Presidential speech to our children.

I have 2 children in school right now and have heard all the negative stuff about President Obamas speech and I read the proposed lesson plans suggested by the white house. Honestly, if they hadn't pulled the lesson plans I would've likely kept my kids home that day as the questions read like a poll to see the best way run a campaign to get the most votes for 2010 and 2012. I looked over the speech though and nothing yet screams out at me as problematic, in fact it appears to be quite inspiring. That is only a look over though and not a thorough read which I will do tonight.

Anyways I thought I would provide a link to the Presidents prepared speech and let you see for yourself: Media Resources Prepared School Remarks

Mark,

Perhaps the lesson plan has been 'pulled' but what exactly, will be 'used' in it's place?

Regards,

Jeeter

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Originally Posted by Brother Jeeter

Mark,

Perhaps the lesson plan has been 'pulled' but what exactly, will be 'used' in it's place?

Regards,

Jeeter

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Good question

I think it's bull**** and my brother and I will not be attending school that day.

I think the President should be locked away in the White House. He should never give any speeches or be allowed to make any appearances or go on T.V or radio. Its all political stuff and he has a secret agenda to take over our minds. We should all wear these specially manufactured foil hats to keep all political stuff out of our minds including all that nasty secret stuff they beam over the airwaves.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think the President should be locked away in the White House. He should never give any speeches or be allowed to make any appearances or go on T.V or radio. Its all political stuff and he has a secret agenda to take over our minds. We should all wear these specially manufactured foil hats to keep all political stuff out of our minds including all that nasty secret stuff they beam over the airwaves.

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Or maybe we should take things a little more seriously about our personal rights and individuality, and deduct for ouselves what we do and do not want to hear and exercise our rights accordingly.


Then again, we could just go and listen to Mr. Obama tell us that in order for everyone to be happy, we all need to help each other out to be successful, and that our country is relying on us to be smart, hard workers so we can support each other and what is best for ourselves and our government!

Oh, and don't forget to attend our public government school system, that's the key to success! We can learn a whole pile of cool stuff, like the history of slavery and what living in Rome was like! Oh, and don't forget the important stuff like the way fashion changed through the early 16th century periods into the early 20th century.

We don't need to learn silly stuff like what the three branches of Government do, or what is said in the United States Constitution, or how socialism and capitalism affects and effected various countries, or what a democracy is and a republic is, and which one of them the U.S is , or what the difference is between a profit and a profit margin.

Yeah I think it is terrible that he might suggest that a kid should stay in school, stay away, from drugs and crime. He might even suggest that no matter their color, race, creed or humble origins they might someday have the opportunity to be President of the United States ....How un-American.

Sorry to all the Obama fans out there. I have to say that I do not trust him one bit!

He could post anything he wants (lesson plans) online but I will be dambed if he is going to preach to my kids.:nono:

I will DVR his speach and let the kids hear it when I am present. Not their Liberal school teacher but me and my wife.

What happened to adressing the nation during prime time when all are home from WORK to hear it...

Purely political! Mark calls it inspirational, yes but look what he inspires them to become
- writers, yeah that's liberal lazy elitist bloggers that can't put a honest day's worth of work
- iphone inventors - that's a useless piece of garbage that the chinese make and honest americans have to pay hundreds of dollars for.
- senator? yeah you would want 100 democrats a.k.a. socialists won't you
- supreme court justice? - for those who can't make it to senator and go on to legislate from the bench...

Why won't you inspire them to become joetheplumbers eh? Becuse they won't vote for you when they grow up, that's why!

And most importantly, he is bent to destroy america (because he wasn't born here) by going after the very core american rights and values like watching television "every waking hour". And, of course, he can't miss the opportunity to diss an american dream come true, the Xbox. What is more american than Bill Gates seeing the light dropping out of that liberal elitist Harvard, and with his own genius making a purely american product that takes over the world and becoming the richest person in the world.

It's evil, pure evil, i'm telling you. Keep your children locked at home (and send the pretty girls to my basement).

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

I think it's bull**** and my brother and I will not be attending school that day.

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An inspiration to all Americans! Skipping school because the President of the USA has the audacity to want to address young people.

Please, I hope you spend that day doing something really valuable like reading Ayn Rand novels and studying trickle down economics.

Fight the power!

:rolleyes:

When is the man going to just shut his mouth and start doing his job? That would be setting a really good example.

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Originally Posted by honedright

When is the man going to just shut his mouth and start doing his job?

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I skipped the american schooling system, what is the job of the president of the United States of America?

On related topic who is your favorite president and why? Was he mute? Or may be he was really good looking? Or shot manbearpig right in the heart from 2 miles?

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I skipped the american schooling system, what is the job of the president of the United States of America?

On related topic who is your favorite president and why? Was he mute?

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Good one Gugi!

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Originally Posted by gugi

I skipped the american schooling system, what is the job of the president of the United States of America?

On related topic who is your favorite president and why? Was he mute?

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Read Article II of the U.S. Constitution: Article Two of the United States Constitution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://i30.tinypic.com/a5auj5.jpg

I read article 2 and it sounds to me that his job consists primarily of talking and an occasional very brief writing.

Now, what did I miss?

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Originally Posted by gugi

I read article 2 and it sounds to me that his job consists primarily of talking and an occasional very brief writing.

Now, what did I miss?

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Cite the section you read in the Constitution about the executive talking to our school children.

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Originally Posted by JimR

An inspiration to all Americans! Skipping school because the President of the USA has the audacity to want to address young people.

Please, I hope you spend that day doing something really valuable like reading Ayn Rand novels and studying trickle down economics.

Fight the power!

:rolleyes:

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Or maybe I'll continue doing the alternative high school classes I paid $2300 out of my own pocket for so I didn't have to put up with that ****ty no child left behind bull**** and morons for teachers and peers.

And while we're at it I'd love for you to tell what is so important about listening to our current president, as the youth I am?


If I need life advice, I have parents, I have religious leaders, I have older brothers and friends, I have people here on these forums who have given me invaluable advice, I don't think Mr. Obama has any more "life experience" than a single one of the above.

I'm sorry, but not only would this speech be a waste of time that should be spent on academics, which the governmental educational system is severely lacking, it's either the President trying to impart wisdom and life advice, or it's a political play like what Hitlers administration (though to a lesser degree) applied.

Neither of which I'd be very fond of attending.

And in case you didn't know, the United States was founded on fighting the system. I realize you probably went to a government funded school and didn't learn this, but it's true. We actually had to kill people and abolish government to make the U.S. Wow, who would have thought?

Sorry, but if I want to hear Obama talk, I'll watch it on TV or the internet or I'll go watch in person, it doesn't need to be played in schools that have strict attendance standards and absence policies. Just the fact that they would TRY and do that, whether I wanted to hear the speech or not, would set me on my toes. There is absolutely no reason this needs to be played in school.

Obama wants his fingers in every pie, the ultimate government nanny.

I think Ayn Rand's character John Galt said it best: "Get the hell out of my way!"

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Originally Posted by honedright

Cite the section you read in the Constitution about the executive talking to our school children.

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I actually couldn't find any. I guess he is only allowed to talk to senators, judges and military. Oh and people he makes treaties with.

I very much wanted to find his work hours in the constitution, but I really couldn't. I am a bit worried when he can talk to his wife and children if the constitution doesn't list them explicitly and doesn't provide for any off-duty hours. Could you help me understand how it works?

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Originally Posted by gugi

Could you help me understand how it works?

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Probably not. Just keep studying the U.S. Constitution. It will become clearer.

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

And while we're at it I'd love for you to tell what is so important about listening to our current president, as the youth I am?


If I need life advice, I have parents, I have religious leaders, I have older brothers and friends, I have people here on these forums who have given me invaluable advice, I don't think Mr. Obama has any more "life experience" than a single one of the above.


...We actually had to kill people and abolish government to make the U.S. Wow, who would have thought?

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Alrighty then.

When you say "We had to kill people..." that "we" would be you and who else?

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

I don't think Mr. Obama has any more "life experience" than a single one of the above.

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I would recommend doing a bit more math problems instead of spending your time on the internet. They do improve the quality of analytical thinking.

You guys can have your opinions, I'll have mine...


I'll leave the with the opinion, however, that as an individual, and as one of the "children" being addressed by this speech, that I personally do not want to hear it, and as such I will not be attending school. If you must criticize this, please do so in a gentlemanly matter that provokes thought, not sarcasm or anger. I promise to do the same.

My choice is influenced only by my personal feelings on this matter, not by paranoia or propaganda or my parents, at least not any more then any of the daily decisions you and I and everyone else makes. This topic has degenerated into a heated discussion of grammatical errors and sarcasm, and I don't wish to create hard feelings with friends simply over something as unimportant as such.

I'm sorry to have offended anyone!

Interesting. A lot of sarcastic input. I still haven't read his prepared speech in any kind of thorough manner, but our President has yet to show us that he can be trusted.
I wonder if there is a person on this board who can articulate their views in favor of Obama and his speech without resorting to sarcasm but rather give us an honest summation of their thoughts.

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Originally Posted by JMS

President has yet to show us that he can be trusted.

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Why do I have to point that this will never happen. Trust is a decision that you make by your own free will and what the other party does or doesn't is irrelevant. You have your preconceptions and they won't change no matter what. Trust me ;)

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Originally Posted by JMS

I wonder if there is a person on this board who can articulate their views in favor of Obama and his speech without resorting to sarcasm but rather give us an honest summation of their thoughts.

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It's really not that long of a read, even for a product of the american public school system.

My opinion - it's a speech, pretty good one. I'm the wrong demographics to know how effective is on the children, the effect on the adults is before our very eyes. It says a lot about the adults, unfortunately not good.

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Originally Posted by JMS

Interesting. A lot of sarcastic input. I still haven't read his prepared speech in any kind of thorough manner, but our President has yet to show us that he can be trusted.
I wonder if there is a person on this board who can articulate their views in favor of Obama and his speech without resorting to sarcasm but rather give us an honest summation of their thoughts.

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I wasn't being sarcastic. I believe that Obama is once again sticking his nose into business that is not his. I did skim over the speech and it reads like his typical demagogy, this time aimed at coddling our youth. Let him advise his own children, we'll advise ours. He's still campaigning after being in office for 8 months. Time to stick to his job description and stop screwing around. He's being paid $400,000.00/ yr to be Commander in Chief, not Supper Nanny.

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Originally Posted by JMS

Interesting. A lot of sarcastic input. I still haven't read his prepared speech in any kind of thorough manner, but our President has yet to show us that he can be trusted.
I wonder if there is a person on this board who can articulate their views in favor of Obama and his speech without resorting to sarcasm but rather give us an honest summation of their thoughts.

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Alrighty, here ya go:

When the President says that he wants to address the nation's schoolchildren with a positive message - and goes so far as to provide the prepared speech in advance - then, as a rule, I'd strongly favor allowing him to do it, barring any enormous, glaring problems with said message.

Seriously, what's the harm with the text linked in #1? The idea that one should work hard? That the struggle to overcome adversity is worth it?

Frankly, I have a hard time imagining an objection to it that isn't heavily partisan in nature. Even for those who personally don't care for the man, to get so up in arms over this of all things approaches the bizarre.

Additionally, I can't help but think that many of the nay-sayers have previously supported administrations (and the policies/actions of those administrations) that have had far, far worse effects on the general well-being of our nation's children than any motivational speech ever could.


(okay, relatively sarcasm-free was the best I could do)

I just heard that Former first lady Barbara Bush fully endorses President Obamas speech.

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Originally Posted by honedright

it reads like his typical demagogy, this time aimed at coddling our youth. Let him advise his own children, we'll advise ours.

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This is great! Do we need a new thread on the status of american education system or we can refer to one of the old ones?

Nope, I think it's not necessary, this says enough:

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Originally Posted by http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demagoguery

• Main Entry: ¹dem·a·gogue <input onclick="return au('demago03', 'demagogue');" class="au" title="Listen to the pronunciation of 1demagogue" type="button">
• Variant(s): also dem·a·gog <input onclick="return au('demago03', 'demagog');" class="au" title="Listen to the pronunciation of demagog" type="button"> \ˈde-mə-ˌgäg\
• Function: noun
• Etymology: Greek dēmagōgos, from dēmos people (perhaps akin to Greek daiesthai to divide) + agōgos leading, from agein to lead — more at tide, agent
• Date: 1648

1 : a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

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the red color is mine

I think it's neat for the President to do this. A local radio show was inviting callers to give their opinions, and I was the only one who called in who did not say they think it is a bad (or worse) idea... Some callers were outraged (why?) and some were bewildered. Most said they do not trust Obama, and some said they were sure he was going to try to weasel a liberal agenda into the minds of their kids

Since then the text of the speech has been released, and though I've only scanned the text, I have no problem at all letting my kid hear it.

I don't even care if it's a political stunt - I like it :)

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

Or maybe I'll continue doing the alternative high school classes I paid $2300 out of my own pocket for so I didn't have to put up with that ****ty no child left behind bull**** and morons for teachers and peers.

And while we're at it I'd love for you to tell what is so important about listening to our current president, as the youth I am?

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Maybe, just maybe, it might give you an idea of why and how a man like he could could actually become president. Maybe if you listened to him, you'd stop comparing him to Hitler. And maybe if you listened to HIM, and not to people talking ABOUT him, you'd learn what you disagree with rather than what other people tell you to disagree with.

But you're right, it's much better to listen to your older brother.

And if you are avoiding school to avoid morons, then you might be better off investing that $2300 in a shack on a mountain, because that's about the only place in the world where you will never have to deal with people who are perhaps not as gifted as you apparently are.

One lesson that public schools can teach you, a lesson that is, in fact, their most important one, is how to be part of a society that is largely made up of people you don't agree with. The world is full of people who you won't like. Who will make life difficult for you. You can't get away from them, and you should learn NOW the best way for you to deal with being thrust into company you do not want. That's what school is really, REALLY good for. And if you don't get that now, you're in for a bad road.

And, might I add, it is entirely possible to get an EXCELLENT education from "government funded" schools.

Government funded schools have gifted programs, and libraries, and IDL programs. I went to a tiny rural school in SE Kansas, and I learned Russian, and German, and advanced speech and writing, and I did it because I DEMANDED it. I was the only student in some of those classes, but I wanted to learn it and I talked to the right people and I made the right arguments.

And it was free.

Which leads me to another point--you spent $2300 of your own money on "alternative high school" classes. I fear that someone gave you some very bad advice...because I guarantee that the vast majority of what you are learning in those classes would have been available for free if you knew where to look. First place? Library. Give it a try. Second place? Your teachers. Not all of them are morons. Some of them surely are, but come on, if you really think you're smarter than everyone around you, you should be able to figure out how to get what you need.

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

If I need life advice, I have parents, I have religious leaders, I have older brothers and friends, I have people here on these forums who have given me invaluable advice, I don't think Mr. Obama has any more "life experience" than a single one of the above.

I'm sorry, but not only would this speech be a waste of time that should be spent on academics, which the governmental educational system is severely lacking, it's either the President trying to impart wisdom and life advice, or it's a political play like what Hitlers administration (though to a lesser degree) applied.

Neither of which I'd be very fond of attending.

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Or maybe it's the president taking the opportunity of being the most powerful man in the world, coming from background where that outcome was very very unlikely, to let people know how it might actually be possible for them? Or maybe to tell young people that he does, indeed, give a crap about what they do. That what they do is important not only to themselves, but to the future of this country. Maybe you already know that, but what about the kid beside you?

And you know, learning that you often have to do something you don't want to do is pretty much why you're in school.

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

And in case you didn't know, the United States was founded on fighting the system. I realize you probably went to a government funded school and didn't learn this, but it's true. We actually had to kill people and abolish government to make the U.S. Wow, who would have thought?

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Abolish GOVERNMENT???? ABOLISH GOVERNMENT? THIS is the kind of comment that makes you feel you can be the smarty-pants high school kid?

If that's what your alternative high school is teaching you, well, that is $2300 well spent.

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Originally Posted by JokiJo

Sorry, but if I want to hear Obama talk, I'll watch it on TV or the internet or I'll go watch in person, it doesn't need to be played in schools that have strict attendance standards and absence policies. Just the fact that they would TRY and do that, whether I wanted to hear the speech or not, would set me on my toes. There is absolutely no reason this needs to be played in school.

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You do realize that the kids who might actually need a respected, well spoken person giving them good advice are just the kinds of kids who need to be sat down and told to listen, and who might not have the good luck you apparently do, to have parents or friends to give them that advice?

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Originally Posted by gugi

the red color is mine

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I especially liked the red colored part - thanx

I'm sorry if I got off topic, Mark, but I think it's a great idea. I like the fact that it emphasizes personal responsibility for education. Because I think it's the best thing anyone can tell you--you, in the end, are the one who learns. Teachers can only give you the pieces, you have to put them together for yourself.

And I can't honestly imagine anyone disagreeing with what the speech actually says...Really. It's got some great messages, and if some kids actually listen to it, it could actually help. You can be as cynical as you want, but this:

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Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

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is pretty darned good.

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Originally Posted by honedright

You object to the use of the word "Demogogy" to describe the Obama speech?

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Well, I'm usually rather cynical but given that the target public is children I do have problems with the word in reference to the speech. I just don't feel comfortable with calling "popular prejudices and false claims and promises" the following:

- it is important to discover what you're good at and what is that you like to do
- hard work is how you become successful, even though you're tempted to believe it's just luck. in any case pure luck is the very rare exception.
- when you fail you need to keep trying again and not give up
- everybody has things they struggle with, just overcome them, give it your best shot and then again...
- get help
- help others if you can
- in america it is you who defines yourself

Sounds pretty much like an afterschool special.

The single thing I found demagoguish was the idea that people are/were motivated by patriotic feelings. But I am not an american, so I am willing to go with the benefit of the doubt on that one.

Now, I'll be very interested in the opposite perspective - I mean really am I missing something?

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Originally Posted by gugi

Well, I'm usually rather cynical but given that the target public is children I do have problems with the word in reference to the speech. I just don't feel comfortable with calling "popular prejudices and false claims and promises" the following:

- it is important to discover what you're good at and what is that you like to do
- hard work is how you become successful, even though you're tempted to believe it's just luck. in any case pure luck is the very rare exception.
- when you fail you need to keep trying again and not give up
- everybody has things they struggle with, just overcome them, give it your best shot and then again...
- get help
- help others if you can
- in america it is you who defines yourself

Sounds pretty much like an afterschool special.

The single thing I found demagoguish was the idea that people are/were motivated by patriotic feelings. But I am not an american, so I am willing to go with the benefit of the doubt on that one.

Now, I'll be very interested in the opposite perspective - I mean really am I missing something?

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Platitudes. Alone the speech sounds good. In context with everything else surrounding this president, I find the speech offensive.

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Originally Posted by honedright

Platitudes. Alone the speech sounds good. In context with everything else surrounding this president, I find the speech offensive.

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:thinking: that's it?!? wow, there's nothing that could be said really.

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Originally Posted by gugi

:thinking: that's it?!? wow, there's nothing that could be said really.

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Nothing to say Gugi? Really?

This reminds me of several years ago when the first Harry Potter movie came out. Some parents and ministers said the movie was anti-Christian because it glorified witchcraft. At the time, I wasn't too worried about the movie, but those parents and ministers scared the daylights out of me.

Same thing with the President Obama controversy. I'm not too concerned with the speech, but the fact that the nation is so polarized is very scary stuff!

When the Health Care Reform Bill came out, it was attacked not by what it said, but by what Hannity, Limbaugh and the rest said it really meant.

It says "X", but it doesn't really mean "X" it means the complete destruction of everything. A Nazi regime and dogs sleeping with cats. Total chaos will ensue.

When this speech to the students was first bandied about it wasn't attacked on what it says, but what it REALLY is saying.

I just wonder, is the crystal ball the pundits are peering into the same crystal ball that were using when they were telling me that Saddam Hussein was involved with 9-11 and had WMD's planted everywhere like daisies?

I'm just saying the track record of the right in predicting and deciphering isn't so great.

I've read the speech and can find nothing that overtly reads like a speech to the Hitler Youth. But I'm sure someone will tell me what Obama is really saying.

I remember being told for the previous eight years that like him or not it was the duty of every American to support the president no matter what and especially in war time. America love it of leave it, I heard a lot.
Well fellas, the U-Hauls are waiting.