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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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Everyone knows hes a fake...half of the buildings with his name are owned by others ....they pay to use his name ...He is always in foreclosure and borrows money from others ....i doubt hes even wealthy...he's another weirdo like palin !
Look out!!! SWIFT BOATS!!!!
we need someone, i have thought about pero lately ,and i keep thinking about those charts and how true they were, every since 92 this country has been dieing. i think our leaders should be tried for treson. anyone who voted for nafta that is should bought into court . lets see here, old newt,clinton,bush,biship more then half of congress. Most of them still up on the hill on both sides. I was thinking lets get chuck norris or george forman to run but they know it's a lost cause, they won't run. sara pallin drive toyota, pat pulled up at union meeting in mercades, these people don't get it we won't american jobs back and money in our pockets. i will vote for trump because he is like pero and i will not make the same mistake twice. All wars in history we over trade . things do not change we all need jobs still. it's like this, we all need our social security, and when we don't work we can't pay in.
No. No. No. WE'RE BEING SWIFT BOATED!!!
Multiple bankruptcies, multiple divorces, playing with his daddy's money while he cons others into giving him more and people are seriously listening to this clown??? What a strong field of candidates the Republicans have! Isn't it interesting that the only viable Republican candidate started a health system in his state that is very similar to "Obamacare"
His dad had money not that much not like being born a Kennnedy. Where you can kill people, rape women etc.. and because of your surname you get off. Trump is no saint,and I wouldn't vote for him but there are WAY WORSE IN D.C.
Great chance that Obama will not be reelected , because our great democrac is ne of the few i the world that the majority of persons are prepared to vote against their intrest . They will vote that they alone are responsible for fixing the financial chaos that has cripped the economy , that the richest Americans should not be accountable . They will vote that their childrens education be imperilled , but the wars around the world should be fully funded . They will vote that the 60 million Americans , without healthcare are iresponsible and shiftless . They will vote that the fundamentals of American society , such as medicare , should be privatised and benefits reduced . The ordinary Joe Blow will vote that collective bargaining is not a right of the American worker ., and that all public officials are shiftless and overpaid. They will vote that the tax policy that has a widening gap between rich and poor is in their best intrest . They will vote that anyone who attempts to reform a system that has led to the wholesale onslaught on middle-class America , is a person who doesnt understand American values and therefore could not bee born here . They are likely to believe that the President , half chimpanese half man has descended from another planet , and is really the anti-Christ , no wonder China and india and the worlds developing is outperforminf America in the class-room , the board room abnd every where else in betwee . God bless America , land we love .
Proof Read
In the end we have voted in politicians for the past however long. I am ready to give an outsider a chance especially with his business background. Especially when we are about to lose our credit rating because the rest of the world is saying "you guys are idiots". Its nice to see the rest of the country has now caught up to the Tea Party!!! Even the libs want to tax more so they can borrow more. That's a WOW.
Business back ground? This guy filed for bankruptcy THREE times. Someone should check HIS credit rating along with his birth certificate... yeah. Just the guy we need to bail us out. Good one, there. Trump. May god help you.
He has also gotten out three times and comes back. I mean come on! Do we stick with the politicians that got us into this mess or a guy that has real experience IN THE REAL WORLD with debt and getting out of it? After Bush and Obama = Bush2.0 I would like to see someone that understands the system than just study it in college and tries theories to see if they work.
Do you not think it was REAL people financing Trump and left holding the bag for his follies?
Come on! Seriously you want to elect him because he has the most experience with BANKRUPTCY?
That is a legitimate reason to let someone run the government; which is NOTHING like business?
Get real.
"I am ready to give an outsider a chance especially with his business background".
Remember the last businessman president we had --- the only one with an MBA?? His name was George W Bush --- the one who got us into this mess in the first place.
You can't question the education and EXPERIENCE of the Republicans. They intuitively know best and don't have to support that assertion with actual successful OUTCOMES.
I mean Trump has THREE Chapter 11 bankruptcies. You just can't buy that kind of experience. (But then again, why would you want to?)
I'm not saying Trump is all wonderful or anything, but I think he would be just the person to hand China it's azz! Obama just wants to be bed buddies with them!!!!
I wouldn't vote for him but he has a lot of people nervous on this site and you all like to make up sh** about him. You don't have a clue. If you are a dem like me youshould be worried about the guy we have in charge he is one of the worst by far. He is right up there with GW Bush. We should have elected Hillary. Let's not be fooled again.
Does your history knowledge begin in 2000?
No Ed Does yours I'm just honest I can admit when I make a mistake some people can't. Tell me what makes Mr. Obama so great. Record deficit? Record debt? 4.25 a gal? out of Gitmo in the first week? Out of Iraq in the first week? 10% unemployment? Ramming health care through when over 60% didn't want it? Saying he doesn't care what the American people want he knows better? Keeping the Bush tax cut in after saying he wouldn't? Then taking credit for as a tax cut? Saying we shouldn't be in any war in the middle east but goes into LIbya? Rips Bush( and he should) then does exactly the same thing? Dividing the country like we haven't seen in decades? Transparency? Why do youthink we got our a**es handed to us in 2010? He lied and pissed off the Independents. Try to be honest with yourself. Where is the good stuff Ed? We should have elected Hillary and you know it.
Hey Ed If you could really be honest,Mr. Obama could be impeached according to the U.S. Constitution!
1. Health Care is Unconstitutional but you know this already because you are a HISTORY scholar.
2. Going to war with Libya without congress approval.
Both are impeachable acts. you knew that right Ed? At least the dim wit before him had the backing of congress even Reid Pelosi Clinton wanted to go to war with Iraq. When we went to war with Iraq over 80% of the country agreed. We were mislead by Bush but none the less
ED?
thanks Time4truth, at least someone is being honest on this site, all these people can do is bash Trump, they are so afraid of something. Even the way the article was written is a friggin joke! It is sooo slanted to the left it ain't even funny!
Beantown I'm embarrassed to say I voted for Mr. Obama. I'm human I made a mistake.
Thank you Time4truth, you are absolutely correct in all your statements. And where is Ed???? Didn't like the truth, oh well people of his nature usually don't. I'm not going to lie to you time4truth, I am a republican but I would have voted for Obama had I not had enough time to establish residence in my state. I was literally moving at the time. I thought he was great during the primaries, said a lot of things I really thought were meaningful but nonetheless fooled me too.
It's amazing that some of us can admit when we were wrong, like voting (or almost did) the wrong guy in Office, but the guy in Office refuses to admit he's leading us all wrong. Obama doesn't have to come out and say the words but he can just start to lead differently, that would be enough for me. Actions mean more than words anyway.
Just my opinion, thank you to all for reading it!
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee all the way home
we have been sold out by both parties, they are just finishing up the sherring of thier sheep, good night all.
Can you imagine Obama actually having to have a political debate with this guy? Obama would tear him to shreds. I hope he runs. Oh god, I hope he runs...
Please. I don't think either one could win a debate they will be beat by the girl in the pant suit. Hillary is going to run she and Obama don't like each other.
A debate between them would be ridiculous. One is a politician and the other is a businessman. Almost two different languages. One would be all about taking money and the other is about making money.
Well said Justonesoldier. Obama has never even run a company, Trump is amusing but I don't think he would have the respect from congress let alone world leaders
When a candidate (Trump) throws his hat in the ring the lies and mudslinging start early. You can't very well support the president you're trying to run against now can you? C'mon Republicans, put somebody in there with an ounce of credibility.
That's really no surprise. A lot of people thought that Obama would bring his campaign promises to bare but instead he exploited the house and senate to the demise of the US giving away billions to big business and forcing a not so popular healthcare bill down the Americans throats. I would say he is not only the worst president we have ever had but a liar as well. Trump is on every news channel out there getting exposure more than any other candidate and he hasn't even said if he will run or not. That's simply brilliant. He has all of the "birther" votes. Can anyone else make such a claim, especially the so called front runners? Trump is doing what Trump does best....win at what he does even if it "defies conventional wisdom". Get over it already.
Out of everything, pros and cons. Trump is not a politician. That might be enough to win. The last guy that tried was Ross perot. He got enough of the electorate to put Clinton in the White house with out winning over 50% of the vote. If Trump runs as an independent Obama wins easily. Republicans know that and will work hard at getting him the nonimation or bury him at the bottom of the Ocean. I don't think the Repubs would want him since he is not a politician and they could not rob from the American people like both parties have been doing for the last 20 some odd years.
Trump is Windows 95
Obama is Commodore 64.
PLEASE let's find someone with some skills for this office.
The last 10 years have been difficult. Bush had convictions, but no economic plan. Obama has no leadership skills and his economic plans are worse than Bushs' PLEASE can't we find someone with a clue to be President?
I highly doubt the Trump will run for president and people are wrong to think one man can make such a change. It is going to take the people getting involved, marching and demanding truth from their leaders. Unfortunately as Trump is showing, politics has become too much show and not enough leadership.
If Donald Trump is the best the Republicans can offer, they are in serious trouble.
Yeah it would be like putting a Community organizer in the White House.
This clown makes Sarah Palin look smart. He is a moron, and a liar. Perfect for politics.
Everyone basically took Obama at his word. But apparently that was all that Obama had going for him, was his words. Nice pretty words which added up to little or no action to support those words. Everyone is sick and tired of falling for Obama's words, which in the end add up to little or no beneficial change at all. If he does change anything, he usually screws it up. - RC
Trump supposedly sent his "team" around the first of April to investigate the President's origin of birth. How's that going for ya, Donald--it's been a few weeks now? Where are all the facts, evidence, and proof? Trump might want to shut up about who is worse at what.
I guess most people are sheep and their IQ's are even lower than *hit, really people get a life
Nixon, Bush II, by a mile, Trump's word isn't worth crap, since he joined the "birthers"!?
It appears to me that many Republicans, and Tea Partiers are the souless bunch in this Nation. The extortions this President has been dealing with since his election? Well, if anyone had a thinking brain? They just might realize we no longer count in our voting. The Supreme Court made sure of that, and they're the ones who really run this Nation. We have too many greedy Politicians in this Country who could care less about the Middle Class, the Poor, Children, Women, the Disabled, our Veterans, and the Elderly. Corporations rule right along with the rich, which includes many Politicians! The disturbing part is that Education is being cut, and boy, do Americans need that most of all!
On the subject of Trump, I have decided that people who even write about him giving him media coverage is as much of an idiot as he is. I wonder how much Trump is paying him or her?
The Daffy will vote for "the Donald". Quack!
Trump is insistently flaunting his riches and power, but he's never said anything about what it really took to get him there. My family is close to the business men and laborers who built Trump's NJ Taj Mahal. He filed bankruptcy shortly after building was complete, leaving every worker unpaid. He's done dirty things and is focusing on Obama's birthplace to distract people from it. I would be more contented if Trump could come out and admit his poor past himself instead of pushing for Obama to admit his (if it is indeed not as we've been told).
In the know--- So has Obama, Bush,Buffet, Koch Bros., AND THE KING of the dirty players SOROS. So before heaving stones around check into who you are defending.Most rich people have stepped on the little people and most millionaires/billionaires have gone bankrupt unless they are born with billions.