Thread: Presidential speech to our children.

Well, I just got back from taking my kids to school. I will ask them what they learned from the Presidents speech when they come home.

Originally Posted by Bruno

If you didn't like Bush or McCain, you shouldn't have voted for them. Voting for the lesser of 2 evils seldom works out. There's a reason why there are 3d parties.

If people keep voting for the lesser of 2 evils, so to speak, then the current bipolar face-off will never end. Neither party will feel the need to shape up, and their success will only depend on how bad the previous administration did.

By voting for someone you detest (as in your example: Bush) you send the message 'You are doing fine'. He doesn't know (or care) that you only voted for him because you liked candidate Y even less. All he cares about is that he got the vote.

Instead of rewarding people who represent your ideas (I have no idea but for the purpose of the example: Ron Paul), you reward people who do not represent you. Your voting pattern effectively hamstrings your own ideals because you tell the party in power that you agree with what they do, and you disagree with the 3d party that represents you in spirit. This means that Ron Paul will remain insignificant.

Otoh, if someone like Ron might get enough votes to be noticed and to make a difference (like nader did in 2000), then the big parties will start fighting for that mindshare. Even if that means that the big 2 will never be the big 3, the ideas of Ron Paul might find their way back in the oval office.

Where were you when I was preaching this last fall, I couldve used the help! Thank you so very much, the lesser evil is still.....! Back on topic. Lets go back 40 or 50 years, if the President, wether it be Truman, Ike, Jack or LBJ had wanted to adress the school children of America, the country en masse would have shut up and listened, after all it was the President. and the office is to be respected. In the Army we had a saying, "Salute the rank, not necessarily the man.". If Obama wants to talk to the kids, let him, if he hangs himself politically, so be it, but on the other hand if he has got something real to say, lets hear it, then if necessary, bash him.

Originally Posted by Bruno

If you didn't like Bush or McCain, you shouldn't have voted for them. Voting for the lesser of 2 evils seldom works out. There's a reason why there are 3d parties.

If people keep voting for the lesser of 2 evils, so to speak, then the current bipolar face-off will never end. Neither party will feel the need to shape up, and their success will only depend on how bad the previous administration did.

By voting for someone you detest (as in your example: Bush) you send the message 'You are doing fine'. He doesn't know (or care) that you only voted for him because you liked candidate Y even less. All he cares about is that he got the vote.

Instead of rewarding people who represent your ideas (I have no idea but for the purpose of the example: Ron Paul), you reward people who do not represent you. Your voting pattern effectively hamstrings your own ideals because you tell the party in power that you agree with what they do, and you disagree with the 3d party that represents you in spirit. This means that Ron Paul will remain insignificant.

Otoh, if someone like Ron might get enough votes to be noticed and to make a difference (like nader did in 2000), then the big parties will start fighting for that mindshare. Even if that means that the big 2 will never be the big 3, the ideas of Ron Paul might find their way back in the oval office.

I disagree with this only because you cite Ron Paul.

I voted for Ron Paul in the primaries but did not write him in for the presidency. He ran as a (true) Republican, not a third party. When I cast my ballot I felt that a write-in would be a waste, and in retrospect that was true. I don't mind voting for an underdog in the primaries to get them on the ballot, but when it comes time to choose a president I think we're a ways off from electing someone not listed as R/D, and I doubt we'll ever see a write-in win.

Personally, I think the Republican party is in trouble. I feel that the neo-cons are ruining the GOP and as long as they have people like Limbaugh, Palin, or [insert Fox News celebrity here] as the voice of the party then I will vote Libertarian or Democrat.

Originally Posted by Navaja

Perhaps Obama's speech to the kids should be to explain why unemployment continues to raise and he's not doing anything about it.

Wow, you think the government ought to provide all jobs? How conservative!

Originally Posted by Navaja

And tell the kids that if their parents don't have a job, Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Looks like he did in fact have an advice for them. Did you forget to read it? Or did you just forget to share with us your own which you seem to consider to be much better. So please, I would love to know what does a kid need to do when their parents don't have a job.

OK, I've been on vacation and I just got around to reading the speech. What exactly is the problem with it? Our president is telling kids to take education seriously -- why is there backlash?

"Thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that just really upsets me," suburban Colorado mother Shanneen Barron told CNN Denver affiliate KMGH last week, before the text of the speech was released.


"I'm an American. They are Americans, and I don't feel that's OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now."

Wow. Just wow. I can only image that the people upset with that speech are the ones who never thought to say something similar to their children.

Originally Posted by commiecat

OK, I've been on vacation and I just got around to reading the speech. What exactly is the problem with it? Our president is telling kids to take education seriously -- why is there backlash?



Wow. Just wow. I can only image that the people upset with that speech are the ones who never thought to say something similar to their children.

I couldn't agree more. I got to the thread late (shame on me) but I really don't see why people are so up in arms about this speech. It's incredibly positive and even after Bush f***ed (for lack of a more accurate description) up as royally as he did, I don't think there would be half the fallout Obama is getting if he attempt this. Why do people inherently not trust Obama? Did I miss something? Wasn't it W and his administration who put us in this crappy situation (economy, war, education [to an extent], etc)? Isn't it Obama who's trying to actively do something to get us out?

This is really some kind of incredible hypocrisy going on. I'm not a huge Obama fan and I think he's made a couple of questionable calls, but people are way too quick to throw punches here. Hell, we re-elected Bush after putting up with the first four years, and we can't even give Obama a year to get situated?

Sorry for the

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

...and the office is to be respected.

Respected, yes. Deified, no.

He (any president) is Commander in Chief of the armed forces, not the people. If he wants to speak with my kids, he can ask me first.

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Why do people inherently not trust Obama? Did I miss something?

Yes you did. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?

That, Ogie, is why the people are afraid of him

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Yes you did. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?

That, Ogie, is why the people are afraid of him

I knew that was the answer, but I wanted to give people the benefit of the doubt. Silly me!

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

This is really some kind of incredible hypocrisy going on. I'm not a huge Obama fan and I think he's made a couple of questionable calls, but people are way too quick to throw punches here. Hell, we re-elected Bush after putting up with the first four years, and we can't even give Obama a year to get situated?

Sorry for the

This is what gets me. It is true that Obama was my choice and I was really elated to see him elected rather than the alternative but that aside it is in all of our best interests to support the elected leader and see whether his policies work or not.

The republicans are ruthless and are only interested in playing politics to place themselves in the best position come 2010 and the democrats are spineless wimps overall who won't stand up to them now just as they didn't when dubl U was in there messing everything up that he touched. We're in a helluva shape in the meanwhile.