Dr. Henry Louis Gates Arrested

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Dreadloc'd Diva

First of all,I hated Bush and everything he stood for! Second of all,didn't Obama ask for bi-paritisanship when he got in office? All he is getting is Republicans bitching about one thing or another!

Just because Obama asked for bipartisanship doesn't mean that he's entitled to absolute agreement on every piece of legislation he pushes, or every piece of policy he supports. Every President asks for bipartisanship, and every President points out when the other side is holding up the works - however there's nothing saying that the other party is required to back the President if they think he's advocating measures that aren't in the best interests in the country.

It's all a give and take, a series of checks and balances.

ETA: He has gotten bipartisanship, although maybe not in the way he intended...haven't both Democrats and Republicans come out against the healthcare legislation?

[Dreadloc'd Diva]

You make an excellent point,but the fact is cleaning up two wars and the economy requires unity,and it seems to me that there is very little bipartisanship.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Just because Obama asked for bipartisanship doesn't mean that he's entitled to absolute agreement on every piece of legislation he pushes, or every piece of policy he supports. Every President asks for bipartisanship, and every President points out when the other side is holding up the works - however there's nothing saying that the other party is required to back the President if they think he's advocating measures that aren't in the best interests in the country.

It's all a give and take, a series of checks and balances.

ETA: He has gotten bipartisanship, although maybe not in the way he intended...haven't both Democrats and Republicans come out against the healthcare legislation?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I would even go so far as to say it would be irresponsible for a party not to look ahead to the mid-terms and next Presidential election after a defeat. The party has to re-examine where it went wrong and do everything it can to make sure the next election cycle is a better one.

The Republicans did it after Clinton won, the Dems did it after Bush won...it's just the way politics goes.

It does bother me a little that the GOP isn't being smart enough to exclusively focus on the policies. We/they don't need to make it look like its just the us vs. them dynamic.

No references to Waterloo, for instance.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Dreadloc'd Diva

No leader of any nation is perfect. However,Obama hasn't been given the chance to do what he promised,and it's not even 2012 yet. At least he's doing the best he can under very...tense times. He's trying to clean up two wars and the economy,which is an ugly mess that Bush left behind. So before we pass judgment on Obama..give him a chance.

So, maybe with a two-front war on terrorism and an economy that's in the shitter, our Chief Executive should focus on those issues and not his old buddy Skip.

Also, if you have any historical context about the causes for the economy, President Bush shares just about the same amount of the blame as President Clinton.

Whatever happens with Professor Gates will happen regardless of what the Great Brown Hope has to say about it.

[SWTXBelle]

I liked "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me"'s take on it - "Waterloo" is a fabulous piece of Europop from ABBA. If health reform is Obama's "Waterloo", then the stimulus package (I think that's the example they used) is his "Dancing Queen".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVGSKVkkyhc

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Dreadloc'd Diva

You make an excellent point,but the fact is cleaning up two wars and the economy requires unity,and it seems to me that there is very little bipartisanship.

Diva, he shouldn't need bipartisanship if his party controls both houses of congress. If he can't make his stuff happen under these conditions, it's not because the GOP threw up blocks.

Apparently, by bipartisanship, you seem to mean the GOP embracing Obama's policies and vision. That's not really how most people understand the term, I don't think.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I liked "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me"'s take on it - "Waterloo" is a fabulous piece of Europop from ABBA. If health reform is Obama's "Waterloo", then the stimulus package (I think that's the example they used) is his "Dancing Queen".

I wish I would have heard it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I would even go so far as to say it would be irresponsible for a party not to look ahead to the mid-terms and next Presidential election after a defeat. The party has to re-examine where it went wrong and do everything it can to make sure the next election cycle is a better one.

The Republicans did it after Clinton won, the Dems did it after Bush won...it's just the way politics goes.

It is interesting because people seem to forget how people across parties (many of whom didn't like Bush at first) began to appreciate the Bush administration's religious and patriotic efforts after September 11th. The terrorist attacks and overall international climate are things that Bush was propelled into with little preparation, as we know it. I'm sure it was a nightmare being elected and being welcomed with terrorist attacks. People initially supported the war because those were desperate times. The war didn't pan out as expected for various reasons (which often happens with wars) and people shifted their anger to a new target. Then people began or went back to hating his politics and calling him a misspeaking idiot.

What happened with Bush should sound familiar to those who think Obama is being treated unfairly. The difference that we were initially talking about is that Obama has been touted as a greater speaker, which prompted his administration to constantly make him talk and trip over himself. Bush seemed more of the reluctant speaker. What I perceive to be Obama's eagerness to run his mouth is what pisses me off.

[Dreadloc'd Diva]

I don't mean that the GOP should embrace his vision at all,but the only vision that both parties should have is rebuilding America. As I said,both parties will agree to disagree,but a little help from the other side wouldn't hurt.

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Diva, he shouldn't need bipartisanship if his party controls both houses of congress. If he can't make his stuff happen under these conditions, it's not because the GOP threw up blocks.

Apparently, but bipartisanship, you seem to mean the GOP embracing Obama's policies and vision. That's not really how most people understand the term, I don't think.

[SWTXBelle]

So is the GOP singing "The Winner Takes It All" or "Take a Chance on Me"?

I love me some ABBA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tfyDWIRndc (TWTIA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_IGxXxsoE8 (TACOM)

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Dreadloc'd Diva

I don't mean that the GOP should embrace his vision at all,but the only vision that both parties should have is rebuilding America. As I said,both parties will agree to disagree,but a little help from the other side wouldn't hurt.

"Rebuilding America" means different things to different people. It's entirely possible that some people think that Obama's policies and rhetoric are continuing the downturn, rather than contributing to any "building."

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What happened with Bush should sound familiar to those who think Obama is being treated unfairly. The difference that we were initially talking about is that Obama has been touted as a greater speaker, which prompted his administration to constantly make him talk and trip over himself. Bush seemed more of the reluctant speaker. What I perceive to be Obama's eagerness to run his mouth is what pisses me off.

I think another thing that has helped Obama is that there was the immediate perception that he was well-educated and smart, and people were willing to give him more leeway at the start becuase of those points. It's not like with Bush and Kerry, where people were picking at their college transcripts and questioning their intelligence. Obama didn't have those questions to deal with when he started his term.

Every President is treated "unfairly" to a certain extent - they come in with huge expectations, at least partially self-created, and there are many who will be disappointed (either because policy takes longer to implement, or because the people don't agree with the candidate's platform to begin with).

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I think another thing that has helped Obama is that there was the immediate perception that he was well-educated and smart, and people were willing to give him more leeway at the start becuase of those points. It's not like with Bush and Kerry, where people were picking at their college transcripts and questioning their intelligence. Obama didn't have those questions to deal with when he started his term.

Every President is treated "unfairly" to a certain extent - they come in with huge expectations, at least partially self-created, and there are many who will be disappointed (either because policy takes longer to implement, or because the people don't agree with the candidate's platform to begin with).

There may not be picking at his education, but there is a group of the cuckoo for cocoa puffs who are still questioning his citizenship.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

There may not be picking at his education, but there is a group of the cuckoo for cocoa puffs who are still questioning his citizenship.

Well yeah, there's that - but luckily the courts have been good at getting rid of those frivolous lawsuits pretty quickly.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I liked "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me"'s take on it - "Waterloo" is a fabulous piece of Europop from ABBA. If health reform is Obama's "Waterloo", then the stimulus package (I think that's the example they used) is his "Dancing Queen".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVGSKVkkyhc

I love that show.