Only About You

The night the #ACA passed @BarackObama invited his entire team to celebrate on the Truman Balcony. He said that night was much more important to him than his 2008 presidential election night. Why? Because his passion to serve was never about him. It was only about you.

— Valerie Jarrett (@ValerieJarrett) March 23, 2020

‘hardheaded liberal’

Michael Fullilove (Daily Beast): …. The president was accused of neglecting alliances and ceding too much ground to allies in Libya, but this week’s successes in Tripoli prove he’s heir to Roosevelt and Truman.

…. Conservative commentators have mocked Obama’s belief in the efficacy of international rules. Obama wrote in The Audacity of Hope that “nobody benefits more than we do from the observance of the international ‘rules of the road’.” Many of these rules were established by Roosevelt and Truman, who believed that a rule-based system amplified U.S. power rather than constraining it….

…. Obama’s response to the Arab Spring, though initially uncertain and clumsy, came to be characterized by a blend of caution and hardheaded liberalism. He now places a lesser premium than most of his recent predecessors did on the stability provided by Middle East allies, and a greater premium on their people’s right to democracy. But some of those allies can no longer provide stability anyway.

…. Events this week indicate that Obama’s approach in Libya has managed to cripple the Gaddafi regime in a way that maximizes the Libyan people’s ownership of the victory and minimizes the risks and costs to the United States. The contrast with George W. Bush’s approach in Iraq is stunning.

… Obama’s critics also fail to acknowledge that he is much more popular with allied publics than was his predecessor ….  it has restored drooping public support in allied countries for the idea of allying with Washington. For example, the number of Australians who believe the U.S. alliance is very important to their country’s security has shot up by 23 percent since the nadir of the Bush administration.

…. Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, the founders of America’s alliance system, were hardheaded liberals. They would certainly recognize Barack Obama as their heir.

Full article here

Thanks Dorothy

nothing changes, eh?

Following a meeting with President Obama, John Boehner, accompanied by Kevin McCarthy, talks about the budget on Capitol Hill, April 5

“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke.

They stand four-square for the American home – but not for housing.

They are strong for labor – but they are stronger for restricting labor’s rights.

They favor minimum wage – the smaller the minimum wage the better.

They endorse educational opportunity for all – but they won’t spend money for teachers or for schools.

They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine – for people who can afford them.

They consider electrical power a great blessing – but only when the private power companies get their rake-off.

They think the American standard of living is a fine thing – so long as it doesn’t spread to all the people.

And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”

Harry Truman