The Politics Thread

[Greg's GL]

I don't know why you would waste your breath. But the fact remains that you did give partisan Dems quite a bit of flack during the election. And now you say you're partisan. Why is it OK for you and not for someone on the left?

He has started changing things. He HAS set a timeline to bring the troops home. Is it within the 18 months he said on the campaign trail? No. But he always said that he would evaluate that when he took office WITH the help of the JCS and the generals on the ground. Supposedly, the military thought they needed a little longer and Obama respected that. Hence, the pullout is delayed a little longer. How can you argue with that.

Other changes - Stem cell research, rollback of GWB's horrendous environmental regulations, signing statements. There are others.

Just for the record. "worsening economic outlook" can't be attributed to Obama's policies. This is the result of 8 years of Republican rule. The takeover of the auto and banking industries began (again) under Republicans. It wasn't even an issue during the campaign because the Paulson "bailout" had not yet happened.

You will have to explain yourself regarding Obama turning foreign policy into a "joke" after only 60 days in office. Nothing compares to the foreign policy damage done under the previous administration.

I can't rightly remember Reagan's first 100 days in office to speak to if he had any missteps. I was 13 years old and didn't pay much attention. However, I can say that Clinton stumbled miserably during his 100 days in office with health care, Nanny problems with his nominations and gays in the military. I do, however, agree that his administration did perform at high levels of compentency after the first year or so. Surely you aren't comparing Obama's little over 60 days to Clinton and Reagan's 8 years????

Thanks buddy. I can't say that I was the BIGGEST fan of GL over the last year or so. Or of what EW has done to my show. But the show has given me so many wonderful memories. It was the first soap that I started watching on a regular basis after staying home sick from school one day. And I watched it ever since...31 years now. It will be very hard to see it go after all this time. And I'm afraid you're right about the other soaps. I hope that doesn't happen, but now that the "vintage crown jewel" of daytime - as you put it so well - it will probably lower TPTBs inhibitions about canceling other shows.

Did you watch the show at any time? What is your soap, Brian?

[Jess]

Reagan had a good first 100 days. Clinton's first 100 days were terrible. In fact, he didn't find his footing until after the miden-term elections (1994) and the Republican landslide. Bush had a horrible first 100 days. Obama's first 100 days haven't been bad. He's accomplished things. You can bitch about what he has done. He has done exactly what he said he would. That is just like Reagan. I personally thought Reagan's policies did a great deal of harm. Yet he didn't do anything that he didn't tell the American people he was going to do during the campaign.

Now, GD, I can also argue I spent more time debating issues during the general election than touting a candidate. However, there was not doubt I was supporting the Democrat, just as there was no doubt your were supporting the Republican. :lol: In fact, I believe we both made it clear that we had wasted our votes in our home states. You voted McCain in California and I voted Obama in Texas.

[Roman]

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/ha...y-gotten-wise-m

[GoldenDogs]

http://cdt.org/security/CYBERSEC4.pdf

Interesting... Couple this with a revived "Fairness Doctrine" and I wonder how the news and information landscape might change under President Obama... Mix in a little "Mandatory Community Service" and we have interesting developments in America today.

[Greg's GL]

However, not as interesting as wiretaps that were intially sold to the American public as only to be used against terrorists. In actuality, every American was subject to such wiretaps. Why did they feel the need to hide this from everyone?

It's funny how all this "outrage" concerning presidential authority was absent during the last 8 years. And now, all of a sudden, it's a problem. Mind you, the last 8 years saw was historically the period that saw the president - and VP - gain more power than in the HISTORY of the USA.

And NOW it's a problem? GMAMFB.

[UCLAN]

[GoldenDogs]

It's a huge problem when it inches us closer to socialism, unless, of course, you desire that far left a move.

I don't.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/iain_martin/b...oes_go_on_a_bit

And on an unrelated note, it seems the Brits are ready for Obama to go home. There was only one "Great Communicator", and Obama it ain't.

[GoldenDogs]

Yes, there IS a problem with community service when you are required to complete it not of your own free will.

[UCLAN]

Well what about the judical system? Many are sentenced with community service hours as a form of restitution. That's totally required. One doesn't have a choice in that. What about the high school requirement for service. In essence you don't have a choice there if you want to graduate.

When I first read your post about the cyberspace act, it tweeked my radar. I had lots of concerns about it, so I read the bill. What was in the bill isn't remotley close to what you quoted. Yes, it does give the President the ability to call a cyber emergency, but not in the context that the quote implied. There is also much more to this bill than was alluded to in your quote. Again, I'd like to know the source of the quote. It would give me a better perspective.

I don't see this bill as socialist. As a matter of fact in the context of your quote, it appears facist.

I'm not sure as to why you believe we are moving to the left. Pres Obama is just a little left of center. He comes across as very pragmatic. Like I said before, we differ cause he mulit-tasks alot. I'm not good at that, he is. He's an excellent listener and has a vision he wants to achieve. It obviously is not your vision. But are we on a highway to hell? No, I don't think so. I think that we are slowly recovering and making our way back to a country where everyone feels they have a say.

[Roman]

The one way one doesn't have to do CS? Don't do dumb [!@#$%^&*] in the first place. You have something against doing CS when you get arrested for doing something stupid?

[GoldenDogs]

Ummm, actually no, Roman. I wasn't speaking of court-ordered community service. I'm discussing mandatory community service as imposed upon us by the Obama Administration.

UCLAN, as to your comments regarded court-ordered community service, it is a shame it is regarded as a punishment -- helping others. But when a judge orders it, a person serves it. However, I don't agree it should be imposed upon students. There are already many clubs in high school where students do positive work in the community... why give them yet ANOTHER requirement to meet for graduation? Are we not disgusted with the requirements No Child Left Behind has imposed upon teachers and students? Let's not burden them more with some ridiculous community service requirement... it's ridiculous.

[Roman]

Brian, why don't you provide a link to this information that does notr come from some site you frequent. Sorry, sir, but you make alot of statements and never seem to back them up with anything. Just you one-sided view on things.

[UCLAN]

Well, being in education, I see the value of a service learning requirement. Granted, there are many clubs in hs, but the majority are not service oriented. At my school, we have an annual canned food drive for our local senior center. The drive is coordinated and run by our graduating seniors, thus they earn their service learning credit. Many times you need to bring the horse to the water. Many of our students wouldn't think about doing something like this unless they were exposed to the opportunity. Yes it is a shame that courts order community service as restitution. As far as I can remember, service requirements for HS were in place long before NCLB (late 80s early 90s George 1's thousand points of light)

[Greg's GL]

Thanks for pointing that out, UCLAN. Let's play a little game called "What if...."

WHAT IF Obama parted the Red Sea?

Brian : "Why is he RUINING the environment?!?!?!"

WHAT IF Obama achieved peace in the Middle East?

Brian : "Obama is cowtowing to terrorists!!!!"

WHAT IF Obama balanced the budget?

Brian : "It's the policies of the past 8 years of Republican rule that balanced the budget"

WHAT IF Obama made health care affordable to ALL Americans?

Brian : "SOCIALIST!"

I know you can take a joke, Bri. Just thought I'd lighten things up a little. How have you been buddy? Look for an email from me in the next couple days.

[GoldenDogs]

Hi Roman!

What information are you referring to that needs some backup reference? If you like, I can try to excerpt some stuff from the "crooks and liars" website you like to like to, if you find that more reliable...