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What phrase or statement will be associated with Obama's presidency?

Many past presidents have had phrases or statements linked to their presidencies. In FDR's first inauguration speech he tried to calm Americans' worries about the Great Depression when he said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."FDR's programs, such as the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps that were meant to take America out of the Great Depression were called "The New Deal". Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk which read, "The buck stops here.", which meant that he took responsibility for his actions and wouldn't pass blame to others. In JFK's inauguration speech, he challenged Americans to serve, rather than be served when he said, "And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." "The New Frontier" was a slogan used to inspire America to support him, then it became a label for JFK's domestic and foreign programs. LBJ's welfare programs were called "The War on Poverty" or "The Great Society". When Nixon denied his involvement in the Watergate break-in, he said, "Well, I'm not a crook." Because of Watergate, scandals end with

-gate Gerald Ford once said, "I'm not a Lincoln, I'm a Ford.", meaning he was a president of the common people. The economy was in recession under Jimmy Carter and was said to be in a "malaise". "The misery index" was at an all-time high of 21.98% in 1980 when Carter ran for re-election against Ronald Reagan. In one of his debates with Carter, Reagan asked the American people, "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Reagan would go on to ask the same question in his re-election campaign in 1984. Reagan once said that we had "a rendezvous with destiny" and that America was "the shining city on a hill", both referring to the greatness of America. He once called the Soviet Union, "the evil empire" and used the phrase, "Trust, but verify" in describing how he dealt with the Soviets. Reagan's ability to connect with the American people earned him the moniker, "The Great Communicator". When the economy showed signs of recovery, Reagan borrowed the title of one of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's song, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". Many Democrats voted for Reagan, so they were called, "Reagan Democrats". Reagan spoke at the Berlin Wall in 1987 and said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!". George H.W. Bush referred to volunteer organizations as "A thousand points of light". When Bill Clinton denied having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, he said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." George W. Bush described himself as a "compassionate conservative". After 9/11 we had a "War on Terror". In his 2002 State of the Union speech, he referred to Iran, Iraq and North Korea as "The Axis of Evil". Dick Morris called President Obama's high taxes and spending a "War on Prosperity". Will that term stick or will there be other phrases that will emerge?

24 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    "The Failures of Jimmah Cahtah - part 2"

    President Erkel will be regarded as the MOST incompetent, least able, unprepared, arrogant, ignorant, pathetic, intolerant, worthless and uninltelligent hard-line Marxist ever freely-elected EVER, ANYWHERE.

    November 2nd, 2010 will be known as National Take-Out-the-Marxist-Trash day!!

    tick

    tick

    tick...

  • 5 years ago

    This is the first time hearing that Sharpton said he would march on Washington. I would say unbelieveable, but from the likes of that guy, it certainly sounds true. I hope that if Obama gets elected, and it looks like it is a strong possiblity, that he isn't as dangerous as some of us think. I am with you on the charismatic part. Also, have you noticed his supporters have so much "hate" for those who aren't. I really liked Obama at first, but when I did research, I realized that he was just another politician, good at campaigning, getting the people to side with him at the same time having the backing of big business. If big corporations back you, you cannot possibly be for the little people.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    President Blame Bush

    When I think of the BO, I am reminded of his ALWAYS taking the focus away from himself and shifting it to his predecessor. He spent hundreds of millions of dollars during his campaign convincing the public that this recession was worse (than it was) than anything since the great depression. The public believed him, so consumer spending slowed and the economy suffered even more. Now President Blame Bush doesn't have a clue on how to manage the consumer (controlled) slowed economy.

  • Tom
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Change. I think that will be the phrase or word most associated with this loser of a president. I think he can stuff the change back in the drawer he pulled it out of. I don't like his trying to change us to a socialist type country.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Two come to mind so far:

    "Never let a crisis go to waste" - Rahm Emanuel (aka Dark Lord of the Sith)

    and

    "Uh...." - uttered every time he goes off prompter

  • 1 decade ago

    the defining quote of the obama administration was, concerning health care, "There ain't any rules. We're making them up as we go along."

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Unconstitutional, anti-liberty, anti-capitalist, insane, radical, socialist, moron named Barrack Hussein Obama.

    Currency collapse wasnt my fault will be his 2012 campaign.

  • 1 decade ago

    A line from the music of the Who

    "we won't get fooled again"

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Carteresque

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    From Jimmy Carter, "See! I told you I was not the worst!"

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