Opinion Please OFF TOPIC

[kopoloff]

Now this is off topic, but I bet I get a big response!

In this country we get a slightly distorted view of American politics, so I'm interested in a consensus of views about George Bush. Was he good for his country, for the world? What is his legacy?

And what about Obama?

Cheers

K

[roster]

The USA is a republic and the most critical part of the concept is our Constitution. If we move away from governing by our Constitution, we will fail.

Society and government are very complicated these days. However when our Presidents are sworn into office they only have to swear to two things. The one sentence oath is, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Check every news article, every quote from the last 20 years. Our candidates for President have made many promises. However, no candidate from the two major parties, neither Republican nor Democrat, has promised to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution" except in a rote manner when they are inaugurated.

Any comparison of the two candidates should center around which one is taking us further from the Constitution. We are building a bigger, more powerful central government, becoming more entangled in foreign affairs and putting more restrictions on personal freedom (71,000 pages of new regulations last year) almost daily.

As far as Obama and Bush, the campaign tried to highlight the differences. It is quickly becoming apparent that the differences are on the surface. Neither man is committed to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution". Obama will continue most of the same policies of Bush. Some "window dressing" will be thrown in to give the appearance of change.

Kopoloff, it seems a little disingenuous of you to throw in this bone and then sit back to enjoy watching the American CPAPers fight over it.

[Slinky]

BushBaby was w/o a doubt the WORST President this country has ever experienced. Obama is an unknown as yet. I tend to think that the USA has been a great country but is on its way down.

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

Now this is off topic, but I bet I get a big response!

In this country we get a slightly distorted view of American politics, so I'm interested in a consensus of views about George Bush. Was he good for his country, for the world? What is his legacy?

And what about Obama?

Cheers

K

You're really trying to "stir the pot", aren't you? I for one am not expressing my opinion because I think it's better to avoid political discussions on this thread. I don't mind OT threads, but I think it's better to focus on the positive and what we have in common rather than things which would divide us.

Just my HO!

[track]

Check the polls. Seventy five percent of the public are glad to see Bush go...that's what the most recent polls say.

[plr66]

The usual protocol here is that your Subject line should include"OT" for off-topic. You can easily edit this.

[Hawthorne]

I would edit your thread to note that it is OT (off topic). This is not a politcal opinion forum!

[Wulfman]

Unfortunately, when we go to the polls, it comes down to a choice between only two individuals.....who, for whatever reasons got on the ballot. For far too many elections, we have had a "choice" between "Dumb" and "Dumber"......or "Bad" and "Worse".

I have the feeling this happens in other countries (that have elections), too.

There seem to be way too many "dirty" politicians (money corrupts) at all levels and that's the problem I have with the whole system. They may have honest intentions on their journey to those offices, but somewhere the system sucks them down into the muck.

Only time will tell for both of those people.
Just remember, though, the public opinion of our OTHER elected representatives (House and Senate) are even LOWER than that of the President. (and they continue to keep screwing things up)

How's that for tip-toeing around that subject?

Den

[kopoloff]

Ok - Post is now marked OT

Sorry, - I didn't get the protocol.

Wasn't an attempt to stir the pot. I am genuinely interested in the view of a group of people who appear to be thoughtful and considered.

thanks

K

[eutychus]

In this country we get a slightly distorted view of American politics, so I'm interested in a consensus of views about George Bush. Was he good for his country, for the world? What is his legacy?
K

I'm afraid that we might get a slightly distorted view of Australian politics as well. I'm interested in a consensus of views about... who is it that leads your country? Anyway, what are your views about that person? Is s/he good for Australia? For the rest of the world? What will his/her legacy be?

I guess the beauty of this country (USA) is that there's a variety of opinions. You'll have to check out either msnbc.com or foxnews.com if you want a "consensus" - although the consensus you get will depend on which site you visit. Here's a hint... If you want a "Bush was good" consensus, go to foxnews.com. If you want a "Bush was bad" consensus, go to msnbc.com. It's a free country. The choice is yours to make.

[Goofproof]

BushBaby is safe, The one sentence oath is, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ABILITY, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.", saves him.

He proved his ABILITYs, long before he became president, while he was in the service of his country, and he was still elected president.

As far as our latest crop, "We sow the seeds, and await crop failure" This too will pass! The american people deserve what they get, more sheep getting sheared. Jim

[goose]

I'm with Slinky.....The shrub is probably the worst thing that has happened to this country in a very long time. It will take many years to recover from the constitutional indiscretions he and his henchmen have purported on the people.
They make Nixon seem like the fairy goddess in candyland.....Glenda the good witch....
However, the congress, both House and Senate are not blameless -- neither the ones with the R's or the ones with the D's, or the ones with the I's are worth the powder it would take to blow them up. I've said for years that, "Collectively we the people are extremely stupid. We continually send the same corrupt greedheads back to Washington to supposedly represent us.....They certainly don't represent me!!!!"

I have hope for Obama. But in the end, he's just another politician who is going to find that the realities of the office and situations preclude the politics of campaigning.....There really isn't a dimes worth of difference between any of them.
At least Obama can speak in complete sentences which will be refreshing after 8 years of abject illiteracy.......
In the end, we get the government we deserve.....

But all that said, I'm with the others -- this ain't the place for these arguments - we're here to help each other breathe.......

cheers
goose

[Slinky]

Norma White of Amarillo is a retired network engineer for Southwestern Bell. This was an article she wrote:

Maybe it's time that "we the people" started pushing OUR agenda instead of letting Congress do their own thing (and without proper supervision at that)! How about these ideas for change as expressed by Norma?

Each Presidential candidate is giving his rendition of the changes he wants for America.
Here are a few that I believe all Americans want.
Limit Congress from serving more than two terms. That is all the Presidents are allowed.
Stop Congress from voting for their own pay raises. How did that ever get started?
[*I believe that was changed quite some time ago to a separate entity determining Congressional pay raises. I remember Bob Traxler (MI) wringing his hands and whining about a pay raise being turned down, so he "retired" whilst he could still take his campaign war chest w/him, the last year before it became illegal to do so). I also remember that Congress voted themselves additional "franking privileges" that cost the taxpayers more than the pay raise would have cost. * jka]
Stop paying for lawmakers high-priced insurance premiums. After all, they are only part-time employees. They might pass some law changes on the insurance companies, if they had to find one.
Stop paying lawmakers their full salary after serving just one term, or at retirement. We need to get rid of that pension plan; they've let other companies get rid of theirs. You were lucky to get 40 to 50 per cent of your salary after working somewhere for 35 years, but they get 100 per cent.
Make Congress pay into the Social Security System. They make laws for it. It they spent some of their own money, they might be interested in making it solvent.
Stop handing out aid to illegal aliens. IF we did then Medicaid and the food stamp program would have enough money to aid the aged and the poor.
Secure our borders.
Stop allowing babies born to illegal aliens in the United States automatic U.S. citizenship.
Stop the abuse of our benevolent welfare system. We feed children free meals three times a day until they are 17. Churches give away good, clean clothes. Companies buy and donate school supplies. Emergency rooms provide health care at taxpayer expense and the food stamp program is buying food at home. What are parents doing for their children?
Have a computer program that cross checks Social Security numbers with finger prints to stop fraud on many fronts. Use it on voter registration too.
Stop bailing out mortgage companies and banks that give loans to people who cannot afford them.
Stop companies from paying CEOs and other executives outrageous salaries and bonuses while doing away with workers' pensions.
Stop all unnecessary spending so we will have the money for our nation's security, and to help needy and elderly Americans.
Stop permitting anyone to have a photo with their face covered on drivers' licenses.
Whoever wins the Presidency won't be able to make these changes.
Only members of Congress can do this, as they are the lawmakers.

I don't believe Congress is interested in changing anything, do you?

[roster]

.......

Eutychus is a cool member name for this site. Of course it is your choice (and I like retrievers) but you might consider this for your avatar.

Best regards.

[roster]

Financial lesson number one

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.

The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.
When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.
Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.'

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.
When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?'
'It was Bob the next door neighbor,' she replies.
'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'

Moral of the story:

If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.