Eric Carmen Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 ....last night. He had a couple of guys who were REAL insiders, and who know Obama and have watched him throughout the campaign. There were some amazing revelations from these guys ( I've never seen either one of them before, certainly not on any of the mainstream media stations).Not the least of these revelations was who Obama used as his role model, the president he wants HIS presidency to look like, and govern like. Who is that President? Wait for it......Ronald Reagan!Yep, that's what they said. He admires the Reagan style.That ought to make a few of you McCain fans breath a little easier!Trust me forks, He's headed straight for the middle,just like every good President we've had in recent years, and UNLIKE Bush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Freaky----The Illinois State Lottery Evening Pick 3 numbers....666 http://www.illinoislottery.com/subsections/History/Win2008.txt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'll give him a chance...the only reason I voted McCain was he had more experience...I don't associate with either party...and I never will...I like being Independent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 The Newsweek cover story from 2 weeks was about how whoever wins will likely have to go the middle-of-the-road/moderate path, seeing as the overall country is still pretty conservative. Obama's campaign manager stated in the article that Barack will have no trouble with this, as he's not an ideologue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim From Wisconsin Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'm willing to give "Obamanomics" a chance. Somehow we did survive "Reaganomics"!Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnniekNY Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I have to say I voted for McCain for a number of reasons (even though I cannot stomach Sarah Palin) but I was so moved by Obama's speech in the park in Chicago. I looked at the faces of the people who were sharing in this historic opportunity and I could not help but get swept along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sterling Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 This does not surprise me in the least about our Sen. Barak Obama. He is a very astute, perceptive and pragmatic politician. If anyone can pull it all off it is he. Just look at the fact that he was elected the president of the Harvard Law Review back in the day. And he had the support of a good number of conservative students. The best is yet to come.Sure looking forward to the press conference in a few hours!Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspathens Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Bush and the republican congress' non-military domestic spending, expressed as a percentage of GNP and in dollars, was actually higher than spending during Clinton's watch. I would argue that from a domestic standpoint, he tried so hard to get to the middle that he actually went to the left. Foreign policy - o.k., for argument's sake, I'll give you Iraq, but Bush was the first president who actually did something about disease and hunger in Africa. Finally, governing style and policy are two different things - Reagan compromised when he had to, thanks to Jim Baker, but never abandoned his core principles. I'm very concerned about Obama's core principles. There is no real check on his power; he has the new congress that agrees with him in every major policy area. Oh, and from a lawyer's standpoint, I can't begin to describe the significance of the appointment of liberal/activist judges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Bush did far more in Africa than Clinton ever did. It will continue to be glossed over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I agree with Raspathens. So far, Obama's speeches, however refreshingly smooth and easy on the ears, have been just a bunch of vague generalities about hope and change, that could be interpreted a hundred different ways by hopeful Americans.The truth is, SINCE MOST OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA DIDN'T DO THEIR JOBS IN FINDING OUT WHAT OBAMA'S TRUE BELIEFS AND MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCES WERE/ARE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ROAD HE'S GOING TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY DOWN...Except, that the Gub-ment is going to get bigger, and have more control over our lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Bush did far more in Africa than Clinton ever did. It will continue to be glossed over. Yes, until your grandkids get the bill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Bush did far more in Africa than Clinton ever did. It will continue to be glossed over. Honestly, H65, I'm starting to think that if you had the choice, you'd take 8 MORE years of President George W. Bush over 8 years, or even 4 years, of President Obama.I would say that a fair grade for Bush's tenure, all things considered, would be an F. Or maybe an F+ if I were feeling generous. But... that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Raspathens made a comment about Bush's effort in Africa. I responded with what I KNOW. Do have any idea of what we are talking about? I mean even MSNBC gave Bush props for it yesterday. Sorry to have offended you. And yes, I'm not looking forward to an Obama presidency. Am I supposed to abandon my core beliefs because the guy won an election? Did you 8 years ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Yes, H65, I know what you're talking about re: Africa. But his "effort" there doesn't excuse him for his decision-making in his own country. Perhaps my "F" is a little too harsh, but his decision to go to war in Iraq alone earns him a below-passing grade. All those lives lost, all those trillions of dollars p!ssed away, while Osama Bin Laden still runs free.... BTW, don't take this the wrong way, because maybe it's just me, but... how come you sound so irritable, angry, negative, sarcastic, and condescending in so many of your posts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Also, how do you turn Eric's thread on Obama's role model into a pat on the back for George W. Bush? Very shrewd.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 What are you talking about? I didn't turn the thread into anything...I was responding to a post.You seem to be the one who made a big deal out of it.And what's the difference whose thread it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I just went back and reread my post...sure enough, I responded to Raspathens about Bush's aid to Africa. LC then attempted to read my mind, and post his usual anti Bush rant. Your post Larry, was the post to get personal. And your tone was everything you accused my posts of being a couple of posts later. That's called being a hypocrite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspathens Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Yea, Hollies65 just made a brief remark about something I wrote. Anyone see Obama's press conference a few minutes ago where he referred to himself as a "mutt" and referenced Nancy Reagan's seances? I'm not making this up. It wasn't a seance, she freaked out about her husband's safety and sought the help of an astrologer. She was troubled. It was Hillary Clinton who used to "talk" to Mrs. Roosevelt. No Fox reporter called on. Not one substantive answer to any question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hollies, I've learned over the last weeks that there are some people here that really don't want to debate, they just want to win the arguments, and make themselves look good, and demean the ones they're arguing against. Sometimes they'll argue the issues fairly and eloquently, sometimes brilliantly. But other times, for whatever reason, they'll need to spin, attack personally, tell you the low minded reasons you think like you do, etc, etc. It's actually quite dirty. Though I love debating this stuff, I've tried not to jump into that vortex. And it's a reason I'll likely take a vacation from posting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 James, if you take a vacation, you are a shallow, uneducated moron who doesn't change his underwear for days...OBAMA IS JESUS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 How'd you know about my underwear system?.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Guys - I suspect Obama saying he wants to govern like Ronald Reagan has little to do with political ideology, and everything to do with Reagan's well-known collaborative/teamwork approach to solving problems and dealing with issues. The fact that most of Obama's speeches so far, including his just-completed press conference, say nothing, lends more credence to this. He sees himself as more of a Facilitator-In-Charge than as a forceful, strong-minded decision-making President at this stage.Ronald Reagan on most issues was a complete blank slate. However, he was extremely skilled at remembering who exactly was an expert on various issues/subjects, and he thought nothing of calling all of his experts together when confronted by a problem or issue, listening closely to everything that was said, exploring all options, and collaboratively reaching a conclusion on solving the particular problem.This, in and of itself, is a valuable skill. All Presidents have had it to an extent, and all have used it, with varying degrees of success. Carter was bad at reaching a consensus conclusion on anything. Clinton had a tendency to rely too heavily on the same people (especially Hillary) on all issues, which has also been a problem with George W. Bush....who usually doesn't want to hear differing opinions (from his own and those of his closest advisors). Reagan was known for calling on different experts from different fields, holding wide varieties of opinions. RR wasn't a brain himself...but he relied heavily on those who were, and had no ego or insecurity problems in doing so. After all, he was the President and had the ultimate say-so.My guess is this will be Obama's initial approach to problem solving....which makes sense, as I've heard that his staff meetings are always very, very interactive - he demands and expects input from everyone in attendance, and encourages his staffers to play devil's advocate constantly. It's a very academic approach, which also mirrors the private sector business world to a large extent....and is 180 degrees from what's been going on for the past 8 years in the White House! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted November 8, 2008 Author Share Posted November 8, 2008 Even my most conservative friends would tell you Bush was a complete failure. There's a reason why his approval rating is at 20%. Let's see: Two wars, a recession, millions of lost jobs, the collapse of the banking and insurance industries, plummeting home prices, a 10 trillion dollar debt, the stock market collapse, respect for America at an all time low worldwide, Osama Bin Laden still at large, the rise in the price of oil, the auto industry on the verge of collapse.....Yeah, I'd say Bush has done a great job, wouldn't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Well to be fair, I would not blame all of those things on Bush. I'd put the wars on Bush. Afghanistan is a just war, Iraq was ill conceived. The Debt largely is Bush's baby since he let spending go totally out of control...just terrible. Once again, pointing out a noble path taken in Africa by Bush is hardly an endorsement of Bush's presidency...regardless of Larry saying it was. We'll see how fast the Obama administration captures Bin Laden. I really have not seen one person on this board say Bush has done a good job, let alone a great one.Bush is no conservative...his fiscal policy disqualifies him from jump street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Mississippi Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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