OK, I've had it. Those who read this board know I preferred McCain and outlined at the time why I thought he'd be a better President. Nevertheless, in a spirit of fairness, I thought I should give Obama a chance, and six months has been plenty of time to see who the man is, and what he's about.

To be blunt, Obama is intelligent and likable, but he's also a Statist (quasi-socialist). The policies of the past six months have made this clear. His foreign policy also seems more focused on getting other nations to "like us again" than it does on supporting democracy and promoting justice. I could give many examples of all of the above, but if you've been following the news the past six months, you could do so as well.

His worst flaw, however, is his stubbornness and tunnel vision.
- see http://www.kansascity.com/275/story/1318665.html

Unfortunately, there's little in the way of resistance in congress these days, and I fear we'll be hopelessly in debt by the time 2010 rolls around and the people elect a few more Republicans, which I'm sure they will. The Presidential Approval Index has turned negative during the past few weeks, which bodes ill for a continuance of this kind of governance. I fear we've already dug ourselves into a hole too deep to climb out of.

quote:

I fear we've already dug ourselves into a hole too deep to climb out of.

Was it not the Republicans who dug the hole and then had to hand the shovel over to the democrats?

Same with our government Fianna Fail ( equivalent to Republicans ) We are now left with an economy which will take several years to right itself. Where were the moderates when we needed them?

Clare, right: Obama was left with a mess, but it wasn't just the Republicans who caused it. We went over that at great length on this thread.

Check out the Kansas City Star article I linked to above. E.g.

quote:

Last fall, the economy dropped into a void. The tectonic plates of the financial world shifted. Financial institutions with storied histories and generations of stability vanished. Jobs disappeared by the hundreds of thousands.

But Obama held fast to his “transformative” agenda. In the changed circumstances, the obvious imperative was to stabilize the economy first and worry about the particulars of his program later.

But no. He marched before Congress and called for action on a long list of items that had nothing to do with economic recovery, including a system of carbon limits and health-care reform.

Front page of USA Today. Obama is #10 in approval rating for Presidents at the six-month mark (since such polls were taken). Ahead of him are George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and even Richard Nixon!

Every Democrat elected since 1950 is also ahead of him except Clinton, who finished with a higher rating that he had at this point (when HilaryCare was abuzz).

So much for the notion that this President has the highest popularity ever. At the six-month mark, the highest was Harry S. Truman at 82%; Obama is 56% with a strong disapproval rating. The glitter is fading and people are beginning to see just what we've got, here -- a BIG-SPENDING, big-government liberal!

It's most curious that Obama has been exceedingly reserved in voicing criticisms of the leadership of Iran and Venezuela, but when it comes to the police dept. in Cambridge, MA, he didn't hesitate to call say they "acted stupidly" -- and that on a prime-time news conference. He didn't have the facts about the case -- how his buddy, a Prof. Gates, had played the race card during a visit from police who were working to protect the security of his home. (BTW, doesn't Gates remind you a bit of Jeremiah Wright? Obama's friends sure have a chip on their shoulders). Having rashly judged the policeman's judgment, Obama then gives us a mini-lecture about race relations in the U.S. . . all this from our "post-racial President."

To me, this is but another piece of evidence that Obama lacks the maturity and judgment to be a good President. Perhaps he'll learn as he goes -- that you don't bow to Saudi Princes, for example, and that the U.K. really is a strong ally of the U.S. On-the-job training is too precarious a situation for a U.S. President, however.

See http://article.nationalreview....YTMwOGI3ZTBiZDA5ZjM= for more reflection on this recent blowup.

Obama admin. as the most "anti-market" in U.S. history.
- http://tinyurl.com/ljchvn

Interesting that the economy is improving with only about 10% of Obama's 787 billion spent. We should be evaluating whether we need to use the rest.

Obama's approval ratings have fallen into the low 40 percentile in some polls -- the fastest demise of any President in modern times. Charles Krauthammer reflects on why this is so in an excellent article in the Washington Post.
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/...009090302859_pf.html

quote:

After a disastrous summer -- mistaking his mandate, believing his press, centralizing power, governing left, disdaining citizens for (of all things) organizing -- Obama is in trouble.

Let's be clear: This is a fall, not a collapse. He's not been repudiated or even defeated. He will likely regroup and pass some version of health insurance reform that will restore some of his clout and popularity.

But what has occurred -- irreversibly -- is this: He's become ordinary. The spell is broken. The charismatic conjurer of 2008 has shed his magic. He's regressed to the mean, tellingly expressed in poll numbers hovering at 50 percent.

For a man who only recently bred a cult, ordinariness is a great burden, and for his acolytes, a crushing disappointment. Obama has become a politician like others. And like other flailing presidents, he will try to salvage a cherished reform -- and his own standing -- with yet another prime-time speech.

But for the first time since election night in Grant Park, he will appear in the most unfamiliar of guises -- mere mortal, a treacherous transformation to which a man of Obama's supreme self-regard may never adapt.

Greetings, freinds!

Obama's personality is familiar to me, as it is my own Enneagram type, a nine with a one wing.
About three per cent of the population have the mediator/peacemaker personality, including Bill
Clinton and Ronald Reagan.

"You can't please all of the people all of the time." -somebody famous

http://www.ptypes.com/obama-enneagram-type.html

IMO, we should clone Teddy Roosevelt...

shalom,

michael

Phil,

Krauthhammer seems limited to blue and orange thinking. I recommend he and his readers check into David Loy.

Obama can see green and yellow memes, so he kinda leaves Krauthhammer in the dust cloud.

People do not trust Washington in general very much and Obama in particular. He has broken most of his promises already. He is only a senator, and perhaps he might sound out some of
the governors for ideas.

More on the Lincoln/Reagan/Obama personalty:

http://enneagraminstitute.com/typenine.asp

It looks like a long haul for Obama, and he could well be a lame duck by the end of the year
if health care does not go through. He ain't no
FDR, to be sure, and I'm glad I didn't vote for him...

shalom,

michael

Phil,

Rolling Stone's Barack Obama So Far

David Gergen, Michael Moore and Paul Krugman
evaluate the first six months. Michael Moore remains enthusiastic and seems to enjoy the fact that Obama lies. Gergen wants a New Deal
and Krugman wants to reshuffle the deck.

http://rollingstone.com/politi.../barack_obama_so_far

enjoy!

Here's the sBiggest Victory Pulling the economy out of its nose dive. "Back in November, much of the world believed that we were on the precipice of a complete economic collapse," says Elizabeth Warren, the TARP watchdog. "Today, that's not the case."

Biggest Blunder Subsidized failing banks rather than nationalize them.

Real Change Passed largest middle-class tax cut in history. Negotiated $1 trillion bailout of developing economies at G-20 summit. Steered GM and Chrysler through bankruptcy. Reined in abusive credit card rate hikes. Outlined regulatory overhaul to curb hedge-fund excesses and create new agency to protect consumers.

Warning Signs Few stimulus funds spent to date; only 160,000 homeowners aided by $75 billion program to prevent foreclosures. Plan to rid banks of toxic assets — unveiled to great fanfare — still hasn't gotten off the ground.

Gutsiest Moment "I love those folks who helped get us in this mess and suddenly they say, 'This is Obama's economy,'" he said in July. "That's fine. Give it to me."

Needs to Stand Up To Wall Street. "Some of the terms of Obama's gifts to the banks were even worse than those of Bush — and we got robbed under Bush," says Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize-winning economist.

Experts Say "Let's not unfurl the 'Mission Accomplished' banner yet," says Warren. "We're not there." Adds Stiglitz: "We may have another very bad negative shock. It's a 50-50 chance that we will wind up in a real mess — a double downturn recession."

Grade B-

NEXT: Grading Obama on health care
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B minus seems a tad bit high to me Phil. What do you say about it?

Hi Michael. I see you're still in good form.

Most of the credit you're giving Obama for pulling the economy from the brink actually belongs to decisions made during Sept. 08 by Bernake and Paulson, with the backing of the Bush admin. and money allocated by congress. As for the rest, we'll just have to wait and see how it works out. Health care reform has been his highest priority all along, and we're in the middle of that as well.

One thing I'm not sure about is whether we should be giving such priority to Afghanistan. Back in 01 we were perfectly willing to let the Taliban run the show if only they'd have given us Bin Laden. Today, Bin Laden is either dead or hiding out in Pakistan, but for some reason we need to make sure the Taliban is weakened in that vast, unruly, tribal land. I don't see where Afghanistan is more critical to U.S. security than getting rid of the radical Islamists in Ethiopia or Somalia, for example; they even had famines there we might help to address. Could it be that Obama is now guilty of what Kerry accused Bush of (re. Iraq) in 2004, "fighting the wrong war at the wrong time."

Re. Iraq -- I wonder if Obama will ever acknowledge that the surge was a success? Don't count on people like Harry Reid or John Murtha doing so, either.

Grading him . . . much too early! So far, I (obviously) don't like the road he's wanting to lead us down.

Hi Phil!

The online version of the Rolling Stone piece is not the same as the hard copy, but if you go to 7-11 and take a peak, IMO it is worth it.

What my Green Beret little brother does not know is that beyond the cover story about saving America, the bases he winds up at are all along the proposed pipleline route, and the
CIA (Cocaine Import Agency) has a vested interest in opium poppies. Same as Vietnam...

It's also big business for contracters, which have increased fourfold during the Bush years.
Everything is about money, and the mom and apple
pie stuff is the cover story for us yokels.

War is a Racket by Major General Smedley Butler:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_is_a_Racket

I don't know Butler's religious views but most whistle blowers are in my view doing God's work.

Ask the two most experienced war correspondents:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fisk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hedges

People like John Dear are what drew me to the Catholic church. It seemed like an alternative
as they opposed unjust wars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dear

Wow! Someone walking the talk, and talking the walk. Amazing!

There is talk that Barack Obama will be the first president to talk to the American people about the "visitors", Little Green Men from outer space and all that. It's a really, really big story and will change our lives forever. Word is this will come by year's end, but they might be just floating a trial balloon on this.

Alot of people, especially religious people, will freak out! This is what everyone will remember about Barack Obama.

The Japanese Prime Minister's wife claimed to have been to Venus on a UFO the other day, and everyone yawns. Carter got away with a sighting
report, and maybe now they think we are ready.

peace and shalom in your place,

michael

quote:

Posted 06 September 2009 12:52 PM Hide Post
Hi Michael. I see you're still in good form.

Most of the credit you're giving Obama for pulling the economy from the brink actually belongs to decisions made during Sept. 08 by Bernake and Paulson, with the backing of the Bush admin. and money allocated by congress. As for the rest, we'll just have to wait and see how it works out. Health care reform has been his highest priority all along, and we're in the middle of that as well.

One thing I'm not sure about is

Paulson and Bernanke deserve credit, but not for what you say. They deserve credit for the part they play in a truly diabolical system.

videogoogle.com/videoplay?docID=51531956025618393

It's about 3 1/2 hours, and very rational.

Lots of smart people don't know how the system works, because they have simply never been told.
Henry Ford said that is was a good thing because if people understood the mechanism by which money is created, there would be a revolution in the morning...

peace,

michael

Let's try this one more time...

http://videogoogle.com/videopl...d=515319560256183936

It's called the Money Masters, it is on google video, and word is getting out, since 3 out of four people now want an audit of the Fed.

This would be the first time in the 96 year history, and if it happens everyone will know that we are a foreign-owned corporation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzi7DhKhHOU

Ben Bernanke at Princeton. Just read the comments people have posted and see how much feeling this man generates...

peace,

michael

No one will read all that, Michael. Slow down. You were confronted and eventually banned for flooding the board on the old forum. It's starting to happen on this one again. This thread is already pretty much shot!

Phil,

I'll amend the bahavior. The story of how ten Luciferian bankers cooked up the Federal Reserve
on Jekyl Island in 1910 is a topic deserving it's own thread...

Back to Obama's personality. He is unique to the presidency:

Barack Obama—no one will be surprised to learn—is an Idealist. His specific type is an ENFP, what Keirsey calls "the Champion." ENFPs, says Keirsey, are "filled with conviction that they can easily motivate those around them." Champions work to "kindle, to rouse, to encourage, even to inspire those close to them with their enthusiasm." Idealists "usually have a tongue of silver" and are "gifted in seeing the possibilities" of institutions and people. Here's Obama on leadership: "[W]e need leaders to inspire us. Some are thinking about our constraints, and others are thinking about limitless possibility."


This ability to move people through imagery and rhetoric carries a danger for the ENFP, says Keirsey—a belief in "word magic." "Word magic refers to the ancient idea that words have the ability to make things happen—saying makes it so." This is the basis of the critique of Obama by his less-soaring opponents. Hillary complains that people ask her to "give us one of those great rhetorical flourishes and then, you know, get everybody all whooped up." (As if she could.) Says John McCain, "To encourage a country with only rhetoric is not a promise of hope. It is a platitude."

Keirsey says Idealist leaders should be called catalysts because "[t]he individual who encounters such a leader is likely to be motivated, animated, even inspired to do his or her very best work." The New Yorker's Packer writes, "Obama offers himself as a catalyst by which disenchanted Americans can overcome two decades of vicious partisanship. …"

Idealists are deeply introspective. According to Keirsey, their "self-confidence rests on their authenticity," which makes them "highly aware of themselves as objects of moral scrutiny." Idealists, such as Thomas Paine, Mohandas Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., tend to be leaders of movements, not office-holders. If Obama is elected, not only would he be the first black president, but according to Keirsey, he'd be the first Idealist president. (Kroeger speculates that Lincoln may have been an Idealist.) Idealists are rare in any executive position. In a survey Kroeger did of the personality types who make it to top management, less than 1 percent were ENFPs—while almost 30 percent were Hillary's type, the ESTJ. But the 16 types are not evenly distributed in the population and ENFPs themselves are rare—Keirsey estimates only about 2 percent of people are ENFPs. Kroeger says the ENFP can be an effective boss. "At their best they bring a refreshing alternative style to top management and decision making."

Keirsey says that the Idealist is the unusual leader who is "comfortable working in a climate where everyone has a vote." In a Vanity Fair profile, Todd Purdum quotes a Harvard Law School classmate of Obama's describing his collaborative style as editor of the Law Review. Obama was "someone who wanted the group decisions to reflect the group's intent, not Barack's intent." (This classmate added, "I actually would have been happier for him to say sometimes, 'This is how we're doing this, and shut up!' ") Wanting inclusiveness has been a hallmark of Obama's career and his campaign. Purdum noted that in the Illinois Legislature, "Obama made friendships across the aisle" and used his people skills to get some difficult legislation passed. In a speech, Obama described this ability: "If you start off with an agreeable manner, you might be able to … recruit some independents into the fold, recruit even some Republicans into the fold."

As leaders, Keirsey says, the Idealists possess a "diplomatic intelligence." They "seek common ground," want to "forge unity," arrive at "universal truths," and are "trusting." Given these qualities, it should be no surprise that Obama says that as president, he would quickly sit down with our enemies. He told Paris Match, "I want to have direct talks with countries like Iran and Syria because I don't believe we can stabilize the region unless not just our friends but also our enemies are involved in these discussions."

Plans such as this have resulted in Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, and others accusing the possible next commander in chief of naiveté. Keirsey says the Idealist has to be careful not to make errors in judgment by projecting "their own attributes onto others." Because they tend to have a positive outlook, they can be "surprised when people or events do not turn out as anticipated."

The ENFP can have a problem with "restlessness," says Kroeger. "As a task or responsibility drags on and its mantle becomes increasingly routine, the ENFP can become more pensive, moody, and even rigid." Obama himself referred in a debate to his disorganization and dislike of paperwork—and his self-knowledge that "I need to have good people in place who can make sure that systems run." But as Purdum writes, it is Obama's "restlessness" that prompted him "to take a chance, to aim higher—when others told him to wait his turn."

http://www.slate.com/id/2184696

Shades of Camelot and the New Frontier...

shalom

Michael, yes, the ENFP type fits, but it doesn't explain his policy directions. I'm married to an ENFP who is pro-life and politically conservative. Spiral Dynamics is a better lens through which to evaluate Obama, and he seems to be very Green.

- - -

Here's some of the stuff that really bothers me:

Cap-and-trade policies pushed by Obama that will supposedly help reverse the "global warming" phantom menace. Read all about it:
- http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2...s/entry5314040.shtml

quote:

A previously unreleased analysis prepared by the U.S. Department of Treasury says the total in new taxes would be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year. At the upper end of the administration's estimate, the cost per American household would be an extra $1,761 a year.

That's insane!

I'm also very much bothered by these Green lenses through which Obama views U.S. society -- that we are a country of "haves and have-nots." He's also still polyannish about his influence in steadying the economy and in making everything better for everyone. A recent speech to unions echoes these themes:

quote:

We said Tuesday morning the president was returning to the campaign trail and, boy, did he ever in Pittsburgh. You'd have thought the election was tomorrow and Obama was delivering the gospel.

The president recalled the bad economic times of last winter, as if they're over. He mentioned a huge federal deficit he inherited. He hailed the economic stimulus package that his administration wanted and obedient Democrats pushed through Congress and assured everyone it "didn't include any of the usual Washington earmarks or pork-barrel spending." A remarkable claim.

The president said he's stopped the country's "economic freefall." He said he would not allow the United States to return "to the culture of irresponsibility and greed" of recent years. He made his now familiar healthcare argument with the requisite sad worker story. He said the fundamental issue facing the country was whether it would become a nation of rich haves and middle class have-nots.

That he would not only save millions of jobs but create millions of new ones. And better educate all the children for the future. And free the nation from dependence on foreign oil. And create a new green industrial base.
Obama said his healthcare reforms were essential for America's future, urged the union members to make phone calls and knock on doors in support.

"We can't wait! We can't wait!" they chanted.

Yes, there was one heckler. But it wasn't about lying this time. "I love you!" they screamed. Obama returned the sentiment.

"Arm in arm," the president told the team, uh, audience, "we are going to get this done."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co...cio-speech-text.html

Meanwhile . . . unemployment still near 10%, budget deficits at record levels (and for years to come), no progress in health reform, an escalating war in Afghanistan (why?), and disapproval ratings approaching 50%. Who's out of touch with reality, here?

Phil,

Cap and trade has nothing to do with reality.

His policies are a matter of deep concern.

We may be asked, then ordered to take swine flu vaccine, and who knows what's in them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PelTWCUmTsU

http://www.theflucase.com

Watch for this in the next month....

Health and peace,

michael

Hey Michael,

Just wanted to let you know that generally you don't come across very well on this discussion board.

I get what you're trying to do. I really do. I have a number of friends who wholeheartedly agree with everything you are saying and who share very similar viewpoints about the world and those in control.

The thing is that you do not communicate it very well. You generally blast people with too many fact and quotes to ever absorb anything and people simply write you off as a raving lunatic who thinks the government is trying to get him. Which of course makes anything you are actually trying to share seem irrelavant.

I mean take your previous post on the global flu pandemic...It has nothing to do with the thread topic which is ObamaNation. You kinda pretend to respond to what Phil says and then you throw in a completely unrelated link to a video and website that doens't come even close to following the subject of the discussion -

Now I watched the video and checked out the website and I think there is some important information there that people should atleast consider - even if they end up disagreeing. But the way that you throw this information at people makes your information seem baseless and a little crazy.

If you want to discuss this as a topic why not open a thread titled something like - The powerful Elite and their hold on the world OR Is the face of the world a lie? OR Some other name that allows you to explore the whole face of this thing without hijacking other threads and posting unrelated subjects. MORE IMPORTANTLY, don't overload the conversation. Take a subject and begin discussing it. Give your proofs for you position and TAKE SERIOUSLY other people's responses. Don't rush over their objections because then they won't want to continue the conversation and don't send them to a million websites or post long diatribes that seem without point or reason. Argue this thing, by all means, but try to do it in a way that invites others into the discussion instead of getting yourself banned again.

I for one happen to agree (or possibly agree) with much of what you are saying (if not all) and would like to see this discussion happen. But it isn't gonna happen unless you change your approach and realise where you are going wrong.

Much Love in the Lord Jesus

Jacques

Thanks, Jacques, for taking a risk to share feedback to Michael. It really helps when forum members take responsibility for the quality of our exchanges.

Michael, what are you hearing? Sounds like "deja-vu all over again."

Longing for your good posts
-----------------------------------

Dear Michael,

I second that. I actually agree with a fair bit of what you are saying.

And I would like to read your posts -- but by and large I have long since stopped doing so. Why? Because generally they are simply undigestible! Pardon my bluntness, but it is arrogant in the extreme to burden someone repeatedly with lengthy, unstructured posts, much of which is Copy/Paste.

You have a good head. Use it better!

I strongly suggest that you start making short and sweet posts. Well-reasoned, and limited to one point at a time. And that you truly listen to other points of view, confirming/responding when you feel it is called for. Michael, I know you can write excellent posts, because I have seen them before.

Think about it.

I really would like to have a good reason to start reading your posts again.

Best regards,
HeartPrayer

Thank you Jacques and Heartprayer,

Obama and Bush are two heads of the same bird.
George Bush was Skull and Bones and Barack Obama
is rumoured to be a 33nd degree Prince Hall Freemason, which means he drank blood from a skull and swore his allegiance to the society.

The two-headed bird is an ancient occult symbol
illustrating how well divide and conquer stategies have worked over the centuries.

Now they attack our bodies with vaccinations. You and I know many who suffer from the symptoms. This woman is a pro-life Christian and makes a great deal of sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6dfXhewVE

Since all presidents since Woodrow Wilson have been controlled by the Federal Reserve System,
it would be a good idea for people to learn something about them, as well as modern medical
practice.

I can see that you are reasonable people and I know that reason shall prevail.

"My people perish for lack of knowledge."

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

shalom,

michael