This is an article by David Brooks, resident conservative from the NYTimes. I generally don't agree with Brooks, but he's thoughtful and serious. It's nice to see that he recognizes the class and grace of Barack and Michelle.
As this primary season has gone along, a strange sensation has come over me: I miss Barack Obama. Now, obviously I disagree with a lot of Obama’s policy decisions. I’ve been disappointed by aspects of his presidency. I hope the next presidency is a philosophic departure.
But over the course of this campaign it feels as if there’s been a decline in behavioral standards across the board. Many of the traits of character and leadership that Obama possesses, and that maybe we have taken too much for granted, have suddenly gone missing or are in short supply.
The first and most important of these is basic integrity. The Obama administration has been remarkably scandal-free. Think of the way Iran-contra or the Lewinsky scandals swallowed years from Reagan and Clinton.
We’ve had very little of that from Obama. He and his staff have generally behaved with basic rectitude. Hillary Clinton is constantly having to hold these defensive press conferences when she’s trying to explain away some vaguely shady shortcut she’s taken, or decision she has made, but Obama has not had to do that.
He and his wife have not only displayed superior integrity themselves, they have mostly attracted and hired people with high personal standards. There are all sorts of unsightly characters floating around politics, including in the Clinton camp and in Gov. Chris Christie’s administration. This sort has been blocked from team Obama.
Second, a sense of basic humanity. Donald Trump has spent much of this campaign vowing to block Muslim immigration. You can only say that if you treat Muslim Americans as an abstraction. President Obama, meanwhile, went to a mosque, looked into people’s eyes and gave a wonderful speech reasserting their place as Americans.
He’s exuded this basic care and respect for the dignity of others time and time again. Let’s put it this way: Imagine if Barack and Michelle Obama joined the board of a charity you’re involved in. You’d be happy to have such people in your community. Could you say that comfortably about Ted Cruz? The quality of a president’s humanity flows out in the unexpected but important moments.
Third, a soundness in his decision-making process. Over the years I have spoken to many members of this administration who were disappointed that the president didn’t take their advice. But those disappointed staffers almost always felt that their views had been considered in depth.
Obama’s basic approach is to promote his values as much as he can within the limits of the situation. Bernie Sanders, by contrast, has been so blinded by his values that the reality of the situation does not seem to penetrate his mind.
Take health care. Passing Obamacare was a mighty lift that led to two gigantic midterm election defeats. As Megan McArdle pointed out in her Bloomberg View column, Obamacare took coverage away from only a small minority of Americans. Sanderscare would take employer coverage away from tens of millions of satisfied customers, destroy the health insurance business and levy massive new tax hikes. This is epic social disruption.
To think you could pass Sanderscare through a polarized Washington and in a country deeply suspicious of government is to live in intellectual fairyland. President Obama may have been too cautious, especially in the Middle East, but at least he’s able to grasp the reality of the situation.
Fourth, grace under pressure. I happen to find it charming that Marco Rubio gets nervous on the big occasions — that he grabs for the bottle of water, breaks out in a sweat and went robotic in the last debate. It shows Rubio is a normal person. And I happen to think overconfidence is one of Obama’s great flaws. But a president has to maintain equipoise under enormous pressure. Obama has done that, especially amid the financial crisis. After Saturday night, this is now an open question about Rubio.
Fifth, a resilient sense of optimism. To hear Sanders or Trump, Cruz and Ben Carson campaign is to wallow in the pornography of pessimism, to conclude that this country is on the verge of complete collapse. That’s simply not true. We have problems, but they are less serious than those faced by just about any other nation on earth.
People are motivated to make wise choices more by hope and opportunity than by fear, cynicism, hatred and despair. Unlike many current candidates, Obama has not appealed to those passions.
No, Obama has not been temperamentally perfect. Too often he’s been disdainful, aloof, resentful and insular. But there is a tone of ugliness creeping across the world, as democracies retreat, as tribalism mounts, as suspiciousness and authoritarianism take center stage.
Obama radiates an ethos of integrity, humanity, good manners and elegance that I’m beginning to miss, and that I suspect we will all miss a bit, regardless of who replaces him.
I'll miss him although I didnt vote for him when he was first elected to office. I just fed up with ALL political views and the politicians (I voted for Ralph Nader) pushing those issues......back then Jesus could've run for office and I wouldn't have voted for him.
I see in the above article they used my motto grace under pressure. This President has been graceful under intense pressure to succeed and getting this country back on track. I believe for the most part he's accomplished this while I still disagree with some of his decisions.
Also almost 40 years ago Richard Pryor almost nailed this current President as to being cool and showing grace under pressure. Just DON'T talk about his mama.
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
yeah right.....good riddance, I can't wait to see them both slither out of the white house. I don't know if Trump (or who ever wins) will be a good president but I'm ready for "real change" although Hitlery worries me.....
Excellent video, dignin! The contrast between Obama and Trump can't be much clearer than that. A President - any leader - should be able to address the situation, keep his/her composure, and offer a clear, concise explanation of the message being delivered.
I saw the video posted above a little earlier today. What class! He will be a hard act to follow and a good example for future generations. Despite not always agreeing on everything he's done, overall, a mighty fine job I say.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Compared with what we are about to get..... Actually yes. And I'm not a huge fan. But he is not as nuts as Bernie, as criminal as Hillary, as scary as Trump, as creepy as Cruz....
I generally like Obama, as POTUSes go. I did and do have a real issue with how he's handled the whole NSA thing, and of course I'm very disappointed by his continuing US support of Israel. I'm not sure how much he could have really changed on those fronts given the outrageous blind opposition he's faced for 8 years, but I would have at least liked to have seen him try. Those are two big, bad issues. However, he's done about as well as anyone else could have been expected to do, and did MUCH MUCH better than anyone he's beaten in his two elections could have, and probably better than any of those who ran in those respective primaries could have too. Plus, I genuinely believe that Obama is a decent human being, which is a big deal for a politician.
Michelle Obama has been nothing less than spectacular as the First Lady. I think she's the best First Lady the US has ever had.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Yeah miss smart articulate successful black president with class? Nah
I didn't say he wasn't what you mentioned..I just won't miss him.
Wasn't directed at you necessarily as I don't know you personally but feel this is the issue for many Americans. Now when I hear the word Barry it leads credence to my thought.
Do though let us know what it is that makes you feel the way you do.
Comments
I see in the above article they used my motto grace under pressure. This President has been graceful under intense pressure to succeed and getting this country back on track. I believe for the most part he's accomplished this while I still disagree with some of his decisions.
Also almost 40 years ago Richard Pryor almost nailed this current President as to being cool and showing grace under pressure. Just DON'T talk about his mama.
Btw.....did anybody notice a very young Robin Williams in the video?
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
www.headstonesband.com
www.headstonesband.com
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Michelle Obama has been nothing less than spectacular as the First Lady. I think she's the best First Lady the US has ever had.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/04/the-obama-doctrine/471525/
Do though let us know what it is that makes you feel the way you do.