The Barack Obama review/critique thread

[J.]

Obama: "I think I screwed up"



Nothing like more sketchy public figures to add to the list of Obama's "question marks".

At least he was a man and admitted a mistake. It's not like he started a war on a wrong hunch and then continued that war because he couldn't admit a mistake, because that would be truly cowardice and just...dumb.

 

[Dak]

At least he was a man and admitted a mistake. It's not like he started a war on a wrong hunch and then continued that war because he couldn't admit a mistake, because that would be truly cowardice and just...dumb.

Bush didn't start the war on a hunch, he just gave a bullshit reason because the American people wouldn't have backed the real reasons.

 

[waif]

At least he was a man and admitted a mistake. It's not like he started a war on a wrong hunch and then continued that war because he couldn't admit a mistake, because that would be truly cowardice and just...dumb.

This.

As for the late thing, I didn't read it all but being the leader of the free world does have a way of taking up one's time...

 

[Dak]

This.

As for the late thing, I didn't read it all but being the leader of the free world does have a way of taking up one's time...

It's not like he is showing up late to play basketball in his offtime. He is showing up late to "lead the free world".

 

[Achtland]

I don't like Obama anymore. He's pushing for faith-based social programs with tax cuts for these crooked welfare church groups (fucking biscuit-eater's country clubs). Put in a sound secular public health care system and the trash will take care of itself.

 

[waif]

It's not like he is showing up late to play basketball in his offtime. He is showing up late to "lead the free world".

You may have noticed that there's a lot of leading to be done. Bush didn't do shit; one fourth of his presidency was spent away from the white house. So it wasn't really hard for him to show up on time.

 

[Dak]

You may have noticed that there's a lot of leading to be done. Bush didn't do shit; one fourth of his presidency was spent away from the white house. So it wasn't really hard for him to show up on time.

Bush spending a rediculous amount of time on vacation has nothing to do with punctuality. Part of leading is setting an example, and part of setting the example is being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.

 

[waif]

And part of leading is actually following up on shit instead of dropping it halfway through so you can go give a pointless press conference.

 

[Dak]

And part of leading is actually following up on shit instead of dropping it halfway through so you can go give a pointless press conference.

I don't know what jobs you have ever had, but being habitually late is usually going to get you fired, regardless of how good you may be at your job. You are making excuses for a shortcoming that by itself doesn't seem like a big deal, but like I said before, chronic "tardiness" is usually just a reflection of someone who doesn't have their shit together.

At least he could have one of his lackey's reschedule etc if he is too busy saving the world.

 

[waif]

He's not a fucking cashier. If an business executive is running late, no one fires him. It's not like he's dawdling or anything. I don't know why the fuck you brought this up if as you admit it's not a big deal, but I guess you are kind of desperate for anything you can fling at him.

 

[Dak]

He's not a fucking cashier. If an business executive is running late, no one fires him. It's not like he's dawdling or anything. I don't know why the fuck you brought this up if as you admit it's not a big deal, but I guess you are kind of desperate for anything you can fling at him.

/facepalm. These kind of responses tell me you don't really read what gets said.

but like I said before, chronic "tardiness" is usually just a reflection of someone who doesn't have their shit together.

 

[waif]

Or someone who is seriously overworked tbh.

 

[Dak]

(CNN) -- A coalition of Democrats and some Republicans reached a compromise that trimmed billions in spending from an earlier version of the Senate economic stimulus bill.


Senators worked late into the night to trim billions from the original stimulus bill.

CNN obtained, from a Democratic leadership aide, a list of some programs that have been cut, either entirely or partially:

Partially cut:

• $3.5 billion for energy-efficient federal buildings (original bill $7 billion)

• $75 million from Smithsonian (original bill $150 million)

• $200 million from Environmental Protection Agency Superfund (original bill $800 million)

• $100 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (original bill $427 million)

• $100 million from law enforcement wireless (original bill $200 million)

• $300 million from federal fleet of hybrid vehicles (original bill $600 million)

• $100 million from FBI construction (original bill $400 million)

Fully eliminated

• $55 million for historic preservation

• $122 million for Coast Guard polar icebreaker/cutters

• $100 million for Farm Service Agency modernization

• $50 million for Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service

• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation

• $100 million for distance learning

• $98 million for school nutrition

• $50 million for aquaculture

• $2 billion for broadband

• $100 million for National Institute of Standards and Technology

• $50 million for detention trustee

• $25 million for Marshalls Construction

• $300 million for federal prisons

• $300 million for BYRNE Formula grant program

• $140 million for BYRNE Competitive grant program

• $10 million state and local law enforcement

• $50 million for NASA

• $50 million for aeronautics

• $50 million for exploration

• $50 million for Cross Agency Support

• $200 million for National Science Foundation

• $100 million for science

• $1 billion for Energy Loan Guarantees

• $4.5 billion for General Services Administration

• $89 million General Services Administration operations

• $50 million from Department of Homeland Security

• $200 million Transportation Security Administration

• $122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use

• $25 million for Fish and Wildlife

• $55 million for historic preservation

• $20 million for working capital fund

• $165 million for Forest Service capital improvement

• $90 million for State and Private Wildlife Fire Management

• $1 billion for Head Start/Early Start

• $5.8 billion for Health Prevention Activity

• $2 billion for Health Information Technology Grants

• $600 million for Title I (No Child Left Behind)

• $16 billion for school construction

• $3.5 billion for higher education construction

• $1.25 billion for project based rental

• $2.25 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization


• $1.2 billion for retrofitting Project 8 housing

• $40 billion for state fiscal stabilization (includes $7.5 billion of state incentive grants)

Well at least they eliminated a lot of bullshit, just not enough.

 

[waif]

• $122 million for Coast Guard polar icebreaker/cutters

Just saying, but those wouldn't have been getting a whole lot of use anyways.

$100 million for science

That's so vague it actually becomes sketchy.
"We are giving $100 million to some men in lab coats who say they need it to do science."

• $5.8 billion for Health Prevention Activity

Good. Preventing health is the last thing we need.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

 

[Dak]

Geithner unveils new 4 Part Bank Rescue Plan

No comment on this yet as it will probably change to some degree before it gets implemented.

 

[Dak]

Health Rules slipped into stimulus bill

Pretty interesting article.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

The health-care industry is the largest employer in the U.S. It produces almost 17 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Yet the bill treats health care the way European governments do: as a cost problem instead of a growth industry. Imagine limiting growth and innovation in the electronics or auto industry during this downturn. This stimulus is dangerous to your health and the economy.

O RLY??

Since when is an industry that's rapidly becoming unaffordable to most people as well as rocketing the country toward bankruptcy NOT a cost problem? Fuck, some people are stupid.

That aside, she is right that the hidden legislation is pretty shady. What they should really be doing is laying down a clear set of guidelines for what kind of care will be covered by public money instead of just letting some dude arbitrate it. But I'd still prefer shady hidden legislation that may screw some of us over to a completely broken system that will screw most of us over.

 

[Dak]

O RLY??

Since when is an industry that's rapidly becoming unaffordable to most people as well as rocketing the country toward bankruptcy NOT a cost problem? Fuck, some people are stupid.

That aside, she is right that the hidden legislation is pretty shady. What they should really be doing is laying down a clear set of guidelines for what kind of care will be covered by public money instead of just letting some dude arbitrate it. But I'd still prefer shady hidden legislation that may screw some of us over to a completely broken system that will screw most of us over.

I agree with you on this overall. When health care is the nations #1 growth industry, it means the nations health is in a serious decline. That is what needs to be addressed. Why is everyone getting so sick all of a sudden?

 

[sadistik necrofiend]

Watching CNN last night, Obama puts off the impression that he is taking it seriously by the urgency of trying to get the Ecomomy back on track.
Either he is serious and has a good intent, is being misled entirely on purpose and is totally getting duped, or he is meant to be a scapegoat all along and a guise will be projected thus not showing the real reasons why this all happened and he will get blamed for the various reasons of this and that.
If the latter is true, then shit is going to get really brutal.

thats my take anyway.