I see our President more as the "Barney Miller" type.

Dave, I am sorry... it looks like we are all getting down on you.. I mean nothing personal. I'm with Kevin, please don't zap my account!
I am also with cheryl, psb (who is with cheryl),Larry, Ceashel, Zap, DRR, and a bunch of others.

It sounds trivial, but perhaps "Hypocrisy " is too strong a word?
What is the issue here? He had the temperature up , but wants Americans to lower theirs? Just want to make sure, are you are looking for someone to refute over the statements on the temperature setting ?

Hypocrisy (or the state of being a hypocrite) is the act of preaching a certain belief, religion or way of life, but not, in fact, holding these same virtues oneself.

Here are former lobbyists Obama has tapped for top jobs:

* Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
* Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
* William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
* William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
* David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
* Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
* Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
* Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
* Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
* Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
* Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
* Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.

This doesn’t count Tom Daschle, who never registered as a lobbyist but got paid millions for his political connections in pursuit of preferential treatment for his clients in the health-care industry.

It’s been less than two weeks since Obama took office, and he’s appointed a lobbyist a day to a government position. What kind of governing philosophy is that, if not a big “For Sale” sign on the White House, at least according to Obama’s own anti-lobbyist rhetoric on the campaign trail? A lobbyist a day helps keeps accountability away.

Yes, he is politician, too. But he has at least half the world behind him and his message is hope. He is saying, hey we ( together) can make an impact on this world.

I respect you views, but I have come to admire the One, as you put it, and hey I need and want hope right now.

Now is the time for all good men, and women, to shed their old, stained w underoos and put on their big boy pants, and come to the aid of their country.

It's Dave's turn to suffer for the next 4 to 8 years!

Obama's "Blunders" Give Me No Joy

Unlike those on the Left, who undermined the legitimacy of President George W. Bush and took every opportunity to humiliate and hamstring him, it gives me no satisfaction to see President Barack Obama struggle at every turn since his inauguration. It's not good for America to have the President putting forward tax cheats and criminals, being bullied by Russia, pushed by Korea, taunted by Iran, and dominance downed by the EU (although, I'm glad their tariff fright changed that obscene Stimulus Bill provision). He looks silly.

The world situation is delicate. History lesson (again): Economic instability tends to presage military instability.

America does not need to look like a dithering, unfocused mess right now. Too much is at stake. President Barack Obama needs to pull it together. Now. Of course, that means actually deciding what he believes. He managed to be on every side of every issue. I was kinda hoping he was being deceitful and actually had a perspective about how things should be. Now, I'm not so sure.

Won't it be interesting (and horrible) if we have a likable president personality-wise, who actually causes destruction after having a hated president, who maintained America's reputation far more than anyone wanted to admit?

Now, in turn, I ask you - Don't you think that making such a sweeping claim like "...at least half the world is behind him..." is perhaps a bit too strong as well? Or do you have supporting evidence to such a bold statement?

My point was that he is a widely supported politician, and many people, including myself and some others here, want to see him succeed for all our sakes.

No. I have no hard numbers, votes, polls or scientific data to support that statement, and I withdraw it from this refutation!

I hope you feel better, Dave!

Thank you! However, it seems like many are not reading me correctly... My panties aren't bunched up in the least... I'm having a hell of a time here. I am very amused.

how about a tax break for the rich and subsidized capitalism! it is all very amusing?

Barack Obama found another way to look weak and inexperienced this week, this time on the trade war threatened by the administration’s stimulus package. After pandering to unions by inserting a “Buy American” clause in the gigantic porkfest, Europe and Asia threatened trade sanctions on American companies competing for business in their markets. Obama finally ran up the white flag instead of Old Glory.

Give Obama some credit for coming to his senses, albeit a little late. The protectionist language in the bill locks out foreign suppliers from our infrastructure projects, which sounds great until one realizes that other nations will lock out American companies from their infrastructure projects as well. It’s a replay of the Smoot-Hawley disaster, and it would magnify the current economic crisis immeasurably in touching off a trade war — just as the original Smoot-Hawley did in 1930.

Unfortunately, though, Obama looks less like a leader and more like a man reacting to events. He should have foreseen the consequences of the legislation before pushing it. Now, instead of looking like the leader of the free world, Obama looks like a man flailing in the water, looking for lifelines, without a clue as to how to govern or an understanding of trade or foreign relations. He projects weakness, uncertainty, and inexperience at a time when America can ill afford any of those three, let alone the hat trick.

How about we bring in people who don't even pay taxes? How about we try passing a bill that would likely start another trade war and further tank the economy? How about we start looking like we know what the hell we are doing? No, you are correct - that shit ain't amusing...

So, let's see... Um, sorry, I fucked up. Oh damn, I fucked up again. But don't worry, I'll turn it around. Shit, fucked up again. Where the hell is Biden? What about his advisors? Surely SOMEONE in office has half a brain cell left. How many more times is he gonna have to appologize before even the left starts turning on him. The honeymoon is over folks.

Eight years of colossal stupidity that destroyed the economy and fucked up the world! At least this guy says, hey, this guy is not who I thought he was! I don't want to force him into a position I have to count on! I would just as soon get rid of him and find somebody else! To me, that is a refreshing approach!

It takes strength to change directions! Something the previous White House tenant did not comprehend!

In this globalized world we must remember that it’s not just the US that’s going down, it’s the whole world. Have you seen any good news from any country in the last six months or so? Strain yourself and you might dredge some iota of optimism from somewhere, but in general it’s wishful thinking.

President Obama wants a “fresh” approach to the financial crisis, but buying toxic debt and stimulus packages sound like the old school approach to me. Have any bailouts or stimulus packages ever worked before? I think the Obama administration is just as insane as the previous one (if you believe the classic definition of the word). We actually do need a fresh approach to this crisis for everybody’s sake.

I believe that if a company needs bailing out it is already beyond saving and will not contribute to the stabilizing of the economy in the future. Only successful banks and companies can possibly nurse the US back to health. I have to say that the bailout of GM was an extremely temporary measure and you can guarantee that management will be back for more soon. Have the bailouts created any jobs, helped working families, done anything at all? When you look at the dire employment situation you would have to say no.

The old system has failed but no-one wants to see it die. They will continue to support obscene payouts to banks instead of looking for fresh ideas which is what we desperately need. The burden of all this spending will be a tax burden that the ordinary citizen cannot bear. Everything that is being done now is exacerbating an already awful situation.

We must cut out wasteful spending and start to use money in a more reasonable, prudent way. We also must allow markets to get through this crisis with a more competitive philosophy by allowing failed banks and businesses to actually shut down rather than trying to turn them into toxic zombies that endanger the entire world.