President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[Ehwmatt]

Anyone want to comment on this...

Debt as a % of GDP will have already increased more under Obama by the end of the year (if it hasn't already) than it did during the entire eight years of the Bush administration.

Sure, it's a holdover from Bush

I just can't wait to see who they blame in 4 or 8 years when it's gone to hell in a handbasket.

[S2M]

If she is the nominee, we get 4 more years of Obama, something I don't want to see.

Your not happy with Obama?

Fuck no I 'm not. Willing to be patient because he did inherit an impending train wreck, and I want to see if the Stimulus works. The recession is now over as Q3 showed growth and unemployment dropped. We'll see.

I voted for President Obama and have not been impressed yet. Promises, promises during the campaign and now it's just business as usual. I'm pissed about it, as I had high hopes for "change".

Promises are only good I guess if the person making them has a plan that they can show you to back up how they are going to actually follow through with them.

Like I said, I hope he gets 8 years. The guy didnt make a single tangible promise back then, no wonder he's not keeping any now. If you were dumb enough to believe it then, you should reap what you sow now and for the maximum amount of time possible. You people who voted for him deserve 8 years of the worst. Enjoy. Hopefully you'll know better next time

Now you look like an ass. If you don't think the last 8 years were the worst ever, you are incredibly stupid. A bad Obama is better than a good Bush/Cheney.

Bush and Cheney made plenty of mistakes, but impact my life? Not one iota. Obama wants to tell me what shots to get, what kind of air conditioinng to use, what food to eat, rape my paycheck, and rape the last growing sector of the American economy [health care]. And the kicker? It's only been 9 months. Get back to me in 8 years, then we'll compare.

Why are you assuming he'll get in for a second term?

[The_Noble_Cause]

Sure, it's a holdover from Bush

Some of it is, sure.
Others on here have already mentioned that Bush didn't keep the cost of the wars on the books, nor did he include the costs of natural disaster relief.
That's a few hundred billion right there.
TARP, which was passed under Bush, is also a factor (tho some of it is supposedly being paid back).
During the last Great Depression, debt as a percentage of GDP exceeded 100%.
Of course, the country still made stuff back then, but I'm not worried about it.
Even the writer of "Reaganomics: Supply-Side Economics in Action" says we gotta spend right now to get out of the 2 trillion dollar hole we're looking at.

I just can't wait to see who they blame in 4 or 8 years when it's gone to hell in a handbasket.

Should that happen, we'll own up to it, and try something new.
Not like you guys, who brought the economy to it's knees, and quickly pointed fingers at ACORN and Barney Frank.
All the while Alan Greenspan was standing before Congress profusely apologising for thinking that markets could ever self-regulate.
LOL.
As satisfying a post-mortem on the past eight years as any I've ever heard.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Have fun debating this thing....We got to be leaving in an hour and checking in at the airport for our flight. We won't be back here until 2010, which is only in two months from now anyways. Whatever the case may be, I really hope that 2010 is a better year then 2009 was. Definitely wasn't a good year for the rich and famous, many died which was really surprising. It all started with the boat full of football players capsized and were never found but just one survivor. From that point on, it seems lots of famous people were dying throughout the year. And for us every day people, the economy has really be bad and has stedily gotten worse. Just looking forward to 2010 and hope it's a better year all the way around.

So now carry on and have fun with your political debate gents..........I'm going to Disney Land....uh...I mean Tokyo.

[conversationpc]

During the last Great Depression, debt as a percentage of GDP exceeded 100%.
Of course, the country still made stuff back then, but I'm not worried about it.

You should be...We were still on the gold standard back then and, you're right, we still actually made stuff here. We also weren't printing money like it's going out of style, which it will. This can't be sustained. Bush started this train a rollin' and Obama's done nothing but tossed a whole heap of fresh coal into the flames.

Not like you guys, who brought the economy to it's knees, and quickly pointed fingers at ACORN and Barney Frank.

ACORN sure had their hands in it but Bush and Obama, as well as the Republican-led congress (pre-2006) and the Democrat-led Congress since then are all major players.

[Ehwmatt]

Why are you assuming he'll get in for a second term?

I'm hoping he will so we learn a good hard lesson... and I'd say the chances are pretty good in spite of all the negative press he's been getting.

[The_Noble_Cause]

You should be...We were still on the gold standard back then and, you're right, we still actually made stuff here. We also weren't printing money like it's going out of style, which it will. This can't be sustained. Bush started this train a rollin' and Obama's done nothing but tossed a whole heap of fresh coal into the flames.

In the immortal words of Dick Cheney, (who last I checked is still the base's dream candidate in 2012), "deficits don't matter."
In ordinary times, that's insane, but for right now, the important thing is to get people back to work, and to do that you gotta deficit spend.
Even if you believe that Hoover was a progressive who did too much, history is still littered with banking panics where the gov't did nothing and people suffered, sometimes for years.
As it is, the only reason were not feeling the full effects right now is thanks to liberal safety nets in place from the past (unemployment, soc. security etc).
I share your Weimar Republic-inspired nite terrors, but I think it’s overblown.

Reagan kept Paul Volcker on from the Carter administration and he helped us get out of inflation.
Volcker is on Obama's team, with any luck, he'll do it again.

ACORN sure had their hands in it..

So minimal it's negligible.
This was all mainly driven by the investment banks.
It’s worth noting that the CEO’s aren’t scapegoating ACORN.
Neither is Greenspan.
If anybody needed a fall guy right about now, it’s them.

as well as the Republican-led congress (pre-2006) and the Democrat-led Congress since then are all major players.

I'm not denying that.
But like the last Depression, where supply sider Andrew Mellon was shaping financial policy for several consecutive administrations, Greenspan’s been stewing in the Beltway for far too long.
Plus, since Reagan, an untold number of financial regulations have gone unenforced or have just been plain reversed.

[JrnyScarab]

Have a gander at this article about the deficit. Very interesting.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/1 ... he-forest/

[Voyager]

Sting: Obama best person to handle world's 'mess'
(AP) – 10-29-09

NEW YORK — Sting isn't a religious man, but he says President Barack Obama might be a divine answer to the world's problems.

In an interview, he jokes that Obama was "sent from God," but in a serious tone, he also said that Obama was the best person to handle the world's "mess."

The English-born Sting says he's fascinated by American politics and those opposed to Obama. He says Obama's opponents are "aggressive and violent and full of fear."

Sting is a very intelligent man, and I agree with him.

[StoneCold]

Why are you assuming he'll get in for a second term?

I'm hoping he will so we learn a good hard lesson... and I'd say the chances are pretty good in spite of all the negative press he's been getting.

It'll never happen. I still can't believe Ron Paul wasn't taken more seriously, this guy is wicked smart and has common sense to boot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hn6ad4_ ... popt00us07

[Ehwmatt]

Why are you assuming he'll get in for a second term?

I'm hoping he will so we learn a good hard lesson... and I'd say the chances are pretty good in spite of all the negative press he's been getting.

It'll never happen. I still can't believe Ron Paul wasn't taken more seriously, this guy is wicked smart and has common sense to boot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hn6ad4_ ... popt00us07

He wasn't taken seriously because the two party system is just about done raping our system of govt. By the time people truly realize what is happening with the two party system, it'll already be too late. Hell, it might be too late as it is.

[treetopovskaya]

Sting: Obama best person to handle world's 'mess'
(AP) – 10-29-09

NEW YORK — Sting isn't a religious man, but he says President Barack Obama might be a divine answer to the world's problems.

In an interview, he jokes that Obama was "sent from God," but in a serious tone, he also said that Obama was the best person to handle the world's "mess."

The English-born Sting says he's fascinated by American politics and those opposed to Obama. He says Obama's opponents are "aggressive and violent and full of fear."

Sting is a very intelligent man, and I agree with him.

violent? }:C\

[Lula]

perhaps the "violent, aggressive and full of fear" speaks to the inability demonstrated by the bush admin to try and understand another side/view, to learn about different religions/cultures and to invade a sovereign nation. i don't necessarily agree with sting, but it doesn't hurt to listen to some criticism, be it right or wrong.

on another note- woohoo to getting one step closer to a health reform bill and this one includes a much needed public option, tho it is watered down, it is closer than anything previous!!

[treetopovskaya]

perhaps the "violent, aggressive and full of fear" speaks to the inability demonstrated by the bush admin to try and understand another side/view, to learn about different religions/cultures and to invade a sovereign nation. i don't necessarily agree with sting, but it doesn't hurt to listen to some criticism, be it right or wrong.

on another note- woohoo to getting one step closer to a health reform bill and this one includes a much needed public option, tho it is watered down, it is closer than anything previous!!

haha! tell that to our white house.

[The_Noble_Cause]

He wasn't taken seriously because the two party system is just about done raping our system of govt. By the time people truly realize what is happening with the two party system, it'll already be too late. Hell, it might be too late as it is.

Paul ran for the Republican nomination.
For someone initially short-staffed and underfunded, he navigated the corrupted two party system pretty well.
I think it's a media problem.
Even the so-called "Conservative" Fox News banned Paul from the debates, despite overwhelmingly winning their election polls and raising more money than some of the front runners.
Mr. Constitution himself, Glenn Beck, would go on to brand Paul supporters "terrorists", and ridicule him frequently.
Nowadays, both of these GOP hacks can't get enough of Paul's brand of conservatism, or the Tea Parties his supporters pioneered back during the primaries.
They're all just talking a good game.

[Lula]

perhaps the "violent, aggressive and full of fear" speaks to the inability demonstrated by the bush admin to try and understand another side/view, to learn about different religions/cultures and to invade a sovereign nation. i don't necessarily agree with sting, but it doesn't hurt to listen to some criticism, be it right or wrong.

on another note- woohoo to getting one step closer to a health reform bill and this one includes a much needed public option, tho it is watered down, it is closer than anything previous!!

haha! tell that to our white house.

that goes for everyone- you, me, etc...

[Lula]

Mr. Constitution himself, Glenn Beck, would go on to brand Paul supporters "terrorists", and ridicule him frequently.
Nowadays, both of these GOP hacks can't get enough of Paul's brand of conservatism, or the Tea Parties his supporters pioneered back during the primaries.

first- glenn beck is a fucking whacko.

second- the conservative congressional candidate in new york has the support of the rnc, not the republican candidate- she dropped out.

the rnc should have taken ron paul more seriously i suppose.

[The_Noble_Cause]

second- the conservative congressional candidate in new york has the support of the rnc, not the republican candidate- she dropped out.

I admire them for standing up for principles - as non-inclusive as they might be.
In the short term, supporting third parties is just going to help the Dems.

[treetopovskaya]

perhaps the "violent, aggressive and full of fear" speaks to the inability demonstrated by the bush admin to try and understand another side/view, to learn about different religions/cultures and to invade a sovereign nation. i don't necessarily agree with sting, but it doesn't hurt to listen to some criticism, be it right or wrong.

on another note- woohoo to getting one step closer to a health reform bill and this one includes a much needed public option, tho it is watered down, it is closer than anything previous!!

haha! tell that to our white house.

that goes for everyone- you, me, etc...

true.

if it can be given without the insults.

[Voyager]

Sting: Obama best person to handle world's 'mess'
(AP) – 10-29-09

NEW YORK — Sting isn't a religious man, but he says President Barack Obama might be a divine answer to the world's problems.

In an interview, he jokes that Obama was "sent from God," but in a serious tone, he also said that Obama was the best person to handle the world's "mess."

The English-born Sting says he's fascinated by American politics and those opposed to Obama. He says Obama's opponents are "aggressive and violent and full of fear."

Sting is a very intelligent man, and I agree with him.

violent? }:C\

Definitely. Obama is trying to use intelligence and negotiation to solve problems, whereas Bush promoted bigotry, isolation, and aggression. When Bush gave speeches, he used fear to manipulate the minds of Americans. When Obama gives speeches he uses reason and logic to try to sell his agenda. They are two completely opposite people - one uses the mind to get things done, and the other prefers to use muscle since he wasn't blessed with intelligence.

The last thing we need in the White House is another violent aggressor.

[treetopovskaya]

Sting: Obama best person to handle world's 'mess'
(AP) – 10-29-09

NEW YORK — Sting isn't a religious man, but he says President Barack Obama might be a divine answer to the world's problems.

In an interview, he jokes that Obama was "sent from God," but in a serious tone, he also said that Obama was the best person to handle the world's "mess."

The English-born Sting says he's fascinated by American politics and those opposed to Obama. He says Obama's opponents are "aggressive and violent and full of fear."

Sting is a very intelligent man, and I agree with him.

violent? }:C\

Definitely. Obama is trying to use intelligence and negotiation to solve problems, whereas Bush promoted bigotry, isolation, and aggression. When Bush gave speeches, he used fear to manipulate the minds of Americans. When Obama gives speeches he uses reason and logic to try to sell his agenda. They are two completely opposite people - one uses the mind to get things done, and the other prefers to use muscle since he wasn't blessed with intelligence.

The last thing we need in the White House is another violent aggressor.

was stings comment towards bush or american citizens not happy with obama? i took it as he was talking about regular folks... not bush.

[treetopovskaya]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... AD9BKUFHO0

Sting: Obama best person to handle world's 'mess'
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY (AP) – 2 days ago
NEW YORK — Sting isn't a religious man, but he says President Barack Obama might be a divine answer to the world's problems.
"In many ways, he's sent from God," he joked in an interview, "because the world's a mess."
But Sting is serious in his belief that Obama is the best leader to navigate the world's problems. In an interview on Wednesday, the former Police frontman said that he spent some time with Obama and "found him to be very genuine, very present, clearly super-smart, and exactly what we need in the world."
"I can't think of anyone better qualified because of his background, his education, particularly in regard to Islam," he said.
Still, Sting acknowledged the president had a "difficult job" ahead of him.
The British singer, who released the seasonal album "On A Winter's Night" this week, said he's fascinated by American politics, Obama, and also by Obama's opponents on the right.
"It's aggressive and violent and full of fear," he said of the backlash against Obama. "They don't want change, they want things to feel the same because they feel safe there."
Sting, 58, said he's hopeful that the world's problems can be dealt with, but is frustrated that "we seem to be living in a currency of medieval ideas."
"My hope is that we can start talking about real issues and not caring about whether God cares about your hemline or your color," he said. "We are here to evolve as one family, and we can't be separate anymore."

[Lula]

one of the largest perpetrators of backlash is none other than dick cheney. the radical right in general seem to govern/believe in fear and aggression as a means to an end.

[treetopovskaya]

one of the largest perpetrators of backlash is none other than dick cheney. the radical right in general seem to govern/believe in fear and aggression as a means to an end.

show me where REGULAR people are acting out violently.

oh wait...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... lence.html

[The_Noble_Cause]

show me where REGULAR people are acting out violently.

oh wait...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... lence.html

Did you not hear about the Pittsburgh guy who killed 3 cops 'cuz he heard Obama was taking away his guns?
How about the Long Island woman caught snooping around a national guard base armed with an XM-15 assault rifle looking for FEMA camps she heard about from Beck?
There's wackjobs on both sides.
Grow up.

[treetopovskaya]

show me where REGULAR people are acting out violently.

oh wait...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... lence.html

Did you not hear about the Pittsburgh guy who killed 3 cops 'cuz he heard Obama was taking away his guns?
How about the Long Island woman caught snooping around a national guard base armed with an XM-15 assault rifle looking for FEMA camps she heard about from Beck?
There's wackjobs on both sides.
Grow up.

there is a difference between crazy & people who are violent because they don't want to listen to someone else's point of view... though you have to be a bit crazy to bite someone's finger off.

[The_Noble_Cause]

there is a difference between crazy & people who are violent because they don't want to listen to someone else's point of view... though you have to be a bit crazy to bite someone's finger off.

I don't think your example(s) or mine represent regular people.

[treetopovskaya]

if it was okay to openly oppose bush it should also be okay to openly oppose obama... even if the people opposing obama are wrong. people should be able to speak their minds. this is america... we have that freedom.

[treetopovskaya]

there is a difference between crazy & people who are violent because they don't want to listen to someone else's point of view... though you have to be a bit crazy to bite someone's finger off.

I don't think your example(s) or mine represent regular people.

true... and sting was wrong in what he said about regular people opposing obama... about them being violent.

[JrnyScarab]

there is a difference between crazy & people who are violent because they don't want to listen to someone else's point of view... though you have to be a bit crazy to bite someone's finger off.

I don't think your example(s) or mine represent regular people.

true... and sting was wrong in what he said about regular people opposing obama... about them being violent.

Sting may not have meant physically violent. Other definitions of violent:

intense in force, effect, etc.; severe; extreme

furious in impetuosity, energy, etc.: violent haste

of, pertaining to, or constituting a distortion of meaning or fact.

So, Sting is not incorrect about the Ani-Obama reaction.