Lost Faith

[TiminOhio]

The President has lost credibility in his State of the Union presntation to Congress. Certain institutions have lost credibility because of their practices. Yet he repeated the word "faith" which applies to belief. Either institutions act credible or they don't. If they don't and it hurts America and there are no consequences for their actions then that causes citizens not to trust government as well as to not trust corrupt institutions. Clearly the President has speech writers assist him with his speech - he is not like Lincoln writing his famous address on his own. The assault on the sensibilities of persons who have real faith in their religion has to end.
The stock market and our economy should not be built on beliefs. Instead it should built on facts and reasonable expectations. If the President simply announced that the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) would implement rules to protect investors from unfair practices - issuing too many shares, failing to pay dividends while over compensating CEOS & management, failing to purchase back shares in lieu of not paying dividends, and other unreasonable practices, then that would spur confidence based on reasonable practices and end the "belief" jargon which has no place in government or our economy.
Just as he has misdirected the public regarding healthcare reform - saying he wants to control cost and planting a suggestion that the healthcare costs he cares about controlling is what the average "joe" pays for health care and or health insurance, the costs the Executive Branch really wants to control is the cost of Medicare/Medicaid on the Federal Budget. And he ignores the real reforms americans actually want.
So I have no confidence in the white House and it has nothing to do with Faith
What did you think about the speech?

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

I think President Obama's speech was excellent. Tim look at the bright side... You can know that come election day 2012 my vote will be there to cancel yours out.

Best to all

R

[Elliott]

How about them Astros?

[GodSistah]

What did you think about the speech?

Well, I thought it was quite boring,
but still...not anywhere near as long as the last 10 speeches,
so...that was a definate plus...

Oh wait...you were asking about Obama's speech.

Nevermind.

[paularoid]

The President has lost credibility in his State of the Union presntation to Congress.
Spoken like a true "neocon".

:rolleyes:




.

[Wildflower Fever]

I'd like to see him do this every time he speaks (the President of course;)). I think he should never let anyone forget that he inherited this economy, and that the republicans are the party of no. Americans have such an easily manipulated short attention span, so he needs to keep driving the point home. I also want to hear about plans to use reconciliation to pass bills without the super majority of 60 votes. I want bills that are good for the american people shoved down the republicans throats on the way to passage. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, repubs, tastes good right?:D

[DaveM]

With all due respect, I find it astonishing that anyone, when referring to a politician who promised to walk on water while running for office (as virtually all of them do), is disappointed when said politician fails to do so. If anyone can come up with the name of a President who delivered everything he promised, I would very much like to hear it. Politicians, as a rule, are great people until they get elected.

More than 200 years after the fact, people are still trying to find new ways of smearing Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Our leaders in America are public servants, not monarchs. It is for the electorate to keep the country going at least as much as it is for those who hold elected office. And those who believe that a "Change" bumper sticker accomplishes anything fall into the same error of those who "support the troops" by putting a magnetic ribbon on their cars.

We will never have any honest exchange of ideas in this country's halls of power when each party interchangeably adopts a one-line agenda of "NOT what the other guy wants". That sort of attitude doesn't work on any level. It certainly is no way to run a country.

[Eva]

My goodness Dave. I actually agree with you... :eek: ;)

Eva

[Wildflower Fever]

With all due respect, I find it astonishing that anyone, when referring to a politician who promised to walk on water while running for office (as virtually all of them do), is disappointed when said politician fails to do so. If anyone can come up with the name of a President who delivered everything he promised, I would very much like to hear it. Politicians, as a rule, are great people until they get elected.

More than 200 years after the fact, people are still trying to find new ways of smearing Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Our leaders in America are public servants, not monarchs. It is for the electorate to keep the country going at least as much as it is for those who hold elected office. And those who believe that a "Change" bumper sticker accomplishes anything fall into the same error of those who "support the troops" by putting a magnetic ribbon on their cars.

We will never have any honest exchange of ideas in this country's halls of power when each party interchangeably adopts a one-line agenda of "NOT what the other guy wants". That sort of attitude doesn't work on any level. It certainly is no way to run a country.

I don't know if you are addressing me, but I'll assure you I am no Obama apologist blind faith follower. I saw the folly in all the change promises as well, and have been disappointed with him on many issues. That said, if he truly holds the ideals he expresses, most of which I agree with, the time of pretending to want to be bi-partisan is over for me. At some point something has to be dreamed of, proposed, and enacted. That may mean in fact that you have to shove this "stuff" down the oppositions throats. I'm looking for a little more sense of urgency and toughness out of our president in these volatile times.

[DaveM]

Merely speaking in general, not addressing anyone in particular. I merely find it astonishing that the election of a politician--any politician--these days is almost invariably followed within a year by a rather high-level backlash, often media-driven. There may well be people out there who could live up to the various expectations and impossibly high standards expected of a public official, but it's not hard to see why none of them want to occupy public office.

[Oak Kitten]

"No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it."
Thomas Jefferson

The most democratic aspect of Democracy is that we all get to be complicit in our own destruction.

Oak

[hoops]

Dave, I agree. I also saw, for the first time, what i I'm not sure i have very seen. In that room, people were watching and listening. I heard thoughts and ideas instead of bullet points that make everyone stand up and cheer. I saw that there were many fewer points at which applause happened because people were busy listening.
peace
hoops

[Judy]

I think what most astounds me is that the man ran on promises of Health Reform. Then true to the nature of the U.S. the fear mongering has gotten things whipped into a frenzy and now the masses are running about like Chicken Little.

"The Government will take away your choice of Drs." I live in a town of approx 25000 people and my private insurance approves FIVE drs. A couple of years ago at a coffee shop in Canada I struck up a conversation with the owner and he asked very sincerely "Why are the Americans so motivated by fear at every turn?" I could only answer that it was easier than thinking.

Anyway, I digress...The President has been been betrayed by his own party who has gotten so caught up in the frenzy that they fear for their own re-election. Shame on us for having had a resounding majority that was wasted and otherwise bastardized into something that could hardly be called reform.

[leslie]

"No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it."
Thomas Jefferson

The most democratic aspect of Democracy is that we all get to be complicit in our own destruction.

Oak

What she said! LOL - love that Randy

That said, I think that the blame for lack of action lies squarely with Congress. The promises Obama made he has tried to fulfill only to be stymied by Congress and the special interest groups. I have not lost my faith in the president, but I have certainly lost it in the Democratic party and it's representatives in Congress who keep trying to tie initiatives to other agendas. They all need a good spanking. And need to be reminded that this is America, where we decidedly FROWN on DISINFORMATION!

[leslie]

Dave, I agree. I also saw, for the first time, what i I'm not sure i have very seen. In that room, people were watching and listening. I heard thoughts and ideas instead of bullet points that make everyone stand up and cheer. I saw that there were many fewer points at which applause happened because people were busy listening.
peace
hoops

I liked that fact too Hoopie, what was sad was how often the Republican side was panned by the camera and they appeared to be looking to their colleagues to see if they were allowed to agree or not! :D

[Gandalf]

Both times! Words of wisdom, Dave!

[marjan]

I´m not sure if I get this ..
Is it just me who thinks that the Republicans blame Mr Obama for the things that are going wrong today, that in fact are the dicisions they approved in the 8 years Mr Bush was president?
I mean he has to deal with all the s..t that they left behind and I think he does his best, no one ever promised he could work miracles.

[DaveM]

I think it would be rather interesting if portions (let's say half) of the Legislature were staffed by ordinary citizens chosen in much the same manner that people are now chosen for jury duty. Make it a one-time "duty" for some fixed period under the civil service pay scale (and as with jury duty and the National Guard, make sure no one loses their job while serving their country). And see what happens.

An utterly impractical idea. But it would be interesting to see what came out of political discussions between "Joe The Plumber", teachers, assembly lineworkers, lawyers, H&R Block employees, and convenience store clerks.

Just to keep things interesting, have a piece of legislation permanently on the floor which, if called to a vote and approved, would put the system back the way it was at the end of everyone's current term. How long does anyone think it would last? And who would everyone blame for the results, be they good or bad?

[hoops]

Dave you raise some very interesting points, but then you always do. sometimes it hurts to think that much, but I do my best.
I think it would be interesting to see that room filled with "regular people" and see how they respond to the President's speech. it's a smaller scale, but more possible than having half the legislature full of regular guys. I think we would actually see how the country was truly running.
peace
hoops

[TiminOhio]

My Congressmen arrives hours ahead of time for the speech (when he should be reading & responding to his constituents' mail/e-mail - as it is postal mail arrives late because of all the security screening it has to go through before it is delivered...hmmmm) just so he can get a photo shoot with the President when he enters the floor when he shakes his hand.

I try not to look at & think about all those old geezers and what they might actually be thinking about - yikes. :p(I'm becoming one - oh my - Peter Pan help me! - "Tallie Ho").....do I hear a small bell ringing?

Here is one way we Americans can create some jobs for ourselves and circulate our federal tax dollars in our own communities and not be dependent on our representative to bring home Pork to our district:
If American households simply do not mail back the census, then the Federal Government has to employ census takers from your local community who have to go door to door to get the information. Creates jobs as census takers for the unemployed in your community while keeping tax dollars also right in your own community when they get their pay checks and spend most of it locally. Well some may take a trip to Disney World afterward and spend some of it there (unless your community's tourist attractions are better!) Hey - come see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame we need some tourism dollars in Cleveland. ;) Anyway - is Peter Pan at Disney World...or just Mickey Mouse & Its a Small World After All village? Oh well - you get the point.

Now if everyone is leaving the city and there is a glutten of empty apartments and rental houses then why aren't rents being lowered in the city?

Is it true that a large number of Obama supporters deserted or turned on him because he proposed a jobs package to get Americans working?:rolleyes:
Stolen from Paul Harvey - Good Day!:D

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Here is one way we Americans can create some jobs for ourselves and circulate our federal tax dollars in our own communities and not be dependent on our representative to bring home Pork to our district:
If American households simply do not mail back the census, then the Federal Government has to employ census takers from your local community who have to go door to door to get the information. Creates jobs as census takers for the unemployed in your community while keeping tax dollars also right in your own community when they get their pay checks and spend most of it locally. Well some may take a trip to Disney World afterward and spend some of it there (unless your community's tourist attractions are better!)

Tim unfortunately you sir are displaying a large part of what is wrong with some in this nation. Americans used to have a true and strong work ethic. We didn't need to create jobs because as wealth was earned it was shared between employers and employees with a living wage. a job worth doing was a job worth doing well. We didn't need to look to make busy work. The Census like it or not, is a part of the checks and balances that allow us fair representation. If you choose not to accept your civil responsibilities such as participating in the Census, thats your choice... But if your not part of the solution, then I guess that makes you just another part of the problem. Despite what many may think, things can actually work better when the answer is to work together rather then the approach of making things better by making others fail...




Is it true that a large number of Obama supporters deserted or turned on him because he proposed a jobs package to get Americans working?:rolleyes:
Stolen from Paul Harvey - Good Day!:D

You know Tim, Me thinks your brain cells may well be on strike... Maybe to much FOX tv perhaps?

Geeesh...

R

[Mary6906]

Yo, Randy.... me thinks somebody needs a good head thumpin' :)

[Wildflower Fever]

It's a Fox News/Glenn Beck style of discourse. First, you come off as a bit of a fence rider and don't out and out claim to be 100% anti liberal. But then you follow it up with a question like: "is it true that liberals are destroying our country? discuss." Do it all with a tongue in cheek style and let your "panel" slander everyone. That's what I'm getting from our "friend", he's hoping to be just civil enough with enough smiley faces added that a fence can be ridden, but the Fox News barbs just keep coming like little talking point one-liners.

[TiminOhio]

I am so sorry if you had your faith in Obama. But it looks like Health Care Reform will die. The replacement election of Kennedy made a loud statement in a strong Democratic district. Voters, even Democrats, do not want the type of reform that has been proposed with little public talks.

The American public is tired of the Party Boss system and closed door politics. Maybe Obama will hold true to his promise to bring our troops home - I hope I can have "faith" that Obama will bring our military home from the desert (Middle East) - he can do that without Congressional approval!

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

The American public is tired of the Party Boss system and closed door politics.

Tim thank you for your opinion though I for one don't believe that you are qualified to speak for the American public on any topic. Come to think of it I find it difficult to agree with you about almost any position that you have expressed as yet.

Best

R.

[Cardiffgal]

Tim thank you for your opinion thought I for one don't believe that you are qualified to speak for the American public on any topic. Come to think of it I find it difficult to agree with you about almost any position that you have expressed as yet.

Best

R.

Yeah what he said. LOVE YOU RANDY.