## Rick Perry

Post by Jay Feely » Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:26 pm

Do you think Rick Perry can win the next presidential election or will Barack Obama win a 2nd term?
You will have to subdue me to restrain me. I been a bad boy so make sure you torture me too with anything but pain.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Chase Ricks » Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:58 pm

Perry has my vote only if Mitt Romney does not get nominated to run.
Last edited by Chase Ricks on Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
From whence I came and whence I went heaven said I was too evil and sent me to hell. Demons and devils succeeded in breaking my soul.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jack Roper » Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:49 pm

You mean the intellectually challenged lesser version of George W. Bush? God help us.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Kyle » Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:26 pm

No, I don't think he can beat Romney, much less Obama. For that matter, I don't think any of them will beat Obama. When it comes down to it, Obama has the left-wing and black votes locked up, and the Republican Party is at least as much a joke as the Democrats. Romney is almost certainly getting the nomination at this point, and he's essentially what Barack Obama would be if Obama was Republican. So what's really the point?

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Chase Ricks » Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:13 pm

That may be but I lead a lot of backup supporters for Mitt Romney on Facebook. Months ago I even posted on his page there promising to help deliver Idaho which is mainly a democratic state.
From whence I came and whence I went heaven said I was too evil and sent me to hell. Demons and devils succeeded in breaking my soul.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Chris12 » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:19 am

I don't see any of the republican's having enough ''personality'' to beat Obama's popularity even though it has decreased quite a bit. However i'm not paying any real attention to politics abroad so i could be wrong on this one.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by fanatic » Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:23 pm

I think Obama will win a second term because people hate Cain because liers lie, and Obama promises things he doesn't do. Obama is sitting back watching people suffer and die under his watch and thinking, "they have no idea what i'm doing" while he gives the poor only the smallest bits of cash, tricking people into believing he's good, while our unemployment rate just falls and he seems to not care, as long as he is popular. Most people don't want to open their eyes from what is a supposed good dream, but is a nightmare and actual skilled people like Cain and Paul and Perry. Even though I'm a democrat and I shouldn't be saying it, I truly think that america is becoming like corrupt countries with fights breaking out on Wall Street because Obama doesn't care enough to chase the bankers who robbed the money. It would only cost the small amount of money he gave to the poor, a that seemed to not hurt the money system because so little was given. Sometimes, I think Obama is an actual terrorist even though when he was first elected I swore to never think that, ever.
I'm sorry Obama, but right now, you are truly failing us.
Also, when Kyle, you said that he has black votes locked up, that's another unfair tactic in politics. Not saying anything bad to blacks, but most (and african-americans mostly) will love him cause he is their skin color. So????
I don't care what you think of me. It only matters what I care for. So back off.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Kyle » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:51 pm

> fanatic wrote:
> Also, when Kyle, you said that he has black votes locked up, that's another unfair tactic in politics. Not saying anything bad to blacks, but most (and african-americans mostly) will love him cause he is their skin color. So????

First, before I respond, let's be clear I'm discussing the assumption you made, not one I made. But since when is voting for somebody based on their skin color not racist? If somebody voted for McCain the last election, or votes for, say, Romney the next election because they're white, I think that would be considered racist.
Blacks generally do vote pretty heavily for Democrats, so I'm not saying they all went with Obama simply because he's black too, but even ones who vote Republican sometimes mostly all went for Obama too. You can look it up, I believe it was somewhere around 95%, compared to a typical 80-85% of blacks voting for Democrats in normal presidential elections.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jack Roper » Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:21 pm

When President Obama was running and after he was inaugurated he clearly stated he could not do everything he had promised all by himself. So the Republicans decided to try to block almost everything he attempted, especially by necessitating a 60 vote majority on almost every Senate vote. In point of fact, Obama has accomplished more positive benefits for America and the world than most of the past Presidents, in my hunble opinion. And he deserves to be re-elected.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by fanatic » Mon Nov 28, 2011 6:28 am

> Jack Roper wrote:When President Obama was running and after he was inaugurated he clearly stated he could not do everything he had promised all by himself. So the Republicans decided to try to block almost everything he attempted, especially by necessitating a 60 vote majority on almost every Senate vote. In point of fact, Obama has accomplished more positive benefits for America and the world than most of the past Presidents, in my hunble opinion. And he deserves to be re-elected.

I forgot to add that sorry.
What I don't understand, is why people argue just because they don't like someone. If you don't, talk to them personally. Not ruin a nation because you are a republican or democrat. I am not insulting republicans, it happened the other way to, like with Nixon.
I don't care what you think of me. It only matters what I care for. So back off.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Chris12 » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:02 am

That's what happends in a two party democracy and why i think its a bad system, you have to depend on the other party being mature enough not to hate your guts for the sole reason of not being them. Sadly the Republicans do not seem to realise that and are trying their best to be as immature as possible but to be fair i'm fairly certain the Democrats have done the same thing in the past too.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by fanatic » Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:28 pm

> Chris12 wrote:That's what happends in a two party democracy and why i think its a bad system, you have to depend on the other party being mature enough not to hate your guts for the sole reason of not being them. Sadly the Republicans do not seem to realise that and are trying their best to be as immature as possible but to be fair i'm fairly certain the Democrats have done the same thing in the past too.

Yes, they have. Exactly what I think.
I don't care what you think of me. It only matters what I care for. So back off.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Kyle » Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:56 pm

> Jack Roper wrote:When President Obama was running and after he was inaugurated he clearly stated he could not do everything he had promised all by himself. So the Republicans decided to try to block almost everything he attempted, especially by necessitating a 60 vote majority on almost every Senate vote. In point of fact, Obama has accomplished more positive benefits for America and the world than most of the past Presidents, in my hunble opinion. And he deserves to be re-elected.

At the beginning of his presidency the Democrats held enough of a majority in the Senate to break any filibusters. They still couldn't get much of anything passed but found plenty of time to blame the Republicans. Whether you can hold Obama responsible for that or not is up for discussion, but it's definitely not all on the Republicans.
I'd love to know exactly what Obama's accomplished that makes him one of the all-time great presidents though. Closing down Gitmo, fixing the economy, lowering the cost of health care...wait, none of that has actually taken place. The fact is this should be an easy win for the Republicans, but it won't be because they are running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. If they were halfway decent as a political party they'd have this election in the bag. That's really the scary thing: we're pretty much screwed either way we go.

### Obama's accomplishments--so far

Post by Jack Roper » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:09 pm

What has President Obama accomplished, Kyle? Here are a few things:
1) A $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps.
2) A $1 billion in funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) that is intended to revitalize low-income communities via "Job training and placement assistance", "Financial literacy programs", et al, to helping families become self-sufficient.
3) A $2 billion in new Neighborhood Stabilization Funds that will allow ailing neighborhoods be kept maintained.
4) A $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention Funds to keep people in their homes and prevent homelessness.
5) A $5 billion increase for the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low income families save on their residential energy expenditures by making their homes more energy efficient.
6) A $4 Billion program, The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, "authorizes funding for federal school meal and child nutrition programs and increases access to healthy food for low-income children."
7) As part of the HCR bill, subsidies will be available to the uninsured and families with income between the 133 percent and 400 percent of poverty level($14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four).
Estabilished Open Doors to end the 640,000 men, women and children who are homeless in America by 2020.
9) Increased the amount of federal Pell Grant awards so that funds are available to those with less access to have opportunity.
10) Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing.
11) Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual).
12) Providing assistance to low-income workers through the Earned Income Tax Credit giving millions of working families the break they need.
13) Education being the way out of Poverty, kicked off the "Race to the Top", a $4.3 billion program, that rewards via grants to States that meet a few key benchmarks for reform, and states that outperform the rest.
On Health Care Reform:
1) Coverage canâ€™t be denied to children with pre-existing conditions.
2) Adults up to age 26 can stay on their parentsâ€™ health plans.
3) Free preventive care.
4) Rescinding coverage is now illegal.
5) Eliminating lifetime limits on insurance coverage.
6) Restricting annual limits on insurance coverage.
7) More options to appeal coverage decisions.
$5 billion in immediate federal support to affordable Coverage for the Uninsured with Pre-existing Conditions.
9) $10 billion investment in Community Health Centers.
10) Create immediate access to re-insurance for employer health plans providing coverage for early retirees.
11) Made an $80 billion deal with the pharmaceutical industry to contribute to cut prescription drug costs for the nationâ€™s seniors reduce the size of the "donut hole" in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit.
12) Provides a $250 rebate to 750,000 Medicare Beneficiaries who reach the Part D coverage gap in 2010. As of March 22, 2011, 3.8 million beneficiaries had received a $250 check to close the coverage gap, according to an HHS report.
13) Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will get tax credits covering up to
>35% of employee premiums effective 2011 and a 50% tax credit effective 2013. 14) Creates a state option to provide Medicaid coverage to childless adults with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. By 2014, States are required to provide this coverage.
15) Provides a 10% Medicare bonus payment for primary care services and also a 10% Medicare bonus payment to general surgeons practicing in health professional shortage areas.
16) Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requires that insurance companies spend at least 80 to 85 percent of the proportion of the premium dollars on clinical services. As an example, WellPoint's Anthem Blue Cross unit in California has reduced its proposed rate increase.
On Jobs and the Economy:
1) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has worked. The Economy Has Been Growing - take a look at the graph of GDP growth between 2007 thru 2010.
2) The $787 billion economic stimulus package has created or saved nearly 2 million jobs slowing the bleeding
3) Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 that extended Unemployment benefits up to 20 weeks and more.
4) Provided $14.7 billion in small business loans increasing minority access to capital.
5) The $26 billion aid to states package preventing large-scale layoffs of teachers and public employees.
6) As of March 31, 2011, created 1.8 million Private sector jobs since Jan 2010.
7) US auto industry rescue plan saved at least 1 million jobs
Helped make the Auto Industry start making huge profits again with Ford sales up 19% over last year. GM up 11%. Chrysler up a whopping 31%.
9) Jobs for Main Street Act (2010)injected $27.5 Billion for Highways, $8.4 Billion for Transit into the countryâ€™s transportation system to create jobs and spur economic activity.
10) A $33 Billion Jobs Package that will allow Small businesses to get $5,000 tax credit for new hires.
11) A $26 billion State Aid Package Jobs Bill saving 300,000 teachers and public workers jobs from unemployment.
12) As part of the 2010 tax extension, Unemployment Insurance was extended to 7 million Americans who would have been without income.
On Banking and Financial Reform
1) Signed a sweeping bank-reform bill (the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act)into law
2) Managed the $700 Billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) that Banks have repaid more than 100% of TARP funds ($251 of the $245 banks owed) as of March 2011 exceeding the original investment by $6 billion.
3) Cuts Salaries of 65 Bailout Executives
4) Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes on companies that use the tax laws to ship American Jobs oversees. HR 4213.
5) Signed into law the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act to fight fraud in the use of TARP and recovery funds, and to increase accountability for corporate and mortgage frauds.
6) Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act
On Education
1) Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 that increased the amount of federal Pell Grant awards and enabled the stripping of banks privileges as intermediaries for student loan servicing saving the US government about $68 billion dollars over 11 years.
2) Created the Race to the Top Fund, a $4.35 billion program to reward States that submit the best proposals for change.
3) As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funded over $100 Billion for reforms to strengthen Elementary and Secondary education, early learning programs, college affordability and improve access to higher education, and to close the achievement gap.
On Energy
1) Implemented renewable fuels mandate of 36 billion gallons by 2022, four times what we currently consume.
2) Automakers will be required to meet a fleet-wide average of New Gas Mileage Standards at 35.5 MPH by 2016.
3) A $60 billion investment in renewable and clean energy.
4) developed a Biofuels Roadmap to determine the next steps in growing an advanced biofuels economy to meet the goal to use at least 36 billion gallons of bio-based transportation fuels by 2022 helping create more green energy jobs.
5) established EPA regulations which require large U.S. ships to cut soot emissions by 85 percent.
6) pledged via the Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that in a decade from now to cut our oil dependency by one-third, and put America's energy future by producing more oil at home and reducing our dependence on oil by leveraging cleaner, alternative fuels and greater efficiency.
On Housing
1) $275 billion dollar housing plan - $75 billion dollars to prevent at-risk mortgage debtors already fallen victim to foreclosures and $200 billion to bring about confidence to offer affordable mortgages and to stability the housing market.
2) Established "Opening Doors" to end the homelessness of 640,000 men, women, and children in the United States in 10 years.
3) Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing.
4) Provided $2 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization Program to rehab, resell, or demolish in order to stabilize neighborhoods.
5) Provided $5 billion for Weatherization Assistance Program for low income families to weatherize 1 million homes per year for the next decade.
6) Provided grants to encourage states and localities to take the first steps in implementing new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency.
On Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security
1) giving $250 economic stimulus check to 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in 2009.
2) Cutting prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the planâ€™s gap (â€œdonut holeâ€) in coverage.
3) Passing as part of H.R.3962 (Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010) a $6.4 billion measure reversing a 21 percent cut in physician payments that would have started a flood of rejections by some doctors of seniors covered by Medicare.
4) Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual).
5) Committed to ensuring that Social Security Budget Will Not Be Cut nor would change the retirement age.
On Military Veterans and Families
1) A $112.8 billion VA budget, an increase of 15.5 percent over 2009, the largest percentage increase for VA requested by a president in more than 30 years.
2) Implemented a strategic plan to increase the hiring of Veterans and Military spouses throughout the Federal civil service.
3) Provided for the expenses of families of to be at Dover AFB when fallen soldiers arrive.
4) Passed the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 increasing the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
5) Declared the end of the war in Iraqi bringing back nearly 100,000 U.S. troops home to their families.
6) Donated 250K of Nobel prize money to Fisher House, a group that helps provide housing for families of patients receiving medical care at military and Veterans Affairs medical centers
7) Ended media blackout on war casualties; giving access to the return home of a dead US soldier for the first time since an 18-year ban on coverage was lifted.
Create a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veterans
9) Signed into law the 2009 Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, that will allow military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their sponsor and retain that residency as long as the service member is in the military, in the process avoiding the states where they currently reside from taxing their earned income.
10) Signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
On LBGTQ issues
1) Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees
2) Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
3) Instructed HHS to require any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds (virtually all hospitals) to allow LGBT visitation rights.
4) Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government (the nation's largest employer)
5) Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act and while more funding is needed per the 2012 proposed budget, an increase of $80 million to domestic and global HIV/AIDS programs committed
6) Extended the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover Gay employees taking unpaid leave to care for their children of same-sex partners
7) Lifted the HIV Entry Ban.
Implemented HUD Policies that Would Ban Discrimination Based On Gender Identity
9) Appointed the first ever transgender DNC member
10) Named open transgender appointees (the first President ever to do so)
11) Eliminated the discriminatory Census Bureau policy that kept LGBT relationships from being counted
12) Extended domestic violence protections to LGBT victims
13) Repealed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) Discriminatory law.
14) Declared DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) unconstitutional and stopped Defending In Court
15) Endorsed a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of gays and lesbians around the world in an efforts to make it a worldwide policy.
Tax deal extending Bush's tax cut for two years which often gets criticized will do the following:
Damn it, the TAX DEAL is not PERMANENT
1) Keep $3,000 in tax savings annually
2) Unemployment Benefit for 7,000,000 Americans worth $56 Billion.
3) $2,500 in tax savings to help pay for college tuition and other expenses
4) A $2,000 payroll tax savings to someone making $100,000 or a $1,000 payroll tax savings at a 2% employee-side payroll tax cut for over 155 million workers
5) Child tax credit of $1,000 per child with the $3,000 maximum credit threshold.
6) Earned Income Tax Credit that will give on an average $600 in additional assistance to families with 3 or more children
7) A 65 percent tax credit to help cover the cost of COBRA for those who lost their jobs in the recession
forecast to creating approximately 1.6 million jobs increasing the GDP for 2011
9) extended the credit for adoption-related expenses that reduces families tax bill up to $13,170 in 2011 through 2012 with a maximum of $12,170 in credit.
Other Notables
1) signed the Health Package For 9/11 Responders bill that puts $4.3 billion into a fund to assist folks that are suffering from problems caused by breathed-in dust and debris during the 9/11 clean up.
2) signed into law a sweeping Food Safety Act bill that contains 18 major changes to food safety laws.
3) made an excellent choice selecting a new Chief of Staff, William Daley, who Eric London has made a super case for why it was a smart choice.
4) made a $78 billion spending cut to the U.S. military and defense department budget, including reducing the size of the Army and Marine Corps.
5) signed in to law the START Treaty with Russia, a sweeping new arms reduction pact that will reduce the stockpile nuclear weapons in both countries adding new verification plan.
6) The passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act enabling the rights of workers to sue employers over wage discrimination claims.
7) The expansion of SCHIP health-care program for children worth $33 Billion.
The declaration of two million more acres of wilderness in one of the most omnibus Public Lands bill.
9) Government Transparency as noted by Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters and U.S. PIRG-- "The cumulative effect of the Administration's actions has been to adopt the strongest and most comprehensive lobbying, ethics and transparency rules and policies ever established by an Administration to govern its own activities". You can read full report in all of the seven areas the report is graded.
10) signed the Tribal Law and Order Act -- an important step to help the Federal Government better address the unique public safety challenges that confront tribal communities.
Originally posted at dailykos.
And that's just for starters.....and he got Osama Bin Laden too!

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Kyle » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:25 pm

Copy and paste job...kind of like to see a source. I found a similar list for George Bush, by the way, in about 20 seconds off Google. It was pretty lengthy. And I think most of us will agree he sucked as president. But I'll give you credit, I didn't really expect much other than health care reform, which is still extremely debatable as being beneficial anyway considering the costs.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by lonewolfandfriends » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:31 pm

Do you really think he did those things? Or die he exaggerate like I said above and lie and give a tiny bit of money. Did anyone witnes him give the check or bill or whatever? This president is a phony.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jack Roper » Wed Nov 30, 2011 2:05 pm

Kyle, the source is posted on the bottom: the dailykos, a blog. You asked me what Obama had accomplished that made him great, so I cut and pasted this article. I could add some more: saved Detroit's two major auto makers from going under, which would have cost thousands more job losses; supported the protestors in Egypt against Mubarik, the dictator; supported the Libyian people against Quaddafi, and got him removed (something even Reagan couldn't accomplish); imposed world-wide sanctions against Iran for building nuclear weapons, thereby isolating that rogue state even further; ended the Iraq occupation by the end of next month; put a date on our exit from Afghanistan at 2014; increased drone attacks against known terrorists around the world, killing many; reset relations with Moscow, while placing anti-ballistic missiles in Europe (allegedly against Iran); supported Israel against the Palestinian statehood bid in the UN; increased security in the far east against China's rise; improved relations with countires such as Burma; sought to eliminate more nuclear weapons from the world while corraling potential loose nukes; attempted to get global climate change legislation through Congress, something no Republican will even consider; and the list goes on.
And Lonewolf, sure any President will attempt to take credit for anything positive that happens on their watch, and Obama is no saint. Neither was Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR or Johnson, but they all did great things while in office. The test of leadership is when a President is willing to go against the prevailing opinion of the mass media and people and do what is right. Opinions are so easy to have; but basing those opinions on facts and documentation requires research, humility, honesty and diligence, plus a little compassion. Given the forces of reaction that Obama has been up against I still feel he has done remarkably well, and deserved to be re-elected. i may still change my mind, but the candidate who would get my vote does not apprear to be running in the Republican primarries so far.
Cheers!

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by sarobah » Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:47 pm

Americans (of which I am not one) must understand that the US is the worldâ€™s only superpower, both militarily and economically. (China depends on the US much more than the US does on China.)
Americans may choose to abdicate their superpower status, but if they do they shouldnâ€™t whine and bitch about it.
The simple fact of the matter is that the rest of the world trusts Obama, in the way that Bush was not trusted. He (Bush) had the sympathy and support of the world after 9/11, but threw it all away in Iraq. Which is why most of the world still supports the effort in Afghanistan against the Taliban. We trust that Obama will not turn a just cause into a personal crusade.
Believe me, when we (the rest of the world) behold the record and performance of most of the Republican presidential wannabes, we tremble. From my perspective as a foreigner, the only one who does not threaten the US (and therefore the world) with political and economic apocalypse is Mitt Romney. His problem is that the more he panders to the tinfoil hat brigade on the right to win the nomination, the less chance he has of winning the election.
PS. I wonder how many Democrats are regretting not supporting Hillary in 2008.
Words, like Nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by fanatic » Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:57 am

My dad is regretting it.
I don't care what you think of me. It only matters what I care for. So back off.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Kyle » Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:55 pm

> Jack Roper wrote:Kyle, the source is posted on the bottom: the dailykos, a blog. You asked me what Obama had accomplished that made him great, so I cut and pasted this article. I could add some more: saved Detroit's two major auto makers from going under, which would have cost thousands more job losses; supported the protestors in Egypt against Mubarik, the dictator; supported the Libyian people against Quaddafi, and got him removed (something even Reagan couldn't accomplish); imposed world-wide sanctions against Iran for building nuclear weapons, thereby isolating that rogue state even further; ended the Iraq occupation by the end of next month; put a date on our exit from Afghanistan at 2014; increased drone attacks against known terrorists around the world, killing many; reset relations with Moscow, while placing anti-ballistic missiles in Europe (allegedly against Iran); supported Israel against the Palestinian statehood bid in the UN; increased security in the far east against China's rise; improved relations with countires such as Burma; sought to eliminate more nuclear weapons from the world while corraling potential loose nukes; attempted to get global climate change legislation through Congress, something no Republican will even consider; and the list goes on.

I missed the citation since it ran into the last thing posted on the list, but your post here shows how arbitrary and subjective nature of this. Just the first one listed here is debatable. Who knows if the car companies were really going bankrupt without a bailout? Sure they said they did, but who knows? Ford never took one and they're still going. If they were that close to shutting down, there was no guarantee a bailout would've saved them either. That would have been billions of dollars down the drain. But if they didn't get a bailout and had to shut down, is that really still a reason to bail them out? It's bad for a lot of people to lose their jobs, but let's face it, companies shut down every single day and cost people their jobs and the government doesn't do a damn thing to help them out. I'm just still amazed that the same people who rant and rave about how evil "big business" is in this country were generally the first ones to line up and praise the government for helping out the car manufacturers out. Because let's face it, few things scream "big business" like Detroit auto makers. I was certainly no fan of Bush's but I don't doubt for one second if he'd been in charge when this all went down it would have been another example of a Republican president kissing the asses of "big business" yet again. It all just depends on which side of the aisle it happens to be on.
And the idea Obama got Gaddhafi removed is just asinine. Libyans did that.
I'll give you some things. Obama's done much better with dealing with terrorism than I ever would have thought he would. He ended torture (officially anyway) which is pretty significant. He's done some other things here and there which have been good, and a lot of things which are at least debatable. But he's spent gobs of money (one of the few constants on your list is billions and billions of dollars spent), the economy is still terrible--though to be fair, that's really more of an area Congress is supposed to work in--, new jobs are still few and far between, and we aren't exactly any better off than we were 3 years ago. Obama's not a terrible president, but he's certainly not a very good one either.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Kyle » Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:12 pm

> sarobah wrote:Americans (of which I am not one) must understand that the US is the worldâ€™s only superpower, both militarily and economically. (China depends on the US much more than the US does on China.)
> Americans may choose to abdicate their superpower status, but if they do they shouldnâ€™t whine and bitch about it.
> The simple fact of the matter is that the rest of the world trusts Obama, in the way that Bush was not trusted. He (Bush) had the sympathy and support of the world after 9/11, but threw it all away in Iraq. Which is why most of the world still supports the effort in Afghanistan against the Taliban. We trust that Obama will not turn a just cause into a personal crusade.
> Believe me, when we (the rest of the world) behold the record and performance of most of the Republican presidential wannabes, we tremble. From my perspective as a foreigner, the only one who does not threaten the US (and therefore the world) with political and economic apocalypse is Mitt Romney. His problem is that the more he panders to the tinfoil hat brigade on the right to win the nomination, the less chance he has of winning the election.
> PS. I wonder how many Democrats are regretting not supporting Hillary in 2008.

I don't want to come across as not caring at all what the rest of the world thinks about us, but the job of the US president first and foremost is to help out Americans. I don't expect Australians to vote for a prime minister to make Americans happy. Obviously foreign policy is important
And anyway, I also know the rest of the world likes the United States to get involved when they want us to be involved in something. Afghanistan was contentious, Iraq pretty much universally opposed, but just as soon as there's an African country trying to overthrow their dictator, or a disaster somewhere, or widespread disease in a third-world country, we can't get dragged in fast enough.
Romney is too similar to Obama to get elected unless Obama really screws up between now and next November.

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jack Roper » Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:56 pm

Let's see how President Gingrich does........................................................................................................................................................

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by thewrath248 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:00 pm

I'm feeling Mitt Romney but Gingrich has been passing him lately >.> The country needs to be run more like a company that needs to stay up and not go into more debt. That's why gingrich is doing so well.
You can find me, you can bind me, you can fight me, you can try me, but I'll still come out on top. Literally

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jason Toddman » Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:07 pm

At this point I think all the Republican candidates have so thoroughly shot themselves in the foot that none of them have a chance of winning against Obama. It doesn't help that most iof them are so far to the right that only millionaires, extreme religious conservatives, and absolute dolts would want to vote for any of them anyway.
What this country really needs are politicians who have the sense to realize that extemism in *either* direction (Republican OR Democrat) gets this country nowhere and that the only ines who get *anything* done are Moderates. Unfortunately, true Moderates are becoming extinct! One of the Senators in my state (Olympia Snowe) is one of the last Republican moderates left in Congress, and she's giving up in disgust because of the extreme polarization in Congress that prevents important stuff from getting done.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by drawscore » Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:52 pm

>>>And that's just for starters.....and he got Osama Bin Laden too!<<<
Ahh, not to mention doubling gasoline prices in just over three years, giving us a racist attorney general who got a border agent killed with his "Operation Fast and Furious;" shoving a health care plan down our throats when more than 55% of the people were against it; presiding over the worst economy since the Great Depression; giving us a DHS secretary who has no intention of protecting our borders (Janet Incompetano); presiding over a housing crisis brought about by his buddies, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank; and sitting on his thumb while unemployment climbed to 10% on his watch, before settling back to 8.3%. Yeah, he's sure done a great job.
And he didn't "get" bin Laden. Navy SEALs did. Of course, to hear Obama tell it, he did it all. I'm surprised that Obama did not claim that he flew the chopper in, and personally pulled the trigger on bin Laden.
I have a 17 pound tomcat with the disposition of an alligator. I'd vote for him before I'd vote for Obama. Anybody but Obama 2012!
Drawscore

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:33 pm

> drawscore wrote:>>>And that's just for starters.....and he got Osama Bin Laden too!<<<
> Ahh, not to mention doubling gasoline prices in just over three years, giving us a racist attorney general who got a border agent killed with his "Operation Fast and Furious;" shoving a health care plan down our throats when more than 55% of the people were against it; presiding over the worst economy since the Great Depression; giving us a DHS secretary who has no intention of protecting our borders (Janet Incompetano); presiding over a housing crisis brought about by his buddies, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank; and sitting on his thumb while unemployment climbed to 10% on his watch, before settling back to 8.3%. Yeah, he's sure done a great job.
> And he didn't "get" bin Laden. Navy SEALs did. Of course, to hear Obama tell it, he did it all. I'm surprised that Obama did not claim that he flew the chopper in, and personally pulled the trigger on bin Laden.
> I have a 17 pound tomcat with the disposition of an alligator. I'd vote for him before I'd vote for Obama. Anybody but Obama 2012!
> Drawscore

Ummm.... the last I knew, much of this stuff you're blaming Obama for (especialy in relation to the economy) was done on George W. Bush's watch, not Obama's... Obama simply inherited the mess Bush made of things. And much of the rest of your list is open to debate as to how bad it actually is... especially concerning our borders and immigrants.
On the other hand, I'd definitely like to see Obama replaced as President too - but NOT by any of the GD idiots currently running against him. I'd sooner vote for your tomcat rather than any of the current Republican contenders - none of whom are fit to be elected dog-catcher let alone President of the United States!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by drawscore » Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:33 am

Oooooh. Bush Derangement Syndrome alert!
Bush had his faults, and probably was not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but let's give this "blame Bush" crap a rest. Obama's been in office for three plus years, and while you might get away with blaming Bush for the first year or two, sooner or later, it comes down to Obama failing miserably. Did you miss it when Obama said that the economy was his, and that he did not deserve re-election if he couldn't get it turned around?
As far as Gingrich goes, I am in agreement that this turkey should not be elected dogcatcher. Romney I don't trust, Santorum is a big question mark, and Ron Paul is unelectable.
Drawscore

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:22 am

It's much easier to destroy than it is to create.
Bush (with, let's face it, considerable help) had eight years to ruin the economy, with full support of Congress, his business cronies, and even the American people. Obama has had only three years so far to try to restore it, with a Republican congress fighting him every step of the way from Day 1 and with the public divided in their opinion of him. And really, I don't think *anyone* (including John McCain, the person who'd have been elected otherwise, who would have lacked the Republican-dominated Congress Bush had) could have fixed the mess the economy had become in three years, regardless of *who* caused it; not with Congress becoming ever more polarized with no one willing to compromise. Even F.D.R. probably couldn't have done it under these circumstances. The day of the Moderate politician seem to be over.
Regardless, I don't like Obama myself - not because of his politics but because he doesn't have the strength of will to lead. Bush, for all his faults, was a strong leader. I consider his policies completely wrongheaded, but at least he stuck to his guns. If only Obama would, things might be better. Of course, Bush had an additional advantage; until the last year or two of his second term, he had a lot more support during his own Presidency than Obama ever had even to start with. It was easier for him to get things done than its been for Obama.
But Obama doesn't have the strength of will to lead this country, and so I want him out. Problem is, I don't see any candidates running for office than would be ANY improvement - in fact, I think they'd be worse! Hell, I'd vote for McCain *this* time if he were running! I don't agreee with his policies very much but at least AFAIK he's a stronger leader than Obama seems to be.
Things are so bad in fact I doubt I'll even vote this year - first time since I turned 18 that I've even considered that!!!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

###

Post by drawscore » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:35 pm

>>>Obama has had only three years so far to try to restore it, with a Republican congress fighting him every step of the way from Day 1<<<
WRONG!!!
On "day 1," (January 20,2009) Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats controlled the House, and the Democrats had a 58-40 senate majority, with two independents (Lieberman and Sanders) that caucused with the Democrats, which gave them a filibuster-proof majority for the first year plus of the Obama administration. Only with the election of Scott Walker upon the death of Teddy Kennedy, did the Republicans get back the 41st vote.
In 2010, Obama's and the Democrats' policies led to the Republicans taking back the House, and gaining six more senate seats, still giving the Democrats a 53-47 effective majority. This year, the Republicans are poised to take control of the Senate, as the Democrats are defending 23 seats, while the Republicans are defending just 10. Plus, several prominent Democrats have seen the writing on the wall, and have opted to retire, rather than campaign on their records, an issue on which many, if not most of them would lose.
Drawscore

### Re: Rick Perry

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:46 pm

Let me re-phrase that; I meant the Republicans IN congress almost uniformly opposed Obama. I know very well the Dems were the majority party (something I in fact pointed out in a different post a day or two ago); I also know they f***ed up everything by being so divided while the Republican minority held together - and almost uniformly (with a very few exceptions) opposed Obama. And so Democrats squandered a golden opportunity to support Obama by bickering among themselves while the GOP laughed and the rest of us groaned! The Dems had the majority, but the Republicans still largely dominated Congress all the same simply by showing a LOT more unity than the Democrats did.
So wonder the Dem mascot is a donkey; another name for donkey is ass, and that's what almost every Dem congressman made of himself!
As for Dems retiring, so are some Republicans; including one from my own state: Olympia Snowe. She was probably the last reasonably Moderate Republican Senator the country had remaining and the only one I particularly respect!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...