Thank you Obama

[philibusters]

I was flipping back and forth between his speech and the Terps basketball game so I only saw pieces. I too thought the applause by the college students was inappropriate. I would think college students would know better but it is what it is.

From the bit of the speech I saw, which was probably less than a quarter of it, it seemed appropriate. It seems odd, but generally I don't like patriotic or feel good speeches as they always seem a bit phony to me, but from this website it sounds like his speech came across good.

 

[Vince]

Speech good - Venue bad. I could tell Obama was uncomfortable with the whole scene. Mistake #1 was inviting a bunch of hyperactive college students that thought they were coming to a party or concert. I felt like I was watching a Backstreet Boys concert. I don't think this was Obama's fault at all and he handled it with as much dignity as he could.

to Obama

I think those are the only ones left that are stupid enough to believe his BS anymore. Same ones that voted for him.

 

[Toxick]

Impressive speech. Downright moving in some parts.

Granted, I could only read it, so I didn't get any of the tone of the delivery, but the sentiment in the written speech was ... it was good enough to earn Obama a bit of respect from this voter.


Regardless of how you feel about Obama, this isn't a photo-op or a politically motivated Look at me caring moment. This is part of the job description. A bunch of people were gunned down at an event driven by federal politics. It is both appropriate and solicitous that he was there. I didn't read any ideological tripe in the speech he delivered - not even any anti-gun sentiment.


Good job Mr. President. I have a new found new respect for your diplomacy and restraint.

 

[Ken King]

Impressive speech. Downright moving in some parts.

Granted, I could only read it, so I didn't get any of the tone of the delivery, but the sentiment in the written speech was ... it was good enough to earn Obama a bit of respect from this voter.


Regardless of how you feel about Obama, this isn't a photo-op or a politically motivated Look at me caring moment. This is part of the job description. A bunch of people were gunned down at an event driven by federal politics. It is both appropriate and solicitous that he was there. I didn't read any ideological tripe in the speech he delivered - not even any anti-gun sentiment.


Good job Mr. President. I have a new found new respect for your diplomacy and restraint.

Yet, recently there was a deal made that President Obama didn't routinely call the families of the fallen troops. That seems to contradict his appearance at the memorial, doesn't it?

 

[Toxick]

Yet, recently there was a deal made that President Obama didn't routinely call the families of the fallen troops. That seems to contradict his appearance at the memorial, doesn't it?

:shrug:

I didn't hear about that deal. And I have no idea what the actual protocol is for that.


However, the gist of the point I was trying to get at was that it's expected and appropriate that Obama would speak after a shooting that involved a member of Congress.

And it was an act of class that he didn't get join in the mudslinging party that followed, whether the act is ingenuous or not.

 

[Ken King]

:shrug:

I didn't hear about that deal. And I have no idea what the actual protocol is for that.


However, the gist of the point I was trying to get at was that it's expected and appropriate that Obama would speak after a shooting that involved a member of Congress.

And it was an act of class that he didn't get join in the mudslinging party that followed, whether the act is ingenuous or not.

The "deal" (as an issue) dealt with a family in WA whose son had been killed and they were told that the President doesn't routinely call the parents of fallen troops. As it relates to "job description" one would think that would be something the CinC would do.

 

[Toxick]

The "deal" (as an issue) dealt with a family in WA whose son had been killed and they were told that the President doesn't routinely call the parents of fallen troops. As it relates to "job description" one would think that would be something the CinC would do.

I knew what you meant by "deal". I still didn't hear about that deal.


I don't think it would be inappropriate for the CinC to call the families of fallen troops, but I don't see an obligation there either. I'm not sure what the actual protocol is. But given the possibility that a horrifying amount of deaths may occur in wartime, I would expect that it's not required or expected that the President would personally call and console the family every service member that makes the ultimate sacrifice, except under exceptional circumstances. That's not ignorance or arrogance, that's simple logistics.

 

[kom526]

Impressive speech. Downright moving in some parts.
A bunch of people were gunned down at an event driven by federal politics. It is both appropriate and solicitous that he was there. I didn't read any ideological tripe in the speech he delivered - not even any anti-gun sentiment.

The event was driven by federal politics or the actual shooting? Because I haven't heard any new revelations stating that Loughner went trigger happy over any type of politics.

Obama did go off script at least once when he said something to the effect of political rhetoric NOT being the reason this happened. I thought that was good on his part and I'd like to see someone from his administration directly address the folks that started the whole "right wing rhetoric caused this tragedy".

 

[hvp05]

I have to admit, I'm slightly surprised by most of your reactions to his speech. I expected it to be pulled apart and twisted into some pretzeled criticism, but that has not been the case.

I am willing to bet a fair number of them are Fox News viewers also...

 

[Ken King]

I knew what you meant by "deal". I still didn't hear about that deal.


I don't think it would be inappropriate for the CinC to call the families of fallen troops, but I don't see an obligation there either. I'm not sure what the actual protocol is. But given the possibility that a horrifying amount of deaths may occur in wartime, I would expect that it's not required or expected that the President would personally call and console the family every service member that makes the ultimate sacrifice, except under exceptional circumstances. That's not ignorance or arrogance, that's simple logistics.

Since Obama has been President just over 800 troops have died during OEF, he could have made less than three calls a day, spending less than five minutes with each family expressing his condolences. That would be no more than 15 minutes a day and I feel it has nothing to do with logistics. If logistics is an issue just look at what kind of logistics went into the Arizona trip and you can't even believe the claim you've made.

 

[Toxick]

The event was driven by federal politics or the actual shooting? Because I haven't heard any new revelations stating that Loughner went trigger happy over any type of politics.

The event.... not the shooting.

IOW: The congressman was gunned down "in the line of duty" so to speak, talking to constituents at Safeway.





The only viable reason I believe that has been given for the shooting was Loughner's horribly addled brain.

 

[kom526]

The event.... not the shooting.

IOW: The congressman was gunned down "in the line of duty" so to speak, talking to constituents at Safeway.





The only viable reason I believe that has been given for the shooting was Loughner's horribly addled brain.

Gotcha

 

[Ken King]

The event.... not the shooting.

IOW: The congressman was gunned down "in the line of duty" so to speak, talking to constituents at Safeway.





The only viable reason I believe that has been given for the shooting was Loughner's horribly addled brain.

Had a sex change too.

 

[kom526]

Has MSNBC aired this?

Jared Loughner’s friend says suspect ‘Did not watch TV … disliked the news’ - TVNewser


From the article:
He did not watch TV. He disliked the news. He didn’t listen to political radio. He didn’t take sides. He wasn’t on the left. He wasn’t on the right.

 

[Mongo53]

:shrug:

I didn't hear about that deal. And I have no idea what the actual protocol is for that.

As much as I dislike Obama, there is no way a President can personally interact with the families of every causalty of a war. I was shocked how much time Bush devoted to doing it, and NOT surprised at all, how much the media ignored that about Bush.

So, I don't think a family should take it personally if the President does NOT personally call them if they lose a child, like was recently published about. Understandably, they are greiving and its easy for them to take offense.

I've only parts of Obama's speech as well, but one people are seizing on, is how he almost basked in the appluase when he said that Rep Gifford opened her eyes before he left her hospital room, then when he got a huge appluase, he kept repeating it and kept the appluase going. Again, this is being a bit nit-pic'ing, he didn't really cross any line, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. BUT again, I have to balance that against any bias I may have from my distaste for so many other things he's done in the past.

 

[Baz]

I am willing to bet a fair number of them are Fox News viewers also...

I know! And it's not even April 1st!

 

[Toxick]

Since Obama has been President just over 800 troops have died during OEF, he could have made less than three calls a day, spending less than five minutes with each family expressing his condolences. That would be no more than 15 minutes a day and I feel it has nothing to do with logistics. If logistics is an issue just look at what kind of logistics went into the Arizona trip and you can't even believe the claim you've made.

Obviously in this particular war, yeah. It's not a lot of time.

The protocol, however is probably not designed because of this war. The logistics I was referring to were not specific to this particular war.

Should Lincoln have personally visited the families of the 200,000 people who died in the Civil war (Assuming he would have survived - since he would have been on travel - rather than watching a play - on April 14th, 1865).

Maybe Roosevelt and Truman should have personally called the families of the 300,000 troops who perished in WWII? You know that ####ing Roosevelt was a socialist anyway.

You don't form a protocol in response to one event.

So, although it may be hard to hear and goes against frantic flag-waving patriotism where everyone who dies is a hero and all Democrats have horns and carry tridents - but no it's not the in the job description of the President to call and console the family of every soldier who loses his life in a war. It's simple logistics.

 

[Toxick]

Had a sex change too.

:shrug:

I call them Congressmen (or Congresscritter) regardless of sex. I also use the term "Chairman" of the Board rather than "Chairperson". And any women who help extinguish blazes are "Firemen" like their collegues.

If it bothers you, however, I will respect that and be more PC.

 

[Ken King]

Obviously in this particular war, yeah. It's not a lot of time.

The protocol, however is probably not designed because of this war. The logistics I was referring to were not specific to this particular war.

Should Lincoln have personally visited the families of the 200,000 people who died in the Civil war (Assuming he would have survived - since he would have been on travel - rather than watching a play - on April 14th, 1865).

Maybe Roosevelt and Truman should have personally called the families of the 300,000 troops who perished in WWII? You know that ####ing Roosevelt was a socialist anyway.

You don't form a protocol in response to one event.

So, although it may be hard to hear and goes against frantic flag-waving patriotism where everyone who dies is a hero and all Democrats have horns and carry tridents - but no it's not the in the job description of the President to call and console the family of every soldier who loses his life in a war. It's simple logistics.

Now you are being idiotic. And as I recall, remembering back to some old family letters that my grandmother had, she did have a letter from Roosevelt offering his sympathy for her son, that would have been my uncle, that was killed at Guam. So maybe it was protocol that is now being redefined. Hell, Obama even skipped Arlington last Memorial Day taking a trip home to Chicago and sending Biden in his place.

So we will simply have to agree to disagree that Obama did something fantastic here. I don't see it but you apparently do. I guess it was more important to him to go to Arizona. After all, he did get his TV face time and we know that is one of his high priorities.

 

[Toxick]

Now you are being idiotic.

Why is it idiotic? Because I have the audacity to say that if the Obama doesn't call everyone who loses a family member in the Middle East he's a complete jack-hole?

I have no idea the circumstances surrounding your uncle's sacrifice, or the letter your grandmother received. I have no idea if the letter was actually from Roosevelt himself or written by a staffer with FDR's name rubber-stamped on it.

What I do know is that it's a physically impossibility that Roosevelt or Truman would have personally written a letter to the family of every American casualty in World War 2. Or make a phone call to them.

I also have no idea if the families of service members today receive a comparible letter with OHB's signature rubber-stamped on it. (Or whatever today's computerized equivalent is).

So we will simply have to agree to disagree that Obama did something fantastic here. I don't see it but you apparently do.

I do?

We can disagree to whatever you want, but where did I say he did something fantastic?

I simply don't think this is a photo-op or attention grab - it's him doing his ####ing job, doing what's expected, and he did a decent job of it.


It's not like I'm massaging his testicles or something.