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Post by Jens Dietrich on Jan 21, 2009 3:53:15 GMT -8
I'd like to give him every bit of support the left never bothered to give George W. Bush for the past eight years. Cry me a river. If Bush truly wanted the support from the left, he needed to do something - anything - to show outreach to the other party.
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Post by Jockolantern on Jan 21, 2009 4:39:41 GMT -8
I'm not looking for sympathy. Bug off. I prefer a leader to rely on conviction and principle rather than caving to "appease" the other side (we all see how well such ideals treated John McCain), something hard-left congressional and senatorial liberals certainly never show signs of doing, and rightly so. There is a difference between a leader honestly listening to and processing what the other side has to say and completely caving to appease that opposite political spectrum. I prefer a leader who relies on what he feels is right for the country (there's a reason we elect these people, after all), who has the courage to stand behind his convictions, regardless of the opposition to them. The positions they hold will obviously be accepted or rejected at the national level the next time they're up for election. A leader who shows the passion to stand behind his ideals and not simply wash one way or another depending on triangulation or opinion polls displays integrity and honesty. He is the kind of leader who has no intent of giving his own party an electoral bailout, so to speak, for the sake of expediency. I hope President Obama is such a leader. Besides, I would dare say George W. Bush did plenty to appease the political left in his last couple years in office. Most recently, he was a driving force behind the economic bailouts; he encouraged the progress of such legislation entirely and I saw not a dime's worth of difference between what he and the Democrats were proposing for the crisis. My two additional cents, for what [little] they're worth. -Jockolantern
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MikeP
Orchestrator
Posts: 537
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Post by MikeP on Jan 21, 2009 4:50:42 GMT -8
I'd like to give him every bit of support the left never bothered to give George W. Bush for the past eight years. Cry me a river. If Bush truly wanted the support from the left, he needed to do something - anything - to show outreach to the other party. Exactly. Don't forget that after 9/11, Bush had a 90% approval rating. Bush had his chance, and blew it when he decided to attack Iraq instead of focus on Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Also, whenever Bush said "it's time for the country to unite" it really meant "it's time for everyone to get behind me and do what I want to do".
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Post by Jockolantern on Jan 21, 2009 5:14:06 GMT -8
Also, whenever Bush said "it's time for the country to unite" it really meant "it's time for everyone to get behind me and do what I want to do". I somehow doubt President Obama's attitude will differ much from that. Much of the policies both the congress and senate have tried ramming through recently (particularly concerning the bailouts) seem to all be tagged with the assertion that "we must do this to save the economy/country/etc., so just get behind it." I trust the people of this country first, not the law-toting beaurocrats sitting behind the pillars of Washington.
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MikeP
Orchestrator
Posts: 537
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Post by MikeP on Jan 21, 2009 5:33:54 GMT -8
Well, some of Obama's cabinet choices seem to suggest Obama will at least try to meet in the middle.
We will see, though. I don't expect Obama to maintain his 80% or whatever it is approval rating for very long.
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Post by Jockolantern on Jan 21, 2009 6:55:24 GMT -8
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Post by Jon Broxton on Jan 21, 2009 8:55:18 GMT -8
Obama's speech was a complete bore. Nothing I didn't expect to hear him say, nothing I found out of the ordinary. Seriously? I found it to be one of the most impressive, heartfelt and emotional speeches I have ever heard. Right up there with Obama's speech the night he won.
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Post by indy2003 on Jan 21, 2009 8:59:05 GMT -8
Obama's speech was a complete bore. Nothing I didn't expect to hear him say, nothing I found out of the ordinary. Seriously? I found it to be one of the most impressive, heartfelt and emotional speeches I have ever heard. Right up there with Obama's speech the night he won. Agreed. I'm immensely grateful that a man of Obama's character is going to be in charge of setting the tone for the country over the course of the next four (eight?) years. Back at ya later
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Post by Jangles on Jan 21, 2009 19:02:58 GMT -8
I don't give a shit about Obama's character, his pretty speeches, or what he symbolizes to the American people. Seriously, I thought some people on this board were smarter than that.
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Post by Carlton the Barbarian on Jan 21, 2009 20:14:28 GMT -8
I don't give a shit about Obama's character, his pretty speeches, or what he symbolizes to the American people. Seriously, I thought some people on this board were smarter than that. I haven't caught the fever. I though Obama's speech was uneven (a few good parts here and there). I don't know much about his character. He's too new to me, like Bush was in 2000, or Clinton in 1992. However, I do care about what Obama symbolizes. If what Obama symbolizes can be used to inspire others to do better, yada, yada, yada, then I'm all for it. He has a chance to become a (great) leader. It feels like the time right before Reagan came to Washington... -CG PS: Why are folks still talking about Bush? It's time to move on (think of Gore's Farewell speech in 2000).
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cheno
Conductor
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Post by cheno on Jan 21, 2009 21:10:44 GMT -8
I don't give a shit about Obama's character, his pretty speeches, or what he symbolizes to the American people. Seriously, I thought some people on this board were smarter than that. Umm, that's a lot of what being a leader is.
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Post by indy2003 on Jan 21, 2009 21:41:25 GMT -8
I don't give a shit about Obama's character, his pretty speeches, or what he symbolizes to the American people. Seriously, I thought some people on this board were smarter than that. You underestimate the dire need for a President who can set a new tone for this country. Truthfully, Obama's external values as a public speaker and as a symbolic figure may prove to be just as important as any policy decisions he makes. I believe he has the ability to convince an apathetic American public to think about things bigger than themselves, and the sort of diplomatic mindset that has the potential to restore America's image around the globe. His speeches may be pretty, but they contain plenty of meat. It's not just inspirational rhetoric.
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Post by Jangles on Jan 22, 2009 18:01:53 GMT -8
I don't give a shit about Obama's character, his pretty speeches, or what he symbolizes to the American people. Seriously, I thought some people on this board were smarter than that. You underestimate the dire need for a President who can set a new tone for this country. Truthfully, Obama's external values as a public speaker and as a symbolic figure may prove to be just as important as any policy decisions he makes. I believe he has the ability to convince an apathetic American public to think about things bigger than themselves, and the sort of diplomatic mindset that has the potential to restore America's image around the globe. His speeches may be pretty, but they contain plenty of meat. It's not just inspirational rhetoric. Bullshit. You nor me nor anyone else has a damn idea whether or not his speeches are just inspirational rhetoric. Come back in 4 years and type the same thing - if it is still true. What does "convince an apathetic American public to think about things bigger than themselves" even mean? Sounds like some typical bullshit Obama would spew.
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Post by Joseph Bat on Jan 23, 2009 13:09:57 GMT -8
Damn, missed the Williams piece too! Considering they didn't actually play the piece live, you didn't miss much. Joe
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Post by indy2003 on Jan 23, 2009 13:41:46 GMT -8
You underestimate the dire need for a President who can set a new tone for this country. Truthfully, Obama's external values as a public speaker and as a symbolic figure may prove to be just as important as any policy decisions he makes. I believe he has the ability to convince an apathetic American public to think about things bigger than themselves, and the sort of diplomatic mindset that has the potential to restore America's image around the globe. His speeches may be pretty, but they contain plenty of meat. It's not just inspirational rhetoric. What does "convince an apathetic American public to think about things bigger than themselves" even mean? Sounds like some typical bullshit Obama would spew. It's not self-explanatory? I mean that we now have a President who actually has the capability to make people care about making this country a better place. If you fail to see any value in that, then I suppose I have no argument for you. Back at ya later
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