Author Topic: Warming up to Obama  (Read 963 times)

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Giuliano Taverna

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Warming up to Obama
« on: May 14, 2009, 07:23:52 pm »
Some of his recent moves have been quite encouraging.

I am heavily in favor of his credit card bill of rights.

I'm glad he is stepping up the war in Afghanistan, and working with the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to deal with Al Qaeda.

And he recently went against his base and refused to release the interrogation pictures.

He is also indicating that he might continue the bush policy of detainment since the European countries that have objected to gitmo have refused to take any detainees, and having them put in prisons in America is extremely unpopular among the legislature.

Now, I'm not saying this excuses all of the other things he has said and done that I found abhorrent, but its definitely a step in the right direction. I hope he continues to adopt those Bush era policies that did in fact work.

As for the economy, I just hope he doubles down on his spending cuts, so far what he has done seems to be nothing more than an empty gesture. if he manages to halve the deficit he inherited by 2012, I will be very impressed.

I'll say this now, if his policies work to A, create a stable booming economy B, achieve victory in Both Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and C, prevent another terrorist attack on American soil. Then I will vote to re-ellect Obama.

I have my doubts, but we will see.
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

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Alia

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2009, 08:25:02 pm »
I bet you'd get more responses if you'd give synopses of the items you discuss. Credit card bill of rights, for example.

Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2009, 09:02:56 pm »
Is that really necessary? It should be common knowledge by now...

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On May 11, 2009, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009, legislation that was approved by the House in April 2009 by a strong vote of 357-70.  As soon as floor consideration begins, Senators Dodd and Shelby will offer a substitute amendment based on bipartisan negotiations over the text of S. 414, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the “CARD Act”).
The CARD Act would implement needed reforms and help protect consumers from the abusive, confusing, and deceptive practices employed by credit card companies.  Specifically, the amendment would:
·         Establish strong consumer protections by preventing unfair increases in interest rates and changes in terms, prohibiting exorbitant and unnecessary fees, requiring fairness in application and timing of card payments, and protecting the rights of financially-responsible credit card users;
·         Enhance consumer disclosures by requiring disclosures related to payoff timing, late payment deadlines and penalties, card renewal terms, and requiring each credit issuer to post their credit card agreements;
·         Protect young consumers targeted by aggressive and irresponsible credit card marketing offers;
·         Strengthen oversight of credit card industry practices; and
·         Protect recipients of gift cards.
This bulletin discusses the Dodd-Shelby substitute amendment (S.A. 1058) to H.R. 627.

http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc.cfm?doc_name=lb-111-1-65

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WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Friday ordered 4,000 more military troops into Afghanistan, vowing to “disrupt, dismantle and defeat” the terrorist al-Qaida network in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29898698/

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"It is ... my belief that the publication of these photos would not add any additional benefit to our understanding of what was carried out in the past by a small number of individuals. In fact, the most direct consequence of releasing them, I believe, would be to further inflame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in greater danger," the president said.

http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2009/05/14/Obama-wont-publish-abuse-photos/UPI-96271242314204/

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On the heels of Obama's shift this week to block the release of photos showing prisoners allegedly being abused by U.S. personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military commissions announcement further infuriated the president's most ardent supporters while winning cautionary praise from some of his political foes.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/14/obama.military.tribunal/
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

Alia

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2009, 06:20:11 pm »
Well, I suppose I was wrong. At any rate, I believe it's a publicity stunt. Credit cards aren't going to cut their profits nor their usury. If a law is made against getting it through fence A, they'll dig a hole under fence B.

Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2009, 06:26:37 pm »
Well, I suppose I was wrong. At any rate, I believe it's a publicity stunt. Credit cards aren't going to cut their profits nor their usury. If a law is made against getting it through fence A, they'll dig a hole under fence B.

We will see, I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. the way I see it he has no motive to either propose or sign ineffective consumer protection legislation. How the bill gets manipulated in the senate and the house, and how Obama deals with that will be interesting to see.
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2009, 12:28:38 am »
Update, Obama to increase cafe standards.

http://climateprogress.org/2009/01/26/obama-to-push-for-california-waiver-to-tough-auto-co2-emissions/


It makes my inner bleeding heart tree huger happy.

Full disclosure, when I was 12 I pledged 24 hours of work for earth day. I am secretly very concerned about the environment.

Todd Feinburg also approves.

http://audio.wrko.com/m/audio/22320028/obama-emissions-tests.htm
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

Alia

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2009, 10:57:48 am »
I think he's going about it the wrong way, or at least, isn't doing enough. We need to force auto companies to produce fuel-efficient automobiles as well, and the standards should rise year after year. If I had it my way, the car companies must produce each, one model that gets at least 35 miles to the gallon. The next year, they must each produce a model that will go 37.5 miles for each gallon put into it, and so on and so forth. This will keep their pockets fat as consumers buy new cars to achieve the greater fuel efficiency of the brand-new models, and will also produce a broadly positive result environmentally.

And Gaius?


It makes my inner bleeding heart tree huger happy.

Full disclosure, when I was 12 I pledged 24 hours of work for earth day. I am secretly very concerned about the environment.

The real environmental presidents, including our man TR, and Richard Nixon who created the EPA, were Republicans.

Nin

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2009, 11:32:24 am »
I think he's going about it the wrong way, or at least, isn't doing enough. We need to force auto companies to produce fuel-efficient automobiles as well, and the standards should rise year after year. If I had it my way, the car companies must produce each, one model that gets at least 35 miles to the gallon. The next year, they must each produce a model that will go 37.5 miles for each gallon put into it, and so on and so forth. This will keep their pockets fat as consumers buy new cars to achieve the greater fuel efficiency of the brand-new models, and will also produce a broadly positive result environmentally.

And Gaius?


It makes my inner bleeding heart tree huger happy.

Full disclosure, when I was 12 I pledged 24 hours of work for earth day. I am secretly very concerned about the environment.

The real environmental presidents, including our man TR, and Richard Nixon who created the EPA, were Republicans.

It's the conception that every bit counts. So, with this idea, it could be said putting a drop in the bucket and letting it sit for years actually accomplishes something.

Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2009, 03:31:17 pm »
I think he's going about it the wrong way, or at least, isn't doing enough. We need to force auto companies to produce fuel-efficient automobiles as well, and the standards should rise year after year. If I had it my way, the car companies must produce each, one model that gets at least 35 miles to the gallon. The next year, they must each produce a model that will go 37.5 miles for each gallon put into it, and so on and so forth. This will keep their pockets fat as consumers buy new cars to achieve the greater fuel efficiency of the brand-new models, and will also produce a broadly positive result environmentally.

And Gaius?


It makes my inner bleeding heart tree huger happy.

Full disclosure, when I was 12 I pledged 24 hours of work for earth day. I am secretly very concerned about the environment.

The real environmental presidents, including our man TR, and Richard Nixon who created the EPA, were Republicans.

Personally my biggest concern is that safety concerns will be dropped. I'd like them to include safety standards with the fuel efficacy standards so car companies don't just cut weight, and keep the gas guzzling engines, sacrificing safety for fuel efficiency.

That aside its better than nothing.

Also, I don't think any sane person is against environmentalism. But then most so called "environmentalists" are insane. I once knew someone who suggested going back to driving on dirt roads because of the effects of tar on the environment... never mind the fact that tar is a naturally occurring material, the very concept of replacing paved roads with dirt roads as progress, is completely star craving mad!

I mean we have had paved roads as a symbol of civilization since the bronze age 4,000 years ago. These people literally want us to go back to the neolithic.

Anyway as far as sane environmentalism goes, every little bit helps. A good environment, is good for the economy.
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

MacDuff

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2009, 02:56:27 am »
On the topic of the environment, I do like the idea of slowly pulling down oil-based cars and introducing more hybrids. I mean, cars are, what, 25% of America's environmental toll, let alone the rest of the planet. Slowly, too, we need to introduce more solar and nuclear plants (albeit nuclear plants located a safe distance away, so as to prevent another 1979 incident. Granted, what I'm saying is of course quite obvious.

But then, despite the fact that it is a good start, talking cutting oil and slowly making reforms that limit its use, we do need more done.

And then there's the problem of deforestation and third-world poaching. We continue at this rate, and half our species will be gone by the 22nd century in a world where steel and cement blanket the earth and trees are as rare as gamma ray radiation.
"Young heads are giddy, and young hearts are warm/ And make mistakes for manhood to reform," (Poe).

Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2009, 08:10:29 am »
That is another major problem, as I went over in my rant about the exploitation of indigenous tribes in Peru, the effect of corporate action in countries with little or no enviornmental regulations is something I don't think a lot of people understand or even acknowledge.

If people think we have a CO2 problem now, just wait until the rain forests are gone.

I also think the nuclear issue isn't as serious as a lot of people suspect, my mother grew up next to a nuclear power plant and that never cause her any problems, the battery factory near by was actually much worse in terms of pollution. As long as reasonable standards are maintained it could be the lynch pin in a post coal energy grid. After all, there is no such thing as clean coal.
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

MacDuff

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2009, 10:31:40 pm »
I wish I had seen that rant (I take it you posted it via YouTube?). Sad, people are too engrossed in their shallow television sets, the cost of gas, and office politics to truly be concerned, and those who do take action are, in majority, pseudo-hippies who mostly do little than complain and rant on the PETA website.

Just imagine the dying ecosystems decades from now and the havoc the blazing heat (that is to say, famine) and the ensuing rising of waters, cascading into massive flooding. Need I mention the change in the current belt (due to warming of the ocean waters, waters that flow in a distinct cycle of drifting coasts and seas) that could easily cascade into world-wide catastrophe?

Nuclear power has so much potential, as does solar energy. The problem is the lack of energy-friendly power plants, nor any real fiscal initiative to build them.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2009, 11:05:13 pm by Giuliano Taverna »
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Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2009, 11:02:55 pm »
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I wish I had seen that rant (I take it you posted it via YouTube?).

Nope, I don't have a camera, (I wish) it was a podcast, and a few topics in a few places. Here are the links,

http://giuliano.mypodcast.com/2009/07/Free_and_fair_trade-226780.html

http://giulianosforum.createaforum.com/global/violence-between-indigenous-people-and-the-peruvian-government/

http://boards.adultswim.com/adultswim/board/message?board.id=9&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=8251794#M8251794

http://boards.adultswim.com/adultswim/board/message?board.id=9&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=8261262#M8261262

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Sad, people are too engrossed in their shallow television sets, the cost of gas, and office politics to truly be concerned, and those who do take action are, in majority, pseudo-hippies who mostly do little than complain and rant on the PETA website.

Unfortunately pseudo is a word that can be attached to most political movements... the truth is a lot of people join these things because its the popular thing to do, or because someone told them to do it. In either case they don't know why they do and say the things they do, they just follow others. I have to say, I have even less respect for people like that, than the millions of people who ignore politics entirely and don't even vote, at least those people aren't doing damage.

Quote
Just imagine the dying ecosystems decades from now and the havoc the blazing heat (that is to say, famine) and the ensuing rising of waters, cascading into massive flooding. Need I mention the change in the current belt (due to warming of the ocean waters, waters that flow in a distinct cycle of drifting coasts and seas) that could easily cascade into world-wide catastrophe?

Lets just say, I wouldn't support any policy that didn't take a self imposed apocalypse seriously. You'd think most people would agree with that...

Quote
Nuclear power has so much potential, as does solar energy. The problem is the lack of energy-friendly power plants, nor any real fiscal initiative to build them.

That's why it needs to be funded.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2009, 11:04:40 pm by Giuliano Taverna »
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar

MacDuff

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2009, 08:06:25 pm »
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"Unfortunately pseudo is a word that can be attached to most political movements... the truth is a lot of people join these things because its the popular thing to do, or because someone told them to do it. In either case they don't know why they do and say the things they do, they just follow others. I have to say, I have even less respect for people like that, than the millions of people who ignore politics entirely and don't even vote, at least those people aren't doing damage."

You have a point there. Plato certainly was spot-on in saying that there are three wrungs in the brain (autonomic/automatic nerve system- emotional emigdala- philosophical prefrontal cortex), and that most people have a tendency of acting withe first as hedonistic drones.

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Lets just say, I wouldn't support any policy that didn't take a self imposed apocalypse seriously. You'd think most people would agree with that...

"Now o'er half the world, nature is dead/ And wicked dreams abuse/ The curtain'd sleep," for a reason. Homo sapiens never build a safe-proof to protect against instinctual greed and sloviness, do they?

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That's why it needs to be funded.

Well, scientists have made presentations to public officials, so simply continuing that simply won't do any good.... what we need is to shut the mouths of the oil giants and Pat Roberts of this world and prove just how sickly they're being. Granted, if done to simply attack them, that is argumente ad hominem, but a logical argument isn't always the only means to solving a sticky issue....
"Young heads are giddy, and young hearts are warm/ And make mistakes for manhood to reform," (Poe).

Giuliano Taverna

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Re: Warming up to Obama
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2009, 08:18:06 pm »
I wouldn't say shutting his mouth is the best way to approach the issue, as little as I approve of what he says, he has his first amendment right to say whatever he wants. That goes for oil companies as well. However we have to make the distinction between speech and money, money is not free speech and opening up politicians to severe scrutiny when they deal with business should be a matter of serious public interest.

Like most things, its an issue of corruption. However the influence big oil seems to be waning. Generally speaking most people are sick of importing oil from the middle east, even if they don't take the threat of climate change seriously.
"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Tiberius Caesar