Of course they are. Nothing is done without political imperative. There's a whole load of spin going on. Obama's gotta have something to show for the 2012 elections. You'll see a load of these grandiose gestures now. I'm expecting complete withdrawl from Afghanistan within the next year, and some kind of super attractive reformation of his healthcare plan. Cos let's face it, he's done bugger all else with his time in power that the globe can see.

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I have to agree whole heartedly. I'd even go as far to suggest he is also "meant" to win the next election. I'd even bet that he will win for sure, and a quick withdrawl from Iraq aswell. Ill put a fiver on it for a sure win- It's in the bag!

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If I took your bet, I'd be betting against my own suspicions.

Yeah I think that he's gonna get in, cos it's a one horse race at the moment

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It was worth a try

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The best primer on the Obama election was the Nov 17th issue of "The New Yorker'' magazine though, the bloom now being off the rose, I don't know that the same BS and subterfuge will be as effective. The electoral body his 'change' was supposed to help were slaughtered by the economic downturn whilst the perpertrators thereof continue to laugh all the way to the bank. Payback time does not appear to be on the horizon, nor do I feel it ever will.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Doc, my only concern about punishment of the banks. Is that it would be far more likely to be carried out by a left wing government than a right wing one. They'd be far more inclined to side with them. The game there is to show the public the slap on the bankers wrist. Whilst all the time making sure the bank doesn't move to Hong Kong and bankrupt the country.
What I currently see as your potential candidates seems to give no 'left' option at all. All Obama is, is a watered down conservative, just right of center. Then you go further to the right with the downright terrifying Sarah Palin and Hammer House of Horror's Donald Trump.
My own personal favourite of your politicians, despite my right wing leanings is Ralph Nader. Atleast he seems genuine.

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dude you dont even live in this country, is it that obvious about Obama? seriously? lol
Mr Blertles and i have talked. we are on the same page for most things. i think your right along there with us niki.
its always interesting to hear the foreign mans views about things like this.
its a outside the box looking in kind of thing. its interesting to hear what your media says V/S what we hear. you two guys are very intelligent folks, always glad to hear your ideas on things. we dont always have to agree but you guys never fail to put a interesting twist to your opinions that is always worth a quality looksee. most of the time we stand in agreement.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Ditto. I'm of the opinion that Niki missed his calling. I see him as an academic in some discipline related to the 'world view'. ....or maybe Prime Minister.

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"Another day in paradise!"

very possible doc. ya cant pull the wool on either of these two guys very easly.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

In these days of border less countries, it's a bit daft to not pay at least a bit of attention to whats going on around you.
In my opinion Obama has done little. And the little he has done has been ill thought out. I'd have to say he was neither right nor leftwing. More a kind of neutral, static president. Designed to calm the masses after the tumultuous Bush. Those terms looked to be a roller coaster eight years to me. When you're not screaming, you're catching your breath getting ready to scream again. What was the other option though? Al Gore and his history/poetry/music editing hag of a wife. Thats no option at all.


Me PM? No chance, I despise government in all it's forms. And Ceri would be dusting off his Walther PPK should I attain Prime Minister. He'd become the Lee Harvey Oswald that no one could blame. Then later be crowned as the new monarch. King Ceri, atleast the national anthem would be changed to something a bit more lively.

Andy is a far more temprerate and calmer option than I.

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niki

i agree. obama has done little to nothing.
the guy can give one helluva speech though. hes a huge motivator too.
there is a guy running against him next term, Herman Cain.
im a herman cain fan. ive lived here in the ATL area since 1993ish, which is hermans
stomping grounds. hes a very smart man. when he talk folks listen period.
herman has that "get off your azz and do something, nobody owes you nothing" attitude.
i like him. so if you guys get the opportunity to hear him, do yourself a favor and give him a good listen. hes a mover and a shaker.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Ok Thanks, I'll give Mr Cain a look.

I wouldn't neccesarily say that Obama is a bad president. More a calm 'feel good' (for atleast a good portion of the population) president. That was needed for the nations emotional stability.
Ok you've got the TEA party and right wing extremist groups acting like you've turned into the USSA over night. But I don't really see it like that. With all that's gone on these last four years, the Obama administration has dealt with it in a calm (if somewhat ineffectual) way. Aside from the healthcare issue (that now some leftwing supporters are concerned about it's implications onto their private lives) there hasn't really been any massive upheaval that wasn't underway during Bush.
Everyone crying out for change, whilst everything seems to be staying the same. Leads me to believe there could be a lot going on that I'm not aware of that will be of great importance in the future. That is just supposition on my part though. Based on the old saying that still waters run deep. I simply don't know enough of your political system and current carryings on to make a informed decision.
The only advice I'd give anyone is to forget party loyalties. Because they are certainly not loyal to you. Base your decision on facts. Not proposals and promises from a popularity competition contestant.
I'd like to see the next term be one of change, whoever gets in. Simply because where America leads, the UK follows.

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and i dont know why that is either.
yep you might like cain. hes not for the lazy man if ya know what i mean.
his thought on welfare system and SS alone will blow your mind.
i respect him because he speaks his mind and there is no mistaking what he means either lol. he says what everybody is thinking. he plays poker with cards face up.
i honestly believe Cain is why Obama is trying to step up his game a bit. he Knows herman is tough and has done his homework too.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

I know just why it is that way. It's because Tony Blair inherited a good nation from the much maligned John Major's government. Morally bankrupted us to quote another forum member. Led us from a fiscaly strong position onto a ever dwindling spiral of debt covering bad managment. Sold our industry to the lowest bidder all because of his pipe dream that we become a nation of unproductive, middle managment boobies that spend our days passing the buck. Much like he did throughout his term as PM.

All hidden behind a used car salesmans smile and a few million spent on PR.

One of the reasons why I want election with the guillotine at the end. We'd see how dedicated these chancers are to the nation when it's their heads on the block when their voted out.

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Nike strikes a chord which is reflected in what I consider to be not just the philosophy of the elected, but of the electorate as well. The driving force of the new millenium is "ask not what you can do for your country, rather ask what you can do for yourself." The long view isn't taken by anyone any longer be it, government, private industry, or the private citizen, because the long view no longer exists as we knew it. The idea of a lifetime of employment with a single company is of the past. Obama was championed by an electorate who wrongly believed that he was going to weigh into Washington with a broom, and make it better for them. Such was not the case. Once government made it clear that there was such a thing as a free lunch, and that the road to opportunity did not have to be opened by one's own hand, we began the downward spiral. What is truly needed is a leader with the cojones to say..'the buck stops now'. 'From now on, you have to earn it."...and if you can't invest in America, and go overseas, we'll make it unprofitable for you to sell your products here.

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"Another day in paradise!"