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Obama urges nation to 'forge unity' after bitter election

33 Comments
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

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Nah, he was awesome.

I know that it's absolutely impossible to convince the haters that he did a good job. But the numbers, both in the things he did, and the support he has at the end of the presidency, show him to be awesome. History is only going to be better than him.

Prediction of my next post in this thread: "Haters gon' hate".

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Obama really shines in these moments. He brings a sense of humanity to the issue.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

"Next battle will be Trump & basket of deplorable Vs. George Soros (Globalist socialist) & the 1% liberal elites"

Aren't the elites, liberal or not, looking forward to a tax cut under Trump?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

True. Another right of democracy is voting and acceptance of the results. What these millenials are doing is not democratic!!

Yes it is. It's peaceful protest (as long as it's peaceful). One of the rights of democracy is the right to protest the system of democracy.

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Respectable is not the first adjective that comes to my mind regarding President Obama. Shrewd is

Respectable comes to my mind first.

But shrewd is a good adjective for a president too. Very important quality.

Truly an amazing man.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle have preserved their role in history. Let's hope that his Pivot to Asia policies will remain intact.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@turbo Yesterday read Elizabeth Warren pledged to work with Trump, today read she is urging people to fight him.

You do understand, I hope, the difference between a US Senator and a US citizen.

As a senator she has to work with the president as part of her job; she says she will. (After all, she's not a Republican, i.e. not a member of what is now The Party, those who once saw their job as working against the president.)

As a senator she has the right to communicate with her constituency as she pleases, knowing that individual citizens have the right to protest and dissent, a right that hopefully will survive the coming administration.

The Party now has the executive, legislative, and soon the judicial branches under their control. It will be interesting to watch how disagreements and criticisms of any sort will be dealt with by them.

Senator Warren is an extremely intelligent woman. No doubt she's concerned that such a small group of men have so much power. And she well should be.

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Obama really shines in these moments. He brings a sense of humanity to the issue.

The man truly is respectable. Of course, he's been entirely disrespected over the past few years. But the fact that he remains so respectable and respectful even after all that is not only an example, but a true testament to the man he is.

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My predictions are not so hot these days it seems! haha

The anti-trump rioters on the streets, fascists in spirit, are the haters.

I actually haven't had time to look into it (this has been a really busy week for me), but if it is non-violent protest, then I wouldn't call it fascist at all. One of the rights of democracy is the right to non-violent protest. This is what bothered me most about the people who complained about Colin Kaepernick's protest. If black people riot, people call them animals (or at least treat them as such). So we get a guy who does the right thing - a non-violent protest, something protected by the right of constitution, and he still gets hated on for not respecting the flag.

If the protestors are getting violent however, I decry that absolutely.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Outrider: "one of the many great things abt hillary losing was that we wouldnt have the shrill, hysterical , voice like chalk on a blackboard elizabeth warren inflicted on us in some senior govt position."

Good example of the pettiness in action that I spoke of. Well done!

" But I dont hear the "progressives" applying that word to them. At this point Im not at all surprised though."

He says while condescending and doing exactly what he pretends to be against.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

To what end exactly?

No idea. I asked that question the other day. Maybe the end of a system where one candidate can get more votes but still not win?

Whatever happened to the power of majority?

It got Trumped by the electoral college.

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Katsu78,

Very well said.

The First Amendment that let Donald Trump spew bile about women and minorities protects those protesters, too. Can't have your cake and eat it.

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Thank you President Obama, for your excellent service. Americans need to grow up and realize what statesmanship, civility, patience, humility and empathy are all about.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Well cry me a river. That's not going to change.

Maybe, maybe not. But it's the people's right to non-violent protest if they don't like it.

The results however they make you feel must be respected.

They must be accepted. They don't have to be respected.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

And one more note: don't bother to drag Mr. Trump into this to prove a case for Mr. Obama's "respectability" by contrast.

We await your hagiography of the former with baited breath.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Maybe, maybe not. But it's the people's right to non-violent protest if they don't like it.

Well I guess everyones entitled to waste their own time then.

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Fred WallaceNOV. 12, 2016 - 01:39PM JST To what end exactly? Whatever happened to the power of majority? It's politics for crying out loud nor a people pleasing contest!!

When the majority of white Americans are comfortable voting for an aspiring authoritarian strongman who speaks glowingly of some of the world's worst dictators and campaigns on hate and division, when the first 24 hours of that candidate's victory are marked by a surge in hate crimes, racial/sexual/religious harassment and assault, and when the majority of white Americans are comfortable turning their backs on all of that because they threw a bit of a tanty about not being the center of attention for 8 years, it is essential that people who want to take a stand against that kind of hatred and intolerance be allowed to do so.

It's not about overturning the vote. It's about putting American whites on notice that we're not going to sit idly by and let them abuse everyone who looks a little different.

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Bill Murphy, excellent view on Obama. Thanks.

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SenseNotSoCommon at Nov. 12, 2016 - 02:48PM JST And one more note: don't bother to drag Mr. Trump into this to prove a case for Mr. Obama's "respectability" by contrast.

We await your hagiography of the former with baited breath. ............................................................................................................... To repeat, I don't do biographies much less hagiographies but neither am I an iconoclast. You may have good things to say about Mr. Obama and you are free to do so. Feel free to comment on Mr. Trump's shortcomings as I have on Mr. Obama's. And that's "bated", not "baited".

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

And pay no attention to those Soros-funded / Creamer-funded protestors. I guess they're just running on fumes from the money pipeline.

Yesterday read Elizabeth Warren pledged to work with Trump, today read she is urging people to fight him.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Americans need to grow up and realize what statesmanship, civility, patience, humility and empathy are all about.

..... while unemployed, no raise, foreclosed on, insurance premiums and deductibles rise, roads not fixed, spying on citizens continues, their taxes spent fighting hegemonic wars and proxy wars; yeah Americans, grow up, somewhere over the Rainbow. Pfff

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Obama and Hillary should speak out against the anarchist professional paid protester organizers in showing the unity of republic. Hillary should screams out to them " Does it matter? what's difference does it make at this point in time?" as during Benghazi hearing. The Bush(s), Clinton(s), are history. Obama soon will be gone to make $$$$$$, especially from Muslim nations. Next battle will be Trump & basket of deplorable Vs. George Soros (Globalist socialist) & the 1% liberal elites, including media. Stay tune in years to come.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

After calling Trump a unfit and KKK member, he now asks for unity. What a hypocrite.

He didn't call him a KKK member. So your determination that he is a hypocrite is fantasy.

Well I guess everyones entitled to waste their own time then.

I agree with you on that.

...it's why I post here ;)

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Horrible president. Example: Man loses his fulltime job with benefits. He is forced to work three part-time jobs to make up for the lost income. Obama's take: "Hey America, we just created two more jobs!" So, I'm really not interested in his opinion on anything.

Trump is not to blame for libtards acting out. It's the mainstream media which is to blame and specifically the unbelievably biased New York Times which is now bleeding readers and money and deservedly so.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

one of the many great things abt hillary losing was that we wouldnt have the shrill, hysterical , voice like chalk on a blackboard elizabeth warren inflicted on us in some senior govt position.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

One of the rights of democracy is the right to non-violent protest

True. Another right of democracy is voting and acceptance of the results. What these millenials are doing is not democratic!!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Yes it is. It's peaceful protest (as long as it's peaceful). One of the rights of democracy is the right to protest the system of democracy.

To what end exactly? Whatever happened to the power of majority? It's politics for crying out loud nor a people pleasing contest!!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

After calling Trump a unfit and KKK member, he now asks for unity. What a hypocrite.

In effect he is admitting that we can not believe one word he says.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Katsu78 wrote: "It's not about overturning the vote. It's about putting American whites on notice that we're not going to sit idly by and let them abuse everyone who looks a little different." .............................................................................................................. "American whites". I like that. Thanks, Katsu78. I have an identity now. I thought I was an "American".

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

obama does the "class" thing well. He is intelligent,personable and "presidential" and puts the perfect face on the business as usual politics that Americans are heartily sick and tired of. He was never an agent for change and I believe will not be a standout president from a historical perspective. He backed a loser in hillary.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Strangerland, Im not a "hater" of Obama. Id like to meet him, itd be a real pleasure. I disagree with a lot of his politics and that hes been upholding the status quo. I wish him well. The anti-trump rioters on the streets, fascists in spirit, are the haters. But I dont hear the "progressives" applying that word to them. At this point Im not at all surprised though.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Strangerland wrote about President Obama: "The man truly is respectable. Of course, he's been entirely disrespected over the past few years. But the fact that he remains so respectable and respectful even after all that is not only an example, but a true testament to the man he is." ....................................................... Respectable is not the first adjective that comes to my mind regarding President Obama. Shrewd is. This aspect of his character has been evident since the start of his political career in Illinois in 1997. Writing about that time in the NYT of July 30, 2007 Janny Scott said "he was a neophyte promising reform in a culture that a University of Illinois political studies professor describes as 'really tough and, frankly, still quite corrupt'" and "a politician capable of playing hardball to win election, ... a legislator with a sharp eye for an opportunity, a strategist willing to compromise to accomplish things." Praise from the NYT. No complaints here. A very adroit politician who skillfully shouldered Hillary Clinton out of his way in 2008. That was accomplishing something. However justified compromise may be at times, there are limits if integrity is to be maintained. Writing in National Review on December 1, 2008, David Freddoso asked "Which Obama will be president?" He continued by saying that Todd Stroger was Barack Obama's "legacy" in Chicago. As a member of the Cook County Board (Chicago and some suburbs) Mr. Stroger was associated with a large tax increase involving "a number of unanswered questions and unresolved issues" resulting in one suburb threatening to secede from the county. (Wikipedia: "Todd H. Stroger") In short, corruption involving nepotism and creation of 1,000 new county jobs (traditionally given to Democratic Party loyalists). Freddoso continued by saying that, in 2006, "... Obama helped save Cook County's Political Machine Dynasty by endorsing Stroger for Cook County board president as 'a good, progressive Democrat.' In doing so, he preserved the status quo in Chicago and thwarted a serious attempt by BIPARTISAN (emphasis mine) reformers to clean up their city's politics." Rather than join the reformers Mr. Obama shrewdly backed Mr. Stroger thereby earning the support of the Chicago Machine which is always necessary to carry Illinois in presidential contests. Foresight. So, the man is "respectable"? Yes, if it's shrewdness and self-interest that make one respectable. And one more note: don't bother to drag Mr. Trump into this to prove a case for Mr. Obama's "respectability" by contrast.

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Maybe the end of a system where one candidate can get more votes but still not win?

Well cry me a river. That's not going to change. The results however they make you feel must be respected.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

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