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besson3c · Jun 16, 2011, 05:52 PM

The war on terror, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and now Yemen...

I think I need a break from any and all politics, cause I'm tired of non-stop bothersome news. None of the Republican candidates appeal to me right now either (perhaps cause I like them to be of the non-fruitcake variety), although I think Ron Paul has the right idea when it comes to abstaining from all of these stupid, pointless wars. The US and A is out of its mind!

Speak comfort to besson3c.

subego · Jun 16, 2011, 05:56 PM

Six.

War on Poop.

besson3c · Jun 16, 2011, 05:59 PM

Hehhe... I feel a little better now, thanks subego!

War on gamble.. Heh!

reader50 · Jun 16, 2011, 06:54 PM

War on drugs. That one's working nicely too.

besson3c · Jun 16, 2011, 06:58 PM

I think we should start a war on stupid wars.

Kerrigan · Jun 16, 2011, 07:30 PM

Obama says that the US is not involved in hostilities in Libya, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

besson3c · Jun 16, 2011, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Obama says that the US is not involved in hostilities in Libya, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Whether our involvement is direct or indirect, it is costing us a great deal, and our history has given me no reason to be confident that what we are doing is "improving" things in the world.

I don't know to what extent these wars are intertwined with our fossil fuel dependency, but it saddens me to think about to what effect that same money we spend on blowing toke up could be spent accelerating our progress towards phasing out oil based products.

I also wonder how much Al Gore is responsible for our tepid energy policies. A large population on the right is obviously having none of this global warming stuff, and I wonder how often anti-global warming/climate change ideology gets conflated with the other benefits of weaning ourselves off of oil?

Then again, maybe oil is only one of many factors that justify these wars to some. Whatever the case is, Obama needs to make an argument as to why we really have to be involved in these wars. The whole "we're not spending new money" argument is nice and all, but it's also sad that government agencies (of any kind, this seems to range from the upper levels of politics to state run higher ed) feel compelled to spend all of their budget in fear of having these funds taken away from them. Just because we have $750 billion budgeted that can be used in Libya doesn't mean this money *really* has to be spent.

How about we spend that same money on education in this country and let Libya sort out their own affairs?

imitchellg5 · Jun 16, 2011, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Obama says that the US is not involved in hostilities in Libya, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Which is funny, because, before Obama ever said anything, Libyan rebels in Misrata said US Special Forces were on the ground supporting them. Which generally isn't something you make up.

Chongo · 11:04 PM

I Hope you're enjoying the Change

subego · Jun 16, 2011, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Which is funny, because, before Obama ever said anything, Libyan rebels in Misrata said US Special Forces were on the ground supporting them. Which generally isn't something you make up.

I'm sure they were there in only an advisory capacity.
I advise you to eat American lead mother****ers.

besson3c · Jun 16, 2011, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Chongo

I Hope you're enjoying the Change

If this is supposed to be a form of gloating, can you honestly say that you were never hopeful for a new president? A new president is always sort of a blank slate for us to place our optimism.

I was never optimistic that Obama would bring profound change to America, but I definitely thought he would fight to do more than he has thus far.

Big Mac · 12:35 AM

Obama has brought a lot of change. It's aggressive, progressive change that's further destroying the country. But that's what people voted for.

The only thing he can be positively credited for is having the military continue to go after Al Qaeda, including the termination of Osama Hussein Bin Laden. Nearly every other policy choice of his has been detrimental.

imitchellg5 · Jun 17, 2011, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Obama has brought a lot of change. It's aggressive, progressive change that's further destroying the country. But that's what people voted for.

What are you specifically speaking about? Because I don't see any one of his campaign promises that have actually been put into action. In fact, I'd say he's reneged on nearly all of them, such as the pullout from Iraq and Afghanistan. He seems to me like he hasn't brought any change at all, just tried to pass a few laws that would provide a vehicle for eventual change.

besson3c · Jun 17, 2011, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Obama has brought a lot of change. It's change that's further destroying the country. But that's what people voted for.

The only thing he can be positively credited for is having the military continue to go after Al Qaeda, including the termination of Osama Hussein Bin Laden. Nearly every other policy choice of his has been detrimental.

Stimulus package: may have helped, many say should have been bigger. I'm somewhat undecided

Ending Don't Ask Don't Tell: great

Health care: a tepid start, but a step in the right direction I guess. We still need to reduce the costs of Medicare, I think this is being neglected

Education: hasn't yet abandoned No Child Left Behind, but is urging us to do so

Wars: See above

Domestic spending cuts: undecided

Environment: unchanged?!

Energy: unchanged?!

Torture: unchanged?!

Financial regulatory reform: I don't even know where this is at?

I'm definitely forgetting stuff... My point in listing this though is to disagree in part with Big Mac, although it is obviously predictable that he would not be a fan of Obama's policies and that's fine. My Obama report card so far is pretty much "meh", I don't really feel inspired to vote for anyone in 2012 thus far.

besson3c · Jun 17, 2011, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

What are you specifically speaking about? Because I don't see any one of his campaign promises that have actually been put into action. In fact, I'd say he's reneged on nearly all of them, such as the pullout from Iraq and Afghanistan. He seems to me like he hasn't brought any change at all, just tried to pass a few laws that would provide a vehicle for eventual change.

Yeah, I don't understand how most people seem to agree that we've seen little to no change, yet others (such as Big Mac) think we've seen some crazy profound change.

There has really been very little that has changed since the Bush era and beyond, and that is a part of the problem.

turtle777 · Jun 17, 2011, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

What are you specifically speaking about? Because I don't see any one of his campaign promises that have actually been put into action. In fact, I'd say he's reneged on nearly all of them, such as the pullout from Iraq and Afghanistan. He seems to me like he hasn't brought any change at all, just tried to pass a few laws that would provide a vehicle for eventual change.

Oh, you believed in campaign promises ?

I'm sorry.

-t

imitchellg5 · Jun 17, 2011, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Oh, you believed in campaign promises ?

I'm sorry.

-t

Where did I say that? I didn't vote for Obama.

Chongo · Jun 17, 2011, 07:32 AM

Doofy · Jun 17, 2011, 07:55 AM

Silly fatties. You know that both your main parties work for the same people, right?

andi*pandi · Jun 17, 2011, 09:57 AM

There's one war on terror, and infinite fronts.

Chongo · Jun 17, 2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Silly fatties. You know that both your main parties work for the same people, right?

The Illuminati runs all governments based on recommendations from the Bilderburgs and the CFR.

besson3c · Jun 17, 2011, 01:59 PM

Don't forget about the Free Masons...

Doofy · Jun 17, 2011, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Chongo

The Illuminati runs all governments based on recommendations from the Bilderburgs and the CFR.

Would it surprise you to know that I knew who was going to win the Conservative Prty leadership election three months before they had it? I'm not talking guessing, I'm talking knowing - a little bird told me.
Your country operates in the same manner. "Democracy" is there to keep you quiet.

You can either believe me or you can be wrong. Your choice.

shmerek · Jun 20, 2011, 02:49 AM

ok.

SpaceMonkey · Jun 20, 2011, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

The only thing he can be positively credited for is having the military continue to go after Al Qaeda, including the termination of Osama Hussein Bin Laden.

Um, who?

SpaceMonkey · 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Would it surprise you to know that I knew who was going to win the Conservative Prty leadership election three months before they had it? I'm not talking guessing, I'm talking knowing - a little bird told me.

It would not surprise me. Political prognostication is not that hard, especially when it comes to intra-party leadership selections. Of course those are "fixed": you have a limited voting pool all of whom depend on patronage relationships of some degree.