State of the Union

• TA wrote on 2012-01-25 07:12
  It starts in 7 minutes at time of writing. You can tune in live here: http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse
  
  Oh and also, you can ask the President a question on that page too and ones will be chosen to be answered tomorrow.
  
  Here's what I asked:
  
  [SPOILER="Spoiler"]With all of our overseas operations (and actually our military budget in general) bankrupting our economy, what do you plan to do to resolve our massive overseas military spending? And do you agree our Imperialism is making other countries hate us?
  
  What do you intend to do about all of these bills like SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA which are severely threatening the Freedoms of Americans, and the integrity of the Internet?
  
  What do you intend to do about the deforestation of the Amazon which will result in the extinction of nearly every species on the planet if nothing is done? On a similar tangent, what do you intend to do about green house emissions & global warming?
  
  Why can't we cut our military spending in half and worry about America rather than the rest of the world, and not only put a portion of that money into education, science, and medicine, but also start climbing out of our massive debt?
  
  Why are we busy policing the world with a military budget over 400 billion higher than any other country in the world when we're in a recession & so far in debt & so unable to pay back those debts that our credit rating as a nation was downgraded?
  
  Why can't we just stay out of everyone else's business & focus on defending our own nation & rebuilding our own economy? We aren't in a position to be nation building & policing the world, yet our Military budget is 500b higher than anyone else's.[/SPOILER]
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-01-25 07:37
  the cat never thought he'll see a day where Obama shakes hands with a Congress of two parties
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-01-25 08:10
  MILK SPILL.
  LOL.
• Chockeh wrote on 2012-01-25 08:12

  Quote from Yoorah;748133:

  MILK SPILL.
  LOL.

  
  
  Lmao, said the same thing at the same time. Two different threads though.
• KimmiBee wrote on 2012-01-25 08:22
  Its funny how Obama talks then pause and turns his head while saying something like he waiting for someone to clap.
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-01-25 09:01
  Republican response: Americans might even pick the wrong light bulb.
  ???
  I died when I heard that.
• Scarlet wrote on 2012-01-26 11:29
  [video=youtube;Zgfi7wnGZlE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgfi7wnGZlE[/video]
  [FONT="Times New Roman"]At least Obama looks smart (and he is, of course) and remembers his lines. Gotta love the applause that sometimes comes after just a single sentence...
  Now, note that while Obama says that being Republican or Democrat doesn't matter much, democrats have a lot more fun <.<[/FONT]
  

  [Image: http://i47.tinypic.com/htva87.gif]
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-01-26 18:37
  Those were pretty bold ideas. Very promising ones. I like what I'm hearing. Now....
  
  Only one thing stands in the way....Congress. *grits teeth*
  
  If Congress and Obama can work together to achieve the things he says he wants to do then he has my vote this year.
  
  We shall see.
• Cynic wrote on 2012-01-26 18:59

  Quote from Kingofrunes;749934:

  Those were pretty bold ideas. Very promising ones. I like what I'm hearing. Now....
  
  Only one thing stands in the way....Congress. *grits teeth*
  
  If Congress and Obama can work together to achieve the things he says he wants to do then he has my vote this year.
  
  We shall see.

  
  
  Unfortunately most of them will disagree with him for the sake of it, even if they don't necessarily think it's a bad idea.
  
  This is why I wish the President would come with his own party, not still have to rely on his party + the opposing party to pass Laws and sh*t.
  Expecting Democrats and Republicans to play nice for the better of the Country is like expecting Mongooses and Snakes to get along for the sake of a bigger picture.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-01-26 19:17
  Well problem with that is that it would upset the balance of power. All the branches need to keep one in other in check. What your proposing leads to dicatorships where w/e the leader says goes.
  
  The Balance of Power exists to prevent one branch from having absolute control over the other. At least in theory/practice that's the idea. It's worked for over 200 years.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-01-26 19:17
  Well problem with that is that it would upset the balance of power. All the branches need to keep one in other in check. What your proposing leads to dicatorships where w/e the leader says goes.
  
  The Balance of Power exists to prevent one branch from having absolute control over the other. At least in theory/practice that's the idea. It's worked for over 200 years.
• Cynic wrote on 2012-01-26 19:29
  What is your definition of 'worked'?
  
  Currently, letting Republicans get such a significant say-so in things is essentially one of the main reasons Obama hasn't been able to do a lot of the things he has proposed. He has still done a lot, yes, but because of them blocking his views and ideas from coming into form, people jump the gun and say it's his fault he hasn't 'kept' his promises, despite the fact he was the one with his hands tied.
  
  It's also the fact that people are ignorant and refuse to research the facts that they misjudge him so easily, but would he not have the Congress breathing down his back, there would be no need for people to be ignorant in the first place.
• Elena wrote on 2012-01-26 20:02
  My imagination has this fun moment when someone goes the "you didn't do what you promised" route and Obama pulls out a list of what he wanted to do and who voted against it.
  
  People like voting "no" then having someone else to point their finger at.
• Spartaaaaa wrote on 2012-01-27 05:05
  If Obama actually does pass all of this, it's going to cost a lot of money.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-01-27 15:30

  Quote from Cynic;749959:

  What is your definition of 'worked'?
  
  Currently, letting Republicans get such a significant say-so in things is essentially one of the main reasons Obama hasn't been able to do a lot of the things he has proposed. He has still done a lot, yes, but because of them blocking his views and ideas from coming into form, people jump the gun and say it's his fault he hasn't 'kept' his promises, despite the fact he was the one with his hands tied.
  
  It's also the fact that people are ignorant and refuse to research the facts that they misjudge him so easily, but would he not have the Congress breathing down his back, there would be no need for people to be ignorant in the first place.

  
  
  My definition of 'worked' is that we aren't all under a dictatorship and have had a relatively good democracy. Especially if you look at the pre 1990's. We accomplished alot between the Era of 1920 - Post WWII. Don't tell me you are ignoring all the good stuff we have accomplished under BOTH Republican AND Democratic Presidents. I mean look at all the great things Regan did! He was the most popular President for BOTH parties. He even helped bring an end to the Soviet Union!
  
  Wither things 'work' ideally now is another story. Having one party have all the say is no good. I know that much because then only THEIR ideas get pushed through and nobody else can present an alternative view. Which leads to a dictatorship. Something I cannot and will not stand for.
  
  When it's a choice of getting stuff done or keeping my freedom. I will pick my freedom each and every god damn time.