Obama disappoints me...

[KukriKhan]

Impossible. From what I remember from the debates we used to have, you occupy the entire middle ground all by yourself.

Impossible. Though perhaps too quiet at times, I fancy myself as having occupied Ser Clegane's middle ground shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

As have you, in the end. I observe.

The Kindergarteners vs Steelers thing: = teh bad. I'd like to think the Steelers, had they known of the conflict, would have accomodated a mutual event. Lousy PR management by 1600.

[Marshal Murat]

As I understand it, there's alot of "Obamamessiah" not just because of those fringe loonies that Obama could attract, but the mere fact that he was black and bringing "change" and "hope" to America. Those nebulous concepts of happiness and pride which inspired millions of college students to stand up and say "I'll vote for a better future!" (Ironically, they probably will feel the effects of this recession long after Obama leaves office). People didn't want to vote for "evil old white Republican" but wanted to vote for "progressive feel-good black Democrat"

As a middle-grounder (I actually think my dot is the most middlygroundest of all dots on the chart), I have to say that given expectations Obama and Dems have maintained some sense of decorum (I applaud his actions in Iraq and Afghanistan), while

1. Many of Obama's nominees to posts were back on taxes
2. Iran has continued to enrich uranium
3. Pelosi + CIA = What?
4. Detainees, wha...oh yeah, those detainees. No, I thought they were staying with you.

I believe Roosevelt (Teddy) wrote something about how many nations are protected by strong-men not because they're using force against foes, but that they're willing to do so.

[CountArach]

I am as disappointed with Obama as I expected to be. His foreign policy shows little structural change to most previous President's (Though I never expected otherwise) and I think he has horribly mishandled the entire torture issue. However, I expeccted nothing more than this from him and I am pleasantly surprised by some of the things he has done stimulus package-wise.

[Adrian II]

Impossible. Though perhaps too quiet at times, I fancy myself as having occupied Ser Clegane's middle ground shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

As have you, in the end. I observe.

Maybe.

But have you considered the change of atmosphere in the backroom since I joined? We used to have a pretty vocal right wing; they used Pindar as a flying wedge (yes, we all know that's illegal since 1906, but Pindar always found a loophole ) and they had receivers like Gawain and Panzerjaeger that were so far out to the right they made the Lemur look like a Communist.

It wudn't pretty. But we had some great fun.

[KukriKhan]

Maybe.

But have you considered the change of atmosphere in the backroom since I joined? We used to have a pretty vocal right wing; they used Pindar as a flying wedge (yes, we all know that's illegal since 1906, but Pindar always found a loophole ) and they had receivers like Gawain and Panzerjaeger that were so far out to the right they made the Lemur look like a Communist.

It wudn't pretty. But we had some great fun.

There's no denying any of that. True, all of it.

Somehow, some way, we, as a group, have managed to drop some of the invective from our arguments. Positions, and motivations get examined in greater detail, and "winning" isn't nearly as important as actually more fully comprehending an issue.

Hey, snappy siggy there; that Herodotus guy should could turn a phrase. :)

[Adrian II]

Hey, snappy siggy there; that Herodotus guy should could turn a phrase. :)

Sources of wisdom found everywhere, even in ordinary river.

[KukriKhan]

Sources of wisdom found everywhere, even in ordinary river.

He never disappoints.