With the political strife and hate fueled presidential campaigns of today, it's easy to feel nostalgic for 2008. Eight years ago our country came together to elect our first African American president. We made history. The Obama frenzy was palpable, and his campaign was built on grassroots organizers and normal people going out everyday and knocking on doors.
In 2008, I was so excited for Mr. Obama to ascend. I grew up in G.W. Bush-era America, and all I could think was that things were about to get a lot better. At 12, I wasn't as aware of all that goes into a campaign as I am now. I didn't watch every single debate like I do today. I didn't have the know-how or awareness to argue in Obama's favor eloquently.
Today, with Trump, Cruz, Clinton and Sanders to consider, I miss the old days of easy Obama love. Trump fuels my hate fire, Cruz is a nut, Clinton just does't inspire the same kind of devotion, and Bernie is just too partisan to be able to do anything later on.
What's going to happen after eight years of Obama? I wonder what America is going to look like. Because no matter what the charged right may say, Obama was a damned good president.
President Obama took office on the curtails of our modern day Great Depression. The housing market crisis was devastating and everyone felt the effects of the massive layoffs and unemployment. Obama inherited rocky terrain, but he came equipped with a shovel and got us out. From Obama's "stimulus package," the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the economy was boosted by 3.5 percent and created and sustained 2.1 million jobs, in just his first year.
Other highlights of Obama's tenure include the fact that in 2010 more jobs were created than in Bush's entire eight years in office. He helped save the auto industry, implemented much needed regulations in the financial sector, ensured the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," and, of course, implemented the Affordable Care Act, colloquially referred to as ObamaCare, which allowed 16.4 million uninsured people to gain coverage.
I love Obama. Even though the Republican controlled congress tried to sabotage his efforts at every turn, he tried his hardest to work for the good of our Nation. He pulled us out of crisis, and paved our way to recovery. He never stopped pushing for reforms and never stopped working.
My love for President Obama is as strong as it was when I stood in the freezing cold on Inauguration Day in 2009 on Capital Hill and watched history in the making. My worries now lie in the future, of who will be number 45. I only hope that whoever is the next leader of our nation looks to Obama's tenure for guidance to plan their stay in that old white house.
