# What could Obama accomplish in a 2nd term that would secure a top 10 ranking for POTUS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 23, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604 "2012-10-23T07:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/41 "2012-10-24T16:22:34Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > So, eventual massive inflation and high unemployment (if 8+% unemployment is the problem 6.5% is no answer!!!) is what it takes to be listed as the top ten of all Presidents??? > I had no idea that Jimmy Carter was one of our best presidents,\*\* EVER!!!\*\* > > Especially since I was an adult then, and remember how bad it sucked! I musta been high huh?:rolleyes: Possibly, considering the decade. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/42 "2012-10-24T19:59:21Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Possibilities: > Take major action on global warning and the promotion of non-carbon energy. > > Improve the drug situation so that the drug wars and drug imprisonments are brought under control. That probably means legalization of marijuana and availability of addictive drugs by prescription. I’m not sure what to do about meth/coke/crack. > > Greater movement toward socialized healthcare. That could be his big legacy if he can sell it directly to the public and steamroll his opposition. I’m not sure he has the personality to do that, but it’s possible. But I think this brings up the point I made above. If Barack Obama was the kind of person who was prepared to take bold actions like this, where has he been for the last four years? Obama is the kind of president that works within reasonable limits - that’s his nature and I don’t see that changing. Prudence isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Look at Bush - he was a President who was willing to be bold and he often screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/43 "2012-10-24T21:40:49Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I dunno, although it’s not on the cards right now - if Obama were to broker a deal with Israel leading to lasting peace - or if the “Arab Spring” really gathers pace and grows exponentially he could be propelled into the top ten. > > ETA - if he could bring North Korea into the international fold and do something lasting for Iran as well then perhaps - both are unlikely, but not totally impossible if enough things go well in other areas. Iraq and Afghanistan become stable democracies that can defend themselves. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/44 "2012-10-24T22:28:10Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#): > > As a liberal Obama supporter your post is a reminder of why I hate progressives. > > You hit all the bullshit except “GLASS STEAGALL”! > > (except ending the Drug War - Obama’s only real failure) I would favor a full repeal of Glass Steagall including FDIC. Besides that, I think you’re woefully uninformed about the nature and history of progressivism in the United States. It was never anti-war. It still isn’t. It was never against rule by executive fiat. It still isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/45 "2012-10-24T23:14:06Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > It’s what historians do. Not good ones. The idea that some historian is going to be able to evaluate what the economy might have been without Obama is laughable. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/46 "2012-10-25T00:55:52Z")
No president will ever make the top ten list within ten years, but I think Obama might have a shot several decades from now. If Obama wins a second term and trending demographics make it impossible for the GOP in it’s current form to EVER retake the White House, Obama may be remembered as the first in a long lasting dynasty of progressive presidents, and a poster child of a more diverse electorate. He may be judged by what follows his presidency as much as what happens during it. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/47 "2012-10-25T06:31:53Z")
1st term - end the Iraq War 2nd term - end the [War on Terror](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Terror) ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604/48 "2012-11-04T00:09:50Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Besides that, I think you’re woefully uninformed about the nature and history of progressivism in the United States. It was never anti-war. It still isn’t. It was never against rule by executive fiat. It still isn’t. Jane Addams and Randolph Bourne were out there in the trenches then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-obama-accomplish-in-a-2nd-term-that-would-secure-a-top-10-ranking-for-potus/638604.md?page=2)