Sure, his approval ratings were good, he got his Nobel Peace prize, and the TV comedians did not make fun of him. But what is his legacy?
A better measure would be to look at the long-term electoral consequences of his presidency.
The public has firmly rejected everything he stood for:
During his eight years in office, the Democrats lost 11 seats in the Senate and 69 in the House, relinquishing control of both chambers. Add to that a loss of 13 governorships and nearly 1,000 state legislative seats around the country — and now, of course, the White House. By those measures, the Democrats are politically weaker than at any time since the Coolidge administration.Has any other President done so poorly?
Richard Nixon was widely disliked, but many of his policies were popular and he did not damage his party very much.
Donald Trump causes embarrassment among liberals, and he triggers wacky emotional responses, but is he turning Republicans into Democrats? On balance, I doubt it.
Jimmy Carter was bad enuf to lose the White House and the Senate, but did not also lose the House.
When was the last time Obama even said anything that anyone paid attention to?
Let's face it. He was just a figurehead President, and he did not work out well for his political party.
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