In the 2008 campaign Obama paid homage to Reagan's transformational presidency as opposed to Clinton's presidency (maybe a dig at his opponent's husband). What he meant is that Reagan took some Democrats and moved America center-right, for good or bad. Obama may have done the same but to the center-left, whether you think the nation moves and he just benefited.
When the Democrats lost the 2014 mid-terms Obama used executive actions on Cuba and the DREAM Act for children of illegal immigrants. He then owned the 4th quarter, à la Steph Curry. HE decoupled the fast track trade promotion Bill from workers' protection to help his Trans-Pacific Partnership - a generational trade act that will surely cause growth in many economies. His sanctions on Russia and the oil and gas leadership of the USA has driven the Russian Rubble to rubble, and Iran wants in on the rest of civilization. He was wise to stay out of the internecine Sunni-Shiite strife in borders that are meaningless in the Middle East and demurred on Crimea while using the Ukraine to keep NATO as a reverse Cuban missile crisis.
What a week Obama had - aided by his Harvard buddy John Roberts (who Obama voted against in his confirmation hearings) who is a non-deconstructionist Supreme Court Justice and Justice Kennedy - a Reagan appointee - who brought heart to intellectual rigor on jurisprudence.
Here now for caribny's opportunity to attack Obama as a non-caring Black are some of Obama's legacy.
- Brought the US economy back from the brink – 800,000 jobs being lost monthly; Trillions of dollars of lost stock value in the US economy thus dampening demand; auto industry saved; bankruptcies in the banking sector that were under-capitalized; hundreds of thousands of homes under water (mortgages more than the value of the houses); etc.
- Stopped America’s involvement in lives and money in stupid wars, especially in the Middle East, and more effective use of military assets to hunt down and destroy terrorists.
- Obamacare – finally America has joined the rest of the developed world in helping provide universal health insurance to its citizens while still keeping medical services delivery 100% in the private sector. This is a generational landmark piece of social legislation. Medical costs have come down and a discipline is in the market place that was absent in the wild-west days.
- The Shadow Banking system is now a little more transparent with Dodd-Frank.
- Same Sex marriage now legal under Federal law (the Supreme Court ruling).
- The Trade pact with Asia – another generational landmark economic piece of legislation – will soon come to pass; as will one with Europe towards the end of Obama’s Presidency.
- America is now the largest oil and gas producer in the world.
- Restoring America’s pride abroad after Bush ruined it.
- Opening up trade and travel with Cuba – after half-a-century.
- A soon-to-be-signed Iran nuclear deal.
- IS on the run after Bush’s Iraq policy created it from Saddam’s former Baathist Generals.
- The greatest job growth in America’s history (surpassing the Clinton days).
…….and so it goes….on and on……