TenuredVulture wrote:Is the "pull kids out of school during Obama's address" the most retarded thing ever?

Yes, and it appears to be a big deal here in Haddonfield. I'm not a huge "respect for the office" kind of guy, and I certainly don't mind criticism of whether this is the best use of the President's or the student's time. But to treat it like the kids are going to somehow become infected with "socialist" ideas and need to be quarantined is not only silly but actually seems alittle bit dangerous. That's really ratcheting divisiveness up a few notches too high.

That woman is way too hot for that cover.

swishnicholson wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:Is the "pull kids out of school during Obama's address" the most retarded thing ever?

Yes, and it appears to be a big deal here in Haddonfield. I'm not a huge "respect for the office" kind of guy, and I certainly don't mind criticism of whether this is the best use of the President's or the student's time. But to treat it like the kids are going to somehow become infected with "socialist" ideas and need to be quarantined is not only silly but actually seems alittle bit dangerous. That's really ratcheting divisiveness up a few notches too high.

I heard computer chips will be planted in all of their brains.

CalvinBall wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:Is the "pull kids out of school during Obama's address" the most retarded thing ever?

Yes, and it appears to be a big deal here in Haddonfield. I'm not a huge "respect for the office" kind of guy, and I certainly don't mind criticism of whether this is the best use of the President's or the student's time. But to treat it like the kids are going to somehow become infected with "socialist" ideas and need to be quarantined is not only silly but actually seems alittle bit dangerous. That's really ratcheting divisiveness up a few notches too high.

I heard computer chips will be planted in all of their brains.

It really is incredibly retarded, especially considering other presidents have done almost exactly the same thing. I know this is from Kentucky, but check this out:

At Bullitt's Old Mill Elementary, principal Les McIntosh told his teachers not to record or participate in Obama's address.

“Upon the original notice from the White House about this address, the assumption was that this was to be a pep talk to the nation's students as an encouragement to work hard, participate in class, complete homework, and just have a great school year,” McIntosh told students and parents in a statement. “Apparently, this has developed into a political (issue) by some groups. Therefore, my directive.”

i like how this administration can claim victory if either of the following occurs:

A) unemployment rate rises but number of jobs slashed falls
B) unemployment rate falls but the number of jobs cut increases

Keep on plugging that stimulus Joe Biden!

I'm impressed Obama managed to hit Bush's pre 9/11 approval ratings pretty much right on schedule.

jerseyhoya wrote:I'm impressed Obama managed to hit Bush's pre 9/11 approval ratings pretty much right on schedule.

I want to be impressed, too - so tell me what the eff that even means in your estimation

Bush came into office with an approval rating around 55%. By late August, early September it was more like low 50s.

Obama came into office with an approval rating of 68%. By late August, early September it is 53% according to RCP.

I dunno. He started off a lot more popular than Bush did. He's been beaten down to mediocrity.

jerseyhoya wrote:Bush came into office with an approval rating around 55%. By late August, early September it was more like low 50s.

Obama came into office with an approval rating of 68%. By late August, early September it is 53% according to RCP.

I dunno. He started off a lot more popular than Bush did. He's been beaten down to mediocrity.

I asked what the eff it means & this is what you got?

I guess what I know so far is that it doesn't mean squat

I'm not making a deep point about the meaning of life. The president has lost approx 1/7 of the country's approval in the seven months he's been president.

jerseyhoya wrote:I'm not making a deep point about the meaning of life. The president has lost approx 1/7 of the country's approval in the seven months he's been president.

I'm not expecting deep, just consequential - & still waiting

i have never once been asked my opinion in any of these political polls. i claim small sample size.

For what it's worth (nothing), I had to watch at least two of Reagan's speeches in my elementary school, and I don't think I've been scarred by it. Of course, it wasn't some fancy schmancy feed with a lot of electronic gizmos. It was on VHS or something.

Here in TN, we are not allowed to show the speech.

people should die, i've had it

swishnicholson wrote:

House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, far right, speaks while colleagues play solitaire on their computers as the House convenes to vote on a new budget for the fiscal year in the Capitol, in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Aug., 31, 2009.

I wish they had identified the baseball fan as well.

Looks like every single law school class I had, except the people are older.

pacino wrote:people should die, i've had it

The combination of the post, sig, and Morgan avatar...

Regarding the whole dust up on Obama and the school children--this is evidence that the performing communal rituals and honoring institutions we are all supposed to respect and honor are all that stand between us and outright savagery. Burke was right.

Enjoy your terror, savages.

Obama needs to deliver his address wearing a flight suit, from the deck of an aircraft carrier

simple really

Rococo4 wrote:i like how this administration can claim victory if either of the following occurs:

A) unemployment rate rises but number of jobs slashed falls
B) unemployment rate falls but the number of jobs cut increases

Keep on plugging that stimulus Joe Biden!

I would have done the stimulus a bit differently, and I think it's fair to argue they were dishonest in how they presented it--in that some of it is more long-term investment than short-term pump priming. (I happen to think most of those were good investments, e.g. early childhood education which has been shown to have a 10-1 ROI, but YMMV.) But it's worked pretty spectacularly well compared to the Bush baseline or the Republicans' proposed All-Purpose Tax Cuts (Now With Stimulus!)/Cut Government Spending into Bone "idea." Unemployment may or may not hit 10 percent, but that's a lagging indicator, and when it comes back the political dynamics are going to shift big-time.

Stepping back from all of this, I'm starting to think that for all we've focused on this or that tactical fuck up on the part of Obama or the (admittedly kinda retarded) CongDems, the real problem was nothing more or less than trying to engineer major policy change during a period of economic anxiety. He obviously knew a recession was coming, but likely (based on the President's Council of Economic Advisors estimates and other alleged expertise) figured we were looking at much more modest GDP and job losses than we've actually seen.

Meanwhile, I'm guessing most of those concerned with Obama talking to their children during a school day would have the same hesitation with any black man who tried to do as much...