Not the first time I was lied to by a politician. His promise to NOT require mandatory health insurance was the single reason I voted him over Clinton. I expect she will run in 2016.
With family and friends. I never really get that heated, either. Politics are a mess anyway, this country needs more than a 2 party system. Doesn't matter who the President is, nothing will get done anymore because politicians care more about saving face these days than whats best for the country. I think given the cards that Obama was dealt, he has done an admirable job. That of course with a senate that is close-minded and won't allow Obama to get shit done. I don't feel that getting into political arguments on the internet is a fulfilling exercise. I understand a lot of people love it, I don't get it.
Obama could have been the best President in the world and waved a magic wand and the economy could be back on track and Republican's would still think that he's the shittiest President ever. Thats why I don't discuss politics. Narrow, narrow-minded individuals.
But Obama hasn't been the best president in the world, the economy isn't back on track, etc. It's actually gotten better since there's been gridlock, which speaks of the policies Obama pursued and won with Democrats controlling the house and senate. The thing is, I think Clinton was an outstanding president. So I guess I'm narrow minded.
This message board says it all. Obama is toast. All this publicity coming from Republican primaries and caucuses shows that most Americans are Republicans. It's time to return to one of those competent Republican presidents. Can't wait to watch the deficit turn around, abortion become illegal, and unemployment go down. As Reagan proclaimed, America is back! I'll donate money to the cause by betting anyone money. You can take the Republican and I'll take the Democrat. Think of it as my contribution.
How was he a great president if he didn't lead with a philosophy that lasted? My telling is that he was not a great president, rather, he subdued any virtue that he had power to embolden.
My telling is that government is sooooo large that it's rare that you'll find a guy who ran it as well as Clinton did. And while there was partisanship on both side, especially the Newt led House, he was able to set a realistic and widely popular agenda and got most of it done. Everybody prospered, so it seems. Obama hasn't led on much of anything. He said he wanted universal health care, but made no proposal in Bill form to congress. Instead, it was Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi who wrote the bill, bartering away whatever it took to get votes for it. It was never popular, and in the end, it took a parliamentary gimmick to pass it. Normally, a president has a chief of staff and other staff who lobby congress, count votes, barter for votes, etc. For Bills written by the West Wing. If you feel this critique is unfair, do tell. I did think Obama was quite inspirational at the time he was elected, and I hoped he might push for policies popular to most people. Sadly, I don't see much he's done that fits this description. Getting Bin Laden was good, but expanding the war in Afghanistan and bombing civilians in a neighboring country seems a lot like Nixon and his bombing of Laos and Cambodia.
I'll accept that you were a dem once, if you admit that on its way off the tracks, it ran into the republican party...who is also off the tracks
(facepalm) You judge a president by whether his policies SHOULD have lasted, not whether they DID. The next president determined whether they DID. You blame the NEXT president for that, not the guy who did what was right, and had us on track to have the deficit completely paid off by now.
Which brings up the question, how if he was so great did W follow him as president? If Clinton was so great how on earth could the people look to W for a change?
Not necessarily. Take a look at "The Secret Knowledge," by David Mamet. A lifelong liberal, he recently saw the light and switched sides. Sometimes being exposed to arguments over time will finally change your mind.
I get that Al Gore was the only other option, but surely if Clinton hadn't soiled himself, Gore would've won running away. And I guarantee this world would be a much better place had Clinton actually extended a legacy.
People thought GHW Bush would extend Reagan's legacy, but he didn't. Both he and Gore had stellar resumes, too.
Riiiiiight......You've always claimed to be independent, when in reality you're as conservative as they come.