OK...Finally we get the truth from Obama and his agenda.

[Quicksilver]

Let's see your "through the years" proof!!!
Where's the proof of the socialist agenda
resulting in goose stepping troops in the streets.

Republicans over the years have been in as much control
as Democrats. So whatever the results we see today they
can without a doubt take as much responsibility for the mess
we are in as anyone.

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

Liberal Democrats have demonstrated enough through the years with their eagerness to redistribute wealth. "Social Justice" "Economic Justice"

Speaking of taxes? it cost me $79.00 for Turbo Tax
to do may taxes. (No law firms needed).
What I paid in taxes (where ever it went)
aint worth blaming Obama for so I have no
cause to defend him or rake him over the
coals regarding the present state of affairs.
I know for sure the republicans were just as
responsible for the tax code as the democrats.

The political machine of this country is run by
many things and you can be sure much of it
has nothing to do with one's political party.

That being said i'm certainly not going to cry in
my beer about something I cannot change.

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

Billionaires can afford to hire law-firms to do their taxes. I can't so I'll end up paying as well as many of you in this bracket.

[Wagner]

Just to point to a comment made earlier, Obama doesn't make the laws..Congress does. In turn, no matter what his point of view it doesn't mean the legislature must follow suite. Ask Carter about that. Obama campaigned on a pseudo-socialist platform so it really shouldn't be a shock that is what he wants. He wants a larger government involvement because in his eyes, that makes for a better America. Sadly, most Americans prefer big brothers help than not.

OK, total tangent:

Like most Presidents he rode in with a great deal of fan-fair which has passed and he now has an approval rating in keeping with almost any sitting President near the half point of their term. Nothing exceptional. He followed in step, whether he said so or not, with what Bush did before him. Continuing the execution of TARP and wars in Iraq/Afghanistan. Both things he railed against in his campaign pitch. His only distinguishing push was health care reform which became an utter debacle, which is now coming home to roost. I actually applaud the effort to at least get Congress to do something on Health Care even though I believe his track is incredibly wrong. He takes a hard stance against 'corrupt' big business but doesn't fault the government for creating the problem (see his finance reform agenda which did not discuss Fannie/Freddie which was core to the mortgage fall out, nor does it address the Federal Reserve which created and exacerbated the condition). This strikes a cord with honest workers who believe that you SHOULD get a bonus for doing your job well, and that 250K is not rich.

I believe Obama painted himself in a corner with his debt commission. The first items they are looking at is Social Security and Obama-Care. Probably not what Obama intended, however this could be a GREAT point for him. If they do declare Obama-Care to be cut and he follows through, to some extent on that, he will go up a few points in my eyes for really wanting to solve the problem.

Does Obama have socialist or Marxist tenancies? Absolutely, read the book "Stalin, Lenin and Hitler: The Age of Social Catastrophe (Amazon.com: Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler: The Age of Social Catastrophe (9781400040056): Robert Gellately: Books) and you can draw exact parallels in practice. Does that make him a complete Socialist determined to completely undermine the US Constitution? No. However, some of his actions like running up a 14+T dollar debt make you wonder what he intends for the future of America. If anything at all. IMO, Obama believes that Unionized labor is best and that working in mass is much more efficient than the individual (just look at his biggest supporters).

IMO, he very much fits the persona of someone you'd probably like to hang with (more so that Bush did, at least to me). I believe he genuinely feels larger government helps. However, the United States of America is not built that way. He would have some serious changes to make to make his vision possible, and that isn't going to happen.

[Wagner]

So MD, who would I suggest as Pres? Hard to say. I'd most likely pick Ron Paul. I've read every book he has written and a lot about him as a person. He seems genuine in his love of the US Constitution and rules of the land. Problem is he isn't a game playing politician. He doesn't tend to tow a line for a party, what that means is he stands no shot of getting on the ticket for President at the end of the game.

I would HIGHLY encourage everyone to read any of Ron Paul's books. I believe the Rep party will pick Mitt Romney in 2012. In my fantasy world I'd hope that Ron Paul, pushed by Tea Party support, would get the Rep nomination. However, I doubt that would ever be allowed by the GOP and DEMS would rail against Ron Paul for wanting to remove most social programs from the US Government, no matter how much common sense it makes.

[Quicksilver]

Good to see you back in the mix.
I enjoy your opinion.

[blktoptrvl]

NewsDaily: Odierno "confident" U.S. Iraq drawdown on schedule

"We are ... on target to be at 50,000 (troops) by August," General Raymond Odierno told the "Fox News Sunday" program.


Don't see people can say he is continuing Bush's wars. Bush had no intention of getting out of Iraq ("on his watch") because (a) he couldn't admit how much cash and life he had wasted and (b) he had no idea how to stop this mess he started.

Obama may not have brought all the troops home immediately (never the plan) but they are working on closing out the war that should never have been started.

[Wagner]

Let me know when "we are on target" becomes "we have brought"

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Good to see you back in the mix.
I enjoy your opinion.

Thanks man.

[motordavid]

BigR,
I am also glad to see you cruise back in here, occasionally...

My comment about my continual "question" to my GeezerBuds is somewhat rhetorical, as I know most of them get their entire "news" from ~10 mins of Fox or Rush, et al.
Doesn't mean those sources suck, but a couple snippets of that stuff is not exactly "fair and balanced", or fully informative imo.

Thus, other than the usual right/conservative suspects, they can offer no real good ideas on "who" and "why".

(I always wonder what "conservative values" really means, even after reading some blogs/definitions/position papers on that toss around term.)

Back on point, sort of, Paul would be interesting and about a 180 from standard party machine politics in the US, but I suspect he has less chance than me breaking 75.
I have read considerably on he and his positions and ideas, but he may be too "smart" and tenuous for the typical TeaParty or RepublicanDem stuffed suits.

No polit xpert here, as I find myself ranting at all most all of them, and there are few I would hire to help me pick up yard debris, let alone "guide" me in any serious life task.

Things and, politics, and the Noise in this country is as loud and obnoxious and inane, and non-constructive, as I can recall in my 6+ decades here. I have no answer(s)...
it will probably not get better.

Good to read you again Ryan, and very good to read your back is on the heal.
BR, mD

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Wagner

Let me know when "we are on target" becomes "we have brought"

So, in your mind, these two presidents have the same goals, attitudes, and objectives in war because one started the war, but the other has not yet completed achieved its ending?

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

So, in your mind, these two presidents have the same goals, attitudes, and objectives in war because one started the war, but the other has not yet completed achieved its ending?

No, No and No. But quotes are nothing, there were tons of quotes during Bush's tenure about bringing troops home. Point of fact, Obama campaigned on bringing troops home, he hasn't. Simple as that. No need to attempt to 'read' things into it. Obama promised to bring home most of the 140,000+ troops home this summer, leaving only 50K or so left to come home next year. Isn't happening. And he said it would be done by August 2010 (the large troop removal).

Obama 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/wa.../28troops.html

Bush 2007
Bush to Bring 5,700 Troops Home by Christmas : NPR