# Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 15, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463 "2016-06-15T21:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IBuildEm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@IBuildEm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IBuildEm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/1 "2016-06-15T21:02:31Z")
I have met a great many people that said “I voted for Obama, but I regret it now” Coming to the conclusion that there is nothing that can be said to justify Obama’s actions, whether it be on international trade, terror, or domestic social issues. Many people know that Obama has added more to the national debt than every other president combined. A common liberal counterargument is that he was dealing with fallout from the Bush presidency. When debating these people, they almost always say they did not know about the national debt, they did not know about the executive actions, they did not know what a constitution is and the vital role it plays for our country, they did not know of the ACORN and 800,000 Mickey Mouse votes for Obama in Florida, they did not know of the health insurance companies being forced to drop out of the healthcare marketplace due to Obamacare’s affordable care act and the drop in premium costs for citizens but the spike in costs for the providers. A new argument I have heard is that because of the “Global crash in 2008, adding this extreme amount of national debt was justified.” My question for you, is that true? Is the decline that happened in 2008 a just cause for pumping more national debt into this country than every other president combined? [http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg](http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/2 "2016-06-15T21:07:00Z")
Not bothering with anything other than the base question of “was the adding of government debt in 2008 and beyond necessary”, it was only necessary to prevent a Greater Depression, which would have been far, far worse than a difference of debt of $13 trillion to $17 trillion. Leaving the rest of your post to others. [http://www.polidiotic.com/by-the-numbers/us-national-debt-by-year/](http://www.polidiotic.com/by-the-numbers/us-national-debt-by-year/) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/3 "2016-06-15T21:14:44Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > I have met a great many people that said “I voted for Obama, but I regret it now” … > [URL=“[Loonwatch.com](http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg)”] Welcome to the Board!! I have never personally met anyone who has said that. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/4 "2016-06-15T21:15:49Z")
On the contrary, I voted for Obama in 2012 and don’t regret it one bit. I did vote for McCain in 2008 and I regret that vote. President Obama has been a fantastic President and I think will be remembered as one of the top tier Presidents in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/5 "2016-06-15T21:15:55Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > [http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg](http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg) What the hell does that picture have to do with any of your questions? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/6 "2016-06-15T21:17:07Z")
Once again, I’m surprised to find that Obama is running for re-election. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/7 "2016-06-15T21:18:10Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > What the hell does that picture have to do with any of your questions? It’s a site called “loonwatch”. Clearly, the OP believes in truth in advertising. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/8 "2016-06-15T21:23:43Z")
Very few people ever express regret over voting for the losing candidate. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/9 "2016-06-15T21:24:00Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > I have met a great many people that said “I voted for Obama, but I regret it now” Coming to the conclusion that there is nothing that can be said to justify Obama’s actions, whether it be on international trade, terror, or domestic social issues. Many people know that Obama has added more to the national debt than every other president combined. A common liberal counterargument is that he was dealing with fallout from the Bush presidency. When debating these people, they almost always say they did not know about the national debt, they did not know about the executive actions, they did not know what a constitution is and the vital role it plays for our country, they did not know of the ACORN and 800,000 Mickey Mouse votes for Obama in Florida, they did not know of the health insurance companies being forced to drop out of the healthcare marketplace due to Obamacare’s affordable care act and the drop in premium costs for citizens but the spike in costs for the providers. > > A new argument I have heard is that because of the “Global crash in 2008, adding this extreme amount of national debt was justified.” My question for you, is that true? Is the decline that happened in 2008 a just cause for pumping more national debt into this country than every other president combined? > > [http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg](http://www.loonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barack-Obama-in-Kenya-006.jpg) 1. Where did you hear this supposed “new argument”? 2. Why did you link to that picture? 3. Why did you post your question in this forum? ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/10 "2016-06-15T21:45:15Z")
I have met a great many people that lie. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/11 "2016-06-15T21:45:27Z")
“Every other president combined” is a category which includes George W. Bush. Therefore, the claim is simply false. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/12 "2016-06-15T21:49:24Z")
More a rant, really I’ll move it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/13 "2016-06-15T21:50:58Z")
I eagerly await clarification on the 800,000 Mickey Mouse votes for Obama in FL in 2008. Maybe, like Bernie’s missing California votes, they’re hidden in Hillary’s email server! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/14 "2016-06-15T21:54:32Z")
Obama is leaving the country in better shape than it was in when he took office. Bush left the country in worse shape than it was in when he took office. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/15 "2016-06-15T22:08:08Z")
I was off by one month when I guessed the join date. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/16 "2016-06-15T22:13:52Z")
The Pit? Hey, welcome to the board, Jackass! 🙂 Have a nice day! ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/17 "2016-06-15T22:33:58Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > I was off by one month when I guessed the join date. May? Wow, you’re right, that’s pretty surprising. Contrary to the notion that everyone is wising up and wishes they hadn’t voted for Obama because they didn’t know what a constitution was or why it was important, expect in 2017 a giant tsunami of Strange New Respect from the Right Wing Media. “I never thought I’d say this but at least Obama would never have done this terrible horrible no-good thing Hillary just did!” ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/18 "2016-06-15T22:44:58Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > I have met a great many people that said “I voted for Obama, but I regret it now” Here in the UK we obviously didn’t vote for Obama, but we know he’s a good President. > [@IBuildEm](#): > > When debating these people, they almost always say they did not know about the national debt, they did not know about the executive actions, **they did not know what a constitution is and the vital role it plays for our country** , (bolding mine) Here in the UK we know what a constitution is (even though we don’t have a written one.) Surely every American knows about their Constitution - who on earth are you talking to? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/19 "2016-06-15T22:49:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Obama is leaving the country in better shape than it was in when he took office. Bush left the country in worse shape than it was in when he took office. This is simply factually, empirically, statistically true. -So it will be ignored by those who hate Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463/20 "2016-06-15T22:51:55Z")
1. Obama has not added more to the national debt than every other president combined. ([cite](https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm)) 2. The national debt is a product of the yearly deficit. Obama was handed not only the highest deficit in history, but the highest deficit to debt ratio. The Sep 30, 2009 deficit was 1/6th the national debt. At that rate, he should have doubled the debt in fewer than 6 years! 3. The deficit is calculated by subtracting expenses from revenue. The federal revenue normally increases every year, but it dropped slightly in FY 2008 and dropped drastically in FY 2009 because of the recession. Federal revenue didn’t surpass FY 2007 levels until FY 2013. ([cite](http://www.usgovernmentrevenue.com/federal_revenue_chart)) 4. People who make the claim about Obama doubling the debt don’t understand the debt or deficit; or they just don’t care because it makes a good sound bite. 5. I voted for Obama three times, and I only second guess the first time, when he ran against Hillary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama/757463.md?page=2)