100 days in 100 words
Pluses: intelligence (nobody denies it); tranquillity (Nixon was intelligent); doggedness (yes he can); joyousness (W had this important trait but was arguably lacking in other spheres); cussedness necessary for world leadership (has he read The Prince - yes he has!).
Minuses: intelligence (and he's so proud not to have been in the Special Olympics); tranquillity (that stuff about how angry he was over AIG suggested to me that he wasn't); doggedness (his head is in the long term, while the short term goes to hell); joyousness (go to Detroit); cussedness (he is taking on the Catholic Church and may lose).
Over to you. What is your 100-word take on these 100 days?
Hello, I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~45~RS~)
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We're gonna do a song that you never heard before
I'm strong with no fear, They said I'll be dead in a year
Be myself so I did and I'll be blowing out candles next year
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Overall Grade A-
Internal Politics - Has popular support but significant numbers are strongly opposed and failed to gain cross party support of stimulus.
Foreign Policy - Has taken good steps to repair relationships across a number of areas and has been well recieved. Shoes staying on feet so far.
Economics - The stimulus project is still a work in progress. Hope it works but it remains to be tested.
Moral Leadership - Good work on Gitmo and the torture issue. However the issue of prosecutions over torture remains and could present a problem.
Crisis Management - Appears calm and decisive but still has to sit the big exam Q's will include N Korea, Pakistan, Iran.
You're all doing very well !!
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I'd say overall, (with a few exceptions) so far, so good. Repudiation of torture, improving international relationships, attempts at non-partisanship, environmental leadership.
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I don't think I would be very tranquil if someone took my personal jet and flew it at a low altitude over a city which still has fresh in it's memory sometihng very similar that happened a few years back.
Agree with 2 and 3. So far so good, a few hiccoughs, but nothing de-railing. Let's just wait and see
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Surely 'tranquility' ? Or so I thought, until Firefox told me differently.
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Justin:
How about these negatives:
Naivite
Disorginization and poor research on cabinent
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An African-American Tony Blair.
So just be thankful that the glass is now 'half-full'.
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B-, because he's A-grade material but he's not there yet, so needs encouragement.
A for being cool-headed, honest and seeming to put realities ahead of ideology.
E for the rubbish Clinton retreads he's appointed to key posts, and for the pathetic Korean rocket hysteria.
B for civilised relations so far with Russian & China and openings toward Cuba (grotesquely insufficient, but progress at least) & Venezuela – and maybe even Iran?
C- for the vaguest suggestion of a modification of unconditional support for Israeli actions, but failure to do anything yet to draw Hamas into a meaningful peace process.
[98 words]
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Your Lordship,
- "An African-American Tony Blair."
God(s) preserve us!I think he's doing just fine.
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
...(more)"
Corny, maybe, but every word germane.
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Dave P,
I mostly concur. Well done for trying to actually do 100 words!
Is it 100 words if you count "98 words"?
;-)
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Report card from Rome
Overall very good considering no President in recent memory has inherited such a dire state of affairs, political and economic.
Disappointing lack of background research on some cabinet picks - must try harder not to do the opposition's work for them. That said, he moved faster than most presidents due to the difficult situation he inherited.
Foreign relations - excellent. Firm, but with open dialogue to previously untouchable regimes.
Keep it up
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Not sure how positive it is to asociate him with the lines
"And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings"
Hesiodos.
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I heard BBC's presentation, Obama's first 100 days in 100 seconds. In the Background they played Chopin's "Minute Waltz" which should be 60 seconds. Reminds me of the time several years ago BBC did a piece about New York City and played Gershwin's "An American in Paris" in the background. Brits seem to know even less about music than they do about food. Probably comes from too much Pomp and not enough Circumstance.
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He is moving in the right direction. Difficult to go through all the files opened by Bush in 100 days.
He's drawing closer all the American enemies that is affecting the world through terrorism.
All to remember that Rome was NOT built in a DAY.
CONGRATS MR. PRESIDENT
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11. At 11:20am on 29 Apr 2009, Hesiodos wrote:
Dave P,
Is it 100 words if you count "98 words"?
Yes! :D
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Considering the poison chalice he was handed he is playing a very good game.
His problem of course is that people in a recession are not interested in forreign adventurism so attempts to settle Afghanistan or resettle Iraq are probably doomed, as they always were.
He also admits his mistakes, whihc given the last buffoon who did not even know he was making a prat of himslef is refreshing
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A hundred words is all it took
the world of neocon crazies shook
shutting caribbean prisons, look!
Yet continued clashes with a latino land
show teething troubles are at hand
in Israel some policies, inherited,
lead to stumbles, soon corrected
the secrets brought out from the dark
may yet in daylight make their mark
the torturers were told to cease
and their leaders may lose their ease
at home bipartisanship may yet take hold
but brings new senators to the fold
The money men that broke the mould
hang on to hoards of ill-gotten gold
But Obama's first hundred? Bold!
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As far as the long term versus short term it depends on your perspective. According to the folk at http://www.onehundredmonths.org/
we have 92 months left before the tipping point of global warming. Has Obama done enough to change that calculation? If not then indeed he has not taken enough of the long term view, instead focusing on restoring the short term status quo. But he has done more than many of us would have thought possible so let us hope the calculations are too pessimistic and it is enough.
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14. At 11:29am on 29 Apr 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:
I heard BBC's presentation, Obama's first 100 days in 100 seconds. In the Background they played Chopin's "Minute Waltz" which should be 60 seconds."
Wow nothing beats you Marcus. Wouldn't be because it is called the "minute" waltz would it?
" Reminds me of the time several years ago BBC did a piece about New York City and played Gershwin's "An American in Paris" in the background."
That wouldn't be because George was Noo Yaarker (to use the Andersonville phrase)
"Brits seem to know even less about music than they do about food. Probably comes from too much Pomp and not enough Circumstance."
And they are the wrong colour too eh Marcus
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Hesiodos - Indeed. Tony Blair started out with good intentions.
But we know where they can lead if one is not careful.
Still, he is a lot better than the potential alternatives.
Although heaven only knows why Justin is still banging on about religion [or the lack of it]. Since the BBC recently did a series 'Around the world in 80 faiths', I feel that this faith marketplace is unlikely to disappear soon.
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From century to century, you'll remember me,
In history, not a mystery or a memory.
Called by nature, mind raised in Asia,
Since you was tricked, I had to raise ya,
From the cradle to the grave.
But remember, you're not a slave.
'Cause we were put here to be much more than that,
But we couldn't see because our mind was trapped.
But I'm here to break away the chains, take away the pains,
Remake the brains, rebuild my name.
Again, somebody told you, a little knowledge is dangerous.
It can't be mixed, diluted, it can't be changed with a,
Switch. Here's a lesson if you're guessin', if you're borrowin',
Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin',
The Leader.
Follow the leader.
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
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Brits seem to know even less about music than they do about food.
--------------------
Yeah we only have the Beatles, the Stones, the Pistols, Bowie... What do you have? Country and western? Okay.
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100 words:
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day that even the state of Mississippi, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice."
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100 words not needed:
GM, Chrysler, BoA, Citi, AIG, and a host of other enterprises nationalized.
The health care system to follow.
No debate allowed. They won't even read the bill.
361 billion in borrowings this quarter alone.
My grandchildren stuck with the bill.
And we're only 100 days in...
Heaven have mercy on our country.
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Dear OldSouth -
When you're sick and go to see the doctor, and the doctor makes you take medicine or sends you to hospital to undergo rather unpleasant treatments, do you think to yourself:
(a) the doctor is a bad man who's hurting me, or
(b) it's because I'm sick and the doctor is trying to make me well?
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It's too early to tell, the next 100 days will yield first real signs of success or not. So far careful domestic and foreign policy initiatives appear to be going in the right direction.
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Obama opposition before the election was vehement: socialism was predicted; abortion, stem-cell, gay-marriage feared and gun sales soared. Over 60 million Americans voted AGAINST Obama, 70 million FOR. What's happened to those voters now? Have their views changed in just 100 days? Doubtful. Just waiting for mistakes to seize upon. His strategy and tactics have been near perfection though, e.g handling of auto companies. Skilful management of the torture issue, leading eventually to prosecutions, will keep Republicans in their cage for several years, probably through to next election. Imagine the dark shadow cast over Republicans by trials held in 2012.
[100 words]
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Strange to say, I have yet to actually MEET any American citizen who admits to voting for this man! There must be something about living in a rural environment, as opposed to an urban one. During the election, the only place I saw his markers was in the cities. When I first came to this country I was very much in favor of the Democratic ticket. Now, I wouldn't vote Democrat under any circumstance. Mind you, we don't have a Democrat in the White House now. The man is a "liberal", which in 70's parlance means "COMMUNIST", thus all the psuedo-nationalisation. Reminds me of the old saying: "Walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck - must be a duck!"
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I'd go with Hes on saying well said Dave01.
He's doing great considering he has to worry about the limited grasp of reality by most americans.
Johnnygray
Lol on the music.
I heard "american rock "day on a local station." ALL american rock"
best thing was when they played the Stones followed by Eric clapton then the Who then Led Zepplin
By the end of 1/2 an hour I was convinced america had not produced any music.
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29
troll
gordon clifford
when did you come to this country?
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That The President Obama won't be like the former presidents is obvious.( His first 100 days prove this. ) while He is trying to change obsolete policy which exists in the US, we don't have the right to criticize him.
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29 gordonclifford
If you want to meet people who have voted for Obama you should get out of your gunshop a little more and talk to people you aren't related to.
Or perhaps they lie to you so as to avoid a long and tedious rant about the dangers of being liberal.
Where did you come from before you came to the USA? It can't be Eastern Europe because you obviously have no idea what a communist is.
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HappyLaze:
I arrived here in 2003, after jumping through some pretty awkward hoops. Still jumping through 'em to stay here, too. Shoulda come illegally. Then I would be welcomed with open arms!
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Only a few words, Obama has brought Hope and cautious optimism
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29, gordonclifford -
Don't know what rural area you live in, but I live in a mostly rural state (we have one city - pop. 40,000) and it happens to be the state that was first to be called for Obama on election night. It's rather simplistic to portray it as a rural/urban divide.
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14. At 11:29am on 29 Apr 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:
I heard BBC's presentation, Obama's first 100 days in 100 seconds. In the Background they played Chopin's "Minute Waltz" which should be 60 seconds."
Sorry Marcus you are wrong on this one. The "Minute Waltz" as typically played will vary between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes. It was called the "Minute Waltz" in reference to its size (i.e. minute could be said to mean very small).
Mandatory wikipedia link if you don't believe me (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_Waltz) but this is backed up elsewhere.
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Kempsy #37
MrII was wrong about something! Say it ain't so Kempsy, say it ain't so!
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A man who appears in equilibrium with all he attempts.
First 100 days, despite the weath of inherited problems went well.
I imagine the next 2822 days until Michelle takes over the reins will also procede with the same apparent effortless efficiency.
Call him a Liberal, Communist, Socialist or even Democrat if you want . Forget the Tamiflu against the present medical crisis. The Republicans had better start hoping for a broad spectrum cure to materialise soon, because at the moment they are exhibiting all the classical withdrawal symptoms and are dropping like flies.
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I don't see how we can make a judgement after only 100 days. Two years would make more sense.
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Foreign Policy: B+, overtures to Russia, Iran, South America, etc.
Iraq is turning out well due to Patraeus, Obama can only screw it
up at this point
Afghanistan, Pakistan: another wreck inherited from the previous
administration, not sure if anybody can fix this
Domestic Policy:
The Banking System: Incomplete, turns to an F if not completed
Labor Relations: F (protectionism, card check)
Tax Policy C-:
Stimulus Bill: D (rushed through to avoid Republican input,
not enough scrutiny)
Health Care: Incomplete, but something needs to be done
Industrial Relations: B+ (some very clever moves to rescue Chrysler, GM,
hopefully will work.)
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Oh, and one other thing: the whole terror memo thing, how did he walk
into that bear trap? If there is any upside, it is that Pelosi is apt
to be snared as well as Cheney and Rice. They can all become best friends
in the Joint.
Too bad about Rice, I thought that she was really a nice lady.
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#39, waterman, just to let you know where I'm coming from, I had a conversation
with some venture capitalists the other day (this group was extremely gloomy)
and one of them was an investor in a company in Russia.
After explaining how hard it was to do business in Russia, mostly because
nobody pays all of their taxes because then they wouldn't be able to
stay in business, one of them exclaimed, "It's so bad, it's like they
were run by the Democrats! "
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http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/bush.100/stories/overview.html
lol just to show what a delusional land America was in after the first 100 days of the last guy.
Judgements are made but it is really WAY too early.
so back to the present
when looking for this there was a site (extremely right wing) with the words "Fox admits Obama is less popular than Bush"
reading the Fox piece linked fox said in their poll 3 % behind Bush but not many disapprovers .
funny though the next bit was about how this time it is divided along party lines.
Interesting poll even for fox.
numbers are numbers but it is strange. Michelle is more popular than either Bush or Barack .
As a person Obama is more popular than Bush was.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/24/fox-news-poll-obamas-days/
some interesting reading . I wonder if fox will change it's tune a little now.
But it would seem most americans THINK HE ROCKS.
but that is my bias reading lol
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So much of this 100 days is a way the media avoids spending time on anything else - and as an added bonus - it is cheap!
May I add that this new swine virus demonstrates the need for universal health care. No one is immune.
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#25 OldSouth
100 words not needed:
GM, Chrysler, BoA, Citi, AIG, and a host of other enterprises nationalized.
The health care system to follow.
No debate allowed. They won't even read the bill.
361 billion in borrowings this quarter alone.
My grandchildren stuck with the bill.
And we're only 100 days in...
Heaven have mercy on our country.
I'm pretty sure that it was the Shrub that started this nationalisation programme. So what is it that Obama has nationalised? I know he fired the CEO of GM. But I think that's about it (correct me if I'm wrong).
If he does nationalise the US health industry, the majority of Americans will get better healthcare and at a cheaper cost than what they are paying through the nose for now! What is there to debate? Looks a no brainer to me.
The Shrub made sure that future Americans would face a heavy tax bill anyway because of his imperialist adventures in the middle east. His and Dick's share portfolios in oil companies are safe though!! So the Shrub nationalised industries and condoned state terror in the name of . . er . . freedom - what a guy!
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42 GnR
Pelosi was bound by national security .She was not allowed to say anything . as someone else pointed out.She would not have been able to pull the presidential privilege stuff that all the criminal traitors (outing CIA agents) got.
If she even spoke to a lawyer about it to find out if it were legal. she could have been in very deep pooh with the GW admin. They controlled matey gonzalez
Now to those investors.
Did they go to make loads of money robbing the people of russia ( as the top russians do) what sort of venture are they looking for.
Just that people doing business in Russia often have to be pretty hardball and ruthless.They rarely seem to show a concern for the poor people suffering from capitalism gone rampant.
That is why Putin' s so popular.
He tries to give the people the impression that he is going to stop those excessively rich capitalist ripping off every thing that isn't tied down.
Wether that works I'm not there but it seems that many do now see that when the wall fell and the block broke up the american dream they had been sold didn't work out.
They had no jobs and those running the place were a few , again, very powerful people.They may see that as a problem.
Of course those doing well wouldn't see it as bad..
Capitalism has failed recently.
didn't you notice.
That was not the democrats. that was the greed.
I just doubt them vulture capitalists are all that innocent or un bias.
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I'll give Obama an A minus (there's always room for improvement) ;-)
I wouldn't mind him being our PM! He is certainly better than our Gordon Brown, and David Cameron doesn't inspire much confidence!
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45 canada cold.
every time the health debate comes up and some say not EVERY one should be covered I have pointed out that is a situation like this occurs america will be worse off , because the reason for a national all come health care system is to prevent and deal with epidemics.
or try.
If I get a cold . I'm going to go visit the lawyers in town.;)
who better for a swine flu.
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Perhaps a tad simplistic, but to sum up Obama's pluses in 100 words, how about
"Not George Bush!
Not George Bush!..."?
[Keep repeating approximately 33.3 recurring times.]
Alternatives include
"Not Dick Cheney!"
"Not John McCain!"
"Not Sarah Palin!"
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happy, I don't pretend to understand how business in Russia works, but
apparently it does, somehow. As for Putin, he is popular there, and he
and his fellow ex-KGB pals did take power away from the privileged few,
but my understanding is that he gave it to another privileged few.
Putin is worth something like $40B. He's not exactly a populist.
Someone else who knows more about the system can probably explain how
it works, but it appears to be incredibly corrupt. If you start a business
there and you're not connected to one of Putin's buddies, then it
can be seized from you.
As for Pelosi, I wouldn't start defending her. She's going to have
enough trouble finding a Johnny Cochran as it is. If she wasn't so
sanctimonious, I would have more sympathy for her.
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canadacold, happy, our health care system is so broken that hardly
anybody can afford to get ill. It's not just poor people who are
without health care now, it's most of the middle class.
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Justin:
I think that President Obama had so much on the table in things to do following the Previous Administration...To repair...
My grade and this is my own opinion....
9 out of 10
~Dennis Junior~
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happy, my comment on doing business in Russia has been referred
to the mods. Apparently the standards for libel in the UK are such
that the truth is not sufficient to protect oneself from lawsuits.
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I just read an article by Maureen Dowd in today's New York Times. It had to do with a closed-door session with Cheney. Cheney called Obama a "delicate Hawaiin orchid" canoodling with "greasy dictators" and European "weasels" He called the internees in Guantanamo "insects," and claimed the Serbs were part of al-Qaida. His description of torture techniques was horrific. And he was proud of it! He told John McCain, who was yelling at him about his defense of torture, to "join that pantywaaist Specter on the other side where you belong." Feinstein called him "delusional." I think he's nuts, and we are lucky to rid of the likes of him.
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A+. Why?
Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle.
And Bo.
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55, further.
Cheney also said, "...we got a torture specialist who had a way with a taser and his trusty syringe." Can't you just hear the pleasure in his words? Chilling.
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I can just see Cheney being sentenced to a buddhist monastery for
anger management sessions.
Sort of like a movie I saw with Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson in it
on the subject.
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its 100 days. the first 100 will be forgotten after the 2nd 100. So who really cares?
I heard the healthcare debate mentioned. I really do hope the president can bring forward a solution that will provide everyone with at least basic coverage. Bad Health can really cause the social infrastructure of a country to deteriorate, and that affects everyone , not just the poor which is villified everyday by the mainstream.
Conservatives who oppose any form of universal health care and prefer the system as is are probably wealthy and can afford the most expensive insurance. Mind you the politicians who are so opposed to this government funded universal health care, currently have their health care costs covered by the US tax payer. The same tax payers who cannot get coverage.
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26 johnnygray
Let's hope that the chemo works, and is being prescribed in the right doses. My mother's under treatment now so I found your analogy particularly apt.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Guns # 43
Up to now you appear to be one of very, very few Repubs who is not having an apopleptic fit at the laid back but limited success of the man in some fields. Do you fancy other Repubs regard this as a kind of torture?
USA Venture capitalists in bed with Russians. I thought you Americans only kept them under the bed for emergencies, when you needed a fall guy.
How times change.
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#49 happylaze
"if I get a cold" - reminds me of a joke that I will not say here!
#52
Yes, it is a dire situation
For the media - I would like the 100 words to concentrate on the need for universal health care.
The coverage of this flu tends to increase paranoia.
May I suggest (with respect of course) a look at how the present lack of health care prevents solutions to the well being and fitness of the country as a whole. And here is an opportunity to demonstrate solutions
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marbles I too am amazed that just because he was an evil xxxxxxx during the time as VP does not make Dick above a trial.
He has always been a sick person from what I read and as such given the evidence so far should be tried all other comments aside.
In this Obama is playing the game well.
If he calls for a trial nothing will happen except a GOPper fight.
Come on you republicans. get real . call for a trial.
Bush can always argue he was too thick to get what Dick was up to. Dick doesn't have any excuse.
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GnR on healthcare. just remember all those before the crash during the primaries that argued we did not need it.
Now?
LOL I"m laughing.
And poor.
The middle class had healthcare till they lost their jobs.
the poor didn't. they are starting sick going into the recession .
Still all those people never saw the point of it.when it didn't effect them.
now it does......
typical america.
First bring it to the poor. then play catch up.
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and go on Mods I 'm sure GnR has not said any libellous thing.. I may have but come on.
He's got a point probably and we miss it.
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62, waterman, I don't know if I can really consider myself to be a
Republican. Sometimes I vote for a Democratic candidate. So, I'm
really an independent.
I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal, so I'm likely to
be unwelcome at either pole. We used to have a saying that every
Democrat gets us into a war and every Republican gets us into a recession,
so I can't figure out which party George Bush belonged to.
As far as the VC thing goes, they're not really my best buddies. Years
ago I had a very bad experience with that crowd. But, I'm willing to
take them on as customers. They can make up for themselves that way to me.
Now, I'm a little confused as to who we have under the bed: VCs or Russians?
Personally, I don't want either one of them to be in my bedroom, even as
observers. That's like having J. Edgar Hoover in your closet.
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To abbreviate what I learned about business in Russia: it is very corrupt,
and at any time a person connected with the political/industrial system
there can show up and seize your business for "back taxes."
But, nobody seems to understand what the taxes are!
So, what happens is that all of these rich Russians move their money
out of the country as fast as they can to offshore havens, where they
can keep it safe from the "motherland."
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#8. lordBeddGelert wrote: "An African-American Tony Blair."
Heaven forbid! Blair was mostly interested in himself and the concept of "New Labour". Now that's he's gone, a multi-millionaire to boot, Labour is returning to its roots. Other than youth and a refreshing newness when coming into office, I see few parallels.
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ref #55
Better Cheney with his contempt for everyone. Than Obama who apolgizes to everyone.
Better to be respected or feared than being considered a wimp.
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58, guns.
"I can just see Cheney being sentenced to a buddhist monastery for anger management sessions."
I should think a straight jacket would be more apt given his delight in torture.
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Don't talk about healthcare. Under Bush all we had to pay were insurance premiums. Under Obama I've had to pay $2350 on top of the insurance premiums.
Change that can make you ill and cost you!
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#70 bush/cheney's contempt did not win them any respect or fear. for 8 years their allies avoided them and their enemies baited them into confrontation. Who do you think is the biggest beneficiary of the american war on terror. None other than Iran. They should name the last president their national hero, for doing them a favor and attacking their two closest rivals.
The US has a weakened military and economic position in the world at the moment and their rivals like Russia knows this, hence why they have become so bold in recent years as to be doing fly bys close to the US air space and attacking Georgia.
They negotiated some sort of deal with north korea, and it got them nowhere..... and im sure there is more foreign policy fumbles that can be spoken about.
Talking tough does not scare military rivals, especially when they see you struggling to maintain 2 costly wars with no exit strategy.
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The media's unconditional worship of The Obamessiah
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#72 I didnt know that Obama's health care plans were already in motion.
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70, ubermensch.
"Better Cheney with his contempt for everyone. Than Obama who apolgizes to everyone. Better to be respected or feared than being considered a wimp."
What does this tell us about you? That you have contempt for everyone and would like to be feared. Those are the aspirations of a deranged mind.
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Ref #55 allmymarbles.
Following your post (#55) I've just read that article covering Dick Cheney answering questions about torture before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
I urge everyone to read it. It's not very long.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/opinion/29dowd.html?_r=1
If the link doesn't work. Google "Maureen Dowd New York Times." The piece is titled "Vice's Secret Vices" published April 28, 2009.
Off topic, I know. Apologies.
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Magic #70
I'm just curious - who is it who thinks that talking to your 'enemies' makes you a wimp?
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67, guns.
"I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal, so I'm likely to be unwelcome at either pole."
I am of the same mind which is why I am an independent. The only candidate who fit the bill was Ross Perot and I voted for him twice. I voted for Obama because I thought he would be good at foreign affairs (so far I am not disappointed)..
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56, Sam -
So have you invited her on board your pirate ship, with the lure of five hook attachments and two variable speeds? And if so, what was her response?
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#34. gordonclifford: "I arrived here in 2003, after jumping through some pretty awkward hoops. Still jumping through 'em to stay here, too."
Unless you are about to be deported for some criminal act or fighting against extradition, it would seem that you are not a bona fide Permanent Resident, and thus unlikely to qualify for US Citizenship. I was quite sympathetic to you when you first posted, but no more. (Gary please note!) A guest does not slight his host.
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#74. dhimmi: "The media's unconditional worship of The Obamessiah."
Apparently you've never watched Fox News and its sister stations. O'Reilly, Hannity and Beck make up for everyone else - an unrelenting passion for the Right. Rarely fair and never balanced.
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55, 58, 70, 77:
Read it again. It's supposed to be satirical.
[Says glumly.]
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
#80
Yarrr, yer saucy wench.
I asked her to be me cabin boy, but she declined on account of the size of her current Cap'n's yardarm.
But I like the cut of yer jib, me beauty.
Cap'n Sam
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67, guns -
Wasn't J. Edgar Hoover in his own closet?
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Obama's record is mixed: His support for the "progressive" act of abortion is on the negative side. Terminating the life of the unborn is actually regressive if you think about it. But he evidently supports Israel and has come out tough on Iran, insisting that Iran stop supporting terrorists. (And yes, he actually used the dreaded word. The BBC should learn from this and call terrorists terrorists, rather than their absurd "militants" or "extremists.")
But Obama appears to have surrounded himself with a number of quite dim, inexperienced and naive people to advise him and help run his administration. This is borne out by major blunders such as the ridiculous gift of an ipod to Gordon Brown and the buzzing of the Statue of Liberty by low flying aircraft without even informing the mayor of New York, leading to great anxiety among those who thought they were about to suffer another 9/11 attack and an indignant reaction from the mayor.
So I dunno if America is in good hands here.
82. David_Cunard,
You left out the left-wing, Democrats-supporting Colmes half of Hannity and Colmes. I guess that means you were being unfair and unbalanced. At least Fox News gives a nod to balance. The BBC, in contrast, simply does not have any right wing journalists in any prominent positions in broadcasting. The "impartial" BBC news team put up a poster of Bush as Hitler in the newsroom and did not even think there was anything odd about such an action.
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I like him. ...umm....yes he is better than Bill Clinton, even.
He is a thinker/doer, not a "get some gang of thugs" to do it wrongly.
And he throws himself at a problem and, like Bill, gets it done right, eventually. (ultimately because he HAS judgement skills)
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72, seanspa -
I don't understand. Obama hasn't done anything with health care yet, except talk about it.
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83, british -
I haven't read that particular Dowd column but am familiar with her writing and knew without reading it, from the comments here, that it had to be satire-fantasy. She does this a lot and it's not always clear to those who aren't her regular readers. I believe she has received flak for that.
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that NY times article about cheney was hilarious. It must be satire because that would just be too much nformation for it to be real. :)
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85, Sam -
Can't say I blame her. Mmmm. Just from what's visible to the public eye. Skinny. Dark eyes. Sound familiar?
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StellarBeloved,
I responded to your query about my name here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2009/04/more_philosophical_question_ab.html#P79219279
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83, ish-ish.
"Read it again. It's supposed to be satirical."
I just read it again. I have been had. I didn't kow who Jack Bauer was but should have looked him up. That would have been the tipoff. Also the first paragraph was surprising. Maybe I saw what I wanted to see. Maureen Dowd does this kind of thing.
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#89 bere, I was merely observing that the medical expenses I incurred earlier this year happened on Obama's watch. I was never ill under Bush. Co-incidence? I think not!
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I was mystified when I kept hearing this Jack Bauer person referenced in all sorts of news contexts and was rather astonished when I finally discovered, by way of a crossword puzzle, that he's a TV character. Why do people talk about this character as if he is a real person?
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95, seanspa -
Oh, I see. More satire! Yes, anything that happens on Obama's watch is his fault. He must have caused the swine flu! Get out the pitchforks! I bet he caused my computer screen to conk out too. Can't be a coincidence. I've never had a computer break before.
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96, bere, you mean he's not? Thank goodness, I can stop hiding
under my bed now. It was getting crowded under there with the
Russians.
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#87. TrueToo: "82. David_Cunard - You left out the left-wing, Democrats-supporting Colmes half of Hannity and Colmes."
You're way behind the times - Alan Colmes has not been the token leftie for several months; the programme is now called simply "Hannity". If you can't keep up, take notes.
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The first 100 days hasn't meant much of anything since the F.D.R. days. Now the 100th day is more of a media hyped symbolic date that gives the press something to talk about. It does give them the excuse to conduct more specific and detailed polling though.
Also, we are going to have to talk about the swine flu at somepoint, so I might as well give everyone the heads up on what is breaking news in my state. A school in Lafayette, LA has closed as a precautionary measure at least until next monday because 5 students have tested positive for a virus that accompanies the swine flu. Apparently one of the 5 children had been to Mexico in the last 2 weeks. As of yet, there are NO confirmed cases of the swine flu in LA, but just to be sure, the Dept. of Health and Hospitals is going to conduct tests on the original lab work.
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To#96 Bere54
I suspect that many people prefer fantasy over reality. It may be part of human genetics to seek altered states of consciousness.
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86, bere, I don't believe that J. Edgar ever came out of the closet.
There is an interesting article on Wikipedia which has an entire section
on what kinds of clothing he wore.
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101, aqua -
I can understand "regular" people seeking altered states of consciousness (I prefer fantasy over reality myself much of the time), but I have heard so-called news reporters asking, "What would Jack Bauer do?" and things along that line, which was why it was so surprising to me to discover that Jack Bauer does not exist. I suppose they assume that everyone knows this, but some of us don't watch TV and don't keep up with fictional TV characters. And these are news reports I'm talking about! I really think it's odd that TV characters are "consulted" on the news. On NPR, no less.
102, guns -
I really think it would be better for my mental health not to know what kinds of clothing J. Edgar kept in his closet, or how high the heels were. I'll pass on the Wiki article, thanks anyway.
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The good news is that somehow America has survived 100 days of Barack Obama as its President. The bad news is that there are 1361 more to go until the next President takes office. Will America make it? We've had inexperienced hands at the helm before but not in such challenging times. The government tells us the economy is getting stronger but nobody I know sees any signs of it. Meanwhile America's enemies do seem to be getting stronger. From Venezuela to Iran, from the wilds of the Afghanistan Pakistan border to North Korea, the world's troubles are no closer to solution. And all the time it is getting hotter and hotter.
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To#100 Bienvenueenlouisian
The "breaking news" in my state is that this flu outbreak is the fault of illegal immigrants who choose to "swarm" over the border in order to infect us all!
I am stocking up on tin foil. I suggest this metal might be the new 'gold' investment for the future.
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To#103 Bere54
My goodness! Just what "news' reports have you been watching!
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I have read that the Pakistan government is getting more aggressive with the Taliban in their country. Perhaps this is a positive sign that many are weary of extremism and the divisiveness that has caused so much death and destruction in our world.
I am only one voice, but perhaps our President Obama has given hope and reconciliation to more than just the USA.
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106, aqua -
I don't have a TV; these are various NPR programs I'm referring to. And when NPR behaves so, it's disturbing.
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There's that tweeting again.
Twitcher Sam
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A -
And may God watch over him for the next 100 days
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Ref 29 GordonClifford
"The man is a "liberal", which in 70's parlance means "COMMUNIST", thus all the psuedo-nationalisation. Reminds me of the old saying: "Walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck - must be a duck!""
If it only has taken Obama 100 days to start up a communist state here in the good old U.S. of A., (after not being elected by anyone you know) why are you trying so desparately to stay in this country?
You can leave. It really will not hurt our feelings.
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68 1/2
I'll tell you again what I posted on the other thread. The tweeting is that beer can chicken you consumed the other day. I also told you you're supposed to kill it and cook it BEFORE you eat it, not get it drunk. Now your only hope is that your venomous bile will kill it off in your intestines. Otherwise in a few days, you'll be laying something much more painful than your usual rotten eggs.
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#29 and 111 - Oh Yay is someone starting a duck hunt? Is McCarthy back? I think we should start in Hollywood again, because the Governor there kind of looks like a duck, in profile I mean, and so do a couple of senators for sure, and Governor Palin often sounds a little bit like quacking tho I haven't paid attention to her walk. Someone please politely invite Cheney not to attend, you know what happened at the quail hunt-he shot a lawyer...oh all right, he can come too.
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113, frayed -
Ducks are cute. I hope Cheney will stick to shooting his friends and leave the ducks alone.
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114 But...it will work so much better when we throw them in the water to see if they are guilty and float
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If Obama actually could fix everything that was broken by the time he took office (as some expect of him), and ruined everything he is accused of ruining (as others are braying), in 100 days; then he must truely be the long expected Messiah that some people accuse him of being.
He's been very busy. We should give him another 100 days to walk on water and turn it into wine.
I think he's just a man doing a pretty darn good job facing a mountain and doing his best to make it a mole hill. Anyone certain they can do better; put your hat into the ring now and start campaigning. Let's hear how YOU are going to make everything all better for us.
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115 -
Them? Who? Cheney and his friends? Okay.
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There it goes again. I need to oil the hinges on my shutters.
Home improvement Sam
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#87
Two,
Marcus levels of incompetence.
Apart from the year old Colmes error, the iPod was given to HM the Q. With show tunes (which she likes) and a signed original libretto of the King and I (can't recall if it was Rogers or Hammerstein signed it. One of them), a totally valuable gift. In return the Obama's got a silver framed photo of Liz and Phillip. It's like you bringing me a nice 12" and I give you a grubby polaroid of me in the bath, nekked.
Gordon 'What can' Brown 'do for you' (2 things. Not much and frak all)got the DVD's that don't work. OK, so he came with toys for the kids and the Obama's said 'Oh Frak. Shell, run down to the gift shop and grab something to regift for the 'Brown's'' but hey, it's not like he'll be in power in 18 months.
For God's sake if you are going to post drivel at least get the 3 facts in it correct and complete.
Sleepy Sam
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#116
If it helps, right now I am turning wine into water.
Helpful Sam
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68 1/2
Those aren't squeaks in your shutters, they're bats in your belfry. This is the worst case of intestinal distress Doctor Marcus has ever seen. It's systemic, it's gone to his brain, what's left of it. It might be an effect of the toxic reaction fighting off a live chicken in 68 1/2. I'll bet by now that chicken has sobered up and is madder than a wet hen. Don't be surprised if he tries next to peck his way out. I'd have more beer or something if I were you Sam. If you don't sedate that chicken, this could be a very long night.
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#87 but facts are so tiresome, and they can really undercut a good rant
my heavens if we all stuck to facts there would be no politics at all thankfully we have the benefit of fact free speech here in the US
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#114
Bere,
You are being unfair to duck hunters. Duck are hunter from a hide with a 12". It takes patience and skill to hunt duck.
Cheney was hunting Quail with a 20". Quail hunting is sort of easy, the birds are flushed towards you. Very predictable, plus the gun has no kick and in clays is the preferred weapon for youths and lighter framed folks (commonly known as women, or Mrs. Sam (who is mean with a 20" Beretta Semi-Auto)).
To shoot something anything but down range is unbelievably bad and stupid at the best of times. A quail hunter who does is, not to be sexist, sort of girly. A girly man. And a bad sportsman/woman.
Hunter Sam
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Ref 120 SamTaylor1969
Dandilion wine?
Joe Six-pack Wine Distributors
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Yep. There it goes again. Ladder and oil can in the morning.
Home Improvement Sam
P.S. The French don't know about beer-can chicken. Had it again tonight, the best American recipe ever. Thank the Lord for summer and grilling!
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96, bere.
"I was mystified when I kept hearing this Jack Bauer person referenced in all sorts of news contexts and was rather astonished when I finally discovered, by way of a crossword puzzle, that he's a TV character."
It was not knowing who Bauer was that kept me from realizing that Dowd was just having a bit of fun. I should have known better because I read all her columns (whch often are a bit of fun).
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
#119. SamTyler1969 re #87: "the iPod was given to HM the Q. With show tunes (which she likes) and a signed original libretto of the King and I (can't recall if it was Rogers (sic) or Hammerstein signed it. One of them), a totally valuable gift. In return the Obama's got a silver framed photo of Liz and Phillip. . . at least get the 3 facts in it correct and complete."
Although I hold no brief for TrueToo, I suggest that what is good (sauce) for goose is good (sauce) for the gander: according to the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, the book that President Obama gave to The Queen was not the score of "The King and I" but a copy of The Rodgers and Hart Songbook. Since Lorenz Hart died in 1943 and the book was not published until many years later, it must have been signed by Hammerstein. Although that edition, with the autograph, may be rare, a used copy of the same volume may be purchased for $9.00 - and the composer's name is spelt with an 'r': Rodgers. On the subject of spelling, the husband of The Queen is Prince Philip - with only one 'l', not two.
Before being quite so picky, you might consider checking your "facts" before you post :) I give you a C- for your post - you are capable of better things.
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#128,
Rod (Ave Q),
So the Obama's gave one song book to HM and not another by the same guys and it was signed and therefore not the same coffee stained version available unseen on e-bay for $9 (unsigned).
I apologize for my error on the title of the valuable document without reservation and hope no decision taken on the basis of my miss-naming of the document in question causes anyone harm. It is still a freaking music score either way. And a nice one.
Rodgering and broadway musicals I'll leave to you, not my area.
Sleep well,
Snoozy Sam
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#129. SamTyler1969: "So the Obama's gave one song book to HM and not another by "the same guys"
Sam, Sam, Sam! It's not by "the same guys" - Rodgers and Hart wrote such musicals as A Connecticut Yankee, The Boys from Syracuse and Pal Joey (Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered), rather more sophisticated than the syrupy offerings of Rodgers and Hammerstein, today mostly remembered for Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music; Rodgers is the same guy, but Hart and Hammerstein were very different. This may not be "your area" but you might consider just checking first before chastising another poster. Hope you will have slept well!
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99. At 11:27pm on 29 Apr 2009, David_Cunard wrote:
You're way behind the times - Alan Colmes has not been the token leftie for several months; the programme is now called simply "Hannity".
Well, I guess I've got no choice but to give you that one. Shows you how seldom I access Fox News.
Now tell me, are there any other spots on Fox for lefties? Or has it become as right wing as the BBC is left wing? Remember, the BBC is obliged by its Charter to be impartial and is funded by the long-suffering British public - or at least those large sections of it that don't buy into the BBC's agenda.
Sam Tyler and David Cunard - interesting debate on fact-checking. But tell me now, do either of you two have a sneaking suspicion that there is a degree of incompetence in Obama's administration? Or do you think that everything is going as smooth as clockwork? (OK, smoothly, if you insist.)
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It's about time someone take on the Catholic church. Whether he can "win" or not isn't the point. Speaking up is the point when taking on the church. Overall I'm pretty proud of Obama. A second bank bailout does not make me happy at all, just like the first one didn't make me happy. I am a realist and I do understand our problems can't be healed in one day, one term, or even years to come. If Obama actually starts health care reform and gets something, something anything at all (almost) accomplished... I will be very happy. It may not be what we all want but, it would be a start.
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I can hardly believe that some Europeon somewhere hasen't already blamed the Mexican swine flu on the USA in general and the CIA in particular as some nefarious plot against someone. France wants to shut down all air travel from Mexico and wants the EU to go along with it. I'm hoping they'll shut it down for all of North America. Of course even if it were possible to quarrantine the flu which the WHO says it isn't, it's a little late closing the barn door after the horse is gone now that there are cases in Europe too. Swine flu, why didn't the Bush administration think of that. They must have been too preoccupied with waterboarding terrorists.
Three trillion dollars spent that the US government doesn't have in just 100 days. What does Obama do for an encore? I guess we Americans had better start learning how to speak Chinese.
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I'm not allowed to comment on your person, or your posts, Justin, as those usually get banned under the "house rules" (lol - funny how those only apply to who you think they do), but, as usual, I simply shake my head when I see your attitude towards Obama. Perhaps you should consider running for the Republicans in 2012? In my opinion, you're certainly laying the groundwork.
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#131. TrueToo: "Now tell me, are there any other spots on Fox for lefties?"
Not that I'm aware of - they prefer to preach to the choir. Any pretence of "fair and balanced" has long evaporated. But you should see for yourself - it can be most entertaining.
"But tell me now, do either of you two have a sneaking suspicion that there is a degree of incompetence in Obama's administration? Or do you think that everything is going as smooth as clockwork?"
Not incompetence, just learning the ropes. I'll ask you the question - has any first term American President had his first 100 days which have been smooth-as-clockwork? I don't think anyone can be perfect 100% of the time (not even Sam or I!); as in the days when a new car had to be run-in, the same goes for a new administration, especially one which has to sort out the mess left from earlier years. Too much is made of the hundred days - it's an arbitrary figure and a re-evaluation would be better considered after the first year.
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[i]Too much is made of the hundred days - it's an arbitrary figure and a re-evaluation would be better considered after the first year.[/i]
this.
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96 bere54 and others
Jack Bauer may be only a TV character, but he got results from 2001- 2007, mainly by torturing his captives, who always gave him the info he needed, even if occasionally too late to save the day. I don't know if he ever tortured a total innocent. Great TV, but not reality ... yet!
Any coincidence that this televisual portrayal of the successful use of torture to save America was on a FOX show is surely a left-wing conspiracy theory .... or was it really to subliminally soften us up that torture is ok if it gets results?
I'll take my tinfoil hat off now.....
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135. David_Cunard,
Well, we can but wait and see. The kind of people Obama was rubbing shoulders with in his younger and not-so-younger days, like that Underground crew and the reverend Wright, had me really worried. Then he appeared to demonstrate a genuinely non-discriminatory approach in his choice of a team.
Maybe I should still be worried. Or I could take the following advice:
Don't worry, it might not happen.
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55 marbles
Looks like my #61 tripped up the Mods, which I completely, totally fail to understand. I said that I found your summary chilling, and conjectured that the former VP's comments were either deliberately trying to rally the party faithful, or else possibly showing signs of illness.
Several of the comments on this point have been much more extreme, and I fail to see how speculation on something that has been addressed by both British and American media can be considered libelous.
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135. David_Cunard,
Not incompetence, just learning the ropes.
Yes, but I would have thought they could have tapped the mayor of New York on the shoulder and informed him that they were going to be skimming a few inches over the Statue of Liberty in a presidential jet and an F16 (if I have my planes right.)
Surely to be unable to make the connection between an unusually low-flying big aircraft and 9/11 is incompetence? On the other hand, if it was someone's idea of a practical joke, I don't find it funny.
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140 marcus
re the low-flying jet
This was not an "out-of-the-blue" unplanned fly-past. The mayor of New York may not have been personally consulted but as this quote from Louis Caldera explains
"Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision," said Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office. "While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption."
source http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/04/27/low.flying.plane/index.html
So it seems that the White House let the authorities in 2 states know that this was going to happen, and nobody seemed to think it was a bad idea ..... but for you it was all Obama's fault.
If you occasionally found a genuine fault (and there are some of course) and backed it up with a reasoned argument, then people might take you a bit more seriously...
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tt 131
"But tell me now, do either of you two have a sneaking suspicion that there is a degree of incompetence in Obama's administration? Or do you think that everything is going as smooth as clockwork? (OK, smoothly, if you insist.)"
I don't think that any administration can be perfect. But mistakes cannot always be ascribed to incompetence. Every new administration has to learn the ropes, and mistakes will always be made. This particular administration has had the urgency of the current situation as an added difficulty. Catch-22 - damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
Certainly no one believes that everything is going as smooth as clockwork .... life is not black or white. There are shades of gray - even I acknowledge that Bush achieved some good, for example. But the anti-Obama voices speak only partisan dogma, without looking at the big picture.
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141. RomeStu wrote:
140 marcus
re the low-flying jet
Who is Marcus?
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Although I never mentioned the Air Force One incident I seem to be being credited for, it was an example of exceptional stupidity and thoughtlessness. Perhaps Europeans can't remember back 7 1/2 years ago when a two jet planes were used as a manned guided missiles to attack New York City and killed 3000 people disrupting the city for years or perhaps they are exercising their typical selective memory to block out the parts of history they don't want to recall because they are inconvenient to the political point of the moment they want to make. Either way, it was particularly dumb. What's more there is a complex system of air traffic control around New York City given its three large airports, JFK, LGA, and NWK which handle huge volumes of air traffic at all hours of every day. AF One should have been coordinated with that air traffic pattern being in constant touch with the air traffic controllers as soon as it entered the regional air space several hundred miles away and a flight plan should have been filed prior to its flight. If that wasn't done, it shows gross negligence and irresponsibility. That seems to becoming one of the hallmarks of the Obama administration, irresponsibility. Not surprising given its inexperience.
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Sam,
- "a grubby polaroid of me in the bath, nekked."
Do you usually bathe fully clothed?Complain about this comment
Honto Gaijin
Peace
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Sterling work on the blog HTML Mr H!
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# 134 theoch wrote:
"...as usual, I simply shake my head when I see your attitude towards Obama. Perhaps you should consider running for the Republicans in 2012? In my opinion, you're certainly laying the groundwork."
Ho hum.
As I've said before...
So, according to theoch et al, J Webb is a fanatical Republican, and totally biased against Obama.
While simultaneously, according to TrueToo, to name but one, anyone can see that the Beeb is a rabid nest of biased leftie commie pinkos.
Which suggests to me that maybe the BBC are doing something right.
[Mind you, TT has previously been kind enough to clarify for us that if someone on the left attacks the BBC for being too rightwing, this is just proof of how blinkered them lefties are.
Whereas if someone on the right - such as TrueToo - attacks them as being too liberal, this is simple factual common sense....]
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Detroit problems are deep and sad and predate Obama.The auto industry has been a big part of America.People in other regions don't understand what it has given them from defending American in wars(many small manufacturing and Research companies work for both the Military and Auto companies)to medical like the a mechanical heart the car companies and founders have put millions in colleges ans hospitals PBS.Art etc...But Detroit lost it sense of community in the riots,that's why no one here wants or knows how to approach the subject,younger ones like myself are trying to move on but older generations can't give up there out dated view points.The auto industry is part of our community just another piece being broken off.While GOP and DEMs have all had their turn as President,Governors of our state,congress,and still our city dies.It's one of the oldest city in this country.But no one is willing to do the hard decisions.Detroit needs jobs and Police officers,roads,all the basic things our government is supposed to offer it's people.Instead DEMS hand out welfare checks and GOP just complains.It's a sabotage.If people in this City of Detroit and the Metro and State can't get together for the good of their community,we will lose everything.We have to make decisions that are for the good of entire state and region,not just little districts trying for cash pork for their own districts.Obama can't help Detroit.He can help auto industry but the people of the city and state must work to get a sense of shared community again.
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ref #135
If we are sticking to the oppinion shows, there are no liberal hosts true. But van Sustrean and Geraldo are moderates, Orielley is liberal on some issues.
But they do have several liberal anayists; unless you consider Juan Williams, Kristan Powers and Ellis Hennigan conservative.
Fox howver contrasts favorably with MSNBC Trokia of Hate, Mathews Obermann and Maddow and when I listen to BBC world services there is a definite liberal stance.
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Mr II,
"AF One should have been coordinated with that air traffic pattern being in constant touch with the air traffic controllers as soon as it entered the regional air space several hundred miles away and a flight plan should have been filed prior to its flight. IF that wasn't done, it shows gross negligence and irresponsibility. That seems to becoming one of the hallmarks of the Obama administration, irresponsibility. Not surprising given its inexperience."
That's a mighty bit IF in the middle of that statement isn't it. I stand to be corrected, but I've not seen anything to suggest that the plane, sometimes called AF1, didn't coordinate it's movements with local air traffic control - and I'll be flabbegasted (I do so like that word) if they didn't. Whilst the photo op decision may have been incredibly dumb, I don't believe you would ever get any pilot to simply buzz around a major city surrounded by busy airlanes without being fully coordinated with ATC.
To be honest, one has to suspect you motives here. It's a well know debating tactic - when clearly losing the argument - to throw in some misdirection by throwing in possibilities that almost certainly didn't, couldn't and wouldn't happen.
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# 144 MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Although I never mentioned the Air Force One incident I seem to be being credited for, it was an example of exceptional stupidity and thoughtlessness."
I rarely if ever bother engaging with MA II - he's clearly not a person for rational argument - but amazingly enough, I agree with this. Alert the media!
Sadly, and typically, it's downhill all the way from there.
" Perhaps Europeans can't remember back 7 1/2 years ago when a two jet planes were used as a manned guided missiles to attack New York City and killed 3000 people disrupting the city for years or perhaps they are exercising their typical selective memory to block out the parts of history they don't want to recall....."
Yes, MA, that's it exactly. All 500m or so of us Europeans have deliberately decided to forget 9/11 - despite the fact that a fair number of the victims were European. [AFAIK the number of British people who died made it the single worst terrorist attack involving UK citizens. And indeed there were Irish and Irish-American victims - I knew a relative of one of the former.]
Anyway, what happened is that all 500m of us got together in our secret underground lair and beamed our evil Amnesia Rays into the White House, causing Obama and his staff to forget too. Which explains the whole thing.
Naturally we directed the rays at MAII as well. But he outsmarted us. What with his scientific training at several of the top US universities, and his knowledge of our evil European wiles, he knew better than to ever remove his tinfoil hat...
"That seems to becoming one of the hallmarks of the Obama administration, irresponsibility. Not surprising given its inexperience."
Perhaps. Experience certainly has its place. But - who's a good example of a really experienced politician? Someone so experienced that they served at the highest level both in the 70's and in the last decade?
Well, 2 names immediately spring to mind.
Cheney, D, and Rumsfeld, D.......
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144. At 12:29pm on 30 Apr 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:
gross negligence and irresponsibility. That seems to becoming one of the hallmarks of the Obama administration, irresponsibility. Not surprising given its inexperience. "
As compared to whom? The experienced Bush who saw bodies floating in New Orleans before congratulating his staff on a job well done?
A rare combination of experience and uttter incompetence
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140. At 10:13am on 30 Apr 2009, TrueToo wrote:
135. David_Cunard,
Not incompetence, just learning the ropes.
Yes, but I would have thought they could have tapped the mayor of New York on the shoulder and informed him that they were going to be skimming a few inches over the Statue of Liberty in a presidential jet and an F16 (if I have my planes right."
Why? What has it got to do with him? Is he in charge of US airspace?
"Surely to be unable to make the connection between an unusually low-flying big aircraft and 9/11 is incompetence? On the other hand, if it was someone's idea of a practical joke, I don't find it funny.!
Well since the twin towers do not actually exist any more any connection is therefore risible.
New Yorkers have more to worry about than Air Force 1's flight plans.
Like keeping their jobs and homes.
And if that is all the criticism Obama faces no wonder his ratings are so high.
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#145
Ed,
Depends what game I'm playing.
Kinky Sam
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131. At 05:43am on 30 Apr 2009, TrueToo wrote:
99. At 11:27pm on 29 Apr 2009, David_Cunard wrote:
You're way behind the times - Alan Colmes has not been the token leftie for several months; the programme is now called simply "Hannity".
Well, I guess I've got no choice but to give you that one. Shows you how seldom I access Fox News.
Now tell me, are there any other spots on Fox for lefties? Or has it become as right wing as the BBC is left wing? Remember, the BBC is obliged by its Charter to be impartial and is funded by the long-suffering British public - or at least those large sections of it that don't buy into the BBC's agenda."
It is impartial.
It is of course not balanced news never is.
"Sam Tyler and David Cunard - interesting debate on fact-checking. But tell me now, do either of you two have a sneaking suspicion that there is a degree of incompetence in Obama's administration? Or do you think that eveeryis going as smooth as clockwork? (OK, smoothly, if you insist.)"
Typical question from our ex-apartheid poster.
What does "smooth as clockwork" mean in political terms?
If it means is Obama still riding extraordinarily high in the polls and none of his oppenents are making a running - then yes couldn't be better.
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#130
David,
I bow down before your superior knowledge of Broadway Musicals.
I'm off to do something requiring brute force and ignorance. Oil that shutter that is squeaking again and then shoot something.
Butch Sam
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121. At 03:27am on 30 Apr 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:
68 1/2
Does this mean anything at all, why is it posted?
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148
John in dublin.
I see you falling for a typical republican tactic here.
to say that the assertion that Justin's is bias to the right cannot be real, because the truly wrong marcus happens to say he is a lefty, is giving MATT too much credit.
He/they have lied several times and shown an amazing ability to get no where near the truth.
It would be more accurate to say that because they say he is a lefty that Justin must be on the right.
Which is what some of us think.
If not Justin could try to be a little less obvious or more obvious.
Sarcasm may be his tool. But is there is no sarcastic tone and the sarcastic do not correct people that take their sarcasm and run with it in an offensive direction they lose the impact of the sarcasm and become promoters of that which they are sarcastic about.
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#144 Marcus there is no way that fighter jets and a plane sometimes used as air force one could have flown throughout the new york air space without notifying proper authorities. Everyone who was required to be notified was notified, however the mayor of new york is not on that list. The right thing to be done was to make a courtesy call to the Mayor notifying him since this was such a sensitive situation.
(note I said a courtesy call)
You cannot fly a Cessna in new york without notifying aviation authorities why do you think the air force would just fly their jets around the island without notifying them?
I didnt know the White House Micro Manages every detail of non-combat military excercises.
If the plane sometimes used as air force one was not involved, would this still be the president's fault?
Trying to pin this as the administrations fault and an indication of the leadership of the country is just plain politics and has no real substance to it.
I would love to have heard your opinion back in 2005 in the aftermath of Katrina to see if your opinion would have differed.
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ref #133
Don't worry American hater and terrorist lover George Galloway or former London Mayor Ken Livingston will do it soon enough.
there is enough hysteria on the swine flu already and the WHO is doing a good job in promoting an increase in panic.
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143 truetoo
many apologies for calling you Marcus.
an honest mistake .... but the comment still stands.
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ref #133
or maybe we can wait for a notorious islamophobe and Arab hater to propose an alternative?
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144. MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Although I never mentioned the Air Force One incident I seem to be being credited for, it was an example of exceptional stupidity and thoughtlessness."
Yes and to you too I apologise for crediting you on a comment - as I said to Truetoo, an honest mistake.
However please read my response 141 to see that the flypast was communicated to the NY and NJ authorities and no one seemed to object to the plan.
Also if you imagine that they were not in contact with air traffic control, you ascribe a level of autonomy to this particular jet that is beyond reality.
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Why are we not hearing about the war crimes committed by American soldiers, or ex' as they want it known ,but this is a big story why is nothing mentioned ever in your reports,I am fed up hearing about your tete' te, with the elite .
Well 101st airborne div Steven dale Green murdered and raped a 14yr old girland other alledged crimes were committed by others in this unit and division .
Why Justin do you never mention such crimes and ask is it being swept under the carpet and the new Politic's in America want to move on as if nothing happened.
Well arent you supposed to be independent not cosying up to the great and the good.
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NOW i wonder what will happen to my last comment
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162 no mistake.
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The European chain ARTE had a better appraisal of Obama the man, mostly with photographic truth.
Mr. Webb has done better than usual is his assessment of Mr. Obama's first 100 days.
A politician cannot successfully be an ideologue and must seek the possible.
I am thankful that he has the youthful energy and intellect to face the many problems. Certainly, we may expect that he is a quick study and will grow to be even greater.
Let us wish him well!
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rome stu joking aside many americans probably do think torture was acceptable because of what they saw on the 24 program.or rather it made them less likely to question it. it works etc.
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Stu
"If you occasionally found a genuine fault (and there are some of course) and backed it up with a reasoned argument, then people might take you a bit more seriously..."
same with TT and with Justin.
strange that.
lol on the justin but the other two?
I still say they are one and the same.
different styles my ass.
they both do the same style,just different topics.
And I very much doubt it believes a word it says.
Mix em up, they are one and the same.
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158 Simon jibes to Sam.
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150 -
I have never seen Juan Williams on Fox, but in his other job as "political analyst" on NPR he exhibited a rather bizarre prejudice against Obama during and for a time after the election, making at times utterly ridiculous and confounding statements. If he's considered liberal on Fox that just indicates how far right Fox is.
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#158
Simon
I believe the comment is intended in some way to goad me into responding to MA. However since he threw an ungentlemanly comment at Aqua and has not apologized I am going to let him rant away to himself in the corner rather than continue my long and unrewarding charity work of trying to educate him.
We had come a long way in a short time, he was ocasionally checking the odd fact and had discovered the power of Wiki on the international interweb. However I fear he may have had a relapse recently.
Therapist Sam
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161. At 3:01pm on 30 Apr 2009, MagicKirin wrote:
ref #133
Don't worry American hater and terrorist lover George Galloway or former London Mayor Ken Livingston will do it soon enough."
Well thank you for that Mr President speaking on behalf of 300 million people.
Otherwise we will understand "America Hater" as meaning "extreme right-wing hater".
And happily there are plenty of Americans in that category.
"there is enough hysteria on the swine flu already and the WHO is doing a good job in promoting an increase in panic."
But not as good as the Americas which gave us all this porcine disease.
That fact seems to have escaped you.
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173. At 4:19pm on 30 Apr 2009, SamTyler1969 wrote:
I have not seen great signs of progress. In one of his postings he implied he hated Europe (Asia, Left wingers, gays etc there are a lot of them) because they were the wrong colour!
Though what the "right" colour was he could not say.
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#157. SamTyler1969: "David, I bow down before your superior knowledge of Broadway Musicals."
Not really superior, just well informed about two of America's musical giants.
"I'm off to do something requiring brute force and ignorance. Oil that shutter that is squeaking again and then shoot something. - Butch Sam"
A knowledge of the arts and masculinity are not mutually exclusive; I can use brute force with the best of them and, like Churchill, can build a brick wall if need be. And if you don't believe that first phrase, ask Hugh Jackman!
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#176
David,
Broadway musicals are not arts. They are simple tunes for average folks. The arts are by their nature less accessible and should allow you to be snobby about things. Like Opera.
Guns in the afternoon, Opera at night.
Manly Sam
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Some people here like Rome-Stu... don't understand the autonomy and yes occasional recklessness US military personnel can occasionally display. That includes pilots. They are not shy and sometimes are out of control. Or have Europeans and even some Americans forgotten that it was less than a year ago that a US fighter jet flew across the United States carrying nuclear weapons against all standing orders. Could the pilot of AF-1 have neglected to get in touch with control towers managing the NYC metro area Air Traffic Control System? I wouldn't put it past them. Anyway, there should eventually be a full FAA report with a complete and I hope accurate account of what the investigation reveals.
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177. "Broadway musicals are not arts."
Isn't that a bit pretentious? Next, you'll claim Shakespeare's "All's Well That Ends Well" is art while The Three Stooges' "Oil's Well That Ends Well" is light entertainment for simple folk, although the two clearly have equivalent artistic merit.
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176, 177, DC, Sambeard, may I bring my guns to the opera?
If you guys are stubborn, I'll bring Annie along.
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#177. SamTyler1969: "Broadway musicals are not arts. They are simple tunes for average folks."
If that is so, consider that, along with Jazz, the American (Broadway) Musical is one of the great contributions to Western culture. The Gershwins didn't just write "simple songs for simple folks" - they wrote Porgy and Bess, considered to be an opera; Leonard Bernstein wrote Candide and Sondheim has written some very complicated songs enjoyed by both simple and sophisticated folk. Since the accumulation of money seems to be of importance to you, remember that Andrew Lloyd Webber is the most financially successful of any "Broadway" composer and even by today's exchange rate is worth $1,110,000,000. Not bad for someone who writes "simple tunes".
"The arts are by their nature less accessible and should allow you to be snobby about things. Like Opera."
And what is Opera but Musical Theatre! The tickets may sometimes be more expensive, but the so-called "classical" composers thereof are not as successful as Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Lord Lloyd-Webber et al - and I would have thought, for you, that was the bottom line. And besides, they write in English - no super-titles needed for their shows!
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#180. gunsandreligion: "may I bring my guns to the opera?"
John Wilkes Booth took his to the theatre . . .
And about Annie - Ethel Merman was so much better than Betty Hutton, but Sam would like the show/movie since she was a crack shot but also remarked "you can't get a man with a gun", the reverse of which probably holds true.
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It should perhaps be pointed out that the USAF 747 over NY was not Air Force 1.
That is just a call sign for an aircraft carrying the President, which is usually, but not always, the modified 747's we see on Presidential trips, if it's one of the VIP helicopters, it's 'Marine 1', of which more later.
Rather like when the Royal Standard is raised over Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle if the Queen is there.
This incident over NY had nothing to do with Obama then, saying otherwise is desperate reaching of epic proportions.
He may be the nominal Commander In Chief, but that does not extend to overseeing the day to day flight plans of flying units.
As CinC an apology was due, but he didn't file the flight plan.
Interesting that Obama kept on Secretary of Defence Gates, who has had some tussles with the USAF since Bush appointed him.
There was the series of nuclear weapon handling and storage scandals last year, from a B-52 flying across the US with nukes on board without telling anyone who should have known, had there been an accident that could have been serious.
A nuclear weapon storage facility run like a country club - twice. Some sackings after that.
The near insubordination of senior USAF staffers over Gate's refusal to allow increased production over the already agreed number of F-22 fighters (that Rumsfeld had tried to curtail as well) more than once).
That resulted in Gates appointing a new Air Force commander, who was not an ex fighter jock or bomber wing commander, rather he had mostly driven vital but 'unsexy' transports - I bet that went down well!
The inability of the USAF to run a procurement without making a total mess of-I hesitate to use that ghastly over used word - process. Even when they picked the most sensible choice, thus allowing free reign for the army of consultants, lawyers, losing bidders and their pork bloated creatures on Capitol Hill, to delay for years actually getting the kit to the end user.
There certainly was some resonance with the NY overflight/photo shoot, with Sept 11th 2001.
The inability it seems of various parts of the government to talk to each other. (Remember how some of the hijackers who had entered the US were on terrorist 'watch lists').
How some lower ranking FBI people who had an inkling something was afoot in the weeks/months before that awful event, were lost within the Kafka like inter agency infighting.
In 2005, a replacement was selected for the 35 year old VH-3 choppers you see on the White House lawn, was selected.
The rivals has been a version of the Sikorsky S-92 and the Anglo Italian EH-101.
Despite fierce lobbying, the larger EH-101 was selected.
It had more growth potential, three engines rather than the two of the Sikorsky machine, was already in military service with the British and Italian navies, the Royal Air Force, the Canadian Air Force and several other nations such as Portugal, Denmark and Japan.
The S-92 had yet to be built in a military version.
Lockheed in the US would build all but the first few of 23 machines, would carry out the range of modifications needed, including more powerful engines.
Late last year, it emerged that this programme was in serious trouble, massive cost overruns, weight problems to name two.
Weight problems? Say what?
So, an upgraded version of a machine that routinely carries up to 30 fully equipped troops, with armour, decoy systems, defensive machine guns, in the searing heat of an Iraqi summer or high in Afghan mountains, or operates off naval ships in all weathers, with highly complex systems and torpedos etc, or rescues people at long ranges in all weathers in the worst of Canadian winter weather, was too overweight to carry the President and some senior staffers relatively short distances?
In the words of the presenters of the popular British comedic car programme, Top Gear, 'how hard can it be?
Very hard it seems when the multi agency fingers gets into the pie.
They wanted a TV studio on board. They wanted a fully equipped kitchen and all manner of other frankly eccentric modifications.
Each machine could now cost as much as the highly and very expensively modified Boeing 747's we saw over NY had. For a helicopter.
Just as well the smaller, lower powered S-92 was not selected, it never would have literally got off the ground.
It seems likely that what will happen is that the basically sound-structure wise, current VH-3's will get a new digital cockpit (needed for navigating today's air traffic systems as much as ease of servicing, better reliability and spares provision).
As well as new composite, advanced rotor blades, with strengthening to support the extra power.
All at a tiny fraction of the cost of a new 'Marine 1' - no matter who builds it.
To give an extra 15 or so years life, (These machines, like the 747's, fly only a fraction of a normal civil or military model so they are not 'old' in that respect anyway).
This happened under Bush, but he is not directly to blame, anymore than Obama is or for the concern caused by the NY photo shoot with the 747 and the USAF fighter.
What to do with the EH-101's already built, building or flying?
Why not modify them for use by the US Coast Guard? They reckon they could do with some longer ranged rescue choppers.
Finally, those well known airborne blingers, the Saudi Royals, are getting similar machines for their VIP role, which are on time, on budget, not suffering the problems of the US versions.
Now how can they manage that, and the the US cannot?
After all, the Saudi Royals like their own personalised planes too, 747's included, they also fear terrorist attack as well.
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#179
Dave,
To simple folk, yes.
Simple Sam
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#180
Guns,
I'd be disappointed if you didn't. But not the Met.
Artsy Sam
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I didn't know Sam could be so arrogant. He's encroaching on my territory.
Where do Gilbert and Sullivan fit?
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185, Sam, I guess I'll just have to be content with shooting up
the Radio City Music Hall. That way, I don't have to be snobby,
as long as I stick to smokeless powder.
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184. And all our yesterdays have lighted stooges the way to dusty nyuk-nyuk-nyuks.
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#181
David,
Of course. This is art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL7kcFdGGPM&feature=PlayList&p=B27E45FE5B513A55&index=1
New Yorker Sam
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141, Rome.
"So it seems that the White House let the authorities in 2 states know that this was going to happen, and nobody seemed to think it was a bad idea ..... but for you it was all Obama's fault."
No matter how you slice it, it was a damn stupid idea. So you tell the officials (but not Mayor Bloomberg apparently). So what? The people in the streets didn't know.
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161, Magic.
"there is enough hysteria on the swine flu already and the WHO is doing a good job in promoting an increase in panic."
I doubt that the swine flue is of any importance. People die of the flue every year, and now that they have tested the deaths in Mexico, something like seven can be attributed to this strain. All media hype. This is another case like the West Nile virus which was nothing at all, but because the media panicked everyone, some districts laid a toxic cloud of pesticide by air that made people ill. Staten Island is a case in point. I would rather be exposed to West Nile virus rather than pesticide. (Actually I contracted West Nile virus and was canny enough not to report myself. It was extremely mild.)
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#186. At 8:36pm on 30 Apr 2009, Gary_A_Hill: "Where do Gilbert and Sullivan fit?"
"Operetta" - but performed by some of the best singers and opera companies. A lot of Gilbert's work was very satirical and took pot shots at the establishment, more so than today. I imagine he would have had fun with both the present American and British administrations - SNL only touches the surface by comparison.
Two of the world's finest, Beverly Sills and Joan Sutherland both recorded "simple songs": Sills: The Music of Victor Herbert and Joan Sutherland SIngs Noel Coward - and Sam might note that "Bubbles" started her professional career singing G&S. No musical snob she!
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This post filled up quick!
Overall grade for Obama: B-
Presentation = A
Passing his legislation = A (his party controls congress, no biggie)
Bipartisanship = D
Domestic policy = C (this grade will improve with the economy)
Foreign policy = B (I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt)
Cabinet picks = C (not very good vetting on some of those folks)
Direction of country = no grade (time will tell)
Grade for press = D (not one question in press conference about the continuing contraction of the economy and the loss of jobs)
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#187
Gary,
Together?
Puzzler Sam
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Sam (#194), did you mean my post #186?
I meant are G&S, operetta being between high opera and American musical theater, to be considered art or not art.
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148. john-In-Dublin wrote:
So, according to theoch et al, J Webb is a fanatical Republican, and totally biased against Obama.
Could be that our esteemed Justin Webb is simply playing devil's advocate here and that his sympathies certainly ain't with George Bush's America.
In a moment of rare frankness for a BBC journalist, he confessed:
An edition of From Our Own Correspondent about the severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo's right to die was widely picked over in cyberspace. In it, Webb declared: "America is often portrayed as an ignorant, unsophisticated sort of place, full of bible-bashers and ruled to a dangerous extent by trashy television, superstition and religious bigotry . . . I know that is how it is portrayed as I have done my bit to paint that picture . . ."
http://www.jamessilver.net/articles/justin-webb-the-guardian.asp
But do read the whole article. I took that bit out of context and the article suggests that he has left that snobbishly-superior anti-American leftie attitude behind him. If so, it would be a remarkable transformation for a BBC journalist. The only other one I know of who has switched from left to right or perhaps left to center is Anthony Jay, and he did so once he was no longer at the BBC.
Mind you, TT has previously been kind enough to clarify for us that if someone on the left attacks the BBC for being too rightwing, this is just proof of how blinkered them lefties are.
Whereas if someone on the right - such as TrueToo - attacks them as being too liberal, this is simple factual common sense....
You got that straight, except that I don't attack them for being too liberal but for being left. Many on the left have become quite illiberal.
The evidence for a left wing BBC has already filled volumes on the Internet. I would like to see a tiny fraction of that amount of evidence for a right wing BBC. It doesn't exist, simply because you can't fit a square peg into a round hole.
162. RomeStu,
No need to apologise. But I still think the mayor of New York should have been the first person to be informed. After all, he has responsibility for the city. He would have realised how sensitive the situation was and taken appropriate steps to warn the public. I agree with allmymarbles at no. 190.
Let's face it guys. If Bush's team had made such a blunder, the press (and you) would have been all over it.
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Gary, David et al,
In response to questions about my snootiness regarding Broadway musicals, I believe that in the interests of full disclosure I should provide the definitive definition of what is and is not art.
Opera - Art
Anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber - Not art
Avenue Q - Art
Shakespeare - Art
3 stooges - not Art
Benini - Art
Caravaggio - knock your socks off Art
Van Gough - Art
Krieghoff custom engraving - Art
Rembrandt - Art
(Except the Toothpaste - not Art)
Cezanne - Not Art
Matisse - Art
17th Century Naughty French Lithographs - Art
Tattoos - Not Art
(Except on lower back of young women - target indicator)
Picasso - not Art
(Except Guernica - Art)
Large canvasses painted one color - sh!te
Dali - Art
(Except the Lobster Telephone - Fine Art)
Large Canvasses, one color with a horizontal black bar - utter sh!te
Nekked old people - Art
Nekked young people - Porn
Haiku - Art
Alan Moore - Art
Grounds for Sculpture - Art
Rocky bronze - Not Art
Tom Clancy - Not Art
Vietnam Memorial - Art
Lucas Cranach the Elder - Art
Lucas Cranach the Younger - Not Art
Stephen King - Sooooo not Art
Mona Lisa (Painting) - Not Art
Mona Lisa (Movie) - Art
Ansel Adams - Art
David Bailey - Not Art
Mozart - Art
Pink Floyd - Art
Sex Pistols - Art
Rap music - Art
Peter Greens Fleetwood Mac - Art
Fleetwood Mac - Not Art
Top Gear - Art
State of Play (TV) - Art
State of Play (movie) - Not Art
Sculpture at Times Square Hilton - Art
Sculpture at the Waldorf=Astoria - Not Art
Life On Mars - Art
I hope this clears up the issue.
Critic Sam
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#195
Gary,
G&S - Art
(except the Pirates of Penzance - Not Art)
(Except the Major General Song - Art)
Which brings me to:
Tom Lehrer - Art
Critic Sam
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198, Sam -
Kevin Kline with his pirate shirt open to the waist is Art.
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What about that Damian hirst or is that hearse?
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#200
Bonfire.
Guy Sam
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#199
Porn!
Yer Saucy Wench
Cap'n Sambeard
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202 -
A hirsute manly chest is a Thing of Beauty. A Work of Art created by nature. A Sight to Behold. And a Joy to curl one's fingers . . . well, never mind.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
#203
Luthien,
Like I said,
Porn.
Artist Sam
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205. At 00:48am on 01 May 2009, SamTyler1969 wrote:
"#203
Luthien,"
... as in Beren?
literary curmudgeon
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205 -
Fie, you besmirch my honor with your word "porn"! Barbarian! Get thee from me!
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#207
Yarr,
I'z apologize. It be erotica.
Tickled with a feather, not smacked with a chicken.
Cap'n Sam
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#206
KS,
Of course.
Tolkein - Art
And Bere's handle is so close to Beren, and her nature close to Luthien. Why not?
Sam
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#209
Tho she be a saucy wench, Y'arrrr
Cap'n Sambeard
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208
We accept your gracious apology. Erotica it is. And now we must away to bed. (Avast! It be the royal "we.")
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#209
"Of course.
Tolkein - Art"
I knew I liked you, Pirate Sam
KS, house of curmudgeonry
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#211
Could I warm yer berth for ya, me beauty? I be 'manscaping' me chest for just such a time as this.
Cap'n Sambeard
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#209. SamTyler1969: "Tolkein - Art"
Would that include the Musical Lord of the Rings?
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178. MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Some people here like Rome-Stu... don't understand the autonomy and yes occasional recklessness US military personnel can occasionally display."
Actually Marcus I, as is anyone who lives in Italy, am very aware of the recklessness of American military pilots. I remmeber the fighter from Aviano base which in 1998 flew too low through a ski resort, trying to fly under the wire of a cable car, but cut the wire causing the cable car to fall killing 20 people.
At least the military "admitted" responsibility (see link below), but all the personnel involved were rushed back to the USA and have never stood trial in Italy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/us-general-admits-cable-car-crash-jet-was-flying-too-low-1143305.html
Marcus then rants on
"Could the pilot of AF-1 have neglected to get in touch with control towers managing the NYC metro area Air Traffic Control System? I wouldn't put it past them."
You (the fount of all rationale) wouldn't put it past them!!! On what grounds do you make this sweeping criticism?
Oh yes, the grounds that you a delusional conspiracy theorist who sees dark work in everything remotely connected to the current administration.
Have a biscuit and a nice cup of tea, and try to calm down a bit.
Oh, and ask the Pentagon if we can have those Aviano fighter jocks back to stand trial.
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190 marbles
"No matter how you slice it, it was a damn stupid idea. So you tell the officials (but not Mayor Bloomberg apparently). So what? The people in the streets didn't know."
Marbles, I agree that it was stupid, and ill-conceived. My point was to say that it was not attributable to Obama, or to inexperience in his administration.
cf the nuke-carrying plane last year (underBush)
It was a cock-up, and very insensitive, but not on the scale of danger of flying undeclared nukes around the country.
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196 tt
"Let's face it guys. If Bush's team had made such a blunder, the press (and you) would have been all over it."
The nuke-carrying plane was a pretty big blunder, as Marcus Aurelius pointed out in 178.
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196. At 10:45pm on 30 Apr 2009, TrueToo wrote:
You got that straight, except that I don't attack them for being too liberal but for being left. Many on the left have become quite illiberal.
The evidence for a left wing BBC has already filled volumes on the Internet. I would like to see a tiny fraction of that amount of evidence for a right wing BBC. It doesn't exist, simply because you can't fit a square peg into a round hole."
This comment on "lefties" coming from someone who thinks giving "dark hued" people the vote a terrible communist conspiracy and who political development stopped in 1945.
Going by this the Americans he seems so keen to defend are more "leftie" than he is, but then so is most of the sane world.
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215. At 11:31am on 01 May 2009, RomeStu wrote:
178. MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Some people here like Rome-Stu... don't understand the autonomy and yes occasional recklessness US military personnel can occasionally display."
Actually Marcus I, as is anyone who lives in Italy, am very aware of the recklessness of American military pilots. I remmeber the fighter from Aviano base which in 1998 flew too low through a ski resort, trying to fly under the wire of a cable car, but cut the wire causing the cable car to fall killing 20 people."
I too was in Italy when this happened and frankly the attitude of the US military was outrageous.
Had the shoe been on the other foot the howling would have been loud and long.
Howw the Italians were supposed to see themselves as allies after this atrocity defied beleif.
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One hundred words to summarise it all, a riveting success after his predecessor's fall. The economy still lost, it needs to be bossed. Cue more drama, step forward Obama. Suspend your fear, the saviour is here. Restarted relations, eased apprehensions. A new wheel in the White House cog, not him, but the dog.
Underestimating those hostile, he'll soon be riled. Loves a brawl, should stop doing it all. Still too celebrity, the world's only political entity? A Bushesque gaffe, feel the media's wrath.
Not bad in all, no desired Republican fall. An awfully bad poem, the banks are still owin'.
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#218
David,
Musical Lord of the Rings - Not Art
Musical War of the Worlds - Art
Critic Sam
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I read Richard SM 's comment and followed the link to the New York Times. My reaction was " Is this for real?" Do politicians really talk like this behind not so closed doors? did they really do the things he said they did? I am frankly horrified. One of the reasons I would have backed Obama if I lived in the States is that he strikes me as coming as near to being an honest politician as is possible. Long may he reign, sadly 8 years is probably not long enough.
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Shotgun Wedding
By ALAN ABELSON
- "LEADING A GREAT NATION, AS BARACK OBAMA confessed in his review of his first hundred days as president, is no piece of cake. Whether it's the Taliban running wild in Pakistan or the Republicans running wild in Congress, the Iraqis shooting each other up in Baghdad or Joe Biden shooting off his mouth in D.C., erstwhile world-class banks begging for handouts, the swine-flu epidemic, the dented remnants of our auto industry desperately embracing bankruptcy or flirting with it -- it's one darn stressful thing after another....."
Or, if the link doesn't work, it's archived here;-)
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The only thing Obama does better than Bush in my opinion, is pronounce " nuclear " correctly. I got so sick of hearing " now-cue-ler.
I have an intense dislike for Obama. He's poking Uncle Sam's nose too much into the private sector, and in to our lives. He scares me with where he's taking us. I don't have any confidence in him or his people.
I give him an 'F', for fascist.
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222, newpensioner.
The article was a spoof by a very talented and humorous journalist. But I'll bet that when there are no reporters around that that is exactly how they speak - in other words, like you and me.
Yes I do believe Obama is as honest as a politician can be. And I have also wondered if eight years is enough to clean up our mess.
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Oh dear how naive of me! I did think it was rather O T T so was a tad suspicious. Never mind you are never too old to learn!
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178. MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Some people here like Rome-Stu"
Marcus, I'm flattered, and I didn't know you cared!
I'd also like to think it's true, although I'm not here to be popular, just to share my views, learn from others and occasionally set right the odd lunatic.....
... and to remind everyone of the dangers of taking quotes out of context!
:-)
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227, RomeStu -
I like you, in or out of context.
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227. At 9:48pm on 02 May 2009, RomeStu wrote:
"the dangers of taking quotes out of context!"
I am particularly fond of how dear old MA, talented physicist/engineer/atheist etc. etc. so incontrovertibly accepted the blame for panicking hundreds of New Yorkers:
144. MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Although I never mentioned the Air Force One incident I seem to be being credited for, it was an example of exceptional stupidity and thoughtlessness.
So unusual for him not to mention an example of exceptional stupidity and thoughtlessness. We may be seeing the first slight glimmer of a cure.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
re: 197 Critic Sam
Careful, now, or I'll inflict upon you a wordy, lengthy, and tedious treatise on why both Cezanne and Rothko are very, very definitely art.
Not to mention Bert and Kurt musicals (yes, even in English, on Broadway, and with Cindy as Jenny
It's socialist propaganda!
It's decadent pornography!
It's populist schlock!
Yes, all this, and it's art.
OK, so the horse has left the barn on this topic, but I couldn't resist.
And what's Bert and Kurt without a little Lotte?
Yours,
Pinko
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46. At 5:36pm on 29 Apr 2009, dceilar wrote: IN PART
TO #25 oldsouth
If he does nationalise the US health industry, the majority of Americans will get better healthcare and at a cheaper cost than what they are paying through the nose for now! What is there to debate? Looks a no brainer to me.
dceiler #46
Well, not sure our NHS it a great model either! We're paying for it in high taxes, more of us taking out private policies because some procedure waiting lists are endless, we're paying creeping up costs toward prescriptions, eye care, etc. can't find a dentist, majority of our medical staff are NOT indigenous (ours have moved to the States!!), Agreed, the US needs something but an NHS isn't the be all/end all of so called "care" - been there, done that!
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232.
I've been there and done that too.
And I'll tell you for free.
I preferred going into the A&E in the UK than here.
I still waited 3 hours to be seen.
and all to get a prescription for anti biotics.
Who cares if the staff are indigenous.
No one says end with a NHS. but there has to be a start.
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watch out for the aporkalypse
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233. At 4:18pm on 04 May 2009, happylaze wrote:
232.
I've been there and done that too.
And I'll tell you for free.
I preferred going into the A&E in the UK than here.
I still waited 3 hours to be seen.
and all to get a prescription for anti biotics.
Who cares if the staff are indigenous.
No one says end with a NHS. but there has to be a start.
#233
Oh no, please do feel free to charge!
I believe I said the US needs "something" did I not?
My point re: Indigenous (not a racists comment by the way!)is to make a point as to why our own healthcare pros are leaving our shores??? And, to point out ONE A&E visit to encompass the whole system??????? People don't fully understand the workings of NHS, I don't, but it ain't what it used to be! That I can tell you for free!
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235 One visit.
that was ONE example.
get real live without any care and then come back and bitch about the NHS.
Do you live in the states.
Have you experienced spending 3 days to sort out a 5 minute doctor visit.
Do you really Think I am alone in waiting in US waiting rooms?
Do you really know about this or are you thinking how the system in the UUK makes you wait for a hip replacement.
I have an aunt in the UK on #3 Hip.
she still lives in HER house.
I had a Gran with MS for all my life that I knew her.
Her daughter inherited her house.
I had a burst appendix , a hernia , and several other injuries and experiences with the NHS.
as well as having lived in the UK for years.
And I will tell you the same As i heve here time and time again when people start trying to say that the NHS is not really that good.
They came around and saw to a quadriplegic in her home for 30 years.
I have a Dad who had "the worlds best treatment" (bohemian grove attending doc(really top of his field) in the USA.
only to return to find Guildford Hospital just down the road has a treatment that is showing better results etc.(but the amrican Docs were too busy promoting their treatment.)
Don't give me" one example.."
What's your's?
All you do is provide the americans with the reasoning that their "system " is better.
Justin had this angle before the elections. Pooh Poohed the mocking of the US health. but then when the patient was his Kid we saw how he was surprised at the sheer money making callousness of it.
Once you have something you can improve it.
The NHS can be improved.
but nothing improved is still nothing.
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#236
I'll spare you mine and/or my family medical details the good, the bad and the ugly NHS experiences.
You are missing the point entirely how many more times: "the US need something" it's fact that our NHS is going down a slippery slope....to answer your question - I'm a tough London guttersnipe, I grew up in the NHS thanks! I've had good and bad experiences, AND YES, I have (as have several family members) had absolutely A-1 fantastic care in the US.
ER's and A&E's are not the best barometer to judge ANY system, they're almost always chaotic, notorious for that.
I had a close relative working in one of our biggest hospitals in London - I won't curl your hair with some of those stories!
All YOU DO is provide NHS reasoning that OUR "system" is better!! In fact, Canada's system is far superior to ours, I think France and Germany also have us beaten?
NHS has its obvious benefits, of course it does. I'm just trying to be a bit open minded here, that's all.
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had absolutely A-1 fantastic care in the US.
at what cost.
and PS I've had excellent treatment in the UK.
Camberwell You hear from these other countries.
Well the Yanks here from the likes of you that the NHS or any form of socialised doesn't work so well. they listen to pathetic complaints about how the beds aren't as pretty and they end up (times are a changin) thinking wow . why would they want that.
for years as they say NO to healthcare they compared themselves to the UK.
Go back look at the healthcare debates.. here on this blog.
You make the same snotty assumption I don't care which countries system you use but there has to be a system.
to be able to discuss the system. What part of america has no system.
Were you're experiences holiday insurance paid or just plain so rich you could afford the bills.
Give us a clue.
YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT.
AMERICA HAS NO HEALTHCARE FOR MOST PEOPLE.
YOU MISS THE POINT THAT EVERY TIME SOME SO CALLED EVEN MINDED BRIT COMES UP WITH THIS BULL LINE ABOUT HOW THE NHS IS FALLING APART ANOTHER THICK HEADED AMERICAN SAYS ' SEE we don't need health care"
YOU MISS THE POINT NOT ME
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PS I have a close relative that worked in major hospitals both in the UK and in the USA.
And they live in the UK. because of the healthcare problems here, in the states.
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I know most of you will automatically discredit the following comment simply because I am from Texas. That is okay with me. I am a proud Texan. I may not agree with everything Bush did during his four year reign as my president, but I can say he kept us safe after 9/11. There was not another terrorist attack on American soil after that. I do not have the same confidence in our current leader. He has not picked his cabinet well, and fails to have the same eloquence in his speech as soon as you take away his precious telepromter. I hope for my country's sake most people are correct about this man and how wonderful he really is. I did not see greatness from him during his campaign, and so far I am not seeing anything great during his presidency. An erlier poster said it well. 100 days is not sufficient time to start dishing out a report card. And also to comment on the healthcare issue, at this point it IS all just talk. No action on that just yet.
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240 Texas80
You do us a collective disservice. I believe the vast majority of people on this blog wouldn't dream of discrediting a comment due to you being Texan.
It is your sad parroting of the same old tosh about teleprompters (all politicias use them) that is likely to have people disregard any future posts. Be a debater, not a ranter!
However I'm glad you at least hope that Obama succeeds - in the current situation it is those who wish him to fail for partisan political reasons who are the true enemies of America. You may not see his greatness, others who do may be wrong, but he won the election and nothing will change that. The most important thing is that he is allowed to try to solve the problems that the USA and the wider world face.
You are of course correct that 100 days is too short to make a real judgement, but it has become a fixed point in the life of any new President and so why shouldn't we on justin's web have a crack at a report card?
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Hurdles of the First One Hundred Days
Race Starts
False Start Sworn in wrong by the Chief Justice.
First Hurdle Stimulus in the House-Cleared but trips opponents foot passed stimulus without any Republican Votes.
Second Hurdle Guantanamo closed-Cleared but skins knee landing CIA torture memos released.
Third Hurdle Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act-Cleared.
Fourth Hurdle Stimulus in the Senate-Cleared but trips over hurdle not bipartisan like promised.
Fifth Hurdle Stimulus signed by Obama-Cleared but very hard landing stimulus is full of pork.
Sixth Hurdle Stem cell research funding-Cleared but lands on opponents foot upsets Republicans.
President Obama Wins the Race.
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"I may not agree with everything Bush did during his four year reign as my president, but I can say he kept us safe after 9/11. "
WOW . is the Mexican Motta that good?
lol Stu you know I would have a go at him for being a texan.
but as you point out the qualifier would be the rest of the paranoid lead hat post. though it does seem that some effort is being made under the lead.
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