. Any more and there won't be a country left.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 2:07 PM

2015-09-05T14:07:58-04:00

How can you say he's a successful President when we all know that he is responsible for Hurricane Katrina, 9-11, Osama bin-Laden's Jihadist warpath in Afghanistan in 1980, the Iran-Contra debacle, enticing the Argentinians to invade the Falklands Islands, the Tet Offensive, the fall of the Roman Empire, the sacking of Constantinople, the Black Death (Name says it all, right!!??), and the burning of the library at Alexandria!? I just know for a fact that he did all these things, and hours of Internet research will prove it... if the data hasn't all been erased already by the Bilderburger Illuminati, that is.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 2:29 PM

2015-09-05T14:29:46-04:00

Capt Walter Miller Sir, the one problem I see here is using statistics to back the "best / worst" president argument of the POTUS. I would argue its way to early to say where President Obama ranks amongst our previous presidents. While this one statistics absolutely shows the President in a favorable light, one could argue there are several incidents that would state the otherwise.

One example, the amount of involvement of the White House over killings of one race versus another. Now, the media only portrays what they want, but we've only seen the President get involved with one particular race, but not the other. Or, when it involves "criminals" versus law enforcement officers. Would this not make him the worse President ever? I don't know.

Finally, I agree that it's funny when people label the President based on how they think he's doing, when the average American doesn't have a clue the amount of information (intelligence) the President is exposed to and the decisions he has to make, with the advise of his NSA and trusted aides. Not a job for the average American to handle.

Just my thoughts.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 5 at 2015 4:09 PM

2015-09-05T16:09:32-04:00

No offense Sir, but this is an incredibly loaded question and these 'facts' are not worthy of defending.

Response by SGT(P) Crystal Marie France made Sep 5 at 2015 5:14 PM

2015-09-05T17:14:14-04:00

I love the idea of having a president and being able to say I disagree with some of his tactics without being executed. With that said he has done a lot for the Civilian job market, unfortunately being a Service member who is married to a veteran I have to say he has done nothing for our Government employees, more specifically the Service members. Our pay raise was pretty much 0 this year and we still have a lot of issues with the Veterans Affairs Health Care system. Watching my husband go through this is disheartening.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Sep 5 at 2015 11:48 PM

2015-09-05T23:48:33-04:00

Looking at the Bureau of Labor Statistics chart from the 1920's to present, Pres Obama's been below average at job creation. I'm not saying anything about the man, only citing the statistics.

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Sep 6 at 2015 12:34 AM

2015-09-06T00:34:55-04:00

Sir, you use flowery rhetoric...and you can laugh all you want...but he has been a horrible president. Leaders build consensus and he has certainly proved inept at that.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 1:55 AM

2015-09-06T01:55:31-04:00

Wait.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 2:26 AM

2015-09-06T02:26:00-04:00

Minimum wage jobs are not a success, foreign policies have been disastrous, and all branches of the service have suffered under the reign to include the intelligence community.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 2:45 AM

2015-09-06T02:45:18-04:00

They need to crush the perpetrators of this crime. They turned a harmless tradition into a vicious and savage event of brutality. Ignorance at its peak within not only one of the finest institutes of higher education but also the institution that we trust to develop some of the finest combat leaders in the world. This is evidence of the sad state of affairs we live in.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 2:50 AM

2015-09-06T02:50:07-04:00

The real question is... Why aren't the Russians and the United States together in the fight against extremism? My enemies enemy is my friend. Extremist islam took root in afghanistan because of our silly squabbles with the Russians. This will be no different.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 6 at 2015 8:59 PM

2015-09-06T20:59:26-04:00

Firstly, your statement (as if it were fact, rather than your subjective opinion) is fallacious. Next, for me, COL Jean (John) F. B. said it best: "He has destroyed our economy, set race relations back decades, turned his back on our allies and embraced our enemies, over-reached his Constitutional authority, championed immorality, and is fast turning our country into a third-world country with lawlessness, political corruption, and class warfare."

But even those points, much as I agree with the Colonel, are not his biggest crimes, because most of them 'only' effect our homeland. No, to me, his biggest crime is the way he gutted NASA. There is no other single organisation in the history of human kind that has contributed so much to the quality of day to day life for people the world over. He's set NASA back decades from where they could have been, and the trickle-down effects of (now-lost) potential research are incalculable.

And that effects the entire human race.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 7 at 2015 4:40 AM

2015-09-07T04:40:36-04:00

Obama wanted to leave a legacy on race relations...do you think he has been successful??

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Sep 7 at 2015 8:31 PM

2015-09-07T20:31:42-04:00

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Sep 7 at 2015 8:52 PM

2015-09-07T20:52:02-04:00

Because despite the rhetoric peddled in some political corners, POTUS is a centrist and a realist and has a Machiavellian ability to accomplish key goals despite near unanimous opposition from the GOP throughout his Presidency. By the way I applaud your courage in starting a topic like this on this site, akin to going to Fox News website and talking up the merits of ACA.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 7 at 2015 9:00 PM

2015-09-07T21:00:36-04:00

I would say killing the dollar is the biggest failures ever in the history of the US. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is soon to be the lender of the new world currency, the yuan. The US attempts of warning allies and client states it would be strongly in their best interests not to join has been a massive failure. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Australia all joined, over US objections. South Korea was then heavily lobbied by the US, warned to “think twice” about what it did, but has joined as well. However Obama said "The U.S. never opposed a new China-led infrastructure bank" challenging a common narrative that Beijing out-maneuvered Washington by persuading key US allies to sign up as founding members. - lies but what else can he say. China has engaged in a serious currency war and the US has been caught with their pants down. Since the agreements of 1971 and 1973, OPEC oil is exclusively quoted in US dollars. This created a permanent demand for dollars on the international exchange markets. China imported a record 3.92 million metric tons from Russia in May of this year, according to data emailed by the Beijing-based General Administration of Customs on Tuesday. What is important about this is Russia agreed to accept the the renminbi, the official currency of the People's Republic of China. Now Russia is moving away for the dollar as well due to US sanctions. This will force Saudi Arabia to follow suit and trade using the yuan further devaluing the dollar. As they are pissed at the US for the Iran nuke deal this may well be the vehicle in which OPEC sends a message to the US - "We're trading oil using the yuan" The 2008 meltdown pissed off a lot of countries allowing this crossover to the yuan a welcomed economic solution. The jobs won't matter when you're getting paid in yuan.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Sep 7 at 2015 9:29 PM

2015-09-07T21:29:58-04:00

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:
— President Obama is poised to sign an executive order in Boston requiring federal contractors to offer employees up to seven paid sick days a year, a move that could benefit more than 300,000 workers. The announcement will come momentarily during a Labor Day speech in Boston, part of an effort to push Congress to approve legislation that would provide similar benefits for millions of private sector workers. “The president’s trip aims to highlight a Massachusetts law, approved by voters in November, that provides employees with up to 40 hours of sick leave per year,” David Nakamura reports. “An estimated 44 million private sector workers — about 40 percent of the workforce — do not have access to paid sick leave, according to the White House.”

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 7:48 AM

2015-09-08T07:48:43-04:00

Getting stats from a forward progressive site? Sorry, it does not fly. Check the recent numbers, it put these particular numbers to shame, proving these were just lies, and propped up.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 12:01 PM

2015-09-08T12:01:14-04:00

Are you freaking serious? Really? REALLY??? Do you even read what you type? Ugh!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 5:43 PM

2015-09-08T17:43:32-04:00

Sir, I agree that statistics can be manipulated to read anyway you want them to read. The truth is somewhere in the middle of discussion between positive and negative. I challenge everyone to seek out the information yourself and not listen to the overpaid cometary preaching each side of the Democratic and Republican isle.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 9 at 2015 7:03 PM

2015-09-09T19:03:11-04:00

The truth...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 10 at 2015 1:59 PM

2015-09-10T13:59:58-04:00

The stock market quote kills me.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Sep 10 at 2015 2:32 PM

2015-09-10T14:32:26-04:00

There is a lot of rheteric on this topic. Unfortunately only historians will truly determine if President Barack Obama was successful or a disaster. We all have opinions. I seriously doubt if anyone on RP will change their opinion concerning President Obama. So, let's let history make the call.

Response by SSgt Khanh Pham made Sep 10 at 2015 4:10 PM

2015-09-10T16:10:34-04:00

Pres Obama is a master promoter and rhetoric.

Response by SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA made Sep 11 at 2015 2:40 AM

2015-09-11T02:40:07-04:00

The reason he has been successful is that the Republicans in Congress are gutless.

The 13 million jobs that were added in 65 months, does not account for the other 92 million still out of work. And, I seriously wonder which planet you came from.

With the money so far stripped from DoD and the Marines, as well as the other military services, you need to be happy you still have a job. But if you lose your job in Duluth, you can blame Bush, but the problem behind that is, Bush will have no effect on your job loss.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Sep 16 at 2015 4:45 PM

2015-09-16T16:45:15-04:00

Because he has WEATHERED the Storm! Stayed the Course! Dealt with Disrespect with Grace! Kept his Heart in the right place for the American People! He Continues to Press Forward in an Imperfect World where everyone EXPECTS him to be Perfect!

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Sep 25 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-09-25T10:02:12-04:00

Well, he's a Marxist and has done more to institute Marxism in this nation than any President since FDR. Our standing internationally is lower than ever, quite the accomplishment given his predecessor. And we're more divided than ever along party, class, racial, gender and sexuality lines which, again, is quite the accomplishment given his predecessor.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 2:11 PM

2015-09-25T14:11:08-04:00

Obama is successful, because of the Oil price. It bring in money into those few oil producing states that create super majority of those job. and by the way, he is trying to stop that from the first day too with no result. Lucky that his unsuccessful act make his successful legacy. LOL

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 7:40 AM

2015-09-30T07:40:47-04:00

Obama had been one of the most productive Presidents ever. Yeah he's not perfect, but he righted a lot of wrongs that weren't his fault.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Sep 30 at 2015 9:17 AM

2015-09-30T09:17:55-04:00

Because he cooks the books in ways that would make Bernie Madoff blush for shame....

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 30 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-09-30T12:53:14-04:00

"Why Do You Think President Obama Has Been So Successful?"

Probably because I don't think he has been successful but I am willing to let history judge his presidency but I for one will be very happy to see him leave in January 2017..and the White House is occupied by a President and Commander in Chief who I respect and admire... To me Obama is an example of a President who was just not up to the job & because of his thin skin managed to piss off most of my friends and colleagues which I have never seen before.. I have yet to find one person who likes and admires Obama among my high school & college buds or Veterans & Church Groups that I belong to here in Massachusetts which is a Democratic State loaded with progressives and liberals..

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 30 at 2015 9:42 PM

2015-09-30T21:42:21-04:00

Capt Walter Miller, Please say again sir, I did not receive your transmission!

Response by Cpl Rob Bibber made Oct 1 at 2015 4:38 PM

2015-10-01T16:38:25-04:00

Seriously? The most divisive President in history!? Doubling the national debt? Check your sources - they "cook" their numbers to spin their agenda.

Oh and if Obamacare is so good WHY DID IT TRIPLE THE MEDICAL COSTS FOR MY FAMILY???

Response by LTC Marc King made Oct 1 at 2015 8:55 PM

2015-10-01T20:55:03-04:00

A commissioned officer who likes to display his uniform as you apparently like to do should seriously think about turning down the partasen cheerleading. The oath you took requires your loyalty to the constitution and if the CinC is not of the political party you support a more low key approach would be in order insuring you are not mistaken for a partasen who might need to be watched-closely.

This type of party hack rhetoric would be better posted to the DNCs Facebook page. RP is for serious people with serious questions and issues. It is not for Cheerleader practice.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 12:31 AM

2015-10-02T00:31:35-04:00

Politics have always been an essential part of America ever since 1776 and since that time we have had and bad leaders. From my perspective, the President has a tough job and does it to the best of his ability. If it wasn't for social media, we wouldn't here about half of the things he was doing, and I think that's why people have a negative stigma towards him. Plus, only a little over half the country voted for him so of course he's not going to be liked and theirs going to be biased opinions about him, but is he a bad President? No, he's just doing his job like everyone else. (Plus the President is there more so for international relations; he can create bills, but it has to pass through congress which holds most of the deciding factor.)

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 2 at 2015 9:01 PM

2015-10-02T21:01:31-04:00

The number of jobs that Obama added to the economy is the exact number that he increased the white house staff by. The jobs that you're giving him credit for were added by businesses, not because of the President or anyone else in government, but in spite of them.

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Oct 5 at 2015 4:26 AM

2015-10-05T04:26:20-04:00

Are you serious? He has done so much damage worldwide and at home that we will need 12 years to fix his mess. He is borderline communist and I am worried to hear support for him comming from our military… has he replaced that many military leaders that he has a liberal foothold in the once very conservative military?

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Oct 5 at 2015 5:24 AM

2015-10-05T05:24:57-04:00

This posts smells like a democratic mole pushing obama propaganda up the military's rear end.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Oct 5 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-10-05T08:43:59-04:00

Im sorry to say he has taken over Jimmy Carter's position as the worst President in modern history. No one man has done so much to set Race relations in America back as far as he has. He has made America weak in the eyes of our enemies that will without a doubt cost us many lives to even get back to where we were. I have never known of a President that spits on his oath of Office as often as this man does. He is a disgrace to his office and to this country and needs to be kicked out of office and deported. I honestly believe he has committed High Crimes against the American people.

Response by SPC Randy Krofick made Oct 5 at 2015 1:43 PM

2015-10-05T13:43:08-04:00

The data is so partisan and cherry picked its, a joke.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2015 7:37 AM

2015-10-07T07:37:19-04:00

I know every toothpaste is recommended by 4 out of 5 dentists. It is all shaping facts how you want to and in other cases what you value more to determine if a person did good or not. Example in Seattle I believe it was raising minimum wage. Good if you got raise, bad if you had to lay off people as you could not afford as many employees or if you lost profit because of it.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 7 at 2015 8:38 AM

2015-10-07T08:38:36-04:00

“...the difference between reported unemployment and all unemployment – including those on the fringe of the workforce – has remained pretty constant since 1994.

“Labor participation is affected much less by short-term job creation, and much more by long-term demographic trends. As this chart from the BLS shows, as the Baby Boomers entered the workforce and societal acceptance of women working changed, labor participation grew.

“Now that ‘Boomers’ are retiring we are seeing the percentage of those seeking employment decline. This has nothing to do with job availability, and everything to do with a highly predictable aging demographic.

“What’s now clear is that the Obama administration policies have outperformed the Reagan administration policies for job creation and unemployment reduction. Even though Reagan had the benefit of a growing Boomer class to ignite economic growth, while Obama has been forced to deal with a retiring workforce developing special needs. During the eight years preceding Obama there was a net reduction in jobs in America. We now are rapidly moving toward higher, sustainable jobs growth.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2014/09/05/obama-outperforms-reagan-on-jobs-growth-and-investing/

Obama Outperforms Reagan On Jobs, Growth And Investing

Conventional wisdom is that President Obama has not created jobs, or grown the economy. But data shows he has outperformed President Reagan, and every other modern president

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 7 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-10-07T14:01:33-04:00

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/10/06/obama-threatens-veto-republican-bill-undo-consumer-protections.html

Obama Threatens To Veto Republican Bill That Would Undo Consumer Protections

President Obama is standing up for average Americans by threatening to veto a Republican bill that would undo important consumer protections.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Oct 7 at 2015 3:59 PM

2015-10-07T15:59:23-04:00

The Numbers speak for itself I really don't have to Explain!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2015 9:43 PM

2015-10-07T21:43:58-04:00

Hmmmm..... How many Constitutional violations has he done sir? To many for me to count. How often has he broken the law sir? Almost everyday. He acts like a dictator. If he can't push his agenda through Congress, he then legislates via Executive Order. He even said it himself. That entire statement is flawed and a joke sir.

Response by Cpl Mark McMiller made Oct 9 at 2015 2:48 AM

2015-10-09T02:48:48-04:00

Most incompetent President ever. Most incompetent Commander in Chief ever. Most corrupt Administration ever.

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Oct 9 at 2015 5:42 AM

2015-10-09T05:42:04-04:00

I still cant get over the 'fact' that obama has been a successful president… I feel he set us back 30 with race issues and his constant assult on our constitutional rights makes him the worst president ive had to suffer through… im 48 so thats quite a few…. Last democratic president who was a patriot and a decent human being was jimmy carter. I dispute the 'fact' wholeheartedly. He is trying to get cops killed with his rhetoric and desperately trying to take away our constitutional rights to religion, free speech, and to bear arms…. Its time for a republican administration.

Response by Maj Ron Jones made Oct 9 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-10-09T08:43:17-04:00

Depends on how you really measure success. Jobs is a function of the economy and the economy is an independent thinker. Obama was president during a post-recession recovery but he was hardly the benefactor of it's improvement. External factors shape the economy more than any president does. Just like the 1990s, the downward trend in energy prices will create significant growth this year. Obama had nothing to do with this years economic growth. His previous jobs bill and unemployment insurance proposals were rejected and yet the economy still grew. If anything his administration was responsible for it's slow recovery. When Dodd-Frank was passed, the follow-on regulations that tell lending institutions exactly how law is going to be executed was slow rolled. As a result, lenders sat on their mountains of cash waiting for an outcome and refused to lend to businesses that needed capital--no capital investments, no jobs. Obamacare is a $1 trillion tax on the economy. The argument that fewer sick reduce the drag on the economy only makes sense if everyone who gets insurance actually uses it. Emergency room utilization rates have actually increased since Obamacare was implemented. Then of course there is the national debt. In 2008, we sat at 39% debt to GDP ratio. Today that ratio is 74%. While deficits have declined as tax revenue from an expanding economy grows, that's about to end very soon. Baby boomers are aging out of the workforce and are becoming entitlement beneficiaries. Deficits are projected to climb upward to near $1 trillion per year with no end in sight. Just the interest on the national debt by 2020 will exceed the defense budget. So....what is Obama doing this issue? Nada. He's kicking the crisis to the next president because historically power swings from party to party every 8 years unless the incumbent is highly popular, and there's no better way to keep Democrats in office or regain office than to allow a crisis to be blamed on the opposition party. The same goes with the looming Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund that is about to go bankrupt.

As to your assertions that he's one of the best presidents....historians are probably going to disagree with you. He foreign policy resembles disastrous Jimmy Carter. Our standing with alleys has fallen. Gulf States no longer trust us and Russia knows the US will not retaliate for anything they do. The ONLY legislative achievement has been Obamacare, and while hailed today like COBRA was in 1980s, it will likely be viewed with a great amount of disdain in the future. Drug prices are rising and more people having insurance does not improve the cost of health care. Race relations are clearly worse than when he took office. Many presidents have increased the debt but like maxing out your own personal credit cards, the level now is dangerously high. There hasn't been any budgets and accompanying appropriations bills passed other than continuing resolutions. Sequester was a HIS idea by back-fired immensely. Defense acquisition programs are on life-support (again mirroring Carter's administration)...and military members are getting pay cuts instead of pay increases. A 1.3% pay raise is 1% below inflation. And lastly, his approval ratings rarely ever break 50% and his approval rating floor is only sustained by racial identity rather than those who share ideological values.

Obama is not going to be judged as the worst in history. He did win two elections and that makes him ahead of several who did not. He'll be rated probably in the lower bunch of two-time winners. The economy alone is a poor measure of a president unless they had considerable involvement in shaping it. Obama has left those details to others and only taken credit for endorsing the work of others.

Response by MSgt Peter Castine made Oct 10 at 2015 5:21 PM

2015-10-10T17:21:50-04:00

I am sorry, but I can not respond to this since I find it impossible to respond in a dignified way. I find very little this man has done that is good for this country.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 12 at 2015 8:02 AM

2015-10-12T08:02:11-04:00

Depends on the meaning of the word "Successful"....

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 10:10 AM

2015-10-12T10:10:48-04:00

Because he, like most politicians, takes credit for the good and blames others (usually President Bush) for anything bad that happens. It's fairly easy to see through that. Since most Americans believe what CNN and MSNBC are telling them, this must be all President Obama's doing.

HA! Even the article blames Bush for the negatives. Just plain classic!!

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 12 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-10-12T10:21:58-04:00

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v= [login to see] 28202

Seattle Marines | Facebook

WHY THE MARINES?How is the #MarineCorps different from other military branches? (U.S. Marine Corps video)#SeattleMarine

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 12 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-10-12T10:58:31-04:00

Your post is reminiscent of most everything coming from the administration.. "We are great, the best.. Tell us why you agree with us"

It comes across like the old joke
"Are you still beating your wife?"
No matter how you answer it's wrong.
-No (Ok so you were a wife beater?)
-Yes (OK so you are a wife beater?)
You have made a statement of personal opinion ,and asked everyone to tell you why they agree with you.

Sorry, wont play that game..

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Oct 17 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-10-17T08:43:15-04:00

If he was so great, why would people be questioning his legitimacy and loyalty to our Constitution?

U.S. Military Constitutionally Obligated to Arrest Obama, Congress for Treason The Constitution

Defending the Constitution from domestic threats requires arresting elected officials for treason.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 18 at 2015 5:32 AM

2015-10-18T05:32:42-04:00

https://www.facebook.com/Jim-Webb-For-President [login to see] 950387/

I made a Facebook page showing my support for Senator Webb.

Jim Webb For President

Jim Webb For President. 3 likes. This page/group is not in any way affiliated with Senator Webb or his campaign. I am just tired of getting kicked off...

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 18 at 2015 6:00 AM

2015-10-18T06:00:18-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/30/politics/jim-webb-white-working-people/

Jim Webb: Democrats need to focus more on 'white, working people' - CNNPolitics.com

If Jim Webb had his way, the Democratic Party would return to its "Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Andrew Jackson roots" and put a greater focus on "white, working people."

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 25 at 2015 1:51 PM

2015-10-25T13:51:48-04:00

Success, apparently like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The "jobs added" chart presented as proof of success is comically misleading. It is easily belied by the number of people leaving the workforce in cancerously growing numbers. The "growth" in GDP during his Administration would be comical as well if it weren't so tragically low. The safety of America and its citizens is a disappearing commodity. The ballooning national debt. The printing of worthless money. He has exacerbated race, class, and gender relations to achieve his political goals at the expense of American society. Every advance won by the blood, sweat, and tears of his betters, such as Martin Luther Kind, have been squandered. Beyond all this, Obama is a coward. He has run from every fight. Take the Affordable Care Act for example. He ran from that fight at the first sign of resistance leaving it to Pelosi and Reid to foist it off on the nation through legislative chicanery. The fact that it is commonly known as "Obamacare" is the height of irony. Still, he can find a legion of fools to sing his praises. Glory be to propaganda...

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Oct 28 at 2015 12:13 PM

2015-10-28T12:13:34-04:00

HE HAS!!!!!!!!! Not to what I have seen or care about. But I will not talk politics. One of the fopas in conversation. I was raised you don't talk about sex iin mixed company, religion outside of the home or church, and NO POLITICS!

Personally, I can't wait till he is gone and pray we don't get Hilary, All I got to say about that!

Response by MAJ Thomas Person made Oct 28 at 2015 1:41 PM

2015-10-28T13:41:38-04:00

Sorry I just tasted vomit in my mouth

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Nov 3 at 2015 12:10 PM

2015-11-03T12:10:10-05:00

If by successful you mean 'true to his Marxist ideology', then I cede the point. Ever read his book? OK, so he has federalized 1/5 of the American economy (ObamaCare) over the objection of most citizens, he has set the middle east on fire with his inaction, bifurcating nonsense responses, he has endangered the only Democracy in the region (Israel) and collapsed the economy while piling up more debt than ALL other presidents combined - success, yes if your desire is to diminish American influence around the globe and accelerate the process of making us into a third world nation....by all measurable means success beyond my wildest fears. Thank you spineless RINOs in both the house and senate.

Response by LTC David Brown made Dec 15 at 2015 3:10 PM

2015-12-15T15:10:35-05:00

I really don't think President Obama is that "successful ". We will have added over $9 trillion dollars in national debt when Obama leaves office. The total national debt from when Obama took office will have doubled. We are living on an artificial bubble that is going to burst.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 1 at 2016 7:47 PM

2016-03-01T19:47:22-05:00

I don't. I don't think anything he has done is irreparably broken. But I do believe it will take decades to fix, once we figure out how to fix it.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 1 at 2016 10:42 PM

2016-03-01T22:42:09-05:00

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 1 at 2016 10:43 PM

2016-03-01T22:43:35-05:00

Any chance you are gaming the system? Say something you know will get under the collective RP skin and accumulate points.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 1:14 PM

2016-03-02T13:14:16-05:00

My insurance premiums went up, I now have an abortion clause in it (which costs extra), and my "Cadillac" plan may be going away due to my employer's cost for it. That is must be what you are referring to as success.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 12:13 PM

2016-03-03T12:13:19-05:00

He has been successful only in further dividing the country. That's the mark of, as COL Burleson state, an immoral and corrupt person who cares nothing for others except his own quest for power and money.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Mar 3 at 2016 1:45 PM

2016-03-03T13:45:49-05:00

He learned every aspect of the American political system and used it to his advantage using it against us.

Response by TSgt Lars Eilenfeld made Mar 3 at 2016 1:51 PM

2016-03-03T13:51:46-05:00

Your perception of successful and 70% of the rest of the country have an extremely wide gap between them, I consider Carter to be more successful than these last failed 8 years. If you owned a business then you would understand.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Mar 3 at 2016 2:18 PM

2016-03-03T14:18:11-05:00

What we have mostly seen with the election of President Obama is that a lot of racism that was under the surface has come boiling out in hatred – found a voice not seen for a long time. I heard a talking head last night say part of the GOP’s problem now goes back to the Birther movement. It wasn’t forcefully enough quashed by the GOP powers that be. Although I do recall Senator McCain saying forcefully to a lady that of course President Obama was a citizen.

There has been no –hint- of scandal or impropriety that comes anywhere near the president, the First Lady, his children or any of their affairs.

He has been a good and forceful leader, unafraid to apply military action, but seeking the best courses of action in difficult situations not of his making.

He will surely be considered an of the top 10 or even top 5 presidents. He is without doubt the best president in 50 years.

It is sad and scary that the GOP leaders flaunt their responsibility under the Constitution to consider a Supreme Court Justice when nominated. They embrace racism and think it will make points for them with their constituents. That is the scariest thing.

walt

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Mar 12 at 2016 12:54 AM

2016-03-12T00:54:44-05:00

Keep dreaming, Captain....

President Barack Hussein Obama is certainly a President of firsts. Here's a fairly comprehensive list: (Read them and weep for our nation)

1st African-American President (actually 1/2 African-American) in history.
1st President to come out in open support of gay/lesbian marriage, even though 31 US States have amended their State Constitutions defining marriage as only between one man and one woman.
1st President to claim that under his presidentcy the, "rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal."
1st President to rack up over 5 trillion dollars in debt in less than four years.
1st President to literally bow to foreign heads of state.
1st President to have the national debt exceed 10, 11 , 12 , 13 ,14 and 15 trillion dollars.
1st President to preside over a cut in the credit rating of the United States.
1st president whose Attorney General (or any active member of his cabinet) was citred for contempt of Congress, and in a bi-partisan vote.
1st president to utilize Executive Privelege to cover for his Attorney General about an activity the President claims to have not been involved in, and know nothing about.
1st president whose Attorney General actively lied to Congress and then later had to rescind his testimony regarding his knowledge of a gun running plan to Mexican drug cartels.
1st president whose Attorney General presided over an illegal sale of thousands of illegal weapons to the Mexican drug cartels.
1st President whose Attorney Genral dismissed charges against New Black Panthers who were filmed wearing camo fatigues, wielding billy clubs at voters during the 2008 elections. He dropped the charges.
1st President to have his signature legislation ruled unconstitutional on the grounds it was written on, only to have it ruled constitutional on a tax authority for which it was not written.
1st President to spend a trillion dollars on shovel ready jobs that he later admitted never existed.
1st President to loan hundreds of billions to solar firms going bankrupt, then re-write the loans so the taxpayers were in last place when they went bankrupt and his supporters then walked away rich.
1st President to have coninuous 8% or higher unemployment for over a continuous three year period.
1st President to have millions of Americans give up and leave the searching work force, which made a 10-12% unemployment rate look like it was only 8%.
1st President to preside over a period where over 45% of the American public paid no taxes.
1st President to proclaim at a conference with a foreign leader that the United States is not a Chrsitian Nation.
1st President to appoint a Secretary of Treasury (and five other top posts), an individual who is a tax evader owing the US government tens of thosuands of dollars.
1st President to have over 45% of the American people on Government assistance.
1st President to publically threaten the Supreme Court while it was deciding a case...particular a case regarding his own initiative.
1st President to preside over passing legislation to take over the entire health industry, which proposal and legislation is what the Supreme Court is deciding on.
1st President to deliver a eulogy for a communist activist (Saul Mendelson)
1st President to openly refuse to uphold Federal Law (the Defene of Marriage Act), openly violating his oath of Office to protect and defend the constitution and bear true faith and allegiance to it.
1st President to have 17 vacations in his first four years.
1st President to issue an unlawful recess appointment when the Senate was not in recess (against the advise of his own Justice Department).
1st President to repeatedly and purposely fail to issue Presidential statements at Christmas and Easter.
1st President to call for our ally, Israel to retreat back to the pre-war 1967 borders.
1st President to actively support the overthrow of an allied leader, at peace with Israel, in Egypt and support his replacement by militant Islamics, the Muslim bortherhood.
1st President to cancel the celebration of the National Day of Prayer at the White House but hold a day of Islamic Prayer there during Ramadan.
1st President to sue a State for requiring valid IDs to vote.
1st President to halt deportation of illegal aliens in order to issue them temporary work permits, using his executive powers inappropriately to givve them amnesty.
1st President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing Oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
1st President to sign a bill permitting the government to hold anyone suspected of association with terrorism indefinitely, without due process, no indictment, no judge or jury, no evidence or trial.
1st President to appoint 45 czars to issue directives in lieu of legislation
1st President to bypass Congress and implement the DREAM ACT by executive fiat.
1st President to threaten a private Auto Company (Ford) after it publically made light of bailouts to GM and Chrysler.
1st President to threaten insurance companies after they publically complained that the President's health care legislation was why the had to increase rates.
1st President to terminate America's ability to put a man in space.
1st President to require private companies to disclose their political contribution records before being able to bid on government contracts
1st President to golf over 90 times in his first four years.
1st President to have 22 personal assistants/servants for the 1st lady.
1st Presidnet to have a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000/year at taxpayer expense.
1st president to defy a Federal Court order to cease implementing his "Health Care Reform" law.
1st President to tell a private manufacturing company which state it could or could not locate a factory in.
1st President to refuse to comply with a Congressional Oversight Committee supoena.
1st President to withdraw an existing coal permit to a private company that had been properly applied for and granted years earlier.
1st President to take over a US Auto Company and determine who its executives would be.
1st President to aborgate US Bankruptcy law so he could turn the company over to his Union supporters.
1st President to issue an Executive Order making his educational, travel, and health history a national security secret.
1st President to fire an inspector General of Ameri-corps for catching a friend of the president in a corruption case.
Yep...this is the list of "1st"s this President, Barack Hussein Obama, has accomplished in his first four years.

And the nation was ignorant enough to give him four more years....

Response by BG David Fleming III made Mar 12 at 2016 4:26 PM

2016-03-12T16:26:12-05:00

I applaud your bravery in writing a post like this. It's ashame that others won't maintain an open mind and listen to whats being said. I can't understand why anyone would give a down votes when anyone is expressing a valid point of view. And that’s not partisan rhetoric either!

Response by Cpl Jim Hainen made Mar 13 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-03-13T13:21:12-04:00

Millions of citizens do not agree with you about Obama, maybe the worst US President ever.

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Mar 13 at 2016 4:23 PM

2016-03-13T16:23:27-04:00

Well, let me see. he let me marry my best friend and get "marred" benefits. He is letting my daughter (by my 3rd marriage) join any combat force. He let ALL of my relations come in from Mexico and friends from the middle east. He gave me, my relatives, friends and people I don't know FREE health care. I don't know what I will do when he retires. I can't read, write or speak English. I have no work skills. If I lose my free housing, food stamps and health care I don't know what I can do. Since he is such a nice and giving person, I think I will move in with him. Puke, laugh, cuss, or what ever you make of this deeply thought out response. This is my response and I am sticking to it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2016 5:53 PM

2016-03-13T17:53:53-04:00

Depends on who you ask, what news station you watch, what research you do, and what you choose to accept as truth.

Response by SCPO Carl Wayne Boss made Mar 15 at 2016 12:15 AM

2016-03-15T00:15:44-04:00

I believe the only things O'Bama has been successful at... is creating greater division, hate and discontent between various factions of the Citizenry and has excelled at using Government against "We The People"... via the Dept. of Justice, the EPA, IRS and by using Bureaucrats in any number of those & other Departments of the Federal Government against the citizenry at large.

The economy is in shambles, job creation is at the lowest ebb its seen in years because of the ACA and other regulatory programs "The Administration" has instituted during his watch... and the Country is slowly spiraling into a economic and socially engineered morass from which it may never recover and if Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Sanders are elected as our next President, the destruction of the Country as we've known it in our life times is assured, as it will self-destruct as did the USSR, for a lot of the same reasons.

"It’s just mental immaturity and the words of someone who shouldn’t be taken seriously". Walt...
Indicating anyone's Opinion is "just mental immaturity and the words of someone who shouldn’t be taken seriously"... is in itself a degree of mental immaturity and should be taken with the proverbial "grain of salt"... and the "Degree" of Mr. O'Bama's success or lack there of... will be a long time in it's being proved or dis-proved!

Unfortunately I fear the "successes" will be more on the 'dis-proved' side of the scale... than the other and "We the People" will be the worse off for it.

Response by PO2 Floyd Fowler made Mar 22 at 2016 12:40 AM

2016-03-22T00:40:13-04:00

I don't!

Response by LTC Marc King made Mar 24 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-03-24T12:27:11-04:00

Does this come under you definition of success as well?

Response by SSG James Arlington made Mar 31 at 2016 3:16 PM

2016-03-31T15:16:51-04:00

You are certainly in the minority opinion on this site. I am more middle of the political road. I did not dislike Bush, but Obama is worse? We had a budget surplus when Bush took office. So he and the Republican Congress cut taxes, mostly for the wealthy, and what happened? The deficit went up every year. Oh, and trickle down economics, how did that work out? The bottom line, and I use my right-wing brother as an example, no matter what the facts are, he is gonna believe what he believes based on his political pre-dispositon. Facts mean nothing to him. I gave up pointing out his one-sided political view long ago.

Response by MAJ Thomas Person made Jun 16 at 2016 6:56 PM

2016-06-16T18:56:15-04:00

WTF are your troops doing "CPT"? Get your sorry as& back to work. Not because I am against your right to talk and express an opinion. But you got your say now. The enlisted, NONCOMS, PO's etc whom are looking for genuine guidance, require you to be making decisions that is beneficial to their survival. Not your little "up" votes you check on at night. Good lord when is the last time you looked into a troops rucksack to ensure the load is packed correctly? Hooah!

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jun 23 at 2016 4:22 PM

2016-06-23T16:22:18-04:00

I don't believe he has been successful at all.

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Dec 17 at 2016 7:32 PM

2016-12-17T19:32:21-05:00

Say what?

Response by SFC George Smith made Dec 17 at 2016 10:34 PM

2016-12-17T22:34:11-05:00

in what damn Country...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 12:34 AM

2017-01-02T00:34:55-05:00

Typical liberal propaganda. Jobs created, but what about the lost jobs? Check this article
http://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/how-good-is-job-growth-the-chart-obama-doesnt-want-you-to-see/
Furthermore, what this nation has lost during this administration cannot be simply measured in dollars. The loss of respect as a nation, to our police force, our military, the moral decay in which we are, the bankrupt state of our economic system, that damage is something that will take more than Trump to repair. Only by turning to God and common sense economic principles can this nation be saved.

How Good Is Job Growth? The Chart Obama Doesn't Want You To See

"The longest streak of private-sector job growth on record"! "U.S. businesses have now added 14.4 million jobs over 73 straight months"! "The labor force participation rate rose to 63% in March, the same level as in November 2013"! All those quotes -- minus the excla

Response by MAJ Thomas Person made Jan 2 at 2017 3:09 PM

2017-01-02T15:09:54-05:00

I laughed I cried I shi% my pants. First...I tasted vomit in my mouth then I saw the Gunny's post and spit out my crown & water. Son...if you need attention go back to your company (if they let you have one) and ensure your people have enough class V and batteries for their SATCOMs. You are so pitiful

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 3:21 PM

2017-01-02T15:21:57-05:00

I don't.

Response by SFC Charles Kauffman made Jan 15 at 2017 12:28 AM

2017-01-15T00:28:05-05:00

A soldiers' job is to PROTECT democracy, not PRACTICE it. STFU, keep your opinions to yourself, and do your job!