What Happened To Obama?

[Formaldehyde]

I wouldn't call the newest members centrists. Unless of course, you're not referring to them.

I certainly wouldn't call them socialists. You do realize that most Americans are conservatives, including most Democrats?

 

[Azale]

This may be difficult to comprehend, but I know he has done stuff. In your link, most of that seems to have been part of his healthcare plan. Believe it or not, people that disagree with you aren't uneducated bums. Calm down, I know this is shocking news.

You missed the point and are feigning insult so you don't have to contend with my argument. I'm not gonna bother with you.

Healthcare is an accomplishment (even if i don't like the bill), but nominating liberals to the SC? Not something the majority of the country is going to celebrate. Bush nominated two conservatives. Only conservatives care.

I don't have to tell you the influence the SC has in the US. Nominating two people that share your worldview and ostensibly that of your party is quite an accomplishment, whether or not the American people realize it. It was a major accomplishment for GWB and it's been one for Obama too.

 

[Theige]

In this thread: most people have no idea what they're talking about.

The answer is persistent unemployment.

 

[Azale]

In this thread: most people have no idea what they're talking about.

The answer is persistent unemployment.

Develop that thought a bit

 

[TopGearFanatic]

You missed the point and are feigning insult so you don't have to contend with my argument. I'm not gonna bother with you.

Can you at least try to not come off as slightly elitist? It's interesting to note how I've apparently missed your point, but you skimmed right over mine.

I certainly wouldn't call them socialists. You do realize that most Americans are conservative, including virtually all Democrats?

I never said they were socialists, I'm just saying I wouldn't call them centrists.

 

[Junius]

I certainly wouldn't call them socialists. You do realize that most Americans are conservatives, including most Democrats?

We are talking about american politics. The only comparison that matters is to other american politicians. You admit that most americans are conservative therefore Kagan and Sotomayor are left and not centrists.

I don't have to tell you the influence the SC has in the US. Nominating two people that share your worldview and ostensibly that of your party is quite an accomplishment, whether or not the American people realize it. It was a major accomplishment for GWB and it's been one for Obama too.

I will freely admit it is something his liberal base can be proud of. Nominating liberals to the SCOTUS is not something that will effect swing voters or get him a spot on Mt. Rushmore though. He balanced out Bush.

 

[Dreadnought]

We are talking about american politics. The only comparison that matters is to other american politicians. You admit that most americans are conservative therefore Kagan and Sotomayor are left and not centrists.

This. Absolutely this. The political scale isn't concrete. The middle, on a vague abstract scale, can move depending on the nation in question.

 

[Ayatollah So]

Rebecca Sive's take on the editorial:

Huff Post: Drew Westen Makes His Case. But There's More to It.

Rebecca Sive really nails it.

The answer is persistent unemployment.

If Obama had more guts and more skillz, the problem would be only slightly better right now. But it would have a better chance of not being turned in the wrong direction by premature austerity measures. And equally important, from a political viewpoint, many American citizens would perceive Obama to be fighting on their behalf - which would be worth several SuperPACs and Pioneer-level contribution-bundlers.

 

[GhostWriter16]

America needs a new FDR, or suffer decline and failure until we get one.

Golly No!

FDR was the worst thing that ever happened to America.

 

[Ajidica]

Golly No!

FDR was the worst thing that ever happened to America.

Reagan playing nuclear brinkmanship with the USSR wasn't? Kennedys, LBJs, and Nixons prosecution of the war in Vietnam wasn't? Our decision to emasculate the League of Nations wasn't? Our decisions in the Middle East (I'm not going to list all of them, I'd go over the character limit) weren't the worst things that ever happened? Friggen 9/11 wasn't the worst thing to happen?

Perspective Dommy, please.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The answer is persistent unemployment.

I heard many companies' business are booming right now because of consumer spending, but are claiming they need more security before hiring people. How can you get more secure than record profits?

Or is it that darn Obama again? Gah, I hate that guy, he always spoils everything.

 

[Winner]

I heard many companies' business are booming right now because of consumer spending, but are claiming they need more security before hiring people. How can you get more secure than record profits?

Taxes are too high (= non-zero).

 

[GhostWriter16]

Reagan playing nuclear brinkmanship with the USSR wasn't? Kennedys, LBJs, and Nixons prosecution of the war in Vietnam wasn't? Our decision to emasculate the League of Nations wasn't? Our decisions in the Middle East (I'm not going to list all of them, I'd go over the character limit) weren't the worst things that ever happened? Friggen 9/11 wasn't the worst thing to happen?

Perspective Dommy, please.

I would consider FDR, in terms of hard damage (As opposed to emotional connections) was worse than any of those things, heck, probably worse than ALL of those things combined.

 

[Theige]

I would consider FDR, in terms of hard damage (As opposed to emotional connections) was worse than any of those things, heck, probably worse than ALL of those things combined.

What "hard damage" did FDR do? How do you define "hard damage"?

 

[Ajidica]

I would consider FDR, in terms of hard damage (As opposed to emotional connections) was worse than any of those things, heck, probably worse than ALL of those things combined.

I...er...ah....huh?

 

[GhostWriter16]

100,000 Japanese in prison for no reason ring a bell?

 

[Ajidica]

100,000 Japanese in prison for no reason ring a bell?

If we are going to get into a statistics match, I'm sure I can do very well against your idols.

Yes, Executive Order 9066 was terrible, but it isn't like the later presidents went out of their way to help the victims. EO 9066 was uncalled for, but as we saw with 9/11, the actions taken against a group with superficial connections to the guys who attacked are often uncalled for.

 

[Theige]

100,000 Japanese in prison for no reason ring a bell?

No reason?

Whether or not you believe the event justified the internment, there certainly was a reason.

Letting Stalin seize half of Europe unopposed comes to mind...

It's not that simple, considering he was Stalin's ally against the Nazi's, and he died before the war ended...

 

[Rashiminos]

"What happened to Obama?"

His donor-base did some pulling.

So it's the Republicans' fault, even though they've only had power for the last few months?

Did I have a dream about 2001-2006?

Friggen 9/11 wasn't the worst thing to happen?

Generically speaking, it was not that bad.

 

[BasketCase]

Has Obama failed in not providing a proper narrative

Not at all. Obama gave a very clear and un-misunderstandable narrative. Change you can believe in. His malfunction was in the fact that after he got elected, he took that narrative and threw it out the window.

2008 was not a vote for Obama--it was a vote against Bush. Since then, the voters have realized they hate Obama just as much as they hated Bush, hence the rise of a third faction: the Tea Party. Currently, Obama is back in "business as usual" mode. He's now no different than any other politician.

Or was he yet another vile anti-American socialist in a long succession of same, who has failed because socialism can never succeed?

While Obama is fairly left-wing, he was never really a socialist. He's too focused on government power and not public power.