Barack Obama Quotes

Bogart, it's strange to you because you can't see past your blinders, in my opinion.

You really should be more careful with misstatements.

Obama denounced his former pastor's remarks, the "infamous remarks" of the last news cycle. Not "sermons," generally:

You see, in my world, these two things can very much go together. You can denounce remarks you do not believe in, while also drawing edification from someone generally. I know for myself, I can rarely think of a teacher whose life was spotlessly an inspiration for me. But I still draw from them, even admire them. An example for me would have been my late Aikido and Zen master, Tenzan Fumio Toyoda. I lived as his direct apprentice. He had many flaws. But he was one of the most influential and positive teachers of my life.

In the case of Obama and his former preacher, he already very clearly said that he condemned the remarks, and the view that generated them, while refusing to excise the pastor from his history and life. You've read this, as you've responded to it.

It's only a problem if you are attempting to string conspiracies, or attempt propaganda, in my opinion.

 

Guerilla, I have no problem with evolution. It's a sign of life, and something I of all people should not be condemning. What I object to is continuing to crucify someone with nothing in one's hands, or one thing in one's left hand that is mutually exclusive to the thing in one's right hand.

It's very basic. You and Will, primarily, have to this day essentially been saying Obama is a socialist (lately, your moving to intimating he's a marxist, tossing in a good measure of JBS Guilt by Association - "he's intentionally mixing with Marxists"), an appellation that necessarily comes with concrete plans and policies, while saying he is "unknowable," because he doesn't have any plans and policies. This isn't "evolution" - this is here and now. I would have to again ask, which is it?

I will also, say, again, that I have discussed many reasons I support Obama. I've pointed this up, several times. You're just not reading them, or choosing to ignore them because it's a convenient method on the forum. From a post yesterday alone:

Which I know you read, since you replied to this post. Unless you deliberately avoided these references (only a couple, and from more recent time) on why I support Obama. Either way, while I do expect this kind of thing from you, it is of course regretful.

But ultimately, as with any candidate, the question must be asked - if you are truly freaked:

"I just can't for the life of me know what he intends to do!..."

-as with any candidate, why not just go to his website, which details his plans?

Here, I'll make it easy:

Barack Obama's Plans and Policies

So, you see, when I do post why I support the man, and you choose to ignore it; and beyond, when the man's concrete plans are utterly available to all, I do sniff bullshit when I continue to read crap like:

Particularly when it's precisely on those plans that you, and others, condemn Obama's candidacy.

I have zero problem with taking issue with Obama on his plans, or how he will accomplish them. I take issue with the hypocrisy that condemns him for his plans, then whines he doesn't have any. It tells me the poster isn't interested in anything but pandering to those susceptible to the propaganda. Which in your case is an accurate assessment, in my opinion.

 

Yes. You do.

This election is not about taking a few quotes out of context and repeating them endlessly. It's about the economy, health care, and the Iraq war. On those issues Obama has better answers than McCain. That's what it's about. Stop trying to distract people.

 

You're entitled to your opinion. Like sphincters, everyone has one.

That said, I'm not asking for a link to Obama's policies. I'm asking YOU, the Obama supporter, who feels that Ron Paul supporters are responsible for conforming absolutely to RP's platform, what Obama's platform consists of.

It seems logical to me, that if you hold RPers to such a standard, then you must hold yourself to the same standard with Obama.

Now, the internet is an open book test, so you can always look these things up, but asking assuming your honor in answering, do you know...

Obama's position on Executive Orders and Signing Statements?

Obama's position on the line item veto?

Obama's position on monetary policy (particularly relevant with the dollar under such duress and inflation soaring)

Obama's position on Presidential authority to declare war without Congress?

Obama's position on a new 9/11 investigation?

Obama's position on the SPP and any possible initiatives to move towards a NAU or AU?​

In lieu of answering any of these you may not have had any interest in, and hence may not have investigated, feel free to substitute other substantive topics you feel comfortable speaking on his positions.

 

The USA cannot afford Barack Obama's policies.

I am also not convinced of Obama's sincerety in his commitments to civil liberties. His voting record on important legislation in that area is curious at best (see Patriot Act, Patriot Act renewal, agreement in principle with Real ID act). I would really like to see him make a strong statement denouncing the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 which is currently sitting in the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of which he is a member awaiting recommendation to the Senate (or hopefully a loud and permanent death).

 

No! Seriously? That's weird. No, that's unbelievable.

I've simply never met anyone like that, and I would never in a thousand years have pegged you for that person.

Still, and I think this is important, you can't let your guilt interfere with your reason.

Before the left-wing of the Democratic party decided to run him for President, he said things like "I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns." Now that he's trying to hide his extreme leftist positions, he says things like "I like oranges."

If you look at everything he has said recently, you see Obama as pumping out platitudes faster than Mars pumps out M&M's. On the other hand, if you look at his voting record you see a different story. This can be done all the way back to his time as a state senator.

This isn't the black and white issue that you are painting it to be.

 

Obama is another Jimmy Carter. Carter ran on a message of trust and Obama is running on a message of hope. Obama is vague just as Carter in what he will do as President.

http://www.observer.com/2008/turning-obama-jimmy-carter

 

Well, hell, Bogart, at least we're making progress. I'll take vague for $1000, pass my Al-Qaeda plant/Black Nationalist/Traitor/Marxist/Antichrist cards any day of the week.

 

Worse than all those, he's a liberal Democrat.

Scanning through his Blueprint for Change, all I see is "Obama will legislate this" and "Obama will force Americans to do that" and "Obama will provide for your every need" and "Obama will make market forces magically disappear is a cloud of pixie dust."

He'll raise benefits and cut taxes. He'll make business more responsive to government demands by enacting legislation which will force them to operate at a loss (how long with that work, Mr. Stalin?) and they will have to go along with it -- because he says so.

He'll pass laws, no mention of that "Congress" thing which might or might not be cooperative with his grand plans to remake the nation in his socialist image of a welfare paradise.

He'll put a chicken in every pot and a food stamp in every mailbox and the only people who will have to pay for it are the evil corporations.

He sounds a bit like guerilla.

 

Will, this is fine. I can debate along these lines. Rebecca, for example, sometime ago raised the same concerns, after investigating his policies, and that is to be respected. But these aren't platitudes, they are policy plans, which for now, is my point. He does have a platform built on specifics, that differ from his speeches. In this, he isn't alone. From Kennedy to Reagan, from Reagan to today, at least, speeches are not wonkish discussions.

 

lmao! Good one.

I'm watching you Will.Spencer!

Btw, I did notice a lot of "Obama will do this. Obama will ensure that," etc. Sounds like a continuation of the Imperial Presidency from the left.

 

Unfortunately, his "policies" are all platitudes too.

Obama will end all no-bid contracts. -- Uh huh. Has this moron ever had a real job? Cost-plus contracts are the only way that some projects can be tackled. Bidding only works on well-known and well understood projects. War doesn't work that way.

"Obama will sign a universal health care plan into law by the end of his first term in office. His plan will provide affordable, quality health care coverage for every American." -- Uh huh. Maybe this fascist asshole needs to read the Constitution before running for the the Presidency. Or is his first act as Dictator going to be abolishing the U.S. Congress?

"Obama’s plan will bring down the cost of health care and reduce a typical family’s premiums by as much as $2,500 per year." -- Uh huh. Yeah, Obama will change the rules of economics and set prices based upon the needs of the state. That worked really well for Joe Stalin and I'm sure that it will work equally well here.

"Affordable Premiums, Co-Pays and Deductibles." -- Uh huh. And all the money will come from squeezing the blood out of the evil corporations and that won't cause any other economic effects, right? Only "bad" people will be hurt, while all of the "good" people will benefit.

"Obama will establish an independent institute to guide reviews and research on comparative effectiveness, so that Americans and their doctors will have the accurate and objective information they need to make the best decisions for their health and well-being." -- Uh huh. We all know that government bureaucrats know more about medicine than doctors do, so the system will be improved if we just hire bureaucrats to tell doctors how to do their jobs.

"Obama will establish an independent institute to guide reviews and research on comparative effectiveness, so that Americans and their doctors will have the accurate and objective information they need to make the best decisions for their health and well-being." -- Uh huh. Because really, as soon as we make legislation to force the insurance companies out of the malpractice business, we'll have to implement a government insurance bureau to replace them. Does this moron actually believe that insurance companies will operate at a loss just to please him?

"And I won’t raise the minimum wage every ten years – I will raise it
to keep pace so that workers don’t’ fall behind. That is why I am in it. To protect the American worker. To fight for the American worker." -- Uh huh. "Protecting the American worker" by pricing them out of the market and forcing employers to either ship jobs overseas or go out of business.

"Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay." -- Uh uh. Someone should remind this asshole that The Kennedy's are a "working family."

"Obama will ensure that his labor appointees support workers’ rights and will work to ban the permanent replacement of striking workers." Uh huh. Obama will tell employers who they have to hire and who they can't hire. Yeah, I'm sure that top-down government control of hiring decisions will lead to the best people being hired. I'm sure that Obama can run American businesses better than the Americans can.

...

I could go on... that's only a quick take -- and I stopped on page 11 because it appears we have a prowler.

Torment 'ya later!

 

Oh, he's busy trying to defend the right to underage girl's being apparently impregnated by their arranged middle-aged dudes, from what I can tell.

No torment, Will. Worthy of a good debate.

 

I think he meant a real prowler. Like, in the real world.

Do you need some help then?

 

No, I'm quite sure the prowler Will was speaking of doesn't involve himself in the real world. That about right, Will?

No, but thanks. If I need gross misstatements, diversionary tactics, logical inconsistencies, or other means of dealing in guerilla warfare, I'll be sure to come knocking.

 

Ok, that would be cool, because I would love to learn from the master.

 

Guerilla, how about this - and before the community -

This is all my opinion. I am not making these assertions as a statement of objective "truth":

I hold your views and your methods in contempt, and do not respect your manner of debate in any way, shape or form. I think your posts are generally dishonest, especially when you fall in obvious error - you cannot admit when you're wrong, and I think you are, consistently, quite wrong. I think you play games as a matter of course. I think engaging with you is an utter waste of time that could more valuably be spent in good faith discussion - and therefore find your behavior like a kind of wounded gnat: endlessly annoying, but fatally insipid. You have called me "psychotic," and a host of other deplorable words, in an effort to divert attention away from the weaknesses in your many arguments. In short, enough.

I have no doubt you think precisely the same of me.

If there is any profit to this section of the forum, it is to learn from one another. Our endless bullshit serves nothing, and no one. I'd ask us both to just stay the hell away from each other, as it is a stupid, childish way to spend one's hours. I pledge to do my best. I'd ask you to do the same.

Paul

 

Nah, you're ok. I think you take yourself a little too seriously, and this forum really seriously, but you're probably a decent enough guy, well meaning if (in my opinion) misguided.

Instead of all the pomp and circumstance, how about we just try to avoid conflict and treat one another with some mutual tolerance and respect? Because I don't think either of us will be able to create an artificial vacuum within the larger environment.

 

Enough. It's everywhere, and this is only the tip of the iceberg regarding the personal crap. And god knows I've said my peace regarding you, as well. I do not think you're "O.K.," and neither do you think so of myself.

Beyond that, there isn't a single profitable exchange. Zero. I consider you to play games almost exclusively, and the above is another example. We know, and this entire forum knows, how we really feel. I do not want to play games, Guerilla.

We'd both to well to just stay away from each other. I pledge to do my best, and I am asking you to do the same.

Paul

 

There you go speaking for me again.

I don't really care what you think of me. I don't really care what the forum thinks of me. I'm not trying to win a popularity contest, this isn't high school.

I've tried apologizing. I've tried avoiding you. I've tried being nice. I've tried confronting you, I've tried being incredibly mean and hurtful. I'm basically out of tactics, except to not take you seriously at all. Which is where we are today.

As far as the "personal crap", your obsession with that, and what came before it (particularly the neurotically imagined stuff) is exactly why you will not be able to resist taking pot shots, or continuing to harass me. I'm not the guy who continually digs through 3 or 4 months of posts to character assassinate you. I'm simply not that hung up on what you said before.

Then just stop posting to or about me.

I doubt it can be pulled off, we've both tried and failed. We can certainly try again, but I'm not going to back myself into a corner where in the next round it becomes more fodder for recrimination.

Do whatever you will. I'm not planning to respond to you anytime soon. Only you can control you, and I am quite sure you are aware when you choose the high or low road.