From 19989 to 2001, the US was the only superpower and had won the cold war and the first Gulf War - under Clinton the economy recovered and the tech boom offered hope for the future.

Republicans of course would look to the Reagan years.

Obama failed in foreign policy - in the Ukraine, in Syria - even Netanyahu didn't respect him. Obama is also being weak on China in the South China Sea and Duterte instead of being eager to get the US on board is actually making overtures to China.

Obama had to clean up the mess Bush left him, but overall his foreign policy has been disappointing.