Let's give President Obama some benefit of the doubt.

brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
edited September 2013 in A Moving Train
OK, I admit I'm not 100% thrilled with everything President Obama has done but I for one find it really off-putting to hear people bitch and moan about the president all the time. So many assume that everything that goes wrong is Obama's doing, his fault. So many people assume that Obama has some kind of omnipotence that creates the situations we read about.

What about the fact that the president's power is limited by a number of factors? What about responsibility we hold as in "government of the people, by the people, for the people"? Why do we blame one man for the things we don't like seeing happen, as if that one man holds all the cards and the keys and buttons?

Why not give the man some benefit of the doubt and consider that most likely not a single one of us could handle that job as well as he is?

Just a thought.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • good luck with giving him the benefit of the doubt. people that hate him are always gonna hate him. people that like him are always going to kind of like him. i am extremely pissed at him right now. that doesn't mean i hate the guy. he has the toughest job in the world.

    i talk shit on here all the time about what i would do as president. but that is what i would do given my knowledge of the situation. for every fact i know there are 20 that i am not privy to.

    what galls me the most is he voted against iraq in the senate, kerry got famous protesting war, and there these guys are making the case for more war in yet another country.

    the whole world has turned upside down.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam Posts: 139,720
    i like obama,but im not giving him any benefit of the doubt when his call is war and bomb people
    with or without UN permition
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • asking people that already dislike obama to give him the benefit of the doubt is not possible imo. i hated bush, and i laughed when people asked me to give him the benefit of the doubt. i still do. turns out i was right.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
    dimmi, gimme, I get what you're saying and I don't disagree. It's just that we look at one person and say, "It's all his fault". Is it really that simple? Maybe. I really don't know but I just can't imagine that's the case.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • otterotter Posts: 760
    brianlux wrote:
    OK, I admit I'm not 100% thrilled with everything President Obama has done but I for one find it really off-putting to hear people bitch and moan about the president all the time. So many assume that everything that goes wrong is Obama's doing, his fault. So many people assume that Obama has some kind of omnipotence that creates the situations we read about.

    What about the fact that the president's power is limited by a number of factors? What about responsibility we hold as in "government of the people, by the people, for the people"? Why do we blame one man for the things we don't like seeing happen, as if that one man holds all the cards and the keys and buttons?

    Why not give the man some benefit of the doubt and consider that most likely not a single one of us could handle that job as well as he is?

    Just a thought.

    Duuuuuude.........

    This president became President because he bitched and moaned about the president.

    Obama promised and that is the big word "promise" that he would fix everything he bitched and moaned about.

    Dude.....Obama does hold the keys. He does whatever he wants and ignores the laws that separate his power from the other branches of government.

    The last sentence you wrote is off the mark big time. OMG. Re-read that last sentence you wrote. You are wrong, you are so wrong, you are unbelievably wrong, you could not be more wrong. That sentence is the scariest thought I have ever heard. This is the truth: if not for America humanity would not exist. The naiveté and self-righteousness of Obama is going to cause pain, suffering, and misery in this country and the world.

    How could you ever give the benefit of the doubt to a president who proceeds with the policy that is causing America to decline? If America declines so does the civilized world. UGH
    I found my place......and it's alright
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    I can't remember liking any President. They all abuse the office and they all have Constitutional violations. They all pretend to be King.

    James Madison knew that the Executive branch would be under the most pressure to attack other nations, and that's why they gave the responsibility to a larger body (Congress).
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    brianlux wrote:
    OK, I admit I'm not 100% thrilled with everything President Obama has done but I for one find it really off-putting to hear people bitch and moan about the president all the time. So many assume that everything that goes wrong is Obama's doing, his fault. So many people assume that Obama has some kind of omnipotence that creates the situations we read about.

    What about the fact that the president's power is limited by a number of factors? What about responsibility we hold as in "government of the people, by the people, for the people"? Why do we blame one man for the things we don't like seeing happen, as if that one man holds all the cards and the keys and buttons?

    Why not give the man some benefit of the doubt and consider that most likely not a single one of us could handle that job as well as he is?

    Just a thought.

    so the same thing can be said about Bush or Regan ?


    Godfather.
  • Of course, we should be aware that Obama is not the one pulling strings here. He's just the puppet that we're supposed to point fingers at.
  • JimmyVJimmyV Posts: 19,172
    Criticisms that come from people who have hated him since before he took office should rightly be ignored.

    I am all for giving this President the benefit of the doubt. I have given him the benefit of much doubt...on Libya, on continued support for Israel, on the ACA, etc. Syria is a different animal though. There is no reason for us to go in, there is no benefit to us going in, and there will be no easy way out once we are in. This is a mistake.
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • JimmyV wrote:
    Criticisms that come from people who have hated him since before he took office should rightly be ignored.

    I am all for giving this President the benefit of the doubt. I have given him the benefit of much doubt...on Libya, on continued support for Israel, on the ACA, etc. Syria is a different animal though. There is no reason for us to go in, there is no benefit to us going in, and there will be no easy way out once we are in. This is a mistake.

    I agree. Good thing there hasn't been an "administration decision" yet...

    And your first sentence is right on.
  • dignindignin Posts: 9,336
    edited August 2013
    otter wrote:

    Duuuuuude.........

    This president became President because he bitched and moaned about the president.

    Obama promised and that is the big word "promise" that he would fix everything he bitched and moaned about.

    Dude.....Obama does hold the keys. He does whatever he wants and ignores the laws that separate his power from the other branches of government.

    The last sentence you wrote is off the mark big time. OMG. Re-read that last sentence you wrote. You are wrong, you are so wrong, you are unbelievably wrong, you could not be more wrong. That sentence is the scariest thought I have ever heard. This is the truth: if not for America humanity would not exist. The naiveté and self-righteousness of Obama is going to cause pain, suffering, and misery in this country and the world.

    How could you ever give the benefit of the doubt to a president who proceeds with the policy that is causing America to decline? If America declines so does the civilized world. UGH


    If not for America humanity would not exist?

    If America declines so does humanity?

    I'm sure you're not being serious but I will be.

    Obama is in a tough spot right now since he drew the line in the sand with the use of chemical weapons. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

    But I will not give him the benefit of the doubt, he is breaking one too many promises. I'm not one to say that war is never an option but there is not enough conclusive evidence to say who is doing what yet.

    Over 100,000 people have lost their lives so far. Why the rush to go to war for these 1,500 (which according to doctors without boarders is actually around 350)?

    Too many questions, not enough answers. If the past gives us any insight we should never give our leaders the benefit of the doubt. Always question.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
    So which is it: A fop or a dandy or an easterner vacationing on a ranch? Oh well, at least nobody has called me a douche bag... yet. :lol:
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
    Of course, we should be aware that Obama is not the one pulling strings here. He's just the puppet that we're supposed to point fingers at.

    This is pretty close to what I'm thinking. But maybe I should not have started this at 2 AM and pounded by a hard day. Or maybe I should not have started it at all. I guess I'm just trying to say something I'm not easy with saying. About power and control and the source of those things.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
    OK, one more think about this. This article leads me to think Obama a at least somewhat wary of action in Syria. It also leads me to think he is under pressure to do something and that it's not like he woke up one morning thinking, "I think I want to bomb the shit out of Syria."

    Tell them "duuuuuuuuuuude" posted this: :lol:

    http://news.yahoo.com/un-experts-leave- ... 39892.html
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianlux wrote:
    Of course, we should be aware that Obama is not the one pulling strings here. He's just the puppet that we're supposed to point fingers at.

    This is pretty close to what I'm thinking. But maybe I should not have started this at 2 AM and pounded by a hard day. Or maybe I should not have started it at all. I guess I'm just trying to say something I'm not easy with saying. About power and control and the source of those things.

    It doesn't matter how many times it's written. Haters are gonna hate, people will continue to think one man is in charge. I feel like there's very few of us with an open mind any more.

    The govt hasn't done anything yet, but it doesn't matter. We constantly, collectively, feel the need to blame the puppet at the top.
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    brianlux wrote:
    Of course, we should be aware that Obama is not the one pulling strings here. He's just the puppet that we're supposed to point fingers at.

    This is pretty close to what I'm thinking. But maybe I should not have started this at 2 AM and pounded by a hard day. Or maybe I should not have started it at all. I guess I'm just trying to say something I'm not easy with saying. About power and control and the source of those things.

    It doesn't matter how many times it's written. Haters are gonna hate, people will continue to think one man is in charge. I feel like there's very few of us with an open mind any more.

    The govt hasn't done anything yet, but it doesn't matter. We constantly, collectively, feel the need to blame the puppet at the top.

    where is the open mind for past presidents ? all the sudden it's not the presidents fault ? his choices were made for him by a puppet master ? and now he's just some poor innocent schmuck that got railroaded by someone at the top...so if thats the case all our past presidents are misunderstood and we don't have any idea who pulls the strings but they're the bad guy's not our presidents ?

    this aint no si-fi position as president,I'm sure there is someone with power to pull strings but not with the power you all think...someone controling the presidents critical moves ?,who pulled Bush's strings after 9-11 ?...better yet who pulled B.Clintons strings ?
    the people(obamaites) of this country will keep making excuses for obama till it bites them right on the ass and then you all will wonder why...but he is such a great peace loving guy with our best interest in mind somebody made him do this..... :lol:



    Godfather.
  • CH156378CH156378 Posts: 1,539
    Obama addressing crisis at 1:15pm
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
    Godfather. wrote:
    where is the open mind for past presidents ? all the sudden it's not the presidents fault ? his choices were made for him by a puppet master ? and now he's just some poor innocent schmuck that got railroaded by someone at the top...so if thats the case all our past presidents are misunderstood and we don't have any idea who pulls the strings but they're the bad guy's not our presidents ?

    Yeah, they pretty much are all puppets, Godfather, but at the very least I want our Puppet to be someone who speaks and presents himself well on camera and doesn't look like a buffoon. Our current Puppet reppresents us much better that way than some others in the no-to-distant past.
    Godfather. wrote:
    this aint no si-fi position as president,I'm sure there is someone with power to pull strings but not with the power you all think...someone controling the presidents critical moves ?,who pulled Bush's strings after 9-11 ?...better yet who pulled B.Clintons strings ?

    Put together, those form the sixty four thousand dollar question, Godfather. Who indeed!
    Godfather. wrote:
    the people(obamaites) of this country will keep making excuses for obama till it bites them right on the ass and then you all will wonder why...but he is such a great peace loving guy with our best interest in mind somebody made him do this..... :lol:
    Godfather.

    I make no excuses for anyone and my expectations of people in power reflects what I see as reality. In other words, I trust my cat more than most politicians. :)

    Peace, all.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Yeah, they pretty much are all puppets, Godfather, but at the very least I want our Puppet to be someone who speaks and presents himself well on camera and doesn't look like a buffoon. Our current Puppet reppresents us much better that way than some others in the no-to-distant past.

    Hey Brian the Middle East liked Bush more than Obama, they respected him much more! That is why Obama is doing this, to gain clout and strengthen his weak presidency!

    Obama sold you a bill of goods and you bought it and overpaid! Got it?

    The world is on fire and Obama and his policies SUCK!
    Theres no time like the present

    A man that stands for nothing....will fall for anything!

    All people need to do more on every level!
  • otter wrote:

    Duuuuuude.........

    This president became President because he bitched and moaned about the president.

    Obama promised and that is the big word "promise" that he would fix everything he bitched and moaned about.

    Dude.....Obama does hold the keys. He does whatever he wants and ignores the laws that separate his power from the other branches of government.

    The last sentence you wrote is off the mark big time. OMG. Re-read that last sentence you wrote. You are wrong, you are so wrong, you are unbelievably wrong, you could not be more wrong. That sentence is the scariest thought I have ever heard. This is the truth: if not for America humanity would not exist. The naiveté and self-righteousness of Obama is going to cause pain, suffering, and misery in this country and the world.

    How could you ever give the benefit of the doubt to a president who proceeds with the policy that is causing America to decline? If America declines so does the civilized world. UGH

    Holy shit. :lol:

    This is awesome. :lol:
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,055
    Yeah, they pretty much are all puppets, Godfather, but at the very least I want our Puppet to be someone who speaks and presents himself well on camera and doesn't look like a buffoon. Our current Puppet reppresents us much better that way than some others in the no-to-distant past.

    Hey Brian the Middle East liked Bush more than Obama, they respected him much more! That is why Obama is doing this, to gain clout and strengthen his weak presidency!

    Obama sold you a bill of goods and you bought it and overpaid! Got it?

    The world is on fire and Obama and his policies SUCK!

    Sorry man,I haven't been sold a bill of goods. What I think is free. And my freedom is what I think because it all comes from sniffing the air and observing the changing skies and keeping my ear on the ground. Sold a bill of goods? I don't shop that way.


    But your right about one thing. The world is on fire. Like the greatest philosopher I know once told me, "The world is gasoline and fire. You're cool. I'm cool."
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    look at the bright side. Obama has been remarkably successful. once he is out of office, he will be remembered very well.. Fox will even resort to .. Hilary is no Obama. but for now.. well, that is just the way we all feel comfortable with politics.. I know that because that is the way politics is... Republicans speak like he is satan, Democrats tread lightly - don't support or hate anything.. so as not to risk their positions and independants hate everyone .. because politics sucks.

    but great Job Obama.. I am tremendously prout of you.. you were just what we needed after a really dark time.
  • donnaruhldonnaruhl Posts: 2,157
    No matter which way they approach this,It's a catch 22.
    Damned if you do,Damned if you don't.Can't Sugar coat it,
    Can't put a band-aid on it. It's a struggle between Humanity,
    And Corruption.It shouldn't be about who goes down with the Ship,
    It should be about how many lives can be saved before the Ship goes down.
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    donnaruhl wrote:
    No matter which way they approach this,It's a catch 22.
    Damned if you do,Damned if you don't.Can't Sugar coat it,
    Can't put a band-aid on it. It's a struggle between Humanity,
    And Corruption.It shouldn't be about who goes down with the Ship,
    It should be about how many lives can be saved before the Ship goes down.
    or how many lives will you trade to save the ship
  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    good luck with giving him the benefit of the doubt. people that hate him are always gonna hate him. people that like him are always going to kind of like him. i am extremely pissed at him right now. that doesn't mean i hate the guy. he has the toughest job in the world.

    i talk shit on here all the time about what i would do as president. but that is what i would do given my knowledge of the situation. for every fact i know there are 20 that i am not privy to.

    what galls me the most is he voted against iraq in the senate, kerry got famous protesting war, and there these guys are making the case for more war in yet another country.

    the whole world has turned upside down.

    I agree with this and yes it bothers me to no end that when he was in the Senate he was against such military actions in yet another country. These militaristic actions once imposed can go so wrong so quickly with so many innocent victims and their innocence crushed. It seems so simple...no boots on the ground makes it seem like not many of our troops may get killed or hurt and the cost of this military action will be minimal.

    To me it seems it doesn't matter one bit who is President, whether he has a D or a R or a L or whatever. We appear over the coarse of time this country thrives on having a constant conflict somewhere in this world. It matters none who is President even if they came from a background of speaking and protesting against wars in foreign lands. He can't win either way, if he says no to any military action he will be labeled as a pussy (especially compared to the last President) and if he says let's go in and fire off our missles he will be labeled a war monger.

    It is a very tough job just take a look at his hair, I said this about GWB with the many decisions he had to make, we are not in their shoes. Just same if I had the job I'd rather be a pussy than a war mongerer on any day in this particular situation.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • ajedigeckoajedigecko Posts: 2,430
    ...bho states there is a "red line" do no cross.

    ...bho then says he did not say that.

    ...this resident gets no benefit of the doubt.


    he talked tough...got called out.

    now he is willing to kill people to save face.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
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