What did you think about the inauguration?

[BigTwinky]

I don't want to get into the details of the cost of it, we already have a thread on that.

What did you think about the speech?
Notice any body language or anything else interesting?

[Skud]

It was refreshing to hear a leader willing to work with other countries. He spoke of how statistically using only force is not decreasing the threat of terrorism. He said countries that he will work with countries that will work with us...and that countries whose leaders use their positions to destroy rather than build will be judged by their own people. He also said he will use force if necessary...but, in his case, I believe it will truly be a last resort.

Another good point was when he said we should all work together...across party lines, religious lines, etc...especially if we are going to make it through all the stuff that is happening. I hope that everyone can rise above the name calling, ideologies, etc. and at least give it a chance for once. :2thumbs:

[Hammy]

I stopped listening at some point when I notice a syllabatic drum going over and over. Too many big words for a public speech if you ask me.

I just turned to my co-workers and said "I just wish someone would stand up and say 'enough of the wordsmithing...shut up and PROVE IT!'"

I mean what is a speech? It's a formality in post acceptance, and he can promise that monkeys will fly out of DougBob's of ear, but until I see it, it's just an iteration.

I will accept my pessimism until proven otherwise by actions he takes.

[Duke{CLR}]

There is no doubt that the man can make a great speech so I'll give him that but I the content is not that much different then the other ones he has made.

[BigTwinky]

I feel the same way, a speech is a speech, actions will speak louder than words.

However, I wonder what the pulse of the US nation is in terms of a timeline for his getting things done.

He was left with a pure mess from Bush. And from the news reports I have seen, people are expecting him to walk on water.

What will the US think in 6 months when every issue is not solved?

[Duke{CLR}]

Well it took a long time for the pop culture to figure out that Britney Spears was talentless so I guess they will give him a few years. When you figure that the media will cover everything he does with a positive and blame everything bad on Bush he will get a pass for a while.

[Trooper110]

Things can change fast...don't forget how Bush was everyone's favorite during the 911 crisis and afterward for a good time. Until people got that little glint out of their eye and started looking at what he was actually doing, which began to scare and anger them. The only thing that can determine how an official does is time, which I think we owe to Obama, especially after the Bush years. I voted for him, I think he was the best choice for this election (well, I still think Hilary was the best candidate running to start with...) and I hope he'll do well. If he doesn't, he loses my vote next election.

With the current political and economic situation, I wouldn't even give him 6 months. Unless he does SOMETHING and shows indications of keeping promises made, I think the media is going to roast him alive, especially with all the recent experience they've had with the Bush administration.

[{CLR}geneSW]

We won't see any real effect untill a few years later. IIRC it takes about 2-3 years for things to "trickle" down to where the general public will see it.

[Skud]

I stopped listening at some point when I notice a syllabatic drum going over and over. Too many big words for a public speech if you ask me.

I just turned to my co-workers and said "I just wish someone would stand up and say 'enough of the wordsmithing...shut up and PROVE IT!'"

I mean what is a speech? It's a formality in post acceptance, and he can promise that monkeys will fly out of DougBob's of ear, but until I see it, it's just an iteration.

I will accept my pessimism until proven otherwise by actions he takes.

I poured over the speech, and some of the biggest words (most syllables)include: cooperation, irresponsibility, recriminations (that's probably the hardest to understand :wink:), Gettysburg, undiminished, governments, indifference, responsibility (doesn't really count, since I listed irresponsibility already), and remembrance.

Now, I know change is difficult...and complete sentences will be a painful first step for some...but seriously...none of these are out of reach for even eighth graders...maybe for network television, but who makes them dumb-down their programs for the public (maybe the guys who design GM cars)?

As far as pessimism goes, I doubt that anyone can fix this mess in less than four years. But to me it sounds like we've got someone with a head on their shoulders in office again...someone who even seems to listen to dissenting opinions (not the old "with us or against us" mentality)...and that surely can't hurt the chances of it happening.

As I've said before, I'll blast him when he does something wrong, like voting for telecom immunity in the illegal wiretapping of the post 9-11 years; but I will also acknowledge when he's making logical decisions...knowing all the time that he is a politician as well...but somehow, someday, we either have to hold them to their words or toss the whole lot of 'em out. For now, it doesn't hurt to have a little hope for our future. We've already seen what a "guy you could have a drink with" (even though no one really ever could, cept the other oilmen) can do for the country.

[Caddys83]

The Cadillac limo :shock: is wide. The engine hood is also long. If anything, It appers to have a cadillac escalade front end and mirrors. Those fender flairs are kewl.

I read somewhere its a diesel engine under there. It's offical, Gone are the days of the white wall tires :(

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7164/capt8da487f869e04868a77oz3.jpg



Oh yeah, the inauguration was nice, but I lost intrest with all the parade and multi-inauguration balls stuff.

[mapes]

There is no doubt that the man can make a great speech so I'll give him that but I the content is not that much different then the other ones he has made.

I'm cautiously optimistic about in Obama in general. We'll see what he can do over the length of his term However I need to say without a doubt I am so glad that our new president can turn a phrase or use big words. OMG just watching Bush always made me think this guy is so social awkward. Cmon "I'm the decider" did he really say that?

[LIMEY]

I love that thought, Obama is to the Presidency as Brittney Spears is to good music......:twisted::twisted::twisted:

[BigTwinky]

We won't see any real effect untill a few years later. IIRC it takes about 2-3 years for things to "trickle" down to where the general public will see it.

I totally agree that it will take time to see any real effect.

I'm more wondering as to when people EXPECT to see a real effect. Will the people want to wait that long?

I guess if they see it in time for re-election, he's good for another term.

When you figure that the media will cover everything he does with a positive and blame everything bad on Bush he will get a pass for a while.

I agree on the short term. People will need to get it out of their systems, the "it" being blaming Bush for everything.

But if anything, Bush has ensured that the actions taken by a President are more closely watched than they were before, so I'm thinking after the "blame Bush" phase has passed, Obama will be just as followed and scrutinized as he should be

[Duke{CLR}]

Well I would like to the the blame bush days are over but the burning hate that has blinded so many will not dissipate overnight. Whats worse is that it distracts from focusing on the real causes of many of our problems.

[{CLR} Cobalt]

He spoke of how statistically using only force is not decreasing the threat of terrorism.

I will disagree with that wholeheartedly. We just cant get enough other nations to join the fight. And I mean really fight. Not just show up and occupy a space. As I've seen so many times.

Political correctness,worrying about what other nations think is undoing our sovereignty and will be our ultimate downfall. You cannot, and never will be able to negotiate anything with a mindset that says you are supposed to serve me and bent on world domination. Negotiation is a sign of weakness to anyone of these types.

Say what you will about George W. But the bad guys were afraid of him. Why, because he kicked their a$$ into next week.

One other item that I might point out. The people that are responsible for sawing American civilians heads off on camera for the world to see, are the same group who wanted Barak Hussein Obama to win the election. Factor that in the next time you think about why you voted for him. :|


Sorry for the rant, but I've seen too much to let something like this slide. And I'm not personally mad at anyone on these forums either.

[BigTwinky]

Well I would like to the the blame bush days are over but the burning hate that has blinded so many will not dissipate overnight. Whats worse is that it distracts from focusing on the real causes of many of our problems.

I totally agree with you on this. Things need to be done, and continually laying blame on a predecessor will not help. And this is a general comment, not one to whoever the President is. If McCain would of won, I think the same thing would of happened...the hatred for Bush clouds other more important issues.

We just cant get enough other nations to join the fight. And I mean really fight. Not just show up and occupy a space. As I've seen so many times.

I know this is going to open a can of worms, but you did have nations support when you were in Afghanistan. When Bush decided to move the war to Iraq, many nations dropped. Had you stayed with a war on terror, on the taliban, and concentrated efforts on Bin Laden, I think more nations would be fully behind you. But not in Iraq as many nations don't believe its a "just" war, that the results justify the means. Or something like that.

Say what you will about George W. But the bad guys were afraid of him. Why, because he kicked their a$$ into next week.

Well, I don't think the ass kicking is done yet, so they aren't into next week, more like into next Wednesday. Your statement just makes me think of a school yard bully. Where people are afraid of him for the wrong reasons...simply because he can be overpowering. He'll beat you up for no reason, beat you up and take your lunch money, and the school yard fears him. So your statement doesn't really help shed some nice light on Bush, not in the way I understand it. You probably had a different intent.

The people that are responsible for sawing American civilians heads off on camera for the world to see, are the same group who wanted Barak Hussein Obama to win the election. Factor that in the next time you think about why you voted for him.

So you are saying that the terrorists who sawed off heads wanted Obama to win the election instead of McCain. Why? And why should this one factor determine one's voting intentions? I'm just curious to hear more logical thoughts behind your statement instead of just typing random "facts".

Sorry for the rant, but I've seen too much to let something like this slide. And I'm not personally mad at anyone on these forums either.

Never be sorry for typing out your thoughts and ideas and sharing them. Nothing wrong with that. We are all allowed our opinions.

What have you seen that made you not want to let this slide?

And if you were mad at anyone in the forums and came in here flaming and yelling, you probably wouldn't get any response, so there is no point going that route. :)

[{CLR} Cobalt]

So you are saying that the terrorists who sawed off heads wanted Obama to win the election instead of McCain. Why? And why should this one factor determine one's voting intentions? I'm just curious to hear more logical thoughts behind your statement instead of just typing random "facts".

BT, i don't want to get any further into this. If you don't understand the underlying tenets or ideology of the Dem party or rather the truth of that ideology than it will be hard for you to grasp the big picture of what they truly want for this country. Some will get what they signed on for, but it wont be what they expected.

I wont discuss anymore.

[Dead...Again]

I think Obama will get a pass by the media and his supporters. People act like he is Jesus or something:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51kAw4OTlA0&eurl=http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/01/20/i-pledge-to-be-a-servant-to-our-president/&feature=player_embedded

I think if he fails people will just say it was Bush's fault for leaving our economy (or whatever) in the state it is in...

[Skud]

The State Department used to put out a Terror Assessment Report annualy (related articles). After the Invasion of Iraq, terror attacks doubled worldwide, according to the findings of 16 intelligence agencies. The year after they doubled again. The next year, Condi made the once public report classified. :D The main point being, force has to be used at the right time and in the right place, for the right reason...which is what Obama talks about. Listening to dissenting opinion would have helped Bush once in a while, because we know: nobody is right all of the time. The only thing knocked into next week by this war has been our economy (or maybe we didn't need the 800 billion...war without taxes...hmmm, never been done before)...and our reputation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/world/middleeast/24terror.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/sep/25/usa.iraq

As far a blaming Bush...I do recall Clinton being blamed for the problems of the last eight years, for the last eight years, by many...so if Bush was given eight years to fix the mistakes of his predacessor, I suppose Obama should be too.

And now a good word on Bush. Last week he commuted the sentences of the two border patrol agents who shot and killed a Mexican drug runner last year. I was going to post the article in the forum, to show that I can see the positive from both sides...but did not. Anyway, here's my reaching across the aisle. Good job, GWB.

I will try to avoid this post from here on out, knowing that it is a landmine. I do hope that people will judge our new president by his actions, and that there will be some good things coming. Until he actually gets a chance to do something...I think the more support he gets from everybody, the better. We need a little good news for a change.

[Dead...Again]

Listening to dissenting opinion would have helped Bush once in a while, because we know: nobody is right all of the time.
I agree with you on this one. It always bothers me when someone with that much power surrounds himself with people who agree with him or with each other.


The only thing knocked into next week by this war has been our economy
This is as much the fault of the previous administration and congress as it is Bush's


And now a good word on Bush. Last week he commuted the sentences of the two border patrol agents who shot and killed a Mexican drug runner last year. I was going to post the article in the forum, to show that I can see the positive from both sides...but did not. Anyway, here's my reaching across the aisle. Good job, GWB.

Actually, I don't think they killed him, although they did try to cover up what they did by altering the scene. For that reason, I'm not sure that they should have been let off...

[BigTwinky]

BT, i don't want to get any further into this. If you don't understand the underlying tenets or ideology of the Dem party or rather the truth of that ideology than it will be hard for you to grasp the big picture of what they truly want for this country. Some will get what they signed on for, but it wont be what they expected.

I wont discuss anymore.

Cobalt, if you don?t want to discuss something further, specially when someone like me wants to know and understand (because I am clueless), then don?t bother posting it in the first place.

Your ?if you don?t understand, too bad? mentality doesn?t lend any credibility to what you are saying.

If you are simply using this thread to vent your frustrations, then have fun, and move on.

I?m here to discuss with people of different view points to try and see the other side of the story. I don?t live in the US, but as with the rest of the world, I get bombarded with information. I have my opinions, and I love to hear others, whether I agree or disagree.

But feel free not to discuss it anymore. I was looking forward to reading what you have to say, now I don?t.

As far a blaming Bush...I do recall Clinton being blamed for the problems of the last eight years, for the last eight years, by many...so if Bush was given eight years to fix the mistakes of his predacessor, I suppose Obama should be too.

I think its human nature to do that. Its not a democratic thing, its not a political thing. My new boss at work blamed the old boss for things that were messed up. Its what humans do. However, I think the difference is that some people will blame the other guy and then sit on their ass, while others will blame the other guy and then go ahead and fix what the other guy did. I?m hoping Obama will fix things.

And now a good word on Bush. Last week he commuted the sentences of the two border patrol agents who shot and killed a Mexican drug runner last year. I was going to post the article in the forum, to show that I can see the positive from both sides...but did not. Anyway, here's my reaching across the aisle. Good job, GWB.


I didn?t hear about this, thanks for posting it. I read that he had a few days to hand out pardons, but didn?t know he did so.

[Skud]

I didn?t hear about this, thanks for posting it. I read that he had a few days to hand out pardons, but didn?t know he did so.


It's the only thing I could come up with, but I've always said I'd give credit where credit is due. Here's the story. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51417

The drug gangs have the police in Mexico outgunned and frightened, or paid off and working with them. I recently heard that the greatest security threat to the US might now come from Mexico, not Pakistan. So this story, to me, seems a bit outrageous. Though I do wonder if the officers would have been found guilty if they were not Hispanic?

[Duke{CLR}]

As far as blaming Clinton goes the only time I heard the blaming going on was when people were trying to hang the entire fault of 9/11 on Bush.

When it comes to what Obama wants to do I will give him credit when he actually does something. So far all he has done is appoint a bunch of Clinton retreads and make a bunch of lofty speeches. His voting record as a senator is as far left as it gets so I have a great amount of skepticism when he talks about things like responsibility and trimming ineffective government programs. He also mentioned that governments who hold on to power by silencing dissent will be on the wrong side history. I sure hope he remembers this if any kind of fairness doctrine comes up down the road.

[Hammy]

I poured over the speech, and some of the biggest words (most syllables)include: cooperation, irresponsibility, recriminations (that's probably the hardest to understand :wink:), Gettysburg, undiminished, governments, indifference, responsibility (doesn't really count, since I listed irresponsibility already), and remembrance.

Now, I know change is difficult...and complete sentences will be a painful first step for some...but seriously...none of these are out of reach for even eighth graders...maybe for network television, but who makes them dumb-down their programs for the public (maybe the guys who design GM cars)?

As far as pessimism goes, I doubt that anyone can fix this mess in less than four years. But to me it sounds like we've got someone with a head on their shoulders in office again...someone who even seems to listen to dissenting opinions (not the old "with us or against us" mentality)...and that surely can't hurt the chances of it happening.

As I've said before, I'll blast him when he does something wrong, like voting for telecom immunity in the illegal wiretapping of the post 9-11 years; but I will also acknowledge when he's making logical decisions...knowing all the time that he is a politician as well...but somehow, someday, we either have to hold them to their words or toss the whole lot of 'em out. For now, it doesn't hurt to have a little hope for our future. We've already seen what a "guy you could have a drink with" (even though no one really ever could, cept the other oilmen) can do for the country.


Thanks for the insults. :2thumbs: You should consider a new career in hijacking because this thread isnt really about me. The thread is about what YOU thought, and so far we only see what you didnt like about what we say.


I'm happy to see you spent so much time on me, but at the same time, it was my opinion which still stands:

It was just a bunch of words strung togeather making references, judgements, statements, and example on how he intends to invoke change. The truth is, he has to prove he can work with people first- and at this point we have no idea what is going to happen.

**BIG SHRUG**

[Skud]

Thanks for the insults. :2thumbs: You should consider a new career in hijacking because this thread isnt really about me. The thread is about what YOU thought, and so far we only see what you didnt like about what we say.


I'm happy to see you spent so much time on me, but at the same time, it was my opinion which still stands:

It was just a bunch of words strung togeather making references, judgements, statements, and example on how he intends to invoke change. The truth is, he has to prove he can work with people first- and at this point we have no idea what is going to happen.

**BIG SHRUG**

His speech didn't strike me as too heavy on big words, especially since it was a speech given by a president at his inauguration (which of course will be recorded historically, quoted, etc.), so I looked it over more closely with the idea of seeing that, or otherwise...in case I missed something or was possibly blinded ideologically (though he doesn't speak for me on a number of issues--I certainly know that he is not perfect, and so have been looking for faults as much as strengths). Well, I found the speech acceptable, in my opinion, and posted reasons as to why I didn't think it was over the top...thus supporting my opinion to my satisfaction...inviting you, or others, to show me where exactly the speech was as bad as you apparently think it is.

Of course it's all opinion, but without specific reasons behind the opinion, it is difficult for someone who believes differently to see the cause of the other's vitriol. And if you post in a confrontational manner, do not be surprised when others respond in like fashion...since it seems that is how you apparently view my post. And the "monkeys" flying out of ears and the "shut up and prove it" (of course he gives his speech before his sits in the Oval Office and actually has much chance to do something) seemed confrontational to me. :(

[BigTwinky]

This is a forum about discussing opinions, thoughts, ideas, disagreements, agreements and so on. It is not about single people. Commenting on other's opinions and going on slight tangents is what discussions are all about.

No insults were thrown, none that I see. Comment about speech not being fit for the public as there are too many syllables, someone disagrees. I didn't see his post as saying you had the mind of an 8th grader (which you have shown in many other threads that you obviously don't)

[{CLR}geneSW]

If you don't understand the underlying tenets or ideology of the Dem party or rather the truth of that ideology than it will be hard for you to grasp the big picture of what they truly want for this country.

Sorry to pick on one point here..... But there are very little truths in opinion. If you mean something other then that, I would love to hear it so I can understand your position better, as I may have mis-read what you have posted.