You're winding down your eight years as president. You're sitting there on a Sunday watching football and thinking about your accomplishments. First comes obamacare; you start to think how good it has been, but then reality strikes and you realize that rates are going up substantially, families can't afford it, and that it's going to be dramatically changed by the new president.
Then you come to the rebuild America plan that you proposed early on in your first term. Then you realize that something went awry, that the infrastructure of the nation is in disrepair in many locales.
Then you stagger over to the economy, desperately looking for something. Once again, reality strikes and you realize that this has been the lowest-growth recovery of the post-war era and that the labor participation rate has consistently declined on your watch. Also, you realize that you left an almost unmanageable amount of debt for future administrations to deal with. And you know that many of the jobs that you "created" were part-time jobs made necessary by obamacare (you know, the 30-hour week is now considered fulltime).
Your mind wanders overseas and you are reassured that the Iran nuclear deal was a winner. After all, they haven't nuked anyone on your watch, as if that's the sole determinant of success. Long term, even the narcissist in chief knows that this is going to end badly, if not for the USA, then for many in the middle east.
Next, you naturally think of the inner cities, as that's your bread and butter; you are a community organizer, after all. Then you realize that you slept on the inner cities for eight years and the new president is at least giving lip service to the concept. You hope and pray that he does not succeed with his plans, because, if he does, you are going to look really bad.
So, just when you are feeling really depressed, you think really hard and you come up with.... yes, the Cuba deal. That is going to be what makes you a great president. That deal is going to lead to freedom and happiness for the Cuban people; in fact, it's working already. Just don't ask me how!
Then reality hits and you just can't wait to get out of the White House. The days can't go fast enough. And you hope people just forget about your record, but still label you a great president in spite of no long-term accomplishments. Has there ever been a more secure prediction than that outcome!?
Then you come to the rebuild America plan that you proposed early on in your first term. Then you realize that something went awry, that the infrastructure of the nation is in disrepair in many locales.
Then you stagger over to the economy, desperately looking for something. Once again, reality strikes and you realize that this has been the lowest-growth recovery of the post-war era and that the labor participation rate has consistently declined on your watch. Also, you realize that you left an almost unmanageable amount of debt for future administrations to deal with. And you know that many of the jobs that you "created" were part-time jobs made necessary by obamacare (you know, the 30-hour week is now considered fulltime).
Your mind wanders overseas and you are reassured that the Iran nuclear deal was a winner. After all, they haven't nuked anyone on your watch, as if that's the sole determinant of success. Long term, even the narcissist in chief knows that this is going to end badly, if not for the USA, then for many in the middle east.
Next, you naturally think of the inner cities, as that's your bread and butter; you are a community organizer, after all. Then you realize that you slept on the inner cities for eight years and the new president is at least giving lip service to the concept. You hope and pray that he does not succeed with his plans, because, if he does, you are going to look really bad.
So, just when you are feeling really depressed, you think really hard and you come up with.... yes, the Cuba deal. That is going to be what makes you a great president. That deal is going to lead to freedom and happiness for the Cuban people; in fact, it's working already. Just don't ask me how!
Then reality hits and you just can't wait to get out of the White House. The days can't go fast enough. And you hope people just forget about your record, but still label you a great president in spite of no long-term accomplishments. Has there ever been a more secure prediction than that outcome!?