31 thoughts on “Obama’s Legacy”

  1. Fortunately the U.S. is much less entangled in today’s Middle East disasters than we were in those of 2008.

    And looking around the world, the U.S. is in general much better liked than we were eight years ago.

    For example, over that period our approval rating has changed:

    France: +31%
    Germany: +19%
    Italy: +30%
    Poland: +6%
    Spain: +32%
    UK: +12%
    Russia: -31%
    Turkey: +17%
    Israel: +3%
    Jordan: -5%
    Lebanon: -12%
    Palestinian Territories: +13%
    Australia: +17%
    China: +3%
    Indonesia: +25%
    Japan: +18%
    Malaysia: +27%
    Pakistan: +3%
    South Korea: +14%
    Argentina: +21%
    Chile: +13%
    Mexico: +19%
    Peru: +9%
    Ghana: +9%
    Tanzania: +13%
    South Africa: +14%
    Kenya: -3%

    1. Fortunately the U.S. is much less entangled in today’s Middle East disasters than we were in those of 2008.

      I’m sure that all of the people being beheaded, crucified, raped and burned alive are relieved to hear that.

      And I should care whether other countries “like” us because…?

      1. Being liked, especially by the citizens of countries we consider friends and/or allies and/or trading partners, is a measure of our influence. That is a good thing for us, and for the world.

        1. With a NAZI on the ticket, Democrats are down with genocide again. Its popular, so it must be ok…

          1. So show me a poll that says we’re less respected internationally today than in 2008. I strongly suspect the opposite is true.

          3. I can just go on the behavior of Putin, the mullahs, China…

            Funny that you only cite the opinions of the unelected leaders of our rivals/enemies, as if the approval of allies is of no consequence. And even there, how can you tell what tyrants think of us based on their actions? Didn’t you recently disclaim mind reading abilities? Putin invaded Ukraine in 2014; does that mean he didn’t respect the U.S.? Or does it just mean that he saw Russia losing control of an important border state, and was reduced to holding onto part of it by force? Do you think he would have refrained if there’d been a Republican in the White House?

          4. Do you think he would have refrained if there’d been a Republican in the White House?

            Depends on who. If you got kicked in the head every time you did a thing, might you hesitate?

            If you faced someone completely unpredictable, how do you risk a response?

    2. the U.S. is much less entangled

      I just heard on the news that the military is robbing essential services to maintain our obligations… this doesn’t sound like less entangled.

    3. Since Obama took office:

      Germany: -13%
      France: -2%
      Italy: n/a (big fudge there, Jim)
      Poland: +7%
      Spain: +7%
      UK: -4%

      Lots of fudging going on there, Jim. The world thought Obama was the Messiah, but over time realized he was just a guy.

      1. You’re comparing 2015 to 2009, Obama to Obama. We’re doing much better than in 2007/2008 in all those countries.

        1. Of course I am. That’s my point. Don’t you get it? He’s significantly declined after his Messiah phase.

        2. Did you check dates, Jim? You’ve shown 2009 numbers before only to screw up beginning 2009 (Bush) and end of 2009 (Obama). Your history of understanding this is poor.

    4. “For example, over that period our approval rating has changed:”

      Perhaps you might need to get your affirmation form other people or countries.

      Unlike you, serious adults are not affirmation hogs.

      1. The thread is about Obama’s foreign policy legacy. Gaining the approval of the citizens of allied and friendly nations around the world is a major positive legacy. Would you rather have the people of countries we rely on for trade and security disapprove of the U.S.?

        3. Not surprising that you fail to see how foreign policy affects the happiness and well-being of the citizens – you know, the citizens Obama is supposed to represent.

          You also fail to see how Obama’s – and evidently yours – raging desire to be liked can – and has – cost the citizens heavily.

          You would love to try and separate foreign policy legacy from the legacy of how well the citizens’ rights, liberties and freedoms were protected. But that won’t be allowed simply because it’s reality.

        4. “Would you rather have the people of countries we rely on for trade and security disapprove of the U.S.?”

          I would rather we do what is right and best for us, deal squarely with other countries, and leave the Sally Fields affirmations to children.

          You just can’t live without other countries approving, can you?

          Wow

    5. So Obama made the PLO happier by 13%, and Jim is happy about this. Meanwhile, Jordan and Lebanon are more unhappy. Perhaps Jim ought to consider this is a discussion about Obama’s Legacy in the Middle East, and that our long time allies have been Jordan and Lebanon, and not the PLO.

      Pull quote:”Meanwhile, Obama’s image in the Middle East is mixed or negative, with more than eight-in-ten Jordanians and Palestinians giving him poor marks.”

      It seems Obama’s Legacy in the Middle East is a disaster.

      Great job with Kenya too!

      Also note Jim’s argument about siding with Putin, yet in Jim’s link, the country most opposed to US action against ISIS is… Russia, followed by Obama’s new friend Argentina!

  2. Our foreign policy should take on one country at a time, make it American (like Puerto Rico) then move on to the next…

    It’s highlander… there can be only one.

  3. The reality that Obama has made the Middle East even more of a flaming dumpster fire than his past three predecessors is pretty impressive when you consider how messed up the Middle East was after Clinton I and GWB. Unfortunately even he could’ve done worse, which I get the feeling we’ll get to see first hand if we get stuck with a Clinton vs. Trump election…

    It’s like the old British Officer Candidate Evaluation line I once heard: “The candidate started at rock bottom, and commenced digging from there”…

    ~Jon

    1. Well after GWB did a Hot War on Iraq, Obama cheapened it out by doing a Proxy War, kind of like those in the Cold War, but in Syria and Libya. Problem is when you finance someone else do to the fighting for you against an existing government you get fringe supporters and quite often you get madmen who are even worse than those prior in charge.

      If it wasn’t for Afghanistan GWB would also have invaded North Korea around the time Iraq was invaded. It was all there written in the PNAC policy statements prior to him being elected. To stop the existing situations of cease-fire and “solve” supposed loose ends. At least in Iraq that policy failed miserably.

      And no the idea that it would work with more soldiers was always idiotic as was comparing Iraq back then with Germany or Japan on WW2. Japan is an island nation and Germany was surrounded by Allies or other people not interested in unrest on all sides. Iraq had Syria and Iran on its borders. It was never going to work. Just like North Korea and Vietnam never worked because they had material support from the neighboring countries which always kept the internal unrest levels high.

      1. If it wasn’t for Afghanistan GWB would also have invaded North Korea around the time Iraq was invaded. It was all there written in the PNAC policy statements prior to him being elected. To stop the existing situations of cease-fire and “solve” supposed loose ends. At least in Iraq that policy failed miserably.

        That’s pretty oblivious to reality. China would get in the way of any such games.

        And no the idea that it would work with more soldiers was always idiotic as was comparing Iraq back then with Germany or Japan on WW2. Japan is an island nation and Germany was surrounded by Allies or other people not interested in unrest on all sides. Iraq had Syria and Iran on its borders. It was never going to work. Just like North Korea and Vietnam never worked because they had material support from the neighboring countries which always kept the internal unrest levels high.

        The thing is, the surge did work. Amazing how you can ignore the obvious.

        1. If Jim didn’t ignore the obvious he’d have to face up to years of delusion and error. I don’t think many humans could withstand the realization of that much just plain wrongness.

  4. Notwithstanding Jim’s desire to be able to replicate a Sally Field’s character (“They LIKE me! They really LIKE me!”), grown ups understand that a presidential legacy is built upon whether or not the liberty, rights and freedoms of the citizens has been safeguarded or even improved. The legacy depends upon whether the Constitution has been preserved, protected and defended against all enemies foreign or domestic.

    that is the oath he swore and he has failed that oath entirely. To suggest his job is anything else is to exhibit buffoonery on a catastrophic and rather embarassing level.

    From the Middle East to the Boston Marathon, San Bernadino to Obamacide (every day there are more articles of how it’s becoming more and more destructive and disasterous), to weaponization of the IRS, to throttling free discourse – in fact to upholding the very Bill of Rights, Obama has, in the last 7.x years destroyed or severely damaged the liberties, rights, freedoms of the citizens he represents.

    He has most decidedly not preserved, protected and defended the Constitution against all enemies foreign or domestic.

    In fact he is one of the biggest domestic enemies of the Constitution that there ever was.

    His legacy will be shameful as his presidency was and is shameful.

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