Here's another example of how things are different under the Obama administration. Did anyone see this from yesterday's town hall in Fort Myers?

[QUOTE][B]Obama moved by homeless woman's story at town hall[/B] FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A woman's hard-luck tale at a town hall meeting in Florida moved President Barack Obama to leave the stage.

When Henrietta Hughes complained she'd been down on her luck and was living in her car with her son, Obama walked to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Hughes said she was out of work and homeless, with "a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in."

A White House press secretary said administration officials asked the local housing authority to contact her after the exchange in Fort Myers.

Meanwhile, the wife of Florida state Rep. Nick Thompson offered to let the woman stay in a house she owns that's vacant about 30 miles away. Chene Thompson isn't sure if Hughes will take her up on the offer. [/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itziObNeltFCR9LYQB52l_bKoRKwD9695IGG0[/url]

Remember the highly scripted and screened love-ins that Bush used to have, where "questions" were things like, "I'd really just like the opportunity to salute you?" Try to imagine for a moment that Bush did a town hall, and THEY ACTUALLY ALLOWED A HOMELESS PERSON TO ENTER THE BUILDING. It's laughable. Take a step further and try to envision a [I][B]homeless person actually being given the mic and allowed to ask a question[/B][/I], and you'll probably fall out of your chair.

Now in fairness, both this woman and another guy gushed about how happy they were to have the opportunity to see Obama, so it did still have some of that love-in feel to it, but you can tell from Obama's reaction that this was all very organic. Nice change from the Bush-era propaganda.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

tangentially, it turns out that this homeless woman is homeless no more:

[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/11/henrietta-hughes-given-ho_n_166028.html[/url]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

As much as I hated Bush when he was in office, my opinion of him goes down even further when I compare him to Obama.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

I saw this too while watching on lunch break and it was emotional. The woman was clearly upset and it was nice to see Obama come over and comfort her.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[QUOTE=MJDub;708805]As much as I hated Bush when he was in office, my opinion of him goes down even further when I compare him to Obama.[/QUOTE]

That a good way to say that...I feel the same way.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

this is a very touching story.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

The main thing that's different is that Obama doesn't have the money to behave like Bush...I hope I am wrong but we will only be able to tell if things have really changed after a period of time has passed.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

i think time has passed and things have changed.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

sad thing is that there are thousands of people that are in her exact same shoes and they wont get the time of day because they arent lucky enough to be in the right time at the right place like she was.

only reason she was given a home was because Obama came to her and made a big deal about it... and seriously, what is a President to do when that story is told to you?

i wish i could get a free home.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=chloe harris;716445]i think time has passed and things have changed.[/quote]

You can think what you will (no offense intended) but I will ask you and all others in in 4 years time if we are still here...anyone who follows politics will tell you (as can I if you are really interested) a hundred reasons why all that Obama is doing is simply what needs to be done for the US at this time...when the US needs change so will his policies. The US has very few allies left in the world and is running out of cash or credit to run around doing what it sees as its best interest. Chinese economy is booming as Clinton comes to ask for more Chinese money and the psycho in the Kremlin is waving to all the troops in Afghanistan as he fucks them over by closing down bases they get supplies from one by one...

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against the US or Russia or any nation (on a personal level at least) its just that all this bullshit about change etc is really starting to get on my nerves. People talking about Obama like he's a messiah thats gonna deliver everyone out all their problems...again don't get me wrong I have nothing against Obama either but I just haven't seen very much change that doesn't directly benefit the US i.e. change in foreign policy which doesn't have alterior motives...

So as I say all we can do is wait and see...

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

^ I'm so with you about 'change.' I'm about to go postal if I hear about 'change' again.

In any case, about the subject, ya, politicians lack empathy and a soul. He's doing it for nothing more than the press and it's there to further insinuate that more money needs to be redistributed. Rather than giver her a house, he should have given her a job.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

it is a great story. But what can he do about the other 24,999,999 mil people out there?

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

well he has inspired a whole nation. i think that's working for the rest of us.

i doubt obama is doing what he's doing just for good press. how dare he actually care about the people and want to make a difference in their lives. one step at a time.

have you not noticed the other things he done... ? new climate policies, leaving iraq date, stimulus, ceo bonuses, and so on..

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=chloe harris;716686]well he has inspired a whole nation. i think that's working for the rest of us.

i doubt obama is doing what he's doing just for good press. how dare he actually care about the people and want to make a difference in their lives. one step at a time.

have you not noticed the other things he done... ? new climate policies, leaving iraq date, stimulus, ceo bonuses, and so on..[/quote]

[U][B]leaving iraq date[/B][/U]

yeah tell me more about that...

one of the few reasons to support Obama and our early exist does not look promising at all //sending more troops to afghanistan?

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=chloe harris;716686] how dare he actually care about the people and want to make a difference in their lives. one step at a time. [/quote]

:shock:

I can't believe that anyone actually thinks this about any career politician.

Realistically the best that you can hope for is that he will erase what Bush has done...we will see if I am right with the Health care reforms...actually we don't have to wait at all, in his election promise he said health care reforms so that every American can afford to go to hospital... now go to cnn.com and read what the actual reforms will be. The only way that health care reforms can be introduced is with some permanent changes...all he has done and plans on doing are temporary measures to help during the recession. Its all bullshit, same old same old...even if he wanted change he is one man against a system that is inherently inefficient and undemocratic. Too much money has been invested to make the US system the way it is for any single man to change it.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

and he's already made impact on what bush has done. :)

he's working for people like me and i like that. there are great politicians in office in a lot of places. i've become very close to someone i deem truly inspirational who works in seattle poltics. thats small pie compared to the president, but i see him motivating and enriching and helping people everyday.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[QUOTE]Obama is doing is simply what needs to be done for the US at this time...when the US needs change so will his policies.[/QUOTE] And here we have one of the major reasons Obama is so much better than Bush. Bush DIDN'T do what needed to be done. You now have someone who will !!!

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

^^Yes, thats true I am not praising Bush in the least lol BUT is that whats best for the whole world? My argument is that since US influence is so great, US foreign policy must encompass the best for the whole world...i.e. multilateral approach rather than going around doing damage to everyone in order to get some growth in the US economy.

If that is not the case than the US should (pardon my french) mind its own fucking business.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

the middle east is the plexus of the world. it is the prominent battleground and burning ground for humanity and it's progressive races/civilizations over the more recent millenniums(east meets west kinda stuff). it all has to go forward and be worked out over time i would assume.

try to imagine and hypothesize the course of happenings -- if western prominence had not intervened in the middle east? what might have transpired for the better or worse?

why did krishna insist that arjuna do his duty and fight (allegorically or historically it don't matter)? in the bhagavad gita. i'm abstractly alluding to the west's presence there. idunno maybe the political regime here is so corrupt and mislead that it has become much more complicated then a issue of stability and duty.

btw., i think obama as a speaker, is up to the titanic challenge of stimulating the moral and determination of the nation.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=Shpira;716843]^^Yes, thats true I am not praising Bush in the least lol BUT is that whats best for the whole world? My argument is that since US influence is so great, US foreign policy must encompass the best for the whole world...i.e. multilateral approach rather than going around doing damage to everyone in order to get some growth in the US economy.

If that is not the case than the US should (pardon my french) mind its own fucking business.[/quote]

The United States Government should always have minded it's own fucking business. The government should serve the citizens who fund it, not any other individual, government, or organization. Or else, you get exactly what you have come to see in the present day: a macrocosm of Washington D.C. itself on a global level...where every nation/prime minister/president/dictator act as lobbyists trying to extract more wealth, rights, and entitlements at the expense of our hard work.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

^^that doesn't actually make much sense. How do you imagine the US government is supposed to serve its citizens? lock down its borders or something? Your hard work? Thats just fucking ignorant man...everything the US spends on foreign policy comes back to the US ten-fold thats precisely my point...business was going well for the US until now.

The US government has ALWAYS interfered in other nations politics read your own nations history man...1823 Monroe Doctorine; Bolivia, Argentina, Panama, Venezuela, Nicaragua just to name a few in that time frame. 180 military involvements in the 20th century...hardly something that Bush can be blamed for.

As for the middle east...I know many people are emotionally vested in that particular example but I think that they should have been left alone...yes there are economically sound arguments i.e. oil but I would sacrifice my life style if there was even a slight chance to get some fucking peace in the world.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

I was simply pointing out that the primary functions of our government do not include interventionism wherever and whenever it damn pleases.

I was explaining how our government doesn't exist to serve anyone but its citizens, and to illustrate that it now serves just about everyone else but those who grant it power. That is to say, it has [I]exceeded[/I] its proper functions. And at great expense to all of us.

You suggested that our government, because of it's status, should make decisions on what is best for the whole world, that is to say, factor other countries interests into its analysis of how it should act/respond. Well, we DO do that, and that is indeed why much is fucked up today. That Wilsonian mentality of spreading democracy with bombs to make us feel good about freeing the shit out of impoverished people has harmed us more than it has made slight benefit to anyone, or anything.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

No, there is a difference between the reasons a politician states as official reason for military involvement and true reasons behind military involvement. Why do you think the US got involved in Iraq but not in Darfur which is in a much much worse state than Iraq ever was...do yo honestly believe that it was because of WMD and if you do believe that how come North Korea is still standing?

Of course every government serves its citizens, thats the basis of international society. The US government DOES serve its people...it just prefers its citizens who are rich to those that are not so rich.

If the US truly acted in the interest of the international community it would get UN approval before invading Iraq and it wouldn't be the most resented government in the world...spreading democracy is a means to an end not an end achieved by other means i.e. by spreading 'democracy' the US increases its influence.

Look at the Military aid given post sept 11 to Turkey, a nation that kills its own people...that same aid was then later used to kill thousands of Kurds...or what about Asia? or Saudi Arabia?

How do you think the US picks what nation its going to spread 'democracy' to next? on the basis of self interest of course...

anyway...I really don't like ranting on like this you should seriously read some stuff if you are really interested in politics...

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

I wrote an incredibly lengthy reply to your 'interesting' comments until i came to your last line.

you're right. i should really read about politics if I'm interested in it.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

if you want to know more read "hegemony or survival" by Noam chomsky its not big and its an easy read good introduction...a kind of an eye opener to US foreign policy if you will.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=Shpira;716882]if you want to know more read "hegemony or survival" by Noam chomsky its not big and its an easy read good introduction...a kind of an eye opener to US foreign policy if you will.[/quote]

[IMG]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h37/freakygirl1234/Prince.gif[/IMG]

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

lol @ it's not big.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

I think that everyone is pretty much agreeing here, with the exception of some minor miscommunication here and there.

I do think everyone would agree with Shpira that there are many more Americans who can relate to someone like Obama rather than G. W. Bush or McCain. In addition, there are many more humans globally who can relate with Obama, vs. Bush or McCain. And we would also all agree that the problems Obama and his advisors are facing have amounted over many years, not just the last 8. All of the issues are intertwined and you cannot actually isolate 1 or even 5 issues without affecting the others, there are completely interrelated. So, we are all hopeful that he will be able to surround himself with a competent administration that will be willing to reach across the table and pragmatically move the ball forward on the most pressing issues facing America and the Globe one day at a time.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[U][B]pragmatically

[/B][/U]I think being pragmatic is the worst way an elected leader can act right now.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=Mariner1;716909][U][B]pragmatically

[/B][/U]I think being pragmatic is the worst way an elected leader can act right now.[/quote]

wut

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=MJDub;716910]wut[/quote] [QUOTE] So, we are all hopeful that he will be able to surround himself with a competent administration that will be willing to reach across the table and [U]pragmatically[/U] move the ball forward on the most pressing issues facing America and the Globe one day at a time.[/QUOTE]

this.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=Mariner1;716911]this.[/quote]

wat

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=MJDub;716927]wat[/quote]

and then?

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[QUOTE=Mariner1;716909][U][B]pragmatically

[/B][/U]I think being pragmatic is the worst way an elected leader can act right now.[/QUOTE]

What word would you replace "pragmatic" with?

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

how about principled? This 'try-anything-and-hope-it-sticks approach' (ie, pragmatism) is killing us.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

^Ok replace pragmatic with principled.

I think it is possible you misinterpreted my usage of the word. Especially given that "pragmatically" is used in the definition of the word "principled" here:

based on or manifesting objectively defined standards of rightness or morality; "principled pragmatism and unprincipled expediency"; "a principled person."

source: [url]http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=principled[/url]

Now is not the time to argue for the sake of arguing imo.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=floridaorange;717265]^Ok replace pragmatic with principled.

I think it is possible you misinterpreted my usage of the word. Especially given that "pragmatically" is used in the definition of the word "principled" here:

based on or manifesting objectively defined standards of rightness or morality; "principled pragmatism and unprincipled expediency"; "a principled person."

source: [URL]http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=principled[/URL]

Now is not the time to argue for the sake of arguing imo.[/quote]

all i'm saying is that there are flaws in acting pragmatically. It's not the first time i've heard someone say that we need to be more pragmatic about solving our problems.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

My hope is that they are both principled and pragmatic in their approach as a unified administration and that they are able to prioritize the issues, which are all connected to each other. And I believe Obama has what it takes.

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

Pragmatic is term some of us need to look up in the dictionary...as Bob Marley says its all gonna be alright or if its not we can all move abroad, to india or thailand and grow plants and live happy lives

Re: obama vs. bush, pt II

[quote=Shpira;717291]Pragmatic is term some of us need to look up in the dictionary...as Bob Marley says its all gonna be alright or if its not we can all move abroad, to india or thailand and grow plants and live happy lives[/quote]

haha, this only makes sense after reading your thread up in GYY :lol: