I don't agree w/ everything but damn it I like my President. happy thread

[Botany]

Party on Mr. P. & family

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Joe_Biden,_official_photo_portrait_2.jpg/397px-Joe_Biden,_official_photo_portrait_2.jpg

And Joe you are a B.F.D. too. I hope you and Jill have a great Easter and the same for your family!

[Change Happens]

1. I love my President, 100% Happy with things!

[Botany]

3. Last March - 600,000 jobs this march + 160,000 jobs

n/t

[Fire1]

2. Gonna ride with the BRUTHA til the wheels fall off!!! n/t

[kestrel91316]

4. I loves me some Obama (and some Biden)!!

[Wickerman]

5. I like our Pres, too, but man, I dig that bunny!

[Botany]

6. Everybody loves a big bunny

[Wickerman]

7. lol

that one is almost scary!

[Patsy Stone]

11. That is a big bunny.

:toast: to the Prez! :bounce:

[akbacchus_BC]

61. I agree with your sentiments about President Obama, I too love him,

can you please clone him and send him to BC, Canada.

That Bunny is huge, it reminds me of our Nadira whom we had to put down last year, we had her for 10 years. She was one big fatty and a thumper. I really miss her ... oh she ate all the wires from the stereo system, light cords, telephone cord, vacuum cleaner, LOL, we still loved her and she never gave a bother when we picked her up to coddle her. Pets are so awesome!

[classof56]

8. Not afraid to admit it--I like him too! And that veep's okay in my book, as well.

Unlike me, they are not perfect, but hey--so few are! KID-DING!

Happy Easter to All!

[JanetLovesObama]

9. I DO agree with

everything my awesome President says and does. I adore the guy !:)

[old mark]

10. He was absolutely great today in NC - he has so much knowledge and

the understanding to explain it...the old professor!

I hope he can spend a lot of time on the road between now and November - maybe he can even convince people here to vote for Democrats.


mark

[Frustratedlady]

12. They will go down in history as the most accomplished Prez and VP

Both families are refreshing and they make us proud. Of course, after what just left, there wasn't much competition. Just thinking back to George and The Dick makes me sick in my stomach.

I love our administration and how they frustrate the Repugs. They work so fast, the Pugs can't keep up with them.

Refreshing is an understatement.

Go BO and Joe

[meowomon]

13. I am disappointed with many things he's done or hasn't done. (DADT)

But I really do like him and his beautiful family.

[whathehell]

14. I feel the same...When he smiles, I find it impossible not to smile back!

[WCGreen]

15. Me Too....

[theothersnippywshrub]

16. Nixon, Reagan, Bush the Lesser, Dole, Bush the Liar, McCain, Palin? What's not to like about Obama?

Unlike my ideal president, Obama does not have the absolute power of a monarch prior to 1215, or the perfect position (mine) on every conceivable issue, he is my favorite president so far in my lifetime.

[Drunken Irishman]

19. Mine too!

Though my lifetime has only seen two Democratic presidents. So, it isn't like I have a whole lot to choose from.

[BlueIdaho]

17. I am so damn happy its not funny.

Our President and Vice President are working against an intractable opposition and moving America forward. No other Democratic president has had to overcome this level of purely insane white hot hatred. I am so very proud of "our" guys and yes, they are a big fucking deal.

[Egnever]

18. Best pres of my lifetime!

Hands down and the VP rocks my socks as well.

[Ishoutandscream2]

20. I'm in the mushy middle here at DU

I'm not totally against him, and certainly not one of the cheerleaders. But I do like this man and his family very much, and I thank God we don't have a Republican in the White House. I hope for better and brighter things through the rest of his presidency.

[scentopine]

Here is why I don't like Obama nor the Dem leadership

Trickle Down Wall Street Bailout Get Trillions
War Bailout Gets Trillions
Torturers Get a Walk
More Oil Drilling
Windfall Oil Profits
Outsourcing
H1B
Union Busting
Free Trade Agreements
Privatization of Schools
Stimulus Filled with Tax Credits
Insurance Bailout Gets Mandates
Bipartisan Bullshit

There's more but this should be enough. This isn't a fucking pony. It is horseshit.

The neo-libs have combined their worst policy initiatives with the neo-cons.

The working class continues to be beaten down by Obama democrats.

Like previous "reforms" (banking I, Enron, Banking II, NAFTA) the neo-libs are flush with enthusiasm about the health plan

Its all about "winning" at any expense to the public.

Our company announced huge wall street share price increase as proof that their cost cutting measures are working. This is code for more lay-offs. Last year those cost cutting measures included telling those who weren't laid off that we need to work twice as hard. Our CEO made a record salary.

The new heallth plan guarantees that those in middle class with family who have any chronic condition will not be able leave corporate hell although with benefits eroding DAILY corporations are new experimenting with eliminating things like vacation and health plans.

I am sick of this horseshit and I just found out that isn't covered under the new plan.

[Lindsey]

22. I think it's incredibly unrealistic to love everything our Presedient

does. I feel he's doing an outstanding job. He works harder than any President in my lifetime and I'm 52. I was at first surprised about the offshore drilling decision. However, I honestly believe President Obama could very well be the most intelligent President we've ever had. He realizes we CAN'T continue being dependent on foreign oil. I mean really, we all know where that has gotten us. I believe the President has made this decision to give us time to formulate and implement a long term plan that will enable us to become self-sufficient. Ummm...so we don't do things like invade Iraq.

[scentopine]

25. The rich are not being asked for sacrifice, meanwhile

the non-rich (like me) continue to be punished and the rich rewarded. The president made his choices on who to help in this economy and who to help with the new insurance reform plan. The trickle down message he has sent could not be more clear. I don't dislike the man, I just think as far as change goes, his performance is unacceptable.

I do not believe the answer to government and energy independence lies in kindness of corporate benevolence.

Instead of a tax payer funded (the middle class pay the largest part of their income to taxes) windfall for insurance and oil companies - we should be invested massive amounts of money for on-shore manufacturing and development.

Instead he chose a wall street middle man approach. Its like the wall street broker I know. I told him wall street adds no value to GDP and contributes less to the nation than a burger flipper. I also said trading paper all day should pay the minimum wage.

He responded with "do you know how hard I work...?"

That is the problem. Sure they are working hard to pass legislation and regulations that benefit the rich at the expense of health and environment and quality of life.

I think the neo-libs and neo-cons need a well deserved vacation.

This isn't about self-sufficiency - it is about wall street credibility.

Claiming the demcorats are better than republicans is becoming much like a debate about whether McDonald's is better than Wendy's or whether ABC is better than NBC.

Mainstream political parties are converging into a corporate style monopoly.

Have you seen any outreach to liberals in the same way he capitulates to conservatives?

[laughingliberal]

27. Can't argue with any of that. But I like the bunny. nt

[abelenkpe]

35. So corporations like CAT and At&T are whining

because they are happy that their corporate welfare was cut by HCR? And the tax on the those making over 250,000 to help fund HCR isn't the rich being forced to sacrifice something? Or taking away the banker middle man in providing loans to students?

Look, I know it's not much yet, but give the man some time.

And yes, dems are better than republicans. I am so sick of this baloney that they are the same. You think it would be the same today if republicans were still in power? Honestly? Cause that's just not true. Not at all.

If the republicans were still in power there would be more unemployment, no HCR, no student loan reform, no chance in hell of ever pursuing alternative energy, public schools, police stations and fire stations would be closed in favor of privatizing everything so that bankrupt states could easily renege on their pensions and we prolly already would have been drawn into war with Iran. Remember bomb bomb bomb Iran? The reform we would have would be the end of social security. And do you think that republicans would have extended unemployment even once? Put even one cent into stimulus? Try not to be so negative.

[liberation]

38. ... and If my grandma had balls we would have called her grandpa

I like Obama at a personal level, he is a very nice guy, and his family is lovely. But this whole blackmail as justification of whatever job performance by the Dems has to stop. Yes, the GOP is fucking evil, we know that. I just don't find it really impressive for the Dems to not be "as bad." Crooning endlessly about mediocrity (which is what "not as bad" is at a very basic level) is a sad realization on how we are not living up to our potential as a society.

As a liberal I could care less about this administration. I will be the first to recognize I agree with a few of his administration's policies, but as a whole I am less than impressed. But that has more to do with the divergence between my political leanings (liberal/left) and this administration's (moderate conservative/center-right). And I think that is OK, for tastes there are colors.

Now, I understand some people feel that drastic changes are counterproductive and that the best way to fix a sinking ship is to not rock it while pretending the leaks are not there and that the iceberg was just a minor bump. Fine, that would be perfectly reasonable if... Mr. Obama et al hadn't campaign on CHANGE. Had he said he was just going to push for some timid incremental reforms and continuing or patching some of the awful policies from the previous clusterfuck of an administration, then I could understand some of the points the true believers in this site keep pushing. But he did not campaign on that, did he? I find all the perennial hand wavy and intellectually dishonest justifications troubling, because of the level of runaway doublethink they imply: the justification of mediocrity, while claiming excellence at the same time.

I believe in holding people accountable, regardless of the color of their skin or their political affiliation. What was deemed wrong and disastrous under Bush did not became magically "OK" once Mr. Obama became president. And it is preposterous to pretend that it is so, and using silly appeals to personality to justify such hypocrisy. I feel really happy for Obama and his family, however that is not why we pay him a salary as president. I have absolutely no problem separating personality issues and professional matters. Many people in this site do not seem to be able to do so, the lack of willingness (or capacity) to tackle complex political thought with any degree of sophistication is rather troubling to me.

[MadBadger]

23. Maybe you should go make a sad thread then.

[theFrankFactor]

29. Can You Imagine if More of Us Felt The Way You and I Do?!

I agree completely. All this circle jerkin' about Barack is a product of LOWERED EXPECTATIONS. We want better, we voted for better, we deserve better and if nwe can't get it out of these majorities SOMETHING IS FUCKED!

[bhikkhu]

52. You have to understand that decisions have long-term consequences

When the country voted in Reagan, a significant decision was made about the balance of power in the country toward corporatism, and we've gone long years down that screwed up road.

When the country voted in a repug congress in 94 it made a significant decision that ended the hope of the Clinton presidency for a good single-payer health care plan in favor of "market solutions", and we've gone long screwed up years down that path too.

When the country voted in * they made a significant decision to abandon fiscal responsibility and the middle class in favor of 8 years of looting at the top and a national decline into poverty and near disgrace, under the cover of "patriotic war". Long years down that path...

After a few months of trying to do the right thing in conditions eroded by decades of irresponsibility and bad decisions, the Obama presidency hasn't delivered Camelot yet?

[scentopine]

53. torture prosecution does not equal camelot

Neither does an Iraq war investigation. He is more than 25% into his first term. I suppose if he crams for his final examine he could squeak by with a D+.

The Obama presidency hasn't delivered Camelot yet? Just another spin on the "pony" mime. Justice does not equal a pony - neither does the rivers of blood and a trillion dollars for another fucking N number of years of war in a god foresaken hell hole. Rivers and rivers of blood and nearly a million innocent dead bodies stacking up like cord wood. How anyone can call an end to these wars a pony or camelot is stunning to me. Now the Iraqi army is starting to terrorize their own people again. Jesus.

Centrists are more evil than republicans. With republicans you know exactly what you are getting so it is easy to disagree. With the centrists you get a bag full of weasels. With an insurance bailout he's managed to piss everyone off left and right except the mushy middle.

Reagan played on public sentiment to make demons out of liberals. Obama could have done the same to the right wing. But instead, he is to Republicans as Chamberlain was to Hitler.

[bhikkhu]

55. I was referring more to economics

where there's plenty to talk about as far as how bad things have gotten, and realistically how long it will take and how many real lifestyle changes it will take to build our way out.

On the other hand, our military situation is more arguable. My jfirst instinct is to say - close the bases and bring the guys home from everywhere, and ratchet the military way down to what can be afforded. How hard it will be to get there from here is hard to say. What if I were the president, what could I do? Would I agree with the non-partisan generals who say the best strategy is to tear it up in Afghanistan and keep a high profile? Maybe they have the same long term goals, and certainly they have better information than me...I don't know. Having no responsibility allows one the luxury of bad ideas, or no ideas, as the republicans can now attest.

I agree with you on war investigations and war crimes prosecutions in any case - I'd like to see them, and I think its a big flaw of our justice system that the decision has anything to do with politics in the first place.

[JackInGreen]

21. If I were

100% happy with this administration I would have to be suspicious something is horribly horribly wrong, instead, I'm not pleased with about half his calls, and overjoyed with the other half, and I figure this equilibrium is the BEST I've felt about politics in YEARS.

[Mike K]

24. I like Barack Obama, too.

He is a nice fellow and I respect his superior intelligence.

To say Obama is an improvement over Bush isn't saying much. He has done some good things but I can't say he's a good President because if he were Dick Cheney would be defending himself against criminal charges along with the rest of the Bush coven.

The sad fact is Obama has actively avoided criminal charges being preferred against any of the villains who looted our treasury, defamed us in the eyes of the world as a nation of war criminals and ruined the American Middle Class. The result of this Executive misfeasance will be a repeat of the same kind of criminal conduct in the future, probably worse, because there has been no deterrent.

[theFrankFactor]

30. + infinity

[Mithreal]

31. Definitely a distinction between him as a fellow human being and him as President.

I never understood why people "worship" the false idols of fame, fortune and title.

I never understood people thinking they knew a celebrity they had never met or only briefly, let alone feel a close personal relationship.

There is so much I just don't get about the idolatry.

If the folks who express so much defense of an image were also the same people who fought for average Americans and pushing the boundaries of what is claimed politically possible, I could have much more of a kindred spirit and overlook some of what I perceive as foolishness.

I am against average Americans propping up and bailing out the fabulously wealthy and oligarchy. I wish my President wasn't standing in the way of the pitchforks, but he is.

But as a person, Obama is swell. No sarcasm intended.

[JDPriestly]

26. I'll take Obama any day over Bush or any other Republican offered in

my lifetime. But I disagree strongly, strongly, strongly with a lot of what he does and does not do.

And I reserve my right to completely disapprove of him depending on whether he takes the Jimmy Carter or the Bill Clinton route after leaving the White House. Will he become more supportive of humanity or just richer? That is the big question.

Max Keiser mentioned in a recent show that Tony Blair is now working for one of the big investment companies -- trading something to do with oil. If true, his current employment explains his policy support for Bush's War in Iraq.

I am unhappy with a lot of Obama's choices now, but I will wait to see what choices he makes when the political pressure is eased to really judge him as a man. Will he use his residual power for his own enrichment? Or will he use it for the good of mankind?

[Mithreal]

28. How can anyone not like these folks. I knock the love talk, but like, that works.

[Robyn66]

32. Rome wasn't built in a day!

I am madly in love with this man!! He is an incredible President in my book even though I am not 100% happy all the time. He is 100% smarter than I am and I trust his judgement. Things are better with him in charge and have every indication of staying in that direction!

[Mithreal]

36. "I am madly in love with this man!!"

Can you elaborate on this comment, please? I honestly want to understand, no sarcasm intended. Anything that would shed insight would be welcome.

[Robyn66]

57. I don't mean it literally if that is what you are asking

I just think he is fantastic. I know a lot of people are very unhappy with him right now and I just can't bring my self to go along with that. I have never really believed in a political figure before I imagine this must be how some people used to feel about JFK and RFK. Its probably ridiculous but I am a supporter right or wrong.

[Mithreal]

60. My question, yes, literally. All right. I am even uncertain what

"I am a supporter right or wrong." even means.

I honestly want to understand.

[Botany]

39. He is 100% smarter than I am

and smarter than me too ...

Top of his class @ Harvard Law, Professor of Constitutional Law @ the U. of Chicago,
he has written 2 best sellers, and his campaign was for the books.

[Mithreal]

47. He's outrageously successful, I get that.

What does that have to do with political discussion of the Progressive kind?

This is all about positive feelings? Maybe if we all kneel and face DC at the same time thinking happy thoughts, Obama will feel our need and effect Progressive change of legendary proportions.

That's just me being silly. How is what you are doing here not silly as well? Honest question, really, I mean it.

Mistakenly understood your quote, so editing subject line.

[Robyn66]

58. So fine, don't like me and don't like my opinion

if you think I am being silly that is fine. Maybe this is not the most serious post I have ever made in my life. IF you really need to tear it apart good for you. Have at it. Maybe you should check out my thread on bullying in the other forum since you seem to enjoy picking on people's posts you don't agree with.

[Mithreal]

59. To question an opinion is not bullying.

[hulka38]

33. You'd be even happier if you figured out where the President stood

on any given issue, told yourself he's playing 3D chess and backed him 100%. I'm told it frees up the mind to wander.

[pundaint]

34. Governance is not a personality contest. Did you vote for what he has signed into law...or hasn't?

[Botany]

41. I voted for the big bunny

[Richd506]

37. K & R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Raoul]

40. YEP..

Ditto a million times! And I don't think you could ever get a better match with Obama and Biden. Biden's the loony guy who says anything and Obama's the straight up guy. I hope that he does what FDR did and runs at least 4 times and then Michelle can run and win for a while and then the two kids can run and win and then Bo..oops, forgot, Bo's a dog with a lifespan of less than 20 years. Anyway, Bo's great grandson or granddaughter can run and then,,and then..

[Peacetrain]

42. A BIg Me TOO!! NT

[jennied]

43. Sasha looks grumpy.

[gblady]

44. I noticed that, too.....

she looks like she's not having a fun time...

[KTinOhio]

45. Count me in...

If only he didn't have to contend with lockstep obsructionism.

[Mithreal]

48. If only we had enough for governing majorities.

[scentopine]

54. lol! -nt

[DesertFlower]

46. i like the prez. nt

[Coexist]

49. me too!

[handmade34]

50. Happy Easter Mr. Pres et. al.

For the 1st time in my life(I am almost 60) I truly respect and admire my President and Vice-President

[Kablooie]

51. I have a feeling that some of the things people disagree with will have a surprisingly good outcome.

I trust that Obama is doing pretty deep research before he makes decisions and is weighing more factors than most of us are aware of. This isn't a general comment about government but about Obama himself.

I do think he is trying to make the best decisions he can in all cases, irregardless of ideology.

[Mithreal]

56. His triangulation sets him apart from ideology.

Making the best decisions he can was rejecting all those pesky lefty proposals on HCR?

Weighing factors, like the bankrolls of CEOs, made marginalizing Progressives very tempting. Who could resist and how can anyone blame him. Not like they were going to take on campaign finance reform with, you know, publicly funded elections. That might cost a few billion that would be better spent on CEO bonuses.

The good outcomes are going to come from our efforts to pressure Obama and Dem leadership who happen to be "above" our petty Progressive ideology. Because there is not a Republican in the WH there are going to be a lot of things with a "surprisingly good outcome". Many of us would like to leave a lot less to surprises.