Many have argued that Barack Obama was too “hands off” during the Trump presidency, that he was playing by old-school rules of “former presidents never talk sh-t about the current one,” which is particularly outdated in the face of Nazi fascism. I understood why Obama was relatively quiet, just as I understood the criticism against him for remaining so, but I also think it’s just his nature. He’s not a fiery, argumentative person – he’s a thoughtful, intellectual, professorial man who weighs his options carefully and he wanted no part in the daily tit-for-tat tweets with which Trump attempted to bait him. Still, I’ve hoped that in an election year, with his former VP running, Obama would get more heavily involved. He really hasn’t? He’s spoken out more frequently, but again, he’s mostly avoided going head-to-head with Trump.
I’m not going to say that all changed last night with Obama’s third-night speech at the DNC. He’s still the thoughtful wonk, that’s his nature. But he did call out Trump, he just did it in a way that was authentic to his nature. This was Obama the constitutional law professor, making the case that Trump was never going to be a “custodian of this democracy.”
First of all, I’m almost in tears because I f–king miss having a smart president who sometimes bores me with how wonky he is. As for the speech…if anything, Barack Obama seemed to echo his wife’s speech, painting Trump as a man who was simply incapable of being a leader:
“I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did. For close to four years now, he’s shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t.”
As Obama spoke, Donald Trump was sitting in bed alone, surrounded by cheeseburger wrappers, rage-tweeting in all-caps.
HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020
WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2020
Do I need to say it? Obama didn’t “spy” on Trump’s campaign. People in the Obama administration noticed that people in Trump’s incoming administration were working as spies for foreign governments. And Obama actually endorsed Biden really quickly when Biden became the “sure thing” nominee.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
I can’t watch him now without feeling genuine pain for all that we have lost.
Agreed. And his speech last night was one for the ages.
Me too! Or hear him speak without crying. My husband and I fell into a rabbit hole recently chromcasting old wh correspondent dinners and I cried watching the Obama ones also! 😭
I’m with all of you. The moment Obama came on I thought there’s my President.
👏👏👏👏👏✌🖖✔
I can relate to all of you. When the Obamas left the White House the light went with them. We’ve been living in a Hieronymus Bosch hellscape ever since Trump step foot in the White House.
I still remember how gracious they were to the Trumps, too, on the way out, trying to uphold traditions and protocols and giving them the benefit of the doubt that they would somehow comprehend and respect the significance of the office. The Trumps well and truly desecrated the office.
@tempest thanks for the visual. I think the inside of Trump’s mind must look like a hellscape nightmare with Bosch-esque creatures scurrying in the shadows. I was already sick to my stomach looking at the orange anus, this is only going to make it worse.
Thank you for the art history reference!
It really hurts; it does.
@ Betsy and all, I do the same thing. When I am able to catch a glimmer or a quick view of them, my heart sings as I listen to them, then suddenly breaks as their voices stop and I can no longer hear or see them.
NOTE: Have any of you notices how quiet Drumpfs Twitter has been this week since the start of the convention? He is usually submitting 5-10 tweets for each opinion he is trying to convey and the vomit that is included. But someone must have taken his toys away as his tweets are less vile, aggressive and do not play into his usual name calling, except Sleepy Joe. Someone has control over his device!!
I think the country is yearning for a positive message; for a president who has empathy and can speak in complete sentences
BO is a political genius and such a brilliant man; what he did yesterday night, is something that was so deep. This election will decide whether
1) the USA is more what BO envisions
or
2) what Donald has made it out to be
For those who are Americans, please let’s encourage our neighbors, friends, anyone we come in contact with to vote and most important to vote Joe Biden
And presidents don’t endorse candidates until their party’s primaries are over. They let the process play out. Trump is too dumb to know that.
I think he knows @mix. He knows that really well, he is just playing to his base! what’s funny is that he DID watch BO speaks. He watched a man who is, at every level or any metric, so much better than him; the orange man was pissed so he started doing what he knows best, try to trash!
How we went from BO to Donald, is something that people should write books about
VS: and he just proved Obama’s point immediately: Trump doesn’t work. He’s never busy being President. He is a man who watches TV and tweets along with it in real time for large portions of his day.
@ VS, I know I have mentioned it here before, but I have donated my time and stamps for voteforward.org. Daily Kos reported that we have a substantial upswing in volunteers. I live in Texas and I have volunteered for 180 letters and I am happy to report that Biden has been making some gains in the last 6-8 weeks, which has not voted Democrats since Carter. I wish Bush would endorse Biden, as he and the Obamas are great friends, and I remember Michelle and whats-has-name came out and spoke against the immigrant children in cages. Yet, I don’t know if you guys know this, but ICE still has 630 minors in their possession, mostly at private shelters, and the judge presiding over the case is hot on the tail of ICE since they refused to orders to be released over one month ago. Now they have until the end of August. She ripped them all to shreds and spit them out!
Thanks for the update on that naturelover. Collective American memory is very short, and the news is always chasing the next big story instead of focusing on the stories that continue to need telling.
Thank you very much
I live in NYC; I spend most of my life on the east coast; I have relatives in CA (my dad’s side of the family). For me, I have tasked myself with encouraging my former classmates/friends/colleagues who live or can in swing states to vote; they should encourage their family/neighbors/etc. as well.
If Joe can flip TX, that will be amazing! if Trump is re-elected that will tell us what we need to know about our country
All the best to all of us
I’m in Melbourne, Australia, living through another severe lock down right now so, as you can imagine, my mood goes from meh to meh most days.
I watched Obama tonight and for the first time in weeks, was on my feet cheering in our living room. Every now and then, you have to celebrate logic and common sense.
I have my fingers and toes crossed for my American friends that the upcoming election is fair and just and as a result, democracy is the winner.
Much love to you all.
Thank you. Please continue sending positivity our way because we need all we can get.
I’m also in Melbourne and I second all that you have said. I’ve had the DNC on in the background whilst working and I’ve been so motivated and inspired by all the speeches. I am holding onto so much hope that the US comes through with the goods and ends this chaos once and for all. The US people deserve so much better than what is there now. I despise Trump and all he stands for.
What a delight to hear from Obama. Now that’s a Statesman. And Michelle is just ridiculously amazing. I have no words.
Thinking of you all and crossing all the body parts that I can.
Ps this lockdown kind of sucks, doesn’t it Trace? I hope you’re doing ok.
Thank you @lozface we are ok. It seems so much harder and more mundane this time around. I just hope we see the effects of everyone’s sacrifice soon.
I hope you are doing ok and taking care of yourself – I am referring to my hour of walking each day as my ‘podcast/sanity’ time.
From a US citizen… thank you so much for your kind words and for still believing in us. We will do everything we can to get rid of the disgrace that is trump.
What do you think of the political and environmental climate in Australia? My husband and I are seriously considering a move to either there or New Zealand as we aren’t really comfortable living here anymore. I’ve told my husband because my job falls on the “skill shortage” list we may have a better chance of getting into Australia. He’s weary of the right-wing politics there and concerned about environmental disasters.
@Cacec04, If you are under 45, you will have an excellent chance of emigrating to Australia if you are in a profession they need (nursing, teaching, etc). I grew up in Australia, although I’m American, and considered moving there about 5 years ago but decided against it. I have family there but my elderly parents here in the US needed me more. Australia is an amazing country, you’ll love it there.
Go Magpies! (Watch some Aussie Rules football prior to going).
Excuse the unsolicited advice, but choose New-Zealand. Or Canada even. I hear amazing things about Canada and Canadians. Both countries have reputations for cultured, reasonable people with gorgeous country-side and *interesting* weather.
@ Bella DuPont, isn’t Canada harder for physicians? My husband is a physician and he stated that a move to Canada would be hard. We are in our late 50’s.
New Zealand and Australia are wonderful countries. I am a very proud Australian and believe it is still one of the best places to live in the world. We are not perfect, we have a conservative government at the moment (federally) but I don’t believe it’s as bad as Trump. Both our federal and state governments have worked together throughout all of COVID, irrespective of party. If we hadn’t had a bungle with hotel quarantine here in Vic, we’d be in a much better shape. And as a country we are still miles ahead of the US in how we’ve handled it. Universal health care is just a given here also.
Environmentally, yes we have our issues but again I wouldn’t say we are a greater risk than the US. The fires we had this year were horrific and hurt those parts of the country significantly. But if you’re in a city, you are safe from fires, if that’s what your husband is concerned about?
Melbourne, where we live is amazing. Voted the worlds’s most liveable city many times. Obviously, it’s a different world right now. But I’m very happy I’m here and we are taking COVID seriously. I watch the US and the numbers in horror.
We are not perfect, but the majority of people here are pretty bloody awesome. Wages are good, work conditions are fair and the lifestyle is fantastic.
As H said also, watch some Aussie Rules football. Go Blues though (the Magpies’ rivals)!
I’m like you @lozface, very proud Australian right here and I agree with your comments.
Australia is a beautiful country which is afforded with amazing landscape and living conditions and is blessed with a diverse multi cultural population.
I must say I was worried when our conservative government was elected because I personally didn’t feel they would do enough to work towards climate change solutions. I do think that is changing and to see the way our country has worked together in the face of COVID 19 has been incredible.
@trace_smiles so lovely to read a fellow Australian that thinks so much alike. We are very very lucky. When I see the chaos and division in the US, it breaks my heart and I feel very fortunate to live here. Especially when it comes to voting. All of our elections are run by an independent body, we vote on a Saturday so it’s not during work hours, no one is stopped/or suppressed from voting because it’s compulsory. I’ve never waited longer than 20 mins to vote, you can vote early at the electoral offices. And to top it all off there is always a sausage to buy after we vote, or cakes and biscuits and we are then supporting that local school or community group. I love it.
I have been proud of every state leader and the PM with the handling of COVID. Irrespective of their party, the main goal was to keep Australian’s safe and also to support people financially where possible. Has it been perfect? Not at all, but it’s working. My husband isn’t working right now, because they had to close down for the shutdown. But he is home and being paid $1,500 per fortnight from the employer (subsidised fully by the Govt). We are lucky.
Take care of yourself Trace and hopefully we will be out and about soon enjoying Spring in Melbourne.
@ trace_smiles, thank you as we need all of the help, prayers, spells and juju to remove this obese orange incompetent child out of office now! It’s amazing to me that Hillary secured 3 million more votes, but this orange stain of inhuman creature was elected. I think it’s time we eliminate the electoral college. It’s outdated and it does not support the one vote, one voice claim as it does now. My one vote, depending on the amount of people in my state, possibly grants me 1/3 to 1/5. That’s ludicrous!!
Thank you and I am so happy our 44th president was able to give you that much needed lift from so far away.
Is anybody outside of Agent Orange’s cult who see these rage tweets & not think about how pathethic he behaves? Like a teenage boy who throws tantrums online. Those who helped elected him should be ‘really proud’ of themselves…
They shrug if off or think it’s funny. That’s how low we have sunk as a country. Nothing matters. Except for preserving Confederate statues, apparently, in their upside down world.
I’m tired. So, so tired. I don’t even have the energy to listen to anyone’s speeches, no matter who’s making them and how awesome I know they are. I just want this shitshow of a nightmare to be over and to be able to turn on the news without it sending my blood pressure into the stratosphere. I’m going to do my part and vote Biden/Harris, and then keep my fingers crossed that the majority does the same. But I also know it’s not going to end with the election. If (when) Trump loses we all know he’s going to cry fraud and contest the results. There will be no peaceful transition of power, it will have to be ripped from his corrupt, morally bankrupt, baby-fisted little hands like a toddler who refuses to let go of his favorite toy.
I hear you. Kamala’s is the first one I sat down and watched live. We know how this all ends already, and I also feel like the sentiments expressed at the convention are somehow wasted energy, too. I just hope they were able to reach someone, anyone, who may have decided to step up and vote.
I have been phone banking for Biden and once in a while I have a call that I feel really matters. The other night I spoke to a young woman in FL who didn’t vote in 2016. She had just moved so her voter registration needed to be updated. I stayed on the phone with her while she did that online and then helped her also request a mail-in ballot online. One down…millions more to go. I hope we can do this.
That’s awesome @esmom! You’re definitely fighting the good fight. I wish I had the personality (?) to make that kind of contribution, but just the mere thought of calling people or going door-to-door stresses me out! I’m too much of an introvert.
Wow. This makes you a hero! Great story, thank you.
@ Esmom, thank you so much for what you are doing! Your activism is crucial at this time and we need more people like you! I am going to see if I can sign up to make some calls, but I am sick and unreliable. I have donated my car on Election Day so that if they have more drivers than cars, they can use mine. It’s not much, but I thought it would help. I have to vote by mail this year since I have become more ill and I missed a crucial election in. April or March and I was so angry I couldn’t breath. Though I also threaten physical violence on my to grown children if they do not vote. One I want proof from.
Because it’s not just Trump! It’s the whole damn disgusting criminal treasonous GOP!!! Trump is but a small (if incredibly gross) pustule as a symptom of the massive infection of GOP.
@ Betsy, you are absolutely right!! I don’t think that McGrath is holding well against McConnell, but I haven’t checked today. Nevertheless, we must gain the majority of the house and senate!
McConnell should be striped of his seat due to the clear violation of his oath when he suppressed Obama from replacing Scalia, and proudly spewing his treasonous actions. I would imagine that would constitute a removal.
On a brighter note, I love how the entire administration and GOP member have their panties in a twist over SCJ Roberts, as they now see him as a traitor to the GOP since his latest votes. Boy, are they mad! I would think you wouldn’t want to f#ck with a SCJ!
@ smcollinsk I am as well and I think most Americans here are fed up as well! I am tired of watching or reading the news. I have also removed myself from FB because I am friends with kids that I have known for 50+ years. I can’t stand their posts, their stupidity or their refusal to accept facts over fiction. And this latest BS of QAnon.pub, which is a massively demented conspiracy to the like of Scientology. As if the orange obese blob is out fighting crime against democratic politicians that are engaged in child sex trafficking ring. What’s next? The shoot a beam into the sky with an Orange glow and he squeezes himself into an orange body suit, Vaseline and baby powder to boot? In the sky, look, what is that? Is it a plane or a satellite, no, it’s an orange meteorite coming to demolish America and every one of their allies!
Trump thinks that protecting democracy and being a fair person is a bad thing 😂 How dare a president investigate potential election interference (lol @ calling it “spying”)? How dare Obama give all other candidates a fair shot before he put his weight behind Biden? I can’t even believe how often I utter the words “I hate Trump” every single day.
Impeached45’s whole political career has been based on tearing down everything that Obama put in place. He doesn’t have any idea what he’s doing. That’s what makes him so dangerous.
It’s more than that. Donald’s petty self was centered on dismantling as much of Obama’s legacy as possible, as if that would alter history, but the darker forces around Trump and in the GOP have taken the time to dismantle the country.
The GOP is fully a fascist party, not just Donald. The sooner we see that, the sooner we all agree to shut “BUH both sides!” bull crap, the sooner we can punish them appropriately and begin to work on the actual problems in this country.
Exactly! @Betsy
@ DeeDee and Betsy, the reason that Drumpf wants to demolish everything that Obama created, except the economy which he took credit for which was not his to take, is that he is incredibly jealous of a Obama and all of his accomplishments and admiration. Remember we had a two week temper tantrum at the beginning of his term based on his arguments of having the largest turnout for any president in history at the inauguration? He screamed and flat out refused to take responsibility that his inauguration was flat and dismal.
And racism, like full-fledged Amerikkkan style racism
I told my husband last night that I’m exhausted, I feel like we are being bombarded with all the injustice and political unrest. It’s so important but I’m tired. To watch Barack speak made me so sad, I miss him and his levity and calm thoughtfulness and just the sense that we were in good hands. If Trump gets reelected I just don’t know what I will do, the thought is terrifying. I can’t go through 4 more years of this nightmare.
It’s amazing how many of us feel this way. That we just can’t do 4 more. I am so anxious for all of us. I pray every day that the election is free and fair, because if it is, he will lose. He will lose. And then I pray some other stuff that I can’t talk about, I’m not as gracious as Miss Nancy when she says she prays for Trump. I do too but in a different way.
Lol……you’re a girl after my own heart…..embrace the darkness….(insert evil laugh)….😁😁😁
# 44 was on the verge of tears as he spoke last night but managed to keep it together. My heart.
I do wonder if President Obama is doing some reflecting now. Not pushing harder to get Garland a hearing, not going over Moscow Mitch’s head when he found out about the Russian interference. Telling HRC to hold off conceding instead of doing so.
I would like to think that he did because what is happening is not the democracy that he holds dear.
I’m sure he has. I know i have. lol I’ve even wondered about the alternate TL where Hillary wins the 08 primary, and chooses Obama for her VP. She was more clear about what Republicans are. Would Obama be president right now? I doubt it. I think we would have seen just as big a backlash to the Hillary years, IF, she even beat Romney in 12, which I think is a big if. Though, maybe Obama would have beat him in 16. I mean, I could go down the rabbit hole and no matter what, I’m still stuck here! In this 2020, god help me.
I am right there with you Darla soooooo….*sending virtual hug and bottle of wine*.
How Obama failed to understand how bad the Republicans had become is a source of constant frustration to me. I think part of the problem is his innate goodness, and in his desire to be on a higher plane he assumed other people wanted the same thing.
Seems he knew but he was one (first) Black man up against an entire system of racism and fascism, they tore him down every chance they got. I’m sure he was well aware of how bad they were. Even though he accomplished a lot, they were constantly blocking him. I agree he tapped into a whole group of us in this country who did want the same thing but the forces of evil are strong.
While the idea of an undecided voter is astonishing to me, to the extent there are, this was a very effective speech. If there are any soulless people out there who saw babies taken from their families and *still* aren’t sure how to vote, Obama said, he’s not up to the job, the country is a disfunctional shithole, and this might be our last chance. Far more effective than the “epic burns” that the Lincoln Project phonies post and snicker about.
^^^^^^^
THIS
david sedaris had a great take on the undecided voter. he said that in this year’s election, being undecided is like being on an airplane and the flight attendant asks if you’d like the chicken or the platter of sh*t with broken glass, and you pause and ask “how is the chicken prepared?”
no matter what Biden’s foibles, he’s better than 45.
That’s a great analogy!
I live about 20 miles out of DC and I swear I could hear Trump’s stubby orange fingers Tweeting wildly while Obama was still talking. Funny how he hasn’t actually refuted anything Obama said.
Obama waited until the primary process had run its course so as not to be seen as “putting his thumb on the scale” for Biden. This was 100% due to Bernie Bros who were so enraged that he didn’t win in 2016 that they refused to support HRC in retaliation. He knew we could not afford to lose a single coalition and this was a smart move.
Of course, President Adderall would never understand long-term, strategic thinking like that so he’ll keep repeating this garbage. My god how has he not keeled over yet from his fast food diet and rage.
Listening to President Obama give a speech is like listening to Laurence Olivier recite Shakespear. Listening to Trump speak is like hearing a donkey fart. I despise Trump with every fibre of my being
I haven’t watched a lot of DNCs (and I am a Democrat), but this one and the one of to eventually elect President Obama (#HEISSTILLMYPRESIDENTOFTHEUSA) really hit home for me. I am very sure that God/Universe will make sure that Biden/Harris will have the victory and Drumpf and his minions will (can) leave not only the WH, but also the country (maybe the planet, one could only personally hope).
As a sidebar point, IMPO, all of the politicos and candidates who are now supporting B/H could perhaps be selected to become cabinet members for the greater good of our country. These persons (i.e., Booker, Warren, Klobuchar, Yang, Buttigieg, Gabbard, O’Rourke, Steyer, Castro, Patrick, etc.) because of their desire to help Build Better Back and all that they can bring to the table can be valuable assets to Joe and Kamala to bring America back to what it was before
Take-A-💩 illegally came in. (Sorry for my mini-speech.)
I am Canadian and I too miss Obama. Really really really hoping you folks in the US can pull it out and vote Trump out. I hate him so much. He is such a loser. I remember the day after the 2016 election walking around Toronto as I was there for a photoshoot. Everyone was just in shock and disbelief.
I so miss this man of humility, kindness, intelligence, compassion, and leadership in the White House! I also miss Mrs. Obama.. she is all those things as well and both actually care about others and service. Those were the sane days…
That speech was amazing. We all needed to hear it. His pain about the state of the country reverberated through every word. The entire night had good speeches (Gabby Giffords made me cry) but Obama was amazing.
Speech that will go down in history, undoubtedly. I admire Barack immeasurably. However, I felt the same way after his speech as after Michelle’s Monday night–absolutely enraged! It’s appalling that two such wonderful leaders, who have given so much to this country, have to get on television and beg for people to vote against authoritarianism. It’s surreal. Let’s win this election by a landslide and expunge this vile, traitorous GOP poison from our body politic!!
Ok, Obama got to be president 8 years and is not the president anymore. I don’t recall bush speaking out about Obama- can we just vote and decide please in a few months?
Bush didn’t speak out about Obama cause Obama did the job he was elected to do. There’s an orange fascist wannabe dictator who thinks he’s Putin’s clone destroying our country and EVERYONE needs to speak out and against him if there’s any chance on saving our democracy.
I disagree. The fbi was corrupt under Obama and I disagreed with Obama care as well as many other issues I endured not 4, but 8 years. Even the media laughed at trump and didn’t think he would win- arrogant.
I would never want to be on the receiving end of an Obama burn, Michelle or Barak. But only those who’ve truly earned that pain get to experience it.