Obama

[Reality Bites]

Obamas speech last night was I thought a good rallying cry to the nation and a damning critique of the banking culture - why people here keeping requesting the same from Cowen is beyond me - he is incapable of doing so and besides is part of the problem anyway with all his buddies in the development game.

[pete]

Mixed reaction to Obama stimulus plan as seems to be a bizarre collection of infrastructure as well as pork barrel spending.

Obama saying he will cut federal deficit by half by 2012. Unless he is using fuzzy Maths to exclude bank bail outs & stimulus plan spending that is an impossible task in a recession.

[dahamsta]

The phrase "pork barrel" doesn't apply to New Deal economics. That kind of spending is the whole point of the theory.

[pete]

The phrase "pork barrel" doesn't apply to New Deal economics. That kind of spending is the whole point of the theory.

Do you it doesn't matter what you spend on as long as inject money into the economy?

I still think Obamas comments on cutting budget deficit were bizarre.

[dahamsta]

Do you it doesn't matter what you spend on as long as inject money into the economy?Strictly speaking, no. Injecting money into the economy is the key. Obviously it would be better if the injection was to the greater good, if only just to give people a feeling of accomplishment in the process.

What exactly of the spending are you objecting to?

adam

[pete]

Makes no difference to me what the US spends its money on just suggesting the honeymoon is over...

Click (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/02/02/2009-02-02_gop_pulls_knives_on_pork_plans_in_presid.html)



Items Republicans want stripped from the measure include $25 million for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails, $20 million to remove fish passage barriers, $400 million for preventing sexually transmitted diseases, $34 million for remodeling the Commerce Department and $150 million for honey bee insurance.


I like this one.

Obama is either Hitler or the Anti Christ (http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=219482&title=Unusual-Suspect)

That clip is a p**stake but also covered by mainstream media. Would hardly say surprising but still a bit shocking that they would give airtime to these theories...

[superfrank]

Nice move on the Iran front. Have to see how it pans out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7954211.stm

[pete]

Nice move on the Iran front. Have to see how it pans out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7954211.stm

Talking to Iran might not be widely popular in the US so this is the best time for Obama to start that process while he has "political capital".

In other news I heard Obama is the first sitting US President to appear on a chat show (Jay Leno last night).

[Pike B]

In other news I heard Obama is the first sitting US President to appear on a chat show (Jay Leno last night).
He still has a way to go to match this guy's TV record:

http://www.mikecs.net/prodigeek/images/7greatestpresidentsthatneverexisted_D3CF/president_nixon_futurama.jpg

[pete]

vE0yAEvVsUo

I guess this will the last time a sitting President appears on a chat show.

[eamo1]

Reminds me of a Family Guy quotes in the episode about "the special peoples games" with presenters Diane and Tom:"a good way to get a few cheap laughs" and "one things for sure we will all be going to hell by the time this is over".:rolleyes:.
I dont think he should have gone on that show though.People watch those shows to escape talk of recessions,politics etc.

[pete]

I dont think he should have gone on that show though.People watch those shows to escape talk of recessions,politics etc.

I has been suggested that he is trying to copy Bill Clintons permanent campaigning style. Not sure it the best approach in a recession.

[pete]

Any one hear if Obama brought a better gift for Gordon Brown at the G20 summit?

Click
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html)



As he headed back home from Washington, Gordon Brown must have rummaged through his party bag with disappointment.

Because all he got was a set of DVDs. Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country, gave the Prime Minister a box set of 25 classic American films - a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks.

Mr Brown is not thought to be a film buff, and his reaction to the box set is unknown. But it didn't really compare to the thoughtful presents he had brought along with him.

The Prime Minister gave Mr Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet.

The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that has sat in the Oval Office in the White House since 1880.

Mr Brown also handed over a framed commission for HMS Resolute and a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.

[SkStu]

i'd take the DVD's. ;)

[dahamsta]

Linear thinking. Sell the pen on eBay and you'd be able to afford a hell of a lot more DVDs.

[Wangball]

What Brown should do is go public with his disappointment to the Sun or some other rag, they could run a sensational front page scoop...."Gordon Brown-ed off with lame gift" or "Brown recieves Brik-a-BARACK"...a source close to Mr Brown could be attributed with having said "He thought they had a special relationship"....America's shame would be complete

EDIT*** "Give us our pen ba(ra)ck"

[superfrank]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0414/breaking3.htm

US president Barack Obama has lifted restrictions on family ties to Cuba which had been imposed as part of the embargo against the country.

He will also allow US telecommunications firms to start providing service for Cubans.

In a major shift from the Bush administration's more hard-line approach to Havana, Mr Obama ended limits on family travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans in the United States to Cuba.

I think it's a great idea to open up to Cuba. Both sides are stubborn about it but the US are the ones with more significant global influence, therefore them making the first move is going to be a lot more beneficial to Cuba.

Can't help but think that there are US companies doing this just to make some money during the recession. Cuba will have loads of opportunities for money-making and if US companies can build a base now, then when things improve (though I don't know how badly Cuba has been affected) they'll have a customer base of some sort.

[SkStu]

finally a significant move from Barack

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0414/worldcup.html

[pete]

finally a significant move from Barack

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0414/worldcup.html

The US had its chance with the World Cup & I would not favour them getting it again so soon.

[superfrank]

Blatter will give it to the highest bidder.

[strangeirish]

The US had its chance with the World Cup & I would not favour them getting it again so soon.
I would and not just because I live here. I thought they did a brilliant job in '94 and anyone that I've talked to that was here or visiting had a great time. What's your main point of contention Pete?

[SkStu]

i would also love it to be in the States too. Soccer has grown since 1994, i think it would be a far bigger deal this time round and the Americans, credit where its due, know how to put on a show.

Though mostly i would like it there for selfish reasons... :)

[pete]

What's your main point of contention Pete?

Not long enough gap since last time US had the World Cup.
Games played at 12 noon in 40 degree heat.
No football grounds. Were some pitches less than minimum regulation?
Better candidates.

I have never heard any one saying a country hosted a bad World Cup.

[strangeirish]

Not long enough gap since last time US had the World Cup.
Games played at 12 noon in 40 degree heat.
No football grounds. Were some pitches less than minimum regulation?
Better candidates.

I have never heard any one saying a country hosted a bad World Cup.
24 to 28 years is not long enough? As far as I know, all the pitches met FIFA's standards and as for the stadiums, with the exception of Orlando, were fan friendly and very impressive. There are even better stadiums now, for example, Chicagos Soldier Field (http://www.soldierfield.net/virtualTour.aspx). New York will have a new one also by the time it rolls around as will Dallas. Can't argue too much with you about the heat and the time, but TV dicatates that.

[thischarmingman]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0414/breaking3.htm

I think it's a great idea to open up to Cuba. Both sides are stubborn about it but the US are the ones with more significant global influence, therefore them making the first move is going to be a lot more beneficial to Cuba.

Can't help but think that there are US companies doing this just to make some money during the recession. Cuba will have loads of opportunities for money-making and if US companies can build a base now, then when things improve (though I don't know how badly Cuba has been affected) they'll have a customer base of some sort.

In fairness, this guy got there first:

http://www.gumbopages.com/looka/images/leo.jpg

(Series 7 to be precise)

:p

[osarusan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8048774.stm


US President Barack Obama has said the release of more photos of prisoner abuse by US soldiers is "of no benefit" and may inflame opinion against the US.
.............
The White House previously said it would not fight a court ruling ordering the release of the pictures.
Bullcrap in my opinion. The idea that he has suddenly decided they will "inflame" opinion against the US after previously saying the WH would not contest the release is ludicrous if you ask me.