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Obama warns against giving into election year cynicism

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By JULIE PACE

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Obama was frank about one of his biggest regrets: failing to ease the persistently deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans.

Before you say "it's their (whichever group you disagree with) fault", read this short article. If you're a US American and can only see 'their' motes, look in the mirror. Heal thy self; start by getting out of other countries.

http://edge.org/response-detail/26766

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Kinda sorry when the GOP rebuttal has to implicitly castigate the GOP front runner, but you sleep in the bed you've made.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Sorry, but after Obama's "Change we can believe in!" hype back in 2007, I am much more cynical than I was before. He will be leaving America with more inequality, culturally, and financially, than there was when he was first elected.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

He will be leaving America with more inequality, culturally, and financially, than there was when he was first elected.

For the former, no: Sorry if white guys are losing their prerogatives, but their loss is others' gain. Financially - Sure, but you might ask why that is. Perhaps if the GOP-controlled Congress paid a bit more attention to this, things would be different.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Perhaps if the GOP-controlled Congress paid a bit more attention to this, things would be different.

Perhaps if Obama had not squandered his majorities in both the congress and the senate, things would be different. As has been said in the past, "elections have consequences". It is not the GOP's fault that Obama lost his party's majorities in both houses, in all three mid-term elections, it is Obama's fault. But I guess to some people, democracy only exists if is their particular party is the winner. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

There's possible and impossible, but I agree that actions have consequences - as does inaction. The GOP-controlled Congress passed a bill to nullify the ACA but claims it doesn't have time on its agenda to pass an alternative. They carp about Obama's actions in Syria but refuse to hold a war resolution vote because - well, not enough time + Obama. The House did find time to try to pass a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks only to have it shot down by female members of their own party. And immigration? Hello? Hot air and zero substance is all they can provide.

No wonder Republican partisans are sniping at the GOP response to Obama's address. Laura Ingraham tweets, "The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART." Keep the fire burnin' baby, at least until it finally consumes you! My favorite is Ann Coulter (of course), who suggested "Trump should deport Nikki Haley." Ha ha! Get it? - She's not white, so she must come from Foreignstan!

sangetsu03J, truly, it is not that Obama is too far left (as most true leftists have never stopped shouting); it is that the GOP has moved to the extreme right. The GOP will never recover until this is recognized and rectified.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A black man as president, and an Indian American woman responding for the opposition. How wonderful!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

He specifically called for ending the practice of drawing up some congressional districts in a manner that gives parties an iron grip on House seats.

Republicans have put this action on steroids. At least the courts are starting to slap them down.

He also urged steps to make voting easier

Republicans will not stand for this. They are rolling back early voter registration, passing voter suppression laws, repealing laws that make it easier for young people to register, and passing laws to strip ex-cons of their rights to vote. All because it's easier to do this than it is to create a platform that doesn't alienate Latinos.

and reduce the influence of money in politics.

Again, the GOP will always block any attempts to get massive dark money out of politics.

But enough of that kind of talk. Just how much are Christians being persecuted today because gay people are allowed to marry?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"And that’s why the third big question we have to answer is how to keep America safe and strong without either isolating ourselves or trying to nation-build everywhere there’s a problem... We also can’t try to take over and rebuild every country that falls into crisis... American leadership in the 21st century is not a choice between ignoring the rest of the world — except when we kill terrorists; or occupying and rebuilding whatever society is unraveling."

If the next US President believes otherwise, expect boots on the ground in Syria.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

truly, it is not that Obama is too far left (as most true leftists have never stopped shouting); it is that the GOP has moved to the extreme right.

Buddy, that's not even close to the truth. Liberals have gone way, way off the reservation with their PC and forcefully pushing the country into thinking that progressivism is the absolute best thing for America and as the polls are showing by the way this guy has handled the country over the last almost 8 years, the people vehemently reject those ideologies.

The GOP will never recover until this is recognized and rectified

Maybe so, but the Dems equally need to take a hard and self-check at their record and they way they govern, because the last 8 years are nothing to sit and brag about.

Republicans have put this action on steroids. At least the courts are starting to slap them down.

You mean, the way Obama got slapped around when he thought he could legalize 5 million illegals through executive action and that NOW he thinks his executive action on gun background checks will get a lot of traction circumventing the 2nd amendment?

Will never happen.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Some of these posts could well have been written by Donald Trump ! They sound so, anyway.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Some of these posts could well have been written by Donald Trump ! They sound so, anyway.

If Trump wins, it will be Obama who opened the door for him. Funny how it works, isn't it?

Had Obama done such a great job, the GOP would never have won majorities in the house and senate, and if Obama had done such a great job, the only place we would have seen Trump was on reality TV. But Obama's "recovery" has not helped Americans. America now has the lowest workforce participation since the mid 70's, nearly one-third of America remains on public assistance (also a record), and we have a record number of people working in temporary or part-time positions. Race relations are worse now than they were prior to Obama coming into office, and income inequality is worse. And, no, this is not the fault of the GOP congress or senate, remember, those seats were Obama's to lose, and it is his fault, and only his fault that the GOP runs the congress and senate.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

the way Obama got slapped around

By Fox and Friends. So what? That's what they're around for.

when he thought he could legalize 5 million illegals

Brilliant analysis. I want to read more of your fine journalism in the Washington Post. And how much you could care less. And how much you except reality LOL.

take a hard and self-check

I'll take a hard a self-check on myself first thing in the morning. Thank you.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

"Obama warns against giving into election year cynicism"

Yeah, well, look at what the two major parties are likely to offer us - Hillary Clinton and The Trumpster, lol.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

He specifically called for ending the practice of drawing up some congressional districts in a manner that gives parties an iron grip on House seats.

Republicans have put this action on steroids. At least the courts are starting to slap them down.

To be fair, both Republican AND Democrat legislatures have been guilty of egregious Gerrymandering. The most interesting thing is they usually gerrymander so that the "losing" party is the one with the gerrymandered district. Say I have an area that comprises 10 districts and I want to Gerrymander the districts so that my party always "wins" the elections in that area. I'll re-draw the districts so that the opposing party only has a majority in one of the 10 districts. This guarantees there will likely always be a 9-1 district advantage in that region for your party.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

By Fox and Friends. So what? That's what they're around for.

I meant by the Supreme Court.

Brilliant analysis. I want to read more of your fine journalism in the Washington Post. And how much you could care less. And how much you except reality LOL

As you should.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

“The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It’s not even close,” he said.

This is what the hard left cannot abide.

Whereas I view American power as Liberal Democracies last and best hope.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

“The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It’s not even close,” he said.

Sounds like something Donald Trump would say. And some posters are saying the republicans should be destroyed. Sheesh-

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

A narcissistic divider in chief Obama who lives in what parallel universe talks to his own Minions by painting a chaotic, trouble and confuse world that he created as a great achievement ! ISIS not a big issue? Dictators gone wild around the globe, also no problem? He forgot to include his success in Libya, Yemen, Red line in Syria, the schism between Shiite Iran and Sunni Arabs that he contributed into it....and biggest balloon of national debt that burden young Americans in years to come! Obama has no shame as usual.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

bass: I meant by the Supreme Court

The same Supreme Court that affirmed Obamacare and gay marriage? I think Obama has done quite well overall.

Shall we look at your party? Let's see....gerrymandering losses. Voter suppression law reversals. Slap downs for states trying to defund planned parenthood. Slap downs for states trying to ban refugees. Slap down for religious nut jobs trying to not do their jobs. Slap downs for absurd regulations on welfare recipients. The list of court decisions against Republicans trying to go around the law is getting longer by the day.

And the headline from the bubble: Obama is Lawless.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Sounds like something Donald Trump would say. And some posters are saying the republicans should be destroyed. Sheesh-

Actually, Trump somehow thinks America is not powerful. Why else would his campaign slogan be, "Make America Great Again"?

A narcissistic divider in chief Obama who lives in what parallel universe talks to his own Minions by painting a chaotic, trouble and confuse world that he created as a great achievement ! ISIS not a big issue? Dictators gone wild around the globe, also no problem? He forgot to include his success in Libya, Yemen, Red line in Syria, the schism between Shiite Iran and Sunni Arabs that he contributed into it....and biggest balloon of national debt that burden young Americans in years to come! Obama has no shame as usual.

Pop quiz, Bgood41:

1.) Which branch of the U.S. Government - REGARDLESS of who is sitting in the White House - is directly responsible for expenditures contributing to or reducing the national debt? (Hint: It's NOT the Executive Branch)

Now explain to everyone here how a President could possibly be responsible for the national debt?

In 2001 Bush took over with a National Debt around $5.7 Trillion. After his two terms he handed a national debt of roughly $11.0 Trillion to Obama, an increase of roughly $5.3 Trillion. Bush's presidency had almost DOUBLED the National Debt. . Was BUSH the one who spent all that money he didn't have, or was CONGRESS the ones with the poor monetary skills?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The point is that Obama needed to impress and inspire Democrats, and he clearly did, which is why the address was a success.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The same Supreme Court that affirmed Obamacare and gay marriage? I think Obama has done quite well overall.

23% think Obama has done a great job and 77% of the country think he's done a lousy job with the country, not to mention the economy, jobs and we won't even get into the foreign policy debate.

Shall we look at your party? Let's see....gerrymandering losses.

Yeah and who controls the house and senate? By the way, how's Hillary's poll numbers been doing recently? They surely are trying not to talk about it and what's worse, you guys have an old 74 year old that just may take the nomination from her possibly.

Voter suppression law reversals.

But it's ok for Blacks to intimidate white voters at the polls, that acceptable, right?

Slap downs for states trying to defund planned parenthood.

Wait until the next next budget funding rolls in, you might be surprised what's on the chopping block.

Slap downs for states trying to ban refugees.

Basically, screw the people that put this guy in office, how the majority feel is really irrelevant. That's it, keep driving more people into Trump's arms.

Slap down for religious nut jobs trying to not do their jobs. Slap downs for absurd regulations on welfare recipients.

But it's ok that welfare has gone up close to 48% across the country. Thanks a lot, we know have a shrinking middle class and a rising welfare class. Great job, Obama, we just went backwards.

The list of court decisions against Republicans trying to go around the law is getting longer by the day.

But Obama takes the crown for being THE MOST partisan and constitutional obstructionist ever to occupy the White House. For some reason, you liberals keep forgetting that.....or selectively trying to.

And the headline from the bubble: Obama is Lawless.

Obama is a lot of things, some I can't even mention on this site.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

But Obama takes the crown for being THE MOST partisan and constitutional obstructionist ever to occupy the White House. For some reason, you liberals keep forgetting that.....or selectively trying to.

Nah, we just don't live in the bubble, and since we aren't fed the lies, we realize that he is actually a very good president who has done a lot for the country, the economy, the poor, AND the rich, while fostering a positive attitude of America around the world.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

bass: we know have a shrinking middle class and a rising welfare class. Great job, Obama

It's been shrinking for decades regardless of whom is in the White House. The lie the bubble tells is that it all started when we elected a black President. Who is probably from Kenya. And might be a Muslim.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whereas I view American power as Liberal Democracies last and best hope.

If you want a wussified country that is becoming the US of debt, laziness, welfare and stamp recipients, then you might think it's the best thing for the country.

Nah, we just don't live in the bubble,

You do if you followed and believed every lie that came out of his mouth.

and since we aren't fed the lies

But you were, all of it.

, we realize that he is actually a very good president who has done a lot for the country, the economy, the poor, AND the rich, while fostering a positive attitude of America around the world.

So having literally have the country on food stamps, increasing the welfare system, increasing the debt, keeping minorities on government assistance programs, having a severely failed and laughable foreign policy, having destroyed the middle class, a sluggish economy a weak and pathetic military. You would have to be on the absolute best psychedelic drug there is on the market today to take this nut job seriously.

It's been shrinking for decades regardless of whom is in the White House.

True, but Obama just added more steroids to it.

The lie the bubble tells is that it all started when we elected a black President.

It's only a bubble if individuals want to scurry from the truth.

Who is probably from Kenya. And might be a Muslim

Hmmmmm......

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

but Obama just added more steroids to it.

The bubble teaches its followers that the Republican recession that Obama inherited did not exist. It all started with the black President.

Hmmmmmm

Don't be shy. Tell us all about your belief that Obama is a secret Muslim working against America. Need some courage?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The bubble teaches its followers that the Republican recession that Obama inherited did not exist.

But further helped in perpetuating and increasing it, go on....

It all started with the black President.

The 2nd part? It sure did.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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