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Quote by Barack Obama

“I think the American people can change Washington. But I think that it is not going to change, because somebody from on high directs that change.”

Quote by Barack Obama

Author

Barack Obama, born on August 4, 1961, served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama's presidency was marked by significant achievements, including the Affordable Care Act and the normalization of relations with Cuba. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. more

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“Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, are motivated by all kinds of issues. They're sincerely interested in the economy, in terrorism, in social issues. But the one overriding thing they're interested in is getting reelected. And if they think that it's harder for them to get reelected by cooperating with each other, then they won't cooperate.”

Ifs Thinking Kind Social Sides Economy Issues Members Harder Congress Terrorism All Kinds Motivated Both Sides Social Issues Sincerely Aisle Cooperating

Author:Barack Obama

“In the first two years, when I had a strong majority in the House and the Senate, we were as productive as any administration has been since the '60s. I mean, we got a lot done.”

Years Firsts Mean Has Beens Two Done House Strong Majority Administration Productive Two Years Senate

Author:Barack Obama

“To sustain a governing majority, that requires an ability for Republicans and Democrats to find some common ground. And right now, the structure of the system is such where it makes it really hard for people to work together.”

People Hard Together Ability Common Republican Right Now Majority Structure Democrat Working Together Governing Common Ground

Author:Barack Obama

“The Supreme Court nominations [example]. I mean, the fact that Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republicans, was able to just stop a nomination almost a year before the next election and really not pay a political price for it, that's a sign that the incentives for politicians in this town to be so sharply partisan have gotten so outta hand that we're weakening ourselves.”

Years Mean Facts Hands Able Political Next Pay Leader Example Politician Republican Towns Election Court Supreme Supreme Court Incentives Partisans Nominations Weakening

Author:Barack Obama

“We have states. And we have cities. And we have counties. And we have the private sector. And - and so the country still works even when Washington's dysfunctional.”

Stills Country States Cities County Private Sector

Author:Barack Obama

“The framers, in their wisdom, designed the [political] system so that power's pretty disbursed.”

Political Political Systems Framers

Author:Barack Obama

“The problem is that, over time, big pieces of business that have to get done without leadership from Washington, don't get done.”

Done Problem Bigs Pieces

Author:Barack Obama

“[Two of the most unpopular presidential candidates selected by the two parties in history] indicates that there is a lot of cynicism out there. It indicates that the corrosive nature of everything from talk radio to fake news to negative advertising has made people lack confidence in a lot of our existing institutions.”

People Made Two Party News Negative Institutions Radio Advertising Presidential Fake Candidates Cynicism Selected Presidential Candidate Talk Radio

Author:Barack Obama

“No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions.”

People Age Race Class Addiction Profession Immune

Author:Patrick J. Kennedy

“I think [ unpopular presidential candidates ] indicates, at least on the Democratic side, that we've got more work to do to strengthen our grassroots networks.”

Thinking Sides Democratic Presidential Candidates Presidential Candidate Grassroots

Author:Barack Obama