Obama rebukes Trump and Republicans for 'abuses of power,' urges Democrats to vote

[rooster59]

Obama rebukes Trump and Republicans for 'abuses of power,' urges Democrats to vote

By John Whitesides

 

U.S. President Barack Obama greets supporters in an overflow room before he participates in a "Get Out the Early Vote" campaign event for Hillary Clinton in Columbus, Ohio, U.S., November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama assailed President Donald Trump and Republicans on Friday, urging Democrats to deliver a check on the administration's "abuses of power" and restore a sense of sanity to politics by voting in November's elections.

 

In an unusually blistering attack on his successor, Obama said Americans were living in dangerous times and accused Republicans of threatening democracy, dividing the country, undermining global alliances and cozying up to Russia.

 

"In two months we have the chance, not the certainty, but the chance to restore some semblance of sanity to our politics," he said in a speech at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "There is actually only one check on bad policy and abuses of power, and that's you and your vote."

 

Both parties are urging their core supporters to get to the polls for the Nov. 6 midterm elections, when Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in the House of Representatives and two seats in the Senate to gain majorities in Congress and slam the brakes on Trump's agenda.

 

Obama, who had frustrated some Democrats by keeping a relatively low profile since leaving office in January 2017, accused Republicans of being unwilling to safeguard democracy or offer a check on Trump's policies or worst instincts.

 

He said voters would have to do it instead.

 

"In the end, the threat to our democracy doesn't just come from Donald Trump or the current batch of Republicans in Congress," he said. "The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference. The biggest threat to our democracy is cynicism."

 

Trump was dismissive of Obama's speech.

 

"I'm sorry, I watched it but I fell asleep," he said during a fundraiser in North Dakota. "I found that he's very, very good for sleeping."

 

The November elections have been seen as a referendum on Trump, who has fulfilled campaign promises to cut taxes and regulations but who faces a widening special counsel probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and growing questions about his fitness for office, even by some within his administration.

 

Obama ridiculed Trump for taking credit for economic gains that began under Obama's administration, and said Trump was exploiting cultural fears and economic anger that have grown in recent years amid societal upheavals.

 

"It did not start with Donald Trump. He is a symptom, not the cause," Obama said. "He's just capitalizing on resentments that politicians have been fanning for years."

 

'RESENTMENT AND PARANOIA'

 

Until now, Obama had been reluctant to criticise his successor publicly, although last week he appeared to chide Trump, without naming him, in a eulogy for the late Republican Senator John McCain.

 

But he dropped that political reticence in Illinois, the state where he launched his own political career, saying a vote against Republicans could restore "honesty and decency and lawfulness" to government.

 

"If you thought that elections don't matter, I hope these last two years have corrected that impression," he said. "The politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican Party."

 

Republicans shrugged off Obama's criticism.

 

"In 2016, voters rejected President Obama's policies and his dismissiveness towards half the country. Doubling down on that strategy won't work in 2018 either," said Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens.

 

If Democrats win control of one or both chambers in Congress in November, they would be able not just to stymie Trump's agenda but to launch investigations of the Trump administration.

 

Trump told supporters in Montana on Thursday that Republicans needed to maintain control of Congress to stave off possible impeachment proceedings against him, although Democrats have played down any discussion of that approach.

 

"If it (impeachment) does happen, it's your fault, because you didn't go out to vote. OK? You didn't go out to vote. You didn't go out to vote. That's the only way it could happen," Trump told the rally.

 

Obama will hit the campaign trail on Saturday, appearing at a campaign event in southern California before heading to Ohio next week and to Illinois and Pennsylvania later in the month.

 

In August, Obama endorsed 81 Democratic contenders in 14 states, emphasizing young, diverse candidates running for state-level offices in an attempt to help new party leaders establish themselves.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-08

 

 

[Somtamnication]

The good old days, when the presidency was respected and not used as a bully pulpit and name calling at 50 twitters a day!

[Boon Mee]

Obama is attempting to get out in front of the news that he signed off on the illegal wiretapping of Trump's campaign. 

[helpisgood]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"I'm sorry, I watched it but I fell asleep," he said during a fundraiser in North Dakota. "I found that he's very, very good for sleeping."

 

The level of English was too high for Mr. "American carnage" and "covfefe."  Sad.   

 

But, there's always Fox and Friends!  I wonder if William F. Buckley, Jr. would have been a fan of that show.  Maybe not.  If Obama puts Trump to sleep, then Buckley would have put him into a coma.  Shows for conservatives, if that is really what Fox fans really are, have gone from Firing Line to Sean Hannity. 

Edited September 8, 2018 by helpisgood
spelling

[PhonThong]

This from a man that accomplished nothing in eight years. Except for higher unemployment, larger welfare roles. The largest deficit in the history of the United States. A health plan that is so bad, they had to use threats of possible imprisonment if one failed to participate. With copayments so high most cannot afford to use it anyway.

[Morch]

5 minutes ago, PhonThong said:

This from a man that accomplished nothing in eight years. Except for higher unemployment, larger welfare roles. The largest deficit in the history of the United States. A health plan that is so bad, they had to use threats of possible imprisonment if one failed to participate. With copayments so high most cannot afford to use it anyway.

 

Reporting live from Bizarro World....

[Tug]

Good to see him back a fine example of a leader it’s people like him that make me proud to be an American 

[xylophone]

Q: Despite the obvious swamp, why do 40% continue to support Trump.

 

A: 1). It’s 40% because the USA has an awful lot of racists, xenophobes, misogynists, religious nuts and just plain idiots. 

 

2). Speaking of "just plain idiots", over half of Republicans believe that Hillary was involved in a child sex ring run out of pizza parlours, and a similar number still believe Obama was born in Kenya:

 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/28/pizzagate-theory-believed-by-nearly-half-of-republ/

 

https://www.salon.com/2017/12/11/the-birther-blemish-republicans-still-think-barack-obama-was-born-in-kenya/

  

This gives an idea of the intellectual caliber of many Trump supporters and why they would hate Obama...…..because Obama is so much more than trump can ever be, and they don't like it. 

[riclag]

The 10 trillion dollar deficit king of the dem's is cut throating one of the most successful economic POTUS. This nemesis policies, actually  caused DT to  run and be elected.In one of his  2016 campaigning speeches for HC he spoke about "You must vote to continue our agenda,vote for the most qualified candidate,don't let me down,he said. The Dem's and their leader Obama really give significance to their escapades of deranged  hyperbole,they have acted just like their motto, the  Donkey'.  For the last 2 plus years  they have acted  just like one.

The great savior of the left,had his turn and he failed miserably. Under his  watch ISIS went from JV to the number 2 terrorist organizations behind Iran and under his watch the Russian's interfered in our elections  and did nothing.

His legacy will be noted for "You will keep your Health Care Primary Provider"and Premiums will go down,Not. PT will eat you up and spit you out

 

Edited September 8, 2018 by riclag

[xylophone]

32 minutes ago, riclag said:

The 10 trillion dollar deficit king of the dem's is cut throating one of the most successful economic POTUS. This nemesis policies, actually  caused DT to  run and be elected.In one of his  2016 campaigning speeches for HC he spoke about "You must vote to continue our agenda,vote for the most qualified candidate,don't let me down,he said. The Dem's and their leader Obama really give significance to their escapades of deranged  hyperbole,they have acted just like their motto, the  Donkey'.  For the last 2 plus years  they have acted  just like one.

The great savior of the left,had his turn and he failed miserably. Under his  watch ISIS went from JV to the number 2 terrorist organizations behind Iran and under his watch the Russian's interfered in our elections  and did nothing.

His legacy will be noted for "You will keep your Health Care Primary Provider"and Premiums will go down,Not. PT will eat you up and spit you out

 

Oh dear, obviously doesn't know about the GFC and how Obama steered the country through it (or of course that tRump has revoked the laws that were meant to prevent another such calamity by allowing the financial institutions to self regulate which was how the GFC happened in the first place)...……….but I covered this in my previous post when I stated that:-  

It’s 40% because the USA has an awful lot of racists, xenophobes, misogynists, religious nuts and just plain idiots. 

 

And speaking of idiots, they've got the biggest one running the country!

 

 

Edited September 8, 2018 by xylophone

[riclag]

1 minute ago, xylophone said:

Oh dear, obviously doesn't know about the GFC and how Obama steered the country through it (or of course that tRump has revoked the laws that were meant to prevent another such calamity by allowing the financial institutions to self regulate which was how the GFC happened in the first place)...……….but I covered this in my previous post when I stated that:-  

It’s 40% because the USA has an awful lot of racists, xenophobes, misogynists, religious nuts and just plain idiots. 

 

 

You capitalized  R in Trump,It's actually capital T

[Chomper Higgot]

30 minutes ago, riclag said:

The 10 trillion dollar deficit king of the dem's is cut throating one of the most successful economic POTUS. This nemesis policies, actually  caused DT to  run and be elected.In one of his  2016 campaigning speeches for HC he spoke about "You must vote to continue our agenda,vote for the most qualified candidate,don't let me down,he said. The Dem's and their leader Obama really give significance to their escapades of deranged  hyperbole,they have acted just like their motto, the  Donkey'.  For the last 2 plus years  they have acted  just like one.

The great savior of the left,had his turn and he failed miserably. Under his  watch ISIS went from JV to the number 2 terrorist organizations behind Iran and under his watch the Russian's interfered in our elections  and did nothing.

His legacy will be noted for "You will keep your Health Care Primary Provider"and Premiums will go down,Not. PT will eat you up and spit you out

 

“Under his  watch ISIS went from JV to the number 2 terrorist organizations behind Iran“

 

ISIS took Al-Qaeda’s slot when Obama decapitated Al-Qaeda!

 

 

“and under his [Obama’s] watch the Russian's interfered in our elections  and did nothing.“

 

Obama was informed of Russian interference in the late stages of the last election, too late to act and faced with the likelihood of ‘scaremongering’ to corrupt the election if he had.

 

Trump meanwhile has had almost two years to strengthen US election protections, he’s done nothing to do and, rather he has acted directly to remove funding from Federal and State  agencies acting to protect the mid-term election.

[riclag]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“Under his  watch ISIS went from JV to the number 2 terrorist organizations behind Iran“

 

ISIS took Al-Qaeda’s slot when Obama decapitated Al-Qaeda!

 

 

“and under his [Obama’s] watch the Russian's interfered in our elections  and did nothing.“

 

Obama was informed of Russian interference in the late stages of the last election, too late to act and faced with the likelihood of ‘scaremongering’ to corrupt the election if he had.

 

Trump meanwhile has had almost two years to strengthen US election protections, he’s done nothing to do and, rather he has acted directly to remove funding from Federal and State  agencies acting to protect the mid-term election.

The Ten trillion dollar Globalist Obama  caused the biggest political  divisiveness  in the world to happen! The 8 year's of Obama caused American's to vote for change!

[puck2]

17 minutes ago, riclag said:

You capitalized  R in Trump,It's actually capital T

Only one example of the most important problems of the Trump-fans.

As usual for Trump followers ..... distracting from the the real subject.

[Chomper Higgot]

20 minutes ago, riclag said:

The Ten trillion dollar Globalist Obama  caused the biggest political  divisiveness  in the world to happen! The 8 year's of Obama caused American's to vote for change!

The globalism for which to blame Obama was started by Reagan.

 

Meanwhile Trump has massively increased the national debt and stripped welfare and healthcare programs to hand vast tax breaks to the hyper wealthy.

 

Turkeys voting for thanksgiving comes to mind.

[puck2]

42 minutes ago, riclag said:

The Ten trillion dollar Globalist Obama  caused the biggest political  divisiveness  in the world to happen! The 8 year's of Obama caused American's to vote for change!

Trump is leading the USA into a terrorcraty. His personal qualities miss any standard (must not explain them here. Everybody with a little brain in his/her head knows them).

 

Obama laid a golden (economical)  egg into USA/Trump's life. And you would like to tell us this egg stemmed from the the rep-supported  moron?

 

If you look a the history of last SOP (Sordid Old Party) president Obama had to clean the waste left behind from Bush.

 

Waite for more years to come. US debts rocketing , environment unhealthy, another fabricated war possible,  military budget up to the sky. The next Dem POTUS will have to clean the pigsty again.

[puck2]

Some people think the low unemployment and the high GDP are due to Trump's "actions". .

 

Reality is the rich are getting richer (especially by trumps tax "deals") and a very high number of workers are getting poorer and poorer. A situation now going around the world (maybe with the exception of China).

 

That is one of the main reasons of a right wing trend in many Western states. It seems to be more a protest against the (former) establishmentent/s which .let this people alone. Be sure Trump with his diminished intelligence will never be able to solve this problem of the divided US society.

[PhonThong]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Reporting live from Bizarro World....

How much is your business worth and how many people do you employ?  Are you giving them medical benefits because Obama care is such a joke? Has your bottom line gone up 32% since Obama left office?

 Unless you can answer these questions in the affirmative,

then your comment is worthless and childish. My biggest fear is that if the Dems get back into office. I will be forced to lay off my newest employees or worse.

  Right now I have two brand new Peterbilt 379's sitting in the company lot with no drivers because the economy is doing so well that I cannot find drivers.

 We pay some of the highest wages in the industry and a full line of benefits for our employees and their families. But, still difficult to find qualified drivers.

  I might add, we do the same in Thailand.

 But none the less. Thank you, president Trump!

MAGA

Edited September 8, 2018 by PhonThong

[simple1]

1 hour ago, riclag said:

The 10 trillion dollar deficit king of the dem's

Typical misleading smear and whataboutism from the world of Trump. Trump has now further descended into pathetic and childish tweets to try and refute the truthful comments by Obama. Trump is a disgrace and unfit to represent the Office of the President of the USA.

Edited September 8, 2018 by simple1

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Reporting live from Bizarro World....

The current Trump supporters live in their happy fantasy world and won't accept any reality checks whatsoever. You can get a better logical discussion with people who aren't racist and have a proper education. 

[puck2]

8 minutes ago, PhonThong said:

<------->

 We pay some of the highest wages in the industry and a full line of benefits for our employees and their families. But, still difficult to find qualified drivers.     .........

 

 

Even if you pay the "highest" wages - does it mean it is enough for a "normal" family life?

 

 If you don't find a driver say thank you to Trump for his immigration policy.

 

[Scottie12]

Riclag has no sense of cynicism or humour, the capital R instead of T was obviously intentional indicating a Rump or rear end.

[riclag]

52 minutes ago, puck2 said:

Trump is leading the USA into a terrorcraty. His personal qualities miss any standard (must not explain them here. Everybody with a little brain in his/her head knows them).

 

Obama laid a golden (economical)  egg into USA/Trump's life. And you would like to tell us this egg stemmed from the the rep-supported  moron?

 

If you look a the history of last SOP (Sordid Old Party) president Obama had to clean the waste left behind from Bush.

 

Waite for more years to come. US debts rocketing , environment unhealthy, another fabricated war possible,  military budget up to the sky. The next Dem POTUS will have to clean the pigsty again.

Wrong ,it's BS,Obama made a mess of the world  .Many American's didn't want another 4 years of his apoligizing to the world for past administrations. He failed at uniting America ,hence change. His forcing people to  buy Obamacare or pay  a penalty tax, for me $800 for others who can't afford health Ins,more than that. In 2008 he ran on not giving in to lobbyist,years later he bailed out the banks than the CEO turned around and thanked him,while they were giving themselves millions in pay increases .

Obama went around the world and apologized for America .The scum bag let  America  down.

Edited September 8, 2018 by riclag

[riclag]

1 hour ago, puck2 said:

Trump is leading the USA into a terrorcraty. His personal qualities miss any standard (must not explain them here. Everybody with a little brain in his/her head knows them).

 

Obama laid a golden (economical)  egg into USA/Trump's life. And you would like to tell us this egg stemmed from the the rep-supported  moron?

 

If you look a the history of last SOP (Sordid Old Party) president Obama had to clean the waste left behind from Bush.

 

Waite for more years to come. US debts rocketing , environment unhealthy, another fabricated war possible,  military budget up to the sky. The next Dem POTUS will have to clean the pigsty again.

Yes the next Dem will take away Social Security  and open the boarders  for all to come .then take away the  American constitution and replace it with a manifesto. Obama to Cortez!

Edited September 8, 2018 by riclag

[PhonThong]

28 minutes ago, puck2 said:

Even if you pay the "highest" wages - does it mean it is enough for a "normal" family life?

 

 If you don't find a driver say thank you to Trump for his immigration policy.

 

You are really showing your ignorance. Our drivers can earn $100,000 plus in their first year.

 Trump's immigration policy has nothing to do with finding qualified drivers. Since our drivers have to obtain a hazmat endorsement. Non-U.S. citizen must be  a permanent resident of the U.S. Must hold a commercial class-A drivers license from their respective state and pass an FBI background investigation.

 If a person with those qualifications applies and  they have an excellent driving record, no traffic violations in the last five years, no DUI's and can pass a road test.  We would be very interested in them.

 You, should not respond to things you obviously know nothing about.

 

[Becker]

1 hour ago, PhonThong said:

  Right now I have two brand new Peterbilt 379's sitting in the company lot with no drivers because the economy is doing so well that I cannot find drivers.

I guess you're against the wall then...

Edited September 8, 2018 by Becker

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, riclag said:

You capitalized  R in Trump,It's actually capital T

Perhaps there's a clue in there as to what I think of this cowardly, draft-dodging, crooked, orange clown...…...ya think!

[riclag]

50 minutes ago, PhonThong said:

You are really showing your ignorance. Our drivers can earn $100,000 plus in their first year.

 Trump's immigration policy has nothing to do with finding qualified drivers. Since our drivers have to obtain a hazmat endorsement. Non-U.S. citizen must be  a permanent resident of the U.S. Must hold a commercial class-A drivers license from their respective state and pass an FBI background investigation.

 If a person with those qualifications applies and  they have an excellent driving record, no traffic violations in the last five years, no DUI's and can pass a road test.  We would be very interested in them.

 You, should not respond to things you obviously know nothing about.

 

 I like and can understand your point.I'm a retired, Business owner but before that during my youth I had all the endorsements  for a CDL. I probably would of retired from trucking with a full 30 years in, if it wasn't for NAFTA and how it took away many of the USA  southern and northern inter-modal operations. Good for You and to hell with Globalist! 

Edited September 8, 2018 by riclag

[riclag]

13 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Perhaps there's a clue in there as to what I think of this cowardly, draft-dodging, crooked, orange clown...…...ya think!

Have another drink ,son!

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, puck2 said:

Some people think the low unemployment and the high GDP are due to Trump's "actions". .

 

Reality is the rich are getting richer (especially by trumps tax "deals") and a very high number of workers are getting poorer and poorer. A situation now going around the world (maybe with the exception of China).

 

That is one of the main reasons of a right wing trend in many Western states. It seems to be more a protest against the (former) establishmentent/s which .let this people alone. Be sure Trump with his diminished intelligence will never be able to solve this problem of the divided US society.

Trump is playing the divide for his own ends.