Obama: How much slack?

[I_luv_saber]

lol, Someooooone's been packing away comics for a rainy day, eh?

[thereom4]

Strange, you say?

Why does Bush have the red phone in this strip? Obama had it in the other two. Continuity please.

Red phone:sitting president?

[erooMynohtnA]

That's correct. I'm not using them in chronological order. http://mxrk.net/redphone/

[thereom4]

That's correct. I'm not using them in chronological order. http://mxrk.net/redphone/

Okay I just read like the first few and......wow. No words. Funny. But no words. I had to post #40 to my facebook page. Man.

[Inspector Gadget]

The administration wants to 'bail out' or 'help' banks, but some of them are in far greater danger than financial. BOA is struggling against some real insurgents there, I see a bunch of hostile takeovers with some beards in the lead. Can't we get rid of them? It's like plague house - they'll ransak everythilng and that'll be it. For survivalists I'm sure it's a dream come true. but for people who like some of the basics, even a rented room at a Y, I'm not in favor of some of these moves.

[dcmdale]

I started this thread after Obama had been in office for only a couple of weeks. I think that anyone who really thought that a lot would be accomplished in a couple of weeks, even "hitting the ground running," doesn't really understand how government works.

We are coming up on 4 months now. The NY Times is reporting growing discontent among House liberals:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us...er=rss&emc=rss

A couple of questions:

1. Is Obama not living up to liberal expectations? Or, rather, does his liberalism have to conform to reality?
2. Is Obama "getting away" with stuff that looks very much like Bush was getting castigated over by liberals?

[Inquartata]

Is Obama not living up to liberal expectations? Or, rather, does his liberalism have to conform to reality?

Both, I think. Modern liberalism is not particularly realistic to begin with, IMO, but it is nevertheless running into the same prosaic, mundane obstacles to policy which afflict government regardless of underlying political persuasions.

Probably it will rationalize these naturally occurring obstacles so as to preserve its starry-eyed naivete. Probably that will take the usual form of "Those darned Republicans have erected these obstacles"...

Is Obama "getting away" with stuff that looks very much like Bush was getting castigated over by liberals?

Sure. There's usually a honeymoon period, and Obama is so popular and so charismatic that despite the magnitude and number of the problems he faces his will probably last longer than most...not least because only thus can his many followers avoid the painful admission that maybe, just possibly, they might have been wrong. No one likes to think that they were wrong, much less admit it.

But after all, this is why our system is set up the way it is: To hamper radical change and to constrain political leaders from accomplishing very much very easily. Which I am sure he himself realizes on some level, for all his talk otherwise.

But he sure does seem to be making some decisions which will erode his popularity. Now he's reviving the military tribunals for terrorist prisoners, albeit with additional legal rights for the accused, and his position on Afghanistan has already bought him some disillusionment from the antiwar segment of his base...

[Bayou Bum]

I'm willing to wait for June/July for results.

Well, it is the middle of June, any results yet?

Here is a few items, borrowed, not my own:

* Trillions added to our national debt.
* American is having trouble getting other countries to buy American debt
* Obama virtually ignores a corrupt election in Iran. We leave it to French President Sarkozy to speak out for the Iranian people wanting a free election.
* GM and Citigroup now government operations. More to come.
* The government (Obama) gets to set executive compensation levels.
* Obama seeking the ability to seize private businesses.
* Firing inspector generals who uncover corruption involving Obama buddies.
* Overturning established law to favor unions over secured creditors in GM's bankruptcy.
* Obama wants to reduce tax deductions for charitable deductions. Government doesn't like competition.
* The Washington DC voucher system, with a great record of success, slated for elimination while Obama's kids go to private school.
* Obama says 8% unemployment max. We're nearing 10%
* Obama moves to raise taxes on the small businesses that create the jobs.
* North Korea threatening to send a missile toward Hawaii
* While NK is lobbing missiles, Obama cuts spending in missile defense systems.

[fencerchica]

These days, I'm not Obama's biggest fan either, but ya know what, Bayou Bum, your list is pathetic. Let's take the "great record of success" of the DC school voucher system, shall we? I live in DC, so this stuff is local news for me.



The RAND Corporation says: To examine total program impact on student achievement, the study compared the results of lottery winners with those of lottery losers (regardless of whether the winners actually used their scholarships or whether the losers attended public schools). The authors found no impact, positive or negative, on average test scores in reading or math. Similarly, they found no impact of the effect of using a voucher to attend a private school on average reading or math test scores.



And the GAO says: [in the 2004-2005 school year] at least 3 of 52 schools that participated that year indicated that at least half of their teachers did not have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 6 schools indicated that about 10 to 20 percent of their teachers lacked at least a bachelor’s degree. Further, many of the schools were not accredited, and there is no evidence that they submitted evidence of educational soundness. [...] Some students who received scholarships had limited choices, particularly students in the upper grades and those who wanted to attend a secular school. [...] For example, according to WSF data for school year 2005-2006, only about 70 openings were available at the high school level (compared to about 650 for students in kindergarten through grade 5 and about 200 for students in grades 6-8). The majority of scholarship students attending high schools went to one religious school. [...] In addition, students who desired a secular school had a limited number to choose from, since most of the participating private schools were Catholic or Protestant, and these schools offered most of the openings.

(Incidentally, Obama's kids go to a religious school. Funny that you find that offensive.)

[Inquartata]

Well, how about his infamous fly-swatting, then? Cruelty to poor defenseless insects, says PETA! And who could disagree?

[Bayou Bum]

These days, I'm not Obama's biggest fan either, but ya know what, Bayou Bum, your list is pathetic.

You're right, Obama's presidency is pathetic. So when are you going to acknowledge that those who voted for him made a huge mistake?

[treehugginfencer]

You leave Obama alone, you meanies! He is going to save us from global warming, protect our trees, heal the sick, and increase government programs to help those in need. And he is doing this by taxing the evil corporations! Can't you see how smart and good he is?

[treehugginfencer]

Well, how about his infamous fly-swatting, then? Cruelty to poor defenseless insects, says PETA! And who could disagree?

That is one policy of his that I am TOTALLY against! He shouldn't have set an anti-animal example for our children by killing that fly on national TV. Also, he shouldn't eat meat and promote a vegetarian lifestyle!

[lefty_monster]

You leave Obama alone, you meanies! He is going to save us from global warming, protect our trees, heal the sick, and increase government programs to help those in need. And he is doing this by taxing the evil corporations! Can't you see how smart and good he is?

That is one policy of his that I am TOTALLY against! He shouldn't have set an anti-animal example for our children by killing that fly on national TV. Also, he shouldn't eat meat and promote a vegetarian lifestyle!

Which means it's time for "REALLY!?!?!?" with Lefty_Monster and.... (whoever wants to be my Amy Poehler)!

REALLY, treehugging fencer? You joined our forum expressly for the purpose of spamming the politics section? Do you even really fence? Really? And who in their right mind says "you meanies" and expects to really be taken seriously. I mean, really. REALLY!

/SNL reference

[lindajdunn]

IMHO, treehuggingfencer = sock puppet

[I_luv_saber]

Most def

[migopod]

Y'all are tempting the wrath of the Sock Puppet Anti-Defamation League.