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Eugene Robinson: Obama’s transformational presidency -- The most consequential since Reagan
Washington Post ^ | 05/09/2014 | Eugene Robinson

Posted on 05/09/2014 1:32:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Is it safe to say that Barack Obama’s presidency will be remembered as the most consequential since Ronald Reagan’s — a presidency that “changed the trajectory of America” and “put us on a fundamentally different path”?

That was the audacious goal Obama set for himself during his 2008 campaign. Now is a useful time to assess his progress because the sixth year of any president’s tenure tends to be seen as a low point. Familiarity breeds impatience and frustration — among commentators, at least, whose narrow focus on which party is perceived as “winning” the day or the week misses the bigger picture.

In both the domestic and foreign spheres, Obama has had transformational impact. And there is more to come.

Reagan’s great achievement at home was to shift the political spectrum to the right. People tend to forget how radical his ideas once seemed. Tax cuts and massive deregulation were somehow going to produce more revenue? Wealth would inevitably trickle down and benefit the middle class and even the poor? It was not a Democrat but a fellow Republican, George H.W. Bush, who mocked the whole concept as “voodoo economics.”

That’s what I’d still call Reagan’s program, but he altered the political debate to such an extent that what once were fringe ideas came to be seen as centrist. By the time Obama took office, the combination of Reaganite policies — taken to extremes the Gipper might never have contemplated — and globalization had produced a nation where the rich were becoming obscenely rich and everyone else was struggling to tread water.

Obama’s impact has been to bring the words “fairness” and “equality” back into the political lexicon.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: obama; presidency; reagan
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1 posted on 05/09/2014 1:32:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

If you mean he’s the anti-Reagan, I tend to agree.


2 posted on 05/09/2014 1:33:30 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (I will raise $2M for Cruz and/or Palin's next run, what will you do?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Yes, indeed. Obama’s presidency will have the most consequences since the Reagan presidency.


3 posted on 05/09/2014 1:33:34 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind
“put us on a fundamentally different path"

More like what appears now to be an irreversible downward spiral.

4 posted on 05/09/2014 1:34:14 PM PDT by madprof98
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To: SeekAndFind

calling what obozo is doing a “presidency” is like calling al capone’s gang a charitable organization.


5 posted on 05/09/2014 1:35:06 PM PDT by kingattax (America needs more real Americans.)
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To: SeekAndFind

An imaginative article. Fanciful. Fictional.


6 posted on 05/09/2014 1:35:10 PM PDT by Southack (The one thing preppers need from the 1st World? http://tinyurl.com/ktfwljc .)
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To: SeekAndFind
I totally agree. Obama has been transformational, in way more destructively to America than anybody had dared think possible.
7 posted on 05/09/2014 1:35:14 PM PDT by Obadiah (Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.)
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To: SeekAndFind

O has damaged the US beyond repair.


8 posted on 05/09/2014 1:35:59 PM PDT by Argus
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To: MrB
Yes, indeed. Obama’s presidency will have the most consequences since the Reagan presidency.

Yup. The Obama reign has certainly directed America's trajectory right towards the dumpster.
But the majority of Americans voted for him (probably ... maybe), so can't say that the trajectory is undeserved.

9 posted on 05/09/2014 1:36:29 PM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: SeekAndFind

Eugenie on kneepads . . again


10 posted on 05/09/2014 1:37:14 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Hey 2008, we told you so)
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To: SeekAndFind

transformational to the extent that he deserves the just reward for high treason


11 posted on 05/09/2014 1:37:15 PM PDT by RatRipper (The political left are utterly evil and corrupt)
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To: SeekAndFind

12 posted on 05/09/2014 1:38:41 PM PDT by red-dawg (<<< click for info on my book.)
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To: madprof98

Obama has pushed us into the event horizon of an economic collapse.


13 posted on 05/09/2014 1:38:53 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: red-dawg

14 posted on 05/09/2014 1:39:15 PM PDT by red-dawg (<<< click for info on my book.)
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To: El Cid

I know the rain falls on the wicked and the righteous,

but I can’t help but hope and pray that those who precipitated this nightmare suffer more for it.


15 posted on 05/09/2014 1:39:56 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind

Robinson is Black. Obama is Black. It matters not what Obama does, Robinson will support Obama simply because of Robinson’s allegiance to skin color.


16 posted on 05/09/2014 1:40:02 PM PDT by Obadiah (Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.)
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To: MrB
but I can’t help but hope and pray that those who precipitated this nightmare suffer more for it.

LOL!
Yes, and few lightening bolts mixed in to get their attention would also be appreciated...

17 posted on 05/09/2014 1:42:13 PM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: El Cid

Imagine the hell on earth that would occur if all the Christians suddenly vanished...

no one shows up to work, no one pays bills, utilities, taxes, mortgages, buys food or consumer items...


18 posted on 05/09/2014 1:43:32 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind

Eugene, I wouldn’t define the de-railing the United States’ economic & political systems as “putting the nation on a different path”. That’s Saturday Night Live material you’re peddling.


19 posted on 05/09/2014 1:44:51 PM PDT by Tallguy
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To: SeekAndFind
Eugene Robinson is an Obamabot from way back.

If Obama told him to eat the corn from his excrement, his only question would be: "Thank you my lord and master, but why can't I just eat all of it?"

20 posted on 05/09/2014 1:46:44 PM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.)
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