Obama Presidency Discussion Thread

[Solid Fro]

That's called a flip-flop. Those who voted for him won't be too happy.

 

[YSSMAN]

I voted for him. I'm fine with it. All of my friends who voted for him are fine with it too. Not that big of a deal really, although I do hope that he continues to push for the green alternatives, as we cannot forget what can happen again if prices are over-speculated once more.

 

[V1P3R]

Good thing I didn't vote for either of the "top two candidates" then...

 

[Keef]

That's called a flip-flop. Those who voted for him won't be too happy.

Flip-flop? That's waffles.

The President knows so much more about the workings of the world and the country than any member of congress could ever imagine. Access to all that top secret this and that, and things that nobody else knows about until 20 years later when it's declassified and studies are done on it, etc. Maybe he learned a thing or two in his briefings. I'll suggest this will not be his first waffle. Besides, who eats only one waffle?

 

[Solid Fro]

Mmm, waffles.

 

[FoolKiller]

I voted for him. I'm fine with it. All of my friends who voted for him are fine with it too.

Yeah, but there are some people out there that thought this was his best idea.

Not that big of a deal really, although I do hope that he continues to push for the green alternatives, as we cannot forget what can happen again if prices are over-speculated once more.

Prices will get over-speculated again, no matter what the fuel source, so green alternatives will just mean something else to get over-speculated.

That said, considering a lot of this over-speculation was purchased on loans, which were then called when the banks started getting in trouble, which played a role in bringing prices back down, I doubt we will see it happen that fast until we forget our mistakes we made today and begin loaning out like crazy again.

 

[Tornado]

That reminds me of a question posed in one of his initial press conferences after the election (I think it was on that Friday, after he met with Bush). It was something like "Now that you actually know everything surrounding what you are trying to legislate, have you changed your mind on any of your positions?" He gave the guy a dirty look for a few seconds, and then was all like "I'm not going to answer that question." It stuck out in my mind for some reason, and I guess I know why now.

 

[Joey D]

He's a politician and all politicians either don't follow through on their promises or change them to a degree. I can't fault the guy for that since he is just doing what every other person in a office has done for as long as I can remember. I don't care what party they are, it's going to happen. McCain would have changed his stances as well if he would have gotten elected, so would have Barr or Nadar. I can't believe people don't understand that yet.

I'm more interested in what a candidate does while in office, not what they promise.

===

I too hope Obama pushes for green fuel sources, mainly to get us off our oil addiction which will probably cause problems in my life time (more then likely wars with developing countries for resources). I'm not a huge enviro nut but it nice to see that people are starting to think about it because I don't want to live in smog filled cities. Also it's nice to see we are starting to realise resources are not infinite.

 

[Tornado]

He's a politician and all politicians either don't follow through on their promises or change them to a degree. I can't fault the guy for that since he is just doing what every other person in a office has done for as long as I can remember. I don't care what party they are, it's going to happen. McCain would have changed his stances as well if he would have gotten elected, so would have Barr or Nadar. I can't believe people don't understand that yet.

I don't think that is the problem. I think the problem is that people thought that Obama was different, mostly because that was what his entire campaign was based around. I know people who voted for him simply because his "honesty" rather than any of his political stances. To those people (no doubt a notable percentage of the people that voted for him), him doing stuff like this (regardless of whether they agreed with him or not on the issues at hand) goes against the very core ideal of his presidency rather than any single issue.

You have to realise that, rational or not, many people viewed this election as different from any in recent memory because, well, there was a scenario in many people's minds that this one was different. "Well, look at that. A genuinely good guy rather than a mere lesser of two evils." The fact that you didn't buy that silly line of thinking from the beginning (as you have made clear in the past) does not make it any less of a shock to those that did.

 

[FoolKiller]

He's a politician and all politicians either don't follow through on their promises or change them to a degree. I can't fault the guy for that since he is just doing what every other person in a office has done for as long as I can remember. I don't care what party they are, it's going to happen. McCain would have changed his stances as well if he would have gotten elected, so would have Barr or Nadar. I can't believe people don't understand that yet.

I'm more interested in what a candidate does while in office, not what they promise.

While this is true, the promises are what we have to go on when electing someone who hasn't done much of anything during their Congressional career.

And even when you have someone with a huge past record to judge by a broken campaign promise can destroy your re-election. Just ask George H W Bush.

And I will have to give the current President Bush credit, he has mostly stuck to his campaign promises and most of his policy changes that he made stem from 9/11. For better or worse, he did show who he was from the beginning and then stood by that.

I too hope Obama pushes for green fuel sources, mainly to get us off our oil addiction which will probably cause problems in my life time (more then likely wars with developing countries for resources). I'm not a huge enviro nut but it nice to see that people are starting to think about it because I don't want to live in smog filled cities. Also it's nice to see we are starting to realise resources are infinite.

I am sure you meant finite. Or maybe "are not infinite." Because as it stands you counter the point you were trying to make.


Anyway, my only issue with green fuel sources is that too many people are jumping on the first thing to come along. They argue that they are encouraging future research in green fuels, but all they are doing is encouraging further production into that specific technology. The popularity of the Prius has not lead to more innovations, it just led to more hybrids.

If Obama wants to encourage green fuels he needs to encourage research into new fuels for the long-term, not something that only reduces oil consumption.

 

[Joey D]

Whoops, I was going for "aren't infinite", once again lack of morning coffee is my downfall.

I agree though that jumping on the first alternative fuel to come along isn't a good idea. E85, hybrids, and short range electric vehicles aren't the answer, but they are a decent stepping stone in the right direction. I like the idea of a clean electric infrastructure such as wind, solar, nuclear and to lesser extent hydroelectric (see the eco-impact of a dam) with long range electric cars with some sort of bio-fuel used to power an on board generator for longer trips. If you got a car to have about a 400-500 mile range there wouldn't be to many people that had an issue since that's about as far as you can drive in one day with out getting fatigued. Hydrogen is another option but we need the electric infrastructure first.

We have to start somewhere and so far we are leaning the right way, hopefully Obama helps jump start the research and development and if the Big Three get money from the government I think they should have to research it.

 

[McLaren]

That's called a flip-flop. Those who voted for him won't be too happy.

Don't worry. When it comes time to make decisions next year, he'll hear his share of folks who won't be happy. Flip-flopping as much as he did will not help his future approval ratings.

 

[Joey D]

Don't worry. When it comes time to make decisions next year, he'll hear his share of folks who won't be happy. Flip-flopping as much as he did will not help his future approval ratings.

No matter how much he flip-flops (which as I've said is what politicians do), I doubt his approval rating will ever be as low as Bush's.

**Especially if the economy rebounds while he's in office, which I guessing will happen, he approval rating will be quite high.

 

[Omnis]

No matter how much he flip-flops (which as I've said is what politicians do), I doubt his approval rating will ever be as low as Bush's.

**Especially if the economy rebounds while he's in office, which I guessing will happen, he approval rating will be quite high.

Wishful thinking.

 

[YSSMAN]

If Obama wants to encourage green fuels he needs to encourage research into new fuels for the long-term, not something that only reduces oil consumption.

Agreed. I keep hoping that he'll figure out some way to get some funding pumped into our state to increase the research and development projects. I'm still flabbergasted how long its taking for people to get on into the wind-power movement.

**Especially if the economy rebounds while he's in office, which I guessing will happen, he approval rating will be quite high.

Don't wish in the short-term. We're probably looking at at least two more years of suck... Rounding our in-state depression out to something like 10 years.

 

[FoolKiller]

I'm still flabbergasted how long its taking for people to get on into the wind-power movement.

It kills birds. You have the enviros protesting any wind farm proposals.

 

[Sage]

I'm still flabbergasted how long its taking for people to get on into the wind-power movement.

We used to have a windmill. Stupid thing sucked ass – broke all the time, and would barely make any power when it was working (our solar panel array on a cloudy day could make a lot more electricity than the windmill on a windy day).

 

[buickgnx88]

I'm actually looking forward to the Wind Generators that are planned to be put up in a year or two here in Houghton. The company asked people if they could build them on their land, and my grandparents will be getting 4 put up on their 240 acres of land. They will supposedly recieve $10,000 for each initially and will recieve a portion of the money made from the power (so they could potentially get free electricity...not directly but they wouldn't have to pay out of their own pockets). I believe next year their supposed to put up a few test wind generators in the area to see how well the winds are.

 

[Solid Fro]

I am teh smart~!

For anyone who didn't know, Democrats control the 110th Congress, 236-198 with 1 vacant seat.

 

[Omnis]

And socialists control congress about 530-5.

 

[Danoff]

Zing!

 

[YSSMAN]

Lets not forget that fewer than 40% for both didn't understand whats going on, according to those initial numbers. I have my doubts for most Americans, no matter what their political viewpoints are.

I like how they're telling me that I'm "less informed" if I don't watch Fox News, and just "hear bumper stickers" (2:55). Yes. That's the problem. I'd care to argue that Fox News has been one of the biggest problem areas for creating uninformed voters (really, cable news in general).

 

[Tornado]

MSNBC seems to be taking up your challenge, if Monday's TDS bit was any indication.

 

[YSSMAN]

Certainly. MSNBC is the anti-Fox after all, and they do their own fair share of spin too. That being said, Olbermann is a hoot, and Rachel Maddow is a pretty good exercise in Liberal thought too.

What it comes down to?

Know what you're watching, you'll see what you're looking for. I think CNN does a good job for the "everyman," but as of late, I've been watching a lot of 60 Minutes than ever before. I must really be getting old...

 

[FoolKiller]

I think CNN does a good job for the "everyman,"

Sorry, I nearly choked on my drink. Unless you meant Headline News.

but as of late, I've been watching a lot of 60 Minutes than ever before. I must really be getting old...

That explains it. After that CNN does seem balanced.

 

[YSSMAN]

Meh. If anything 60 Minutes just seems like a bunch of old people yelling at you, but for some reason I watch it if I'm at home.

I think its because I like saying, "I'm Morley Safer" when he comes on. Then I'm too lazy to change it. (har har)

Nevertheless, CNN isn't all that bad. Anderson Cooper and Samantha Brown's shows are pretty good, I have to admit. They aren't blatantly to the right like Fox, or outrageously far to the left like MSNBC, and they generally do a good job of getting to the news. Plus, Don Lemon is on in the afternoon. He is hilarious. Okay, not really.

Truth be told, my TV has been locked on CNBC all week. We'll see how long that lasts.

 

[FoolKiller]

Truth be told, my TV has been locked on CNBC all week. We'll see how long that lasts.

Now, that is not a bad station.

 

[Swift]

If Obama wants to encourage green fuels he needs to encourage research into new fuels for the long-term, not something that only reduces oil consumption.

FK, would you please stop saying thing that make sense. It confuses liberals in congress...some RINOs too.

 

[FoolKiller]

FK, would you please stop saying thing that make sense. It confuses liberals in congress...some RINOs too.

Its amazing what a little common sense can do to politicians.


By the way, been a while since I last saw you around. Why so quiet lately?

 

[RACECAR]

Hmmm, I guess this thread isn't closing anytime soon.


And FoolKiller, your sackboy avatar seems to like everything I listen to as it dances on beat to everything