Positive Obama thread

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    lap - Their personal attacks should have been reported a long time ago.

    isn't that the truth.

    that being said, i am trying to grasp the obama largesse and find some compassion for the right side... imagine their disappointment, right about now. a successful presidency was bush's to lose and he did.

    he had such high popularity after 9/11, he had a republican congress and could have really done a lot for our country other than breed fear, greed and subsequent failure and consequences. 

    imagine the disappointment his diminished number of supporters must have...

    that must be real tough to take.

  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited January 2009

    Hi Bonnie,

    It was enjoyable to read your post.  I haven't been here for a long time because I don't have the stamina to sustain all of the negative energy....first coming at us, then what it is that I want to send back at it.  All too much.

    I stopped by today because I wanted to learn if anyone received one of the inaugural invitations (to the public events).  My son called to tell me that one arrived for me in the mail.  I'm thrilled to have it.  I've kept a few momentos but this I'll frame.  I'm still so happy for the country, for all of us and for the rest of the world.  I couldn't find anything on the change.gov site so I googled to see If it was marketing hype or something else.  I found You Tube videos then an ABC news report.  

    Today I received an emal from the Presidential Inaugural Committee that said Obama and Biden were leaving tomorrow by train to follow the journey made by Lincoln to Washington.  All who attend are asked to bring a can of food for the food bank.  I wanted to get on a plane today to be there....wish that I could.  Instead I have an appointment for echo vaginal, echo mammo, echo pelvic...had the mammography yesterday and blood work next week.  Then we leave on the 4th of Feb to be with my family and celebrate my mom's 90th birthday!  Sorry, but budgets and energy dictate that mom comes before Obama in this case.

    Someone here on the boards always comments on Berlusconi when I write here....so this is for her.   Like others of us here in Italy, we all want to apologize for our current Prime Minister.  He's the bad boy they've been ashamed of for a long time now (except for the "family")....others adore him.  This is the life and how he continues to be elected.  Our newspapers covered his insults to Mr. Obama, past and present, with much clarity...their support of Berlusconi there was not.   

    It's a reminder to me though that positivity requires nourishment to grow as Bonnie watered these seeds in her message above.  Fear only feeds the negative and fear has always been used to control and enslave people since the beginning of human existence. 

    And, what can we really expect of the moderators who's job it is to set the guidelines of the discussion of cancer not politics?  I think (but what do I know), we can expect their patience with us.  Is it really the responsibility of the moderators here to do more than to restate the guidelines?  If this was a cancer discussion, then I'd expect that they would have pulled the plug a long time ago.  But these threads were our outlet of current events...big yes they were, but definiately off topic from the purpose of these boards. I'm very appreciative of the work they've done over these years for this web site.  What would we have done without it?  I'd never had known so many really wonderful and remarkable people.  

    I'm going on .... but best wishes to all as always,

    Marilyn

    Ps.  Happy Inauguration Day to all of US. 

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    I'm just going to say this: it seems to me that it is the responsibility of the moderators to do more than restate the guidelines. Moderating means just that: stepping in to make sure things function correctly and are relatively fair and balanced, not just banning folks automatically via computer program if enough people hit the "report" button.

    That things have been so uneven is very telling to me. People have been and probably will continue to be suspended and permanently banned not for what they've said but because a group of folks with way too much time on their hands don't like what was said, where it was said or even how it was stated. Whether on the political threads (and do know that there are now two since it was proved quite quickly that we couldn't get along on just one) or anywhere else on this board, name calling, personal attacks and all that aren't supposed to be allowed - the rules CLEARLY state that. But it continues anyway. I realize this is a big board, but if it can't be monitored effectively, it should really be called what it is: a free-for-all, because that is certainly what it feels like...

    I've said it before and I will say it again: that "Report this Post" button should either be removed or the people that hit it should be publically identified. Although the button may keep spam at a minimum (and I'm not even sure it does that judging by some of the product ad posts and pms I've gotten) it has been abused for too long. Hard to believe there aren't any alternatives that can be used. I've requested that they be sought. Still waiting on an answer about that...

    The reality is that the biggest (and many cases - ONLY) connection we all share is breast cancer. Cyberspace, just like the real world is full of people who don't always share the same views you do. If we could agree to disagree, life would be groovy, but the world is in the shape its in now because we can't. Disagreements happen. That they get so out of control - especially in this environment - is absolutely ridiculous. Really - who's minding the store here?

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited January 2009

    I guess, blundin, I believe that personal attacks, on any threads have no place on a breast cancer support board. Such attacks take away from the purpose of the boards and I shudder to think of a new person perusing the boards and seeing people attacked by name.I guess I do think of that as part of  a board monitors responsibility, otherwise we have "here are the rules, follow them if you wish." I avoid people and posts that I don't respect. I have no patience for trolls who come on this thread simply to cause trouble or have temper tantrums. There's a difference between arguing a point and arguing with a person and between fair fighting and attacking.

    Laura- I think we only have to examine Bush's overextended farewell tour, which has neither been fair or well received, to understand why there are so few people who are sorry that he's leaving. Most people list Bush among the worst two  or three presidents that have served, many putting him below Nixon. No president has had such poor approval ratings except for Nixon. I do believe that Bush genuinely wants Obama to do well and recognizes that the election of a black person to the highest office in the perhaps the world transcends Barack Obama.

    To me, the significance of Obama's presidency means so many different positive things for the world. Apart from his political postions, most of which are the yin to bush's yang, there is so much to be happy and optimistic about. Barack Obama is a good, kind person. I don't think, since Jimmy Carter, there has been another president who I could say that about. While republicans like to trash the Carter presidency, it runs circles around Bush any day of the week. The Obama presidency is significant because now there is no governmental job that has been denied to a minority. I only had to listen to black people talk about how they never thought they'd live to see the day where a black person was elected president. Bill Cosby talked about bringing pictures of his deceased father and brother into the voting booth with him. Jesse Jackson's tears of joy and reflection on election night, and thoughts of those who sat, marched, and were martyred in order to make Barack's election possible bring me to tears.  Most people thought that a man named Barack Huessin Obama could never be elected president in the USA, and his victory shows that for the majority of voting americans, his name and race mattered less than his ability to bring about change and get this country back on track. For anyone who's been counted out, disenfranchised or dismissed, Obama's win said YES WE CAN, YES YOU CAN. On Tuesday at noon, Barack's inauguration means much more to me and to the world than Barack Obama, at least from where I'm sitting,

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    amy - i agree with you entirely. and one of the things that i am so happy to see is how obama has inspired the young people, the millenias,i was so touched to see bill cosby speak on his voting experience, it made me think of my father. 

    i wish my father had lived to see the day. he marched in selma, picketed housing developments that excluded blacks in the sixties, and he also felt that the election of a black president was not to be.

    and then there is my son, who registered republican at 18 and after watching the debates made his decision to vote for obama.

    i am so proud of our country, for sitting up and recognizing the chance to bring about the change  so very much needed..

    makes me want to go

    wooooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooo..:)))

  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited January 2009

    Well...unfortunately I was watching TV last night and a snippet of the "farewell" speech came on.  More words of "terror" and trying to instill fear in the US people.  He also mentioned, and I cannot quote this, because I refuse to go back and look at this again, but he said something about killing people being wrong.  WHAT???  Really?  Has he any clue of how many innocent Iraqis he has killed in the name of finding weapons that never existed, in the name of getting more oil????  That single snippet of his entire speech just made me sick.  I am SO glad he is gone!!!!!  I am so sick of all the hate mongers and liars that have supported all of this.  Just unbelievable.

    On to better days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Out of the box of terror and destruction and onto fixing what was beaten down. 

    Our NEW President.....

    Barack Obama Lovely Wallpaper

    OBAMA '09!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sealed

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    interesting read in the times, seems we are not the only ones discussing the bush presidency 

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article5526323.ece

    Having stood closely by George Bush's America these last few years as a trusted member of Tony Blair's inner circle, and then as Foreign Secretary, David Miliband yesterday chose the last 120 hours of Mr Bush's presidency to say what a disaster his foreign policy had been. The War on Terror was a "mistaken" doctrine that had united the West's enemies against us, he told an audience in Mumbai.

    that from the foreign secretary of our biggest ally, jolly ole great britian.

    ouch...

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    actually, i do give president bush some credit also for uniting the american majority...:)

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    little ggggggggggggg!

    at least he kept it rather short!Laughing

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited January 2009

    Ugh-- Republican John Bayner (sp?) is whining about the stimulus package because he doesn't have enough tax cuts. The wealthiest people shouldn't get any tax cuts imho, they benefitted for 8 years disproportionally from the Bush regime while middle and lower income folks floundered with peanuts.  The lower than rich folks pay a higher percentage of their income towards all the sales taxes, gas taxes, phone taxes etc. than the wealthy. I remember when Warren Buffet said there was no way he should be paying a smaller percentage (because of all the loopholes) than his secretary.  I think many republicans are greedy and want to believe that top/trickle down economics works, because it benefits them.  Middle/Low income folks suffer disproportionally when food prices go up and inflation hits.  I'm not knocking rich folks, I have plenty of them in my own family economists too, but they're all liberal dems who care less about lower taxes which benefit the few, than policies that benefit those who need them most.

    Obama is speaking in Ohio as we speak! Just think, in a few days we'll be hearing seeing and hearing him much more often!

  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited January 2009

    Laura....great article...here's an excerpt for those who haven't pulled up the link...I think this really sums up the last 8 years in a nutshell.

    The proper indictment of Mr Bush, then, is not the silly idea that he was some uniquely evil tyrant, seeking selfishly to enlarge the American Government's power around the world. It is that he was grotesquely, almost picturesquely, inept.

    His Administration was disastrously unprepared for the consequences of toppling Saddam Hussein, genuinely believing, it seems, that democracy would fall happily into place. It is tragic that tens of thousands of lives had to be lost to demonstrate the absurdity of that naivety.

    This ineptitude was later reflected in the response to Hurricane Katrina, and perhaps even more spectacularly and damagingly, over the response to the financial crisis in the last year, when Mr Bush's Administration has lumbered desultorily from one inadequate measure to the next.

    This, sadly, is the probable Bush legacy. History may one day come to view more favourably the goals and ideals of America in the last eight years. But it will surely never forgive the execution.

    I agree that at least the speech was short, but it's probably because no one would listen any longer. 

    Amy...I totally agree with you on the supposedly "trickle down" effect.  It must have "trickled" thru the cracks somewhere.  What a real mess this country is in right now.  Obama has a tough job ahead of him.  But..I have alot of faith in him, and all of us that are of a collective mind.  We'll get thru this and be better for it.  It's just a shame we had to sink so far. 

    Onward and upward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ... Campaign by Barack Obama.

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited January 2009

    This is a trip. I just love Obama's daughters. They're so honest.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/16/obamas-daughter-on-inaugu_n_158476.html

    As the final preparations are made for his historic Inauguration on Tuesday, pressure is mounting for President-elect Barack Obama-- including from his own children. Speaking to the Washington Post, Obama gives an account of his family "field trip" to the Lincoln Memorial where there is an inscribed copy of the 16th President's famous Second Inaugural speech. At this point, Obama's 7 year-old daughter Sasha asked her father if he would be giving a similar speech. Obama describes the interaction to the Post:

    "And I said, 'Well, actually, that's a short version, but yeah, I will,' " Obama recalled. "And then Malia says, 'First African American president -- it better be good.' "So I just want you to know the pressures I'm under here from my children.

    The family's "field trip" was a symbolic gesture to Lincoln, to whom Obama has frequently been compared. Obama's children clearly have equally or even higher expectations of their father. This sets them somewhat apart from their mother, who throughout the campaign has insisted that her husband is merely human. Ta-Nahisi Coates, in the January/February Atlantic delves into this quirk extensively, explaining why Michelle Obama was initially viewed as an "Angry Black Woman" during the campaign and why that really isn't the case at all. The article gives an enlightening account of the value the Obamas place on family. Coates quotes Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson:

    "We had a very fortunate upbringing," says Obama's brother, Craig Robinson. "It was filled with good times. We were like every other family. We had love and discipline. We had caring parents ... It wasn't unusual at all. It wasn't that everyone had both parents in the house, but it certainly wasn't like it is now, where you find single-parent families everywhere. Folks went to work, people were excited to get good grades ... People would laugh about folks finding out you were getting in trouble. People had mothers at home. So if someone broke a window, you always found out about it. You had a secondary line of defense."

    That the incoming President will have such a solid familial foundation (his mother-in-law will even be residing with them in the White House) should only bolster his performance as the leader of the free world. It is good to know that Obama's family can be both comforting and demanding.

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited January 2009

    Hi All:

    Just wanted to draw your attention to an interesting article in today's Globe and Mail entitled "Athiests hope (don't pray) to bring ads to Toronto", in reference to MKE's post regarding the bus ads in the U.K.  Since I'm inept at cutting and pasting, here is the link:   www.theglobeandmail.com  and click on Print Edition.

    Interestingly, of all the clergy quoted in the article, the only one who is raising a stink about it is from Christian Voice, an evangelical organization.  Other than him, the consensus is "Open dialogue about religion (or lack of) is good". 

    And on another note:  Warren Buffett is a smart, honest, compassionate man whose advice will be asked for, and heeded, by the new administration, I'm sure.

    By the way, it's been announced here that Obama's first visit will be to Canada.  We promise to greet him with open arms, and our Conservative Prime Minister is being advised, publicly, how to behave towards him!

    Cheers!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    little g - it really is too bad we had to sink so low, new gallup poll out this morning says 6 out of 10 americans are struggling, a 11% gain over last year. doesn't look like enough trickled down now did it... 

    amy -  i saw that piece and loved malia's remark to her dad. sooo cute.

    wooooooohooooooooo, bush is leaving the white house .... buh byeeeeeee!

    i am so excited for tuesday, mimosas will be flowing in my house, the flag will be flying,

    mission accomplished!

    when are we chatting? 

  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited January 2009

    Laura...mimosas...what a great idea!!!  I think I'll do that too!  Pop the cork on that celebration!!! 

    Can someone verify the time its going to air? 

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    9:00 our time, g ....

    hence the mimosas...real tasty with a big piece of change pie. :)

    wooooooooooohoooooooooo...

  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited January 2009

    OK...I am in!!!  And I'm also in for the chat!!  One hand typing, one hand drinking, and all smiles!!!!

  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited January 2009
      Just wanted to add another pic!!  :-)
  • sccruiser
    sccruiser Member Posts: 1,119
    edited January 2009

    Ohhh! Mimosas sound soooooooo good!! I'm in also. Good thing I can type with one hand if I have to. LOL

  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2009

    Mimosas, yes! 

    Lindsa, thanks for the link.  I'm sure Canadians will give Obama a lovely welcome.  You guys are so civilized!

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited January 2009

    Thanx LA.  Well, we try (she said modestly....)  While I am most definitely not a fan of our current PM Stephen Harper, he is at least intelligent and respectful.

    I remember having a long conversation with my American cousin (who summers in Michigan and winters in Calif -- another smart guy!!) prior to the 2000 U.S. election.  He was torn during that election -- concerned about Gore not having the political smarts, but concerned also about Bush not having the smarts, period!  This election, there was no confusion -- Obama all the way.

    Just heard that a Toronto children's choir will be singing the late, great Oscar Peterson's Hymn to Freedom at the inauguration.  Enjoy all the festivities -- we'll be watching from afar!

    Linda

  • flyrzfan
    flyrzfan Member Posts: 557
    edited January 2009

    Im glad to see you all still here today...I understand your frustration. I often got in trouble with moms as a kid because I would step in and fight someone else's battle if I saw them getting picked on. I don't like seeing people bullied...it's just my nature. I also don't want anyone getting banned or stressed over things they can't change. Sometimes an arguement not had, is an arguement won.

    NO HATE ZONE! That should be the moderators motto...regardless of whether it's bc related or not...IMHO

    I'll finish catching up later...it's later than I thought it was...g'd night...safe trips to those of you travelling to my neck of the woods!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    mimosas and chat sounds great...it is a date...

    richard wolf on olbermann saying bush was trying to put lipstick on the pig last night. too funny. did cheney really take a snooze?

    seems obama has quite the lovefest going with many senior republicans on the hill.

    nice to hear toronto children's choir will participate in the inauguration, an experience of a lifetime, for sure.

    bonnie you are so sweet, especially for a flyers fan...

    wooooooooooooooohoooooooooooo, the train leaves the station tomorrow......

  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2009

    Thanks, Bonnie for your support and understanding.  I see you are in Rockville.  I grew up in Silver Spring.  But you're from Philly?  Hope you survive the inaugural craziness!   

    Laura, I do believe Mr. Cheney was nodding off.  But can you blame him?

    Maybe the fact that Obama is a former senator is helping to smooth the way on the Hill.  They're a very clubby group.  Except for David Vitter, the only senator to give Hillary a "no" vote.  You know, the guy who confessed to hiring prostitutes (an actual crime), but who still has a vendetta against Clinton for his transgressions?  

    Any more word on who's going to replace Hillary?          

  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited January 2009

    flyrz- I agree with you about battles not had. That's the beauty of the ignore feature.

    Wouldn't it be nice if Israel agrees to a ceasefire in celebration of the inauguration. I know, wishful thinking, but there are enough innocent people dead and no matter  how they spin it, if not for their offensive strikes, that wouldn't be. Diplomacy is coming in 3 days.

    LAP- I hope your daughter gets off  ok. She's going to be freezing today, the coldest day in years! At least it'll be dry for her. Is she going to the concert on sunday?  You should have volunteered to chaperson-- just to go! If they need an extra one, I can come from philly quickly. Bitter is a classic hypocrite and no that was not a typo. To be fair, I don't think prostitution should be illegal for consenting adults because if it's legal it can be regulated for the health and safety of the workers and clients because if consentual, it's a  victimless crime. Clinton's only problem (aside from the ick factor) was lying under oath, whether or not he should have been in a position to lie is beside the point. That's the part that I hold onto, because the president should be the epitome of law abiding (another reason I dislike Bush's regime). How can anyone be guilty of the lying under oath if the president is not held to the same standard, whether that lie was about an affair, outing a CIA covert agent, or skimming the books,

    Everyone in the world should hope Obama succeeds, because when he succeeds, they also succeed. A better US economy and stock market sends ripples throughout the world and effects their economies. Lower unemployment means more people able to spend money at their businesses. The people who don't like Obama and oppose his policies still win if Obama succeeds and the country does well. Everyone needs Obama to do well.

    Lots of inauguration stuff on tv this weekend, for those of us who are frozen inside (note to LAP and others who live in hot spots, I really don't want to hear how warm it is there or how you needed the a/c LOL. I'll send you my heating bill if you'd like Cool.

  • flyrzfan
    flyrzfan Member Posts: 557
    edited January 2009

    Morning Obama fans...3 more days! I'm excited enough to have a party (even if it's just me and my dog Charlie attending). but not daring enough to brave the crowds, cold and lack of porto's!

    LOL Laura...I love my Philly teams...but I have the same problem with (most) Philly fans that I do with Bullies...I don't like them! I grew up in Philly...a homeless teen who was the target of those who were no better - just thought they were. I had my fair share of years lashing out...and I know how hard it was for me to face the truth about it and change it. Change is funny though, it doesn't just happen - you have to want it and work at it every day.

    I'm trying to find out when you guys are chatting? Is anyone going to be chatting during the cermonies? I love my dp but she's not the celebrating type...really, about anything. I swear I could win the mega millions and her reaction would be "oh, good honey..." and that would be it :) Would love to have a chat going with others as opposed to doing the crowd thing...let me know if there are any takers !

    Have a great day all...stay warm!

  • Little-G
    Little-G Member Posts: 647
    edited January 2009

    I am so excited!!!!!!  I can't believe it's almost here!!  An end to the Bush regime!  And a brand new day!!!!  I echo Tracy in saying yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!  Sealed

    So...Amy...where are we chatting on Tues?

  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited January 2009

    Everybody, I just wanted to post a link to this in case it hadn't been posted here already.  The link is to my blog, where I posted this wonderful video on my front page.  Makes me cry every time I watch it.  You can right-click and select "Open in New Tab" so you don't navigate away from bc.org.  www.accidentalamazon.com

    I'm soooooo  glad I'm off on Tuesday.

  • Belinda44
    Belinda44 Member Posts: 718
    edited May 2011
  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited January 2009

    Thanks KAK!

    Serene- I hear what you're saying about it being nice to say you're from the USA. I've been embarrassed to sat so since we invaded iraq. I know what you mean about feeling bad for the unexcepting folks. They are missing out on something quite special.

    Chat is here http://www.breastcancer.org/community/chat_rooms/ in the staying connected room. The proceedings in DC start at 11:30 EST with the swearing in precisely at noon. I figure I'll be here from 10 am on and off through the parade and the parties at night so anyone (who is an obama supporter) if you can't make it at the time of the inauguration swearing in check back later.  For anyone watching, if you would kindly turn your back to the tv for the minute or so that Warren is speaking in protest to him politicizing his hateful thoughts that the LGBT community is no different than pedophiles, I would be happy.

    I hope all of us on the Obama thread (and positive Obama lurkers) will be there if they can, unless of course like DJD and LadySuz, you're actually there. We had such a good time election night. Sharing the joy of election night with people from here was really special.

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