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Mark100
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 441
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 Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:16 am Post subject: |
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Geez there are a lot of party poopers here ......
Let's bask in the moment and live with the hope and expectation of something fresh and new.
Obama could not possibly be worse than the worst president in US history. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| America was generally considered friendly to Arab Nations until the 70s. |
True, but that's a hell of a lot longer ago than the Bush presidency. I believe Arabs were cynical as to US foreign policy for a long time now, and it will take more than a 'charismatic' new president to change that.
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Obama could not possibly be worse than the worst president in US history. |
But that's just it, isn't it? Obama is coming on the heels of the worst president ever, which is a large reason for the adulation he is receiving - often from people who would never normally vote Democrat. Being better than Bush really isn't saying much at all.
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| Any politician who said that they wanted to make any big changes in US Middle East policy - other than ending the Iraq war - wouldn't be elected. |
That's true - one can only hope for minor changes, such as Obama's saying that Jerusalem should be "Israel's undivided capital" - in flagrant breach both of international law and traditional US foreign policy. That, and his solemn pledge to do anything to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon, and to bomb Pakistan at a time of his choosing. There's only so much one man can do - oh, sorry, I forget his offering the post of Chief Staff to one of the most fanatical Zionists in the US. Since this last move was confirmed just yesterday, the naivete of those who believe that Obama was just pandering to AIPAC in order to get elected has already been exposed. |
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Kaspar Hauser
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| For the first time in eight years I'm not embarrassed to be American. |
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15yearsinQ8
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 462
Location: kuwait
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:42 am Post subject: |
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the last young, charismatic, oratorically gifted 'united' got a bullet in the back of his head after 1,000 days in office
48 million people voted against obama and about the same did not vote. anyone of them with patience, a gun/bombpack and a few nuts loose will do the same - mark my words |
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15yearsinQ8
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 462
Location: kuwait
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| and, i'm still waiting on the middle class tax cut clinton promised - you honestly think obama will deliver???? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| 15yearsinQ8 wrote: |
| ...you honestly think obama will deliver???? |
The real question is "can he deliver?" Campaign promises are always mostly a wish list. I suspect that absolutely disastrous war situation and a trashed economy will make most of those wishes undeliverable.
VS |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: Better is good |
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Dear Cleopatra,
"Being better than Bush really isn't saying much at all."
Maybe it isn't from your point of view, but believe me, for those of us here in the States, being "better than Bush" is an enormous advance after eight years of this disastrous administration.
And while only time will tell, Obama may well turn out to be a whole LOT better than Bush.
Regards,
John |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Maybe it isn't from your point of view, but believe me, for those of us here in the States, being "better than Bush" is an enormous advance after eight years of this disastrous administration. |
Maybe so, but it's really a moot point, since Bush wasn't actually up for re-election. Of course, some might - perhaps correctly - say that McCain would have only offered a continuation of the disastrous Bush policy, but again, that's really beside the point. Given current realities, even Bush would be better than Bush at this point in time, so to speak. The circumstances which permitted Bush to pursue his ruinous policies simply don't prevail anymore. The economy is in a mess, and the population are tired of wars - at least of the in-your-face Bush style, though they'd probably be quite tolerant of a few Slick Willy style 'humanitarian interventions' which are relatively cheap in terms of money and (American) lives.
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| And while only time will tell, Obama may well turn out to be a whole LOT better than Bush. |
Well, anything is possible. But thus far Obama has said or done very little to indicate that he will offer significant, concrete changes to the substance - as opposed to the style - of the Bush presidency. [/quote] |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Kaspar Hauser wrote: |
| For the first time in eight years I'm not embarrassed to be American. |
Sung to a used to be popular C & W song... but slightly changed over the last 8 years:
"I'm proud to be an American, where at least I'm told I'm Free..."
NCTBA  |
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EFLUndercover
Joined: 26 May 2007
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| I think President-Elect Obama is at the least a good symbolic figure for Saudi students. It shows them that people of colour can be more and are more than just their drivers and maids! |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| ^ Keep dreaming! |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Slick Willy |
Imagine having one. Anyway, congratulations to the the citizens of of the greatest land on the planet. I'm optimistic about Mr. Obama. It's wonderful that he has said no change in the Middle East. God Bless America! |
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Mark100
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 441
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:50 am Post subject: |
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If Obama actually did nothing for the next four years he would still be doing a better job than GWB.
Sure the world is not suddenly going to be a much better place because Obama was elected but I think a lot of people are underestimating the symbolism of electing a mixed race president and also the renewed hope and energy that comes with a change. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:01 am Post subject: |
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Dear Mark100,
Perhaps hope is a luxury that only the very young and the old can indulge in
(although I'm sure some posters here would add that the "naive" and "simple-minded" of any age are also included.)
But I'm content to let them wallow in their pessimism. Hey, whatever gets you through the night - and through the days.
Regards,
John |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| I think President-Elect Obama is at the least a good symbolic figure for Saudi students. It shows them that people of colour can be more and are more than just their drivers and maids! |
Yup - so long as the good American people have been amply reassured that said 'symbolic figure' is not, and never has been, a Muslim. |
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