Ambrose2007 Forum Posts (8,881)

RE: Name protocol in the forums.

I think unless it's clear that a CSer doesn't mind having her or his name posted here that we shouldn't do that. Good question, Jan.

RE: Conjor was arested for indesent exsposure!

How about indecent spelling? That should warrant a fine at the very least.

RE: I caught you peeking at me.

I like mice and birds, too.

Unfortunately, so does my cat!!

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Well, I guess my question is whether Obama is actually doing anything that fits in YOUR political philosophy, IV. We could start with that.

I suppose some people don't like Obama for racial reasons, but that isn't my impression here. I think the majority of "Obama-dislikers" ("hate" seems a bit over-the-top) really just object to his political beliefs...or in the case of diehard Repubs, simply because he's allegedly a liberal democrat (his position on torture and treatment of alleged terrorists would make him more conservative than Ronald Reagan, by the way, who supported Habeas corpus and fair trials for terrorists back in the day; funny how the political pendulum has swung so far that Ronald R's position would now be ultra-liberal!! Probably only modern-day far-left socialists would support his views on that! ).

RE: I caught you peeking at me.

I'm a cat-person myself, but I rarely look at them in that way.

RE: I caught you peeking at me.

I assumed she was talking to your cat.

RE: Why Do Some Find It So Difficult

I'm going to be sixty soon, but I act like I'm about sixteen.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Absolutely - he's a puppet just like the rest of him, and not merely to the military-industrial complex. That complex has ground a tad larger and more inclusive since Eisenhower's day. More like the military-industrial-banking-media complex now (and I probably left out a few).

RE: I caught you peeking at me.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

True, it's nothing like Europe's or Canada's healthcare, though it bears some resemblance to Japan's (for instance). In Japan, health insurance purchase is mandatory.

I'd probably prefer a system like Canada's to this halfway-measure healthcare morass offered by Obama.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

I don't believe you accused me of being "red," IV, that's true.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

I don't have any problems with differing opinions, IV. I just would like to know what the basis for some of yours are on this subject (particularly your claim that Obama is radically different in policies from Bush, and has accomplished great things).

We probably have different basic philosophic premises. The only thing I'd ask in a debate is that we try to clarify what those are, and that we make some attempt to justify them with logic and evidence. Granted, this is a singles site not entirely appropriate for this kind of thing, but I think it's still worthwhile to discuss stuff that's important to us all.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Too bad, JW, your time's almost up.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

I would give anything to have a president I admire. That would've happened if Ron Paul had been elected, by the way, despite his lack of a pretty smile (though he does have a sort of cute dimple).

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

It is a terrible cross to bear, IV.

I don't mean to be condescending - but remember, I was replying to an accusation you made of me (that I'm not well-read...not a good idea, IV).

I'm willing to have a discussion which fairly considers what Obama has or has not accomplished. Give me a list of good things you think he's accomplished - let's start with that. Fair enough?

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

"World's apart'?? How??

This is a question that has some meat to it. I say Obama is basically Bush 2, you say he's the opposite of Bush.

Should be fairly easily to check the facts and see which position they better support, eh?

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Of course the bail-out was started by the previous administration. That's a central point of mine - that Obama's following in Bush's footsteps in most matters of policy.

I daresay, IV, that I've done vastly more reading outside these forums on this subject (and probably most other subjects) than you have.

Obama promised to withdraw troops by 2009. While failing to do that (adding at least two more years to that pointless war), he added another thirty thousand to that other utterly pointless war in Afghanistan. If Bush had done that, I suspect you would've been opposed, no?

And no, bailing out his corporate pals was most definitely not needed to save this country.

RE: I caught you peeking at me.

I for one never "peep" at anyone's profile!

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

His beliefs, as far as I can see from looking at what he's actually said and done - as opposed to being enthralled with his public image - are basically identical to the "archaic, antiquated, and proven failures" of the Bush Administration. So if Bush's policies failed to cause our country to prosper, I'm not sure what possible basis there could be for believing that Obama's policies will cause prosperity.

He's continued all of Bush's policies, and even expanded on some of them. Thus far the only difference is his healthcare bill.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Well, I have no idea what about his track record you like, IV. And I'm not sure what the point is of stating the obvious - that my opinions are mine.

I'm going to guess that you haven't actually examined the details of what Obama's "accomplished," but rather are simply responding to him on an emotional basis.

There's nothing pointless about true debate - that is, a discussion where actual facts are considered. It certainly is pointless to debate with someone who "just likes" a person but has no interest in or knowledge of what that person has done.

I could name a long list of things Obama's administration has done, and ask you what you think of those things individually, I suppose. Was the bailout of corporate interests a good thing, for example? Reneging on his promise to get troops out of Iraq? Reaffirming the Patriot Act? Reaffirming the Bush Admin's stand on torture? Continuing a commitment to covert government when he promised transparency?

What do you think of these things, IV? Is there any substance to your beliefs, or is it just about your gut feeling that Obama's a nice guy? If so, is there any difference between that emotional stance and people's previous belief that Bush was just a "regular good guy"?

Shouldn't one's opinions of an administration rest on a measured consideration of actual facts as opposed to visceral reactions?

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

I haven't read through the whole thread at this point, IV.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Well, it's hard to see how an olive branch can be meaningful if it rests essentially on one agreeing with you, IV.

What might be more meaningful would be to ask how we might best solve problems like healthcare and so on, and to be willing to entertain opposing ideas fairly and reasonably.

RE: Bridging The GREAT DIVIDE !

Well, Ivaski, it's hard to cross a divide when one is so strongly philosophically opposed to another's position, no?

When I characterize Obama as a prevaricator (he failed miserably at fulfilling virtually all of his campaign promises, for example) and someone whose political philosophy I find execrable (his reaffirmation of the Patriot Act and other of Bush's egregious policies make him Bush the Third as far as I can see), I don't believe I'm being negative or hateful - simply calling it like it is. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat - and powerfully disliked Bush (for the same reasons I dislike Obama) - so I'm not being partisan about him.

I guess I see nothing particularly positive about agreeing to or otherwise supporting policies that strike me as terrible. The "sickening negativity" that you believe has "blanketed our land" is really nothing more than the usual diversity of opinion. Some people - a lot of people - find the course this country's presently on to be sickening, and I think quite rightly so. That doesn't imply we lack positive views. That's like saying that opposing concentration camps or Roman coliseums is being "negative."

I would say that it's reasonable to ask that we not only criticize everything but also offer some positive solutions. I have plenty of those. But something tells me you wouldn't like them.

RE: Love is a decision...agree or disagree???

That is a side of him I've never seen, J. I thought that was surprisingly well-done (at least I was surprised).

RE: Love is a decision...agree or disagree???

I thought that was beautifully put, G, though you may have lost me when you came to the "big people." Parents? The gods?

RE: Love is a decision...agree or disagree???

Wow - that's really cool, Turkish! Trish is entirely deserving of any praise directed at her - that's for sure - but I think your natural intelligence and reasonableness brought you to this point. I have to say, I've really been enjoying the level of intelligence and enlightenment JB's thread has brought out.

There really are some amazing women here.

RE: Love is a decision...agree or disagree???

Well, we make all kinds of wrong choices consciously, so I don't see much of an enigma there, Riz.

Not that your question isn't a fascinating one - indeed, probably the most salient one for many CSers.

RE: Love is a decision...agree or disagree???

Or need to desire.

RE: Love is a decision...agree or disagree???

Logic works just as well for women as it does for men.

It just looks cuter when a woman does it.