The pit bull in lipstick

Mick is right. What I said on the previous page still stands.

quote:

As for which candidate, and running mate, is best.........Jesus, for "top-nation" you guys don't half come up with a load of crap candidates.

Cheers

Don

No surprise Mick likes Palin. He's a Thatcher lover too. Guess he just likes psycho women

Sorry Mick. Couldn't resist it

quote:

I agree that Palin is shallow but at least she livened things up

Yup, shallower than a worms belly. She certainly has livened it up a tad it can't be denied.

Of course you all like Palin, and you like things lively - you're spectators. If American politics gets dull, you'll just change the channel and see what the French are up to.

On the subject of whatsits and put up or shut up, I'm not hearing any offers to make Palin 2nd in command the UK or Canada, though.

This side of the pond, nobody knows the name of Obama's running mate. OK, he put in a very credible performance in his televised debate with Palin, but his name?

Everybody knows Palin. Some even think she's up for President given that McCain doesn't look as if he will live long enough to see the end of January.

I think she will ensure a decent turn out on polling day, by both sides. Could be a close call so you might have to frigg the Florida votes again.

Cheers

Don

quote:

Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
This side of the pond, nobody knows the name of Obama's running mate. <snip> Everybody knows Palin. Some even think she's up for President...

About what I'd expect.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
What I said on the previous page still stands.

quote:

As for which candidate, and running mate, is best.........Jesus, for "top-nation" you guys don't half come up with a load of crap candidates.

Cheers

Don

Well, you're half right.

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:

What a lousy choice .. commisserations to America and to the world.

Commiseration not needed ... more than half the eligible voting public are very happy with the choice of Obama, who many regard as one of the best presidential candidates in a very long time. I haven't been this excited about a candidate since Bobby Kennedy.

You don't agree with his politics, plain and simple. So, naturally, you disparage him. Fortunately, tens of millions of Americans, and many tens of millions more around the world, heartily disagree.

Fred

"You don't agree with his politics, plain and simple. So, naturally, you disparage him. Fortunately, tens of millions of Americans, and many tens of millions more around the world, heartily disagree."

Fred

How often do we have to say it, he has no politics just soundbites and platitudes. You cannot disagree with someone who says nothing.

The man is young, good looking, black and a brilliant oratator, that is a marketing mans dream and you are a typical consumer who has been suckered in by a dream.

You are sure going to be disappointed by the end of 2009.

BTW I am not anti Obama because like Don said, for a top nation you sure know how to come up with some crap politicians.

The way your government (both parties) played amatuer politics over the $700bn bail out shows just how clapped out your system has become.

Regards

Mick

When he says we, he of course means he.

Credit Crisis

Is Obama and the Democrats contributing their expertise into solving the current credit crisis? or are they holding back their best ideas until after they win and move into office?

Cheers

Don

quote:

The man is young, good looking, black and a brilliant oratator, that is a marketing mans dream and you are a typical consumer who has been suckered in by a dream.

You are sure going to be disappointed by the end of 2009.

I doubt it. (What's an "oratator" anyway, do you have to go to a dodgy sex shop to buy one?)

For what it's worth, we'll have a boatload of conservatives to send to your shores any day now–feed them well, make sure they get to church on a regular basis, and, above all else, make sure they get their daily news feed from Rupert Murdoch.

Aside from that, they're yours to keep. They won't be governing here any time soon.

It's been a long twenty-eight years since Ronald Reagan came to power, and there are quite a few things that need fixing. The analogies with JFK are not that far off at all; it's been a long time since many Americans have been excited about a presidential election (at least four years anyway!).

Also–if the U.S. Senate ends up with 60 or more Democrats, it's game over for the Republican brand. There are already Congressional and Senate races in which polling shows the Libertarian candidates taking up to 25% of the vote–nearly unheard of....

Playing now for another three weeks...

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:
Playing now for another three weeks...

Are you going to see it Haim ?

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:
Playing now for another three weeks...

Are you going to see it Haim ?

Adrian,

I watched already two debates so I am going to skip this masterpiece..

What are you doing up so late?

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:
Playing now for another three weeks...

Are you going to see it Haim ?

Adrian,

I watched already three debates so I am going to skip this masterpiece..

What are you doing up so late?

Just listening to music and playing with some photos. Think I better go and get some sleep before the kids get up.

Goodnight.

quote:

Originally posted by David Dever:

quote:

The man is young, good looking, black and a brilliant oratator, that is a marketing mans dream and you are a typical consumer who has been suckered in by a dream.

You are sure going to be disappointed by the end of 2009.

I doubt it. (What's an "oratator" anyway, do you have to go to a dodgy sex shop to buy one?)

For what it's worth, we'll have a boatload of conservatives to send to your shores any day now–feed them well, make sure they get to church on a regular basis, and, above all else, make sure they get their daily news feed from Rupert Murdoch.

Aside from that, they're yours to keep. They won't be governing here any time soon.

It's been a long twenty-eight years since Ronald Reagan came to power, and there are quite a few things that need fixing. The analogies with JFK are not that far off at all; it's been a long time since many Americans have been excited about a presidential election (at least four years anyway!).

Also–if the U.S. Senate ends up with 60 or more Democrats, it's game over for the Republican brand. There are already Congressional and Senate races in which polling shows the Libertarian candidates taking up to 25% of the vote–nearly unheard of....

Thanks Dave. This is the same kind of armchair quarterbacking sniper that talked about Obama's I Have a Dream "crap" - to which I responded with vigor. I just could not bring myself to responding to this, so I appreciate your effort.

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:

Playing now for another three weeks...

Pretty funny, Haim. My fervent hope is that it will be running for only another three weeks.

Best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:

"You don't agree with his politics, plain and simple. So, naturally, you disparage him. Fortunately, tens of millions of Americans, and many tens of millions more around the world, heartily disagree."

Fred

How often do we have to say it, he has no politics just soundbites and platitudes. You cannot disagree with someone who says nothing.

No, you're spreading a tired myth. He has solid political positions, but you don't agree with them. So you parrot the lazy lie that he "says nothing."

Believe me, to the (current) majority of Americans, and to tens (if not hundreds) of millions all over the world, he is saying plenty of substance. You just can't hear it.

Sincerely,
Fred

quote:

My fervent hope is that it will be running for only another three weeks.

I second that!!!

Let's have a clear winner and get behind them, putting our differences aside as best we can.

How's that for some Pollyanna politics? But it is what needs to happen.

David

I'm just afraid that none of the candidates' abilities, in Churchillian terms, rise to the level of events. To me, McCain, Obama, Palin and Biden are small people; pretty much all lacking the sort of historical perspective, creative vision and necessary freedom from ideological constraints that the next U.S. president will need to deal with the current crises. The situation now reminds me of the period right before WWI, when the European leaders let that tangle of alliances drag the continent into conflict.

Since it appears he's winning, I'm particularly terrified of Obama - whose suggested policies for dealing with the global credit freeze seem (at least, what I've been able to find out - he's so airy and vague, usually) right out of the Hoover/early Roosevelt era. McCain, by contrast, seems erratic, blustery and vague. Biden's a blowhard, and Palin probably exceeded her Peter Principle when she was elected to the PTA.

Anybody here like to buy an apple?

quote:

It's been a long twenty-eight years since Ronald Reagan came to power, and there are quite a few things that need fixing.

I still can't figure this statement.

Regan replaced a string of inept presidents (Johnson, Nixon,Ford, and Carter) Surely you're not suggesting he was remarkabley worse than that bunch?

Carter had virtually brought the USA to economic despair and acceptance of seamingly inevitable decline.. At least Regan re-inspired a thirst for success.

And the last 28 years hasn't been led exclusively by republican presidents. So what does that say about the Democrats within the past 28 years? why didn't they get these things fixed?

Puzzled. But no doubt there is a simple explanation.

Cheers

Don

One of the things that badly need fixing as a result of the damage done over the last 28 years is the level of US national indebtedness. This can be seen by looking at the table at the link below, showing the changes in the debt/GDP ratio under each president since WWII:

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

The table shows that, as "inept" as the presidents prior to Reagan may have been, they each succeeded in reducing the debt/GDP ratio (except for a 0.1% increase under Nixon/Ford). Since 1980, the ratio has risen under almost all administrations, with the notable exception of Bill Clinton (the only Democratic president during the 28 year period BTW), under whom the ratio decreased by approximately 9%. The Republicans, on the other hand, have collectively increased it by around 44% between them (and I suspect that the table does not reflect the more than $1 trillion that Bush has added since April).

And this from a party that likes to hold itself up as a proponent of fiscal responsibility.

And while we are on the subject of the economy, it should also be noted that each of the recessions in the last 28 years (1980-2, 1990-1, 2001-3 and the current one) has occurred under a Republican administration. Even more strikingly, each of the recessions that have occurred since WWII has taken place under a Republican president:

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


Regards,


Michael

quote:

This side of the pond, nobody knows the name of Obama's running mate.

Well no, but we do know that he's the guy who steals his speeches from Neil Kinnock. He could at least have to good sense to plagiarize a Labour leader who managed to win an election!

quote:

Regan replaced a string of inept presidents (Johnson, Nixon,Ford, and Carter) Surely you're not suggesting he was remarkabley worse than that bunch?

Absolutely. In the part of the U.S. where I grew up, the legacy of the Reagan years includes miles of heavy industrial capability along the Ohio River torn down and turned into a shopping mall.

It's manifested in an approach to government spending that palpably puts lives at risk–a typical example being the collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River, on a major transportation artery through Minneapolis (obvious reason why Gov. Tim Pawlenty did not get the nod for McCain's ticket).

Connection? Jones & Laughlin Steel in Pittsburgh (example 1) manufactured the original structural beams for the I-35W bridge (example 2), floated down the Ohio River on a barge and then up to Minneapolis.

Rising health care costs were as much of an issue then as they are now.

Had Ted Kennedy won the 1980 Democratic nomination (I still have a "Kennedy '80" pin in a desk drawer somewhere), it would have been an easy win in the general election, and there wouldn't have been a Reagan administration to look back at–just a senile old man with a monkey.

We have bridges and roads in this country that resemble third-world landing strips, complete with pockmarks–and there is incredible untapped manufacturing capability that requires re-tooling. All of the elements to remake this country are present, only the catalyst is required to accelerate the process.

The only inspiration Reagan ever brought to the table was for the greed that focused on short-term share gains, which lies at the heart of the current economic problems. Who'd have guessed that traditional industrial stocks (heavy industry and railways) would be doing so well during an economic meltdown?