I am becoming a disgruntled Obama supporter

OMG Geo, this thread is turning into aIMHO

Not sure it is what you had in mind when you started it. Some of the suggestions for POTUS blow my mind.

Here's an article worth reading - I think.

Obama and the BP oil spill : The New Yorker

This is the funniest part of that article:

The day after his speech, Obama made up for its deficit of drama by jawboning BP, which under federal law is liable for only seventy-five million dollars in damages, into putting twenty billion dollars in escrow for an independently administered fund to pay for damage claims.

A person would have to be incredibly naive to believe that the $20B deal was struck after the speech was made.

It was, almost certainly, a done deal before the speech was made.

I can see arranging it so that it appeared that the Administration had 'cojones m?s grandes' but the downside of actually doing it that way are ridiculously huge.

No President in their right mind would make such a claim (for an action that was right but for which they had no legal basis for ) without having already arranged it.

On top of that, Obama is a lawyer. Lawyers are all about legal and illegal. They are disconnected from the concepts of right and wrong (its how they are trained.)

OMG Geo, this thread is turning into aIMHO

Not sure it is what you had in mind when you started it. Some of the suggestions for POTUS blow my mind.

Here's an article worth reading - I think.

Obama and the BP oil spill : The New Yorker

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That is a good article Gidget. worth the read. It brought out points that in the back of my mind I had wondered about. Thanks for posting.
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"... The President was right, of course, that the ultimate cause of the Gulf disaster is out-of-control consumption of a dwindling resource that must be extracted in increasingly dangerous ways. The most effective, most efficient way to rein in that consumption and make clean energy price-competitive would be to slap a heavy tax on carbon. (Ideally, much of the revenue would be rebated to the public as a cut in the payroll tax, since it makes more sense to tax things we want to discourage, such as oil use, than things we want to encourage, such as work.) This is what some European countries have done, and it may well be what Obama would do if he had the kind of legislative power that European prime ministers have and that many Americans, of all political persuasions, assume that he has, too.
But he doesn?t. As he did with health care, Obama is trying for the maximum that, in his judgment, our rusty, clanking legislative sausage-maker is capable of delivering. As he noted in his speech, a year ago the House passed ?a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill.? That bill languishes in the Senate, where its weaker counterpart is on life support, with the filibuster poised to cut it off. If part three of Obama?s speech was cautiously, even uninspiringly, worded, that is because it is part of the delicate legislative strategy of a President who knows that, while the perfect is out of reach, the good (and maybe even the so-so) is its ally, not its enemy. ..."


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Here is a piece I heard on NPR the other day on Bobby Jindal. And no, I'm not endorsing him, just pointing out that he is playing his cards right at this time. The piece fails to mention that he has been furiously raising money all over the country. One wonders what might have happened had McCain chosen Jindal for VP instead of Palin. Oil Spill Crisis Puts Jindal Back On Center Stage : NPR

People vote for president, not vice president. I agree with you about Bobby Jindal.

Interesting: McCain/Jindal......might have pulled it off. I never thought of that.

Gidget, how is this thread a train wreck? I see everyone being civil, which is a plus for sowal message board community. (In fact, since the indoctrination of so many moderators, I have noticed those who typically inflame, haven't been doing so......just an observation.) Isn't everyone entitled to an opinion on a nominee? I don't see any thing jumping the track on that. I am cornfused by the trainwreck statement.

I'm surprised thatMitch Daniels name hasn't popped up in this discussion. He's got a pretty good moderate record. Not a knee-jerk guy. I kind of like entries like this:

In 2007, Governor Daniels signed landmark health care legislation, called the Healthy Indiana Plan, that provides 132,000 uninsured Hoosiers with coverage. The plan promotes health screenings, early prevention services, and smoking cessation. It also provides tax credits for small businesses that create qualified wellness and Section 125 plans. The plan was paid for by an increase in the state?s tax on cigarettes.

From his [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Daniels"]Wikipedia[/ame] page


(I have no idea why I can't get a link to wikipedia to work correctly.)

The article seems to paint Obama as a thoughtful person who sees things in the long-term broad picture. I'm sure a lot of you would like him to hurry up and invade somebody, but maybe some of his policies won't show much improvement in 2 to 3 years. Maybe he's doing things that will make an improvement in a decade or two. If he just slows down the decline we have been in for some time, I would vote for him again. Let's see what the next two years bring..

I'm surprised thatMitch Daniels name hasn't popped up in this discussion. He's got a pretty good moderate record. Not a knee-jerk guy. I kind of like entries like this:


From his Wikipedia page

Have also heard Haley Barbour's name mentioned. The article I read said he could never get elected because of his Southern accent. How shallow. Also had to laugh remembering JFK's accent which was so foreign to people at that time.

People vote for president, not vice president. I agree with you about Bobby Jindal.

I promise you, moderates and independents voted against VP in 2008. It is one thing to have a decent but perhaps less than brilliant fellow like Dan Quayle on the ticket. It is a whole other matter to have a Palin. The first time I ever heard of her I was on HWY 98 in Inlet Beach and the radio was braodcasting her acceptance speech at the Republican convention. When I heard her high-pitched midwestern delivery of the 'lipstick' joke, I knew then and there what a huuuuge error McCain had made.

OMG Geo, this thread is turning into aIMHO

Not sure it is what you had in mind when you started it. Some of the suggestions for POTUS blow my mind.

Here's an article worth reading - I think.

Obama and the BP oil spill : The New Yorker

Thanks for posting. It is a good article; it points out what too many of us ignore: that a president in this country only has so much power, and that power exists within the parameters of the Congress.

IMO we need to do a better job of electing members of Congress; maybe we need to look at term limits of some sort--find the balance between continuity and life time jobs...no president will ever be able in this age, to accomplish as much as he or she may be capable of, without the support of the Congress--and, given the resistance that this president faces from Democrats and Republicans, and the immensity of the problems he inherited and that have been thrust upon him, I feel as though he is doing pretty well. He certainly has the gray hair now to show for the pressure he is under.

I agree that Sam Nunn would make a good president and I don't think he is interested. the others mentioned all have something to offer except for Palin IMO; but none rises to the level I would like to see in the White House.

I think I would like to see an Independent come forth--for when one is able to stand for election as an independent, that tells me that there is something (some principles maybe?) for which they are willing to risk everything...our political parties have become much like big corporations in this country--the corporations are all about making money to the point of greed; the political parties are all about raising money to the point of losing any perspective of public service.

I think you have it all wrong. I am unhappy with 99% of the Republican Congressmen and Senators who stick to the party line no matter what their leaders say. Not one has the kahunas to criticize Limbaugh for any of the outrageous things he says. Democrats with all their faults, are not afraid to differ with their own leadership and I think we need more of that in our country instead of worrying about who wins or loses an election. This President needs our support now maybe more than ever in our history.

People vote for president, not vice president. I agree with you about Bobby Jindal.

They do vote against vice-presidents when the president is older and has had health issues.

The article seems to paint Obama as a thoughtful person who sees things in the long-term broad picture. I'm sure a lot of you would like him to hurry up and invade somebody, but maybe some of his policies won't show much improvement in 2 to 3 years. Maybe he's doing things that will make an improvement in a decade or two. If he just slows down the decline we have been in for some time, I would vote for him again. Let's see what the next two years bring..

All due respect, maybe isn't getting it. If some of the projects Obama has put it place are not reversed or amended, we may not be here in a decade or two as we know freedom and liberty now.

I think Hilary Clinton is going to make a bid for the presidency and she will run to the right of Obama. It's going to be interesting.

I agree that Sam Nunn would make a good president and I don't think he is interested.

I think that is one of his strongest qualifications,

I think Hilary Clinton is going to make a bid for the presidency and she will run to the right of Obama. It's going to be interesting.

Shifting to the right (which got him closer to the middle) is what got Bill a second term. If Hillary does that, she'll have 2 terms as well.

I promise you, moderates and independents voted against VP in 2008. It is one thing to have a decent but perhaps less than brilliant fellow like Dan Quayle on the ticket. It is a whole other matter to have a Palin. The first time I ever heard of her I was on HWY 98 in Inlet Beach and the radio was braodcasting her acceptance speech at the Republican convention. When I heard her high-pitched midwestern delivery of the 'lipstick' joke, I knew then and there what a huuuuge error McCain had made.

Millions of people across this country spontaneously jumped up out of their seats and cheered Palin's speech at the convention.

You don't care for her accent? Wow.

You have a great point - millions of Republicans voted for Sarah because in their hearts and minds they did not care for McCain.

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I think that is one of his strongest qualifications,

Interesting how being disinterested makes the People like you that much mo' bettah. I think you hit the nail on the head as he has been asked before......maybe I'll send him an email. ;-)

I think you have it all wrong. I am unhappy with 99% of the Republican Congressmen and Senators who stick to the party line no matter what their leaders say. Not one has the kahunas to criticize Limbaugh for any of the outrageous things he says. Democrats with all their faults, are not afraid to differ with their own leadership and I think we need more of that in our country instead of worrying about who wins or loses an election. This President needs our support now maybe more than ever in our history.

I have never seen one democrat criticize another or demand he/she step down when illegal/immoral behavior was proved. Democrats almost always vote the party line. Republicans are not as organized.

It's very difficult to support a president of any stripe when he is thumbing his nose at disaster in our country.

I think Obama is toast. It's too bad he let the most marvelous opportunity to encourage all Americans to become better educated, particularly children in the ghettos of America. I've read many times that children in that environment are called racist names for trying to excel at school. He could have been a beacon to these children. He could have shown them the way to success and to be proud to be Americans.

OMG Geo, this thread is turning into aIMHO

Not sure it is what you had in mind when you started it. Some of the suggestions for POTUS blow my mind.

Here's an article worth reading - I think.

Obama and the BP oil spill : The New Yorker

C'mon Gidget... hang in there. This is just the beginning of a roster of names to discuss & ponder 1-2years out. I appreciate the possibilities of Geo's thread if it can hold to the purest intent and not descend into bash-n-trash-what-is-or-was. I'm no where close to naming names for the future and this thread offers me a starting point.

My Sorting Process usually starts...

1. For POTUS candidates I lean towards persons who have an experienced track record as a state governor. Because, IMO, state governors deal with a similarly broad scope & magnitude of issues; analogous to that of POTUS. Foreign affairs equivalency on the state level:
US States ---> US Fed
*is as*
US Fed ---> Global

2. Congressional experience seems more nichey and specialized; not encompassing the same broad generalist experiential matter. Thus, their experience qualifies them as Secretaries of their specific area of expertise.

I welcome constructive criticism of my process and/or having Geo tell me I'm too far off topic for this thread and should just return to the lounge!

Democrats almost always vote the party line. Republicans are not as organized.

I think this is the first time in my life I have ever seen anyone call the Democratic party organized

Thanks for my laugh of the day!

Colin Powell, I know he won't do it, but wish he would.

I want someone that has experience under pressure, because I honestly think our country is on a track for high pressure situations.

Bush did not handle high pressure well and neither is Obama.

Colin Powell, I know he won't do it, but wish he would.

He's promised Alma that he won't do it.

I'm surprised thatMitch Daniels name hasn't popped up in this discussion. He's got a pretty good moderate record. Not a knee-jerk guy. I kind of like entries like this:


From his Wikipedia page


(I have no idea why I can't get a link to wikipedia to work correctly.)

See post # 14

Jeb Bush would make an excellent president. It's unfortunate his brother and dad have tarnished the name.

Millions of people across this country spontaneously jumped up out of their seats and cheered Palin's speech at the convention.

You don't care for her accent? Wow.

You have a great point - millions of Republicans voted for Sarah because in their hearts and minds they did not care for McCain.
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And MULTI-millions sunk in their seats and said wth.


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Jeb Bush would make an excellent president. It's unfortunate his brother and dad have tarnished the name.

My cousin, in the Tampa area, has an adult son with mental health problems and was getting the red tape run-around when he desperately needed aid. He called Governor Bush and that very day Jeb paved the way for aid.

Jeb would be a great president. He's always been my fave of the clan.