I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

PM coming

oky-doke!

I wish the mods hadn't relented on political talk here. It's a long time until the election. I hope we can all stay friends.

(((((((((((Barb))))))))))

Hi Barbara. You're definitely entitled to your own opinion regarding the political discourse in your own country.  But if you've been reading all the posts here about the upcoming election, you HAD to know that your post would not necessarily be viewed exactly favourably!  On the other hand, it certainly led to some very knowledgeable posters providing some very interesting information about the foreign service, to mention just one.

I remember, having joined BCO in August 2008, reading the political threads and being, frankly, astounded, at the vehemence  with which each side expressed their feelings.  It was my first experience with a discussion forum of any kind, and certainly an eye-opening experience to see how very, very politicized the posters were.  Being a long-time bleeding heart Canadian liberal, I was drawn to the democratic side!  The discussions got increasingly heated and sometimes downright nasty, with members posting stuff on each others' threads.

The mods learned their lesson after 2008, and I'm sure they decided that in this election cycle, it was going to be a "go to your own corners and stay there" or else the threads would come down and political discussions would be banned completely.  But they also realized that politics has enormous amount to do with the life, times and health conditions of all the members here.  So the advice was "If you don't like what you're reading -- either here or there -- then make prodigious use of the ignore button".

I really only read this thread (and a couple of others where discussions about symptoms seem to apply to me), and never even take a peek at "that other thread" because those opinions don't interest me in the least.  If I want to know what's going on in GOP-land, then there are ample websites and newspapers to fill me in. 

We all like to interact with folks who think along the same lines ( in politics, in religion, in language, in culture).  The world doesn't come in just two colours; there are many hues and gradations.  We do see different opinions on this thread, but I think we all lean towards the progressive, forward-thinking side of the colour spectrum.

And we don't talk politics ALL the time! 

Barbara; don't know you but hello. Congrats on the job offer!!

Thanks for posting this IllionoisLady....Romney doesn't care that these jobs are going to China...that's how he makes his profit (taxed at 15%!!!!!).

Okay, Athena, I'm going to bite.  The reason I said "over and out" is not because I wouldn't love to participate in a discussion about our differences of opinion, but because I worry that it could lead to some heated words and nastiness.... and that goes against the rules set up by the Moderators.  I don't want the Mods to shut you guys down. That's why I'm not continuing the discussion.

But.... (yeah, I just can't help myself), in response to all the explanations about Obama's "lies" or broken promises, actually, I get it.  $#!t happens.  Things weren't as expected. I know perfectly well why most of the campaign promises that I mentioned were not met. I was actually making a point.  

In corporate life, a good manager or executive is someone who is flexible and who is able to adapt to the environment.  Someone who thoughtfully and with clear purpose changes the execution and tactics as new information comes in.  The strategy and goals should remain the same, but the way you get there may have to change. That's true in governing too. And it's certainly true in political campaigns.  It's true in life too. We probably all had to change our at least our short-term plans when we were diagnosed, but our overall goals remained the same.  So whether it's Obama or Romney, I don't consider changes in tactics or an execution plan to be a horrible thing or a big lie, not if the overall objectives and strategies are the same.  

Obama has lied during this campaign.  Romney has lied during this campaign.  The objective fact checkers have them pretty much even on that.  Obama has changed tactics.  Romney has changed tactics. Obama has failed to deliver to promises. Romney... well we'll see what happens if he's elected but I'll bet that if he is, there will be some promises that he will fail to deliver.  

If you are going to excuse and explain away all of Obama's broken promises and lies and changes in position and policy, and have one set of rules for him, you need to be fair and allow those same excuses and apply those same set of rules to Romney. You can't say that one set of behaviors is fine when Obama or Biden do it, but it's not fine when Romney or Ryan do it. They are all politicians, after all.  That's the point I was trying to make but I guess I was too subtle. 

By the way, if we are doing donations tonight, I'll go for Planned Parenthood.   

So Not Fat, Blue!!  I'd love to be your size! You look great.

Blue-you look beautiful. I love your dress. I wish I had the arms and decollette(sp?) to wear a dress like that. 

Mary 

Blue, you look gorgeous!



Dinner last night was great (yes, Kam, that was my cooking...I love to cook, especially this time of year when it's cooled down but there's still all this great produce).



Athena, in response to your question a page or so back - phone calling to PA last Thursday went well. I got a lot of answering machines, of course, but the folks that I did reach we're mostly Obama supporters or leaning in that direction...including one guy who told me he was a registered Republican but was totally with the President.

Blue, lovely dress!

Some encouraging news:

"Obama grabs wide lead among those who have already voted: Reuters/Ipsos poll"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/14/us-usa-campaign-poll-idUSBRE8991FR20121014

Saw a quote this morning that so reminded me of pants on fire Romney:

"Outside noisy, inside empty."
Chinese
Proverb

( interesting as well that it comes apparently from some of the people he likes to seee favored with work )

I know it's a little tacky but it was there. 

Jackie