Obama on the skids -- at home and abroad

[Sunstone]

I actually expect that our worst President is yet to come! God, help us!

Are you referring to Ted Cruz?

 

[freethinker44]

I really can't stand the man's oration with its quirky emphasis at the end of every other line.

Really? I don't like Obama any more than the next guy, but credit where credit is due, if nothing else he is a good public speaker. IMO, his speaking skills are the only reason he beat Clinton to win his first term election.

 

[Revoltingest]

Really? I don't like Obama any more than the next guy, but credit where credit is due, if nothing else he is a good public speaker. IMO, his speaking skills are the only reason he beat Clinton to win his first term election.

He is a good public speaker when he's prepared.
(I don't like his halting style with odd emphases & awkward colloquialisms.)
But without the teleprompter he appears tongue tied.
Bill Clinton & Ronnie Reagan were far better.

 

[oldbadger]

..................

Hello Rev....!

Obama is the master of creating the positive image.
But this is all the Limeys see.

Ummmm .... Yep..... OK. :bow:

They don't have to try to sign up for Obamacare or pay the taxes.

We've already got our own Obamacare. Had it for nearly 70 years.
We have to pay Brit taxes. They're horrible! Yuck.

Reagan, Clinton & Kennedy

See how good President Obama is? How many Presidents have you had?
President Obama is your 4th best President. Yes? Fantastic.

But Obama has some positive qualities:
- He doesn't run around on the mrs.
- We're not invading Iran or Syria.

Three very big +'s. Huge +'s.

- He's a hottie (not my type though).

If he tried to hitchhike from here to Dover he'd be sexually assaulted by nearly every lady driver that passed by. He is adored over here.

 

[Revoltingest]

Hello Rev....!

Greetings, Badge!

See how good President Obama is? How many Presidents have you had?
President Obama is your 4th best President. Yes? Fantastic.

I didn't rank. And I only listed prezidents I recall hearing speak.
(And before you say it, I'm not rank. I just showered.)

Three very big +'s. Huge +'s.

Agreed.
I must point out his positives, lest I fall prey to the sin of seeing my foes as one dimensional demons.
Even Hitler had his positive side...he was an adequate dancer.

Is it too soon?

If he tried to hitchhike from here to Dover he'd be sexually assaulted by nearly every lady driver that passed by. He is adored over here.

Women always vote for the cutest pol, eh?

Who is throwing all those "cat toys" at me now?

 

[oldbadger]

I'd say 43 of our 44 Presidents were more worthy of the office than B.O. You Brits may have him, if you want him.

So you think that he is slightly weak at the job, then......

Did you know that millions of Americans are related to Sir Winston Churchill (including me)? His mother was an American, with roots in New England that many of us share. Needless to say, I would rather have the British Bulldog as Pres than what we have now; but God put cigar-puss in a good place where he served well.

Sir Winston had a chequered career, probably with more tragedies than successes. But he was the one character that held the British spirit up when it was very near to foundering, and for that he is in our hearts forever.

If you have his blood then you could well be the sort of person who is very tough when the chips finally go down.

cigar-puss

......... well I never ...... that's the first time I've seen that name! Thankyou.

I'm also related to B.O., by the way, and to about 2 dozen Presidents, as are many more Americans. He simply is very poorly qualified for the job, and lacks core American values. That's just an aside, though. Please take him. The Brazilians want him too, so you'd better move quickly!

He's too big a figure to run what amounts to a couple of states, four if you separate Wales and Northern Ireland. I wonder what history will say about him...?

 

[BlandOatmeal]

...[Obama]'s too big a figure to run what amounts to a couple of states, four if you separate Wales and Northern Ireland. I wonder what history will say about him...?

He's a Chicago politician, who couldn't even win a local race without the help of the Decocratic Machine.

At least you give the UK credit with being the equivalent of a COUPLE of states. That's quite an exaggeration. The Brits have a fine country. They are culturally close enough to the US, that we could consider taking them on board as stated. My only objection would be that whatever states they contributed would be further to the left than Massachusetts. While we're on the subject, how much will you blokes offer for Massachusetts? I don't think much -- it would be like having another Northern Ireland.

Back to Obama, I watched a bit of Charlie Rose on the telly last night. He had a guest who said it like it is about Obama. The youngish guest (now that I'm 65, "young" has a different meaning than it used to have) had old-guard Liberal Rose off-balance, which doesn't happen that often. Let me try to sum up what he said about the Big O:

• Foreign Policy: He has none, and he has no aptitude in such matters. He runs foreign affairs by reacting to things as they come up, and basically looking for face-saving ways to cut and run when things get dicey.
• Domestic policy: O uses domestic considerations, when conducting foreign policy -- which the guest basically said was stupid.

I'll personally add, that his domestic policies are also in a shambles. I don't vote for Presidents because of what I think their policies will be; I look for the fear of God and depth of character, both of which our current Prez seems to lack. In saying this, I don't count obstinately pursuing his pet programs as "depth of character". As someone else here said, the man has no bottom.

Those are just my opinions, for what they're worth. The most important thing about Barry Soetoro, is that he's our sitting President. What's more, he was honestly elected by the majority of Americans, which really gives me a creepy feeling. A nut in the White House, 3,000 miles away from me, isn't too hard to handle. The thought that most of my neighbors liked the guy enough to vote for him, makes me fear for my life.

Thanks for the chat. Shalom shalom

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't vote for Presidents because of what I think their policies will be; I look for the fear of God and depth of character....

Interesting.....you see things just about the opposite of my view.
I care only about policies they'd push.
Character & God issues matter not to me.
(OK, OK....character would be a nice bonus.)
Fortunately for you, everyone I vote for always loses.....always.

 

[BlandOatmeal]

Are you referring to Ted Cruz?

Ted's not on my short list of favorite Republicans. I don't know who they will field in 2016. As it stands, the Tea Party has more flavors to choose from now than it has months until the election; but that's beside the point: The TP hasn't picked a Republican Presidential nominee yet, and I don't give them much hope of doing so in future.

What our next leader, or leaders, will do, is beyond partisan politics. The country is in a religious, social and financial mess, which I see no way out of. Most Americans no longer even know the rudiments of the Bible, we eat genetically modified lard-on-legs chicken and beef, our hormones are all out of whack, the economy is flat-out eerie, people are losing their sense of right and wrong and we live in a very, very dangerous world with every kid on the block wanting his own nuclear weapons.

People talk about Hitler, if they talk about him at all, as though he were some sort of freak. He wasn't. Every country has its kooks. The phenomenal thing about Hitler, was that the German people were stupid enough and immoral enough to vote for him. That's the direction America is going. Ted Cruz? Jesse Jackson? Rev. Wright? Hillary Clinton? It's not about who the candidates are -- it's the American people who are sick; and this being a democracy, we will get increasingly sick leaders.

There, I dumped. God bless and keep you -- oops, I take that back. God forbid that I should bless "El Diablo del Fora".

 

[oldbadger]

Greetings, Badge!

Hi....Rev! Ain't this getting close, now? Do you want a pic of me in my underpants to pin on your wall?

I didn't rank. And I only listed prezidents I recall hearing speak.
(And before you say it, I'm not rank. I just showered.)

I wouldn't have thought of that!
I know.... I know..... President Obama isn't going to get onto your politicians' prize list.

Agreed.
I must point out his positives, lest I fall prey to the sin of seeing my foes as one dimensional demons.

Look...... we've got Mr Cameron, and that Liberal bloke, what's 'is name. And we've got tatty Boris for mayor of London. Your President looks smart and tidies his hair. There's a start. If he did a pin up pic in his undies and dropped it 'leaflet style' over Britain, our ladies would personally paddle the UK all the way to America and surrender it.......and themselves.... to him, personally.

Even Hitler had his positive side...he was an adequate dancer.
Is it too soon?

No....... 75 years on, it's too late.

Women always vote for the cutest pol, eh?

Well, not always. They don't throw their underwear at me, for instance. I haven't quite figred that out, yet.

Who is throwing all those "cat toys" at me now?

For what you wrote in your last sentence the fems could blow you out forever. ...... Ah...... hang on, I need to interpret that. It means that they may shun you..... not the other thing.

 

[freethinker44]

The country is in a religious, social and financial mess, which I see no way out of.

How so? The housing market is recovering, the stock market is at the highest levels it has ever been, unemployment is at its lowest level in five years.... so where's the financial mess?

 

[Revoltingest]

How so? The housing market is recovering, the stock market is at the highest levels it has ever been, unemployment is at its lowest level in five years.... so where's the financial mess?

Oh, there are problems:
- The stock market value is only a reflection of what investors are willing to pay for a particular rate of return on their money. It's high (a bubble looking high) because interest rates are at historic lows, which determines the capitalization rate.
- Long term unemployment is at an historic high.
- People on disability is at an historic high.
- Commercial real estate leasing is still in da terlit.
- Real estate transfer costs are escalating, which is a damper on recovery.
- Labor costs relative to employee net income are escalating, which is....you know.

 

[BlandOatmeal]

Oh, there are problems:
- The stock market value is only a reflection of what investors are willing to pay for a particular rate of return on their money. It's high (a bubble looking high) because interest rates are at historic lows, which determines the capitalization rate.
- Long term unemployment is at an historic high.
- People on disability is at an historic high.
- Commercial real estate leasing is still in da terlit.
- Real estate transfer costs are escalating, which is a damper on recovery.
- Labor costs relative to employee net income are escalating, which is....you know.

Two atheists disagreeing with each other? Amazing! I thought you were all cut from the same cloth! Thanks for taking my side on this point. I didn't want to argue about it. The bottom line is, that Obama has been on the descent, like a fallen angel. I just enjoy watching this, and marvelling at the law of gravity.

In other news, related to the OP,

Obama’s foreign policy would make Machiavelli blush
December 12, 2013 12:12 AM
By David Ignatius
The Daily Star

"This has been a year when America re-embraced diplomacy after a frustrating decade of war, displaying a relentlessly pragmatic approach that recalls the days of such deal-making former secretaries of state as Henry Kissinger and James A. Baker III.

"The secret diplomatic machinations have been dizzying, and sometimes disorienting. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have opened doors and created opportunities for settling intractable conflicts. But the administration’s turnabouts, especially in the Middle East, have been so sudden and unsentimental that Machiavelli himself might blush..."

-- Obama

What's the big deal about this article? Ignatius simply is not a lightweight; and the Daily Star is a Lebanese paper. This is about as impartial an assessment of American foreign policy as one can find.

Personally, I don't think Obama is so much a "Machiavellian", as someone who's completely out of his depth. He's flubbing foreign policy, because he doesn't understand the world.

 

[YmirGF]

Personally, I don't think Obama is so much a "Machiavellian", as someone who's completely out of his depth. He's flubbing foreign policy, because he doesn't understand the world.

I have come across this nuanced approach a few times now. Some folks explain that the methods of the Obama Administration are incredibly subtle and complex, that almost escape rationale, they are so brilliant. The point is he is either wise beyond our understanding or a witless buffoon who is endowed with the ability to make good speeches. What can I say? Talk is cheap. Ask the new pope.

 

[BlandOatmeal]

I have come across this nuanced approach a few times now. Some folks explain that the methods of the Obama Administration are incredibly subtle and complex, that almost escape rationale, they are so brilliant. The point is he is either wise beyond our understanding or a witless buffoon who is endowed with the ability to make good speeches. What can I say? Talk is cheap. Ask the new pope.

I think there's much more interest in the Pope by non-Catholics, than there is by Catholics. I was raised Catholic, and I haven't been following these things. Is that German guy still the Papa?

As for Obama, I try to stick to a saying attributed to Napoleon:

"Don't ascribe to malice, things that are adequately ascribed to incompetence."

Now, let's see what else I can find...

Nope, nothing.

 

[Revoltingest]

Two atheists disagreeing with each other?

Fighting is never so vicious as when there is some common bond.

Personally, I don't think Obama is so much a "Machiavellian", as someone who's completely out of his depth. He's flubbing foreign policy, because he doesn't understand the world.

Niccolo Machiavelli is spinning in his grave & retching at the insulting comparison to Obama.

 

[freethinker44]

Two atheists disagreeing with each other? Amazing! I thought you were all cut from the same cloth!

Atheists are kind of notorious for disagreeing with each other. There is all kinds of disagreement amongst various atheist groups. Kind of inevitable when you think about it. Don't expect there to be a lot of unification behind a bunch of people who built a belief system, which isn't organized in any way, with skepticism as the core. Here is a quote from Richard Dawkins to help summarize it.

Dawkins:
Indeed, organizing atheists has been compared to herding cats, because they tend to think independently and will not conform to authority.

 

[freethinker44]

- Labor costs relative to employee net income are escalating, which is....you know.

I assume you meant to say "employer" net income, and I think rising labor costs are actually a great thing.

 

[Revoltingest]

I assume you meant to say "employer" net income, and I think rising labor costs are actually a great thing.

No, the problem is that employee costs rise, while wages don't.

 

[freethinker44]

No, the problem is that employee costs rise, while wages don't.

Yeah, that's a problem. They are trying to raise the minimum wage, but I don't really think that will help in the long term. I think a maximum wage would be much more effective, but then we wouldn't be 'merica any more.