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Thread: Thoughts & Commentary on the Obama Administration

  1. #1
    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Thoughts & Commentary on the Obama Administration

    That's easy, and I'm surprised you didn't know the answer: "Do not heed the words of the Antichrist!"

    Just say that, and you'll ace the test.

    -edit-

    More proof that Obama is the son of Satan and a jackal born to woman (as if any were needed): He has subverted Hugh Hewitt. Or maybe replaced him with one of his shape-shifting incubi.

    Tom Daschle should be confirmed quickly because (1) his biggest error it looks to me to be the sort of error that a former senior elected official used to riding around in government cars could easily make, while the others look like the screw-ups that a suddenly wealthy former senator could easily make, (2) he wouldn't have endangered his political career and ambitions for this amount of money given the huge income he had coming in, and (3) we absolutely have to fix the confirmation mess or more and more people will flee public service at the highest levels. [...]

    Errors on tax returns related to unusual circumstances and nanny issues are simply not the sort of character issues for which confirmation should be denied. Fixing the "confirmation mess" requires some restraint when presented with targets. The GOP should stay fixed on the stimulus bill, and not go chasing Daschle.
    Last edited by Lemur; 02-02-2009 at 18:42.

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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by David Duke View Post

    I am glad these traitorous leaders of the Republican Party appointed this Black racist, affirmative action advocate to the head of the Republican party because this will lead to a huge revolt among the Republican base. As a former Republican official, I can tell you that millions of rank-and-file Republicans are mad as hell and aren’t going to take it anymore! We will either take the Republican Party back over the next four years or we will say, “To Hell With the Republican Party!” And we will take 90 percent of Republicans with us into a New Party that will take its current place!
    LOL! To hell with you too, Duke, and tell them the GOP sent you and doesn't want you back!

    CR
    Last edited by Crazed Rabbit; 02-02-2009 at 18:56.
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    Part-Time Polemic Senior Member ICantSpellDawg's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Americans approve of most actions by Obama to date...

    EXCEPT THE ABORTION DECISION

    Maybe guys like me aren't as out of touch as some make us seem? If the Mexico city decision was unpopular, what would FOCA be?

    I approve of Obama so far. I've said it before and I'll say it again - if Obama was pro-life or on the fence I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR HIM.
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    Jillian & Allison's Daddy Senior Member Don Corleone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    So, while we're discussing new cabinet level appointees, what does anybody know about Eric Holder. He likes giving out get-out-of-jail-free cards to his boss's political donors, but other than that? I heard a quote he gave on NPR this morning that made me a little bit nervous about his views on affirmative action and equal opportunity, as a legal onus, not just a good idea.
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    Vindicative son of a gun Member Jolt's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Vladimir View Post
    A fair question I suppose. I hope this wasn't a litmus test question.
    Nope, thank god. :P
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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Don, I don't know enough about Holder to have a valid opinion.

    Meanwhile, another candidate drops out because of tax problems. This would be the "Performance Czar." What the **** is a Performance Czar?

    That sum included $298 in unpaid taxes, $48.69 in interest and $600 in penalties.

    So people are dropping out for errors to the tune of $298? That doesn't seem entirely logical ...

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    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    Don, I don't know enough about Holder to have a valid opinion.

    Meanwhile, another candidate drops out because of tax problems. This would be the "Performance Czar." What the **** is a Performance Czar?

    That sum included $298 in unpaid taxes, $48.69 in interest and $600 in penalties.

    So people are dropping out for errors to the tune of $298? That doesn't seem entirely logical ...
    Hold on! Some partisan hack makes excuses as to why he owes 100,000 when someone else drops out for less than 1,000?



    But hey, maybe it isn't her fault.
    Last edited by Vladimir; 02-03-2009 at 18:27.


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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Vladimir View Post
    Hold on! Some partisan hack makes excuses as to why he owes 100,000 when someone else drops out for less than 1,000?
    Nah, apparently it isn't working out so well for Daschle either.

    Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination on Tuesday as President Obama’s nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department, a decision that came one day after Mr. Obama declared that he would stand behind Mr. Daschle as problems over unpaid taxes were scrutinized on Capitol Hill. [...]

    The decision to withdraw his nomination as a member of the Obama cabinet comes as the White House battled across several fronts on Tuesday with tax problems of the president’s top political appointees. Mr. Daschle had expressed regret for not paying about $140,000 in back taxes, but on Monday vowed to press ahead.
    Last edited by Lemur; 02-03-2009 at 19:52.

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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Obama's really having some trouble with his nominees. I mean, it seems like an awfully high percentage of nominees dropping out, especially for tax trouble.

    More of that taxes are good and patriotic for you, but not for me, from the dems.

    CR
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    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    Nah, apparently it isn't working out so well for Daschle either.

    Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination on Tuesday as President Obama’s nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department, a decision that came one day after Mr. Obama declared that he would stand behind Mr. Daschle as problems over unpaid taxes were scrutinized on Capitol Hill. [...]

    The decision to withdraw his nomination as a member of the Obama cabinet comes as the White House battled across several fronts on Tuesday with tax problems of the president’s top political appointees. Mr. Daschle had expressed regret for not paying about $140,000 in back taxes, but on Monday vowed to press ahead.
    Thanks.

    This just goes to show what hypocrites politicians are. The party that speaks out against gay sex gets caught doing it, and the party who wants to raise your taxes can't pay their own.


    Reinvent the British and you get a global finance center, edible food and better service. Reinvent the French and you may just get more Germans.
    Quote Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars
    How do you motivate your employees? Waterboarding, of course.
    Ik hou van ferme grieten en dikke pinten
    Down with dried flowers!
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    I still want to know what a Performance Czar does. It sounds like something that involves Russia and pornography.

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    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    I still want to know what a Performance Czar does. It sounds like something that involves Russia and pornography.
    Close. I believe he is in charge of taking over the Russian botnets and spamming us all with V1@gra emails.

    Edit-> wiki provides: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Performance_Officer
    Last edited by drone; 02-03-2009 at 20:35.
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    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post
    I still want to know what a Performance Czar does. It sounds like something that involves Russia and pornography.
    That is a poor name. I would use stamina Czar!


    Reinvent the British and you get a global finance center, edible food and better service. Reinvent the French and you may just get more Germans.
    Quote Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars
    How do you motivate your employees? Waterboarding, of course.
    Ik hou van ferme grieten en dikke pinten
    Down with dried flowers!
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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave View Post
    Wow, we elect a Chicago thug and this happen, I'm soooooo shocked.
    Soooo true. That white chick who missed $298 in unemployment co-payments over three years? Stone cold gangsta, homes. That's just how she rolls.

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    The very model of a modern Moderator Xiahou's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    I can't help but think they found more skeletons in Daschle's closet and are just using the tax issue to push him out of the running. Clearly, it's been established that tax issues aren't enough to preclude someone from nomination. Daschle wasn't a lobbyist- in name only. He has lots of ties to the healthcare industry and lots of money changed hands there over the years. I'd wager something dirty turned up that the administration didn't want getting out.
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    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    A take on why Daschle was dropped:

    This was not a GOP hit. The Obama administration didn't move because they thought Republican senators would defeat his nomination. They moved because they, and the left, thought Daschle's presence would harm the administration's image and degrade their credibility on health care. It was too easy to write the attack ads "Tom Daschle took $220,000 from the health industry..."

    -edit-

    Proof that we are in a different era, as Obama utters three words you would never have heard under the Bush Administration: "I screwed up."
    Last edited by Lemur; 02-04-2009 at 03:24.

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    Know the dark side Member Askthepizzaguy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Xiahou View Post
    I've gotta say- Obama, sure he's big government liberal, but I'm willing to take a wait and see approach. Clinton managed to do some good on a few issues and maybe Obama will do the same. But what really creeps me out is the fact that we now have Joe Biden as VP.... every time I think about that, it still makes my skin crawl.
    Not to restart old debates, but spending under Bush made Clinton look like a small government conservative, and under Clinton the budget had been balanced. And Bush spent far more than he took in in taxes, which creates problems for future presidents, problems that future presidents will get the blame for having to clean up, and reduces their political capital to do anything positive for us.

    Oh, I smell a rant coming. Spoilers.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Bush also was one of the first to suggest these huge economic bailouts, abandoning small government conservative principles when it was no longer politically damaging to do so, and too late, might I add. And there was no oversight. None. And his bailout package did not help us at all.

    With Obama's package, the money will have oversight and might actually create jobs. In fact it is guaranteed to create jobs, and that's already much more than Bush's bailout did. If you're going to spend all that money, and as a small government type, I disagree with, at least spend it wisely.

    That's why if you're going to have a government, it should be responsible for saving people's lives, not lining the pockets of the rich. Stimulating the economy with trickle down economics and tax breaks to the rich doesn't work, but helping cover the cost of healthcare does several things; encourages people to go see a doctor when they need to, the doctors actually get paid and the hospital doesn't go under, and the money the doctors and hospitals take in gets spent, to a large degree in our local economy.

    Point blank, giving tax breaks to people who invest in stocks and buy expensive foreign things, does not stimulate the economy. Giving tax breaks to people who spend basically all the money they have, does stimulate the economy. Giving aid to people who will use it on doctor's bills, which often times go unpaid and have to get covered by local governments ANYWAY, is actually a more efficient use of the money and improves our nation's healthcare.

    I'd prefer that over pork barrel spending such as bridges to nowhere, which Palin supported before she opposed. I always found it funny that Palin called the democrats "socialist" when her own state redistributes oil money to the residents of that state. In fact, her town that she was the mayor of, Wassilla, Alaska, doesn't actually function as the administration of fire departments and schools and so forth, basically what the government of Wassilla Alaska did was send out the oil checks, and not much else, according to the current mayor of Alaska herself.

    So when you get "small government conservatives" like Bush and co. spending as much or more than "big government liberals" like Bill Clinton, and getting a lot less out of it for their trouble, and you have wingers accusing their opponents of doing something they themselves do to a much greater extent, I have to wonder why. Probably because they are the party of Rush Limbaugh, who is someone that sitting Republican senators and congressmen cannot openly criticize without being forced to apologize or become disenfranchised.

    Rush, by the way, accused the Democrats of being unpatriotic and treasonous when they opposed George W. Bush in a time of war, and within Obama's first week, he was already openly expressing his desire that Obama FAIL. Forget how good it would be for the greater good of the country if Obama succeeds in turning our country around, Rush is concerned with the Republican Party, but mostly he's just concerned with himself. Numero Uno: Self-Interest.

    What else could Rush possibly say and still be Rush Limbaugh? He cannot support Obama, and the Republicans have no ideas except to limit the stimulus plan and give more tax cuts, which is more of the same, ideas currently rejected by the majority of the public. So he cannot really endorse those plans as the loyal opposition either. All Rush can do is create controversy and hopefully that will generate ratings and loyal listeners, and therefore get more people out to the polls in 2012 voting Republican. In the meantime, he's totally written off the next 4 years and is actively trying to get people to not support our current president and stonewall all progress, thereby extending the depression and putting off our problems until the next Republican is in power.

    It's partisanship like that that made me leave the Republican party. There is no room from like that in America. I am registered Independent, and until the Republicans actually have a plan of action besides tax cuts (which, to be fair, were done, and they got a fair shake, and it did not solve our problems), I am going to support Obama.

    Until he royally messes something up and no longer deserves our support, I am supporting him. Out of the good of our country, I am happy to see many of my fellow orgahs, especially conservatives and Republicans, giving Obama a fair chance. This is to be expected, this place is full of enlightened and fair minded people, and usually not blatant hypocrites.

    Even when someone is ideologically opposed to you, if they are the leader of your country you should hope they succeed in their endeavors. I didn't like the reasons for the Iraq war, but I supported the troops and hope they all survive and come home soon. I didn't like Bush's idea for solving the social security mess, but I would have given it a chance, and I would hope he succeeded. I didn't like the use of torture in Gitmo, but I had hoped they would have used the information to stop future attacks (though I am opposed to the mantra "what is good for the many is good for us all", and diametrically opposed to the use of torture on people who never even got a trial by jury, let alone fundamental human rights) and otherwise succeeded in their endeavors to protect this nation. I didn't like the plan of action under Bush, which was fight a war and cut taxes at the same time. That made no sense. But I hoped the stimulus would turn the economy around and we would win the war too.

    8 years later, that fair chance, that fair shake, that benefit of the doubt, that loyal opposition, has expired.

    Obama deserves at least 4 years of a fair shake in return. And the bitter divisiveness between the parties needs to stop. I for one see no use in having political parties to begin with, but if they refuse to set minor differences in philosophy aside, they need to go to China where opposing the ruling party is a crime. Then they will understand the dangers of hyper-partisanship.

    That goes for Democrats, too. Don't browbeat Republicans just for being Republican, or you turn yourselves into the very thing you claim to oppose, and I've no use for hypocrites.


    Yak, yak, yak. I don't want to hijack this thread, so if anyone wishes to comment we can take the conversation into a different one.
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    Jillian & Allison's Daddy Senior Member Don Corleone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur View Post

    Proof that we are in a different era, as Obama utters three words you would never have heard under the Bush Administration: "I screwed up."
    And with those three words, gained more of my trust than any defense of improperly vetting Daschle could have possibly achieved.

    I wonder if the G.O.P. is paying attention, as that was actually a rather shrewd move on Obama's part. If they continue to press on Obama over the Daschel nomination, they immediately transition from "watching out for the public good and protecting us from influence peddling", to partisan hacks that are just out to score points.
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    Know the dark side Member Askthepizzaguy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    IMHO this, more than any silly ideological argument, is the primary difference between a good or a bad leader.

    Under a very strong leader, any philosophy can work. If everyone actually agreed to do it voluntarily, communism works. Just look at all the charitable and volunteer work that religious and secular organizations do without being prompted by governments or without being paid. All you need is good leadership and people willing to follow. Capitalism works under sound and wise leadership from businessmen. Republican trickle-down economics could work, in theory. Democratic soft socialism could work, in theory. Ancient societies which worshipped sun gods and practiced cannibalism seemed to function as a strong society. But only with strong leadership.

    A strong leader needs to appear to be invulnerable, but without risking the loss of the support of the people, and the connection to the people. If a leader stubbornly refuses to acknowledge obvious mistakes that they've made, they've lost touch with the people and have lost touch with reality. How can they resolve the errors in their thought process if they refuse to acknowledge they have errors?

    A leader who calls a spade a spade is a better leader. Saying "my bad" is not only OK, it's considered basic decency, especially from a leader who is accountable to the people whose interests he represents.

    I also like the bipartisan selections for the cabinet, which have been characterized as naked moves to gain power in Congress by one party. I don't see how that is, especially if the person selected to fill their previous position is from the same party. Frankly it seems like more of the same noise that lost an election.

    EDIT: And Democratic senators got selected, too. So it doesn't even make sense.
    Last edited by Askthepizzaguy; 02-04-2009 at 15:46.
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    Jillian & Allison's Daddy Senior Member Don Corleone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Well, being from New Hampshire, I can shed a little light on the Judd Gregg selection, and it's a litlte more complicated than it might appear at first glance. John Lynch, the Democratic governor, is beloved by folks on both sides of our local aisle. I'd seriously have to question somebody's faculties regardless of their affiliation who wouldn't at least pay the man basic respect.

    However, he has made it very clear that he wants Judd Gregg's senate senate seat when his gubenatorial term is up in 2 years. Selecting Bonnie Newman, who had no designs on the office and has pre-agreed to not seek re-election in 2 years was pure brilliance. Bipartisanship AND favoring friends...

    I think what the Nancy Pelosis and Barbara Boxers of the world need to come to grips with is that for President Obama, a Democratic Congress for the next few years is a given. But that doesn't mean the President is going to let them set his agenda for them. I think of the old Citibank commercial... not just Visa, Citibank Visa.... Obama is trying to put not just Democrats, but loyal allies in key positions. Very shrewd.

    And as far as bipartisanship goes, you should read what's coming out of the Lefty blogosphere about Lynch selecting Bonnie Newman. There is rage, for a guy who arguably is the future face of their party. But people I know and respect are seething that the elusvie 60th seat will have to wait....
    Last edited by Don Corleone; 02-04-2009 at 15:52.
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    Know the dark side Member Askthepizzaguy's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    I honestly haven't heard much from the Lefty Blogosphere. I figure I can get the left-wing slant from MSNBC.

    Olbermann is pretty hardcore with that stuff. He has lucid moments, but more often than not he's just a Republican-hating Limbaugh clone from the Left.

    That said, he is pretty good at nailing Limbaugh with his recent naked and unabashed double standard I mentioned regarding the ideals of "supporting a president during a time of war".

    Practically anything that is wildly partisan or wingnut-laden, I don't read, I don't want to read. Would you read the political manifesto of the Unabomber? I don't think so, I don't care what his wacky environmental/anti-industrial views are, when he talks about morality and then murders the innocent, he's a hypocrite wacko lunatic.

    Any right or left winger who consistently sees the world through red or blue glasses or sees the opposing philosophy (as if there were only two) as the devil is an idiot in my opinion, because that blatantly ignores half of the people responsible for our current dilemma. There's enough blame to go around. That's why, in spite of Bush, I can't just declare myself a Democrat. There's plenty of idiots in that party that need to be replaced, and I'd take an experienced, competent, and not frothing-mad Republican over an untested and potentially dangerous lefty Democrat.

    That's why I'm not a big fan of Al Franken. Sure Obama needs support, but Franken is a partisan nutjob.



    I'm also from New Hampshire, by the way. Just don't live there anymore. 18 years, born and raised.
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    The very model of a modern Moderator Xiahou's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Well we might hear some more "my bad"s coming from Obama in the near future, if you read the Politico's chronicle of the new presidents missteps and screwups during his first few weeks in office.
    Simply put, the way to exploit a White House moment is not to compete with it.

    That kind of PR self control can drive the coverage from the relentless and omnipresent cable outlets back -- again and again -- to that singular event.

    But the new White House sometimes runs over its own, central economic message.

    For instance, Obama hosted at the White House nearly a dozen corporate executives who support his recovery package on the same day the House passed its version of the legislation on a party line vote.

    As a consequence, the support for the legislation from a host of cutting edge technology CEOs was buried amid coverage of the lack of a single House Republican vote in favor of it.

    On Monday the White House tried again.

    Obama had sought to illustrate the support he has among governors for the stimulus package by inviting Republican Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas for remarks.

    But that news was quickly overtaken by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s swearing in ceremony.

    Indeed, the Obama team has yet to fully exploit the open and enthusiastic support it has received from such higher profile Republican governors as Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California for his stimulus program.
    I also like how Obama makes several disastrous nominations, says "oops, my bad" and is praised for it. The stimulus plan also seems to be quickly headed towards disaster as Republicans are successfully labeling as a pork-laden mess and public support for it is plummeting. The mistake there was in letting congressional Democrats craft whatever they wanted with little or no direction from the White House. Obama needs to pick up the learning curve and turn talk into action before the honeymoon is over.

    I look forward to being called a horrible person for interrupting the love-in.
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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Askthepizzaguy View Post
    IMHO this, more than any silly ideological argument, is the primary difference between a good or a bad leader.

    Under a very strong leader, any philosophy can work. If everyone actually agreed to do it voluntarily lost all natural human instinct and became like a large group of ants, communism works.
    Fixed!

    Just look at all the charitable and volunteer work that religious and secular organizations do without being prompted by governments or without being paid. All you need is good leadership and people willing to follow.
    Charity work and the work you do as the central part of your life to support yourself are quite different things.

    I also like how Obama makes several disastrous nominations, says "oops, my bad" and is praised for it.
    In fairness, its better than pretending said mistake never happened.

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  24. #24
    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Xiahou View Post
    I look forward to being called a horrible person for interrupting the love-in.
    According to the locals, I believe the love-in officially ended last week.
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  25. #25
    The very model of a modern Moderator Xiahou's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit View Post
    In fairness, its better than pretending said mistake never happened.
    And that's a valid point. However, saying you're sorry doesn't make the screwup go away. He screwed up and admitted it. Ok. Now what?

    It just seems to me that many Americans have become fixated with apologies. Apologies are great, but learning from your mistakes is better. If it was between an arrogant jerk who never admitted any mistakes- but learned from it and avoided future goof ups and a guy who admitted his mistakes, but kept on making more... who would you rather have? Hopefully Obama will be the guy to admit he screwed up and will also learn to make better decisions from it. Again, apologies are great, but speaking personally, actions are more important than words.
    Last edited by Xiahou; 02-05-2009 at 17:19.
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  26. #26
    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Xiahou View Post
    I've gotta say- Obama, sure he's big government liberal, but I'm willing to take a wait and see approach.
    So is it safe to say that after two whole weeks, you've waited and seen?

    I'm loving your forced choice between "an arrogant jerk who never admitted any mistakes- but learned from it and avoided future goof ups and a guy who admitted his mistakes, but kept on making more." I don't suppose there's any need to delve into the logical flaws in that bit of rhetoric, now is there?

  27. #27
    The very model of a modern Moderator Xiahou's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
    So is it safe to say that after two whole weeks, you've waited and seen?
    Well friend, Obama still has a lot of time in office to hopefully do some good. But, so far Obama has made quite a few missteps even for a n00b.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
    I'm loving your forced choice between "an arrogant jerk who never admitted any mistakes- but learned from it and avoided future goof ups and a guy who admitted his mistakes, but kept on making more." I don't suppose there's any need to delve into the logical flaws in that bit of rhetoric, now is there?
    If you finished reading my thoughts, there's no need.
    Quote Originally Posted by me
    Hopefully Obama will be the guy to admit he screwed up and will also learn to make better decisions from it.
    See? A positive combination of both would be preferable. But then here was the point:
    Quote Originally Posted by me
    Again, apologies are great, but speaking personally, actions are more important than words.
    Last edited by Xiahou; 02-05-2009 at 18:02.
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  28. #28
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Xiahou View Post
    ...I also like how Obama makes several disastrous nominations, says "oops, my bad" and is praised for it.
    Brilliantly played. He's in his honeymoon, had a stumble, gets to look honorable for taking the blame on himself, but does so during a time-frame when there is no downside to the measure. He disassociated himself from the "mistakes" BY taking responsibility for them -- and simultaneously fed a little red meat to the Bush haters who never got to hear those words from the person they define as the source of evil.

    Obama is an adroit politico. Unfortunately, he'll have (is having) more trouble getting his own party in step then side-stepping GOP efforts. What his team wanted for their first big bill was a Reaganesque broad support and a quick passage based on Obama's prestige -- and that was a solid idea. What the administration got was a porcine effort with too much Dem pork in one ugly chunk -- and the House leadership gave the GOP core something to hammer on.

    I won't like the bill coming out of the Senate either, and the conference result even less, but something will pass within the month.

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  29. #29
    Jillian & Allison's Daddy Senior Member Don Corleone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    And now, Hilda Silas.... Hilda Salis confirmation put on hold to investegate tax liens against husband.. Boy, for folks that are big on raising them on the rest of us, do ANY Democrats actually pay taxes? (the ones in office, that is).
    Last edited by Don Corleone; 02-05-2009 at 21:33.
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  30. #30
    Jillian & Allison's Daddy Senior Member Don Corleone's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Corleone View Post
    And now, Hilda Silas.... Hilda Salis confirmation put on hold to investegate tax liens against husband.. Boy, for folks that are big on raising them on the rest of us, do ANY Democrats actually pay taxes? (the ones in office, that is).
    For the record, this is not a partisan hack or me being led by the masses... this is the VERY reason I have never trusted the Democrats in office. It's not that I don't have a big heart or want to help people. It's that you do enough digging, and you learn that they don't, that government is just one giant Ponzi scheme. After the past 8 years, I have a host of reasons not to trust the Republicans either, so I guess I'm voting Federalist in the next election.
    Last edited by Don Corleone; 02-05-2009 at 21:44.
    "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
    Don Vito Corleone: The Godfather, Part 1.

    "Then wait for them and swear to God in heaven that if they spew that bull to you or your family again you will cave there heads in with a sledgehammer"
    Strike for the South

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