Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Of course having candidates that seem to be honest and having a clue about actually fixing things would be nice. But, then again, such a candidate would get slaughtered for such honesty.

I don't actually think they would get slaughtered for the reason you are implying, though.

One reason candidates are vague is not to offend, but more likely they simply don't want to tie themselves to a particular premise that people honestly and thoughtfully disagree with. Look at this forum here. Many voices, usually sincere, and yet almost zero agreement even on what constitutes our major problems.

The "47%" crack is a great case in point. It's not that people became offended because Romney voiced some deep hidden truth. It's people were shocked that Romney is so obviously clueless about something so fundamental. It's as if a candidate said "if you elect me I will pray to God and our deficit will disappear," and then when people's jaw dropped he reacted by saying "people just don't want to face fundamental religious values." No, it's that people think you're crazy for appearing to actually think that way.

[bronconick]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

but when does 'THE ONE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR' lower the oceans back down and drop the temps and all that stuff he promised before?

no, but I hope you're right about the compromise about to be made.

Well, in North Carolina, they made it illegal for the ocean to rise anymore. So they're ahead of the rest of us.

[Bob Gray]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

I don't actually think they would get slaughtered for the reason you are implying, though.

One reason candidates are vague is not to offend, but more likely they simply don't want to tie themselves to a particular premise that people honestly and thoughtfully disagree with. Look at this forum here. Many voices, usually sincere, and yet almost zero agreement even on what constitutes our major problems.

The "47%" crack is a great case in point. It's not that people became offended because Romney voiced some deep hidden truth. It's people were shocked that Romney is so obviously clueless about something so fundamental. It's as if a candidate said "if you elect me I will pray to God and our deficit will disappear," and then when people's jaw dropped he reacted by saying "people just don't want to face fundamental religious values." No, it's that people think you're crazy for appearing to actually think that way.

You give the voting public more credit than I do. I don't think seniors want to hear that their health care is unsustainable and they are leaving future generations to pick up much of the tab. I don't think defense hawks want to hear that we can't afford to spend on defense what we have been spending. and on and on. I don't think all sorts of people want to hear that what they're getting from the government is unsustainable to the tune of $1.2 trillion a year (that's what, $4,000 annually for ever man, woman, and child?).

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

You give the voting public more credit than I do.

Well, yes. I am a liberal.

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

I don't think all sorts of people want to hear that what they're getting from the government is unsustainable to the tune of $1.2 trillion a year (that's what, $4,000 annually for ever man, woman, and child?).

People don't want to hear that their interests are "special interests," that's true. But that wasn't what drove the revulsion to the 47% comment. That was Mittens saying, "Are there no workhouses?!" That's not policy, it's just his complete insulation inside his Fortress of Privilege.

[Bob Gray]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

People don't want to hear that their interests are "special interests," that's true. But that wasn't what drove the revulsion to the 47% comment. That was Mittens saying, "Are there no workhouses?!" That's not policy, it's just his complete insulation inside his Fortress of Privilege.

The 47 percent is neither here nor there. The public's revulsion for hearing the truth about their entitlement mentality has been growing for many years and has nothing to do specifically with Romney. You tell people how much you will cut their benefits and raise their taxes to balance the budget, and you get crushed at the ballot box. People don't want to hear it. Which is why it's avoided like the plague by most everybody (which is one reason I like Ryan, because he doesn't totally duck the discussion).

[LynahFan]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

That's not a lot to ask after issues such as health care are already decided.

Our healthcare system is now in good shape, thanks to Obamacare? Dare I say...."Mission Accomplished?" I guarantee we'll be battling health care expenditures for a lot longer past today's date than the span of time between Bush's statement and whenever we finally get out of Afghanistan.

True. The populace loves simple answers to difficult problems, even if the simple answers don't actually work.

"For every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, clear - and wrong." H.L. Menken

[Rover]

Our healthcare system is now in good shape, thanks to Obamacare? Dare I say...."Mission Accomplished?" I guarantee we'll be battling health care expenditures for a lot longer past today's date than the span of time between Bush's statement and whenever we finally get out of Afghanistan.

"For every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, clear - and wrong." H.L. Menken

I believe Bush's statment related to Iraq, not Afghanistan. Beyond that though, I don't think health care is where it needs to be. I think the legislative wrangling over healthcare and nonsensical "repeal and replace....and we'll get back to you on the replace part" ends Nov 6th. For both Dodd-Frank and ACA, implementation instead of playing defense will be the next stage post election, of which obstructionist Republicans will have little influence to block.

So getting back to the point, what needs to be done legislatively? Definately immigration, and if the GOP gets smoked 2-1 with Hispanics yet again the Karl Rove's of the world are going to start throwing their weight around to get a deal done and pronto. Not out of any altruism on his part but because he's a savvy politico who's trying to avoid electoral doom for his party.

Energy independence is somewhat trickier but over the next four years ought to be issue #1. Jobs, tax revenue, less need for overseas interventions, lower fossil fuel usage...lots to like on both sides of the aisle.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Our healthcare system is now in good shape, thanks to Obamacare?

Errrrr..............no. Might have been if the GOP hadn't gotten in the way. But, currently the way its set up its a mess. So, status quo, but more people are insured, kids can be insured till 26, and they can't boot you for pre-existing. So, there were some wins.

[joecct]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Hubris?

*****http://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Obama-flag-print-shirt1-250x156.jpg******

[Foxton]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Hubris?

*****http://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Obama-flag-print-shirt1-250x156.jpg******

Is there anything... anything that Obama could do, that wouldn't cause conservative poutrage?

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Errrrr..............no. Might have been if the GOP hadn't gotten in the way. But, currently the way its set up its a mess. So, status quo, but more people are insured, kids can be insured till 26, and they can't boot you for pre-existing. So, there were some wins.

Drat those Republicans, always "getting in the way." D*mn two party system. What we need is a one party system. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Is there anything... anything that Obama could do, that wouldn't cause conservative poutrage?

Is there anything, anything that Obama would do (like claiming for days a murderous terrorist attack on a consulate was "spontanous" despite ample evidence to the contrary) that you wouldn't defend?

[Bill]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Thomas Sowell, on Obama and "redistribution of wealth":

http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell092012.php3

[Slap Shot]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

The 47 percent is neither here nor there.

Too many folks believe in that tagline without giving it intelligent thought, and they fail to recognize what it represents nor why they shouldn't be offended by a great percentage of that group. In addition to freeloaders it's made up of seniors, college students, members of the military and even a number of employed that are still paying state taxes, sales taxes and in some cases property taxes. I'm not about to wish I could trade places with a member of that group just because they're not paying the feds.