Get the Man right or Wrong, he fullfilled his Election Promise to remove a Bligh on Americ'a History.

I Salute him as a Man.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_rdp

This Man could be a Great Leader for America, as long as people just let him do his Job?

He actualy inspires Hope, in the World!

Yes I saw on the first day of him officially being in office he signed three executive orders one specifically closing Gitmo.

The man faced Incredible Odds to win the Presidency, yet he did it.

Just shows that the real Spirit of America is still alive and well.

Now, can we just give this Man the chance to get on with it and forget about what Color or Creed he comes from from? He is American! Maybe he could even be the best America President we ever saw?

I certainly hope so for for America.

I am just a simple Aussie?

It will be interesting to see what happends to the inmates of the institution. As for what he has infront of him...well it's a huge mountain! And what do you mean your a simple Aussie?
Bloody proud Aussie here!!

He needs to distance himself from all of The Clinton cronies. I wish him well because he he succeeds the the US will succeed.

I am a brit so he is not my president but I think and hope that he will be a good one.He does not come from a rich background and I think that will give him insight into a ordinary mans problems.He seems to be a get up and go kind of guy so I think he will get things done.He achieved a minor miracle getting were he is so he has guts and determination.Give the guy a chance and he could be a winner for all of us.

I think one day somebody will walk into his office and find him on the floor curled up into a little ball sucking his thumb because this nightmare he got himself elected too finally made him snap.

Just kidding...

I have no idea what he will do. I'm not so sure he knows right now either. The info you get after you are elected is not the same info you had when running for the office, I think that's why he's coming out with the old "I'm still going to do this, but it's going to take a little longer than I thought" routine..

Obama is a guy who makes being educated look sexy and cool to young people. There should be a lot of fun, innovative ways to educate the american public using the internet, who are getting less and less serious news from the available sources. The idea of posting proposed government regulations and legislation on the internet is wonderful, also the effort to revive government compliance with the freedom of information act. A lot of information has been classified simply because it was potentially embarrassing to the government employees involved. (Not to mention potentially incriminating.)

He is trying to bring back the idea of civic responsibility and communal decency (in the sense of being humane to others). These are not values taught in the typical grade school or high school civics class, but are learned from various sources in society. I don't know how he can communicate these ideas effectively in a sound-bite and twitter idea economy.

I find it slightly disturbing that in order for some children to appreciate a good education, you have to have a celebrity or highly popular political figure make it look "sexy" (highly popular political figure is how I'm describing President Obama in this case). However, in an environment where music videos and videogames seem to be king, I do agree that new innovative ways to provide an education to folks is important. Usage of online educational materials (and online academies) have been in use for a little while now though, so I can't help but wonder what the next step will be.

A couple of points from an Aussie?



Many News Stories have been suppressed from Americans for many years. Only the Net has allowed some Americans to really know what is actually happening in the World, just by clicking on external sources on the Net.

Obama is on the right track to let ALL Americans be aware of what is really happening. Some of what that has happened is because people were just unaware of the True Facts?




I Salute a very Game Man!

That is the Leader I admire!

Edit.

He is showing a Character that has been lacking for many years, Win or Lose, he is trying his Heart out!. America, be VERY Proud!

I agree,Abacus7. Well said.

In 13 days the Man has not sat on his backside sucking his Thumb?

I Bet it will be the same after 100 days, Mate!

We can say that his judgment on some of his appointees is suspect, that's for sure.

Had the same people been Bush nominees they would have been soundly rejected by the Democrats and the left-wing media.

He promised change and we are getting that - people that would have been rejected are now being accepted.

Change to believe or change to deceive?

Just an observation - I agree we need to wait longer before we anoint him.

Well, at least we Americans do, anyway.

Whilst I can understand your skeptism, after what has happened over many years, long before this man came from nowhere and was Elected your President by your people in a big way, I can not understand why non Americans should not feel relieved and happy that America has a President that is showing the World, including America, that he has committed himself to a Huge Task that lies ahead of him. Americans should be very Proud of him. You bet your Bippie that the rest of the World are Proud of him.

He is not sitting back twiddling, nor sucking his thumbs, he is just getting on with it!

President Obama has had extensive legal training, and taught constitutional law at an excellent law school for several years. It is not unusual for attorneys to represent those with whom they disagree. He probably thinks that choosing experienced people with connections, but requiring them to implement other policies than they themselves would choose, will expedite things over choosing relatively inexperienced people for the same positions.

Let's hope his administration is bringing up a lot of public servants with more congenial ideals and principles to bring them up to speed and give them experience for the years to come.

And when I said he was "sexy" to young people, that was an observation. "Sexy", at least to women, means a lot of things besides pure physical appearance and charisma.

He surely has a monumental task in front of him and already some of his ideas are causing mutterings. But before he's condemned by opponents , perhaps we should remember 'the other way' didn't work - and as the old saying goes, "desperate times need desperate measures".

What has happened to the mighty nation of the United States is happening here in Canada as well - and so many other Countries. I wish this gentlemen the very best and only wish he was our Canadian leader.

Lawyers His stimulus package is now at $900 billion. Take out all of the pork and it will drop to $400 Billion. Remember what the Government gives to one person or group they take away from another.

Obama hits a rough patch in early days of presidency



Especially when one adds the prior Clinton folks he's also appointed.



No. That should be "These are mistakes. I've already screwed up a lot."

So quickly, too. I guess that's part of the change?!



Oh, and I agree with GTK48 - didn't Obama say he would eliminate wasteful spending? Then why is he supporting a "stimulus" package that contains so much of it?

Didn't you hear anything about the last year Bilderberg meeting in Washington?
Mr. Obama was one of that meeting attendees.
What are you expecting from him??? More of the same???
I don't expect anything from him.

That is an interesting Comment you make?

You did say this a few Posts back?



Edit.

Is the 100 days up already?

I'm beginning to think he likes to be on camera as much as Jesse Jackson and Bill Clinton. It seems like he's made a speech or done something to have the cameras follow him everyday since he's been elected. And how come he hasn't said anything about all the trouble in Kentucky? If Bush had not said a word about the power outages don't you know the press would have been all over him and calling him out about it. So what's he going to do?

Interesting enough this Link shows just how hard his Job is and how some people just want to spite him, even if it means bringing America down to it's knees.

Time for that Rubbish was years ago. At least give the man a chance to do SOMETHING instead of hamstringing him, then Blame him for what others did not do? That is just not the America you all want, nor what your forefathers ever wanted.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=741511

Edit.

Like it or Hate it? America is running out of options, your only chance is to either get behind the Man you popularly Elected and back him, or go to Anachacy like in your Civil War? It is America's choice. The World awaits with baited breath, up to you people? The World will follow the American lead, but it may not be as it once was?

A lot of people in this country are going to have to get used to the fact that Obama is not perfect.

I suspected it even though some of the media (can you say "M S N B C"?) got tingly over him.


It will probably take the rest of the world a little longer to figure this out, but they will.

So if America just goes down the Drain because people like you won't even give your ELECTED President even a remote chance to fix the Mess bought on other Leaders, no matter who they where, because he is not who you wanted? BTW, Did you actually Vote?

Can you live with the Idea that America could become a Third World Country, if your Elected President and your Law Makers screw up?

That is what America is looking at, Mate!


Edit.

Name me just one Country that is Trillions in Debt beside America? Scarey? It should be.

The impression I have formed of Mr. Rox' politics from reading his various posts is that he is primarily a conservative. Mr. Rox can correct me if I'm mistaken. If he is a conservative who is willing to give the president a chance, that Mike truly rox!

As to the repeated comments about lawyers: some are shysters, some are public servants who are committed to helping people in spite of terrible working conditions, low pay, and stupid supervisors who often have no legal training at all, some are attorneys in the private sector who attempt to shape public policy by going after corporate miscreants and the like, some are family lawyers who try to defuse angry divorce and estate battles, etc., etc., etc. Lawyers are not all of the same ilk, they come in many different varieties and moral states, whether they be liberal, conservative, or moderate, religious or irreligious or semi-religious.

As to expecting Mr. Obama to work miracles. He only has two hands. He would need the many hands of several east Indian deities to handle all the problems currently facing him. He has done more work in his short tenure than George W. did in his entire first year.

And pork? KBR got yet another multimillion dollar contract in Iraq in spite of being found culpable in the shower electrocution deaths of at least 2 soldiers, and of wasting millions upon millions of dollars, to list just a few things. At least the "pork" in the stimulus bill will have a much larger ripple effect on the communities where the projects are placed.

GTK, sometimes I think you are really a rush limbaugh staffer in disguise. I said, "sometimes."

May I just say this as Author of this Thread and also an Aussie?

I started this Thread because I could see that many Republican Members although voting against President Obama supported the idea of letting him get on with the Job of trying to fix the Mess every sane person knows is there. No Government can survive, nor the Country involved, Trillions of Dollars of Debt for a long period. Something will certainly give in the long term. Just the same as Huge Companies with a Turnover that is better that many Countries in the World have declared themselves Bankrupt.

It is no longer a time to argue and bicker about it. If Americans really Love America, they will get behind their ELECTED President and help him to get his Job done. If certain Americans don't like that idea, then maybe they could find another place to live? Or Maybe, as a few have stated, start a Revolution? What a dumb idea that would be.

I have no axes to grind about any thing in this matter, rather am quite concerned that just a few people try to indicate that the New President is responsible for all that previous Presidents have ever done.

The Thread has became quite heated, but that should not stop normal Discussion. Please all draw a deep breath and count to 20? Then input some positive Ideas on how President Obama can best be Helped rather than Hindered?

Just Remember, it is not just America that is watching this, but the rest of the World, with baited breath.

To mix metaphors, we should all put our efforts and our money (if any) where our mouths are; that is, we should try to improve the world instead of just bleating about it, and go about it according to our personal belief systems. I am just as guilty of this as some of the other folks at bc who complain a lot, using the excuse that my life is up in the air, and when it settles down some, then i will have some time.

This does not include the tech staff and others who run this site, as that obviously takes up a lot of time; there are other folks who post here who I sense are involved in responsible pursuits, that includes journalists, professors, etc. Of course, there are reasons why socially-responsible people may wish to keep their identities private here at BC.

Whiners and carpers of the world unite! All we have to lose are our ulcers!

Yep! The Staff have enough on their Plate with out this Garbage!

BC usually Moderates themself in this Section.

Just keep it nice? Others in the World really Care!

I don't even listen to him. He is a buffoon.

I certainly don't think that the Elected President of your Country is a Buffon. He is just getting on with the Job.

"not voting" is exercising your right to civil disobedience. I hate when people say that just because I don't vote I have no right to complain. Well that is bull. I'm an American citizen, more than a lot of the complainers in this country can say. While you may not agree with my position, I would be content and tolerate your ignorance if only every time I complain about something, you dont say ,"Well did you vote, mate?"

I watched Obama's Press Conference last night and what he had to say, besides blaming everything on prior administrations, made some sense although it is loaded with socialistic ideas. This is just another cycle in our Presiential circle. The next President will blame Obama, this is how it always has been.

It is quite funny how he opened up American's eyes to a few Destroyed Tapes?

Why bring Nixon into this.

I think you have lost the Plot, Mate?

We Aussies had a Leader that was always called "Pig Iron Bob"

Link to a Song about him?

http://unionsong.com/u150.html

Just goes to show that there is no real forgiving in the World?

Muck up and you pay for it, in one way or another.

"What will the New President do?"

Well, here is one thing:

Obama releases secret Bush anti-terror memos.

I need help understanding some thing and I know this is the place to get it. Here I go. G.W. Bush had eight years in office. In that time the was weather that took out the southern part of the country, 2 wars, 911. Fany May and Fredy Mac controlled by congress which put us in the housing mortage problem and people jumped on his bass because the country went 1/2 trillion in debt. Our new Leader in about 30 days has put this nation 3 trillion in debt and climbing and lots of people think this is a great leaker. I'm confused.

GTK, the "few destroyed tapes" that Abacus 7 was referring to are actually 92+ tapes that were filmed of prisoners at Guantanamo being questioned using "enhanced interrogation techniques", i.e., torture, plus various other videos that were taken involving those same prisoners. When first asked for the tapes, the Congressional committee investigating was told that there were none, then 3 or 4, and the final number will never be known. But there are at least 92.

There were not that many Nixon audio tapes that were destroyed, but they did not evidence physical crimes being currently committed. They referenced past and future crimes involving vandalism, theft, and spying on people. Not quite the same thing.

I am considering a new, related, and possibly more hopeful and less contentious topic. Something like, "Barack Obama: Ombudsman in chief."

Oh OK, thanks for the info as I had no idea of what he was talking about. I also do not have a problem with what went on at Gitmo. If you believe that this kind of interrogation was something new you are dreaming.

They are discussed in the link I provided a few posts earlier,

and, I support that they did destroy these tapes and any other similar ones.

What some people do, or did, to protect the lives of Americans in harm's way, is no doubt something most of us do not want to know.

I'm thankful that "Jack Bauer" is standing post on the wall.

You would be, too, if these actions saved the lives of your sons and daughters, or fathers and mothers, or other loved ones.

Mp pme thought that this form of interrogation was "something new"--it was taken from communist field manuals and developed from debriefings of victims of those interrogation techniques that were employed by the Japanese during World War II and by the Viet Cong in Viet Nam.

When you consider that the U.S. pressed the international community especially hard to create and use war crime tribunals following the second world war, it is devastating to consider what some in our government not only tacitly permitted, but actively encouraged, by having highly questionable legal arguments drafted to bolster their case.

If I am president, it is legal.

If the country is at war, it is legal.

If I say so, it is legal.

Saying so does not make it so.

Not to derail anything, but which one was Guantanamo again? Was that the one with that incident that went onto the news about how the soldiers there were torturing captives or was that some other prison?

I hate to have to be the one to tell you but we are at war. We are at war with terrorists that have no ties to any nation. They do not fight under a flag of any nation. This war will never be over as long as there are people in this world that will strap on a bomb belt and get on a bus. We are at war with people that do not follow any convention such as The Geneva Convention. When people hijack airliners and crash them into buildings , they are playing buy a different set of rules-NONE. The Islamic Fascists of this world are out to kill everyone that is not Muslim. Now please do not misinterpret what I am saying. I am not saying that every Muslim is a terrorist. I am only speaking of the radical extreme terrorist groups such as Al Queda. Until the main Muslim Countries start to condemn these people instead of aiding them, we will be at war.

Oops, you answered so fast, I didn't get a chance to correct my typos!

Abu Ghraib was the prison in Iraq where Lindsey Englund (spelling?) and various lower level enlistees were actively encouraged and tutored in techniques of humiliation and torture that would be especially hateful to religious Moslems, such as forced nakedness, contact with dogs, being forced to wear women's underwear on their heads, being forced to desecrate the Koran and other sacred texts, being piled up in huge naked mounds, and having pictures taken of all that.

One of the whistle blowers was subjected to a court martial as being one of the instigators. He was not. he and his wife had to change their identities and move from their home town, I think, because of all the hateful activity that was mounted against them.

No higher level officials have been subjected to courts-martial, although it is suspected (and probably well-known in some circles) who was involved up along the entire chain of command. Intelligence officers from the CIA were supposedly brought in to school the lackeys in humiliation and torture techniques.

Guantanamo involved extensive water boarding, sleep deprivation, subjection to mind-scrambling music for hours on end, inadequate shelter, humiliation techniques and numerous other things.

At both prisons, there are prisoners being held who were reported for a bounty although being entirely blameless, or for simply having the same name as someone who had a very different physical description and came from another country. Many of those innocent prisoners are still being held, while some who have been proven through legitimate means to have been involved in acts of terror have been rewarded with various privileges for such things as making up things about prisoners who were innocent.

Then there were all the prisoners who were disappeared to countries that are well known to engage in even worse torture techniques than we can imagine. There were mental health professionals who helped to develop torture techniques. The American Psychological Association is looking at disciplinary action.

There are many careerists who are political conservatives who have come forward to document these abuses.

It is much easier to torture, abuse and humiliate other people when you do not regard them as people. People who have some rights.

Yes, we are at war. A lot of folks privately believed, but were too embarrassed to admit in public, that torture might be justified under "extraordinary" circumstances.

The torture and other techniques so widely used during the Bush administration were not used under "extraordinary" circumstances, because they considered everything to be extraordinary circumstances. The mentality of bullying for bullying's sake was actively promoted. One idea behind it, evidently, was to show the bad guys that we were tougher than they and dish a whole lot more out than they could; that this would intimidate them, and make them think a second and even third time about mounting more attacks on the U.S.

This policy has backfired, engendering much more hatred and distrust in the Middle East and other countries which have large Moslem populations. This will result in the creation of ever more terrorists, possibly for several generations.

In other words, they let the dogs out. The small number of people in the U.S. military who were sociopaths or worse were given free play and this moral corruption spread throughout the military and our intelligence communities.

These policies were like removing the heart and brain of a patient on the operating table and then pronouncing that the patient was saved. Without fixing the heart and brain and placing them back into the body first. Must the U.S. lose its collective soul in order to save its physical body? Doesn't make much sense to me.

"Gitmo" is the US Military/CIA prison camp in Cuba, where suspected terrorists are being held. Abu-Grabe was the prison camp you are referring to, located in Afagistan, it was shut down after the incidents involving prisoner abuse by US soldiers. It has since been reopened by the Afgani government (recently)

(whoops....wrong prison. My bad )

Not surprising that it happened, actually, to some people. This situation has happened before as well, but it was in a testing facility of sort or something...

Here's an article on what I mean.

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

And not to derail this topic any further, I will shut up.

A 38 year old study from Stanford Times have changed a great deal since then. But not to worry, our fearless leader is going to close Gitmo and make buddy buddy with everyone. Twelve Thousand troops are being redeployed. Most think back to the states. I think Afghanistan.

Wait what? He's closing Gitmo? Wow.

Yes it was in all the papers. It will take about one year though.