Obama: 6 month report card

[Joey Link]

What can we do?

Quite a bit actually, but it needs to start closest to home. We have to work to elect the type of people we want in our cities, counties, school boards, water bureau's, etc. You can't start at the top and work your way down, which is why the Libertarian party doesn't win races. Seriously, how inefficient of them is it to waste money running a presidential candidate every year? You have to start small and work your way up to bigger things. Show the people you can handle schools, water, local stuff, then introduce them to the political philosophies you believe in and explain to them how and why it works. We need examples. Many cities and even states (California) across the US have already seen the damage liberal ideas and ideals have done. Most are broke, even though they have excessive taxes. They have high unemployment rates because of the demands the place on private businesses. They're wasteful, bloated, and inefficient.

I've made a resolution to run for a seat by 2011, even if it's something simple such as a local board. We have to start in our own backyards if we want to take this country back. We cannot change national politics at this point, both parties are too far gone. The best we can do is limit the damage.

The problem is, and has always been, that trying to get anything accomplished in politics is a quagmire. Sure, when you're a candidate, you can talk about how much you want to change everything for the better. However, when you actually get to the captain's chair, you find yourself surrounded by people that have gotten used to the current system and learned how to take advantage of it for their own benefit. People like that won't change because of someone's altruistic values/hopes/dreams, unfortunately. This is ESPECIALLY true during a party switch after a 2-term presidency, obviously.

I believe this to be true to an extent, but not a hard and fast rule. With the support of the American people you can get quite a bit done. Pressure from constituents of congresspeople really does work, as we've seen with many of the bad pieces of legislation we've been able to squash. I know liberals don't like to think so, but the vast majority of this country is rather conservative (including Democrats and Independents). I believe something like 29% consider themselves to be 'liberal'. When you try to push through these liberal plans and the country gets upset, it's really no wonder.

So you're saying Obama is completely innocent? Moron.

Your arguments are much more effective when you leave out the name calling. If someone is a moron we'll be able to see that through his posts ;)

I motion to ban.

All in favor?

Aye, leave your avatar at the door :)

no one said they were better. But am I the only one who noticed that the only thing Obama supporters can say about Obama is that McCain sucked. They never say one thing good about him, just how much the other guy sucked. I really lol at that. And FYI, it wasn't just Obama and McCain on the ticket, if everyone voted for the guy they actually wanted instead of just "one of the two party people", we'd have a little more choice every 4 years

To be fair, us conservatives do that as well. I couldn't stand McCain, and I would have gladly voted for a blue dog Democrat rather than him.

Shit you guys are frying him for something he was handed,President Bush left all of those problems for Obama and, now Obama is trying to solve them. What do you think, he is Jesus? Think he is going to cure everything overnight? Give him another Year before passing judgment

I agree that alot of these problems were inherited, but his true test is how he handled them once he took office. Both liberals and conservatives can see that he's doing a pretty poor job. The difference between him and Bush are minuscule at best in terms of real world effect on us average citizens. This is one reason why arguing about national politics is so stupid. Think locally folks.

I voted for Obama. I'm a libertarian. He wasn't my first choice but he's not too bad. I appreciate his effort but I think a smaller government is the answer to most questions. 6 months is too soon to tell. I like that there's opposition though. It's a sign that progress is being made. Whether or not it's positive progress is yet to be determined - but it's progress none the less. IMO Bush was a lame duck and McCain would have followed suit.

I'm dying to hear your reasoning behind this. As a die hard libertarian myself, Obama couldn't be further from my ideal candidate (Ron Paul). A smaller government is absolutely the answer to most questions. 6 months is not too soon to tell; it would be if he hadn't done anything in those 6 months but he has, and we can judge him based on those actions. I agree about Bush and McCain, but I couldn't have slept at night if I, a libertarian, had voted for a big government socialist.

oh and i'll state it again, we're all just on a forum bitching and not doing anything about this situation. we all suck

Speak for yourself :)

I run a very successful firearms website and I'm preparing to launch a second political website very soon.

I had always admired McCain, but I feel his downfall was trying to cater to the right by picking Palin during the election.

Actually, that was his hail mary. He would have been much worse off with any other VP. While Palin has more personal baggage than Paris Hilton and I don't think her as a person was a good choice, when it comes to political philosophy *most* conservatives and even a lot of libertarians agree with her more than any other national political figure. The opposition is so caught up on focusing on her mediocre speeches and her personal life that I'm not surprised one bit they can't see why conservatives like her. It's not her; it's her politics. Again, they're nowhere near perfect, but they're the closest thing we can relate to on a national level.

I don't think Obama has all the answers, just like no President does. I also don't blame him for everything (including unemployment still on the rise - get real). I also didn't blame Bush for everything that happened.

Simple economics could have worked miracles in the situation he was handed. If unemployment is high you have to entice businesses into expanding. Businesses operate on a profit bases. Since the economy was tanking people were spending less, so businesses laid off employees to maintain their bottom line; something an efficient organization (including government!) should do. By lowering taxes they would have been able to maintain their bottom line and even hire more people (depending on how much they're saving on their tax bills). More people = more spending = more business. Lowering taxes is something Obama would never consider, even if it helped the nation.

The stimulus could have helped, but not the way they did it. In order for it to work you would have to have divided it up between the citizens and deposited it into their bank accounts. 80% of those people would have spent it, thus stimulating the economy. 'Infrastructure improvements' is one of the WORST thing you can spend it on. The companies getting that business are the companies that aren't hurting for business, meaning they usually have enough people already on staff to complete the task.

Know where I learned this stuff? Economics 101, literally.

I have always wondered if he didnt torpedo himself and take one for the team (if he really stood a chance I mean, and I think he did). With all the fucking up the D's are pulling and the General people starting to get pissy, I wonder if we will see a huge swing back to a all R houses and President here in the next 2 election cycles. Which in my mind would be just as bad.

I'm not sure if he and the GOP did it on purpose or not, but I think that's going to be the effect. I think if Romney runs this time he's going to win it. He's a turd too but at least he knows how to create jobs and run a business.

Turf, I don't understand how you can be a libertarian and still vote for Obama. From an economic standpoint, he is as far from a libertarian as possible. The guy wants to expand the government to proportions I am definitely NOT comfortable with.

I don't understand how people can think universal healthcare is a good idea. Name one government program that runs efficiently. I can't. So why would this program be any different?

Exactly!

[Turf1600]

that would make you a liberal, not a libertarian

Sure, Socially. But I'm a fiscal conservative. Do you know what a libertarian is? Did you read what I wrote about having to make a sacrifice on one side or the other?

[gwb72tii]

How did you gather that? I thought I made it clear - I voted for the person who's principles were most in line with my own.

that would make you a liberal, not a libertarian

[Alkasquawlik]

You just proved my point about you being a troll with nothing substantial to contribute.

I'm going to throw it back at you.

Did anything negative occur in our country during the past 5 years?

There were obviously rough patches during his presidency, but "negative" is a relative term depending on your beliefs and opinions.

Off the top of my head, some things that may be considered mistakes by Bush are: the Iraq War, Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind, ignoring health care, etc. I'm sure there are more things that can be brought up in debate.

[Turf1600]

wait....

you voted on a government official based on his faith, because you dont want a governemnt based on faith?

How did you gather that? I thought I made it clear - I voted for the person who's principles were most in line with my own.

[TheEtaUnderdog]

I'm never surprised. Obviously being a libertarian means neither sides appeal to me. The right is influenced by faith and tries to impose on our personal lives - the left may not have the best grasp on economics and supports big govt - which I generally dislike. Since I'm only really given two options I have to choose which of these two ideals I'm going to give up with my vote. I personally wanted to see more liberals in the supreme court because that's what matters most to me. It's also worth noting that I'm an atheist and I very much dislike faith based legislation. Obama has always spoken kindly towards non-believers and I appreciate that. The right won't admit they exist. I feel like my decision was most in line with my principles. You may disagree, but that's your right.

wait....

you voted on a government official based on his faith, because you dont want a governemnt based on faith?

[Turf1600]

GTFO
how can you call yourself a libertarian and vote for the most liberal member of the senate? now you're getting rammed and it's a surprise?
its like saying its a shock blunt likes head

I'm never surprised. Obviously being a libertarian means neither sides appeal to me. The right is influenced by faith and tries to impose on our personal lives - the left may not have the best grasp on economics and supports big govt - which I generally dislike. Since I'm only really given two options I have to choose which of these two ideals I'm going to give up with my vote. I personally wanted to see more liberals in the supreme court because that's what matters most to me. It's also worth noting that I'm an atheist and I very much dislike faith based legislation. Obama has always spoken kindly towards non-believers and I appreciate that. The right won't admit they exist. I feel like my decision was most in line with my principles. You may disagree, but that's your right.

[TheEtaUnderdog]

liberals always cry about bush and his expensive war. except, obama stuck by bush's schedule for that war, and has actually spent more on bailouts and such than bush has spent... they all suck, we need to stop thinking ONE MAN runs our country. he doesn't. he represents it. :hitler: <---- he ran a country

[mrsleeve]

the economy is on it's way back up (at least from a financial market standpoint which is generally a bellweather). by the time electio 2010 rolls around, obama will be in good shape i predict. now the dems will have a tough time at mid terms though which is probably a good thing. balance of power is always best.

We are in a calm before the shit storm economically man, right now we are still shedding jobs by the hundreds of thousands every month, We have people that are starting to fall off all the extended unemployment benefits and living on what little credit the have. When all th rest of the mass lay offs of the past 10 months fall off all the extended benefits we are gonna see a huge world of hurt as these people default on everything from their CC to the prime (good stable responsible) Mortgages its going to torpedo the markets like we have never seen. Just look at the patten of the great depression, The very bottom of the markets did not come till quite some time after 10/29/1929, just for these very reasons, but then rather than Unemployment they were living on what they have saved. Oh and yo can thank the Dems for the housing bubble than you Dodd and Frank, "W" didnt help matters at all by letting sitting by the way side and letting many of the constraints on nearly all industry become lax and literally give them tax breaks to ship jobs over seas .


I do agree with you 100% about a balance of power being best.

[gwb72tii]

I voted for Obama. I'm a libertarian. He wasn't my first choice but he's not too bad. I appreciate his effort but I think a smaller government is the answer to most questions. 6 months is too soon to tell. I like that there's opposition though. It's a sign that progress is being made. Whether or not it's positive progress is yet to be determined - but it's progress none the less. IMO Bush was a lame duck and McCain would have followed suit.

GTFO
how can you call yourself a libertarian and vote for the most liberal member of the senate? now you're getting rammed and it's a surprise?
its like saying its a shock blunt likes head

[kishg]

too early to give verdict yet. dubya had 8 years to fuck it up and now you expect that to be fixed in 6 months? be realistic. leaving aside the healthcare debate, the economy is on it's way back up (at least from a financial market standpoint which is generally a bellweather). by the time electio 2010 rolls around, obama will be in good shape i predict. now the dems will have a tough time at mid terms though which is probably a good thing. balance of power is always best.

[mrsleeve]

How old are you really, have you even had a job yet, or are you 13 trying to pretend you know anything about whats going on.

[metalix1021]

Yeah, you laugh but don't offer anything but your opinion.

:up:

[Leaf]

examples?

[metalix1021]

Turf, I don't understand how you can be a libertarian and still vote for Obama. From an economic standpoint, he is as far from a libertarian as possible. The guy wants to expand the government to proportions I am definitely NOT comfortable with.

I don't understand how people can think universal healthcare is a good idea. Name one government program that runs efficiently. I can't. So why would this program be any different?