Politics Obama - Actually doing a good job?

Oh and then there is this moron who thinks that it's fine for restaurant workers to not wash their hands.

Senator Sticks Up for Food Service Workers' Right to Shit on Hands

 

Hmm, no partisan difference at all in 2009, but by 2014, the percentage of anti-vax Republicans is more than 1.5 times the percentage of anti-vax Democrats.

 

I don't support government subsidy for oil and gas exploration. The industry generates enough cash.

One thing for us to consider is if we agree on what is a subsidy for gas and oil exploration. For example in the tax code if it allows for some companies to exploit accelerated depletion schedules not consistent with actual depletion rates, I do not support that type of tax advantaged subsidy. The tax should be simple based on reality and applicable to all in the same manner. However, tax law allowing depletion is not what I would consider a subsidy.

I agree, we should close bases in many places in the world. I see no military reason to have a military base or prison in Cuba.

I disagree. Fundamentally a weapon is a weapon, but I do recognize that there are military grade weapons. In some (rare) extreme circumstances local/state police need access to some of the newest and most effective weapons technology. It would be wrong for the federal government not to share this technology when it can be helpful. The key is having responsible elected officials in place both federal/state/local - the issue for me is how and when the technology is used.

I simply think tax policy should reflect actual social costs and based primarily on consumption. If you use the internet, pay taxes to support it - if another does not use the internet he/she should not pay taxes to support it. I know the argument that, everyone benefits in some way - well if a person buys a product that benefited from the internet the tax for the internet should be included in the cost of that product.

 

This is making the right foam at the mouth.
At the prayer breakfast (really why are we still doing these) the president pointed out that some really terrible things have been done in the name of Christ and that folks need to get off their high horse when it comes to pointing fingers at other religions.
Heads promptly exploded.

Obama Warns Against ‘High Horse’ on Religious Extremism: ‘Terrible Deeds Done in Name of Christ’ | Mediaite

 

I think the argument of doing something for poor children is overused. If we want to do more to help poor children, the most effective allocation of any resources is to help poor children to become better readers. Whatever amount the tax would generate, lets get children reading at grade level with it as our first priority.

In Charlotte some in the community recognize the reading problem and are working on solutions outside of government, same could be done with internet access when we get to that point.

‘Read Charlotte’ wants to double the percentage of children reading proficiently | CharlotteObserver.com
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Doggone right my head proverbially exploded. Obama is our Commander In Chief, our military leader in a time of war not our Religious History professor! He is the wrong man for the job of President. I would probably love his course as we discuss relative religious morality based on inhumane acts in the names of various religions throughout history. Today, we need a leader who willing to act on what Biden said:

Joe Biden On ISIS: "We Will Follow Them To The Gates Of Hell Until They Are Brought To Justice" - BuzzFeed News

 

Affordable and accessible pre-school would be a great start, but Republicans are opposed. The E-rate program resources (wifi and tablets) particularly in poorer rural and inner city schools would help as well with more individualized and personalized learning.

These were remarks at a national prayer breakfast, not a foreign policy speech. but many conservatives generally freak out when the discussion is about religious tolerance....unless of course, they are projecting some nonsense about liberals persecuting Christians.

 

No. In my experience Republicans would prefer this be a local issue for funding not a federal government issue. Federal money often comes with impractical requirements that hurts the effectiveness resulting in waste. Local officials know best what is needed. I have no issue with the Federal government involved in preventing and prosecuting fraud and to me a compromise could be that when the Federal government wants to give money to the states they do so without conditions. For example if a local district needs to allocate money for nutrition programs to get the biggest benefit and another needs to allocate the money for after school programs - give the local districts the choice.

Republican are not opposed to pre-school!

I would suggest spending some time in poor communities with poor families trying to make it the best they can. Are you going to give a 6 year-old a $200 tablet for a drug addicted uncle to steal and sell for $25 worth of drugs...or...when the child does not have a winter coat...or when the parent can't afford after school care...or... when the rent is due and pay day is 10 days away...I simply suggest that there are many priorities for poor children that come before tablets and internet access.

I have no interest in tolerance with people who will behead innocent people in the name of any religion. The time is to end the reign of ISIS, not give lectures on things that happened 1,000 years ago.
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Right tools for the job.

"Don't use a monkey wrench to hammer a nail".

My Father and many others

 

State and local governments have been cutting education spending...in part, to fund tax cuts for the top. (see Brownback in Kansas as a great example).

Obama's proposal was for a federal/state partnership to incentviize states to commit funding to more universal pre-school . Republicans in Congress were opposed.

The E-rate program provides funding for wifi and tablets in schools and libraries. Your example of a "drug addicted uncle" does not apply.

Did you wacth the speech:

As we speak, around the world, we see faith inspiring people to lift up one another -- to feed the hungry and care for the poor, and comfort the afflicted and make peace where there is strife. We heard the good work that Sister has done in Philadelphia, and the incredible work that Dr. Brantly and his colleagues have done. We see faith driving us to do right​

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But we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge -- or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon. From a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it. We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism -- terrorizing religious minorities like the Yezidis, subjecting women to rape as a weapon of war, and claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions.​

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We see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion.​

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So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities -- the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends?​

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Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history....​

...​

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So this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith. In today’s world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract such intolerance. But God compels us to try. And in this mission, I believe there are a few principles that can guide us, particularly those of us who profess to believe. ​

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And, first, we should start with some basic humility. I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt -- not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth.​

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Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth -- our job is to be true to Him, His word, and His commandments. And we should assume humbly that we’re confused and don’t always know what we’re doing and we’re staggering and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that process. And that means we have to speak up against those who would misuse His name to justify oppression, or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty. No God condones terror. No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.​

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And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to distort our religion -- any religion -- for their own nihilistic ends. And here at home and around the world, we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom -- freedom of religion -- the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination...​

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Entirely appropriate for a prayer breakfast.
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Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast | The White House

 

I am not sure what Obama's point was. I am not sure I understand those who appear to defend his lecture at this time as President. When I stated that my head proverbially exploded it was another way of saying that I have a lack of understanding. In direct answer to your question - I do not know. Is Obama making some kind of moral equivalence, that since bad things happened in the past in the name of religion that we should have an understanding or tolerance of it happening now? I denounce the wanton murder of innocent people to threaten intimidate and perpetuate fear regardless of the circumstances. I don't need a lecture - who does?

We pray for courage. We pray for resolve. We pray for guidance. We pray for the ability to respond in a righteous manner. We pray for many things. Praying is a concept of thoughtful reflection to an object or deity of worship - in a broader sense it is also a moment of pause for inner reflection, in my view applicable to all in one form or another. No topic is off limits.
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State and local governments have a need to balance budgets. State and local governments more directly see the connection between reasonable tax rates and strong economic activity.

Several years ago I worked with some inner city boys teaching them basic business concepts. We used a simple game Lemonade Stand to illustrate some of the basic trade-offs between price and other variables to maximize income - highest prices do not equate to the highest income. Same is true with taxes. In order to maximize tax income by government - government must seek the equilibrium tax rate. I suggest, playing the game a bit in order to understand the point.

Lemonade Stand - Play it now at Coolmath-Games.com

Dude??? I thought your point was to reduce the cost for poor children. If they go to the library or school they incur no direct cost!

The fundamental issue in question is related to how we define the problem. In my mind the problems are poor reading skills and poor reading habits. It appears that you seem to think the problem is internet access. Until we can agree on the problem, I doubt we can agree on a solution.

I read it, and watched portions of it. I could not reconcile his words with his role as the leader of our military charged with addressing the ISIS issue. I am assuming I was not his target audience. Who was his target audience?

 

He isn't just the military leader of the country he is the civilian leader of this country.
Right now there has been an increase in attacks on Muslims throughout the country.
It is very much his place to address that issue and praying for tolerance, understanding, acceptance, and acting decently towards the hundreds of thousands of people who have nothing to do with the terrorists is a great idea.
For all those people who want to say the violence in Christ was a long time ago, they blew up black churches and killed little girls using the twisted justifications of Christianity.
So did that bunch who killed Allen Berg, the Jewish radio host, back in the 80's.
Unfortunately, I think his target audience are people who won't listen just because he is the one saying it.

 

I don't get your point. He is an elected civilian, in charge of our military. And our military is made up of civilians. The military is a subset of civilians. Is there a difference between what is best for our country from a military v. civilian context? I would answer no.

I don't know anyone wanting to repeat what the US did during WWII with intern camps, where entire classes of people where basically imprisoned based on their nationality. Are we saying he is arguing a point that has no relevance? General anti-Muslim sentiment has been relatively flat, what has not been flat in my view is the sentiment towards terrorists or Islamic extremists.



Perhaps there is more current data, but I do not see any material changes in the people I interact with.


Islamophobia: Understanding Anti-Muslim Sentiment in the West

Note: I post this because I anticipate others will attempt to say that Islamaphobia is on the rise - preemptively I would like them to prove it.

I am not a Joe Bidden fan, but his words resonated with me. My gut tells me that Joe, from Scranton, has a little fight in him. I respect that, and I believe he means what he said. I would follow his leadership on this issue. I can not follow someone who lacks clarity spouting some nuanced bull-shit trying to explain why something that happened over 1,000 years ago has any significance today - and for the job that has to be done today.

 

The historic lapses of some deeds done in the name of Christianity and of American policy is not in dispute. Christian and American leaders have attempted to apologize and atone for those lapses. ISIS has not. In terms of morality, I am not sure what you mean when your write high horse, but my personal moral belief is that ISIS is wrong and those who fight against what they do and what they say they stand for are on the correct side of morality. Your statements do not help me - I still do not understand the point.

What is an appropriate step in your view?

I recall us having a discussion on this topic in the past. I do not see how we separate religion from politics. For people who forge their world views on the basis of religion will have political views that mirror their religious views. Religious views become a part of the whole person. There are people who lay claim to a religion on certain days of the year while on other days live inconsistently with the religion - I would argue those people are hypocrites or are not committed to the religion.

True. I got that.

Some on the left have criticized Obama on the speech, what do you say about them? Aside from the fact that the ...they disagree because it is Obama...argument is a non-sequitur people from all political point of view have found issue with the speech.

I agree there are flaws in the data.

I read reports that there were people of many different religions in attendance of the prayer breakfast. It was an opportunity to promote unity rather than pointing out a rationale for differences. I doubt I will ever clearly understand his point. I conclude that it was the wrong speech given at the wrong time. It further illustrates Obama's inability to lead.

 

Muslim leaders around the world have condemned ISIS.

As to ISIS not apologizing, has the Christian "anti-balaka" milita apologized for their ethnic cleansing in Central African Republic in the last year?
UN: Muslims ethnically cleansed in CAR - Al Jazeera English

 

Speaking of attacks on Muslims, three students killed by their neighbor in North Carolina.

3 students shot to death in apartment near UNC Chapel Hill - CNN.com

This asshole was posted "When it comes to insults, your religion started this, not me. If your religion kept its big mouth shut, so would I."

There has been so much insulting of Muslims is it any surprise that people who have a tenuous grasp on reality take the next step?

 

Monday in Chicago a 13 year-old boy was murdered based on Facebook postings. Based on the information what conclusions do we draw from this incident?

Family mourns Chicago teen slain while recording fight set off by Facebook - Chicago Tribune

Cold blooded first degree murder is a crime and unacceptable in my view regardless of the perpetrators stated motivation - each murder has its own unique set of circumstances. I am not sure how any of this relates to ISIS and the Presidents speech at the prayer breakfast. Nor do I see a connection to what is occurring in the Central Africa Republic conflict with ISIS or what President Obama's speech at the prayer breakfast would suggest he is going to do as commander of our military.

 

Ace, why should a speech at a national prayer breakfast have anything to do with a president's policies as a commander in chief? As opposed to talking about religion, including the intolerance that exists in all religions.

We are not war with Islam or the 1+ billion Muslims who practice their religion peacefully and only desire the same respect and consideration as other religions.

Bush made that point numerous times when confronted with intolerant extremists in his own party.

I am waiting for right wing extremists to suggest that the US declare war on Iceland (or at least issue a stern condemnation) because Icelanders are leaving Christianity to worship at a shrine to Thor, Odin and other Norse gods.
Iceland to build first temple to Norse gods since Viking age | World news | The Guardian