US Election 2016

[watt price tully]

[watt price tully]

[HAL]

[stui magpie]

For those (David, i'm looking at you) who think the earth will end under a Trump presidency, good read about the actual practicalities of the POTUS power.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/president-trump-10-reasons-not-to-be-afraid-when-trump-takes-office/news-story/9f7183a7e0561ccb608309155e345474

[David]

Not really telling me anything I didn't know, but worth posting anyway � the US cult of personality is such that it often does seem as if a lot of people really do believe that the presidency is the only significant seat of power within the US government. Nonetheless, Trump and his administration do have power to do a lot of damage at home and abroad (and congress is run by extremists anyway, if not necessarily pro-Trump extremists), so I'm not exactly wearing rose-coloured glasses right now.

One quibble with the article:

[stui magpie]

^

yeah, dunno. look at the birth of the Alt right to counter the SJW's.

newtons third law in application

[David]

That's just a narrative about the alt-right's birth and not one I necessarily agree with. I think it's just as likely that it emerged as an offshoot of the radical rhetoric of the Tea Party and other radical anti-Obama forces � Obama, let's not forget, being about as moderate as it gets. Some of it was a direct response to feminism etc., but imho it predates the emergence of identitarianism (AKA the 'SJWs').

Certainly, I've always believed that extreme forces feed off each other, but that's not quite the same thing. You may get a few more radical left-wing anarchists throwing bricks through shop windows now, but that's more likely to help Trump than it is any coherent left-liberal movement. I suspect the opposition to Trump will spread too far across the political spectrum for the left to benefit from this. It's all about supply and demand.

[Morrigu]

Just curious what exactly did Obama actually achieve in his 8 years apart from being a good orator David?

That is a serious question - I don't give a fats rats about the Septics so pay little attention and so maybe I missed his achievements?

[David]

I'm no expert on US domestic policy either, but my impression is also precious little � with a few exceptions. Firstly, the Affordable Care Act, which was a hugely important piece of legislation and could have laid the groundwork for a real shift in the way public health is treated in the US (unfortunately, it looks likely that Trump and the Republican congress will do their best to tear it to pieces). The other two acts of significance were the treaty with Iran (another that might be headed for the shredder) and the thawing of relations with Cuba, both big steps forward for world peace and security. His response to the GFC saved a great many Americans from the scourge of austerity politics and stopped the country as a whole from falling into a much deeper economic hole. These, at least, are significant achievements; but they are not enough on their own to make him the great reformer he wanted to be.

At the end of the day, he has a pretty good excuse: the last six of his eight years in office were spent wrestling with an absolutely and unbendingly obstructionist congress � think Malcolm Fraser's Liberal opposition during the Whitlam years multiplied by 10. Almost everything that he put up, they knocked down; not because of different opinions on policy but because a great deal of the Tea Party base were treating Obama like the antichrist, and any negotiation would be seen as an act of weakness. That situation pretty much ensured that he had one arm tied behind his back for most of his time in office, and as a result could often only get symbolic stuff through.

I'm sure I'm overlooking a lot of good, low-profile bread-and-butter social, economic and/or climate policy that he passed over his two terms. But for me, Obama's greatest achievement was what he didn't do: for eight years, America managed not to start any destructive wars (its ill-advised meddling in Libya notwithstanding), increase the likelihood of global conflict or heap further misery upon its own disadvantaged citizens. For all his flaws and for all the roadblocks in his way, he kept things rolling along fairly functionally. By the time 2020 rolls around, I think a lot of people will be looking back on the Obama presidency with well-placed nostalgia.

[swoop42]

[think positive]

[Morrigu]

[Mugwump]

[Morrigu]

[HAL]

Nearly so. All things that he put up they knocked down; not because of different opinions on policy but because of the Tea Party base were treating Obama like the antichrist and a negotiation would be seen as an act of weakness ?