2012 US Presidential Election

[Alaris]

When I said that "I want to believe he had no choice", I meant that I don't really have evidence to back this up. For that matter, I don't really have evidence to think otherwise either. I just don't follow US politics that closely. And yes, I'd like to see him support OWS more, especially speaking out against the arrests.

[Kael Valeran]

NDAA I could give him. But Patroit Act? Why do you say he had no choice?

Its not that he had no choice or he made a bad choice. It could very well be the best choice available. Sometimes it is very unethical to ditch a project halfway. The patriotic act allows some investigations to be carried out which may have positive impact on the people. Especially when there is already a lead, and the investigation usually take months, to years, an extra 4 years to wrap things up may actually yield some potentially good results. Of course, there is the fear of what might happen in 4 years, but to destroy all previous work and waste all that taxpayers money would be silly. I am sure he must have weighed the benefits and risks of the act based on his character (which is why people voted for him in the first place.) Furthermore, it is very very very unlikely that the average american with a clean record and no shady activities would be implicated in this act.

[RD]

Let's assume you are correct and that is why he renewed the Patroit Act. Why not do the right thing and create a new law that accomplishes the parts of the Patroit Act that he wanted to keep?

[Kael Valeran]

Let's assume you are correct and that is why he renewed the Patroit Act. Why not do the right thing and create a new law that accomplishes the parts of the Patroit Act that he wanted to keep?

That will be like telling people 'we have a national secret, but we're not going to tell you(but of course you can send spies or hack into our system and find out anyways...)'

There is a lot of what ifs with my hypothesis, I agree, but the opposing theory is also filled with loads of what ifs and maybes.

I don't see why so many people hate Obama. What else do you want? Another Bush?

[RD]

That will be like telling people 'we have a national secret, but we're not going to tell you(but of course you can send spies or hack into our system and find out anyways...)'

So, I had a counter-point prepared, but, in gathering research to back up my point, I discovered that Obama only signed in three provisions of the Patriot Act, none of which are that bad. God, I hate journalism in this country. Do a search for Obama Patriot Act and the headlines are all "Obama extends Patriot Act."

I don't see why so many people hate Obama. What else do you want? Another Bush?

A lot of people just don't want a black president. I don't think it's as bad as when he first came into office, but I really do think a lot of his political opposition is because he's black. I mean, the fact that he was the first black president and also the first president who had to publicly release his full birth certificate to prove he wasn't born in Africa..... There are also people who just disagree with his totally radical beliefs in freedom and safety for Americans.
I like him, but he's far from perfect. (Not that anyone would be perfect.)

[Alaris]

Ty RDarken for info on Patriot Act.

Boo media, yay Obama

[Kael Valeran]

A lot of people just don't want a black president. I don't think it's as bad as when he first came into office, but I really do think a lot of his political opposition is because he's black. I mean, the fact that he was the first black president and also the first president who had to publicly release his full birth certificate to prove he wasn't born in Africa

Kudos on the heads up on the Act. I don't understand the black part. I thought the whole point of voting him as president was because he was black and would be a central figure of fairness in a white dominant society. Aren't whites the ones who invented the anti-racism culture? Black man in the white house. Thats cool. Its like black man with white teeth, or black woman with white pearls. They go well together.

I just thought Obama was a little naive and believed the world to be slightly more ideal than it actually is. Otherwise, I believe he did a good job.

[RD]

I don't think white people invented anti-racism... And just because a lot of people are proud to have a black president doesn't mean all the crotchety old white men are. Way more than half of Americans are in favor of same-sex marriage, but it's still not legal.

That video highlights one of the reasons I really like Obama. He's so professional, calm. Even when a kid is like "Why do people hate you?" he's cool about it.

[MixedVariety]

Do a lot of people actually hate Obama?

I mean, he captivated the media, who in turn captivated the citizenry of the U.S. enough to vote him into office, despite the fact that he really had nothing much to offer except a lot of cool slogans.

I don't see him as being hateworthy at all, he's just kind of ... ineffective and pointless. Except when he went and killed bin Laden, of course.

[Kael Valeran]

I don't see him as being hateworthy at all, he's just kind of ... ineffective and pointless. Except when he went and killed bin Laden, of course.

He made many good decisions but they were faced with unfair resistance that did not exist during Bush's administration. He should have played the ball safer because not many people liked him to begin with. I don't see him as ineffective and pointless. I think he set the foundation for presidents generations to come. He could have done more if congress was more relenting.