Originally posted by lord xyzIt's such a great feeling, considering how much shit you guys talk about us. Almost makes it easy for me to forget that our horrible foreign policy is what causes most of the abrasiveness between us and the rest of you, and instead think that you guys are just butthurt cause we own the world.
Europe's dependent on America right now, China and Japan are to be America's ***** and the rest of the world has been ****ed over by American and/or Europe.In other words, we're all ****ed.
Originally posted by dadudemon
To answer his last question: the last thing Obama should do is alienate the Republican by being as derisive as possible. That would do nothing and make things worse.What we need is a bunch of blue dog democrats (70) to sweep house and the senate, for about 12 years. That's unrealistic but it's the most realistic scenario for cleaning up the mess.
I could be wrong and I'm more than open to changing my mind on that. Anyone?
If I was Obama, I would get on TV and declare that I would veto any budget that cuts social security/medicare... I would demonize republicans as trying to cut programs for the middle class and poor, while keeping policies that benefit only the rich. I would suggest military cuts and demand them in every speech I gave. That's how Obama would get votes, not playing centrist.
Originally posted by lord xyz
Europe's dependent on America right now, China and Japan are to be America's ***** and the rest of the world has been ****ed over by American and/or Europe.In other words, we're all ****ed.
unless you are in Greece, afaik, most economic markers are up compared to this point last year...
but I live in a nation with heavily regulated banks and financial markets, so why would I worry?
Originally posted by Bicnarok
The bubble is bound to burst eventually, the worlds economical system is sitting on a pile of fantasy money created in cyber space.I wonder what will happen when it bursts, will the rich money hoarders still be in control?
This video, although politically biast. Hits the nail on the head.
nice clip. It's only a matter of time now.
Originally posted by King Kandy
I totally disagree. Obama came in in a situation very comparable to FDR coming in after Hoover. FDR relentlessly criticized Hoover in every campaign speech he gave. Even after being elected he was endlessly critical of him and congressional republicans and strong-armed his bills through. I think Obama should constantly be comparing himself to Bush and blame him and the republicans for all problems; a president gets things done when they dig their feet in the ground and keep plowing through opposition. Obama didn't do this, and he lost his supermajority within one election cycle.
The political strategy has changed greatly. So much so that it would be impossible without 2/3 support for Obama's plans. He doesn't have that. We plainly see that, as well. Roosevelt also had massive support: Obama isn't experiencing that. He didn't have as much support as Roosevelt, either, when elected.
No matter which angle you approach this, there is no legitimate comparison between Roosevelt and Obama from a political power perspective.
Reality: Obama is stuck sucking GOP balls to get anything done. In order to accomplish that, he has to literally appease them. The result is shitty laws and policies that don't satisfy either side. Ergo Obama's current situation. He's had success in some places, but not the true success he wanted. If Obama tried to strong arm, he'd become the most impotent president in recent history. His best tactic to get anything done is to play the diplomat with the GOP.
A couple of 20 somethings on an internet forum do not know how to be president better than the geniuses working for Obama. They are working in the smartest way possible, currently. They blew their chance with he majority D.
Originally posted by King Kandy
If I was Obama, I would get on TV and declare that I would veto any budget that cuts social security/medicare... I would demonize republicans as trying to cut programs for the middle class and poor, while keeping policies that benefit only the rich. I would suggest military cuts and demand them in every speech I gave. That's how Obama would get votes, not playing centrist.
I like these ideas. 🙂
Except the part about SS and Medicare. I want to end the way SS is currently run. I would pretty much destroy SS. For medicare, I would want to expand it to be much more encompassing.
I would also destroy income taxes, altogether. 🙂
Originally posted by dadudemon
The political strategy has changed greatly. So much so that it would be impossible without 2/3 support for Obama's plans. He doesn't have that. We plainly see that, as well. Roosevelt also had massive support: Obama isn't experiencing that. He didn't have as much support as Roosevelt, either, when elected.No matter which angle you approach this, there is no legitimate comparison between Roosevelt and Obama from a political power perspective.
Reality: Obama is stuck sucking GOP balls to get anything done. In order to accomplish that, he has to literally appease them. The result is shitty laws and policies that don't satisfy either side. Ergo Obama's current situation. He's had success in some places, but not the true success he wanted. If Obama tried to strong arm, he'd become the most impotent president in recent history. His best tactic to get anything done is to play the diplomat with the GOP.
A couple of 20 somethings on an internet forum do not know how to be president better than the geniuses working for Obama. They are working in the smartest way possible, currently. They blew their chance with he majority D.
All the staffers in the world can't keep a failing leader together. When I look at the great leaders of history, they are decision makers who allowed themselves to hear the guidance of others, but still had the commanding personality and the final word. I do not get this image from Obama at all, and him listening to those "geniuses" just hurts him more in that regard. Anyway, by that token I could just say "Obama's the president, of course he knows what he's doing". I trust my own eyes more than I trust these "expert" economists and politicians who work for big business.
Originally posted by dadudemon
I like these ideas. 🙂Except the part about SS and Medicare. I want to end the way SS is currently run. I would pretty much destroy SS. For medicare, I would want to expand it to be much more encompassing.
I would also destroy income taxes, altogether. 🙂
I would be in favor of changing medicare. I would make it a single-payer system covering basic care for all americans. Obviously, I think i'd need some taxes to do that. Haha, I would gladly pay extra income tax for that guarantee!
Originally posted by King Kandy
Obama had a 60-40 majority in the senate (fillibuster proof) and even when ted kennedy was alive he couldn't keep it together. That demonstrates a tremendous failure of leadership.
I think that speaks much much greater to how fractured the Democratic party has become, actually.
A D next to your name could mean you're conservative, liberal, fiscally conservative, and so forth. (That's cause I can't think of anything else.)
But, for the sake of argument, let's just envision that the 60 could have been corralled to filibuster level proofness.
Originally posted by King Kandy
FDR with 59 democrats including several who resisted his plans. He still got over it. You think they couldn't filibuster back in the day? If Obama wanted his legislature passed, they should have put it to vote and allowed the republicans to filibuster all they want. I'd love to see how long they could keep it up, and I think they would have looked like idiots doing it and have severally discredited themselves. Obama's biggest problem was that he backed down at the mere threat of filibuster. He should have pressed forward and dug his feat in.
I still think that's a a faulty comparison. Sure, he had dissent, but not on the level of Obama. I would say that it wasn't even close to what Obama had to deal with. They also came from a different political, economic, and social climate.
But, I said I was humor you, so I'll say this: if that's true, then FDR was a better president than Obama. Some people would say that is a silly/rhetorical statement.
Originally posted by King Kandy
All the staffers in the world can't keep a failing leader together. When I look at the great leaders of history, they are decision makers who allowed themselves to hear the guidance of others, but still had the commanding personality and the final word. I do not get this image from Obama at all, and him listening to those "geniuses" just hurts him more in that regard. Anyway, by that token I could just say "Obama's the president, of course he knows what he's doing". I trust my own eyes more than I trust these "expert" economists and politicians who work for big business.
I think Obama did a better job of selecting his advisors than Bush. I also think Obama is more educated and intelligent than Bush. I also think he is doing the best he can...but it's still not good enough. Even with my "I think I know everything" attitude, I still don't think I could do any better than Obama and THAT'S saying something. 😐
Originally posted by King Kandy
I've paid into SS, if it goes away that money is literally stolen from me, and I never get any benefits from it. Unless you're willing to rebate all the money from the program, I will never agree to cutting SS. And when this is a conversation about saving the budget, that doesn't seem like a great idea.
But..you see, that money will not exist when you want to retire so it's being stolen from you, already.
Also, based on how poorly the budget has been run, you've had much more than SS stolen from you.
Lastly, you should be more than happy to have paid in money so that those who needed, it had. uhuh
Originally posted by King Kandy
I would be in favor of changing medicare. I would make it a single-payer system covering basic care for all americans. Obviously, I think i'd need some taxes to do that. Haha, I would gladly pay extra income tax for that guarantee!
Yes, this.
And, how dare you present such a contrast in two different paragraphs.
Originally posted by dadudemon
I think that speaks much much greater to how fractured the Democratic party has become, actually.A D next to your name could mean you're conservative, liberal, fiscally conservative, and so forth. (That's cause I can't think of anything else.)
But, for the sake of argument, let's just envision that the 60 could have been corralled to filibuster level proofness.
Originally posted by dadudemon
I still think that's a a faulty comparison. Sure, he had dissent, but not on the level of Obama. I would say that it wasn't even close to what Obama had to deal with. They also came from a different political, economic, and social climate.But, I said I was humor you, so I'll say this: if that's true, then FDR was a better president than Obama. Some people would say that is a silly/rhetorical statement.
FDR is obviously a better president. My point was that Obama should be following the lessons of FDR and maybe he would start getting things accomplished. FDR accomplished more in his 1st 100 days than Obama has in his whole first term. I mean, am I wrong that I should expect great leadership from our country's highest office? Why are visionary leaders so hard to come by? This is supposed to be the most qualified person in the entire country.
Originally posted by dadudemon
I think Obama did a better job of selecting his advisors than Bush. I also think Obama is more educated and intelligent than Bush. I also think he is doing the best he can...but it's still not good enough. Even with my "I think I know everything" attitude, I still don't think I could do any better than Obama and THAT'S saying something. 😐
More educated and intelligent, totally. I think Bush was a better politician than Obama. I think Obama is not doing nearly as good of a job as he can (or rather, if this is the best he can do then he's a terrible president). Obama is supposed to be the single highest authority in the US and he lets himself be bossed around by a minority in congress. Republicans win 90% of their disputes, and there's no reason he should be caving.
Originally posted by dadudemon
But..you see, that money will not exist when you want to retire so it's being stolen from you, already.Also, based on how poorly the budget has been run, you've had much more than SS stolen from you.
Lastly, you should be more than happy to have paid in money so that those who needed, it had. uhuh
Originally posted by King Kandy
I think a sign of good leadership would have been the ability to unify a fractured party.
I think that that is literally impossible, at this point. Short of doing something illegal (threats, money), I do not think it is possible to unify the Dems anymore.
This is probably why we differ in what Obama can or should do.
Originally posted by King Kandy
I think that FDR had much greater dissent, but they are comparable in many ways. For instance, both were often accused of being communists for their public spending programs. The more I read about FDR the more deep the parallels I see to today..
It's actually quite amazing how different two people can go with the same information.
I'm just the opposite. The more I read about his 4 terms and the initial election, the more I see how the Obama and FDR are not that similar and the media comparison is just for Hyperbole.
Originally posted by King Kandy
FDR is obviously a better president. My point was that Obama should be following the lessons of FDR and maybe he would start getting things accomplished. FDR accomplished more in his 1st 100 days than Obama has in his whole first term. I mean, am I wrong that I should expect great leadership from our country's highest office? Why are visionary leaders so hard to come by? This is supposed to be the most qualified person in the entire country.
I commented on this, sort of.
If Obama tried to strong arm in this current setting, he'd become the most impotent president in modern history.
It would have been nice had Obama closed down Guantanimo and setup a withdrawal plan much more steep for Iraq.
Originally posted by King Kandy
I think Obama did a terrible job with his cabinet and staff. He has stacked it with extremely conservative, pro-corporate politicians like Tim Geithner... it is one of the worst lineups in a century. Better than Bush, maybe. Bush was one of the worst presidents of all time imo, so that's really not saying much. If "better than bush" is considered a good president, our standards have really dropped.
Agreed on all points except that: I don't think his advisor's are off in their advice.
Originally posted by King Kandy
More educated and intelligent, totally. I think Bush was a better politician than Obama. I think Obama is not doing nearly as good of a job as he can (or rather, if this is the best he can do then he's a terrible president). Obama is supposed to be the single highest authority in the US and he lets himself be bossed around by a minority in congress. Republicans win 90% of their disputes, and there's no reason he should be caving.
What are his recourses? He can't veto something that will never get passed. That's been thep problem.
Originally posted by King Kandy
Yes, sadly the medicare/SS surpluses have been spent on ridiculous wars and projects that don't benefit me at all. How about instead of cutting SS, they cut 2/3rds of the military and pop that into paying back my investments.
I want that too...IN ADDITION to cutting SS. I don't expect it to be cutoff for everyone, of course. For instance, I would be okay with them allowing those who are withint 10 years of being able to collect SS, to get it.