# Obama Feints To the Left **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 20, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330 "2015-01-20T00:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/101 "2015-01-21T15:11:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I doubt that the President’s SOTU proposals are going to be particularly popular either. Paid sick leave and maternity leave, top-tier tax hikes and middle-class tax cuts, tax credits for child care, free community college . . . yes, political suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/102 "2015-01-21T15:14:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I doubt that the President’s SOTU proposals are going to be particularly popular either. What could he possibly have proposed that would have made him popular with you? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/103 "2015-01-21T15:16:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What could he possibly have proposed that would have made him popular with you? Ritual suicide. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/104 "2015-01-21T15:49:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Ritual suicide. It is indeed an ancient Kenyan tradition – **so** ancient, however, that the prescribed disembowelment-weapon is a banana, so . . . ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/105 "2015-01-21T16:02:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What could he possibly have proposed that would have made him popular with you? Perhaps he could have proposed to reduce health insurance premiums, freeze spending for three years (or five years), cut waste and fraud out of Medicare, eliminate red tape that hurts US businesses, and cut entitlement spending. [Oh, wait…](http://www.freedomworks.org/content/here-are-112-promises-barack-obama-made-state-union-speeches-he-didnt-keep) Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/106 "2015-01-21T16:59:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps he could have proposed to reduce health insurance premiums, freeze spending for three years (or five years), cut waste and fraud out of Medicare, eliminate red tape that hurts US businesses, and cut entitlement spending. > > [Oh, wait…](http://www.freedomworks.org/content/here-are-112-promises-barack-obama-made-state-union-speeches-he-didnt-keep) > > Regards, > Shodan The deficit was reduced by 60% over his first five years, but I don’t see that you are giving him any credit for that. If he had accomplished the things you mentioned, I’d bet you anything that you would give credit to Republicans for doing those things, or simply saying that it wasn’t enough. To slightly rephrase and repeat the question, what’s the point of Obama trying to make conservatives happy? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/107 "2015-01-21T17:08:46Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The deficit was reduced by 60% over his first five years, but I don’t see that you are giving him any credit for that. If he had accomplished the things you mentioned, I’d bet you anything that you would give credit to Republicans for doing those things, or simply saying that it wasn’t enough. To slightly rephrase and repeat the question, what’s the point of Obama trying to make conservatives happy? Things have gotten so bad for conservative critics that their big thing is to blame Obama for income inequality. Conservatives…complaining about income inequality. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/108 "2015-01-21T17:13:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps he could have proposed to reduce health insurance premiums, freeze spending for three years (or five years), cut waste and fraud out of Medicare, eliminate red tape that hurts US businesses, and cut entitlement spending. > > [Oh, wait…](http://www.freedomworks.org/content/here-are-112-promises-barack-obama-made-state-union-speeches-he-didnt-keep) > > Regards, > Shodan Obama is [significantly better](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/) than [the GOP](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/gop-pledge-o-meter/) on promises kept and not kept. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/109 "2015-01-21T17:26:19Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The deficit was reduced by 60% over his first five years, but I don’t see that you are giving him any credit for that. Sure, after he jacked the deficit way up. And no, he didn’t inherit a large deficit from Bush and then reduce it. TARP has been repaid almost in full, and the stimulus package was Obama, not Bush. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/110 "2015-01-21T17:26:28Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Obama is [significantly better](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/) than [the GOP](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/gop-pledge-o-meter/) on promises kept and not kept. Nevertheless, keeping less than half of his promises is nothing President Obama should be proud of. So why should anyone believe the promises made last night? Based on history, he’s more likely than not to fail to make good on them. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/111 "2015-01-21T17:31:26Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Nevertheless, keeping less than half of his promises is nothing President Obama should be proud of. So why should anyone believe the promises made last night? Based on history, he’s more likely than not to fail to make good on them. Did you read the link? He’s broken a quarter of the promises. He’s fully kept almost half, made compromises on another quarter, and has a handful in the works. So based on history, he’s a lot more likely to keep them then break them. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/112 "2015-01-21T17:34:46Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Did you read the link? He’s broken a quarter of the promises. He’s fully kept almost half, made compromises on another quarter, and has a handful in the works. > > So based on history, he’s a lot more likely to keep them then break them. I did read your link. Promises kept were only 45%. Why would anyone believe the next two years will be any different? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/113 "2015-01-21T17:40:13Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I did read your link. Promises kept were only 45%. Why would anyone believe the next two years will be any different? I’d love it if he kept 45% of these promises! That would be a triumph, for both his legacy and for the country. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/114 "2015-01-21T17:43:22Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I did read your link. Promises kept were only 45%. Why would anyone believe the next two years will be any different? He’s a President, not a dictator-How many does it take to tango, again? If it is your wish that he keep as many of his promises as possible, write to your Crongresscritters and tell them which areas you want them to cooperate on. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/115 "2015-01-21T17:46:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Sure, after he jacked the deficit way up. And no, he didn’t inherit a large deficit from Bush and then reduce it. TARP has been repaid almost in full, and the stimulus package was Obama, not Bush. See what I mean? About half of the increase to the deficit in 2009 was due to revenue losses caused by the recession. In the minds of conservatives, that inevitable outcome of the financial disaster that occurred in Bush’s term is reduced to “Obama jacked up the deficit!!!1!” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/116 "2015-01-21T17:47:16Z")
It’s funny how the conservatives only care about political promises actually being kept when it’s a Democrat in the White House. Apparently, anything less than 100%, either in promises kept or popularity poll results, is a total failure when we’re talking about Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/117 "2015-01-21T17:54:02Z")
Right – has anyone bothered to look at the promises made by Republicans in the House over the last four years? As Sarah Palin once did not say, how’s that “repeal and replace” stuff working out for ya? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/118 "2015-01-21T17:55:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > He’s a President, not a dictator-How many does it take to tango, again? If it is your wish that he keep as many of his promises as possible, write to your Crongresscritters and tell them which areas you want them to cooperate on. Once again, Congress is not obligated to cooperate with the President, any President, on furthering his agenda. Congress makes the laws, not the President. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/119 "2015-01-21T17:56:11Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Right – has anyone bothered to look at the promises made by Republicans in the House over the last four years? As Sarah Palin once did not say, how’s that “repeal and replace” stuff working out for ya? It’s the second link in my post #108. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/120 "2015-01-21T17:57:13Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Once again, Congress is not obligated to cooperate with the President, any President, on furthering his agenda. Congress makes the laws, not the President. Can you at least stick with a point you make? First you were complaining about the 45% of promises he’s kept, and now you’re excusing him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330.md?page=7)