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Subscribe to RSSLast February – on the eve of the passage of a controversial health care bill and amidst increasing skepticism of the 2009 stimulus plan – many voters who had previously supported Barack Obama were beginning to sour on the president.
But one prominent American was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“I really like him. We'll have to see how he does,” Donald Trump told CNN in an interview. “On a personal basis, I like him. … Right now, he's at that tipping point. It's going to go one way or the other.
It was, apparently, a steep slope after that tipping point. In an interview last week, Trump categorically dubbed Obama “the worst president ever.”
But Trump, whose presidential flirtations have been coupled with television omnipresence in recent months, has only taken a tough view of the most recent resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue within the last year.
As late as April 2010, just a year ago, Trump said that “the jury’s still out” on Obama’s job performance, noting just that he’d “like to see” the president get tougher on OPEC and China.
At times, Trump’s disdain for George W. Bush provided the backdrop for the real estate mogul’s optimism about Obama.
In March 2009, after the passage of the stimulus, Trump pointed – as the Obama administration itself has often done – to mistakes made by Obama’s predecessor as the primary origins of the nation’s economic woes.
“I think we have a president who is working very hard and trying very hard. He inherited a mess,” Trump said of Obama, adding that he believed the nation was on track for a quick recovery. “I really believe that it is going to get very good, and I think within two years it will be like the old days, but with some restrictions [on the economy.]”
It’s no secret that Trump has evolved on several GOP plank issues; including abortion (he was once pro-choice but recently explained his pro-life conversion) and health care (he wrote in a 2000 book “we must have universal healthcare.”)
But he has also praised specific plans backed by the Obama administration to jumpstart the economic recovery, some of them particularly reviled by the Tea Party constituency he hopes to court.
In February 2009, for example, Trump embraced Obama’s efforts to cap the salaries of Wall Street executives whose companies were receiving government support, saying “he’s absolutely right” to institute salary limits.
In the same interview, he hailed the young administration’s plans to inject funds into the economy, affirming that “I would certainly vote for a stimulus.”
The Donald has also repeatedly praised the Troubled Asset Relief Program (which passed under President George W. Bush and was backed by both 2008 presidential nominees), saying that the hastily-passed bank bailout bill saved the economy from certain disaster.
"A year ago, the government did the right thing or really I believe we would have been in a depression," he said in the fall of 2009.
And in December of that year, Trump praised the administration for meeting with banking executives but lamented the reluctance of financial organizations to do more to loosen more funds for loans. Their unwillingness to listen to the White House, he added, “show[ed] a great lack of respect for the president.”
By the way, Trump's naming of Obama as "the worst president ever" updates his previous statements about his least-favorite leader of the free world.
“I think Bush is probably the worst president in the history of the United States,” he said in March 2007.
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"the Donald" is a total clown
don't know why anyone takes him seriously
inherited $200 million then went bankrupt 3 times....oh yeah..."not me.....just buiness" duh ...WE all pay for that......google up his low life buiness scams....many small people hurt...check out the Baja Mexico scam
Trump is just an egomaniac that wants his name out there...he will never run....too much crap will come out
"i'm much much much richer than you"....Trump is an just an old adolesant ...god forbid American voters are that stupid
Voters were that stupid in 2000, 2004 and 2010 so maybe Trump will win.
MSNBC has two reasons to keep focusing on celebrity Donald Trump, rather than important issues like the President blatantly breaking another campaign promise with his signing statements.
First and foremost, MSNBC is in the tank for Obama, and will focus on what helps the Obama campaign.
Second, NBC and Donald Trump air a weekly show, and the more publicicty, the higher the ratings.
Do you think that MSNBC is the only outlet giving this clown press? Wake up and smell the coffee.
Oh Bob, what are we going to do with you?
First NBC needs to smarten up and cancel The Apprentice so that Donald can run for President maybe with Michell Bachmann and get her out of the state I love and when they get the floor whipped up with themselves, Don should put on a dress and join the Housewives of New York City so we can all watch him get bitch slapped by Ramona. Don't you just love Ramona?
Seriously : fire the man NBC, he's a looser.............
loser is spelled l-o-s-e-r, not l-o-o-s-e-r!!
WIPED is spelled W-I-P-E-D not W-H-I-P-P-E-D.
All those people who you people fired the last election were the ones who was trying to help.us..........know look who yall put in office in each state the take awayers......
Actually, Trump seems like the quintessential politician, a 'hypocrite,' from the top, down. His explanation of Libya, "lets just go take their oil, leave them a little, but take it."
I think we've found the a Sarah Palin clone!
Trump is doing what Trump does best, gather publicity, what's horrible is, as usual, the white, republican tea baggers will cater too, and bow down to him, as they do Limbaugh, the entertainer.
Am I alone?...Still don't see a single qualified potential candidate for prez. out there...
Just clowns.....a little scary!
I hear the job has great bennies...maybe I should run.....i'm a retired carpenter, but have some common sense!
Donnie is the best thing next to the tea party that could happen to President Obama. He has fired up the President and the democrats more than Palin or any one else. With all his nonsence.
Be a Chump vote for Trump.
Trump's an idiot. Anybody could do what he does. He's failed a number of times and gets bailed out due to the very policies he's now proclaiming to be against.
He's a joke and fodder for the media. And he's a super-sad reflection on the utter stupidity of the Republican base.
Why do these "Talking Heads" keep promoting this Publicity Hound Donald Trump?
He couldn't get elected "Dog Catcher" in a one Dog Town..........and just another Corporate "Clown".
Hmm but he does have a lot of experience with OUR Bankruptcy! Maybe we ought ta........naw his Toupee would then get US ALL!
Donnie you aint't never gonna be Hired let alone FIRED no matter what your "Talking Heads" say.....
Vote for the Real Front Runners.........
Ron Paul / Ralph Nader and only their supporters in 2012!
At least they have REAL Experience!
I hear he would like to make a huge statue of himself.....
But can't figure out how to keep the pidgeons from nesting 'n craping off the hair do....
Trump works for Fox "news" now. He is being paid to say the ridiculous things he's been saying. How do you think he manages to stay rich (aside from regularly claiming bankruptcy)? He does and says stuff for money - a LOT of money.
I think it's sad how he goes around the country spewing his ignorance and misleading weak minded people that apparently are "not wrapped too tight."
Heeeers Donald! Again,every four years getting free and easy publicity.
@OneForTheToads...You are 100% correct!!! Thank you!
Donald for pres and Sarah for Vp thats the how to win!
I love this editorial 'pin the tail on the donkey' stuff. This entire article was built around what Trump thought or said in 2009. Let's see? Ummmmm........I suppose nothing has happened in the last 2 years....nothing in the world. Failed stimulas packages, cash for clunkers, Wall St. bailout, 4 trillion dollar increase in debt etc....etc...so let's 'pin the tail on the Trump' with what we know today.....I wonder if Carrie Dunn ever said or thought anything would change in her life or in the world in the last 2 years??? Oh, probably not.
You'll find him on the ballot....BIGKINGDINGALING....
Trump will make a good Republican, he keeps changing his opinion to suit what will get the right wing vote.
The more Trump speaks the more I realize he is a buffoon. He got where he got on the strength of his dad's busiiness and his own ego. Without either of those and he would be nothing.
Trump 2012 - Obama "you're fired"! Bumper Sticker spotted on a Rolls Royce.
Quoting Don Bosson "Failed stimulus packages, cash for clunkers, Wall St. bailout, 4 trillion dollar increase in debt etc" ....I say "Worst President in the history of the United States! Impeach him, recall his administration and fire all the czars! " What say you?
Yes...yes....and more yes.
OMG - love it! Keep the freak show coming! The GOP/tea simpletons are hysterical. Where did you guys get such a deep bench of complete wackos? Enjoy that sliver of sunlight while you have it hillbillies - We're coming to crush you.
Marilyn Davenport add Trump to the racist list
The other thing is while Trump is a bit of a showman......I'll give him that. He has been successful. He has the money, you don't....so cut him slack....but I'll tell you this. Read his resume. You what to go negotiate the price of oil with OPEC, the importation of Chinese products into this country, and their manipulation of their currency against ours or Russian anything....you want this guy on your side. AND HIS KIND OF BUSINESS MOXIE IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SAVE THIS COUNTRY ECONOMICALLY.....otherwise the ACLU will find themselves called the CCLU....and trust me, the Chinese could give a @!$%# about your civil liberties. You ACLU loving mo fo's won't have a platform to discuss your rights, so you better start supporting those people who will provide you the right to have your platform. You don't want some diplomatic lawyer Congressman or Senator negotiating on your behalf. Look what they've done for you. They've gotten you so goddamn deep in debt you'll never see the light of day. The only thing those people know how to do is compromise. @!$%#'em.....all.
Whoa......now when did Trump become a racist?
2012 "Donald holds the Trump card" ... and yet another Bumper Sticker is spotted on a Mercedes!
Why would a lib have that bumper sticker?
I love riddles !
"Why would a lib have that bumper sticker?" To keep their beater clunker from falling apart!
we have not had a president look after this country since , ike. nafta the great sucking sound. democrates or republicans have not adressed this issue. mr trump has, we will listen, but we will not act. our factories will close and we will not act, our children will not have a future and will not act, our social security pot will run dry and will not act. our country has stoped growing. teach our children it's ok to work. buy the goods they make, so they can have chance. pay them a deseant wage. we will never compete with the world in price and besides some one will always work for less, do want your children to work for less. so many isues, suport americia and get the facts or think? fact they use our used motor oil to ship goods here "free fuel nice"