Just a little respect for the President

[airborne18]

OK I am Disabled Veteran and once a month I have a Paratrooper meeting in Washington DC. This month it was on 9/11.

We stopped at Andrews Airforce base to shop at the BX and eat. I use the bathroom at the BX and someone wrote "Obama's a Liar'.

I am not a fan of Obama, but at a military base? He is still the commander-in-chief, I don't buy that "Hes not my President" b/s that the angry people always say.

I just don't get it. Yeah it is politics, but there is a time and place.

 

[mugaliens]

I have the utmost respect for the office of our Presidency. I simply hope and pray the person inhabiting that office makes the right decisions required to lead our nation in the right direction. I trust the process. It's not perfect, but it's pretty dang good. :)

 

[nismaratwork]

I'm no fan of any politician, but as you say people seem to have lost the distinction between respect for the office and LIKING the person who occupies it. To be fair, this is nothing new, and as long as the CIC can give orders that are obeyed, we're alright. I'm sorry that you find the childish rantings of some upsetting, but it's human nature... for better or worse. My rule of thumb is that anything someone only has the balls to write on a bathroom stall isn't worth taking seriously. There's someone without the courage of their convictions.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I don't really care so much about the slurs as this has been part of the US political process from the start. In fact, I became very disrepectful of Bush because I felt he had betrayed the country, so he deserved no respect. I still respected the office, but not him. And I wasn't going to show respect for someone who betrayed the country.

Consider for example the use of torture, while simply denying it was torture as a justification. That was downright Orwellian and terrifying from my point of view! To me, that was a betrayal of our country in the deepest sense. It was a fundamental violation of American values. It was not only unamerican, it was Anti-American. Our enemies torture people; we don't. We are better than that.

But most of the slurs against Obama are in fact lies. This makes all the difference. If you hate Obama for real reasons, fine, but it you hate him because of what you saw on Fox Noise, or because of what the idiots on AM radio claim, then your objections are likely rooted in fantasy.

Is Obama a liar? Probably. I don't think anyone in politics can survive by always telling the truth. Does this diminish his role in history as one of our greatest Presidents? Not in the least.

 

[nismaratwork]

I don't really care so much about the slurs as this has been part of the US political process from the start. In fact, I became very disrepectful of Bush because I felt he had betrayed the country, so he deserved no respect. Consider for example the use of torture, while simply denying it was torture as a justification. That was downright Orwellian and terrifying from my point of view! To me, that was a betrayal of our country in the deepest sense. It was a fundamental violation of American values. It was not only unamerican, it was Anti-American. Our enemies torture people but we don't. We are better than that.

But most of the slurs against Obama are in fact lies. This makes all the difference. If you hate Obama for real reasons, fine, but it you hate him because of what you saw on Fox Noise, then your objections are likely rooted in fantasy.

Is Obama a liar? Probably. I don't think anyone in politics can survive by always telling the truth. Does this diminish his role in history as one of our greatest Presidents? Not in the least.

Good points... for instance, Nixon lied and cheated, but he was effective in some ways. I respect the parts of him that worked, pity the parts that went nuts, and have no respect for the lies and deceit around Cambodia, Vietnam, and of course Watergate. I HATE W. Bush, for the reasons that Ivan has stated and more, and have no respect for him... I really felt he brought dishonor to the presidency. Clinton was a whore, but that's a pretty typical human failing. Obama... seems to be somewhat less than he advertised, but that's politics as usual... respect the office, dislike the man perhaps? The lying now, and the hatred around Obama eclipses what I saw for W. and that makes no sense. THAT, is more disturbing than the issue of respect in my mind.

 

[arunma]

But most of the slurs against Obama are in fact lies. This makes all the difference. If you hate Obama for real reasons, fine, but it you hate him because of what you saw on Fox Noise, or because of what the idiots on AM radio claim, then your objections are likely rooted in fantasy.

I more or less agree with what you said. I too didn't (and still don't) respect Bush as a person. Obama I can deal with. He's not that great, but I'll take him over Bush any day.

What I really don't understand is precisely why the right is inventing lies about Obama. There are some legitimate reasons to dislike him. For all he said about hope and change, his presidency has brought about neither. And regardless of how little control the President has over the economy, the poor economic state of the country is a decent reason to lash out at whoever's in the White House. Why invent lies about faked citizenship, death panels, secret practice of Islam, etc.?

It annoys me that the right created stupid reasons as to why we were supposed to support Bush during his two terms (e.g. patriotism, falsely asserting that supporting the President => supporting the troops, claims that Bush is protecing us from terrorists, etc.). And they are now falsifying reasons as to why we should hate Obama. You'd think these guys would argue from facts and not shock talk.

 

[airborne18]

Well either way. On a military base to graffiti a bathroom. Let me put it to you this way. Graffiti in bathrooms on a military base is not common, and there was nothing else wriiten on any wals..

 

[Borek]

If that makes you feel better, disrespect and lies about president that was elected by the nation are not only US thing. Twin of our deceased president lost election and things that he is saying right now about our new president qualify him for a long stay in a mental institution

 

[nismaratwork]

Well either way. On a military base to graffiti a bathroom. Let me put it to you this way. Graffiti in bathrooms on a military base is not common, and there was nothing else wriiten on any wals..

THAT is the biggest issue for me... graffiti on a base bathroom shows a real lack of self-control that I hope was the result of a civilian worker and not a soldier.

 

[nismaratwork]

If that makes you feel better, disrespect and lies about president that was elected by the nation are not only US thing. Twin of our deceased president lost election and things that he is saying right now about our new president qualify him for a long stay in a mental institution

Yeesh, it's been weird just watching from the outside, within Poland it must be a truly strange experience.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Nixon lied and cheated, but he was effective in some ways. I respect the parts of him that worked, pity the parts that went nuts, and have no respect for the lies and deceit around Cambodia, Vietnam, and of course Watergate...

There are lies, and there are damned lies! Political spin often crosses the line from spin, to fact-changing. I never like to see it, but, imo, this happens with all politicians. It is a matter of magnitude and significance. For example, lying about some poorly chosen words in a political campaign is to be expected. Lying about threats to the nation, or claiming it a certainty that Saddam has stockpiles of wmds, is quite another matter.

As for Obama: He has already accomplished more than most Presidents do in two terms of office. Health Care reform alone is a huge accomplishment; a problem that we've been trying to address for 100 years - since Teddy Roosevelt! Not to mention his heroic efforts to save the economy - the bailouts and stimulus package. These were historic in their magnitude. And Obama was wise enough, and brave enough, to listen to the depression-era experts, and to ignore the Fox polls, the tea drinkers, and the extreme-right Republicans. We haven't seen as much recovery as we want to see, esp wrt unemployment, but he stopped the collapse, and we have seen dramatic improvements in many sectors of the economy. For example, between March of 2009, and now, the Dow has gained about 53%! That is phenomenonal growth. The GDP has gone from a negative, to a mediocre positive, and get this:

We have seen more [net] private sector jobs added under Obama, than during the entire Bush presidency. Just last month, we added 60,000 private sector jobs,

In the end, under Bush, we lost about 600,000 private sector jobs.

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama did what was best for the country, while knowing full well that it could cost him a second term in office. However, I am highly confident that he will serve two terms. I think that by 2012, to a much greater extent than now, we will begin to reap the benefits of his intellect, wisdom, and skill.

 

[Newai]

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama did what was best for the country, while knowing full well that it could cost him a second term in office. However, I am highly confident that he will serve two terms. I think that by 2012, to a much greater extent than now, we will begin to reap the benefits of his intellect, wisdom, and skill.

I like Obama. I like him a lot. But I have reservation with the credit you give him. The recession is ending, so wouldn't 60,000 jobs added have happened anyway? How can anyone say these improvements wouldn't have happened had Bush stayed in office another term or two?

And another term for him would be reassuring for other reasons I have, but given the joke that was McCain and PALIN!, I am not so confident he'll be voted in again without another joke running against him.

 

[nismaratwork]

There are lies, and there are damned lies! Political spin often crosses the line from spin, to fact-changing. I never like to see it, but, imo, this happens with all politicians. It is a matter of magnitude and significance. For example, lying about some poorly chosen words in a political campaign is to be expected. Lying about threats to the nation, or claiming it a certainty that Saddam has stockpiles of wmds, is quite another matter.

As for Obama: He has already accomplished more than most Presidents do in two terms of office. Health Care reform alone is a huge accomplishment; a problem that we've been trying to address for 100 years - since Teddy Roosevelt! Not to mention his heroic efforts to save the economy - the bailouts and stimulus package. These were historic in their magnitude. And Obama was wise enough, and brave enough, to listen to the depression-era experts, and to ignore the Fox polls, the tea drinkers, and the extreme-right Republicans. We haven't seen as much recovery as we want to see, esp wrt unemployment, but he stopped the collapse, and we have seen dramatic improvements in many sectors of the economy. For example, between March of 2009, and now, the Dow has gained about 53%! That is phenomenonal growth. The GDP has gone from a negative, to a mediocre positive, and get this:

We have seen more [net] private sector jobs added under Obama, than during the entire Bush presidency. Just last month, we added 60,000 private sector jobs,

In the end, under Bush, we lost about 600,000 private sector jobs.

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama did what was best for the country, while knowing full well that it could cost him a second term in office. However, I am highly confident that he will serve two terms. I think that by 2012, to a much greater extent than now, we will begin to reap the benefits of his intellect, wisdom, and skill.

Errrr... you may or may not have valid points, but in the context of this thread the lies in question are so egregious (he's a secret muslim, death panels, etc...) that we don't need to enter the realm of anything substantial. Beyond that, I'm not going to debate the worth of this president before he even hits mid-term, and not in this thread.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Errrr... you may or may not have valid points, but in the context of this thread the lies in question are so egregious (he's a secret muslim, death panels, etc...) that we don't need to enter the realm of anything substantial. Beyond that, I'm not going to debate the worth of this president before he even hits mid-term, and not in this thread.

Obama... seems to be somewhat less than he advertised, but that's politics as usual...

I don't agree. So far, more or less, he is just what I had hoped for. I don't consider Republican ideological stonewalling to be a failure of bipartisanship on Obama's part. The Republicans just haven't come to terms with the fact that they have no viable economic platform - been there done that, and look what it got us!

Note that calling him a liar is not one of the most egregious claims. Also, imo, it is no less a misrepresentation of the facts to understate his achievements already, as it is to misrepresent the facts about him or his beliefs. He has already marked his place in history. Beyond reforming health care, in all likelihood, he was highly instrumental in preventing a global economic disaster of an unprecedented scale. The biggest lesson from the Depression was the need for massive government spending, in times of crisis. Roosevelt didn't spend nearly enough, so it finally took WWII [a massive government spending program] before we fully recovered. That separates the recovery from the crash by about fifteen years.

Anyone up for 15 years like 2008/2009?

 

[airborne18]

I don't agree. So far, more or less, he is just what I had hoped for. I don't consider Republican ideological stonewalling to be a failure of bipartisanship on Obama's part. The Republicans just haven't come to terms with the fact that they have no viable economic platform - been there done that, and look what it got us!

Note that calling him a liar is not one of the most egregious claims. Also, imo, it is no less a misrepresentation of the facts to understate his achievements already, as it is to misrepresent the facts about him or his beliefs. He has already marked his place in history. Beyond reforming health care, in all likelihood, he was highly instrumental in preventing a global economic disaster of an unprecedented scale. The biggest lesson from the Depression was the need for massive government spending, in times of crisis. Roosevelt didn't spend nearly enough, so it finally took WWII [a massive government spending program] before we fully recovered. That separates the recovery from the crash by about fifteen years.

Anyone up for 15 years like 2008/2009?

Ivan I still think they could have done more with the Health Care bill. We will see in a few years, and I have hope, but they should not have backed off the government option. Or at least revamped medicaid, that would have been a slick way to backdoor a government backed plan that actually worked.

 

[nismaratwork]

I don't agree. So far, more or less, he is just what I had hoped for. I don't consider Republican ideological stonewalling to be a failure of bipartisanship on Obama's part. The Republicans just haven't come to terms with the fact that they have no viable economic platform - been there done that, and look what it got us!

Note that calling him a liar is not one of the most egregious claims. Also, imo, it is no less a misrepresentation of the facts to understate his achievements already, as it is to misrepresent the facts about him or his beliefs. He has already marked his place in history. Beyond reforming health care, in all likelihood, he was highly instrumental in preventing a global economic disaster of an unprecedented scale. The biggest lesson from the Depression was the need for massive government spending, in times of crisis. Roosevelt didn't spend nearly enough, so it finally took WWII [a massive government spending program] before we fully recovered. That separates the recovery from the crash by about fifteen years.

Anyone up for 15 years like 2008/2009?

I realize that this is a small issue, but what about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? The economy is complex, nuanced, and hard to appreciate in anything except retrospect... so let's take a moment for smaller issues. He caved in HARD in that area, and most of all he's failed to control a majority in both houses. He could not have more power without total ownership of the senate, yet he is unable or unwilling to spend political capital to draw lines for congress. Maybe this is just the state of our current system, and we're doomed to an endless stalemate, but as the executive I think it's incumbent upon the president to make the case to the American people which then forces the hand of congress. Far from that, he's let himself be smacked around rhetorically to the point where democrats (already yellow in the belly) won't consider most of what he wishes to do.

I also agree with airborne18 that the health care bill was more of a failure in compromise than a success to be touted. Take that away, and he's been little more than a punching bag for the right, which is now going to harm the left in midterm elections. Fabulous... :cries:

 

[mugaliens]

...slurs... ...Bush... ...betrayal of our country... ...Fox Noise...

All I hear here is noise and slurs.

Is Obama a liar? Probably

Ah. I appreciate your being willing to entertain the thought that our CIC isn't above bending the truth.

I don't think anyone in politics can survive by always telling the truth

I think they can, have, and will continue to do so.

Does this diminish his role in history as one of our greatest Presidents?

Who are you talking about? Eisenhower? Lincoln? Washington?

 

[Proton Soup]

gotta love the "we can do it because we're better than you" defense

 

[Hepth]

I'm not for labeling Obama as one of our "greatest Presidents" yet (and I'm a fairly strong democrat), but I find it quite annoying when I see the republican party fighting policies every step of the way, with every ounce of their strength only to go home and say "see, he's not living up to the things he said he would do, he hasn't done anything he said he would."
What would be the word for that, not hypocritical but something else?BTW: I feel its the GOP's right to fight tooth and nail for what they want, that's the way the world works, I just dislike the politics of politics.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Yeah it is politics, but there is a time and place.

I agree. The bathroom at the BX of an airforce base is not the proper place to write that Obama is a liar. Almost any other place would have been much better.

 

[nismaratwork]

I agree. The bathroom at the BX of an airforce base is not the proper place to write that Obama is a liar. Almost any other place would have been much better.

The place, and the statement make it inappropriate, but when congressmen are shouting that to the president during a speech, I don't know what people expect. What concerns me, beyond the allegation itself, is that the person who wrote it is damned coward who felt the way to spread their message was bathroom graffiti. That is PATHETIC.

I'm not for labeling Obama as one of our "greatest Presidents" yet (and I'm a fairly strong democrat), but I find it quite annoying when I see the republican party fighting policies every step of the way, with every ounce of their strength only to go home and say "see, he's not living up to the things he said he would do, he hasn't done anything he said he would."
What would be the word for that, not hypocritical but something else?


BTW: I feel its the GOP's right to fight tooth and nail for what they want, that's the way the world works, I just dislike the politics of politics.

No. We're an indirectly federated republic, which means we the people depend on our representatives to fight for OUR interests, not their own jobs and personal agendas.

 

[Hepth]

No. We're an indirectly federated republic, which means we the people depend on our representatives to fight for OUR interests, not their own jobs and personal agendas.

Ah, let me clarify the "what they want". I naively intended that to mean "what they believe is best for our country" as if that was what the goal of going into politics was...

 

[lisab]

Ah, let me clarify the "what they want". I naively intended that to mean "what they believe is best for our country" as if that was what the goal of going into politics was...

In reality, I think you had it correct the first time.

 

[Gokul43201]

We have seen more [net] private sector jobs added under Obama, than during the entire Bush presidency. Just last month, we added 60,000 private sector jobs,

In the end, under Bush, we lost about 600,000 private sector jobs.

I believe that's a poor statistic - it provides no good comparison of average economic conditions. It takes a little more diligence and effort to do a reasonably meaningful comparison.

 

[nismaratwork]

In reality, I think you had it correct the first time.

I agree wholeheartedly, much to my own dismay...

I wish you were right Hepth, I just don't think that's what happens. Lisab is right, as she often is.

 

[WhoWee]

There are lies, and there are damned lies! Political spin often crosses the line from spin, to fact-changing. I never like to see it, but, imo, this happens with all politicians. It is a matter of magnitude and significance. For example, lying about some poorly chosen words in a political campaign is to be expected. Lying about threats to the nation, or claiming it a certainty that Saddam has stockpiles of wmds, is quite another matter.

As for Obama: He has already accomplished more than most Presidents do in two terms of office. Health Care reform alone is a huge accomplishment; a problem that we've been trying to address for 100 years - since Teddy Roosevelt! Not to mention his heroic efforts to save the economy - the bailouts and stimulus package. These were historic in their magnitude. And Obama was wise enough, and brave enough, to listen to the depression-era experts, and to ignore the Fox polls, the tea drinkers, and the extreme-right Republicans. We haven't seen as much recovery as we want to see, esp wrt unemployment, but he stopped the collapse, and we have seen dramatic improvements in many sectors of the economy. For example, between March of 2009, and now, the Dow has gained about 53%! That is phenomenonal growth. The GDP has gone from a negative, to a mediocre positive, and get this:

We have seen more [net] private sector jobs added under Obama, than during the entire Bush presidency. Just last month, we added 60,000 private sector jobs,

In the end, under Bush, we lost about 600,000 private sector jobs.

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama did what was best for the country, while knowing full well that it could cost him a second term in office. However, I am highly confident that he will serve two terms. I think that by 2012, to a much greater extent than now, we will begin to reap the benefits of his intellect, wisdom, and skill.

Ivan, are you going to support ANYTHING you post today - just wondering?

By the way, how many of those census jobs that were counted in the Spring did you just remove from your count in this posting (wasn't it a little over 100,000?).

 

[Gokul43201]

By the way, how many of those census jobs that were counted in the Spring did you just remove from your count in this posting (wasn't it a little over 100,000?).

I don't believe census jobs belong in the "private sector".

 

[WhoWee]

I don't believe census jobs belong in the "private sector".

They don't. I just wanted to point out how selective Ivan is with his "facts". Ivan completely ignored the bad news from the jobs report he referenced.

 

[nismaratwork]

They don't. I just wanted to point out how selective Ivan is with his "facts". Ivan completely ignored the bad news from the jobs report he referenced.

You want to draw attention to how Ivan is selective with is facts by... being selective with your facts?

 

[WhoWee]

You want to draw attention to how Ivan is selective with is facts by... being selective with your facts? That's some kind of genius, or neurosyphilis; one or the other

"Neurosyphillis"...that's nice. Please read my post in context. ONCE AGAIN, I asked Ivan to support his posts (he still hasn't) and pointed out that he was touting job growth in a period of actual job losses.
Now I'll ask you to support your personal attack on me.

 

[nismaratwork]

"Neurosyphillis"...that's nice. Please read my post in context. ONCE AGAIN, I asked Ivan to support his posts (he still hasn't) and pointed out that he was touting job growth in a period of actual job losses.
Now I'll ask you to support your personal attack on me.

Um... I like Ivan, even if I think he's on the liberal end of the spectrum even by my standards, and believe he deserves a bit more respect than you're giving him. Obviously the neurosyphilis comment was meant to be factitious (as opposed to a realistic insult), but it accurately expresses my feelings on the matter and the "logic" you've employed in challenging Ivan. On the other hand, while rare, late-stage syphilis does does occur... ... oh, and and see Gokul's post for the reasons for my questions as to dementia.

 

[Borg]

The GOP has resorted to posting their new flashes on bathroom walls? Has FOX started outsourcing the news?

 

[nismaratwork]

The GOP has resorted to posting their new flashes on bathroom walls? Has FOX started outsourcing the news?

 

[WhoWee]

Um... I like Ivan, even if I think he's on the liberal end of the spectrum even by my standards, and believe he deserves a bit more respect than you're giving him. Obviously the neurosyphilis comment was meant to be factitious (as opposed to a realistic insult), but it accurately expresses my feelings on the matter and the "logic" you've employed in challenging Ivan. On the other hand, while rare, late-stage syphilis does does occur... ... oh, and and see Gokul's post for the reasons for my questions as to dementia.

Once again, Ivan still hasn't supported his comments or provided a link for his "facts". I believe that Ivan should be held to the same standards as everyone else. As for your personal attack on me - enough is enough - grow up.

 

[Hepth]

They don't. I just wanted to point out how selective Ivan is with his "facts". Ivan completely ignored the bad news from the jobs report he referenced.

So are you saying that by only looking at the positive private sector, he is missing making a point about how there were a large number of government jobs created, then lost, and he should somehow include those? Unless you're somehow implying that all the census workers were unemployed when they began work, and then immediately once done moved to private sector to inflate those numbers, I'm not sure what your point is.