Friday, January 20, 2017

Thanks, Obama

Today is the last day Barack Obama will wake up as the President of the United States of America. We'll have plenty of time over the next four years to blog about the next guy (and I'm sure it will all be measured and coherent), but we gather this morning to remember the 44th holder of the highest office in the land.

Other people will (and already have) spill tons of ink on Obama's legacy, from both sides of the political divide. This isn't a post about politics, even if I might be inclined to do some partisan arguing. This is a reflection about a man who couldn't possibly have lived up to the hopes he embodied for liberals like me, nor could he have ever changed the hearts and minds of so many who refused to see beyond their self-built walls.

I remember the amazing swell of emotion I felt in November 2008 watching this completely unique family (at least in terms of our political experience to that time) walk onstage at Grant Park after Obama had defeated John McCain. In that speech, he echoed John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, and he also worked in some Sam Cooke when he said, "It's been a long time coming, but change has come to America."

In that same speech, he also laid out a vision for the country, saying, ""This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."

Yes, we can. And yes, we did. Some things. It's the great shame of our time that so many worked so hard to make sure that we didn't do so many others out of pure partisan (and let's not mince words - racist) spite. But if you look at the record, it's remarkable what Obama was able to accomplish despite that unyielding opposition. In the last eight years, President Obama's administration:
  • Ended the most significant economic recession since the 1930s
  • Passed the most sweeping healthcare reform measure since the implementation of Medicare, which provided more than 20 million Americans with access to healthcare
  • Killed Osama bin Laden
  • Supported the legalization of same sex marriage, which eventually happened in 2015
  • Nominated the first Hispanic American to the Supreme Court
  • Oversaw net positive job growth every month since February 2010, a record streak
  • Presided over an economy that drove a 235% growth in the S&P, a 16.4% annualized return
That's a partial list. It's very difficult to argue that Obama wasn't an impactful President, despite recent attempts at early-stage revisionist storytelling. Of that healthcare reform, Teej noted, "I'd like to shout out Shannon's visit to the White House during his tenure, highlighting the inclusion of American people in his administration as a direct contrast to asshole racist homophobe oranj Julius Caesar." (Ed: We were trying to make this not so political a post. Like most things, we failed a little bit. But that post about Shannon is one of my all-time favorites, so you should read it again.)

While I'm a homer, I'm not a blind one. Obama wasn't perfect. His failed Syria policy will be a blood-red stain on his legacy. He either underestimated or discounted the ferocity of the GOP resistance to his Presidency, and in so doing foreclosed on any opportunity to productively collaborate, or to take his message more directly to the voters. Dave has strong opinions here, saying, "I'd like to thank him for...doing some weird pardons, backing off his red line on biological weapons, allowing Aleppo to fall to pieces, kowtowing to the tire lobby (Ed: tire lobby?), and not pushing for the legalization of marijuana." Dave had the same high hopes as a lot of lefties who feel a little betrayed by Obama's cautious centrism, apparently. And worth real notice, as Marls points out, "I would not thank him for taking liberties with Presidential powers in response to obstructionist douchenozzles, the same douchenozzles who are now going to advocate the fucktard in chief use them the same way." Word.

But on balance, I agree strongly with the words of no less a sage than our own Zman, "He brought a combination of intelligence, dignity, respectability, and competency to the office what was unprecedented in my lifetime. So thanks for making our country great again."

While we dabble in crappy political commentary here from time to time, at root we're about popular culture. There's never been a President more aware of and connected to the culture, nor more influential. He was, and is, cool. Cooler than us. Cooler by miles than any previous President. George W. Bush might've been fun at the bar, but Obama...man, that dude was chill. Remember this?



Or this?



His opponents freaked the fuck out at that last video, because, well, because a lot of them are racists. In Mark's telling, he appreciated Obama because his tenure, "Allow[ed] me to get a very, very clear picture of how many of my high school classmates are not so sneaky racists. They thought their Facebook posts were subtle and that they weren't betraying their true feelings. They were wrong. And my previous decisions to not actually be friends with these people were validated."

All presidents invite artists to the White House. None before had Common and Chance the Rapper and A$AP Rocky and Pharrell and Kendrick Lamar and Prince and Alicia Keys at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

He name-dropped Ludicris, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, and Sheryl Crow. His playlists included Arcade Fire, No Doubt, Raphael Saadiq, and Jennifer Hudson. He sung along with Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, and B.B. King and tried his hand at singing Al Green solo.

He tore up the White House bowling alley to put in a basketball court, and he actually played hoops on the regular. He showed us his NCAA Tournament bracket, even if it was always chalky as hell. He had legitimately great comedic timing, killing the White House Correspondents Dinner roast on an annual basis.

He wore Dad jeans, sure, but even the coolest misstep from time to time. We can forgive him that, too, because he was such a great public Dad and a gracious and clearly doting husband.

And in the cool de grace, he gave us Biden. Man, we don't have time to do Biden justice, but that cat was one of a kind.

The Obama moment that'll stick with me the longest, among a great many memorable moments, involves a different kind of music. In the wake of the tragic murder of nine people at a church in Charleston, President Obama spoke at the eulogy of Reverend Clementa Pinckney. His anguished, human, moment of grace told us so much:



He was at his best in moments like this one, like the days after Sandy Hook, like his words about Trayvon Martin, where his humanity, his dignity, his grace, and his willingness to believe in our better angels were all on full display. We didn't deserve that belief, as it turns out, and that's both his greatest blind spot and our failure as a people.

Whitney reflected on that belief and that failure, saying, "I would thank him for being a brilliant beacon of hope and optimism in 2008. Many of us say stunned, post-election 8 years ago, wondering how the hell it happened in our country that a black man was elected President when we were convinced there was enough subterranean bigotry to preclude that from ever happening. From that moment, quickly revealed as fleeting, we basked in the promise of a day, an era, a future devoid of skin-deep-hatred and scapegoatating. We smiled broadly along with Barack Obama.

This is my favorite picture of President Obama
8 years later, many of us are just as stunned, blind-sided by a core contingent of countrymen/women who have naively ushered in their own worst nightmare a la the Mob hiring the Joker in The Dark Knight or the townspeople of Lago recruiting Stacy Bridges and the Carlin Brothers in High Plains Drifter. Let's hope Batman or Clint Eastwood appear out of nowhere to save us from ourselves. Maybe Obama in 2020 (in a Batman suit, chewing on a cheap cee-gar). (Ed: Eastwood's too busy yelling at furniture. Don't think it'll be him.)

For now, however, while nobody is truly smiling alongside smirky President Trump, I take a moment to smile at what was achieved by Barack Obama in the face of long odds, and I hope that kind of progress and good fortune passes this way again someday."

Whitney never did lack for things to say.

Shlara was a bit more concise, offering this farewell, "Thanks for being the best president in my lifetime. But more importantly, thanks to you and your wife for being inclusive and real and empathetic and decent and kind and optimistic--always."

She also turned me on to President Obama's final letter to America, a typically optimistic and hopeful message, in which the unlikeliest (second most unlikely, I guess) President says, "And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We the People.’ ‘We shall overcome.’"

As for me, I'll really miss his basic, fundamental humanity. In the face of all the bullshit he dealt with, he was never not decent, honorable, and caring. Our greatest failure, not his, was setting impossible expectations. And he never complained about the unfairness in that, but rather raised his eyes, looked at the bar, and gave it a run.

Fuck, but I'll miss him.

53 comments:

Squeaky said...

Great post, Rob. And awesome sentiments from the others.

In other news, El Chapo gets extradited to the US today in time for his appointment to head the DEA.

zman said...

So this is really happening?

zman said...

The tone of this inaugural speech is kinda ... pointed? Confrontational? Like Maximus restoring power to the Senate?

zman said...

Does he realize that he has a bunch of former presidents sitting behind him as he slags the federal government?

zman said...

He pronounces "industry" as "in-DUS-try"?

Shlara said...

Hunger Games-esque

Squeaky said...

Back to music news. Those with record players and enjoy the Wu-Tang might want to jump on this offer: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/wutangclan

I loathe facebook, but you see what it actually looks like here: https://www.facebook.com/pledgemusic/videos/10154830085622591/

Danimal said...

Wow. Trump just did something classy...sincerely thanked and recognized the Clintons for being there. It actually seemed....heartfelt.

Dave said...

wow-- just catching up. great post, leck. i wouldn't have called trump an asshole today if i knew you had already cornered the market.

zman said...

Andrew Dice Clay agrees.

http://pagesix.com/2017/01/20/andrew-dice-clay-trump-stole-my-act-to-become-president/

Mark said...

I'm sure everyone has seen the posts that show Trump ripping off Bane's line from The Dark Knight Rises. I doubt he planned it that way but, well...it's mildly appropriate.

Dave said...
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Dave said...
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TR said...

Today was a glorious, memorable day. One I will truly remember for a long time.

I could give two shits about whatever's happening in DC. I'm excited b/c I went up a ski lift w/ my two kids this afternoon. First time ever that we went down a full-blown ski run together. Three dudes (one big, two small) on a blue. Took a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money to get us to this point. It's glorious to get over the hump.

TR said...

Thank you Swansea!!!

Mark said...

TR is excited because his kids like to ski. I'm excited because my kid now loves "Bad & Boujie". We live very different lives.

Dave said...

excuse my comments-- whitney got into my account at the mini-summit and went trump with it.

congrats TR, i felt the same way when my kids got it done on the mountain-- now i can barely keep up with them and just hope i find them at the bottom.

Mark said...

We're at a farm for my kid's birthday party. As an accomplished indoorsman this is most definitely not my style. Fortunately, my kids favorite restaurant is where we're going after this and it's a BBQ/craft beer joint so it's far close to my style.

TR said...

I tried Leinenkugel Cranberry Ginger Shandy and Brooklyn Bel Air Sour this w/e. Both are tasty.

rob said...

women's march just rolled through jackson square. saw a sign that said, 'fart on the patriarchy'. i laughed.

zman said...

No kakistocracy signage?

Whitney said...

CNN just reported on the women's marches. They referenced the "pink hats with pussycat ears." Um, that's not what those are.

Mark said...

Farm party was a success. It was quite the amorous farm. At various points there were pigs, donkeys and tortoises are attempting to procreate. Good lesson for the kids, I say.

I've put in my time and feel like a decent dad. Now I'm going to get drunk on my couch.

Mark said...

Nice game in Cleveland tonight. A good accompaniment to being drunk on my couch. I don't understand people who still act like LeBron isn't insanely good. Top 5 player ever IMO.

rob said...

top 2, imo.

new orleans kicked my ass, like it always does. man, do i love this place.

Marls said...

Please tell me that was posted from the bar at Igors.

zman said...

zwoman woke up and announced that she isn't drinking red wine ever again. I don't feel great either.

rob said...

it was posted from the balcony music club, marls. right across the street from igor's sister joint, checkpoint charlie's.

Dave said...

ok, made it through the post. obama definitely did america proud, led us out of a republican created recession and did his best with healthcare. i definitely like the guy, and his recent interview on the weeds is great on the whole healthcare fiasco. and he was certainly more pro-environment than trump is going to be-- but he neglected to speak clearly on some issues: terrorism, islam, illegal immigration, syria and trump took advantage of this . . . we are witnessing the backlash to dignity and political correctness, if you were ANGRY about something, obama was not your guy-- so he spoke to me, because i'm not very angry-- my life is great and my concerns are abstract: streams, forests, global warming, endangered megafauna . . . but if your city is overrun with illegal immigrants and opiate addiction, then trump is your man.

Mark said...

my wife uses at google home to play George Michael'a Pandora station. I must say it's a pretty damn good station. More Hall and Oates than I would've expected.

Whitney said...

Fire alarm pulled at the Steelers' hotel last night. Minor thing, amusing, and a reminder that the Patriots and their fans will do anything for a win. Pretty weak.

zman said...

I believe it's spelled Patriots*.

Mark said...

I'm not at Rob's level of NFL disinterest but I do find the league a bit stale of late. That said, I can't remember being as excited for both conference championship games as I am today. Feels like the best four teams and that we've got a real shot at two good, possibly great, games.

zman said...

The level of qb play is outstanding for this final four. Three potential hall of famers and Matt Ryan's possible MVP season.

Mark said...

Getting ugly in Atlanta. You'd think that's Rodgers will get Green Bay going eventually but Atlanta might be up 24-30 by then.

zman said...

Is it just me or is Julio jones making weird faces?

Mark said...

I guess I should've kept my mouth shut about today's games.

Whitney said...

Two absolute dogs of games, as it turned out. I would've bet otherwise as well, Mark.

zman said...

A man stands in front of a printer that is not printing and instead is beeping and blinking. The man's brow is furrowed in a mix of emotions including bewilderment, annoyance, concern and exasperation. An IT tech walks by and says without breaking stride "Don't worry about that. Just say to yourself 'President Trump!' and you'll feel better. Has a great ring to it, doesn't it?" and keeps on going. The man who just wants the printer to print replies, perhaps too quickly and vehemently, "That worries the hell out of me, actually." The IT tech laughs all the way to his cube. After several hushed cursewords and pokes at the printer's capacitive screen, the man's document lurches out of the printer and once he gets back to his desk he realizes that he didn't print the right version.

So goes Day Three of the Trump Administration.

Shlara said...

Guys, Hamilton is totally worthy of the hype
Put it on your list when the touring production comes to your city

zman said...

I hear it's highly overrated. Sad!

Whitney said...

Trumplestiltskin is not down with the TPP. Sad!

Mark said...

My kid turned 5 today. Run the Jewels is playing a show in Orlando tonight. Luckily for me, we did the big birthday party on Saturday and are doing to family dinner birthday party tomorrow to accommodate my father in law's schedule.

Dad is leaving town in a couple hours to get drunk and see RTJ!!

Dave said...

i love the new album: funny with big scary industrial synths and beats. have fun

Dave said...

and hamilton is total cheese shlara! the opposite of run the jewels.

Squeaky said...

Awesome, Mark. Have fun.

Mark said...

Thanks, guys. As excited as I've been for a concert in some time.

rob said...

mark, we'll need a concert review. 'cause we're jealous, and all. i wear a size medium in an rtj hoodie.

TR said...

Always fun to watch Duke lose.

rob said...

gonzaga's straight wrecking fools

Marls said...

CoCo B Ware

zman said...

Al B Sure

I liked Hamilton.

Marls said...

Hamilton is shit compared to the musical tour de force from Greasetruck Studios.