Obama 6(...66)

[walrus]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

Nothing wrong with a little graft, as long as you spread it around evenly. Again, you root for Maine hockey. Kinda ironic, wouldn't you say?

Yeah Maine hockey really matters

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

This is just ..... Weird.

School kids taught to praise Obama

It looks like a special event regarding Obama...not just 'normal class worship'...there's an event sign that says 'I am Barack Obama' to the left.

The guy is a president...if kids had a special event where they talked about Bush, Clinton or Reagan...nobody would care. But because some have been raising a big stink about 'worship'...suddenly they latch what is just one small school event as a big deal.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

I think most feel that holding the line against terrorism is a 'good thing' in isolation. But the vast majority of the world is made up of countries that have significant say in their govt and participate in international activities normally. Worldwide, people are looking at things more similar every day (due to things like the internet), the English language continues to spread like wildfire...and everyone is travelling and trading at rates unheard of. So while it is important to 'speak softly and carry a big stick' in regards to an individual dictator...diplomacy needs to at least consider the other audience of billions that hear these messages. This both reduces the number of terrorists and improves American business prospects overseas significantly

Lastly, much of the isolationist sentiment for WWII came from German sympathizers. Many Germans were just a generation or two from immigration...arguably the most famous Minnesotan, Lindbergh, was a strict isolationist and at the same time was accused of being a racist and Nazi.

True that about Lindy. And he spent the war years trying to expiate his sins by being a significantly over the age limit test pilot. As to my position on taking out dictators and yours on meeting the world half way--they are not mutually exclusive. For instance, I applaud BO's continuing Predator srikes against jihadist leaders as I assume you do.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

It looks like a special event regarding Obama...not just 'normal class worship'...there's an event sign that says 'I am Barack Obama' to the left.

The guy is a president...if kids had a special event where they talked about Bush, Clinton or Reagan...nobody would care. But because some have been raising a big stink about 'worship'...suddenly they latch what is just one small school event as a big deal.

I agree with you here. This looks like one principal who showed some bad judgement, not a movement. When the kids line up and start singing "Tomorrow Belongs To Me," then I'll reconsider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMVql9RLP34&feature=related


I thought the same thing about BO's address to the kiddies at the beginning of school. While the proposed study guide was a little hagiographic, the idea of a president encouraging the kids to stay in school etc etc is a good one. I'm too polite to mention that when Bush I did it there were congressional hearings.

Besides, if it were possible to "indoctrinate" kids in 15-20 minutes that would greatly simplify life for parents when it comes to things like toilet training and cleaning up their rooms.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

I’m referring to your, “The problem is…” statement. That’s a problem, not the problem. I probably extrapolated that further than I should have so in that regard, mea culpa.[/QUOTE

Perhaps I should have worded the relevant sentence better. Something like: "the problem with defending the left from accusations that they don't much like AmeriKa is that there are decades of evidence that some of them don't."

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

Anyone following the deal in Mass? In 2004 Ted kennedy wanted a law changed that allowed the governor of Mass. to appoint a new senator if the old one didn't finish out his term, why, John Kerry was running for president and their was a republican governor(mitt Romney), the mass legislature passed a new law calling for a special election if a senator leaves before his term is up. A few months ago, Teddy suggests they change the law back, why? Deval Patrick a democrat is now governor. New Orleans and Chicago have nothing on Mass.

One other thing, John kerry throws an earmark into the defense bill, 20 miilion for some Teddy Kennedy library or building?. Will Obama sign a bill with earmarks in it?

They should call it the Mary Jo Kopechne rule.

 

[Rover]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

Yeah Maine hockey really matters

You clearly have some tolerance for corruption. How do you decide which kind to support?

 

[walrus]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

You clearly have some tolerance for corruption. How do you decide which kind to support?

I decide to support Maine hockey cause its fun or used to be I support neither party cause they suck. I'd support Greens before I'd support dems or Repubs

 

[joecct]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

You clearly have some tolerance for corruption. How do you decide which kind to support?

The one that pays me the most -- it is the American way!

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

The one that pays me the most -- it is the American way!

That isn't "corruption." It's "investment."

 

[French Rage]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

This is just ..... Weird.

School kids taught to praise Obama

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/25/flashback-students-sang-b_n_300372.html

Alas, such "propaganda" has not been limited to despots, dictators and the Obama White House. As a savvy source points out, back in 2006 children from Gulf Coast states serenaded First Lady Laura Bush with a song praising the President, Congress, and Federal Emergency Management Agency for their response to -- of all things -- Hurricane Katrina.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/25/flashback-students-sang-b_n_300372.html

Where's Kanye West when you really need him?

 

[Slap Shot]

Where's Kanye West when you really need him?

I imagine him and Tom Cruise are currently having some sort of weird seance/pow wow/hookah session/meditation/naked chanting session.

 

[gregg729]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

You think? Bet you Exile and Kepler don't think it's "woshippy" enough.

Those two actually seem to be the among more level-headed of the USCHO left.

Regardless, the radical left has no need to worry, The One is on the case. In case you haven't heard, The One has commissioned the NEA (not the radical left National Education Assn. but the radical left National Endowment for the Arts) to create artwork to help support Obama's agenda of socialism. I'm quite confident the NEA will soon have an array of anthems of praise ready for school kids of all ages if that's where they're going with music classes these days.

Sidenote on the NEA. With the deficit shifting into overdrive since January of this year, that would be a great nonessential program to suspend funding to until this mess is taken care of.

I’m not sure this is limited to one side or the other, although I agree this is a problem. Just as there are liberals that want to provide handouts (for starters), there are conservatives that run after committing financial crimes, hide behind lawyers and corporate jargon to avoid prosecution, will do anything to keep their bratty kids from being nailed for poor behavior, etc., etc.

This in essence summarizes my beef with Pio blaming liberals en masse. Yeah, there are liberal policies and liberals that drive me batty and contribute to our mess, but this happens from the right as well. Our issues in total are apolitical - humanity itself has digressed in this country and this is not limited to a ‘side’. You want to blame liberals for a specific problem, be my guest and make your point. But to just flat out decry, “the problem with this country is liberals….” aint gonna fly.

Point taken, but you also need to realize stereotypes don't just pop into existence from nowhere. When I get into a face to face political discussion with someone, I sometimes like to ask a very simple question. You should try it sometime - ask at some random point right in the middle of debating something. "But you do you love America and the principles it was founded upon, right?" In my experience conservatives like myself generally enthusiastically and whole-heartedly say yes. I gotta tell ya though bud, the same is most often not the case with liberals, even open-minded moderates. It can range from a flatout no to avoiding the question to stuttering and stammering and tossing out some qualifiers after saying yes. And I've observed even moderate liberals to be very uncomfortable with the question as seen through their body language - a lengthy pause, fidgeting, shooting me an angry glance when I ask. The results are pretty consistent too.

And I do consider that to be a problem.

So the world is a better place because we took out Saddam Hussein?

Even though we left a gigantic power vacuum in the region? Even though the only thing that logically held Iraq together by its fanciful borders was Hussein's iron fist?

Even though as soon as we leave it's all going to go to poop because the Kurds want their own country and Turkey doesn't want them to have it?

Yes. Absolutely. I think we can all agree that Saddam Hussein added nothing positive to this world.

There is no power vacuum right now. The power vacuum will occur when we pull out.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

When I get into a face to face political discussion with someone, I sometimes like to ask a very simple question. You should try it sometime - ask at some random point right in the middle of debating something. "But you do you love America and the principles it was founded upon, right?" In my experience conservatives like myself generally enthusiastically and whole-heartedly say yes. I gotta tell ya though bud, the same is most often not the case with liberals, even open-minded moderates. It can range from a flatout no to avoiding the question to stuttering and stammering and tossing out some qualifiers after saying yes. And I've observed even moderate liberals to be very uncomfortable with the question as seen through their body language - a lengthy pause, fidgeting, shooting me an angry glance when I ask. The results are pretty consistent too.

And I do consider that to be a problem.

Have you considered that it might be the questioner? I'd certainly answer that question with an enthusiastic and wholehearted yes if I felt the questioner was acting in good faith, but I also might not be meaning what you meant by our founding principles. Just the fact that you seem to be playing "gotcha" is a good indicator of the reaction you should expect -- why would someone play your game?

If in the middle of a heated exchange on the separation of church and state, I challenged a religious fundamentalist "But you do you love America and the principles it was founded upon, right?" I'd expect hesitation or even belligerence from the latter, suspecting entrapment.

I think you're right that conservatives as a group fetishize The Nation. The question is where does that lead. My reading of history is: nowhere good. Unbridled national pride -- "my country, right or wrong" -- is positive only a means to a better country. The highest form of patriotism is forcing the country back from the comfortable, easy path of least resistance, pragmatism, self-righteousness and rationalization and back towards its principles, particularly in the teeth of loud, angry, violent opposition.

Everybody knows this when the principles they feel are the most important are on the line. Where they err is when they dismiss other principles as somehow not as important -- at that point it becomes easy to see reformers representing those principles as less patriotic.

And I do consider that to be a problem.

 

[dropthatpuck]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/25/flashback-students-sang-b_n_300372.html

Hilarious. You cite Huffington who cites a "savvy source". No video, no credits, no footnotes?...and according to them, the lyrics include:

Congress, Bush and FEMA People across our land Together have come to rebuild us and we join them hand-in-hand!

So....how does this compare with the Obama indoctrination song which doesn't mention "Congress", "FEMA" or "people across our land together"...which pretty much encompasses everyone in the nation rather than just one individual?

Apple meet peanut.

In other news, the spotlight seeker is heading to Copenhagen to lobby for olympics. Must be nice to globe trot while your self-appointed commander in 'Stan is begging for more boots on the ground, the economy is in the crapper and we have more young people unemployed since WW2.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

Point taken, but you also need to realize stereotypes don't just pop into existence from nowhere. When I get into a face to face political discussion with someone, I sometimes like to ask a very simple question. You should try it sometime - ask at some random point right in the middle of debating something. "But you do you love America and the principles it was founded upon, right?" In my experience conservatives like myself generally enthusiastically and whole-heartedly say yes. I gotta tell ya though bud, the same is most often not the case with liberals, even open-minded moderates. It can range from a flatout no to avoiding the question to stuttering and stammering and tossing out some qualifiers after saying yes.

From everything I've seen the vast majority of left do love this country.

The problem is that during the last decade when this question was asked...it was usually tied to blind faith in leadership. The most frequent line of logic regarding this 'love of country' worked like this...do you support the Iraq war? Why not? Do you not love your country? The French don't support the war...and everyone knows the French hate the US (to whatever extent its true or not).

So when the left would be asked if they loved America...in the 00s, it was usually tied to an ideological agenda...not so much just a simple question of the country's principles with no strings.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

So when the left would be asked if they loved America...in the 00s, it was usually tied to an ideological agenda...not so much just a simple question of the country's principles with no strings.

You'd think people on this board would better understand that.

Isn't one of our common inside jokes to randomly interject trivial discussions with phrases like "Why do you hate America?"

 

[French Rage]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

Hilarious. You cite Huffington who cites a "savvy source". No video, no credits, no footnotes?...and according to them, the lyrics include:

You mean other than the WSJ link detailing everything? It was before Murdoch took over so it might not be trustable though.

So....how does this compare with the Obama indoctrination song which doesn't mention "Congress", "FEMA" or "people across our land together"...which pretty much encompasses everyone in the nation rather than just one individual?

Apple meet peanut.

So having children blindly sing a song about how they love various government members is OK if it includes a certain quota of people? To me it is a dumb and slightly scary idea to have young children who aren't old enough to think about these things made to sing such songs regardless of exactly who in power it includes. You're right, though, this is apples and peanuts, as the Obama thing was some dumb principle acting on her own whereas this was a gathering with the Bushes present and organized and planned in detail by their administration.

 

[dropthatpuck]

Re: Obama 6(...66)

You mean other than the WSJ link detailing everything? It was before Murdoch took over so it might not be trustable though.

So having children blindly sing a song about how they love various government members is OK if it includes a certain quota of people? To me it is a dumb and slightly scary idea to have young children who aren't old enough to think about these things made to sing such songs regardless of exactly who in power it includes. You're right, though, this is apples and peanuts, as the Obama thing was some dumb principle acting on her own whereas this was a gathering with the Bushes present and organized and planned in detail by their administration.

Strange. In the same sentence, you state that the WSJ "details everything", but then you're not sure if it can be trusted?

...and where does it state that it was planned by the administration? Here's the entire text:

At the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, children from the stricken Gulf Coast region serenaded First Lady Laura Bush with a song praising the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency.

To the tune of Hey Look Me Over, about 100 young children from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama sang:

Our country’s stood beside us
People have sent us aid.
Katrina could not stop us, our hopes will never fade.
Congress, Bush and FEMA
People across our land
Together have come to rebuild us and we join them hand-in-hand!

After the song, Mrs. Bush posed for photos with the kids, many of whom were wearing Katrina Kids T-shirts, despite the chilly rain.

Earlier, the First Lady read Will You Be My Friend: A Bunny and Bird Story by Nancy Tafuri. According to a White House pool report, the children sat on the grass as Mrs. Bush read; she sat in a white wrought iron chair, freshly toweled by two Park Service employees.

After the reading, Mr. Bush asked, Did you like this book? Does it tell you about what people can do to help other people, what bird did to help bunny? Be kind to him and give him shelter.

I'm sure if it was even *remotely* planned by the administration or at all questionable, it would have been pounced on by the left and MSM at the time - which, if you didn't figure out, was at the annual easter egg roll which is covered by pretty much everyone on an annual basis.

Then again, when one takes off their tinfoil propeller cap, they could certainly imagine Rupert playing Elliot Carver and taking over the universe.