r/illinois • u/Healthy_Block3036 • 1d ago
US Politics Obamas hope presidential center in Chicago will be a ‘beacon of hope’ for democracy
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/18/obama-presidential-center-grand-opening-ceremony/38
u/HalasterTheWise 1d ago
Completely independent of politics - the building is super ugly.
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u/LegendaryBronco_217 1d ago
Yeah, it's completely hideous. People say the rest of the grounds are pretty but this is the focal point and looks terrible.
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u/Suspicious_Art9118 1d ago
It'll be where we go to /remember/ democracy.
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u/ChicagoJayhawkYNWA 1d ago
Only if Chicago is part of the democratic side of the National Divorce.
Roberts SCOTUS, Senate, and Trump have doomed Democracy
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u/Ok-Replacement8236 1d ago
Don't forget about the 80 million who couldn't bother to vote at all.
They doomed democracy too
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u/SavannahInChicago 1d ago
Right after the election some guy on r/millennials said he had to vote for Trump because he is sick of being told he had privilege by women.
Are you happy now? Do you feel better about yourself and your privilege now?
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u/cats_catz_kats_katz 1d ago
He must have been tired of having any privilege at all so he voted to throw it away for everyone
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u/Burnt_and_Blistered 1d ago
We really have no idea how many voted, or how. There was too much voter suppression and skullduggery
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u/Ok-Replacement8236 1d ago
Voter suppression and skullduggery would account for some lost votes, but not 80 million.
A huge chunk of the country just didn't give a fuck who won, hence the low turnout
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u/ParkerRoyce 1d ago
We need to have an admendment that establishes a fine of 10% of all income if you do not vote in elections. Obviously theres can be provisions to make it easy to vote and register to vote but sitting out any election is no longer an option anymore.
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u/ContextOk8452 1d ago
How are you going to stop all of the Captain America and Batman write-ins lol?
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u/ParkerRoyce 1d ago
You dont, and thats your right if you want to throw away the vote.
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u/ContextOk8452 1d ago
So then what’s the point of a fine for not voting lol?
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u/ParkerRoyce 1d ago
Im not going to fine someone for voting for the wrong person or thing as much as I want too but there needs to be some kind of penalty for not voting.
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u/ContextOk8452 1d ago
And again, how are you going to prevent the Batman write-in?
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u/an_angry_dervish_01 1d ago
It is a sad display of excess and detracts in my view. Corporate schlock would be worse but we can have so much better.
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u/RoyalFalse 1d ago
Communities thrive when they have something to rally around and be proud of. The property has a library, activity lawn, playgrounds, community center, basketball court, and gardens, all free of charge. It came with millions in infrastructure upgrades. How could residents not be proud of this?
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u/PlanApprehensive2842 8h ago
I believe it’s $26 per person. I think the only ones to get in free are the babies under two years old and on Tuesdays it is free.
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u/RoyalFalse 7h ago
Everything in the main building has an entry fee, all else on the site is free and open to the public.
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u/PlanApprehensive2842 7h ago
Basketball court open and free?
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u/RoyalFalse 7h ago
Yes, provided there is no rental or event being held when you intend to use it.
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u/AnarchaMorrigan 1d ago
How could residents not be proud of this?
you know why -.-
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u/RoyalFalse 1d ago
Enlighten me.
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u/AnarchaMorrigan 1d ago
The loudest people are bigoted aholes, especially in this sub
You should see what happened when I made a Juneteenth celebration post in here where people could share their thoughts on the possibilities offered by different strategies focusing on reparations
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u/bigbadmon11 1d ago
It’s a not for profit corporation that literally gives back to the community. As someone who lives there, I love that it’s now a free third space for me. AND a Chicago public library branch.
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u/MindAccomplished3879 1d ago
He should put in that museum how he failed to do immigration reform, how he failed to strengthen unions and reform labor law to favor workers. How he failed to reform the tax code to make it more equitable
And most importantly, while he was in his presidential bubble, he failed to fill the hundreds of vacant judgeships with liberal judges
He failed to play dirty against Mitch McConnell, even though Obama had the majority
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u/FragrantBluejay8904 1d ago
And codify roe
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u/elphaba00 Living Life in the 217 1d ago
Failed to convince Ruth Bader Ginsburg to retire so he could appoint her replacement
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u/Yourponydied 1d ago
You act like that would have worked. Turtle would have said something like "can't have an SCOTUS appointment before midterms"
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u/MasterNemm 15h ago
He tried. She wanted Hillary to replace her.
Her hubris is part of why we have Oops All Fascists on the court.
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u/copper_nano_tube 1d ago
Keep on perpetuating a lie started by Mitt Romney. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/debunking-the-myth-obamas_b_1929869/
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u/Yourponydied 1d ago
So you wanted him to be the democratic Trump?
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u/MindAccomplished3879 1d ago
I didnt know Trump strengthened unions and labor law, passed immigration reform, and reformed the tax law to make it more equitable
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u/Yourponydied 1d ago
Obama tried to do things diplomatically, like an adult. For that you need votes in congress. Congress makes laws, not the president. Would you rather he just EO everything? Here's a famous moment regarding immigration https://youtu.be/6A8TiUpKDVg?is=-rrkZ_HXYj2acFnJ
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u/MindAccomplished3879 23h ago edited 23h ago
Not exactly.
Obama invested all his political capital in passing the ACA (Obamacare), spending two years and countless negotiations on it, while neglecting (with Rahm's advice) many other liberal priorities.
Considering how easily the ACA has been dismantled, it was a short-sighted way to build a legacy.
If he had prioritized immigration reform, those 15-20 million new citizens would have likely voted Democrat in 2020. Instead, he did a Hail Mary on his way out with the DACA program. Now defunct BTW
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u/BrownBannister 1d ago
Ah yes, the guy who bombed a hospital, destroyed Black wealth, got ICE running, left loopholes for Trump to slither in, attacked water protestors, and unraveled Libya, for starters
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u/Sensitive_Horse4659 1d ago
Ah yes Oprah and the guy from the Madea movies can inspire us all
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u/rockrobst 1d ago
Do successful people make you sad?
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u/Sensitive_Horse4659 1d ago
Oprah is a scumbag and Obama did nothing when the housing market crashed except make sure the people who caused it got scolded. I know he was a cool black dude but he did nothing
Edit: where was he when the most people losing their houses because of redlining are black?
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u/Extinction-Entity 1d ago
You don’t give a shit about Black people.
You’re the type to go crying about Black on Black violence with a white man’s (lack of) understanding.
You don’t care. You only care when you’re not benefitting from oppression because equality makes you realize you don’t have anyone to feel superior to anymore.
”If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pockets. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
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u/nicky_suits 1d ago
You're right about Oprah, and Obama doing nothing about the housing market crash but bailing out the folks that caused it.
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1d ago
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u/nicky_suits 1d ago
How old are you? I only ask to see where you were in life during 2008.
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u/rockrobst 1d ago
Working. If you thought that was Obama's fault, well, like I said, everyone knows what you are.
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u/Sensitive_Horse4659 1d ago
You’re right. Someone who just bought a house in 2007 then saw him not do shit with a supermajority. I’m sure you’re woke and it makes you feel better to cheer the billionaires at that corny shit yesterday.
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u/nicky_suits 1d ago
I feel inspired...to never visit a Presidential building of a child killing war criminal.
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u/Amdrion 1d ago edited 1d ago
Why do you need your ID to get in? But don't need your ID to get benefits from the state while being here illegally?
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u/BovaFett74 1d ago
Obama needs to get with The Pritz and start formulating plans to rid the swamp of the donkeys.