Obama Presidency Discussion Thread

How would you vote in the 2008 US Presidential Election?

  • Obama-Biden (Democrat)

    Votes: 67 59.3%

  • McCain-Palin (Republican)

    Votes: 18 15.9%

  • Barr-Root (Libertarian)

    Votes: 14 12.4%

  • Nader-Gonzales (Independent-Ecology Party / Peace and Freedom Party)

    Votes: 5 4.4%

  • McKinney-Clemente (Green)

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • Baldwin-Castle (Constitution)

    Votes: 7 6.2%

  • Gurney-? (Car & Driver)

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • Other...

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    113
  • Poll closed .
YSSMAN
I'm not sure if you're referencing Iraq or Afghanistan there towards the end, but I agree with your point, which I know we've mentioned before.
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Does it matter which war? There were people protesting both, mainly Iraq, but some will protest any war. Either way Bush is out of office, both wars rage on, and all but Sheehan have gone eerily silent.
 
FoolKiller
Does it matter which war? There were people protesting both, mainly Iraq, but some will protest any war. Either way Bush is out of office, both wars rage on, and all but Sheehan have gone eerily silent.
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There have been anti-war protests around here at various times in the spring and summer, although I haven't been notified of one recently. I think what it comes down to now, more than ever, is press coverage. Which is otherwise non-existent. Venture over to more Liberal websites like the Huffington Post, Alternet or the Daily Kos, and you'll still find a fair number of stories either against the war, or spun against it. I think in terms of Iraq, people see the out (SOF Agreement). As for Afghanistan, it depends on what you thought of the war in the first place. The strong Liberal news organizations have been running a lot of skeptical news stories on the situation there, or talk about "alternative means" to changing the situation there that doesn't involve bullets or bombs.

But, speaking generally, the reaction against either war was never strong enough in the first place if you're really into protest politics. People aren't engaged enough in the war because they haven't had to make any kind of sacrifice for either. Tax dollars, sure, but nothing else. Vietnam had the backlash not just because it was arguably a senseless war, but because everyone knew that they were at risk of being sent there.* Men, women, young and old were all out there because everyone was involved. These days, I have only two family members who have been sent to the Middle-East, and I only know of one family personally who has lost someone to the war (Iraq). I agree that we should all be mad as hell about either conflict, but when it doesn't effect you directly, people aren't as mad as they should be.


* Check out the draft lottery results for Vietnam in any of those years. If I had been 18 in 1969/1970, I would have been royally screwed (047 in 1969). You can bet your ass I would have been out there protesting.
 
Right, trying to promote world peace. You know carrying on two wars in the Middle East is really promoting world peace. I think the Nobel Prize Committee has lost their ability to find people truly deserving. Either that or the world has just run out people who promote peace.
 
I'm afraid I can't type what I exclaimed at the TV when I heard this, but:

Duke
What for?! Sheesh. I don't hate the guy, but come ON. What has the Obamessiah actually achieved?
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sums it up.
 
YSSMAN
RE: The Olympics
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It really is too bad. The Olympics surely would have brought peace and unity to 4 of the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the USA, which are all on the south end of Chicago. Right where Obama and his cronies did all their charity work, eh?

And the peace price is one of the dumbest things I've heard all year. Are you sure that's real? It's just ridiculous.
 
One thing I found amusing this morning when reading the Sky News article was this quote.

The Taliban condemned the decision, saying Obama had "not taken a single step towards peace in Afghanistan".
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And that solidifies my point that somebody smoked some reefer and made this story up for a laugh. It's just too stupid and funny to be real, I'm telling you! The freaking Taliban is laughing right now! Go them. Obama just got owned by the Taliban. :lol:

Omnis
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So, it seems that Noble Peace Prizes are handed out based on campaign promises now.

I thought Al Gore's win was a bit of a joke, but I see now that he at least did something (profiteering!). I didn't know you could win this for hope of change.

Guys in dictatorships risk their lives in the name of human rights and get overlooked for some hope?
 
I'm befuddled by the choice as well, and based on the words coming out of the White House, they are as well. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it seems odd. But, committee that gave him the award is saying it is for diplomacy. I can see that, I suppose, opening up talks with Iran, getting the Israel - Palestine talks going again, etc.

The question is whether or not he will except it. My guess is that he will, but not in person. The second question is what he'll do with the money, which my guess is, donate it. Or refuse it altogether.

Its just odd to have it happening this early in his Presidency. A year from now, maybe, it would make sense. But right now? I think that explains why it caught everyone, including the President, off guard.
 
YSSMAN
The question is whether or not he will except it. My guess is that he will, but not in person. The second question is what he'll do with the money, which my guess is, donate it. Or refuse it altogether.
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I am sure he will accept it.

Its just odd to have it happening this early in his Presidency. A year from now, maybe, it would make sense. But right now? I think that explains why it caught everyone, including the President, off guard.
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It is really odd considering that nominations were closed 11 days after he became president, meaning he was nominated based on campaign promises alone.
 
I promise that if I'm elected president there will be world peace and a cure for AIDS. Can I have a Pulitzer Prize now?

This is probably going to hurt the prize's reputation, other than being the first black president he hasn't done much.
 
The Nobel committee already bankrupted their credibility when they gave one to Al Gore. Since they're run by the central bank, I think this is all a bunch of bull crap to try and get central banking off people's radar once more.

As Hans Hoppe put it, to win a nobel peace prize, one must be a mass murderer, or at least that helps. Obama joins the ranks of Woodrow Wilson for peace-prize winning presidents who send soldiers off to die and surreptitiously steal other people's money to do it.
 
I'm not sure that he will accept it - he isn't obliged to, and indeed some commentators are already suggesting that it could be politically damaging to him if he does. Either way, someone is going to be monumentally embarrassed by this.
 
If Obama is smart, he'll refuse this. To accept this is to admit that he's all rhetoric and no action. To refuse it is to say to the world "I haven't done anything yet", and that would be an important message.

The Nobel Prize folks have shot themselves in the leg with this one. If Obama picks it up, he'll be doing the same.

Unbelievably stupid. At least wait until there's something to show for it so it could have a shred of legitimacy.

I think it's telling that even the left-biased comedians were starting to get frustrated with Obama's inaction just days before this award came out.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/episodes/?vid=1163334#vid=1163334
 
FoolKiller
Guys in dictatorships risk their lives in the name of human rights and get overlooked for some hope?
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Yeah, because they would no longer be welcome in their country any more. Some of these guys don't want to go public because they know they're going to be on their counrty's Most Wanted list afterwards.
 
driftking18594
Yeah, because they would no longer be welcome in their country any more. Some of these guys don't want to go public because they know they're going to be on their counrty's Most Wanted list afterwards.
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Um, they are publicly known, as an activist China, who is already in jail, was nominated.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ho8X5veExR0CZ4QNuOSXQXDbJaZg

Other possible laureates mentioned were jailed Chinese dissident Hu Jia, Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba who has campaigned for a peaceful solution to the almost 50-year-old conflict in her country, and Afghan doctor and women's rights activist Sima Samar.
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Or this one:
French-Colombian ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt and Jordan's Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad Bin Talal, an advocate of inter-religious dialogue, have also been seen as possible winners.
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They were nominated, which means they are known.
 
Katie Couric's news show just started, whatever it's called, and in the intro she said "what has Obama done to deserve it..."

Then they showed a clip of Obama speaking, where he said "To be honest, I don't think I deserve this."

Right, so everybody is bitching about it.
 
FoolKiller
I am sure he will accept it.
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DOH! That's bad, especially when I attempt to keep my grammar in shape most of the time. Blame it on the sleep!


It is really odd considering that nominations were closed 11 days after he became president, meaning he was nominated based on campaign promises alone.
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That's what we were talking about most in class today. I think the general consensus in my class was on the side of befuddled negativity, regardless of their politics. That was echoed on NPR all afternoon as well. Its cool that he won and all, but it just doesn't feel like a legitimate prize.

This is the email that Obama supporters received late this morning:
This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama
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Politically, they know its a thin line to walk. Giving it a big "hell yeah!" and making a huge deal of it will backfire. However, I think the resoundingly negative attacks from the GOP could do just the same. For me, it was really all about timing. If he was given the award a year from now, it would feel less awkward, certainly less of a play by the leftist parties in Norway.
 
Is it just me or did we elect a motivational speaker for president? It seems like every time he talks he has the same tone as those guys that would come to my highschool.
 
Yeah, Justin.

"... WHEN YOU'RE LIVING IN A BLACK SUBURBAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!"
 

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