The ..2012.... Political thread
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The saddest part of all - and what I imagine Lennon would say, if he were still with us - is that the Whore House, er, White House has become a sick, twisted joke - nothing but the domicile of the latest Corporate-Sponsored Puppet. I am the first to affirm that the Office of President of the United States confers and demands respect, but it is up to the guy manning the Office to earn that respect; it shouldn't be issued as standard equipment along with the SS guys. The sad truth is, I can count on one hand the men who succeeded, and none of them have been in the last fifty years. On a side note: if they didn't like Paul's little joke, just think if it was John Lennon!
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I am done with this thread. People (including Paul) are not going to change their minds. It is over a month old and dead news to most people. Now that we have read he won't apologize that should be it. I'm going back to the music where politics is seldom mentioned. I'm going to do that instead of trying to be "holier than now" and critisize all points of view. Whether or not someone comes to my "defense" or supports my points of view is meaningless, it will n0t take care of my family or pay my college tuition. This is just a message board. Adios, hopefully you all do the same. I'm off to listen to some Wings...
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[quote="bobjaybird22"]I am done with this thread. People (including Paul) are not going to change their minds. It is over a month old and dead news to most people. Now that we have read he won't apologize that should be it. I'm going back to the music where politics is seldom mentioned. I'm going to do that instead of trying to be "holier than now" and critisize all points of view. Whether or not someone comes to my "defense" or supports my points of view is meaningless, it will n0t take care of my family or pay my college tuition. This is just a message board. Adios, hopefully you all do the same. I'm off to listen to some Wings... I was never expecting anyone to come to my defense, or support my point of view. I was just expecting my opinion and point of view to be respected by others (especially since I merely stated it without disrespecting or insulting anyone else) I just found it amusing when post after post after post of insults hurled my way are either agreed with or ignored that only after I defended myself did posters feel it was time for them to comment........and comment against me defending myself, rather than speaking out after I was called "red neck" and "racist" and "not a real Paul fan" (among other names) As far as "going back to the music" I myself never left it. I have been listening to my Paul collection these past weeks as I always do. I have been counting the days to his concert. And when I do not want to be subjected to political debate on the Paul message board I imagine I will stay away from the "2010 political thread" listed under the "non Paul talk" category.............fairly simple
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EADG:
I agree -- he knew he was being offensive. he shouldn't have done it. and the "people make political jokes all the time" excuse is a red herring.
Obviously Paul knew his joke was a dig at Bush (he should stick to his jokes about goats )...But one thing I'm starting to realize is that despite the common perception, Paul does wear his emotions on his sleeve. People feel otherwise due to the fact that he doesn't like to discuss details about his personal life. But he makes a lot of knee jerk, emotion based comments on many other aspects of his life. I don't find that to be a bad trait although I disagree with him in this instance.
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rich n:
EADG:
I agree -- he knew he was being offensive. he shouldn't have done it. and the "people make political jokes all the time" excuse is a red herring.
Obviously Paul knew his joke was a dig at Bush (he should stick to his jokes about goats )...But one thing I'm starting to realize is that despite the common perception, Paul does wear his emotions on his sleeve. People feel otherwise due to the fact that he doesn't like to discuss details about his personal life. But he makes a lot of knee jerk, emotion based comments on many other aspects of his life. I don't find that to be a bad trait although I disagree with him in this instance.
i could be completely off base on this, but i think in general articistic/creative people have to approach life with the filters off, so to speak. The creative process requires that they be open to just about anything that comes into their heads (and then go to work on it, if they think it's worthwhile, of course). So it's not surprising they sometimes say things that are controversial. Unfortunately, professional entertainers don't reach the top by being shrinking vilolets. Their careers are usually based to some degree on their saying "Hey, look over here at me. I'm great." and actually believing that they have something important to say about fields like politics.
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bobjaybird22:
Tallyho:
WRONG..... Paul most certainly WAS being honored by the American People. When ANYONE is accepting an honor at the Whitehouse (The Nations Capitol) they are not solely being honored by the elected official residing there...it is an honor bestowed on them on behalf of the country. (the same country that put that President in the White House....otherwise honor them somewhere else....NOT at the White House) And for the 212th time it is NOT the same NOT NOT NOT the same as radio hosts or politicians making cracks about each other. For God's sake please stop pretending the offended people are trying to censor anyone. Its the TIME AND PLACE of the insult. Do you understand that yet???? I've said dozens of times on this board that Paul could have insulted Bush just about anywhere else (But yet everytime you reply you forget that) Paul himself in his non-apology stated he intentionally waited for Obama to leave the room before making the tasteless crack. So obviously Paul knew it was in bad taste and out of line. I just wish he would have shown the rest of America the same courtesy as he did President Obama and just accepted the award with class and dignity. Over the years I have seen quite a few artists accepting awards from the President......many of them had been very outspoken and some rude towards the current leadership at the time........but when it came time for the award ceremony they (correctly) stated that it was not a time and place for politics or criticizing the President, the event was about something else (music or art or whatever else) It's should not even be a debated issue. Paul was wrong....plain and simple. He even knew he was wrong as evidenced by his admission of not saying it until President Obama and his family had left the room. And I am sure had President Obama known Paul was going to make the bad joke, he would have politely asked him to refrain. The night was supposed to be about Paul McCartney and his music, unfortunately Paul decided to take the celebration down into the gutter with rude and disrespectful behavior. It's a shame thats all that will be remembered from that night. And Paul also managed to turn his own fans against each other (as we have seen on this board) Was it all worth it? For a joke that even in the proper venue wasn't funny anyway. (although I am sure the Paul defenders and Bush haters will all argue and say how side splittingly funny the joke was.....even though the fact that Bush's wife was a librarian makes the joke a pretty poor one....pehaps Paul should have asked Seinfeld for help)
I agree that it wasn't the right thing to say, I wouldn't have, but all this backlash is a bit ridiculous. Paul fans wouldn't "turn" against each other over this issue if people would stop holding high-school grudges and just enjoy his music. That's what this site is about, afterall. I don't like the comment but I disagee with people everyday and that doesn't keep me from liking them as a person or friend and if you think that way, that speaks more about your lack of character than your political views and that's an issue that goes far beyond any comment someone makes. And I disagree, the fact that Mrs. Bush is a former librarian does make the comment more funny...if you can take a joke... This from a guy who voted for Bush twice btw...if that means anything.
Well said. Now on with the show!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY former President George W. Bush!!!!!
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fab4fan:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY former President George W. Bush!!!!!
I didn't know until I read your note, I checked, you're right, he's 64 I wonder if anyone has sung that Beatles (Paul's) song to him : :
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Are Overdue Reports Concealing ObamaCare Impact On Medicare? By PETER FERRARA 07/06/2010 06:04 PM ET Every year, the Annual Report of the Social Security Board of Trustees comes out between mid-April and mid-May. Now it's July, and there's no sign of this year's report. What is the Obama administration hiding? The annual report includes detailed information about Social Security and its financing over the next 75 years, produced by the Office of the Actuary of the Social Security Administration. The Congressional Budget Office reported last week in its Long Term Budget Outlook that Social Security was already running a deficit this year. ... complete article: http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/539411/201007061804/Are-Overdue-Reports-Concealing-ObamaCare-Impact-On-Medicare-.aspx
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Andy_Shofar:
fab4fan:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY former President George W. Bush!!!!!
I didn't know until I read your note, I checked, you're right, he's 64 I wonder if anyone has sung that Beatles (Paul's) song to him : :
That's funny. I'll bet a few of his friends (maybe even his wife) probably did think to do that, just to tease him -- both about Paul's comments and about getting older. And speaking of that, Ringo turned 70 the day after that.
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Obama Is Barely Treading Water The president's problem is simple: the economy and jobs By Mortimer B. Zuckerman Posted: July 2, 2010 The hope that fired up the election of Barack Obama has flickered out, leaving a national mood of despair and disappointment. Americans are dispirited over how wrong things are and uncertain they can be made right again. Hope may have been a quick breakfast, but it has proved a poor supper. A year and a half ago Obama was walking on water. Today he is barely treading water. Then, his soaring rhetoric enraptured the nation. Today, his speeches cannot lift him past a 45 percent approval rating. complete article: http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/02/mort-zuckerman-obama-is-barely-treading-water.html
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Andy_Shofar:
Obama Is Barely Treading Water The president's problem is simple: the economy and jobs By Mortimer B. Zuckerman Posted: July 2, 2010 The hope that fired up the election of Barack Obama has flickered out, leaving a national mood of despair and disappointment. Americans are dispirited over how wrong things are and uncertain they can be made right again. Hope may have been a quick breakfast, but it has proved a poor supper. A year and a half ago Obama was walking on water. Today he is barely treading water. Then, his soaring rhetoric enraptured the nation. Today, his speeches cannot lift him past a 45 percent approval rating. complete article: http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/02/mort-zuckerman-obama-is-barely-treading-water.html
Then, in 2012, the Rich and Powerful Elite will trot US out another Golden Boy (or Girl). They'll say all the right things and make very moving speeches that push all the right buttons. The People will be optomistic until We find, once again, that the new boss is the same as the old boss. The solution? Burn the whole Fuçker down and start over!!!
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Obama Has Shot 41 Rounds of Golf as President by Keith Koffler on July 16, 2010, 3:30 pm President Barack Obama has played a remarkable 41 rounds of golf since becoming president, easily outpacing his predecessor and possibly damaging his ability to portray himself in 2012 as a populist advocate of average folks. ... That?s the equivalent of twenty five eight-hour work days, or five work weeks spent smacking golf balls. complete article: http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2010/07/16/obama-played-41-rounds-golf-president/
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Hehe Remember the Vacationer IN Chief?
Nice that Obama gets a little time off now and then at least he's doing a good job -
mustangsally10:
Hehe Remember the Vacationer IN Chief?
Nice that Obama gets a little time off now and then at least he's doing a good jobNo, he's not.
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EADG:
mustangsally10:
Hehe Remember the Vacationer IN Chief?
Nice that Obama gets a little time off now and then at least he's doing a good jobNo, he's not.
thanks for the opportunity to show what Obama has been doing since he became president...it's good to know we have a president who knows what a library is Major Legislation: Financial Reform Bill "represents the most profound restructuring of financial regulation since the Great Depression". Below is a brief outline of the bill: Creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be housed in the Fed. The new agency will have the power to write and enforce new rules governing mortgages and other financial products and Banks with more than $10 billion in assets would be subject to examination. The government will be given the power to seize and close down large failing firms. Shareholders and unsecured creditors would bear losses, and management would be removed. Nearly all derivatives deals will have to be conducted through central clearinghouses, so investors can be confident about settling their bets, and firms will have to raise money to cover any unexpected losses. Most derivatives would be traded on public exchanges, not in private side deals. Large Wall Street banks will have to spin off some of their trading of derivatives. The Fed, FDIC and Office the Comptroller of the Currency would each have jurisdiction over different types of banks, with the FDIC, for instance, regulating state banks while the OCC would be responsible for national ones. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a sweeping piece of legislation that will allow 32 million Americans access to health care coverage. The key changes are outlined below (note these changes will take place between 2010 ? 2014). Extension of private insurance coverage for young people through age 26 on parents? insurance. Increase funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Free preventive care under Medicare and new private plans. Bans lifetime limits and restrictive annual limits on coverage on coverage. Small business tax credits Slowly closes the donut hole. Expands Medicaid eligibility to 133% of federal poverty level and requires states to offer Medicaid to childless adults. Eliminates pre-existing condition in private insurance. Insurance companies can no longer charge higher rates due to health status or gender. Premiums can vary only on age (no more than 3:1), geography, family size, and tobacco use. Ends rescissions. Also, included in the bill was provisions that ended fees paid to banks for student loans. That money was instead used to increase the amount of loans provided to students directly. The American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009(commonly known as the Stimulus Bill) was the largest spending bill in U.S. History. Below is a breakdown of the progressive spending allocated in this bill: Education - Total: $90.9 billion * $15.6 billion to increase Pell Grants from $4,731 to $5,350 * $13 billion for low-income public schoolchildren * $12.2 billion for IDEA special education * $2.1 billion for Head Start * $2 billion for childcare services * $300 million for increased teacher salaries * $70 million for the education of homeless children Aid to low income workers, unemployed and retirees - Total: $82.5 billion * $20.3 billion for food (Food Stamp Program, refill food banks, lunch programs for children and seniors) * $14.2 billion to give one-time $250 payments to Social Security recipients, people on Supplemental Security Income, and veterans receiving disability and pensions. * $3 billion in temporary welfare payments * $500 million for vocational training for the disabled * $120 million for subsidized community service jobs for older Americans Infrastructure Investment - Total: $80.9 billion * $17.8 billion for public transportation projects * $6 billion for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure Energy - Total: $61.3 billion * $15.5 billion funding for an electric smart grid * $10.8 billion investments in increasing energy efficiency * $7.3 billion for environmental clean-up Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act: This bill was originally introduced into Congress in 2001. With its passage, the 1969 U.S. federal hate crime law is expanded to include crimes motivated by victim?s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. This act is the first federal law to extend legal protections to transgender persons. Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010: This bill contains much needed funding for women veterans and provided funding to allow caregivers to stay home with veterans to help in their recovery. Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (contains Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act) Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Foreign Policy: New START Treaty signed with Russia U.N. Security Council Nuclear Arms Resolution Trade Agreement with Russia that may result in 44,000 U.S. jobs. Iraq withdrawal is ahead of schedule. Regulatory Changes: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): New rules raising fuel standard requirements. New rules to regulate coal air pollution, which may result in utilities shutting down smaller, dirtier plants. New sulfur dioxide emissions limits, which is the first change in 40 years. New rules to limit water pollution from mining. VA is making it easier for veterans to get help for PTSD. HHS announces first national strategy for HIV/AIDS. New FDA rule requiring egg producers to refrigerate eggs during storage and transportation to reduce salmonella illnesses. Federal Medical Leave Act extended by Department of Labor to include same-sex relationships. Goldman Sachs settled SEC civil fraud case and will pay a record $550mm. Other Executive Branch Decisions: The plan to bail out General Motors has been a success and they are already starting to pay the U.S. back. In May, General Motors reported 1st quarterly profits in 3 years. Executive order reversing stem cell ban. Memo directing HHS to draft rule to prevent hospitals from denying visitation privileges to same-sex partners. Reversed the "Mexico City Policy" banning funding international family planning groups that provide abortions. PolitiFact has been tracking President Obama's ability to deliver on candidate Obama's promises. Here's the tally (not including Financial Reform): Total Promises - 505 Promises Kept - 119 (24%) Promises Compromised 37 (7%) Promises Broken 19 (4%) Promises Stalled 82 (16%) Promises in the Works 245 (49%) Promises Not Yet Rated 3 (1%) of course, you may have liked things better under bush .
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Sorry, but the so-called "Financial Reform" is putting the Fox in charge of guarding the Hen-House. And, no, I didn't like The Usurper Bush any better. But then, I guess I'm too hard to please; I haven't liked ANY of the Idiots-In-Chief since Eisenhower. Perhaps it is unreasonable of me to demand a President who doesn't think either with his Little Head or with his Wallet, but actually does the job he was elected to do: Represent The People of The United States, (not Big Oil or The Banks or the Corporations.) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Eisenhower's_farewell_address For those of you under 50, please read the Farewell Address from Eisenhower to see how a President of The United States of America is supposed to act. Otherwise, you are unlikely to ever know.
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I didn't say he hasn't done anything. Just that he hasn't done a good job. History, as always, will be the judge and i think he will be remembered as a populist President who instituted a huge amount of costly bureaucracy that will be unwound somewhere down the road. Maybe I'll find out I'm wrong.
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A man stands with a hammer pounding holes in the walls. Beating out the pipes that run through the house and crashing holes in the stairs that lead to many rooms upstairs. He lets out a satisfied grunt. There is still so much work to do. Yes he is busy. I do not like what he is doing and I do not agree with what he is doing and I do not like the direction he is going.
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The_Fool:
A man stands with a hammer pounding holes in the walls. Beating out the pipes that run through the house and crashing holes in the stairs that lead to many rooms upstairs. He lets out a satisfied grunt. There is still so much work to do...
That's a great analogy, and very appropriate! I can see November from my house.