Obama or Trump?

[Stanyon]

Trump took office just a little over a year ago (Jan 20th 2017) Obama had 8 years so there is no real way to compare the two... insufficient data.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm under no such illusions. Then again, I certainly don't expect him to suddenly turn around and do precisely what his opponents would have expected (or hoped) Saint Hillary would have done. I very much doubt that will happen.

When looking at Trump's performance, it's unrealistic to simply tally all which one dislikes.
First, it doesn't take into account offsetting positive results.
Secondly, no president gets everything right by any objective non-partisan measure,
so comparison with the unspoken alternative of the empty set is unrealistic.
Instead, we could compare his results with those of other presidents to measure
relative success in effecting governance.
Had she-who-shall-not-be-named won, even Democrats would find some of the
results criticismworthy. Those who don't lead appear without flaw in leadership,
which doesn't mean they'd be flawless had they won.

 

[YmirGF]

When looking at Trump's performance, it's unrealistic to simply tally all which one dislikes.
First, it doesn't take into account offsetting positive results.
Secondly, no president gets everything right by any objective non-partisan measure,
so comparison with the unspoken alternative of the empty set is unrealistic.
Instead, we could compare his results with those of other presidents to measure
relative success in effecting governance.
Had she-who-shall-not-be-named won, even Democrats would find some of the
results criticismworthy. Those who don't lead appear without flaw in leadership,
which doesn't mean they'd be flawless had they won.

Yep, I suggested to someone the other day that Trump could guarantee a second term by either decriminalizing or flat out legalizing pot. The person was almost speechless. Such fun...

 

[taykair]

I recall promising to discuss more politics in a thread, and I figure the time has come. That is to say- enough time has passed since Trump entered office, and Obama left it. America has gotten to see both of them in action.

Tell us your opinion: who does president better? Obama or Trump? If you are willing- kindly expound on your choice.

Gracious!

Do I prefer Mr. Obama or Mr. Trump? You may as well ask me whether I prefer to be shot or stabbed.

 

[LuisDantas]

I find it shocking that you're so easily shocked.

If you say so.

 

[metis]

In regards to deficit spending, a reminder that Obama was advised that he must do as such by two conservative economists, Bernanke and Paulson, because of the free-fall were were in. Obama, not being an economist, was at least wise enough to take their advice.

In Trump's case, however, conservative economists are generally opposed to this massive ramping up the deficit because it can overheat the economy simply because we are not in a recession. To compare what Obama did Trump have done in this regard is just another false equivalency minus the reality of the two different positions the country was in and now is in.

 

[Revoltingest]

In regards to deficit spending, a reminder that Obama was advised that he must do as such by two conservative economists, Bernanke and Paulson, because of the free-fall were were in. Obama, not being an economist, was at least wise enough to take their advice.

In Trump's case, however, conservative economists are generally opposed to this massive ramping up the deficit because it can overheat the economy simply because we are not in a recession. To compare what Obama did Trump have done in this regard is just another false equivalency minus the reality of the two different positions the country was in and now is in.

Politicians who like deficit spending can always find economists to justify it.
What it boils down to is that they all like spending more than they take in.

Obama had non-spending alternatives to boost a flagging economy, but
he eschewed them, eg, allowing Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to renegotiate
troubled loans instead of foreclosing.

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

Trump is obviously smart enough to excel in several different, unrelated, areas. That IS a sign of intelligence rather than of just blind luck. I'd say it is the former. If it is the latter then perhaps he is the perfect person to be POTUS. After being on a winning steak for so many years why should it suddenly stop now? There has to be more to the guy than the buffoon he plays so perfectly.

Excel is a strong word. He is the only president America's had who managed to bankrupt a casino. Trump University's a scam. Trump Airlines never took off (get it?). Trump's dad had to bail out his casino by buying a few millions worth of chips and never cashing out (making sure the casino has illegal cash flow injected into it). He is great at branding, no question. I think his mentality is that of a small time scam artist who happened to have a lot of money.

What first got my attention with Trump was watching a few of his speeches early on the campaign trail. I soon realized it was all hot air, but admired him for the fact that he never relies on notes and it's a stream of consciousness routine. It's not easy talking to a large group of people and continually strike a chord with that audience.
This was in such stark contrast to Obama, who while be an effective speaker, became married to dual teleprompters. Likewise, Saint Hillary was the most uninteresting speaker in recent memory and virtually never strayed from her well rehearsed script.

To me, that speaks of a lack of preparation on Trump's part. Obama and Hillary both have enough humility to take this job seriously and prepare for it. While Hillary is uninspiring, Obama had some of the best speeches I've heard a President make, even before he became president.
Trump reminds me of a jock, while the democratic candidates remind me of nerds at a high school.
Trump was astounded that 'No one could have imagined that healthcare was this complicated." No Trump, YOU didn't imagine it to be this complicated, because you're like a smart person. Everyone else in the room is clued in.

 

[YmirGF]

Excel is a strong word. He is the only president America's had who managed to bankrupt a casino. Trump University's a scam. Trump Airlines never took off (get it?). Trump's dad had to bail out his casino by buying a few millions worth of chips and never cashing out (making sure the casino has illegal cash flow injected into it). He is great at branding, no question. I think his mentality is that of a small time scam artist who happened to have a lot of money.



To me, that speaks of a lack of preparation on Trump's part. Obama and Hillary both have enough humility to take this job seriously and prepare for it. While Hillary is uninspiring, Obama had some of the best speeches I've heard a President make, even before he became president.
Trump reminds me of a jock, while the democratic candidates remind me of nerds at a high school.
Trump was astounded that 'No one could have imagined that healthcare was this complicated." No Trump, YOU didn't imagine it to be this complicated, because you're like a smart person. Everyone else in the room is clued in.

I DO understand, however, he has Telon'd his way through everything to date. Time will tell.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Obama acknowledged non-believers as citizens, he furthered transgender rights, worked to increase research into green energy, had the federal government back off of states that legalized pot, he took a nose-diving economy and flipped it around to leave his successor with a better economy than he inherited from his predecessor, and he was an excellent speaker.
Trump hacked and slashed at rights for various groups, is grossly incompetent and uninformed, and he is bringing us closer to war than anyone should be comfortable with. He also has tons of law suits against him, is known for running scams, and he chose Pence to ride shotgun.

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

I DO understand, however, he has Telon'd his way through everything to date. Time will tell.

Time does tell indeed. Turns out Trump's claim of being worth $200 million back in the early 80s was off by roughly $195 million. Analysis | The Forbes 400 and how Trump’s shameless self-promotion helped make him president

 

[Underhill]

This is a question that can honestly only be answered once Trump is 100% finished being president just as Obama was. Right now, I can't really cast vote if I'm being honest about it.

It would be like judging a person who was Principal of a School for 10 yrs vs someone who just started a few months ago. Yeah I don't like Trump, but I definitely don't like Obama either.

For it to be seriously honest, we'd have to wait til Trump's term (or terms) is over & done with.
The only real difference between the two is one is a Liar who weeps like a baby every time people disagrees with him, and the other is so blunt about his idiocy but don't whine like the other but instead acts everyone should be ashamed for disagreeing with him.
One is a dick, the other is a liar. Who is better at the job than the other? Too early to tell.

Tell us what you really think!