The Truth About Obama

[INRM]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama as if he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe. I'm also sick and tired of the complete lack of critical thinking regarding Obama's actions and policies and how they contrast with what he's said he's going to do.


I'm looking for links from reliable sources which show that

1.) Obama declared that the ACTA Treaty must be kept secret on grounds of national security

2.) Obama defended the warrantless wiretapping policy

3.) Obama is bringing back military commissions

4.) Obama is proposing instituting a policy of preventative detention for people who cannot be tried

5.) Obama wants broad power to control the internet in emergencies


I'm also looking for sources which show that Obama said that he disagreed with the policy of "Don't ask don't tell" to contrast with the fact that he fired a homosexual Army Officer who was gay because he violated the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that Obama supposedly disagreed with


INRM

[Sword_Of_Truth]

Barack Obama doesn't care about gay people.

[DavidJames]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama as if he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe. Since you're so sick and tired, you must have plenty of sources of people thinking Obama is the Messiah and will change the universe, got any to share?

[Childlike Empress]

INRM, check Sibel Edmonds' blog (http://123realchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/two-sides-of-same-coin-heads-heads.html).

[Thunder]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama as if he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe.

Nice strawman argument.

[JoeTheJuggler]

1.) Obama declared that the ACTA Treaty must be kept secret on grounds of national security

2.) Obama defended the warrantless wiretapping policy

3.) Obama is bringing back military commissions

4.) Obama is proposing instituting a policy of preventative detention for people who cannot be tried

5.) Obama wants broad power to control the internet in emergencies



Obama decided to support Bush's policy of allowing extraordinary rendition.

Googling "obama rendition executive order" yields many news sources for this.

ETA: FWIW, I supported Obama in the election (even did a little volunteer work--very little), but even before the election I said that I anticipated the need to express dissent with his decisions after he was president.

[Monketey Ghost]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama as if he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe. I'm also sick and tired of the complete lack of critical thinking regarding Obama's actions and policies and how they contrast with what he's said he's going to do. *snip snip*

Almost all of the folks who were coming even close to Obama-as-god, as per your description, have long abandoned that ideal, and the media are reporting his failures as well as his successes. MSNBC is surprisingly critical of this President, considering all the nut-hugging they did before he was elected.

OP fail is fail.

[INRM]

I think Sibel Edmond's blog makes good points.

[Thunder]

It is clear that much of Obama's idealism is now having to face some of the ugly realities of our world.

But he is still 900,000 times better then George W. Bush!!!!!

[JoeTheJuggler]

But he is still 900,000 times better then George W. Bush!!!!!
Amen to that.

I do think a lot of the Obama enthusiasm was that he's not Dubya.

There's also the pretty amazing fact that a guy most people in the U.S. identify as black was elected president.

That didn't really hit home to me until that talk about the Obama's picking out a dog when they moved into the White House. I'm 47, and I remember when I was pretty little, my very racist dad telling me that dogs hate [n-word]s, and that [n-word]s are all afraid of dogs.

I think the soaring feelings surrounding Obama's inauguration are quite legitimate.

Furthermore, when I write letters and express dissent about decisions Obama has made, I think he and his people are at least responsive. (He took back his statement that no CIA agents will be prosecuted for torture because they were just following orders, I think, in response to the outrage and disappointment that was immediately expressed.)

Dubya didn't even care what his own top advisers told him sometimes. I remember someone saying something to the effect that Dubya didn't brag about making good decisions, but about never backing down from decisions that he'd made. It mattered less that he was driving us straight into a brick wall than the fact the he never once flinched while doing it.

[Sword_Of_Truth]

Since you're so sick and tired, you must have plenty of sources of people thinking Obama is the Messiah and will change the universe, got any to share?

Chris Mathews says he has an orgasm every time he hears Obama talk, but that's not exactly "religious" devotion.

[Alt+F4]

INRM, check Sibel Edmonds' blog (http://123realchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/two-sides-of-same-coin-heads-heads.html).

For someone with a gag order, this one never shuts up!

[Sword_Of_Truth]

For someone with a gag order, this one never shuts up!

Good Lord, tell me about it.

Somebody needs to be waterboarded. :p

[Pardalis]

For someone with a gag order, this one never shuts up!

It's almost as if she is living in a free country.

But don't tell her, it might burst her bubble.

[Oliver]

5.) Obama wants broad power to control the internet in emergencies



Whatwhatwhat? [/Kyle's mother]

Where did you hear that rumor?

[DavidJames]

Chris Mathews says he has an orgasm every time he hears Obama talk, but that's not exactly "religious" devotion.Not sure if you're kidding or not, since you didn't provide a quote, I'm guessing kidding.

[Sword_Of_Truth]

Not sure if you're kidding or not, since you didn't provide a quote, I'm guessing kidding.

Chris Matthews talks about something running down his leg when he hears Obama speak (Olberman chuckles, saying "Whoa, steady"):

3m9Gbb6NSwM

[Tricky]

I said shortly after the election that Obama was just a politician who would lie, screw up, abandon campaign promises and do many of the same things that other politicians have done. And I was right. Even so, he is a damned sight better than many politicians and orders of magnitude better than his predecessor.

Now excuse me, it's communion time and I have to go pick up some Obamawine and Obamawafers.

[Sword_Of_Truth]

I said shortly after the election that Obama was just a politician who would lie, screw up, abandon campaign promises and do many of the same things that other politicians have done. And I was right. Even so, he is a damned sight better than many politicians and orders of magnitude better than his predecessor.

Now excuse me, it's communion time and I have to go pick up some Obamawine and Obamawafers.

You know, if you wanna lean away from the "religious" types and more in Chris Matthews direction, I heard there's a website that has Obama topless photos.

[INRM]

I could use a lot of links to verify or refute the five items I listed

INRM

[Elaborate]

I could use a lot of links to verify or refute the five items I listed

INRM

This is your thread. WE could use a lot of links to verify or refute the items you listed.

[linusrichard]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama supporters as if they think he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe.

[Upchurch]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama supporters as if they think he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe.

I'm also sick and tired of the complete lack of critical thinking regarding the positions of Obama's supporters.

[Foolmewunz]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama as if he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe. I'm also sick and tired of the complete lack of critical thinking regarding Obama's actions and policies and how they contrast with what he's said he's going to do.


I'm looking for links from reliable sources which show that

1.) Obama declared that the ACTA Treaty must be kept secret on grounds of national security

2.) Obama defended the warrantless wiretapping policy

3.) Obama is bringing back military commissions

4.) Obama is proposing instituting a policy of preventative detention for people who cannot be tried

5.) Obama wants broad power to control the internet in emergencies


I'm also looking for sources which show that Obama said that he disagreed with the policy of "Don't ask don't tell" to contrast with the fact that he fired a homosexual Army Officer who was gay because he violated the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that Obama supposedly disagreed with


INRM


I absolutely agree. After Jan. 20, though, you'll see some changes in attitudes as the honeymoon will wind down quite rapidly.

Huh? Oh, ... It's almost June already? Sorry, I thought I got off of the elevator in the wrong month/season. Carry on.

[quarky]

I'm sick, and tired.

I'm going to take 2 aspirins and call you in the morning.

[leftysergeant]

We voted for Obama because he was the brightest person in the room, and that was what we figured we would need to undo the knots into which the Shrub had tied the country.

A lot of us felt he wasn't far enough to the left, but, with Edwards out, what are your options?

But Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt were not that far to the left, either, until they got pushed there.

There is hope that we can convince Obama to take us back where we belong.

[quarky]

He's got a tough balancing act to perform. I don't envy the job. If he moves hard to the left, which would be fun, he'd get killed. That's what I suspect, and I don't like to say it.

Its miraculous that he's the president. Given the viable alternatives, we got lucky. He's smart, and not outwardly arrogant, which alone is a huge relief.

[pgwenthold]

I do think a lot of the Obama enthusiasm was that he's not Dubya.


Unfortunately, a lot of that has gone away. The gay community, esp, is pretty upset with Obama's lack of response to any gay issue. Of course, I think they are going overboard in their criticism a little. Lack of response is better than the usual alternative, which is condemnation.

I was listening to OutQ radio a couple of weeks ago and the topic was, "Rate Obama's performance on gay issues." Most of the callers were giving him an F, on the grounds that he basically hasn't said anything at all, with developments like Iowa and Maine. One caller made the point that I was thinking, that it's not as bad as it could be. Were this George Bush or John McCain, they would have commented to condemn those events. In that regard, Obama's silence is quite an improvement. Basically, if you give Obama an F because he isn't doing anything to promote the cause, what grade would you give to those who actively serve to harm it?

Granted, given the hopes they had, they see his silence as a huge disappointment, but their hopes were really optimistic.

[Thunder]

The Truth about Obama is that he is NOT perfect.

But he is a million times better then Bush...and a thousand times better then McCain.

Stick to chemtrails, lizard-people, and fluoride.

[Geezer]

Only one thing matters.

Who's President?

NOT BUSH!

:-)

[Mojo]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama as if he's the Messiah...


OK.

"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy."

Feeling better now?

[INRM]

Parky and Geezer,

Just because he's not Bush doesn't make him good. He is now defending many of the policies Bush engaged in, and is now considering taking it a step-further - preventative detention...

[Geezer]

Parky and Geezer,

Just because he's not Bush doesn't make him good. He is now defending many of the policies Bush engaged in, and is now considering taking it a step-further - preventative detention...

It makes him better

[INRM]

Geezer,

Do you honestly believe what you just said...

[CapelDodger]

I'm really getting sick and tired about people talking about Barack Obama supporters as if they think he's the Messiah or something and will change the universe.

Seconded.

INRM : give us some examples. Real examples, not your own projections.

Most people don't expect any kind of Messiah. Ever. They get on with life at it is.

Is life better with a US President who is intelligent, educated, experienced, open-minded and articulate, as compared with a sock-puppet chosen specifically to be none of the above? It is.

Sorry to disappoint you, but if you're waiting for a Messiah you are wasting your time. If you're expecting to go into battle over conflicting Messiahs you're wasting our time. Because we don't believe in Messiahs. We are sceptics.

[CapelDodger]

Geezer,

Do you honestly believe what you just said...

Do you honestly believe otherwise?

[CapelDodger]

Parky and Geezer,

Just because he's not Bush doesn't make him good. He is now defending many of the policies Bush engaged in, and is now considering taking it a step-further - preventative detention...

As a new President Obama is left coping with the problems the Cheney Administration saddled him with. Guantanamo - he's not defending that. Torture - he's not defending that. Holy War Everlasting - he's not defending that. Slavish devotion to Israel - he's not defending that. Slavish devotion to Wall Street and the fossil-fuel lobby is also out.

The important stuff. What is it you're upset about again? And were you so upset about it under the previous administration?

[INRM]

If you honestly believe that Preventative Detention is a good idea, you probably either have not read all that much, or haven't really thought this through...

INRM

[Travis]

1.) Obama declared that the ACTA Treaty must be kept secret on grounds of national security

Strangely, only you have an issue with this.

3.) Obama is bringing back military commissions

When did they go away? Did they really disband the entire officer corps of the military without anyone noticing?

[INRM]

Travis,

I have explained why I oppose the ACTA treaty, and I think that I believe that Obama's claim of it being kept secret on national security grounds are simply to keep it away from the people this bill will ultimately affect.

As for the commissions thing, you are completely twisting the words in a way that is completely dishonest. When I say military commissions, I think everybody here knows exactly what I mean.


INRM

[linusrichard]

If you honestly believe that Preventative Detention is a good idea, you probably either have not read all that much, or haven't really thought this through...

INRM

Although I agree with this, it's entirely beside the point. Even if preventive detention is a good idea, what's an even better idea is abiding by our Constitution.

[INRM]

LinusRichard,

I'm glad that you agree that preventative detention is wrong. I have talked to people outside this forum obviously about this. Most people of reasonable intelligence who possess basic critical thinking skills generally realize how bad this could be.

I would have to agree with that we should abide by our Constitution. It is kind of sad how administration after administration, each president seems to try and chip away more and more of the Constitution... This technically precedes George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.


INRM