I realize this is old news to this group, but the article nicely catalogs both how different and un-different (to coin a word) Obama has been from your typical political hack, especially in regards to regulations.
President Ronald Reagan did not make any bones about his intention to reverse the New Deal economics when he set out to promote Neoliberal economics. Likewise, president George W Bush did not conceal his agenda of aggressive, unilateral militarism abroad and curtailment of civil liberties at home.
There is a major similarity and a key difference between these two presidents, on the one hand, and President Barack Obama, on the other. The similarity lies in the fact that, like his predecessor, Obama faithfully, and indeed vigorously, carries out both the Neoliberal and militaristic policies he inherited. The difference is that while Reagan and Bush were, more or less, truthful to their constituents, Obama is not: while catering to the powerful interests vested in finance and military capitals, he pretends to be an agent of “change” and a source of “hope” for the masses.
There are also, of course, re-election considerations here. And here it seems that the president’s team is pinning his chances for re-election on big business and big media; confident that once he is able to win their hearts and minds, they will, in turn, be able to manipulate the public to vote for him – just as they did in the 2008 election.
And we Americans are nothing if not manipulatable.
# 4 bobbo, said, “Tollybong–I admire your nit picking.”
I do not. If one picks nit, one ought to be certain the nit is valid. Check the Cambridge dictionary to find out a hyphenated re-election is quite acceptable. Admittedly, it should not be but sometimes misspellings become accepted.
And “manipulatable” is a perfectly fine adjective.
Bobette – please do not encourage self-proclaimed “spellingnazis” who know not whereof they write.
Animby==you are also quite the word master yet you have not slapped yourself on the back for that. Yes, I often compliment people who don’t deserve it just trying to raise the feel good level of those participating here. I like complimenting people, its a real burden for me to have to identify all the dumbshits posting here. Perhaps you have noticed that yourself? Ha, ha. OK==like Peepod, most of us only post to amuse ourselves.
But right or wrong, Tollybong, YOU, cursor, confusion et al should all offer comments on spelling and word choice. It’s the evaluation rather than the conclusion that is meritorious. As I demonstrate constantly, I’d rather use the wrong word for various reasons. No Jesuit training for me. Words have a meaning but what is meant to be said may be the difference between the dictionary and the usage==heh, heh, when the meaning in either sense is in a ballpark that uses the same shaped ball? Shoot, gotta go case by case.
Thats my position, now put that ruler away.
Greg Allen. I’m not American. Imagine that there are people in the world that aren’t American? Shocking to you I bet.
Seriously dude. In the rest of world there are actual socialists, and communists, and real greens, and labour, and libertarians. OK Ron Paul fits the bill, but he’s the only one I can think of in US outside of the state level.
The only difference between a Democrat and a Republican is the colour of the lipstick they use when they’re giving Wall Street a blow job.
#34 No one thought about alternatives…they did what seemed reasonable…now, after knowing the unintended consequences, I say they did wrong.
They could have beefed up the laws enabling criminal action, severe action…then the food industry would regulate itself…
They would enact their own “AAA Standards” as a marketing tool.
Instead, progressives were becoming popular, and they opted for government solutions…and that didn’t stop food poisoning…did it?
Google food poisoning, its still with us, regardless how big Government gets…
So their choice was wrong, history proves it doesn’t work.
Rather than regulate, with regulators who can be bribed, enact laws that are enforced, then industry will regulate itself, to stay out of jail.
# 42 bobbo said, “I’d rather use the wrong word for various reasons.”
Let me be perceptually clear here – I have absolutely no objection to using the wrong word if it elicits humor or makes a point. My complaint lies with (and picks up fleas from) the sanctimonious dogs who make plain pronouncements of superiority without exerting the courtesy of a ten second google check. Hell, even my Firefox spell checker accepts “re-elect” (though at this moment it’s screaming at me for not capitalizing Google). Speaking of Google, as I said misspellings often become accepted. It is my understanding that Google was meant to be Googol.
I’m pretty sure when I’m on the road, I make many spelling errors as my Android doesn’t do a great job of spell checking. So, I’m inclined to be a bit generous about spelling errors. Less so with grammar though I try to think of what MY grammar sounds like when I’m speaking Thai or Arabic or whatever.
I kind of like the way you are able to twist the verbiage when it suits your porpoises. I even like msbpodcast’s use of the lingo. If only he weren’t so wrong-headed. I do think it’s important for the users of this blog to remember it’s a forum for exchanging ideas. Jeez – we even allow Alfie to post here. If someone is looking for a forum to exchange English lessons, I’m sure a quick Googol search will turn up a few.
Thanks for the complement. My mother would be pleased. She wanted me to be an English teacher. When I became a doctor, she merely said, “But you look like a plumber.” So, I hitched up my pants and briefly considered a career as a urologist but, as a full-time job, it’s a real pisser.
BTW, Bobbo – re your #34 – I have a friend who works for the FDA. He claims it ought to be titled The Semi-Pure Food and Drug Act.
#34 Continued, regulation is inferior to law because the latter can be general, focus on the end result, while regulation must anticipate all the possible causes of the end result.
In other words, suppose “Death” from eating apples is the consequence society wants to end.
Regulation then must specify, in detail, all the possible ways apples can become death to the eater, or death by apples will always happen…because, like water, as you dam up one stream, others streams arise.
Law would simply say “whoever sells apples that cause death, will die.” THEN those who sell apples, will make sure they don’t do that.
AND society is spared the waste, fraud, corruption that arises when sellers seek to evade the regulations.
#32 I’d say it’s more like mac & PC. Neither of your examples has fanatics in their midst.
#36 I think we’re pretty much safe from you and your kind. But I must admit, sometimes is definitively fun to read your mental masturbations.
Now, tell us again why Pepsi is different than Coke. I want to be amused.
#39 Like being a fascist nulls the possibility of someone being a commie. Ask Il Duce.
#40 You got it wrong. Your posts are the ones composed of random incoherent copy-paste-like ramblings. But don’t get upset, any brainwashed sheeple like you sounds the same.
Alfie–I’ll respond to you only so that you know I am ignoring you. Ordinarily I would assume you were just running a long term performance art piece of a brain damaged perverted religious fundamentalist of hyperextended incompetence–but too many here come in a close second, so I am forced to come to grips with the fact that your type exists. A pox on you all.
Pedro–still no names huh? So self defeating, even after having it pointed out to you. Do you think I’m the only one who won’t go look up the number to see if it is their post you choose to denigrate? Silly boy, grow up.
Animby–boy, I hate sancti-moan-on-us dogs too. How come my reaction was one of thinking it was “humorous?” I didn’t even tell Tolly I was trying to spell isolated rather than insulated. Interesting how either is appropriate and neither spelled correctly? The rules of English grammar are like any language totally arbitrary. Hyphen here, runon there, no consistent rule. A special pisser for me is the closing quotation mark. Reviewing my own work here, I see I misplaced the “?” above as it should fall outside the quote. I’m just too antiauthoritarian to follow someone “else’s” rules! Gosh, I’m tired of trying to install drivers for my sound card–I’ll do anything instead.
Ha, ha.
Foolbar: dumb as Alfie to gloss over very different philosophies/personalities just because they share a few grievous faults. When was the last time you recognized you were wrong and learned therefrom accordingly? Sad when you were given an excellent example/rationale from Greg Allan. Dare I say stoopid too?
Let’s see. Well deserved compliments and rebukes. Fair and balanced? Ha, ha.
#48 I find it funny that you find my choice of referring to post numbers rather than poster names a personal affront.
I remember JCD in one of his outlets (don’t remember if it was on a CG or a TWIT) referring to that form of post referral as good and interesting.
There’s some growing up needed, alright. I just think it’s not me.
While on the growing up Dept., what are you: Pepsi or Coke?
It occurred to me, that #32 (would you be offended because I didn’t refer to you as foobar?) was spot on. Demagogues & Repukes are like Pepsi & Coke: They kinda taste a little different when they heat up in public but once they stop the public show and they chill up, they both are exactly the same.
#48 Just like you and Alfie sometimes.
Pedro—a learning experience that like Alfie and Foolbar you will miss: “I” am not affronted, I just will not take the time to go back into the thread to see if your numbers line up with me. If I am doing that, so are others. If you post with any appreciation at all in getting a response, then YOU are limiting that exchange in full caution that that is what you are setting up for yourself. Now, if you just want to come a plop your glop, then you are beyond reproach. PeePod is however in the minority. Sure, most of us enjoy playing with our own poop, but we need the input of others to keep it interesting. Even you Pedro. You aren’t that dull witted to get along based on your own self pleasuring.
But you refuse to learn. So many otherwise intelligent posters here are like that, and they aren’t all doctors or the religiously constrained. What is your excuse?
#48 Alfie–I’ll respond to you only so that you know I am ignoring you. Ordinarily I would assume you were just running a long term performance art piece of a brain damaged perverted religious fundamentalist of hyperextended incompetence–but too many here come in a close second, so I am forced to come to grips with the fact that your type exists. A pox on you all.
Your incoherent response was no doubt triggered by my elegant argument whose logic is incontrovertible…hence you babble.
Or, as you read it, a butterfly kicked you in the head, and caused you to lose your mind.
Its one or the other.
Your paycheck: chump-change you can believe in. Oh, wait. That’s right, you don’t HAVE a paycheck anymore. Never mind.
#5 Lakelady – Liberal as used here refers to neoliberal economics.
Barack Obama was the Goldman Sachs candidate in the 2008 Presidential election.
Bobbo, it is the Democrats and Obama specifically making an assault on the middle class and poor. Energy prices are up, car prices will be going higher thanks to Obama’s miles per gallon mandate, etc.
Speak for yourself, original poster. I voted for him since McBain would have been more of a disaster. But to truly do America good, you’ll need to get a hard-line reformer like the Roosevelts. Until we learn, as a nation, that liberal IS best, we are doomed to fall apart and become another failed Roman Empire.
Alfie–”usually” I read a post without paying attention to who wrote it. Then if I think I might want to respond, I note who posted it and I read it again–then I decide. If the post is long, I see who posted it. When you post a longer one, I skip it. You were interesting abut 3-4 times, what was that?-a year ago? One trick ponies Alfie. Even elegance repeated too often loses its shine. I don’t know why you don’t take the word skills you do have, the bottomless trove of 4th grade insult humor, and use it to critique the specific comments/positions of people here===not the boilerplate crap you regurgitate at every meal. You might even like it.
MikeN==too Alfie, too silly. The main difference between you and Alfie is your brevity–and that is appreciated. You do have a few subjects you express some actual thinking on. I forget what they are right now. Was it AGW or printed circuit boards?
I could review myself, but I think Peepod has captured me sufficiently.
Ha, ha. So resistant to new/opposing ideas. Makes us all rather knee jerk puppets in the dance of life.
BTW, why does the Obama pic says Abomination?
Pedro–I take Obomanation to fit two different word plays: one you have picked (on purpose or subconsciously?) – Abomination meaning a loathsome person or situation, and the other being “Obama Nation” meaning what he is making our country into. Either fits, but like you I think the hypocracy/ineffectualness that Obama demonstrates is the more glaring.
At firts, Obama’s character was clouded by the shit storm BushtheRetard left him which IS still ongoing, but Obama’s own character/lack there of shines thru still. Like all politicians-he is bad but still better than any PUKE I can think of==ball lickers all.
#59 So it’s Obomanation then.