Barack Obama is one hell of an orator. I'm reminded now why I like him so much.

[Electric Monk]

(He just finished his speech regarding Mubarak leaving and Egypt adopting a genuine democracy, for context)

[sufrommich]

1. It was a beautiful speech. nt

[uppityperson]

2. k&r and up to zero

heh, too funny

[madinmaryland]

5. Un-reccing for whining about un-rec's..

Just kidding!

:P

[Lucian]

3. You like him because he speaks well?

What about the issues?

Or did we already forget about LIHEAP?

[ProSense]

8. "Or did we already forget about LIHEAP?" If

you're interested, LIHEAP for the current year.

HHS releases $200 million in emergency funding to states for energy assistance

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the release of $200 million in emergency contingency funding to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters meet home energy costs. These Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency funds will provide states, territories, tribes and the District of Columbia with additional assistance to pay heating and other home energy costs.

“During the cold winter months, heating your home becomes more than a matter of comfort,” said Sebelius. “The release of these emergency funds will help low-income families and individuals afford the high energy costs rather than force them to make cutbacks on other essentials.”

LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating, cooling and other energy costs, as well as helping to weatherize eligible families’ homes.

The $200 million in emergency contingency funds released today are in addition to the basic LIHEAP funding made available to states under the continuing resolutions since October 1 totaling $3.9 billion for Fiscal Year 2011.

“Low-income individuals and families are hit hard by energy costs,” said David A. Hansell, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. “We are releasing these emergency funds to states to help meet the critical needs of vulnerable children, seniors and families.”

For a complete listing of state allocations of funds released today go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2011/fy11_liheap_funds.html

HUD AWARDS $1.4 BILLION TO NEARLY 7,000 LOCAL HOMELESS PROGRAMS – PART OF ADMINISTRATION PLAN TO PREVENT & END HOMELESSNESS

HUD, HHS ANNOUNCE JOINT EFFORT TO ASSIST NEARLY 1,000 NON-ELDERLY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO MOVE FROM INSTITUTIONS TO INDEPENDENCE

President Obama's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative

The President's 2012 budget comes out on Monday.

[hlthe2b]

17. I am hoping the whole LIHEAP issue..

was a strategic trial balloon aimed at getting the blow back that he has. It thus gives the administration cover. That said, I hate those kind of games with the most vulnerable among us. I guess that is why I will never go into politics.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ChiciB1]

43. I Suppose To Some "Words" Speak LOUDER Than "Action!" Obama

can deliver LOTS OF PRETTY WORDS, but for me I PREFER Pretty Deeds!

I'm seeing a MAN I do not know! He's NOT the man I thought I voted for! Say again that he's the same man and that he never talked different all you want, but then EXPLAIN why so many people I know don't remember him as he is now!

I hardly recognize him as much of a Democrat anymore and I KNOW I'm not alone, NOT by a long shot!

[JuniperLea]

56. What did you think you were going to get?

DemBush? Saber rattling, bomb lobbing, etc.?

[ChiciB1]

75. Perhaps I Should Elaborate... I Don't Feel His Speech Today Was "Off" Nor

do I feel it should have been more forceful. The "porrich" today was correct because it HAD to be diplomatic.

My reference is about many OTHER speeches given and his seemingly lurch to the right. I feel he speaks very well, I just feel he has left so many of us wondering just WHO he is and WHAT he believes in these days. I feel as though he's forgotten about so many of us who worked long and hard to get him elected. I feel he seems to like working MORE with Repukes than Democrats.

So my comment wasn't simply about ONE speech. I've heard many, but the follow up isn't always what his speeches imply. Again, pretty words nice, but action... not so much! I've had a very hard time figuring out what his REAL agenda is. For me it's playing out as something quite different than I had expected and by a BIG margin.

I can't apologize for what I feel in my heart, I see too many people hurting by what is going on in this country and the gap between the "haves" and "have nots," the latter category that I fall in.

[originalpckelly]

4. Yes, he's a master of a lie of omission.

The omission in this case is that the US is one of the main reasons that shitty fucker managed to stay in power for so long.

[sharp_stick]

19. So you're pissed that Obama

took two years to have Mubarak removed when he managed to hang on through the last 4 or 5 administrations?

I don't think you can blame Obama for the time Mubarak had in office before the start of his administration.

[JoePhilly]

22. Obama was supposed to make Eqypts Revolution about the US ...

as if we were the Sarah Palin of nations and EVERY SINGLE EVENT is about us first.

[tekisui]

26. That is why ignored all the threads giving Obama credit for starting

it with his Cairo speech.

[JoePhilly]

29. I think he gets credit for one aspect of this ...

For not fucking it up.

Here on DU there was a great demand for Obama to bluster and "demand" shit. He did not do that, knowing that if it looked like the US pulled the strings, it would get all screwed up.

The Obama administration limited its public statements to "pro democracy" statements.

Who knows exactly what they did behind the scenes. But whatever it was, it appears to have worked, in the sense that it didn't screw it up.

Many on DU claimed that Obama "threw the protesters under the Bush", that he had "thrown his support behind Mubarak" ... and they predicted that "thanks to Obama" Mubarak would stay at least until September.

And now what will they say ... from what I see, most of them are taking the "Obama did nothing" tact. Their prediction that Obama was actively supporting Mubarak so he could stay in power is now clearly refuted.

So their next position, Obama played "no role", whatsoever. Apparently all of their lamenting is forgotten.

I think, "not fucking it up" was the most important role he could play. And as we see, he didn't fuck it up.

Good job in a very unpredictable situation.

[tekisui]

32. I agree with you there.

I think he managed it well, to stay out of it. He said the right hings at the right times.

[JoePhilly]

34. My point all along was that if he demanded things, threatened, saber rattled ...

two things would happen ...

1) The protests would turn to chaos and violence, and

2) The US would be blamed for it.

I think that by "publicly" staying focused and calm adn not blustering, the administration took #2 off the table, even though #1 remained a distinct possibility..

And with the current situation, his ability to actively support a positive change, I think, is enhanced.

[JuniperLea]

57. Well, he's the president of Egypt!!!11!!!

Except he isn't.

[girl gone mad]

33. Obama had nothing to do with the removal of Mubarak.

[sharp_stick]

52. I know that

the point was that he's not to blame for the many years of Mubarak prior to his Presidency either.

[originalpckelly]

35. Um, no.

He gave a speech in Cairo, then proceeded to work with Mubarak like he was an upright gentleman. Like there was nothing bad about him.

[sharp_stick]

53. I suppose that he could have slapped him around

told him what a bad oppressive tyrant he was. Immediately costing us access to that part of the Middle East and enraging the Israelis.

Might have been fun for awhile but it would have cost him the next election. Like him or not the guy is a politician and he's got instincts that will hopefully keep the Presidency out of the hands of the pukes until at least 2016.

Still, two years into his Presidency a 30 year dictator is gone. The removal has the support of the current administration. What do you suppose would have been the result if this had of been a McCain/Wassillabilly administration? I'm guessing there would have been a lot stronger push to prop up Mubarak at least through the end of 2012.

[JuniperLea]

59. It's called diplomacy...

It's called not rocking the boat too hard if you can get a ripple to do the same job. In diplomacy, you speak to the good nature in all people...whether it's there or not. What did you want him to do, go in with guns blazing?

[tigereye]

38. this is true, and one of the main issues i have always had

with US foreign policy. You can't talk about democracy with one hand and support autocrats and dictators with the other. It's crazy- making.

[malaise]

74. You can until you've exhausted every contradiction

which is where we are today.

[tigereye]

80. well, no one is perfect and the campaigner and candidate

is not always the elected. The roles are very different and it's not possible to hold true to every principle. There are established US protocols that have been in place for decades and they are not always easily changed, although many of them probably should be.

At times folks here seem to think governing is easy. And it is probably the hardest job ever. :shrug:

[JuniperLea]

54. It would be horrifically diplomatically WRONG

For Obama to say anything of the sort. He's gone way beyond the status quo on this and that's quite enough.

[Scruffy1]

79. Having sat through thousands of speeches

I have to admit he's a great orator, which is probably why I supported him. But after the ball he's pretyy much a waffler. I often wonder if he actually believes in anything or is just an empty shell. I would love to love him but he's not the leader I hoped for. Oh well, if we want a better world we'll have to do it on our own. At least I don't think he'll stand in the way too much. He seems to avoid conflict,

[Angry Dragon]

6. I would rather have a President that did not speak as well

and actually worked for the people that elected him

edit: spelling

[Lorien]

7. +1,000. Every time the people have swooned over speeches

things have gone VERY badly for them.

[11 Bravo]

You had one. His name was Bush. I'll struggle along with Pres. Obama if it's all the same to you.

[Skittles]

12. bush worked for the people?

what fucking planet are you on?

[11 Bravo]

23. The statement I responded to was "worked for the people who elected him".

And from the Supreme Court, to the assholes who built the voting machines, to the millionaires who bankrolled his campaign, he sure as shit worked for them! I hope I'm not putting myself in line for an ass-kicking, but do you have a problem with that?

[Number23]

71. +100

[JuniperLea]

60. He worked for the people who elected/selected him!

Damn straight he did!

[malaise]

18. +1 n/t

[Solomon]

27. LOL Pwned!!

Nicely done. :thumbsup:

[SammyWinstonJack]

69. Except that bu$h DID NOT work for the people.

[Skittles]

76. a fact they conveniently overlook

[11 Bravo]

78. FFS, Skittles, you're smarter than that. We're on the same side here, or ...

do you honestly not understand what I was saying? Bush worked for the people WHO ELECTED HIM. Diebold, SCOTUS, a bunch of millionaires, and the neocons. The rest of us were pretty much told to fuck off. I can't make it any clearer than that.

[Skittles]

82. bush did NOT work for the people who elected him

he worked for RICH FUCKS - the GOP, as usual, was able to CON people into believing dubya would work for THEM

[11 Bravo]

77. We'll try this one last time, really slowly this time. The comment was ...

"he worked for the people WHO ELECTED him" ie: the millionaires who bankrolled his entire campaign, and the neo-cons who couldn't wait to go to war with Iraq.

[Skittles]

9. CORRECT

he sure does give purty speeches :(

[hlthe2b]

11. Understand... but this was a very tricky diplomatic challenge...

and I think that Obama made the right choices, given a divided administration perspective and handled it well.

[tigereye]

42. +1

but I think a recent article was correct about Obama being a "cold-eyed" pragmatist. It's very hard to give lip-service to overseas democracy while bankrolling folks who oppress their people. It may be that the cold-eyed pragmatist is a catalyst for popular uprising and democracy in his own way, due to his age and a different view of what the future may hold than his predecessor had.

[politicasista]

58. +1 n/t

[JuniperLea]

61. I think too few people remembere what diplomacy is all about...

I challenge them regularly to define it, but the goalpost is moved each and every time, without exception.

[Lucian]

13. + a million.

But hey, he did give a good speech. Let's love him now. :eyes:

[sharp_stick]

14. Too funny

I'll take spelling for $800 Alex.

Perhaps you forgot about the last asshole that had the job, he didn't "speal" that well... maybe that's more your speed.

[Angry Dragon]

21. I did not vote for the "last asshole"

It seems that you are more impressed in speech and looks than having a President that backs up his words with action.

[sharp_stick]

24. So he's done nothin'?

what a steaming pile of horseshit.

[Angry Dragon]

30. How many people are losing their houses because the President

will not declare a moratorium on foreclosures??
Why are war criminals running around without being arrested??
Why is Wall Street still in charge of this country??
Why has he not done anything about the unconstitutional ruling by the SS concerning Citizens United??
Why has he not challenged the radical republicans on Social Security??
Why does it seem that he bends over backwards for the republicans and at the same time tells the liberal base to shut up??
Why does he say that his press secretary is earning a modest salary of $172,000 and understands why he wants to leave and make more money and does little to help the people making $50,000??
Why is he allowing Duncan to destroy teacher unions??

[sharp_stick]

36. So what has Obama done lately

I love this site:

http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/

[Angry Dragon]

39. Tell me what you like that he has done

[sharp_stick]

40. To pick a few

I like Lily Ledbetter because it pisses off the GOP and it's a law that just makes sense.

The recent decision to revoke permission for mountaintop removal is a close second.

The repeal of DADT and the signing of the new START treaties would also be on the list.

[Angry Dragon]

46. Okay I will go along with those

How do you feel about the ones I listed in #30 above??

It is my feeling that there is a huge disconnect between what is said and the actions that are taken.

[sharp_stick]

51. He's got work to do.

There are plenty of areas that need improvement.

On the Wall Street debacle, I like the fact that he has Elizabeth Warren in place. I think she is tough enough to enact some real change. I'm no fan of Tim Geithner and Ben Bernanke, I think we could do a lot better there.

I'd love to see Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and probably about a dozen other former administration officials sent to the Hague for prosecution. That is something that was never going to happen, I don't know if our system could have handled it.

Two things I'd like to see more work on seriously is the foreclosure mess and education.

Neither of these areas are in my specific zone, meaning that I don't know what he can really do to really effect change in them.

I think he could and should do more to help people losing homes, an enforced moratorium might be too much of a shock to the financial system in place but there must be something that can be done to make it advantageous for the banks and homeowners to actually keep the people in their homes. We have a house on our street that has been vacant due to foreclosure for over two years now. The people that used to live there took care of the house and the yard, now it's starting to become an eyesore, the bank can't dump it because it's been on the market too long. It's helping nobody sitting empty like that.

I'd like to see a lot more equality in education. The fact that kids in one school come out with fantastic grades and well developed egos while just down the road is a gang infested school with a 60% drop out rate is unacceptable.

I think the disconnect is just politics and it's always been there. It's a lot easier to see it when it's "your guy in office" because you want him to carry through with everything. When it's the "other guy" I find it easy to dismiss everything coming out of their mouth as a lie. When Bush spoke, I assumed immediately it was a bunch of crap. When Obama speaks I want to believe everything, when he says something and it doesn't happen I notice it.

Politicians learn early that they have to say certain things to make the headlines and they repeat them dutifully. Actually getting something done in our system is a lot harder and people don't like it when you tell them that. They want to hear that you're going to do A, B and C not that you can get them A but you're going to have to back off on B in order to get the legislative support to actually get A done. Just my two cents YMMV.

Sorry for the earlier snark to your replies, it wasn't deserved.

[Angry Dragon]

63. Thank you for the reply

A good snark never hurt anyone :fistbump:

It is my feeling that the reason the the dems seem to be fighting among themselves is that they just got so sick and tired of living in the bush hell for so long. Obama finally let then see the light at the end of the tunnel. To me his approach seems fractured. There is a disconnect between what is said and the actions that are taken.

The perception in this country is that there is at least a two tier justice system at work. If you have money and connections then you got one form of justice and poor you get another. If people do not trust the justice system then you have no justice. By not arresting bush and others Obama just reinforced this perception. This country can not continue in this fashion. It started at least with Nixon when he did not stand trial.

As regards the house in your neighborhood. You should contact your local leaders and force the bank to take care of the property, they own it now and are responsible for the upkeep.

You have a nice weekend and perhaps we will talk later.

[somone]

25. Amen to that.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Luciferous]

41. Agreed. Pretty speeches don't make up for the fact that he seems

intent on being a Republican president.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. There are only two professions that should require exceptional use of one's mouth...

And neither is "President".

One profession is Narrator/Commentator... I'll let you guess at the other profession.

[tkmorris]

55. Wine taster?

[somone]

68. Narrators/Commentators talk out of their mouths?

[MadHound]

15. Sure, he gives a great speech,

It is some of his policies that are the problem.

[BOG PERSON]

16. it was gentle blather n/t

[AngryOldDem]

20. I'll give him that.

But it takes more than talking nice.

[Earth_First]

28. A silver tongue is no subsititute for lip service... n/t

[tigereye]

37. such a pleasure to have such a thoughtful and articulate

president.

[blindpig]

44. Talk is cheap...

and some listeners are easy....

[Electric Monk]

47. That seems like a personal attack. I'm not allowed, in your books, to like his oratory skills?

He may not be perfect, but it sure beats all those years with DUHbya at the wheel.

[blindpig]

49. Like it if you want...

standards vary.

As far as it beating the 'W' years, what good there has been is so superficial as to be negligible. OTOH, a fatally flawed health are fix, more and more war, colossal government negligence in the Gulf and the administration taking the lead in a reactionary 'austerity' stampede hardly qualify as success unless one is a member of the ruling class.

[somone]

48. Talk is useless to people who can't pay their heating bill

[dkofos]

45. Kind of reminds me of reagan. Great talker but not with the people.

[Bluebear]

50. Exactly right. A lot of people voted for him because of his speeches.

[JuniperLea]

62. Why did you vote for him?

[Zax2me]

64. It's the last thing I respect about him.

His progressive ideas are tops, something we needed in the Oval office.
Orator skills, eh.
That is not a sign of a good man, a good politician.
Good speech giver - it's fluff.
Cream in the coffee.
Refreshing.
But plenty of bad people do it well.

[Matariki]

65. Anyone have a link to that speech today?

[somone]

67. Here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/11/remarks-president-egypt

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 11, 2011
Remarks by the President on Egypt
Grand Foyer
3:06 P.M. EST

[saras]

66. Obama COULD have simply had the US remove him, and Suleiman

We replace good governments with tyrants on a regular basis, against the will of the population. It can't be any harder to go the other way, with the SUPPORT of the population.

And what's wrong with enraging the Israelis anyways? Part of a good Democratic president's plan would be to deliberately enrage them, and repeatedly bust them for every inappropriate response, ESPECIALLY illegal actions in the US, illegal interference with the international flow of information, and illegal interference in Palestine.

As far as his speech, I just heard him using the right-wing code word 'democracy' meaning corporate rule, like we have.

But that's why I'm not a right-winger, because rhetoric just doesn't move me at all.

[Matariki]

70. That would have been an idiotic thing to do.

Obama handled things very well by NOT interfering - something apparently difficult for Americans to do or understand.

[Raine]

73. Raygun gave great speeches too

what they do is so much different than all those pretty words. :puke:

[Le Taz Hot]

81. I don't think the issue has ever been

whether or not he's good at speechifyin'. We know he is and it's how he got in to office.

[Odin2005]

83. Going by his Corporatist policies, he's a charismatic charlatan.