Obama--what do you think? Options

[lovebuddha]

Just curious as to know what everyone thinks of him. Not the brightest crayon in the box...but that's just my opinion.

[mipadi]

Just curious as to know what everyone thinks of him. Not the brightest crayon in the box...but that's just my opinion.

There are a lot of things that you can say about Obama: he's sometimes wishy-washy, he hasn't come through on all of his promises, he's not really very "liberal" -- but I think that "stupid" is not an adjective you can use to describe Obama. What makes you say that?

[heyo-captain-jac...]

I must say he is one of our more intelligent recent Presidents, but as far as a President goes, he's not doing a particularly grand job. I think he'll be another Carter, doing a lot more good post-presidency than while in office.

[lovebuddha]

Well, if he made smart decisions then he would have followed through with his promises. That would be the more intelligent thing to do.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Well, if he made smart decisions then he would have followed through with his promises. That would be the more intelligent thing to do.

He is going through with his promises. Congress is what's preventing anything from happening.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

I listen to a lot of conservative talk radio and the information you're putting out is directly in line with a lot of the things said on those talk radio shows. You should probably look at it from a more objective standpoint.

[lovebuddha]

He is going through with his promises. Congress is what's preventing anything from happening.

It just seems to me that he is trying harder to make things right within his family, like the nice vacations, the dog, the expensive dresses for his wife, etc...as opposed to trying to help the american citizens.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

It just seems to me that he is trying harder to make things right within his family, like the nice vacations, the dog, the expensive dresses for his wife, etc...as opposed to trying to help the american citizens.

look at all the other presidents. every one since TR has had a dog, they all went on "vacations" constantly, and the first lady is generally a postergirl for the country.

so pretty much you're saying that the TR was the first bad president and all the ones after him were bad. Pretty sure it's mostly the opposite.

[Simba]

give him a break, he's not even buying 24s or spinners or buying out kfc, or buying gucci chains

[lovebuddha]

Okay..well I've voiced my opinion on him. I'm not going to give him a break because I do not honestly believe that he has done anything to help our country.

kthx.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Okay..well I've voiced my opinion on him. I'm not going to give him a break because I do not honestly believe that he has done anything to help our country.

kthx.

open your eyes, it was only just a dream

[lovebuddha]

Bet it took you all day to come up with such a clever comment.
Congrats.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

took me all of 5 seconds

[Simba]

I was trying to fly out of Washington D.C. to Chicago but Obama delayed my flight by like an hour because him and his airforce 1 buddies were flying around...

It's okay I guess I was doing my duty as an American by standing by and being an hour late and shit.

[lovebuddha]

Maybe now he should do his duty by...I don't know...doing something.

[lovebuddha]

took me all of 5 seconds

Well that's wonderful. And considering now that you are so brilliant maybe you should join Obama's staff and help in his great attempt to screw the american people.

It should only take all of 5 seconds.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

OP you're a little closed-minded. I'd tell you to get your head out of your ass but you seem to like it in there.

[karmakiller]

I don't understand why you'd make a topic in the Debate forum when you don't want to listen to anything that anyone else has to say. And when they do say something you're throwing around false information and then saying "He's stupid. That's my opinion." That's fine, you can have your own opinion, but there's no need to make a topic in this forum just to tell everyone else your opinion and not listen to theirs. Besides the Debate forum isn't a very good place to post an opinion topic. You're stupid for doing that. That's just my opinion.

[creole]

He is going through with his promises. Congress is what's preventing anything from happening.

+++++++++++++++ rep 9001, qft

[Simba]

somewhere in this thread, the truth was laid down

[LittleMissSunshi...]

to be honest, he made a lot of promises that gives the society hope. which he can not change in four years. he has a lot to build up to from all the damage bush did. he can't do it all in four years. it took 8 years that bush ruined the country, and it's going to take 8 years or longer to fix it up. and obama can do it, people just aren't giving him time, they want change quickly, and obama can't do it that fast. he has to rebuild this country and it is going to take time.

[lovebuddha]

I don't understand why you'd make a topic in the Debate forum when you don't want to listen to anything that anyone else has to say. And when they do say something you're throwing around false information and then saying "He's stupid. That's my opinion." That's fine, you can have your own opinion, but there's no need to make a topic in this forum just to tell everyone else your opinion and not listen to theirs. Besides the Debate forum isn't a very good place to post an opinion topic. You're stupid for doing that. That's just my opinion.

kthx

[Uronacid]

He is going through with his promises. Congress is what's preventing anything from happening.

Are you kidding? You really believe this garbage? The Democrats practically had a straight shot at passing bills in the house/senate the last two years and with it they passed some of the most expensive bills in history (Stimulus, Health Care). If Obama wanted to follow through with his promises, he would have.'

Anyway, I feel as if Obama is spending us into oblivion.

[mipadi]

Anyway, I feel as if Obama is spending us into oblivion.

Nope, that's the Department of War Defense that you're thinking of.

[Uronacid]

Nope, that's the Department of War Defense that you're thinking of.

They only do what he tells them to... War in Afghanistan *cough cough* :X

[mipadi]

They only do what he tells them to... War in Afghanistan *cough cough* :X

Obama doesn't (directly) control the Defense Department's budget.

[Uronacid]

Obama doesn't (directly) control the Defense Department's budget.

Obama is the Commander and Chief. He's also a big spender.

You know, a lot of good has come from our defense department. The money we invest in weapons technology does quite a bit of good for all of us. Just like NASA.

[mipadi]

Obama is the Commander and Chief. He's also a big spender.

What's your point? Command-in-Chief doesn't set the budget; Congress does. The President has veto power over budget bills, but they are subject to being challenged (as with any bill). And no Congressman (with the exception of, perhaps, Ron Paul and Kucinich) wants to touch defense spending. The President also lacks line-item veto power (that was found to be unconstitutional), so he can't control individual budget elements.

Plus, it wasn't Obama who got us into Iraq and Afghanistan. It was Bush (and a Republican-controlled Congress). Given the extreme cost of the two wars, I'd argue that Bush and Republicans are even bigger spenders. And let's not forget that Clinton's administration actually turned a budget surplus. Here's an illustration of the unrestrained spending of the government:



You can't criticize Obama's spending with a straight face unless you're willing to criticize the Defense Department's oversized budget.

[sixfive]

Pisses me off.

[Uronacid]

Blah blah blah... I'm a big dem. Bush sucks.

I don't give a shit about Bush. He wasn't a conservative at all. My point is, Obama is a big spender. I don't like that.

Roflcopter goml.
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-d...it-in-pictures/

[mipadi]

I don't give a shit about Bush. He wasn't a conservative at all. My point is, Obama is a big spender. I don't like that.

And my point is that the Defense Dept. is a huge money drain, but no one in Congress wants to deal with that issue. If you want to criticize "big spending", start there.

(Also, Obama was dealing with a much different economic situation. Bush enjoyed a buoyant economy, and still managed to run up a huge deficit. Part of the deficit of '09 was due to the banking bailout which was initiated by the Bush administration. Much of the rest was due to the economic stimulus package.

I don't know... I don't agree with unrestrained spending, and think that the government should live within its means. I didn't support the bank bailout. I'm not sure whether the economic stimulus package was entirely the "right" solution to the economic problem. I'm not an economist, so I can't really say what would work best. I support a balanced budget, but I also agree that sometimes, you have to spend some money to make some money. However, I do know that I'd rather see my money spent on public projects, than on fueling the military-industrial complex.

Also, Bush was most certainly a conservative; saying he wasn't is just a cop-out. It's excusing right-wing America for the failings and abuses of the Bush administration. I know what you're trying to say; there's a strong movement among Tea Partiers, etc., to disassociate themselves from the Bush presidency since he was such a shitty leader, and move to the "conservatism is about fiscal responsibility and libertarian rights", but you know what? It's about 6 years too late for conservatives to take a stand against Bush -- conservatives should've had the spine to stand up to him earlier, if they felt he was violating their principles. They did not, so now they have to live with his legacy.

I mean, okay -- maybe that's unfair. I disagree with much of what the Dems have done in the past decade or so, and don't want to be saddled with that legacy. (Then again, the Dems are hardly liberal, compared to liberal parties in other countries. But I digress.) But I've also often been critical of the idiocy of Democratic politicians, so I think it is fair to ask: if conservatives don't think of Bush as a conservative, then where was the right-wing criticism of his policies during his administration (instead of after the fact)?

And anyway, the Tea Party is bullshit, too: it's just a corporate-funded campaign to get lower taxes for large companies. But I digress.

[Uronacid]

And my point is that the Defense Dept. is a huge money drain, but no one in Congress wants to deal with that issue. If you want to criticize "big spending", start there.

(Also, Obama was dealing with a much different economic situation. Bush enjoyed a buoyant economy, and still managed to run up a huge deficit. Part of the deficit of '09 was due to the banking bailout which was initiated by the Bush administration. Much of the rest was due to the economic stimulus package.

I don't know... I don't agree with unrestrained spending, and think that the government should live within its means. I didn't support the bank bailout. I'm not sure whether the economic stimulus package was entirely the "right" solution to the economic problem. I'm not an economist, so I can't really say what would work best. I support a balanced budget, but I also agree that sometimes, you have to spend some money to make some money. However, I do know that I'd rather see my money spent on public projects, than on fueling the military-industrial complex.

Also, Bush was most certainly a conservative; saying he wasn't is just a cop-out. It's excusing right-wing America for the failings and abuses of the Bush administration. I know what you're trying to say; there's a strong movement among Tea Partiers, etc., to disassociate themselves from the Bush presidency since he was such a shitty leader, and move to the "conservatism is about fiscal responsibility and libertarian rights", but you know what? It's about 6 years too late for conservatives to take a stand against Bush -- conservatives should've had the spine to stand up to him earlier, if they felt he was violating their principles. They did not, so now they have to live with his legacy.

I mean, okay -- maybe that's unfair. I disagree with much of what the Dems have done in the past decade or so, and don't want to be saddled with that legacy. (Then again, the Dems are hardly liberal, compared to liberal parties in other countries. But I digress.) But I've also often been critical of the idiocy of Democratic politicians, so I think it is fair to ask: if conservatives don't think of Bush as a conservative, then where was the right-wing criticism of his policies during his administration (instead of after the fact)?

And anyway, the Tea Party is bullshit, too: it's just a corporate-funded campaign to get lower taxes for large companies. But I digress.

No-one wants to kill the excessive spending on our education system either. More money does not equal better averages in school. Another taboo subject, yet politicians get crucified when they talk about the budget.

Real conservatives did put their foot down with Bush. I couldn't stand bush's excessive spending, and I can't spend Obama's excessive spending. Neither of them put their foot down and said, "NO".

The Tea Party is bullshit now, but didn't start out as bullshit. Originally it was just a bunch of regular people and local radio stations that started a trend. The Tea Party turned into whore fest when big names like Glen Beck or Sarah Palin got involved and pushed it to new heights.

Again, I don't care about all that. It doesn't change the fact that Obama is a big spender.

[iRapediCarly]

you're right, less money = better averages in schools

[mipadi]

Again, I don't care about all that. It doesn't change the fact that Obama is a big spender.

This doesn't directly apply to this opinion, but I thought it was still relevant: A study by the Congressional Budget Office showed that the Republicans' plan to repeal the recent health care changes will actually increase the budget deficit by $230 billion in the next ten years. [1]

[iRapediCarly]

oh cmon, you can't just assume that just because of his negative stance on Obama's actions makes him a republican, can't we all just be libertarian

[mipadi]

oh cmon, you can't just assume that just because of his negative stance on Obama's actions makes him a republican, can't we all just be libertarian

No, but he has stated that's against the health care law and against excessive government spending. (I didn't say anything about his being a Republican, so it's funny you filled that in yourself.)

[iRapediCarly]

thats a good point, i will have to wait for the answer then, until then i will suspend any comments