The pain Americans are going to feel over the absence of President Barack Obama is about to get very real. He’s going to leave, and soon. That sense of pride you felt when Obama declared himself a feminist. Those moments of reflection when he issued a measured analysis of complex situations. The quick-fire put-downs.
You’re going to miss them.
Especially since they are going to be replaced soon. Replaced by the incoherent ramblings of a revenge-obsessed, misogynistic racist with hands so tiny that he could wear fingerless gloves like sweat bands.
We knew this day would come. The 22nd Amendment limits presidential terms to two and in 62 days time that 8 year limit will reach full circle. It’s a shame really.
His approval rating for a late-second-term president are sky-high. Many polls indicate that he would have trounced Trump if he had been able to run again.
Absence Makes The Heart Go Wander?
Still, one loss is another’s gain and if such adages apply to people then why not to nations? As Obama prepares to leave office, many British people are wondering the very same thing. Wondering if Obama wouldn’t mind swapping his cup of Joe for a spot of tea? If moving to the land of Dickens, Shakespeare, and rain-sodden cities wasn’t entirely out of the question?
If he’d be so kind as to be our Prime Minster?
Last week, Twitter exploded with calls for him to do just that.
Can the UK have an ex US president as a prime minister??? Cause if ur done with Obama we'll have him pls
— Jord? (@itsjordlee) November 9, 2016
I'd love for barack obama to come over to the uk and be our prime minister
— Frankie Rowlinson (@FRowlinson) November 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/beffwilliams/status/796414494813650946
https://twitter.com/Abbie_Johnstonx/status/796412784837853185
Wondering if Obama is allowed to be prime minister? If he is can we send him the job application? He'll get my vote!
— Steph (@Stephanie_bee96) November 9, 2016
Can't Obama just move to England and be Prime Minister
— gem (@gemma_wbu) November 9, 2016
Plot Twist: Obama declares he's British and runs for Prime Minister of the UK, wins in historical landslide
— Joel (@JReddington99) November 9, 2016
Can we sign some sort of petition to get Obama to come be our prime minister? A do not care how impossible that is lets make it happen
— Amber △⃒⃘ (@amberstott_x) November 9, 2016
One admirer even suggested he might like to take the throne.
i miss obama already can he like come to the uk and become prime minister or king and then fight trump one on one
— astin (@Ioveastin) November 9, 2016
Love Affair Of The Heart
The British love affair with Obama has been long-standing. With a current approval rating of 76 percent, he is well ahead of current Prime Minister Theresa May’s 48 percent honeymoon rating.
For those of you wondering, President-elect Trump’s approval rating is a paltry 11 percent.
In 2011, Obama was invited to address the UK Parliament, the first ever U.S. president to be granted that honor. In the near 1000-year history of the hall he spoke in, his speech – a masterpiece of oratory, charm and wit — is nevertheless considered one of the greatest the ancient walls ever bore witness to. His speech ended on the kind of positive note that British politics is not well-known for. He said:
“With courage and purpose; with humility and with hope; with faith in the promise of tomorrow, let us march straight forward together, enduring allies in the cause of a world that is more peaceful, more prosperous, and more just. Thank you very much.
Skip to 3:20 for an opener that was so dry, it nearly brought the 900 year house down.
Wishful Thinking
The U.K. test for high government office is citizenship, not natural birth and as such no technical barrier exists to Obama taking Brits up on their offer. Which is not to say that obstacles do not exist.
To begin with it seems highly doubtful that Obama would want to take the job. An American at heart, he has not as of yet made clear what he intends to do once he leaves office. His immediate plan is to stay in Washington, D.C., until Sasha, their younger daughter, finishes high school.
There’s also the small matter of the British constitution. General elections in the UK are held every five years for the entire Upper House — known as the House of Commons — which currently consists of 650 members or ‘M.Ps.’ The government is generally formed by the political party with the largest number of MPs which in most cases represents a majority.
No Separation of Powers
The Prime Minister is not directly elected but is instead the leader of the largest party in the house. In order for Obama to be Prime Minister he would have to wrest control from a political party. most likely from the current left-leaning Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Speculation on such a scenario is difficult although two things are reasonably clear.
Firstly, that citizenship is not a problem (seriously, Mr. President, you just have to ask.) And secondly that if he did run, he’d probably win by a landslide.
Is any of this going to happen?
Sadly, no.
Would the U.K. benefit from his leadership and wisdom if it did?
Oh, fuck yes.
Featured Image via screenshot from YouTube video
