Rolling Stone Names President Obama ‘One of the Most Successful Presidents in American History’

[ghostsinthemachine]

President Obama graces the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone.

In the mag, Nobel Prize- winning economist Paul Krugman wrote an amazing piece in defense of President Obama’s presidency.

Mainstream media is often quick to point out President Obama’s perceived failures during his tenure, so it’s refreshing to see a publication highlight his many accomplishments — especially because President Obama’s approval rating is currently the lowest it’s ever been (according to CNBC).

Krugman declares President Obama as one of the “one of the most consequential and, yes, successful presidents in American history” and acknowledges the harsh and often unfair criticism he endures.

Obama faces trash talk left, right and center – literally – and doesn’t deserve it. Despite bitter opposition, despite having come close to self-inflicted disaster, Obama has emerged as one of the most consequential and, yes, successful presidents in American history. His health reform is imperfect but still a huge step forward – and it’s working better than anyone expected. Financial reform fell far short of what should have happened, but it’s much more effective than you’d think. Economic management has been half-crippled by Republican obstruction, but has nonetheless been much better than in other advanced countries. And environmental policy is starting to look like it could be a major legacy.

I’ll go through those achievements shortly. First, however, let’s take a moment to talk about the current wave of Obama-bashing. All Obama-bashing can be divided into three types. One, a constant of his time in office, is the onslaught from the right, which has never stopped portraying him as an Islamic atheist Marxist Kenyan. Nothing has changed on that front, and nothing will.

http://www.lovebscott.com/news/rolling-stone-names-president-obama-one-of-the-most-successful-presidents-in-american-history

[Iliyah]

1. K & R

[ismnotwasm]

2. This;

There’s a different story on the left, where you now find a significant number of critics decrying Obama as, to quote Cornel West, someone who ”posed as a progressive and turned out to be counterfeit.” They’re outraged that Wall Street hasn’t been punished, that income inequality remains so high, that ”neoliberal” economic policies are still in place. All of this seems to rest on the belief that if only Obama had put his eloquence behind a radical economic agenda, he could somehow have gotten that agenda past all the political barriers that have con- strained even his much more modest efforts. It’s hard to take such claims seriously.

[sheshe2]

5. Poor widdle Cornel West

had his fee fees hurt by the President. Lol~

[ismnotwasm]

7. Heh!

I tell my husband we are part of such a historic time in history with President Obama-it's incredible

[sheshe2]

11. Yes, it is historic!

I am so proud to be part of it, ism.

[George II]

19. I've re-watched the video of Grant Park at 11PM when CNN called the election for Obama...

....over and over again - get goosebumps every time.

He's been a historic President AND a great President.

[sheshe2]

22. You made me laugh and cry all over again.

Tears were for happiness.

I knew he was going to win, I knew it. Call me nuts...yet I knew it!

[irisblue]

37. got goose bumps from watching again.

[Politicub]

54. What a moment in time!

Goosebumps here, too!

[MADem]

15. He thought he'd get a key to the WH front door and a monogrammed

robe and towels in the Lincoln bedroom!

He thought so wrong!

[sheshe2]

20. HA!

Poor, poor baby. He and Tavis are quite the pair.

The only thing he will get is a key to the latrine!

[MADem]

30. Poor Tavis....yep, he was expecting a key, too! Didn't get one, and now

he probably, after nearly eight years, needs to change his name to Tavis Scowly, because he's been "Not Smiley" ever since POTUS got sworn in!

[sheshe2]

31. "Tavis Scowly"

He scowls....

The President...awesome!1

[C Moon]

35. That's hilarious!

[sheshe2]

36. Lol~

Thank you C Moon!

[fasttense]

44. Have you ever met Professor West?

Have you ever attended one of his lectures? If you had, you would realize how silly you come across when you denigrate that humble man.

He is the most loving, caring human beings I have ever had the privilege of meeting. His feelings were NOT hurt. He was, and still is, seriously disappointed that Obama has never addressed income inequality and Poverty in America. There is no hurt feelings, no hatred or ranting. He is simply haunted by the pain and suffering he sees in peoples eyes, in their children's eyes, every day of his life and he is at a loss for why others, especially those in power, ignore it.

You denigrate a very rare and loving person and you have no idea.

[ghostsinthemachine]

10. He was exactly who I thought he was....

I wasn't fooled by the made up delusions that he was an ultra liberal.

he is the only President of (good) consequence in my lifetime.

Too bad TTP can screw up that legacy, lickety split.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

29. That was well said.

Wish I were that articulate when faced with thatc complaint.

[spanone]

3. k&r... with the most resistance from both houses of congress

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. K&R

[sheshe2]

6. KnR!!!!!1

Thanks ghost~

[thesquanderer]

8. From October?? (n/t)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. This issue of RS is from last October.

Still, it's a good article.

[ghostsinthemachine]

49. Especially when you think how much more has happened

since the article was written. the Iran deal. Gay rights. The stopping of Putin in Ukraine via sanctions and Saudi Cooperation.

[olddots]

12. the repukian turd maggots hate him

he must be doing something right ....ha. ha. .for thw most part he has done great things in a country destroyed by ignorant greed .

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. kick

[Scurrilous]

14. Yep.

[passiveporcupine]

16. I think he is an amazing man

And whenever I see him on a program (like Tuesday on Jon Stewart), I can't help but smile. I am not fond of all his decisions, but overall, I think he's been a great POTUS and is one of the most amazing people I've ever seen in politics.

[Charles de Gaudless]

17. Well, duh!

I don't need RS to tell me that, and I suspect very few people here need to be told, either.

[Stellar]

18. Doesn't that cover say October 23, 2014?

I've seen it before.

[George II]

28. That makes it even more impressive...

...it was before his accomplishments of June/July this year!!!

[840high]

41. or tpp

[IHateTheGOP]

21. Best President in modern history. By far.

[StevieM]

23. How are you defining "modern history?" Because I'm a pretty big fan of FDR myself.

I don't think anyone can compare to him.

Of course, some people define modern history as beginning after World War II, in other words with Harry Truman.

[Number23]

24. Even though this is from October K&R. Everyone with a clue has known this for years

[ailsagirl]

26. It's true but it's sure nice to hear

I'm sure he's appreciative!!

[ailsagirl]

25. YES!!

Huge kudos to PBO!!

[raindaddy]

27. This is almost a year old...

Before Krugman actually familiarized himself with the TPP and changed his opinion about it...

Wouldn't disagree that the President has had some successes. The peace agreement with Iran might end up being his grand achievement especially having to deal with Bibi Netanyahu and the war mongering chicken hawk republicans.

But he's done almost nothing about the economic class war being waged on the poor and middle class. Lied about transparency, escalated the war in Afghanistan and the NSA was out of control, lying to congress about the extent of their spying on American citizens under his administration. He used the Espionage Act to prosecute more whistleblowers than all of the previous administrations combined while Wall Street skated... And the more I read about the, TPP it's a bad bill for the environment, consumers and labor.

I'm hoping his major success is being the last third way corporate, Wall Street friendly Democrat to become President of the United States... Making way for Bernie Sanders and a new era of Democratic Party populism...

[davidn3600]

32. He also turned us into a police/surveillance state

You can highlight his achievements, but he has done some bad things too in my opinion.

Not to mention TPP.

[840high]

39. shhh!

[Senator Tankerbell]

33. If he was allowed to run again

I would vote for him again. I think he has been a great President. I can't wait to see what he decides to do after he leaves the White House. He would be great as a Supreme Court justice.

[deaniac21]

34. Did they ever clear up their fraternity

rape story.

[Botany]

38. +1

n/t

[840high]

40. Isn't this a year old?

[Android3.14]

42. Thanks for nothing, ghostsintheTIMEmachine

What kind of BS is this to post a reference article rather than an original source of something that is almost a year old?

Total fail.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/in-defense-of-obama-20141008

[TBF]

43. Although ACA isn't perfect it is the step towards

universal coverage that we needed. Being supportive of gay marriage being legalized is also huge. And of course being the first AA president. He has done some other positive things, some not so positive, but those are the things that I think will assure his legacy. He will be remember as a good if not great president, detractors aside.

[ancianita]

45. Totally deserved. nt

[grahamhgreen]

46. Well, he did bring us the neocon dream of perpetual war

[Fred Sanders]

47. There is no danger of Obama's many amazing accomplishments being sullied by a few eternal pessimists.

[flamingdem]

48. my my how things change

no one decrying cheerleader obamabot anymore?

R We Right?

[Dr Hobbitstein]

50. He's our President?

I thought he sold used cars to Will Pitt.

[d_legendary1]

53. Hey! Cash for Clunkers was a successful program!

[Warren DeMontague]

51. I think history will agree.

[lewebley3]

52. Three cheers for Obama!

[malaise]

55. I agree

Rec