It has been almost 18 months since President Obama has left the office. Since his departure from the White House and the arrival of President Trump, many of President Obama’s executive orders have been repealed by the new President. It seems that President Trump has a plan to wipe out any and all signs of Obama’s presidency as if there was no 44th President called Barrack Obama in the United States of America. One wonders why President Trump has such a vendetta against President Obama and is trying to erase his existence as a President from the history of the United States.
How did President Obama do during his eight years of presidency? Well, he started by having both Houses on his side. The Congress was controlled by the Democrats, so President Obama’s presidency should have been easy and pass whatever bills he wanted to pass. But that did not happen.
President Obama wrongfully believed that he could work with the opposing party, the Republicans. He did not know that on the eve of his first term inauguration the Republican leaders gathered in a restaurant to plan to become a constructive “NO” to President Obama.
President Obama worked hard to gain the support of the Republicans, but to no avail. His mistake was in keep trying to get the cooperation of the Republican Politicians, despite the fact that he kept facing resistance from the Republicans. He kept conceding to the opposing Party with a false hope that they could work with him. His first major mistake was in trying to please Republican Politicians by conceding to them with the health insurance program.
He should have pushed for Single Payer (Medicare for All), but in an effort to get Republicans’ cooperation in passing the bill, he dropped the single payer idea and instead focused on a version which is far from what the plan was. Although the Affordable Healthcare Plan also known as Obama Care is not anything close to Medicare for All, however, it is much better than not having nothing. It allowed millions of Americans to have health insurance coverage at truly affordable rates. President Obama should have concentrated on Medicare for All and forcefully promote that idea and make sure the Congress pass it, but he caved in.
During the Mid-term election, President Obama did not forcefully go out to support the Democrats running for re-election or for the office for the first time, as the result, the Congress turned Red and Republicans took both Houses. Having the Congress as well as the Supreme Court in the hands of Republicans, it made it even more difficult for President Obama to run the country and pass his bills.
President Obama’s achievements:
Among President Obama’s achievements, one could name Obama Care which afforded millions of Americans to have access to a truly affordable health insurance plan. That was historic even though it was not National Health Plan or Medical for All.
Having an agreement signed by Iran, European Countries and the USA for de-nuclearization of Iran and removal of sanctions was another major diplomatic success for President Obama. This agreement removed the threat of hostility in that part of the world which has seen nothing but wars for the past seventeen years.
Signing the Paris Climate agreement was another major success for President Obama and the USA. Nothing is more important than fighting the climate change which impacts all of us regardless of where we live.
Executive orders to tighten the environmental laws and including more lands in Federal parks so to be protected from development was another achievement of President Obama.
Supporting same-sex marriage brought much relief to gays and lesbians and made their lives much more comfortable.
Helping the students with their massive student loans debts which has a strong grip over the students’ throats and having a major financial impact on their lives was another achievement of President Obama.
Also reducing US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan was another achievement for President Obama.
President Obama’s failures:
Among President Obama’s major failures are the destruction of Libya and Syria. In the name of supporting freedom in Libya and Syria, USA supported groups against the governments causing the opposition groups to overthrow the regime of Moammar Kaddafi and later on killing and dumping his body in a ditch. Libya then turned into a no-man’s land and lawlessness took over the country. Few factions run different parts of the country without any central government. It is difficult to refer to Libya as a country anymore.
Again supporting freedom fighters, US rendered much support and has caused a civil war in Syria which to this date continues. Millions of Syrians have fled their country and became refugees in neighbouring countries and Europe. Tens of thousands of Syrians have died and the country has turned into a rubble. Some of the most historic towns are destroyed. Due to US support for oppositions parties to President Bashir Al Assad, Russia and Iran went to the rescue of the Syrian government making this civil war a proxy war of Russia and Iran on one side and USA and some European countries on the other side. Innocent Syrian people are caught in the middle. Most of highly educated and professionals have left the country, massive brain drain.
Another failure of President Obama was failing to close down Guantanamo Base in Cuba. He promised during his first campaign to close down this torture center known as Guantanamo Base where alleged terrorist from all over the world are kidnapped and taken to that base for torturing which includes waterboarding. Guantanamo Base is a thorn in the USA’s eye. It has damaged USA’s image and prestige and making USA’s human rights policy a joke. How can USA criticize other countries for their human rights violations, when herself is torturing people without ever having them tried for any criminal acts. In fact, some of these detainees have been tortured so much that if they are tried they would be found innocent due to illegal and inhumane treatment. The USA is embarrassed to bring them up for trial. Some of them have been detained since 2001 without being charged for any crime. It seems these poor individuals will perish in Guantanamo.
We should not forget his action as the judge, jury, and executioner. Every Tuesday in the name of fighting terrorism, President Obama would sign an order to assassinate various people n Middle-East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries by drones. Few of those who were assassinated were US citizens. President Obama, without arresting and bringing these people to trial, ordered their death. How can the USA ever complain about violation of human rights in other countries, while herself without any charge, trial order assassination of so-called terrorists? No one has ever seen a proof that those who were killed were truly guilty of any crime against the United States. He gained the nickname of “Assassin in Chief”.
Another failure of President Obama is related to the immigration. President Obama has deported more undocumented immigrants than any other President of either party. He gained another nickname of “Deporter in Chief”.
His final and perhaps the most important failure was to keep quiet during the 2016 campaign about Russia meddling with the election in support of Donald Trump. He was aware of this fact, but did not take any action and as the result nation got the most dangerous person as her President. So far it has been proven that Donald Trump is mentally imbalanced and suffers from the psychological and mental illness. The American Psychological Association who have made an observation of President Trump’s action and words have reached this conclusion. Had President Obama made it public that there was a meddling by Russia in support of Donald Trump, perhaps, America would not have elected him as the President.
It is amazing that former President Obama is keeping quiet and witnessing that all of his achievements being wiped out and not saying anything. It is true that there is a protocol that former president does not meddle in the affairs of the President who succeeded him, but we are witnessing a total destruction of America, sitting quiet and saying and doing nothing is not an option.
