Where Everybody Knows You're Numb

nesea · Senior Member

RE: great speech eh?

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

BoxDog wrote:

Socialists tend to give very moving speeches. I'd rather spend the rest of my life in a closet I never knew than make a deal with socialism. <BD

Well, this (elected) Prime Minister of Spain, a democratic state, who, yes, belongs to the Socialist party does more than just talk the talk, and has, in a few short years, managed to pass gender equality legislation, raise the minimum wage, lift abortion bans, legalize gay and lesbian marriage, reduce the role of religion in school, and push for better access to education for the poor, and last I heard was working on legalizing assisted suicide for the terminally ill -- all in a predominately Catholic country.

He also pretty much immediately pulled Spain's troops out of Iraq following his first election.

If you take away the party label for a second (and let's face it, it's JUST a label, like democrat and republican when it comes to elections) maybe you might at least consider changing your mind about him.

Or not. smile

Would you deny the right of the citizens to elect people who have party affiliations to the Socialist party? That would seem a rather skewed version of democracy, wouldn't it?

-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 at 10:10, 2009-03-09

Psych Lit · Guru

nesea wrote:

Here's another great speech.

GAY MARRIAGE SPEECH
A decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.July, 01 2005
By Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, President of Spain

"We are not legislating, honorable members, for people far away and not known by us. We are enlarging the opportunity for happiness to our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and, our families: at the same time we are making a more decent society, because a decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.

now that is one wonderful speech and remarkable especially in a "catholic" country. i wonder if he, too, was excommunicated?

BoxDog · Guru

nesea wrote:

Here's another great speech.

GAY MARRIAGE SPEECH
A decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.July, 01 2005
By Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, President of Spain

[When the Spanish parliament yesterday took its historic vote legalizing both gay marriage and adoption of children by gay couples, Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero -- who put the full prestige of his office and party behind passage of the gay human rights legislation -- made one of the most remarkable speeches in favor of full equality for those with same-sex hearts ever delivered by a head of government anywhere. Here are excerpts from Zapatero's speech -- Doug Ireland]

"We are not legislating, honorable members, for people far away and not known by us. We are enlarging the opportunity for happiness to our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and, our families: at the same time we are making a more decent society, because a decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.

"In the poem 'The Family,' our [gay] poet Luis Cernuda was sorry because, 'How does man live in denial in vain/by giving rules that prohibit and condemn?' Today, the Spanish society answers to a group of people who, during many years have, been humiliated, whose rights have been ignored, whose dignity has been offended, their identity denied, and their liberty oppressed. Today the Spanish society grants them the respect they deserve, recognizes their rights, restores their dignity, affirms their identity, and restores their liberty.

MyDesert.com | Palm Springs pluckpersona | The Desert Sun

Remainder of speech can be found here.

Socialists tend to give very moving speeches. I'd rather spend the rest of my life in a closet I never knew than make a deal with socialism.

nesea · Senior Member

Here's another great speech.

GAY MARRIAGE SPEECH
A decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.July, 01 2005
By Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, President of Spain

[When the Spanish parliament yesterday took its historic vote legalizing both gay marriage and adoption of children by gay couples, Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero -- who put the full prestige of his office and party behind passage of the gay human rights legislation -- made one of the most remarkable speeches in favor of full equality for those with same-sex hearts ever delivered by a head of government anywhere. Here are excerpts from Zapatero's speech -- Doug Ireland]

"We are not legislating, honorable members, for people far away and not known by us. We are enlarging the opportunity for happiness to our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and, our families: at the same time we are making a more decent society, because a decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.

"In the poem 'The Family,' our [gay] poet Luis Cernuda was sorry because, 'How does man live in denial in vain/by giving rules that prohibit and condemn?' Today, the Spanish society answers to a group of people who, during many years have, been humiliated, whose rights have been ignored, whose dignity has been offended, their identity denied, and their liberty oppressed. Today the Spanish society grants them the respect they deserve, recognizes their rights, restores their dignity, affirms their identity, and restores their liberty.

MyDesert.com | Palm Springs pluckpersona | The Desert Sun

Remainder of speech can be found here.

BoxDog · Guru

Psych Lit wrote:

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

About two years ago, I was considering going back to school to pick up some new job skills, and was stunned by how much the cost of higher education had escalated. No, really -- stunned. There was, ultimately, no way I could afford it, and so, at least at the time, it just didn't happen.
if it becomes possible with this new administration would you do it? a 2500 tax break is a big incentive. the avg grad tuition is somewhere between 3-400 per cr hr and 2500 a year would make a huge dent in that. i hope that he doesnt limit it to undergrad. these days people need to go beyond that to keep up with an ever changing world.

Science is of particular concern to me, as are the Arts.
If we want to invest in the future of this country, really, I don't know a better place to start, than in our colleges and universities.

and science and the arts are two things that can propel community development and create jobs. look at the gentrification that happens in high tech areas. all of those supporting arts and biz places add jobs in ways that factories no longer can.

Of course they can, but there is no funding. How does a governor "justify" funding arts and science programs while food banks and shelters are out of goods and beds? Or while a railway system lay half complete in a major city? They can't.

And now the "wealthy", redefined as a family earning 250k, now expected to realize a net of 100k after all is said and done and you can expect to lose private sector donations that could historically be counted on by the local arts and science programs, food banks, shelters and pet services. I really don't get the whole thing. I'm on a different page with this.

Psych Lit · Guru

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

About two years ago, I was considering going back to school to pick up some new job skills, and was stunned by how much the cost of higher education had escalated. No, really -- stunned. There was, ultimately, no way I could afford it, and so, at least at the time, it just didn't happen.
if it becomes possible with this new administration would you do it? a 2500 tax break is a big incentive. the avg grad tuition is somewhere between 3-400 per cr hr and 2500 a year would make a huge dent in that. i hope that he doesnt limit it to undergrad. these days people need to go beyond that to keep up with an ever changing world.

Science is of particular concern to me, as are the Arts.
If we want to invest in the future of this country, really, I don't know a better place to start, than in our colleges and universities.

and science and the arts are two things that can propel community development and create jobs. look at the gentrification that happens in high tech areas. all of those supporting arts and biz places add jobs in ways that factories no longer can.

BoxDog · Guru

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

MyCat8it wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

Up, down, up, down. It looked like a Catholic mass.

lol yes it did!

If he pushes through everything he promised last night, we could be moving in the right direction. I wouldn't want his job for anything in the world. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch just one day of what he's got going on. I'm encouraged by the general content of his address, but I found the speech devoid of details. Maybe I should learn to be a little more patient. I would like to know HOW.

one thing i thought he did that was very clever was to say that he wanted congress to come up with the details. and soon.

How is he going to get the banks to lend money?

i think it was important that he mentioned that there would be no nationalization of banks for the moment anyway. i would have liked more details here too.

How is he going to make healthcare affordable and available?

i did see something today about some 600 billion over 10 years going into some sort of plan for healthcare. ill have to see if i can find the article.

I'm ready to go volunteer in my community for tuition cuts, where do I send the bill?

ill be right behind you with stamp in hand. my youngest who is graduating in the spring applied to grad schools last month and the interview dates are coming in. im thinking i will never be able to retire.
i have no qualms about sending him out to do some community service in exchange for living expenses and books.

About two years ago, I was considering going back to school to pick up some new job skills, and was stunned by how much the cost of higher education had escalated. No, really -- stunned. There was, ultimately, no way I could afford it, and so, at least at the time, it just didn't happen.
I would be hard-pressed to find what I think a better investment in our country than in education. The last "back to the dark ages" eight years have caused us to fall behind in our global prowess -- I'm sure China was delighted to leap into some "optional" wars, and drop the ball on education, science, and a myriad of other things, in that while we were involved in looking for Osama bin Laden "where the light was good" rather than where he might actually BE, China was quietly emerging and in many ways overtaking the US on the global scene.
Science is of particular concern to me, as are the Arts.
If we want to invest in the future of this country, really, I don't know a better place to start, than in our colleges and universities.

Really? The sad truth is the more educated we become the bleaker our economic recovery will be or at least seem. Try and get a recent college grad to accept, or even be offered a position at minimum wage. The flip side of that is the future grads simply replace their 50 something parents? No, it's not nearly as simple as more education. There has to be class and education distinctions drawn. We aren't all created equal and education is not a "paid for" right. The right to equal access is, and it's already there. Now, what to do with the grads? Have them lay railroad tracks and windmills? The arts? How do you encourage people to make sense of their unemployment checks to include a few dollars to attend an art opening, community theater performance, a folk performance. How do they find room to explore cultural and other experiences when they can't afford their electric? How do you force a bank to lend money to someone who applies with a current position at a local restaurant, mom/pop laundry, mall retail store? You can't. That's why they aren't. No, it doesn't begin with more educating. Just as leaving 30 to 50,000 troops in Iraq is NOT bringing the troops home by August of next year.

btw, to the note about his "no nationalization of banks?" that lasted 48 hours. We now own what 40% of Citibank and are fully prepared to demand rights to assign the board of directors? That's socialism, he is in a balls to the walls race to make it the new Amerika, no other word for it.

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

Psych Lit wrote:

MyCat8it wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

Up, down, up, down. It looked like a Catholic mass.

lol yes it did!

If he pushes through everything he promised last night, we could be moving in the right direction. I wouldn't want his job for anything in the world. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch just one day of what he's got going on. I'm encouraged by the general content of his address, but I found the speech devoid of details. Maybe I should learn to be a little more patient. I would like to know HOW.

one thing i thought he did that was very clever was to say that he wanted congress to come up with the details. and soon.

How is he going to get the banks to lend money?

i think it was important that he mentioned that there would be no nationalization of banks for the moment anyway. i would have liked more details here too.

How is he going to make healthcare affordable and available?

i did see something today about some 600 billion over 10 years going into some sort of plan for healthcare. ill have to see if i can find the article.

I'm ready to go volunteer in my community for tuition cuts, where do I send the bill?

ill be right behind you with stamp in hand. my youngest who is graduating in the spring applied to grad schools last month and the interview dates are coming in. im thinking i will never be able to retire.
i have no qualms about sending him out to do some community service in exchange for living expenses and books.

About two years ago, I was considering going back to school to pick up some new job skills, and was stunned by how much the cost of higher education had escalated. No, really -- stunned. There was, ultimately, no way I could afford it, and so, at least at the time, it just didn't happen.

I would be hard-pressed to find what I think a better investment in our country than in education. The last "back to the dark ages" eight years have caused us to fall behind in our global prowess -- I'm sure China was delighted to leap into some "optional" wars, and drop the ball on education, science, and a myriad of other things, in that while we were involved in looking for Osama bin Laden "where the light was good" rather than where he might actually BE, China was quietly emerging and in many ways overtaking the US on the global scene.

Science is of particular concern to me, as are the Arts.

If we want to invest in the future of this country, really, I don't know a better place to start, than in our colleges and universities.

Psych Lit · Guru

BoxDog wrote:

No doubt it's a quandry, but to stand there, anyone, and make claims that banks are still somehow withholding auto, real estate and other lines of credit is immature, irrational and point the fingerish. At the rate of a half million lost jobs per month (just the reported ones) banks are being given a distinctly ambiguous message. Loaning money to whom? Even at decent rates it's reckless for a bank to pass out loans because the potus said to. Sorry, to freely toss this money to joe plumbers for their "first home" a "new car" their god given "right to a quality higher education"...is silly. It's worse than the subprime situation that largely got us to this point.

and theres the problem. the economy has changed and is dependent upon spending and its the big ticket spending that drives the jobs in this country. automakers for example. not only are the jobs in the factories at risk but all of the dealers, subcontrators and the businesses which support the communities where these folks are employed. if we dont buy cars those people lose jobs and the people who feed into that whole economic scheme lose their jobs. so what to do? cant save any money to buy a car if there is no job. one feeds the other. 20 years ago the economy was based a lot more on real income, real net worth but if adjusted for bubbles, real net worth has diminished and if nothing is done then this recession will spiral out of control. i dont like this either. im frugal. in the northeast we are notoriously fiscally conservative and socially liberal and im no exception there. i dont think that people deserve a car or a home but i do think that people deserve the opportunity to have those things within reach.
what makes it double difficult here is that in the past decade the consumer was wholly fleeced by deregulation of the credit markets. these folks are the victims of those actions. maybe they shouldnt have purchased homes that were expensive but they were paying for them until their interest rates were raised and then you get into the whole credit interest rate schemes where they score you based not on frugality but on its opposite. people who use credit cards at discount stores lose points. people who do more upscale shopping score higher. people who paid off their cards each month or used them only for emergencies score lower than those who rang up high balances or who lived on credit. the higher the points the lower the interest rates. so living within the means is considered a credit risk rather than a virtue.
Not a sound idea. Even worse to leave the trillion dollars in the hands of the wolves. So we will be a nation of highly educated, unemployed, Medicaid recipients. Oh boy. America, the land of the free, because the people can't afford it any other way.
lol yanno thats true:)

BoxDog · Guru

Psych Lit wrote:

MyCat8it wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

Up, down, up, down. It looked like a Catholic mass.

lol yes it did!

If he pushes through everything he promised last night, we could be moving in the right direction. I wouldn't want his job for anything in the world. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch just one day of what he's got going on. I'm encouraged by the general content of his address, but I found the speech devoid of details. Maybe I should learn to be a little more patient. I would like to know HOW.

one thing i thought he did that was very clever was to say that he wanted congress to come up with the details. and soon.

How is he going to get the banks to lend money?

i think it was important that he mentioned that there would be no nationalization of banks for the moment anyway. i would have liked more details here too.

How is he going to make healthcare affordable and available?

i did see something today about some 600 billion over 10 years going into some sort of plan for healthcare. ill have to see if i can find the article.

I'm ready to go volunteer in my community for tuition cuts, where do I send the bill?

ill be right behind you with stamp in hand. my youngest who is graduating in the spring applied to grad schools last month and the interview dates are coming in. im thinking i will never be able to retire.
i have no qualms about sending him out to do some community service in exchange for living expenses and books.

No doubt it's a quandry, but to stand there, anyone, and make claims that banks are still somehow withholding auto, real estate and other lines of credit is immature, irrational and point the fingerish. At the rate of a half million lost jobs per month (just the reported ones) banks are being given a distinctly ambiguous message. Loaning money to whom? Even at decent rates it's reckless for a bank to pass out loans because the potus said to. Sorry, to freely toss this money to joe plumbers for their "first home" a "new car" their god given "right to a quality higher education"...is silly. It's worse than the subprime situation that largely got us to this point. And, fwiw, there's no place in the constitution that states the government must provide, or the people are entitled to cars, new homes, or college educations. There have been "add-ons" to the pursuit of happiness. But to continue on the path of eternal indebtedness? Not a sound idea. Even worse to leave the trillion dollars in the hands of the wolves. So we will be a nation of highly educated, unemployed, Medicaid recipients. Oh boy. America, the land of the free, because the people can't afford it any other way.

Psych Lit · Guru

Anonymous wrote:

We're screwed. On a lighter note, I did smile when Justice Ginsburg walkes in, I think that was the last time. Last time I smiled. <BD

she looked great. youd never know shed gone thru such and ordeal. now thats the kind of health care we all need!

Okay, two words: McCain Palin.

<hoping I won something I can use in my fortress of solitude>

Say, I have some extra bumper stickers to decorate the fortress with.

hillary stickers? kucinich? bwahaha

Psych Lit · Guru

MyCat8it wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

Up, down, up, down. It looked like a Catholic mass.

lol yes it did!

If he pushes through everything he promised last night, we could be moving in the right direction. I wouldn't want his job for anything in the world. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch just one day of what he's got going on. I'm encouraged by the general content of his address, but I found the speech devoid of details. Maybe I should learn to be a little more patient. I would like to know HOW.

one thing i thought he did that was very clever was to say that he wanted congress to come up with the details. and soon.

How is he going to get the banks to lend money?

i think it was important that he mentioned that there would be no nationalization of banks for the moment anyway. i would have liked more details here too.

How is he going to make healthcare affordable and available?

i did see something today about some 600 billion over 10 years going into some sort of plan for healthcare. ill have to see if i can find the article.

I'm ready to go volunteer in my community for tuition cuts, where do I send the bill?

ill be right behind you with stamp in hand. my youngest who is graduating in the spring applied to grad schools last month and the interview dates are coming in. im thinking i will never be able to retire.
i have no qualms about sending him out to do some community service in exchange for living expenses and books.

Date: Wed Feb 25 9:33 AM, 2009

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

BoxDog wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

I think obama did a fine job. i have no idea what was going on with nancy pelosi in the background tho she reminded me of some animated jack in the box and she was very distracting.

there were things i liked and things i didnt.

i liked the emphasis on health and education. i liked the service idea and the increase of tuition credit and wish that it didnt happen as my last finishes his last year as an undergrad. tho he has applied to grad school so maybe that will help. there are no athletic scholarships for grad school.

i liked that instead of gutting medicare he spoke about getting rid of programs that dont help. really he has to do something with ss and medicare for any lasting oomph to this economy and im glad that he addressed it.

the tax benefit seems silly. its what> 8 dollars a week? why not give out bank cards that can only be used for purchases if they are leary of doing another rebate. tho i didnt get to have a rebate so maybe i should shut up cause i will get my 8 bucks a week tho it will take a month to pay for a tank of gas.

what did others like? or dislike?

In the context of just itself, as always, he held a fine pep rally. My preference would have been for him to read the entire 800 billion dollar "economic recovery" plan line by line. It would have been a very different night. After repeated promises that he wouldn't sign a law that has "earmarks", and to his credit it doesn't contain just a little earmark here and there, but NINE THOUSAND of them to the tune of 9 billion dollars. These include building Lindsay Graham a new convention center and Harry Reid a million bucks to make Vegas more "ecologically friendly appearing". Not to mention the triangle mass transit project starting at 8 million to form the high speed rail from vegas>LA>San Fran. One would wonder what the USGS thinks of such spending for a rail system laid primarily in an unsound topographical area as is California. I wonder, and I'm no geologist. What's an earthquake going to do to its stability?

I don't see how this plan targets the creation of jobs. The majority of the cash is going into the larger states Medicaid programs. Period. Sure, a 300 million dollar purchase of new government vehicles may have some impact, but he doesn't want to discuss that. Sure, he can stimulate the guys at ACORN to round up the homeless and bring them, drunk or not, to register as voters. But can he stimulate those guys from ACORN and their homeless registered drunks to head to the midwest to build his windmills? <BD

I have to say something here ... I don't know what ACORN looks like these days, but twenty some years ago, I worked really closely with them, and the people who ran the local chapter were decent, idealistic, hard-working-for-little-pay bright people. I feel sad ACORN has evidently earned such a foul rap, because I know there to be a lot of "good" about it, both in its staffs, and the work it's done. Just wanted to say that .....

----------------

It wasn't a State of the Union address, no really, it was just a pep rally. Hence, Peppy Pelosi the trained monkey. <BD

"Peppy Pelosi" -- has a nice ring to it. I'll bet some Tom Lehrer/Spike Jones type character could muster a fine little tune befitting of such a name. LOL.

--------------------

We're screwed. On a lighter note, I did smile when Justice Ginsburg walkes in, I think that was the last time. Last time I smiled. <BD

Ah, now, see? Now I DO wish I'd not missed it.
I would have smiled too.
I was wondering yesterday, how she was doing.

-----------------------------

But America elects liars and they never let us down. In one way or another. Seems we're going to continue allowing him to use the phrase "inherited" this and that. He pursued the job. Laying the groundwork for possible (sic) failure, due to a shoddy inheritance, is no way to approach success. This presidency was a tremendous mistake. Prove me wrong, I'll be just fine with that.

Okay, two words: McCain Palin.

<hoping I won something I can use in my fortress of solitude>

I did say America elects liars. I didn't exlcude future liars, past liars, gop liars, dem liars, white liars, black liars. Every last one of them is a liar. Well, we don't yet know about women. Do we? At least not as potus. Never will.

And one word back: ACORN

But, RBG did look wonderful and had a thunderous ovation when she walked in. Apparently she was already back at work in Court yesterday hearing a case, made 21 questions to the point. Not sure which case it is. Doesn't really matter for right now, she's alive and well just like the rest of us, just for the moment.

BD

Say, I have some extra bumper stickers to decorate the fortress with.

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

BoxDog wrote:

Psych Lit wrote:

I think obama did a fine job. i have no idea what was going on with nancy pelosi in the background tho she reminded me of some animated jack in the box and she was very distracting.

there were things i liked and things i didnt.

i liked the emphasis on health and education. i liked the service idea and the increase of tuition credit and wish that it didnt happen as my last finishes his last year as an undergrad. tho he has applied to grad school so maybe that will help. there are no athletic scholarships for grad school.

i liked that instead of gutting medicare he spoke about getting rid of programs that dont help. really he has to do something with ss and medicare for any lasting oomph to this economy and im glad that he addressed it.

the tax benefit seems silly. its what> 8 dollars a week? why not give out bank cards that can only be used for purchases if they are leary of doing another rebate. tho i didnt get to have a rebate so maybe i should shut up cause i will get my 8 bucks a week tho it will take a month to pay for a tank of gas.

what did others like? or dislike?

In the context of just itself, as always, he held a fine pep rally. My preference would have been for him to read the entire 800 billion dollar "economic recovery" plan line by line. It would have been a very different night. After repeated promises that he wouldn't sign a law that has "earmarks", and to his credit it doesn't contain just a little earmark here and there, but NINE THOUSAND of them to the tune of 9 billion dollars. These include building Lindsay Graham a new convention center and Harry Reid a million bucks to make Vegas more "ecologically friendly appearing". Not to mention the triangle mass transit project starting at 8 million to form the high speed rail from vegas>LA>San Fran. One would wonder what the USGS thinks of such spending for a rail system laid primarily in an unsound topographical area as is California. I wonder, and I'm no geologist. What's an earthquake going to do to its stability?

I don't see how this plan targets the creation of jobs. The majority of the cash is going into the larger states Medicaid programs. Period. Sure, a 300 million dollar purchase of new government vehicles may have some impact, but he doesn't want to discuss that. Sure, he can stimulate the guys at ACORN to round up the homeless and bring them, drunk or not, to register as voters. But can he stimulate those guys from ACORN and their homeless registered drunks to head to the midwest to build his windmills? <BD

I have to say something here ... I don't know what ACORN looks like these days, but twenty some years ago, I worked really closely with them, and the people who ran the local chapter were decent, idealistic, hard-working-for-little-pay bright people. I feel sad ACORN has evidently earned such a foul rap, because I know there to be a lot of "good" about it, both in its staffs, and the work it's done. Just wanted to say that .....

----------------

It wasn't a State of the Union address, no really, it was just a pep rally. Hence, Peppy Pelosi the trained monkey. <BD

"Peppy Pelosi" -- has a nice ring to it. I'll bet some Tom Lehrer/Spike Jones type character could muster a fine little tune befitting of such a name. LOL.

--------------------

We're screwed. On a lighter note, I did smile when Justice Ginsburg walkes in, I think that was the last time. Last time I smiled. <BD

Ah, now, see? Now I DO wish I'd not missed it.
I would have smiled too.
I was wondering yesterday, how she was doing.

-----------------------------

But America elects liars and they never let us down. In one way or another. Seems we're going to continue allowing him to use the phrase "inherited" this and that. He pursued the job. Laying the groundwork for possible (sic) failure, due to a shoddy inheritance, is no way to approach success. This presidency was a tremendous mistake. Prove me wrong, I'll be just fine with that.

Okay, two words: McCain Palin.

<hoping I won something I can use in my fortress of solitude> biggrin

BoxDog · Guru

Psych Lit wrote:

I think obama did a fine job. i have no idea what was going on with nancy pelosi in the background tho she reminded me of some animated jack in the box and she was very distracting.

there were things i liked and things i didnt.

i liked the emphasis on health and education. i liked the service idea and the increase of tuition credit and wish that it didnt happen as my last finishes his last year as an undergrad. tho he has applied to grad school so maybe that will help. there are no athletic scholarships for grad school.

i liked that instead of gutting medicare he spoke about getting rid of programs that dont help. really he has to do something with ss and medicare for any lasting oomph to this economy and im glad that he addressed it.

the tax benefit seems silly. its what> 8 dollars a week? why not give out bank cards that can only be used for purchases if they are leary of doing another rebate. tho i didnt get to have a rebate so maybe i should shut up cause i will get my 8 bucks a week tho it will take a month to pay for a tank of gas.

what did others like? or dislike?

In the context of just itself, as always, he held a fine pep rally. My preference would have been for him to read the entire 800 billion dollar "economic recovery" plan line by line. It would have been a very different night. After repeated promises that he wouldn't sign a law that has "earmarks", and to his credit it doesn't contain just a little earmark here and there, but NINE THOUSAND of them to the tune of 9 billion dollars. These include building Lindsay Graham a new convention center and Harry Reid a million bucks to make Vegas more "ecologically friendly appearing". Not to mention the triangle mass transit project starting at 8 million to form the high speed rail from vegas>LA>San Fran. One would wonder what the USGS thinks of such spending for a rail system laid primarily in an unsound topographical area as is California. I wonder, and I'm no geologist. What's an earthquake going to do to its stability?

I don't see how this plan targets the creation of jobs. The majority of the cash is going into the larger states Medicaid programs. Period. Sure, a 300 million dollar purchase of new government vehicles may have some impact, but he doesn't want to discuss that. Sure, he can stimulate the guys at ACORN to round up the homeless and bring them, drunk or not, to register as voters. But can he stimulate those guys from ACORN and their homeless registered drunks to head to the midwest to build his windmills?

It wasn't a State of the Union address, no really, it was just a pep rally. Hence, Peppy Pelosi the trained monkey.

We're screwed. On a lighter note, I did smile when Justice Ginsburg walkes in, I think that was the last time. Last time I smiled.

But America elects liars and they never let us down. In one way or another. Seems we're going to continue allowing him to use the phrase "inherited" this and that. He pursued the job. Laying the groundwork for possible (sic) failure, due to a shoddy inheritance, is no way to approach success. This presidency was a tremendous mistake. Prove me wrong, I'll be just fine with that.

MyCat8it · Senior Member

Psych Lit wrote:

I think obama did a fine job. i have no idea what was going on with nancy pelosi in the background tho she reminded me of some animated jack in the box and she was very distracting.

there were things i liked and things i didnt.

i liked the emphasis on health and education. i liked the service idea and the increase of tuition credit and wish that it didnt happen as my last finishes his last year as an undergrad. tho he has applied to grad school so maybe that will help. there are no athletic scholarships for grad school.

i liked that instead of gutting medicare he spoke about getting rid of programs that dont help. really he has to do something with ss and medicare for any lasting oomph to this economy and im glad that he addressed it.

the tax benefit seems silly. its what> 8 dollars a week? why not give out bank cards that can only be used for purchases if they are leary of doing another rebate. tho i didnt get to have a rebate so maybe i should shut up cause i will get my 8 bucks a week tho it will take a month to pay for a tank of gas.

what did others like? or dislike?

Up, down, up, down. It looked like a Catholic mass.

If he pushes through everything he promised last night, we could be moving in the right direction. I wouldn't want his job for anything in the world. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch just one day of what he's got going on. I'm encouraged by the general content of his address, but I found the speech devoid of details. Maybe I should learn to be a little more patient. I would like to know HOW.

How is he going to get the banks to lend money?
How is he going to make healthcare affordable and available?

I'm ready to go volunteer in my community for tuition cuts, where do I send the bill?

All right, all right. I'll wait patiently for further instructions. The budget will get released next week. Some details will have to be in there.

I must have fallen asleep before the end of it. I don't remember hearing much about the war and ending it. I think I heard something about Pakistan and Afghanistan, nothing specific though. Just that people on the other side of the world won't be able to plot against us.

I'm already getting people asking me how they should adjust their paychecks, and the new tables haven't been released yet.

The devil is in the details and that's what I didn't hear much of.

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

Psych Lit wrote:

I think obama did a fine job. i have no idea what was going on with nancy pelosi in the background tho she reminded me of some animated jack in the box and she was very distracting.

That's always my take on Nancy Pelosi -- on both counts. smile

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

Didn't see it, though I may try to catch a rerun if there's one on PBS.

I'm sure it was a great or at least good speech. Never any question he can give a great speech, and I am thankful this great nation is blessed, once again, with a president who doesn't sound like the spawn of Porky Pig meets Jethro Clampett.

Even so: actions speak louder than words, and from where I sit, the fifth verse of Kumbaya has finished; the candle wick, grown short. I'm ready to park the "feel good" fuzzy moments and get behind the wheel of a driven economy and civil justice for those in the military who happen to be homosexual.

During the primary, Obamaites were all over H Clinton for Don't Ask Don't Tell ... said she couldn't say the word "gay" bla bla bla. Obama (who only gave ONE interview to ONE GLBT publication, The Advocate) was going to actually amend that which Hilary's husband had saddled us. Well? okayfine. I'm ready now, president Obama.

Psych Lit · Guru

I think obama did a fine job. i have no idea what was going on with nancy pelosi in the background tho she reminded me of some animated jack in the box and she was very distracting.

there were things i liked and things i didnt.

i liked the emphasis on health and education. i liked the service idea and the increase of tuition credit and wish that it didnt happen as my last finishes his last year as an undergrad. tho he has applied to grad school so maybe that will help. there are no athletic scholarships for grad school.

i liked that instead of gutting medicare he spoke about getting rid of programs that dont help. really he has to do something with ss and medicare for any lasting oomph to this economy and im glad that he addressed it.

the tax benefit seems silly. its what> 8 dollars a week? why not give out bank cards that can only be used for purchases if they are leary of doing another rebate. tho i didnt get to have a rebate so maybe i should shut up cause i will get my 8 bucks a week tho it will take a month to pay for a tank of gas.

what did others like? or dislike?