My simple point is, is that you can’t assume that the language of campaigning matches up with the specifics of governing, legislation, regulations, and foreign policy.”
this a good description if the obama presidency. i voted for him twice and would have voted for him again but he was soaring rhetoric on the campaign trail and way too passive and cautious as president..... especially when it came to his foolish dreams of bi-partisanship.
1
Obama gave a speech the other day referring to Medicare for all as a "new idea". He's smart enough to know that Medicare for all is the same as single payer - he just doesn't wanna admit that, on behalf of his rich benefactors, he prevented any discussion of single payer in the lead up to his health care "reform".
We need progressives. Obama is HRC with eloquence and social skills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7bfD7GqgtU
4
It always works with the typical circular stories that are reported as news these days.
It won’t last long. Obama is boring and many in the press don’t like him enough anymore to make up for it.
They just might have to note what his Administration did with freedom of the press.
6
From across your borders, we wish to say, "Amen."
President Obama has been silent much too long. While it has been perfectly in synch with his gracious, cultured, and open-minded character, there comes a tipping point with the onslaught of one outrage after another, day in and day out.
The racist poison that Trump has released is worse than the nerve agent Sarin. It is intoxicating and causing convulsions of truth in the minds of leaders in many countries. As Trump tweets, extremists around the world sing joyfully.
AG
Calgary, Canada
17
Obama failed to get Hillary elected. Why does one think he can get other democrats elected?
7
I like and respect Obama, but his speaking out right now is tone-deaf.
It won't accomplish the win that he hopes to encourage for the Democrats- simply because Trump's base has an irrational hatred for him, and his presence will actually shore up Trump's support. :(
5
The only thing that worse than the media's non stop hatred of Trump is the love fest for an empty suit like Obama. The media's constant adulation of Obama made me think that I was living under a dictatorship . Obama was nothing more than a multicultural spokesman for neoliberalism and imperialism. Obama faithfully served the 1 percent during George W. Bushes third and fourth term. Statist media isn't freedom of the press.
4
Sorry, but I can't be as effusive as Blow.
Obama should have been active in this struggle more than a year ago. His comment about needing to spend quality time with Michelle and the girls was revoltingly selfish. Given how lousy a job he did during his tenure at building nationwide support for local Democratic candidates - it went from not bad to lopsided - he owed it to the nation to speak up when Trump went off the rails. There were any number of opportunities. Yet he remained silent.
Here's his chance to repair some of that damage. But he's got a lot to answer for.
4
Yeah, them jerks...how dare they try to maintain a marriage and a family, especially since they didn't hop to it and carry out every last jot and tittle of your very own wish list.
16
Too cool for school Obama returns. Unfortunately, he is still a bit condescending for my tastes in the same way Trump is too obnoxious.
4
I myself generally avoid confusing good manners and an education with superciliousness, believing as I do that that sirt of thing says a lt more abut me than about Pres. Obama.
11
The best part of Obama's speech on Friday at the University of Illinois, directly targeting Trump:
"How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?"
There you have it.
World War II was responsible for deaths estimated to range from 50 million to more than 80 million people. These deaths were all ultimately related to the fight against the Nazi regime.
Has America's fundamental philosophy on this matter suddenly changed diametrically, and the rest of us never got the message?
Trump and Trump's GOP need to get our message, on Election Day. All lives matter, and it is an unforgivable travesty for those who died to have died in vain.
13
Obama coming out now just goes to rally Trump's base and remind those who voted for Trump but may not be thrilled with how Trump acts, of the lost 8 years of Obama. The reality is that Obama and his angry rhetoric along with his incompetent handling of the American economy is the reason we have Trump. Obama speaking up now will only serve to kill any momentum the Democratic Party had going into the mid-terms.
5
Mr. President, I voted for you twice while wishing for less willingness to compromise on the core values that set you apart from those on the other side of the aisle. I would have chosen someone far more to the left than you, sir, and in doing so I would almost certainly have chosen someone far less succccessful than you were. Welcome back to our public discourse! Your voice has been much missed.
7
In the absence of a single leader within the Democratic Party, I would remind Charles that the unceasing coverage of everything Trump by the news has brought us to this point. All indicators are that a record Democratic turnout is just ahead in November courtesy of the President's on-going barrage of divisive and unnecessary attacks on nearly everyone. So give him the podium and let him be hoisted on his own petard. I would also disagree that there hasn't been robust disapproval expressed by almost all the leading congressional democrats.
2
"But, in fact, the new Bob Woodward book and the Op-Ed in this newspaper by an anonymous administration official prove us right. "
It absolutely proves nothing. I stopped reading at this point once a saw the author adjust his water ski's and veer towards the shark jump.
3
Obama's back with his meaningless and insincere platitudes. Now he's whining that the economy was his doing, after riding the brakes for 8 years.
Can't make this stuff up.
9
My thought would be that, as a Trumpist, it seems very clear that you can.
15
Amen.
2
President Obama came "back" to us at just the right time. Two months before the midterms to fire up the American people, esp. the young, is perfect timing. We're SO glad he's back that we'll be paying attention, and so will the news. He'll get out the vote and bring on that Blue Tsunami.
If God is smiling upon us, and the Dem Senators in Red States have to sense to protect themselves by voting for Kavanaugh (so their constituents won't be upset by any negativity about Dear Leader; Kavanaugh will be appointed anyway), we might get the Senate in a squeaker. Then we can impeach Kavanaugh (who lied under oath to a Senate Committee, impeachable offense) and then go after Trump-de-dump. Then there's Pence....but with a powerful Dem Congress ready to take 'em on, there's hope for the Republic. Otherwise.......
4
@ dianaholdsworth
Yes a very beautiful delusional dream that I wish would come true. But...it ain't gonna happen. Let us assume it comes true. You impeach Kavanaugh for lying, OK and it is successful. But then Trump or Pence appoints another alt-right stooge that just might be somewhat better at hiding his beliefs and he suckers in some Dems to vote for him--keeping in mind that the Democrats have become so accustomed to "going along to get along" that you will find some without a spine to agree with their GOP colleagues.
I don't think Obama wants us to worship him, or to think of him as our "always" president. I don't think he's "fighting back" against Trump. I think he means what he says, which is that Trump is a symptom of a larger process at work. We do not, as Obama said, need a Messiah.
It was, as always, great to hear him speak. I found myself wishing he would deliver a simple weekly address, almost like a sermon, to remind people of what is real and what is fear, what is a lie and what is at stake in the choices we make about who / what we support, and how we vote.
Another key point of Obama's speech in Illinois came down to the fact that the biggest dangers to our republic right now are not partisan issues. By appealing to all those who would oppose the dishonesty, fear mongering, utter lack of honor and decency so clearly on display since Trump won the electoral college, he is entreating us all to look to our better angels, and not to partisan talking points.
He'll stump for the Democrats this election, but I think it has more to do with the historic importance of these particular midterms than it does with the Democratic party. Otherwise, I think he would be far away from the spotlight, right now, and getting on with his life.
8
President Trump has given us almost two years of peace and prosperity. Ironically, President Obama states that President Trump is doing a poor job while trying to take credit for the booming economy.
6
In his 8 yrs of warming his buns in the oval office, Obama failed with our U.S. economy, health care, foreign affairs, and has destroyed patriotism, decency, and morality in America. And his least concern was to do something....anything, for the welfare, protection, and advancement of minorities, people of color, even his own people. Only three percent of America's attorneys are American of Mexican extraction. Only 3.9% of America's attorneys are Black American. Nearly 90% of America's attorneys are White. Medical school, lets don't even go there. How great are females doing in America? According to Forbes report on the 400 richest Americans, "most of the country’s wealthiest females inherited their fortunes from husbands, fathers and grandfathers. Only 1-2% of wealthy females are self-made." As of today, true racial parity for minorities is still a dangling dream before their eyes. I can understand Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa getting the Nobel Peace Price.....but Obama?? What did Obama do to get the Nobel peace price? Obama yes, but not the great Mahatma Gandhi??
4
@manoflamancha You must have been in a coma when Obama signed the Affordable Care Act; signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; turned the US auto industry around; killed Osama bin Laden; repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell; and many other accomplishments. It's one thing to disagree about him getting the Nobel Peace Prize but to deny the man his many accomplishments, or in your words, "he FAILED with our US economy..." is just lame. He destroyed patriotism, decency, and morality in America? Have you seen Melania's photos? I'm sure you're well aware of her philandering husband, too? Patriotism? Trump sided with Putin on national television. But, you're ok with all that. Please.
16
@manoflamancha: I had to read that opening sentence a couple of times to confirm that the POTUS you were referring to as "destroy[ing] patriotism, decency, and morality in America" was Obama and not Trump. Laugh of the day!
11
I don't think even Trump thought he was going to win.
And I don't think Trump likes the job of being president.
What Trump likes is the attention and campaigning in front of crowds is something he really likes.
9
And I liked that Obama took a direct attack upon The GOP. "What happened to The Republican Party"....he asked over & over? They went rogue for power & money. Vote & Verify, Democrats & Others in mass against The GOP Anarchists wherever you Vote!
11
Thank you, Barry! Such a welcome return to civility. I almost cried when I saw him speaking like a true statesman on the news! Oh welcome back! Gives me faith in the America I used to love. The hope you bring now is even more then the hope you brought us before this abomination. Keep it up. Call this creature from the swamp out everytime you can! We NEED you, sir!
5
Welcome back former President Obama. You are an inspiration to many of us while we do what we can to bring forth a government we can be proud of - for the people and of the people.
There is a tremendous amount of clean -up we need to do to restore faith in our institutions, including putting sensible, caring and decent public servants in office to represent our wishes, desires and needs.
Perhaps the author of the anonymous op-ed is similarly asking us to act in the best interests of all of us and reject those now in office who are focused on their self interests rather than nation's interest.
Please vote. Your country needs you.
7
It seems to me the key to excising the tumor that is Donald Trump will not lie in somehow changing the minds of his True Believers. It will be in motivating the 100 million voters who couldn’t trouble themselves to turn out in 2016. Calling their attention to the damage Trump and his cronies are inflicting every day should help. So should Obama’s inspiring reminder of what America looks like when it is truly great. It is certainly NOT great under Trump, no matter how loudly and often he and his flock bray about the economy.
6
Where are the other Presidents of the United States and why aren't they out there defending American democracy when we need them? Why is President Obama the only one to come forward President Bush, President Clinton, and President Carter? Let's hear from you!
12
Mr. Blow: "Well, we now know that Trump’s policies and rhetoric are exactly those of the campaign."
Trump is too unintelligent and ignorant to be able to have separate modes of campaigning and governing. Indeed, as Mr. Blow points out, Trump has never left the campaign mode.
Mr. Blow: "Well, it appears that that moment has finally come for Obama, though, in all honesty, it came months ago for many of us."
I understand Obama's reluctance, but that has always been a problem for him. He waited far too long to accept the fact that Mitch McConnell and the GOP were never going to deal honestly or constructively with him.
Barack Obama is the kind of person one would want as president of a country full of intelligent, well-informed, and honest voters who care about reality and the truth. Donald Trump is exactly the opposite and the conflict we have is because there are tens of millions of voters who, for all their faults, fit much better in the former category than in the latter.
Former President Obama must speak out. There is too much at stake for him to maintain a "respectful" silence. Of course there is a risk that his visibility will energize Trump's base -- the racists that vocally or quietly dominate the Republican Party. That is a risk that we have to accept. There is no one else in the Democratic Party with his stature. Sadly, the campaign and defeat tarnished Hillary Clinton (unfairly), so she probably can't be the primary voice of opposition we need.
8
Obama better be out there challenging and fighting the false narratives of a Trump.
If Obama had made public what his administration learned about Russian attempts to monkey wrench the last election, the end result would have been different.
2
The writer of the column headline may have missed the barrage of criticism led by his own paper concerning quotes in the Woodward book and the anonymous op-ed by a so called "senior Trump staffer". If being continually pummeled by unverified sources is a "strangle hold", what does getting beat up look like?The "fact" that most Americans believe something that has been shoved down their throats by the media doesn't validate it. While stressing the absolute seriousness of 0bama's attack on Trump , Mr. Blow neglects to mention that this attack by a former president on a serving president is without precedent in modern times.
1
@Bob israel: Which 'media' are you referring to? Certainly Fox, Breitbart, and co shove a lot of garbage down gullible Americans' throats. Where do we start?: the birther stuff? H. Clinton running a pedophile ring out of a fast food joint? And might I remind you that this "president is without precedent on modern times."
10
Great seeing Obama ride back in to help rescue the country and our democracy!
As a private citizen now, and one who dearly loves this country, I believe he could stay silent no longer - and I bless him for having courage and concern to do it. He'd done his duty and left our country far better for it, so had no further obligation.
Would that our current elected leaders - both Democrats and Republicans - wake up from their stupor and realize the seriousness of our national crisis. Would that they care more about our country and its survival - yeah the world's survival - than their own hides and careers. If they don't soon they won't have a job or a country!
5
Obama's back, but his wife would probably be better at energizing the electorate. Even having voted for him twice, I still can't get past his elitist demeanor.
1
Does one become an elitist simply by being a well spoken gentleman?
15
@Steve Bolger
No, by his condescending approach to the citizens. He is well spoken though.
1
@Misterbianco "elitist demeanor" in what respect? He could have been speaking at a high school, or a church, or a public rally. Truly curious as to what comes across as "elitist" to you.
7
I wish Obama would remind us of the low GDP, the high black and hispanic unemployment rates. And of course all those jobs that would never be back. With his dearth of ideas , consumer confidence and the country going in the wrong direction ( all universal conclusions in all polls), Obamacare with we couldn't pay for and he didn't understand, the red lines...and a host of things. I keep thinking of those things instead of empty flowery speeches that basically were fantasy. So he comes back and gives some fancy speeches.. Orators do....and like the old days, the hope and change idea sound good until we saw that none of it happened as we were on our way to financial disaster while he talked a good game. I also remember fear and horrible uncertainty throughout his term....But he sure was a nice guy with nice ideas.
4
You must have lived in another dimension during his terms. I don’t recall any fear. Certainly not the fear that is omnipresent today with a madman steering the ship.
11
@Marcus
My 401K and the markets tripled during Obama's term. Where were you?
7
Charles, I couldn't agree more. Hearing his words last week was like food for my soul. I love this man! If only we had more like him in the Democratic party.
10
Too late my friend. The Democratic awakening happened on 11/9/16. And we will not sleep again until the living nightmare known as DJT is removed from the White House and shipped off to the Big House. Long live the Resistance!
9
With all the television re-treads, why hasn’t somebody though of a West Wing reboot with a president like Donald Trump?
1
I listened to NPR this morning - People who don't vote -- My takeaway was if a Black candidate isn't running - the Black vote will not turn out. How bad does the DNC need the black vote?? If the DNC wants to go that route then please chose Corey Booker over Kamala Harris - She's the Lonzo Ball of Politics- all show and no go.
Booker/Warren or Warren /Booker
Hearing President Barack Obama speak again is like having a hot shower and a comforting meal after being lost in the wilderness for months. It is beyond refreshing to remember that at one time, not so long ago, we had a President who could actually speak the English language.
19
Barack Obama said it perfectly: Trump is but symptom. Trump may be an uncontrollable ignorant racist and narcissist but Ryan and McConnell and their Republican Congressional cohorts are just plain evil. They have known all along that Trump is unable to lead a two car parade, let alone the most powerful nation on Earth.
Smoke is billowing out of the White House and the GOP says .."Don't worry folks, nothing going on here".. Perhaps they can fool the minority of voters who elected Trump but the majority of Americans know that there is something completely rotten in DC and it is the Republican Party that has no shame and displays not one shred of patriotism.
Trump built his political career smearing Obama. He is in deep trouble over Russiagate, laundered money, and tax evasion like his buddy Paul Manafort and is running scared. Trump took office as the result of a corrupted election assisted both by the Russians and systematic Republican voter suppression. He is a threat to national security and world peace.
The key problem is that the Republican leadership cares more about slashing taxes for their super-wealthy mega-donors and destroying all social progress under Trump's incompetent and dangerous administration than they do about the security and welfare of our country. Ryan, McConnell and their GOP pals are as guilty as Trump of displaying nothing but contempt for the American people.
President Obama, Tell it like it is. We need you now more than ever!!
14
I hope Obama is effective. Unfortunately, he has been demonized by the right and the faithful cheer undoing everything his administration did. I hope he doesn't energize them.
1
Now that the 'Kenyan birth' myth for Obama has been dispelled, Slave State Confederates are looking for new evil tropes to cling to.
Get a life, and GET WOKE, folks.
Try to get over losing the Civil War.
Move on.
10
I beg to differ with "we now know that Trump’s policies and rhetoric are exactly those of the campaign." Trump campaigned on "draining the swamp," preventing the "revolving door," and breaking the link between affluence and government; instead, he's only given jobs to extremely affluent people. He promised to help the little guy, but almost all of his tax cuts went to the 1%. His tariffs are hurting the farmers, and every decision is designed to help the rich. The problem is the same problem Democrats have always had: Republicans vote against their self-interest.
4
Obama's back and being divisive as ever.
7
@older and wiser -just saying it over and over again, despite your Dear Leader's example, don't make it so.
7
We're in 'The Empire Strikes Back'
Hang in there for
'The Return of the Jedi'.
5
Obama was a great president who brought dignity, intelligence, thoughtfulness, understanding and utmost professionalism to the office. But he failed seriously in underplaying the danger of Trump and his administration.
What he said originally was naive and showed incredible ignorance of the autocratic and violent leaders of the Trump's type. A minimal knowledge of history should suffice to recognize the danger such unstable individuals pose to the society. Somehow the isolationist position of the US had many fail to see what was happening, including a brilliant person like Mr. Obama. I find that deeply puzzling.
It should be added to that he failed to react properly when Ms.Clinton was denied a fair election process due to the sabotage of the FBI director. A president must defend democracy when under siege.
1
@GoranLR
Is that the FBI director who went the contortions to clear her? That one?
2
I would love to see a televised face to face conversation between Obama and Trump, where direct challanges would have to be met with real answers.
14
I would sure like to hear Mr. Obama remind us of the words that brought down Senator Joseph McCarthy who spent 5 years trying mighty hard to destroy our democracy to satisfy his narcissistic ego, "Have you no sense of decency sir?"
11
Yes, Obama certainly has the weight to offer an arresting counterpoint to the Trump noise. But he has something else too. The ability to articulate his message so simply and calmly that it instantly connects as truth. It's like a parent stepping in to settle a kids' fight. Or turning a light on when your imagination plays dark tricks on you at night. In the light of sanity and reality, the bogeymen scurry back into the shadows, and the world looks right again.
16
President Obama is not the only former president that has weighed in on inappropriate aspects of the Trump team. I have heard or read comments from Presidents H.W. Bush, G.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. There are plenty of Americans that are appalled. Republicans and Democrats alike. Trump is not a party problem, he is an American problem.
16
They then need to also get out and say something. No?
5
The 'A-Team' is back on the field.
Just sayin'.
12
It's time to stop having "reasonable debates" with the 30 percent who voted and still adore Trump. They are an aging pathetic cult who will never confess their mistake. They must simply be outvoted. This starts in November
20
May The Force Be With The Resistance!
20
Trump's supporters seem to be uninformed and believe that the main stream media is unfair to Trump.. Reporting his activity is considered biased e.g. reports of his payoffs to former mistresses is considered by them to be fake news, despite the fact that there are legal agreements that prove their existence. So no matter the proof they will believe that all news unreported by Fox is fake news.
14
Have to feel sorry for all these posters.
Sometimes trying to show intelligence winds up showing ignorance.
Great speeches are not given by reading complete sentences.
Great Speeches move people to action.
Read Shakespeare.
See how short sentences are used. See how idiom is used. See how repetition is used.
Read Antony's speech. Read Brutus's speech.
Read any of them.
Obama reads off a teleprompter that has words probably written by someone else.
There are lots of videos of Obama using a teleprompter when talking to a class at grade school.
5
@True Observer,
Speaking off the cuff and not making sense does not qualify #45 as the better orator.
Hitler - amongst many other of history's tyrants and infamous gallery of rogues - also moved people to action, through fear and playing on ignorance.
The fact that Obama prepares speeches and practices them indicates reflection and thought, two qualities sadly missing in action when it comes to what the world is forced to listen to from the current occupant of the Oval Office.
5
@True Observer: See how Trump supporters buy bridges. Read how Trump supporters spread lies.
9
@True Observer
"Sometimes trying to show intelligence winds up showing ignorance."
Sometimes pompous declarations such as that one are perfect self-assessments.
Obama uses a teleprompter? Say it isn't so! What a phony! He should just give up trying to say something meaningful that can't be reduced to a series of bumper-sticker slogans, and instead rattle off disconnected taunts like you-know-who does. Yeah, I'm sure that would meet with your approval. I'll shoot him a message letting him know!
11
As they, speak out for truth, morality, political sanity and the need to vote, may President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama be protected from the fraction of the 35% who might seek to do them harm. I pray for them every day.
16
And he should go to jail for the war crimes committed in Dafur, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Mexico, Lybia.
But no, he won't.
Some one should start talking about this, because as usual Mr Blow is touting some one who was terrible, is terrible, and will go unpunished
2
@Shark: Nonsense. Obama had to clean up the mess of Bush II, and since when is the USA at war with the countries you mention? Why would Obama have to go to jail for war crimes others committed? War with Mexico? Really?
9
Obama should take a page from other former presidents and keep his mouth shut. He's making a fool of himself.
10
It is your employer, Mr. Blow, who gives Trump the "stranglehold" on the news and discussion. Talk to the Times publisher and the news and opinion page editors about covering and discussing what Democrats and Bernie Sanders are doing and saying on the important issues. Rarely is a leading Democrat quoted in any news article. Rarely do the opinion columnists analyze and discuss the issues being brought forth by progressive Democrats. It's so much easier to make the same points over and over about Trump's insanity. Healthcare is the number one issue on most voters' minds but it has almost disappeared from the mainstream media. If you want to defeat Republicans in November, highlight their failure to produce a better alternative to the ACA and nail them on what they intend to do if elected. Dig into the economic aspects of healthcare policy and how it sucks so much money out of paychecks and business profits, suppresses wages and business expansion and investment. If you can't do that kind of reporting, analysis and commentary, just stop talking about Trump's obvious distractions.
12
Seeing and listening to President Obama again, he has, at the very least, the ability to MACA - Make America Cool Again.
13
The New York Times should sacrifice one full page per month to publish the entire First Ammendment and a second to publish the bill of rights. Every month NYT. Well 3/4 page, leave 1/4 for a worthy advertiser to pay for the education. Please educate and well as you inform!
4
The Bill of Rights is a great suggestion: it, of course,
ends with a dagger to the heart of much that is dear to the Democrats, and Obama:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."
All they can do is claim that the Constitution, as written, is a "dead letter" and that it needs to be "interpreted" by the Supreme Court to say exactly
what they want it to say, like in Alice in Wonderland.
The word "Kavanaugh" comes to mind.
1
When Obama takes off the verbal gloves, he is an elegant and powerful speaker who is able to connect to folks. One reason is that he avoids the politically neutered, safe and sanitized comments and remarks that are usually peppered with words like "troublesome," "problematic," and "I'm deeply disturbed by this."
There are two other Democrat speakers who can also connect with people with messages that pack a punch - Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
8
I am so relieved that President Obama is back on the national stage. I respect his decision not to do so until, quite obviously, he needed to re-enter and to condemn the horror that has befallen this country during the last twenty months. Now, however, voters need to adhere to what he is saying: to vote! Unfortunately far too many potential voters who abhor the horror of what Trump has inflicted on us will not vote, will do the old "Well, my vote won't really count." Maybe it won't. But not voting assures that your potential vote won't count.
10
Do what President Obama asked “vote”! That will be the only action that will change the landscape for the better.
16
For the first time in almost 2 years, I feel hope again. Welcome back, Mr. Obama!
19
"I'll take Trump Administration for $400, Alex."
"...governing, legislation, regulations, and foreign policy."
"What are four things for which Trump has no competence?"
9
@Tom Rostock---------------------------Four things for which Trump has no competence? How about these? 1)decency,
2)dignity, 3)depth of thought, 4)depth of compassion.
10
I dunno which I find most tiresome: the racist sneering at Obama, the lazy chortling over how much he's supposedly helping Trump, or the "progressives," blatting about how he ain't never done nothing while he was President.
I do know that the people swearing up and down that a past President oughta shaddap because it's traditional might want to remember that the other half of that deal is that sitting Presidents don't hurl garbage at them on a daily basis. You lot want civility? Trying offering some.
Oh, well. It prolly works like Trump's vaunted loyalty: you have to be loyal to HIM, but you better not expect to get anything back as you go off the back of the sled.
10
The Economist recently did a piece which said that the world and we in Europe have more to fear from America's Trump the we have from Brexit, and the paper is right. At last Obama is saying it as it is, America is powerful but like all other countries, like all sane, decent, caring people it has a responsibility to the rest of the world, it has not become powerful on it's own. We share this planet. There is far more to fear in Trump and what he is doing to divide this world. Let us all hope that America listens to the wise words of Obama in November, the rest of the world is hoping, hoping hoping
16
I take all this in the context of last week's Thomas Edsall's column about Mr. Trump and the Koch brothers, and see it as something of a reinforcement of something I've thought all along: the problem is the Republican party. The Party is no longer recognisably related to the concept President Lincoln helped create.
The problem that President Obama refers to Mr. Trump as was aptly described in Mr. Edsall's column, as well as in several of Paul Krugman's columns and blog posts. The Republicans know that their true agenda is entirely unpalatable to the general populace, so they couch it in the very terms that make the Party have an affinity for people like Donald Trump, the Alt Right, the Neo Nazis and the KKK. Together with that, they power themselves by a bunch of Orwellian organizations that are no more honest than the "Swift Boaters for Truth" were. Fool enough people, and prevent enough others from voting, and the current status is what you will get.
People like Mr. Obama need to speak out loudly about that.
12
@Robbie J.
What exactly does the establishment Democratic Party stand for? The establishments of both parties see their highest priority to be service to corporations and the rich.
The parties differ in that service to corporations and the rich is the only purpose of the Republican Party. The establishment Democrats claim that they want to also offer the less-than-rich any help that's left over after they've helped big corporations and the rich. But, they tell us sadly, after taking care of big corporations and the rich, there's not much left for the poor, the working and middle classes.
Two parties serve the rich and big corporations, the Republicans and Democrats. And those two parties neglect the poor, the working and middle class. The difference is that Republicans perform those tasks more blatantly than Democrats, but the results are the same from both parties.
Yes, glad to see that Barrack has returned to the political ring, he is a brilliant man and an energizing speaker. But furious to hear him being referred to by the professional punditry and Radical Right as a convenient "Punching bag". I remember, however ,a similarly talented Black fellow who was also roundly criticized primarily by the White Press for attempting a return to another type of ring, after several equally brutal battles- Muhammad Ali.
Ali, as I recall, had in fact suffered a brutal beating first during his epic battle with Smokin' Joe Frasier and then had his jaw broken in the ring during his loss to Frasier's training partner, Kenny Norton, before announcing his retirement at age 32. And then after reconsidering, and fighting a few sloppy fights, Ali was roundly criticized and mocked for still calling himself 'The Greatest', and for accepting a fight with that 40-0 brawler, George Foreman, in Kinshasa.
I wont remind you Mr. Blow of what happened during Muhammad's return to his Greatest status in that unforgettable 'Rumble-the-Jungle' in 1974, except to say that Ali made his haters and the mainstream Press eat crow, and forever put 'Rope-a-Dope' into the lexicon of fight strategies. And I know I don't have to tell you sir that I fully expect our President Barrack Obama to emulate 'The Greatest', once he has now decided to step back into the ring-And God knows the Obamas currently have a plethora of Dopes to Rope in this unique political climate.
6
If you think rude, crude and obnoxious is fun, you have Trump.
If you feel at home with ignorance, you have Trump.
If you admire habitual liars, you have Trump.
If you trust braggarts, you have Trump.
If having a sense of humor irritates you, you have Trump.
If you feel safe with someone whose main motivations are hate and greed, you have Trump.
If you approve of meanness, you have Trump.
If screaming brats are “cute,” you have Trump.
If emptiness is the same as peace for you, you have Trump.
But, sorry, these are not qualities. Trump is a figure without qualities.
Barack Obama is his opposite. He is everything Trump is not. He is rich in ways Trump can only envy. Not surprising that Trump despises him.
12
@Charles Denning
If you nominate Hillary Clinton, you have Trump.
Gary, if you close down voting places where People of Color vote.....you have Trump!
2
Ask Obama why he is supporting corporate bundled, Charter school supporter, Obama FUNDRAISER Buffy Wicks who is up against union embraced, Sierra Club supporter, and Our Revolution endorsed, longtime Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles. Wicks has had NO presence in the District and never held office. Does MONEY drive support?
1
What struck me the most about Obama's comments was how carefully he chose his words. He is always judicious in his public speaking, using pacing and non-inflammatory rhetoric to get his message across. Yes, he was more direct this time and he did name 45--but all I could think is: Why does he have to tiptoe? He did it throughout his presidency and he's still doing it. Why does he have to be so careful not to be an "angry black man"? There was and still is SO very much to be angry about. Trump gets to say everything that is blatantly racist, jingoistic, and cruel, and everyone says, "Oh that's just Donald, telling it like it is. He's not a politican; he's a regular guy." Trump has alienated our long-standing allies, weakened our position abroad, divided people with hatred and suspicion, and he LIES on a daily basis. I am so very sick of the hypocritical double standards.
1
@Southern Tier reader-----------------------Thanks for your interesting and forceful comment. I do have one disagreement, though. Obama is not an angry black man. He's an angry everyman.
2
YEA for Obama! I think Trump was mistaken when he called himself as great as Lincoln.....I'm sure Trump meant that Obama is as great as Lincoln!
3
Well said, Charles. "Welcome back Mr. President."
13
Comparing Obama and Trump is like comparing a Mercedes Benz and an Edsel. That said ; is there really anyone who is going to change their minds between now and Nov.6? Yes Barack is like a breath of fresh air that reminds one of what was like when sane men were in charge of the White House. However it seems hopeless that those who have swallowed the Trump Kool Aid are liable to do anything but support the Lunatic-In-Chief now matter how crazy it gets. Such is the Great Divide Trump has created. The idea that there is any such thing as the "UNITED" States of America seems laughable. Of course no one should be laughing. I doubt Shakespeare could write such a tragedy. "King Trump: A Tale of Woe!"
I am glad former President Obama is leading the charge.....I would like to hear from the other former Presidents also, as I have heard they all hate what trump is doing to us. How about it guys? Carter,Bush 1 and 2, Bill Clinton....join the chorus.....lets make it loud and clear.
3
Worst nightmare: Obama
Second worst: Nike proves that woke has become profitable.
3
Disgusted. I'm not happy with Obama making another a media tour (oh wait! He's gone Hollywood anyway, so forget that). He's only doing it because the Dems have no one else.
9
"He insults and condemns his predecessors without end, particularly Obama, the black man whom his largely white base most detests."
Clearly, Trump’s base, (and many Independents) hate Hillary Clinton as much or more than Obama. Why does everything always have to be about race Mr. Blow? Can’t Trump just be a jerk?
And to say that Trump has a “stranglehold” on the news is like saying that Jodie Foster wouldn’t stop pestering John Hinkley. The media hangs on Trump's every word because it helps their ratings.
There’s no reason Obama shouldn’t speak out, he has a unique point of view, but let’s not pretend he’s some hero. I was just as happy as any liberal when he was elected, and just as disappointed when he traded a public option for an individual mandate, toppled Libya's government, funneled cash to Iran to seal a bad deal, targeted journalists and whistleblowers, distributed assault rifles to cartels, and not only bailed out the billionaires who crashed our economy, but refused to prosecute any of them.
As likable as he is, face it, Obama was a company man.
He’s just another voice in the mainstream media’s ceaseless chorus of negative coverage, and the chorus is far too loud for his etherial jabs to be appreciated. The media can stop making Trump’s every move a top story at any time they’d like, and we’d all be better off for it, but they won’t. Trump is too good for business.
4
President Obama has every right to speak up against Trumpian politics, even as Trump continues to malign any human being who dares speak against him. Trump never withheld his continuous, savage, and unfounded criticism of President Obama, and while I admire the former president's grace and silence on the topic of Trump's presidency, the stakes are too high now for Obama NOT to voice his concerns and his encouragement to get out the vote.
4
Hey, he's back! What, got tired of stuffing his pockets with Wall Street cash? So what? The guy had eight years in the most powerful position in the world, did nothing, and got played by Mitch McConnell. I'm fed up with him giving great sounding speeches and telling us what he would he would "prefer", yet did nothing. What a phony. He is a great part of why we have a Trump now. Please, Mr. Obama just go away, we don't need any more of your neoliberalism that gave us Trump.
3
Agree! What a pleasure and relief to hear Obama's sane, powerful, call-to-action words in the news, and not more of Trump's nasty bombast.
Keep it coming, Barack Obama!
10
A very serious worry: Every time Obama speaks truthfully, with forthright wisdom and proper reasoning, he alienates and stirs up hate from Trump's most racist and nasty haters who are just more anti democrat than before. These folk are looking for more reasons to get fired up and afraid of losing their pet barking dog. They are not persuaded by facts, ethics, concern for the unfortunate, immigrant plight, or even justice for themselves. They are truly the deplorables that Hillary warned us about.
2
Different men, to be sure. But both cleave to the same noxious neoliberal ideology which gave rise to the appalling inequality in your country that led to the desperation of the ill-educated to vote for the carnival barker who is as ill-educated as his deplored base. Blame yourselves.
Trump is a man who feeds on publicity. He will say or do anything to keep his face and his warped message (s) in the headlines. It has long been my opinion that the press should simply agree to ignore him. Press conference? Don't bother showing up. Headlines? Put him on page three. Return him to page one, if you must, after his head explodes.
2
All that’s lacking now is Hillary’s reappearance for complete deja vu. Getting a twofer is great so long as the first trip was a good one.
1
Thank you Charles Blow. Unlike our dear President Obama I never gave the horrible Trump a chance to do the right thing. I am a New Yorker. We always knew he was terrible. He told us day by day leading up to his nomination who he was. His supporters didn’t believe their ears or they just loved what he represented. Indeed, we are worn out by the Trump reality show. I am frightened by his supporters not seeing him for what he is. He conned them into thinking he cared about them. He just wanted to sell hats! Megan McCain was correct. America was “always great”. Time to take it back. Vote.
9
I felt so helpless, watching Trump, known by New Yorkers to be an idiot, pulling ahead in the campaign. “No!” I shouted to a few Republican relatives, who felt he was just what Washington needed instead of the dreaded Hillary. “There is no comparison! This is a no-brainer!” It all fell on deaf ears. So, I have felt furious for a long time at the dim-witted, reality-show-watching people who voted Trump into office. Seeing and hearing Obama is like a soothing balm. I feel reminded that we DID have a lucid, curious, intelligent and knowledgable person at the helm. For two terms! It seems like eons ago, but if we did it once, we can do it again. Yes. I wished he had spoken up sooner, but I think many people lived with the hope that he’d improve on the job. I also think that some people were so incredulous that they froze in place. Forget norms. There are no longer any norms. We need truth tellers now. Thank the Lord for “Anonymous,” Bob Woodward, and Obama. Would that some Republicans have the courage to speak up now, as we have been in dangerous territory for far too long.
9
Obama needs to not present right now. He will make it more difficult for Democrats to take the house , not easier. He was not a perfect president, especially as pertained to foreign affairs, and he, like Hillary, are the easiest targets to rile up the worst elements in the Republican Party. Hillary lost, in part, for being the poster child if the most hated, for the republicans. Obama runs a close second, and he is such a bad communicator with poor white people ( racist or not), that he will add nothing positive to most of the campaigns that are going on. He can get out the black vote, but he will also get out the white racist vote.
There is a chance for something new right now, and we don’t need to be draggged back into Obama’s hubris.
As an article I read recently says, it’s time for Democrats to abandon the accepted norms and begin to fight back with whatever it takes to change the narrative and take over the news.
Put the Dotard on the defensive. Scream about the Obama economy. The kidnapped children still held by ICE. The backfiring tariffs, jobs lost. The abandoning of long held friendships and replacement by dictators.
Let them spend all their time in rebuttal. Repeat the mantras over and over: don’t separate families. Tariffs are bad for American jobs. Why does Trump love Putin and Russia? What is he hiding? Broken record, broken record, broken record......
10
@Grey
I agree that the Democrats need to fight back, however, I believe they need to fight back with proposals designed to help those that were seeking it from Trump. Then tell the voters why Trump's/the Republicans'/the Libertarians' plans will not help them but will actually make things worse for them. The Democrats will have to do it in a way that's snappy, catchy and strikes an emotional chord within the voters. I think that's the only way for the Democrats to turn the tide for the Blue Wave to be successful.
2
Obama does great speeches. And, we just see Trump reading his speeches..not his words!!
Can't tell you how much I miss the "no drama" Obama.
3
And not a moment too soon.
1
Too bad there was a 1000 legislative seat attrition on his watch. This will backfire BADLY for democrats. Presidents 2 years removed should keep their mouths shut.
4
When I saw President Obama give Senator McCain's eulogy it so made me yearn for a president with the ability to speak in complete sentences.
The sooner we can dump this dangerous clown in the oval office, the better. I am a former long-time Republican who will vote a straight Democratic ticket until Trump is gone.
6
The Community Organizer is back! Welcome Home...Sorry the house is in such disarray - the lawn needs mowing and the driveway needs refinishing. The paint buckets and brushes are on the front porch and I've made sandwiches and lemonade. Let's get started!
Whoops, one more thing, LET'S VOTE first!
5
"Nothing Obama said was new or revelatory." Doent that sum up most of the speeches given by him over the years, big on broad themes, plenty of self-congratulations and little of useful substance?
4
"Your country was crying for help and you heard it."
Where did he go?
He never should have left.
2
And the way to stand with President Obama is vote, vote, VOTE.
10
It is a welcome change to hear "wonky" Obama again. I am so tired of trying to make meaning out of Trump's sentences! The man is worse than illiterate; the man is vacuous; a cheap entertainer; a hustler.
8
All I can say is right on, Mr.President, and Mr. Blow. We need your voices now more than ever.
14
Is there a "Frank Capra" moment in President Obamas return? I truly hope so.
4
I cannot think of two totally different people...
President Barrack Obama, Thank you for letting the sun light back in, your light, back in our homes, our dreams.
18
When I came to the end of this column at about 10:15 p.m. EDT and saw there were only 33 comments, I was virtually astonished and, more to the point, disgusted. In my opinion, Mr. Obama is the most articulate, thought-provoking and intelligent speaker America has had as a presiden4 since Jack Kennedy, and probably more so.
Do readers of this paper fail to see what desperate times these are? Do they fail to realize that the narcissistic, half-mad, "idiotic" and "moronic" President Trump threatens U.S democracy; and that by casting away America's historic, though heavily tarnished, role as a friend to democracies, and an enemy to tyrants throughout the world, he jeopardizes civilization on the planet?
Mr. Obama's timing is impeccable, on the eve of crucial mid-terms. What other politician has a fraction of his stature?
Welcome back.
6
To me, hearing Obama again was like: hearing a favorite song from the past that doesn't get air time anymore and like chicken soup for the soul of America.
9
Aside from the relief I felt when President Obama began to speak out, I am struck by the startling contrast of the open, easy, comfortable smile to the horrid faces we have seen from the naked emporer. #45's sullen, angry, threatening, smarmy expressions alone tell us who he is. There is honesty and hope against the fake, puppet-like, authoritarian stance. Watching President Obama is like feeling spring air!
7
What's fascinating is that President Obama's speechifying over the past week feels like a breath of fresh air to a lot more people than Democrats.
Many registered independents and a few Republicans are saying: "oh, THAT'S was governing is all about. THAT'S what civilized behavior looks and sounds like.
Amen to Mr. Obama.
7
Oh, believe me, I was very heartened to hear President Obama speak.
Whether or not a person agrees with all, or any, of Obama's policies and positions, you'd have to admit: it was refreshing to hear a Presidential voice of reason again.
I gives one hope.
I just hope it's not too late...
3
The former president demonstrates Trump’s stranglehold on the news. Thank you, Mr. X-president. Now go away!
Thank you Charles Blow for a beautiful, perfectly timed essay; I hope President Obama had a chance to read it.
If Obama reads this comment, I would suggest a couple of additions to his presentations:
1. Begin the speech with "I hope you vote as if your life depended on it."
2. Follow up with all the many reasons you say this. Include an answer to the often asked question: "What do Democrats stand for?" The simplest answer is "We stand for GOOD GOVERNMENT.' There are of course many many variations on that theme.
3. End the speech with reminder: "Vote as if your life depended on it."
Good Luck!!
Trump and the Republicans forfeited any claim to be exempt from severe criticism by a former President, long ago. They routinely defend Trump by saying he should not be judged by normal standards of conduct because he is the "anti-politician." He can break any rule that suits him, as far as they are concerned. Now they complain when long held conventions are broken - against them. Sad!!
But, it is gratifying to hear them whine about it, like the little babies they are.
2
I’m very glad to see President Obama returning to public life and to the fray. Who first articulated this weird “norm” of ex-presidents refusing to criticize those who follow them into the office? Perhaps it was LBJ, whose term ended in the jungles of Vietnam? Perhaps Nixon, whose term ended in resignation? Maybe Gerald Ford, Nixon’s pardoner whose term succumbed to inflation? What about Carter, the best ex-president in history? Saint Reagan of the Right, he of the Iran-Contra loss of memory? G.H.W. Bush, who couldn’t read his own lips? BILL? Dubya Of Mesopotamia?
No, I’m very glad to see President Obama out and about, speaking earnestly to the young folks about what can happen when they can’t be bothered to vote. Now perhaps he can take that message to one of the most famous young unrepentant non-voters out there, a man working overtime to build his brand around protest. President Obama, you must know someone who can give you Colin Kaepernick’s number. While you exhort young people to vote, he continues to deride voting as useless, while acting as the face of a Nike ad campaign. Maybe you can bring him on board, I understand he’s big on social media. It’s worth a try.
1
What does he mean when he says a candidate won’t govern the way he says he will. Gosh I’m shocked. This ex-President is not speaking the truth. His record speaks the truth. They ain’t the same cousin.
On Inauguration Day, sometime after the ‘American Carnage’ speech there was coverage of President and Mrs Obama leaving, walking to their car. From some place deep inside me I yelled out “Don’t go!” It was a completely involuntary utterance. I startled myself. Even the dog jumped.
It’s good to know he’s still out there. I wish we could have them both back at the White House. But that’s not going to happen.
Deep inside, just as on Inauguration Day, I still fear that even after Trump’s presidency is over, one way or another, the damage that he has done to America will not easily be overcome. To say nothing of the carnage he has yet to wreak.
3
I love the part where the Fox News commentator said that Trump didn't criticize Obama while he was in office. Okay, then where did all that Birtherism come from, and I suppose it's not criticism when he called Obama weak and un-American. (Not to mention literally hundreds of other criticisms; apparently the definition of the word 'criticism' changed in the past 2 years and nobody informed any of the dictionary companies about it)
4
There's only so much red meat you can take in your diet. We need variety to keep us healthy - as does this country.
1
I wept during Obama’s speech and, in doing so, I realized just how profoundly I mourn the death of civility. That might have been enough, but there was also the words of an informed mind, of someone who understood the power of language, who gave us the substance we’ve been crying out for. And yet it put Trump to sleep. Who needs waking up? Us? Or Trump? And then one of his allies told us that that’s the Trump style, that it’s the way he speaks and the way he tweets, and we better get used to it. And therein lies the difference. I’m not expecting anyone to come along and save us from ourselves, but, in this specific instance, Obama stands tall and proud while Trump just looks like the fool he is.
4
I join Mr. Blow in thanking President Obama for standing up and calling out Trump on his egregious treatment of our government and "we the people". It's time to drain the swamp of Trump and his followers in both houses.
4
Day 6 of An acknowledged coup, usurpation of executive power. Former President Obama was correct- this is not funny, this is not the way our government is supposed to be. But hey, you are right; just so many hours in a news cycle. Let’s move on....to more important things. All the speeches in the world won’t make this presidency right. Congress, not the Justice Department, needs to investigate. A coup is one thing- a mad king that allows it to happen, to continue- no.
I did not vote for Trump, but every time Obama opens his divisive mouth, I understand more clearly why tens of millions of Americans did vote for him.
Obama continues to insult those honest citizens who fail to see what he considers his omniscience and obvious superiority, faulting them for nothing more their stubborn refusal to agree with him. In his eyes, they are “less than” and deserve to be driven out. This is a message of exclusion and America sees it.
I will not make the same mistake twice.
If Obama's attitude is the alternative to Trump, I will happily vote for Trump in 2020. For the good of my country.
5
Michelle Obama famously said " when they go low , we go high " . Of course I do not think we should go low , but we should be very clear . One mistake of the politicians and pundits that oppose Trump have been that , in order to maintain civility , they are afraid to touch certain themes . One of the taboos have been the mental health of the President . The real problem we have in front of us is not what Trump has done in the past , even if illegal and inmoral , but what he may do in the future . We are having a psychiatric emergency . I do not think he will be able to dismantle our Democracy because of our tradition of respecting the rule of Law and his own incompetence . But he will try and nobody can be 100 % sure about the outcome . Remember that nobody thought such a clownish candidate could become President .
2
It is such a relief to have Obama back in the public sphere! His presence is reassuring and refreshing.Would that we could have him back to clean up the mess!
2
I am glad to see Obama back also. However, the very eloquence that made me love him is what made trump’s base hate him. I worry that the country has gone into the thrall of trump and will begin mocking Obama for the things we love most about him. And then, he is black. That is also enough to rouse the hatred of trump’s base.
I remain somewhat discouraged that America may have gone over the edge and it may be too late. I hope not.
2
Finally, a thoughtful sane voice. President Obama's takedown of Trump was masterful in its calm renunciation of all he stands for and does. There are people who held their noses and voted for Trump in part because they disliked Clinton. They are not part of the extreme Trump supporters who revel in his venom at his constant pep rallies. They do not applaud caging children after taking them from their families. They do not cheer that the press is the enemy of the people. They do not agree with bloating the deficit to provide huge tax cuts for the wealthy and unneeded additional military spending. They do not agree that PR should have been neglected after disaster having 3000 died. And they have no problem saying that neo-Nazis are bad, unlike Trump. These people are more afraid of Trump than of women, minorities, immigrants, and the outside world. Their votes for Trump were an aberration and now, prodded by President Obama, they will leave him to that 30% hard right who agree with his hateful views and ignore his obvious mental health issues. A breath of sanity has made it clear that the rest of Americans are better than that. A major effort to register every demographic and get out the vote will save American democracy from Trump and his amoral administration. Hopefully both Obamas and the Bidens can help make that happen. The country is in the balalnce. A blue wave to take back the House and maybe even the Senate is required. Thank you President Obama for making this start.
3
Mr. Blow nails the problem at the end of his column. It took a public speech by President Obama to finally break Trump's "stranglehold on the news."
For three years now, since his fateful trip down the escalator to greet his paid supporters, Trump has completely sucked the oxygen out of the American political system.
In exchange for ratings, circulation, page clicks and advertising profits, the news media have shamelessly exploited Trump, to the point where they subsidized his campaign with an estimated $2 billion in free, unedited air time for his prime time rallies and unlimited phone call-ins.
The effect of the news media's profitable and self-serving 24-7, "all-Trump, all the time" news coverage has been to crowd out all coverage of issues and substance in favor of Trump's reality-TV world of bombast, sensationalism and scandal.
Except possibly for Adam Schiff, Democratic appearances or discussions of policy issues, such as climate change or health care policy, on cable news are about as rare as bald eagle sightings. Stormy Daniels gets more media coverage than the entire Democratic party combined.
President Obama's welcome speech has finally opened the windows to the stale political and media room and let in some much-needed fresh air and sunlight.
4
@John M I comment about this here and elsewhere frequently but it does no good, like calling or emailing your Republican congressman. Fair and balanced coverage of all candidates, all parties, all movements and all important issues is not happening. That abdication of professional standards and responsibility in favor of advertising sales based on clicks and ratings will be a big part of the failure of our democracy.
1
The juxtaposition of one former president—one who called on our better angels in two campaigns for office—with the current occupier of the oval office is so stark that when Obama speaks we remember, Oh yeah, there was a time when we were in a better place.
Then the full brunt of Bush's economic collapse happened just a few months into Obama's first term.
Obama's easy humor, a beaming smile, shooting hoops for the cameras, and above all, a stunning command of English prose, inspired us to give him two terms as our president, even in the midst of a meltdown.
Obama reminds Trump of his massive incapacity to run this nation. He absolutely hates Barack Obama. And Obama reminds us, the people, of our possibilities to aspire to higher purposes: fair play, equality in opportunity, governing for all and not just the privileged.
As President Lincoln said: "We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we will save the country." So it is with Trumpism.
3
Not only should former President Obama be at the front line of defending our values and our ideals but all living former Presidents, regardless of party affiliation and every politician that attended Senator McCain's funeral and all decent Americans should join in. Americans have to get off their thing and make the country better!
2
Thank you, Mr Blow
1
Obama was a remarkable president held back by the Party of No, the Republicans. He's smart, articulate and American all the way. Obama didn't get everything right but he was moral and caring, honest and inclusive. A good leader, Obama brought out the best in those who served his administration.
Now, what good can we say of #45 other than he puts his pants on one leg at a time?
3
"I love the guy! Get him out there! Finally! He'll make Trump look like the idiot he is!"
That's a typical comment. And it reveals that Obama fans are enthusiastic, emotional and dying to be rid of Trump. At the same time, they don't seem to know much about places where Obama is unpopular, Like Montana and Kansas.
Obama lost Montana by a 45% spread in 2012. It seems that fly fishermen and ranchers tend to be red through and through.
We are doing well across the country. Many predict that we will take over. But I fear that if we send Obama to Montana and Kansas that will screw things up. Please don't assume that because you love the guy that those in the red states agree. We need to win a bunch of red states and Obama can't help in them. There is what you think and there is what others think. Please don't get them confused. Send modreate and blue dogs to the deep red states.
Obama is a welcome bright presence as his successor seems to purposely darken our path. The former president's lightness of manner, easy wit and rational exuberance is delightful to behold once again.
Never a question of his morality or scruples. Never an issue of self-appointed guards over-riding him by sabotage.
A wonderfully steady steward of The Constitution, aptly reassuring during times of national grief--and not a single personal scandal.
231
@One More Realist in the Age of Trump
"I am not king. I can't do these things just by myself."
Then goes ahead and does it anyway.
1
@One More Realist in the Age of Trump, now THAT is funny!
Really? never a question of his morality or scruples???
You do realize that the picture used of kids being in cages regarding immigration were pictures taken while Obama was president, don't you?
Should we talk about the "morals" of Fast and Furious? How about the illegal use of the IRS to punish those that disagreed with Obama? Is it moral to have the IRS audit people that disagree with the president? Then we have the Justice department spying on reporters and even jail them.
Steward of the Constitution??
Have you been asleep for the past decade? How many times has Obama been struck down by the Supreme Court? Do you know?
1
Mr. President, please continue to speak out against this horrible person who pretends to be president. Trump has lowered the discourse and made politics even more coarse and nasty. I hate that he has gone two years unchallenged.
I have grandchildren that make me care very much for the country. I want them to grow up in a time where they can have pride in the institutions of our government. I hate that I grew up with Nixon who made many of hone our abilities to speak out, but left a terrible man leading our country. Being patriotic was passe and limited to republican voices who wanted to continue with a criminal president.
I do not for a minute want my grandchildren to have to realize that we have another crook in the presidency. We have to stop trump just like we stopped Nixon.
President Obama shows us that we can use our better angels to speak up. Thank you.
1
I'm very glad President Obama has re-emerged. The country (and Lord knows the Democrats) need his leadership. I hope he manages to become more than just an appetizer or a day's special on the mass media menu between now and November. But here's what a lot of people are NOT getting...
While the mainstream media overly-scrutinizes every idiotic little thing Trump does - which only works up Trump voters even more - the real effects of major policy issues get lost on the public.
Candidate Trump told the public exactly what his modus operandi is: "All publicity is good publicity." And that's all he's been getting since Day 1 of his never-ending Clockwork Orange candidacy. He makes the "fake news" media constantly chase their tails. Everything he does gets excruciating coverage on television.
In the meantime, he and the the Republicans are pushing their insidious agenda and successfully ramming it thru (e.g., pulling out of the Climate Accords, pulling out of the Iran Agreement, lifting the ACA mandate, giving the uber rich huge tax cuts, appointing and confirming conservative ideologues to the Supreme Court).
The Democrats and the mainstream media need to start messaging a LOT more effectively to win the House in November, it seems to me. The larger issues must come to the fore WITHOUT Trumpian distraction.
They will otherwise be scratching their heads all over again, like they did in 2016, about why that 70-percent white electorate continues supporting the Trumpublicans.
2
Blow is spot on in terms of the heft that Obama's words carry and the oxygen it'll suck away from Trump. He is the voice of reason and sanity that was so lacking in our public discourse with the birther-in-chief's crass chatter filling the airwaves.
But on another (maybe minor) note, it was nice to listen to a person speak in full sentences with real words and good grammar. It was coherent and cogent, unlike the word soup uttered second grade orange speaker.
Thanks Obama! Welcome back!!
2
I'll be brief.
Woo-hoo!!
4
Man, have I ever missed him!
2
In my seventy-plus years, I don't remember having a president who was so vilified as Mr. Obama. In social settings and rounds of golf, I encountered people who get their veins bulging and go all wild-eyed when describing how much they hated "that damn Obama."
I baited a Trump-supporting acquaintance once by pointing out that this level of hatred seemed excessive and asked him what was so different about Obama.
He responded with anger, "He's a Socialist and a secret Muslim, and he's destroying our country."
Somehow, that didn't seem to be a full explanation.
"While there, Obama gave a press conference, and the questions and answers, viewed in hindsight, with the full knowledge of the hell we’ve been through for nearly two years, is fascinating."
Make that "... answers ARE [not is] fascinating."
(I am 'otherwise' in full agreement with you, as usual -- or maybe even always.)
Rod Serling’s famous Twilight Zone TV series is apt for our politics now---perfect characters and situations.
And Serling's devastating movie "Seven Days in May" will be on TCM, Monday the 10th at 545pm---nominated for 2 Oscars. I will watch this now, with a different feeling than before. In the past, especially under Obama, this movie seemed a far out, entertaining, though cautionary fantasy. Today, it no longer seems so far out.
It's a wonderfully written drama of how allies of an ethical president try to prevent a fanatical US general from staging a coup to take over the US govt, after the president had signed a nuclear arms peace treaty with Soviets. The senator the president enlists to help him save America, is imprisoned for a while by the allies of the general.
Other apt movies are The Manchurian Candidate and of course, Network---'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore' screams the unhinged TV anchorman.
As the bizarre daily news keeps piling up, when will one of our cable news TV hosts actually start screaming?
1
It was such a pleasure listening to an actual President of the United States, as opposed to the bogus moron now masquerading in that role.
1
What I see is that the entire NYTs prefers to report on
Trumps latest flatulence rather than dig down and report on how his administration is wrecking our country. Then there's the rest of the world that has largely disappeared from the Times.
1
Obama is back! God help us.
He is a vain, smug, self-satisfied and deluded individual.
I am shocked that so many people would be fooled by this "professor of constitutional law" ? and earner of undeserved praise (Nobel Prize) for most of his life.
He was a terrible president but most white people would be loathe to admit it in public for fear of the "racist" charge.
We now have a terrible person who is president but accomplishing positive things for millions of Americans.
Pick your poison.
4
So you want your big brother to save you from the bully.
No wonder Trump and his fellow fascists win.
2
The liberal/leftist/socialist media, including the NYT, has had the stranglehold on the truth for the past two years.
2
Yes, President Obama is making me feel good. But the real answer is in putting your time, your money and your effort into this fight.
You want change? Stop pretending that politics starts with the ballot box. JOIN the right political party at the local level. Attend precinct meetings (YES you live in a precinct). Canvas and get voters registered. Help get out the vote on election day. Stand at the polls.
Show your face, man up or put on your big girl panties.
Too many well intentioned people believe that politics is an intellectual game where you sit back and assess candidates and make your choice at the ballot box.
Put money in the game. Offer a room in your house for campaign field workers who live on a pittance to work every election. We do this and two are living with us right now. And we have done this in every election. And yes they were crying after election night in 2016, sobbing. This is real time stuff.
By the way, you may not get what you want every time. Play the long game, and you will know you have done everything that it takes to change our country. It is time for you to make a difference.
1
Blow's opinions are divisive and demagogic.
For instance,
"Obama, the black man whom his largely white base detests." This falsely smears many Republicans as racist when if Obama was a Republican, he would have been elected president in a land slide and been the most popular president in recent history.
2
Having voted for Obama twice, I supported him but also found his administration flawed as he frequently tip toed through issues when he should have been more forceful. Towards the end of his second term, we saw the man we knew he could be, and when he uses strong rhetoric, he gets a better result. I've missed the angry Obama but glad that he's finally decided to speak his mind. I'm almost sure that, in private, he and Michelle have had many "WTH is going on??" conversations, as many/most of us have, building up to this moment.
Good for him. We've missed you.
The November "Blue Wave"--even with deep-swamp Woodward, NYT "Anonymous", and Obama campaigning for same--"There's no there, there."
4
Amen, Charles Blow.
1
Most presidents don’t talk much about their successors. Whether you liked him or not, it cannot be denied that Obama is a pretty thoughtful guy and does little he hasn’t mulled over. So he obviously is doing this for a reason. I would suggest at least three.
He is giving some pop in general to Democratic candidates nationwide ahead of the elections. His timing is not a coincidence.
And as Charles said, he is sucking some air of of the Trump media dominating balloon, giving the 24-hour news cycle something else to fill up its time and attention.
And finally, he is reminding us, in word and manner, how a person with civility and actual leadership skills comports himself. We’ve seen little out of the Republican Party other than Trump, Trump boot lickers and mini-Trumps running for state and federal offices. Just by showing up and acting like an adult he presents a stark contrast between what we have now and what we should expect in our leaders.
Obama is a fraud, but at least he looks pretty and has manners.
5
As always Mr. Blow you are on target. Hearing Obamas: words give us hope
1
Hold on Mr. Blow. I'm part of Trump's base, spouse is from Iburri,and our son, Alister Hall, bi racial, attends a charter school in the Bronx. Entire family, brothers in law James and Michael, sister in law , Rebecca,will, inshalla, join us in this land of abundance "aussitot que possible!" There r many others in the Trump camp who think as I do, and who match their actions to their words. Suggest u undertake some solid investigative journalism, real reporting, before writing another sweeping, superficial generalization, no se ofenda!Thus, whence such an odious charge that "Trump's base detests blacks?"Ironical that Obama, ex community organizer,never visited south and west sides of Chicago during his presidency where murder rate is alarming! Imperiled folks voted for him en masse, yet neither he nor his family has deigned to visit these low income high crime "quartiers!" That's the real news which should be highlighted, the irony of it all, not his no doubt well paid appearance at a Dem.fund raiser!So what else is new? Don't tell us what to believe.Let readers make up their own minds!You should try to be more educative, rather than simply informing us of your biases!Remember FSF's immortal words:"0n the one hand this; on the other hand that!"
3
So what?
Barack Hussein Obama managed to lose both Houses of Congress along with a majority of state executive mansions and legislatures when he was present in the Oval Office of our White House. And while he and Michelle were going high for Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin had other methods and plans for his chosen American Presidential candidate Donald John Trump, Sr.
Putin never left!
MAGA!
2
An anonymous op-ed in the NY Times and a book filled with unnamed sources “proves us right”? Geez! I wonder how many other reader of NYT read Charles Blow for a chuckle.
3
I voted for Obama twice, but now, when I look at him, all I can see is Al Sharpton in the White House and a bunch of dead, innocent cops.
3
Obama sounded quaint but very deja vu irrelevant to me.
I don't think he will make much difference in California House Districts with heavy Republican registration, if any.
Local Districts will elect the younger, more attractive candidates who speak to their own concerns for heathcare, secure social security, subsidized college education, protection of air, water, earth, oceans. Talk sense not political theory. Obama sounded like a holier-than-thou-and-certainly-smarter-than-all-of-yawl professor. That was an insult to the potential voters who were not at the program event. That was one of his biggest turnoffs to Red Staters when he was President. Sure, I miss him and he's charming. But I want for Democrats to win Congress and the Presidency again. They won't do it with lectures to the electorate (e.g. "We are better than this.") No we are not better than "this." That's the problem we are trying to solve!
3
Trump is a gifted demagogue who can sway multitudes with his half-truths, mocking his critiques, and his outrageous claims.
Obama is an intellectual, thoughtful speaker, always emphasizing facts not fiction, and just for that, he will NEVER reach the 45 million devotees of Trump.
Given the outrageous claims made by Trump , that he is the greatest President ever to occupy the White House and one who claims his actions leave former presidents in the dust,
Obama needs to hammer the facts as they are, steadily, convincingly and doggedly, until the uncommitted voters see the truth for what it is and vote against Trump candidates.
1
It’s time we Americans realize that yes we caused the possible lose of our wonderful free government. We didn’t even vote for these valuable rights because we never thought the fool on the hill could possibly win and become our voice to the world. We gave it up too easily. And now we will go down to the region of hate and fear. Yes we were all involved in our death of our great country. This November vote will either resuscitate our dying values or the Hater in chief will never leave. We must be as brave as Obama and look the haters and the hate in the eyes. America turn off the tv and win for all the children.
I'm a mixed-race Democrat. Yes he was a smooth talked and eloquent speaker. But let's not get carried away. He did NOTHING for the middle-class and less for blacks. And he's making a fool of himself by claiming credit for the economy. I think he should run for Mayor of Chicago...let's see if he can do real work and clean that mess up.
3
Corrected: Though I didn't vote for president Obama in the 2008 Primary, I did vote for both finals. I was disheartened in 2008 for Mrs Clinton's loss. I was extremely apprehensive in 2012, fearing that Mitt Romney might win, far more so because of Paul Ryan.
I was quite disappointed in Prez Obama for his inaction in Syria, which all but destroyed that country. His disengagement in Iraq was irresponsible - firefighters have put off arsons too. In short, though GW Bush initiated those calamities, Obama was responsible for the disasters in both Iraq & Syria. He doesn't seem to care, because those countries are so far away - Holocaust also was far away!
Nevertheless, Obama saved the US economy from going into another even worse Great Depression, in turn to a substantial extent the world economy, despite persistent obstruction from Republicans. Obamacare is still kicking, which is great, third leg after Social Security & Medicare.
Having said that I wish Obama focused only to get Democratic voters go to the polls. It serves no purpose by criticizing Prez Trump. Nevertheless, he should claim & stress that the current prosperity is only a continuation of what he put in place, despite Republican Obstructionism at every step. If there is more energized prosperity, that's just a "sugar-high" from the irresponsible tax-cuts, mostly for the rich. And we may pay a heavy price for the high deficit & burgeoning debt.
1
Obama: Make America Good Again! On blue caps...
Miss President Obama’s! Interesting to me the reps criticize him while allowing Herr Trump to continue to lie etc.
1
So good to see and hear Obama again. Sick sick of Trump.
The preacher is back to talk down to us. To remind us that America was never great. To make us fear that White Supremacy is all around us. To propose more handouts instead of real jobs. To tell us about all the manufaccturing jobs he said would never come back. To tell us we can keep our doctor if we want if only we would believe in him. To draw a red line he will never defend. To promise Putin he will be more flexible after the election. To offer a reset button afteer Trump. Good Riddens.
4
It was so striking getting to hear a real president again. Even on Trump's best day he sounds like a semi literate second grader who keeps bragging about himself for finally making a boom-boom in the big boy's toilet. As untrustworthy as Omerosa is when she says Trump never reads any of his own executive orders he just makes a big show of signing them like an idiot. You can truly believe it. Seriously, Trump HAS NEVER submitted a real independent record of his physical and mental fitness to serve in office. His first medical report was an admitted fraudulent submission written by Trump. The second was a similar entry resulting in the physician resigning in disgrace. How is this unfit creature still in office? Why do republicans hate this country and our democracy so much?
1
I think Obama should give a speech that goes something like this: I may not have been perfect, but I didn't pay off porn stars or Playboy bunnies. I did.t have my people meet secretly with the Russians and then try to cover it up. I tried to do something about global warming, not ignore it for profit. I didn't rip children out of their mother's arms. I didn't embrace Nazi followers. I didn't degrade an American war hero. I didn't make my first order of business making the wealthy richer. I saved the economy from depression. I saved the auto industry and the jobs. I tried to hold the finance industry responsible for irresponsible lending and investing practices. I wanted to repair infrastructure but was told no. Republicans embrace and enable Trump. And if you think things are going to get better from here, they are not. We have reached the apex and it is all down hill from here. Because the only way to pay for this is to take it out of your pocket. Period. End of story. If you want more of this, stay home. But if you want to end the nightmare, go vote. You have the power. Use it.
2
In addition to taking some of the oxygen out of the daily Trump hurricane, news focusing on Obama gives us a strong, steady, honorable, level-headed, INTELLIGENT, and refreshing CONTRAST to the Idiot Trump.
May gen. Ontinue to grab some of the headlines !!!
Let's be honest: Obama misread the country significantly enough to help give rise to Trump. And his repeated reluctance to raise his voice above genteel, measured tones makes me believe he was not the right man for the times.
Though I and many other NYT readers breathe a sigh of relief on reading and hearing his complete sentences and nuanced thoughts, Obama's a fool to believe that he's the solution to Trump. Once again he's likely to fail to recognize how deeply divisive he is just by existing. It's a sad, hard, terrible truth that our country can be that stupid, but it's truth nonetheless. Trump and his coterie of morons will capitalize on this to great effect.
3
Mr. Blow,
Why do you say President Obama is a "Black Man" ?
Do you believe the "One Drop Rule" still applies
in Law and Politics.
Obama's mother, to use the categories the Times uses,
was "White".
His father was from Kenya.
Obama has very little in common with the lives of
African Americans.
And is no more "Black" than he is "White"
3
Obama is back
more yak yak yak
still better than
no tact tact tact
I like him alot
he fits the slot
he's my man
no empty robot
the markets yet scream
we have a dream
buckets of money to ream
so chose my cobber
sweet words
or in greenbacks do wallow
"Your country was crying for help and you heard it." Dear Mr. Blow: How many times did you put the word 'finally' in that sentence and then take it out?
1
" Welcome back Obama" Indeed! I just hope it isn't too late.
And by the way what a difference in a Obama speech to our almost illiterate President vulgar talk.
1
Charles you're back! I missed reading your biased discriminatory articles as I'm sure many did. My hope is that you and people like you perceive a benefit to having Obama as the liberal spokes person; it's an early Christmas present if I ever saw one. Hopefully he will travel and help everyone remember what a smooth talking con man he was and ensure not only Trump's re-election to a second term but a general dis - ease with the Democrat part in general. Thanks Charles!
2
Obama has flushed out the Neo-Confederacy of the Southern Slave States.
Anyone who would give an inch against the Conferacy's stars and bars is at the least, misinformed, at the worst, a traitor.
Blah Blah Blah/ The Economy is Strong because of Trump's Tax cut and Everyone is Winning because of it ...this is just more liberal sabotage to try and rally Democrat Vote that are seeing big media and their Party as dishonest / to see how the Democrat's abuse the truth about the tax cut and the 1 percent ...who they get huge donations from read thishttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/26/fact-check-democ...
1
A brain versus a soulless empty vessel.
3
What commentators like Charles Blow never recognize is that Trump's election and the anger of his base are a direct result of the one sided media bias that publications like new York Times represent.
5
YES Mr. Blow, it is very good to have Obama back to call out this fraud that we have now
1
I'm glad that Charles Blow has found it in himself to write about something other than the same rehashed column about Trump that he has been penning for two years straight now. Granted, this column is still - albeit indirectly - about Donald Trump. But, hey, it's progress.
2
How come Obama spends zero time in his "hometown" of Chicago, where the black men he professes to care about are being slaughtered every day?
Instead, he lives in a remarkably pale neighborhood in DC, Kalorama (82.9% white), or spends time at his vacation homes in Rancho MIrage, CA (82% white), and Kailua Bay, Hawaii, which is .03% black. You get the feeling he really, really doesn't want to be around blacks.
Well, at least he spouts the correct social justice rhetoric on race, so his admirers don't care if he leads a Rush Limbaugh lifestyle. In this regard he mirrors the behavior of many of his limousine liberal supporters: praise diversity to the heavens, but live, work and study in the whitest neighborhoods possible.
4
Having pushed for Hillary Clinton to succeed him as President was absolutely foolish. He blew it.
4
I agree.
Settle down. Magic Barry hurts as much as he helps, just as from 2008-2016.
1
Obama's Back!? What? Mr. Blow, he was never there.
4
Political Charisma Run Amok:
Chameleon Obama’s Capoeira
Peter A. Olsson
The charismatic obfuscator-in-chief, trots on stage.
Cockily strutting to the lectern, his chin juts skyward.
The teleprompter guides words crafted so officiously.
A charming smarmy grin is his wordless preamble.
His purported empathy, defines pure political power.
The baritone voice tries to claim America’s heartbeat.
Borrowed intonation resembles Martin, Billy and John.
He foists faux nobility upon scared collective souls.
“Hope and Change” are mantras finding false forms,
They have now become “Dope and Spiritual Mange.”
Acorns and green science pose socialistic disguises.
The emperor and czars have dazzling dress clothes.
Ingenious artist at strawman crafting and creating.
His utopian words are intoxicants sheep can embrace.
And, so defensive when his judgment is questioned.
Obama would best be mindful of Eden’s shadow side.
America tantalized by his thirty pieces of silver debt.
An inevitable urge and danger, for Jesus to find Judas.
Sadly, Barack conflates cogent critics with enemies.
He takes global trips to apologize for our prosperity.
Thank you Mr. Obama, your intelligence and integrity have been sorely missed. As Mr. Blow points out your, voice is needed as a counterweight to the divisiveness and stupidity that spews on a daily basis from the White House. Welcome back.
1
"...simmering afterglow of Donald Trump’s stunning defeat..."
Simmering afterglow? Trump's victory was, and remains, the backlight of a hellish sulfuric cauldron from which sprang a tainted election. An election that leaves us with a squatting, evil, liar of a beast in the Oval Office stomping on and strangling all truth and hope from our democracy.
3
Surgically and objectively attack and disintegrate Trump's dangerous and ignorant rhetoric and " policies ". Cut the cancer out. Make it very very hard on Trump.
1
Yawnn......8 years was more than plenty of this gent.
1
As Trump tires to erase Obama, I hope Obama helps erase Trump.
2
I hope that Obama can encourage the young, minorities and those who don't vote in mid-term elections to vote and end this abomination in our Washington DC.
It was great to hear from Obama again. I would love to continue to hear from intelligent politicians like him. Although he is for the time being our president, Trumps ignorant braying has become boring.
1
The mainstream media has only itself to blame for allowing Trump to dominate news cycles. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me". The NYT, and most other media organizations allow Trump to fool them again and again and again, and then bleat about how he dominates the news. Time you learned how he operates, and respond accordingly. Here is an example. Next time Trump makes an outrageous statement, that is full of lies, your headline should be "Trump lies again" . He and his Russian advisors are playing hardball, and the US media refuses to adapt.
The writer is a former Soviet trained intelligence official and IW (Information Warfare) consultant.
3
The air in America is a little cleaner today. Truth and facts have a way of doing that, especially when they're spoken coherently with intelligence. Thank you, President Obama.
There were no WWE theatrics like the moron's "rally." His supporters would have been bored to death-no chants, no threats to the press, no Nazi flags. Imagine an America like that.
1
The US policy of using drones to kill people around the world, initiated by Obama who infamously maintained a kill list, has been expanded under Trump to extend throughout Africa. Aspects of US foreign policy under Trump and Obama are more similar than many want to believe.
Now that former President Obama is back, he can present a unifying message by confirming that he is half-white and half-black and proud of it - and by stating that he plans to write a book called "Dreams From My Mother". Mr Blow should encourage former President Obama in this endeavor. People who are half-white and half-black add to the diversity of the USA.
Such a relief to be reminded that we don't have to have a willfully ignorant, joyfully arrogant, narcissistic blowhard as President.
"Anyone can become President": what a huge difference there is between what that means in the case of the exquisitely qualified Barack Obama and what it means in the case of the thoroughly, shamefully incompetent Donald John Trump.
Presidential timber versus swamp gas.
Worst. President. Ever. As my 15 year old nephew asked.. what did Obama do?
3
For much of the nation, President Obama is STILL our President. And we enact local legislation that falls perfectly in line with his eight years in office.
If last week's op-ed from "Anonymous" is accurate (and there is every reason to believe it is), then a case can be made that Obama was the last real official president in terms of truly understanding the job and not having one's own staff govern in place of the president whenever senior staff feels the need to do so (which essentially creates a second government simply because Trump is an "idiot" or buffoon).
The return of Obama not only galvanizes supporters for the upcoming election, it reminds the majority of the nation (that did not vote for Trump and never agreed with him) that we can still have democracy locally regardless of what Washington does.
Trump never holds a rally near Philadelphia or New York or Denver, CO, or Chicago or Boston or even a few miles from Washington in northern Virginia. Yet he's been to West Virginia so often that you'd think he's the governor of the state.
Even he knows he's not our president. For most of us, that title still belongs to Mr. Obama in terms of our local laws and how inclusive we are of EVERYONE (including the Mexicans Trump wants to deport as we continue to be "sanctuary cities" for them in spite of Trump and his Nazi fandom).
1
Thank you, Charles Blow. Thank you President Obama. Please keep speaking out. We have an insane president, a criminal who is president, one who has no idea what our environment is about, no idea what governing is about. And, we need to get-him-out. Pence would be next. Can we have you forever??!!
Uncle Donald is very sick. Who in the family/village will take him to the doctor?
1
As a McCain Democrat/Obama Republican who thoroughly enjoys reading your Opinions Mr Blow, I think someone should tell Trump that presidents who claim mental illness can't be impeached.
I'm certain that he and his base will believe it.
We I look at Barack Obama, I do not see a black man; I see a decent man. He gave us leadership. Trump gives us red hats, coal in our stockings and children in cages. This PINO (President in Name Only) is not a leader, at least not mine.
If you look careful at what Trump places in your hand, you will see it is stone soap. Just keep walking a few more steps. The showers are just ahead.
I miss you dreadfully, President Obama and I will vote in two months.
1
No Drama Obama is indeed a refreshing change from All Blow Blow. The daily onslaught of bullying, disfunction and propaganda is not limited to the whitehouse. It is all too present in this columnist’s repeated and tiresome rhetoric. Thank goodness for rational liberal argument at last.
Obama gave a speech and the GOP smiled broadly. Yes! The GOP came out in force with their black man hate. Obama headlines have given the GOP their favorite excuse to pile on and how the base loves it.
While millions enjoyed the reminder of an educated and ethical speaker, I feel like his return to energize the voters may do so but for the GOP. Obama's return reminded the GOP - as if they needed it - that the deregulation of the EPA is one of the most significant means by which they can make more money and then keep it with their tax cuts.
They see red and black and rage like the greedy bulls they are.
We need to be careful. The Blue Wave is a wish right now. We know the poll numbers are worth little and giving the base another reminder of why they need to support the white nationalist GOP is not helpful.
The playing field of voting is not equal. The GOP lie, cheat and steal. Obama is the focus of Trump's hatred, rage and vengeance and he stops at nothing. I fear Trump's and the GOP's manipulation.
There are 57 days until November 6 midterm elections. President Obama taking the stage now is perfect timing. The news media and even, we have short memories and experience has taught him this. The test of time upholds the fact that this gentleman speaks with integrity, intelligence and always speaks to the collective whole, All The People.
The timing of Mr. Woodward's book and the anonymous Op-Ed shared by the NY Times are gifts from the collective universe.
“These days, a sling of truth still can make Goliath fall.”
― Tom Althouse, The Frowny Face Cow
For 598 days this unpresidential demagogue who is a master at whipping up the passions of the crowd and shutting down reasonable deliberations, Djt is our Goliath.
As the story is told, David reached into his pocket and slung a stone at Goliath's head bring him to the ground.
An unprecedented voter turn out in 57 days is our stone bringing down djt and posse.
VOTE
Is it so hard to say that Nazis are bad? Asked President Barack Obama. Pretty much sums up just how bad things really are here in America. Underlying that question, however, is the small admission and suggestion that Democrats stop tolerating right wing hate rhetoric and start calling it for what it is. My WWII veteran dad must be turning over in his grave. Thank God for Barack Obama.
Obama, Rushmore. Enough said.
1
@Dave Petrie I'd like Trump carved onto Mt. Rushmore wearing a dunce hat.
1
I was so proud of America when we elected Obama. Now that Trump is president he is making all of us white people look bad. Trump is an embarrassment to America and the White Race.
The only hope I have ever held out about the Trump Presidency is that he will be such a disaster that America will never elect anyone like him ever again.
1
Obama returning is Christmas for Trump. The ultimate hated figure for him and Rs.
2
"Up to this point Trump has dominated the news by overwhelming it, and no one has had the weight to challenge that dominance."
a curious comment coming from a man who has total control of his column's space, one among many writers and editors who are rather complicit profiteers than prisoners of the much despised trump.
as curious, say, as is obama's emergence wrapped in a familiar rhetorical cloud (two votes, alas, in favor here) his nose clearly bent (see body language and halting delivery) to claim credit for trump's economy (actually stirring during his terms only to be impeded by his policies, tax hikes among 'em).
picking up where he left off the "divisist," his guns and bibles diss of half the country's citizens being the begetter of hi!!ary's baskets which, in turn, sent battalions of working men and women, the once-upon-a-time democratic party's base, to trump, pressed a litany of now-tired chicken little doom and gloom tropes on his choir, seeking no credit, btw, for big picture stuff like noko nuclear growth, added iranian muscle, loss of dem congressional seats, and ducking out on smaller stuff like putting a reporter under surveillance, trashing hi!!ary in '08, and kissing up to the russians with a promise of greater post-election "flexibility."
citing NYT's own "anonitorial" and woodward's "FEARsay" as "proof" of trump's utter unfitness for office, mr blow rather demonstrates the truth of his condition as a for-profit trump disorder distributor.
His hometown of Chicago has seen horrible crime and police brutality in black communities in the last few years. Where has he been? Not a word about it. And the Dems wonder why a lot of those folks don't come out and vote.
3
Oh my goodness. This article and its comments are in insane. He is NOT back. Trump can sneeze and dominate the news. Obama has had his 8 years and is finally gone.
3
I watched President Obama's speech and thought "he is MY President" - rational, intelligent, classy....the adjectives go on. Like Joni Mitchell wrote "don't it always seem to go you don't know what you've got till it's gone." And now we can say "He's baaaaack!!!!"
"Your country was crying for help and you heard it."
Amen!!
1
“ You don’t know what you’ve got, ‘till it’s Gone “.
AMEN. Seriously.
2
The only problem is.. Obama isn't running!
Let’s cut to the quick: Trump is a disgrace. When he’s evicted in handcuffs (like those Melania wore in the nude) The White House will have to be disinfected.
2
Great orator but a lousy president. 8 yrs of a limping economy, racial tensions amped up to a level not seen since the 60's, disastrous foreign policy e.g. Iran, North Korea, Benghazi, etc...., immigration run amok, a secretive govt that micro managed the press, and a president that weaponized the IRS to attack his detractors. Mr. Blow this is who you're holding up as the gold standard? Why has Obama not stepped up to address the deplorable conditions in his home town of Chicago? The simple answer is he's all sound and no substance! Unlike Trump he governed though presidential edicts not legislative law!
Take a hard look at the cost of health insurance for the middle class thanks to Obamacare!
How many of the working poor had to seek additional employment thanks to Obama's failed coverage mandates.
Under Trump, look at the latest employment figures, North Korea's dismantling of its Nuclear Program, Mexico adjusting the terms of NAFTA, ISIS neutered, etc..... All under the Trump administration. He openly chastised Ford for complaint about the tariffs on Chinese made goods and suggested they build more cars in the US. The economy is growing! It's all about getting people back to work, securing our borders, and focusing on rebuilding America, which eluded Obama! Look at the problems Germany, France, and Sweden are having thanks to their open immigration policy. Perhaps you should read the articles in The Times!
Obama was all about the image nothing more!
3
We miss you!!!!!!!!!!!! Come back Obama!!!
Pence has criticized Obama's reappearance as going against tradition.
Our so-called president does not care about traditions, rules, or even laws.
Yet, Pence stands by our so-called president with his Nancy Reagan gaze.
Phony, phony, phony.
3
It is my sincere hope that President Obama keeps speaking out against the Trump administration and its divisive, sexist, racist, hate-filled agenda.
Biden/Obama in 2020. "Make America, America Again!"
1
All hail Obama in blue states. Court women in red states with Michelle.
Oh those reactionary Democrats, wanting to go back to those days of dreaming about a President Hillary, bad trade deals, threats from North Korea, and fighting for unisex bathrooms and legislating via the courts.
5
The other day a reader wrote in the comments to an another article that the 51 GOP senators who are pushing their will on the American people on all 3 branches of government right now represent exactly 18% of the country's population. - I have never heard it said in such stark terms. How is this fair? How is this even possible?
As someone else commented below, the comparatively sane world we inhabited just two short years ago seems like a lifetime away, and seeing Mr. Obama speak - a normal person, a man with sound intellect and an untwisted soul - provided a painful jolt of how dystopian our day to day has become.
My favorite line: "How hard is it to say Nazis are bad?" How hard indeed. For someone with no moral compass whatsoever, it's apparently impossible.
2
This speech, it was finally in intelligible English that I could understand.
My apologies for any grammatical mistake.
Obama the lecturer is back! This is momentous!
But the question remains, will “I built this” be as memorable as “you didn’t build that?”
1
After nearly 2 years of the unrelenting ‘all-about-me’ steady stream of Twitter-diarrhea and political upset from the diva sitting behind the Resolute desk, it was nice to have the news focused for a few cycles on ‘No-Drama-Obama’.
To “ease” Obama into his role as Campaigner in Chief and Savior of The Democrat Party, he decided to go to “safe” territory and hold his first BIG RALLY in dripping blue California.
You can just imagine the excitement in the air as the whispered adulation could be heard in Democrat circles, “Barack is Back, Barack is coming! We're saved!”
What could go wrong?
Ha! Ha! Ha! "Lordy," as James Comey would say, the Anaheim Convention Center which Obama recently spoke has a seating capacity for 7500 people, just 750 showed up!
3
He was in Orange County. Which is decidedly NOT dripping blue.
President Obama must make the reality that the consequences of the midterm election are so clear that they cannot be missed. The reality that those of us who believe in liberal democracy must accept is that basically Roe is gone. Even if the decision is not overturned, the burden of obtaining an abortion will become greater and we know on whom these burdens will fall; the poor, people of color, and those who live in rural areas. And if the 60% of Americans who still believe in facts don't vote out the GOP anyway they can, then it isn't only Roe. It's the ACA, it's the EPA, it's further erosion of public education and the right to vote. It's consumer protection, and alternative energy, and housing assistance, and equal rights. May President Obama sing it loud, proud and, often.
The best point made in this column in my view is that Obama's greatest service to the nation is to loosen Trump's hold on the news. And yes, Obama does have a good deal of weight, and it's good to see him put it behind the Democratic Party.
I wish he had done more of that when he was in the White House. During his eight-year tenure, the Democratic Party was creamed at the state and local level, and I have absolutely no recollection of Obama ever campaigning for a Democratic governor.
For the millions of Americans who value reasoned, nuanced, thoughtful discourse regarding the state of our Union, I join voices in saying, "Welcome back into the limelight, President Obama!
May the electorate heed your urgent,important message an VOTE VOTE VOTE!"
9
You said it! For me Obama was and is forever! And not just for me or for "some", but for many, many, many Americans and people across the world. It is not until you see and hear Obama that you realise how low the US presidency has fallen with Trump.
9
Oh God Thank You! Obama is a breath of fresh air. With Trump windows are nailed shut and he personifies the stench of stagnant air and minds. Contrived Economic Stats doesn't sustain a decaying Administration.
5
Feeling happy. Thanks Obama!
5
The Dem's had to go to the bullpen and call in Obama as the Closer. The thought that Biden is our best choice to face Trump in 2020 is scary. Everyday the message should be get out and vote. The upcoming election is the most important in our history and not voting is a vote for continuing the current insanity. Trump's base can be overwhelmed if people vote. The percieved power of Trump's base is a myth and it should be called out as one.I have to believe more Americans find putting brown children in cages and deporting their parents repugnant.
6
God how I miss him!
8
Here, Here, Mr. Blow.
Well-spoken.
Some intelligent sanity
Blows a welcome breeze.
Here, here.
May God Bless our great country.
3
Can he run again in 2020?
3
@Chris W.
Just write him in maybe he will win!
I look forward to Fridays and Mondays to read your columns. As usual, today, you were right on the mark.
As for president Obama. When the history books are written, he will go down as one of our best presidents. From the Stimulus package to the affordable care act, to bringing out troops home from Iraq,for attempting Israeli-Palestinian Peace to his sound moral leadership, he was a president that all of us could look up to and admire.
You were dead on when you said that his base detests this black man.
Thank you,
4
Re Trump’s base hating Black man Obama, I believe they are and have been (like their Master Trump) jealous of him.
As in, how can a Black man be so much better than me/us?!
An administration without a single scandal! An honorable man who always tried to do the best thing for the country. How this country needs him now!
I'm sure he'd much rather be kite surfing with Richard Branson at his private Caribbean island. Or maybe hanging out playing golf on the Vineyard. No, the Dems had to yank him out of retirement to get the electorate revitalized or energized. Good luck. If anything his appearances just make us feel all sad and confused. What the he!! has happened to us? And how did we go from him to what we've got today? Memories......the way we were.
3
Pinning hopes on President Obama’s reemergence is abdicating the need to be responsible and vote for your interests. If it takes his presence to get you to vote, chances are that you are either ill informed or lazy.
2
Yes, "Obama's Back!" And hopefully just "in the nick of time." The Democrats have lacked a major voice to counteract and expose the divisiveness and hypocrisy of Donald Trump. And if former President Obama continues to speak out as forcefully and powerfully as he did in his opening campaign remarks, it will shed healing like on the Trump's toxicity. Mr. Obama did what he rarely did; he took the gloves off and attacked Donald trump's moral failings on Charlottesville by noting, "How hard is it to say 'No' to Nazis?" America needs to hear this and the message that the November election may really be "do or die" for democracy. Speaking such blunt "truth to power" is what the voters need to hear. And the media has to cover Mr. Obama as much as they have all the rantings and ravings of Trump rallies. They can not let themselves fall once again for surrendering the public megaphone to Donald Trump as they did in 2016.
3
Bravo! Pointing out the hope that ex-President Obama inspires is worth every word in this editorial. Thanks!!
1
When Obama first was first running for office, I read somewhere that the threats on his life surpassed those of any past presidential candidate. I am glad that he is speaking out, but in today's heated climate, with Trump ginning up every nut-bag in the country, I pray that he and his beautiful family stay safe. ,
2
Obama seems to have a calming effect on his audiences. Even if it's an energized campaign style speech, it's done with thought and articulation. His words have meaning and are far above then the grunts and groans of Trump who struggles with any topic requiring more then a sentence to explain. It is so ironic that Trump - a total moron - followed in the steps of Obama who was such a wise, patient, and intelligent leader. Hopefully the Democrats can field another candidate in Obama's image. I think the country is more then ready for such a change. Trump is exasperating.
1
Amen! Thank goodness for Obama.
4
Incurious, infantile leadership that defies any imagination or creativity. One stagnant mess of pond sludge. Obama's Opposite at every turn.
President Obama speaks, Mr. Trump tweets.
2
The jubilation in your headline ("Obama's Back!") made me so happy for you, Mr. Blow, in your ceaseless fight against the tiny tyrant - and happy for us, who have ceased, at times, to have hope that real change in the struggle against the evil one would ever come.
1
I was never a big fan of President Obama when he was actually President Obama. When I read his speech the other day after listening to him, I was literally in tears. It was so refreshing to hear and re-read elevated speech. It's astonishing how far we have fallen.
I'm so glad he is back to remind us what makes America great.
2
In a discussion about Trump and Obama it is critical to remember that while some people may have ideological differences with Obama, Trump does NOT. In fact, Trump does not have ideological differences with anyone whether it's Obama, McCain, Clinton, McConnell, any candidate for office, Putin, David Duke, Kim Jong-Un or Frank and Claire Underwood.
Trump problem with any given person is always PERSONAL. So when Trump goes to his rallies and talks about his views on taxes, the border or (give me a break) "faith-based values," it's all just a rationalization. There is one (and only one) litmus test Trump uses to evaluate a person, and he says it all the time. It comes down to whether or not they: "say very nice[/great/good/positive/etc.] things about me." That's it.
6
I’ve been struck by some commenters’ apparent lack of context, both historical and current, when it comes to Obama bashing. On his first Inauguration day Donald Trump set the machinery for his 2020 re-election in motion. On the day of Obama’s first inauguration a group of high powered Republican congress people were meeting to strategize making him a one-term President. Yes, Obama did have some breaks early on and he made some errors on his own. However, the flagrant stonewalling of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court is a near template for the kind of comgressional pushback Obama lived with almost daily. Secondly the Illinois speech-bashing seems on the whole generated by people who did not see, listen to or read the entirety of what he had to say. Please, people, let’s inform ourselves. We have a critical critical election coming up in less than two months’ time.
1
My wife and I have the video of President Obama's recent speech playing in our guest room on continuous loop with the volume turned off. It's a nice modern way of the calming effects of a fireplace. Hey, laugh all you want but we do what we can these days!
7
Trump successfully energizes his loyalists at rallies with caustic sound bites and simplistic policy pronouncements all laced with angry insults often veiled in base humor and fear mongering. In short, be says nothing but he does incite visceral emotions among his supporters and they love him.
Juxtapose President Obama on a split screen with short intelligent rebuttals delivered with his trademark intelligence, humor, honesty and sincere patriotism. This will not change many red state minds but it might sway some purple and independent ones when seen next to Trump' s polar opposite depiction.
President Obama must repeat ad nauseam not to boo but to vote. In the end, much of this election will ride upon voter turnout, registration and the unlikely hope that gerrymandering has been curtailed.
243
What a breath of fresh air to hear Obama. Someone speaking coherently, providing reasons for his thoughts, but most of all optimism and all about our democracy's health.
7
Thank God, now he can vilify Trump's war mongering.....oops, wait. Obama expanded Bush's wars to seven other countries in Africa and the middle east.
Well, he can vilify Trump for freezing federal employee pay.....oops, wait. Obama froze federal employee pay - and during the worst years of the recession.
Obama can vilify Trump for proposing cuts to Social Security....oops, wait. Obama twice proposed SS cuts.
Sorry folks, we don't need Trump and we certainly don't need centrist heroes - we need progressive, pro-worker heroes. Obama is just Hillary with social skills, eloquence and charisma.
2
Ok. Fine. No huge argument on your main points here. Just please don’t sit out the election under the pretense that they are all the same.
@Ed Watters All right, Ed Watters. Let's carry your argument out fully:
Trump: "good people on both sides" referring to Neo-Nazis. No comparison there.
Trump: Thinks the Justice Department should serve the President's interests, no matter what the legality is. No comparison there.
Trump: Believes he has license to grab women by their genital areas. No comparison there.
Trump: Thinks Kim Jong-Un and Vladimir Putin are great leaders. No comparison there.
Trump: Thinks the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution does not apply to him. No comparison there.
Trump: Has spent a third of his time in office playing golf. No comparison there.
Need I go on, Ed?
1
We are tired. We are frustrated. There is a mantle of despair and mistrust that we carry daily. And then we hear a speech with clarity and dignity, and that little seed of hope blooms. Thank you President Obama for your intelligence, your sanity, your ethics, and your belief in America. I know you’re only one person — and some folks are saying you can’t save this horrible time we’re in. BUT Donald Trump is just one person, and look what he has wrought.....
8
Trump has a core base that was driven by hatred of Obama. The GOP has been racist for years, but Trump took it to the overtly stated level and his whole success politically is because he tapped into the GOP base that hated Obama. It was and is still just pure racism. That said, I think Trump's base cannot be expanded. Thus, Obama getting back into the fray can only be a good thing for those that oppose the baby-brained president. The difference between the two is so stark that any thinking person must come to the conclusion that the former president was far better than the current president. Obama's brilliance makes Trump look even worse, and while the cult/base won't see the truth, most people will.
7
Amen to that. Obama's voice, finally, is a light shining in the darkness.
7
Just the photo alone that accompanies this piece is a stunning contrast to the current resident of the Oval Office. Obama is flashing a genuine, warm smile, something I dearly miss. Trump doesn't smile. He sneers, he mocks, he grimaces, but he doesn't smile.
18
Praise be, Mr. Blow, that Obama is back! Listening to his speeches is a tonic for all of us who feel ground down by the onslaught of Trump, the Ugliest of Americans. I'm so grateful that he is with us again on the public stage, working to organize this next generation of people who are coming to consciousness.
7
President Obama is a citizen of the United States of America. He is no different than any other citizen except in one regard: He is barred from holding the Office of the President ever again. Beyond that? He is a citizen with the right to speak his mind, just like any other citizen.
Yes, it breaks decorum for a past President to criticize a current President by name, but decorum is a 2-way street. Past Presidents don't criticize the current President, and the current President doesn't criticize past Presidents, particularly those who are still among the living or have immediate relatives still alive (which, parenthetically and ironically, still includes John Tyler!)
But Trump, who respects NOTHING, broke that decorum even before he was inaugurated and has continued to do so hundreds (I'd guess) of times. His criticisms of Obama, Bush II and Clinton are vicious and full of falsehoods, like claiming he created 3x as many jobs for Black people as Obama did in 8 years, when, in fact, the reverse is true--Obama created 4.5x as many jobs as Trump.
Being a spoiled pre-schooler in an old man's body, Trump whines like that brat whenever what HE has done is done to him! "It's not fair!" "It's highly unfair!" is his constant spoiled-brat plaint.
Obama isn't the only adult calling him on it, but there is none with more impact and gravitas to say so than Barack Obama. Welcome to the fray, Mr. President!
8
I would love to see a poll on a "theoretical" Trump vs Obama presidential election.
6
I never thought Barack Obama was the second coming like so many others did but, as I’ve said a thousand times since Trumps been in office: “ At least when a politician lies to me with class and intellect and I know he’s “done the work” to polish the lie, I can have confidence that he’s capable of handling other world leaders and complex world crises and that my country is being respected on the world stage. For godsake, I still don’t understand why we’ve “sent in the clown” .....
2
Earth to media what Obama did was do a "differential
diagnosis" to what we are living through.
Not every change is for the better.
The saying used to be fifty million Frenchmen
can't be wrong Every one around Trump has
been saying the same thing. He lies, he has no
idea what he is doing, knows nothing, and is unfit
for office
If you don't vote, you don't count.
Erastus Corning
4
With President Obama`s coming out we see a man speaking with the authority of a string of positive results, results that a man speaking with a string of pinocchio`s refuses to recognize. One lives in reality, the real news, the other speaks from fantasyland, the fake news. Hopefully when we wake from this nightmare of fake news and rhetoric it will be with the dawn of the reality of a new day.
4
I heard it said well by somebody not so long ago:
Obama is who America imagines itself to be.
Trump is who we are.
7
Yes!!! Finally. And not a moment too soon.
3
I'm hoping to see the Clintons, VP Biden, John Kelly, and other worthies to join the team kickstarted by President Obama. Oh, yes, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, too. These ladies have amply proved that they, too, can pack a punch.
I also call on Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to storm all the major campuses in the country. Young people once energized will light up the US skies with the message the country needs. I seem to believe that the Beatles would not have become half as popular as they did without the hoopla raised by the teeny boppers. There's something very attractive and infectious in the display of young people's enthusiasm and energy.
Again and again, the country seems to recall Michelle's line about when they go low...... That has become a sorta folklore. And Hillary's calling Trump Putin's puppet long before Trump's misdeeds had started coming into focus? We did not realize the punch she delivered the Orange Man then, but boy, did it hurt? He still seems to be reeling from the blow.
I would also like to see the moderate Republicans, like Steve Schmidt, Nicole Wallace, David Jolly, and others like them, go into the Republican wards, especially in the suburbia to tell their side of the story. In short, there's a lot to do between now and November. So let's get going folks.
What'd you say?
8
In a world full of Hannibal Lectur, Obama negotiated like Mr Rogers. Yes, everyone likes Mr Rogers and is kind and well spoken and accommodative, the direct result of Obama is Trump. Open your eyes, the Flyover states were losing jobs left and right, they don’t want handouts, they want jobs. Trump reduced offshoring, forced less competition from illegal aliens and foreigners on H1b, h4ead, j1, l1, b1, opt and cpt have been taking away jobs while the coastal elite sleep. If Democrats want to win, pay attention to American jobs more than foreigners.
The key is to get the black voters and young voters turned out, both of which have abysmal midterm voting records.
If you have a kid, call them incessantly and harangue them to vote. Tell them you will pay them $50 for their selfie at the voting station and then give them a ride.
Every school should have kindergarteners on up practicing going into a voting booth and voting for the Progressive.
2
Trump has earned no respect and certainly deserves no silence from the former president. Indeed, this is a moment of dire threat to the nation, its values, traditions and democracy itself, so everyone who can should speak up, must, loudly and clearly, without fear and beyond a doubt without reservation.
This statement from Mr. Blow's column is true, but it doesn't go far enough:
"...Trump has dominated the news by overwhelming it, and no one has had the weight to challenge that dominance."
First of all, the national news outlets are suckers for Trump, even though many outlets have been willing to call lies by their proper name and despite the fact that Trump and the far right attack them for reporting the truth. Why are they suckers? Because they report everything Trump does as though he were a traditional president with, you know, ideas, policies and proposals, not a randomized collection of tweets, attacks and distortions.
The major media should STOP the constant reporting of everything Trump does. They are giving him enormous power by allowing him to take over news coverage. He wins by being obnoxious because the resulting dominance of news coverage makes it seem like he is the most important person since Franklyn D. Roosevelt in the White House.
Cover the facts of what he is doing and move away from the constant controversy. Don't give him half of the evening newscasts and hour after hour on cable channels. Slow down, drop the excitement of constant controversy.
5
Not for long. Impending releases will place him in the same limbo as the Clintons. He preaches to the choir anyway.... actually a negative factor for the Dems. You may not like some of Trump’s style ..... but there is nothing much to like about the Obama time in office.
1
I feel like I've been holding my breath for two years. President Obama reminded us of what we were and what we can be again. We are all aware that there is evil in this world and we have let it affect our government and our lives. It's time to get ourselves back on the right road and the only way to do that is to vote in November and then in every election after that. We learned a valuable lesson about what happens when people think their vote doesn't count in our democracy. It produces a government where the people don't count.
5
“But, in fact, the new Bob Woodward book and the Op-Ed in this newspaper by an anonymous administration official prove us right. The fact is that most Americans now believe that Trump’s relationship to the Russian hacking…..”
I do not like Trump, but I missed where Mueller has found evidence of Trumps connection with the Russian government, in any devious plans. Just because people may believe it due to the media, does not make it a fact. Kind of like Iraq WMD’s. How have you been proven right?
2
"Up to this point Trump has dominated the news by overwhelming it, and no one has had the weight to challenge that dominance. Obama has that weight. Just by speaking he’s altering the diet of the news people consume."
Mr. Blow, as usual, hits the nail on the head. Yes, it's time for President Obama to enter the fray. An experienced general has re-assumed a leadership position at a time when the country needs it the most.
I heard President Obama's talk in Illinois in its entirety and he's right, it's up to all of us, the citizenry of this country, to step up and raise our voices to stop the madness that has infected the political scene thanks to Donald Trump, a man who squeaked into the Oval Office on a mere 70,000 votes in three key states, giving him an Electoral College win even though he lost the popular vote by millions of votes.
I am reminded of the ending of the great film Casablanca, when Paul Henreid's character Victor Lazlo says to Bogart's Rick Blaine, "And welcome back to the fight. This time, I know our side will win." Welcome back to the fight, President Obama.
4
You cannot listen to Obama and not wish for the "old days" of a few years ago—when America was respected around the world, when the environment was still an issue to be reckoned with, when the president was attempting to be a unifier, not a divider, when the news cycle was not dominated by anger, resentment and stupidity, and when the rabid, right-wing conservatives were rightfully considered the fringe.
May others remember, and demand more from our leaders.
1
Yes, he's back. And have you noticed, no one cares. Every charge he makes or tries to make against Trump backfires because they apply equally or more so to his own dismal record in the White House.
There was a reason why ex-Presidents shut their mouth when they left office and did not interfere in following elections. Its too bad modern day Demoncrats don't do the same.
3
The actual Sam Spade was played by a left-wing liberal; the author who invented him was pretty much a communist.
I think that the Trumpanistas have it wrong. Those who think that Trump is crazy, amoral, and unfit for the office of President do not suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome. At least among the people I know, we are not the ones with a tentative grip on reality and who go into hysterical hissy-fits at the mere mention of his name. We have some very sane and well-thought-out reasons for our position. The people who suffer from TDS are those who are blindly loyal, irrational, emotional, hysterical, deranged and violent when it comes to their defense of our mad King. So I think that we ought to turn the accusation on its ear and say, with considerable validity, that his base suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome.
1
The Democrats need to cultivate new leaders, and I’m concerned Obama entering the fray will prevent rising Democrats from getting the exposure they need. It’s probably okay in a midterm, but something to be mindful of in 2020.
2
Charles, one thing that struck me most was the comment made by Bob Woodward whose book "Fear" is coming out tomorrow.
In his statement, Woodward extolled the Americans to wake up from their slumber and see how America is descending into total chaos due to Trump's incapability to run this country.
But one good news among all these bad news concerning Trump's idiosyncrasies is that "Obama's Back !" like you stated here.
Trump, who always boasts that he turned the American economy around since he came to power, should realize that it was Obama who pulled the country back from a major financial meltdown that happened in the last year of George W's presidency. Obama left a strong economy with a sky high stock market which totally collapsed in 2008.
So it is absolute stupidity on Trump's behalf to claim credit for a vibrant economy which Obama rightly pointed out as his creation under 8 years' of his administration which ended when Trump came to power.
Trump, who by implications is hiding something from the American people about his real relationship with Putin and Moscow, cannot hide behind his racist followers any longer.
He was somewhat right when he told his followers in Montana last Thursday that if they didn't want him being impeached,they should vote.
The question comes before us, why is he so wrapped up around the term,"impeachment" ?
Maybe we should ask Trump "Is there any truth about your collusion with Russia ? Please let us know before Mr. Mueller finds out ?"
1
I agree with all the positive comments here. And yet...I can't help wondering if Obama's re-emergence will unintentionally serve to excite the GOP base. Consider how much they hate him (even some of the non-racists among them), and how much they consider the current occupant of the White House the "anti-Obama." (And he has been - in SO many ways, not least specifically and deliberately undoing the entire Obama legacy.) With the GOP already having two "ripe" targets for ginning up the base (Nancy Pelosi, and the "i-word" - which, of course, THEY are using far more than the Dems are), Obama's re-emergence may be yet a third "help" to them in November. There may still be a blue wave. But that wave may go from tsunami to simply a large wave if the GOP base gets excited enough to come out. :-(
1
President Obama, your voice is music to my ears! You give me the fortitude to carry on another day in this unending nightmare.
3
Watching Obama's speech the other day, I realize how powerful a campaign weapon Mr. Obama can be. Voters will contrast the intelligent, knowledgeable, articulate, inclusive, mild-mannered Mr. Obama, and by proxy the Democrats, to the angry, ignorant, narcissistic, divisive, and lying Donald Trump, and by proxy the Republicans. That comparison is the best reason I can think to vote for Democrats.
3
You have to like Obama's acknowledgment that the Democrats have some, "new ideas," like, "medicare for all"! (You know, like what the rest of the civilized planet has.) Please, go back to windsurfing with billionaires, or giving speeches to finance for 500K. The Obama legacy is handing over almost all the government of the U.S. to Republicans, and the Supreme Court for a generation. I think we have just about had enough of your help.
3
A wonderful speech delivered as only President Obama could with eloquence, intelligence and thoughtfulness. A far cry from the gibberish, rantings and ravings from that person occupying the White House these days. President Obama lead our country with grace and dignity. two words among many others that trump doesn't understand, he's too busy being vulgar.
3
I was happy that MLK did not live to witness Charlottesville. He would have been devastated.
And I am sorry that President Obama lived to witness the racism that fuelled the rise of a repugnant man to the office he served with honor and distinction.
6
Too little, too late.
How convenient of the former President to forget his hot mic moment with Medvedev, where he says he will be more flexible after the election. Sounds like cozying up to me. Just like sending your Secretary of State to the Kremlin with a Reset Button in hand is cozying up. Why the double standard?
3
The comparisons between Trump and Obama are startling, as most people on either side of the political spectrum are apt to notice. Even Trump's devoted fans can't help noticing , whatever reaction they come away with in the observation.
For this reader the comparison brings a sense of downright nausea for what we as a country have lost. In the aftermath of Trump's victory, starting with his infamous Inauguration address which seemed literally to pull down the pillars of our democracy before our eyes, the loss of our former, much beloved president was a palpable feeling of grief for so many Americans across the country.
Barrack Obama may not have been a 24 carat success in terms of measuring up to other admired presidents in our country's history, but i venture to guess his standing will improve over the years. His legacy as the first African American President is secure, but he did much good despite the fact that the Republican Congress and Mitch McConnell's naked vendetta to make Obama a 'One Term President' made Obama's tenure an almost impossible uphill battle, akin to climbing Everest. That he won a second term only infuriated McConnell and his cronies even more and set the stage for what we are witnessing now.
But it's good to see President Obama now publicly speaking his mind ; presence. dignity. intelligence, compassion, a sense of humor : all qualities that show a real , thinking human being is on display. We miss you, President Obama, we profoundly miss you.
1
Listening to Obama made me tearful.
Oh, for a man or woman in the Oval House who was intelligent.
Broad-minded.
Compassionate.
Strong.
Informed.
Moral, ethical, and honest.
The contrast was, once again, so startling. But depressing, too.
This is what can happen to a great country, when we find out what tens of millions of our fellow Americans are really made up of, how they truly think.
When we find out that tens of millions of Americans can look at what was CLEARLY a problem before the Trump election: Grabbing and assaulting women. Trump University. Thousands of lawsuits for not paying electricians and plumbers. An appalling manner, constant lies...
and then combine that with what we have learned AFTER the election: Probably conspiracy. His upper echelon arrested, indicted, fired, quitting for amoral activities. Trump's attacks against the environment and people and giving the wealthiest a tax break, taking healthcare away...
...and yet tens of millions of our fellow Americans STILL think he's doing a good job. They love him. How dumb and uninformed do you have to be?
And there is Obama.
A class act. A brilliant mind. An honest man.
And they hate him.
Protesteth all you want, but I do believe most of the hatred is based in racism.
They can't see through Barack's coloring to his character and integrity, and they can't see through the lies of Trump The Con Man.
It's willful ignorance, it's a chosen blindness.
It scares me. They scare me.
Come back, Obama
7
Trump's approval rating is 36%. It would be much more productive using that percentage rather then the word base. Why should the minority dictate policy? Constantly repeating that number may give a wake up call to Republicans who support him to realize their days may be numbered due to association.
Many of remaining 64% of the population are beyond merely disapproving of the negativity and corruption surrounding his administration and hold Congressional members responsible by their silence and manipulation. The push for Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is doing the greatest injustice to the majority of the citizens of this country and will generate poison for decades and generations to come. Ambivilence will eventually lead to rage which will increase the 64% disapproval of the government.
Obama was eloquent, articulate above all honest in his speech which no one can deny despite political affiliation. Most importantly he had a very productive lesson on how to approach those who are diehard Trump fans, Republicans on State and Federal levels operating with a herd mentally. Listen, respect and ask what the most pressing problems are in their lives. We are Americans first and foremost, unite. Income inequality, student debt, insufficient healthcare, cost of drugs, 20% of paycheck is deducted, pro choice or not vote on multiple issues not only one. Don't antagonise or be dismissive, state facts. We need to take heed to Obama's wisdom, guidance and be thankful for it.
2
And how many seats did the Democrats lose under Obama. Be careful what you wish for.
3
What moniker will Trump give to Obama? I can't wait.
This week MSNBC devoted more air time to a Democrat, Obama, than to any other Democrat since the day Trump rode down the escalator over 3 years ago, INCLUDING Hillary Clinton at the height of the 2016 campaign.
1
I've missed his voice.
6
Seeing "my" President once agin, doing what he does best, felt like a cool drink of water in the desert, a beacon of light in the wilderness.
11
Finally an adult speaks up, and one with no hidden Agenda. Welcome back, President Obama.
11
Trump would have been an irrelevant oddity, an amusing aberration, an annoying mistake, a revolting irritation except for one appalling fact: Republicans in control of Congress.
As President Obama said, Trump is “capitalizing on resentments that politicians have been fanning for years.” Those same politicians are now working with and for Trump, not with and for America. But who do we have to blame?
Who gave the 2016 election to Donald Trump? Was it the Russians? Was it Republican voter suppression? Was it social media megaphoning the lies? Was it the frightened, angry, racists, white minority? Yes, but....
It was us, everyday Americans who made little effort to learn the truth, our neighbors who succumbed to the noise about Hillary, our friends who stayed home claiming it makes no difference; it was also dark forces, Republicans who sold their dignity and their souls to force their minority will on the majority; and of course it was the Supreme Court which awarded big money the right to dominate and distort speech in our politics.
But when all is said and done, Trump would have lost the 2016 election if good Americans had simply recognized that 99 percent of the poison in our politics is pumped in by the Republican Party, great pretenders of patriotism.
The Republican Party represents a frightened white Christian minority. They are not willing to allow democracy and a majority to decide America's future. They live in the past and are trying to force America to as well.
9
What a welcome relief to hear the intelligent, polished, humane Obama speak again. Yes, there is an election cycle coming soon and his recent speeches were timed for that, but I didn't take all his comments to be only politically motivated. He spoke broadly about that we must not lose sight of the well-being of regular citizenry. Also -- during these most important upcoming elections -- it will be interesting to see if these sites, including the NYT comments, are bombarded with the manufactured fake and/or inflammatory postings that many of us suspected or detected in the last presidential elections.
5
Slogan for EVERY Democratic Candidate in November:
“ Make America SANE Again “.
Seriously.
8
Finally, a speech - a fine speech - and not a brainless rant, dominating the news. The breath of fresh air of integrity, after endless months of stale, propagandizing gibberish. And it's so important for the brainwashed out there to be exposed to the sight and sound of humanity again, although some may never recover; but if Obama can turn out his own base, Trump's twenty, thirty percent of Incorrigibles will be severely weakened in November. I'm so glad he's back!
9
Its good to see former Pres, Obama back on the podium
reflecting the values that have been lost for the last 18
months.
10
If Obama is back, he needs a coherent strategy to oppose consistently what will be Trump's 24/7 Twitter barrage. Obama cannot just give a speech every few days; that is old school. Trump creates very short term news cycles by talking and tweeting so much. It's all about short term stimulus; Trump is a drug for his true believers.
And Trump will be viciously nasty toward Obama. Trump fights dirty and usually wins because of it. If Obama has decided to climb into the ring with him, he needs to know he is in a "no hold barred" death match. He cannot walk out and still retain dignity. Trump has no dignity to lose.
I hope Obama is ready to fight for us, to get bloodied but to still fight on. Trump is fighting for his life ; Obama can always go back to just being a former President. On the personal level, there are different stakes. But if that blue wave is not big enough, we all may be stuck with a completely unfettered and uncontrollable Trump administration.
192
WOW, what an excellent piece of advice for anyone dealing with Trump. Unfortunately, I don't believe a) Obama will take your advice and b) Obama has the chops to jump in the ring with Trump. Does Trump fight dirty? You bet. Is he formidable? Yes.
After a number of years of reflection on Obama, I can't say he ever struck me as a man who was willing to get down and dirty with his adversaries (who were equally as evil as Trump).
1
@M.i. Estner: PBO cannot save the Republic. That is OUR job. Obama’s dignity is unassailable. trump is contemptible and demonstrates that every day. Our former President can inspire and tell the truths that need to be heard, but we, and only we, can do whatmust be done. VOTE.
@M.i. Estner. . . If anyone at all is equipped to enter the ring with DjT and exit with dignity, it is Obama. When they go low, we go high.
If Obama wants to really "go Bulworth", and throw his weight behind the truly progressive side of the Democratic Party, endorsing young millennial DSA members (like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) and even partner up with Bernie Sanders' "Our Revolution" efforts, he could do no better than to meet up with Vermont Senator Sanders in Maine, the "Dirigo" [to lead] state, and provide a full-throated endorsement and support for young (32 year old), DSA member, and principled progressive Democratic candidate, Zak Ringelstein, who is running for the U.S. Senate --- and is getting little support from the Maine Democratic Party, nor any media coverage by the Maine newspapers, nor the three TV stations.
What a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the serious left progressive bona fides of the Democratic Party, and win a highly sought-after Senate seat for 'we the American people' by firing a; loud, public, sustained, 'in-the-streets', but totally non-violent "Shout (not shot) heard round the world" to continue and complete our American Political/economic and social "Revolution Against Empire" [Justin du Rivage] --- as Bernie has been valiantly trying to do.
What a wonderfully effective tribute to people power and progressive achievement for 'we the people' in Maine "leading" the nation where both Obama won 57% in '08 & '12 and Bernie won 64% in '16.
I would buy lobster for both, and hope that their lobster shells catch in Emperor Trump's maw.
2
I like President Obama, voted for him once and greatly regretted losing him as President. His rhythm, grace and debonair. The cut of his jib. His smile. His cool. His tallness. His thinness. His way of telling a joke. His very evident intelligence. His attractiveness to women and young people. His affection for basketball. His overcoming of an absent father and a mother who traveled too much. His attempt to give up smoking. His close attention to the ceremonial and patriotic duties of his office like visiting with hurt soldiers and disaster and crime victims.
Along the way, I was willing to forgive some of his more grievous mistakes like the Syrian red-line disaster on the grounds that his choices were limited by Republican opposition or, at least, were well intended. The Iran nuclear deal and his imposing of the awful U.N. settlement resolution regarding Israel and his multiple failures to adequately confront Mr. Putin I did not forgive.
They left me with an incompetent, unstable, looney tunes caricature of a President by the name of Donald J. Trump.
They left me wishing we could find another President who was born in Kenya.
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@A. Stanton
I understand the disappointments you had with Obama, but please think back about the way the Repubicans blocked so many things. He was not a magician, but it cared about many things I care about, including health care and concern for those with preexisting conditions. I know I am an advocate for him, but I also think there is a lot we didn't know as background. I will always have profound respect for him.
1
@A. Stanton
President Obama was born in Hawaii! Or are you being sarcastic?
1
@A. Stanton Why did you only vote for President Obama once? It makes me angry reading this because I worked intensely on both of Obama's campaigns. I guess you don't appreciate what you have until it is gone? Voters should be far more discerning than that.
1
Obama should stick with tradition and not comment. He's just throwing a Serena like fit because his legacy is being taken apart bit by bit. Hey, elections have consequences.
As far as the Woodward Book goes -- this from a guy who has made a career after going after Republican presidents. And the op-ed by Mr. or Ms. I don't have the guys to use my name in public -- who cares? Anyone can print anything they want. Woodward clearly wouldn't have written the book unless he could slam Trump. I saw him interviewed yesterday and big deal. All he offers is recycled stuff we've heard for two years. Seems like the country is surviving. And by the way, Woodward said it was shoddy journalism to publish the anonymous op-ed.
2
Thank God!
Welcome back, Mr. President. We need you.
Help us get out the vote in November.
8
Had Mr. Obama governed as he campaigned...you know, agent of change and all, and not turned center right the Democrats would not have taken that shellacking under his watch.
5
Yes, I agree. Although Obama let the pimple fester too long and let it turn in to a puss wound by the delay in expressing his indignation (along with ours), it is still welcome. Only he has the weight of a moral and decent public figure who can counter Trump's onslaught on the nation. As Obama said in his speech, the time to sit on the sidelines is now past, and is not an option, especially for righteous public figures like him who can dilute Trump's dominance of the news cycle, and also save us from armageddon
6
I'm very much looking forward to who is going to be the next Barack Obama. Who will be the next candidate for the Dems who can unite them like Obama did. They will need a strong, uncontroversial (well, maybe not too much..) political talent. Also I strongly believe it should be a much younger person then Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders. Isn't there a new pool of politic talent within the Dems? A Barack Obama age guy or girl to bring down the clown in The White House?
3
I agree with everything you say, Mr. Blow. I just hope that President Obama's reappearance doesn't energize Republican voters.
1
There’s a scene in Spider-Man, when the boy removed his Super-hero outfit and throws it in the garbage can in an alley and walks away. Don’t we all feel that way sometimes. Give up because fighting the status quo is too hard or makes your loved ones feel uncomfortable. But when a force enters to threaten the core principles of his nation and democracy and all the things you stand for - the real Super-hero again puts on his suit, reigniting his talents, and comes out swinging. Michelle, although fearful for his safety, stands looking out the window, “Go get’em tiger!”
1
President Obama is a savvy politician. To have come back into the fray any earlier would have diluted his words prior to the midterms. But now there is a full frontal attack with the aid of Bob Woodward’s book FEAR and the anonymous Opinion column in the NYT. When battleships went to war, they always had escort fighters. The USS Obama is on the attack. Thank God.
9
President Obama is giving us a chance to reaffirm that Donald Trump did not become president because "the American people" were disappointed in Obama or dissatisfied with his accomplishments such as the Affordable Care Act.
At the end of Barack Obama's time in office, after weathering Republican attacks and obstructionism for eight years, he still had an approval rating of 59%. The typical Trump supporter couldn't stand him. With Americans as a whole, it was a very different story.
The world is going to see that it's still a very different story.
6
Wouldn’t it be a wondrous thing, if President Obama would give at least two to three speeches a day all the way through the 2020 elections! Sleep well or not donald!
5
I am currently reading "CHESTY The Story of Lewis B. Puller, USMC".
If the "leading from behind" philosophy sounded dumb, but, you couldn't quite verbalize the reason, the first 2 or 3 chapters of this book will clear that right up.
I don't know why Democrats are so excited about Obama's return. He cost the Democrat Party 1,000 elected seats in 8 years. I would ask, did he come back to finish off the Democrat Party?
1
It's telling that the only thing Trump could say about Obama's speech is that it put him to sleep - in itself ironic given all the nasty digs at Hillary Clinton and her supposed low energy.
3
Charles Blow, I feel love for you. Someday, your courageous voice in the midst of such cowardice will be applauded. I hope, for the sake of our country, that happens very soon.
3
President Obama is a very astute man. By remaining quiet for the last two years he gave us an opportunity to miss him. After two years of toxic Trump we were starved for someone who is capable of sounding presidential rather than raving like a lunatic.
He is right, Trump is a symptom of issues that go back to Nixon. Trump didn't just come out of nowhere. As inequality has risen politicians on the right stoked our tribal tendencies and gave us a villian to blame so we wouldn't notice that our government was only serving the top 1%. They know that abortion, well fare, drugs, LGBT rights, and crime are the issues that divide us.
President Obama has reminded us that if we don't vote this is the government we can expect. Hopefully our young people will listen and join us in voting for a better America. One of the positive things about these past two years is the quality candidates who are stepping forward with the desire to build a better country that works for everyone.
5
With a Kavanaugh confirmation on the horizon, how about a column on all those people who couldn't bring themselves to vote for Hillary Clinton, because they couldn't see the difference between her and Donald Trump? Do they see one now?
As for Obama, he was always good at making speeches. What he wasn't good at, because he had little to no experience, was communicating complex ideas to people not as intelligent and/or not as well versed as he (in other words, he had stayed on at the U of Chicago, he would have learned how to teach). And he was not good (Republican racism, and John McCain's pettiness and inability to deal with losing the election aside) at negotiating with Congress (had he had more legislative experience before becoming President, he would have learned this, too).
But boy is he good at making a sound byte, then raising his head, as if he were posing for Mount Rushmore.
If he is trying to get Democrats who are not especially politicized to get energized and to the polls, then this return is a good idea.
But, if he thinks that Trump's base will listen to a black man who never cheated on his wife, who didn't stoke fascistic frustrations while cozying up to dictators and mistreating our allies, someone who was NOT eminently blackmail-able by Xi Jinping, Putin, The National Enquirer and God knows who else, then I say "go for it!"
2
The best thing about Obama in 2000 was that he was not Bush. His greatest asset now is that he is not Trump. What he has always been is a congenial, intelligent hollow entity serving corporate power and subservient to the neocons in the State Department and the CIA. He talks more progressively when out of office than when in it. The ups and downs of his presidency are examined in an article I wrote two years ago, posted here --
https://jadedprol.blogspot.com/2016/12/obamas-legacy.html
1
"Welcome back Mr. President. Your country was crying for help and you heard it."
Hear, hear.
8
I agree, Mr. Blow. A day doesn’t pass that I don’t feel a deep ache in missing President Obama. I am so happy to hear him put his back into it, because he’s one of our greatest orators ever. And thank God for every inch of space he takes up in the news that denies the Devil his pulpit.
6
Wish I could vote for him again.
8
President Obama is a true statesman and an eloquent
spokesman for the highest ideals of the American democracy.
His voice and his wisdom is needed more than ever to
counter the malignant rhetoric and divisive reactionary policies of Trump, who is a despicable demagogue.
President Obama reminds us how important Presidential leadership is to unifying the nation and offering hope for a better future for all Americans!
6
I honestly don’t understand a thing Obama said. I guess he looks good, uses big words (like “I” and “me”), and is cool. But what are his viewpoints — open borders, sanctuary cities, higher taxes, more regulation, invisible red lines?
Other than “norms” and bureaucracy, what do Democrats stand for? Help me....
2
Obama's input about the dangers Trump and the Republican Party is doing to our democratic way of life in America is long overdue. But keep in mind that nothing President Obama says is beneficial at all unless we show up at the polls and vote for Democrats.
6
I agree 1000 percent. One of trump's most important tactics is to monopolize the discussion. He leaves little shelf-space for anyone else. I saw it at work during the republican debates when organizers were stupid enough to let him take the center of the stage, and then the candidates (some serious) did little but toss him softballs, that he would return covered with sizzling ooze. He never shut up and more serious candidates were left trying to get attention. Every inch of column space that Obama can take not only subtracts from trump's exposure, but gives us a glimpse of intelligent principled leadership.
227
In times of national emergency, like right now, normal courtesies must be thrown out the window.
I am thrilled to see President Obama diving into the fray and helping wake people up. ALL of our prominent democrats need to come front and center to help fight against the Trump/Republican assault on democracy and our very way of life.
7
President Obama's admonition that it is not the people who voted who put us into this caldron, it is the people who didn't vote who are responsible, is reality. Yes, there are numerous cases where people didn't vote because a secretary of state or an election commission, et al made it close to impossible to vote. Too many of us cite that as why we don't vote.
As the current occupant of the White House so often said, "It's rigged."
So how do the candidates and the party who benefit most when more people vote break through that? One of the most fundamental truths of our species is we become most engaged, most animated when we arable to participate directly. When we are paid attention to, have our voice heard, get to tell our story.
This is a known dynamic almost no candidate or party seems to either grasp or have figured out a way to make happen, writ large. But it can be done. There is an 'out of the box' project called, 'The People Speak,' being launched in the Northeast next week. It has developed a format where individual voters get to speak, on camera, and a presentation paradigm that will capture local/regional media like a visit from LeBron James.
If you want to see what they're doing, you can check it out here - https://vimeo.com/288384919/262ea95269
Heaven help us if those who can vote don't.
3
It may be too late, but it's soothing to hear words of decency again in American politics.
4
We need to go back to 2008, when Barack Obama became President. It is a fact that the U.S. had entered into a deep recession caused by the unscrupulous behavior of corporate America. They were the same people that in January 1, 2018, received a $1 trillion dollar corporate tax cut that reduced the rate from 35% to 21%, a valuable gift from President Trump. Needless to say, it was Trump’s first legislation win; the perfect package to take over the Republican Congress as well as his wealthy campaign contributors.
President Trump’s pomposity takes him to lie; bragged he had created over 1 million jobs when it was part of President Obama’s accomplishments. When Obama left office, the economy was solid and millions of jobs had been created. Thus, “Render unto Caesar things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things are God’s.”
115
@CiraThey were the same people that in January 1, 2018, received a $1 trillion dollar corporate tax cut that reduced the rate from 35% to 21%, a valuable gift from President Trump.
Don't forget it was also a valuable gift FOR Trump.
@Cira
Yes, Trump exaggerates and Obama is a fear monger.
Trump is a talker but he has given us tax reform and two awesome supreme court judges in the making.
@CW You're absolutely right. I believe he got 9 million but not sure. Thanks.
While I wish that Obama had controlled the narrative better as President about his considerable economic successes,it is most appropriate and welcome that he speak up now. And while I wish that he had informed the American public about Russian election interference, it is also most welcome and appropriate that he speak up now about the malfeasance in the GOP. I hope he will go on the tv circuit as well.
7
I watched the Illinois speech from start to finish. I'll admit the speaker was what grabbed my attention. However, it wasn't who was speaking that kept me watching. I could have closed the browser and just caught the sound bites on the news. I didn't though. The speaker didn't matter so much. It was that he spoke the truth well.
Obama was speaking to a room full of college students. Many of these students possess only a vague understanding of a world before Trump. To listen to an honest, thoughtful, and intelligent president is absolutely mind-shattering for the political neophyte in the era of Trump. Obama even made the point of reminding the audience "This is not normal."
Sing it from the mountain top. Obama the man is less relevant than his message. However, those oratory skills will still knock you off your feet. The contrast to our current president is absolutely staggering. Just in case anyone needed a reminder just how "not normal" things have gotten, you've got one now.
9
As much as I admire Obama for all he is and has done, I must agree with those who ask themselves why he didn't do anything during the campaign when presented the evidence of so-called collusion which is in fact exactly what the US Constitution qualifies as "treason".
"Section 3.
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."
With hindsight, historians will ask themselves if the long-standing mobster that took over the presidency has not been partly enabled by Obama's too grand civility.
It is to hope Mr. Mueller will be more pitbull than civil.
1
Barack Obama's bailout of bankers while allowing the homeowner victims to twist in the wind and his Rube Goldberg Heritage Foundation healthcare *reform* passed while having control of the entire Federal government provides a direct line to the election of Donald Trump. A sufficient percentage of the electorate decided that if the Republicans wouldn't help them and the Democrats wouldn't help them, perhaps it was time for something or someone completely different. That they were fooled isn't their fault, it is the fault of the establishment currently wringing its hands. You lied to them long enough that they got used to it.
The fact that they were “fooled” IS their fault. Ignorance is not a virtue. Pride in being ignorant is certainly not a virtue. We as a nation are now paying dearly for it.
3
@Steve Bruns A rational person could not have voted for Trump. Everything negative about him was already visible. And most damning of all? There was nothing positive about him. All perfectly visible in 2016.
Calling a shovel a device for terrestrial excavation and exploration is representative of how some in the media characterized candidate Trump’s anti-democratic, bigoted, racist platform. Using terms like ethno-nationalism, the media obfuscated and confused those with a lack of background or knowledge of the anti-democratic wars being waged from Russia in Europe. Candidate Trump was using their playbook.
As President, Mr. Trump has demonstrated his anti-democratic agenda is, indeed, more than campaign rhetoric and a work in progress. During his recent speech in Illinois, President Obama called a shovel a shovel and spoke hard truths all Americans needed to hear.
A Republican Party that, in retrospect, began devolving under President Reagan, has abandoned even the cause of conservative small government, which in my view was way to avoid the responsibilities of governing and blame Democrats but better than embracing anti-democratic and inhuman policies, where elites decide who deserves equality, rights, freedoms, liberties, citizenship (even if born in this country), and who deserves to be torn from their refugee parents and caged.
Congress and an administration defending a president with an anti-democratic agenda is anti-democratic; defending a corrupt president is corrupt; defending or ignoring abuses of Executive power is abusing power.
President Obama is asking Americans not to buy the phony, useless cure-all of the snake oil salesman and to look behind the curtain.
3
Yes, there is someone we all know as President of the United States who took their vows seriously before God and man, and I’m not just talking about that oath of office to be president. “No drama Obama” now seems like a welcome relief from “Dangerous Donnie” and His MAGA or “Mobsters are Governing America”, along with “Corrupt Congress” run by the GOP who believe in government of the wealthy, by the corrupt, for the donors versus government of the people, by the people, for the people. There is hope when we have leaders like John McCain and Barack Obama’s. Thank-you anyone in leadership who is standing up for us peasants against those who would betray the public trust and turn us into Russian peasants.
3
I never thought I could miss anyone more than I miss President Obama. If he were standing in front of me I would give him a big hug and not ever let go.
5
After sliding sliding down the slippery surface of the "Trump is the Problem" diving board for many months, Mr. Blow has finally fallen into the deep dark diving pool of complete irrelevancy with this column.
"Nothing Obama said was particularly new or revelatory. It was that he was saying it at all that arrested attention." "Nothing new" and attracting attention with insubstantial glossy rhetoric is the Obama trademark: he learned manipulative language skills all too well at Columbia and Harvard. No one contests that Mr. Obama is highly intelligent, and in that sense, a stark contrast to Mr. Trump. However, those who derive anything (hope?) other than a detached amusement from this theater of the absurd are choosing to re-experience the hope-and-change hoax while they continue to embrace the Democratic Party as their savior du jour.
2
President Obama - two words that I miss so much. When President Obama speaks, I listen.
7
President Obama, the epitome of grace and excellence. Will he help or hurt us with his voice in the upcoming election is a question I had on my mind. But I listened to his words at the Chicago speech the other day. Coherent, intelligent, worldly, and most of all Presidential.
No doubt in my mind now, we need President Obama to speak out, and tell the truth as he always has. Millions of us are sick and tired of the liar we have in the Oval Office, a fraud if there ever was one.
Thank you Charles for writing this, we need to see and hear more about our beloved President Obama.
5
Welcome back, indeed! Now if the news agencies will do their part and not cover every belittling remarker whim that Trump makes- that would be two wins for the American public.
Thank you for a gracious op-ed.
3
Not counting his extraordinary legacy, the fate of his beloved country, and the prospect of seeing our vulnerable planet continue to picked over for the choicest bits by oligarchs both foreign and domestic, there's hardly anything at all at stake in this election for President Obama. As he steps up in coming months to say what must be said meanwhile subjecting himself and his family to the unhinged wrath of the conman in chief, may millions upon millions of Americans have his back.
252
Just look at that picture -- a president who is smiling! Sure do miss him.
6
Obama’s great, but he can’t be re-elected and his return to the public arena is superficially satisfying to his supporters, maddening to progressives, entertainment for his detractors, but ultimately of no moment. The Democrats need a leader who can unify the party and divert the attention from Trump. I know, duh, but it doesn’t seem likely right now and the stakes are so high.
36
@MWR I think you're missing the point. Part of Mr Trump's dark power is that he constantly dominates news discourse with ever-greater enormities and scurrilous dealings. Then, even as we gather ourselves to express condemnation, he commits some new fantastic solecism or outrage. He leaves us breathless and voiceless because his actions, like his sentences, have no intrinsic syntax. It's like a reality TV consciousness dictated by Samuel Beckett--unnameable but also unlistenable.
The point of Obama making himself heard is that it interposes some air, sanity and plain old good sense into the fetid atmosphere of current events.
11
@MWR: So what do you propose? Or do you reaaly want 6 more years of Trump?
1
@MWR: "Obama's great, but...his return to the public arena is...ultimately of no moment."
Spoken like a true defeatist, and here's hoping that your own baleful remarks will be of no moment.
Most of us know that whenever a former POTUS speaks it is news, and Obama's words are especially meaningful to millions of us who yearn for the time when grace, dignity and decency were hallmarks of the people's house. Thank you once again, President Obama, for your service.
1
I want to be spoken to by a president who is intelligent, knowledgeable, well spoken, and doesn't use language I wouldn't tolerate in my own home.
Mr. Trump isn't working down in a hole, on a roof in July, or in a 100 degree kitchen. I have worked in all. You leave that language there.
The language he uses is an attempt to be a regular joe tough guy. Like too many wanna-be tough guys that run their mouths in bars, he had bone spurs that prevented him from stepping outside.
Trumps indecency, limited vocabulary, spouting nonsense, and open racism are an international embarrassment. Defense of any of it should brand the defender for life.
I know I am not alone in disliking some of what President Obama did, but never were we embarrassed by his speech or actions.
Have you begun to see the Michelle 2020 bumper stickers?
If only.
200
@Lawrence
simply substitute Trump for Obama and you will PRECISELY understand the sentiments of the half the voters in the United States, who feel and believe the polar opposite of you. Or if you wish - President Trump's BASE versus yours.
Either way...
President Obama is a timely reminder of what a real president should sound like. That said, he can't run again so I hope the Democrats don't rely on him to do the heavy lifting that needs to be done by the next generation. Instead, they should learn from him how to talk to Americans, what to talk about and what not to talk about (like wall-to-wall trump), without talking down to them. We have until the start of the 2020 campaign for other Dems to emerge who can loosen trump's stranglehold on the news. By my calculation, that would be around mid-November 2018.
375
In addition to "loosening Trump’s stranglehold on the news," Obama is reminding Americans, in his words and deeds, that there is, in fact, a difference between the two parties; that coherence, reason, discipline, principle and clear speech are more than just a fashion. They carry weight and meaning, in and of themselves.
1150
It is a critical error to believe that Obama’s is to Republicans what he is to reasonable people.
2
@sarah Only in the delusional cult like world of Trump worship.
@sarah Can you please list for us all the things that trump has done "for America" and all the things Pres. Obama has done for America. No cheating.
have the opposite opinion of the the writer in this case. President Obama saw exactly what was coming and abandoned America when he was needed the most. He received briefings on the collusion charges. He was presented with the dossier. He could have taken action while still President and chose not to. He chose to put a pretty face on the event of handing over power and he rode off into the sunset knowing exactly what was in store. He comes back now to evangelize on a problem he saw coming and did nothing to remediate. It’s too little too late President Obama.
4
@John. President Obama ousted several Russians suspected of interference and set up sactions against Russia, which at this point still haven’t been put in place. Don’t forget it was Mitch McConnell that refused to doing anything about the suspicion of Russian election involvement. He had threatened that it would be seen as a partisan political distraction to gain more votes for Hillary. He tried but the GOP had the upper hand by having the majority. Just like they refused to have a hearing for SCOTUS nominee.
4
@John
Wrong analysis, he gave Trump the benefit of the doubt. Obama is a moral man, with experience of political campaigning versus moral values. Trump is a business man who is a professional deceiver.
2
@Marina It’s the executive branch that is tasked with executing on our laws, not congress. Congress does have hearing powers but little or no power to bring prosecute and or declare an emergency.
The recent gushing over Barack Obama as our born-again savior is deja vu all over again. I don't care if it's Obama, or Trump, or Hillary, or Bernie: the expectation that there's this one politician out there who can make it all better is unhealthy and antithetical to democracy.
Get past Obama's awesome delivery and comedic timing, and read the speech. He started out with the Founders and civil rights leaders, touting them as inspirations for people to go marching. Not so much to display our citizenship via teachers' strikes, sit-ins and boycotts, and other disruptions to the ruling order. We are to simply to vote for Democrats in the mid-terms.
Obama is directly attacking Trump because it's that magical time that only comes just once every two and four years and our votes become the sum of our civic duties. As much as he lauded candidates running on "new" ideas like Medicare for All, he didn't, as some of the hype has it, actually endorse single payer health care himself. As a matter of fact, his list of 80 endorsements includes no progressive challengers to Democratic incumbents.
Of course the most amazing part of Obama's speech was that it rendered Trump temporarily comatose.
Meanwhile, whose fault is that Trump controls the news? It's not just his. The media chooses to parse all his inane tweets and televise all his rallies. Because it's cheap, it's easy, and it engenders lots of outraged, lucrative clicks.
There's a lot more to fear in America than just Trump.
340
@Karen Garcia
Karen. As a hospital employee, who has seen many a patient in my lifetime, a professional with great knowledge of healthcare and reimbursement, a community member who has served on numerous healthcare committees, boards, and councils, I find your derogatory comments about President Obama’s contributions to our country, mankind, and healthcare insulting.
This country was fortunate to get the ACA. Period. Your criticism, to me, lacks an understanding of the importance of forbidding insurance companies nixing pre-existing conditions, and giving young people the opportunity to be provided healthcare under their parents’ policies, and eliminating caps.
There is no way Barack Obama could ever have gotten a single payer system. I am not sure your reason for your words, placing blame on the impossible.
MIMA
153
@MIMA. Right. There is no such thing as purity in politics. If there was, it wouldn't be politics which has been defined as the art of the possible. It's disheartening to see the left getting as intolerant of purity as the right has been lately. Democrats have always been more interested in feeling good about themselves than winning. If ever there was a time to put that aside, It. Is. Now.
3
@MIMA
Whenever someone prefaces an opinion with a whole laundry list of superlative credentials, my BS detector immediately goes off.
As I said, we have a lot more to fear in America than Trump.
As a regular person who once had the bad taste to get hurt without adequate insurance and was subsequently sued by the hospital, and had a lien slapped on my house, ultimately forcing me to sell it in order to pay my bill, I speak from my own experiences and research. There are still at least 20 million uninsured people in this country, with tens of millions more grossly uninsured. Of the insured, many cannot afford the cost of their co-pays, deductibles and premiums. They can still go bankrupt from a hospital bill.
I don't know if Obama could have gotten a single payer system. I do know that he never really tried, despite having a supermajority during the first months of his presidency and a majority his first two years. I do know he made a back-room deal with the pharmaceuticals and insurance predators to get them on board with what was initially a Republican plan.
More than half the country supports single payer insurance, the country's largest nurses' union advocates for it, and even the arch-conservative AMA is starting to come around. So the "impossibility" is a canard, and it always has been. For-profit health care, the most expensive in the world and with some of the worst outcomes, is simply no longer sustainable.
https://kmgarcia2000.blogspot.com/
6
For the first time in almost 2 tortuous, angst-ridden, downright frightening years, I feel there is hope. Why is that? Because President Obama is not holding back on all that is so dangerously wrong with Trumpism. He has our backs...you the Black, the Brown, the gay and transgender, the woman, the Muslim, the immigrant, the refugee, the ill, the poor and needy. Finally, finally, someone is stepping out from the shadows to help save our democracy from collapse.
I heard Obama's speech at the University of Illinois and listened to him here in California. I shed tears during his eloquent eulogy for Senator McCain. Those tears were not only for a fine man who is no longer with us on earth, but also for that other fine man who is no longer our POTUS. To juxtapose Mr. Obama with Donald Trump is a visceral shock. The former...moral, ethical, wise, intelligent. The latter...devoid of any semblance of a soul, amoral, and unethical, with a mind that is usurped by both an id and an ego run amok. But...just maybe now, Abraham Lincoln in That Place Beyond is no longer grieving. Instead, perhaps he is smiling and thinking, My work was not in vain.
276
Thank you President Obama. To this day I still cannot bring myself to address the current occupier of the White House as such. I was getting ready to turn Independent, but in light of the dangerous situation the country is in, I am now going to vote straight Democrat. In order to stop this scourge on our democracy everyone regardless of political affiliation should be Democrats for this monumental election. History will not be kind to the Party of Trump.
11
Mr. and Mrs. Obama proudly merit and carry the title of President and First Lady in a way that Trump and his wife never will. President Obama rescued the world from economic collapse during his first term. Despite any other failings he may have had, this alone deserves our ever-lasting thanks. First Lady Obama demonstrated for all, that a spouse can be both a supportive help-mate and also lead her own important initiatives in many areas. Trump and his wife will never meet the Obama standard. That’s why it is so vitally important that President and Mrs. Obama reclaim their rightful and vitally important spots in the news cycle and on the world stage.
325
Barack Obama inherited an economic disaster and bequeathed Trump with a growing economy that Trump takes credit for.
46
It is too bad that some of Obama's successors for the leadership of the Democratic Party have hoisted the flag of socialism and expect the rest of us to carry that flag into battle. Maybe our former president can steer them back to the achievable middle. These Obama imposters will lead us to defeat, and for what, an opportunity to emote? We already have that in the White House. They are the mirror image of The Donald, bad hair and all.
So, speak for us Barack. Sound like the real president we wish we had.
12
@caveman007
What’s wrong with Democratic socialism ? And do you understand what it is?
Each week, Mr. Blow and the Progressives hope in vain for a gotcha issue that will end the dominance (and administration) of Trump. And each week they are disappointed.
This week's hope comes in the person of Obama. Who has given a few predictable speeches. And threatens to give more.
The speeches are filled with the word "I" and they lament the fact that those deplorable voted to Trump. Ho-hum.
In the end (that is, next week), the Obama hope machine will also break down, thereby strengthening Trump. Someday the Progressives will learn that they need substance, not rhetoric, and not the false narrative of Russian collusion.
13
@Uysses Oh please,..really? First of all, the Progressive 'substance' is everywhere. Do you not like clean air and water, functioning infrastructure, fair wages,workers rights, social security, medicare....? Maybe not, but most of us do. "False narrative" ... you wish. Some monstrous machine is breaking down alright, just not the one inferred here. If you don't care for empty rhetoric, then vote out all republicans.
4
@Uysses I don't think anyone sees Obama speaking out as something that will end the current horror show in the White House
Perhaps we're just excited to see a person who is articulate, intelligent and moral speak again.
It's a drink of water during a marathon
It reminds us that this is the type of POTUS we had and can have again.
4
@Uysses False narrative? Which part, the Senate Intelligence Committee's conclusion that Russians meddled in our election? The intelligence community's conclusion that they did? The meetings with the Russians? The only thing false in any of this is the word collusion -- there is no such crime. The crime is called conspiracy, and there was a conspiracy to AT LEAST commit campaign finance violations by silencing Stormy Daniels with $. Mueller will find lots more evidence of conspiracy before he's done. Trump's win has an asterisk, which gets bigger and bolder each month as more facts and indictments/convictions/plea bargains unfold.
And please explain how none of this matters to the Gold Star mothers who lost sons battling Communism in Korea and Vietnam, both supported by Russia? News flash, they're still our enemy, USSR or not.
4
Imagine a U.S. President speaking coherently and on point for a bit over an hour?
Indeed...Welcome back President Obama.
15
It's not an exact parallel, but it's close. Had to lop off several lines from the final chorus to make it fit. (Twitter can went to 280 characters, why can't Comments go to 3000?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI
Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about
Well the names have all changed since you hung around
But those dreams have remained and they've turned around
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya
(Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
We always could spot a friend, welcome back
And I smile when I think how you must have been
And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back
And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
9
Thank you, Mr. Blow!
If (former) President Obama continues to speak out and drives at least part of the news cycle, it will drive Trump even nuttier. Wait for it...the tweets, the insults.
As for speeches on economic policy and the rest, our country is in agony now. I doubt too many folks can hear Elizabeth Warren and others, rational and progressive though they may be. We need the spirit, excitement and memories Obama offers us. We need the emotion welling up in our hearts for love of country Trump has tried to crush from our souls. Trump will fail.
8
Say Hallelujah! It started with the first day of the Kavanaugh hearings. The Democrats have decided to fight.
The gauntlet has been thrown.
10
For this I say, welcome, Mister President. Bill Moyers said urgently on his next to last show, "We need a fighter, Mister President", and ten years later you symbolically heard it.
5
Welcome back, Mr. Obama, indeed. I am filled with absolute joy to hear someone with stature and impeccable morals speak out so eloquently, so grammatically correct, and so passionately about our nation's ideals. What a contrast to the Incoherent One.
Please continue. Please.
You made our country a better place as president, and I trust in you to do it again. With Michelle again, too.
34
President Obama’s sense and sanity provided a real contrast to the autocrat in the White House. Though reportedly Trump does not drink, his behavior is reminiscent of an alcoholic...secrecy, delusions, lying, a lack of scruples. Too bad he is not open to the 12 Steps; the first one being an admission of powerlessness, and that life has become unmanageable. But Trump still believes he has no problem, and that is perhaps the biggest challenge.
8
He should stay away and continue playing in the sandbox with his billionaire friends. He’s done his damage to this country.
4
I know you mean Trump! And I agree!
I assume that you’re speaking of Donald.
We desperately need to get Trump off center stage. Thank you, President Obama.
9
Finally, after two years of Trump's crazed rantings, the sweet voice of reason.
Obama represents everything good in the human race.
Trump represents the very heart of darkness.
16
Welcome back, Mr. President. You have been missed. Your country needs you badly.
16
It is important to point out something else Putin and Trump share: Obama publicly trashed both of them with humiliating language.
(note: I voted for him four times, counting primaries. but the above is a fact.)
4
narcicism fueled by insecurity is best met by ignoring and minimizing the person. Obama will fill the screens using some of Donald's precisous preening time; and this will provoke him to more maddness which just might lead to the cry "the emperor has no clothes" by those who are either blind or so self serving they have remained silent. One can only wish; yet i agree VOTE VOTE VOTE.
6
Trump is like CO2 in our stratosphere. He smothers the best of America. Obama campaigning for Democrats can surely help with his truth and justice POV and understanding of America diversity. Thanks for coming back to the Common Cause, my President.
25
How refreshing and welcome it is to see Obama back. This is how a president should act, talk and look; thoughtful, intelligent, articulate, fit, and, it must be said, great looking.
I knew how much he would be missed. He reminds us of all we should aspire to be. Trump, his polar opposite, embodies all of our worst impulses and instincts. He reminds us of who we are at our lowest.
(All together now, everybody....
'HellooooooooOBAMA,
Well hellooooooOBAMA,
It's so nice to have you back where you belong.)
10
I am so glad he broke his former code of respectful silence about Trump as there is nothing to respect about Trump who disrespects humanity in general and Americans in particular.
The contrast between the former president and this 'Russian' president and hater of democracy is as wide and deep as our Grand Canyon.
I just finished reading today's editorial on migrant children now being 'permanently' detained and in effect Trump/America has stolen or kidnapped these children and now refuses to return them to their mothers and fathers. America is resembling fascist Germany more and more under Trump, Sessions and Nielsen who should be tried, (and then convicted) of crimes against humanity in the world court. The article states that billions have poured into these shelters and most of that money should be used to reunite families Trump has torn apart in the most cruel, inhumane fashion ever heard of outside fascist Germany.
President Obama is right on the money, Americans have to keep remembering who we are and what we stand for and remove this abomination out of the WH in order to save ourselves and our democracy.
31
It should be noted that businesses and political parties will pay dearly to get media time, mostly on TV. However, in the case of Trump, he gets most -- if not all of it -- free of charge. He doses not even have to contact the networks, who seem to be more interested in "the ratings" to ask for free time as was the case for former Presidents. If he had something truthful and enlightening to say, that would be fine. However, in view of the fact that most of the information that Trump dispenses is false and misleading, it is the fault of the media for giving him all of this free time -- to the detriment of our form of government and the common good. The media should ignore him and not provide him with the attention that he craves and needs to pursue his agenda. This is NOT censorship. It is simply common sense and preserving the integrity of a free press.
The same can be said for all of those phoney White House Press Conferences in which more lies are spewed than one can ever imagine. I would like to see the Press Corps, after the utterance of an egregious lie, laugh, and then stand up on their hind legs, and walk out of the conference room en masse. What better way to show one's displeasure and disgust at such a shameless process. The media has a responsibility to serve the public well. It is failing in that regard.
21
I agree with you wholeheartedly! I too would like to see the press just shut him and his lying toadies off the minute another stupid lie falls out of their mouths. Is also like to see the rest of us turn off the 24/7 cable news shows so their ratings plummet, until they stop giving these idiots all this air time. I think they should replay President Obama 24/7 until this nightmare is over.
True sincere thanks to the heavens.
13
In the three days since President Obama spoke in Ill, I have heard so many comments like, "Now I can sleep better" or "I can breathe again" or "My blood pressure is going back to normal." I have also heard, "I love hearing full sentences again" or "He described the situation so well. We know that stuff, but he said it eloquently" or even simply, "His voice sounded so good to me." I hope Obama knnows that he has really brought Hope to weary Americans this week.
Thank you, Sir. We know you are not here as a 'saviour,' but we are very grateful for your presence and your words.
27
Thank you President Obama .
There is no excuse to sit on our hands on midterms Election Day.
Let’s move, let’s give a clear sign that we have had enough of all the deception,corruption,sycophancy,environment destruction,ACA dismantlement,fake news,indecency,lack of patriotism ,integrity and common sense .
Just spread the word with family, friends and acquaintances.
Get out and VOTE .
7
Welcome back Mr. President! We missed you! Listening and reading President Obama's speech is what a president speak to public, not some erratic rambling nonsense that Donald delivers very time he is on stage.
6
Maybe, just maybe, number 43 can put his hobby painting on hold for two months and join this debate from Texas.
Remind some part of the Republican base that "this is not who we are". He surely could use it to polish up his legacy.
13
Unfortunately, Trump's policies and his behavior in office have been arguably far worse than his campaign rhetoric.
Furthermore, the true meaning of Trump Derangement Syndrome
should always have been properly defined as the derangement of
its namesake owner instead of his victims.
Why couldn't the media have figured that one out?
Republicans have also slyly and brilliantly managed to own a strategy that accuses then blames the Democrats for the very same reprehensible actions that they themselves have committed!
Ditto for the media's blunder on that.
Yes, it's boldly encouraging that Obama has broken with foolish norms established during normal times by speaking truth to power without hiding behind the pseudonym of Anonymous.
For the sake of our country's future, let's hope that his vital debut remarks will enjoy a long and successful run.
Vote!
3
What a relief. I can't imagine a more effective way of getting Republicans out to vote than having Obama's face out there reminding them of why they elected Trump in the first place. Hallelujah.
3
Not a surprise. He's a typical Liberal (rules don't apply to me), allowing him to disregard the tradition of ex-presidents staying above the fray. Nothing has changed--in his speech, he referred to himself over 100 times. And true to form for a guy who spent 8 years blaming the previous president for the slowest recovery in American history--now he wants to claim credit for everything that happens after he left.
4
@Jesse The Conservative, so it's okay when Trump behaves like rules don't apply to him, disregards presidential tradition and behavior, refers to himself constantly and blames everyone else but not okay for Obama to do so?
5
@Jesse The Conservative
curious remark. did you actually count the number of times President Obama used the word "I?"
Did you hear what he was saying while focusing on counting?
I'm impressed!
3
@sn, I'm not sure it's advisable for either to engage in disregarding of rules--or self-aggrandizement, but just keep in mind that Obama is not better or worse than Trump, in that regard.
The gloves need to come off. Off of Obama, Biden, both Clintons, Albright, each and every Democrat, except Michelle. Let her continue to be our better angel. With the gloves off, go after ALL the Republicans, and their judicial appointees. Point out lies, hypocrisies, perjuries, etc., etc. Go after Collins and Murkowski. Make certain McConnell, Ryan and Pence are accurately portrayed for History. That is the ONLY way to wake Americans up for the 2018 elections. Trump is Putin’s Apprentice, and each and every D needs to hit home on that with every breath they take.
234
@RMF I only wish I could vote twice for this. I love the idea of when they go low, we go high, but when dealing with ignorant bullies, you have to face them down. The truth scares them. Intelligence scares them. Ethical behaviour scares them. A free press scares them. A reall look in the mirror scares them. Trump is a grifter, a con man who has made money off his name but whose businesses ended in scandal and bankruptcy. He has stolen from ordinary people without conscience. He lies as easily as he breathes. And then there is his bent for dictators, especially Putin. He is the Manchurian Candidate. Time to undo his hold on the US House and Senate and send him back to NY in 2020. The Dems cannot shy away from confrontation. They have truth and civil society on their side. If they fight with all the intensity you describe, this will be the beginning of the end of the spell Trump has cast on America. It cannot come a day too soon.
1
@RMF
Yes, yes, YES!!!! Thank you!
President Obama is an honorable, decent man, but I wish he'd watch from the sidelines. He's the most timid, naive president I've known since JFK. His schtick to get along was simply an adolescent desire to be admired by everyone, but as Jim Clyburn said, "If you don't stand for anything, you'll fall for everything." He's too closely tied with Clinton and Wasserman-Shultz who tried to suppress progressives, essentially the FDR wing of the Democratic Party that's ascendent today.
1
@Keith
Quit, unless you're trying to relive 2016. Grow up.
When Barack Obama spoke at Indiana University this week, with each phrase, each pause, each thought and the rhythm of his prose cutting through the noise we felt democracy's call again.
3
I was astonished even in another country to read that Mr Pence had expressed "disappointment" that Mr Obama had broken with tradition in making a politicised speech. As Mr Blow points out, Mr Trump never stops criticising Mr Obama. Considering the attacks and criticisms so routinely made on him by Mr Trump in his tediously juvenile and never ending pursuit of his own vainglory I commend Mr Obama for restraining himself as long as he did.
Breaking with tradition must only run one way for Mr Pence as I have not yet heard him express "disappointment" in Mr Trump's own unprecedented behaviour in attacking a previous president.
365
Pence will bend over backwards to please Trump and never cross him—he is far too ambitious and dishonorable himself, so backing the amoral excuse for a President we are saddled with today is about all Pence can do. He wouldn’t recognize honor or intelligence if it rose up and bit him.
I too looked forward to the news coverage of Mr. Obama's speech which I listened to in its entirety. Trump's poor ability to communicate is terrible but even worse is what he says. I'll be watching more of him and others like him, speakers of decency.
1
I find it amazing that liberals welcome Obama with open arms - rather than the contempt they heap upon Hillary Clinton. Obama should have shoved and fought the Garland nomination through. He did not. He should have made public the Russian meddling that he knew of with the election. He did not. He could have made public that Trump was also under investigation. He did not. But - who is blamed for losing the election - not the cheating, lying, possibly colluding Trump, not Obama - with his disastrous inaction. No - the men are blameless in the eyes of many liberals. It's Ms. Clinton's fault in their eyes. She is the one to blame for the current state of affairs. Obama is a saint, Sanders and Biden are close - but that snake Clinton is to blame for every wrong from 2016. IT just shows that misogyny on the left is just as toxic as the well known misogyny on the right. But - yes - I'm glad to see a man who can speak and think in complete sentences - and carries himself with decency and pride - back on the campaign trail.
1
As I watched Barack Obama's recent speech, I could feel tears prickling at the back of my eyes. Here was a man of decency, integrity, and honesty in searching for and speaking the truth. It was like waking up out of a bad dream. Welcome back, President Obama! We need not just your voice, but your calming and rational presence now, more than ever.
5
How refreshing to see his elegance again to remind us of the contrast between Goofus and Gallant. He needs to stay in the fight now to help us rid this blight named Trump.
1
Here's one of Obama's messages I liked best:
"People ask me, what are you going to do for the election? No, the question is: What are you going to do? You're the antidote. Your participation and your spirit and your determination, not just in this election but in every subsequent election, and in the days between elections."
trump said he fell asleep during the speech. Good! I hope it happens again and again. We're safer when he's asleep...
3
@Nancie
My personal favorite is: 'We're gonna punish our enemies, and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us'
which was his advice to Latinos on how to conduct themselves in the political arena.
Obama's smooth talking belies his inner fascist.
It is true that he has fooled a lot of people; just read the fawning comments here.
But history will judge his presidency as one of abuse of power and unconstitutional excess.
1
While it is great to see Obama back in the spotlight, it all depends on who shows up at the voting booth in November for some immediate relief to the dark comedy in Washington D.C. Also is Obama the only Democrat of substance? Who will be the Democratic POTUS nominee in 2020? Who else has the intelligence, gravitas and passion that Obama brought in 2008? Should Dems win in Nov, will they attend to the pressing problems in the country? - income inequality, opportunities for all, healthcare for all, education at reasonable cost?? Immigration is not the only problem to solve. Or will they focus on impeaching Trump?
For a group of people who have been so up in arms about Trump violating norms, there is odd acceptance of Obama violating the norm of former Presidents limiting their involvement in politics. Affirmative action or hypocrisy?
1
@QED No. Desperate times. Things have never been this bad, not with crazy Nixon, not with senile Reagan, not with incapacitated Wilson.
PS. A norm is only that "normal" and these are not normal times.
1
Obama is trying to do outside of the Presidency what he couldn't do as President - win Congressional elections. It was because he was such a lousy team player and lackluster President that we are in the state that Democrats bemoan today (although why is largely reflexive versus based on facts). He's already back to bashing Trump voters as reacting to fear, even as his Democrat counterparts rally against a Supreme Court nominee they claim (with no proof) is going to take away their rights. He mentally cannot get his arms around the idea of prosperity for all versus transgender bathrooms. At some point priorities must broaden to fighting for all Americans versus the few, and for citizens versus illegal immigrants. Why is that so hard for Democrats to understand? It's not about fear, it's about priorities, and for many Americans, it's their turn to be a priority after decades of taking a back seat to Wall Street, special interests, foreigners and China.
Barack Obama may not have been one of the great presidents, but he was surely one of the finest *people* to ever hold the office. How bizarre that the American people would then elect the worst. Those selfsame people used to talk so much about character.
4
The only people who benefited from Obama's tenure were Obama and Trump. Without the former, we would not have the latter. During Obama's two terms the Democrats lost most statehouses, the Senate and Congress. He governed to the right of Richard Nixon but every campaign season would suddenly morph into the reincarnation of Teddy Roosevelt. Unfortunately, none of his soaring midterm rhetoric ever found its way into legislation. He bailed out Wall Street, provided insultingly paltry relief to homeowners after the crash and declined to prosecute anyone for malfeasance. Within two weeks after leaving office, Obama was snapping selfies with a series of billionaires; it was disgusting. Welcome back indeed.
There are plenty of voters who have a right to be suspicious of the former President and that doesn't make them racist, just part of the long suffering 99% for whom he did little.
4
The salutary effect of Barack Obama's speech, his personality and character, was like that of a strong antibiotic to combat a virulent infection that’s run rampant through our politics.
This dangerous virus is emanating from a diseased Republican Party who are aiding and abetting the crime family of Trump and his cabinet.
The forces of political health have to be amassed against our diseased politics. We need Obama to serve as a positive role model for all Democrats now, as we approach one of the most important elections in our history.
The entire party must reject mild, ineffective centrism demanded by the distorted norms of big money politics. They must instead go all out to restore our democracy’s strength and vigor---working for We the People again.
3
The decision by President Obama to enter the fray by publicly criticizing his successor was a wise decision, delayed too long.
Concerned Americans who are not in government, not professionals working in political campaigns, not involved in journalism or broadcasting and not in Washington or New York have been very frustrated by the ineffective reaction to President Trump.
How can Donald Trump get away with dominating our every waking moment with his disgusting ignorance and nastiness, and why are the professionals charged with calling him to task are always one or two steps behind?
There is a mountain of newspaper columns and articles critical of Mr. Trump, and there are endless cable TV interviews and panels pointing out the Trump lies and errors. None of this stems the descent into insanity and indecency at the White House.
By never shutting up or stepping from the stage, Donald Trump occupies the spotlight. By telling a new obvious lie a couple times a week or doing some new outrageous thing, Trump forces reporters to move to the next subject without exposing the last one.
Charles Blow has hit the nail on the head. This is happening because no one with sufficient gravitas, celebrity and respect has stepped forward to clear the air and grab public attention.
We received hints of our need for famous spokesmen and spokeswomen at the John McCain funeral.
Welcome to the resistance, President Barack Obama.
5
The Republican Party owns Trump, and he owns it, lock, stock and barrel.
President Obama elected by far more Americans, twice, is not just a former Democratic president but one who represents most citizens. People crossed party lines to vote for him. He is a younger generation than Trump; he embodies diversity; he respects science and education and work and women. He has a sense of compassion, empathy, kindness, prudence and humor. Raised in part by a WWII vet, he honored those who served.
He cried for the lost children at Sandy Hook. Never in a thousand years would he have committed a crime against humanity targeting thousands of small children with unimaginable cruelty.
Pres. Obama taught Constitutional law; he didn't violate the law with fraud against students or sexual assaults. He had the moral and patriotic rectitude to oppose authoritarian dictators like Putin as well as to work towards peace such as removing most chemical weapons from Syria.
As far as most of us are concerned, Pres. Obama speaks out for American democracy and decency while Trump praises white supremacists, assorted criminals, dictators and abusers as fine people and good men.
The GOP can keep Trump. The rest of us prefer the sane experienced No Drama Obama who shares our values, ran a White House with no scandals, paid no hush money, speaks in full sentences and not tweets, saved the economy from the Great Recession and established healthcare.
A breath of sanity is indeed badly needed now.
8
Way to go Mr. Obama. It is more than time for all people who oppose the obscenity of Trump to speak up. I think that the people who are not outraged by this presidency are the ones who are deranged, not those of us who seek to steer this country back toward sanity.
Former presidents are not ordinary American citizens even if that is legally true. Voicing his opinions is one thing but actively inserting himself into the political process is uncalled for and arguably undignified.
2
@Kamini D OK, just imagine Trump remaining in office for 2 more years (could be 6, God forbid). Do you think he'd keep his mouth shut whether his successor is GOP, Dem or Jesus Christ himself? He couldn't stand someone else in the spotlight, he'd be throwing stink bombs every day. Not pretty and not dignified.
It’s great to see Obama is speaking out against the craziness of this administration. I hope George W, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush speak out and inspire other people to also speak out.
I guess the GOP members of Congress are under some kind of weird witches spell created by Trump. Evaeryone knows Trump lies and is using the Presidency to enrich himself and his family and friends. My deceased parents were both staunch conservatives but I’m sure they would be totally appalled at what Trump is doing and what the GOP Congress is not doing.
President "professor dad" is back! I know he's the type of professor who incites students to develop critical thinking skills and self-directedness in learning. He's a natural with youth, and do we ever need an informed and motivated youth vote!
I hope he stays in the public eye on a daily basis and soaks up all of the attention from the media! He'll suffocate Trump's media circus, and he'll message stronger about citizenship than Trump ever will.
I have sorely missed decency and civility in the public sphere, so much so that I've withdrawn from society for all intents and purposes. Hearing President Obama speak at the National Cathedral, at the U of Illinois and in California has brought me a glimmer of hope that better days might be ahead.
If only he lights a fire under the feet and in the hearts of all citizens of good will, so that we together vote and take back what is being stolen and besmirched!
Finally and not a moment too soon! Hopefully not a moment too late.
6
This is a high turnout midterm election, especially among Democrats. If Obama hits the campaign trail, both parties will be further energized and it's a good bet that increased turnout will have more effect among Republicans -- who are now at average turnout levels -- than among Democrats, who are already at the high end.
Republicans steal elections all the time. Now the Democrats are risking giving away one. Please think before sending Obama out on the campaign trail. Democrats need to recognize that their love for Obama and his 63% approval rate does not make for an election strategy. If Obama energizes more Obama haters, which is not unlikely, this could be disastrous.
We are ahead. It's no time to bet the h(H)ouse.
"Obama, stumping for Democrats, warns, ‘If we don’t step up, things can get worse’" Worse than: - 3.9% unemployment - Record-low unemployment in the black & Latino community - 400,000 new manufacturing jobs - 4.2% GDP growth How much worse could it get?
2
A tragic stab at a happy thought, with which one naturally sympathizes. To the former President's credit, his whole career insists that there is no time to wait for El Cid to ride out, to rescue the People. He's acting by example, not by remission of that advice. Let us, please, stop imploring a hero to save this place. Just take a neighbor to the polls.
I am voting for him again . I will write his name if we go with paper ballots. The GOP need to be reminded George Bush gave a trillion dollar tax break to the wealthy and the recession was the worst since the Great Depression. It took great strategies and working with our allies to make America Great Again under President Obama. Plus our climate had a chance to heal with coal out of the toxic equation. Only to be brought back by the Trump and the GOP polluters. The economic boom started on Mr Obamas watch and Trump needs to stop lying about it and get his facts straight. Trump should have been told by his parents no one likes a daily lier.
2
Obama could be the "good cop" for Democrats in the midterm campaigns but where is the "bad cop" ? Even when he says tough things about Republicans and Trump, it doesn't sound tough. Trump, as usual, gave the painful but accurate assessment that Democrats need to learn from: "I watched but I fell asleep." The news media will soon stop reporting his campaign speeches if he doesn't provide some fresh and titillating rhetoric that fires up the crowds who come to see him. His educated vocabulary , nuance and mellow tone may comfort and reassure us of like minds who will vote as always, but to get those others who are indifferent to the polls, they have to be awakened from their indifference. Maybe Obama can't do that, but Democrats need somebody campaigning alongside him who can. Good cop, bad cop.
If Donald Trump can't get Democrats out to vote then that says a lot about those voters and the party. But then again, most folks (including the NYT) underestimate the dislike of their party and the support of Trump in minority communities and among Independents.
1
Yes. Obama's back. And like many Americans I think it's not a moment too soon.
After breathing in the scandals and misdeeds of the current president for over a year and a half, it's a refreshing change to have someone who still believes in this country and its better angels.
And at this point all I want to say is: Welcome back.
4
Obama's speech last week in Illinois was a much needed reminder that the same country that produced the detestable Donald Trump and elected him President is still the same country that produced the exemplary Barack Obama and elected him President. Twice.
It was a reminder what a real President sounds like. It was a reminder what a real patriot sounds like. It was a reminder of what a President who loves his country, the entire country, sounds like.
Stick around awhile Mr. President. We need all the reminders we can get.
4
It's not an exact parallel, but it's close. Had to lop off several lines from the final chorus to make it fit. (Twitter can went to 280 characters, why can't Comments go to 3000?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI
Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about
Well the names have all changed since you hung around
But those dreams have remained and they've turned around
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya
(Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
We always could spot a friend, welcome back
And I smile when I think how you must have been
And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back
And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back
I'm not pleased Obama's back, unless he repudiates his corporatist and surveillance state tendencies, and endorses policies we need: Medicare for All, $15 minimum wage, tuition free college, taxing the rich, taxes on fossil fuels.
In 2009 Obama saved big banks while working Americans lost jobs and homes. Obama didn't prosecute bank executives.
Further ignoring criminality, he refused to prosecute any CIA officials for torture during Bush's war on terror, didn't so much as fire any of them, and today we have a torturer as CIA head.
He had a chance to give us meaningful health insurance. Instead he barred consideration of single payer, and then backed down on the public option to appease Lieberman, who actively campaigned against Obama. There wasn't much backbone in Obama. We got the ACA, which guarantees a flow of taxpayer dollars to private insurances whose executives make millions, while private insurance costs have continued to rise. But shouldn't Obama be proud of expanding Medicaid, one of the worse insurances, which many doctors reject and for which patients have to humiliate themselves to get by proving they're poor?
Obama's idea of minimum wage was $10.10. Try living on $21 K for full time work.
Obama expanded secret surveillance under the NSA, and then only reduced it when Snowden revealed how all intrusive it was. He expanded drone strikes with their "collateral damage."
We don't need more of Obama.
4
@Steve C
Then you will certainly get more of Trump.
@Remember in November
Obama gave us Trump. Voters turned to him after the catastrophe that was W Bush. 8 years of Obama (with 2 years of Democratic control of both houses of Congress) left the working class decimated. In desperation, the working class of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania turned to the only candidate who paid attention to them, Trump. The working class has or will figure out that Trump doesn't care about them. Having tried Obama and Trump and being abandoned by both, do you really think the working class will listen to a centrist, corporate Democrat like Obama again?
If you want leadership in the Democratic Party that the typical working person can relate to, stay away from the "centrist," corporate Democratic servants of big money, like Obama, the Clintons, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer. Then Democrats will win elections.
President Obama really first came back last weekend when he beautifully eulogized Senator McCain. That was decidedly nonpartisan, but a reminder of what respect looks like. President Obama reflected back kindly and admirably on who John McCain - his onetime competitor - was as a person, and what he accomplished. If Obama can appreciate and articulate what was good about a person who was a former rival, and an icon of the other party, why should Trump get away with trashing anyone who doesn't toe the line? Pettiness, vindictiveness, hate and lies are not acceptable from leaders (or, really from anyone).
Even before he began campaigning for Democrats this year, taking on Trump personally, or defending his legacy from being stolen, President Obama demonstrated to us what responsible leadership looks like.
5
Most Americans are starving for what Obama epitomizes so well and is what is so desperately needed in our politics—dignity, sincerity, honesty, capability, intelligence, common sense, empathy, compassion, rectitude, morality, open-mindedness, accepting of differences, competence, educated, curiosity, decency, and humor.
5
Welcome back to the fight, Mr. President.
1
It is such a welcome relief to hear the dulcet tones of Obama after the cats-fighting-in-a-barrel noise of Trump. Hopefully he does not tire of the good fight as this horrid Trump disaster begins to unwind.
1
So happy to see and hear President Obama again, like a breath of fresh air wafting through all the muck oozing out of the Oval Office for far too long.
Where is former Presidents Bush, Carter? If they want to unify the country against partisanship, against the dangerous and unhinged present occupant of the WH, now’s the time for them to stand up together. We need them to lead us out of this miasma.
5
President Obama was uniquely positioned to change the structure of Wall Street and "too big to fail" banks when he was first elected, after the financial crisis was played out. He avoided prosecuting the unearthed cabal of financial engineers for blatant fraud, folk who turned out to be plain-as-day white collar criminals. That's his legacy.
He could have spearheaded a move to mothball financial weapons of mass destruction [i.e. derivatives]. He could have unleashed his Attorney General upon the bankers who defrauded the world with opaque financial instruments created to make baskets of junk bonds look like AAA rated paper. He could have forged a solid consumer protection agency to make certain that future loans to the American citizenry weren't egregiousness and pernicious to these borrowers. He could have stopped Big Banks from having the ability to gamble with its depositors money, quashing their ability to proprietorially trade for themselves.
Obama gave Wall Street and the Big Banks a Bag Pass...and now, they're back to their old ways.
1
The media could do its part by drastically reducing its coverage of Trump and even stopping coverage of his “rallies”. But of course that won’t happen because the media needs Trump as much as he needs the media.
I was moved to tears to hear Obama’s voice again. A spark of hope which will allow our Republic to return to normal, if people VOTE.
1
It was a huge breath of fresh air to hear and see President Obama speak this week. As always his dignity, intelligence, humanity shown through and his words were inspirational and uplifting as he asked us to confront the issue and to think and vote to preserve our democracy. He reminded us of the ideals upon which this nation was founded which are being destroyed by the lunatic criminal in the White House and the rogues he enlisted to stock his administration.
It was literally comforting to see a real president speak to us and frankly the people of the world to alert them to the fact that the United States is not yet totally lost and that most of us want us to be the beacon in the darkness that we were for two centuries.
Go for it he already elected President Trump once ,now going strong for a second time ,wonderful ,all for it!
1
After nearly 20 months of a presidential version of Romper Room, lo! and behold!, a real, genuine president descended, deus ex machina, from self-imposed exile and delivered a sledgehammer blow to Donald Trump and his own usurpation of the Oval Office.
Perhaps we ought to have seen this coming, given his moving eulogy for John McCain not ten days ago. I missed his wit, his charm, his eloquence, his deadly earnest seriousness about events. He held the presidency for eight years; I began to wonder, during his silence, if he wasn't being deliberately courteous to a man he knew loathed him from the bottom of his soul.
His welcoming of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House shortly after his surprise triumph over Hillary Clinton had to be one of the most bitter pills he's had to swallow during his presidency. Yet, mature adult that he is, he sat with Trump and gave him the once-over, and, behind closed doors, gave him some sound advice.
That advice has gone largely ignored or forgotten, but given Trump's pre-school attention span, one should not wonder at it. Some pundits have opined that Mr. Obama has much on the line in these mid-terms; I think not. All he can do is to point out the obvious--not in terms of personality and judgment--but in the ideals of America which Trump and his legions have attempted to steadily erode. If folks need this wake-up call to contemplate the destruction of what they once knew and loved, then so be it.
Welcome back, Mr. President.
8
"Trump has never suspended his campaign."
This might be because he has no idea how to govern. Nor has he the slightest inclination to learn it. But, in his uniquely perverse, malevolent way he has mastered the darkest arts of campaigning.
Why would he even bother tackling the complex task of governance?
2
President Obama is incentivizing us to put our collective feet down with Trump by voting this November. He is reminding us what leadership can look like, and it is far from the irresponsible governance of Trump and a Republican Congress.
On Friday, President Obama called out Congress for supporting the immoral, reckless conduct which they know better than to get behind. GOP members of the House and Senate are happy to pretend this is just business as usual, when in truth, the man in our highest office is taking us all to dark places.
It's time to right the ship. We need Democratic legislative majorities to counter the weight of a White House currently taking us away from where we should be.
Let's hope that Obama brings out more votes against Trump than for him.
The most important aspect of his speach is that he is laying the blame for Trump squarely on the GOP and FOX.
Obama is finally asking the question (and giving the answer): How hard is it to say Trump is bad?
1
Best Smile Ever! I keep a photo on my computer desktop of Obama holding the sled dog puppy that was taken when he visited Alaska. Obama is more like the rest of us than Trump will ever be. Trump is no where near the caliber of Obama and I'm sure he (Trump) knows it. Thank you Barack Obama for stepping out in support of civility and reason. Thank you for supporting democratic candidates in the upcoming mid term election.
I disagree with those here that say Obama will just rile up Trump's base. What other prominent Democrat is stepping up right now? Let's not cower in fear over Trump's base. If anything, the contrast of Obama to Trump amplifies just how off the rails crazy Trump is.
6
Trump's "stranglehold on the news" has mostly been perpetuated by the press and columnists like yourself that can't talk about anything else. Trump is the ultimate entertainer and the press has bowed at his feet ever since he started campaigning.
1
Mrs. Obama, we need you on the trail too. You’re an inspiration to all women!
8
This was an interesting article, but interesting only for what's read between the lines: The idea of Trump dominating the news, that he has a stranglehold on the news. The idea of Presidents once leaving office not criticizing sitting Presidents and so on.
So much for freedom of thought in the U.S. Apparently a President can acquire a stranglehold on the news. Apparently a President once leaving office must hold his tongue with respect to sitting Presidents. Makes you ask just what freedom of thought and opinion the average citizen has. Obviously little, very little. Very little thought and effect.
Why would a President, not necessarily Trump, be able to acquire a stranglehold on the news? Aren't there thousands of brilliant minds in the nation, with different views, who should be able to be reported by the news on any given day? Why exactly should former Presidents not have any number of things to say about sitting Presidents?
Reading between the lines shows just how controlled our lives are every day. Even former Presidents are curbed in thought and action. The average citizen is apparently without hope for true freedom of speech and action except that silly concept the vote. No wonder the nation is devoid of great thinkers, writers, intellectuals jostling in the public sphere. How brutally curbed and political a U.S. in speech and action where all we really get is the likes of Trump or Obama or the next President. What an intellectual wasteland.
We need President Obama to come back to the arena and bring back sanity in our discourse. He is welcomed by more Americans than you would think. Only he can help win more Democratic seats and get us rid of the GOP and the monster at its helm. Go Dems, Resist, Persist, don't boo and vote. When they go low, we go high!
I'm so glad President Obama is back in full force! At the beginning of Trump's term I understood his silence, but lately I was wondering why he was so quiet, while 45 tried to destroy his legacy. Watching Obama speak, it's really obvious how much more intelligent, knowledgeable, diplomatic, elegant - and handsome - he is than Trump!
I keep reading that Democrats need to fashion themselves into some kind of quasi-Republican, but nicer-than-Trump version of a political party in order to win over the Trump voters. The theory is that if Democrats become more like Republicans, but not as crazy and off the rails as Trump is, then the Trump voters will somehow recognize the difference and come on over to the Blue side. A ridiculous and impossible scenario. Trump fans are in for the long haul. They will go down with the ship, sputtering and gasping to the end, and even after the end. Obama's reappearance serves to reinforce the Democrats' knowledge that they are right. Obama's articulate, calm and reasonable arguments are the exact counterpoint to Trump's blustering and lies that the Blue Party needs to remind it of all that's been lost in our civic life and our political fortunes. We need Obama to remind us that one thing about Trump is right: America can be great again--and that greatness will begin when Trump is no longer president.
1
@Ms. Pea
Isn't it a rule that the Morlocks have to return underground at daylight? Vote in November and then we'll begin to bring the sunlight back. It will take a while, but we'll be able to clean up the trash.
1
Mr. Obama was a blip of intelligence and humanity in the office of the Presidency of this country. The pendulum has swung back far to the right. I am hoping it swings back again, at least to the middle before it is too late.
Mr. Blow, let us pause and remember Senator John McCain who invited former President Obama to give a eulogy on the occasion of the memorial service held on his behalf. Our country is in possession of some honorable and true Americans.
These last two years we have gone from the Sublime to the Slime, and if I was incredulous when watching The Republican Party place every conceivable obstacle in the path of a president in his endeavors to redress our nation in 2008, by the time Trump was elected, all one could hope was that he wouldn't make a hash of it, but the outcome has turned out to be far worse than expected.
At the end of his term when President Obama waved to the Press with his parting words of 'Good Luck!', I thought this was unkind if wry, and that we were in for a run time of it. Some of us may never let the Iron President leave us in the swamp again, and will fight tooth and nail to have his guidance in the coming years.
It is with relief to join some other Americans in telling Mr. Obama that he has never been far from our soul and belief in our Constitution. He looks better than ever, as good as it gets, and we are ready to answer his call for courage and conviction, beginning with a genuine greeting of 'Welcome Back!'.
1
Obama certainly argued that Trump lacked the temperament and judgment to be President. That Trump was unfit to be President.And Trump has exceeded Obama’s worst expectations.Obama may be the one voice (along with Michelle) who can save America from Trump and his blindly loyal base. It is time for the majority of Americans to take back their country. BY VOTING.
4
I read that Republicans are 'licking their chops' at the thought of Obama vs. Trump thinking that Obama's voice will energize their base. Here's a reminder for those who think that Trump's inane screeds measure up to Obama's eloquence in addressing the nation's troubles....Trump is the choice of a minority of voters and in fact of 0.02% of the vote in 3 well-grerrymandered voter suppressed states.
By contrast, Obama was the popularly elected two term president whose policies saved the capitalist system while bringing millions of Americans healthcare that they'd never been able to afford before.
Mr. Trump will forever be the minority choice and he'll never have the kind of adulation of his fellow citizens that other presidents have enjoyed. He will be recalled as a pathological liar whose promise of healthcare for all and great infrastructure was never sincere and his greedy, self-enriching tax cuts for himself and his very rich pals was his primary preoccupation rather than the prosperity for the 'forgotten man' he promised.
The forgotten man and his children will be paying for those tax cuts for generations to come.
4
Finally, an adult steps on to the stage!
This is better than most people think.
With Obama's narcissistic return to the news every day, the hopes of the Democrats for gains in the midterm elections will be reduced to ashes.
It is easy for folks to forget that Obama's statist and collectivist policies, and the overreach and abuses of power by his administration are major contributing factors in Trump's election.
Further (and, clearly...) the media cannot cease theirsycophantic, boot-licking coverage of Obama without appearing to waver in their support for him.
His colossal ego, and their sycophancy, will smother other people actually in the running for office in the fall, creating a classic own-goal situation.
As one hoping for a continuation of the 10 year trend of Progressives being routed from office and replaced with people who respect federalism and individual rights, I couldn't ask for much more - other than an investigation of the Clinton Foundation's ties to foreign financial political influence.
3
@Objectivist
Benghazi! Benghazi!
@Remember in November
14 Sep 2012 Press Secretary Patrick Carney:
"... don’t have and did not have concrete evidence to suggest that this was not in reaction to the film. ”
11 Sep 2012 Hillary Clinton email to Chelsea Clinton:
"“Two of our officers were killed in Benghazi by an al Qaeda-like group: The Ambassador, whom I handpicked and a young communications officer"
That email was not discovered until 2015, and by the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Until then the Obama liars club was resisting any efforts to paint the attack and murders as anything linked to terrorism.
So, grow up.
Race was clearly the major factor in Trump's victory. Millions of Americans could not accept the fact that America had finally elected a Black President. I cried the night he won because I never believed I would live long enough to witness the event. Others seethed, and, I believe, secretly vowed to never let it happen again.
I don't know if Obama's return to the political scene will help. While he will encourage minority Americans to vote (essential if we are to stop Trump), he will also reinvigorate the racist opposition. We live in a racist, irrational and hateful time. The one thing I do know is that Obama is the ultimate personification of harmony, sanity and love.
5
@Disillusioned. The racists have been invigorated since trump descended the escalator. Democrats can’t sit around worrying whether Obama or Clinton or any other liberal/progressive will make the racists come out of their holes to vote. We have to fight for our country, not worry or be fearful of what the other side will say or do.
It is a sad state of affairs when we devolve as a political system to dueling cults of personality.
2
How can anyone with any kind of conscouis not vote in November? I think a great deal of the polling under counts communities of color. In communities of color the distaste for Trump and company is viseral. Obama is needed to tell people to channel that anger at Trump into something positive. Vote. The constant drumbeat of Trump's lack of character has become numbing. Is there anything that can be said about Trump today that will shock anyone? In November the race is not about Right or Left but about Good vs Evil and I Am not being pollyanna. Do we want thugs running our country or do we want statesman? People should realize the solution is Voting.
I likewise welcome Obama's new found voice but in office he absolutely continued campaign style rallies instead of trying harder to work more directly with lawmakers.
I'm not optimistic about the current apparent Democratic front runners i.e.. Corey, Bernie and Elizabeth.
They are all clowns of one description or another.
The idea that among the presidential portraits in the WH, the one of the trump will hand not just among the likes of Jefferson and Lincoln but next to President Obama. The thought is nauseating.
15
@PhiloI wouldn’t mind as long as it’s postage stamp size. :-)
3
Trump is 180 degrees from Obama when it comes to everything. Now, more than ever, let us hope that President Obama can encourage Americans to vote. This is the message that the Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, rightfully, is striving for with her
initiative, whenweallvote.org.
Please, to the 40%+ of Americans who didn't vote in 2016, now is the time.
4
Welcome Back, Kotter! Welcome back, Barack Obama! Though you said that "Trump is a symptom, not the cause" of our Democracy's downfall, it's clear that his stranglehold on "the Fake Media" and "the rigged witch hunt" will continue apace through the Mid-Terms and beyond. Trump's base of ignorant loyalists will continue to believe whatever their leader utters in Tweets, in his huge 2020 rallies (MAGA AGAIN!) in States where his support is stronger than it was before 2016.
President Obama has finally stepped up to the bat, in his speeches in Urbana, Illinois and Anaheim, California, and we are waiting for him to hit another one out of the park. He reminded us that he was kicked out of the park (Disneyland -- "The Magic Kingdom")) when he was 17 years old!
Obama's belated appearance after long silence, is like the burning bush in Exodus 3:1-6 on Mt. Horeb. A voice in the wilderness came to us in the midst of the blazing fire, and the bush (read Democracy) was not consumed. A reminder that even though American democracy is burning under our 45th President, it will outlive this president. We look forward to President Obama continuing to inspire his followers to vote and vote and vote in two months. Thanks, Charles Blow for your enthusiasm re Obama loosening the Trump stranglehold on the press. We are looking forward to further disruptions and eruptions in the news from President Obama.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Our country needs the voice of decency now more than ever.
5
I will never forget the look on Mrs. Michele Obama's face while standing outside of the White House waiting to welcome Trump and his wife as is the custom on the day a peaceful transfer of power occurs under our constitution. I saw a woman who knew exactly which way the wind was blowing, knew exactly what Trump had put President Obama and our nation through in terms of his birther lies, his racism and bigotry, and a woman who knew exactly what we were in for under a Trump administration.
Mrs. Obama was ever the dignified welcoming First Lady on that day but her face before her guests arrived told a story for the ages.
4
A consummate leader, President Obama stepped out of the limelight to allow a new President to establish his administration. Now that there is absolutely no question that this administration is as toxic as it is incompetent, Obama has--wisely, as ever--decided to return to the proverbial fray. He sees and understands better than most the consequences of Trump's failed and foolish policies: the decline not just of the office of Presidency, but the decline of a country that truly is too big to fail. If we do not set the standard for fairness and decency and protect the ultimate ideal of freedom, we not only disappoint the world, we endanger the world. Obama's return defines a moment of moral urgency. America is out of credibility now. It is a global embarrassment now. It is at any given moment militarily precarious. It is more than socially divided--it is socially confused and floundering. President Obama can stand, as President Carter did before him, upon the world stage and perhaps do, as Carter did, more in his post-Presidency than while serving. He can articulate our collective call to action. He can inspire through words as no other politician of our time can. He is back because he is needed, and, unlike our current President, Barack Obama truly does put his country first. The great question of the moment is simply this: will we listen?
9
Indeed: Welcome back Mr. Obama! Our country needs you and your voice now more than ever. You have shown the ability to mobilize a massive grass roots movement. You have shown the courage to speak out for and fight for what is good and right and decent. You remind us that WE MUST VOTE! OUR VOICES COUNT! It is up to US to both save and SERVE our democracy. It is so good to know that you have not left our side and are still willing to be our voice. I pray that, this time, more Americans will role up their sleeves and join you in doing the WORK. Thank you!
5
Though Obama is entitled to his opinions, would prefer if he stayed out of politics. In my opinion, the loss of Congress two years into his Presidency and election of a Republican President speaks for itself regarding what the electorate thought of his performance as President.
No particular fan of Trump here, but he's done far more on the both the economic and foreign affair front than Obama did not come close to doing.
Put aside your personal dislike of Trump and look at performance of the President. You don't have to agree with all of his policies or his agenda neither.
I'm employed and so are my sons. We aren't in a war and the economic indicators are doing just fine.
Mr. Obama, thanks for your service but we have moved on - for better or worse.
7
@Steve We are in a far, far worse place, Steve. You and your sons are benefitting from an economic recovery that started under Obama after the GOP and its lax oversight of Wall St. et al brought the world economy to the brink of collapse. Read your history closely. Then examine Trump’s character, if you can even call it that. Then join us on the right side of history, restoring our country to sanity and dignity. Strength flows from that. I wish you could speak with my two late uncles who fought in WWII. These fine, brave men and their fallen comrades are rolling in their graves, I’m certain.
8
@Steve"Put aside your personal dislike of Trump and look at performance of the President. You don't have to agree with all of his policies or his agenda neither. "
Wish if Republicans had done the same.
@Steve "I'm employed and so are my sons. We aren't in a war and the economic indicators are doing just fine."
Steve, we've been at war with Afghanistan for 17 years and counting.
1
When I was a kid so long ago, my late mother used to say that an educated person did not need profanity or put downs in order to make his or her argument convincing. She also used to say we ought to emulate educated people and ensure we were educated ourselves as ultimately that would define how others saw and related to us. Last week’s speech by former President Obama brought that message vividly to mind. I imagine that many parents today give their kids the same message. Unfortunately, all their good intentions are washed away by the example emanating from the current White House occupant who is unable to say anything without resorting to profanity, put downs or mockery of others.
What former President Obama’s speech last week did for me was not only that it broke Trump’s chokehold on the news as Mr. Blow argues but that it put the spotlight (if any reminders were needed) on the fact Trump is not an educated person. And in doing so it reminded me why I dislike Trump even if some of his policies may ultimately benefit us all. His lack of education (in the broadest sense of the word) makes him unfit to lead the country. And this should be a lesson to all of us when selecting the next president: no, we do not need a buddy to have a beer with, or someone who makes us feel as friends; we need an educated person, one who can think of more than himself or herself, one who understand there is no need to put down others to makes us feel better about ourselves.
37
When I heard that he said that, I thought that he was just being kind and didn't want people to say that he was a bad sport because HRC didn't win. A current president doesn't trash an incoming president and all that. President Obama was always gracious and polite and treated Trump kindly when he was at the WH. Little did he suspect that Trump would turn on him so quickly, start blaming Obama for nefarious deeds, and undermining his legacy. Now Obama is back and telling the truth about Trump. It is so great to hear him speak!
21
Charles may be happy that Obama is back, but be careful. During his presidency Democrats lost Congress, Senate, Presidency, governorships and legislators. I am a person who voted for him in the first term, but not in the second term because after watching him for years he has turned out not inspirational anymore. He has been simply repeating the same old liberal policy prescriptions that are good to hear, but actually not good to America. So, it may not be that good for Democrats if he is in the news always.
5
Let me bottom line it, what history has taught us imo. Some great leaders followed these rules including Lincoln, as he taught us you can't escape history.
1-Anytime you get a progressive step in this country like electing Obama, backlash always comes.
2-He limited the backlash (he was elected twice) by going for progressive issues that the country could rally for ie ACA, it gradually became more popular and up to now is bullet proof despite republican efforts to kill it.
3-He did not go for over the top progressive things that the country was not ready for like total equality of gays, transgendered people etc., just basic equal rights for them.
4-While you cannot predict history, if Obama could have run for a third term or a blue dog democrat was nominated, they would have stood a better chance of not giving us Trump.
5-Hillary indirectly handed us Trump on a platter, running an east coast liberal, identity obsessed, social engineering candidacy that nobody was interested in except big liberal states.
6
@Paul Hillary did not give us Trump, we gave ourselves Trump. Hillary had the resume like no other - and the only reason she lost is because she is a woman --not the emails, or Behngazi, or Vince Foster, etc. We are a culture of patriarchial mysogonsts that punished Hillary for no other reason than showing 1% of the confidence presently being displayed by our moron in chief.
"Well, we now know that Trump’s policies and rhetoric are exactly those of the campaign."
You cannot possibly confound policy and rhetoric here, as Charles Blow is doing.
Yes, contrary to Obama, Trump didn't switch to presidential rather than campaigning rhetoric once he was inaugurated. And it's exactly what allows him to keep high approval ratings, because if you do, your base sticks with you - and if you don't, you need a highly informed and politically literate base (and media) to still support you as president, which Obama never had.
His point, however, was to say that it's impossible that such extremist and unrealistic rhetoric somehow would translate into real policies.
And he was perfectly right about that.
There is no wall, Trump didn't succeed to obtain money from Mexico, he didn't pull out of NAFTA or NATO, he didn't deport 11 million illegal aliens, he didn't repeal and replace Obamacare, he didn't install tariffs on hundreds of billions of imported goods (only $50 billion, and that is already producing a disastrous effect for Americans - but still limited to certain states).
So everything that distinguished him from the other GOP primary candidates has NOT been done at all.
He even didn't sign any major piece of legislation into law yet (except for the deficit-doubling tax cut for the wealthiest). He simply appoints GOP favorites on the SC and his cabinet, and that's it.
We should stop claiming that Trump keeps his promises when he DOESN'T AT ALL ... !
3
@Ana Luisa
Trump didn't succeed to obtain money from Mexico, he didn't pull out of NAFTA or NATO, he didn't deport 11 million illegal aliens, he didn't repeal and replace Obamacare, he didn't install tariffs on hundreds of billions of imported goods (only $50 billion, and that is already producing a disastrous effect for Americans - but still limited to certain states"
Not yet! And he is trying to do those things EVERY DAY.
@Ana Luisa
Are you pleased with the Supreme Court nominations/installations, to say nothing of the lower federal courts?
I realize that many love Obama. I myself voted for him twice, although I grew disenchanted with him over several issues, including his attack on teachers unions (personal for me as I'm a teacher).
But though his normal behavior stands in contrast with Trump's I really object to his speaking against the duly elected president. This is unprecedented, at least in my own memory. Imagine if Bush started speaking out against Hilary--would Mr. Blow have a delighted article celebrating this as "loosening her stranglehold on the news"?
Obviously Obama has freedom of speech and is entitled to say what he wants. I just think it's extremely divisive and in poor taste. He's not our monarch. He had two terms. Just because he speaks in a classy way (compared to Trump) doesn't mean what he actually says is classy. It's not.
4
Seriously? You’re bringing up class and divisiveness? After we’ve endured almost 2 years of Trump? At any rate, I didn’t view Obama’s speech that way AT ALL. I’m glad he finally showed up and spoke for the majority of this country.
12
President Obama’s legacy will live on forever his eloquence and intelligence, and so much more . How blessed America was to have him as our president.
I actually feel pain when I think of what we have now as a president , it’s surreal this whole thing of Trump .
32
@T Hankins: just remember...HALF OF US felt exactly the opposite....that we were very unlucky to have had Obama, and much happier to have Trump.
2
@T Hankins just thinking:
In what this president is good? Reality magnate who inherited wealth from his family. Renting houses high priced for others makes no hard job,only making money for nothing job. Have some low degree in economics in some who knows where that school is? Is laughable.
His loonies follow no one who can solve their problems . let fall all of his problems to them. They deserve that.
"core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it’s necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I’ll examine it when it comes.”
If the Republican-dominated Congress had defended those core values and ideals as they Constitution demanded, Obama wouldn't have felt the need to "break the genteel tradition."
So welcome back, Mr President. I look forward to seeing more of you on the news than this petty, amoral president.
22
Speaking of his “filing for re-election in 2020,” who is picking up the tab for all of his obvious campaign stops around the country?
If we citizens are paying for Air Force One, someone should be checking that everyone is allowed into those rallies and not thrown out for wearing a “Resist” tee shirt for instance. Who pays for security? Secret Service or an outside group (and who is paying them).
Ethical this man ain’t.
30
Seeing President Obama on television felt like a lifeboat had finally arrived to rescue me from a sinking ship. He reminds us what a true American President is. Unfortunately, his eloquent words will fall on the deaf ears of Trump supporters who cannot see past the color of his skin to evaluate the substance of his message. They are a lost cause. So we must hope that Mr. Obama can inspire voters who would otherwise sit out a midterm election to show up and vote as if the country depended on it. It does. Even with polls that show races that lean Democratic, victory is far from certain because Republicans vote in midterms in greater numbers than Democrats. Everyone Must Vote!
33
@Rick C.
The U.S. would not be in the awful fix it is now - not just with Trumpism but also with Big Banking still the predator at the economic door and international policy askew. The reality is that the Dems overplayed and jumped the shark in 2008. Anyone with a shred of common sense understands Clinton ought have been the nominee and then prez, with the underachieving IL junior senator her veep running mate so he could gain much-needed experience beyond community organizer in a southside Chicago neighborhood of housing projects. Just as the GOP blew up the country in 2000, when McCain ought have been the nominee and prez (with or without Lieberman). My how much better the U.S. and world would be today and over each of those 18 years in the rear view mirror.
Nothing could be better for the Republicans than for Obama to start coming out and giving lectures, crowing about a booming economy he had nothing to do with, like a rooster taking credit for the sunrise. Give the American people a reminder just why they rejected Obama by giving Trump the victory.
So yes, Obama's back and his timing couldn't be better for Republicans.
3
@jaco
I didn't realize that Obama faced Trump in the last Presidential election. As to the economy, anyone with a modicum of economic education knows the economic indicators of policy run behind about 18 months. And the economic growth we are now experiencing started 96 months ago under Obama. Yes, it began 8 years ago! Please check your facts, or risk being called a liar.
"He's altering the diet.. people consume": Examine a speech, any speech given by Obama. Now parse the words of Trump at one of his rallies. The former gives us real sustenance, food for thought and discussion. The latter is air bubbles.
14
@Boomer
Air bubbles? More like the gas that comes from the body's lower region. And people are lighting a match to it....
1
Trump has tried, and in many places succeeded, in redefining patriotism and the promise of America from a transactional "us versus them" perspective (e.g., white vs black, US vs Canada). President Obama shines light on our better angels and gives voice to choices about our fundamental being. Thanks again!
24
Just seeing Obama on television, hearing his words, or reading about him and Michelle in the newspaper gives me hope. I feel as if I am in the middle of an ice-cold Siberian winter without heat in my hut. The Trump and GOP winds are howling as the snow pours down. I sometimes question whether any of us will survive the Trump Administration totally supported by a GOP Congress, judiciary and a compliant media. I am just going to keep listening to Barack and hope that the Democratic and Independent bases rise up and vote in their own best interests in November. That truly is the only hope that the Siberian Winter will every start to thaw into Spring.
28
Now if Trump was smart, which he is not, he would remain silent on President Obama's critique of his Presidency. Presently, the democratic party is energized, believe me they are energized, but, a few incautious remarks from Trump leveled at Obama, would send the democratic base---which is far larger than Trump's---into a supercharged state. And we all know, that Trump, is quite capable of making an off-hand comment that would be interpreted as a racial slur or, remember I'm talking about Trump, and attack on one or more of President Obama's family members---
19
Obama's message was just as important as his presence -- get out there and VOTE! He did impugn the President, but the main point of his speeches has been that Americans cannot be complacent, and they cannot wait for the perfect candidate. They have to get off their phone and their couch and vote.
He's out there in California to promote the current candidates, not to glorify himself. I think that like all of us, he is asking, "what can I do to affect the 2018 election the most, to stop the 'carnage' Trump has wrecked on us?"
38
On the night Barack Obama was elected in 2008, I went to my front porch and yelled as loud as I could: "We have been redeemed." I honestly felt that the world had been shifted a little on its axis and that, for the first time in my memory, all of us were just a little more human. I was a little frustrated and disappointed that President Obama wasn't always bold in places like Syria but he did get health care done despite monumental opposition and he never waivered from taking the high road even in the face of intense, unrelenting push back. This is you, Mitch McConnell. Now we have his successor to remind us how far we have fallen as a nation and how difficult it will be to recover what is left of our integrity. However, in my worst moments, I reflect upon our ability to elect a man like Barack Obama who was, is and will always be "my president."
56
It's obvious that Trump has no counter argument to what President Obama said on Friday, because if he did, Donald would have made it. When Trump was asked about Obama's speech, Trump shrugged that he slept through it and snidely added that Obama is a good sedative. So that's going to be Trump's default - he will try absolving himself of addressing Obama's points by pretending he didn't hear them. What does that say about Trump himself? He only strengthens Obama's case against him.
17
I suppose it's a good thing if Obama grabs some media space, and he is right that Trump is the symptom, not the cause.
But . . . while Obama is a thoughtful, well-spoken man, he never did a thing to boost his party. He seemed to want nothing more than approval from the Republicans, which never came.
And for him to suggest even back then that Trump would settle down when he took office was ludicrous. Any reasonable judge of character could see that wouldn't happen. Obama the reasonable guy didn't do us any favors.
9
President Obama’s prescient knowledge, back in November of ’16, that he would likely have to defend our ideals from Trump is a sad reminder that many of us knew that Trump would be very bad, indeed. But none of us knew just how bad it could get.
It was truly refreshing to have a brief respite and a reminder of what it is to be presidential. But President Obama’s speech was but a finger in the dike against the tsunami of negativism that is Trump. I hope he decides to be present as an ongoing defender of our ideals until this abomination of an administration is no more. Better yet, isn’t it about time that all the former presidents join President Obama in speaking out against these constant assaults on the very essence of our democracy and constitutional rights? As President Obama and many others have said, “This is not normal.” May all of our leaders come to our defense as President Obama has.
15
@SC
Many of us knew that Trump's election was a national emergency and are not surprised by any of this.
Its been such a relief to not only hear the calm, sane, thoughtful and clear voice of “no drama Obama,” but to get some relief from the daily onslaught of bullying, dysfunction and propaganda from the current “president” (small p and quotes are purposeful), President Obama was a leader for all of America whether some wanted him to be or not, and he continues to remind us that we, the voters, have to lower and duty to stand up to this travesty that has been thrust upon us.
45
The President can fly off to Pondunk USA twice a week where a ravenous crowd of thousands will listen to him speak off script. Whereas the former President schedules a scripted lecture before an an elite audience at a college.
Quite a contrast. Nobody will remember what President Obama said in six weeks.
7
@hawk
"Nobody will remember what President Obama said in six weeks." Maybe not, but they will remember being refreshed by being exposed to honor and integrity--forgotten and disdained concepts in today's White House. Maybe we should call it a Grey House these days.
Frankly, we can't remember what trump says from hour to hour, and neither can he. The lies pour forth with vigor and ever-changing details. He knew, he didn't know, he knew later... take your pick--but write it down--Rudy will be out with a new variation before dinner. What a piece of work Rudy is--he gives lawyers a bad name--even worse than the one they had before. Motto for the trump administration: Truth is not the truth.
5
Mr. Obama can, at the very least, pronounce “anonymous.”
Only if everyone has the same attitude as you do, only if everyone is brain dead as to what is actually happening to our democracy.
This is not a good thing. In the face of Trumpist intransigence and know-nothingness, the Democrats need to transform themselves into the opposite, while building a platform and a base that is attractive to the millions who voted for Trump solely because he was not-Clinton and not-Obama. Returning to the Democrats' failed 2016 strategy is not going to convince those who turned against the Democratic party then to now turn back.
11
Hearing President Barack Obama speaking yesterday – he was such a pleasure to listen to, a balm to the soul and intellect when contrasted with the incubus that currently passes as a President. It is not just the civility of his demeanour and the eruditeness of his dialogue, but he comes across as so approachable and caring – which we all know he is; he proved so in the years he held the office. Maybe it is time to reconsider the 22nd amendment.
17
Obama said he’d be back if the situation warranted it. What a fine thing to listen to the voice of reason again!
12
@GEORGE...if only it were possible. He wasn't perfect, but at least we were dealing with someone genuine, someone humane, someone with the right intentions, someone MORAL, someone respectful of his wife and family, someone who didn't look you in the face and lie, someone who looked you in the face and spoke to you, not tweet behind your back, someone who respected the press even when they pressed him. Is this too much to ask for?
Obama certainly had my vote. He's a fantastic human being and had undeniable accomplishments. Unfortunately his presidency will be remembered mostly for one thing - that he did not prevent the Coup de Trump.
10
@Democrat
Obama will be remembered for not fixing the predatory, voracious financial industry when he had the chance. Instead, he further fed the beast and its feral litters.
1
Welcome back, Mr. President! Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you (with apologies to Mrs. Robinson).
27
@Jackie ShipleyI ...I hear your comment loud and clear...and Mrs Robinson doesn't mind at all.
I consider President Trump, Obama's greatest accomplishment, that said,"Obama, stumping for Democrats, warns, ‘If we don’t step up, things can get worse’" Worse than: - 3.9% unemployment - Record-low unemployment in the black & Latino community - 400,000 new manufacturing jobs - 4.2% GDP growth How much worse could it get?
9
@Harif2
What worse? Lets see.
If current president cant tell clearly who is bad after charloteville than he only maximaze your domestic problems,racial etc. America is the worst. 40 000 killings a year or people die not because of normal state? And president is not making clear message. You can let your economy for yourself after all you cant live until the very end.
Nice smile from other states outside the usa. America first right? What em i telling there are no other states ,there is only usa.
Yeah, Obama's back, at $400,000 per paid speech to bankers and industrialists. No wonder he went soft on Wall Street post-Great Recession.
Bringing back Obama is preaching to the choir. Where are the Democrats of the future? The democrats, not the Rockefeller Republicans we've had posing as "Democrats" for the last 40 years.
11
@Rocky
You are mistaken! I believe it was 500K for the single speech, not 400 as you wrote. Otherwise I completely agree with you. Enough of the Obama worship. It completely went to his head when he was elected, and we all paid for it. He was not Gandhi, by a long shot, and the push back from his hubris, along with some good old boy American racism, divided the country even more.
3
What is Mr. Trump's failing? He's a poor salesman for his own programs. He likes to speak to his usual base because they're already convinced, he likes preaching to the converted--they love him. He is much less interested in, less good at, persuading the unconvinced, the doubters. This is strange, because by nature, at heart, he's a great salesman, but put him on a podium and he can't give a clear, reasoned argument for why you should support him--he trails off in bluster, insults, jokes, repetition. His real issue is the economy, he has the right instincts; free the economy from regulation, lower taxes, foster growth, require self-responsibility, discourage dependence on government. He's doing these things, the voters actually want what he's trying to do, but he isn't selling it effectively. His opponents are running a campaign of pure emotion, not issues. November will show whether the voters can see past the Democrats' attempts to stampede them by appeals to emotion and focus on the practical good sense of Mr. Trump's agenda, even if he's not very good at making his own case.
4
@Ronald B. Duke Sorry Mr Duke Trump is not a great salesman. He conned people into believing he that was on their side and that he would be a champion of those who felt left out because of NAFTA, GATT, social change, etc. But what did he do when he got into office? He started trade wars, he didn't do anything about infrastructure, he bullied EU leaders, he was totally arrogant about NATO, and on and on as you know. When he peddled condos he took people's deposits and never gave them back when they didn't get built. That is a con man. Oh and you remember Trump U don't you? More con.
5
You aren’t paying attention if that’s all you think is happening with this man as president.
1
Vote. That was President Obama's call to action. Vote. Don't just tweet and seat. Vote. Don't just march. Vote. Don't just complain to an echo chamber, talk with people outside your span of interests. Oh yeah, and VOTE. President Obama could have used some votes in both of his administration's midterms. We would have had Merrick Garland if moderates, progressives and others had VOTED for Democrats in midterms. We would not have Trump if moderates, progressives and others had voted for Democrats instead of third parties. So, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.
23
Many of us will miss President Obama for a long time. He is a decent and moral man and had been an effective president. However, we have to be careful. He had fought his fight and had served us and the nation well. He can inspire today but someone MUST take up the torch. The Democratic party still need a standard bearer that can inspire the next generations. The fight has just been joined and won't be over at least until 2020.
15
It’s nice that Obama is engaged, however, what we really need is a citizenry that can realize its own power and can take on the responsibility to do much of the leading. This country will simply never be for the people until or unless it is of and by the people!
12
Obama is back primarily to get the disillusioned and dismayed amongst us to go out and vote for the Democrats, come November. Given the last two years under Trump, he knows that the country cannot survive another two with Trump running even more amuck while the Republican-controlled Congress continues to look the other way. Obama knows well that these mid-term polls have to end up with at least the House in Democratic control to finally have the check-and-balance that the founders envisioned in our system of governance. This is our last chance to save the country from irrecoverable dystopia.
14
"It was a departure from the genteel tradition of the presidents’ club in which the exes try not to personally criticize the current one......" Well "desperate times call for desperate measures". We are most definitely in desperate times, and I am so grateful that President Obama is breaking with tradition and speaking out against the most dangerous man ever to occupy the Oval Office. President Obama clearly perceives Trump to be a clear and present danger to our Republic, and is stepping up to the plate to take him on. Others now (at last) both anonymously and not so anonymously are coming forward to sound a warning about a man who is unfit to serve as president.
I have sorely missed President Obama. I have missed his intelligence, his dignity, his kindness, and his sanity. I have missed his wonderful smile.
16
I share Mr Blow's joy, relief and, most of all, his HOPE - because that 'hopey changey' thing is just what we need right now to rebuild after Trump's assault on our democracy, and on our decency.
13
Remember when we had a decent person as President?
I still do.
There are others out there, and we desperately need one to rid us of the current pretender.
11
Also, Obama is right to emphasize that the delusions and fear-mongering did not start with Trump; they are part of the Republican brand. Were Trump to leave office tomorrow, the sickness of which he is a symptom would retain its grip on his party.
18
As the gap between the rich and the rest becomes a canyon, marginalizing 'the rest' requires more and more extreme behaviors and deceit to keep the rich minority in power. And stumpy delivers...
Obama's eloquence gives a much needed boost to the values that help the rest of us maintain a voice consistent with our value and our values....
Let's hope the voters show the grace and intelligence to follow through.
14
Excellent points from Charles Blow. It will be a breath of fresh air, not HOT air, to listen to Mr. Obama points of view. There will be less print about Trump and his words of nonsense because newspapers will hopefully be filling columns with Obama's words that make sense.
The contrast between the two men couldn't be more glaring. No matter what one's politics might be, it's hard not to admit that Obama is a gentleman and a scholar. He endured eight years of the GOP's scorn and racist opposition while maintaining his dignity and integrity. In addition, he's had to listen to Trump mock him and claim that he wasn't a U.S. citizen. Through it all, he's maintained his cool. Contrast that with Trump's character and temperament.
Obama's presence and example will hopefully remind people as to the type of person the U.S. needs to lead the nation.
Since no Democrats have been willing to speak out against Trump for fear of repercussions and loss of Senate or House seats, we can only hope that the former president will keep up the good work.
7
@Bill Walsh - "I want to begin by talking about the elephant in the room...The President of the United States who nominated you is an unindicted co-conspirator implicated in some of the most serious wrongdoing that involves the legitimacy of his presidency." - Senator Richard Blumenthal to Brett Kavanaugh, confirmation hearings, 9/5/2018. Democrat Senator Blumenthal plainly spoke about Trump and his malfeasance. Were the news cycles not so relentlessly volcanic, this rebuke by Blumenthal in the US Senate would have received the attention it deserves.
It is so good to hear from Obama. A man of grace, dignity, and intelligence. A welcome break from the puerile president.
But it will be wall-to-wall Trump coverage again almost instantly, I fear. For example, we have this to look forward to: "Trump to Preside Over U.N. Security Council, Prompting Anxiety All Around", and of course the Kavanaugh confirmation (perjurers on the bench, alas).
10
Now we await statements from the other living former presidents.
A joint letter supporting our shared traditional values along with a firm rejection of our current
path would be appropriate and helpful at this critical moment.
23
@RjW
They pretty much had made a joint bipartisan statement at Senator McCain's memorial.