Do you think Obama regrets ever having run for President?

[retromike22]

I'm pretty sure this isn't how he imagined things would be.

It seems to happen to a lot of two term Presidents around the 6 year mark. I'd personally prefer a single 6 year term where a President could not run for immediate reelection.

Do you think Obama regrets running for President? I remember distant rumors around 2006 that he was thinking about a run for Illinois governor in 2010...

[NewYorkExpress]

I'd personally prefer having a four year team for all branches of Government, and individuals could never serve in another branch (ex. a Senator couldn't run for President). Ideally this would apply to the States as well.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

No way. Besides, he has been able to do some good, his presidency isn't even close to being a failure.

[retromike22]

No way. Besides, he has been able to do some good, his presidency isn't even close to being a failure.

I didn't say it's been bad, he just doesn't seem to be enjoying it.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I think so. I mean, he must realize that his meteoric rise and freshman status in 2008 didn't really endear him to Republicans in Congress who were the complete opposite of "change." I'm not saying a president should pander to senior politicians from the other party, but I think it would have helped if he'd at least taken the oath with a bit more credibility among the likes of, say, Mitch McConnell.

So maybe he doesn't regret the idea of becoming president, but rather that he didn't wait a little longer to pull the trigger. Mind you, the country has become much more socially progressive under Obama. I know the country would've trended in that direction with or without him, but it might not have been as intense under a Hillary presidency. So if he doesn't have regrets, it's probably because he's proud of the example he's set for young Americans.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Someone ambitious and ruthless enough to win the Presidency would never regret getting elected to said office.

[IceSpear]

After that first debate, it seemed like Obama was only running again to not be seen as a "one term failure". He got some of his fire back after that, but at that point he truly looked like he was just phoning it in. I don't think he regrets it, but he also probably thought after his triumph in 2008 that things would've gone a lot differently than they actually did.

[King]

Um, he won. Twice.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

He is at least somewhat sane, so yes I imagine at some moments he does.

[H. Ross Peron]

No considering he's managed to accomplish several of his goals.

[badgate]

I'd personally prefer having a four year team for all branches of Government, and individuals could never serve in another branch (ex. a Senator couldn't run for President). Ideally this would apply to the States as well.

Good lord, why?

Same.

[Vosem]

Someone ambitious and ruthless enough to win the Presidency would never regret getting elected to said office.

This.

[Antonio the Sixth]

He knew all the awful things that this job implied, so if he chose to seek it twice I don't see how he could have regrets.

[Paul Kemp]

I don't think he enjoys it very much, if at all, but I also don't think he regrets it.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

I don't think he enjoys it very much, if at all, but I also don't think he regrets it.

And that's frankly the correct attitude for any President or President-aspirant.

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

I doubt he no more regrets it than the freedom riders regret their mistreatment by racists.

[Supersonic]

Of course not, he's the bloody President.

[AggregateDemand]

Obama shouldn't regret running. The Democratic Party should regret exploiting him, and running him through the meat grinder in DC, with no real intent of following any of his leadership initiatives.

Obama is a figurehead, with no support from his own party, and that's why he likes to "go it alone", with advisement from Holder.

[Cryptic]

I don't think he enjoys it very much, if at all, but I also don't think he regrets it.

[Reaganfan]

I think he's going to be a recluse former President. The Clinton-Bush family seems rather chummy, and Obama seems more like the odd man out.

[The Dowager Mod]

He probably regrets underestimating the amount of racism and hate he would get from the right, doubt he regrets running overall though.

[Orser67]

I think the legislative accomplishments of his first two years, combined with his desire to defend those accomplishments and his (probable) conviction that he's the best person to lead the country prevent him from regretting being in office. I would bet that there are a lot of nights where he wishes that he could wake up the next day and not be President, though.

[Indy Texas]

2008: Yes we can!

2009: Yes we will!

2010: We've got this, you guys. Power through.

2011: Okay, forget everything I just said and let's try not to look ridiculous.

2012: Hey, when I said we "can" I assumed 47 percent of the country wasn't stark raving mad.

2013: That's not how it's supposed to work. THAT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK!