Obama Presidency Discussion Thread

[eiriksmil]

Yeah, can you say fanatic?

Any thoughts on the Obama Administration in the first 100 days?

He hasn't declared war against Iran yet, in fact he hasn't declared any wars. That's a plus

 

[Solid Fro]

Solid Fro seems to be on some kind of vendetta. Mission from god?

If pointing out the failures of the Obama administration when no one else will is all of a sudden a "vendetta", then I guess you're right. "Mission from god?" Uh, I'm not a religious person. So, if you think that everyone who is against President Obama are some kind of Crazy Crusader© who wants to destroy the black... I mean MUSLIM guy, then you're dead wrong.

On a side note... Dennis Miller knows:

 

[FoolKiller]

Solid Fro seems to be on some kind of vendetta. Mission from god?

Yeah, can you say fanatic?

His commentary may be a bit over the top but most of his points are sound. Or do you think Americans shouldn't be upset about the amount of deficit spending that has been going on or how the government is openly taking controlling interest in banks, automobile manufacturers, and soon health care?

He hasn't declared war against Iran yet, in fact he hasn't declared any wars. That's a plus

Nope, he just spent more money than two wars combined. We need to bring those troops home so they can have a whole bunch of kids to pay for our deficit. Oh wait, that won't work either because they won't be paying enough, if any, taxes until they make over $200,000 a year.

Now that I think about it he has declared a war on the rich. Promoting class warfare is just as bad as declaring a military war.



The only thing the president has done so far that I can agree with is give a kill order for Somali pirates.

 

[Vasco]

His commentary may be a bit over the top but most of his points are sound. Or do you think Americans shouldn't be upset about the amount of deficit spending that has been going on or how the government is openly taking controlling interest in banks, automobile manufacturers, and soon health care?

Nope, he just spent more money than two wars combined. We need to bring those troops home so they can have a whole bunch of kids to pay for our deficit. Oh wait, that won't work either because they won't be paying enough, if any, taxes until they make over $200,000 a year.

Now that I think about it he has declared a war on the rich. Promoting class warfare is just as bad as declaring a military war.

The only thing the president has done so far that I can agree with is give a kill order for Somali pirates.

So what is your solution to the Global Financial Crisis? And I'm sorry, but how is attempting to create somewhat more equal opportunities for people in the "land of opportunity" a "war on the rich"?

 

[Touring Mars]

Any thoughts on the Obama Administration in the first 100 days?

I think Obama has done well, given the mess he has inherited. Perhaps an international perspective is necessarily different from a domestic one, and I'm not well placed to comment on the nuts and bolts of Obama's policies and how they affect ordinary people in the US, but on the international front, Obama has made a very good start in repairing the shattered image of US integrity (by closing Guantanamo bay and looking into the systemic use of torture there and in Iraq), reversing the Bush administration's stance on climate change, stem cell research, and promising increased/sustained spending on scientific research. Given that Obama seems to understand the need to open relations with Iran, and adopt sensible policies on the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan-Pakistan, I'd say his first 100 days had sent out clear messages to the rest of the world that America means business again.

 

[FoolKiller]

So what is your solution to the Global Financial Crisis?

Stop letting The Fed add to the problem they started.

Don't throw taxpayer money at bad loans. There is already a system in place to deal with failing entities and allow them to renegotiate their loans and restructure their business. It is called bankruptcy. Let it run its own course. Because now the American people own that bad debt, and in some cases they are STILL going to be filing for bankruptcy.

And do not try backdoor approaches to socialist takeovers of companies by loaning them money and then months later telling them that you are changing the terms of the agreement so that you now have the ability to monitor them and determine who should be making what, while at the same time telling those companies you won't accept their loan repayment.

Also, recognize that history has shown that in tough economic recessions government intervention has actually made it worse and/or last longer.

And I'm sorry, but how is attempting to create somewhat more equal opportunities for people in the "land of opportunity" a "war on the rich"?

They created more equal opportunities by taking more money from the rich? Please, explain.

Taking money from people that they earned solely so that you can give it to others is wrong on many levels.

There is already a negative stigma that rich people are just greedy bastards because apparently career success is some kind of sin. Then when the government walks in and draws a discriminatory line in their taxes it perpetuates that idea that these people should have to give up the money that they earned so it can be given to others.

Progressive income taxes punish success and reward non-success. Plain and simple.

I'd say his first 100 days had sent out clear messages to the rest of the world that America means business again.

I'm sorry, I hadn't realized we had been sitting on our butts.

 

[Diego440]

I'm sorry, I hadn't realized we had been sitting on our butts.

Maybe not, but Bush sent the wrong message, or at leats the message you wouldn't want to be sent, to the rest of the world, me thinks.

 

[FoolKiller]

Maybe not, but Bush sent the wrong message, or at leats the message you wouldn't want to be sent, to the rest of the world, me thinks.

I have no qualms with my country refusing to be another automaton on the world scale, especially if it is the only way to stay in line with our Constitution (see my comments on Obama at G20). That said, Bush wasn't following our Constitution either, but I did agree on some things where he refused to just follow the world like a good puppy.



Also, found and interesting read. I won't quote it as it has a lot of hyperlinks in it.
The First 100 Days: 100 of Obama's Lies, Blunders, Gaffes, and Abuses of Liberty
It is a counterpoint to all the ZOMG, 100 days of bliss!!! stuff I see on the news.



Also, for anyone is interested, the Libertarian Party Web site has a desktop widget for counting down the days of Obama's term.
http://www.lp.org/blogs/donny-ferguson/100-days-down-1361-to-go-get-your-obama-countdown-clock-here

 

[livemusic]

 

[YSSMAN]

I guess the big thing now is going to be who Obama will pick to replace Justice Souter. Although he was chosen by President George H.W. Bush, he has otherwise been to the left on most topics, so the possible change will be negligible here. Although I suppose the Senate confirmations will be a big bunch of fun.

 

[FoolKiller]

I guess the big thing now is going to be who Obama will pick to replace Justice Souter. Although he was chosen by President George H.W. Bush, he has otherwise been to the left on most topics, so the possible change will be negligible here. Although I suppose the Senate confirmations will be a big bunch of fun.

I will be happy when every Supreme Court justice that supported that atrocious imminent domain for private businesses verdict is gone.

Although, I will miss people trying to condemn Souter's house for their business opportunity just to make a point.

 

[Solid Fro]

President Obama... are you listening?

 

[Famine]

This gag is doing the rounds in the UK, so I may as well pass it on into here...

They used to say that pigs might fly before a black man was elected president. Sure enough, 100 days of Obama - swine flu.

 

[Solid Fro]

Maybe someone should think about rewriting all those Tupac songs about black presidents as well...

http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/29/tupac-is-alive/

Tupac is back!!! Just in the nick of time.

 

[Solid Lifters]

"You're sucking at the hind tit of a dead cow!"

[YouTube]jeYscnFpEyA[/YouTube]

 

[Duke]

You know, speaking as someone related to a local Tea Party organizer, I'm a bit offended by how dismissively Our President referred to those citizens who were demonstrating for a cause they believe in using their First Amendment rights. I thought he was supposed to be the big includer who was going to promote bipartisanism?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I didn't like the way he brushed it off either. Peaceful protests don't work anymore?

 

[Solid Fro]

"You're sucking at the hind tit of a dead cow!"

"Set your Internet communities on fire with the idea! But, if you decide to do nothing again, then buy a gun, you'll need it."

YEEES!!!

I thought he was supposed to be the big includer who was going to promote bipartisanism?

He was lying.

 

[YSSMAN]

I thought he was supposed to be the big includer who was going to promote bipartisanism?

I believe it was the original intent, but after the GOP leadership decided to take a route of opposition to anything and everything done by the Obama Administration and the Congressional Democrats, bi-partisanship is not happening. In fact, I don't see this trend turning around unless the mindset of the party changes. There is a pretty big difference between outright opposition and constructive engagement over the issues.

Based on that little meeting in Virginia over the weekend (Hey! Free pizza!), I'm glad to hear that other opinions are "being considered," but they're still not operating on a big tent policy that will allow for a win in 2010.

 

[FoolKiller]

I believe it was the original intent, but after the GOP leadership decided to take a route of opposition to anything and everything done by the Obama Administration and the Congressional Democrats, bi-partisanship is not happening. In fact, I don't see this trend turning around unless the mindset of the party changes. There is a pretty big difference between outright opposition and constructive engagement over the issues.

Funny, I thought Obama started it when within just a few days in office he told Republican leaders in a meeting wanting to discuss the stimulus plan, "I won." Sounds more like he took a page from Bush and decided to play the public mandate card. Whatever it was, it wasn't a reaction, it was a preemptive strike.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17862.html

Obama to GOP: 'I won'
By JONATHAN MARTIN & CAROL E. LEE | 1/23/09 1:25 PM EST Updated: 1/24/09 12:37 AM EST

President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning - but he also left no doubt about who's in charge of these negotiations. "I won," Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

The exchange arose as top House and Senate Republicans expressed concern to the president about the amount of spending in the package. They also raised red flags about a refundable tax credit that returns money to those who don’t pay income taxes, the sources said.

The Republicans stressed that they want to include more middle class tax cuts in the package, citing their proposal to cut the two lowest tax rates — 15 percent and 10 percent — to ten percent and five percent, rather than issue the refundable credit Obama wants.

At another point in the meeting, sources said Obama told the group: “This is a grave situation facing the country.” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama would hold another economic meeting in the White House Saturday for a "broader group."

After Friday's meeting, Democratic and Republican leaders publicly wrangled over the developing stimulus plan.

But perhaps taking a cue from Obama’s “I won” line when Democrats were asked if they were concerned about Republicans blocking the package, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a swift one-word answer: “No.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill was on track for passage by February 16, while Republicans continued to voice their opposition.

Based on that little meeting in Virginia over the weekend (Hey! Free pizza!), I'm glad to hear that other opinions are "being considered," but they're still not operating on a big tent policy that will allow for a win in 2010.

Good, I don't want any of those three to win crap.

But I do know who I want to win.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6404481.html

Paul ready to enter GOP primary for Bunning's seat
By ROGER ALFORD Associated Press Writer © 2009 The Associated Press
May 2, 2009, 9:31AM

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Republican Rand Paul, son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, said Friday he is poised to enter the race for U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning's seat if the 77-year-old sports icon decides to retire.

"I've been traveling the state and giving speeches as if there is going to be a race," he told The Associated Press. "Every bone in my body says there is going to be a race."

But the Bowling Green, Ky., physician said he won't rush into the campaign just because another potential GOP challenger has stepped forward. His father, who is a physician in Lake Jackson, Texas, represents a Texas Gulf Coast U.S. House district that extends from Galveston to Victoria.

Bunning is former pitcher and Baseball Hall of Famer has won election to the Senate twice from Kentucky, both times by razor-thin margins. Some Republican leaders, fearing Bunning lacks the political muscle to survive a third challenge, are sending not-so-subtle messages that they want him to retire. He raised only $262,980 from January through March for a race that he said would likely cost some $7 million to win.

Paul, a fan of Bunning's conservative fiscal philosophy, said it is those mixed signals that have him standing ready to enter the race.

Paul, who shares many of his father's conservative political views, was an integral part of last year's presidential campaign. He said his father's political organization largely remains intact and could be reactivated to raise money for his Senate race.

His father finished third in Kentucky's Republican presidential primary behind John McCain and Mike Huckabee but well ahead of Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Alan Keyes.

If he enters the Republican primary I may have to re-register my party to help him get into office. I will definitely donate and volunteer when I can.

Best thing about this would be that I would then have a Dr. Paul representing me. Imagine that, a politician that actually represents my political principals. That may sound sort of rare, but when you realize that means a politician that actually defends the Constitution it is very rare.



EDIT: Angry Obama supporter asks, "Why?"

 

[Omnis]

Here's a little something: You thought the patriot act was for terrorists?



It can't happen here... this is the USA.

Anyway, yeah, FK, Rand Paul is great. He's like Ron and Robert Taft mixed together.

 

[YSSMAN]

Funny, I thought Obama started it when within just a few days in office he told Republican leaders in a meeting wanting to discuss the stimulus plan, "I won."

I agree that it was a poor choice of words to use on behalf of Obama, regardless of his frustration on the issue. However, it wasn't as though Republicans have been comfortable with Democrat leadership since 2006...

Good, I don't want any of those three to win crap.

Agreed. This Cantor guy, I can't stand him. I've never liked Mitt "Michigan" Romney either. As for Bush, I'm not familiar enough with his policies in Florida to dislike him that much. Its my understanding that he was far more moderate than his brother, which certainly is appealing to me, but his name doesn't help his cause whatsoever.

Of course, all of this depends on which way you want the party to go...

But I do know who I want to win.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6404481.html

If he enters the Republican primary I may have to re-register my party to help him get into office. I will definitely donate and volunteer when I can.

...Which isn't a bad idea if you ask me. It sounds like an interesting race, keep us posted!

=-=-=-=-=-=

Which has me thinking: I have no idea if Vernon Ehlers (R-MI, 3rd) will be stepping down in our district or not in 2010, and there is a lot of talk that Mayor Hartwell of Grand Rapids could step in for the race, but no one knows if he'll run as a Republican or a Democrat. Having met the guy and having had a personal conversation with him on several occasions, I'll support him regardless of party. He truly represents the views of the city (which is essentially the entire district), and that is the best option to replace Ehlers, who has been an amazingly awesome Representative.

 

[Solid Fro]

EDIT: Angry Obama supporter asks, "Why?"

Beck knows.

 

[FoolKiller]

I agree that it was a poor choice of words to use on behalf of Obama, regardless of his frustration on the issue. However, it wasn't as though Republicans have been comfortable with Democrat leadership since 2006...

If it is a reaction to Republicans actions from 2006 forward then Obama lied in 2008. If it is him walking in on day one and just throwing down his public mandate card then he lied.

Either way, Obama's original intent was never to show bi-partisanship. He was inaugurated on a Tuesday and by that Friday he had already broken that campaign promise.

...Which isn't a bad idea if you ask me. It sounds like an interesting race, keep us posted!

First Bumbling Bunning needs to retire. My issue is that Bunning isn't all that bad. He voted against the stimulus packages and has disagreed with the mainstream Republican rhetoric far more than McConnell, but it is very hard to put my support behind him when he says some of the most inane things. when he was running against an Italian guy, Mongiardo, he said, in public that he looks like one of Saddam's sons. He halfway makes sense, better than McConnell anyway, when it comes to actual policy, but he talks in public like he's still sitting in the baseball dugout. The guy is in Cooperstown and he has been a Senator, but he cannot shut up when he should.

So because he hasn't towed the party line and because he comes off like a bigoted idiot in public the party is trying to push him out, and honestly he looks like he should retire. But the Republican front-runner right now is Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Grayson is not a bad guy, and he helps counter our Democrat governor, but he is a Bush-McConnell guy. The only other known name that has been thrown about has been Commissioner of Agriculture, and former Wildcats basketball star, Richie Farmer (yep our Commissioner of Agriculture's name is Farmer, but that isn't why he won). But Farmer's name has purely been hopeful goofiness.

Now, Grayson will get big money from the Bush/McConnell supporters and lobbyists in the Louisville and Lexington area. That is big money land. Dr. Paul has the advantage of being a small town Bowling Green guy, and that will sit well with the rural areas, which has been Bunning's wild card. The other bonus is that I am already seeing online buzz about pulling another $6 million in one day fundraising effort. If fundraising for Rand can go like it did for Ron then it is likely that Rand Paul will have the financial backing to make Grayson cringe.

The important question is: Will I get to see a Rand Paul blimp?

Either way, I live in Frankfort, political center of Kentucky, and work in Louisville, economic and population center of Kentucky, so I am well placed to help out if the opportunity arises.

 

[YSSMAN]

So, its really a case-in-point situation that describes the issues facing the GOP throughout the country? Very interesting. A Bush-McConnel type Republican will likely have a moderately solid base behind it, probably with good funding as well, but the big challenge will likely be whether or not they can entice more moderate Republicans, and possibly, conservative Democrats. It sounds like Paul would be able to appeal to a greater number of folks based on the more traditional Republican values, but its hard to know if its as relevant as it should be right now.

We're going to have a similar problem here in Michigan with our Governors race too. Representative Pete Hoekstra threw his hat into the race a month or so ago, and he is a very different kind of Republican compared to Secretary of State Land and Attorney General Cox. Normally, I'd prefer to have a West Michigander in the seat, but I've yet to decide if I like him in this situation or not.

 

[FoolKiller]

So, its really a case-in-point situation that describes the issues facing the GOP throughout the country?

Yep.

But just looking at pictures of the two, you can tell which one is a total douche.

 

[YSSMAN]

Speaking of that same problem, Dr. Paul was on the Rachel Maddow Show tonight:



I hope someone in the GOP is listening. Dr. Paul's argument for the GOP message falling on deaf ears when it comes to the young people is spot-on. If we don''t have the attention of the youth now, what future is there for the party? Furthermore, his critique of both parties is otherwise correct, and its often why I'm so disappointed that people who like him get written off so quickly. I was very happy to find out earlier in the year that a fellow Poli Sci zombie was a Ron Paul guy, although he had never talked about it with me before. Apparently the campus Republicans give him a lot of heat for it, which I've never understood. Despite the fact that we ultimately disagreed on what the outcome should have been in November, it was an odd (and otherwise nice) thing to see that we both agreed on something outside of that contest.

Fingers crossed, Dr. Paul gets some more attention in the coming weeks, months, and years.

 

[FoolKiller]

Speaking of that same problem, Dr. Paul was on the Rachel Maddow Show tonight:

I had a woman at work today come up to me and tell me she saw this interview and that he rally does make sense. My exact response was, "Why did no one listen to me last year? You all thought I was the crazy sideshow guy and now you realize I was supporting the best guy out there."

She just shrugged.

 

[Keef]

I know why. Because she'd rather sit on her couch and watch Desperate Housewives than actually care about her country and political system. It's the American Way, man. How dare my future come before my TV shows!

 

[YSSMAN]

"Why did no one listen to me last year? You all thought I was the crazy sideshow guy and now you realize I was supporting the best guy out there."

Well, even with people who like to talk about politics, he doesn't always get the credit he deserves. I'm one of just a handful here who like to talk about him, which has always boggled my mind. He and I may not agree on policy, but I'd much rather have his style of governance permeating the GOP than whatever the hell else is going on.