Wow! I don't know where you work, but blocking video/audio today is a total tool of a move by whoever in "corporate" authorized it. I think this is what horse carriage makers said about the auto-mobile at one point. My feeling is the major thing Obama has to do is the equivalent of a WPA program for the 21st century. Highways are falling apart, and public transportation is a joke. Even in NYC the subway is extensive, but the stations are a joke. If he can force power lines and grids to be built in the southwest where the place is bathed in sunlight, that would be a major plus.
TOKYO — Aspiring English speakers in Japan have made President Barack Obama's book of speeches and accompanying CD a national best-seller. In Aichi, central Japan, a Buddhist monk has reportedly been playing the president's speeches during his temple service. And dozens of students in an English-language class in Tokyo have been memorizing his 2004 Democratic Convention speech to improve their understanding and pronunciation. "Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely," the students at Kaplan Japan school recited together Friday. "The Speeches of Barack Obama" has sold 420,000 copies since its release on Nov. 20 _ an "unprecedented huge hit" for an English-language text, according to publisher Asahi Press. Any book that sells more than 100,000 copies in Japan, which has a population of 128 million, is considered a success, and foreign-language publication sales rarely exceed 20,000, the publisher said. Obama's book of speeches surged to No. 2 in Japan's main best-seller list this week, according to Hiroki Tomatsu, an official of Japan's largest book distributor Tohan Co. that publishes the ranking. The 95-page book compiles Obama's speeches including the one at the 2004 convention, many from the party primaries, and his victory speech after he beat Hillary Rodham Clinton to secure the Democratic nomination. Each English-language transcript comes with a Japanese translation. Although the simplicity of campaign speeches makes them an obvious choice as a language-learning tool, other American presidents have rarely been so feted. "We don't publish every single president's speeches," Asahi Press official Yuzo Yamamoto said. "Would you buy the text of former President George W. Bush's speeches?"
i dont think obama has his head in his ass. the problems our nation is facing are huge and complicated, i dont think its quite as simple as just creating green jobs. our economy is heavily rooted in some systems that are not in our best interests, but changing those systems will likely not be a simple or quick proces. which is not to say that obama or his administration will be infallible by any means, im sure there will be missteps and all the other hooplah that goes along with american politics, but to write him off because of that i think is unfair.
Agreed. No idea why anyone would dismiss Obama this quickly. My opinion is this. And I think he's great. And the most damned powerful thing he did in this country is show how people can work together to get what they want. I don't know if people realize it, but there are people out there who have just avoided voting and being active participants in the system since they felt "So what, nothing changes..." Basically, anyone who wasn't white or middle-class. Now you have a whole population of people who not only see they've made a difference, but overwhelmingly see this is real. You have people all over the world paying attention to this guy. And kids as well. So now instead of truly evil loons like Cheney and Bush manipulating the electorate to gain power because so many people are apathetic they can do that, you have a mass of people who just know that being actively involved does affect things. So I hope he's elected for a second term. But if he's only in for one term, I hope he does a good enough job to really keep pushing things forward. That's the way you'll get long-term change in tons of things.
I think one of the more long-lasting impact that Obama can make, is in appointing future Supreme Court judges! Thank goodness, I can finally switch on the radio again and listen to a presidential address. Listening to B speak was worse than nails on a chalk board. It was so embarassing listen to his public addresses and knowing that he was suppose to represent the American nation < cringe > Hallelujah! We finally have a president that can enunciate intelligently!
I agree that you cannot dismiss him, but I don't see how you can call him great either as he hasn't done anything yet. Nor does he have a record of bringing people together other than on the campaign trail. His past record in office doesn't show that, as he votes along party lines. But, he is in the perfect position to be considered one of the greatest presidents, even if his administration turns out to be mediocre. He is replacing an extremely unpopular president and the economy is in the tank. From here, everything can only get better.
Simply being in office is a massive thing to do. And simply being active in day-to-day functions is far more than Bush or even Clinton did. Few people remember how disorganized the Clinton administration was when he took office. They spent more of their first days just forming a cabinet than anything else. Being an effective community organizer is nothing to scoff at. Given America's issue with race the fact he was elected by a huge margin means something. And yes, Bush was an idiot. But Clinton had issues as well and didn't really inspire a global fan-base. Obama's presence is profoundly different. I don't think the guy is magical. But I think it's great to have someone in there who is so clean, respected and admired that it can only lead to positive things. And yeah, he might vote on party lines. But what sitting President has not been that way in decades? I don't expect any radical change from Obama at all. But I think he'll do fine since he's proven himself to be a real diplomat that can bring people together. The fact that kids in Japan and Indonesia pay attention to him means something. What other President has anyone really passionately cared about in decades?
Praise the false "Hope", bring on the Thought Police..... regardless of what you may think about lizard people, here is a very interesting article on your new CEO... http://www.davidicke.com/obama
All I know is that if Barry was a Cayjoo artist, then he would be the new king of Cayjoo. I hope he has a good run with many variants. [Now if I could just parlay the fact that we both went to Occidental College, him x83 and me x85, into a cushy government job, I'd double my Cayjoo collection!] yes WE can
Conjecture, lack of facts, rhetoric straight from the Limbaugh/Savage/Coulter line of thinking and/or chain emails from months ago, anti-semitism, basically calling Obama an Uncle Tom, Hitler comparisons and an overabundance of lame pictures. Oh yeah, and he thinks lizard people from space are here and in positions of fame and influence. HOLY SHIT. How can any sane, rational person take anything this guy says seriously for more than two seconds?
All the best Cayjoo is make by lizard people! Most of this board is made up of lizard people. EVERYONE knows that. Why does everyone else have to pick on lizard people? Just because we're from space? Bigotry has no place on this board. Lizard power! Personally I think the shape-shifting energy vampires make the best government leaders, but that is just my opinion. The problem with GW was that he was a little too human, kinda like Hitler. That is why many are pushing to have him tried in the International Court for war crimes. But, hey, what do llizard people know, huh?
Easy, Greasy! They are monitoring your thoughs as you think them. Think happy, happy, happy thoughts. . .
It's not his views on the lizard people, but his anti-Semitism that rub me the wrong way. I'm weird like that. Also, the Wikipedia entry on the loon says: Last I checked people like David Icke create racial and ethnic divisions. Whatever. You know what's going to be great about the next 4 years? Even if Obama doesn't change much, the loons/nutters will only look more looney/nutty as time goes by.
Icke is not an anti semite at all. Learn the fucking difference between Zionism & Judaism before you go making assumptions about people's racially motivated behavior. Also wikipedia= wiki = editable by any misinformed prick with a grudge. you fucking twat.
that makes sense but I assure you that it is not fool proof. sometimes there actually are relevant comparisons to hitler. as in obama's case. don't let cliche's rob you of your ability to think freely.
Comparisons to Hitler are only relevent when countries are being invaded, people are being put into camps and systematically killed. I know it's only been a week and a half, but Obama hasn't done that yet. Being a good public speaker≠Hitler.
...or so your small mind only allows you to believe. who's behind him, what are their motivations? you obviously only know about the history that you paid someone to indoctrinate you with.
