Positive Obama thread

When I was a kid, the TV stations ran frequent PSAs at this time of year reminding us that resident aliens need to register during January.  The term consistently used was aliens, so I believe that is the correct term to use for non-citizens who immigrated here from another country. 

The other terms are immigrants, which to refers to people who came from another country, and emigrants, which refers to people who leave a country to go to another.  So they emigrate from the country of their birth, and immigrate to the country they choose to live in. 

Whether they acquire and/or maintain their legal resident status is a separate and different question.  Noting that legal status or lack thereof is not an insult, it is simply stating fact.   

All but one of my grandparents came to this country from somewhere else, and the one who was born here had both of his parents arrive from elsewhere.  They all went through the process, learned the language, and became citizens.  Only two of them lived long enough to collect Social Security, and they had both paid into the system from the time it was created.

If people come here, play by the rules, pay taxes, learn the language, they make this country richer both monitarily and culturally.  When they participate in a shadow economy, choose not to learn the language, but still use services, that hurts us all.  That doesn't make them horrible people, but it hurts all of us, and recognizing that and taking steps to deal with it is responsible, not "prejorative".

Isn't it great that someone can come to this country (legally) fall in love with, and marry a citizen, and have their child grow up to become President (elect)?  Isn't that limitless potential the reason that so many of us are here, and that so many other people want to come here?

Good morning Obama Ladies.  I'm stepping away from the board for a few days.  The back and forth attacks are wearing me out.  It's off course of where we started on this.  That's just my opinion.  I fully believe in each others views and being allowed to state them.  But it seems to have escalated into arguments instead of debates.  There is a difference.  OK..that's just my opinion.  But I will be back!  Besides...I have to get ready for the big cold blast that's headed our way.  The snow has already started.   And its not even officially winter yet! Have a great w/e ladies!

I just can not beleive that BarbDwyer's psot was removed. IT IS UNBELEIVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of us here because we were hit by BC, that changed our lives. We had to fight , stay tough and continue with our lives. And we did it.

And now we cannot stand to see a post that mentions cliques. It is a sad day and makes me ashamed of my fellow women who had no guts to have an open discussion with BarbDwyer and instead chose an anonymous cowardly way of deleting her post. you know what is the most ironic thing is that you cowards PROVED HER POINT COMPLETELY.

I just wished I had her post saved because I would have reposted it.

I am utterly disgusted with what I am reading from so many posters here and on the other thread.

Following grace and Little G out the door for a while...

I'll be back in January as Inauguration Day nears.

Until then, Happy Holidays, Obama ladies!!

Seriously. This thread has gotten so daggone far away from its original intent that it is so not funny. I actually stopped reading the Republican thread right after the election to get away from the silliness and low and behold, it's wormed its way here. Like Donna and Little G, I'm out for a while as well as I have no desire to everybody on "ignore."

But for the record, the "report this post" button was added so the mods, who obviously can't be everywhere at once (but SOMEwhere would be nice, lol) - could have a little help getting rid of OFFENSIVE posts. It takes more than one person for a "removed by the community" deletion to occur (and each poster can only report it once). All the ones on this page and the previous one that were deleted got booted before I saw them (so I can't comment on whether they were offensive to me or not), but it would behoove us all to remember that an opinion that is diffferent from yours isn't necessarily offensive - although being mindful of HOW that opinion is expressed is oh so important as well.

Happy Hannukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Solstice/New Year, everyone... 

Little-G, Felicia and ivylane, I'm with you.  And we were on a roll there for a while . . . important topics, good observations, differing, thoughtful points of view.  We're certainly not "of one mind" here. 

If anyone's looking for some diversion and inspiration, I highly recommend the movie Milk.  Sean Penn is very impressive.  The story seems so relevant to today.  It's almost deja vu. 

Also, for those of you who like Xmas music and/or Melissa Etheridge, I recommend Etheridge's new Xmas album.  It's a mix of traditional, rock, blues.  Part of the proceeds go to bc research.

Hope everyone is surviving the season so far.  We're closing in fast . . . five more weeks to go!     

LA Phoenix:

I LOVED "Milk" and seriously recommend it to anyone (especially those who NEED it).  It received 93% from the critics on my favorite site, "Rotten Tomatoes".  What a profound story!  I'm light in my historical knowledge and a lot of that happened when I was a child, but wow.  Sean Penn did great.  Then again, has there ever been a bad Gus Van Sant movie?  He is pure genius.

 Etheridge is always inspirational.  I saw her live this year; absolute magic.  I'll have to look up her X-mas one; is it all like religious or more just seasonal?

(You're right, Patmom; I edited it out of respect.)

What's interesting to me, this election, is that I really tried to be respectful and keep my liberal, democratic beliefs to myself, because I find it offensive when others shove their beliefs down my throat.  Oddly enough, I found out later that I underestimated many of the people who typically voted conservative, republican but who recognized it really was a time for change.  Obama has an enormous job ahead of him, but I think as he surrounds himself with highly educated and diverse advisors and with the support of the US citizens, he could very well "fix" a lot of what is wrong.  I'm already campaigning for his next term.

 Anna

justanna, the Etheridge album isn't religious, maybe vaguely spiritual in a couple places.  She does a gorgeous rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  Many of the songs are originals and political.

Here's a sample of the lyrics, from It's Chrismas Time:

What if we all stopped believing the lie/That happiness comes from a store/What if we look at the damage we've done/And finally shouted no more?

What if we did create peace of earth?/How would we feel about ourselves?/Would we know we were perfect and good and enough for all we desire as well?

What if we all started spreading the news/There's nothing to fear anymore/We are connected, one family of light.

Hallelujah. 

Thanks Felicia for coming to my defense. I was on the treadmill and caught the end of the news segment, so I really was unsure if what I thought I heard was correct. I dont wish harm on anyone, not even Bush. And just for the record........ WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YAY OBAMA!!! Best wishes to all

Tracey

WOW Obama says that science will matter in his administration. That will be a refreshing change. He has picked Steven Chu, a Nobel physicist as energy minister. Imagine that!! The mind boggles! Someone who actually knows something about energy and doesn't have any oil or gas fields in a position to offer advice. Yeah I know that Palin was an energy expert and it is too bad that we can't have her knowledge, we'll just have to make do.

mke, yeah, ain't it great that science is "in" again!  Chu looks fantastic!  I'm a little less thrilled with Salazar at Interior.  I was hoping for a full-blown progressive in that position, someone like Kennedy, Jr.  And he's a Senator, so we'll have to go through yet another replacement process.  Not sure about Arne Duncan at Education, either.  Opinions on him seem to be all over the place. 

But no matter who Obama picks, they've got to be better than what we've been dealing with the last 8 years.  There's Cheney admitting that, yes, he authorized and encouraged torture--so what?  And Bush admitting that it didn't matter that there were no WMDs--so what?  So what if we lied, over and over again.  The ends justify the means, and we're liberators, damn it!  Those Iraqis are just ingrates, and you Constitution-loving Americans are just idiots.  So frigging what??  I guess you gotta give them points for unrivaled hubris.  And at least they have the sense to recognize that letting the automakers fail would all but guarantee they'd be consigned to the loser bin of presidential history.  

On a more pleasant note . . . heard that Obama/Biden are taking the train to the Inauguration and will be doing events in Delaware and Baltimore.  Cool.

I really am going to go, but before I leave, I just had to say: Patmom, have you noticed your post about the shoe throwing has been ignored?

Actually, justanna edited her post in response, hours before you posted, maybe that's why you didn't notice it. 

you'll notice that Tracey ends all her posts with the "Whoo-Hoo! Change has arrived"

My post was never directed at Tracey. 

Who appointed you the moral authority on how anyone else should express him/herself?

Have you asked yourself that question?

It just ticks me off so much that people who in no way, shape or form are even close to being positive about Obama come here, do the "hit and run" post thing and taunt Obama supporters to justify or explain stuff.

This is a public forum, not a private club.  EVERY breast cancer survivor has every bit as much right to read these threads and to post on them as you do. 

You announced that you were leaving, but on your way out the door, attacked me with falsehoods.  Who is the "hit and run" poster?

This is the "POSITIVE OBAMA THREAD" not the "Let's Debate for the Sake of Debating Thread" for crying out loud...

Yes, this is the "POSITIVE OBAMA THREAD", not the "let's bash everyone who isn't one of our clique" thread.

If what is discussed here bothers you so much, why the heck do you keep coming back?!?

Because I find it absolutely fascinating that women who are so kind and helpful, and generous on other threads come here and tear to shreds anyone who they perceive to not be part of their clique.  If one of the 'Obama Girls' had mentioned the lack of security surrounding the President possibly endangering PEBO once he is in that position, I suspect she would have gotten a very different reaction from you. 

Cliques were not a good thing in middle school, and we are all way past middle school.  It is time to grow up, open your mind and your heart, recognize that the election is over, Obama won, so we are all on the same team now, the one that hopes he is a successful President. 

I may not be the most ardent Obama supporter on this board, but I recognize, and appreciate that he is making some prudent appointments to his team.  I hope that he continues to do as good a job as he steps into the Presidency, and I certainly don't want anything to happen to him.

Excerpts from the "Respectfully Republican" thread: 

From Shirley:

About the birth certificate..just show the darned thing!  Open your records about your health.  Release your transcripts from college.  I thought this was going to be a "transparent" way of governing.  It sure is not starting off that way.  When first asked about Blago...no comment.  Obama chooses his words very carefully...very, very carefully.  He had to think about his comment before giving one.  He probably knows his Chicago Buds knew about all of this mess...and Obama certainly could not have known about the workings of the Chicago machine.  Geez!  How stupid does he think we are.  Oh, I forgot...meany people are stupid because the didn't ask questions..NO NEGATIVITY!...and the MSM should be ashamed of themselves!  If we can't get truthful news who the heck is going to buy or read their crap.  That's why I like Fox News.

From PatMom:

Summer, I agree that including experienced people in the new administration is good and important...but this man became the Democratic Nominee by promising "change", and dismissing Hillary Clinton as part of the old Washington insiders network that needed to be changed.  Now that he knocked her out of the way to get to the big prize of the presidency, he is putting her and all of her friends into positions of power.  Did something change since this summer?  If they are good enough now, why wasn't she good enough this spring and summer?  Or is it that women are OK in a subservient role, but not in a lead role? 

From SherryG:

Vivre, for soooo many reasons I do not trust PEBO.  You have named a few here.  I know the dims think we are crazy for being concerned about PEBO's birth certificate but like you said, if he doesn't have something to hide then WHAT is he hiding? (Sherry, you've got to be kidding me with this comment!)  If he were on the up and up he would want to clear the air about this issue before he takes office.  There are just sooo many questions about this man.  Again, I may be cynical but I'm not gullible.

And:

Common sense tells me that if he has good college transcripts he will release them.  If he doesn't have health issues he would release his records.  If there isn't a problem with his birth certificate he would release it.  But hey, we're talking Chicago machine here.  He can't help himself. 

 MSNBC doesn't even begin to know what news is.  They are a complete joke.  That Rachel Maddow chickie must be smoking crack!      $!   $$$$

From Rockobermom:

Maybe his birth certificate says he's white. 

I could go on, and on, and on.  But hey, you guys are all behind PEBHO, you got over the election, you're moving on, you're mature, you don't trash people, you're not negative, you're not cliquish.            

You're entitled to your unfettered opinions, and as far as I'm concerned, you don't need to defend any of your remarks.  You're conservatives, and that's just fine with me, even though many of your comments annoy the hell out of me.  I won't go onto your thread and trash it as the "anti-Obama" thread, even though that's clearly what it's become.

Have a Merry Christmas!  Oh, and carry on!   ----------------------->  $$$$$

Know that I have you on ignore, Patmom, so if anything in you post was directed at me, please don't be too upset if I don't comment, K? Got you there, too, ijl. One of the reasons I don't go to the Repub thread is because there'd probably be nothing but "Post supressed because you are ignoring this member" messages...

What can I say, it works for me... 

I'm sure, like Huckabee, Warren is a nice enough guy, anti-gay stances notwithstanding.  An elderly pro-gay marriage minister, Lowery, is doing the benediction.  So there's some attempt at balance. The problem I have with Warren, though, is that he's so much better known than Lowery and is going to overshadow him.  If Obama wanted an evangelical, why not pick a more modest one, one not associated with a megachurch?  And one not associated with Prop 8?  Warren was a bigtime backer.  Someone on the radio suggested that Obama give Melissa Etheridge and her spouse, and some other well-known married gay people, prominent places on the stage as well.  I think Etheridge is performing, but she should be out there with her spouse too.  As Milk said, in Milk, the more people realize we're out there, the harder it will be to discriminate against us.

Solis looks like a good choice for Labor, no?  And there's a rumor they might pick an openly gay guy for Secy of Navy.  I'm still debating Salazar and Duncan. 

I hope if they have an election for Senator in Illinois that Tammy Duckworth runs.  She's probably the only Dem out there who could win.  She seems like an awesome lady.