What do you see Obama doing in his post-presidency?

[liberalpragmatist]

I know this is *really* far off, but a friend of mine and I were talking about what ex-presidents have done with their lives, and we both wondered what Obama will do. If he's a one-termer, he'd leave office aged only 51. If he's a two-termer, he'd leave office aged 55.

Bill Clinton obviously got heavily involved in philanthropy and became a champion of his wife's career, in the hope of returning to the White House in a supporting role as First Gentleman.

What do you think Obama will do? Run for office again? (Senate? Congress? Governor of Illinois? Mayor of Chicago?) Do the whole philanthropy/public speaking-thing ala Bill Clinton or the public service/freelance diplomacy of Jimmy Carter? I could see him on the Supreme Court, but I think that's unlikely if only because the Chief Justiceship is probably not going to be open and I can't see him being a junior associate justice.

Honestly, I could see him becoming the president of a major university. Maybe UIC, Northwestern or U. Chicago.

[BlooInBloo]

1. SCOTUS? Find a community somewhere that needs organizing? Who knows?

[liberal N proud]

2. I am just looking forward to what he is going to do with his Presidency

I am hoping for 8 great years for America with Obama at the helm.

We will think about his post Presidency later (8 years later)

[Muttocracy]

3. don't know I wonder too - author and part-time law professor for a while? nt

[vadawg]

4. 8 years is a long time, he could end up being a hero, or doing time

theres no way to know, theres that dude benedict arnold who i believe was a hero then a zero and you know how people love to see people fall.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. The kids will still be around so that may affect his decision on what to do immediately after.

[saltpoint]

6. I think he's a 2-termer, no matter which candidate the GOP nominates in

2012. Which means both he and Michelle are 2-termers and can do the world a world of good for a sustained period of time.

Afterward, I see them both in the continuum of service that has brought them to where they are and will likely inpsire them to keep going.

Foundations, global poverty, educational reform, university work, health care advocacy -- really there is nothing they could take on that they wouldn't bolster dramatically. What allies they would be to lend their time and talents to any fight worth the fighting.

[firedupdem]

7. +1 n/t

[onetwo]

8. He will be set for life on speaking fees alone.

[NYC_SKP]

19. That's not what he'll do. He'll continue to get shit done, important shit.

More like Carter, less like Clinton.

[onetwo]

38. Bet you he gets to $100 mil faster than Clinton did.

:evilgrin:

I'm betting on Obama's retirement being a hybrid of both Clinton's and Carter's. He will continue to do meaningful things while finding financial freedom along the way.

I can't wait to buy his book in 2017.

[GrantDem]

45. Agreed...

[SamCooke]

9. It would be so unfair for him to have 1term when Bush had 2

He deserves 2.

[vadawg]

11. nobody deserves two, he has to earn two and so far im not sure i want to give him two

but ill hold my judgement until that time comes.

[BluegrassDem]

22. So you may vote for Sarah Palin or Newt?

Not sure what you're getting at here.

[vadawg]

27. im saying that unlike the other poster im not automatically giving him a second term

i thought i explained it rather well, hes got to earn my vote, no one is entitled to it.

[BluegrassDem]

28. Well that's fine, but then you went on to say that right now he doesn't deserve a 2nd term

And so my logical follow up is, if not Obama, then who? Do you want Obama to get a primary challenge? Do you support a 3rd party? Would you support a Republican? That's my question.

[vadawg]

29. of course he dosent deserve a second term right now, he has to earn it

and what you may feel is deserving i may not, as i said i will reserve my judgement until closer to 2012, but i sure as hell am not going to promise him a second term until in my eyes he has earned it.

[SamCooke]

25. Excuse me ahead of time, but are u out of your fucking mind?

[salguine]

31. I don't think he's out of his mind. Obama hasn't won me over completely either.

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. No elected politician DESERVES anything.

How can you say that? Deserves? The man has only served approx. 100 days of his first term. The United States is still using unmanned drones to drop bombs on wedding parties and funeral processions, and we're (the US) are sending TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND more killers to Afghanistan. Medical Marijuana clinics are still being raided.

Deserves TWO, and he's only served less than one third of his first term?

What flavor Kook-Aid do you prefer? Me, I like fruit punch.

[salguine]

10. "Bill Clinton 'obviously' got heavily involved in philanthropy"? Huh?

[Captain Hilts]

15. Yes, he is. nt

[TankLV]

17. Your Clinton Hatred is blinding you to t he GOOD he is doing,.. typical...

[salguine]

30. "Clinton hatred"? I have "Clinton hatred"? How so? This I GOTTA hear.

[emilyg]

24. You live in a cave?

Clinton is doing a lot of good.

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. Wow. "A lot of good". Care to share? n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

39. Right here.

The William J. Clinton Foundation focuses on worldwide issues that demand urgent action, solutions, and measurable results -- global climate change, HIV/AIDS in the developing world, childhood obesity and economic opportunity in the United States, and economic development in Africa and Latin America.

After he left the White House, President Clinton wanted the Clinton Foundation to focus on the areas where he could make the most difference as a private citizen. The Foundation has grown into a global 501(c)(3) nongovernmental organization with 1,100 staff and volunteers in more than 40 countries and with offices in New York City, Little Rock, Ark., Boston, Mass., and other cities around the world. The Foundation, working in collaboration with governments and other partners, makes a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world through its seven initiatives:

Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Clinton Climate Initiative
Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative
Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative
Clinton Global Initiative
Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative
Clinton Hunter Development Initiative

[rucky]

12. Law Professor?

something in academia, I think.

[Clio the Leo]

13. Yep, that's my guess...

.... go back to his first love.

[TheCoxwain]

43. Why not a proffessor in a school of government or public administration?

[Clio the Leo]

14. the list BETTER include "author"

Since I have the first two books practically memorized at this point, I cannot WAIT to learn how it all turns out. ;)

I'm wanting a three part-er .... '08 campaign .... first term .... second term.

[vaberella]

21. +1! Ooh..that would be sweet.

And since we know he keeps a journal. It would be sweet to just have the journals, alone, published--with all the notes and thoughts that get edited out of the proper book version.

[TankLV]

16. First things first - we haven't even BEGUN his Presidency...

I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it...

right now, I'm preparing to getting myself all UPSET at who he MIGHT nominate for the Supreme Court!

but xthen that goddamned MUSTARD got me all SIDE TRACKED, dammit!

don't even TALK to me about all his "sense of HUMOR"...

gotta be prepared...

[AnnieBW]

18. SCOTUS!!

Either that or running a charitable foundation, like Big Dawg does.

[liquid diamond]

20. I always pictured him teaching law at some University in Chicago

[nevergiveup]

23. CEO of French's Mustard?

[csziggy]

26. I could see him picking up on many of the things Jimmy Carter has been doing

Habitat for Humanity, peace initiatives, etc. Jimmy is getting frail and in four or eight years someone will need to take over for him.

I would love to see him as a Supreme Court Judge, but that depends on who is in power after President Obama leaves office.

[Sensitivity]

32. As in NY, the congress should suspend the 2 term rule for the good of the nation

[vadawg]

33. yeah okay, i hope to god you are kidding

[liberalpragmatist]

34. I don't think it's a bad idea

The 22nd Amendment is stupid and anti-democratic IMO. Do we really think FDR should *NOT* have been allowed to serve more than 2 terms?

[vadawg]

35. i am concerned about the people who after only 100 days or so want to annoint someone for life

its scarey that people are so invested in one person who could end up not being all they wish him to be.

[liberalpragmatist]

40. I'm not saying Obama should serve more than 2 terms

I'm just saying I don't think we should, in general, have presidential term limits. If after two terms, people WANT to reelect someone to another term, I don't think we should be prevented from doing so.

[asphalt.jungle]

41. i think we should be prevented from doing so

the power of the incumbent is strong. it's way too easy for a sitting president to say "reelect me, you know what you're going to get with me. we don't know this other guy. i'll keep you safe."

[liberalpragmatist]

46. So should FDR not have served more than 2 terms?

And are we to assume that such a situation may never happen again, where the best candidate for the job really is the incumbent?

In any event, I think the power of incumbency long-term is overrated, particularly at the presidential and gubernatorial level (although I can see an argument for term limits at the municipal level). States that allow governors more than two terms typically have them peak at their second election and decline afterwards or even lose their 3rd or 4th bids - simply put, any incumbent party in power eventually grows unpopular or less effective (witness Pataki and Cuomo in NY, for example).

At the national level the same things happens - both Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher grew extremely unpopular and ineffective by the end of their terms. And FDR's percentage of the vote dropped drastically in both '40 and '44 - he would probably not have won either election had it not been for the war.

So I don't see much danger in long-term incumbency. I suspect the vast majority of presidents will stick to two terms. A few might try for more - I suspect Clinton would have gone for a third - but beyond that, I think it's pretty unlikely more would do so. Ike was ready to call it quits. Reagan might have, but he was suffering from Alzheimers and probably wouldn't have run.

[TheCoxwain]

42. Professor at Columbia

[onenote]

44. winning on dancing with the stars,celebrity apprentice, survivor (washington DC edition)

He's going to make the rounds of all the reality shows. He'll win every one and every one will be a ratings leader.

THen after a career as a hip hop star, he will retire to chicago where he will become a blues man.

Or, more likely, he'll become involved in academia at some level, with a side career promoting community organizing.