The Goat Pen

eCat wrote:I don't see him holding back because he thinks Biden has a shot at the presidency to extend his legacy.

I don't think anybody in the administration believes Biden has a shot at the Presidency.

Biden turns 70 this year, he would be 74 before he would be inaugurated in 2017. It is highly unlikely that he will run.

exactly

I think if Obama gets re-elected, especially with a strong improving economy and no immediate concerns relating to the financial stability of the country, he is going to go on a tear.

I don't think anyone really believes Obama is a moderate, its just that circumstances has forced his hand into that domain, but in the words of George Bush, in his second term he'll spend some of that political capital.

I know you don't agree, but I'm leary of any lame duck president , especially one that has been stymied by congress at every opportunity.

I don't think anyone really believes Obama is a moderate

I don't think there's any question that Obama is a moderate. He caved too quickly on most things. He put things in the health care bill to placate Republicans before it came anywhere close to a vote. Why?? Because it was things they said that they wanted in their rhetoric. Most of what he's supported was originally something proposed by Republicans.

Obama's problem is that he's a mediator at heart, not a negotiator. Mediators have a point they want to get to and see a reasonable way for both sides based on previous needs. Negotiators don't just have a point they want to get to, they want the best they can get and are willing to risk all to get it. Mediators tend to get rolled more, but are happier more. Negotiators tend to get better deals but have more deals fall through.

Plus, the idea that Obama (even if he is this big time idealogue you suggests despite the evidence) will be able to push a big liberal agenda through this Congress and Senate with at least 40 Republicans willing to filibuster most things is far-fetched at best.

George Bush, in his second term he'll spend some of that political capital

George Bush's biggest damage came his first 4 years in office. A huge tax cut that busted the budget, a unpaid medicare prescription plan, the Patriot act (I think this was first term), the approval of torture was first term, the Iraq war was first term. His threats to Iran and North Korea was first term.

(I don't blame 9/11 on Bush or anyone for that matter and I think most Presidents would have gone into Afghanistan).

I was gonna start quoting posts, but you both knocked off so many solid posts in a row that I am not linking to all of them in the interest of my time. I'll just say "good string of comments and points."

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Obama had a Democrat congress and senate in his first two years. What sort of lefty liberal tear did he go on then? He just isn't a lefty in any true sense of the term. He only seems like a socialist through the Fox News prism.

Its no wonder we.give Mook a pass as our retarded poster at the Pen.

TheBigMook wrote:Obama had a Democrat congress and senate in his first two years. What sort of lefty liberal tear did he go on then? He just isn't a lefty in any true sense of the term. He only seems like a socialist through the Fox News prism.

but I don't watch Fox News

Pay no attention to Mook. We all know he's retarded .

eCat wrote:

TheBigMook wrote:Obama had a Democrat congress and senate in his first two years. What sort of lefty liberal tear did he go on then? He just isn't a lefty in any true sense of the term. He only seems like a socialist through the Fox News prism.

but I don't watch Fox News

Didn't say you did. Using "Fox News prism" as a catch-all for "conservative pov".

There is just no way Obama is going to go on some liberal rampage if he's reelected. The politics and his history just don't support that.

I bet you would have said there is no way Obama was going to keep Gitmo open, extend the wars, send drones into Yemen to kill a terrorist and sign a bill giving him power to detain American citizens indefinitely without trial when he was running too.

eCat wrote:I bet you would have said there is no way Obama was going to keep Gitmo open, extend the wars, send drones into Yemen to kill a terrorist and sign a bill giving him power to detain American citizens indefinitely without trial when he was running too.

Oh, I have several complaints about Obama. Gitmo, I'm not surprised based on where we are although I would have thought we could have made more progress (too bad we can't quietly just kill them). The wars are exactly where I thought they would be. He ran on ramping up Afghanistan, going after Bin Laden and eliminating the Taliban threat. In Iraq, he didnt' get out as quick as he said he would, although he did say that he would listen to the generals. Still, he markedly decreased the number and it turns out we are out of Iraq in 3 years instead of 1 1/2. Now, I don't like at all the power to detain American citizens without trial, but truthfully, much of that is limited by a 2006 or 07 Supreme Court ruling anyway.

I wish he would get rid of the Patriot act, develop and invest in a long-term plan for alternative energy (this will never get through as long as we have at least 40 Republican senators), increase research dollars for energy incl nuclear waste disposal, wind and solar energy, clean (not the current cleaner but still quite dirty) burning coal, develop a long term post baby boom plan that is implemented now for medicare and social security (neither of these was ever possible during any Presidents 1st term imo). true infrastructure spending on bridges and roads and high speed trains (not Amtrak which is slower than car speed) and cut spending and increase revenue when the unemployment rate is again less than 5% (something Bush, Bush and Reagan should have done). Clinton actually did to some extent.

I just want him to bring back the McRib.

You know, it just wouldn't be the same without the pickle.

You know, African-Americans are basically conservative on many issues, but Republicans just have no idea how to talk to them. They should pay me as a consultant.

Gingrich's NAACP, Food Stamp Remarks Stir Controversy


http://news.yahoo.com/gingrichs-naacp-f ... -news.html

You haven't heard Gingrich until you've heard him in in his original German.

Really Funny:

THE YAHOO! NEWS FUNNY OR DIE GOP PRESIDENTIAL ONLINE INTERNET CYBER DEBATE

http://news.yahoo.com/cyber-debate-parody-funny-or-die/