I don't know how much attention he is getting in the international press, but here in the states he is the media's golden boy. Never before have I seen a politician get this much positive coverage. Hell, there was a female reporter who after getting some shots of him in a swimsuit remarked that she was upset she couldn't follow him into the locker room. When other politicians are grilled for weeks after a slip of the tongue, or some obscure statement which could be interpreted negatively if you really stretch it, he is getting his ass kissed by pundits while they show his high school yearbook picture and show how cute he was back then. It's just absurd.

What really bugs me though, is the level of hype surrounding this guy for no good reason. I am so sick of people talking about him as though he were Jesus H Buddha, and yet when asked for anything he's done or even what his positions are on the issues, they have no idea. Half of them have never even heard more than a soundbite from him, and yet they talk about what a charismatic speaker he is, and compare him bobby kennedy.

I mean, does anyone know what his qualifications are other than the fact that he is young, black, liberal with decent poll numbers? I don't want to see a Hildog presidency any more than the next guy, but at least with her you know what you are getting (fun to talk about as I listen to the freedom fighters soundtrack) but with obama, the only bits of real detail I can get are from admittedly hostile (but still credible) sources, and they are scary. If they are right about him, we are in serious trouble if he wins.

Anyway, what do you guys think of him?

Don't know much about him. He got a little news coverage over here when it was announced he may be running for president. Basically my knowledge of Obama is as follows, he might be America's first black president, that's about it.

And I may be wrong here, but did he say if he wins the election he'll begin withdrawing US troops from Iraq?

no. No no no no no no. NO! Eff that!

I agree. Of all the things you have to pull out of your ass to start a discussion about, him, politics, bed wetting liberals? Can't we just stay with movies? You see how much trouble we get in just talking about those as it is.

Ooh, nice - opposition and drama in only 4 posts!

And TG, from what I can gather, the alternative is Hilary Clinton. A feminist!!! Is that any better? XD

Well, he is about as far too the left as you can get without doing a 180, so as far as I'm concerned, that's a disqualification right there. What bothers me though is the fact that he is practically being anointed president, if not god, and yet most of the people don't know anything beyond what scrag said, and most of the wouldn't know his position on Iraq (though I'm sure they could guess).

On a side note, I heard a bit of his speech in response to the virginia tech murders. He blamed it on the violence in our culture, including the verbal violence of Imus and the economic violence of outsourcing and the lack of socialist healthcare, and the general crappiness of public schools. Yeah, I'm sure that's just the thing that caused the murderous rampage.

But there is a good side to all this. The more divisive the primary, the weaker the candidate will be in the general elections. If we can find a decent candidate on the other side of the aisle, there is a good chance that they can win and prevent both BO and Hildog from ruining everything.

Oh gawd, NO!

I'm still in the middle of the see-saw about him.... I take politics really seriously and I don't have enough to base an opinion on for him yet. I already have my opinions about hillary clinton and they are of the impression that she would be a horrible president. Obama on the other hand I'm not sure about... as you said bro he is getting flooded with positive coverage.... that always makes me nervous as if they're trying to cover something really negative up.

I need more info on him to base my opinion.... for the moment my see-saw is tilting towards voting for him in the upcoming election.... but definitely not before I see more that make me happy with the decision

Poor boy. But at least you have the right attitude about her.

what do you mean poor boy? I said I was undecided.... i didnt say i plan on voting for him... just that at the present moment I'm leaning MORE towards voting for him then not voting for him

but i always vote in elections and if his only opposition is hillary... he has my vote

Bedwetting Liberal. That's what I mean. I just feel sorry for you. But, you'll grow up.

.... I'm just going to be mature here and stop talking before this heats up into a very nasty political argument

for the record... i do feel extremely insulted by that statement and I'm not too happy by it

Were you offended the first time I used it?

See? This is why I said we shouldn't talk politics here. Stick to the movies, people.

slightly but it wasn't aimed directly at me the first time.... this time you basically insulted my views and told me I was wrong that maybe someday I'd grow up.... that I do not appreciate

I can carry on a political discussion no problem with someone of completely opposite views... I have complete respect for everyones opinions and don't try to convince them that I'm right and they're wrong... just mature political discussions. I never get upset about politics... however when someone basically tells me I'm wrong for having the views I do and I should grow up and see things the way they do... that's just outright rude

Oh dear. It wasn't an insult directed at you. The part about you growing up, is also old. It was based on a saying that if I try to repeat will offend you further. Spoonsie, you read my comments earlier in the thread. You should have been able to tell my feelings about Liberals in general, and Obama and Clinton in specific before you invited me to clarify anything.

I said in the beginning that I didn't think we should discuss politics. I didn't respond to this thread any differently than any other. And far more people take far more scathing pot shots at Conservatives, by the way, not that I mind. That particular one about Libs I got off another message board and it stayed with me.


Spoonmeister, may we now get back to our regularly scheduled movies? I think you're awesome.

yes we may... as you probably noticed by my reply to your american history x thread I'm not one to be angry. I moved on right away.... I'm sorry for misunderstanding you.... the trouble with typed words.... you cant tell the emphasis and the mind can easily take things the wrong way. I definitely took it as a form of saying "you're wrong... but maybe you'll grow up and see things my way eventually" which was what tipped me off balance. Glad to see that wasn't the intention of your message. No worries

It's all fun and games with me. Tone is impossible to type. I know that. But I keep thinking everyone gets me by now. You should see me on my other boards. You might not recognize me.

I voted Democrat in my first presidential election. I was a registered Republican, but I voted Democrat. Now we have something else in common.

still getting used to you... you wern't here when I was here originally and I've only been back for roughly 2 weeks now.... still working out my opinions

If it makes you feel any better, TexasGuy's been married to me for seven years and seven months and we dated a year before that. He's still getting used to me. May I fall back on pretty? At least I'm pretty. Just sic Snee on me, if it's too much. Not the pretty, me here at the boards.

fair enough

In the last presidential election, I voted for both candidates.

how'd you pull that one off?

I voted for one for president and the other for coroner.

ahhhh, got ya.... I thought you had an alternate identity for a second there

Just one?

Yeah, if I was gonna vote more than once, I'd make sure it was all for the same guy.

Anyway, my theory is that in any race where someone is unopposed, I refuse to vote for the guy on the ballot, and instead will write in a candidate. I have voted for myself, many of my friends, several cartoon characters, dead presidents, and just once for Adam Sandler. I'm sure the people who have to count those votes must really hate me by now.

just vote for snoopy

Works for me.

Said the cat person whose favorite thing is Snoopy.

I think it was clinton's second election that there was actually several thousand votes for snoopy... hes on his way to being elected at that rate

I was feeling a bit dyslexic there for a minute. I could have swore you said "vote spoony"

Staying on the topic of politics but not wanting to start a whole other topic, what do you guys think of the election of Nicolas Sarkozy in France.

A lot more pro-American than his predecessor and rival. But not too popular with the immigrant communities of France. I have to say that conidering his parents were Hungarian immigrants his anti-immigration policies are a little suprising.

I haven't been able to follow it too closely, and without knowing much of the details of his policies, all I can say is I didn't like the guy he is replacing, and I doubt his opponent was going to be much of an improvement.

If he's pro-american, that's good not only because a pro-american president would be beneficial for both sides and their allies, but also becuse it shows that the french people are willing to elect a pro-american candidate. Considering the rather unfriendly nature of our countries in recent years, I'd say it's about time things started getting a little better.

As far as immigration issues, I know France has some serious problems with it's immigrant population. From what I hear, they are rather alienated from the native French population and in addition to taking up the bulk of poverty and unemployment, there are also some seriously dangerous groups among them. And there are neighborhoods where the police don't even go any more, because if they try to arrest someone, whole buildings will empty out onto the streets and stop them. I would think trying to resolve those issues would require some rather serious changes, and I'm sure an opposition would most likely try to paint them as extreme.

Then again he could be crazy nazi type, I don't know him all that well.