Here’s the letter Obama is sending to people who ask him about the state of the country:
Thank you for writing. I hear your concerns, and I want you to know I’m listening.
Our country’s progress has never followed a straight line — for every two steps forward, it often feels like we take one step back. But I hope you’ll remember that the long sweep of America is defined by forward motion, and the course we chart from here depends on no one person alone.
Our destiny will be decided the same way it always has been: by all of us; by we, the people: by selfless and engaged citizens who step forward and speak out to guard the values that make us who we are — not just when there’s an election, but every day.
Our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted, and change only happens when people get involved. As long as folks like you keep looking out for others and working to defend America’s promise, I’m confident our future will be bright. Please know Michelle and I will continue standing alongside you.
It is encouraging that Tuesday a lot of people went to the polls to vote against Trump’s policies: The Daily 202: Anti-Trump backlash fuels a Democratic sweep in Virginia and elections across the country.
Fingers crossed for the future, but there are no guarantees. As Hillary Clinton showed us, being anti-Trump isn’t nearly enough.
I don’t know much of the scenario there – but it always strikes me – it has a lot to do with the mass-size of your land…all the states with just many ideals about what is right and what isn’t…
Coming from the voice of a very small country, where there are many differing values depending on whether you’ve city/rural – N.Is/S.Is – then there’s the gender thing, the land versus other businesses…blah, blah, & more blah.
Yes, that’s the problem. The Republicans here spent eight years opposing Obama, but now that they’re in power they’re having trouble agreeing on what they want to accomplish, what laws to pass. It’s highly likely the Democrats will have a similar problem if they get control of Congress.
That cartoon resonates. We have TINA here – There Is No Alternative.
Hopefully the Democrats can come up someone better than Hillary. In recent polls she still ranked lower than Trump.
I’m wondering if the media and the Democrat party aren’t reading too much into this. In recent history, their interpretive abilities on political polls and election results haven’t played out too well.
The articles I’m reading say the Democrats won’t necessarily win in 2018. That doesn’t mean the Republican candidates will be Trump supporters.
I think mike might be right.
I hadn’t heard about obama’s letter. thanks for showing it here.
we’ve always seemed to have such a pendulum swinging thing going.
we vote in one side or the other when fed up. then disappointment with that side reins then the other side is voted in. ad infinitum ad nauseam.
and since now it has become so completely polarized… nothing gets done.
i like your cartoon too!
“Throw the rascals out!” has been around for a long time. 😀
I remember my dad telling to never vote against someone because the other may be worse.
Great advice!
I was lifted by Obamas’s words. History will prove that he was one of America’s greatest presidents. It is encouraging to know that he is still out there, thinking of you, trying to make a contribution, no matter how small.
Some people criticize him for not speaking up more, but I think he’s wise to keep a low profile. Enough people are ready to attack him that it would be a distraction.