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Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 1 of / 43 Caption Close Image 2 of 43 During a January 2010 summit with former Presidents George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. During a January 2010 summit with former Presidents George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 3 of 43 Barack Obama gives his first State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2009. Barack Obama gives his first State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 4 of 43 President Barack Obama practices his golf swing in 2009. President Barack Obama practices his golf swing in 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 5 of 43 Image 6 of 43 President Obama deals with a rain storm on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010. President Obama deals with a rain storm on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 7 of 43 President Obama and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas move a couch back after a meeting in the Oval Office. President Obama and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas move a couch back after a meeting in the Oval Office. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 8 of 43 President Obama pretends to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets Nicholas Tamarin, 3, just outside the Oval Office. President Obama pretends to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets Nicholas Tamarin, 3, just outside the Oval Office. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 9 of 43 Obama is joined by former First Lady Nancy Reagan on his way to signing the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act in June 2009. Obama is joined by former First Lady Nancy Reagan on his way to signing the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act in June 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 10 of 43 Image 11 of 43 The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency. less The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of ... more Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 12 of 43 Obama meets with tech executives — including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the late Steve Jobs — in February 2011. Obama meets with tech executives — including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the late Steve Jobs — in February 2011. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 13 of 43 Obama orders lunch at Five Guys in Washington, D.C. during an unannounced lunch outing May 29, 2009. Obama orders lunch at Five Guys in Washington, D.C. during an unannounced lunch outing May 29, 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 14 of 43 President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 15 of 43 Image 16 of 43 President Obama sits on the bus in which Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. President Obama sits on the bus in which Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 17 of 43 Obama walks on stage to deliver his re-election victory speech with First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden. Obama walks on stage to deliver his re-election victory speech with First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 18 of 43 On his first day in office, Obama signs an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison facility. On his first day in office, Obama signs an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison facility. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 19 of 43 President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama share a private moment in a freight elevator at an Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama share a private moment in a freight elevator at an Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 20 of 43 Image 21 of 43 President Barack Obama delivers a statement in the East Room of the White House on the mission against Osama bin Laden, May 1, 2011. President Barack Obama delivers a statement in the East Room of the White House on the mission against Osama bin Laden, May 1, 2011. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 22 of 43 President Barack Obama holds 3-D glasses while watching the 2009 Super Bowl in the White House family theater. President Barack Obama holds 3-D glasses while watching the 2009 Super Bowl in the White House family theater. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 23 of 43 President Barack Obama is given the Oath of Office for a second time by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. in the Map Room of the White House, Jan. 21, 2009. President Barack Obama is given the Oath of Office for a second time by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. in the Map Room of the White House, Jan. 21, 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 24 of 43 President Barack Obama looks at the Nobel Peace Prize medal for the first time at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 2009. President Barack Obama looks at the Nobel Peace Prize medal for the first time at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 25 of 43 Image 26 of 43 President Barack Obama tours the Great Wall in Badaling, China, Nov. 18, 2009. President Barack Obama tours the Great Wall in Badaling, China, Nov. 18, 2009. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 27 of 43 President Barack Obama walks into the Oval Office for his first full day in office, Jan. 21, 2009. His Personal Aide Reggie Love stands nearby. President Barack Obama walks into the Oval Office for his first full day in office, Jan. 21, 2009. His Personal Aide Reggie Love stands nearby. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 28 of 43 The President hugs the First Lady after she had introduced him at a campaign event in Davenport, Iowa. The President hugs the First Lady after she had introduced him at a campaign event in Davenport, Iowa. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 29 of 43 President Obama in the Situation Room at the White House on the night of the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. President Obama in the Situation Room at the White House on the night of the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 30 of 43 Image 31 of 43 President Obama boards Air Force One. President Obama boards Air Force One. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 32 of 43 The President and First Lady wave to supporters as they ride in the inaugural parade. I had asked the President if I could ride in the presidential limousine and the President joked, 'But Michelle and I were planning to make out. less The President and First Lady wave to supporters as they ride in the inaugural parade. I had asked the President if I could ride in the presidential limousine and the President joked, 'But Michelle and I were ... more Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 33 of 43 The President talks with House Speaker John Boehner after the President participated in a Q&A with the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol. The President talks with House Speaker John Boehner after the President participated in a Q&A with the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 34 of 43 The President was visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, and others. When the President asked a question about the cityscape in the background, the sunlight lit up his hands adding another dimension to this photograph. less The President was visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, and others. When the President asked a question about the ... more Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 35 of 43 Image 36 of 43 The President pauses for a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. The President pauses for a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 37 of 43 The President and King Abdullah II of Jordan make statements to the press pool prior to their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. The President and King Abdullah II of Jordan make statements to the press pool prior to their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 38 of 43 The President waves farewell to British Prime Minister David Cameron as his motorcade departs the North Portico of the White House. The President waves farewell to British Prime Minister David Cameron as his motorcade departs the North Portico of the White House. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 39 of 43 A beautiful evening just after sunset as the President and and First Lady boarded Air Force One at Tegel Airport prior to departing Berlin, Germany. A beautiful evening just after sunset as the President and and First Lady boarded Air Force One at Tegel Airport prior to departing Berlin, Germany. Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 40 of 43 Image 41 of 43 The President sits with President Xi Jinping China on an inscribed redwood park bench at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The two leaders spent two days in bilateral talks at Sunnylands. less The President sits with President Xi Jinping China on an inscribed redwood park bench at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The two leaders spent two days in bilateral talks at ... more Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 42 of 43 A Ford truck was stationed nearby the podium while the President delivered remarks on the economy at the Ford Kansas City Stamping Plant in Liberty, Missouri. After the speech, I positioned myself near the truck guessing that the President might lean over the hood of the truck to shake hands with Ford employees. Instead he opened the passenger door and slid over to the driver's seat so he could get even closer to the employees. less A Ford truck was stationed nearby the podium while the President delivered remarks on the economy at the Ford Kansas City Stamping Plant in Liberty, Missouri. After the speech, I positioned myself near the ... more Photo: Pete Souza / White House Image 43 of 43 The best worst president ever 1 / 43 Back to Gallery

Editor’s Note: This classic 2014 column by Mark Morford is one of the most-read SFGate articles ever.

“Obama is the worst thing to ever happen to this country,” declares the wealthy, rakish, silver-haired Newport Beach white guy to his small group of perfectly tanned 50-something females sitting just a few feet away from us at a stunning restaurant patio overlooking the sun-kissed California coastline, just off of Highway 1, as he sipped his pinot and adjusted his wraparound Ray Bans, flush from the economy’s spectacular recovery that has benefitted his exact demographic most of all, stroking his purebred dog and taking various selfies with their $500 phones, oblivious to the furious swirls of irony and hypocrisy fluttering just above their heads.

I laughed out loud. Couldn’t help it; I had just overheard Mr. Newport Beach say something about how Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster (despite how, of course, it’s not), and if America were to somehow actually develop a health care system similar to, say, Canada’s, that would be the end of America for certain; we’d never recover from such a devastating blow. Or something. And then came the “worst thing to ever happen” quip, and I couldn’t hold back.

They didn’t hear me, of course; the orgasmic thrum of their perfect lives drowned out my chuckle, and as I turned and looked at this beautifully entitled, happy crew from my vantage point only a few feet away but a million light years in perspective, we all shared one of the most spectacular, envied locales in the world and all of us sipped superb regional grape and not a single one of us suffered the slightest personal, social or economic indignity, every first-world need instantly met, every crab cake perfectly formed, the sunshine as flawless as Jesus on toast and no lines at the restroom and lots of free parking for his Lexus SUV.

A few thoughts struck me, all at once. The first was how nice this group all seemed – and of course they probably were – and I imagine if we had all had met under different circumstances and been chatting about, say, the weather or the soul-exploding coastline, I’m sure we would have been fast, easy friends – noting that, if we wanted to remain that way, we’d never talk about politics. Or religion.

Even so, I desperately wanted to ask Mr. Newport Beach what his stock portfolio looked like a mere six or seven years ago, when Bush & Co. ravaged the country and led us into one of the deepest, most brutal social and economic pits in modern history. Did he lose half his net worth? More? Was he worried he couldn’t feed his family or pay his mortgage? Did he lose his house? His job? Did he blame Bush? Clinton? Islam? The gays?

And by the way, how does he like the recovery so far? Which of his three perfect, multimillion-dollar homes was he on his way to, right now?

I also wanted to know, when Bush/Cheney lied to the world, openly violated the tragedy of 9/11 and invaded Iraq, killing tens of thousands, was he furious? What about now, when even Fox News is calling out Cheney and declaring Iraq invasion a colossal mistake, a lie from which we’re still unable to extricate ourselves?

Nevertheless, Obama ended Bush’s disastrous war, just like he said he would, on time and under budget. Does it matter?

And what of Newport’s female companions? I wonder if he knows that upwards of 99 percent of sexually active women have used some form of contraception. Is he in line with the GOP’s recent spate of nasty misogyny and anti-abortion spew? What about the awful SCOTUS Hobby Lobby decision, further bashing women, and Obama’s immediate moves to defend women’s rights? Is he aware? I bet those women are. Or surely, their daughters.

And really, what about the stock market? The Dow dances around record highs, Wall Street snorts rails of finely chopped gold every day, the income gap between the 1% and everyone else is more demeaning than ever and the banks haven’t fundamentally changed in the slightest. Why isn’t Mr. Newport Beach positively orgasmic about the Obama Administration’s generally wealth-favoring policies that made it all happen? Say what you like, but Obama managed to do what nearly all economists and pundits thought impossible back in 2008: reverse the ugliest, GOP-led social and economic tailspin in modern history, and make guys like Mr. Newport richer than ever.

My new friend looked good. Healthy. Fit. Good teeth, thick head of silver hair, that prostate cancer scare a couple years back easily nipped by a few wildly expensive treatments he never paid a dime for. Who did pay for his insurance? His company? Medicare? Did he have any idea what it was like not to be able to afford it, or be offered any in the first place?

I sipped my rosé, took a deep breath, enjoyed the magnificent landscape as one final, predominant thought swam into view: how? How can there be such a radical disconnect between Mr. Newport’s engorged portfolio, his fantastic insurance plan, low mortgage rate and grotesque corporate privilege – most of it born of the past six years – and Obama’s overall policy successes? Does he consider it all just a fluke? Dumb luck? Is he drunk on Limbaugh and Fox News, unable to see actual facts?

Look here, Newport: Since Obama took office, corporate profits are way up. So is business investment, job growth (moderately), retail sales, manufacturing (well, barely). Want to buy another house? Interest rates are fantastic. The housing crisis has largely subsided, and home foreclosures are way down. Also, people are buying lots of new cars, and there’s a fully recovered auto industry ready to meet all demand.

Did he know federal discretionary spending is well below average? Or that the poverty rate has stabilized? And the stock market is, as mentioned, breaking records, benefitting rich white dudes more than ever?

Of course, it’s all pretty shaky. Flawed and imbalanced and could give out at any second – but that’s just the nature of the excruciatingly complex, unstable world economy these days. And while corporations are raking it in, workers are seeing less and less of their fair share. There are still myriad problems, and Obama’s policies are far from perfect. No party’s ever are. Regardless, given the impossible economic hell-pit Obama was left with, it’s unlikely any president could have possibly done better.

Clearly I’m missing something, a huge bed of terrifying data to prove all these respectable charts and graphs wrong. But where is it? I’ve heard Mr. Newport Beach’s bizarre lament a thousand times, but I’ve yet to see a solid batch of evidence that proves Obama’s outright failure, or the nation’s savage decline. I see a blip about food stamps, I see a few weak economic signs here and there, but mostly, since 2009, it all’s been somewhere between timidly and shockingly positive. Did God smite us for gay marriage? Did the abortion factories, death panels and Nazi Kenyan socialist brain-washing farms steal my very soul? Hard to tell with all this perfect sunshine in my eyes.

The bottom line seems obvious: Much to the GOP’s bitter revulsion, it turns out a calm, intellectual black man really can run an entire country – certainly far better than an inarticulate Texas bumbler, and even in the face of what is easily the most obstructionist, hateful, acidic and often downright racist Congress in modern memory. Quite an achievement, really.

It’s curious, no? The unmitigated hate for Obama comes from the right, but the real disappointment comes from the left. It’s we liberals who seem to have the most legitimate gripes with a man we all thought would be far more radical and revolutionary. From the NSA to drone warfare to a shocking lack of transparency, a shameless kowtowing to Wall Street, a lack of serious education reform and barely a blip about the environment (until very recently) – Obama has been a far more mixed bag for the left than anyone wants to admit.

But right now, that seems like quibbling. To hear Mr. Newport Beach tell it, my president is a downright monster. Who cares if he ended the war, saved the economy, restored America’s stature in the world, nailed Osama bin Laden, invested billions in clean energy, partially reformed what is still the most expensive, least effective health care system in the industrialized world, or made the rich even richer? The guy’s the worst thing to ever happen to America. I mean, obviously. Now who wants more wine?