4 ms·

Just to be fair: Wasn't Obama a "blustering populist without a shred of actual policy experience", either? And, no business experience. Also, Trump's message

by jazzyk 9y ago

Just to be fair: Wasn't Obama a "blustering populist without a shred of actual policy experience", either? And, no business experience. Also, Trump's message (however controversial) was more concrete than "hope and change".

mjrpes 9y ago
That would be very unfair. Obama was Illinois senator for 3 terms, elected to US Senate in landslide, president of Harvard Law School, attorney, professor, liked by everyone who knew him, great listener, worked across the aisle, etc. So yes, almost stark opposites.
- ims 9y ago
  Just a quick correction, he was president of the Harvard Law Review - not the school.
- dexterdog 9y ago
  He was a STATE senator for ~2.5 terms. He was only elected to the US senate once. It was a landslide mostly because it's Illinois and also because he outspent his opponent $14m to $2.5m. He served half of that term most of which was spent running for president. Worked across the aisle? Have you ever read how his major legislation was passed? Sure the Republicans were basically obstructionists, but I've never heard him to be known as "working across the aisle."
cgmg 9y ago
Obama was a senator for 13 years before being elected president.
- jazzyk 9y ago
  10 years, to be precise: - IL Senator 1997–2004 - US Senator 2005-2008 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
  - cgmg 9y ago
    I stand corrected.
anthony_romeo 9y ago
I mean, he was a professor of constitutional law at one of the top law schools, a community organizer, a state senator, and a US senator. Also, Republicans in the 2008 election cast him as only having "hope and change," but his campaign website had detailed policy proposals, with like, tables and charts and stuff.
- smokeyj 9y ago
  Remember when Romney called Russia the greatest threat to U.S democracy and was made into a joke? I remember.
  - anthony_romeo 9y ago
    Yes.
yazan94 9y ago
> Wasn't Obama a "blustering populist without a shred of actual policy experience", either? And, no business experience. I think it is a stretch to say Obama didnt have a shred of policy experience[1]. Without trying to delve too much into politics here, but I would like to know how Trump's business experience is helping him. I haven't heard about too many terribly good decisions he has made in office regarding the economy. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Legislative_career https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Legislative_caree...

by jazzyk 9y ago

mjrpes 9y ago

That would be very unfair. Obama was Illinois senator for 3 terms, elected to US Senate in landslide, president of Harvard Law School, attorney, professor, liked by everyone who knew him, great listener, worked across the aisle, etc. So yes, almost stark opposites.

ims 9y ago
Just a quick correction, he was president of the Harvard Law Review - not the school.
dexterdog 9y ago
He was a STATE senator for ~2.5 terms. He was only elected to the US senate once. It was a landslide mostly because it's Illinois and also because he outspent his opponent $14m to $2.5m. He served half of that term most of which was spent running for president. Worked across the aisle? Have you ever read how his major legislation was passed? Sure the Republicans were basically obstructionists, but I've never heard him to be known as "working across the aisle."

cgmg 9y ago

Obama was a senator for 13 years before being elected president.

jazzyk 9y ago
10 years, to be precise: - IL Senator 1997–2004 - US Senator 2005-2008 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
- cgmg 9y ago
  I stand corrected.

anthony_romeo 9y ago

I mean, he was a professor of constitutional law at one of the top law schools, a community organizer, a state senator, and a US senator. Also, Republicans in the 2008 election cast him as only having "hope and change," but his campaign website had detailed policy proposals, with like, tables and charts and stuff.

smokeyj 9y ago
Remember when Romney called Russia the greatest threat to U.S democracy and was made into a joke? I remember.
- anthony_romeo 9y ago
  Yes.

yazan94 9y ago

> Wasn't Obama a "blustering populist without a shred of actual policy experience", either? And, no business experience. I think it is a stretch to say Obama didnt have a shred of policy experience[1]. Without trying to delve too much into politics here, but I would like to know how Trump's business experience is helping him. I haven't heard about too many terribly good decisions he has made in office regarding the economy. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Legislative_career https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Legislative_caree...