Good question, JoAnne!

Good response, Houston...

Or Feisty, or Bev, or Navy, or John B, or Jody, or Amy...

Whew...

I'm exhausted!

Sorry if I didn't mention you.

Congratulations Jo Anne . that was a very pertinent question considering the political climate today

@Mixed Bag

Good reponse, Houston...

Or Feisty, or Bev, or Navy, or John B, or Jody, or Amy...

Whew...

I'm exhausted!

What I've been hearing not really; primarying him would be counterproductive. You know I don't read HUFF& Crap and FDL. Maybe you could tell me.

President Obama will register with the Federal Election Commission as a 2012 re-election candidate as early as Monday, I've learned, clearing the way for what may be the biggest campaign fund-raising drive in the nation's history -- not counting Obama-allied independent fund-raising in the works.

Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messinahas been saying he is worried that outside GOP allied groups -- especially ones that GOP strategist Karl Rove advises -- will be running ads early on.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/04/obamas_2012_fund_raising_goal.html

Apparently, President Obama is not worried about the 2 time loser Dennis Kuchich. Russ Fiengold says he other plans. I think I read he wants to run for governor. Do you know anything different?

Hmmm...

Attention deficit disorder is more prevalent than I ever imagined.

No...I think it's just wilfull ignorance.

Poor Bag Boy!

Anna Molly has left for the evening, and now he's begging for someone else to entertain him!

Well, I'm exhausted too - so go play with yourself will ya? *yawn*

C'mon, Feisty..

I mentioned you..

And..."high road" as always, eh?

Don't know why you find the gutter so attractive...whatever.

Same 'ol Feisty.

lol

Bev -

Apparently, President Obama is not worried about the 2 time loser Dennis Kuchich. Russ Fiengold says he other plans. I think I read he wants to run for governor. Do you know anything different?

-----------------------------------------------------------

I like Kucinich, but he has shown in the past that he can be bought off. I hear through the grapevine that the forces of goodness and light are still trying to convert Fiengold (my absolute favorite modern politician), but I doubt he can be convinced to go against the dems. Damn party loyalty! Oh well, he'll make a great governor.

Mixed Bag
President Obama has led this country out of the worst recession since the 1930's, he has restored respect for America all over the globe, ( who can forget seeing protesters chanting "yes we can!" in Egypt!), he lifted the barrier for gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, he has signed legislation that protects people from losing their health insurance when they get sick , and moved us on a path towards making sure everyone has access to health insurance, he appointed two, highly qualified women to the Supreme Court, he has signed a treaty with Russia to reduce nuclear weapons, he has taken action to prevent genocide in Libya, without bogging us down in another war, he has raised America in the eyes of the world and provided a role model to young people of an engaged, responsible, husband and father. He's a gifted and graceful man, and I like him.

Don't know why you find the gutter so attractive

For some odd reason, I find a perverse pleasure, in visiting where you and the rest of the flag pin wearing family values crowd inhabit!

It's healthy to think out of the box from time to time... donthca know?

@Beverly: Does President Obama have to show his birther certificate when he files with the FEC ?

LOL

Mixed Bag -

What Amy said. And that's just in the first two years.

And he's done it all without ever once losing his cool, in the face of the most outrageously insulting and uncalled for criticism any President of this country has ever had to contend with.

And besides that.....well, just look at the "competition". Want to make a similar case for any one of them? Go ahead and take all weekend - we'll all be back on Monday!

I'll be back too, JoAnne.

Bet on it.

Now...

Feisty...

lol

"I find a perverse pleasure...

I know, Feisty.

You are a pervert, aren't you...?

It's really pretty obvious to most of us...we don't need a confession.

"Anna Molly has left for the evening..."

Why, Feisty...I almost missed that!

You're keeping an eye on me...AND Anna Molly.

You little devil, you...

I can hardly see you down there...in the gutter, I mean.

You're keeping an eye on me...AND Anna Molly.

Being the pervert you claim I am - then, why wouldn't I like to watch?

That would be a delicious little devil to you bag boy! ;o)

Please carry on...

Amy,

I'm afraid you might be a bit delusional about President Obama’s success in restoring respect for America all across the globe. I wonder how many foreign leaders would disagree with your interpretation?

President Obama has managed to snub or otherwise offend Benjamin Netanyahu, Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, King Harald and the people of Norway, Azerbaijan, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, the Dalai Lama, Spain, Desi Bouterse, and President Karzai. Africa is not that happy with him.

You must have missed the adoring folks in Libya stomping on an Obama effigy the other day. India burned an effigy of our current President, as have Afghanistan, Israel, Sri Lanka and Tehran. Did you miss the anti-America, anti-Obama protests in Brazil?

Seriously, with whom has he made good foreign relations?

Candace, I don't know where you get your news, but it is documented fact that America's approval ratings, if you want to call it that, have gone up measurably since Obama became President. I think Sarkosy and Cameron are working closely with the Obama administration over Libya. Germany disagrees with our Libya policy, ovviously, but I think even they appreciate our desire to avoid genocide in that country.

Amy. I just googled "Obama snubs" and "Obama protests." I have to say the results were somewhat shocking. Do you know there were anti-Obama protests in Ireland, Australia, Chile, Japan and Indonesia, too? Wow.

Just reviewing the jobs report, wall st, and Lybia issue, I think the president shows us the leadership skills needed for the oval office. I've not been happy with everything in his agenda but I can say the same for any other past president.

The underlying question on presidential elections is: would the one replacing him be better at it?

I'm also not seeing a viable candidate to defeat him. One could debate the policies all day long but an untainted opponent will be very hard to find. The fear of getting someone worse will plague the voters come election day.

Candice, Bartlett, IL

Amy,

I'm afraid you might be a bit delusional about President Obama’s success in restoring respect for America all across the globe. I wonder how many foreign leaders would disagree with your interpretation?

Why do you always play the naive young woman role? You know perfectly well the President has accomplished a lot since he took office. He deserves credit since he came in with a deficit caused by his predecessor, 2 wars, as well as natural calamities. Now we have the Middle East wanting democracy since his Cairo speech chanting "Thank you Mr Obama" and "Yes we can".

You people can try and rehab George Bush's image all you like by saying he started democracy in the Middle East. The truth however is, Candace, George Bush lied.

The Iraqis know it and so does most of the world. Throughout the whole 8 year time George Bush was at the helm there were more and more American flag and effigy burnings. This is why I want to see you sources and why those actions were provoked against President Obama; as you say.

You people can diminish his accomplishments all you want and accuse him of being an apologist. The truth, however, is Benjamin Netanyah offended our President. He has not stop building settlements in the West Bank.

[snip]

During the last three months of 2010, immediately after the freeze came to an end, construction started on 427 new housing units - as compared to 114 units during the nine prior months of 2010.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/settlement-building-jumped-fourfold-since-end-of-freeze-1.347336

[snip]

The world acts, and Netanyahu mumbles. Zero initiatives, lots of desperate running to catch the tail of reality. Rather similar to Mehmet Tubal, the captain of the Mavi Marmara - theoretical master of his ship, practically speaking - a pawn.

That is true for the peace process, for the closure on Gaza and for the investigative panel into the flotilla affair, which Netanyahu was dragged into appointing. And it appears again in the Immanuel school segregation affair.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-world-acts-netanyahu-reacts-1.297578

Candace President Obama and Madame Secretary Clinton have worked/are working very hard to force peace. It is Netanyahu who is is defaulting.

Why didn't you leave a source of the negative images? I'm willing to bet it may have a lot to do with the Islamophobia that jumped/ jumps off from FOX NOISE.

Fox has the natural ability to foment hate and religious intolerance which causes nut cases to come from under their rocks like the Christian minister who burned the Korans. As result people lost their lives in Afghanistan. More than likely the depictions of effigies were Jihadists who were offended by this blatant act of disrespect. Usually the more fundamental these types of Muslims are the less educated they are likely to be. They don't have the more means of communication we have and other advanced societieds uch as the internet; cellphones, and other technological advancements. Most of these people don't even have a TV, electricity, or running water.

Let me ask you something? If a particular segment of the world continually maligned you and your culture and religion how do you think your culture would react; if there was no one group or leadership to desensitize or bring about a calmative effect to people who not so literate?

If you want to weigh those images and inflammatory remarks against the diplomacy our President has used, you really can't make a proper case.

Your contradictions are so patent. you come across each and every time you post as hater. I s/e you no more than a mouthpiece of FOX LIES.

Candice, your strategy of attacking President Obama's on his strengths is very Rovian, much like the way the Republicans turned Kerry's military service in Vietnam into a negative during the 04 campaign.

I think the public is wise to the rightwing smear campaigns. Any voter with eyes in their heads has seen the way President Obama is greeted overseas. The Republicans have fought against President Obama since he took office. They don't even support him on setting up the Libyan no fly zone, and they all plagued him to do it! I'm sick of the internal warfare in this country.I want to enjoy this Recovery and enjoy having a President I admire for another term. Republicans are needlessly insulting and uncooperative.

I'll be back too, JoAnne.

Bet on it

Congrats on your question JoAnne & leaving bag boy tongue tied! lmao!

I do believe it's a 'first'!

Hey Mixed, How about you in all your infinite wisdom, explain to America, why those who jumped aboard "The Crazy Train" on 1-21-2009, should lead us into the Future?

Seems to me this Marxist, Socialist, Communist, Teleprompter reading, Islamist Terrorist loving man "President Obama" has navigated the Ignorance, led by America's MSM, & led America thru these difficult times.

Maybe you can also explain to America, why Russia & China have been Mute, since this Lybia thingy started? Wonder why that is, Mixed? They're never silent on the World Stage, but notta Peep from either!

Maybe you can also explain why 1 Terrorist from the Bali bombing ,with a Million $ bounty on his head was caught recently in Pakistan. America has'nt heard much about that & maybe it's because President Obama is'nt into Scareing the hell outta people for Political purposes.

Maybe you can also explain why Bin laden has been silent for so long now. Maybe it's because his sidekick(Bush)is'nt calling America's shots anymore. They needed each other. Where's Cheney & his daughter on Lybia?

I'll say this again, President Obama has gone where None other before him has Gone:

He's gone after Gadaffi, the Terrorist with Mo $$ than BinLaden can dream about.

America pateintly awaits your Wisdom there Mixed!

Amy, Beverly: when you respond to Candice, you have to know two things. She is no jo junior, and not terribly bright. If she WERE bright enough, she would know that Gallup just did a poll of 100 countries on exactly what America's standing is in the world. She would have found out that far from what she wants to believe in her little dark "I hate Obama" world, The President has RAISED The standing of America from sixth to first. The Gallup poll can be Googled: "Worldwide Approval of US Leadership Tops Major Powers." The information contained therein is too complex for Candice, so an easy article for her to study is Obama Clears out the Bushes and Restores America's Global Popularity" March 25, 2011.Politicususa.

Bev, Amy, and newdaft,

Candice is right, but she is too kind.

Obama has been an absolute foreign policy and national security disaster.

Obama has betrayed America's oldest and truest friend, the UK, by giving Russia nuclear secrets relating to their Trident missile missiles. Obama has betrayed Poland and the Czech Republic by reneging on our missile defense agreement with them.

Sarkozy has been appalled with Obama, saying to the effect that Obama is incredibly naive, that his naivety is only exceeded by his narcissism and due to his narcissism, he will never understand how dangerous his naivety is to the world.

The childish snubs and reckless treatment of Israel, the truest Democracy and our truest friend in the Mideast is appalling. Saudi Arabia, our best friend among the Arab nations, has lost all confidence in Obama. Last week, the Saudis and Israelis met with Russia in an effort to address the deteriorating situation and looming crisis in the Mideast. Russia! Pathetic that our friends have lost all confidence in Obama to deal with the Iranian efforts and threats and have turned to Russia.

Egypt? They were not pretty, or politically correct, but they were a friend and atabilizing effect in the Mideast. Democracy - what a joke. They have already adopted Sharia. No women on any ballots and if you are Christian, you might want to visit a U-Haul center pretty soon. Amy, Bev and others cite the protesters shouting "Yes we can!". That evidently applied to the mass rape and brutalization of Laura Logan too. Hundreds watched - animals. Evidently it also applies to any female caught without her face uncovered - "they are asking for it" - (evidently Sharia says so) Disgusting. BTW - Iranian warships are now going through the Suez, Iran is going to open a naval base in Syria, arms have intercepted from one of the Iranian ships going to Hezbollah, Israel is receiving Grad rocket attacks, mortar attacks ........Good call Obama. Way to be on top of things.

You guys talk about world approval ratings. How absurd. Liberals never understand that foreign policy and national security are not a popularity contest. Gadhafi did not give up his nuclear weapons program because he liked Bush - he gave it up because he respected Bush - what Bush did to Hussein and feared he was next. Iran stopped their program for the exact same reason. (Their benefit was that they waited for the liberals to start the anti-war stuff, the world doesn't "like" us stuff. Think Gadhafi wishes he would have waited?) Iran had no respect for Obama and the American Left. Now Iran has punked Obama and Obama has all but publicly conceded the bomb to them.

Obama is disaster - just as Sarkozy predicted. The world, (except for the Obama worshippers like you guys), knows it.

I did see the Gallup poll that showed 47% disapprove of President Obama’s handling of foreign policy. I also saw the Gallup poll that showed 17% believe he is a strong and decisive military leader. I saw the poll and the article you cited as well.

You see, if you look at all news sources – not just the ones that confirm your opinions, you would perhaps gain a better grasp of reality. I know considering all points of view is a complex task you may not be entirely up for or willing to take on. If you were, you might find out that far from what you want to believe in your “I worship Obama” world, there are people who protest him and protest our country.

The truth is many countries across the globe hate us and blame us for whatever reason and probably always will regardless of who our President is.

Maybe it’s because he’s been more focused on domestic issues that I haven’t seen him too much in action on foreign policy issues. Time and history will tell.

Just checking in during a busy weekend, First Readers...

Excellent, excellent responses to my post.

I have my personal favorites, of course...

Gotta go, but in all sincerity...First Read is the BEST!

See you all on Monday!

Bye!

:-]

Hi, Bob.

Thanks. I sense the relationship between Sarkozy and Obama is strained. I would love to know how the conversation went when, while France has decidedly a greater interest in Libya than we do, Obama told the French President he’d provide air support for a couple of days, then split. Years from now, I imagine we’ll find out the conversation wasn’t all that warm and cozy.

Candice, Bartlett, IL

Why can't Republicans argue a point without resorting to distorting the truth? You know perfectly well that poll on President Obama's foreign policy leadership contrasted "strong, decisive leader" ala George Bush, with one "likely to consult and work with allies." More people saw President Obama as the type to use diplomacy than the type to take unilateral military action. I know you are hoping you can get that lie past uniformed voters, however, if folks are reading this blog they know what the choices were in that poll. Gotta target your audience better than that if you want to win by spreading misinformation. Tell me a lie about boy bands, I don't know much about that.

bob-1805084

President Obama did not divulge nuclear secrets about the UK, that "talking point" has long since been debunked. It's a pants on fire lie.

The real question isn't, why should we re-elect President Obama, it's why wouldn't we? He is the incumbent and Americans don't like to change horses in mid-stream, at least that was what we were told in 2004.

Republicans have tried to make a case that President Obama be denied a second term from the moment he took office. It's abundantly clear the Party of No has refused to work with him, for it's own selfish reasons, especially when they continue to attack him even after he set up a no-fly zone in Libya, which they had championed doing in the first place!

My feeling is President Obama will go down in history as one of the best President we have ever had. Not only am I voting for him, I'm sending him money.

Good one, Amy: the answer is that Candice (et al) does not want her delusions disturbed by fact. The upswing in positive view of American is 14%. After what Bush did to the country, I was surprised that it had gone up so quickly. You have to wonder at the desperation of the right wing nuts. They hate Obama for no reason, and hope the country fails so they can be "right." The question is, what have they won? But, I did not expect that Candice would understand the poll. The fun part is that Candice no longer postures about being non partisan. Notice how she tries in a sophomoric way to diminish the polls because they put the lie to what she wants to believe. Sad.

Yes, Newday. It is very sad. The upswing in positive views of America went up 14%. After the disaster that was President Bush – the bottom of the barrel in your opinion, I’m sure, you would think President Obama’s performance would have netted a stronger turnaround. 14% above the worst ever? And this is good news to you?

Per Gallup: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign affairs? 46% approve. 47% disapprove.

No diminishing here, just stating the facts.

(I would also think the question would have been phrased "President Obama." Gallup should show a little respect. Really.)

Good try, Candice: and don't put words in my mouth. What is sad is your hatred for this President. What surprised me is not that it didn't go up further, but it went up as quickly as it did, going from 6th to 1st. But, again I realize the complexities of that are above your head.

Hi Candice,

The quote I mentioned from Sarkozy was made after the Copenhagen summit on Iran and the bomb in 2009. Sarkozy has had Obama's number all along and their relationship will always be strained - after all Sarkozy is right about Obama.

I don't see the Libya deal as an alliance with the French and UK as much as an opportunity for a pure ideological multilateral-ism exercise on the part of Obama. The Arab League, which seemed to be the determining influence, combined with the UN - provided Obama's model multilateral platform. Complemented by the weakness of Gadhafi, this appeared to Obama to be an opportunity to pick easy low hanging fruit, establish security credibility for the campaign and do it the liberal way.

Problem is - multilateral-ism with groups that have different goals, values, etc. doesn't work.

I don't know how religious Obama is, but he better pray for a coup. This is not a pretty mess he has led us into.

It is always great to be scrolling down these threads and see the words - Candice, Bartlett, IL.

Thanks for dropping by.

Good point. I think they will wait. Maybe later than Fall because they know their opponent and the odds of beating him which is looking pretty good.

Then again, I'm thinking President Obama will face a challenge within the party.

@Doug: I don't think so, at least not from any serious, sane candidates. Challenging a sitting President in the primary is generally considered political suicide. I can't think of the last successful run against a President who was running. RFK was on his way to defeating LBJ, so LBJ bowed out. History would have been changed had he not.

So much of what candidates do is scripted and rehearsed that I think a long election period gives more time for them to do or say something unscripted so that we can tell something about the real person. I would say this about either party.

Gotta admit you have a point there Steeler Fan. It does give them more time to provide material for the late night comedians.

Congratulations JoAnne!

In answer to your question---I think Labor Day will come before any Republican delcares!

And we won't have a good Republican candidate until December,

.....

.....

...

2012

JoAnne--congrats on having your question selected. As a fellow Pennsylvanian, all the attention paid to Santorum baffles me. If our state rejected him, how can he hope to get a whole country to elect him. Or maybe he wants to be Vice President.

Tom, I respect your opinion. "Your fired."

I'll hire you Tom!!

Thanks Tom - my real Birthday is in October...

The best the right wing nuts could come up with for a April Fools prank was to claim it was Bev & my Birthday!

I decided to indulge them & their lame joke!

Sometimes you feel like a nut - sometimes you don't! lol

Give your PaPa Birthday wishes for me will ya? He raised a mighty fine son! ;o)

Thanks Fiesty---Well if that's an April Fools then they must be the fools. My Dad got a Walnut cake (very solid), a Sponge cake ( not edible), but he was a good sport.

Very good illustration of how even the repubs know they have to cheat to win. However, I do have a tiny issue with your equating former DLC poster boy Bill Clinton with progressive ideology. Sorry to split hairs, its just a pet peeve with me. But not big enough for me to not vote your comment up.

I just have to laugh at that. Do you actually believe that Gingrich and (former) President Clinton would have a conversation that President Clinton would truthfully relate? I have no doubt that Clinton told the story, but I do have doubts about whether or not the incident happened. One sided stories are amusing, but they really amount to "he said, she said", although I probably shouldn't use those terms when talking about President Clinton.

Reminds me of the story between tip o'neil and reagan when reagan negotiated with the democrat controlled congress. Seems that tip was miffed at reagan because reagans negotiations gave 80% to the republicans and only 20 % to the democrats.

In Greg's Clinton quote, he includes the word "is". Until this word is officially defined, the quote has no meaning.

Fantastico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree. Gary Johnson is a young Ron Paul. He has the ideas. If him or Ron Paul can get around Fox News, get around Fox making their viewers elect an old time corporate Repub, we will have something. Fox is half the problem. They want old time Newt or another oil company and corporation owned Repub in there. If the tea party splits off from Fox telling them what to do, takes the control of the election from Fox, grabs the lead and supports a Libertarian, we have a game.

That's all you got. A five day war in Libya, Bush invading Iraq for the oil, wasting 1.5 trillion on stealing oil instead of getting the U.S. off of oil with that 1.5 trillion he wasted, Bush's war in Iraq, Bush's patriot act, Bush bailing out Wall Street, Bush tanking the entire economy. Why not add in Bush outsourcing 20 million jobs to China too? Sounds like Obama did so much. Wow.

It is in Paul Ryan's book "Roadmap to America" that he wants to end social security and Medicare, make the corporate tax zero, and then create a European style value added tax to pay off the debt. So you lose SS and Medicare so the corporations pay zero taxes, then you pay for Bush's wars with a 10 percent tax on everything you buy. This is all the Repubs ever do, feed the corporations, take stuff from the people, lie they hate socialism until they want to use a socialist tax to pay off the debt they run up. I am not even a Dem. I am so over Bush it is not even funny.

And see how Fox plays you people. All the corporations pay no taxes, Fox only grabs onto the one who likes Obama, does not tell you none of the big banks nor the oil companies pay taxes here either. So the Repubs do not tax corporations, Fox uses one corporation not paying taxes to make it look bad for Obama. Then they make it up Obama did what Bush did and you all repeat it. Are the shows on Fox like they tell you all "repeat after me." How do they get people totally brainwashed? Spewing so much hate and fear I guess. That would do it, be afraid, be so scared, be so mad, and don't forget, vote R, R and R somemore, cause TV told you to.