Next President of the United States

[Konovalov]

More evidence of the failing of a two party political system? :hmm:

[Digital_Trucker]

Originally Posted by Konovalov

More evidence of the failing of a two party political system? :hmm:

It wouldn't matter how many parties there are. As long as the parties are filled with politicians, it will fail:p

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Exactly this attitude is the reason why the world does not need another four years of this kind of political motivation.

Says you, but you don't pay taxes, vote, or live here so your attitude doesn't matter. At all.

[Sailor Steve]

I've said this in another thead in the past: I agree that what someone from another country believes or says about us doesn't make a difference in effect, in that they can't change how we see, feel and act; but I think everybody's opinion matters in that it tells us how we affect the rest of the world. I feel that reactions like that come close to putting our hands over our ears and shouting "I don't have to listen to you! You don't count!"

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I've said this in another thead in the past: I agree that what someone from another country believes or says about us doesn't make a difference in effect, in that they can't change how we see, feel and act; but I think everybody's opinion matters in that it tells us how we affect the rest of the world. I feel that reactions like that come close to putting our hands over our ears and shouting "I don't have to listen to you! You don't count!"

Well said. However I can almost hear the frustration in the tone of Neal and some other Americans on this forum. I have some sympathy.

[DeepIron]

However I can almost hear the frustration in the tone of Neal and some other Americans on this forum. I have some sympathy.

And it IS frustrating! We know there are A LOT of issues and problems that need to be solved but at every turn, just negativity in the political camps...

Well, at the risk of sounding apathetic, I wish the election would just be over and done. I'm tired of seeing, hearing and reading about the two whiners running for presidential office... He said this, well he said that, but you said this... blah, blah, blah... They sound more like two three year old kids than grown men. Their campaign people are simply opportunists and out to make their names known too so they seize every opportunity to sling mud I guess... Hmph.

Now we've got to suffer through the "lipstick on a pig" cra*p... Sounds more like a soap opera... "Whose going to get the final dig on who?'

Well, I ask, if this keeps on, who will care?

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I've said this in another thead in the past: I agree that what someone from another country believes or says about us doesn't make a difference in effect, in that they can't change how we see, feel and act; but I think everybody's opinion matters in that it tells us how we affect the rest of the world. I feel that reactions like that come close to putting our hands over our ears and shouting "I don't have to listen to you! You don't count!"

No, just stating as fact. I listened, but again, his attitude ("Exactly this attitude is the reason why the world does not need another four years of this kind of political motivation") does not matter in my decision making process during an election. I am not obligated to adjust my attitude to suit him. Or anyone.

[Platapus]

I am almost at the point of believing that anyone who wants the job of President of the United States is, by definition, unsuitable for the position.

All we need is a good decent person to preside, for the good of the citizens, over the executive branch of the government.

Is that too much to ask?

Evidently, these days, it is an unreasonable expectation.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Says you, but you don't pay taxes, vote, or live here so your attitude doesn't matter. At all.

Unfortunately, regarding global issues and national internal things over here (trade for example, and the internatnional fiancial system into which germany is bound), your (american voters') attitude does matter more than we are happy with . If Germany would have such a massive impact on US internal issues, you would go crazy over it. but when you affect us, unasked, and we need to coma along with the conseuences of your deicisons, you demand us to just sit silent and accept it. From German banks loosing over America'S selfmade finacial failure to global conferences about climate and environemnt, your internal decisions in two months will make a difference, and unfortunately a decisive one.

Wether the rest of the world likes it or not. So don't complain if we non-Americans keep a close eye at you, it is only natural, and reasonable. We wouldn't if you would not have so much potential to influence and damage us as well.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am almost at the point of believing that anyone who wants the job of President of the United States is, by definition, unsuitable for the position.

All we need is a good decent person to preside, for the good of the citizens, over the executive branch of the government.

Is that too much to ask?

Evidently, these days, it is an unreasonable expectation.

I think by intention your nations has a good cinstitution and was planned honestly to be a great thing, really. But I see a stellar gap between how it was meant to be, and how it really is today. The nation that was planned in the consitituoon and the bill of rioghts I cannot recognize in the US as today's political actor. That eisenhower'S warning of the merging of factions that every democracy depend on to be kept strictly seperate, the colossus he called the military-industrial complex, was forgotten soon , and is unheared today, did not make it any better. as I see it, your nation got hijacked by some influential poltical dynasties and strong businessmen, which in the end is the same, and they ursurpated/ursupred (?) democratic legitimiation that normally would not have become theirs. that way, the secular democracy the US was planned to be, became a religious-fundamental plutocracy. The label of democracy is being used only for the purpose of mimikry.

Not that I consider europe to be saved from these distortions. If you would ask me which country i consider to be truly democratic over here, I cannot come up with a single name. It all got hijacked by lobbies, business, political selfishness. the great vulnerability of democracy is that it is basing on a human species that acts by the principles of reason and logic, altruism and putting the community wellbeing over the individual wellbeing. Kommunism fails for tht reason. democracy fails for that reason. both preach the utopia, and both make totally wrong assumptions about the drive and nature of man.

I recommend Machiavelli: "Discorsi". A fantastic book, and reasoning without illusions. Highly actual for today's world. It should become an obligatory reading. The poor man earned his bad repuation for no reason, and is masisvely misunderstood by most. It is no surprise that many historians and experts who know his work closer see him very differently than his usual negative reputation seems to imply.

http://www.amazon.com/Discourses-Nic...079389&sr=8-21

as some reader over there commented, his influence on the founding fathers, namely Paine and Jefferson, is obvious. I am no expert for Paine or Jefferson, but I nevertheless have a general idea of what the founding fathers were about, and I agree.

"Discorsi" should be accompanied by "The Prince", the other of his two most famous works. the focus is different, though.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Says you, but you don't pay taxes, vote, or live here so your attitude doesn't matter. At all.

That is pretty much the bottom line on what the world thinks about it. We, the people, who are forking out, is all that matters in the end.

Today, I liked watching Obama squirm. He is getting frustrated and tired. His eloquent speaking is not turning to studdering. Seems Palin has really stirred the pot on this one. Fun fun fun until my campaign managers take my campaign away.......Oprah...I love you!

[dean_acheson]

What a cute essay!

It's like somebody walking into your house, and telling you they don't like the way you clean house.

Well, Mr. Freedland, thanks, but no thanks. I'm pretty sure if we thought you were better informed about how we on this side wanted our side of the pond run, we wouldn't have fought that war in 1776.

Now, once the big O loses this election, he will be free to hold all the Nuremburg rallies that he would like, I'll even spring for a ticket for Skybird. Maybe the big O and Carter can explain to the Germans how the Jewish lobby skews our foreign policies.

Now THAT would be rich!

Originally Posted by Skybird

Perfect essay, right on the mark of what I was thinking (but did not dare to speak out loud for fears of again being called an anti-american, which I am not: I see myself as a critical friend):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ackobama/print

I couldn't believe that America was stupid enough to vote for Bush a second time, four years ago, even if by a lead not more than a hair's width. If one is voting for that political camp a third time in a row, it will be a wakeup-call for even the most wellmeaning tolerant America-friends that clocks in America are ticking different indeed. It was said, and I believed that myself, that both Obama and McCain would be able to heal a bit the alienated relations between the US, and europe and the rest of the world, and that with Obama it just would be more difficult foreurpope to say No to US demand becasue anti-Bushism obviously would not work anymore as an easy way of arguing. But since some time I started to change my mind on that. A president McCain I can no longer imagine to be in a position to achieve that. The simple fact that it was him, a conservative and republican now having even chosen a "pitbull with lipstick" as running mate, being elected would stand in his way on the international poltical stage. Here in Germany he is already seen as the continuation of the Bush catstrophe.

Not another four years of that, please.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am almost at the point of believing that anyone who wants the job of President of the United States is, by definition, unsuitable for the position.

Almost? I think the only one who didn't want the job was Washington himself.

All we need is a good decent person to preside, for the good of the citizens, over the executive branch of the government.

Is that too much to ask?

Evidently, these days, it is an unreasonable expectation.

Twenty years ago I said if you want to fix the economy, draft Lee Iaccoca. Today we need someone who will remove the restrictions in the right places, increase restrictions in the right places, enforce freedom and help people in need, fight against terrorism while recreating isolationism, patrol our borders while being a good neighbor, decrease spending and taxation, but provide for health, education and welfare, and all while inspiring everybody to be more productive for less return.

Any ideas?

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Twenty years ago I said if you want to fix the economy, draft Lee Iaccoca.

Iaccoca could not even run Chrysler without a billion dollar handout from the taxpayers.

After what happened to the American car market, I would not look toward him as a good example of leadership.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Iaccoca could not even run Chrysler without a billion dollar handout from the taxpayers.

After what happened to the American car market, I would not look toward him as a good example of leadership.

Chrysler was already in trouble when Iaccoca took over. He went to the Feds for help, yes, but the "handout" was nothing more than a guarantee, and no money actually changed hands. With the guarantee in place he got backing from other sources, and in five years turned Chrysler from bankruptcy into a profitable concern. What has happened since he retired is hardly his fault.
http://www.scripophily.net/chryscor.html