Well, part of the issue has been that the teachers and administration won't get the text of the speech far enough in advance to be able to work it into their own lesson plans.
That said, it's just uncomfortable for me that politics have gotten so ugly in this country that it's considered a bad thing for the President of the United States to "inspire" people. I realize that the Democrats acted crappy and partisan when Bush 41 addressed the school children. It was wrong. I realize that they have behaved abominably and disrespectfully toward Bush 43. That was wrong.
This too is just wrong, and downright embarrassing to me a Republican and conservative Christian. I was a homeschooling parent, for Pete's sake!
Only 5 years ago our economy suffered from high inflation, high interest rates, mushrooming government spending, and steadily increasing unemployment. A lot of people couldn't find jobs, and people on fixed incomes were finding it harder to buy the basics, such as food and shelter. Well, we got inflation down, interest rates down, and our economy created over 1\1/2\ million new jobs just last year alone. The poor are now increasingly able to dig themselves out of poverty, and that's been good economic news.
The good news in defense is that our Armed Forces, which were suffering from neglect and low funding, have now made a comeback. Morale is up in the services, and the quality of our men and women in uniform has never been better -- and I mean never. As a matter of fact, we have the highest percentage of high school graduates in uniform today than we've ever had in the history of our nation, even back when we had the compulsory draft. In addition, our nation has encouraged a more realistic sense of defense needs.
In foreign affairs we've kept our friends close and the lines of communication with our adversaries open. We've tried to give the world the sense that the United States has a coherent and logical foreign policy that reflects our respect for freedom and our opposition to tyranny.
The point is that all we've done has had, and will continue to have, a direct impact on your lives. And the fact is, it's your future, not ours. And all that we've done, we've done with an eye toward how it would impact you. We want to make your future better, because tomorrow belongs to you. And since you're the leaders of tomorrow, I wanted to talk to all of you as a friend about the things you'll have to do to ensure a prosperous nation and a peaceful world. And I'm sure that peace and prosperity must be at the top of your agenda for the future.
What's wrong with that? Any of out Republicans have a problem with the Gipper's speech being broadcast to high school kids? Is that a form of indoctrination?
I'm sure that Dr. Who will equate Reagan with trying to be like Goebbels or Hitler, right? That's he was trying to be "Dear Leader"? Right?
Of course not. But when it's Obama, all of a sudden it's about making it an "OBama fan club" and indoctrinating our youth in liberal politics.
Ridiculous. It's a speech from the President with an accompanying lesson plan. A letter from a 4th grade kid asking what you could do to "help President Obama" is somehow trying to indocrinate kids? Please. How many of you know 4th graders? Their politics - if they have any - will be exactly what their parent's politics are.
It's a school assignment, I'll bet you half the teachers in certain parts of the country would laud kids for telling Obama to go **** himself. And all the good teachers - and probably most of them - would use it as a teaching moment to ask the kids questions, not to pass on a political philosophy.
All of this furor is a ridiculous overreaction by conservatives whose goal is to do nothing more than get Obama defeated in 2012. It has nothing to do with children. For those people who think this somehow damages their children, or that their children shouldn't hear the President of the United States speak to them, or engage in an activity whereby they write letters or have a discussion about what the President has asked them to do, you have a pretty low opinion of your own parenting skills.
This whole thing really bugs me. The silliness of some of the Obama hatred is getting to me today.
__________________
Berlin Wall: What they told us about communism was a lie, sadly, what they told us about capitalism was true.
So if the "beef" is with the lesson plans. The teachers and schools can throw out the lesson plans, or maybe MAKE THEIR OWN LESSON PLANS!!!!!!!!
What is so hard about that??????
yeah i mean, i didn't really say there's anything wrong with the president speaking to children and trying to encourage them for the school year, etc. i'm just showing people that the lesson plans that were to go along with this was not something paranoid conservatives made up...
In response to the uproar, the White House has now altered its recommendations. The recommendation that students write a paper on how to help Mr. Obama has been changed to one urging teachers to have them "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals," as the Washington Times reports.
Other language was also tweaked: a suggested question for older students, for example, was changed from "What is President Obama inspiring you to do?" to “Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?"
This whole thing really bugs me. The silliness of some of the Obama hatred is getting to me today.
Me too! Gosh, down here where I live people are literally foaming at the mouth and practically coming to blows over it. I was kind of amused at the beginning, but now am just really irritated.
Well, part of the issue has been that the teachers and administration won't get the text of the speech far enough in advance to be able to work it into their own lesson plans.
That said, it's just uncomfortable for me that politics have gotten so ugly in this country that it's considered a bad thing for the President of the United States to "inspire" people. I realize that the Democrats acted crappy and partisan when Bush 41 addressed the school children. It was wrong. I realize that they have behaved abominably and disrespectfully toward Bush 43. That was wrong.
This too is just wrong, and downright embarrassing to me a Republican and conservative Christian. I was a homeschooling parent, for Pete's sake!
Melody has had the best posts on this whole issue.
If the Democrats did that to the Bush's, it was stupid then. It's stupid now.
__________________
Berlin Wall: What they told us about communism was a lie, sadly, what they told us about capitalism was true.
The recommendation that students write a paper on how to help Mr. Obama has been changed to one urging teachers to have them "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals," as the Washington Times reports.
Question: don't kids do that anyway as part of their ongoing learning goals thingummy stuff? Perhaps not as a letter, but set targets and then review them?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sloan
Other language was also tweaked: a suggested question for older students, for example, was changed from "What is President Obama inspiring you to do?" to “Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?"
That's a really interesting tweak in the question - replace an open question with a potentially closed one, albeit one which can then be expanded through follow up questioning.
yeah i mean, i didn't really say there's anything wrong with the president speaking to children and trying to encourage them for the school year, etc. i'm just showing people that the lesson plans that were to go along with this was not something paranoid conservatives made up...
In response to the uproar, the White House has now altered its recommendations. The recommendation that students write a paper on how to help Mr. Obama has been changed to one urging teachers to have them "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals," as the Washington Times reports.
Other language was also tweaked: a suggested question for older students, for example, was changed from "What is President Obama inspiring you to do?" to “Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?"
And basically what I'm saying is that lesson plans should be a guideline, if you don't like a particular part, or find it too partisan. Skip it. I'm not a teacher or pretend to be one, but spend a fair amount of time as a Cub Scout leader. If there was a part of the monthly theme suggestions that I found too cumbersom I either did not make the kids do it, or amended it in some ways.
Thank god my son is grown. If he wasn't I'd consider shipping him off to military school to get a decent education.
__________________
"Progressives make mistakes. Conservatives prevent the mistakes from being corrected." (Chesterton)
Honest question: I thought you guys were supposed to respect and, presumably, serve el presidente as the head of state representing the united states? You get all fussy over whether or not flags are lit at night don't you? Isn't that suggesting the much more overt level of patriotism is part of what you do? And the presidente is supposed to be the head of that, yes? So you "serve" him/her by being good citizens don't you as part of that respect for the country, it's laws and it's traditions - as laid down by whatever piece of paper embodies all that.
I honestly don't get what the fuss is all about here.
Explain please. In simple language, trying not to get party political about it if you can.
maybe i missed something along the way, i just have never seen a president so adored that celebs and media and what-not are asking people to 'serve' him in ways other than just what you said: "So you "serve" him/her by being good citizens don't you as part of that respect for the country, it's laws and it's traditions - as laid down by whatever piece of paper embodies all that."
This entire issue is a distraction from things that really matter. I think politicians laugh when we get absorbed in this garbage, and I think pundits on both sides of the aisle laugh all the way to the bank.
This entire issue is a distraction from things that really matter.
+1
__________________
"Dripping water can even fill a pitcher, drop by drop; one who is wise is filled with good, even if one accumulates it little by little."
2010 AAT: Will Rhymes
yeah i mean, i didn't really say there's anything wrong with the president speaking to children and trying to encourage them for the school year, etc. i'm just showing people that the lesson plans that were to go along with this was not something paranoid conservatives made up...
In response to the uproar, the White House has now altered its recommendations. The recommendation that students write a paper on how to help Mr. Obama has been changed to one urging teachers to have them "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals," as the Washington Times reports.
Other language was also tweaked: a suggested question for older students, for example, was changed from "What is President Obama inspiring you to do?" to “Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?"
I wasn't saying you were lying about what was in the lesson plans, I was commenting on your post saying that was what is Dr. Who's post was "true."
This is obviously not true:
Quote:
Because with all of the other stuff he has pulled, he needs to take a break from the Hugo Chavez playbook.
This is also obviously not true:
Quote:
I don't know about you, but I sure as hell don't like my taxes going to support building an Obama fan club. Why is this stuff all so Obama centric, rather then country? Let's say I don't want Obama setting goals for children to fight for healthcare and global warming promotion? What if a student doesn't like Obama and is forced to do this stuff?
And this really isn't true either:
Quote:
If it was a message to work hard, stay in school and that sort of thing, it would be great, but it's all the extra political stuff that people are upset with.
There really is no "extra political stuff" that is making people upset. It's people who don't like Obama who are fomenting this as some sort of issue so that they 1) have something to talk about on their 24 hour news shows and 2) have another thing to criticize Obama about in their effort to get him beat in the next election.
There are PLENTY of legitimate reasons to be opposed to Obama. This speech - and the corresponding lesson plan - is not one of them. It's nothing more than bitter, bitter partisanship which is unfortunate.
I've got a 10 month old daughter, and if Mike Huckabee or even Sarah Palin get elected President and they make the same speech with the same lesson plan when she's in school, then she can listen to the speech and we'll talk about it when she gets home, which I consider a common sense solution.
__________________
Berlin Wall: What they told us about communism was a lie, sadly, what they told us about capitalism was true.
And basically what I'm saying is that lesson plans should be a guideline, if you don't like a particular part, or find it too partisan. Skip it. I'm not a teacher or pretend to be one, but spend a fair amount of time as a Cub Scout leader. If there was a part of the monthly theme suggestions that I found too cumbersom I either did not make the kids do it, or amended it in some ways.
Thank god my son is grown. If he wasn't I'd consider shipping him off to military school to get a decent education.
oh i agree.. but as someone said, they aren't even given this speech more than a day in advance to plan their own lesson/discussion. not that it would take all that long to come up with a few things to discuss, but teachers will be busy enough with the start of the new year and all. but yes, to keep people happy, they should just skip the recommended lesson, or just use the speech as a guide to getting kids to make goals for themselves for the school year or something similar.
This entire issue is a distraction from things that really matter. I think politicians laugh when we get absorbed in this garbage, and I think pundits on both sides of the aisle laugh all the way to the bank.
you got that right. it's something to discuss on a message board though
maybe i missed something along the way, i just have never seen a president so adored that celebs and media and what-not are asking people to 'serve' him in ways other than just what you said: "So you "serve" him/her by being good citizens don't you as part of that respect for the country, it's laws and it's traditions - as laid down by whatever piece of paper embodies all that."
Is he asking for anything more than that? I dunno quite how much people are asking them to serve him much more than that, are they?
I dunno about whether others have done it before. Some of the more, err, experienced people here might want to think back.
maybe i missed something along the way, i just have never seen a president so adored that celebs and media and what-not are asking people to 'serve' him in ways other than just what you said: "So you "serve" him/her by being good citizens don't you as part of that respect for the country, it's laws and it's traditions - as laid down by whatever piece of paper embodies all that."
Good Lord. Really? Half the country hates Obama for Chrissakes. So some stupid celebrities make a video where a couple of them go overboard on the Obama love? Big freakin' deal.
The thing you're "seeing" is that there is more media coverage and more information available via the Internet. There have always been people who go overboard whenever a political leader is elected in their love for that political leader. Only now it's on Youtube, made into videos broadcast to everyone, on 24 hour news shows that have to make news in order to get your attention.
All of this "Obama is a celebrity" talk misses the role the media plays in that creation. People have ALWAYS thought that way about political leaders, only now there is an outlet for it that we all see.
__________________
Berlin Wall: What they told us about communism was a lie, sadly, what they told us about capitalism was true.
oh i agree.. but as someone said, they aren't even given this speech more than a day in advance to plan their own lesson/discussion. not that it would take all that long to come up with a few things to discuss...
Phew - I dunno. Sometimes I have great spontaneous ideas and riff them perfectly and it all goes really well. Sometimes I screw up the first time I teach something and do it better when I've had a chance to think about something a bit more and talk through strategies and approaches with other people.
I wasn't saying you were lying about what was in the lesson plans, I was commenting on your post saying that was what is Dr. Who's post was "true."
There really is no "extra political stuff" that is making people upset. It's people who don't like Obama who are fomenting this as some sort of issue so that they 1) have something to talk about on their 24 hour news shows and 2) have another thing to criticize Obama about in their effort to get him beat in the next election.
There are PLENTY of legitimate reasons to be opposed to Obama. This speech - and the corresponding lesson plan - is not one of them. It's nothing more than bitter, bitter partisanship which is unfortunate.
I've got a 10 month old daughter, and if Mike Huckabee or even Sarah Palin get elected President and they make the same speech with the same lesson plan when she's in school, then she can listen to the speech and we'll talk about it when she gets home, which I consider a common sense solution.
i was saying that the rec. lesson plans he posted were true. not the opinions. i also hate that when someone disagrees with obama, rush and hannity are to blame, as if people can't think for themselves here. that really aggravates me.
Honest question: I thought you guys were supposed to respect and, presumably, serve el presidente as the head of state representing the united states? You get all fussy over whether or not flags are lit at night don't you? Isn't that suggesting the much more overt level of patriotism is part of what you do? And the presidente is supposed to be the head of that, yes? So you "serve" him/her by being good citizens don't you as part of that respect for the country, it's laws and it's traditions - as laid down by whatever piece of paper embodies all that.
I honestly don't get what the fuss is all about here.
Explain please. In simple language, trying not to get party political about it if you can.
No, what you are describing is a king, not a president. The president serves the people, not the other way around.
__________________
Did anyone else see the interview where they asked him about the chances he would come back to the Twins? He said "for real? VERY slim." He held his fingers together to show the chances. Then when asked what it would take to keep him he said "PAY ME!" -- Brian "estrepe1" Bluhm on Torii Hunter, April 16, 2007, 3:10 a.m.
I wasn't saying you were lying about what was in the lesson plans, I was commenting on your post saying that was what is Dr. Who's post was "true."
This is obviously not true:
This is also obviously not true:
And this really isn't true either:
There really is no "extra political stuff" that is making people upset. It's people who don't like Obama who are fomenting this as some sort of issue so that they 1) have something to talk about on their 24 hour news shows and 2) have another thing to criticize Obama about in their effort to get him beat in the next election.
There are PLENTY of legitimate reasons to be opposed to Obama. This speech - and the corresponding lesson plan - is not one of them. It's nothing more than bitter, bitter partisanship which is unfortunate.
I've got a 10 month old daughter, and if Mike Huckabee or even Sarah Palin get elected President and they make the same speech with the same lesson plan when she's in school, then she can listen to the speech and we'll talk about it when she gets home, which I consider a common sense solution.
You have backed off and now realize the content that was to be given in my post was correct, until it was changed after public outcry.
It was changed because people objected to the political stuff I included in my original post, not because "people don't like Obama" as I mentioned in my post. I also mentioned in my original post no one would really care much about it, I wouldn't, if he was just welcoming the kids back to school and advising them to study hard and use his personal example to inspire the children into the future.
You don't like the Chavez comparison that is nice I didn't like all the Hitler references to Bush either, and how the patriot act was going to move us into a Bush dictatorship. I'll continue to amuse myself with equal accusations against "your guy".
Good Lord. Really? Half the country hates Obama for Chrissakes. So some stupid celebrities make a video where a couple of them go overboard on the Obama love? Big freakin' deal.
The thing you're "seeing" is that there is more media coverage and more information available via the Internet. There have always been people who go overboard whenever a political leader is elected in their love for that political leader. Only now it's on Youtube, made into videos broadcast to everyone, on 24 hour news shows that have to make news in order to get your attention.
All of this "Obama is a celebrity" talk misses the role the media plays in that creation. People have ALWAYS thought that way about political leaders, only now there is an outlet for it that we all see.
You are mistaken, you just aren't seeing it because he is your guy. The role of the media has in the past been to hold the government responsible, it serves a vital role for public oversight. The networks, and in particular NBC have all but given up on that responsibility, and have huge financial incentives to see Obama plans be inacted.
Do you really think those people protesting at Town Hall meetings were Republican plants as ABC/NBC/CBS proclaimed? Do you really think the Tea Party movements are contrived and deserve to get 0 coverage on the networks? Do you think it's a good idea that GE (NBC parent) stands to generate windfall profits because of Obama's proposed plans with cap and trade, and healthcare reform? I could be mistaken but I believe I've seen you rail against talk radio and the evil clearchannel corporation in the past, as being in the bag for the Republicans.
So you're not supposed to respect him/her as the head of state at all then? You're not supposed to serve the country at all?
Or is that only if you like him /her that you're supposed to respect them?
There's a difference between serving the country and serving Obama. He has been wrapped up in his celebrity worship bubble for the last 18 months that he doesn't know that. He thinks he is a king.
I have paid no attention to this matter but the only thing that stands out for me is his bit about "Help your President". That about sums up the man right there. It's all about him.
The evolution of the democratic party over the last 45 years.
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
There's a difference between serving the country and serving Obama. He has been wrapped up in his celebrity worship bubble for the last 18 months that he doesn't know that. He thinks he is a king.
I have paid no attention to this matter but the only thing that stands out for me is his bit about "Help your President". That about sums up the man right there. It's all about him.
The evolution of the democratic party over the last 45 years.
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
"Ask what you can do for me."
That's a very good point. Hopefully he has an advisor who can bring that up with him.
Sadly, he's beginning to remind me more and more of Deval Patrick.
__________________
"Dripping water can even fill a pitcher, drop by drop; one who is wise is filled with good, even if one accumulates it little by little."
2010 AAT: Will Rhymes
There's a difference between serving the country and serving Obama. He has been wrapped up in his celebrity worship bubble for the last 18 months that he doesn't know that. He thinks he is a king.
I have paid no attention to this matter but the only thing that stands out for me is his bit about "Help your President". That about sums up the man right there. It's all about him.
That's interesting, because when I hear "Help your president" I hear "Help your president no matter who it is" not "help Obama no matter what".
In other words I'm hearing exactly what Kennedy said but using different words - help your head of state do what's right for the country (or whatever - there may be better ways of doing that).
But then I suppose it's impossible not to take what seems a well meant comment and use it to attack the man is it?
That's interesting, because when I hear "Help your president" I hear "Help your president no matter who it is" not "help Obama no matter what".
This is what I hear. I don't think Obama is being selfish and asking "Help me help me!". No, its "help the President", regardless who is in power.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melody
That said, it's just uncomfortable for me that politics have gotten so ugly in this country that it's considered a bad thing for the President of the United States to "inspire" people. I realize that the Democrats acted crappy and partisan when Bush 41 addressed the school children. It was wrong. I realize that they have behaved abominably and disrespectfully toward Bush 43. That was wrong.
This too is just wrong, and downright embarrassing to me a Republican and conservative Christian. I was a homeschooling parent, for Pete's sake!
Agreed 100%. Education should be urged and emphasized, and if getting kids inspired by the President works, than why get in the way? I thought I was always kidding when I said Republicans "hate education"...
Quote:
Originally Posted by sloan
they are not lying about the guided discussion and lesson plan to go along with the speech though, so you're wrong. sorry.
Guided discussion? Oh no! The horror, sloan! Those kids will surely all turn into communists now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sloan
Many critics focused their concerns on suggested classroom activities, which appeared to solicit support for Obama. In response, the Education Department changed one proposal from having children write letters to themselves about "what they could do to help the president" to writing about "how they can achieve their short-term and long-term educational goals."
I still don't see what school children "helping the President" is such a bad idea. They write letters to themselves with their own ideas on how they can help America, and it is probably a great exercise for children and helping them learn to write. I still don't see how this is a bad idea?
Local school board has opted for the wait and see approach. They will tape the speech to give educators time to review it. Then sharing with students will be up to individual schools admin.
__________________ What I received has no receipt or price tag. I can't take it back and I can't give it away. It's mine and always will be.
I recall an anecdote from democratic representatives who met in the White House with him about the pending health care issues. They were resistant to his ideas and he said something like "You are going to sink my Presidency." Again.... all about him. The guy's either an egomaniac or has let his staff run wild with the marketing angle.
I think the Republican Obama hate is self-defeating. It's far more out in left field and far more extreme than the hatred for Bush. People opposed Bush for the war (which was pretty controversial to begin with, and also a major moral and fiscal issue) and for making the Presidency above the law (Patriot act, wiretapping etc). But it was pretty much the same criticisms, and the criticism was about things that Bush actually did. Wars he actually started. Bills he actually passed that gave his cabinet powers the Presidency has never had. But despite all this, the criticism by liberals was certainly not what did Bush in. The Iraq war ended up being a disaster, and our economy crashed. So in the end, it was the Republican party and Bush who did themselves in, not the Democrats complaining.
Now that Obama is President, we have a conservative outrage-du-jour every single week -- except the outrage is about things that aren't even real. "He wasn't born in the US." "He wants to put 'death panels' into our plans for healthcare reform." "He wants to indoctrinate our kids with socialist ideas by giving a speech to students." And on, and on, and on we go. I don't even remember them all, and it's only been slightly over half a year.
The more conservatives criticize him based on this silliness, the more marginalized they become themselves. The conservative outrage-du-jour is not going to win over moderates. Approval ratings for the Republican party are still at or near record lows. Everyone has the right to criticize the President, but it's really not benefiting anybody with all this carping and complaining. Obama's not even a liberal so far, much less a socialist. His position on foreign policy is center-right. His position on the bailouts was very moderate. His position on torture and wiretapping has been measured. He hasn't yet done one thing in office to indicate that he is more than a hair left of center. I really can't figure out why people are so upset with him.
__________________
"Governing doesn’t disappear when government shrinks; instead corporations come to govern your life — like HMO’s, oil companies, drug companies, agribusiness, and so on, with accountability only to maximizing profit, not to public needs." - George Lakoff
2007 AAT: Lester Oliveros
2008-2010 AAT: Francisco Martinez
__________________
"Governing doesn’t disappear when government shrinks; instead corporations come to govern your life — like HMO’s, oil companies, drug companies, agribusiness, and so on, with accountability only to maximizing profit, not to public needs." - George Lakoff
2007 AAT: Lester Oliveros
2008-2010 AAT: Francisco Martinez
I recall an anecdote from democratic representatives who met in the White House with him about the pending health care issues. They were resistant to his ideas and he said something like "You are going to sink my Presidency." Again.... all about him. The guy's either an egomaniac or has let his staff run wild with the marketing angle.
I really don't think you should confuse issues of policy - which are his agenda - with a speech to school kids about working hard and being good citizens.
Agreed 100%. Education should be urged and emphasized, and if getting kids inspired by the President works, than why get in the way? I thought I was always kidding when I said Republicans "hate education"...
Well, the Democrats aren't any better down here and I'm ticked at them too. Today's BHD is that the county chairman for the Democratic Party has started a drive with e-mails, robo-calls, etc. for parents to inundate their local schools and districts to insist that the speech be aired live. He's unhappy about kids seeing it on video later in the day or week. Sheesh.
Just more stupid garbage for the schools to deal with and none of it truly relative to producing decently educated kids. And it isn't appearing that the Democrats really, truly give a rat's butt about the kids.
There's an old saying that a tug of war is harder on the rope than on those pulling it. That's most definitely true of schools and schoolkids.
I really don't think you should confuse issues of policy - which are his agenda - with a speech to school kids about working hard and being good citizens.
working hard/being good citizizens and helping out Barack Obama are often two mutually exclusive ideals.
It's very important to keep in mind that this "help the President" is not a one off for Mr. Obama. He's consistently shown a pattern of egotistical and selfish behavior from the early days of his campaign (The outrageous Presidential-like seal that his campaign would put on the lectern), after the election (The "Office of the President-Elect"), and as President ("I won, I will trump you on that"). And that's just things that took me 5 seconds to remember. The guy rivals Jimmy Carter in his lack of humility.
working hard/being good citizizens and helping out Barack Obama are often two mutually exclusive ideals.
It's very important to keep in mind that this "help the President" is not a one off for Mr. Obama. He's consistently shown a pattern of egotistical and selfish behavior from the early days of his campaign (The outrageous Presidential-like seal that his campaign would put on the lectern), after the election (The "Office of the President-Elect"), and as President ("I won, I will trump you on that"). And that's just things that took me 5 seconds to remember. The guy rivals Jimmy Carter in his lack of humility.
Or that's just presidential politics. The Presidential seal occurred right after polls showed that Obama didn't seem "Presidential." People like you consider it arrogant, since whatever Obama does will be seen in a negative light by you, but it's political strategy. Same with the "Office of the President Elect." There's nothing egotistical about properly executing political strategy.
__________________
"Governing doesn’t disappear when government shrinks; instead corporations come to govern your life — like HMO’s, oil companies, drug companies, agribusiness, and so on, with accountability only to maximizing profit, not to public needs." - George Lakoff
2007 AAT: Lester Oliveros
2008-2010 AAT: Francisco Martinez
working hard/being good citizizens and helping out Barack Obama are often two mutually exclusive ideals.
No, help the *president*.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oblong
It's very important to keep in mind that this "help the President" is not a one off for Mr. Obama. He's consistently shown a pattern of egotistical and selfish behavior from the early days of his campaign (The outrageous Presidential-like seal that his campaign would put on the lectern), after the election (The "Office of the President-Elect"), and as President ("I won, I will trump you on that"). And that's just things that took me 5 seconds to remember. The guy rivals Jimmy Carter in his lack of humility.
Yeah, OK, you really dislike him and wish he hadn't won. Now stop assuming that everything he does is for his own personal benefit.
So you're not supposed to respect him/her as the head of state at all then? You're not supposed to serve the country at all?
Or is that only if you like him /her that you're supposed to respect them?
You should respect the office of the presidency. You should also serve your country. However, "l'etat, c'est moi" really is not an American concept. The country and the president are two distinct things. You can and should serve your country, but the only people who should serve the president are the White House kitchen staff.
__________________
Did anyone else see the interview where they asked him about the chances he would come back to the Twins? He said "for real? VERY slim." He held his fingers together to show the chances. Then when asked what it would take to keep him he said "PAY ME!" -- Brian "estrepe1" Bluhm on Torii Hunter, April 16, 2007, 3:10 a.m.
I think the Republican Obama hate is self-defeating. It's far more out in left field and far more extreme than the hatred for Bush.
You keep telling yourself that.
__________________
Did anyone else see the interview where they asked him about the chances he would come back to the Twins? He said "for real? VERY slim." He held his fingers together to show the chances. Then when asked what it would take to keep him he said "PAY ME!" -- Brian "estrepe1" Bluhm on Torii Hunter, April 16, 2007, 3:10 a.m.
Why do I want to help the president, when I believe helping him will hurt the country. I'm not in favor of his presidential citizen police force, I'm not in favor of the recent appointment of an FCC chairman who has expressed admiration for Hugo Chavez's handling of the media and laid out detailed plans to silence media opposition. I'm not in favor of the government Nationalizing the banks, big industry, or the health care system. I'm opposed to policies which lead to increased wealth redistribution. I'm opposed to having people in a position of power in the Executive branch who support violent revolution and overthrow of the government, I'm opposed to advisors who support Eugenics, I'm opposed to advisors who support forced euthanasia. I'm opposed to appeasing dictators in the hopes that they will reciprocate in kind.
It's not in my interest to see a president succeed who I think if he succeeds will turn America into something I don't want it to be, which is a land dominated by mediocrity.
Linear Mode
