It's all George W. Bush's fault! **politics thread**

[Russell1892]

Mainly because of the seven years I spent in Germany, the year I spent in Austria, and the fact that I study and teach German.

Wow, do you have a thread about you in Yanks Abroad? :p

I knew about the rest, I didn't know about the seven years in Deutschland though. I arsed up my German oral GCSE exam, when asked "wie alt sind Sie?" I answered "Ich bin sechzig jahre alt"... I meant to say "sechzehn" offensichtlich. Damn Germans.

All I remember now is "Ich speile fuβball" and "Ich bin fuβball gespielt"... oh and "Das ist richtig." So if I'm having a conversation about playing football in a couple of tenses and the confirmation of said event... I'm set.

[BayernWake]

Wow, do you have a thread about you in Yanks Abroad? :p

I knew about the rest, I didn't know about the seven years in Deutschland though.

Didn't learn much German during that time though, as I was growing up on American army bases.

[JaredSS07]

So what did everyone think about the inauguration? Anyone make it through the whole speech? I listened to the beginning and then read the rest. For the most part I liked it and agreed with it.

I heard large sections of the crowd weren't paying attention and were leaving early. It's a shame people would come for the spectacle and not the details. They must have a real shallow interest in our government.

I think the news articles about the oath are stupid. People misspeaking is not news. Also, the classless chanting at Bush was pathetic. Why can't people honor the office of the President and the transfer of power without acting like kids at a basketball game?

[tigerdave]

So what did everyone think about the inauguration? Anyone make it through the whole speech? I listened to the beginning and then read the rest. For the most part I liked it and agreed with it.

I heard large sections of the crowd weren't paying attention and were leaving early. It's a shame people would come for the spectacle and not the details. They must have a real shallow interest in our government.

I think the news articles about the oath are stupid. People misspeaking is not news. Also, the classless chanting at Bush was pathetic. Why can't people honor the office of the President and the transfer of power without acting like kids at a basketball game?

I thought the speech was more gloom and doom than subdued somber. But maybe that's just my preconceptions stepping in, who knows. I thought it rather pedestrian compared to other speeches I've seen from President Obama in the past. Having said that, it was one that better reasonated with me than most of his speeches, even if I don't agree with his campaign platform whatsoever.

[City Dave]

I've heard him talk more than enough. I'm sick of listening to him talk, it's time for him to put up or shut up. He didn't really say anything new.

[BayernWake]

I've heard him talk more than enough. I'm sick of listening to him talk

Inaugurations are for speeches. Duh. What did you expect?

[City Dave]

Inaugurations are for speeches. Duh. What did you expect?

He asked what I thought about the inauguration and that's what I thought about it. My thoughts aren't stupid or wrong. I didn't expect him to do anything but talk. I never said that I did.

The fact that it was an inauguration and all he was supposed to do was speak doesn't invalidate anything I've said or make me appear ignorant despite your insinuations.

Nice try, though.

[tigerdave]

And it wasn't even a good speech either.

[JaredSS07]

I have found the first statement (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0109/Mocking_DC.html)by Obama that I wholeheartedly endorse.

[City Dave]

I have found the first statement (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0109/Mocking_DC.html)by Obama that I wholeheartedly endorse.

Well, he's also said that he agrees with the plan for the development of a playoff system for college football. So, you might agree with that as well.

Besides, he's a West Ham fan... pfft.

[BayernWake]

He asked what I thought about the inauguration and that's what I thought about it. My thoughts aren't stupid or wrong. I didn't expect him to do anything but talk. I never said that I did.

The fact that it was an inauguration and all he was supposed to do was speak doesn't invalidate anything I've said or make me appear ignorant despite your insinuations.

Nice try, though.

Wow, you are insecure.

[City Dave]

Wow, you are insecure.
At least I'm not a liberal.

[Toon³]

At least I'm not a liberal.

What's a liberal?

[City Dave]

What's a liberal?

http://www.liberalnutjobs.com/

[Toon³]

http://www.liberalnutjobs.com/

Glad to see you don't stereotype

[City Dave]

Glad to see you don't stereotype

It's not my site.

Btw, it's not stereotyping to say that "this kind of person is a liberal". That's definition.

I just linked to it to show you want I meant by liberal without taking much effort to spell it out. I just found that site today, found the comic to be amusing, so it was fresh in my mind. I haven't even spent more than two minutes perusing it, perhaps I shouldn't have linked to it.

When I say liberal I'm referring to people on the far, far left of the American democratic spectrum. Perhaps I should have linked here instead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_American_liberalism

Although, I don't mind some of the more moderate ones.

Oh, and personally, I'm sure many conservatives would consider me a liberal when it comes to social issues. It's the economic/fiscal side of things where I'm more conservative.

According to this (http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html) I'm a centrist. Heck, I'd be interested to see other people in this thread's results. Yes, the quiz may be biased, but it's still amusing.

I've taken longer ones that basically tell me what I already know. Fiscal conservative, social liberal, but close to center on both.

I'm kind of in the top-right corner, but pretty far from being a libertarian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_chart

[Toon³]

It's not my site.

Btw, it's not stereotyping to say that "this kind of person is a liberal". That's definition.

I just linked to it to show you want I meant by liberal without taking much effort to spell it out. I just found that site today, found the comic to be amusing, so it was fresh in my mind. I haven't even spent more than two minutes perusing it, perhaps I shouldn't have linked to it.

When I say liberal I'm referring to people on the far, far left of the American democratic spectrum. Perhaps I should have linked here instead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_American_liberalism

Although, I don't mind some of the more moderate ones.

What's wrong with being a liberal?

[City Dave]

What's wrong with being a liberal?

Other than the fact that I don't agree with many of their viewpoints? Nothing.

It's a personal preference.

[Toon³]

Other than the fact that I don't agree with many of their viewpoints? Nothing.

It's a personal preference.

Why don't you agree with their views?

[City Dave]

Why don't you agree with their views?

Ummm... because I don't? They either don't make sense to me, I don't think they're correct, etc. That's a very vague question so I'm having a difficult time with it.

For example, one of the "liberal" view points in the US is anti-NAFTA and free trade in general. I think that's ignorant and ineffective. There is no "keeping jobs" in the US by having tariffs, etc. I'm more of a laissez faire person when it comes to economic policy. The whole "outsourcing is bad" thing. I don't agree. Allowing goods/services to be produced where that can be done most efficiently and cost-effectively ultimately results in lower costs for everyone, etc. "Protecting jobs" in the US by restricting such things is effectively a tax on everyone that uses them. It doesn't do anyone a favor and it's one of the reasons that our auto and steel industries in the US are in such horrid shape. They were protected for too long and incompetence flourished. Tariffs should only be used when it's a national security issue. There's a lot more to it than this but I don't feel like writing an economic essay, I think you get my point.

Why don't you just stop beating around the bush and tell me what you're getting at?