Is Obama the most "influential" U.S. President since FDR?

[JimandChristy 1,689]

Just my opinion and prediction but 100 years from now Obama will be in the bottom 10 of all-time worst presidents. And 100 years from now Bush will be viewed as one of the greatest presidents in our history.

I see Fox News has been weaving its magic!

[Deborah M 0]

The news media has more sway than people think. From day one they set out to destroy Bush. With obama he in their eyes is a GOD.

So true! No matter what he does or what the reality is, they will ALWAYS spin his story to make it all sound o so positive. He is their creation, and they can't afford to let him fail.

I am not sure if the immigrations laws will get easier or harder in regards to the visa processes with the new administration. Any thoughts?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

The news media has more sway than people think. From day one they set out to destroy Bush. With obama he in their eyes is a GOD.

So true! No matter what he does or what the reality is, they will ALWAYS spin his story to make it all sound o so positive. He is their creation, and they can't afford to let him fail.

I am not sure if the immigrations laws will get easier or harder in regards to the visa processes with the new administration. Any thoughts?

The process for legals probably won't change, it will be made easier for the illegals already here and encourage more to come as the reform gets closer to being passed.

[Deborah M 0]

The news media has more sway than people think. From day one they set out to destroy Bush. With obama he in their eyes is a GOD.

So true! No matter what he does or what the reality is, they will ALWAYS spin his story to make it all sound o so positive. He is their creation, and they can't afford to let him fail.

I am not sure if the immigrations laws will get easier or harder in regards to the visa processes with the new administration. Any thoughts?

The process for legals probably won't change, it will be made easier for the illegals already here and encourage more to come as the reform gets closer to being passed.

I am thinking the same thing about illegals, but they should give those that follow the law to the T more preference in the visa processing. My opinion is that if one takes the time to file as we have properly then we will be one's to uphold the law more than the illegals. We see so many here that go through so much to bring their love ones here legally. Not just our willingness to pay fines and penalties, but the endless sacrfies that we make in not being near our loved ones. What advantage is it to keep illegals here when we have those that truly show by their example that they are honoring the laws to wait through the teadious visa processes that are in place.

[mendeleev 68]

I think he will rank worse than Carter and Clinton put together.

OK: Carter is the only living President to hold a Nobel Peace Prize.

Clinton is the last president since ... who knows whom, but before Hoover, to have a budget in surplus.

Not bad company, given recent history.

[lucyrich 20]

Let me put it another way then...

I've yet to see:

a. Someone who supported Bush (voted for him in BOTH elections), who currently supports Obama

I don't know of any such people either. I was about to make a post that explained why there HAD to be some such people out there, because since Bush won twice, and then Obama won, some people must've switched their votes from Bush to Obama.

But actually, the numbers don't prove that. Bush got 50,456,002 votes in 2000 (less than Gore, but we all know that). McCain got 59,948,240 in 2008, way more than Bush got, but McCain still lost, because Obama got 69,498,215 votes.

It's at least theoretically possible that every single Bush voter from 2000 who was still alive in 2008 voted for McCain. It might be that Obama won the election merely by increasing voter turnout and capturing the new voters.

With all those millions of voters, it sure seems likely that someone, somewhere switched from voting Republican in 2000 and 2004 to voting Democratic in 2008, but I haven't met anyone who claims to have, and the numbers don't absolutely prove beyond all doubt that it happened.

Still, Bush's approval rating went from stellar to abysmal, so I think somebody must've turned against him.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Let me put it another way then...

I've yet to see:

a. Someone who supported Bush (voted for him in BOTH elections), who currently supports Obama

I don't know of any such people either. I was about to make a post that explained why there HAD to be some such people out there, because since Bush won twice, and then Obama won, some people must've switched their votes from Bush to Obama.

But actually, the numbers don't prove that. Bush got 50,456,002 votes in 2000 (less than Gore, but we all know that). McCain got 59,948,240 in 2008, way more than Bush got, but McCain still lost, because Obama got 69,498,215 votes.

It's at least theoretically possible that every single Bush voter from 2000 who was still alive in 2008 voted for McCain. It might be that Obama won the election merely by increasing voter turnout and capturing the new voters.

With all those millions of voters, it sure seems likely that someone, somewhere switched from voting Republican in 2000 and 2004 to voting Democratic in 2008, but I haven't met anyone who claims to have, and the numbers don't absolutely prove beyond all doubt that it happened.

Still, Bush's approval rating went from stellar to abysmal, so I think somebody must've turned against him.

I saw so many people who were pro Bush and anti Kerry before the second election it amazed me. By the last two years of Bush's second term, I never heard anyone admit that they voted for him. I think a lot of people swithed their vote and went with Obama over McCain.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let me put it another way then...

I've yet to see:

a. Someone who supported Bush (voted for him in BOTH elections), who currently supports Obama

I don't know of any such people either. I was about to make a post that explained why there HAD to be some such people out there, because since Bush won twice, and then Obama won, some people must've switched their votes from Bush to Obama.

But actually, the numbers don't prove that. Bush got 50,456,002 votes in 2000 (less than Gore, but we all know that). McCain got 59,948,240 in 2008, way more than Bush got, but McCain still lost, because Obama got 69,498,215 votes.

It's at least theoretically possible that every single Bush voter from 2000 who was still alive in 2008 voted for McCain. It might be that Obama won the election merely by increasing voter turnout and capturing the new voters.

With all those millions of voters, it sure seems likely that someone, somewhere switched from voting Republican in 2000 and 2004 to voting Democratic in 2008, but I haven't met anyone who claims to have, and the numbers don't absolutely prove beyond all doubt that it happened.

Still, Bush's approval rating went from stellar to abysmal, so I think somebody must've turned against him.

Yep. Getting more people to register to vote was a crucial part of David Axelrod's strategy and it worked. The GOP has known for a long time that the numbers are against them - if every eligible citizen registered and voted, they'd lose most of the time unless they have a candidate who can win over enough Democrats as what happened with Reagan. Although it's cynical, I believe the strategy for the GOP - at least for the last 3 presidential elections was to fight against voter registration drives. Had Obama's campaign failed at getting more people to register and vote, McCain would have won. His numbers prove that.

Edited May 3, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

By the last two years of Bush's second term, I never heard anyone admit that they voted for him.

i did, both times.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

By the last two years of Bush's second term, I never heard anyone admit that they voted for him.

i did, both times.

but we all know you forgot to take your meds charles

I think Obama's influence will be crafted in time... this announcement seems a bit too premature.