President Obama at the University of Illinois: The Full Speech

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1. Michael Brocoum says:

   September 8, 2018 at 12:51 pm

   Yes, wonderful speech as were his speeches before his election in 2008. Too bad his actions were often the polar opposite: education, free press, money in politics, support of unions. I cannot forget how Obama claimed that the multi million dollar bonuses the bankers were taking while on the tax payer’s dime were justified due to the “sanctity of contract” while sometime later Obama stated that Rhode Island teachers’s contracts should be abrogated because teachers refused to work longer hours without compensation. So much for the sanctity of contracts.
   Trump is partially the result of Obama and his disastrous educational and financial policies. People didn’t forget the bank bailouts and are finally catching on to the educational disasters.
   Free press: Under Obama more people were charged under an early 1900’s espoinage act than all other presidents combined. James Risen of the NY Times faced threats of prison for up to five years during the Obama administration for refusing to reveal sources.
   Unions: Obama said he would march with union members. Where was he when Scott Walker launched a full scale Koch backed assault on unions? Nowhere.
   Obama became president at a time of extreme anger at the disastrous Bush II administration. Obama had in my opinion a once in a several generation opportunity to make real structural change in our economy and ignored it. The question is did he ignore it because he felt he couldn’t make changes or was he not interested in making real change. Ron Suskind’s “Confidence Men” gives a good indication: Obama called a meeting with the heads of the major banks. The bankers entered in fear of the consequences of their actions but instead were greeted with Obama stating “the only thing standing between you (the bankers) and the pitchforks was me. I am here to protect you”. The bankers left that meeting knowing the good times for themselves is alive and well.
   I believe these are some of the reasons that over one thousand Democrat seats were lost during the Obama administration in addition to the election of Trump.

   One more thought: Obama campaigned for the highly unpopular TPP “trade” bill during HRC’s campaign while she was trying to distance herself from it!!! Incredible. Obama was clearly beholden to the monied interests.
   While Obama was not abhorrent like Trump he certainly did not do very much for the average american and virtually nothing for unions.

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   • dianeravitch says:

     September 8, 2018 at 5:19 pm

     Sorry you were in moderation. I took my grandson to see “Spongebob Squarepants” on Broadway. What a joyful experience! It close Sept 16.

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     • Michael Brocoum says:

       September 8, 2018 at 6:09 pm

       Thank you for the information.

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2. Bob Shepherd says:

   September 8, 2018 at 1:18 pm

   Oh my Lord. What a portrait these two make, Barack Obama and Vlad’s Agent Orange side by side. Like the before-and-after pictures of meth addicts.

   His hands are not the only things small about Vlad’s Agent Orange. Next to Obama or McCain, he looks so very, very tiny.

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3. Bob Shepherd says:

   September 8, 2018 at 1:19 pm

   here’s the Tiny Trump meme: https://mashable.com/2017/02/17/tiny-trumps-subreddit/#F4ZqkPh9OEq7

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   • Yvonne Siu-Runyan says:

     September 8, 2018 at 11:37 pm

     Thank you for the t t meme. 👍

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   • Laura H. Chapman says:

     September 9, 2018 at 12:10 pm

     The wonders of digital imagery. Thanks. At least one laugh for the day.

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4. GregB says:

   September 8, 2018 at 2:55 pm

   It did have echoes of the “race” speech he gave as a candidate. He spoke to us like adults and pointed out the obvious in a deliberate, sometimes humorous way. Good times.

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   • ciedie aech says:

     September 9, 2018 at 1:40 pm

     Imagine electing a President who knew law, history, geography, political protocol and global issues….oh, wait, we DID that with Pres. Obama. 🙂

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     • dianeravitch says:

       September 9, 2018 at 2:43 pm

       Intellect, dignity, humor, grace.

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5. James Eales says:

   September 8, 2018 at 5:12 pm

   Obama referred to Medicare for All as a new idea. (LOL!)

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6. Linda says:

   September 8, 2018 at 7:47 pm

   Is there an explanation for why Pres. Obama, who has the ability to give excellent persuasive speeches, delivered ACA to the public without meaningfully explaining its benefits?

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7. Yvonne Siu-Runyan says:

   September 8, 2018 at 11:35 pm

   Vote.

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8. Wait, What? says:

   September 8, 2018 at 11:57 pm

   Yeah, but… Yeah, but… Obama didn’t do this… Obama said that… Obama likes charters… So what?
   He’s trying to get Americans including Republicans to recognize their local reps are not representing them and are goosestepping in line with the president – – and yet there are those who still want to pick away at President Obama..
   I’ve said it before and said it again… “The fall is gonna kill you”

   How can so many people be numb to the disaster – absolute disaster in this president, these scared-to-speak up congress(white)men and candidates are. – – numb to the machinations of gerrymandering congressional districts, buying up school boards, and suppressing votes — mumb to over 30 indictments – and clandestine relationships with russian and other billionaires.

   Criticize PRESIDENT Obama all you want. HE’S now working to get out the vote. Are you?
   I hope those who are still picking away at what PRESIDENT Obama did and didn’t do (above) you might call your congressmen and friends and folks who just like the idea of the Bill of Rights and get them to do right by America.

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   • Linda says:

     September 9, 2018 at 10:32 am

     Wait, what.
     “Those of you…might call…” Please consider that “those of” us feel we have to work doubly hard, with great diligence to salvage what was
     lost- 1000 legislative seats under Pres. Obama. The lost seats, many of which were related to misunderstands about ACA, are on Obama’s doorstep. Democratic members of Congress expressed the reason for their losses. Obama did not do the heavy lifting required to communicate the value of ACA against Republican attacks. It left Congressional members with a vulnerability that could have been avoided by Obama who had the media visibility to make his case.
     While “those of us” are glad Pres. Obama was elected, if Dems of FDR’s party are going to be stabbed in the back by the Center for American Progress, going to be undercut by the Third Way’s DINO candidates and Obama is supporting them, we should have our eyes wide open.

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9. SomeDAM Poet says:

   September 9, 2018 at 10:41 am

   Rhetoric”

   The speeches are resounding
   With fists and heart a- pounding
   But speech is overbilled
   With promise unfulfilled

   The politicians sing
   For rhetoric is king
   Pretending to adore us
   They actually ignore us

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   • Michael Brocoum says:

     September 9, 2018 at 1:52 pm

     So true!

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   • Bob Shepherd says:

     September 10, 2018 at 12:31 pm

     So well said, as always. Love your work, SomeDAM!

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